Thank you so much to those of you who have been posting comments on my blog...I love it. It is so nice to hear from you, please keep 'um comin'.
OK...to get back in track...today was lectures in the morning and traditional Japanese plays, kubuki, this afternoon. I was a wonderful experience to witness.
We are also getting ready to venture out of Tokyo into our host cities, I am going to Hiroshima. We leave on Sunday morning and will be taking the famous Bullit Train to Hiroshima. It should be very fun.
A group of us went to the Tokyo National Museum. It was a very worth the trip. There were many artifact I was glad I was able to see. I have some great pictures and I will get the up as soon as my battery recharges.
Tomorrow is our free day in Tokyo, a group of us are going to venture out to Kamakura for some great sightseeing and shopping...hopefully.
I have beentrying to send an e-mail to everyone at school...but this connection will not let me onto the Boone County Homepage. I will try to get one to Mr. Hummel through my yahoo.
See you all soon...how many day left...I can't count yet.
****Sorry if there are many typo's...I am typing on a mini-note and the keyboard is very small.
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6 comments:
Glad to see you arrived in Japan. Looks like your really having a good time. Don't worry about tommorrow being Sweetest Day. Even though Rob is all alone and sad. I will invite him to the house and make him some dinner. Continue to have a good time and I will continue to check the newspapers to see if you have caused any international incidence :)
Your ole buddy from SS,
KF
The boys wanted to wish their Aunt Leslee a happy Sweetest Day! I hope you're having a great time and can't wait to hear all about it when you return!
Hey Leslee! I went to the Japanese School this morning!! WOW!! That's all I can say. I really had a great time. It was so informative and it was great to see the kids in their own environment. I hung out with Shelia so I was really able to get the low down on everything and talked with so many people!
I hope you are having a good time. I've been wanting to write every day, but there's been a lot going on in my family and Jenine has had walking pneumonia...so I've had a lot to do. She's getting better finally.
I think I'm on to a real theory about why American schools can't measure up to other countries like Japan. I kind of had an ah, ha moment while sitting there. I'd like to share it with you. It's in its really rough draft stages, but I though it might give you something interesting to talk about while there...even if it how you have this crazy friend in Kentucky... :)
It's kind of long...sorry, but I can't email you :( . It could probably be three more pages! Here goes:
Countries like Japan, Finland, Brazil, etc., who do very well educationally, and have high academic expectations for students who want to attend the public high schools and public universities, can best be identified through geography and its ability to create homogeneous groups of individuals. These groups have passed on long standing cultural traditions and expectations of excellence. To succeed intellectually or even say, be the best warrior, is honorable both for the individual and the family. These Countries’ expectations, generated from the individual geographic and/or homogeneous factors, play a large role in the dedication and advancement of education in their cultures. Conformity becomes necessary in order to succeed and honor one’s family.
The United States was founded on the idea of "get rich quick," "own your own land," and "follow your own god!" It was mostly the oppressed, poor man, looking to escape conformity of their ruler, who boarded the boats for America. Education had never been a priority and most were not offered it at all. Therefore, it only makes sense that from America’s first immigrants, to today’s immigrants sharing the same goals, respect and understanding through higher education have little value.
Today, much of main stream America has maintained a blue collar status. Those who are educated could likely be descendants of wealthier immigrants. They could also be one of those people who truly worked hard and envisioned the "American Dream," on a scale that put education above land, money and close to god.
America does not have that unique geographic, homogenous thread that ties us all together. This land has long been called the Melting Pot due to the ethnic and ideological diversity of our society. Without that common thread that Japan, Finland, Brazille, etc. hold with such regard, America will always be a patchwork quilt, just pieces put together to do a job.
Quilts do an EXCELLENT job of keeping one warm, like a well woven blanket. Unlike a beautifully woven blanket, a quilt takes time to see the real beauty it provides...many people coming together for a larger cause, to share ideas, knowledge of life, and human experience. It is from these quilts the first ideas of women’s suffrage and liberation, freedom and actions towards emancipation, and many other revolutionary ideas began.
The United States cannot be expected to compete in the world on the same level as the homogeneous groups, for the simple fact that we are not homogeneous. It is in fact, our uniqueness that inspires Americans to be creative. This creativity allows us to produce a nation of performers, artists, writers, musicians, designers, and innovative thinkers. Above all, our diversity as a nation, enables us to operate daily on an individual level, while still willing to come together to share in the greater experience of one nation.
Therefore, the United States needs to embrace our differences from the rest of the world, focus on the treasures of the people as a whole, and cater to the learning needs of the individual dream that has long since been called...the American Dream.
--Trina Neiheisel
Hey sis, Hope you are having a great time, can't wait to hear all about it. I found out that I work with another of your former students at the hotel. The boys miss their aunt Leslee and can't wait to see you.
Hi Les, I miss you and so do the kids. I hope you are having a wonerful time. I love your bloggs and I have shared them with the REM mothers. I hope you don't mind they ask about you all the time. I got to run Jane and Mrs.Naruse are here, we're going out for a good-bye dinner. Mrs Naruse is going back to Japan the first of the year. Love ya Sheila
hi leslee,
It looks like you are having a great time. we all miss you at school. Kathy is doing a great job. Barb and I are holding down the fort.
See you soon,
:) Kim
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