Main Journal

Picture Section Description Date Updated Inline         [1.02] Plane Ride, First Pictures I spend the night in Detroit Metro Airport, arrive at the Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU) in Hikone, and begin my role as Dan in Japan. 02 Jan 1999 04 Jan 1999         [1.07] Lake Biwa, Instant lunch, Wonda coffee Lake Biwa tosses up some waves, I make lunch without being able to read the directions, and I see Tiger Woods. 07 Jan 1999 09 Jan 1999         [1.08.1] FP: Traditional New Year's Games On our first "Friday Project" (FP), we learn about some traditional Japanese games that are still played by some Japanese around the time of the new year. 08 Jan 1999 10 Jan 1999         [1.08.2] Local Scenery, Welcome Party, Snow I capture some views around JCMU, eat all kinds of food at our welcome party, and am surprised at the snowfall. 08 Jan 1999 08 Jan 1999         [1.09] Cola, Katsudon, Laptops Coca-Cola clones, fried pork, and Dan's Computer Lab. 09 Jan 1999 09 Jan 1999         [1.10] Kimono, Ikebana, Fish Marketplace We visit a hotel, change into kimono, try ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement), and stop by a fish marketplace. 12 Jan 1999 12 Jan 1999         [1.12] Shopping, JCMU Lab, Breakfast Some typical shopping in Hikone, a view of the JCMU computer lab, and a special breakfast. 12 Jan 1999 12 Jan 1999         [1.14.1] Fire Drill at JCMU The Hikone fire captain visits JCMU for a little hands-on fire safety instruction. 14 Jan 1999 14 Jan 1999         [1.14.2] Sugimoto Bar Every Thursday JCMU teachers, JCMU students, and various foriegners gather at the Sugimoto Bar. 14 Jan 1999 14 Jan 1999         [1.15] Beer Vending, Viva City, Hikone Castle Yes, they sell beer in vending machines in Japan. I take my first trip to Viva City in Minami Hikone, and catch Hikone Castle lit up at night. 15 Jan 1999 15 Jan 1999         [1.16] Around Hikone I take pictures of things I frequently encounter on my bike ride into the center of Hikone. 16 Jan 1999 26 Jan 1999         [1.17] Hikone's Old New Town, Soanji, Food I ride around and take more pictures of Hikone, including some of Old New Town and Soanji (a renovated temple in Old New Town). 17 Jan 1999 01 Feb 1999         [1.18] Kyoto - Station, Tower, Honganji, Hokoku Sam Blair and I hop on a train and venture off to Kyoto for the day. We visit Kyoto Tower, Higashi Honganji Temple, and Hokoku Shrine. 18 Jan 1999 04 Feb 1999         [1.19] Conversation Partner, Food, Sugimoto Bar I meet Takayuki Nagao-san, my Japanese conversation partner. I try okonomiyaki and tempura for the first time. Thursday's always Sugimoto Night! 19 Jan 1999 17 Feb 1999         [1.23] Kinkakuji, Ryoanji, Kiyomizudera Field Trip An official field trip takes me and the JCMU crew to see some of the famous temples in Kyoto. 23 Jan 1999 27 Mar 1999         [2.07] Homestay with the Yamada Family The detailed story of my first homestay with a Japanese family. 07 Feb 1999 17 Feb 1999

Special Sections

Picture Section Description Updated Inline         [jenglish] Amusing Japanese English I shouldn't make fun of Japanese people trying to use English, but I can't help but laugh at some of the phrases I see here and there... 01 Feb 1999         [dijwork] Dan at Work - Behind the Scenes I work on this Web page quite a bit. Here's what actually goes on "behind the scenes," if you're curious... 31 Mar 1999         [ichinensei] Ichinensei (First Year Students) This collection includes classrooms, teachers, and the students -- all of the exciting stuff. 2 Apr 1999         [speech] Japanese Speech "My First Homestay" No pictures here! But you can listen to my Japanese class final speech and read the text of it in Japanese and English. 11 Apr 1999 N/A         [learn] What did(n't) I Learn? What did I learn from this whole experience in Japan? Did I correct my preconceptions? Broaden my mind? Reinforce my own ignorance? You'll have to read it to find out, I guess! 14 Apr 1999

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