Photo Club

I'm one of three instructors for the Shashinbu (photography club) at school.  We meet once a week for 1.5 hours.  About 40 students, one of the largest (and most popular, we had to turn kids away via lottery draws during the first week) at the school.  Next month I'm supposed to teach them darkroom basics; we have 2 at school.  I'm a bit nervous, it's been 7 years since I was in a proper darkroom.  

Anyway, here are some photos I took last week of our meeting.  

Shinjuku photos

Read the posting below for the background.

Shinjuku

Home of the busiest train station in the world (2 million people a day pass thru this particular junction!), Shinjuku is a sight to behold.  Surreal to say the least.  For many a first time visitor, Shinjuku is the Tokyo to see.  It was here that we set off this morning at the crack of 11:00.  Our goal was to hit the bookstore and a photo exhibit in the Nikon Gallery, free and open to the public 7 days a week.  

A 30 min. train ride later and we were negotiating the frenzied atmosphere of a Saturday afternoon in this massive "suburb".  Our first "official" stop was the photo exhibit.  With limitless varieties of stores, displays, restaurants, cafes, sights, people, fashion and street-side events, we probably stopped at least 10 times before actually making it to the Nikon Gallery, a scant 10 minute walk without interruptions.  28 floors up and the view was incredible; hard to fathom, really.  There were 2 photo exhibits on display: one a color print series of the 4 seasons as seen in Japan and the other a black & white project 2 years in the making.  The photographer was there and he told me that he had made the camera used for all the photos.  Basically a medium-format pin-hole camera that used regular film, all exposed for about 1 minute. He titled his series "A Landscape Outside the Window" because in every shot he used 2 old, wooden, glassless shutters to frame his landscapes.  

The next stop was lunch.  A few weeks ago we passed by a gourmet onigiri (rice ball) cafe and since tuna mayonaise onigiri is one of Miki's favorite lunches, we decided to try it out.  Luckily we were able to get a seat at the bar and sat down to 5 rice balls (2 grilled salmon, 1 tempura, 1 tuna mayonaise & 1 avocado prawn), a glass of cold oolong tea and a hot cup of Darjeeling tea. It was actually quite nice because of the location: within Shinjuku station with great people-watching capabilities.  After lunch we meandered over to the 6-floor bookstore, Kinokuniya. The foreign book selection, unfortunately, only occupies the top floor but they have a wonderful selection.   Miki found 2, Ericka found 2 and I found 3.  One is a Tokyo city guidebook & map, so I guess that doesn't count as strictly mine...

Carrying on... it was now nearing 5pm and we decided to get some ramen at a restaurant we had seen earlier in the day.  2 orders of miso ramen (Hokkaido style) and a plate of gyoza and we were good to go.  Won't need any salt for the next 2 days!  While paying the bill Miki entertained herself by running around the escalator/elevator landing chasing the multi-colored strobe lights tracing random patterns across the floor.  It wasn't long before we heard the tell-tale smack of someone falling on a hard floor followed by a teary wail.  She knocked her forehead good and I'm sure she'll have a nice egg tomorrow.  Thankfully the staff at the ramen restaurant gave us some ice to cool things down and it seemed to take Miki's mind off her injury.  Needless to say, we decided at this point to call it a day and head home. 

On the train ride back, just as the train doors were about to close, 3 young (white) foreign women stepped on.  Once the train was under way I asked them where they were from.

"Canada", they replied.

"Oh, yeah, whereabouts?"

"The western part", one said, using a hand gesture.

"Hmm.  Try me."

"Vancouver."

"Really, we're from Nanaimo."

"Wow, small world!" another one said.

Turns out they were on a post-high school graduation holiday and one particular young lady was actually interested in returning to Japan to teach English one day.   

We got home around 6:30pm, had a quick bath, read Miki's new books and put her to bed.  

I poured a cup of sake and here I am updating this blog...

Oyasumi nasai.   Some photos from the day, hope you enjoy as much as we did. 

Shibuya

One of the largest downtown districts of Tokyo is a place called Shibuya.  If you've ever seen that Bill Murray & Scarlett Johanson movie, Lost in Translation, you have seen snipets from this city. The massive street intersection makes multiple appearances in the movie.  

Anyway, Ericka and the girls went to Shibuya this morning for a La Leche League Int'l meeting. Takes about 1 hour to get there and by the time the 3 of them got home they were exhausted. Miki took a quick shower and hit the futon until I got home from work.  

We can only imagine what their little brains soaked up in a teeming city of 30 million!  

Here's Miki at the famed intersection.  Taken with E's cell phone. 

Happy Birthday Nana!

Thanks for sharing that book with me on Skype tonight.  Love, Miki.

Got any ice cream birthday cake I can gnaw on for these new teeth poking thru?  Love, Sam.

At the Helm

Finally got a "corner office" set-up.  Here's Miki at the helm and becoming quite comfortable with a computer.  

The Jetsons

Coming home from work last Friday evening I caught Ericka and the girls on the stairs.  The light was good and the sky clear and for reasons that may be obvious, the architecture looked very space-age.  

Flowers from Luis

Luis, our old friend and neighbor, quickly realized after we arrived that Miki likes flowers and so every time we visit has a small bouquet picked for her.  

This is Miki clutching the flowers on our apartment balcony.

 

New Couch

A good friend of ours offered us a free couch (and end table) that his family no longer had use for and this past weekend I was able to retrieve it.  Oddly enough it matches our existing furniture and it's a pull-out sleeper.  Bonus for anyone who is thinking to visit us sometime. Hint, hint, nudge, nudge.

Here is my friend's daughter and our girls testing the cushions.

Thank you Kurita clan.

View from above

Just thought I'd share a birds eye view with you.  One taken from our front entrance balcony looking towards campus and one of Miki peering down on the complex courtyard.  Don't worry, the railing is quite solid and safe, although it may look a wee dangerous.  

Vermont Curry

Here's some famous Japanese curry.  It's called Vermont Curry (with honey & apples!).  No kidding!  It really is called Vermont Curry, so of course we feel obligated to eat it.  

Sports Day

Every year the individual "campuses" (elementary, jr. high, high) have a Sports Day Festival.  Last Saturday afternoon we were invited to attend the elementary school's event and Miki even got to participate in a simple race.  

It was nice for Ericka and I as well because it was a chance for us to see old friends and colleagues that I don't normally interact with on a day-to-day basis.  

Babysitter

Miki in training as Sam's first babysitter.

Enoshima Beach

Last Sunday we were invited to a beach BBQ at a seaside location about 1 hour from our apartment, a place called Enoshima. In fact, many of you have probably seen this famous woodblock print by the Japanese artist, Hokusai, at one time or another. Well, this is the view from Enoshima looking northwest towards Mt. Fuji. Circa 1820 of course!

Anyway, the BBQ was a special event because earlier that day a group of fisherman motored far out to sea and dropped a massive net. As the day progressed the net was slowly winched in, inches at a time. About 4 hours after casting, we were all called down to the waters' edge to help reel in the catch. About 100 people gathered for a chance to grab the lines and pull in the poisson du jour. Sardines, mackerel, jellyfish, and even a 2 foot shark (which they later released). Fun for all.

It was a brutally hot day but the ocean was cool. Miki enjoyed splashing a bit in the waves and Sam soaked up all the cooing and fussing there was to be had over the blonde baby with blue eyes.

For the return train ride home we booked a seat on the Romance Car, something Miki has been talking about since we arrived. Basically a luxury express train that runs between Tokyo city centre a few distant locations west. Miki was so excited she didn't even change into her street clothes, opting instead to wear her one-piece bathing suit the whole way. A much needed bath for all and a quick bit to eat was all we had energy for and 3 minutes after putting her head on the pillow, Miki was asleep.

Honey Lemon

Miki finally got her first bike today!  She has been waiting patiently for a long time and despite the rain and slick roads, we picked up a small kids bike complete with training wheels at the local super store.  

Semi-solid food

2 days ago we fed Sam her first "solid" food: oatmeal.  She did ok, actually.  

Hiatus

Sorry for the long absence.  I was away last week to Nanaimo with a group of 20 students from the 8th grade.  I know that doesn't explain the complete void of time, but trust me when I say we've been pretty busy.  

After 7 years being on the "receiving" end of the Canada Programs, it was eye-opening to be on the visitor side of these international excursions to Vancouver Island.  I quite enjoyed it, truth be told, and as I am 50% responsible for the program mission and stated goals and have heaps of experience with the itinerary, it was a comfortable routine to fall into.  Anyway, to make a long story short, due to the rising threat of H1N1 (swine-flu) days after landing in Canada, the administrative powers-that-be decided to cancel the remaining schedule and we were all ordered back to Tokyo.  So, at 3am last Saturday morning, I woke all 20 students up and we boarded a ferry at 5am bound for Vancouver.  By 12:45 we were on our flight and what seemed like an extremely short 7 hours later, landing in Tokyo.  All planes were required to sit on the tarmac while a hazmat crew boarded to check the condition of the passengers and the potential presence of swine influenza.  No problems.  By 7:30pm (Sunday now) I was walking into my apartment to be greeted by Miki, Mama & Sam.  Ahhh, a sight for sore eyes. 

I purchased an Apple MacBook Pro while in Canada and we love it.  Very sleek and user-friendly.  Those folks at Mac definitely do their homework.  

Anyway, here are some photos that I've been meaning to upload.  I put Miki on the back balcony one early morning to blow bubbles while I brewed some tea.