Hi Everyone!
Thanks for following and contributing to my blog! It all went by so fast, and I am home now. I will be taking the next few days to highlight some of my favorite events and moments that I didn't have time to add to the blog while I was in Japan. I also have a few more responses to make to students in Mrs. Teal's class, so keep coming back!
See you soon!
Janine
Monday, November 3, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
More about my room
"Hello Ms. Janine,
I think your accommodations look just lovely. It really makes me think that we take too much for granted in our very very large American lives, and that we all need to reconsider what we need - the essentials - to live a full life. Really when you think about it, a small backpack can hold everything :)."
Ms. Leslie
I agree, Ms. Leslie, and I have to say I thought of you and some conversations we have had about that. I am back in Tokyo now in a regular Western-style hotel room, and it seems almost palatial and over-sized (I'm certainly not complaining here, just very grateful, especially since I could see Mt. Fuji from my room this morning when it was clear outside!). I had everything I needed in that small room in Hiroshima, and I was perfectly content. We really don't need much to have a very full, happy life!
Ms. Janine
P.S. If you look at the photo, the crane on top of the building seems to be pointing toward Mt. Fuji in the distance. The top of it is actually above the clouds.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Making Okonomiyaki
Not sure how to spell it, but I know how to make it now! Yummy! I can't seem to load my video, but here is a link to directions: http://japanesefood.about.com/od/holidaytraditionalfood/r/hirookonomiyaki.htm
Dedicating Cranes
From Ashley P.
"The clip that I saw was surprising! I never knew Japanese children wore uniforms to school every day. I noticed they had similar shoes, yellow hats, and book bags that we have here. The odd thing that I kept in mind was that children in Japan were respectful while they were singing and no one was disrupting the group or fooling around, not like kids in my school. If my classmates were there all you could hear was chatter going on and on. I felt glad that those kids did follow their respectful rules. I have one question going through my head right now, about how many schools are in Hiroshima and how many kids are in each of the schools? I remember that in Japan that kids learn more because they are taught one subject in the whole day, like math. My fifth grade teacher told us that."
Ashley P.
Thomas Edison Middle School Meriden, CT
Hi Ashley & Mia!
Yes, with all the children there you could have heard a pin drop. They take Peace Education very seriously. Do you know why they dedicate cranes? You can learn more about Sadako at http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/frame/kids_e/sadako21.html. Click on Part 2. Or, you may want to read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.
Students seem to like the uniforms because it makes everyone equal, they don't compare clothes, and they don't have to think about what to wear in the morning! The yellow hats are to make the children easy to notice when they are in public.
I'm not certain how many schools are in Hiroshima, though I can probably find out for you. I do know there are 10 public high schools. Students are not required to attend high school, but almost all do. Also, students change subjects throughout the day, just like we do, but the go to school for more hours per day and only have a few weeks off per year.
I will post photos of the classrooms in the next couple of days.
Ms. F.
"The clip that I saw was surprising! I never knew Japanese children wore uniforms to school every day. I noticed they had similar shoes, yellow hats, and book bags that we have here. The odd thing that I kept in mind was that children in Japan were respectful while they were singing and no one was disrupting the group or fooling around, not like kids in my school. If my classmates were there all you could hear was chatter going on and on. I felt glad that those kids did follow their respectful rules. I have one question going through my head right now, about how many schools are in Hiroshima and how many kids are in each of the schools? I remember that in Japan that kids learn more because they are taught one subject in the whole day, like math. My fifth grade teacher told us that."
Ashley P.
Thomas Edison Middle School Meriden, CT
From Mia M.
"When I saw how the Japanese respected what they were doing and how no one fooled around, I was amazed. No one here in America ever does that. Also they were taught like that and they actually listened to their instructor. That definitely would not be seen every day in America. The kids here always fool around. I wonder what their classroon looks like."
Mia M. Thomas Edison Middle School Meriden, CT
Hi Ashley & Mia!
Yes, with all the children there you could have heard a pin drop. They take Peace Education very seriously. Do you know why they dedicate cranes? You can learn more about Sadako at http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/frame/kids_e/sadako21.html. Click on Part 2. Or, you may want to read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.
Students seem to like the uniforms because it makes everyone equal, they don't compare clothes, and they don't have to think about what to wear in the morning! The yellow hats are to make the children easy to notice when they are in public.
I'm not certain how many schools are in Hiroshima, though I can probably find out for you. I do know there are 10 public high schools. Students are not required to attend high school, but almost all do. Also, students change subjects throughout the day, just like we do, but the go to school for more hours per day and only have a few weeks off per year.
I will post photos of the classrooms in the next couple of days.
Ms. F.
More for Mia
From Mia M.
"I think Ms. Fiorillo's room looks really great even though it is very tiny. I wonder if it is comfortable too. I think there is no privacy with the glass door. It makes me feel self conscious. Wow! But no one would really come in the suite. It would be agreat chance to see how the Japanese really sleep if the make hotel rooms furnished with their kind of furniture. It would be pretty neat. It still looks good the way it is. I would still feel pretty crowded in that room."
Mia MThomas Edison Middle School
Meriden, CT
From Jaelin H.
"When I saw the small hotel room I was surprised. It was small but it looked like it was very comfortable. The only weird thing was that the shower door was glass. I would need a little more privacy."
Jaelin H. Thomas Edison Middle SchoolMeriden CT
I DO feel a little bit crowded, since there is JUST enough room for my suitcase on the floor at the foot of the bed. Privacy isn't an issue though since I'm the only one here. The view from the room is also pretty great. Tonight I managed to see part of a beautiful sunset. I'll upload that picture later.
You can see from this picture how tiny the bathroom is. I think the tub is only about 3 feet long, but it is very deep. And if you look closely, you can see that the sink kind of overlaps the tub. And check out the toilet! It has all sorts of controls, and a heated seat - but it doesn't flush automatically!
Ms. F.
"I think Ms. Fiorillo's room looks really great even though it is very tiny. I wonder if it is comfortable too. I think there is no privacy with the glass door. It makes me feel self conscious. Wow! But no one would really come in the suite. It would be agreat chance to see how the Japanese really sleep if the make hotel rooms furnished with their kind of furniture. It would be pretty neat. It still looks good the way it is. I would still feel pretty crowded in that room."
Mia MThomas Edison Middle School
Meriden, CT
From Jaelin H.
"When I saw the small hotel room I was surprised. It was small but it looked like it was very comfortable. The only weird thing was that the shower door was glass. I would need a little more privacy."
Jaelin H. Thomas Edison Middle SchoolMeriden CT
I DO feel a little bit crowded, since there is JUST enough room for my suitcase on the floor at the foot of the bed. Privacy isn't an issue though since I'm the only one here. The view from the room is also pretty great. Tonight I managed to see part of a beautiful sunset. I'll upload that picture later.
You can see from this picture how tiny the bathroom is. I think the tub is only about 3 feet long, but it is very deep. And if you look closely, you can see that the sink kind of overlaps the tub. And check out the toilet! It has all sorts of controls, and a heated seat - but it doesn't flush automatically!Ms. F.
More about the Papparazzo
From Mia M."Having a paparazzo following you with other people is really cool! I think it is cool because it would feel like you were famous having a person taking pictures of you and your surroundings. It would also be nice because you would be in the pictures and not taking them. Not many people can take hundreds of pictures in two days with cameras."
Mia M. Thomas Edison Middle School Meriden, CT
From Jaelin H.
"I always thought that only celebrities would have paparazzos. I would have never guessed a teacher would have had one, especially in another country. How fun was the paparazzo?
Jaelin H. Thomas Edison Middle School Meriden, CT
Hi Mia & Jaelin!
At first, it was cool, in a way. But when I was looking at the actual cranes Sadako folded, I was feeling very emotional, and the photographer was about a foot away from my left ear watching me and taking photos. It freaked me out a little bit - made me feel like my privacy was being invaded. Besides, at that point, I had no idea why he was following our group
around, so it was a little strange.There are people on this trip with fancy cameras who take pictures of EVERYTHING! I'm certain they are taking 3-400 a day, especially since on some days I've taken close to 150, and they have taken many more than I have! Soon I will post some of my favorite photos. We are so busy it is hard to keep up with this blog!
Ms. F.
From Mrs. Teal's Class
"Ms. Fiorillo why do the paparazzo follow you around? I don't understand because you are not models, you are just people. Also, in Japan do they mostly talk Japanese or do they talk English? Mark K. Thomas Edison Middle School Meriden, CT "
You are right, Mark, we ARE just people - but so are models! Actually, in a way, we were treated like rock stars here. The photographer followed us around for two days because we were visiting the Atomic Bomb Dome, the Children's Peace Memorial, and other monuments in Peace Memorial Park. We felt a little bit like celebrities, especially when we visited elementary schools and the children crowded around us, gave us gifts, and gave us all high-fives. We also met a man named Jeremy, who is an American who has lived here for almost six years. He told us that just being a foreigner makes us a bit of a celebrity here - and the treatment we were getting could become addicting! When we got all the cheering from the students that was understandable, but just having one photographer hanging around snapping photos constantly was very annoying and invasive. I can only imagine how real stars must feel!!
Ms F.
You are right, Mark, we ARE just people - but so are models! Actually, in a way, we were treated like rock stars here. The photographer followed us around for two days because we were visiting the Atomic Bomb Dome, the Children's Peace Memorial, and other monuments in Peace Memorial Park. We felt a little bit like celebrities, especially when we visited elementary schools and the children crowded around us, gave us gifts, and gave us all high-fives. We also met a man named Jeremy, who is an American who has lived here for almost six years. He told us that just being a foreigner makes us a bit of a celebrity here - and the treatment we were getting could become addicting! When we got all the cheering from the students that was understandable, but just having one photographer hanging around snapping photos constantly was very annoying and invasive. I can only imagine how real stars must feel!!
Ms F.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Note to Readers
Hi Everyone! I've added quite a bit, so please click "Older Posts" when you come to the bottom of this page.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Janine
Hope to hear from you soon!
Janine
Elementary School Students Arrive at School
We stood outside with the principal to greet students as they arrived at school.Every student carries a leather backpack. First graders have a yellow cloth draped over theirs to identify them as first graders.
The children wear white hats that are reversible. The other side is red. Children flip the hats to make teams during physical education or recess. They do not wear their hats in school.
Yasunishi Elementary School
On Wednesday, we visited Yasunishi Elementary school and had an amazing day! Students prepared a school assembly for us and the first and second graders presented us with special gifts. Then, we got to visit classes and spend time with students. Student life in Japan is similar in many ways to student life in America, but there are also many differences. One thing you'll notice in the video is that students wear uniforms. See if you can name the song they are singing in Japanese:
Students in Japan walk to school or ride their bikes. Sometimes, they may also use mass transit, like city buses or subways. There are no school buses, and students sometimes walk a long way, so parents and other community members volunteer to stand outside along the way and make sure that students get to and from school safely. When students arrive at school, they store their shoes and put on their school slippers. At Yasunishi, we observed classes, toured the school, went to recess, met with teachers, and even had lunch with the students. For lunch we had some vegetable soup with tofu in it, fried fish, rice, milk, and an orange.
Lunchtime in Japan is different from lunchtime in America. In Japan, students eat lunch in their classrooms. Students serve the food to one another, and although the teacher is in the room, the students take care of all serving and all cleanup. When they are done eating, the students put any plastic into a plastic bag, tear and flatten their milk cartons, and stack all plates, utensils, and trays so that they may be cleaned for the next day, and then they all brush their teeth! Then, before recess, the students clean the school. They move all desks out of the way and sweep and wipe the floors. Students clean the school again at the end of each day. The school is very clean!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
My Teeny Hiroshima Hotel Room
Note the glass bathroom door. You are looking at my entire hotel room. Teeny, but I love it!
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