Thursday, December 02, 2004

English spoken Here


high school comm class
Originally uploaded by Tracey Petruff.
I had a great time visiting a communication class at the high school we visited in Isahaya. These classes received the postcards my students made, and are looking forward to corresponding!

Wednesday, December 01, 2004

Isahaya Thanksgiving


isahaya thanksgiving
Originally uploaded by Tracey Petruff.
Here's the whole Isahaya FMF group sharing a meal to celebrate Thanksgiving. (Yes, once again - on the floor!)
Hope you all had a lovely day. I thank God for blessing me with so many wonderful family members and friends (and students!).

Time for turkey?


sushi thanksgiving
Originally uploaded by Tracey Petruff.
I know many of you were wondering what I ate for Thanksgiving - obviously not turkey! Can you guess? (Yes, this was ALL I had - and it was plenty!)

Contact!


jr high art teacher
Originally uploaded by Tracey Petruff.
Through his broken English, my limited Japanese, and a lot of hand gestures, I think I managed to make contact with a teacher who will write back the American students who sent postcards to their Japanese counterparts. Here he is with some sample cards and the pictures of the students who made them.

Japanese lesson


japanese lesson
Originally uploaded by Tracey Petruff.
This looks just like our English classes at home - only in Japanese, of course! Notice how the letters are read and from right to left in columns.

Spectacles Bridge


Spectacle Bridge
Originally uploaded by Tracey Petruff.
This is a landmark in my host city of Isahaya. It's set in this adorable little park, and if you look at the bridge and its reflection in the water, you can see where it got its name!

Cranes for Peace


cranes
Originally uploaded by Tracey Petruff.
Look closely - you'll see that these are tiny paper origami cranes that people have made and donated to the Atomic Bomb Museum in an effort to promote peace.

Walking on water?


land reclaim musuem
Originally uploaded by Tracey Petruff.
After a visit to a local museum in Isahaya (my host city in Nagasaki prefecture), we found out that much of the land surrounding us had once been part of the sea! Look on the model to see how much land they've "reclaimed" from the sea.

Nagasaki Peace Statue


peace statue
Originally uploaded by Tracey Petruff.
Dedicated as an appeal for lasting world peace, this statue was given to the people of Nagasaki on the 10th anniversary of the devastation to their city by the atomic bomb. The right hand points upward to symbolize the threat of nuclear weapons, the outstretched left hand is for peace and tranquility. Divine omnipotence is seen in the sturdy physique and serene countenance, and a prayer for the repose of the souls of all war victims is represented by closed eyes. Also, the folded right leg symbolizes quiet meditation, while the left leg is poised for action in assisting humanity.