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Erik Kassebaum
Site Sponsor KASSEBAUM
CONSULTING
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Adventures In Shiiba -- April 1996
by
Erik Kassebaum
White Day
This last "White Day" was the best I've ever experienced.
The reason it was so much fun was that every time I went to an office
to give a woman candy, they would say "hajimete" (first and
only candy I've received). Usually they would hold the candy close to
their heart and smile while saying this in a voice loud enough for all
of the men in their office to hear.
Letter Campaign
More people from Shiiba are going abroad for long periods of time in
order to work and to study. For example one of my English Conversation
students (Mariko Kurohara) is now in the United Kingdom and will remain
there until July. Another is going to America for four months.
In March, I had all of the students at Shiiba Junior High write
to Mariko Kurohara. Mariko said she was very surprised and very happy
to get so many letters from home. Right now there are several students
from Shiiba who are getting ready to go to foreign High Schools. My hope
is that
this type of letter campaign will become a tradition here in Shiiba.
Computer Club
I would like to help organize a Computer Club here in Shiiba. I think
the club should be for regular people who want to use computers for personal
and business purposes - not for "Otaku" (Japanese computer nerds)
. Club members could exchange books, magazines and demonstration software.
In addition club members could give advice to people who want to buy software
or computers; learn new programs; etc. I also think that such a club should
be responsible for developing a new home page for Shiiba Village. Because
things such as "handmade" and "from the heart" are
important parts of the "Pasocon Jidai" (Computer Age). A popular
saying is "Think Globally, act Locally."
Erik, what happened? You look like a teacher!
Graduation season has come and gone. After each of the graduations people
asked if I cried. I usually replied "no comment." In a few months,
I too will graduate for my position as Shiiba's JET ends in July. In my
case "no comment" means I was on the verge of crying a couple
times.
As everyone knows I don't like to wear ties. So, many people were very
surprised to see me wearing a tie on March 18 (Graduation Day). There
were many jokes about this rare occurrence, but the best was made in
English
by Kouichi Higuma. Kouichi said, "Erik, what happened? You look
like a teacher!" |
