Bear Mountain

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Weather: Rainy
Temperature: 54 F (12 C)

I went hiking last Sunday. Bear Mountain is about 45 minutes from New York City by car. It was very beautiful! The hike was difficult, but the mountain was full of autumn leaves. The people who hiked with me were all former JET Participants, in a group called the JET Alumni Association of New York.

Do you know why I went hiking? It was my 27th birthday on Sunday. After hiking, I went to eat sushi with some friends from Teachers College. It was a long day, but it was really fun!

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Have you heard of Wikipedia? It's an online encyclopedia. Anybody can write or edit an article. Wikipedia is written in many languages. One of the languages is called "Simple English." You can use the Simple English wiki to practice reading English. Can you find an article on your hometown? If you can't, maybe you should write one!

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Pennsylvania

Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Weather: Dark (it's 10pm!)
Temperature: 63 F (18 C)

Last weekend, I visited JET Brian in Allentown Pennsylvania. It was really fun!

I call him JET Brian because I am close to three Brians. JET Brian was in the same city as me in Japan. My brother is also Brian. And a good friend from college is named Brian. So, there is JET Brian, Brother Brian, and College Brian.

On Saturday, we went to a restaurant. A band was playing there. They were awesome! The drum solo moved me to tears. I had never cried because of live music before.

On Sunday, we visited Steve Tobin's studio. He is a great artist, and he makes many beautiful things. My favorite was the clay pizzas!

Pizza! Wait...are those cookies?? And uncooked rice...

These are really pretty too. They are made by using firecrackers on clay! The blue and green parts on the inside are made of glass.

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Japan in New York?

Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Weather: Sunny
Temperature: 66 F (19 C)

I have been in New York for almost 2 months now. You can find many things from many different cultures. For example, there is an Indian restaurant, an Italian restaurant, and an African restaurant across the street from my building.

There are many Japanese things here, too! You can find Japanese-style karaoke and restaurants. There is a Kinokuniya bookstore, and a Muji. In New Jersey (about a half hour by train from here), there is a Mitsuwa grocery store, with ramen restaurants and a little bookstore too! There is even a Book-Off. I was surprised and happy to find so many Japanese things in New York. Japan is farther away from New York than Minnesota, but Japanese culture seems very close.

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Long time no see!

Friday, October 9, 2009
Weather: rainy
Temperature: 70 F (21 C)

Hello everyone!

Wow, lots of things have happened since my last post. I'm sorry for waiting so long.

My sister is getting married! Congratulations to Kate and Adam. Yay!


Kate and Adam. Aren't they cute?

Now, I am in New York. The school year began on September 2nd. I love graduate school! There is lots of homework, but it's fun, because I love linguistics, and it's all linguistics homework.

I live in Upper West Manhattan. The Teachers College is small, but Columbia University is very big. I will be here for about two years, I think.


I live here, and go to school here! This is the Teachers College.

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