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Japanese lessons

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:54:35 MDT

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Writing and reading are learned in tandem in Japanese. Students learn how to combine the 46 sounds into words, as well as learning the hundreds of Chinese characters in Japanese that have symbolic meaning.

Nawa

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:53:27 MDT

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Nawa took me to lunch in his class.

Art class

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:52:18 MDT

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These kids are drawing on the patio outside. All were working and on-task.

Art class

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:51:03 MDT

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The instructions

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:49:51 MDT

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The task was to draw the picture onto the canvas upside down, paying more attention to shapes than the objects.

Art class

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:48:40 MDT

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DId I mention that music, art, and PE are taught by the regular classroom teacher?

Art class

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:47:25 MDT

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Music class

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:46:09 MDT

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Students listened to music, sang songs, and listened as the teacher told a story. Very animated, very active, very involved.

Meishei

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:44:57 MDT

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The students made us meishei (business cards) and exchanged them with us during their computer class. The computer class was also taught by the classroom teacher.

Present for you

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:44:15 MDT

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The students would say, "I am....Present for you," and hand us their business cards.

The Exchange

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:43:23 MDT

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When you give Japanese person your business card, you are giving them a part of yourself. They feel the same. There is a lot of respect and ceremony to the exchange of business cards here.

Tiny trash

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:42:23 MDT

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The students folded their milk cartons to make the trash remains from lunch that much smaller.

Gift from Midori-sensei's class

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:41:15 MDT

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The children gave me a class picture decorated with origami as a gift for eating lunch with them.

Cleaning up

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:40:31 MDT

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The students cleaned up from lunch, putting letfover food in the pot, trash in the bag, and bowls in the stacks.

Daily schedule

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:34:55 MDT

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Place value lesson

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:26:12 MDT

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Many things don't need an interpreter to understand- math is one of those.

Hard work

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:25:26 MDT

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Charting growth

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:23:24 MDT

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This class was charting the growth of the plants they had potted and were growing on the patio.

Double dutch

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:22:10 MDT

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Hula Hoops

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:20:50 MDT

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More double dutch

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:19:30 MDT

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No adults

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:18:14 MDT

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I just have to point out that at recess, the only adults outside were the American teachers. The Japanese teachers were inside.

Sign please

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:17:06 MDT

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Playtime

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:15:45 MDT

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Josh brought these toys from Oregon, but the children didn't need directions to play with them.

Calligraphy class

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:14:24 MDT

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This is not just calligraphy- it's a writing and reading lesson.

Helping out

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:13:21 MDT

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Sometimes we all need a little help from a teacher.

Even adults

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:12:36 MDT

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My turn!

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:11:20 MDT

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This was water, not red ink. The writing disappeared when the water dried.

Showing off

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:10:11 MDT

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All children like to show off their work.

Try again

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:08:54 MDT

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The piles of paper all over the place were practice sheets that apparently weren't good enough. The students threw out papers that weren't perfect.

Shy Elementary Students

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:52:56 MDT

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The little girl in the plaid skirt was just adorable! She was so sweet! I took several pictures of her during the day.

School Song

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:51:37 MDT

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The entire school joined together to sing the school song accompanied by a 5th grader on the baby grand piano. It brought many of us to tears.

Seeing themselves

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:50:24 MDT

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Once the students discovered that many of our cameras were digital, they wanted to see themselves after a picture. These students are watching themselves being videotaped.

All smiles

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:49:09 MDT

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The peace sign literally means peace. The people of Japan frequently make a peace sign in photos, even adults.

Sweet Potatoes

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:47:58 MDT

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The students plants these potatoes to use in the home economics classroom for cooking lessons.

Soap in a bag!

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:46:37 MDT

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What a cool idea! Soap in a bag- the students rub hands on the bar and wash in the trough sinks.

Science teacher's table

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:45:23 MDT

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This is the teacher's table in the science lab. The students also had elaborate tables with sinks.

Sweet potatoes

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:44:13 MDT

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Since Ibaraki is known for its agriculture, the school teaches students to grow vegetables and flowers.

Student work

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:42:49 MDT

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The students had many ways of showing their work.

Teamwork

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:41:37 MDT

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These first graders were very excited to work together to place magnet markers on the chart on the board.

Cubbies

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:40:33 MDT

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The students in each class kept bookbags in assigned cubbies. Each student had a cubby with a backpack that matched all others. No doors. No locks.

School Nurse Teacher

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:39:18 MDT

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What a concept! A school nurse that also teaches children about their bodies and good health.

Positive Reinforcement

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:38:32 MDT

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The messages on the steps are all positive messages- things like "Do your best," "Work hard," and "You can do it!"

Computer Lab

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:37:11 MDT

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Japanese lessons

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:36:25 MDT

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As children learn to write in Japanese (46 sound marks!), they are also learning to read in Japanese. This continues through high school.

Different looks

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:35:22 MDT

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No, Japanese children do not all look the same.

Japan

ReadinJapan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:34:07 MDT

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This is where Japan is on the globe.

Messenger of the gods

ReadinJapan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:25:48 MDT

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These deer were considered to be the messengers of the gods. Killing deer was illegal and punishable by death.

1605 Shrine

ReadinJapan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:23:56 MDT

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This shrine was built in 1605. It was one of the few old shrines to survive the fire bombing of WWII.

Mossy roof

ReadinJapan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:22:00 MDT

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The shrine itself is inside. Only the senior priest can go inside. You can say a prayer and drop 5 yen (lucky coin) or 10 yen (double luck) into the box.

Another view

ReadinJapan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:20:04 MDT

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Shrine statue

ReadinJapan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:18:29 MDT

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Me & the shrine

ReadinJapan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:16:41 MDT

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This shrine was truly beautiful- surrounded by old cedar trees and shaded from the sun. A quiet, peaceful place with the biggest bees I've ever seen!

reception flowers

ReadinJapan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:09:30 MDT

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We were welcomed to Kamisu with a reception from the parents, host families, mayor, and school board members. These beautiful flowers were given to the guests after the reception, as flower arraging is a great hobby in Japan.

Kamisu Mayor

ReadinJapan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:08:12 MDT

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The mayor welcomed us to his city.

Japanese dancer

ReadinJapan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:06:23 MDT

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Japanese dancers

ReadinJapan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:05:07 MDT

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The dancing at the reception was done by the city dance club.

Japanese dancers

ReadinJapan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:03:50 MDT

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These dancers make the fans look decorative, but they are functional too. It's hot and humid here.

Japanese dancers

ReadinJapan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:02:31 MDT

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This was the "most energetic" dance.

Meeting with students

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:07:23 MDT

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We met with students of Ibaraki University. They were very friendly and curious about American trends.

Meeting with students

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:06:10 MDT

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I think the students were a little shy because the professors were still in the room to hear what they said to us.

Ibaraki University students

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:05:01 MDT

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Mac!

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:03:43 MDT

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The boy in the center of the hallway was a hoot- he told us that he was born to teach.

Hotel Artwork

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:02:19 MDT

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We ate lunch in Mito City at a hotel. This was the artwork that decorated the lobby.

The Antlers

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:01:04 MDT

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This is the professioanl soccer stadium for the Antlers. Japanese love baseball, but they are very fond of soccer, too.

Shrine torch

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:59:43 MDT

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Shrine gate

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:58:14 MDT

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Walkway to the shrine

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:56:49 MDT

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Shrine statues

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:55:16 MDT

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Shrine statue

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:53:47 MDT

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Torei Gate

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:52:19 MDT

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Samurai poster

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:51:06 MDT

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guardian of the shrine

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:49:40 MDT

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guardian of the shrine

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:48:36 MDT

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small shrine

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:47:40 MDT

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Bless the car

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:46:10 MDT

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When the Japanese people buy new cars, they take the car to the shrine for a special blessing.

Very old cedar

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:44:36 MDT

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This shrine was built in 1605 and the trees around it a re very old, too.

Mary- treehugger

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:43:06 MDT

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Mary Dennis from Minnesota is very funny. She posed so I could show how big these cedar trees are.

Pathway to the shrine

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:41:37 MDT

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Tree Crutches

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:43:41 MDT

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The trees were planted by the fuedal lord in the early 1800's. Some of the branches are so big and heavy that they need to be held up by crutches.

Gigantic Japanese maple

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:42:10 MDT

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This was the largest Japanese maple that I have ever seen. It was gorgeous!

Seven curves

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:28:40 MDT

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The path here led through the garden to the cave under the bluff where stone was quarried at some point.

Feudal poetry

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:27:08 MDT

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Another example of the lord's work with his vassals- drinking sake and writing poetry.

Plum poem

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:25:47 MDT

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The garden surrounding the feudal villa is filled with plum trees, for which it is famous.

Manicured trees

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:24:30 MDT

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The trees in the garden were pruned into fabulous shapes. We could tell they were old because the tree trunks were so large.

The cave

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:21:25 MDT

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I really wanted to go into the cave, but it was blocked off.

Dangerous water fountain

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:20:00 MDT

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We discovered a great way to get wet. The water turns on by a spigot on the nozzle that shoots water. If you turn it on too high, it will hose down your face.

Another Japanese toilet

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:18:25 MDT

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This one didn't have a seat warmer. But it made lots of noise and will wash your backside.

Another bathroom

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:17:20 MDT

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A slight step up tino the bathroom and the drain in the floor between the tub and toilet really set this off as a Japanese bathroom.

Holiday Inn Mito City

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:16:05 MDT

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Who knew that Holiday Inn had hotels in Japan?

Another view of the Holiday Inn

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:15:06 MDT

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President of Ibaraki University

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:14:08 MDT

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We met the president of the national university in Ibaraki prefecture, aptly named Ibaraki prefecture.

Meeting the mayor

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:13:21 MDT

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We got to meet the mayor of Kamisu City, the vice-mayor, and the superintendent of schools. We had to get very close to get this picture.

God's pond

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:12:22 MDT

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The lake behind the Kamisu city hall is named god's pond.

Maple room in the lord's house

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:02:04 MDT

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These were hadnpainted paper screens on the doors. The yall slide, and the paper is changed for winter.

Painted screens

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:00:57 MDT

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The paintings in this room are gorgeous! They made the space bright and gave a sense of fullness to a totally empty room.

The view from the lord's house

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:59:47 MDT

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The azaleas were gorgeous! They were alos pruned to very precise shapes.

Quiet garden

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:58:16 MDT

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This little garden was off the porch of the feudal lord's house. The little rocky area is where the water drains off the roof.

Steps up!

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:56:42 MDT

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The steps up to the second floor were oh, my goodness steep! Good exercise, but scary coming down.

Picking plums

ReadinJapan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:55:17 MDT

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The plums are small and green. They are pickled and salted for eating. Not really my taste.