Piano recital – maybe our last

June 27th, 2013

Last weekend we had the piano recital for our sons. They have been preparing for a while, but it has been very difficult to have enough time these days with everything else going on in their schedules.

Also, much like sports festival, this is likely our last. It just isn’t worth the added time, stress, and yes, expense.

This time Ahn played a duet with his friend Yahtzi. I wasn’t too thrilled about the idea of doing a duet, especially with someone besides his brother since you’re only learning your part and can only play the song with two people…

It was a good thing for them though I think. They had to practice together and that’s always a good lesson to learn.

We of course took a few pictures.

Chukyo Common Room activity

June 4th, 2013

Last week, sorry for the delay, I had my Common Room Activity for students at Chukyo University in the British and American Cultures Studies. It is pretty much always fun, but sometimes there aren’t a lot of students who come and participate.

This time that wasn’t an issue 😉 We had lots. Maybe 16 or so? Several of the international students also came and played along. The first semester is usually Boggle. It’s not a game for English learners. It’s a game English speakers play, but also good for learners.

I have some simple rules. I am the final judge on whether something is a word or not. The dictionary is full of ‘words’ that no one knows or uses or come from places other than native English speaking countries.

You get a lot of fun ones with these groups, too, hehheh.

Here are a couple of pix I promised to post. They’re not so great, but they’re all I have.

Our last sports festival

May 30th, 2013

Our youngest son is going to finish elementary school this year, so last Saturday was our last time for us to go to the annual sports festival.

It is fun, but it is also hot, dirty, and a fair amount of work, so I have mixed feelings about it being over for us.

This year the weather was pretty good although I did end up sunburning my hands, the only thing I left exposed too much <sigh>

Of course lunch time is always a favorite where we get to eat with friends, make new friends, and share some good food.

Here are a few pictures I took:

ICAN Festival 2013

May 23rd, 2013

I have always appreciated being asked to take part and perform in the annual festival for ICAN (International Christian Academy Nagoya). This year the weather was a little better than last, not as hot and not as windy 😉

There were some other interesting performers and participants this year, too.

More great food, too…

This year our band, Meito Junction, had some guest singers, my sons. I really had a good time, and I hope we can do this again.

Here are a few photos:

May Golf Event – Enakyo Park – Gifu

May 16th, 2013

We made it out all together again to play golf at Enakyo Park in Gifu this past Saturday. We played while Bynn had a special lesson with his coach.

Yes, it rained.

Yes, it rained a lot.

Yes, that made some things a little more difficult.

Yes, it also made things much, much cooler 😉

Both my wife and younger son were really happy to get to play this time around and said they were enjoying it much more now that they can at least hit the ball down the course rather than here, there, and over there.

I only lost one ball, so I had a pretty good day although I only parred 2 holes. Still, it was fun, and I really enjoyed myself.

The course is a short course, not a Par 3, but short. No Par 5 holes, and only a few Par 4 holes. Par for each 9 is only 30, and Enakyo Park has 3 different 9 hole courses. Many people go there to play 27 holes in one day, but we were ready to call it a day after 18.

We stopped just in time since the rain began to fall really hard when we went into the clubhouse.

Anyway, here are a few pictures: