９月３０日の誕生花


【花言葉】誕生花アクリル画イラスト

In addition to having problems at customs every time I return from an overseas trip due to some folks with the same name as me doing some really bad things, I also have problems almost every time I enter Japan.  Virtually every time I go to Japan I’m traveling with my Mother.  The problem arises when our passports are checked and stamped.  You have to have your index fingers scanned at that time, and I guess that over the years her fingerprints have become increasingly faint.  It always takes more than a few tries to get usable scans.  Coming or going, it’s always something…

I started lessons about 10 months ago.  Proud to announce that I have created over 10 stories to which I can read Kanji and speak clearly with the right pronunciations of each word, and learn to breath at the right times.  My vocabulary has increased tremendously, so that now I can understand Japanese conversations and Movies.  Learning from the heart of what I know about, makes Japanese easier to learn, than from just text book applications.  Lessons are never dull or boring and I look forward to learning something new every time I go to class.  From exposure to animated movies, to translating stories, to learning the different kind of celebrations and customs to which I was not aware of, all these make to a wonderful Learning Experience!

９月２９日の誕生花


【花言葉】誕生花アクリル画イラスト

馬術部の馬も新入り樟若葉





ばじゅつぶの　うまもしんいり　くすわかば


Both are newcomers
the horse riding club’s new horse
and the camphor’s new leaves

尾池和夫（おいけかずお）　

10-10-2010: A big day is coming for Hanoi, Trevor, and our International Fellowship: On October 10th the city of Hanoi turns 1000 years old, Trevor turns 15 years old and the International Fellowship we attend also celebrates 15 years that day. Pretty amazing! The city is going to start celebrating on October 1st and go through the 10th. There has been a lot of sprucing up around the city, with new light poles, fancy lights hanging across the roads, a lot of flowers planted in the traffic circles, banners hanging from trees, the list goes on.

Visitors from a far away land: We had friends from Russia spend a week with us. It was our first chance to show someone around. It was great taking them around the city because it forced us to use more of our Vietnamese language! They had friends here that they had made in Moscow, so it was a whirlwind visit to Hanoi for them. They brought the kids cool t-shirts, a Russian Navy hat for me and delicious dark chocolates for Trina. We are ready for more visitors!

Miles turns 8: Little Miles is growing up! He is 8 years old. Trina says he is really excellent in math and reading. He aims to please Mom and Dad with his studies. We planned a special dinner at home and I took him out to lunch at an American restaurant where you can get ribs, hamburgers, burritos, etc. They have a buy one lunch get one free (includes dessert). We took the bus there too.

Riding the bus: We have been riding the bus to church and to different places around the city the past month. The price is right, only 15 cents to get across town! Only thing we have to do is watch our valuables, it’s the number one place to get your pocket picked. It is so bad even the Vietnamese come onto the bus with their hand covering their pockets. I tried the bus once during rush hour and it was like riding a train in Japan during its busiest time. I had people crushed against me from all sides. The city is full of university students from around the country and world; they pack the buses tighter than drums!

Uniquely different than home: Here are a few things that are different about living in Vietnam compared to Hawaii. We have our milk delivered to our house like the old days in the US. A delivery guy on a motorbike shows up with a big styrofoam cooler strapped on the back, it’s the same price as in the store, but its fresher and we don’t have to carry it home from the store. Motorbikes are the beasts of burden in this city. Jay packed Daisy, Trina and a book shelf (see photo above) on his motorbike. One motorbike can carry a family of 5, a dissembled bed, or in our case we had a clothes dryer delivered to our house on the back of a motorbike! We have seen much crazier things (cows, pigs, stainless steel water tanks and even whole roasted dogs!). Speaking of dogs, Trina, Trevor, Justus, Miles and our guests tried some of the local delicacy of roasted dog meat. Daisy, Riley and I abstained (ewwww…)

I have been busy teaching/working with students, and working with friends in Hawaii to get prepared for a future coffee venture. Trina has been enjoying home schooling and the kids are continuing to get adjusted to life away from Hawaii. A team from Chick-Fil-A restaurants came to Hanoi to teach a Servant Leadership seminar to Vietnamese businessmen. I was invited to attend and was able to spend some considerable time with this group. I was able to bring one of my former students to the seminar which really impacted his perspective on business and life.

It feels like we have been away a long, long time. We just went over 6 months the other day. We’ll be back in Hawaii for a break in mid-December to spend Christmas and the New Year at home. Thanks to everyone for the emails, skype, computer chats and even phone calls. It means a lot to us.

Love and Aloha, Vince, Trina and the Fab Five

９月２８日の誕生花


【花言葉】誕生花アクリル画イラスト

Well, its been 15 weeks since I first started, well technically its 16 because I missed one week. 15 lessons I’ve had with senseis’. I feel like I’ve learned a whole lot since I first started. I understand some of the questions they ask me, compared to the first couple lessons when they had to ask the questions over many times for me to understand. Its nice now, there isn’t the same feeling as being lost as the first day. I remember in the beginning feeling so lost but now, I finally feel like I’m catching on a little. Every lesson brings me one step closer to my goal and I’m looking forward to it.

古砂丘の地層あきらか葉虎杖





こさきゅうの　ちそうあきらか　はいたどり


On the sandstone dune
with layers clearly defined
Leafy knotweed plants

尾池和夫（おいけかずお）　

そして、滞在3日目の朝、TVで、
岸和田のだんじり祭り〜のことを知りました〜





折角ですので、見物していくことになり
もっともっといたかったのですが、あいさつもそこそこに出発
10時からの宮入りを見ようと和歌山を後にしました〜





朝から、町中お祭りムード、一色です〜
女の子の髪形は、みな編み込み〜〜かっこいいですねぇ〜
そしてだんじり祭りは、すごい迫力で、駆け抜けて行く勇壮なお祭りです〜〜
でもその迫力のある写真を撮るのは、私には無理ですので、残念。