Sunday, January 10, 2010

Feedburner Disruption

If your Feedburner feed is disrupted, it's because I had to remove that feed redirect so that I could slurp the blog into blurb. I have put the redirect link back in. (If this makes NO sense to you, it isn't affecting you.)

JOSIAH & JAMIN ARE HOME!
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Japanese Education


From 2010-01-08 Sannai-Maruyama Ruins

Aren't the cute? It was COLD, and they were all out for a walk.

I had thought pre-school was mandatory in Japan, but it isn't. Many do send their children to school at 3 -5; but they pay for this themselves.

School is mandatory starting at about six years old - they must attend for only nine years. At the end of this time, before finishing high school, each student must past a massive test. Families spend many dollars tutoring their children for this test. The pressure is immense. If a child passes the test, they are allowed to attend high school (grades 10 - 12).

High School is not free. The family must pay for their student to attend both public and private high schools. I've been told in Tokyo the private schools provide the better education. Up here, the public schools have a reputation for providing the better education. The fee is on a sliding scale with lower income families paying less to send their child to high school. 97% of students pass the test and move on to high school.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Jared's Birthday at the Yakiniku House

From 2010-01-09

This sign belongs in the "Amusing Sign" category because of the story that goes with it.

We have repeatedly heard of a Yakiniku house called, "Viking." We wanted to try a Yakiniku house for Jared's birthday, because he likes trying new restaurants in town. I asked everywhere, my Bible study ladies, strangers on the street, Akiko....When I suggested the "authentic Japanese Yakiniku houses" that my friends recommended, Akiko said, "That's where Americans go." I asked her where SHE goes, where a Japanese family would go. She asked if we'd like all the food we could eat. Sure. She sent us to Korakuen. She told me to be sure to try the Curry. We followed her directions and found it. We discovered it IS VIKING..... ::snort:: Korakuen in Japanese...Viking in English.

Duck, Josiah!

From 2010-01-09

This was fun! You grab a plate, pick out your raw meat, and cook it at your table.

From 2010-01-09

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I was going to snap a photo of all the veggies and meats on the grill; frankly we ate them before I remembered.

From 2010-01-09

This little dessert was wonderful, and surprisingly easy to eat with chopsticks.

Yes, the boys enjoyed this restaurant. The youngers found food to grill and loved the dessert selection.

From 2010-01-09

It was a bit spendy, but eating out anywhere around here runs us BIG BUCKS. At least here, they LOVED IT. Some are wondering...for an adult (12 and above) it was a bit more $15.30, for a child 6 - 11 it was $9.00 and for Stacia $4.50. This isn't bad for Japanese prices.

Because I simply can't post long without a toire (toilet) photo....check this out.
From 2010-01-09
First I sanitized my hands and thought it was oh so thoughtful of them to have the sanitizer right there in the stall. Then I realized it was meant to sanitize the toilet seat. ::snort::

JOSIAH & JAMIN ARE HOME!
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Adventuring in Mutsu Bay

We drove and drove yesterday. We had a lot of fun. We didn't arrive at any of our destinations....there was a construction crew that wouldn't let us access Shipwreck Beach and a BAD storm that hit as we drove up to Cape Shiriya. Yes, we had lots of snow this a.m. Here are some photos of our "aimless" wandering.

Isn't this gorgeous? Mutsu Bay
From 2010-01-09

This huge pile of gravel...
From 2010-01-09

...turned out to be shells.
From 2010-01-09

I tried to tell Josiah that Japan was "just like Big Spring, TX - windmills"
From 2010-01-09

We stopped to make a picnic lunch by the bay in Noheji
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When we got back to town, we stopped by Miss Veedol Memorial Beach....
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Did I mention it was snowing? ::snort::
From 2010-01-09

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My guys minus Jared
From 2010-01-09

My heart's desire is to find glass floats on the beaches while we're here. The family loves to tease me....taunt me...get my hopes up...only to dash them. ::snort::
From 2010-01-09

From 2010-01-09

Next, we headed to the Yakiniku house that Akiko recommends...but that's another post.

JOSIAH & JAMIN ARE HOME!
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Amusing Sign

This little sign would have been very helpful in the Tokyo airport. ::snort::
From 2010-01-08 Sannai-Maruyama Ruins
JOSIAH & JAMIN ARE HOME!
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...