Summer in Seattle: Sun, Field Trips and Festivals

Independence Day
Summer finally arrived, but two days late. Our unusually cool-cloudy-drizzly weather continued through July 5th, and since July 6th we have had no rain, with warm sunshine everyday. So on July Fourth – Independence Day – everyone had to endure cool temperatures and some light showers at their picnics, barbecues and fireworks celebrations. Fortunately, at the big fireworks festival at Gasworks Park in Seattle, the rain stopped before dark, so the fireworks could go off on schedule.

Strawberry Picking
After we finally got a few days of warm sunshine, I took a few students to a strawberry field to catch the end of the strawberry-picking season. Perhaps because it had been cool for most of June, the strawberries were not very big, but they were sweet and juicy.

World Culture Projects
One of the highlights of ESL classes this quarter is a group learning project in which the teaching assistants from various countries teach the HTC students, in small groups, about their home countries – history, social culture, music, dance, native clothing, food, language, etc. Then the students present the information they have learned to the rest of the class. We had presentations about Hong Kong, South Korea, Gambia, Iowa (USA), Vietnam and Indonesia.

Hiking on Mount Rainier
In mid-July, our Edmonds students and Shoreline students, on separate days, went hiking on Mount Rainier – the highest mountain in Washington and the symbol of our state. The peak is around 4400 meters, but the elevation where we hiked was around 2000 meters. We took a three-hour course, with spectacular views of glacier-covered mountains everywhere. We also saw some unique wildflowers and animals, such as chipmunks, marmots, and deer. Because of our long, cool spring this year, there was a lot more snow on the hiking course than in most years, which made the steep parts of the trail somewhat precarious – one slip could send you sliding down about a hundred feet! But no one slipped or got injured. However, some students did seem rather shaken by the experience.

Seafair Festivals
Seattle has various festivals here and there throughout the summer, collectively known as “Seafair”. Our students have enjoyed the Bite of Seattle (food festival), Indian pow wow (intertribal song and dance competition), and Japanese Bon Odori. On July 31 several students will enter the 8 km Torchlight Run which goes through the downtown streets at sunset, just before the Torchlight Parade. The climax of Seafair is the Blue Angels (US Navy fighter jets) Air Show and hydroplane races at Lake Washington on August 6 through 8.

Lake Party
Last weekend, many of our Shoreline students enjoyed a day of brilliant sunshine, fantastic views of Mount Rainier and Lake Washington, and various water sports, preceded by a delicious lunch, at the annual summer Lake Party of the Rock Talk conversation group. Everyone had a great time swimming, jet-skiing, and riding in a motor boat, or getting pulled behind the boat at high-speed in a floatation device.

Short-Program Groups from HTC Tokyo and Osaka
In mid- to late-July, we had student groups from the Tokyo school (Travel and Railroad majors – 46 students), and then a combined group of Airport majors from the Tokyo and Osaka schools (24 students) who came to participate in an ESL/homestay/travel program at the Edmonds campus for about one week each. During their stay, they studied English with Edmonds ESL teachers for half the day, and visited various Seattle tourist spots in the afternoons. The Railroad majors did not do homestays, but rather stayed in the newly constructed campus apartments. Their time here was so brief, but filled with activity, so I am sure they all have good memories of their few days in Seattle.

Neal Colodner
July 29, 2010

Visiting the nursing home

I visited the nursing home to introduce Japanese culture with a teacher and two friends. Firstly, Ryoko, who is one of our teachers, took us to there. It took about 45 min from our school. Ryoko dressed Kimono, and my friend dressed Yukata already. Both are one of Japanese traditional dresses. When we arrived there, I was surprised because the nursing home looked like a castle. And then we entered there and I wore Jinbei, which is also one of Japanese clothes. Finally, we had an interview the elderly and we introduced ourselves. After self-introduction we introduced one of Japanese traditional culture at once. It was Origami. At first we showed various works to the people. After that we taught how to hold Origami.

Needless to say, the conversation was English as they were Australian. I thought I could manage to communicate in English as the elderly spoke English very slowly. Anyway the elderly was interested in Origami and our dresses. So I was really glad to visit there.

Teaching Origami to old people in English was very difficult for me. But it was a good practice to study English for me. And also I could have a good experience. i want to visit there again if I have an opportunity.

Sarucch ( Melbourne )

My holiday

Hello. I’m Emiko who is one of Koala-blogger.
The weather in Melbourne is getting colder and colder day by day.
At the same time, my appetite is getting better.
There are many things that I want to talk you but I’ll tell you about a trip during my holiday. I joined a bus tour whoever students in Moorabbin, Chadstone and Waverley Campus can apply. The trip was Sydney and Gold Coast for 9 days and I went there with other Trajal students. The cost was $640(about 62,000yen), including breakfast and dinner for 8 days and accommodation.
On our way to Sydney, we spent nice time on the bus because staffs prepared some games and DVDs for us. Some winners on the game got wonderful prizes such as stuffed animals, bags and snacks. Unfortunately, I’ve never taken a prize. But one of guy who won the game gave me a lovely bag. It was lucky for me^^

Surfers Paradise, Blue Mountain, Harbor Bridge were much more beautiful than pictures on a book. That’s why I was excited the nice view. However for me the most impressive place is Opera House. It was a tight schedule on the day and we kept on moving until night. After we had a breakfast, we left our accommodation for Opera House. It took 30 minutes. Everyone slept like a log on the bus. But sleep has gone the moment we arrived at Opera House. After we observed it a little together, we rode on ship. We wore sunglasses to protect our eyes from the strong sunshine but the temperature on the day was 6 degree!!
It was cold and windy on the ship. We took many pictures there, fighting against windy and the swing of the ship. After we rode off ship, I ate sandwich, walking along shops. Then a bird came straight at my sandwich and took it!!



While we stayed at Sydney, World-Cup was held. We found a big screen to watch the match that soccer team in Japan may precede 8 places! We had my cheek painted for free and we all cheered until 2 p.m. It was a freezing cold but we had a lot of fun!



Through this trip, I met new people and made nice friends^^

I had amazing time on the trip.
See you.

Emiko ( Melbourne )

Hello My name is Shunsuke！

You know- I have been here for three months. How fast the time passes!! Don’t worry. Our English is improving. …I believe.

We came here and changed variously. For example, I saw the shooting star too much and lost the sense of values but we felt the importance of our parents.

I saw UFO…

The first semester ended on the 25th! It was really good class-^^ Companion who cross the border… Yes!! This is it!! Incidentally, I was only a man in my class!

At last, the holiday started on the 26th. Each of us goes on a trip and we will enjoy holiday!. Next koara bloger is CHINAMI !! Good job (for myself)

Shunsuke (Melbourne)

Hello! I'm Chinami

Hello! I’m Chinami who is Koara blogger. We had a good time today, so I’d like to write about it. Some of the trajal students went to Disney on Ice with Ryoko and Mariko.

The hall was very big and there were a lot of people.
There were many girls who were wearing dress of princess as well. They were so cute !!!!!!!! The show was so cute and we enjoyed it. The time passed 2 hours quickly, it was really like a dream world ! We took many pictures and shouted for joy. Everyone was excited all the time. I think we were enjoying it more than children around us.

After that we were hungry, so we went to Vietnamese restaurant which is recommended by teachers. We ordered a lot of food but it was $10 per person X) Asian food in Australia is very very delicious because they are cooked by local people. We were satisfied!!!!!

We went to the city for shopping before travelling to Gold Coast after we left teachers. You know, we are going to wear bikini in Gold Coast, so we stood not to eat cakes… Australian sweets are so cute and look delicious !!!!! We are really looking for to traveling :-) Next Koara blogger is Emiko !!
See you later. Bye ^^

Chinami (Melbourne)

Here comes summer…

In late-May, just before the Memorial Day 3-day weekend, the Shoreline students visited the local elementary school to share Japanese culture with kindergarten students. We were all impressed by the children’s enthusiasm and curiosity in learning from Japanese college students. None of them seemed shy at all.
In mid-June we had Quarter Break – a vacation between quarters of about ten days. Many students made their first attempt at individual travel in America, going places like Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Afterward, we learned that some of them had various problems on their trips, like missed flights, no-show tour buses, etc, but the students had the courage and determination to handle the problems on their own, without calling school staff for help. Experience is the best teacher, as they say.
At the beginning of Quarter Break, twenty-seven of our Shoreline students joined a river rafting trip sponsored by the college. Quite fortunately, the weather that day was gorgeous – blue skies, bright sunshine and warm breezes. On the way to the river, we stopped in the mountain village of Leavenworth, also known as “Bavarian Village” because its architecture, food, music, and businesses portray the culture of German or Swiss mountain villages. Then we headed to the nearby Wenatchee River for the rafting trip. Because June had been quite rainy until then, the water level was high, making for a wild ride! The waves in the rapids were high and everybody got soaked. Many people even got thrown into the water by the wild waves. (The water was really cold!) Nobody got hurt, but two of our students’ eyeglasses were washed away.
Just before the Quarter Break, Edmonds Community College had a ceremony to unveil a plaque acknowledging the contributions of Jimmy Moritani to the college’s International Programs.
　Last week Summer Quarter began. It seems some students are still in “vacation mode” – having trouble getting up on time for class, and concentrating. But I am sure they will readjust. As we enter July, everyone is looking forward to the many summer festivals of Seattle, starting with the Independence Day fireworks at Gasworks Park on Lake Union in Seattle. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.

Neal Colodner
June 30, 2010