{Japanese Yubikan from 1692 that I visited at Iwadeyama Osaki JAPAN, collapsed by earthquake}

Got some sad news about one of Japan's national historic sites, the Yubikan at Iwadeyama Osaki, collapsed by the earthquake. On July 12 of 2007 I did visit here... This historic building was from 1692 and it was the oldest place for academic activity in Japan. I call myself very fortunate for having been to this place as a chaperon and team leader, during our cultural exchange trip to our Sister-City of Osaki in JAPAN. See my previous blog with {News from Our Sister-City Osaki in JAPAN}.

Squatting down as to not obstruct the view of this ancient building...

The Japanese garden has trees that are over 300 years of age. Together with the big pond it was a beautiful site to visit and that's what we did, we walked and also entered the building. You can see the Osaki City Official Website by clicking on the hyperlink.

This is the image that I got today from our International Association of Osaki City's chairman in Japan via Facebook. He got the tap water coming to his house on Saturday so he could take a bath. They still have difficulty buying gasoline though.

The Japanese photographers made us squatt down slightly as to not obstruct the beautiful building; rightly so!

Now let's enter this special place for family education, after first removing our shoes...

That day I was wearing my barrett with sunflower for a purpose, as the town of Sanbongi, where we lived with our host families, does sunflower farming and  has about 420,000 sunflowers on Sunflower hill during the summer. Read more here: Sunflower Hill.

Okay, let's get on the bus and visit the Bamboo Arts Workshop before lunch. In the afternoon we did go into the mountains where the hot springs are. Beautiful scenery all over.

We all got our apron and a sharp knife to cut some bamboo, in order to make a kind of a propeller on a stick that you rub between your hands and it takes off...

Learning the tricks of the trade; the sad part was that we moved on and thus my skills lasted only very briefly.

Almost done...

It yielded me two bamboo propellers and they ended up with our family in Germany, in the Eifel...

{News from Our Sister-City Osaki in JAPAN + Join NISSAN with Donation!}

• It was with great joy to receive an email in the morning from our YKK contact person who finally got through to the little town of Sanbongi, part of Osaki City. 
• In July of 2007 I had the honor being one of two chaperons with six students from Dublin, Georgia to Japan. 
• We have already contact since October 1998 and every other year we send students there or we receive students form our sister city Osaki. 
• It is such a great cultural exchange and after a stay in Tokyo we went to the north east for a stay with our host families. 
• That is so unique, far different from a hotel stay. 
• We did lots of sight seeing in the north east area, visiting gardens, shrines etc. etc. 
• The usual things one can enjoy in this great country. 
• Their courtesy and respect for others, for nature and for life in general is something we all can learn from. 
• They are an example to the world. Some negative news by the leftist media in regard to nuclear power plants should be put to rest too. 
• If all those people that talk about it and help spread those rumors, would do their own homework, they would soon learn that those levels are not life threatening. 
• On a transatlantic flight you get quite some radiation and nobody talks about that.  
• Nuclear energy is still by far the cleanest and safest energy there is! 

• This is the Miyagi Prefecture (State) with Sendai being the hardest hit. 
• Our stay was in Osaki, more inland and that's precisely why there was not much damage compared to the areas near the coast. 
• They did not have electricity for one week; that's why they couldn't send or receive emails prior to yesterday.

• View from the Tokyo Tower where we first went on our city tour and harbor cruise. It was rather hazy that day but nevertheless quite impressive.

• Here I am in front of Tokyo's Hard Rock Cafe, with a lady from YKK research. 
• We had dinner there and the group had a blast.

• On the roof  of the YKK research center in Tokyo before departure by train to the north to our host families. 

• Reading from Romaji and my co-chaperon doing the English version, that's how I presented the gifts for the mayor, the chairman of their International Association and later to the manager of the Tohoku YKK plant. 
• A dear friend who has worked and lived in Japan, provided me with this text and he did over-hear me before I went to Japan. 
• As I'm used to speaking for groups, having been an international consultant and giving training seminars, I didn't need a microphone.

• Here I present the gifts, that I'd purchased at our flagship department store Neiman Marcus. 
• They did provide me with their signature gift boxes as well. 
• Japanese do appreciate high quality items.

• Meeting my host. By the way, I got introduced as an energetic Mama...

• The Chef from a traditional Japanese restaurant in Furukuwa. I ate whale for the very first time. 
• With our boss, my husband and I have eaten several times Japanese at Sumire Restaurant in the Grand Hyatt Jakarta Hotel in Indonesia.
• We both love it very much. 
• Eating with chopsticks is no problem for me either as I did that for years in Indonesia, while doing consulting work and living there for about 3 years. 
• Japanese chopsticks are only shorter.

• Each of us had to say something about our stay and our experiences, or highlights, at the Sayonara party. 
• Also the host family got to say something about their guest(s) as some had two students and even three.

• One last photo with my host family and off we went in the morning, by train back to Tokyo. 
• Another adventure was that a Typhoon was striking Japan and our Delta flight was delayed by one day and the hotels in Tokyo were overbooked, so we had to split up our group. 
• During the train ride I made up my mind though, that we would depart that very day instead. 
• Delta airlines handled it great as we got it done over the phone and by mentioning that I had to get my six minors back home safely. 
• The problem was that there were two holidays in Japan, thus flights already overbooked. 
• Also the fact that the group would be split up was not something I liked. 
• We got out, running to the gate and having to skip lunch but that was okay. 
• The Typhoon hit and there was an earthquake with a mini Tsunami. 
• Nothing compared with this monster Tsunami... but who would know in advance? 
• Parents were all pleased to see their son/daughter back safe. 
• I'd emailed my husband Pieter and our YKK contact person who organized everything in the US as far as informing the families. 
• My last email read: 'If you don't hear from me anymore; that means we are in the air' and also forwarding our flight numbers to them...

• Back home in Dublin I could present our mayor with the new flag from Osaki as several towns had merged into Osaki City.

• Only one year later, in 2008, we could welcome a Japanese delegation back to Dublin. Under Police escort they are being met at the Interstate (Autobahn/Autostrada) and a big welcome sign is on the overpass.

• Here we are with our house guest; one of the chaperons.

• Together with two other members of the International Committee I did join these Japanese students  on a trip to Savannah and to the beach... HAPPY TIMES!

• Let me end this post with this nobel act by Nissan as they donated $ 1,000,000 and will match again the next $ 500,000 in contributions. Here is (was) the link for donating and I hope that many of you will join me! Thank you! ありがとうございます on behalf of our Japanese friends that need us more than ever...

{Our last Datura Angel's Trumpets and TEA with a Twist}

Today we just had three beautiful almost white Angel's Trumpet flowers from the Datura.
Its botanical name is: Datura inoxia var. quinquecuspida. Common names: devil's trumpet, downy thornapple, toloache, angel's trumpet. Family: Solanaceae (nightshade Family).
Since it was a rather dark day, I took them out on the balcony for the photos.
Are those blooms not wonderful? Greenhouse blossoms for now...

We got these fragrant beauties from Logee's in Connecticut.

On Friday I did receive my two personalized Tea books from +Lisa Boalt Richardson as she just had gotten back from her Taiwan and Japan trip.
On the above hyperlink you can read her blog about Lisa knows tea.

Made myself a cup of Dutch Mango tea; one of my favorite blends from Douwe Egberts Pickwick.
It didn't quite go together with the Japanese earthenware Kyusu teapot for green tea...
That was a July 2007 gift, from my Japanese host family in Osaki, together with the lacquered round wooden tray.

This is the 360 ml special earthenware Japanese Kyusu teapot for green tea.
The table runner is also from Japan.
Stay tuned as I will write about more travels later...

The teacup is Japanese as well, Pieter did bring it home from an antique shop in London, while on a business trip. The silver rose spoon on its saucer is one of my favorites. Certainly Johanna from Silber-und-Rosen-Shop would love this one, as she wrote the book about Silver Rose Flatware: Rosen-Bestecke. That is another book that I cherish very much!

These books will be great to use with the ladies for my classes, just pouring over them...

Tea with a Twist

 Great Christmas Gifts!

If you are cold, tea will warm you

If you are too heated, it will cool you

If you are depressed, it will cheer you

If you are excited, it will calm you

Gladstone, 1865

Related links:

{Angel's Trumpet}| previous post by me
{Our Datura Angel's Trumpets} | previous post by me
BRUGMANSIAS and DATURAS | interesting info!