Houghton County Fair: August 28, 2009

HANCOCK -- And it's hey, ho, come to the Fair! Our first field trip this Fall semester was a visit to the Houghton County Fair in Hancock. The weather was a little damp, but the rain actually stopped for most of the time we were there. Thanks to Suzanne for driving the van!

Is that Ji, far left, ready to take photos of the jugglers? They were entertaining the kids in the 4-H exhibit hall. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photos by Michele and Gustavo Bourdieu)

That brave little kid volunteered to be in the middle!

These guys ride unicycles, too.

Leo, Ma and Ji admire the prize-winning roosters, hens and rabbits.

Here are some blue-ribbon winners showing off! Cock-a-doodle-doo! How would you like one of these as an alarm clock in the morning?

Ray takes a photo of a prize-winning bird. ESL tutor Pamela Kotila joined us for the trip to the Fair.

And it's on to the large-animal exhibit. This cow must be one of the largest ...

... along with the big work horse Ray and Gustavo are admiring.

The special exhibit this year was a visit by Australian animals. Kangaroo-watching, anyone?

Ji and Ma take a ride on the ferris wheel, a favorite ride at the County Fair!

And here they are again -- with the Queen of the Fair!

This ghostly piano player was a little early for Halloween!

Time for coffee and hot chocolate at the chalet before heading back to Finlandia Hall ... Everyone is here: Front table, from left, Gustavo, Suzanne, Ji and Ma; left, rear table, Airi, Lei and Pamela; center, rear table, Naoya, Ray and Leo.

Editor's Note: Students, if you have a favorite photo of the Fair you want me to post here, please email it to me.

Welcome, new ESL students!

In August 2009 we welcomed our new ESL students for Fall semester. Here are six of them in Michele's ESL Reading class the first week of the semester ...

Our new ESL students are, from left, Rei Hirakawa, Ryosuki Arai, Airi Natsumushi, Ji Zhou, Rui Pan and Yongjun Ma. Not pictured because he had already taken off for soccer practice is Naoya Matsuura. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo by Michele Bourdieu)

More memories: International Club party, April 2009

What do you know! More memories of Spring 2009 semester -- some photos of the International Club party on April 22 -- Earth Day!

Celebrating Earth Day with some healthy food are Kumiko Takahashi, second from right, and her friend Amanda Moyer, right, serving a Japanese dish. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photos by Michele)

Whatever that dish is, Kazuki seems to like it!

Kazuki, still eating, with Toshi, enjoying the fiesta.

Two students from Michele's English 103 class, Drew, left, and Paivi, join Sarah, foreground, one of Finlandia's best lifeguards!

Here's Salome, serving up a Tanzanian dish from her country ...

It's Kazuki in action -- digesting all that food with a game of ping pong.

Memories of last April: Pep Band concert

After hunting through some photo files, the ESL Blog editor found these memories of the Pep Band concert in Finlandia Hall April 9, 2009. Three of our international students participated: Toshi Mita on guitar, Kumiko Takahashi on keyboard and Kazuki Nishiyama on drums.

First, listen to a sample from our dedicated jazz musicians:

If anyone remembers the name of this piece, please post a comment and let us know! (Video and photos by Michele Bourdieu)

Toshi on guitar, and Kumiko on keyboard, with Kazuki, hidden in back, on drums join other Finlandia and Michigan Tech students for the concert.



The bandleader presents Toshi with a souvenir gift.


Kazuki and Kumiko also receive thanks and gifts from the bandleader.