Memories: The Sushi Lunch

Photos and text by Michele Bourdieu

Welcome back, students! Here are some photos that may bring back a memory of last semester -- the delicious sushi lunch you prepared for us in February 2008. Finlandia instructor Suzanne VanDam generously offered her kitchen and dining room for the occasion.

Three cooks, from left, Daniel, Toshi and Kazuki prepare some cucumbers for the sushi. (Click on photos for larger versions.)

Nick, Gustavo and Kana check on the rice cooking.

Kumiko and Cassie are proud of their Japanese omelette!

Kumiko prepares to demonstrate for Cassie and Suzanne how sushi is rolled with the little mat.

And here's how it's done ...

Cassie gives it a try.

More cooks get into the sushi making.

Toshi, Kana and Kazuki add their contributions.

Here's the whole crew, ready for the feast!

Finlandia students participate in MTU's indoor soccer tournament

By Toshi Mita

HOUGHTON, MI -- Daniel and I participated for a month in the Spring 2008 Michigan Tech University indoor soccer tournament, which included a variety of teams. At first the program started with a group league; after that, more great teams competed in the group league. Finally, only good grade teams matched in the semi-final and final games of the tournament.

Toshi, back row, left, poses with his soccer teammates in the MTU gym: back row, from left, Ankha (Mongolia), Annie (U.S.A.), Diego (Argentina) and front row, from left, a friend from China, Brian (U.S.A.), Juan (Colombia), and Daniel (Panama).

They had Divisions A, B, and C. I was a member of the international team in Division A, which was the best of the three divisions. A lot of teams participated in the tournament. My team had players from a variety of countries. For example, there were Chinese, Mongolian, Colombian, Argentine, American, Panamanian and Japanese players.

Some of Toshi's Finlandia friends came to the MTU gym to cheer for the team. Pictured with him here are, from left, Brittany, Sami, and Samantha. (Photos courtesy Toshi Mita)

At first it was very hard for me to play soccer with them, because their languages were different. Moreover, I couldn’t speak English very well. So I tried to talk to them with only soccer terms. The biggest problem was that everyone’s thinking was different. I thought that play didn’t go the way I wanted it to; however, time solved the problem. As we continued to play soccer together, our play went more smoothly. I thought that it was especially good in the semi-finals and finals, because we wanted seriously to be a champion team.

Finally, we became a champion of the Division-A!! It was a very good opportunity to see everybody, to speak English, and to make many friends. I won’t forget the memory. I’m happy still now!!

ESL students attend MTU Earth Week event with author Katie Alvord

By Michele Bourdieu, ESL Reading Instructor

HOUGHTON -- After reading prize-winning author Katie Alvord's articles on climate change published on Keweenaw Now, Finlandia's ESL students attended researcher Rolf Peterson's Earth Week presentation at Michigan Tech University and met with Katie afterwards for a discussion.

Peterson spoke about his work with the Wolf-Moose Study on Isle Royale, which is one of the topics included in Katie Alvord's articles on the effects of global warming in the Lake Superior Basin.

Rolf Peterson, Michigan Tech University professor and renowned researcher, gives a slide presentation and talk on his Isle Royale Wolf-Moose study during MTU's 2008 Earth Week celebration in March. Finlandia ESL students attended the presentation. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo by Michele Bourdieu)

In addition to reading about climate change, students had also discussed this and other environmental topics in their conversation class with Finlandia instructor, Suzanne Van Dam, who drove the group to MTU in a Finlandia van. After the talk, author Katie Alvord met with the students and their instructors for an informal discussion at the Library Restaurant in Houghton.

Pictured here during their discussion with prize-winning author Katie Alvord, third from left, and Instructor Suzanne Van Dam, fifth from left, are ESL students, from left, Daniel Rodriguez, Toshi Mita, Takaaki Niikura (Nick), Kumiko Takahashi, Kana Ito and Kazuki Nishiyama. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo by Michele Bourdieu)

The students all asked thoughtful questions, and Katie even rode back to Hancock in the van with them to continue the discussion.

Katie Alvord, the author of Divorce Your Car! Ending the Love Affair with the Automobile, is among the winners of the 2007 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Journalism Awards. She received her award ($3000 and a plaque from AAAS) in the category of online journalism. Her articles can be accessed from the links on the archived Keweenaw Now Web site. Visit her blog at http://katiealvord.blogspot.com.

Congratulations to 2008 graduates!

HANCOCK -- Four Japanese students were among the 123 Finlandia students who received diplomas during the Class of 2008 Commencement exercises at Finlandia University Apr. 27, 2008.

Finlandia ESL Blog sends congratulations to the following students: Taichiro Ishizaka, B.B.A. (International Business); Rei Kuroyanagi, A.A.S. (General Studies); Maiko Ota, A.A.S. (General Studies); and Sho Onoda, A.A.S. (General Studies). Good luck to all of you in your future studies and careers!

Editor's note to our readers: If anyone has a photo of these 4 students at graduation, we will be glad to post it. Please email it to andersm2@sbcglobal.net and include a caption identifying the students with their names, and, if possible, their home towns in Japan.

First "Finlandia Fusion" festival: Apr. 20, 2008

HANCOCK -- International students participated in the first "Finlandia Fusion" art and music festival held on Apr. 20, 2008 at Finlandia's Portage Campus (location of the International School of Art and Design). Visitors tasted our Japanese specialties, Finnish sweet rolls, Tanzanian doughnuts, grilled hot dogs and bratwurst, great Finnish coffee and special tea.

Pictured here at the "Finlandia Fusion" international students' food booth are, from left, front row: Mai and Kazuki; back row: Rei, Nick, Kumiko, Maiko and Kana. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo by Gustavo Bourdieu)

Kumiko teaches a "Fusion" visitor how to say her name in Japanese. (Photo by Takaaki [Nick] Niikura)

Behind the scenes "Fusion" food preparation: International students, from left, Maiko, Salome and Kana prepare "Mandaze," Tanzanian doughnuts. (Photo by Takaaki [Nick] Niikura)

The free, all-day "Fusion" festival also included arts and crafts booths, music and demonstrations. Proceeds from the event will help Finlandia art and design students attend the 2009 Self-Employment in the Arts conference in Chicago .

My Favorite Touring Day

By Takaaki Niikura (Nick)

I often go to Daikanzan rest area in my spare time to refresh my spirits. The spot is located in Hakone, a famous sight-seeing spot in Japan that is also well-known to foreign tourists. It takes one hour to get there from my house by motorcycle.

First, especially in summer, I usually get up at 5 a.m. and leave my home for the Daikanzan at 6 a.m. In the early morning, the air is a little cool and invigorating. I start the engine of my motorcycle, and then I smoke a cigarette until the bike has warmed up and is ready to go. I like the smell of cigarettes and exhaust gas mixed up. The sound of my motor cycle is loud and low like road working, so I have to leave as soon as possible after I smoke because my families and neighbors are still sleeping.

Most of the way, the roads run along the coast. I can see the sun rise over the ocean, and the sunlight of the surface looks as if it is a road to heaven. After 30 minutes driving, there is a mountain pass. In autumn, the trees along the side of the road change their colors like scattered beads. At the top of the mountain is the Daikanzan rest area.

Then I buy a canned coffee and smoke a tobacco again. I can see Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan and the national symbol. Under my eyes, there is Lake Ashi. It is also very pretty. The sight is like a picture postcard. The smell there is fresh because the trees are just breathing out. While I smoke and see the sight, I feel my nerves calm down.

After a rest, I ride the motorcycle again and go down the pass where I went up. Then my spirits change, beginning to be aggressive like a forest fire; and I attack the curves with fast speed. Then my motorcycle’s engine is howling, and I also sometimes shout in my helmet when I nearly have an accident. The road is not wide and has many blind corners, so I sometimes come close to dying. I repeat up and down the pass about one to two hours. When the traffic gets heavy on the pass, I take some rest in the rest area and calm down again. Finally, I go back to my house.

After arriving at my house, I start to wash my motorcycle with my heart of thanks to my motorcycle. Then I feel like I also clean my dirty heart. At last, I put gas in the tank at a service station, and the day ends.

To conclude, I like my motorcycle and touring by motorcycle. When I sink into low spirits, it lifts me. When I already feel good, it makes me even happier. It is also the most effective stress relief method for me. After I graduate from the university I will go back to Japan, and soon I will get a new motorcycle.

Editor's Note: Nick wrote this article for Suzanne Van Dam's ESL Writing class.

Taking Care of Children

By Kumiko Takahashi

I have worked at a Child Care Center as a volunteer in both the U.S. and Japan. Through these experiences I realized that there are quite a few differences in ways of taking care of children at preschool, such as wearing uniforms, playing outside, or making children eat many kinds of food. These are differences of culture, character, and ways of thinking in the two countries.

First, children don’t wear a uniform for school in the U.S., whereas they do in Japan; children wear a hat, a jacket and pants. The design of the uniform usually depends on the school. It is from the Japanese character that people value unity.

Uniforms also show which school the children belong to.

In contrast, children wear whatever they want for school in the U.S. Americans value expression of identity more than unity.

Next, there are differences in the ways children play and in their toys. In Japan, people prefer to make children play outside instead of staying indoors. In addition, children usually play without any equipment -- games such as footrace, hide and seek, or push and shove. These activities make children strong and sturdy.

In the U.S. people use familiar equipment like a computer. It is good to teach children how to use a computer because they’ll have to know how to use it for their future or their jobs, although people don’t teach it to children in Japan.

There is one more small difference between the two countries. In the U.S when children want to draw something, they use markers. It’s easy to draw, and they can paint themselves for fun. The markers’ bright colors make children more creative.

In addition, these markers use water-based ink, which washes out easily. On the other hand, in Japan, children use crayons or colored pencils to draw. When they use pencils, for example, they can learn how to sharpen a pencil. Although they can’t draw or paint on their hand with these items, their hands will be cleaner than they would be if they used markers

Finally, there is a difference in the lunch time. In Japan, when a child refuses to eat food he or she dislikes, such as carrots, onions, or green peas, teachers try to persuade and make the child eat them. On the other hand, in the U.S., teachers don’t even serve it if children complain about the food. Japanese teachers try to make children’s dislikes less and less, but American teachers think that it’s part of the child’s character.

These are very small differences, but are very interesting too. I think both approaches are good for taking care of children because both Japanese and American ways of teaching have good points, and both groups of teachers think about children carefully. Whatever ways people choose to take care of chilren, thinking about children’s growth or future and teaching them the right things are most important.

Editor's Note: This year Kumiko Takahashi worked several hours a week as a volunteer for the BHK Child Care Center at the Ryan School, Hancock. Kumiko wrote this essay for Suzanne Van Dam's ESL Writing Class during spring semester.