Pan Asian Goes Global

I went trail running during the early hours on New Year's Day and got to see the first Sunrise of the year in Japan!  This was my first time doing trail running, and I believe it was also the first time I saw the first sunrise of the year in Japan! Watch my video below to see my adventure! お正月の早朝にトレールランニングをして、日本の初日の出を見ました！初めてトレールランニングをして、日本の初日の出を初めてしました。動画を見てください！

The Great Mosque of X'ian is one of the most beautiful Mosques - as well as the largest and one of the oldest Mosques in China.  This Mosque also holds a rich history in the development of Islam in China.  Here is a summary of its history, location, and architecture. Scroll to the bottom to read about my personal experience in Xi'an! You can also watch my youtube video below! The Great Mosque of Xi'an - The prayer hall History It is said that Islam first came to China in the 7th century when Muslim merchants first arrived. Sometime later, the Great Xi'an Mosque was built, in 742 AD during the Tang Dynasty. Xi'an was the capital of the Tang Dynasty and was a very populous city in the world during its time.  The Great Xi'an Mosque is also one of the first Mosques in China.  However, the current layout was developed towards the end of the 14th century during the Ming Dynasty. Great Mosque of Xi'an - Arabic Calligraphy Location - within the Muslim Quarter  The...

てがみ 作詞：TUN 作曲：TUN Lyrics: TUN Composition: TUN Video is "5 centimeters per second", a Japanese film, with "Tegami" as the audio. 見慣れた文字で君から手紙が届いた いつもの真っ白でキレイなシンプルな封筒 何度も何度もその手紙を読み返すよ 読めば読むほどに君のキモチがほら伝わるよ In familiar characters, your letter arrived Always in a blank, pretty, simple envelope I keep re-reading that letter over and over again The more I read it, the more your feelings are - look! - conveyed あの日ふたりは出会い同じ季節を歩く 春夏秋冬 どれも思い出すたびに思う ふたりで歩いた坂道や やたら狭い道 どれもこれも思い出は濃ゆすぎてならない On that day, the two of us met, and walked through the same season Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, whichever, every time I recall The hill road we walked on, the overly narrow road Each and every memory are all too deep 今なら君は振り向いてくれるかな あれから長い月日が経ったけど やっぱり恋には時効などないのかな 今日も君を後悔と共に思いながら I wonder if you're looking back right now Even though it's been so long since then I guess for love, there aren't things like time limitations ...

I can't find a video with the original audio file, so here's a cover version: 君の前から姿を消すって言ったのに きちんと姿を消せない僕はきっと半透明 他の誰かのとなりに居場所を見つければ ちゃんと消えられるはずなんだよ Although I said I'll vanish before you (*lit. = in front of you) I can't properly vanish, I'm definitely semi-transparent If you search for this belonging place beside a different person I was supposed to properly be able to erase you 君はきっと優しすぎて 僕はきっとそれを望みすぎて もう顔も見たくないと思うから 形も残らぬように You are definitely too kind I am definitely wanting this too much I already don't want to see your face anymore so I'll make it so that not even your figure is left 君の前から姿を消すって言ったのに 君の番号消せない僕はきっと半透明 他の誰かのとなりに居場所を見つければ ちゃんと消えられるはずなんだよ Although I said I'll vanish before you (*lit. = in front of you) I can't delete your number, I'm definitely semi-transparent If you search for this belonging place beside a different person I was supposed to properly be able to erase you 今も目を凝らせば 笑ってた君も泣いてた君も ...

*I will make another post regarding specific/objective information regarding Kumamoto Mosque, so stay tuned ^^ Kumamoto Mosque (Kumamoto Masjid) was a very special place for me while I lived in Kumamoto prefecture and still is. As soon as I got that email notifying me of my placement in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture, one of the very first things I did was google if there was a Mosque nearby. Fortunately, there was a Mosque in the capital, about 1.5 hours away from where I lived. I emailed the contact number given on the website, and received a reply from one of the *brothers that there was a *sisters' yahoo group (sisters and brothers is how we refer to our fellow Muslims ^^).  I was put in contact with an Indonesian sister.  She told me that there were a number of sisters at the Mosque, including a  Malaysian sister, and that they were looking forward to meeting me.  All of them lived close to the Masjid and Kumamoto University, where many of them went to...

This is the first time I'm spending Ramadan, and insyallah, Eid, in South East Asia/ a place where there are lots of other Muslims too ^^ I remember being the only Muslim kid in my class at elementary school, fasting, or the one whose mom made her a halal hot dog for hot dog day. So far, I've spent previous Ramadans and Eid in Vancouver, Korea, and Japan, alhamdulillah. Although it was sometimes difficult to find comfortable places to do my daily prayers in those locations , as Muslims are a minority there, there was usually a very strong bond among fellow Muslims. Mosques became like second-homes to me in all of those places - a place to comfortably do my prayers, meet fellow Muslims, find friends, and be a part of the local community. Especially during Ramadan, I would go to just one Mosque (more so in the case of Korea and Japan.. as the Mosque I went to was the only Mosque in the area), finding friendship and connection there. I miss the times I spent at Seoul Mosque and K...

Yatsushiro, Japan.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't remember Yatsushiro.  With Kumamon paraphernalia, school posters, and letters decorating my room, songs on my phone/laptop that have already become associated with my time there, and the memories that I carry with me wherever I go, how can I ever forget? It's March 9th today.  The name of one of the songs from Remioromen. It's a graduation song. Soon, my 3rd year Junior High School students will be graduating.  I remember. When I first taught them when they were in grade 6, three and a half years ago.  I saw these children grow into the teenagers they are today.  I loved the energy and joy that these students had.  They'll soon enter high school, beyond the realm of whatever influence I may have had. Soon, my grade sixes will graduate.  I remember.  When I told a particular class that I would be leaving them for good that summer.  How some of the students cried, h...

In April of my first year (so two semesters after I began JET), they added two schools to list of schools; 2 Kindergartens.  They are more just like visits as I only see each one twice a semester. However, that doesn't mean the kids are any less excited to see me just because they only see me twice a semester; in fact, I would say it's the opposite! When I have KG, I know that I'll be having a day full of energy, smiles, and at the very least, many hi-5s if not more, from these little balls of energy. Difference between KG in Japan vs Vancouver (and other parts of North America) In Japan, Kindergarten, or Yochien (幼稚園) in Japanese, is different than Kindergarten where I grew in Vancouver. 1) Kindergarten is its own separate school apart from Elementary school in Japan. In Vancouver, it's the grade preceding grade one, but still within elementary school. 2) Kindergarten covers 3 distinct levels in Japan. Nenchou (年長) - kids turning 6 in this school year Nenc...

月曜日、ラマダンが始まって、私が夏に帰るのを生徒にも伝え始めました。 小学校Bの６年生に伝えた時、一人の女の子が泣いてきました。その子を見て、私も熱いものが込み上げてきました。その後、他の女の子もほとんど泣きました。先生として、皆を元気付けようとして、「（昼休みの鬼ごっこで）私よりもっと速い人がいますか？」と彼らに尋ねました。鬼ごっこを始める前に女の子達からいくつの手紙をもらいました。一人が「 私はマナ先生は私たちが卒業するまでいっしょにいてほしかったです。。まだ２ヶ月くらいあるのになみだがとまりませんでした 」と書いていました。 心が。。。 引っ越しの準備の間、心の準備をするのはなんかつらいです。 On Monday, Ramadan started and I also started telling my students I am leaving this summer. When I told the grade 6s at Elementary School B, one girl started crying. Looking at her made me teary-eyed too. Soon after, most of the other girls started crying as well. As a teacher, I wanted to try to cheer them up, so I asked them "Is there anyone faster than me!?" in regards to playing tag during the lunch break. Before we played tag, I got a number of letters from the girls. One girl wrote " I wanted you to be with us until we graduated... Although there's still about 2 months, my tears haven't stopped ". My heart... Among the things on...

月曜日、八代のALTとして、最後の運動会（小学校）を見に行きました。もともと、日曜日にするはずだったけど、雨が降って、月曜日になりました。でも、月曜日は中学校で働いているので、行けないだろうと思いました。でも、聞いてみたら、ちょっと年休を取れたので、少しだけですが、私の二ヶ所の小学校の運動会を見に行きました。 中学校の運動会は普通は５月だけど、今年から１０月にする予定なので、もう見れなくなりました T.T。去年、小学校の運動会の日の前の日私が引っ越した(アパート、ずっと八代）のですが、引っ越し業者が遅く来て、運動会の日はまだバタバタしていたので、少しだけしか見れなかった。なので、去年の運動会から、ずっと、ぜひぜひぜひ、今年は一日中運動会に行く！！！と思っていたので、こういう風にしました。少しだけど、最後の運動会見られて、良かったです！  その他にも、中学校で、だいぶ忙しく楽しい日でした！特別支援の授業で、生徒と先生に  英語掲示板を見せて、カナダとシンガポール（掲示板の内容）に興味があるようでした！昼休みに、今年の最初のEnglish　Clubがありました！朝、一人の先生が中学校一年生１０人が興味がありそうだと言って、その後、違う先生が中学校一年生２０人に興味がありそうだと言いました。結局、新メンバーは４人だけど、嬉しいです！その４人は可愛行くて素敵な中学校一年生の男の子です！  残り時間はもう。。２ヶ月間ぐらいになって、あという間ですけど、最後まで頑張りたいと思います！！ 英語掲示板　（English Board) On Monday,  I went to the last sports undoukai (sports festival) as a Yatsushiro ALT.  Originally, the undoukai was supposed to happen on Sunday, but it rained, and the undoukai was moved to Monday instead.  But, because I had work at my Junior High School, I didn't think I could go....

３年前のこの時期だった。 JET programmeの合格通知メールをもらった。今でもその日を覚えてる。 それまで毎日何回もメールをチェックしていたが、合否を知らせるメールが来ていなかったので、もうメールが来ないんだぁ気がしていたが、その時届いたメールをくせでまた開いた。 その時、大学の最後の月で校内のコンピューター室にいた。 合格メールだった！ 超嬉しくて、涙が出そうだった。で、最後のEAL programの会議があって、いつもコーディネーターが皆に最近の報告や報告したいニュースがあるか訪ねていてので、そのとても嬉しいニュースを発表して、EALプログラムでならったスキールズを現実にできるので良かったと思った。 合格通知を受けてすぐ誰かと喜びを共有できて、良かった。 その年聞いたこの歌は今も記憶に残っている。 It was 3 years, at this time. I got the email saying I got into JET. I still remember that day, even now. Until then, I was checking my email multiple times a day but I still didn't get the email saying whether I got in or not. I felt like, this email is just not going come!, but out of habit, I checked my email again.. At that time, it was my last month at my univirsity, and  I was in the school computer lab. I got the email saying I got in! I was so happy that I felt I could cry.  Then, I had the very last meeting for the EAL program. The coordinator always asks us what we have been up to and if ...