Last Koriyama Update

I am sitting here in staggering humidity trying in vain to organize my thoughts for a coherent post. We have air condition but in most parts of the Tsuchiya's a surprising good cross breeze can be created taken cool air for the shaded side of the house. The computer room however takes its air from a baking cement patio on the second floor. I can only write so long as I can stand the heat.

I have to catch my train - the Shinkensen to be exact - to Tokyo just before lunch. It is always hard for me to leave the Tsuchiya house, I think I will listen to some sad music on the train and hopefully the extreme hustle and bustle of Tokyo will take my mind of the aching, just like when I said good-bye to my mom at Chitose - she on her way home and me on my way to Koriyama.

Yesterday, I went to Koriyama South Rotary meeting. I must say, Koriyama South Rotary Club meetings are not as funny as Stony Plain's. Not much has changed either. My speech went well but I think I have much more confidence speaking in English. This being Japan, the mic was placed too low and could not be moved higher, it was very uncomfortable. Everyone said they understood my meaning, even Okoshi-san, meant a lot. It was nice to see many friendly faces from six years ago.

I have placed a copy of my speech in Japanese below because it may be of interest to my Japanese readers. Basically in English it gives a basic outline of what I do in Shikaoi, that I graduated from university, how much of an honour it was to be hosted by the Koriyama Rotary Club, and finally that I promise to do my best.

下に私のこうり山ロータリスーピチです。読んでください。

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みな様。こんにちは。おひさしぶりです。６年ぶりにかえて来ました。今私は北海道の十勝の鹿追町にきょう年の９月から住んでいます。

鹿追では小学生たちに英語を教えています。すみません。毎日子供たちと遊んでたから、私が子供の日本語つかいます。

鹿追町のゆめいな事は私たちがやさいをそだてているから、鹿追町の学生たちたくさんやさいをたべていますそして、とても元気になります。

私の仕事が好きですそして、鹿追町のかんきょはけんこうてきだと思います。

６年まえに私は高校生でしたそして、カナダかえて大学をそつぎょしました。私はこうり山南RCがホストやくをしてくださった事がいかにすばらしく、めいよな事だったかをつたえしたいと思っていました。

私は日本の学生をけんこうでしあわせにする事、そして私がロータリのこうかんりゅ学生になった一番の理由である、この大きなせいかいをみじかな物にする事をちかいます。