Greetings to all, It has been such a long day. I was up at 3am to go to  the Tokyo Fish Market, the biggest fish market in the world. I think I remember reading that over $25 million dollars of fish are sold there every day it is open. It is unbelievable HUGE! I saw all sorts of sea life. There were clams spitting at me, fish with the biggest eyes, huge tuna (thats one of the pictures I am attaching), eels still wriggling, and so much more. We stayed until about 5:30 so we could see part of the auction. WOW! I have never taken so many pictures of fish!

Today was a day of lectures. We learned about the Japanese government, education, and economy from some very important Japanese officials. It was informative but so hard to stay alert due to being up so early. Unbelievably, when the lectures were over I met a large group of us and went to shop. We traveled on the subway (so clean and so BUSY - people everywhere!) to a different part of Tokyo to find what we would call a thrift store. In one section, they had used kimonos. I bought two beautiful obis (the sash that goes around the waist) and a kimono (ok, John, start thinking where we can hang it). We then find a really nice little restaurant that was down in the basement of a building. We had sushi, tempura, and many other native dishes. Really a nice way to end the day. Tonight, I am across the street at the Kinkos in the Hilton. 200yen for 10 minutes thats about $2. It is 9:15 and I need to go to sleep since I have been up 18 hours. 

The other two pictures should be of a group of students we ran into in front of the Diet Building (the seat of government) and of students holding Flat Stanley. I hope to get some pictures to you again before I leave Monday morning. I am not sure what my access situation will be then until I return to Tokyo.

Hey, I was in a bead store this evening - hint, hint. I love you all, Blair

webmaster's note - here are the three pics Blair was able to include in this note - one from the fish market tuna auction and the two with the Japanese students....

Greetings to all,

This may be my last email until next week.Tomorrow I am meeting with Eriko Tanaka with the Ichihara Board of Education. She is taking me out for a personal tour. I believe we may be able to get to the Temari Museum which I am looking forward to very much. Monday, I leave for Akita where Internet access is harder to come by. I may be able to send one from the local high school when we tour or maybe from the home of my host family. We return to Tokyo at the same hotel on Tuesday, October 22.

I have been having quite an experience right here at Kinkos. The keyboard is in Kanji, the characters of the Japanese language, and in English. I frequently hit a button without realizing it that starts turning my letters into Kanji. It has been interesting to find my way around this keyboard.

Yesterday, I attended a lecture on math education in Japan. I learned alot about how textbooks are selected, about teacher training, and about the texts themselves. Japanese math books are very thin. They are bright and inviting. The emphasis is on learning the content and applying the knowledge. I picture how many of our students struggle with heavy texts as they take them home for homework. Frequently, our teachers can`t get to the end of the text by the end of the year.

I also saw a kabuki performance. It was really cool as the lady performing applied her makeup on stage as someone talked us through what she was doign at every step. Mrs. Loftin, Flat Stanley had his picture taken with Mrs. Heald in front of the kimono and the wig before the performance.

Later many of us went out shopping. I bought gifts for my family and just enjoyed people watching. The streets just pulsate with life. It is a sea of bodies that 
somehow one gets through. We also went to a section of town that seems to be the young people`s hang out. I saw blue spiked hair, lots of 1960s and 70s fashion, face studs all over one man`s face, and one lady that walked by with her fingers covered in what looked like metal rings.

People are very polite here. We have had locals stop what they are doing to walk us where we needed to go. I have barely heard any car honk at all, cars even stop for people crossing in the crosswalk.

Mom and Dad, I talked to Ginger`s sister. I ahd a Fulbright staffer help me as I knew I would need a Japanese translator. I explained to the staffer the 
background then she made the call. She would hand me the phone and I would speak in English, Ginger`s sister would respond, then the staffer would take the phone back and translate for me while talking more to Ginger`s sister. It was really nice that as the phone call came to a close, the staffer was bowing to the phone out of repsect of speaking to an elder. Very sweet.

Today, I visited a house of Frank Lloyd Wright`s. Flat Stanley was with me Mrs. Loftin. I also went to the Folk Art Museum, the Tokyo National Museum, and more shopping.

Attached, you should find two pictures. They are both at Asakura, a shopping district. One will see people gathered around incense waving it around them. It is supposed to bring them good health and good luck. The other is of one of the gates in Asakura.

Ok, I am so tired and need to go. I think all of my pictures of me will be with heavy circles under my eyes. Thats ok, though, it has been wonderful! I love you all.  Blair

Ginny, A special email just for you. I made it to the Temari Museum today!!! I could not have done it with out Enriko, a local who is my contact for my new sister school. She and her daughter met me, we saw a little bit of Tokyo, then off we went. I have pictures of the front of the museum (it has a great sign now), a picture of Enriko translating your letter for the lady at the front desk, and a few pictures of the front room. No pictures were allowed in the hallway and backroom. What an inspiration it all was! The sensei was in Ginza so the lady at the front desk knows what your letter says, even took notes, and will pass it on. I bought a ball (just had to), a book (I wish I had remembered the ISBNs of the one or two I have been waiting to get), .... Anyway, just had to let you know. Wrapped up this day seeing Mount Fuji from the 47 story observatory in the building next to my hotel. On to Akita in the morning. Blair

October 17 -

Hi, so quick here. Again on a pay phone to connect. I went to an elementary school today to observe. How delightful! Wonderful kids, so creative. I participated in a kite club soI watched stduents fly their own creations and helped where I could. Saw a calligraphy class, math class, a Japanese class, even art.

Students here serve their own lunches so that was very different. They are dressed in white coats and masks. They also clean the school before they leave too. Wow! Their school is spotless. Both schools I have visited have been very big and modern. Computers have not been a big part of a student's classroom yet they do have computer workrooms. We have also gotten to meet with teachers and principals which has been most informative. You should see the assemblies that have been given in 
our honor! Very cool! We have been on Japanese tv 2 times, I have video of both. We feel like celebraties as 
everyone in town seems to knwo we are here.

Sorry for the typos. I have to type fast and don't have time to check. Got to go as my time is running out.
I miss you all and love you too. Blair 
 
October 19 -

Hi everyone,Gosh, I have had better email communication in Akita than I thought. The emails from pay phones have been an 
experience as you have to keep one eye on the timer while typing with the other eye. Tonight, though, I am at the home of my host family. Just the daughter and I are home. She will not let me help and said to go email family and friends so here I am.

It has been a whirlwind this week. We have met the mayor, been on Japanese tv twice (I have both on video), been recognized around town and in restaurants, and just had a delightful time in the schools. Wednesday we were at a girl`s high school. One of the pictures I am attaching is of us posing with Flat Stanley in gym class. Flat Stanley, by the way, is a character from a children`s book. I will tell the story after I get home for those who don`t know him. Thursday we were at an elementary school. My pictures from that are on another cd so you will have to wait on that one. Friday we went to a Junior High School. We had wonderful school assemblies welcoming us each time. We were treated like very important dignitaries. We even introduced ourselves in Japanese! Watashi wa Alabama no Fairhope. Kara kimashta Blair Heald des. I got to see students serving lunch to their classmates and then cleaning up after lunch. I also saw students cleaning the schools. They do a great job! It teaches them such responsibility!

I am also sending you a picture of me in an igloo or what is known as Kamakura. It is a big festival here in February. Children set up a small welcome area in igloos and neighbors/friends/family come by to be served. It comes from many years ago when they tried to ask the rain god to be kind.

The last picture that should be attached is of Mount Fuji! I saw it from the observatory next to my hotel (on the 47th floor). Made my trip to be able to say I saw Mt. Fuji.

We are on the down swing now. We will be with host familys tonight and tomorrow. We will be back at the hotel Sunday night. Monday night we will be at a traditional Japanese inn called a ryokan. Tuesday we return to Tokyo. I hope to email you again from Tokyo.

My host family took me to a grocery store. I saw a lobster wrapped up ready to be sold but he was still alive! The grocery stores here are as big and as bright as ours. The items though can be different. You should see all the different fish they have for sale. I even saw baby octopus. That reminds me, I ate sea urchin the other night. Eating a lot of sushi too and getting better at chopsticks.

I have so much to share and really don`t know where to begin. This has truly been the experince of a lifetime. My journal is full and I am still behind in writing. I hate to close the email as I know as soon as I do I will find something else to tell you. I better, though, as dinner will soon be ready. With love, Blair

October 20

Look! Me in front of the Temari Museum and gotenmari I saw here in Akita. Have more but thought you might enjoy seeing these. Love, Blair

Click here to read Blair's wrap up of her entire trip....