That's Megan with her tongue sticking out. She always had fun with me. She was the only student I ever had who successfully tied my shoes to a table without me knowing. Yes, it does really happen. I miss this girl, I tutored her and other Chinese American students as part of my internship requirements at the University of Washington. Shortly after, I graduated in August, … [Read more...] about That’s Megan
Little Japanese Boy
Yep, that's me on the left. Many people are surprised when they find out I am half-Japanese. That is my full-blooded Japanese mother to the right of my half-blooded Japanese brother. It was VIP day for me at the Ford's Prairie Elementary School in Centralia, Washington. If my second grade classmates had not known I was Japanese, they did now. … [Read more...] about Little Japanese Boy
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Many may be surprised but Japan does not have an official standing military. After World War II, they gave up this right in their constitution. If this was true what was Japan doing with these warships anchored at port in Sasebo, Japan? You be the judge... … [Read more...] about Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
100 Yen Store
It was the summer of 2002, I had traveled to Sasebo, Japan, with my Japanese mother. It was my first trip there since 1990 so it had been 12 long years since I have been "home". Japan's economy was struggling during this time, deflation was a problem. I remember the Japanese Yen was trading roughly at 100 Yen for $1 US dollar. That was a big shocker since I remembered as a … [Read more...] about 100 Yen Store
Swordsman in Istanbul
One of my most memorables times during graduate school. I spent the 2001 summer interning with TEGV in Istanbul, Turkey. During this time Turkey was in turmoil, the US was thinking about invading Iraq while the Turks, not happy about this invasion, was about to elect Tayyip Erdogan and the AK Party into government. To add to the excitement, Turkey had finished in the top 3 … [Read more...] about Swordsman in Istanbul