Last few days in Hawaii

Sorry for the delay... haven't had Internet access on my computer for a few days.

Today (yesterday for you) I gave a presentation to some math professors and students about underwater robotics and showed some of the graduate students how to build one (justifies my stay here!). Tomorrow I will meet with someone from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). We are applying for some major $600k/year funding from them so I better not say anything stupid. I will also get to go snorkeling tomorrow. One of the graduate students here is big into diving and has a ton of extra gear that he is lending me for tomorrow.

I have been able to make it down to Waikiki either during the day or in the evening each day this week. Here are some pictures of sunsets and other nice sites from the area including a rainbow in no particular order (I had to reduce the quality of the pictures so they wouldn't take so long to post here).

Hawaii!!!

I made it to Hawaii yesterday morning. It was a beautiful day... 80 degrees and sunny the whole day. I heard that it had been raining the previous few days and looking at the forecast it looks like it will be rainy AFTER I leave! I have a nice little hotel-roomlike place here at the University of Hawaii campus. I spent most of yesterday down at Waikiki beach and walking around the various shops... tough day... I may have to ask for a raise : )

I tried the fresh pineapple ... delicious!

Here are some pics to prove my location... will update more later.


This is in the center of the complex I am staying in... a nice welcome.

Top 10 and Bottom 10 things about my trip to Japan

I decided to do a top 10 list of the best things about my trip to Japan as well as a bottom 10 of the worst things about my trip.

So here it is.

The top 10 things about my trip to Japan.

At number 10...
Warm hand towels - Before meals it is a Japanese custom to give you a warm hand towel to wash your hands and/or face with... it makes for a very enjoyable experience.

9. English speakers - it is always a treat to find someone that speaks good English... I am afraid when I get back to the States my english will be slow and simple.

8. Japanese barbecue - char-broiled beef mmmmm....

7. Tokyo subway system - as complex as it looks it is fun to navigate and one of the more user friendly things for a foreigner (with some practice)

6. Orange sorbet - following the Japanese barbecue we enjoyed some Japanese orange sorbet... refreshing and tasty

And the number 5 top thing about my trip to Japan...
Walking around barefoot - it is relaxing to walking around most everywhere inside with just your socks... it also cuts down on the foot odor.

4. Roppongi city view - see pic below

3. Chenko-nabe - one of the tastier meals I tried

2. Children at play - I had the privilege of seeing many Japanese students playing and learning during my trip.


AND the number 1 thing about my tirp to Japan...
The Denny's french toast - this became a morning staple of mine... totemo oishi (very delicious)


It would only be fair to also include the not so good things about this trip. So here is the bottom 10 list.

At number 10...
The anticipation of eating... (see pic below)


9. Unheated hallways - most buildings in Japan do not have heated hallways or bathrooms... not much fun in 30 degree weather.

8. Tiny shower with no shower curtain - my quarters had a small shower with no curtain... made for a messy start to the day.


7. The language - I often had that eerie feeling that people were talking about me, but I had no idea what they were saying... can't we all just speak English!

6. ATM hours - ATMs were not accessible to foreigners after 6pm, on Sundays or Holidays. I was in desperate need of money on Sunday and Monday (happened to be a holiday).

The number 5 worst thing about my trip to Japan...
the subway bars - the subways bars to grab a hold of were usually 6 feet or shorter... ouch!

4. Credit cards not accepted - most Japanese establishments do NOT accept credit cards... compounded during my trip (see number 6)

3. Bicycle dodging - bicycles are a favorite mode of transport and the sidewalks are where they travel. While walking you always have to have an ear or eye out for an approaching bicycle.

2. Forgetting to take my shoes off - often felt like the dumb foreigner when I couldn't tell if I was supposed to take my shoes off or not.

And the number 1 worst thing about my trip to Japan...
This toilet...
Luckily I never needed to use this kind of toilet... they did have regular toilets in other places.

The last couple of days

I spent the last two days visiting different after school programs and an elementary school that all use LEGO robotics and ROBOLAB. Thursday I visited a LEGO Education Center (picture below). I got to observe the 5 and 6 year old group as they did some LEGO learning... very cute. They learned about patterns. I also got to see some of the older students' creations... I am always amazed at what elementary students are able to create. Then we went to CREFUS (Center for Robotics Engineering and Future Science Study). Another after school program that has 60 locations throughout Japan.



After observing at the CREFUS facility we went out for Okonomi-yaki. This was a very interesting and tasty meal. You actually cook your own meal right at the table. You order what you want in your Okonomi-yaki and the waiter brings out a bowl with all your ingredients. The base is flour, water, egg, and cabbage. You then can order pork, beef, shrimp, squid, other fish, etc to go in it. Then you mix it all up at your table and poor it on the griddle. It cooks much like a pancake. Then you top it off with some sauces and sprinkle on some dried fish shavings. This is a picture of our Okonomi-yaki below.


Friday I went to Keio Yochisha elementary school. Keio is a private school that goes from kindergarten to college. If you are accepted as a kindergartener you are automatically accepted into the college. It is one of the best schools in all of Japan. It was quite an amazing school. The science classrooms look more like a science museum. Each classroom has a 40+" plasma tv. The cafeteria and new addition to the school were designed by the same person that designed the Museum of Modern art in New York City. Here are some pics.


Here are some live ducks as part of the science classroom... the chickens live next door.


Here is the extra play area on top of the roof. With limited playground space for the 800+ youngsters, they built play areas on the roof. Yes, the students are wearing shorts and I took this picture today. The school uniform is the shorts, collared shirt and sweater. Even when it is 30 degrees outside this is what the students wear to school and play outside in.


Here's the dinosaur head in front of the science classroom.


Here is the cafeteria. From 12-1:30 all the students and teachers have their lunch break. The students are not supervised during this period and are basically just running around going crazy!

Trip to Roppongi

Today I took on the next level of subway madness and decided to go to Roppongi, which required me to change trains. I wasn't quite sure what fare I had to pay so I just paid the fare to Shinjuku where I would change trains and hope I would figure it out there. I did! Roppongi is the home of many Japanese corporate headquarters (IBM, Samsung, Fuji, etc). Lots of high end restaurants and rich people walking around. Roppongi is also home to the Roppongi Hills observatory, which is a building with an extraordinary 360 degree view of Tokyo. The picture above is a look at the observatory. I was proud of my photography on this one so I put the Japan 2006 stamp on it and will probably print it out. The pictures below were taken from all around the circumference. The trip isn't all fun and play... I did have to be back for some meetings at 3pm.

Tomorrow I should be visiting Keio Yuchishta elementary school, a private and very exclusive school. They do a lot with LEGO robotics. I will also be visiting the Lego Education Center and the CREFAC robotics clubhouse. It should be a busy day and I hope to get a lot of different kinds of pictures.

Solo venture to Shinjuku

Monday I ventured off on my own. I tackled the Tokyo subway system (see picture below). I smartly chose a route such that I didn't have to change trains. It was still a bit daunting since you have to look at the map and figure out your fare... each stop has a different charge.

Below is a picture from the 14th floor of the Times Square department store. This sort of scene probably sprawls out for miles as Tokyo is made up of a number of cities such as Shinjuku.

Here you see the colorful lights of Shinjuku. Monday was coming of age day in Japan. This is a national holiday to celebrate the adult. In Japan, 20 is when you are officially an adult. On this day everyone who has turned 20 in the previous year wears a very decorative kimono to make it known they are an adult. This is why there are a lot of people out and they even shut down the streets to have street performers.

This picture, also from Shinjuku, illustrates how prevelant bikes are for the Japanese. Biking is a very popular form of transportation... you always have to be aware of bikers coming up from behind you as you walk along the sidewalks.

Trip to Asakusa

I am the one in the blue jacket. I am standing in front of the first gate to the Senso-ji temple. They have two gates and then the tower.

Here is a boy I could set my sister up with... he is very popular in Japan. I was near a Sumo wrestling gym and they were having a basho that night. Below is the gym.


This is the meal of the Sumo. Supposedly, the restaurant I went to Kiroshima is the best one for Chenka, which is a traditional Sumo dish. The manager, Hideo, told us that Sumos will eat Chenko and then sleep so they can get big.

The weekend

I have been without Internet access for the last two days. Today I am in a large department store that has a free internet area. I have lots of pictures and things to share about my excursion to Asakusa yesterday and my trip to Shinjuku today. Today I am flying solo... quite excitinｇ。

Saturday workshop

Saturday I spent the day observing the workshops the professor and his students put on here. There were two groups that were doing underwater robotics activities, which is the purpose of my trip. It was fun to watch how excited the students were working with their LEGO creations. There were also young, kindergarten-aged children there working on basic building of structures with LEGOs.

A Christmas tree the kindergarteners built.

Trip to Japan Day 1: Traveling and arrival

Woke up at 3:50am EST and headed for the airport. I took off from Logan airport at 6:!5 am EST to head for Japan (actually the pilot did the take off). Shortly after taking off, the flight attendant escorted me and my long legs to a seat next to the emergency exit... the extra 18 inches of leg room was amazing!

Around 12 pm EST/9 am EST I got my first live view of the Pacific Ocean and the unique geography of the San Francisco coastline. Had some nice taquitos at a mexican restaurant in the airport at 1pm EST/10am EST. After being moved to the emergency exit seats on my Boston to San Fran flight, I thought it would be smart to request an exit seat from San Fran to Japan. I lucked out and, once again, got an emergency exit seat for the 11 hour flight... apparently I look fit and able to assist in case of emergency... good thing they don't know I don't like to take orders! Sorry no pics up to this point... the airplanes are long narrow tubes with lots of seats and cramped people.

I finally arrived 3:20pm Friday Tokyo time/1:20am Friday EST. That was not the end of my travels, however. I met Ryuta (who will be my guide) and then took two trains and a taxi for another 3 hours. To say the least, I was very happy to arrive at my quarters (see below) for some much needed sleep.

Here's the bathroom. No shower curtain makes for a messy start to the day.

Walking into the guest quarters, I committed my first faux pa... I forgot to take my shoes off at the door ... oops! Then I turned up the heat (the heat hadn't been on and it was cold) and went to bed.

This morning I went to Denny's for breakfast... I'm not kidding. It's not your traditional American Denny's, but I was able to get eggs and bacon along with a strange side salad... wasn't feeling quite adventurous yet. Had some green tea... much different from yours dad. After having some more breakfast at Denny's I am in love with their french toast... a bit different from American french toast... maybe I can get the recipe.


Morgan