The Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Experience, #84 Yashima and #85 Yakuri by Jeremy Lanig

In the early morning of Nov. 28, the third secretary from the Kenya embassy, Ms. Dorothy Nthiwa and 16 foreign residents of Kagawa journeyed to two temples on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage.  We went to Yashima Temple and Yakuri Temple.  The weather was perfect for the 14 km hike up Yashima plateau and the Gokenzan Mountain.  We were in nature surrounded by beautiful fall colors of red, orange, and yellow as the leaves were changing.

The Mitoyo International Exchange Association planned a fun-filled, action-packed Christmas party and I was able to attend as a CIR. I have helped with many Mitoyo events, but this was definitely the biggest and best so far. It was also a great opportunity to return to my old home, Mitoyo, and see lots of old friends.

As part of a PTA event for students and their parents, I visited Kagahigashi elementary school and made soft tacos with everyone. Everyone had a lot of fun, and after making 48 soft tacos, we all ate until we were stuffed.

November 21, 2009:

I participated in an I-PAL Kodomo Club event called "Outdoor Exchange" that was put on by the Overseas Technical Trainees interning at I-PAL Kagawa along with several juniors from Kagawa University's Education Department.  In addition to a lecture that helped local children to know more about the culture of Brazil, we all played sports together as a means to help the children interact with various foreign residents.  After hearing the lecture from the Brazilian OTT members, we went outside and enjoyed some very fun games of "Dodge-bee" and "Capture the Flag."  Panting as we tried to keep up with the speedy youngsters, we all had a lot of fun!

H.E. Mr. McLean, the Ambassador of Australia visited a flour company and a frozen noodle company in Kagawa in order to inspect ASW (Australian flour) which is one of the ingredients in Sanuki Udon. He had udon for lunch. During the courtesy visit, he commented that he understands the reason why people come all the way to Kagawa just to eat Sanuki Udon.

The director general of EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, who is also the counselor of delegation of the European Commission to Japan, visited Kagawa and had a courtesy visit with the Governor. He gave a lecture at the EU lecture meeting, co-sponsored by the Kagawa EU Association and the Kagawa Association of Corporate Executives.

November 1, 2009:

The International Festival 2009 was held with the theme of "Friends, Interaction, and Completing the Circle - 360° of Friends."  Among the various events of the Festival, there was a Choshitsu Lacquer Ware Workshop held inside of I-PAL Kagawa.  Hiroaki Matsubara-sensei instructed us in how to carve images of flowers, birds, plants, and trees into our pieces of wood covered in multiple layers of colored lacquer.  While art is something that often requires expert skill, and translating Matsubara-sensei's instructions for the participants was difficult, we were all able to better understand the finer points of Choshitsu Lacquer Ware and have a good time, too.

Although it rained on the day of the 2009 Kagawa International Festival, there were plenty of fun things to do through out the day. I represented America during the international stamp rally, made colorful "hand turkeys" drawings with kids at the craft corner, and, of course, I took lots of photos throughout the day.

Four Coordinators of International Relations (CIR) from Kagawa and 5 Oversea Technical Trainees (OTT), and other foreign residents of Kagawa went to Shodoshima to help with and participate in an international Halloween party on Shodoshima's famous Angel Road.  Everyone wore great costumes, and Chris McCabe (CIR) gave an explanation of Halloween to all the children and participants at the party in Japanese.