USA
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
SundayOctober18 2009
This month was my birthday. My mother and sister took
me out to lunch and after we stopped by a new
sculpture park in Des Moines, Iowa, The Pappajohn
Sculpture Park.
Bringing art to the masses isn't easy.
T8 Mark di Suvero
This artist worked in construction till he was injured on the job and spent two years in a wheel chair, during this time he practiced his welding skills and started to make huge sculptures like this one after he could walk again. This sculpture was part of a divorce settlement, it sat in storage for several years. The Pappajohns heard about it from a dealer who was a friend of the artist's ex-wife.
Nomade Jaume Plensa
A human form made from scrambled steel letters. The letters are building blocks for words and ideas.
Back Of A Snowman (Black) Back Of A Snowman (White) Gary Hume
I applaud the title alone of this sculpture.
Affectionately know as the salt and pepper shakers.
Cafe Table I & Chairs Scott Burton
This sculpture is meant to be used though it's not very comfortable. My mother and sister tried it out.
Thinker on a Rock Barry Flanagan
.
The artist sculpted bunnies for over thirty years. Next to bunny are two horses sculpted by Deborah Butterfield titled Juno and Ancient Forest.
This artist has sculpted over 1000 horses each one having its own personality. I'm not the only artist who becomes obsessed by one subject like fish.
( Forward ) Moonrise August (Back) air gets into everything even nothing Ugo Rondinone
Both of these sculptures were done by the same artist. The artist created 12 heads, one for each month in the year they represent the man in the moon. The white tree was cast from a 2000 year old olive tree in Naples, Italy, the artist's parent's hometown.
Moonrise January
I rather like these, they grow on you and add a bit of whimsy.
Gymnast III William Tucker
Reclining Figure Williem de Kooning
I really didn't like this sculpture so I was surprised to find out it was made by such a famous artist who's paintings I love.
Order Tony Cragg
Look like pod people to me.
Spider Louise Bourgeois
This is a portrait of the artist's mother, the comparison is supposed to be flattering.
In The Morning Anthony Caro
Post-Balzac Judith Shea
Decoy Martin Puryear
Five Plate Pentagon Richard Serra
Bringing art to the masses isn't easy.
T8 Mark di Suvero
This artist worked in construction till he was injured on the job and spent two years in a wheel chair, during this time he practiced his welding skills and started to make huge sculptures like this one after he could walk again. This sculpture was part of a divorce settlement, it sat in storage for several years. The Pappajohns heard about it from a dealer who was a friend of the artist's ex-wife.
Nomade Jaume Plensa
A human form made from scrambled steel letters. The letters are building blocks for words and ideas.
Back Of A Snowman (Black) Back Of A Snowman (White) Gary Hume
I applaud the title alone of this sculpture.
Affectionately know as the salt and pepper shakers.
Cafe Table I & Chairs Scott Burton
This sculpture is meant to be used though it's not very comfortable. My mother and sister tried it out.
Thinker on a Rock Barry Flanagan
.
The artist sculpted bunnies for over thirty years. Next to bunny are two horses sculpted by Deborah Butterfield titled Juno and Ancient Forest.
This artist has sculpted over 1000 horses each one having its own personality. I'm not the only artist who becomes obsessed by one subject like fish.
( Forward ) Moonrise August (Back) air gets into everything even nothing Ugo Rondinone
Both of these sculptures were done by the same artist. The artist created 12 heads, one for each month in the year they represent the man in the moon. The white tree was cast from a 2000 year old olive tree in Naples, Italy, the artist's parent's hometown.
Moonrise January
I rather like these, they grow on you and add a bit of whimsy.
Gymnast III William Tucker
Reclining Figure Williem de Kooning
I really didn't like this sculpture so I was surprised to find out it was made by such a famous artist who's paintings I love.
Order Tony Cragg
Look like pod people to me.
Spider Louise Bourgeois
This is a portrait of the artist's mother, the comparison is supposed to be flattering.
In The Morning Anthony Caro
Post-Balzac Judith Shea
Decoy Martin Puryear
Five Plate Pentagon Richard Serra
Vermont Studio Center
TuesdaySeptember29 2009
September was a glorious month for me spent in
Vermont at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson,
Vermont.
This is the very first picture I took there on a moonlit night. This is the main building where we would have our meals together with over fifty other visual artist and writers.
This is more what is looked like during the day. A bridge next to the center was being rebuilt creating a big mess and a lot of noise during my stay unfortunately.
It must be quite nice without the construction noise. I thought Vermont was indeed very picturesque. The Vermont Center is located in the very small town of Johnson, Vermont
This is main street. You could walk anywhere in 5 minutes.
This has got to be one of the prettiest elementary schools I've ever seen in spite of the run down condition of the sign. I took this picture because in Iowa where I grew up the state motto is "A Great Place To Grow" what a coincidence!
Absolutely beautiful with the fall colors.
This is the house I lived in.
As you can see it's rather spartan with a combination of homemade and junk yard furniture. These houses were really old.
This was my studio.
This is my second studio. I worked on a series about the carp pond in pastels. I had never used pastels before.
Outside of my second studio named the Wolf Kahn studio.
I did manage to get out on a few hikes with friends to admire the view.
There was a river next to the center we enjoyed. The water was quite clear. Most of the time I was there we had beautiful weather with only a couple of rainy days.
About 30 minutes from the center was The Trapp Family Lodge where the Von Trapp family, made famous in The Sound Of Music, settled.
I had to see it. It's in a very beautiful area in the mountains. I would love to stay here in October when the fall colors are at their peak. I also managed to go to Montreal and saw a wonderful exhibit of a French Canadian artist none of us heard of before named Betty Goodwin. Her work really impressed me. She worked in every medium, it was amazing.
(Left) The Red Sea (Right) So Certain I Was, I Was A Horse
These are two huge works of hers done on paper.
I also managed a trip to Burlington, Vermont and took a ferry boat ride on the 6th largest lake in the USA, Lake Champlain. This was one of the most memorable days I had in Vermont.
I took many pictures of this beautiful lake and a movie. In the movie you'll see a sailboat lesson.
At The Vermont Studio Center. I decided to work outside of my comfort zone and try a new medium. I'm getting tired of oil on canvas. The reason I chose the subject of fish is because I didn't want to think so much about subject matter while I experimented with pastels. Water is also an interesting subject to me. It has movement, shadow, light, color, depth, it can be opaque or translucent. I would like to explore the subject of water more. To see my Koi series please go to my paintings page or click here > Koi series
This is the very first picture I took there on a moonlit night. This is the main building where we would have our meals together with over fifty other visual artist and writers.
This is more what is looked like during the day. A bridge next to the center was being rebuilt creating a big mess and a lot of noise during my stay unfortunately.
It must be quite nice without the construction noise. I thought Vermont was indeed very picturesque. The Vermont Center is located in the very small town of Johnson, Vermont
This is main street. You could walk anywhere in 5 minutes.
This has got to be one of the prettiest elementary schools I've ever seen in spite of the run down condition of the sign. I took this picture because in Iowa where I grew up the state motto is "A Great Place To Grow" what a coincidence!
Absolutely beautiful with the fall colors.
This is the house I lived in.
As you can see it's rather spartan with a combination of homemade and junk yard furniture. These houses were really old.
This was my studio.
This is my second studio. I worked on a series about the carp pond in pastels. I had never used pastels before.
Outside of my second studio named the Wolf Kahn studio.
I did manage to get out on a few hikes with friends to admire the view.
There was a river next to the center we enjoyed. The water was quite clear. Most of the time I was there we had beautiful weather with only a couple of rainy days.
About 30 minutes from the center was The Trapp Family Lodge where the Von Trapp family, made famous in The Sound Of Music, settled.
I had to see it. It's in a very beautiful area in the mountains. I would love to stay here in October when the fall colors are at their peak. I also managed to go to Montreal and saw a wonderful exhibit of a French Canadian artist none of us heard of before named Betty Goodwin. Her work really impressed me. She worked in every medium, it was amazing.
(Left) The Red Sea (Right) So Certain I Was, I Was A Horse
These are two huge works of hers done on paper.
I also managed a trip to Burlington, Vermont and took a ferry boat ride on the 6th largest lake in the USA, Lake Champlain. This was one of the most memorable days I had in Vermont.
I took many pictures of this beautiful lake and a movie. In the movie you'll see a sailboat lesson.
At The Vermont Studio Center. I decided to work outside of my comfort zone and try a new medium. I'm getting tired of oil on canvas. The reason I chose the subject of fish is because I didn't want to think so much about subject matter while I experimented with pastels. Water is also an interesting subject to me. It has movement, shadow, light, color, depth, it can be opaque or translucent. I would like to explore the subject of water more. To see my Koi series please go to my paintings page or click here > Koi series
Iowa State Fair
TuesdayAugust25 2009
I haven't been to the Iowa State Fair for 25 years, a
friend asked me to go to see Journey and Heart in
concert on the last day.
Usually I would think I was too old or too tired and just stay home but my new motto is to be open to new experiences so I went. It hasn't changed a bit.
The first thing we did was try this year's taste sensation chocolate covered bacon. It was surprisingly good, a nice combination of savory and sweet. Since it was the last day of the fair my friend became very agitated that so many of the new and much desired foods the fair had to offer this year were sold out. The venders miss out on a lot of sales that way... no vision. I'm guessing.
If you're a chocoholic like me you'll try almost anything covered in chocolate.
Of course I also had to see the famous butter cow which is exactly that a cow statue made of butter. You can see this every year at the fair, it's amazing! They also did an astronaut in butter which won out over a butter statue of Michael Jackson. I would of liked to see a butter Michael myself.
Because it's Iowa you must also see the monster hog that weighs thousands of pounds. It doesn't do much besides sleep.
Looking at a fat slob of a pig is not my favorite exhibit but fascinating none the less. How do they get them that big? How much food and what do they feed them? So many questions! It was the last day of the fair so many of the animals were being packed up and taken home, I really wanted to see the horses especially the Clydesdales but alas I couldn't although I did see lots and lots of Lamas.
Why they have so many Lamas in Iowa I'm not sure, they must have them on the farm for some reason, they are very cute and perhaps they make a nice pet. I'm guessing.
After hours of walking around and eating a variety of fair food we sit down for the concert, by this time I'm starting to feel my age.
Most of the people at the concert were middle aged and it also made me feel good to see the performers who are older than me still at it. It's an inspiration for us over fifty. You can see the "midway" in the background. My friend and I thought the double ferris wheel looked a lot bigger when we were kids. We swear it was much bigger.
I shot this movie of Journey, the lead singer is not Steve Perry but a young man named Arnel Pineda who has the energy and talent to be a lead singer but it wasn't the same without Steve of course.
Usually I would think I was too old or too tired and just stay home but my new motto is to be open to new experiences so I went. It hasn't changed a bit.
The first thing we did was try this year's taste sensation chocolate covered bacon. It was surprisingly good, a nice combination of savory and sweet. Since it was the last day of the fair my friend became very agitated that so many of the new and much desired foods the fair had to offer this year were sold out. The venders miss out on a lot of sales that way... no vision. I'm guessing.
If you're a chocoholic like me you'll try almost anything covered in chocolate.
Of course I also had to see the famous butter cow which is exactly that a cow statue made of butter. You can see this every year at the fair, it's amazing! They also did an astronaut in butter which won out over a butter statue of Michael Jackson. I would of liked to see a butter Michael myself.
Because it's Iowa you must also see the monster hog that weighs thousands of pounds. It doesn't do much besides sleep.
Looking at a fat slob of a pig is not my favorite exhibit but fascinating none the less. How do they get them that big? How much food and what do they feed them? So many questions! It was the last day of the fair so many of the animals were being packed up and taken home, I really wanted to see the horses especially the Clydesdales but alas I couldn't although I did see lots and lots of Lamas.
Why they have so many Lamas in Iowa I'm not sure, they must have them on the farm for some reason, they are very cute and perhaps they make a nice pet. I'm guessing.
After hours of walking around and eating a variety of fair food we sit down for the concert, by this time I'm starting to feel my age.
Most of the people at the concert were middle aged and it also made me feel good to see the performers who are older than me still at it. It's an inspiration for us over fifty. You can see the "midway" in the background. My friend and I thought the double ferris wheel looked a lot bigger when we were kids. We swear it was much bigger.
I shot this movie of Journey, the lead singer is not Steve Perry but a young man named Arnel Pineda who has the energy and talent to be a lead singer but it wasn't the same without Steve of course.
Graduation
SaturdayMay23 2009
This month something very important happened my
daughter graduated high school. Congratulations! I
was surprised how noisy everyone was at the
graduation ceremony even though the principal asked
people to be quiet. I haven't been to an American
graduation ceremony since I graduated from college.
Things have changed a bit. In Japan we love our
ceremonies so much they go on and on for hours till
everyone is squirming in their seats dying to leave
but this wasn't so long.
Look at the people in the background, it was a zoo afterwards. My daughter was so cute. I blurred her face for privacy reasons but believe me she's cute!
Here's a movie I made of the end of the ceremony where the balloons are suppose to drop on everyone... they had a little trouble with this but happily they did drop and then the traditional throwing of the hats in the air. To see more of my movies go to my YouTube channel at: youtube.com/users/stoneriverart
Look at the people in the background, it was a zoo afterwards. My daughter was so cute. I blurred her face for privacy reasons but believe me she's cute!
Here's a movie I made of the end of the ceremony where the balloons are suppose to drop on everyone... they had a little trouble with this but happily they did drop and then the traditional throwing of the hats in the air. To see more of my movies go to my YouTube channel at: youtube.com/users/stoneriverart
Spring arrives to Iowa
TuesdayMay05 2009
Finally were getting some Spring weather in Iowa. I
went to a flower park over the weekend, not far from
where I live and took a pretty picture.
Reiman Gardens
Also outside my window at my apartment, much to my surprise, there is a tree in bloom that looks similar to Cherry Blossoms. I miss Japan.
Reiman Gardens
Also outside my window at my apartment, much to my surprise, there is a tree in bloom that looks similar to Cherry Blossoms. I miss Japan.
May
TuesdayMay05 2009
Starting May off not feeling too great, I'm having
some kind of stomach problem and have been nauseous
and tired for the last four days. I'm pretty sure
it's NOT the swine flu. I was expecting a friend from
Japan to come for a visit but she cancelled her plans
because of concerns about catching the flu. I'm very
disappointed but I understand.
The bugs are starting to come out in my small apartment. I saw a house centipede in my bathroom which is the relatively harmless cousin to the Japanese centipede which I've seen in my house in Japan. The Japanese centipede is much scarier and more like a poisonous snake. I didn't actually know what it was when I saw it but googled centipede iowa to see what would come up and this picture from Iowa State University, which is just down the road from me, popped right up. I have not told my daughter about seeing this bug, she would freak out so if she reads this.... sorry sweet potato. I only saw it once.
Midwest House Centipede USA
Japanese Centipede
I will be returning to Japan this summer and am not looking forward to seeing and killing this bug which I most certainly will have to do. It's me or them.
I have had a bug bite on my leg for about a month, it doesn't seem to be going away. I'm assuming it's a spider bite since I have a lot of spiders in my apartment. The red rash around it does seem to be lightening a bit.
Spider bite???
I went out and bought a can of bug spray appropriately called "Spider Killer". I was amused because it also kills Scorpions, thank god we don't have any of those in Iowa. Is that a picture of a dead Spider or Scorpion on the can?
The bugs are starting to come out in my small apartment. I saw a house centipede in my bathroom which is the relatively harmless cousin to the Japanese centipede which I've seen in my house in Japan. The Japanese centipede is much scarier and more like a poisonous snake. I didn't actually know what it was when I saw it but googled centipede iowa to see what would come up and this picture from Iowa State University, which is just down the road from me, popped right up. I have not told my daughter about seeing this bug, she would freak out so if she reads this.... sorry sweet potato. I only saw it once.
Midwest House Centipede USA
Japanese Centipede
I will be returning to Japan this summer and am not looking forward to seeing and killing this bug which I most certainly will have to do. It's me or them.
I have had a bug bite on my leg for about a month, it doesn't seem to be going away. I'm assuming it's a spider bite since I have a lot of spiders in my apartment. The red rash around it does seem to be lightening a bit.
Spider bite???
I went out and bought a can of bug spray appropriately called "Spider Killer". I was amused because it also kills Scorpions, thank god we don't have any of those in Iowa. Is that a picture of a dead Spider or Scorpion on the can?
The Lake
WednesdayMarch04 2009
Walking at the lake today I see a lot of geese or
ducks, some of the ice has melted.
I also see someone has left me a message on the path "I Adore You".
Just Kidding! Actually my sister told me some nut spray painted this message for his wife who jogged here for their anniversary. I'm glad I'm not married to him.
I also see someone has left me a message on the path "I Adore You".
Just Kidding! Actually my sister told me some nut spray painted this message for his wife who jogged here for their anniversary. I'm glad I'm not married to him.
Christmas
ThursdayDecember25 2008
December
25
Merry Christmas to all of my friends in Japan and the USA. Iowa is cold and miserable in winter. It's hard to come back to -12 F (-24 C) temperatures once you've been away I'm asking myself why I ever left beautiful Japan to live in this frozen wasteland but I was able to have fun over the holidays with my friends and family and was even invited to a Christmas party.
This is my friend's Christmas tree not mine. See that painting on the right I did that it's a portrait of my friend we met in high school 34 years ago.
This is my friend's kitchen not mine where we made some Christmas goodies for the party.
This is my friend
who's a very talented guy playing the piano. Everyone
enjoyed singing Christmas carols at the party.
At the party I met a man who covers his truck with Christmas lights every year. He said It takes him 2 or 3 days to duct tape the lights on.
I also met a man from Mexico who opened his own cake shop in Des Moines named Let Them Eat Cake. He made this Christmas cake for the party. I foolishly didn't eat any because at the time I was stuffed. I think I gained 2 or 3 pounds over the holidays.
This is not a real fireplace but a DVD playing on my sister's big flat screen TV. It gives us the illusion of warmth and coziness. I spent Christmas Day with my family at my sister's.
And now for something from Japan. This is a guy who makes vegetables into musical instruments. In this case a big piece of broccoli. For your listening enjoyment he will play Angels We Have Heard On High.
No painting yet but I'm working on three and next month I'm sure you can see my new work. Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas to all of my friends in Japan and the USA. Iowa is cold and miserable in winter. It's hard to come back to -12 F (-24 C) temperatures once you've been away I'm asking myself why I ever left beautiful Japan to live in this frozen wasteland but I was able to have fun over the holidays with my friends and family and was even invited to a Christmas party.
This is my friend's Christmas tree not mine. See that painting on the right I did that it's a portrait of my friend we met in high school 34 years ago.
This is my friend's kitchen not mine where we made some Christmas goodies for the party.
At the party I met a man who covers his truck with Christmas lights every year. He said It takes him 2 or 3 days to duct tape the lights on.
I also met a man from Mexico who opened his own cake shop in Des Moines named Let Them Eat Cake. He made this Christmas cake for the party. I foolishly didn't eat any because at the time I was stuffed. I think I gained 2 or 3 pounds over the holidays.
This is not a real fireplace but a DVD playing on my sister's big flat screen TV. It gives us the illusion of warmth and coziness. I spent Christmas Day with my family at my sister's.
And now for something from Japan. This is a guy who makes vegetables into musical instruments. In this case a big piece of broccoli. For your listening enjoyment he will play Angels We Have Heard On High.
No painting yet but I'm working on three and next month I'm sure you can see my new work. Happy Holidays!
The end of autumn
WednesdayNovember12 2008
November 12th
The end of autumn, I hate saying the beginning of winter because it's a depressing time especially here in Iowa where we have such a terrible long winter. My home in Japan the weather was milder but we couldn't afford to heat our whole house, at least here every room is warm. Americans complain about their high prices but try living in Japan, it's twice as much.
I dressed up for Halloween this year since I was with my daughter. I'm the ultimate mother so I dressed as my evil twin "Bad MaMa".
I had to borrow some clothes from my daughter. I'm wearing her jr. prom dress. Pretty scary.
Here's a picture of the Iowa State University Campus taken the beginning of this month on one of the last beautiful days we had.
Since this picture was taken we've had our first snow fall. ISU has one of the most beautiful campuses in the USA, at noon there is a little concert when the bells play in the tower.
Still adjusting to being an American again, I am eating more like an American but I cannot eat the large amount of food they give you at the restaurants so my daughter and I usually buy one meal and share.
This is one of my favorite local places to eat, you get homemade vegetable chips instead of potato chips. I do have a weakness for junk food especially chips and chocolates.
I don't have a car so my nephew is letting me borrow his for the time being. He had a little accident but it still purrs like a kitten.
A Buick LeSabre my sweet ride. My daughter calls it our ghetto ride.
I have a new friend. Brazilian artist Claudia Xavier Delima. Here is a link to her site. http://www.claudiaxavierdelima.com/ She has a wonderful site so please visit it and say hello. I belong to a variety of on-line galleries and Claudia and I discussed putting links on our site to our friend's sites which I think is a great idea. I will plan on doing that in the near future.
I have started painting and hopefully my next entry will be my new painting.
The end of autumn, I hate saying the beginning of winter because it's a depressing time especially here in Iowa where we have such a terrible long winter. My home in Japan the weather was milder but we couldn't afford to heat our whole house, at least here every room is warm. Americans complain about their high prices but try living in Japan, it's twice as much.
I dressed up for Halloween this year since I was with my daughter. I'm the ultimate mother so I dressed as my evil twin "Bad MaMa".
I had to borrow some clothes from my daughter. I'm wearing her jr. prom dress. Pretty scary.
Here's a picture of the Iowa State University Campus taken the beginning of this month on one of the last beautiful days we had.
Since this picture was taken we've had our first snow fall. ISU has one of the most beautiful campuses in the USA, at noon there is a little concert when the bells play in the tower.
Still adjusting to being an American again, I am eating more like an American but I cannot eat the large amount of food they give you at the restaurants so my daughter and I usually buy one meal and share.
This is one of my favorite local places to eat, you get homemade vegetable chips instead of potato chips. I do have a weakness for junk food especially chips and chocolates.
I don't have a car so my nephew is letting me borrow his for the time being. He had a little accident but it still purrs like a kitten.
A Buick LeSabre my sweet ride. My daughter calls it our ghetto ride.
I have a new friend. Brazilian artist Claudia Xavier Delima. Here is a link to her site. http://www.claudiaxavierdelima.com/ She has a wonderful site so please visit it and say hello. I belong to a variety of on-line galleries and Claudia and I discussed putting links on our site to our friend's sites which I think is a great idea. I will plan on doing that in the near future.
I have started painting and hopefully my next entry will be my new painting.
Culture Shock
ThursdayOctober23 2008
October 23rd
Culture shock is the feeling of disorientation by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes. I am still going through the emotional ups and downs of adjusting to life in a small town in Iowa. Yesterday I was up but today I'm down really down, it's been cold and rainy here all week and this time of year in Japan is always so beautiful, my favorite time of year. Right now I feel like I'm in hell. I've got to start painting again.
On the other hand last weekend we had beautiful weather. My daughter and I went to a park and saw a natural sculpture exhibit. We walked for about 3 hours.
This is the natural sculture exhibit we visited.
We walked around this lake.
This is how bad my culture shock is, when I first saw this I thought it was another sculpture but no it's a bike rack. Duh.
Every time I go to a park here I see someone getting their picture taken. Americans apparently like having their picture taken outside for different occasions such as an engagement announcement, wedding, new baby or a high school senior graduating. I was making fun of this and asked my daughter to take a high school senior picture of me outside but my daughter calls these my senior citizen pictures.
Graduating in life my senior citizen pictures. Somebody please help me.
Culture shock is the feeling of disorientation by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes. I am still going through the emotional ups and downs of adjusting to life in a small town in Iowa. Yesterday I was up but today I'm down really down, it's been cold and rainy here all week and this time of year in Japan is always so beautiful, my favorite time of year. Right now I feel like I'm in hell. I've got to start painting again.
On the other hand last weekend we had beautiful weather. My daughter and I went to a park and saw a natural sculpture exhibit. We walked for about 3 hours.
This is the natural sculture exhibit we visited.
We walked around this lake.
This is how bad my culture shock is, when I first saw this I thought it was another sculpture but no it's a bike rack. Duh.
Every time I go to a park here I see someone getting their picture taken. Americans apparently like having their picture taken outside for different occasions such as an engagement announcement, wedding, new baby or a high school senior graduating. I was making fun of this and asked my daughter to take a high school senior picture of me outside but my daughter calls these my senior citizen pictures.
Graduating in life my senior citizen pictures. Somebody please help me.
New Life
MondayOctober13 2008
October 13
I returned to America last month and am now living in a small town in Iowa. My life has change completely from the one I had in Japan. In Japan I lived in a city surround by mountains with a view of Mt. Fuji. I had a home, two cars, a cute little dog and a great job as a teacher. In Iowa I live in a city surrounded by flat farmland. I have a small apartment, no car, no dog, no job but I do get to live with my daughter. My daughter wanted to experience high school in America and I came here to be with her. Even though I'm American I lived in Japan for twenty-one years and feel more comfortable in Japan than America. I am suffering from culture shock everytime I try to do something, today I tackled the complexities of grocery shopping. The shopping cart is hugh, the food unfamiliar, the store is too big it takes too long to find anything and how does one check out? Luckily the people here have been kind and helpful on the whole making my transition a little less stressful.
I had my 51st birthday this month and I deserved this slice of double fudge chocolate madness supreme cake.
I returned to America last month and am now living in a small town in Iowa. My life has change completely from the one I had in Japan. In Japan I lived in a city surround by mountains with a view of Mt. Fuji. I had a home, two cars, a cute little dog and a great job as a teacher. In Iowa I live in a city surrounded by flat farmland. I have a small apartment, no car, no dog, no job but I do get to live with my daughter. My daughter wanted to experience high school in America and I came here to be with her. Even though I'm American I lived in Japan for twenty-one years and feel more comfortable in Japan than America. I am suffering from culture shock everytime I try to do something, today I tackled the complexities of grocery shopping. The shopping cart is hugh, the food unfamiliar, the store is too big it takes too long to find anything and how does one check out? Luckily the people here have been kind and helpful on the whole making my transition a little less stressful.
I had my 51st birthday this month and I deserved this slice of double fudge chocolate madness supreme cake.