Hiroshima

I'm not sure why but I had a strong desire to experience Hiroshima after reading about it in the travel guide. I suspect God put it in my heart to go there because He is still working overtime on my character development. Writing the rest of this blog was easy and fun but writing this part is hard because Hiroshima is a hard topic, period. I could write volumes on my thoughts and feelings while I was there but I will try to be concise. If I could wrap it up in a sound byte I might say something like this: "I came seeking understanding but there was none to be found." That's what I wrote in the guest log at the Memorial Center. It's one thing to learn about what happened at Hiroshima in school or read about it in a book and it's quite another to go there and walk through the exhibit for several hours surrounded by myriads of beautiful, kindhearted Japanese people. Suddenly, justifications regarding the rightness of the action seem shallow when you look at the several exhibits in front of you containing the blood stained clothing of children and youth who were killed by the bomb. Then you look at Japanese children viewing the exhibit next to you and the world goes blurry. I've rarely ever felt more self-conscious of my own heritage. It is sad indeed that freedom and peace are so elusive and that you must often give up one to have the other.
Those of you that know me well know exactly what my beliefs are regarding freedom and peace but I am not going to elaborate on those here. Some things are better communicated by the lives we live. And for my new friends that will be much better than words.

[Picture: I had many pictures from which to choose but I thought this one with Japanese children ringing the bell at the Children's Peace Monument was the best - If you want to know more you can read the Sadako Story here: http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/kids/KPSH_E/top_e.html ]

It's a small world

When I went to Hiroshima I decided to stay the night. The travel guide I had mentioned a bed and breakfast named World Friendship Center [http://homepage2.nifty.com/wfchiroshima/indexE.html] which was run by an American couple. Although I wanted to experience Japanese culture as much as possible, I needed to get a room and the thought of trying to do that via phone was daunting so I opted for a place where I knew someone would speak English. I also thought it would be nice to get their perspective on Japanese people and culture and I like the more intimate bed and breakfast setting where you can visit with other guests. In hindsight I made an excellent choice. It was a great experience. The proprietors [Donald & Pauline Hess - pictured above] we're gracious and generous hosts. Donald really went the extra mile to help me find the place too. I really enjoyed visiting with them about the Mennonite Brethren Church which sponsored the B&B and of which Don was a former "pastor". I also had a great time visiting with the other guests. One lady, from Canada, was in Japan to participate in a multicultural seminar and three other young ladies were in the Peace Corps and were on R&R. They were all based in the Philippines and one of them was even based in the city that my wife was going to be traveling to the following week on a youth missions trip. I had just missed another couple of guests who were also from Boise and had stayed there the night before. What a small world.

Bullet trains are cool

I planned a trip to Hiroshima for two reasons. First, I felt a visit to Hiroshima was obligatory. And, second, I wanted to ride one of the super fast bullet trains. I took the Shinkansen Nozomi from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima. It's top speed it approx. 300 kph (186 mph). That's just plain cool and it's amazing how smooth the ride was.

Culinary delights

The Japanese coworkers I spent time with seemed to take particular delight in getting us American's to try foods that they knew would be unusual or unappealing to us. Most of these foods consisted of unusual body parts and organ meats from variety of creatues. If you got really luck they were even cooked. My colleague Dee tried it all. I had to decline the fish eye becuase it was just too big and the raw chicken livers, probably because I saw that 60 Minutes documentary years ago on chicken processing. But, I'm proud to say I tried most of it: Tongue, liver, stomach, intestines, etc. I found it was better to ask what it was after you tried it ;-)

[Above is a picture of us at a Korean BBQ]

Japanese tea ceremony

I keep a list of things to do before I die (don't you?). Participating in a Japanese Tea Ceremony was one of these things. Most of the other things on my list are a bit more daring like "Go SCUBA Diving" (Done) or "Skydive" (Not done but maybe next year for my 40th). A tea ceremony was on the list, however, becuase of my love of tea. It was a great experience, not to mention some of the best tea I've ever had. I asked the lady who conducted our ceremony if I could take her picture and she excitedly invited all of the ladies to join in. We couldn't speak each other's language at all but we sure laughed, bowed, smiled, and laughed some more.

You can learn more about the Japanese Tea Ceremony here: http://web-japan.org/factsheet/tea/tea_c.html

[Pictured: Me, Yuki-san, and his fiancee Makiko-san]

Why am I here?

My company (Micron Technology) sent me here for a couple of weeks to install a software upgrade for one of the systems I develop and support. I am a Software Engineer by trade and have been working with this particular system for the past seven years. Coincidentally, the release I am installing is also version 7. Since seven is the number of perfection I'd like to say that the system is now perfect. Alas, if only that were true... Anyway, let's just say it is a major improvement.

[Picture: Himeji Castle up close - Learn more about Himeji Castle here: http://www.jgc.co.jp/waza/a5_himeji/castle01.htm ]

Japan 2006 - My first blog

I thought it might be fun to try a blog so I am putting together this somewhat after-the-fact blog for my trip to Japan. I thought this might be a fun way to share my experiences with my friends and family. So here goes...

[The Three Amigos at Himeji - This is a picture of myself (left), my colleague and travelling companion Dee (center), and the system admin in Japan, Hakone-san (right). Himeji Castle is in the background]