Kids birthday party

The Birthday is the one of the big celebration in the U.S.A.  Especially for the kids, it seems having a birthday party is very important.  As a mother, my son's birthday is a happy day but I feel pressure every year at this time. I was suprised about kids birthday party here.  My son has attended variety of birthday party since he was born.  Gym party, Musium party etc... Many of the parents spend more than $300 for the birthday party.  When I was a child, the birthday cerebration was simple and held at home.  Honestly, the birthday party trends here is unbelievable for me. However, it is said "When in Rome, do as the Romans do"  I'm running around to find a place to have my son's birthday party again this year.

Salad Dressing receipe

I like to eat salad but I can't good Asian style salad dressing from the supermarket.  I got this salad dressing receipe from my friend.  It is so good with the Asian style dinner.

• Sesame seeds      30g
• Onion   Sliced     1/2
• Carrots Sliced     1/2 cup
• Garlic                   1 glove
• Vegetable Oil      350cc
• Rice Vineger       100cc
• Soy Sauce            130cc
• Sugar                    35g
• Ginger                  3 Slices

Put all the ingredients in the blender and puree until they are smooth.  It can be  preservable in the refregerator for two weeks.  Check it out!!

Love coffee shop

I love to go to coffee shop.  I go to cafe almost everyday for relaxing, studying, and meeting my friends.  It is kind of addicted.  I started to go there for studying at first.  I can't concentrate to study at home because so many interruptions.  I'm grad to have coffee shop like Starbucks here and there now. I like their amazing choice of coffee menu and free unlimited wifi service.  I also like starbucks's sandwiches.  I think they taste much better than Subway sandwiches.  

Workers of nuke energy plant

Fukushima nucler energy plant, which is Tokyo Electoric Power, has caused varous troubles since the earthquake.  Overseas media said that there were concerns on safety issue of the plant for long time before the earthquake.  I agree that they have a responsibilty to fix those problems immediatry and obligation to compensate the damages.

On the other hand, I feel very sad to hear the news about people who work at the nuke plant.  Yesterday, three workers were hospitalized because they had exposed when they were working at the building next to the no.3 reactor.  And the another news said that one of the worker told his wife on the phone that he only sleep one or two hours on the chair and getting only nutrition bar for the meal at work.  The wife said that her husband hasn't gone back home since the earthquake.  I just so sorry for those workers especially downstream workers, who have been forced to work under extreme conditions. 

People in the disaster area

Still more than 250,000 people are staying the evacuation center in Japan.  People are suffering shortage of many supplies. Especially, fuel shortage is the serious problem.  They don't have fuel to heat up evacuation center and to transport supplies. Many people would not be able to sleep because of the chill, hanger and anxiety.

I don't know how I describe my feeling about what is happing in my country.  It is absolutely deviated situation.  Japanese has been dealing with many harricanes and earthquekes.  However, many people probably wouldn't imagine this huge catastrophe.

However, the Japansese broadcasts says that the people in the evacuation centers are waiting for supplies patiently and many of them are working hard to help each other although in this tragic situation. I never heard the news of violence or dispoliation. I'm just very proud of those Japanese. 

In addition, I have been concerning about the workers at the nucler enery facility. They are working with a huge risk of thier life.  I assume that the family of the worker's suffering are also immeasurable.

Heart-breaking story

I read this heart-breaking story at yahoo Japan on 3/14.  Here is the contents of the article...

“Everybody, escape from here right now!!” –The whole town of Minamisanriku in Miyagi Prefecture was engulfed by Tsunami.  Miki Endo, who works at the Minamisanriku town office in crisis management section, had stayed in the office with other workers after the M9.0 earthquake.  She kept working to order a full evacuation to the residence over the community wireless system. When the deadly tsunami came, she shouted on the microphone “Tsunami is coming! It's more than 20-feet! Everybody escape from here now!!” The woman who survived by hearing Miki's warning said that she just grabbed her cell phone and rushed to the high school which on the hill.  And when she looked back toward her town, she saw that the big wave coming toward to near the hill with sweeping off trees, houses and everything. The town hall was completely destroyed. Miraculously, ten of the town hall workers were survived by hanged onto the tower of the building.  However, Miki was gone. One of the workers saw she swept away into the water.

I believe that her announcement saved many people's life. She was only 25-years-old.

Tsunami

My home town called Mie Prefecture is located near by Pacific Ocean. My grandparents lived in the house which over looking a beautiful beach.  Every summer vacation, I stayed there with my cousin and went to the beach every day. I have seen tsunami a couple of times when I was staying there.  Before tsunami comes, the sea tide gets extremely low.  It is horrible scene to watch the sea water goes out very far. 

The tsunami that occurred yesterday in Japan were many times more powerful than I saw.  I would assume that it was unimaginable horror for the people who live in the northeast of coastal area of Japan. On Japanese TV, all the regular programs are cancelled and they keep reporting the situation of the incident. I saw that one of the whole town was sunk into the water.  Many people are still can not find their loved ones safety.  I knew that we can't control the force of nature, but this incident made me realize it again. 

Strong Earthquake in Japan

I’m watching Japanese TV all day since this morning.  I usually don’t say home and watch TV on day time but today is a different.  It is because that a major earthquake happened in my country, Japan.  It was the largest earthquake in record history in Japan which is Magnitude 8.8.  Also a strong Tsunami hit Miyagi Prefecture, which is the Pacific Ocean side of northeast area, and it looks like causing extensive damage. The largest earthquake hit about 11 hours ago and still powerful aftershocks are continuing.  Also there is another earthquake hit Nagano Prefecture just few minutes ago and they still don't know there is a relation between the one biggest one.  Tsunami warning and watch has issued almost all coastal area of Japan.  I felt like what's going to happen to Japan!!  I have nothing to do besides praying.  Fortunately, I still haven’t heard any damage about my hometown, which is Mie Prefecture, but I can’t get my family on the phone.  It is because the phone is not working many area of Japan.  It is terrifying situation.  

Ottawa

We bought a Voyageur bus pass at Toronto for travelling east coast of Canada.  We decided to go to Ottawa at first.  It took about five hours to get to Ottawa from Toronto. Ottawa is the capital city of Canada.  We visited the house of parliament, a symbol of Ottawa which rise on the parliament hill nearby Ottawa River. It was beautiful Gothic building and I felt like I’m in England. You can see great view of the parliament across from the Ottawa River.  Ottawa is a compact and well-maintained city.  By-ward market square which is located in downtown Ottawa was interesting and relaxing.  It is one of the oldest and largest markets in Canada. There are many little restaurants hidden in the back of the street.  We enjoyed eating lunch and watching street performance.

Toronto-Niagara Falls

I and my friend headed to Toronto after we left Banff.  Toronto is the providential capital of Ontario and it is the biggest city in Canada. We visited CN Tower which is the tallest tower in the world, Casa Loma, which is the historic mansion, Fort York, Royal Ontario Museum. etc..  Since we did not have many choices of the restaurant in Banff, we were excited about the food in Toronto.  We ate Chinese food at China town many times during the stay.  Dim Sum was fantastic!! It is one of my favorite food.  Chinese food in Toronto is authentic and less expensive since there are more than 200,000 Chinese lives there.  We took a day trip to Niagara Falls. It is the one of the most famous tourist spot in the world. The view of the Niagara Falls were unbelievable.  I was impressed to see a big and powerful nature of beauty.  I took excursion boat to get closer to the fall, I felt like I an very small, minuscule part of nature.  Although I have been wearing poncho, I got soaking wet.                  

Canadian Rockies –wild animals

I have seen many wild animals during the summer.  When you are driving, hiking and biking, there are numerous opportunities to watch wildlife in Canadian Rockies.  Either early morning or before sunset is the best chance to see large mammals, such as a bear, moose, Elk and mountain goat.  It was really interesting to see a bear crossing a road.  I was so excited when I saw grizzly bear first time. I believe it was on the way to go to Jasper National Park which is located about 150 miles from Lake Louise.  We saw couple of bears walking side of the road from the tour bus.  Driver stopped the bus and told us that those are grizzly bears.  He explained that Grizzly bear has humped shoulder, elevated forehead and brownish silver fur.  He said that they may grow about to 8 feet and weigh more than 800 pounds.  I played that I’m not bump into them during biking or hiking.  I saw lots of other wild animals during staying there.  I really enjoyed spending days watching wild animals.