Kissa
Sadness, grief, regret My little, incomparable satellite, my little side-kick, feline-party-host extraordinaire, and comforter of parents. My ‘squishy’ my ‘smooshy’, my loyal companion of 12 years, is breathing her last breaths and I can’t be there to comfort her. To hold her in my arms, murmur that it will be okay, and pet her little head, little paws. I’m stuck away from home on a business … Continue reading Kissa
Roe v Wade Part 2
With the overturning of Roe vs Wade, it is going to become a lot more dangerous to try to have children. I know that many in the pro-life/anti-abortion camp would maintain that they are okay with medically necessary abortions (to save the life of the mother), but the way some of the state laws are being drafted, those protections are not automatic. It will be … Continue reading Roe v Wade Part 2
Roe v Wade Part 1
I’m happy to see an ongoing howl about the potential overturning of Roe v Wade. Keep it up. And I am seeing two different flavors of posts: a) those about choice, bodily autonomy, and keeping the government out of womens’ uteri, and b) those that are trying desperately to connect with the pro-life contingent and sow a seed of doubt into what they assume is … Continue reading Roe v Wade Part 1
A (more) local perspective: Kanagawa Prefectural Fisheries Technology Center
On the morning of April 17th I left Tokyo and took a train 1.5 hours roughly south and then a bus for another ~30 minutes even further south until I reached the island of Jogashima. Thus began a 2-week placement with the Kanagawa Prefectural Fisheries Technology Center. Up until this point, most of my fisheries education for the year had been from the national perspective. … Continue reading A (more) local perspective: Kanagawa Prefectural Fisheries Technology Center
Takao-san 高尾山
On a day I needed to clear my head, I decided to visit Mount Takao (or, Takaosan). Just outside of Tokyo, it’s a popular escape-the-city destination. At the bottom of the mountain, just outside the train station is a very nice onsen where you can rest your weary feet (and rest of your body). Continue reading Takao-san 高尾山
The weft and warp of Japanese society
One of the best characterizations of the fundamental differences between living in Japan, and living in America, that I’ve heard, came from Diet Member Kikawada Hitoshi-sensei. I was working with his office for 3 weeks, and during my welcome dinner the conversation turned to our two culture’s approach to information flow and communication. Of everyone at the table, he was the only other person to have … Continue reading The weft and warp of Japanese society
A week on Mukojima
I’ve spent the last 10 months teasing apart some of the differences and similarities between Japan and the US. And while there are many things that set the two countries apart, one striking similarity is the zealousness of conservation biologists, particularly those who work out in the field. A field biologist is a field biologist is a field biologist, regardless of where they are … Continue reading A week on Mukojima
Three days in Beijing
I just spent three full days in Beijing. Incredible history, art, culture, food, and humanity; a bit overshadowed by the air quality, but that was part of the experience too. Am hoping to get around to recording more of my thoughts later, but in the meantime, here are the pictures. Continue reading Three days in Beijing
Nagasaki
From February 1-3rd, the 21st class of Mansfield Fellows traveled to Nagasaki on a trip sponsored by both the National Personnel Authority and the City of Nagasaki. We had a behind-the-scenes tour of the airport, a sobering and moving visit to the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, the Peace Park, the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture, Dejima where the Dutch traders lived, Mount Inasa, Glover … Continue reading Nagasaki
Siri Hakala 