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The cherry blossom in Washington DC
2008-03-31
It's really great to soak in the vernal sunshine. It makes us happy, doesn't it?Why don't you go on a picnic or have a lunch in the open air?
Now, there are about 3,700 cherry trees around Tidal Basin in Washington DC.
These trees color the scenery beautiful vernal pink every year.
Oh, did you know that they were gifted from Japan as a pledge of friendship between America and Japan?
Look up at the sky covered with cherry blossom in DC
The Cherry Trees in Washington DC
In 1912, about 3,200 cherry trees were gifted by Yukio Ozaki who was the then mayor of Tokyo city. This idea was suggested by Helen Taft who was a wife of the 27th president. She attempted to fill with many beautiful cherry blossom from Japan.
3 years later, America gifted dogwood trees to Japan in consideration of our cherry trees. Cherry blossom and Dogwood, these trees are a symbolic of friendship Japan with America.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the relationship between both countries ran into serious. The gift from Japan was regarded as a hostile symbol and some of people tried to cut them down, but they were saved by the American people who loved cherry blossom. These trees in Washington DC have been cherished.
National Cherry Blossom Festival
National Cherry Blossom Festival is held in Washington DC from end of March to early April. We can enjoy a variety of activities ; parade, karaoke competition, Japanese food booth, and so on.It was really fun going to Washington DC in the season.
About National Cherry Blossom Festival
http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/index.php?id=390
(追記）
アメリカから日本へ贈られたハナミズキは戦時中、敵国の物として傷つけられたりしたそうです。 調べたところによると、現在原木とされるハナミズキは
１、東京都立園芸高等学校
２、東京大学理学部付属小石川植物園
３、農水省果樹試験場
にそれぞれあるそうです。
そういえば、Tidal Basin にはビーバーが生息していて、しばしば桜の木を齧ってしまうので駆除の対象になっていたのをニュースで見たなぁ。まだいるのかな？ビーバー。
Photo Gallery
ちょっと怖いぞモリゾー！
Spring has come
2008-03-29
Spring has come! Cherry trees have finally blossomed. This picture is the garden of our apartment. These cherry trees made us all happy every spring. I like this season.
at Congressional Tower
Japanese may feel unexpected that we can enjoy to see cherry trees in the US as well.
Cherry trees are loved all over the world.
at National Institutes of Health
In Japan, when we have a Hanami-party, we enjoy seeing them with alcohol! (But not everyone) However, drinking any alcohol n the outdoor is prohibited in Maryland,
Be careful when you have a BBQ or picnic lunch.
Marylandでは野外の飲酒は禁止されています。野外で酒盛りをしているともれなく通報されるらしいです。 ちなみにアメリカでは飲酒が許可されるのは２１歳以上。
毎回ではないけど、酒類を買う時は免許証など年齢が判明できるようなものを提示しないといけない。また、酒類を持ち歩く時は、紙袋に入れて外から見えないようにしないといけない。州によって違うのかもしれないけど、厳しいんすよ。
私のような若年寄（年くっているのかどうなのかわからない年齢不詳の人のこと）はほぼ毎回ID提示を要求されました。よ、喜んでいいのか？
Yankee stadium
2008-03-25
Somehow, whenever I support the team, it loses the game. Baseball, Football, American Football,,,,,
Although I've ever been to some stadiums to enjoy watching sports, anyway I have rarely seen the victory of the teams I supported.
I'm a biggest fan of Hanshin Tigers. Tigers won the league match after an interval of 18 years while I was out of Japan.
I wonder if I am a petrel........
I went to see the game of N.Y Yankees at Yankee stadium. I supported Yankees because Hideki Matsui played in the game and I liked Derek Jeter.
Many Yankees fans were gathering around the stadium. Everyone was full of vigor.
Some of them tried to talk to me in Japanese, once they found I am a Japanese. "Konnichiha","Arigato" or " Go Matsui!" and so on.
A guy spoke to me saying "Hey ma'am! Hey ma'am!"
I thought he tried to make fun of me. He was saying to me "Zipper, Zipper!!"
Huh??? Zipper???
I looked down at the zipper on my pants..... and I found that....
The zipper on my pants had opened widely!!!! It had totally opened....
I was soooooooo embarrassed that I wish I could disappear!!!!!
I wonder when it opened and I exposed such an idiot appearance......
How was the game? Of course it lost!
ヤンキースタジアムにて。
日本人だと判ると声をかけらることがある。「ゴー！ マトゥイ(松井)!」とか。
なんか、男が私に声を掛けて来た。どうせ私をからかってるんだろうと思っていた。
「アンタ、チャックが開いてるぜ。」
うわぁぁ... ジーンズのファスナーが全開でしたわ...。全然気づかなかった....。いつから開いていたんだろう？ ファスナー全開の、まぬけな出で立ちでニューヨークを歩き回っていたかと思うと、その場から消えてしまいたいくらい恥ずかしかった...。父ちゃん恥ずかしくて、涙が出てくらぁ...。
A very rare combat plane
2008-03-19
When I was writing the article about Smithsonian museum, it brought me a story of the certain combat airplane. The name is Shinden/震電 which was made by Imperial Japanese Navy in the end of WW鵺.It is very rare because it is the only one in the world and it has unusual mechanics for airplane. The airplanes with a propeller usually have it in the front. But it has a propeller in the rear.
Currently, it is stored at the National Air and Space museum in Washington DC.
Shinden／震電
To tell the truth, I've ever sent an e-mail to Smithsonian to ask for restoring it to the public. I got an e-mail from Smithsonian 3 or 4 days later but, it said that the plane wouldn't be restored. I wish I could see it.
後方にプロペラを持つという、この珍しい戦闘機震電は、現存するのはたった１機のみ。現在それは、スミソニアンの倉庫に保管されています。悲しい事に機体の損傷が激しいらしい...。
アメリカにいる間に一度、スミソニアンに「リストアしてくれー！」と、でたらめ英語のメールを送ったことがあるのですが、今の所その予定はありません。とのお返事を頂きました。うーむ、残念。
About Shinden
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyūshū_J7W
at Dulles Air and Space Museum
F-4 Phantom
Seiran/晴嵐
Dulles Air and Space Museum
2008-03-18
Smithsonian Institutionis known as the largest museum complex in the world. It has 19 museums, 9 reserch centers and National Zoo. It was established in 1846.
As I told you once before that theJapanese Samurai ambassador had ever visited there in 1860.
Today, I'll take you to Dulles Air and Space museum one of Smithsonian institutions in
http://www.visitingdc.com/virginia/dulles-air-space-museum.htm
Dulles Air and Space Museum
Space Shuttle Enterprise
You can see a lot of airplanes but, do you know the bomber which has a silver body in the middle. It used to be called B-29/ Enola Gay in WW鵺 and I want to let you all know it dropped atomic bomb into Hiroshima. I think the museum should explain about a tragedy of the atomic bomb and people who are suffering from illness caused by it, too.
I hope all nuclear weapons should be abolished in the world.
Enola Gay
I thought
Periodical cicada/ 17- year cicada
2008-03-12
I think you can see many cicadas in the summer.But the cicada which, I'm just going to tell you, is quite different from annual cicada. I encountered with them in 2004. Those cicadas were an abnormal number, anyway!
If you hated any insects, you would pass out when you saw them, I guess.
Periodical Cicada
Molting/せみぬーど
They live underground almost of their life as nymphs and then they appear on the ground once every 17 years. The emergence is at about the same time.
According to Wikipedia, sometimes more than 1.5 million individuals appear.
Besides, there is a genus called 13-year cicada.
13, 17....
If the numbers bring you something to hit upon, you are sharp at mathematics.
As you know these numbers are prime number.
＊Prime number/素数＊
a number that can be divided exactly only by itself and 1, for exsample 7, 17 and 41.
Why they need to have such a period?
It is said that there used to be another periodical cicadas, too in the past, for example 3-year, 6-year and so on. But their period to emerge was so short and easy to concentrate that they couldn't survive , because of the luck of food or fight together.
Only the species have remained which have a period of emergence that it doesn't clash with the other's.
I and Miso-chan went out to gather their shells. She got many shells and brought them to Japan. I wonder if she has them still now.
17- years cicadas /Sorry for the creepy picture!
17と13の最小公倍数は221。すなわち221年に一度、17年蝉と13年蝉とが同時に大発生すると...。どんな感じになるんでしょうね？
ちなみに辞書によると、
最小公倍数... lowest(least) common multiple
最大公約数... greatest common measure
＊About periodical cicada
リンク先の下の方にある画像に注目！そんなさわやかに蝉を食べるなあぁぁ!!ホントにyummyなのか!?
http://biology.clc.uc.edu/steincarter/cicadas.htm
Periodical cicada/ 17- year cicada の続きを読む
Nomikai until midnight in USA
2008-03-08
"My blood consists of red wine."A certain Japanese actress said such a thing before.
My blood also consists of alcohol probably.
It may be not only wine but also beer, shochu and Japanese sake.
Because I love drinking alcohol! hehehe.....
Shochu "Komatsu Tatewaki" product of Kagoshima
When I worked at the hospital I used to have many nomikai parties with my friends until midnight. Of course, I enjoyed it in the US, too.
Sometimes it continued until early morning. It was really really fun!
I was invited at a home party by my friend. At that time I was home alone, so the member was my friend, her husband and me.
They also love alcohol very much anyway.
As you expect, it kept going until midnight.
Genuine Draft made in USA
I got drunk very much. I felt so happy by a great amount of alcohol.
I tried to go back to my room but......
I mistook my room! hahaha!
I seemed to try to open the door of someone unknown resident's room.
No wonder my room's key didn't fit.
Awamori made in Ishigaki island, Japan
Thanks Ma-chan! I enjoyed those nomikai parties very much. I wish I could have it with you all again. Of course, until early morning, right?
Here is my favorite Japanese sake " Kirinzan" 麒麟山
http://www.kirinzan.co.jp/
あ、ちなみに今、さつま白波を飲みながら書いとります。あはは。
Now I'm writing this article over shochu. I feel so~ good!
The coldest place I've ever been 3
2008-03-05
Sorry, again and again.... Anyway, Fairbanks was sooo cold as to be unable to explain well. The cold made me chill to the bone. It seemed as if my heart was caught directly by icy hands. However, the scenery "Chena Hot Springs Resort" namely, it has a large natural hot spring.
Oh, would you like to soak in a hot spring before going to see the northern lights?
If you don't mind to do it under the cold outside like this!
You must pass this way to reach the hot spring, only swim wear. Everyone ran through to pass here, so some people slipped on this icy way. I also ran through here, shouting "Ahhhh---ヽ(`Д´)ノ------!!!!!"（正確には日本語でうおぉぉーー!! かな。)
何人かここで豪快にすっ転んでましたが、めちゃくちゃ寒かったので気遣う余裕はありませんでした。ごめんなさい。
If you soaked your hair into the spring, it would be frozen like icicles. So I enjoyed to change my hairstyle like an unicorn or a Super Saiyan. /スーパーサイヤ人＊You can click
But it was so difficult to return frozen hair under the cold weather that I had to go back to the locker room with a funky icy hairstyle. Someone told me "Oh, you are very freezing!"
Snow coach tour Let's go
The tour There was a mountain hut enough to accommodate about 20 people. It looked like a Mongolian ger. We can have some hot drink there. (miso soup is available)
Now, I'll tell you some tips to take a photo for the northern lights. But, I don't have a good knowledge about camera, so I may be unable to explain about them well.
Photo gear
1. Camera
A camera which can expose for about 30 seconds. If it has a function to expose about 30 seconds, you can get a photo even a digital camera. I used EOS Kiss鶚 by Cannon.
2. Tripod
A tripod is absolutely essential to avoid a camera shake.
3. Cable release
You can require a long exposure and it helps you avoid touching the camera.
Tips
1: If you brought your camera from the cold outside to the warm place, your camera would be damaged by dew. It's good for you to keep your camera wrap in a towel or cover it in a plastic bag.
2: Never use flashlight. When you make an exposure to take a photo, using flashlight will be spoiled your photo as well as someone's photo.
3. Never littering to save our nature.
Sorry! Although these pictures are not clear, have fun!
This picture was transfered from a photographic collection.
Orion was shining in the winter night sky. The northern lights looked like a flapping curtain in the wind. I was captivated by the unearthly beautiful sky.
The coldest place I've ever been 3 の続きを読む
The coldest place I've ever been 2
2008-03-02
One of the reason why I like America is that America has a lot of beautiful nature around us. National parks, grand landscape, forest, river,,,, The marvelous scenery in America captivated me.I had never seen such a beautiful white and snow-icy land! It was as if a different world. I thought it having a runny nose.
However.....
It was very very...... cold!!!! eyelashes, sigh, runny nose, Everything froze quickly.
Can you see the temperature as below?
It was -26℃／-16.8F°
Anyway---......Cold!!!!
We can borrow winter clothes and snow shoes at the hotel.
I think if I stayed outside without them, I couldn't put up with the cold, no matter how in a short time. I put on some long-sleeved shirts, pants, 2 socks, under the winter cloth and I wore a mask to cover my face.
I was armed completely like this!
うりゃ！完全防備じゃっ！
After that I took part in a tour to see the Northern Lights at last.
→To be continued
