It's a Busy Week

Horiyuji Temple
Originally uploaded by Kawakatoose.

Well, this has been a busy week. Charity and I have had a few days off lately. While in North America, the school year typically runs from September until June or July, in Japan, it goes from April to March, with a short break at the end of March. Many people go on holidays and some classes start while others finish. Even so, we've been quite busy. Last week Monday, I went to Hiroshima with Jessica, one of the other teachers here. It was very interesting. I had wanted to go to Hiroshima since I came back in July with the purpose of learning more about the history of Hiroshima and the atomic bomb. I hoped to find some knew and interesting ways to teach the subject when I'm back in Canada. I think it was worth the trip. It wasn't a very happy place to visit, but it is the location of a very significant event in history, that is, the first use of nuclear weapons against human beings. Whether or not the action was justified is a source of endless controversy, but one could hardly deny that the A-bomb set the stage for much of the history of the late twentieth century. At any rate, it was very interesting. I also visited Hiroshima Castle and Miyajima Island. Miyajima Island is the site of the famous Ikutsushima Shrine, which has a giant torii gate rising from the sea. During high tide, the water comes up around the gate and around the shrine itself. It's a very beautiful place, even if we weren't there at the high tide.

Also, on Sunday, Charity and I went to Horyuji Temple in Nara prefecture. It is allegedly the oldest wooden building still in existence anywhere. It was interesting, but not much moreso than any of the other temples in Japan. It was nice to do something together for a change. We've been very busy lately. And tomorrow, we get to go to Himeji Castle, one of the most impressive castles in Japan. I like castles the most because they are usually associated with the history of Japan, and as most of you know, I'm a history nut. Himeji is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as are Horyuji, Itsukushima Shrine, and Hiroshima Peace Park. That will be four World Heritage Sites in two weeks. Oddly enough, I've been to World Heritage Sites in Mexico and Japan, but never in Canada. Anyway, take care. Later.
-Joe.