I am in Yamaguchi Prefecture a couple of hours from Hiroshima and perhaps 4 and a half hours from Tokyo. I am really enjoying my time here. 

I have been working with Accenture, Consulting Services Business, for 5 and a half years. When I joined the firm we were known as Andersen Consulting. I have been consulting with Caterpillar, the bulldozer, truck, and diesel engine manfacturer to name a few items, for 2 and a half years and am currently managing our day to day relationship with Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi in Japan. My latest assignment has been a great challenge and it is so wonderful to return to The Land of The Rising Sun. My Japanese is getting a workout!

  Michael Dockery is now teaching English in Narashino, Chiba. The following is from his diary: 

My 1st-year students had Sports Day today. Each of the four homeroom classes competed against each other, the boys playing soccer and the girls playing dodgeball.

Though I stepped out once to make an appearance at the soccer fields, I had a hard time tearing myself away from the dodgeball. Just imagine, tiny, cute-as-a-button, quiet, shy, Japanese 13-year-old girls, hurling a volleyball as hard as they can at each other, often inflicting pain and punishment in the process.

The great thing was, they would be vicious one minute, and immediately be cute and innocent the next. Like, one little girl smashed another who was standing literally right next to her in the back with the ball, and then immediately covered her mouth and cried, "Gomen!" (I'm sorry!). They looked as if they really felt bad about beaning each other with the ball, but that didn't stop them from doing it to the best of their ability. So cute....... You can read the rest at 
  http://www.livejournal.com/users/tako_koen/ 
 

She was in the category of advanced Japanese, and competed against other 4th year students of Georgia. Even though she is the only 3rd-year student participating in this level, she won second prize. Her speech was about the Art relationship between the US and Japan for the past 150 years. 
    
Way to go, Stephanie!

As everyone knows, we had Sakura Matsuri this month, Nozomi Daiko Drumming, Japan Club skits, and other activities were held in the McFarland Mall. It was fun. 

Finally, UA is in Spring break, and finally I can take a break a bit... It sure has been a busy semester for me... Well, I guess everyone knows that...

I talked about the Ferguson Center cafeteria last time. Now the renovation is done and all-you-can-eat bar is open.  I have not eaten there yet, but many students said it is pretty good.   If you visit the campus, try it. A lot of areas on campus are also under construction. We are adding two parking buildings, close to the B.B. Comer and Engineering library.

I need your input for next issue, Please let me know what you are doing now.

                                                                                 Dr. Koji Arizumi

 ua_japanese_arizumi@hotmail.com  

   Back number September 2003

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