Culture From a Child's View Giving school cultural presentations ("kokurika") is one of the best parts of my job. The kids are always so full of energy, and eager to learn! At a typical "kokurika," we share some multilingual songs and games, and then guests from around the world talk a little bit about their country's culture. I have to admit, though, it is a little bit intimidating. To think that I, a small-town Minnesota girl, am responsible for representing the 300 million+ people in the United States is unfathomable! Nevertheless, it is exciting and interesting. Although I come as a presenter, I think I learn as much as the students! One thing I am always surprised by is the cultural details that the kids are so interested in. No matter what I talk about--Halloween, breakfast foods, typical grade school life in America--they choose the funniest things to remember. Some of my favorite questions have included, "What type of video games do you ...

Snowy Setsubun Yesterday it snowed in Tokyo! What a treat to wake up and see white outside the window. My first impulse was to run and ask "Is school cancelled yet?!" My host brother and I had a snowball fight and built a snowman, (which we named Yukidaruma-san). By evening most of the snow had turned to slush. My host family and I decided to brave the cold and go to the temple for the Setsubun holiday. We threw soybeans off the balcony, yelling "Fuku wa uchi, oni wa soto!" ("Good luck in, devil out!") We also performed the same ritual at home with my host dad, who was lucky enough to get to wear the oni (devil) costume while we threw soybeans at him. For dinner we ate makizushi, which is traditional for the holiday. We ate in silence while facing the SE (the lucky direction for this year). I asked my host family how this "lucky direction" is determined. They weren't sure so we looked it up online. Apparently, it is determined by the ...