We had a very busy week from covering class material to english-connection. Last week, I had an opportunity to have a tea party while having a class discussion in our history class. It was very interesting because classes are usually lectures but our professor wanted us to be knowledgeable about tea parties, for tea ceremonies is an important part of Japanese culture. We had tea and many snacks while learning Japanese history! My history class is very small (only 3 students), so it was an interesting chance to discuss class material in such an atmosphere.

These are sweets you snack on while drinking tea to counter the tea's bitterness. This box had 6 very delicious sweets.

We went to an aquarium in Oarai (大洗). I had a very good time because it’s been a long time since I’ve been to an aquarium even in America. We saw lots of interesting fish, sharks, penguins, otters but nothing too significantly different from aquariums in America. They had “California seals” which were interesting.

-James

P.S.: Snyder-sensei might have a secret pretzel business in Japan. She must be making lots of money because it sells like hotcakes.