Oil @ the Gulf

I have returned to the great state of Kentucky but I have a few thoughts to share with you on the recent oil mishap in the gulf. As you can see above the oil has reached Gulf Shores...in the form of on top of the water, and via tar balls on the beach. This is a SAD situation, people who rely on the gulf for a living are out of work, animals are dying, and the tourist economy in the area is going to put many people out of work. On a personal note I believe the response of the folks now cleaning up the spill was WAY too slow. I'm not personally blaming anyone but wonder why at close to day 70 the clean up folks think it may be a good idea to put out preventative measures on the shores so the oil doesn't wash up. If this tropical storm comes through many more could see the effects of the oil in the gulf via some oil in the rain if the storm comes through the gulf. Lets pray that we can learn from this disaster and lack of response time as we did with the recent hurricane in New Orleans.

Gulf Shores 2010

After a long flight from Japan...I decided to surprise the family and drive down the the condo for our family vacation! The weather is great (as you can see in the picture above) but the beach is on the verge of being shut down because of the oil build up. Believe it or not people are still swimming...crazy stuff. I'll try to post some pics of the oil on the shore here, I'll be back in the KY on Friday...but no escape from the heat there either! Hope all is well!-DTW

...No Comment

Austyn..I'm not going to even try to explain..but yes folks that is deer poo on his shorts...

The Karaoke Experience...

Here is a picture and video (all the evidence I have) of the Karaoke experience...I left Mallory in charge of this event...So Mallory and others with pictures please email them to me so I can make this Karaoke Entry a little more interesting..No offense Patton Sensei...

Return Flight Plans

Here are tomorrow's flight plans (Sunday)

We will be
Leaving Nagoya at 1:15 PM Flight Number 630
Arriving in Detriot at 12:10 PM

We will be going through customs and hopefully have a little layover time so everyone can call home to arrange their ride....

Leaving Detriot at 3:15 PM
Arriving in Lexington at 4:32 PM

It might be a good idea to get your kids passports back ASAP so they dont get lost in the shuffle..I have a good feeling this group of students will be traveling for many years to come..if they dont break their parents bank/nerves..lol

Last Night Thoughts...

While the trip is still fresh in my mind I would like to put some of my thoughts together....

1. Bottom line Mr. Patton organized a first class trip, not sure it could be duplicated, everything has gone flawless (knock on wood)
2. The group of students...while at times (most times) acted as teenagers they also were alot of fun to be around, you can really tell that they were raised right...this trip was needed for me as an educator because this is the good side of education..the success stories if you will. Parents be proud.
3. The Japanese are GREAT hosts...and are great people in general. They are very aware of their environment and are also very welcoming. Don't get in a gift giving battle with them you will lose.
4. The Food here is great..other than octopus, sea urchin, jelly fish, and squid...I enjoyed EVERY bit of it.
5. The students in Japan are super smart...its part of their culture..not a great focus on sports...just learning... Teachers and Students are still around the school at 9 PM..this is impressive and should be copied by the US.
6. After taking students to DC, Hong Kong, and Japan multiple times I have come to the realization as an educator that the value of getting out of the classroom and traveling is greater than any thing that can be done on the inside...
7. Japan is the most expensive place I have ever been..all of the people dress so nice..I wonder how in the world they afford everything...
8. Hiroshima...this place was breath taking...after visiting Pearl Harbor and then coming here I definitely have a better idea of both of the events. After going thru the Museum here it was an emotional time..almost too much...but it needed to be done. I now have a new perspective to completely doing away with any country possessing nuclear weapons...no good...I was overly impressed by the basically to the point and unbiased history of all sides involved that the Japanese have of this tragic event..
9. I would like to thank all of you students, parents, and just general followers of my blog for giving me an audience... Stay Tuned for a trip to Vegas (pics will be censored) and a trip back to Colombia at Christmas...then who knows...I'll be posting some random pictures and videos that I missed along the way but this is the last official post of Japan 2010...I'm going to keep living that dream!-DTW

Here is my base of operations the last few days..small but efficent...

Day 9 (Saturday) Pictures

Saved the best today...while at times a somewhat depressing day because of our destination this was no doubt my favorite day of the trip. There are too many stories to express with words so I'm just going to let the pictures do the talking.

Today our Agenda was:
1. Bullet Train to Hiroshima
2. Ferry to Miyajima (the kids liked watching the crabs..)got to see a Shinto Wedding
3. Lunch (ate okonomiyaki)..my fav..
4. Visit to the Atomic Dome
5. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (very moving)
6. Hiroshima Castle
7. Dinner @ Japanese McD's...(my suggestion)
8. Bullet Train back to Kyoto

Ferry To Miyajima


Take 2


Miyajima from ferry


Deer at Miyajima


Miyajima Group Shot


Shinto Wedding at Miyajima


Miyajima from Temple


Group Shot


We came all the way to Japan..to watch crabs..and eat ice cream...


View from Shrine


More Views


Pagoda on Miyajima


Lunch...okonomiyaki


Atomic Dome...this is where the mood changed


Group Picture at A Dome


A Dome to Right, actual target bridge to the left


Chris @ A Dome


Plaque for Peace Monument



Memorial for Children of Hiroshima, Sadako Sasaki...explained above


This plaque sums up a lot...


Memorial for A Bomb Victims..Plaque explained above...


Before Model


After Model


This was one of the most touching things in the museum, if you see the dark spot on the steps, this was once a person before the A Bomb hit that experts believe was dissolved....


Picture of Outside of Hiroshima Castle


Bethany Samurai


Wells Samurai


Patton Samurai


John Samurai


Tucker Samurai

Day 8 Pictures

Here are some pictures of the sushi resturant..the little bullet train delivered the special orders!...Lets just say John lost to Chris in the sushi eating challange..and then almost tossed his cookies/sushi....

Day 9 (Saturday)

Today is our last day our touring. We will be headed to Hiroshima after breakfast. I still have some pictures/videos of last nights dinner and karoake experience. Lets just say it's not a good idea to try to eat more sushi than a high schooler..

Day 8 (Friday) Travels

We stopped into the hotel before we head out for an afternoon of shopping, Japanese Karaoke, and Dinner at a Sushi Restaurant with a conveyor belt... Here's what we did today: 1. Took Train to Nara 2. Got to hang out with the famous Nara Deer 3. Went to the largest wooden building in the world Todaiji Temple 4. Ate Udon Noodles for lunch 5. Went to the Kasuga Grand Shrine 6. Saw a Pagoda 7. Went to the National Treasure Museum 8. Then we took the train back to Kyoto Here are some pics from our adventures: