World traveling family

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B7g4PkKvSN5lZGE0ZjgxZGMtZjE2OS00ZDFjLTgyYmUtN2ViMmI1OWUzNzkw&hl=en

Let's see if this works. The link above are for a fun slide I made using Power Point today.

Collage of Lilica's future possibilities

By LMG in collaboration with K and JMG

The fighting spirit

敢闘精神

（かんとうせいしん）

"The Fighting Spirit"

To calm and focus the mind, one must be quiet and listen to their own heartbeat. Listen to the rhythmic life-force that paces out each breath and instills nutrition to the mind and body with renewed energy. It is in these pulses that one learns to reconcile himself with the world around him and, more importantly, with the world within, he, himself.

The benefits of this kind of positive reinforcement of channeling your strength into your natural rhythm and relations with the environment multiply abundantly and influence others in a magnificent way. Taking a moment to infuse your own worth with self-discipline, confidence, trust and love makes everything clearer. Knowing who you are and what you are made of, that is, what capabilities you currently possess quickens the ready arsenal of tools you have to accomplish what you set out to do.

You must start when you are ready and you must always be prepared. This is the warrior code, the way of taking a single step with trusted, firm commitment while delicately balancing yours with all of nature. There is a syncopation, a melody and a harmony that is the music of your life and before your swan song takes you into the next realm of existence, you must "clean out" all negative possessions and affirm the love that fills all of us from the core of our being. The Great Mystery which connects us and weaves its intricate story at the pace of all of our collective thoughts always provides all that we need at any given moment.

Do more and don't fear being the best self that you can become for it is only you fulfilling your destiny. The legend of you begins with these thoughts and expands with each word you speak, building on each action you take. As the raindrops collect and form the prism through which sunshine reflects a rainbow, you can channel all of the bright aspects of your life to reflect the best of yourself. This is the promise of a new tomorrow while living in this moment. And there is peace once more.

San Francisco, here we come!!!

In one week, mi familia and I will finally have an amazing reunion with my Mom, uncles, aunts, cousins and baby Carmen, the newest addition to the California branch of the family. We are very excited and are busily packing up our things in preparations of this long-awaited trip. It'll be Lilica's first international flight and our first family trip overseas.



Here at work, there isn't much to do, but I am trying to study every student's name from various lists and photos so that I can call on them personally when our September lessons commence again. When it's possible, I go out and help with different sports/extra curricular clubs that practice every day in this sweltering heat. Otherwise, I stay in the office and try and get something productive accomplished.



When I return alone from the trip, I'll be heading out to English Camp (see the poster below). That's looking to be an exciting project as well. Most of us in the N.E.T. program will be staying overnight at the camp to invigorate the junior high participants with an all-English environment and get them to use the language with ease , or, at least, without embarrassment. Communication comes in many forms and I hope that the lines of communication that we all establish at camp will be fruitful and reoccurring.

Last night's Global English discussion PPT in JPEG format, PART 2

Last night's Global English discussion PPT in JPEG format, PART 1

"Raising a Family" Power Point presentation

Tomorrow, I will make the slideshow presentation (links below) to a Global Community in English discussion group here in Kurashiki. There will be 21 members in the class, high school age and up, who will participate.

I'm going to use a lecture/small group discussion format with a ten-minute break after 45 minutes, like the university lectures I used to hear back in the day. At the end of the slideshow, I'm also planning on showing the "Barrio Angel" scene from the movie Mi Familia / My Family to show how one family deals with the announcement of a new baby coming.

Hopefully, we'll have some good ideas exchanged about how to meet some of the issues in raising a family these days and the importance of cooperation between parents and among all involved. Wish me luck!

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B7g4PkKvSN5lYWQzNDNmM2UtZjE4MS00MjE5LWE5NjUtM2VjODdmZWYyYWFk&hl=en

http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7g4PkKvSN5lYWQzNDNmM2UtZjE4MS00MjE5LWE5NjUtM2VjODdmZWYyYWFk&sort=name&layout=list&num=50

Honesty

New glasses from my wifey, new flowers I picked after "arranging" them at work

I am not perfect, yet I know I expect a lot from my wife and daughter. As a man, I must learn to collect more patience within myself and, despite the ease with which tempers flare in this sultry heat, I must continue to exhale the negativity away.

Understanding one another comes with lots of patience and plenty of consideration for each other's feelings. My wifey has taught me more about compassion (which is probably why she reminds me so much of Ma) than any other person I know. She can feel sympathy for a total stranger because she can relate to their humanity and instantly see herself in such circumstances. At times, she might go too far and end up crying for every little "sad" story she sees on TV, but I adore her for the fact that she cares about people so much.

I care too. And my culture is one which takes care of its own. Our family is blessed beyond belief for the mere fact that we are so mixed in our ways of thinking and feeling about ourselves, our environment and our futures. Variety is the spice of life! A man in Mexican-American culture, like in Japanese culture, should be strong and should set a good example. But, in my culture, letting out emotions like anger and sadness, laughter and praise is quite the norm. In other words, to be a loud, passionate man is highly praised..

There is a difference among Japanese expectations of a man. A man in Japan must 我慢する (gaman suru) or hold back many of his inner feelings for the greater good of group. This is seen as being an adult and is valued more than releasing the fluid emotion that sometimes wells up inside. The strong silent type that occasionally "barks" at his inferiors to set them in line is treasured above all things here..

I say there has to be a balance between these two norms in our house because I can only modify my way of thinking to a limit. There's something about one's own culture that stays with us, always, no matter where we might end up living. So, Mexicans sometimes sing and cry when they drink and its usually about their women and families and that's OK too. And its cool that Japanese men do silly dances and soulful serenades at company karaoke get-togethers, but not in the presence of their loved ones. I want Lilica to know each culture's influence and let her choose her own way. In the process, I hope I can become a better man, a better father, a better husband and, overall, a better human being. OMATEOTL ("All my relations").

New Introduction in school newsletter:

My quote roughly translates to - "With the phrase, `Alright, Let's go!!!' and using lots of energy, I strive to do my best."

The Unpublished Self Intro for Kurashiki

Here is my self introduction in Japanese and English that DIDN'T get published anywhere. I thought when I moved here, that I might be asked to make a self-introduction in the community newsletter. This is something I've been asked to do in every rural area I've moved to in Japan. Apparently, cities don't have such a custom.

Anyway, please enjoy the read:

こんにちは。私の名前はジョニー・ゴベアです。ジョニーと読んでください。私は北中学校でＮＥＴの仕事を始めることができ、とても嬉しいです。私は倉敷市へ妻ともうすぐ２歳になる娘の３人で引っ越しできました。今、私たちは小町トンネルの近い福島近所に住んでいます。

桃とぶどうの岡山のもと名所を訪れたりもと郷土料理を食べたりすることを楽しみにしています。倉敷市の美術館をいただき行きたいと思います。もちろん、倉敷市のイングリッシュキャンプとかスピーチコンテストも頑張りたいと思います。北中学校の体育会はとても楽しかった！

そして、この地区のできるだけたくさんの人々と交流していきたいと思います。最近は授業あまり入ってない生徒たちと手を伸ばしようと努める。私は私の力で彼らの人生のために上げることを希望する。もし町で私を見かけたら、気軽に声をかけてくださいね！よろしくお願いします。


Hello. My name is Johnny Govea. Please call me Johnny. I am very happy to begin my work as a NET here in Kita Junior High School. I have moved to Kurashiki with my wife and our nearly 2-year-old daughter. We now live in the Fukushima neighborhood, near Komachi tunnel.

I am looking forward to discovering more of the sights and sounds of Okayama-ken, the Land of Peaches and Grapes. I want to go see Kurashiki’s art museums. Of course, I’ll do my best at events like Kurashiki’s English Camp, Speech Contest, etc. Kita Junior High’s Sports Festival was a lot of fun!

I want to communicate with as many people as I can here. Recently, I’ve tried to reach out to the students who don’t usually go to class. I hope I can make a difference in their lives. If you see me on the street, feel free to say “hi!”

Mexico and US relations

President Obama and First Lady host President Calderon and his wife

Neighborhood crane and rainy Saturday fun

A crane across the canal from our apartment, "fishing"

During this rainy season day, Lilica and I spent some time together while Katsumi went grocery shopping. We watched a Miffy video and I gave Lilica a snack before she started running around again (see the video below). We also saw the above crane perched on the roof of the building across the canal from our apartment. He was waiting there for many minutes, watching for any carp swimming in the canal. I opened the window and called out to him, but he just stared back and brushed his feathers with his beak."

These days, we only have TV, an animated DVD or two, toys, books and our imaginations to keep us entertained. It fun to play with my daughter, learning what she knows and can say as well as teaching her things that I know. Having a family is an amazing experience that I hope every man is blessed to have. My wife has done so well in raising our little girl while I work during the week and I truly appreciate all of her efforts and love. I hope to do the best I can as a father during the evenings and weekends when I'm home, to enjoy this precious time with Lilica, too. Our two-year-old is growing so fast!