Koi

I like fish. My grandparents kept several Japanese fish called koi in their fancy backyard pond. It had a waterfall, was kept very clean and surrounded by tiny pebbles. A magazine called House Beautiful had a picture of it on their front cover. When I was five, the koi pond was one of my favorite places. Before too long I discovered that when I threw handfuls of the tiny pebbles in the water the koi swam faster. However, when my grandfather found out I was ‘messing up’ his pond I had to clean it out. He gave me a net, helped me roll up my pant legs and asked me to scoop all the tiny rocks out with a net. I really hoped the koi would swim up and kiss my toes – but they didn’t.

Perhaps my grandparents got the idea for a koi pond when they traveled to Japan. Koi is the Japanese word for carp. They look a lot like great big goldfish but are not related. They are a symbol of love and friendship can live up to 75 years and come in many colors.



Here are four things koi and first graders have in common:
• Will grow to about 40 inches and weigh up to roughly 50 pounds
• May live longer than 75 years
• Will eat all sorts of foods including peas, lettuce and watermelon.
• Can be trained to eat from your hand.

KenYen Explained!

KenYen. It’s easy to earn.
KenYen. It’s worth the effort.
KenYen. Say it three times fast. It rolls off the tongue.

What is KenYen? I took the liberty of looking it up in the dictionary for you. Here is the entry.


KenYen: noun. 1. a combination of the words Mrs. Kennedy and yen, the Japanese money system. 2. the LPES point system designed to make learning about Japan online fun and interactive. 3. will be used to win Japanese-related prizes.

Ooops….I just dropped the dictionary in Palmer Lake. I hope you'll forgive me but I’m not able to give you the name of the dictionary I used – you know, in case you wanted to look it up or something.

Website Tour

When I found out I had been selected as a 2008 Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholar, first my jaw dropped open.
Then, I screamed yee-haw.
Next, I jumped up and down.
Finally, I started breakdancing.



Ok....You caught me. I don't know how to breakdance - but I DID feel like spinning on my head.
(When school starts I'm going to ask Mr. Gross, OUR NEW P.E. TEACHER, to teach me some breakdancing moves. I've heard that he is really good! You should ask him to show you the belly swim - but, shhh.... don't tell him I told you to ask.)

As a Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholar I will travel to Japan for three weeks in October to study Japanese culture, education, government and traditions. A big part of my "What Kids Want to Know about Japan" project associated with the award is this website. You need to be prepared for our journey. Shall we take a tour of this page? Look to the right.

Useful links - use these links to earn KenYen.

huh?... what is KenYen?

Japan Time - Check out the current date and time in Japan. Did you notice that Japan is 15 hours ahead of Monument, Colorado? In October, when Mrs. Delaney is reading the morning announcements over the intercom, please don't call me. I'll be very busy sleeping! I might be snoring because it will be already be around midnight.

Japanese vocabulary – This changes daily so you can brush up on your Japanese. Be sure to have the volume on. See if you can work these new Japanese words into conversations. You'll impress your friends.

Blog Archive - You can check back on older posts.

Can you think of anyone that might like to go on a Japanese Learning Adventure with us? Family? Friends? Neighbors? Send them a link to this website. We want everyone to learn about Japan with us!

Welcome

Welcome - or should I say - "irasshaimasse"! Let's begin our Japanese learning adventure. This website is designed to support and enhance Japanese cultural awareness at Lewis-Palmer Elementary School and within the Monument, Colorado community. (Don't live in Monument? Don't go to LPES? No problem! Tag along. We are a friendly group.)

Your first task is to show this website to mom and dad. Ask if you can bookmark it so it will be easier to earn KenYen.

Hummmm.... what is KenYen?

In October it will be an honor to travel to Japan for three weeks as a 2008 Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholar. A BIG "arrigato" to the government of Japan! They are supporting my travel and encouraging my project, "What Kids Want to Know About Japan". Another BIG "arrigato" to Lewis-Palmer School District! This project supports our newly adopted Strategic Vision as well as the LPES School Improvement Plan to provide our students with global awareness and an appreciation of other cultures. OOOoooooo so much to do before I get on that airplane!