January 2010 Newsletter: Yumi's Monthly Note
A happy new year!
It's been bloody freezing recently in Kyoto. No snow yet, but when I return to my home after work, I always feel frozen and immediately turn on the oil heater which I bought in the last year. It's a bit costly but I cannot stop turning on it. This Christmas, people seem to experience tightfisted mood due to the cut off of bonus in Japan. We, Pangaea, originally haven't got any bonus so no impact by this situation. Is it good or poor? However, the financial report of Pangaea ends in the black a little bit in this September which is the first time from its foundation. Although it's been still financially agonizing, Prof. Ema, the one of the board members, somewhat praised us.
We had the board meeting on 17th December. Board members, Mr. Nagahisa who is
getting famous for the governmental sorting operation for austerity, Mr. Sanada
who is moving from country to country in Asia even in the recent history boom,
Mr. Okano helping the agricultural related project and Prof. Ema being in charge
of organizer, gathered in Kyoto from difference places. Prof. Ishida, providing
Langrid to support the Pangaea's multilingual backbone, also attended the general
assembly. All the board members, experts in each area, were extremely busy but
there were lots to talk and discussions were so exciting. Especially, the focus
was on how to manage the membership and we got the various advises towards it.
Other than above, in December, we were mainly preparing for newly starting two sites. Pangaea activity will start at Kyoto International School from the middle of January. And also at Bario, in the jungle area of Malaysia! Since we hadn't any idea about how to prepare for the trip to there, we interviewed people having experiences going there. The answers were... no shower (of course bath neither) / hot water can be obtained if I make it (perhaps I need to boil by a pot) / we must have mosquito coils (I have to have two of insect deterrent with battery) / sleeping bags can be got by option (what does it mean by 'option'?!) / the mosquito net will be prepared if we hope (please do!!) The most terrified information was that to get on the mini plane to near there we have to measure not only luggage but also our body weight! (I've started to try to loose weight immediately after I'd heard this information but it might be too late...) Then talked to Toshi that 'we and our luggage will be measured nearly equal to four of Malaysian, won't we?' and he plainly said 'it's gonna be five I guess.' Oh NO! I just remembered Prof.
Ishida had told us 'Is Pangaea Kawaguchi expedition?'
To support these new activity sites, the e-training system will be activated in its operation. I've been not good at moth and butterfly from my childhood. My mother has been like this and I was imprinted by mom since she always screamed out to escape from moth or butterfly. My younger brother too. So I am tremendously anxious and frightened by it since I've been told by Gary from UNIMAS that the scale of a huge moth is so heavy! Surprisingly, Gary had been clung by leeches when he brought equipments going through mountain or bog. I think moth or butterfly are better than leeches... anyways, marbled Japanese blood should be delicious for them so I will beware enough. We will depart from 26 of this month.
Well, I introduce Mr. Ando Yasutoshi a.k.a Andu as a Pangaea ring writer for this month. He was participating in the research project at Sweden's Karolinska Institute. He's already appeared in this series but he again writes about what he felt during away from Japan.
Have a great new year!
Please keep on watching what will be going on in Pangaea this year as well!
Yumi
Other than above, in December, we were mainly preparing for newly starting two sites. Pangaea activity will start at Kyoto International School from the middle of January. And also at Bario, in the jungle area of Malaysia! Since we hadn't any idea about how to prepare for the trip to there, we interviewed people having experiences going there. The answers were... no shower (of course bath neither) / hot water can be obtained if I make it (perhaps I need to boil by a pot) / we must have mosquito coils (I have to have two of insect deterrent with battery) / sleeping bags can be got by option (what does it mean by 'option'?!) / the mosquito net will be prepared if we hope (please do!!) The most terrified information was that to get on the mini plane to near there we have to measure not only luggage but also our body weight! (I've started to try to loose weight immediately after I'd heard this information but it might be too late...) Then talked to Toshi that 'we and our luggage will be measured nearly equal to four of Malaysian, won't we?' and he plainly said 'it's gonna be five I guess.' Oh NO! I just remembered Prof.
Ishida had told us 'Is Pangaea Kawaguchi expedition?'
To support these new activity sites, the e-training system will be activated in its operation. I've been not good at moth and butterfly from my childhood. My mother has been like this and I was imprinted by mom since she always screamed out to escape from moth or butterfly. My younger brother too. So I am tremendously anxious and frightened by it since I've been told by Gary from UNIMAS that the scale of a huge moth is so heavy! Surprisingly, Gary had been clung by leeches when he brought equipments going through mountain or bog. I think moth or butterfly are better than leeches... anyways, marbled Japanese blood should be delicious for them so I will beware enough. We will depart from 26 of this month.
Well, I introduce Mr. Ando Yasutoshi a.k.a Andu as a Pangaea ring writer for this month. He was participating in the research project at Sweden's Karolinska Institute. He's already appeared in this series but he again writes about what he felt during away from Japan.
Have a great new year!
Please keep on watching what will be going on in Pangaea this year as well!
Yumi
Posted by: kumakinoko | 3. Newsletter
