Post by Herb on May 31, 2003 6:45:48 GMT -5
Hi: I'll introduce myself. My name is Herb Bastuscheck. I live in Misawa, Japan, not far from the US Air Force base there. After teaching elem. and jr. hi. in Oregon's Cascade Mts. for over 20 years, I came to Japan over 17 years ago to teach English conversation to Japanese students for 2 years. Met a Japanese jr. hi. school English teacher and we headed back to Oregon the next summer so my minister father could perform our wedding. Sachiko is currently the only female jr. hi. principal in this N. Honshu part of Japan. 'Twas a long and difficult road for her. The male old farts don't take kindly to females trying to "horn in" on their domain.
I've been so pleasantly surprised at the wide variety of activities available here - which I liked to do in Oregon and the US. I studied archaeology as a univ. student with an emphasis on the Pac. NW coastal culture. I collected artifacts, fossils, rocks, seashells, bird eggs, plants, butterflies and insects, skulls and skeletons, etc. - just about all were used in my science and history Here in N Japan I've been able to collect 5,000-7,000 year old Jomon artifacts and participate as a volunteer on several digs with local Japanese archaeologists. I've basically gotten graduate level training in Japanese archaeology. By joining a local birdwatching group about 15 years ago, I've become close friends with several like-minded Japanese. We frequently get together to go to artifact, fossil, and rock collecting areas to collect together. I've found many nice fossil and rock sites. Over a year ago I found the first fossil turtle to be found in this region of Japan.
Trout fishing is great on several lakes and streams nearby. Japanese in this area just DON'T canoe. I bought a canoe from an American airman moving from Japan about 14 years ago. Most of the streams are basically virgin fishing waters once my canoe slides beyond the last casting area from shore. In 14 years, I've seen 3 canoes - and all had Americans in them! One to 5 pound trout are very common in this area.
I do alot of volunteer work here - both at Japanese schools, and on the US base. I frequently show fossils, rocks, Jomon, American Indian, and a traditional Japanese style of art using oval black enamel trays and various sizes of rocks and sand called Bonseki where scenes from nature are created. After over 12 years of weekly lessons, I've become the first foreigner to get a "sensei" certificate.
It's been fun being here, but we both will retire in another year back to Oregon, and enjoy traveling and collecting.
I've been so pleasantly surprised at the wide variety of activities available here - which I liked to do in Oregon and the US. I studied archaeology as a univ. student with an emphasis on the Pac. NW coastal culture. I collected artifacts, fossils, rocks, seashells, bird eggs, plants, butterflies and insects, skulls and skeletons, etc. - just about all were used in my science and history Here in N Japan I've been able to collect 5,000-7,000 year old Jomon artifacts and participate as a volunteer on several digs with local Japanese archaeologists. I've basically gotten graduate level training in Japanese archaeology. By joining a local birdwatching group about 15 years ago, I've become close friends with several like-minded Japanese. We frequently get together to go to artifact, fossil, and rock collecting areas to collect together. I've found many nice fossil and rock sites. Over a year ago I found the first fossil turtle to be found in this region of Japan.
Trout fishing is great on several lakes and streams nearby. Japanese in this area just DON'T canoe. I bought a canoe from an American airman moving from Japan about 14 years ago. Most of the streams are basically virgin fishing waters once my canoe slides beyond the last casting area from shore. In 14 years, I've seen 3 canoes - and all had Americans in them! One to 5 pound trout are very common in this area.
I do alot of volunteer work here - both at Japanese schools, and on the US base. I frequently show fossils, rocks, Jomon, American Indian, and a traditional Japanese style of art using oval black enamel trays and various sizes of rocks and sand called Bonseki where scenes from nature are created. After over 12 years of weekly lessons, I've become the first foreigner to get a "sensei" certificate.
It's been fun being here, but we both will retire in another year back to Oregon, and enjoy traveling and collecting.
Decisions Decisions , what a tough life. 