by Mike Costanzo | Sep 24, 2007 | Missions, Teaching
Yesterday was Shuubun no Hi (the Autumnal Equinox, one of the two days in the year when the day and night are equal in length). These two days, together with Obon (the day when the spirits of departed ancestors supposedly return to earth) mark the three biggest days...
by Mike Costanzo | Sep 20, 2007 | Mike, Video
When you’ve given everything you have, and there’s nothing left inside, you need to replenish, recouperate, revitalize, and reinvigorate with the proven power of pureed chicken. That’s why we created new LIQUID CHICKEN brand chicken drink ....
by Mike Costanzo | Aug 10, 2007 | Mike, Video
One of the hardest things about making your own movies is having to chop out good material, either because it doesn’t fit for some reason, or because it’s just plain too long. But one of the best things about maing your own videos is that you can go back...
by Mike Costanzo | Aug 6, 2007 | Culture, Mike
Hontou ni hisashiburi desu ne! It’s been a long time since my last Culinary Adventures (TM) blog–six months, in fact. You might even have been fooled into thinking that maybe I settled down and decided to give up trying all the interesting new foods that...
by Mike Costanzo | Jul 31, 2007 | Culture, Jen, Mike, Video
Mysterious. Enigmatic. Intriguing. Yes, the world of Japanese culture is a vast and funky one, and has muddled the most meticulous minds for millenia. But no longer! We proudly present Japanese Culture: A Guide to the Finer Points by Mike & Jen Costanzo. These two...
by Mike Costanzo | Jul 20, 2007 | Day-to-Day, Teaching
Today was the last day of classes before Tamura City’s summer break, which goes until August 26th or so. Thus, I (Mike) am officially on vacation, but Jen’s Wakakusa classes will run for another week, and resume on the 15th–bummer! 🙁 Over summer...
by Mike Costanzo | Jul 8, 2007 | Faith, Friends, Prayer
We’ve been thinking for a while now that about posting brief update on what God has been doing recently at Koriyama Baptist Church (our “home church”). This church has truly been a blessing to us in ways that we never could have expected. In...
by Mike Costanzo | Jul 4, 2007 | Culture, Faith, Holidays/Special Events
July 7th in Japan is a holiday called Tanabata. Most Americans have never heard of Tanabata, and after a lot of asking around at my school, I’ve come to find out that many Japanese know very little about the true history of the tradition, why certain things are...
by Mike Costanzo | Jun 17, 2007 | Scenery, Travel
Remember when we first arrived in Japan, we got to meet the mayor of Tamura, have sea cucumber sushi on the moon with (ex-)Prime Minister Koizumi, and all that? Well around that time we also met the Chairman of the Tamura City Board of Education, and as a gift he gave...
by Mike Costanzo | Jun 3, 2007 | Holidays/Special Events, Missions, Teaching
Today we had our long-awaited Easter Program, and praise God, it was a smashing success!!! Thanks to all of you who prayed for this event; everything went smoother than we ever thought possible. There were no accidents, no major spills of Easter Egg dye, nobody got...
by Mike Costanzo | May 21, 2007 | Holidays/Special Events, Scenery, Video, Wakakusa
If there’s one thing that Wakakusa English teachers will tell you about this program, it’s that you never know what amazing opportunities will come your way, and this past week was a great example. This Tuesday, 30 delegates from the city of Mansfield ,...
by Mike Costanzo | May 18, 2007 | Engrish
Yes, it’s time once again to revisit the wacky and wonderful world of Engrish. Just cuz’ we haven’t blogged about it in a while, don’t mean that it’s gotten any less goofy! 🙂 We actually found this sticker on our trash can one day. We...
by Mike Costanzo | Apr 22, 2007 | Culture, Day-to-Day, Scenery
At last–they’re finally here!!! Spring has officially come to Funehiki, and the cherry blossoms are at last in full, glorious bloom. Jen and I have been waiting for months for this day to come, and now that it’s here, it feels like a dream come true....
by Mike Costanzo | Apr 9, 2007 | Mike, Music, Video
I’m not exactly sure how to introduce this… My latest art project is out, and whew boy, it’s unique. This is a side of me that no one (including me) has ever seen before. Trust me; you ain’t never seen anything like this. Just go here to watch...
by Mike Costanzo | Apr 8, 2007 | Devotion, Faith, Holidays/Special Events
Happy Easterfrom Japan!!! This morning we celebrate the ressurection of the Lord, who suffered, died, was buried, and then on the third day rose again–and all for us! This morning, our whole team gathered at 6 am, walked to the top of a big hill, and had a time...
by Mike Costanzo | Apr 7, 2007 | Devotion, Faith, Holidays/Special Events
O Come and Mourn with Me Awhile O come and mourn with me awhile, O come ye to the Savior’s side O come, together let us mourn, Jesus our Lord is crucified. Seven times He spake seven words of love; And all three hours His silence cried For mercy on the souls of...
by Mike Costanzo | Mar 30, 2007 | Friends, Missions, Travel
Yesterday Jen and I got back from Adatara Bible Camp, home of the 2007 Fukushima Prefecture Baptist Youth Camp. We went up on Tuesday night and left Thursday afternoon, and every moment was precious to us. The food was great, the scenery was pretty, and the weather...
by Mike Costanzo | Mar 30, 2007 | Jen, Teaching, Wakakusa
Although junior high classes have been over since last Friday, Jen’s Wakakusa English School classes went through this past Tuesday. This made for a crazy few days for our Jen; not only did she have end-of-the-school-year reports to write, but she also had to...
by Mike Costanzo | Mar 16, 2007 | Holidays/Special Events, Teaching
As we mentioned in our last entry, April is the month of new beginnings, and March is the month of conclusions and endings. Well, it’s also the month for graduation ceremonies, and for us English teachers that means a lot of sad goodbyes. You see, in Japan, you...
by Mike Costanzo | Mar 16, 2007 | Mike, Teaching
Yes, as many of you already know (and the rest of you have already figured out by reading the title line), the Japanese school year is finally drawing to a close. It will resume again in April, the month of new beginnings (and the month where the sakura (cherry...
