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...
by Jen Costanzo | Mar 14, 2007 | Cooking, Jen
Have you ever bought one of those knobby roots of raw ginger to use a bit for a recipe, but then despaired of ever being able to finish it? The ugly root usually sits in the back of my produce drawer for a few weeks before I give up and toss it in the trash. Just a...
by Mike Costanzo | Mar 11, 2007 | Mike, Scenery
I’m sure that many of you out there, especially our regular readers, are familiar with the Digicamblog Theorum. It goes something like so: Digital Camera + Thirst For Adventure + Random Opportunity = Good Blog Entry Material. This theorum is, of course, the...
by Mike Costanzo | Mar 3, 2007 | Mike, Teaching
When I (Mike) first arrived at Takine Junior High School (my primary school), I have to admit that I had a hard time fitting in. In fact, for the first couple of months, I didn’t really feel like I connected with anyone (teachers or students), and when I would...
by Jen Costanzo | Mar 1, 2007 | Devotion, Jen
Have you ever read a book that felt like it was written just for you? By someone who was looking over your shoulder and penning words just as you needed to read them? I am finishing up a book just like this. I started reading it over Christmas vacation, and it has...
by Mike Costanzo | Feb 18, 2007 | Audio, Mike
As many of you know, last year was the season of innumerable battles with a big computer company. We spent hours and hours on the phone with tech support and customer service, trying to get our problems solved. Well, amazingly enough, we actually discovered an old...
by Mike Costanzo | Feb 18, 2007 | Japanese Food, Mike
Today on Mike’s Culinary Adventures, I’d like to take an up-close and personal look at the various seafoods of Japan. Since you’ve all seen plenty of sushi already, I figured i would show you some of the more exciting and adventurous seafoods...
by Jen Costanzo | Feb 1, 2007 | Cooking, Jen, Teaching
This month, I’ve been singing the song “Peanut… Peanut Butter… and JELLY” with my 6th grade students. So, on Monday we made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches together. The kids did great spreading the peanut butter. And of course the...
by Mike Costanzo | Jan 28, 2007 | Audio, Mike
Okay. I know that many of you are often tempted to check the traffic and weather from larger, more “real” radio stations. And I can understand that–mostly. But I’m here to tell you that WMAC Radio is the best, most reliable source out there...
by Mike Costanzo | Jan 27, 2007 | Mike, Teaching
Hello, world. Mike here. Thought I would take you on a little mini-tour of my day yesterday. Come along, now, come along… The day started with an unexpected trip to the Wakakusa English School to pick up teaching materials. After said materials were in hand, I...
by Mike Costanzo | Jan 20, 2007 | Mike, Teaching, Wakakusa
Today I (Mike) would like to share a few random snapshots from the wild and occasionally wonderful world of Teaching English In Japan. Firstly, I’d like to take you on a brief multimedia whirlwind tour what it’s like to teach in Mike’s school. To...
by Mike Costanzo | Dec 27, 2006 | Audio, Mike
Ladies and Gentlemen, We have some big news. We mean BIG. Not every day do we have news this big, this profound, this crazy. You see, Mike is a different man, a changed man, a much more creative and energetic man. And all because of the purchase of a $20 headset from...
by Mike Costanzo | Dec 27, 2006 | Japanese Food, Mike
A very Merry Post-Christmas to you! When many people think of Christmas day, they not only think about the music and the presents and the company and the real reason for the season and everything, they also think about the food. Indeed, Christmas here in Japan is no...
by Jen Costanzo | Dec 17, 2006 | Cooking, Holidays/Special Events, Teaching
THE LAST OF THE BIG PARTIES This afternoon, our house was filled with the sounds of kid’s laughter, and the smell of melted marshmallows. Mike and I had my fourth grade students over for a Christmas party, and we kept them busy from start to finish. We played...
by Mike Costanzo | Dec 10, 2006 | Artwork, Devotion, Jen
For many, many years now, Jen has dreamed of one day writing and illustrating her own original children’s book. In fact, ever since we started dating back in 2000, both of us have been waiting for the day when Jen would finally have the time and energy to...
by Jen Costanzo | Dec 2, 2006 | Day-to-Day, Jen
Some of you have asked us if there are things from America that we miss having here in Japan. There are a lot of things that we can find here — especially since there is a foreign-food store in a nearby city. However, there are still a few things we...
by Jen Costanzo | Nov 29, 2006 | Cooking, Jen
When you picture a harvest cornucopia, what’s inside? Apples, grapes, bananas, pumpkins, corn, wheat? That’s what I used to think too — until experiencing harvest in Funehiki! This year, we’ve been blessed with an abundance of… You...
by Mike Costanzo | Nov 11, 2006 | Mike, Scenery
Today excepted, this whole past week here in Tamura has been a week of non-stop wonderful weather. In fact, it was so nice that I (Mike) couldn’t resist taking the digital camera to work and finally climbing up the hundred or so steps to the top of a local park...
by Jen Costanzo | Oct 30, 2006 | Day-to-Day, Jen
Hi Friends! Thanks to a great suggestion from Kara L., you are about to be treated to a virtual tour of our apartment! We’ve swept the floor, dusted, made our bed, and even done a few dishes, just for you! Welcome! Come on in! You’ll want to leave your...
by Mike Costanzo | Oct 28, 2006 | Japanese Food, Mike
It’s been a whole month and a half since the first installment of the story of Mike and his wonderful discoveries of the different foods of Japan, and when we last left our intrepid hero, he had eaten Nuts and Fish, fried squid, and natto, among other things....
