Day 204/365: It's another Monday...

...just like last Monday (and with sunflowers)

This Monday is a kind of 'looks like last Monday with a rinse and repeat'. It is off to the Ariake campus in the morning, checking out the classes for the afternoon before making my way back to our western campus for follow-up classes for last week's students. 

I actually have a major clash today--the whaling lectures are on at the same time...so really it is a tough call. 

But it will probably be good for the students to have a class with the Australian lecturers, all in English, without having my assisting presence there...

...we'll see what happens tomorrow. 

[Camera : iPhone8, 9.17am-9.18am, 6.51pm-6.52pm; 23 July 2018] 

Day 203/365: So much for directives...

...someone should get marching orders...

The heat hasn't diminished. Today I had to get into the office to keep working on a paper that is due before I leave for Melbourne next week (actually, it is due while I am in Melbourne but I'd like to get it done before I go. 

But I have to say, I was somewhat distracted by the view out the window today...

Summer

I mean, we took the necessary precautions yesterday...took it slowly, drank plenty of liquids, stayed in the shade, rested. Often. 

Who on earth would hold marching band practice at the peak heat of the day? 

I would have gone down to ask more questions...but it was too hot. Really. 

[Camera : Canon EOS M5, 1.50pm-3.09pm, 6.13pm-6.14pm, iPhone8, 6.55pm-6.58pm; 22 July 2018] 

Day 202/365: It's hot...

...but we are prepared

So the answer to yesterday's question? Yep, we've decided to go. The students were really quite disappointed when we suggested we might have to hold off on the trip, given government directives and university precautions. 

But, we are not a high school and the students are young adults and responsibility is something to be learnt as well. 

We assembled at the train station at 10.30am and headed to look at the whale shrine...

Big start to a big day

The conversations begin

Looking at the remains of the whale

Meditation

Pond

Another type of meditation

Pond views

Lotus

Ripples

A long day deserves...

Jingu bridge

...and later we went on to the gardens in Meiji Jingu, an relatively quiet space in the middle of a bustling tourist spot. That's kind of its attraction. 

I was not surprised to learn that most students had not known of the whale shrine (it is a bit of a niche) but was surprised to learn some students hadn't visited the gardens within the Meiji Jingu. 

It will be interesting to see how this plays out in classes for the rest of the week. 

I'm excited. It's been a great day.

[Camera : iPhone8, 7.03am, 3.37pm, Canon EOS M5, 10.45am-11.20am, 12.39pm-1.08pm, 2.46pm; 21 July 2018] 

Day 201/365: Let's get this show on the road...

...understanding whaling

Today was to be a long day, my classes and additional classes with the guest lecturers. to talk whaling with our students and Australians. It is a major issue between the two countries, but we are going to take a different approach, starting today and stretching over the next week. It was just last Sunday that I visited the whale shrine in preparation. But the weather has hit us, the heat mainly. 

The government is sending out advisories that all unnecessary outdoor activity should be curtailed; the university is following suit...our guests are finding it hot. 

So, should we go?

We ask the students...

Looking forward to what the day holds

Delicate

Weathered

Class one done...on to tomorrow

The students were very keen, indeed, for some it was one of the motivations for taking the course--they've not seen a whale shrine either. So, will we go?

Tune in tomorrow. 

[Camera : iPhone8, 8.40am-8.41am; 20 July 2018] 

Day 200/365: The big juggle...

...it comes to this...

I've been working towards this day for a while...it's been the day where I have my usual classes, I have to stand in for the VC at a completion ceremony for students who have been visiting and studying at our campus for the last three weeks, we have guest lecturers arriving to start their week of lectures, and well, it just goes on. 

It was a day with so much variety. 

presentation 1

two...

Three..

A new take on an old class...

Helping the students see things differently

Cloud forms

Sun sets

Welcome drinks

They're busy days, but really, what else would you do?

[Camera : iPhone8, 2.04pm-2.24pm, 4.06pm, 6.52pm-7.10pm, 7.28pm; 19 July 2018] 

Day 199/365: Busy as...

...beez

It was back with the sunflowers today. And I almost missed the bus. And I wished I had the mid-sized cam. 

Buuut, you can't have everything all the time. I almost missed the bus because the bees were buzzing around the sunflowers today. I have to be careful. I could be easily distracted...for longer than it takes two buses to come through...

Busy, busy

Bee

Sunflower by night

But not to worry, at this hour of the day, the buses are coming through every six minutes or so, so I can watch busy bees and still get the bus. 

Sounds fair to me. Don't let the little things pass you by. 


[Camera : iPhone8, 8.43am, 10.16pm; 18 July 2018] 

Day 198/365: Getting to appreciate oranges...

...but not what you're thinking

Oranges are not my favourite fruit. Too many childhood sports where halftime meant oranges, quartered. So much simpler than the complex electrolyte-added sports drinks these days. Things were so much simpler. There was also less care about refrigeration. I reckon I've had a few bad oranges in my day. Hence, my reluctance to eat oranges. 

But I can like orange, colouring, especially sunsets. And there was another ripper one this evening...

One of those days...

Some really interesting shadows across the sky

Subway sights

When everything else is said and done, whatever the day has been, a look out the window in the evening will nearly always have its own rewards. I could get to like orange all over again. 

[Camera : iPhone8, 2.42pm, 7.09pm-7.10pm, 7.54pm; 17 July 2018]  

Day 197/365: Back to it...

...here, there and well, over to the other campus too

Back to work today, if we don't count yesterday as a work day. But I suppose we can. Anyway, another meeting to start and then preparations for getting out to the other campus for a special class for some students heading up north in summer to participate in some volunteer work (I'll be heading up there soon too, as part of the course). 

There was a little surprise on the way to the bus stop this morning too: butterflies. I haven't seen them around here for a while--certainly not the big black one on the pink--that one's been a year or so. 

One little butterfly

Sunflowers are still here

It is a big butterfly

Jet skis

Hydrangeas backing out

Beetle days

Out to the other campus as well, to see the last of the hydrangeas, amongst other things as well. 

Nothing like being 'back at work'...

[Camera : iPhone8, 8.45am-8.46am, 6.36pm, 9.22pm; 16 July 2018]