Back to Classes!

I didn't want to give this post a title related to the recent earthquake(s) because I think everyone who lives here has been through quite a lot. I hope everyone is safe and able to live. This semester in Writing class we will use the textbook, and possibly Manaba if everyone has computer access. If not, we will focus less on Manaba. The class will be quite flexible at any rate.

Interestingly, my last post was on tourism in Mt. Aso. I think that tourism will be quite affected, at least for some time after the earthquakes. I think my research may have to wait. The important thing, though, is to get things back to normal, especially in the quake stricken area of Minami Aso. My family has a small cottage in Uchinomaki and I took drive there last week to check the cottage. There was some damage on the base of the house, but it can be fixed. On the way back we drove through Minami Aso. I know it quite well as I used to teach at Tokai University and my office was near the earthquake zone. I was shocked at the amount of damage, especially at the loss of Aso Oohashi.

I don't want to keep talking about or bringing up the point of the earthquakes. It is finished, what happened, happened. It is important to remember but it is equally important to move one. Let's get back in action everyone!