It all started last year about this time, that Aim became interested in getting a website. It took a long time to develop the new logo, and have all the awesome events, but finally after a couple of redevelopments the Aim English Studio website has now gone live. You can visit Aim online now at www.aimenglishstudio.com.
Craig Says:
Kana, Craig & Yuki
I have enjoyed working at Aim English Studio this year. The kids for the most part have been great. I teach 4 year olds up to 15 year olds which offers a great variety in ability and behaviours. My co-workers have been the most enjoyable part however which enabled us to run two very big and fun events.
AIM Halloween Party Staff and Volunteers
The second event we put on was the Aim Christmas Charity Event. We had 190 students with friends and family attend this one and again it was a great success. Like the Halloween Party, the foreign staff planned an authentic western version. Our focus was Christmas and the true meaning of "giving is better than receiving". We were able to raise over $900.00 for "Save the Children" charity. We played games in the local youth hostel gym, and had a silent auction to help raise money for charity. We also had a Christmas Tree decoration demo, a Christmas Sugar Cookie demo (using my Mom's recipe), and even Santa was available for pictures with the kids. Again it was great fun to plan and execute an event exactly the way we would back home. The only difference was that for all the guests everything was brand new.
Daniel & Miyuki de Vignat
Another highlight was meeting a fellow foreigner from Victoria at the Shimomatsu train station. His name is James, grew up in the Cook Street Village area and married a girl from Kishiwada just like me. He and his wife Hiromi live just a five minute walk from our house! We've been too busy to get together a lot but when we do we can't leave.
So yeah, 2006 has been good, but also had it's sad moments as my Gandma Mercer (my Dad's Mom) passed away. Uncle George also had open heart surgery this year and is recovering well. All in all the year was super, super busy which has resulted in us being unable to keep in touch with everyone back in Canada as much as we would like. We have been getting all of your Christmas cards and putting them in our tree which has really helped us to get into the Christmas spirit.
As some of you may have heard, Kana, Gracie and I are planning on returning to Victoria this coming spring (April 2007). We want to get back and get setup before it's time for Grace to start school. We look forward to seeing you all sooner rather than later.
God has been very good to us this year and we want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Kana and Gracie
Well, 2006 to me has been all about Gracie. I can't believe she is 1 year old (Dec.22nd) and how fast this year has gone. Seeing Grace's perfect growth is nothing but joy. Since she started to crawl and move around by herself we could see her change in growing every day. One day she began giggling and the next day pointing her finger towards what she wants. It is so amazing and every single joy she has brought to our family is nothing to compare with what I had experienced before Grace. Of course, she sometimes makes us crazy with her crying for no reason or trying to destroy whatever is in her way, just one little smile on her face wipes those things out completely. Now her front teeth are finally coming in and soon she will be able to walk, run and talk.
KaToRiShiA at Junya & Ai’s wedding
Other highlights for us include all our cousin's babies being born, Andrea had Isaiah, Yvette had Ryder and Jeanne had Levi. We can't wait to see all the little ones in the Puritch family running around together with Gracie.
So there have been so may good things in our life and our friends' lives in 2006. I am very much looking forward to experiencing a lot of things with Craig & Grace as a family in 2007. Wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
5th Annual Scotch Fest Poster (2006)
Scotch Fest “Aftermath” 2006
Cousin Jeanne gave birth on Friday, October 27th to a very handsome baby boy named Levi William Rattlesnake Puritch. He weighed in at 4308 grams (9lbs 8oz). The word is that Mom and Son are both doing well and Daddy Aran and Sister Katia and very excited.
Levi William Rattlesnake Puritch
On Saturday October 21st from 4:00pm to 8:00pm we held the first ever AIM English Studio Halloween Party. Our goal, to have the most authentic North American Halloween Party in Japan! We had a Trick or Treat/Haunted House, Pumpkin Carving, Costume Contest, Pinatas, and lots of regular Fall Fair games like Bean Bag Toss, Musical Chairs, Bobbing for Apples, a Shooting Range and the ever popular Fish Pond.
We were wondering at first whether our students and families would enjoy an authentic western Halloween Party, but after we sold 230 meal tickets our fears were laid to rest. To say that the party was a smashing success would be an understatement. It was AWESOME! We had about 240 guests (students, their friends and families) and over 4600 pieces of candy.
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Gertrude Mercer December 9th, 1913 – October 8th, 2006
Grandma Mercer (my Dad’s Mom) passed away on Sunday October 8th at 12:00am NDT (Newfoundland Daylight Time). She was 93 years old and led a good long life. It is unfortunate that Kana, Gracie and I were unable to visit Newfoundland before Granny passed away. But we know she is in a better place and one day we will see her again.
Granny Mercer had not been out to the west coast for a long time (not since I
was a boy). But one of the highlights of our Christmas mornings was talking to
Granny Mercer back in Newfoundland on the telephone. It was one of the few times I remember listening to someone, besides Uncle Paul, talking with a “Newfie” accent
(since Dad lost his)!
Auntie Diane, Granny Mercer and Uncle Ken (Dad’s younger brother) in 1999
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family and friends in Newfoundland during this time of mourning. May God bless you and keep you close.
Daniel and Miyuki de Vignat
Yesterday, Saturday October the 7th 2006, Daniel de Vignat and Miyuki Horiuchi were married at beautiful Yuge farm near Kobe, Japan.
Daniel asked me to be his best man, as well as co-emcee (with Miyuki’s Maid of Honour Akiko) for the reception. We had a great time up there at Yuge farm. Kana and Grace Yuki came too and were able to enjoy the festivities.
Unfortunately, with me emceeing and best manning, and with Kana looking after Gracie we didn’t get one picture of Daniel & Miyuki! DOH! But I am hoping some of our other friends will have some pictures to send me, as Miyuki was just stunning…Daniel didn’t look half bad either.
Deep Thoughts with Mark and Mom
Hey Hey Everyone. We are happy to announce the birth of Ryder Gerard Puritch (son of cousin James and Yvette Puritch) at 6:10pm PDT August 13th, 2006 weighing in at 4368 grams (9lbs 13oz.)…remember Grace Yuki was 2906 grams (6lbs 40 oz). Way to go Yvette.
Ryder Gerard Puritch
Ryder Gerard Puritch with George and Elaine (Grandparents)
Greetings. We hope everyone is having a good summer so far. It has been hot here in Osaka and will continue to be so for a few more weeks.
Anyways, we just wanted to inform those who frequent this site, that we are removing the forums from the website. They have never had much use and the spammers were always attacking it.
If you would like to leave us a message please do so on the Friends Page (aka the guestbook).
Hello All. Kana, Gracie and I just returned from a three day trip to Fukuoka (which is the big city on Kyushu, the island just south of Honshu which is the one we are on) to visit Kana’s Grandma Tomoe (toe-moe-ay), Gracie’s Great Grandma! Photos will be following in the next couple of days.
The other subject I wanted to bring up is the Friends Page. It has been working off and on and if you were to look back over the news items you would see many posts about our little guestbook.
Anyways, I have finally returned to the low tech original, although it will let spammers spam us (the reason I switched over to the new one), at least people can post comments with some assurance.
I am very sorry to those who have signed the Friends’ Page thinking we had received it, when in fact we hadn’t! Please re-post your thoughts when you get some time.
Hope everyone is having a great summer.
For anyone who is interested in the Pacfic War, their reading collection cannot be complete without “Midway: The Japanese Story”.
The Battle of Midway (June 5th – 6th 1942) was a very decisive battle in the Pacific War, that after a few short minutes saw the Imperial Japanese Navy’s strength reduced drastically Read more…
Yesterday, July 16th 2006, will go down as one of the best days for Kana and I in Japan. As Ai Sugiura and Junya Fujii (our good friends who you may have seen in some of our videos) exchanged marriage vows in a western type ceremony in downtown Osaka. Ai was so beautiful…a real princess, and Junya was super cool as ever.
Junya and Ai at the main Reception
We were there with the whole KaToRiShiA crew. Kana and Tomo helped greet the guests while Shima and Rie really helped make the after party a smashing success, and all the girls sang a song called “Best Friends” during the reception which brought many to tears.
Craig, Kana, Junya, Shima, Rie, Ai, Tomo and Koichi
After the Reception they threw one of the best after parties EVER with bingo prizes including an i-pod, a trip to an Onsen (Japanese hotspring) and a trip to Okinawa. WOW!
I have just recently added a couple of new book reviews to the Book Review area.
The first one is “The Japan Journals” by which is a collection of journal entries by Donald Richie (longtime resident of Tokyo, film critic and write) spanning from 1947 to 2004.
The second book is “The Japan We Never Knew” by David Suzuki and Keibo Oiwa. This book covers the pilgrimage of David and Keibo to the side of Japan few people know about; the environmentalists, the artists, the Okinawans, the Ainu, the Burakumin, The Koreans. The Japan We Never Knew is an excellent book that I am sure you will enjoy too!
There are five vowels in the Japanese language (similar to English). The sounds are::
When words have two vowels together each vowel should be pronounced by itself, such as in the word "いえ" (which means house）it is pronounced "ee-ay". When two of the same vowels are together then you hold the sound longer. For example in the word "いいえ" (which means no) the "ee" sound is held longer, where as in the word"いえ" both sounds have the same length.
Well it is July 1st here in Osaka, it won't be July 1st back in Canada for a few hours yet, but hey….HAPPY CANADA DAY anyway eh!?!
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
We want to wish a big congratulations to our cousin Andrea and her husband Josh on the arrival of their first child, a wonderful baby boy named Isaiah Joshua. Aunti Linda said Isaiah was born at 12:46pm PDT weighing in at 2790 grams (6 lbs 14 ozs). Andrea is doing great and the whole family is just ecstatic.
We wish them all well and can’t to see some pictures of beautiful little Isaiah. Welcome to the family.
Update 2006-JUL-06
These pictures are fresh in from Cousin Kristen of Cousin Andrea and handsome little baby Isaiah. Sure is a cutie. Congrats again Andrea and Josh.
Donald Richie has been in Japan forever…well actually since the US occupation after the Pacific War (WWII). He has literally “been there and done that”. Donald is a preeminent authority on Japanese films, prolific author and “Gaikokujin at Large” in Japan.
The Japan Journals comprise his thoughts (diary) over the last 57 years or so and anyone who has spent anytime in Japan should enjoy most parts of this book. Read more…
This coffee table book is a collection of essays from many “Native English Teachers” living and working in Japan.
The book contains accounts of English Teaching from both the University and Language (Ekaiwa or English Conversation) School levels. Read more…
Well the boy done went and got himself hitched to a BEAUTIFUL girl from Slovakia (in case some of you didn’t know Brian’s Dad is originally from Slovakia). We got word a couple days ago from Brian that he and Maria were married in Slovakia (I have included his email below). Way to go guys. I know everyone in Canada will look forward to meeting and seeing you in the fall. Of course for Kana, Grace Yuki and I it may be a bit longer yet before we can visit with you two.
“Maria and I are pleased to announce that on April 22, 2006 we were married in Trnava, Slovakia.
The day was perfect and the weather cooperated – 26 degrees and sunny.
80 people were in attendance and got to experience a combination of Canadian
and Slovak traditions. We look forward to returning to Canada this summer and
celebrating our marriage everyone. A reception will take place in Victoria in
late summer, or early fall. ”
The Newlyweds,
Brian and Maria Hotovy
We wish you both all the BEST in your new married life together. KANPAI!
Costco is another good place to get foreign foods and other stuff in Kansai. It is located in Amagasaki which is about 15 minutes away from Osaka (Umeda) on the JR Hanshin Line (between Kobe and Osaka).
Costco is good for some things, like buying in bulk, but if you are looking for just a few items it may not be worth the effort.
Where Costco shines is in the goods! If you are looking for items other than food, then Costco will be the place to look and as always the prices will be quite reasonable.
