Japan workers; shokunin

When I travel I am always interested in the working people. In Japan the word is shokunin.

Above a busy street in Kobe I found this very quite shop.

 

 

 

Ticket checker on train.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This ferry worker has the gulls trained to eat of his hand!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Japanese version of a Salvation Army Bell Ringer in Kyoto at Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

On a bike ride I came across this friendly lady. No she is not threatening me with her tool! If you tour Japan I suggest getting away from the big cities and you will find the country people very happy to meet visitors.

Kedesh boys home

Kedesh Sanctuario is an orphanage in Mozambique; link > Kedesh. They have a great new video on their website even explaining recent civil wars. It is run by an old friend of mine and I got to visit there a few years ago. Photos are in the gallery to the right>>>

At Kedesh about 30 boys age 8-18 live under the care of John with staff Heather approved by Mozambique. John teachers the young men construction skills and they attend school. Kedesh also provides care for many local widows. When I was there they were building a small house for one lady who is grandmother to 3 of the boys.

During my visit I talked with John a bit about social issues and capitalism vs socialism. The culture in Africa is more communal which is not identical to socialism but shares some traits. In a communal system things are shared more and less emphasis put on personal ownership of property. There are huge strengths to this that we could use in our individualistic society here (USA). However the weakness in communal system might be a lack of personal responsibility. After batting around the pros n cons John gave me the summary I think is right on, “sin, or man’s corruption of things seems to bring out the worst of either system”

There is also so much corruption in the government that being a government official or police officer is like being a maffia. Ii is obvious that colonialism was a horrible thing that damaged the only God given government they had prior, their tribal system. Often our nice democracies do not work in other places because there is not an ethical or spiritual framework in place to support a constitutional government. I also observed a lot of aid from western organizations. We often wonder the effectiveness of these groups. When I went that was one of my quests, to see for myself what was going on. I concluded that if it were not for outside help a country like this would be severely in trouble.

Boys shepherd goats

Bicycles for Humanity

Here is a link to one of my favorite non-profit groups; Bicycles for Humanity and they have a video on their page from Namibia that is pretty good.

To understand the value of a bike in a developing country, try to imagine a busy street (if you are in USA or a well off country) that is usually filled with cars. Now take away all the cars and the people are all walking, with a few shuttle vans packed and bicycles. A bike is like a car incredibly valuable. I am a carpenter and have a van for my trade. I have seen workers with a load of wood on their bike.

Photo of main street going into Beira, Mozambique

How much does a bike cost in a developing country? About $150- for a steel frame bike. But a good job pays about $3- per day. XXXXXXXXXX makes me mad!! There is something not right about this. I go to our city dump regularly and see the bikes in our metal recycle bin. Bicycles for humanity is providing the opportunity for us to send bikes around the world. Please check them out. See more pics of Mozambique in gallery to right >>>

Finding help in Japan

When you are really in need of help in Japan, ask an elderly lady. If she cannot help you herself she will find someone who can!

I resorted to this method more than once but one time in particular I remember very well. My Japanese is just good enough to get me in trouble. I can ask for directions but I don’t understand the answer. I was going from Nagoya out to Ise, a remote area with a national shrine and other tourist attractions. At the Nagoya station I was not sure I got the right instructions for the right train. I had in my mind the direction we might go but we seemed to be heading past. The train was crowded with commuters and people seem to deliberately ignore strange Americans. It was getting dark and starting to rain I was feeling disoriented. I could not get anyone to exchange a friendly glance to open a conversation. I spotted an old lady “obasan” or to be sweet “oba chan” chan being like miss young lady. I approached her several rows away, pointing at my map saying wa doko deska- where is it? In half a New York minute she had a group of helpers around translating and assuring me my stop was coming soon.

When I got to my stop it was raining like crazy. I was planning to walk about a mile to a temple/hostel. I was soaking wet real quick and spotting a cafe I dropped in. As I pulled of my pack and wet jacket the folks at the bar all turned around and stared like a seen out of an old cowboy movie. I sat down and ordered and they all resumed. I asked the waitress about my destination and again she summoned help. I ended up sitting for a long time with those folks and the temple sent a driver for me. I have found the most incredibly friendly people in Japan mostly by getting away from Tokyo and the big cities.

Obasan or Obachan-happy lady

 

 

 

friendly teens also

 

 

Me with Shinkansen

Racism in Sudan

This article from “The World” radio PRI is on racism in Sudan; Racism in Sudan

This daily radio program makes my day!

Just a few days ago I watched the documentary “Darfur Diaries” and this article really adds the full picture.

Congratulations on Southern Sudan gaining independence this week!!!

Mughal Akbar, history

I chose Akbar as my subject because of previous reading about him prior to this class. My first impression of him was like that of a Muslim Jimmy Carter. He seemed like such a benevolent, wise, tolerant man. I read about his sincere search for truth between religions and his four wives, 2 Muslim, 1 Hindu and 1 Christian. However, due to my research for this paper I have learned two very important lessons; first is about the study of history, I need to dig deeper than the first perspective. And second is about the nature of historical figures, our man Akbar was not one dimensional, he was multi dimensional with mixed motives. As we take a deeper look into the administration of Akbar I think you will agree.

For the complete article please click on page; Mughal Akbar

India, women workers

In construction brick laying the person who mixes the mud/mortar has one of the hardest jobs, we call this worker a hody. In Southern India, Tamil Nadu these ladies are mixing the mud and carrying it to the men. The bring the water up from the well. They make about $1- per day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carpenters in India

The industrial revolution accomplished advantages for carpenters in most areas of the world. But there are some places where the work is done in amazing simple ways. Look at the carpenters on this project milling logs into boards for a roof framing project. First a load of logs was dropped into the shade and then in about 3 days these men without any electricity carved out fairly straight boards. First a paste line, same principle as a chalk line, is used to establish two lines which become the planed surfaces through much wielding of the axe. The axes or ads were sharpened by hand on a wheel nearby.

When the boards were complete trusses were built and erected onto the block walls in the same manner that and crew of western carpenters would frame a roof.

 

 

 

 

The first time I saw a construction worker in bare feet, I was both shocked and ashamed. I have been a carpenter for most of my adult life so I am familiar with hard work, but I have never had to work in bare feet. Actually my first winter of carpentry labor in 1972 was one of the coldest, snowiest winters on record in Utah and all I had was some cheap cowboy boots for work. My feet froze! I was quick to learn the essentials of proper clothes for working outside.

India; first impressions

Every American should visit India. The cultural contrast is so powerful that it is life transforming. No one can go to India and come back home the same.

I don’t think there are any atheists in India. The whole culture embraces spirituality, divinity and the existence of gods. There would never be an attempt to amputate the spiritual aspect of life out of personal life or social or political life. So westerners may be shocked, amazed or intrigued by this cultural contrast.

Also there may be a cultural time warp when entering India. The area I visited was southern India, Tamil Nadu. I felt I had entered the pages of the Bible stories, of Abraham and Sarah and their flocks of animals, of women carrying water from the well, of bare feet and open sewers. When I thought on the story of Jesus washing the feet of his friends, I understood the context better. I understood why in most ancient cultures removing shoes when coming into the house is crucial for cleanliness.

When Americans or people of other wealthy countries meet real poverty face to face it must sow the seeds of change. We see people that walk everywhere, and yet are content. For thousands of years humanity walked, and as they walked they prayed, sang a song or talked. I saw school kids who had dirt floors and no running water in their houses, but yet their loving mothers made sure they had clean uniforms and aromatic flowers for their beautiful hair. This must force me to examine my American obsessions.

 

See more photos in gallery listed to right>>>>>>>>>

Snow boarders, love m or hate m !

Boarders, love m or hate m! Most people feel pretty strong about it. I don’t mind em as long as I can get to the powder first.

Alta still does not allow them and Brighton was cold to them at first. The snow board controversy was and maybe still is based on the ability to mix the two groups, skiers/boarders when there are differences in the way they use the mountain. Boarders do make a mess of a slope with all that traversing. Sometimes boarders get a bad rep just because of the antics of that age group. But then when I was in high school we were just the same. So generally I really like em.

I was working at Solitude Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon Utah on the Powderhorn lift the first time I saw a snow board. I think they were the swallow tail or split tail or something. The riders wore little tiny skis to load the lift and put their board on after unloading. But the next year they adjusted the rule and were loading with board only. This would have been about 1979-80.

I was working at the Millicent Chalet (Speedos) around 1985-86 and one snowy Saturday 4 young men wanted to hike the hill and board. They weren’t allowed on the lifts but they wanted to board in the safety of the resort. The patrol had to tell them to leave, insurance you know. Well about 4 pm those same boys were caught in an avalanche behind the cabins towards the Gaurdsman pass area. I think 2 of them died. It was a very sad day. The next year Brighton was open to boarders. I quickly made friends with them and these are some pics from that era.

Lift crew, forgot the name

Boarder Bob, (Bob Barton) Brighton’s first snow board instructor.

Great Western area

Jeff Davis

Jeff Davis was something of a celebrity boarder then.

Have no idea where he is now.