Teacher Aboard

I am often amazed at the imaginative ways in which cities have welcomed Pride II or have bid us farewell. It is fitting that Kawasaki, our sister city, should leave us with memorable events. At a farewell reception, the Kawasaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented Captain Parrott with a Daruma -Doll for good luck for Pride II's Pacific crossing. Its rounded shape is legless and weighted at the bottom. In the spirit of Zen Buddhism, it may wobble but it never stays down. Tradition says you should darken one eye as you make your wish and color the other eye when it comes true. Since Captain Miles is relieving Captain Parrott for the Pacific crossing, he will darken the second eye upon reaching Seattle. (Check out the Captain's Log for early September.)

Another thoughtful gesture of friendship was the streamers which unfurled between the crew and the crowd on the dock as the ship pulled away. It was a touching way to symbolize the lasting tie between the two sister cities.

ARRIVAL IN TOKYO

There are certain cities in the world that are have always been household names. New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo are certainly names that stir the imagination simply because they are mentioned so often in our day to day living. There is an unspoken expectation that each of these cities will offer a magic charm of its own. It was with this frame of mind that I set out to explore Tokyo. I was not disappointed.

THE PORT

Sailing past the port terminals near the city center cemented in my mind the position of Tokyo as a leader in world trade and economics. The expansive port facilities, many of which are built on reclaimed land, were impressive. A major role for Tokyo is that of a principal (most important) distribution point for receiving commodities (goods) essential to urban activities and the citizens of this huge metropolitan area.

Of the 45,000 vessels that are serviced by this port annually, twice as many carry inbound cargo as outbound. Meat, seafood, paper, building materials, beverages, fruit, and vegetables represent some of the imports while automotive parts, computers, and technical equipment are exported. As we sailed proudly into the harbor surrounded by twentieth century commercial shipping, Pride II stood as a visual reminder of the huge span of advancements between vessels then and now. Today, the Tokyo Port Authority welcomed Pride II on her first visit to the capitol of Japan. Even in the shadow of tremendous commerce, people paused in the hustle and bustle of their affairs to wonder at the ship's sense of adventure and accomplishments. She seems so small to have come so far. It has been said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Looking back, I have witnessed the steps. But even for me, the journey in its entirety (the whole trip) is impressive.

CORRESPONDENT (REPORTER) IN THE FIELD

Today Pride II hosted a group of newspaper and television correspondents for a sail in the harbor. Jean Pearce, a columnist for The Japan Times, took a special interest in my role in telling Pride II's story to students in Maryland on the Internet. Although my focus is education, my duties are much like those of a journalist. Upon arrival in a new city, I gather brochures, ask lots of questions, and "hit the pavement" with my digital camera in hand in hopes of capturing the essence of this new location in a log for our web site. Digital communication to Baltimore and handy resources are the backbone of my job. Sensing this, Ms. Pearce offered me a guest membership in the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan overlooking downtown Tokyo.

It is a prestigious club that provides a library, work room, Internet/e-mail access, and a restaurant. It is also a place for correspondents to mingle, make contacts, and network with others. It was my good fortune to meet Ted McFarland, from Hughes Electronics, who offered several helpful suggestions for the development of Pride II's education program. Using this club membership, I was able to access resources and will send my log via e-mail. My job title may be "Teacher," but today I felt more like a journalist. It was a fitting end to the trail of dust I have left in Asia as I close out my last story for Pride II's journey in the Far East. Thank you, Jean, for your thoughtful gesture and for adding a special memory to my last city in Asia.

SHOPPING

Shopping in Tokyo is an experience to remember. The sheer volume of merchandise is remarkable. The Ginza area is one of the most famous shopping districts in the world. There are endless specialty shops and exclusive department stores offering a bewildering mixture of Japanese and Western goods - from kimonos to designer clothes. Even at night, this area attracts crowds of people who walk along the city streets in the glow of huge neon signs and video screens.

One store that draws a lot of interest is Sony where curious visitors can try the latest computers, sound systems, video screens, or car navigation systems.

Just off the Ginza is the famed Kabuki-za where Kabuki (Japanese drama) is performed. This performance by men is noted for its traditional costumes and music. For electronics enthusiasts, Akihabara is the area known for appliances and audio-visual equipment stores. It offers the opportunity to shop for the best price while checking out all the latest gadgets.

The younger crowd frequents the Shibuya area which is known for its trendy fashions. College students and young business people flock to this area for shopping and entertainment. I had a proper tour of this "in" place by an eighteen year old Australian friend, Hayley Mundle, who is attending a private school as part of an exchange program. After not seeing her for two years, we met by the Hachiko dog statue, which is possibly the most popular meeting place in the country! Shibuya was quite the scene. Tree lined streets, bricks sidewalks, and fashionable stores reminded me of Georgetown near Washington, DC.

ONE OF JAPAN'S FAVORITE TEMPLES

In one of Tokyo's oldest sections majestically sits the 7th century Asakusa Kannon Buddhist Temple - one of the city's favorites. The constant flow of Japanese people who stream onto the temple grounds to stop at the giant incense burner and step inside the temple demonstrate clearly that this is a beloved temple. Drums beat out a tempo as priests pray before the Buddha and common people move through their rituals to request blessings. Like a well orchestrated piece of classical music, the activities move with a natural harmony (balance). As the people step through their motions with a comfortable style, the temple seems to embrace anyone who stands within its doors with warmth and kindness.

SCHOOL IS OUT!

As Pride II ends her visit to Asia, the school year has finally ended here in Japan. Although I have still been able to visit schools, the majority of students have gone for their summer holiday. For example, today I had the good fortune of visiting Harumi Junior High School and talked with the principal, Noriko Tominaga. A group of her students are currently on an exchange visit to Sotherland Shire (city), Australia. It has been encouraging to note the number of students who are traveling abroad since this is great way to deepen understanding between countries. In my brief visit to the school, I had a chance to watch their summer sport practices. Boys basketball, girls swimming, and coed (mixed) Kendo were in summer training. One of the unique facets (parts) of this school was that it shares its facilities with an adjacent (next door) home for the elderly and a nursery school - a wise use of resources!

DISNEYLAND

For those of you who are Disney fans, you may be interested to know that on the outskirts of the city is Tokyo Disneyland! Here in the midst of ancient cultures is a magic kingdom where Mickey Mouse is the star attraction. For those of us who have already made a pilgrimage (journey) to Disney parks in the States, there is no need to go. I mention it only to share with you some of the American culture that has gained popularity in Japan. Why Disney? The Japanese love cartoons and comic books. It is a natural match for these two!

THE FISH MARKET

I set the alarm for 4 am planning to arrive at Tokyo's Fish Market by 5 in the morning. The fish market is housed in a warehouse type building. It and the parking lots around it were already bustling with activity when I arrived.

Fishermen and buyers walked about in tall plastic boots as they examined rows of huge tuna displayed on low wooden boards. After inspecting the fish, approximately fifteen buyers with numbers on their baseball caps would stand in 3 or 4 rows on a multi-leveled platform to make their bids to the auctioneer.

Once the tuna was sold, motorized or man-powered carts moved the enormous fish to preparation areas for filleting (de-boning). Other areas in the warehouse were filled with tanks of freshly caught seafood awaiting delivery to restaurants. It was a scene to behold and reinforces mankind's increasing dependency on the oceans for food.

FOOD FOR A MONTH AT SEA

If you have ever planned for a week's camping trip for your family, you can begin to imagine the daunting (overwhelming) task before Tina, our cook. She needs to plan meals for 14 people for a month at sea where if you forgot something -- oh well! Instead of planning for specific menus, she stocks the ship with basics. This includes 140 pounds of meat, 100 pounds of potatoes, 50 pounds of onions, 30 pounds of coffee, and 100 liters of longlife, non refrigerated boxed milk. Tina will also need large quantities of flour and sugar to make fresh bread every other day. With the help of the cook from the Japanese tall ship, Kaisei, whom she met in Yokohama, Tina purchased approximately $5,000 worth of food.

As if quantities were not enough of a challenge, she had to place her orders in metric units using kilograms and liters. Throughout the trip, Tina has also had to use foreign currency (money) to make her purchases. This requires knowing the exchange rate in order to calculate the cost in US dollars of each item. This is important because she has a budget of $6 per day for each person. To prepare for this power shopping excursion, she first inventoried (counted) the ship's supplies and than made room for all these groceries. Of course, before stowing (putting them away), the storage areas had to be cleaned.

Much of the food is stored under the seats in the main salon or in bilge (floor) lockers. Food boxes are not brought aboard because they may transfer roaches to the ship. Goods are passed below item by item - like a bucket brigade at a fire. Before stowing, the cans are marked with permanent markers to note their contents - just in case moisture loosens the label. Pride II also has a freezer, a refrigerator, and a cool air unit which is affectionately called a "rotter." Rotter? Maybe we don't want to know. Another consideration for a long passage is that perishables (food that will spoil) will only last two weeks, so canned food must also be purchased. Tina has to plan her cooking to make the best use of the stove's propane by baking bread at the same time she is using the stove for something else, like warming a casserole for dinner.

Since the change of watches is very punctual (on time), Tina must start her preparations early to meet the scheduled meal times. Breakfast is served promptly at 7:30 AM; lunch at 11:30 AM: a snack at 4:00 PM; and dinner at 7:30 PM. It is a grueling pace with little time to rest, yet Tina is one of the most cheerful people on the ship. Mealtime is a nice diversion (change) from the work on deck. As you come down for some "chow" (food), Tina's relentless bright outlook on life helps set a pleasant tone for the entire ship. Thank you, Tina. We love you!

Continue with the second part of the July 27, 1998 log.

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