TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

[Shohei]

Re: TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

Awesome!! Congratulations to you all, she is beautiful!! Thank you taking the time to share this and those and these moments with us all!!

Gassho
Shohei

[BrianW]

Re: TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

What a beautiful baby girl! Oh my I remember those days! But these days having an daughter who is all grown up is good too! How wonderful Jundo...I am so happy for you, Mina, and Leon! Safe travels!

Gassho,
Jisen/BrianW

[Jiki22]

Re: TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

...a husband and wife are unrelated strangers who "adopt each other" in falling in love and marrying, thereby making a family. It is no different when children are adopted and make a family...

beautiful words
thank you

[miheco]

Re: TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

Dear Jundo, Mina and family,
She is a beautiful child and in a few years will understand her own good fortune.


Palms together,
Jin Tai

[Jundo]

Re: TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

TRAVEL DAIRY VII:

Well, it has been a week of just getting acquainted with our new daughter ... and it already feels like she has been part of us forever. I am not saying this just because she is my child .. but, WHAT A SWEETIE! I am happy to report that she is already running up to me several times a day, giving me a big hug and a smile and a babyish "PAPA, PAPA!". This also causes my son to run over to me, a little jealous perhaps, and give me a "PAPA" hug! I am enjoying the double appreciation! The baby is not quite sure about Mina as "MAMA" yet ... which causes some dirty looks my way from my wife when I get a "PAPA" from the kids. However, I assure Mina that it is just a matter of time! My diaper changing skills are coming back! Once again, practicing the Samu of Dirty Diaper changing!

Most of our time has been spent solving a last minute glitch at the Japanese consulate, which actually caused the Japanese Consul himself to get involved, give us so much of his time and personal attention, and cut some big red tape for us. Wonderful how the wheels of government sometimes work ... especially if there is a child involved. Much bowing in his direction many times, and thanks to him, my daughter today received her visa to enter Japan. Thanks to the US consul, she also received all necessary paperwork to become a US citizen in the coming months.

The rest of our time has been spent eating Dim Sum and various exotic dishes, drinking tea of all kinds ...

viewtopic.php?p=66001#p66001

and enjoying the relatively warm weather (I understand that Tsukuba is freezing). Oh, and making my first major pants purchase in three years (I certainly will not bother you with the details of that, and my hunt for "fat American" sizes throughout the countries of Asia).

Oh, and Nanhuasi published two films of their recent Winter Sesshin, seen here if you play the screen at the very top left of this page. I will get those posted.
Much of what is shown in the video I described in my earlier post in this thread



Here are some stills from the Sesshin too.

http://www.nanhuasi.net/Information/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=7140

Gassho, J

[Dosho]

Re: TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

Wonderful news Jundo...it will be good to have you all back in Tsukuba safe and sound!

My best to everyone!

Gassho,
Dosho

[Kyonin]

Re: TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

Great news!

Can't wait to see some pictures of the whole family

Please hurry back home!

[Jundo]

Re: TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

TRAVEL DAIRY VIII:

Hey Guys,

Well, our family is heading back to Japan today, one more person than when we came. We are all looking forward to being back in Tsukuba, where about a dozen of Mina's family will gather for a party to welcome Sada and celebrate the New Year.

I am looking forward to the familiar in Japan, although my wife and I always enjoy the chaos and vibrancy of China. I must say that it is a very different place from when she and I were students here 25 years ago ... when this country was just coming out into the world from Mao, the Cultural Revolution was still a fresh memory for most people. In those days, much of China still looked, and people lived, like they must have for hundreds of years before (something still true in parts of China, but you have to look harder for it). Much of the rest of the country did not look that different from how North Korea looks today! Most older folks still dressed in Mao jackets, the bicycle was the way for millions to get across town, the stores were pretty empty. In winter, the air was thick with soot from countless coal heaters.

... Now, Chinese cities like Guangzhou and Beijing look more like the world's largest shopping mall, with all the tact of Las Vegas! The water buffalo and bicycle have been replaced by BMWs. Consumerism and consumption seem to have run rampant, and the amount of 'stuff' for sale makes Americans look like the Amish in their restraint! Maybe China is becoming a giant Wal-mart on steroids ... all "Made In China". Oh, the old culture is still there ... and just below the surface ... but one has to look past all the plastic to find it. The air is so thick with pollution ... even worse than the old days ... that all our throats are sore, and one can literally see the air one breaths (the lack of environmental laws helping to fund all those cheap goods on Christmas store shelves for the rest of the world).

Perhaps something between the two extremes would be a healthier. Communism did not work, and it is a fact that this kind of rampant consumption capitalism cannot work either ... not for the long term. It has made some things so much better than before, and some things so much worse.

Anyway ... a few more pictures of our new daughter ....



A spontaneous Zazen in the park?







Gassho, J

[Dokan]

Re: TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

She's absolutely adorable Jundo.


Think I'll go hug my 3 daughters now...

g

s

[andyZ]

Re: TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

Great pictures! Have a safe trip home.

[Gary]

Re: TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

Awesome photos Jundo
Gasho
Gary

[Shohei]

Re: TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

Picture perfect! I am very very pleased (and a little tired just thinking of it all over again ) for you and your family Jundo!!

Deep bows
Shohei

[Amelia]

Re: TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

How could you not smile looking at those photos?

[Ekai]

Re: TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

Great pictures! Mina and you look so happy. Kids bring so much joy in one's life (I am writing this as I am listening to my little one sleeping so soundly) .

Good luck on the trip home,
Jodi

[Kyonin]

Re: TRAVEL DIARY: Jundo Goes To China

I bet we all have this huge smile I have now.

I'm so happy for you and your family, Jundo.

Have a safe trip back home. Thank you for sharing all these moments with us.