Hello! Welcome to our family’s blog. Check here for photos, videos, and stories of Papa, Mama, Luke, and Max. You can also follow us on various social networking services by clicking one of the links below, or subscribe to our video podcast by searching for “Talandis Family in Japan” on iTunes. Thanks for stopping by and staying in touch!Tumblr (3.0; @talandisfamilyinjapan)http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzsshn4Slm1r8itdlo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I went swimming today with Luke, and this photo (which I found on the web <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JIbT4PWIXjo/TloRHRJEQ1I/AAAAAAAAAEk/BmZTfbSStrk/s1600/cow-dolphin.jpg" target="_blank">here</a>) sums up how I felt. Guess which animal is me and which is Luke? </p> <p>:-)</p> <p>Some days I just feel like a fat cow in the water; today was one of them! Still, exercise is exercise, and it’s good. </p> <p><img height="0" src="http://assets.tumblr.com/images/input_bg.gif" width="0"/></p>http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/18069352220http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/18069352220Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:05:00 +0900Luke featuredPapa featuredswimming<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzla3vWpBk1r8itdlo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>We had to shovel snow off the roof again in the winter of 2012. Of all the photos I took during this two-day task, this one is my favorite. I caught Shinobu flinging some snow… but where do you think she was flinging it? Right! At me! Turns out this was one photo too many! :-)</p> <p>__________</p> <blockquote> <p><span>If something bad happened and you could only save a handful of your photo collection, which ones would choose? That’s the question guiding this series of blog posts I’m dubbing “Favorite Family Photos”. It’s a chance to look back at the past 10 years and revisit special moments in our family’s history. These are our best and most precious memories.</span></p> </blockquote>http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/17818419913http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/17818419913Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:45:00 +0900Mama featuredwinterfeaturedWe’re a sporting family, plain and simple. I’ve been wanting to be share highlights more...http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/17772348716http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/17772348716Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:40:00 +0900Luke featuredswimming I’m at the Driver’s Education Center in Toyama, getting my license renewed. I’ve...http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/17537189790http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/17537189790Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:49:00 +0900Papa featured We’re at the Toyama Shimin Pool for the annual All-Toyama Youth Swim Meet. Luke is...http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/17395887746http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/17395887746Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:22:00 +0900Luke featuredswimming<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lysi2yaR1I1r8itdlo3_500.jpg"/><br/> Papa & Max get ready to work<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lysi2yaR1I1r8itdlo2_500.jpg"/><br/> Max at her desk<br/><br/> <img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lysi2yaR1I1r8itdlo1_500.jpg"/><br/> Max's teacher explains what to do<br/><br/> <img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lysi2yaR1I1r8itdlo4_500.jpg"/><br/> Max making her oni mask<br/><br/> <img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lysi2yaR1I1r8itdlo5_500.jpg"/><br/> Voila! Max's oni mask<br/><br/> <img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lysi2yaR1I1r8itdlo6_500.jpg"/><br/> Grrr!<br/><br/> <img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lysi2yaR1I1r8itdlo7_500.jpg"/><br/> Too scary! <br/><br/> <img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lysi2yaR1I1r8itdlo8_500.jpg"/><br/> Cute little devils!<br/><br/> <p><strong>Happy Setsubun! </strong></p> <p>Today (February 3rd) is Setsubun in Japan, the day of the national bean-throwing festival. On this day around the country, people throw roasted soy beans out the window or around the house to expel “demons” of sickness and misfortune. While doing so they yell “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi!” (demons out, good fortune in) Then you’re supposed to eat a number of beans equal to your age in order to cement this good fortune.</p> <p>From a western perspective, this is kind of strange, but the roots of this custom are quite interesting. There is also a lot of symbolic meaning behind it that makes a lot of sense when you look closely at it. According to “Japan from A to Z” by James and Michiko Vardaman, this festival originated in the imperial court of China on the last day of the year in order to prepare for a new year of good luck. When it came over to Japan, this custom became an expression of hopes for good weather and a plentiful harvest in rural, agrarian Japan. These days a lot of people observe it. You can find news on TV of people (especially kids) throwing beans, eating special sushi made with beans, or sumo wrestlers performing special ceremonies. </p> <p>Last Saturday, I went to Max’s kindergarten for a parent-student event. Parents and their kids spent the morning doing an arts & crafts project, namely to make oni (demon) masks out of an old paper bag and some string. You can see from the pictures above that we had a nice time. These oni masks were then used during the Setsubun celebration today at the school. </p> <p><em>Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!</em></p> <p>Here’s hoping you have a year filled with good fortune! </p>http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/16944206523http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/16944206523Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:47:00 +0900Max featuredjapanese culture<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly35uja3zn1r8itdlo1_r1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Today I finished teaching classes for the 2011-12 school year! My Intro to<br/> Research & Presentation students have just finished their final<br/> presentations. This school year is toast. It’s all done. Water under the<br/> bridge. History. Been there done that. That’s all she wrote, Th-th-that’s<br/> all folks!</p> <p>Yataa!</p> <p>I made it.</p> <p>Now on to work-at-home mode until April. I have several big projects and<br/> some other duties to complete, but it will be nice to be on my own<br/> schedule. Interesting job…</p>http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/16163011102http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/16163011102Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:32:00 +0900Papa featuredworkA shaky day at work: I’m on the “shink” to Nagoya, where I’ll be teaching...http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15717794759http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15717794759Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:12:00 +0900Papa featuredworknatural disaster update<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxbnxw9mOg1r8itdlo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>Favorite Family Photos: Kids in a net</strong></p> <p>This photo was taken in early summer of 2011 at a new park playground near Toyama Station. They have this cool super jungle-gym thing that has nets and rope ladders for kids to play on. Here Luke and Max share a fun moment inside one of the nets. I took them there during one of my “carpe diem” weekends during work periods when I’d be away from home all week. I tried my best to make the most of my time with the kids, so I’d often be taking them to parks and stuff to play. </p> <p>__________</p> <blockquote> <p><span>If something bad happened and you could only save a handful of your photo collection, which ones would choose? That’s the question guiding this series of blog posts I’m dubbing “Favorite Family Photos”. It’s a chance to look back at the past 10 years and revisit special moments in our family’s history. These are our best and most precious memories.</span></p> </blockquote>http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15704707383http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15704707383Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:03:00 +0900featuredLuke and Max featured<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxbnpj92xU1r8itdlo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>Favorite Family Photos: Kids riding bikes</strong></p> <p>Max learned to ride a bicycle during the summer of 2011. We got here this little bike with training wheels, and she rode it with enthusiasm. Here’s a shot of her riding on the street in front of our home with her older brother. I really like this photo because it captures the kids’ smiles very well. Luke’s hand on his little sister’s shoulder is also a beautiful thing for me, signifying his love and support for her. Sure they squabble a lot, but in the end they are really close, something which shines through in this photo. I like this one so much that I’ve been using it as the wallpaper for my laptop and iPad.</p> <p><strong>Note</strong>: Color effects done with <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/color-splash-for-ipad/id374308914?mt=8" title="Colorsplash">Colorsplash</a> on my iPad.</p> <p>__________</p> <blockquote> <p><span>If something bad happened and you could only save a handful of your photo collection, which ones would choose? That’s the question guiding this series of blog posts I’m dubbing “Favorite Family Photos”. It’s a chance to look back at the past 10 years and revisit special moments in our family’s history. These are our best and most precious memories.</span></p> </blockquote>http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15652990204http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15652990204Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:04:00 +0900featuredLuke and Max featured<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxbnfasK4N1r8itdlo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>Favorite Family Photos: Max under a cherry tree</strong></p> <p>Max’s grandfather took this one of her in the spring of 2011, as the cherry blossoms were blooming in our neighborhood. It came out really well and brings up one of the things I love best about our neighborhood- the plentiful presence of cherry trees. There are a bunch right in front of our house and hundreds more that line a bike path around the park in front of our home. They usually bloom in the first week of April. That is a really really beautiful time of the year. </p> <p><strong>Note</strong>: Color effects done with <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/color-splash-for-ipad/id374308914?mt=8" title="Colorsplash">Colorsplash</a> on my iPad.</p> <p>__________</p> <blockquote> <p><span>If something bad happened and you could only save a handful of your photo collection, which ones would choose? That’s the question guiding this series of blog posts I’m dubbing “Favorite Family Photos”. It’s a chance to look back at the past 10 years and revisit special moments in our family’s history. These are our best and most precious memories.</span></p> </blockquote>http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15600885891http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15600885891Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:01:05 +0900springMax featuredfeatured I’m back in Nagareyama and after a very nice winter break. Work starts again for me tomorrow....http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15568112340http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15568112340Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:32:30 +0900Family news updatewinterfamily featured<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxbmoecV9o1r8itdlo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>Favorite Family Photos: Our home in winter</strong></p> <p>This is my favorite shot of our home during my favorite part of the year: on a sunny day after huge snowstorm. We had way more snow in the winter of 2010-11 than usual, which created a lot of trouble in our western-Japan region (Hokuriku). But it also created a beautiful winter-wonderland atmosphere, one that I really really love. </p> <p>__________</p> <blockquote> <p><span>If something bad happened and you could only save a handful of your photo collection, which ones would choose? That’s the question guiding this series of blog posts I’m dubbing “Favorite Family Photos”. It’s a chance to look back at the past 10 years and revisit special moments in our family’s history. These are our best and most precious memories.</span></p> </blockquote>http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15548298316http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15548298316Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:19:05 +0900homewinterfeatured<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxigjb789y1r8itdlo1_500.jpg"/><br/> Theron's family joined us for lunch<br/><br/> <img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxigjb789y1r8itdlo2_500.jpg"/><br/> Luke's 1st pizza had a happy face<br/><br/> <img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxigjb789y1r8itdlo3_500.jpg"/><br/> Jonah's pizza was all meat or all cheese<br/><br/> <img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxigjb789y1r8itdlo4_500.jpg"/><br/> After lunch we went outside to play<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxigjb789y1r8itdlo5_500.jpg"/><br/> It was a beautiful late afternoon<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxigjb789y1r8itdlo6_500.jpg"/><br/> The kids build a snow fort<br/><br/> <img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxigjb789y1r8itdlo7_500.jpg"/><br/> Theron vs. the kids snowball fight<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxigjb789y1r8itdlo8_500.jpg"/><br/> Jonah prepares to launch a big one<br/><br/> <img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxigjb789y1r8itdlo9_500.jpg"/><br/> Awesome moon-rise over the mountains<br/><br/> <img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxigjb789y1r8itdlo10_500.jpg"/><br/> A full-moon over Toyama<br/><br/> <p><strong>An afternoon with Theron’s family: </strong></p> <p>My colleague and friend Theron came over to our house yesterday with his family for an afternoon of pizza and playing in the snow. We had a great time making the pizza. Theron showed me how it’s really done. I learned a lot! The kids also helped out and had a blast. Luke’s pizza, the first one he’s ever made all by himself (I usually help him), featured a happy face made from ham and pineapple. Theron’s son Jonah also made a pie, and it was either all meat or all cheese. After lunch we went outside to play in the snow. The boys made forts for a snowball fight, and I made a little incline for Max to sled down. As we played, the moon rose over the Tateyama mountain range. Awesome sight! We had a great time and look forward to more such get-togethers once Theron’s family moves to Toyama this spring. </p>http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15547468665http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15547468665Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:04:00 +0900friendspartywinternature<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxbme5iBJr1r8itdlo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>Favorite Family Photos: Max playing in the snow</strong></p> <p>Max loves playing in the snow during the winter. Here’s a lovely shot of her outside our house during the  winter-for-the-ages 2010-11. She especially loved sledding on a little hill of snow I piled up and making snowmen. It took a lot of prep to get her ready to go outside, so we only did this a few times, when the conditions and weather permitted. Still, those were fun times!</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>Note</strong>: Color effects done with <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/color-splash-for-ipad/id374308914?mt=8" title="Colorsplash">Colorsplash</a> on my iPad.</p> </blockquote> <p>__________</p> <blockquote> <p><span>If something bad happened and you could only save a handful of your photo collection, which ones would choose? That’s the question guiding this series of blog posts I’m dubbing “Favorite Family Photos”. It’s a chance to look back at the past 10 years and revisit special moments in our family’s history. These are our best and most precious memories.</span></p> </blockquote>http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15487253419http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15487253419Sun, 08 Jan 2012 12:09:00 +0900Max featuredfeaturedwinter<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxbm3hORdM1r8itdlo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Favorite Family Photos: Luke relaxes in the snow</p> <p>In the epic winter of 2010-11, I had fun playing with the kids outside. We made snowmen, snow angels, did some sledding, and had snowball fights. Here’s a nice shot of Luke as he relaxed in the snow before making a snow angel. I really like how this came out- Luke looks natural and un-posed, a big plus in my book. </p> <blockquote> <p><strong>Note</strong>: Color effects done with <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/color-splash-for-ipad/id374308914?mt=8" title="Colorsplash">Colorsplash</a> on my iPad.</p> </blockquote> <p>__________</p> <blockquote> <p><span>If something bad happened and you could only save a handful of your photo collection, which ones would choose? That’s the question guiding this series of blog posts I’m dubbing “Favorite Family Photos”. It’s a chance to look back at the past 10 years and revisit special moments in our family’s history. These are our best and most precious memories.</span></p> </blockquote>http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15431030550http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15431030550Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:05:00 +0900featuredwinterLuke featured<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxblnkjrj11r8itdlo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>Favorite Family Photos: Max’s 1st time sledding</strong></p> <p>Here’s a favorite shot from the winter of 2010-11: our daughter Max sledding for the first time. The snow was so high that it reached nearly over her head. I piled it up to make a mini-slope and then dug out a pit for her to slide into. It was a total blast. Max had a great time, as you can see from <a href="http://blip.tv/the-talandis-family-in-japan/tfij37-max-s-1st-time-sledding-skiing-4860390" title="TFiJ37: Max's 1st time sledding & skiing">this video</a>. I grew up in upstate NY, and I have memories of playing in snow above my head. I hope Max will remember this experience as fondly as I remember my days of playing in the snow as a kid. </p> <p>__________</p> <blockquote> <p><span>If something bad happened and you could only save a handful of your photo collection, which ones would choose? That’s the question guiding this series of blog posts I’m dubbing “Favorite Family Photos”. It’s a chance to look back at the past 10 years and revisit special moments in our family’s history. These are our best and most precious memories.</span></p> </blockquote>http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15380897738http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15380897738Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:34:05 +0900Max featuredfeaturedwinter<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxbn1f1eJ31r8itdlo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>Favorite Family Photos: Snowboarding 2011</strong></p> <p>This photo was taken in February 2011 while snowboarding at Raicho Valley in Toyama Prefecture. It’s rare that a shot taken by me with me in it actually comes out, but this one did. I really like it. Brings back a very good memory! Snowboarding on sunny days with tons of fresh powder snow is one of my biggest joys in life. The perfect confluence of conditions and weather is very rare, and to be savored. By this time, Luke was getting really good and could keep up and sometimes go faster than mama or papa. This made for unforgettable moments where the three of us would zoom and zig-zag down a slope together. Talk about perfect exhilaration!</p> <p>__________</p> <blockquote> <p><span>If something bad happened and you could only save a handful of your photo collection, which ones would choose? That’s the question guiding this series of blog posts I’m dubbing “Favorite Family Photos”. It’s a chance to look back at the past 10 years and revisit special moments in our family’s history. These are our best and most precious memories.</span></p> </blockquote>http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15341055894http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15341055894Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:41:38 +0900family featuredwinter sportsfeatured<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxbl5mnvsv1r8itdlo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>Favorite Family Photos: Yuki Oroshi</strong></p> <p>The winter of 2010-2011 was one for the record books. It snowed so heavily that we had to spend a week shoveling snow off of our roof, lest the heaviness of all that snow damage our house. It was a huge job that my wife and I managed. Here’s a favorite shot of me on the roof during a sunny moment. It was my first time up there, and the view was great! Felt like I was climbing a mountain, however.</p> <blockquote> <p>I created a video of this effort, which you can see <a href="http://blip.tv/the-talandis-family-in-japan/tfij36-winter-2011-yuki-oroshi-4829366" title="TJiJ36-Winter 2011-Yuki Oroshi">here</a>.</p> </blockquote> <p>__________</p> <blockquote> <p><span>If something bad happened and you could only save a handful of your photo collection, which ones would choose? That’s the question guiding this series of blog posts I’m dubbing “Favorite Family Photos”. It’s a chance to look back at the past 10 years and revisit special moments in our family’s history. These are our best and most precious memories.</span></p> </blockquote>http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15340423288http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15340423288Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0900Papa featuredwinterfeatured Since my wife manages and coaches at a swimming pool and my 10 year old boy is a completive...http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15331196428http://talandisfamilyinjapan.com/post/15331196428Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:41:00 +0900swimming