This is a beautiful area, with many islands, lots of bamboo-forest-covered hills, jewel-green rice paddies. We each have bicycles to use, and it’s wonderful in the morning before work to go exploring – I discovered a small cemetery with elegant new polished monuments tucked among the giant bamboo, and hundreds of black, red, and yellow crabs scurrying about.

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Konbanwa (good evening),

It’s a balmy evening and the local night bird trills patiently outside my window. The weather has been gorgeous – not ‘mushi-atsui’ (way hot and humid!) as in my first weeks here. It’s sunny and very warm by day, but mornings and evenings are luscious. The peacefulness of this quiet rural neighborhood is enlivened every night at 8:45 when the Huis Ten Bosch fireworks and laser extravaganza lights up the sky, its festivity reflected in the calm river water.

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Sept. 16, 2007

Ohio gozaimasu, Everyone!
I’m writing from Huis Ten Bosch, a Dutch themed resort on the island of Kyushu, Japan, where I am performing for 6 weeks. It is a beautifully-recreated amalgam of traditional Dutch communities, on a river at the edge of a quiet bay leading to the sea, complete with windmills, cobblestone streets, Gouda cheese, and Japanese staff in traditional Dutch costumes in the restaurants and shops.

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Well, I’m still breathing after 3 whirlwind days at “Holland in Japan”, Huis Ten Bosch resort. A big storm is coming, fortunately I’m done for the day – today my 1st day of street performing, as mime and witch. 20 minute sets in the wilting humid heat are plenty. The staff is great – so friendly, helpful, cheerful – and cute.

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