ChanomiTalk

Every weekend, Rika and I go on adventures to find restaurants. This weekend we ended up at Pizza Bob’s in Haleiwa. On their menu it boasted “Legendary Pizza since 1914″. Clearly this is a large claim. I’ve had good pizza, but Legendary pizza? It was something I had yet to experience. So, we both decided we would order Pizza. We ordered the Godfather,”The classic from the land where pizza began”. I will admit, it is by far, the best Pizza I’ve had on Hawaii. The crust wasn’t thick and doughy like how most pizza places make, but thin and crispy, spices and herbs were added, and the part of pizza you want to eat, the toppings, was plentiful and delicious. We definitely will be going again.

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昨日久しぶりにノースショア、ハレイワに行ってきました。古き良き街並みで、心和むひと時を過ごすことができました。家族へのお土産もゲットしてきました。:D

Humpback whale season is here again in Hawaii! The whales have already been spotted in Maui and the island of Hawaii. We are very fortunate in Oahu to already have the whales here. Last week when one the submarines was ready to ascend, a whale came up next to the submarine! Unfortunately I had a day off so I didn’t see it! The whales are usually here from late November to May. Towards the end of April they start heading back to Alaska.
While the whales are here the females give birth to their calves and the other females and males mate. Once the female mates she will become pregnant and will carry her calf for the next year. The following year when she comes to Hawaii she will give birth. The mating ritual is very interesting. The males each have their own specific “song” and they continuously sing it. The female will pick the male according to which song that she likes! Once she picks the male they will go very deep and mate. Another interesting note is that while the whales are here the female does not eat! Only the calves and the males. The female will eat again when she returns to Alaska. This season I am hoping to see a whale !underwater

Halloween is a very popular holiday in Hawaii for both visitors and locals. I think many Japanese tourists plan vacation around this time. Every year, Waikiki is filled with ghosts, vampires, and various costumed characters. Everyone dresses up but some people wear very elaborate costumes. Those with the best costumes have many people asking to take pictures with them. In fact, there is sort of an informal competition regarding how many people stop to ask for a photo. In the end, everyone has a good time. As for me, I got to meet Lady Gaga and Katie Perry so I’m pretty happy. No, not the real celebrities, but some Japanese girls with amazing costumes.

vacant futon
folded up and put away
I pay respects


I had a patient that was getting healthier and healthier until yesterday, when he died suddenly. I looked at the folded-up futon on top of the patient’s bed and remembered his absence in sadness. I brought my hands together and quietly congratulated him for staying strong for such a long time.


空っぽの畳んだ布団に手を合わす

からっぽ の　たたんだ ふとん に　て を あわす



昨日まで、さっきまで、元気だった方が、急にいなくなってしまうことがあります。片付けられたベッドの上の布団をみると、さみしさや懐かしさがこみあがってきます。長い間お疲れ様でしたと手を合わせます。




– Fujisaki Yukiyo
– English by Chay Schiller

Halloween has come and gone but we still have our jack-o’-lanterns sitting outside our house. It’s fun carving out faces but not always easy.

You have to get the right tools for marking, scooping, cutting, and carving.

You then take a nice big pumpkin and set it on a flat surface.

You grab your tools, cut a hole at the top, and scoop out all the seeds and everything inside the pumpkin out.

After that you carve out a face.

Give it one final check.

Lastly you place a light inside and turn it on. We used an electrical light but a candle works too.

If you visit Seoul, you have to make a stop at the War Memorial. You would be doing a disservice to yourself to miss out on this experience. Because Korea’s existence today is deeply rooted in the results of the Korean War, learning the causes and effects of the war goes a long way in understanding the Korean culture. The Memorial does a great job of honoring those who lost their lives and also putting the situation today in context. I honestly learned a lot here and recommend this as a must see if you visit.

I have been with a patient for about three years who has Alzheimer’s disease. His wife has arranged a cruise for them that will be departing from this Island in three weeks. But because the health of my patient is declining, his wife is worried that she will have to cancel the cruise and the good times they have shared will come to an end. She wishes she could have done more with her husband before his time comes.

I have never lost a patient since working in the medical field. But, I believe that time is coming. To tell you the truth, I don’t know how I will react. I have grown pretty close to my patient and his family. I’ve worked with him through his ups and his downs. Lately, he is having a hard time staying on his feet. He has lost his focus. I can see that his life is ebbing away. Though I knew that one day he would leave us, I can’t say that I’m ready.

Watching this family over the years, I have seen the love that my patient’s wife has for him and that he tried so hard to show to her. I just can’t believe that love will end in lost memories. The first patient that I will lose will be one that never knew me. But he will sail on in my memories.

One of the major differences in landscape between Korea and the Midwest is the mountains. Korea has a ton of mountains while the Midwest is as flat as you can get. It was great to a have change of scenery… I almost forgot how pretty mountains can be haha So while I was in Korea, I took advantage and went on some hikes. One that was particularly memorable was the Baegundae trail on Bukhansan mountain. I remember it well because it was the most difficult one to get to the top. The mountain was pretty high and there were some areas where it felt like you were climbing vertically. It didn’t help that I have a fear of heights either. But when I finally reached the top, it was a huge feeling of accomplishment. The view was priceless and you see for miles in every direction. Everything just seemed so peaceful. My parents and I sat up there for some while and just enjoyed the moment. It was definitely a good day.