Great Festivals of Japan: Awa Odori
This is the first in which I hope to be a series of entries detailing some of the best festivals that Japan has to offer.
Step outside the glass doors of Tokushima Station on any day of the year, and you may not be overwhelmed by what you [...]
By: Alumni Correspondent Neal Vermillion
A lot of people ask me questions about my chosen career path such as “How did you become a diplomat?” or even “Why did you become a diplomat?” The “why” question is sometimes asked with a sense of puzzlement or even shock as in “why on [...]
Of all the questions I get about my time in Japan, it seems the one facet of Japanese life that people are most interested in is the school system.
Coming from an education background at Madison, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the differences between the two systems on a pedagogical level, but surprisingly [...]
Continue reading about Oloizia: A Peek Inside a Japanese Junior High School
Greetings from Perth, Australia where I serve as United States Consul. Born and raised in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, I am a proud Badger by blood (my mother having received a Master’s degree from UW-Madison in the early 1960s.). Madison will always be “home” to me as my wife and I married at St. Paul’s University Catholic [...]
Continue reading about Greetings from Perth, Australia: Introducing Neal Vermillion, ‘99
Hello again! Last time out I told you about my history with Madison, and now hopefully I can dig a little bit more into my life in Japan and just how I ended up here.
In the spring of ‘05 as a junior at UW, I had the opportunity to study in London. Admittedly, [...]
Greetings fellow Badgers! My name is Jeff Oloizia, I’m a ’07 UW grad, and I live in Japan. Pleasure to meet you.
I’m writing here on the Badgers Abroad Blog because…well, because they’re letting me I suppose. And hopefully, because I feel I have something unique to say about Wisconsin and its place in the world [...]
Continue reading about Greetings from Japan!: Introducing Jeff Oloizia, ‘07
By Catherine Reiland
July 17, 2009, Part 2
Sitting at the helm of our Toyota Land Cruiser was James, one of the most sought-after guides at Akagera Park. There was not a creature or plant that he could not name. His keen eyes even led us to the elusive Mutware, or “Crazy Elephant” as James introduced him.
The [...]
Continue reading about Teachers Peek into Life of Rwandan Elephant
By Catherine Reiland
July 17, 2009, Part I
Based at the tranquil Hotel Dereva on the main highway that runs through the sleepy town of Rwamagana we were about an hour’s drive to Rwanda’s Akagera National Park.
As the sun rose we piled into three Toyota Land Cruisers with all the fixings to have an al fresco lunch [...]
Continue reading about Giraffes: Rwanda’s Akagera National Park
By Catherine Reiland
July 10, 2009
After about a week in the capital city of Kigali we headed southwest to the university town of Butare. Butare’s main street bustles with activity as motorcycle taxis, matatus, and bicycles rumble by.
Maneuvering through pedestrian and wheel traffic past the ever-popular Matar Supermarket (a go-to place for fresh popcorn, Nutella, flashlights, [...]
By Catherine Reiland
July 9, 2009
Our travels across Rwanda would not be possible without the expert help and knowledgeable advice from Jeremiah and Giome, two guides from the Kigali-based Bizidanny Tours and Safaris. With a group of 15 people there is a lot of luggage, so before heading for a long journey Jeremiah and Giome lend [...]
By Catherine Reiland
July 8, 2009: Part Two
A few hours after our chance meeting with Senator Beatrice Mukabaranga, we made our way to FAWE Girls’ School, a boarding school located in one of Kigali’s suburbs.
The school, founded in 1999, is managed by its namesake, the Forum for African Women Educationalists-Rwanda Chapter. The secondary school represents a [...]
Continue reading about Visiting the FAWE Girls’ School, Kigali
By Catherine Reiland
July 8, 2009
Hanging out in the lobby of Kigali’s Hotel Chez Lando can be a good way to meet Rwanda’s movers-and-shakers.
Some of us had the pleasure of meeting Senator Beatrice Mukabaranga in the wood-paneled reception area the hotel. It was a chance meeting that turned into an informative discussion about Rwanda’s educational goals.
Senator [...]
By Catherine Reiland
July 7, 2009
The Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) group is keenly interested in schooling in Rwanda, and in particular the role of education in national development.
While some members of the group visited the Lycée de Kigali, I joined others to meet students and faculty at Riviera High School. The private school founded in [...]
Continue reading about WI High School Teachers Visit Schools in Rwanda
So I got home about two weeks ago and didn’t have time to blog yet…so here it is… I guess not much has changed since I’ve been gone. I’ve been gone for about four months and the only change is that the weather is no longer cold. My family is still the same and so [...]
By Catherine Reiland
July 5, 2009
The Kigali Memorial Center opened on the 10th Anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide in 2004. Set above terraces overlooking Kigali the Memorial Center sits on a site where 250,000 are buried.
Inside the crisp white building visitors walk through darkened spaces to learn about pre-colonial Rwanda and the historical steps that led [...]
Continue reading about Visiting Rwanda’s Kigali Memorial Center
