This is a story about an international couple raising and home educating three young boys on a small island in Japan, half living in buses, engaged in organic, self-sufficient farming in the middle of a mountain forest while dealing with climate, cultural, and personal challenges. These pages are about pretty much anything and everything all guided by our family motto, Taking Chances, Making Changes, Being Happy. Thank you very much for joining us on our ongoing crazy adventure.

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Education

Welcome to my story education page. This is another page my kids requested....enjoy.
Lindbergh Elementary School

1966? - 1972? - This is without a doubt the coolest school in the United States. Really good memories from this place for sure. The building is what a school is supposed to look like as opposed to the crap they build for schools in California. Most of the schools look like manufactures homes....one story buildings, run-down school grounds, and what's up with all the locked fences and gates? Anyway much more about this school later on.
Kenmore Middle School (formerly Kenmore Junior High School)

1973? - 1975? off and on - Kind of began disliking school at this point. Not really much to say for now except a bit disappointed the school is now a middle school grades 6-8.
Kenmore West High School

A Few Days? - Went a few days and decided to take the G.E.D.
State University of New York at Buffalo

Degree Obtained - General Education

Spring 1978 - Spring 1980 - The beginning of my long and illustrious college education.
San Diego City College

Degree Obtained - General Education

Fall 1980 - Summer or Fall 1983 - This is an inner-city school in San Diego. While I was attending this school, I was working like crazy to pay rent, tuition, and books. With this said, not much in the way of fun but this was a fantastic place to take general education courses. Pretty much an easy A anytime.
San Diego State University

Degree Obtained - B.S. Business Finance, minor in Real Estate, Geological Studies

Spring 1981 - Fall 1986 - Even though I was still working a lot while attending SDSU, I still managed to enjoy myself. Plenty of beach and house parties in between work. I was a geology major for much of the time until the oil industry was going bust. Then I decided to go for a business degree and switched to finance. Really missed all the Geology field trips though. A bunch of students sleeping on the ground in the middle of the desert waiting to get up the next day to collect rocks or look for faults, um, earthquake faults, not faults with each other. I worked at the weather station in the Geography building for quite some time which was an absolute thrill for me.
Grossmont College

Degree Obtained - A.A. Japanese Studies

Fall 2000 - Spring 2002 - Hmmmm, what can I possibly say about this place. I was the first student to graduate with an A.A. Degree in Japanese Studies. A couple of reasons. Although the college offered Japanese classes for many years, the degree was kind of a new thing. In addition, most students dropped out of Japanese after one semester after finding out there is much more to the language than manga and anime. Actually I was one of the few students studying Japanese for cultural reasons and not to understand Japanese cartoons. Come to think of it, I was one of the few students to actually study. This school is filled with lazy American students who are basically unsure of which direction they plan to take. The students were cheating on exams like crazy and the teachers didn't even give a crap. Anyway, happy to be out of that "college" for sure. The main benefit of this place was the presence of tons of Japanese students since this school has the lowest entry requirements "TOEFL score" in San Diego. This meant plenty of Japanese students for language exchange, many of whom became and still are my friends.
American Language Institute

Degree Obtained - Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate

2002? - I wanted to go back to Japan and stay for at least a year but was unable to because of the 3 month visa limit. I decided to obtain a teaching certificate in order to teach English and get a working visa. The teacher training program at this school is awesome. The teachers are very dedicated and my mentor, Rob Shaffer, really taught me a lot.
College

1978-2002 - This is a record of my college transcripts and other miscellaneous information. The information was copied from a Word file resulting in a formatting mess and strange text which will be corrected at some point.
 

School Course Information

 

 

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO

 

Section  Course Title                                         Type       Dept.       Number Units      Grade     Points    Days       Time       Bldg.      Room

 

SUNYAB, MFC - SPRING 1978 - UNDECLARED

 

                SURVEY OF ALGEBRA, TRIG          LEC         MTH      115          4.0           B             12.0

                GEOG PERSP, WORLD ISSUES        LEC         GEO        100          4.0           C             8.0

                INTRO TO ANTHROPOLOGY          LEC         APY        105          4.0           A             16.0

 

SUNYAB, MFC - FALL 1979 - UNDECLARED

 

                STATISTICAL METHODS                LEC         STA        119B       4.0           B             12.0

                COLLEGE CALCULUS 1     LEC         MTH      141A       4.0           C             8.0

 

SUNYAB, MFC - SPRING 1980 - UNDECLARED

 

186605    INTRO COMPUTER SCIENCE 1       LEC         CS           113B       4.0           B             12.0         MW        8251005  DFN A   8

084884    INTRO MACROECONOMICS          LEC         ECO        181A       4.0           B             12.0         MW        625-805   CARY     244

084964    INTRO MICROECONOMICS            LEC         ECO        182C       4.0           B             12.0         TTH        625-805   ACH A   4
 

School Course Information

 

 

SAN DIEGO CITY COLLEGE

 

Section  Course Title                                         Type       Dept.       Number Units      Grade     Points    Days       Time       Bldg.      Room

 

SDCC - FALL 1980 - UNDECLARED

 

30268      ASTRONOMY                                     LEC                         101          3.0           A             12.0                         1730                        M101

32667      SPANISH                                              LEC                         101          4.0           A             16.0

 

SDCC - SPRING 1981 - UNDECLARED - SDCMP OR SDHSC

 

15747      GENERAL CHEMISTRY                     LEC         CHEM    200A       3.0           A             12.0         TTH        1730        1900        M103

31690      PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY LAB         LAB        GEOG     101L        1.0           C             2.0          T             1900        2200        M205

37787      ANALY GEOM, CALCULUS II         LEC         MATH   151          4.0           W                            MW        1900,2     SDCMP  K553

37793      PROBS ANALY GEOM CALC II       LEC         MATH   153          1.0           W                            MW        2100,.5    SDCMP  K553

 

SDCC - SUMMER 1981 - UNDECLARED

 

11370      GENERAL GEOLOGY                          LEC         GEOL      100          3.0           A             12.0         TTH        1830        2130        M205

 

SDCC - FALL 1981 - UNDECLARED

 

38840      ANALY GEOM, CALCULUS II         LEC         MATH   151          4.0           W                            MW        1900        2100        M102

38908      PROBS ANALY GEOM CALC II       LEC         MATH   153          1.0           W                            MW        2100        2130        M102

32006      GENERAL CHEMISTRY                     LAB        CHEM    200A       2.0           A             8.0          TTH        1900        2200        M201

32019      GENERAL CHEMISTRY                     LEC         CHEM    200B       3.0           B             9.0          TTH        1730        1900        M103

28714      GENERAL BIOLOGY                           LEC         BIOL       104          4.0           B             12.0         MW        1700        1800        A230

29413      GENERAL BIOLOGY                           LAB        BIOL       104          0.0                                           W            1800        2200        M103

 

SDCC - SPRING 1982 - UNDECLARED

 

22795      ANALY GEOM, CALCULUS II         LEC         MATH   151          4.0           W                            MW        1900        2100        M102

22803      PROBS ANALY GEOM CALC II       LEC         MATH   153          1.0           W                            MW        2100        2130        M102

23177      GENERAL CHEMISTRY                     LAB        CHEM    200B       2.0           A             8.0          TTH        1900        2200        M202

07668      ART ORIENTATION                          LEC         ARTF     100          3.0           A             12.0         MW        1730        1900        C211

11260      READING AND COMPOSITION      LEC         ENGL      101          3.0           A             12.0         TTH        1730        1900        C114

32584      HISTORY OF THE UNITED               LEC         HIST       110A       3.0           A             12.0         W            1900        2200        A216

32708      HISTORY OF THE UNITED               LEC         HIST       110B       3.0           A             12.0         M            1900        2200        A215

 

SDCC - FALL OR SUMMER 1983 - UNDECLARED

 

23692      MECHANICS                                       LEC         PHYS      195A       4.0           W                            MTWTH1730       1900        M204

                                                                                LAB                                        0.0           W                            MW        1900        2200        M204
 

School Course Information

 

 

SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY

Page 1

 

Section  Course Title                                         Type       Dept.       Number Units      Grade     Points    Days       Time       Bldg.      Room

 

SDSU - SPRING 1981 - UNDECLARED

 

1951        INTRO TO METEOROLOGY             LEC         GEOG     103          3.0           A             12.0         MWF     1100        SS           247

1952        INTRO TO METEOROLOGY             LAB        GEOG     103L        1.0           A             4.0          M            1400        SS           152

0955        GENERAL CHEMISTRY                     LEC         CHEM    200          5.0           W                            MWF     1200        SS           100

0964        GENERAL CHEMISTRY                     LAB        CHEM    200          0.0           W                            TTH        1400        CG           314

2605        CALCULUS, ANALYTIC GEOM      LEC         MATH   151          4.0           W                            MTWF   0800        BA          246

3422                                                                                        PHYS      115A                       W

3447        PRINC OF PHYSICS LAB   LAB        PHYS      195L        1.0           W                            W            1300        PA          118

 

SDSU - FALL 1981 - UNDECLARED

 

3505        PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS LEC         PHYS      195          3.0           W                            MWF     1300        P              146

3507        PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS LAB        LAB        PHYS      195L        1.0           W                            T             0800        PA          118

1806        MINERALOGY                                     LEC         GEOL      221          4.0           W                            MWF     1300        CG           201

1807        MINERALOGY                                     LAB        GEOL      221          0.0           W                            T             0930        CG           226

0426        GENERAL BIOLOGY                           LEC         BIOL       100          3.0           W                            MWF     1200        HH          130

1794        GENERAL BIOLOGY LAB LAB        BIOL       101          1.0           W                            T             1400        CG           207

 

SDSU - SPRING 1982 - UNDECLARED

 

1754        HISTORICAL GEOLOGY    LEC         GEOL      105          4.0           B             12.0         MWF     1300        CG           302

1756        HISTORICAL GEOLOGY    LAB        GEOL      105          0.0                                           W            0800        CG           208

1769        INTRO TO GEOPHYSICS   LEC         GEOL      230          3.0           W                            MWF     1200        CG           201

3836        WORLD RELIGIONS                           LEC         RELS      101          3.0           CR           0.0          MW        1400        M            265

 

SDSU - FALL 1982 - UNDECLARED

 

1765        GENERAL GEOLOGY LAB                LAB        GEOL      101          1.0           W                            T             0930        CG           207

1775        MINERALOGY                                     LEC         GEOL      221          4.0           B             12.0         TTH        1230        CG           201

1777        MINERALOGY                                     LAB        GEOL      221          0.0                                           W            1400        CG           226

1779        MINERALOGY                                     LAB        GEOL      221          0.0                                           F              1300        CG           226

1792        STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY LEC         GEOL      305          3.0           C+           6.9          MW        1200        CG           201

1793        STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY LAB        GEOL      305          0.0                                           M            1400        CG           213

1794        STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY LAB        GEOL      305          0.0                                           W            1300        CG           213

1291        INTERMEDIA COMPOSITION        LEC         ENGL      200          3.0           W                            TTH        1400        SS           254

 

SDSU - SPRING 1983 - 19141 GEOLOGY

 

3367        FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICS     LEC         PHYS      180A       3.0           C             6.0          MWF     1100        P              148

3375        PHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS         LAB        PHYS      182A       1.0           C             2.0          F              1200        PA          120

1714        PETROLOGY                                        LEC         GEOL      224          3.0           C             6.0          MW        1200        IA           107

1715        PETROLOGY                                        LAB        GEOL      224          0.0                                           M            1300        CG           213

1740        OPTICAL MINERALOGY  LEC         GEOL      524          3.0           B+           9.9          TTH        0930        CG           201

1741        OPTICAL MINERALOGY  LAB        GEOL      524          0.0                                           T             1100        CG           226

1729        FIELD GEOLOGY                 LEC         GEOL      308          4.0           W                            W            1500        IA           107

1729        FIELD GEOLOGY                 LAB        GEOL      308          0.0           W                            M            1700        CG           220

1729        FIELD GEOLOGY                                 GEOL      308          0.0           W                            S              0800        OFFC
 

School Course Information

 

 

SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY

Page 2

 

Section  Course Title                                         Type       Dept.       Number Units      Grade     Points    Days       Time       Bldg.      Room

 

SDSU - FALL 1983 - 19141 GEOLOGY

 

3560        FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICS     LEC         PHYS      180B       3.0           W                            MWF     0900        P              146

1843        GEOLOGY NORTH AMERICA         LEC         GEOL      502          3.0           W                            MWF     0800        CG           418

1850        ORE DEPOSITS                                    LEC         GEOL      520          3.0           W                            MWF     1100        LS           284

1858        MARINE GEOLOGY                            LEC         GEOL      540          3.0           W                            TTH        1100        CG           418

1833        INTRO TO GEOPHYSICS   LEC         GEOL      230          3.0           W                            MWF     1300        SS           351

5933        INTERMEDIA COMPOSITION        LEC         ENGL      200          3.0           W                            MWF     1000        SS           147

 

SDSU - SPRING 1984 - 05011 BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

 

0091        ACCOUNTING FUNDAMENT         LEC         ACCTG  212          4.0           C             8.0          TTH        1900        BA          4088

1993        PRINCIPLES INFO SYSTEM             LEC         INFO      180          3.0           A-           11.1         TH          1600        HH          130

2010        WRITTEN COMM IN BUSINESS     LEC         INFO      290          3.0           B             9.0          T             1600        BA          439

1468        BUSINESS LAW                  LEC         FIN         140          3.0           W                            T             1900        BA          341

 

SDSU - FALL 1984 - 05111 REAL ESTATE

 

1540        FUNDAMENTALS OF FINAN         LEC         FIN         323          3.0           B             9.0          M            1600        BA          253

5226        INVESTIGATION & REPORT                           INFO      498          3.0           CR           0.0          ARR       0800

 

SDSU - SPRING 1985 - 05111 REAL ESTATE

 

1522        THEORY REAL PROPERTY VA       LEC         FIN         433          3.0           C             6.0          M            1900        BA          245

2532        STATISTIC ANALY FOR BUS         LEC         MGT       301          3.0           B             9.0          MW        1700        BA          118

2541        MANAGEMENT & ORGANIZAT   LEC         MGT       350          3.0           C             6.0          MW        1530        LE           305

2649        MARKETING                                       LEC         MKTG    370          3.0           C+           6.9          MW        1400        LE           305

1508        REAL ESTATE ESSENTIALS           LEC         FIN         331          3.0           W                            TTH        1230        BA          345

5852        REAL ESTATE ESSENTIALS           LEC         FIN         331          3.0           B-            8.1          W            1900        BA          344

1281        INTERMEDIATE COMPOSITI         LEC         ENGL      200          3.0           W                            W            1900        AH          2111

 

SDSU - SUMMER 1985 - 05111 REAL ESTATE

 

17030      GEOGRAPHY OF CITIES   LEC         GEOG     354          3.0           A-           11.1

 

SDSU - FALL 1985 - 05111 REAL ESTATE

 

15061      BUSINESS LAW                  LEC         FIN         140          3.0           W                            T             1600        BA          341

15411      LAND MARKET, REAL ESTATE    LEC         FIN         335          3.0           W                            TTH        0930        BA          253

15492      REAL ESTATE FINANCE  LEC         FIN         431          3.0           W                            W            1600        BA          423

17441      GEOGRAPHY OF CITIES   LEC         GEOG     354A       3.0           W                            TTH        1230        SS           245

29481      INTRO TO URBAN PLANNING       LEC         PA          320          3.0           B-            8.1          MWF     1000        A             412

12235      MONEY AND BANKING   LEC         ECON     490          3.0           A             12.0         MWF     0900        SS           152

48193      INVESTIGATION & REPORT           LEC         FIN         498          3.0           A             12.0         ARR
 

School Course Information

 

 

SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY

Page 3

 

Section  Course Title                                         Type       Dept.       Number Units      Grade     Points    Days       Time       Bldg.      Room

 

SDSU - SPRING 1986 - 05111 REAL ESTATE

 

15190      LAND MARKET, REAL ESTATE    LEC         FIN         335          3.0           B               9.0         TTH        0930        BA          346

15352      INSURANCE PRINC & PRAC           LEC         FIN         542          3.0           B               9.0         T             1600        BA          252

50573      BUS STRATEGY & INTEGRATI      LEC         MGT       405          3.0           C               6.0         TTH        1230        BA          338

30586      BEGINNING RACQUETBALL           LEC         PE           123A       1.0           W                            F              0800        PG           180

 

SDSU - SUMMER 1986 - 05111 REAL ESTATE

 

88015      BEG WT TRNG                                    LEC         PE           104A       1.0           A               4.0

 

SDSU - FALL 1986 - 05111 REAL ESTATE

 

28884      INTER WEIGHT TRAINING              LEC         PE           1048        1.0           A               4.0         TTH        1700        PG           151

14420      BUSINESS LAW                  LEC         FIN         140          3.0           C               6.0         TH          1900        BA          345

14372      BUSINESS LAW                  LEC         FIN         140          3.0           W                            W            1600        BA          345

12784      INTERMEDIATE COMPOSITI         LEC         ENGL      200          3.0           B               9.0         W            1900        SS           348
 

School Course Information

 

 

GROSSMONT COLLEGE

 

Section  Course Title                                         Type       Dept.       Number Units      Grade     Points    Days       Time       Bldg.      Room

 

GMCC - FALL 2000 - UNDECLARED

 

5820        JAPANESE I - H. TAKAGI                LEC         JAPN      120          5.0           A             20.0         TTH        1330        1550        538

 

GMCC - SPRING 2001 - UNDECLARED

 

5421        JAPANESE II - A. KURATANI         LEC         JAPN      121          5.0           A             20.0         MW        1600        1850        538

4352        JAPANESE CROSS CULTURAL      LEC         CCS        299          3.0           A             12.0         MW        1230        1520        535A

 

GMCC - FALL 2001 - UNDECLARED

 

5825        JAPANESE III - M. KIM                     LEC         JAPN      220          5.0           A             20.0         TTH        1630        1845        544B

4563        JAPANESE CROSS CULTURAL      LEC         CCS        299          3.0           A             0.0          MW        1300        1350        533

 

GMCC - SPRING 2002 - UNDECLARED

 

5424        JAPANESE IV - M. KIM                     LEC         JAPN      221          5.0                                           MW        1600        1815        538

5425        CO. JAPANESE – A.KURATANI     LEC         JAPN      250          3.0                                           TTH        1230        1345        362

4130        COMPUTER BASICS                          TBA       CSIS       096          1.0                                           ARR                                       542

4131        WINDOWS BASICS                           TBA       CSIS       097          1.0                                           ARR                                       542

4138        BASIC KEYBOARDING                     TBA       CSIS       100          1.0                                           ARR                                       542

GMCC - SPRING 2002 - UNDECLARED

 

                CO. JAPANESE – Y.KANAI              LEC         JAPN      251          3.0                                           TTH        1230        1345        345B

 

HIROKO TAKAGI

ASUKA KURATANI

MYUNG HUI KIM

YUKO KANAI
 

School Course Information

 

 

College                  Semester                               Course                                                                                   Instructor

 

SDCC                     Fall 1980                 Astronomy 101                                                                     John R. Sievers

SDCC                     Spring 1981                           Chemistry 200A

SDCC                     Spring 1981                           Chemistry 200B                                                                    Will Tappen

SDCC                                                                     Chemistry 200B                                                                    Dr. William R. Scales

                                                                                Physics 180A                                                                        Paul

SDSU                     Spring 1982                           Historical Geology                                                               J. Branstrator

SDSU                                                                     Money and Banking                                                            Dr. V. Kulkarni

SDSU                     Spring 1985                           Finance 433                                                                           Cutsinger

SDSU                                                                     Principles of Accounting 212

SDSU                     Fall 1985                 PA 320 - Introduction to Urban Planning                        Dr. Nico Calavita

SDSU                                                                     Exercise and Weight Training                                            Dr. Bob Mechikoff

SDSU                     Spring 1985                           MKTG 370 - Marketing Principles                                     Dave Blanchette

SDSU                     Spring 1985                           Finance 331 - Real Estate Essentials                 Jeff O’Rourke

SDSU                     Spring 1985                           MGT 350 - Management and Organization                      P.L. Wright

SDSU                                                                     Finance 323 – Fundamentals of Finance                          Fisher

                                Spring 1984                           Info 290 - Written Communication in Business              Dr. T.L. Wendelmoot

SDSU                     Spring 1982                           Religious Studies 101                                                          Dr. Michael O’Sullivan

SDSU                                                                     Historical Geology - hand lens

SDCC                                                                     English 101                                                                            John H. Couch

SDCC                                                                     History 110A                                                                        Mr. Wong

SDCC                     Spring 1982                           History 110B

SDSU                     Spring 1982                           Mineralogy                                                                           Krummenacher

                                3/7/82                                     Trip to Big Maria Mountains to collect minerals

                                                                                4.5 hour drive, camped the night before

SDCC                     Spring 1982                           Art Orientation                                                                     Mrs. K. Carlton

SDSU                     Spring 1983                           Petrology 224                                                                        Gordon Gastil

SDSU                     Fall 1984                                Course 498                                                                            Ben Saltzer

                                                                                Information Systems 180 - assistant                                 Dick Hatch

SDSU                     Summer  8/5-8/23                  Geography 354                                                                     Dr. John Paul Jones

                                                                                Geography of Cities

SDSU                     Spring 1986                           Finance 335                                                                           James L. Short

                                                                                Land Markets and Real Estate Analysis

SDCC                                                                     Geology 100                                                                          M.H. Douglas

                                                                                General Geology

 

SDSU                                                                     English 200                                                                            Brent Gowen

SDCC                                                                     Biology 104                                                                           Leboffe

                                11/30       12/4                         Trip to Natural History Museum

SDSU                                                                     Structural Geology                                                               Monte Marshall

                                11/                                           Trip to Agua Caliente Campground

                                                                                Trip 2nd day to Ocotillo Wells
 

School Fee Information

 

 

COLLEGE TUITION AND FEES

 

College  Term      Units      $/unit     Total       Registration         Parking Total       Resident

 

SDCC     F 1980       9                                                                                            648.00     NO

SDCC     F 1980       3            56.00          168.00                                                  168.00     NO

SDCC     F 1980       4            56.00          224.00                                                  224.00     NO

SDCC     S 1981       8            72.00          576.00                                                  576.00     NO

 

SDSU     S 1981     14                            1,008.00  116.00

SDSU     F 1981       7                               661.50  128.50

SDSU     S 1983                                                     227.00

SDSU     S 1984       3                               215.00  350.00

SDSU     S 1985     18                                            330.50                     22.50

SDSU     F 1985                                                     330.50                     33.75

SDSU     S 1986                                                     330.50

SDSU     F 1986                                                     315.00                     33.75, ASB 10.00, STUNION 16.00, FACIL 3.00, IRA 15.00

 

GMCC    F 2000       5            11.00       55.00       11.00                                         66.00

GMCC    S 2001       8            11.00       88.00       11.00                                         99.00

GMCC    F 2001       8            11.00       88.00       12.00                       30.00       130.00
 

School Fee Information

 

 

COLLEGE TUITION AND FEES

 

College  Term      Units      $/unit     Total       Registration         Parking Total       Resident

 

SDCC     F 1980       9                                                                                            648.00     NO