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Showing posts from October 30, 2011

Honshu and Okinawa

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I am back. I spent 10 days in Japan, 5 days for work on the main island of Honshu and 5 days of solo adventure in Okinawa. Travel is so invigorating dispite the uncomfortableness. Jetlag, anxiety, crowds, and other discomforts aside, it is mind-expanding and rewarding. Work went well. I flew a new airline (Skymark) from Tokyo to Naha. I am always wary of strange discount airlines and all the traps they set. However, I had a great expereince with "Sky". I was actually shocked. Super easy checkin at the airport, no extra fees even with extra luggage. The primary mission in Okinawa was to visit the Peace Park and the suicide cliffs of Okinawa. From what I understand, at the end of WW2 the inhabitants were encouraged to commit suicide rather than surrender to the Americans and get tortured and eaten. Besides other types of suicide, they jumped off the cliffs at the Southern end of the main island. If you have seen the original color footage taken at the time, I am sure you ...
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I am almost all recuperated from my latest trip to South America (actually just Brazil). I got to spend some weekend time in the capital Brasilia and a city called Maringá in the state of Parana. I think that I have now been in 5 different Brazilian states (out of the current 27). Work went so well and blended so well with adventure it was what I would consider a peak experience. I was definitely living life large and having an experience I will never forget. Brazil reminds me of the US about 30 or 40 years ago. The growing middle class population is about optimism and friendliness. Practical joke On one of my domestic flights in Brazil I was stopped at security after the x-ray machine for your carry-ons (the way security used to be in the US). No one at the security point spoke English. They indicated that there was something in my computer bag that was not allowed. They were making gestures like they were eating. Weird. The line started backing up and I emptied out my entire ...
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We lost a friend last week when I was in Brazil. Mike was pretty funny and a very sincere person. Michael A. Angelini (March 30, 1951 - October 27, 2011) Age 60, passed away on October 27, 2011. Michael was predeceased by his parents, Michael A. Angelini and Rose (Naccia) Angelini, and wife, Katie (Brady) Angelini. He is survived by his brother, Joseph P. Angelini; nieces, Debbie Hrivnak and Lynne David; and great-nieces and nephews, Morgan, Hunter, Alexandra, Samantha, Dominick, and Isabella. A Funeral Service will be held at the CHARLES P. ARCARO FUNERAL HOME, 2309 Lancaster Ave. in Wilmington, on Monday, October 31 at 10am. Visitation will be held at the funeral home, prior to service, from 9-10am. Burial will be held privately at a later date.