Experiencing Japanese buffet dinner

As a welcome dinner out, 08IEC(B), Kumadai participants and MTEC staffs went to Daikon no Hana, a buffet restaurant in Urasoe City. It is a popular restaurant for local people for its healthy Japanese meals using a lot of fresh vegetables.


Some foods were totally new to the participants, so they had to ask "What's this?" before they became courageous to try something new.



Thank you for joining this event tonight! I hope you could touch the atmosphere of healthy foods of Okinawa and japan so that you also appreciate longevity!

Happy (lunar) New Year!

It is a new year's day in lunar calendar.Our training institute hosts an event to introduce a Japanese culture "Mochi Tsuki" - rice cake making.

The event was introduced in a local evening news on TV.


The participants were interviewed like this. How did feel to be interviewed?
Well, I hope our "Mochi" was yummy for you.
Other performance were there. "Shishi mai" or Lion dance is played to wish everyone luck.
Some staff also danced "Eisa", a traditional dance of Okinawa.

The first training week in OIC

08IEC(B) group has finished (or survived) their first training week.

I hope everyone is fine, both mentally and physically. The actual training started this week.

The subjects provided after the course orientation were:
-Case study of IEC activities
in Reproductive Health by Maekawa


-Media Literacy by Uramoto
-Multimedia Introduction by Uramoto
-Communication Skills by Uramoto

As you may remember well, there are a lot of group discussions required during the training. Mutual understanding, assertiveness, and respect are the keys to the success of the training!

Xie Xie, Tu tu!

Tu Aixia, or aka Tu tu, is a participant from China in 08iec(a).
Maekawa, our chief instructor, has been involved in the HIV/AIDS prevention project in Gansu Province there. Soon after the new year holiday, he was dispatched there and got to meet Tu tu.

Tu tu sent us a big package of souvenirs, and it was delivered today.
So many boxes of Chinese flower tea.
Tomoko (Tu tu's training coordinator), Chiho, and Fumiyo are in the photo with happy smile! Thanks or xie xie, we already enjoyed it so much.

08iecb's first outing to a mall nearby

There is "SAN-A Kyozuka City", a convenient mall newly opened near our institute.
Since its open in November 2008, many participants enjoyed shopping and dining there.
As one of the life orientation of MTEC (really??), we had the first group outing for lunch.

By the way, the cherry trees started in bloom in Okinawa. There are many cherry trees around.

Course Orientation - 08iec(b)

The time of IEC(B) course with MTEC started today.
As you remember, the Course Orientation, Pretest, Interview, and the first lecture on Action Plan was held.

From tomorrow, the actual training starts.
Wishing you fruitsful time with us!


At the interview:




At Pretest:

The 2nd and 3rd photos were taken and contributed by Fumiyo san, MTEC assistant.

266. The first week on Okinawa...

Right after arriving Okinawa, the participants have "Briefing" session.
For the iec(B) course, though, the participants arrive in three groups, the session is also held differently.

The joint Briefing session was presented by Ms. Midori Maekawa.
Also Midori san was in charge of the Briefing for Ms. Boitshoko (Botswana-left) and Ms. Suzie (Namibia-right).
The group of Nigerois, Mr. Yacouba(left), Ms. Sahadatou(Middle), and Mr. Sita(right).

Also on the week, the guidance session on MTEC LMS (Learning Management System) session is held by the course leader.
Sorry for the busy schedule...

265. Welcome to MTEC family

The fourth training couse in fiscal year 2008 (not 2009 yet) will start soon.
This is "Information, Education and Communication (IEC) in Health Sector (B)" Course.
The survey resulted in nominating nations in Africa for this course. Namely, Botswana, Kenya(2), Namibia, Niger(3), Tanzania(2), and Uganda.

263. As a husband and daddy

In a long history of MTEC (and AVT), it can be a very rare news.
We welcomed the wife and a son of Miamba Paul Ungilamwagha Mwasikakata (Paul san) in our office.
Well, we have known Paul as our participant, but today he showed us his other face as a husband and daddy.

We hope the family will have a memorable stay and reunion here in Okinawa.

262. New Year's message for 2009

Dear MTEC family and friends in the world,

Happy New Year 2009!

Sorry for the belated message.
Though another new year arrived, there are many conflicts and sad results around us.
Why?
I have kept asking without getting any answer.
But still, we must go on living our lives with one hope for the peaceful world.

Fortunately, we have you in MTEC family.
Let's make ourselves be seeds to spread wisdom to the entire world.

MTEC
Media Technology for Education and Communication,
Japan Int'l Cooperation Center