Battle Creek Enquirer from Battle Creek, Michigan • Page 7

EflMpiiireir Almanac Features Comics B6 lira and NEWS O) Section LQJ Nov. 28, 1980 Far from their home, students are learning their native Japanese I $1 By ARDITH CARLTON Special Correspondent Young students jump up from their seats as soon as the teacher leaves the room for a moment. Scrabbling at each other's textbooks, they c6mpare their classwork to see who is doing the best job and then dash over to a table to explore a telephone book, looking for a name with In the midst of their laughter, the teacher returns. As they gasp and hurry back to their seats, one thing is clear: "Uh-oh!" means the same thing in Japanese as it does in English. These Japanese children attend classes each Saturday at the Battle Creek Unlimited office in Fort Custer Industrial Park to continue schooling that they started in Japan.

Ranging in age from 4 to 12, they are the children of administrators of Lotte U.S.A. and TSK two Japanese companies in the industrial park. In three to five years, the children will return to their home country. Until then, they'll learn and practice reading and writing in Japanese, besides attending area grade schools during the week. And, like all children, they enjoy a few minutes of fun during their studies.

Sponsored by BCU and developed by the Center for International Programs at Western Michigan University, the weekly 90-minute Japanese classes are taught by Hayami Kobayashi. After 30 years' experience at Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun newspaper and as an English teacher, he now is majoring in linguistics at WMU. Kobayashi instructs his six students in two classes. The first is for his four eldest students, the second for the two youngest. "The class is only 90 minutes long because they are children and get tired," explained Kobayashi.

"There are more who want to join, but they are too young." As "sensei," or teacher, Kobayashi's job is not easy. He must prepare his pupils, for Photos by Rick McKay Students learn both the hiragana and the more complex kanji characters of Japanese writing. their re-entry into Japanese life in the years to come. "When they return to Japan, they will have difficulty in readjusting. Japanese society is very competitive.

Everyone must take strict examinations to get into high school," Kobayashi said. His task is to keep his students on a level close to that of students in Japan. Although the Japanese classes began on Sept. 25, Kobayashi already has worked out an assortment of learning activities for the children. Included are songs, origami (the Japanese art of paper-folding) and storytelling, but foremost are reading and writing.

The six students are on the first-, second-, third- and sixth-grade levels, so he has them read books at those levels and work out of Japanese textbooks. See JAPANESE, B-2 I I Taichi Ito, 12, studies from a Japanese textbook so he will be prepared to compete with fellow students when he returns to Japan. 3 tt-iw -t- i 1 v'-''" -s. -ff I sill's --iTIti-iin-n ISSag. "g-f Hayami Kobayashi goes to the blackboard to teach the students the kanji characters With their teacher out of the classroom for a few moments, From left are Hiroko Yoshinaga, 7, Eiki Ito, 8, and Yoko the students scramble to exchange information on the lesson.

Murayama, 8. for such words as mountain and eye. Festooned 'Christmas City' ready for Santa Action Line cept those who offer the advice and take the money. Christmas open house from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec.

12, hosted by downtown merchants at their shops. "Our Christmas Heritage, 1830-1980" is the theme of the parade, corresponding with Marshall's sesquicentennial observance this year. Santa, riding in a parade of floats, clowns and marching bands, will steal the show in his decorated sleigh. Not until he makes his appearance will the holiday lights be turned on along the two-mile length of Michigan Avenue. MARSHALL A mile of evergreen garlands are twined around downtown Marshall in anticipation of Santa Claus' appearance at the annual Christmas Parade at Monday.

In addition to the garlands, some $100,000 in Christmas decorations will lend sparkle to the city that calls itself the Christmas City. The decorations have been purchased with donations from area industries, businesses, clubs and local residents. Another holiday event will be a Trophies will be presented to winning floats in the best overall category, the best commercial and the best noncommercial categories. An award also will go to the outstanding marching band. The parade draws some 15,000 visitors to the city each year.

Before the parade, the Chamber of Commerce's retail division will serve hot cider and doughnuts to visitors. After the parade, hot drinks will be dispensed to parade participants and visitors at Marshall Middle School. Isaac V. "Ike" Gage and his wife, Mary Lou, will be this year's parade grand marshals. Gage, deputy regional vice president at State Farm Insurance Cos.

until his retirement, served six years on the city council and is a former Chamber of Commerce president. Mrs. Gage is official pianist for the Marshall Rotary Club and was organist at the First Presbyterian Church for 15 years. She formerly played the steam calliope in the Christmas Parade for many years. I paid (350 to have my chimney repaired the top of it fixed where it was losing the surfacing material, a flue liner put in, the whole thing cleaned and waterproof surfacing put on.

Six weeks later the chimney was plugged, smoke and soot made it necessary to repaint one room and clean draperies. We found that soot, brick and pieces of mortar had been allowed to drop down the chimney, causing its failure. The outside coating put on has turned brown. I can't get satisfaction from the firm that did this work. This fellow hasn't answered me since last spring.

J.C., Burlington. He has now, since we pointed out you had a strong and valid claim. You say you are satisfied with the repair of his repairs. You stood the cost of the cleaning and painting yourself. 8 in family among flea market exhibitors My new glasses just aren't right.

They give me a sore nose. I can't wear a Band-Aid on my nose all the time. The glasses company says maybe another set of frames would work, but I can't see buying new frames when I already paid for one set that doesn't do the job. Mrs. W.M., Augusta.

You liked the lenses that act as automatic sunglasses by taking on gray color when you are outside. You also liked the stylish large lens. Since the photo-sensitive lenses had to be glass, the larger size made them heavy. The glasses company's office in Flint authorized plastic lenses for the frames. You gave up the idea of photo-sensitive glass.

You have glasses and your nose is no longer sore. All this at no extra cost. When the 10th annual Flea and ,11., iwi.ni,, mmmvi aw ln Thieves Market is held Saturday, the i 11 iii 1 Luiuei iaiiuiy wui oe mere in iuu torce almost. Pauline Daniel of Battle Creek, her five daughters and two of her grandchildren will be exhibiting at the market, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

in Miller Gymnasium at Kellogg Community College. Her four sons won't be exhibiting but there's always next year, a family member said. The Daniel family booth will specialize in handmade, stuffed dolls and macrame items made by Polly Crane and Christine Daniel of Battle Creek, Sally White of Sherwood, Cindy Daniel of Lansing and Nancy Daniel of Ann Arbor. Mrs. White's sons, Michael, 17, and Charles, 12, will display "Christmas monsters," a form of stuffed dolls.

This year's show will mark the first time that the family has exhibited in the annual holiday market sponsored by the Community Services Division of KCC as a public service. "We've gone every year, and each year we've said: 'Maybe next year we'll said Mrs. Crane. "Well, this is the year. "We've always enjoyed going.

That's too, was suckered into the old "Earn at home" trick and need your help in getting my $20 back. My letter asking for a refund after I found out the offer amounted to nothing was returned. Any help for me? Battle Creek. We asked the company concerned, AAHIP (American Association of Home Income Programs) about the refund. We received a tart note that said if we were so smart, we'd know the money never reached the company.

We later found out that was because the Postal Inspector had stopped all incoming mail because of false representation. Our copies of your original letter and proof of payment by that time were part of the Postal Service file on AAHIP. Your check has been returned to you. Unfortunately, thousands of people still believe they can earn money by stuffing envelopes at home (or similar activity) and pay $10 to $20 to find out about it. We have never heard of anyone making money this way ex How can I get adjustment on a sampler baby quilt that I purchased in kit form and which neither had enough yarn to complete the work, nor a properly quilted base? I was referred by the place in Battle Creek where I bought it to the manufacturer, Bucilla, in New York.

Since I got into this situation, my husband and I have retired to Florida, the retail outlet Just plain isn't helpful, and I receive no answer from Bucilla. I am at a loss what to do. I Just hate to be gypped. Mrs. Coral Springs, Fla.

Our try with Bucilla brought you a new quilt kit with all necessary yarn, an apology, and on your part a feeling of uncertainty as to whether you had done right standing up for what you thought were your rights. It's not our job to judge, but to get results, and these you got. Have a question, a problem, an opinion? Try it on Action Line. Please telephone 965-1243 between 4 and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, or write: P.O.

Box 550, Battle Creek, 49016. Want to get something off your chest? Say it in no more than 150 words, sign your name and send it to The Soap Box. Know someone who deserves a bouquet? Send your nomination to Bouquet Awards. All letters co the Enquirer and News. Whywetnoughtwe'dtryit." Photo by McKay She said that members of the family Getting ready for Saturday Flea and Thieves Market at Kellogg Community College are four members of have created items individually for family from left, Christine Daniel, Polly Crane, Sally White and their mother.

Pauline Daniel church bazaars, but never have they undertaken such a project as a family. Christmas ornaments, stamed glass and shall and Sherwood, as well as Battle Attendance at last VMr'5 Some 75 exhibitors are expected to dolls, among other items. Creek. topped 5 000 jwa evem set up shop Saturday and offer antiques, The exhibitors will come from Al- Members of the Sweet Adelines, a Marguerite Yareer a'rtsrooMinatnr glassware, leather goods, knitted and bion, Bellevue, Ceresco, Charlotte, Cli- local singing group, will serve food at for the college is oreanbinc thJ mL- crocheted pieces, ceramics, macrame, max, Coldwater, Delton, Hastings, Mar- the market. ket.

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