Konnichiwa,

Hi! I am TORIGOE Yuko, a coordinator of 
Pitter Patter of Earth Calendar Online. 
We are very happy to have had such a 
great number of contributions during just 
two months! It is our great pleasure to meet 
various cultures and people through this project. 
Especially for us Japanese, whose native language
is not English, it has been very difficult to 
participate in international projects. Fortunately
this project has given us an opportunity to 
participate without using lots of languages 
which might be a "barrier" for non English 
speaking people. I would like to enjoy this 
learning experience with our children as much 
as possible.

In Japan we will have a rainy season soon in June. 
Yes, it is the Pitter Patter season! Frogs are 
singing loudly in the ricefields on rainy days. 
Japanese language has various sounds of rain 
--- "Pichi Pichi Chapu Chapu (Pitter Patter), 
Shito Shito, Zaa Zaa, Shobo Shobo, .....". 
What is the sound of rain in your own languages? 
I am very happy if you will let us know any sounds
in your everyday life.  Please upload children's 
picture(s) and simple texts in your own language 
with English translation. You do not have to add 
sound files if Real Audio system is not installed 
in your school computers. 
We are enjoying the fantastic world of languages 
and sounds. 
Many thanks to Elanora Heights Primary School 
students in Sydney, 2C Class at Corinthia Park 
School in Canada, Yuge Elementary School 5th grade
students and LABO students from Japan.

Some of you must be very busy at the end of the
school year. 
Please take care of yourself. 

Let's enjoy the Earth Calendar Online together!

Arigatogozaimasu,
Yuko
May 29, 1999