Dear Friends,

Summer is here and, while in San Francisco that means fog, and in Boston it means Red Sox (baseball) in Sapporo it means "beer gardens." Sapporo is the capital of Japan's Northern island of Hokkaido but it is also the name of one of Japan's oldest and most famous brand's of beer - brewed, by no coincidence, in Sapporo. In July and August the public parks in the downtown area open outside eating areas where edamame, karaage, yakisoba, among other delicious munchies are served along with "nama biru", fresh draft beer. By 6:00 pm (early to get off work in Japan) the beer gardens start filling and the happy energy increases as the sun goes down. By 9:30 dozens of smiling, slightly red-faced people, can be seen walking (and stumbling) toward the train home. Nice summer memories - even if they might be a bit hazy.

EDI News: 

Here in the San Francisco Bay Area the University of California at Bekeley has increased the number of international students studying at its summer programs. Some Californians are worried that the increased number of international students will limit the number of American students that can attend this public institution. But the international students also pay much higher tuition than California students which helps supplement the University's income, ultimately helping more California students to take part in UC programs because of the additional money.

Hope you enjoy a cold summer beverage and create some nice summer memories of your own this week,

Dan Augustine