Happy Thai Girl on Thai Cooking Made Easy

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Anne Ku

When June, my friend from high school, announced on Facebook that she had published her cook book “Happy Thai Girl” I suddenly remembered all those Sundays in Okinawa when I woke her up to cook for me.

Continue reading →

Posted in photos, travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

9/11 piano concert on Maui

Posted on September 12, 2015 by Anne Ku

In my quest to give concerts for every occasion and purpose, I have long wanted to pay a musical tribute to September 11, 2001. It was a day that changed my life, for I was in Manhattan for a morning staff meeting that got sidetracked by the fall of the twin towers. I documented my journey in consecutive Bon Journal entries and referred and acknowledged in subsequent years.

How does one select the music for 9/11? Continue reading →

Posted in photos, review | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 9/11 piano concert on Maui

Teaching from the gut

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Anne Ku

Long ago I posted a blog on Bon Journal called “Teaching from the Gut.” By the title, I meant teaching a subject you know so intimately that it feels as though it’s coming out of your gut. You’re so confident of the subject that you don’t need to do additional research to make sure you got it right.

That’s how I felt about teaching math, piano, and now, Mandarin.

Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese, course, feedback, language, personal development | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Teaching from the gut

Kubasaki High School Reunion Cruise: part four

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Anne Ku

In the final part of this four-part blog post about my high school reunion, I reflect upon why my high school classmates should and would want to attend the next reunion. I write this because I struggled against my own reservations (part one) to attend this particular reunion and had years earlier come up with rational excuses for not attending previous reunions.

Continue reading →

Posted in feedback, personal development, photos, review, self, travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Kubasaki High School Reunion Cruise: part three

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Anne Ku

It’s nearly two weeks after the reunion. Yet as I type this blog post, my friends are still  uploading photos and videos, tagging each other, and commenting on Facebook. Rebecca’s “Is anyone else having Dragon withdrawal?” ignited a chain reaction.

Continue reading →

Posted in feedback, personal development, photos, review, travel | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Kubasaki High School Reunion Cruise: part three

Kubasaki High School Reunion Cruise: part two

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Anne Ku

Funny, every time I type “Kubasaki” WordPress autocorrects it to “Kabuki.” What does Kubasaki mean? I told a stranger that the word came from my last name. He believed me. Continue reading →

Posted in personal development, photos, review, self, travel, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Kubasaki High School Reunion Cruise: part two

Kubasaki High School Reunion Cruise: part one

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Anne Ku

My high school reunion cruise of July 10-13, 2015 in the Caribbean was a much anticipated event. Thanks to Julie, one of the organizers who reminded me to pay the $200 deposit by December and the remaining amount in April, I eventually did reserve a cabin and book my flights and attend this reunion. I say “thanks” because I had great reservations. Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese, feedback, personal development, photos, review, travel, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Utrecht: the Roman city of cyclists

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Anne Ku

In 2006, I moved to Utrecht, the fourth largest city in the Netherlands, eager to join the cyclists on the streets of cobblestones. For the previous two years I was commuting from Bussum, a village of 10,000, by train to Utrecht and by foot to Utrecht Conservatory. Continue reading →

Posted in travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Solo piano concert: tribute to the music of James Horner

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Anne Ku

When I learned of the plane crash yesterday, I immediately searched for the film music of James Horner. Still in shock, I quickly assembled a blog post on the theme from the Titanic. In the spur of that moment, I decided to give a solo piano concert of his music to share with local audiences here on Wednesday July 1st. Continue reading →

Posted in review, sheet music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dad’s favorite songs

Posted on June 21, 2015 by Anne Ku

Tower Bridge, London 2001

The third Sunday in June is declared for Father’s Day, first celebrated in 1910 in the USA but not proclaimed as such until years later.

Coincidentally, June 21st is also Summer Solstice, the longest day in the year, and thus a very important milestone for those who have traversed the long winter months. It’s the one day in the year that I’d target a concert.

On Maui, every day is a warm summer day. I stopped celebrating summer solstice because it’s an endless summer no matter which day it is.

Instead, I shall look for my dad’s favorite songs.

Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese, personal development, photos, self, travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment