On November 1, 2004, a new blog called MOABLOG became part of the DHC Educational Services website. The blog, which is updated every weekday, can be found at the following link: (http://www.edu.dhc.co.jp/moablog/).

The term 'blog' is short for 'weblog,' which refers to an on-line journal wherein someone posts information (typically text and photos) on a regular basis. Some blogs are geared toward specific topics or themes.

MOABLOG, the official blog of the DHC U.S. Office, is designed to give DHC website visitors a snapshot of what daily life is like in Moab, Utah. This small community (population of about 6,000) in southeastern Utah has been the home of the DHC U.S. Office for more than a decade. The Moab area features a wide variety of scenic landmarks, including the geological formations at nearby Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, the winding Colorado River, and the majestic snowcapped La Sal Mountains. Tourism is Moab's primary source of economy, and the town has dozens of motels and restaurants.

Daily MOABLOG entries, which always include at least one photograph, span a wide variety of topics. Some of the featured categories are: outdoors, fashion, animals, travel, food, events, and holidays. Visitors to the website can visit past entries simply by clicking on the desired month and date. The site also has a search feature that enables users to find entries that include a certain keyword.

The blog is updated shortly after the DHC U.S. Office staff members arrive at work each morning. Many different staff members have contributed photos and articles for the blog. Most of us are now in the habit of taking a digital camera with us wherever we go, in case we spot something interesting that we think would be suitable for a blog entry.

For example, staff member Yoko recently went on a trip to Vancouver, Canada. When she returned, she posted six photos from her trip on the blog, along with a brief description of what she did. Other staff members have enjoyed placing photos of their pets on the site. Some of our staff members' favorite foods have also been featured on the blog, along with the recipes in a few cases.

We have enjoyed sharing our experiences with website visitors in Japan and other areas around the world over the past few months. If you have anything you'd like to see on the blog, please let us know by sending an e-mail to lim_product@edu.dhc.co.jp. In the meantime, keep checking back each day to see what's happening in Moab!

By Jeff Richards