ネイティブが教える英会話のジェムスクール☆Teachers☆

My favorite thing to do when it’s hot outside is to go swimming. My friends and I would often go to a beach house in the summer. We would spend a few days there swimming and barbecuing. Swimming in a pool is fun too but I like lakes better. I haven’t gone swimming in the ocean yet. I have gone snorkeling in the Gulf of Mexico but it was in a tourist area and I don’t count the Gulf as the ocean. I hope to go soon!
Where is your favorite place to swim?  

I saw my first real Tanuki!! I stopped to get gas and saw there was a strange looking furry animal sleeping on the ground nearby. I asked the person working at the gas station what it was and they told me (to my delight) that it is a tanuki! It was smaller than I imagined it would be. It woke up once I approached to take a picture.

  

I've always wanted to go home without telling my family in order to surprise them. I finally got around to doing just that earlier this month. I only told my brother that I was coming home so he could help make sure my parents didn't leave town at that time. He told my mom that he was coming to visit for a week so she could ask for time off. My parents usually do a road trip every summer around the time I would be coming home. They planned a road trip with my brother this year! My brother met me in Chicago so that we could take the train home. My dad told my brother he would pick him up since the last train would arrive late. My mom went to bed.
I told my brother to distract my dad while putting his bag in the car so I could sneak up unseen. It worked perfectly. When my dad turned around he saw me standing next to the car. First he looked confused. Then shocked. Then very very happy. He said it was the best surprise of his life. :)
Next we decided to wake my mom up when we got home. I knew she would be confused because she was sleeping very deeply when I opened the door. I chose to roll with the confusion. I opened her bedroom door as asked, "Mom, where's the pizza?" She sleepily answered, "What?". So I said again, "where's the pizza??" Again confused she just asked, "What?" "Why?" So I continued, "I'm hungry. Where's the pizza at?" At this point she just stopped talking and stared into the darkness. Then she reached for her glasses on her bedside table. Finally I walked into the room from the doorway so she could see me better. At this point, she didn't know if she was awake or dreaming. She asked me many times "What??? Why are you here? How are you here??" She was very happy and confused.
That was the most fun surprise I've ever participated it. I'm so lucky that I had the opportunity to do it! My parents were so very happy.