2016年11月16日
Fall Leaves
The fall leaves in Niihama are so amazing right now! Every time I drive to Saijo, I get take a road lined with trees full of gold, orange, and red leaves. So beautiful! I also went to Shodoshima to take a hike and see some leaves. The trees weren’t fully ready yet up there, but the scenery was still great and there were some lovely Japanese maples with bright red leaves. I also got to meet some JETs and take a big, deluxe ferry out to the island, which was fun. Lastly, for souvenirs we got some olive-flavored chocolates. I was a little wary at first, but they were really delicious! Overall, it was a wonderful time!
2016年11月16日
Other Holidays From Around The World pt.3
Hello!
Today, I want to talk a little about a holiday that is held in both Canada and the United States, but in two different months! In October, Thanksgiving is held on the 2nd Monday in October, and is a holiday meant to bring family and friends together to reminisce about what they are thankful for and what they are grateful for having in their lives, whether it's a person or a job or even just good friends to share a meal with!
In the United States, Thanksgiving is held on the 4th Thursday of November, about 6 weeks after the Canadian version. There is a little more history and tradition that goes into the celebration. Thanksgiving is to remember a time in history when the British colonists who had come to America were helped to survive by the Aboriginal people already living in the country and used to the harsh winters. The holiday serves the same purpose as the Canadian version, in that people gather together with their families and their friends and give thanks for what they are grateful for in their lives, and to try and remember to always be grateful for what they have and the people they have to share it with. The traditional meal of both these holidays are often turkey or ham, with lots of different types of side dishes like potatoes with gravy, and many different types of sweet desserts. It's a great celebration to be a part of, and one of the most fun ones to participate in.
Today, I want to talk a little about a holiday that is held in both Canada and the United States, but in two different months! In October, Thanksgiving is held on the 2nd Monday in October, and is a holiday meant to bring family and friends together to reminisce about what they are thankful for and what they are grateful for having in their lives, whether it's a person or a job or even just good friends to share a meal with!
In the United States, Thanksgiving is held on the 4th Thursday of November, about 6 weeks after the Canadian version. There is a little more history and tradition that goes into the celebration. Thanksgiving is to remember a time in history when the British colonists who had come to America were helped to survive by the Aboriginal people already living in the country and used to the harsh winters. The holiday serves the same purpose as the Canadian version, in that people gather together with their families and their friends and give thanks for what they are grateful for in their lives, and to try and remember to always be grateful for what they have and the people they have to share it with. The traditional meal of both these holidays are often turkey or ham, with lots of different types of side dishes like potatoes with gravy, and many different types of sweet desserts. It's a great celebration to be a part of, and one of the most fun ones to participate in.
2016年11月16日
Birds of a feather flock together
On Sunday I spent the evening atop a mountain in Sakaide. I’m not sure which mountain, but it was one within walking distance from the Sakaide station, though that is questionable since I wouldn’t know since I was picked up by a friend from the Circle K convenience store next to the station. It began at 4:30 and lasted till 8:50ish, a well-spent four hours in the life of each of us there. I met up with a fellow teacher at the Hashioka station and it was him who introduced me to the friend who wound up giving us a lift from the Circle K to the mountain. As we were leaving two more teachers pulled up right beside us, so we formed a mini-caravan and embarked on our little journey. All I remember of the directions to there was that we took a left from the Sakaide station, so that initially we were driving right along the rail line itself above us. We parked at the base of the mountain in a little makeshift parking lot and went down the road a bit till the friend who gave us a lift pointed out the path up to our little bonfire site. The way up was a bit toughgoing, definitely nothing I’d do for mere fun. In fact our pack was overpassed by a gentleman who seemed to be just going up and down the steps for exercise, or perhaps to pray at the shrines along the way and at the top. It took us maybe 20 minutes just to complete the path and get to some leveled ground. We stopped along the way twice to pull up into some crooks to take in the view, some of us even taking pictures of them. We were met at the top of our path by a torii gate before a vacated and unkept religious shelter of some sort. There was a large stone with inscriptions to the left somewhere, and past that some farming rows of plants, sheds, and giant pots filled with water. A bit past that we came upon our spot. It was a little hut with benches and chairs and lots of wood laying around for us to throw into the barrel left in its center for setting fire in. It started with just five of us before four others joined later in the night. We listened to some dope music that one of us hooked up to some loudspeakers while roasting schmores. I made my first “technical” schmore there. It was what we can properly call, a glorious little night.
