ネイティブが教える英会話のジェムスクール☆Teachers☆

I don't like to go anywhere before work. I feel like I might get stuck and late. I also feel like I need my energy.

The other day, my friends invited me to do karaoke...in the morning. I thought I would sleep instead, but I got up and went. It was the most convenient time to see certain people, so it was a good idea. The prices in the morning are crazy cheap, unbelievably so. My one friend was very excited to eat ice cream from the Drink Bar for breakfast. I was just so happy to sing--I hadn't in 2 months!

I've been using Hyde's cover of Departures as a ringtone for awhile, but I still haven't memorized it. Happily, I didn't do too bad when I sang it.We had a new person with us, Michael's brother. It's always fun to see what songs new people like. He was a good singer, and it was a fun time!

Then we went and had sushi, which made the day even better! The sushi was so fresh and delicious---I was very surprised!

All this fun before it was time for work! I think I could do this again!  

I discovered a little Coffee shop here in Takamatsu I heard about. It is just a little cozy "home" with a style that reminded me of "retro 60's or 70's". The music was traditional Japanese with a little Arabian Nights and Americana thrown in. They sang about a bus girl from Tokyo, Geisha Girls in Kyoto and of course, Osaka! The lady in the Kimono would lead the lyrics and the room would "listen and repeat"! There was even a song similar to our "Happy and You Know It" where you clapped your hands and stomped your feet and then shouted something in Japanese! I clapped through the music the whole 2 hours while having the best fresh coffee and roasted green tea! I did however, get to sing one song in English, "Happy Birthday". One of the gentlemen was 86 years old. The same age as my mother! What a fun afternoon!

I found another little "GEM" here in Takamatsu!  

Pokemon Sword and Shield are just days away! I can't wait to relive childhood memories and catch Pokemon! Yesterday I even bought my wife (Candice-Sensei) a Nintendo Switch Lite so that she can join me in playing! I look forward to exploring new landscapes and new Pokemon. I think I'll be an old man still playing Pokemon with my wife. It's a great franchise and fun for the whole family!  

I'm still slowly but surely regaining my strength. Fighting off this nasty cold has been an uphill battle! As soon as I get better I plan on...

1.) Going on a long walk. I really enjoy the majestic Kagawa scenery. I want to go back to strolling around the neighborhood while counting my blessings.

2.) Winter coat shopping. My old faithful winter coat finally decided to give out on me. Everything was fine till the zipper decided to break. I'm still mourning it! I'll have to begrudgingly get a new one before winter arrives.

3.) Go to Iya Valley. One of my favorite spots in the whole world. I love seeing the fall foliage in Iya Valley.


4.) Painting. I am having lots of fun learning and trying to honestly reflect myself through my paintings. I have three new canvas that are just waiting to be used.

I'll continue to take my medicine and focus on recuperation. I'm sure everything will be back to normalcy by the end of the week. My fingers are crossed! Wish me luck!
  

While I was walking down the shopping street in Kochi, I was handed a ticket for a rice scooping event after I bought something. I bought some food from Hirome market and I went to the rice scooping area. There was a big line and you had to scoop the rice with your two hands. I tried to watch the other people's techniques but I only managed to get a little bit of rice.


  

Fall is here! I love fall it is beautiful. The Cherry blossoms were so beautiful last spring, I'd imagine fall will be just as beautiful! I'm looking forward to going to parks to see the leaves. Where are the best places to see fall leaves? I'd love to know!


(Not my photo)  

There are old Japanese spirits at the Shodoshima Yokai Museum! These are some of the traditional ones, called "tsugumomo". They are items used for more than 99 years. In the 100th year, a item treated well will become a nicer yokai. Items that are treated badly will become evil yokai.


This yokai enjoys the sound of beans being washed in the river


Have you ever been walking through a field and got a cut on your leg? That's a little cat/fox that runs through the grass. He cuts your legs and laughs when you're not looking.

Check out modern yokai with me next week o/

Joe  

I really enjoy cooking! Cooking was a hidden talent that I discovered as an adult. Cooking is therapeutic for me and I especially enjoy cooking from 'scratch" and making fresh Kimchi. My family has experienced food from many cultures in my kitchen: Bahamian, Haitian, Jamaican, Korean, North African, Cuban...to name a few. I love to learn recipes. My love language is the feedback (positive or negative) from my recipes and the smiles that a great tasting recipe brings. I am excited to learn more Japanese recipes and look forward to creative ways to use my limited kitchen space and tools to continue doing what I love. Let's eat!






  

Hi everyone! My name is Teva. I started with GEM School in Mid-October. I was born and grew up in Florida, USA near the city of Miami. Back home I would play video games, play golf, and sing Karaoke at a local bar. Singing is in my blood as both of my parents were singers and entertainers! Another thing that's in my blood is traveling. My parents worked on cruise ships and traveled to most of the world. In the past 3 years I've been to 28 countries! I believe there's no greater experiences than traveling abroad.

My first time in Japan was only 6 months ago when I came here to vacation in June. Japan was always my dream vacation spot. I visited Tokyo, Takeyama, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka, and Hakone, and I loved every city. I loved the pop culture, the scenery, the food, and all the people I was able to meet. About 2 weeks after getting back home I decided I wanted to try living in Japan and looked for a job over here. 4 months later I made it happened and moved here. There's been many unique and interesting things in Japan and I'm excited to experience as much as I can and meet as many people as I can while I'm here!   

A couple of weeks ago I found myself fighting off a nasty cold. Just when I thought it was safe to be healthy, another wave of sickness topples over me! My body doesn't want to get out of bed. My husband (Gary-Sensei) says my head is hot but I feel cold. Eating meals have even become a chore. I can only stomach soups and teas. Thankfully I can will myself to complete my daily tasks. Safe to say, this weekend I'll be resting up. On a brighter note, I can say I overcame almost back to back colds! :)   

Limited resources can put you in difficult situations if you have too many diverse interests. Do I spend money on an ukiyo-e print or a Blu Ray box set or books? The temptation is to buy the cheapest thing, but those things usually are part of a larger collection, which means you spend more money overall.

I like a lot of things, but I don't really have a hobby. I wish I did. It would be so much easier. Instead, I go shopping, see something cool, and then internally debate the ramifications of buying it.

Maybe the real problem is that I don't know how to start a hobby.  

There's no place like home. There's no place like home......
November and December remind me that I am far away from my family and loved ones during the holiday season. Longing for the familiar is normal. While I miss my family during this time, I also look forward to experiencing the season in a new way in Japan. The anticipation of experiencing something in a new way brings some comfort as I think about the holidays and home.   

While suffering from a toothache, my friend decided to cheer me up by taking me to a movie. We saw IT2. IT2 is the sequel to IT. It's a horror movie, but it's really popular.

I've talked a lot about my love for horror, but a majority of people that I meet do not like it. I believe that they have only been exposed to mainstream horror. Mainstream horror is usually made with a lot of money, and a widespread audience sees it. This type of horror is often filled with jump-scares, moments in the film where the tension builds until a sudden burst that makes you jump.

I've been in the horror fandom for a long enough time to not like mainstream horror. I like to be creeped out, or given a different, crazy, or interesting story. I do see mainstream from time to time, but I hardly ever think it's going to be good. However, as high as my standards are, I will forgive a bad movie if it's fun.

Boy, was IT2 fun!

3 hours of jump-scares with the most over-the-top monsters. I screamed one time, so loudly that my friend and I couldn't stop laughing. All of the jumping kept my mind off of my horrible toothache.   

I have to admit, that while I was looking forward to cooler weather and autumn, I was not looking forward to having to bundle up in a coat to ride my bike!! And that is just what I had to do this week!

But being the optimist I am and always trying to look to the positive that life can bring, I tell myself that it could be worse! And by that I mean- SNOW! And that is exactly what it did in Colorado, Michigan and Indiana for Halloween! In fact, they called off Halloween door to door trick-or-treating in Indiana. Colorado is where I lived before coming to Japan. I was born and raised in Michigan. I have a son and his family in Indiana. So you would think I would be used to the cold! Yes, I am. But, that doesn't mean I like it!!

So Takamatsu, your weather is BEAUTIFUL!!   

Hello all! I was thinking to myself. No one really says their favorite color is grey. Mines is actually blue but since I can remember I've always appreciated the color grey. I like grey t-shirts in cold weather and grey jogger sweatpants. I even like grey socks and sneakers. Grey is a super neutral, on the fence, in between, neither here nor there, type of color. I don't know. Maybe it matches my personality more then the calm cool blue. Maybe? Anyways, have a WONDERFUL day.  

Fruits in Japan are expensive! In America, fruits are WAY cheaper and easier to find. BUT Japan has better overall quality of fruit than America. Since fruits are so expensive I have started eating less of them which I kind of miss but when I do eat fruits they taste really amazing!  

It's cooling off, and I love it. I feel comfortable right now. I want to go on hikes and walks done, before it gets too cold. Are you getting cold? Do you do anything fun while it is cold?



(Not my Photo)  

Everyone, I just learned.

Boy scouts played a large part of my childhood. The BSA is big cornerstone of older American traditions. I don't think it's as popular as it used to be. The outfits aren't the coolest, but they are up there.

It's cool to know going outside and getting a little dirty still happens over here too. Almost a hundred years of scouting in Japan! How exciting. There are troops in Kagawa for those who have children. Interesting indeed :V

How many fires did you start this week?

Joe o/  

You become dependant on people without even realizing it. One day you wake up and they are gone. Then you have to suddenly reorganize your life, adapt to your new surroundings, and move on. I'm pretty good at all those things.

Yesterday, I had to say goodbye again. For the past year and a half, or so, four days a week, sometimes five, she was my trusted sidekick.

I was trying to steel myself, so much so, that I could barely speak or raise my head as I left. I hope my silence was loud enough for her to understand.

Safe travels, my friend.