ネイティブが教える英会話のジェムスクール☆Teachers☆

I had some down time in shikokuchuo so I decided to check out BOOK OFF. I knew they had a lot of books, manga, and even musical instruments and electronics in the other section of the store, and that lured me in. I walked in and noticed there was a lot of gardening supplies, home appliances, and everyday house wares. I was walking around for 10 minutes before I realized maybe this wasn't the right place. I found someone who worked there and asked them where all the books were located, and thankfully they led me down a flight of stairs and right to the books.

I was expecting a small section of comics, but I found myself upon many long aisles of manga! There was even an impressive section of $1 mangas! The surprising part wasn't the price, but how many volumes were being sold. Hundreds of Japanese comics for a low price, all up for grabs. I'm usually picky about comics I buy so I decided to head out...but then I found the CD section. Jpop, rap, rock, and even classical music cds filled the shelves. And then I found it, a Hatsune Miku CD with an emphasis on rock instruments. Of course it was slightly embarrassing but I had to buy it. I was most definitely in the right place.   

I always feel inspired playing "Tobidase Doubutsu no Mori". The American version of the game is called Animal Crossing. The latest addition to the slice of life video game comes out the 20th of March. I'm looking forward to reuniting with my favorite animal companions. I love how all the characters have their own individual quirks. To be honest, I even have a figurine of Shizue (Isabelle is the USA version) that stands right next to my TV. Plus I have always been a fan of games that involve home decorating. Animal Crossing is full of opportunities to landscape and home decorate. I'm really looking forward to getting lost in this precious game! My calendar is clear for all things Animal Crossing!  

One of my favorite ways to prepare meat is to grill it. Something about grilling makes it more tasty. On a recent trip to Yakiniku King, I enjoyed a variety of meats and side dishes. My favorites would have to be the sliced beef, Kimchi, rice, and pork belly. I enjoyed grilling my own food as opposed to having everything served as usual. It's a great experience out on a cold winter night!

  

Yes, that was sarcasm. Going back and forth to the Visa renewal place is a pain.

The funniest part of this trip is always the people working there. Out of everyone who works there, the second most fluent English speaker is the little old man at the front desk.

Usually, you expect younger people to speak English, because it is still fresh for them and they are from generations where English was emphasized as a career building tool.

The other group you would expect to be bilingual, is the managerial staff. You would presume to move up the ranks, they would need good language skills.

But here is this older guy with no discernable title, who has just been doing the job long enough that he has picked it up. It is a little impressive and admirable.  

As a kid growing up in the early-mid 90s, there wasn't anything you could tell me about new tech that I didn't already know. I knew it all, my brother was a programmer for anything with Linux/DOS systems and we would guffaw at anything "MacIntosh" Hahaha how times change!

Being that my generation was (rather IS!) the last to see and know how to use a cassette is so eerie to me. Even how CDs will most definitely phase out is scary but at the same time it could be my/our saving grace. Seeing that in this last week and a half, I lost a CD, gained a digital copy, now wanting to digitize all the CDs I use professionally now has me battling myself. How did the girl who refused to get a smartphone until 2016 turn into this person now?

I don't know, but I'll be sure to IGvideo my thoughts to you later on via Facebook Live.  

My best friend is from Australia. Since talking with her a lot, I've noticed that Australian people use a lot of British English. For example, they go on holiday (instead of a vacation), a flashlight is a torch, and a biscuit is a kind of cookie. She gave me some biscuits called tim-tams, and told me how to do a "tim tam slam."

First, you pour a cup of milk. Then, you bite off one top corner of the cookie. Then you bite off one bottom corner of the cookie. Dip the cookie in milk, and suck the milk like a straw!

The cookie looks quite thick, so I was very surprised that it worked!   

I really enjoy coffee. I think America has more options than Japan. My favorite coffee is from the Philippines though. It is eaten by monkeys and pooped out, then grinded down for coffee. It is a really smooth coffee. What's your favorite coffee
  

This past Monday was warm and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I knew the sea would be a "brilliant blue" full of "sparkling diamonds" from the sun. I could hear it calling me and I had to go see it. Of course, the best viewpoint I know which is close to where I live, and my favorite, is Mt Yashima. So off I went to climb it!

I not only was't disappointed by the beauty of the sea, but I got a wonderful surprise- the "smell" of Spring! For the first time this year, spring was definitely "in the air"! The warm sun was bringing up the scent from the newly blooming wildflowers which were poking up through the bright green springtime grass. However, what was really contributing to the amazing smell of springtime air, was the first flowers blooming on the trees. At the top of Mt Yashima, with the brilliant blue sea for the backdrop, I needed to take a picture, but I had to stand in line! Everyone wanted a picture of the first blossoms of spring!




  

While cooking dinner my wife and I decided to have a little pep talk. A pep talk is defined as "a talk intended to make someone feel more courageous or enthusiastic." We shared ideas without any distractions and had lots of laughs. After our pep talk we shared a comforting moment of silence. In that moment we just knew we could put any concerns at ease. There really is nothing better than having a pep talk with a loved one or loved ones. It is rejuvenating!   

Last weekend, I went to a small ramen festival in Kochi. It was a great experience! There were a ton of ramen shops to choose and many different ramen to try. I personally got the beef tongue ramen since I love beef tongue. It was super tasty!

  

We fried them up nice last night. These are a mix of pork, broccoli, and some other veggies. When you fold them up yourself the taste is somehow better.



What's your fry-food fun favorite?   

Regular Ramen Review

This week's ramen is, if I guessed the kanji correctly, modeled after a bowl of ''udon'': a staple noodle dish in the Kagawa prefecture. The sleek and shiny green lid both brilliantly resembles a tatami door and evokes the tastes of seafood/seaweed. The bowl comes with a sponge like cake that is pretty tasty, especially after its soaked in the seasonings and flavors of the bowl. I remember the first time I had this ramen that it tasted a little more seafood-y then I' d like but the second time was delicious. There are some other vegetable pieces in the bowl that add some crunch, but could be slightly more flavorful. Overall, I'd recommend this ramen/udon and I'll be having it again.

Thank you very much!  

These past couple of days I've been visiting the Sega arcade/game center that's close to my apartment. It's has games such as Initial D Racing, Final Fantasy Dissidia, and a rhythm game called Mai Mai! I was more attracted to the Final Fantasy game, since it's my favorite game series, but after finding out that Mai Mai had many Hatsune Miku songs I started to play that machine more and more.

The arcade/game center back in my home town closed down, so it's nice to have a place like this close by. I should probably limit my playing because I ended up spending ¥1,000 a little too quickly. Well, at least I had a good time.

  

While reading an article recently, I was reminded of familiar words that I have either heard or used in the English language. The most profound thing about these words is that they are Japanese words in origin and have, somehow, become of common use in English. For instance:

Ikebana- referring to a Japanese flower arrangement art form; it is a common word used in professional flower arrangement in English.
Haiku- a verse form of poetry, without rhyme--having a syllable count. I remember learning about this in Language Arts and Humanities in the U.S.
Anime- A style of animation originating in Japan, It represents a genre in English that refers to a distinctive art form that is widely respected in the U.S.
Karaoke_ Though pronounced very differently in the U.S. (Kair-e-o-key), It carries the same concept of singing with instrumental music."Karaoke Night" is popular at many U.S., restaurants, pubs and bars.
Tycoon- A tycoon in the U.S. usually describes a very successful, wealthy and powerful business man or woman. Bill Gates, David Stewart (World Wide Technology, Inc.), Oprah Winfrey, and Warren Buffet are examples of "Tycoons" per U.S. standards.

The exchange of words within languages and cultures is an interesting phenomenon that demonstrates how different cultures can share a common "thread". English may be a considered "universal language", however, it still relies on other languages to define a person, place or thing that cannot be easily translated into English. In essence, we all need each other.

Times of India.com; 2019


  

I have this blue and white blanket just specifically for the living room. I like sitting on the couch and throwing it over me. It protects me from the cold with the greatest of ease. If I'm having a long day I like to playfully throw it over my head for a minute and giggle off any unexpected frustrations too. It's such a small and simple object in my household that sparks a lot of joy. I even bought my husband the same kind of blanket but in different colors. Now we both sit on the couch with blankets thrown over our heads for comfort and/or laughs! What little household objects brings you joy?   

Overall, I don't tend to be susceptible to seasonal allergies. Japan has thrown a little bit of a change-up into the mix. A few times, since I've been here, I have developed symptoms of an allergic reaction. They have been pretty weak so far, that is until this year.

I have had a hacking cough, runny nose, and just generally unpleasant mucus reactions. Even my eyes started getting funky the other day. The sore throat held on the longest, as per usual, but it is barely noticeable now.

It makes me wonder if this is going to be something to plan for in the future.  

the practice of no longer supporting people, especially celebrities, or products that are regarded as unacceptable or problematic. The danger of cancel culture is that there's an arrogance attached to it.

This is according to the Macmillan dictionary. If you spend any time on social media you've probably seen this relatively new term floating around. It really borders on "hive mind" mentality, or back in my day we called it "group think" which I vehemently hated when I learned about it in middle school and still hate it, especially in the hands of post-millenials. It's ok to have your own opinion, just try not to stuff it down other people's throats. It's even better to stand out from the crowd. Having new ideas is what used to make the world go 'round. Now, we have to check in with others to see if it's ok? Huh?  

Over the weekend, I watched a documentary series, or docu-series called Night on Earth. I think that it's from the same people who made Planet Earth or Blue Planet. These nature documentaries use sophisticated cameras and technology to show animals and habitats many people have never seen.

I've seen a lot of these shows, and I always really enjoy the parts where they go into the deep ocean. The fish in the dark are SO scary! I knew with a show about nighttime, that I'd probably see something scary. I also thought I'd see some bats.

There are bats, and fish, and all kinds of animals! The camera operators were able to see animals in the complete darkness, and it's incredible. My absolute favorite part is about the firefly squid. They're SO pretty! I think I may have a new favorite animal to add to my list. I hope someday I can see this animal in Japan.

  

I was exploring the countryside around Takamatsu, following the canyons and mountain streams, thinking how it reminded me of my home in Colorado. I could smell a campfire or log stove and wondered who may be snuggled up in their "cabin", nice and cozy by their wood stove. I didn't expect to see what I saw around the next corner in the road- a large log cabin with multiple log cabins all around it!

I got out to find a restaurant and hotel with cabins. What was more amazing was that all the rooms and cabins were named after states in the United States! Upon entering the restaurant, the decor was just like any mountain cabin in the United States with several wood stoves heating the large dining room. The menu was easy as there was only one course and you could help yourself. Lunch consisted of a large pot of homemade "curry and vegetable stew" with rice keeping warm on the wood stove. It was the best curry I've ever tasted...maybe the relaxed, homey atmosphere had a lot to do with it too. It turned out that the owner is a professional musician who toured the United States years ago and brought back the experience to Japan!

I left feeling relaxed and refreshed, and very much "at home in Japan"!!
What a "GEM" I found half way around the world from "home"!!  

My biggest vice is that I buy games and don't finish them. It's shameful, I know! I find myself easily wooed by a pretty, new game! I am still playing Final Fantasy, Pokemon Sword and Shield, and already I'm looking at buying a new game (Cyberpunk 2077). In my defense, the graphics look out of this world and the story sounds interesting. Plus it has Keanu Reeves in it! Who doesn't love a good Keanu Reeves project? That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! Hahaha