ネイティブが教える英会話のジェムスクール☆Teachers☆

Jack Daniels is a brand synonymous with Whiskey. When someone says "Whiskey" , in the US, the usual assumption is JD. I was surprised to find how popular Whiskey is in Japan. I learned what a Highball was during a trip to a local Izakaya. Unbeknownst to many, Jack Daniels was actually formulated by a former slave know as "Uncle Nearest". Freed after the Emancipation, Nathan Green is known for teaching distilling techniques to Jack Daniel, Founder,. Daniel hired Green as the first Master Distiller for the Jack Daniel Distillery. Green receives honorable mention on the Jack Daniel's website as well as the Distillery's history pages. Next time you have Jack Daniel's Whiskey, be sure to toast to Nathan Green.
https://www.nearestgreen.com/about-nearest-green/




  

Japanese cuisine is very diverse. Something I love about Japan is curry!! I ate Indian curry back home in America, and was very surprised with the amazing taste of Japanese curry when I first visited! I love CoCoICHI's Stamina Pork Liver Curry with scrambled egg and spicy garlic on the side. Try it out!  

I want to get a tarot deck. But which one? There are so many beautiful decks, and I'm never going to buy more than one, so I have to get this right on the first try.

I want a tarot deck for playing games and inspiration for writing; my religion forbids fortune-telling, and I think fortune-telling is dumb anyway. For writing I want rich symbolism, not something minimalistic. I like the look of the classic Rider-Waite-Smith deck, but I don't want to be trapped in a European look. But I also don't want to be locked into a deck that's just African, or just Japanese, or just Steampunk. I want something...eclectic.

After a few weeks of searching, I finally found a beautiful deck based on deities, folklore, and fairy tales from around the world. "The Tarot of the Divine" by California-based Japanese-American illustrator Yoshi Yoshitani.




It is beautiful, but it's not as good for card games as I thought. The Minor Arcana are too detailed, and it's hard to see quickly what the suit and number is, which slows down playing. Tarot cards are bigger than regular playing cards, but that's not a problem. If I were interested in fortune-telling, it would be perfect, but for my needs I'm only 80% happy with it, but that's my fault for not thinking clearly or researching thoroughly enough.

Even though it was sort of a silly interest and a frivolous purchase, I learned a lot in the process of finding the perfect tarot deck.

Thanks for reading!  

Well, it's official! I can now say I have been out of quarantine for two months!

I arrived here in Japan on the 11th of December and spent a long time at the airport before I was taken to the hotel where I would spend two whole weeks! We couldn't use public transportation and we couldn't go too far from the hotel. I needed something for my computer to allow me to use it during that time. Fortunately, there was a shopping mall not too far away that I could walk to.

It might have been a quarantine, but it felt more like a little vacation! The hotel had an onsen that we could use (more about onsens another time) and the food was absolutely delicious and plentiful! I was not alone, as Nik would later join me and Kaidel not too long after that. Attached below is just one of the many amazing dishes I had. You can see in the middle that I tried natto for the first time. Call me strange, but I prefer natto by itself!


  

I came home from work yesterday, and I saw a sock. When anyone in my apartment complex finds something, they put it out near the mailboxes. That way, everyone can get a chance to see the item when they get their mail.

I found it funny for several reasons. It was my sock, and it was a HALLOWEEN sock. I recognized it right away. I had worn those socks last summer, maybe in the fall as well.

I started to laugh.

Who had been holding on to my sock for so long? What did they think when they looked at it? Why did they take so long to put it out? Was it one of those chores that kept getting put off? Did my neighbor have a to-do-list that read Put the neighbor's sock near the mail

Did they know it was mine? Had they seen my clothes and figured it out?  

When I was a child, Cinderella was one of my favorite stories. I could read it over and over again and never get tired of it. At that age, I never quite knew why I loved that story so much. Now that I'm older, I think I held such an affection for this story because in some ways, I identified with the title character. She came from a rather humble background, but with some hard work and a little bit of magic, she was able to elevate her station in life, all while maintaining her kind disposition.

There have been many variants of this story documented globally going back about 2,000 years, from the ancient Rhodopis to today's Cinderella. It's safe to say that this is definitely a beloved story that has stood the test of time.  

a strong blizzard swells to life and obscures your vision!

I am absolutely stoked that I get to write this blog post about my newest addition to my Dungeons and Dragons, a new module to be exact "Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden". This particular campaign takes place in the north of Faerûn - which is the main continent in the Forgotten Realms (one of the most popular settings in Dungeons and Dragons). This module combines the frigid temps of the North with mystical horror that relies heavily on trying your best to survive both the monsters and the temperature; it's an awesome read so far!

This upcoming Sunday will be the ending of the introductory portion of the campaign where the adventurers will make their way to the Frozen North. I haven't yet decided on the exact narrative that will entice them to move northwards, but I've still got time to figure that one out.



  

Driving in Japan was a little intimidating at first. I hadn't drivin a car in nearly 3 years, spent the last year on a motorbike, and have never driven a right hand drive car. I adjusted quickly, but still constantly remind myself before each turn, " turn into the left lanes".

Japan surely must have the most polite drivers, and people, in all the world. In America or Taiwan I felt at battle with other drivers
trying to pull onto a road or change lanes. In Japan, I'm let in with a smile. Even knowing how freindly and helpful Japanese people are, I was surprised at just how helpful they were after my first car accident.

It was as minor as an accident can get. Sitting at a stop sign, an elderly driver backs out of a parking spot and into the rear of my car.
The contact left barely a scratch. Before I had realized what happned a lady was at my window seeing if I was ok. An employee from the nearby business came to speak to myself and the other driver, then called a second employee when they realized I didn't speak Japanese. They helped me speak to the police and collect insurance information from the other driver. The other driver was very apologetic, as were the police, for delaying my arrival to work.

It was one of the most positive experiences I've ever had steming from from a situation that is normally very stressful.



  

Been a while in Kokubunji. I have a lot of memories of this place. It's been great. I'm moving to Takamatsu-chuo soon. Please meet me or come over to see me. Call ahead, please. Hope to have a lot of fun in the city proper. I hear the people in Takamatsu are very different.

Cool tree, huh? Her name is Midori-chan.


  

Winter is nearly over! Spring is coming! That means warmer weather, cherry blossoms, and allergies. Despite my eyes itching, I enjoy spring a lot. Are you looking forward to spring?
  

Something that's great about living in Japan is being able to taste all the amazing food! I just recently tried inarizushi for the first time: it was delicious! I love experiencing Japanese culture through tasty food and good company. I told my parents about this famous dish: they want to try it someday!  

Playing cards were invented in China in the 9th Century CE. The idea spread to Persia and Arabia via the Silk Road and came to Europe from Egypt through Venetian traders in the 1300's.

The suits that the Venetians copied from the Egyptians were cups, coins, scimitars, and polo-sticks. The polo-sticks were changed to staves because polo was unknown in Europe at the time. These suits are called the Latin suits.

Some time in the early 1400's, Italians added a set of extra cards that represented the events of the end of the world in Christian theology. Because this sequence of events represented God's triumph over evil, they were called carte da trionfi, or "triumph cards", which evolved into the word "trump". These became the Major Arcana of the tarot.




As cards and card games spread and gained popularity in Europe, cardmakers in Marseilles, France invented simpler cards that were cheaper to make. Clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades were easy to stencil on cards. These became known as the French suits. The 52 card French deck became the main playing card system in England and America.

In the late 1800's, British occultists invented fortune-telling with 'exotic' European tarot cards. Occultist A. E. Waite hired illustrator Pamela Colman Smith to design a tarot deck that was produced by the Rider printing company. This was the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck, the most famous tarot design.

Interest in the occult had a revival in the post-War counterculture and New Age movement. These days, most American cities have one or two 'alternative' book stores that carry books and items relating to the occult and paranormal.

Do you know the history behind your favorite games?

Next time: My First Tarot Deck

Thanks for reading!  

As I continue to salute African American Inventors and their contributions to mankind as a whole, I highlight Lewis Latimer. Mr. Latimer collaborated with Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and other great scientists. Latimer's invention--carbon filament--was part of Edison's light bulb--enabling it to work. Latimer also invent the first Air Conditioner, drafted Bell's first telephone model--and the list goes on.
Inventor and engineer Lewis Latimer was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, on September 4, 1848. He collaborated with science greats Hiram Maxim and Thomas Edison.
One of Latimer’s greatest inventions was the carbon filament, a vital component of the light bulb. His inventions didn’t stop there, working with Alexander Graham Bell, Latimer helped draft the patent for Bell’s design of the telephone. This genius also designed an improved railroad car bathroom and an early air conditioning unit. So the next time you’re escaping a hot day inside your cool house, don’t forget to thank Lewis Latimer. Thinkgrowth.org

Other inventions by other African Americans: Walker, Tissue Holder, Pace Maker, Gas Mask, Traffic Light, World's Fastest Computer, Blood Banks and Transfusion, VoIP, Steam Engine, IBM Computer and much more. What an awesome heritage!







  

I wanted to take a little time to share information of where I worked before I arrived in Japan!

From 2010 until 2020, I worked at Walt Disney World, affectionately known as the "Most Magical Place On Earth" The image provided is one of the most iconic landmarks of all amusement parks throughout the world called Cinderella's Castle, located within the Magic Kingdom. Having worked there, I was able to visit as many times as I wanted and could invite family and friends sometimes. We always had a great time and there are many rides, shows, and food to experience. Over the course of my time here, I will provide some information on places where I worked within Disney World and talk more about my experiences there. Not next week, but once a month to give you a little taste of my experience there. See you then!
  

It's -8 degrees in Michigan right now. My friends have been using shovels, snowblowers, and snow...throwers?
I have never heard of a snow thrower before. I had to look it up online.



A snow blower "eats" the snow, and then expels it into the air. It can be used a tougher snow, and in some cases, even ice. This is good for the driveway. (Even in very snowy conditions, we have to go to work!)

A snow thrower sucks the snow and shoots it out into the air immediately. These ones are cheaper.   

Many of my friends are working on becoming more fit and they have inspired me to do the same. I'm fairly thin, but I can definitely stand to gain some more muscle mass.

I have been regularly doing crunches and leg lifts in an effort to tone my abdominal muscles and my legs. Although I have only been doing these exercises for less than two months, I have already started seeing results and that has me very excited. I look and feel more youthful and I hope that I'm on track to making this a permanent lifestyle change.
  

I decided to order a chess set this past Friday, and it was delivered Sunday morning. Chess has always been this side interest of mine that I played haphazardly without really studying anything like opening theory or end game tactics, but recently I was binging the Netflix series "The Queen's Gambit" and it rekindled my interest in the game!

I also found out that another teacher here is also a fan of the game, so it looks like I'll be able to get some practice in either through digital or analog chess.

It's time for me to start reading more in-depth, particularly about opening strategies!



  

One of my favorite things to do in Japan is walk, or bike, around the neighborhoods. While in Nagoya, I spent
many weekends biking around in no particular direction, with no end destination. I really enjoy the architecture and nonuniformity of Japan's neighborhoods. Houses that look ready for a zombie apocalypse next to a tradional house with a beautiful garden. Square plots of land, rectanglular, trianglular, 3 story mansions, and tiny town houses, all woven together.

On a late night walk I ran into this building. Tiny, wood panelled, a moped parked out front and a single red lantern.
This is my favorite building, thus far, in Takamatsu.


  

Ever since I lived in Osaka in 2015, I fell in love with ramen. When I first came to Japan I was reluctant to try ramen because I thought that all ramen had nori in it. A friend suggested I try a nearby ramen shop and I was hooked from first my first slurp. I didn't know you could even customize the toppings! As I went to more and more ramen places, I learned the vocabulary to customize your bowl down to how hard you want the noodles to be.

So naturally, when I came back to Japan this year, I've been craving ramen! Although, I'm saving it to be a bit of a treat nowadays.



First up is Chinese Benitora's Mala Tantanmen! In America, I really loved eating Chinese food, and I love Japanese style Chinese food as well, so I couldn't wait to stop by this shop. When I lived in Japan before, I tried a type of their ramen that was so spicy, it made me cry! But it was delicious and fragrant... the Mala tantanmen was very good as well. I love Sichuan peppercorns--they are a fragrant spice and the core of the Mala taste that makes your tongue feel prickly.



Two days later, I went to eat at what is probably my favorite ramen chain in Japan. I had to go to Matsuyama to run some errands, and before I even came to Japan I made sure to look for it. It's Ippudo! I tried their limited time miso and tonkotsu ramen. It was delicious and really warmed me up on that cold day. Hopefully I will get to go back and enjoy Ippudo again sometime soon.

If you can recommend any ramen places, please do! I would love to try them.

See you!  

This is a bike. It's got burger's on it. It's a burgerbike. It's fun to say. Can you say it three times fast?


hot dog mobile.
Burger bike
nacho kite
avocado boat

What will they think up next?