ネイティブが教える英会話のジェムスクール☆Teachers☆

It's nice coming home after a long day and seeing little visitors near my door. This praying mantis was doing a great job guarding my door! My last visitor was an orb weaver spider protecting my door bell button. I think my favorite kind of visitor though is the jumping spider. They're very cute to look at and full of curiosity. I had to shoo the mantis away so they could guard someone else's door.  

There's a certain magic to a rainy day. The world seems to slow down, the air is cleansed, and everything takes on a muted quality. I love sunny days, and the rainy days help me appreciate them more. During the rain, it is the perfect time to relax and meditate to the sound of the rain. Hearing each drop as its own or all at once is very relaxing to me. It almost parallels society for me, as we can view one person on their own or many working together as a group in society with the same beauty.  

I finally found a taco place! I’ve been missing my family’s food, and while this wasn’t exactly the same, having Hispanic food was a nice treat! I’ll definitely be going again.


  

I've been looking for new things to do and so recently I decided to try and start painting! I made this landscape of Niihama. It's not very good but it was fun to do!
  

Summer in Japan brings festivals with food, dancing and fireworks. Takamatsu port recently held a fireworks display during the August O-bon season. People lined the streets all over the area just to glimpse the fireworks display. People, both young and old, gathered together to enjoy the amazing sight of fireworks lighting up the sky. There were food booths, dancing, and general happiness all over the area. Fireworks area a special time in Japan. Please take the opportunity to see fireworks in Japan when you can!  

My parents have a card game called "Nanofictionary." It's really fun to play! The word "fiction" is in the name of the game because you make up stories. During the game, you get many cards that relate to the parts of a story. There are "character" cards, "setting" cards, "problem" cards, and "resolution" cards. You have to decide which cards to keep and use and which cards to discard. Then everyone takes turns telling their stories. When you tell your story, you have to make sure to include all the cards that you kept. But you can tell other things that aren't on the cards too. After everyone has told their story, everyone votes on whose story they liked best. You give point cards to the people whose stories you liked. You can also earn points a few other ways too. The person who earned the most points is the winner, but everyone feels like a winner since they had so much fun listening to silly stories.



This card game is a little unusual, isn't it? Do you think it would be fun to play?
  

Look at who I met---at the dentist!? This is Pocky! She is a Dachshund who is 4 years old. Pocky is NOT a therapy dog. Therapy dogs are trained to go to hospitals or high stress situations and provide comfort.

She is not calm or quiet. She startled me by barking a lot when I arrived. I was so surprised! I have been able to pet her a little. The dental assistant puts Pocky in a room when she's working. I like trying to play with her before my appointment. Even though she isn't a therapy dog, her presence helped me stop being nervous.   

I got the scare of my life while teaching one day. I was hearing loud buzzing sounds in the classroom. I turned around and saw a large cicada on the window. I thought it was on the inside so I almost threw my phone at it. But, alas, it was on the outside just trying to tell me it existed lol. The kids had a good life on my part.


  

Hello everyone, Benson here. Welcome to the end of September, that really flew by like an autumn breeze. Before September is over, maybe there are a few more activities to conquer and attend. After all, fall is a season filled with vibrant festivals and events that celebrate the harvest, culture, and community spirit.

Are there opportunities to visit pumpkin patches here? Back in Canada, there were numerous places where you could pick your own pumpkin at a local pumpkin patch. Explore the farm, enjoy hayrides, and capture memorable photos for your chosen social media platforms.

Fall is also a great time to go for a scenic drive. Perhaps go explore the countryside and admire the stunning fall foliage. Look for scenic drives or hiking trails that offer breathtaking views of the changing leaves too!

Another activity that is popular during fall in general is creating fall crafts. Get creative with fall-themed crafts like making leaf rubbings, decorating pumpkins, or creating colorful fall wreaths. These activities are perfect for children and adults alike and there are so many ideas you could do with your friends.

I hope everybody had a lovely September, see you all next month. Take care.


  

Over the weekend, I had the chance to see the legendary Japanese female rock band OOIOO live in Okayama. Their performance was nothing short of electrifying, filled with the experimental energy and genre-defying sound that has made them iconic. The way they seamlessly fused complex rhythms with raw, powerful vocals was mesmerizing, drawing the audience into their unique musical world. Each member showcased incredible talent, creating an atmosphere that was both intense and uplifting. It was a rare and unforgettable experience to see such a groundbreaking band live, leaving the crowd buzzing with excitement long after the show ended.

  

I just had the BEST weekend!! I went to Tokyo with one of my best friends, (hi Katie!) and we FINALLY got to see one of my favorite bands play! OneWe is a Korean rock band, and their music is FANTASTIC!!! We were so close to the stage, it was the best concert I've ever seen! I can't wait to see them perform again, I hope they come back to Japan next year!



  

This weekend I went to Unpenji Ropeway! It was a nice ride to the top of a mountain in Kannonji and the view from the top was rally nice! There wasn't a lot of people but I can see why this local attraction is super popular. I'll have to go back during the fall season so I can see the trees in beautiful orange and brown colors. This was definitely worth the trip!

  

Hello Everyone It's Bear Sensei! With another blog just for you!


Today I will take you above the clouds where we found ourselves in a small but beautiful town called Yusuhara. The town is located in Kochi prefecture and it is up in the mountains where the clouds settle. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this town it looked so pure and shiny just like a diamond. You might be thinking what was the purpose of us visiting this town so high up the mountains? The answer is quite simple I love Japanese heroes and legends and up those mountains, we found a statue of Yoshimura Torataro "One of Tosa's Four Greats". If you ever need to see a place and you are craving for an adventure I highly recommend the town above the clouds named "Yusuhara" it will take your breath away. See you all next time!




  

Sometimes it's nice to get out and see some fireworks! These fireworks were in Saijo sometime during August. It's cool to know that whenever events like these happen there's always tasty food stands too. The fireworks were great and they really saved the best for last! I thought they finished at one point and as I was leaving, they lit up the night sky again. I wonder which place will have fireworks next.  

Hello Everyone! It's Sensei Bear


This month I went to Kochi prefecture and visited some statues of Japanese Heroes and Legends. I love to visit statues of heroes and legends so when I had the opportunity to go to Kochi I geeked out at the fact that I was looking at legends. Chosokabe Motochika was a prominent daimyo from the Tosa Clan, now known as Kochi Prefecture. He excelled in military tactics and established the "100 area code of the Chosokabe" Due to this he was able to establish a strong economical castle town. Well, there you have it everyone a brief history of daimyo Chosokabe Motochika of Kochi Prefecture. Until next time see you!









  

Hello Everyone! It's Sensei Bear


This month I went to Kochi prefecture and visited some statues of Japanese Heroes and Legends. I love to visit statues of heroes and legends so when I had the opportunity to go to Kochi I geeked out at the fact that I was looking at legends. Chosokabe Motochika was a prominent daimyo from the Tosa Clan, now known as Kochi Prefecture. He excelled in military tactics and established the "100 area code of the Chosokabe" Due to this he was able to establish a strong economical castle town. Well, there you have it everyone a brief history of daimyo Chosokabe Motochika of Kochi Prefecture. Until next time see you!





  

Hello Everyone! It's Bear Sensei


This month has been fascinating because I've been able to geek out with Japanese historical heroes. Today's blog showcases a famous samurai from Kochi named Chosokabe Motochika the famous daimyo and the 21st chief of Tosa Province currently named Kochi prefecture. Below is a beautiful monument made in his honor. If you love Japanese historical heroes and Japanese history in general I recommend seeing this statue. have a wonderful day everyone!










  

Every year in Kochi during the obon holiday, the Yosakoi festival is held. I`ve been wanting to attend this festival for ages, and was so lucky to have the opportunity to see it this year! Dance crews fill the streets in colorful costumes following trucks playing the loudest music I have ever heard in my life. The flashy costumes and smiling dancers bring such a fun and exciting energy into the city and I loved every second of it!  

This dog cafe was such an amazing experience. The dogs were so cute! This one was just sleeping the entire time. He was the oldest out of all the dogs in the cafe, and I gave him plenty of head pats!


  

I'm extremely jealous because my sister recently got the cutest dog I have ever seen in my life! His name is Winston and he is such a cute and good boy!