昨日常盤平に行った。雨がふったが桜はきれい。Yesterday I went to Tokiwadaira (Sakura Avenue). Although it was raining, it was beautiful.
Monday, March 31, 2008
桜通り Sakura Avenue
昨日常盤平に行った。雨がふったが桜はきれい。Yesterday I went to Tokiwadaira (Sakura Avenue). Although it was raining, it was beautiful.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
画 Painting
昨日は、ブログがしなかった。今日は、初めて水彩画を描いた。私は鉛筆画が下手ね。。。だから、この画はうれしい！
No blog yesterday... Today, I painted a watercolour picture for the first time. As you know, I'm not good at drawing, so I'm rather pleased with this!
Friday, March 28, 2008
鮨 Sushi
おかしビデオ。。。このおわらいは おうべいじんのそうぞうの日本人をからかう。
Ah, I like this! This spoof pokes fun at the Western stereotypical image of Japanese etiquette and sushi-eating... Although there is sometimes an element of truth in this video, don't believe any of it...!
Further installments soon!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
マスク About masks
この間学生はイギリスのいらいにんにはなしていた。いらいにんは「みんなさんはマスクをかぶる。。。なぜですか。」と聞いた。学生はいらいにんに「かぜかこそうねつから」とおしえた。
それからレッスンに学生は「おうべいじんはマスクをかぶない。なぜ。」と聞いた。私は「電車でおうべいじんはマスクをかぶればどうですか。」と聞いた。「まあ、こわいい。どうしたのか」とこたえた。」おもしろい！
The other day, one of my students was speaking to a British client. The client asked why so many people in Japan wore face masks. My student explained that it was because they had colds and didn't want to spread them, or that they had hay fever.
Then in the lesson he asked me why Western people didn't wear face masks. I asked him what he would think if he saw a Western person on the train in Japan wearing a face mask. He replied that he would be quite scared and wonder what they had...! That's funny...
それからレッスンに学生は「おうべいじんはマスクをかぶない。なぜ。」と聞いた。私は「電車でおうべいじんはマスクをかぶればどうですか。」と聞いた。「まあ、こわいい。どうしたのか」とこたえた。」おもしろい！
The other day, one of my students was speaking to a British client. The client asked why so many people in Japan wore face masks. My student explained that it was because they had colds and didn't want to spread them, or that they had hay fever.
Then in the lesson he asked me why Western people didn't wear face masks. I asked him what he would think if he saw a Western person on the train in Japan wearing a face mask. He replied that he would be quite scared and wonder what they had...! That's funny...
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
おもしろ梟 What a funny owl!
これは南白かおの梟。。。時々大きい、時々小さい。変な顔。おもしろい。。。
This is the Southern White Faced Owl - when he sees something smaller than himself, he tries to make himself look bigger; when he sees something bigger than himself he tries to make himself look thinner. Strange face! Interesting...!
This is the Southern White Faced Owl - when he sees something smaller than himself, he tries to make himself look bigger; when he sees something bigger than himself he tries to make himself look thinner. Strange face! Interesting...!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
私のアパート Apartment
まだ新しアパートをこうりょしている。インターネットでより大きいアパートを見た。それはただ15平方メートルだけより広いだがアパートの大きさ二倍になるよ！でもバルコニーがない。アパートのバルコニーが好きだ。。。アパートが好き。。。時間がないからアパートのへんこうもめんどくさい！
I'm still thinking about whether to move. I saw an apartment on the internet that whilst only being 15 square metres bigger would almost double the size of mine! But it doesn't have a balcony and I like my balcony... I like my apartment... Moving is also a nuisance because of lack of free time.
I'm still thinking about whether to move. I saw an apartment on the internet that whilst only being 15 square metres bigger would almost double the size of mine! But it doesn't have a balcony and I like my balcony... I like my apartment... Moving is also a nuisance because of lack of free time.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
はっぽうせいのキムチ Fizzy kimchi
今日は新キムチを開けた。玄米がとてもはっぽうせいだった！どのみち食べた。大丈夫とよかった。。。
I opened a new jar of kimchi today. When I added it to the rice it was incredibly fizzy! I ate it anway. I hope it was ok...
I opened a new jar of kimchi today. When I added it to the rice it was incredibly fizzy! I ate it anway. I hope it was ok...
掃除の半ば Halfway through cleaning
今日がすごく忙しかってつかれた。昨日は本棚を買った、今日はごみをした。たくさんのごみがあった。今日はおわったがもうすぐごみをみつけるのがつづける。きれいなへやが始める。
Today was extremely busy and tiring! Yesterday I bought bookshelves, today I cleared rubbish. And was there a lot of it! I've finished for today, but when I next have time will continue to be drastic and cut down on clutter. My room's starting to look good.
Today was extremely busy and tiring! Yesterday I bought bookshelves, today I cleared rubbish. And was there a lot of it! I've finished for today, but when I next have time will continue to be drastic and cut down on clutter. My room's starting to look good.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
本棚 Bookshelves
本棚を作るのは楽しい。DIYが好きをと忘れた。きれいなアパートがごしい！
Making bookshelves is fun! I'd forgotten how much I like DIY. I want a tidy apartment.
Making bookshelves is fun! I'd forgotten how much I like DIY. I want a tidy apartment.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
またドラえもんのインフォメーション More Doraemon trivia
今日もちょっと忙しいからブログの時間がない。だから、今日ドラえもんの道具がここ。
I'm somewhat busy today so haven't got much time for the blog. So today here is a list of Doraemon's gadgets!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Doraemon's_Dogu
I'm somewhat busy today so haven't got much time for the blog. So today here is a list of Doraemon's gadgets!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Doraemon's_Dogu
Monday, March 17, 2008
ドラえもんの伝記 Doraemon's biography
ここはドラえもんの伝記
http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/heroes/doraemon.html
A biography of Doraemon...
http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/heroes/doraemon.html
The Cuddliest Hero in AsiaDORAEMON may be Japan's cutest export, says Pico Iyer, and his relentless optimism inspires a continentYou've seen him, even if you don't know his name. And if you've seen him, you've been warmed—even inspired—by his energized air of optimism. That bubble-headed creature with a broad smile, a paw raised in greeting and a disarming blueness beams down at us not only across Japan but on the streets of Hanoi, in courses at American colleges, in cinemas in Hong Kong (where he chatters away in Cantonese). Yes, he sells fireworks, adorns postage stamps, blinks as a cursor on Sony PCs and appears in movies about the Dorabian Nights. But more than that, he transmits a message that transcends every language: the future can be likable, the present is redeemable, and you can be happy even if you're blue. For many years now the Japanese have given us all snazzy machines and elegant styles; their animE and manga designs are so globally compelling that the hip trans-Atlantic music group Gorillaz uses animE figures as virtual front men, and Disney's Lion King was said to have been inspired by the masterful cartoons of Osamu Tezuka. Athletes like Ichiro Suzuki and Hidetoshi Nakata are increasingly electrifying international sporting arenas with their blend of smooth craft and high efficiency. But none of Japan's cultural exports, it could be said, has the warmth, the companionable charm or the zany humanity of the 22nd century cat who has a gadget, if not quite an answer, for everything. Doraemon lives in a world indistinguishable from our own: his weekly TV shows and annual movies have him inhabiting a typical street in a typical Japanese (and therefore quasi-Western) neighborhood. His best friend, Nobita (the name means knocked down), is a classically helpless, bespectacled fourth-grader who is always being bullied by classmates and shouted at by mother or teacher. Like any good buddy, Doraemon accompanies his pal to baseball practice, sits by his side as he wrestles with his homework and tries to protect him from evil-eyed Suneo and the lumbering Gian. Unlike most best friends however, Doraemon sleeps (as Nobita lays down his futon on the floor) in a closet. His time machine is, well, to be honest, in a desk. Like the most immortal of such characters, in short—one thinks of Snoopy or Paddington Bear—Doraemon comes with a personality and a history. He weighs 129.3 kg, his height is 129.3 cm and his birthday is Sept. 3, 2112. He has a favorite food (dorayaki—sweet bean paste sandwiched between two small pancakes) and a little sister, Dorami, who is yellow and has ears and long eyelashes (a cousin, perhaps, of Hello Kitty). While Japan's idoru, or mass-produced pop stars, often seem as generic as machines, the country's animated characters, like Doraemon, have the bigheaded individuality of real rebels. Part of Doraemon's particular appeal though, is that, like Hanna-Barbera's irresistible Top Cat and Yogi Bear, he is ready to take on every situation—and likely, somehow, to get it wrong. Each time Nobita is being afflicted, Doraemon will reach into the fourth-dimensional pocket in his stomach and pull out a takekoputa (flying device) or a dokodemo door, which allows them to go anywhere. But the two can only fly low over the suburban houses in the neighborhood, and the dokodemo door often takes them to the places they most wish to avoid. The reason Doraemon is blue, according to the most recent accounts, is that a robot mouse bit off his ears, and he was so rattled by his girlfriend's ensuing laughter that he turned a little turquoise. The suspicion persists, in fact, that in the realm of 22nd century cats, Doraemon is something of a Nobita. There is a distinctly Japanese quality to all this, in the ingenuity of the Doraemonic gizmos (all portable), his determination to put a bright face on things and never to give up, and even in some of the little cat's idiosyncrasies (one of his machines allows him and Nobita to watch Shizuka-chan, the little girl who is the object of Nobita's affections, in the shower). At heart, Doraemon is profoundly human: it's the very essence of his charm that he has a girlfriend—a small cat called Mi-chan—but she always seems a little out of reach. Indeed, Doraemon's crossover appeal may be best appreciated if you set him next to the other cartoon figure that Japan has long made ubiquitous. Hello Kitty seems to have no reason to exist other than to be cute. Utterly adorable, often clad in pink and entirely passive, she seems to represent what little Asian girls are told to be in public. Doraemon, by comparison, is as tubby and twinkling as a salaryman after one too many beers. Hello Kitty, after all, has no mouth and never moves; Doraemon seems often to be all mouth, and in every 30-minute episode of his show, is to be seen worried, chortling, goggle-eyed, at peace or pounding on the floor in frustration and then calmly dipping his paw into a bag of cookies. Scholars of the form may place him in the distinguished line of Astro Boy, Osamu Tezuka's early-'60s creation, who had 100,000-horsepower hydraulics in his arms, searchlights in his wide eyes and a nuclear fission generator in his chest. While Godzilla and Gamera, for example, were nuclear age mutants who showed how science could turn on us, Doraemon (like Astro Boy) offers a more hopeful and benign version of technology. Others might liken his impact not just to that of PokEmon but to the Totoro of Hayao Miyazaki, the visionary animator-craftsman whose ravishing Hiroshige dusks and ecological parables are so commanding that Disney bought the U.S. rights to all his work. But, really, Doraemon belongs in a category of his own: not just a companion (like Winnie the Pooh) and not just an icon (like Mickey Mouse). While Bart Simpson says and does what all of us fear to do, Doraemon does what we dream of doing. As Donald George, the global travel editor of Lonely Planet Publications, says, following a video showing of Doraemon in Oakland, California: "He represents a wonderful combination of innocence and imagination—and you come away with that childlike feeling that anything really is possible. It's the same feeling I get when I travel." The other part of the Doraemon legend that has made him an evergreen source of nostalgia in Japan for three decades now (or, in a country of fads, 300 fashion spin cycles) is the story behind the story. Most of the country knows the heart-tugging tale of Hiroshi Fujimoto, who created Doraemon in comic-book form in 1969 and then recruited his old elementary school classmate Abiko Moto to work with him (when Fujimoto died, in 1999, it was front page news). And Nobuyo Oyama, who gives Doraemon his voice, is such an institution that she regularly appears on Japanese TV as a performer in her own right. As Japan transforms itself weekly to try to find its place in the modern world, Doraemon is one of the few constants who can bring a grandma in a kimono and a yellow-haired teenager together; so far, he's outlasted 17 Prime Ministers. Does that make him a hero, you might ask? A hero, in Joseph Campbell's formulation, is an archetypal figure who leaves home, overcomes obstacles and in some way speaks to the universal feeling inside us that we can do more than we are doing and become better versions of ourselves. By that criterion, the sometimes blundering but always triumphant cat with the irrepressible gleam in his eye more than qualifies. He takes the very condition that we associate with melancholy—being blue—and makes it smile.
http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/heroes/doraemon.html
A biography of Doraemon...
http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/heroes/doraemon.html
The Cuddliest Hero in AsiaDORAEMON may be Japan's cutest export, says Pico Iyer, and his relentless optimism inspires a continentYou've seen him, even if you don't know his name. And if you've seen him, you've been warmed—even inspired—by his energized air of optimism. That bubble-headed creature with a broad smile, a paw raised in greeting and a disarming blueness beams down at us not only across Japan but on the streets of Hanoi, in courses at American colleges, in cinemas in Hong Kong (where he chatters away in Cantonese). Yes, he sells fireworks, adorns postage stamps, blinks as a cursor on Sony PCs and appears in movies about the Dorabian Nights. But more than that, he transmits a message that transcends every language: the future can be likable, the present is redeemable, and you can be happy even if you're blue. For many years now the Japanese have given us all snazzy machines and elegant styles; their animE and manga designs are so globally compelling that the hip trans-Atlantic music group Gorillaz uses animE figures as virtual front men, and Disney's Lion King was said to have been inspired by the masterful cartoons of Osamu Tezuka. Athletes like Ichiro Suzuki and Hidetoshi Nakata are increasingly electrifying international sporting arenas with their blend of smooth craft and high efficiency. But none of Japan's cultural exports, it could be said, has the warmth, the companionable charm or the zany humanity of the 22nd century cat who has a gadget, if not quite an answer, for everything. Doraemon lives in a world indistinguishable from our own: his weekly TV shows and annual movies have him inhabiting a typical street in a typical Japanese (and therefore quasi-Western) neighborhood. His best friend, Nobita (the name means knocked down), is a classically helpless, bespectacled fourth-grader who is always being bullied by classmates and shouted at by mother or teacher. Like any good buddy, Doraemon accompanies his pal to baseball practice, sits by his side as he wrestles with his homework and tries to protect him from evil-eyed Suneo and the lumbering Gian. Unlike most best friends however, Doraemon sleeps (as Nobita lays down his futon on the floor) in a closet. His time machine is, well, to be honest, in a desk. Like the most immortal of such characters, in short—one thinks of Snoopy or Paddington Bear—Doraemon comes with a personality and a history. He weighs 129.3 kg, his height is 129.3 cm and his birthday is Sept. 3, 2112. He has a favorite food (dorayaki—sweet bean paste sandwiched between two small pancakes) and a little sister, Dorami, who is yellow and has ears and long eyelashes (a cousin, perhaps, of Hello Kitty). While Japan's idoru, or mass-produced pop stars, often seem as generic as machines, the country's animated characters, like Doraemon, have the bigheaded individuality of real rebels. Part of Doraemon's particular appeal though, is that, like Hanna-Barbera's irresistible Top Cat and Yogi Bear, he is ready to take on every situation—and likely, somehow, to get it wrong. Each time Nobita is being afflicted, Doraemon will reach into the fourth-dimensional pocket in his stomach and pull out a takekoputa (flying device) or a dokodemo door, which allows them to go anywhere. But the two can only fly low over the suburban houses in the neighborhood, and the dokodemo door often takes them to the places they most wish to avoid. The reason Doraemon is blue, according to the most recent accounts, is that a robot mouse bit off his ears, and he was so rattled by his girlfriend's ensuing laughter that he turned a little turquoise. The suspicion persists, in fact, that in the realm of 22nd century cats, Doraemon is something of a Nobita. There is a distinctly Japanese quality to all this, in the ingenuity of the Doraemonic gizmos (all portable), his determination to put a bright face on things and never to give up, and even in some of the little cat's idiosyncrasies (one of his machines allows him and Nobita to watch Shizuka-chan, the little girl who is the object of Nobita's affections, in the shower). At heart, Doraemon is profoundly human: it's the very essence of his charm that he has a girlfriend—a small cat called Mi-chan—but she always seems a little out of reach. Indeed, Doraemon's crossover appeal may be best appreciated if you set him next to the other cartoon figure that Japan has long made ubiquitous. Hello Kitty seems to have no reason to exist other than to be cute. Utterly adorable, often clad in pink and entirely passive, she seems to represent what little Asian girls are told to be in public. Doraemon, by comparison, is as tubby and twinkling as a salaryman after one too many beers. Hello Kitty, after all, has no mouth and never moves; Doraemon seems often to be all mouth, and in every 30-minute episode of his show, is to be seen worried, chortling, goggle-eyed, at peace or pounding on the floor in frustration and then calmly dipping his paw into a bag of cookies. Scholars of the form may place him in the distinguished line of Astro Boy, Osamu Tezuka's early-'60s creation, who had 100,000-horsepower hydraulics in his arms, searchlights in his wide eyes and a nuclear fission generator in his chest. While Godzilla and Gamera, for example, were nuclear age mutants who showed how science could turn on us, Doraemon (like Astro Boy) offers a more hopeful and benign version of technology. Others might liken his impact not just to that of PokEmon but to the Totoro of Hayao Miyazaki, the visionary animator-craftsman whose ravishing Hiroshige dusks and ecological parables are so commanding that Disney bought the U.S. rights to all his work. But, really, Doraemon belongs in a category of his own: not just a companion (like Winnie the Pooh) and not just an icon (like Mickey Mouse). While Bart Simpson says and does what all of us fear to do, Doraemon does what we dream of doing. As Donald George, the global travel editor of Lonely Planet Publications, says, following a video showing of Doraemon in Oakland, California: "He represents a wonderful combination of innocence and imagination—and you come away with that childlike feeling that anything really is possible. It's the same feeling I get when I travel." The other part of the Doraemon legend that has made him an evergreen source of nostalgia in Japan for three decades now (or, in a country of fads, 300 fashion spin cycles) is the story behind the story. Most of the country knows the heart-tugging tale of Hiroshi Fujimoto, who created Doraemon in comic-book form in 1969 and then recruited his old elementary school classmate Abiko Moto to work with him (when Fujimoto died, in 1999, it was front page news). And Nobuyo Oyama, who gives Doraemon his voice, is such an institution that she regularly appears on Japanese TV as a performer in her own right. As Japan transforms itself weekly to try to find its place in the modern world, Doraemon is one of the few constants who can bring a grandma in a kimono and a yellow-haired teenager together; so far, he's outlasted 17 Prime Ministers. Does that make him a hero, you might ask? A hero, in Joseph Campbell's formulation, is an archetypal figure who leaves home, overcomes obstacles and in some way speaks to the universal feeling inside us that we can do more than we are doing and become better versions of ourselves. By that criterion, the sometimes blundering but always triumphant cat with the irrepressible gleam in his eye more than qualifies. He takes the very condition that we associate with melancholy—being blue—and makes it smile.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
大使ドラえもん Ambassador Doraemon
今日は私のいちばん好きなねこのドラえもんがたいしになられた。ドラえもんへおめでとう！ほんとにドラえもんがクール日本をシンボライズ。
Today my favourite cat Doraemon became an Ambassador for Japan. Congratulations Doraemon! For me he does indeed symbolize Cool Japan!
This link will soon disappear so here is a transcript:
Doraemon named 'anime ambassador'
Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 07:06 EST
TOKYO — The foreign ministry announced Friday it was appointing the cartoon cat Doraemon as the nation's first "anime ambassador," in Japan's latest effort to promote its soft power through its animation industry.
Doraemon — or at least a person dressed as the earless, blue-and-white cat — will receive his official assignment letter from Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura in a ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, officials said.
The character will appear in films to be shown in Japanese missions overseas, talking about the country's lifestyle and customs.
"By appointing Doraemon, we hope people in other countries will understand Japanese anime better and deepen their interest in Japanese culture," said Yuko Hotta, a foreign ministry official.
Doraemon is the main character in an animation series that is among the most popular in Japan and widely known in much of Asia. The friendly cat travels back to the present from the 22nd century to help out a schoolboy by lending an "anywhere door," which allows people to travel wherever they please.
The government has been trying to turn growing worldwide interest in its anime cartoons, manga comics and cuisine into political capital with a campaign promoting "Cool Japan."
Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 07:06 EST
TOKYO — The foreign ministry announced Friday it was appointing the cartoon cat Doraemon as the nation's first "anime ambassador," in Japan's latest effort to promote its soft power through its animation industry.
Doraemon — or at least a person dressed as the earless, blue-and-white cat — will receive his official assignment letter from Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura in a ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, officials said.
The character will appear in films to be shown in Japanese missions overseas, talking about the country's lifestyle and customs.
"By appointing Doraemon, we hope people in other countries will understand Japanese anime better and deepen their interest in Japanese culture," said Yuko Hotta, a foreign ministry official.
Doraemon is the main character in an animation series that is among the most popular in Japan and widely known in much of Asia. The friendly cat travels back to the present from the 22nd century to help out a schoolboy by lending an "anywhere door," which allows people to travel wherever they please.
The government has been trying to turn growing worldwide interest in its anime cartoons, manga comics and cuisine into political capital with a campaign promoting "Cool Japan."
Here is an episode http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMpODKQxMt8&feature=related
And this is a picture of our new Ambassador for the Promotion of Cool Culture:
Friday, March 14, 2008
オンラインスクラブル Online Scrabble
このごろ友だちとオンラインスクラブルをする。楽しいが習慣のゲームだよ！時間がないだからヨーロッパの住んでいるの友がいい！一日で二回だけがいい。
These days I've been playing online Scrabble with some friends. It's fun, but addictive! I haven't really got the time to play this, so it's good that I'm playing with friends living in Europe! Playing a move once or twice a day is manageable!
These days I've been playing online Scrabble with some friends. It's fun, but addictive! I haven't really got the time to play this, so it's good that I'm playing with friends living in Europe! Playing a move once or twice a day is manageable!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
今週がいそがしい。 A busy week
今朝友だちと日本語を勉強した。あと英語をおしえた。今は疲れた！
This morning I studied Japanese with a friend, then I taught. Now I'm tired! (Just needed to make sure that I wrote something so that I keep this going!)
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Tale of Genji
昨日、学生に「The Tale of Genji」の本をもらいました。英語と日本語を書きられる。むずかしいがおもしろいらしい！古本屋みつけたと言った。私を思い出した。しんせつすぎた。うれしい。
Yesterday a student kindly gave me a beautifully illustrated book of the 'The Tale of Genji'. It's written in English and Japanese which is something! It looks difficult, but interesting. It's considered the greatest work of Japanese literature, but it's old and so difficult. However, this book seems to be written in more accessible English. He said that he found it in a second-hand book store and thought of me. It was so kind of him, I feel very touched.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
私の食物のブログ
まだ食物、ごめんなさい！でも、今日はひるごはんがへんのコンビだった。なすのトウバンジャンおいしかったがやっぱりすごくからい。ごまのほうれんそと梅の大根がもっとかぐわしい。明日なすが食べない。。。
My apologies, this is turning into a food blog. But today, lunch was a very strange combination. The aubergine in chilli sauce was nice, but as might be expected, somewhat hot. It really didn't work with the delicately flavoured sesame spinach and plum daikon. I'll skip the aubergine tomorrow...
Monday, March 10, 2008
ひるごはん Lunch
これは今日のひるごはんだった。また、これは玄米とほうれんそうの白あえだった。今度はねぎとピイマンの梅干しドレッシングも作った。うまい！デザートはかぼちゃのクリームといちごだった。
Today's lunch again was brown rice and the spinach in a miso tofu sesame sauce. This time, I also made leeks and pepper with a pickled plum dressing. Tasty! Dessert was creamed pumpkin with strawberries.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
ばんごはん Dinner
これは今日のばんごはんだった。これは玄米とほうれんそうの白あえとにんじんのきんぴらだった。おいしかった！
とてもきれいアイスキャンドルは姉へゾルをありがとう！
This was today's dinner. It was brown rice with spinach in a sesame tofu miso sauce, and sesame soy sauce and shikuwasa paste (small Okinawan citrus fruit) marinated carrots. Delicious!
Thanks to my sister Hazel for the very pretty ice candle!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
料理 Cooking
今日は日本語の日本料理の本を読んでみる。そして、日曜日につってみる。。。
Today, I'm going to try translating my Japanese cookery book. Then on Sunday, I will try making something!
Today, I'm going to try translating my Japanese cookery book. Then on Sunday, I will try making something!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
新りょうりほうがほしいだ。 I want new recipes.
新りょうりほうがほしいだ。ときどきちがうの弁当がほしいだ。今新沖縄の野菜のりょうりほうをさがしもとめている。
I want some new recipes. Sometimes I want a different lunchbox. Now, I'm looking for some new Okinawan vegetable dishes.
I want some new recipes. Sometimes I want a different lunchbox. Now, I'm looking for some new Okinawan vegetable dishes.
大好きな朝ごはん Favourite breakfast
これは大好きな朝ごはんとスナック。玄米とキムチーとチーズをつくられる。炊飯器でぜんぶをつくった。おいしよ！
This is my favourite breakfast and snack. It's made from brown rice, kimchi and cheese, and then all cooked in the rice cooker. Delicious!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
テストウイーク Test Week
やった！今週がテストウイークだ。私はテストウイークが大好き。キッヅレッスンがかんたんだ！
Hooray! This week is test week. I love test week. The kids'lessons are easy!
Monday, March 3, 2008
健康な定食 Healthy meal
昨日はたくさんの肉と魚を食べた。今日は野菜がほしい！ちょうめいのレストランに来た。おいしい！
Yesterday, I felt as though I ate way too much meat and fish (especially given how little meat and fish I usually eat)．Today, I want vegetables! I came to this macrobiotic restaurant, absolutely delicious!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
やった！お休みだ！Hooray, it's the holiday!
やった！今日は沖縄に行く。楽しみ。16:30ごろとうちゃくする。もうすぐ電車で羽田空港に行く。
Yay! Today, I'm off to Okinawa. Should be fun! Get there about 16:30. Just about to get the train to the airport.
Yay! Today, I'm off to Okinawa. Should be fun! Get there about 16:30. Just about to get the train to the airport.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
イギリスの地震 Earthquake in England
昨日はイギリスに地震があった。イギリスに地震がめずらしい。この地震がちょっと強いたぶん震度3か4だって少し損害があった。イギリスに一番大きいの25年間前からだった。
http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/shake/ous/STORE/X2008nyae/ciim_display.html
There was an earthquake yesterday in England which is unusual. This one was quite strong, probably shindo 3 or 4, and caused some damage. It was the biggest for 25 years in England.
http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/shake/ous/STORE/X2008nyae/ciim_display.html
There was an earthquake yesterday in England which is unusual. This one was quite strong, probably shindo 3 or 4, and caused some damage. It was the biggest for 25 years in England.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
大切な期日 Important dates
やくすことができない。。。
今年はイースターが早い。何で？ユダヤけいのすぎこしの祭から。まん月の時にかんけいする。
マザリングサンデーはいつも四じゅんせつの4日曜日。
I can't translate this...
I was wondering why Easter is so early this year (23rd March), and hence all the other dates like Mother's Day, so I did some research.
You may or may not know the reason already...
Easter celebrates the day when Jesus Christ rose from the dead. This occurred on the day after the Jewish festival of Passover. The Jewish calendar is influenced by the moon, and so Easter Day is the first Sunday after the full moon which happens on or after the Spring Equinox (21st March). Each year, Easter Day will be somewhere between 22nd March and 25th April.
Mother's Day in the UK is similar to Mother's Day in other countries (always in May). The reason why it falls on a different day to other countries (this year 2nd March), is because even though Mothering Sunday was only created about 400 years ago, it has its roots in Christianity. It is always on the 4th Sunday of Lent, and on that day people in small villages went to the nearest big church (the Mother Church). Young working English girls and boys were allowed one day off a year to visit their families and this was usually Mothering Sunday.
Churches in England used to give children in Sunday School small bunches of spring flowers to give to their mothers to thank them for all their love throughout the year (maybe they still do). I remember making a card at Sunday School and collecting my bunch of flowers for Mum. I also remember each year on the Saturday going shopping with my brothers and sister to choose flowers from the florist, and some pretty wrapping paper, and then secretly putting the flowers in milk bottles of water in the garage so that they kept cool and fresh. For years I thought that it was a real secret and that Mum had no idea what we were doing! Then on the Sunday, we would get up and wrap the flowers as a bouquet and give them to Mum in the morning. Happy memories!
今年はイースターが早い。何で？ユダヤけいのすぎこしの祭から。まん月の時にかんけいする。
マザリングサンデーはいつも四じゅんせつの4日曜日。
I can't translate this...
I was wondering why Easter is so early this year (23rd March), and hence all the other dates like Mother's Day, so I did some research.
You may or may not know the reason already...
Easter celebrates the day when Jesus Christ rose from the dead. This occurred on the day after the Jewish festival of Passover. The Jewish calendar is influenced by the moon, and so Easter Day is the first Sunday after the full moon which happens on or after the Spring Equinox (21st March). Each year, Easter Day will be somewhere between 22nd March and 25th April.
Mother's Day in the UK is similar to Mother's Day in other countries (always in May). The reason why it falls on a different day to other countries (this year 2nd March), is because even though Mothering Sunday was only created about 400 years ago, it has its roots in Christianity. It is always on the 4th Sunday of Lent, and on that day people in small villages went to the nearest big church (the Mother Church). Young working English girls and boys were allowed one day off a year to visit their families and this was usually Mothering Sunday.
Churches in England used to give children in Sunday School small bunches of spring flowers to give to their mothers to thank them for all their love throughout the year (maybe they still do). I remember making a card at Sunday School and collecting my bunch of flowers for Mum. I also remember each year on the Saturday going shopping with my brothers and sister to choose flowers from the florist, and some pretty wrapping paper, and then secretly putting the flowers in milk bottles of water in the garage so that they kept cool and fresh. For years I thought that it was a real secret and that Mum had no idea what we were doing! Then on the Sunday, we would get up and wrap the flowers as a bouquet and give them to Mum in the morning. Happy memories!
Monday, February 25, 2008
もうすぐ沖縄に行く！Soon off to Okinawa!
今日沖縄の観光を計画する。沖縄に3日間をとまる。このたびは那覇だけにとまる。名護パイナップルパークと沖縄ワールドと植物園に行きたい。またちねんビーチに行きたい。もうすぐ沖縄の食事をたべる。楽しみ！
Today I'm making plans for what to see in Okinawa. Staying there for three days, this trip just staying in Naha, but want to take day trips. Thinking about Nago Pineapple Park, Okinawa World and the botanical gardens as possibilities. I'd quite like to go to Chinen Beach again. Of course, not sure what the weather will be like. I'm looking forward to lots of good Okinawan food again! Exciting!
Today I'm making plans for what to see in Okinawa. Staying there for three days, this trip just staying in Naha, but want to take day trips. Thinking about Nago Pineapple Park, Okinawa World and the botanical gardens as possibilities. I'd quite like to go to Chinen Beach again. Of course, not sure what the weather will be like. I'm looking forward to lots of good Okinawan food again! Exciting!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
雛祭り Dolls Festival
今日は私を食事に招かれた。友だちの家族は三人です。娘は10か月から初絶句です。雛人形 がとても面白くてきれいだった。昼ごはんがおいしくて、昼が楽しかった。
Today I was invited to a friend's house for lunch which was lovely. My friend Masayo is married to Taku with a 10 month old baby daughter Leona. This is the time of Hina Matsuri (Girls' Festival or Dolls' Festival), so Masayo wanted me to have the opportunity to see the traditional decorations in a family home. The dolls were so elaborate and beautiful. The display was incredible. Sadly, my pictures do no justice to it at all, hopefully I'll be able to update them. Lunch was absolutely delicious and it was a really fun afternoon.
More information about Hina Matsuri here. http://japanese.about.com/library/weekly/aa022501b.htm
Today I was invited to a friend's house for lunch which was lovely. My friend Masayo is married to Taku with a 10 month old baby daughter Leona. This is the time of Hina Matsuri (Girls' Festival or Dolls' Festival), so Masayo wanted me to have the opportunity to see the traditional decorations in a family home. The dolls were so elaborate and beautiful. The display was incredible. Sadly, my pictures do no justice to it at all, hopefully I'll be able to update them. Lunch was absolutely delicious and it was a really fun afternoon.
More information about Hina Matsuri here. http://japanese.about.com/library/weekly/aa022501b.htm
And traditional Hina Matsuri music (played in all supermarkets at the moment!) is here http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~kebuta/MIDI/MIDI-htm/UreshiiHinamatsuri.htm
Saturday, February 23, 2008
春とらしい Feels like Spring
今週は天気がいい。昨日は14℃だった今日も16℃だ！でも明日はおんどが8℃に下る。さて、もうすぐ春が来る。
This week, the weather is beautiful. Yesterday it was 14C, today it's 16C! But tomorrow, the temperature goes down to 8C. Well, Spring will come soon!
This week, the weather is beautiful. Yesterday it was 14C, today it's 16C! But tomorrow, the temperature goes down to 8C. Well, Spring will come soon!
Friday, February 22, 2008
ヘアカット Haircut
今朝美容院に行った。美容院がいいだ。美容院がアメリカに住んでいたから英語が本とにじょうずだ。
I went for a haircut this morning. My hairdresser is very good. And because he lived in America, his English is excellent.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
書くの Writing
今日はブログの書くのがむずかし。。。今朝友だちのCDをコピーした、そしてブログがわすれた、今なにもを書くことができない！
It's difficult to write my blog today... This morning I copied a CD for a friend and forgot my blog, now I can't think of anything to write!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
見ているような人 Couch potato
あーあー！インタネトでイギリスのテレビを見ることができる。。。幸運じゃないかな。。。！昨日りょうしんが沖縄の長生きのテレビのプログラムと話した。インタネトの大要を見た。。。
Uh-oh, this is bad! I can watch British television on the internet... Maybe this is not a good thing! It all started when Mum and Dad told me they were going to watch a programme on Okinawan longevity. I looked on the internet for a summary...
A clip from the programme can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/horizon/broadband/tx/101/highlights/
Uh-oh, this is bad! I can watch British television on the internet... Maybe this is not a good thing! It all started when Mum and Dad told me they were going to watch a programme on Okinawan longevity. I looked on the internet for a summary...
A clip from the programme can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/horizon/broadband/tx/101/highlights/
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
けいたいのカメラ The camera on my phone
今けいたいのカメラがつかうことができるからしあわせだ。沖縄はクリスマスにわるい写真をとった。ざんねんだった。この次に写真のほうがよいといいだ。
Now that I've got the hang of the camera on my phone, I'm pleased with my photos. In Okinawa at Christmas, the pictures didn't turn out well, which was a shame. Next time they'll be better hopefully.
Now that I've got the hang of the camera on my phone, I'm pleased with my photos. In Okinawa at Christmas, the pictures didn't turn out well, which was a shame. Next time they'll be better hopefully.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
今日はお休みかな Today maybe is a day off...
今日はお休みがはたらきなきゃかな。。。電話をしないといいだ！
Today is a day off, but I might have to work... I hope the phone doesn't ring!
Today is a day off, but I might have to work... I hope the phone doesn't ring!
京王百草園 Keio Mogusa Garden
やった！今日百草園に行った。7時に出た14時にかえった。百草園までは2時間のたびだった。きれいだったが私はちょっと早い行ったかな。もうすぐのほうがきれいだかな。うめの花のよい香りがした。来年は百草園に3月に行くとおもう。もっとしゃしんが左リンクに。
Yay! I got to Mogusa Garden today! Left at 7, back at 2 - 2 hour jouney each way. It was beautiful although I was perhaps a couple of weeks too early. It will be even more beautiful soon I think. The smell of plum blossom was beautiful. Next year I think I'll visit again in March.
More photos at the link to the left.
Yay! I got to Mogusa Garden today! Left at 7, back at 2 - 2 hour jouney each way. It was beautiful although I was perhaps a couple of weeks too early. It will be even more beautiful soon I think. The smell of plum blossom was beautiful. Next year I think I'll visit again in March.
More photos at the link to the left.
Friday, February 15, 2008
めんどうくさい！ Annoying!
昨日は私のアパートが会社のインターネットに見た。今アパートの会社が私のアパートを賃貸したい。まじ？もう６月間私のアパートだよ。移転したなかったからちょと心配する。！４月か５月にしはらうことができる。
Yesterday I saw my apartment up on the apartment company's website, because the company now wants to ensure rent after I leave. Seriously?! It's my apartment for another 6 months - I've paid. I'm a little worried because I don't really want to move, although obviously if I have to it's ok. In April or May, I'll be able to cough up for another year! If I lose it though, I lose it - now, I'm looking to see if there is anything better that I can find!
Yesterday I saw my apartment up on the apartment company's website, because the company now wants to ensure rent after I leave. Seriously?! It's my apartment for another 6 months - I've paid. I'm a little worried because I don't really want to move, although obviously if I have to it's ok. In April or May, I'll be able to cough up for another year! If I lose it though, I lose it - now, I'm looking to see if there is anything better that I can find!
冬のみかんの木 Winter orange tree
今すごく寒いからあぬったいの国に住んでいることを忘れることは易しい！とつせんに電車でみかんの木を見る。日本に住んでいると思い出す！
When it's cold like now it's easy to forget you live in a subtropical country until you suddenly see an orange tree from the train!
When it's cold like now it's easy to forget you live in a subtropical country until you suddenly see an orange tree from the train!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
和歌 Japanese waka poetry
火曜日は学生が多少のすうのわかをくれた。すごくおもしろい！少しが読むことができる。少しもわかることができる！日本語がしんこうする、かな！学生にきょうようをならったからそのレスンがとくべつにおもしろかった！
On Tuesday, one of my adult students kindly gave me some copies of waka poetry and waka cards. (Waka are traditional 31 syllable poems, so different from the 5,7,5 structure of haiku.) It's extremely interesting! I can even read and understand some of them! Progress in Japanese! It made for an especially interesting lesson from my point of view because I got a culture lesson!
On Tuesday, one of my adult students kindly gave me some copies of waka poetry and waka cards. (Waka are traditional 31 syllable poems, so different from the 5,7,5 structure of haiku.) It's extremely interesting! I can even read and understand some of them! Progress in Japanese! It made for an especially interesting lesson from my point of view because I got a culture lesson!
スエードジャケットの成功！Suede jacket success!
すてきスエードジャケットをもっているがさいきんふｒくてきたないとみたいだ。ジャケットがうすくて青だ。大好きのジャケット！スエードのシャンプーをためた、ジャケットをせんたくした、クリーナーにもって行った。。。でも月曜日はスチックスエードクリーナーを買った。すごい！今えりが新しいとみたいだ。やった！
I have a nice suede jacket but recently it looks old and dirty. The jacket is light blue and it's my favourite! I tried suede shampoo, washing it, taking it to the dry cleaners... But on Monday, I bought a stick suede cleaner. Fantastic! Now the collar looks new! Hooray!
I have a nice suede jacket but recently it looks old and dirty. The jacket is light blue and it's my favourite! I tried suede shampoo, washing it, taking it to the dry cleaners... But on Monday, I bought a stick suede cleaner. Fantastic! Now the collar looks new! Hooray!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Troop of the 100
このビデオが大好き！ かんがえは100人がでたらめな人をあるきすぎる。。。とてもおもしろい！
I love this video! The general idea is that 100 people walk past an unsuspecting random person... Very funny!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
おわった！Finished!
今そうじをおわった！ややした。。。日本に3年間に住んでいる。にだいこうてんした! たくさんのことが少しずつためているから、きれいなへやが ふかのうなことだ。。。！
Now I've finished my tidying. Well, almost done... It's a big change for the better! I've been in Japan for 3 years. Because I've gradually accumulated so much stuff, keeping my room tidy is almost impossible...!
Now I've finished my tidying. Well, almost done... It's a big change for the better! I've been in Japan for 3 years. Because I've gradually accumulated so much stuff, keeping my room tidy is almost impossible...!
Friday, February 8, 2008
そうじはめんどうくさい！ Cleaning is a nuisance!
明日はうめの花を見たいから、京王百草園にいくつもりであっている。でも、アパートはすごくむさくるしい。だからもうそろそろ部屋へやをかたづけなきゃ。それは一日をようするでしょうかな。。。なにをする？！
I was planning to go to Keio Mogusa Garden tomorrow because I want to see the plum blossom there. But my flat is incredibly messy, so it's high time I do some tidying. And that could take all day... What to do?!
I was planning to go to Keio Mogusa Garden tomorrow because I want to see the plum blossom there. But my flat is incredibly messy, so it's high time I do some tidying. And that could take all day... What to do?!
おぼえるのはむずかしい！Remembering is difficult
さいきん新しい文法をべんきょうしているがぜんぜんつかいない。そうおぼえるのむずかしいとさとる。
In recent days, I'm studying a lot of new grammar, but I never use it. I find it difficult to remember it.
In recent days, I'm studying a lot of new grammar, but I never use it. I find it difficult to remember it.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
やった！JLPT4を成功した！ Hooray! I passed JLPT4!
昨日とてもうれしかった！今日もうれしい！なぜ？JLPT4を成功したから。次のチャレンジはJLPT3だ。できる、ぜひやる！いっしょうけんめいべんきょうする。
JLPT4はしょほうの日本語のテストだ。しょほの文法と800言葉と100漢字ぐらいをおもいなや。
Yesterday, I was very happy. Today I am still happy. Why? Because I passed JLPT4. Next challenge is JLPT3. I can do it! Study hard!
JLPT4 is a basic Japanese test. You have to know basic grammar, about 800 words of vocabulary and 100 kanji.
JLPT4はしょほうの日本語のテストだ。しょほの文法と800言葉と100漢字ぐらいをおもいなや。
Yesterday, I was very happy. Today I am still happy. Why? Because I passed JLPT4. Next challenge is JLPT3. I can do it! Study hard!
JLPT4 is a basic Japanese test. You have to know basic grammar, about 800 words of vocabulary and 100 kanji.
また雪がふっている It's snowing again!
また雪がふっている。今日はスニーカーをはいて、学校にとうちゃくしてはきかえる。
It's snowing again! Today, I will wear trainers and change when I get to work.
It's snowing again! Today, I will wear trainers and change when I get to work.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
東京の花 Tokyo flowers
日曜日はすてきな本を買った。毎きせつの東京の花のガイド。しゃしんはきれい。いいさんぽものっている。楽しみ！
On Sunday I bought a lovely book - it's called 'A Flower Lover's Guide to Tokyo'. The photos are beautiful. More importantly, some great walks are described. I'm looking forward to them!
On Sunday I bought a lovely book - it's called 'A Flower Lover's Guide to Tokyo'. The photos are beautiful. More importantly, some great walks are described. I'm looking forward to them!
Monday, February 4, 2008
新しい電気そうじき New vacuum cleaner
きょうは古い電気そうじきがこわれただから新しいのを買った。この新しい電気そうじきのほうがパワフルだ。ひるハリーポッター4を見た。よかったがハリーポッター3は見てなかったらしい。。。
Today, I bought a new vacuum cleaner, because my old one broke. This new one is more powerful than the last. This afternoon, I watched the 4th Harry Potter film. It was good, but it would seem that I didn't see the 3rd...
Today, I bought a new vacuum cleaner, because my old one broke. This new one is more powerful than the last. This afternoon, I watched the 4th Harry Potter film. It was good, but it would seem that I didn't see the 3rd...
Sunday, February 3, 2008
等々力の谷、東京 Todoroki Valley, Tokyo
東京に谷がある。ほんとに！今朝、そこへ行った。とうとうも、今日は雪がふった。やった！きれいだった！
06:45に家を出て08:15に等々力にとうちゃくした。一時間ぐらいさんぽしたあとで、自由が丘のSTARBUCKSでコーヒーを飲んだ。それから渋谷へ買い物にいった。
もっとしゃしんが左リンクに。
There is a valley in Tokyo. Yes, honestly! And this morning, I went there。 Moreover, finally it snowed today! Hooray! It was beautiful!
I left home at 6:45 and got to Todoroki at 8:15. Walked for about an hour and then went to Jiyuugaoka or a Starbuck's coffee. After that, I went to Shibuya to do some shopping.
More photos at the link to the left.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
イタイー！！！ Ouuuch!!!
インフォメーションがたいせつだ！日本のゲームショーだ。きょうぎしゃがおわらいタレントだ。毎週は同じきょうぎしゃがいる。このエピソードはわらてはいけない。ビデオでおわらいタレントもいるがえんじていないらしい。。。
Some background information is necessary! This is from a Japanese game show. The contestants are comedians, and the same every week. They are not allowed to laugh in this episode. On the video, he's also a comedian, but he's not acting apparently...
Friday, February 1, 2008
さよならはかなしい！ Goodbyes are sad!
昨日はがかなしい日だった！とてもじょうずで楽しい生徒に「さよなら」を話しなきゃった。生徒はまだ9さいだが話すのはじょうず！きれいな折り紙とかわいくて長い手紙をもらいました。でも、さいごの日としらなかったからそれはいけなかった。だから来週手紙を書こう。
Yesterday was a sad day! I had to say goodbye to a very clever and fun student. She is only 9 years old, but her speaking is great! I received some beautiful origami and a sweet, long letter. But it was a shame because I didn't realise it was her last day. So I'll write a letter next week!
Yesterday was a sad day! I had to say goodbye to a very clever and fun student. She is only 9 years old, but her speaking is great! I received some beautiful origami and a sweet, long letter. But it was a shame because I didn't realise it was her last day. So I'll write a letter next week!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
うとそうそう！ Time flies!
さいごの一月の日だ。うとそうそうね？！今日はいい天気だ、5どがてっている。もうすぐ春が来るとわかる。こうきれいな日が大好き！もうすぐ私のベランダに朝ごはんを食べることができる、とおもう。楽しみ！
It's the last day of January.Doesn't time fly?! Today is a beautiful day, 5℃ but sunny. I can see that soon Spring will be here. I love days like this! Soon, I'll be able to sit on my balcony and eat breakfast. I can't wait!
It's the last day of January.Doesn't time fly?! Today is a beautiful day, 5℃ but sunny. I can see that soon Spring will be here. I love days like this! Soon, I'll be able to sit on my balcony and eat breakfast. I can't wait!
アルファべトUNO Alphabet UNO
今朝、150まいのちいさいカードをつくっている。たいへん！でも、今日つかいたいからつづけなきゃ！
This morning, I'm making 150 small cards. It's hard work! But I want to use them today, so I must continue!
This morning, I'm making 150 small cards. It's hard work! But I want to use them today, so I must continue!
Monday, January 28, 2008
子どものはいせつくんれん Toilet training for kids
へえ、めずらしいこうこくね！ここは日本だから！おもしろい！
You might say this is a strange advert! That is because this is Japan! Interesting...!
漢字 Kanji
今日漢字のポースタを買った。3まいのポースタに1945の漢字がある。またがんばるぞ！この漢字を覚えたら、新聞を読むことができる。もうすぐ、ぺらぺらだ。。。そうかなあ！
さあ、1945のふつうの漢字だけがあるがどの漢字もたくさんの読みかたがある。だから、まだむずかしい！
Oh my, today I bought some kanji posters. 1945 kanji on 3 posters. I'll do my best but it'll be tough!
When I remember all these kanji, I'll be able to read a newspaper.
Soon I'll be fluent... Yeah right!
You see, there are only 1945 common kanji, but every one of these kanji has many different readings, so it's still very difficult!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
東京大学小石川植物園 Tokyo University Koishikawa Botanical Gardens
じつは、日本語のクラッスに行かなかった。昨日のばんはなかなかねむれなかったから、５時におきた。もちろんとてもつかれた！クラスに行きたくなかった。お休みだったから、どこかいってあそびたかった！
東京大学小石川しょくぶつ園に行った。リラックスしてあそんだ！もっとしゃしんが左リンクにある。
Actually, I didn't go to Japanese class today. Last night, I didn't sleep very well, so got up at 5 this morning. Of course, I was pretty tired! I didn't want to go to class! Because it was a day off, I wanted to go somewhere and enjoy myself!
I went to Tokyo University Koishikawa Botanical Garden. It was relaxing and enjoyable! More photos at the link on the left hand side.
東京大学小石川しょくぶつ園に行った。リラックスしてあそんだ！もっとしゃしんが左リンクにある。
Actually, I didn't go to Japanese class today. Last night, I didn't sleep very well, so got up at 5 this morning. Of course, I was pretty tired! I didn't want to go to class! Because it was a day off, I wanted to go somewhere and enjoy myself!
I went to Tokyo University Koishikawa Botanical Garden. It was relaxing and enjoyable! More photos at the link on the left hand side.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
新しい本 New book
今週はアマゾンで新しい日本語の本を買った。おもしろくて楽しい楽しい読む本だ。これは、言葉とかんじの本だ。おととい文法の本も買った。今日本がとどくとおもう。
配達は日本はすごくべんりだ。毎日21時までがいいだ。たまに、配達21時すぎができる。
今は毎日たくさんの単語カードをもっている。毎日多くて新しい単語をならう。おぼえるのがむずかしがたいせつ！
This week I bought a new Japanese book from Amazon. It's interesting and written in a fun way as a reading book. This book is for vocabulary and kanji. The day before yesterday I also bought the grammar book. I think it will be delivered today.
Delivery in Japan is very convenient. Delivery is from Monday to Sunday until 9pm. Occasionally they will deliver after 9pm on their way home.
Now every day I carry around a lot of word cards. Everyday I learn a lot of new words. Remembering is difficult but important!
Friday, January 25, 2008
寒いだ！ It's cold!
このころ私のアパートがすごく寒い！昨日のばん21時ころ家にかえって、だんぼうをつけた。
2時間ごコートをぬいだ!
これからだんぼうのタイマーをおぼえておこう！
きょねんのほうがあたたかったとおもう。
These days my flat is really cold! Last night I got home about 9 and put my aircon on. It was 2 hours before I could take my coat off!
From now on I'm going to remember to set the timer!
I think last year was warmer.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
ねむることができない！ I can't sleep!
ああ、ねむることができない！あたまがさえるから。目が早くさめてしまう。いっしょうけんめいべんきょうしているから、かな！おきて、動詞と副詞をチェックしなきゃ！
Aaagggghhhh, I can't sleep! Because my brain's too active, I keep waking up early. Maybe it's because I'm studying hard. I wake up, I need to check verbs and adverbs!
Aaagggghhhh, I can't sleep! Because my brain's too active, I keep waking up early. Maybe it's because I'm studying hard. I wake up, I need to check verbs and adverbs!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
わるいドイツ語？！ Bad German?
昨日は、学生が「I studied English at school, but my German is still bad.」といった。。。（高等学校で英語をべんきょうしたがまだドイツ語がわるいだ。）？ かんぜんなセンテンスだ。
しばらく、質問を聞いた、あとで「grammar」（文法）とわかった。
毎日、私は日本語でどうようなまちがうをする！日本語の文法も言葉もむずかしい！
Yesterday, a student said that she studied English at school, but her German was still bad...? A perfect grammatical sentence.
It took a while of concept questions before I realised that she meant her grammar was bad.
Everyday, these are the similar mistakes that I make in Japanese! Japanese grammar and vocabulary are also difficult!
しばらく、質問を聞いた、あとで「grammar」（文法）とわかった。
毎日、私は日本語でどうようなまちがうをする！日本語の文法も言葉もむずかしい！
Yesterday, a student said that she studied English at school, but her German was still bad...? A perfect grammatical sentence.
It took a while of concept questions before I realised that she meant her grammar was bad.
Everyday, these are the similar mistakes that I make in Japanese! Japanese grammar and vocabulary are also difficult!
やっぱり！ No surprises there!
やっぱり、昨夜雪がふらなかったが、今はつめたい雨がはげしくふっている。
Just as last week, it didn't snow last night. But now it's raining heavily and it's very cold rain!
Just as last week, it didn't snow last night. But now it's raining heavily and it's very cold rain!
今晩雪がふる、らしい Tonight it's supposed to snow
でも、先週天気よほうで雪がふるといったがふらなかった。
But the weather forecast last week said it would snow, but it didn't.
But the weather forecast last week said it would snow, but it didn't.
サイクリング Cycling
さいきんに、サイクリングをしていなかった。毎朝すごくつかれている！でも、早くおきてべんきょうするから、またはじめなきゃ！
Recently I haven't been cycling. I've been so tired in the mornings! But because I want to get up early to study, I must start again!
Recently I haven't been cycling. I've been so tired in the mornings! But because I want to get up early to study, I must start again!
Monday, January 21, 2008
今日は一日間の休みだけ。だから、今日は何もしなかった！おそくおきて、ショッピングに行って、インドのカリーライスをたべて、友だちとビールを飲みに行った。
今日は新しい日本語の本アマゾンで買った。いいよう！
Today was a day off! But because it was just one day in seven, I did nothing! I got up late, went shopping, had a shopping mall Indian curry for lunch (very nice actually!) and had a drink with friends.
Today, I bought a new Japanese reading book off Amazon, looks good!
今日は新しい日本語の本アマゾンで買った。いいよう！
Today was a day off! But because it was just one day in seven, I did nothing! I got up late, went shopping, had a shopping mall Indian curry for lunch (very nice actually!) and had a drink with friends.
Today, I bought a new Japanese reading book off Amazon, looks good!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
お休みじゃなくて。。。Not a day off...
さて、日曜日の朝はたいてい日本語のレッスンに行くが今日はしごとに行かなきゃ(>_<)。 じゃあ、明日はお休みだ、やった！ところで、今夜は天きよほうで雪がふる、らしい。雪だといいな!
Well now, Sunday morning I usually go to Japanese class, but today I have to go to work. Well, tomorrow is a day off - hooray! By the way, according to the weather forecast, it's going to snow tonight - I hope so!
Well now, Sunday morning I usually go to Japanese class, but today I have to go to work. Well, tomorrow is a day off - hooray! By the way, according to the weather forecast, it's going to snow tonight - I hope so!
Friday, January 18, 2008
良いいんよう Great quote
"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." Anatole France (1844-1924)
すばらしいことをなしとげるためには、こうどうだけではなく、ゆめを見ること、プランだけではなく、しんじること。（フランス、アナトレ 1844-1924）
すばらしいことをなしとげるためには、こうどうだけではなく、ゆめを見ること、プランだけではなく、しんじること。（フランス、アナトレ 1844-1924）
ゆびのこっせつかな。。。 Broken finger maybe
こっせつかうちきずがわからない。ちょっとだけ。昨日、からだの言葉をおしえていた。体の言葉のよくてげんきな歌あるからつかった。。。私はこのうたが大好き！いつも、同じアクションがつかう。でも、こんど私はなかなか気がたってかな、「Touch your feet」をうたいて（足をタッチして下さい）、とんで、足を二つが同時にタッチした。。。あああ、いたい！きょうもまだ少しいたいだが、書くののゆび。おっと！
Broken or bruised, I'm not sure. Only a little anyway. Yesterday, I was teaching body parts vocabulary. There's a really good and lively song for this topic, so I used it - I love this song! I always do the same actions. But this time, I maybe got too overexcited - 'Touch your feet' - as always, I jumped, touched them at the same time... Eeeeeooooaaaaahhh - ouch! Ouch ouch ouch.... It still hurts a bit today, but it's one of my writing fingers. Oops.
Broken or bruised, I'm not sure. Only a little anyway. Yesterday, I was teaching body parts vocabulary. There's a really good and lively song for this topic, so I used it - I love this song! I always do the same actions. But this time, I maybe got too overexcited - 'Touch your feet' - as always, I jumped, touched them at the same time... Eeeeeooooaaaaahhh - ouch! Ouch ouch ouch.... It still hurts a bit today, but it's one of my writing fingers. Oops.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
はつおん Pronunciation
はつおんは。私のはつおんか子どものはつおんは？毎週じょうずなクラスの子どもを2人おしえている。７さいだ。はつおんは、いつもこのクラスのおもしろことだ。２年前、私は「Can I see your homework?」をいった。（しゅくだいを見せてください）。子どもは「かなしhomework」を聞いた！
先週、かつどうをおしえた。私は「read comics」（まんがを読む）をいった。女の子「rude comics」を聞いた。。。（わいせつなまんがだ）。。。
スペリングもすばらしい。このせいに三じフォニクスだけを読むがべきだ。
(P,T,S,N,A)。もちろん、男の子「PANTS」のスペリングを見つけた。私は、こどものあたまがいいたからすすめる！
Pronunciation - mine or the kids'? Every week, I teach a clever class of two 7 year olds. Pronuciation has always been an issue. Two years ago, at the very start, 'Can I see your homework?' was heard as 'kanashii homework?', which means 'Sad homework?'!
Last week, I was teaching activities. I said 'read comics'. The girl heard and repeated 'rude comics'...
Their spelling is fantastic too. At this age we only expect 3 letter phonics. But given the letters (P,T,S,N,A), of course the boy found the letters spelled PANTS. I encourage it because it shows how clever they are!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
早朝 Early mornings
ああ、はやおきはにがて！今朝は、きょくたんにつかれたからおそくおきた。今朝、そうじをしたし、せんたくをしたし、昼ご飯のゴーヤチャンプルをつくらなきゃた！それから、しごとに行かなきゃ。たくさんの子どものクラスがある、でも今日の子どもたちは楽しい。ほんとうは毎日だいたい私のせいとは楽しい。うんがいいとおもう。。。！
Ah, I'm not good at early mornings! This morning I was so tired, I got up late. This morning, I must do the cleaning, washing, make my goya champuru lunch... Then I must go to work. Lots of kids' classes today, but today's kids are fun! Actually, almost all of my students are fun every day. I think I'm lucky...!
Ah, I'm not good at early mornings! This morning I was so tired, I got up late. This morning, I must do the cleaning, washing, make my goya champuru lunch... Then I must go to work. Lots of kids' classes today, but today's kids are fun! Actually, almost all of my students are fun every day. I think I'm lucky...!
Monday, January 14, 2008
ちか湖 Nearby lake
やった！今日ちいさい湖見つけた！湖は、きもちがいい。はんしはきれい。今朝、たくさんの人がジョギングしていった。
Hooray! Today I found a lake! I love the atmosphere and feeling by a lake! The reflections are beautiful. There were lots of people jogging this morning.
買い物の日！ Shopping Day ！
今日大きいショッピングセンターへ行った。豆腐よやオリオンビールを買った！これから家へ日本語のしゅくだいをしに行く。
今日は成人の日だから数そうにんの女の人がきれいなきものをきています。かのじょたちは二十歳だ。でも、今日はすごくさむい！
Today I went to a big shopping centre. Amongst other things I bought some tofu-yo and Orion beer! Now I'm off home to do my Japanese homework!
Today is Coming of Age Day in Japan, so I've seen a few 20 year old girls dressed in beautiful kimono. It must be said though, it is extremely cold today!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seijin_Shiki
今日は成人の日だから数そうにんの女の人がきれいなきものをきています。かのじょたちは二十歳だ。でも、今日はすごくさむい！
Today I went to a big shopping centre. Amongst other things I bought some tofu-yo and Orion beer! Now I'm off home to do my Japanese homework!
Today is Coming of Age Day in Japan, so I've seen a few 20 year old girls dressed in beautiful kimono. It must be said though, it is extremely cold today!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seijin_Shiki
Sunday, January 13, 2008
海ぶどう Umibudou
これは海ぶどうだ。海ぶどうは沖縄から。私の休みのおみやげ！
おいしいよ！今食べている！
This is Umibudou, a type of seaweed found in Okinawa. I brought some back from my recent holiday. (Umi means sea, and budou means grape.)
It's delicious! I'm eating it now!
新日本語のクラス New Japanese class
今日、市やくしょで新日本語のクラスがはじまった。せんせいはボランティア、だからとても安い。文法は新しいくないが話すのはいい。学生が多い、たいがい中国や韓国やフィリピンから。私のグループは8人がいた。楽しかった！でも、しごとだから、来週行くことができない。。。
Today, I started Japanese lessons at the city hall. The teachers are volunteers, so the lessons are very cheap. The grammar isn't new, but it's extra practice to speak. There were lots of students, mostly from China, Korea and The Philippines. In my group there were 8 students. It was fun! But next week, I can't go because of work...
Today, I started Japanese lessons at the city hall. The teachers are volunteers, so the lessons are very cheap. The grammar isn't new, but it's extra practice to speak. There were lots of students, mostly from China, Korea and The Philippines. In my group there were 8 students. It was fun! But next week, I can't go because of work...
Saturday, January 12, 2008
土曜日 Saturday
今日サイクリングはお休みだ。雨がふっているし私はつかれた！
たぶん、しごとにもどったから、毎週土曜日はちょっとおそくおきる。
今朝少したいへんかな。。。むずかしい銀行の言葉を90分。でも学生がいい。でもひるは大丈夫だ！
I didn't go cycling today because it was raining and I was too tired! Probably every Saturday I'll get up a bit later now I've returned to work.
This morning may be a little tough... 90 minutes of difficult investment banking language, although the student is good. But this afternoon is fine!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
次は、どこ？ Where next?
今は、あたらしいサイクリングルートを見つけたい。7時にみちがちょっとこんでいる。ちょっとこわい！しずかなルートがほしい。みちは、お休みと日曜日のほうがしずかだ。今朝、ジャスコに行ったがしまっていった。きょねん、24時間だったが今年は8時から。おきなくては。
Now I want to find a new cycling route. At 7am weekdays the roads are a bit busy and a little scary! I want a quieter route. The roads are fine on holidays and weekends. This morning I went to Jusco but it was closed. Last year it was 24 hour, but this year from 8am. Ah well, it got me out of bed!
Now I want to find a new cycling route. At 7am weekdays the roads are a bit busy and a little scary! I want a quieter route. The roads are fine on holidays and weekends. This morning I went to Jusco but it was closed. Last year it was 24 hour, but this year from 8am. Ah well, it got me out of bed!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
がんばれ！ Try my best!
今しごとにもどっている。また、いそがしい！
いっしょけんめいべんきょうしたいから毎日早くおきたい！でも、時々ちょっとむずかしい！でも、今日7時からサイクリングをはじめて、となりの小さい空港に行った。日がてっていいるがちょっとさむい。
Now, I’m back at work, so again busy!
Because I want to study hard, every day I want to get up early! But sometimes it's a little difficult! But this morning I was out for my cycle ride at 7am and went alongside a small airport.
言葉
もどる - to go back to (work)
昨日の大仏のしゃしん Photos of yesterday's Great Buddha
今日大仏のしゃしんちょうをおわった。リンクが左に。昨日のブログを見て下さい！
Today, I finished my photo album of the yesterday's Great Buddha - see link on the left, and have a look at yesterday's blog!
Today, I finished my photo album of the yesterday's Great Buddha - see link on the left, and have a look at yesterday's blog!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
牛久の大仏 The Great Buddha of Ushiku!
一昨日の大仏はよかったがそしてインターネットで牛久の大仏を見た。だから、今日牛久の大仏を見たかったから、行った。見て！すごいね!
この大仏がせけいの中で一番高いそう。たかさが120メートル。すごく大きいね！もっとインフオこちらに：http://daibutu.net/
大仏のちかいに小さいどうぶつのファームある。りすとうさぎに食べ物をあげることができた。うれしい日だった!
牛久まで九十分間しか電車とバスでかからないがたくさんの人がしらない。
おひるだった、だから牛久のシャトーカミヤを見つけた。フランスのりょうりをたべた。本とうに、きれいでおいしかった！
今日はとても楽しかった。さいごの日の休みもすごく楽しかった！
The day before yesterday's Great Buddha was good, but then I heard about Ushiku's Great Buddha on the internet. So today, I went there.
Look at this! Amazing isn't it!
This Great Buddha is the tallest statue in the world. It's height is 120m. It's impressively big. More information is here: http://www.iijnet.or.jp/am/Eindex.html
Near the Great Buddha was a small animal farm.
I could feed squirrels and rabbits. Oh happy day!
Ushiku is only 90mins away by train and bus, but nobody has heard of it, it seems. It is the most impressive thing I have seen in my whole life, but isn't even mentioned in the guidebooks. OK, it was only finished in 1995, but still! It was lunchtime so I went to find Chateau Kamiya (a winery I'd read about). I had a French meal, it really was beautifully presented and delicious.
Today again was fun and was a fun end to my holiday!
Monday, January 7, 2008
顔文字 Japanese Emoticons
このポウストが日本語ですごくむずかしい！
日本語はもじが4しゅある、らしい。そうかなあ。。。じゃあ、文字が4しゅじゃなくて6しゅだよ！
けいたいにピクトグラムのにボタンある。ピクトグラムが250ぐらい、時々かんたんだが時々むずかしい。 でも、今はつかう。
でも、文字を6がしゅね？はい、6がしゅだよ！顔文字ね。顔文字がたくさんある。
こんご顔文字をわかるかな。。。 d=(^o^)=b
言葉
顔文字（かおもじ）- emoticon
らしい - apparently
もじ - written characters
がしゅ - counter for scripts?
ー種（－しゅ）- kinds of ...
This one was difficult to translate, the Japanese is simplified...!
People say that Japanese has 4 scripts - the two phonetic scripts Hiragana and Katakana (42 symbols each), Kanji (approximately 2000 in everyday use), and Romaji (romanisation of Japanese words). Well there are not 4 scripts, there are 6...
On mobile phones there is a button for pictograms. There are about 250 or so of these, more with each new generation of mobile phone, some of which are easily recognisable like the picture of a sun, some of which aren't.
http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/service/imode/make/content/pictograph/
However, I do use these pictograms quite a lot now.
But yes, I mentioned that there are 6 scripts, not 5. Which leads me to the subject of this post, Japanese Emoticons!
There are only about 20 Western emoticons in everyday use, of which I use no more than about 5, tops. There are 100s of Japanese emoticons in everyday use it seems - http://club.pep.ne.jp/~hiroette/en/facemarks/index.html
And they keep coming up in my emails...
:(
This is the Western emoticon to describe how I feel about this. Imagine this, you're trying really hard to learn Japanese, but when you receive an email you have to open a new webpage to Google what the emoticons mean, let alone any new Japanese words... And the emoticons are slightly open to different interpretations... Surprise surprise... There are about 50 on my phone for easy access... I'm gradually learning them. Interestingly, you can also type in the Japanese word on your phone and then convert it into an emoticon, in the same way as kanji. So maybe emoticons are just new kanji?
Here is an example of a very common one that I like m(_ _)m
This can mean sorry or extremely grateful - the brackets are the head, the lines are the eyes, and outside of the brackets are the arms or hands. Now imagine someone sitting at a table and bowing very deeply with their hands on the table - very descriptive and easy to recognise as a result!
Give me time, I will embrace Japanese emoticons in the end...
Me embracing Japanese emoticons d=(^o^)=b
日本語はもじが4しゅある、らしい。そうかなあ。。。じゃあ、文字が4しゅじゃなくて6しゅだよ！
けいたいにピクトグラムのにボタンある。ピクトグラムが250ぐらい、時々かんたんだが時々むずかしい。 でも、今はつかう。
でも、文字を6がしゅね？はい、6がしゅだよ！顔文字ね。顔文字がたくさんある。
こんご顔文字をわかるかな。。。 d=(^o^)=b
言葉
顔文字（かおもじ）- emoticon
らしい - apparently
もじ - written characters
がしゅ - counter for scripts?
ー種（－しゅ）- kinds of ...
This one was difficult to translate, the Japanese is simplified...!
People say that Japanese has 4 scripts - the two phonetic scripts Hiragana and Katakana (42 symbols each), Kanji (approximately 2000 in everyday use), and Romaji (romanisation of Japanese words). Well there are not 4 scripts, there are 6...
On mobile phones there is a button for pictograms. There are about 250 or so of these, more with each new generation of mobile phone, some of which are easily recognisable like the picture of a sun, some of which aren't.
http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/service/imode/make/content/pictograph/
However, I do use these pictograms quite a lot now.
But yes, I mentioned that there are 6 scripts, not 5. Which leads me to the subject of this post, Japanese Emoticons!
There are only about 20 Western emoticons in everyday use, of which I use no more than about 5, tops. There are 100s of Japanese emoticons in everyday use it seems - http://club.pep.ne.jp/~hiroette/en/facemarks/index.html
And they keep coming up in my emails...
:(
This is the Western emoticon to describe how I feel about this. Imagine this, you're trying really hard to learn Japanese, but when you receive an email you have to open a new webpage to Google what the emoticons mean, let alone any new Japanese words... And the emoticons are slightly open to different interpretations... Surprise surprise... There are about 50 on my phone for easy access... I'm gradually learning them. Interestingly, you can also type in the Japanese word on your phone and then convert it into an emoticon, in the same way as kanji. So maybe emoticons are just new kanji?
Here is an example of a very common one that I like m(_ _)m
This can mean sorry or extremely grateful - the brackets are the head, the lines are the eyes, and outside of the brackets are the arms or hands. Now imagine someone sitting at a table and bowing very deeply with their hands on the table - very descriptive and easy to recognise as a result!
Give me time, I will embrace Japanese emoticons in the end...
Me embracing Japanese emoticons d=(^o^)=b
Saturday, January 5, 2008
鎌ヶ谷大仏 Kamagaya Great Buddha
今朝、鎌ヶ谷大仏の町にいって、この大仏を見た。この大仏は家から4キロメートルぐらいある。大仏の自体のたかさが1.8メートル。
This morning, I went to Kamagaya Daibutsu town to see their Great Buddha. It's about 4km from my house. The Buddha itself is about 1.8m tall.
言葉
自体 - itself
たかさ - height for things
せい - height
日本のトイレ Japanese toilets
日本のトイレが大好き！三年あとでも、まだすごいとおもう。たいていでんしのあたたかせきがある。いつも、すごい！
でも、昨日の晩かんこくのレストランでとくべつのを見た。。。
トイレにいって、（ビープ）ふたをあけて、すわって、おわって、たって、（ビープ）トイレをすいせんして、ふたをおろした。じゃあ、ありがとうございます！ぜんぶがじどうだった！
でも、自分で手をあらった。。。
I love Japanese toilets. Even after three years, I still think they're great. Usually electronic with a warm seat, fantastic!
But, in a Korean restaurant yesterday evening, I saw a special toilet... I went in, beeeep - the lid opened, sat down, finished, stood up, beeeep - the toilet flushed, the lid closed. Why, thank you very much! Everything was automatic!
However, I washed my own hands...
言葉
たいてい - usually
ふた - lid
あける - open
すわる - sit down
たつ - stand up
すいせんする - flush
おろする - lower
じどう - automatic
あらう - wash
でも、昨日の晩かんこくのレストランでとくべつのを見た。。。
トイレにいって、（ビープ）ふたをあけて、すわって、おわって、たって、（ビープ）トイレをすいせんして、ふたをおろした。じゃあ、ありがとうございます！ぜんぶがじどうだった！
でも、自分で手をあらった。。。
I love Japanese toilets. Even after three years, I still think they're great. Usually electronic with a warm seat, fantastic!
But, in a Korean restaurant yesterday evening, I saw a special toilet... I went in, beeeep - the lid opened, sat down, finished, stood up, beeeep - the toilet flushed, the lid closed. Why, thank you very much! Everything was automatic!
However, I washed my own hands...
言葉
たいてい - usually
ふた - lid
あける - open
すわる - sit down
たつ - stand up
すいせんする - flush
おろする - lower
じどう - automatic
あらう - wash
十二日のクリスマス 12th Night of Christmas
今日、クリスマスのかざりをおろした。
次ははるのものでへやをかざる、かな。おもうだけ！
Today I took down the Christmas decorations. Next maybe I'll decorate my room by Spring season. Just a thought!
言葉
かざり - decorations
かざる - decorate
きせつ - season
次ははるのものでへやをかざる、かな。おもうだけ！
Today I took down the Christmas decorations. Next maybe I'll decorate my room by Spring season. Just a thought!
言葉
かざり - decorations
かざる - decorate
きせつ - season
Thursday, January 3, 2008
朝のしも Morning frost
今日のサイクリングはきれいだった！
しもから、このしゃしんが好き。また、たいようから、パイロンが見ない！
今、天気がさむくなりましている。今朝、みずたまりがこおり。
今、天気がさむくなりましている。今朝、みずたまりがこおり。
このあおせんが私のサイクリングせん見せるがわる色、ごめん！
Today's cycle ride was beautiful!
I like this photo because of the frost. What's more, because of the sun, you can't see the pylon!
The green line shows my cycling route, but it's a bad colour - sorry!
しも - frost
たいよう - sun
みずたまり - puddle
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
白井にさいくりんぐをする Cycling to Shiroi
今日、やさしいサイクリングだ、でもきれいじゃなかった。大きくてまっすぐな道だった。ぜんぶで一時間だけかかった。家を７時に出て、８時にかえった。でもあしのゆびがすごくさむかった！今日のうんどうは楽しくてよかった！
Today was a simple cycle ride, even if not beautiful! It was a big, straight road. It took only one hour. I left at 7, returned at 8. However my toes were extremely cold! Today's exercise was fun and good!
今はそうじをしなきゃ。。。
Now, I must do some cleaning...
オジー自慢のオリオンビール Orion Beer Song/ Grandfather's Pride Orion Beer
この歌が大好き。聞いて下さい！かしはろまじで。それから英語で、かな。でも、英語はちょっとちがう，コンメントをして下さい！
I love this song! Have a listen! I've found the lyrics in romaji, and have had a go at a rough translation...! I'm not exactly happy with it yet though... If anyone has any other ideas about the translation...?!
島とつくものなんでも好きで
酒に マースー ぞうりまで
かりゆしウェアーでまーかいが
オバーが夕飯炊いてるさ
Shima to tsukumono nandemo suki de
Sake ni maasuu zourimade
Kariyushi wea de maakai ga
Obaa ga yuuhan taiteru sa
We like everything made on this island
From sake to straw sandals
Kariyushi wear (Okinawan style aloha shirts) are good
And warm and loving old grandmothers cooking supper too.
今日は那覇市のビアガーデンへ
野球応援 甲子園
明日は準々決勝ど
夜から応援しておくさ
Kyou wa Naha-shi no biagaaden he
Yakyuu ouen Koushien
Ashita wa junjun kesshou do
Yoru kara ouenshite oku sa
Today in Naha city's beer garden
We support Koushien baseball tournament
Tomorrow we see the results
This evening, we're supporting it.
ミツ星翳して高々と
ビールに託したウチナーの
夢と飲むから美味しいさ
オジー自慢のオリオンビール
オジー自慢のオリオンビール
Mitsuboshi kazashite takadaka to
Biiru ni takushita uchinaa no
Yume to nomu kara oishiisa
Ojii jiman no orion biiru
Ojii jiman no orion biiru
It's (beer label) decorated by the best three stars
We place our trust in this beer
Dreams and drinking, it's delicious
Grandfather's pride Orion Beer
Grandfather's pride Orion Beer
どんな映画を見に行くよりも
オジーと飲んで話したい
不景気続きでちゃーならん
内地で仕事を探そうかね
Donna eiga wo mi ni iku yori mo
Ojii to nonde hanashitai
Fukeiki tsuzuki de chaanaran
Naichi de shigoto wo sagasou ka ne
Rather than going to the movies
I'd prefer to chat and drink with Grandfather
That combined with the continued recession
But it's fine, I'll probably look for work in mainland Japan.
金がないなら海に行くさ
魚があれば生きられる
なんくるないさ やってみれ
働くからこそ休まれる
Kane ga nai nara umi ni iku sa
Sakana ga areba ikirareru
Nan kuru nai sa yattemire
Hataraku kara koso yasumareru
If I have no money, I can just go to the sea
Where there's fish I can live
If none come, I'll have a drink
And after hard work, go to bed.
ミツ星翳して高々と
ビールに託したウチナーの
夢と飲むから美味しいさ
オジー自慢のオリオンビール
オジー自慢のオリオンビール
Mitsuboshi kazashite takadaka to
Biiru ni takushita uchinaa no
Yume to nomu kara oishiisaa
Ojii jiman no orion biiru
Ojii jiman no orion biiru
It's (beer label) decorated by the best three stars
We place our trust in this beer
Dreams and drinking, it's delicious
Grandfather's pride Orion Beer
Grandfather's pride Orion Beer
戦後復帰を迎えた頃は
みんなおんなじ夢を見た
夢は色々ある方が良い
夢の数だけあっり乾杯
Sengo fukki wo mukaeta koro wa
Minna onnaji yume wo mita
Yume wa iroiro aru hou ga ii
Yume no kazu dake arri kanpai
As for facing the post-war time
Everyone followed their dream
A variety of dreams would have been better
Hold a number of dreams, oh Cheers!
ミツ星翳して高々と
ビールに託したウチナーの
夢と飲むから美味しいさ
ワッタ自慢のオリオンビール
ワッタ自慢のオリオンビール
Mitsuboshi kazashite takadaka to
Biiru ni takushita uchinaa no
Yume to nomu kara oishiisaa
Watta jiman no orion biiru
Watta jiman no orion biiru
It's (beer label) decorated by the best three stars
We place our trust in this beer
Dreams and drinking, it's delicious
We're proud of Orion Beer
We're proud of Orion Beer
ミツ星翳して高々と
ビールに託したウチナーの
夢と飲むから美味しいさ
ワッタ自慢のオリオンビール
ワッタ自慢のオリオンビール
ワッタ自慢のオリオンビール
Mitsuboshi kazashite takadaka to
Biiru ni takushita uchinaa no
Yume to nomu kara oishiisaa
Watta jiman no orion biiru
Watta jiman no orion biiru
Watta jiman no orion biiru
It's (beer label) decorated by the best three stars
We place our trust in this beer
Dreams and drinking, it's delicious
We're proud of Orion Beer
We're proud of Orion Beer
We're proud of Orion Beer
新築祝いであっり乾杯
入学祝いであっり乾杯
卒業祝いであっり乾杯
にーびちさびたんあっり乾杯
オジーと一緒にあっり乾杯
Shinchiku iwai de arri kanpai
Nyuugaku iwai de arri kanpai
Sotsugyou iwai de arri kanpai
Niibichi sabitan arri kanpai
Ojii to issho ni arri kanpai
Celebrating new construction - Cheers
Celebrating entrance to university - Cheers
Celebrating graduation - Cheers
Harrassed and tired - Cheers
With Grandfather, altogether now - Cheers
I love this song! Have a listen! I've found the lyrics in romaji, and have had a go at a rough translation...! I'm not exactly happy with it yet though... If anyone has any other ideas about the translation...?!
島とつくものなんでも好きで
酒に マースー ぞうりまで
かりゆしウェアーでまーかいが
オバーが夕飯炊いてるさ
Shima to tsukumono nandemo suki de
Sake ni maasuu zourimade
Kariyushi wea de maakai ga
Obaa ga yuuhan taiteru sa
We like everything made on this island
From sake to straw sandals
Kariyushi wear (Okinawan style aloha shirts) are good
And warm and loving old grandmothers cooking supper too.
今日は那覇市のビアガーデンへ
野球応援 甲子園
明日は準々決勝ど
夜から応援しておくさ
Kyou wa Naha-shi no biagaaden he
Yakyuu ouen Koushien
Ashita wa junjun kesshou do
Yoru kara ouenshite oku sa
Today in Naha city's beer garden
We support Koushien baseball tournament
Tomorrow we see the results
This evening, we're supporting it.
ミツ星翳して高々と
ビールに託したウチナーの
夢と飲むから美味しいさ
オジー自慢のオリオンビール
オジー自慢のオリオンビール
Mitsuboshi kazashite takadaka to
Biiru ni takushita uchinaa no
Yume to nomu kara oishiisa
Ojii jiman no orion biiru
Ojii jiman no orion biiru
It's (beer label) decorated by the best three stars
We place our trust in this beer
Dreams and drinking, it's delicious
Grandfather's pride Orion Beer
Grandfather's pride Orion Beer
どんな映画を見に行くよりも
オジーと飲んで話したい
不景気続きでちゃーならん
内地で仕事を探そうかね
Donna eiga wo mi ni iku yori mo
Ojii to nonde hanashitai
Fukeiki tsuzuki de chaanaran
Naichi de shigoto wo sagasou ka ne
Rather than going to the movies
I'd prefer to chat and drink with Grandfather
That combined with the continued recession
But it's fine, I'll probably look for work in mainland Japan.
金がないなら海に行くさ
魚があれば生きられる
なんくるないさ やってみれ
働くからこそ休まれる
Kane ga nai nara umi ni iku sa
Sakana ga areba ikirareru
Nan kuru nai sa yattemire
Hataraku kara koso yasumareru
If I have no money, I can just go to the sea
Where there's fish I can live
If none come, I'll have a drink
And after hard work, go to bed.
ミツ星翳して高々と
ビールに託したウチナーの
夢と飲むから美味しいさ
オジー自慢のオリオンビール
オジー自慢のオリオンビール
Mitsuboshi kazashite takadaka to
Biiru ni takushita uchinaa no
Yume to nomu kara oishiisaa
Ojii jiman no orion biiru
Ojii jiman no orion biiru
It's (beer label) decorated by the best three stars
We place our trust in this beer
Dreams and drinking, it's delicious
Grandfather's pride Orion Beer
Grandfather's pride Orion Beer
戦後復帰を迎えた頃は
みんなおんなじ夢を見た
夢は色々ある方が良い
夢の数だけあっり乾杯
Sengo fukki wo mukaeta koro wa
Minna onnaji yume wo mita
Yume wa iroiro aru hou ga ii
Yume no kazu dake arri kanpai
As for facing the post-war time
Everyone followed their dream
A variety of dreams would have been better
Hold a number of dreams, oh Cheers!
ミツ星翳して高々と
ビールに託したウチナーの
夢と飲むから美味しいさ
ワッタ自慢のオリオンビール
ワッタ自慢のオリオンビール
Mitsuboshi kazashite takadaka to
Biiru ni takushita uchinaa no
Yume to nomu kara oishiisaa
Watta jiman no orion biiru
Watta jiman no orion biiru
It's (beer label) decorated by the best three stars
We place our trust in this beer
Dreams and drinking, it's delicious
We're proud of Orion Beer
We're proud of Orion Beer
ミツ星翳して高々と
ビールに託したウチナーの
夢と飲むから美味しいさ
ワッタ自慢のオリオンビール
ワッタ自慢のオリオンビール
ワッタ自慢のオリオンビール
Mitsuboshi kazashite takadaka to
Biiru ni takushita uchinaa no
Yume to nomu kara oishiisaa
Watta jiman no orion biiru
Watta jiman no orion biiru
Watta jiman no orion biiru
It's (beer label) decorated by the best three stars
We place our trust in this beer
Dreams and drinking, it's delicious
We're proud of Orion Beer
We're proud of Orion Beer
We're proud of Orion Beer
新築祝いであっり乾杯
入学祝いであっり乾杯
卒業祝いであっり乾杯
にーびちさびたんあっり乾杯
オジーと一緒にあっり乾杯
Shinchiku iwai de arri kanpai
Nyuugaku iwai de arri kanpai
Sotsugyou iwai de arri kanpai
Niibichi sabitan arri kanpai
Ojii to issho ni arri kanpai
Celebrating new construction - Cheers
Celebrating entrance to university - Cheers
Celebrating graduation - Cheers
Harrassed and tired - Cheers
With Grandfather, altogether now - Cheers
すばらしい！Now this is just so cool!
これは自転車よう空気入れカンだ。クールね？This is bicycle air in a can. How cool is that?!
今日も、いい天気だ！Another fine day!
今日もよあけにおきた。つづけることができるかな。。。じゃあ、早くおきて朝ごはんを食べて自転車で家を出た。今朝も、たいようがのぼったいる。きれいだった。I got up at dawn again today, maybe it can't continue... Anyway, I got up early, had breakfast and went out cycling. Again this morning, the sun was rising, beautiful!
いなかにすんでいるかな。ふつう町にコンビニがたくさんある。このファミリマートのかんばんがめずらしい。Maybe I live in the countyside. Usually in the towns, there are lots of convenience stores. This Family Mart sign is unusual.
でも、へいが高いから、いなかは少しつまらない。However, the countryside was a bit boring because there was a high wall.
家のちかくに到着したあとで、町のおてらを見た。このおてらは大晦日のおてらだ。それにつりがねだ。大きいね！ After I got back to near home, I went to look at the local temple. This is the same temple as I saw on New Year's Eve. And that is the temple bell. Big innit!
言葉
つづける - continue
たいよう - sun
のぼる - rise (sun), climb
へい - wall
おてら - temple
文法
動詞＋ことが＋できる - can + verb (plain)
つづけることができない - can't continue
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)