2010

Hey everyone. How was your winter vacation?

I took it easy and had a really good time. I did the following:

On the night of the 26th, to start off the vacation, I went out with a friend for a great dinner and drinks. We talked about many serious things as well as joked around. We went to Happy Hour, then to an Italien restaurant for dinner, then for drinks at an Irish bar. 3 Places! I can't remember the last time I went to 3 places in one night. I had a blast. Then, when we had no more gas left in the tank because we are both semi-old men, combined with the fact that we both had to wake up early the next day, we called it a night, and I took the last train home and passed out on my futon. My friend took a taxi home, because he is rich.

On the 27th, I met another friend, bright and early at 9:30am. We spent the whole day together, until about 4pm. We planned to also go to dinner but my friend's baby son got sick, so he had to go home to take care of his kid. That was a shame, but in general it was a very fun and lucky day.

On the 28th, I did BIG CLEANING. I cleaned my house and the classroom and then departed on the bullet train from Shin-Osaka bound for Kyushu at around 6pm. I ate a bento-box dinner, had two beers, finished one book, and started another book. It was a smooth and relaxing trip.

In Kyushu, I bought a 6-speed bicycle, went cycling for about 2~3 hours every day, and also went to a hot springs for about 3 hours a day. I ate good food and drank good shochu and talked to good people. The only negative thing that happened on the trip was...I hurt my back again. This time wasn't as serious as last year's disaster, so I think I am lucky. But, I have to be careful...

During the vacation I thought about making some resolutions. But in the end, I deicided to pass this year. Instead, I decided to strive for a bigger goal. 2010 will be a very challenging and difficult year, in many aspects I think. It will be an uphill battle. So like the picture of the rock-climbing wall below, it will be important to take slow and careful steps, one step, one peg, at a time. My goal of 2010 is to do my best and try to laugh through the difficult and challenging times. Laughing, being able to laugh, will be very important in 2010, the year of the Tiger.
(If you made any resolutions, please let me know!)

Hope everyone has a good 3-day weekend!

the last blog of 2009...

Today is my last day, so I will write the final blog of 2009.

What kind of year was 2009 for you?
For me, 2009 was a hell of a year. I really can't complain. There were some low points; to begin i really hurt my back last new year's vacation, and then there was the recession and bad economy... but there were many many more high points, my parents visited Japan again and we had a good time, i became an uncle, went to iriomote island, and actually many many more highlights...too many to count or list here. Most importantly, it was basically a healthy year for those close to me. That is the most important thing I have learned...

I will make some new year's resolutions over the vacation and tell you about them when I return. Also, I am interested to know...What are your new year's resolutions?
My new year's resolution is to_________________________________.

Finally, I want to wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year!!

Looking forward to seeing you in 2010!!

Merry Christmas!!!

I wish you a merry christmas, I wish you a merry christmas, I wish you a merry christmas...

and a happy new year!!!

Lights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(look below for blog!)

Good morning. Yesterday was a national holiday. What were you up to? I slept in, then went for a little walk, had brunch, and after that, unusually went Christmas shopping. The mall was crowded and I really can't stand crowded places, but I was quick, went in and bought what I wanted and got right out! It was a successful mission. After that I went to the gym and did a few kilometers on the treadmill and took a sauna and bath. After that, I went home and passed out on the couch. I was tired. But it was a "good tired," so I can't complain.

About Christmas, contrary to many of your beliefs, I am not Christian. Thus, I did not celebrate Christmas when I was a child, and I do not celebrate Christmas. However, since i moved to Japan and got used to some Japanese customs, i do do "Japanese Christmas." A date, some fried chicken KFC style, and some cake to top off the festivities. In general, I like Christmas music and Christmas lights.

Speaking of lights, did you see the Midosuji Lights! (If not look above for a few great shots!)

I saw them, and to be honest I was really impressed. From Chuo Street in Honmachi to Tosabori Street in Yodoyabashi, all along Midosuji Street are beautiful lights!!! Everywhere!!! I felt like a child going to Disneyworld for the first time when I saw them first! Truly Spectacular!! I heard many people say;

"Wow----this is so beautiful!!"

"Osaka Governor Hashimoto really did a great job!!"

"It is freezing, but these lights are so warm!!"

and Ms. R wrote the below comments on her blog:

After work, I usually wait at Starbucks coffee before my English lesson. And I do my homework there in a hurry. :-)

Midosuji Illumination began last Saturday. After the lesson, I walked on Midosuji from Honmachi to Yodoyabashi. This area is a business district. However now there are many non-business who enjoy the beautiful light-up. The light-up will be held until the 31st of January.

Dear Santa-san, I want a single-lens reflex camera!

What do you want from Santa?!

My answer:

Dear Santa, I want...a dog!!

Apples and PJ sandwiches

Today I want to write about some food which I ate when I was a kid.

First, I love apples. In France they say one glass of red wine a day is healthy.
Well, we have a different saying in America:
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away!"

I think this saying is true.
When I was a kid, I used to eat apples with peanut butter! That is a delicious snack! If you haven't tried it, you don't know what you are missing!! You should really try it! You can use smooth peanut butter, or crunch peanut butter, it doesn't matter. Both are OK. Personally, I prefer the smooth types with apples. But if I am eating a PJ sandwich (=a peanut butter and jelly sandwich) I prefer the crunchy type. Have you ever tried a PJ sandwich? It is good!!

I have never been apple picking. My brother went apple picking the other day with his wife and he said it was fun. One day, I wanna go too. I wonder how many apples I can eat?!

Do you like apples?
What is your favorite fruit?
Tell me, tell me!!

Shorts in the winter?!

Christmas is right around the corner. So that means we are almost in the middle of winter. Speaking of winter, I have a question for you: What do you make of Japanese schoolchildren having to wear shorts all year round? Yes, for those of you who do not know, this is true. Japanese elementary schoolchildren wear shorts to school in the winter!!! Are their parent crazy? Are the teachers crazy? That is a formula to get the flu! or pneumonia!!! No wonder so many young kids get the flu and sometimes school is closed. Anyway, read below for the opinions of a few foreign residents in Japan.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090630vf.html

I think it is unbelievable. I have been in Japan for over 10 years now, and I still don't get it. When I see the dry-looking, frozen-looking legs of kids running around in shorts in the winter, I become speechless. WHY?! Can someone please answer this question for me. Personally, I wear many layers of clothes in the winter; at least 3 on top(a tee-shirt, long sleeved shirt, and a sweater), and usually two on the bottom(long johns and jeans). How these kids survive in the winter wearing shorts is beyond me...

Annoying words, and Turkey

What do you think is the most annoying English word?

According to the below article, "whatever" ranks first on the list of most annoying words. Some other contenders were, "like," "anyway," and "you know."

It is iddifcult to explain the nuances of these expressions,

but many teenagers use the above words,

which are not flattering or a sign of indifference.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20091212td.html

What do you think? How about in Japanese...

what do you think is the most annoying word/phrase/expression in Japanese?

And speaking of Japanese, it was announced that the Kanji/Japanese character of the year 2009 was "NEW." This "NEW" stands for the new government, the new flu, and...what other "new" things happened in 2009? Do you remember?

For you, what kind year was 2009? Think about it and lemme know.

For me, I can't complain. It was a good year concerning many aspects of my life...

I travelled, I met many new good people, I learned a lot...

and I am looking forward to making 2010 even a better year.

Below, are some photos and an email from Ms. C.

She went to Turkey with her mother for a vacation two months ago.

I bet that was a good memory for them in 2009.

Hi Glenn!!
This week is three-day weekends.
But I went to the office yesterday.
And I don’t have special plan, so I will take it easy and organize my trip photos.

I send you several photos of my trip to Turkey.
I thought Turkey was very multifaceted country.
Because I could see very old sites in B.C., magnificent landscape that nature made, strict Islamic mosque and enjoy both atmosphere of Europe and Asia.
I could enjoy a lot !!!

I sent you seven photos.

※sorry!!!!!
I sent this mail before but it returned.
So I send this mail twice.
First I send only mail after that only photos.

●first photo
This is a Trojan horse.
It is a famous spot of Trojan war.
I could enter the inside.(I showed my face from the right window….)

●second photo
Here is the site in Ephesus
There are a lot of ruins that were built in second century.
This place is a library.

●third and forth photos
Here is Cappadocia.
I think here is the most famous spot of Turkey.
I could see strange shape rock as far as I could see.
I was overwhelmed very much.

●fifth photo
This is a Turkey’s famous sweets, Baklava.
It was sold everywhere. So I ate it. One piece is very small so I could eat one bite.
But it was very very very sweet !!!
It is the same as a pie. But in addition to inside cream, it is soaked in sweet syrup.

●sixth photo
This is Ayasofya . It is a cathedral and built thousand years before than famous Saint Peter's Cathedral in Italy.

●seventh photo
This is a photo of the cruise of the Bosphorus strait.
It is located between continent of Europe and Asia.