From now I will go on vacation...If you need me you can reach me here:

Aunt "Sho" got her second neice! Congrats!

"Sho" is my student. The other day she got her second neice. Isn`t she cute? Luckily she doesn`t look like "Sho" ;) "Sho" studied English in New Zealand for a year or so and now works in a hotel where Foreigners come often. She speaks very well but now is studying with me for the TOEIC test. She wants to get 800. I think she can do it!

For America to advance tonight, basically America has to beat Ghana AND Italy has to beat Chech! For Japan to advance it`s A LOT more complicated...Read the COMMENTS below for the full low down....

Monaco

Everything looks pretty good to me.Read the COMMENTS for my student`s report!

A NEW MEMBER OF THE WORLD...Tokumaru (nickname: "Tokkun")
A NEW GRANDMOTHER IN THE WORLD: CONGRATS TO MY STUDENT!

VOLLEYBALL!

Ms. A played volleyball last weekend. She sent me this pic! I played volleyball in Gym class when I was in High school. I am good at setting but not good at spiking the ball. Actually I can`t spike, because I can`t jump ;) In Japan volleyball is very popular. Do you like Volleyball?

Stuffed Animals

My student Ms. A went to her friend`s wedding the other day. The bride is a nurse and the groom is a police officer. She made these stuffed animals to give to them as a gift! They are really cute stuffed animals and I think Ms. A put a lot of thought and effort into making them. Many Japanese people have favorite stuffed animals, like Snoopy or Winnie-the-Pooh. How about you?

The World Cup kicks off tonight!!!

It all starts tonight in Germany. The kickoff of the opening game of Germany versus Costa Rica. (A side note, did you know that Costa Rica is the only country in the world without a military...) I read that Germany`s top player won`t even play tonight. They are saving him for bigger mathces... Also I read in the "Osaka Sports" newspaper today that some players of Croatia have a mysterious virus and are sick and the entire team is endanger of getting infected. Good news for Japan, but then again, I read it in "Osaka Sports" ;). All kidding aside, I will give you my prdeictions. First Japan will go to the best 8. Here`s a BIG surprise; either Brazil OR Italy will NOT advance to the second round! And the winner of the World Cup this year, 2006, in Germany, is...............................the

U.S.A.

Bake-off Winner!!! $1,000,000!!!

Do you like cooking? This is a pic oif the Winner of the Pillsbury Bake-Off Competition in America last month. Check out here for the recipe of the Chicken and Spinach dish. http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/showRecipe.aspx?rID=41135

It looks delicious! The event was held in Orlando, Florida. And she won One MILLION DOLLARS! Now that`s some chicken!!! Do you have any recipes you want to share with everyone?

Lava Trails from Indonesia`s Mount Merapi Volcano

This picture was taken about 2 or 3 weeks ago in Indonesia. The volcano erupted and you can see the lava spilling out. It is realy something... Last year there were terrible hurricanes in America, and the year before a Tsunami (Giant tidal wave) in Thailand, and many other big natural disasters all over the world recently. In Osaka, everyone remembers the Hanshin Earthquake a little over 10 years ago. Everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing at that time. Everyone!! The Earth is very beautiful at times, and also at the same time, very powerful and scary...

NAILS

Pedicure
Extensions
Manicure

One of my students Ms. Nc, is a nailist. She works in Honmachi. Her English is excellent and her nails are always beautiful! I feel selfconscious about my nails when she comes, well, because, my nails aren`t exacly a work of beauty...But I know many of my students do their nails or get their nails done, so I wanted to recommend her.

Her site is : http://www.comfortplace.net

Please check it out and call for a reservation if you are interested.

At the Zoo...

This is an Egyptian Tortoise that was born in an England Zoo. It is also on the endangered species list. It is so tiny, I can`t believe it! This is a Siberian Tiger and newborns(baby cubs) in a China zoo. I have been to the zoo a few times in my life. I like to watch the Tigers and Lions the most. One day, I want to go to Africa and go on a safari. How about you? Do you like the zoo? Do you like animals?

YOGA

Recently, Yoga became very popular in Japan. In America Yoga became very popular about 10 yeas ago. Now, everyone does Yoga. There are many different types to Yoga too, but I don`t really know the difference bewteen each one. The other day I met a woman who has a Yoga Studio near Honmachi. I want to try it but on the weekdays the class is women ONLY...;( On Sunday there is a men`s class but I can`t go on Sundays because of work. Have you ever tried Yoga? If yes, what did you think? Anyway, if any of you women are interested, please check out the site:http://ayul.net

Welcome to June! Garden of Dreams

This is a great photo don`t you think?! It`s from a flower and garden show in London. I have never been to London, or for that matter, anywhere in Europe. But recently I became interested in Europe because many of my students and friends tell me great things about their trips to Europe. Have you ever been to Europe? If so, where?

Speaking of Europe, the World Cup will begin in about 10 days. I was shocked to hear the other day that there is a "DANGAN" Tour. This means, BULLET TOUR in English I think. On this tour, you can go to Germany to watch a game, but you dont stay in Germany even for a night. You take the plane to Germay, arrive and go directly to the stadium, watch the game, and then return to the airport and take the plane back to Japan!!! Unbelievable!