Mexico

Last March I went to Mexico with my cousin. We went there to celebrate his 40th Birthday. it was my first time to Mexico, so I didn`t know what to expect. We stayed in Cabo, a resort town which is very popular with Americans, especially West Coast people, and also a BIG Spring Break place!
Do you know what Spring Break is? Basically it is "Spring Vacation" for University students. Many college students from all over America go to Mexico (Cabo, Cancun, etc.), Florida, Jamaica...I went to Jamaica and Florida for Spring Break when I was in Universtity. Both places were exciting and the weather was great and really fun.
The beach in Mexico was really gorgeous! Some people sunbathed, and other peoplesat under a canopy or in a cabanna in the shade. I don`t like to get sunburnt so I sat in the shade under and umbrella by the pool. When I was a child though, I laid out in the sun a lot. I liked to get color! But I got terribly sunburnt many times and I learned my lesson! So now I never lay out in the sun. But many Americans like to lay out in the sun and get tan, golden tan!! Japanese people are very careful of the sun though, and most Japanese always protect their skin from the sun. Some people wear black visors, long shirts and pants, long gloves, hats, sunscreen, and some women also use parasols! In America I have never seen a parasol!
I want to go on a boat trip all around the world...

Hoagie

This is what we call a Hoagie in Philadelphia! In the rest of America, people say "a sub" (=a submarine sandwich, becuase it is long and shaped like a submarine.) There are many different types, but the main basically there is various deli meat, ham, salami, bologne, turkey, sometimes roast beef, etc., with lettuce, onions, tomatos, hot peppers(these are key!!) and salt,pepper, oil and vinegar sauce. If you get all the toppings, when we order we say "a hoagie with the works(=everything) " This is one of my favorite foods from Philly. I really miss it!
When you go to a foreign country, food culture is always interesting...sometimes fun, sometimes difficult. In Indonesia and Thailand I got a little stomach ache from the food. Getting sick from some food, water is common in a foreign country unless you really have a strong stomach.

When I first came to Japan I didn`t know anything about Japanese food! Everything was new, strange, a whole new experince. Even using chopsticks...I had no idea! I remember trying a lot fo food, and at first Okonomiyaki and fried soba was easiest to eat for me. Sushi was a little difficult in the beginning, but I tried a little by little.

My parents will come to Japan to visit from tomorrow. It is not their first time to Japan, so they have tried many different types of food before. They like certain things, and don`t like other things, but in general they try just about everything. What food do you think is easy for them to eat? How about difficult?

If you see two lost Americans walking around the street, please ask..."Hi, are you Glenn`s parents?"

Have a good week!

GION, and Summer festivals, and more...

How was the 3-day weekend? I was really lucky because I got a special tour around GION Festival in Kyoto. My friend was born and grew up in Kyoto, a native! One of her classmates from school is part of one of the big lit-up carriages, like seen above, so I could go inside one and climb to the top. On the top, there are children and adults dressed in yukatas. The children played the drums, and the adults that I saw played the flute. Also, there were some people singing. It was a very unique experience, and I really appreciated my friend`s hospitality.

This was not my first time to Gion festival, but it seemed like it was my first time. I really like the lanterns and music and colorful kimonos and yukatas of all the people. In my hometown Philadelphia, we have a big summer parade, and some big fireworks festivals, but nothing like this. It is really quite an event!

Yesterday the Earth was angry I think. There were many earthquakes and tremors all over Northern Japan. Some people died and many were injured or left without a home...It is such a tragedy. The weather around here was rainy with some thunderstorms...Even in Osaka, some people felt the earthquake. One person just told me that a clock feel off the wall and broke in her office. As I watched the news, many people said "there is no water, no water..." I think that I should stock up on water just in case...

Did you watch the news last week? Everyday Prime Minister Abe was on t.v. The election is coming soon...July 19th. Are you gonna vote? Which party do you support?

Have a good one!

Mother Nature

Last night I watched a DVD. It was Al Gore`s movie, about the environment. One of my friends Ms. M recommended the movie to me a while back. Do you know about this movie? Al Gore used to be the "next president"...(This is a joke!) Actually he was the Vice-President when Clinton, "Mr. I love Cigars", was President. Gore went on a tour all over the world promoting his views on the environment. About the movie, it is an interesting, serious, and educational movie, so I recommend it. Gore talks all throughout the movie. He is a good speaker and at times humorous. Especially for people who study English, I think it is good, because his English is easy to follow, clear, and slow.



Now, after seeing it, did I change what I do to help the environment so much...no. But, I think that I will think about the environment more from now on. Of course, I recycle cans and bottles, and divide burnable goods and non-burnable goods. I also try not to use so many plastic bags and stuff. About wooden chopsticks, some people are really fussy about them, saying they should not be used because many trees are destroyed, etc. So some people carry around their own personal chopsticks. I used to do this about 10 years ago, but now I don`t. I use the same chopsticks every night, but when I go out for lunch or to a soba or udon shop, I use the wooden disposable ones. What do you do to help or hurt the environment?

"Living English"

Good morning! It`s another hot and muggy and rainy day... Today, I want to talk about something that I saw the other day. Last Saturday night after work, I went to Uniqlo (Clothing store) to buy some new pants. It was about 8:30pm, and the shop was pretty crowded. I wanted to go to the men`s section, so I was going down the escalator when suddenly...on the escalator next to me, which was going up, there was a 30 something year old couple, kissing!!! Passionately kissing, making out! If it was a young couple, maybe I could understand, but...I was in a good mood so I said in a loud voice "O~~~~! What are you two love birds doing?!" ...but no reaction, they just kept going at it. Then again, I relentlessly said, "Yo~ fellas, get a room!" But again, I was ignored ;(

Many Japanese people think that Americans always kiss in public. Compared to Japanese people, yes, Americans may show more public affection, kissing. BUT, not so many americans are passionately deep kissing in the streets, or parks, or in Department Stores! Little pecks, short and quick kisses, are more common. Italians like to kiss a lot, sometimes kissing one, two or three times, every time they greet a friend or family member. And, Japanese people may not kiss in public so much, but there are Love Hotels everywhere! I have never seen a Love Hotel in America.

"Living English" part one is finished. To be continued...

It just got sunny...Strange weather..

Green Forrest and Cute Japanese kids...

Today is really muggy and humid. The above picture looks very cool and comfortable! It doesn`t look humid and muggy at all! One of the reasons that I like mountains and the forrest is because it is very cool. The grass in the picture above looks like an ocean of green. I have been hiking many places in Japan...Mt. Fuji, Mt. Rokko, some mountains in Nagano prefecture, a mountain in Kyushu, Yakushima...Do you like hiking?
These kids are so cute! They are coming back from some town festival. There are many festivals in the summer in Japan. I am looking forward to going to a few! I like when the kids and adults get dressed up and wear traditional clothing. I can`t wait to go to many festivals this year again!

Have a good week!