Real English Thirty-Four: get a kick out of

What were you doing at 5:30am on Sunday September 6th when the IOC President announced said, "And the city that will host the 2020 Olympics is...TOKYO!"

I was watching it live!

When I heard the sweet sound of "Tokyo", I got goosebumps down my spine...then stood up and pumped my fists, and almost screamed!  Luckily for me, I held my scream in.  If I hadn't had such superior self-control, I would have woken my wife up and then I am sure that my wife would have kicked me out of the house.  At 5:30am in the morning in Nishinomiya, there aren't too many exciting places to go...

Speaking of the Olympics, I was really impressed with presentations done by Team Japan!

If you search You Tube using "2020 Olympics Presentation by Tokyo, Japan," I bet you will find some videos of the presentations.

If you watch the videos, not only can you study English, but you can also study:

how to give a presentation.

how to deliver a speech.

how to make gestures.

how to project your voice.

how to make eye contact.

All of the above will help to make your speech or demonstration or whatever better!

They are all "Enhancement Factors"!!

Honestly, I really can't say enough about the presentations...

To all of the Presenters, Congratulations on a job well done!!

In particular, I got a kick out of the presentations done by Crystal Takigawa, Mami Sato, and Yuki Ota.

Mami's was my favorite, and I think it will be used in Japanese English textbooks in the future.

Real English Thirty-Three: Keep one's fingers crossed

Within 12 hours, we will all know the answer to the following question:  

Who will host the 2020 Olympics?

I am keeping my fingers crossed...

I really want the Olympics to come to Tokyo...

So, I am begging you, please keep your fingers crossed too!

We need all the luck we can get!!!

For those of you who don't know (I doubt there are many, but I am sure there are a few), there are three candidates; Tokyo, Madrid, and Istanbul.  

As of now, it is a very close race. 

According to the latest news reports, Tokyo and Madrid are neck and neck.  

And Istanbul is out of it.  

However, these news reports vary and are constantly changing, plus there are rumors are flying around, so it is difficult to tell...

Without a doubt, it is going to go down to the wire.

If Tokyo wins, and that is a big IF, I am going to say "Let's drink to that!"

Of course with my favorite side dish, eda-mame! : )

Real English Thirty Two: Rain Check

It is already September...Time flies!

Time flies when you are busy.

And, time flies when you are having fun.

In my case, both of the above apply.

Let me tell you about the past few weeks.

I had a very nice time over Obon Vacation.  Except for one day, when I went out with my friend to Koshien Stadium to watch the High School Baseball Tournament, I stayed home and took care of Taiga every day.  It was both fun and tough at the same time.  And to be honest, it was much harder than I expected.

Then, on the 25th, I signed a letter of commitment and made a down payment to buy a house.  Buying a new house is exciting, but negotiating, dealing with the real estate agent, going over the contract, applying to take out a mortgage, moving, packing, unpacking...the list goes on and on...are, to say the least, all not so much fun.  So since about a month ago, I have had a lot on my plate...

Oh yeah, do you remember the 25th?  It poured that morning. To be exact, there was torrential rain where I live in Nishinomiya City.  In the car on the way back from the Real Estate Agency, many streets were under water.  Later that night, I saw on TV that some shopping arcades and roads were flooded in Osaka.  For this area, that much rainfall in such a short time is unprecedented.  

Now, let's get to Real English.  The below is a conversation I had the other day.

Makoto:  Glenn, my friends and I are doing a long run, and after that going to a spa and having a BBQ in the end of September.  Would you like to come?

Glenn:  I would love to, but I can't.  Can I take a rain check?

Makoto:  Of course! Why?

Glenn:  As I told you, it is my turn to take care of Taiga on the weekends.  

Makoto:  So why don't you bring Taiga and your wife?

Glenn:  During that time, my wife re-charges her batteries.  Plus with moving and packing and stuff, the time just isn't good now.  I hope you can understand.

Makoto:  Absolutely.  Do what you have to do, and don't worry, I will invite you again another time.

Glenn:  Thanks a lot.  I appreciate it.

To change the subject, I tried "cold ramen" a few weeks ago.  This is really something for me, because before I tried it, I believed that "ramen must be hot."  Even though I am stubborn, I decided to try a new and different thing, so you could say I broke out of my shell...And, to y pleasant surprise, it was much better than I expected.  So the "new and improved" Glenn believes that "ramen can be both hot and cold!"