The title sounds exaggerated. Anyway, let me tell you today's story.
This morning Yuki and I went to a city garbage center to dispose of our FUTON. which is a kind of mattress. There were two sets of FUTON. They were too big to dispose of them as a home garbage.
The cheapest way to dispose of them is to take them to the center by ourselves. It's free.
The next cheapest way is to ask to take them to the city garbage office. In this case each costs 840 yen, so total it costs about 3500yen. And it takes three or for days for them to come after we call.
The next cheapest way is to ask to take them to garbage & recycle company. In this case each costs about 1000 yen, so total it costs about 4000 yen. As soon as we call, they come to take them.
Nowadays, disposing of something costs money.
On the other hand recycling is meaningful, if someone can use it.
Our FUTON is not so bad, so I look for recycling sites. FUTON seems to be used in poor foreign countries. Some NPO groups collect FUTON. --- They don't earn money, but if we send FUTON, we donate the export fee. It costs more than 7900 yen, because FUTON-sets are very big and heavy.
If we were very rich, we might have donated them to a NPO group.
Wednesday, May 07, 2014
Sunday, May 04, 2014
Jobs which might disappear in 2020 in Japan
I read a really astonishing report.
The jobs which might disappear in 2020 in Japan are written.
What do you think of it?
1 train motormen, and conductors, because most of trains will be run automatically without men.
2 cashiers at supermarkets, because most of tags will be read automatically
3 interpreters, and shorthand writers, interpreter because automatic speech translation system will be introduced.
4 computer programmers because programing itself will be done automatically
5 mailmen now mails are delivered by post men, but other things are delivered by other home-delivery companies so probably mailmen are absorbed by such other delivery companies.
6 newspaper carriers, paperless period will come.
7 rental video shops, download system will be introduced.
8 gas station, we won't use much gas, so gas station itself won't be run, they will be absorbed by car dealers.
9 toll men, because ETC system will be completely introduced.
10 middle traders because dealing style will change into direct dealing.
11 farmers with a side job because only big farmers will be able to survive.
12 major electronic power companies because the period of electricity deregulation will come
13 companies associated with natural energy , they won't be able to survive without subsidy.
14 Upper house members, --- I don't know, but it can't be helped.
15full-time housewives --- really? Mothers will "have to" work to earn "more " money because of financial crisis
16 Japanese board members, because Japanese companies have to be globalized.
17 middle-level executives Only skilled executives will be able to survive as an office worker.
18 clerks at company offices -- to cut labor costs
19 secretaries -- to cut labor costs
20 call center operators -- don't need to operate in Japan
21 traveling salespeople -- Internet shopping will be main measure,
22 mold craft men-- automatically
23compaines associated with printers --paperless time will be come, so such companies will be difficult to survive
24 brokers -- don't need to be in Japan
25 hedge fund managers -- don't need to be in Japan
26 financial planers-- only skilled financial planers will be survived
27life insurance sales ladies --Life insurance companies won't be able to afford these people.
28 teachers-- the number of children is decreasing, so the number of teachers is also decreasing.
29 police officers who work at a police box Convenience stores will be in charge of this job.
I think some jobs will disappear, but --- if it's true, it must be difficult to live for elderly people, it means "my" senior period.
The jobs which might disappear in 2020 in Japan are written.
What do you think of it?
1 train motormen, and conductors, because most of trains will be run automatically without men.
2 cashiers at supermarkets, because most of tags will be read automatically
3 interpreters, and shorthand writers, interpreter because automatic speech translation system will be introduced.
4 computer programmers because programing itself will be done automatically
5 mailmen now mails are delivered by post men, but other things are delivered by other home-delivery companies so probably mailmen are absorbed by such other delivery companies.
6 newspaper carriers, paperless period will come.
7 rental video shops, download system will be introduced.
8 gas station, we won't use much gas, so gas station itself won't be run, they will be absorbed by car dealers.
9 toll men, because ETC system will be completely introduced.
10 middle traders because dealing style will change into direct dealing.
11 farmers with a side job because only big farmers will be able to survive.
12 major electronic power companies because the period of electricity deregulation will come
13 companies associated with natural energy , they won't be able to survive without subsidy.
14 Upper house members, --- I don't know, but it can't be helped.
15full-time housewives --- really? Mothers will "have to" work to earn "more " money because of financial crisis
16 Japanese board members, because Japanese companies have to be globalized.
17 middle-level executives Only skilled executives will be able to survive as an office worker.
18 clerks at company offices -- to cut labor costs
19 secretaries -- to cut labor costs
20 call center operators -- don't need to operate in Japan
21 traveling salespeople -- Internet shopping will be main measure,
22 mold craft men-- automatically
23compaines associated with printers --paperless time will be come, so such companies will be difficult to survive
24 brokers -- don't need to be in Japan
25 hedge fund managers -- don't need to be in Japan
26 financial planers-- only skilled financial planers will be survived
27life insurance sales ladies --Life insurance companies won't be able to afford these people.
28 teachers-- the number of children is decreasing, so the number of teachers is also decreasing.
29 police officers who work at a police box Convenience stores will be in charge of this job.
I think some jobs will disappear, but --- if it's true, it must be difficult to live for elderly people, it means "my" senior period.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
BONNOU
Have you ever heard the word "BONNOU"? It is one of Buddhism words. I'm not a Buddhist, but I'm Japanese, so I'm surrounded by lots of Buddhism things naturally. So for me BONNOU is a popular word, and "we" (it means most of Japanese" sometimes say that we are harassed by earthly desires. ( According a dictionary, BONNOU is earthly desires in English.)
I read an interesting book about BONNOU.
The writer, who is a monk, said to release your BONNOU
1. not to seek a deep contact with people surround you, including your family.
2 not to be irritated about yourself. If you are irritated, try to think about what makes you irritated.
3.not excuse yourself
4, no pressure, be patient.
5.not compare with something.
I know everything is difficult. But what is the most difficult thing for you?
For me, I tend to seek a deep contact with people, because I don't like feeling lonely.
My brother who is now 50, came back to my mother's house, and he has started to live with her. (Because he divorced.) I don't care about my brother's divorce. But my mother , who is now 78, sounds very happy though she says "I'm busy in cooking."
Probably she had been living with her loneliness. even though her second son's family lives next to door. Her husband died 35 years old at that time he was 53. I think she has started the second life with her son. (Actually both of them have lots of things in common, for example, they are nervous, and they are stubborn, and --- Oh, sorry I'm not good at saying good things for my father and my brother.)
I read an interesting book about BONNOU.
The writer, who is a monk, said to release your BONNOU
1. not to seek a deep contact with people surround you, including your family.
2 not to be irritated about yourself. If you are irritated, try to think about what makes you irritated.
3.not excuse yourself
4, no pressure, be patient.
5.not compare with something.
I know everything is difficult. But what is the most difficult thing for you?
For me, I tend to seek a deep contact with people, because I don't like feeling lonely.
My brother who is now 50, came back to my mother's house, and he has started to live with her. (Because he divorced.) I don't care about my brother's divorce. But my mother , who is now 78, sounds very happy though she says "I'm busy in cooking."
Probably she had been living with her loneliness. even though her second son's family lives next to door. Her husband died 35 years old at that time he was 53. I think she has started the second life with her son. (Actually both of them have lots of things in common, for example, they are nervous, and they are stubborn, and --- Oh, sorry I'm not good at saying good things for my father and my brother.)
Friday, April 25, 2014
I gave up gardening.
Finaly gardeners finished their work. My "green" garden has bone. And we got a "shimple" garden.
I like seeing a green garden. But I hate weeding. So I gave up to organize my garden.
I'll grow harbs with big pots.
We are going forward to a simple life.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Iwauchiwa
How was your weekend? Yuki and I had a good weekend. We went to a small mountain to see Iwauchiwa, which is a kind of alpine plants. They are blooming in the shade of the mountain. Iwa means rock, and Uchiwa means Japanese flat fan.The leaves of Iwachiwa look like Uchiwa, and they thrive in a mountain which has lots rock. So they are called Iwauchiwa.
We knew we would go to a mountain, but we thought it would be a small mountain, so it would be easy to "walk".
However we had to "climb" up the steep up-down.
We knew we would go to a mountain, but we thought it would be a small mountain, so it would be easy to "walk".
However we had to "climb" up the steep up-down.
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Below the mountain a ocarina solo concert was being held. And we saw another alpine plant, which is SYOJYOUBAKAMA. They are bigger than Iwauchiwa. There we bought some edible alpine plants, and, of course I made TENPURA for our dinner that night.
Below the mountain a ocarina solo concert was being held. And we saw another alpine plant, which is SYOJYOUBAKAMA. They are bigger than Iwauchiwa. There we bought some edible alpine plants, and, of course I made TENPURA for our dinner that night.Friday, April 11, 2014
Karaku
Now it's already in the middle of April,isn't it?
This week I went to play the piano at KARAKU, which is a tea room. There were beautiful cherry blossoms along the street in front of KARAKU, so many people came to seethe cherry blossoms, and dropped by KARAKU. It means that KARAKU was full of people. For me it was unusual. And the larger audience made my spirits uplift. Here I got some requests, which are Japanese old songs. Fortunately I remembered, so I could play them. Most of people there were elderly people, the oldest woman was 80. They seemed to really enjoy listening to Japanese old songs. I'm sure I gave an uplift in spirits to the people. And looking their wonderful smile made me also happy.
(Jan, are these sentences correct? I tried to use the words I learnt from you.)
And this week I had many guests in turn. On Monday, I went to visit a friends' house with this lunch. In Japan, many people cook beans, and foreigners are surprised to tasting "sweet" beans. But these days salty beans salad is getting popular. I love beans salad.
On Wednesday, and Thursday my friends came to have lunch together.
I cooked oranges again, and baked milk biscuits.
And I also made tortellini's salad.
One friend talked to me about her daughters and her grand child. She has enjoyed her life as a mother and a grand mother.
Another friend who get married but no child, talked to me about her job and a travel plan. She has enjoyed her life.
Though we don't need compare their lives, they are completely different.
In my case, probably I'm doing a halfway job, while I'm doing a halfway mother's job. (I don't know what the suitable way to discribe my stutiation. This sentence doesn't include negative attidute.)
It's me. So two different types of people came to my house in turn. It's fun.
Well today I'll go to a jym for a workout. There I'll meet another friend who is hooked on training.
Wednesday, April 02, 2014
Picture books in April
April has come. This year Easter is in April. It's interesting that Easter is not fixed. Easter is the first Sunday after the full moon in March, isn't it? So this year I'm going to do Easter events next week.
This is one of books to read in April.
There are one or two sentences in each page, so it's easy to read for anyone, and the contents are clear.
You might know the author "Ruth Krauss".
Probably the most well-know book is "the carrot seed".
There are one or two sentences in each page, so it's easy to read for anyone, and the contents are clear.
You might know the author "Ruth Krauss".
Probably the most well-know book is "the carrot seed".
I have other two her books, so I read them again.
I remember now, when I read this book to kids, I presented some seeds to them. Did they plant them?
And I also remember now that I have had a plan.
I have wanted some small kids to draw pictures on a wall with abandon like Harold, of course not in my house.
Do you have any plans to celebrate Easter?
Tuesday, April 01, 2014
Praising game
This is a card game which recently I found and bought. This is produced by disabled people.
I'm in the generation of "SHOWYA". SHOWYA is a period from 1926 to 1989. Additionally, I have to accept the truth my mother and I are in the same generation. But the youth is in the generation of "HEISEI". Now it is in HEISEI 26th, or you can say it's in 2014 now.
What I want to say is that to discipline meant to scold in SHOWA period. Now everybody say to bring up kids while praising them. However in our case Yuki and I are not used to praising someone. So we need to learn how and when we praise someone a little. Yuki needs to encourage and praise his subordinates. I need to encourage and praise my students, young mothers and " my mother".
We started to praise each other every morning to get used to praise someone using these cards in turn.
Until this week, we used these cards.
1. What are the advantages of scolding? Make a one minute speech.
2. The person on your right says one negative or bad word, and you try to change the word into two positive or good words.
3. Praise the person on your left for one minute.
4. Praise the person on your right about his or her character for two things.
5. Praise the person on your left about his or her appearance for one minute.
6. Praise yourself for one minute.
How do you do these things?
Saturday, March 29, 2014
How awkward I am!
The other day I went to a friend's house, and learned this new sweet. Sorry I don't know the name.
It didn't seem to be difficult to make it.
First, we put two oranges and water into a pot, and boil them for 30 minutes.
After that we drain the hot water, and we do the same thing twice.
Then we dry them on the pat.
It didn't seem to be difficult to make it.
First, we put two oranges and water into a pot, and boil them for 30 minutes.
After that we drain the hot water, and we do the same thing twice.
After that, we slice them into rings.
And major the weight.
We add 60 or 70% of sugar of the weight to the pot.
And we simmer them without water for 30 minutes.
The taste is good, but how awkward I am!
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
What are good points to scold someone?
These days every one says it's better to praise than to scold. I understand it, every one is very happy to hear words to be praised.
Every thing has both sides of good points and bad points.
What are good points to scold someone?
If we were small kids, when we were scolded, we could understand what is right or wrong clearly.
It means, we, adults have to scold kids when they did wrong things.
If we were were teenagers, when we were scolded, we could find out our week points.
In this case, we, adults have to scold them while we have to encourage them.
While I'm writing this blog, I'm thinking when was I scolded recently?
When I see my daughters, we often have a quarrel, and they often complain about me. But I'm not scolded. On the other hand, I think I give a good advice to them, they might think they would be scolded.
Yuki also sometimes complains about me, but I'm not scolded. I'm me. On the other hand, I often complains about Yuki's daily chores, he might think he would be scolded. But, when I complain, Yuki sometimes changes his attitude to do daily chores. So it's not bad to complain.
I remembered when I was scolded. Yuki and I god in trouble for touching the panel of air conditioner at N's house. It was completely our fault. I say again "sorry J&N".
Well, what difference is there between "scold" and " get in trouble". "Scold" hears more seriously.
Every thing has both sides of good points and bad points.
What are good points to scold someone?
If we were small kids, when we were scolded, we could understand what is right or wrong clearly.
It means, we, adults have to scold kids when they did wrong things.
If we were were teenagers, when we were scolded, we could find out our week points.
In this case, we, adults have to scold them while we have to encourage them.
While I'm writing this blog, I'm thinking when was I scolded recently?
When I see my daughters, we often have a quarrel, and they often complain about me. But I'm not scolded. On the other hand, I think I give a good advice to them, they might think they would be scolded.
Yuki also sometimes complains about me, but I'm not scolded. I'm me. On the other hand, I often complains about Yuki's daily chores, he might think he would be scolded. But, when I complain, Yuki sometimes changes his attitude to do daily chores. So it's not bad to complain.
I remembered when I was scolded. Yuki and I god in trouble for touching the panel of air conditioner at N's house. It was completely our fault. I say again "sorry J&N".
Well, what difference is there between "scold" and " get in trouble". "Scold" hears more seriously.
Monday, March 24, 2014
TOMOMI's group exhibition
Since I updated this blog, one week has passed. This weekend Yuki and I went to TOKYO to visit "Paper work exhibition" organized our elder daughter T.
It was a nice exhibition. This time we finally met Mr.I who is Turkey. When he was in his 20's, he came to JAPAN, and stayed with us. And since this spring he has worked in Japan as an official. Now he is in his 40's. Of course he got promoted and we aged. Three of us visited T's exhibition, and four of us had lunch together.
On the other hand Ms.M is to return to GABON. She completed her Ph.D.at Utsunomiya university. So Yuki and I had dinner with her. Unfortunately she couldn't find a job here in Japan. So she decided to return to GABON. While she continues her research, she becomes a teacher at a university in GABON. It must be the best choice for her. Additionally she is going to marry with her fiance in a year. Congratulations!
In March, I had a lot of opportunities to meet various people. It was exciting, and talking with them made me rethink myself. ---- I know no one is same. Every one has a different background. I know, I know. Though it's important to know verious life styles, it's sometimes difficult for me to adjust to them.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Last weekend
How was your last weekend?
This weekend, my elder daughter is going to hold a group exhibition in Tokyo.
Before going to see it, Yuki and I went to two art museums.
One is Utsunomiya Art Museum. They are holding an exhibition to introduce artists who lives in Utsunomiya. Some of them are our acquaintances, and used to be our daughters' teachers.
A few of them can earn their livings with their works, but most of them have another job to earn money, though they are called "a professional artist". And some of them sell their works mainly in Tochigi, and a few of them ignore Utsunomiya as a market, sell their works abroad. So some of them are popular as local artists in Utsunomiya, on the other hand, a few of them are not known in Utsunomiya even though they are a little bit famous abroad.
And we went to another museum, in OYAMA which is next to Utsumoyia city. It is KURUMAYA Art Museum.
The artists are active in Japan. One of them live in KANUMA which is also next to Utsunomiya. I didn't know about him. It means he isn't a local artist. (It might be popular in Kanuma.) You can see all works on this hompage.
All of works are very interesting.
It's a public art museum, so they don't sell their works, but the homepages of each artists are introduced.
Let me record them for myself.
Fresco by TSUJINO GOU: glass works http://www.studio-freso.com
Misao-Yajima; plates misao330@gaia.eonet.ne.jp
Toomoko Soda; hats http://mimiyama-mishin.net
Flame ;lamps http://www.flame-product.com
AFLO+ ;accessory http://www.afloplus.com
LA+h by Otani Keiki: cloths http://lath-/ath.com/
M pattern ;furniture http://www.m-pattern.com/
Ayako Sano; accessory http://atelieromoya.jp/mb_aya.html
RYo Chohasi furniture http://ryo.chohashi.com/
Hajime Tamura; pottery calm@v1pgmail.com
Kuri Botella; socks www.kuri-botella.com
Fuki+Fushikino l clothes http://fijiifushikino.com
Akira Higashi; toys and sculptures. www.akirahigashi.com
Maho JunHarada; cups http://sodo.jugem.jp
Morie Yorigami ; furniture yrgm11@gmail.com
Junko Yoshida ; glass http://metrocs.jp/n-crafts/
Coova; clothes www.coova.co.jp
Takashi Oyama glass living in KANUMA http://www.808glassworks.com
Monday, March 10, 2014
Indian feast
Last Sunday an Indian couple invited Yuki and me for lunch. They came to Utsunomya last spring. For them this winter must have been a very tough season.
We sometimes go to an Indian restaurant to eat just "curry and rice or naan, but it was the first time to visit an Indian family. They are vegetarians, so we were really interested in their foods.
Their main spices are salt, cumin, coriander, garam masala, turmeric and red chilly pepper.
They served beans curry,
The tast was very rich and delicious. Though I don't like something hot very much, I like it.
And the white one is yogurt -----(sorry I forgot the name.) It's sour and salty. We (Japanese people) tend to eat yogurt as a dessert. So for me it was very interesting.
The yellow one is fried potatoes and vegetables. This tasie is familier for Japanese.
And we ate them with chapatti. (not naan)
As a dessert, they served this white one. It's kind of rice pudding, but not so sweet. It's an intresting taste.
The most surprising thing is Indian pickles.
They served three kinds of pickles. This one is mango pickle.
When I hear pickles, it sounds sour, but they are very salty.
Then I understood the feeling when foreigners were served UMEBOSHI or NATTO.
They were interesting taste, very salty.
I got some mango pickles to serve my friends. I'm interested in seeing how my friends will respond when I serve it.
Saturday, March 08, 2014
A French boy came to stay with us.
Now I removed the HINA dolls from the shelf. Because it's said that if we keep decorating HINA dolls after March 3, the girls in the house will not be able to marry. I put things about Easter on the shelf.
Last week a French boy who is 19 came to stay with us.
He came to do his internship in a art craft workshop near my house. At night he joined my class.
He made crepe, and tuna mossue.
So I taught him how to make OKONOMIYAKI. I hope he'll make OKONOMIYAKI in France. In France it might be difficult to get thick sauce, but they have brown sauce. Probably it suits to OKONOMIYAKI. Or they yous ketchup and mayonnaise.
I'll show you the rechip of crepe and tuna mousse.
tuna mousse
1 kg of tuna (drained)
• A small concentrated box of tomato
• 4 tablespoons of lemon mayonnaise (or mayonnaise + lemon juice)
• Box of liquid/fresh cream (little square box)
• 1 bag of jelly in Madeira (24g of salt jelly)
- First, put the jelly in a pan with a half of a water glass and mix (to heat with a small fire),
- With a mixer, mix all ingredients except the jelly,
- Then, add the jelly when it is more cold and mix a second time,
- At the end, put it in a charlotte mold tupperware (tupperware box),
- Put in your fridge and wait the next day,
- The next day, turn out it in a plate [and decorate it with lemon slices and parsley].
IMPORTANT : Make it the day before eating !
• A small concentrated box of tomato
• 4 tablespoons of lemon mayonnaise (or mayonnaise + lemon juice)
• Box of liquid/fresh cream (little square box)
• 1 bag of jelly in Madeira (24g of salt jelly)
- First, put the jelly in a pan with a half of a water glass and mix (to heat with a small fire),
- With a mixer, mix all ingredients except the jelly,
- Then, add the jelly when it is more cold and mix a second time,
- At the end, put it in a charlotte mold tupperware (tupperware box),
- Put in your fridge and wait the next day,
- The next day, turn out it in a plate [and decorate it with lemon slices and parsley].
IMPORTANT : Make it the day before eating !
crepe
For ~25 (big) crêpes– 500g of flour
– 200g of castor sugar
– 1 pinch of salt
– 4 eggs
– 60g of melted butter
– 1 liter of milk
– 1 pocket of vanilla sugar (if you do not have it, you can just put a little of vanilla extract)
– (You can also add 1 tablespoon of rum alcohol)
• Mix the flour, the salt, sugar and vanilla sugar (or vanilla extract)
• Add the beaten eggs (Mix the white and the yellow of egg together before to add at the first mix) and, add also
the milk
• Then, add the cooled melted butter
Advices :
# Mix with a whisk in order to obtain a homogeneous dough without lumps
# Let the dough rest a bit before eating
# Grease the pan with a paper towel oiled
# If the dough is too fat to be baked, you can add a little of water.
# (If you have a blossom orange extract, you can add 2 tablespoon of it)
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
HINA festival
This is my entrance. Main dolls were used to be my mother's. The round dolls were presented by my grand mother. Woody dolls were made by my daughters when they were little. Other paper dolls were presented by nursery school students.
Today I went to UJIIE town. There many old HINA dolls remain, and the owners show them during this season to attract tourists.
These doll are made about 200 years ago.
These dolls are another type. It's called TURUSHI BINA, haning dolls.
AND this set is an original in TOCHIGI. TOCHIGI is famous for strawberries, so they are strawberry dolls.
I had a good day.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Valentine's day has finished
How's your weekend? we had heavy snow again. Yesterday Yuki and our neighbors shoveled up snow, so the road in front of our houses are clear. But lots of snow still has remained so much that it's dangerous to drive .Fortunately it's sunny today, so I hope the snow will melt.
Last week we and my students enjoyed Valentine's week with sweets. Today I put away all decorations for Valentine's day, and put HINA-dolls to celebrate Girls' day in March. Girls' day called HIMATSURI brings spring. So spring is just around the corner.
It means a new school year for me.
Last week we and my students enjoyed Valentine's week with sweets. Today I put away all decorations for Valentine's day, and put HINA-dolls to celebrate Girls' day in March. Girls' day called HIMATSURI brings spring. So spring is just around the corner.
It means a new school year for me.
From spring a few adult students might join us. I made a mind-map to introduce ourselves. Now I'm really interested in showing my ideas on a mind-map.
Monday, February 10, 2014
We had heavy snow this weekend.
This weekend we had heavy snow. Fortunately it was Saturday, so Yuki didn't need to go to work. And he "couldn't" go playing tennis on Saturday, and he "couldn't" go playing golf on Sunday.It was snowing and windy. We huddled in the room all the day. We made "hot" curry noodle for lunch..
And we were watching TV, though Yuki was working with his computer.
At night, it was still snowing, but we decided to go out to a nearby small restaurant. It takes about 3minutes there on foot. And it's Yuki's favorite restaurant, and he is familiar with the master. We knew it was open in despite of the bad weather, we expected no one would come there.
So we decided to surprise the master. ==== but it was crowded. Fortunately we got seats. (20 minutes later 4 customers came, but they couldn't get seats.)
Next day it was sunny, but the snow piled up high. So it was time for men.
All male neighbors went out to shovel the snow. They seldom meet, but on such a snow day it's a valuable opportunity to communicate each other.
Saturday, February 08, 2014
Excuse consumption
"Excuse consumption", I knew this word recently , of course in Japanese. I translated this word literally in English.
When you feel conflicted whether you allowed to buy buy a thing or not, you don't like to buy it depending on your mood, so you make a legitimate reason unconsciously. This way is excuse consumption.
And people who do excuse consumption are more satisfied with things they bought.
Now I'm thinking whether I will take a one-day training workshop or not. It costs 45000 yen. If I attend the workshop I'll be a more skilled teacher, or leader. But I don't know how long I will run this school in the future. For me it might be more useful to attend a health program.
On the other hand sometimes I think that appearing something new is a time when I need it, so I should learn it without hesitating. And at least I'm working. I can afford to pay it (though I go out for lunch or dinner less.)
What do you think of it?
When you feel conflicted whether you allowed to buy buy a thing or not, you don't like to buy it depending on your mood, so you make a legitimate reason unconsciously. This way is excuse consumption.
And people who do excuse consumption are more satisfied with things they bought.
Now I'm thinking whether I will take a one-day training workshop or not. It costs 45000 yen. If I attend the workshop I'll be a more skilled teacher, or leader. But I don't know how long I will run this school in the future. For me it might be more useful to attend a health program.
On the other hand sometimes I think that appearing something new is a time when I need it, so I should learn it without hesitating. And at least I'm working. I can afford to pay it (though I go out for lunch or dinner less.)
What do you think of it?
Monday, February 03, 2014
Three anchors
The other day I attended a workshop about coaching. It was really interesting.
The lecture was a woman who was almost as old as I.
She introduced the word "anchor". And she said "to make yourself calm, if you have three anchors, it's easy to do it."
The first anchor is to recall when you worked hard and made it.
The second anchor is to recall when you enjoyed
The third anchor is to recall when you relaxed.
Is it easy for you to recall all situations?
It wasn't easy for me.
The first anchor was easy.
I learned a lot about kid's English method
I made a speech as the head of PTA when I was busy at mother's duties.
I succeeded a project when I worked hard at an electronic company as an engineer.
I studied hard to enter into a university.
How about you?
The second anchor was --- I needed time for a while to think about.
I enjoy talking with some of my friends -- in my mind there are three friends.
How about you?
The third anchor was difficult. So I asked my husband Yuki.
He said " you definitely relax when you are reading a book "in" the bed".
How about you?
I also asked Yuki his anchors.
(The other day he went work out) I did 20 squat, it was his first anchor.
I enjoy golfing. it was his second anchor.
And he also asked about his third anchor.
So I said "You completely relax when you watch TV with a glass of beer while dozing off.
/
The lecture was a woman who was almost as old as I.
She introduced the word "anchor". And she said "to make yourself calm, if you have three anchors, it's easy to do it."
The first anchor is to recall when you worked hard and made it.
The second anchor is to recall when you enjoyed
The third anchor is to recall when you relaxed.
Is it easy for you to recall all situations?
It wasn't easy for me.
The first anchor was easy.
I learned a lot about kid's English method
I made a speech as the head of PTA when I was busy at mother's duties.
I succeeded a project when I worked hard at an electronic company as an engineer.
I studied hard to enter into a university.
How about you?
The second anchor was --- I needed time for a while to think about.
I enjoy talking with some of my friends -- in my mind there are three friends.
How about you?
The third anchor was difficult. So I asked my husband Yuki.
He said " you definitely relax when you are reading a book "in" the bed".
How about you?
I also asked Yuki his anchors.
(The other day he went work out) I did 20 squat, it was his first anchor.
I enjoy golfing. it was his second anchor.
And he also asked about his third anchor.
So I said "You completely relax when you watch TV with a glass of beer while dozing off.
/
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
foreigners and relgions
"Probably" here in Japan many people especially young people say " we don't have a particular religion." On the other hand though they don't have a strong faith, foreigners who come or live in Japan say " my religion is ----". When we talk with them, if we don't know their religion well, it's sometimes difficult to understand them.
And, though I say "I don't have a particular religion", my character seems to be built by Buddhism.
I don't know about Buddhism very well, but some friends who are from foreign countries say "Oh, you idea comes from Buddhism." It's interesting that I don't know about Buddhism very well, but other people who have a faith, know about other religions.
The other day I talked with a lady who has a (mild) Jewish faith. We talked about volunteering which means doing something for free. ( I read English picture books at library, I go to nursery school to do English activities for free.)
What she said was very interesting. "The good point of Christian faith is that they have an open mind to volunteer for others. The people who have the Jewish faith tend to be interested in only the people how have the Jewish faith."
In my case, I don't have a strong volunteer spirit. So I always think about my volunteer activities (or I always think whether it's a volunteer activity or it's my hobby.) So sometimes I think that if I were a Christian, I would never hesitate my (volunteer) activities.
Recently I became a friend with a Indian lady who has the Hindu faith and is a strict vegetarian.
It's fun to talk with her, but sometimes we are surprised at each other.
Before knowing others, I need to understand what is Buddhism, --- though I don't like to read such kind of books.
And, though I say "I don't have a particular religion", my character seems to be built by Buddhism.
I don't know about Buddhism very well, but some friends who are from foreign countries say "Oh, you idea comes from Buddhism." It's interesting that I don't know about Buddhism very well, but other people who have a faith, know about other religions.
The other day I talked with a lady who has a (mild) Jewish faith. We talked about volunteering which means doing something for free. ( I read English picture books at library, I go to nursery school to do English activities for free.)
What she said was very interesting. "The good point of Christian faith is that they have an open mind to volunteer for others. The people who have the Jewish faith tend to be interested in only the people how have the Jewish faith."
In my case, I don't have a strong volunteer spirit. So I always think about my volunteer activities (or I always think whether it's a volunteer activity or it's my hobby.) So sometimes I think that if I were a Christian, I would never hesitate my (volunteer) activities.
Recently I became a friend with a Indian lady who has the Hindu faith and is a strict vegetarian.
It's fun to talk with her, but sometimes we are surprised at each other.
Before knowing others, I need to understand what is Buddhism, --- though I don't like to read such kind of books.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
School uniforms
Have you ever worn school uniforms? The other day I talked with my students about school uniforms.
Here in Utsunomiya they have school uniforms in most of junior high schools and high schools.
School uniforms are usually separated into two groups. In girls' case, one is a blazer type and the other is a sailor type, and in boy's case , one is also a blazer type and the other is a stand-up collar type.
When we were talking about them, there were three students. Each of them goes to different school. They have a school uniform but each of them is different.
The good points are that ---
It's easy to wear without worrying about what to wear on the day. Students wearing a school uniform look the same, so we don't need to compare with others.
A school uniform is really useful, it's a kind of formal wear. So when we have to attend to a ceremony such as a wedding ceremony (though girls wear more bright clothes.), and a funeral.
The bad points are that
They are a little bit dirty because they are not so often washed.
And a girl said that she often mistakes her friend for others because they look the same, and she often mistakes her school uniform for others when they change the school uniforms into their training wears, because their school uniforms look the same.
For the youth it's a usual thing to break rules, so at school they have a dress inspection once a week or several times a month. Students are checked whether they wear school uniforms keeping the rules by skirt length, hair style, front hair (bangs?), eyebrow, etc.
A student said it was too strict.
Another student said it was trouble some. and she also said "it's unnecessary, waste of time. Because I wear them neatly, so I don't need to be checked, why I have to go to the cold hallway to get such an unnecessary inspection."
These days girl students tend to shorten their skirt length.Do you know how the girls shorten their skirt length? They fold the top of the skirt twice or three times.
A student mentioned COSPLE which means costume play. Some adults enjoy costume playing. When someone cosplays as a high school student, they usually wear a sailor-style uniform. Actually a sailor-style uniform is popular among high school students, though they are not accepted by most of high schools.
Additionally I've never worn a sailor-style uniform so I had wanted to wear it.
Here in Utsunomiya they have school uniforms in most of junior high schools and high schools.
School uniforms are usually separated into two groups. In girls' case, one is a blazer type and the other is a sailor type, and in boy's case , one is also a blazer type and the other is a stand-up collar type.
When we were talking about them, there were three students. Each of them goes to different school. They have a school uniform but each of them is different.
The good points are that ---
It's easy to wear without worrying about what to wear on the day. Students wearing a school uniform look the same, so we don't need to compare with others.
A school uniform is really useful, it's a kind of formal wear. So when we have to attend to a ceremony such as a wedding ceremony (though girls wear more bright clothes.), and a funeral.
The bad points are that
They are a little bit dirty because they are not so often washed.
And a girl said that she often mistakes her friend for others because they look the same, and she often mistakes her school uniform for others when they change the school uniforms into their training wears, because their school uniforms look the same.
For the youth it's a usual thing to break rules, so at school they have a dress inspection once a week or several times a month. Students are checked whether they wear school uniforms keeping the rules by skirt length, hair style, front hair (bangs?), eyebrow, etc.
A student said it was too strict.
Another student said it was trouble some. and she also said "it's unnecessary, waste of time. Because I wear them neatly, so I don't need to be checked, why I have to go to the cold hallway to get such an unnecessary inspection."
These days girl students tend to shorten their skirt length.Do you know how the girls shorten their skirt length? They fold the top of the skirt twice or three times.
A student mentioned COSPLE which means costume play. Some adults enjoy costume playing. When someone cosplays as a high school student, they usually wear a sailor-style uniform. Actually a sailor-style uniform is popular among high school students, though they are not accepted by most of high schools.
Additionally I've never worn a sailor-style uniform so I had wanted to wear it.
Monday, January 20, 2014
a book
This winter vacation I was knocked by my mother's nonstop talking. (You can say bossy talking, selfish talking --etc.) I know it's really difficult to change her, because she lives alone for a long time, so she doesn't use to adjust to others. And my daughters say "it's you in the future". I agree with them. So I bought this book to reconsider myself.
The contents were not so special, reasonably enough.
The author classifies brain into two types, boring brain and happy brain.
He suggests 4 ways to avoid having boring brain.
Don't pretend like being young. (though I pretend like being old enough)
Don't act self-importantly (though I tend to say that in my time ---)
Don't realize yourself it means don't say that when I get old, finally I realize what the life is.)
Don't be proud of yourself. (Well I don't agree with it, when we get old, we are qualified to proud of ourselves.)
I'd like to give this book to my mother, but if I did, she must be really angry.
So for me in the future, I put the book somewhere to be able to seen it --- it means toilet must be the best place for me and for "Yuki".
Additionally, when I was a child, the elderly had been a little bit arrogant, a little bit selfish and everybody would accept them. Nowadays we seen not to afford to accept such the elderly. Current life is getting difficult to live for both of the young and the elderly.
Wednesday, January 08, 2014
TODA NATSUKO
Have you ever heard of the name of TODA NATSUKO. She is a subtitle editor. In Japan foreign movies are subtitled in Japanese, though these days dubbed versions are increased. But making a dubbed version is expensive, so subtitled versions still remain. I heard that this culture which means subtitled movies in Japanese is a Japanese culture. Usually subtitled movies are for the deaf. Probably almost 100% Japanese people can read Japanese, so we have such a culture.
But there are not so many professional subtitle editors in Japan. She is one of them.
I went to listen to her lecture. She is now 77 years old. Her behavior is very nice, like being in the 40's. And her talking is really clear. Of course the contents were nice and her behavior made me surprised. Because she is just two years older than my mother.
Why she loos so active? One reason is that she is always surrounded by new experiments through new movies. Keeping a job must make her active.
Why she looks so strong? One reason is that she is single, so she learnt to live without depending others.
After her talking, many people asked her about movies, and her English.
I wanted to ask her about her senior life after retiring her job, but --- I couldn't.
Probably in her case, she ,must have lots of helpers, she can keep her life in an apartment.
Well, well, anyway, lots of young people came to listen to her.
I wish I could be a such senior to which many young people would listen to. My daughters and my mother don't listen to me.
But there are not so many professional subtitle editors in Japan. She is one of them.
I went to listen to her lecture. She is now 77 years old. Her behavior is very nice, like being in the 40's. And her talking is really clear. Of course the contents were nice and her behavior made me surprised. Because she is just two years older than my mother.
Why she loos so active? One reason is that she is always surrounded by new experiments through new movies. Keeping a job must make her active.
Why she looks so strong? One reason is that she is single, so she learnt to live without depending others.
After her talking, many people asked her about movies, and her English.
I wanted to ask her about her senior life after retiring her job, but --- I couldn't.
Probably in her case, she ,must have lots of helpers, she can keep her life in an apartment.
Well, well, anyway, lots of young people came to listen to her.
I wish I could be a such senior to which many young people would listen to. My daughters and my mother don't listen to me.
Monday, January 06, 2014
Job has started.
Yuki went to his office. And I called an advertising agency to ask posting my English school fliers.
It is the first day to work.
Last night we went to ASHIKAGA to see a garden with wonderful illumination.
Though it was very cold, it was wonderful. This park is really popular for wisterias. We've take our mother in spring before. Usually in the season of wisterias, this park is crowded with adults. But this time it was crowded with families. The business strategy of this park seems to be in success.
You gain extra productive hours
Your efficiency and productivity increase
You have more control over your life
Spend More time for enjoyment
It is the first day to work.
Last night we went to ASHIKAGA to see a garden with wonderful illumination.
I read an interesting report.
Why Is Time Management Important?
You gain extra productive hours
Your efficiency and productivity increase
You have more control over your life
Spend More time for enjoyment
All of them are collect.
When I was busy as a mother, I used to do time management.
But now, I don't want to do time management.
Now I'm free from lots of necessary things what I have to do.
So at first I want enjoy my free time, and I want to chose what I want to do.
I want a laid-back life. I leaned the term "laid-back" from my friend. I want to use this time in a good meaning.
Well, well, it's time to go to work out.
Friday, January 03, 2014
Happy new year
On the New Year's day, my mother, our daughters, Yuki and I were saw the wonderful rising sun from the upstairs window.
Then we celebrated New Year with our homemade OSECHI.
OSECHI is a Japanese traditional feast for the day. This time my younger daughter came here two days ago, so we made them together. Do you remember each dish has a special meaning. If you are interested in OSECHI, please check my previous blog.
Then we were going to go to a shrine, but it was too crowded, and a lot of people were waiting to pray in a long line. So we just saw the gate of shrine from the window of our car.
Then my mother came back to TOKYO by train.
Then Our elder daughter T and I went seeing a friend who was studying even on the New Year's day in a laboratory of Utsunomiya college. Yuki and the younger daughter M were resting at home. At night T went seeing her friends who went to junior high school together.The others were resting at home, it means Yuki was drinking.
On 2 T drove to TOKYO with Yuki. According to Yuki, her driving skill was getting better. She seems to have a car in Tokyo, but----.
On the other hand, M and I went to Tokyo by bullet train. Because her belly felt bloated easily. (Did I tell you that she is four month pregnant.)
M's husband came to Tokyo station, and they came back to their house. The others attend Yuki's relatives reunion. And we dropped by my mother's house and met my brother's family and went back to Utsunomiya.
What busy days they were. Fortunately during this new year's vacation, it was warm than I expected.
Well, our silent day has come back.
Now I'm thinking about New Year's resolution.
I was always thinking how I use "time" effectively. Now I have to change the way. I try to think how I use "time" with satisfaction. For example, I used to cook by myself to "save" money. it means if I were rich I could hire a made. Well, well, now I can afford to buy prepared food at a good quality store, though it's sometimes. So we could buy OSECHI at a good quality department store, but I didn't. I enjoyed making OSECHI, Of course some people prefer going abroad to cooking at home.
2014 has started. Let's enjoy this year together.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
New Year is just around the corner.
I put away Christmas ornaments, and put New Year's ornaments.
We finished Christmas with disjointing our Christmas cookie tree.
How "was" your the year of 2013?
The biggest event for us was our younger daughter's marrige.
I often write about my empty-nest symptom. But this time I found her indevendence.
And this New Year's vacation, she will come back with her husband --- for me -- it's a little bit troublesome. It means we wellcome the couple as a kind of guest.
The next thing was that I could join some interesting workshops, like mind-map, vission-map, like that.
There I met people who are in their verious generation. It made me inspired and made me confusued. It's comfertable to be in an inner circle, but I want to have connection with outside world.
And the thrid thing was anyway my bad health condition. Though it's my favorite phrase "it can't be helped", anyway I often have feeling that I don't want to do anything. Thanks of my English classes, or because of my English classes, anyway I have done something. I don't know whether it's good for me to continue my English classes.
And the forth thing was that I have been keeping this blog. It 's amazing though my English skill seems not to be imrpoved. Writing something in Englihs makes my brain clearly. And my readers inspire me. Thanks to my readrs.
I wish your New Year!
We finished Christmas with disjointing our Christmas cookie tree.
How "was" your the year of 2013?
The biggest event for us was our younger daughter's marrige.
I often write about my empty-nest symptom. But this time I found her indevendence.
And this New Year's vacation, she will come back with her husband --- for me -- it's a little bit troublesome. It means we wellcome the couple as a kind of guest.
The next thing was that I could join some interesting workshops, like mind-map, vission-map, like that.
There I met people who are in their verious generation. It made me inspired and made me confusued. It's comfertable to be in an inner circle, but I want to have connection with outside world.
And the thrid thing was anyway my bad health condition. Though it's my favorite phrase "it can't be helped", anyway I often have feeling that I don't want to do anything. Thanks of my English classes, or because of my English classes, anyway I have done something. I don't know whether it's good for me to continue my English classes.
And the forth thing was that I have been keeping this blog. It 's amazing though my English skill seems not to be imrpoved. Writing something in Englihs makes my brain clearly. And my readers inspire me. Thanks to my readrs.
I wish your New Year!
Monday, December 23, 2013
Washoku
WASHOKU is registered as one of intangible cultural heritage. What do you think of from the word of "WASHOKU"?
I read an interesting report on the newspaper.
Japanese people think typical WASHOKU is -- that
SUSHI, SASHIMI, MISO-soup or SUIMONO, KAISEKI-dishes, TEMPURA, NIMONO, and NIKUJAGA.
They are traditional Japanese food, and the common thing is soy-sauce or soy-beans, (When we cook MISO-soup, we don't use soy-sauce, but we put MISO (soy beans paste) to taste it.)
How many things do you know?
And WASHOKU which is recommend to foreigners by Japanese people are ---
SUSHI, TEMPURA, SASHIMI, and SUKIYAKI.
All of them are kind of feast, not usual meals.
Do Japanese people always eat WASHOKU? No.
Is WASHOKU expensive? Some of them are expensive, but some of them are inexpensive.
There is such a question; Do you think these familiar Japanese foods are WASHOKU?
YAKISOBA; 45% people say yes.
RAMEN; 35%people say yes.
EBI-FURAI; 28%people say yes.
TARAKO-spaghetti ;28% people say yes.
Japanese curry and rice ;23% people say yes.
My foreign friends who live in Japan, say "they are Japanese food".
What difference is there between WASHOKU and Japanese food?
If you know the difference, why don't you come to Japan?
Additionally I'll treat "Japanese food".
I read an interesting report on the newspaper.
Japanese people think typical WASHOKU is -- that
SUSHI, SASHIMI, MISO-soup or SUIMONO, KAISEKI-dishes, TEMPURA, NIMONO, and NIKUJAGA.
They are traditional Japanese food, and the common thing is soy-sauce or soy-beans, (When we cook MISO-soup, we don't use soy-sauce, but we put MISO (soy beans paste) to taste it.)
How many things do you know?
And WASHOKU which is recommend to foreigners by Japanese people are ---
SUSHI, TEMPURA, SASHIMI, and SUKIYAKI.
All of them are kind of feast, not usual meals.
Do Japanese people always eat WASHOKU? No.
Is WASHOKU expensive? Some of them are expensive, but some of them are inexpensive.
There is such a question; Do you think these familiar Japanese foods are WASHOKU?
YAKISOBA; 45% people say yes.
RAMEN; 35%people say yes.
EBI-FURAI; 28%people say yes.
TARAKO-spaghetti ;28% people say yes.
Japanese curry and rice ;23% people say yes.
My foreign friends who live in Japan, say "they are Japanese food".
What difference is there between WASHOKU and Japanese food?
If you know the difference, why don't you come to Japan?
Additionally I'll treat "Japanese food".
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Merry Christmas
I know it's a little bit early to say "Merry Christmas", But in Japan it's not a holiday on 24th, and 25 th. But we have three-day weekends now. So many people enjoy Chirstmas this weekend.
All days of last week my students and I enjoyed Chirstmas lessons,--- it means cooking.
These are baked by elementary school students.
And this week we are going to break that cookie tree.
How do you enjoy your Christmas?
Anyway just a week is left until our new year's vacation.
All days of last week my students and I enjoyed Chirstmas lessons,--- it means cooking.
And this week we are going to break that cookie tree.
Anyway just a week is left until our new year's vacation.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
feast
Christmas is just around the corner. In Japan on Christmas it's not a holiday, so probably many families are going to celebrate Christmas this week end. On 12/23 it's a holiday, "the Emperor's Birthday". So we have three-ends, though Yuki goes to work and I'm completely free.
And probably many families enjoy chickens and cake. It comes from American culture.
What is Japanese traditional feast? Probably it's OSECHI. It's a Japanese New Year's food. The colorful dishes are served in lacquer boxes called OJYU. Do you know that each dish is a kind of wish. Black beans are food for health, because the Japanese word beans, Mame, means healthy. Shrimp are for a long life because they are bent over like old people. Herring roe is for a strong family, with lots of children, because roe has has lots of eggs. And comport chestnuts are for wealth because shinning chestnuts give us an idea of Japanese old gold coins. Every osechi ryori has a special meaning.
My grandmother would tell the oprigins of osechi ryori while we were eating. Unfortunately I don't remeber all of them. We have to pass down the story from generation to generation, while we prepare it. Some families is going to buy osechi ryori like Kentacky fried chiken, some families cook, and some families go travel abroad without having osechi.
And probably many families enjoy chickens and cake. It comes from American culture.
What is Japanese traditional feast? Probably it's OSECHI. It's a Japanese New Year's food. The colorful dishes are served in lacquer boxes called OJYU. Do you know that each dish is a kind of wish. Black beans are food for health, because the Japanese word beans, Mame, means healthy. Shrimp are for a long life because they are bent over like old people. Herring roe is for a strong family, with lots of children, because roe has has lots of eggs. And comport chestnuts are for wealth because shinning chestnuts give us an idea of Japanese old gold coins. Every osechi ryori has a special meaning.
My grandmother would tell the oprigins of osechi ryori while we were eating. Unfortunately I don't remeber all of them. We have to pass down the story from generation to generation, while we prepare it. Some families is going to buy osechi ryori like Kentacky fried chiken, some families cook, and some families go travel abroad without having osechi.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
volunteering ethos
The other day I attended a workshop. The speaker was a man who is in his 30's, and live in SENDAI.
SENDAI is one of cities which got a sever damage in 2011 because of the TSUNAMI.
He is a leader of SCHOP-DAN, which is SCOOP group in English.
Since the disaster had occurred, he went to YAMASHITA town (mainly) and dug body parts from the ground. ( the body damaged by TSUNAMI isn't kept the whole figure.) So the group name ordinated to the word scoop. They are a perfect volunteer group, but they don't call them a volunteer group, they just say they went to a friend's house,
Why?
I didn't know the following thing. In Japan we have a rule about volunteers. Volunteers don't go to dangerous areas and unregulated places. So if they told themselves to be volunteers, they couldn't enter YAMASHITA town. Because the town was completely ruined, so nobody knew people who would enter the city were good people or robbers. So only relatives and friends could enter the town. Actually the leader's friends lived in the town, and at first the leader went to find his friend (and he found the body.)
He did this work about for a year, and at the same time he started to clean the houses for surviving people in the town.
His work attracted many people, and the group was bigger.
And he knew, there were four types of volunteers.
People who can do what they can do. They are active volunteers.
People who don't do what they are able to do. (It means they don't think what they are able to do. And they are usual people.)
People who want to do what they can't do. (They are an unwelcome favor.)
People who don't do what they can't do. (They are honest people.)
SENDAI is one of cities which got a sever damage in 2011 because of the TSUNAMI.
He is a leader of SCHOP-DAN, which is SCOOP group in English.
Since the disaster had occurred, he went to YAMASHITA town (mainly) and dug body parts from the ground. ( the body damaged by TSUNAMI isn't kept the whole figure.) So the group name ordinated to the word scoop. They are a perfect volunteer group, but they don't call them a volunteer group, they just say they went to a friend's house,
Why?
I didn't know the following thing. In Japan we have a rule about volunteers. Volunteers don't go to dangerous areas and unregulated places. So if they told themselves to be volunteers, they couldn't enter YAMASHITA town. Because the town was completely ruined, so nobody knew people who would enter the city were good people or robbers. So only relatives and friends could enter the town. Actually the leader's friends lived in the town, and at first the leader went to find his friend (and he found the body.)
He did this work about for a year, and at the same time he started to clean the houses for surviving people in the town.
His work attracted many people, and the group was bigger.
And he knew, there were four types of volunteers.
People who can do what they can do. They are active volunteers.
People who don't do what they are able to do. (It means they don't think what they are able to do. And they are usual people.)
People who want to do what they can't do. (They are an unwelcome favor.)
People who don't do what they can't do. (They are honest people.)
Saturday, December 07, 2013
December has come
Have you finished decorating your house for Christmas?
Can you see a cookie tree? ( I don't know a correct word.) I bought it at a sweet shop, and put it on the shelf in the entrance hall. It really caught the eyes of my students. We'll eat it the last week in December .
This month I seem to be busy. This month two special workshops are going to be held (to celebrate Christmas? or to reconsider this year?)
And I also do Christmas events at nursery schools. I already did it twice. I'm going to go more two nursery schools to read Christmas English picture books.
And I also hold a small Christmas concert at KARAKU tea room.
And a men, who are Turkey, stayed with us about 15 years ago, and this spring came to Tokyo as Turkey government official will visit us to celebrate Christmas together. We had lots of young foreigner guests , and he moved up the ladder the most highly among our guests.
Anyway I hope I'll make it. To tell the truth I cancelled today's meeting because of headache. Today Yuki stays home, and he "is going to" cook (easy and quick) dinner for us. Until dinner time I'll read a book.
This month I seem to be busy. This month two special workshops are going to be held (to celebrate Christmas? or to reconsider this year?)
And I also do Christmas events at nursery schools. I already did it twice. I'm going to go more two nursery schools to read Christmas English picture books.
And I also hold a small Christmas concert at KARAKU tea room.
And a men, who are Turkey, stayed with us about 15 years ago, and this spring came to Tokyo as Turkey government official will visit us to celebrate Christmas together. We had lots of young foreigner guests , and he moved up the ladder the most highly among our guests.
Anyway I hope I'll make it. To tell the truth I cancelled today's meeting because of headache. Today Yuki stays home, and he "is going to" cook (easy and quick) dinner for us. Until dinner time I'll read a book.
Wednesday, December 04, 2013
About stress
The other day I talked about stress, but it was difficult to say something quickly. So let me re-think about stress.
• What causes your stress? And How do you recognize stress in your life?
To tell the truth these three month I was being in a bad condition. Poor health causes my stress.
Poor health makes me disappointed, and I feel discouraged. And for me when I don't want cooking, it's the sign to be under stress.
• Have you been under stress recently?
Now, it's OK, but the atmosphere of December makes me feeling busy.
• How does stress affect you?
Anyway I don't want to do anything, especially house chores.
And I don't want to go out either.
• When you are stressful, how do you feel physically?
I feel discouraged, and sometimes I take a medicine of anti-depression medicine.
This September I tried to take a little bit strong medicine, but I suffered a side effect.
• Do you feel tired during the day?
It depends on the day. Sometimes I feel tired, and sometimes I feel contentment. I think feeling contentment and being busy are the opposite sides to me.
• Can you sleep well at night?
Fortunately I can sleep well.
• Does your stomach hurt?
Now it's OK, but when I eat too much, my stomach tents to hurt. So for these two months I have to be careful of not eating too much.
・How do you feel emotionally?
Probably I became old, so these days I don't feel emotionally so often,
• Do you feel nervous or worried about stressful situations?
Yes, a stressful situation causes another stressful situation.
And usually too business makes a stressful situation. So I'll organize my schedule frexiciblly as much as I can.
• Do you get angry easily?
Probably my family say "yes". but my students say "no".
And my own answer is "yes". I'm not patient.
• What causes your stress? And How do you recognize stress in your life?
To tell the truth these three month I was being in a bad condition. Poor health causes my stress.
Poor health makes me disappointed, and I feel discouraged. And for me when I don't want cooking, it's the sign to be under stress.
• Have you been under stress recently?
Now, it's OK, but the atmosphere of December makes me feeling busy.
• How does stress affect you?
Anyway I don't want to do anything, especially house chores.
And I don't want to go out either.
• When you are stressful, how do you feel physically?
I feel discouraged, and sometimes I take a medicine of anti-depression medicine.
This September I tried to take a little bit strong medicine, but I suffered a side effect.
• Do you feel tired during the day?
It depends on the day. Sometimes I feel tired, and sometimes I feel contentment. I think feeling contentment and being busy are the opposite sides to me.
• Can you sleep well at night?
Fortunately I can sleep well.
• Does your stomach hurt?
Now it's OK, but when I eat too much, my stomach tents to hurt. So for these two months I have to be careful of not eating too much.
・How do you feel emotionally?
Probably I became old, so these days I don't feel emotionally so often,
• Do you feel nervous or worried about stressful situations?
Yes, a stressful situation causes another stressful situation.
And usually too business makes a stressful situation. So I'll organize my schedule frexiciblly as much as I can.
• Do you get angry easily?
Probably my family say "yes". but my students say "no".
And my own answer is "yes". I'm not patient.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Why do you work?
Why do you work? The most simple answer is to earn money.
Of course it's necessary.
And I know, for women being independent economically is the first step to be an independent woman.
I'm really surprised to hear that in a country recently it is allowed for women to open an account at a bank.
Though it's difficult to explain about the situation in Japan. We don't used to hiring a baby sitter. In my country being a house wife doesn't mean that the woman is uneducated.The reason mothers stay home is not only to nurse kids but also to educate kids.
Of course some mothers have to continue to work to earn money, and some mothers continue to work if their circumstances make it possible and they want to choose to keep working. Why? They may answer like this; to keep independence, to keep what they are. They tend to think about themselves.
But the other day I hear another answer. She said "I want to make a better future you will live". She seems to be very proud of her job.
If you can meet such a job, you would be very happy.
Well, well, now I work a little? Why? not to earn money, though I want my pocket money.
Why? I want myself to feel being a member of society.
For me, it's difficult to work others.
Of course it's necessary.
And I know, for women being independent economically is the first step to be an independent woman.
I'm really surprised to hear that in a country recently it is allowed for women to open an account at a bank.
Though it's difficult to explain about the situation in Japan. We don't used to hiring a baby sitter. In my country being a house wife doesn't mean that the woman is uneducated.The reason mothers stay home is not only to nurse kids but also to educate kids.
Of course some mothers have to continue to work to earn money, and some mothers continue to work if their circumstances make it possible and they want to choose to keep working. Why? They may answer like this; to keep independence, to keep what they are. They tend to think about themselves.
But the other day I hear another answer. She said "I want to make a better future you will live". She seems to be very proud of her job.
If you can meet such a job, you would be very happy.
Well, well, now I work a little? Why? not to earn money, though I want my pocket money.
Why? I want myself to feel being a member of society.
For me, it's difficult to work others.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Three "hei"
I read an interesting report. I don't know you will be able to understand my English sentences, or this Japanese thinking. But anyway for me it's really interesting.
The writer is as old as me, though it's he. And he was born in TOKYO (this means he was born in a big city.) and now he works at UTSUNOMIYA (this means he works at a local city.)
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When we were college students( it means about 30 years ago) , we would enjoy our daily lives without worrying about our future especially our jobs. (Of course we know that now it's a hard time to seek jobs even though they graduate from college.) But anyway for those four years students were independent of parents ( though it might had been mentally.) and parents also independent of their children. At that time the youth would seek three "KOU"s (it means "high") -- high academic background, high income, and tall height ( it means cool looking). And the youth are now parents. they don't want to let their children go adventure, clever parents analyse cost performance even though they can afford to educate their children. And they say to their children that " three "hei"s are enough for our lives." Three "hei"s are calm life, average income, average looking.
So,keeping the pipe with depending on parents and children each other mentally and economically, a big city is closed in it self, and a local city is also closed in itself, And unfortunately since they don't have enough money and human resource in local cities, they tend to become diminished. So the difference between a big city and a local city is getting bigger.
--------------------------------
I often feel there is a big barrier between Tokyo and Utsunomiya.
I like this calm Utsunomiya's life. On the other hand I like the active Tokyo's life.
I understand what he says.
On the other hand, an interesting occurs.
This writer was born in TOKYO, and now he lives in UTSUNOMIYA. And he may choose UTSUNOMIYA as the place he will live after he will retire. Actually we will do. The interesting thing is that the senior generation will be complterly different from the generation about 30 years ago. In Utsunomiya's case, it is a middle sized city , so many branches of big companies is coming for these 30 years, it means many people moved to here from a big city including us. Our generation doesn't like to see UTSUNOMIYA getting dimminished. Now we are facing a problem of aged-city. UTSUNOMIYA is a middle-sized city, so it might be easy for this city to be attractive city for aged-people. And if it's an interesting city for aged people, it must be influenced to young people.
The writer is as old as me, though it's he. And he was born in TOKYO (this means he was born in a big city.) and now he works at UTSUNOMIYA (this means he works at a local city.)
--------------------------------
When we were college students( it means about 30 years ago) , we would enjoy our daily lives without worrying about our future especially our jobs. (Of course we know that now it's a hard time to seek jobs even though they graduate from college.) But anyway for those four years students were independent of parents ( though it might had been mentally.) and parents also independent of their children. At that time the youth would seek three "KOU"s (it means "high") -- high academic background, high income, and tall height ( it means cool looking). And the youth are now parents. they don't want to let their children go adventure, clever parents analyse cost performance even though they can afford to educate their children. And they say to their children that " three "hei"s are enough for our lives." Three "hei"s are calm life, average income, average looking.
So,
--------------------------------
I often feel there is a big barrier between Tokyo and Utsunomiya.
I like this calm Utsunomiya's life. On the other hand I like the active Tokyo's life.
I understand what he says.
On the other hand, an interesting occurs.
This writer was born in TOKYO, and now he lives in UTSUNOMIYA. And he may choose UTSUNOMIYA as the place he will live after he will retire. Actually we will do. The interesting thing is that the senior generation will be complterly different from the generation about 30 years ago. In Utsunomiya's case, it is a middle sized city , so many branches of big companies is coming for these 30 years, it means many people moved to here from a big city including us. Our generation doesn't like to see UTSUNOMIYA getting dimminished. Now we are facing a problem of aged-city. UTSUNOMIYA is a middle-sized city, so it might be easy for this city to be attractive city for aged-people. And if it's an interesting city for aged people, it must be influenced to young people.
Wednesday, November 06, 2013
parenting
The other day I talked about parenting with a Filipino lady who is in her 30's and single.
I have two daughters, and fortunately they are already independent. My younger daughter got married this spring, and she and her husband lives in TOKYO. My elder daughter is still single, she pursues her life in an art world. Next week she is going to hold her personal exhibition in TOKYO.
And Yuki and I live in Utsunomiya where is 100 km far from TOKYO. These days we seldom our daughters.
So the special thing about my elder daughter is her strong motivation to make works.
And the special thing about my younger daughter is the attitude not to attach to anything. It means she doesn't pursue her career, but she likes doing work, so she doesn't choose a type of a job.
The Filipino lady asked some questions to me.
1, Did you help your children with their homework?
Yes, especially I used to help them with their special summer homework. But I didn't help them with daily school homework.
But to tell the truth, probably they didn't ask me to help them. I was interested in doing summer "science" homework.
2. What were some things that you would not allow your children to do?
I think we don't have strict rules. But I like being punctual, and I don't like to tell a lie.
3.What are some things that you would allow your children to do that you think other parents may not allow their children to do?
I didn't compare ourselves with other parents. --- Probably nothing special.
4. Do you think that you are a good parent? Why?
I believe we are good parents. Because I think we've kept good relation ship.
Anyway I did as much as I could.
5. What do you think are some of the most difficult problems faced by parents now a days?
Well, it seems to be difficult apart from financial problems.
Probably all parents are afraid of their children being truant, being bullied and becoming a bully.
These days the contents of bullying is different from old-style bullying.
6. Should a good mother give up her job to stay at home with her children?
I think not to "give up" her job, but if you "choose " to stay at home as a mother, it's not bad. Actually I chose staying at home as a mother so I quit my job.
7. Should women always get custody (keep the children) after a divorce?
At first I didn't understand this meaning. In Philippines, when women dicvorce and her children were under the age of 7, they get automatically custody. In Japan, if children are under the age of 10, mothers tend to get custody, but we don't have a rule.
I have two daughters, and fortunately they are already independent. My younger daughter got married this spring, and she and her husband lives in TOKYO. My elder daughter is still single, she pursues her life in an art world. Next week she is going to hold her personal exhibition in TOKYO.
And Yuki and I live in Utsunomiya where is 100 km far from TOKYO. These days we seldom our daughters.
So the special thing about my elder daughter is her strong motivation to make works.
And the special thing about my younger daughter is the attitude not to attach to anything. It means she doesn't pursue her career, but she likes doing work, so she doesn't choose a type of a job.
The Filipino lady asked some questions to me.
1, Did you help your children with their homework?
Yes, especially I used to help them with their special summer homework. But I didn't help them with daily school homework.
But to tell the truth, probably they didn't ask me to help them. I was interested in doing summer "science" homework.
2. What were some things that you would not allow your children to do?
I think we don't have strict rules. But I like being punctual, and I don't like to tell a lie.
3.What are some things that you would allow your children to do that you think other parents may not allow their children to do?
I didn't compare ourselves with other parents. --- Probably nothing special.
4. Do you think that you are a good parent? Why?
I believe we are good parents. Because I think we've kept good relation ship.
Anyway I did as much as I could.
5. What do you think are some of the most difficult problems faced by parents now a days?
Well, it seems to be difficult apart from financial problems.
Probably all parents are afraid of their children being truant, being bullied and becoming a bully.
These days the contents of bullying is different from old-style bullying.
6. Should a good mother give up her job to stay at home with her children?
I think not to "give up" her job, but if you "choose " to stay at home as a mother, it's not bad. Actually I chose staying at home as a mother so I quit my job.
7. Should women always get custody (keep the children) after a divorce?
At first I didn't understand this meaning. In Philippines, when women dicvorce and her children were under the age of 7, they get automatically custody. In Japan, if children are under the age of 10, mothers tend to get custody, but we don't have a rule.
Tuesday, November 05, 2013
A talkshow by a woman
I participate to a talk show by a woman, she talked about her life for 2 hours.
It was interesting. She is around 65 years, nevertheless she wore heels. Though she came from TOKYO by bullet train, I don't know she was wearing heels in the train. She might have changed her shoes for her talk show.
Who is the woman? She is a mother of a famous Japanese singer. But she didn't talk about the singer, didn't talk about the way to bring him up. She just talked how she managed to overcome some difficult situations. And she suggest you should praise yourself a lot.
I've heard such a story.
-----------------------
Close your eyes, and imagine to put a wonderful (wine) glass in front of you. Try to fill the glass with compliments for yourself.
-----------------------
I think Japanese people or I am not good at praising myself. I sometimes hear this phrase, but I forget soon. So it was a good time to consider myself.
To tell the truth for me it was more interesting to listen to additional talk.
She said to women who are busy in doing mother's job. "Please enjoy the time with your kids, it's not so long than you think."
And she said to women who graduated from mother's job, "Please live for yourself".
Though I don't know her real life, but she seems to live "alone". Though she is popular as a singer's mother, she doesn't seem to keep contact with him so often. So in good meaning and in bad meaning, the phrase "living for yourself" was very convincing.
She also said that when we try to depart for another place, some people leaves move away, but you meet new people.
Those who come are welcome, those who leave are not regretted.
I know this phrase, but it's sometimes difficult to do it. I tend to chase people who leave me.
Additionally I grinned to myself when she said ----
"If you get stuck at home, anyway you go out with one bill (it means 1000 yen). And for a while you keep walking. Probably you feel tired after you walk for one-meter (it means a minimum fee of taxi). So you get a taxi, go home, take a shower, have some drink and go to bed to ignore your family."
Probably it is her one of experiences. BUT--- here in Utsunomiya, we can't get a taxi on the street.
It was interesting. She is around 65 years, nevertheless she wore heels. Though she came from TOKYO by bullet train, I don't know she was wearing heels in the train. She might have changed her shoes for her talk show.
Who is the woman? She is a mother of a famous Japanese singer. But she didn't talk about the singer, didn't talk about the way to bring him up. She just talked how she managed to overcome some difficult situations. And she suggest you should praise yourself a lot.
I've heard such a story.
-----------------------
Close your eyes, and imagine to put a wonderful (wine) glass in front of you. Try to fill the glass with compliments for yourself.
-----------------------
I think Japanese people or I am not good at praising myself. I sometimes hear this phrase, but I forget soon. So it was a good time to consider myself.
To tell the truth for me it was more interesting to listen to additional talk.
She said to women who are busy in doing mother's job. "Please enjoy the time with your kids, it's not so long than you think."
And she said to women who graduated from mother's job, "Please live for yourself".
Though I don't know her real life, but she seems to live "alone". Though she is popular as a singer's mother, she doesn't seem to keep contact with him so often. So in good meaning and in bad meaning, the phrase "living for yourself" was very convincing.
She also said that when we try to depart for another place, some people leaves move away, but you meet new people.
Those who come are welcome, those who leave are not regretted.
I know this phrase, but it's sometimes difficult to do it. I tend to chase people who leave me.
Additionally I grinned to myself when she said ----
"If you get stuck at home, anyway you go out with one bill (it means 1000 yen). And for a while you keep walking. Probably you feel tired after you walk for one-meter (it means a minimum fee of taxi). So you get a taxi, go home, take a shower, have some drink and go to bed to ignore your family."
Probably it is her one of experiences. BUT--- here in Utsunomiya, we can't get a taxi on the street.
Monday, November 04, 2013
November has come
It's November. New year is two months away.
Last month I enjoyed Halloween months. On Halloween my high school students and I enjoyed doing trick or treat. We "gave" lots of sweet to customers in the restaurants nearby.
It means that. We visited two restaurants nearby in masquerade. And we asked the customers to shout trick or treat. And we presented sweet to them. It was fun.
Now I've changed the decoration of the entrance shelf.
Last month I enjoyed Halloween months. On Halloween my high school students and I enjoyed doing trick or treat. We "gave" lots of sweet to customers in the restaurants nearby.
It means that. We visited two restaurants nearby in masquerade. And we asked the customers to shout trick or treat. And we presented sweet to them. It was fun.
Now I've changed the decoration of the entrance shelf.
Can you see a stuffed bird? It's a turkey. Here in Japan it's not popular.
If I have a chance I'd like to "see" a whole roasted turkey. (And it's OK to have a little)
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