Sports -3- Sports croarch

Have you been coached by a friend or acquaintance in a sport? Was it positive experience?

The answer is "yes". And I still have been coached in a sport.
Well, usually the coach is my husband, he used to be in the same college.

He coached me tennis, skating, and skiing. Were they positive experiences? Probably yes. After his coaching, I joined a tennis club with him, and went skating, and went skiing with friends. I did it thanks of him. And I wanted to do better. So I started to take lessons of tennis, skiing. I was able to start in the middle level class. BUT that was the end. To improve to the upper class was really difficult on the point of skill and my power. And I don't like sports very much.

Now I was coached by him in golf. I manage to hit a ball with club. How difficult it is! It seems to be hard for me to play golf with my friends in America.

Sports -2- equipmets

What sorts equipment do you have? What sports equipment would you like to have?
I often tell you, I don't like doing sports very much, but I often try to do it. To try to a sport, first I prepare basic equipment, because I like shopping.
So I have old-fashioned tennis rackets, a pin-pong racket, a badminton racket.
I have a basketball.
I used to have a set of sky, fins for scuba diving.
I have old-fashioned leotard for Jazz dance, a sweat suit for aerobics, yoga mats, walking shoes, and even a pair of dumbbells in the "closet".
The newest equipment, actually they are not equipments, golf shoes and gloves.

Sports -1- Sports Event

What is the most exciting sports event you have been to?
To tell the truth, I don't like watching sports except ice figure skating on TV. On the other hand my younger brother and my mother are into watching baseball games on TV. In my mother's case, she watches baseball game on TV while listening to the game on the radio.I think it is crazy. And some of my friends are also into watching baseball games. When I was in my 20's, I was taken to watch a pro baseball game at a stadium. We couldn't afford to buy infield stands seats, so we watched the game sitting on the outfield stands. To be my surprised they were full of people who cheered a team. Of course my friend was a big fan of the team. They were really exciting and really busy to cheer their team. They have rules to cheer them. According to the rules they cheered the team. I didn't remember how the game was going, because I was too busy cheering to watch he game. BUT probably it is the most exciting sports event for me I've been to.

What is the most expensive ticket price you have paid to see a live event? Was it worth it?
Probably it is the ticket for F1 race in SUZUKA Circuit. Actually the expensive cost was not for for the ticket, but for the transportation. It was difficult to get the ticket. One of my friend got tickets, but unfortunately he had to cancel because of his business. So my husband I went there instead of him by SHINKANSEN (bullet train). It was a one day trip, so it was a really expensive trip. And I was really surprised at the speed , noise(sound?) and punch. I understood why boys (and some girls) tended to loose their heads with cars. If I had a chance I would go and see a car race at the Monaco GP, though I'm not crazy about cars.

yesterday

I got up at 7, left home at 7:30. And I got health check without breakfast. It was finished about 10. My husband picked me up. At the clinic we got branch.
I hope I have nothing wrong, but I might have something wrong. Unfortunately I was pointed out in breasts check by a doctor. He said it might be just fat. I believe so. Actually before I was pointed out about the same thing.
I also gut uterus check, now I'm taking a wait-and-see approach.
And I had barium contrastx-ray. Especially in the afternoon, I had diarrhea. It couldn't be helped I had to discharge the barium. it made me really tired.
At 6 PM, I got up, but it was trouble to prepare dinner, So we went out for dinner. And we had ramen. After that we went to see a movie. It was a night show, so it was not expensive. The movie was finished at 11. We dropped by a nearby public bath. I went to bed at 12.

It was really tiring but exciting day.
This week I have a Valentine lesson week. I'm going to have a craft lesson with my students.
Do you have any plans for your Valentine?

recession

Everyday, ever where I see the word of "recession". And actually we suffer from recession.

Now new terms is going to start, but until now I don't have new students, otherwise some students cancelled the class from next term because of recession. It can't be helped.
I suffer income-cut, and unfortunately not only me. my husband either.

It sounds a big problem, and actually it must be a big problem. But it can't be helped.

Do we work much harder? Some people start to work more part time job. And it is said people who can find more jog are lucky. (Though to find regular job is a little bit difficult, but to find part time job is not so difficult if we don't choose the type.)

Fortunately until now we can manage our life though I may send our daughters an allowance less.

I try to write positive things.

Thanks of recession, my husband sometimes comes back early and we have dinner together ( It means my housework gets more, opt, I have to stop saying negative things.)

And I "am going to" start walking for fitness instead of going to the gym. (Before we suffered recession, I stopped working out in the gym because of my illness.) Walking is free.

In spring new term starts, and I can't imagine what life would be like. BUT any until March, I have some wonderful events.

The end of month, my elder daughter is going to held the second exhibition with her friends.

And next month to celebrate my husband's 25 working for ****, and our 24 wedding , we are going to visit my friend in the U.S.A. I got a passport. And this travel is going to be the first overseas travel for us. (We went to HOKKAIDO in Japan on our honeymoon.)

To tell the truth, since November I'm not in good shape. So this week end I have to take a health check. I hope I don't have anything wrong, and I will go to America.

Have a nice weekend!

felt balls

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Here and there we see chocolate corner in any shops. (In Japan it is a "usual" thing to present chocolate from females (from kids to elder women) to males.

Well, I'll not write about Valentine. (on the hand, if some know a good site of Valentine's origins in easy English, please tell me.)

In my class when an event day comes, we make craft. Some or most kids are looking forward to doing instead of a usual "English lesson". In November we made Halloween craft, in December we made Christmas craft, and in January I skipped though I got "huge"booing. And in February I'm going to make felt balls together.

Making felt balls is really easy, we can do it using a plastic case that is a container of small article kids get at a game center, some wool, and, and some soap. You put some cutting wool into the plastic case , add a drop of soap, and pour a little warm water. Put a lid hardly and shake it for a while. Drain the water -- and done.


One of my friend is into making felt balls, actually I was taught felt balls from her. And she gave this necklace. She is a story teller. So When she was making it, she thinking about the book "a hungry caterpillar". Do you know the book?

On the other hand, when I knew felt balls, I though it might be fun to read a book using felt balls. So I made some felt balls for the book "a little yellow and a little blue". Do you know this book?

about twenty years ago

The other day unusually I got a call from my younger daughter. She started to speak with this phrase "I have a favor ". -- I had a bad feeling. But it was not bad news.

She asked me what kind of electrical appliances there were about twenty years ago. The information seemed to be needed to make her report.

I said to her "most of the things were the same as current things, though a washing machine, a fridge were changed 3 years ago, but you were in this house at that time. Didn't you remember?"

She said "Nothing".
The previous washing machine was bought by my husband when he came to this town, it means it was more than 25 years old. Now automatic washing machines are usual but at that time usual washing machines had a spin-dryer separately.

Well even now the separate type consists. Actually my mother uses the type. On the other hand among young people use all-in-one washing machine with a washer, a spin-dryer, and a dryer.
When we tried to buy new one, at first I chose the all-in-one type, but the door to the bath room was too narrow to put it into the bathroom.

I'll write more about the previous washing machine. There was a rod in the center, which was called "KARAMANBOU"; protect clothes from winding. And the noise was "heavy". When it got quiet, it meant washing was finished. Now instead of noise electric sounds go off.

The previous fridge had two doors, now it has three doors. Both of them are frost-free fridges.
But current one has also alarm. When it' on the jar, another electric sounds go off.

Listening to house sound, we hear a lot of(?) electric sounds; when the bath is ready (In Japan we heat water for bath), when cooking is finished with microwave oven, when washing is finished, when kerosene heaters run over three hours and so on

Is it noisy? We are use to the life naturally.

table topics

Yesterday I attend a Toastmasters meeting in this area, which was the first meeting in 2009. My role was a emcee, it's not good. My English was backward and forward. (On the other hand I was able to speak Japanese fluently.)

A member gave us three tale topics.

1. What kind of things about environmental problems are you going to do this year?

2. How will you or do you continue to get relief from stress this year?

3. What do you think of English education at elementary school.

(Since this spring English class is going to be a regular class among 5th grade and 6th grade students at all public elementary schools in this city, though students don't receive grads. At private schools it's been already taken as a regular class.)

1. A woman made a speech.the summary was keeping recycling much harder. (These days not only cardboard but also just paper were gathered as recycling things not as usual garbage, if we separate paper from usual garbage.)

Yes I agree with her. Some people say recycling cost is higher than burning garbage. It is also true. But it is necessary for everyone to use everything carefully. Recycling will make the attitude grown up more, I think.

2.Another men made a speech. There are three steps. The first step is to try to think positively, the second step is to exercise. while exercising usually our brain is empty (It means we don't think anything). The third step is to go to bed after sipping some alcohol.

There are just my husband's away. He always tries to think anything positively, on weekends he plays tennis and golf, and go to bed earlier after drinking (not sipping) SHOCHU.

On the other hand, I tend to think even a small trouble or worry thing deeply and negatively. I'm a worrywart, and my favorite motto is "Better safe than sorry".

Sometimes I don't have enough sleep. Probably exercising is the best way to release from my stress, but on the other hand exercising makes me tired. (It's difficult to do suitable exercise to me.) So until now reading books, listen to music and having interesting foods are my way to release my stress. (It is another issue what is my stress.)

3. A woman teaching English at an elementary school said, it is always necessary to think why we teach English: for entrance exams to high schools or colleges, or to speak English fluently? Ministry Education suppose to make foundation to communicate with others. What does it mean to communicate? Anyway I hope students always have curiousness and interest to various things , and learn English is one of the way for it.

I also did English classes four times this term in 2nd grade students. Their eyes were shining.

Having interests is the first step to do something, the next step is what? On the other hand, as you know, my English ability does not improve.

Well, today two friends came to my house in the morning and we read an English book and talked about it in English. I served "milk pudding".

It has been cold

Last Monday it was warm like early spring, but since last Tuesday it has been cold. So vegetable stew is suitable and necessary. I serve some junior high school students coming at night. (Yes, from this week my usual classes has started, I'm busy even at night.)

Fortunately my students are still not suffered, Flu has spread quickly. At some schools they have to cancel some classes.
My husband and I are fine, but

For him the schedule seem to have been tight, (He returned home at 9 PM form the U.S and went to work at 8 next morning as usual ). Now he develops conjunctivitis. Of course he went to the eye doctor, and applies eye drops often. I have to separate his towel or things that touched his face from mine. There are only two members in my house, but I have to use the washing machine twice a day.

On the other hand I develop suppurative pulpitis, I use painkiller again.

Sounds like an elderly couple life??
But it's not boring. it's sometimes fun, mostly calm.

Recent days

Now there are two members in the house.

Last week, there was only one in the house, it was me.

My husband went to America on business.

I thought I would go to TOKYO where my mother and my daughters lived.

But fortunately (or unfortunately) I have a job.

And the last week I went to a nearby school all day as a volunteer teacher twice, and I went to TOKYO on my job.

In the daytime I was surrounded with lots of kids and in the evening I talked with adults teachers or friends).

But at night I had dinner alone, a little bit sad I was.

Probably it was the first to time to spend one week alone since "I was born".

I haven't lived alone. Until I married with my husband I lived with my mother and my brothers.(My father passed away when I was 20.)

Sometimes my husband went somewhere on business, until last year I was with my daughter.

(Until we had a baby, probably my friend came to stay with me in such a case.)

Living alone is really hard, I think.

Well,

these days my younger daughter makes lunchbox eagerly.

She sent a photo.

Now she was 19. When she was a high school student, it took more than one hour to peel three potatoes.

I asked my husband to small articles to my students. He bought them.

It is a good opportunity for my students to learn American history.

And February is just around the corner. I'm going to make something as a Valentine craft.

The craft is -- making felt balls. Do you know how to do that?

And it means January is going away.

This is the last sweets I got in the New Year's vacation. It is a Chinese sweet, the name is Spring rice cake".

Cooking

Some people say "you seem to like cooking." On the other hand some people say "you seem to be tired of cooking" Both are right. Sometimes it is fun, sometimes it is a bother.

But it is true, I'm interesting in food. So on the fridge I have some interesting (to me) recipes. It is one of things I want to do this year. It means I'll try to cook all these recipes.

To be the truth, during the winter vacation I was tired of cooking, but yesterday my younger daughter send this photo. When she went back to TOKYO, she took "pork" to her home. And the dinner of yesterday was like that.

On the other hand today's our break fast was like that.

Are you interested in cooking? If you are interested in cooking, what kind of recipe do you want to try to cook?

P.S

I have a questions, are the following sentences right?

In the lesson, I suggested.

Keep something behind your back quickly, and someone try to ask her "Can I see it?".

2009 began

Happy New Year! 2009 has already begun, and my usual day has just started since today.
My winter vacation was like that;

On the 31st my husband and I cleaned the windows in the house, had dinner ( I forgot the menu), and watched "the" typical Japanese program "KOUHAKU UTA GASSEN" waiting for this new year.
(This program had a rating of 42% this year.)

On the 1st we got up early and left home for TOKYO to attend my husband's family reunion and meet my daughters. We had a party with a feast which was cooked by mostly my sister-in-law.
And we, 4 members came to home here. We grilled beef for dinner.
On the 2nd we drove in our town and went shopping.
On the 3rd we got up early and took a bus tour of YOKOHAMA, of course to eat Chinese food.
There my daughters came back to TOKYO, we came back here by the bus.
On the 4th, I cleaned my house as usual Sundays, my husband went to practice golf.

On the 5th, my husband went to work, I'm preparing for the lesson of this month, it's a usual day.

This year, until March I scheduled some events. So I hope I will go full term without health problems. Teaching English at elementary school in January, workshop for kids and parents at nursery schools in February, and visiting my friend's house in the U.S.A in March. All of them are exciting and fun, what I'm worried is physical strength. BUT I'm looking forward to doing all events, meeting people and seeing my friend again.

Since April-- I don't have special things. So I don't know what kind of things will be waiting for me in this year. Calm year? Exciting year? Anyway I always do my best every day while taking nap.

My 2008

January; My elder daughter's 20 years old celebration. She wore my FURISODE (special KINOMO).

February; probably nothing special, usual calm days.

March; my daughter's graduation ceremony. Anyway until this month there were 3 members in my house.

April; New life started. While I was free from making lunchbox for my daughter, preparing meals got troublesome, especially for my only lunch and supper. So I decided to make a kind of meal box( not only for lunch, for lunch and supper) for myself early morning --- but ---(don't ask me.)

May; I planed to hold a concert in summer.

I started to take English pronounce practice lessons once a week in TOKYO.

An American lady came to stay with us.

June; I suffered from "big" tooth trouble.

July; I started to read English picture books at a nearby library once every other month.

August; My first 'big' music concert was done.

September;---nothing special??? My mother-in-law moved to a senior center, so most of weekends we went to TOKYO, or she came to stay with us.

October; three Mongolian girls came to stay with us.

November;Another music concert on Christmas was asked.

I'm suffering from slight fever and toothache.

Teaching English at a nearby elementary school started (not every day)

December --this month;

Christmas concert was done.

Reading picture books at a nursery school as a Christmas event was done.

Teaching English at a nearby elementary school was almost done. ( I'm going to go there twice in January)

And yesterday my usual lessons in this year were done.

The things we have to do or we should do are cleaning, and making something for New Year's meal using these vegetables (My friends gave me).

Additionally another friend gave me "dried persimmons".

Happy New Year!

Surpring Christmas Dinner

Yesterday, it was Christmas Eve. On my schedule I was going to spend the night alone. I though it couldn't be helped.

But, my husband came back straight here from his business trip. At Tokyo Station, he called me,

"Now I'm at Tokyo Station, do you want something for Christmas dinner?"

So I asked him

"we need chicken and cake"

a few minutes later he called again

"it was really crowded, and if I wait for line, next bullet train is 1 hour later"

So I said

"OK, buy them at our station"

one hour later he called again

"Every cake shop is crowded, and Ken**** is also crowded, is it OK to buy chicken at Lo****?"

So I said

"No problem, so buy cake at a nearby supermarket"

a few minutes later he called again

"In this super market Christmas cake is not dealt, is it OK to buy usual pieces of cake"

So I said

" No problem, it is better to use much money, small pieces of cakes are enough for us".

And he came back , we had a small party together. It has been 21 years since we spent Christmas together.

Additionally, though the cake cost not so expensive, so he bought his favorite SAKE instead of giving change to me.

And today , it is Christmas Day. I have lesson at night. 4 junior high school students are going to come. Now I'm wondering whether I buy discounted Christmas cake at a supermarket for them .

Christmas week starts

From today, each kids is able to take back their own pinata with lots of presents to home.

Each of them doesn't know what snack or gadgets or ornaments are inside. It is fun.

On the other hand, we are making Christmas cards.

Some kids don't like drawing, so I suggested them "cut some illustrations or photos on leaflets and put them on the card".

Girls' cards are cute, and boy's cards are fulled with presents that they want.

So the boys write (I wish) "Many Presents" on the card instead of "Merry Christmas"

It has no problem.

Meedings of reading picture books at nursery schools, and a liblary were done.

Musci concert was done.

I have only one big job this year. My lesson at home is going to be finished next Friday.

I'll enjoy these 7 days with kids!

One of big jobs is finished.

Yesterday we had a concert, and thanks of everyone it was a success ( I think).

Everyone llistened to us eagerly, and when I tell a short story to them, sometimes I saw them laughing.

There were some kids, so I read and sang "Jingle Bells". A kid said "in this book, not reindeer, a horse pulled sleigh."

This comment made me surprised. And I noticed that the song of "Jingle Bells" is consider to be a song for Santa coming on his sleigh pulled by reindeer.

What do you thing of it?

Anyway one of big jobs is finished. Another big job for me is to go to an elementary school to teach English next week.

When both of them are finished --- my winter vacation is going to start. It means I'm also busy as a mother and a daughter-in-law.

We are waiting

We are waiting for your ?????.

Who are "we"? We are apple pinatas.

You can see lots of apple pinatas. They are not big UMEBOSHI (Japanese sour apricots), not TAKOYAKI (popular snack for kids), they are apples.

Most of students made their own pinatas (some students are not yet because they have a cold so absent from last classes.) Now the pinatas are waiting for something little presents. Until next week every student are going to bring something and put them into each pinatas. And they are going to bring their own pinatas on Christmas as a present.

Another thing is also waiting --- for spring. The other day one of my friends sent me some turip bulbs. I put them into a planter. Yes they are also waiting for spring.

And still now I have been a cold. but not so bad. I'm also waiting for spring.

I'm really bad at coldness.

But, winter vacation is just around corner. During the winter vacation there are four members in this house, though only 5days.

December is just around the corner.

First I'll tell you about vegetables. The Mongol high school girls didn't like broccoli (or green vegetables), but now it is a season of broccoli . Some friends give me their home-grown broccoli. It is a really thankful thing, but --- I'm little bit tired of them.

And Turnips are also another seasonable vegetables. We love the leaves of turnips. When we boil, saute, or simmer them, they taste a little bit bitter, but we deep-fry them the bitter change into moderate bitter.

What are the seasonable vegetables in winter?

From next week, December starts. December means Christmas for kids, and cleaning for me.

Anyway I prepared something for Christmas.

In my class we are going to make apple pinatas and everyone is going to take one back to their home as a Christmas present. So I made lids of the pinatas. The green things are not candles, just twigs.

And fortunately I'm asked to read English picture books at some schools, so I chose these books.

Christmas is now, a world festival. In Mongolia, most of them are Buddhists, but they were affected by the Russian Church, so they celebrate Christmas 1st on January, and on the eve (31st on December) an old man with white beards called "tsugan ubugun?", kind of Santa comes and gives presents to kids.

I have been a cold.

Today, I'm getting better. Last week I was suffering from slight fever and dizziness. Anyway I did all events. The big event was home stay of two Mongol high school girls.

It was fun! They were actually "high school kids".

To say the result, they didn't like vegetables as usual kids. I asked them " do you eat salad?".

They said "yes".

So I served green salad with tuna. They picked only tuna.

I asked them "is it different from Mongol salad?"

They said "yes".

Their "favorite" (later I knew they have green salad in Mongolia) salad means potato and ham salad with mayonnaise.

Next morning I served broccoli as a host "mother". Of course they don't eat. Their faces wore frown.

I asked "do they have broccoli in Mongolia?"

They said "yes, but I don't like them, though my mother tell me to eat them".

In Mongolia, they have such sentence, "eat carrots more, and you'll be tall".

On the other hand, they love "rice". So we had no problems except green vegetables.

I baked chlorate cake for breakfast, they ate 3 pieces.

Sweets are popular in all kid's world, aren't they?

October has gone, and November has come.

The last week of October I named 'Halloween week". So instead of usual lessons, my students and I baked cookies and exchanged them saying "trick or treat". And the last day we baked pumpkin pie, but unfortunately some pies were burnt. (but we could eat inside.)

In autumn we can get many kinds of fresh fruits. Some people are worried about my situation saying "Do you eat enough?". Because they know I have me

als alone. So, they bring some saying "here you are, though only one". So, on my table, there is one big Japanese pear, that is called NIKKORI, and that is a special product in this area. They are twice as big as usual Ja

panese pear. There is some persimmons , there are 4 apples that grows in this area. There are some tangerines. And today some kiwi fruits were sent . They were wrapped in straw. They are still hard. So I have to let them sleep in straw nest for a while. The straw were also made (grown) by the friend.

This week end here and there some festivals are held. My husband and I went to a Jazz festival. Do you know Watanabe-Sadao who plays the saxophone. He was born in this city. And his brother also plays Jazz as a drummer. It was the first time to hear his play. And to be surprised he was over 70. His play doesn't look passionate, but the sound was really exciting and full of beats.