Usual days have started

Since next day when we came back here, my husband goes to work as usual. My usual days start from tomorrow, because in this morning my younger daughter came back to TOKYO. "My usual days" means the life of my husband and me. Additionally, from tomorrow my students come to take my lessons.

I served tortellini salad and strawberry pie (instead of rhubarb pie). My elder daughter loved, my younger daughter -- so-so ; she doesn't like cheese very much. But both of them enjoyed new dish I've just learned in America.

This weekend we went to TOKYO to meet my mother-in-law. She enjoyed playing golf with her sons (my husband and my brother-in-law.) Of course my husband "let" her "use "that putter".

In May she will come to stay with us, so he keeps the putter here for a while (or permanently).

While they were golfing, my elder daughter and I went shopping. I bought her many things. Probably I used money there than in America. It can't be helped.

Now April starts. New term starts. My elder daughter is a senior, and is seeking for job. Because of this depression, it is really difficult to get a job, especially "girls". Anyway my husband and I are watching her.

My younger daughter is a sophomore. She seems to be used to a city life. She loves this rural area, I don't know whether she will find a job in TOKYO or this rural area, when she graduate from school.

Both of them were in the same kinder garden, and in the same elementary school.

But, most of the friends of my elder daughter are not here, they went to TOKYO as she did, or some friends went abroad.

On the other hand most of the friends of my younger daughter are here, some of them are afraid of leaving here.

I know, this rural area of course has good points and bad points like the cites have good points and bad points.

They are lucky to know both points.

Well, my usual Japanese meal has also started.

travel to Aiken in America -7-

Anyway "home staying" is fun, interesting, exciting, wonderful.
We really thank for Nick & Jan.
We experienced their usual life.
And many things were interesting. Some things are new, somethings are strange (mainly oriental things), somethings are wonderful, somethings are familiar.
And the most interesting thing is we, it means Nick & Jan, and my husband &I know the words, but the interpretation is a little bit different.
Even now we (my husband and I) are talking about some words.

union, salary, worker, volunteer, patriotism, army --etc.

To know each word more through conversation is to understand more each other.
It is interesting, isn't it?

America is called a melting pot of races. So they define words strictly? without compromise.
On the other hand here in Japan , usually every person is Japanese, and we tend to think that we can understand without talking enough. So some words might be ambiguous.
But, anyway we have to have enough ability to digest and appreciate what others said. So education is important to understand each other much better.

Well, we went to travel by two of us for the first time in 25 years.

Until we had kids, we were really busy in doing each job.

Since we had kids, kids were always in the center of our life.

Now we are thinking about the life for two of us.

Jan & Nick is a really good couple. They talk each other very much, respect each other, and accept each other.

Both of them say " we are equal ." And both of them show their "love" clearly ( that is American.)

Jan always prepares something special for Nick for dessert. He is always looking fforward to being served something after dinner like a kid. (At that time he is always cute.)

I think it is one of her way to show her love to her husband.

To tell the truth, now I'm in them empty-nest syndrome. It can't be helped. So this travel is one of the way for us to create our new second life. The life of Nick&Jan influenced us a lot.

This breakfast I baked quiche.

Thanks for everything Nick &Jan.

Is it OK to call on you without being invited and without improving my husband's golf skill?

This weekend we go to TOKYO to visit my mother-in low having "that" present, and probably we'll come home having "that" present. Whose club is this? I don't know.

travel to Aiken in America -6-

There are full of nature. Something are wild, something are planted. The combination is really good. We see the state tree of palm, camellias, dogwoods, magnolias, and spireas -- I forgot the name of this pink one.

We also have these tress (even in my small garden), but something is different. Probably they all have "bright green", and We have "dark green". Even pine trees, their needle-shaped leaves are very long, and the dry-leaves are really right brown.

Unfortunately the blooming season is later. But we could imagine how beautiful they will bloom in spring. As soon as I came home I talk one of my friends, who loves gardening, on the phone. I told "There are Knock Out Roses". She really envied me. The kind was made in U.S.A. And in Japan we have information, but not so many people get the roses in their garden yet.

There are many kinds of magnolias. We call big magnolia TAIZANBOKU. In my mother's house there used to be two big trees. So I bought artificial magnolia to remain Aiken, and my mother's garden everyday.

And here and there we heard birds singing.

I knew the name of humming bird through picture books. They have lots of humming birds. And I saw, woodpeckers, doves, crows(these are smaller and cuter than Japanese crows), and I saw "cardinals" for the first time. They are really cute. I love them.

travel to Aiken in America -5-

There are different styles of houses. Wood house, plastering house, and brick house. Brick house seems to be very popular in this area, because they can get good bricks in this area. "Brick house", when I saw it , recalled me the story of "3 little pigs". Here is actually "America".

Old houses that are more than 80 years old, are mainly wood houses. But they are really maintained well. (My house is 23 years old, nobody doesn't maintain, and we used to have a cat-- so here and there wall papers or poles are scraped. And in my daughter's room there is a big hole after they failed to do a handstand.)

Even about fences, there are lots of styles; wood fence, iron fence.

Some people like something oriental. What is oriental? According to the dic

tionary, oriental means something from countries in E-Asia.

For me (I'm a Japanese), something is "strange", but it's fun. Yes, they are oriental, not Japanesque.

Here and there I saw frog-dolls. Do they love frogs? Some frogs are very realistic. Some people in Japan put frog statue by their

pond or water- p ot in their garden. I have one. Because this area OHYA-stone is famous, so I have one by coincidence.

These days some short stories of Frog and Toad written by Arnold Lobel are taken in textbooks of junior high school students in Japan. So pictures of American frogs are getting popular for young kids.

travel to Aiken in America -4-

During this stay, Jan served perfect meals every time. We were fully satisfied all of them.

They are really good at using cheese.

I sometimes use cheese, and our familiar cheese are natural cheese, mozzarella (my favorite one), cheddar cheese, and cream cheese.

I know blue cheese but I don't know brie cheese. So this morning I tried to make.

Looks are completely different, I know, but taste is similar.

BUT-- all ingredient except apricot jam are expensive. When we have special guest, I'll serve it.

And the final dinner was "All American " dinner.

grilled steak, cherry tomato and mozzarella cheese salad, baked beans with apples, corn on the cob, and apple pie dessert.

"Finally" I could have "baked beans". I often hear and see the word in English picture books. It was really traditional food. My image was -- "pea-fy", how do I describe? fish-fishy, smoke-smokey, pea--??. I thought it might have had strong pea taste. The taste was really mild, though Jan add apples. We use soy-beans often, and main spice is "soy sauce". And we often azuki-beans. Inside of sweet Japanese dumplings is usually Azuki-bean paste. Beans are popular in every country, and they have own traditional meals using beans. It is interesting, isn't it?

Well, corn was corn. I love baked corn with soy sauce. I told them about baked corn, they seemed not to understand. I found "similar" baked corn.

http://www.justhungry.com/corn-cob-with-butter-and-soy-sauce

travel to Aiken in America -3-

What were we doing there?

Anyway my husband played golf almost every day, and drank (yes, he enjoyed all kinds of alcohol including his SHOCHU he took from Japan).

(SHOCHU is Japanese spirits distilled from sweet potatoes.)
Their residence is "on" the private golf course. My husband "learned" golf from Nick and his friends, and many English golf words; tend to a pin, fat shots, thin shots--- etc. Yesterday he went to work, he "taught" these words to his golf friends "boastfully".

I could listen to stories in the library, and even in the "park". At the library they always hold a small event and many volunteers were there.

Actually, my daughter was volunteer at the library, and many people do volunteer at the library and museums here in Japan.

And I do story-telling at the library and at some public nursery schools.

Looks the same

There is a different thing

.

In the Newsletter of the library, it is written that "Through the American Reads Grant Program, a student from the Education department of USC Aiken will be reading aloud to children in the children's department on Tuesday-Fridays, 3:00-4:30"

And the story-telling at the park is organized by Aiken Recreation department.

Volunteers jobs are organised by public department.

Now I'm thinking about "doing volunteer". Later I might write my opinion.

Anyway education system is really prepared almost for free. So I hope more people in Aiken use these opportunities more effectively. I can say in Japanese "MOTTAINAI" (what a waste!)

travel to Aiken in America -2-

I write about alcohol and liqueurs.

The most surprised thing was -- many people drink alcohol, usually beer in the daytime.

For people beer seems to be like juice.

And this time I knew, the law was completely different.

In Japan driving is prohibited by law after drinking, even though the driver is strong at alcohol.
These days cracking down on drunken drivers is really strict.

Now I used the word "drunken". I know drinking alcohol is different from being drunken.

In Japan driving after drinking is prohibited. These days the breathalyzer has high accuracy. I know a woman who was caught after having one cherry bonbon.

And the cost of alcohol was inexpensive, as my friend said. probably the most expensive alcohol was the wine my husband ordered in the airplane. (This time the wine served with meals was free, other times one short bottle wine cost 7$)

They seemed to be used to drinking alcohol, so they are good at enjoying alcohol.

This time my friend served various liqueur for us after every (wonderful & perfect) dinner.

My familiar liqueur is only "KAHLUA" which we can buy even at a convenience store.

Light liqueur, strong liqueur, spicy liqueur. It was fun.

Tasting liqueur is luxurious, and fashionable, don't you think so?

So at a free tax shop, we bought this bottle. We don't read the label of the name. Milk-liqueur and coffee-liqueur is combined. The bottle was interesting for us.

travel to Aiken in America -1-

Last week my husband and I have been to Aiken in America to celebrate his 25th anniversary on the job. It was the first trip abroad for us together, and the first home-stay.

At first my husband and I are grateful for all help of my wonderful friend Jan & Nick in setting up. Without of them this trip would not have come true. We really thank of them.




Aiken is an interesting city.



For me, it is a city for horse, and for my husband it is a city for playing golf.



http://www.cityofaikensc.gov/
I don't play golf, so I can't write about playing golf there. Anyway in April the town is going to be full of visitors who comes to watch Masters.



My husband was playing golf almost every day. On this trip he was a main person, so for him it was a great vacation. (For him it was the first private long vacation since he started to work.)


I visited most of interesting spots.
Here and there there are interesting horse statues. One is an American city horse stature, or one is an American flag horse stature,--- each stature has each story .
Some people living in or near the downtown have horses. There is a big rescue center for horses.


"Horses", of course I know the word, in Japanese the word is "UMA". But for me the word is just an animal or an old thing, or it leads me to gamble in bad meaning.

Here it was completely different. Horses are familiar in citizens.

art, coffee and science

This weekend I went to SHIMOKITAZAWA in TOKYO. It is near SHIBUYA. The main purpose is to see my daughter's exhibition. It's not her own exhibition, group-exhibition. SHIMOKITA ( we call the town the shorten name of SHIMOKITA), is the town for youth, it is full of young power. I recall my youth.

While I was waiting for my mother-in-law, I was in a cafe. The sigh of the cafe says "cafe loved by Mr.YAMURA SOU". He was a low-keyed actor but he made his presence fell. (For in my mother's generation, he was a cool, smart and handsome actor, of course my daughters don't know him.) Some shops are really old and low-keyed. Unfortunately this shop is going to

be closed next week.

I found an interesting shop. They deal with science materials. There are skeletons, stars' map, and many things. I bought a science picture book.

Souvenirs from Asai

I'm not a gourmet, I'm not good at cooking, but I'm interested in foods, dishes, and containers. Last year I found an interesting book, the title is "lunch in the world". The title is including "lunch", but the book also mentions about " lunch box".

Especially lunch boxes in Asia are interesting.

And now one lunch box is in front of me. My husband went to Asia countries on his business, and he bought me this one.

On the other hand, he bought some spices ,probably, for him. Because I'm not good at something hot. On the hand he loves something hot.

spring? winter? back and forth

This Monday it was warm. I found some buds of tulips in the garden.

And this early morning I woke up because of chilliness.

It was snowing. Now it's not snowing, but --it's really cold.

My nose is congested because of cold and "pollen".

Outside the season goes back and forth between winter and spring while inside my nose symptom also goes back and forth between winter's case and sprig's case.

Valentine's week has gone. Now the next event is "Easter". Oops. Don't forget Hina festival. It is March 3rd. It is a festival for girls. I put small Hina dolls on the shelf of the entrance hall. I (or We including my daughters) have big Hina dolls set, but now there are two people in the house, my husband and I. It's troublesome to decorate them. Sometimes it is enough to do in the easy way. Most of kindergarten' children enjoy doing craft of Hina dolls. Can you see the small one on the wall? I was given it from a student's mother.

And of course "Easter" is one of big events in my class. I put some Easter eggs made last year.

Easter's symbols are lots, I know. Eggs are one of them. And from eggs, we can make mayonnaise. So I always put the Kewpie (mayonnaise) Doll on the shelf with eggs. It is always gaining popularity among people (including adults) coming to my house

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.