Hotel reservation - Mena House Oberoi Hotel, Giza, Egypt

 Kanako & Takeshi's writing project for June was to email a hotel to confirm a reservation. 

Dear Madam,

I'd like to make a reservation for  a family room for a week, between the 22nd and the 27th of August. I'd like a room with a view of pyramid, and confirm what menus there are with price for dinner.

Please confirm the reservation.

Yours sincerely

Your sincerely

Takeshi

Hotel reservation - Hotel Venice

Kanako & Takeshi's writing project for June was to email a hotel to confirm a reservation. 

From Kanako 

To danieli.hotelinvenice.com

Subject Reservation for March

Dear Sir Madam,

I would like to make a reservation for a double room for two nights, 25 and 26 March.

I would like a room with a view of the lagoon. Could you tell me about using terrace? What foods we can buy? Is there a freezer in the room?

Please confirm the reservation

Yours sincerely

Kanako

Remembering my father - Sayuri's fond memories

When I found the old photo of my father, some warm feeling was recalled immediately and made me smile.

My father was fond of literature and he was rather a romantic person. When he was a high school student, he belonged to a literature club and he organized a small funeral for the famous cat at his school festival. The cat was in the masterpiece: I am a cat, Wagahai wa neko dearu, by the great Japanese author, Soseki Natsume. He told me about it a long time ago but I didn't know a photo existed. In the old black and white photo, there was a small altar of the cat in the story and three rather serious looking boys sitting straight. One of them was my father in his high school uniform. I felt strange to see my father's youth and the figure that I hadn't known.

He liked books, newspapers, movies, and a little bit of beer. I am wondering what he would do in this self-isolated situation. Probably he would enjoy himself in his creative way of living. I miss him a lot.

Posted for Sayuri

Postcard: Wish you were here

We're having a great time! We had a good journey and the weather is mostly good. 

It's sometimes a little wet. The hotel is right in the city center. It's good to visit Big Ben. We shopped all of yesterday and got some really nice books. The food is excellent (tired lots of different cafes!) I'm looking forward to our dinner cruise tonight!

By Misawa Hinata

A travel recommendation - Ishikawa prefecture, Japan

Kenrokuen in winter

If you are going to Ishikawa, you ought to visit Kanazawa, which is the capital, located in the center of the prefecture. It has a lot of places to visit and a lot of foods and sweets to eat.

You can get there by a car, bus, airplane, and bullet train. In the city, you should take a walk with wearing sneakers, because there are many historical buildings like temples. If you’re going there in winter, you need to take an umbrella in case of rain.

First of all, you should go to Kenrokuen, which is one of the most beautiful garden in Japan, and then there is also famous museum called the 21th Century Museum nearby. After that you had better go to the Oumi market, which is a fresh seafood market. You can buy fresh seafoods from Japan Sea, and if you need, you can send them to your house. Finally, I strongly recommend you to go to a sushi restaurant. It must be delicious.

Kenrokuen after a blizzard

Unfortunately, in holidays, many tourists visit there and it gets so crowded. However, I think it’s worth it, because you can have great experiences in Kanazawa.

Posted for Ai

A travel recommendation - Route des Grands Crus

One of France’s most incredible places to visit is Burgundy, which is eastern part of France. If you’re going to Burgundy, you ought to visit “Route des Grands Crus“, which is a 60-kilometre running nort to south between Dijon and Beaune and lead to Santenay. It’s really beautiful country side and it passes through the many of great vineyards of Burgundy wines.

Cycling the route is an ideal way,which you’ll enjoy a tasty trip and picturesque villages at your own pace. You need to rent a bicycle, wear comfortable shoes , a sunhat, carry some water , a raincoat and a camera .You don’t need to carry your lunch, because there are some restaurants, which serves the local foods and cafe on the way.

Frist of all, you rent your bicycle at Beaune and then you start to the heart of Burgundy wines region. After you leave Beaune ride through the vineyards for a while. About half way, you get on Nuit-Saint-George and have a tasting lunch. After lunch you keep on cycling and stop at Romane Conti’s vineyard,which is the most famous wine in the world. After that you pass “Chateau Clos de Vougeot“,which is a highly symbolic building, is really picturesque. Then you arrive at Gevrey-Chambertin village and visit the winery, which is possible tasting wine. Finally you go back to Beaune by bicycle or by train with your bicycle.

Unfortunately, it depends on the weather, if you’ll be able to enjoy and you need to take care of traffic. However I think it’s worth it, because it’s so spectacular.

Posted for Miyuki

Nanaha's Haiku - "Swallows"

 Swallows flying fast

Catching insects as they swoop

They make summer days

I chose "swallows" because I like them. Swallows are so cool They fly a long long way to build nests under roofs in my town. I miss them when they go away.

Posted for Nanaha

Try to have fun!

Currently entering my 2 months of teaching at Luna International School set in the beautiful mountains of Nagano. Coming from a background teaching teenagers and only teenagers. When I got an offer to start teaching younger students, it definitely scared me. I always thought I could do it, it won't be that different from teaching high school (so I said!). Boy, was I wrong!

Barely a week in and I cracked. It was hard! I learned that kids especially younger ones had the attention span of a fly. I felt like a clown put to show and begged the kids for attention. My balloon tricks weren't doing the work here. Had to talk to Jim (my boss) on how to make the kids pay attention and what is too hard and too easy for them. Basically, his advice was to go back to the basics, alphabets, song, singing, and dancing. Acting silly with them. Try to have fun! 2 months in and he still reminds me of that, have fun with the kids and I do agree with that. Once I start enjoying my time with the kids, I start to relax and understand their needs better. 

I learned a lot, to be honest, I noticed how students pick up languages differently. Most kids require a hands-on approach while others are okay with learning by textbook. I felt a mix of emotions, more patience definitely. I learned different methods in approaching kids with help from Jim. I do want to be better for my students because I know they are silently struggling to understand a foreign language too. My heart cares for these kids a lot and I do agree that they deserve the best education possible and hopefully, with more guidance and learning on my side. I'm able to help them. l I still have a long road ahead and I am excited to see what else I learn! 

Megacities: Istanbul

 Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and the country’s economic, cultural and historic center. It is in the northwest of Turkey and spreads over the Bosporus Strait. It spreads in both Europe and Asia with a population of 14.1 million. It is a period of about 1600 years, the city was the capital city until Ankara is the new capital of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.

Istanbul has a borderline Mediterranean climate, humid subtropical climate, and oceanic climate under both classifications. Istanbul’s weather has a special feature as high humidity 80% usually in the morning. In summer, the average maximum temperature is 29 degrees Celsius and it has low rainfall.

by Reiko

Megacities: New York

 

Racism is still rampant in New York. Recently, crime targeting Asians have been increasing due to COVID-19. It’s dangerous when you walk alone in the early morning and night. Lurking danger in a quiet place, ally, and subway. There are a lot of people who come from other countries.

Four seasons in New York but spring and autumn is very short. Very hot in summer and very cold in winter. You can get anywhere by walking because New York city’s streets are designed in a grid. Subway runs 24 hours a day.

The cost of living is high in New York. New York is the highest in fashion. New Year events at Time Squares is the most famous New Year count down in the world. Many famous artists perform
here every year.

by Rinka.