Postcard from Neuschwanstein, Germany

Guten Tag, Jim & NHK members.

Today I visited Schloss Neuchwanstein. Luckily it was not so cold. The castle was shining in the blue sky. In the evening as I was drinking gluhweint and having a wurst, I enjoyed Christmas market, in Schwarzwald.

The Christmas illuminations are so romantic and fantastic!!

Chisato

Local environmental news: Mount Ontake eruption

Mount Ontake from_OtakiTop  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mt. Ontake burst angrily into life on Sep. 27th. Unluckily, it was around noon in the middle of the busy hiking season, so a lot of hikers had reached the summit and were enjoying lunch in the autumn sunshine, taking in the clear views of the Northern Alps

Officials of the volcano division of the meteorological agency said that although there had been a rising number of small earthquakes detected,they couldn't predict the eruption easily. These reasons made the damage worse.

Up to now, 56 people have been found dead, and 7 people are still missing. Most of the victims were killed by falling rocks, spewed out by the eruption. Unfortunately, a typhoon hit Japan just after, and the rain changed the ash to very sticky clay, so the rescuers can not help but halt the search, due not only to toxic gas but also the risk of mudslides.

Some annual events like the Soba festivals that a lot of people must have been looking forward to visiting and enjoying, were canceled. Furthermore, it must be impossible to open the ski slopes this year.

Nature is far beyond human beings' control.

Chisato

A postcard from...Paris

Bonjour, Jim & NHK Members.

I'm here in Paris!!

Today I visited Masee du Louvre (sic) and I was lost there, because it's too huge & beyond my imagination. Unfortunatelly I didn't meet La Victoire de Samothracei, because of its restoring. Now La Tower Eiffel is illuminated so fascinatingly. I wish I could stay in this charming city a little longer.

Chisato

Postcard from Barcelona, Spain

Hola, Jim & NHK members

I'm writing this card in an Euromed left Barcelona for Alicante. The Meditarranean Sea from the window is so calm like a mirror. I visited Sagrada Familia and Casa Batllo yesterday. The impact was beyond description. I enjoyed Jamon Iberico & Cava, Que bueno! You can imagine how excited I an here in Spain, can't you?

Chisato

My Olympic hero too! Kaori Matsumoto

London Olympics 2012 (Photo credit: Andrea Vascellari)

The judoka, Kaori Matsumoto who had become Japan's first gold medalist at the London Olympics inspired me. I was so astonished when I saw her for the first time just before her semifinals. She showed up with sharp game face. I 've never seen such a fierce look,though she is a young lady. She continued attacking her opponent aggresively throughout the semifinals and she won.

When she turned up at the finals, her eyes were full of fight and she gave her opponent a fierce look. She did'nt hide her strong desire to win and concentrated all her efforts on the finals. She was dying for the gold medal and then finally she became the gold medalist.

She has often been reffered to as the " beast " because of her fiece look. But she dropped her fierce game face and stood on the top of the medals podium. Her face broke out into a wide smile and there was'nt the beast there.

I heard she started judo at a dojo which was known for its strict training when she was 6 years old. Since then she must have been practcing judo desperately. An instructor Katsuyuki Maruta who practiced with Matsumoto at the same dojo said, "She was strong-willed. I never heard her complain or show any weakness." She deserves the gold medal.

                                                                                                Chisato

Related articles

• Judoka Matsumoto wins Japan's first gold, while Nakaya takes silver

Postcard from.... Amalfi, Italy

Ciao!

Jim & NHK students, I'm enjoyiing my holiday in Italy. The weather is perfect, the food is delicious & the people are so friendly. Luckly, I entered the "Gratta Azzurra". How blue the sea is! I visited Amalfitana today. How beautiful the coastline is!! I'm staying in Alberobello tonight.

Can you imagine how I am excited?

Chisato

My study partner - Chisato

Chisato

Chisato looks like a very kind and affectionate lady. She has straight, black, shoulder-length hair. She looks very good for her age.

Takeshi

My study partner - Takeshi

Takeshi

Takeshi looks gentle and humble. He has got salt and pepper hair. He is clean-shaven and looks like a nice gentleman.He looks younger than his real age. He wears blue frame glasses and a dark blue polo shirt. They are good combination.

Chisato

NHK Enkai

End of year gathering for my NHK class last night was a lot of fun, with everyone over indulging suitably.



The China Trip Bar was a good choice of venue, as the food was good and the nomihodai a good deal - without the hassle you can sometimes get. Takeshi, Masa & I got stuck into the draft lager while the girlies ordered the usual bizarre range of chu-hi's, sours, teas, etc.

Takako dropped by to add glamour but couldn't stay because she has a test today - ambitions of a job in Singapore sounds very worthwhile!



Our old classmate Machiko was also able to join us with her lovely son Ryotaro, who spent the evening on my knee eating & getting tickled. Well-behaved children are a pleasure & especially invited to the pre-school!

No more classes this year for NHK (Luna is open until the 22nd) so Merry Christmas Ayaka, Chisato, Teruki, Masa, Takeshi, Toshimasa, Miyako, and Hana-chan. Thank you for being such a pleasant group to teach.

Postcard from...Milan

Ciao Jim & NHK students, I'm enjoying a trip of Italy.

Milano is one of the trendiest cities in the world and all the people I can see are like fashion  models. I was taken my breath away in front of the "Duomo".



Unbelievable and magnificent!!

Chisato

The Devil wears Prada - film review

Cover of The Devil Wears Prada

It's a drama film called "The Devil wears Prada". This story is about two ladies lives that are full of hope and disappointment.

Meryl Streep and Ann Hathaway are the stars of it. A naive just graduated young lady who has a dream to be a journalist comes to New York. Against her wishes she is hired as an assistant for a boss who is demanding, powerful, and sophisticated.

When her boss's new higher position she is expection is replaced with a younger woman who is a rival of the boss, she realizes the ups and downs in life. She learns life is made of choices. I was moved by their positive attitude towards difficulties and encouraged. I enjoyed gorgeous fashion.

Posted for Chisato (correspondent was Masa), writing project from Unit 4E, English Result Intermediate (OUP)

Postcard from Auckland, New Zealand