Kyoko's plan for a three-day trip to the Hudson River area

 After reading "The Master of Ballantrae" (Black Cat cideb graded reader), Kyoko challenged herself to come up with a plan for a 3-day excursion around Albany, New York state (USA). 

This area was the setting for the second half of the tale, and a place she was really interested in visiting...I've been there myself, but now really want to go back and explore so much more (and for more than three days!)

 Lots of hard work went into this project, as you can tell!

Well done Kyoko :)

Getting older – does it mean your life is getting worse?

Some people say that the childhood is the best time of your life, and that the older you become, the worse your life is. However, there are many older people who look live happily. 

 There might be some advantages for old ages, as well as disadvantages. On the minus side, you have many troubles with your health when you get old. For example, farsightedness or blurry sight from cataract, hearing loss, weaken legs, diabetes or even a serious disease such as cancer will be revealed. However, there are good solutions for your weakness today. 

For aged eyes, glasses for farsightedness or you can regain good visions with only one-day surgery. In most regions, older people can take their health check for free or cheaper and they can reach health service easily so that disease is found early enough to expect good prognosis. When you get worried about your health or any other problem, your friend will help you whom you’ve met through life. In younger ages, people move so fast and so often, only true reliable friends will remain as your friends when you become old.

To sum up, despite the weakness of old ages, I believe that old people can live stronger and happier than we think, with a little help of families, friends and the and the development of science and medicine.

Being brave

The bravest decision of mine for 30 years was making a trip alone to Leipzig to attend the 12th congress of World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH) in 2010. It had been 23 years since I traveled abroad visiting friends in UK in 1987. WAIMH is a NPO for scientific and educational professionals promoting the mental wellbeing and healthy development of infants throughout the world, considering cultural, regional, and environmental variations, and to generate and disseminate scientific knowledge.

The information struck me that WAIMH is the one I should join. It was only 2 months before the congress was held but I could manage to organize everything to attend the congress and even planed an extra trip to Berlin after the congress. The atmosphere of the congress was very friendly, and I could make friends with participants from different countries, enjoyed the program and learned a lot. In Berlin I visited a kindergarten in woods to see how the outdoor nursery work well. I visited the East Site Gallery and other monuments for WW2, which were very impressive. They made me realize how silly human was to start the war and how brave the citizens to destroy the walls. 

I felt like that I had restored a balance between mind and body through the 10 days travel. An adventurous open-minded character was brought back to me.

Posted for Kyoko

An idyllic place to visit - Okinawa

 

Unexpected visit

Rie stopped studying with us to start a new life with a new hubby in a new town some time ago, so today's surprise visit was a real joy! She is looking so well and I am happy to say enjoying married life immensely. No shocks there, it seems when the time is right these things just happen of their own accord. All well and good.

Last week we were also surprised by another student who is taking a break to have a baby. She is seven months now and starting to waddle a bit, as all pregnant woman do, looking radiant.

So we're feeling the love. So happy that students miss us when they're away and they can be sure we miss them too!

Here's to happy reunions!

This is a story about the firefighter (me)

I was feeling a blast blowing from the window. The fire broke out at a rental flat on the top floor of a five storied building. Standing on a ladder, furious orange flames and clouds of black smoke were rising from the window just in front of me.

I could hear a kid crying in the room and also his upset mother screaming below. Looking through the window, I had flashbacks to the past and those scenes inspired me slight fear but didn't make me hesitate, rather moved me to action.

There was no time to flinch. I took a short deep breath and told myself " Go !"

Kyoko (^^)

Painting the town red

On Saturday evening, one of Jim's business classes went out for dinner and a few drinks in town. We had a some great nabe and yakiniku; Kazu bizarrely topped up his draft beer with tomato juice and salt...which in a ll my drinking years I don't think I 've seen before!

Tana's first certificate (FCE) class also had a meal, and eventually caught up with Jim's group at karaoke - not a regular event for Jim and actually Tana's first time (can you believe it?). As we were such a large group, we had to wait a while for a room - so we had a few more beers to pass the time & Tomohiro found his friend's wedding party in the same bar!

Surprise crooner of the evening was Yuki, letting rip with style and skill. Most of the rest of us gurning along drunkenly - Rie & Kyoko excepted, so well-behaved. Yosuke & Tomo did their best to keep Yumie awake!

Where did all the time go? Suddenly it was something like half past two in the morning, cold & rainy. Tomo staggered off homewards, others planning to share taxis...Sunday looking like it was going to be a slow day for eveyone concerned! Thanks - I had a great time. I didn't even mind sleeping on the floor (again) when I tried to stay awake for the football.

"The Moonspinners" OUP Bookworm

Hi Jim. This is my first challenge.

The book title is 'The Moonspinners'. This is a story about people who were accidentally involvet in a case of murder and theft. The heroine is Nicola who came on a trip to meet her cousin at the villege. But she met two guys on the way to the Hotel where she was going to stay. One of them was shot and injured...

The question is:
1　You are a police officer. Write a short report about each of the five people involvee with
the crime: Stratos,Alexandros,Tony,Josef,and Sofia.

Stratos : Stratos Alexiakis. The probable age 48 or 49. He is a owner of the Hotel
'Agios Georgios 'which is in Crete. He had successful restaurant in London. But
came back to Crete 6 months ago. He has a sister named Sofia.
Stratos Stole some gold and Jewels in London with Alexandros,Tony and Josef.
He is a leader of them. They hided the stolen articles at the coast near the village.
He doesn't like Sofia's husband Josef.He kidnapped and imprisoned Colin with Tony
and Josef.

Alexandros : He is an accomplice of the crime. But killed by Josef in a mountain near Crete
when they had argument about things they had stolen in London.

Tony : Tony Camble. A British man who helped Stratos's crime in London.
Probable age under thirty.
He followed Stratos and works at Agios Georgios.

Josef : Sofia's husband. Cretan.He is often drunk. Doesn't work much. He waste Sofia's money
and not very good to her. He killed Alexandros at the mountain near the village. He also
shot Colin's brother Mark. But died accidentally by hitting his head on a rock when
scuffled with Mark's friend Lambis at the mountain.

Sofia : Stratos's sister and wife of Josef. She had money form her father. She helped Stratos
to imprison Colin in a windmill. But she took care of Colin and brought some hood for
Colin. She opposed to kill Colin.

This story was quite exciting. and of course, happy end.