Thursday, 27 June 2019

Postcard from...Bangkok, Thailand

Floating Market at Damnernsaduak, Rajburi
Sa wat dii ka                                                  Hello!

How are you, everyone?

I'm now in Bangkok, Thailand. I have a training in Ramathibod Hospital - Mahidol University for one month. I've already finished the training in P.I.C.U. (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) and I'm going to Infectious Pediatrics Ward for 2 weeks. I'll be careful not to get Malaria, Zika fever or Dengue fever!! Ha ha

See you in 2 - 3 weeks

Chihiro :)


Wednesday, 26 June 2019

Democrat Party nomination in the 2020 US election - After reading

I want to introduce a candidate “Bernie Sanders” for the Democrat Party nomination in the 2020 US election. You may know him because he was in a close race with Hillary Clinton for the previous Democrat Part nomination in the 2016. He was born in NY and was Polish-Israeli. His parents faced some difficulties until his mother was died aged 46 years-old and his father was died aged 57 years-old. Thus, he learned from a young age that the government was seriously important because 50 million people including 6 million of Jewish people were killed in World War II by the government by Adolf Hitler. In the period of Chicago university, he jointed an activity against segregated system, non-violent action in struggle for racial equality.
Now, for the Democrat Party nomination in the 2020, he aims to make proper U.S. government economically, socially, racially and environmentally and is not thinking in priority to finish the government by Donald Trump. Most of candidates for the Democrat Party nomination insist similar policy to rectify imbalances in the U.S. economy etc. He has a lot of policies, and I am writing his biography because I want him to change the U.S. policy for environmental problem including global heating, clean, and renewable energy as the forty-six presidents. Most of countries are taking actions agreed by Kyoto Protocol, but the U.S. that is worst carbon-dioxide emissions country withdrew from it to put domestic economic growth in the near term in priority than earth in the next decade or century.
The environmental problem should be taken measurements quickly at the risk of low economy. His policies in environment are as follows.  One of his policies in enviroment is to transition the U.S. to 100% clean and renewable energy within the next decade.  Another is to stop destroying our planet for profit.
I also feel the same way about education.  His policies in education are as follows.  One of his policies in education is to educate at public university without any tuition for undergraduate student and another is to support clothing, food and housing. It is well known that a lot of workers are suffering to pay students loans back and it causes low performance in work and low consumption and is not good in the U.S. economy.
And students who receive enough support from government may be able to change the U.S.A. better and education is very important.
I hope that American people choose appropriate person as the forty-six presidents carefully.

Monday, 24 June 2019

Postcard from...Winchester Castle,England

The Great Hall of Winchester Castle -
King Arthur's Round Table


Dear Jim, Yukari-san and all at Luna,

How are you? My daughter and I are having a wonderful time here. Winchester was what I expected, I saw the Round Table from the 13th Century and learned a lot of history. I also saw Jane Austen's grave at the Cathedral. 

We are going to do some sightseeing in Bath today. 
Tomorrow we'll be in Cotswolds, then to Ireland, Galway

This is my fourth visit to England. Every time I come back, I feel nostalgic. This year the weather is very bad, even in June. Raining all the time.

All the best

Shizue

Thursday, 20 June 2019

Speaking Examiner training for Japan

下記の日程にて、ケンブリッジ英語検定のA2 Key/A2 Key for Schools (KET)B1 Preliminary/B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET) のSpeaking Examiner(スピーキングの試験官)トレーニングが実施されます。


https://cambridge-university-press.jp/events_news/cambridge_speaking_examiner/


In 2019:

June 29: Key (KET A2) + Preliminary (PET B1) in Sendai
July 20: Key (KET A2) + Preliminary (PET B1) in Tokyo
Aug 17: Key (KET A2) + Preliminary (PET B1) in Kagoshima

Aug 24: Young Learners (YLE Starters, Movers & Flyers preA1 – A2) in Tokyo

Sept 29: Preliminary (PET B1) + First (FCE B2) in Tokyo
Nov 2: Key (KET A2) + Preliminary (PET B1) in Tokyo
Nov 9: Key (KET A2) + Preliminary (PET B1) in Nagoya
Nov 30:Key (KET A2) + Preliminary (PET B1) in Tokyo

In 2020:

Jan 18: Key (KET A2) + Preliminary (PET B1) in Nagoya
Jan 25: Key (KET A2) + Preliminary (PET B1) in Tokyo
Mar 21: Key (KET A2) + Preliminary (PET B1) in Tokyo
Mar 28: Key (KET A2) + Preliminary (PET B1) in Nagoya


申し込み・お問い合わせはこちら:

お申込みフォーム

ケンブリッジ英語検定東日本センターJP004
Speaking Examiner Team Leader
Jim George
oyajim@gmail.com

Monday, 10 June 2019

Emergency pack

Honestly, I do not have any emergency packs now although I prepared the pack for a while after my child was born.  When some foods were expired and I moved home a few years ago, I got rid of them.  This writing work reminds me the importance of emergency pack, so I should prepare the pack again.

The most important item will be foods for my child.  She must feel afraid of emergency situation.  If she can eat her favorite foods like jelly and snacks, she can feel relieved.

I am most concerned about earthquake because it occurs somewhere in Japan periodically.  It depends on the size of an earthquake and where I am when an earthquake comes, but I need to survive for 3 days at least.


Sunday, 9 June 2019

Write about your favourite five year old!

Five-year-old is the important year for my life.  I met my closest friend at pre-school when I was five years old.  We went to the same pre-school, elementary school, junior high school and high school, so we spent twelve years together.

Most of children started pre-school when they become three-year-old.  However, she and I started one year later, when we became four-year-old.  We were in the same class and played together every day.

I remember well about her drawing.  She drew picture well and I liked to see her drawing picture.  She always drew flower vase on the top of refrigerator, then drew flowers.  I think this is my oldest memory with her.  I feel happy every time when I think about this memory.



Thursday, 6 June 2019

Postcard from...Shenzen

Shenzen Bay Port
Jim sensei,

I am in Hong Kong airport and waiting fro my flight back to Nagoya. I had two meetings in China and felt I should improve my English skill and learn some Chinese words to communicate with my customers fluently.

The picture is the point of the border between China and Hong Kong. The border opens at 6:30 in the morning and it is full of young Chinese students who go to school in Hong Kong.

Tomoko

Monday, 3 June 2019

Koboyama Kofun - burial mound in Matsumoto

The Koboyama Kofun

Image result for 前方後方墳
layout of a Kofun
In ancient Japan, in the 3rd-7th centuries, many important Japanese warlords made burial mounds to  show their power. They used dirt to make them, and they put the body and precious things in it as well.

One of these historical tombs is in Matsumoto, Nagano. It is called Koboyama Kofun. It is the oldest kofun in east Japan. It was built in the 3rd century, but it is unknown who built it.

The Koboyama Kofun was rediscovered in 1974. At that time, local people mistook it as just a hill. During the WW2, some machine guns had been set up on the hill. Afterward, the Matsusho-Gakuen corporation bought the hill to build a school.When they surveyed the ground, they found that it was a special kofun for Japan.

The Koboyama Kofun is about 60m high, 66m long.The shape is like two squares together (see image). There was a traditional round mirror, three iron swords, 738 glass balls, an iron ax and a jewel ball.

We don't know who was buried here.Today, people come here to see 2000 cherry trees in blossom every spring. Most people do no realize what they are climbing!

Image result for koubouyama
Koboyama Kofun cherry blossoms
Yuto

Sunday, 26 May 2019

After reading - England



Dear mother,

How are you?
I’m writing this in the U.K.! I’m going to stay for a week there.

I will stay in Liverpool today. I’m going to take a walk Mathew Street tomorrow. It is known the home of the Beatles. I want to take a walk there while listening to their songs and go to The cavern club, where they played music at that time. Now, it is a fun place for us to enjoy the Beatles and rock lovers.

On the third day, I’ll go to Chester to see the Rows and Chester cathedral. After that, I’ll ride a narrow boat on the Pontekasaste aqueduct

I’ll stay in London for the remaining four days. I’ll visit the British Museum, the world heritage site, Westminster Abbey and Cath Kidston store in Piccadilly Circus. The store is one of the largest in the U.K.

I’ll buy souvenirs which I can only do there, so please tell me if you want me to buy something.
I’m looking forward to seeing you in Japan again.

Lots of love,

Momoko

My first journey with my first passport

Picture of Foro Romano 
My first journey with my first passport was a trip to Italy with my friend Kaori three years ago. We stayed in Rome for three days. We could not find where to eat on the first day, but eventually we ate dinner at restaurant run by Japanese. I felt relieved when I heard Japanese language.

On the second day we went to the Colosseum and Foro Romano, which is an ancient Roman ruin near the Colosseum. It is a place where you can feel the civilization which was established about 2,000 years ago.

In the evening we went to the Trevi Fountain which is famous for the movie “Roman Holiday”. There is a legend that you can return to Rome by throwing a coin in the fountain. We threw a coin with a wish.

On the third day we visited the Vatican Museum in the Vatican City. Among the many works of art, I was mostly impressed with the sculptures. They are made of stone, but they seem alive.

Momoko


Friday, 17 May 2019

Letter for Mr. and Mrs. Walsh

Matty Doolin
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Walsh,

It has been 6 months since our son, Matty started working on your farm. Hope he works hard and to be a good farmer.

When we allow him to go camping with his friends, it’s because we felt sorry for him due to death of his dearest dog. We thought we could forget his painful memory after spending holiday for camping in the field and he would work in the town like his father.
When you called us that Matty was rescued on the mountain while storming and raining heavily, we rushed to go to your house. On the way to your house, we decided one thing, that we would allow him everything he want to do if he was fine.

Now we think it was the goods decision for him to work on the farm. We much appreciate for both of your love for our sun from the bottom of our heart.

Sincerely yours,

Frank and Jenny Doolin

Tuesday, 30 April 2019

C. W. Nicol - After reading of England

A famous English person is living in Nagano. He is Clive William Nicol and is called as “C.W.Nicol” in Japan. In the nineteen-eighties, he loved beautiful woodland of Japan, but was despaired the cutting of old growth forests in Japan to make golf courses and ski slopes etc.
With a shocked eye at Afan Argoed Forest Park in Glamorganshire, South Wales, he started his activity to come back the woodland to life with healthy diversity. Light reaches the ground, trees are good bearer, flowers blooms, insects come, bird species increase, 29 endangered species are kept in his owned “Afan forest”. He doesn’t do this activity to earn money, and he is showing natural life forms and eco-tourism which is income-producing sightseeing without destroying any woodland. By repeating this successful activity, we can keep woodland in the future.
From now, I will tell you what he saw at Afan Argoed Forest Park. In 1985, he got a notice from a scientist of employ of the Welsh country and he asked what species of Japanese trees would flourish in the ground and climate of South Wales to make a Japanese woodland park inside his employed park. Nicol surprised that request because he knew in his early experience that that area was covered with slag and the river was black with coal dust and pollutants. When he returned to Wales, he was very shocked that the valley was green with trees and the river flowed clear water by big efforts of the local people and some organizations.
By this good shock, he decided to come back the woodland in Japan to life with healthy diversity. He loves the beautiful woodland in Wales and United Kingdom and Afan Argoed Forest Park in Wales and Afan Forest in Nagano are sharing their experiences and challenges each other to keep forest.

Tuesday, 23 April 2019

My best friend!

Hana

My best friend’s name is Hana.
She is 1m 29cm tall. 
She has short dark straight hair and brown eyes.
She likes tennis and chasing boys.


Posted for Nanaha (9)

Monday, 22 April 2019

Postcard from...Mr. & Mrs. Miyazaki

There's nowhere else I want to be...

Dear Luna family,

I hope that you are all keeping well, and looking forward to the weather warming up.

It has been a few weeks since I started my new teaching role in Akasaka, Tokyo. It is an exciting new chapter for myself, and my family. Thank you for all the kindness you showed me before my departure. I will forever cherish the memories I shared with each & every one of you. Which leads me on to some very special news that we would like to share with you all. Rumi, who has been my loving partner for the last 2.5 years, and I got married on March 7th. We are now Mr. & Mrs. Miyazaki. We also have another little bundle of joy to share. Rumi & I are expecting an addition to our family on July 31st. We are not sure whether the baby is a boy or a girl yet, but in the meantime we've given the nickname "Kimi-chan" until we decide on a final name. Any suggestions are welcome of course!

With lots of love, Damian, Rumi & Kimi-chan

Friday, 12 April 2019

My Dream Holiday

I would like to go to Australia. I can go with plane. I want to go to Wollongong in Australia. I can see my cousins. My cousins names are Joe, Louie, Fred and Charlie. I can play football with my best friends.

I want to make snacks with my aunt. Australia is very fun place. Do you want to go to Australia?


Posted for Eleanor.

Thursday, 11 April 2019

Where would you like to go with friends?

You must go to Iowa City in America. You can go to America by aeroplane, and you can see American football. You can get to a stadium by car. In Iowa it has a big park!! You can play with friends ♡
In Iowa it has a shopping mall. You can skate and ride on a merry go round, and you can go to library. It has lots of books. It had Japanese books too.

When you come to America you must bring a water or juice. Have fun :-)


Posted for Nanako.

Wednesday, 10 April 2019

Going to work abroad: an exciting opportunity or a scary one?

I think recently young Japanese people who want to go abroad are decrease from before. They are afraid of something different from their ordinary life and getting in something dangerous. Most of them didn't want to have any big risks or make challenges.

Going abroad and living there has a lot of advantages. The main advantage is that you can see and experience different cultures and some new opinions. For example, they have a different habit to eat food, drink, recipes. Maybe there are many strange or surprising experiences. But, that's the reason why you should have go abroad.

Of course, there are some disadvantages. If you're in a foreign country, it will be hard to get some help from your family or your friends. And hard to give some help for them, of course.

It takes time to understand everything about another countries, but it makes you growing up.


Posted for Naoko.

Tuesday, 9 April 2019

Being a celebrity: a dream or a nightmare?

A dream of children is to be a celebrity in the future. For example, boys want to be a baseball player or a soccer player, and girls want to be an actress or a pianist. They want to succeed and be celebrities.

The advantages of being a celebrity are they can be self-confident and satisfied. In addition, they can have more possibility to have good friends, a nice house and a good life.

Although there are some disadvantages as well. It would be difficult to have privacy. Because of SNS, it is more difficult than before. They have to think everybody is a spy. In addition, people want to ask them many things. For example, donations, rent money or to introduce friends. Sometimes they are in trouble. However, it is still a dream to be a celebrity. The life is only once. It is a pity to regret not doing the work for a dream, and it is worth it to make an effort to be a celebrity.

To sum up, working hard for the dream is making the life fruitful.


Posted for Yasumi.

Tuesday, 2 April 2019


Dear,all.
I write about my five-days trip to Scotland.


Days 1, I visited the Stirling Castle. It is a castle stands on beautiful highlands and it is surrounded by eruptive rocks. Therefore, This was built to escape from enemies. It’s a famous historic building. I like historical structures.

Days 2, I visited Loch Ness. The largest freshwater lake in England. A monster that is said to live in Loch Ness is called Nessie. I hope I could see it. But I couldn't on that day.

Days 3 and 5, I stayed on Isle of Skye. An island of northwestern Scotland. It is called “sgiath” in gaelic. This means wing of island.
Isle of Skye has Dunvegan castle and Eilean Donan castle, and even the fairy pool as if it is illustrated in a fairy tale.


I usually drink Suntory whiskey but I enjoyed Scottish whiskey in Talisker distillery on the last day. But I got drunk easily, so I could drink a little bit of that.


Thank you for reading.