An English Diary @ cubbycafe

Outlet

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:34:00 +0000

Yesterday, I went to an outlet mall to buy some clothes.
As I am a graduate student, I don't need to care about my clothes. But, in this April, I wll be a worker and it means that I have to dress professionaly. So, I went there and bought clothes cheaply.

I bought 2 pants, a long T-shirts, a casual and pretty outer wear, black heels and elegant belt. Especially, I like my new heels. Because my feet are so small, it is tough to find good heels for me. I was very happy to buy it.

I didn't buy any formal clothes. Well, I need them, of course. But, It is difficult to look for good ones because I don't know my new life style.

Anyway, I will understand what I need to buy after starting my new life!

dress rpofessionaly 社会人らしい格好をする

Kakeibo DS 2

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:13:00 +0000

Today, I went to the videogame shop to buy Kakeibo DS as I said yesterday.

First, I went to the previously owned videogame shop and I didn't find it... It seems to be popular.

Second, I went to the famous rental video shop, Tsutaya. And I found it!
It costs about 3500 yen. I think it's not inexpensive, but it's good for me, living on my own at first time, to practice how to check my account.

However, I realized I didin't have a card, which gave me some points when I buy something!! It's very important to save my points, especially for the poor student.

So...

I will buy it tomorrow!!

Kakeibo DS

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:24:00 +0000

I would like to buy a new gamesoft which I can hundle my household accounts because I will start single life soon.

I don’ know this soft is good or not. But, it's all right, for I will buy it at second hand. Though I have to pay some money, I will be I have to pay some money, I will be able to learn how to check my accounts so that it is very worthful item, I think.

Tomorroy, I want to look for it and if I can find any inexpensive one, I will buy it!!

家計簿をつけるhandle one's household accounts
中古でat second hand

My determination

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:45:00 +0000

My new year's resolution was keeping practice, not saying "I am tired," and always feeling positive.

And now I would like to add new resolution that is going to bed and getting up early.

A few days ago, I was late for my university. Though, fortunately, it was not duty to go there on time and I hadn't able to sleep because of heavy stomachache, I became to be worried with thinking about my new life.

Now, I live with my family and my mother gets up very early so that she helps me to get up if I have to wake up early. But, starting to work and living alone, I have to do everything alone. I think I am easy in my mind.

Of cource, I am rarely late at the important day, but I think it's not enough. So, I decided to make my brain for new life style!

Uva tea

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:33:00 +0000

I like tea.

When I went to the English conversation school, my taecher was British. Because I thought British like tea and they have it every day, I asked him which tea he liked. And he said that he didn't have tea so much. I thought England was the nation of tea....

Anyway, I love tea and I often go to the tea shop. There is my favorite tea shop which you can buy tasty tea leaves at a low price. I bought Darjeeling, Dimbula, Nilgili, Assam, Uva, Keemun there. I haven't tried most of these before I had found this shop.

In this season, as for me, the most favorite tea is milk tea. When I asked the shopmaster, he recommended me to try Uva tea. In this shop, you can try some tea, so I tried Uva tea. It was delicious and now I always have Uva tea!

I like the time to learn English with tea. It is precious time!

Travel to somewhere

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:15:00 +0000

Now, I am trying to make a plan for travel to Kinugawa spring with my friends.

They are my high-school friends and most of them will graduate this March. Interestingly, the half of members became graduate students, including me. How dilligent we are! :P

The total members are 12 and 5 will go to the spring. I think it is great because they are so busy. I would like to have a good time with them!

music

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:07:00 +0000

Last year, I went to several instrumental concerts. This was rare experiment for me because I didn't like classic concerts.

At the first concert of the year, which my old friend played violin as a member of quartet, I had been very serious to see players. before that, I think I didn't seen them so seriously and only listened melody. But, in this time, because she is my friend, I wanted to see her. And I realized how fantastic players were. Their technique wasn't simple and I felt their feeling into music. It was so good time.

At the second time, I went to the Christmas concert of Makoto Ozone, who is the great jazz pianist in Japan and he can play not only jazz music but also classic music. I love his music so much and had wanted to go to his concerts once! His play was so wonderful and he told us about his music so that I could understand the music. And he also did an improvisation! This was also great. So, it was presure time for me.

Enjoying these two concerts, I would like to know much more about classic and jazz. I always love jazz but I realized that there are many things that I haven't knew yet. And also classic! I learned classic music field was very wide and deep.

This year, I would like to know about music more and more. This will be a good experience for me and I have a good time to be relax and move forward even if I would have bad thing.

do an inprovisation　即興で演じる

monja-yaki

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 15:42:00 +0000

Do you know monja-yaki?

I went to Tsukishima where it is famous for monja. The monja restaurants seem to be 90% of all of shops and reataurants there. Many tourist come there to eat monja-yaki.

Monja-yaki is Japanese pan fried flour with various ingredients. It's popular in Kanto region in Japan. Okonomi-yaki and tako-yaki were created from it. (I didn't know monja is the original of these two famous Japanese food!) You use strange spatula when eating. It is good to eat because monja includes much water with flour so that this spatula helps us to scoop up soft crust(?).

Many people look it at first time says it is gross because of its looking. But, soon after eating it, they change their mind because of its taste. One of them was my mother. She said Okonomiyaki was better than monja because monja was sticky. But after eating it, she said she loved it very much and it was so delicious. So, if you have tried it and you think it's gross, I reccommend you to try it! You must think it is so tasty food!

And one of the most interesting of monja-yaki is how to cook it. It is difficult for me to explain about it. So look at this page!
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=dRQdvxeC72w

scoop up すくう

wisdom teeth

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:58:00 +0000

I removed my wisdom teeth at the lower left.
It was first time to pull out the wisdom teeth so that I was so worried about pain and swelling.

But, fortunately, my dentist, who was introduced by my orthodontist, was so good that I didn't feel any pain and fear on the time he pulled out my teeth.

Of course, I have to take a pain killer for a few days but it became better soon. And my swollen jaw recovered rapidly, too.

I need pulling my right wisdom teeth after several weeks and it seems to be more difficult than the left one. I hope I will recover soon again!

orthodontist 矯正の先生
pain killer　痛み止め

NOVA

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:17:00 +0000

I always hear the news of NOVA, the biggest English conversation school in Japan.
This company had the problem which it couldn't pay salaries for company staff members and foreign teachers. And it suddenly closed all the schools so that many students can't go to the school. Most students pay much money before the lessons (they bought so-called tickets). In one of the news, some housewife (she and her two children go there) can't go back 2 million yen! How awful!

When I looked for the English conversation school, I went to NOVA for research because the cost is really low. But, fortunately, I decided to go other school, for I thought this school is best for studying English in more detail.

However, I realized there are so many good English learner in NOVA after writing my blog. Many blogger who practice English went to NOVA and all of them are so diligent and have high motivation. So, I feel resentment at the NOVA staffs and want them to find the solution. I strongly want them to give back student's money.

driver's license!!!

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:02:00 +0000

I got my driver's license!!

During a month, I was focused on getting it, so I didn't practice English so hard. Because I don't have good memory if I study for a short time, I have to study again and again to pass the theory test.

You know, you have to pass four tests to get the driver's license in Japan. Two of them are technical test for driving skill and the others are theory test and you have to get over 90 percentages. In my school, I had to pass the first technical test, then the first theory test and after that I could drive a car in a public road. After brushing driver's skill up, I got the chance to try the last technical test. And passing the test, I graduated the driving school and went to take the 2nd theory test.

In the 2nd theory test, there are 95 question. All of them are correct/incorrect question. The last 5 question with the illustration asked the three manner. If I couldn't answer all three correctly, I couldn't get any points.

The difficulty of this test is that it ask about not only normal cars but also motor bicycles and the other cars. As for me, I wanted to get the automatic car license but I have to know about manual cars. (I think it is same in the other countries...)

Anyway, I passed the test and I got the driver's license now! Nowadays, it is strict about privacy so that I got the card with an IC tip. Hmm, isit useful for our life???

Beckoning cat

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:41:00 +0000

Do you know beckoning cat?
It is a popular cat in Japan.
Beckoning cat is a white cat and it is standing and beckoning.

Yes, it is a doll of cat.

One of my classmates in my English conversation class who quited to come this school today gave me it. He told us about the story why the beckoning cat was born.

It was born hundreds years ago in the Edo period. One day, the second highest person on the edo government walked in front of the temple, Kotoku-ji and saw a white cat beckoning (he thought). He thought it was strange but it may that the god told him to come into the temple so that he came there. Suddenly, thunderbolt fell exactly the same place he had been there.
Thanks of the cat (maybe the god), he could be alive! Since then, this temple had been more popular than before and because so many people came there, the priests created the beckoning cat and sold them.

And now, we can see the beckoning cat everywhere!!

But we can get the original one only in Kotoku-ji.

Because he bought it there, I will become more happier! I thank him very much!

new job party

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:27:00 +0000

Most Japanese company hold a party for their new recruits.
Because I will work at a company, today I went to the party. It means I could meet the other new recruits at first time.

After taking TOEIC test (most of the company in Japan let new recruits take it,) we attended a party and talk with them and other company members. It was precious time for me because I noticed they are nice people! But, I wanted more contact with many members, for we, girls, gathered and talk all time (I think it is natural that girls gather with girls and boys gather with boys, at least in Japan. And I don't think it's not good but it's difficult to break it. )
Anyway, I want to talk and know about many more members.

new recruit 新入社員

Please don't mess up the road

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 08:25:00 +0000

We sometimes felt bad because someone baits cat food on the road in front of our house. Many neighbours seem to suffer from it.

I love cat so that I sometimes give them food, but I don't like to bait on the public road because it mess up the road and many people who walk there felt bad. And I am worried that someone who dislike this action kill the cat...... or hearlthcare center officer kill them because they are worried about the cat-borne desease. I don't want such a future.....

So, our family took the action.

At first, my mother wrote on the paper "Please don't put cat food on the road!,"
and hang on the wall. Next day, we found next to the letter, "or I put poison next time" by pen. How horrible.... butI think my mother's comment is also so strong that someone got angry. And to matters worse, someone call the police station and said that there were horrible signage at the wall of my house. So, my parents had to explain it. The policeman just laughed at but said he couldn't do anything. And then, my mother created same poster and put it on the wall. But, next day, same graffiti was here.... and again and again.... My mother doesn't like do like that (she like animals so much!!) so she was very nervous now.

Now, I considered the best way to stop this horrible trouble. I think it is good poster which ask for understanding and says very politely. Anyway, I want to get along with people and cats.

bait 餌をまく

concert

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 22:31:00 +0000

Yesterday, old friend of mine was coming my home.
She is a violinist and now goes to a graduate school of music.

The reason why she came here is that she had a concert in Tokyo.
It was the second time that I listened her play and the first listening was about 15 years ago so I really glad to listen her play.

Actually, I didn't understand how her play was great because I don't know much about classic nor any other music. But, I really enjoyed it!
I realized playing instruments has two meaning during her play ; 1) to achieve the level for the musician and 2) to make listeners be satisfied with their music. I thought it was difficult to do such a thing. But, she and her company did it. I want to be such a people who can concider about theirseves, and at that time, about the other people.

I also learned how wonderful going concert was. I want to go to the concert if I have a chance. And I wanna learn much more knowledge of classic for listening their play with much more understanding. Fortunately, my friend promised me that she would give me some CD of classic and jazz. So, I can learn one by one. And in the future, I will earn my money and go to concerts!!
I can't wait:)

typhoon 2

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:27:00 +0000

Well, I did it!

I went and drove in strong wind and rain! While I move from school building to the car (I think I move for about 15m), I was soaked to the bone. It was tough to close my umbrella. And I couldn't see the front sight when the teacher drove a car (fortunately, I could see it when I drove it).

Our car didn't fell down!

be soaked to the bone ずぶ濡れになる

typhoon

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:39:00 +0000

The typhoon is coming. You know, typhoon has strong wind and rain and the front edge of it is the place which has the strongest wind. So, in this typhoon's case, it will reach late at night but we have to worry about it before reaching it.

As for me, I have the lesson of driving school at night. I intended to try night driving before I drive on the public road. But, now..... it may be a nightmare....

I drive a car but I can't drive straightly because the wind blow from right side of me. And I can't see anywhere because of strong wind. And to make matters worse, suddenly strong wind blew and my car fell down!!!

It perhaps......... go on.

front edge 先端

Driving school

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:27:00 +0000

I started to go to driving school. It is very fun!

Before driving a car, I think I don't use a car without any needs. But, once I drove a car, I thought it was fantastic that we could move such a big machine so easily.
After getting a driver's licence, I will go everywhere with my own small car. I am looking forward to buy it. It will be definitely pretty and it will be very comfortable place inside it.

Now, I can go around curve. And today, I learn　turning to the right and left.　I don't think I mastered it, but it is also fun. I hope I will get used to it soon.

go around curve カーブを曲がる
turn to the right and left 右折、左折する
get used to it それに慣れる

BBQ party

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 16:21:00 +0000

I went to a beer garden with my family.
At that place, we could eat meat, pork, lamb chop, vegetables and yakisoba as much as we like.
All people there seemed to be happy with eating outside.
Though we have to eat within 2 hours, we were full. We enjoy not only food but also nature and cool breeze.

In Japan, it is rare to eat outside, especially in Tokyo.
Because there are too small to have a BBQ party, we can't enjoy eating outside.
So, such a place are wonderful!!

It is located in the Shinjyuku Gaien so that we felt we were in the forest although we were in the big city! It is fantastic, isn't it?

Well, the price is about 4000 yen which isn't inexpensive, but if you are interested in it, how about going there and eating delicious foods?

I show you the information below.
http://www.rkfs.co.jp/restaurant/resutaurant_3.html

lamb chop ラム肉

OBON

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 07:14:00 +0000

Oh, I hadn't write this blog for a long time!
Actually, my own computer was broken and because I don't afford to buy a new one, what I can do is using the computer at the lab or Internet KISSAs (cafeteria).

By the way, yesterday, I went to the English conversation school and talked about OBON because it is OBON season now in Japan.

OBON is in the middle of August and we believe that spirits return their home in this season. So, many people return home to welcome their parents, grandparents or ancestors. It means it is also the season which all the family member are together.
But, it is not the correct mean of OBON. Do you know the correct one?

A students in our class told us about the origin of OBON.

At first, OBON is not the correct name. The correct one is URABONE. When I chenge URABONE into kanji by the computer, it is 盂蘭盆会. So, I think it is the correct name.

And then, he told us the original story.

Once upon a time, there were a man whose mother had already passed away. One day, he thought about his mother. He was worried about her because his mother might be in the hell and she struggled there. So, He asked Buddha how he should do. And Buddha replied he should gather many priests and pray for her. After that, he did so. And her mother could go to the heaven.

It is so different from today's mean of OBON that I was so surprised.

By the way, my British teacher said why the spirits come on horses or cows.
Do you know the reason??

Buddha ブッダ

Improper speech

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 10:27:00 +0000

Recently, many politicians did bad speech and almost all cause of them is inappropriate comment. Are politicians must concerned about nation? I am always angry hearing their comment.

One politician said about his improper speech, "I am so sad many people got the wrong idea. And the media officer who broadcast the part of my comment will get paid back for it!"

.......What!? We were wrong??? How was your responsibility!??

Of course, many complained it. Many people were angry his attitude. Finally, he decided quited his job.

But, he said, "I quited my job for next election. I don't want to bring trouble to Democratic Liberal Party members. People have a wrong idea. That's too bad."

Is that all what he have to say??
He had never apologized in front of the mass media. Whether his comment was imappropriate or not, he should apologize for some people who were broken their heart for his comment. (I thought we didn't have wrong idea after listening his comment.) Or (I don't think it isn't a good idea but) he should do sensible way of doing.

I am very worried about future Japanese politics.....

And I decided again that I will be a person who can apologize right out.
The Japanese proverb says "HITO NO FURI MITE WAGAHURI NAOSE (You can better yourself by observing others)."

improper speech , inappropriate comment 失言
get the wrong idea 勘違いする
get paid back for 行動の報いを受ける
bring trouble to ～に迷惑を掛ける
sensible way of doing 賢いやり方

The mean of black

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:04:00 +0000

I went to my English conversation school today.
At the start of the lesson, we discussed about the mean of color.

For example, the color of wedding dress is white. That is same asmany countries. And black is not good color forhappy thing like wedding so that we don't like only black clothes at this kind of situation. Why?

I thought and said this is because black is the color of night. In the old times which there weren't bright lights, they were afraid of night because of its mystery. They thought night implies death or evil things. So, they, living in all over the world, didn't think black is good color.

What do you think?

Anyway, it is very interesiting mystery that many countries have same culture.

If you are interested in this blog or want to learn the other blogs about English, click here >;->

Decide my job

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:22:00 +0000

I decided my job.

It is reserach job. Of cource, now I study chemstry so that it is happy occasion for me.

But....

I do want another job because it seems to be more suite for my character. So, I wonder whether job is good for my future.

There are many points to decide our future job. Money, challenge, social thing, character, companies' scale, future vision and so on. I felt it was too difficult for any person to find out what is good job or company.

At that time, the decisive factor of my choice is that comment of a certain person.

"We search for people with passion like you."

It was when I went to factory tour after I was made an offer. I debate whether to go this company or the other companies (At that time, I got three offers). The manager of human affairs said to me, "so that I am happy if you come here."

The reason he said that is that I honestly spoke him about my preferred job. He said because this lind of job which I want to be is the important ones in the company, he was happy to hear my desire. And also he said that I need one or two year- research experiment to get this job.

Before I talked with him, I was really worried about my future. To tell the truth, I got another offer for this kind of job. So, I have another choice. However, I felt the company I went to factory tour was much more attractive than the other companies. So, after talking, I felt certain that this company was suit for me!!

Furthermore, after going home and sending a thank you message about the interview for him, he replied soon. And he wrote "I won't forget what you say. If you want to become this job after 1 or 2-year reseach experiment, please come forward . I won't forget your word and I will help your dream coming true."

His word gave me courage and I moved.

I know it is the all parts of the company. There is a possibility that after entering this company, most kind people during the interview change their attitude. But, I believe his words are real and I can get the opportunity to challenge the job which I want to be. That's fantastic!

So, I decided this company.

Job hunting gives me a lot of things. Mostly, it is important to have a courage and act everything as we can. As for me, it was change my life that I had a courage and ask him about my desire.

challenge やりがい
social thing 人付き合い
decisive factor　決め手
with passion 情熱を持った
be made an offer　内定をもらう
come forward　立候補する

the 1st work

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Tue, 15 May 2007 10:27:00 +0000

I taught some students on last Saturday!
I tanght three students and I will teach one student of them every Saturday.

The other stundents just asked some question about mathmatics.
At first, I was so nervous because I had never done a tutor at a plum school before.
But, once the student understood my explanation, I was proud of my explanation skill little by little. You know, I am simple...

After finishing teaching, a teacher who is professional to teach and many teachers rely him, asked me "Have you teach something before? I was surprised because your teaching is very well."
I was so happy to hear that! Actually, I taught some stundents as a teaching assistant, and a home teacher. And in using internet, I realized that I can teach students!!

To tell the truth, though I did my best, I did some mistakes. But, I want not to forget his word and try teaching more and more!!

Click here and you can find many other English blogs!! >;->

the 1st day

noreply@blogger.com (kaimu) — Fri, 11 May 2007 06:28:00 +0000

It is my 1st day of part-time working at the new office.
I am really worried if I can teach students smoothly or not.

But, I will do my best!