Brainstorming

Hi, ladies!!

This morning, azalea, peach and I gathered at a family restaurant at Yagoto to discuss our essay subjects as our first session. Both azalea and peach made so steady progress, and we could run a good brainstorming meeting on the issues about Ichiko Kamichika and Mumeo Oku. I’m afraid that I’m not so getting well now, but today’s fantastic moment will act as a stimulus to me. We junior members enjoyed three hours’ analysis over lunch, and planed the next meeting on January 12 in the coming year at azalea’s house. Then we said good bye about two o’clock or so.
There are only several days left till the new year starts. Have beautiful days!

Merry Xmas

Hi, ladies!!
It is Thursday, December 25, 2008, and Merry Xmas!
I hope you are having wonderful holiday season.

I skipped writing on this Blog because of some hectic days with my daughters. Yes, it is as you guessed…They are now very excited in their winter vacation, and making a lot of plans to enjoy themselves fully, such as Xmas party, Xmas present, vacation trip (we’re planning on going for the Disney Resort on Saturday), and homecoming visit to Osaka. I’m afraid that we won’t go well for all arrangements. Anyway, I have to do many chores one by one…

Plum, I was happy to read your accounts of the three missionaries, since all of them are really helpful for me in writing my English essay.

Alice, I was also glad to learn your report on the interesting lecture by Prof. Mackie.

So, I will get back to my homework, see you next.

A fiery spirit

Hi, ladies!!
It is Friday, December 19, 2008, today, and has been quite cool but dry.

Though Sugako Kanno had not properly educated except for elementary school, she was eager to establish herself as a writer. Then, she asked her brother’s literal teacher Bunkai Udagawa, influential playwright in Osaka, apprentice her to him. She also wrote to Tamemasa Nagae, the president of Osaka choho, regional newspaper expected to publish in a short time;

...I’m afraid that I am a worthless person due to my unhappy and thus uneducated life, but have a belief that women could do an excellent work as well as men do. Now I hear about your publication of a new fine newspaper, and I would like to realize my own faith. I will do my best for your company if you take into account my wish....

She showed a fiery spirit as a woman writer from the start.

Thank you for reading.
Have a good weekend, bye!

As a very common woman

Hi, ladies!!

Sunflower, thank you for contacting Bev sensei, and I was also impressed by your sweet mail to her. I hope all arrangements will go well.

I’m now re-reading the articles written by Sugako Kanno for my essay writing, and I’m interested in her way in which she depicted herself as a very common woman on the regional newspaper articles. For example, an unattractive face, an odd person, a degenerated man. According to her essay, she used to be said that her face was quite ugly because "her mother’s sin was visited upon the child."

It isn’t hard to imagine that her strong-minded character was partly formed by those unfeeling comments in her childhood. In addition to this, her home life was not a happy one due to her father’s ups and downs. The worst phase for Sugako after her mother’s death was the sudden appearance of his second wife, who was not on good terms with Sugako to the end.

So, see you next. Bye!

Hunger in a world of plenty

HI, ladies!
It is Wednesday, December 17, 2008, today, and has been raining off and on. Unfriendly weather, isn’t it?

Hunger in a world of plenty (summary): the material from Alice

Recently the world faces serious shortages of food, and experts now forecast a structural shift in global demand that will keep prices high and people hungry. There is no simple answer to explain the shortages.
First, bad weather in food producing countries has been a factor.
Second, it has also raised prices of seeds.
Third, skyrocketing oil prices have pushed the price of fertilizer and feed.
Fourth, producers are holding off on sending foods to the market, and some governments are making matters worse by restricting food exports.
Fifth, there is the push to develop greener fuels, diverting million tons of food to biofuels.

There are some coordinated responses to them.
First, governments have to provide funds to help hold off crises.
Second, investment in agricultural infrastructure is essential to ensure that crops get from the fields to the market.
Third, energy efficiency must also increase.

…It is very hard to talk fluently about those current social issues, partly because I have little knowledge of various fields.

So, see you next, bye!

Beiou kairan jikki 2

HI, ladies!!

Yesterday I finally finished reading the book beiou kairan jikki 2, which took longer than I expected. It was really hard to come to the end due to those old Japanese, but I’m now relieved that their long journey in USA and England was over. I was always surprised by a lot of trivial things the author wrote in it, but it must show his great tenacity of purpose in that turbulent age. Anyway, I thank you for letting us know this interesting book, Plum.

By chance, TV drama atsuhime also ended peacefully, and I found that story very touching, probably because I’m learning the Meiji era for our essay writing. Most impressive line of atsuhime, is “This is the only path in life women can take”(?), which can show her resolution and firmness as a woman even in such patriarchic Edo era.

I haven’t decided the whole composition of my essay yet. It will take a long time…

So, I’m going to tackle the plan! See you next!

Verb + on, off

HI, ladies!!
It is Monday, December 15, 2008, today, and has been sunny.

I’ll try a verb + on or off.

That man got into his car and drove off at high speed.
The baseball game was called off because of rain.
I dozed off while I was watching TV.
The fire alarm went off in the middle of the night.
I have a few things to finish off before lunch.
My mother paid too much for that picture she bought, and I think she was ripped off.
I was told off by my father for being late for the meeting.
He always tries to show off how smart he is.
I always try to put my husband off smoking.

We all get on really well together.
I must get on with my work.
It’s frustrating that I keep on making the same mistakes in writing English.
We drove on without stopping along the road.

…I hope all of you are getting on well, while having much work.
See you next. Bye!!

Care + some preposition

HI, ladies!!
It is Thursday, December 11, 2008, today, and has been another sunny day.

I’ll try care + some preposition

I was very selfish, and didn’t care about other people.
I promise I’ll take good care of your camera.
I don’t like this hat because I don’t care for the color.
I have to care for those elderly people.
I don’t care what happens now.

…See you next, bye!!

A verb + to, with, about

HI, ladies!!
It is Wednesday, December 10, 2008, today, and has been quite warm and pleasant as if autumn’s coming back, hasn’t it?

I’ll try sentences with the correct preposition, to, with, about.

Time is the solution to a broken heart.
There are many advantages to being able to write an English essay.
(but)The advantage of writing an English essay is that we can express our opinion towards the world.
My attitude to my parents was not good at that time, but their reaction to me was always the same.
I didn’t know what the answer to question 1 was.
I didn’t know when she was engaged to a friend of mine.

I’m not satisfied with my progress in learning English.
I was angry with my husband last night.
(but) I was angry about what he was doing last night.
The people next door might be furious with us for making so much noise.
I was a bit disappointed with the hotel.

I was quite excited about the news.
I am still upset about what he said to me yesterday.
He said he was sorry about the situation.
He said, “ I’ m sorry for what I said.’

…I’m ashamed of lacking these fundamental knowledge of English grammar.
See you tomorrow. Bye!

A verb + out

Hi, ladies!!

I’ll try sentences using a verb + “out”.

I've become fitter these days because I was working out regularly.
My close friend got married a few years ago but it didn’t work out, and she divorced.
Sometime it works out more expensive to cook for one person than to eat in a restaurant.
I’m trying to work out how to use my new computer.
I have to sort out the problem in writing essay.
My kids like to sort out New Years cards for each member of the family.
I ran out of time due to my failure in cooking lunch.
I phoned the library to find out what time it closed.
I’ve fallen out with a friend of mine about a trifle.
I thought she was Japanese at first, but she turned out to be Filipina.
The weather has turned out poor.
The lights went out because a fuse blew.
It will take several hours to put out the forest fire.
The kind teacher gave out leaflets about the Hansen’s disease archives.

…A lot of out.

See you next, bye!

Fruitful Victorian study

Hi, ladies!!

Yesterday’s Victorian study was very fruitful as usual, and I am satisfied with this period for a while. When the program started on this April, the Victorian age was a world that made no sense to me, because I knew little about it. In addition, after we were given a lot of texts from Plum. I felt regret having attended the meeting so easily…

But thanks to repeated encouragement, I managed to come to the halfway point. I’m now looking forward to reading the rest.
So, see you next, bye for now.

Questioning the ethic of marriage 2

Hi, ladies!!

Summary; Questioning the ethic of marriage 2

Mrs. Margaret Oliohant---the novelist who claimed that things are discussed freely and easily which it would a few years ago have been a shame to mention, and concerned about those who regarded marriage as a tyranny.

Mona Caird---she accepted that not every woman was a dauntless heroin, yet suggested solutions; equal rights, economic independence, ending of the patriarchal system and establishment of real freedom in the home.

Cicely Hamilton---she thought marriage so humiliating that no woman at all should get married, and everyone should get a paid job.

Christable Pankhurst---she feared of venereal disease, and thought votes for women would end the problem.

…Their ideas are very intriguing, aren’t they?
So, have a good weekend. See you!

Questioning the ethic marriage

Hi, ladies!!

Summary: Questioning the ethic marriage

The Pre-Raphaelite movement revived in the 1850s and 60s, and anti- marriage movement was sought to be gaining ground. But opponents skilfully linked Socialism, free love and any criticism of marriage together, and thus many women stopped listening to advocates of women's rights.
On the other hand, the availability of easier divorce after 1857 confounded many of the sex radicals.

Annie Besant---famous women's activist and adovocate of contraception, approved of easier divorce but not of free love.

Libertinism have taken root in England and flourished in the 1860s, but Francis Newman thought that more often it was used as an excuse for the free indulgence of passion.

Beatrice Webb---she didn't approve of free love, but pointed out it was the subject of many popular theatre plays, and found difficulties in her Febian friends, H.G.Wells's experiment with free-er love affairs.

The Bloomsbury set---the most influential literary and artistic group, whose world was transformed around 1910. Vanessa Bell (sister of Virginia Woolf) gave the lead by proposing a libertarian society with sexual freesom for all.

...see you next!

Winter has come

Hi, ladies!!
It is Monday, December 01, 2008, and has been chilly since last night. Winter has come, finally…

Yesterday we junior members had a productive meeting for our essay writing at Plum’s house.
In fact, recently I had been little involved in my work about Sugako Kanno since the summer seminar finished on July…So I had been concerned about the meeting until I met Plum and other junior members. But thanks to our passionate teacher, we were strongly vitalized and motivated in a positive way. Though I feel uneasy about our future even now, we’ll say “Yes, we can!”

By the way, I was surprised by the booklet Plum gave us on the feminism meeting a week ago. According to this, Dr. Noboru Ogasawara, who greatly contributed to Hansen’s disease, had brother Hidemi, Buddhist priest, philosopher and poet. Both relieved the poor and the invalid without discrimination in Kyoto. What I found on it is a sentence, saying “Mr Hidemi Ogasawara took part in the Heimin Shimbun.” (p66)

Oh, Heimin Shimbun! Then I found some facts on the Net, that he was on good terms with Syusui Kotoku, the leader of socialism at that time. I can recall Wakayama members who were executed at the Treason Incident in 1911. They were also doctors or priests, who were struggling to help the poor and the invalid, while being shunned by neighbors. Strong state power must have disliked and frightened of a union of those people…

So, see you next. Bye!

Free love 2

HI, ladies!!

Congratulations, Sunflower and Cosmos!
I’m very proud of being a member of this hard-working and wonderful group, and I’ll move into the fast track by hanging on to your coattails!

Thank you so much for your concern about my daughters, Plum. Fortunately, they were not dissatisfied with my absence and even greeted me with a smile on Monday evening. They appear to get used to that situation these days, I guess, but I don’t know when they might change in the near future. All I can do is doing my best when I stay with them at home…

Summary: Free love 2

Mary Ellen---she tried to live as a sex radical who married the writer George Meredith. They claimed they were too clever and high-strung, and thus she fell in love with Henry Wallis, and left Meredith.

…It’s almost supper time. See you next, bye!

Free love

HI, ladies!!

Sunflower, Cosmos and Gloriosa
Thank you very much for yesterday’s most interesting and worthwhile feminism theory lecture. I sincerely respect you for your broad knowledge and hard work. I was happy to enjoy such wonderful time with you, and I’d like to learn these theories deeper in order to examine our current situation as women.

Summary: Free love 1

Swedenborg---his doctrine of conjugal love implied the eternal, spiritual affinity of a man and a woman.

George Sand---the most widely read of all foreign authors in England.

(‘Fhalanstery’ at Royal Henry House)George Henry Lewes & Agnes
with Thornton Hunts, the Gliddons and the Samuel Laurences.---they were said to have lived in a co-operative household run on Fourieresque principles. After Agnes bore two children by her husband’s close friend, George Henry Lewes lived with the writer George Eliot for 24 years. Their partnership wasn’t the kind of free love union.

So, see you next. Bye!

The crusade against marriage 4

Hi, ladies!!

Summary:
The English ideal of women’s role underwent a remarkable change in the 1830s. Emancipation of women was a natural part of Socialist programmes, while opponents mocked both the free woman and Socialisms, suggesting those were enemies both of marriage and of traditional morality.

Kate---Owenite writer wrote that abused wives was high at that time.

The French Socialist doctrines of Saint-Simon and Fourier---their followers preached social regeneration in the form of a society dedicated to hard work, social purpose, co-operation and association, as opposed to the inalienable right of amassing property, inheritance, free markets and competition.

Varnhagen and Bettina---Thinkers of Germany have arrived at the conclusion that marriage is a highly immoral institution.

…It is very interesting for me to learn these concrete effects by women activities in 19C England. I’m now looking forward to listening to your lecture scheduled for Monday morning.

See you next, have a nice weekend. Bye!

The crusade against marriage 3

Hi, ladies!!
It is Wednesday, November 19, 2008, today, and bitterly cold wind has blown as if winter has come. How are you??

Summary from the Victorian study:
W. J. Fox---the Unitarian minister suggested liberalization of the divorce laws, which eventually led to his exclusion from the Church.

William Bridges Adams---successful manufacturer declared that all ranks of society women were slaves who could only be freed from their slavery by making marriage a civil contract, dissoluble like any other contract.

Sarah Flower Adams---She compared performing fleas in the little boxes to human beings in the torture boxes, complaining that the worst box of all was one of marriage.

…There were a lot of fighting women in the 19C England, who must have had unimaginable struggles against public. It’s fantastic to know them, even though scratching the surface.

Well, take care not to catch cold, see you!

The crusade against marriage 2

HI, ladies!!
It is Tuesday, November 18, 2008, today, and now getting chilly and cloudy, looks like rain.

Continued from yesterday:
Crusade against marriage

Utopians Anna Wheeler& William Thompson---They analyzed that changing the laws to put the political and civil rights of women would not give women equal happiness with men, because unequal powers must produce unequal effects. They also suggested that the dual burden of domestic responsibility plus work outside the home still curtails women’s involvement in political activities.

Radical Richard Carlile--- He and his Zetetic followers began to reassess orthodox sexuality both in theory and in practice, which were not equated with licence or promiscuity.

Owenite Mrs. Frances Morrison---She complained of the foolish education women received, the heartless condemnation to prostitution, the wickedness of a dual code of sexual morality, and the cruelty of the means of redemption undertaken by the Church.

…It is rather difficult for me to correctly imagine those brave opponents against marriage system and other institution, but I’m interested in their constant efforts to improve women’s lives.

SO, see you next. Bye!

The crusade against marriage

HI, ladies!!
It is Monday, November 17, 2008, today, and has been a bit cloudy.

Alice, are you getting all right? You must have had hard days these days, and I’m afraid of having been one of the causes …Take care!

Today’s summary: The crusade against marriage

To many in the middle ranks of society “the gilded cage” of bourgeois marriage meant the dark ages. Hostility to Judaeo/Christian marriage and the laws and social customs which upheld it were circulating in England. The political thinkers, such as W.Godwin, Shelly, Byron and Southey, hated it because of its emphasis on monogamy. Their fervent belief in unrestrained sex confused the love ideals of succeeding generations. Though The Times wanted to prevent the plea for free love from passing into popular circulation, their works became a formative text of the 19C crusade against marriage.

Names&aims
Robert Owen—His main interests were national education, community life, co-operation, trade unionism, the abolition of property. (Later added marriage in his list of evil customs, as ‘a Satanic device of the Priesthood to place and keep mankind within their slavish superstitions…’)

Frances Wright—She was a supporter of R. Owen and the most Radical female opponent of her day, assuming married women’s control of their own property, greater educational opportunity, breaking an unsatisfactory marital tie, and entering into sexual relations. She was the first woman to lecture on these subjects in the US publicly.

Fanny Wright—she became the first woman to act publicly opposes slavery in America, founding a commune in Tennessee. She was regarded as the advocate of anarchy, atheism and free love, and thus praise for her efforts was drowned by outcries against her ‘licentiousness.’

--- They seems rather extreme even from our time, but this article is very intriguing, isn’t it? SO, see you next. Bye!

Aristocratic attitude to children

Ｈi, ladies!!

From Victorian study: [Aristocratic attitude to children]

To most aristocrats children were not simply an investment in the future; their upbringing was a major source of pleasure and worry. Childbearing experiences varied; according to a modern study, about one quarter of aristocratic women had an average of nine children, but 15 percent of aristocratic marriages were childless.

Women of the upper classes enjoyed better health generally than their less privileged contemporaries. They rarely expressed any guilt or sense of personal deprivation about their children in the care of nurses.

In the large establishments they had a high managerial function, for example, in the London Season in the years between 1870 and 1900, in which women had enormous power to include or exclude guests.

So, see you next. Bye!

You know iknow?

Hi, ladies!!
It is Wednesday, November 12, 2008, today, and has been rather warmer than yesterday.

Ｓome effective expression ;( Victorian study)
Obliging a friend was not something to be ashamed of; it was a matter of pride and principle.
As she grew older she grew more tyrannical as a hostess, to the point where Macaulay said,…
After years of enmity,…
She was no fan either of England or the upper class;…
It was at Stanfford House, her London residence, that a group of English women met to…

Today I tried to access a SNS service iknow, which was introduced on the newspaper a week ago, to improve my English listening skill. I used to listen to some English news by my ipod, but I need to strengthen the skill more. Poor English is not something to be ashamed of; I have only to make an effort.

As I tried some corner in the site I got more interested in such effective learning as an English listener, taking some dictation more comfortably than ever. I hope my skill will become fantastic after years of patience?

By the way, I was no fan either of the Giants or the Lions, but I was moved at watching the Japan Baseball Champion Series of this year. It was The Lions, usually B class team that finally won the game. The coach of the team burst into tears when they won, because they all had endured many hard training throughout this year. Practice makes perfect.

See you next, bye!

Wii Fit

HI, ladies!!

Recently I am trying to exercise with Wii Fit, a kind of TV game, every day. I used to go to the gym near my house twice a week, but I quitted it after seriously starting my English study about one year ago. Since then I have never exercised at all, and my body is terrible now…I like watching some sports, but I like doing it by myself better.

By doing some yoga or muscle training, I enjoy myself at home when I am free, Oh, I’m always free…

Well, see you tomorrow, bye!

Effective expression

HI, ladies!
It is Monday, November 10, 2008, today, and has been quite chilly since this morning. I finally took a heater out from the closet.

Even now I’m struggling with Miyake-san’s essay to improve my writing skill, but it’s a hard task for me to pick a lot of effective expression up from it.
For example, her statements about time:
>By the 1920s, Throughout the 1930s, It was not until August 1944～ｔｈａｔ, After the start of the war in China in 1937, By the end of 1941, As late as the spring of 1944, According to a 1935 survey, Especially after Japan’s entry in to the Pacific war in 1941, when ～,

About an inserted comment (?):
>thus, Indeed, whereas, in short, First, in addition to, yet, Moreover, For example, therefore, in turn, given, while, however, in other words, rather than, instead of, as long as, in this way,

All of them are not so difficult in reading English, but I can’t express my idea with them. By imitate these one by one, I hope my English will become smooth one.

So, see you next, Bye!

The memorable day

ＨＩ，ladies!!
It is Thursday, November 6, 2008, today.

Since the STEP test finished around 2 weeks ago, I’ve been lowly motivated. I always rush recklessly to achieve my end, and get tired of keeping go ahead when it comes to end. I think it was so hard for me to try a STEP test with such poor ability at English. But fortunately I have the greatly hard working teacher and friends, who are tirelessly enjoying the English study. Thanks to all of you, I manage to continue learning English.

With such a low level of tension, I happened to watch a TV program last night, which led to a good effect for me. Yesterday was the memorable day when Obama won the miraculous victory as the first African-American President of USA. In that program, a Japanese comedian, who is skillful at mimicking Obama, challenged to meet himself directly in the USA to get an official recognition. What an impossible idea!

But, contrary to my expectations, he did a good job. Beyond a lot of rigorous security checks, he eagerly chased after Obama from Chicago to New York, running through Central Park and having his hair cut like the real Obama. Though his English was poor, (he always said, “I, meet, Obama, from Japan!”) his desperate efforts generally moved me, and I couldn’t take my eyes off the scene on TV.

Finally an unexpected opportunity came his way. After Obama’s speech was given in front of about 100,000 audiences at Chicago (?), he could shake hands with Obama, shouting “my name is Obama!,” and the real replied with big laugh, “Oh, that is right.” His dream eventually came true! I was impressed by his frantic look.

Thank you for reading. See you next, bye!

Beautiful season

HI, ladies!!
It is Tuesday, November 04, 2008, today. I imagine you’ve fully enjoyed this beautiful season. As for me, my family and I went to Lake Hamana for the last couple of days. All of us had a wonderful time in Mikkabi and Hamamatsu, eating orange, Hamamatsu-gyoza, and broiled eel. While driving around the lake, warm wind and bright sunshine always so welcomed us that all I did was taking a nap comfortably in the back of the car…

Plum, congratulations for your new grand-child!! You must have had a big surprise and concern in Japan over this unexpected event, but your daughter did a good job in Sydney, didn’t she?!

Azalea, I’m happy to see you again here. Your story always brings me an innocent smile.

So, see you next, bye!!

Change color

Hi, ladies!!
It is Friday, October 31, 2008, today, and has been cloudy, a bit chilly.
Tomorrow is November 1, the first day of middle autumn. The trees haven’t begun to turn change color yet, and I’m looking for watching beautiful leaves.

I don’t like winter, especially here in Nagoya, because of the cold…But when I was a young girl, I didn’t care about a severe winter at all, and felt comfortable even outside the house. Now I can recall my fine memory.

Well, it’s time to say good bye.
See you, have a good holiday!

Something cruel

HI, ladies!!
It is Thursday,　October 30, 2008, today, and another hot day. With such changeable weather, we can't decide what kind of cloths we should wear, can we?

These days we can so easily go beyond space-time, owing to development of high technology such as the Internet, that I am seized by an illusion of permanent human being. Though more than 20 years have already gone by, I can clearly watch a nostalgic video tape of a favorite pop star through the Net, and at the same time, there’s his image in the present situation. Both the young and old same person is blending with each other, and I sometimes get confused…

There is a big difference between now and then, of course, but in a plane screen those image lost their own temperature or smell, and had similar faces. It’s a very odd experience for me.

On the other hand, I can be impressed by forever-young Hiromi Go, and also disappointed at overweight Kenji Sawada, even if the difference is caused by cosmetic surgery. Time does something cruel.

So, see you next, bye!!

New-flu pandemic

Hi, ladies!!

Cosmos, I didn’t know the word ginseng, chosen-ninjin. It seems like the Japanese reading of a Chinese character. By the way, whenever I read an article about China’s famous person in TIME, it is difficult for me to recognize who s/he is in its English reading. Mandarin is harder language than English. China must be our mother country in a sense, but I feel it far away from our home…

The other day I read a terrible article in the newspaper about a crisis of new-flu pandemic, warning us of emergencies near future, or more precisely, this winter. A researcher says that Japanese government or authorities had so little information that he made his own site to provide public with quick reports from overseas.

We need food stocks at least for 2 weeks, he says, when a new flu pandemic occurs in Japan. He also emphasizes that it is important to hold accurate information in common in this serious situation. It will be frightening, but he is quite right, isn’t he?

Well, see you tomorrow, bye!

The hardest time

Hi, ladies!!
It is Tuesday, October 28, 2008, today, and the sky is beautifully clear now.

Plum, I thank you for your uplifting words. I will try the coming STEP test next year, and keep working till then.

I’m also afraid of your absence during the hardest time for essay writing. Even now I feel uneasy without anybody to help me in writing concisely…but it’s alright, I will ask my precious friends after you leave for Sydney in January of 2009. How time flies…

Well, see you later. Bye!

October 27

Hi, ladies!!
It is Monday, October 27, 2008, today, and has been a good weather for the first time in the last few days. But I feel as if it’s still in late summer because of such a high temperature.

Well, I’ll write this after a break.

The North American big ban?

HI, ladies!!
It is Thursday, October 23, 2008, today, and has been raining on and off.

Plum, I was surprised at your beautiful writing. A big thanks for your explaining, and I’d like to try it.

Review the STEP test:
The North American big ban?

A team of scientists is now arguing that the giant mammals of North America went out with a bang---literally. The culprit is believed to have been a comet that collided with earth about 13,000 years ago, triggering an initial wave of heat that swept across the continent, ignited massive fires, and sent clouds of debris into the atmosphere.

Q1. There are materials in the layer that “collectively provide very strong evidence that the layer (of sediment) was produced by this extraterrestrial impact,” he (geologist) states. These materials include unusual forms of carbon as well as high concentrations of iridium, a metal rarely found on earth.
= The existence of a layer of deposits whose chemical composition suggests it did not originate on earth.

Q2. …his team believe that the 1,000-year-long cold spell, known as the Younger Dryas event, was a result of the impact. The team theorizes that the vast Laurentide Ice Sheet, which once covered much of North America, thawed and sent massive quantities of fresh water into the Atlantic Ocean. This water blocked a major current that has been bringing warming tropical waters from the south and thereby triggered the cooling.
=because a huge ice mass melted, which resulted in the release of a large amount of fresh water into the ocean.

Q3. Archaeological evidence shows that the Clovis culture (early Americans) was once found across North America, but that it became fragmented about 13,000 years ago, suggesting a catastrophe paralleling the disappearance of the large mammals.
=the comet impact had as great an effect on the culture of the Clovis people as it did on the large animals that roamed across North America.

…This article reminded me of Azalea’s big smile.
So, see you tomorrow. Bye!

STEP test

HI, ladies!!

Thanks to Alice’s dedicated teaching in English for the last six months, I have got accustomed to read such a long article. But I had barely enough time to check my answers on the STEP test, and made some mistakes.

Review the STEP test:
Synthetic biology: rewriting the genetic code (reading comprehension)

Q1.…the most remarkable discoveries will almost certainly be in the biological sciences. …in the field of synthetic biology. Their aim is to take on the daunting task of designing and building completely new forms of life from basic components.
=develop artificial genetic components that can be used to construct organisms that currently do not exist.

Q2….it is not surprising that these synthetic biologists have come to view living organisms as complex computing machines capable of replicating themselves.
=a change in approach that now emphasizes treating natural life forms in a similar way to machines resulting in the belief that cells can be redesigned for specific purposes.

Q3.such redesigned cells could produce various kinds of chemicals and polymers to make food, plastics, silks, and many other kinds of materials, including some not yet even imaginable.
=scientists have turned to the development of hybrid organisms made up of both natural and synthetic parts.

Q4. Keasling believes that relatively small amounts of yeast and sugar placed in a fermentation tank could produce enough self-replicating synthetic artemisinin to treat all the malaria patients in the world.
=He believed he could produce a substance that is needed as a medicine for sufferers of a stubborn form of malaria.

...We can very often see such questions about genetic issues in the past STEP tests.
So, see you later, bye!

Norwegian people

Hi, ladies!!
It is Monday, October 20, 2008, today, and comfortable autumn weather.

Rose, I’ve once heard Jero's song on TV, and also impressed by his beautiful, emotional voice. He can show us fantastic borderless music world, can’t he?

Well, can you tell me the names of Norwegian public figures? Ibsen, Grieg, Amundsen, Gaarder (author of Sophie’s world)…I have known just a few names. Since I became big fan of a-ha, 80’s Norwegian pop singers, again, I have begun researching about their mother nation. In fact, I had completely forgotten that I studied about Norway’s political situation at last year’s summer seminar…! It is probably because I learned only about the social system, not about people’s lives at all at that time. Even now I don’t know how Norwegian people really feel about their nation’s high-quality welfare system or quota system. I can just see their organization.

I got little information about Norway despite my searching on the Net. I’d like to know something deep as well as their magnificent nature and stylish design.

So, see you later, bye!

Changing family names

HI, ladies!!

Today’s topic:
Should women change their family names when they marry?

These days increasing number of women have hesitated to marry, and one of the reasons behind the scene is a situation in which women have to change their own life style as well as their family names. I believe it is important for both women and men to have the right for choosing their family names.
Firstly, for a long time Japanese traditional family system has suppressed over women, and wives have had few rights within their family. Even now, changing their family names means subordination to husband’s family for wives. Now it seems nonsense for modern women.
Secondly, changing their family names undermines women’s personal issues. Whenever they marry, divorce, and re-marry, they have to publicly tell other people such private facts by their new names.
Thirdly, this family system generates discrimination against minority such as foreigners and single mother family. Every family should have equal rights for their own lives.
In conclusion, only women shouldn’t change their family names when they marry. In order to develop a sense of equality for both sexes, it is imperative to recognize the right for a variety of family lives.

…There seems to be some complicated problems in this field.
So, see you next. Have a nice weekend!

Convenience stores

Hi, ladies!!
　
I envy your friend's former job, tour guide, Alice. It must need high-quality services for customers.

Today’s topic:
The advantages of convenience stores in Japan

There are now a lot of convenience stores all over the country, and they have already contributed to our daily lives in all aspects.
Firstly, those stores have a variety of retail goods for almost 24 hours a day, which allow consumers to get anything they want anytime, anywhere. It is especially helpful for people who are living on their own.
Secondly, because those goods are controlled under high-qualified management system, we can always buy them without concerning about their expiration date.
Thirdly, they also make a contribution to a community as security equipment. By opening during midnight, neighboring people can feel peace of mind and even strangers can get information and goods at a store.
In conclusion, although there may be high energy consumption on convenience stores, it is now imperative for us to use them for our social life.

...Disadvantages are...1. potential for dangerous crime at midnight 2. high energy consumption
3. too much convenience

This is certainly a Japanese business, isn’t this?
So, see you tomorrow. Bye!

Package tour

HI, ladies!!
It is Tuesday,　October 14, 2008, today, and has been raining since morning.
It’s cold rain.

Gloriosa, your graphic description and questions about the painter were so fantastic that I found pleasant to imagine them freely. Your way of viewing her works was a kind of professional in that field, wasn’t it?

Today’s topic:
The advantages of package tours in Japan

In Japan package tours have become popular for a long time, and provided travelers with good advantages.
Firstly, they allow us to visit to beautiful places with a reasonable price and convenience. After ordering a travel agency for a favorite tour, we have only to gather a train station or like, and obey a guide’s order.
Second, its shorter tour program is suitable for us, because we Japanese tend to take fewer holidays than other developed countries. We can effectively enjoy a lot of destination despite of our short trip.
Thirdly, it contributes to eco-friendly trip. By touring with other travelers we can save a big amount of energy for transportation.
In conclusion, although it makes us busy to enjoy holidays in package tour, I think it is good and easy way for us to take a trip.

…Disadvantages are… 1. A tight schedule 2. Less freedom 3. Bad traveling companions?

So, see you later. Good bye!

Reading in English

HI, ladies!!
It is Thursday,　October 9, 2008, today.

Cosmos, your spoken English version was so wonderful that I could get the outline of your writing easier than mine! In fact, it took much time for me to write this kind of writing properly, and I’d like to write and speak in English smoothly like you.

Rose, you had a fantastic experience with Japanese kyogen. Do you like it? Since I have never got a chance of watching kyogen, I envy you.

These days I’m getting used to reading a long English sentence thanks to many Victorian materials. Before finishing them, I felt nervous while reading in English. It was a big fear that I had to read to the end of the thick copies…Now I can feel there is almost nothing to fear in reading, because I have only to go forward along with English. It’s fantastic development for me. Thank you.

So, see you tomorrow. Good bye!!

The sizes of animals

HI, ladies!!

Cosmos, it's interesting theory that the sizes of animals that live in a small island become medium, isn’t it? If so, English people are medium as well as Japanese. By the way, isn’t it related to their personality?

Sunflower, thank you for sharing Delia’s sentences. Your listening is wonderful! I couldn’t watch the DVD Plum lent me due to my player’s difficulty, but I was able to enjoy the program’s atmosphere. I could not help laughing as she talks that putting a timer on is good because we are sometimes absent-minded! That’s a likely story. I’d like to watch it anyhow.

Alice, I’m glad to hear that you are producing our site on the Net. But I’m afraid it may make you busier…I appreciate your all services.

Well, see you tomorrow, bye!

Young men who refuse to go out

HI, ladies!!　It is Tuesday, October 7, 2008.

Today’s topic:
Modern phenomenon: Why do young men shun society?

Recently, the number of young men who refuse to go out has been increasing in Japan. I think the reason is the following three points.
Firstly, a declining birthrate means this patrilineal society has more families with only one son in whom they place all their hopes. Parents tend to welcome anything he wants and comply with his demand.
Secondly, boys grow up without male role models because their fathers work all the time. Many sons have had mother-oriented nuclear family in modern Japan.
Thirdly, Japan’s “culture of shame” makes people fear how they are perceived if they have a problem fitting in. Thus, parents hesitate to go out their son freely, and son himself can be involved in computer games in his own room.
In consequence of this Japanese family problem, they have no ability to communicate with others. In order to save them, I believe it is imperative for parents to change their biased view on their son, and let them become independent from their family.

… interesting, isn’t it? I made it from an article in the Japan times.
So, see you later, good bye.

Discrimination against women

Hi, ladies!!

Yesterday I was also impressed with your energetic tutorial, Plum. And with your wonderful each comments, my precious friends. In fact, I didn’t recognize the meaning of Victorian study before starting this tutorial. But while reading a lot of materials, I could find that every time, everywhere, there has been a history of discrimination against women. Whether flattered or undermined as a mother or a woman by the government, we should look through their plot…

So, see you later. Good bye.

One of the sexiest artists

Hi, ladies!!

Today, I'd like to talk about my ideal man, again, and so please skip this if you have no interest.

I think Morten Harket, a lead singer of a-ha, is one of the sexiest artists around the world. His charm appears in some figures. Firstly, his incredible voice. He can sing in from a vigorous baritone to an amazing falsetto. I recommend their wonderful tunes such as “Hunting high and low” or “Stay on these roads,” their biggest hits. Secondly, his beautiful looks. This is my taste, of course, but many women will agree with my opinion. (He currently looks like Ryan O’Neill or Richard Gere very much.) Thirdly, his calm and modest appearance. In spite of his big popularity in pop music scene for these 20 years, he still seems just like a shy boy from Norway…

Well, are you getting interested in him? If so, you can enjoy him in youtube.
Thanks to their fantastic music, I’ve had very happy, pleasant time these days.

Thank you for reading. See you next, bye!!

The Victorian study

HI, ladies!!
How are you?? It is Friday, October 3, 2008, today.

While preparing for the Victorian study at the day after tomorrow, I wonder how religion had influenced on the ideal of womanhood in the Victorian age.
Because I think religious impact might be one of the most important causes for opponents for higher women’s education. I have little knowledge of Christianity, and am interested in some interpretation of Bible, such as Adam and Eve issue. I’m looking forward to seeing all of you.

Well, I’ll go back to my housework. Bye, bye!

Fantastic encounter

HI, ladies!!
It is Thursday, October 2, 2008, today, and we’ve enjoyed clear, blue sky all day.

I’d like to talk about my fantastic encounter on the Net. It seems I’ve just fallen in love, AGAIN, with the living legendary artists from Norway. They were the one of the most popular pop song groups in the late 1980’s, when a lot of video-music beautiful collaboration were in vogue. They had explosive sales because of their catchy melody, cool style and edgy videos. But as time went by, almost all bands disappeared from our sight…However, they have still survived beyond more than 20 years, and moreover, they have evolved ideally!

Do you know “a-ha”? Although three of them are almost in their late 40s, I’m deeply touched by their charming, sweet and perfect appearance. Their current music is also so attractive for me. They are working in progress, just like good wine, even now. I am now happy that I’m getting surprisingly addicted to them.

I hope you enjoyed reading this unimportant experience of mine.
See you, my energetic friends…

The Internet

HI, ladies!!
It is Wednesday, October 1, 2008, today, and has been humid and hot again. But the cold will become severe day by day, I guess.

Today’s topic:
How will the Internet change the mass media?

Recently the world of Internet has achieved a remarkable development, causing drastic change in the information science, especially in the mass media.
Firstly, the Internet allows users to have access a variety of information more easily than the existing media. If only with a circumstance with PC, we can get it through PC anytime, anywhere.
Secondly, once we set own PC, we can receive a lot of news on it for free, which come not only from the mass media, but also from every news source. It will produce the diversity of information for all.
Thirdly, on the Internet everyone can dispatch information to the world, enjoying interactive communication, while the mass media is staying in their one-sided style.
IN conclusion, the Internet has already changed the mass media and information itself. We have experienced a great evolution in dealing with all information. If the mass media can’t show their own special features, they won’t survive in this hard time. (160)

…We’ve greatly recieved a valuable treasure from the Internet, indeed. The other day I could get a fantastic gem, just only for me, through the Net surfing…I’ll talk to you about it next.

So, see you later, bye!

The peace constitution

HI, ladies!!
It is Monday, September 29, 2008, today, and has been raining since early morning. Cold rain, isn’t it?

Today’s topic:
Should Japan strictly protect the “peace” constitution?

Recently the agreement over the amendment of the constitution has become active in Japan. I believe, however, it is not good for Japan’s security. Thanks to the existing constitution, we have managed not to fight in any wars and live peacefully somehow.
Firstly, it is clearly stated in the constitution that we won’t to go to war except in the case of self-defense. Even though its concept was given us from the then US occupation authorities, we would have continued the war without it.
Secondly, those who are trying to amend it intend to strengthen Japan’s power as a state under the Imperial family. But in order not to repeat the same mistake in the wartime, which caused Asian nations pain, we shouldn’t reinforce our imperial system.
Thirdly, Japan is the only victim of the atomic bombs and we, therefore, have to use the right and the duty in expressing the uselessness of an a-bomb around the world. We can do it with this constitution.
In conclusion, Japan should protect the peace constitution so as to safeguard our society from any wars. Moreover, we can show a good example of a peaceful country without armament and contribute to the world peace.
(201)

I don’t think that such a controversial issue would become a question of the STEP test…

Well. See you again, bye!

The long nights of autumn

HI, ladies!
It is Sunday, September 28, 2008, today, and has been chilly rather than cool. I hope cool and nice weather would continue as long as possible.

Plum, thank you for letting us know your topic of great interest in Kumamoto. Firstly I was surprised by the fact that your former elementary school’s friends gathered to see you at the conference and all of you had an enjoyable time each other. It’s fantastic. The Shinto priest who sang hymns was also very interesting. Why did he go to the Lutheran school? As you said, it may be the way in Japan.

I like the long nights of autumn and I want to read books breathtaking enough to lose count of time at night…
So, I say good night, see you.

Politician's word

HI, ladies!
It is Friday, September 26, 2008, today, and was cool and nice weather the whole day. But at midnight it will be rather chilly. Please take care, Plum…

The other day, I read an interesting article about the forthcoming election in a newspaper by a famous novelist. He introduces his pupil’s (he is teaching at a university, perhaps) comment after he asked whether the student would vote next. The student replied that he didn’t hold out much hope about it and so wouldn’t vote. The novelist agrees with his idea and puts a question: why didn’t all the candidates of the LDP apologize to us for their rudeness, while they were really wasting our money?

At the same time, he says a sad feeling when he talked with a politician at another time. He couldn’t understand the politician’s words at all, because that man just talked to, but didn’t hear at all. Politician’s word is so poor, he asserts.

A fair argument, isn’t it?

So, see you tomorrow. Good night.

Declining birth rate

HI, ladies!!
It is Wednesday, September 24, 2008, today, and rather cool in the morning.

Plum, welcome back to Nagoya, and I’m happy to hear that your lecture meeting in Kumamoto was a success with a lot of audience, and that there you had a fantastic encounter with woman who impacted your book heavily. Your smile on the photo is so beautiful, isn’t it? You must be relieved now.

Today’s topic:
Japan’s declining birth rate-is this a national crisis?

These days Japan’s birth rate has declined for a long time, and many people are afraid of this situation as a national crisis. I think, however, it is natural for a highly developed country to become a matured society with fewer children. We should consider the situation as a chance for change.
Firstly, we will be able to live in wider space on this narrow land. Since Japan’s economic has grown well, we have a right to enjoy more comfortable residence.
Secondly, as labor force declines, we can utilize women and foreign people effectively. Japanese companies have been reluctant to hire them, who have the ability to work well.
Thirdly, more and more women have hesitated to give birth, because they have been awakened to the stern realities of mother’s life. We should think of society comfortable for children and mothers, as well as for the socially disadvantaged people.
In conclusion, it is an old-fashioned way of thinking to be concerned about shrinking numbers of people. We should take a chance for the future, using our brains to utilize a lot of human resources. (183)

…Is this an intriguing issue for us, isn’t it?

Well, see you later. Bye for now!

Essay reading

Hi, ladies!!
We really enjoyed today’s essay reading meeting at Cosmos’s house from 10 AM to 4 PM. The number of participants was 11 members, including 3 new comers who are friends of Alice and Sunflower. Thanks to a complete guide by Alice with a concise resume, we could have a lively discussion on Miyake-san’s essay. We were all strongly impressed by her effective way of writing, using a wide vocabulary, a clever phrase, and a meticulous sentence composition. I think her writing style is almost a native one, and it’s almost impossible for me to follow her…! Anyway, today’s argument greatly contributed to my English writing. Thank you very much, Alice, Cosmos. Most of all, I appreciate your fantastic suggestion, Plum.

So, see you tomorrow, good night, energetic friends…

Social messages

Hi, ladies!!
It is Monday, September 22, 2008, today, and has been fine with clear blue sky.

As Peach mentioned, I was also shocked by the terrible crime. High school students should carry a responsibility for their crime as well as adults. However, I think it is difficult to protect younger generation from the temptations of vice, especially in this too much information society. We are exposed to many, many social messages, whether good or bad. I hope my kids to be a woman who can think and choose right things on their own.

Alice, I appreciate your devoted contribution and definite instructions for our study.

These days I’ve become addicted to watching You tube, from old days TV drama to old days music videos. The other day I was very happy to find my favorite 80s artist on it, still now acting in their fifties. This situation was absolutely impossible for the old generation like me, but also might infringe copyright…

So, see you tomorrow, bye, bye!

Ecotourism

Hi, ladies!!

It is Saturday, September 21, 2008, today, and has been a little humid since yesterday.

Today’s topic;
Pros and cons of ecotourism

Recently ecotourism has grown in popularity around the world, in the wake of awareness of environmental issues. I believe ecotourism contributes to this global problem.
Firstly, ecotourism can promote knowledge of all travelers about the importance of nature preservation. People have only to visit their favorite destination in order to protect beautiful nature.
Secondly, it brings economic benefits to the host country. Tourists pump money into the local economy in the form of purchase of local goods, creating employment for local people.
Thirdly, it can become a good example of blending of economic development and environmental preservation. The more people are interested in ecotourism, the more both issues will develop.
In conclusion, though ecotourism is not perfect, reducing environmental damage is still significantly better than continuing with current praｃtices. In order to protect our environment, we have to develop ecotourism as soon as possible.

I think this conclusion is weak.
So, see you tomorrow, bye!!

Next year's...

HI, ladies!!
It is Friday, September 19, 2008, today, and has been raining on an off due to the Typhoon 13 at low speed.

Rose, it’s wonderful to hear that you attended Yuko Matsumoto’s seminar. You must have enjoyed the lecture about Anne. Your narrative of Shakespeare was very intriguing and I also feel like reading the whole story in English.

The other day when I was checking a catalog of Co-op’s products as usual, there were a lot of next year’s calendars in it. Is it already the end of this year?! Restless, isn’t it? I’ve still felt the heat…

So, I’ll get back to my housework. Have a good weekend!

Aging society

HI, ladies!!

Plum, I sincerely hope for your success of your speech. We only have the weather to worry about now…

Sunflower, your opinion about Sarah Palin was so interesting. John McCain is surely old enough to get a disease in the near future, and it leads her to become the President of USA, suddenly. I have no idea about her ability as the Vice President…

Today’s topic:
How will the aging society affect Japan’s economy?

Recently Japan has the increasing number of elderly people, and many researchers have shown bad effects about it. However I believe that it would give a lot of good impact to all aspects of society in the future.
Firstly, it will increase the need for female or foreign labor force instead of shrinking Japanese male workers. Most companies have been reluctant to hire these people for a long time, but now they can have a chance to employ them efficiently.
Secondly, it will develop industries geared for elderly people. In order to
make efficient products for them, companies will have to concentrate its new business efforts. Thus, it will greatly act a stimulus to Japan’s economy.
Finally, the age of retirement in companies will become higher than before. More and more passionate and full-experienced elderly people have been worked in society, and we can now receive their wisdom more than ever.
In conclusion, though we concern about our shrinking productivity in Japan, there is room for further study. By utilize elderly people’s economic power not only as consumers but also as producers, they will empower Japan’s economy. (188)

Thank you for reading. Bye for now!

Phone call from my father

HI, ladies!!
How are you??
It is Wednesday, September 17, 2008, today.

Yesterday, I was surprised by a big securities company’s bankruptcy in the USA, and the following stock prices’ falling around the world. Before hearing the news on TV, my father living in Osaka called me early morning. He’s got involved in the stock market for a couple of years, and had advised me to try some good stocks. But I hadn’t got yet. When I picked up the phone, he shouted to me on it, “Have you got the stock?!” “Not yet.” I replied, and heard a sigh of relief. “OK, it’s good. Now a stock market crash!!” then, suddenly the phone went dead, which is typical of him. After I found out the situation, I felt thankful for him with a smile.

Well, what may happen next, nobody can tell…I hope everything is going well. See you next, Bye!

Organ transplants

Hi, ladies!!
It is Tuesday, September 16, 2008, today, and getting nice weather this afternoon.

Rose, thank you for letting us know about interesting information about Anne of Green Gables. In fact, I was eagerly watching the program this spring. When I read the novel in Japanese in my girlhood, I didn’t notice that the story was so related to Christianity. Of course, there might be always certain relation between Christianity and Western novels, as well as Buddhism and Japanese ones. These days, the more I learn Western culture, the more deeply I’d like to learn Christianity. In that sense, Plum’s tutorial is full of lessons, and so are members’ advices. I hope you will have a fantastic time at Plum’s tutorial with us, Rose.

Sunflower, Cosmos and Peach, I appreciate your writings about such charged issues, and I always copied them to learn fundamental points of view. We can be a pro and a con, as Plum told us, but I can’t control them so pragmatically…

Well, today’s topic:
Should organ transplants be made more available in Japan?

Medical science has been developed and contributed to human beings for a long time, however, it should be said that organ transplants have very complicated problem to solve, and I believe we should take a cautious attitude.

Firstly, after organ transplant surgery, many patients died from rejection or a relapse. The more serious patient’s condition is, the more that rate increases. It can cause harmful effects as a whole.

Secondly, it is unethical to violate human dignity by cutting the bodies into pieces. Other approach should be improved to cure a disease, and it can be possible with highly-developed medical science.

Finally, recent studies show many cases that run counter to belief that brain death means the complete end of life. Thus, the assumption would break down before organ transplants. It goes against our healthy care.

In conclusion, although it can take effect in some extent, we have to think of other treatment to replace organ transplants. People should put ethics before scientific progress and we will need to be careful how we deal with it.
(176)

…Thank you. So, I have a break. See you next, bye, bye!

A typhhoon...

HI, ladies!!
It is Sunday, September 14, 2008, today, and it has been very humid, because a typhoon is slowly approaching.

I’d like to write following issue now:
Are genetically modified foods safe?

Recently genetic engineering has been developed to create high-quality foods. It can also alleviate food shortages, however, it will give bad effects to human society.
First, it can pose great health risks to human beings, by developing new allergy or poisonous substances whose existence has never been established in the body system.
Second, it will damage the ecosystem, by spreading their genes to other plant species. Thus, it can make unexpected effects to our environment.
Finally, it allows some companies to control food market, by causing continued sales of their products. They will exploit old-styled farmers in poor countries.
In conclusion, although genetically modified foods seem to be useful for great demand for foods around the world, it can be greatly harmful to us. (123)

It was too short. So, see you tomorrow. Good night, wonderful friends…

Ordinary daily life

HI, ladies!!

I’m very happy to read your writings about social issues, Sunflower and Cosmos! Those are fantastic, and so I copied them. I want to write in English so compactly and fluently like all of you, but it will take a long time, I assume.
Anyway, I’ll keep writing everyday.

Plum, I appreciate your interesting research. I can recognize the importance of detail for an investigation.

Today is about to end peacefully, and I feel relieved now. I’m delightful to know the wonderfulness of an ordinary daily life. How about you? I hope all of you have enjoyed normal but excellent day. So, see you. Have a nice dream…

Writing about social issues

Hi, ladies!!
It is Friday, September 12, 2008, today, and sunshine has been boiling…

Plum, thank you for encouraging me to keep writing about social issues. Actually, it took about 30 minutes or so yesterday. I’ve studied it with a book for logical speech Alice introduced before, and had many difficulties because of too little vocabulary. So before start writing it just like a STEP test, I had to input technical terms as much as possible. As you wrote, I have to get used to writing about social issues. But when I tried writing in English logically, my brain was in high gear, and almost dead… I hope my brain will broaden its horizon as soon as possible.

Alice, I appreciate your uplifting words. I hope more improvement until your lecture starts again.

Now, have you heard a rumor that a great Tokai earthquake will occur tomorrow?? My kids and even HD said it’s true. I don’t know who said such a terrifying thing, but preparing for natural disaster might be good for us. OK, we are going to stay at home silently all day long tomorrow...

So, see you next time. Have a good weekend, keep you safe!

English education

Hi, ladies!!

Cosmos, it would be wonderful if I could go to Tahiti or somewhere beautiful with you, someday…

Plum, thank you for sharing your research about Lutheran male missionaries with us. It is a very practical method to learn deeply. While reading your comment, I tried to imagine what kind of them were. But it’s difficult for me to catch it with reality, because I have so little knowledge about that field. They must have had their own histories with religious motive. I’m looking forward to learning more. But in the first place, I’d like to know what of missionaries has attracted you for a long time, if you don’t mind.

Preparation for STEP:
Are you for or against English education in elementary school?

It is often argued that English education in elementary school is effective in the acquisition of English. However, I believe it is harmful effects on children’s mother tongue and improvement of intellectual ability. (intro)33
Firstly, early education in English can be an additional academic burden on children, because more and more children have involved in some practices after school, and cannot afford to learn more. (1) 31
Secondly, it will hamper the acquisition of their mother tongue. They should be taught English after learning their own language properly. It will be not too late they would start English study at junior high school as at present. (2)39
Finally, it should be thought about shortages of English teachers for elementary school. In order to provide effective and attractive teaching for English beginners, we need more talents and methods available. (3)31
Although we are concerned about prevailing grammar-centered approach at junior high school, it is too early to start English education at elementary school. We should think of other approaches to facilitate children’s English education. (conclu)35/169

It took a long time…
So, it’s time to get back to my housework. Bye, bye, dear friends…

Whales swimming

HI, ladies!!

It is Wednesday, September 10, 2008, today, and it has been dry weather, which encourages me to do things smoothly.

The other day, I happened to watch a TV program introducing us a tour around the Tahiti islands. Since the traveler in this program was my favorite TV personality, I kept watching it with my kids. The sea around the islands was so beautiful and highly-transparent that we could easily catch the figure of colorful fishes in the water. To my surprise, then, he and his staff were trying to swim with a gam of whales, without an oxygen tank! The reason why doing so was that whales get frightened of babbles from the tank. They succeeded in swimming with whales, which seemed to enjoy swimming with human beings peacefully. It was a fantastic scene…My kids were greatly fascinated with the story, and told me that they wanted to try swimming in such wonderful sea someday. I replied that we would go somewhere next summer.

Well, see you next, good bye!!

Japanese sumo world

Hi, ladies!!
It is Tuesday, September 9, 2008, today, and less humid than yesterday. Day by day the weather will become friendly to us.

Plum, I wonder why you have been so energetic in researching your theme in spite of your busy days. I’m looking for learning your fantastic revelation.

Last night I heard that the chief director of Japanese sumo, former kitanoumi, resigned from his job due to the matters connected with cannabis. But it is too late, isn’t it? There have been a lot of problems in the sumo world before the incident occurred. One pupil was dead under the name of ‘training’, and few and few young would want to enter such a strict world.

I think it’s natural that nothing can escape from mutation in this changing world. When I saw a photo book of Asashoryu on a TV program, in which he was jumping and laughing with his hair hanging loose wildly, I was surprised by the scene, because I have never seen such a yokozuna. He used to raise his fists in triumph…Globalizing, isn’t it? Whether we like it or not, our national sport must think of its style. Those who like the traditional way may tighten control over all sumo wrestlers. On the other hand, those who like more entertainment might ease their tension. I think either is OK, but younger people have already less interested in the sports. How about you?

So, see you tomorrow. Good bye!

A general election?

HI, ladies!!
How are you doing today?

Since last Monday, the media has repeatedly broadcasted a series of news of candidates for presidential election of the LDP, and a general election is due to be announced in the near future. Compared with the former PMs, there might be a variety of candidates, but after all, there’s nothing to choose between them. But still, we know the DPJ is very similar in this political situation. Because of such dull politics in Japan, more and more people have lost their interests about it. How on earth can we have a powerful and responsible PM for the general public? Anyway, I am now surprised by the government leading a peaceful administration without a strong leader.

In the USA, the election campaign is really like a big festival, and while listening to their speeches, I could catch what they said, even roughly. I have no idea about the difference between Obama and McCain, but it’s interesting for me to see how to draw people’s attention during their address.

So, see you next. Good bye, dear friends!

Outstanding people

HI, ladies!!

Yesterday, I visited the Josei kaikan to get a book for my essay, and lent some. One magazine is very interesting for me, and I’ll write about it now.

It depicts the High Treason Incident related with discriminated settlements in Shingu, Wakayama. There were some outstanding people within victims, who were executed after the incident. One of them is Seinosuke Oishi, a dedicated doctor and Christian. He was punished simply because he had contributed his socialistic articles on papers or magazines, and had close friendship with Shusui Kotoku.

He was a kind doctor in a small village, and greatly helped the needy and discriminated people with his medical examination for free. On the other hand, he asked rich people for much payment. So as not disgracing to poor, he told them to knock the door three times when they had no money. Famous novelist Kenji Nakagami, he also came from Shingu, used to talk about his grandmother receiving great help from the doctor. (Nakagami wanted to write a novel about the High Treason Incident, but couldn’t)

In Wakayama, there were also Buddhists who advocated socialist activities. They were priests of Soto-shu, Jodoshin-shu and Rinzai-shu, respectively. Beyond the difference of their religion, they started a study group to stop such discrimination. Then the government had concerned about the power of these discriminated people and socialists, and begun serious suppression. As a result, the Incident occurred.

I was impressed by their story and another victims had their own great achievement, I assume. Anyway, there must be a lot of hidden histories in modern Japan.

Thank you for reading. Well, see you next. Have a good weekend!

Female candidates

HI, ladies!!

We can get a lot of messages from these days’ political situation in both Japan and USA, can’t we? I am glad to see some incredible female candidates there, and hope more and more future generation will be involved in a political field, in spite of its hard job. Here in Japan, I wonder if Yuriko Koike will be the first female member of the three key officials of the LDP, Jiminto.

Magnolia, thank you for letting me know the recipe of figs wine jelly. It seems really tasty, and I’ll try it soon! By the way, I feel cooking in English is so excited, and I want to learn it, preferably, Japanese or Italian food. Of course, I wanted to watch Delia’s How to Cook, the TV program Plum recommended before, but I couldn’t see it on my TV condition. Is it the time when I should bring in a new TV system, as Peach did?

Plum, I was amazed with your student’s beautiful English, and also embarrassed with my poor one. I’d like to write it more properly and comfortably.

Well, see you tomorrow, good bye!

Feel autumn

HI, ladies!!

Plum, it’s interesting for us to learn baby-care English on your DVD, which would certainly help coming works with your new grandchild. But I’m now concerned about your hectic days and self-reliance in writing our next essays…!

These days we can feel autumn most at a supermarket, where various kinds of fruits are lined on its storefronts. The other day I got some figs, ichijiku, after a long time, because my kids once said they’d never eaten them. At that night, I eagerly showed and gave the children those fresh figs. But after biting a bit, both of them hesitated to eat them up, and seemed to have felt unpleasant. I’d forgotten that they were kids, green-behind-the-ears…I’m going to boil them down into jam, which would taste good.

So, see you tomorrow, bye!!

Political situation

HI, ladies!!

Peach, we had a ｄｅｊａ vu in this political situation last night, didn’t we? I can find the lightness of the position as a Prime Minister in Japan.

Yesterday was the 85th memorial day of the Kanto great earthquake, which killed about 140,000 people in the Kanto area. But that big disaster also caused the slaughter of Korean people and socialists. In fact, I didn’t know in detail about it, until recently the other day I read a novel written by Jakucho Setouchi. She was interested by the chain of female anarchists in the Meiji era, from Sugako Kanno to Noe Ito and Fumiko Kaneko, and wrote several novels, or partly biographies of them. (As for Sugako Kanno, the author exaggerated her as a badly behaved woman in the novel, which created her image in the society.)

As for Noe Ito and Fumiko Kaneko, I was shocked by many disgusting incidents after the earthquake. The atrocity by the government is very terrible, of course, but more horrifying is ordinary Japanese people, who made neighborhood watch to protect themselves from ‘rebellious’ Korean people. I wonder why common people could become so cruel against other people.

I’ve never read other books about Kaneko and Ito, and would like to get some.

Thank you for reading. See you next. Good bye!!

Welcome to our Blog!

HI, ladies!!

Welcome to our Blog, rose! I’m happy to hear from you for the first time, and have a good time with us. I’m looking forward to meeting you at the next tutorial.

Welcome back, Gloriosa. It’s wonderful to see you here after your operation, in spite of many difficulties in your everyday life. I hope your condition will get better day by day.

Today is September 1, 2008, and I’m really relieved at the end of long summer vacation with my kids. During this hard season, I couldn’t concentrate on my tasks very much. So, since now, I want to make up for lost time.

Well, talk to you later. Bye!

Terrible weather...

HI, ladies!!
The weather has been terrible since last night, and are you all right?? Alice, are you OK?
In my area, hard rain with big thunder was heavily falling for almost two hours, and a warning siren or something sounded at midnight, so my kids finally got up due to that big sound. I wonder what it was, in order to tell us the rise of a river?

Untimely, my HD had to go for Toyohashi yesterday, because of a drinking party with his colleagues at night. He called me over and over, saying that he saw some cars flooded by a river on the way! After enjoying (?) drinking with them at a bar or somewhere, he managed to get home back around 4 o’clock this morning…Anyway, I hope now all of you are safe and sound.

So, see you next time. Good bye!!

So attractive

Hi, ladies!!

Sunflower, it’s my mistake. I confused names of Sadako and Takeko Kujo. Thank you very much! And I’ll welcome the new comer you’ve introduced us.

Azalea, there are a lot of women recommending the TV drama Sex and the city, but I haven’t seen it yet, because I feel that I will get deeply involved in it if I once start to watch it. These days’ dramas are so attractive that I can’t dabble in watching them.

Well, it’s time to go to the kitchen for supper. See you next time, Bye!!

Stuffy day

HI, ladies!!
It has been another stuffy day today, hasn’t it?

Until one week ago, I had had energy enough to do my housework smoothly. But I don’t like this humid climate, which completely discourages me now. Though I have a lot of things to do during this summer, I can hardly make much progress. I have managed to make some typical meals for my family, who complain about my mannerism. If it gets cooler than now, I will try something new in high spirits…

Cosmos, thank you for telling us the story of the empress Teimei. Wasn’t she Sadako Kujo, whom Sunflower had presentation of at the summer seminar? I don’t know about the history of the Imperial family very much, and I wonder it may be strange as a Japanese citizen. By the way, how are things with the Crown Princess Masako these days…?

Well, see you tomorrow, good night.

Another words

Hi, ladies!!

Let me introduce Yukiko Ueno’s (the pitcher of Japan softball team) another words. She said; I could find if I don’t give up my dream, it comes true in the end. But at the same time, I also realized it is the most difficult thing in our life; those who have the strongest spiritual strength will be able to win the game...Her statements were very simple, but there was a certain authority to what she said.

I’ve enjoyed your fruitful comments. Thank you very much!
See you tomorrow, good bye!

Something wrong...?

HI, ladies!!

I had had something wrong with my PC for these past few days, and I couldn’t get access to this Blog and other homepages at all. No matter how many times I tried it, an error message appeared on the screen. I felt entirely lost and left it alone. But fortunately, when I tried again last night, my PC had recovered naturally. I don’t know why, but it’s really a troublesome PC, and I fear this problem may occur again…I also hope Gloriosa can get through her trouble with PC.

Last night the Beijing Olympics finally ended with a big light pageant. While some splendid performances attracted me during the games, I sometimes became puzzled about our flag and a national anthem. There is no doubt that they are the symbol of dark side of our history, and I wonder how Chinese people accepted them in their homeland.

Since I learned about some treacherous women of Imperial Japan, I was able to know a lot of sad accidents of them, whose stories strongly surprised me. I also realized that I have no idea about the emperor system of our country. It had been an inviolable sacred subject to us for a long time, so, though it's actually important to know its role for a full understanding of the modern Japan, I feel the difficulties of investigating the matter deeply. Perhaps they are closely connecting with the history of Christianity in Japan.

So, see you next time. Good bye, dear friends…!

A breathtaking pitch

HI, ladies!!
It’s another autumnal climate today, isn’t it?

Last night, I got very excited about a wonderful accomplishment of women’s softball team of Japan in the Olympics. They finally won the gold medal for the first time, beating the strongest team of USA. Whatever you say, Ueno, a pitcher with an iron arm, played a breathtaking pitch. She threw in three consecutive matches within two days, and the number of her pitches was more than 400! Unbelievable…

And this morning, I’m also strongly impressed by her expression in the newspaper. She says, “How long I am devoted entirely to softball in my 24 hours; it leads to a good result.” She has not only an outstanding talent for softball, but also a strong mind. That news can enhance my motivation to make progress toward a goal.

So, see you, and have a nice weekend!

Shuchi-shin

HI, ladies!!

I’m very happy about today’s especially pleasant weather, and I have enough energy to do many house chores after a long time. I wish such a fine climate would continue as long as possible. Cosmos, I can see you and Waka chan have an enjoyable walk in the beautiful park.

Have you ever heard about a TV talent group Shuchi-shin? My kids and I are big fan of them, who are becoming increasingly popular due to a TV quiz program. At first, three of them are called idiot talents, obaka tarento, because they couldn’t have any good answers on the program. But recently, thanks to their freshness and dedication, they have gradually drawn the viewers’ attention.

The other day, I read about an article of a famous writer on the newspaper, saying that foolish TV program would make children also fool. But I don’t think so. Why they can get so big popularity especially from kids and students is a ground-braking situation, in which those who make poor marks in their studies earnestly approach their works with support from adults. (In addition to this, all of them are good-looking men, ikemen…)

The MC on the program, also a producer of them, is Shinsuke Shimada, and I’m a little bit tired of his attitude to making money. Still, I can appreciate his idea about so-called idiot.

Thank you for reading. See you later. Bye, bye, dear friends!

Strong sunlight

Hi, ladies!!

Recently it has been quite a lot cool in the mornings and evenings, but the sunlight is still strong now. That lower light is gradually pouring through the window, which makes the temperature in the room high.

In spite of this hot air, my kids are struggling to make a kind of handicraft, the rest of their summer home works. Though they’ve already finished their works before, they couldn’t satisfy with them at all, and tried again. What serious students they are! I would never do such a work if I were in their position. How about you??

So, see you tomorrow. Good bye!!

A heavy shower

Hi, ladies!!

It has been a little muggy today, and it looks as if it’s going to rain soon. Through the window, now I can see clothes hanging from a rope outside are blowing hardly. I don’t like it usually, but this time I have been looking forward to meeting a heavy shower, which might cool down this hot temperature. It gets cooler every time it rains, doesn’t it?

These days I re-read Josei kaihono ayumi written by Tamae Mizuta, the book Plum and Azalea taught us before. Thanks to this awesome book, I can find an important fact that I can’t see clear picture of the Victorian era without having a grasp of an outline about it. While some prominent advocates for women’s freedom appeared in it, I could find the same figures on the article Women and marriage in 19th century England.（Joan Perkin） So, I was able to enjoy reading this than I expected. Especially the part of The crusade against marriage was interesting for me, and I was impressed at how many women and men challenged the common sense at that time.

Well, it’s time to say goodbye. See you!

Clowds like fish scales

Hi, ladies!!

The weather has been rather comfortable today, and I can spend a whole afternoon without an air-condition.　There are a lot of clouds like fish scales, instead of gigantic one in the sky, which tell us the coming of autumn. I love these clouds… When I look out over the sky on the veranda, where is on the fifth floor, the weakened evening sun beautifully shines above the town. While looking around the view stupidly, cool wind gently caresses my cheeks. It’s a fantastic time in my ordinary life of a housewife.

However, the cooler the air becomes, the bigger my appetite grows…It’s my reality.

So, see you tomorrow, good bye!

Beio kairan jikki

Hello, ladies!!

I’ve just finished the part 1 of Beio kairan jikki, the book Plum recommended us before. I had difficulties about it because of its old style Japanese, but I was interested in the author’s cool point of view. I’m looking forward to the next part of England in the most flourished Victorian era.

Plum, thank you for your encouragement to pass the STEP test. I will keep in my mind; just a little push to myself!

So, see you tomorrow. Good bye!

Camping in Gujo

Hi, ladies!!

I could fully enjoy summer vacation with my family, visiting Gujo hachiman for two days and the Monkey Park in Inuyama for one day. In spite of our first camping, we were able to make a wonderful stay at a camp site in Gujo. I had longed for staying in a bungalow, which would make me a girl Heidi in the Alps, so it was a highlight of this trip for me.

Fortunately, that bungalow was very cute and clean, and the environment surrounding it, big wild trees and a beautiful river, were also fine. After walking around the street of Gujo, where had the good old days’ atmosphere, we went to a super market to get some food materials. Since we were mere beginners in camping, I had been afraid of all the arrangements, but a manager of that bungalow was a good person, who kindly taught us this or that.

We also enjoyed typical barbecued food there. I wondered why those foods in the open air were so delicious. At the night, it rained heavily off and on, making a big noise on the roof. But I could sleep tightly as usual, while my HD had a hard sleepless night.

Actually, we intended to go to a river tour in revenge for the last year’s trip in Hokkaido, but, oh…this year again…we couldn’t make the plan due to heavy rain. Perhaps someone may be a rain man. So, we tried to swimming in the Monkey Park today. There were many, many families there, but my kids were really having a wonderful time. We are now getting a good tan!

Thank you for reading. Have a nice holiday!
See you tomorrow, my friends…

have a good day

Hi, ladies!!

Good morning. Now about 6 AM, and we are going to camping to Gujo-hachiman, Gifu. But I'm afraid of the weather forecast for tomorrow, predicting rains...my family has never been to camping, so I can imagine many hard things would attack us during this trip...Anyway, I will be back two days later. Thank you, everyone. Have a good day!

Kosuke Kitajima

Hi, ladies!!

All of your comments are very interesting for me, and I can recognize some important point of view on those reviews. We are able to kill two birds with one stone, aren’t we?

As Plum mentioned before, some amazing athletes got medals at the Beijing　Olympic Games, which really impressed us. I was specially moved by the wonderful performance of Kosuke Kitajima, who won the gold medal in the 100-meter swimming race, surprisingly for two successive championships. When he was interviewed after the race, unable to restrain any longer, tears gushed from his eyes. I couldn’t help weeping with him in sympathy. He must have overcome many difficulties in his hard days as a top swimmer. How beautiful tears of hard-workers are…

So, see you later. Good night, lovely friends…

wonderful holiday

Hi, my precious friends!!!
How have you been during these hot summer days??
I hope all of you are enjoying fantastic time.

While I skipped writing on this Blog, a lot of messages are on the boards, which are very　intriguing for me, and it took a long time to read all of them. As for me, I could have a wonderful holiday with my kids in Osaka, whose temperature was a little lower than in Nagoya. But when we came back here last night, the hottest climate had already gone away, and I felt so relieved about it. Even at night, I could hear a singing of autumn insect! There are correctly four seasons in Japan.

Plum tells us to keep on writing every day. I’ll be back tomorrow as usual.
See you, good bye!

Have a happy week

Hi, ladies!!

Magnolia, I’m ashamed I formed a rash conclusion about your contribution. But when I heard from you that the day was your HD’s birthday by chance, I thought your sincerity could reach him.

How have you enjoyed this summer? From tomorrow, my kids and I are going to Osaka for one week, and so I’ll skip this Blog for a while. They are really looking forward to playing with their cousins, even though in our short stay. My sister-in low is engaged with a cosmetic business at home, and she will make my face more smooth, beautiful, and young-looking, by her massage.

So, have a happy week ahead. See you!!

The first day of August

Hi, ladies!!

Today is the first day of August, high season of hot summer. Recently I’ve become sweating easily than before, probably because I’ve gained weight…While I sweat on a short walk, I can look back on my youth, when I was exercising very hard in a softball club. Under a scorching sun, we played so many training on the ground of our high school that some member got sick. All of us had deep-tanned skin and very short hair. It was sometimes unbearable to take such a strict training, but we could almost enjoy that summer with warm bonds of friendship, which have now become a great treasure in my memory. Even now, I can completely remember our trivial chats at that time. Hot summer reminds me such a fantastic memory.

So, see you tomorrow. Good night!

The useful expression

HI, ladies!

Thank you for letting me know about the useful expression, Plum! It is very effective for me to learn and use such a phrase.
…I felt as if I were a Cinderella.
…I can feel as if I have already passed the exam.

Plum has already taught us how to use this Blog effectively, but it may be hard to finish it, and I’ve written some usual comments carelessly. Anyway, everyday’s input and output. I have only to walk step by step in order to improve my English writing skills.

So, it’s time to go to bed. See you tomorrow, bye!

About Doris Lessing

HI, ladies!!

I’m very interested in your comments about the charity in the Victorian era, the TV drama LOST, and the musical of ABBA. Thanks to your explanation, I can feel already experiencing those spectacles. Speaking of visiting a sick person, we’ve seen a similar scene in Dickens’s Bleak House, haven’t we?

From TIME this week;
One of the Nobel Laureates Doris Lessing published a book about her parents, whose bitter memory has heavily caused her distress even now. They used to engage in wartime works as a soldier and a nurse, and her mother, haunted by flashbacks of soldiers dying without morphine, had a nervous breakdown. Lessing and her mother were always fighting each other due to her mother’s extraordinary behavior. At the same time, however, writing such a painful recollection might be an act of atonement for the author. She insists that this book will be her last, and says, “When you’re young you doubtless think that you’re going to sail into a lovely lake of quietude and peace. This is profoundly untrue.”

That statement has a deep meaning for all of us, hasn’t it? I have never read her books, but I’d like to try them someday.

Thank you for reading. See you, bye!

Just one week

Hi, ladies!!

I’m surprised how the time has passed so quickly since our seminar finished, just one week! I was also amazed at my kids’ clear consciousness of my presentation, because they pointed out my mistakes. They said that I had had better in my rehearsal (in the face of them) than the day, and even so, that I had responded to some questions more smoothly than last year. Specially, the younger daughter indicated accurately that I had been panicky when I’d answered last year! I couldn’t help laughing…

Yesterday I bought a TV game Wii sports for my kids’ birthdays, and we enjoyed it. That program includes some sports games, such as tennis, baseball, and boxing, and everyone can play them easily with a remote controller. Actually, I was able to have a good time with my kids, even though such a virtual game. In the near future, they will want to buy another program Wii fit, a kind of exercise equipment. I am secretly looking forward to do more fitness with it.

Well, see you tomorrow. Bye!

A cooler place...

HI, ladies!!

How are you?
I wonder how long this cruel hot weather will continue…
I am dying to go on a journey to a cooler place!

This evening I’m going to go to bed earlier than ever.
So, good night…sleep tight. Bye!

Guilty pleasures

HI, ladies!!

Cosmos, I’m interested in your thoughts about the differences between Christians and Buddhists, and I’m looking forward to your next suggestion for the theme.

I can find my favorite comic book in TIME this week. In Guilty pleasures, big names answer for their enjoyment, and a top writer mentions Monster by Naoki Urasawa. The writer says that Urasawa is a national treasure in Japan, and if you ain’t afraid of picture books, you’ll see why. I’m very happy about it, and I’d like to reread it.

My brain has been melting down again and again…it is difficult for me to think deeply.
So, see you later. Bye!

At the Aichi seminar

Hi, ladies!!

How wonderful time we could spend together at the Aichi seminar! I was very happy to share that precious experience with all of you… Since it finished till today, I was almost groggy. But this morning the younger daughter went camping and the elder is now studying with her friend in the library. So now, I am free!!

Magnolia, thank you for your extra explanation of Iwako san. I’ve ever heard some women for philanthropy with Christianity, but I found her eagerness came from Buddhism, and there must have been a lot of nameless women who followed Iwako-san. In fact, religion is an important factor for our research, isn’t it? Because I haven’t understood Sugako Kanno’s true religious base yet. I wonder how and why she had so impressed by socialism. In order to recognize it completely, I must read many, many books…!

Alice, thank you for your acting as chairperson. I won’t forget the next year’s one for Sunflower.
Well, I hope you will have nice vacation this summer. See you, bye!

The last day of school

Hi, ladies!

Today is the last day of school and from tomorrow a long summer vacation will begin! Sigh…Every time the season comes, I know the value of the school lunch.

My kids are eager to finish their summer homework as soon as possible, and the elder daughter asked me, “I want to make some homemaking works. Why don’t you have a sewing machine?” Yes, I’ve never had my own one. I used to have my mother sew my homework when I was a school girl! So, I replied to her that she should give it up. What a rough mother…

Well, see you tomorrow. Good night!!

On my PC

Hi, ladies!!

The other day, I was surprised by the education for technology. When I was struggling to insert some pictures in a report on my PC, my daughter came to me and said, “I know it. I studied the way.” Then she showed me the sample she made at school. There were her photo, her name, and even a pictorial writing on a sheet. Wow! The school has a computer room! How fast our society has moved toward our future.

It has been too hot again…I can’t go outside my house.
See you tomorrow. Bye!

Change

Hi, ladies!!

Plum, you are enjoying the most fantastic, but busiest days, aren't you?? Please take care.

Two days ago, the TV program Change finished, and I was impressed by it. In the last part, PM Asakura( a role name) made a speech on TV, just like the American President. That speech was not a politician's, but an ordinary man's one, and surprisingly continued for about 20 minutes without an interval! His each word was natural and plain. Even though he is not real, I can't help dreaming his existence. By the way, these days I've not heard PM Fukuda's statements. How did he deal with the G8 Summit?

Well, it's time to leave. See you!

Tropical night

Hi, ladies!!

Tonight has been less hot than last night, and there seems no need to air-condition.
I don’t like a Japanese tropical night.

I hope the seminar day won’t be such a hot day. My brain is going to melt down again. So, I’ll go to bed. See you, good night…

Formal English

Hi, ladies!!

It is very fantastic for us to use this Blog in writing English like Cosmos. By writing it in the way Plum teaches us, my skill must become more improving one. In fact, at the beginning of essay writing, it was desperately hard work for me, because it seemed almost impossible to see the difference between formal English and informal English at that time. That situation often made me feel depressed.

It may be necessary for me to read and learn more good examples in writing English, especially formal English. Thank you.

Sunflower, thank you for your curiosity about the book I read. The title is Affinity written by Sarah Waters in 1999. The writer makes some mystery novels with a touch of the Victorian era.

So, see you tomorrow. Bye!

In Rwanda

HI, ladies!!

Cosmos, Azalea, thank you for showing us the sad result in Rwanda. Last year, when I learned about the rate of female politicians around the world, Rwanda was in first position. I hope this situation will greatly contribute to her people.

It has been too hot today and my brain is going to melt down. Are you all right? Take care. So, I leave now. See you later, and have a nice weekend!

About Socialism

HI, ladies!!

These days, while I’m learning about Sugako Kanno for this summer’s seminar, I’ve interested in so called Socialism gradually. Now I have two questions. One is why so many male socialists could insist on women’s freedom in their articles, even though their actual behavior didn’t match with the thought. In fact, women who closely connected with socialist’s movement were often in charge of the household.

Another is why so many socialists became a Christian at that time. I wonder what features in common were between these ideas. Both may seem very interesting issues, but I have no time to think about it deeply. After finishing the seminar, I'd like to study the matter.

Well, see you tomorrow, bye!

Change

HI, ladies!!

I thank you for concerning my daughter. We went to see doctor correctly this morning, and she is getting well enough to go to school.

Have you ever seen a TV drama Change? I’m enjoying this unusual program every week, but unfortunately it finishes next Monday. The hero is, unbelievably, a 35-year-old prime minister, who was an elementary school teacher. At the beginning, it seemed a complete fantastic story, but thanks to Kimu-taku’s great performance, I can believe in such a story.

In spite of lack of political experience, he did good job with simple words which could reach the hearts of ordinary people. I think its script was also brilliant. I wish we could have this PM in the near future...

So, it’s time to leave. See you!

Stupid mistake

HI, ladies!!

It was raining with a clap of thunder this morning, but during the afternoon blue sky has come back, and now a hot wind is blowing through the window…

Yesterday, I made a stupid mistake. My elder daughter had suffering from a cough around all week, and she saw the doctor a few days ago. But, in spite of the medicine he gave her, her condition had become worse. So, I decided to see another doctor with her and went to a second hospital for the first time on yesterday’s evening. At that time, I was convinced from a faint memory that a building, where is near my apartment, was the hospital we intended to go.

After getting through a reception, while waiting for our turn, I vaguely realized that there seemed something strange in this hospital; that place was a surgery, quite different place!!.....

Then we quickly went out and took our way toward our house, laughing wildly…

Well. See you tomorrow, bye!