Hi, ladies!
This morning feathery snow was falling outside, but now beautiful sunlight is pouring into the room, which makes me very happy.
Yesterday afternoon we junior members, Azalea, Peach and I, gathered at Azalea’s house in Toyota to have our second discussion on English essays. Azalea showed us her new subtitle, saying that she adopted it after thinking the matter over since last meeting. Peach and I could understand how she made such a subtitle, and so we discussed some other issues about Mumeo Oku.
Peach had already done her essay with introduction, conclusion, footnotes and bibliography. It’s amazing! She must have had great efforts in her busy New Year holiday. Azalea and I wanted to know how and why Ichiko Kamichika struggled to change the retrial system in the postwar period in her political activities. I think it’s a difficult but interesting theme.
Peach and Azalea kindly suggested several mistakes and important questions for me. They didn’t understand the relation between Sugako Kanno and Christianity because I had lacked my full explanation about it. It seems hard for me to write my issue carefully as well as concisely.
Though we had still questionable problems on our essays, Peach and I left Azalea’s house at 5 o’clock. We decided to send each essay to others until next meeting.
I assume we had a beneficial meeting and I appreciate Plum’s arrangement.
So, see you next.
Plum, have a safe trip and enjoy your stay with your family!!
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Hi, ladies!!!
It’s Tuesday, January 13, 2009, today, and it snowed for a while before I left home for work. I thought to myself that I had to protect myself from the slanting snow with my umbrella otherwise I would be drenched when I got to my work place. Looking at the snow, in a sense I got frustrated and gave a big sigh to myself. But fortunately the snow let up eventually and when I went out I even saw some sunlight. Very wired and bizarre weather…
Do you remember Miho, who was the talk show hostess at TCLC talk show held in November. She brought her digital camcorder to our class and played the videotape, which her daughter took, showing and explaining in English how to make oden, chirashi-zushi, chawanmushi and mochi-cake, just as Delia does on her TV cookery program. It was her homework that I gave her last month, and at that time I was a bit concerned and worried, thinking to myself that it might be too much burden to her. (I showed my class Delia’s How to Cook last month.) But quite to the contrary she did an excellent job. Her videotape lasted almost 30 minutes, and her cookery presentation was so entertaining that my class and I were just enchanted with her lovely English presentation of the recipes of her choice.
(19)
This is the latter half of the extraction from the MTL book.
Soon Tsushima was followed by a carpenter with leprosy, whose troubles also could not be ignored.
We had but the one room, in which Tsushima was,.. I gave him money to buy tools and lumber, and sent him word to build a rough room to stay in till we get our buildings up. We have no means for his support, and three more have applied…
We can count on nobody’s help but yours yet, though we are hoping for it from other quarters… I never felt such a great responsibility as since this work has been laid upon me. But it is certainly laid upon me by Him Who (sic) can never err, and so I can rest on His promise ‘as thy days so shall thy strength be’.
...
We must now conclude the account of these beginnings in Japan with a description Miss Youngman sent when the Tokyo Home was only four years old, and the nineteenth century still not ended.
Since the men have got into their new quarters and the women into their own house which they lent for a time to the men, everything goes on nicely, though I feel very sorry that we cannot get one or two strong servants, so that the Superintendent and his wife need not be so driven, and can have more time to attend to their own special part of the work. They are a most faithful and consecrated couple, and I bless God daily that He gave us such worthy persons to begin this difficult work with.
[At Christmas] one man, formerly an editor, made an excellent address. Two school teachers read essays. Several sang exceedingly well. One man who cannot sit or stand, had his bed brought into the corner of the room, and had another man, who was only in the early stages of leprosy, read an essay which he had dictated for him to write…
We need a small chapel now, the next thing, as the number is getting too large to assemble in the rooms and houses without its getting very close before the service is over…
I shall get an estimate and send you word. Now I wonder if you will not rejoice at the need, even though it does seem as though I am never satisfied, but just as soon as one reaches me, I send a new request by return mail. But does it not show how the Lord is blessing your gifts?
***
It is so delightful to hear that Cherry, Azalea and Peach got together to have a discussion about their essay projects. I am especially happy about their excellent positive attitude because I was a bit concerned about their essay writing, thinking to myself whether they could write their essays on their own.
I hope Cherry, Azalea and Peach will individually have a thorough discussion with Bev and finish up the essays by the due date. I am looking forward to reading your essays, Cherry, Azalea and Peach.
I will talk to you next time from Sydney, my precious friends. Goodnight to you all…
Hi Cherry and friends,
Prum, I hope you are enjoying a reunion with your daughter’s family in Australia.
I was impressed by a student of your class who showed the tape which she had recorded her cookery demonstration in English. It must be very interesting. I like watching cooking shows, but never imagine I instruct how to cook.
By the way, I was very lucky because I bought a book, “Senkushatachi no Shozo”(先駆者たちの肖像“, which Plum recommended me to get, with a very cheep price over the internet. Can you guess? It cost me only one yen! The shipping fee was 340yen, so I spent only 341yen. This book introduces 95Japanese women who contributed for the society in the various fields in Meiji, Taisho and Showa. It is very valuable and easy to read because each woman’s achievement was described precisely and densely in one page with pictures in the previous page. I’m glad to have this book.
Tonight, I’m going to watch a NHK TV program “Sono Toki Rekishi ga Ugoita” about Iwakura Tomomi’s mission.
Have a nice evening.
Reiko
Hello, Cherry and ladies.
It’s January 15. It seems to be less cold than yesterday this morning. A front glass of Kyoko's car,which had frosted yesterday, did not frozen although it was blowing a cold wind in the afternoon, which made me feel very cold outside.
I remember Miho very well as an excellent and superb hostess at TCLC talk show. Thank you for letting us know her another achievement she did at the English class. What a nice cookery presentation Miho did. How I wish I could watch that videotape showing her cooking class just like Delia on her TV cookery program.
I’ve been thinking to ask her how to prepare for her talking show. It would be so much appreciated if I could know how to contact her.
By the way, one of my friends told me that topics of cooking and pets were most popular for middle aged women in the English class. When I told “the Delia’s How to Cook”, she wanted to watch her TV programs so anxiously.
Delia’s cookery program is really fascinating. Her way of delivering how to cook was so entertaining and convincing that she inspired me to cook the same dishes as she did.
My essay writing is not going well as Cherry, Azalea,Peach and Rose have been doing.
Magnolia, cosmos and I are going to discuss our essya next Monday, so
I'll do my best to keep resarching and writing.
Good-night, my dear friedns.
Hello, Cherry and ladies.
It’s 17th, Saturday. I intended to go to Asoka hospital in Tokyo to research its history especially in order to find out some evidence how Takeko Kujo was involved in setting up the hospital.
Before taking a one-day trip to Tokyo, however, I called and asked a clerk in the office that it had some documentary records related with her. Amazing thing is that he called her " Kujo sensei".
Asked who and what I was, I told him that I wanted to write a research essay of Tekeko Kujo who had a great effort to found the hospital for those who could not afford to pay medical fees after the devastated earthquake.
Then he told me that I could get a history of Asoka hopital on Home Page in the Internet although there were some pieces of information not being written on HP.
After discussing what I really need with him for a while, he finally understood my intention that I need a historical fact related with Kujo Takeko which was written on the 60th history of Asoka Association. Eventually he kindly told me that he would copy some forty pages related with her and send them to me. What a relief! I thanked him and asked his name before hanging up.
Rose called me saying that she had some difficulties while writing her essay. I understood her feeling very well because I had the same experience as she is doing. The important point is to find concrete and decisive evidences of what we write on the essay.
I’m now expecting him to send copies to me. Hopefully they will get useful proof to be able to support my points.
On next Monday our group including four members will meet for the first time to discuss our essays. I'm happpy Rose will be able to come on next Monday.
Good-night, my precious friends. Have a good night.
Dear Cherry and friends,
Hello.
I’m back!
I’m back from what?
First of all, I went to Osaka last week to get materials to write this year’s essay. I visited 4 school libraries: Poole Gakuin, Momoyama Gakuin, Baika Gakuen, and Osaka Daigaku.
Since Momoyama has hundreds reels of microfilms containing missionaries’ letters and records, I could get some primary sources for my research. Last year, I got 200 pages of materials to write about Miss Payne. This time, I got twice.
And this Tuesday was the first seminar held at Tokyo University. I’m writing a report for the seminar, too. Although other students are going to write 30 pages, which ended up being between 30000 and 40000 characters, I can’t write such a long report. So far, mine is as close as 20000 chars.
Today was this year’s first study session for the preparation of Eiken.
And also, I sent part of my essay to our group members. I have finished only 4 pages.
By the way, I went to Kanda Kosho Tengai (Kanda Streets of Rare and Used Bookstores) to find books about Christianity on Tuesday. I remembered one of the bookstores had a used encyclopedia of Christianity. I couldn’t find that, but I got some books there and asked which bookstores have books on Christianity. The shop clerk kindly told me the names and locations, Yuai Shoten and Mahoroba. At Yuai, I found Nihon Kirisutokyo Rekishi Daijiten, which Plum recommended the other day. I ordered it right away. They sent it to me on the day and it was delivered next morning.
Here is the list of Victorian women who came to Japan before 1890 and whose brief biography is found in the encyclopedia.
Mary Jane Oxlad
Fanny Jarvis Shaw
Katherine Tristram
Edith Hamilton
Rachel Dora Howard
Lucy Payne
Hannah Riddell
Eliza Ritson
Here is the list of institutions where Victorian women worked.
Muroran St. Matthew Kyokai
Hiroshima Hukkatsu Kyokai
Niigata St. Paul Kyokai
Koran Jogakko
Aso St. Timothy Kyokai
Tokushima Immanuel Kyokai
Kushiro St. Paul Kyokai
Today, I met Cherry and Cosmos and studied together. Both of them were as fine and cheerful as last year.
Good night.
Hi, ladies,
It is Saturaday, January 17. At Azalea's Cherry and I had an exciting and meaningful time. I was given lots of valuable advice.
I understand the thing arouses interest about Kamichika is what she did as a politician. I'll focus on two of her achievements.
Prostitution protection bill and retrial inquiry (??) bill. I'll write what kind of bills they are..
Delia's how to cook is so fantastic. Miho-san's challenge must be great. Plum's way of learning English is always creative and imaginative.
Hello, Cherry and ladies.
This morning I was so much overwhelmed by the number of the primary sources Alice has got through her superb fieldwork to Osaka. She’s got as many as 400 pages from four libraries in Osaka.
What a great effort Alice has made for her research essay!
Her message really made me feel the necessity and importance of collecting primary sources.
I had one colored poster with a beautiful picture of Kujo Takeko produced by the Takashimaya Department Store between the late Meiji and Taisho period.
It said that it was posted in waiting rooms of the main National Railway Station. This poster was owned by the Takashimaya archives in Osaka.
I mustered up my courage to call and ask details of the poster. A curator named Hajime Hirota in the archives replied my several question including why Kujo Takeko was used in the poster. His answer seemed very convincing to me.
At that time the Takashimaya Department Store wanted to create an international image because it had an office in London in 1903. Takashimaya was advancing its business to Europe.
Takeko also went to London and lived there for about six months after she married Baron Kujo in 1909. She may have the international image.
Anyway the poster of Kujo Takeko told us vividly that in those days she was well-known among ordinary people as the beauty brought up as the nobility.
I think the comment of curator may be the first-handed information for my essay writing.
The Center entrance examination will be held at Meijo university tomorrow. It is Sunday but my daughter should work for it as school staff. I'll get up at around seven.
So I’d like to say good night to my precious friends.
January 18, 2009 12:48 AM
Hello, Cherry and ladies.
It's Sunday. I have a good news!
Delia’s How to Cook’ I ordered last night at Amazon.com arrived at my hand today, amazingly fast. I'm happy about that.
The first chapter is “All about eggs”.
Delia is saying that if you want to learn how to cook, start with eggs. She follows like this:
Eggs are, after all, a powerful symbol of something new happening—new life, a new beginning. But there is another reason. Somehow eggs have become an equally negative symbol. When someone says, ‘Oh, I can’t even boil an egg.’ what they are actually saying is, ‘I can’t cook anything at all.’ That’s why anyone wanting to make a start should begin b understanding eggs.
Delia is a superb story-teller, I think. Her way of cookery writing is so enchanting and instructive that we Japanese readers learn not only her beautiful, rhythmical English but also things related with cooking scientifically.
For example, Delia explains why we sometimes had tought time to peel off both the shell and the skin of hard-boiled eggs.
You’ll see the construction of the egg includes a space for the air to collect at the wide end, and it’s the amount of air in this space that determines the age and quality of the egg and how best to cook it. In newly laid eggs, the sir pocket is hardly there, but as the days or weeks pass, more air gets in and the air pocket grows;
When the egg is fresh, inner membrane, a sort of safety net that would have protected the chick if the egg had been fertilized, is like a taut, stretched skin; then, as more air penetrates the egg, this skin slackens.
This explains why, if you hard-boiled a really fresh egg, peeling off both the shell and the skin is absolute torture. But if the egg is a few days or even a week old, the skin will become loose and the egg will peel like a dream.
Delia’s beautiful cookery book will become one of my treasures.
Thank you for letting me know her gloriously wonderful program, Plum. You’re always a superb mentor for me.
Now I have to get back to my work of writing my essay, my precious friends.
Today I cleaned my room, putting two poted flowers, one is yellow and the other is red.
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