Thursday 26 December 2013

今日のオーストラリアの有名なイベント Today's Famous Australian Event

昨日はクリスマスでしたね。良い時間を過ごせましたか?オーストラリアでクリスマスのの日は「Boxing Day」と呼ばれています。この日には有名なイベントが行われます。そのイベントは「シドニーからホバートまでのヨットレース」です。有名なシド二ーから私の出身のホバートまで航海することです。

この競走は630海里くらい(1000キロ以上)の長距離です。とても難しい競走だそうです。今までの記録は1日18時23分12秒間です。でも、2日間ぐらいかかる事も普通です。

今日午後1時から、94船が競争します。今日の天気からするとが荒れそうなので、皆さん気をつけてください。はい、スタート!

Yesterday was Christmas.  Did you have a nice time?  In Australia the day after Christmas is called "Boxing Day".  On this day, a famous event is held.  It's the "Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race".

The race is a long distance of about 630 nautical miles (more than 1000km).  It's said to be a very difficult race.  The current record for fastest time is 1 day, 18 hours, 23 minutes and 12 seconds.  But about 2 days' time is also common.

From 1pm today, 94 yachts will compete.  The seas are apparently rough due to today's weather, so please take care everyone.  Ready, set, go!


Wednesday 11 December 2013

年賀状 New Year's Cards

「年賀状」という日本の習慣は学生の時に日本語の授業ではじめて聞きました。皆はお正月までに年賀状を出すのに、全部お正月に届けられますね。いつも「楽しそう!」と思っていました。西洋にはこの習慣がないと思います。その代わりにクリスマスカードを送ります。12月クリスマス日の前、皆友達や家族にクリスマスカードを出して、いつも通りに届けられます。カードの切手は手紙のよりもっと安いので、封筒の外に「card only」(カードだけ)書きます。クリスマス日は休日ので、郵便をもらいません。

日本に住んで2年が経つのに、年賀状をもらったことがありません。友達にこんなお願いがあります。「今度のお正月に私に年賀状を送ってもらえますか?私は送るつもり人にクリスマスカードを送りますよ!さあ、いかがですか?」このお願いの聞き方は当てますか?もっといい聞き方は何でしょうか?

もらった例の聞き方:
「今度のお正月に私に年賀状を送ってもらえますか?送ってくれる人には、クリスマスカードを送りますよ!さあ、いかがですか?」
「私一度年賀状を受け取ってみたいの。クリスマスカードを送るから、その代わりに私に年賀状を送ってくれない?」
「私は日本の文化である年賀状をもらったことがないので、今度のお正月に年賀状を送っていただけませんか?そして私はあなたに自国の文化であるクリスマスカードを送りたいと思います。どうですか?」
「私に年賀状を送ってくれませんか?私は代わりにクリスマスカードを送ります!

I first heard of the Japanese custom of "nengajyo" (New Year's cards) in Japanese class when I was a student.  Everyone sends the New Year's cards before the New Year, but the are all received on New Year's Day, right?  I always thought "That sounds fun!"  I don't think this custom exists in the West.  Instead, we send Christmas cards.  In December before Christmas day, we send Christmas cards to friends and family, and they are delivered like usual.  The stamp for cards is cheaper than for letters, so we write "card only" on the outside of the envelope.  Christmas Day is a public holiday, so we don't receive any mail this day.  

Although this is my second year in Japan, I have never received a New Year's card.  I have a request to my friends:  "This year, can I receive a New Year's card?  I will send a Christmas card to those planning to send it to me!  So how about it?"  Is this the right way of asking?  What would be a better way to ask?

Monday 2 December 2013

Figured Out Life?

And another one from my own daily thought processes.  I'm on a roll!


You can actually send this "someecards" ones as an e-card to your friends, by clicking here.


Sunday 1 December 2013

An Elephant Never Forgets

Here is my latest meme creation, based on a random thought I had the other day.  Pretty good, if I may say so myself ;)



Feel free to pin it and spread the love :)

Or you can even send it as an e-card if you so desire, by clicking this link.

Saturday 30 November 2013

The Big Question


Today is the last day of Movember, so here's the big question:


Have you had your annual health-check?


If not, then be a man and make an appointment now!  We're all behind you!  

If there's no health problems in the end, what was there to lose?  But if something is picked up in the health-check, you've got everything to gain.

So do it!  Dress up that mo and go!


モーベンバー Movember

今日最後の日だけど、「モーベンバー」という言葉を聞いたことがあるか?十年前オーストラリアで始まった習慣けど、このごろたくさんのほかの国でうようになってきた。オーストラリアで口髭は「モー」という。英語の「moustache」を短く言っているからです。「モー」と「ノベンバー」(11月)という言葉を組み合わせると「モーベンバー」になったんだ。

モーベンバーは男の人が11月の間に口髭を生やすことだ。たぶん、「なぜ?」聞きたいだろう。資金調達しながら、楽しむためだ。そして、癌を探し当てる
ための検診することを高めるためのことだ。例えば、前立腺癌や精巣腫瘍などだ。そして精神衛生ものためだ。西洋人の中に男の人の方は医者に行くことが嫌いだそうだ。だから、何か病気があったとしても見つけるのがれてしもう。それを未然に防ぐようにモーベンバーは「健康診査した方がいい」というセージを男性に伝えている。


Today is the last day, but have you ever heard of "Movember"? It started in Australia 10 years ago, but these days it is celebrated in many other countries. In Australia a moustache is called a "mo". It's a shortening of the English word "moustache". "Movember" came from combining the words "mo" and "November". 


Movember is when men grow a moustache during November. You probably want to ask "Why?". The reason is to have fun whilst fundraising. Also, it's to increase the instance of men getting cancer health checks. For example, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and also for mental health. It is said that in western society, men don't like to go to the doctor. So if they have any illness it is discovered very late. In order to prevent that, the message of Movember to men is "You'd better get a health-check done".

Friday 1 November 2013

Movember - Changing The Face of Men's Health

In 2003 in the city of Melbourne, Australia, two blokes had an idea.  For the whole month of November, they would bring back an outdated fashion statement: the moustache - also known in Australia as the "mo".  They decided to get as many of their mates on board, and chose to raise the awareness of prostate cancer and men's health in the process.  About 30 of their friends took up the challenge.

Now, ten years later, Movember has become an international sensation, with about 1.1 million Mo Bros registered around the world in 2012.  And this year the number is sure to grow as fast as the facial hair.

The main areas of focus for awareness are:  Men's HealthProstate CancerTesticular Cancer, and Mental Health.  




But Movember is not just for the men - any women wishing to support the cause can become a Mo Sista and get involved in a number of ways, without growing a moustache. (I can hear the sighs of relief from here!).


I've decided for the first time ever to become a Mo Sista this year.  I've just registered and am now deciding how I will get involved.  You can check out my Mo Space here:


Of course I will happily accept donations for the Movember cause, but I think my main focus this year will be awareness, especially here in Japan.  I think it would be great for Japan to be involved, so I plan to spread the word.  Although it may be a little difficult, culturally.  

You see, back when I was having my initial training as an ALT, our company told us that according to Japanese culture, it's inappropriate for a guy to grow facial hair on the job.  One guy in our group, who had a well established goatee thing happening (sorry, I'm yet to expand my "Mocabulary"), looked a little concerned and asked "You're saying I have to shave this off?"  "Oh no," the reply came, "having facial hair is fine.  It's growing facial hair that's the problem.  So if any of you men decide you want facial hair, you'd better grow it during the holidays."  If this is true, Movember may not take off quickly here.  

But, if it's for a good cause, I believe that allowances could be made.  After all, the Japanese are always up for a little bit of novelty and fun. I think everyone just needs to know about it first.  All they'll need is a cute cartoon mascot with a catchy name, and it'll be game on

Now, BLOKES!  What do you do if you want to be a Mo Bro? Here are a few simple guidelines:

1.  
Register yourself or your team on the Movember website.
2.  Start on 1st November clean shaven (if you're a little late, it's okay).
3. Grow a moustache for the entire month of November (no beards or goatees - remember you're supposed to draw some attention ;). 
4. Talk to your friends, colleagues or puzzled bystanders about your mo! 
5. Collect donations.


If you can't grow a mo for whatever reason, or the woman in your life won't let you (the above video portrays a possible reason), there are still a lot of ways you can get involved, including raising awareness or donating to the cause.

So what are you waiting for men?  Grow That Mo!

Wednesday 30 October 2013

Wear Me Out

So, just how many ways are there of saying "wear" in Japanese?  Well, allow me to illustrate, with a little help from "cool guy"*.  

*Please note that I cannot draw shoes.  And notice the legacy badge and odd socks, showing this guy is totally into supporting his community.  He is also wearing blush, for the sake of illustration.  What a trooper.


Okay, here we go:



So what's the answer then?  Nine.  There are at least 9 words in Japanese for the English verb "to wear".  Is there any wonder why I'm having trouble keeping up?

Saturday 19 October 2013

Wonderful Life


“One human life is as precious as a million lives, for each is infinite in value.” - Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits.

“We’re all human, aren’t we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving.” – J.K. Rowling, author.

"Society professes reverence for human life. We weep for those who die, pray and work for those whose lives are in jeopardy. For years I have labored with other doctors here and abroad, struggling to prolong life. It is impossible to describe the grief a physician feels when the life of a patient is lost. Can anyone imagine how we feel when life is destroyed at its roots, as though it were a thing of naught?" - Russell M. Nelson, former surgeon and medical researcher.

"In times past we have looked upon a person who saves another human life as a great hero; yet now we have come to a time when the taking of an unborn human life for non-medical reasons has become tolerated, made legal, and accepted in many countries of the world. But making it legal to destroy newly conceived life will never make it right. It is consummately wrong." - James E. Faust, former attorney.

"Some say, as did the Supreme Court of the United States, that it is only a theory that human life is present from conception. This is contrary to insurmountable medical evidence."  - James E. Faust.

"Approximately twenty-two days after the two cells have united, a little heart begins to beat. At twenty-six days the circulation of blood begins." - Russell M. Nelson.

“I am deeply troubled by my own increasing certainty that I had in fact presided over 60,000 deaths. There is no longer serious doubt in my mind that human life exists within the womb from the very onset of pregnancy.” - Dr. Bernard N. Nathanson, former director of the first and largest abortion clinic in the western world.

"If one is to be deprived of life because of potential for developing physical problems, consistency would dictate that those who already have such deficiencies should likewise be terminated. Continuing, then, those who are either infirm, incompetent, or inconvenient should be eliminated by those in power. Such irreverence for life is unthinkable! - Russell M. Nelson.

"Some justify abortions because the unborn may have been exposed to drugs or disease and may have birth defects. Where in all the world is the physically or mentally perfect man or woman? Is life not worth living unless it is free of handicaps? Experience in working with handicapped children would suggest that human nature frequently rises above its impediments." - James E. Faust.

“Every argument that can be made for aborting a fetus can also be made for killing the same fetus once it is born,” -  Professor R. Paul Ramsey of Princeton University.

“An abortion is never commonplace, for the world holds no heartbreak like the death of innocence. Whenever and wherever it occurs, we all suffer another loss from that little which sustains us and holds us together. It is the degradation of humanity. It is fulness emptied, innocence defiled, song unfinished, beauty discarded, hope unsprung." - Dr. Henry G. Armitage, Jr.

"The great medical profession, for which I have such great respect, that for centuries has been committed to the preservation of life under the cardinal principles of treatment—“do no harm” and “protect life”—now finds itself destroying almost a million unborn children a year in the United States alone. Each of these, because of tiny chromosomal differences, would have been different from any other person born in the world. How many with special gifts like unto Moses, Leonardo da Vinci, and Abraham Lincoln might have been among them?" - James E. Faust.

"Consider [this] individual weighing the consequences of her pregnancy. She was beyond the normal age for bearing children. She announced to her doctor that her husband was an alcoholic with a syphilitic infection. One of her children had been born dead. Another child was blind. Another had tuberculosis. Her family had a history of deafness. Finally she confessed that she was living in abject poverty. If this true historical situation were posed today, many would recommend abortion. The child born from that pregnancy became the renowned composer Ludwig van Beethoven." - Russell M. Nelson.

"Social, educational, financial, and personal considerations alone do not outweigh the value of the life that is in the fetus.  These considerations by themselves may properly lead to the decision to place the baby for adoption after its birth, but not to end its existence in utero." - Anon. (from a letter received by Dallin H. Oaks, former US Supreme Court Justice.)

"Why destroy a life that could bring such joy to others?" - Russell M. Nelson.

"One of the most evil myths of our day is that a woman who has joined hands with God in creation can destroy that creation because she claims the right to control her own body. Since the life within her is not her own, how can she justify its termination?" - James E. Faust.

"The woman’s choice for her own body does not validate choice for the body of another. The expression “terminate the pregnancy” applies literally only to the woman. The consequence of terminating the fetus therein involves the body and very life of another. These two individuals have separate brains, separate hearts, and separate circulatory systems. To pretend that there is no child and no life there is to deny reality." - Russell M. Nelson.

“If it seems more horrible to kill a man in his own house than in a field, because a man’s house is his place of most secure refuge, it ought surely to be deemed more atrocious to destroy a fetus in the womb before it has come to light." - John Calvin.

 "Another contention raised is that a woman is free to choose what she does with her own body. To a certain extent this is true for all of us. We are free to think. We are free to plan. And then we are free to do. But once an action has been taken, we are never free from its consequences. Those considering abortion have already exercised certain choices.
   To clarify this concept, we can learn from the astronaut. Any time during the selection process, planning, and preparation, he is free to withdraw. But once the powerful rocket fuel is ignited, he is no longer free to choose. Now he is bound by the consequences of his choice. Even if difficulties develop and he might wish otherwise, the choice made was sealed by action.
   So it is with those who would tamper with the God-given power of procreation. They are free to think and plan otherwise, but their choice is sealed by action" - Russell M. Nelson.

“This is one of the most despicable of all sins—to destroy an unborn child to save one from embarrassment or to save one’s face or comfort.” - Spencer W. Kimball.

"More than 95 percent of the millions of abortions performed each year extinguish the life of a fetus conceived by consensual relations. Thus the effect in over 95 percent of abortions is not to vindicate choice but to avoid its consequences." - Dallin H. Oaks, former US Supreme Court Justice.

“Abortion itself is a potential source of psychiatric illness and a basis for mental breakdown. For this reason there should be no psychiatric grounds for abortion." - Dr. Victor Calef.

"We must stand up for the right choice. Those who persist in refusing to think beyond slogans and sound bites like 'pro-choice' wander from the goals they pretend to espouse and wind up giving their support to results they might not support if those results were presented without disguise." - Dallin H. Oaks.

“I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.” – Ronald Reagan, former US president.


Thursday 17 October 2013

Standby Me

First, here's some theme music to listen to whilst you read this post:


This morning I had yet another morning standby stint for work.  


Last time, through a bit of positive (and realistic) thinking, I made a small break-through in coping with this experience, basically lessening the anxiety aspect.  My goals this time were:
*  No complaining;  and
*  Just accept and prepare for the fact I will be sent out.


I'm happy to say I achieved my goal!  I had told myself I would be sent out, in fact I would be sent out first (as usual), and it would be an elementary school with 5-6 classes.  With this in mind, I had reviewed and studied elementary school lesson plans and consolidation activities, as I still run out of ideas quickly when put on the spot.  And I thus told myself it would be okay.


But actually.......*drumroll please*.........







I got sent out THIRD!  AND I lasted in the office until 8am!  That's the longest I've survived the sudden-death game that is Morning Standby.   I couldn't believe it.  Seems my luck may finally be changing!

The second bit of good news is I got sent to a Junior High School!  Yay!  I think the morning standby staff are trying to be a little merciful to me in the fact that if they know they have a JHS assignment they'll give it to me first, as that's my area of expertise (technically I was sent out third, but it seems they received all 3 assignments at the same time).  I was pretty happy with that!

So I was given all the lesson plan papers, and the maps and the train directions (4 trains to get to my assignment).  I was told the first period lesson would have to cut as I wouldn't be able to be there in time, and that the teacher at the school was apparently a bit upset or angry about that.  (Apparently no one had informed them the teleportation machine has not  yet been invented.)

When I got to the school though, I found no angry people, which was great.  I taught 3 lessons during the day, and with a combination of Interac's lesson plans, preparation time during the remainder of 1st period, and collaboration with the Japanese teachers, they all went pretty smoothly.  The two teachers I worked with were very nice and helpful.  The class sizes were quite small (especially compared to the usual classes of 38ish students at my schools).  And the students were, as usual, funny and easy to work with.  Japanese teenagers?  I got it down.  Like a boss.  Many were excited to talk to me, even outside of class (including a couple of girls very excited to hear I knew of Justin Bieber). 

The students had fun asking me questions after my self-introductions, including one 9th grade boy who asked (with the help of the teacher, funnily) "Can I be your boyfriend?"  I told him sorry, I'm 29 and I need an older guy!  He was a little disappointed.  "Just one day?"  Nope, I don't do 'one day' - sorry!  "One minute?" Nope!  It was funny.

Overall it was a relatively stress-free and pleasant experience.  The only unpleasant part, really, was when I got a toe-cramp mid lesson!  Ouchies!  Luckily I was facing the blackboard at the time, but my poor train drawing that was  in progress was consequently ruined due to my being in such pain!  Realising I had to hand out the worksheets next I tried not to show it in my face as I hobbled around, and thankfully it was short-lived!

And so, I have thus survived once again, and even progressed in my quest to overcome the bane of my existence as an ALT in Japan.  

Friday 27 September 2013

What E'ver Thou Art, Act Well Thy Part

Okay, I've had an epiphany.  A really, really good one.

It relates to stress, and feelings of anxiety, and just coping with life.

And it all came from this quote:


Word on the street is it came from Shakespeare.  I'm sure it's had a thousand interpretations from it, but the one that came to me recently has been really profound to me.

I've already talked about my feelings regarding morning standby.  Not so happy.  Lots of stress and feelings of anxiety, as I wait to be thrust into the unknown.  Surrounded by lots of children, usually elementary school aged.


I've had some training on this kind of stuff, but not nearly enough to make me feel comfortable or like I know what I'm doing.  I basically just try to survive the day, without losing face.


So as I was preparing for yet another morning standby a few weeks ago, I recalled the above quote from a recent evening church meeting I had been to.  “What e’er thou art, act well thy part.” 

My first question as I pondered how I could apply this advice was “What is my part?”  Not necessarily what part I felt I was expected to play, but the part I could play.  What I am.  It says “What e’er thou art,” so, what am I? “Well,” I answered, “I’m a junior high school 'hakken' (team-teaching) assistant language teacher, with very little elementary school teaching experience, who has to substitute at very short notice for 'gyomu-itaku' (you're THE teacher) ALTs.”  Essentially I identified my limitations, among my abilities and strengths.  I recognised it’s okay to not be perfect or give a flawed performance.  This realisation was rather liberating.

So, instead of feeling like I had to be an amazing gyomu-itaku elementary school teacher on these assignments, and thus feeling an immense amount of pressure and stress, I decided that it didn’t matter if I was just a substitute-junior-high-school-hakken-ALT-with-very-little-elementary-school-teaching-experience.  But I determined that I would be the best substitute-junior-high-school-hakken-ALT-with-very-little-elementary-school-teaching-experience that I could be!  I would act well my part – the part that I can play.

The next morning I went to the office (very) early feeling a little more calm than usual.  In accordance with my own psychic predictions, I was the first ALT sent out.  To a gyomu-itaku elementary school.  I still wanted to cry as I took the pile of papers handed me and headed out the door, but as I traveled to my assignment I noticed that this time feeling of anxiety was gone.  No rapid breathing or shortness of breath.  Because I knew that even if I did fail due to my limitations, it would be okay.  Because I would have acted well my part.

Can this principle apply to you?  Is there something in your life that’s stressing you out, because you don’t feel quite adequate?  What are your limitations?  Perhaps you simply can’t get the grocery shopping done in 15 mins like some people, because you’re a mother with young children who slow things down a lot.  Perhaps you’re dealing with depression and find it hard enough to get out of bed, let alone achieve the many things on your to-do list. Heck, maybe you’re missing a limb!  What ever your limitations may be, just accept them for now.  Define who you are, and what your part is.  And then play that part the best you can. 

What e’er thou art, act well thy part.

Thursday 26 September 2013

Did I pass the JLPT level 3?


You may have wondered why you didn't hear a big announcement about my Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) result.  Well, it's because I planned to announce it here on my very own blog!  And then I didn't.  Oops!   But in case you were wondering, here it is...

The actual test was sometimes easy and sometimes hard.  Especially the last listening section, yikes!  I couldn't really say whether I'd passed or failed, as my feelings were rather borderline.  

At last the time came when I could check my results on the internet.  Right before checking, I reminded myself that it's highly possible that I could have failed, and I knew that before I even took the test.

So, now the moment of truth...


Are you ready?

































I PASSED!!!!!!!!

When I read the word "Passed" I did a sort of evil laugh in triumph!  Mwahahahaha!! Take that, you spooty vocab and crazy kanji!  And insane natural speed, casual-style listening section!  I won, I won!!!!!


Here is a pretty certificate proving my awesomeness:



So, will I be daring enough to attempt the level 2 JLPT in December?


Yes.  Yes I will.