2013年6月28日金曜日

2013年6月28日金曜日 -

Katherine - Chocoholic!



One of my favorite pastimes is eating. I love to try new foods, and I especially love desserts. Some people might even say that I’m a gourmand when it comes to desserts.

Recently me and a friend decided to visit Sweets Paradise; a famous dessert buffet restaurant. We don't really have “dessert buffets” in Ireland... even “all you can eat” restaurants are rare. So I was really curious to see what it was like... and whether or not it was really “all you can eat”!

The moment we entered we were hit by the aroma of chocolate. There was a large chocolate fountain beside 2 cases filled with various cakes. We stared in awe for a little while... neither of us had seen so many desserts gathered in one place before!



We each took a plate and began to fill it with small slices of cake. We wanted to try everything! There were fruit cakes, cheese cakes, cream cakes, chocolate cakes...  we were spoiled by all the choices! After we had each filled a plate, we returned to our seats and began our feast. Everything was so delicious. A few of the desserts just melted in my mouth. I felt as though I had died and gone to heaven!



However, after polishing off the second plate of goodies, my delight began to fade. I started to feel rather queasy. I realized there was a limit to how much sugar I could eat in one sitting!

But the cakes were delicious and the whole experience was really fun!

chocoholic = チョコレート中毒
pastimes = 娯楽
gourmand = 食いしん坊
buffet = ブッフェ
all you can eat = 食べ放題
rare = 稀
curious = すごく気になる
we were hit by = ～に襲われる
aroma = 香り
fountain = 噴水
various = いろいろな種類の
awe = 畏怖
spoiled = 甘やかされる
choices = 選択肢
feast = 豪華な食事
melted in my mouth = 口の中でとろけた
died and gone to heaven = 死んで天国に行ってしまった
polishing off = たいらげる
goodies = ごちそう
delight = 喜び
queasy = 吐き気がする
limit = 限界
in one sitting = 一回の食事の席で


2013年6月21日金曜日

2013年6月21日金曜日 -

Isaias - Mountain Hiking



When I first arrived in Japan, the thing that excited me the most was the mountains. You see, I come from south Texas, where it is very flat. So, having a mountain just behind my house was very exciting. For the first few days after arriving, every time I stepped outside my house, I would pause for a few brief moments and admire the mountain. A day or so later, I decided to explore the mountain. Its name is Mount Ikoma.

Soon after setting out, I found a small trail extending into the mountain. I decided to follow it and see where it would take me. The trail was a little slippery from the rain a day before. So I walked very carefully. I made sure that I didn't lose my footing and fall down.



The trees towered above creating a perfect canopy which protected me from the heat of the day. Walking along, I was surprised to find a small shrine in the middle of the forest. Hiking on the mountain I saw many beautiful sights. Mountain springs and creeks moved me. The flowers and plants opened my eyes to the beauty of nature in Japan. On the way home I found a large trail ending at a small waterfall.




At several points along the way, the trail split to the right and to the left. I quickly lost my way back. Luckily, I was carrying my GPS to help find the way. I returned home from my adventure hungry and tired, but happy that whenever　I want to, I can take a trip into the mountains of Japan.

 first arrived = 最初に来た
excited me = 興奮した
flat = 平坦な
stepped outside = 外に踏み出す
pause = 立ち止まる
brief = 短い
admire = 敬服する
explore = 探検する
setting out = 出発
trail = 小道
slippery = 滑りやすい
lose my footing = 踏み外す
fall down = 転ぶ
towered above = 上にそびえる
canopy = 天蓋
mountain springs = 山の湧き水
moved me = 感動させられた
opened my eyes = 目を丸くした
split = 分かれる
lost my way = 道に迷った
luckily = 幸い
find the way = 道を見つける
adventure = 冒険
tired = 疲れた
whenever = ～する時はいつも

2013年6月15日土曜日

2013年6月15日土曜日 -

Andrew - Trip to Okinawa





In August last year I went to Naha with my girlfriend. Although I have traveled around Japan quite a bit, this was my first time to go to Okinawa. I have friends from Okinawa, Miyakojima and Ishigakijima. When we chat, we use standard Japanese. So I was a bit worried about whether or not I would be able to handle the Okinawan dialect. However, it wasn't that difficult to understand. Whew . . . that was a load off my mind.


I was expecting to see quite a few soldiers from the US bases there. But, when I got there, I was pretty surprised. There were a ton of them in Naha! Moreover, people often mistook me for a soldier and thought that my girlfriend spoke English (she doesn't). They would sometimes try to strike up a conversation with her in English. She was really confused.

There are a lot of American things in Okinawa though. They have a chain restaurant named A&W there. A lot of stores carry American brand soda, such as Dr. Pepper. I really enjoyed those; although I didn't care much for habushu or awamori – they were too strong for me. Something seems very weird about putting a live snake in alcohol to make a different alcohol. We had some of their local beer, and that was pretty good though. 

One evening I was a little short of cash. On weekends and at night, I can only use my bank card at 7 Eleven stores or my bank's ATMs. I assumed there would be some 7 Eleven stores in Okinawa but it turned out there weren't any. I was really surprised at that. I talked to the concierge at our hotel and he said I wasn't the only one who made that mistake.

But all in all, it was a great trip!



quite a bit = かなり
chat = おしゃべりする
standard Japanese = 標準の日本語
to handle = 使うこと
Okinawan dialect = 沖縄の方言
a load off my mind = 気が楽になる
quite a few  = ほとんどいない
soldiers =　兵士たち
bases = 基地
pretty surprised = かなり驚いた
a ton of them = 兵士が大量に
mistook = ～だと間違えた
strike up a conversation = 会話を始める
confused = まごついた
chain restaurant = チェーンレストラン
a lot of = たくさんの
weird = 奇妙だ
a little short of cash = 少しお金が足りなくなる
assumed = 思い込んでいた
turned out = ～だということがわかった
concierge = コンシェルジュ
I waｓn't the only one = 僕だけではない
all in all = なんだかんだで



2013年6月8日土曜日

2013年6月8日土曜日 -

Samuel - My Return to Osaka




I only recently moved to Japan, arriving just in time to enjoy the cherry blossoms in full bloom! I attended two different viewing-parties, actually. First, I met an old friend and fellow expatriate at Sakuranomiya. We enjoyed sipping cold beers while strolling along the river. It was a pretty hot day, so eventually we decided to sit down under the shade of the many cherry trees. Every time the wind blew, we were treated to a heavy rain of cherry blossom petals. It was absolutely enchanting!

 We  marveled at the beauty of the trees.


This is actually my second time living in Japan, so I met some Japanese friends for a picnic outing at Osaka Castle. I really enjoy seeing the contrast of modern skyscrapers surrounding a traditional Japanese fortress. It was a little chilly that day, so when the sun began to set we decided to move our party to a "bar and grill" nearby. 

I really enjoy the Japanese style of ordering lots of small dishes for everyone to share - I get to experience so many tasty new foods! And the best part was the view from the restaurant -  we could see the illuminated castle, standing tall and proud, with the beautiful Osaka skyline behind it. Though I had been here for over a week, that was the first time it really hit me: I truly am living in Japan once again. It feels good to be back.
just in time = ぎりぎり間に合う
full bloom = 満開
viewing-parties = お花見仲間
expatriate = 自国を離れて暮らしている外国人
strolling = ぶらぶらする
shade = 日陰
enchanting = うっとりさせる
marveled = 驚嘆した
picnic outing = ピクニックに出かけること
contrast = 対比
skyscrapers = 摩天楼
fortress = 城塞
chilly = 肌寒い
sun began to set = 日が沈み始めた
bar and grill = 食事も楽しめるバー
tasty = おいしい
the view = 景色
illuminated = 照明された
skyline = 山や建物などが空に描くライン 
hit me = 実感がわく 
to be back = 戻ってくること 

2013年6月1日土曜日

2013年6月1日土曜日 -

Ulysses - Everyday Japan



Growing up in the United States, the thing that attracted me most to Japan was its unique pop culture. In high school and college, I lived and breathed Japanese pop music, anime and video games. Coming to Japan, my first trip to Denden Town in Osaka, in a way, felt like a kind of homecoming.

After living in Japan for many years though, my fascination with Japanese pop culture has diminished somewhat. These days, I find myself more appreciative of the quieter, more everyday pleasures of living in Japan. For example, I’ll never take for granted being able to walk the few blocks to my local convenience store in the dead of night for a quick snack, to pay utilities, use the ATM, or buy plane tickets (!) without fear for my own personal safety.

The other day, as well, while taking a much needed afternoon nap, I was awakened by ringing bells and chanting coming from outside my apartment window. Curious, I stumbled to the window and peeked through the curtains. It was a procession of people, kids and adults, wearing special costumes and pulling along a float from the local shrine. A few of people in the procession spotted me peeking out and waved. This happens a few times a year in my neighborhood and it charms me every time. Even in a neighborhood in a city the size of Osaka, and especially as an American living in Japan these kinds of small, everyday occurrences (as well as places like Denden Town) make me feel at home.

attracted = 惹きつけた
lived and breathed = 熱中していた
homecoming = 帰省
diminished = 減少した
appreciative = 良さがわかる
everyday pleasures  = 日常生活の中の楽しみ
take for granted = 当たり前だと思う
blocks = 街区の一辺の距離/ブロック
convenience store = コンビニ
dead of night = 真夜中
snack = 軽食
utilities =  電気・ガス代など
much needed = 本当に必要な
awakened = 起こされた
chanting = 何かを繰り返して言うこと
curious = 好奇心がわいて
stumbled = よろよろしながら近づく
peeked = 覗いた
procession = 行列
float = お神輿
shrine = 神社
spotted me = 私に気付いた
charms =  魅力的である
everyday occurrences = 日常の出来事

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