2017年11月24日金曜日

2017年11月24日金曜日 -

Luke: Budleigh Salterton

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When I was thinking about a topic for this blog, it occurred to me that I have written several blogs about my experiences in Japan but none about England, so I thought I ought to write one about England. To be honest, I've never really done any sightseeing in England so my options here are somewhat limited. I could write about my hometown, but that might not be very interesting. With all this in mind, I have decided to write about a pretty idyllic little place called Budleigh Salterton.

     Every summer my family would travel to Budleigh Salterton for our summer holiday. It used to feel to me when I was young that we were traveling half way around the world. In hindsight, I think Budleigh Salterton is only around an hour from my hometown. Memories of these trips aren't exactly detailed, but I can remember flashes – flashes that I haven't thought about for a long time. I will do my best to describe what I can remember. Hopefully, it will turn out to be a highlights-reel.

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     My parents don't drive (they've never driven a car), which may go some way to explaining why I’ve never driven a car, and for this reason a family friend used to drive us on our annual excursions. The earliest of my memories is of my dad's passenger-seat road rage; he used to shout and swear at any passing car that our driver felt had wronged us. My dad, as mentioned, has never driven, and is therefore clueless when it comes to proper road procedure, and it later transpired that our driver had always been in desperate need of very strong glasses. So looking back, it's probably safe to assume that it was our car which was at fault each and every time something happened. 

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     Anyway, it's strange to think about these trips now. I can remember so little about them but all of it is pleasant to think on. I can remember sulking for an entire day, though I can't remember why. I spent many hours under the bed refusing to come out unless my demands were met. I can remember 'the hill with three trees', which was not a proper place name; just a hill that looked from one particular angle to only have three trees upon it. I can remember walking to my dad's favourite pub for lunch, to this day he talks about the beer he used to drink at that pub. On the way there one day we saw a very large bull, with horns fearsome enough to frighten a matador. We crowded round the gate that separated us from the bull and watched it for a while. As we were watching, it began to pee and much to me and my brother's delight, it did not stop for what must have been around five minutes. Even years later in my house it was not uncommon to hear the words “remember the bull in Budleigh Salterton?”


idyllic : 牧歌的な
Budleigh Salterton
In hindsight : 後から考えてみると
highlights-reel : 見せ場を釣り上げる
passenger seat : 助手席
road rage : 野次/罵声
clueless : 無知な
when it comes to : ~ということになると
transpired : わかってきた
desperate : たまらなく
sulking : 駄々をこねる
my demands were met : 要求が通る
bull : 雄牛
horns : 角
fearsome enough to frighten a  : 闘牛士を怖がらせられるほど恐ろしい
crowded : 群がった
pee : おしっこをする
much to mine and brother's delight : 僕と弟が大変喜んだことには

2017年11月17日金曜日

2017年11月17日金曜日 -

Hugh:London, London, the City of Dreams, is just as good as it seems

Picture the scene: Heathrow airport, drinking a can of cider, listening to Aerosmith's “Back in the Saddle Again.” London, I was back. There's nothing quite like going back to your home country, the sounds, the smells in the air, the noise, the delays on the trains...“this train will be held for a short time, in order to regulate the service.”
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     I think the main thing about being home was eating my mum's amazing food… every breakfast was kidneys plus a wide variety of food. However, there were so many additions to my trip… going shopping at Sainsbury's and Tesco for my favorite foods to satisfy my appetite… walking around Central London and remembering why I love being in such a multi-cultural city... looking at some unfamiliar buildings, for example, The Shard (which is the tallest building in Europe) and some old traditional buildings, for example, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Big Ben.



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     Can you imagine seeing a double-decker bus drive past a mounted police officer and seeing a punk rocker, all in the same place? There is so much diversity in London and it can be truly exhilarating. It's a common misconception that food in England is terrible! Okay, okay, the quality of food may not be on the same level as Japan, however, it's not all about fish n' chips. If you're out and about, why don't pick up a saveloy sausage (with or without batter) or head down to Brick Lane and get a chicken tikka masala? Contrary to popular belief, this curry was not first concocted in India, it actually originated from an Indian restaurant in Glasgow, Scotland.

Regulate:調整する
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kidneys:腎臓
multi-cultural:多文化的な
mounted:馬に乗った
diversity:多様性
exhilarating:うきうきさせる
misconception:思い違い
it's not all about:それだけではない
out and about:出歩く
saveloy sausage:フィッシュアンドチップスの店でも売られているスパイスの効いたソーセージ
Contrary to:~とは裏腹に
concocted:工夫して作った
originated:~を起源に持つ

2017年11月11日土曜日

2017年11月11日土曜日 -

David: The best food is in Australia

''Throw a shrimp on the barbie'' or so I hear a lot of tourists say in Australia, although most Australians call them prawns not shrimps. Regardless, Aussies love their barbecues and we love our food. It just so happens that Australia is one the best places in the world to go for food lovers and I'll tell you why. Not only can you enjoy barbecues while you're seeing the sights, but also full course meals and snacks. Food is something that you cannot miss while you're in Australia.

     Let's start from the grill. Barbecues are almost as common as there are weeks. Japanese like to go to izakayas and relax, and Australians like to go to barbecues and relax. Beef, pork, chicken, lamb, along with healthy sides of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and potato... we'll eat anything that can be raised or grown on a farm. Seriously, you can bring anything to a barbecue! This includes any sauces or condiments that you feel are necessary to enhance the flavor of whatever it is you're eating. Some restaurants that serve barbecue will even serve kangaroo, although it's more of a try-it-once-in-your-life thing. After you've had your fill of meat and salad, you can move onto the dessert.

     Someone will have already put out the dessert from the beginning so you can enjoy some snacks while you're digesting the meat. In addition to your standard potato chips and lollies, you can try lamingtons (sponge cakes with a thin outer layer of chocolate covered in coconut), Anzac biscuits (crunchy cookies with the baker's choice of nuts and toppings), and Tim Tams (chocolate biscuits that just melt in your mouth). You have to balance all the salt and grease from the meat with something sweet and there will be no shortage when you're in the land down under. As a matter of fact there is no shortage of any variety of food, even if you tire of barbecues.
 

     Australia is a blend of cultures from all around the world. With each culture comes a unique cuisine and Australians welcome good food from anywhere. Huge Chinese yum-chas, countless Vietnamese shops, aromatic Turkish kebab stores, spicy Indian restaurants, high-class Italian gardens, romantic French cafes, even Japanese izakayas,  and so many more from all over the world. Whatever you want, you'll be sure to find it in any major Australian city. The best part is you can always enjoy food without having to take any time away from sightseeing. So next time you come down to Australia, be ready to eat like a king!

Shrimp:小エビ
prawns(大きな)エビ
Regardless:とにかく
grill:網で焼く
sides:添え物
raised(家畜が)飼養された、(野菜など)が栽培された
grown:育った
condiments:薬味、調味料
enhance:高める・増す
try-it-once-in-your-life:一生に一度の経験
digesting:消化している
lollies:キャンディ
grease:脂
As a matter of fact:実際のところ

Countless:数えきれない