2018 ~ お茶の間留学

2018年12月21日金曜日

2018年12月21日金曜日 -

Matt ：Living Abroad

Hi!

I am writing to you from Osaka, Japan, but I am writing in English, not Japanese. Why is that? That is because I came here recently from California, and I can't speak or write in Japanese (yet). Learning a language is only one part of moving to another country, of course, and I wanted to take a few minutes and give you a couple of my thoughts and ideas about living abroad. These thoughts are not going to be very organized, but that's perfect for a blog, right?

Moving to Japan was not my first experience leaving America to live somewhere else, so I am fortunate enough to have had a chance to learn what it is like and how it feels. I also spent a year in Mexico teaching English, and two years in the Netherlands, where I was a student. Above all, I can think of two words to describe all of these experiences: new and different. I personally like new and different experiences, so these words don't scare me. Of course, some people seem to hate these words, so can or should they live abroad? I say yes! The world is full of a wide variety of amazing places and people, and getting to know them gives you a richer life. I don't like everything where I go, and I sometimes dislike some local foods, but each time I try something new, I grow as a person. I become more tolerant of all this world possesses. Basically, I think living abroad forces you to embrace the newness that takes over your life.

I also would like to point out the huge difference between visiting another country and living in another country. When you visit a new country, you get to see and feel some of its culture, but when you live in a new country, you have the chance to become a part of its culture. This opportunity is exciting, and gives you a sense of responsibility and opportunity that a vacation cannot. So far in Japan, I have tried lots of delicious food, seen many beautiful places, and have made a few new friends. I've learned how to do basic things like pay bills, buy a bike, open a bank account, etc. I've learned how much I appreciate the patience and hospitality of the Japanese people, and I've learned to expect surprises every day. I love being in Osaka so far, and I am looking forward to a Japanese future that will shape me in large ways, and that I will shape in small ways.

Matt

organized：まとまっていない

Netherlands：オランダ

Above all：なにより

tolerant：我慢強い

possesses：有する

embrace：取り入れる

So far：ここまで

patience：忍耐

shape：形成する

2018年12月14日金曜日

2018年12月14日金曜日 -

Mouy-Ly： Un voyage de lumières à Singapour

L'hiver dernier, nous avons décidé de retourner à Singapour pour une petite semaine, afin de fuir un peu le froid de Kobé et surtout de voir combien le pays a changé depuis notre dernier voyage en 2003.

Last winter, we decided to go back to Singapore for a short week. We wanted to escape the cold of Kobe and, in particular, see how much the country has changed since our last trip in 2003.

Comme il neige rarement sur Kobé, nous n'aurons pas de Noël blanc, alors pourquoi ne pas la passer au soleil ? Mais c'était une fausse excuse. La vérité : nous voulions faire trempette dans la fameuse piscine du haut de ses 57 étages de l'hôtel Marina Bay Sands, flottant dans le ciel, à deux pas de la nouvelle infrastructure du Gardens The Bay.

As it rarely snows in Kobe, we won't have a white Christmas, so why not spend the time in the sun? However, that wasn't the real reason. The truth? We wanted to take a dip in the pool on the 57th floor of

the Marina Sands Bay Hotel, floating in the sky, just steps away from the newly-built Gardens by the Bay.

Parce que nos filles sont encore petites, nous avons choisi de ne pas trop sortir des sentiers battus : l'île de Sentosa, les parcs aquatiques et l'aquarium, ainsi que le musée des sciences entre autres, étaient au programme.

Our daughters are still very young so we chose not to go off the beaten track: Sentosa Island, the Water Parks, the Aquarium as well as the Science Museum among others were on our schedule.

Nous avons donc séjourné deux nuits dans cet hôtel de luxe, avec tout à portée de main : magasins, restaurants et cafés qui rivalisaient de lumières et d'ingénuosité pour séduire les consommateurs, tous âges confondus, surtout à cette période de l'année. Sans parler, bien entendu, des séances de photos avec le Père-Noël (avec une dédicace personnelle), des ateliers de peinture et de maquillage pour le plus grand plaisir des enfants.

We stayed two nights at the Marina Sands Bay Hotel, which has everything within easy reach: shops, restaurants, and cafés ... each one more lit up and beautifully decorated than the next (particularly at this time of year) competing for the attention of consumers of all ages. Not to mention, of course, the photoshoots with Santa Claus (with a personal dedication), and the painting and make-up workshops, to the delight of the children.

Vous imaginez bien que nos filles étaient aux anges et nous aussi, en voyant leurs yeux briller de joie à chaque fois qu'elles passaient devant un sapin de Noël. Et après une longue journée de marche et de visites, notre cadeau à nous, c'était nous plonger dans la piscine en forme d'arche surplombant la cité singapourienne. Nous prélasser sur les chaises longues en sirotant un cocktail et du jus de coco frais pendant que les petites pataugeaient dans un jacuzzi, qu'elle prenaient innocemment pour une sorte de source thermale. La vue est superbe, de jour comme de nuit. Ce fut une expérience unique, surtout au coucher du soleil.

It's not hard to imagine how thrilled our daughters were every time they saw a Christmas tree. So, after a long day of walking and sightseeing, we deserved our special treat: a dip in the curved pool that overlooks the city. We sat on the sun loungers sipping cocktails and fresh coconut juice while the girls splashed about in a jacuzzi they innocently thought was a kind of hot spring. The view is superb, day and night. It was an unique experience, especially at sunset.

Si vous pensez aller un jour à Singapour, c'est peut-être l'hiver la meilleure période où il fait moins chaud et moins humide. N'oubliez pas de goûter aux différentes cuisines asiatiques, des raviolis à la vapeur en passant par les pattes de poulet marinées aux haricots noirs et légèrement pimentées, c'est un délice !

If you're thinking about going to Singapore someday, maybe winter is best when it's warmer and less humid than the rest of the year. And don't forget to try food from other Asian countries. You shouldn't miss the steamed dumplings or the slightly spicy chicken legs marinated in black bean sauce. They're delicious!

Vocabulary List :

faire trempette : take a dip : つかる

sortir des sentiers battus : off the beaten tracks : 突飛な考えで

à portée (de main) : within reach : 手の届くところ

être aux anges : thrilled : 感激する

se prélasser : to lounge : ゆったりとくつろぐ

siroter : to sip : すする

patauger : to splash about : パチャパチャする

des raviolis à la vapeur : steamed dumplings : 蒸し餃子

des pattes de poulet marinées : marinated chicken feet : 鶏の足のマリネ

2018年12月7日金曜日

2018年12月7日金曜日 -

William M - Christmas with my Family

Christmas has always been an important time of year for me. Since a young age, my family has ingrained in me a strong need to visit relatives – most of which I rarely see outside of Christmas gatherings. I groaned and complained as a kid – preferring to stay at home and be lazy – but as I grew older and spent more and more of my time working and stressing about daily life, the chance to set all of that aside and focus on the lives and families of my relatives became something I relished more and more.

The longest tradition we have is visiting my Aunt Val's house for a big family dinner on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Seeing my cousins and aunts and uncles – and their respective in-laws – is always nice. Seeing my young cousins so full of enthusiasm and excitement, and catching up with my older relatives, puts me at ease and gives me a warm sense of familiarity. And of course the food always makes my stomach growl when I think of it: juicy steaks, turkey with apple jelly, garlic mashed potatoes. But of course, the pièce de résistance has to be sausage rolls with spicy mustard!

Another tradition I look forward to is the much smaller but no-less delicious lunchtime family meal at my mother's house on Christmas Day. (My parents were divorced when I was young, which meant I celebrated Christmas twice, once with each parent's side!) She always cooks a very tender, sweet ham with pineapple-style gravy, along with turkey and mashed potatoes. Plenty of vegetables, but I never bothered with those!

One more tradition I remember fondly, even if we don't do it anymore, is driving around with my father and step-mother looking at Christmas lights on the night of Christmas Eve. We often went after some family dinner or gathering, I remember always being stuffed full of food, drowsy, and toasty warm with the car heater blowing (while it was usually minus 10 to minus 20 degrees Celsius outside!), staring out the window at the colourful slideshow of house after house lit up in Christmas-y displays, both humble and grand. There would always be one or two houses we made a point to drive by and see, as they went absolutely crazy with their yearly Christmas displays. Long front yards, filled with lit-up displays of Santa, reindeer, Christmas trees, snowmen, and the like, would be bright enough to form a small artificial sun!

It's these memories that make me think about Christmas as the best time of year, and why I feel it's so important to make time to see my family, even if I'm here in Japan, on the other side of the planet, thirty to forty hours of travel time away. Christmas in Japan is quite nice, but without family, it's just a cold month with some KFC!

ingrained：しっかり植え付ける

groaned：ぶーぶー文句を言う

set all of that aside：全部横に置いておいて

relished：楽しむ

respective in-laws：各々の義父母

growl：ぐるぐる言う

along with：～といっしょに

fondly：懐かしく

drowsy：うとうとして

humble：質素な

artificial：人工の

2018年11月30日金曜日

2018年11月30日金曜日 -

Kyle: Himeji Castle

My parents were in town last week, from the 5th to the 12th. I was a little nervous before their visit - neither of them have done much traveling outside of the United States, and I was worried that they would find Osaka a bit overwhelming. Fortunately, my fears were completely unfounded; they both seemed to immensely enjoy their time in Japan.

During the week that they were here, my parents and I split our time between Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Himeji. We briefly visited Kobe, but only for a quick meal to satisfy my father's near-obsessive need to eat Kobe beef "straight from the source". He liked everything he ate here - from famous foods like ramen and sushi to things uncommon in the US, like natto and mentaiko. My mother developed a healthy appetite for okonomiyaki - she's promised to make it for me the next time we see each other. They both loved onigiri, as well.

Of course, any time not spent eating was consumed by sightseeing. We visited a variety of beautiful sites across four cities. The highlight of the week for the four of us, I think, was Himeji Castle. I had never been there before, so I appreciated the fact that my parents and I were able to visit it for the first time together. It was wonderful to see such a well-preserved, well-cared-for example of old Japanese architecture - and at such a great size! Walking from Himeji station to the castle was incredible by itself - a long, straight walk towards an immense castle, growing larger and larger with each step. Seeing the inside of the castle was my personal favorite part of the day. Such excellent craftsmanship. On a side note, a trip to Himeji gave us a great reason to take a bullet train (shinkansen), which I always love doing. My parents were very impressed as well, and came away bemoaning the absence of such a train in the United States. Even better, we ended up on a Hello Kitty-branded train, much to my father's delight.

overwhelming：圧倒される

unfounded：見当たらなかった

immensely：非常に

near-obsessive：執着にも似た

straight from the source：産地直送の

well-preserved：保存状態の良い

immense：広大な

bemoaning：嘆き悲しむ

Even better：更に良いことに

2018年11月23日金曜日

2018年11月23日金曜日 -

Philip - Visit Dublin

The amount of tourism in Ireland is increasing year on year and it's now the most popular place for North American visitors to visit on vacation, overtaking the previous top place of Paris, France.

Although this fact may be surprising to people who have never been to Dublin, it won't be to anyone who has had the chance to experience the many interesting sightseeing spots and try out the local food and drink.

Let’s talk about the sightseeing first. There are many things to see but as Dublin has a fairly small city center, you only need a weekend to see most of what it has to offer. One of the best ways to see the city is take the sightseeing buses, which you can buy a one-day or two-day pass for. Not only are these buses convenient, but the bus drivers are very entertaining with lots of information about the different sightseeing spots, and occasionally they might even sing an old Irish folk song.

One of the things Dublin is most famous for is its alcohol so if you're a fan of whiskey then the Irish Whiskey Museum is a must. The museum can be found right in the centre of Dublin, opposite the famous Trinity College grounds. (The college itself is worth a look as it's free to enter and has nice parks to relax in.) The Whiskey Museum tour takes about one hour and is followed by a tasting of three different Irish whiskeys. There is also a bar downstairs if you want to try more of your new favorite whiskey.

You can’t talk about Dublin without thinking of Guinness: the world’s most famous stout/black beer. The tour of the storehouse and museum is a must even if you aren’t a big drinker. It gives a really interesting insight into how the beer is made and ends at the top of a tower with 360-degree views of Dublin city.

If alcohol isn’t your thing, then there are plenty of great art museums to visit such as the National Gallery of Ireland and beautiful parks such as Saint Stephen’s Green. Also in the city centre is Dublin Castle, which has lovely interiors and is definitely worth a visit.

If you're a fan of music and in particular the popular Irish rock group U2, then you have to visit the Irish Rock 'N' Roll Museum. The video at the start of the tour goes through lots of important musicians and then you can have a look around the U2 collection room, which is a treat for any fans of the band. The tour also includes a look at the venue where they still occasionally perform live shows and a recording studio where many famous records were recorded. Unfortunately, the recording studio is no longer in use but it still gives a good insight into the recording process.

For evening entertainment, the Temple Bar street is a must do. There is an actual bar called the Temple Bar but the whole street itself has been named after this one bar. Every bar you go into will have live musicians, ranging from traditional Irish folk musicians to solo singer songwriters to indie rock bands. The live music everywhere gives the area a lively vibe and the cobbled street and old buildings look stunning at night time.

In terms of local food, a full Irish breakfast is the only way to start the day. The bacon, sausage and breads (such as potato bread and soda bread) are so fresh. You'll be so full that you won't feel like eating lunch. For dinner Irish stew is a must try as it's the most traditional Irish dish, with potatoes and carrots and real chunky and fresh beef.

Dublin is a great place to visit. Even if you're only there for a short stay you'll be able to experience so much. It's a compact city and the locals are friendly. They're always willing to help or just have a nice conversation with you.

However long you decide to stay in Dublin, you're bound to have an unforgettable experience and want to go back again in the future.

overtaking：追い越す

fairly：かなり

Not only～but…：～だけでなく…も

occasionally：時折

a must：絶対に必要なこと

worth a look：一見の価値有り

stout：ローストした大麦で作った苦味・酸味の強い黒ビール

insight：見識

venue：開催地

ranging：並んでいる

vibe：空気感

cobbled：丸石を敷き詰めた

stunning：素敵な

In terms of：～に関しては

chunky：分厚い

bound to：～する運命にある

2018年11月16日金曜日

2018年11月16日金曜日 -

William M - Playing the Tour Guide in Japan

Since I've always been interested in living in Japan, my love of this country is something I have a hard time containing. So whenever I get the chance to convince a friend to come here to Osaka, I always have a set list of things I'd like to show them. These stem from my three most favorite things about Japan: anime/video games, Shinto, and food!

To satisfy my otaku streak, I always show my friends Nippombashi, nicknamed Denden Town. For my friends who don't know it, but who love anime, I describe it as a “mini-Akiba”. It's only a single street, but it's packed with a couple dozen stores catering to anime and video game geeks. Tiny stores – with aisles way too narrow for a chubby foreigner like myself – lined from wall to wall with anime figurines, plush dolls of famous video game characters, and various other little trinkets from the anime and video game industry are enough to keep me occupied for hours. I can spend an entire day on this single street, and only get halfway through, but if you're going to go to a single store there, the Animate is the best one. Several floors, conveniently divided into different sections, cater to multiple genres in a single building, and if you know what sort of thing you're looking for – a comic book, a figure, a poster – it's pretty easy to go to the appropriate section.

Most of my friends who want to visit Japan do so for the anime culture. However, those who are interested in more than just current pop culture will usually love being shown local temples or shrines. There are plenty of them in Osaka – Sumiyoshi Taisha is the latest one I've visited – but my favorite ones are in Kyoto, and it's only a simple train ride away. By far, Fushimi Inari is the one I've visited the most. It provides a huge array of statues and buildings to examine and compare, with multiple styles drawn from purely Shinto traditions, as well as Buddhist ones. Street vendors and tourists clog the way from the Keihan station to the shrine itself, but I can't help but grab some grilled pork belly each time I'm there! My friends are always caught off guard as we make our way up the mountain, no matter how often I warn them of how difficult it is for those who aren't in shape. But getting to the top is a great achievement, and the views of Kyoto along the way are unparalleled!

Lastly, the thing I must introduce to people when they're here is the food, both Japanese and Osaka-specific. I always take my friends to my favorite restaurant, Torikizoku, and while these are all over the place in Japan, it's usually the first time they've experienced it. The same goes for Ichiran Ramen, with cheap, customizable ramen that can cater to anyone's tastes. But my favorite Osaka-style food to show them is kushikatsu. My favorite kushikatsu joint is near Umeda station, and while it's a literal maze trying to get from the subway to the restaurant, the confused wandering is always worth it. However, I find I need to watch my hapless friends like a hawk to make sure they don't dip their skewer twice!

There are only three things I don't like about Japan; natto, the summer heat, and takoyaki (and I live in Osaka! What a nightmare!). For everything else, it's easily accessible here in Osaka, and I can't think of a better city in Japan to be based in in order to share my passion for living here and – hopefully –infect some of my friends with that same love!

convince：説得する

stem：軸

streak：傾向

catering：調達する

geeks：オタク

chubby：ぽっちゃりした

plush dolls：ぬいぐるみ

trinkets：小さな装身具

By far：圧倒的に

array：ずらりと並んだもの

Street vendors：露天商

clog：（道を）詰まらせる

caught off guard：（予期せぬ出来事に）驚かされる

unparalleled：他では味わえない

customizable：カスタマイズできる

maze：迷路

hapless：哀れな

skewer：串

infect：影響を与える

2018年11月9日金曜日

2018年11月9日金曜日 -

ハロウィンコスチュームコンテスト　結果発表

今年も大変盛り上がったハロウィンコスチュームコンテスト。
たくさんのご参加ありがとうございました！

今年の優勝者は、金髪とほくろがとってもセクシーだった、
ドイツ語のAndy先生のマリリンモンロー💋に決定しました！
おめでとうございます🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

優勝したAndy先生にはNOVAインスタントラーメンとNOVAうさぎの湯たんぽを
プレゼントさせていただきました！
Andy先生大喜びです♪

惜しくも優勝を逃したサルバトーレダリに扮したJeremy先生と、
去年も健闘していたDr.スランプ　アラレちゃんのValerie先生、
ハーレクインのLucy先生など
みなさん素敵な仮装で楽しませてくれてありがとうございました。

また来年のハロウィンをお楽しみに！

2018年11月6日火曜日

2018年11月6日火曜日 -

ハロウィンコスチュームコンテスト　2018

皆様、アンケートのご協力ありがとうございます！ここで中間発表です！現時点ではＡｎｄｙがトップ！まだまだJeremyも追い上げ可能！

アンケートの投票は１１月９日あさ１０：００まで！まだの方はぜひご参加くださいませ。
投票は下記よりまだまだ受け付けております♪

2018年11月1日木曜日

2018年11月1日木曜日 -

ハロウィン　コスチューム　コンテスト　2018

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2018年10月27日土曜日

2018年10月27日土曜日 -

Lucy: Worcester

wiki

Originally I'm from Bath, Somerset, which most people seem to be familiar with. But for around twenty years I lived in Worcester. Worcester isn't a very well known city; however, there are many beautiful things in and around Worcester that are sure to make it your next ideal vacation destination.

Located between the West Midlands and Gloucestershire, counties which include famous cities and places such as Birmingham, Tewkesbury, and the Cotswolds, Worcestershire is a small county which is divided into six districts: Worcester city, Malvern Hills, Wyre Forest, Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wychavon. Worcester city is best known for being a cathedral and university city, the origin of Worcestershire Sauce and the final battle grounds of the English Civil War. It's in Worcester that you can learn a lot about English culture and history, and you can also meet some of the friendliest people in the West of England.

Wiki

If you ever decide to visit Worcester, I would suggest going in June. Unlike Japan, English summers are comfortable with average temperatures reaching no higher than 27 degrees and quite low humidity. During summer it's very common to find Beer & Cider festivals in nearly every county. Local producers gather to provide a variety of homemade, locally sourced beers and ciders, which are unlike anything you buy in the supermarket. These festivals are very popular during the summer, and many people muster here to relax. Worcester also holds an annual Foodie Festival, where you can sample a wide variety of delicious foods as well as locally produced alcohol. There's also the opportunity to meet celebrity chefs, who offer free demos at this festival.

wiki

Close to the city of Worcester is the beautiful countryside town of Malvern. Here you can admire the mesmerising landscape that is the Malvern Hills, and if you are an aficionado of hiking, the view from the highest hill is one of the most beautiful in Worcestershire. During the summer, Malvern is host to a festival called the Three Counties Show. If you're interested in farm animals, local farm produce and sampling a wide variety of English foods and drinks, then this is the place for you. You have the opportunity to watch and learn about poultry, pig and cattle competitions, which regular attendees at the show take very seriously.

If you're not a lover of summer and prefer the colder seasons, autumn and winter are interesting months to visit Worcestershire. Although the weather might not be so inviting, the English countryside during autumn is a very beautiful spectacle. As most of the countryside is trees and fields, the changing leaves during autumn turn Britain into an fiery wonderland. It's during this time of the year that I would suggest delving more into our history and heritage. As I mentioned before, Worcester is famous for being the site of the final battle in the English Civil War. You can learn about this infamous era of our history at a place called The Commandery located in Worcester city. This takes you on an illustrative and enthralling journey through English history and allows you to fully understand our ancestors. You can also visit Worcester Guild Hall, which was originally built as a meeting place for merchants during the 1200’s. The exterior of this building is impressive; however, I highly recommend you step inside and lay your eyes on some breath-taking interior design!

I hope this encourages you to visit my home city. It might be small, but it is full of exciting and interesting things to do. From Worcester you can easily reach big cities like Birmingham and Bristol, so don’t be put off by the size. It's always quality over quantity!

districts：地域

muster：集まる

mesmerising：魅惑的な

aficionado：熱狂的な愛好者

poultry：家禽（鶏）

cattle：家畜（牛）

attendees：出席者

spectacle：光景

fiery wonderland：おとぎ話の不思議の国

delve：掘り下げる

lay your eyes：見る

breath-taking：息を呑むような

quality over quantity：量より質

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