From the Heart of Tokyo 東京の中心から

Nonbiri Tsukiji Run

のんびり築地ラン

 

上の写真はささきさんから。ありがとう。日本語は下に書きます。 Thanks to Sasaki-san for the above photo. Look below for my version of this story in Japanese. 

Here's a little story about a recent pleasant Saturday morning in Tokyo.  Nonbiri means "take it easy, or carefree" in Japanese, and we often do Nonbiri Runs in various places nearby, as opposed to the more challenging speed and training skates that Papa-san heads up.  This skating event was organized by Yagami-san, who, along with his family, are skilled and experienced slalom and long run skaters, and he appreciates the value of combining exercise, friendship and good Japanese food in the form of a little Saturday morning tour of Tokyo by skate.  It was a small group, so it worked well for our mission of having sashimi donburi (raw fish rice bowl) for breakfast in Tsukiji.

It wasn't a rigorous skate, but we did work up a sweat.  The five guys I was skating with that day are all younger than me, and we skated right along at a good clip, plus it's true that summer has suddenly come to Tokyo.  We started at Shinagawa train station just after 9am, and skated around by the harbor, enjoyed seeing the Rainbow Bridge and looking across to Odaiba, the man-made island, over bridges that spanned canals, and into Tsukiji's famous fish market. 

It was really crowded, as usual, Tsukiji's a very popular place.  The awning in the top photo says:  まぐろどんぶり、maguro donburi.  Maguro is tuna, Donburi is a bowl of rice topped by something, in this case, raw tuna, onion, ginger, and nori and, of course, wasabi.  When we first skated up to the restaurant, all seven stools were full so we took a little tour of the famous fish market, skating slowly and carefully in the crowd, and came back.  Then, four of us plopped down and ordered the same thing, the delicious maguro donburi, for 800 yen (just over $8.00) which also included Tsukemono (Japanese pickles) and tea.  The other two guys went off and had guts, or something like that, acting like it was a treat.  I enjoyed chatting with the proprietess  while she made the food.  My spoken Japanese isn't very good, but we had a nice conversation.

Tsukiji Fish Market is a main tourist target, and though most of the people who work in the market don't speak English, they are foreigner friendly and can communicate just fine.  Tourists are told that they need to get there super early in the morning for the auctions, which are interesting, yes, I went there once, but there's plenty of action in the warehouse till noon at least, if you don't make it for the auction and the market is open all day.  It's a very interesting place to visit, a wonderful place to take photos and buy the freshest fish, seafood and produce.  I go there often.

After Tsukiji, we skated towards Ueno, but I peeled off at Tokyo Station to go home.  It was a very fun skate, and I'm glad I got to go.  Thanks A LOT to Yagami-san.  And Thank You Very Much to Mocchi-san for the replacement skate brake for Monica.  The old one was worn to a nub.  She's just starting to learn how to do a T-Stop. 

There's a few more pictures of this event, please go here to view them:  HERE

この短い物語は最近の楽しい土曜日の朝のスケートイベントについてです。のんびりの意味は（take it easy かcarefree）です。パパさんのスピードとトレーニングのスケートイベントと比較すればのんびりのランのほうがゆっくりです。イベントの作ったやがみさんはもーと難しいスケートができるけど、このイベントは運動と友情とおいしい日本料理も結合したはとても完璧な東京のスケートでツアーなりました。

厳しいじゃないけれど、汗はかいた。他の５人の友達スケータは私より若いので、早く滑りました。そして、夏は東京に着きました。９時ごろに品川駅から始まりました。浜のとなりに、レインボーブリジとお台場も見て、滑って回りました。いろいろ小さい橋とか、運河も渡って、築地の有名な魚市に着きました。私たちはマグロどんぶりをたべるつもりだけど、着いた時に、全部の７つの椅子はいっぱいです。そして、スケートで、市のツアーをして、戻った。その後、４人はまぐろどんぶりを注文して、値段は８００円だので、つけものとお茶も貰いました。２人は他の店に行って、ガツを食べました。店の女の人と話して、楽しかったです。私の口頭の日本語はあまり上手じゃないけど、大丈夫と思います。

築地魚市はとても有名なところです。いつも外国人は日本に来て、マーケトを見たいです。たぶん、築地に働いての人はあまり英語で話さないけど、外国人に好意的なし、英語でなくても、伝達できます。観光者はいつもツナの競売のために、早い朝に行かなければならないと思ったが、築地は一日中で面白い所と思います。色々面白いものを見えて、写真を撮ってできる、魚とかシーフードとかは一番新鮮です。よく行きます。

そして、築地の後に、上野に向かえたが、私は東京駅で、離れまったので、家に帰りました。スケートはとても楽しかったので、私は行ったことから、うれしかったです。やがみさん、どうもありがとうございます！もっちぃさんへモニカのためのブレーキがくれてありがとう！モニカのブレーキはちっちゃななったすりきれたので、安心しました。次に、モニカはT-ストープを練習します。

実は、英語と日本語の物語は違うので、できれば両方を読んでください。

写真は殆ど全部は私は撮ったけど、悪いです。すみません。ささきさんとやがみさんからも、写真を使いました。I took most of these pix, but I borrowed a few from Sasaki-san and Yagami-san.　　このリンクに行って、全部を見えます。GO HERE for all the pix of the skate.

Zoom UP

ズームアップ

  

今度日本語と英語は一緒に書きました。This time, I'm writing the Japanese along with the English.

You could say that this story began six or seven years ago when I first started in-line skating every Sunday with the Tokyo City Run.  At that time, even though I was taking Japanese lessons and studying diligently, my Japanese language skill was practically non-existent.  My skating instuctor, Masuda-san, introduced me to the skaters, and they let me join, and weren't unfriendly, but as Japanese people are, by nature, shy, I only gradually made a few friends, those brave few who could speak a little English, and didn't mind dealing with me.  Papa-san, Yoliko-san, and Kofuji-san, were among my earliest friends, besides Rudy from the Netherlands who was also trying to learn Japanese.  They were patient and let me practice speaking Japanese, and slowly... excruciatingly slowly... I improved a little, made a few more friends, and could speak about mundane matters such as "Yesterday, I went by train to the childrens' school." or "No, I've never been to Osaka."

この物語は６日７年間前に始まりました。その時に、毎週日曜日にインラインスケートで東京シテイランに参加して始まりました。たとえよく勉強していたが、その時に私の日本語は無理です。ますださんというスケートの先生はCRのグルプに招待をした後に、だんだんいくつの友達に会いました。その最小の友達たちは英語が持ったので,　日本語を練習して、対し慣用である人はパパさん、よりこさん、こふじさんと日本語を勉強しているのネーデルランド人というルティもいつも話しました。だんだん、すごくゆっくりで、ちょっとよくよりなったので、もっと友達たちに会いました。簡単の文を話せた、例えば、”昨日、電車で子供たちの学校に行きました。”及び　”大阪に行ったことがありません。”

A lot has changed since then, but I'm still studying Japanese and enjoying the Tokyo City Run as well as many other events with my skater friends, including ski trips, parties and other adventures.  Over these many years, the CR has grown very popular, and I've been fortunate to meet and make friends with many skaters who join, as well as improve my Japanese enough to speak with people like Iwa-san, who has no interest in learning English.  More and more, I can understand their Japanese, and usually, skater friends are willing to let me speak to them in Japanese.  Sometimes, when someone first joins, they will be speaking Japanese to everyone else, and then turn to me and speak English.  Though this feels a little insulting to me, I try to deal with it maturely, and answer them in Japanese if I know the words.  If they persist in speaking English to me, I find someone else to talk to.     Don't get me wrong, I am more then willing to help friends practice their English, but it is an effort, and should be considered an exchange sort of thing, a privilege among friends.

あそこから、たくさんは変えたけれど、まだ日本語を勉強しているので、東京のCRも参加しています。もう、スケートの友達といろいろイベントも参加している、例えば、スキー旅行とか、パーティなど。CRはとても人気があるなったので、たくさん新しいスケータの友達に会いました。および、いわさんのようなという英語を興味がない友達も話せてなりました。もっと日本語を分かれるので、友達は私の日本語を努力を使って、分かれます。時々、新しいスケータは初めて、CRに参加して、みなに日本語で話してが、私に回して、英語で話します。それはちょっと無礼なが、私は分別深くみっているけど、日本語の言葉が分からなかったら、日本語で返事をします。英語で固執したら、他の友達に話せます。実は、友達の英語の練習を手伝いたいけど、それは努力だので、友達と友達の交換です。

So, that brings me to Zoom UP.  Since the Skaters have kindly practiced Japanese with me for several years, and many individuals within the group want to improve their English, I'm a willing and capable Language Exchange Partner.  After a nearly two decade history of Emergency and Critical Care Nursing Experience in the states, during my time in Japan, I've gone back to college and gained a certain expertise in the realm of teaching English.  Actually, nursing and teaching are closely related, sister professions, you might say.  I've been teaching private English lessons for several years, and I teach group English lessons in a vocational school as well as a hotel.  But a few months ago, I decided to start Zoom UP, to give something back to my skater friends who have been allowing me to practice Japanese with them all this time.

それから、ズームアップについて話したいです。CRのグルプの会員は親切で私に日本語を勉強しました。もちろん、色々人は英語を上手をなりたいので、私はよく言語の交換のパートナーはやります。殆ど２０年間で、救急の看護婦で働いたので、日本に来たから、大学に戻した、英語の先生になりました。実は、看護婦の職業と先生の職業は同じです。４年間で、プライベトのレッスンを教えているので、専門学校も、ホテルでも教えます。そして、今年にズームアップを始まりました。それは私のスケータの友達に何か返します。

About twice a month, we do Zoom UP on Sunday afternoons after skating is finished.  Tokyo City Run starts at Ueno at 9:30 and reaches Goal at Gaienne at noon.  Since that street is closed on Sundays, we all congregate there afterwards, usually eating bento lunch, visiting and practicing slalom skating, and sometimes playing frisbee on skates or other crazy things.  On days that Zoom UP is scheduled, I leave Gaienne before 2pm and skate home, because class starts at 2:30 and goes until 4pm.  I've held Zoom UP six times so far, and I've had anywhere from 4 to 14 participants.  Skaters and other friends of all ages and all levels of English ability are welcome.

大体月間で、日曜日の午後にスケットした後に、ZoomUPは二回起こります。 CRは上野から９時半に始まってので、１２時ころに外苑のゴールに着きます。日曜日に、道は閉まったので、あそこにランチを食べて、遊びます。そして、ズームアップの日に、私は２時前に、家に帰ります。レッスンは２時半から、４時までです。今まで、６回目ZoomUPを起こったので、４人から１４人までの参加した人が来ました。スケータと他の友達も来てので、色々年齢と英語の能力も人は大丈夫です。

When I make a plan to do Zoom UP on a certain day, I always communicate it through my Zoom UP community on Mixi.  If a student plans to attend the lesson, he or she will sign up on the community, so that I can plan better, though last minute particants are welcome as long as there is space.  When I decide the themes, I communicate that on the community as well.  There are always three themes.  The next lesson, which will be held this coming Sunday, June 28th, will use the themes of Baseball, Describing Japanese food, and Making a plan to go somewhere with a friend.  We use various methods during the lesson, such as reading children's books, games, songs, and Powerpoint dialogs and prompts that I make to encourage creative conversation.  There is a LOT of preparation involved, and the cost is only 500 yen per student, but profit is not the point.  This is a great way to help my friends improve their English, it's good practice for me as a teacher, (I'm getting really good at making powerpoint presentations), it lets me be totally creative, and its FUN!

ズームアップのクラスの日を決める時に、MixiでZoomUPのコミュニティーで書きます。 生徒はレッスンに参加するつもりだったら、コミュニティーでサインアップをします。それは私の準備を手伝ってけど、空があったら、最後の分の参加して人は大丈夫です。Mixiで、テームも発表してので、いつも三つのテームが使います。例えば、次のレッスンは今週末の日曜日に、テームは野球と日本の料理を記述と友達とどこかに手はず方です。色々方法を使ってので、子供の絵本とかゲームとか歌を使います。いつもパーワーポイントを作ります。そして、作ったスクリプトを使って、みなは英語を話してがんばります。 ズームアップはたくさんの準備を要るけど、５００円だけは値段です。私の理由は友達に英語を上手になる手伝いとか、私に先生の練習とか、例えば、パーワーポイントを使い事は上手なっていますので、とても創造的な機会とか、楽しいです。

If Zoom UP continues to be successful, I've been thinking that I might start a Zoom UP Pro, which would be after work one evening a week.  I was just talking about this with Monica, and brainstorming whether or not it would be a good idea, and how to manage getting the word out, because it wouldn't necessarily be just for skaters, but more for people who work near my home who want to Zoom UP their English. 

ズームアップの成功は続けたら、ズームアッププローを始まると思います。それは毎週一回の夕方で起こると思います。モニカと話したながら、ブレインストーミングをして、いい考えがまで分かりません。どうやって広告しても分からないです。ズームアッププローの標的な生徒はたぶん必ずしもスケータじゃないので、私の近所で働く人は英語をズームアップをしたいです。

Baseball, Rain or Shine

野球、雨か日向

 

こんにちは、野球のファンみなへ、下に日本語で書きました。ところで、家族と友達たちも、今月２１日の日曜日に、神宮にゲームを見に、行くつもりです。一緒に行きたかったら、連絡をしてください。

For ex-pat kids, the end of the school year is a bittersweet time, as many friends move away.  This year, due to the economy, there are more friends than ever relocating back to their home countries.  Some have known for months, but for others it will be a sudden and unexpected move.  We hope that doesn't happen to us!  We would like to stay put, as the children are getting a good education and this is home for now, but all ex-pats know that the familiar can become a memory with very little warning.  Uncertainty is challenging, but I don't dwell on it.  I like to look at the positives and enjoy the simple blessings of the present, one of which is Japanese Baseball.  Besides watching it on TV, I want to go to as many games as I can, never knowing if we'll be here for another baseball season. 

In April, Martin's brother, Chris, came to Tokyo for Jonah's Confirmation.  It was not Chris's first visit to Japan, but it was our first chance to take him to a Japanese baseball game.  He's a Cardinals fan, and every time we go to St. Louis, we work it out to see a game together, so this was a chance for a seasoned baseball fan to see Nippon Professional Baseball.  Martin roamed around taking pictures of the baseball players and fans.  My good friend, Costanza, also went with us, to enjoy her very first baseball game ever, anywhere!  Even though we are primarily Seibu Lions fans, Jingu Stadium is close, we do like the Swallows, and it worked with our schedule.  Unfortunately, it rained, but you can't have everything. 

Actually, rain isn't a problem if you're sitting in the Swallows cheering section, because Yakult Swallows fans all carry a small plastic colorful umbrella, which they wave in a special way whenever the team scores a run or when the team song comes on, which is a popular Tokyo area festival song.  At the game we saw, the fans got to put those umbrellas to double duty, as it rained off and on throughout the game while the Swallows scored several times.  The Swallows also have some very cute cheerleaders.  Martin took a few pictures of the cheerleaders, which I put HERE.

So, while Costanza apparently quite enjoyed her first baseball game, with Chris and I giving pointers, she could actually read the players names on the scoreboard which I really struggle with.  Chris also enjoyed his first Japanese contest and mentioned several benefits.  It is very accessable.  The ticket prices are a lot less, in this case the game wasn't sold out long before, the stadium is smaller and you are closer to the action, plus, he noted, you can drink beer and not worry about driving home, because you're returning on the subway.  There's a lot of action on the field, more hits, and more runs, more infield play.  Lots of stealing, bunts, and once in awhile a homerun.  Usually there are about two foreigners on the team, and they are usually pretty interesting players to follow. 

That day, the Swallows were versing the Hiroshima Carps, who had a good size contingent of hardy fans, considering it's on the other side of the country.  Probably many of these fans were brought up in Hiroshima and now work in Tokyo, and having their team come to town is a good excuse to get together after work for some baseball entertainment.  That game I cheered for the Swallows, but in a couple of weeks, on Sunday, June 21st, when we will watch the Seibu Lions from Saitama play Yakult at Jingu, I'll be sitting in the visitor seats.  The game is at 2pm that day, so we will skate in City Run, and after lunch, go to the baseball game which is right near CR Goal.  If you want to join us, please let me know.

昨日の晩に、ジョナの中学生の卒業の式のように出席をしたので、それはとてもほろ苦いでした。その間は、いろいろ長い時間会ったの友達と最後の会う時と思います。アメリカの学校から、今月は学校年は終ります。　モニカとジョナのために、毎年この間はちょっと難しいです。友達たちは遠くに引っ越します。今年はもっとそれのように、ジョナは日本に来た時の最初の一番いい友達はアメリカに引っ越します。そして、彼は出るまで、ジョナはいつも一緒に遊びます。もちろん、景気後退から、みなのエクスパットは、私たちも、確信が持ってないです。(uncertain)  そして、私の考えは説明しにくいだので、毎日は貴重です。そして、たくさん日本の野球に行きたいです。笑。

４月に、マーティンの兄はジョナの教会のイベントを参加しに日本に来ました。その時に、 初めて日本の野球の試合に見に行きました。クリスは野球のファンです。彼はセントルイスに住んでいるので、ジョナのようにカダナルズのファンです。コスタンザさんという私の友達も、一緒に行きました。彼女の始めの野球のチームです。マーティンはたくさん写真を撮ったながら、クリスと私はコスタンザさんに野球について教えました。コスタンザさんは漢字を知っているので、スコーボードで選手の名前を読めました。西武ライエンズが一番大好きですが、ヤルコルトのスワルスはいいチームだし、神宮は近いだし、私たちのスケジェルはできました。でも、クスタンザちゃんは広島が大好きなので、その試合でカープのファンになりました。

試合はとても楽しかったですが、雨が降りました。スワルスのファンのため、雨は問題じゃないと思います。いつも小さい傘を持ってきます。毎のホームランは起こったら、傘はダンスをさせた。そして、その日に、二つの理由を使いました。スワルスもとてもかわいチアリーダーがあるので、もちろん、マーティンは写真を撮りました。それはここにある。

そして、クリスは日本の野球とアメリカの野球を比較しました。 たくさん違いますが、両方は楽しくて、面白いです。日本の野球の値段は安いですので、入りやすいので。パークは小さいので、見やすい。そして、ビルの女の子はかわいです。地下鉄で行ってから、ビルを飲めます。はは、でも、クリスは飲みません。笑。日本の野球はよく活動があるので、たくさんヒット、時々糖類、バント、ホームランもあります。そして、もっともっと楽しいです。Here's a pix of the scoreboard, I put some explanation in English in purple text for my non-Japanese friends.

広島カープも面白いチームですが、その日にスワロスのほうが強いでした。広島はたくさんファンがあるので、私の考えはたぶん、ファンは広島で生まれたので、東京に仕事から、引っ越しました。仕事の後に余興のために、野球の試合はとてもいいと思います。　覚えて、６月２１日の日曜日に、西武ライエンズは神宮で、スワロスと遊ぶので、家族は試合に行きます。それは２時から始まるので、CRのスケートあと、直接に行くので、一緒に行かなかったら、教えてください。

My cookie recipes are in English

私のクッキーのレシピは英語であるよ。

このポストは最近のスケータのポーチパーティについてです。ポストは英語であるので、 英語の後に日本語で別のノートを書きます。その日本語は家族の計画についてです。　　Once or twice a year, Spring and/or Fall, we have a big gathering of Skater Friends at our home in Roppongi.  If the weather is nice, we can make effective use of the porch, and it's wonderful.  If the skies don't cooperate, like last spring's heavy winds and cold rain, it's still fun, but not as easy with the wet tarps, trapsing out to the coolers in soaking wet slippers, dealing with the grill in the rain, and it ends up being pretty crowded in our little Tokyo apartment.  We really got lucky last Saturday.  The 2009 Spring Skater Porch Party will be remembered as a successful outdoor party with a lovely gentle warm breeze at night.  Martin thinks it was our best party ever.

Certainly planning a party like this is a complicated project, with issues such as   how to have as many skaters as possible while keeping the total to less than 70 people, including kids.  My good friend, Kusacchi, made a website for the party with a forum that came in very useful for people to volunteer for the shopping, the cooking and to discuss important issues such as how much fish to buy for the temakizushi, and who's going to bring the wasabi. 

Weeks ago, the five cookie makers were chosen, as well as the small shopping crew who would go with Martin over to Nissen International Market for most of the goods.  An additional crew, The Tsukiji Gang, went straight to the famous Tokyo fish market to pick up the freshest seafood and fish for our handrolled sushi and seared tuna.  Scheduled to come later in the afternoon was the rest of the crew, who would prepare the balance of the food and have it ready by five when the main party would start.  At which time, Mat and Kaorin, doing accounts with their new baby girl nearby, would collect the fee from all the participants as they came in.

A few years ago, before the first Skater Porch Party, Kay-chan came over the day before, and with her developing English, and my much worse Japanese, we made a pile of delicious chocolate chip cookies for the party.  It was the first time she'd had a chance to bake like this, and it was a very interesting experience for both of us, working from an English recipe with typical ingredients, measuring devices and methods.  Since then, we've made cookie baking a regular part of the party prep.  Of the five people who would make cookies, I chose some with experience, and some without, and all who will speak to me in Japanese, but are willing to deal with English to some extent. 

Before the big day, I put all five cookie recipes up on my site, along with a picture of the person who would be in charge of that cookie.  See here and follow the flashing arrow.  Then, I notified the friends to check the site, read his or her recipe, and become somewhat familiar with it.  Each handled this differently.  Junko-san printed the English recipe out for chocolate sheet cake, then, using a translation site and dictionary, wrote out the Japanese translation under the English.  Naomi-san was able to assemble an accurate  Japanese recipe complete with pictures to help I-san make his snickerdoodles.  Yotte-san even went to the store and tried to get all the ingredients, which was very difficult, as he was assigned to make 7 Layer Magic Cookie Bars, containing butterscotch morsels and sweetened condensed milk.  Keiko-san pulled a switch and went shopping and left P-papa wearing a frilly pink apron to make the Cut-out cookies with Peach.  Naomi-san also helped Shigeshige with his Oatmeal cookies with raisons, dates and cranberries, and boy were they delicious.  Here's a few COOKING PIX. from Martin's camera. 

In addition to the five kinds of cookies, we made handrolled sushi, okinomiyaki, quesadillas, vegetable cabobs, Martin's steak, grilled tuna, brats, quacamole, cheese, fruit, salad, baked beans and deviled eggs. For me, it is tremendous Japanese practice, very challenging, but just what I need to make progress.  It's also a good chance to share some English practice with these friends.  This time, I was very careful not to allow too many volunteers.  It really is amazing to see what we can accomplish.  I was very pleased that Touma-san brought her wonderful home baked breads, and Luis came with 3 pans of yummy quiche, and thrilled that Yagami-mama brought those delightful quail eggs she makes. The skaters took turns cleaning up the kitchen, washing dishes and carrying things back and forth, as well as creative Piyo-san who just keeps bringing new delicacies out of the kitchen throughout the party.  Seems that everyone feels comfortable, and that's a good situation.   Here's a few PARTY PIX. by Martin.  And here are Masa-don's pictures.

Martin carefully planned what he would do with the grill, used well practiced methods and set a timer every time he'd flip a steak.  He enjoys holding court at his grill, and the delicious morsels that he produces attest to his skill. Fun little video made by Shigeshige.    In addition to enjoying the preparation all day long, I had a good time at the party itself.  I sampled everything, but didn't overeat or overdrink.  I got a chance to talk to everyone who came, enjoying friends with whom I skate regularly, as well as catching up with long-time friends who don't come skating as much any more.  And making connections... introducing this one to that one, mentioning that they have something in common that they might not have discovered...  just enjoying this time together as a gift like the good weather that day.  At this point we don't have plans to move, but one never knows.  In this environment, any moment, everything could change.  So if that wasn't our last porch party in Tokyo, great!  If it was, well, it was a good one!  BTW, here's Iwa-san's City Run Photo Website, for frequent photos of this group skating.

上は英語で、今年の春のスケータのポーチパーティの説明です。いろいろ事を喋るので、とくにクッキーを準備と料理を準備も話します。そうすると、時間があったら、英語を読んでみてください。それは無理だったら、翻訳を使ってもいいですか？それをしたくなかったら、写真を見てくださいね。

別のことを話したいです。最近、彼の会社の難事があるから、友達たちは不思議します。私たちも、何が予期分からない。そして、友達たちは分からないので、それは最後のポーチパーティですかと聞きます。

じゃ、今、引っ越しの計画がないよ。モニカとジョナの学校はとてもいいだので、 彼の会社は何もと言いない、彼の毎日の仕事は忙しい続いたら、たぶん大丈夫です。でも、今週、破産は来ると思います。それの結果が分からないので、待って、見て、聞いて、後に分かってくると思います。　忍耐強いしたいです。

今の計画は日本に住んで続きます。計画は８月に普通のように、子供はちょふの学校に新しい年生に行きます。いつも夏でアメリカに行って、長い複雑な旅行に行くけど、今年私は一週間だけに、両親に訪れます。全部は突然に変わったら、家族はがんばります。

そして、みなは将来が分からないね。最後のポーチパーティですが？分からない。最後のパーティがなかったら、いいですね。最後のパーティがあるだったら、とても楽しいパーティでしたね。笑泣。

 

To see this picture large size, Follow THIS LINK.  大きい写真を見たら、リンクに行ってください。

Far East, Here We Come

ァーイーストへ、行こう

 

下に日本語を書きます。When Monica tried out for Varsity Soccer this spring as a Sophomore, she knew it was a bit of a long shot.  ASIJ (American School in Japan) has had a strong team, and many of the previous year's players were returning, as well as several skilled players upcoming.  But she gave it her best in try-outs and was very happy to make it onto the Varsity team of 18 players.  So, given that starting point, the season has gone pretty well for Monica.  Coach Aranda is a former professional soccer player, and the girls highly respect him.  He works them hard in practice, which is almost every day after school.  It's not just about developing soccer skills, but also physical capability, endurance, and team play.

After the season started, I was disappointed to note that Monica wasn't playing that much.  She would often sit out nearly the whole game on the sidelines, or get in during the last few minutes of the game.  Monica was much more understanding of this.  "Mom, I'm just not as good as the others.  This is Varsity.  The better players need to play.  It's what's best for the team." 

Oh, I see.  I never played Varsity sports in High School.  Neither did Martin or any of our siblings.  This was a new experience and Monica seemed to be handling it well, doing her best at practice, then watching and waiting for a chance to play.  For my part, I attended as many of the games as I could, cheered for ASIJ, and sent subliminal messages to the coach to put my daughter in the game.  Sometimes he would tell a couple of the regulars who were resting from play to stand at the sidelines and call for subs.  Then, as if receiving one of my messages, he would glance over at the bench and call "Monica!" and up she'd pop to join the game. 

Martin went to several of the games and took some very good pictures.  He's growing his "Action Photography" skill, and his pictures actually got better as the soccer season progressed, I think.  HERE are the soccer pictures.  ASIJ is usually in yellow, sometimes in grey uniforms.  Monica is #21. 

ASIJ has dominated the Kanto Plains division, with 14 wins and 0 losses this season.  Monica has improved her skills, though has a distance to go, and has mostly enjoyed the rigorous practices and games.  That said, it was a bit tense here as we waited for the decision about which 15 of the 18 players would be chosen to go to the week long Far East Tournament in Okinawa in Mid-May.  (Okinawa is the largest of the southern islands of Japan.)  Teams from English speaking International and American Military High Schools from various parts of Japan, Korea, and some other nearby countries will be there.  Monica spent the last several weeks trying not to get her hopes up about being chosen, just tried to do her very best, playing on a team full of strong players.  Last Friday, Coach Aranda announced his decision.  Monica is on the Far East tournament team and she's going to Okinawa!  Go Mustangs!

この日本語で書くことは要約だけです。モニカは１０年生だので、バセティー女の子のサッカーのチームになったはぎりぎりと思います。去年の選手は戻るし、いくつの選手はよくなるし、ASIJのチームは強いです。 でも、モニカはがんばったので、１８人のバセティーチームになったけど、最初の試合の間にたくさんベンチで座りました。コーチアランダは前にプローサッカー選手だので、練習で少し厳しいけど、生徒は彼に尊敬します。殆ど毎日に学校後に、練習か試合があるので、チームはいろいろ事がよくなります。

両親は試合を見に、行ってみます。マーティンはいくつ試合に行って、たくさん面白い写真を撮りました。それはここにある。時間があったら、見てください。私は試合に行って、いつもチームをかっさいします。そして、考えてながら、非話しながら、コーチの頭にメセギは”モニカが試合に入れてください”と送ります。ときどき、試合で、コーチは普通の選手を入れて、あとからの思いつきのような、”モニカ、行こう！”と言いました。私はほほえます。

時期は過ごしたながら、モニカはだんだんもっと遊びました。 そして、最近試合が四半分か半分は遊びました。でも、心配間過ごしました。仲間の５月にチームは沖縄に行って、大試合をします。問題は１８人チームから１５人選手だけ行くことができます。モニカはそれについて考えなくみていまったが、もちろん無理です。その大試合は一週間です。モニカの学校、ASIJは関東地方で、一番いいだけど、たくさんチームは参加します。チームはインターナショナルの英語を使うの高校です。そして、軍用の基地からも来ます。（その女の子は強いです！）それは日本から、韓国から、色々近い国も来ます。大試合の名前はファーイストですね。昨日は普通の時季の最後の試合です。もちろん、勝ちました。時季は１４試合勝った、０試合負けた。

ついに、コーチは決定は発表しました。モニカは沖縄に行きます！ゴオオ　マスタングス！

Arakawa Nonbiri Run

荒川のんびりラン

  

下に日本語で書きます。Well, it's been a long time since I've posted.  Plenty going on here.  Monica's soccer is a big deal, she practices every day after school and plays games once or twice a week which we often attend.  (ASIJ Girls Varsity Soccer is in 1st place with a 12-0 record!) Martin's brother Chris visited us for Jonah's confirmation recently.  It was great having Chris here again even for just a few days.  My teaching jobs, including my innovative new class, Zoom UP, Martin's extensive travel, social events, and lots of skating events have kept us all very busy, as well as practicing Japanese every chance I get.  Now trying to sort out summer plans.  Monica will attend soccer camp in Michigan in July, I will visit my parents in August, but what about Jonah?  Haven't sorted that out yet.  He might want to do a homestay here in Japan to improve his Japanese, which may be difficult to arrange, but he is also considering a trip to the states to visit family and friends if we can work that out. 

Yesterday was a holiday here in Japan.  As it was a Wednesday, it meant that most Japanese people did not use it for travel, but instead found fun things to do in the area.  Monica and Jonah went to school, as they are on the American system, and Martin was traveling.  So I took the opportunity to join the Arakawa Nonbiri Run.  Arakawa 荒川   荒 Ara means wild or rough,  川 kawa is river, of course, and nonbiri refers to a type of skating that is not too fast, but carefree and fun.  That's my type of skating, and I really enjoyed the 20 kilometer skate along the Arakawa River with several skating buddies.  Those pictured above are just the folks that were there at the start.  About a dozen others started earlier with Papa-san for training (non-nonbiri style) and they traversed the 20 km section twice or even three times at much higher speed.  See all the pix from the Arakawa Nonbiri Run here.

The area along the river has a nice cycling (skating) road and also space for baseball, soccer and other recreation.  I saw all ages playing baseball in organized games with uniformed teams, and plenty of spectators picnicking.  I saw people fishing on the riverbank, and of course many joggers, bicyclers and skaters.  It was beautiful weather, and while skating, I had the chance to practice my Japanese extensively, while sometimes speaking English to give my friends practice.  Thank you to Yagami-san for organizing this event.

久しぶりのポーストです。最近の生活はとても忙しいですが、いいです。いろいろすることをします。モニカのサッカーのバセティーチームはよくできます。今度まで１２試合をしたので、１２試合を勝ちました！そして、殆ど毎日練習して、毎週１－２試合をします。私はいつも試合に見て、行ってみます。そして、クリスという、マーティンの兄はジョナの教会の大切エベントのために、日本に来ました。それはよかったです。そして、マーティンはよく旅行をして、私のいろいろ英語の仕事も忙しいです。二ヶ月前の作ったの英語のクラス、ZoomUPも面白いです。 いろいろ社交的なイベントも参加して、もちろんスケートをしています。今、家族の夏の計画を作ってみます。モニカは７月にミシガン州のサッカーカンプに参加して、私は８月に両親に訪問をして行くつもりです。でも、ジョナの夏の計画はまだ決心がついていません。彼は日本でホームステイを欲しいだので、日本語の練習をしたいです。たぶん、彼も友達、家族も訪問をしたいけど、まだぜんぜん分かりません。

昨日は日本の休日だので、水曜日だから、みなは旅行しないので、いろいろ楽しいことをしました。子供二人はアメリカンの学校から、学校に行って、マーティンは旅行して、私は一人で、荒川のんびりランに参加しました。昨日の天気はとても完璧です。たくさんスケータは行きました。それは２０キロだので、パパさんのトレーニングのチームはもっとを滑りました。４０キロか６０キロをしました！私には、のんびりランはとてもいいペースです。

荒川のサイクリングロードは広い所です。滑りながら、いろいろ面白い事を見ました。制服を着ての野球のチームは子供か大人も見ました。サッカーも見ました。釣りも見ました。もちろんたくさん自転車を乗っての人も走っての人々も、スケータもみました。表面は滑りやすいだので、ペースはやさしいです。そして、友達と日本語で、英語で話しました。いつも日本語を練習したいので、友達は英語も練習したかったら、相互の話すできます。昨日の荒川のんびりランはともよかったです。やがみさんへ、どうもありがとうございます。全部の荒川のんびりランの写真はここに見てください。

2009 Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball

２００９年のマリアナスカップのビーチボレボール

 

日本語の要約は下に書きます。Who are those hunky guys Jonah is hanging with?  They're the Japanese beach volleyball players in the Marianas Cup in Saipan earlier this month.  Jonah's Japanese has improved enough that he can carry on a decent conversation with these pro players, and he and Monica were glad to see Fujimatsu-san and his partner, Matsumoto-san, who have participated in the tournament all three years that we've attended.  Here, Jonah is waiting in line with the pros to do POINT BREAK.  Apparently this was their first time, and they watched for awhile and took some pointers from Jonah and the clubmates before giving it a try.  It was pretty fun to watch these superb athletes trying out a new sport.  Martin happened to be roaming around with his camera and caught some good pix of their early attempts. 

We've traveled to Saipan several times over the years during holidays from school, but ever since we happened to be at the Pacific Island Club during the Marianas Cup, we've targeted that particular weekend for our trip to Saipan.  We always stay at PIC, which has so much to offer, there's been something for everyone as the family has grown older, beginning way back when the kids were young enough to enjoy "Kids Club" and make friends with the Clubmates, to now when they are free to roam the entire club independently, enjoying the snorkeling, lazy river, archery, etc as well as Point Break, Jonah's favorite.  PIC employees are all kind, with attention to safety and guest comfort, the food is really good, (Gold Card is the way to go), the flight from Tokyo is just over three hours.  We think its a relatively affordable family trip that yields in quality family time, life experience and good memories.  A big part of keeping memories is with pictures.

Here I introduce Martin's new website where he will put his best pictures, www.pixbymartin.com.  Last year's Volleyball pictures were very well received, and since then he's made progress with his equipment and his skill, so I made him a new website with a domain all his own with the idea that he could sell downloads of the pictures for a very modest price.   [a set-back was that I didn't have some setting quite right, and downloads were inadvertently free for the first week.  Oh, well, Grand Opening Special, I guess.] It was like a working vacation, but he really enjoyed taking pictures of the photogenic athletes, while Monica and Jonah and I thoroughly enjoyed watching exciting matches on the beach and from our ocean front hotel room balcony. 

M&J had their favorites, they would watch Fujimatsu-san's games, they would find Jen Snyder, and various other players.  Last year, Monica met Jen and her partner Janelle, who are the American Women's Pros, and Monica and Jen really hit it off.  This year there was a wonderful smiling reunion, and Monica hung with Jen most of the time.  Martin's got lots of great pictures of Jen and Janelle, who, as the offical pros, played the exhibition games on Friday night, and then were split up via a lottery and played with amateur players for the tournament games.

The US Men's Pros again this year, were Olympic Gold medal winner, Phil Dalhausser, and Paul Baxter.  The women's games are fun to watch, the athletes are skillful, lovely and graceful, but the men's games are hyperactive.  The jumping is so high, the ball gets smashed again and again, it's really an amazing spectator sport.  Please enjoy Martin's Pictures of BEACH VOLLEYBALL.  There are five galleries:  Please take your time and enjoy these pictures in slideshow mode on your pc.

　　　　　　　　　　　Friday's PRO Exhibition金曜日のプローの展覧会     　　　

Women's Saturday土曜日の女性　     　Men's Saturday土曜日の男性    

Women's Sunday日曜日の女性     　　　Men's Sunday日曜日の男性

ジョナとりっぱな体格の人々ですか？答えは日本人のビーチボレボールのプローです。 マリアナスカップに参加する人です。ジョナの日本語は上手じゃないけど、話せます。それで、この写真はポインとブレイクが待っています。二年前に、モニカとジョナは藤松さんと松本さんも会いました。いつも彼たちの試合を見て、楽しかったです。ボレボールプレーアはすばらしいスポーツマンだので、新しいスポートをしてみたら、面白いです。そして、ジョナは ポイントブレーキのポインターを教えました。笑。

八年間の中に、学校の休みの中に、何回もサイパンに行きました。三年前に、偶然に、ビーチボレボルのタノメントの間に、サイパンに行ったから、毎年、マリアナスカープの間に、サイパンに行きたいです。とても楽しいです。いつもパシフィクアイランドのクラブで、止まります。小さい子供ころから、モニカとジョナはPICを楽しました。いろいろことをできます。 例えば、アーチェリーとか、シュノーケルとか、水泳などをできます。私たちには、サイパンのPICはいい家族の時間を過ごせます。PICの従業員はとてもいいです。いろりろ言語を話せて、逆様は大切な感情と思います。料理もおいしいです。いつもゴールドカードを買います。それはいい方法と思います。家族のため、サイパンの旅行はいい生活の経験だし、いい家族の過ごすことだし、いい思い出すことをなれます。彼の忙しい仕事から、それは大切です。マーティンはたくさん写真を撮りました。

ここに、マーティンの新しい写真のウエブサイトを紹介をします。www.pixbymartin.com　 去年のボレボールの写真はいい熱烈な歓迎を貰ったので、今年に、私は新しいサイトを作って手伝いました。新しいレンスとか、今年の写真もいいと思います。努力だったけど、彼は楽しましたと思います。私と子供二人は試合をみてながら、マーティンはいつもビーチで、バルコニからも、写真を撮りました。

藤松さん間、モニカはジェンというアメリカ人の女のプローが好きです。去年会いました。モニカは一週末中ジェンと一緒に時間を過ごしました。いい役割モデルだと思います。マーティンのサイトで、ジェンとジャネルのビキニのボレボールの写真はHEREここにあります。それは金曜日の夜に、プローとプローの試合です。アメリカの女性は日本人の女性の試合と、アメリカ人の男性と日本人の男性の試合を見ました。すごい！

ところで、アメリカ人のフィルダルハワサーはペキンでオリンピックのゴルドメデルを勝ちました。ポールバクスターもとても目がいいです。女の試合はきていだので、面白いです。男の試合はよく活動的な試合です。来年もマリアナスカップに行きたいです。写真をリンクは上にある。スライドショーのモードを使って、見てください。ゆっくりどうぞ。

  

Forget Fluency

流暢を忘れてもいいです。

 

A long time ago, when Monica was a second grader and Jonah was in kindergarten, and we were in the process of moving to Japan from Tennessee for what we thought would be a 2 1/2 year stint, many well intentioned people with no real experience told us how lucky we were that our kids would become fluent in a foreign language.  "They'll pick it right up." they said, "Kids are like sponges." 

Well, here we are just over eight years later, and the kids are far from fluent in Japanese.  I'm a little better, and Martin is doing best of all, but neither of us would admit to fluency.  Hindsight is 20/20, but if we had it to do over, knowing we would be here so long, we might have put the kids in a Japanese elementary school upon arrival for a year or two with the idea that immersion at school at such a young age could make a significant difference.  But there's no going back, and we wouldn't have wanted to miss all those wonderful experiences at ASIJ anyway.  They do learn Japanese at school, but it is an academic subject, not an immersion experience.  Those first 2 1/2 years, when Martin was working at Honda R & D, he was living away from the family during the week and all he did was work and study Japanese.  He had an excellent teacher, and he was an enthusiastic student.  During my first year here, I learned hiragana and katakana, and a few words that would get me home in a taxi if necessary, or little phrases like "Ohayogozaimasu" (Good morning) and  "Ikuradesuka?"  (How much does it cost?).  Finding out how REALLY DIFFICULT Japanese is definitely contributed to my poor adjustment that first year.  But things got better....  see the package of yakisoba there?  Recently I actually made it by following the directions on the bag and guessing the parts I couldn't read.

In 2004, after living in Japan for almost four years, Martin took the level 3 Japanese Proficiency Exam and PASSED!  He really deserved to pass because he studied so hard.  At that time, I was studying Japanese nearly every day on my own, and taking private lessons once or twice a week, but it was the furthest thing from my mind to take the test.  Attitudes change, and in 2006, when my excellent teacher, Matsui-san suggested I might want to take the JLPT six months later, I considered it.  I knew, I wasn't ready for Level 3, and probably wouldn't pass even with several months of studying at my pace.  However, I felt quite certain that I could pass Level 4, which is lower.  The test is only given once a year.  I ultimately decided that it wouldn't really help me any to take and pass level 4, that instead I should study for level 3, and take the test considering it a practice test.  This went fine.  After taking the all day test in December 2006, I knew I hadn't passed, but when I got the results in February that said I failed, I still cried.  But we were right, it was good practice, and in 2007 I took Level 3 again and this time I passed. 

In 2008, when I suggested to Monica and Jonah that they should study for and take the Level 4 JLPT in December, they both balked, but somehow we were able to turn it into a competition between them.  Recently we got the results, and THEY BOTH PASSED!!!  Yeah, that's great.  Here's a photo of Monica's test results.  Both kids were glad to pass but didn't make a big deal about it.  (Not like when Monica made the VARSITY SOCCER TEAM last week.  Still, I think its a confidence booster, and I've noticed both of them taking the chance much more often to speak Japanese.

For example, a few weeks ago, Jonah's turtle, Zeus, developed a large bump on his ear.  I had already taken him to Toby's vet but it didn't change, so this time I used Japanese Google and I found a Vet in Yotsuya who seemed to specialize in reptiles.  Just finding the place used all my Japanese skills, and over the course of several visits I met three vets who spoke very little English.  Still, we were able to sort out what needed to be done.  They wanted me to give the turtle an antibiotic injection every day.  Which we did, of course, for a month, with good results.  While at the office, Jonah asked the doctor in Japanese if Zeus was a boy or a girl.  (he's a boy)  Then, he asked if it was alright to keep Zeus in the same tank with Gina and Spitfire. I was actually surprised that he took the initiative, and I didn't interrupt for a change. 

Speaking of fluency, you know I've been teaching English for awhile via private lessons and with a school, but recently I decided to start a group lesson on Sunday afternoons for skaters and their families.  With the help of my friend,   I set up a community "Zoom UP" on Mixi (which is like a Japanese Facebook) and people who joined the group are welcome to sign up to come to individual classes when it's convenient for them.  I'm only offering the class twice a month when it works with my schedule, and I'm only charging 500 yen for the hour and a half lesson, but the idea is not to make money, but to encourage my friends to become more comfortable with listening to and speaking English.  I've created a safe environment where they may not be too embarrassed to practice, and I think it will work out once the word gets out that its a fun way to make progress.  My first class had five students and I think it went very well.  I used a variety of methods such as reading a children's book with beautiful pictures of fruit to talk about adjectives, using toys to talk about transportation and a powerpoint presentation for repeating dialog about asking directions. 

Of course, the very best way to improve your language skills is to practice with friends, and we are so lucky to have our skater friends for that.  A couple of weeks ago, we went on a weekend ski trip to Yuzawa with over twenty skater friends and family.  It was a wonderful chance to practice Japanese, share our English skills.  Sasaki-san organized this trip using mixi (it's our third annual skater's ski tour) so I wrote on mixi that I would bring the bingo game if some folks would bring prizes.  Well that worked out so well.  I called the bingo numbers in Japanese for the first two games and then surprised everyone and called them in English for the next game.  It was so fun.  Kinoshita-san brought a funny cowhead hat which was won by Noel-chan and then everyone tried it on one at a time.  You have to see these photos.  I'm slowly getting the other ski and food photos up, but it takes time.  Martin takes so many good photos, it takes a long time to process them.  HERE THEY ARE.

You may have guessed that the top picture is supposed to signify fluency with the cranes taking off into the sky.   Well, that works for me.  They are so graceful, and being a symbol of Japan, it is a fitting image.  The picture is of the top of a tea box that I recently covered with washi paper and shellac.  This is a big box, lined in thin metal, usually used to store either tea or nori (seaweed) as it keeps out humidity, so I plan to find a nice place to set it and fill it with treasured things.

Unlike usual, I didn't write this post in Japanese as well as English.  I had thought about this post for so long and not written it, that I felt a real sense of urgency to write it before we go to Saipan tomorrow.  As it takes many hours to write the same thing in Japanese, I'll have to skip it this time and pack instead.  But I promise to come back strong next time.  ごめなさい。今度のポーストは英語でだけ。家族の日本語の勉強することで、私の新しい英語のクラスについてです。もう、ジョナのカメについてです。

It's not sumo

それは相撲じゃな

 

日本語を下に書きました    There are many opportunities for   interscholastic athletics available at ASIJ.  (American School in Japan). MS and HS.  These are sports that the students practice three times a week after school, then generally compete with other Kanto Plains International schools on Saturdays.  Besides athletics, there are so many other options, such as putting on a school play, chess club, yearbook, jazz band, etc. etc.  All these activities are led by excellent teachers and coaches.  It is a fine opportunity for the young people to try out new activities, some which may develop into life long interests. 

Last year, Monica did volleyball and soccer.  This year, she has been doing athletic training (medical) and scorekeeping for the boys football, basketball and soccer teams, but on Sundays she attends a soccer clinic.  When the next season starts, she'll try out for girl's soccer, and hopes to get a spot on the Varsity Team.  Good luck, Monica.

During his stint in Middle School, Jonah has been in the school play once, cross country three times, baseball, and now wrestling.  Yes, wrestling.  When he first came home and told me he planned to do wrestling, I groaned inside.  Wrestling!  Oh, no, he might get hurt!  He's smaller than the average boy in his class, but in wrestling, with the different weight classes, that doesn't matter, as he'd be wrestling boys his own size.  The training is intense.  Really, the sport is all about becoming stronger and healthier.  His coaches give very good advice and the boys really listen.  They run, they do exercises, they learn safe moves, and they watch their diet and get enough sleep.  They want to do their best individually and as a team.  Here's photos of Jonah wrestling.

 Of course, they think about the competition.  In cross country, Jonah was always essentially competing against himself, trying to improve his own time each week as he ran the 2.1 mile course.  With wrestling, they generally have three matches at an all-day tournament.  Other international schools attend the tournament, but since ASIJ is such a big school, our boys are often paired with wrestlers from their own school.  No problem.  There is a healthy competition between the students and the schools, but there is no animosity.  Everyone is just trying to do their best.

This week, Jonah went on a a ski trip to Naeba, Japan, with his entire class, returned Friday night, only to get up bright and early today, Saturday morning, for his fourth and final wrestling tournament of the season at one of the US military bases.  So far, he has come in second, first and third place, respectively.  He was very excited when he won the gold medal the week he got first place, but whenever he loses a match he doesn't berate himself.  He just tries to think about what he can learn from it.  What a great attitude.  I think a lot of that comes from the coaches, Coach Loveman and Coach O'Brien.  They are just super.  Thanks for everything.  BTW, today, he went 2 and 1, and came in second in his weight class for another silver medal.  Good job, Jonah.

Martin has really enjoyed taking photos at the wrestling tournaments.  It's a chance to improve his technique because indoor sports photography is quite challenging.  I think his photos are getting better and better.  I've put a few of them up on SMUGMUG.  These are photos from the 1st tournament and from the 3rd tournament.

これは要約です。物語るはジョナのレスリングについてです。 子供の学校で、対校試のスポーツをすることの機会があるので、毎学校年に三つの時季です。いろいろスポツがあるので、スポーツの外にもの活動もある。大体、子供は決め手あとで、毎週、三回学校の後で、スポーツのトレインイングをして、土曜日に他の関東の国際の学生と試合があります。

去年、モニカはバレボールとサーカーをしました。今年に、いつも学校の後で、スポーツの練習と試合に出席をして、プレイアーの医療ことをします。あれもバスケとボールとサーカーのスコーアキーパーもします。でも、次の時季に、モニカは女の子のサーカーをしたいですが、バセティチームを上げたいけど、難しいです。今度、毎週の日曜日にサーカーのクリニクに行って、練習をして、改良をやってみます。がんばって、モニカ。

今ジョナは８年生の中学生だので、この３年間に一回学校の劇をしてので、それは面白い経験でした。その以外毎時季に、スポーツをしました。クロスカントリーは毎年の秋に参加して、毎年の春は野球をして、今彼はレスリングをしています。初めて彼は私にレスリングをするつもりと言ったときに、私は心配だから、オーノーと言いました。でも、いつも同じサイズの生徒とレスリングをしてから、大丈夫です。コンデイチョンイングはとてもいいです。二人のコーチもいいです。ジョナは強くなって、楽します。この写真のグルプは全部はジョナが参加するです。

もちろん、競争も大切のポイントです。クロスカントリをしてながら、   毎週3.5キロメートルのコースを走りながら彼は自分の一番の短い時間はゴールです。そして、自分の競争でした。レスリングには、ちょっと違います。毎週三回学校の後に、チームはコーチとトレイニングをします。土曜日に他の学校と会って、トーナメントは一日中がかかります。各自の生徒は３番のマッチをします。ＡＳＩＪは大きい学校ので、時々自分のチームの人は相手です。問題じゃないだから、皆は一生懸命です。

今週ジョナは学校のクラスと苗場にスキーをしに行きました。金曜日の夜に帰ってけど、今朝すごく早いに起きて、最後のレスリングのタノメントを参加しに、アメリカの軍の所に行きました。ここまでに三つのタノメントで、最初は２位、次は１位、次は３位に入れた。勝ったら、負けたら、ジョナはいつもいい態度があります。今日二つを勝った、一つを負けたので、も一回２位があるので、も一つの銀メダルをもたらしました。

マーティンはレスリングの写真を撮ることを楽しました。彼の趣味だので、屋内のスポーツの写真を撮る事は特別チャレンジです。これは最初のタノメントから、これは３番のタノメントからです。見たら、多分あなたも面白いと考えると思います。

Broken New Years Resolutions

壊れた新年の抱負

 

日本語は下に書きました。Seems a bit late to be writing about New Years Resolutions?  Not really, because some who have made New Years Resolutions may still be keeping them.  Maybe struggling not to break them, or have broken them, but haven't abandoned them altogether.  I've been doing a little research and found that over 80% of NYR are broken by the end of January.   Experts have plenty of advice, basically centered on keeping the resolutions reasonable, setting incremental but specific goals, making a viable plan based on self assessment and education, and rewarding yourself for small successes.

The very nature of resolutions made for New Years tends to set us up for failure.  The all or nothing approach means that just one slip, and the resolution was not upheld and this makes it easy to forget the whole idea.  Further, there's the tendency to name everything we want to change about ourselves, creating an expansive self-help wish list, and never actually taking it seriously enough to make a plan.

That was my issue.  I had too many resolutions and not enough resolve.  But I'm not feeling negative about this at all.  (Robin, I know what you're thinking:)  Effecting positive changes is very difficult, and requires a multi-faceted approach.  I think it's okay to reach this point and take another look.

Here's some of my New Year's Resolutions and (their current status):

*Lose 7 kg.  (so far, I've lost and gained the same 1 kg over and over) 

*Aerobic work out at TAC more often (went once, first week of January.  Bad hip pain after running on treadmill.  Maybe better try a different approach.  Still trying to decide what that will be....)

*Go to Yoga classes several times a week (I've made it to class at least once a week, and have done yoga on my own at home sometimes.  Still not enough, need to go to class)

*Drink less coffee and wine and drink more water and green tea (doing better)

*Eat more tofu (YES, I'm eating tofu almost every day.)

*Get more sleep (fail)

*Write a blog entry once a week (fail)

*Eat smaller portions and more healthy foods (this week, started keeping a food diary, the shame will help)

*Clean out the den (not yet...) (ditto for all the other cleaning projects on my list)

*Start doing abs every day.  (Uh... starting tomorrow.)

  And there were a couple of others that I'll just keep to myself.  The other day, thinking about this blog entry, I realized that my New Years Resolutions weren't having a banner year, and I came up with a tool to help me rectify that situation.  It's an easy to use excel worksheet where I can enter daily data such as meals, exercise, what I'm accomplishing and how I'm feeling.  I hope to use this to help me improve a number of issues.  Just recording those potato chips and donuts was a deterrent.

Here on this page, and on smugmug from the link below, are pictures from our New Years Eve celebration at Zojyouji Temple near Shiba Koen and the Tokyo Tower.  Yoliko-san and Yagami-san went with us and Toby, and with thousands of people, we counted down the New Year and enjoyed champagne before walking home around 2am. 

The first Tokyo City Run of the New Year, we skaters went to Hie-jinja which is a shrine on our route.  There we got Omikuji, which are fortunes that you pick in a special way by shaking a numbered stick out of a jar.  Monica got one and so did I.  Monica's friends tried to help her translate hers, and I talked to a skater friend about mine, and then later, with the help of my teacher, Matsui-san, I learned even more by studying the kanji and looking up vocabulary.  Apparently it's going to be a pretty good year, with some excellent information such as WEST is my favorable direction, health and wellness will improve, success with school, finding lost things, and several other enticing tidbits.

While skating, I told my friends I was going to try to make shabu shabu that evening for the family, for the first time.  I had ordered everything through the co-op, pork and beef sliced thin, tofu and vegetables such as chrysanthemum leaves, chinese cabbage, negi (long onions), enoki and shitake mushrooms, and I had also obtained the two special dipping sauces, goma (sesame) and ponzu (citron).  As well, I had the right equipment, a nabe pot and a heater.  But I wasn't sure about the water/broth to cook everthing in.  A couple of my lady friends had good ideas, and told me to use instant konbu dashi. (seaweed flavored instant bullion)  Well that was just the ticket.  I already had it, so no problem.  The family really enjoyed the shabu shabu, it was easy to prepare, and a fun family meal. 

At the Christmas Run, last month, Ake-san gave me a present.  It's a cookbook of Japanese home cooking, written by a famous Japanese cookbook author, and it's in English.  I'm looking forward to trying more Japanese foods that I've enjoyed in restaurants and at people's homes, but never made myself.  When we move back to the US, I'm going to miss this delicious and healthy food, and knowing how to make it will be very important.  Thank you, Ake-san!

Go here for some good photos from this story. 　この物語について写真を見たら、私の写真のサイトはここにあります。

上の英語の書き事は新年についてです。最初の話は抱負についてだので、  両方一般と私に特有についてです。たくさん抱負を作ってけど、しにくいです。でも、続くがんばります。それを分かりたかったら、インタネットの翻訳を使ってください。

後で、新年イブについて書きました。よりこさんとやがみパパと増上寺に行きました。とても込んでいました！真夜中までカウントダウンをして、シャンパンを飲んで、全部を見ました。とても楽しかったです。

  今年の最初の東京シーティランで、日枝神社に行きました。そのときにモニカと私はお御籤を貰いました。モニカの友達たちは翻訳をやってみましたが、難しいです。よしのさんは私のを読んで、教えたので、まついさんという日本語の先生と漢字と語彙を勉強しました。とても面白いです。今年はいい年とらしい。方角は西です。紛失物が見つける、旅行は問題ない、健康は回春の兆しある、養生す。いいね。

滑るながら、友達たちと話しました。しゃぶしゃぶを始めに作ってみるつもりと言いました。 そして、アドバイスがくれました。コープから、色々原料を注文をしました。たとえば、牛肉、豚肉、ねぎ、白菜、きく？、椎茸、えのきを買いました。二つソースも買って、ポン酢、とゴマです。なべの皿があるので、ヒータも準備をしました。でも、私の質問は熱湯かどうか出しが使いますか。友達のアドバイスはこんぶだしを使って、インスタントは大丈夫です。よかった！ある、ある。そして、その日に家族は初めての家でしゃぶしゃぶを楽しました。

クリスマスらんで、あけさんは私に料理の本をくれました。とてもいいです。英語であるので、家の日本料理を作り方を学べます。新しい日本料理を作ってみるを楽しみにしています。いつか日本から引っ越すときに、日本料理を食べたいので、自分で作ると思います。日本料理はおいしくて、ヘルシーですね。あけさん、ありがとうございます。ドンさんも、プレセントをくれてありがとうございます。