From the Heart of Tokyo 東京の中心から

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。

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。

Tokyo Christmas Run

東京のクリスマスラン

 

日本語で要約を下に書きました。Yes, yes... I know.  Christmas is over.  The time leading up to Christmas has expanded to several weeks, but as soon as the day has passed, it's old news.  Let's revisit the Christmas theme for a moment here on this third day of the New Year. 

Our family usually enjoys a ski trip to Niseko in Hokkaido in December each year.  Generally, we go to Christmas mass at our parish church here in Tokyo, then take the trip after that, but this year we actually traveled to the northern isle on the 24th.  Working with Ski Japan for our accomodation in Niseko, I got a line on a Catholic Church in Kutchan where we could attend Christmas Eve Mass.  It was cold and snowy, and the bus transportation a bit confusing, but it worked out fine.  Christmas Eve mass was conducted in a fine mixture of Japanese and English.  The American priest was very sincere and kind, and spoke in Japanese about going home for Christmas and the gift he would give his father.  In English, he talked about his work as a missionary in Japan.  I found it all very welcoming, and was intrigued when he invited us to leave our various burdens at the altar.  With that done, I can now make my New Years Resolutions with a fresh start.

When we returned to the ski lodge, we watched a movie we had brought, "The Polar Express."  This is a fun family movie to watch on Christmas Eve with good narration, graphics, sound effects, and a TRAIN that morphs into a Roller Coaster!  However, due to political correctness, I suppose,  this movie about Christmas is quite notably devoid of any mention of Christ.  And the characters, while repeatedly referring to the spirit and meaning of Christmas, apparently are talking about friendship and gift giving and believing in Santa Claus, because the "reason for the season" never came up.  Just a movie, but a good way for the family to pass a peaceful Christmas Eve with the cold wind piling up snow outside.  I'll share some pictures of the ski trip later.

The day before we flew to Hokkaido, we four participated in the Tokyo Christmas Run.  Oh, what a fun time that was.  The spirit of the Tokyo Christmas Run is reaching across barriers of culture, age and familiarity, while having fun on skates dressed as Santa Claus with friends old and new.  Please see these pictures taken by Martin and I on the December 23rd, 2008 Christmas Run. 

I've attended the Tokyo Christmas Run for several years.   Now the whole family participates and I've helped Yagami-san these last two years with the event organization.  Actually, he does all the work, sets up a website, communicates the details, figures out a route, leads it.  All I do is work with the restaurant, Zest in Roppongi, to organize the party for the skaters at goal.  This year, instead of collecting the money at the end, Yagami-mama (Junko-san) and Kaorin-san and Don-san went to the restaurant early and set up a receiving line to check us in for payment as they do with a Japanese wedding party.  It was very efficient and kind of them to take that on.  Unbeknownst to me, they were having everyone sign a birthday card for Monica.  When I asked Junko-san about it, though my Japanese isn't very good, I understood her to say, "never mind what it's for, just sign it."  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  It was a very special day for all of us, especially Monica who had turned 16 just the day before.

We had almost 60 people participate, including kids, though some only attended the skate, and some only attended the lunch.  Besides fitness and fun, one of the outcomes of our involvement with the skating activity is to do language exchange, practice our Japanese and assist friends practicing their English.  Doing Language Exchange is not easy, even if you are really motivated.  Fear of making a mistake can prevent someone from taking the opportunity to practice even when it is quite convenient.  Developing friends in the group helps overcome that barrier.  As Monica and Jonah become more comfortable with the other kids and adults in the group, they try harder to communicate.  In-line Skating every week in the City Run (without the Santa suit), means we can and do make lots of friends and find those who are good language exchange partners. 

Unless its raining, we can skate all year round in Tokyo, as snow is rare, and cold can be managed.  We four will be out there tomorrow, meeting at Ueno before the 9:30 start.  You are welcome to join us any time, as long as you are an adequate skater and come prepared with the right gear and be personally responsible for your own behavior.  It's not necessary that you speak Japanese, as there is always someone who can speak some English.  Please let me know if you need more information, or see Iwa-san's City Run Website.  Currently, Iwa-san has up a retrospective of the 2008 skate pictures.  Just two pictures, the gathering shot and one other, from each City Run that he attended, plus Saturday Night Skates and a couple of Long Runs.  I very much enjoyed looking through these photos and remembering the various people who joined throughout the year and all the fun we had. 

この日本語は要約だけです。そうそう、クリスマスは終わったけど、ちょっと話したいです。毎年、12月に北海道に行って、ニセコにスキーをします。いつも前に、家族はクリスマスに六本木の教会に行って、後で旅行をしてけど、今度24日にニセコに行ってので、クリスマスイーブに倶知安の教会にミサに参列しに行きました。倶知安へのバスはちょっと難しいだけど、できました。そのときも、スーパーに行って、週間の食べ物の買い物をしました。倶知安の教会で、アメリカ人の司祭は優しくて、正直な人と思います。ミサは日本語と英語で混ぜたので、  歓迎な感情と思います。

スキーロージに帰ったときに、映画を見ました。それはポーラーエクスプレスという映画です。それはクリスマスについてが、政治的正当性から、神は全然ちょっと言わなかった！でも、それ以外に、映画はいい家族がクリスマスイーブを過ごすの映画です。グラフェックスとか、ナレーションと顔ともいいだので、一番いいものは電車はローラーコースターをなりました。見ながら、窓外に雪が降った、寒い風邪は吹き込んでいました。　　後で、スキーの写真を見せます。

北海道に行った前の日に、4人家族は東京のクリスマスランを参加しました。それはとても楽しかったです。皆はサンタスツを着て、滑って、新しいと前の友達も楽しかったです。そのクリスマスランの写真はここにある。たくさんクリスマスランに参加してので、今度全体家族は行って、もっともっと友達も参加します。 

 やがみさんはオーガーナイザーだので、私は手伝い人です。やがみさんはウエブサイトを作って、皆に連絡をして、ルートを作って、スケートをリードをします。私はレストランと話して、パーティーの準備をしました。そのときに、やがみママと、カオリンさんと、どんさんも早くレストランに行って、お金を集金をしました。日本の結婚のようなと思います。それはとてもいい考えと思います。皆は入れて、一人ずつはカードをサインをしました。私はじゅんこさんに、何ですかと聞きました。私の日本語は悪いだけど、”いいのよ、サインをしてください”と分かりました。笑。それはモニカの誕生日のカードです。とてもよかったです。彼女は前の日に16歳になって、ケーキとカードと歌を貰った、喜んでいました。

殆ど60人はスケートかランチか両方に参加しました。スケートは楽しくて、いい運動をしても、いい言語の交換の方法だと思います。言語交換（ＬＥ）はとても満足を与えられるので、始めにくいです。友情があってなったら、練習はよくなると思います。モニカとジョナはだんだんグルプと話せる安心します。学校で日本語を勉強しますので、話す練習は要ります。必要です。日本人の友達もＬＥから利益を貰います。英語を話す練習をできるので、英語を聞くことを慣れています。そして、内気な感じを負かします。

雨が降らなかったら、一年中に東京に滑ることができます。毎週の日曜日の朝に皆は上野に集めて、一緒に滑ります。グルプはオーペンだので、いい振る舞いとか自分の責任を取ってのスケータは歓迎られます。そして、参加したい人は十分なすべてできったら、連絡をしてかどうか、上野に会いましょう。今ＩＷＡさんのサイトで２００８年のスケートの写真の回顧展があります。それは毎参加したスケートイベントに二つずつ写真を載せたので、私は見て、たくさんいい友達の会うことを覚えて、楽しむを覚えました。

 

Active body, active mind

活動的な体、意欲的な精神

今度日本語を書くなかったです。次のとき。It's been so cold here in Tokyo lately, often as low as 2°C. (36°F), about normal for January.  But if it's not raining when Sunday rolls around, of course we join City Run.  Last Sunday, there were only a few participants at Ueno, but more arrived (including Monica and Jonah) at Tokyo Station.  Here's a few pix from that fun event.  Thanks to ShigeShige for taking the above gathering photo, but I took most of them.  Somehow, we managed without Iwa-san. 

The night before was the monthly Tokyo Saturday Night Skate, but this time Papa-san changed the route so that we could end up in Roppongi and go see my favorite rock band, Invago, play live at the Rock Factory.  Just a few pix from the skate and the fun afterwards, but no pix of the band because we were too busy dancing!

So, they say that the secret to dealing well with aging is to stay active, and hopefully yoga and skating will be enough because I enjoy both.  But what about keeping the mind active?  My bet is on LEARNING. 

Though I've been studying Japanese for several years, and my writing is getting better, I'm still barely able to have a conversation.  When I write in Japanese on the computer, I can take my time, use my dictionary and internet resources, and check the grammar in my reference books.  But speaking has to come straight out of my head, and the vocabulary in that small space is inadequate.  What I've decided to do, with the help of my teacher, is to seriously study Kanji.  I think this will help me improve my vocabulary by discovering what I already know and applying it to learn more.  Each Kanji has at least two readings, so that when one kanji is paired with another kanji to make a word, the kanji will be read one way, and with another kanji it will be read another way, but if you see it by itself it's something else.  I actually know more than I am using, and I just have to make the connections and grow the vocabulary that way.  For example, 火山、KAZAN, volcano, is 火 KA fire, (as in KAYOUBI, Tuesday, or fire day) and 山, read YAMA by itself, but SAN when put with the name of a mountain, such as Fujiisan, and the san changes to zan in the middle of the word.  Or how about the word progress, JYOUTATSU, 上達、which is hard for me to remember, but looking at the kanji, the first one, 上, which means up, is pronounced UE by itself.  But I know the word 上手、JYOUZU, which means fluent, or skill, with the second kanji 手、(pronounced TE by itself and meaning hand), so I can make that connection, and learn more words that way.  My method is to write the kanji many times, all the while thinking of the words that can be made with that character, some of which I already recognize when I hear them. I'm using some smart kanji flashcards made by White Rabbit Press, then build on that with my teacher at the lessons.

Also putting my brain through a work-out is my new class at Temple University.  It's been 20 years since I last sat in a college classroom, but after sleeping with Dreamweaver under my pillow for a few months I realized it wasn't seeping in, so I signed up for this class on website design which began last week.  The instructor is knowledgable and personable, and the HTML textbook is interesting, taking a complex subject and making it learner friendly.  We'll see how that goes as the weeks pass.

THIS and THAT:  

One day recently, we visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography and enjoyed the innovative exhibits called Still/Life by four contemporary Japanese artists.  After we left the museum and walked into the Ebisu Garden Place square, we happened upon one of the featured artists creating a collaborative project of whirling people.

Monday of last week was a holiday, Coming of Age Day, and I accompanied Martin to Meiji Jingu so he could take pictures.  On this day, called Seijin-no-hi, anyone who will turn 20 years of age that year celebrates their arrival to adulthood.  Though we only saw a couple of young men in the traditional dress, there were many pretty young ladies in kimono, some with a parent, some with a boyfriend, but mostly with their girlfriends.  Please see Martin's 成人の日photos album.　I didn't get the connection, but there were dozens of magnificent ice sculptures lining the way the Meiji Shrine.  My favorite was the ice skater above. 

Sunday, we had a few friends over, including Toby's surrogate brother, Indy.  Here's Martin posing with both doggies.  My good friend, Junko-san was kind enough to give me some tips on dog care.  Remember, she's the creator of Toby's journal from last summer.

And, surprise, surprise.  It actually snowed yesterday.  It was so pretty.  School wasn't called off, the snow stopped falling mid-morning and turned to rain, but it was nice while it lasted.

    

Volleyball, Pizza and Japanese

バレーボール、ピッザと日本語。。。

English is below.

これはモニカですね。夏からモニカとジョナは殆ど毎週の上野シティーランに参加しています。 それでこのＩｗａさんは撮った写真が彼のメインパイジに乗せてくれました。よかったね。モニカは見たときにかっこいと言いました。多分彼女のマイスペースで使います。両親もＣＲに参加してから、モニカはちょっとしぶしぶ行ってが、どんどん良くなると思います。最近娘は私と日本語の進歩について話しました。上手なりたいですが、とても難しいです。そうですね。 私はとても同感であります。でも、練習事を要ってので、話してみなければなりませんよ。時々スケータの友達はモニカと日本語で英語で喋ります。内気だけど彼女の気持ちがいいと思います。子供の学校で日本語を勉強しているけど、たくさん練習を必要があります。今度モニカは私に別の補足の日本語の先生を見つけると頼みました。このアルバイトの仕事は毎週一時間一回と思います。友達は興味をもったら、私と教えてください。いつものように    Ｉｗａさんに写真をくれてありがとうございます。上の三枚はかれの。

学校の授業には、日本語より、数学ははいっそうむずかしいだけど、物理学が好きです。および英語と体育と芸術。一番好きな授業は世界歴史です。学習はいいだので、友達とバレーボールは主要の理由で学校に行きたいと思います。殆ど毎日学校の後でバレーボールの練習しに行きます。チームは友達です。とても楽しそうです。今週はシーズンの最後の試合です。 家族は見に行くつもりです。 カメラマンとチアリーダたちですよね。                        マエノバレーボール写真

友達について話して、モニカでたくさんいい女性に会ったことがあります。週末で友達２人は来て、マーティンはピッザを作って手伝いました。とてもおいしかったです。モニカに一番大好きなピッザは何ですかと聞いてください。答えは日本語で話すことができますよ。

The speeding skater in the top picture is Monica.  This last weekend she made the top page of Iwa-san's Tokyo City Run site.  Since summer, she and Jonah have participated in CR almost every week.  "Cool." she said when she saw it.  As always, I want to sincerly thank Iwa-san for letting me use his skating pictures.  All three at the top are his.  Probably because her parents also attend City Run, Monica's rather reluctant to go, but lately seems to be enjoying it more.  Recently, Monica talked to me about her progress in Japanese language.  She wants to learn the language, but it is really, really hard.  I can totally relate to that.  But, she(we) need practice, she(we) has to talk!  Sometimes the skaters talk to Monica in Japanese and English, she's shy, but becoming more comfortable and even making friends, I think.  She studies Japanese in school, but needs more practice speaking and listening.  Recently, Monica asked me to find her a Japanese teacher in addition to her class at school. She wants to boost up her ability.   I'm searching now.

Speaking of classes, even more than Japanese,  Monica finds Math difficult.  But she likes Physics, also PE, English and Art.  And her favorite class is World History.  Learning is good, but I think the reason she really likes to go to school is to see her friends and play volleyball.  Almost every day after school, they have practice.  She really enjoys playing this game with her friends.  The season's last game is this week and the whole family will go to watch and support, as cameraman and cheerleaders.　　　                 MORE VOLLEYBALL PIX

And, while we're on the subject of friends, what a nice bunch of girls we get to meet through Monica.  Just this last weekend, Sheri and Katie stopped by and Martin helped them make pizza.  Ask Monica what her favorite pizza is.  She can tell you all about it.  In Japanese.

UNO

ウンノを遊び方を教えてね。Teaching how to play UNO.

先週末に友達たちとスキーに行きました。４家族１２人でいました。とても楽しかったです。２日の旅行だので、民宿で泊まりました。前に二回私の家族は同じ民宿(ロージスエヒロ）に泊まりました。土曜日夕方で皆は温泉に行って、おいしい食事をたべて、ウンノを遊びました。最初に４人子供だけはカードを遊んだので、モニカとジョナはノエミちゃんとれいくんに遊び方を教えました。私の子供の日本語はあまりよくないので、ちょっとしにくいでした。色（黄色と青と赤と緑）と数の説明は大丈夫でした。私の子供は日本語の色と数をしているもう、日本人２人は英語の色と数をしています。でも、”SKIP”　と　”Reverse" はもっと難しかったです。もう複雑なルールが説明されました。 子供たちは頭がいいだので、早く遊びやさしくなりました。すぐに皆さんは遊んで、楽しかっただと思います。私はシリルに遊び方を教えましたが、複雑のルールを言いませんでした。しかし、彼は競争的な人ですので、子供を見ました。彼は”パメラはそれを言わなかっただよ”と言いました。そうですね。後でもちろん彼は勝ちました。UNOの写真に見て。See the UNO pictures.

マーティンはたくさんスキーの写真を撮りましたが、仕事からまだ載せました。それで、少ないのを載せます。

Last weekend, we went skiing with some good friends.  There were four families, and 12 people total, including four kids.  Since we went for two days, we stayed at a family inn (called a Minsyuka) Saturday night.  Our family has stayed at this same Inn twice before, the Lodge Suehiro.　Saturday evening, we all went to an onsen, then ate a delicious meal at the lodge, then we played Uno.  At first, just the kids played, but since the two Japanese kids didn't know how to play the game, our kids taught them.  The trouble is, that Monica and Jonah's Japanese isn't that great.  They know the colors and the numbers in Japanese, and since Noemi-chan and Rei-kun are learning the English for colors and numbers, they worked that out just fine.  But it was more difficult to explain what to do when you get a SKIP or REVERSE card.  And there were some other even more complicated rules that they were able to convey.  Soon, everyone was playing UNO and it was really fun.  When Cyrille joined, I taught him the rules, but I didn't bother to explain the more complicated rules, (like how you can lay down several cards at once if you have all the same number but different colors.) But he's a competitive guy, and he's smart, so when he saw the kids laying down several cards at once he said, "Hey, Pamela, you didn't tell me that." Well, that's true. So, of course, after that, he won. 

Martin took lots of good ski pictures, but because of work he's been too busy to process them.  So here's just a few for now.   

You can count on it.

それで数えることができる。

この女の子は私に数え方を教えました。近所の野菜店の人は算盤を使って、英語で話さないので、彼女はいつもゆっくり総計を言いました。外の店は小さい計算機があたから、直ちに総計を見せます。でも、さいとさんは違います。特別な人。私に親切で、忍耐です。数を繰り返して、明白に発音したから、女性のおかげで、自信を得ました。

後の英語のポーストは日本語を練習ことについてけど、友情はについてです。

Let me introduce you to Masako-san, my Fruit Stand Lady.  I give her credit for teaching me how to count in Japanese. Numbers are one of the first things they teach you, when you are trying to learn a language, but if you don't use them, if you don't talk, then you don't incorporate them into your vocabulary.  And you really do need to know the numbers in order to function here in Japan.  It's easy to study the numbers 1 through 10, to recite them, associate little pneumonics to help you remember, but then you get into other numbers like 100, 1000, 10,000... all really important numbers of daily life in terms of yen... For example, "Did he say that pizza cost 230 yen, or 2300 yen?... and what is that in dollars?"  ... Answer:  You heard wrong, it was 3500 yen, and that's not quite $30. 

So, if you can learn to count, it really helps your daily life, as well as self confidence, so I want to practice every chance I get. Here in Japan, the store clerks will give me one chance, they'll say the total price in Japanese, maybe pretty fast, and if I don't seem to understand, (because I am thinking, processing what they said and it takes me a minute) then they assume I never will get it and they immediately punch the numbers into a small calculator and whip it around so I can see it.  I pay, and go out.  Opportunity squelched in a flurry of efficiency. 

But Masako-san was different.  For one thing, she doesn't have a calculator, she uses an abacus.  It has been in her husband's family for a very long time, since before the previous emperor, is how she put it.  For another thing, she doesn't speak English at all, but did realize that I was making pitiful attempts to speak Japanese.  Years ago, after I discovered her tiny store in my neighborhood, she went outside her comfort zone and took the time to deal with me.  I'd buy a pack of strawberries, some kyuri (Japanese cucumbers) and a couple of tomatoes, maybe, and her fingers would whiz over the abacus and she'd say Y850 (八百五十円）　HAPPYAKUGOJYUEN... slowly and distinctly pronouncing it, repeating it until I would understand and count out the change.  (I didn't say she was cheap, did I?  We're talking central Tokyo prices here.) She's very kind, very patient. Thanks to her, my confidence went up and I could try practicing Japanese on strangers.  Ouch.  But you know what they say... no pain, no gain.

You could easily miss her fruit stand.  It's really just a hole in the wall along an ever busier street.  I suspect that its been at this location in her husband's family for several generations. Her son, who is very quiet, sometimes fills in for her, and sometimes I catch a glimpse of her husband back in the depths where the customers don't go, but we've never met.  My Japanese is slowly improving but is honestly still quite rudimentary, and many people are too shy to speak with a foreigner if its not necessary.  Once I stopped by for some mikans and Saito-san was extremely talkative.  Some of which I understood.  Her son had a new baby.  Oh, she was just bursting with joy.  Later, I was lucky to stop by and catch the new baby there with her mother.  My calm and patient fruit stand lady had become a beaming and excited new grandmother.  Then... recently, I was on my way to TAC, I waved, as usual when I am just passing by, and she called me in with much enthusiasm.  She wanted me to meet little Mai-chan.  My, she's grown!  She's two now.  And she has her little pink boots on the wrong feet.  HANTAIDESU.  反対です。But she put them on herself... I understood that much. 

Recently I received a very nice note from a lady who I met in a bookstore here in Tokyo a few months ago.  She was just here for a few days to visit her daughter and do some sightseeing.  We met when I tried to help her find a certain book by talking to the Japanese staff, so she knows I've been studying Japanese.  (I'll tell you about this special book some other time.) She said something like... "You must be quite fluent by now..."    Yes... I suppose I should be.  I think I would be IF... I was younger and had a nice soft brain that would absorb the language instead of this cement head.  or IF... I studied more, though honestly I do study quite a bit, and my sensei is wonderful, but of course I do other things besides study Japanese.  And certainly IF I were truly "immersed" and had a real chance to practice on a much more frequent and continuous basis. But then... I'd have a different life, wouldn't I? 

So I make friends and practice as much as they will let me.

Having touched on the subject of counting, I think I'll share these pix of the  guy doing the traffic analysis at a major intersection.  I thought that was interesting.  I'm not exactly sure, but it seems like he's counting vehicles coming from all the different ways, those that turn, go straight.  Probably an important thing for someone to know.  And then there's the guy measuring the seismic activity on the sidewalk next to the Russian Embassy.

Think fast

早く考えて

Recently I've been studying my Japanese even harder than ever, but still seem to be progressing at a snails pace.  Which has me thinking about the nature of self motivation, challenging oneself, and the role that incremental progress measurement plays in achievement.  To put it in other words, wouldn't it be useful for me to be able to measure, or score my development in some objective way?  Wouldn't that provide a personal incentive, a quantifiable gauge of growth?

The fact is, I currently do have a means to measure my progress, or lack thereof.   I call it the sweat n' glow index..  You SWEAT when you have to try to use Japanese and it doesn't go well, you see that look on the other person's face that says "Oh, why did I have to come to work today and have this foreigner come in talking garbledegook."  If they can, they break into English, even if its bad, which they are loath to do, if they can't, they keep glancing around for help, another Japanese who has better English, an earthquake... anything.  They may even resort to the bhats sign.... the crossed arms that means Muri... Impossible.  On the other hand, you literally GLOW when you use your Japanese and you get what you asked for.  Everyone is smiling, bowing, its so lovely.  You walk away with a spring in your step, the sun comes out, you can accomplish anything. 

Incomprehensibly, GLOW moments are often followed in quick succession by SWEAT moments.  But I don't care, I still go for the GLOW.

Jonah's recent discovery of Cross Country Running is comparable, in some ways, to learning a foreign language.  He runs about two and a half miles three times a week with his team.  Then every Saturday, at the meet, he runs 2.1 miles.  He says the practices are fun, running through the park with his friends, and he likes that he can just work on improving his own ability to run and run well, and not really worry about competing with the other runners.  So, its competitive, in that you are pacing yourself with the other runners, and you do receive a rank, and a time, but it is really yourself, and your own potential that you are competing with.  His first meet he came in 46 out of 70 middle schoolers and he was pretty fired up after that race. I hope for him a lifetime of delight in being physically fit, trying new things, and having fun. 

We saw the HARNESS RACES at the Mecosta County Fair during our summer trip.   I think some of Martin's pix are pretty good.  I pulled out a series from one race, with the "come from behind" near- photofinish pretty well documented.  I like the jockey's cool stance in that last pix, the horse trotting back to the stable, that look. 

Learning Japanese doesn't give me those checker flag moments. It's more like the journey of the cross country runner.  Trying to gain ground with time.  And reminding yourself that it's not the score that matters as much as how soon your breathing recovers each time.

このポストを英語で書きました。日本語を勉強をしていることとジョナの走ることです。日本語で書きませんでした。疲れた。おやすみなさい。

The best okonomiyaki, 500yen

一番お好み焼き　５００円　　

我々の日本語英語の練習を頑張りましょう　！　　下に見てください。Let's do Japanese/English practice/exchange.    See below.

 

It was Charlie Baker who first turned me on to okonomiyaki.  Over 5 years ago, back when we had recently moved to Japan and Martin was working at Honda R&D in Utsunomiya, he met up with his old motorcycle buddy and work colleague who had already been in Japan for several months.  At the time, Martin was living "tan-shin-funi" which means he lived by himself near where he worked.  Sometimes we would take the shinkansen (bullet train) to visit him on the weekend instead of him coming to Tokyo.  Anyway, Charlie and his family took us to a neighborhood Matsuri (festival) where lots of different things go on, including taiko drumming, dancing, flea market sales and eating and drinking.  Charlie told me about Okonomiyaki, and described it as a Japanese pancake, but not sweet.  Well, up until that time, I had never tried it, because I didn't know what was inside, but I'm always interested in trying something new.  I had no trouble keeping up with Charlie as he waded through the crowd looking for the okonomiyaki booth as he's a good half meter taller than everyone else.  Because of his recommendation, I did try it, but like many other Japanese foods,  it takes some getting used to, and at first, I didn't really see what was so great about it.  Since then, I've had it many times and now I LOVE IT!  It is so yummy! 

Last Saturday, at Yoyogi Koen, I had the best Okonomiyaki I've ever eaten.  It was crisp on the outside and tender and creamy on the inside.  It wasn't too bready and had lots of yummy crunchy vegetables and other stuff inside.  The friendly vendor had made several in advance, because they take awhile, and then he would heat them up when you order.  He added lots of brown sauce to mine and then I added heavy mayonaise, seaweed, fish flakes and red ginger pickles.  It was delicious.

Usually we ride our bikes to Yoyogi Park, but I still haven't been able to ride my bike since my arm injury.  I have to catch the frisbee with one hand because I kept hurting my left arm if it got involved, but but I'm starting to use both hands to throw.  It was fun.  I always enjoy a chance to play frisbee.

After the frisbee, we hung out for awhile and watched and listened to a young band right there in the park.  Cool.

Here's a link to their website. THE HOT CREWS

Okay.  As you know, I've been trying to learn Japanese ever since moving to Japan.  For various reasons, my progress is quite slow.  (We won't go into that right now. 笑)  But using this blog to practice writing Japanese is one good thing.  I also want to increase the chance of communicating with my non-English speaking friends, and those who are learning English.  So I tried to paraphrase SOME of the above story below.   

どうぞ

(改定 9月19日）　　5年半前に日本に来るまで、お好み焼きを食べたことがありませんでした。　　度々見たけど、どんな食べ物が分からなかったので、食べてみませんでした。その後で、主人の友達と家族と宇都宮のお祭りに一緒に行きました。そこで、お好み焼きを初めて経験した。外の日本料理のように、最初はあまり好きじゃなかったが、だんだん慣れた。今は大好きになった。

先週末の土曜日にフリスビーにし、代々木公園に行った。その日に一番おいしいお好み焼きを食べました。外側はぱりぱりだけど内側は軟らかくて、クリームのようです。野菜は少し歯応えがあって、完璧だと思います。

料理人はすばらしかったです。前もって、作っていた、私に出来立て厚いお好み焼きをくれた。褐色のソースをたくさん上に載せた。私は自分でマヨネーズとか青海苔とか鰹節とか紅生姜をたくさん載せた。とてもおいしかったです。

怪我するまあで、いつも公園に自転車で行きましたが、まだ自転車に乗ることができません。左手を怪我したので、フリスビーを掴む時は片手を使っているが、投げる時は両手を使うようにしています。いつもフリスビーをすることは楽します。

後で、若い人の音楽のバンドを見て，聞いて、とても面白かったです。

（訂正の手伝うをありがとう　＞まついさん）

China Quick

Let's have Chinese Food delivered! 

But first, a cherry blossom update.

Here's something we don't see too often in Tokyo, Blue Sky!  We were only gone to Thailand for a few days, but I think it was during the best bloom of the main sakura.  We are so lucky, though.  On our porch we have a very small weeping cherry tree.  This is how it looked on Tuesday.

And here it is on Thursday, coming into bloom quickly, but notice that the blue sky is gone, replaced by the usual white.  Rebecca, if we're going to have a mini Ohanami and drink wine under this tree while it's blooming, we better hurry!  Maybe Monday... the weekend is out of control... Friday, Saturday, totally booked, Sunday going to the Bon Jovi concert after City Run and Baseball.

During our first year here in Japan, someone helped us, and we learned how to order pizza from Domino's.  (Domino's is REALLY GOOD here in Japan.)  Once they have your address on file, you can tell them your phone number (in Japanese) and it's not too hard to give a pizza order.  We order the same thing every time anyway and Monica always makes the calls.

But I have not had much (any) luck ordering anything else.  I tried Thai once, and got discouraged and had to give up.  Just couldn't understand what they were asking me.  The China Quick brochure often appears in my mailbox and makes me salivate, I often see the China Quick guy scootering around, or parked in front of my building, but the whole thing is too formidable.  I dial the number, I start to sweat, we always get stuck on my name.  My first name is easy to pronounce パメラ  but that's not the name on the mailbox in the lobby.  Don't want to confuse anyone.  I can say my address and phone number.  But I can't read the brochure.  Can't anticipate what they will ask.  I can tell its a question, but I don't know the answer.  Often, when we are calling various businesses (like, especially if a notice for a package is left) the Japanese person on the receiving end of the call wants to be helpful, but hearing my poor stumbling mispronounced Japanese, they are just sure they can't understand me and the whole thing deteriorates.  Sometimes they put me on hold for a long time to get an "English Speaker" and sometimes, between my bad Japanese, and their bad English, we can get the business resolved, but it's not pleasant for anyone.  So I live my life in such a way that I hardly ever have to make these types of phonecalls.

So, I think it's time to move past those artifical constraints.  I can speak enough Japanese to order in a restaurant (of course, in a restaurant I can point at the picture and hold up one finger and smile... "One of these please")  Just kidding, it's not quite that bad.  So, I talked to my wonderful Japanese teacher, and she gave me a few pointers, which I wrote out in Hiragana with the English to remind me what I'm saying.  Surprised me.  I probably could have done this long ago.  It wasn't that hard.  Except for one problem.  I called the number on the brochure, and after dealing with the name problem, giving the phone number and then the address, the China Quick guy had a whole lot to say in Japanese, ending in a polite question.  I realized he was trying to give me a phone number, and asking me if I wouldn't mind calling the store for my area.  Okay.  I get it.  Well, after that practice,  the phone call to the correct store went pretty well. (I know why I'm receiving the wrong brochure, because we're right on the border between two areas.)  After I hung up,  I was ELATED.  It felt like such a success.  But then the kids reminded me that I shouldn't rejoice just yet, wait and see if he comes AND did I get what I think I ordered.  YES and YES!!

One more thing about this.  Yesterday, I stopped into my neighborhood Kaiten Sushi place (where the sushi revolves around on a belt) just to have a little snack of maguro (tuna) and salmon, and while sitting there, I was fooling with my new Keitai (cell phone) trying to figure out the things I already knew on my old phone, and I discovered something interesting.  It has a Japanese-English dictionary.  And not just any dictionary.  You can actually capture some kanji from something with the phone, and look it up!  Well, I did that successfully.  But when I got home and tried it on the China Quick brochure it didn't work so well.  Probably I just need more practice and a lot of patience.  The pictures are nice, but I would like to read the Kanji so that I can really understand what it is I'm ordering next time. 

Note to ROBIN and Aunt HELEN in St. Louis and KATHY in Omaha and MIKE and MARY KAY in Colorado and MATT in Memphis.  Thanks for your emails.  Thanks for reading my blog.  I will try to keep it interesting.  Okay, gotta get ready to go to Jonah's School for the Library Sleepover.  I'm in charge of part of it.  When your youngest is in 5th grade, you have to be as involved as possible.  Because when they get into Middle School, everything changes.