From the Heart of Tokyo 東京の中心から

Mori no Ike

森の池

 
Mori no ike is the name of the lakeside village in Minnesota where Monica and Jonah stayed at the Japanese language camp they attended for a month earlier this summer.  Since I picked them up there in late July, we've been constantly on the move, and haven't had a chance to write about any of it here. 

 
The goal was for them to "level up" their Japanese, and though it's not yet certain whether or not that occurred, it is clear that the month they stayed at Mori no ike was an unforgettable experience.  In keeping with the concept of immersion, the campers learn about the country's culture, eat the food and speak and listen to Japanese every day.  For Monica and Jonah, it was also an opportunity to meet some American kids with whom they share an interest in learning Japanese, and actually let them experience a sort of reverse culture shock.  Each made some good friends at camp and we hope that some will come visit us in Tokyo before we move next summer.

At Mori no ike, all the campers and counselors chose a Japanese name, Monica became Yui and Jonah became Dai for the entire month.  When they get back to Tokyo, our Japanese friends are welcome to call them by their Japanese camp names, Yui and Dai.  Since camp ended, Yui and Dai have been able to stay in touch with some of their friends from camp via facebook and phone text. Some of their friends are Hiroto, Hokuto, Cupcake, Saki, Reijirou and Yuzuki. They also made friends with several wonderful councelors who are really not much older than themselves, but have very good Japanese.

Soon after they arrived at Mori no ike, the campers (known as gakusae) were given an assessment by the councelors (known as sensei).  Yui and Dai were put together in the highest group.  Every day, they spent several hours studying Japanese grammar and vocabulary, practicing kanji, and writing in their journals in Japanese.  Towards the end of the month, Yui and Dai created a final project together which they presented to the other gakusai and sensei.  Their project is a book, which compares a day in the life of a high school student with a gakusai at Mori no ike.  They drew the pictures and wrote the Japanese themselves.  It looks to be accurate, and is really quite a treasure.

But it wasn't all studying, there were lots of fun activities going on every day.  Just like any other summer camp with a lake, there was swimming and boating and all sorts of group activities.  They lived in cabins, slept in bunkbeds, ate their Japanese food galley style, and had to follow a rigid shower schedule.  Living with strangers in a group setting was a new experience for Yui and Dai, but they got used to it.

They attended International Day, where campers from all the language camps came together at one location, and half way through the month they all went to Fargo, to do their laundry and visit a mall.  The rest of the time, they were "deprived" of their usual electronic communication devices, such as computer, cell phone and ipod, so they could concentrate on advancing their Japanese without that distraction.  To this end, Yui and Dai each had an electronic Japanese dictionary which they used quite a bit, especially for new vocabulary. 

In a few days, we will return to Tokyo, and hopefully Yui and Dai will be able to communicate like never before with our Japanese friends.  Please give them as much practice as possible during this, their last year in Japan.

森の池はモニカとジョナは参加したのカンプの名前です。カンプは一ヶ月だので、３週間前に終わったときに、私は行って、会って、連れて来ました。あそこから、いつも動いてから、ここに書けなかったです。

ミネソタ州の日本語のカンプの目的はレベルアップです。たぶん、 経験はそれですが、もっともっと面白かったです。　　毎日に日本語を話した、日本語を聞いた、日本料理を食べたので、日本文化も勉強しました。　実は、モニカとジョナのために、カンプにたくさんアメリカ人の知らない人に会ったから、逆カルチャーショックの経験を体験しました。それから、いい友達たちが好ききたので、よく連絡をしました。

カンプにいるときに、皆は日本語の名前を選んだので、モニカはゆいなったので、ジョナはだいなりました。ともだちたちの名前はひろと、りじりょう、ほくと、カップケイキ、さき、ゆすきとか。日本に帰るときに、日本人の友達はゆいとだいも呼んだら、日本語をできるだけ話したいです。

カンプの間に、最初に、日本語の評価は起こりました。カンプの参加する人の中に、ゆいとだいのレベルは一番高いです。そして、一緒に勉強しました。毎日にたくさん文法と言葉も勉強して、電気辞書を作りました。漢字を書いて練習して、特別プロジェクトもやりました。 ゆいとだいは一緒に最後のプロジェクトをして、カンプの皆と見せました。もちろん、毎日に、一日中、日本語を話して、聞いて、練習をしました。

でも、全部は勉強することじゃないので、たくさん楽しいこともしました。池があるから、泳いで、カター、キャンプファイヤーのすることもしました。カンプの 間中に、ファーゴーに行って、洗濯をして、マールーに買い物に行きました。夜に皆はカービンに寝てので、ちょっと難しかったです。ゆいとだいはだれも知らないから、込んでいると思いました。カービンは１２人ぐらいで寝てので、慣れていてがんばりました。

カンプの間に、ゆいとだいは電子ことをしないから、恵まれない感じがありました。携帯とか、ペソコンとか、Ipodも持ってない。ゴールは日本語だけから、電気辞書を作れました。望みはゆいとだいはゆいとだいはたくさん新しい言葉を学びました。今年はマレー家族の日本に住んでいる最後の年から、私の理想は、ゆいとだいは日本語を上手になってので、友達たちは少しずつおしゃべり練習の手伝いことを感謝します。

 
  

English Teacher

英語の先生

Please see below the Japanese text for the English text.　このもの語足りは私の英語のクラスについてです。たぶん、全部の友達はまだ分かることはアメリカから日本来た前に緊急の看護婦で働きました。それは殆ど９年間前に。日本に来たときに、子供二人は小学生ので、私はいろいろことを忙しかったです。 日本語をできないので、ここに看護婦のようをできません。そして、子供たちは大きくなったから、新しいキャリアを探しました。自分の手腕とか興味とかを考察をしたと、あら！もちろん、英語の先生なりたいです。それは３年間前にので、熱心でなりました。プライベットなレッスンはよいだので、改良をしに東京のテンペル大学区に出席もしました。そして、一年間で専門学校で英語を教えています。３月から、日曜日の午後に、友達たちのグルプのレッスンをします。それはZoomUPです。みなはいろいろレベルをしてので、クラスは楽しくて、面白いと思います。それについて前のポストがここである。いくつの生徒はもっとチャレンジなクラスを欲しいから（例えば、TOEICをとる人）、ZoomUPProを作りました。

そして、ZoomUPProのクラスは略毎週火曜日の夜である、７時半から９時まで起こります。  生徒の予定の場合は参加して、おのおののレッスンは独立のスタイルです。Mixiを作るので、コミュネティーを参加する後に、レッスンを参加したかったら、MixiのZoomUPProのコミュネティーで、イベントをサインアップすること方法。標的の生徒は中級レベル以上理想なであります。自分で資料を作るから、参加するつもりの生徒場合は作れます。考えることは、私の近所で働いているの人は仕事の後に、参加します。（近所は六本木一丁目だので、オクラホテルとか、アルクヒルズなど）

昨日は初めのクラスでした。一人だけ生徒は来たが、彼女は勇敢なので、成功したと思います。たくさん準備をしました。私の考えはクラスの方を決めて、レッスンを作ったら、後に続きやすいなります。 オリジナルのZoomUPのような、最初にWarmUPBookを読みました。この本の目的は耳を英語を慣れています。その本は子供の絵本だけど、面白いくて、たくさんいい言葉はあります。本のテームは子犬は風が引きます。次ぐに一緒に作ったクロスワードパズルを解答しました。そのパズルの言葉はWarmUPBookからや次の書いた物語からです。パズルは物語読むこと前には故意です。難しい言葉ので、それは勉強することです。次に、書いた物語を読んで、言葉とか文法とか発音とか意味も勉強しました。その物語はインフルエンザについて。９０分のクラスで英語を話しました。クラスは終わりに、生徒は全部の資料を持って帰りました。（絵本以外）そして、生徒は強化できます。将来のクラスのためいろいろ方法を使うつもりです。

ZoomUPProを参加したかったら、Mixiのコミュネティーを見てください。私に連絡をしてください。 将来の予定クラスは１２月１日や１２月１５日であります。９０分のクラスの値段は２０００円だけど、毎の４回目の参加したクラスはおきに半額をします。このポストは広告のようだけど、英語を勉強したい人は私の近所で働いたら、たぶんZoomUPProを見つけたら、喜んでいます。　日本語の間違いをごめなさいね。

This post is about my group English classes.  Probably most of my friends know that I spent many years working as an Emergency and Intensive Care nurse.  But when I came to Japan, I found that I couldn't work as a nurse because I couldn't speak Japanese.  The kids were young then, so I was very busy anyway, volunteering at school and whatnot.  But as they got older, I started casting about for another career.  I considered my skills and my interests, and realized that I wanted to teach English.  So over three years ago, I started teaching English in private lessons.  I found that I really liked it, and (bragging here) I'm good at it.  So I got a part time job teaching English in a vocational school and a hotel.  I also started a casual group class for my friends called Zoom UP, where Japanese people of all ages and levels can gather for a fun English conversation class .   Here's a prior post about Zoom UP.  Some of my friends told me that they like Zoom UP, but they'd like a more challenging class, for example, people who are studying for the TOEIC exam for work, so I decided to create Zoom UP Pro.

Zoom UP Pro will be held on Tuesday evenings, from 7:30 to 9 pm.  This class is for Intermediate level and above English learners.  Because the classes are independent of each other, in other words, free standing, the student can attend the class depending on his or her schedule.  I've made a community on Mixi, which is like a Japanese Facebook, and once the student joins the community, she can sign up for any class she plans to attend by joining the "event".  My thought is that people who work in my neighborhood may want to join after work.  That would be Roppongi-itchome, Okura Hotel, Ark Hills area.

Last night, I held the first ever class of Zoom UP Pro.  I only had one brave student, but I consider it a success.  Like with the original Zoom UP, I started with a Warm UP Book.  The purpose of the Warm UP Book is to get used to listening to English, to warm up the ears.  I use children's books for this, but the words are not overly simple, and the concepts are advanced enough to make it interesting.  This also enhances the student's self confidence.  This particular book was about a puppy who catches a cold.  Next, we worked together to try to solve a crossword puzzle that I had made up.  I took the words from the Warm UP Book and also from the Main Story, a one-pager which I wrote.  I intentionally presented the words in the crossword puzzle before the Main Story to give my student a chance to understand them better when we encountered them in the Main Story.  The story's theme was influenza.  When we read this story, we not only worked on vocabulary, but also sentence structure, idioms, pronunciation, and of course, meaning.  During the entire 90 minute class, we spoke mostly English.  When the class is finished, the student gets to take the material home so that she can reinforce what she learned in class.

If you think you might like to join the class, please take a look at the Mixi Zoom UP Pro Community, and contact me.  The next scheduled classes will be December 1st and December 15th.  The cost of the 90 minute class is 2000 yen, and every fourth lesson attended is half price.  Yes, this post is an advertisement to try to get more students for my class.  Group dynamics will make it even more fun if more people join.  If people who work convenient to my neighborhood are looking for a way to improve their English, I think they'll be happy to find out about Zoom UP Pro.

Switching topics now.  Just for fun, see the photo below.  Nissen International Market in Azabu Juban has some beautiful real Christmas trees for sale, but we won't be buying one.  FYI 29,715 yen is $338.31 USD.  Nissen is a really great store, it has lots of things that I can't find in the Japanese grocery store, such as turkeys.  This week, I bought our 14 pound Thanksgiving turkey (Norbest brand) for 4418 yen, which is $50.13.  Expensive, but there's no other choice, and we'll make the best of it.  I'll be glad when the exchange rate gets back to normal.

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.

    

Whether Baseball or Weather...

野球かどか天気か、ジョナは興味がある。

Jonah's friend, Lauren, is holding Toby.  Jonah is holding a baseball.  The baseball was signed by St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher Braden Looper.  Lauren and her Mom know Braden, a rising star in the Cardinals Pitcher line-up, and since Jonah is maybe the Cardinals Biggest Fan here in Tokyo, they arranged to get him this ball.  Wow!  He talked about it all summer, how Lauren would get him Braden's ball.  I told him not to get his hopes up, anything could happen.  But Lauren came through!  When everyone returned to Tokyo from summer Homeleave, Jonah got his ball.  Thanks Braden, and good luck next year.  We'll be watching.  (Now if someone could just arrange for Jonah to meet Albert...)

This post is about Jonah in all his 12 year old glory.  What a nice age.  He's got a lot going on, but strikes a nice balance, I think.  Baseball is number one.  He plays catch now and then, and is on the school team in the spring, but primarily he's an active fan.  Jonah has learned all about stats, which is actually good for his math skills.  He's quite knowledgeable about the various teams and players, especially the Cardinals.  He checks MLB.com every morning before school as there's a 12 hour or more time zone difference, and games are often played in the US while he's sleeping in Tokyo.  He pays attention to standings throughout the season.  Right now he's following Post Season games.  Last night, Jonah and I and Toby went to the Roppongi Sports Bar, where we could sit outside (because of Toby) and watch the Rockies beat the Diamondbacks.  Jonah's still undecided who he'll support in the World Series.  Since none of his favorites, the Cardinals, Tigers, or Twins will be playing, he's leaning toward the Rockies.  Jonah used to watch Kazu Matsui play with the Seibu Lions (Jonah's favorite Japanese team) before he moved to the Yankees and then the Rockies. ジョナの一番興味は野球ですよね。夏で彼の友達は特別ボールをくれました。ジョナはとても喜んでいます。

  Jonah's other major interest is weather.  He's thinking about meteorology as a career option.  Living here in Japan has given him the chance to learn about Typhoons first-hand, and during a recent typhoon he frequently referred to the weather channel website to watch the progress of the storm, often going outside to check his rain gauge and look at the sky.  For his birthday, his Dad got him an electronic weather guage that has a sensor outside on the porch and various measurements and readings on the computerized screen inside, like temperature, barometric preasure, and humidity.  Here's how the guage looked when the typhoon was approaching. 天気はジョナには興味津津たります。東京に住んでいるので、台風について知って来るこたができます。彼の誕生日のために父から天気の電気測定事を貰いました。それ使ってながら、台風はとても面白かったそうです。

But it doesn't stop there.  When you're 12 years old, the world is full of all sorts of possibilities.  I'm glad that Jonah is exploring many different interests.  He's involved in ASIJ Cross Country, practices three times a week and then has meets with other international schools on Saturdays.  He's working hard to improve his times, but I think that the main benefit is that he's finding pleasure in improving his own fitness.  This will be a life long benefit.  Another interest he's developing is in-line skating.  Since August, Jonah has been attending Tokyo City Run almost every Sunday.  (We go to church on Saturday night.) Now that Sunday school has started up again for him, he takes his skates when he walks to church school, and then gets on the subway when it's finished and goes to Tokyo station to join the City Run in progress.  I'm seeing some real improvement in his skating skills.  He does like to go fast.  Skating Pix from Iwa-san.

Music's another big interest.  Did I say BIG?  Yes, after working with the trumpet all last year in rookie band, Jonah decided to switch this year to the TUBA.  At first I was quietly opposed.  The instrument is bigger than he is.  I was worried it would be too loud when he practiced, and how would he get it back and forth?  The school provided another Tuba for him to keep at home, and he practices for 10 minutes every day, plus class on alternate school days, plus practices during study hall.  It's not that loud, it's actually kind of a nice sound.  The best part is that Jonah likes it, wants to practice, and is excited about playing the instrument.

Lately, Jonah's been taking an interest in cooking.  For math class he had to do an excel project focusing on fractions and needed a family recipe.  He chose Grandma's Zesty Baked Chicken and created this project.  It sounded so good he decided to try to make it.  Turned out really delicious, just like Grandma's.    He's also been helping his Dad out with his church ministry, training the new altar servers.

So.  This week, I got a call from school.  Jonah had been injured at play and was going by ambulance to the hospital with a suspected head injury.  Of course, as a former trauma nurse, I had good reason to worry, as I've seen too much.  My prayers were answered and he was fine.  Now he's got the experience of an ambulance ride, a CT scan, and getting an IV.  I'm just a thankful Mom. 

そう。今週学校から電話を貰いました。ジョナは遊んでいるときに 頭は危害があ宝、病院に行かなければなりませんでした。もちろん、私は前に救急の看護婦だから、心配しました。見て過ぎましたから。神は祈りを聞いたので、彼は大丈夫です。そして、ジョナは救急車に乗って、コンピューター援用テストをして、IVもしたことがありました。私はただ感謝の心があります。