without air-conditioners

August 30th, 2005

I'm writing this diary without using dictionaries. I always post English diary with using my dictionary in my PC. The dictionary is very useful and convenient. But I decided to post this diary without using dictionary. So, I may make some(a lot of ?) mistakes in this diary. :-p

Nowadays, it's cool to sleep well without air-conditioners. (Did the hot season finish?) I usually fall asleep with an air-conditioner when it's too hot. Air-conditioners make me feel comfortable. And I can fall asleep easily with it. But it's not natural. Therefore, I sometimes feel a little bad condition with it.

I have a good sleep in natural cool condition. How about you ?

Mushi-King at ATC

August 28th, 2005

I went to ATC(Asia pacific Trade Center) hall in Osaka city to see the exhibition held for kids.
Its title is "Mushi-King World". "Mushi-King" is one of the most popular cartoons for kids in Japan. And it's also the title of very popular TV game.
"Mushi" means "insects" in Japanese.
The story of "Mushi-King" seems like Pokemon.



The official site of "Mushi-King" is here.(English edition)


We can play many kinds of game, can learn about insects, and can experience catching insects.
There were so many people in the exhibition. Too crowed ! Because that day is the last Sunday of summer holidays for kids. Many parents were for their children there. Of course me, too. :-)



If you can browse the sites written in Japanese, you can know the detail of the exhibition.
ATC web site(written in Japanese only)
The Mushi-King exhibition(written in Japanese only, till August 31th, 2005)

lack of sleep

August 27th, 2005

I'm lack of sleep today. Because I have a terrible stiff neck, shoulder, and backache. And I always sleep beside my daughter, she has a bad sleeping posture. She often hit me half asleep.

By the way, Most of Japanese parents who have little children often sleep with them. That's a one of strange custom for foreigners, isn't it ?
When we had a fist-time child, we sleep together. We call the sleeping style "Kawanoji". "Kawanoji" means "the shape of the character of river" in Japanese. Also, "Kawa" means "river" in it. The Kanji "river" looks like 3 lying people. It means married couple sleep with their first child, and the child sleep between the couple.

It's difficult for me to explain correctly.....

a bad buy - a small piano

My wife bought our daughter a small electronic piano a few days ago. It sort of looks like a keyboard.
Our daughter is only 4 years old. So, we decided to buy a cheap one for her and to buy bigger one when she grow up.



My wife bought the piano at a neighborhood music store without asking me. It costs about 30,000 yen(about $300). I checked the price of it on the Internet store. The price is about 25,000 yen. I got upset. I said my wife, "Why didn't you ask me where we should buy it !?" We lost 5,000 yen. (ToT)

My shopping style is .... First, I check the quality of the real one at neighborhood stores. Then, I compare the price at the stores with it on the Internet stores. Most of the goods sold on the Internet are cheaper than actual stores. Why doesn't my wife know about it ? That's strange... She sometimes use the Internet. She had to check the price herself before buying.
I can't complain... What's done is done....

By the way, our daughter can always practice on the piano at home. The sound might bother us from now. :-)

Two typhoons are approaching.

Two typhoons are on their way to Japan.
One of them won't make landfall in Japan. But the other one will make landfall in Japan.
We have to prepare for the approaching typhoon.

Although typhoons generally cause damage to us, they bring us blessed rain.
There are a lot of areas, where lack water, in Japan. Especially, the people, who live in Sikoku area, may be happy to hear that the typhoon's approaching.

Family Vacation at Amanohashidate

August 18th-19th, 2005

I went to Amanohashidate with my family to have a bathe(swim in the sea) and to do sightseeing.

Amanohashidate is in the north of Kyoto prefecture and one of the 3 most scenic spots in Japan.
The vista from the hilltop is actually beautiful and especially it looks like the bridge over the sky when we see it between our thighs.
"Amanohashidate" means "Heavenly Bridge" in Japanese. ( Probably correct..... :D )







There is a wonder bridge at Amanohashidate. It's called "Kaisenkyo". "Kaisenkyo" means "Rotatory Bridge" in Japanese. When ships go through the bridge, it's rotated on some electric motors.








The beach at Amanohashidate is a little narrow but so beautiful.
But, there was a terrible trouble. I dropped my glasses into the sea. I desperately looked for them. I found out them in the result. I really scared....







This picture is the tourist hotel we stayed. What ? You said "What a funny family ! " ? ha-ha. I agree with you. :-)






Also, I almost got a speeding ticket on our return route. When I was driving my car at 140km/h(about 87.5mph), I found out an unmarked police car by the detector, which I installed in my car when I bought the car. :-p

I got near to the police car and slowed down. When I caught up with it, I said with a smile, "Hello !". Of course, they couldn't hear that.
But they replyed with a smile, "We are discovered... ha-ha", I guessed.
Then I said, "Good bye !", and escaped behind the police car.

I was terrified of the situation....


Anyway, we had a good time !! How was your summer vacation ?

Strange Japanese English skills

I guess this article is maybe amusing and amazing for almost all the native English speakers. :-)

There are a lot of funny things which I found out when I studied by myself at home.
Of course, the articles, which I've already posted on this blog, are funny English, too. :D
Most of the Japanese who have just started studying English often make such the following.

Take a look if you have time.

• A is a native English speaker.
  
• B is a funny(?) Japanese who likes studying English.
  

A: Don't you like studying English ?
B: No ! I like it.
A: (confusing...Which one is right ???? )

B should say : "Yes, I do" or "Yes, I like it."



Where are you from [originally] ? - about someone's origin

wrong: Where did you come from ?
correct: Where do you come from ?



wrong: She asked a difficult question to me.
correct: She asked a difficult question of me. / She asked me a difficult question.



wrong: Open the door of the bathroom.
correct: Open the door to the bathroom.



wrong: The metal got red and hot, but (it) didn't get heavy.
correct: The metal turned red and hot, but (it) didn't get heavy.

Difficult ! - Articles

Today I was studying English, especially about "articles(a, an, the)" almost all the day.

It's difficult for most Japanese to understand about articles and plurals perfectly. Because there's no part of speech called "article" in Japanese.

Studying about "articles" seems basic, but it's very important to write and speak English, I think.

I'm always afraid of making mistakes in English expression.

I'm tired...... Could I have a drink of beer ? :D

headache

I have a terrible headache... The reason is that I studied English too much today, I guess.
So, I decided to go to bed earlier than usual. Wow ! I just found out I didn't post my English diary yet today.

I must post it soon !!! Oops! I've already posted it... :-)

See you tomorrow. (^o^)/^^^^^^^

A Dusty Factory

August 13th, 2005

We cleaned up our factory, which recycle chemical fiber, yesterday. We usually do it before long holidays.



Look at this picture. There were so much dust in the factory. My brother was on the top of the one, which the forklift uplifted. He was picking up the dust by using an air compressor. He's really a good duster. :D

After the cleaning, we had to dispose of about 1 ton garbage. (1 ton = 1000kg)

Now we are on summer holiday. I'm going to my wife's family home with her and our children to have dinner with my parents-in-law. It's not far. It takes 15 minutes by car. So, she can always come back her family home easily. I must not anger her. ha-ha.