☆ Heroes of the past

今回は「ヒーロー」についてです。
皆さんにとってのヒーローは誰ですか？

Who's your hero of the past? Is it someone
from a cartoon, like Superman? Or is it a
friend or family member you admire and
respect? Some people like hero's who are
physically stronger than humans. Some
people also like hero's who have extra
helpful characters and personalities.
My favorite comic hero is Wonderwoman.
She's physically strong and fit, but at
the same time she is beautiful and so smart!
These are the type of things I admire about
certain heroes.

最近ヒーロー映画が多く放映されていますね。
スーパーマンも新しくなり、
スパイダーマンも人気の映画です。
クリスティーナのヒーローはワンダーウーマンだそうですが
皆さんの子供の頃のヒーローは誰でしたか？

By Christina

☆ Sun protection

今日は日よけに関してのお話。
オゾン層破壊のせいで
紫外線が強いですね。
皆さん、今年の夏の
日焼け対策は如何でしたか？

When I was a child, summer time was exciting
and even though the temperature was sometimes
high, it seemed to be safer to play outside than
now. These days it is easy to get sun burnt quickly
- it only takes me about five to ten minutes to
get burnt in Japan! Believe it or not, the sunshine's
rays in Australia are far more dangerous compared
with Japan. Australia's ozone layer is causing many
skin problems, such as skin cancer. Many people die
of too much sun exposure every year in Australia.

オーストラリアは紫外線が強いのですね！
日本では紫外線対策、日焼け対策は万全ですが
なぜオーストラリアの方達は日焼けを気にしないのでしょう？

Japanese women take good care to protect their skin.
They use sun umbrellas and wear sun lotion to
protect their faces. But it is not very popular in
Australia to wear hats, use umbrellas and wear
sun lotion protection. The reason many women
don't seem to care about their skin as much as
Japanese is because all their life they have grown
up with hot weather and they don't think there is
a problem with not protecting themselves.
However, whenever I return to Australia, I always
try to use an umbrella!

確かに海外の方達は、日傘や日焼け止めを余り使っていませんね。
暑い夏はキャミソールに短パン、という姿が定番のようです。
夏に作った日焼けのせいで、白い肌にそばかすが見えますが
あれがどれだけ夏を楽しんだかの証のような気がします。

exposure - 照射

By Christina

☆ Strange weather conditions

最近は環境汚染のせいか
異常気象が続いています。
今年の夏は、世界各地で
猛暑が続きました。

Within the past three years
the weather all over
the world has become
extremely damanging and
had developed severe conditions. The weather
has affected both the earth and the oceans around
it. Many people think that global warming is the
reason for strange weather conditions. Do you
remember what happened in Europe about two
years ago? Many people died of heat exhaustion
and dehydration. Do you remember last year's
summer season in Japan? It was the hottest
summer I've ever experienced! This year, in New
York City, people have been experiencing
scorching hot summer temperatures, which
have been dangerous for their health.
Now much of the ice in Greenland is melting
and Antartica is also having problems keeping
normal temperatures. It is difficult to know
what to do about all these strange weather
conditions? Perhaps being environmentally
friendly may be a good idea!

heat exhaustion-熱中症、熱射病
dehydration-脱水症
scorching-焼けるような、焼け付くような

私達の生活を守るためにも、
今からしっかり環境の事を考える必要がありますね。
このブログを起に、小さなことでも何か始めて行きましょう。
ベラでは紙を節約するところからでしょうか？
いらない紙はメモにしたり、節電したり
できることは沢山ありますよね♪

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Typhoon seasons & Hurricanes

前回に引き続き、
今日も台風のお話です。
台風で雨量が増すと
全国では沢山の被害がでます。
今年も九州では雨が沢山降り
かなりの被害がでましたね。
海外でもハリケーンのせいで
多くの被害がでているようです。

Typhoons are giant whirlwinds, they can also
be described as tropical cyclones. Japan usually
has difficult weather patterns during the typhoon
season. Where there are many landslides and
high water tides, they cause risks to people's lives.
Typhoons are more common in Asian than other
countries. Sometimes in Australia, hurricanes
can cause huge damage to people's houses and
their farms. Recently, in Queensland, the Northern
part of Australia, had an extremely bad hurricane.
The hurricane ruined and destroyed most of
the banana farms. Hurricanes are similar to
typhoons, but the winds are less dangerous,
there is usually more rain instead. Compared
with Japanese wind, the Australian wind is not
as dangerous.

whirlwind-つむじ風
cyclone-低気圧（インド洋で発生する）
ruin-破壊する

クリスティーナがtyphoonとhurricaneの違いを説明してくれてますね。
hurricaneの方が、風が穏やかで雨が多いんですね。
調べてみたところ、それぞれ規模など多少の違いはありますが、
北太平洋のは typhoon、北大西洋のは hurricane、
インド洋のはcyclone、オーストラリアのは willy-willyというように
分類されるようです。

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Dangerous Typhoon Experiences

夏と言えば台風！
今日はクリスティーナが
始めて日本で経験した
台風の話をしてくれます。

Have you ever experienced a dangerous typhoon
season in Japan? I imagine many people
reading this blog would have some very
interesting stories to share!
In the year 2000, I remember going jogging and
looking up at the dark, gray sky. I was wondering
why not many people were driving and noone was
walking. Suddenly, it became voraciously windy
and I could feel my body almost flying off the
ground! The next day when arriving at work,
everyone started to exclaim about the "really
bad typhoon last night", then I realized I had
experienced my first dangerous typhoon. I started
laughing at how crazy I was for exericising in
such scary weather.

voraciously-とどまることを知らない
（辞書で調べると「どん欲な・飽くことを知らない」となっています。ここでは"voraciously windy"なので、とどまることを知らないくらい風が激しいというような意味合いですね。）
exclaim-叫ぶ

確かに台風を知らなければ、
ただ一時の暴風雨かと思いますよね。
でもそんな雨と風の中ジョギングに行くなんて
クリスティーナは自分のプランを崩さない
しっかり者です！(^o~)b

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Many famous Japanese brands

今までブログで取り上げて
きたもの以外でも日本の
有名なブランドは
沢山ありますね。

There are so many Japanese brands
to choose from, so I thought I would
name some that quickly come
to my mind as I am writing this. Here they are:
Toshiba, Sharp, Panasonic, Nissan, Honda, Suzuki, etc.
These brands are popular because people realize
they are made well and last longer than other brands.
It is difficult to choose my favorite brand because
I admire them all for their excellent, efficient and
convenient professionalism. Many people think
Japanese can make products better. Japanese are
good at improving things.
Everyone knows these brands and at some point
in their life they have used them, including myself.

efficient-効率的な、効率の良い

私がアメリカの大学で日本史のクラスを取ったとき、
先生が「日本人は発明はできないが、発明された製品を
改良するのにはすぐれている。」と言っていました。
これからも、頑張って日本のブランドを有名にして
もらいたいですね♪

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Shiseido success

日本の化粧メーカーといえば？
私の脳裏には、まず資生堂が浮かびます。
海外でも資生堂は有名なのですね。

Shiseido has been described by many
as the largest cosmetics and skin care
product maker in Japan. It is now world
famous. But Shiseido not only produces
those particular items, but also hair care
products, skin care products, pharmaceuticals,
etc. There are products for both men and
women to choose from.
Shiseido is friendly for women working at
the company. It has flexible time for working
mothers to be able to work and also take
care of their children. Shiseido company
is also creative and has produced products
that help reduce the age of skin by 10 years!
At the moment Shiseido shampoo 'Tsubaki'
is a great hit in Japan and now the company
has become a popular shampoo maker.
I am very interested in using Shiseido hair
products to see if they are good for my hair type.

describe-表現する、評する
pharmaceuticals-医薬品、薬事

資生堂は女性に嬉しい製品を作るだけでなく、
資生堂で働く女性にも優しいのですね♪
安心して働ける職場からは、良い製品が沢山
生まれてくるのかもしれません。

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Toyota

今日はトヨタのお話です。
創設者の名字が
そのまま社名になっている
ところは多いですが、
トヨタはその代表例ですね。

Toyota Motor Corporation is extremely popular
in the USA, Europe, Africa and Australia, as well
as Japan. The company was founded in 1933.
An interesting point to make is, that it's also
the only place in Japan to be named after a
Japanese family name. The Toyota family were
the founders of the Toyota company and that is
how a place was also named after them in Japan.
Toyota is popular in Australia because it is
professionally designed and made to suit
the environment. People in western countries want to
buy vehicles that don't take much gas, so Toyota is
good because the design helps save the cost of gas.
It is also a smooth car to drive in the busy city!

土地の広い海外では、車を使う頻度が
日本とは比べものにならないくらいです。
その点で、燃費の良い車は海外で
人気があるのですね。
ガソリン代が高騰している今、
燃費の良い車が売れるのかもしれません。

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Sony Building in Ginza

今日から４回は
日本の有名な会社に関してです。
１回目はソニーです♪
始めてウォークマンを
手にしたときの事を覚えていますか？
Christinaがその時のことを
書いてくれました♪

When foreigners come to Japan they usually visit
the Sony Corporation (Sony Building in Ginza),
because it's so famous. Sony's electronic products
are extremely popular - especially during the 1980s
when Sony produced the world's first 'Walkman'
and also created a new English word!
Since that time, Sony has grown more successful.
They now produce MD and CD products, video
equipment, DVD players, digital players, etc.
I remember when I was a child and the new
Sony Walkman came to Australia! It was so
exciting and I was the first kid in the neighborhood
to have one. My friends were really surprised to
see such a product. Sony has touched the lives
of millions of people all over the world, including mine!

equipment-装置、備品、器具

ソニーと言えば、海外にも広く名を知られた
日本を代表する会社ですね。
日本の会社が、こうして海外に住む人達の
記憶に鮮明に残るなんて、少し嬉しいです♪
こうした生活用品からでも
日本に興味をもってくれたらいいですね。

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Japanese universities

今回は教育についての最終回。
大学についてです。
日本とオーストラリアでの大学生活、
かなり違うようです！

Many Japanese students have traditionally
considered their university time to be more
social than academic. These days the
demand for graduate education is increasing.
This is because of globalization, which
started in the mid 1990s. When I was at
university in Australia it was a serious time
for me. I did a double major and submajor,
so there was lots of researching, reading
and writing to do. The university teachers
in Australia expect their students to
study at least 10 hours per week on each
subject. Exams are extremely competitive
and stressful too. Not everyone graduates
from university in Australia. There is a high
drop-out rate of students in their first year,
in the first semester.

demand-要求、需要
globalization-国際化
major-専攻
semester-学期

日本と海外の大学では
生徒の生活がだいぶ違うようですね。
オーストラリアでは勉強が大変なようです。

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Japanese future education system

今回は日本の独特な
教育システムについてです。
昔の教育は、暗記がほとんどでしたが
最近では考えさせる学習法が
広まっていますね。
少し内容が難しいですが、
頑張って読んでみて下さい。

Traditionally, Japanese education has
a centralized uniform curriculum.
Now there is much concern that
the system needs to become
more flexible. Harmony and
uniformity and learning by
memorization is now being slowly
replaced with more emphasis on
being an individual and being creative.
The introduction of higher level
thinking is still being considered as
a new educational method.
Some parents would like an
alternative (a choice) instead of
sending their children to school,
some parents would like to be
able to have home education for
their children. Japanese students
spend at least six weeks longer
in school each year than
American students or Australian
students.
Also, classrooms and the way
texts are written are very different
in Japan. Classrooms in both the
USA and Australia are utilized
with lots of posters, books, and
different parts of the room have
displays such as plants. Texts
are usually changd every 3 or
4 years and they cater for the
mindset of young people's
generation.
These days spekaing English
has beocme one important part
of all students learning in Japan.

日本と海外では、教育法も
実際の教室の様子も
違いがあるようですね。

traditionally-伝統的に
centralize-〜を中心に集める、中央集権化する
curriculum-カリキュラム
concern-関心事、重大事
flexible-融通の利く
harmony-調和、一致
uniformity-一様であること、均一性
memorization-暗記
emphasis-強調
individual-個性
creative-想像力
alternative-二者択一
instead of-〜の代わりに
utilize-利用する、役立たせる
cater-（要望、要求に）応ずる
mindset-心的態度、考え方

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Cram schools for highschool students

今回は日本の塾についてです。
大学受験に備えて、ほとんどの高校生は塾へ通っていますね。
海外の方にとってはめずらしい光景なのでしょう。

Entering a high-ranked highschool increases
a student's chance of admission to a good
university. Over half of Japanese junior high
students attend private cram schools
(or juku) to supplement their examination
preparations. Cram schools are open in the
evenings and on Saturdays, sometimes
they are open in the afternoon. During
holidays such as Obon week, cram schools
are also open. Most highschool students
are involved in clubs and sports activities
after school as well. But by the second
grade they stop participating in clubs
and when they reach the third grade they
attend cram school instead. I think cram
schools can be very helpful and useful
for students, we don't have cram schools
in Australia for any grade or level.

increase-増加する
admission-入学
attend-出席する
cram school-塾
supplement-補足
examination-試験
preparation-準備
involve-関係する（この場合は部活に属するということ）

アメリカでは、高校生まではあまり勉強しないようですが
大学ではすごく勉強熱心になります。
日本は逆に、大学に入ると遊ぶイメージがありますね。
最近ではほとんどの小学校高学年は塾へ行っているようです。

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Iron Chef - 2 (The Iron Chef Returns)

Blakeのブログ第二弾です。
前回に引き続き、「料理の鉄人」のお話。
オーストラリアではユーモアなＴＶ番組が多いんですね。

"Iron Chef" returned to the small screens of
Australian TV the other week. It had been
off-air for about six weeks. With it's return
came a new TV commercial for a stir-fry sauce.
The commercial parodies "Iron Chef".
In the cooking competition that takes place
during the commercial, the challenger chef
uses a jar of stir-fry sauce instead of slaving
over a hot stove like the Iron Chef.
In the end, the judges unanimously vote
the challenger the winner, commenting on
how good his sauce was. Naturally,
the Iron Chefs shake their heads in disagreement.

「料理の鉄人」はＣＭでパロディ化されるほど
有名なんですね。

Parodies are popular in TV commercials in Australia.
At the moment, reality TV shows are quite popular.
One called Big Brother is on everyday. It features
live coverage of a share house of young adults.
It is a real-life version of the Jim Carrey movie
"The Truman Show". One difference though is that
the people in the Big Brother house are there
voluntarily, lured by the chance to win money
and prizes. Although reality shows are quite
popular, I miss the days of dramas.

実は日本でもリアルライフを題材にした
番組は少なくないですよね。
オーストラリアと日本では
面白いと思うＴＶ番組の趣向が
似ているのかもしれません。

return-戻る、復帰する
off-air-放送中でない
stir-fry - 炒め物
parody-パロディ化する
competition-競争、試合
take place-行われる
jar-瓶、かめ
instead of- 〜の代わりに
slave over-過酷な状況の中で働く
unanimously-満場一致で
vote-投票する
comment-コメントする、批評する
feature-描く、特集を組む
coverage-報道、取材、放送
share-共有
voluntarily-自発的に
lure-引きつける

By Blake
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆Education1-Elementary School Bags

今日から４回は日本の教育についてです。
日本と外国では
教育制度が違う場合が多いですね。
今回は小学校１年生になるとかならず使う
ランドセルについてです。

One of the most interesting aspects
about Japanese elementary school items
are the randoseru (school bag)!
They are usually made of pure leather
and are very expensive. Fortunately,
many grandparents buy the school
bag as a gift. The randoseru is very
important because its meaning is:
"now you are of the age to study
very hard". Boys usually carry black
school bags and girls usually carry
red school bags. Children don't have
to use randoseru. Almost all first grade
students have randoseru, but when
they are in the third grade and upwards
they change their bag. They start
thinking that the randoseru isn't cool!
But this is according to Bella staff Kaeko's
experience in Japan. However, in Australia,
we are allowed many choices of school bags,
unless it is a private school.

私が小学校高学年になるころには、
ランドセルを背負っている事が恥ずかしかったのですが
小学校に入学したての頃は嬉しいものですよね。
最近ではかなり独特なランドセルが売られていますが
ランドセルにも流行があるのですね。
今後はどうなるのでしょう！？

aspect-面、見方
elementary school-小学校
fortunately-幸運にも
upwards-より高い年齢に
according to-　〜によると
allow-許す、許可する
unless-〜でない限り(If not~と同じ）
private school-私立校

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆　Martial Arts4 - Enjoying Sumo

武道については最終回です。
今日は日本の伝統スポーツ
相撲についてです。

Although Sumo is not practised in America
or Australia, many people enjoy watching
it on television. One of the first things
foreigners like to do when they come to
Japan is go to a Sumo match. Most foreigners
like to watch Sumo for fun. However, when
the rule of foreign wrestlers was relaxed in 1998,
some foreigners had an opportunity to come
to Japan and practise Sumo. Since 1998,
Hawaiian and Mongolian Sumo players have
won the grandmaster's title for the past two years.
Some Japanese are concerned about
the Mongolians and Haiwaiians coming to
Japan and entering the Sumo match. Also,
some Japanese think this may be a problem
for the traditional sport of Sumo, because
not many Japanese Sumo players are not winning.
Nowdays, Sumo is a global sport, worth
multi-millions of money and has great olympic
opportunities for Sumo players all over the world.
For men who are naturally heavy and strong,
it is a great chance to enter into a sport like Sumo.

practise-練習する（practiceというスペルでも使われます）
wrestler-レスラー
relax-緩和させる
opportunity-機会
grandmaster-最高級選手（相撲では横綱ですね）
concern-心配する、不安になる
worth-価値がある

最近の相撲は、確かに外国人関取が目立っていますね。
日本の伝統スポーツを守るためにも、
日本人関取には頑張ってほしいですね♪
でも、相撲が海外で人気になるのは嬉しいことです。

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Martial Arts in Japan

武道といっても、
具体的にどんな物が外国人に
人気なのでしょうか？

Today martial arts is a popular and
competitive sport. It is also used
for physical and mental fitness.
Many foreigners learn martial arts
to protect themselves in dangerous
situations. Judo is especially popular
to learn in both America and Australia.
Because Judo is an art about
self-defense from the Tokugawa period,
many young boys, teenagers and men
enjoy learning about the basic strategies.
In Australia, Karate became extremely
popular in the 1980s. This was because of
the famous movie: 'The Karate Kid'.
After many people saw that movie,
they wanted to learn the destructive
art on boards, tiles and practice on their
opponents!

competitive-競争する
physical-身体の
fitness-健康
martial arts-武道
protect-守る
especially-特に
self-defense-自己防衛
strategy-兵法、戦術
extremely-非常に、大いに
destructive-破壊的な、有害な
opponent-対抗者、相手

昔自己防衛のために作られた武道が
現代では、健康のために役立っています。
アメリカ映画「ベストキッド」のように
映画によって多くの人に広まると嬉しいですね。

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Martial Arts2 - Male Warriors in Japan

今日は男性の武道についてです。
日本の男性武道かといえば、侍ですね。
外国では一番知られている日本の文化ではないでしょうか？

The most well-known warriors to foreigners
are the Samurai warriors of Japan. These are
very popular warriors, especially with the movie:
'The Last Samurai', starring Tom Cruise.
This particular movie made the Samurai warriors
more famous. Many foreign men travel to Japan
to learn more about Japanese warriors and
their martial arts techniques. The three most
fascinating techniques for foreigners are:
weapons such as swords, with the bow and
arrow and the 'yari' (or spear in English).
Compared with Western weapons, the sword
is still very popular and important. It is a symbol
of strength and character. Learning about
Japan's warriors gives foreigners a better
understanding of the Japanese culture and history.

「ラストサムライ」はご覧になりましたか？
あの映画のおかげで、海外ではだいぶ侍が人気になったようですね♪
外国の方が作る最近の映画でけでなく、
黒澤明の作った映画も見て欲しいです。

worrior-武士、戦士
starring-主演させる
particular-独特の、個々の（generalの反意語）
martial arts-武道
technique-技術
fascinating-魅惑的な
swords-剣、刀
bow-弓
arrow-矢
compared with~ -　〜と比較して
weapons-武器
symbol-シンボル、象徴

By Christina

☆ Martial Arts1-Women Warriors in Japan

今回から４回は日本の武道についてです。
多くの外国の方は、
日本の武道に興味があるようですね。

When most foreigners think about
warriors in Japan, they usually think
about male warriors, not female warriors.
But surprising news is that long ago
in Japan there were also women warriors!
Of course, the women warriors had
different roles to play in life, such as
being a 'Loyal Wife' warrior, etc.
Unfortunately, most of the female
warrior history was not recorded and
mainly male warrior history was recorded.
So women warriors are still a big mystery
to many foreigners who are interested
in martial arts.

warrior-戦士、武士、騎士
martial arts-武道
role-役割
loyal-忠実な
recorded-記録された
mystery-謎

日本の"women worrior"と言われて
一番思いつくのは、くのいちでしょうか？

By Christina

☆ Service4-Department stores service in Japan

日本のデパートのサービスは
独特ですね。
海外では、開店と同時に入ると
店員がお辞儀をしてくれたり
カウンターのこちらに移動して
賞品を手渡ししてくれる、など
考えられないようです。
チップなしでこのサービスは
すばらしいですね。

Most of the department stores in Japan
employ people to smile, to bow, and
to welcome everyone who enters and
leaves the stores. This service may not
mean much to Japanese, but from a
foreigners point of view, this lovely
service! It is always nice to walk into
a department stores and have people
greet me at the door. Their friendliness
creates an atmosphere of politeness for
everyone. This kind of service is not
popular in Western countries, but it
seems to be popular in many well-known
stores within Japan.
The good service in department stores
in Japan encourages me to return the same
department store! I will always miss the
excellent Japanese service when I travel
to other countries on vacation. Shopping
in Japan makes me extra happy because of
the professional service.

mean-意味する
friendliness-友好的であること
atmosphere-雰囲気
politeness-親切
encourage-〜するように励ます、勧める

日本にいると、あまりサービスの良さについて
考えたりしませんが、
チップをあげるかわりにもらえるサービスではなく
気持ちよく買い物をしてもらえるためのサービスだということを
もうすこし有り難く思っても良いかもしれません。

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Service3-Hospitality in hotels

日本のホテルにはあまり泊まる機会がありませんが
お客を大切にし、気配りのあるサービスを提供してくれます。

Japan has a lot to be proud of because of
the very professional service and hospitality
in many of the Japanese hotels.
Everything is well organized, with
bookings being correctly done.
Rooms are extremely clean and tidy.
The presentation of both the hotel
staff and the hotel rooms are always
beautiful. Service is very kind, quick
and efficient for anyone. There is
usually a list of activities, maps
and other handy things for hotel visitors.
The hotel staff are usually happy to
help visitors locate important and
famous places to sight-see.
Japanese women and foreign women
both like amenity goods, such as shampoo,
conditioner, soap, creams, from the hotel.
Japan has good amenity products available.
This is also a good point about Japanese hotels.

女性はホテルのアメニティグッズが好きですよね。
小さいサイズで旅行にぴったり♪
もって帰って次の旅行に備えたりもできます。

hospitality-心のこもったサービス
organized-まとまった
bookings-予約
correctly-正確に
extremely-非常に、とても
tidy-きちんとした、整頓された
presentation-提示
efficient-有能な、敏腕な
handy-使いやすい、手頃な
amenity-快適さ、便利な設備

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Service2-Fast restaurant service

今回は日本のレストランでの
サービスについて。
レストランの質にもよりますが、
日本のレストランでのサービスは
すばらしいですね。
ファストフード点でもメニューに
”スマイル”と載っているくらいです。

Restaurants are fast at serving
their customers in Japan.
Within five to ten minutes
waiters and waitresses quickly
take orders. About ten or
twenty minutes later, meals
are usually served.
In comparison with Australia,
this is very fast and efficient
service. Sometimes I have
waited for over one hour
in a quiet restaurant in
Australia to be served! Also,
the service is not always
polite or friendly in my own
country. But, in Japan the
service is usually friendly
and served with a smile.

costomers-客
within-〜以内
comparison-比較
efficient-有能な、敏腕な

レストランで注文をしてからどのくらいで
食事が運ばれてくるか。
その時間の長さは、お客さんの性格によっても
長かったり短かったり少し変わるのでは
ないでしょうか？
例えば、割と海外の方は時間に
のんびりしていますから
１５分以上待たされても何とも思わない。
反対に、時間に厳しい日本人は少し
待たされただけで文句を言ってしまう。
だからこそ、日本ではお待たせしない
サービスが大切なのではないでしょうか？
海外の方にとってはすごく早くて良い
サービスに思えるかもしれませんね。

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆Iron Chef by Blake

以前ベラで講師をしていた
Blakeが遙々オーストラリアから
ブログに参加してくれました！
オーストラリアでも人気の
日本番組「料理の鉄人」についての
コメントです。

When I was living in Japan, I heard that
Iron Chef had become a popular TV show
in Australia. I didn't know much about
the show since I arrived in Japan in May
2000 and icouldn't recall seeing it on TV.
I didn't really know why friends in Australia were
so excited about the show.

日本では放送終了してしまった「料理の鉄人」。
見たことのある方はどのくらいいらっしゃるでしょうか？
海外ではかなり人気があり、
似たような番組も作られたりしていますね。

Upon returning to Australia, I was often asked about this
TV program "Iron Chef." I decided to watch it one night to
see why people were so interested. Boy, what a surprise! I
was so shocked to hear the voice-over actors reading their
English scripts. The only person in the show who does not
have a voice-over actor is Chairman Kaga. His speeches are
subtitled. It felt weird to watch a Japanese show with
English overdubs, especially since the English is quite
informal, like sports commentary. I can faintly hear the
Japanese underneath, but I wonder, did the original Iron
Chef series use informal sports-like commentary?

「料理の鉄人」独特の、実況中継のようなアナウンスは
その良さが伝わるように、日本語の上に
英語で吹き替えされているようです。

recall-思い出す
voice-over　ー画面外の声、ナレーション
subtitled-字幕付きの
weird-異様な、風変わりな
overdubs-すでに録音されたものに重ねて録音する
quite-まったく、すっかり、完全に
informal-形式ばらない、気楽な
faintly-かすかに、ほのかに
underneath-〜の真下に

By Blake
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆Service1-Gift Wrapping

今回から４回、
日本のサービスについて
クリスティーナが
書いてくれます。
まずは、
外国の方が日本に来ると
一番驚く、デパートなどでの
ラッピングサービスについて。

Gift wrapping is important in the Japanese culture.
It is an amazing artistic service to foreigners.
I really admire the Japanese gift wrapping techniques.
Each season has a special design for gift wrapping.
The Japanese think wrapping a gift should be
about thoughtfulness and consideration,
it is called: "wrapping from the heart."
The most important part about gift wrapping
is the spiritual connection attached to it in Japan.
But in Western countries it's only the design
of the paper that is important.

artistic-芸術的な
admire-すばらしいと思う、感嘆する
techniques-技術
thoughtfulness-思いやりのある
consideration-配慮
spiritual-精神的な

日本のお店では、無料でとても素敵なラッピングをしてくれます。
ラッピングによって、送り主から送られる人への想いが込められているようで
受け取った側も嬉しいですよね♪

By Christina

☆Entertainment4-Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea

今日は日本では最も有名なテーマパーク
「東京ディズニーランド」について。
今やディズニーシーも隣接して
日本人だけでなく外国人にとっても
楽しめる大きな娯楽施設となりました。

Tokyo Disneyland is the first park to be built
outside of the United States on April 15, 1983.
It is my most favorite entertainment place to visit.
It is totally fun, enjoyable and exciting.
I have visited Tokyo Disneyland 8 times
since living in Japan for six years.
It has great amusement theme parks,
restaurants and shops.
There are plenty of fun activities for everyone.
It is my dream location. I love it.
Disney Sea is also enjoyable for both adults and children.
It has 7 theme ports, fun shows, restaurants,
shops in each them port, etc.
What I like most about Disney Sea is the combination
themes of both Italy and New York.
Both Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea are
great places to celebrate birthdays.
This year, my husband and I are going to
Tokyo Disneyland to celebrate his birthday.
It will be our 9th visit.
We are both very excited to go again!

theme-テーマ
plenty of-沢山の
combination- 組み合わせ

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆Entertainment3-Department stores are entertaining

今回はデパートについてです。
海外にも沢山デパートがありますが、
日本のデパートは本当にすばらしいサービスです。

The largest and most entertaining shopping
zones are in Tokyo, Shinjuku, Ginza, and Shibuya.
The largest department stores are Mitsukoshi,
Takashimaya, Seibu, Daimaru, Tobu, etc.
These stores are not only excellent for shopping,
but the service is the best in the world.
People always smile, bow, are very helpful and professional.
They also gift wrap in a beautiful way.
The service is also quick and extra polite.

日本にいるとあまり気づかないかもしれませんが、
デパートでの接客はすばらしいです！
わざわざカウンターから出てきて商品を渡す丁寧さが
外国の方にとっては驚きかもしれません。

I enjoy window shopping and viewing the beautiful displays too.
Shinjuku is my favorite place to shop,
because it reminds me of New York -
with all the neon lights flashing,
lots of people and streams of busy cars.

bow-お辞儀する
wrap-包装
extra-格別の
remind-思い出させる
stream-流れ

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Entertainment2 Night life entertainment in Japan

日本の繁華街は、
夜になってもネオンライトで明るいですね。
海外は治安のせいか、日本のように
夜になってもネオンライトがまぶしいっ
ということはあまりないようです。
日本は無駄に電気を使いすぎかも・・・。

One fantastic advantage about living
in Japan is the different entertainment.
There are many places to go and enjoy
the wide range of activities.
Shibuya, Shinjuku, Roppongi - are all very popular places
for night life entertainment.
Whether you like restaurants, bars, clubs, or
enjoy the atmosphere of the crowds of people as
you walk around the cities - there is no need to get bored!

fantastic-すばらしい
wide range of-幅広い
atmosphere-雰囲気
crowds-人混み

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ entertainment1 Karaoke is fun!

今回から４回は日本の娯楽についてです。
今日は１回目。
日本人の大好きなカラオケについて♪
「カラオケ」は言葉自体がそのまま
英語になるほど有名ですね。
「カラ」は「空」、
「オケ」は「オーケストラ」から
取った言葉です。

My favorite entertainment
in Japan is karaoke.
Karaoke is fun in a group.
The karaoke room is very
professional looking.
It has excellent facilities.
There is usually a huge music machine,
large screen to read lyrics and
view video clips.
The personal food and drinks service is
fast and you can order food via a phone system.
It's also inexpensive,
which means you don't have to
spend a lot of money having fun with friends!
Karaoke is not just for young people,
but it's a popular entertainment for everyone,
even businessmen!
It doesn't matter if people can't sing or not.
Even if someone sings out of tune,
it can make a party happy.

友人や家族と出かけたはいいけど、
特に行くところもない。
そんな時にカラオケは便利ですよね♪
歌ってストレスも発散でき、
食事や飲み物もオーダーできる上に手軽な値段。
海外にはない、日本独特の娯楽ですね。

facility-設備
lyrics-歌詞
clips-短い音楽ビデオ、ミュージッククリップ
via-〜を通して
out of tune-音程がくるっている

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Rainy season

Christinaが季節的な話題を
書いてくれました。
ちょっといつものシリーズを
外れてのスペシャル版です。
ついに梅雨に入りました。
日本人にとって、
じめじめして鬱陶しい時期です。
が、少なくとも
クリスティーナにとっては
嬉しい時期のようです。

It's incredible how many people dislike rain in Japan.
But this time of the year can be very peaceful and beautiful.
Kamakura is one such place that has gorgeous flowers
during the rainy season, called "Hydrangea"
flowers in English.
Also, listening to the rain at night is relaxing,
especially when reading books and watching movies.

雨の音は落ち着きますよね。
雨の日はじっとその音に耳を傾けてみるのも良いかもしれません。

Japanese are fortunate, because they have a good
rainfall of water every year. But in Australia,
there is a shortage of water, and people
are always worried about it.
Australia is 70% desert or more.
It's a very hot and dry country, with not much rain.
Without much rain, it can get very dangerous.
Lots of fires every year happen in Australia,
the fires kill a lot of the animals, such as Koalas,
Kangaroos and many birds, and other wild life.
So, this is one major reason I am happy about rain.
I am grateful for rain, because I appreciate it.
I wish there was more rain for Australia too!
It would be great if we had a rainy season like Japan,
but we don't, unfortunately.

今沖縄では、雨が降りすぎて地盤がゆるんでいます。
雨が降りすぎても問題ですが、
オーストラリアのように水不足だと山火事が発生したり
砂漠が増えたりもします。
災害を発生させないためにも、一人一人の心がけが必要ですね。

incredible-信じられない、驚くべき
gorgeous-華やかな、豪華な
hydrangea-あじさい
fortunate-幸運な
rainfall-雨量
shortage-欠乏
desert-砂漠
appreciate-高く評価する、感謝する

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ food4 Green Tea Ice Cream & Drinks

今回は「抹茶」製品についてです。
日本には抹茶アイスや抹茶味のお菓子など色々ありますね。
お茶の独特な苦みは、外国人にとって受け入れられる物なのでしょうか？
それこそ人の好みによると思うのですが、
アメリカ人には緑茶に砂糖を入れて飲む人もたまにいます。

The reason I like Green Tea is because it is natural,
and it doesn't need any sugar or cream.
Green Tea ice cream is also very popular to eat in Japan.
I like the Green Tea drinks too. Green is
very good for the body. It slows down the aging process,
reduces risk of cancer, and controls high blood pressure
as well as lowers sugar blood level.
There are many wonderful Green Tea cookies, biscuits,
cakes and creative desserts to eat.
No wonder Japanese are the healthiest and the longest
living people on earth!

reduce-減らす
risk-リスク、危険、恐れ
cancer-癌
control-管理する
blood pressure-血圧
sugar blood level-血糖値
By Christina

☆ food3 Most famous Japanese food

今回は外国人にも有名な日本料理、
お寿司です。
ですが、にぎり、ちらし、巻き、
などお寿司にも色々あって
外国の方には分かりにくいのではないでしょうか？
私が外国でアルバイトをしていた時には
アメリカ人の客によく寿司と
刺身の違いを聞かれました。

Sushi is wonderful to eat in Japan.
There are many different sushi ingredients.
But the most well-known sushi is
oval shaped, called nigiri.
Sushi is nice to eat at parties
and also very healthy,
so people don't have to worry
about their weight.

お寿司はとってもヘルシーなので、
油ものの多い海外では、
ベジタリアンや健康志向の方に人気ですね。

In Australia, sushi is extremely
popular amongst young workers
and middle-aged people.
But it's very expensive.
Australian's try to employ
Japanese to make the sushi so
they can eat the traditional style recipes.
I have never been to Japanese restaurant
in Australia, because it is too expensive for me.

アメリカでは、カリフォルニアロールなど
独自に作られたお寿司がありますが
（カリフォルニアロールは、中にアボカドと
マグロが入っています。意外とおいしいんですよ！）
オーストラリアでは、日本伝統の寿司をゆがめず、
そのまま楽しんでいるようですね。

ingredient-材料
oval-楕円形の

By Christina
*日本語解説　ベラスタッフ

☆ food2 Japanese Ramen

今回は「ラーメン」について。
日本人はラーメンが大好き♪
海外にも日本人経営のラーメン屋さんが沢山ありますが、
外国人にとってラーメンの味は好みのものなのでしょうか？

Japanese ramen (noodles) is very popular for both
Japanese and foreigners. The most common ramen
toppings I enjoy eating are seasoned bamboo
shoots (shinachiku), dried seaweed (nori),
and leek (negi). I am also interested in visiting
the Yokohama Ramen Museum to learn more
about the varieties of ramen. My favorite varities of
flavors are curry, seafood, and garlic.

皆さんの好きなラーメンは何ですか？
カレーラーメン、ガーリックラーメン、あまり聞きませんが
クリスティーナは地元で食べているそうです。
私はやっぱり醤油味が一番かな？
地元の牛乳ラーメンも大好物です。

Ramen is classified as a 'fast food' in Japan,
but it is not unhealthy compared to
Western fast food, such as hamburgers.
Also, udon, soba noodles are great to eat.
There is even a stand-up noodle restaurant in Shinjuku,
where you are quickly served. It is very convenient for
busy people at lunch time.

麺類はすぐに出てきてすぐに食べ終わります。
クリスティーナの言うように、Fast Foodは確かに不健康なイメージがありますが
ラーメンや、そば、うどんは決して体に悪くないですよね。

variety-種類
flavor-味
classify-分類する

By Christina

☆ food1 Rice Balls: Healthy snack

今回から４回は、
日本食についての話題です。
第１回目は「おにぎり」。
とても素朴な料理（？)
ですが、奥が深いんですよね。

My favorite Japanese snack is rice balls.
Rice balls are
made from Japanese rice, sesame seeds,
dried seaweed (nori), and salmon.
Tuna rice balls are now popular to eat
(especially for children), and they are also my favorite.
Rice balls are a healthy snack for me
to eat 2 or 3 times a month.
They are small, but I only eat one,
because it is very filling.
Rice balls are also cheap to buy at
almost any supermarket or convenient store.
I would like to make homemade rice balls
in the summer time. Plum pickles are used to
keep the rice balls fresh in the summer
and they make them an interesting flavor.

tunaのトッピングは、シーチキンのことですね。
確かにコンビニでもよく売っていますし、
子供には人気です。

snack-軽食
スナックと言われると、ポテトチップなど
不健康な物を思い浮かべます。
でも訳は「軽食」なので決して
不健康なものばかりではありません。
夜食におにぎり、なんてありますよね♪
filling-食べ応えのある
plum pickles-梅干し

By Christina
日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Job4-Female Boss & CEOs in Japan

日本でも働く女性が増えてきましたね。
ダイエーやBookOffなど、
女性社長も増えてきています。

A recent report said: 8 out of 10 women
in job interviews are the most preferred.
Nowadays, Japan is changing its views
about women working, and getting top positions.
Last year both Daiei and Sanyo companies hired
female CEOs for the first time!
These women had to work very hard to become CEOs.
Fumiko Hayashi, the new CEO for the huge supermarket chain,
Daiei worked hard on communicating and
listening to her customers. There are jobs for everyone,
including women, willing to work for them.

最近は、通勤電車の中でもかなり女性が増えてきています。
ダイエーの場合、社長が女性だと
主婦の立場という女性にしかできない、
考えられない物を提供してくれそうです。

8 out of 10-１０人中８人
prefer-より好む
CEO-Chief Executive Office最高経営責任者

By Christina
＊日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Job3-Foreigners working in Japan

外国の人にとって、日本で働くとはどういうことなのでしょうか？
日本人が思っているよりも、外国人にとって日本は働きやすい場所のようです。

It is a very special privilege to be working in Japan,
because I am a foreigner.
Since living in Japan, I have met some very nice people.
If you are willing to work hard, Japan is a great place
to live and work. There are some very unique job
opportunities that Japan offers to foreigners.
Speaking Japanese helps, but it is not always necessary
for some foreign jobs. One of the best decisions
my husband and I made was to come to Japan.
We both feel very happy to be working and living here.

privilege-名誉
be willing to-〜するのをいとわない
unique-独特な
opportunity-機会
decision-決定

By Christina
*日本語解説-ベラスタッフ

☆ Job2-Strong Economy

日本人の仕事に対する姿勢について
考えたことはありますか？
時間厳守やマナーなど
日本人にとっては当たり前でも、
外国人には少し変わっているのでしょうか。

Japan is the second-largest and strongest economy in the world.
Japan has only 4.1% unemployment.
Japan has a lot to be proud of.
Japanese work very hard to achieve success.
Most people try their best here.
Both men and women work hard, especially salarymen.
Salarymen work long hours in their companies,
sometimes more than 13 hours everyday,
sometimes 7 days a week.
Japanese have a positive attitude about working in a team.

寝る間も惜しんで働いている人が多いからこそ、
リラクゼーション商品がはやっているのかもしれないですね。

unemployment-失業
be proud of-〜を誇りに思う
achieve-達成する、成し遂げる
attitude-態度、姿勢

By Christina
*日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ Job1-Very Interesting Jobs in Japan

今回から４回のテーマは「仕事」です。
日本人にとっては当たり前でも、外国人から
みたら独特な職種。
どんなものをイメージしますか？

Some jobs in Japan are not available in
western countries. Here are some
interesting jobs: "Tissues Distributor",
"Human Advertising Sign",
"Bank Greeter", "Elavator Girl",
"Counting Cars and Pedestrians",
and "Road Construction Helper".
These jobs are very interesting because
they are unusual. It is very amazing to
experience a "Road Construction Helper"
directing people where to walk.
"Human Road Sign" person sits or stands
all day with a sign! The "Tissues Distributor"
gives free packets of tissues at the station.
Most of these interesting jobs are in Japan.

available-利用できる、使用できる
distributor-配布者
advertising-広告
pedestrian-歩行者
construction-建設、建設工事
direct-導く

今回は日本にしかない特殊な職種の説明なので、
英語にすると少し分かりにくい表現になっていますね。
"Tissues Distributor"はティッシュ配り、
"Human Advertising Sign"は、
道ばたで看板を持って宣伝している人、
"Bank Greeter"は、銀行の入り口にいる案内人、
"Counting Cars or Pedestsrian"は
道で車や通行人を数えている人、
"Road Construction Helper"は
工事現場で交通整備をしている人です。
日本では当たり前にある職業ですが、
外国では確かに見かけないですね。
英語にするのにも難しい！

By Christina
*日本語解説ーベラスタッフ

☆ 電車4-The best in the world!

海外で電車に乗ってみた経験はありますか？
海外と比べて本当に日本の電車は快適です。

Japanese trains are the safest in the world.
There are over 30,000 trains in Japan.
Japan railways and seven private rail
companies help train schedules to be efficient.
Most trains in Tokyo come every 2-3 minutes.
European trains are not very safe or clean,
compared with Japan.
Australian trains are usually late and slow.

日本の電車は２．３分遅れただけでも車内放送がかかりますよね。
海外では電車がこない！なんてこともあるようです。

I love the trains in Japan.
Many of them are like planes or apartments,
offering toilets, restaurants, beds, etc.
They are also very convenient for
busy life styles.

efficient=有能な、敏腕な
compared with=〜と比較して
convenient=便利な
*コンビニエンスストアのconvenienceは
convenientの名詞系です。

By Christina

☆ 電車3-Future Trains for Japan

今回は環境に良い電車のお話。
確かにエネルギーを節約できれば
かなり環境に良いですよね。

Tokyo railways serve over
16 million passengers everyday!
That is an amazing amount of people
traveling on trains. East Japan Railways
are now designing new trains to
help cut electricity. They want to
cut it by 20%. Like Toyota and
Honda Motors, these new trains
will be hydrogen-powered.
It is good news for the future.
Japan will be able to save a lot of money.
They will help their environment too.
These new trains will be used in
the countryside and in Tokyo.

hydrogen-powered=水素力
＊hydroとつくものは水関係です。
例えば、日本語でもハイドロカルチャーなんてありますよね。
単語自体が分からなくてもhydroとついたら水を連想してみてください。
environment=環境
countryside=地方、田舎
By Christina

☆ 電車２-Flying Trains in Japan

今回は、リニアモーターカーの話題です。
動きがなめらかで安全。
東京では大江戸線にリニアモーターが
使われているようです。

Maglev is the name of the high
speed trains in Japan.
They combine both plane
and train design. These trains
race above train tracks at
over 400 kilometers.
Japan has successfully used
technology to create "flying trains."
These trains race above the ground.
They are very safe and accident free.
Traveling to Odaiba is exciting,
because you can take a Maglev train.
They are smooth to travel in.
They are also very comfortable
and stylish. If you have never
traveled on a Maglev train, try it!

maglev=MAGnetic LEV
リニアモーターカー
combine=結合させる、合併させる
comfortable=快適な

By Christina

☆ 電車１-Trains in Japan

今回からのテーマは「電車」です。
日本は電車大国ですよね。
東京には沢山の路線が走っていますが
やはり外国の方から見たら複雑で独特なのでしょうか。

Japan has the best and fastest
trains in the world, at least
compared with my country!
The most famous trains
in Japan are the Shinkansen
(called the "Bullet Train" in English).
They look so beautiful and
rich on the inside, like a first
class plane. The speed is
fantastic too.

新幹線のように早い電車は
海外では珍しいのでしょうか？
海外の長距離電車といえば、
ゆっくりのんびり、景色を楽しみながら
というのが思い浮かびますね。

Japan is always
making better and faster trains.
One of the fastest bullet
trains is called:
"Nozomi" it is about two
years old, and it almost flies
people to their destinations!
The Bullet train is expensive,
but the experience is very exciting.

時間にうるさい日本人には
新幹線のように早い電車は必需品ですね。

compare with ~ =〜と比較する
bullet=弾丸
look=（〜のように）見える
このlookは、主語（they)が「見る」のではなく、
一般的にそのように「見える」と訳しましょう。
destination=目的地、行き先

By Christina
*日本語解説　Bellaスタッフ

☆ Ideas for Golden Week Fun!

今日でゴールデンウィークの話題は最終回です。
ゴールデンウィークも目前ですが、
もう予定は立ちましたか？
海外に行かない方、まだ予定がない方。
こちらがクリスティーナの提案です。

Are you wondering what to do in Golden Week?
If you're not traveling overseas,
here's some fun ideas to do in Japan.
Visit the National Tokyo Art Museum,
go the cinema, meet up with some
friends and have lunch at one of
the many fantastic restaurants in Shinjuku,
Roppongi, Tokyo central, etc.
If you don't like these ideas, try some
basic fun activities, such as reading books,
or even relaxing and watching a DVD.
Japan is never boring, so there is always
something fun to do during such holidays
as Golden Week.

By Christina
*日本語解説　Bellaスタッフ

☆ Japanese activities in Golden Week

日本人のゴールデンウィークの過ごし方。
多くの人が海外旅行にいかれますね。
なぜなのでしょう？
今日はクリスティーナがその答えを
話してくれます。

This year, more than 16 million Japanese will travel
overseas to countries such as Guam,
Saipan, Hawaii, Los Angeles, New York, etc.
The prices of hotels, planes and trains
will be more expensive.
It is the longest holiday of the year in Japan.
Why do Japanese love to travel overseas during Golden Week?
Because Japan is the most expensive country in the world to live,
other countries have cheaper shopping,
beautiful beaches, different restaurants, and are usually
more quiet and peaceful!

oversea=海外
expensive=高価な
cheap=安価な

By Christina
*日本語解説　Bellaスタッフ

☆Traveling in Golden Week

ゴールデンウィーク第二弾です。
ゴールデンウィークと言えば旅行ですね。
皆さんはどこかへ行かれますか？

About 80% of the people in Japan
travel in Golden Week.
It's a good time to travel
because most people
don't get long holidays here.
Foreigners living in Japan
sometimes work or travel, or both.
They like to travel around Japan
and do sight-seeing at famous places
like Kamakura. Popular places within
Japan during Golden Week for
foreigners are usually Nikko,
Yokohama, Odaiba, Hokkaido,
even Disneyland or DisneySea
in Tokyo are very popular.

日本国内にも良い観光地は沢山あります。
今年は近所の名所を回ってみるのも良いかもしれませんね。

I have usually worked overtime
during Golden Week, but this year
will be different.
Enjoy your Golden Week!

foerigner=外国人
popular=人気がある

By Christina

☆ Golden Week1 - What does it mean to Japanese?

もうすぐゴールデンウィークですね♪
皆さんは、どこかに出かける
計画がありますか？
今日は、日本にはなぜ
ゴールデンウィークがあるのか、
クリスティーナが解説してくれました。

At the end of April, starting from April 29,
there will be a week of public
holidays in Japan.
These public holidays are
different events that
have been organized for
one week vacation for Japanese.
A few years ago, the movie industry
tried to get Japanese to go to
the cinema during Golden Week.
So some people believe
Golden Week comes from
the expression: "A golden opportunity."
This expression means, take a good
chance while you have the time.
Some Japanese think Golden Week
is a good time to travel.

経済効果のためにも、休息のためにも、
ゴールデンウィークは大切ですね。
organize=構成する
opportunity=機会

By Christina

☆ 桜４-Popular Cherry Blossom Designs

桜の話題も今回で最後です。
今日は桜をモチーフにした品々の話。

Cherry Blossoms are a very popular
design during spring. For example,
Japan makes special Cherry Blossom
snack foods, such as cakes, cookies
and chocolate. Even Kit kat chocolate
designed a cherry blossom snack!
Delicious Cherry Blossom tea is popular too.

桜に関する食べ物も、確かに日本にはたくさんありますね。
桜餅もその一つです。
キットカットに桜柄のデザイン版があるなんて、知りませんでした！
桜のお茶もあるんですね。

Wearing Cherry Blossom colors is also popular,
such as Cherry Blossom kimonos and pink clothes.
Some people like to buy Cherry Blossom
pop music, because it is a popular theme for spring.
Cherry Blossom jewelry and make-up is
beautiful to wear in Japan.

卒業式シーズンには、たくさんの桜柄の袴を着た
女性を見かけました。
桜柄の着物は綺麗ですね♪
４月には「桜」という題の付く音楽も沢山リリースされます。
考えてみると、日本の４月は桜でいっぱいですね！

By Christina
*日本語解説　ベラスタッフ

☆ 桜３-Party at the park

桜の話題、第三弾です。
右の写真は、クリスティーナが実際に
自分で撮ってきてくれたものです。
Many Japanese recently celebrated
the Cherry Blossom season with
a party under the trees.
Special picnics and lots of
photos were taken.
But soon the cherry blossoms
will be gone.
Japan has strong winds in spring,
so the flowers will fly away.

今年の桜は可哀想でしたね。
寒くなったり雨が降ったりで
花を咲かせていた時期がいつもより
短かったように思えます。
日本の桜は散り際も綺麗ですよね。
４月の強風で散っていく桜を見るのも
またひと味です。

Spring is a time of "new beginnings"
and a time to start the new financial year in Japan.
Many Japanese love the Cherry Blossom trees
because they are a symbol of new life.
In fact, Cherry Blossoms are Japan's national tree.

年度が始まる４月に咲く桜は、
新しい出発のシンボルですね。

桜の話題は次回で最終回です。
金曜日をお楽しみに♪

By Christina

☆ 桜２-Spring is here!

先週に引き続き、今回も桜の話題です。
東京の桜の名所、上野公園。
桜のシーズンになると
青いシートが一面に敷かれて
日本人は大騒ぎしていますね。

It's a special time to visit the temples,
shrines, and parks to see the Cherry
Blossom trees. Ueno Park is a very
famous park in Tokyo. It's a popular
place for thousands of Japanese to
visit every spring. The major festival is
the Cherry Blossom festival.
This festival is celebrated by traditional
dancing in the streets. This is one of the
happiest festivals of the year here.
Most people have parties under the trees
and sing karaoke songs together.

"major"は「重要な」や「主要な」という意味です。
メジャーリーグのメジャーはこの"major"ですね。
より高位のリーグということでしょう。
ちなみに、"major"の反対は"minor"(マイナー）です。
どちらも日本語でも耳にしますね。
この機会に覚えちゃいましょう！

By Christina *日本語解説　Bella staff

☆ 桜１-Cherry Blossom Season

今月からブログ更新内容が少し新しくなります！
今月は全4回でクリスティーナが桜の話題を
掲載してくれます。
毎月違う話題について書いてもらう予定ですので
楽しみにしていて下さいね♪

Japan is now becoming more beautiful,
because of the Cherry Blossom season.
This is a lovely time of year to enjoy
some of the world's oldest Cherry
Blossom trees. In some places of Tokyo
and around Japan, there are Cherry Blossom
trees that are 400 years old or more!

さて、今年もついに４月に入りました。
皆さんはもうお花見に行かれましたか？
今年は桜が咲いてから、寒かったり雨が降ったりで
なかなかお花見のチャンスがありませんでしたね。

Many of these trees have different
pink blossoms that can be viewed
in late March and early April by
millions of Japanese and foreign visitors.
Families and friends can celebrate with
a picnic under the trees.

日本人はこの時期になるとそろってお花見♪
ここまでみんながするというのは、
本当に珍しい社会現象なんでしょうね。
ちなみに、ベラスタッフは先週近くの公園にお花見に行きました。

By Christina　　　　　＊日本語解説　Bella staff

☆ Idiom 5: Take time out

今回のイディオムは、「休みを取る」
忙しい時間が多くて、ちょっとのんびり
リラックスしたい。
そんな時には"take time out"です。

Are you always busy?
If you are, sometimes it is good to "take time out"
from your busy schedule or
life style, and relax.
"Take time out" is a useful idiom
for your busy family
or friends, or for yourself.
It is a good idiom to use
when a person or yourself
needs to stop doing something
and enjoy some free time.

"time out"は、作業の途中で
中断するということ。
よく野球でタイムをとりますよね？
あのタイムは"time out"と同じです。
ですので、"take time out"となると、
中休みを取る、ということですね。

Example situation:
A. What are you doing next weekend?
B. I'm not sure yet, but I think I'll be busy.
A. You are always busy!
B. Yes I know, I need to take some time out
for myself and relax.

By Christina

☆ Idiom 4: Clear up

今日のイディオムは天気に関するものです。
雨が上がり、晴れたときに一言。
"It clears up."

If you like talking about general topics,
such as the weather, here is a popular
idiom to use: "Clear up".
It means the weather will become
fine again.

又は、まだ雨が降っている時、
「いつ晴れるかなぁ？」なんて
よくつぶやきますよね。
そんな時は、
"I wonder when it will clear up..."

Example situation:
A. I want to go outside,
but it's too cold at the moment.
B. Yes, I know. It's going to rain all day.
A. Do you know when it will clear up?
B. It's supposed to clear up tomorrow,
and be sunny.

By Christina

☆ Idiom 3: Catch what you said

今日のイディオムは"Catch what you said"！
相手が何を言っているのか
理解出来なかったときに使います。

Do you have trouble understanding
what people say sometimes?
If you do, here is a good idiom
to use when you can't understand them
or didn't hear what they said:
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch what you said"

"catch"はまさに「掴む」と訳して、
"chat what you said"は「言ったことを掴む」。
もし英語の講師が何を言ったのか分からなかったら、
"I didn't catch what you said."と言いましょう。

Example situation:
A. I like this movie, it's so funny.
B. Yeah, it is funny. Have you seen
the other funny movie?
A. Oh, sorry, I didn't catch what you said,
I was too busy watching this movie!
B. That's okay, I'll ask you after the movie.

By Christina

☆ Idiom 2: Bite to eat

今回はお腹が空いたときの一言。
"Let's have a bite to eat!"で、
「軽く食べよう！」ということです。

When you're out shopping with a friend or
family member you may get hungry...
if you do get hungry, you can say
"I'm hungry! Let's have a bite to eat!"

クリスティーナの言うように、
買い物やちょっと出かけた時の
休憩に使えるイディオムですね。
疲れたからコーヒーショップや
喫茶店でつまみ食い、
なんて時に使ってみましょう。

This is a good everyday idiom
to use when you want to have
a light snack or a small meal.
Example situation:

A. I'm so hungry!
B. Me too.
A. Let's have a bite to eat
at that new cafe.
B. Great idea!

By Christina

☆ Recipe5：　Traditional English Scones

今日はクリスティーナのスコーンの
作り方です。去年のクリスマス
パーティで作ってきてくれて、
とっても好評だった一品です。
是非皆さんも試してみてくださいね♪

Do you want to eat something
delicious? Here is an easy recipe
which only takes 25 minutes to cook!
1 Cup of Milk
2 Large Eggs
1 Large Egg yolk
2.5 Cups of Flour
6 Tablespoons of Sugar
1.5 Tablespoons of Baking powder
4.5 Tablespoons of Butter
2 Tablespoons of Water
1 Egg yolk (only for decoration)
"yolk"は卵の黄身のことです。

Preheat oven to 250 degrees
Mix first 5 ingredients in a
large bowl
Rub butter into ingredients
Stir in milk, eggs, yolk
Mix everything well
Turn dough onto a lightly
floured surface
Roll the dough into a 2-3 cm thickness
Cut out rounds of dough with
a cookie cutter
Place each round on a greased (buttered) tray
Brush with yolk to make a glaze on
top of scones
Bake about 25 minutes in the oven,
until brown
"rub"はこする。
"stir"はかき混ぜる。
"dough"はパン生地のことです。

When the scones are cooked, spread
some strawberry jam in the middle of them,
and then use some whipped cream!

mmmmmm delicious!!! Enjoy!!!!

By Christina

☆ "rain" expressions 1

☆ 「rain」を使った表現

最近よく雨が降りますね。
今日はクリスティーナに”rain"を使った表現を書いてもらいました。
”rain"という単語を使っていても実際には雨とは関係のない
表現であったり、なかなか面白いですね。

"Saving it for a rainy day" is a good expression to use
when someone is saving extra money for a sudden
surprise situation, such as job loss.
It also means a person is being wise with their money
and not just spending it all. We all know that
not everything is perfect in life, so having a
little extra money can help during times of difficulty
or challenges. You can use the expression:
"saving it for a rainy day" as often as you like.

Conversation Example:
A. Do you have enough money saved for college?
B. No, I don't. I know I should save more,
but it's hard when I want to go out with my friends
on the weekend.
A. If you don't start saving for a rainy day,
you may have trouble when you start college next year.
You may not be able to live away from home.

By Christina:)

☆ Favorite word in English

Do you have a favorite word you like to use in English?
One of my favorite words is "felicity"
because it means "happiness".
Some words I like to use because
they sound very good, but other words are good
to use because they can describe things really well.
Here are some more of my favorite words you may enjoy.
If you don't understand what they mean,
please look them up in your dictionary.

"Serendipity", "Scrumptous", "Zealous", "Vivacious".

These are just some words to add to
your vocabulary list, if you don't already know them
or use them.
Try to talk with someone,
using at least one of the words here.

By Christina

☆ Opposite words

Here are some opposite words:

Happy - Unhappy
Believable - Unbelievable
Complete - Incomplete
Considerate - Inconsiderate
Kind - Unkind
Emotional - Unemotional
Ability - Inability
Talented - Untalented
Essential - Inessential
Sensitive - Insensitive
Educated - Uneducated
Forgettable - Unforgettable
Necessary - Unnecessary

If you don't understand the meaning of all these words, please look them up in the dictionary. Looking words up in the dictionary can sometimes help you remember them.
Knowing the opposite words can help you build on your vocabulary and conversation skills. They are also useful to for describing feelings, things, people and general situations.

By Christina

☆ Shopping at Costco

Do you enjoy shopping?
Japan has some of the most incredible
items and products to buy! Recently,
I went to an American mart called Costco.
It is a wholesale store, that sells not only
food, but also furniture, clothes, books,
CDs, DVDs, computers, televisions, etc.

It is a very exciting place to go shopping.
A wholesale store means that it sells things
in bigger quantities. For example,
you can buy lots of bread rolls for a bargain price.
Shopping "in bulk" means that you can buy
lots of things and you don't have to go
shopping during the week, or for a long time.
It saves time and also saves money too.
To be able to shop at Costco, you need to
become a member. There are only 3 stores
in Japan to visit. One in Kaihin Makuhari,
one in Yokohama, and one in Saitama.
They also sell Japanese food there, but for a good price.

By Christina:)

☆ What on earth!!!

If you want to express sudden surprise or upset,
you can use the following expressions to show your feelings:

"What on earth are you doing!"

"Why on earth are you playing that music!"

"How on earth did you get my phone number!"

"Where on earth are my car keys!"

You can use these expressions when you are not very happy with someone or with the situation.

Example conversations:

A. "Where on earth are my car keys?"
B. "I don't know?"
A. "I think I've lost my car keys. Are you sure you don't know where they are?"
B. "Sorry, but I have no idea where you put them!"

A. "Hello, Maria."
B. "Daniel? Is that you?"
A. "Yes it is, Maria."
B. "How on earth did you get my phone number?"
A. "I looked it up on the Internet!"

A. "What on earth are you doing?"
B. "Sorry Mom, I got hungry, I had to eat some of the birthday cake!"
A. "John, that birthday cake was for your birthday celebration."
B. "Yeah, I know. I just couldn't wait until tomorrow."

A. "Why on earth are those neighbors playing that crazy music again?"
B. "They like having parties."
A. "Well, it's 3:30am in the morning, I can't sleep with that loud music playing."
B. "I'm sure they will finish their party soon. Try to get some sleep."

By Christina

☆ Need a challenge?

Do you like challenging activities or a challenging life style?
There are so many everyday challenging activities
you can do to improve yourself.

For example, take a long walk for at least an hour,
walk up some steep hills or long distances,
this will challenge your body.
Start reading a book that has some
challenging vocabulary, long sentences
and an indepth topic, this will challenge
the way you think.
Speak with a smart person or e-mail someone
you know who is smart, try to write something
interesting and influential to them,
this will challenge your writing skills.
Do something you have never done before,
such as cook a challenging recipe or take
a dance class that will teach you a new hobby,
something that will help you, this will challenge your creative skills.

Life is about forever learning something new,
so take it on and enjoy the challenge!

By Christina

☆ Out with the old, in with the new

Soon Spring will be here!
With Spring comes a new beginning of a season
and also new fashion. Imagine not having to wear thick,
fur coats and lots of clothes to keep warm.
As soon as you start to wear new colors
and designs you'll be able to say:
"Out with the old, in with the new",
because you will be wearing Spring fashion,
not winter fashion.

Using the expression:
"Out with the old, in with the new" is great,
because you can use it for anything.
For example, if you buy furniture, you can say
"Out with the old, in with the new"
or if you buy a new car you can say the same expression.

So next time you buy something
or you start wearing the new season's fashion,
try using the "out with the old, in with the new" expression!

By Christina

☆ Valentines Day

Valentines Day is a very special day
for people from America, Australia,
England, Canada, Europe, etc.
It is a celebration for lovers,
friends and family in some countries.
It is a day when chocolate and
romantic gifts such as cute toys are
given by couples who love each other.
Giving romantic Valentines Day cards
are also very important, and
writing a special, loving message
is necessary to show your feelings.
Sometimes in America, families also
give one another a card to show their love.
But this does not happen in Australia,
it is only for couples.
But in Japan, Valentines Day is very different.
It is a day where women must give chocolate to
their co-workers and perhaps other men.
So it is not very romantic.

Here are some popular gifts
Australians and Americans enjoy giving to
both men and women on Valentines Day:
Flowers, chocolates, sexy lingerie, cute toys
(such as teddy bears and love hearts), perfume,
jewelery, and beautiful cards with
romantic messages inside them.
Often couples go out for dinner to
an expensive restaurant.
Sometimes couples light candles together.
It is also a very popular day to get engaged.
Many men like to propose to their girlfriend on Valentines Day.

The craziest Valentines Day my husband and I
ever experienced was in Australia.
We decided to go to a seafood restaurant for dinner.
We were excited to go, but when we got to the restaurant
we had to wait for over 1 hour for our lobster!
After dinner we went home, but I started feeling very sick.
The seafood was not fresh and my stomach became very sick.
It was the craziest Valentines Day I can remember! But now I laugh about it.

Happy Valentines Day Everyone! I hope you find happiness and true love.

By Christina:)

☆ Ideas for Valentine's Day gifts

Both men and women may find some of these ideas
useful for Valentine's Day.

Ideas:
Matching towels
Matching travel bags
Matching rings
Watches
Bags
Gold or silver picture frames
Cute candles
Books
Cute ornaments
Teddy bears or other cute toys

Homemade ideas for Valentine's Day:
Poem
Song
Love heart chocolate cake with pink icing
Breakfast in bed
Home cooked meal
Quilt
Cute coat hangers (homemade decorations)
Family photo album

There are so many wonderful ideas and choices
for Valentine's Day.
Don't be scared to use your imagination.

Do you know what a quotation is?
A quotation is a famous statement or
something that a famous person said.
Here are some famous quotations that
you can use to make your conversations more interesting.

"Love puts the icing on life"
(Patrick White, Australian famous writer).
This quotation means that love makes life beautiful.
This is a good quotation to use on Valentine's Day,
you can write this in a card.

Use quotations when you want to make a point stronger.
They are very good to learn because they show
you have read books and you are smart.
But it takes a lot of practice to learn the skill of how to use them.
They should be used as naturally as possible.

By Christina

☆ Misery loves company

Here's a popular, everyday expression: "Misery loves company".
What do you think it means?
It means that very unhappy, sad people usually love to be with
other sad people, and sometimes they love to make other people sad.

What kind of situation do you think this expression is used?
It is used for a situation where someone is making you unhappy
or you think a person is always sad.
You can say: "Well, that person is always sad, misery loves company!"

Unfortunately, there are many unhappy people all over the world,
so this expression is very useful to remember!

By Christina:)

☆ Intensive care

What is "intensive care"?
Many famous products use
this expression. Intensive
care means: deep treatment,
deeper care, looking after yourself
carefully. There are now many
shampoo and conditioner products
with the expression "intensive care"
written on them.

There are also many
skin care lotions that are for "intensive care" for the skin.
All these products are supposed to be
more helpful for both hair and skin health.
The purpose for "intensive care" products is
to help repair any damaged hair or any skin problems.

Hospitals also use the expression "intensive care"
for very sick people. Usually people who have had
a bad accident or a severe operation are placed into
an "intensive care" room.
The purpose for the intensive care room is
to help patients recover and become healthy,
so they can live a normal life again.
Often elderly people need intensive care
if they can't breath properly or look after themselves.
Special nurses and doctors often give intensive care treatment in hospitals.

Sometimes animals also need intensive care
if they become badly sick or after a serious operation.
But usually the intensive care is given by the pet's owner,
not the Vet. The owner usually has to look after
their pet more carefully and make sure
the animal does not go outside until it is fully healthy again.

As you can see, the expression "intensive care"
can be used for various human situations,
and also for animal situations.
It's a very useful and important expression
to understand and use appropriately.
The main thing to remember is that intensive care
is only used when it is a very serious problem, not for normal usage.

By Christina

☆ Expression: Bright side of life

Do you know the expression, "Always look on the bright side of life"?
It is a very positive, happy expression, used to encourage someone
who is feeling sad or depressed.
You can use this expression in any situation,
with any person you meet.
It is very friendly to use, and it can help someone to
feel good about their daily life and their future.
Please try using it.

☆ What makes your trip happy?

When you go on vacation, what makes your trip happy?
Is it the food, the fantastic shops, the beautiful scenery,
the people, or everything?

Recently, I traveled to Guam and the best part about the trip
was the happy people. All the people in the shops,
supermarket, restaurants, hotel and other places
were very friendly and welcoming.
It made the trip extra special, because they were so kind and caring.
If you have not visited Guam, I recommend you
go there for a wonderful holiday.
The people of Guam will warmly welcome you
and treat you with high respect.
There are many family activities for both fun and entertainment.
So, if you're planning your next vacation,
and you're wondering where to go, Guam is the place!
It's only 3 hours from Tokyo by airplane, so it's also very convenient.
The peak season is December, but all year-round the weather
is supposed to be warm and sunny.
However, I suggest you travel to Guam in December,
because the shops have many extra special bargains for you to buy!
I hope your next trip is just as happy and exciting as mine was in Guam.

By Christina:)

☆ Suggestions for short memory loss

Do you find yourself forgetting people's names
or important dates and appointments?
Here are some helpful hints on
how to remember people's names and important appointments.

Instead of asking directly what a person's name is,
you could ask: "How do you spell your name?"
or "Is there any special pronunciation of your name I should know?"
or "What's the meaning of your name?"

If you can't remember an important date or appointment,
you could send an e-mail stating
that you've been very busy recently
and would like to confirm the date and appointment again.
You could also phone and state the same thing.

For future help on remembering names, dates and appointments,
try writing things down in a small notebook.
Keep the notebook with you all the time so you can refer to it.
You will be happily surprised at
how quickly you will remember important things by doing this.
Many famous leaders and business people have done this
in the world and it has worked for them, so I am sure it will work for you.

By Christina:)

☆ Using the word "get" for everyday language

The word "get" can be very useful for everyday language.
Some common phrases to use for the word "get" are:
"get used to it", "get over it", "get to the point",
"get lost", "get going", "get started", "get real",
"get happy", "get plastered", "get lucky",
"get smashed" and "get a life!".
You may not know what these "get" phrases mean
or how to use them, so here are some examples.

"Get used to it"
No choice but to learn to accept
a serious situation or a difficult situation.

"Get over it"
Stop being sad or disappointed
and cope with the problem.

"Get to the point"
Talk more clearly and communicate more directly.

"Get lost!"
Go away and don't come back
(usually used during a very bad argument with someone you dislike).

"Get going"
There is no time left to waste, it's now time to hurry up!

"Get started"
It is time to begin the important task,
project, chore or work related assignment.

"Get real"
Don't be silly, be truthful and realistic,
stop thinking in a fantasy mind.

"Get happy"
Be happy and stop being sad and depressed.

"Get plastered"
Become very, very drunk - deliberately drunk.

"Get lucky"
Try to find a girlfriend or boyfriend, win a game or do well on a test.

"Get smashed"
No chance to win a sports game.
High possibility of being beaten in a competition.

"Get a life!"
Do something with your life - stop being lazy and boring!

By Christina:)

☆ Movie time: The Chronicles of Narnia

Movies are a great way of relaxing,
but they are also a wonderful way to learn more
about the English language.
As you watch a movie, you can begin to learn
more natural phrases, expressions,
and how western people think in many different situations.

This year, a terrific movie is coming to Japan, The Chronicles of Narnia.
It is a great movie to see.
It has been made in three different countries,
two of the countries were filmed in Europe, and the other country
was filmed in New Zealand.
It's a movie that the whole family can see and enjoy,
and also learn from.
So, the next time you watch a movie,
try to learn at least one natural phrase from it,
and try to learn something about the story or the message from the movie.
The Chronicles of Narnia is a movie not to miss!

By Christina

☆ Standing up and sitting down

Do you stand up a lot on the train or sit down
most of the time?

Recently there seems to be more people
standing up than sitting down,
during the mid morning as well as the evening.
A few years ago it didn't seem so busy.
In Australia, not many people use public transport,
especially trains. Using the train at night is
dangerous in Australia, it is surprisingly safe in Japan.
The freedom of the train services here is amazing.

By Christina:)

☆ All-over body care

Almond lotion, honeynut lotion, apricot oil lotion,
olive oil lotion are all fantastic for your legs and arms
- all over your body!

The Body Shop is an excellent place
to buy many of these products,
but you can also buy them from other exclusive skin stores.
During the winter, these should be applied both day and night,
at least 5 times a week for better skin care.
Make sure you use them on your hands and feet too!

By Christina:)

☆ Facial skin care for winter

Is your skin beginning to feel dry and lifeless?
If it is, then here are some helpful tips to care for
your skin during the cold winter months.

First, use a skin lotion for daytime.
Macadaemia oil lotion or Emu oil lotion is
very good for this time of year.
It not only helps repair dry skin, but also helps
to circulate the blood in your face, keeping it warmer.
It will also take away skin blemishes,
caused by severe morning cold.
Emu oil lotion can be expensive, but it is very beneficial.
At night, use olive oil (not in lotion form).
The olive oil will soak into your skin over night
while you are asleep and when you wake up,
your skin will be silky and smooth - not dry!
These are simple methods to help your dry winter skin,
but they are very effective.
Don't forget to apply both daytime
and nighttime skin products to your neck.
You should use lotions and oils everyday and night, consistently.

By Christina:)

☆ Hot food

Are you feeling cold?
Now is the ideal time to start making some hot food
on the weekend or whenever you have spare time.

Here are some suggestions:
Carrot Soup, Pumpkin Soup, Vegetable Soup,
Chicken and Corn Soup, and Tomotoe Soup.
These recipes are available on the Internet, or in cook books.
They will definitely make you feel warmer
and they will also nourish your body during this cold weather.

*Ideal time = perfect time
*Spare time = free time
*Nourish = healthy
*Definitely = 100% happen

By Christina

☆ Lipstick colors

Often women throw away their lipstick
when they can no longer apply it .
But if you use a lipstick brush
you will be able to use all of the lipstick,
which means you won't be wasting it.

Experimenting with different shades of lipstick can be fun.
Try applying a dark pink lipstick first
and then apply a light pink lipstick over the top.
You will see the color contrasts
will make a lovely new shade of color,
creating a fresh, beautiful look to your lips.
You can also add a shiny, gloss coating to go over
the top of the lipsticks to make your lips more outstanding.
Gloss coatings can create younger looking lips.
Lighter colors can also create a younger look or cute look.
Pinks and purple shades go well together.
Various brown shades are also good to experiment with too.
Even some red shades can look very vibrant and beautiful.
Lips stand out as an important facial feature.
Everyone looks at lips while talking with one another!

By Christina:)

☆ Seeing is believing

The expression, "seeing is believing" is a popular one.
It means that you won't believe anything
unless you see it with your own eyes,
not just hear about it.

But sometimes this is not possible.
Sometimes you have to believe what someone says,
even if you can't see it is the truth.
The deeper meaning is "faith" and faith means
having a belief in something unseen.

Conversation Example:
A. Do you still believe in Santa Clause?
B. No, not really. I'd only believe in Santa Clause if i saw him with my own eyes.
A. You won't receive any presents if you don't start having some faith in him.
B. Well, unless i see Santa, i will never believe in him!

By Christina:)

☆ The ideal place to live

Can you imagine what it would be like to live
in the Year 2030? Will the world be the same as
it is today, or will it be worse or better?
Will you always live in Japan or will you live in
another country? If you lived in another country,
which country would you like to live in?

When I was a child I used to try to imagine
what the world looked like.
I dreamed of travelling to far away countries
and meeting new and different people.
The first time I saw Japan I was mesmerized by
how huge the sun was rising and
how busy everyone was at the airport.
It was one of the most exciting times of
my life coming here. I never imagined
living here for so long, especially for more than
two years, but the experience has been wonderful
and adventurous. Reading books about Japan is great,
but seeing the country with my own eyes is even better.
It's interesting to try to imagine what Japan will
look like in the Year 2030.
It would be good to return in that year, I will be quite old by then!

By Christina:)

☆ Expressive words

Warped=weird
For example,
"It is a warped painting".

Wired=energetic, enthusiastic
For example,
"I'm wired for the concert".

Clash=uncompatible, not a good match
For example,
"There was a clash between his
friend and brother".

By Christina:)

☆ Good movie

Recently, it has been growing more difficult
to hire a good dvd. However, there is a good
movie now available on dvd.

The title is called: "The forgotten" starring
Julieanne Moore. It is a suspense thriller
about a mother's son who is captured by
aliens, wanting to conduct an experiment
on children and parents. The movie is well
produced and the story line is excellently
written.

The story is based on the screen
writer's dream. If you have some free time,
it's a movie well worth watching. You will
be kept in suspense until the very end.

By Christina:)

☆ Powerful thinking

We all know that how we think can affect our
lives and actions, but if we continue to think
in a certain way about ourselves we become
those thoughts.

If you are continuously thinking negative thoughts about your body or your personality, you will eventually become those thoughts. The mind is a powerful tool, and we have the power to steer our mind in a positive direction or a negative direction. Be kind to yourself and begin to think good thoughts about your body and your personality. This type of positive thinking will help give you confidence and self-assurance about your decision making. It will empower you to become more purposeful in your life. You are what you think!

By Christina:)

☆ Becoming more knowledgeable

If you want to become more knowledgeable,
then reading books will help you reach your
goal. Encyclopedias, science magazines,
history books and general knowledge books
can enhance your mind's ability to learn and
retain interesting information, making you
more intelligent and fascinating to communicate with.

Reading some novels by popular authors are
good too, but they don't usually increase
knowledge as much as true information does.

I like to read biographies and autobiographies - books about famous people and their life (they are my favorite, because learning about other people is exciting). I also enjoy reading books based on world events and issues. Sometimes to relax, I read novels. Occassionally I will read a science magazine or parts of an encyclopedia.

Newspapers and even Internet articles can be helpful for your brain too. The more you read, the more knowledgeable you will become. My mother reads everything! She is so knowledgeable about so many subjects, I wish to be like her. Educators now recommend that babies and children should be read to, even if they can't talk or read properly. It is now recommended that parents and grandparents should read at least one story per day to their children/grandchildren.

By Christina:)

☆ Being polite

Have you ever wondered how to be polite to
someone without hurting their feelings?
There are ways to remain polite without
having to speak to them.

Body language is powerful. A smile says more than words.
handshake or a slight nod with your head can say you are being friendly. How we use our gestures and body language can say so much more to a person than having a conversation. To create a positive atmosphere, try sitting with your arms relaxed by your side and your face toward the person you are with, this shows you are being friendly and open, not hiding any secrets. Body language in different cultures is so interesting. Crossing your legs in some cultures can mean you are being extra polite, but in Japan this can be thought of as rude. Speaking English is not just about words, it's also about using gestures and body language, and it's very useful for you to use this when conversing in English.

By Christina:)

☆ Recipe3: Carrot & Chicken Noodle Soup

MMMMMMMM...Are you feeling hungry for something so tasty and warm? How about trying a very healthy and delicious recipe, Carrot & Chicken Noodle soup. It doesn't take long to prepare or cook, but it's excellent for visitors or family members on cold, chilly nights. All you need is the following:

1 Big Saucepan
1 Wooden spoon
1 Vegetable peeler
1 Sharp knife
Blender

6-7 medium or large sized carrots
1 can of Chicken Noodle Soup
1-2 medium sized onions

First of all peel all the carrots and chop them up, then put them into the saucepan.
Next, peel and chop the onions finely, then put them into the saucepan with the carrots.
Lastly, pour the Chicken Noodle Soup on top of the carrots and onions, followed by 1 litre or less of water, just make sure the food is at least half covered with fresh water.

Slowly simmer the soup to produce a beautiful flavor and fragrance. Cook for at least 30 minutes on a gas stove. Once the soup has cooled, blend it to make it smooth and rich in texture.

Plain crackers are nice to eat with this particular soup or thinly sliced bread, which can be toasted.

by Christina

☆ Sense of humor

Many countries around the world have
a different sense of humor. Every country
is unique in the way it laughs about jokes
and things in general.

In Australia, the sense of humor is rather
funny because people often laugh about
anything that may seem ordinary or not
strange. It could be the way someone acts
or what they say, it could be the way they
think, it could be anything. We often laugh
in movies or when we go to parties or
other special ocassions.

In my family, my parents laugh frequently
at many things. I would have to describe
my family as a "happy" family. Have you
heard of the expression, "Happy go lucky"?

It means that the person or people are
very bright and happy, and don't let
things get them down much. So, I think
my parents are "happy go lucky" people,
because they are can always see the
positive side of something, even if it is
a tragedy.

I am very much the same as my parents,
I try to think of a positive thing in any
situation. Laughter is good for your health
and happiness.

by Blake

☆ English game

Do you know the game "Scrabble"? It is a famous word game, where as many as 5 players or more have to make words on a board and the winner is the player who can come up with the most letters in a word, scoring the highest points. It's a fun game and well worth learning, because it can help build up your vocabulary and understanding of English words. You either play it with your family or your friends. Kids from the age of 10 up and adults of any age can play this game. You may be able to buy it in Japan.

When I was a child, Scrabble was a popular game with many of my relatives. My grandfather was the champion at the game, and everyone tried to win, but it was almost impossible. Playing the game or even watching it can be exciting.

by Christina

☆ New hobby

Some hobbies can be very expensive and time consuming. But trying to find a new hobby that doesn't cost much money or take up too much time, can be challenging. In Japan, it is not always easy to do the hobbies I used to do in my own country. However, over the past 2-3 years nail and beauty care has become one of my favorite hobbies. I like to buy pretty nail polish and nail care files to shape my nails. Sometimes I even apply a special apricot nail oil, mixed with other oils to strengthen my nails and make them healthier.

This hobby is useful because it shows respect to my co-workers, students and the people I meet when I go out shopping or for dinner, etc. It also makes me feel happy. Nail care is now a big industry in Japan, with so many designs and colors to choose from. I admire and respect Japanese women here, because they look after their nails well.

☆ Happy New Year 2006!

Happy New Year for 2006 to everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful new year's celebration with your family. And I hope all your plans and dreams for the new year come true for you. The new year is already going very quickly. Let's make the most of everyday!

By Christina

☆ Jewelery secrets

If you want to look smaller, taller or thinner try using some different styled necklaces.

Long necklaces that almost touch your stomach are excellent for making you look taller and thinner. A necklace that clings to your neck (called a "choker"), is excellent for making your neck look more elegant and longer. Some hollywood stars, such as Nicole Kidman are very clever at being able to use jewelery to compliment their height and their looks. Nicole Kidman often wears long necklaces, which accentuates her height even more. Earrings are also useful in making your face look thinner, the longer the earrings, the more your face will look thinner. Sometimes big earrings make the face look fat, so try to avoid wearing them. The smaller the earring, the more sweet and dainty you will look. Remember, if you have big fingers, big rings don't look good, because they will make your fingers look even bigger! The more dainty the ring, the longer your fingers will look. Experimenting with jewelery can be fun and rewarding. It can help create different looks, depending on what you wear and where you're going.

by Christina

☆　New Year's Resolutions for 2006

Have you ever heard of the term "New Year's Resolution"? It is a very popular expression used in western countries, such as America, Australia, Canada and some parts of Europe, meaning: "making a special plan for the new year".

Some people in other countries have personal New Year's resolutions, such as go on a diet (lose weight), get a new hair style, become healthier. But other people like to challenge themselves by planning to get a better a job, make more money or study harder. Sometimes these New Year's resolutions don't succeed. Sometimes people give up on their special plan.
It's a tradition in my Australian family to share our New Year's resolutions with one another before January 1st. We also enjoy talking about the past year's events and comparing our past plans too.

The best way to make a New Year's resolution come true is to be prepared to work hard. Hard work will help you succeed at what you want. Some people give up because they don't want to work hard for their plan to come true. Being patient for your plan to come true also helps.

I hope your New Year's resolution comes true for you!

By Christina:)

☆ Holiday ideas

What are you going to do during your Christmas and New Year holidays? If you have no idea, here are some fun and economical suggestions:

　　　　　　

Read a book
Watch a movie
Do some cooking
Get some extra sleep
Paint your finger and toe nails
Get a new hair color or style
Go walking
Visit the museum
See friends and family members

These are just some ideas, of course there are many more to choose from, but holidays can be great to catch up on many activities.

Enjoy your holidays!

By Christina:)

☆ New Year's celebrations

Japan celebrates New Year's day in a very special way compared with Australia.

Young Australian's usually have a New Year's Eve party celebration with their friends only. There is no traditional food to eat, but sometimes on New Year's day both family and friends get together and have an outdoor barbeque, which is mostly meat with some salad. It's a time to relax and have fun, but there is no set tradition as to the way we celebrate the new year.

By Christina:)

☆ New expression

Have you ever heard of the expression: "What you see is what you get"? Do you know what it means?

In simple terms, it means you get nothing more than what you can see, there is nothing extra to get. This can sometimes be used in a situation with children. If a child doesn't like the food you have cooked, you can say "what you see is what you get". Or if a family member is expecting more gifts from you, you can say "what you see is what you get". I wouldn't recommend saying this in a business situation or at work, but with family members it is sometimes very handy to use.

by Christina

☆ Fun with English

Are you sometimes bored with your English learning? Write down some things you are interested in learning and research about them on the Internet.

For example, if you are interested in space, type in NASA and then read up on it. Keep a diary or a journal book with all the things you have researched about. This will help you remember what you've learnt and read, and it will also make learning English more fun too!

☆ Helping your English skills

Reading "The Japan Times" newspaper is an excellent way to help improve your English skills.

It will help you with more ideas about different topics, it will also help with learning more vocabulary, and it will help you to be able to communicate with knowledge about updated world subjects. Try reading the English newspaper each Monday, and get into a habit of doing this. You will be happily surprised at the positive results.

by Christina

☆ Saving time

Do you like ironing? If you don't or if you have no time to iron, there is a secret to saving your time.

After your clothes have been washed and dried, fold them up immediately or hang them up. This method of immediately putting away your clothes will save ironing them. It really works! I only have to iron a few things because of the material they are made of, but most of my things I don't have to iron.

☆ Alternative cleaners

Lemon Essence oil is an excellent alternative cleaner.

It cleans stains on kitchen benches and tables, it also cleans tiles on kitchen walls. It smells lovely because it has a lemon fragrance. You may be able to buy it at a supermarket in Japan, in the cooking section. You don't need to use much of it, only a few drops on a clean, damp cloth to wipe the dirty area. It is an excellent refridgerator cleaner too.

Vanilla Essence is also very good for cleaning refridgerators, used in the same way as Lemon Essence oil. It can be bought at a supermarket, in the cooking section. These two products are good, healthy cleaning alternatives to using chemical based cleaners. They can be safer to use if you have children or elderly people in your home.

by Christina

☆ Expanding on English words

One of the best ways to learn more exciting, interesting English words is to buy a Thesaurus Dictionary.

This particular dictionary will help show you words that can be used to replace simple words. For example, instead of saying "get" which is a very basic word, the dictionary may suggest "achieve", "gain", etc. It's a great way of improving your vocabulary and being able to communicate on a higher, more intelligent level.

by Christina

☆ Easy Lasagne Recipe

Ever wondered how to cook easy Lasagne? Here's a good recipe:

6 Lasagne sheets
1-2 cups of tomatoe pasta sauce (homemade)
Some shredded cheese
Some black pepper
1 medium sized saucepan
1 small sharp kitchen knife

Homemade Tomatoe Pasta Sauce:
6-7 big, ripe, juicy tomatoes - wash them, then cut them up and put them in a medium sized saucepan
Sprinkle some mixed, dried herbs in with the tomatoes to add some extra tasty flavor
1 large onion, diced or sliced
Alternative vegeables to add: 1 chopped clove of garlic, 1 zucchini diced up small
Cook for about 20 minutes on a medium to low gas stove
Blend it when it is half cold to make it smooth and thick

Place a small amount of tomatoe pasta sauce in the bottom of the lasange dish, and then put a lasagne sheet on top, then put some more tomatoe sauce on top of that sheet and then keep doing this until the 6 sheets are on top of each other, with each layer covered with the sauce.

Microwave this without cheese for about 15 minutes maximum to make it soft

Then take it out of the microwave oven and put some cheese on top of the lasange, with sprinkled pepper
Bake the lasagne for 20 minutes maximum

Serve with either brocolli or some side salad such as lettuce, sliced cucumber and small tomatoes

Dark grape juice is also very tasty to drink with the lasagne

By Christina

☆ Handy Hint for the week!

Here's another handy hint for the week...to save time, prepare the breakfast the night before, so you have more time in the morning to enjoy it!

Getting the plates, bowls, cups, glasses, spoons or knives ready for the next morning saves time and energy. Having the food ready on the table also helps you to wake up quicker in the morning.

by Christina

☆ Funny Book for Christmas

A funny book to read for Christmas is written by one of my favorite authors, John Grisham, called: "Skipping Christmas".
　　　　　

It is not a very long book, but it gives an insight into how American's celebrate Christmas, and how difficult it can be to keep buying lots of decorations, cards and gifts every year, because of the competition to buy bigger and better things every year. It's a funny story and I'm sure you would enjoy reading. I highly recommend the book to you.

By Christina:)

☆ Homemade Australian Casserole

Do you know what many Australians enjoy eating during the cold seasons? They like to eat a delicious dish called a "casserole", which is very similar to a British dish. It consists of mainly vegetables and tuna.

Recipe:
6-10 large potatoes
Cup of peas
1 medium carrot
Spiral pasta
1 tin of tuna

Alternative:
Chopped up broccoli
Cup of chopped green beans
Diced pumpkin

1 large saucepan
1 small saucepan
1 vegetable masher
2 pyrex baking dishes

Peel each potatoe and then cut it up in small cubes, place in large saucepan and boil until soft
Peel carrot and cut up in small cubes, with your choice of either green beans or peas, boil until half cooked
Boil pasta until soft, then rinse under hot water

Mash potatoes with a cup of milk, then place some of the potatoe in the bottom of the pyrex dish, about 3 dessert spoons
Put all of the cooked pasta on top of the thin layer of potatoe
Next, put all of the vegetables on top of the pasta
Rinse the tuna and place on top of the pasta
Now put the rest of the mashed potatoe on top of the pasta
Sprinkle cheese on top to cover the potatoe with some black ground pepper

Bake for approximately 20-30 minutes

Best served hot from the oven with a drink of your choice

☆ Food for a feast

The Christmas season is one of the busiest times of the year. It's also a time to eat lots of delicious food, which is rich in flavor and is usually eaten only on Christmas day or during the season.

In Australia, we celebrate Christmas by cooking not only a big turkey, but pork, chicken, and roast vegetables, and various sauces to go with the meats. The dessert and other foods are also an important part of the celebration. Fruit cakes with or without icing on top are part of the big day. There are so many fruit cake recipes to choose from, there are also so many fruit cakes to buy in stores too. Jelly slices, cookies, candies, and chocolates are very popular. One of the most popular desserts is the Pavlova cake. It looks like a huge merangue pie, with plenty of cream on top and around the sides of it, topped with passion fruit, sliced strawberries, kiwi fruit and bananas. These are usually expensive to buy and can only be bought once a year. There are lots of chips, dips and so many different kinds of pretzels to nibble on. People basically eat all day and night!
One of my family's favorite cakes is called the Chocolate Ripple Cake. It made of chocolate ripple biscuits and cream only. It's easy to make, and absolutely beautiful to eat!

By Christina:)

☆ Keeping warm in the winter

As the Autumn season is closing and the winter season is setting in, it is a great time to start thinking of how to keep warm.

Hot ginger tea and homemade curry is sure to make you more comfortable as you begin to feel the cold temperatures. Slice or grate some fresh ginger from the supermarket and place it in with your ordinary tea or ginger tea. Next, cook some rice and add some vegetables with a sprinkle of curry to add both flavor and warmth to your food. The Japanese white radish vegetable is an excellent vegetable to chop up and use with the curry and vegetable dish. Try wearing a thicker scarf and a wool hat with thick socks or stockings, as a loss of heat from the neck, head and feet is a major cause of coldness.

By Christina:)

☆ Christmas shopping & Gift ideas

It's never too soon to begin thinking and to start shopping for some lovely Christmas gifts for your friends, family or co-workers.

Sometimes Christmas chocolates, cookies, cakes and candies are perfect to wrap in appropriate Christmas paper to give to people. But if someone you know doesn't like receiving food for Christmas, how about a cute Christmas ornament or some very suitable Christmas cloths for the kitchen or bathroom. Music is a great gift to give for Christmas, or a dvd. This is a wonderful time of year to use your imagination with gift wrapping, cards, baskets, Christmas bags and colored pens, stickers, ribbons and bows. If you are very busy, perhaps you could buy some tickets to the theater or a book gift voucher. No matter how big or small the gift you buy is, it's the presentation of the wrapping which can make it sparkle. A surprise gift hidden in a Christmas card also creates fun and excitement too. And if you don't like shopping for Christmas gifts, but you would like to give something from your heart, how about making something instead. You could cook something, make a flower arrangement, sew something cute or even dry flowers and frame them. Christmas is a time of giving, not just of receiving, the best part of Christmas is making other people happy.

By Christina:)

☆ Invitation for YOU!!!

Everyone is invited to the end of year Christmas party, December 16, 6:30pm. We will be eating the most delicious food and drinking lovely drinks, playing games and listening to happy music. Most of all, we will be enjoying having some fun together. So, please come and join us, it's a great opportunity to get to know us and celebrate a wonderful time of the year:)

クリスマスパーティ詳細はこちらをクリック　カチッ　！

From Christina:) On behalf of everyone at Bella:)

☆ Friendship

what makes a good friend?

Someone who is kind, caring, considerate, loving. A person who believes in you. A person who encourages you to try your best in life. Someone who is willing to help you in a bad situation, and someone who is also available to share the good times with you. Are you a good friend? Do you keep in contact with your friends? If you can't see your friends very often, try phoning them once a month or e-mailing them on a regular basis. Sending a gift on their birthday is also a nice thing to do.

Conversation Example:
A. Why do you believe in me?
B. Because I can see you always try your best at what ever you do!
A. It's great to have a friend like you, you're not only kind, but you always keep in contact with me too.
B. Well, it's important to encourage each other. Whenever you encourage me, I feel so much stronger.
A. Thank you for being so considerate of my feelings, and for being willing to help me during tough times.
B. No problem!

By Christina:)

☆ Energy

Here's some energy exercises to help give you more energy:

Go walking for at least 30 minutes every morning.

Eat a good breakfast, lunch and a small dinner.

Have plenty of sleep.

Walking is the best form of exercise. I walk for at least 6 days a week, 70 minutes each morning. It helps give me more energy for the day. It also keeps my body healthy. I have read that if you walk everyday, it adds an extra 5 minutes on your life. People who exercise regularly live longer.

By Christina:)

☆ Free time

If you have any free time to yourself, what do you usually do?

Next time try reading a book for at least 30 minutes, even if it's on the train. It's surprising how good it is to read and how much you remember. Reading helps improve your memory and it helps you have more interesting conversations too.

If you don't have much time to read, try reading a local newspaper and test your memory after you've read it. Ask yourself what was the story about? Were there any major issues? Was there a problem that was finally solved at the end of the story? This will help your memory and it will also help you to think of new ideas too.

I recommend reading something different everyday. Your brain needs exercising just as much as the body.

By Christina:)

☆ Bag sizes

Did you know that the size of bags can make you look bigger, taller, smaller, slimmer?

So if you want to make yourself look taller and thinner, try buying a handbag that is bigger and see if this works for you. Famous models like to use bigger bags to make them look taller. Black bags are very fashionable and versatile. Bags of all shapes and sizes can help create a smaller you, taller you, slimmer you, younger you or even older you, depending on the situation.

☆ Natural medicine

It's that time of the year again when some people begin to feel a little sick because of the cold temperature of Autumn.

If you have a cold and want to naturally cure it, try some aromatherapy oils such as Tea Tree Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, or Lavender Oil. Either place some of the oil in a large bowl and pour water in it and then inhale the smell, or add a few drops of oil on a handkerchief and breath it in. This will help clear your nose blockage and help with a heavy headache too. Garlic is also a natural medicine to help keep away germs and colds. Try eating fresh garlic with pasta, it's an effective way to reduce a cold.

Fresh water is also helpful for a cold and hot herbal teas such as Peppermint are good too.

☆ Cute Animals

The first time I saw a Panda Bear was at Ueno Zoo. In fact, I was lucky to see two Panda Bears when I visited the Ueno Zoo. It was one of the best days of my life in Japan because the Panda is my favorite animal. I think I took about 40 or more pictures that day, even though the bears were sleeping most of the time because they were so hot.

☆ Happiness starts within you

Have you ever wondered how you can be happy everyday?

* Smile everyday (even if you don't feel like it)

* Think of something you can be positive about

* Enjoy your life and have a grateful heart for the 'ordinary' things

* Try to help someone everyday

☆ Weekends

Often we ask "How was your weekend?" as a polite way of showing interest and care in a person. It is a very popular question in workplaces and with friends.

If your weekend is always the same, it is often good to answer the question with: "my weekend was fine, thank you", and then usually you can ask the same question to the person who asked you first. No one expects the weekend to be always exciting, but they like to ask the question because they want to show the person they are interested in them and they want to be polite.

One of the funniest and most happiest weekends I had was when my mother and I watched 7 videos! We had such a good time together that I wished my weekend would last forever! Now my weekends are usually all the same.

But sometimes if I go shopping or to the cinema to watch a good movie, then I am happy to tell my co-workers that my weekend was extra special. So next time a person asks you "how was your weekend" they are showing you they are interested in you and your life, and they are being polite.

☆ Sight Words 3

Watch is a little like Look (at) but implies that something is happening or is going to happen.

Watch is a little like Look (at) but implies that something is happening or is going to happen. We watch things that change, move or develop.
I watched a baseball game last weekend at Tokyo Dome.
I enjoy watching TV in the evening after work.

Here are a few two part verbs and idioms that use watch.

watch out
To be careful or on the alert; take care.
Watch out for cars when you are crossing the street.

watch over
To be in charge of; superintend.
When I was young my big brother watched over me. He didn't like babysitting though.

Idioms:
watch it
To be careful:
I had to watch it when I stepped onto the ice. I hadn't been iceskating for years and was afraid I would fall.

watch (one's) step
1 To act or proceed with care and caution.
Watch your step on going up the stairs! They are slippery after the rain.
2 To behave as is demanded, required, or appropriate.
You should watch your step around the new boss. I hear he is very strict.

☆ Autumn colors

Now that the Autumn season is here, deciding what fashion to wear can be challenging. Beautiful shades of brown can make anyone look good. Here are some seasonal suggestions:

Try a new nail polish, choose a shiny color to enhance your nails and hands, you can apply a glitter gold over the top of your nails to make them look more special for Autumn.

Brown boots always look good with either a skirt, dress or pants, they can also make you look slimmer too.

A velvet-like brown lipstick can give you a fresher, younger face, adding some sparkle to you.

Shades of chocolate brown and caramel brown eye shadows can also highlight your eyes, making them look lovely.

This is a great time of year to begin wearing such beautiful brown colors. There are so many varieties of fashions and make-up to choose from in Japan. One of the best things about wearing autumn colors is that anyone of any age can wear them!

☆ Killing Time

Imagine you are meeting your friend at 7:00 p.m. in front of ALTA department store in Shinjuku. You finish work at three o'clock and arrive in Shinjuku about four o'clock. Now you have three hours before you meet your friend. What are you going to do?

In English we say "I have three hours to kill" or "I need to kill three hours." When I have some time to kill, I always do the same things: I go to a coffee shop and read, or go to a bookstore or a record store and browse. What do you like to when you have time to kill?
Do you go to a video game arcade or a pacinko parlour? Do you go to a convenient store and read the magazines or do you go to a department store and look at the new, winter fashions? The best answser, of course, is YOU STUDY ENGLISH!!

BROWSE= To look over casually. When I say "I'm going to a bookstore to browse," it means that I'm not looking for a specific book. I might buy something or I might not. It means I'm just looking around.

☆ Relaxing things to do for you

If you feel stressed drink some hot Chamomile tea, it helps to relax you and it is also good for you because it is herbal tea.

Take a relaxing bath, use some bath salts and some bubble bath liquid (you can buy this from the Body Shop in Japan). Special body oil may also help to relax you, or even some body lotion. Choose oils and lotions that smell beautiful and feel smooth to the skin. These are just some things that you can do to relax.

☆ Recipe2: Pumpkin Soup for Halloween

Do you like Pumpkin? Here is a very easy Pumpkin Soup recipe for Halloween.

Buy a whole pumpkin
Cut it up in small pieces and cut the skin off it
Place it in a large saucepan with plenty of water covering it
Slowly boil it and as it is cooking cut up a large onion
Place the sliced onion in with the pumpkin
Cook the ingredients together for 1 hour or more, but slowly

Alternative ingredients to add:
You can also add a teaspoon of curry powder for more flavor
Sometimes adding 1 or 2 potatoes can make it thicker and tastier too

Once the pumpkin and onion is cooked, leave it to cool
Blend the soup to make it smooth (you will need to have a large blender for this)

When you serve the pumpkin soup in a bowl you may also decorate it on top with some cream or some fresh green vegetables, such as a sprinkle of very thinly chopped green pepper or a few herbs

Cook some sliced french bread stick under the grill and melt cheese on top of it

Serve the Pumpkin Soup in a white, Italian bowl (this always looks more outstanding and beautiful)

Now enjoy it with the sliced french bread and have a happy Halloween!

☆ Blue Monday & T.G.I.F

A short while ago I wrote about "hump day" - Wednesday.
Now I want to tell you about two more "days" that we use in English.

"Blue Monday" is used because Monday is the first day of the school/ Work week, and it's always the most difficult.
The opposite is T.G.I.F "Thank God It's Friday."
Everyone is happy because Friday is the last school/ work week day, and the weekend is coming soon.

So, be a little sad on "Blue Monday," happy for "Hump day" Wednesday because half the week is over, and feel great because it's Friday.

☆ Hump Day

"Good morning, how are you? I'm great. Today is 'hump' day."
What is "hump" day?

In the work week there are five days. Monday and Tuesday may be difficult because they are at the beginning of the week. Wednesday is the middle of the week, the "hump" day because after Wednesday then comes Thursday and Friday, which are usually easier because they are closer to the Weekend. So Wednesday is the "hump" day between the beginning and the ending of the week.

Have a good week, and enjoy "hump" day
More on days of the week on another blog!

☆ Recipe1: Egg and Bacon Pie

This is a traditional English recipe which is very handy and tasty to make. Please try it!

2 eggs
4 rashes (strips) of Bacon
1 cup of plain flour
5 small cubes of soft butter
2 teaspoons of water

Small sized cooking tray
1 blunt knife
Medium sized cooking bowl
Rolling pin

Pastry base:
Sift the 1 cup of plain flour into a medium sized cooking bowl. Then put 2 cubes of butter in the flour and begin to rub the butter together with the flour until it is well rubbed in. Add 2 more cubes of butter and do the same method. Then add a very small teaspoon of water to the mixture, and stir with a knife (not a spoon). Once the flour has been stirred with the water, add another small teaspoon of water and stir all the ingredients again.

Place the pastry base on a smooth bench and begin to roll it with a rolling pin. Roll it until it is very thin.
Take a small tray and put it on top of the pastry, then cut the shape out with a blunt knife. Place the pastry in the tray.

How to make the pie:
Cut the bacon pieces into small strips. Place the bacon on top of the pastry base. Then crack 2 eggs and mix them together, then pour over the bacon strips. Once the eggs are all over the bacon strips, sprinkle cheese on top of the pie and some pepper.

Oven temperature:
Cook in the oven at the temperature of 250 deg. for at least 20 minutes or more.

*You can eat this pie either cold or hot. You can also cook vegetables to be eaten as a separate dish with it. It's a good pie to make for a party, a special lunch or just for yourself!

☆ Garbage

Ever wondered where the garbage is disposed of in other countries? It's a little different in Australia compared with Japan.

　　　　　　　
Australia has huge garbage bins, named 'Wheelie Bins' where people store their garbage in. Then, once a week the garbage collector picks it up in a very large truck we nickname 'garbo truck'. But instead of burning the garbage as is done in Japan, it is taken to a place called the 'tip'. The tip is like an Australian icon, it is famous for Sunday afternoon visits, where families used to take their garbage and the father of the family would take a look around and sometimes take some free things he found at the tip.

These days, it is illegal to take things from the tip, but the poems and the songs still exist in Australia. I doubt very much if Japanese people feel so fondly about the garbage days of the past, but it is fascinating from a foreigners point of view to learn the customs and the history of garbage disposals in other countries, such as Japan.

Surprisingly, Japan is rather litter free, although there are not half as many garbage bins on the streets, as there are in Australia. So, next time you see the local garbage disposal truck, think of the differences between Australia and Japan - the size factor, the place where the garbage will be taken and disposed of, and also think of how the two countries view their garbage differently! It really is very interesting.

☆ Happy Halloween!

I think most people in Japan think that Halloween is only for children. It's a day when little boys and girls get dressed up as Superman or Harry Potter or Cinderella and go trick or treating around the neighborhood. But, in America, Halloween is also very popular with adults, especially university students. Every year on October 31st there are many Halloween parties at companies or on university campuses. Imagine walking into your office on Halloween morning and seeing a co-worker dressed up as Michael Jackson! Your boss dressed up as George W. Bush! Oh, no!

If you had a Halloween party at your office or your school, what costume would you wear? Would you be Prime Minister Koizumi or a member of Morning Musume? Would you wear a yukata, carry a guitar, and be Hata Youku? Or maybe wear a pair of glasses, blow-dry your hair and be Yon-sama? If you have any good costume ideas, please send us your comments. Have a Happy Halloween!

"Dress Up"= This phrase is used when we put on a costume, but also when we wear fancy clothes or very nice clothes. For example, "I got dressed up for Richard's wedding" or "My wife and I got dressed up for our anniversary dinner."
"Trick or treat"=An activity on Halloween day where kids go from house to house to get candy.

☆ Sight Words ②　Look (at)

The differences between to see, to look and to watch

We use look to talk about concentrating, paying attention, trying to see what is there. You can see something without wanting to, but you can only look at something deliberately.

For example:
I looked at the photo but I didn't see anyone I knew.

When look has an object it is followed by a preposition.
Look at me! or I was looking for a new CD.

There are many two part verbs and idioms that use look.

1. To Look Up: to locate information in a directory, dictionary, book, etc.
I often look up information on the internet before I travel.

2. To Look Out For: to be careful or cautious.
Be sure to look out for deer on the highway when you are driving at night.

3. To Look Over: to examine, to inspect closely.
Always look over your notes before a test.

4. To Look Into: to investigate, to examine carefully.
I am looking into taking some new courses at University.

5. To Look Up To: to admire, to respect greatly.
The person I look up to the most is my mother.

6. To Look Out On: to face, to overlook.
The cabin looks out on a beautiful green lake.

☆ Exciting Week in Japanese Sports.

It was an exciting week in Japanese sports. First, in sumo wrestling, Asashoryu beat Kotooshu to win the Emperor's Cup. Only one more win and he will break Taiho's 40-year-old record. Amazing!

Then, in baseball, the Hanshin Tigers beat the Yomiuri Giants to win the Central League Championship. I am not a big sumo or Japanese baseball fan, but I was still excited to see who would win. I was rooting for both Asashoryu and the Tigers so I was very happy with the results.

When we talk about sports and games we use the words “Beat” “Win” or “Lose.” Sometimes it's a little confusing for students. Here are a few examples to help clarify things.

■BEAT: “The Mariners BEAT the Yankees in extra innings," "Bob Sapp BEAT Akebono," or "My wife BEAT me in arm wrestling."
■WIN: “The Tigers WON the game last night,” “I think Bob Sapp will WIN the fight ,” or “My wife always WINS our arm wrestling matches.”
■LOSE or LOSE TO: “The Yankees LOST the game,” “Akebono LOST TO Bob Sapp,” or “I LOST the arm wrestling match TO my wife.”
I hope this helps. And remember: GO HANSHIN! GO ASASHORYU!

●Big Fan=Like very much. "I'm a big music fan." "I'm a big Mariners fan."
●Break...record=Surpass existing record. "Carl Lewis broke the world record in the 100 meter."
●Rooting for=Support. "I'm rooting for the Hanshin Tigers." "I'm rooting for Japan in the World Cup."
●Extra Innings=When a baseball game goes over nine innings.

☆ Autumn is Here!

This morning I woke up and felt a little chill in the air. Then I opened the window and a crisp breeze blew through the room. "I can't believe it," I thought to myselfl. "Autumn is here! Summer is over!" I think most people who live in Tokyo feel the same way I do: towards the end of every summer, I can't wait for the cold weather and towards the end of every winter, I can't wait for the warm weather.

Here are a few useful words to help you talk about autumn or fall.

When we describe the weather in the fall, we often say the air is "crisp."
For example, "It was a little warm today, but there was a nice, crisp breeze."

Another term we use is "chilly."
An example of this is: "It's a little chilly out so you should wear a sweater."

Also, in Japan, fall or autumn is famous for its "seasonal" foods.
For example, Saury (sanma) is a "seasonal fish," matsutake mushrooms are a "seasonal vegetable "and persimmons (kaki) are a "seasonal fruit." My favorite, of course, is Asahi's "Seasonal Autumn Beer."

But what is autumn in Japan most famous for?

Watching the "leaves change color" or going to a park to look at the "foliage." Yes, what better way to spend the day then having a picnic under a big, colorful tree, eating some matsutake rice with some grilled sanma and sipping on a cold, Autumn beer. Mmmmm....

So enjoy the autumn foods and the beautiful fall weather while you can, because in a few months you might be standing on a platform during a snow storm, freezing, wishing it were August again.

☆ crazy about

Below is a multiple choice question about the idiom "crazy about."

"Today's English Word"

1.

...crazy about...

Bubba said "I'm crazy about shrimp." What does he mean?

a) He becomes mad when he eats shrimp.
b) He has an allergic reaction to shrimp.
c) He loves shrimp.
d) He often eats shrimp.

...................................................

この問題の正解は明日のコメント欄に掲載します！

☆ Sight Words①

The differences between to see, to look and to watch.

One problem many Japanese students have when studying English is the various words we use for sight. The Japanese verb 'miru', 見る, covers a lot of situations where we use very different words. In the following few weeks I hope to give a better idea of how and when we use see, look at and watch. : )

See
We use see in a very general way. It is the ordinary verb we use to say that something "comes to our eyes". It doesn't mean that we are paying special attention to something.

For example;
I saw you at a cafe yesterday. Doesn't mean I was looking for you specifically or I stood and watched you. It simply means that I noticed you by accident.

There are also many two word verbs that can be even more confusing.

see off
To take leave of (someone):
A:) Why weren't you at work yesterday?
B:) Oh, I saw my friend off at the airport. She is going to San Francisco for a vacation.

see out
1 To escort (a guest) to the door:
A:) I'm leaving now.
B:) OK, I'll see you out.

see through
1 To understand the true character or nature of:
I saw through his lies.
2 To provide support or cooperation to (a person) throughout a period of time:
He is an excellent friend. He saw me through a very difficult illness.

see to
To attend to:
See to the chores, will you?

Confusing hey? These are only a few examples. Can you come up with any more?

Sight　Words②: Look

☆ Over the Hill

What does "over the hill" mean?

What do you think it means?

If you go over a hill you are on the other side but is that what it means in this case?

Well, yes and no.

Read below for details.........

"Over the Hill" in this case, means that you are no longer young. You may be old but you are not a young person anymore.

If you live in a country like America then you might celebrate this event with a party!

When I became 40 years old my family and friends had a party for me. It was an "Over the Hill" party.

The colors were black and gray, to signify old age and death. The food was all soft and boring, something an old person without teeth would eat. The gifts were also something appropriate for an old person. False teeth, a wig, make up, skin lotion, some small exercise equipment, a girdle, things like that.

The party was done for fun and in a funny way so everyone had a good time. This is how an "Over the Hill" party is done. Use your imagination, create a unique party and surprise your (old) friends with their very own "Over the Hill" party.

☆ One Step Forward, Two Steps Backwards

* 'One Step Forward, Two Steps Backwards'
There is an expression in english that means "not making progress, but regressing."

It is "One Step Forward, Two Steps Backwards." We often use it when we think a suggestion will not make a situation better, but actually make the situation worse. It can be used in conversation like this:

Situation: Two men are talking after a hard workout at the gym...

Mr. Long : Boy, that was a hard workout. I really think I am losing weight.
Mr. Wong : Me too. I checked my weight yesterday and I have lost 5kg in two weeks.
Mr. Long : Let's celebrate! Let's go to that new hamburger restaurant for dinner!
Mr. Wong : A hamburger restaurant after a workout? That sounds like one step forward and two steps backwards.

! 今日の一言Englishスタート！

ベラブログ記念すべき第一回は、ベラのネイティブ講師が毎回リレーで送る「今日の一言Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ」です。

今日のお題は「Australian　words」。

ベラブログはＲｅａｄｉｎｇの練習、そして教科書には載っていない海外の文化に触れることができます。もっともっと英語を身近に感じられるベラブログ、Let's start 　！

「Australian　words」

Barbie : This is a word meaning "barbeque" or "BBQ" that is used widely throughout Australia.

Barbeques are really popular during the summer months and are greatly enjoyed while consuming beer or some other alcoholic beverage.

- We're having a barbie this afternoon at our place. Why don't you come on over?
- Hey, can you throw some "snags" (sausages) on the barbie?