今年を振り返って、あなたは何に感謝しますか？

We are nearing the end of the year and that is, for most people, a time to reflect on life and especially the last year. I am no exception and have been spending the last few weeks thinking about where I am, what I have, what I want, what I need, what is important to me and most importantly, what I am thankful for in my life.

So I will share some of my answers with you and then I would like you to start this week’s lesson by answering some of the same questions about your own life.

If you have any questions about vocabulary, please look below. So, this week’s question is:

At the end of 2009, what are you thankful for? （今年を振り返って、あなたは何に感謝しますか？）

My answer:

First and foremost, I am thankful for my health and the health of my wife, Hiroe. We have an occasional cold or headache, but for the most part, we are healthy. And there is nothing more important than you health in my opinion.

I am thankful for my mom, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and
all my in laws.

I am also thankful for my dog—it’s true that dogs are man’s best friend.

I am thankful for my friends. I have added some new ones this year and that is always a wonderful thing.

This December, I am thankful for my electric blanket since my bedroom and house are so cold.

And finally, I am thankful for all of my students. They are kind, motivated (usually!), funny and generous. I hope that we can continue our fun into the next year.

Happy new year everyone. I will look forward to speaking to you soon.

Stay safe and warm,

Keith//

This week's vocabularies:

reflect: 自動詞
1 〈光が〉反射する；〈鏡などが〉光［熱］を反射［反照］する, 〈音が〉反響する.
2［I （副　詞）］（…を）熟考する, 再考する, 思案する｟on, upon, over ...｠
reflect on the problem｜その問題を熟考［再考］する

exception/iksépʃən/ 名 詞•Ｕ•Ｃ
1 例外, 除外(exclusion)
with the exception of ...｜…を除いて
without exception｜例外なく.

thankful/θǽŋkfəl/
形容詞｟通例叙述｠〈人が〉（人に；…を）感謝している｟to ...；for ...｠；（…ということを）ありがたく思っている｟to do, that節｠；〈言動が〉感謝を表している. ⇒GRATEFUL[類語]
I am extremely thankful to him for his help.｜彼の援助に深く感謝している
I was thankful to breathe the fresh air.｜新鮮な空気を吸えてうれしかった
I am thankful that he came.｜彼が来てくれたことをありがたく思っている.

first and foremost
まっ先に, 何よりもまず.

occasional/əkéiʒənəl/
形容詞｟通例限定｠
1 時折の, 時々の, 折々の
an occasional mistake｜たまたま犯した誤り
an occasional thunderstorm｜時々来る雷雨
We ran into occasional difficulties.｜時々困難な問題にぶつかった.

man’s best friend: 人間のベストフレンド

an electric blanket｜電気毛布

thankful/θǽŋkfəl/
形容詞｟通例叙述｠〈人が〉（人に；…を）感謝している｟to ...；for ...｠；（…ということを）ありがたく思っている｟to do, that節｠；〈言動が〉感謝を表している. ⇒GRATEFUL[類語]
I am extremely thankful to him for his help.｜彼の援助に深く感謝している
I was thankful to breathe the fresh air.｜新鮮な空気を吸えてうれしかった
I am thankful that he came.｜彼が来てくれたことをありがたく思っている.

あなたの仕事のベストな部分とワーストな部分は何ですか？

Hello again everyone. I hope you had a good week. It’s getting colder so please stay warm and healthy as the winter season bears down on us.

And thanks to everyone who answered last weeks question about their 死ぬまでにしたいこと list. It seems many people want to travel around the world, see the Aurora, and live in the countryside—the top three answers. Very interesting answers.

OK, let’s move to this week’s vocabulary and question:

First, Vocabulary:

bear down on: …によりかかる, のしかかる, を圧迫する；〈人を〉しかる
bear down on a cane｜つえにすがる.

click:｟略式｠（物事が）わかってくる.

polished:〈文章物腰人などが〉洗練された, 教養のある, 優雅な
a polished sentence｜洗練された文章.

witness: …を目撃する, （まのあたりに）見る, 目にする
witness a car accident｜交通事故を目撃する.

cryptic: 隠れた, 秘密の；不可解な；わけのわからない；あいまいな
a cryptic remark｜なぞめいた言葉.

puzzled: 動　詞•他動詞
1｟しばしば受身｠〈人を〉途方に暮れさせる, 当惑［困惑］させる, 困らせる
That crime puzzled the police.｜その犯罪は警察をてこずらせた.
2［III名　詞（副　詞）］〈人頭心を〉（…で）煩わす, 悩ます｟over, about, as to ...｠
puzzle oneself ［one's brains］ over a problem｜ある問題で頭を悩ます
I was puzzled as to where to go.｜どこへ行こうか悩んだ.

nútshèll
名　詞堅果の果皮［殻］.
in a nutshell
きわめて簡単に（言えば）, ほんの一言で.

And this week’s question:

What are the best and worst parts of your job?（あなたの仕事のベストな部分とワーストな部分は何ですか？）

The best part of my job is watching a student study hard for months (or more) and then witness when their English finally starts to click. I love when they really start to put their thoughts and ideas into English and really become better and more polished English speakers. It is fun for me because I get to see their hard work pay off.

I also love to meet people and talk to them about what’s important in their lives.

The worst part of my job is when I can’t explain something in English because there is no Japanese translation. Or, sometimes, American slang is so cryptic that even when you DO understand the English words, the meaning is still unclear.

Or, people ask me how to translate “おつかれ‐さま“ or “おさきに” or “おねがいします” into English and when I tell them that there really is no English translation, they look at me with a puzzled face and really don’t believe me!

So, that, in a nutshell is what I like and dislike about my job. Now, it’s your turn to think about what you like and dislike about your job.

I will look forward to hearing your thoughts and answers when we speak to each other this week. Have a great start to your week and be well.

Keith//

死ぬまでにしたいことリスト

Hello again everyone. Thanks you for the responses last week. It was interesting to hear about your travel stories.

OK, on to this week's topic. But first, here is this week’s vocabulary:

・instead: それよりむしろ, その代わりに, そうしないで, それどころか（▼(1)ふつう文頭か文末にくるが, 文中にくることもある. 　(2)結びつける2文は対比または二者択一の内容を表し, butでつなぐことが多い）
Last night I went out, but tonight I'm staying home instead.｜昨夜は外出したが, 今夜は反対に家にいるつもりだ
If you cannot go, let him go instead.｜君が行けないなら代わりに彼を行かせなさい.

・unrealístic: 非現実的な.

・realistic: 現実主義の, 現実的な｟about ...｠；実際的な

・target: 目標、達成

・screenplay：映画［又はテレビ］のシナリオ［台本, 脚本］

・direct: 監督する

・stage: （発達成長などの）段階, 一歩；局面, 時期, 位置
at this stage｜目下のところ


Sometimes, people make a list of things they want to do at some time in their lives. In American English, we often say that these are “things I want to do before I die” lists. These aren’t just unrealistic dreams like, “I want to have a billion yen” but more realistic—things you REALLY want to target to do in your lifetime. So this week's question is:

（今週の質問は、「死ぬまでにしたいことリストを挙げて下さい。」です。）

My answer:

At this stage in my life, these are on my “things I want to do before I die” list.

I want to swim with a whale. Don't ask me how, I just want to do it.
I want to feed (maybe peanuts) and then play with and elephant.
I want to travel to the following places:
Ireland
Portugal
Greece
Turkey
Sweden
South Africa
I want to build a house for Hiroe and me.
I want to grow MOST of my own vegetables and catch most of my own fish. And have my own cow, donkey, sheep and chickens (maybe I want to be a farmer).
I want to write a screenplay and then direct the movie.
I want to speak Japanese better!

I am sure there will be more things on my list in the coming days, months and years, but that's it for now.

So, what are some things that you want to do before you die?

I will look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Have a great week and be well.

Keith//

ストレスを与えるものは何ですか？

Sorry for the delay in posting the “jumpoff question” this week—life has been hectic in the last few days! But we sure that things are sunny and happy wherever you are.

This week’s question is:

What gives you stress? And when you get stressed, how do you get rid of it?
（どのようなことがあなたにストレスを与えますか？そして、ストレスになるとき、どうやってそれを解消しますか？）

But first, this week’s VOCABULARY:

get rid of ...
…を脱する, 免れる, …を取り除く, 追い払う；｟英略式｠…を売り払う
EXAMPLE:
get rid of one's stress｜ストレスを解消する

routine:
お決まりの手順, 判で押したように同じ順序, 型にはまった手口, 型どおりの文句［演技］；月並み；日常茶飯事
EXAMPLE:
an affair of fixed ［set］ routine｜お決まりの事柄

interrupt:
〈仕事などを〉中断する, 中途でやめる
EXAMPLE:
He interrupted his studies to answer the telephone.｜電話に出るため勉強を中断した.
類語「中断する」という意で, interruptは継続中のことを途中で止める点に焦点のある語. 特にだれかの発言中にさえぎる, の意でよく用いる. discontinueは特にある程度期間にわたってなされてきたことを権限をもって止めるという意味合い. suspendは特に後の再開を想定して, あることを権限をもって止めさせるという意味合い.

high maintenance:（高いメンテナンスを要する人やものを指して）やっかいな

perhaps: 副詞｟ふつう文修飾｠たぶん, おそらく, ことによると. ▼話し手の「確信度」が高いときはprobablyを用いる；perhapsはmaybeと同じだが, maybeのほうがくだけた表現
EXAMPLES:
I studied for perhaps two hours.｜たぶん2時間ぐらい勉強した
Perhaps it will rain tomorrow.｜ひょっとするとあすは雨かもしれない

OK, now to my answer:

Changing my routine usually gives me stress. I love my routine and when unexpected things interrupt that routine, I am not a happy person : - (

For example last weekend, Hiroe and I visited her hometown for her grandmother’s second year remembrance ceremony さんかいき (三回忌).

I love Hiroe’s family and I love to visit Hiroe’s her hometown, but I do get stressed when I change where I sleep, where and what I eat, where and when I take a bath, when I go to bed, when I wake up and how I relax!!! I never really thought I was a high maintenance person but MAYBE I AM!!!

I have been this way since I was a child. I loved to visit my friends and relatives, but I also loved going back home at the end of the day. Perhaps this is strange but it is what gives me stress...

When I am stressed, I try to get rid of it by watching movies, listening to music, doing some graphic design work, talking to my dog, golfing (or practicing golf) and of course, talking with my wife (although she sometimes gives me a little stress too!).

How about you? What gives you STRESS?

Be well and take care of yourselves. I will look forward to hearing your answers this when we speak this week.

Keith//

子供の頃の自分の寝室について描写して下さい。

This week's discussion topic is:
Describe your bedroom when you were a child.（子供の頃の自分の寝室について描写して下さい）。

This week’s vocabulary:

emphasize: [動詞] 力説、強調する
派生語 力説する｜ put emphasis on; put stress on

description [名詞] 記述, 叙述, 説明, （言葉による）描写
give a detailed description of ...｜…を細かに描写する

bare: [形容詞] （家具装飾などの）ない, むき出しの｟of ..., まれにin ...｠
a bare cupboard ［floor］｜からの戸棚［敷物などのない床］
a room bare of furniture｜家具のないがらんとした部屋.
with bare hands｜素手で

mean: [動詞]（meant)〈…ということを〉意味している, 物語っている
What does this saying mean？｜このことわざはどういう意味ですか

bunk bed: [名詞]（特に子供用の）2段ベッド.
chest of drawers: [名詞]（寝室用）整理だんす.
wooden trim: [名詞]〘建築・建造・建築施工〙内部の木造部；（窓枠戸などの）木部.
in addition: さらに, そのうえ, （…に）加うるに｟to ...｠.

This week we are going to emphasize description in our lessons（今週のレッスンでは、「描写する」ということに焦点をあてて進めていきます）. For example, try to describe your bedroom when you were young. What color was it? How big was it? Did you share it with any brothers or sisters or was it all yours? Did you sleep on a bed or futon? Did you have anything on the walls or were they bare? Did you have a desk? Was it a place where you relaxed, studied, talked with friends or family or did you just sleep there? Try to describe not only what it looked like, but what it meant to you. Good luck and I will look forward to hearing about your explanations this week.


Again, the discussion topic is:
Describe your bedroom when you were a child.（子供の頃の自分の寝室について描写して下さい）。

My answer:

When I was a kid, I shared a bedroom with three of my brothers; Patrick, Jimmy and Kenny. We had 2 sets of bunk-beds. Sometimes, we switched beds—sometimes I slept in the bottom bed and sometimes I slept on the top bed. It really depended on what bed my oldest brother Patrick wanted, because whatever Patrick wanted, he got.

The floor was wooden and cold in the winter time. We had a closet that was FILLED with clothes, books, games, and old toys. Near the closet, we had two chest of drawers—each of us got three drawers for all our shirts, pants, underwear and socks. I remember my drawers were on the bottom since I was the youngest of the four brothers. There were three windows that faced the street in front of our house but they were old windows that let in cold air in the winter time and didn’t open very well in the summer. The walls of the bedroom were light blue and the wooden trim was white. Every year or so, my father would repaint the room and sometimes he would change the colors but mostly they were white and blue.

Since the bedroom was on the second floor, it was VERY hot in the summertime. It was so hot that sometimes in the summer, my parents let us sleep in the first floor living room near the one family fan that we had at that time.

We had one light in the middle of the room on the ceiling. This was not so convenient since that meant when someone wanted the light on, we all had the light on. So, when one brother got up in the morning and turned on the light, the other three brothers would yell, “TURN OFF THE LIGHT!”

Since 4 of us shared the room, there was never really any time for privacy. In fact, I don’t remember having any privacy as a kid since in addition to my three brothers, I have 4 sisters. So, 8 kids and 2 parents living in a 4 bedroom house with one bathroom, meant that we shared everything and also knew everything about each other.

On the walls, my brothers hung posters of their favorite music groups and singers. My sisters got to paint pictures on their walls, but my brothers and I couldn’t do that.

I shared a bedroom with my 3 brothers until I was 9 years old. After that, I shared a room with my brother Kenny until I finally got my own room when I was a junior in high school.

Sharing a room with my brothers is a great memory for me.

Be well and I will look forward to hearing about your memories when we speak this week.

Keith//

一番重要だと思われる革新、変化は?

This week's discussion question is:

In your lifetime, what do you think has been the biggest innovation or change in the world (or Japan)?
（あなたの生涯の中で、世界で（あるいは日本で）一番重要だと思われる革新、変化は何ですか？）

This Week’s Key Vocabulary:

lifetime 名詞｟ふつう単数形｠
一生, 生涯, 終生
the chance ［the experience］ of a lifetime｜またとない機会［経験］.

innovation 名詞
1) 新しく採り入れたもの（新考案, 機軸, 制度, 施設など）；改変［工夫］したもの
an unheard-of innovation｜前代未聞の新機軸.
2) Ｕ革新, 刷新
technological innovation｜技術革新.

undergraduate 名詞 • 形容詞
（大学院生に対して）学部の学生（の）
take an undergraduate course｜学部のコースをとる
He is an undergraduate at the University of Michigan.｜ミシガン大学の学部生です.

current 形容詞｟限定｠
1) 今の, 現時の, 新しい, 最新の；当世［現代］風の, はやりの
current English｜現代［時事］英語
the current fiscal year｜今会計年度
the current price｜時価
the current issue of a magazine｜雑誌の今号
the current style｜当世の流行型
2) 一般に知られて［行われて］いる；〈情報が〉流布している；〈慣行が〉通例となっている, 習慣的な；〈貨幣が〉流通している(circulating)
the current use of the word｜その語の慣用法
current funds｜流動資金（有価証券手形小切手など即時換金できるもの）.

static 形容詞　せいたい【静態】
派生語 静態の｜static; stationary

everyday 形容詞｟限定｠
平日の, ふだんの, 日常の；ありふれた；平凡な
an everyday thing｜日常茶飯事

My answer:

I think the biggest change or innovation in my lifetime has to be the Internet. I remember very clearly the first time I used the Internet. When I was an undergraduate student, I used a program called “gophernet” to look up some really basic information about the University of Minnesota. I was AMAZED to see current information on a computer because until that time, I had only used computer programs or other static information.

And now, just 17 years or so later, I use the Internet everyday to listen to music, watch movies, find all kinds of information, communicate with my friends, students and family, do shopping and get daily news. It is now an everyday thing in my life.

How about you? What do you think is the most important change or innovation in your lifetime?

I will look forward to hearing your answer.

Be well,

Keith//

どんな才能を持ってみたいですか？

Hello everyone. Last week's answers to the question, "have you ever stolen anything?" were very interesting. Almost everyone I spoke to had stolen something in their lives. Only two students said they hadn't stolen anything. However, to be fair, everyone who did steal something had done it when they were young. Perhaps it has something to do with our age.

Ok, let's move on to this week:

This Week’s Key Vocabulary:

Talent（生来の）才能, 素質；手腕, 力量, 腕前｟for ...｠
a writer of talent｜才能ある作家
a talent for the piano｜ピアノの才能
She has a ［no］ talent for painting.｜画才がある［ない］.

A musical instrument がっき【楽器】
弦［管 / 打］楽器｜a stringed [wind / percussion] instrument
⇒コラム「音楽」

This week's discussion question is:

What talent would love to have?
どんな才能を持ってみたいですか？

My answer:

I would love to be able to make music. I LISTEN to Internet radio on my computer every day and I always listen to CDs in my car but...

I would love to be able to sing. I sometimes sing in the shower or in the car, but I really would love to sing WELL in front of others. When I lived in Tokyo, I often went to karaoke with my friends and after a few beers, I THOUGHT I could sing well, but truthfully, I am not very good.

I also would love to play an instrument. My favorite instrument is the guitar but honestly, I would love to play ANY INSTRUMENT! I have always had a dream to sit around a campfire while playing the guitar and singing with my friends.

Now, how about you? What talent would you love to have?

I will look forward to hearing your answers.

Be well,

Keith//

今までに何かを盗んだことはありますか？

From now on (これから), I am going to change the order of this blog and give you the important vocabulary first（まず大切な用語から先に紹介して、ブログの内容に入ります）. Therefore, please check the vocabulary and then read the question and my answer.　

This Week’s Key Vocabulary:

THERAPEUTIC
形容詞治療（法）の；治療力のある、セラピーとなる

STEAL（stole /stóul/, stolen /stóulən/, ～ing）他動詞
1［III名　詞（副　詞）］〈物を〉（場所人から）（こっそり）盗む；〈アイデア作品などを〉盗用する；…をこっそり奪う｟away/from ...｠. ⇒ROB
stolen goods｜盗品
steal away all the money from the safe｜金庫から金を残らず盗む
A thief stole his wallet.｜どろぼうが彼の財布を盗んだ
He had his wallet stolen. ［＝His wallet was stolen from him. ］｜財布を盗まれた.

OOH
間投詞•名　詞｟驚き喜びなど｠おおっ, わあっ；おおっ［わあ］という叫び声.
━━動　詞•自動詞•他動詞（おおっ［わあ］と）叫ぶ.
ooh and aah
驚き［喜び］の声をあげる.

SEX EDUCATION
性教育

OK. This week's question is on that you MIGHT not want to answer but may be fun (or, maybe therapeutic...) to do so.
（今週の質問は、答えたくない人もいるかもしれませんが、楽しいと思ってくれる人もいるかもしれないな（ある人にとってセラピーとなるかも．．．）、というものです。

The question is, Have you ever stolen anything?
（その質問とは：今までに何かを盗んだことはありますか？）
My answer:

YES!

When I was about 14 years old, I stole a nude magazine (ヌード雑誌) from one of my friend's house! Thinking back, I can't believe I did it but I did! I remember oohing and aahing with my best friend, Jeffrey, since we had never seen such things before. It was a kind of sex education for teenage boys!

Of course, our fun ended one day when my mother FOUND my magazines hidden under my bed and WOW, was she ANGRY!!! She never asked me where I got the magazines, but she told me that I was too young to have such things. I didn’t think so, but I didn’t argue with her—she was my mom. I felt embarrassed about it when I was a kid but looking back, I find it very funny now.

And, earlier this week, I asked Hiroe the same question—has she ever stolen anything? She quickly answered, YES! She said she once, when she was 19, stole a hair dryer from a hotel in Nagoya. I can’t believe she did that! Maybe we are not as honest as I thought we were.

Now how about you? BE HONEST: Have you EVER stolen ANYTHING?

I will look forward to hearing your answers.

Be well,

Keith//

一番最初にお金を得た仕事は？

What was your first job?

（一番最初にお金を得たお仕事は何でしたか？パートタイムでも、フルタイムでも、お金を得た経験のある最初のお仕事について教えて下さい。）

Whether it was a part time job, a summer job or a full-time job, most people clearly remember their first job and their first payday. I certainly do and I will look forward to your story about your first job when we speak next.

MY first job:
I got my first job when I was 13 years old. I worked in the summer of 1982 for a company called, P.A.W., a landscaping, lawn care and snow removal company.

I got paid (US) $5.00 an hour (about ) and worked between Monday to Friday, from 7:00 AM to about 5:00. My main job was to cut grass at different businesses and apartment complexes with a riding lawnmower. I also did some landscaping, drove a tractor, a sometimes got to drive a dump truck! It was a great job for a kid because I got to be outside all day, listen to music, and use all kinds of equipment. It was a boy's dream!

My first payday was a day to remember. My boss paid me $500. He paid by cash and gave me four $100 dollar bills and five $20 dollar bills. I felt like a king! That summer, my mother helped me open a bank account and my brother helped me take care of my money. I worked at P.A.W. for three long Minnesota summers. It was a great learning experience for me and something I will never forget.


Some Key Vocabulary:

landscaping:
ぞうえん【造園】
landscape gardening; the art of landscaping


lawn care:
lawn 名　詞芝地；（庭園公園などの）芝生
mow the lawn｜芝生を刈る.

riding lawnmower
芝刈り機｜a lawn mower

snow removal:
じょせつ【除雪】
派生語 除雪する｜clear ｟a street｠ of snow
合成語
除雪機［車］｜a snowplow; ｟英国用法｠ a snowplough
除雪作業｜snow-removal work

bill:
｟米国用法｠紙幣, 札（さつ）（｟英国用法｠note）；｟米俗｠100ドル札
a dollar bill｜1ドル紙幣.

apartment building:
｟米国用法｠共同住宅；アパート (｟英国用法｠a block of flats).

日本の典型的なものについて

I’m not an expert about Japanese culture—you are much more qualified than I could ever be. So, this week’s questions are going to require some thinking about Japan and Japanese culture. However, first, there is a vocabulary word you need to know:

quintessential/kwintəsénʃəl/—クィイントエッセンシャル—
形容詞｟形式的｠真髄の, 典型的な
(example: the quintessential Japanese movie｜典型的な日本映画.)

So, the questions this week are:

What is the quintessential Japanese meal?
典型的な日本食は何ですか？
What is the quintessential Japanese clothing?
典型的な日本の服装は何ですか？
What is the quintessential Japanese pastime?
典型的な日本の娯楽は何ですか？
What is the quintessential Japanese drink?
典型的な日本の飲み物は何ですか？
Is your hometown or home prefecture different? In your hometown (or home prefecture), what is the quintessential food? clothing? music? pastime?
あなたの生まれ故郷、あるいは出身の都道府県で、典型的な食べ物、服装、音楽、娯楽は何ですか？

Since I want you to answer about Japan, I will answer the same questions for America.

I think the quintessential American meal has to be a cheeseburger, french fries (フライドポテト) and a Coca Cola. I used to eat this a lot when I was younger.

I think the quintessential American clothing is blue jeans and a T-shirt. I still wear jeans and a T-shirt almost everyday...

I think the quintessential American pastime is baseball. The greatest sport ever invented.

And the quintessential American drink is beer (or perhaps, “Coca Cola”). And I love them both!

My hometown is Saint Paul, Minnesota. Like most places in America, each city or area has different characteristics. Because of that, my answers about Minnesota are different from the answers for America. For example:

I think the quintessential Minnesota meal has to be “hot dish” a kind of casserole that can have many different kind of ingredients. If you are interested to know more, ask me when we speak next.

I think the quintessential Minnesota clothing is a flannel shirt. In the fall and winter time in minnesota, most men (and women) wear these warm and soft shirts.

I think the quintessential Minnesota pastime is fishing. If you are from Minnesota and you don’t like fishing, people think you are a little strange.

And the quintessential Minnesota drink is milk. Minnesota has a lot of dairy farms so there is a lot of good milk, cheese, and other dairy products from local farms. DELICIOUS!

I will look forward to hearing your answers or questions when we speak next.

Be well,

Keith//

Some important vocabulary

pastime (pǽstàim | pάːs-/ 名)　詞娯楽, 気晴らし, レクリエーション. ⇒PLAY[類語])
Golf is my favorite pastime.｜いちばんの気晴らしはゴルフだ.

dairy farming らくのう【酪農】彼は酪農に従事している｜He runs a dairy farm. 合成語
酪農家｜a dairy farmer
酪農産物｜dairy products
酪農場｜a dairy; a dairy farm

casserole (kǽsəròul/ 名　詞)
蒸し焼きなべ, キャセロール；｟主に英｠シチューなべ.

flannel (flǽnl/ 名　詞)
Ｕフランネル, ネル, フラノ；（綿）ネル；｟主に米｠綿布.

誰と友達になりたいか？

This week's question focuses on best friends. So, here's the question: If you could be friends with anyone (living or dead), who would it be?
もし誰かと友達になれるなら（生きている人、亡くなった人問わず）、誰を選びますか？

My answer:

If possible, I would love to be friends with Benjamin Franklin, American newspaperman, scientist, inventor, philosopher, politician, and diplomat. Considered to be the greatest public servant in American history, it seems everything he did, he did with focus, purpose and a sense of duty for others. Of course, I would have to travel back in time since Franklin was one of the key people to help create the country of America—over 230 years ago. Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 17, 1706 and died on April 17, 1790.

Franklin lived his life (as best he could) based on what he called the Thirteen Virtues (フランクリンの十三徳 [編集]). He developed these “rules” when he was 20 years old and tried to live by them until he died. It is written that he focused on one rule each week and leaving the others to chance.

His Thirteen Virtues in English are:

"TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."
"SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."
"ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."
"RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."
"FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing."
"INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions."
"SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly."
"JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."
"MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."
"CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation."
"TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."
"CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation."
"HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates."

His Thirteen Virtues in Japanese are:

節制　飽くほど食うなかれ。酔うまで飲むなかれ。
沈黙　自他に益なきことを語るなかれ。駄弁を弄するなかれ。
規律　物はすべて所を定めて置くべし。仕事はすべて時を定めてなすべし。
決断　なすべきをなさんと決心すべし。決心したることは必ず実行すべし。
節約　自他に益なきことに金銭を費やすなかれ。すなわち、浪費するなかれ。
勤勉　時間を空費するなかれ。つねに何か益あることに従うべし。無用の行いはすべて断つべし。
誠実　詐りを用いて人を害するなかれ。心事は無邪気に公正に保つべし。口に出ですこともまた然るべし。
正義　他人の利益を傷つけ、あるいは与うべきを与えずして人に損害を及ぼすべからず。
中庸　極端を避くべし。たとえ不法を受け、憤りに値すと思うとも、激怒を慎むべし。
清潔　身体、衣服、住居に不潔を黙認すべからず。
平静　小事、日常茶飯事、または避けがたき出来事に平静を失うなかれ。
純潔　性交はもっぱら健康ないし子孫のためにのみ行い、これに耽（ふけ）りて頭脳を鈍らせ、身体を弱め、または自他の平安ないし信用を傷つけるがごときことあるべからず。
謙譲　イエスおよびソクラテスに見習うべし。

I think Franklin would have made an incredibly interesting, exciting, deep, enlightening and loyal friend. Besides that, he could be a great teacher.

To learn more about Benjamin Franklin in Japanese, do a simple search on Google for ベンジャミン・フランクリン here.

So, how about you? Who would you like to be friends with?

I will look forward to hearing your answers this week.

Be well,

Keith//

３つの願い

This week’s question is...

A genie has just granted you three wishes. You can wish for ANYTHING, except more wishes. What three wishes would you ask for? (you can look at the end of the blog to see important definitions (定義) to help you understand.)
ランプの魔人ジーニーがあなたに３つの願い事を叶えてあげようと言いました。あなたはどんな願い事をしても構いません。ただし、３つ以上の願いことをお願いすることはできません。あなたの３つの願いごとは何ですか？

First off, I would wish for good health for my mother. For the last few years, my mother has been having health problems and spends a lot of her time in pain or trying to deal with her aging body. I would wish for her health so she could spend her senior years ONLY having fun with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Next, I would wish that my wife (Hiroe) would be a GREAT singer. When she was young, her dream was to become a singer and to sing in front of many people. She did sing and she was mildly successful but she never fulfilled her dream of one day becoming a FAMOUS singer. I would make that dream come true with my second wish.

And last, I would wish that all my English students all had the ability to speak English fluently. Of course, I would have to find another job, but it would be worth it to watch so many people achieve their goals.

What would you wish for?

I will look forward to hearing about your wishes when we speak next.
Be well,
Keith//


Key words:
GENIE/dʒíːni/名　詞〘イスラム神話〙魔神, 霊魔(jinn)；（ランプ瓶の中から出てくる）魔人.
GRANT ɡrǽnt | ɡrάːnt/ (動　詞•他動詞)
〈人の願いなどを〉かなえる；［grant A B/grant B to A］〈A（人）のB（要求嘆願など）に〉応ずる, 同意する, 〈AのBを〉聞き入れる；［III that節］〈…ということを〉承諾する
(Example: grant a request｜願いを聞き入れる)
(Example: grant a child his wish｜子供の望みをかなえてやる)
WORTH /wə́ːrθ/ 形容詞｟叙述｠｟動作を表す名詞などを伴って｠（…する）価値のある, （…に）値する｟doing｠
(Example: be worth the time｜時間をかける価値がある)
(Example: Learning a foreign language is very difficult, but it's worth it.｜外国語を学ぶのはたいへんむずかしいが学ぶだけのことはある)
(Example: What is worth doing at all is worth doing well.｜｟ことわざ｠ やる価値が少しでもある仕事はりっぱにしとげる価値がある.)

パーフェクトな１日

We have a simple (maybe) question this week.


Describe a perfect day.
パーフェクトな一日を説明して下さい。

My day:

It would start at dawn. I would wake up in my tent in northern Minnesota. I would be in my sleeping bag and hiroe would be next to me in her sleeping bag. And of course, near our feet Lily would be waiting to go outside. I would open the tent flap (door) to reveal the dawn—the time before the sunrise. I would then start a small fire and get some water boiling for coffee. After waking Hiroe, she and I would have a chat around the fire while watching Lily run around chasing birds and squirrels.

After coffee, I would get in our canoe and paddle to one of the nice fishing spots near our campsite. I would be able to see Lily and Hiroe from my there and I would spend the next hour or so catching (or not catching) fish. If I did catch any fish, I would quickly release them, taking only a quick moment to thank them for the few moments of excitement before sending them on their way.

After fishing, I would paddle back to our campsite, all the while smelling the blueberry pancakes that Hiroe is cooking.

After a warm “welcome back” greeting from Lily and Hiroe, the three of us would have breakfast and talk.

During the day, we would spend the day chatting, canoeing, swimming, reading, napping and hiking.

The day would end with a simple dinner, a campfire and a star-filled sky and of course, a s'more (名　詞｟米略式｠スモアズ：キャンプファイヤーでとろとろに焼いたマシュマロをグラハムクラッカーに載せ, 板チョコと重ねて, もう1枚のグラハムクラッカーを載せたもの.［I want to eat some more. ］.

What would you do, see, eat, watch, or where would you go on your perfect day?

I will look forward to hearing about it when we speak next.

Be well,

Keith//

これなしでは生きていけないものは？

We have another 2-part question this week.

The first question is:

What is something in your life that you could NOT live without?
これなしでは生きていけないと思うものは何ですか？

And the second question is:

What is something in your life you would LIKE TO LIVE WITHOUT?
これなしで生きていけたらいいなと思うものは何ですか？

As I think about this answer, my answer becomes incredibly clear. I COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT MY COMPUTER—my Apple MacBook Pro. Because I live in Japan, my computer is my connection to the world outside of Ise. My computer gives me news, music, movies, the ability to create web design, the ability to teach and speak to my family via SKYPE and a way to keep in touch with my family and friends via email.

Now, the one thing I would like to live without...

Interestingly, it is the same answer, my computer. As much as I love it, I feel sometimes that I am chained to my computer! I think there are times when I am so “plugged in” that I don’t pay enough attention to what is around me—life away from my computer!

So, starting today, I am going to try to “unplug” my life a little more. I will try to be less computer-generated and focus more on my life away from my computer! I just have to remember that balance is the key.

Good luck thinking about your answers and I will look forward to hearing about them.

Be well,

Keith//

一番幸せだと感じるとき

This week's questions:
When ARE you the happiest? And: When WERE you the happiest?

あなたが一番幸せだと感じるときはいつですか？And:

あなたが一番幸せだと感じたときはいつでしたか？

*My answer:

I am happiest when I travel. Although I don't do it as much as I would like to, traveling makes me really happy—almost giddy. I especially love the preparation before a trip; the packing, the planning, making reservations, the excited and sleepless night before departure and the moment when I lock to door before leaving my house. I usually travel to Minnesota (my home state in the US) each year but for a handful of reasons, Hiroe and I won't be making the trip this year. That fact makes me sad since that means another year (maybe) without seeing my family and another year (maybe) without seeing my favorite place on earth—Minnesota.

And...

When WAS I happiest? This question seemed easy when I first thought of it but is actually difficult to choose just one particular time or event. Although there are many times that I could choose as being my happiest, I will choose this one.

In July of 2005, on a camping trip to Minnesota's BWCAW (Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness), I witnessed a great moment between Hiroe and our dog, Lily. One of the days was beautiful and hot and in the middle of the afternoon, Hiroe decided to take a swim. Of course, Lily would never let Hiroe swim without her so the both of them swam together. Hiroe's smile was big and bright and Lily looked as happy as I have ever seen her.

That's it. I know it is simple, but it was a few moments that I had everything I could have wanted. I was watching my favorite person and my favorite dog having fun together.

Good luck thinking about your happiest moments and I will look forward to hearing about them.

Keith//