Pidgin English in Hawaii

We can speak Japanese in Hawaii! Well, that's a kind of stereotype which many Japanese have in mind when they visit Hawaii. If you just stay at a hotel in downtown Waikiki, maybe you have a little time to speak English and meet some Japanese celebrities. But visiting Waikiki is just crazy for me and it's just like staying in Tokyo. I recommend you guys to visit rural areas if you wanna know "real" Hawaii. I mean, visiting the country side always helps your understanding toward the country when you travel. And if you wanna feel the spirit of aloha, of course you should talk to local people in Hawaii. So today I introduce you about the language in Hawaii. In Hawaii, English is mainly used, except for one small island where tourists are prohibited to enter. However, Hawaiian words are often included in a conversation, and they speak Pidgin English too. Pidgin English in Hawaii was gradually made by immigrants who came from Tahiti, Samoa, Japan, China, Portugal, etc...many years ago. First they couldn't communicate each other, so they made their own style of language using their local languages. That's a Pidgin English. If you know this, it's much more fun to travel around Hawaii. But speaking Pidgin English too much is no good for tourists. For example, let's say hello to local Hawaiian people. "Eh! Brah/Sistah, Howzit!?" means "Hey brother/sister, how's it going?" "Brah" is used for dear male friends, and "Sistah" is used for dear female friends. Another example. Tag question is easy! "It's cool, isn't it?" is "It's cool, yeah?" Many countries seem to have their own styles of shortening tag question. At last, two Hawaiian words. "Aloha" means hello, goodbye, and I love you. "Ohana" means family. (Family means nobody gets left behind, or forgotten, according to Lilo & Stitch.) Moemoe time. Aloha.

the word of the year 2006

the word of this year was chosen by public and decided as "life" on December 14. I think it is really suits to the present condition. Recently like for a month or 2 month, the number of suitside sharply increasing. I think to place "life" as the word of this year have given the chance to think and discuss about the problems like suiside or marder in family or with friends. I hope every people realize the importance of life of each person.

Teaching English

I’ve been teaching English at Juku School since I entered this university. I’m teaching it to high school students, including grad-high-school students (students who graduated from high school, but for some reason they do not belong to any university). This is a big surprise to me. Because this means that I’m teaching it to students who are the same age as with me or even elder than I!!, though they do not know that I’m the same age with them. I generally work three times a week, but for this week I work five times!! How diligent I am!! Of course I work for money, but I have another purpose, which is related to “Teaching”. Teaching is to have the students understand what I want to say. To make my words understood, I have to speak simply, obviously and orderly. So I can improve my logical thinking. I’ll bet that this ability will be useful to my future work. For example, when I have presentation, this logical speaking is really necessary to make them persuaded. In short, my part time job is Isseki Nichou!!

Norovirus epidamic

I think many of you already know that right now in Japan, an epidamic caused by norovirus is spreading rapidly. And eariler this month, Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry issued warnings in 45 prefectures, all except Aomori and Okinawa. Also, today, there was a news that 32 guests who were staying at a hotel in Kusatu had symptom of of vomit and diarrhea. Among those, from 5 patients, the norovirus were found. Like the case here, mass infection has occured in many places. The spread of the norovirus is mainly caused by food poisoning, especially through foods like raw oysters. However, you can also be infected from the vomit of others suffering from the disease. In addition, norovirus can still spread for up to about 10 days after it has dried up, and only a tiny amount of the virus is required to make someone ill. To tell the truth, my brother was infected by the norovirus before many people noticed or paid attention. Fortunately, no other members of my family, including myself got infected. By wathchig my brother, I thought you have to go through great suffering if you were infected. To avoid the infection, I heard that you should wash your hand carefully before you eat. This is not a difficult thing to do. So, let's do what we can do to avoid the infection!

December

hi everyone! how are you guys doing? it's middle of december...... ALREADY! i cannot believe how fast the year went! and this month, i've been so busy... yes, it's SHIWASU. i like how we write SHIWASU in Kanji because it generally means SUPER BUSY, right? 2 weeks have left, so what are you gonna do? i think i'm gonna clean my room.... :D

Mr. Dok Guen married

I see the marriage of Mr. Dok Guen(I think this spel is wrong... but I'm so sorry I can't find his name in ENglish) is broadcasted well in some TV news shows and newspapers. Mr. Viet Guen and MR. Dok Guen was a Siamese-twins, the twins whose body was joined. Its cause was defoliant that U.S. army had scattered over the Vietam during the Vietnam war. Defoliant includes dioxin, so many people who were affected by it got cancer, miscarriage, stillbirth and congentional deformity, like Guen brothers. Some Japanese NPO has supported the brothers, and they underwent a operation to separate their body in Japan. I was glad that he married and started new life happily. But his older brother was still hospitalized by the aftereffect of the separating operation and such people who were affected difoliant have difficulties to live in society. And Japanese media just broadcasted that "the brothers were affected by defoliant" and hardly touch the fact that "it was done by U.S. army". Moreover the brothers were supported by Japanese NPO, but Japanese government almost supports new war in Iraq. At last, we have less information that U.S. used a lot of depleted uranium bombs which is also harmful for human like difoliant, in Iraq war. I can't imagine how he feels about those things...

Ｎｉｎｔｅｎｄｏ Wii

Recentry I often see the commercial messages of "Wii", a new game machine of Nintendo. We can use the controller as if it is tennis raket, car wheel, weapon etc. because it has a motion sensor. We play Wii by using our bodies. But for me Wii isn't so atrractive. Imagine you playing Wii alone. Don't you think that seems ridiculous? How do you think??

Christmas is comming!!

Hi, Do you have a plan for the christmas eve and christmas? Some people might think that it's weired Japanese celebrate that days. And I agree with the suggestion,however,isn't it OK to share good days ? I would like to hear your opinions about events in Japan such as christmas, halloween, and visiting to a shrine on New Year's Day.

YODOKU story

hi!!!! i read an interesting article reelated to North Korea.... a musical is the center of attention now in the U.S. that shows the present condition of home of the political prisoners in North Korea. in one of the seens of that story, a child are cut his hands just because of his robbing potato.... or a son hit his dad with whip to survive...... i can not imagin such a horrible things, can you??????? BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the reality in the North Korea is more and more and more cruel stated by a perso who were in the home..... it is a soooooooo big problem but also very difficult one............. how do you feel??????????

Do you know the ATM robbery in Tochigi prefecture? The ATM machine was draged by a car and 7,600,000 yen was robbed. Last Thursday, 242,000 yen which are thoght to be the part of the robbed money was found in total 22 place in Tochigi, Gunma, and Tokyo all with adhesion of green ink. The police is presuming that the ink adhered when taking out the money from the ATM. When I heard this news, I thoght it's very daring and excessive. In my image, robbery a thing people do on the sly and a dramatic robbery is something only in Hollywood movies (like "Ocean's 11"!). But these days, crimes in Japan tend to grow more and more extreme. I anxious about the moral of Japanese people. We used to be able to say that Japan is a safe country with moral and order with no doubt, but now...... I think it's a litte doubtful. What do you think?

Vivisection was Performed by Japanese navy

Hi. I read an horrible news relates to WWⅡ in newspaper. A man who was a Japanese soldier revealed that the navy medic had performed vivisection on Filipino people during the WWⅡ. The navy experiment many things on them in spite of the fact that they were still alive. Such Japanese testimony about what happened during the war had not been heard beause few military units survived. The man said, "I want tell the truth about war to as many people as possible. If I given the opportunity, I will continue to testify in atonement." The histrical problems such as between China or Korea are often argued, we hardly hear the cruel thing done by Japanese. When I watch TV, I saw the people who criticize the other country and I sometimes feel it is one-sided. I think not only other countries but also Japan need to rethink the history.

Illigal Mexican Immigrants

Recently, I read an editorial about Illigal Mexican immigrants crossing the border to U.S. in the newspaper and I would like to talk about it here. United State is facing a serious problem of illigal immigrants from Mexico. These people are serving as a economic power in the states because they can be hired in low wages. On the other hand, these illegitimate immigrants are getting education and social welfare without paying tax, so many Americans are concerned with it. In the mid-90's, some cities like San Diego started to create fences strengthened securities near America-Mexico border. However, after setting securities, the number of immigrants had doubled by the year 2000. The editor said that illigal immigrants are invading through certain places where security is weak, since the border is as long as the length of Japan Island. Also, before setting securities at the border, immigrants were able to go back to Mexico and come to United States easily. But after placing guards, they decided to stay in the U.S. because it will be difficult to cross the border again. I think this problem is very difficult to solve. If U.S. is going to strengthen the border more, the country needs more money to do so. If U.S. stops to guard the border, will the number of immigrants decrease? I don't think so. Also, there's high posibility of terrorist attacks if the border is unsecured. What do you think U.S. should choose to do?

forgetting

I know that people have an ability to "forget" but is it true? Even so I can't use that ability freely.... I think it is none sense if I can't control... The things I have to remenber are easily forgetten, and the things I want to forget stay in my head. I think if we could use the ability to "forget" any time, our worries or suffers would dicrease or disappear and we would able to live more comfortable.

Paper dectionary v.s. Electric dictionary

I read today's Asahi Shimbun and found one interesting article from it. These days the electiric dictionary(in Japanese Dehshi-jisho) has become popular. Especially among us students, such dictionary is useful to look for the word fastly and easily. On the other hand, dictionaries which made from paper has reduced its user. The sales decreased by 40% from 1998. So the makers are surprised at this state and seek the new way to approach their business to electiric one. From this article, I remembered that some my teachers said we should use paper dictionary. I was convinced that my teacher was right, without thinking why they said so. Do you know why paper dictionary is good for us to study? Also, I have paper dictionary but actually I don't use it because I rely on my electric dictionary. But I notice that we should use it... How can I use it in which situation...?

Learning Language

I'm worried about my future because I don't know what I wanna be in the future. I think many communication students have the same problem. Our major is international communication, but the lecture is only once a week, and it's a kind of boring. Also, politics and economics students can take the class freely. We are learning language well. Yes, that's it! We have many English classes and we are learning another language too. But recently I strongly feel that I should have my own opinion about things because language is just a tool for communication. What you tell is important, not how you tell the things fluently. So I should have much time for reading newspapers and books to get knowledge about things and catch up with the latest events. But...I always find myself ending up in sleeping in the train, opening a newspaper or a book. I'm tired! Help me!! I need a vacation!!! Anyway, I'll think of my future positively.

Learning Language

I'm worried about my future because I don't know what I want to be in the future. Many communication students have the same problem. Our major is international communication, but the lecture is only once a week, and it's a kind of boring. Also, politics and economics students can take the lecture freely. We are learning language well. We have many English classes and we are learning another language too. Learning language is very important and I like it. Maybe that's why I'm here. But I strongly feel that I should have my own opinion about things. Language is just a tool for communication. What you tell is important, not how you tell the things fluently. So I have to have much time for reading newspapers and books. I should get knowledge and catch up with the latest event. Time is money. But I always end up in sleeping in the train, opening a book or a newspaper. I'm tired... Help me! I need a vacation...ha ha

Mary

Hi, I just thought when do you want to marry? We 're university students right now but do you have a time to think about marriage? I just wonder if you guys think that seriously. In Japan, the average age of marriage is delaying and it causes a problem, less number of children.It directly relate to the matter. I would like to hear your opinion!! By the way, I 'm a single :)

Brazil starts to protect great portion of Amazon

This week, I read a news article about Amazon forest. On Monday, December 4th, the Brazilian government announced that two areas of the Amazon foreast will be placed under government protection. The Conservation International will put up $1 million to expand the preserves to the north, where much of the land is untouched. The Amazon forest in Brazil is known as the home for many bird and animal spieces and contains more than 25% of the world's remaining humid tropical forests. However, already about 20% of the forest has been destryoed by cutting trees and farming. By placing the forest under the government, endangered animal spieces can be protected and prevent deforestation. Also, to my suprise, in these areas threre have been serious conflicts between forest defenders and ranchers. Unfortunately, some of the protesters were shot and killed in the lawless jungle. So the new protected areas will help break the power of ranchers who often own plots of land.

Yubari-city

Recetly the news about Yubari-city gathered big attention. Yubari-city was flowrished around 1940-1970 because of its coal. Once there were more than 100,000 people in the city but closing of mines led the city to small and less income. People thought the withering city was big issue; consequently they tried to change their main works from mining to tourism and gather people again. However this new tourism didn't go well at all. The attractions which they founded are less attractive but municipal government has continued to found new attractions. And above all, Yubari is very cold so many attractions are not available during winter, almost half of year. Moreover, municipal government hid the facts that their new tourism went not well and made a great deal of debt... When municipal government revealed the facts, the amount of their debt was reached 36,000,000,000 yen. 360 oku-yen!!! The government was bankropted. The govenment decided to cut the public service costs and rise taxes in order to pay the debt back people in 20 years. It means people in Yubari have to live under the lowest living standard in 20 years from now. Public facilities will be close, municipal nursing home will be abolished, municipal hospital will be reduced in scale... This increasing in burdens is severe problem especially for Yubari, which holds 40% of population as elderly people whose ages are more than 65. Also tax for waste treatment and edcational expenditure will increase. Therefore a family including elder grandparents and young grandchildren will face serious finacial crisis. In such oppressed city, the population would decrease to 6000, according to economists. I felt really sorry for people in Yubari. I don't think that all the responsibility belong to the municipal govenment, but the govenment must have consider whether their tourism was going well or not, and it has decieved people; the sin is heavy. Are there any idea to help Yubari-city? Also I would like to tell you guys one fact that Japanese government has far more amount of debt to us. So someday Japanese govenment might be bankropted!?!? Thak you for reading such long article..

Green Santa Claus

According to Sankei Newspaper, ambassador of environment in Denmark, who is Green Santa Claus, visited city hall of Osaka. Green Santa Claus appealed to mayor that since there is environmental destruction recently, fir trees are decreasing and dears are losing places to live, and that is making children's Christmas into danger. Green Santa Claus visits many places in November and December every year to appeal the importance of preventing global warming. I think environmental problem is becoming very serious. It is important for children to know the importance of environment. I think children can learn kindly but seriously about environmental problem from favorable Green Santa Claus.

Christmas illumination

Hi. Did you see a lighting ceremony of Aoyama Gakuin University? These days, there are many beautiful illuminations everywhere in Tokyo. They are so beautiful and we can enjoy seeing them. However, it has bad aspect. It uses much electricity. So it would become the cause global warming. And I heard that it is bad for trees to have light. To see illumination is fun, but it has bad effect for nature. What do you think about it?

Hello. I've read short article about the Internet.

On Sunday the number of people who are using the Internet was reported. The US is the highest number in people who are using the Internet which is 1,8500,0000. Japan was next to China and the third place.

I was suprized that Japan is higher than other developed countries. But on the same time I realized that I am using the Internet in Japan.... The Internet become essential to my life now. I think it is useable and helps me a lot. However there is some problem with it too... For example, the using the Internet lets to leeking of infomation, or makes computer addicts. I think most things have good points and bad points on the same time including the Internet. When we use it we have to think of both good and bad points.

Christmas is coming soon!!

Hey you guys, how's it going!? Today I wanna talk about Christmas because we are now in "advent" season. One month before the Christmas day is the time for us to wait and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Anyway, do you bilieve in Santa Claus coming to your house? Do you get a present from Santa Claus every year? Do you think he is wearing Coca-Cola red costume? Well, I knew that Santa Claus was my dad when I was a 1st year student of junior high school. But now I still believe that he exisits in our heart and makes our dream come true. I still get a present from Santa Clause every year because he is supposed to visit my younger sister anyway, ha ha...thank you for coming!! But the real meaning of this celebration is not always understood. People are urged to buy Christmas presents, serve delicious dishes, eat cakes, and illuminate cities. But...what for? I heard that in the United States, Dec. 26th is the most busy day for department stores in the year. After they get presents in 25th, they want to get more. You know what I mean? For example, suppose that you got CD player on 25th. Then what you want? Yes! CDs!! You buy CDs on 26th...and that's why. Anyway, hope you have a wonderful Christmas!! ^o^

wearing makeups

hi GIRLS! do you guys like putting on makeups? i think it gives girls a little self-confidence because putting on makeups makes girls even prettier. :) when i dont wear makeups, although i dont wear too much makeups, i feel so depressed because i look at my face in a mirror, then start to think "i'm like KAO-NASHI(from Sen to Chihiro no Kami Kakushi)"... LOL and then i feel like doing nothing. haha too bad. what do you think? do you like it? what about guys? would you like to put on makeups??

pregnancy, marriage

hi everyone! i have a friend who got pregnant and decided to get married to her boyfriend. she is 18 years old, not japanese, and going to a high school. it was a big surprise for me. isn't she too young to raise a child? i don't know nothing about her bf, but i guess he's the same age as her. is he able to earn enough money for his wife and child? i doubt it.... i also have a friend who got pregnant and married like 2 years ago. she's 19, and japanese. and her husband is older than us, 26 or something like that. she said that she wanted to divorce from her husband once, but she thought that it wasn't good for their child so she decided not to divorce. and now my friend is doing good with everything. she wakes up at 6 every morning and make breakfast and OBENTOU for her husband. i woldnt be able to do that.... so, anyway, getting pregnant isn't a bad thing as you know, but we better think what would happen to us first. after getting pregnant, it's too late to regret.

Password

How many passwords do you have? There must be a lot! Bank account, Student ID number, any security, and more. Now, I have a problem... I have a credit card and I used it so often last month. However, I forgot how much I spent... Then, the only way to confirm is to log-on the web site of the credit card's firm. What was my ID number!? I fought against it for more than 20min., but ..... What I can do is to hope it won't be too much...