Sunday, January 28, 2007

Grounded British containership

A British containership went aground and many cargoes drifted down to seashore in Britain on 18th. I saw on TV news that many people came to the seashore and carried away those cargoes, such as expensive bikes, video cameras, wine cask and so on. What?? I can't believe! Stealing!! Japanese news say about it "depredation ", and call that seashore "predation seashore".

After that, I heard that carrying away waif is allowed in Britain if they apply for it in 28 days. I see.

Expanding my repertoire of cooking #2

Today's new cooking is "Jibuni". I'm sorry but I can't translate it to English. It is a local dish of Kanazawa in Ishilawa prefecture. It is a duck dish but I used chicken instead of duck.

Taste was so-so. I think it's typical Japanese favorite kind of taste. Actually I don't like Japanese foods so much (except for Sashimi!). So when I dine out, I always eat western dishes (or sushi!). But I'm trying to cook Japanese dishes at home as much as possible because those are healthy.

By the way, it was a climate in the middle or the end of March this weekend. It was very nice whether. But I was almost in the bed and thing I did this weekend was just cooking Jibuni. Whew... I am lazy as usual. I really love to sleep.

My new cooking of past;
http://sandfriend.blogspot.com/2007/01/expanding-my-repertoire-of-cooking-1.html

Friday, January 26, 2007

Learning a new word "direct report"

I always used "subordinate" to express people under their boss. For example, when I have to explain my work experience and mention one of them, I say "I was a manager of training department and had over 30 subordinates."

But today, I learned "direct report". I heard it for the first time. I wonder which is often used. And I wonder I can say "I had over 30 direct reports".

By the way, a document of work experience is "resume", isn't it? But I have heard that people use "CV" a few times. According to a dictionary, "resume" derives from French and "CV" derives from Latin. I wonder native speakers often use both words. Or it depends on their country?

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Expanding my repertoire of cooking #1

I intend to expand my repertoire of cooking this year. I have tried to cook some new dishes. And I also I tried new recipe "soup with wings and cabbage". It was excellent!! It was very tasty. I didn't add any special seasonings, but just salt, pepper and sake instead of white wine. But wings gave delicious soup stock. It's easy to cook.

Today's new recipe was "boiled soybeans with orange". Before cooking, I wondered combination of soybeans and orange was a bit strange. Its taste is... hmm... it's the first taste for me. Haha.

By the way, it is difficult to express name of cooking in English.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

On the train?

In the script I studied the other day, there was the following sentence.

"I can't believe how much Japanese people read! On the train, in convenience stores, in coffee shops, everywhere."

"On the train"
"In convenience stores"
"In coffee shops"

Only "train" is different from others. There is "the" and singular. Why don't you say "in trains", like others?

Very strange thing for me is "on" the train. My image from this word is we are on the roof of the train. We are inside the train, aren't we? Why isn't it "in the train", but "on the train"? I can somehow understand "on the plane" though.

My iamage of "on the train"

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Small breakthrough?

I hadn't had English conversation for a while except for my learning. And I talked with English native speakers in English yesterday and today, it's the first time after a long time.

I know I should have English conversation as much as possible so I tried to have a language exchange partner before, but I found that it was SO hard to find a good language partner that I stopped to look for anyone. But I realized again that it's very important for improving my English. But I have little chance to speak English except at work.

Recently, it seems that my listening skill has improved a little increased. I hear English a bit clearer than ever. I had never feel such a thing. I always hear that language skills don't improve step by step. The skills don't improve at all for a while, and then suddenly it improves, for example one day you burst into understanding what people say. It's the breakthrough.

So I was waiting for my breakthrough, for a long time. Hmm... It's now? But isn't it too small for the breakthrough? Anyway, I think it's a good time to improve my English more and more!

Saturday, January 13, 2007

What you can't say is what you can't hear.

In the script I was study today, there were 3 sentences I couldn't say.

- They've already had to hold it over for a second run.
- But I have heard tombs in Egypt were so airtight that...
- I wish they would have left them untouched.

I can say by alone but I can't say with a speaker in CD. I found one common thing among these sentensces. There are 2 things that 2 words run on. (I'm sorry, I can't explain that in English well.)
"had-to" and "hold-it". "tombs-in" and "Egypt-were". "would-have" and "left-them".
I tried to say those repeatedly but I couldn't.

And, yes, when the speaker says these sentences, I can't understand what she says. English learning experts often say that you can't hear sentences you can't say.

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By the way, I ran spell check on this article. And "I wish they would have left them untouched." was corrected to "they had left...", it's from my English text though. Hmm... Which is correct sentence?

Friday, January 12, 2007

Beckham is moving.

I've heard surprising news yesterday. England soccer player David Beckham will move team from Real Madrid in Spain to Los Angeles Galaxy in the US.

Media is dealing largely with it and his transfer fee is also large!

I'm not surprised that he will leave from Real and move to other team, but why moving to America where soccer isn't popular and prospering in? Beckham is very famous top player, but there are many people who don't know him and it seems that his wife who is ex-Spice Girls is more famous in the US.

Why did you choose America, Beckham?

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

I'm really lazy.

One of my New Year's resolutions is "Leave my laziness behind me". BUT I have broken it already... Phew... I'm really dumb.

I wonder there is no cure for such a person.

I will try to best not to write the same thing again.

Sunday, January 07, 2007

The word "Jinx"

Japanese use the word "jinx" even in Japanese. But I found there are a bit difference between Japanese and English. In Japanese language, "jinx" has both good and bad meanings. But I was surprised it seems to be used for just a bad thing in English. According to an English dictionary, it means bad luck, or a person or thing that is believed to bring bad luck.

I also checked a Japanese dictionary. According to that, originally it was also bad meaning in Japanese. But now, it is used for good luck too. Language is changing.

Friday, January 05, 2007

"Stay at" and "stay in"

I found 2 idioms of "stay" in a script I was studying the other day.

1) The hotel we are going stay in is the Hotel Ritz.
2) We stay at the Hotel Ritz whenever we can.

Hmm... What is different between "stay in" and "stay at"? Same meaning? I use "stay at". I don't use "stay in". but is there any difference?

Preposition is very difficult.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

New Year's resolution

I saw the word "New Year's resolution" for the first time in other's blog the other day. I wondered what it meant. After that, I often found it in other's blogs. And then I heard it in the TV news. Meaning of "resolution" I know is... sort of "solution", "closure of problem", or "fixing up". What do they solve at New Year?

I checked a dictionary. I see. It has meaning like "decision" or "determination".

I broke my last New Year's resolutions. So it continues this year. And I add one more New Year's resolution. "Out of the Laziness" ==> "Leave my laziness behind me"

I will give it my best shot so that I can say "it was fulfilling year" at the end of this year.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Mochi (rice cake) is do-or-die food?

Usually Japanese eat mochi (rice cake) during the New Year's days. There are many kinds of ways to eat mochi, such as zoni, kinako-mochi and isobe-yaki.

At this time of the year, some elderly people have died from sticking mochi sticking in to their throat. According to yesterday's news, 7 people have died this year. The authorities are urging that elderly people and kids eat cut mochi cutting up into small pieces before eating.

I don't think mochi is food something that is can easily get stuck in the your throat. I wonder But, maybe I will realize it when I get older.

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Thank you, Karekora!

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Krispy Kreme, Landing to Japan

The first Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Japan opened 15th December in Shinjuku. Shinjuku is my neighborhood. But I haven't eaten its doughnut yet, because...

Look! There is a ve---ry long line! Everyday.

I don't want to stand such a long line to eat just doughnuts. What is different from Mr. Donuts's doughnuts?

OK, when its boom is over, I will go to eat.

Monday, January 01, 2007

Happy New Year 2007

Happy New Year!!

Today was my usual New Year's Day.
I ate zoni and osechi I cooked and drunk Japanese sake. (I chose the sake that includes gold leaf this year.) Osechi is traditional Japanese food and we eat it during New Year's days. Zoni is rice cakes boiled in vegetable soup. It is also traditional food and we eat it 1st January.

And then, I visited a shrine. I went to Shiba shrine this year. It is not famous so much, so it was not busy.

I hope the year will be happy one for all people in the world.