Zero

What do you imagine if I say 'Zero'? 
I've been reading a book about the Zero. The Zero was a exceptional Japanese fighter plane in World War II. It is a special thing for Japanese. But most of Japanese know just its name now. We, under 50 years old, don't know its devastating background. 
This story is about a pilot of a Zero fighter. One day his grandchildren decided to investigate their grandfather. He died when he was twenty-six years old. His wife had married again, so they hadn't known about their real grandfather. Then they started to search veterans who knew him. They met some veterans and heard shocking, unexpected and proud stories. First, someone told that he was a coward because he tried to live in the war. He always said never die to his subordinates. At that time saying never die was strictly forbidden. When they heard this, they were a little ashamed of him. But as they've heard other stories, they could understand why he said so. One of the reasons was that it was more important to live and attack than losing life. However the biggest reason was that he loved his wife and child. He really wanted to meet them again. He was a standout pilot, so he could live untill almost the end of the war, but at last he died in a suicide attack. Why such a man died in such way? I do not know the reason yet.

Christmas wreath

Today I visited my friend and she taught me how to make a Christmas wreath. She lives in the same apartment building. We moved to our current apartment building at the same time. I don't know why, but we've got along well with each other since we first met. Actually, she had lived in the UK and the USA for a total of about eight years. So she is very good at English and gives me a good stimulus. Although there is a big difference between her and my English skills, we are motivating each other. For example, we chat in English and we learn English from American TV shows like LOST, Dr. HOUSE, or Ugly Betty. I'm very happy having such a good friend!
And, she is a flower arrangement instructor. Her works are excellent. I think she has good taste. When I checked her blog, she wrote about a Christmas wreath. Then I asked her to teach me how to make it. Unfortunately it was just after her Christmas wreath lesson, but she gave me a private lesson today. This time she taught me how to make a wreath using some beautiful ribbons. She prepared silver and light blue ribbons for me. The silver and the color of my house's door are a perfect match. I made the wreath pretty well the first time. I'm going to make one for my sister. All of her family likes soccer, so I'll make it with a lot of soccer ball chocolates.

Roomba

As I expected, it was difficult for me to keep writing this English blog. This won't do. I will try to write my blog every day, no, every other day at least, even if it's very short and simple.

I got an automatic vacuum cleaner, a Roomba. It's too expensive but I got it by using a frequent flier program, so I spent only 10,000 yen. Lucky! I cleaned my place straightaway. It was funny and amazing. I like such things like robots and had an AIBO, Sony's entertainment robot. A Roomba is very similar to an AIBO. It moves so cutely but there is a problem. It takes a lot of time to clean a room. My Roomba moves back and forth in the same place while changing the direction little by little so it's a little annoying when I watch it. It's far quicker when I vacuum by myself. But then my Roomba is better than me. It vacuums the floor thoroughly. A corner of the room, underneath the chair, under the sofa, and under the bed are all shining. I can't do it. I really am satisfied with getting a Roomba. I use it when I'm walking my dog! It's a satisfactory resolution.

KAMINARI

I have a Japanese dog. He is soooo cute! His name is Lai. Lai means Kaminari; thunder and lightning in English. Lai is one way to read the Chinese character - 雷(Kaminari). Why is his name Lai? Because the day I met him there was a lot of thunder and lightning. By the way, I was really surprised that I was asked what Lai means, thunder or lightning, by my English teacher. It means both. I haven't bothered about it. Japanese don't distinguish between thunder and lightning. We don't need to distinguish. But he said that it was really strange. In English they distinguish things clearly. He listed some examples, mouse and rat (nezumi), monkey and ape (saru), blah, blah, blah, I forgot. This is very interesting. I think that it must be different for Westerners and Japanese to view things.

Cold or Flu

This weekend my sister's daughter played in the futsal nationals. So my sister and I went to the tournament in Mie Prefecture to support her team. Her team was expected to win but unfortunately they lost in the semifinals. If they had won, they could have taken part in an international tournament in Portugal and I intended to go there and support them. I was disappointed!
I came back home at eleven p.m. last night. I was very tired and wanted to go to bed early. But when I came home, my husband was in the bed and said that he had a high temperature, a bad headache and a joint ache. He seemed to be very bad. Finally he asked me to take him to a hospital. It's midnight! It's just a cold! But he insisted that it must be flu. I didn't want to go to a hospital and I know that he tend to exaggerate whenever he feels even a little bad. So I told him it was better to take a rest at home and we would go to a hospital the next day. He seemed unhappy but fell asleep.
Today he went to a hospital. The doctor said that he had a cold. He looked unconvinced. Now he says he's going to another doctor who can tell him it's the flu.

American TV show

It has already been one month since I quit the English conversation school. Time flies! Since then, I haven’t studied English enough. This won’t do! So I decided to start an English blog and take a correcting service. Actually things like blog don’t suit me. I had never continued any blogs for over three days. I wonder if I will continue… Now I just do it.

Recently I’ve been hooked on the American TV show. Especially LOST and Dr. House. They broadcast them on Sunday and Tuesday. I really look forward to enjoying them but I also feel that I don’t want to watch them. If I finish watching them, my pleasure will go. So I always stock a few recorded programs. They make me happy. Is it strange?

I like American TV show much better than Japanese ones. Why? When I was asked the reason from the English teacher, I couldn’t know it clearly. The actors and actresses are better good-looking? They are more powerful? They are true. But I realized that the reason that I love American TV show is that I can learn the different culture. I feel the difference from the conversation in particular. I’m very interested in their direct speaking and I love it, although I can never talk directly.

Blog start!

I start this blog for studying English. But the blog doesn't suit me at all, but I will try!!!
It is late tonight, so I will try the the blog regularly from tomorrow.
Good night!