For the past 9 years, I’ve really enjoyed the mild winters in Japan.  Even when it’s cold it’s not TOO cold, and when it snows the snow doesn’t stick for very long.  Before moving to Japan I was used to really harsh winters.  Chicago is well known for its extreme weather, especially its winters.  Temperatures regularly plummet into the negative – today it is -23 degrees Celsius – and it snows…a lot.  

Snow is very pretty and it’s a lot of fun to play in, but regular snow can be a real pain.  Shoveling snow is hard work, especially when you have a long driveway and an alley.  And there are times when you shovel but by the time you’re done, more snow has fallen and you have to start all over again.  It’s hard to keep up!  It is also difficult when you have to drive to work in fresh snow.  Though in Chicago many people are accustomed to driving in snow, conditions can still be quite dangerous.  

Of course, I only experience Chicago weather through photos that friends and family post on social media pages, but the photos are enough to convince me to never visit my beloved hometown in the winter (summer, while quite hot and humid, is a much better time to visit).  Here’s one that my father sent me today.  This picture was taken from the front porch of the house that I grew up in.

新型コロナウィルスのせいでこんなに世界が変わってしまったというのに、自然を見渡すと何も変わらず平和に見えてしまう。と思うこの頃です。春もすぐそこに。「(just) around the corner」は「すぐ角を曲がったところに」とそのままの意味と、「すぐそこに、間近に」という意味があります。2001年の12月にはじめてホノルルマラソンに参加した時、ゴールの手前３，４キロの地点。死にそうなくらいで走っていた時、すでにゴールした人がまだ走りを続けている我々に、「The goal is just around the corner. You can smell it.」と言って励ましてくれたことを今でも覚えています。コロナの向こうの世界も just around the corner と思って頑張っていきましょう！

Hello everyone! There is a new campaign at 7-11 celebrating the 35th anniversary of Super Mario! Like I’ve said before in the chocolate egg post, I really love playing Super Mario games! It makes me very happy to see Super Mario themed products in many different stores. 

What I liked about this sandwich, was that it was very spicy! In Japan, I have had a difficult time finding food that is spicy to me. Even though the menu, or packaging says spicy, I always think it’s mild! It made me happy since Bowser, or Kuppa in Japan, is known to live in a fire castle and have fire breathing abilities! It’s perfect that a sandwich representing him is so spicy and hot!

Have you seen any of the Super Mario themed food at 7-11? If you have and tried any of them please let me know what your favorite is! 

みなさんこんにちは。

冬は柑橘系の果物が旬を迎えていますね。

有名なものは、やはり「みかん」だと思います。ところで、「みかん」って英語でどう言うか知っていますか？

”Orange” 　これは「オレンジ」のことで、「みかん」と似ていますが別の果物です。

では「みかん」はどう言うのかというと、”Mandarin Orange” と言います。

“Mandarin” とは、中国という国や中国語を表す言葉だそうです。

「オレンジ」も「みかん」も元々は同じ果物だったそうですが、

その中でも中国を渡って日本に入ってきたものを「みかん」と呼ぶようです。

だから、英語でも “Mandarin Orange” という呼び方があるんですね。

では、この写真を見てください。

この果物の名前は何かわかりますか？

オレンジに見えますが、少し色が薄いですね。

あまりなじみがないかもしれませんが、これは「はっさく」です。

家の庭でなっていたものを取ったものですが、２００個は超えていると思います。（数えていないですが）

みかんやオレンジと比べて甘くなく、酸味が強いのが特徴です。

剥くのが大変でそこまでおいしくないので、そのまま食べるというより加工する方が向いているようです。

この「はっさく」を英語で何というか調べてみたのですが、”Hassaku Orange”と言うそうです。

そもそも日本固有の果物なので、外国人にはどんなものかわからないと思いますが。

収穫してから数か月熟成させると甘みが増すそうなので、忘れた頃に食べてみたいと思います。

Hey y’all!

   So last Tuesday, Nikki and I were able to celebrate Setsubun by getting the opportunity to try Eho Maki, or as we like to call it, giant sushi rolls. They were okay… to say the least. The rice was too sweet. and I really didn’t enjoy the pickles on the inside. It was still fun to try something new though! With that said, it would have been really fun for Yusuke to have dressed up as an ogre and have us throw beans at him. Maybe next year! Be sure to catch our Kotsu Kotsu video in the next month or so!

See y’all in class