Sharika blog

Heavy snow in the forecast for Tokyo area from Jan. 22-23
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

Snow may accumulate in Tokyo and surrounding areas between Jan. 22 and 23, possibly wreaking havoc on public transportation during the heavy commute, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The agency said coastal areas of the Kanto region and elsewhere on the Pacific side of Japan will see snow or rain starting on Jan. 22 due to a strong low-pressure system.

Heavy snow is expected for mountainous areas of the Kanto region, as well as Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures.

The southern part of the Kanto Plain, including the capital and the metropolitan area, may see an accumulation of snow as well, according to the agency.

The agency warned of a possible disruption in public transportation systems due to the snowfall.

(People walk on a crossing in Tokyo, Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. Metropolitan areas braced for snowfall Monday with the Japan Meteorological Agency’s warning of traffic system disruptions. (AP Photo)

Happy New Year_Sharika

Happy New Year!

New Year’s Day is one of the most celebrated, festive and busiest events of the year. Families and friends celebrate together and a variety of celebration is practiced worldwide. The idea of being away from family and friends on this day seems sad and devastating, but it can be the opposite. Experiencing and learning a new tradition can be fun, exciting, interesting and enlightening.

This year, I spent my New Year in Japan for the first time. I compared how different the tradition and practices were to the Philippines’. The journey of knowing these was nothing but enjoyable. I made a list of things to distinguish how the celebration in both countries differ. (Please see the list below.)

After the event, I came to realize that a few things were similar, but there were much more differences. In Japan, people commemorate New Year’s Day solemnly, quietly and in a more relaxed way, while in the Philippines, people welcome the new year with a ‘bang’. It’s all about loud noise that equates happiness. The louder, the better. The belief is a happy beginning means a happy year.

英語初心者へのお勧めBOOK_洋平ブログ

タイトル:WONDER (ワンダー)
著者: R. J. Palacio
yohei2
今、僕が読んでいる本(英語)を紹介します。
もともとは当スクールのタブ先生から教えてもらった児童文学で、本国アメリカではベストセラーになり、最近映画化もされました。
日本でも翻訳版が出版され、小中学校などで幅広く読まれているようです。

(ネイティブの)小学生でも読めるような、シンプルな英語で書かれているので、英語で本を読むことに苦手意識を持っている初心者の方が挑戦する英語小説としては最適だと思います。

内容は非常に奥が深く、面白く、学べることが多い作品です。

生まれつき顔に障害を持つ男の子、オーガストを中心に、彼の家族や周囲の人々の目線で、彼を取り巻く日々の出来事が描かれています。

今どきのアメリカの子供たちの学校生活、いじめ、家族関係、恋愛事情などが、リアルに描かれています。

興味深いのは、国や人種がちがっても、いじめは存在する(本当にびっくりするくらい、日本のいじめとそっくり)ということです。そのいじめを乗り越え、友達を作っていく主人公や彼をサポートする家族から目が離せなくなっていきます。

是非、英語でチャレンジしてみてください。