Congratulations, Japan! (And I'm not talking about the soccer!)

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Imagine playing UFO Catcher with a crane that was 300,000,000 kilometers long and took 20 minutes before it responded to you touching the button. Imagine the prize was information about the very beginning of our galaxy. Imagine that you caught something on your very first try. That's what Japan just did! Congratulations!

On Sunday, the JAXA Hayabusa space probe returned from its 7-year journey to the asteroid Itokawa. Welcome home! You did good!

To find out more, check out the YouTube videos below...

Hayabusa Documentary
(The mission explained In English with Japanese subtitles)

Computer Animation of Hayabusa Mission
(No narration, just music -actually quite beautiful to watch)

NHK Broadcast of Re-entry

NASA Video of Hayabusa Re-entry
(Taken from the air)

JAXA Video of Hayabusa Re-entry
(Taken from the ground)

Mayumi has written a related story on her blog. Go to Mocha Mocha to find out more!

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Mocha Mocha

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I traveled through Europe with my sister in the summer of ’97. On the way home, I met up with Mayumi for 10 days in Thailand (where I proposed to her!). We visited a beautiful beach resort on Ko Samet Island for 3 days. Mayumi tans very easily. While on Ko Samet, Mayumi’s skin turned a beautiful chocolate/coffee brown color. I nick-named her “Mocha.”

Recently, Mayumi started writing a Blog in Japanese on Ameba. She had to choose a name for her Blog. She decided on “モカモカ” (Mocha Mocha). She writes about a variety of things; movies, cooking, her daily life, teaching English, and raising a bi-lingual kid. Her Blog is fun to read! Check it out at http://ameblo.jp/be-and-me/

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スクールカレンダー & イベント

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A Murder in my Neighborhood

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Recently, I wrote about bunches. I mentioned that a group of people can be called a bunch. Of course, it’s more common to call a big group of people “a crowd.” For example, above is a photo I took of a crowd of people waiting outside Tenmangu Shrine in the New Year holiday.

Did you know English has many different words to describe groups of things, especially animals? We call these words “collective nouns.” (Collective nouns for animals are also known as “terms of venery” – but you don’t need to know that!) Here are some examples…

Dogs, wolves, foxes, and other dog-like animals are called “a pack.”

A Pack of Wolves

Deer, cows, elephants, horses, and most other grass-eating animals are called “a herd.”

A Herd of Horses

Generally, a group of any kind of fish can be called “a school.” (However, many fish species have their own special collective nouns.)

A School of Fish

As with fish, a group of any kind of bird can be called “a flock.”

A Flock of Seagulls

Many bird species also have their own collective nouns. My favorite is “a murder,” the collective noun for a flock of crows.

A Murder of Crows

Yesterday morning, there was a murder in my neighborhood. I’ve posted a few photos on our online photo album. Click on A Murder of Crows to check them out!

If you want to learn many more collective nouns for animals, click here!

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Bunches

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The Sunday before last was Mother’s Day. Many of my students celebrated Mother’s Day by giving flowers to their moms.

Flowers are countable nouns. We say, "a flower, 2 flowers," and so on. If we group many flowers together, we can call them “a bunch.” The picture above shows a bunch of flowers in a vase.

We can use the word “bunch” when talking about many different things in groups. For example…

A Bunch of Bananas

A Bunch of Grapes

Did you ever wonder where grapefruit, which tastes nothing like grapes, gets its name?

It’s because the fruit grows in bunches, like grapes.

We have some common slang that uses the word bunch. If you punch someone, you can say…

“I gave him a bunch of 5 (as in 5 fingers held together).”

We can even use bunch to talk about a group of people. When I was in elementary school, I was a big fan of a children’s TV show about a family with 6 kids called “The Brady Bunch.”

Check out the TV opening at The Brady Bunch on YouTube
Find out about the 1995 movie (in Japanese) at The Brady Bunch Movie (and check out the movie – it's a bunch of fun!)

There is also a famous cowboy movie called The Wild Bunch. This movie tells the story of a group of aging cowboys. It’s famous for showing that cowboys were dirty and violent—not all heroes in big white hats.

Find out about the 1969 movie (in Japanese) at The Wild Bunch

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Homestay in the Gold Coast, Australia

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Put Yourself in this Picture!

A great way to give your English ability a boost is to do a homestay in another country. My good friend Takumi “Tak” Nakamura organizes homestays in the Gold Coast, Australia, one of the most beautiful places in the world.

A Summertime Christmas Party in the Gold Coast
(That’s Tak wearing the green hat)

Tak’s company, Shaatak Australia, charges about Au $780 a week for a homestay. This includes airport pick up and return by Tak (who is, of course, a Japanese speaker), accommodation with an Australian family, 2 meals a day, and a one-day city tour. Prices vary a little depending on the season and your exact plans.

One of the main advantages of using Tak over most of the bigger companies that organize homestays is that if you have any problems, Tak can quickly solve them for you. For more information, contact Tak directly at goldcoast3388@hotmail.com. You can write to Tak in English or Japanese.

Check out more homestay photos at Shaatack Homestay Australia

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スクールカレンダー & イベント

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よ ろしくお願いします！

Zoo

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Yesterday, my family & I (also known as “Be & Me & He”) went to Tennoji Zoo, in Osaka. The weather was great – really sunny & warm. However, most of the animals were sleeping so it wasn’t really that exciting. Luckily, my son bumped into [met by chance] a friend, so he wasn’t too bored.

I took a lot of photos. My favorite is the one above of the guy wearing a leopard-skin cap looking at a (sleeping!) leopard. What is he thinking? “That’s beautiful!” or “I could make a coat out of that!”

Here’s a quick English test for you! Do you know the English names of the following animals?

Click Here for the English Name!

Click Here for the English Name!

Click Here for the English Name!

Be Careful of Your Pronunciation!

Click Here for the English Name!

You can check out all our zoo photos at Be & Me (& He) at Tennoji Zoo

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Fun Run

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Read a related entry in Japanese at 走りました！

An oxymoron (sometimes called a “contradiction in terms”) is usually two words with almost opposite meanings used together. “Amazingly dull” is a good example.

I think another good example of an oxymoron is “fun run.” A fun run is a long-distance race run by mostly amateur runners. Personally, I can’t understand how the words “fun” and “run” can be used together!

In Japan, fun runs are often called “marathons.” The marathon is a fixed distance of 42.195 kilometers – much longer than most fun runs!

A couple of years ago, Mayumi made “running in fun runs” one of her New Year's resolutions. Yesterday, she kept her resolution by taking part in a 10-kilometer race at the Ashiya Fun Run.

Mayumi warming up before the race

Where’s Mayumi? (She is there! Can you find her?)

One of our students is also a fun-runner. Hisae ran in the half marathon...

21 kilometers! Good on you, Hisae!

You can see more photos from the Ashiya Fun Run at Ashiya Fun Run Photos

You can also watch a short video of Mayumi at the 9-kilometer mark at Mayumi’s Ashiya Fun Run Video

Hanami = Cherry-Blossom Viewing

Cherry Blossoms in Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park, Osaka

The Be & Me Hanami Gang "Under" the Cherry Blossoms

President Obama [?] Sings with the Tsurumi Ryokuchi Choir for the Seasonally Challenged

Sunset Over the Cherry Blossoms in the Japanese Garden

Last Sunday, we held our yearly cherry blossom-viewing picnic in Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park. The weather was beautiful and the cherry blossoms were perfect! Thanks to all who joined us and made it such a great day!

The cherry blossoms are still looking great in Osaka. However, the weather forecast for Sunday is rain. If you haven't held a cherry blossom-viewing picnic yet, tomorrow is the best day to do so. Have fun!!!

スクールカレンダー & イベント

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Easter

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Next Sunday, April 4th, is Easter – the most important Christian holiday.

Easter is closely linked to the Jewish holiday of Passover (people often forget that Jesus was Jewish). The date of Passover is based on a lunar calendar so it changes every year. This year, Passover falls on April 3rd – next Saturday! Christians believe that Jesus Christ was executed [killed by the government] on Good Friday, the day before Passover. Two days later, he came back to life, proving to everyone that he was the Son of God.

Traditionally, children celebrated Easter by decorating hard-boiled eggs and then giving them to friends & family. Recently, children are given gifts of decorated chocolate eggs, rabbits, and chicks. They are told that the chocolates were delivered to their homes by the Easter Bunny early in the morning while they were still sleeping. Some people hold picnics that feature Easter-egg hunts. The picnic organizers hide decorated eggs around the picnic site. Children search for the eggs, trying to find as many as they can. One of the most famous Easter-egg hunts in the world is held at the American White House each year.

Click here for a video of 2009’s Easter at the White House

The eggs, rabbits & chicks are all symbols of new life used in ancient European spring festivals celebrated thousands of years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Even the name “Easter” comes from these ancient festivals. Eastre was the ancient German goddess of spring. When the Christians came to power in Europe, they took over the old spring festival. They said that the traditional symbols of new life (eggs, rabbits & chicks) now represent Jesus coming back to life.

Even if you’re not Christian, you can still celebrate Easter. It’s easy – just eat some chocolate! In Osaka, you can buy Easter chocolates from Sony Plaza.

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The Last Word on Saint Patrick's Day... Leprechauns

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In Ireland, there are many legends about leprechauns, a kind of fairy. In most of these stories, leprechauns are described as old men with red beards who wear green clothes and big hats. They are usually about a meter high, although, in some stories they are said to be about the size of your thumb.

Leprechauns usually live alone. They spend their days in forests and fields looking for forgotten treasures hidden by pirates and Vikings long ago. When they find these treasures, they put them in big pots which they hide near the end of the rainbow.

People rarely see leprechauns because they move so fast. If you do see a leprechaun, he must stop and talk to you. However, if you look away – even for just a moment – he will vanish.

Leprechauns can’t lie, and, if asked, they must show you where their pot of gold is and let you take some of the treasure if you wish to, as long as you promise to let them go. No one has ever managed to get any leprechaun gold because, even though they are very honest, leprechauns like to trick people and play jokes on them. Leprechauns are very clever so they always manage to outsmart the people who catch them.

One famous story tells of a man who promised to let a leprechaun go if he showed him where his gold was hidden. The leprechaun took him to a tree deep in the forest and told him the gold was buried under it. The man had no shovel to dig the gold out with so he tied a ribbon around the tree and made the leprechaun promise not to move the ribbon or the gold. The leprechaun agreed so the man let him go before rushing home to get a shovel. A short time later, he returned to the forest only to find that the leprechaun had tied ribbons to hundreds of other trees. The leprechaun kept his promise – and his gold!

Next time you’re in Ireland, don’t forget to visit The Leprechaun Museum!

In the meantime, look for real leprechauns at Leprechaun Watch

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Photos from Saint Patrick's Day Drinks at Murphy's Irish Pub in Shinsaibashi

Drinking green beer with some students & friends at Murphy's Irish Pub in Shinsaibasi (I only had a small green beer because I was leaving room for Guinness - the real Irish beer!)

Some customers celebrating Saint Patrick's Day in style

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

To find out more about today’s holiday, click on the following links…

What is Saint Patrick's Day?

Who is Saint Patrick?

To look at photos from last Sunday’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Kyoto, click on…

2010 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Kyoto, Japan

To read about the parade in Japanese, go to Mayumi’s Blog at…

St. Patrick's Day Parade on Mayumi's Blog

If you’re looking for a good Irish Pub in Osaka where you can celebrate, click on…

Murphy's Irish Pub (in Shinsaibashi)

The Blarney Stone (in Umeda)

Hope to see you at Murphy’s tonight! To be sure, to be sure!

Photos from the Saint Patrick's Day Parade

Yesterday's Saint Patrick's Day parade was great fun! You can see some photos at 2010 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Kyoto, Japan

Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Kyoto Tomorrow

Tomorrow (March 14th), there is going to be a Saint Patrick’s Day parade in Kyoto from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm. The parade will finish near an Irish Pub so you can continue celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day in the most popular way – drinking!

To find out more, go to the following sites…

Saint Patrick'S Day Parade in Kyoto - http://www.inj-kansai.com/

The Hill of Tara (Irish Pub in Kyoto)

What is Saint Patrick's Day?

Who is Saint Patrick?

Hope to see you there! Too be sure, to be sure!

What is Saint Patrick's Day?

Sounds like "I wish I were drunk"

Next Wednesday (March 17th), is Saint Patrick’s Day, a popular holiday all over the world. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He converted [changed] the Irish to Christianity about 1,550 years ago (read his full story here; Who is Saint Patrick?).

From about 1845 to 1849, there was a great famine [a time when there was no food] in Ireland. About 3,000,000 people died. Also, many people left Ireland looking for a better life in other countries like England, America, & Australia (about 40 million people in America are descendents of Irish immigrants). That’s one of the reasons Saint Patrick’s Day is so popular all over the world.

Saint Patrick’s Day is often celebrated with parades. Green is the national colour of Ireland so the streets are decorated with green banners. The people marching in the parade and the spectators [the people watching] also wear green. Bands play Irish music and people sing Irish songs or do Irish dances. Some people dress as Saint Patrick or as leprechauns.

The main way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day is to drink beer – that’s one of the other reasons that Saint Patrick’s Day is so popular!

Drinking green beer & Guinness at Murphy's Irish Pub, in Shinsaibashi, last Saint Patrick’s Day. Green is the colour of Ireland. If you visit an Irish pub on Saint Patrick’s Day, you should try a green beer and a Guinness. Green beer is just draft beer with food colouring in it. If you have to choose between the green beer & the Guinness, you should choose the Guinness!

There are two really good Irish bars in Osaka. In Umeda, you should go to The Blarney Stone (click on the name for information and a map). In Shinsaibashi, you should check out Murphy's Irish Pub (once again, click on the name for information and a map)

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! To be sure, to be sure!

Who is Saint Patrick?

"Did you see all these snakes!"

Saint Patrick’s real name was Maewyn (it is common for people to change their names when the become priests or nuns). He was born in Scotland about 1,550 years ago. When he was 16, he was kidnapped by Irish pirates. They took him to Ireland and made him work as a slave.

Maewyn worked as a slave in Ireland for 6 years before escaping. He made his way to France, where he became a Christian priest. In 431, he became a bishop. The Pope gave him a new name – Patrick – and sent him to Ireland to convert [change] the Irish to Christianity.

In Ireland, Patrick walked from town to town. A man walked in front of him beating on a drum to attracted everybody’s attention. Patrick told the gathering crowds about Jesus Christ and the Christian church. Many of the people became Christians.

Before Patrick came to Ireland, most of the Irish people were pagans [people who believe in many gods]. The pagan priests were called druids. They did not like the idea of Christianity because it said there was only one God – not theirs! The druids and their followers threw stones at Patrick but he didn’t stop telling people about Christianity.

Patrick worked in Ireland for 40 years, turning Ireland into a Christian country. He died on March 17th, 493. Many years later the church declared that he was a saint. March 17th is now celebrated as Saint Patrick's Day.

There are many stories about the miracles that Saint Patrick did while he was traveling through Ireland. The most famous story is that he drove all the snakes out of Ireland by beating on his drum. There are no snakes in Ireland today. (This story may have another meaning. Apparently, the druids used to tattoo their bodies with snakes and use snake images in their rituals. When Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland with his beating drum, he drove the druids – the snake worshipers – away.)

Batman Forever!

私のヒーローは・・・？
Batman & Astro Boy

Last week wasn't the first time that the Dark Knight was spotted in Shinsaibashi. 14 years ago, Batman and his good friend Astro Boy (A.K.A. [Also Known As] Atom or Atomu) spent a Halloween out and about in Osaka...

Astro Boy walks the back streets of Shinsabashi in the rain

Batman has a quick bite to eat at the Shinsaibashi McDonalds

Astro Boy enters the Shinsaibashi Subway Station

Batman greets fellow travellers on the Midosuji Line

Mayumi recently wrote about that night in Osaka and our favorite heroes on her new Blog. Go to 私のヒーローは・・・？ to read more!

Batman Returns ... to Shinsaibashi!

I was walking down Shinsaibashi Street, in Osaka, earlier this week when I noticed...

the Dark Knight standing outside a glasses shop

Holy Muscled Mannequins, Batman!

Of course, it's just a dummy...

I'm the real Batman!

Check out these Bat-videos on YouTube...

The Original TV Theme (Animated)

The Original TV Theme (Lemon Remix)

The Batman Movie Theme (by Danny Elfman)

The Batman Movie Theme (Musical Version)

The Batman Movie Theme (Metal Version)

スクールカレンダー & イベント

みなさん、こんにちは！オンライン”スクールカレンダー＆お知らせ”のページをアップデイトしました！当月のサービスレッスン日やキッズクラスの日程、祝日やイベント案内が日本語で確認できます。

当校のホームページ（http://www.be-and-me.com/）の“スクールカレンダー”または "生徒のみなさんへ" をクリックして下さい！または直接下記のアドレスへリンクして下さい！（携帯電話からも可能です）

スクールカレンダー :

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生徒のみなさんへ :

http://beandme.blog6.fc2.com/blog-category-5.html

よろしくお願いします！