This is Off!

Is it just me, or is this beer…

?

In English, “off’ can have many different meanings: to say food or drinks are “off,” means they have gone bad. For example, if you leave milk out of the fridge for too long in summer, it goes off (it starts to smell bad, gets lumpy, and even turns a green colour).

If we say a person is “off,” it can mean that they are strange. Most people agree that Michael Jackson is a bit off.

However, “off” can also mean to leave. “I’m off!” simply means “I’m going!”

In Australia, we like to mix meanings – just for fun! Instead of saying “I’m going!” some Australians say, “I’m off like a bucket of prawns [shrimp] in the midday sun!” or “I’m off like a bride’s nightie [ladies’ sleepwear]!” (Think about it!!!)

Anyway, I’m off! Enjoy your “Off!”

(For a Japanese translation of this entry, Click Here!)

Next Tuesday is Saint Patrick's Day!

March 17th – next Tuesday! – is Saint Patrick’s Day, a popular holiday all over the world.

Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. 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. At that time, many people left Ireland looking for a better life in other countries like England, America, & Australia. Today, about 40 million people in America (including Bill Clinton) are descendents of Irish immigrants. That’s one of the reasons Saint Patrick’s Day is so popular all over the world.

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, on 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 (go to http://www.the-blarney-stone.com/ for information and a map). In Shinsaibashi, you should check out Murphy’s Irish Pub (go to http://www.murphysosaka.com/ for information and a map).

Have a happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Magical Starlight Parade at Universal Studios Japan

On Sunday afternoon, my family & I went to Universal Studios Japan. We had a great time!

First, we watched the Blues Brothers’ Show. What fun!

The original Blues Brothers movie (Click here for info in Japanese) is 29 years old –but it’s still great fun! It features performances by rhythm & blues greats like Cab Calloway, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, & Ray Charles, as well as a cameo [a small role acted by a famous person] by Steven Spielberg. You can rent it on DVD in Japan. You should definitely watch it. But don’t worry; you can still enjoy the Blues Brothers’ Show even if you haven’t seen the movie!

After the show, we found a piece of curb and waited for the Magical Starlight Parade. The parade started at 7:00 p.m., and it was worth the wait!

Kitty Chan, Snoopy & Elmo

Alice in Wonderland

Arabian Nights

They also had some floats based on Cinderella.

On the way back to the station, we noticed a street performer named Riki getting ready to do a show. We decided to stay and watch his performance. It was a good decision! He’s a very good juggler and a very, very funny comedian.

I stole this photo from Riki’s Homepage; http://www.riki-jp.com/
(I hope he doesn’t mind!)

I enjoyed his show so much; I recommend you make a special trip to see him. You can check his schedule at http://rikijp.wordpress.com/

Online Calendar & Announcements Pages Updated in Japanese!

We've just updated our online Calendar & Announcements pages. By visiting them, you can check our Service Lesson time, Kids' Classes Model Lesson dates, holidays, and special events – all in Japanese!

To check them out, go to http://www.be-and-me.com/ Then click on the “スクールカレンダー” or "生徒のみなさんへ" buttons. Or click on the links below;

スクールカレンダー [The School Calendar]:

http://beandme.blog6.fc2.com/blog-category-3.html

生徒のみなさんへ [Be & Me Announcements]:

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

Online Calendar & Announcements Pages Updated in Japanese!

We've just updated our online Calendar & Announcements pages. By visiting them, you can check our Service Lesson time, Kids' Classes Model Lesson dates, holidays, and special events – all in Japanese!

To check them out, go to http://www.be-and-me.com/ Then click on the “スクールカレンダー” or "生徒のみなさんへ" buttons. Or click on the links below;

スクールカレンダー [The School Calendar]:

http://beandme.blog6.fc2.com/blog-category-3.html

生徒のみなさんへ [Be & Me Announcements]:

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

Concert this Friday (February 27th)

Our friend Simon is the music man! I first met him when he was playing for Tripod Jimmy, one of the best bands to ever come out of Osaka…or anywhere! Since then, he has been in so many different bands, I can’t begin to list them.

His latest band is called Goodman Bad. It features Simon on guitar, Glenn on bass, “The Geminiac” on keyboards, and “Spleen” on drums. They fight over the vocals.

Almost every month, Simon organises Inner Sky, a concert at Covent Garden, a friendly bar in Kita Horie.

Their last concert was excellent! This month’s concert should be even better!

Here are the details...

When? Friday, February 27th, from 8:00 till late!

Where? Covent Garden, Kita Horie (06 – 4391 – 3177)

How much? 1000 yen, which includes 1 drink

In Japanese:
今月の「インナー・スカイ」ライブは２月２７日(金)に行われます。
GoodmanBadというベース、ドラム、ギター、キーボードの四人組が７０年代から００年代のいろんなジャンルの懐かしい曲をカバーします。予約も前払いも必要ありません。飲んで踊って盛り上がりたい人は大歓迎です。
Friday (金）Ｆｅｂｒｕａｒｙ２７(２月２７日）
20:00-23:30
1000 yen with 1 drink

Some Be & Me students & friends at an ealier Inner Sky

Covent Garden makes great hamburgers so go there hungry!

Unfortunately, I have to work until late. I'll get there around 10:00 pm. Hope to see you there!

Happy Saint Valentine's Day!

It’s Saint Valentine’s Day! Today, all across Japan, ladies will be giving obligatory gifts [gifts they feel they should give] to all their male friends – family members, classmates, TEACHERS, co-workers, and so on. (Did I mention TEACHERS?!)

In Western countries, the custom is almost completely opposite. Traditionally, men give a romantic gift – flowers, jewellery, lingerie, perfume, or chocolate – to their special girlfriend. Recently, couples often exchange gifts over a romantic dinner. In many ways, Saint Valentine’s Day in the West is a lot like Christmas Eve in Japan.

Saint Valentine’s Day was first promoted in Japan by chocolate companies. After many unsuccessful attempts to motivate men to buy chocolates for their lady friends, the chocolate companies targeted the ladies instead, creating a unique [special/one of a kind], Japan-only version of the popular international holiday.

“White Day “ is a Japanese creation, celebrated nowhere else in the world.

Enjoy your Saint Valentine’s Day – but be careful not to eat too many chocolates!

But who is Saint Valentine? Click here if you want to find out more!

(This is a "reprint" of last year's entry. Sorry!)

This year my wife helped my son make some Valentines chocalates. They are covered in “hundreds & thousands” (the Australian nick name for colorful candy sprinkles) …and filled with love!

To read a Japanese translation of this post, click on: バレンタインズデー

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words

“A picture paints a thousand [1,000] words” is a common expression in English. It means that a drawing, painting, or photo can quickly show you something that would take a long time to explain.

We have various photos on The Be & Me Photo Albums. We’ve also decided to put some of photos on this Blog. Click on the links under each of photos to see the complete set…

In the School
Here are a few photos to give you an idea of what the school/an average class looks like.

Spring Picnic
We hold a big picnic for our students and friends under the cherry blossoms every spring.

Talk-Like-a-Pirate Day
September 19th is International Talk-Like-a-Pirate Day - one of the silliest “holidays” we’ve ever heard of! We just have to celebrate it!

Halloween Picnic
We hold a Halloween picnic for kids at the end of every October.

Unfortunately, it rained last year so we had to move the picnic inside. You can check out photos from last year’s party at Be & Me Halloween Party for Kids

Halloween Party
Halloween isn’t just for kids! Every year, we take our braver (crazier?!) adult students to a Halloween party in Ola, a really fun bar in Shinsaibashi.

Christmas Parties
It’s been a few years since we last held a Christmas party. Hopefully, we’ll be holding one at the end of this year!

There are more photos on The Be & Me Photo Albums

School Photos

Here are a few photos to give you an idea of what the school/an average class looks like.

A typical class

Relaxed & friendly

We also use our classroom as a mini gallery

Spring Picnic Photos

We hold a big picnic for our students and friends under the cherry blossoms every spring.

A little rain never hurt anybody!

Those glasses are perfect for cherry blossom viewing!

I don't know?!

The cleverest man in Osaka!

Talk-Like-a-Pirate Day Photos

September 19th is International Talk-Like-a-Pirate Day -- one of the silliest “holidays” we’ve ever heard of! We just have to celebrate it!

September 19th is International Talk-Like-a-Pirate Day -- one of the silliest “holidays” we’ve ever heard of! We just have to celebrate it!