Asahikawa American English Conversation School
for August 2009
NOTE: The OBJECTIVE of this BLOG is to help my students with their study of English.
AND
For all of you, out there, around the world to;
SEE HOKKAIDO
2009 August 28 Friday thru August 31 Monday.
The
autumn air is here, and it feels great. Not too hot and not too cold.
Just right.
I really love the angle of the sunlight and the colors of the sky, during this time of year. Also, I love the smoky smell of the air during this time of year. Autumn is my favorite season, for many reasons as noted above.
Also, it is the harvest season with lots of fresh food, straight from the good earth. In Hokkaido, it is all around you, and as far as you can see. Would I rather live in a big city with flashing neon lights? No thank you.
Friday morning, I didn't have any classes, so I spent several hours learning how to play Classical Gas on my new nylon string classical guitar. The chord shapes in the song are not at all difficult, but stringing all of the separate parts of the song into one seamless, easy flowing melody, will require at least another month of daily practice. If you are not familiar with this very well known song from 1968, click here to see professional performance of it on YOU TUBE.
On Saturday morning, I had two private lessons, back to back, and finished both of them at about 12:40. Then I ate lunch and fell asleep at about 15:00. When I woke up, it was already 19:00, so I couldn't go to Sound Village as planned to see LIBERTY vs. RADIATORS. Both of these bands play group sounds from the 1960s and 1970s. I have never seen RADIATORS before and was looking forward to seeing them all week, but I just couldn't wake up soon enough, in order to get there on time.
On Sunday, I was planning to go out to a place called Cafe Good Life, which is located in an area behind the Asahiyama Zoo, but Ikuko had other plans for the day, so I cancelled mine. I will be visiting this place in the very near future, because it embodies everything that Country Living in Hokkaido is all about. Click on the orange link above, to visit their website, and see what I mean.
Monday morning I had another English Friendship Class 英語ふれあい at the Chestnut Tree Kindergarten くりの木幼稚園. This time, I brought along my new Yamaha electric/acoustic steel string guitar, and plugged it into the sound system in the big hall at the kindergarten. This allowed me to remain standing and play the guitar in a finger picking style, while singing children's songs along with the kids. I think I'll do it that way, from now on.
2009 August 24 Monday thru August 27 Thursday.
A
trip to the dentist.
長浦歯科クリニック 旭川市神楽５条６丁目２−４ （大雪アリーナ向かい）
TEL (0166) 60-1818
I have lived in Japan for almost 20 years, and I have never been to see a dentist, until today.
Since about one year ago, I have been getting momentary sharp pains in my lower right molar (the big tooth on the bottom right side and farthest back in the mouth) whenever I was chewing something hard. I knew I had a cavity, but I could live with the pain and carry on a normal life. Until yesterday.
Yesterday morning, I woke up with the entire gum line 歯茎, on the the lower right side of my mouth, swollen and painful. Even the lymph node on the right side of my neck, just below the jaw, was bigger and somewhat painful. I knew right then and there, that bacteria from my rotten tooth had started to spread in my bloodstream. This could lead to serious illness.
So, I had Ikuko call the nearest dentist to where we live, and make an appointment for Thursday at 12:00 noon.
On Wednesday night, I went to bed at 12:00 midnight, only to wake up again at 3:00 a.m., with the whole right side of my face, throbbing in pain. I swallowed 4 pain killer pills that I had bought over the counter for just such occasions, and was finally able to get back to sleep at about 4:00 a.m.
I woke up again at about 10:00 a.m. feeling somewhat better, but still knowing that I need the expert help of a dentist, if I want to remain healthy and happy for the rest of my life.
I tried to eat some rice for breakfast, but I couldn't because chewing it was too painful. So, I drank two big cups of seaweed soup わかめ スープ, instead. I took a shower and walked on over to the new dentist office, which is right across the street from where I live.
As soon as I arrived there, I filled out a two page questionnaire アンケート about my dental history and gave it back to the receptionist. About five minutes later I was in one of the dental chairs, being examined by the good doctor. After taking digital X-Rays of all of my teeth, the doctor started probing around on my painful molar. After some injections of pain killer, and a little drilling, he took a photo of my tooth with his digital camera.
It was obvious from the photograph, that the middle insides of my molar were brown, cracked and rotten. The dentist said that the best thing to do, to keep the bacteria from spreading further, was to remove the tooth 抜歯. I asked; "Do you have time to do it now?" He replied "Yes." So, I said without hesitation; "Please do it!"
The
surgery began. More injections of pain killer, the drill, the wrench, the
drill, the wrench, more injections of pain killer, the drill, the wrench, the
drill, the wrench, more injections of pain killer, and finally the big wrench.
The tooth was out. It took the good doctor more than one hour to
pull out my huge, deeply buried molar. He had to take short rest
breaks with heavy breathing, all during the operation. When it was all
finished, he said; "I've never had such a hard time removing a tooth before.
Japanese teeth come out more easily". I'll bet they do!
You can see my big bad tooth in the photo on the left. Remember, this is just one tooth, and some of it was drilled away into dust, which was sucked up by a vacuum. Good job Dr. NagaUra! You may have saved my life with your hard work today.
Finally, I got out of the dentist chair, staggered to my feet, and went back out to the reception desk to pay my bill. I was given 4 types of medicines to kill the bacteria and reduce pain, and then the receptionist said; "That will be 2,880 yen please." I couldn't believe my ears so I asked; "Is that for everything?" She replied; "That is for today's treatment." I couldn't believe how inexpensive it all was!
My Japanese National Health Insurance covered 70% of the cost, and I paid the other 30% in cash, out of my wallet. This is the true meaning of Affordable Health Care. If you, yourself, are in need of top notch dental care, I highly recommend the NagaUra Dental Clinic. They are located along Route 237 in Kagura at 5 Jodori 6 Chome, right across from the TaiSetsu Arena. He opened his clinic in May of 2006 and has all of the best and most modern dental equipment available today. After all, I know something about dental clinics, because my father (bless his soul) was a dentist and had his own dental clinic for over 40 years. The new digital equipment they have nowadays, is much better.
Meanwhile, back in the USA, Obama and the moron politicians keep on arguing about how to provide health insurance to all American Citizens. They never will be able to do so, as long as the private insurance companies, continue to tell the doctors and patients, which medical procedures they will pay for, and which medical care they won't pay for. Idiots!
2009 August 21 Friday thru August 23 Sunday.
Here
comes the rain again. Along with some thunder and lightning. Could
it be that summer in Hokkaido is over? Yes, it is,..... almost.
Tomorrow, I open up my classroom again for regular classes, so it's BACK TO SCHOOL!
Good. I was getting a bit bored having so much free time every day for three weeks straight.
However, I learned a lot of new songs on the guitar.
In fact, I bought two new Classical Guitars, which you can see in the photo above/left.
The bigger one on the right side of the photo is a Takamine BMP 111N NS Acoustic/Electric Guitar.
This guitar is for me. I wanna get back into playing instrumental music, including classical guitar music, which I used to do many years ago.
The smaller guitar on the left is a Yamaha CS 40 Junior, which is 3/4 the size of a regular guitar. It is for Ikuko, and any of the children who come to my classroom, that might be interested in learning how to play the guitar. I have hung it up on the wall next to the reception desk, for easy access.
The advantage of nylon strings, is that they are much easier on the fingers of beginning guitar students.
Steel strings have a much higher tension, and cause painful sores on the fingertips of new guitar learners. After a person has played for several months, they begin to develop hard calluses on their finger tips, and the pain goes away.
Some of my students take piano lessons, and violin lessons, but I don't think any of them take guitar lessons.
If any of them want to learn how to play the classical guitar, finger picking style, I will be happy to show them how to do it.
After all, I have been playing the guitar, on and off, for more than 40 years. I highly recommend the guitar to anyone who loves music and wants to learn how to play a portable instrument, that they can sing along with. The guitar is interesting and sounds very nice, when played well.
Salute! We've got a lot more living to do!
2009 August 17 Monday thru August 20 Thursday.
It
has been raining and getting cooler this week.
Summer in Hokkaido is rather short, however there will be some very nice Indian Summer Days 小春日和 ahead.
The photo in today's blog, shows the owner of Live House Good Luck, on vocals and acoustic guitar, along with three of his regular customers, playing a B.B. King/Eric Clapton song entitled; "Help The Poor".
To see a video of this performance, click on the photo itself.
The guy playing the excellent lead guitar is also a member of the music duo, C.C. CRUSH, which performs regularly at Good Luck.
Click on photo to see the music video.
Enjoy the good music!
2009 August 16 Sunday.
Ohaka
Mairi お墓参り。Visiting the Family Grave Site.
It is Obon お盆 in Japan, and almost everybody gets at least a two or three day holiday. Maybe more.
This is the time of year, when the spirits of the ancestors, come through a Star Gate, and visit the Earth once again.
It is customary in Japan, to visit the family gravesite, clean it up by using a bucket of water and a ladle to pour the water over the gravestone.
Then, candles and incense are set alight, flowers are placed in small metal vases, and food or drink is placed on the grave before prayers are said.
After the prayers have been said, the food items are removed from the grave, and taken home to be eaten by the living members of the family.
If the food items were left on the gravesite, crows would be there within seconds, to tear them apart and fly off with them. The crows don't seem to like the drinks that are left behind.
Some people must travel great distances in order to visit the family gravesite, but Ikuko and I need only to drive up the hill called Kannon Dai. It is the same hill were the Inosawa Ski Ground, used to be located.
As you can see from the photo in today's blog, it was a nice day to fulfill our duties to the family.
2009 August 15 Saturday.
S
A T U R D A Y NIGHT!
Another chance to perform some LIVE MUSIC.
Tonight at GOOD LUCK was Folk Music Night. I was be there along with 3 other musical groups, performing LIVE for our musical pleasure.
Click here to see my SET LIST for that evening.
Click on the song titles to see the music videos.
This evening, I performed only Gordon Lightfoot songs.
Gordon Lightfoot is not well known in Japan, but when I play his music for people here, they seem to like it.
He has written so many good songs, that it is hard to choose which ones to play, but I chose 8 songs for this evening.
I will choose different songs of his, and other English speaking musicians for my next performance.
2009 August 14 Friday.
Today
is the annual Hanabi in Kagura event, which starts around 12:00 noon, with
various performances by locals and sometimes foreigners.
The fireworks themselves start at 20:15 and run until 21:00.
In my opinion, this is the best fireworks display in Asahikawa, during the entire year.
The reason being, that the audience can get really close to the Biei River, in Kagura and get a powerful view of the rockets being launched from the other side of the Biei River in Kamui.
If you missed the event, you can watch the videos I took of it by clicking here.
Enjoy the Light and Sound Fantasy Show.
2009 August 10 Monday thru August 13 Thursday.
Into
the second week of my three week summer vacation, and it has been hot and sunny
almost every day.
It's hard to imagine on days like these, that there will be 5 solid months of snow on the ground, starting in November.
I have had a lot of time to practice the acoustic guitar for my next gig coming up this Saturday, August 15.
The Live House Good Luck has themed that night to be "FOLK SONGS NIGHT", so I am practicing some of my favorite Gordon Lightfoot songs for that evening.
All new songs that I have never played in public before, and all finger picking on the six string. Click here to see the SET LIST for that night.
Speaking of guitars, I have been thinking about getting back into playing the Classical Guitar as well.
The very first guitar that I bought in Mexico, when I was about 12 years old, was in fact, a Classical Guitar, even though I didn't know it at that time. I later put steel strings on it and almost ruined it.
After a few years of learning simple songs with a flat pick, I got a book on How To Play Classical Guitar, and started learning some rather difficult songs.
I think I want to try that again, now that I am much older, and play some songs that I don't have to sing along to.
So, on Thursday I went downtown to look for an instruction book and a new Classical Guitar. Along the way, I noticed that one of my favorite houses in this city, was being demolished. As you can see from the photo above, it was a concrete block house, very sturdy and long lasting. Why it is being torn down, I have no idea. I don't remember seeing a FOR SALE sign on it, at any time.
2009 August 9 Sunday.
Finally,
after thinking about it for 4 years and 2 weeks, Ikuko and I went to the
Asahikawa City Science Museum サイパル, which first
opened on July 23, 2005.
Here again, is one of those things which I think about often, but never get around to doing, until today.
It was well worth the trip, and because we have an Asahiyama Zoo/Science Museum Season Pass, it was already paid for.
The first thing we did, was go to the planetarium and watch an excellent movie that was made in the USA called "The Search for Life --- Are We Alone?" In Japanese they call it ドーム・シアター. The visuals were excellent and took the audience from the bottom of the deepest ocean to the farthest reaches of outer space, all in only 30 minutes. I definitely want to see this show again.
After that planetarium event was finished, we took the elevator up to the 4th floor, and were able to look through the lens of a giant telescope, which was focused on one of the brightest stars in the day time sky.
I was amazed that we could actually see the star, even though the sky was bright blue. Another thing that amazed me was the computer software that was controlling the telescope itself. It is the exact same software that I have had installed on my computer for the last 10 years. It is called Stellar Navigator, and I often use it to identify objects in the night sky.
One thing that I didn't know about this software, is the fact that it can be used to control the positioning of the telescope, by just clicking on a star or planet on the computer display screen!
Wow! I didn't realize I had such powerful software.
However, I don't have a telescope so it doesn't do me much good, anyway.
After a peek through the telescope, we went back down to the planetarium on the 1st floor, and saw another show called "The Milky Way" 天の川, which was just an explanation of the night sky during this time of year.
I will most certainly be going back to the Asahikawa Science Museum again and again in the near future and as the seasons change.
The Earth is not as big as we think it is.
2009 August 8 Saturday.
Oharai
お祓い is a Shinto 神道 purification ceremony performed when a new house or new
building is being constructed.
Today, I was able for the first time, to see the entire ceremony from start to finish.
I also made a video movie of the event which I have put up on my YOU TUBE channel. You can see part one of the 4 part video by clicking here.
This ceremony is not as common nowadays, as it used to be in the past, because most modern people are not aware of the spiritual aspects of the world around them.
There is much more to this world than we can detect with just our 5 senses.
Interestingly enough, this new house/cafe belongs to an American man from Seattle and a Japanese woman from Asahikawa.
Could it be that us foreigners are learning more about traditional Japanese customs and lifestyles than the younger generations of the Japanese themselves?
I know from my own personal experience of talking to university students and younger people, that I seem to know more about Japanese Culture than they do!
Not all that surprising I suppose, considering the fact that I am much older than them, and have been studying the Japanese Language and Culture for more years, than they have even been alive.
Hopefully, they will take the time later in their lives, to learn more about their own culture. If they don't, it may disappear all together.
Let's hope that never happens.
2009 August 1 Saturday thru August 7 Friday.
"Whoa!
Dudes! Turn down the heat, will ya?!?"
If this Lesser Panda could talk, that is probably what he (she) would say.
Ikuko and I went to the Asahiyama Zoo for two days in a row on Wednesday and Thursday. On both days the temp was about 32 degrees C.
Certainly hot enough for us, and many of the other visitors as well.
For only 1,800 yen, you can buy a Season Pass to both the Zoo and the Science Pavilion サイパル. What a deal!
This year, Ikuko is in charge of the still photos and I am in charge of the movie videos.
You can see a video of the Lesser Pandas by clicking on the photograph in today's blog.
In addition to that, I also took videos of many of the other animals, and I am uploading them to my YOU TUBE account called PrivateHokkaido.
Stay tuned. More coming soon.
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