Practice English

EHOU-MAKI invites happiness

2007-02-03T08:07:00.000-08:00

February 3rd is "Setsubun" in Japan.
We play "Mame maki" in Setsubun, throwing to Oni (demon) for wishing annual our health.
By the way, mame means beans in English.
Generally, Setsubun is such event, but the detail of event seems to be differnt depends on region.

I will introduce you to Ehou-maki today.
In the western part of Japan, we seem to eat it in Setsubun.
Perhaps, "rice roll" is the best English word to describe it.
Or do you know Japanese word "Nori-maki" ?
Anyway, Ehou-maki is a kind of rice food and it contains a variety of ingredient besides rolled by laver.
Simply "nori" means laver and "maki" means roll.
And when we eat it, we should turn to paticular direction.
The direction is different depend on the year.
This year it seems to the north-northwest.
There are another rule for eating, but I don't know detail.(I live in Shizuoka and it is a central region in Japan.)

I said that I work for foodmall in department store before.
Our foodmall sold abundant Ehou-maki.
Many of customers got it there, still some Ehou-maki was left.
I took them my house, but I won't be able to eat all.
So I gave them some of my friends.
Then my friends were pleased and gave some treat for me !
I like chocolate very much.
Thanks to Ehou-maki I got happy today !

job hunting ....

2007-02-02T07:37:00.000-08:00

I'm toooo busy in January.
So I couldn't write my blog.
I have many things to do but writing blog in English is very useful for me and I should effort to it !!

By the way, I'm in third grade of university.
We are in Japan, this season is important for our job hunting.
I went to Tokyo(I live in Shizuoka) to join many company's seminars.
And I took many of web aptitude tests.
Now, almost of selection is first stage. But, I already failure one selection.
I'm depressed but it's not time to be depressed.
I'll try next chance!

Do you like "natto"?

2007-01-17T08:28:00.000-08:00

I like natto very much.
Natto is a one of Japanese unique food.
It seems to avoid eating in foreign country because of the stickiness and the smell.
Even in Japan, some people like it very much and others don't.

By the way, this "natto" is very popular in Japan just now.
Natto sells out at almost of supermarket these days.
I went to supermarket to buy natto, but I couldn't get it today.
So I asked clerk about natto and he said that because number of stock is controlled, natto sells out soon.
To make matters worse, we could get natto about 98 yen before but today price card said it costs 128 yen.
It's so serious for me!!

What do you think about this situation?
I know this reason.
The other day, natto was taken up at Japanese famous TV program.
The program said that if you eat natto every morning and every night, you can success in your diet.
Also said that important thing is stirring natto very well and leaving it for 20 minites before eating.
Now many of Japanese people (especially Japanese housewife) believe this information as if they believe in a religion.
In the past, agar sold out alike this situation.

Producers of natto is very busy now, but natto isn't enough.
People like natto very much (including me) is very impatient.

diseases come from your mind

2007-01-16T06:45:00.000-08:00

We said thing such a today's title, "Yamai ha(wa) Ki kara" in Japan.
If you think you are a little sick, in many of these case, it's just your image.

Recently, I have felt tired and a little headache but I had part time job as usual.
So I thought I may have some deseases.
But I thought I have to be as active as possible when I work, too.
Therefore, today I worked more carefully than recently I did.
Then, I could work without feeling tired!

If you feel tired, try to behave as active as possible.
And I recommend you to keep smile whether you are in trouble or not.
Your condition is probably controlled by your mind.

I'm sleepy...

2007-01-15T07:34:00.000-08:00

I had TOEIC TEST yesterday.
I told that I'm poor at listening section but I also poor at reading long sentences.
I could not finish all of reading section.
My challenge for next test is to be able to read long sentences with more fast speed.
Therefore, I have to read sentences everyday, I think.

I had part-time job today.

2007-01-13T07:38:00.000-08:00

I work for foodmall at department store.
This work is very hard!
I went to work at 9:00 a.m. and got home at 10:00 p.m.
I have TOEIC TEST tomorrow so I have to study for it, but I'm so tired.

I think that in TOEIC TEST, listening section is one of key point for non-native speaker.
I'm one of those who are poor at listening section.
So I will listen sample CD again and again until tomorrow test time.

Hello ^^

2007-01-12T07:12:00.000-08:00

I decided to write my weblog for my English practice and I estublished my blog just now.
I may take mistakes because I'm poor at English, but when I do I hope you to correct my mistakes at comment.

Today, I studied English for TOEIC TEST on Sunday.
It's difficult for me but I'll do my best!

It takes long time to write today's article. (^^;)
I want to make time shorter next time.

Thank you for reading.
Bye-bye!