Leap Day

Hi Leapers,

Today is February 29, 2020. Although many of you may think of it as Meat Day (肉の日), it is also Leap Day, which is called 閏日(うるうび又はじゅんじつ) in Japanese. As it takes the Earth 365 1/4 days to travel around the Sun, this special day occurs once every four years (４年毎に) in order to correct the calendar. So, enjoy your yakiniku tonight knowing that the 29th of this month is special for another reason (別の理由で).

See you in March,

Alan

P.S. In case you were wondering, the English for 閏年 is, indeed (実に), Leap Year.

Hello 2020 . . .

Happy New Year!

Dear readers,

Thank you for studying English through this blog and (for some of you) in classes at E-Style. Jack and I look forward to improving your English conversation skills (あなた方の英会話技術を向上させること) this year and beyond. So, our New Year's message to you is very simple: Hello 2020 and let's go to work (頑張りましょう)!

Good luck,

Alan

Sayonara 2019 . . .

Dear readers,

First and foremost (何よりもまず), thank you all for studying English through this blog and (for some of you) at E-Style. As we ride into the sunset on this December 31st, it's time to bid farewell to the old year (行く年の別れを告げる) and get ready to ring in the new (新しい一年を迎える). So, sayonara 2019 . . . and hello 2020!

Wishing you all the best for the New Year, I remain,

Your devoted teacher,

Alan

I have the flu.

Hi everyone,

Last week, I wrote about the sentence pattern "I have a 〜." One exception (例外) is with influenza, which is commonly called "the flu." Hopefully, none of you reading this blog will ever have to use the phrase "I have the flu." (インフルエンザにかかっている). As I got my flu shot (インフルエンザの予防接種を受けた) today, I feel confident (自信がある) that I won't need to worry about influenza at all . . . at least until next year's flu season.

Take care,

Alan

I have a cold.

Hi everybody,

Recently (最近), many students have been under the weather (体調が悪い). With the temperatures dropping, it's easy to catch a cold (風邪を引く), so please take care. If you do get sick, however, try using the sentence pattern "I have a 〜" to express yourself clearly (明確に表現する). Here are some examples:

• I have a cold. (風邪をひいている)
• I have a sore throat. (喉が痛い)
• I have a stuffed-up nose. (鼻が詰まっている)
• I have a running/runny nose. (鼻水が出ている)
• I have a fever. (熱がある)

Cheers,

Alan

P.S. Of course, sometimes people are under the weather because they drank too much (飲み過ぎた) the night before. In this case (この場合), feel free to say I have a hangover (二日酔いです).

Autumnal Equinox Day

Hi all,

Today is Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日). Autumnal is an adjective (形容詞) for autumn, which we also call fall (秋). The word equinox comes from Latin (ラテン語): "equi" means "equal" and "nox" means "night." Although daytime and nighttime are equal today, unfortunately (残念ながら), the days will get shorter from tomorrow until the winter solstice (冬至) on December 22nd. They will then gradually (徐々に) get longer and even out again when Vernal Equinox Day (春分の日) arrives on March 20, 2020.

Hanging in the balance, I remain,

Unequivocally yours,

Alan

The Summer Solstice

Hi everyone,

June 22nd is the day of the summer solstice (夏至), which has the longest amount of daylight (最長の日照時間) of the year. In some countries, this day represents the middle of summer; in others, however, it marks the start of the hottest season. Either way (どちらにしても), starting tomorrow the days will get shorter . . . until the winter solstice (冬至) arrives on December 22nd.

Shine on,

Alan

P.S. In the Northern Hemisphere (北半球), the 2019 summer solstice occurred at 12:54 a.m., Japan Standard Time (日本標準時).