Happy Valentine's Day!

Hi everyone,

I took my son (息子を連れて行った) to Sanuki Children's World (さぬきこどもの国) today and suddenly saw the sky as a heart among the clouds. Luckily, I was able to take two photos before the scene vanished (消える前に). It reminded me (思い出させてくれた) how one never knows what each new day will bring and how quickly it can all change.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Alan

On New Year's Day

Happy New Year!

Although I did not see the first sunrise of the year (初日の出) on January 1st, I did enjoy many traditional (伝統的な) New Year's dishes called O-sechi-ryori later that morning. While I miss the New Year's Eve parties that I used to attend in the States, I do not miss the hangovers (二日酔い) that often followed them. The Japanese New Year's style of eating and sleeping (食っちゃ寝) is more fun in the end. Besides, the rice cake and vegetable soup (お雑煮) is great, especially when it's made Sanuki Style - with white miso and rice cakes filled with sweet bean paste (餡餅)!

See you at E-Style,

Alan

P.S. Unfortunately, I was too busy eating my Sanuki-Style O-zoni to take a photo. Maybe next year.

All the best for 2017!

Hi all,

As the candles slowly burn out on another Hanukkah and, indeed, another year, I would like thank you for studying at E-Style and wish you all the best for 2017!

See you next year,

Alan

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our readers in the U.S.A. Enjoy the turkey, football, and pumpkin pie.

All the best,

Alan

P.S. Go Steelers!

Labor Day + Thanksgiving ≠ Labor Thanksgiving Day

Hi everybody,

November 23rd is Labor Thanksgiving Day (勤労感謝の日) here in Japan. This holiday's name confuses (混乱させる) some foreigners (外国人) because Labor Day (勤労者の日) and Thanksgiving (感謝祭) are separate holidays in other countries. In the States, Labor Day is the first Monday in September (９月の第一月曜日) while Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November (１１月の第四木曜日). So, if a foreign friend asks you about Labor Thanksgiving Day, please be sure to explain that it is one holiday and not two.

Enjoy both today's rest and tomorrow's turkey,

Alan

P.S. Did you realize (気が付いたか) that the fourth Thursday in November is tomorrow?

Happy Halloween!

Hi everyone,

Since I was a child, I have always enjoyed Halloween, especially trick-or-treating. Although most of the people living in my old neighborhood (近所) gave out treats (お菓子), a few of them didn't even open their doors to trick-or-treaters. Those people had pranks or tricks (いたずら) pulled on them. These tricks included having their houses toilet papered and/or egged. Feel free to ask me about these tricks and others in class this week. 

By the way, the official weight of the jack-o'-lantern sitting on the counter at E-Style is . . .  pretty heavy!

Happy Halloween, 

Alan

P.S. The actual weight is 5.5 kilograms. How close were your guesses?

New Year's Day, 2016

Happy New Year!

The dawn of every year finds many people around the world making New Year's resolutions (新年の誓い). Here are three things that I resolve to do (〜に誓う) in 2016: 

• I resolve to get in shape (体を鍛える).
• I resolve to go to bed earlier (もっと早く寝る).
• I resolve to study more (もっと勉強する).

What are your New Year's resolutions for 2016?

See you at E-Style,

Alan