Out of hiragana, katakana and kanji, the 3 forms of japanese writing, I have the least affinity with katakana. I do not know why I find it so difficult to remember how they are written and even after I recognize them, it is difficult to make sense of what they mean!
Katakana is used for direct translation of foreign words based on how they sound like. But seriously.... can you guess what the following words mean?
1. iyahon
2. u-ru
3. epuron
4. raion
5. bideo
6. kashimiya
7. kuizu
8. nekutai
9. goru
10. gurasu
11. arerugi
12. sa-bisu
13. se-ru
14. taoru
Sigh.........
Answers
1. earphone
2. wool
3. apron
4. lion
5. video
6. cashmere
7. quiz
8. necktie
9. goal
10. glass
11. allergy
12. service
13. sale
14. towel
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Travel Bug
I really love to travel and explore new places. I am going to start a map to tag where are the places I have visited in Japan!!!
My map
My map
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Multi Tasker
When we use the above term for our life as teachers in Singapore, I think that the teachers in Japan are true multi taskers. I really admire them for their hard work and dedication!
First, the working hours are really long! Even though lessons start at 9am officially, most teachers are in school by 7.30am to conduct morning supplementary classes. Then, they are rotated on night duties where they take turns to patrol the school, make sure all students have gone home and all doors/gates are locked. There are no such things as school servants in Japan. So I was shocked that some teachers go home as late as 9 or 10pm, especially before exams where night revision lessons are conducted and they have to lock up the gates and arm the security system.
Next, CCA. Over here, it's called clubs here and joining a club is means strong dedication to your club. They have club activities EVERY DAY. Yes. Including Sundays. So as I hear the baseball club / tennis club / brass band etc etc training on saturdays and sundays... I wonder about the poor teacher in charge...
Then, the next shocking thing to me is that because there's no school servants, the whole school's cleanliness depends on the school teachers and students. Every teacher is in charge of an area to clean and they supervise the students in the cleaning period which occurs every school day. So you have kids coming into the teachers' room to empty your bins etc. And the staff toilets, are cleaned by teachers themselves! They have a duty roster and the female teachers will clean the female toilet while the male teachers will clean the male toilet.
I really salute them!
First, the working hours are really long! Even though lessons start at 9am officially, most teachers are in school by 7.30am to conduct morning supplementary classes. Then, they are rotated on night duties where they take turns to patrol the school, make sure all students have gone home and all doors/gates are locked. There are no such things as school servants in Japan. So I was shocked that some teachers go home as late as 9 or 10pm, especially before exams where night revision lessons are conducted and they have to lock up the gates and arm the security system.
Next, CCA. Over here, it's called clubs here and joining a club is means strong dedication to your club. They have club activities EVERY DAY. Yes. Including Sundays. So as I hear the baseball club / tennis club / brass band etc etc training on saturdays and sundays... I wonder about the poor teacher in charge...
Then, the next shocking thing to me is that because there's no school servants, the whole school's cleanliness depends on the school teachers and students. Every teacher is in charge of an area to clean and they supervise the students in the cleaning period which occurs every school day. So you have kids coming into the teachers' room to empty your bins etc. And the staff toilets, are cleaned by teachers themselves! They have a duty roster and the female teachers will clean the female toilet while the male teachers will clean the male toilet.
I really salute them!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Natural Disasters
With the recent spate of natural disasters, it is no surprise that Japan will also get its fair share.
So here, I have experienced tremors and upcoming, a typhoon. According to weather forecasts, typhoon 18 is headed our way and we are expected to get strong gale and high waves.
I wonder how it will be like. But for now, I just know that I am very cold. Last night, I wore a wollen long sleeve turtleneck to sleep. And it's just the start of autumn! Lol.
So here, I have experienced tremors and upcoming, a typhoon. According to weather forecasts, typhoon 18 is headed our way and we are expected to get strong gale and high waves.
I wonder how it will be like. But for now, I just know that I am very cold. Last night, I wore a wollen long sleeve turtleneck to sleep. And it's just the start of autumn! Lol.
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