Now my neighbours (ネイバー = 隣人) are getting ready for my town`s festival this Sunday. In this photo, they are getting one of three floats (山車) ready. If you are free this Sunday, please come to the Iwato festival (一宮市・石刀祭). If you bring kids, tell them to get ready to hold the ropes which pull the floats!
Info: http://www.rurubu.com/event/detail.aspx?ID=12038
Info: http://dashi-matsuri.com/dashikan/owari/iwato/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1iGW8S6yl0
Grammar:
- be ready = 準備が整う
- get ready = 揃える
- get ready for + 名詞 = 名詞の準備をする
- get ready to + 動詞 = 動詞を整える
- get + 名詞 + ready = 名詞を整える
Not far from my school in Gifu is this second-hand (= used) bookstore. I sometimes go there to look at art books. Second-hand art books in Japan are far cheaper (断然安い) than in Australia. These 5 large books cost only ¥1,800.
Vocabulary:
- "far" usually means 遠い, but "far + (形容詞)er" means "断然 __er".
This lovely old building is in Gifu City, near my school. It used to be a bank, but now it is a gallery.
http://www.juroku.co.jp/aboutus/tetsumei_gallery/
The other day I popped out to buy lunch, and noticed that there was an exhibition there, so I popped in to take a look. It was interesting. The event organisers were friendly & kind.
If you pass that building & there is an exhibition on, please pop in. Also, if you pass Gifu Teragoya, please pop in & say hi to me!
Vocabulary:
- pop + 前置詞 e.g. pop in, pop out, pop up = do/happen/appear quickly, so 飛び出す絵本 = a pop-up book
Have you been watching our new Travel English series on Youtube? Please look:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbI1HAuxA1U&list=PLEL8h9GIzoeMx6KhtUzPwJnJoY6Hn6H1Z
As you can see, our studio is pretty high-tech!
Pronunciation:
- Be careful: studio (スタジオ) is actually pronounced `スチュデイオウ` in English.
On Saturday night, after work, I went to a Thai restaurant* with some friends. It`s not far from central Gifu, & now it`s spring (春) it`s nice to walk at night, so we walked there. On the way, I saw this nice old car. It`s a 1960s Mazda Carol. What a cool little car!
I had a good time with my friends, but I didn`t stay out very late, so in the morning I felt fine.
Grammar:
- On Saturday... At night... On Saturday night...
- On Sunday... In the morning... On Sunday morning...
* http://tabelog.com/en/gifu/A2101/A210101/21011096/
On Sunday I went for a drive to Fukui Prefecture. I took a walk on the beach, but of course I didn`t go for a swim - it`s still too cold.
After taking a look around Mihama Beach, I noticed a big group of monkeys in a field, so I took some photos.
Did you know there are no wild (野生) monkeys in Australia?
Vocabulary:
- Sometimes, instead of just `____(動詞)`, we can use `go ___ing` or `take a ____` or `go for a _____` e.g. swim = go swimming = take a swim = go for a swim.
- Note: the meaning might change a little e.g. walk = 歩く, take a walk = 散歩する
Recently I went to the new Costco supermarket in Hashima. They sell things that Japanese supermarkets don`t usually sell, such as meat pies. Meat pies are not popular in Japan, but they`re popular in Australia. I like them - they`re convenient, pretty cheap, and tasty (usually...!).
Notice the brand - `Dad`s Pies`, so if you are a mum, or you are man without children, you can`t eat them. Sorry.
Spelling:
- `Dad` (UK & US)
- `Mum` (UK), `Mom` (US)
Now I live in Japan, but originally (元々) I`m from Brisbane, in Australia. This group is from my hometown.
If you`ve been to Brisbane, you should* recognize some of the places in the first song`s video. If you`ve never been to Brisbane, you should** go - it`s nice!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNLNErkQf1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mECBgNZt_k
Vocabulary:
- `Should` usually means `...した方がいいです` [**] but sometimes it means `probably can/will/be...` (恐らく) [*]
At the 2016 Nitten exhibition, I saw the painting on the left. Do you understand the joke? Originally, the monkeys represent "See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil."
It`s a good idea, but not an original one. If you go to Naiki, near Ise Shrine (伊勢神宮), you can see the three monkeys in the photo on a shop`s roof ( 屋根). Please look for them next time you visit Naiki!
Vocabulary:
- originally (副詞) = 元々
- original (形容詞 ) = 独自
Last Sunday I went to the Nitten exhibition of Japanese art in Nagoya. Afterwards, I bought a few postcards. It was hard to choose [チューズ]- there were lots of nice ones.
The exhibition is at The Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art in Sakae, which is easy to get to by subway. However, if you want to go, please hurry - tomorrow is the last day!
Grammar:
- "easy to ___ (動詞)" = ___ やすい
- "hard/difficult to ____" = ____ 難い
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