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Every week throughout the year, a blog written by a Ritsumeikan language facilitator will be posted here. These blogs cover a wide range of topics: language learning tips, stories from daily life, travel recommendations, and more.
By clicking on the ‘CATEGORY↓’ tab on the right, you can search for subjects you’d like to read about. Whatever your tastes, we are sure there will be something here for you!
コラム一覧 / Blog List
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01 .14My Journey Towards Zero WasteSometimes on Instagram we see these terrible pictures of sea creatures who have died because they have eaten plastic, and we see pictures of plastic waste floating in the ocean. Plastic is a new invention: it has only existed since 1907. It has been very useful because it is cheap to manufacture, it is strong, and it is waterproof. It has replaced traditional materials like wood, stone, leather, glass and metal in many things. When my parents were teenagers, they drank Coca Cola from recyclable glass bottles, but now young people drink Coke from bottles made of PET plastic. My grandparents played with toys carved from wood, but I remember melamine plastic toys from my early childhood. The problem with plastics is caused by one of the reasons that they are so popular: it takes a very long time for them to biodegrade, or rot. Because they are a combination of particles that are never made naturally, the natural processes of decomposition take hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of years.Some people think that this is not a problem. If we burn plastic items that we no longer want, they are gone, right? Unfortunately, when we burn things, we release gasses into the air. Carbon molecules enter the atmosphere. The Earth’s natural system is really wonderful: trees and plants ‘breathe in’ this carbon, and ‘breathe out’ oxygen. But because we humans are releasing so much carbon into the atmosphere recently, and also cutting down lots of trees, the balance has been lost. Too much carbon in the air works a little like the blanket that you have on your bed in the winter time. It holds in the warmth, instead of letting it out into space (or your bedroom). The Earth is getting hotter and hotter, and many species, including humans, are having trouble. The sea is rising because the Arctic ice is melting, and low countries are losing land underwater. It doesn’t rain enough, and some countries can’t grow enough food for their people. Storms and typhoons are bringing flooding and dangerous landslides.Because of these two things, plastic polluting the ocean and the burning of plastic polluting our air, I have decided to try to reduce the amount of plastic in my life. I know that a target of zero waste is very difficult, but I am trying really hard to halve the number of trash bags that I put out for collection each year. Here are some of the ways that I am trying.• For about a year now I have been carrying a reusable cup in my bag. When I want a drink, hot or cold, I use my cup instead of a disposable plastic one. Lots of shops are happy to serve drinks in my tumbler instead of a disposable plastic cup. It saves them money! Sometimes it makes me a little sad because I can’t have something delicious, though. One example of this is Mt Ranier coffee, and I used to drink one almost every day. I know that I will only enjoy the coffee for a few minutes, though, before the plastic tumbler either sits for hundreds of years slowly degrading, or until it is burnt and adds pointless carbon to the atmosphere. Thinking about this makes me stronger in my decision not to buy it anymore!• I also carry a small spoon, some chopsticks and a cloth serviette in my cloth food bag. This means that when I want to eat a tub of yogurt or ice cream, I can say ‘no, thank you’ to the small plastic spoon that the person at the register tries to give me. I can pick up the treat, and put it directly into my cloth bag, which means that I don’t need a register plastic bag.• I’ve also been spending a few minutes each evening packing myself a lunch for the next day. I fill my lunchbox with rice, veges and a little meat left over from dinner, plus some mayonnaise or barbecue sauce. When I look at similar lunches in the convenience store, I know that my choice to bring a packed lunch means that one big plastic box, a little sauce sachet, and a plastic register bag is not being wasted.• In the previous bullet point, I mentioned that I use mayonnaise and barbecue sauce. By buying big bottles of sauce, I am reducing the amount of plastic that I cause to be made. One big bottle uses less plastic than several small ones, so it is better to buy a big one if you can. When I can find sauces that I like in glass jars, I buy those, too.• Finally, I have learned to say ‘no’ to lots of things. When I started this journey, it was quite difficult to say ‘no’ to the staff at the register who have been trained that they must provide plastic items to customers. I’m getting used to it, though, and so are the staff of the shops that I visit!I’d love to talk about these topics with you. Please come and visit in the Communication Room at OIC some time!Photo Credit: Leonid Danilov@pexels.comOlivia Kennedy
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01 .06How to find an apartment in Sydney, AustraliaFinding a place to live in Japan is a challenge for foreigners as they are new to the customs of Japan. It is the same when non-Australians try to find a place to live in Australia, especially for the first time, as non-Australians do not have any previous transaction records. This means the renter cannot refer to your previous rent payment history and cannot prove how reliable you are. So if you are in Sydney for studying, I recommend you try to get a dorm room first. However, eventually, you might have to get out of the dorm and find your own apartment one day.In that case, I am sure that you will have many questions, such as, “Where do I start? or “How much do I need to prepare?” Therefore I will let you know how you settle in Sydney.1. Look up the site and go see the rooms To begin with, you access https://www.realestate.com.au/rent/ Put the information of which area, the minimum number of bedrooms, and property type under “Rent.” Price is always per week in Australia, and rent payment is due every two weeks. So if you want to find an apartment for A$2,000 (about 150,000 yen) per month, you choose the price of A$400 to A$450 per week. After you enter the necessary information, you will see some candidates. In Australia, the realtors usually show properties on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Sometimes you need to make an appointment, but most of the time, the showing time is stated under the picture, so you can plan which ones to see before you leave home.2. Submit the documents After seeing some apartments and choosing a property, you have to submit some documents such as an application form (you need to indicate how long you want to rent), a bank statement, and a reference letter from your job (even you are a part-timer). It is quite a lot of work to submit, therefore, I advise you to prepare the bank statement and the reference letter beforehand. You have to submit the documents as soon as possible, as all the properties in Sydney move so fast. After you submit the documents, the realtor will pass them to the landlord. If you want to negotiate the rent, you can do so with an application form.3. Deposit A day or so later, the realtor will inform you if your application was successfully approved. If not, you have to start over from number one. If your application is accepted, then you have to deposit two weeks’ worth of rent. This is called a bond and it is like shikikin in Japan. You also pay the rent for your first two weeks.4. Walk through and signing Now, the realtor has acknowledged the bond. You have one more chance to walk through the property with the realtor to see if there are any places you want the realtor to clean or fix, for example, a stain on the wall or a smear on the floor. After the walk through, you will read the rental contract together with the realtor and sign it. Then you can get the keys.5. Set up the utilities and the date to move in Now you can access your property. Just a few more exciting steps! Set up your utilities and Wi-Fi, decide the date to move in, buy some furniture and finish up packing.6. Inspections Even if you don’t have many things to move, it still takes three weeks or so to settle into your new home. Even after you’ve settled, the realtor will conduct on inspection after three months, six months, and a year. The realtor makes a report to the landlord. Therefore, you need to arrange the inspection dates after you have settled in. As I mentioned before, the rent is paid every two weeks. You can set up automated payments with your bank. Enjoy, and good luck with your apartment hunting in Sydney!Mayumi Hashimoto
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12 .27A memorable place from travels in the USThe trip to Sedna was one of my most memorable experiences! You can count on a great view and a relaxed atmosphere. For me, personally, the point of the trip was to hike the four famous vortexes (red-rock mountains) that have been called “power spots”.Many believe that there are some magical powers that heal your mental fatigue or bring you some future happiness in these mountains. Actually, many Japanese people (especially young women? ) tend to hike up these mountains because they believe that they will be able to get some mystical energy or their worries will magically disappear. Therefore, a lot of tourists from Japan hike these power spots every year. I was one of them and went up there to have fun and get some mystical energy.Of course, there are travellers who embark just to enjoy the famous red rocks and not to get any mystical energy. Indeed, hundreds of hiking trails and Jeep tours will definitely lead you to some fantastic scenery and experiences. So, there were many travelers who came to just have these experiences.Anyway, I went up one of the famous red rocks for its mystical power and tried to think spiritual thoughts there. Then, nothing happened to me. I was just feeling that the sun shine was literally baking my entire body and my face was physically painful from that deadly heat of the sun (I went there with my husband in August). I was just getting nervous about my skin getting serious sunburn and wanted to go back to our hotel to lay on a couch in our room when something happened. My husband (who was 38 years old at that time with a PhD in statistics) just started crying. Tears were running down his face and he was weeping. I was getting really nervous this time not because of my skin getting burn but because my partner for life seemed to be going insane. So, I shook his shoulders and said to him “let’s get back to our hotel room.” But he didn’t want to go down the mountain and insisted on staying there a little bit more because he was feeling really good.Then this time I went insane. I yelled at him repeatedly saying “let’s get out of here.” I even punched his shoulder and almost screamed. Both I and he were really upset at that time. We ended up going down to the hotel while having a really bad fight. Everybody passing by on the way down the mountain was staring at us as both crying badly. My husband just turned normal after we came back to our hotel room. We had really nice Mate tea made by our hotel owner and just got back to peaceful feelings finally. However, I cannot forget that moment on the top of the red rock mountain (one of the famous power spots). I will never forget my husband’s crying (I have never seen his crying face before and from then. He didn’t even cry when our first daughter was born in the hospital). That was the most memorable place from our travels in the US.Photo Credit: Tim Mossholder@ Pexels.comThe BBP Staff
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12 .24Some ideas for delivering an effective English presentationHow do you feel when you are assigned to do an English presentation in front of the entire class? Feel anxious? Get nervous? Want to escape from it? If you haven’t had much experience presenting even in your native language, it might be extremely tough just to stand in front of people, let alone presenting “in English.” An English presentation assignment could put a lot of pressure on you.I know exactly how that feels because I went through the same difficulty myself when I was studying in high school in America where I was assigned to present something in front of the class almost every day. For the first few weeks, all I could think of was to finish my presentation and get back to my seat as quickly as possible. I wasn’t confident about my English and felt extremely embarrassed just to stand in front of the class and to make eye contact with my classmates. However, looking at my classmates speaking confidently and cheerfully every day, I started to wonder, “Is it really okay for me to remain shy like this?” Well, the answer was obviously no because it was clear that I wanted to enjoy presenting like them. I still remember the feeling I used to have then. I was feeling: “I need to change and I want to change!”So I gradually started watching and imitating my classmates’ performance and exploring how I can capture people’s attention with my presentation. “What do I need to do to communicate and deliver my message more clearly and effectively?” was what I used to think a lot about and I learned many effective delivery skills from that experience. Among them, there are three ideas on delivery that I found especially important in giving any type of presentation. I hope they will be helpful for you too.1. Think about an attention getter How you start your presentation matters. You want your audience to be interested in what you are going to present, so the first thing you say is very important. You can start with your own personal story that could also be familiar and interesting to your audience. You could begin with a famous quote or a rhetorical question that would stimulate the audience’ mind. Also, starting with a magic word “Imagine” can successfully invite your audience to take part in your presentation. I remember that one student used this word in his presentation (“Please imagine that you are now in…”) and it grabbed everyone’s attention in less than a second!2. Show your confidence and enthusiasm through speaking How you speak matters. If you speak in a small, unclear voice, your audience may feel that you don’t really want to share with them what you are presenting. They may also get the sense that you are not confident about what you are saying to them. If you speak too fast, they may find it difficult to follow what you are trying to deliver. And if your voice sounds flat and monotone, they may get the sense that you are not so interested in what you are saying. After all, no one wants to hear a presentation that lacks confidence or enthusiasm, right? So showing your confidence and enthusiasm through speaking is very important. You can start with trying to speak in a loud, clear voice. You don’t have to shout or yell, but you need to make sure that your audience can hear you effortlessly. You can also try to change your speech volume, speed, rhythm and intonation, depending on what you want to emphasize in your presentation. Having vocal variety helps your audience understand what you want to deliver through your presentation.3. Use body language How you use body language matters. When you give your presentation, do you use body languages (e.g., eye contact, gestures)? I’ve noticed that when making a presentation many students tend to stand still in front of their PC and present everything with just words—without using body movements. Quite often, such attitudes make it difficult for the audience to be interested in your presentation or understand your main point. For example, I’ve seen many people looking at their PC screens the whole time without making any eye contact with the audience. I’ve also seen people explaining a figure or a table on the screen without using hand gestures. Eye contact can help the audience feel included in your presentation and one single hand gesture can actually make a big difference in making your presentation clearer. If you haven’t tried it yet, please think about incorporating body language into your presentation.The ideas above are probably nothing new but might help stimulate your thinking about your next presentation. If you find them doable, please give them a try!Photo Credit: Christina Morillo @pexels.comThe BBP Staff
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12 .20Do you sleep well?Do you have a sufficient amount of sleep every night? I did not usually have problems sleeping, but I began to suffer from unbalanced sleep due to changes in my lifestyle; I struggled to sleep when I was in bed and then could not wake up in the morning. The change in my sleep cycle was triggered by a change in my work.When I began my post-graduate study, I had been working for eight years following the completion of my undergraduate degree. At that time, I had a normal nine-to-five job, and a regular cycle of sleep and waking. However, once I became a post-graduate student, I did not have to wake up at the same time every morning because my classes began in the afternoons or sometimes in the evenings. Some people are strong willed and never deviate from their regular schedules despite changes in their lifestyles; however, I was lazy and adapted to the new schedule. I woke up mid-morning and had a late breakfast. I sometimes stayed up until two or three am because I had a deadline or was forced on working on an assignment. After leading such an unhealthy lifestyle for some months, I had a problem with sleep. I could not sleep at night or wake up early in the morning even if I had an important appointment.Eventually, I realised that the situation was not good because I was not able to control my sleep patterns; it also meant that I had lost control of my time during the day due to feeling sleepy. I am sure that this has also happened to you on occasion, particularly during long vacations. Therefore, I tried some tips in order to fall asleep easily, when I was struggling to do so. I would like to share these tips; however, they are based on my experience and do not guarantee that you will have good sleep. In addition, if your sleep problem lasts for several months, I suggest that you see a doctor or counselor because sleep deprivation may cause a mental or physical illness.For refreshing sleep: 1. Wake up early and try not to have a long nap during the day; this will help you to reset the sleep cycle. 2. Do not drink coffee or tea after six pm, as these beverages contain caffeine; I often drink decaffeinated coffee after that time. 3. Do some form of exercise after work (or study). it does not have to be strenuous exercise, something such as a short jog or some stretching is sufficient. 4. Do not watch TV, or look at a computer, or smart phone screen before going to bed; if you are watching important or interesting news, you may not be able to sleep at all. 5. Use aromatherapy to relax; lavender oil is a good option.(Photo credit: Kha Ruxury@Pexels.com)The BBP Staff
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12 .13English LearningStudents often ask me about how they can improve their English skills. There is no simple answer to this question as learning a language is an extremely complex thing. However, here are three pieces of advice that I often give my students.1. Read, read, read! You should read extensively in English. This is because your mind subconsciously picks up language such as grammar; collocations (words that usually go together – example: torrential rain) and you broaden your lexical (vocabulary) knowledge. I often use Penguin Readers in class so that students can enjoy reading in English every week. I would recommend picking reading material that is a slightly higher level than your current reading ability. For example, read a page of text (about 300 words). If there are about three to five words (excluding proper nouns) that you do not know, then the text may be suitable for you. However, I would encourage students to read anything that is of interest to them, even if it is a simple text. You should always enjoy reading in English; it should never be boring.2. In my view, vocabulary learning is the single most important thing that a learner of English can do. A phrase I often say is ‘without grammar little can be conveyed, but without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed.’ Put another way, learning vocabulary is even more important than learning grammar. I tend not to use the word ‘vocabulary,’ instead I use the word ‘lexis’. While vocabulary tends to focus on the single word, lexis also focuses on collocations, multi-word phrases such as idioms, phrasal verbs and so on. A thorough knowledge of lexical phrases and collocations is the foundation for verbal fluency. My advice is to think bigger than the word. For example, you may know the word ‘die’ but do you know the lexical items ‘pass away’ ‘kick the bucket’ and ‘give up the ghost’? They all mean 'die' as well. That is why the memorisation of lexis is so important because your language knowledge will increase dramatically if you do so. Therefore, I recommend learning as many lexical items as possible. Use words cards to note the target language and memorise it. Use the cards as much as possible, for example whenever you are on the train or bus.3. Who owns the English language? English began in England so do the English own the language? In my view, everyone who uses English owns the language. The Japanese should not consider English a foreign language but as their second language used for international communication. You do not necessarily need to speak English like a British or American person. Nor is it necessary to speak English with a British/American accent. Your accent and use of language may differ from British/American usage but it doesn’t mean it is wrong. My advice is to speak English as a Japanese person with a Japanese accent and to be proud that your English usage reflects your identity and not someone else’s.Gary Littlecott
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12 .10Aloha Shirts
Some people call them ‘Hawaiian shirts’ but the correct name is Aloha Shirt.
They are considered formal wear in Hawaii and many people wear them to work every day. There are many kinds of styles and materials used to make them. Actually, the first Aloha shirts were made of silk. Now, they are made of cotton, polyester, rayon, and silk. One signature feature of many of the ‘Aloha Shirts’ is that the main printed side of the material is not facing outside like most shirts but facing the inside to give a more subtle, relaxed look.
The designs on the Aloha shirts reflect the scenes and the aspects of Hawaii that make it a tropical paradise. Patterns in the fabrics range from various themes and motifs, and the colors range the gamut of all the colors on a palette. Popular styles include the famous landmarks in Hawaii, such as Diamond Head, Waikiki, or beautiful mountain ranges to ocean vistas. Others display natural beauty famous in Hawaii, such as pineapples, palm trees, surfers on waves, fish, flowers, and other flora or fauna. Also, prints from ‘tapa’ cloth, or the traditional Hawaiian clothes, are popular along with prints of the royal family of Hawaii, the Kamehameha monarchy.
In the US, there is a business trend called ‘Casual Friday’. Have you heard of it before? It is where, the company allows its workers to wear more ‘casual’ clothes like jeans or relaxed collared shirts to work on Fridays. Actually, ‘Casual Friday’ or ‘Aloha Friday’ in Hawaii, was started in Hawaii. Aloha shirt makers lobbied politicians and business leaders to allow aloha shirts to be worn to work on Fridays, which better matched the tropical weather of Hawaii compared to suits and ties.
I like Aloha Shirts because I like the relaxed designs and I feel I can bring a piece of Hawaii to the students I meet. Did you know that in Hawaiian, Aloha has many meanings? It can mean, “Hello” or “Good-bye” or “Welcome” or “Love/I love you.” If you break the word down, the literal meaning is ‘Alo’ means ‘facing or the presence of’ and ‘ha’ means ‘breath’. So, having the Aloha Spirit means having a care for oneself and sharing that warmth from your insides with others, without expecting anything in return. Please talk to me about Aloha shirts more the next time you see me and I will be happy to share more about what it means to have the Aloha Spirit.
Scot Matsuo -
12 .06Living a Zero Waste LifeHow many clamshells have you seen today? You’re probably thinking about the last time you bought seafood at the market, but did you know that the term is also used in English to refer to products designed to open and close by a hinge along one side. That includes the plastic containers found in convenience stores and supermarkets that are used to package take-out food. They are generally used once and then discarded. A lot of people think these types of plastic can be recycled, but, in Japan, once they have been separated from recyclable products, they are incinerated in a process that produces highly toxic waste. In the U.S, where the average person generates about 2 kilos of trash per day, they often end up in landfills; large, deep holes in which trash is buried.Single use disposable plastic has become one of the biggest sources of plastic pollution. Even though it’s clear to many people that plastic waste has created a global problem, the amount of plastic produced each year continues to increase. How much are we willing to sacrifice for the sake of our convenience? Clearly, it’s time to end our relationship with single-use plastic.Lauren Singer did just that. In her TED Talk [Why I live a zero waste life (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF72px2R3Hg)] She explains how she had been able to live a “zero waste lifestyle” for the past three years. During those three years, she produced almost no waste. One of her key points is that zero waste is not about recycling more. It’s about buying less. When she realized that all the cosmetic and cleaning products she was buying came in plastic, she learned how to make her own products from bulk materials that could be purchased in reusable containers. She stopped buying packaged food. Instead, she purchased only fresh fruit and vegetables and food that could be bought in bulk. This eliminated all the plastic packaging that was going into her trash. Instead of buying new clothes, she bought only second-hand (used) clothes. Finally, one of the most important things she did was downsize: she got rid of all the unnecessary stuff she owned and focused on taking care of the essential stuff.For me, the best part of her talk is when she describes the benefits that she has experienced from transitioning to a zero waste lifestyle. These benefits included being healthier because she has stopped eating packaged processed foods. She saves a lot of money, too. Most importantly, she is happier because she is living a lifestyle that reflects her values. When I ask my students if they could stop using plastic in their lives, they sadly shake their heads. I’ve come to the conclusion that the reason they think plastic is necessary is that they simple can’t imagine an alternative lifestyle. My hope is that watching this video will move some of them to imagine the value of living more sustainably.(Photo credit: The author)John Kuzel
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12 .03Remembering Names
As a teacher, I have to try and remember all of my student names. Teaching at Elementary school and Secondary school (combined Junior and Senior High school), it was a lot easier to remember students’ names, particularly my form (home-room) students. I spent a large part of each week with the same students. I got to know their personalities, interests and hobbies. I knew which students hated which foods and I knew their parents and family life. More than 10 years after I left that school, some of my former students recognized me in London and said hello and I could easily remember their names.
It has not been so easy to remember my students’ names in Japan. Firstly, Japanese names often have a very similar pronunciation meaning that knowing the Kanji can be quite important. When I first arrived in Japan, I could not read any Kanji characters at all, so this did not help much. Secondly, in English class, we often do not use a person’s family name. This is a result of how using a person’s family name in English indicates relative social status, which creates a social distance. Historically, teachers were seen as being extremely scary because of the way in which they exerted their social status through language. We use first names because we want our students to feel less intimidated and less anxious about speaking. Thirdly, I am teaching at university now where I see my students once or twice a week. I have very little chance to get to know my students.
These three facts did not help when I was faced with my first class of Japanese students, but I did learn their names. Even now, many years later, I do remember their names, and I do remember their faces. They even send me New Years cards every January. Their names were Tomoko, Tomoko, Tomoko, Tomoko, Tomoko, Tomoko, Tomoko, and Mariko. Unfortunately, in the first few lessons, I could not remember who was Mariko. As I got to know them better, I could remember as I connected their personalities with what they did and said in class.
Like most people, I remember the names of people who I have most communication with. Sadly, this often means that I remember the really good students and the really not-so-good students. Those students who are quiet and try to avoid speaking in class tend to be the most difficult to remember. I try to remember their names by using {the story method [https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/link-and-story-method-infographic.html]}. By creating a story and linking together interesting things, it becomes easier to remember things. As a teacher, I can help refresh this in my mind by taking a roll-call at the beginning of class, but this technique does help. Eventually, I can remember everyone’s names, but then the semester ends and I have to start all over again.
(Photo credit: )
Dominic Edsall -
11 .29Teahouse Trekking in the Nepal HimalayasIf you are interested in independent adventure travel, then I would like to tell you about a fantastic activity – teahouse trekking in the Himalaya mountains of Nepal.Nepal is a small, landlocked country in South Asia. I have visited Nepal over a dozen times, and some years ago I also had the chance to live and work there for 4 months. I volunteered for a local adventure company that guided tourists on rafting and trekking trips throughout Nepal. These experiences gave me the opportunity to explore the natural and cultural wonders of the country, and it became my favorite country for traveling.You might imagine that trekking in the Himalayas is only for serious mountain climbers, but teahouse trekking is very different from climbing snowy mountains attached to a rope. A teahouse is a simple, locally operated hotel or lodge in a village that provides meals and a bed. Teahouse trekking is simply walking from village to village on established, easy-to-follow paths used every day by local people. The trails can be challenging sometimes, but any reasonably fit person can do it.You might ask – why walk when you can take a bus or other modern transport? In Nepal, many people live in small mountain villages that have no roads or other easy access. For Nepalis living in these remote areas, trails are the only way to move around, and as a result, the trails are used by local farmers, herders and their animals, porters carrying amazingly heavy loads, and visiting tourists. For trekkers, this environment gives a unique chance to experience traditional village culture away from the noise and pollution of cities while enjoying some of the best mountain scenery on the planet.Teahouse trekking has several very attractive points. First, you don’t need a guide or an organized tour. You can plan your own trip and go at your own pace. If you don’t want to walk a long distance, you can trek slowly from one village to the next and stop at any village teahouse when you are tired. Second, you don’t need to carry a heavy pack – just warm clothes, perhaps a sleeping bag, and a few personal items. Since you can stay in teahouses, you don’t have to carry a tent, food, or cooking equipment. In addition, as Nepal is a developing country, teahouse trekking is very affordable. A trekking permit is about $15 dollars (¥1600) a day, and food, accommodation and all daily expenses should cost less than $25 (¥2700) a day. Finally, staying in teahouses is a great way to meet local Nepalis and other trekkers from around the world. At the end of the day, weary trekkers gather together in a big room for meals and socializing. It’s a great chance to practice your English or other languages!The people of Nepal are perhaps the best reason to visit. They are extremely friendly and helpful to foreign tourists. Many Nepalis can also speak English. There are a variety of different tribes with their own ancient traditions, languages, and religions. This fascinating cultural milieu helps make Nepal a very rewarding destination.The Mt. Everest region is the most famous area for trekking, but I recommend three less crowded treks: Langtang Valley, Annapurna Base Camp, and the Manaslu Circuit. You will need between 1 to 3 weeks to do a good trek, and Spring and Fall have the best weather for teahouse trekking. For university students in Japan, this matches your spring break. So next late-February and March, why don’t you take a few weeks and have the adventure of your life in Nepal!(Photo credit: Brett Morgan)Brett Morgan