If you like watching and listening to authentic spoken World Englishes or first language content with English subtitles, you’ll love the YouTube channel Great Big Story (GBS). It’s a great archive for discovering a diverse variety of people, places, and things all over the world. Each short video allows the viewer to experience new perspectives and widen their understanding and imagination, not only about what occurs on this planet daily, but also the new possibilities they may adopt in their own lives.

GBS had described itself as “a global media company devoted to cinematic storytelling”. Based in New York with an office in London, GBS was creating micro-documentaries (about 5 minutes long) and short films and releasing them on YouTube. This came to an end after five years in October, 2020, when the parent company CNN shut them down, citing dwindling advertising revenues due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Sadly, the weekly YouTube uploads stopped. Despite this, GBS still has an amazing 6.03 million subscribers, demonstrating that the available content continues to maintain popularity. The topics featured in the videos are mostly obscure, niche vignettes which are compelling and fascinating to watch.

I first heard about GBS from a former English teaching colleague way back in 2016, about a year after the channel had been launched. I realized immediately it was a gold mine of content for English lessons and wasted no time hitting the subscribe button. In no time, I’d binge-watched at least half a dozen videos and was well and truly hooked! Very quickly it became much more than a go-to-site for English language lesson content. I was watching every upload as soon as it was available. I still remember my first Great Big Story with its punchy title, “I live in a plane.” This particular two-minute documentary tells the story of a Portland-based aeronautics enthusiast, Bruce Campbell, who lives in a converted 1960s Boeing 727 jet deep in a forest. It was mind-blowing to see how spacious the plane’s interior was when all the seats and fixtures had been removed. Campbell had installed basic living necessities and improved on existing features to make a home out of something that had been destined for the scrap heap. In just two minutes, I had a concrete understanding of the idea of “repurposing” which as we move forward into our climate-challenged future is something we need to take heed of. Watch a Great Big Story video today, and have your eyes opened!

Photo Credit: Joyce Busola@unsplash.com

Blog Quiz

Select the meaning of the word or phrase as it is used in the text.

Q1. dwindling

a. increasing

b. decreasing

c. neither increasing or decreasing

Q2. a gold mine

a. a good source of something

b. a money maker

c. an underground place where gold is found

Q3. go-to-site

a. travel website

b. preferred and often used website

c. English learning website

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

Q1. B

Q2. A

Q3. B

Have you ever experienced culture shock? You may be familiar with the term as a description of the emotions you feel while traveling or living abroad and encountering feelings of shock, disappointment, or loneliness due to differences from your home country and culture. More shocking than regular culture shock, however, is another type of culture shock known as “reverse culture shock.”

Reverse culture shock is the shock you feel when returning to your home country after spending time living abroad. Reverse culture shock is interesting because not everyone experiences it, but for those who do, it can be a very strange experience bringing about many complex emotions.

Five years ago, I visited my hometown in the United States, and I experienced very strong reverse culture shock. What is very normal in the US made me feel shocked after living many years in Japan. Below I have described three of my reverse culture shock experiences:

Reverse Culture Shock Experience #1: Everyone in the US Is Always Smiling

One thing I forgot about the US from years of living in Japan is that everyone in the US is always smiling. In Japan, you may only smile in photos or when you feel happy, but in the US, it is common for people to smile often as a sign of friendliness. It is common in the US to smile at strangers, and staff at stores and supermarkets frequently smile at customers. I felt strong reverse culture shock when I saw complete strangers everywhere in the US smiling at me so often!

Reverse Culture Shock Experience # 2: Everyone Does Small Talk and Even with Strangers

Small talk is a normal way to “break the ice” when speaking to people, but what about doing small talk with complete strangers? It may sound strange, but small talk with complete strangers is very normal in the US. People frequently do small talk and strike up conversations with each other while out shopping, at the gym, or even while waiting at a bus stop. Once while shopping during New Year’s Eve at my neighborhood mall, the cashier began asking me about my plans for the night. Another time, while waiting at a bus stop reading a book, another person who had also read the same book, began asking me about my thoughts on it! It might be strange in other cultures, but small talk and talking to complete strangers in the US is very common and a sign of friendliness.

Reverse Culture Shock Experience # 3: Everyone Dresses Very Casually

Another source of reverse culture shock for me whenever I visit the US is how casual everyone dresses. Jeans, T-shirts, sneakers, and sweatpants are a common outfit for many Americans. Compared to Japan, where many people are often focused on their appearance and looking very nice before going outside, it almost feels like everyone in the US is competing against each other to dress in the most casual way possible!

Photo Credit: Ketut Subiyanto@pexels.com

Blog Quiz

Q1. What is culture shock?

Q2. What is reverse culture shock?

Q3. What are the three examples of reverse culture shock mentioned in the

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

A1. The emotions you feel while traveling or living abroad and encountering feelings of shock, disappointment, or loneliness due to differences from your home country and culture.

A2. Reverse culture shock is the shock you feel when returning to your home country after spending time living abroad.

A3. 1. Everyone in the US is always smiling. 2. Small talk is very common. 3. Everyone dresses very casually.

At Ritsumeikan, we are very fortunate because two of the most famous temples in Kyoto, Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji, are just a few minutes walk from our campus. As most people know, Kinkaku-ji is famous for the Golden Pavilion, and Ryoan-ji is famous for its karesansui garden. In English, karesansui gardens are known as dry landscape gardens or Zen gardens.

There are many famous dry landscape gardens in Kyoto, and many of them, like Ryoan-ji, were made hundreds of years ago. However, did you know that some of the most famous Zen gardens in Kyoto were made less than a hundred years ago? And they were designed by the same person? Do you know who that person is?

The answer is Mirei Shigemori (1896-1975). Shigemori studied traditional Japanese culture growing up, including flower arrangement, tea ceremony, and philosophy. However, his gardens are famous for being a mixture of the traditional and modern. He designed more than 200 gardens, including many at temples and shrines, both in Kyoto and in other places in Japan.

He thought gardens are art forms like painting and sculpture. In fact, one of his disciples said that Shigemori viewed gardens as works of art, not living environments. In fact, some of his gardens were influenced by the paintings of famous European artists, such as Kandinsky, Matisse, and Mondrian.

Some of Mirei Shigemori’s most famous gardens in Kyoto are at Tofuku-ji; Zuiho-in, a sub-temple of Daitoku-ji; and Matsuo Taisha Shrine. All of these gardens are quite unique.

At Tofuku-ji, he designed both the “Garden of the Big Dipper” and the “Garden of Eight Phases.” The “Garden of the Big Dipper” is based on the constellation the Big Dipper, and Shigemori used seven columns taken from the temple’s outhouse to represent the stars in the constellation. The “Garden of Eight Phases” is named after the eight phases in the life of the Buddha and features stones that represent islands in a sea of white gravel.

At Zuiho-in, Shigemori made the “Garden of the Solitary Meditation” and the “Quietly Sleeping Garden.” Both are Zen gardens, but the design of the “Quietly Sleeping Garden” takes inspiration from Christianity, not Buddhism. In the garden, there are seven stones that form the shape of a cross. Shigemori designed the garden this way because Otomo Yoshishige, the founder of Zuiho-in, was baptized as a Christian.

Mirei’s last masterpiece, the “Garden of Ancient Times,” can be found at Matsuo Taisha Shrine. The design is quite simple, with only stones and bamboo grass, but it is quite modern and beautiful. If you’d like to know why, I suggest you visit the shrine and see for yourself!

If you are at all interested in traditional Japanese culture, these gardens are well worth a visit, whether you are a Japanese or international student. These gardens are great places to learn about culture, but also wonderful places to just sit quietly and relax without having to think about anything, especially your classes!

Blog Quiz

True or False?

Q1. Mirei Shigemori was a Christian.

Q2. Mirei Shigemori used pieces of a temple bathroom in a garden design.

Q3. Mirei Shigemori designed the gardens at 20 different temples and shrines in Japan.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

Q1. False

Q2. True

Q3. False

University is a very important part of our lives as it marks the move towards independence as adults. For many students, it is the first chance to live away from home, with all the challenges that involves. For others, even though they may continue to live with their parents, it provides new stimuli and exposes them to new people, new ideas and new ways of dealing with life.

I am always impressed when I hear about the creative endeavours of my students. Many of them like to branch out and try something new at university. For example, some of them learn to play a musical instrument; others become involved in photography or art. I feel these kinds of activities are especially valuable and serve as more than a way to simply kill time or make new friends (although these are important benefits, too.)

Including something creative in your life can benefit you in many ways. It can open up new worlds and new experiences, help you to experience different emotions and develop a broader understanding of people, inspiring you to widen your own interests and make your life richer. Such activities offer an ideal way to put aside worries and relax, and even if you are a beginner, online tutorials and videos on YouTube have made it much easier to develop your skills. Creative hobbies can help you stay mentally and emotionally healthy, learn new skills, and get more enjoyment out of life.

Creative work, whether it is painting a picture, making a dress, or writing a song, requires you to think in different ways. How can I make this better? What would happen if I did this? Is there another way to do it? You become aware of different qualities in your work; it opens your mind to subtleties of expression and feeling, as well as technique and often you find yourself making unexpected discoveries. It also sharpens your judgement – is it better like this or like that? – and helps you to look and listen more carefully.

It can be frustrating, too. When things don’t go right, when you realise you’ve wasted hours and hours of your time and will have to start over again, you might wonder why you started at all. But when it goes well, when you finish and show it to an admiring audience (even if it’s just your best friend or your mum), you get a tremendous sense of satisfaction. Suddenly, all the hard work seems worthwhile!

Photo Credit: Tiana@pexels.com

Blog Quiz

Q1. The writer is impressed by ________________.

a. his students’ musical abilities

b. videos on YouTube

c. the creative activities of his students

Q2. What is one reason it is becoming easier to develop creative skills?

a. There are many helpful videos on YouTube.

b. It helps you to think differently.

c. It can help you to enjoy life more.

Q3. According to the writer, a negative feeling that may be connected with creative activities is __________ .

a. admiration

b. satisfaction

c. frustration

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

Q1. C

Q2. A

Q3. C

Week 3 We continued our trip to fabulous Lake Titicaca. This Lake with several islands is the highest lake in the world, and it has both traditional and modern things. Especially the Uros Islands are unusual and were made from plants by the Uros people. We learned from the indigenous people that the plants originated in the lake, and when their islands were damaged, they just made new ones and moved in there. Many of them made a living from fishing. Surprisingly, there were big solar panels on the roofs of their simple houses on the islands. With an abundant energy supply, they seemed to enjoy the latest technology and manage a hotel business for tourists too. On the other naturally made islands, the local people were engaged in community tourism, and tourists were able to visit and stay with them at their homes. Unfortunately, our stomachs still felt uneasy, and we stopped by just for lunch, but they were very friendly and welcomed us. The next time we go there, we will surely plan to stay with the local family and enjoy the shining stars.

At the end of our itinerary, we came back to the capital Lima, an urban and exciting city nearby the ocean. We could not believe that we were traveling in the same country. Peru is unique geographically and culturally. There are just so many things to see and to do. One of my friends introduced me to a local teacher, and we had a great conversation about education in Peru. We wanted to spend more time with her, but we had to leave. In the future, we definitely want to go back to the country, meet more people, and explore more places—including the Amazon!

Photo Credit: Author

Blog Quiz

Q1. What do the Uros people make from the plants in Lake Titicaca?

Q2. Did the writer and her husband stay overnight on the island in Lake Titicaca?

Q3. Is Lima located in the mountains?

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

Q1. They make their islands (Uros Islands).

Q2. No, they didn’t. They just had lunch there.

Q3. No, it isn’t. It’s on the coast.

We always wanted to visit Peru, the country of wonders and mysteries, and finally our dream came true about ten years ago. Peru has three distinct regions: the desert, the Andes, and the Amazon. In about three weeks, my husband and I made a trip to the capital Lima; the Nazca Lines in the desert; and Cuzco, Machu Picchu, and Lake Titicaca in the mountains. We were able to make precious and unforgettable memories.

Week 1 The Nazca Lines were just amazing. First, we arrived in the desert and did not see anything there. I wondered where the Lines were. Then we climbed a tiny tower and found some patterns, but I still did not get it. I was kind of disappointed because we traveled all the way from Japan for almost nothing. However, the next day we saw something incredible from the sky, and more than one hundred– including big and small–drawings were below us. They were simply too big to recognize while standing on the ground. I understood why people could not find them for a long time. According to our English-speaking guide, no one knows exactly when, why, and who created them. Animals, birds, insects, and even humans were depicted in the desert. I liked the ‘Monkey,’ and my husband liked the ‘Condor.’ As the time went by, the Lines became unclear, and some researchers and organizations have been trying to preserve them with the local people. I hope the mystery will stay forever.

Week 2 Our next destinations were Cuzco and Machu Picchu in the beautiful mountain areas. Since we flew to Cuzco, the historical city more than 3,000 meters high, we got mountain sickness. A special tea made from coca leaf helped us to recover, and three days later, we were ready to go to Machu Picchu, the Incan ruins, by train. Just like the Nazca Lines, people were not able to find Machu Picchu for a long time either. The village was made on top of the mountain so that it could be protected from the enemies. The ruins were well preserved, and some people were working in the field and even keeping alpacas. We felt as if we were in the time of Incas. Before the trip, we practiced Spanish and ocarina to prepare for the moment at the ruins. I was very excited to have a chance to talk to one of the workers in Spanish about the history of Machu Picchu. My husband was allowed to play the famous Peruvian music, ‘El Condor Pasa’ (The Condor Passes) on the instrument from Peru. These experiences made our visit even more special and memorable.

Photo credit: Author

Blog Quiz

Q1. What can we see in Nazca Lines?

Q2. How did the writer and her husband recover from the mountain sickness?

Q3. What did the writer’s husband do at Machu Picchu?

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

Q1. Animals, birds, insects, humans, monkey, condor

Q2. They had coca tea.

Q3. He played the ocarina.

In a previous post, I wrote about the shopping street “Ponto-cho” in Kyoto City and the perplexing nature of its name. However, Ponto-cho is just one of many intriguing names in Japan. This time, I’d like to consider another: The Takase River. 

The Takase River or “Takasegawa” (高瀬川) as it is called in Japanese, is in central Kyoto City beginning just south of the grounds of the Imperial Palace of Gosho and terminating kilometers later into the Kamo River. For most of its length, Takasegawa is only a few meters wide, and so shallow that it is easy to walk across. It is a calm and unassuming stream. Given this image, when examining the kanji in its name, you are in for a shock!

Separating the river’s name into its components gives you “tall” (高, taka), “rapids” (瀬, se) and “river” (川, kawa), or what would now be called “whitewater rapids” — the kind usually navigated by helmeted daredevils in rubber rafts. How was it that such a placid stream wound up with such a thrilling name?

After doing some research, I learned that from the time it was dug in the early 1600s until the 1930s, the area where Takasegawa is located often had severe seasonal flooding, so it is easy to imagine that the water could get choppy at times.

I also learned that Takasegawa was once an essential part of Kyoto City’s infrastructure, transporting people and goods to nearby Fushimi on flat bottomed boats called “Takasebune”. For over 300 years, these boats brought products like silk and spices into Kyoto while taking lumber and sake out.

Strictly speaking, calling Takasegawa “a river” is incorrect. Rivers occur naturally whereas river-like waterways created by people are referred to as canals. As Takasegawa was dug by people, it is clearly a canal. However, I do not object to this misnaming because the Japanese word for canal, “unga” (運河), does not have a pleasant sound. Surely, Takasegawa is more harmonic than Takaseunga! Wouldn’t you agree?

Q1. Why does the author find the name of Takasegawa confusing?

Q2. How did the Takase river contribute to the development of Kyoto?

Q3. Why isn't Takasegawa really a river?

Scroll down for the answers to the quiz.

A1. Because the kanji in the name indicates a raging river but the actual river is shallow and calm.

A2. By providing a route for trade and people.

A3. Because it was created artificially. 

Valentine’s Day in Japan looks similar enough to the US version… on the surface. Downtown you can find decorations with similar themes, stores and shops have special promotions for chocolates and sweets, and couples celebrate together. But as I said, this is only similar on the surface. There are some differences that I still struggle with. 

When I experienced Valentine’s Day in Japan for the first time, what surprised me was that as a man, I didn’t have to do anything. Just get chocolate or sweets. If you haven’t heard before, in most other countries where Valentine’s Day is celebrated, men are the ones who do the work. There is no White Day where we get to defer our gift giving obligation for a month. In fact, the Valentine’s Day-White Day situation in Japan reminds me of the “girl’s choice song” at American high school dances… accept on Valentine’s Day, the girls make the “first move” every time. By the way, if you’re not familiar, “girl’s choice” is when the DJ tells the room that the girls ask the guys to dance for the next song. In the US, it’s usually the opposite, both on the dance floor and in other aspects of dating. 

But back to V-day. In my case, I have become spoiled. I got used to getting home-baked cakes among other things every year. Because this has become my “normal” every Valentine’s Day, I would probably have some trouble adjusting to the old way if I were back in the US, just like I did when I started celebrating it here. Every year, after I get my yummy cakes and chocolate, I quickly move on with life and forget until the last minute that White Day is coming. One month is just long enough to forget that I need to do something special for my wife. This results in me usually rushing around at the last minute to put something together. I haven’t had any disasters yet, but the point is that White Day always sneaks up on me. It’s something I have never gotten used to. If you are planning on studying/living abroad in another country and find yourself “involved” with someone, you might have similar problems adjusting to the change in procedure. My wife and I are pretty chill about it, but some people, at least in the US, take Valentine’s Day pretty seriously. Just remember this for a US Valentine’s Day; guys, it’s us who are giving the chocolate. Don’t be caught flat footed. And ladies, even though there is no White Day, when you get something nice from your man, don’t neglect to return the favor.

Q1. According to the passage, what is the main difference between Valentine’s Day in Japan and the US?

a) Japanese couples like to eat white chocolate more than American couples on White Day.

b) In Japan, it is more common to eat cake on Valentine’s Day than in the US.

c) Men usually give chocolate or gifts on Valentine’s Day in the US and on White Day in Japan.

Q2. In the second paragraph, why does the author think Valentine’s Day and the “girl’s choice song” at a dance are similar?

a) In both situations, couples get to dance.

b) In both situations, women are supposed to be more assertive than men.

c) In both situations, women are supposed to wait for the man to do something.

Q3. In the last paragraph, which answer has the closest meaning to this sentence? “My wife and I are pretty chill about it.”

 a) It gets pretty cold around Valentine’s Day.

 b) They are not very serious about Valentine’s Day.

 c) They try to relax in serious situations.

Scroll down for the answers to the quiz

A1. c

A2. b

A3. b

During these Covid-19 times it is not easy to travel internationally, but we are all hoping that changes for the better soon. Today, I would like to tell about one of my favorite countries for traveling – Laos. I have made several trips to Laos and never grow tired of this unique country. As a tourist destination in Southeast Asia, Laos is not as popular as some of its neighboring countries like Thailand, Cambodia, or Vietnam. I think this is one reason it is such an interesting place to visit.

Many people start their trip to Laos by flying into Vientiane. Even though it is the capital of Laos, Vientiane is a small, relaxed city. People are very friendly, and it is a great place to just walk around for a day or two and get a feel for the culture. The mighty Mekong River forms the eastern border of the city, and eating local dishes for dinner in an open-air restaurant on the banks of the Mekong while watching the sunset is a highly recommended way to finish your day.

A few hours bus ride north of Vientiane is the small, fun town of Vang Vieng, which is very popular with young, backpacking travelers from around the world. It is surrounded by beautiful karst mountains and jungle and is a great place for outdoor activities. You can go tubing and kayaking in the river or try caving and rock climbing.

Further north is the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang. Also set on the banks of the Mekong, it is a fascinating city with many Buddhist temples and historical French colonial architecture. A great thing to do here is to take a boat ride for a couple hours up the Mekong to the Buddha caves of Pak Ou. Luang Prabang also has excellent restaurants and a cool night market for shopping.

For the adventurous traveler with more time, Laos has some other interesting destinations. In the far north around the town of Luang Namtha you can go trekking to remote hill-tribe villages. In the south of Laos there is the coffee producing Bolaven plateau and the incredible Falls of the Mekong, the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia.

Fairly close to Japan and very affordable to visit with fascinating cultures, friendly people, and incredible natural beauty, Laos is a great choice for adventurous university students wishing to explore off the beaten path in Southeast Asia.

Q1 What are 3 countries mentioned that are next to Laos?

Q2 What is the capital city of Laos?

Q3 What are some adventurous outdoor activities you can do in Laos?

Scroll down for answers

A1 Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

A2 Vientiane.

A3 Tubing, kayaking, caving, rock climbing, and trekking.

When we think about the winter holidays and Christmas, images of Santa Claus often come to mind. Popular characters dress in Santa-themed clothes. Many people cosplay at holiday parties as Santa and/or Mrs. Claus. Santa’s classic red-and-white colors are used in decorations, advertisements, and more. But did you know that Santa wasn’t always dressed in red-and-white? 

The character of Santa Claus has roots in many traditional stories and characters from across Europe and Central Asia. The stories and characters of Father Time, Sinterklaas, King Frost, Wotan, and Father Christmas all added to the story and character of Santa Claus. A 4th century Christian priest (Saint Nicholas of Myra) is the base for a lot of the personal background and character of Santa Claus. Many people think that the red robes of Saint Nicholas are the source of Santa’s famous outfit. The real story is much more recent. 

Many older images of Santa Claus are very similar to what we see now. An older man, dressed for cold winter weather, usually with a long cap and white fur. The colors are usually very different though. Often Santa is dressed in all white, white-and-brown, or white-and-grey. There are even purple versions! And yes, if you search there are some Santas wearing red, but they are rare. 

Santa wasn’t always the most popular part of Christmas though. For many years Christmas was a quiet religious holiday. Over the years the nature of the holiday changed, and slowly it became more festive with presents, drinking, singing, and parties. The character of Santa really started to become popular 200 years ago (through stories, books, and songs), and the colors of green and white became the “orthodox” version. Green and white matched many of the other winter decorations and traditions (pine trees, snow, etc.). Santa stayed green for almost 100 years. 

About 90 years ago (in the early 1930’s), red Santas started appearing again. The most famous version was made for the Coca-Cola Company by the artist Haddon Sundblom. The colors of Santa were made to match the Coca-Cola brand, and Santa became a bit fatter and kid-friendly. Coca-Cola was (and is) a popular and famous brand and the company started an aggressive sales campaign. The Coca-Cola Santa spread, becoming a huge hit and in a few years, magazines, television, and other media “locked” Santa into his classic red-and-white colors. Now there is no going back.

Q1: What were original colors of Santa Claus?

A. White and brown

B. Purple

C. Red 

D. All of the above

Q2: Who was the main base for the character of Santa Claus?

A. King Frost

B. Nichola of Myra 

C. Sinterklaas 

D. Father Christmas 

Q3: When did the trend of red Santas begin?

A. 100 years ago

B. 90 years ago

C. 200 years ago

D. 1700 years ago

A1. D

A2. B

A3. B