Photo credit: The author

The following day brought a new adventure: dog sledding. My team of eager dogs pulled the sled with incredible energy, speeding through the snow-covered landscape as the wind rushed past. It was exhilarating. In the evening, we enjoyed another sauna session and attempted to see the Northern Lights, but they remained elusive.

In the morning, we went ice fishing. After drilling a hole in the thick ice and lowering our fishing lines, I accidentally hit my head on the roof of a small shelter and had to go to the hospital for stitches. Four stitches later, I returned, disappointed to have missed the eagerly anticipated sauna palace excursion.

On the last day, I experienced a reindeer ride. Unlike dog sledding, this ride allowed me to sit back and take in the surroundings as the reindeer pulled the sled at a gentle pace. It was serene and calming. Later, I visited an ice museum inspired by the tv series "Game of Thrones." The intricate and beautifully crafted ice sculptures showcased the artistry that thrives in this frozen land.

After my time in Lapland, I took a ferry back to Estonia to see my friend before returning to Osaka. Reflecting on my trip, I felt a deep sense of contentment. Even without seeing the Northern Lights, the journey was filled with unforgettable experiences that left a lasting impression.

Lapland’s charm lies in its diverse activities. Snowshoeing connected me with nature’s tranquility, while the saunas offered a soothing retreat from the cold. Though the Northern Lights eluded me, the thrill of anticipation added to the adventure.

Lapland taught me to appreciate the raw beauty of nature and the resilience of life in the Arctic. The untouched wilderness, vibrant cultural traditions, and elusive beauty of the Northern Lights deepened my respect for the environment.

In conclusion, visiting Lapland is extraordinary. It offers the thrill of snowshoeing, the relaxation of saunas, and the hope of seeing the Northern Lights. This trip invites travelers to immerse themselves in the Arctic and create lasting memories in the snowy landscapes of Lapland. One day, I will return and search for the Northern Lights again.

Questions:

1. What happened to the author during the ice fishing trip?

A) Caught a big fish

B) Saw the Northern Lights

C) Hit his head and had to get stitches

D) Got lost in the snow

2. How did the reindeer ride differ from dog sledding?

A) It was faster

B) It was more thrilling

C) It was a serene and calming experience

D) It was indoors

3. What inspired the ice museum the author visited?

A) Finnish folklore

B) "Game of Thrones"

C) The Northern Lights

D) Traditional Lapland art

Scroll down for answers

Answers:

1.     C) He hit his head and had to get stitches

2.     C) It was a serene and calming experience

3.     B) The tv show, "Game of Thrones"

Photo credit: The author

Lapland, a mesmerizing winter wonderland in northern Europe, is perfect for those who crave the beauty of nature and unique experiences. Lapland spans four countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. I visited Finland. Visiting Lapland means exploring snowy landscapes, embarking on snowshoeing adventures, indulging in relaxing saunas, and hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

My trip to Lapland started with a flight from Osaka to Estonia, where I stayed for a few days before continuing to Finland. When I arrived in the small village where my adventure would begin, the ground was blanketed in pristine snow. The village was peaceful and picturesque, with cozy wooden houses and smoke rising from their chimneys. I sat on a massive throne made of ice and strolled around the village square while waiting for my tour company.

The tour company picked me up and took me to rent snow boots, a thick coat, and insulated pants. Properly outfitted for the cold, we headed to a cabin. Our first stop was a charming hut where we grilled hot dogs over an open fire and sipped hot-spiced wine. That night, we ventured out to see the Northern Lights, but the sky was obscured by heavy clouds.

The next day, we moved to another cabin deeper in the woods. I strapped on snowshoes and set off on a hike. Snowshoeing in Lapland felt like a true adventure. The untouched snow sparkled in the sunlight, and the crisp air was invigorating. As I walked, the crunch of snow under my feet created a rhythmic sound, and the stunning scenery made me feel like I was exploring a hidden, magical world.

In the evening, I experienced a traditional Finnish sauna, a key part of Lapland’s culture. The intense heat embraced me, soothing my muscles after the hike. After a while, I ran outside and rolled in the snow, the icy chill was a stark contrast to the sauna’s warmth. This ritual left me feeling invigorated. That night, despite our hopes, the Northern Lights remained hidden by clouds.

Questions:

1. Which four countries does Lapland span?

A) Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia

B) Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Russia

C) Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Russia

D) Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia

2. Where did the author stay for a few days before continuing to Finland?

A) Norway

B) Estonia

C) Russia

D) Sweden

3. What activity did the author do on the first night in Lapland?

A) Saw the Northern Lights

B) Went dog sledding

C) Visited a traditional Finnish sauna

D) Grilled hot dogs and sipped hot-spiced wine

Scroll down for answers

Answers:

1.     A) Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia

2.     B) Estonia

3.     D) Grilled hot dogs and sipped hot-spiced wine

Photo Credit: Bruno Mattos @Pexels.com

Food that is common in one country can be changed into something new and original when it is taken away from its traditional roots. However, for us, it is so normal that we can hardly imagine it being any different.

A good example of this is green tea. A matcha drink at a cafe in Kyoto will be carefully prepared by someone who probably appreciates the ways of the tea ceremony. He or she pays special attention to the grade of tea, makes sure that it is not clumped together before whisking, checks that the color is emerald green and that the water temperature is just right.

Another familiar food is mochi filled with red bean paste (anko). It can be found almost anywhere: in supermarkets, fancy “wagashi” shops in department stores, and along Nishiki Market. Some of these shops have been selling Japanese tea snacks for centuries. The most modern of them have added fresh strawberries inside, but nothing more radical than that. Although these things are common in Kyoto, they can take on other forms abroad.

In Central Europe, in Warsaw, Poland, I had the opportunity to try some very different matcha and mochi. Japan is located on the other side of the world from Poland, making its food and customs feel very exotic. It seems that the farther away the country is, the more interesting and appealing Japanese things are. Sushi restaurants are popular in big cities in Poland, but I was surprised to see new ideas for matcha and mochi designed to appeal to a different market. At a trendy cafe called Deseo on the beach of the Baltic Sea, I had iced matcha with fresh raspberries. The barista made it with Uji green tea powder using an electric milk frother. He said nobody is trained to use a tea whisk (chasen). Another drink had half tonic water and half matcha, and both drinks had big ice cubes. This was not what I was used to in Kyoto!

Simply using matcha powder is one thing, but making mochi and filling it requires more skill and expertise. I walked into a little shop with blue neon lights and signs with their mascot, a harp seal that looked like the “Shirotan” plush toy. The little mochi pouches were enclosed in plastic capsules that looked like they were packaged for the “gacha gacha” machines selling toys in Japan. The flavors to choose from did not include any with red bean paste. The choices were mango, creamy Snickers, Oreo, cherry brownie, pistachio, lavender, strawberry, and coconut almond. I chose lavender. It was delicate and delicious, made with slightly sweetened lavender jelly with mascarpone cream. The texture was like tiramisu tucked in a pillow of mochi. I was really surprised how good it was.

However, there was one thing I wanted to know. I asked the shop clerk if there were any “real” Japanese flavors. Alas, the clerk did not know anything whatsoever of the mochi native to Japan, its fillings and that it was certainly not sold in plastic capsules. In effect, their products delight a new crowd of young people looking for something new to try from the exotic country of Japan but not caring about the originals.

Questions:

Q1. How was the mochi shop decorated?

Q2. How was mochi packaged in the Polish shop?

Q3. What was the texture of the mochi filling in the Polish shop?

Scroll down↓for answers

A1. Blue neon lights and harp seal characters

A2. In plastic capsules

A3. Soft and creamy like tiramisu

Photo Credit: Rodolfo Clix @Pexels.com

I grew up in the southeastern part of the United States. While there is a lot that comes as a result of being from that part of the country, lately it has involved natural disasters. The state where I’m from was horribly affected by Hurricane Helene (hurricanes are Atlantic Ocean-equivalents to typhoons in the Pacific Ocean). It should always be sad to see the effects of disasters around the world, but it’s different when the location is your hometown.

For me, I’ve been away from my hometown almost all of my adult life, and only really have an address there for citizenship purposes. With family and friends moving on in their lives, I had felt the connection weaken recently, but the effects of the hurricane have challenged that some for me. Even if there is less of what connects you to a place, there are still memories of what was.

It is hard to see so much of what used to be in my hometown either be totally flooded, uprooted from its foundations, or simply washed or blown away. Images and videos I saw almost seemed like they were from another place, but then I’d see a familiar storefront, a very particular street name in a headline, or adjacent towns or counties being mentioned. Then, the feeling just sinks in that it both is and isn’t the place I used to know.

Over time, places that we know will change their meanings for us. Sometimes a positive will become a negative, a negative will turn positive, or they’ll stay the same but we’ll find something new to maintain that feeling. Buildings and people will come and go, and, in the case of me with Hurricane Helene, entire towns practically disappear. It is a part of life you cannot always predict.

Change will happen, and the reasons for it do not have to be bad, though they sometimes are. The main thing to remember is changes to where you were do not suddenly change who you are. The people and places you have and had known will always hold their place in your memory, but what you do with them now determines their weight.

Do not let circumstances decide what you know to be true in yourself. You know what has made you the person you are today.

Questions:

Q1. What recent event has happened in the author’s hometown?

Q2. How long has the author been away from their hometown?

Q3. For the author, what should NOT have final say in what influences our lives?

Scroll down↓for answers

A1. Hurricane Helene

A2. Almost all of his adult life

A3. Circumstances

Photo credit: Nancy Guth @ pexels.com

I used to think, until a few years ago, that the idea of dogs understanding people's feelings and words was just a subjective notion held by dog lovers. However, once I got a dog as a pet, it didn't take me long to realize that dogs are incredibly intelligent and emotionally rich creatures. In fact, I have become convinced that dogs can, indeed, understand human feelings and language.

For example, my dog can distinguish simple words such as his name, 'food,' and 'walk.' My dog's name is Blue. He does not turn around when I say Taro. He doesn't like taking a walk very much, so when I say, 'Let's go for a walk,' he runs away in a heartbeat. Or even if I don't say, "Let's go for a walk," he runs away as soon as he sees me with a walking pouch hanging from my neck. This shows that he not only recognizes his name but also recognizes the context and meaning of the word 'walk.'

What is even more surprising is that my dog remembers our family members' names. One day, my daughter hid somewhere and I said to Blue, 'Huh? Where's Hana (my daughter's name)?', he stopped playing and started scurrying around, going from room to room, earnestly looking for Hana. Isn't it a real surprise?

Furthermore, I often see videos on social media of dogs seemingly conversing with their owners. These dogs communicate using verbal information by pressing buttons that play pre-recorded sounds such as their owner's name, 'walk,' 'cuddle,' 'water,' 'later,' 'now,' or other phrases. It's fascinating to see how some dogs can string together multiple words to form simple sentences.

Scientific studies also support the idea that dogs can understand human emotions and language. Research has shown that dogs can recognize human facial expressions and vocal tones, reacting differently to happy, sad, or angry cues. This ability to empathize and respond appropriately suggests a deep emotional bond between humans and dogs.

In conclusion, the belief that dogs can understand human feelings and language is not just a romantic notion held by dog lovers. It is supported by both my personal experiences and scientific research. Dogs' ability to comprehend and respond to human emotions and words highlights their remarkable intelligence and the profound bond they share with us. Whether it's recognizing their name, responding to commands, or empathizing with our feelings, dogs consistently demonstrate their amazing capabilities.

Questions:

Q1. How did the author's perspective on dogs' understanding of human emotions and language change over time? Why?

Q2. What are two examples that show the author's dog can understand language?

Q3. What have some scientific studies found regarding dogs’ understanding? How do these studies contribute to the overall argument presented in the essay?

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

Answers:

A1. The author’s thinking changed when she got a dog as a pet. After she got the dog, she felt that it could understand some words and concepts.

A2. When the dog hears the word “walk” it tries to escape since it doesn’t like going for walks. Also, the dog could seemingly understand that “Where’s Hana?” meant she should look for Hana.

A3. Studies show that dogs can understand some language and emotions. These findings support the author’s observations.

Photo credit: The author 

As an architect and a designer, Antoni Gaudí has spoken to countless people through his many creations, most of which can be seen in Barcelona. Do you know that one of the people to whom Gaudí’s work has spoken quite loudly and eloquently used to attend a university in Kyoto? It’s true. He is the Japanese stone cutter, Etsuro Sotoo. 

Sotoo, a graduate of the Kyoto City University of Arts, traveled to Europe in 1978, one year after he graduated. As you can see, he was not much older than most of the students at Ritsumeikan University when he did that. That’s amazing, isn’t it? 

After arriving in Barcelona, he was so moved by Gaudi’s masterpiece, La Sagrada Família, that Sotoo chose to stay and learn about him, his genius, and his work. He said “I just came to Europe to carve stone. I was looking for stone and stone introduced me to La Sagrada Família and La Sagrada Família introduced me to Gaudí” (National Geographic, 2013). 

Sotoo strove to understand Gaudí and honor him through his own stone cutting work. In so doing, he has, for more than 40 years, made significant contributions to the construction of La Sagrada Família. This includes the work Sotoo did on the east façade of the basilica. It is there, in the Nativity scene, that we can see fifteen statues of angels that Sotoo created. He even created a few of them with Asian faces. After all, according to Sotoo, angels from the east are needed, too (Public Relations Office, Government of Japan, 2012). (A photo of Sotoo’s angels can be seen above.) 

Sotoo’s passion for Gaudí’s work caused him to reconsider his values and to become Catholic. As you can see, art can be a very powerful language. Does it speak to you? If so, which medium (language) do you prefer to listen to, or with which one do you prefer to create? 

References  

National Geographic (2013, Dec. 14). Unorthodox sculpting. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MW5Us3E--0  

Public Relations Office, Government of Japan (2012, Dec.) Realizing Gaudi’s Unfulfilled Wishes: Etsuro Sotoo (Spain).

https://www.govonline.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/html/201212/201212_05.html

Questions:

Q1. When did Sotoo travel to Europe?

a. Straight after he graduated.

b. A little while after graduation.

c. A year before he graduated.

Q2. Where can you see many of Gaudi’s works?

a. Barcelona

b. Ritsumeikan University

c. In the Public relations Office of the Government of Japan

Q3. How did Sotoo show his passion for Gaudi’s work?

a. He introduced Gaudi to Japanese visitors.

b. He helped to build Gaudi’s greatest work.

c. He looked for stone to use for La Sagrada Família.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers 

Answers

A1: b

A2: a

A3: b

Photo Credit 1: Yan Krukau @ Pexels.com 

Recently, I had a very interesting and meaningful discussion with my class. I mean meaningful in the sense that we had a chance to reflect about our own stages of life. 

A student presented about what it means to be an adult. As a concluding remark, he asked his classmates "Are you an adult?" I, the eldest in the room wondered, “Am I indeed an adult”? Perhaps, many of you also asked yourselves the same question at a certain moment. The meaning of this question is different for all of us. I thought of the “inner child” that resides in us no matter what age we are. In a morning newspaper, I read about the oldest woman in Germany -- 113 years old. I am sure that no one would doubt that she is beyond adult. Yet, in the article, she told the story of her dreams at night when she sees her “mama” and their shopping trip for a Sunday dress. When she awakes from the dream, she finds herself talking to her mother as if she were still 13 years old and then she slowly awakes and realizes that it was a dream. She chuckled during the interview saying that although she is 113 years old, she is still calling out to her “mama”.  

What are the “rites of passage” as explained by Victor Turner, when we transition into the various stages of life? Are the process of finishing 4 years of university and then looking for a job, finding a partner and then marrying, and thinking of children, the proper markers and rites in the “stages of life”? 

On July 21, 2023, Ritsumeikan University senpais (seniors) and kōhais (juniors) got together and exchanged ideas under the title "Sharing Ideas, Making Connections": Leaders' Dialogue on Future Initiatives (SKNC Event Summer 2023). It was a very fruitful event sending off graduating seniors to their new stages of life as either graduate students, bankers, human resource management specialists, or workers for international human rights organizations. The senpais who successfully finished their four years were giving back to kōhais who yearned to gain from their experiences. As I sat on the side and watched the very talented Ritsumeikan University students and their transitioning into adulthood, I witnessed the true essence of being an "adult", and that is paving the path for the next generation. I am always grateful for the opportunity to watch and also learn from my students. 

Questions:

1) What is the main idea of the essay?  

2) Who presented about being an adult?  

3) What was the main aim of the event that was described?  

Scroll down ↓ for the answers 

Answers

A1. Defining adulthood 

A2. A student 

A3. Senpais and kōhais exchanging ideas 

Photo Credit: Engin Akyurt @Pexels.com 

The ancient Greeks told stories about their gods and heroes. These stories, or myths, helped to form western culture. There are many English words that come from Greek mythology. Two such words come from the story of Narcissus and Echo. Below is a retelling of the myth based on the writing of Ovid, a Roman poet. 

Once there was a youth named Narcissus, who was 16 years old but appeared to be a man. He was so handsome that others fell in love with him. However, Narcissus cared only about himself and spurned the many youths who sought his attention and love. 

Hera, the queen of the gods, was looking for her unfaithful husband, Zeus. She saw the nymph Echo playing in the woods. Hera was envious of Echo’s gaiety, or cheerfulness, and so she cursed her by making it impossible for her to speak except for repeating what others said. 

Echo would often see Narcissus walking through the woods alone or with friends and, like all the other maidens, she fell in love with him. 

One day, when Narcissus was in the forest alone, he heard Echo step on a branch. “Who is there?” he called out. Echo could only respond by repeating his words, “Who is there?” 

Narcissus responded, “Come to me.” 

And Echo replied, “Come.” 

“Why?” replied Narcissus. “Why are you avoiding me?” 

“Avoiding me,” replied Echo. 

“Come and introduce yourself,” said Narcissus, “I wish to meet you.” 

“Meet you,” replied Echo. 

She came out from behind a tree and up to Narcissus. She put her arms around his neck and looked him in the eyes. But Narcissus pushed her away and ran. 

Echo disappeared into the forest and found a cave where she hid herself--her heart still loved Narcissus. Eventually, Narcissus’ arrogance angered the gods. One day, he grew thirsty and found a small pond. One of the gods made the pond silvery bright so that, when Narcissus bent over to take a drink, he saw his own reflection, which was so beautiful that it matched that of the god Apollo. Narcissus fell in love with the image of his own face. He stared into the pond and forgot all else, including food. He remained for days until his body grew weak. Narcissus knew he was close to death and called out, “Farewell.” 

Echo heard him and responded, “Farewell.” She went back to her cave and lived there all alone. Her body wasted away and shriveled up until it was gone. The only thing that remained was her voice, which still repeats back what is said. 

From this story, we get the English words narcissist and echo. What do you think they mean?

Glossary 

myth: a traditional story often involving supernatural beings, such as gods, faeries, and nymphs.

spurn: to reject because you think the other person is unworthy

nymph: a nature spirit

arrogance: thinking that you are better and more important than others; overbearing pride

reflection: the image of something in a mirror or clear body of water 

Questions: 

Q1. After reading the story, what do you think the word narcissist means?  

a. a handsome young man

b. someone who thinks about or admires only him or herself

c. someone who enjoys walking in the forest  

Q2. What is an echo?  

a. someone who lives in a cave 

b. a young woman who is in love 

c. the sound that repeats back to you when you call out 

Q3. Why did Narcissus die?  

a. He didn’t eat because he couldn’t stop looking at his own reflection 

b. Because Echo no longer loved him 

c. He had nothing to drink 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers 

Answers

A1. b

A2. c

A3. a

Photo Credit: Ketut Subiyanto @pexels.com

My twin boys really love to mop. My wife and I got them the same toy mops and they will often mop the floor of our home with them. This is not a pretend mopping—we will stick wet wipes to the mops, and they will very deliberately start mopping everything: while mostly the floor, sometimes the “floor” becomes the top of select items of furniture, stuffed animals, or dinner plates. We usually stop them before it goes too far, but they genuinely want to try and clean.

The main reason for them doing that is because they have seen me do it. Even though I do not feel deserving of such modeling, they notice it and try to do the same. Perhaps the thing they want to do more than mop like me is to mop with me. It is when I enter the mop arena that their kindly mopping activity turns into a competition.

To clarify, it is not just that they want to map with me—they want my mop. They could care less if I use their mop—they want my mop at the same time. That is when there is fussing, fighting, and gnashing of teeth. That is when we are done mopping.

For that reason, I had previously taken apart my mop and kept it out of reach . . . until this morning. One of my sons was very, very persistent in wanting my mop, so I decided to give him a piece of it. Then the other son saw what was happening and then he wanted a piece of the mop. I then realized I could either let this spin out of control, or see if they could work together.

I gave each son a three-minute time limit with my reassembled mini-mop. After that time, the receiver needed to give it to his brother. One of my sons regularly did that, but the other simply refused and the mop needed to be given to his brother by force. He didn’t really want to mop the floor like his brother—he just wanted what his brother had, even if he didn’t know what he’d do once he got it. Eventually he let it go and moved on, as is normal.

In many ways, that seems to be how people act once they enter adulthood. They never quite leave that place of knowing what they want. They are not young children who will eventually find what interests them (as I am keen on doing with both of my kids). It can be easy to chase after someone else’s mop when you don’t intend to clean the floor, but it seems much more difficult to give up chasing after others if that’s all you’re used to doing. Eventually, you need to set down the mop, and pick up something you want to do.

Questions:

Q1. Why do the kids like to mop?

Q2. According to the author, one son wants to mop the floor. Why does the other one want to use the mop?

Q3. What is the article about?

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

A1. Because they have seen their father do it.

.

A2. Because he wants what his brother has.

A3. Choosing what interests you; not just copying what others do.