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 life, we need to interact with other people. Not long ago, most communication took place by speaking face-to-face, but these days we communicate a lot using technology which is incredibly fast and globally connected. Since technology and cheap travel have allowed us to make contact with people all over the world very easily, it is increasingly important to be aware of the effect that culture has on communication. 

Many people understand it is valuable to understand the culture of others. However, it is first important to examine yourself and your own culture. What are your social attitudes? Why do you think like that? What is polite or impolite for you? Why do you have those ideas? Are these basic ideas that everyone in the world has, or are they different from country to country, group to group? Understanding your own attitudes is the first step to knowing the culture of others, and you should be aware that some deep beliefs that we hold are not universal. 

The iceberg is a very helpful image to use when we consider culture. Like an iceberg, only a part of culture is easy to see and understand. Some things like clothing, food, different styles of greeting may be on the surface and easily seen as different. However, other important aspects of culture such as moral, social, or political beliefs may be much more difficult to notice, even about ourselves. 

To look at a simple example, let’s consider the issue of speaking out or being silent in class. Many Asian students wish to study abroad in Europe and English-speaking countries around the world. However, sometimes cultural misunderstandings happen in class. For many students from an East Asian culture, it is considered polite to listen carefully and quietly to what the teacher is saying. This is an educational attitude that has been taught carefully for generations and is easy to see in educational settings today. However, in other countries, this idea may not be well-understood. Western-educated teachers tend to reward students who speak out during classes. Their educational attitude is that older children and young adults should be able to discuss issues in class and learn through dialogue. Western teachers may have a negative attitude to students who are too quiet, believing them to be uninterested in the lesson, or that they do not have an opinion. 

In this example, it is easy to see that both teacher and the student would benefit from understanding each other’s deep cultural attitudes to education and learning. The teacher should understand that their East Asian students may communicate differently in class, and the student should understand their responsibility to show curiosity and contribute in an active way to get a good score for the class. Without understanding the hidden aspects of each cultural belief, we may create a misunderstanding that has real-world consequences. 

In the end, it is important to recognize that everyone has a background culture that affects how they communicate with others. Like the iceberg, some of these ideas and attitudes may be hidden to some extent. Trying to understand your own attitudes, and those of others, will definitely help you to connect more effectively in the global society and avoid misunderstandings. As we interact ever more freely in the modern world, I would encourage all language students to also consider the role of culture in the way we communicate. 

Q1. Why is it even more important these days that we are aware of cultural differences?

Q2. Why is the iceberg a good symbol of culture?

Q3. Do western teachers tend to reward quiet or outspoken students?

Scroll down for the answers to the quiz.

A1. Technology and cheap, easy travel have allowed us to connect with people all over the world very easily.

A2. Because much of it is hidden

A3. Outspoken

Have you ever tried rooibos tea? I drink it almost every day. It tastes good and seems to benefit me in several ways. I first tried rooibos tea after my dermatologist told me that it could alleviate skin inflammation caused by allergies. I have some allergies that cause skin and eye irritation, and I cannot help wheezing and coughing without antihistamines during the pollen seasons. I cannot clearly prove the effects of rooibos tea, but it seems to me that the scratchy feelings in my throat and skin have eased since I started regularly enjoying this tea.

Rooibos tea is an herbal tea made from the leaves of the plant called Aspalathus linearis. Rooibos means “red bush” in Afrikaans, and it looks crimson as its meaning suggests. Depending on its type, the flavor can be a little different. Red rooibos is probably more well-known, which is fermented and oxidized. It generally tastes a little nutty and sweet, more like black tea. Green rooibos is unfermented and unoxidized. The flavor seems a little weaker, and it tastes more like green tea. I personally prefer the red one for its unique flavor.

In addition to the alleviation of skin inflammation, rooibos tea may be able to benefit you in some other ways. Rooibos tea is rich in vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc. It also contains an enzyme called superoxide dismutase. These nutrients may help you ease some problems. Magnesium is said to help the body relax, which may lead you to better sleep. You may be able to doze off quickly if you take a cup of rooibos tea before bed because it is also caffeine-free. Minerals such as calcium, manganese and fluoride contained in the tea is also said to help build strong bones. The enzyme contained in rooibos tea is believed to work as an antioxidant and antihistamine. It may slow down the aging process of the body and alleviate skin inflammation and irritation.

Recently, rooibos tea is available at ordinary supermarkets because of its increasing popularity from the possible positive effects. Why don’t you try it? Before you try rooibos tea, you should know the nutrients of rooibos tea may interfere with medications, so I suggest you consult your doctor if you are taking medicine.

Q1. What kind of doctor is a “dermatologist” in Paragraph 1? 

Q2. What kind of color is “crimson” in Paragraph 2? 

Q3. What are some possible positive effects of drinking rooibos tea according to the author?

Scroll down for the answers to the quiz.

A1. A doctor who studies and treats skin diseases. 

A2. Red. (Actually, rich deep red color inclining to purple)

A3. It may alleviate skin inflammation and irritation, help induce a good sleep, help build strong bones, and slow down the aging process. 

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

You know LEGO. We all know LEGO. These plastic brick toys have been world famous for over 70 years. There are toys, models, robots, animated movies, visual art, and more. For most people they are a childhood toy; something fun and creative to play with on a rainy day. But LEGO are not just simple blocks. Behind the popular toy is a deep history of cutting-edge technology, manufacturing, research, design, and engineering. 

Materials

The LEGO company originally made toy blocks from wood. Eventually they shifted to plastic in 1947. Different types of plastic were tried, but eventually LEGO chose ABS plastic (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) as its main material. ABS has been LEGO’s only plastic for over 50 years, but recently they are changing this. Since 2018 they started using a bio-based plastic made from sugarcane. The company is planning to completely change to an eco-friendly plastic by 2030 and is already ahead of schedule.

Finding a good material for LEGO is difficult. The LEGO quality standards for materials are some of the highest in the world. LEGO pieces must be precise, strong, and last for a long time. LEGO manufactures over 36,000,000,000 parts in a year (1,140 bricks/second) with a success rate of 99.999982%. Each piece is so strong one brick can support 375,000 bricks. To break the bottom brick, you would have to build a LEGO tower 3,591 meters high. Independent testing and in-house company testing shows that the life of a LEGO piece is between 2,000 to 3,000 uses (maybe more, depending on the piece). 

Design and Engineering

LEGO pieces are not only strong, they are well-designed. For each piece the maximum size variation is 0.004mm (that is less than the width of a human hair). In 1958 LEGO designers and engineers created, and still use, a special “universal system” for piece design. This means EVERY piece from EVERY set since 1958 will fit together with ANY other piece from ANYWHERE in the world.

To create the pieces and sets LEGO designers create and customize special 3D imaging software, modified versions of CAD, and even virtual reality models. Recently LEGO has also been training AI to design pieces, sets, and to package the toys. 

The People

LEGO Designers have backgrounds in engineering, CG modelling, design, fashion, art, architecture, and more. The application process is very difficult, very competitive, and candidates must be highly qualified. LEGO often scouts and recruits people from PhD programs and high-tier universities worldwide to become designers and LEGO creators. 

Q1: How many bricks are needed to break one LEGO brick?

A. 2,000-3,000

B. 375,000

C. 3,591

Q2: What were the first LEGO blocks made from?

A. Sugarcane 

B. Plastic

C. Wood

D. ABS 

Q3: What is special about LEGO’s “universal system”?

A. Every piece is almost perfect in size and shape.

B. Every possible piece fits together.

C. Every piece is made from eco-friendly plastic.

--- Scroll down for answers ---

A1. B

A2. C

A3. B

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

How do you like to start your day? Me, the first thing I like to do is to get up early and turn on the TV. I always watch Shirashiga Terebi on the Biwako Broadcasting Company at 6:50 am. It begins with live camera shots of various parts around Shiga prefecture. You can find out about the latest local events, the traffic, water levels, and the weather—all live and 365 days a year. For example, this morning I found out that today’s a good day for hanging the laundry outside. You can’t see any famous Shiga announcers because it’s actually an AI voice that gives the news. I like the “Moyo-Moyo” song afterwards, too, sung by a little grebe.

How do you like to end your day? Me, after work, the last thing I like to do is to sit back and turn on the TV. I always watch Omi Nyuzu at 6:30 pm on channel 1. I like learning about plants and flowers during the weather report. For example, these days everybody has been sending pictures of Sweet Osmanthus. You can almost smell them from your TV set! I like Motoki Ishii. He seems like a nice guy. Anyone who gets so excited about the weather has to have a warm heart. Actually, sometimes you can see the news announcers at the Otsu Station Starbucks around lunchtime. They are always so busy that I am too shy to say “Hi, I am a big fan of your news program!” By the way, no worries if you happen to come home late after 7:00 pm. They do a shortened 15-minute version every weekday night at 8:45 pm. 

How do you like to get ready for the weekend? Me, Friday night, it’s always the program Omoroshiga. That means Fun Stuff to Do in Shiga. It’s on channel 3 from 7 pm every Friday. It ends at 8:20 pm, but don’t ask me why. On tonight’s program they went to a place called Aisho-cho and visited a hairdresser where you can get your hair done in the traditional Japanese style with lots of pins and topknots. When you’re done, you look like you’ve walked out of a historical drama. They also have a very useful weekly recap of all the news around Shiga at 7:45 called BBC News Weekly. This time they reported that as of late there have been a lot of bugs from the lake flying about and getting into people’s laundry. Mine as well! The announcer is Azusa Minami. I saw her once at Starbucks, too.