What would you say is the most popular word in the world? Many people say things like “love”, “happy”, “yes”, or “no”. Some people might think the most popular word might be a company name, like “Google”, “Apple, or “Coke”. Popular trends change every year, but the true champion for the most popular word is “OK”.

Spanish, Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, Korean, French, Punjabi, Hindi, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Malay, and more. It is almost impossible to find a country or language that doesn’t use “OK”. The spelling and pronunciation can sometime change (O.K., OK, o.k., ok, okay, окей, Ô kê, ô-kei, okej, oukei), but the meaning never really changes.

The first printed “OK” comes from 1839, in the March 23rd edition of the Boston Morning Post newspaper. After that, “OK” appears in other newspapers and printed material more frequently. There are some hand-written examples of “OK” pre-1839 (e.g. two diaries from 1815 and 1816), but many researchers debate if these are real examples of “OK”.

So, where did “OK” come from? There are many different theories and ideas, but one seems stronger than others. The most popular is the “Boston abbreviation & Old Kinderhook” theory. Around the summer of 1838 in Boston, USA a trend began of people using incorrect spelling and abbreviations (words shortened to letters, e.g. “空気読めない” = “K.Y.”) for comedy. This maybe doesn’t sound very funny, but this kind of comedy is used in Japan today, especially by Daigo Naitō (内藤大湖). These spelling mistakes and abbreviations became popular across the US and were printed everywhere. This boom in bad-spelling comedy changed “all correct” to “oll korrect", which was shortened to “O.K.”.

This funny, short spelling was recycled by Martin Van Buren in 1840. Van Buren’s nickname was “Old Kinderhook” (he was 58, and his hometown was Kinderhook, New York) and he had a campaign to become the next US president. His “Vote for OK” campaign was very popular, but Van Buren lost. However, the campaign pushed the word “OK” into newspapers and printed material across the USA and had also started the trend of the popular “OK” hand gesture.

Is this the true beginning of OK? Possibly, but researchers still debate other origins. Here are a few:

- “okeh”, from the Native American Choctaw language, meaning “it is so” (1825)

- “kay”/”waw-kay”/”o-ke” from the African Wolof/Bantu and Mande languages, meaning “yes indeed” (1784)

- “och aye”, from Scottish/Ulster Scots, meaning “oh yes”

- “óla kalá”, from Greek, meaning “all good”

Maybe “OK” comes from Africa, or Greece, or from people trying to be funny. Maybe each theory is a little bit correct and they mixed to become the “OK” we use across the world today. Maybe we will never really know. It’s ok though, no matter what country you travel to, or what language you try to speak, it’s always ok to use “OK”.

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Blog Quiz

1. What do the Vietnamese, Punjabi, Tagalog, and French languages have in common?

A.   They don’t use the word OK.

B.    They pronounce OK the same way.

C.    The meaning of OK is the same.

2. What did OK represent in Martin Van Buren’s “Vote for OK” campaign.?

A.  It was a hand gesture.

B.   It was an abbreviation of his nickname.

C.   It was the name of his hometown.

3. Where does the word OK come from?

A.  Boston.

B.  We aren’t sure.

C.  Africa or Greece.

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Quiz Answers

1. C

2. B

3. B

My hometown in America is known mainly for its tourism. With the mountains and forests surrounding it as well as 19th century architecture dotting the town, a person can spend a lot of time doing little. If someone wanted to take some time to be alone, they could simply go hiking or read next to a waterfall.

For this reason, living on the edge of nature has been something I had gotten used to when I was kid. In our home we had a birdhouse next to the deck, and we would regularly see a battle between gray squirrels and birds over who got to eat the bird feed. We eventually had to remove the birdhouse because the animals were making a mess, but it was always refreshing to see nature so close.

Now that I live in Nara, I’ve been given something a little similar by being close to nature again. The squirrels I knew as a kid have gotten bigger and look more like deer, but the presence of nature has returned. This is not something I was able to pay very much attention to over the past couple of years. In many ways, I was similar to the tourists and other visitors that had regularly walked around Nara Park. I would pass by and observe nature through the window of a bus, but couldn’t see very much in the early morning or later in the evening. It felt more like I was still a guest in my own community.

Recently, though, my relationship (and perhaps the relationship of many who live in Nara) is somewhat different with nature. There are now fewer people out, and that creates a little more privacy. On prepared trips out, it’s now a little easier to be uninterrupted and pay better attention to nature. The many deer in Nara have grown more adventurous and occupy more of the park. They are still comfortable around people, but the deer don’t expect to be given crackers unless they hear something that sounds like it. Not everywhere in the world will have these same sights as Nara, but, in these slower times, it seems healthy to make a little time to be peaceful.

Eventually my schedule will go back to something closer to normal, and perhaps my relationship with the nature in Nara will be a little less. Still, the transition to a more even-paced life has helped me to look around more carefully and see the things I may have otherwise overlooked. While I would have definitely preferred different reasons to bring about this change of season, it has kept me from focusing only on what is in front of me, and instead to look around more often.

Photo Credit: Manuela Adler@pexels.com

Blog Quiz

True or False?

1. The author didn’t have much experience with nature as a child.

2. The author often visits Nara as a tourist.

3. Recent events have changed the author’s viewpoint of Nara.

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Quiz Answers

1. False

2. False (He lives there)

3. True

One of the most valuable experiences in my life was going back to school to complete a master’s degree when I was 30 years old. I must admit it was neither easy nor without sacrifice for me and my family. However, this experience was extremely valuable as it taught me three important things.

“A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step”

First, I learned the difficulty and importance of taking those first steps. For me, the hardest step was leaving my full-time teaching position to become a full-time student at Okayama University. I strongly felt that to become a better teacher, I had to focus on my own education first. This decision was not easy for my family financially, but all four of us managed to survive on our savings and my wife’s salary during those years. This motivated me to become the best student I could because failure was not an option.

“In Rome do as the Romans do”

Second, I gained a better understanding of students by becoming one myself. As a teacher, I had forgotten how hard it was to be a student. Most, if not all, of my teachers scheduled important tests and reports during the last two weeks of each semester. This led to busy and stressful times where I couldn’t produce my best work as a student. It was a very valuable experience that taught me to have some empathy. Today, as a teacher, I am careful to spread out homework and tests across the whole semester for my students.

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today”

Third, I learned that education is a good investment, especially if you take full advantage of it. I valued my opportunity at Okayama University and took as many extra classes as I could. In addition to my master’s degree, I was able to get teaching licenses for both junior and high school English. Completing four years of university credits within a two-year time frame wasn’t easy but the knowledge and experience I gained were very well worth the extra effort.

Finally, education is a lifelong process and my own is far from being over. There is still figuratively one last mountain for me to climb - the Ph.D (or doctoral degree). From April 2020, I have started my Ph.D. at Kyoto University. Although this will not be an easy climb, I feel relieved in knowing how to take those first steps, learn from fellow students, and value everything it will bring.

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Blog Quiz

1. How did the author survive after he became a full-time student at Okayama University?

A.   By starting a full-time teaching position.

B.    On savings and his wife’s salary.

C.    By becoming a better teacher.

2. What does “Education is the passport to the future” mean?

A.    A passport allows you to travel in the future.

B.    Investing money helps you in the future.

C.    Education can provide better future opportunities for people.

3. What is the author’s current goal?

A.     Getting a master’s degree.

B.     Getting a doctoral degree.

C.     Finding a full-time teaching position.

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Quiz Answers

1. B

2. C

3. B

When I was growing up I didn’t spend much time in the kitchen except if I wanted to see what my mother was cooking. Food for me was whatever was put in front of me, and I didn’t really have to worry about how it got there. This loosely continued on into college and early adulthood, as well. My college had a cafeteria, and I had a meal plan to get three meals a day there. After graduating, my jobs overseas provided a similar dining setup. For too many years, I was ignorant about cooking.

That changed after I returned to the United States and got a full-time job. I had to move for the job, and, while a cafeteria setup was available, I chose not to go with it. That choice marked my process of being more comfortable with cooking. After my time living in developing countries where people got by with less, my standards were low and I just appreciated having food available (as I still do). I depended heavily on recipes and followed them as closely as possible. At that time, I didn’t trust my cooking ability enough to experiment. Gradually, I became more confident, my dishes tasted less like plastic, and I was willing to try more difficult recipes.

Much of this was made easier because I was given cooking appliances from family members that no longer needed them, but this would change when I decided to move to Japan. Bringing those familiar appliances were not an option since they’d likely get broken when shipped, or the cost of shipping would be much too high. Space was also a problem since my home in Japan had less space than where I lived in America. There were many unknowns that made my experience cooking in Japan feel like my progress was for nothing.

After I moved, I took time to adjust to the flow of life and learned what I could expect on a normal day. Cooking needed time, too, because some ingredients weren’t available and I needed to adapt to kitchen limitations. Eventually I would adjust, my recipes would taste a little more familiar, and I added a few more useful appliances after getting married (especially a generous marriage gift of a Kitchen Aid Mixer from friends in America).

What I cook now is closer to what I’ve done in the past, but with some differences. The taste and texture may be a little different because ingredients aren’t exactly the same. The time it takes to prepare varies because of available space. The oven I use is not as strong as the one in America, so the heat and cooking time need to be played around with. I am still learning to cook, but I am no longer starting over.

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Blog Quiz

1. When did the author start cooking regularly?

A.   When he first moved overseas.

B.    When he first got a full-time job in the U.S.

C.    In college.

2. Why did the author have difficulties cooking in Japan at first?

A.  Because his cooking appliances broke.

B.  Because the cost of food was too high.

C.  Because there were many unknowns.

3. Why do the author’s recipes taste different in Japan?

A.    Because ingredients are different.

B.    Because he forgot the recipe.

C.    Because he got a cooking appliance gift from friends.

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Quiz Answers

1. B

2. C

3. A

Have you ever done yoga before? It is said that more than 300 million people in the world do yoga these days. I started doing yoga 12 years ago and my first impression of yoga was “NOT EASY” mostly because I imagined that yoga was all about taking a yoga pose beautifully. However, my image of yoga was completely changed after I realized that yoga is more about breathing than striking a pose. More importantly, I feel that the longer I continue doing yoga, the healthier I become both physically and mentally.

So, what is yoga then? The Yoga Therapist Association [https://www.yogatherapist-association.com/column/1934/] explains that the main purpose of doing yoga is to arrange both your physical and mental condition by stretching your body and keeping specific postures. The word YOGA means a connection of your body and mind in Sanskrit. The origin of yoga goes back to about 5,000 years ago in India. Yoga was originally done as religious training but today the religious meaning has weakened, and yoga has become more for the promotion of health especially after it was introduced in Europe and North America. Did you know that ZAZEN in Buddhism originally takes a part of yoga style? As far as the connection between yoga and Buddhism is concerned, it is said that ZAZEN spread when Buddhism was introduced from India to China and Japan.

Anyway, what is good about doing yoga? The Yoga Therapist Association [https://www.yogatherapist-association.com/column/1934/] emphasizes three benefits which can be brought about through yoga;

1. Change of your Breathing

The strongest point of doing yoga can be about changing how you breathe. We naturally breathe in our everyday lives and this breathing usually tends to become shallow. However, you will be required to control your breathing deliberately along with your body movement while you do yoga. It is said that our brain especially needs a lot of oxygen and this intentional control of your breathing will make it possible to bring oxygen into your brain so that your mind will be clearer.

2. Recovery from Pain

Many people say that they started doing yoga due to their bad physical condition such as weakened muscular strength or inflexibility. Yoga originally includes poses which increase your flexibility. In other words, doing yoga is fixing your body’s distortion and straightening your posture. As a result, people can recover from the chronic body pain such as stiff shoulders and lower-back muscle pain.

3. Free from Stress

One of the reasons why yoga is accepted by so many people in the world is probably because people live in modern stressful society. Since yoga not only stretches your body but also includes self-meditation, it can help you reduce or get rid of psychological stress. Doing yoga will be able to give you the power of concentration as well as the ability to control your emotions.

Now, yoga is known globally. The United Nations [https://www.un.org/en/events/yogaday/index.shtml] established June 21 as International Day of Yoga in 2014 for introducing the advantage of doing yoga internationally. Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi said in his speech at the 69th session of the General Assembly, “ Yoga is not just about exercise; it is about a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nation.”

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Blog Quiz

1. Which best describes yoga?

A.   It is physical exercise.

B.    It is mental exercise.

C.    It is both mental and physical exercise.

2. How should a person breath when doing yoga?

A.   Fast breathing

B.    Deep breathing

C.    Shallow breathing

3. What are the psychological benefits of doing yoga?

A.   It can lessen stress.

B.    It can improve ability to focus.

C.    It can aid self-control.

D.  All of the above.

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Quiz Answers

1. C

2. B

3. D

Mt Omine is one of the most sacred places in Japan. It is located in the Yoshino-Kumano National Park which covers Mie, Nara and Wakayama Prefectures. The mountain is on the Yoshino-Kumano pilgrimage route. The highest peak is Mount Sanjou (1719m) which is the location of the Ominesan-ji temple, the headquarters of the Shugendo sect of Japanese buddhism. It is also the training ground of the mysterious Yamabushi monks.

The mountain has been a training ground for the Yamabushi for over 1300 years. These ascetic hermits reach spiritual enlightenment through acts of physical endurance, such as fasting, seclusion, meditating under cold waterfalls, and repeatedly walking the mountain paths. In the past the Yamabushi were considered to have supernatural powers, and could be found fighting alongside samurai in battle. The Yamabushi continue to train here today.

For hikers the mountain offers some stunning views and can easily be climbed in a day. There are four possible routes. However, for day hikers, starting at Omine Ohashi is the best option. Allow 6-7 hours for a moderate to easy hike on well maintained paths. This route will take you past the 3 tests of courage, one of which you are able to try.

Hiking Ominesan with its breathtaking views, pristine forest and intriguing history offers an almost mystical experience. However, the mountain is not without controversy. In 2004 the Ominesan was designated as a world heritage site by UNESCO. This was in spite of a ban on female walkers hiking on the mountain. This ban, which is said to be for historical and religious reasons, continues today.

Photo Credit: the author

Blog Quiz

1. Where is Ominesan?

2. How do the monks train?

3. Why is it a controversial place?

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Quiz Answers

1. in Yoshino-Kumano National Park

2. fasting, seclusion, meditating under cold waterfalls, and walking

3. female walkers are not allowed on the mountain

Who does not like a good movie?

“How do you watch movies?” That would have been a silly question 40 years ago. Of course, you go to the movie theater, buy popcorn, and sit down with other moviegoers to enjoy a film as a crowd. With the advent of the Laserdisc and the VHS (and Beta) videotape, people could enjoy a movie of their choice in the comfort of their home. From there, starting in the 1990s, more digital media appeared and the DVD dominated the market for years.

Then came Netflix. Netflix started as being an online rental provider, where customers went to Netflix’s online site and ordered DVDs that were mailed to the customers. As customers received DVDs in the mail, they returned the movies they finished watching and Netflix would send the next disc on their queue. From about five years ago, the business model has changed to the online streaming of movies. Now customers can watch movies anywhere, on a number of devices.

Many people prefer the convenience of watching any movie on demand. I prefer going to a rental shop and bringing home a physical disc and watching it instead of some streaming service. I feel the benefits of the ‘brick and mortar store’ (meaning physically there as opposed to all online) outweigh the inconveniences of the trip there and possible late fees if you do not return the disc in time.

I enjoy browsing the many videos of the store. There are many movies that I do not know about and I would never meet if those gems did not catch my eye while I was strolling down the aisles. I can talk to the staff and hear what they recommend or what is the latest movie news. Most importantly for me is the picture quality is better than what is sent over the internet. For people who consider themselves cinephiles (devoted movie watchers or knowledgeable about the cinema), they may enjoy the bonus content that is on the disc or the better sound played from the disc media.

Unfortunately, most consumers do not share my love for the rental experience.

According to the Digital Entertainment group, starting from three years ago, 2017 saw a significant drop in all forms of consumer spending on physical media. Income from subscription streaming services like Netflix or Hulu has almost doubled DVD/Blu-ray sales.

However, if you are thinking about improving your English, using a streaming service will help you to improve your listening skills at an attainable price. I do not want to change sides in my argument, but this is a blog, not an academic paper.

The more you practice something, the better you will be at it. The more you practice listening to English with the programs you enjoy, the more you will be able to recognize the nuances of English speakers. You will hear how speakers use ‘connected speech’ or speak quickly and smash words together. (for example, ‘wanna’ instead of saying ‘want to’) The more you meet speakers (characters in the show/movie) speaking that way, along with different accents and speaking with different emotions and situations, you will become a better listener. Not only that, as you become a better listener, please try to watch the show again with English subtitles. That could help reinforce your listening comprehension and may increase your reading speed.

I hope you will be able to enjoy English with your next movie or TV show streamed to your home or after you go to your local video rental shop. After that, come to the BBP and share with the staff your movie experience and which movies you recommend.

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Blog Quiz

1. What was NETFLIX's first way of business?

A.   Selling movies from stores

B.    Sending movies in the mail

C.    Online streaming of movies

2. What is one benefit of going to a store to rent a movie?

A.  There are late fees.

B.   We can see movies that we did not know about before.

C.    You need a DVD player to watch movies.

3. What are some benefits of watching English movies/shows?

A.  You can practice listening to different types of speakers/accents.

B.    You can practice speed reading using English sub-titles.

C.    You can practice speaking with the BBP staff about the movie/show.

D.  All of the above.

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Quiz Answers

1. B

2. B

3. D