RICKY DLS 英会話 blog

October 31, 2007

Happy Halloween!

Filed under: Halloween — ricky @ 4:07 pm

jack-o-lantern.jpgToday the trick-or-treaters are out, going from door to door asking for treats. Halloween parties are rare in Japan but I’ve seen a significant increase in Halloween items for sale compared to previous years. We, the DLS team and our students, had a fantastic Halloween Party last weekend, at a magnificent place: The Aztec party room at King Xmhu. Previously a restaurant, it is now used for private events. I absolutely love that room with its golden gates, skulls and snakes and the costume of an Aztec warrior on display in a crystal showcase. The venue was perfect for our glamorous party. Here are the pics, check them out.

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October 30, 2007

A new Evita?

Filed under: News & Events — ricky @ 7:14 pm

argentina1.jpgArgentina’s First Lady Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was elected President last Sunday, scoring 22 per cent higher than her closest rival, also a woman. She will take over from her husband, Nestor Kirchner, in December and faces the challenge of pulling her country out of a severe crisis. Engergy shortage, unemployment, a soaring crime rate and poverty are among the main issues she needs to tackle. She also has to prove that she’s sincere and not just another Eva Peron. After Chile’s Michelle Bachelet, Cristina Fernandez is the second woman in South America to take her country’s highest office, in as many years. While Chile is known for progressiveness, when it comes to Argentina I think mostly of food - the world’s best beef, chimichurri and jugo de carne (beef soup) - and “Evita” of course. There are several movies and musicals telling her story and actually the one with Madonna and Antonio Banderas is pretty good, the soundtrack’s fantastic. So, next time you go to the video store, why not get the movie-musical on DVD. Entertainment plus a brief lesson in history.

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October 23, 2007

Dia de Muertos

Filed under: En Español, Halloween — ricky @ 3:51 pm

diamuertos3.jpgdiamuertos2.jpgdiamuertos1.jpgUno de los aspectos mas curiosos de la cultura mexicana es que la gente se rie de la muerte! La celebracion del Dia de Muertos incluye el 1 y 2 de noviembre y es unica en el mundo. Durante el mes de octubre se venden calaveras, esqueletos y otras cosas morbidas hechas de chocolate y azucar y decoradas en colores vividos. Es todo un espectaculo. En las casas y oficinas se colocan altares con ofrendas de alimento, velas, fotos, papel picado y flores de zempasuchil dedicados a familiares y amigos muertos. La creencia es que sus espiritus regresan a la tierra en esas fechas y entonces se les hace un banquete para que coman y tomen. Los niños juegan con esqueletos de plastico y comen calaveras de azucar. Dependiendo de la region las tradiciones varian en su elaboracion. En algunas partes de Mexico cada familia hace un picnic sobre la tumba de los parientes difuntos, comen, cantan y tocan musica hasta el amanecer! Haz clic.

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October 22, 2007

Lady cab

Filed under: Dazzling Dubai — ricky @ 5:44 pm

ladycab.JPGThe latest trend in the world’s #1 booming city, Dubai, are cabs exclusively meant to transport women. The pink and beige taxis are driven by lady drivers dressed in candy pink uniforms, and the purpose of this increasingly popular service is to make Muslim women feel more comfortable. The number of female cab drivers has jumped to 22 this year, a considerable increase from the merely five lady chauffeurs last year. According to the DTC taxi company it owes its success to the fact that many women feel uncomfortable when hiring a cab with a male driver. Could it be that their husbands are uneasy knowing that their jealously guarded wives have contact with a man? That makes more sense to me. I rode many cabs while I was in Dubai and never felt the slightest discomfort. On contrary, I perceived Dubai cab drivers as polite and respectful and I thought it was very safe to take taxis. In the US I’d say it’s safe but sometimes a cab driver will try to rip you off, driving you seven times around the block. My worst cab experience took place in Mexico City. A huge guy squeezed onto the backseat next to me and held a gun to my ribcage. I handed over my money, leather jacket and some other items and was eventually dropped off in a horrible part of town! Luckily, I got away with my body intact and unharmed. Some of my friends fared worse.

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October 20, 2007

King of Cats

Filed under: Halloween, Life with Felines — ricky @ 4:51 pm

Here is a feline themed Halloween story. Check it out:

The grave digger’s wife sat by the fireplace. She was mending socks. Her lazy black cat slept on the floor next to her. It was very late. The woman was waiting for her husband, the grave digger, to come home. The grave digger’s wife and the lazy black cat waited and waited. Still, the grave digger did not come home. At last, the grave digger rushed into the house. He slammed the door. His heart was pounding. He was out of breath.

“I have a story to tell you,” he said.

He took off his hat and scarf. Then he turned to face his wife. The grave digger’s eyes were wide. He was pale. The grave digger’s wife stared at him.

“You look strange,” she said. “Did something happen?” “Yes,” said the grave digger. “Something did happen.”

The lazy black cat sat up. He stared at the grave digger now, too. The grave digger’s wife moved closer to her husband. “So tell me,” she said. “What happened to you tonight that made you look so pale and afraid?” The grave digger took a deep breath. “Well,” said the grave digger. “I was digging old Mr. Ford’s grave. I guess I fell asleep. I woke up when I heard a cat say, ‘MEOW!’”

“Meow!” said the wife’s lazy black cat.

The grave digger’s eyes widened even more. He pointed to the cat. “Yes, just like that!” said the grave digger. “I was very deep in the grave. I looked up over the top of it. What do you think I saw?” The grave digger’s wife frowned. “Now, how would I know that?” she asked. “Well,” said the grave digger. “I saw nine black cats. Nine black cats, just like your lazy black cat here. And what do you think they were doing?” The grave digger’s wife and her lazy black cat looked at each other. Then they looked at the grave digger. The wife shrugged. “They were carrying a coffin,” said the grave digger.

king of cats' coffin

The nine black cats were carrying a coffin.

The grave digger’s wife gasped. “A coffin?” she asked. “A coffin,” he said. “There were four black cats on each side of the coffin. One black cat was in front of it. The coffin was covered with a black cloth.” “The cats came closer,” said the grave digger. “They said ‘MEOW!’”

“Meow!” said the wife’s lazy black cat.

“Yes, just like that!” said the grave digger. “As the cats came closer and closer, I could see them more clearly. Their eyes were shining like little lights. They kept coming. They got closer and closer. They were looking at me, just like your cat looks at me now. Why, he looks like he knows every word I am saying.” “Never mind my cat,” said the wife. “Go on. What happened next?” “The cats came towards me,” said the grave digger, “very slowly. With every third step they cried out, all together, ‘MEOW!’” “Meow!” said the wife’s lazy black cat. “Yes,” said the grave digger, “just like that. When they stood at Mr. Ford’s grave, they all got very still. They looked straight at me.” Now the grave digger stared back at his wife’s lazy black cat. “Look at your cat,” said the grave digger. “He’s staring at me.”

“Never mind my cat,” said the wife. “Go on!”

“The one that wasn’t carrying the coffin came even closer,” he said. The wife’s lazy black cat moved closer to the grave digger. The cat stared straight at him. The grave digger backed up. He shivered. “Never mind my cat,” said the grave digger’s wife. The lazy black cat’s eyes were shining like little lights. “Go on,” she said. “What did the cat do then?” “The cat moved closer and closer to me,” said the grave digger. “Finally, we were nose to nose.” “Oh, my,” said the grave digger’s wife. “Then what happened?” “The cat spoke to me!” said the grave digger. “He said, ‘Tell Old Tom that Old Tim is dead.’”

The wife’s lazy black cat jumped up.

The grave digger’s wife screamed. “Look! Look at my lazy black cat!” she said “What is happening to him?” The lazy black cat stretched and stretched. He grew taller and taller. Soon he was three times his normal size. At last, the cat spoke. “What?” he said. “Old Tim is dead? Well, I’m Old Tom. Now I am the King of Cats!” And with that, Old Tom rushed up the chimney. The grave digger and his wife never saw the lazy black cat again.

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October 18, 2007

Urban legend

Filed under: Halloween — ricky @ 6:56 pm

flattire5.jpgThis is an urban legend that circulated on the internet in 1998.  I got a copy of it and as far as I remember passed it on.  Well, it turned out to be a hoax.  Read for yourself:

I received this email from a friend and since I care about all of you I wanted to share it. It is just a reminder to be aware when you are out and about. There are a lot of creepy people in this world, I am sad to say.

A woman was shopping at the Tuttle Mall in Columbus. She came out to her car and saw she had a flat. She got her jack, spare out of the trunk. A man in a business suit came up and started to help her. When the tire had been replaced, he asked for a ride to his car on the opposite side of the Mall.

Feeling uncomfortable about doing this, she stalled for awhile, but he kept pressing her. She finally asked why he was on this side of the Mall if his car was on the other. He had been talking to friends, he claimed. Still uncomfortable, she told him that she had just remembered something she had forgotten to pick up at the mall and she left him and went back inside the mall. She reported the incident to the mall security and they went out to her car.

The man was nowhere in sight. Opening her trunk, she discovered a brief case the man had set inside her trunk while helping her with the tire. Inside was rope and a butcher knife! When she took the tire to be fixed, the mechanic informed her that there was nothing wrong with her tire, that it was flat because the air had been let out of it!

The moral of this story…learn to change your own tire, call someone you know and trust to help you or call mall security in the first place to assist you .

Please Be Safe….and not sorry. Although this happened in Columbus, it could happen anywhere there are NUTS around. Just a warning to always be alert.

Pass this along to every woman you have access too. Never let your guard down. Good story for women to know about — although with the NUTS in today’s world, everyone needs to be careful (not just women).

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October 17, 2007

Army of the Dead

Filed under: Halloween — ricky @ 8:39 pm

army-of-dead1.JPGAfter the American Civil War a laundress in Charleston, South Carolina, woke up every night at the stroke of twelve to the clattering of heavy wheels passing in front of her house even though she lived on a dead end street. She was eager to catch a glimpse of the noise’s source but her husband wouldn’t let her look out the window. Eventually, the washerwoman next to her let her in on the secret. The rumbling was caused by the Army of the Dead, made up of injured soldiers that died in the hospital without knowing the war was over. Each night they rose from their graves to join and strengthen the forces in the South. The laundress secretly got out of bed the following night, sneaked to the window and watched the army pass by. She saw soldiers on horses and on foot, mighty canons being dragged trough the street, wagons and ambulances. After what seemed like an eternity to her she heard a blasting sound and realized one of her arms was paralyzed. She has never been able to do her washing job well since.

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October 16, 2007

Battle of burgers

Filed under: News & Events — ricky @ 7:28 pm

burger2.jpgAnother Mos Burger opened, another Freshness Burger gone. Sapporo’s fast food landscape is being reshaped and it doesn’t look good for the American-themed Freshness Burger. The slightly more Japanese Mos Burger (MOS = Mountain, Ocean, Sun) however keeps attracting more customers with its innovative fusion burgers. New on the menu is the Thousand Island burger, a modified version of the Fresh burger. Interesting for us foreigners are the rice burgers and I especially like the one with seafood. Also very popular has been the Nan bread with Mole - an adaption of the Mexican sauce, originally made by mixing chilis, chocolate and about two dozens of other ingredients! Now winter is coming and Mos Burger’s all time favorite soup, the clam chowder, will be available soon. Can’t wait! As for burgers, I love the spicy Mos burger with jalapenos, but I always order it without mayonnaise to save on fat calories. My friends tell me that’s a contradiction. What do you think? Well there’s a new Mos Burger in Esta B1, previously Freshness Burger, and the FB at North 24 closed down last summer. Kinda regrettable cause I like variety.

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October 13, 2007

Let’s go on a voyage

Filed under: Soup Curry — ricky @ 7:13 pm

soupcurry4.jpgI went to Voyage last night to warm up a bit due to the sudden drop in temperature. It was packed as usual and it’s easy to see why. High-quality food, professional and friendly staff in a clean South-East-Asian type environment. The menu is extensive and there are various alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails to choose from. Particularly convenient in winter are the straw baskets that you will be given for your coats & jackets to be stored next to your table. This time I had loads of vegetables with an oversized topping of cabbage and cheese. Voyage is a sister establishment of Picante. North 22, West 5. Phone 011-758 2500

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October 11, 2007

Cocktail or wicked spirit?

Filed under: Halloween — ricky @ 3:31 pm

vampire2.JPGThe first thing that comes to my mind when I hear Bloody Mary is a blood-colored cocktail containing tomato juice, vodka, lime, tabasco, worcester sauce, salt and pepper, garnished with celery. More sinister minds associate Bloody Mary with a woman who murdered all her children, or whose child was stolen from her and who died of grief. It is said that the spirit of this legendary woman can be summoned by chanting her name thirteen times in front of a candlelit mirror in a dark room. After the thirteenth time she will appear behind your left shoulder. Beware that, if she appears, she will either drive you mad or pull you into the mirror with her, or, worst of all, eliminate you! The legend has been around for ages but was revived in the US in 1978 where invoking her spirit became a popular slumber party game played in the bathroom.

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