The sky over Hidaka Village

この前の月食を仁淀川に見に行った時から、前より天文に興味を持った。大学で選択科目では天文学の授業を受けたが、実は今の方がよく星を見ている。大体晴れていたら夜に散歩する時上を向いて歩く。涙は零れるかもしれないけど、理由は空気がひやいし日高村の上の空が本間にきれいに見えるからだ。これは絶対に大きな町に住みたくない理由の一つ。町の明かりのせいで星が見えなくなる。日高村ではその問題があまりないので、月食も流星群を二つも見たし、星座を天文学のラボの時からまた思い出してできるだけ多く見つける目標にして、練習している。

Since the time I went to see the lunar eclipse at the Niyodo river a few months ago I've really become more interested in astronomy.  In college I took an elective course in astronomy, but I'm actually looking at the stars more now than I was then.  If the skies are clear when I go for walks at night I pretty much always walk looking up, and if I spill any tears they're for nothing but the cold and the beauty that I see.  This is one of the reasons I definitely don't want to live in a big city where the city lights prevent you from seeing the stars.  In Hidaka that isn't a problem, as I've seen the eclipse, two meteor showers, and I've been recalling the constellations I learned in Astronomy Lab and practicing spotting those in the sky.

A Dream

I had a dream last night that the leaves on all the trees were colored like treasure and jewels, red rubies, glimmering golds and ambers, and brilliant oranges.  But they were falling off the trees too fast!  Every second dozens more leaves fell.  I wanted to take a picture of how beautiful they were, but I couldn't get my camera in time.  When I saw the ginko tree behind the village office this morning I remembered the dream...  I think winter might be coming fast.

昨夜、紅葉の夢を見よった。葉っぱが金の様な黄色とルビーの様な赤、そして鮮やかな橙色だった。でも木の枝からこじゃんと速く落ちてしまいよった。一秒ごとに何十枚も落ちた。美しい紅葉の写真をとりたかったけんどカメラを出すのは遅すぎた。今朝、役場の裏のいちょうの木を見た時その夢を思い出した。。。冬が早く来る様な気がするがよ。

Giving of Thanks

November is one of my favorite months, the leaves  change colors and we celebrate Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for many things.  I'm thankful that I teach English to wonderful students in Hidaka.  I'm thankful for my friends and family and their support.  I'm thankful that I have an oven.  I'm thankful for apple pie, pumpkin pie... and baked birds!  What are you thankful for?

Thanksgiving

 Photo credit goes to: D Sharon Pruitt

My favorite Holiday in America is Thanksgiving.  It's a harvest and thanks-giving festival originally celebrating the Native Americans that helped the earliest European settlers in America.  We eat roast turkey, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and various other traditional foods and we tell our family what we're thankful for.  It's a time to be appreciative of family, food, and the fruit of our labor.  It also happens in my favorite season when the air is cool and the leaves are colorful and change is afoot.  This year, I will celebrate with my friends here in Hidaka.

 一番好きなアメリカの祝日はサンクスギビングという。サンクスギビングとは元々アメリカの原住民にヨロパからきた人がもらった食べ物と手伝いの祝いする収穫感謝際。伝統的に七面鳥のロースやマーシュポテトやスターフィンやクランベリーなどの食べ物を食べて何に感謝しているか家族と話す。さては涼しい空気とキレイな紅葉がある季節が一番すき。今年日高村にいる友達とお祝いする予定です。

My Family

My family came to Hidaka in August.  My eikaiwa class treated us to a feast so big we couldn't finish it and danced Yosakoi for us as well.  I showed my family the Yosakoi festival, some waterfalls, the Niyodo river, Omura shrine, a kaiten sushi restaurant, an udon store, and Restaurant Kochi.  Mr. Yokoyama invited us to Karaoke at his store and Tasha's Ms. Yano helped my mom wear a yukata for the first time.  They had a great time!

八月に僕の家族が日高に来た。英会話教室のメンバー達がすごいごちそうをくれたのに家族は疲れて、全部食べれなかった。食べた後でよさこい踊りを踊ってくれた。帯や町でよさこい祭りを見せたり、仁淀川町の滝とか仁淀川とか小村神社などの好きな所に連れて行ったり、回転寿司やうどんの店やファミレスを紹介したりした。横山さんが私達をカラオケに誘ってくれて、お母さんがTashaの矢野さんに浴衣を着させてもらって一緒にカラオケを歌いに行った。本当に楽しかった。