Long Day ...

The earthquake that had occured in the afternoon affected JR railway operations in Tohoku, when I was going there.

In Tokyo, passengers going to Yamagata were advised to take a Shinkansen bound for Sendai (not Yamagata) and transfer to the one for Yamagata at Fukushima. I followed this advice though I had reserved a seat in a Shinkansen for Yamagata (Tsubasa 267). 

Arriving at Fukushima around 9:00 pm, we were told that taking the local line (Ouu Honsen) would be faster than taking the next Tsubasa, which would arrive at Fukushima at 10:30 pm! 

I followed the adivice and took the local line. I was going to arrive at Yamagata at 11:20 pm. Five minutes before arriving Yamagata, our local train suddenly stopped because someone entered the rail track. We stayed there for 40 minutes, and arrived at Yamagata around 12:00 am. There was a long queue, waiting for getting a refund. I didn't want to wait any longer so I got a stamp to guarantee my refund. 

That was a long day.


Well, I safely arrived at my hotel, and found this comic books at a nearby convenience store. I couldn't fine Volume Two in Ichikawa yesterday. I enjoyed them though it's not about a happy story. 

Questions for Britain After the Riots | World | Learning English

Questions for Britain After the Riots | World | Learning English

BASANI MABYALANE: "I feel there is maybe more that could be done to empower the young people because, from what I saw yesterday, to me it looked like they don’t have much to do. They have got the time. They have got the energy. But they are using that energy on negative things.”

In the north London neighborhood of Haringey, some young people are using their energy to do positive things. They have formed a group called HYPE: Haringey’s Young People Empowered.

One of those young people is Erica Lopez. She thinks a majority of the rioters simply wanted to loot. But she says she understands and shares the anger of many of her young neighbors over a lack of jobs and cuts in youth services.

ERICA LOPEZ: “The government really needs to actually take time and listen to these young people because for a long time they have been crying in silence saying, 'This is what matters to me.' They have really been crying for a long time.”

Hottest Summer (JareMaga)

じゃれマガ 2011年08月15日号

This is one of the hottest summers we've had in Japan. Why does it feel so hot?

One reason is that people are trying to save energy. There is less air
conditioning in buildings.

If you go outside, you should use some of the new products in stores.
You can buy cooling scarves and towels that you wear around your neck.
There is also cooling gell that you apply to your neck.

You also need salt. You can buy salt candy or eat "umeboshi."

Send your comments to jaremaga@gmail.com
浜島書店　英文メールマガジン「じゃれマガ」
携帯 : http://catchawave.jp/m/jm/
PC : http://catchawave.jp/jm/

-----------------------
Vocabulary

one of the hottest summers we've had ... これまでで最も暑い夏の１つ
Why does it feel so hot? ... なぜこんなに暑く感じるのか？
try to save energy... 省エネにつとめる
There is less air conditioning ... エアコン利用が減っている
new products ... 新製品
cooling scarves and towels ... クールスカーフやクールタオル（冷やすためのスカーフやタオル）
you wear around your neck ... 首にまく
cooling gell ... クールジェル（冷やすためのジェル）
you apply to your neck ... 首にぬる

Entertaining Vendor in Seoul

These boys sell this product (sweet snack called 龍の髭), performing in many languages, including Korean, English & Japanese. They even speak some Indonesian! In this video you'll see the Japanese version :-) Enjoy!



Related photos on Facebook.
-> Slideshow (on Posterous/Facebook)

VOA Special English - Weekly Report - July 27

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