For this post, I thought it might be fun to quote some cute/funny/awkard/rofl things that students say. Of course, our students are adults and are trying really hard to learn. But, if we can't laugh from time to time, then how can I even begin to feel good about my atrocious Japanese?

Me: "What are some kinds of music that you can think of."
Student: "Japanese pop, techno, rock, hip-hop"
Me: "Great. That's a good list. What about music where there are no singers and many instruments?"
Student: "Classical?"
Me: "Yes, good. And, can you think of one where there is a fat lady who sings very high notes?"
Student: "Gospel."
Me: "I was looking for Opera, but yes."


Me: "So, you like American dramas, do you?"
Student: "Yes. I like Supernatural."
Me: "Really? That one is too scary for me. Have you seen the Simpsons. I think it's popular in Japan, right?"
Student: "Yes, the fun one with yellow people."


Me: "Imagine that you and I are at a party. You are the host, and I am a guest. I would like you to ask me if I need anything using our target vocabulary, ok?"
Student: "Yes, ok."
"How are you?"
Me: "Fine thanks, what a great party!"
Student: "Would you care for ....ah...... would you like.... ah..... we're at a party?"

My apologies if it's not funny in text. But, trust me, in person it's priceless. I hope to have many more moments like these. In a post to come in the future, we'll probably go over crazy Japanese-English advertisements. They can be laugh out loud funny. :)

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Nagoya is divided into neighborhoods, or sections, that are separately named and are known for a variety of things.

Sakae is one of these neighborhoods. In Sakae, there is a lot of shopping - the expensive kind. You can find a Calvin Klein store, a Louis Vitton store, Mikimoto, Adidas, and others. We like to window shop around, but generally speaking I don't intend to pay 50000yen for a pair of Levi's Silver Tab jeans. Being that it's an expensive area, it's also very clean and a good place to walk around.

Other than that, Sakae also has cool buildings and structures, such as TV tower, Oasis 21 (a bus station that looks like it's from the future. The upper portion is called the Aqua Spaceship), and ferris wheels. Below you can see a view of part of Sakae from the top of the Aqua Spaceship.

Finally, Sakae also has it's share of performance and entertainment. There are commonly singers who show up outside one of the larger department stores. In the picture below, you can see a Christmas performance made by some men. I have know idea who they are supposed to be, but there were a lot of families there, so I can only assume they are characters from some kids show or movie. These brave men in pink sang and danced their way across a pirate ship-stage for a few hours one weekend.

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