少人数制で楽しく身につく英会話教室・英会話スクールなら「アミックインターナショナル」

There are so many wonderful stories about time travel, the settings are throughout history and the future, describing utopias and devastation. The wonderful thing about this literature is that it is only limited by our imagination, we create the laws, rules and parameters that time travel follows. If it’s a person or vehicle that activates the shift, whether the experience is merely observation or interaction and the consequences of any interactions that may occur.

There are many places and times that I would be interested in visiting if it were possible to travel through time and space. I am fascinated by the ancient Egyptians, intrigued by dinosaurs, curious about the beginning and end of the universe. I think I would prefer the encounters to be observational, at least for the trip to see the dinosaurs!

Would you prefer to travel forward or backward in time?

Hay fever is a common condition that shows signs and symptoms similar to a cold with sneezing, congestion, runny nose and sinus pressures.
Hay fever is caused by an allergic response to airborne substances, such as pollen – unlike a cold which is caused by a virus.
The time of year in which you get hay fever depends on what airborne substance you are allergic to.
The substance that causes an allergic reaction in hay fever is called an “allergen”. For the majority of people, those who do not get hay fever, these substances are not allergens, because their immune system does not react to them.
What causes hay fever?
Hay fever occurs when the immune system mistakes a harmless airborne substance as a threat. As your body thinks the substance is harmful it produces an antibody called immunoglobulin E to attack it. It then releases the chemical histamine which causes the symptoms.
There are seasonal hay fever triggers which include pollen and spores that will only cause symptoms during certain months of the year.
The following are some examples of hay fever triggers:

Tree pollen – these tend to affect people in the spring.
Grass pollen – these tend to affect people later on in the spring and also in the summer.
Weed pollen – these are more common during autumn (fall).
Fungi and mold spores – these are more common when the weather is warm.

ミスユニバースの愛媛県代表に選ばれた福岡佳奈子さんは、全国大会に向けて今様々なレッスンをされていますが、アミックでも英会話をサポートさせて頂いています(o^^o)v

今週からは東京に拠点を移しての活動になるとのことで、今後はスカイプレッスンに切り替えての指導になります。

医師でもある佳奈子さん。美貌と知性を兼ね備えて、尚且つ努力を惜しまないその姿勢は素敵です。

I’m definitely not one to endorse (or condone) using any form of social media, but I will admit that I’ve been having fun keeping in touch with a small group of friends back in the United States by communicating through Snapchat. If you’ve never used this application, basically you mostly communicate by sending very short videos (I believe 10 seconds is the limit) and you can also do a bit of private messaging. The interesting thing is that all of your video uploads can only be viewed and then replayed once, and all of your messages will disappear after the window is closed. It may sound strange, but it’s refreshing in an age of endless digital content uploaded on a daily basis. It’s also fun just to see a little moment of a person’s life instead of a long-winded video that no one has time to view anyway. It’s been my favourite way to communicate online recently because it connects me to people that I really miss but not in an overwhelming way.

Joe

When I lived in Thailand a few years back, I always got excited about celebrating Songkran. Songkran is celebrated on April 13^th and marks the Thai New Year. Depending on the location, it is usually a three-day holiday that is famous for its water festival.

In the morning, families visit temples and offer food and new robes to monks. Water is poured over Buddha statues which symbolizes cleansing and washing away bad luck. The main water festival is most popular amongst young people. In the past, the custom involved sprinkling scented water on people. Nowadays, it is basically a huge water fight! Streets are lined with people ready to drench you with water pistols, cups and buckets of water and even low pressure hoses. They put wet, chalky powder on your face as a blessing and for protection against bad luck.

When I first experienced Songkran, I had a blast…the first two days. By the third day, I had had enough and was using the back streets and alleys, dodging people to try and avoid getting soaked. But, wherever I turned there was always someone with water waiting to bless me!

สวัสดีปีใหม่ - Sawadee Pee Mai! (Happy New Year!)

Each story we hear or read has a similar structure: a beginning – introducing the characters and setting; a middle – what the characters were doing and why, this usually includes a climatic and exciting event; finally an end – how the characters achieved their goal and any consequences of that. This format does not however, guarantee a good story – it is what is happening in our brain that determines whether we perceive the story as good, bad or indifferent.
So what’s going on behind the eyes? Firstly, there is a process called neural coupling taking place. This process activates areas in the brain which allow the listener, or reader, to associate the story to their own ideas and experiences. Secondly, the process of mirroring comes into effect, research shows that listeners and readers experience similar brain activity to the writer or narrator. This can determine the popularity of the story. Thirdly, the brain releases a hormone called dopamine when it experiences an emotionally charged event (remember the climatic and exciting event?). Dopamine allows people to recall more easily and with greater accuracy. Finally, the extent of cortex activities also have an major impact on a story, when we process facts two areas of the brain are activated, whereas a well told story engages many additional areas such as the motor cortex, sensory cortex and frontal cortex. This gives us more connections with the story and more avenues in order to recall in greater detail.

In spring, one of the best-loved symbols of Japan makes a dramatic sweep across the country.
Sakura (cherry blossoms) bloom usually from the end of March through April in a kind of wave starting in southern Kyushu and working its way northeast. News reports keep the populace up to date on the best places to enjoy hanami (lit. flower viewing).
The undeniable beauty of the delicate pink flowers is offset by a sense of melancholy at their all-too-brief appearance. This is often compared to our own short time spent on the earth. This mixture of feelings is best expressed when completely drunk, of course. And so every year, hundreds of thousands of Japanese of all ages gather beneath the pink blooms, sing karaoke, dance and drink till they fall over.

Enjoy while it lasts!

P.s. Don’t forget the beer!

So it’s spring and I think it’s safe to assume that we are all well aware of how beautiful the cherry blossoms all over Japan are this time of year. Unfortunately the estimated full bloom of the sakura trees in Ehime coincides with a string of rainy days at the end of this week, so that may ruin hanami plans for some people.

The funny thing is that I haven’t really noticed the cherry blossoms near my house (since they are only now blooming), but instead I’ve been admiring the deep pink of the peach blossoms that a kind old woman in my neighbourhood has outside her house. Those peach blossoms may take the place of the usual cherry blossoms for my hanami this year, but I’m okay with that. They have another kind of beauty to appreciate.

Here’s a photo I took:

Joe