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」

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

One of the popular topics that comes into conversation around this time is Ohanami– cherry blosson viewing. While reading up on this custom online, I came across an unusual idea called Air hanami.
The first time I read the title my initial thought was that it was when people would go out to have a picnic under a cherry blossom tree without it actually having bloomed yet – thus, just air!
But, that was not the case. It is described as a hassle-free, indirect, indoor, hanami experience.
Most people have said that it’s a strange trend, with some saying that it’s utterly absurd.
Here is a link to Kirin’s website to help you get an idea of the concept behind it.

http://air-hanami.kirin.jp/age.html

Air hanami has its perks, but I always prefer the outdoors.
What do you think?