Although my son's school is out for a summer vacation now, it was a day when he had to go to school today; " 登園日".

He was very desperate to meet with his friends, especially, his GF! ( I think that it's his one-sided love...lol lol)
As I could have a chunk of my own time in 2 weeks, I allotted the time to study English, needless to say. Yeah, I could concentrate on studying very much! What a wonderful time it was!!!

Well, after I picked him up, I got a text massage from a next-house wife. As her son who is also a 3-year-old boy was eager to play with my son, she asked me if we had some time to play together. Of course, we were willing to visit her apartment.
Her son doesn't go to any school, so every day he has a yen to play with my son, according to her. On top of that, as it has been scorching hot days, they are apt to stay at their home all day, she added.
To learn social manners, children should play with each other. So, I think it was valuable for them.

Anyway, he is also supposed to go to school tomorrow and the day after tomorrow! hehehe

After a while, I'll try to write an essay today.

"Topic"
Problems about the decreasing birthrate in Japan.

Recently the decreasing birthrate in Japan has been featured on the mass media. We may have to tackle on it now. I'd like to think about the effects and what we should do from now.
First, Labor force has been declining and due to this several conventional foundations such as our pensions or tax revenue have been not working well. Rather than that, we have been struggling in this situation.
Second, the declining of the labor force is easily connected to our products. That will be sluggish, of course. On top of that, the bad situation of the world economy, for example oil price or subprime loan, aggravates it further. So, we are compelled to decide on reduced productions.
To break the deadlock and manage to ride out sucsessfuly, politicians have been mulling over a soution. However, in fact, their ideas and policies are obviously the adage; " That's only a drop in the ocean". For now, we should focus on people who want to work but can't get a regular job due to rear kids and flexible working surroundings, at the same time, push on with an appropriate system such as work-life balance and take the idea root in our minds.

Yesterday, I and my son came back to our apartment. After checking e-mails, the comments of my blogs and posted my replies, I turned in because I didn't have any energy and felt a heavy exhaustion. (Nevertheless I could relax at my parents' house to my heart's content. lol lol lol)

As I guessed, I was still worn out....Uh.....Should I exercise to liven up or stay and lie down?
Either way, I'm sure of getting energy and being encouraged a few days later because I'm going to have a favorite time in an English club.

By the way, some areas of Japan have been scorching hot days, other have been reeling from awful calamities. Every day the news like this is broadcast. I often think the earth may be being furious. How do you feel about that?

During a summer vacation I've been tied up with housekeeping and taking care of my son more than usual. So, I often want to refresh and have own time. As I said before, there are ways I can refresh. Today I'm going to stay at my parents' house with my son; we call " 里帰り". Yes, I'll renounce housework! hehehe Although we'll stay only one night, I'm very happy.

When I visit them, I usually drive a car, but this time I want him to have new experience, so we're going to take a train and a subway. He has got on a train several times; however, he has never done a subway. It's easy to imagine that he'll be excited on our way to my parents' house. Right?
(As I wrote yesterday) To learn social manners, I'm sure that will be a good experience to him.

By the way, I got " permission" to buy an electronic dictionary from my husband !! lol lol lol I'm ashamed to say, but I've used a few paper dictionaries during my English time. There aren't any problems when I study with them in my room; however, when I study in an English club, I feel it may be needed because it's very convenient. On top of that, one of the dictionaries I have is worn-out....Since I was a high school student, I've used it. So, I have a great attachment to it. Of course, I'll use it in my room from now on!

Anyway, I'm wondering which kind of makers is the best electronic dictionary...Do you have any recommendations?

Meeting my friends is one of the ways which I can refresh.

Today, I had a good time with one of my friends and our kids. She always goes out to play with her son. That's the reason she tries to go out is to not have the stress of rearing a kid, according to her. I feel respect for that because I can't do that like her every day due to scorching hot days even if I understand I should do that...

Well, a restaurant we had lunch at was the first time for me to visit. There is the room for kids, that is called " kids' room", there is a small slide, illustrated books and toys. While moms are having lunch, they can play in the room and moms also can have a good time without any worries about their kids.
Our kids seemed to enjoy playing with other kids and toys. We also enjoyed talking and had a fun time.

Having meal at a restaurant might be a good opportunity for kids to learn social manners.

This morning my son had his teeth examined. ( It was a regular checkup.) After that, we went to a library to find some interesting books for him.
Needless to say, reading illustrated books or picture books will have a good effect on the growth of kids.
Although he wasn't interested in books when he was 1 or 2 years old, now he wants me to read books to him. So, we were looking for interesting illustrated books.

Some illustrated books caught my attention. One of them was " The Very Hungry Caterpillar". It's very very very famous one. Right? Being a kid, I also read it. Other books were " How do I put it on?" and " How do I eat it?" There're written by a Japanese author and a Japanese illustrator. Both stories are written about fundamental manners, for example, How do I eat a slice of bread?----Do you eat it with a spoon and fork? and so forth.
While reading these books, he was saying, " Oh, that's wrong! you should have....." or " I put on it....." etc... After that, he started to read them creating his own stories.

Anyway, these books were written in easy English, but his replies were Japanese..lol lol

What have you been doing for your summer? It has been a scorcher every day since the rainy season was over.

These days I'm exhausted due to the days. To cut down on our gasoline expenses and economize on it, I try to ride a bicycle as far as I can. However, there are many slopes around my apartment, so it's like I'm training for the Olympics when I and my son go to a supermarket and I'm riding with him and many shopping bags.

Well, I don't know if that's the reason or not, but I'm worn out....I don't have any energy at all. So, I don't want to do anything...Rather than that, I prefer relaxing at home....

Uh.....I think that I need something to inspire myself....On top of that, I should have meal for energy; " スタミナ料理". Do you have any recipes? Oh, last but not least, I dislike "eel"...

A school where my son goes to is out for summer. Yes, he's on a summer vacation. So, we're planing for his vacation, for example, we'll go to a library, a swimming pool and visit his friends' house and so on.

Well, we should add a plan which we'll visit the family grave. Usually, we visit the paternal and the maternal graves every summer, but this summer we " must" visit the maternal one because my husband's maternal grand mother died last year, so it's the first summer after she died; " 初盆".
Although I met her a few times, she could remember not only our son's name but also her other grandchildren's' names. Nevertheless, her age was 95 at that time. She was in a day care center and enjoyed having time with her friends and staffs. She was interested in fashion, so if she knows that we'll visit her in advance, she wears a favorite clothes and makeup etc. According to a staff, meeting a someone was her favorite time and after the time she seemed to liven up and happy.

Anyway, my husband said, " needless to say, visiting the family grave is a trip down memory lane because I can meet relatives and my nice old memory comes to mind."

Do you have any plan for your summer?

One day, one of my friends asked me to teach English. She can already speak and understand English, of course. On top of that, she teaches English to kids. Then, I answered, " Wow! thank you for asking me, but I can't teach English to you because you CAN already speak, read, listen and understand English. So, if you don't mind, what do you say we have some time to study English each other? I'm willing to prepare texts for "US"." We agreed to the idea.

This morning, I visited her house to study English together. I was lucky today because usually, it takes about 30〜40 minutes from my house, but it took 20 minutes or so today. ( I think, I wasn't stuck in a traffic jam and almost all of the traffic lights were green when I was heading for her house.)
On arriving there, we got started on the lesson. It was very valuable, I felt. At the end of the lesson, she tried to take a few listening test I had prepared. I picked them up from a text book for TOEIC and a CNN-English Express, which is a magazine for English learners.

We studied English for 2 hours. It passed by like a flash.
I hope we'll keep doing from now!!

I had some English time 2 days in a row. Although I was supposed to visit his class this morning( it's a day parents are allowed to visit school ), I couldn't do that because he was supposed to have a swimming lesson today( during the lesson, parents could see them this time), but due to a slight case of the middle-ear infection he couldn't take part in the lesson. So, I wanted to visit, but I was compelled to give up.

Then, I decided to visit one of English clubs to have an English conversation time this morning. There were 3 of us and a native speaker today. It was lucky to me because I could be talkative and talk to my heart's content. I mean if there are many visitors, I can't talk in a one-sided conversation as all of them want to practice speaking in English.

Anyway, it was like the end of term today as the native speaker will take a summer vacation from tomorrow to the middle of next month. So, I talked and talked talked in English to my heart's content! ;D

Having a whim to watch a DVD, I went out to rent some DVDs with my son in tow.
My son said, " Mom! Hurry up, hurry up!. " As I said before, my son loves power rangers such as ゴーオンジャー, 仮面ライダー and so on.

Well, on arriving at a rental shop, he directly headed for shelves where there are power ranger-DVDs. While I was looking for an interesting DVD, he came over to me with a smile. Yes, he could find a DVD which has been released recently.
Now, the DVD aside, a certain DVD interested me. The title was " Two Weeks Notice". The story falls into a love comedy, I think. The hero is Hugh=Grant and the heroine is Sandra=Bullock I like her because it's not hard to catch her speaking. When I watched " Speed " and" The Internet ", I liked her very much, not to speak of her performance.

As for the story, I felt that it was a little difficult for me to listen to their lines because they were talking fast, but it's not as hard as I had to give up. Rather than that, the conversations were very funny and showed many jokes. I'll try to watch it again without any subtitles.

Anyway, about the actor? .....Of course!, he's very very very sweet!!! If he asked me out, absolutely I would go.....I wish...I wish....XD

I've written about my son's sickness recently, but I'd like to do this time, too.

This morning, I took my son's temperature. At that time, he didn't have a fever. As he has been suffering from a high fever and a bad cough, especially during the night, I was relieved...But, as I wrote yesterday, I took him to a family doctor just in case.
Although we arrived there earlier than I had made an appointment which was 9:30 a.m, many moms and their kids had already been waiting there because it was Monday morning...

While the family doctor was consulting him, he didn't cry although he seemed to have been scared a little bit. After the consultation, the doctor suggested to me that he take a blood test again to be safe. The first test showed there weren't any problems, though...Of course, I agreed to it. One of the reasons I've stuck to something of examinations or consultation for his sickness is that a day when his school breaks up at the end of term ( a closing ceremony) is just around the corner, not to speak of his health. He's eager to go to his school even if he has a high fever...

Well, I'm going to take him to the hospital to take the second blood test the day after tomorrow. I hope he'll pull through by the day.....

Since my son came down with a cold last Thursday night he has been out of shape and has had a fever. He has taken medicine and a suppository; nevertheless, the fever hasn't subsided yet. On top of that, he started to have a cough and a sniffle. So, this morning my husband and I took him to a hospital. To be honest, I wanted to take him to a family doctor, but as it was a non consultation day today, we went to an emergency hospital near my house.

After examining him, the doctor suggested to us that he take a blood examination to consult carefully. To get well soon, we agreed to it. To my surprise, he didn't cry at all during the examination. ( We guessed he would probably cry, though..) Rather than that, he said, " Mom! I didn't cry!! Am I great? "

Anyway, the result of the examination was that there weren't any problems. But, the doctor said ," he has a slight case of bronchitis and tympanitis.
I'm going to take him to a family doctor tomorrow just in case. ( The doctor suggested this, too.)

My son was fine when he played with his friends at his pre-school yesterday morning, but during the night he ran fever. He didn't have a cough and a sniffle, though...
This morning, when I took his temperature, the fever hadn't subsided yet. So, he took a suppository. After a while, it subsided. Although he needed to rest for some time, he couldn't stay quietly at home. He demanded that he wanted to go to a school this morning. Of course, I also wanted to take him to the school because he tries to attend school regularly without missing a single day. However, the first thing for him to do is to pull through his sickness.

So, I was supposed to meet with one of the English clubs, but I didn't visit it. Despite the situation, I was very eager to take part in the club. (I'm a bad mom....) Then, I hit upon an idea. It was that I took part in the club by E-mail. While my son was sleeping, I wrote my opinion about a theme we were going to discuss this time and sent the E-mail to the representative because I had known the theme beforehand.
To be honest, I wanted to talk in English. ( Because I usually don't have chance to talk in English.) Anyway, I'm going to practice talking in English while doing housework although it's not enough for me...

This morning, I joined an English circle after I took my son to his pre-school. Usually, we study an English article which a member has picked up. This time's story was very funny. It was the following essay...

A native speaker, who has been in Japan for a few weeks, doesn't understand Japanese and knows only several words. After throwing together a dinner salad and eating it, the author worked for a while. Around 10, the author's stomach started to growl. So, the author went out to buy something to eat and found a vending machine. Although the author couldn't understand what goods were being sold except for " Rich Black", the author guessed " black chocolate " because it looked like a small bar of chocolate. While the author was buying half a dozen more because it was measly portion, Neighbors passing by stared at the author, laughed and gave the author scornful looks. Then, the author flung out one of a few fail-safe Japanese phrases, " Suki desu yo!"--(I like it! ). After going back to the apartment, the author ripped one of them.
Then, the author realized the goods were " condoms". At the night the author determined to start studying Japanese.

When I read this essay, I laughed. However, I might have an experience like the episode unless I study English more.

The Group of Eight summit, G8, has kicked off in Japan. I'm ignorant about economy, business and politics, but I'm interested in the summit because they have been mulling over the global warming, the food crisis and the soaring oil price and so forth. These issues are familiar to us, I think.

Although our prime minister have joined hands with other nations to hammer out the issues, I doubt whether they'll be able to step forward or take drastic steps. On top of that, this time Japan is hosting of the summit. I don't think our prime minister will be able to put forward proposals and lead them. To be honest, I take his ability with a grain of salt. One reason is that even if we try to live frugally, we can't brush away concern about our future.

Well, I'm going to watch him closely during the summit.

It's the 7th (night) of July today. Yes, we call "七夕" in Japanese. Have you ever seen the Milky Way? I've never done yet...On today of last year, unfortunately, it was raining. So, I couldn't see it. But, as it was fine weather today, I expected to see it.

When I took our trash to a garbage dump because a garbage truck comes to the place every Monday and Thursday to collect, I turned my face up toward sky. However, I couldn't see it. I thought maybe the area where I live is brighter than countryside because there're many buildings around my house and the air isn't clear enough for us to see.
I hope I'll be able to see it someday.

Incidentally, as for " 七夕 ", it sounds " tanabata" in Japanese. One of stories is that long time ago, people offered woven clothes, --(織 bata)--, on a shelf, --(棚 tana)--. Since then they have said it like that.

I prepared our lunch in the early morning because we had planned to go on a picnic. Wanting our son to experience and learn many things from nature, we went to a big park ( like a farm, I think) which is on a hillside and where there are cows, sheep and so on. It was torrid today, but the landscapes were very wonderful.

After we went for a walk in the park, my husband and son started to play on a slopes. Our son loves to play on slopes and never gets bored with doing. While I was taking a rest and relaxing under a few huge trees, they were absorbed in playing under the scorching sun. After having lunch, we milked a cow. We experienced it for the first time. Have you ever done? I might have been excited rather than our son...;D Our son seemed to enjoy milking although we thought he was scared to touch a cow.

Anyway, when my husband and son took a bath, both got a nice tan. XD

After I got married and gave birth to a boy, I was looking for a circle or workshop where I could learn English with my son in tow and had a reasonable fee. Although I contacted many local facilities to find by phone, there weren't workshops or schools that fit my requirement.
The other day, surfing the Internet, I found a certain article on a website. The article said, " why don't you join our English circle and enjoy learning with us? The cost is very reasonable, it's only 500 yen!. " I jumped up it and sent a text massage to the representative.
The circle is the one that I normally attend.

Thanks to the circle and the members, I'm encouraged to keep at studying English. When I was in a slump, they cheered me up and gave me advice. Not only English, they also gave me advice about rearing a kid. If it had not been for them and the circle, I wouldn't have been able to brush up on my English skills. Actually, I feel that it's much better than before. I can come out words smoothly and understand what native speakers are saying.

Now, some of members are achieving or getting down to do for their dreams. It inspired me to begin something. Of course, I want to do in English. So, I taught English and had some opportunities to use English. But, It was truth that I wasn't satisfied with the situation, I mean it wasn't enough because my own time is limited. ( as I said before.) On top of that, I often faced predicaments such things weren't going well.

To be honest, what I want to do or my goal is still vague; nevertheless, I may be too eager to do something...because I often feel that I'm left behind.

I should consider what I want to do down the road again.

Do you have any inferiority complex or often feel it? Of course, I have... It's trifling matters, though...

I often suffer from an inferiority complex toward English. Although I've been immersed in the world, enjoyed learning it and I'm sure the enthusiasm for English will never be gone, I'm obsessed with the inferiority complex. One of the reasons is that I've never stayed abroad to study or on business.

In fact, while hunting a job, ( Of course, I wanted to use English.) I faced a harsh and disgusting condition that a certain company required people who had experience of staying abroad such as home-stay programs. During the interview test ( After I took a Japanese, an English writing test and an English speaking test. The tests were very easy for me. I finished them with no sweat.) , I tried to show my merits, enthusiasm for English and my English environments, but an interviewer just asked me, "Well, have you ever stayed abroad?". I answered, " No, I've been studied English in Japan." Then, the interviewer frowned on me! I couldn't believe that!! I never want to work at like the company; however, I realized it was true that some Japanese companies have still required some kinds of English qualifications or such experience, even if people who had such experience can't speak English so well.

So, to get a job I want to work, I may be sticking to pass the pre-1st grade of STEP test. To add to that, I can't go abroad with an eye to study immediately because now my priority is to rear a kid and take care of my family.
Of course, another reason is that I want to prove we can learn English skills such as writing, listening and speaking, in Japan. ;D

Last Sunday, I went out to rent some DVDs. Luckily, over last weekend a rental shop I usually drop at was holding a "thanks" sale, we could rent any DVD and CD for 80 yen each.
After looking for some interesting DVDs, I chose a few DVDs, one of which was " Shopgirl". Have you ever watched it? I'm not familiar with movies, actress and actors; however, to improve my listening skill and just enjoy watching I often rent some DVDs. To be frank, I want to go to a movie theater, but I can't manage to do because my own time is limited, after all, even if I take my son to his pre-school, there's not enough time to watch a movie. So, I prefer watching DVD at home. Yes, you know, I don't need to take care the time when I have to pick my son up. Right?

Well, as for the movie, I watched it today. It was interesting and it wasn't hard to catch their lines. There weren't difficult scenes to listen to where the actors kept firing away. ;D But, a part of scenes was strange to me. The scene was the following.......

In a exclusive department, a couple of Japanese ( they were tourists. ) bought some goods at a counter at which the heroine works. Then the couple bowed deeply stepping back step by step and saying "thank you" to her over and over again!!! That's so strange!!!! Don't you think so?
I don't know if it depicted Japanese as American imagine them, it was merely a joke or made a cynical scene toward Japanese.... Either way, the scene was funny.