The day before yesterday; August 28, it was my husband's birthday. However, he had to work until midnight,so I planed to have his birthday party the next night.

As I expected, he came home earlier than usual yesterday. I had prepared dinner and a present which my son and I drew a portrait of him. He guessed we were planing for the party; however, he didn't think about the present. hehehe He looked to be surprised.

This afternoon, he said " Thank you for preparing wonderful things for my birthday party. Well, I'm going to go for a walk with our son, so you can get your time. "
Lucky!!!!!! and Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!darling!!!!!!!!!! uhehehehe!!

As I wrote yesterday, I attended an English club with my son in tow. There were 4 of us and a native speaker guest.
I've been looking forward to having time for learning English with them. On top of that, I'd wanted to ask the members to give me ideas or advice about how to improve my English skills.
After the club, I couldn't wrap up the talk. Then, we decided to have lunch.

While having lunch, we were talking about English. They have strong English skills and good careers, so their ideas and advice were very helpful to me. They highly recommended an English textbook that is a radio program for business people or English learners who are shooting for high level of proficiency. In addition, they also suggested a certain English web site, which is a business site.
According to them, in my daily life, I don't have any opportunities to use and read business documents or something like that. If I want to improve or step up my English skills further, I should not only get used to reading the kinds of documents and I also need to learn the words they use.
Although I read some English newspapers every day, I might have read only the ones that interest me.

As I said the beginning of the diary, I want to step up my English skills; " 英語力底上げ !". Thanks to them, I was encouraged very much although I had been in a slump. " Yattarude〜（やったるで〜〜っ）!!!!" ; I'll bring it to accomplishment at all costs.!!!

Tomorrow, I'm supposed to have time to learn English with English club's members. We've not met for about one month, so I'm looking forward to meeting and having a good time with them. Yes, I have a numbers of things that I want to talk and share with the members. :D
hehehe..

Anyway, we usually learn English through an article we had picked up. Tomorrow's article is " Robots: Demons or heroes?" This time I suggested the article to the members.
According to the article, Japanese tend to think that robots are friendly, kind and helpful, but Westerners don't do that. Of course, they regard robots as helpful things and enjoy benefits that such technology can bring, at the same time, they equate the robots rather with remoteness and coldness. For example, HAL in " 2001: A Space Odyssey" and Doraemon or Tetsuwan Atom( Astro Boy), they show the characteristics.

Uh....I don't know whether Westerners tend to think like that, but I can say that Japanese have a close affinity with Doraemon and Tetsuwan Atom(Astro Boy).

Today, my son and I visited one of my fellow English-lovers to have time for English. We met after 2weeks of a last meeting. As I've been rather in a slump, to maintain motivation to keep learning the time was very helpful to me.
At first, we talked about the Beijing Olympics. She had prepared a certain article on the Olympics. I could learn new words and practice reading through the article although it was a little hard to make out the author's opinion.
After we studied English, she served lunch to us. I was pleased with the soup she had made. It was very tasty, so I asked her how to cook. ;D

Thanks to the meeting, I was encouraged in keeping learning and got energy. :D To improve my English skills, I should keep learning in the hope that I will be able to achieve a breakthrough.

By the way, speaking of the Beijing Olympics, what kind of sports made a deep impression on you?
I was very moved when Japanese women's softball team won the gold medal. They turned the tables and grabbed the victory. Although the Olympics closed yesterday, I've been basking in the afterglow of the impression.

As we didn't have any plan today, I suggested that we have lunch with my husband's parents. When my husband called them, my father-in-law had gone out to meet with his old friends. So, my mother-in-law and us went out to have lunch.

We went to an Italian restaurant where a son of my mother-in-law's friend manages. Even though it's a little far from her house, it's worth visiting. :D because not only the dishes are very tasty, but the atmosphere is also good!

After having lunch, we went to a big supermarket, where there are a large variety of foods direct from farms, fishing ports and orchards.

Well, it was a little windy and cloudy today, but we had a good time. ;D

This morning, I attended a free English conversation class , which is called " Cafe morning time", with my son in tow. I visited there after a month because a teacher who is from England had taken her summer holidays.
Luckily, there were only 2 of us and the teacher today. Yes! I could talk and ask about grammar and expressions to my heart's content!!
I brought my electronic dictionary out for the first time. lol lol lol Yeah, it's very convenient. ( Did I become aware of it NOW? lol lol lol)

Well, as I didn't have time for talking in English last week because it was the Obon holidays, I've been eager to do. However, I could be immersed in the time for English today. :D

To be honest, I've been struggling about my English skills. ( I very often fall into the situation, though...) Although I can communicate with others in English, listen to and read English things such as newspapers or news to a certain extent, I'm not content with my present skills. So, I've been making every effort to learn English.

To encourage and liven myself up, I try to take English tests and have time for English with my fellow English-lovers. Yeah, these ways really work, add to this I want to ensure and improve the skills. However, I've been groping my way about it; what else needs to be done? or what should I do to make a breakthrough?.
I might not grasp my weaknesses such as grammar, vocabulary or reading and the efficient ways to improve.
To know that, one of the ways is taking English tests such as the TOEIC or STEP test, but I'm wondering how do examinees or learners learn their weaknesses through the tests. In the STEP test, we can jot things down on the question sheets and bring them home, but in the TOEIC, we can't do either at all. So, in the later, we could keep making the same mistakes again and again.

Uh....of course, I'll keep learning English from now on because I've been enthralled by how interesting it all is. That might be the best way, but if you have any ways to improve or advice, could you tell me?

Thanks to one of my fellows English-lover, I knew an English site which I have my diaries corrected. To improve my English skills, the site is very helpful and necessary for me.

The other day, I wrote about our Obon holidays. ( I also posted the diary on this blog.) I wrote the following.....
"My older sister-in-law's family and us visited my husband's maternal relative."
I have 2 sisters-in-law, so as to make them clear and not to confuse readers, I wrote like that.
However, a certain native speaker corrected and explained like " [Saying "older" here sounds a little strange. Remember, relative age of siblings/relatives is less important in English than Japanese.]"

I've known what he said, of course!! But, I wrote " older sister-in-law" due to the above reason.
(I thought he might have misinterpreted that I have only 1 sister who is older and then I explained that I have sister"s"-in-law....)

If you were, what would you write?

Yesterday, my older sister-in-law's family and us visited my husband's maternal relative. We set out in the morning, but we got stuck in a traffic jam due to the Obon holidays. However, I wasn't bored at all because I enjoyed talking with the family.

After arriving the relative's house, we talked and talked. We exclusively talked about the Olympics. My older sister-in-law's husband had left for his new post in China and worked for several years. So, he's familiar with Chinese life and the circumstances. His talking was very interesting.
He came back to Japan earlier this year. Although he's supposed to work in Japan for a while, he's likely to go to Europe soon, maybe, England.
He said, " I can understand and speak Chinese to a certain extent. But I can't do at all with regard to English...."
According to him, in his company's case, if they reside abroad, they need English skills equivalent to 800 or more on the TOEIC. But, when they just go abroad on business, the level and skills aren't necessarily needed.

I wish I could accompany him....

Yesterday morning, we went out to stay overnight at my husband's parents' house because we were going to celebrate my father-in-law's seventieth year; It's called " Coki--古希--" in Japanese. We were planning a surprise birthday party for him. Although his birthday is still on the 16th, all families could stay yesterday, so we planned the party on the day.
An older sister-in-law's family and a younger sister-in-law's family had already been there when we arrived at the house.
Of course, we kept his birthday party secret from him. While he, my mother-in-law, my husband and all our kinds were out, sisters-in-law and I set about preparing for the party. About 3 hours later, we had everything in readiness for the party.

" Dad!, Grandpa!( The kids said), Happy Birthday!!!"

We presented travel gift certificates to him. He was very surprised and seemed happy. We spent a lovely time!!

The following day, my husband went to his work and my son and I went back home. My son was hanging his lip on our way home because he wanted to play with sisters-in-law's kids, according to him. However, when we arrived at our home, he just took a nap. :D

Talking of things Japanese, what do you picture to yourself?

" fireworks" and " swimming in the sea".....We always do them every summer.

Early this morning, my husband suddenly suggested that we go to the sea and swim! Although I was surprised because I neither had a swimming wear nor prepared for it, I willingly agreed with his suggestion. My son can't swim by himself yet, but we want him to have the experience during his summer vacation as much as he can. On top of that, as he takes a swimming lesson in his school, I'm not worried that he might be afraid of the sea or water.
On arriving the beach, my husband and our son jumped into the sea, of course, they swam where the water is shallow.
What was I doing while they were playing? I was taking pictures and sitting on the beach applying anti-sunburn cream, wearing a hat and putting up a sunshade.
Sure enough, they got sunburn. However, my son seemed to have got suntanned as he had applied anti-sunburn cream to his shoulders. On the other hand, my husband seemed in pain ( he hadn't applied the cream to his body).

After we went back home, took a bath and had dinner, we went out to see fireworks. There was a display of fireworks in a huge park which near my house.
There was a flood of people in the park and I hate like the situation. It often annoys me, but the fireworks washed it away easily.

It made a deep impression on us

I've used a few paper dictionaries when I take part in any English club. I prefer paper dictionaries,but they're too heavy and inconvenient to carry even if I want to use them. So, at last I bought an electronic dictionary today!!!!! Although I wavered whether to buy it now, I decided to do so because I thought that I would be upon wavering endlessly even if I passed up purchase this time.

So, in the afternoon, I went to a big appliance store with my son by car. As I'm ignorant about electoronic equipment, I couldn't decide which one was the best for me. I wanted one which has a large vocabraries, phases, a English-English dictionary function and various English functions. I don't need any functions unrelated to English.
So, I asked a staff and she recomended a certain company's product; S I I dictionary SR-E8600.
The company is Seiko, which is very famous as a watch-maker. I've never heard the company has produced electronic dictioanries, but it has been produced good quality dictionaries and has had a good reputation for it, according to the staff. On top of that, the company has promoted about it. Many interpreters, bussiness people and English learners who has been shooting for high level have it and we also recommend it to them, she added.
I got it although the price was a little bit higher than my price range.

Yes! while writing this diary, I'm using the dictionary and paper dictionaries.

This morning my son and I visited an English learner's apartment to study English together. (The day before yesterday, we visited there to do.) It was the second time we'd visited there.

At first, we set about checking answers to homework I had given her. Some questions confused us to understand, so I learned more about the profound meanings and grammar after we could lead to the correct answers.
After the meeting and we went back home, I started to check e-mails and posted comments on my blog because another friend, who I wrote a few days ago, had sent me a text massage about homework for English I had gave her, too.

Thanks to their enthusiasm for English, during my son's summer vacation I've been studying English more than I had expected ( I wrote about it yesterday, though.) and try to read English articles such as English news papers carefully more than ever. Consequently, I'll beef up my English skills. I believe!

Last night, my husband called and told me that he was drinking with his co-workers because a certain event, which was in charged of him, ended successfully. He seemed to have already been drunk. But, I didn't care about that. Because I know he likes to drink and so do I. So, I don't intend to frown on him drinking. It's one of the ways he can refresh and enhance friendship between his co-workers and him.

However.........to a certain degree.....I don't approve.

When I got up this morning and opened curtains in a living room, I felt some uncomfortable at my feet. The floor was wet. So, I wondered why it was wet.....Then, I found out that my husband had a pee in the room!!!!!!!!!!! He must have been dead drunk because he didn't remember anything when he got up.
I couldn't believeit !!!!!! He has been drunk many many many times. But this time, I couldn't be calm. I burst my anger and said, " I never say you can't drink and don't intend to do so, but you should consider drinking in a moderate!!!, What is the world are you thinking? Who always washes the clothes, cleans the rooms and does other the housework? You should consider your age!!!!"

I've not been keeping down my fury.....still now....

I was supposed to study English in my room during my son's summer vacation, however, my expectation proved wrong. I've been able to learn and having English time with my fellow English-lovers more than I had expected!

This morning, I visited an English learner's apartment to study English together. The friend wasn't the same person I had met yesterday. She's also been studying English and has enthusiasm even if she's tied up with taking care of her kids. She had asked me to have if I had time to study English. Of course, I had accepted her request!
After we studied English, she served me lunch. She had prepared it in spite of her busyness. As my son and I visited there, we had it with thanks.

About my son? You know, he seemed to enjoy playing with her older kid who is a 4-year-old girl to his heart's content. This is their second time meeting or so. But, the last time they met was one or two years ago and they were still around 2 years old at that time. They can't have remembered each other. So, this time was like it was the first time they'd met.
When I asked him whether he wanted to play with her again, he replied " YES! OF COURSE!"
Although I'm glad that I could have English time and I'm also very happy because he also could have valuable time with his friends.

Incidentally, we're going to visit the day after tomorrow with an eye to have English time!!

I met an English learner after a while because she wants some advice about keeping studying English and tips for an English test. She also has 2 kids and has been tied up with housework, but is desperate to brush up on her English skills, too.
So, we met at a restaurant where there is a room for kids. ( I've visited there once before.)
While we were having lunch, our kids were having a fun time in the room.

To my surprise, she had bought a certain English grammar work book to me. According to her, she wants to beef up her English skills in accordance with the book. Of course, I gladly consented to her request. I'll not use only the book, but also other ways such as English articles.

Although I'm into the English world, her enthusiasm for English must rub off on me and make me more addicted to the world.

After we give birth, our kids have to get some vaccinations against DPT, German measles, measles and so on.

Japanese encephalitis used to be included in the vaccinations that they should get. However, around 3 years ago it was reported that a girl, who was a junior high school student, got the vaccination and then she had seriously side effects. After that, the government banned our kids from getting the vaccination because they admitted there was a close connection between the vaccination and the side effects.
However, recently, it was reported that there were people who were infected with Japanese encephalitis and they hadn't got the vaccination. So, the government has been gradually suggesting the vaccination to our kids again. Of course, it's contingent on our ( parents') stances whether to get it and if so, our kids can get the vaccination under our (the parents') approval.

I know the risk of getting vaccinations against not only Japanese encephalitis, but also others. But, although I want him to get the vaccination, at the same time, I'm worried and scared about it because only few years ago, the serious case was reported.
However, I consulted with his family doctor carefully and I agreed to get it. After we went back home, he has been taking a nap without any problems. I'm very relieved for now.