Last time, we talked a little bit about hobbies and other things we like while talking about cleaning up after summer vacation.
I thought, this month we could explore hobbies and such things in more depth.
(As always, if you have other suggestions, send me an e-mail, please.)
(My hobbies? Writing my blogs is one. Writing computer programs is another. Hmm.)
2014-10-24
Yet another Version of 桃太郎 (Momotaro, or Peach Boy)
(This is my westernized interpretation of the classic Japanese fairy tale/legend of the boy who was born from a peach. I'm mixing at least three versions with which I am familiar, and adding a thoroughly western-style ending.)
(Audio here. 音声はここです。)
Once upon a time in a small village near the Seto Inland Sea, an old man lived with his wife. Because they had no children, they lived by themselves.
Every day, they worked hard. The old man would go to the fields. And the old woman would do the housework, and then go to the river to do the laundry.
One day, while doing the laundry, the old woman saw something strange bobbing up and down as it floated down the river. As it drew closer, she saw that it was a giant peach.
So she called out to the peach, "Peach! Oh, Peach. Come here." And the peach came toward her, bobbing and dancing in the stream.
When it got close, she reached out into the water and pulled it to shore. It was very large, and she said to herself, "This will make us a nice dessert."
When she finished with the laundry, she took her load back to the house and set the peach on the table to show her husband.
When he finally returned after sundown, he was pleased to see the peach. "This peach looks delicious." he said to his wife, "Let's have some."
"Yes, let's." she said. And she got out a large knife to cut the peach with.
But, before she could put the knife to the peach, it popped open, and out popped a lively baby boy.
"Hello, Grandma!", "Hello, Grandpa!" he said.
The old man and the old woman were very surprised. "Where did you come from?" they asked the boy.
And he replied "From heaven, of course."
And the old woman said to her husband, "The gods have blessed us for all our years of hard work and patience."
So they named the boy "Momotaro", which means "Son of the Peach," and raised him as their own son.
They took good care of him, and Momotaro was a good boy.
He ate all his food, and grew big and strong. And as he grew up, he helped in the fields and around the house.
And he played with the other children in the village, made lots of friends, and became a brave, strong young man.
He worked hard and grew stronger than any man in the village.
One day as he was working in the fields, he saw a kite circling overhead.
He called to the bird, "Hello, Kite, do you have any news?"
And the bird called back, "Momotaro, the villagers around here need your help!"
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"The demons from Devils' Island are raiding the villages, destroying their houses, and taking their food and treasures."
So he went home and told his adopted parents, "I must go to Devils' Island and defeat the demons."
They were very surprised. "But you are just a young man!" the old man said.
"I am stronger than any man in the village."
"It will be very dangerous!" cried the old woman.
"I am very brave, and it is the right thing to do." he replied.
So the old man helped him make a very strong sword.
And the old woman helped him prepare special nutritious millet dumplings.
"We have put our hearts into this sword. It will help you defeat the demons," the old man said.
"We have put our hearts into these dumplings. Eat one, and you will be stronger than one hundred men," said the old woman.
So the old man put the sword in its sheath and Momotaro tied the sheath to his belt.
And the old woman put the millet dumplings in a bag and Momotaro tied the bag to his belt.
"Thank you, Grandmother. Thank you, Grandfather. I will do my best, and I shall prevail."
So Momotaro set off over the mountains and through the valleys.
While he was walking, he met a dog.
"Hello, Momotaro. Where are you going?" the dog asked.
"Hello, Dog. I am going to Devils' Island to defeat the demons," Momotaro replied.
"That is a good thing to do. What is in that bag on your belt?"
"These are special nutritious dumplings. They can make you very strong. If I give you one, will you join me in my quest?"
"Yes, I will join you in your quest."
So Momotaro gave him a dumpling, and the dog joined him. And then they set off again, over the mountains and through the valleys.
While they were walking, they met a monkey.
"Hello, Momotaro. Hello, Dog. Where are you going?" the monkey asked.
"Hello, Monkey. We are going to Devils' Island to defeat the demons," they replied.
"That is a good thing to do. What is in that bag on your belt, Momotaro?"
"These are special nutritious dumplings. They can make you very strong. If I give you one, will you join us in our quest?"
"Yes, I will join you in your quest."
So Momotaro gave him a dumpling, and the monkey joined them. And they set off again, over the mountains and through the valleys.
While they were walking, they met a pheasant.
"Hello, Momotaro. Hello, Dog. Hello, Monkey. Where are you going?" the pheasant asked.
"Hello, Pheasant. We are going to Devils' Island to defeat the demons," they replied.
"That is a good thing to do. What is in that bag on your belt, Momotaro?"
"These are special nutritious dumplings. They can make you very strong. If I give you one, will you join us in our quest?"
"Yes, I will join you in your quest."
So Momotaro gave her a dumpling, and the pheasant joined them. And they set off over the mountains and through the valleys.
When they came to the sea, they could see Devils' Island across the water.
Momotaro made a boat, and the dog and the monkey and the pheasant helped him in whatever way they could.
Then they sailed across the water to Devils' Island.
The pheasant flew ahead, as their scout, to find the way. She showed them where to land the boat, and how to get to the demons' lair.
When they got to the lair, they each ate one millet dumpling. They felt strong, with the power of Momotaro's adopted grandmother's love.
Then the pheasant flew over the wall and looked around. When she came back, she called down, "The demons are all taking a nap inside the walls."
So the monkey climbed over the wall and lifted the bolt on the gate.
Momotaro and the dog pushed the gate open and charged inside.
The monkey squealed and screamed. The dog barked and howled. The pheasant crowed and screeched.
And Momotaro cried, "Momotaro has come to avenge the villagers! Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
The demons woke up in confusion. But Momotaro waited. Then the demons attacked.
The dog charged and bit the demons' legs.
The monkey charged and jumped on the demons' heads.
The pheasant dove and pecked at their necks and arms.
Momotaro felt the power of his adopted grandfather's love as he swung his sword and beat the demons back.
Soon the demons were all on the run. They ran into the castle to the big demon.
"Momotaro has come!"
"Momotaro is too strong!"
"We can't beat him!"
The big demon burst out laughing. "Bwaaah hah hah hah! You weak cowards! Who is Momotaro?"
Just then Momotaro and the dog and the monkey and the pheasant burst through the door.
"I am Momotaro. I have come to avenge the villagers! Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
"You are an insolent worm! You insult me!" yelled the big demon as he charged.
Then the dog bit his heels, and the monkey jumped on his head, and the pheasant dove and pecked his neck and arms.
And Momotaro felt the power of his adopted grandfather's love as he swung his sword and beat him back.
Soon the big demon was cowering in the corner. "I give! I give!"
"Do you all give up?" Momotaro asked them in a loud voice.
"Yes, we give up!" all the demons cried out in fear.
"Will you go raiding and attack the villagers again?" he asked.
"No! We will never go raiding again! We will never attack the villagers again!"
"Will you come with me and give all their treasures back?"
"Yes! We will go with you and give all their treasures back!"
"What about the food?"
"We will give everything we haven't eaten back!"
"What will you do then?"
Silence.
Then the big demon said, "We don't know what to do. We only know how to do bad things."
Momotaro thought for a moment. "Then you must come back with me and my grandparents will teach you how to work."
So the demons promised.
Then they collected the stolen things and went back to the villages and gave everything back.
When they were done, they went to Momotaro's village and Momotaro and his adopted grandprents taught them how to work.
Then some of the demons went back to their island to work, and others stayed in the villages to work.
And everyone lived happily ever after, or, at least, for a long time.
(Audio here. 音声はここです。)
Once upon a time in a small village near the Seto Inland Sea, an old man lived with his wife. Because they had no children, they lived by themselves.
Every day, they worked hard. The old man would go to the fields. And the old woman would do the housework, and then go to the river to do the laundry.
One day, while doing the laundry, the old woman saw something strange bobbing up and down as it floated down the river. As it drew closer, she saw that it was a giant peach.
So she called out to the peach, "Peach! Oh, Peach. Come here." And the peach came toward her, bobbing and dancing in the stream.
When it got close, she reached out into the water and pulled it to shore. It was very large, and she said to herself, "This will make us a nice dessert."
When she finished with the laundry, she took her load back to the house and set the peach on the table to show her husband.
When he finally returned after sundown, he was pleased to see the peach. "This peach looks delicious." he said to his wife, "Let's have some."
"Yes, let's." she said. And she got out a large knife to cut the peach with.
But, before she could put the knife to the peach, it popped open, and out popped a lively baby boy.
"Hello, Grandma!", "Hello, Grandpa!" he said.
The old man and the old woman were very surprised. "Where did you come from?" they asked the boy.
And he replied "From heaven, of course."
And the old woman said to her husband, "The gods have blessed us for all our years of hard work and patience."
So they named the boy "Momotaro", which means "Son of the Peach," and raised him as their own son.
They took good care of him, and Momotaro was a good boy.
He ate all his food, and grew big and strong. And as he grew up, he helped in the fields and around the house.
And he played with the other children in the village, made lots of friends, and became a brave, strong young man.
He worked hard and grew stronger than any man in the village.
One day as he was working in the fields, he saw a kite circling overhead.
He called to the bird, "Hello, Kite, do you have any news?"
And the bird called back, "Momotaro, the villagers around here need your help!"
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"The demons from Devils' Island are raiding the villages, destroying their houses, and taking their food and treasures."
So he went home and told his adopted parents, "I must go to Devils' Island and defeat the demons."
They were very surprised. "But you are just a young man!" the old man said.
"I am stronger than any man in the village."
"It will be very dangerous!" cried the old woman.
"I am very brave, and it is the right thing to do." he replied.
So the old man helped him make a very strong sword.
And the old woman helped him prepare special nutritious millet dumplings.
"We have put our hearts into this sword. It will help you defeat the demons," the old man said.
"We have put our hearts into these dumplings. Eat one, and you will be stronger than one hundred men," said the old woman.
So the old man put the sword in its sheath and Momotaro tied the sheath to his belt.
And the old woman put the millet dumplings in a bag and Momotaro tied the bag to his belt.
"Thank you, Grandmother. Thank you, Grandfather. I will do my best, and I shall prevail."
So Momotaro set off over the mountains and through the valleys.
While he was walking, he met a dog.
"Hello, Momotaro. Where are you going?" the dog asked.
"Hello, Dog. I am going to Devils' Island to defeat the demons," Momotaro replied.
"That is a good thing to do. What is in that bag on your belt?"
"These are special nutritious dumplings. They can make you very strong. If I give you one, will you join me in my quest?"
"Yes, I will join you in your quest."
So Momotaro gave him a dumpling, and the dog joined him. And then they set off again, over the mountains and through the valleys.
While they were walking, they met a monkey.
"Hello, Momotaro. Hello, Dog. Where are you going?" the monkey asked.
"Hello, Monkey. We are going to Devils' Island to defeat the demons," they replied.
"That is a good thing to do. What is in that bag on your belt, Momotaro?"
"These are special nutritious dumplings. They can make you very strong. If I give you one, will you join us in our quest?"
"Yes, I will join you in your quest."
So Momotaro gave him a dumpling, and the monkey joined them. And they set off again, over the mountains and through the valleys.
While they were walking, they met a pheasant.
"Hello, Momotaro. Hello, Dog. Hello, Monkey. Where are you going?" the pheasant asked.
"Hello, Pheasant. We are going to Devils' Island to defeat the demons," they replied.
"That is a good thing to do. What is in that bag on your belt, Momotaro?"
"These are special nutritious dumplings. They can make you very strong. If I give you one, will you join us in our quest?"
"Yes, I will join you in your quest."
So Momotaro gave her a dumpling, and the pheasant joined them. And they set off over the mountains and through the valleys.
When they came to the sea, they could see Devils' Island across the water.
Momotaro made a boat, and the dog and the monkey and the pheasant helped him in whatever way they could.
Then they sailed across the water to Devils' Island.
The pheasant flew ahead, as their scout, to find the way. She showed them where to land the boat, and how to get to the demons' lair.
When they got to the lair, they each ate one millet dumpling. They felt strong, with the power of Momotaro's adopted grandmother's love.
Then the pheasant flew over the wall and looked around. When she came back, she called down, "The demons are all taking a nap inside the walls."
So the monkey climbed over the wall and lifted the bolt on the gate.
Momotaro and the dog pushed the gate open and charged inside.
The monkey squealed and screamed. The dog barked and howled. The pheasant crowed and screeched.
And Momotaro cried, "Momotaro has come to avenge the villagers! Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
The demons woke up in confusion. But Momotaro waited. Then the demons attacked.
The dog charged and bit the demons' legs.
The monkey charged and jumped on the demons' heads.
The pheasant dove and pecked at their necks and arms.
Momotaro felt the power of his adopted grandfather's love as he swung his sword and beat the demons back.
Soon the demons were all on the run. They ran into the castle to the big demon.
"Momotaro has come!"
"Momotaro is too strong!"
"We can't beat him!"
The big demon burst out laughing. "Bwaaah hah hah hah! You weak cowards! Who is Momotaro?"
Just then Momotaro and the dog and the monkey and the pheasant burst through the door.
"I am Momotaro. I have come to avenge the villagers! Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
"You are an insolent worm! You insult me!" yelled the big demon as he charged.
Then the dog bit his heels, and the monkey jumped on his head, and the pheasant dove and pecked his neck and arms.
And Momotaro felt the power of his adopted grandfather's love as he swung his sword and beat him back.
Soon the big demon was cowering in the corner. "I give! I give!"
"Do you all give up?" Momotaro asked them in a loud voice.
"Yes, we give up!" all the demons cried out in fear.
"Will you go raiding and attack the villagers again?" he asked.
"No! We will never go raiding again! We will never attack the villagers again!"
"Will you come with me and give all their treasures back?"
"Yes! We will go with you and give all their treasures back!"
"What about the food?"
"We will give everything we haven't eaten back!"
"What will you do then?"
Silence.
Then the big demon said, "We don't know what to do. We only know how to do bad things."
Momotaro thought for a moment. "Then you must come back with me and my grandparents will teach you how to work."
So the demons promised.
Then they collected the stolen things and went back to the villages and gave everything back.
When they were done, they went to Momotaro's village and Momotaro and his adopted grandprents taught them how to work.
Then some of the demons went back to their island to work, and others stayed in the villages to work.
And everyone lived happily ever after, or, at least, for a long time.
2014-10-14
September 29th -- Coming Home from Vacation
[The family has come home from their vacation trip.
一家は休暇の旅行から戻ってきています。
See here for vocabulary. 単語はここを参照。]
Amy: I don't want to go back to school!
Alex: Well, school starts tomorrow, so we have to get ready. I kinda missed school.
Anne: Can you two help me sort the laundry and put it away?
Alex: Do I have to, Mom?
Anne: What are you doing now?
Amy: He's playing with his PS Vita.
Anne: Don't play with that while I'm home! I hate that.
Alex: Okay, Mom, I'll help. Just let me finish this fight. I'm in a good rhythm.
Anne: Finish it quick.
Andy: How did you manage to get a load of laundry already washed and dried? Aren't you tired?
Anne: Best medicine for jet lag is getting back to work. How is your résumé coming, Alex?
Alex: Why do I have to get a job?
Andy: I'm not paying your full tuition, fees, books, and allowance. You've got to earn some of your money for school.
Alex: Argghh! She got me.
Andy: Good. Now put that game machine down and help your mom and your sister.
Amy: Who got you?
Alex: Pietra. Her user name is Rocky. Pass me my shirt there.
Amy: Here's your socks and shorts, too. Is she a friend from school or from your social network site?
Alex: Twitter. She does kendo, too.
Amy: Ooh. She sounds dangerous. Pass me my socks, would you?
Alex: Here.
Amy: Thanks. I'm done, Mom. Can I go now? I need to practice for the piano recital.
Anne: Of course.
Alex: I'm done too. I'm going to go to go practice the drums for my recital.
Andy: Don't play them too loud, okay? The neighbors will complain again.
Anne: Just the two of us now. Any word from the alumni association on your reunion, Honey?
Andy: Not yet. I'll have to give Roger a call. Have you called Mary about the turtle yet?
Anne: She said we could take our time about going to get Max.
Andy: That's nice of her.
一家は休暇の旅行から戻ってきています。
See here for vocabulary. 単語はここを参照。]
Amy: I don't want to go back to school!
Alex: Well, school starts tomorrow, so we have to get ready. I kinda missed school.
Anne: Can you two help me sort the laundry and put it away?
Alex: Do I have to, Mom?
Anne: What are you doing now?
Amy: He's playing with his PS Vita.
Anne: Don't play with that while I'm home! I hate that.
Alex: Okay, Mom, I'll help. Just let me finish this fight. I'm in a good rhythm.
Anne: Finish it quick.
Andy: How did you manage to get a load of laundry already washed and dried? Aren't you tired?
Anne: Best medicine for jet lag is getting back to work. How is your résumé coming, Alex?
Alex: Why do I have to get a job?
Andy: I'm not paying your full tuition, fees, books, and allowance. You've got to earn some of your money for school.
Alex: Argghh! She got me.
Andy: Good. Now put that game machine down and help your mom and your sister.
Amy: Who got you?
Alex: Pietra. Her user name is Rocky. Pass me my shirt there.
Amy: Here's your socks and shorts, too. Is she a friend from school or from your social network site?
Alex: Twitter. She does kendo, too.
Amy: Ooh. She sounds dangerous. Pass me my socks, would you?
Alex: Here.
Amy: Thanks. I'm done, Mom. Can I go now? I need to practice for the piano recital.
Anne: Of course.
Alex: I'm done too. I'm going to go to go practice the drums for my recital.
Andy: Don't play them too loud, okay? The neighbors will complain again.
Anne: Just the two of us now. Any word from the alumni association on your reunion, Honey?
Andy: Not yet. I'll have to give Roger a call. Have you called Mary about the turtle yet?
Anne: She said we could take our time about going to get Max.
Andy: That's nice of her.
September 29th Vocabulary And Phrases
[See here for examples. 例文をここでご参照できます。]
- put things away
- 物々を片付ける（元の場所に直す）
- lot
- 一組、一区画、一山、一口、など
- a lot of A
- A のたくさん、 A いっぱい
- sort
- 分類・仕分けする、並べ替える
- sort laundry
- 洗濯物を分類する
- kind
- 類、種類、親族
- sort
- 種、類、種類、タイプ
- kind-of (kinda) A
- いくぶん A、 ある程度 A、 ちょっと A、 A のようで
- sort-of (sorta) A
- いくぶん A、 多少 A、 かなり A、 なんだか A
- game
- 遊び、娯楽、遊戯、ゲーム、球技、試合など
- game machine
- ゲーム機
- play
- 遊ぶ、遊び感覚でやる
- Don't play that!
- そんなもので遊ぶな！そんな遊びをするな！
- ... while I'm home/here
- （家に）居るあいだは
- college
- 大学の学部、短期大学
- university
- 大学、大学院
- elementary
- 基礎の、要素の
- elementary school
- 小学校
- school
- 学校
- reunion
- 同窓会（会合）
- alumni/alumnae association
- 同窓会（団体）
- practice
- 練習、習わし、行う、実施、開業
- drum(s)
- 太鼓（のセット）
- network
- 網状組織、網状通信
- social network
- 社交的交流のための網状組織
- social networking sites (facebook, linkedin)
- 社交的に交流できるインターネット通信設備
- work/job history
- 職務経歴
- résumé
- 履歴書
- vita
- 命、生命、生涯（ラテン語の life）
- curriculum vitae (course of life)
- 業績書
- vitamin
- ビタミン（life-mineral からできたと言われるが、無機鉱物ではない）
- I don't do music.
- 音楽の稽古はしません。
- I do Japanese Noh.
- 能の稽古はします。
- I do practice kendo.
- 剣道の稽古をします。（主張する表現）
- recite
- 暗唱する
- recital
- 演奏会、発表会
- hot springs
- 温泉
- get used to A
- A に慣れる
- just the two of us/you/them
- 二人きり（自分ら二人／相手二人／他人二人）
- Just the Two of Us (Grover Washington Jr.)
- ３０年前のジャズ系のポップソング
- There are six in my family.
- 家族は六人です。
- I have one brother.
- 兄もしくは弟一人がいます。
- I have two sisters.
- 自分を含まず、姉妹二人がいます。
- I have three siblings.
- 四人兄弟です。
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