Japan News

Japan has been in the news a lot these days. Based on recent reports, some news is good and some is disconcerting. For example, the Japanese stock market has gone up so current economic policies of the Japanese government have been lauded. At the same time, old regional animosities have once again emerged over issues such as Japan’s military history and territorial disputes. While recent visits by Japan’s leaders to a religious shrine have stirred controversy, of greater concern is the military confrontation over Pacific islands between China and Japan. Meanwhile, North Korea has fired rockets that have gotten the attention of Japan and others. It is good for Japan that the economy is improving but Japan still faces difficult decisions and many risks.

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チェイさんとロッド津田さん

今日はチェイさんとジャネルさんの結婚式でした。
遠くて迷子になりそうなので、行きも帰りも、ロッド津田さんの車に乗せていただきました。
ロッド津田さんは日系四世で、キャンベル高校で、日本語とスペイン語を教えています。

チェイさんもスペイン語と英語の先生であり、ナコスで日本語も磨いています。
ロッドさんも恥ずかしがらずに、日本語でお話ししましょう!

というわけで、津田さんのお蔭で、間に合って、結婚式の写真を撮ることもできました。
楽しい小旅行でした。ありがとうございました!
観光客のように、車窓からオアフ島の美しい緑の木々を堪能しました。

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my first lesson


Today was my first lesson at NACOS. I found out about NACOS through a mutual friend. My friend’s friend name is Rodney Osorio. Thanks to him, I can learn Japanese.

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おひさしぶりです。


仕事で大変忙しくしていました。今日、やっと終わりました。
来週から、しばらく旅行に出かけます。
マーレシアの田舎、そして、ネーパルに行く予定です。




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One Song

One of my answers to one of my hardest questions in life about a year ago became unanswered. I used to ask everyone, if you could pick one song, only one to describe your life, what would it be? I know. It’s hard right? I understand we all have soundtracks that describe us, but you can only pick one. For years I was certain it was John Lennon’s “Working class Hero”. But, certain life events have caused me to rethink this as that song no longer aptly describes me anymore…..and the search continues….

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Learning How to Swim

Growing up in Michigan I was very fortunate to have always been close to lakes. Michigan has many small lakes along with the Great Lakes that are the most famous. My Father taught me how to swim when I was about 2 or 3 years old! We would go to the lake to relax on Sunday and my Father usually took me out to about 1 to 3 feet of water and would throw me in! I would float up to the surface and was soon able to kick and use my arms in a simple swimming style. Infants have a natural “mammalian reflex” which causes them to close their mouths and hold their breaths underwater. We lose this reflex as we get older. Because I started learning how to swim so young I do not know what it is like to not know how to swim! When my Father was teaching me to swim in this manner my Mother would be sitting on the beach almost having a heart attack! She did not know how to swim and was very afraid of the water. I ended up becoming a swimming Instructor and teaching infants and small children how to swim in the same manner as my Father taught me!

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For the Ladies

Hello Ladies, I’m currently writing an article based on compromise. I just wanted to write about a few things that I’ve observed over the past few years.

But first, I have to say, women have had to cope with so much in this world. It breaks my heart to know of some of the experiences women have had to live through. But, there is an answer and it depends on you if you want your life to change and/or if you want to change someone else’s life, for the better.

Ok, here we go. I know of sex trafficking that women have gone through. I’ve heard the stories about women having to dress and look a certain way in different countries. I’ve heard about and read stories of abuse in the morning paper. There are so many things that women have to face and I am just so fed up with it all.

But, there is something that came to mind that, in a way, can bring you to the answer you may be looking for. Compromise.

Without stepping on any toes, I will be careful to explain what I mean. Some women get into and stay in relationships that are abusive, mentally, physically and emotionally, due to compromise. They will believe that they are loved when they are not and think, “If I just do this, then he will do that.” Or, “I will never find anything better so I might as well keep what I have.”

Usually we are emotionally tied to these compromising relationships due to sexual activity. Now, I know I just hit a nerve so please stay with me for a moment.

When we have pre-marital sex, besides all the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases, we are creating soul ties and emotional bonds that are hard to break. They are hard because when we are physical with the opposite sex we release chemicals in our bodies that trick the brain into believing that we need to keep having this good feeling.

In women, a chemical call, Oxytocin is released, which is designed to help you forget what is painful…the truth of the matter. Oxytocin is an emotional bonding chemical. So when you are physical a man you are becoming emotionally involved with him and it will be hard to let him go. A chemical called, Vasopressin has a similar affect in men.

So as it becomes hard to leave a relationship, compromise sets in. It gets even harder when there are multiple partners.

Ladies, there is a way to stay out of compromising situations and relationships that hurt. It’s not a drug, it’s not a magic trick. It’s a truth. His name is Jesus.

He can help you not to hurt anymore. He can set you free from pain. He can and will bring a good relationship to you, one in which you will experience true, deep, compassionate, free love. No compromising, no fears, no abuse.

Would you consider a life long relationship of love? Ask Jesus about it.

Thank you for reading.

God bless you,

Cedric

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Fern



Budding shoot, new life
Silent inherent, God’s design
Tender glory births





Budding hapu fern

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14th lesson

Today I practiced a new story about moonbows. I learned that I can say ごぞんじですか? This is a very polite way of saying, “do you know?” We are now learning how to say present & past tense forms of verbs and positive and negative forms of verbs. We reviewed some question phrases & how to use こと が できます。This means “I am able to”. I am feeling more relaxed when I speak & read Hiragana.

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ゆかい川柳です。



爆笑あるはずのひとり者の夢


ばくしょう あるはず の ひとりもの の ゆめ

郁子


新緑がとてもきれいです。にがてな夏が近づいています。

昼寝から夢で目覚めました。大へんおもしろい夢をみまして、演じまして、誰ひとり笑う人もなく、拍手もなく、エー?とはじめてひとりと気づきました。というようなむなしいものです。そこで一句、「爆笑あるはずのひとり者の夢」が出来ました。午後5時半にポツンとしたためています。

こんどは川柳即興の一句だけです。ゆかい川柳です。


Ikuko

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