強風で電車が止まった

I was stucked in the train because of the furious wind yesterday. The stationary train I was on swayed shakily before the wind.
I think it was a good judgment of them to decide to stop.

ネイティブから見てナチュラルな英語になっているか？という点が気になります。でも、とりあえず意味が通じれば良いかな。が、しかーし！「日々是向上」なり！

これだけの文章でも、自信ない表現はネットの辞書で調べたりしてます。止まってる電車の事をはじめ”the standstill train”と書きましたが、standstillは名詞で、形容詞的に使う場合はthe train at a standstill"のように使うようで、なるべく文を短く簡潔にするのにもっとベターな表現はないかな？と調べてみたところstationaryを使えばいいじゃない、という事になりました。

英語圏でも自然な表現かどうかは、googleとかに打ち込んでみて検索すればある程度は分かります。ヒット件数が多くて、その表現がそのまま使われているサイトがいくつもあれば大体世間的には大丈夫でしょうが、ヒット件数が少なかったり、検索したそのままの単語順では出てこなかったような場合は怪しいです。たとえばstationary trainはけっこう出てきましたが、standstill trainはやはり出てきませんでした。エキサイト翻訳とかで自然な日本語に見えたとしても要注意です。

[*the below is the revised version on Dec. 30, 2012]
I was stucked in the train because of the furious wind yesterday. The train at a standstill I was on was heavily shaked by the wind.

Those who give is to be given; if so, those who rob is to be robbed

Falklands War for 30 years - Signs of relapse, competing for resources
【cited from the following (written in Japanese)
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20120331-00000097-san-int 】

here is the excerpt(translated by me) from above:
"With the rise of emerging economies, disputes about sovereignty has become apparent in the waters rich in submarine resources.
 Associate Professor James Holmes of United States Naval Academy says "China, which has the issue of territorial rights in the East and South China Sea, has been studying this war."

I read this and thought it's stupid. In all likelihood, their "study" is how to win, how to rob other countries of what they want. If there is the God or the Buddha in this world, do they ever want to guard the country where there are lots of people in greed? I'm anxious about the future of such a country.

I supposed that there has been the religion or precept of Confucianism, Taoism and things like that, but where have they gone?

"the Chinese have a human supremacism (Atheism) in the bottom of their mind."
【cited from here (written in Japanese)
http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q139711853 】

It seems to me that they don't have the feeling to be awed by the nature. However, also in Japan, there are some traders who receive the broken home electric appliances for free or a little cost and let them flow to China, as it seems like a sinecure (easy and profitable job). But do they think of what if these stuff will be after being brought to that country?
 I don't want to side with the things like contaminating the nature of the earth, so I will ask for the proper, official trader to get my CRT TV in no use recycled, even if it requires a certain amount of money.

I got a new job as a tutor!

The other day I had a job interview for a cramming school. I wanted to be an English teacher there, but I haven't had a certificate of TOEIC test yet. So I just wrote the results of mock exams on my CV. I was not sure if it's OK, but the interviewer (the headmaster of there) didn't care and even ask me about it at all! To my surprise, he employed me on the spot. I didn't take a test to measure my English skill but an easy psychological test. But it seemed that he didn't even look at my answer sheet...anyway, I must be lucky.

He said I won't be able to attend enough classes unless I can teach not only English but other subjects. So I'm reviewing math of the junior high school level now. I think my salary was too little if I didn't do that. Actually I can't earn my living even if I teach several subjects. He said having another job is OK, but I suppose I seek the second job when I get accustomed to my new job. As the saying goes, "more haste, less speed". I'll do my best and be a good teacher. And I intend to apply for some translation trials.

What is a "kami-dana"?

In Japan, A "kami-dana" means a usually wooden rack on which we enshrine our god in home or sometimes our offices. Kami means the god or sacred spirits and Dana(Tana) means a rack. Usually we worship Uji-Gami(Kami), which means our local spiritual existence. That is thought to be an invisible Guardian in our local area. We offer thanks to Uji-Gami for letting us live in his/her place. Nowadays there aren't so many people, especially in younger generation, who have Kami-Dana in their house, but I think NOT forgetting appreciation to our local deities is the tips for having a lucky life.

So, what is God in Japan? It's thought to be sacred spirits of the nature.  And also it is our inner God, divine energy. The reason why the mirror is set in the main hall of the shrine as the symbol of the God is the existence that  reflects on the mirror indicates the God itself - the human ourselves. In a word "kagami", which means a mirror in Japanese, "ga" lies between "ka" and "mi". Kami means the God and Ga means our ego. So if we remove our ego from ourselves, there appears the God. It's a wonder of Japanese language.

By the way, I'm taking the TOEIC exam tomorrow. I'll do my best!

The impression of "Walden; Or, Life in the Woods"（本の感想：ウォールデン・森の生活）

Yesterday, I have finished reading this book. But it's not an original book; it was a revision for the Japanese who studies English. This book excerpts two chapters from its original book.

Half a year ago, I tried to read this book but felt too difficult. But this time I could read it completely. I'm very happy about that. It proves that my reading skill has been improving since then.

The author put emphasis on the importance of leading a simple life in the nature, and criticize the modern life and people who got accustomed to living in the city and forgot what was truly important in the life. I felt his contention too far sometimes but sympathy likewise. It seems that he could lead a simple life in the woods, but I wonder if he felt loneliness or he thought man ought to live in the society with other humans. Surely he was satisfied with his favorite way of living, but I think it's dubious that he can end his life with entirely satisfaction. I think each human has his/her own role in the world, and it's not good to live without relating to someone else. What do you think?

The symbolic creatures in each country／about Whale research fishing; "Mottainai"

What is your image of representative creatures in each country in the world? For example, what come up in my mind when I think of Japan are 柴犬（Shiba）, Akita dog, Japanese monkey, a  salmon or a whale. Talk about insects, here first comes a firefly（蛍） or a (japanese) beetle.

In case of America, I fancy an image of an eagle or a grizzly bear. As for China, of course a giant panda. As for Australia, needless to say, a koala or a kangaroo. How about Mexico? in my case, somehow an ailen or bats come up in my mind. And beautiful and long-tailed birds or colorful butterflies.

Speaking of whales, I'm concerned about Japanese whale-fishing for research. And dolphin fishing in some regions in Japan. Usually they seldom ever appear on the tables of a supermarket. Most Japanese haven't had them in their lives. But my grandfather, who is a fisherman, said he had caught some dolphins by chance. In his youth, it seems that their oil was used as a lamp.

What I can't make sense is why western people (or "Sea Shepherd") get very angry at such fishing. They say whales and dolphins are very intelligent animals so it's too cruel to get caught. But don't they eat meat or eggs of other animals? Don't they make use of fur or leather products at all? Or do they think animals like pigs or cattle deserve to be food of humans? Or do pigs or cattles have no brains? no souls? They are all mammals.

I would make more sense if they were perfect vegetarians. But maybe they are not.
Sea Shepherd is too aggressive, but actually I'm not sure whather the whale research fishing is really necessary and valid or not.

I feel sorry or guilty to eat other animals. I don't want to eat meat as much as possible. But actually I often eat meat. Maybe two or three times in a week. Because I think some meat is necessary to keep a good shape. And It's usually cheaper than vegetables and delicious. Moreover, Japanese have a feeling of "mottainai". Once dishes are served in front of us, it's bad not to eat them completely. If we leave them, they'll become a waste. So we should eat all the dishes with gratitude as much as possible. If we do so, their lives will continue with us. Maybe it's a concept of Shintoism. Most Japanese don't think so exaggeratedly. But the "mottainai" spirit is lying under Japanese mind, I believe. And I think it's one of virtues of us.

About a picnic party

The following question refers to this.
(This website is owesome! Very informative and you can use the lessons in this site for free.)

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Question:
"Plan a picnic or barbecue with a friend or classmate. Where would you have your picnic? What foods would you buy or prepare for the picnic? What activities or games would you plan to entertain your friends? "
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I would choose the place like a spacious park,and better if it was in a warm season.

I have had a Hanami-party,which is usually a picnic beneath cherry blossoms. Most japanese like cherry blossoms very much, but Hanami can be held only in spring when they are in bloom.

But my Hanami was not under cherry trees, but ume trees. I went in February where I can see them blooms beautifully with my girl friend. The beauty of the height of ume blossoms were
wonderful. But there were only us who were picnicking under the ume trees. Hanami except for cherry blossoms is not seen usually. So I was a little embarrassed, but it was a good memory.

If I plan a picnic with my friends, I want to play catch,frisbee or tag, and how about SUMOU wrestling? It won't be so dangerous on the lawn. Of course I want to enjoy eating, the meal in the nature and fresh air is very delicious.

My favorite restaurant

My favorite restaurant is a certain Italian restaurant the price of which is for general public and not so expensive.

I like it because there are partitions among each seats and it is a little dim in there, so  I can enjoy dinner without worrying about other people's eyes.

In addition, the restaurant offers free-pizza service, it means we can eat pizzas to our heart's content if we ordered any pizza. So a hearty eater like me will definitely like it.

The restaurant I often go is Italian, but I like not only Italian, but mostly any kind of foods. I love bowl of rices topped with something - for example, beef, chicken and egg, ikra(salmon roe) and sea urchin eggs. But ikra and sea urchin eggs are usually rather expensive.