From the Editor

This photo is bound to evoke some reaction.  What’s missing is a caption. To get the ball rolling for next month, tap into those creative resources and send in your suggestions for a caption for this photo. This could possibly be used as an activity in class.

Thanks go to Hanaki-san for her Nihongo quiz. Coinciding with Poetry month, try your hand at writing a senryu poem. It’ll make your Nihongo sensei happy.  Some examples are included. You’ve learned a bit more about our intrepid trainer, Josh. Thanks to Alastair for the musing on team teaching.  And a Big thanks to Josh for going the extra mile for an extra article.

Have a great Golden Week holiday; we’ll see you at the next meeting.

-kim

An Interview with Josh

• Name: Joshua Doherty
• Home City: Perth
• Hobbies/Interests: surfing
• When I got off the airplane in Japan, I thought... Why didn't they want to check my 5 bags of snowboards, surfboards, etc..
• When I walked into my apartment: I thought I had been hit with a baseball bat, but it was the doorway.
• During my first trip to a supermarket in Japan: I was held up by the recycling police and given a fine on 100% recycled paper at the recycle bins.
• Favorite Japanese food: katsudon
• Best restaurant in Japan: Katsu in Shizuoka station
• Best drinking place: Ocha factory
• Best Japanese word/phrase: tanoshinde kudasai
• Best place in Japan: Standing next to Shinkansen tracks in the tea fields in Haibara. A 250km/h rush.
• Best thing in Japan: Samurai, at the moment.
• Worst thing about Japan: rabid monkeys at the beach
• Favorite free-time activity: you guess.
• One book to have on a desert island: A Methodology for Counting Grains of Sand, I read this in my enviro course at university
• Favorite music: garage band
• Favorite drink: coconut milk vodka, hazel Galliano, cinnamon
• Favorite Interchange lesson: Excuses, NIC2 U16
• Embarrassing moment in Japan: taking 2 stairs at a time and tripping at the top (I knew what everyone was thinking, foolish boy!
• Personal goal: kokjong hajimah haeng bok haseyo "don't worry, be happy"
• Prefer futon or bed: Always used a futon at home.

What's Happening

• April is Poetry Month
• Golden Week
  • May 3 - Constitution Memorial Day - Kempo Kinenbi
  • May 4 - People's Day (or Citizens Day) - Kokumin no Kyujitsu
  • May 5 - Children's Day - Kodomo no Hi -and, don't forget,
• May 14 - Mother's Day

Anna's Farewell Party - by Josh

Priceless. That’s the word I would use to describe the face of the cook when he saw 18 people stroll through the door at Louisiana Mama’s Italian Restaurant for Anna’s going away dinner.

The vibe was great and there was a healthy mix of Japanese and English being thrown across the table (that’s food and words inclusive). I’m not sure if the staff had ever seen so many people having so much fun with fondue forks! And here I was thinking fondue was French…!!

The night continued at Anna’s apartment with an impromptu catwalk show, bootscootin’ vegemite tasting, and heated discussions over whose turn it was with the ‘swinging ball in the cup’ game!

Anna and the Social Committee send out a big thanx to all who came and made it a memorable night!

You can see Anna's interview in last month's issue.

Nihongo Quiz - by Hanaki san

あんな時、こんな時

聞き返すとき　Clarification

＜改まった言い方＞

Ａ：「この記事を要約してください。」   Please summarize this article.
Ｂ：「ようやくって、どういう意味ですか？」 What does “Yoyaku” mean?
□「ようやく」って、どういう意味ですか。　　What does “Yoyaku” mean?
□「よやく」って、reservationのことですか。　Does “Yoyaku” mean “reservation”?
□「ようやく」って、英語でなんですか。　　　　How do you say “Yoyaku” in English?
□すみません、「ようやく」の意味がわからないんですが。。 Excuse me, but I don’t know what “Yoyaku” means.

＜くだけた言い方＞

Ａ：「この記事を要約してくれる？」
Ｂ：「えっ、ようやくって？」
□「ようやく」って？
□「よやく」って、reservationのこと？
□「ようやく」って、英語でなに？
□ごめん、「ようやく」の意味がわからないんだけど。。。

クイズ

矢崎の担当者２人とあなたの３人でミーティングをしています。担当者の説明の中にわからない言葉があります。どのタイミングで、どうやって、きりだしますか？
You’re in the meeting of 2 people with your Tantosha, and you hear a word you don’t know in the explanation.  At what time, and how, would you interrupt?

おもったことを５・７・５　　　　ＦＩＡ川柳

車より　人生ナビが必要ね　　　（栗鼠･メイン）
朝おきて　仕事に急いで　またねます　（栗栖･メイン）
パソコンで　会社と家も　残業だ　（ブライアン）
ふるさとを　にぎるけど　今にぎられる　（ダン）  

A Little Bit of This and A Little Bit of That

Larry at the Canon "Margarita Meltdown."

Shimizu-Sensei and son at Kaneko BBQ.

Will as BBQ party paparazzi.

Luckily, F.I.A. has a 100% Team Teaching survival rate! Anna visited 7 locations for 4-day sessions in two months… Her notes on that experience will prove a valuable resource for future sessions.

New Word - season creep n. Earlier spring weather and other gradual seasonal shifts, particularly those caused by global climate change.

From the Clubhouse

April came and went so quickly; it's already payday, with the promise of a Golden Week before us. Whatever flavor of rest and recreation you choose, do make the most of it; after this break things get busy with staff meetings, pair training, rainy season including all of June, with no National Holidays :0

It was great to see so many people at the Senpuku April Fool party, and a good feed, too. Anna has been bid a fond farewell, and should be getting a start on her next adventure in New York already.

Recent parties by trainers for members have been great; Larry hosted the CAN crowd (twice!), Brad the NMZ bunch, Lani and Jonathan the SMD 1&2 combo, and Kim organized weekend get-togethers with the TNR team. Let's do our best to engage our members outside of the classroom as well, as part of the real F.I.A. experience.

The Social Committee is working enthusiastically on a plan for the 2006 FIA Photo Show. This should be a great time to get caught up and perhaps learn more about our coworker's adventures. Thanks in advance to Lani, Dale and Chris for taking on this responsibility.