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England’s springtime festivals and events come in all shapes and sizes, from traditional country fetes to world-class sporting events and quiet, intellectual affairs. What’s more, there’s something to suit all tastes and interests. Foodies can sink their teeth into Yorkshire’s best produce at the Malton Food Lovers Festival whilst vintage darlings clamber aboard the East Lancashire Railway’s 1940s festival. Sip a quintessentially English Pimm’s at a garden party in Cumbria, join in with the Morris dancers for an old-fashioned May Day knees-up or click your fingers and tap your toes to the sound of Bristol’s thumping jazz scene.

Ever since I first came to Japan back in 2011 I was always fascinated by the culture of cuteness that is so prevalent in Japanese society. Within the first week I had already done プリクラ (purikura) multiple times, was introduced to countless character mascots and came to understand the significance of posing for a picture in a cute way, especially the ever present peace sign. My understanding was heightened when I learned of アイドル (idols) and how cuteness ruled the entertainment industry here.

Needless to say, the cuteness of Japan has had a large impact on me, to the point where I’ve basically developed an effeminate “alter-ego”. While this “alter-ego” is largely a joke to me, I enjoy that it helps me balance the over-serious aspects of my personality in social situations. It is meant to be humorous, but the funniest part is that my family and friends back in the United States don’t quite understand when I post pictures like this:

(-_^)v

笑(Haha)!

Joe

I’m not that big on baseball, but with the World Baseball Classic finals just around the corner, it’s becoming more exciting to watch. Some very close games and thrilling comebacks have been played, so I’m definitely going to watch the match between The U.S and Japan.

Baseball isn’t as popular in Australia as it is in Japan. It is however, becoming more popular amongst children and young teenagers with Little League Baseball teams increasing in numbers.

Cricket is a very famous sport in Australia which is somewhat similar to baseball. Likewise, teams have batters or batsmen, fielders, and bowlers (like the pitcher in baseball). Similar to the catcher in baseball, there is the position of the wicket-keeper who stands behind the wickets and is the only player wearing catching gloves.

Both sports require fast reflexes to try and get the batsman out.

Here are some of the best catches from behind the stumps. Howzaaaat!!! 

It is finally beginning to feel more like Spring here in Matsuyama, and I couldn’t be happier. The cherry blossoms should begin blooming very soon, and I know personally I’m very excited. Cherry blossoms can also be found all over the United States. Many cities around the country host Cherry Blossom Festivals in March and April.

They are especially common on the West Coast, with most major cities having cherry blossoms in parks and botanical gardens. From Monterey and San Francisco in California, to Salem and Portland in Oregon, and even further north in Seattle Washington, you can find events celebrating cherry blossoms.

This week the National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place in Washington D.C., where the cherry blossoms have bloomed for over a hundred years. Unfortunately, the cold weather this year has damaged the blossoms and more than half were killed before reaching peak bloom. It should still be a beautiful sight, and fortunately the trees were not damaged.

Do you have any special plans for this weekend?

Alex

Abbreviations

An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase used mainly in writing to represent the complete form. It usually has a full-stop at the end.
Examples: Lib.  for Library

                   abbr.  for abbreviation

                   approx.  for approximate

Acronyms

An acronym is a pronounceable word formed mostly (but not always) from the initial letters of a descriptive name or title.
Examples: radar = radio detecting and ranging

                    ASAP = as soon as possible

The term initialism uses a similar method, but the word is pronounced letter by letter.

Example: BBC British Broadcasting Corporation or USA United States of America.
And last but not least, there are symbols and/or units of reference, like min for minute or kg for kilogram.