カテゴリー：未分類
言葉の持つイメージ
アミックブログを訪れていただきありがとうございます^ – ^
７月４日はアメリカの独立記念日ですが、
私がアメリカに住んでいた頃、様々な国の人たちに「日本の独立記念日はいつ？」という質問を受け困惑したのを覚えています。
独立記念ということは、どこかの国に侵略されたり占領されていて、その束縛から解放されて初めて「独立」したということになることを踏まえると、日本はまだ正式には独立していない？？と深く考え込んでしまいました
ここではその話は置いておいて、今回はfireworks （花火）についての話
日本では夏の風物詩の一つで、
夏になると買ってもらった花火を家の庭でクルクル回して遊んだ記憶がありますが、
アメリカでは基本的に違法です
日本のようにいつでもお店に行けば買える訳ではありません
（自分で書いておいてかなりショッキング）
私たちが家や海などでやるような、個人でする花火はアメリカでは年に一度しか出来ないんです
1年に一度限りの待ちにまった日・・・なんだか７月７日の七夕ストーリーみたいですね
７月４日の独立記念日（Independence Day）の昼１２時〜夜１０時までが、
年に一度花火が許される時間なのです
そう考えると、アメリカでの花火のイメージは「祝福ムード」というところでしょうか
夏や花火と聞いてイメージするものは文化によって違いますね。
場所によっては日本でいう春夏秋冬という季節がない所もあると考えると、
同じ人といってもそれぞれがイメージするもの、さらにそういうものに少なからず影響を受ける私たちの思考というのは千差万別ですね
英会話スクールアミック
英会話・英語 アミック Come back vs go back
Come back vs go back
Come back
When you come back, you leave and return to here – the place where you are when you speak.
- I need to leave, but I’ll come back in 15 minutes.
- Get out of my house and don’t come back!
- I’m sorry, she isn’t here. But she’s coming back tomorrow.
Go back
When you go back, you return there – to the place you were before.
- I’ve had a lovely time, but I should go back home now.
- There are only three more days before our holiday ends and we have to go back.
- Stop stealing or you’ll go back to prison.
What My Kindle Has Taught Me Recently – 英会話・英語 アミック
One of my favorite things about reading on my Kindle e-reader is that if I come across a word I don’t know, I can see the definition just by highlighting it with my finger. Looking back through my highlights, here are some new words I have learned recently:
- Andirons- a support that logs are laid on top of for burning in a fireplace
- Encomium- the high praise of a person or thing
- Histrionics- displaying emotion to have some kind of desired effect on others, such as in a theatrical performance
- Ignominious- humiliating, disgraceful, shameful
- Rector- a priest or clergy member in charge of a church or parish
英会話・英語 アミック Weather words
Yakushima? I barely know ‘er! 英会話・英語 アミック
Fresh off a recent trip to Tokyo I have already started looking forward to my next travel bout. I stumbled upon a Wikipedia page about World Heritage Sites in Japan and discovered Yakushima.
Yakushima is an island off the southern coast of Kyushu. The island has been a World Heritage Site since 1993 because it is home to a massive ancient forest. Although Yakushima has many different types of flora and fauna, it’s Japanese Cedar trees are the real crowd pleaser; some are thought to be 2300 years old! Although many people suffer with hay fever from cedar trees, that’s not enough to stop 300,000 tourists from visiting the island each year.While these trees were logged for many years during the Edo period, commercial logging of the island was banned in the 1960s and the trees have been replanted. Additionally, Yakushima is home to the largest nesting ground for loggerhead sea turtles. The island is also home to macaques, deer, weasels, and the surrounding waters are full of dolphins and coral reefs.
Before you pack your bags and head out, you should be aware that the route to Yakushima can be challenging. There’s two different ferry services available to get there, but no cars are allowed on the island. Yakushima also has a small airport with two flights a day. Hiking to the top of Yakushima’s many peaks is extremely popular with tourists, but make sure to pack appropriate clothing. Yakushima is known as “Japan’s Wettest Place”, so a raincoat and water-proof boots are a must especially in June!
Fun fact: Yakushima is the inspiration for the forest settings in Princess Mononoke! So what do you think? Should I go??
