New Year's Eve's Soba Noodles

I am trying to be a good writer, so I make comparison to Rarejob Tutor's revised sentences and my original sentences.

(Tutor's revised sentence)
It’s a Japanese tradition to eat Soba at the end of the year.

(My original sentence)
Japanese people have a tradition to eat soba at the year end.

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(Tutor's sentence)
Soba is long like noodles and eating this during the transition of the year symbolizes a wish to have a long life.

(My original sentence)
Soba is long, so we eat soba between year and year, to wish a long life.

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(Here's my additional sentences)
I used to staying up late at night when I was yonger.  But these five years, I cannot do it any more.  I go to bed as early as 10 p.m., and fall into sleep immediately after that.

(Tutor's sentence)
In the past I would start cooking soba at 11:50 p.m on New Year’s eve and eat it at around 12 a.m. while watching the New Year countdown on TV.


(My original sentence)
I used to start cooking soba at 11:50 p.m. on New Year's Eve, and eat it around 0:00., watching TV for new year's count down.

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(Tutor's sentences)
The year end soba is already available in the local supermarket so I bought some, I couldn’t wait for the New Year to prepare it so I cooked and ate it one hour ago.  

However, I recently got tired of staying up late even for the New Year’s eve countdown. In the recent years, I cook soba at 8 p.m. and sleep at around 10 p.m.

(My original sentences)
However, I became older and got tired of staying up late even on the new year's eve.  I go to bed around 10:00 p.m. these years, so I cook soba at around 8:00 p.m.

This year, I couldn't wait until New Year's eve when I found the year end soba in a local supermarket, and ate it tonight.

(Tutor's sentence)
I bought a piece of shrimp and cuttle fish mixure fries for 150 yen and a pack of soup and soba noddle each for 20 yen.

(My original sentence)
A pack of soup is 20 yen, a pack of soba noodle is 20 yen, and one piece of a shrimp and cuttle fish fries was 150 yen.

 

(Tutor's sentences)

These are the steps in cooking a soba.

(1) First, open a pack of soup in a pan and boil it.

 

(My original sentences)

The pictures below show how I cooked it.  I opened a pack of soup in a pan, and boiled it.

 

(Tutor's sentence)

(2) After the soup is being boiled, open a pack of soba noodle, and put it in the pan.

 

(My original sentence)

When the soup boiled, I opened a pack of soba noodle, and put it in the pan.

 

(Tutor's sentence)

(3) Third, mix the noodles using chopsticks.

 

(My original sentence)

Then, mix the noodle with chopstick.

 

 (Tutor's sentence)

(4) After mixing the noodles, place the cuttle fish fries and shrimp in a microwave oven for 30 seconds.

 

 (My original sentence) 

I put the fries on microwave and heat it for 30 seconds. 

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(Tutor's sentence)

(5) Lastly, put the cuttle fish fries and shrimp on the top of the the noodles and it's ready to eat.

(My original sentences)

As for the noodles, after one minute cooking, it's ready to eat them.  Put them in the bowl, and put the fries on top.

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(Tutor's sentence)
If we eat out the price of soba cost around 500 yen but if we prepare it by ourselves we can save 300 yen.

 (My original sentences)

If we eat out, the price of this kind of noodle (with fries on top) is about 500 yen. 

And it tasted nice, so we are planning to have it on the New Year's Eve.

My experience on the Winter Solstice

Quote
"The winter solstice (Dec. 22, 2013) is the day with the shortest daytime of the year.  Japanese people customarily eat punkins and take a citron bath to prevent catching a cold."  Unquote
(Dec. 19, 2013's article from theYomiuri Shimbun.)

I cooked pumpkin for myself. 

I sliced pumpkins.  I placed them on the pan.  I added one cup of water, a spoonful of soy sauce, and sugar in it.

I put a wooden lid on it.

And I cooked them for about 10 minutes.

I ate two portions with green tea at 3 p.m. 

Later in the day, we visited Kodera Onsen or Hotspring on Dec. 22, 2013, the winter solstice day.

We took a citron bath and got relaxed.

The bath image was borrowed from Dec. 23rd's morning edition's of Yomiuri Shimbun.   

After that we took zenzai (sweetened beans' soup.)  The price was 250 yen.   

I liked it as the sweet soup made my body warm.  The price was reasonable, so I like to repeat it in the next time.

The sweetend tongue will turn salty by eating the attached small dish in the left side.

Night Walking in Arashiyama, Kyoto

I would like to be a better writer, so I made comparison between tutor's revised sentences and my original ones. 

(RareJob tutor's revised sentences)
We are subscribed to Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper and last month we found an interesting advertisement.  The Yomiuri  group, owner of both Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper and the Yomiuri Giants decided to hold a "thank you(39) thank you(39)" bus tour  to Celebrate Yomiuri Giants’ victory in this year’s Japanese Baseball Championships.  The fare for the bus tour is 3,939 yen.

(My original sentences)
We subscribe Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, and found an interesting advertisement last month.
After the Yomiuri Giant's this year's victory in the Japanese baseball team, the Yomiuri group decided to held "thank you(39) thank you(39)" bus tour  The bus tour price was 3,939 yen. 

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(Tutor's revised sentences)
Many might wonder why “Thank you” is 39 (thirty nine).
In America, some people use the shortcut 4U to say “for you”,   it is kind of similar with the usage of “39” to say “thank you” here in Japan.

 (My original sentences)
Why "thank you" is 39 (three nine)?
In English, some Americans write "4u" to express "for you."    "39" here is like the same kind.

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(Tutor's revised sentences)
In the Japanese language,
3 is read as "san," the pronunciation is similar to "than"
9 is read "kyu," the pronunciation is similar to "k you"(My original sentences)

(My original sentences)
In the Japanese language,
3 is read "san," the pronounciation is likely to "than"
9 is read "kyu," the pronounciation is likely to "k you"

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(Tutor's revised sentences)
They are trying to express their gratitude  through this promo. This is their way of saying “Thank you” for supporting to their baseball team, the Yomiuri Giants.    

Since the price was reasonable, we decided to participate in the bus tour which took place last December 21.
Arashiyama was the last stop and the main event of the tour. Walking under the lighting Arashiyama is a popular activity.

(My original sentences)
They try to mean "Thank you!"  "Thank you!" for our supporting their baseball team, the Yomiuri Giants.    

The price was good, so we applied for participating the bus tour on December 21. 

The main stop was the night walking under lighting in Arashiyama.

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(Tutor's sentences)
Our bus left Himeji station at 9:30am. Usually bus  tour prices are inclusive of lunch but this one did not.

If we were to take trains from Himeji to Kyoto by Japan Railway, the fare is 2,210 yen for a one way ticket. That means, a back and forth trip would cost 4,420 yen.

(My original sentences)
Our bus left 9:30 a.m. in front of Himeji station.  Usually the bus tour includes the lunch included in the price of the tour.  But it was not included.

If we take trains from Himeji to Kyoto by Japan Railway, the train fare is 2,210 yen in one way, which means 4,420 yen for going and back.

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(Tutor's sentences)
For our bus tour, the price was only 3,939 yen inclusive of dinner. The bus attendant called us in advance to inform us that we could either bring our own lunch box or buy lunch at the highway stop.

We were also told that we wouldn’t have enough time to stop and eat lunch so we have to eat lunch inside the moving bus.

As for us, we opted to buy our lunch from one of the shops at the bus stop and ate it on the bus. Many other participants did the same.
After lunch, we dropped by two souvenir shops; shop sells sweets  while the other one sells  salty products from Kyoto.

(My original sentences)
However, the price of the bus tour was only 3,939 yen including the dinner.  The bus attendant called us in advance that we have to bring lunch box or buy lunch on a shop when we stop by in a high way parking area.  We were also told that we didn't have enough time to eat lunch in a shop; we had to eat our lunch on the moving bus.

We bought our lunch on the high way parking lot, and ate it on the bus.  Many of the participants did the same as we did. 

After lunch, we stopped at two sourvienor shops; one was a sweet one, and the other is a salty one in Kyoto.

[2013/12/27 10:14:04] O. Kay: One shop was Yatsuhashi sweet shop.  The other was Tsukemono Salty shop.
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(Tutor's sentences)
After going to the souvenir shops the attendant told us “Our next stop is a Bazaar inside a temple ground, You will find many pop-up stores there. You may be surprised to see thousands of people visiting there. The bazaar is held every 21st day of the month.
Like what we have been told, there were indeed a lot of pop-up stores and the place was very crowded. Unfortunately, it began raining while we were there.

(My original sentences)
After that, the bus tour attendant told us "The next stop is a big market in a temple.  You will find a thousand instant shops there.  You may be surprised that one thousands of people are visiting there.  The market is held every 21st day of month (Jan. 21, Feb. 21, Mar. 21, ...., and Dec. 21). 

There were so many instant shops, and the place was so crowded.  The most terrible thing was it was started raining.

 

 (Tutor's sentences) 

As per our schedule, we had our early dinner at 4:00 p.m. It was at the second floor of a large souvenir shop. The price of the dinner was said to be 1,200 yen per person.
I have participated in many kinds of bus tours, and the dinner here was the best as I ever had.

 

(My original sentences)

 We took early dinner at 4:00 p.m. as scheduled at the second floor of a large sourvenior shop.

The price was shown 1,200 yen per person.

I have participated in many kinds of bus tours, and the dinner here was the best as I have had.

 

(Tutor's sentences) 

 As you can see in the picture below, the ground is still wet from the rain, the picture was taken at about 4:30 p.m from the restaurant where we were having our early dinner.

 

(My Original sentences)

You can find the ground is wet in the picture below. 

It was taken around 4:30 p.m. from the place where we took our dinner.

 

  

 

(Tutor's sentences)

We enjoyed night walking in Arashiyama, Kyoto.  Light up event was began at 5:00 p.m. in a bamboo forest. During this time of the year, it's already dark at 5.p.m.

 

(My original sentences)

We enjoyed night walking in Arashiyama, Kyoto.  Light up event was held from 5:00 p.m. in a bamboo forest.  It was already dark at 5:00 p.m. at this time of the year.

 

 

 

(Tutor's sentences)

The bamboo road was narrow.  Local tourist guide said "This lightning event is very popular, and we expect many tourists on weekends so people are supposed to walk only in a single direction" however, in the reality, many people are going back and forth in the one way street. What's worse  was everyone was holding their umbrella, it made the area appear even more congested and I had terrible time taking pictures.

(My original sentences)

The bamboo road was narrow.  Local guide people said "This lightning event is very popular, so we expect many tourists visit on weekend, so please don't stop, just go ahead."  People are supposed to walk one way only, however, in the reality, many people are going and back on the one way street.  And what's worse everyone had their umbrella on their hand, so it became so crowded and I had terrible when taking pictures.  

 

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(Tutor's sentence)

If it weren't raining and not as crowded as such, I could have taken better pictures.

 

(My original sentence) 

If it were not raining, and not crowded as such, I could have taken more good pictures.

 

(Tutor's sentences)

A man in a blue shirt is sailing the boat in this picture. There were a lot of people inside the cruising boat. Unfortunately, this picture was taken from afar and the people inside cannot be seen.

(My original sentences)

           A man who wearing blue is sailing a boat in the picture below. 

I found many people inside the crusing boat.  

Sorry that you cannot find people inside the boat from the picture. 

(Tutor's sentences)
I'm sure that the customers can enjoy their meal while watching the beautiful scenery. However, this seems like an expensive restaurant to dine in.

      (My Original sentences)    

This restraunt looked nice. 

I'm sure that customers can enjoy wonderful scenery while having a nice dinner,

but the dishes may cost a lot.

A Ramen fan

This man is not a bank robber, but my husband. 

I noticed that there are some RareJob tutors who are preparing for Christmas, and thy are excited and cannot wait to celebrate with their families.  So, I think it is not a good idea to ask them serious things.  Let's enjoy funny English lessons.  However, my English becomes terrible when speaking it without preparation.  So, I wrote something here for today's topic.
 
I would like to ask your comments for his eating habit.

These days he is wearing heavily like this because of cold temperature.   How much is the temperature?  It's below 10 degrees around noon.

He will turn to 61 years old next month.  He has been suffering from bronchial asthma since he was a small child.  Cold air makes worse to his condition.  To avoid breathing cold air, he wears mask every winter.  He feels better with the mask as well as taking the medicines. 

His blood pressure is above normal which means he is suffering from high blood pressure.  His doctor advises him to lose weight and not to eat too much salty food.  Japanese dishes generally contain much salt, so doctors and health care advisers such as nutritionists often say that the amount of salt usage should be within 6 grams per day.  I haven't calculated it exactly, but he takes more than 10 grams, I think.  It is not good for people whose blood pressure is high.  Once or twice for one week is not a problem. 

His favorite is ramen noodles.  Ramen noodles?  Some of the Rarejob teachers have told me that they liked Nissin, one of the largest noodle manufacturers in Japan, so maybe you have heard of it before, or you may even have eaten them.  Anyway, I bought one pack of ramen noodles, so I like to show you the picture.

My husband asks me to cook ramen noodles these days.  It's understandable because the hot soup makes his body warm.  

Ramen Noodles?  Please go to the website here so that you can find many of them. 

I put many kinds of vegetables on top.  It helps him to feel full by eating a variety of vegetables with rich in vitamins and minerals and has low calories.    Below is the picture of I cooked it for myself.  I put some moyashi (or bean sprouts), sliced nira (or leek), sliced cabbage, sliced carrots, and some pork.

After eating the vegetables and noodles, it is recommandable not to eat the soup because it contains much salt. 

I don't take the soup like the picture above, however, he takes the soup all the time.  If I sit next to him watching him eating, I will look after him by saying "Don't eat the soup!  It contains much salt, so it is not good for your health."  But if I do so, I don't have a chance to cook ramen for myself, so these days I leave him alone, and go to kitchen. 





Then, I am always finding out his ramen bowl is emptied whih means he had finished taking all the soup.

It sounds like a mother to advise him the same thing for many times. But basically he likes the taste of shoyu (soy beans), so he can't help himself.  He really likes the taste of shoyu (soy beans).  He seems to be addicted to it. 

Maybe I should try another kind of ramen, the miso soup ramen, because he doesn't like the taste of miso.  Then I don't think he takes miso soup, it might be a good idea for his health, but I know that he will complain about the taste. 

His height is 160 centimeter.  He weighed at 75 kilograms until July of this year.  Last year, his doctor told him that he belonged to obesity level one, and he was advised to lose some weight.  Actually he tried to lose weight this summer.  He lost 10 kilograms within 2 months.  He was once wieghing 65 kilograms.   But nowadays, in this cold weather, he is gaining some weight again.  He lost weight, though an that was good.  But he lost weight fast without learning hot to eat properly. 

I really hope that he would realize how important to maintain good health.      

My Restaurants for Sparrows

Sorry about the bad photo, it's foggy.  Still, I hope you find some sparrows to the bird feeders
which I hung on the tree two days ago.

I took the picture inside the house, and I really have to clean the window or open it before taking the photos next time.

The Bird Feeders in our Maple Tree

(tutor's revised sentences)

Many of the leaves on our maple tree is gone so I set two bird feeders there this afternoon.  I made the feeders from milk container.  Please refer to the pictures below.
I live in a country where the life is very laid back (=relaxed), we enjoy watching sparrows come and eat the seeds from our window. Those seeds are the left overs of my pet birds own food.
(my original sentences)

Many of the leaves were gone, so I set two bird feeders on our maple tree this afternoon.

Please see the photos below.  I made them out of milk container.

I live in a countryside which doesn't have many kinds of activities.

We enjoy watching sparrows to come and eat the seeds from our window.

I placed my petbirds' leftover on the bottom.

Sweeping maple leaves with broom

(Tutor's sentence)
This morning, I woke up to find that most of the leaves of the tree fell off to the ground.
I asked my English tutor for revising my sentences. 
Here's the comparison between her revised versions and my original sentences.

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(Tutor's revised sentences)
I noticed that our maple tree began shedding leaves these days.  I tried sweeping so as to not bother our next door neighbor.  They always keep their garden tidy.

(my original sentences)
I noticed that our maple leaves began to fall these days.  I tried to sweep them so that people at our  next house doesn't be bothered from.  They always keep their garden tidy.

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 (tutor's sentences)
A few years ago, I would always feel anxious during this season, I couldn’t leave the leaves as it is and I couldn't help but sweep the leaves every thirty minutes or so.  After that, I became tired for what I had been doing.  I went and consulted the doctor about my condition, he told me that the cold weather made me feel tensed.  He then prescribed some Chinese medicine and advised me to do the sweeping only once or twice a day.  Now, that is what I am doing.
(my original sentences)
I couldn't help leaving as it was, so I swept them every thirty minutes.  I couldn't feel relaxed at this time around.   So, when I went to my doctor a few years ago, I told about it.  He said the cold temperature made me tensed, do it once or twice a day.  So, now I am trying to do it.

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(tutor's corrected sentences)
We had some rain yesterday and it caused most of the leaves on top of the tree to fall of.   I took some pictures before sweeping them this morning.

(my original sentences)
Yesterday, we had some rain.  Most of the leaves in top of the tree fell last night.  I took some pictures before sweeping them this morning.

       

The grasses were frosted in the morning!

We don't have snow yet in Himeji, but I noticed the temperature outside was closed to zero degrees Celsius these days.  I am not good at this season as both television and radio programs say that we are now in a busy season to prepare for the Christmas, and the year end, to welcome a new year, hurry up for doing the year-end cleaning of house, etc.  I am not good at cleaning.  

I am getting weaker in the cold temperature.  It makes me feel depressed.  I feel great after taking Chinese herbal medicines, but after taking them, I feel drowsy, and fell into sleep.

The morning sunshine has a strong power of light, and doctors recommend talk a walk under the morning sunshine, it prevents us from getting into depression.

So I take a walk every morning unless it is raining.  When I walked at 7:30 in the morning a few days ago, I saw that grasses were frosted.  Living in the countryside, I feel this kind of place is nice.  The air is fresh, and I enjoy observing ducks in the ponds. 

The wet grasses were slippery, and I slipped a few days ago.  I didn't hurt at all because I wore thick pants.  I like the countryside views like these where I couldn't find when I lived in Tokyo.

Himeji Shizen-Kansatsu-no-Mori (Himeji Nature observing Forest)

My husband bought a nice camera last spring, and he has been looking for chances to take good pictures.  Yesterday he took me to Himeji Shizen-Kansatsu-no-Mori (or Himeji Nature Observing Forest).  We left our place after lunch, and drove about 40 minutes to get there.  This place is operated by Wild Bird Society Japan, which I used to be a member of.   We have been to this place for many times. 

                                          

                                          

My husband, who teaches Science at a local junior high school, sometimes visits this facility with some of the students as one of the school activities.    The three pictures below are borrowed from Himeji Shizen-Kansatsu-no-Mori website.

 

 

                                 

This place is operated by Wild Bird Society of Japan, but I think Himeji Municipal Government cooperates with them.     

 

In winter season, birds experience a difficult time to find food. They usually hide in trees, and people could not find them.  But in this facility, staff members place bird feeders on branches of trees and give a bit of seeds for food every morning.  They enable visitors to find birds easily because the latter frequently come out for food.  Visitors enjoy observing wild birds from the windows and the veranda. 

 

Every November they place two kinds of bird feeders.  They call them "bird's restaurants."  

 

 

 

We talked to one of the staff members yesterday and she said that she has noticed that Yamagara or Parus varius are the only ones which come to the bird feeders.  We can expect about 6 or 7 kinds of birds that will feed themselves on the bird feeders every January of the year (or every first month of the year.)

Yamagara is one of my favorite small birds because it is cute.  We would like to find more kinds of birds, so we plan to visit this place again in January.   



 

The two pictures above were taken by my husband.  I had a small camera with me but mine was unable to take a good shot of such a small bird. 

 His camera weighs 2 kilograms and the tripod is also heavy.
The photographer, who is my husband, looks tired in the picture.



 I was happy that he was able to take good pictures of Yamagara,
but he has been in bed complaining about his backache after carrying heavy stuff.