2009年11月13日
Friday 13th
Hi team,
Did you notice the date today? It seems that Japanese people do not really think much about 'Friday the 13th', but I don't like it because I had a car accident on this date when I was in high school. My father had just bought an expensive car, and I crashed it when another car suddenly pulled out from a junction in front of me and I couldn't avoid it.
Maybe it was because of the weather, but a lot of the students were feeling down today.
Two of the girls in my class were complaining because they had the opposite problem. One of them has a very possessive boyfriend who wants to see her all the time, but she wants some time on her own. The other one wants to see her boyfriend more, but he says that he wants more time on his own. I suggested that this problem could be easily solved if they just swapped boyfriends, but they didn't like my idea very much.
Have I every told you about 'Ai chan'? Ai chan is the name I gave to my car navigation (because 'Ai' is my favourite Japanese girl's name). If I am looking for a place, I sometimes say to my friends "I will ask Ai chan." Everyone who knows me well now understands what that means. Unfortunately, Ai chan started playing up in the summer just before I went to Hokkaido, so I had to take the machine out and send it away to be repaired. I did that while I was in the UK so that I wouldn't have to survive too long without a navigation system. I also paid a bit extra to have the map updated because roads in Japan seem to change every ten minutes!
Anyway, my navigation system (in the UK, this is called 'satnav', which is short for 'satellite navigation system') came back, but because a new map has been installed, Ai chan has a new voice! I was very shocked when I heard it for the first time, but I'm getting used to it now. As you know, I often drive long distances by myself, so Ai chan is the only person I can talk to. Our converstations are usually very simple, though:
Ai chan:３００メータに左折専用レーンがあります。ご注意ください。
Me: ありがとう。
or
Ai chan: 右です。
Me: 違うよ！道が変わった！
I think you get the picture. Maybe we will have fewer conversations now that the map has been updated. I'm going for a drive again tomorrow, so I'll let you know how I get on.
Have a great weekend, and I will see you on Monday.
Bye for now,
David
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Comments
Hi David,
Ha, ha, ha! I laughed a lot!
I sometimes don't follow "MY Ai Can' s" advice, so she seems to be messed up. By the way, do you talk with her while driving? Hmmm...Looking forward to hearing what you talk with her .
Yes, I noticed today was 'Friday the 13th', but I don't have any special feeling for that. I think we've heard about your car crash before,and that's terrible, but do you feel down on that day even now?
Speaking of " Friday the 13th", it reminds me a scary movie.
Have a great weekend,everyone!
Anne
- Anne
- 2009年11月13日 22:06
It's me again,
I forgot adding "of".
it reminds me→it reminds me of
- Anne
- 2009年11月13日 22:10
Hi David,
I didn't notice it was 'Friday the 13th' today. As you says, Japanese people don't really think much about it, and I'm one of them. If I hear the date, I just remember the movie 'Friday the 13th' and the name 'Jason'.(like Anne)
I laughed when I read the suggestion you gave your students! Well, it could be a good idea if they like it, but love is not so simple, as you know.(笑) Actually I understand both of their feelings. When I had a very possessive boyfriend, I wanted some time on my own, but when I had a boyfriend who I liked spending time with his friends or on his own, I wanted to see him more. Love is weird, isn't it?
Speaking of a car navigation system, we bought a new car in September and finally got one! But, I haven't figured out how to use it yet. If it had a sweet male voice, I would give him a nice name, ha ha. Anyway, have a great time tomorrow, and say hello to Ai chan with a new voice from me!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Tomo
- Tomo
- 2009年11月13日 23:38
Hi David
I read your suggestion about your students and their boyfriends and it made me smile.
Which type man are you and which type ladies do you like?
And say hello to Ai cnan!
Hi everyone
There are a lot of policemen and the regulation of traffic in Tokyo because of President Obama is staying.
Hi Nao
Are you enjoying TDL and TDS?
Have TDL and TDS been decorated with Cristmas goods?
My daghter goes to IKSPIARI with her friends today.
It is next to TDL,isn't it?
Have you been there?
Green
- Green
- 2009年11月14日 14:00
Hi Amica
You have watched "Endless SHOCK", haven't you?
I'm glad!
I have a "Endless SHOCK" DVD,too.
If you have a chance please watch "DREAM BOYS" .
It is played Kazuya Kamenashi.
You can watch his acrobatic performance!
He is amazing,too!!
Green
- Green
- 2009年11月14日 14:39
Hi David and Everyone,
How's your weekend going on? It was raining very heavily in the daytime here. I spent a time to be just relaxed, as I'd been very busy at work.
David, yes, I noticed yesterday was 'Friday the 13th', but I don't think much about it, either. As Anne and Tomo say, it reminds me the movie.
Your advice to your students made me laugh! It seems not to be easy like that.;-)
Did you have a good time with your new Ai chan?
Everyone, have a good Sunday!
Maki
- Maki
- 2009年11月14日 23:26
Hi David
Yes, I knew it was “Friday the 13th” and I don’t like it either because I had an injury on this date when I was in elementary school. It was not a big deal but I had to have stitches at a hospital. I think I wrote about this before. Since then, I don’t like it.
By the way, when I was reading your students’ problem the same idea as yours came to mind, but I also knew they would not appreciate this idea.
Did you go for a drive with Ai chan yesterday or are you going to, today? Anyway, I hope you have good time with her from now on.
Hi everyone
How is everything?
In Tokyo, the weather has been bad this week. It made me feel down, so I just stayed home and relax yesterday as Maki did. I want to stay home today too, but I need to go shopping. 17th of Nov is one of my nieces’ birthday, and she asked me to come over her birthday party on next weekend. I have to buy something for her.
Have a lovely Sunday.
- amo
- 2009年11月15日 11:19
Hi everyone
I found a comment from David's father on "Nao's Challenge(28th of Sep)"
I am not sure everyone have noticed or not, but here is his comment
『i have been reading david s comments after his uk visit.his family & friends were delighted to see him [if only for a short time].he mentioned that i had told him of friends caught in motoway traffic jams for up to 8 hours.this is quite true,but i would say that[hopefully] that it is a fairly unusual event,& would make the headlines.david"s mother & i visited japan some years ago & enjoyed our stay.we hopr one day soon to be able to return...
bill {barker} 2009年11月14日 23:34 』
- amo
- 2009年11月15日 14:15
Hi amo,
Thanks for posting the comment from David's father!
Hello Mr. Barker,
Thank you for joining us. I'm glad to hear that you all had a great time with David. I'm looking forward to hearing from you again soon!
Tomo
- Tomo
- 2009年11月15日 22:34
Hi Green
I came home from Disney land.I was really happy.Diseny was wonderful!Disney decorating with Christmas was so nice.It's sweet.
Your daghter went to IKSPIARI,didn't you?(
とても近くにいたんですね。笑）As you said, it's next to Disney land.I didn't have any time to go there.I was sorry not to go.
Nao
- Nao
- 2009年11月16日 19:07
Hi David and everyone
Here is my thirteenth entry.
I got back from Disneyland yesterday.Disneyland and Disneysea were so sweet!I enjoyed Disneyresort decorated for Chrisrmas.Christmas Disneyresort is a romantic place for me.It was rainy and windy for a short time,but the weather got better soon,so I could see the parade.I was really happy and excited.Do you know 'Tower of terror'?It is the most exciting attraction in Disneyresot.I'm afraid of heights,so I don't want to ride it,but my friends let me ride it!I almost cried.I only remember the night view from the seat of Tower of terror.It was very beautiful.If you ride it,please ride at night.You see the special view.Of course I enjoyed riding some attractions and parades,and I was very happy to meet Mickey and Minnie.I love them.When I met Mickey,he hugged me close.He was very warm and soft.I can't forget it.
Today I saw a lot of photos in Disneyresort.To my surprise,I took more than one hundred photos.
I renewaled a driver license today.I'm not a traffic offender,so I got a gold driver licence,but I can't drive well.It's difficult for me to back my car into the garage.How about you?If you know the good way,please tell me.Now I practice to drive a car because I'm going to Hyogo from Osaka on November 28th.I'm worried about my driving.Practice makes perfect!I'll do my best on November 28th.By the way,I felt annoyed with policeman today.When I went to the police station to renewal my licence today,the policeman had a poor support.He talked to me like my friend.Moreover,when I took a photo for a new licence there,I had to pay 1000 yen!It's expensive,and the photo was very bad.Next time I renewal my licence,I'll take the photo at a photo studio.
Today is so cold in Osaka.It's like winter.I'm always in kotatsu.I want to hibernate during the cold season.
Nao
- Nao
- 2009年11月16日 21:18
I'm very happy to read this. This is the kind of manual that needs to be given and not the accidental misinformation that's at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this greatest doc.
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- 2011年7月13日 11:00
Hi David,
It has been a long time since I have put the comment here.
I've heard your experience of that day.
I'm sorry to hear that.
but on the other hand.
Thank you for sharing your funny story.
I was giggling while I have read your comment.
I could imagine you were talking with ichan.
Speaking of some equipment, I bought a new computer by impulse buying.
That was Macbook.
I often call it Machan.
Machan use to say "Happy birthday" when your birthday or "Happy new year" on new year.
I used to be happy when I heard it.
So I can make sense what David said.
Hi everyone,
I have been having fun while I read everyone's comments.
Kazu