LEE's diary

A book that I read before said, 'If you have a person who you want to see, go to see him right now, over that mountain.'

I walked in Kensington Gardens every morning during my stay in London. I had English breakfast tea from my bottle that I brought from Japan, under the cherry trees that were in full of bloom.  I had only some crackers, but I felt that it was the best breakfast until then. Kensington Gardens were really beautiful.

Ichariba chode.  It means, 'We're all brothers, after we met once' . 

This is my new favorite ! Japanese 'houjicha- latte'.  It's so nice.

I understand the feeling that you and your wife knew that your son has disability, and the hard work for raising the child. You work so hard every day. So my heart aches that you're troubled whether to hide it from your grandparents. Though you're worrying about breaking your relationship, even if it's a disappointing response, the real problem must be whether you have a confidence that you take it or not. Honestly I don't know if your grandparents will understand your son. The best time to tell is not by them, it's the time when you can feel that you can take any response, I think. For the mean time, please keep this in your mind. Every person will be born to be needed by someone in this world. You don't need to think that the existence of the child gives a disappointment to someone. A lot of people are helping you and your family. They empathize with you bring up your child earnestly, and hope to help even a little, I guess. Please don't forget that...

Sometimes, I read an advice column in the newspaper. Last Sunday I translated it from Japanese    into English. [Question / reader] I'm a man in thirties. I'm troubled about how to tell my grandparents about my son's disability. My 3years old son was diagnosed with autism that has mental disability. Though he's going to go to elementary school from this spring, because of my wife and other people who help him, he needs lots of help after that. I have a feeling that we don't want my grandparents to be disappointed and get worried to tell about my son. I also don't have a confidence that they will understand his disability. I'm worried that he will be labeled as a disabled child, and the relationship between them and us will be broken. My wife and I have the same opinion that we don't need to bother saying it because they will know someday. My parents also have the same opinion. But, It's the fact to feel guilty about hiding the truth from them...

Now is the time I should do it.

Learn as if you will live forever, Live as if you will die tomorrow. * * *  Mahatma Gandhi

I saw the movie tonight. I love him ! ... and London !  I'd like to go again. Please check, ↓ https://youtu.be/52x5HJ9H8DM

This is my favorite pencil case !

"Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime, Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day". You taught me this proverb before our farewell. I'd like to tell you about a Japanese poet, Kenji Miyazawa. Though he was born at rich lender's family, he became a teacher of agricultural high school to teach poor peasants. I learned his poem when I was 11 at elementary school. The  poem has greatly influenced me. I visited to his birthplace after I had an operation. Because it was the best thing that I really wanted to do, then. I found the translation of the poem on the Internet. Unbeaten by rain By Kenji Miyazawa Unbeaten by rain Unbeaten by wind Unbowed by the snow and the summer heat Strong in body Free from greed Without any anger Always serene With a handful of brown rice a day Miso and a small amount of vegetables suffice Whatever happens Consider yourself last, always put others first Understand from your observation and experience Never ...

Long - sleeved kimono for unmarried woman They're so beautiful aren't they ?

Do you like Japanese food?

One day, he heard a public service announcement about private tutoring offered by the Literacy Volunteers. He called up and explained about himself. His teacher, Mrs.Lord, remembers the first time he showed up at her door. "He was such a nice man," she said. "At first I didn't realize how deep his problem was. But it soon became clear - he didn't even know the alphabet." So, twice a week, they started to work together. "He was so grateful," Mrs. Lord said. "I do this for free, but he kept saying that if I ever needed any plumbing done, even if it was an emergency in the middle of the night, he would do it for nothing." In the time since he started studying with Mrs. Lord, the man has found a new job. His employers do not know that he cannot read, he is deathly afraid that they will find out and that he will be fired again. But, he said he was proud of how far he had come in his life without knowing how to read. "I built...

A year and half ago, the man lost a job because he could not read. The company he was working for required each employee to take a written test about safety procedures. The man knew the rules, but could not read the questions. He couldn't admit the real problem. He bought a book called Reading Fun for 93 cents. The book was designed for pre - school - aged children. He looked at the book and tried to teach himself. But, he couldn't. Finally, he told his wife he couldn't read.

He's 55. He's trying to learn how to read. He bears a resemblance to the actor Ernest Borgnine. His plumber's work clothes - denim overalls, a flannel shirt - are still on. Today, as he does twice a week, he has driven straight from work to Mrs.Lord's house. His hands are dirty from his day's labor; as he points to words on the spelling list you can see that he has not had time to stop and clean himself up. He has been coming to Mrs.Lord's house for just over a year. He never learned to read as a child. His mother was sick and his father was an alcoholic; the boy did not do well in school, and at the age of twelve he dropped out and began to work. The man went through most of his life hiding his secret. He learned to be a plumber; he married and started a family. He concealed his inability to read even from his wife and children.

I have studied English grammar for 3 years with correspondence course. Until now, I have studied some stories. For example, 'The Wizard of Oz', 'Alice's adventures in Wonderland' and 'Daddy - Long - Legs' with very simple English. When I was a student, I didn't like to study English grammar. But, when I watched that a Japanese astronaut communicated with the earth in English on TV, I understood that English isn't just an accessory, but a tool to fulfill my wishes. And then I started to want to be able to speak English someday. My English grammar's assignments are very nice, and educational. I studied again with the assignments about Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King,Jr. and Helen Keller. But the most impressive story was about an unknown American plumber. I'd like to introduce his story.

I was born in Osaka City. I haven't lived out of Osaka prefecture. So one of my dreams is to live somewhere in foreign country in the future. I have another place where I want to live someday. It's Hiroshima City because I'm a Hiroshima Carp fan. The professional baseball team based in Hiroshima City won the league title for two consecutive years now. Though I couldn't go to Hiroshima last year, I went there to see the victory parade 2 years ago. To live near the baseball stadium in Hiroshima is also one of my dreams.

Today is a last day of my holidays. I'm going to play the piano. And I'd like to study English, after that. If I have a time, I'd like to also read a book. 

Last year was a really special year. Because I went to London alone. It was my first trip to Europe. I have been a Rick Astley fan for 30 years. One of the purposes of my visit was to see his concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. It was the 13 April 2017.

Are you enjoying your holidays ? I saw a movie, Rogue One : A Star Wars story, at home yesterday. It was fun. I enjoyed it.

Happy New Year ! I hope everyone  has a happy, wonderful and peaceful year. I'd like to study English hard also this year. And I'd like to go to Bhutan this summer, l think.