Spectacular Sunset

Sometimes simple things are so beautiful.

This afternoon there was a storm but after that a lovely sunset. I took these pictures from my bedroom window.

Couscous Cooking Class

Today I went to a cooking class. Amel from Algeria taught us how to make a couscous dish and a French salad.

It was really interesting to learn how to make authentic couscous and to hear about Algerian food. The couscous was served with a simple chicken and vegetable soup and was super delicious!

I'm going to try and make the same dish at home some time in the future. I hope it turns out well.

Flowers and Weeds

I always try to tell people it is very hard to judge "good" and "bad" English. I think it is simpler - you can communicate in English or you cannot. If you speak English and the people who listen can get your message then you are a SUCCESSFUL English speaker! Being a successful speaker is more important than being a good speaker. Why? Here are some examples:

1. Professor B works at a famous university. He is a native speaker and he has a very good education. His English is "good". But his lectures are very boring and difficult and his students cannot understand what he says.

2. D is an international soccer player. He didn't have such a good education and his accent is working class ( 賃金労働者;労働者階級 ). Some rich people think his English is "bad" because of his local dialect and because his grammar is poor. Of course his fans love him and never think about his English!



How about your Japanese? Do you think it is "good" or "bad"? Can you communicate? Which do you think is more important: perfect language or communication?

Yesterday I took a walk and I found all of these flowers. I thought they were lovely so I took pictures. Should I call them flowers, or should I called them weeds? ( 雑草 )








I guess most people would call them weeds, especially the ones that were growing in my garden where they shouldn't. But look at the last flower, a nasturtiam, which I bought from a shop. In some places in Australia nasturtiams are weeds!