Today's Grammar Point

Try to find the mistake in this conversation, then go down the page to check.

A:     I've never been to Okinawa.
B:     Me too.
A:     Do you want to go there?
B:     Yes, but I want to go in summer.
A:     Me too.

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NOTE {but not the mistake}: In natural English it is not necessary to say "there".
"Do you want to go?" is OK.     So we can use:

"Do you want to?" - maybe this is a little too easy and casual but native speakers do say it.
"Do you want to go?" - natural
"Do you want to go there?" - natural
"Do you want to go to Okinawa?" - unnatural, please don't repeat the same noun so soon

Anyway, could you find the mistake in the conversation?

A:     I've never been to Okinawa.

B:     Me too. --> Me neither.  /  I haven't either. 

A:     Do you want to go there?

B:     Yes, but I want to go in summer.

A:     Me too. 

"Me too" is for two positive verbs (simple verbs with no ..n't)
A:    I like dogs.
B:    Me too.  /  I like dogs, too.

A:    I can ski.
B:    Me too.

"neither / .... n't either" is for negative verbs (verb + n't)
A:    I don't like dogs.
B:    Me neither.    /    I don't either.    /    I don't like dogs either.

A:    I can't ski.
B:    Me neither.   /      I can't either.

Amazon Kindle

In October 2009 I was so excited because Amazon USA finally sold their Kindle E-book reader to customers worldwide. I had been wanting a Kindle for soooooooo long but it was not available in Japan. Luckily, I look at the Amazon page so often that I could find the news just one day after it appeared. I immediately pre-ordered a Kindle and it was in the first shipment that arrived in Japan.

Many people don't like the idea of an electronic book reader because they say paper books are best. Well, I have been an avid reader since I was a very small child and Kindle is WONDERFUL! Of course I still love paper books and I collect hardcover books by some authors, and also paperbacks of some series. But that is also a problem because I honestly have no more room to store books at my house or my office. I am the type of person who keeps their books and doesn't re-sell them or pass them onto other people :)

If I won the lottery, I would build a house with one room as a private library. That has been a dream of mine since I was a child. Actually, I used to think being a librarian would be a good job, but you have to WORK which means I couldn't read all day! Unfortunately I haven't won the lottery yet, so I shouldn't buy more and more "real" books.

So that's why I was interested in the Kindle. Not only is is great for storing many books, it also has many useful features such as "search". But would it be good for reading? The only answer was to buy one and find out for myself!

The answer is a resounding YES!!! It is much better than I could have ever expected. I love the Kindle just as much as I love books. Often it is much better than books! How do I know? Well, I've bought 70 books for the Kindle in the past 14 months and read them all. And in that time I've read about 40 paperback or hardcover books as well. In almost all cases, the Kindle is much easier and more convenient. (I only bought most of the books in paper because they weren't available on the Kindle - rare, textbooks, unpublished in e-format, etc.)

Now 5 people I know have bought a Kindle since I recommended it, and they all like it too :)

You should watch the official Kindle video on the bottom of the Kindle page at Amazon.com. Look for the picture of a woman reading while sitting in a beach-chair. That is the video that introduces the Kindle.

The most recent Kindle is third generation. That means it is the 3rd model. I have a second generation model, but it is fine. If you do buy a Kindle to use in Japan. You must buy the one that costs $189. The cheaper one cannot access the mobile phone network in Japan. Right now you cannot read Japanese books, but I think if you wait another 6 months or a year, it will be possible - maybe 4th generation?

One of the best things about Kindle is that it is NOT a computer and doesn't have a back-light. The Amazon website shows a woman reading in bright sunlight on a beach. I tried it on Miyako Island and it's true - bright sunlight is perfectly OK :)

Sitting nicely!

News Topic - Kirishima Volcano

This week a main news topic is the volcano erupting in the Kirishima Mountains on the border of Kagoshima and Miyazaki.

Here are some important words you should know. At first, try to understand in English. Next, try to think of the Japanese words. Finally, check your dictionary.

volcano - a mountain that has lava, etc under it. (e.g. Kirishima, Sakura-jima)
active volcano - a volcano that is not sleeping, e.g. Sakura-jima
dormant volcano - a volcano that is sleeping but not dead, e.g. Mt. Fuji
extinct volcano - a volcano that is dead, e.g. Mt Kaimon (in Kagoshima)

lava - the red, liquid rock under a volcano
lava dome - a big dome of lava that is growing under a volcano
ash - the grey/brown/black powder that comes out of a volcano.
erupt - the volcano explodes or something comes out suddenly

evacuate - people move to a safe place
evacuation center - a safe place people can stay, e.g. a school, community center

A souvenir

Here is my souvenir for Dusty and Kuro. This year is the Year of the Rabbit, so I bought a small rabbit for them from a shop leading up to Kiyomizu Temple. The shop had many lovely items and the store owner was a very polite and kind elderly man. I think he would be surprised to know I bought the rabbit for my cats ....

I think it is actually a key ring because it had a small strap and a bell, but now it is a toy :)

I told you Kuro was jet black, and it is very hard to take a nice picture of him! You can see his very big, fluffy feet well, but sorry you can't see his face.

Mount Fuji in the sunset

A nice picture of Mt. Fuji taken from inside the shinkansen, as another train speeds past in the opposite direction.

Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto

On Sunday I went to Kiyomizu Temple in the morning. I chose it because I wanted to go somewhere that existed in the Heian Period, and that Sei Shonagon had visited. Kiyomizu Temple was founded in 798, but the present temple building was built in 1633.

I love reading "The Pillow Book" and I have several versions: one rare book from 1920, another translated in the 1980s and now a newer electronic book. If I had magic, or a time machine!, I would go back and visit Shonagon. She sometimes went to Kiyomizu for a Buddhist retreat. I know everything has changed, but I guess the mountain view is still similar ....

Anyway, it was SO SO SO busy! I cannot imagine what it must be like in spring or autumn in the peak seasons. It was difficult to take a picture that didn't have many people in it, so please forgive the poor photos.