An English Training Camp

Hello everyone

I 've been teaching English here for the past three years. That's pretty much interesting and I am able to add up some valuable tips in my experience. As I like people irrespective of their age so it isn't any difference for me to teach a variety of students' age and levels. I'm quite fortunate to have the students from one year old to over sixty years old. Though it demands the concentration and amount of time to prepare a number of lessons but I do it with zeal for my career.

I am proud to have an opportunity to participate in a petit English training camp in an international school in Takarazuka with the school students throughout the kansai area. On a weekend of this month ten foreign teachers and fifteen Japanese ones gathered in the school premises. We're divided into six groups and provided the curriculum including English, Math, Science, Art, Home Economics and Social science.

Having a brief meeting, we headed to the Hankyu Sakasegawa Station to receive the students.They were saying greetings in a timid voice. There's nothing to worry but some of them might have maiden stay in an intensive English study camp with the intenational staff. After forming our group completely, I led my group to the schhol premises with the three more teachers (a Canadian and two Japanese).....

park to parking

Hello everyone,

They say Time flies. I think it's true. My wife came to Japan last year. She has a year's memorable experience. But when we sit and talk about that it seems a quite brief.
We began to reside in Senriyama Danchi last October. Fortunately, there was a beautiful and cute park for kids just in front of our house. We used to play with kids or sit in the bright days in autumn. The season is particularly attractive and charming. It is celebrated enthusiastically. On the contrary, the autumn is the symbol disappointment and desertion. Here in Japan the red leaves trees look like brides. We always refresh ourselves looking at them.

But after a couple of months we felt some sort of construction work in the park. We were pleased to see the park was going to be repaired. The swings, see-saw, slides and benches were uprooted. And a smooth carpet park was there without any anything to play with. Then we came to know that it's the place built as a parking area instead a park to play.



It's bit anxciety to see the change but sometimes we need to sacrifice. Actually it's so crowded around the station and the street in front of the station's busy. The bicycles parked either side of the street made it narrower. And there're always a bunch of workers looking after the bicycles and park them properly because everyone 's rushing to catch the train in the morning. I could observe the situation when I handed out the Smith's School of English's leaflets at the station.

Although we miss the park and we 're sorry to the children who used to play there. But it solves another serious problem of the traffic.

Yousaf

The weekend

Hi everyone

How was your past long weekend? We like to invite our friends to dinner only in the month of Ramadan. We had a guest, an English teacher on Saturday evening. Her name's Amanda. She is from Newzealand. She works for Suita high school. She is quite new in Japan. Therefore, she is eager to learn Japanese language. That's why she met me in the Japanese language class first time. We had our self introductions in detail outside after the class. And I invited her to dinner at our home in Senriyama.

My wife cooked a couple of curries( chicken curry, beans curry, and spinach curry). Of course chapatis as well. We had an appointment to see in front of the station. She called me and I went to pick her right away. She was surprised to get back just in front of the bicycle parking, she parked her bicycle there few minutes ago.

We offered her a cushion to sit on it comfortably. The meal was ready so, we ate to our fill. And Amanda was really glad to have the dinner. She repeatedly called my wife, a gorgeous woman. Yes, she is. I'm proud of her. We had chat during the meal. Our talk's pivot topic was teaching English. She was bit disappointed teaching in Japan while she was relating her experience. She found the students lacking interest. Then I tried to encourage her saying, speak clearly and slowly in the class.
That 's what I have learnt in three years in Japan. I feel the students taking interest in learning English. I hope the Japanese people like learning English without discrimination.

Yousaf

Ramadan, the fasting month

Thanks very much for your comments. Now I get some encouragement to post more frequent entries.

It's the fasting month for the muslims. They fast once a year for a month. The month is called Ramadan. The islamic festivals are celebrated according to lunar calender. A month's fasting don't mean we abstain from food and drinks for a month completely. Actually we don't have meal during the daytime but we eat after sunset until dawn. We usually get up early, these days around 4am, we eat some food that time, pray and again go to bed or go out for a walk. Time isn't fix, it depends on the season ie the sunrise time. I mention the present Ramadan.

Here in Japan we are two family members but in my country we got a large family living together in of course a large house. It has 14 rooms and quite capacious open area. The women at home get up around 3am and prepare the meal. Then all family members eat together before 4:15am. That's bit noisy early in the morning but not troublesome for the neighbors because everyone eats at the time.

The Purpose of Fasting
God teaches us about fasting in the Holy Quran.

"O you who believe in God! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that hopefully you will have piety".

In this verse and again at the end of the passage Allah clearly states the reason why He has ordered us to fast. Our fasting does not benefit Allah, neither does He want us to go hungry or thirsty or prevent us from enjoying the permitted pleasures of this world that He has provided for us.Indeed He wants to raise us to the ranks of pious people.

Holy Quran was revealed during Ramadan. The Bible, the Torah, the Psalms of David, and the Scrolls of Abraham were all revealed in this month. To honor this we should increase our study and recitation of the Holy Quran during Ramadan.

We must try to remove the bad habits, desires and weaknesses from our characters and strive to achieve the good character of the pious people. There is no better time to seize this chance than during Ramadan. May God help all of us and accept our fasting.

I teach at Smith's School of Senriyama and some other schools as well. Some schools I work for are quite large and a number of teachers work there. Though I'm quiet and naive among them but they appreciate my hardwork, patience, kindness and cooperation. I from time to time have moral converstion with my students in Senriyama. Especially with the young ones to inculcate the sense of responsibily.

That's all I think due to pray and belief. Whenever, I have hard time I pray to God and seek His help.

Let's be kind, helpful and cooperative, and work hard to serve ourselves, our neighbors, our town and the entire humanity.

Yousaf

Shopping

Of course we enjoy all weekends. But a longer one is awaited anxciously. We are in high spirits. we plan to spend it carefully. as we had the past 3 days weekend.

I always work on Saturdays unless a national holiday makes it free. Therefore, I had 2 days off. We got no special plans. We often entertain the guests on holidays. Because my wife likes cooking. I also give her hand in doing the house chores. We enjoy working together.

We went shopping this time, it 's an essantial part of life. Hopefully everyone likes it. My wife likes it pretty much. She goes to SIFA ( Suita Interpeople friendship Association ) for Japanese language class. On way back home, she usually goes shopping at Jusco. We from time to time go shopping to Aoki, Kojima or shoe store in front of Kansai supermarket. We went to Aoki's for window shopping. So we could buy a shirt. I wanted to buy a warm jacket for my father. But couldn't do so. We need to wait a couple of months for the warm stuff.

We have a plan to visit our family in December this year. My wife is my cousin too. So we have almost same relatives. Our families live together as a large family. We would like to buy them presents. At least for our parents and siblings. And for the purpose, we think to buy something usable ie wares, wrist watches or shoes due to their durability and comfort. "Made in Japan" is the symbol of every inch a high quality products in my country.

I only knew few places to go shopping in senriyama in my beginning days. but now I can have almost all sort of shopping in Senriyama. It's so convenient to live here.

By the way, my posts are few and far between this month. Don't you think. I would like you read the stuff and put your fingers on the keyboard for writing the comments. Would you like to encourage me!!!!

See you later.
Yousaf

A cultural talk

I got hectic schedule last week. let me tell you my yesterday's schedule. I taught at a school all day long. It was raining cats and dogs when I left the school in the late afternoon. I walked briskly for 15 minutes to the train station to catch the train. I was bit wet. I had to be at the Senrichuo station at 6:20pm for another talk. I was feeling peckish. I also had to pray late afternoon prayers. I entered the station and soon the train arrived. I got into the train. I had to change the trains. When I entered the monorail station, I needed to wait for 8 minutes. I found a clean and quiet place at the platform to pray. I took the train to Senrichuo and saw Mr. Ohara there.
I followed him to get the classroom.

I introduced myself and my country. I tried to explain my country and culture but a discussion began with my name a strange way instead. My name, Yusaf(Joseph) is the name of one of the prophets. He was son of Jacob. The discussion got hotter of the different religious comparison and the stories regarding beginning of the human.

The talk continued for more than 2 hours. But I felt quite satisfied and relaxed because I could have lively conversation. I found the group keen, creative and enthusiastic for learning the global cultures. I was overjoyed to hear their comments about my pronunciation. One of them said, " Do you know your English pronunciation is just like Native one"

I do my best to pronounce the word like native. It is my hobby and job too. I think without learning the correct pronunciation, it is impossible to master the language. What do you think?

Fig, a deciduous tree

As humans do their best to achieve their goals and aims. They utilize time and energy to do so. the source of energy is food. Food consists of water, grains, vegetables, fruits, meat etc.
Apart from it humans face the extreme weather conditions. Nature grows the delicious and energy generating food according to the weather conditions.

I would like to write about the fig fruit in this post. you know the matured "fruit" has a tough peel, often cracking on ripeness, and exposing the pulp inside. The edible seeds are numerous and generally hollow, unless pollinated.

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The importance of FIG is described in the Holy Quran in the chapter no. 95 " by the Fig and the Olives, and the Mount of Sinai, and this City of security" There is a substantive proposition mentioed in the verses. And it is clinched by an appeal to four sacred symbols. ie the Fig, the olive, the Mount Sinai, and the sacred city of Mecca. The Fig is thought to have double meaning. It can be a symbol of man's destiny in many ways. It is one of the finest, most delicious and most wholesome fruits in existence: in its wild state, it is nothing but tiny seeds, and it is tasteless, and often full of worms. So man at his best has a noble destiny: on the other hand at his worst, he is the lowest of the low.

We usually eat dried figs in Pakistan because there are not fig farms in and around my home district. The figs are cultivated and dried in the northern part of pakistan. we usually enjoy eating dried figs and nuts gathering all family in winter long and cold nights.

I live in Senriyama Danchi. We got a fig tree behind our apartment block. I am often delighted to see the fig tree laden with fruit and the birds eat them joyfully and chant a fantastic music.

Bye for now.
Yousaf

A mighty email worm and a helpless computer

Man usually faces challanges and problems. but it is much panic when we face it unexpectedly.

One of such problems is a computer virus. Once my computer was infected with a virus. And some of friends of mine came to my classroom. We had to use the computer but I was ashamed because my computer was working too slow. Whenever, any icon was clicked, it took ages to open the file.
I like surfing the internet and I had to do it in the same circumstances but it was the work of real patience. My Goodness!

At last I got an operating system software and reinstalled it. Thank God it once again became my genuine computer.
Now I enjoy surfing the internet but am too careful to download anything off the net these days unless I trust the site as it is too risky.

I hope you are always careful when you surf the internet because the computer virus is too troublesome.

Take care
Yousaf

Pakistani lunch in Senriyama

"God showers His blessings and mercy on those who are kind and helpful to the humanity" are the teachings of the different religions. What I know is the meaning of the Quran's verse. I usually try to follow God's commands. As you know I am living in Senriyama for three years. I do my best to serve the people. I mainly taught English but few other cultural and cooking lessons too. Last year my wife joined me here in Japan. It is another great opportunity we got to serve the Japanese people to have them enjoy the Pakistani cuisine. At last we are able to get a proper place to do so with the Senriyama's machi tsukury committee's kind assistance. The place is CAFE GAUCHE near the Senriyama station. Gauche's owner Tanaka san scheduled every Friday for Pakistani curry lunch. Yesterday the chicken curry and chapati( home made naan) were served. The people liked curry with rice very much.



Next friday lunch menu is spinach & meat curry, chapati and rice etc.
Actually we arrange the parties from time to time at home.
We served spinach curry for the first time at the last party. it appealed to the most of the participants. Therefore, they would like to eat their favourite dish time and again.
Gauche's mama san is looking forward to serving you all.

Take care
Yousaf

Goya & Meat curry

Goya is the king of the summer vegetables as the mango got the same postion among the summer fruits, it's often said in Pakistan. We cook goya curry and eat it with the chapati (a home made naan). Drinking yogurt is considered an appropriate drink with it. Let's learn how to cook the Goya-Meat curry in this post.

Ingredients:
2 goya
500g meat ( any sort of meat)
4 onion
3 tbsps vegetable oil
2 tomatoes
1 tbspn garlic
1 tbspn ginger
1 tspn curry powder (red chilli, turmeric, clove, cinnamon, salt, cumin, coriander seed and cardamom.

HOW TO COOK:
1-Cut the goya in half lengthwise
2-Remove seeds with a spoon
3-Slice the goya thinly and sprinkle some salt on them
4-Wash the goya slices and squeeze to remove water
5-Wash the meat and put it into a cooking pot. Add a sliced onion, garlic, ginger, little water and curry powder.
6-Turn the cooker on
7-Cook the meat until it is tender and dry then fry it with 2 table spoons veg. oil and a tomato until the oil appears (around 10 minutes)
8-Oil a spoon the frying pan and fry the goya for 5-7 min
9-Add the 3 sliced onions, tomato and fried goya in the meat to fry everything together for 10 min, don't forget stirring while fry.
10-Cover the pot with the lid and slow the cooker down, leave it for 5 min.
Serve with naan or rice. It's dry curry so I recommend with a naan or a toast.

Enjoy an unusual dish.
Have a nice Obon
Yousaf

Pakistani cuisine dinner party

Yesterday's dinner party went very well at the cafe Gauche. All the participants were in a great mood. I attended the monthly party with my wife first time. My wife (Uzma ) cooked eagerly. It took her many hours to do so. but she forgot her labor when everyone enjoyed eating the food and appreciated it. Chicken curry, Chapati (Nan) and Chae (Tea) were delicious, particularly a unusual dish Goya (bitter guord) & Mutton curry got special topic to be discussed.

We hope to continue such sort of parties in Senriyama. Mrs. Tanaka the cafe Gauche's owner liked the food. Pakistani cuisine is going to be included in the cafe's menu.

Hope you had great weekend.

Yousaf

JAPAN, What does it really mean!

Hello again,

Thank God we can have a dim sunlight after almost a week's ceaseless rain. I like rain but not as much as it becomes a natural disaster. As we know the people in different part of Japan are suffering from the overflow of the rivers and landsliding. I am so sorry to hear that.

I would like to write my brainchild on the word JAPAN. Someone asked me the word JAPAN's interpretation a few days ago. I am able to find out the words expressing Japan. We can divide JA PA N in three parts. Ja stands for Jaunty, Pa for Pacific and N for Nation.
Let's say bit more about it. Jaunty means lively, and showing that you are feeling confident and pleased with yourself. Yes, that is what I feel the Japanese people when they talk and do th business. They are always with a jaunty smile and look confident. That's most probably due to their hard training and keen professionlism.
Pacific bears double meaning one is obvious pertaining to the Pacific ocean but other is peaceful or loving peace. I find the Japanese people peaceful and liking peace around the globe.

It is safe to say that the Japanese people are confident and keen in their professions. that is why the Japanese products are the sign of high quality. it is one way to prevailing peace in the world generally and in business particularly. Truthfulness and fair dealing build friendship.

waiting for your comments.
Yousaf

I feel very at home in Senriyama now 1

Hello,

Big thanks to all Kawaraban's readers and particularly who write comments. I wrote about my beginning days in Senriyama in the past post. I am going to write my feelings living in the town now.
I began to work and make friends in Senriyama three years ago. I am bit quiet but when someone comes to me one step I try to respond one double. I would like to relate Mr. Adachi's (a firend of mine) views. He met me at Senriyama station. He likes Subcontinental people and culture. I from time to time go to his house and enjoy food and chat. Once I came across him after a long time. I asked him why you had no contacts for such a long time. He replied, " nothing wrong I was too busy to see you but I checked you were a good person". Then he took me to show around senriyama ie Suriya's, art gallery, Ryokuchi koen etc.
After that I continue to exploring Senriyama.

Hope all is well.
Yousaf

First impression of Senriyama

Hello Everybody,

Hopefully you are fine. I would like to write about my very first days in Senriyama in this post. I came to Japan about three years ago. Fortunately I got a fabolous place to live in japan for the first time that is Senriyama.
Let me relate briefly my own experience of living in Senriyama in the beginning days. I had some training in the heart of Osaka. And it's bit troublesome to get overthere because we need to change a number of trains. So I's given 10,000 yen by my boss to get back Senriyama on a taxi instead of the train. But the taxi driver dropped me at the opposite exit of the station to my room. He showed me the receipt of 4,100 yen so, I paid him the money. Then I walked doubtfully in the same direction but soon I found out that way wrong. And then I walked back to the station, crossed the railroad crossing and mister donut was before me that reminded me of some signs of the right way to my home. The next day, I was permitted to commute by taxi (I had the rest of the yesterday's money) but I could make my way on the train. I gave my boss back all the rest of money, he appreciated my act. He comments my behaviour very positive. I thank God and my family who contribute me building up a sound character.

As far as shopping 's concerned, I knew only the convenience stores in front of the fountain. I thought the only place in Senriyama to go shopping.
It seemed me too hard to live in Senriyama.
See you. Yousaf

Teaching at the Public Schools

Hello Everybody,

I began a new part time job last week. I work for Settsu Board of Education. My job is teaching English at elementary schools. I went to Torikai Elementary School the past week. And I teach at Smith's School of English Senriyama too.Therefore, I got hectic schedule. I got up at 5:30, took a quick shower and ate breakfast then got ready and caught the train at 7:00. After getting back Snriyama in the late afternoon taught at Smith's Eikaiwa until 22:00.
It's really a great experience working with the Japanese staff. Teaching to the large classes and eating lunch with the kids made me like a member of a large family. I found the staff very cooperative and the kids adorable. There's always English atmosphere the kids saying me hello and playing with them. I would like to teach even more kids in future. I love that.
Take care. Yousaf