Teaching English, seeking Japanese tuition

[YuriTokoro]

Originally Posted by sarvodaya

ゆりさん、こんばんは。

覚さん、こんばんは。

Yes, that's exactly right. So it's still advice, but its hyperbolic ironic seriousness is amusing at the same time.

I see! I find that the expression “hyperbolic ironic seriousness” is really funny words. If I translate the words, it should be　超皮肉っぽい真面目さ. However, 超（ちょう）is a very casual word. You can’t say that.

Ah, I see. It's good to know how to avoid sounding arrogant!
ありがとうございました。

There are many things I want to tell you, but I think I should wait for now.

No, ゆりさん, your English is not too poor: I understand!
You mean it is like "Can I get you to pass the pepper, please?"
Or maybe "If I ask really nicely, do you think I could get you to pass me the pepper please?"
(Yes, people do actually say that!)
The literal sense you want to convey is that it's talking about persuading someone to do something. Is that right?

I’m not sure if it is “persuading”.
「取っていただく」is a politer expression of　「取ってもらう」.
[verb ＋　もらう] implies thank. You don’t say that when someone do something mean to you. There are some other versions of this kind of expressions. For example, 「取ってくださる」「取ってくれる」（the subject of 「取っていただく」is “I”, while 「取ってくださる」is “you”）.
However, these things are too early for now. I want you to know the fact that there are many versions

ありがとうございました、ゆりさん! I now have all the skills necessary to find a Japanese bride!

OK. The sentences I wrote don’t sound silly at all. You can use these words.
Probably you need some expressions to ask a lady out. Do you?

ゆりさん、of course I remember; I love that expression! By the way, "I receive this boon" is technically correct, but no-one would say that in England. The word "boon" can sound pretentious, and it would in this context. There is not a direct translation, but the closest acceptable English sentence may be: "I humbly and gratefully receive this."

Oh, yes! That’s it. "I humbly and gratefully receive this."
If you need to say that in shorter words, that’s “Thanks”.

I understand. In English, this is the difference between "I read one book" and "I read a book". However, if you really meant that the flight was long, you would probably say "I read one whole book on the flight". I think the structure is more straightforward in Japanese.

The Japanese people would say "I have finished reading one whole book on the flight". 「飛行機の中で本を一冊、読み終わってしまった」
English native speakers like to say 「飛行機の中で　一冊の本を　読みました」,but we don’t say like that.

When you say 「最近、一冊の本を読みました」, you must mean that you have read one certain book and you are telling about the book.

About Sakoku, here is what Ronald P. Toby had to say on the matter in 1977:
So that's interesting. Apparently the original terminology really was different and the word sakoku was used to make it sound draconian and worse than the reality. Is that the impression you get from reading this?

I know that people in Edo era didn’t say “sakoku”.
My impression from reading that article is that western viewpoints are much different from ours.
In Edo era, people were prohibited getting out of the prefecture (which was called country, then) where the person was born. How were they able to go abroad?
The authority of the day was “bakufu” and the top was shohgun. “Bakufu” wanted to have a monopoly on profits of overseas trade, so they prohibited people to have contact with foreign countries.
Bakufu was carrying on overseas commerce with the Netherland, China, and Korea.
The Netherland said that other western countries were trying to make Japan a colony using Christianity, and bakufu believed that. Then bakufu hated the U.S. and other countries.
They just hated western countries except the Netherland which people didn’t promote Christianity. They didn’t mean closing the country, but just hated Japan to be a colony.

Ok, let's do it!
Please would you help me with the words like last time?
After that I would like to learn a more traditional Japanese song as well!

Sure!


“My Way”

今　船出が近づく　この時に
ふと　たたずみ　わたしは振り返る
遠く旅して歩いた　若い日を
すべて　心の決めたままに

愛と涙と　ほほえみに　あふれ
今　思えば　楽しい想い出よ
君に告げよう　迷わずに行くことを
君の心の　決めたままに

私には　愛する歌があるから
信じたこの道を　わたしは行くだけ
すべては心の　決めたままに

愛と涙と　ほほえみに　あふれ
今　思えば　楽しい想い出よ
君に告げよう　迷わずに行くことを
君の心の　決めたままに

私には　愛する歌があるから
信じたこの道を　わたしは行くだけ
すべては心の　決めたままに

信じたこの道を　わたしは行くだけ
すべては心の　決めたままに




FYA. This is the English version.

“ And now, the end is near, ”
（そして今、最後の時が近づき）
“ And so I face the final curtain ”
（人生の幕を私は迎えようとしている）
“ My friend, I'll say it clear, ”
（はっきりと胸を張ってそう呼べる友人）
“ I'll state my case of which I'm certain ”
（自分の意見だってはっきり言えるくらいだ）
“ I've lived a life that's full ”
（この波乱に満ちた人生を私は生き抜いた）
“ I've troubled each and every highway ”
（あちこちのハイウェイで、よくもめ事も起こしたもの だ）
“ And more much more than this, I did it my way ”
（だけど、それ以上に、私は自分の思うように生きてき た）

“ Regrets, I've had a few ”
（後悔、そんなものはほとんどない）
“ But then again too few to mention ”
（だが、取り立てて言うほどの人生を送ったわけでもな い）
“ I did what I had to do ”
（やらなきゃならないことを私はやって来た）
“ And saw it through without exemption ”
（一つの例外もなくやり通してきた）
“ I planned each charted caurse ”
（人生の設計を計画立てて）
“ Each careful step along the byway ”
（たまにそれる脇道も注意深く進むようにしてきた）
“ And more much more than this, I did it my way ”
（だけど、それ以上に、私は自分の思うように生きてき た）

“ Yes, there were time, I'm sure you knew ”
“ When I bit off more than I could chew ”
（それは確かに、手に余るようなことに関わったことも あったが）
“ But through it all, when there was doubt ”
“ I ate it up and spat it out ”
（でもその全てを通して、納得がいかなければ
議論に熱中もしたし暴言まで吐いたことだってあった）
“ I faced it all, and I stood tall ”
（堂々と胸を張って、全てに正面から立ち向かい）
“ And did it my way ”
（私は自分を貫き通してきたんだ）

---　二番　---

“ I've loved, I've laughed and cried ”
（人を愛し、大声を上げて笑い、あるいは泣き叫んだこ ともあった）
“ I've had my fill, my share of blue jeans ”
（大食いもしたし、作業着に身をくるんで働いたりもし た）
“ And now, as tears subside ”
（だが今は、涙も枯れはて）
“ I find it all so amusing ”
（人生に起きた全てが面白く思えてきた）
“ To think I did all that ”
（私がその全てを経験してきたんだと考えることが）
“ And may I say not in a shy way ”
（そして、それを臆面もなく言えることが）
“ Oh no ! Oh no, not me, I did my way ”
（そうだ！私ならはっきり言える、私は自分を貫き通し てきたんだと）

“ For what is a man, what has he got ”
（一人の人間であるためには、人は何を手に入れるのだ ろう？）
“ If not himself, then he has not ”
“ To say the things he truely feels ”
（もしそれが自分自身でないのなら、
本当に感じたことを口にすることさえ禁じられてしまう ）
“ And not the words of one who kneels ”
（目の前でひざまいている人の言葉を信用することさえ も）
“ The record shows I took the blows ”
（だが、今までの記録が示す通り、私はそんなものは振 り払い）
“ And did it my way ”
（私は自分を貫き通してきたんだと胸を張って言えるん だ）


The Japanese version is almost completely different in meaning.

By the way, the singer, Akira Fuse （布施　明） who sang this song, is Olivia Hussey’s ex-husband.

[YuriTokoro]

Originally Posted by sarvodaya

Broadly speaking, yes, but take note of the examples I gave and remember the phrase "When you are talking about the general case, say 'when', but while she was speaking about a particular case, she said 'while'."

Yes. I will study what you wrote carefully.

I don't think the word "accuse" is what you intended here. Perhaps "discriminate against"?

I didn’t know the word. Thank you!
Yes, that’s “racial discrimination”.

When you can't say "no", it is often because you are "too polite".

When my mother was a little girl her father would offer her the last biscuit. She would say "no" out of politeness, despite the fact that she wanted it. He would then say "Are you sure? Go ahead." Then she would eat it. One day, to teach her a lesson, he offered her the last biscuit again. When she said "no" he gobbled it up. She expressed her surprise and he explained that you can be too polite, so of course she learned the lesson!

Sorry, I don’t see what her father’s idea.
Did he mean being too polite did not pay?
In Japan, being too polite is very good, and most people like too polite people.

We can also say people are "too polite". People are always telling me I'm too polite. Usually politeness is considered a virtue, but by saying "too polite" you can indicate that it is too much of a good thing, which can be a foible.

他人行儀（たにんぎょうぎ）？

A friend of mine in school was also very polite and considerate. He used to say "Nice guys always come last." To which I would reply "Yes, that's true, but it's worth it!"

You mean being polite is good?

Ah, this is similar to the way of some Hindus.

覚さん、Saying ”Our Gods are only approximately eight million real Gods.” is ,I think, “hyperbolic ironic seriousness”, isn’t it?
Wasn’t that hilarious?

I watched the スタジオジブリ version of "Tales from Earthsea". I have not read the originals, although I intend to. I noticed a comment made by Ursula K. Le Guin on her website:

I too had noticed that a lot of anime characters seem to be what I would call "white" or "Caucasian" if I had to put a label on it, which seems curious to me given that, to put it plainly, that doesn't seem to reflect the natural range of skin tones indigenous to Japan.
...

I have read the first three books of Ged.

A lot of anime characters? Which ones?
I think most of them are yellow and same as Japanese.
The author of Naruto has told that he had made Naruto to be white with gold hair, because he wanted the films popular in the U.S. He had thought American children would like a hero with blue eyes and gold hair.
I think some anime films have white characters to attract western viewers. However, most anime characters are yellow, and the color was seemed to be white to Le Guin.

These characters are all Japanese.

Equally I know nothing of this issue or whether this even is an issue in Japan, but given what you say I see there must be no such prejudice. The trouble in the West is that these prejudices have such historical resonance and are so visible that they can cause tensions. Having said that, the majority of developed nations have now overcome such prejudices for the most part.

You have overcome the issues? Really!?
From the Japanese viewpoint, many western people always say the skin colors. Many people PM me, and write that they don’t mind my skin color. If they don’t mind it, I believe they can forget it.

However, at least you have something to show for your deficit. We have bailed out banks that were collapsing due to their own irresponsible and greedy conduct. To add insult to injury, those same banks now refuse to lend that money back to us and yet continue to pay themselves ridiculous bonuses. This is very demoralising.

Thank you, now I know that Japan is not only one foolish and pitiful country.

Bear in mind also that Japan has a solid export market to rely upon. In the list of sovereign states by current account balance, Japan is 2nd while the U.K. is 175th! I think this is related to Japan's magnificently strong skill-base.

I didn’t know the order. I had thought the economy of the UK was much better.

You see, the war took a lot out of our country. To put it bluntly, in economic terms we paid for the war and the U.S. profited from it. To make things worse the economy was subsequently mismanaged and all the while the U.S. showed no mercy. The Thatcher administration made some huge gains and put the economy back on its feet, but in the long-term we are left with a swathe of poorly privatised industries and an economy over-reliant on financial services. The recovery during Thatcher's administration was less a result of her particular brand of Reaganomics and more to do with simple competency.

What’s “simple competency”?

A major problem of Blair's government was figure-fiddling, both amongst large businesses and within the government itself. Now you have some insight into our current economic state.

I thought that the UK is a country of gentlemen and there is not any figure-fiddling there.

ゆりさん! You read my mind!

Everyone knows!!

Well, at least if I go on holiday there now I know to try the Japanese rice!

They called the rice “sushi rice”, and that tasted delicious Japanese rice.
Actually, the rice was Canadian, but I believe that the rice was a Japanese strain.

I’ve been to Canada twice.
Of course, I’ve been to the UK twice, too!

They are not incomplete sentences. They are grammatically correct. They represent incomplete thoughts. What they do is give the impression of an incomplete thought. This is because the copula, as the name implies, is used to link things. Most commonly it links a subject and a predicate, as follows:

"Grass is green."

"I'll be alright."

"You seem happy"
However, in these cases...


...the verb "to be" appears in an apparent copular role, but the second part of the link is missing. Thus time and behaviour are not linked to anything. This is because the speaker expects the listener to give the missing partner in his/her answer. Do you see how the unpaired part of the copular expression creates the expectation of more information to complete the pair?

Thus the completed thoughts are:

"The time is six o'clock."

"Morally correct behaviour is most easily characterised by mindfulness of the consequences of one's actions."

To be honest, I can’t say I understand completely right now.
I will read what you have written many times. Thank you.

<Englishman> <Kaku>, <Japan(to)> <to move house> <he came>
Kaku the Englishman came to move house to Japan.

Kaku the Englishman has moved to Japan.

<next door(of)> <house(in)> <lives> <Sashimister(to)> <to say hello> <he went to>
He went to say hello to Sashimister who lives in the house next door.

The Japanese sentence has 家, but you don’t need to say “in the house”. When you speak English, I think you would say “…Sashimister who lives next door”, wouldn’t you? (Would you say “in the house next door”? I’m not very sure.)
In the same way, when you translate English into Japanese, “Sashimister who lives next door” is not “次のドアに住むサシミスター”! This is crazy! (I think you already know it, but just in case…)

When we say “隣の家に住む刺氏さん”, “家” isn’t important. We also say “隣に住む刺氏さん”. Both are same in meaning.

"<How do you do?> <next door(in)> <to move house> <I came> <Kaku> <I am>. <pleased to meet you>"
"How do you do? I'm Kaku; I've just moved in next door. I'm pleased to meet you.

Yes!!

"<pleased to meet you> <Sashimister> <I am> <assistance> <if> <call> <please> <it is I who should say so> <nice to meet you>"
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Sashimister. If you need assistance please call. It's nice meeting you too."

Actually, I meant that 助（すけ）was Sashimister’s first name.

How is my translation? I have tried to put the literal meanings (with postpositions in brackets) on the first line, and then a more natural rendition in English below that. Is it correct?

Yes, almost. The name seemed to be confusing.

My head hurts...
but I think I understand...

Don’t rush.

[YuriTokoro]

Originally Posted by sarvodaya

I don't understand this bit:
覚はイギリス人だった人で
What is だった?

Is the point that you need to use auxiliary verbs or something?

だった　is the past tense of だ.
覚はイギリス人です/覚はイギリス人だ= Kaku is English.
覚はイギリス人でした/覚はイギリス人だった= kaku was English.

The point is sequence of tenses.

English sentence goes like this.
1. Kaku who was English moved to Japan. (Right?)
→Kaku was English. Kaku moved to Japan.

I think you would not say ;
2. Kaku who is English moved to Japan.
→Kaku is English. Kaku moved to Japan.

2 is the way the Japanese language goes.

If you write Japanese with English sequence of tenses, the sentence will be;
イギリス人だった覚は、日本に引っ越してきました。
This means that kaku isn’t English any more.
(We think you can’t quit being an English man even if you live in Japan, so this sounds crazy.)

There is something you should know!!!
When the Japanese people say “Japanese people”, we don’t mean nationality, but race, appearance, language and culture the person has.

One of my friends has married an American man, and went to the US.
Her nationality is the US now, but we think she is still Japanese.
On the other hand, if you came to Japan, married a Japanese woman, and lived here over 30 years, still you are English here.


Let's continue my story where we left off.

覚は、紙袋（かみぶくろ）を刺氏に渡しました。
覚：「これはイギリスの紅茶（こうちゃ）です。よろし かったら、どうぞ」

To be continued!

You need to bring something when you visit next door for the first time.
You are English, so I think English tea would be natural.
I bought English tea at Harrods in London. My mother said that was the best tea she had ever drunk.

“紙袋を渡しました”doesn’t mean an empty paper bag. There must be something in the bag.

Oh, I'm confused.
I thought that あとからきたのに おいこされ meant "a person who came from behind overtakes you"
I also thought that was governed by なら on the line below, so I translated it as:
"If it is unpleasant to be surpassed by your successors,"

あとからきたのに おいこされ
I would say “you fall behind”.

But you're saying 誰かが先に行く means "someone would overtake you".
I thought that くじけりゃ　だれかが さきにゆく as a whole somehow translated to "When you have lost something dear and feel like giving up,"

Where did I go wrong?

くじけりゃ= 挫折したら＝when/while you suffer a setback
だれかが さきにゆく= someone would/will overtake you".

だれかが means someone. Is that correct?

Yes.

さきに means before. Is that correct?

Yes, but that also means ”in first “ “in front “ and “on ahead”.
さきに（先に）；“先に”の検索結果（525 件）：英辞郎 on the Web：スペースアルク

ゆく means to go. Is that correct?

Yes.

Oh, I think I see now. さきに is more like ahead. So だれかがさきにゆく means someone goes ahead [of you]. Is that correct?

Yes!

Ah, of course, you were worried about "while" and now I see why...

I meant that someone would go ahead of you, while you suffer a setback. Not at the moment you fail, and you can’t say when exactly.

Ok, so it's something like "When you've lost something dear and feel broken, others may pass you by."
or "When you've lost something dear and feel broken, others may take advantage."
Is that correct?[/quote]
I don’t know what "When you've lost something dear” means.
挫ける　means like “being discouraged”. Does it mean something like that?

So then, it should be:

In life there is comfort; there is hardship too.
After tears a rainbow appears.
Carry on steadily,
Keeping your foot firmly upon your chosen path.

In life courage is essential,
When you've lost something dear and feel broken, others may take advantage.
If it is unpleasant to be surpassed by those around you,
If it is unpleasant to weep, come now and walk!

In life there are both tears and smiles.
Life is not so bad.
Rather than wandering aimlessly through life achieving nothing,
Let's set a direction in life, and go forth!

How is that?

A little too formal, but excellent in whole.

No. You cannot. It would not make sense. "While" can be substituted for "during the time that".

Does all that make sense?

I think I’ve got it.

“This was a terrible time of starvation and poverty in Irish history, during which around a million people died and a similar number left the country in order to survive” means;

“This was a terrible time of starvation and poverty in Irish history. Around a million people died and a similar number left the country in order to survive during the time.”

And when you use “while”:
This was a terrible time of starvation and poverty in Irish history. While the famine was ongoing around a million people died and a similar number left the country in order to survive.

Is that right?

"One variety of" doesn't mean "various". JamboP26 is correct.
"Various" simply means "different". Thus "various crops" means "different varieties of crops", whereas "one variety of crop" means "one particular variety out of a number of various possible varieties".

I see.
My dictionary says that “a variety of” means different, and didn’t have “one variety of”, so I thought “a variety of” means the same as “one variety of”. You know, “a” can mean “one”! However, you say it’s different. OK!
To be honest, I knew that if “one variety of” was the same as “a variety of” in meaning, your comment would be broken. Yes, I thought it might be different, but still I don’t see whey “one” doesn’t mean “a”.

Yes, this means one particular strain or variety or cultivar etc.
I no longer needed to use the singular to clarify the meaning as by this point the meaning was well established. I could have said "a single variety of crop", but I naturally chose the plural because I was thinking in general terms. That is, the sentence begins by talking about the Potato Famine, but then moves on to the general case: "when one has the choice", so it just feels more natural to use the plural. However, there is no major difference in meaning, it is more of a stylistic issue, especially given that we have already eliminated any ambiguity with the earlier occurence of "one variety of crop".

“A single variety of crops” means “one particular strain”, while “a variety of crops” means “different crops”???? WHY!!!
OK. I might be crazy.
You were thinking in general terms. OK. No problem!
Now I know that to learn foreign language, you shouldn’t be too theoretical.

I understand that your explanation is professional and very kind. Thank you.

I hope that's clear, but don't hesitate to ask again if it isn't because I had to think for a moment!

May I ask one more question about English?
Why “quite a few” means “many”?

I have written my response on your blog. I hope you enjoy reading it!

Thank you.
Give me time to answer.

[clcheapshoes520]

learning English is a good choice!

[YuriTokoro]

＠覚さんへ。


I’d like to make sure one thing.
Is this sentence correct?

“During a terrible time of starvation and poverty in Irish history, around million people died and a similar number let the country in order to survive.”

I know that that is different in meaning from your original sentence, but I just want to know if my sentence above is grammatically correct. I’m studying “when”, “during” and “while”.

Thank you.

[alirz23]

hi,

Im seeking someone to teach me japanese please....

[sarvodaya]

Originally Posted by YuriTokoro

＠覚さんへ。

ゆりさん、お早うございます。

I’d like to make sure of one thing.
Is this sentence correct?

“During a terrible time of starvation and poverty in Irish history, around million people died and a similar number left the country in order to survive.”

I know that that is different in meaning from your original sentence, but I just want to know if my sentence above is grammatically correct. I’m studying “when”, “during” and “while”.

I'm still writing my response to your previous post. Meanwhile, I noticed your question.

Yes, it is correct. Well done.


By the way, "a variety" can mean "an assortment" as well as "a cultivar". That was the source of some confusion previously. I shall write about it properly in my response.

Thank you.

どういたしまして。
覚

[YuriTokoro]

Originally Posted by sarvodaya

ゆりさん、お早うございます。



I'm still writing my response to your previous post. Meanwhile, I noticed your question.

Yes, it is correct. Well done.


By the way, "a variety" can mean "an assortment" as well as "a cultivar". That was the source of some confusion previously. I shall write about it properly in my response.



どういたしまして。
覚

Thank you for your quick response.
本当に助かります。ありがとうございます。

[yumyumtimtam]

覚さん　ただいま～

Originally Posted by sarvodaya

どういたしまして。
Hrm. Ah, for a moment I thought they meant OED, my mistake!
I couldn't follow this link. It took me to a list of stories.

すみません。
こちらです。
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20...000590-san-int

You mean that it's not nice to be exporting such negative words? Indeed, it is curious. I have never found the need for words like that though, nor have I heard them used. I don't think they are very common. There are only a few Japanese words I can think of that I depend on. For instance, we have no word for 旨味, or the way of tasting amino acids, and so I sometimes have to use that word when explaining this flavour. Obviously there are more common words like 津波, カラオケ, 空手, 道場, 神風, 侘寂, 侍, 忍者, 鮨, 着物, 浪人, 酒, 漫画, 指圧, 手裏剣, 鉄人, 梅干 and so on... I can't think of any more!
So, anyway, the point is that it's not just negative words that come from Japan! There are plenty of nice and interesting words too.

I see...

Well, the guy on the TV probablly meant slightly different... This is just my guess what he meant and this is what I think...exporting and importing any kind of words from other countries is OK and nothing's wrong with it,
but it was kind of sad to realize that we were having a big problem and that problem hikikomori is big enough to be noticed by the world like that.
(mmm I don't think this explanation isn't exactly what I really wanted to say... )
ひきこもり　という　いまのにほんのしゃかいもんだい が　hikikomori というあたらしいたんごとして　えいごのじしょに　の ることが　このましくない　ということではなく、ひき こもりが　それほどおおきなもんだいになってしまって いるいまの日本のげんじつが　かなしく　ざんねんにお もう　ということです。　
but at the same time, I think it's important to know what's going on in the other countries and think and study about it to learn,solve,help and all.

I (maybe the guy on TV too) wish Japan can export more positive and happy words to the world to make more people smile.

Not really, but the concept is becoming more popular. There is a Hebrew phrase ‫בל תשחית‬, which refers to a similar ethical principal. Bal Tashkhit literally means "do not destroy", and it has been extended over time to all types of needless waste and destruction.

right...interesting!

Well, as I say, I hadn't really come across the word itself, but it is an important concept.

Ah, well then, "lethargic" is definitely the right word. You are suffering from summer lethargy.

It's so muggy here...I'm still suffering from summer lethargy even it's supporsed to be autumn in Japan! How's it in England?

ありがとうございました。
私はこのことをしりませんでした。

どういたしまして。

では 覚さん　宿題（しゅくだい）です

・わかります
・わかりますか(?)

・わかりません
・わかりませんか(?)

・わかりました
・わかりましたか(?)

・わかりませんでした
・わかりませんでしたか？(?)



・しります
・しりますか(?)　not used very often）

・しりません
・しりませんか？

・しりました
・しりましたか(?)

・しりませんでした
・しりませんでしたか(?)


それぞれの　例文（れいぶん）を　つくってみてくださ い。

Sorry, that was ambiguous. For a period during the spring, and then again during the autumn, the BBC make one episode of "Have I Got News for You" every week. The number of episodes varies a little from year to year, but in general there are around a total of 17 episodes each year. I don't know why they don't make the show for the other 35 weeks of the year. I wish they did!

そうなんですね。それは　しゅつえんしている　コメデ ィアンの方々（かたがた）が　いそがしいから？かな・ ・・
I started watching British comedy more often and it's making me really want to go and travel there again!

Why don't we go back to Paul Merton as you like him and I think his show will be easier to understand.
Let's work on this when you get back:

I clicked it but couldn't watch that. oh no!
It said for the licence and permission kind of reason, we can't watch it in Japan.

I hope you enjoy your trip. You must tell me all about it when you get back!

Oh I had a wonderful time there.
All the local people I met were all nice and friendly.
I think I was very lucky!
I enjoyed chatting with them and also loved the atmosphere and the food!
My camera isn't a very good one and anyway had no much time taking pics cos I was busy talking... but here are some pics for you (down below)

including Nebuta Festival art work and Hirosaki castle
Aomori
Hirosaki

I went to 函館（はこだて）to see my relatives,
especially my cousin who are about to marry a guy who is the manager of this company↓
函館金森赤レンガ倉庫
We all hit it off and talked about the tourism and what we can do to welcome more tourists from overseas. I had a lot to say about it since I love travelling and he said he appreciated my unique (and a bit strange) idea and was going to bring it to the next meeting!

I see. Yes this looks much better. It has the sense of rolling down, which I think is important.
This song was written by Bob Dylan and Rick Danko.
No-one knows exactly what it means. I think that "this wheel" is the singer referring to him/herself. They are "on fire" with chaotic ardour for something ill-defined and dimly perceived. They are "rolling down the road", unable to control or stop themselves. A wheel cannot stop itself, it needs a brake. "Notify my next of kin" is what you do when someone has died. It is considered bad etiquette to publicise a death before notifying the next of kin. The next of kin is usually a nominated nearest family member. "this wheel shall explode" indicates that the singer is firmly on course to meet his/her untimely end in a blaze of either glory or destruction.
I found this website that discusses the song:
Peter Viney: This Wheel's on Fire
He quotes Andy Gill who writes:So you can see how the words relate to the lifestyle of the main character in the programme.

情報（じょうほう）をたくさんありがとうざいました。
わかりました・・・ちょっと時間（じかん）をください 。
日本語訳をかんがえてみます☆

Ok:
いきしちにひみりゐ
i-ki-shi-chi-ni-hi-mi-ri-wi
いぎじぢにびみりゐ
i-gi-?-dji-ni-bi-mi-ri-wi
いきしちにぴみりゐ
i-ki-shi-chi-ni-pi-mi-ri-wi

Q1 Can you tell me something (anything!) about「じ」and「ぢ」?
Q2 　And about「ゐ」?

Athletic meet

Yes, and often it means Sports/Field day at school.

Birthday party
Birthday party

誕生日会　birthday party, but 誕生会　the "day" isn't really necessary.

Neighbourhood council
Get-together

yep

こんどの　どようびは　ともだちのこどもの　誕生日会 （たんじょうびかい）なので　いってきます☆

では　また

↓you can fine me and my best friend in here too