そろそろ書く練習も必要かな、と緩く鉛筆訓練をしています。今のところ、ひらがな、アルファベットは嫌じゃないけど、数字を順番に書いていくのは好きじゃないらしい。英語は“What are you doing right there?”, “Put me down”, “I can do this”のパウパトフレーズが気に入っている様子だけど、単語を読んだり書くことへの興味は薄め。焦らずとも、と思いつつも、幼児教育の受益者としては子どもにもアドバンテージを得て欲しい!そんな親心を子は知る由なく…。
Wow, I still cannot believe it actually happened. My third host mother and father from Texas came to Japan. When I left their house in 1995, I still clearly remember that mom saying “I would like to visit Japan someday. It’s on the top of my list”. Almost 30 years since then, obviously she changed the order of the list, and she even confessed that she didn’t think this actually happens, but it DID happen! As I told them, I felt younger as back to teenager while talking with them, though we enjoyed our talk over a glass of wine this time. I am so grateful to everyone and everything which took me to Texas and gave me this precious relationship. Now they became not only my Mom&Dad but also Gramzie&Pappy for our kids. They may not come back to Japan considering their ages, but I am regained my confident that our relationship will last long.
Day 1: Pork cutlet dinner at Haneda Airport
Day 2: Sensoji, Asakusa, Sumo wrestling ring, Ryogoku, Soba noodle lunch, Ueno park, open-bus tour in Tokyo Central downtown, Yakitori dinner
Day 3: Yakiniku lunch, our house tour, drive to airport
小児科に居た英国出身風のご家族。同年齢くらいの男の子が”After finished, I want to go to the toy store.”(終わったらおもちゃ屋に行きたいよ)とママと話しているのを「アヒ太郎&アヒ娘、これぞ本場の英語だよ」と盗み聞きしていたら、ママが”Watch your mouth! It’s not the right way to talk.”(言葉に気をつけなさい。話し方が正しくないわよ)とバッサリ。すると男の子は”May I go to the toy store?”(おもちゃ屋に行ってもいい?)と訂正。フォーマル表現と確か習ったはずの”May I〜”を家族間でも、更には4歳に要求することに驚きつつ、早速我が家も真似っこ。やっぱり言葉とともに文化を学ぶことも大事と痛感。