A few weeks ago I posted a photo of workers putting lights on the tress in Roppongi Hills. This is what was up when I went through today.
Christmas Banners! It is still to early for me. Please note that in a non-Christian country like Japan, Christmas is not a religious holiday. It is totally commercial. In an upscale shopping area like Roppongi Hills it is all about making money.
This is what I see every night from my living room window. Living in Tokyo may be the only time my “tent” literally faces the temple.
“And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they may remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them…” Mosiah 2:6
It is my hope that I will always have my tent facing the temple even when I can’t see it from my window.
I saw this sweet face in July and it was still the face of a baby. How did she turn into a little girl so fast? I need a trip to “OZ”!
Last week a photographer from Saipan, Del Benson, stayed with us. He didn’t get to do much work because of the typhoon that came through last weekend. On Saturday he decided to “shoot” us.
One year after I moved to Japan I started taking shodo lessons (Japanese calligraphy) with Michelle. I lasted for a few months until I decided I was finished with this cultural experience. I wasn’t good at it. Several of my friends have taken sumie painting lessons from the same teacher and they are good. This week a friend brought me this painting of persimmons done by the sensei (teacher). He is very talented and I think there is just a touch of whimsy in his work. He probably wouldn’t like to hear that since he is very serious about his art.
This morning on my ride I decided to find the Cath Kidson shop in Daikanyama. I have been planning to find the shop for a long time and never remember to take the map. This morning I didn’t have the map, but decided to see if I could find it anyway. I have been blessed with a good sense of direction. I found it and plan to go back when they are open. They have crammed a lot into a tiny space. As I was riding towards home I saw this giant green bloom “growing” right out of the pavement.
Which is correct?
I would rather eat persimmons then pears.
or
I would rather eat persimmons than pears.
I don’t understand when or why the word “than” dropped out of sight and so many people started using “then” in it’s place. I see this mistake everywhere. I don’t profess to have perfect grammar, but this common mistake makes me crazy.
Here are the definitions of then and than that I found online at the Cambridge dictionary:
then- (at) that time (in the past or in the future) “I was working in the city then.”
also Next or after that “Let me finish this job, then we’ll go.”
also In addition “This is the standard model, then there’s the deluxe version which costs more.”
OR
than-used to join two parts of a comparison “My son is a lot taller than my daughter.” “You always walk faster than I do!” “You’re earlier than usual”
also used with ‘more’ or ‘less’ to compare numbers or amounts “I spent more than I intended to.” “It cost less than I expected.”
The correct answer is….
I would rather eat persimmons THAN pears.
P.S. I really do prefer persimmons over pears! YUM!
Which question is correct?
1. I would rather eat a persimmon then a pear?
2. I would rather eat a persimmon than a pear?
Look for the answer along with my rant tomorrow.
Recently, I have had the opportunity to attend a 3 part class on learning to read three different types of Japanese; hiragana, katakana and kanji. The method for learning them is very much like the method taught to me when I first arrived in Japan. What I have decided after two classes is that the ability to recognize and read the characters depends on how often I practice. If I practice everyday I remember them and can read some Japanese. I think it should be easier than it is, but I forget that I practice English everyday with all the reading I do. So… back to practicing!
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