Obon week is coming. もうすぐお盆

ENTRY

2014.08.06

Hello everyone,

I hope you`re looking forward to Obon next week. Most people will have a few days off work to relax. I`ve heard that many people choose the week to travel, so the highways and airports can be crazy at this time of year. If that`s the case I think I`ll stay at home! It`s been celebrated here for over 500 years and the ancestors` spirits are supposed to visit the altar at family homes. There is also a “bon odori” dance which is performed at this time of year.

This week at Hario our summer classes are still under way in the mornings. The students are all working hard during their summer vacation. They told me that there is a lot of homework to do over the holidays here. They were so jealous when I told them about the Summer vacation in Ireland, there`s no homework and it`s 3 months long! In Irish high school (called secondary school) many of the students get a job during the summer to make some pocket money. Spending the summer in a shop is hard work but it gives you motivation to work hard at school and it`s a good life experience.

Enjoy Obon and see you in two weeks!

Alan

みなさんこんにちは。

来週はお盆ですね。ほとんどの方は仕事がお休みなのではないでしょうか。たくさんの人がこの期間に旅行に行くと聞いています。高速道路や空港がこの時期にはとても混雑しますね。このため私は家にとどまります。日本ではこの時期、ご先祖様の魂が家に帰ってくるといわれており、盆踊りなどの催しもあります。

そしてHARIO では今週も夏期講習が午前中から行われています。生徒さんたちは夏休みも一生懸命勉強しています。日本では夏休みの間もたくさんの宿題があると生徒さんたちが教えてくれました。アイルランドでは夏休みは3ヶ月あり、宿題はないことを話すと、とてもうらやましがっていました。アイルランドの高校では、たくさんの学生たちがおこずかいかせぎのためにアルバイトをします。夏をお店で働いて過ごすのは大変ですが、それが学校の勉強へのモチベーションとなり、良い経験ともなります。