Monday, March 5th   “Busiest Month”

I think for most Japanese workers March is the busiest month.  Most people have to do their taxes.  The deadline is March 15th!  I also have to my taxes as well.  I’m done with it but I can’t figure out the last part.  I’ll need to ask someone!  I also have to complete texts for next semester’s daytime course.  I’m almost done with it.  I’ll probably complete it by end of this week.  After I complete my texts, I’ll need to prepare for the Australia trip.  I’ll be going to Australia end of this Month.  

On top of that I need to go to many parties that I was invited to.  I wish there were two of me sometimes.  I would make the other Shin do taxes and texts and I would just go to parties.  I would do the harder work because I’m such a nice guy. 🙂

 I realized that I don’t have time to watch Netflix.  I watch Netflix because I feel I sometimes need to take my mind off.  However, this month I can’t do that!  I made a promise to myself not to watch Netflix this month!  It’s only for one month so I think I can do it.  I’ll try not to break my own promise.  Please ask me in class, have you seen Netflix lately?

figure out 「理解する。」

take my mind off 「心配なことを忘れる。」

break my own promise「自分の約束を破る。」

Wednesday, March 7th   “My own time”

I love spending time being by myself.  Some people can’t stand being by themselves but I love it.   There’s a famous movie called Cast Away.  Tom Hanks is in the movie and he is all alone on an island for many years.  He gets so lonely that he starts talking to a volleyball named Wilson.  Most people saw that movie and felt sorry for Tom Hanks’ character but I felt I wished I was in Tom Hanks’ position, alone on an island.  Don’t get me wrong, I would start to feel lonely if I had to be alone forever but I would probably be ok for about a year.  

I actually like being with people but I equally like being alone.   Right now, I love my room.  My room is really comfortable and it has everything that I need.  I could probably stay in my room for one year without any problems.  I could totally become a professional Hikikomori.  When people asked me “what’s your job?”, I would say professional Hikikomori.   I would have a business card that says, professional hikikomori.  I couldn’t give it to anyone because I wouldn’t see anyone.  I would just leave it on my desk.  After a year, I would tear up the business card and come out of my room.  Do I sound crazy???  Maybe a little bit. 🧐 😜

Don’t get me wrong 「勘違いしないで」

tear up 「破る」

Sunday, March 11th

The Academy Show was last Sunday, and a movie called “Shape Of Water”  got Best Picture Award.   Last year there was big mistake announcing the Best Picture Award.  It was supposed to be a movie called “Moonlight” but they wrongly announced, “La La Land”.   I think many of you still remember that.  However, I bet most people have never seen “Moonlight” that won the award or this year’s “Shape Of Water”.  Most of the movies that win Best Pictures in Academy Awards are not big hits.   They tend to be artsy movies or movies that have a social message.   

Like I said, I still haven’t seen “Shape Of Water” yet but I heard it’s a love story of a fishman and mute woman.   The characters are supposed to represent the minority group in American society.   This is an important theme because the minority group is under attack by the current administration.  

Actually, there are a lot of changes occurring in Hollywood.  It was said that a movie about a minority group can never become a big hit.  There are two movies that are proving that wrong though.   One is called “Black Panther” and the other one is called “Coco” (Japanese title “Remember Me”).   These two movies are huge blockbuster hits.  I really recommend you to see both movies.  I think the English in “Remember Me”  will be a little bit easier than most movies.  

I hope they keep making movies like these that the minority groups are the main characters of the films.  I look forward to seeing both films!!

artsy movies 「芸術的な映画」

social message  「社会的メッセージ」

mute 「口がきけない」

minority group 「少数グループ」

current administration 「現政権」

proving 「証明している」