!

NEW EVENT

Vol.８
September 2015

Contents
Halloween Party2015

1

Volunteers wanted:
Saijo Industry Fair2

Upcoming cookingclasses

2

Welcome to theInternational Café

2

Meet the new ALTs!

2

A Letter from Hue
City, Vietnam

3

Column: Everyday
International Exchange

3

Eigo de Go!
Events &Announcements

44International Relations Saijo
is a quarterly newsletter
published in Japanese andEnglish by the Saijo
International Exchange
Association (SIEA). We
welcome your comments,

Fun Activities!
Trick or Treat

Costume Contest☆Drop by shops displaying Jack-o’-Lantern
pumpkins and say “Trickor Treat!” to receivetreats. (Don’t forget tosay “thank you!”)

Starts at 3:40
☆Dress up in your best
costume! Great costumes
will be invited to join thecontest on stage! (Contestinvitations start at 2:00）

Stamp Rally

Halloween poster

Starts at 4:00

& illustration exhibit☆Collect stamps andcandy from special
ghouls on the arcade.
The password is “trickor treat.” （limit first300）Tickets: 100 yen,on sale from 2:00

Face painting
Uchinuki 21
cornerGame corner
2:00～（limit 300）

BOO!
Volunteer
Staff
Wanted！
（See Page 4 for details）

SCARY※Children 4th grade and younger must be
accompanied by an adult.
※The games will end once all prizes have been
distributed

questions and submissions.

Organizers: Saijo Shotengai Machitsukuri Kyougikai, Saijo International Exchange Association
Saijo International Exchange Association 〒793-8601 164 Akeyashiki, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture
TEL(0897)52-1206 FAX(0897)52-1200 E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp URL: http://www.city.saijo.ehime.jp

2International Relations Saijo
Upcoming Cooking Classes

The Saijo International Exchange Association
will hold a World Café at the Saijo Industry Fair,an annual event at the Agricultural High School.
We are looking for volunteers to help us staff thecafé. Let’s bring the world to Saijo!
There will also be a cooking class where you canhelp us make Vietnamese “Nem Lui,” the grilled
pork sausages (tsukune) we will sell at the café.
◆Industry Fair World Café Staff◆【Date】 Nov. 14-15 (Sat/Sun)※Volunteers will work half-day shifts【Place】 Saijo Agricultural (Nōgyō) High School【Details】1F Tent: Nem Lui grilling and sales
2F Classroom: World Café (Nem Lui, Che dessert,etc.), culture introduction, SIEA member organization exhibits, games, world clothing exhibit◆Nem Lui Cooking Class◆【Date】Nov. 8 (Sun) 1-4 p.m.
【Place】Shoku no Sozokan(Cooking Center) (2-54
Mitsuya Minami, next toJR Nyugawa Station)【Instructor】 CIR Truong Dinh Le
Maximum 10 participants (adv. reservations req.)※Participation is free, but bring an apron,hairnet, and other necessary clothing.
◇◆Apply To◆◇
Saijo Int. Exchange Assoc. ℡：0897-52-1206

Welcome to さいじょう！
～Meet the New ALTs～① Seichi ② Nicole③ JosephAssistant Language Teachers (ALTs)
teach English at schools across Saijo.
This summer we welcomed 3 new ALTs.
① Seichi Kamimura
Hometown: Los Angeles, USA
Interests: reading, basketball,church activities

Learn authentic home cooking
from experts at our international
cooking classes.
◆Chinese Gyoza (dumplings)◆【Time】Nov. 7 (Sat) 1:30-5 p.m.
【Place】Saijo Public Welfare
Center【Cost】500 yen 【Max participants】30◆Vietnamese Cooking with Le◆
Make flavorful Vietnamese food with CIR Truong
Dinh Le.
【Time】Dec. 12 (Sat) 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
【Place】Saijo Shoku no Sozokan (Cooking Center)【Cost】1,500 yen (SIEA members 1,000 yen)【Max participants】30※Reservations accepted from Nov. 1◇◆Apply To◆◇ Saijo International Exchange
Association ℡：0897-52-1206

Welcome to the International Cafe!
The first International Café was held on Wednesday
August 12 at the Saijo Sangyō Jōhō Shien Center(SICS). Over 30 participants engaged in lively conversation in multiple languages over coffee,
tea, and other drinks.
The next International Café will beheld from 6-8 p.m. on October 7 at SICS,
and then on December 2 at Tanbara
Community Center. Stop on by!

First impression: My students arepolite and there are kind people
everywhere: at school, in my neighborhood and in shops! I’m from thecity, but Saijo is a peaceful andeasy-to-live place. My hometown iscurrently in a drought, so seeing
all the flowing water when I walkaround Saijo is a little shocking.
Message to Saijo: I’m honored to
be able to live with all of you! I’d be
happy if you take an interest ininternational relations. I want tohave a good impact on children as
an English teacher. In English orJapanese, say “hi!” to me anytime!

First impression: Not much time
has passed since I arrived, but it’svery beautiful and the people arenice and friendly.
Message to Saijo: Thank you forwelcoming me so warmly!
③ Joseph Toeava
Hometown: Auckland, NewZealandInterests: fishing, camping, readingFirst impression: It’s in-between
the inaka and the city but everything moves more slowly than in
New Zealand. But I like that.
Message to Saijo: If you see me on
the street, say “hi!”② Nicole McCoy
Hometown: Edmonton, Canada
Interests: hiking, reading, iceskating

Saijo International Exchange Association 〒793-8601 164 Akeyashiki, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture
TEL(0897)52-1206 FAX(0897)52-1200 E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp URL: http://www.city.saijo.ehime.jp

International Relations Saijo

3A Letter from Hue

Especially in a smaller city like Hue, one makes
a lot of acquaintances. Everyone from the old lady
who runs a small shop to the motorcycle taxi drivA college student from Saijo introduces Vietnam.
ers wave hello and ask me how I’m doing. I love thisXin chao! Hello. I’m a college student studying
openheartedness in the Vietnamese people.
English in Hue, a city in the center of Vietnam.
Next I’ll talk about the food. In a word, VietnamThis probably raises some questions for you.
ese food is inexpensive and delicious!! Every kind ofStudying English in Vietnam? That’s not somethingfood suits my taste. I think many people have an
you hear everyday. But English is more widely spoimage of Southeast Asian food as spicy, but actually
ken in Vietnam than in Japan.
that’s not the case. There are many
Moreover, Vietnam is a safe
kinds of food with gentle flavors simicountry very suitable for goinglar to Japanese cuisine. My favoriteabroad. Now I’d like to introVietnamese food is “banh canh,” which
duce Vietnam, where I’ve spentis like Japanese udon noodles. Thethe last three months.
ingredients differ depending on the
Since coming to Vietnam, I’ve
restaurant, from shrimp to fish toexperienced many cultural difmeat. The noodles can be made fromferences, but first I’ll talk about
wheat or tapioca flour, so you can enthe people. When we make eye
joy different flavors. Of course localcontact, Vietnamese people
restaurants are the best! Vietnam is ayoung and old all smile at me.
long, narrow country, so the climate is
And they are very open-hearted. A temple (Author is 2nd from left)
completely different from north toIf you spend time talking with asouth. Naturally, the food differs deVietnamese person and become friendly, they’ll soon pending on the climate, too. People who enjoy foodsay “Let’s get a meal together,” “I’ll show you
tourism should make a journey across Vietnam. Youaround,” or “Come over to my home!” Different from can enjoy many regional food cultures within theJapanese politeness, this really is omotenashi
same country.
(welcoming). People are very close to one another.
This essay is already getting long, but have I
In fact, if you try to create some space, Vietnamesemanaged to pique your interest in Vietnam? Japan
people might feel sad and wonder “Are we reallyand Vietnam are very close. I want more and morefriends?” This is true even for teachers and stupeople to know about this country’s charms. If youdents. Something that surprised me is that romance have a chance, why not take a trip to Southeast
between teachers and students is common andAsia. You won’t regret your time in Vietnam.
open. My friends were surprised at my surprise.
By Yuki Goda

Column: Everyday
International Exchange
Hello, everyone. My name is Mamiko Imai. I joined
the Saijo International Exchange Association office
staff in July, after moving to Saijo this year. While“international exchange” might at first glance seem
like an unfamiliar concept in a regional city like Saijo,
after experiencing the warmth of this city’s residents, I
feel that it is exactly the people of the countryside,people overflowing with humanity, who are equippedfor positive exchange with non-Japanese residents.
Cologne, the place I lived while studying abroad in
Germany, was also a small city. The people didn’t treat
foreign residents any differently. They were openhearted in the same way as Saijo’s citizens, always

willing to lend a hand if necessary. For example,
whenever I made an order at an ice cream shop in myneighborhood, the owner would respond “Wrong! Onceagain” just like a language instructor and make merepeat myself. When I couldn’t improve, he would say
with joking magnanimity “I’ll let you off today” andgive me my ice cream. By joking lightly with me while
giving me friendly help, I believe he gave me courage.
It was just that sort of exchange with friendly, casualpeople that remains impressed on me all these years
later. And I believe that Saijo is a place where a similar culture of kindness has strong roots, and that thecasualness of relationships between neighbors creates
an environment perfect for international exchange.
To this end, I want to do my utmost as a part of thenew Saijo International Exchange Association to support your positive efforts to promote exchange. I lookforward to working with all of you.（今）Saijo International Exchange Association 〒793-8601 164 Akeyashiki, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture
TEL(0897)52-1206 FAX(0897)52-1200 E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp URL: http://www.city.saijo.ehime.jp

4International Relations Saijo

Tell me about Japan
英語
でGO! —Let’s Practice Explaining in English—
What things can you explain in English?

Explanation for beginners: Imotaki is a soup withpotatoes and meat. Imo is potato and taki is boil. We
eat imotaki at the river.
What kind of gestures can you use? Try to imagine

Are you able to talk in English about parts of Japa-

how to explain things with your hands. I believe younese culture that are interesting to non-Japanese likemust speak and use your whole body to leave an im-“kimono,” “obon” and “kaitenzushi”?

pression on your brain. Don’t forget gestures!

Explaining concepts and objects in a foreign lan-

Advanced explanation: Imotaki is a stew with pota-guage is difficult, and this is one activity that most oftoes, meat, and other local vegetables in broth. Themy students don’t seem to enjoy. When I studied Japa-

word means “boiled potatoes.” It is traditionally eaten

nese in college, I hated this kind of practice too.

in the evening at the riverside from August to October.

In spite of this, I believe that explaining “something”
in a foreign language is a very effective study method.
For example, why don’t you try explaining “imotaki,”
a popular autumn custom in Saijo in English?
First, think about “imotaki” in Japanese. Sometimes
my students tell me, “I can’t explain that even in Japanese!” You can think of this practice as a chance tostudy your own country’s history and culture.
For beginners, try to explain using simple words
and gestures. For advanced speakers, try explaining“imotaki” in one minute. This is useful practice.

Learning how to explain many different things is
one surefire way to communicate with others. (J)英語kimono説明
traditional Japanese clothes,full robes tied with a belt
Obona festival in August that honors
ancestors and departed family
kaitenzushi sushi on a conveyer belt a kindof sushi restaurant, called sushi
train in Australia
Source: Wikipedia

Events & Announcements【Halloween Party Staff Wanted!】Let’s make this year’s Halloween Party a big success!
◆Date: Oct. 31 (Sat) 2-6 p.m.
◆Place: Saijo Shopping Arcade (Shotengai)◆Volunteer responsibilities include attending meetings,
helping set up the party, helping run the activities◆Around 30 volunteers needed◇◆Inquiries/Applications◆◇
Saijo International Exchange Association office(Saijo City Office General Affairs Division)℡：0897-52-1206 Email：kokusai@saijo-city.jp【Chinese Friendship Association Presentation】◆Date: Oct. 3 (Sat) 6:30 p.m.
◆Place: Saijo Public Welfare Center 3F Kenshushitsu 2◆Info: Participants in a tour of China’s northeastern
provinces and an exchange with Chinese technical trainees who worked in Saijo will give a presentation.
【Saijo International Exchange Assoc. email newsletter】
SIEA has recently created an email newsletter.
To receive the latest news and event info for Saijo Cityand Ehime Prefecture, email your name and address tokokusai@saijo-city.jp with the subject line
“Email newsletter registration”【2nd International Exchange Lecture 「Let’s enjoy English
With Anna-Kay」】
ELIS will host ALT Anna-Kay for an international
exchange lecture about her homeland of Jamaica.
◆Date: Sept. 26 (Sat.) 1:30-3:00 p.m.
◆Place: Omachi Community Center 2F Hall (℡0897-563835)◆Speaker: Anna-Kay Dunkley（Saijo High School ALT）
◆Title: “Jamaica: Land of Beauty”◆Participation is free.
※This lecture will be conducted in English.
◇◆Inquiries◆◇
ELIS (English Volunteer Organization) Mr. Fujita℡：090-7782-3234

編集
後記This month’s issue was full of upcoming event
announcements. We hope to see you at theseinternational exchange events! Let’s enjoy autumn activities in Saijo together!! (今)International Relations Saijo Staff:
Sachi Kawaguchi（か）Truong Dinh Le（レ）John Wheeler（J） (English translation)
Mamiko Imai（今）Saijo International Exchange Association 〒793-8601 164 Akeyashiki, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture
TEL(0897)52-1206 FAX(0897)52-1200 E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp URL: http://www.city.saijo.ehime.jp