April 2024

GRAPEVINE

Change is Good! – Michael Henderson

Issue No. 17

Tomorrow is a New Day – Katelyn Sondereker

Hello everyone! This is Daini’s English newsletter

Something that my mom often told me when I was

called “Grapevine”. Every month, Kate-Sensei and I

little was, “Tomorrow is a new day, fresh with nowrite articles (記事) in English about different topics

mistakes in it.” This is a quote from Anne of Green(話題). By writing articles, we hope more people canGables (赤毛のアン), which I have watched over andpractice and become more interested in English. If

over again with my mom and my sister.

you want to read past articles (過去の記事), you canfind them on Daini’s website!

Sometimes, days are just...bad. We don’t feel likeourselves, we are tired, we feel overwhelmed (圧倒さThis month, I would like to write about “change”れる), we make mistakes, we feel sad for no reason. I(変化) . I think March and April are a very busy time

have had many, many days like this. But it’s importantin Japan, as people graduate (卒業する), enter newto remember that it is okay to feel these feelings! Weschools, and start new jobs. In America, it’s not very

are human ( 人 間 だ か ら ), we are going to havebusy, as our school graduation is in June, and the newemotions (感情) that make us feel bad sometimes. We

school year starts in September. This past March, thecannot be happy all the time.

first students I taught at Daini graduated. It was very

So my advice to you, when you have bad days, isbittersweet (ほろ苦い), because I was happy that theyto let them be bad. Don’t try to change your emotions.

could graduate, but sad that they were leaving.

Be kind to yourself (自分に親切に). Talk to people

Recently (最近), I heard that many of them are havingthat make you feel safe and loved, like your family andfun and enjoying university now, but others miss highfriends. Make sure you are eating enough. Listen toschool and are having trouble getting used to the new

your favorite music. And allow yourself to feel.

environment (新しい環境に慣れるのに苦労する). I

When I am having a bad day, I have a Bad Day

think that everyone feels like this when they have aChecklist (チェックリスト) of things I can do to

big change in life.

make myself feel better. It looks a little bit like this:When I was young I didn’t like change, but now, I
think it can be exciting. When change happens, we
can experience (経験できる) and learn new things.
We can meet new people and create new friendships.
Of course, it’s sad when things that were familiar(馴染みのあるもの) are gone, and you don’t knowwhat will happen in the future, So when I am worried
about change in the future, I remember what
Tomoda-Sensei said at the graduation ceremony:
In life, if things always go as planned (いつも計画通りにいけば), then it’s not a fun life!
What does your Bad Day Checklist look like? If
you haven’t made one, I recommend that you try it!

もし記事の英語や内容などの質問があればBecause the thing about bad days is, they always,always end. You can always wake up to a new day,

ALT に気軽に聞いてくださいね！

fresh with no mistakes in it.

Fun Facts about your ALTs!
How long have you been in Japan?

2 and 1/2 years

What is your current favorite English song lyric?
“Don’t let this darkness fool you / all lights turned off
can be turned on.” – Noah Kahan, Call Your Mom
What is your favorite café in Kumamoto?
Kusahamochi or Café Lx or Green Tea.Lab
What place do you want to visit in Japan?
Hokkaido! In the summer for the flowers
and in the winter for the snow!
Describe your perfect day.
My perfect day would be waking up early on a rainy
morning and drinking coffee with my mom. Then wewould go to my favorite café in Ohio called The Blue
Door and visit the bookstore. After that, I would make

Kate Sondereker

dinner with my family and watch TV with my sister!

How many siblings do you have?
I have one brother and one sister. I am the oldest!
Favorite restaurant in Kumamoto?
It is Bunryu (文龍) of course. It is the best ramen inthe world.
What is something you want to do?
I want to try surfing in Miyazaki again! I’m not goodat it at all but it’s pretty fun.
What is something you like to do?
I really enjoy driving in nature because it’s relaxing.
The nature in Japan is especially beautiful.
What is your favorite word in Kumamoto Dialect?
It is probably むしゃんよか, because I would like to be
むしゃんよか someday. I also like さしより because I
thought it was standard dialect (標準語) at first.

Michael Henderson