CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language StudioÊs Newsletter
Newslette r December,
December , 201
20 1 7
Politics aside, the scaleandsophisticationof
Quirk’s futureislandnation-states suggest thePlato described Atlantis in his “TimaeusAn early map placing
and Critias” as a series of concentric circles “Atlantis” between Africa and possibility that, perhaps
alternating land and sea, a huge island America in the Atlantic Ocean in the d ista nt p ast, acomplex located in the center of the technologically advanced civilization may
Atlantic Ocean. It is hard to believe that have actually existed in the Atlantic
such an island existed in that location, so a Ocean. Not on a land-based island, but on amajority of scholars have opted for a more kind of floating island similar to those now
modest location. If Atlantis had existed at being envisioned by the Seasteading
all, they say, it would have been in the Institute. Atlantis might have existed insuch a form, and if
Aegean Sea, not too far from present-day
it did, this could
Athens. But even there, where is theexplain why there
evidence?
is no trace of it
The doubts about the existence oftoday. It could have
Atlantis center on the lack of any physical,
suffered a cataclysm
geological proof. A huge island once
A prototype for Tahitithat left no physicalexisting in the middle of the Atlantic
Ocean? Really? But what if Atlantis wasn’t evidence behind that it ever existed.
Crazy, you say! Whole nations living ona land-based island at all?
In January this year, a memorandum of man-made floating islands? In the middleof the ocean? But the concept is not
Ella theunderstanding was signed between
Government of French Polynesia (Tahiti) unusual or even new. People to this day
and a non-profit organization out of San have been living on floating man-madeFrancisco
called the Seasteading Institute. islands made ofJanis
The plan is to build the world’s first self- reads for hundreds,
sustainable floating island habitat in Tahiti. even thousands ofinmany
Its designers envision it as a prototype for years
partsoftheworld,
future floating cities - even nations - free ofgovernment controls, taxes, and other from Africa to theEasttoinconveniences. Seasteading’s ultimate goal, Middle
SouthAmerica.
Toaccording to president, Joe Quirk, is tosure,these“liberate humanity from politicians” and bestructures are far“rewrite the rules that govern society.”less ambitious than
Quirk’s envisioned
floating cities, but
NET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
theconcept
isthere.
Add
the…. Try our lessons on the net!
technology and you Seasteading Institute’s concept
Here is something on future ocean cities:
https://www.boredpanda.com/first-floating-nation-islandmay just come up drawings for a future city on theocean
pacific-ocean-tahiti-2020-seasteading-institute/with a new “Atlantis!”Joshua Says: Brexit. England is leaving the EU. Rather than this making
the English language less important in Europe, I think this will increase its
importance there. Why? With no remaining member country having English
as its native language, there will be an opportunity for all EU nations to use
the international and, now “neutral”, language for all negotiation andcommunication purposes favoring no one nation in particular.
Junko Says: Next year, 2018 will be the Year of the Dog. But theoriginal sign in the Chinese zodiac used a character that has nothing to
do with animals. The original character has the meaning of thewithering of plants. So it has the image of winter, while also indication
the beginning of a new life. Some say that this 11 th sign symbolizes thefruits of hard work. I hope you will all have a fruitful year next year.
Perry Says: It’s surprising how quickly the weather has cooled down. Everyone
asks me if Chicago is colder than Matsuyama and it is. But one big difference isbuildings in America have better insulation, so even when it’s very cold outside, it’swarm inside. In Japan, many homes—especially older ones—have very poorinsulation. So it can sometimes feel just as cold inside as it is outside!

Darrin Says: One thing that I always get asked about here in Japan is how
are Christmas and New year different in Australia. The answer is that theJapanese New Year and Australian Christmas are similar in that this is atime we spend with our family with almost every shop closing for the day. TheJapanese Christmas and Australian New year are similar in that this is atime to enjoy with friends. Have a great Christmas and happy new year.
Mandcy dit: Aaaaah Noêl .... ! Le moment le plus magique de toutel’année ! Les maisons sont redécorées de rouge et de vert, lesguirlandes de lumières qui éclairent la vile, l’odeur du vin chaud et dupain d’épice. J’éspère donc que vous avez été bien sages cette année, etque le Père Noël vous offre plein de cadeaux. Joyeux Noël à tous !
ACROSS
2 refined, complex and worldly
6 written proposal
8 furthest or highest in degree9 a sudden and violent event
12 imagine, picture to oneself
14 an environment that supports life
15 discomfort or not convenient
16 needing no outside supportDOWN
1 a full-scale working model
3 selected as an alternative
4 having a common center
5 complicated in structure
7 make free
10 a strong desire for success
11 a general idea
13 an indication that something once existed

12

3

4

5

6
7
8
9

10

11
12
13

14

15

(print version here)

16

Jazz in Shikoku
By Keiko Kurita
That’s me!

On October 21st, I performed at the“Jazz in Shikoku” concert in Ainan-cho,located in the southern area of Ehime
prefecture. In the past, going from
Matsuyama to Ainan-cho took five hours
by car. But since the highway was built, it
only takes two and a half hours.
This is the fourth “Jazz in Shikoku”
concert and it was held at the Cultural
Center. Many famous jazz musicians fromall over Japan gathered there.
Unfortunately, Typhoon No. 21 alsocame on the same day of the concert. You might think the typhoon stopped people
from coming, but that wasn’t the case. Despite the rain, a lot of people still came to see
the concert.
I performed with Osamu Kawakami (bassist), Kenji Mori (saxophonist), and Mie Joke(vocalist). They usually perform in Tokyo and Nagoya, so I was very happy andhonored to play with them. It was an important opportunity for me. There were threeother bands besides ours. Each band was very skilled and I enjoyed theirperformances, too. Some of the artists included Takeo Moriyama and Fumio Itabashi,
Keiko Lee and Philip Woo, and Kazumasa Akiyama and Trial Trip.
The next day, Ainan-cho also held “Jazz Concert for Children.” Some of the musiciansfrom “Jazz in Shikoku” also performed at the children’s concert. I not only performed,
but I also served as the MC for the concert. I had the chance to perform with Ainancho’s local high school brass band. It was a great weekend.
M
DP U R G A T O R YRNSTA P P E A S E DF
DYE
O B S E R V E R SKLDSR E V I S I TKIENLC O N N O T A T I O N SGOAGERTD E P A R T E DN
D E N I E DASDE N C O U N T E R
UCRO B S E R V A N C E

Last Month’s Puzzle Solution
ACROSS
3 a place where the dead aretemporarily tormented and tortured
5 make peace with, gain favor with
8 followers or believers
9 visit again
11 an implied or suggested idea
13 dead14 refuse to accept
15 unintentionally be in the same place
16 a formal event on a special
occasion

DOWN
1 people who suffer (even die)for a cause
2 put on clothing
4 searching for6 the unwritten stories, etc, of aculture
7 committed to a cause, ideal orpurpose
10 taking revenge, retaliation
12 make certain of something

Don’t forget… Our SPECIAL 1+1 Campaign offer! Up to 50% off!!
See our notice board, or ask Junko in our office, for the details.