CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language StudioÊs Newsletter June,
June , 201
20 1 4

Everyone knows the story of Adamand Eve, the Gardenof Eden and the“forbidden fruit”. A
new and intriguingtheoryisnow
emerging
thatsuggests this story
may be more thanAn artist impression of how G-T might
have looked at the time.
mere folk memory, or
an allegory to warn mankind about theconsequences of living a life of sin. The
question archeologists, historians and others
are now asking is, “could the Eden story
actually be based on historical facts?”
At a dig in southern Turkey, archeologists
have uncovered 40-odd massive T-shaped andexquisitely carved pillars arranged in circularformations. The site is called Gobekli Tepe andis said to be the world’s oldest temple. It is
astonishingly old. It dates from the Neolithic
period of human history, about 10,000 BC,
back to the time of the “cavemen”!
Pottery, writing and even the wheel had notbeen invented yet! The people of that time
were “hunter-gatherers” living an idyllic life,
hunting, plucking fruit from trees and,generally, living a laid-back, idyllic existence.
Archeological evidence suggests that thesepeople were taller, stronger, lived longer andgenerally enjoyed better health than people livingin the agricultural societies that came after them.
The surrounding land at Gobekli Tepe atthat time was lush, green and forested; aparadise, nothing like the dust-bowl it is today.

NET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
…. Try our lessons through the net!
SITE OF THE MONTH:
For more information about Gobekli Tepe go here:
http://www.redicecreations.com/article.php?id=5919

But whatwould make these people
give up their idyllic life-style for a life of toil andhardship, plowing the land, sowing andharvesting crops?
The answer, some say, lies inthe establishment of a religious
cult centered at Gobekli Tepe.
The intricately carved monoliths
Henson Recording Studios, LA, USA
there seem to be celebrating thehunter-gather’s rich, carefree andleisured way of life; but a way oflife that was eventually lost to
the pressures of an increasing
population as more and more
people came to the site to pay
homage and worship.
To support an ever increasing
population, hunter-gathers turned
to cultivating the local wild grasses – thus,
agriculture was born! Trees were felled to makeway for crops. Then, without natural cover,game animals started to dissipate, making thecultivation of grains even more necessary. Theland became overworked and, finally, barren.
Could, then, the “fruit of knowledge” haveactually been wheat?!
Is the story of Adam and Eve’s banishment fromparadise and the Garden of Eden for eating the “fruitof knowledge” a simple parable about punishment for
sin, or could it be a story about actual loss?
Another
intriguingthing happened around
8,000 BC. The people
living at Gobekli Tepedeliberately buried thewhole site so that it
disappeared into thebarren landscape that still exists there today.
Was this an attempt to cover up their “sin”? Is
the story of Adam and Eve, as it has come down
to us through the ages, a testimony to the guilt
these early people might have felt as a result ofdestroying their own “Paradise”?

Joshua Says: Last month’s end of term party, in contrast to our opening
party in April, was a quiet and intimate affair, but very enjoyable,
nevertheless. There was plenty of good food and beverages, and those whocame seemed to enjoy the company and the chance to chat with theirteachers in English. I do thank all those who turned up, students andteachers alike, for making it an enjoyable and friendly event.

Junko Says: Finally, our outside sign will be put in place this month. It
feels like the last step in moving to our new location is now completed.
But have you noticed the open patch of “garden” in front of our building.
It’s just calling out for some flowers, don’t you agree? We will answer thecall and start planting some shrubs and other plants there soon. I
wonder if any of our students would like to donate, or even plant, someflowers there…? It’s Ok, we have permission….

Kenneth Says: The story of Adam and Eve is a creation myth common
to three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). In
Christian theology, the fall of man describes the transition from innocent
obedience to God to a state of guilty disobedience. Now, more than ever,
mankind’s destiny is to find the way of truth and abide within the lawsof physics in the Garden of Eden, or perish.

Adrienne Says: I just got back from Tokyo to see my new granddaughter. Her name is Emma. When she frowns, she looks like herfather, who is my son. She only cries when her parents give her a bath.
Both of her parents are half-European, and she also looks halfEuropean. I wonder how she will look when I see her again in August.

Danielle Dit: Depuis janvier, je suis très occupée! J’ai vu le spectacle“Ovo” du Cirque du Soleil (le Cirque du Soleil est québécois!) et celui dugroupe japonais l’Arc-en-ciel à Tokyo. Á Matsuyama, pour la troisième
fois j’ai assisté au concert de la merveilleuse Fujiko Heming. J’ai aussi
aimé le concert de Nathaniel Rosen, un violoncelliste qui a habité àMatsuyama. Bientôt, je verrai le ballet “Roméo er Juliette” de la troupe
K-ballet. J’ai aussi adoré le spectacle de Kodo! Ouf, que de culture!

Here are just a few shots fromlast month’s End-Of-Semester
party

It’s the latest trend!
Do you want your pet
to stand out in thecrowd?
Betrulydifferent? Here are somecreative examples of what
can be done if you andyour pet really put yourminds (and talents) towork on it…….

Something else to think (andtalk) about…
1 . Russia has a larger surface area thanthe dwarf planet Pluto.

2. If all seven billion people on earth moved
to the state of Texas in the USA, that state
would have the same population density
as New York City, and be less densely
populated than metropolitan Tokyo!

3. A Venus day is longer than a Venus
year.

4. Mars is populated entirely by robots.
5. Only 66 years passed between the firsttime man flew and the first time manlanded on the moon.

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.