CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language StudioÊs Newsletter June,June , 201
20 1 7

History

is seen as quite a basic
timeline in most people’s minds. Fromtheir own life to the history of the world
most people can pick out important key
events that are in a linear sequence.
However there are a number of events
that people imagine are years or
decades apart which occurred almost
simultaneously.
A good first example of this is thebirth of America. In 1620 Pilgrims set
sail on the Mayflower to colonize what
would become the United States for thefirst time. When you think of this you
imagine America as some undiscovered
vast landscape with no towns or cities
at all. However Spanish conquistadors
had already built the town of Santa FeEllain what would become the state of New
Mexico 10 years before. Indeed, while
the pilgrims were constructing theirJanisfirst shelters at Plymouth Rock, youcould already eat at a restaurant, stayat a hotel and buy Native American
silver in Santa Fe.
Columbus
ThePilgrims
land atPlymouth
Rock, 1620.

reaches theAmericas, 1492
not long after
the collapse ofthe ByzantineEastern Romanempire.

Sticking with America, Christopher
Columbus first reached the ‘New World’in 1492. What may surprise you is thiswas only 40 years after the Eastern
Roman empire fell. So there were still
people who considered themselves
Romans who found out about thediscovery of a new continent.

Here’ssomemorequick
fire
simultaneous events.
The famous
actress Marilyn Monroe and Queen
Elizabeth the second were born in thesame year. When the Pyramids in
Egypt
werebeingbuilt
therewerestill
Wooly Mammoths on the earth. Oxford
Universityis older than the AztecEmpire. Prisoners began arriving at
Auschwitz concentration camp in thesame year the first McDonald’s
restaurant opened and finally Coca
Cola is only 31 years younger than thecountry of Italy!
I wonder whatcurrent simultaneousacts will be seen as
strange 100
years from now.

Article by Matt

NET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
…. Try our lessons on the net!
Find more simultaneousness here:
http://activly.com/30-historical-events-thathappened-at-the-same-time-that-will-break-yourbrain/yanar-bulag

Joshua Says: It has been wisely stated that “education is about learning,
not about teaching.” Looked at from the learner’s point of view, this idea puts
a lot of responsibility on the learner to be pro-active in his/her lessons; takethe initiative, strive to improve oneself instead of relying on the teacher to do
everything. This in no way makes the teacher’s job any easier, but it does help
when students take such a positive approach toward their lessons.
Junko Says: Here is another Michelangelo quote: it goes: “The greater
danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, butin setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.” And this reminds me ofConfucianism: “The middle way is not merely the balanced way, but it’s thehighest centripetal point, completely impartial.” These teachings suggest to
us to live towards the same goal. Do you also see the similarity?
Matt Says: Next month Kazushi Sakuraba will be inducted into the UFC
hall of fame. Even though he only fought in America once, his career andparticularly the legendary May 1st 2000 fight against Royce Gracie are world
renowned in MMA. As the Catalyst for the heyday of fighting in Japan he willtake his rightful place among the greats.
Darrin Says: Hello and nice to meet you. My name is Darrin and I'm from theGold Coast in Australia. I'm actually a return visitor to Matsuyama having spentover ten years here previously before moving back to my home town in 2014. But
many things have changed since I last lived there and Australia as a whole has
become a very expensive place to try and raise a family, so earlier this year mywife and I made the decision to move back here to live. I hope I get the chance tomeet many of you and to exchange many stories along the way.
Danielle dit À quoi sert la science ? C'est une question à laquelle apporterune réponse pourrait prendre tout un livre de philosophie. Selon moi, une desréponses est qu'elle nous permet d'ajouter un niveau de lecture à notre vie.
Comprendre comment se crée une bulle de savon ou la façon dont notre corps
traite l'air sans nous intoxiquer n'est pas fondamentalement nécessaire à lavie mais cela la rend plus intéressante et profonde.
ACROSS
3 start a new settlement far from home
10 at the same time
11 belonging to the present time
13 people who travel in foreign lands
14 tens of years
15 measured lengthwise
16 thought about
DOWN
1 following in order
2 a Spanish soldier of fortune
4 happened
5 a large extinct elephant
6 crowding together in a small space
7 great in size
8 have a desire to know something
9 staying, not changing
12 a country ruled by an emperor

12

354

6

78
910

111213141516(print version here)

What would you do?
An exercise in “thinking outside of the box”
That’s me!

The following moral/ethical dilemma was once actually used as part of a job
application: Think carefully before deciding what you would do.
Q: You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night, when you pass by a bus stop andyou see three people waiting for the bus:
1. An old lady who looks as if she is struggling to stay on her feet in the bad weather.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.
Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in yourcar?
You could pick up the old lady, because she is in so much stress, and thus you should save her first. Or
you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to
pay him back. However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.
Who would you choose to give the lift to? The
candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had
no trouble coming up with the following answer. Hereis her answer:
A: “I would give my car keys to my friend and let him take thelady to a hospital, then let him use my car to go home. I would
stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of mydreams.”
Remember to always, "Think Outside of the Box."A
H A B I T A TIN
LNT
P A V I L I O N
IZUQC O M B U S T I B L E
M
NMUSOUEINM
RTM
L I T E R A L L Y
APRKRBIOM E T H A N EOLNRMRUES P O N T A N E O U SSTUDAS
A L I G H TYA
G U R G L I N G

Last Month’s Puzzle Solution
DOWN
ACROSS
2 an environment where organisms live 1 very far back in history
3 a strong, bright burning flame
5 a roofed shelter
4 too many to count6 capable of igniting or burning
7 common, easy to remember name10 the exact meaning
8 very many in number
13 colorless, odorless gas
9 main source of support
14 happening without external cause
11 full of holes
15 light up usually by fire
12 tending to cure or restore health
16 irregular flow, e.g. water, with abubbling soundDon’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.