Biting the bullet

First of all, I’d like to congratulate you on your bravery! I know from experience that it can be nerve-racking to speak in a foreign language when many people are listening to you. I know you said that you already knew that it would be difficult for you, but at least you bit the bullet and did it; that takes courage. It’s always afterwards that you look back and kick yourself about what you could have said, but I think you did incredibly well. I’m sure you learnt a lot from the experience and next time you’ll do even better. I hope you enjoy your new English course!

About Superman Returns, I’m a big fan of the director, Bryan Singer. I enjoyed his previous films X-Men and The Usual Suspects very much. As the film started I got goose bumps when I heard the famous theme. I was convinced it was going to be great. The film is shot beautifully and the performance are very good, especially Kevin Spacey and Parker Posey who have fun as the bad guys. Also, the newcomer, Brandon Routh, captures the two sides to Superman’s character very well – his bumbling Clark is spot on. However, I regret to say the film just didn’t do it for me. I found the story far too predictable, and I hate to admit that I was clock watching after about an hour. I felt that the film was a little too long and needed an injection of pace to move things along more quickly. Overall, looks like a millions dollars, but don’t expect anything new.

It’s great that you were dancing around the kitchen while listening to ‘I should have known better’ by The Beatles. Did you sing along at the top of your lungs, too?

Is Peter getting taller every day? How long is it before he will have outgrown his new clothes?

Regarding fashion, in Japan it is incredibly important for many people. I’d never seen so many brand bags before I cam here. I’m not pulling your leg when I say that it seems almost every woman has a Luis Vuitton handbag. There are even nicknames for groups of people who wear certain kinds of clothes: ‘Chaneler’ people wear Chanel, ‘Gucci-er’ wear Gucci. However, the really uniquely Japanese ones are ‘Goshi-loli’ which is abbreviated Japanese for ‘Gothic-Lolita’. These girls wear what look like doll’s clothes; lots of lace, ribbons and puffy skirts with big black boots. If you ever see one, you can never quite believe your eyes…

Personally, I’m not too fussed about wearing the latest fashions. I’m like you in that I wear casual clothes at home and ‘nicer’ clothes when I go out. Tomono rarely wears traditional clothes, except in the summer when she wears a yukata, which is a summer kimono, to go to festivals.

Look at the time! I must get a move on and get ready for work…See you later.

Lewis


Useful English from today’s post:

(to) congratulate someone on (doing) something

a nerve-racking experience

(to) bite the bullet and do something

(to) kick yourself (about (not) doing something)

(to) get goose bumps

something is spot on

something does/doesn’t (quite) do it for you

(to) look like a million dollars

(to) sing along (at the top of your lungs)

(to) outgrow (your clothes)

(to) pull someone’s leg

(to be) unable to believe your eyes - “I can’t believe my eyes!”

(to) (not) be (too) fussed about (doing) something

(to) get a move on (or you’ll be late)

Thanks for all your contributions. This blog has now closed and can no longer accept new comments.