Shocked...! (Internship extra edition#23)

Hello, How are you today?

 Now I'm staying in Vientiane. Vientiane is the capital of Laos and people often say "the capital that doesn't anything to see and go." I knew it before getting to Laos and now I enjoy staying than I expected. 

 ...by the way, recently I realized certian thing. That is I cannot speak English even if I have not used for a week. to be more specific, I need long time to come up with the words. it must result from this week. I stayed in Bangkok with Japanese friend, and Thai friend I met was fluent in English, so I didn't have to speak English. Then I didn't write this blog because Internship has already finished.

 I experienced this before.  I really realized that It is important for everyone studying language to study "everyday."

 I made a list that must keep in my mind as follows, so I would appreciate if it helps you.

The list

asking for help

・sorry to bother you, but~.

・could I ask some question?

・What should I do the next/about it?

・I don’t completely understand it, so could you tell me what to do?

When I can't listen to what the other said

・sorry?

・Could you repeat it more?

・pardon?

・Could you speak it more slowly please?

・so you mean…

・so I should … shouldn’t I?

When I forget proper words

・How do I say?

・can’t come up with the word in English

When saying in some differnts words

・I mean…

・in other words,

・It’s like…

Others, the words must must come up with quickly.

・Is there ~? / do you have~?

・do you know wh~?

・let me do~

・I’d like you to~

Answer

・yeah I know

・Sure

・Absolutely

・I’m not sure

The basic and convenient verbs

・take

・give

・get

・have

・go

・bring

 Most of them are not difficult words and many Japanese learnd them by Junior high school. Thus I think we train, even Japanese can speak English more fluently (Just use easy and simple words).

See you~.

チェンマイが最高すぎる話(Internship extra edition #22)

 

チェンマイ・ワロロット市場

３週間のインターンが終わり、バンコクもそこそこにチェンマイへ旅に出た。

 

 

大都会バンコクの喧騒から離れてのんびり過ごそうと考えていたのだが、想像を超える落ち着きとその雰囲気の良さに虜になったのでその良さを抜粋して紹介したい。

 

 

0.基本情報 ー古き良き古都、タイ第二の都市。ー

 

そもそもチェンマイとはどういう都市なのか？ 

 

 

ムアンチエンマイ郡（ムアンチエンマイぐん）は、タイの北部にある郡（アムプー）。チェンマイとも。チエンマイ県の県庁所在地（ムアン）でもある。ラーンナータイ王国の首都として、メンラーイ王により1296年4月12日建造された。王国の首都として古くから発展し、ラーンナータイ王国が廃止された現在でも北部の文化・経済の中心である。人口では東北部のナコーンラーチャシーマーを下回るが、その歴史の長さや都市の格から、一般にバンコクに次ぐタイ第2の都市とされている。

(出典：wikipedia)

 

「古都」「歴史」「都市の格」などを見るに、日本で言うなら「京都」と言ったところか。

 

ただ後述するが、チェンマイは京都ほど観光客に溢れかえっているわけではないので実際の雰囲気は全く違う(言うまでもないか)。

 

 

1.澄んだ空気、雄大な自然

 

まずチェンマイに来て感じるのが、空気の綺麗さである。

 

チェンマイはその地理的な条件からも分かる通り、非常に自然豊かな街だ。

 

バンコクを初めとする東南アジアの主要都市では大気汚染が問題となっているが、チェンマイではその心配はいらない。

 

私は持ち前の腹痛を発揮し、雄大な自然を満喫するアクティビティに触れることはできなかったが、バンコクに飽きた・疲れたファラン達がこぞって来ているのを見ると、そう言った側面が魅力の１つであるのだろう。

 

バンコクとチェンマイの現在(11/1)の大気の様子。大体汚染度はバンコクの半分からそれ以下であることが多い。

2.人の少なさ

 

これは人口密度を見れば一目瞭然だ。バンコクの人口密度は5300人/㎢ であるのに対し、チェンマイは75人/㎢、実に70倍である。街を歩いていてもそれは実感するし、交通量が少ないためにクラクションがほとんど聞こえない。最高だ。

バンコクの渋滞。世界でもトップレベルの人口密度。

 

3.寺院がえぐい

 

勿論バンコクにも美しい寺院はたくさんあるのだが、私がチェンマイの寺院をオススメする理由は３つある。

 

それは「自然との調和・穴場感・歩いて回れる距離感」だ。

 

是非写真を見てもらいたいが、この美しさで全く観光客がいないことがほとんどである。

 

バンコクで人ごみに紛れながら見るお寺よりもありがたみも幾らかました気分になる。

 

ワット・スワンドーク、北部王家墓地。

ワット チェン・マン。 金の塔を象が支えている外観が美しい。

ワット チャイシープーム。野良犬が可愛い。

これら全て市内、徒歩圏内である。青空と緑、金色の外観が非常に綺麗だ。

 

 

 

4.カフェがえぐい

 

先ほど少し触れたが、チェンマイでは少しお腹を壊していたため、市内の街歩きに終始した。

 

その際数軒のカフェにふらっと立ち寄ったのだが、これがまためちゃくちゃおしゃれなのだ。

うまそうなトーストと猫のいるカフェ。もっといい感じに撮ればよかった。

 

後で調べて見たら、このようなカフェがチェンマイには点在しているらしい。

 

観光で疲れた身体を一休みさせることもできるし、全体としての生活コストの低さからノマドワーカーに好かれそうな街だなと実感した。

 

チェンマイ　カフェ　で検索すれば無限に出てくる。

 

 

5.まとめ

　以上が、私がチェンマイ推しである理由だ。

 

これ以外にも物価の安さ(体感でバンコクの2/3)、温和な気候、人の優しさ、日本人の少なさ、など枚挙に暇がない。

 

タイで観光するなら、バンコク・プーケット・サムイなどがメジャーなものとしてあげられるが、個人的にはチェンマイを推したい。

 

バンコクから飛行機で1時間、バスで行くなら10時間、もしくは夜行列車に１２時間揺られてバックパッカー風情を味わうのもまた良いだろう。

チェンマイ⇨バンコクの夜行列車。2500円くらいで乗れるのでオススメ。

 

今回の旅でタイの地方・田舎に興味が湧いたので、来年の初めあたりタイ国内を周遊したいと思っている。(お腹だけは壊さないようにね。)

 

(追伸：久々に日本語で文章を書いたらまるで和文英訳のような文章になってしまったことをお詫びします。)

 

では、ラオスに行って来ます。

Internship? (extra edition) #21

 Internship finished, I was back to a man as a traveler. I wondered this diary continued or not, and I decided to continue it as “extra edition”. It may not keep positing everyday, but I want to write at my own pace. (And actually, I think it is less difficult to write in Englush than Japanese. )だけど今後もブログを続けて行くなら日本語で小粋な文章を書けるようにしないといけない。(唐突な日本語) 

 

 Now I’m staying Chiangmai. Chiangmai is located north in Thailand, so its weather is not too hot compared to Bangkok. I arrived there yesterday, and I was sure that it was nice and cozy city.

 

 …and this is a good chance and I should go around and out Chiangmai for some activity. However I’m sitting on the sofa in the cafe near guesthouse.

 -Why must I do that?  -I’m getting stomachaches! 

 

 I’m famous for my weakness of stomach, and I intended to care of my stomach. However, I think yesterday had the reason.

 

 In Chiangmai, Sunday market is held from the Phae Gate to Wat Phra Singh. I just arrived on Sunday, so as soon as I arrived, I really excited to see this market and had some light meals and beers at outside shops.

 

 …and I got up thanks to my bad stomach. I regretted neglecting my health.

 

 But I’m positively thinking that I can get the opportunity to write a diary.

 

 I wish I’m getting well and go around until tomorrow.

Bangkok Internship #20

Day 19 

 I’m regretting that I couldn’t write this diary by yesterday, but it cannot be helped because our boss took me to the exclusive restaurant... 555 

 

 Yesterday is the last day of my Internship, and the task assigned was really tough, maybe it was the hardest of all work I’ve ever done. I tried my best but couldn’t complete it, I’m sorry to take over this task despite not finished.

 

 And from here I’d like to write what I learned through this internship. Of course I learned many things but cannot write all of them, so please let me write especially important things

 

 

1. When I do something, I should consider and try to find that essential part.

 

 People often say “Anyway, let’s try.” Although this thought is important and sometimes it leads us to succeed, but I realized that at first the consideration for what I plan to do is significant. Thanks to this “consideration” before starting something, I can understand why I’d like to do it and be properly motivated.

 

2. For the purpose of work, the difference of language is not always important.

 

 some people must disagree against this thought. However, what I’d like to intend is “people don’t have to give up working abroad even if they cannot speak English.” I’m sure that language barriers when working outside of Japan are less worry than you expect. Regarding it, our boss said the same. 

 

3. We need not forcefully adjust what I do to social demand and expectation.

 

 Before Internship, I was just thinking about what I can do for me and society and how to make money in short-term by myself. However, first and foremost, considering the current me and getting what I become in future, these are good I think. I should have a wide and different point of view to watch my whole life.

 

 

 I’d like to keep these above in mind.

 

I really appreciate the people who interact and cooperate with me.

Bangkok Internship #19

Day 18

 Finally, the span of my internship is just two days left. Firstly I felt it was long term but now I realize '3 weeks’ are really short term so I’m a little regretting that I should have established more long term.

 

 ...and how about today? At first I called the Thai embassy in Japan. This is the third times to call as business, so I get used to it and felt my progress. I thought I could get information needed more smoothly and politely than ever before.

 

 After that, I worked at “translation”. The translation I’ve ever tackled is divided into 2 types. One is “stiff style” such as contract, provision of law, and so on.

The other is “informal style” such as conversation, e-mail, LINE, and so on.

 

 Today’s task was latter - "informal style”. When I translate this styled sentences, I have some points to take care. 

 

 First and foremost, to grasp the whole circumstance about the sentences as completely as possible. By making sure of them, I can translate them based on not words but meanings. Secondly, to use the active voice and passive voice properly. For example, in case that “subject” doesn’t make sense, I use the passive voice.

 

 Actually, it was hard for the people that not good at English like me, but I’ve tried for 3 weeks and getting it slowly but steadily. I’ll keep this and improve skills constructing sentences in English.

 

 By the way, recently I’m thinking about how to study law. The way to study I’ve ever tried seems to be one way (from instructor) and boring for me. Of course I understand it is really important to input the basic knowledge.

 

 However, It is also essential to learn active like two-way. I think we don’t have that opportunity very much, so I’d like to manage such an environment both for me and others studying law.

 

 In more detail, I’d like to introduce it on other articles in Japanese. I hope there are the people interested in this.

 

See you.

Bangkok Internship #18

Day 17

 Wednesday, usually blue day, but today is national holiday in Thai, so I was happy and yesterday I drunk too much.

 

...As a result,  I was not good in shape in the morning, what is called “hangover”. Thus I woke up late and was late for appointment that I met my friends. 

 

 Somehow I went to meet my friends at "Don Don Donki”. Do you know it?

Yeah, it is “Don Quijote” in Japan. I’m not sure why does the Thai branch use different name from Japan.

 

 Some people imagine that this supermarket is “cheap” anyway, and we can buy everything that we want and need, but this thought seems not to be true of that of Thai.

 

 To be brief, I impressed “Donki” in Thai is neat, tidy and not so cheap (almost the same as other supermarket in Thai.) I think this difference between Japan “Donki” and Thai “Donki” partly results from the difference of clientele. 

 

 By the way, at Donki, I played some sports and games. It was like “Round 1” in Japan. I could play basketball, tennis, soccer, batting of baseball and so on. To tell the truth, My colleague told me this place before, so I’ve been looking forward to going there, so I was glad to do.

 

 I’ve not expected that I've been to a batting center twice. Even in Japan, I don’t go these place much.(actually in Kyoto, there are few place that I could do batting.)

 

 Today, I could play not only baseball but also other sports as above so I really enjoy it but tired.

 

 In addition, we went to Chinese restaurant at dinner, and it was really nice and all plates were delicious. I’d like to go once again.

 

 Today is like that, see you.

 

Bangkok Internship #17

Day 16

 Today, it was not busy day for me. That is because I completed what I should do yesterday.

So I did my task at on my own paces, with thinking in my future, and I'll write about what I think today.

 

 Clearly speaking, I was thinking about “What is the advantage and disadvantage of studying law while working”.

 

 I really regret that why I thought about it more early like 1st grade in university. However, It may be also lucky that I could get a chance to think about it. So My thought is as follows.

 

ADVANTAGE of studying law while working

1. The knowledge on law is directly useful of main business. 

⇨ I’d like to work regarding the International enterprise, so it is rather useful than vital.

 

2. I belong to faculty of law, and I’ve majored in law (apparently).

⇨ really starting to study law, I think it is relatively easy for me to understand because I already established the base of legal mind.

 

3. The more I study law, the better I am.

⇨ Bar examination is a final destination for many people studying law seriously, but on its way, there are many exams for qualification on law. Of course I'll aim to final if I study law hard, but even if I can’t accomplish this goal, I’m sure that “studying law” itself makes me better not only in useful knowledge but also in experience that I tried hard.

 

 

DISADVANTAGE of studying law while working

… Actually, I couldn’t find proper idea about that. If I’m forced to say something, “while I’m studying law, I can’t take time other things. However, depending on how hard and what the purpose I study law, I think I should get well-balanced between study and other things, and I can do.

 

 In conclusion, although I’m not sure where my goal is, I decided to study law by those rational thoughts.

 

 As I could straighten my thinking, I felt cheerful about my future.

 

I’ll give it a try. See you.