I went to Spain this summer with a Japanese couple, and we took Finnair, the airline of Finland. We didn’t want to fly through the Middle East because of the fighting between Iran and the U.S. We flew from Nagoya to Helsinki, changed planes, and flew on to Spain. The Finnair flight used to be much shorter, but since the Ukraine war started, the airline doesn’t fly over Russia. It flies farther north. A flight attendant came up to us during the flight and gave us a certificate. It said, “We certify that you have flown over the North Pole with us.” I didn’t actually see the North Pole, but it feels good to know that we went right over the top of the Earth.  (125 words) Jaremaga now comes out online on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. To become a paid subscriber and read it 5 days a week, go to “Support Jaremaga”

I made all the reservations for my trip to Spain online. I bought the airline tickets online. I reserved the hotels online. I went online to buy tickets for Sagrada Família, the famous cathedral in Barcelona. It was easy, and they sent me all the information in emails. The only problem was that the emails kept coming: “Your flight leaves soon.” “Enjoy your stay at our hotel.” “Your visit starts in 24 hours.” Afterwards, I got more messages. “How was the flight?” “Did you enjoy your stay?” I was getting tired of so many emails. Then, as I was flying back from Spain to Finland, the plane had engine trouble, and we had to go back to Spain. At the Barcelona Airport, they sent me an email with my new flight information. This time, I was happy to get an email!  (141 words) You can send me a comment or your own story

I’m traveling in Spain with friends now, and I’m trying to speak Spanish. I learned a little Spanish in junior high school, and I have been using a language app for a few months to get ready for this trip. Our first stop was Barcelona, and our taxi driver spoke English. The waitress at the restaurant spoke English. The hotel clerk spoke English. I was beginning to think that I didn’t need Spanish. Then, when I talked to the hotel maid, she didn’t speak English. At last, I had a chance to speak Spanish. After that, I have tried to use Spanish as much as possible. Yesterday, I used a word that I had learned in junior high school. I always remembered “abondigas,” which means “meatballs,” and I found them on the menu!     (133 words) I won’t be able to send out Jaremaga for the next two days. Please be patient,

I went to a supermarket last Thursday to get ready for the World Cup match between Japan and Sweden. It was on Friday morning, and I wanted to buy some snacks to eat while watching the game. As I was looking at the snacks, I saw something silver. It was a special package with a black and white design. The company’s usual red and yellow package uses ink that is made with oil products, but this company is trying not to use oil now because it’s difficult to get oil from the Middle East. Not using colorful ink for the packages is one way that the company can use less oil.   (111 words) Jaremaga now comes out online on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. To become a paid subscriber and read it 5 days a week, go to “Support Jaremaga” below for more information. You can send me a comment or your own story