I went back to the university where I worked for more than 30 years. When I was working there, they had several cafeterias, a bakery, a small shop for candy and snacks, and a bookstore. They still have the bookstore, but there is only one cafeteria, and the bakery and the shop are gone. I guess it’s too expensive to hire people to sell food these days. Instead, they have machines that sell food and snacks. They also have a self-service Starbucks. I went in and made my own drink. The machine asked me to choose the type of drink, hot or cold, and the size, short or tall. You can choose from many kinds of coffee and cocoa drinks. I bought an iced caramel cappuccino and paid with PayPay.   (130 words) You can send me a comment or your own story at jaremaga@gmail.com

The weather report says that there will be rain for the next few days around Japan. That is good news for farmers. Rice and vegetables need a lot of water, especially when it is hot. However, this weather can be dangerous. There is too much water in the air. We call this “humidity.” Nagoya has high humidity, and that makes it difficult for your body to cool off. When the humidity is low, your sweat dries quickly and cools you. When the humidity is high, the sweat doesn’t dry, so you feel hotter. It is hot and humid now, so be careful and stay safe with these tips. 1) Drink enough water, 2) do easy outdoor activities, 3) wear clothes made of cotton or linen, and 4) take a regular break in an air-conditioned place.     (135 words) You can send me a comment or your own story at jaremaga@gmail.com

What is the difference between “watch” and “look at”? There is only one word in Japanese, “miru,” so this can be a little difficult for Japanese students. Basically, you “watch” something that moves, and you “look at” something that doesn’t move. For example, you watch someone dancing, but you look at the dancer’s clothes. I watch birds, and then I look at my field guide. I used to have an interesting mug that said, “The Clock Watcher.” Donald Duck is at his desk in his office, and he is watching the clock. Why don’t we say “look at” here? Because he wants to go home, and he is waiting for the clock hands to move to 5 p.m. If he just wanted to know the time, he would look at the clock quickly and go back to work.   (138 words) You can send me a comment or your own story at jaremaga@gmail.com

(I wrote and recorded this last Friday.) I like birdwatching, and this weekend, I’m going to be at a conference in Yamanashi Prefecture. I asked a birdwatching friend where to go, and he recommended Mt. Fuji. If you go to the fifth station, there’s a little restaurant and shop, and next to the shop, there are two little ponds. This is the only water in the area, so many birds come here to drink and wash themselves. And many birdwatchers come to look at the birds. When I got here today, there were about 10 or 15 birdwatchers. I saw five or six different kinds of birds. They came and washed themselves, and they jumped out of the water, shook their feathers, and flew off. This happened again and again. I don’t know how many photos I took, but I’m sure I took more than 200. Remember, if you are looking for birds,

There is a newspaper holiday once a month in Japan. It is nice to have a day off for the staff and the delivery people, but I feel a little lonely without a newspaper.  Reading a newspaper is part of my morning routine, and I am addicted to the smell of the ink and the feel of the paper. I subscribe to a local newspaper, and when there is a holiday, this is what I do. The day before, I go to the convenience store to get a different newspaper to read the next morning. It is an opportunity for me to read other newspapers once a month. When I go on a trip, I buy local newspapers. I can read the local news and find out about local events. This makes my trip more fulfilling.  (136 words) You can send me a comment or your own story at jaremaga@gmail.com

There are people who call up older people and try to steal their money. The caller says that he is a family member, a grandson, for example. He is in trouble and needs money right away. The grandmother gets worried and sends him the money. Later, she finds out that her grandson didn’t call her. He wasn’t in trouble. The caller was lying. It was a scam, and her money is gone. This is a big problem all over the world, and now, it is the plot of a new American movie called “Thelma.” Thelma is the name of a 93-year-old woman in Los Angeles who gets scammed. However, she is very stubborn. She doesn’t give up, and she tries to get her money back. The movie is a comedy, but there is action and excitement, too. My wife and I really enjoyed it.     (144 words)   You can send me a comment or your