I find it odd that you work at least six days a week, and actually had a school meeting on a Sunday! I know tutors sometimes work on Saturdays, but I've never heard of teachers in schools doing that.
I never really thought of actually having to see someone's face when learning a language, but I guess it makes sense. I myself love Upper RP, and wish that I could see those who speak it, so that I could watch their lip and jaw movements, as some pronunciations in this form of English are extremely precise, and while I can do it by ear, it would help to be able to see them speak.
I can understand why your student's mother might want to quit the first time, and how such a student could be a distraction. But he also sounds very young, and as you said, he seems to be getting better. As for the mother, I can't feel sorry for those who stay with abusive partners or those who ruin their families by drinking, gambling, doing drugs, etc. If you're single and want to gamble, that's one thing. But if you're a parent, that is extremely irresponsible, and if you support someone like that and are a parent, you're simply foolish.
I don't think the rules on the plane were excessive at all, and what is wrong with the people in Germany! Do they live in a fantasy land where Covid has disappeared?
It sounds strange hearing Goonies called an oldy, when I am accustomed to much older films. I'm glad you had such a good night with your daughter, though.
I was excited when I first read the title of the new book, as I thought it was the biography of Clifton Webb that I bought some time ago! Part of it was written by him, and part was finished by someone else, as he never completed it. I started scanning it into my computer but didn't finish. Now, I think I will do so.
As someone who is totally blind, I can't even begin to comprehend why people wouldn't want to be cured, particularly if their disability is severe. You, for example, can still see quite well compared to me, who cannot see anything, so it makes a bit more sense for you not to want to go through surgery. I don't consider my blindness to be a burden or terrible, but why wouldn't I want to make my life better and open a whole new world of experiences and possibilities?
I agree with what you said about family and whatnot, as I was never made to feel strange or different. In fact, I was brought up like any other child. I never thought of my blindness growing up. I still rarely do, unless there is something that I want or need to do that I can't, or unless I am specifically writing or recording something about blindness for my sighted audience. Otherwise, it's just a part of who I am. As a child, I was ignored by my peers, until I started to do the same to them, and eventually ceased to care about them altogether. I don't mind genuine questions, but things such as "who cares for you", "who feeds you", or "how do you go to the bathroom" are utterly ridiculous from an adult. I'm blind, not an invalid!
Your story and experiences were truly fascinating! Thank you for sharing them with us. I can't say I understand the idea of an oursider looking in, though. I have never felt that way, including among the sighted. Perhaps, if I were to meet someone from the upper class, I would feel that way, but once I learned the customs, manners, etc. I would feel much more comfortable. However, I would still know that I would never be fully accepted by them, as I wasn't born into money. That's fine, though, as long as I could mingle with them. Since you have lived in Japan for such a long time, why did you not apply for Japanese citizenship? Maybe, I misunderstood, and you are a citizen but the man didn't realise it? Regardless, I am sorry tht you have had to face discrimination. That must be terrible.
I couldn't imagine keeping people in my life who were false friends. Acquaintances are different, as we talk in passing, but I have no time for those who pretend to be my friends but who don't really care. Don't worry. I don't feel sorry for you. Sympathy, let alone pity, are very rare emotions for me. Pity, especially, as if I feel that, it is never nice, but always condescending. I save genuine sympathy for those who are dealing with truly terrible things, such as terminal illnesses, grief, losing their homes, etc.
I never make do with anything, and I have never understood that philosophy in life. If it is something that you absolutely cannot change, there is nothing you can do accept live with it. Fortunately, most things are not like that. I never accept anything less than what I want whenever I can help it. I couldn't imagine marrying for anything less than love. That is a very serious decision, not one to be taken lightly. I also have no comprehension, at all, of those with bad self-esteem. The idea of not loving yourself is so foreign to me that you might as well ask me to describe the moon or colours.
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I never really thought of actually having to see someone's face when learning a language, but I guess it makes sense. I myself love Upper RP, and wish that I could see those who speak it, so that I could watch their lip and jaw movements, as some pronunciations in this form of English are extremely precise, and while I can do it by ear, it would help to be able to see them speak.
I can understand why your student's mother might want to quit the first time, and how such a student could be a distraction. But he also sounds very young, and as you said, he seems to be getting better. As for the mother, I can't feel sorry for those who stay with abusive partners or those who ruin their families by drinking, gambling, doing drugs, etc. If you're single and want to gamble, that's one thing. But if you're a parent, that is extremely irresponsible, and if you support someone like that and are a parent, you're simply foolish.
I don't think the rules on the plane were excessive at all, and what is wrong with the people in Germany! Do they live in a fantasy land where Covid has disappeared?
It sounds strange hearing Goonies called an oldy, when I am accustomed to much older films. I'm glad you had such a good night with your daughter, though.
I was excited when I first read the title of the new book, as I thought it was the biography of Clifton Webb that I bought some time ago! Part of it was written by him, and part was finished by someone else, as he never completed it. I started scanning it into my computer but didn't finish. Now, I think I will do so.
As someone who is totally blind, I can't even begin to comprehend why people wouldn't want to be cured, particularly if their disability is severe. You, for example, can still see quite well compared to me, who cannot see anything, so it makes a bit more sense for you not to want to go through surgery. I don't consider my blindness to be a burden or terrible, but why wouldn't I want to make my life better and open a whole new world of experiences and possibilities?
I agree with what you said about family and whatnot, as I was never made to feel strange or different. In fact, I was brought up like any other child. I never thought of my blindness growing up. I still rarely do, unless there is something that I want or need to do that I can't, or unless I am specifically writing or recording something about blindness for my sighted audience. Otherwise, it's just a part of who I am. As a child, I was ignored by my peers, until I started to do the same to them, and eventually ceased to care about them altogether. I don't mind genuine questions, but things such as "who cares for you", "who feeds you", or "how do you go to the bathroom" are utterly ridiculous from an adult. I'm blind, not an invalid!
Your story and experiences were truly fascinating! Thank you for sharing them with us. I can't say I understand the idea of an oursider looking in, though. I have never felt that way, including among the sighted. Perhaps, if I were to meet someone from the upper class, I would feel that way, but once I learned the customs, manners, etc. I would feel much more comfortable. However, I would still know that I would never be fully accepted by them, as I wasn't born into money. That's fine, though, as long as I could mingle with them. Since you have lived in Japan for such a long time, why did you not apply for Japanese citizenship? Maybe, I misunderstood, and you are a citizen but the man didn't realise it? Regardless, I am sorry tht you have had to face discrimination. That must be terrible.
I couldn't imagine keeping people in my life who were false friends. Acquaintances are different, as we talk in passing, but I have no time for those who pretend to be my friends but who don't really care. Don't worry. I don't feel sorry for you. Sympathy, let alone pity, are very rare emotions for me. Pity, especially, as if I feel that, it is never nice, but always condescending. I save genuine sympathy for those who are dealing with truly terrible things, such as terminal illnesses, grief, losing their homes, etc.
I never make do with anything, and I have never understood that philosophy in life. If it is something that you absolutely cannot change, there is nothing you can do accept live with it. Fortunately, most things are not like that. I never accept anything less than what I want whenever I can help it. I couldn't imagine marrying for anything less than love. That is a very serious decision, not one to be taken lightly. I also have no comprehension, at all, of those with bad self-esteem. The idea of not loving yourself is so foreign to me that you might as well ask me to describe the moon or colours.