ローカルガールの華麗な生活2001-01-27　New Year s Resolutions

January 23, 2001 New Year’s Resolutions

My original plan was to be able to play golf by this summer. After all, our one-year wedding celebration is going to be on the Waikoloa side of the Big Island, and beautiful golf courses cover the landscape. Shoot, we even thought about renewing our vows on the third tee of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel’s golf course. It’s that breathtaking.
But as usual, time goes by too quickly and good intentions are forgotten. I really have no good excuse. In fact, there are more reasons that should encourage and facilitate my plan. I mean, although clubs are expensive, I could start with a cheap, $250 set from Costco. The Bay View Driving Range, which we like, is suddenly closer to our home with the new H-3 freeway. And I know so many people who play golf that the idea of spending my vacation on the Big Island golfing together should motivate me. In fact, my mom knows someone who could make me a set of clubs, and I haven’t taken her up on that offer.

Sadly, it won’t be the first time my good intentions have fallen by the wayside. My second graders worked on New Year’s resolutions to commemorate the Chinese New Year (on January 24). I shared my resolution: To get healthier and lose weight. For a moment, I remembered the resolutions I made in my elementary school years: To keep my room clean. The only reason I remember it is because it was my resolution every single year. And I never, ever kept a clean room past the first week or two of January. Maybe my resolution this year should have been to stick to my goals.

There’s that saying, “It’s never too late.” There’s still a chance that I have enough time to take up golf. But then again, I’ll also have to remember to live healthier and lose weight. I wonder if I can manage all these things. Maybe I’ll wait until next year. But at least my room is clean. I was forced to be neat when I went to college and had a roommate. Hmmm… Maybe I’m just not ready to golf. Or, perhaps I’m just making more excuses!

Susan Sensei’s English Lesson #62（スーザン先生の英語講座）

For two years I taught English in Japan, and was “スーザン先生” to my students in Ikaho town, Gunma Prefecture. I will try and introduce new words and phrases for the Japanese visitor to Hawaii. Here is this week’s situation:

【今週のレッスン】
レストランで、メニューが多すぎて何をオーダーしたらいいか決められないって時がありますね。あなたならどうしますか? 店員にこう聞きましょう。

You are at a restaurant, and the menu selection is so large that you can’t decide what to order. What can you do? Ask the server:

「どのアペタイザーがお薦めですか？」

“Which appetizers would you recommend? “

ヒント：たいていのレストランの場合、「当店のスペシャル」とか「人気メニュー」といった書き込みがあるメニューを選べばハズレなし!

Hint: Many restaurants create their menus to show “house specials” or “favorites.” These are usually really great!

Loco Girl’s Profile（ロコ・ガールのプロフィール） Born in Hilo, I grew up going fishing with Dad, shopping with Mom, and trying to be a good “big sister” to a younger sister and brother. A Waiakea High School and the University of Hawaii at Manoa alumni, I taught English in Japan for two years on the JET Program. I love doing a lot of things-shopping, reading, lettering, making jewelry & crafts, watching Friends-and that’s just the start of my list! I like being busy, and am active with the JET Alumni Association (JETAA) and the Honolulu Junior Japanese Chamber of Commerce (HJJCC.) My family and friends are, of course, very important to me, and are why I live a very typical, happy, local-style life in Hawaii and will never leave!