At the Airport

Today's podcast is all about the airport. I love airports! I love going to flights all around the world. Most recently I went to London and I will go back this December. If I am lucky, I will go to Japan next spring and visit my old friends. Today's show is special because I had the help of my friend and former ALT Brooke. Brooke live in Washington D.C. and I think lived in Aichi Prefecture.

Going to the airport in an English speaking country can be a little difficult. Here are some of the vocabulary words you will need at the airport:

carry on luggage/bags - your bags you bring to your seat.

checked luggage/baggage - the larger bags you leave at the ticket counter that are placed under the plane.

TSA - Transportation Security Administration. This is the new federal security at all US airports.

customs - when you travel overseas or internationally you will need to pass customs. There you will meet a customs agent who will ask for your passport and ask you questions about why you are entering the country. Be honest and polite and you will be fine!

arrival/departure - arrival is when your plane lands at the airport and departure is when you take off. "My flight departs JFK at 10AM and arrives in San Francisco at 1PM."

boarding pass - this is the paper you get at the ticket counter when you check you luggage. You can also print some online. You will need a boarding pass at the security line or you won't be allowed through.

ticket agent - the airline employee who you first meet with your luggage. She is the one who will give you your boarding pass and tell you where to find you gate.

These aren't all the vocabulary words you need but they will give you a good start. If you go to the airport and hear a word or phrase you don't understand, please send me an email and I will let you know what it means.

Talk to you guys later! Happy flying!

Michael

The furor over fur

Fur is Murder. But oh so cool looking on my floor., originally uploaded by Michael Saffle.

Do you like fur products? Leather coats, shoes, purses and the like? I do but my friend Michelle doesn't. She doesn't eat meat and she doesn't like fur. There are a lot of people who agree with her in America but they are still in the minority. I think that if an animal is going to be eaten, we should use all the parts we can. Like the American Indians.

I agree with some points, that fur coats that are made from an animal that is only raised to be slaughtered for a jacket is not very good. Mink and fox coats are targeted by anti-fur advocates.

The picture is of Michelle at Ikea where they were selling these fur rugs. I thought they were cool but Michelle wouldn't let me buy one!

What do you think about fur? Leave a comment!

Michael

" ello govnuh!"

" ello govnuh!", originally uploaded by Michael Saffle.

I have good news! I bought my plane ticket to London today. I will go to see my friend Richard get married on December 15, 2007. I will be in the UK from December 11-17 and I might visit Ireland or Scotland while I am there.

I can't wait to go!

Study Breakdancing

My friends at work posted this video on YouTube. I think it is very funny. There really is not a lot of English but I can say that "break dancing" was very popular in the 1980s. Enjoy!

Michael

President Race at RFK Stadium

I went to a baseball game in Washington D.C. last week and I caught the Presidents race which is held each game. Do they do these games in Japan? The four presidents are Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Jefferson. I won't spoil who wins.