Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Show 613 Wednesday 16 January


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

One of the interesting things about travelling is that laws are different in every country.
The other day some Australians that I met were talking about the drinking age in Japan and how it must be a bummer for 18 and 19 year olds who come from Australia because the drinking age in Australia is 18 but here in Japan it’s 20.

I just looked up the legal drinking age page on Wikipedia and it was really interesting – there are many different ages and many different rules.

In most countries the age seems to be 18. But in some countries, like Jamaica, it’s 15. In Cuba it’s 16. In North Korea, it’s 17 and it says alcohol may only legally be consumed or purchased on Saturdays – I don’t know if that’s true or not, but that’s what it says in Wikipedia. In Canada, its 19 and in a few countries, like Sri Lanka, it’s 21. And in some countries it just says illegal. I think because of religious reasons.

There are also different ages for drinking and for purchasing – like in the UK the minimum drinking age is 5. But in countries like New Zealand there is no minimum drinking age. So, anyone can drink in private – and in public kids can drink if they’re with a parent or guardian, unless it’s a restricted area, like most bars and clubs.

But in Japan no one under 20 is supposed to drink. But I don’t think it’s very common for police to suddenly burst into a bar and start checking everyone’s ID – whereas that does happen in New Zealand.



Wednesday Mistake

We did two stays is wrong.
We stayed for two nights is right.

So, why is this wrong?
Stay is a noun and a verb.

stay verb to live in a place temporarily as a guest or visitor
stay noun a period of staying; a visit

You can use the verb like this.
But you can’t use the noun like this.

Here are some examples of how the noun is used:

Spears awarded overnight stay with kids

Enjoy a comfortable overnight stay before awaking the next morning to a delightful steam train experience ...



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, this is Stick News. Last week Japan’s first amphibious taxi made its debut in Osaka.

Amphibious means suitable for use on land or water.
An amphibious sightseeing taxi is now operating in Osaka. It’s the first of its kind in Japan.
The taxi carries up to three passengers and tour will cost almost 20,000 yen per hour.

And that was Stick News for Wednesday 16th of January.
Kia Ora.




THE SNOW REPORT
at SYNX

This is looking outside from inside SYNX. Check out all the snow piled against the windows and doors.



conversations with sarah
#371 Do you know what time they open?

Step 1: Repeat Sarah’s lines.
Step 2: Read Sarah’s lines and talk to Amy.

Sarah We’re planning on going out to dinner tonight. Is there a restaurant you recommend?

Amy OK, ah, what kind of food do you like?

Sarah Something Japanese would be good.

Amy Japanese? OK, I can recommend a nice restaurant in Hirafu. It’s called Bang Bang. And, ah, I’ll just show you. It’s over here on the map. Just here, Bang Bang, and it’s a nice izakaya restaurant, yeah.

Sarah Looks nice. Do you know what time they open?

Amy Um, I can check for you. OK here it is, open from 5:30 to 11:30.

Sarah Have you been there before?

Amy Yeah, it’s really nice.

Sarah Do you know any good bars in Hirafu?

Amy Um, I like Bar Barumba, yeah it’s nice and small, cozy, got a funky style, it’s cool.

Sarah How long does it take to get to Kutchan?

Amy Um, it takes about 20 minutes, I think, yeah, by car.

Sarah What kind of town is it?

Amy Um, pretty small town, but, like Hirafu’s the ski village, but Kutchan’s the place where you buy your groceries and, you know, all the things that you need.
And there’s nice restaurants there too.



links


music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

wednesday mistake start
artist: Silence
album: Encre
track: Plume
from: Bruxelles, Belgium
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa/wm bgm
artist: Jonah Dempcy
album: Syncretic Beliefs
track: Lumen Arcanum
from: the US
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

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