日本の雪だるまと私の作ったのは、何か違うって事に気付きましたか？実は、帽子、人参の鼻、そしてマフラーはアメリカの典型的な雪だるまには欠かせないものなんです！ところで、英語で雪だるまというのは、snowmanと言います。Snowは雪という意味で、manは勿論、男・人のことを指しています。しかし、雪男と日本語で言えば、ちょっと違うモノになっちゃいますよね。この辺に住んでるのかな…
Mountains of snow have fallen in Hayakawa, and somehow it has put me in quite a good mood! How do you all feel about it? It certainly is difficult to shovel the snow, and commuting to work is also worrisome, but don’t you think it’s wonderful to see the mountainous landscape covered in pure white? I wasn’t able to make snowmen with the children here at the North Elementary, but I did make one by myself in front of my apartment. I think it turned out rather well, if I do say so myself.
Do you notice anything different about a Japanese snowman and the one I made? Actually, a typical American snowman can’t do without at least a hat, a carrot nose, and a scarf! By the way, if you translate the word “snowman” directly into Japanese, it actually means something a bit different (“snowman” translates into a word meaning “yeti” or “abominable snow monster” in Japanese, and they use a different word to describe the “Frosty” variety of snowmen). I wonder if any of those creatures live around here . . .
