Boston Life Center for English Instruction 617-491-0096

The Public Garden

2009-01-08T08:39:00.000-08:00

In the summer when I walk through the Public Garden, I like to imagine I've gone back in time 100 or so years, and that I'm wearing a long elegant garden dress, accompanied by the Duke of something or other. Now, however, in winter time, the Public Garden is still pretty, but very cold! I went for a walk with friends the other night; we thought as seasoned New Englanders, the cold would not be an issue. But very soon we were running toward the exit and to Parish Cafe for drinks and little bites. (This was my first time at Parish Cafe and I really liked it. They are famous for their unique sandwiches--Parish is on Boylston very close to the Public Garden).

Winter Scenes

2009-01-07T11:29:00.000-08:00

Newbury Street, Boston Common, The State House

Last Saturday night

Snowy Night in Cambridge

2008-12-22T09:36:00.000-08:00

This weekend we had our first big snow of winter. Very cold but very pretty. I went for drinks with teachers after work on Friday, despite the accumulating snow (by the way, Tavern makes a surprisingly strong martini)--and on SundayI watched movies (Mad Men looks really good!) and read books (I highly recommend 'Davita's Harp' by Chaim Potok), and made tomato soup and eggplant and melted mazorella sandwiches. Other good things to do in Boston in winter: go iceskating on the Frog Pond in the Boston Common, take afternoon tea at one of the pretty hotels like Four Seasons, or enjoy a free concert or lecture at Harvard. Trinity Church in Copley Square also has free organ concerts during the week.

North End at Night

2008-12-05T07:24:00.001-08:00

The North End in Boston is the 'Italian' section of town. There are many delicious Italian restaurants, bakeries, cafes, meat and cheese shops, and some charming independently owned boutiques. At night the streets buzz with action and the smell of garlic and tomatoes perfume the air. The North End is close to Quincy Market and the waterfront. If you go, make sure you are hungry and leave room for dessert!

Teacher Charlene has party

2008-11-21T10:56:00.000-08:00

Last weekend teacher Charlene had a party at her place to celebrate the Obama win and view the famous Martin Luther King speech from 1963. Great party, great food, great discussion (Leah moderated a debate on race, politics, and love...nicely done Leah). Happy Birthday Makiko! (by the way, Charlene made a fabulous feast of mac and cheese, chicken, rice, and beans)

Potluck Party

2008-11-20T09:06:00.000-08:00

This past weekend teacher Alex (in the blue dress holding the spoon) had a potluck party for Boston Lifers. The food was wonderful: Alex made a delicious macaroni and cheese, So Yeon made Korean pancakes which I am now addicted to, Miho (with baby Layla) brought a chicken with soy sauce that was to die for, Shaina brought a fancy vegan apple pie, and the list goes on (by the way, I made a warm apple cake with icecream--a recipe I found in the New York Times). Alex was the perfect host and it was so nice to get a chance to relax and hang out. Also, Katie's father is big and imposing so nobody mess with him.

More Halloween Pictures

2008-11-13T08:15:00.001-08:00

Joy to the World! A New President for the USA!

2008-11-06T06:46:00.001-08:00

Barack Obama wins and makes history as the first black president of the United States. What an amazing past couple of days. Teachers Leah, Charlene and I went to the Copley Plaza rally to listen to Obama's acceptance speech, and then on to Buwkowski's for drinks. People were singing, dancing, and cheering in the streets. It was a real celebration of hope and possiblity for the future. I also thinkmany Americans feel excitement that the rest of the world seems to be rejoicing over the result of the election--how nice for the United States to feel welcomed back into the world community after 8 difficult years. (by the way, the batteries in my camera stopped working after only taking a few pictures on Tuesday night--so I will post pictures of election night once I get my hands on Charlene or Leah's pictures)

Halloween Party for Staff and Students

2008-11-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

On Saturday Boston Life held it's first annual Halloween party. Most everyone dressed in costumes (I loved Kassandra's fortune teller costume, and Makiko was a fabulous spider woman!) Food and drink were served and it was a very spooky night. Halloween is a fun holiday celebrated by both the dead, undead, and living. Children go trick or treating for candy, and adults attend parties. This is the one opportunity all year where you can be something completely different from your normal self. Debbie was a Moroccan princess, Joe was a bloody scientist, Alex was an elegant flapper, Aya was a beautiful witch, Joyce was a farmer, Katie was little red riding hood, Charlene was a pirate, Natsuyo was a dark angel, Takeshi was the guy from Scream, Erica was Audrey Hepburn, and I was a vampire. The party gossip includes: Takeshi scared little Jyouji with his scream mask, Joe handed out vials of sake (which Katie says tastes like a punch in the stomach), and Charlene and Harrison had a passionate debate about marriage. Now coming up on November 27 is my second favorite holiday, Thanksgiving!

The Mysteries of Whipped Cream

2008-10-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

We recently said goodbye to our dear volunteer Minako (in black and white stripes) who went home to Japan. The party was girls only (with the exception of Minako's husband) and we had a lovely time playing games, talking and laughing. I made a chocolate mousse cake with chocolate ganache topping and a dark cookie crust bottom (and fresh whipped cream) and everyone brought delicious desserts and wines. Minako's rice cakes were yum! By the way, here in the United States we have a crazy invention called 'whipped cream in a can.' It's not so great but it reminds me of the Korean husband and wife couple who discovered whipped cream in a can when they came to Boston-- and they fell in love with this miracle of fake cream! They were amazed that a product of this type existed. One day the wife brought in the can of whipped cream--she was very frustrated. She couldn't figure out how to get the whipped cream out of the can. Being the whipped cream expert I am, I showed her how to squirt the cream out of the can by bending the top of the nozzle with your finger. This delighted her and for the rest of the day she proceeded to squirt whipped cream on slips of paper, her notebook, and other objects. (you can also find cheese in a can in the supermarkets--very disgusting--who is the person that thought it necessary to make cheese even more convenient by canning it?)

Halloween is Coming!

2008-10-27T07:03:00.000-07:00

On Friday, October 31, Americans will be celebrating Halloween, a fun and spooky celebration with candy, ridiculous costumes, trick or treating, and parties. At 7pm this Friday there is a party at Boston Life. Everyone is welcome so do bring family and friends and wear a costume! (food, drinks, and good times will be served). Yes, I will be wearing my costume to work all day--many offices have holiday parties and costume contests and it is usually quite acceptable for adults to wear a costume to work on Halloween (and of course children wear their costumes to school). On Saturday night, teacher Charlene and I went to an early Halloween party at my friend Don's house. It was a nice time and Don made delicious treats. (Charlene is the pirate and I am the scary lady vampire).

Goodnight, Sleep Tight

2008-10-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

Cambridge apartment building at night.

Teachers in Motion

2008-10-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

Boston Life teachers, hard at work.

Apple Picking with the Teachers

2008-10-21T06:32:00.000-07:00

Now is the perfect time to go apple picking in the Boston area. The weather is beautiful and the apples are perfectly in season. There are many nearby farms that offer apple and pumpkin picking, fresh farm fruits and baked goods, hay rides, games, and other attractions. Here we are (Apoorva, Debbie, Alex, and myself) last weekend on our apple picking adventure. (we had a very nice, relaxed afternoon and the apple cider donuts were amazing!)

Head of the Charles Regatta

2008-10-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

Every year over 7,500 athletes from around the world compete in this 2-day rowing event along the Charles River. The weather for the Regatta this weekend was cool and crisp, a fine day for rowing (Boris the dog enjoyed the day immensely!)

Saturday Night Stroll in Harvard Square

2008-09-22T07:12:00.000-07:00

Saturday early evening I went for a stroll in Harvard Square. Harvard Square is a mere 10 minute walk from Central Square where Boston Life is located, and has many bookstores, coffee shops, and bars. Don't forget to stop by Herrell's icecream on Dunster Street for their fabulous twinkies icecream (I know it sounds horribly tacky and the worst of America, but it's truly an insanely good pairing of cake and icecream). What a perfectly cool autumn evening. Now is the absolute best time to visit Boston! (before the weather turns too cold)

More Vacation Pictures (Bar Harbor, Maine)

2008-09-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

We rented bikes in Bar Harbor and went biking along the carriage trails in Acadia National Park (there's a free shuttle bike bus that will drop you off at the carriage trails). There are 45 miles of gorgeous carriage trails in Acadia (thanks to Mr. Rockefeller) where you bike along the water, mountains, trees, etc. We biked for 6 hours (!), stopping once or twice for a picnic lunch and to take pictures. For days afterwards my thighs felt impressively muscled and defined. If only I could somehow incorporate the amount of physical activity I did everyday in Bar Harbor (into my life in Boston) I would be a specimen of physical perfection.

The Obama Rally on Saturday

2008-09-16T07:09:00.000-07:00

The upcoming presidential election is a big one for the United States--historic and so very crucial (healthcare, the economy, national security and our relations with the rest of the world, education, the environment). I went with Angela on Saturday to the Obama rally in New Hampshire. I woke up at 4:30am (!) and Angela picked me up at 5:30 am so we could arrive in NH at 7am and line up for the rally which started at 10:30am. We had an awesome view of Barack Obama, right up front--he looked so young and he's so charismatic in person. He makes eye contact with everyone in the audience (I was certain he was looking directly at me during sections of his speech). The rally was a lot of fun and there was an interesting cross-section of people in attendance--there was one woman standing in front of us with a semi-mullet haircut, clapping her hands and singing and dancing and trying to excite the crowd with her Obama chants--She was an odd little bird--I wanted to like her but it was just too early in the morning. Her performance seemed manufactured. However, when Obama came on stage, the crowd went wild. He spoke for about an hour and touched upon many important topics. Ultimately what comes across is someone who cares about people, who has too much integrity to run a negative campaign. He's a real gentleman.

Public Speaking Class Starting Again

2008-09-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

Here I am last month with my public speaking class (Minako, Akira, and Wakaba--Aki was also in the class but not in the picture). The students were awesome and I repaid their kindness by assigning numerous speeches and debates during the course. In the next public speaking class (probably starting in October) we will do more in-depth debates and focus on speeches to entertain and storytelling. The presentations will also be longer in length. But don't let this scare you! As someone who loves the subject of public speaking, I want to assure you that EVERYONE can benefit from a public speaking. It may be nerve wracking at first, but after the first few times the teacher throws you into the fire (with quick impromptu speeches and exercises) you begin to feel more confident and comfortable expressing your ideas and opinions. There is nothing more exciting than expressing your thoughts clearly and passionately! This class is for intermediate level non-native speakers.

Peggy's Cove

2008-09-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

During my vacation, we drove to Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia. Peggy's Cove is a small fishing village with a church (see picture), a school house, a general store, an icecream store, and of course a world famous lighthouse. It's a charming community, even with the masses of tourists. As I was exploring the village I stepped inside the tiny school house, thinking it would be a museum, a room that had gathered dust and hadn't been used in decades. But inside the schoolhouse the community band was practicing for an upcoming concert and the band leader looked up when I entered and said hello. I was surprised, I didn't realize the village is still a functioning community with actual fishermen and artists! I said hello and quickly made my exit.

Back from Vacation

2008-09-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

Hello readers. I just returned from a fantastic vacation in Nova Scotia and Bar Harbor, Maine. I loved loved loved Bar Harbor. It's a cutesy touristy town with tasty little restaurants and chocolate shops, and magnificent Acadia National Park at it's doorstep. Every day I went biking, hiking, or kayaking (and often took an evening swim in the hotel pool and whirlpool). In Nova Scotia we stayed at charming little Bed and Breakfasts (and one cheapie motel) and in Bar Harbor we stayed in a lovely hotel right in town on the water. People were very friendly in Bar Harbor and our kayaking guide Ted was mighty cute (we saw bald eagles, seals, star fish, and other wild life as we kayaked over to Rockefeller's private island in Bar Harbor). I highly recommend visiting Bar Harbor if you're looking for a fun time. The town has free shuttle buses that take you all over Acadia National Park. Make sure to pick up delicious sandwiches and cookies at Morning Glory Bakery on Rodick Street for a nice picnic in the park. Or stop at Jordan House in Acadia for traditional tea and popovers with homemade blueberry jam. (by the way, thank you lovely interns for filling in for me while I was gone!! much appreciated). P.S./the bearded sailor on the bottom of the page--my new boyfriend. He's handsome, right?

Interns Attack!!

2008-08-29T11:51:00.000-07:00

Andrea is out of the office for a few days, so we, the loyal Boston Life interns, have taken over the blog.
Muah ha hahahahahaaaaaaa...

The picture on the left was actually a collaboration between a bunch of people at Boston Life. Leah received the flowers from one of her students, but she decided to let everyone in the office enjoy them. Andrea placed them in a mug on the desk. Takeshi trimmed and arranged the flowers because he was an apprentice florist in Japan for two years. Young Min, one of our volunteers, gave me some photography tips because he is an award-winning photographer in Korea. I (Shaina) took the picture with my camera and Katie gave me a cable so that I could put the picture on the computer.

So many people were involved in something so simple. What great teamwork!

Mirror Mirror on the wall, whose the prettiest house of all?

2008-08-26T07:18:00.000-07:00

There are many beautiful and architecturally unique homes in Cambridge and Boston--but I happen to like this little ivy covered house that I walk past on my way to work.

Dear Blog Readers: I will be away on business (as well as pleasure) and will be unable to update the blog again until the second or third week in September. Please stay tuned!

Be a Volunteer!

2008-08-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

In the United States, volunteering is a popular sport. Many people volunteer time or money to worthwhile organizations. Jayoung (pictured on the right) is a student in Boston, and one of our newest volunteers. She has a deep, whispery Kathleen Turner style voice and an elegant way about her. (I think all the male students will fall in love!)

Daytime, Boston

2008-08-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

A quiet moment in the shade.

The Public Garden

2008-08-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

The Public Garden in Boston is a National Historic Landmark. It was the first botanical garden in the U.S. and its 24 acres was once a salt marsh. Below is the fetching bronze statue of George Washington. He was a total hunk (and by the way, it's a myth his teeth were wooden-- he did however wear dentures carved from the finest ivory and gold!)

Today: Swan Boat in the Public Garden

2008-08-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes grown men like to play dress up

2008-08-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

On the Boston Common Sunday there was some sort of patriotic, founding of Boston--revolutionary--Freedom Trail event. There were many tents set up along the lawn with various actors playing the roles of the men and women from olden times (Paul Revere, etc.) In some tents the womenfolk were cooking/eating, in other tents there were people preparing their weapons for battle or maintaining the small hospital/medical tent. I would have stayed and watched some of the activities but I had important tax free shopping to attend to.

Get me to the church on time

2008-08-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday as I did my tax-free shopping (this weekend was the tax free holiday in Boston--by the way, this is not a national holiday--only Boston)--I stepped in for a moment of quiet to the Old South Church (across from the Boston Public Library) and the Arlington Street Church across from the Public Garden. Boston has a variety of churches, synagogues, mosques, etc. and while they can never compare to the splendor of the cathedrals I have seen in Europe, they are quite lovely (and sometimes they have free concerts/events). I grew up in New Jersey going to a Jewish temple with 1970's decor: shag carpets and lime green classrooms. Sometimes we baked challah and had festivals with candy apples and games! One of my Hebrew School teachers was named Eliot and he was very handsome and kind. (Go to Trinity Church in Copley Square for the creme de la creme of Boston churches)

Teacher in Pose

2008-08-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

Teacher Debbie basking in the glow of the late aftrnoon sun. Debbie is not only an English teacher, she is also an accomplished musician and singer.

Babyface!

2008-08-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

Members of the Boston Life family, Miho and Evan Owens, brought Layla, their beautiful bundle of joy, to Boston Life last night. Not only is Layla charming and well behaved, but she also has the prettiest toothless smile I have seen...(Layla and I shared a few good laughs together)...Thankfully Layla is now sleeping through the night so mom and dad can finally get some rest! Congratulations Miho and Evan!

Saturday (Tea and Facials)

2008-08-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I met Boston Life cooking teacher Stasia and some of my friends (Nancy and Amy) at Cafe Vanille on Charles Street. Stasia's broken leg is coming along nicely (she now walks with a very stylish cane) and as always she looked gorgeous. For any of you not familiar with Charles Street, you should visit (take the red line to the Charles Street T station). Charles Street is in Beacon Hill near the public garden (pictured here) and the Charles River. There are many quaint antique shops, dress boutiques, restaurants, etc. We had a tea and cookies at Cafe Vanille (they have pretty cakes and pastries as well) and discussed the John Edwards scandal (his affair), the creepy Rockefeller case, Stasia's very cool doctor who we ran into at Cafe Vanille with her French boyfriend, travel to Canada (my upcoming trip) and the benefits of facials.

Notes on my facial: Before I met up with the gals, I went for a facial at Bella Sante on Newbury Street--it's an elegant day spa with a variety of spa services (facials, massages, pedicures, etc.) It's also very expensive (this was my early birthday present to myself). The staff are friendly and professional. They give you a robe and flip flops to change into as you wait for your treatment--in the lounge I noticed the women across from me staring at my feet (she was very expensive looking--flawless hair that didn't move, perfect makeup, slender and chic with newly pedicured and immaculately painted toenails)--I think she was aghast by my feet--unpolished toenails and pasty white skin. I became embarrassed by her attention and made a note to myself to polish my nails the next time I returned to the spa. Paulina, my facialist, gave me a wonderful facial (including a leg and head massage--the head massage was heaven but the leg/foot massage was mildly torturous since I'm ticklish). All in all a very nice day.

Puppy Love

2008-08-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

This is my neighobor's dog Boris. He and I have become good friends. In fact, I quite adore him. He's 15 years old and enjoys long walks (he walks very slowly these days), scratches behind the ears (he also likes kisses), and he is a connoisseur of fine and unique smells--during walks he will frequently stop to investigate the size and odor of every leaf, flower, and random object he sees. Today I walked him during my lunch break--as you see he was napping when I arrived. He's a big fan of the afternoon nap. Today's word of the day: GROGGY. When I arrived, Boris was groggy from napping.

Battle of the Sandwiches

2008-08-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

A week or so back I said the tuna sandwich was possibly the most popular American sandwich. However, our intern Shaina (from Northeastern) has recently notified me that she dislikes "smelly" tuna sandwiches. I am astonished. I thought everyone loved a good tuna sandwich. Her favorite sandwich is the all-American grilled cheese sandwich, which I have to admit is also wonderful...a gooey delight of creamy cheese and crispy, buttery bread. I am now going to turn over the blog to Shaina so that she may write some informative and possibly heartwarming notes on the delicious grilled cheese sandwich...here she is:

There are so many ways to make a grilled cheese! All you really need is bread, cheese, and a little butter. You can cook it in a pan, on a grill, or in a sandwich maker. If you want to spice it up a little, you can add tomatoes, apples, mustard, or even spicy jelly. Really anything goes, as long as you have the two main ingredients; bread and cheese.

My favorite grilled cheese is made with Muenster cheese (picture on the right), which is creamy and a little salty. Andrea loves Fontina cheese, which also makes a nice gooey sandwich. My boyfriend, on the other hand, likes to use Kraft singles (picture on the left) which are the perfect size for one grilled cheese sandwich.

Sourdough bread is usually considered the best kind for a grilled cheese, but you can use any kind you want, from plain old white bread to a fancy Italian foccacia bread. Spread a little butter on the outside of the bread, put the cheese in the middle, and cook it in a pan on medium heat for a minute or two on each side. Remember to press down on the sandwich with a spatula so it gets very gooey. If the cheese oozes out of the sandwich into the pan, that's okay! It will get very crispy and delicious.

Now pair that classic American grilled cheese with a bowl of tomato soup, and you have a great meal!

(If you aren't able to make your own grilled cheese, many restaurants around Boston offer up this delicious treat. The Beehive in the South End has a grilled cheese with tomatoes and one with short ribs. Flat Patties in Harvard Square also serves this sandwich "just right.")

-Shaina

A picture of Boston

2008-08-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

When you live in a place, you forget how pretty it can be...until you see the many tourists (and duck tours, trolley tours, etc.) and then you remember you really do live somewhere special.

Finally: Shakespeare on the Common

2008-08-04T07:09:00.001-07:00

After going last weekend to Shakespeare on the Common (and getting rained out) teachers Angela, Leah, and myself finally saw the play this Friday (clear skies thankfully). It was much fun ('As You Like It')--Shakespeare is a joyfully vulgar and raunchy kind of guy (he likes the lowbrow humor--and lots of references to sex) and there are a surprising number of musical interludes throughout the performance (which after a couple of glasses of wine, we happily joined in on). Furthermore, we had surprisingly good seats (the trick is to be bold--you simply have to insert yourself on a nice patch of grass up front and ignore the deadly stares that greet you from those who came hours earlier to stake out a spot).

Teacher Reshama hanging out in the office

2008-08-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

Reshama, the Pronunciation teacher.

Welcome home Minako!

2008-07-30T06:57:00.000-07:00

Our Scheduling Coordinator Minako just returned from vacationing in Seattle and San Francisco with her husband--where they had a wonderful time exploring the cities and eating good food!

Here She Is, Miss America

2008-07-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

I decided to post another picture of teacher Ali since the previous picture I posted was not as true to life--here Ali is wearing one of her favorite dresses and she is clearly having a grand time (I think she's discussing prepositions or something equally as fascinating).

Shakespeare on the Common

2008-07-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, I went with Leah (teacher) and another friend to the Boston Common to see the outdoor Shakespeare production of 'As You Like It.' We sat in the rain waiting for the show to begin (underneath umbrellas enjoying wine and chocolates--and some very strong raspberry vodka). At 7pm the show was cancelled and we left. As soon as the show was cancelled, the rain stopped. Here are some pictures from our walk to and from the Common.

More Rain

2008-07-25T06:26:00.000-07:00

Here's intern Katie yesterday going out for lunch. As you see, it was gray and rainy--but today, happily, the sun is out.

Rainy Day in Cambridge

2008-07-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

Students tend to cancel their lessons in the rainy weather. Today is a good day to stay home and drink hot cocoa--read a good book--or go to a movie. (This is the view outside Boston Life--the church across the street)

Welcome Ali!

2008-07-23T08:17:00.000-07:00

New teacher Ali has quickly become one of the most requested teachers at Boston Life--her combination of enthusiasm with the lesson and discussion topics along with the structure and notes/examples she provides each student, have won her a huge fan base. If you want an appointment with Ali, book early!

Bonjour Rebecca!

2008-07-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

Rebecca (center) is one of our students from France. The teachers adore her; she is smart and interesting-- and her English is fantastic! On the left is Katie and on the right is Shaina, two escaped criminals from Cambridge County Jail. They also occasionally lead our free conversation groups when they're not hiding from the law.

The Long Hot Summer

2008-07-18T07:22:00.001-07:00

Walking home from a friend's house last night. A hot, sultry summer evening...quiet and still. The Prudential (top), Hancock (middle), and Charles River below.

All American Tuna Sandwich Recipe

2008-07-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I said tuna fish was the most popular lunchtime food in America. The following is a traditional tuna sandwich recipe:

-Drain the liquid from 1 can of tuna
-Place tuna in a bowl and add 1-2 tablespoons of Hellman's Mayonaise (use full fat mayo, no low fat or low calorie), 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon finely chopped celery, 1 tablespoon finely chopped red onion, 1/2 teaspoon fresh dill (or 1/4 teaspoon dried), and salt to taste. Mix well.
-Toast 2 slices of white bread and spread each slice with softened butter or olive oil. Evenly spread tuna on one side of the bread and place the second slice of bread on top.
-Cut sandwich diagonally in half and eat. Serve with a tomatoe salad and potato chips.

There are many variations to the traditional recipe. Some people add chopped pickles to their tuna, or basil (instead of dill), a teaspoon of curry powder, cranberries, raisons, chopped walnuts, garlic, etc. The variations are limitless. I like to put all the ingredients in a mini blender and puree the mixture until it's creamy and smooth. That's when it becomes comfort food.

Lunchtime

2008-07-16T07:16:00.000-07:00

Boston Life teachers eating lunch in room A between classes. I'm going to take a wild guess and say that tuna sandwiches are the most popular lunchtime food in the U.S.

Cafe Club Topic: Holding Hands in Public

2008-07-15T07:29:00.000-07:00

I joined Cafe Club last Friday for conversation and tea--I had such a nice time! We discussed movies, stalkers, boys, the expression 'getting hit on' (which I have a lot of experience with--why am I so desirable??), and holding hands in public. Two of the young women from Korea said they hold hands when they are walking down the street-- and they wanted to know if holding hands could be interpreted as something other than friendship: so the answer is: yes, people may think you're gay. or maybe sisters. However, dancing with female friends in clubs, etc. is something a lot of women do since boys may not always ask us to dance or we just want to have fun without getting 'hit on.' (I think female friends in the United States are more likely to link arms when walking together rather than hold hands)--I would say that you should feel free to do whatever makes you happy. Also, definitely do not give a guy your phone number ever unless you really really like him (and he's very very cute!)

The Boston Public Library

2008-07-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

I met teacher Angela in the courtyard of the Boston Public Library on Saturday and we went to lunch on Newbury Street (at Stephanie's--I had poached salmon salad--Angela had chicken, which I'm sorry to say did not look as tasty as my salmon). After lunch we went to Filene's and saw what may be the ugliest purse/bag that has ever been created in the history of the world. It was white and runny green and plastic--truly hideous--I can't do its uglyness justice. It was a Jessica Simpson bag. I wanted to buy it as a gag gift but it was $75! Back to the library: the Boston Public Library is a beautiful building with many art exhibits, an oudoor courtyard perfect for meeting friends and taking lunch (they also have a cafe), and various free lectures and speeches. It is the first public library to allow people to borrow books and materials and take them home to read and use. There are many gorgeous restored paintings throughout the library by John Singer Sargent (as well as other artists). Currently they have an exhibit on the third floor: American posters from the first world war. I love those old nostalgic posters. However, my favorite room in the library is on the third floor behind the poster exhibit: a small room with the most charming dioramas-- based on famous masterpiece paintings. You must take a look.

Our volunteers are completely normal. Completely.

2008-07-09T09:16:00.000-07:00

Shaina (below left), our talented intern from Northeastern, is an amateur photographer and baker. Lauren (in white dress) is an education specialist and mind reader, Katie (on the right), also from Northeastern, is an expert in literature and witty commentary, and So Yeon (middle right) is a brilliant student who will one day rule the world. We are lucky to have such dedicated staff!

Images of Rockport, MA (continued)

2008-07-08T07:35:00.000-07:00

I would recommend taking a day trip to Rockport, MA when you've got an open day with nothing to do. It's a pretty little town North of Boston (take the commuter rail from North Station--it's only $7.50 each way) with a beach, shops, galleries, and restaurants. Bring sunscreen and flip flops for the beach and a little spending money for lunch.

Small Town USA 4th of July Celebration

2008-07-07T07:08:00.000-07:00

On Friday I went with a friend (hi Nance!) to Rockport to celebrate the 4th of July. Rockport is a small beach town located an hour North of Boston (you can take the commuter rail from North Station to Rockport). We walked around town, went into all the fun little shops and art galleries--I bought 2 pair of earrings and enough chocolate fudge to last until December (or in my case, until tomorrow), and we had a lovely seafood lunch (I had the lobster roll--very good--my friend had scallops). After lunch we walked along the beach and watched the small town 4th of July parade which seemed to consist of firetruck after firetruck after firetruck...apparently firetrucks are very popular in small town parades. Back in Boston--at 10pm as I was walking across the Charles River into Cambridge and ran into teacher Frances and her adorable boyfriend! (funny coincidence since there were a million people on the bridge) and we watched the fireworks together, which I have to say were spectacular--the crowds were enormous but well-behaved. A nice holiday--I recommend Rockport to all students who want a fun, easy escape from Boston for the day.

THEM

2008-06-30T07:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday night I watched the French horror movie "Them." It was scary--and I was home alone--it was dark outside...I finally had to turn every light on in the apartment. I love the French, I love their food and culture and joi de vive--I took 3 years of French in highschool, but truthfully I can never get through a French movie without feeling frustrated. I think French movies enjoy being vague and mysterious but just once I'd like to know how a movie ends. Last year I saw "La Moustache" which I loved (wonderful actors, wonderful script) but I still don't know if the husband is crazy or the wife is evil and could somebody please tell me whether or not he has a mustache! That's all I ask. So I was pleasantly surprised to see that this horror movie (Them) did indeed have a clear ending: Both lead characters die. There's no vagueness about it. Dead. Murdered by teenagers. Based on a true story. Depressing. But clear.

Margarita Party

2008-06-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

Teacher Leah had a backyard margarita party last weekend--the margaritas were delicious and it was a perfect night for a soiree. The girl in blue with the astonishingly gigantic teeth is me (I swear I don't whiten my teeth), the lovely gal in green is Frances, and on the right is Leah's student Jin Hee Lee who is adorable and funny (I think we may have corrupted her with all our talk about boys).

Sweet

2008-06-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone. I'm back from vacation and feeling rested and refreshed. While I was away I was diligently researching the important news of Boston. Here's a crucial update: a new cupcake bakery has opened on Mass. Ave. in Boston, called 'Sweet.' Since I am a thorough reporter, I naturally had to taste several cupcakes to see if they were worthy of recommendation. They were fresh and quite good. While I was taking pictures inside the bakery, the owner came up to me and asked what I was up to (maybe he thought I was a reporter for one of the local newspapers). He was extremely nice and we had a wonderful conversation about the fabulousness of everything cupcake (I think his name was Jeff??) and he explained that his wife makes the cupcakes fresh each day and they would be adding new cupcakes in the coming weeks, including Boston Creme Pie and Red Velvet (yum!) If you're not from this country you must know that cupcakes are very trendy right now--the best cupcakes can be found at Magnolia in New York City (made famous by the gals from 'Sex and the City'). There is a park across the street from Magnolia where everyone goes to eat their cupcakes--it's a funny sight to see all these grown New Yorkers eating little pink and yellow cupcakes with complete dedication and joy. Truly and absolutely, cupcakes are the greatest dessert imaginable...a perfect serving size of cake, creamy frosting and childhood memories, what could be better? I haven't tried the new cupcake bakery in the North End yet (Lulu on Hanover Street) but that will be my next sacred pilgrimmage. (Does anybody remember cupcakes that mom would bake inside an icecream cone?? now that is a piece of Americana--I think they were popular at school bake sales)

Falafals and Champagne

2008-06-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

Our Cooking in English teacher, Stasia, broke her leg several weeks ago. Last night after work I picked up falafals from the Falafal Palace in Central Square (a true palace of cheap but decent falafals) and a bottle of champagne and headed to Stasia's. I walked across the bridge into Boston and down Marlborough Street (one of the most scenic streets in Boston) and to Charles Street in Beacon Hill (she lives seconds from the water--lucky girl). We enjoyed dinner and chat--Stasia looks great--after dinner I ran into her cute neighbor in the hallway as I was getting Stasia's mail and encouraged her to have a cocktail party so I could meet him officially. He could be my future husband. At our next meeting of The Broken Leg Club, Stasia and I plan to cook Japanese food (I've never cooked real, authentic Japanese food so this will be educational). One more exciting fact about going to Stasia's house: anytime I visit Stasia she gives me a bag of goodies to take home. Yesterday she gave me samples of Fresh body lotion and face scrub and mojito flavored gum and some delicious rye bread and other fun surprises. Thank you Stasia for my going away gifts and please get well quickly! Attention Dear Readers (all two of you): I am going on vacation and will return on June 18...so I won't be posting blogs for a couple of weeks. Please stay tuned for future blogs!

Teacher Gone Wild

2008-06-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are the infamous Charlene photos. You wouldn't know if from these pictures, but Charlene's really very lovely. Everytime I went to take her picture on Saturday (at the party) she broke into 'Crazy Teacher Action Figure.' Good Times.

Central Square Post Office

2008-06-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

This is the post office 2 buildings down from Boston Life and across the street. It was built in 1933 and added to the National Historic Register in 1986.

Gloucester Fishing Village

2008-06-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

I went to Gloucester on Sunday. Gloucester is a 45 minute drive from Boston and is a popular center of the fishing industry and a summer resort. It also has the oldest art colony in the United States (Rocky Neck Art Colony) where you can visit galleries and art shops. I had a tasty seafood lunch (scrod with sherry sauce) on the deck of a neighborhood restaurant overlooking the water, and walked along the beach--the water was frigid. Many movies have been filmed in this picturesque town, including 'The Perfect Storm.' (Gloucester is not as upscale as Cape Cod or Martha's Vineyard, but it's much easier to get to which is a definite bonus--no traffic!)

Saturday Night Party at Boston Life

2008-06-02T08:28:00.000-07:00

It was nice seeing everyone at the party on Saturday. Atsushi and I had an interesting discussion about Hillary and Obama, Joyce (everyone's favorite mom) brought her beautiful daughter Andrea to the party, I caught Ian and his girlfriend smooching in the hallway, Young very impressively used the expression 'okie-dokie' in a sentence, and Charlene went into some sort of crazy angry lion expression everytime I snapped her picture (this deserves a blog all its own...please stay tuned for the next blog dedicated solely to Charlene's angry lion poses). The food was quite good--sandwiches, sushi, cookies and Joyce's magnificent rhubarb crisp! Takeshi looked ready to let loose after running around all day in a fit of pre-party preparations, Minako and her husband were seen socializing on the stairway (someone has a crush on Minako's husband but I've been sworn to secrecy), and Frances and I chilled out in the office later in the evening when the heat from Room A was beginning to sizzle (I have some cute pictures of Frances which I will publish in future blogs). Thanks everyone for a fun night!

Hello Gorgeous

2008-05-30T07:20:00.000-07:00

This has been the most beautiful Spring in Boston I can remember. Everything is so fragrant, especially at night--the earthy aroma of the lake and the sweet perfume of the trees and flowers is intoxicating. For ESL students visiting Boston right now, you must know how lucky you are. Spring is not always so lovely. Sometimes it rains quite often, or even snows--the weather can be cold and miserable. But not this year (maybe due to global warming which is really a terrible problem and yet look how fabulous everything is!) Today's word is SUMPTUOUS. It means: splendidly and impressively lavish...gorgeously beautiful and enticing. A very fancy meal, or feast can be described as sumptous...and a beautiful Spring day like today can be described as sumptous. (This picture was taken down the street, opposite The People's Republic, a dive bar where they filmed a scene from the movie '21')

Bad Toilet!

2008-05-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

Thankfully we have very nice interns from Northeastern who are willing (not eager but willing) to clean the overflowing toilet when no one else will (no one else being me). Interestingly, they set the world record for cleaning a bathroom in a total 30 seconds, so I'm guessing there is still a reasonable amount of bacteria and other harmful germs spread invisibly across the floor. Welcome to Boston Life! (Here's a secret few people know: there's a second bathroom in room D--if ever the hallway bathroom looks questionable, try the D bathroom for a more pleasant toilet going experience). Thaddeus is on the left and Chelsea is on the right.

Hallway and Classroom Images Continued

2008-05-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

The picture on the bottom is of Kassandra and Minji in class. Kassandra is new with Boston Life. She taught English in Thailand for 2 years and has her Masters from the School of Education at New York University. Welcome Kassandra!

Images of Hallway Between Classes

2008-05-22T07:18:00.000-07:00

Charlene (in green shirt and headband) is one of our new teachers. She's very funny--I really liked her dry sense of humor when I interviewed her. I think the students will love her sense of fun and enthusiasm.

Cafe Club Hanging Out

2008-05-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken in front of The Middle East (a bar/coffee house/restuarant). Cafe Club meets every Wednesday and Friday at 4pm for conversation practice and tea (or coffee or soda or anything you like). At least 2 teachers attend the group, and approximately 4-8 students. It's a good time and a nice way to practice your conversational English skills. (Everyone is welcome!)

Why can't anybody take a break?!

2008-05-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

The picture on the left is Hirozo and Minako (both from Japan) and below is Xuan (from China) and Young from Korea. These are some of our dedicated volunteers and staff members. Xuan started working with us last week. It took me several tries before I could pronounce her name. It's really a very challenging name, Xuan. Maybe I will call her Lady X! That sounds dramatic, no? Here's my problem: I deeply believe that every person should and must take a break during the day (leave the office, go for a walk or get lunch and talk to friends). I think people are more productive and happy when they recharge their battery and de-stress from sitting in front of a computer all day. But maybe only Americans believe in the right to happiness. It is in our constitution after all. Last Thursday I had to ask Xuan 5 times before she finally and very reluctantly agreed to take a break. It was really very funny. She looked so sad and heart broken as she walked slowly and mournfully out of the office, as if I had banished her. You know, it makes me feel like a slacker when I'm the only one in the office who takes a break. Is this an American thing? Why do my non-American co-workers feel angst over taking breaks? Why do they insist on being so pure and good and serious-minded? It is my dream that one day people from all countries and all walks of life will have the freedom and devil-may-care spirit to take a break!

Baby Shower

2008-05-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

Miho, our Admissions/Scheduling Director will soon be leaving us to have a baby (how dare she). Sunday was her Baby Shower--delicious food and elegant strawberry cake, and many adorable gifts for the expectant parents. The hosts, Charlie and Jane, have a lovely home that I was tempted to never leave. Minako told me that in Japan there is no tradition of a party for the baby before the birth. But in the U.S. there seems to be a party for nearly every occasion: Welcome to new job, Goodbye from old job, bridal shower party, engagement party, bon voyage on your journey somewhere new, Happy divorce party, anniversary party, house warming party, marathon pasta party, congratulations on your promotion party, etc. Speaking of parties, I am very much looking forward to Leah's party in June (Leah will be leaving Boston in September). Leah is having a Margarita party...I expect it to be a glorious festival of drunken delights.

MIT in Cambridge

2008-05-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a 5 minute walk from Boston Life. These pictures were taken over the weekend. I happen to love MIT-- it's very democratic and they allow anybody (even riff raff like me) to use their libraries and computers (you don't have to be a student or faculty member). They also have wonderful benefits for their employees, including sailing club memberships!

Group Fun

2008-05-13T11:03:00.000-07:00

Look at these cutiepies. I think everyone looks adorable. Goodbye and best wishes to Yung Tak (wearing the blue shirt with writing) who goes home to Korea tomorrow. We will miss you Yung Tak and thank you for the donuts! Keep practicing your English--and please remember that janitor and genitalia have different pronunciations! From left to right: Soojin, Chelsea, Joyce, Kelsey, Leah, Yung Tak, Youn Jung, Sharon, and in front is Thaddeus.

Sunday Strolling in Boston

2008-05-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

Sunday was Mother's Day. What a perfect day. I walked down Mass. Ave. in Cambridge and across the bridge into Boston and then turned left on Commonwealth Avenue. Commonwealth Ave. was designed to look similar to Paris boulevards and has statuary, memorials, and beautiful greenery (trees, flowers, park land). If you haven't taken a meandering walk along Commonwealth, now is the time to do it--it is absolutely lovely. Bring a book of poetry with you! (and maybe a picnic lunch-something French--a crusty baguette with cheese and grapes--wine--and fancy dark chocolate) By the way, Newbury Street is parallel to Commonwealth Ave., so when you finish on Commonwealth, you can easily walk to Newbury for boutique shopping and a hot stone massage or something equally decadent.

Monster Escapes Storage Room

2008-05-09T07:08:00.000-07:00

Last night, a deadly monster escaped the storage closet and wreaked terror upon innocent Boston Life victims. Here, you see the reaction from Kelsey and Sung Won. Clearly, they were terrified. However, I am pleased to announce that no serious injuries occurred. In fact, I was able to grab the monster by his throat and hypnotize him with my dreamy violet-brown eyes so that he was incapable of violence. Many people cheered loudly and said I saved the day. It's so embarrassing--I guess everybody is calling me a hero. But really, I'm not a hero. I'm just a humble person who cares about her community and believes monsters belong in storybooks and not in schools.

Deep Thoughts

2008-05-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

Thaddeus and Chelsea, our interns from Northeastern. (I asked them to look scholarly--indeed they do look impressively intellectual and important!)

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

2008-05-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

Today is a pretty spring day in Boston. I took this picture 5 minutes ago on my lunch break as I was walking to the library. (I'm super excited because I borrowed the movie 'Grey Gardens' from the library, a documentary about the reclusive cousins of first lady Jackie O...it's supposed to be really interesting and creepy!)

Cooking in English

2008-05-07T07:59:00.000-07:00

Stasia is the Cooking in English teacher at Boston Life--below are pictures of her charming apartment in Beacon Hill. At one of her recent cooking classes, the group prepared pumpkin pie with chocolate crust. Doesn't it look amazing? Those are Stasia's hands cutting into the pie. Stasia has lovely antique pieces placed throughout her apartment--her place has a really zen feel to it, very unique and artistic and calm. By the way, it's Stasia's birthday this month--a few of us were going to go out dancing or listen to goth music at the Plough and Stars (a bar) to celebrate her big day--but she has suddenly disappeared. Hope you're having a wild b-day celebration Stasia!

Food and Politics

2008-05-06T07:05:00.000-07:00

On the left is our fabulous teacher Angela and on the right is beautiful Yoona. Angela is an anthropologist and our resident southerner (from Tennessee)--she speaks with a charming southern accent (her voice is very soothing) and is an expert on all things southern, including coca cola cake and other unique southern specialties. The reason we like Angela so much is that she's incredibly nice but she's also funny and she's a strong southern woman--and she's a Hillary supporter! (I hope I can say that)--currently we Americans are enduring the election process for a new president and some of us (me included) would like to see a woman president. Now on a more important note, Angela just returned from a trip to Tennessee--she brought back Moon pies (chocolate marshmallow cakes) and Goo Goo bars (according to Angela, goo goo bars were the first combination candy bar in the United States)...I have to say the goo goo bars were out of this world--caramel, pecans, and marshmallow cream covered in chocolate. Fabulous. And then yesterday Angela brought in chocolate truffles...you can see the truffles in the picture (on the table). Thank you Angela for feeding us!

Today's Conversation Group

2008-05-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of today's conversation group. From left to right: Yu-Hsuan (Taiwan), Mireya (Venezuela), Lily (China), Chelsea (USA), Kaoru (Japan), Marcella (Brazil), Nicole (Germany), and Janet (Germany).

I heard loud laughter coming from the room...of course I immediately ran into the room to see what all the fuss was about. If a good time is happening and I'm not around, no good can come of it.

Chelsea said the group talked about a variety of subjects, including mother-in-laws and pregnancy, and they learned two new idioms ('Absence makes the heart grow fonder' and 'Out of sight out of mind').

By the way, I plan to start a new conversation group soon. It will be free and will focus on Public Speaking--Fun Fun Fun! In this group we will practice speaking, debates, and short impromptu speeches with informal critiques. If anyone is interested, please call or email me.

Sharing a laugh

2008-05-02T08:09:00.000-07:00

Here we have Jong Bae with Ian. Ian is a creative teacher and the students love his friendly, generous approach. It also doesn't hurt that Ian, in addition to his warm and enthusiastic manner, looks strikingly like the Australian actor Eric Bana. On the other hand, I've had students tell me that I look like Julia Roberts...now that is funny. I do not look like Julia Roberts. I do however look like a young Grace Kelly.

The Office and Prison Wall

2008-05-01T08:02:00.000-07:00

This is the front office of Boston Life. On the left looking quite enthusiastic is Sharon and below looking very composed and elegant is Minako. If you notice, behind Sharon there are notes, a calendar, and cards taped to the wall. I call this my prison wall (much like prisoners who have nowhere else to compose their thoughts or write important ideas and reminders). At Boston Life I don't have as much office space as I could use, so I have taken the wall as my second desk. Perhaps the purchase of a bulletin board would be a better idea. And yet I have grown fond of my prison wall. I think I will have to tape a pretty poem to the wall, something by Keats or Shakespeare or Frost.

Learning English is Fun!

2008-04-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

Here we have Alex in the blue shirt and Ismaila. Ismaila's first language is French. He is attending Boston Life to improve his conversation and comprehension skills. He has only been with us for a few weeks but already he has made some very nice improvements with his English. As for Alex, even though she is young, she has become a very popular and often-requested teacher. We're lucky to have her!

An Art Show at Starbucks

2008-04-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

Sua Roh, one of our absolutely lovely students from Korea (third person from the left) is an amazing up and coming artist. An exhibit of her beautiful paintings will be on display at Starbucks on Mass. Ave. (near Berklee College of Music) beginning May 5. The exhibit lasts 1 month so go see her pictures before it's too late!
Pictured in the photo from left to right is Kelsey, Joyce, Sua Roh, and Leah.

Boston Life Sunday Olympics

2008-04-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

On Sunday some of the Boston Life
staff went to the river for cherry blossom gazing, soccer,
badminton, food, and fun.
In the group picture from left to right: Miho, Evan,
Leah, me, Frances, and Young.
The adorable dog is named Teddy (Teddy is Miho and Evan's dog).

Jim and I beat Leah and Young in badminton 843 points to 23 points

(or something like that). A good time was had by all and Young brought delicious homemade Korean food for everyone. The weather was cloudy and cool but it was still a lovely day.

Today at Boston Life

2008-04-25T08:12:00.000-07:00

On the left is Satomi from Japan. Satomi is here in Boston with her husband. And she is pregnant! She's almost 8 months pregnant and yet I just noticed she was pregnant maybe 2 weeks ago--apparently I am not very observant--and Satomi is very tiny.

On the right is one of our teachers--Amy. Amy is an artist and writer and does a lot of good work for the environment, etc. Tonight there is the opening reception for one of her art shows--which I will go to if I can because I'm really curious to see Amy's art work...Now Amy has a really interesting background also--she's American but her mother is from Korea (her father is from California--??)--so Amy has a lot in common with the Korean students.

A Lesson at Boston Life

2008-04-24T10:54:00.000-07:00

On the left is Yung Tak (from Korea) and on the right is Joyce. Joyce is one of the nicest people I know--and also a really wonderful teacher. She gives the students lots of notes and suggestions and examples (which they love), and she's also a mom-figure to many of the clients--she is warm and caring and nurturing. I think the students feel like Joyce is their temporary mom until they return to their home country.

Yung Tak has been a student here at Boston Life for several months. He is very popular (all the teachers love him) and his English has improved tremendously. He goes back to Korea in a few weeks. We'll miss him. Good luck Yung Tak!

Leah in Listening Class

2008-04-23T06:39:00.000-07:00

This is Leah in her Listening class. Yesterday she was playing music in class and then asking the students questions about the song lyrics--okay, so she kept playing the same song over and over again and I could hear it in the front office. I can't remember the name of the song but I now can say with complete confidence that I never want to hear that song again. Never again!

Boston Life Staff playing around

2008-04-22T11:32:00.000-07:00

Here is some of our fun, happy-go-lucky staff. On the left is Takeshi, a board member, next is Minako who is responsible for admissions and scheduling (and she flirts with all the clients on the phone), third from the left is Kelsey, one of our amazing interns from Northeastern, fourth from the left is Chelsea, another beloved intern from Northeastern, and finally you see Stasia on the right in red. Stasia is our Cooking in English teacher. She has the cooking classes at her absolutely charming apartment in historic Beacon Hill. Stasia's apartment is gorgeous and spacious, considering she's in Beacon Hill, so her rent must be astronomical.

Monday Conversation Group

2008-04-21T08:11:00.000-07:00

Today the Monday Conversation Group at Boston
Life enjoys popcorn and conversation in Room A.

The picture above shows Kaoru, Angie, and Mireya. Kaoru has been attending classes at Boston Life for many months and we adore her! Angie is our kind landlady who lives upstairs (Boston Life is on the first floor and residents live on the second and third floor) and she always brings food to the conversation group which is completely not necessary but very nice! And Mireya is a new student from Venezuela who is starting today.

Cafe Conversation Club

2008-04-18T13:31:00.000-07:00

Today the Cafe Conversation Club meets on the lawn of Cambridge City Hall for conversation practice and games. (Group Leaders Thaddeus in black and Kelsey in green). I love this group. It's fun and it's a great way for our students to improve their English skills while meeting new people. Today it is sunny and hot in Boston.

Neighborhood pictures

2008-04-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

On the left we have a picture of St. Mary's Orthodox Church. Below right is a picture of a house with pretty flowers in the garden. Unfortunately in this picture you cannot really see the flowers. Trust me, they are quite pretty. Nice blue, cloudless sky today.

Books, Books, and More Books!

2008-04-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

Cambridge, Massachusetts has the most book stores per square mile than any other city in the United States. This is a book store in Central Square, just across the street from Boston Life. Here they sell new, used, and rare books.

Cambridge City Hall

2008-04-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Here we have a picture of Cambridge City Hall (One block past the Boston Life office). Today is a lovely spring day in Cambridge--the sky is blue and the flowers are beginning to bloom.

The neighborhood supermarket

2008-04-16T10:41:00.000-07:00

This is the Whole Foods Supermarket just down the street from Boston Life (in Central Square). They have a decent selection of fruits and veggies but the fresh fish is not so impressive. If you go to Inman Square (also nearby) there are several fish markets with a bigger and fresher selection of fish.

The Church Across the Street from Boston Life

2008-04-14T14:12:00.000-07:00

This is the church across the street from Boston Life. I have nothing clever to say about it. The church doors are always locked. Maybe it's only open on Sundays.

A gift from Masako

2008-04-11T08:09:00.000-07:00

These cows are a gift from Masako, a former student who is a professor in Japan. Masako, thank you for your kind gifts! We miss you! (Masako was in my Public Speaking class--she was incredibly fun and smart and interesting--come back to Boston Masako!)

One of Boston Life's most popular teachers...

2008-04-10T07:45:00.000-07:00

This is Leah in the small kitchen at Boston Life. She is one of our most popular teachers. Students practically fight over who gets her. Why is she such a wonderful teacher? She's funny, smart, charismatic, and charming. Hey Leah, what are you eating?
(Leah was raised in both the United States and Australia--so she has one of those fabulous accents which sounds like a combination of American/Australian/British)

Miho, Pregnant Co-worker and all around nice gal

2008-04-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

Today Miho brought in chocolate covered cashews. Yum! Thank you Miho!

日本人です！

2008-04-04T11:03:00.000-07:00

ここ、BostonLifeでボランティアをしています日本人女性Mです（＾＾）同僚のAndreaが書いて、書いてとせがむので（冗談です（＾＾；））初挑戦です！と、そんなに力むことはないか★
さて、今日は雨・・・昨日まで快晴だったのに。気温は下がるしまたもや冬到来？っ感じですね。
Bostonに春はいつ来るの～!?　
金曜日のこの時間は少しスローでオフィスも静かです。
そんな時は、よく今日の夜ご飯何食べようかなぁ～。や、週末は何しようかなぁ～。なんて考えてます。
仕事しなさい!って感じですね（笑）ということで、初ブログは、この辺で・・・また書きます☆
Have a good weekend!!!!!

Lemon Lovers' Chocolate Chip Yogurt Cake

2008-04-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

I forgot to bring in my Lemon Kiss Me Cake Recipe! So as a replacement recipe, I am printing Ina Garten's Yogurt Cake, which is also a delicious lemon cake. I have made a few changes to the recipe: I added chocolate chips, removed some of the sugar (it was too sweet), and removed the glaze which was unnecessary with this rich, moist cake. I love that this cake is made with oil and not butter (healthier and more moist). This cake is for lemon lovers only! It would be great for any occasion, especially a lady's luncheon or tea--I feel this cake is very girly--I love its lucious yellow color---I hope you enjoy it (you can omit the chocolate if you prefer, or add blueberries instead--chopped walnuts might be another nice addition)

Side Bar: Even though I removed some of the sugar from this recipe, my Japanese boss still thought the cake was too sweet! So people outside the U.S. might want to add even less sugar--apparently we Americans have become very accustomed to large amounts of sugar in our diets. I happen to believe this is a result of fast food restaurants and packaged food companies having loaded their products with so much sugar/sugar substitute in order to save money, etc. When I went off desserts last summer, I went through a 3-day withdrawal period where I was miserable, and then I never felt better! I craved sugar less and when I did eat dessert I didn't need to eat ultra-sweet cakes or cookies. My taste for sugar had normalized and I found the rich chocolate desserts I had previously eaten way too rich and sweet...so the moral of the story is, eat sugar in moderation.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons sugar, 3 extra-large eggs, the grated lemon zest of 2 lemons, 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, not quite 1/2 cup vegetable oil (use maybe 1-2 tablespoons less oil), 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch loaf pan.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into 1 bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 3/4 cup sugar, the eggs, lemon zest, and vanilla. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. With a rubber spatula, fold the vegetable oil and 3 tablespoons lemon juice into the batter. Then fold in the chocolate chips until everything is combined but do not overfold! Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 40-50 minutes, or until a cake tester placed in the center of the loaf comes out clean.
Meanwhile, cook the 1/3 cup lemon juice and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear. Set aside.
When the cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully place on a baking rack over a sheet pan. While the cake is still warm, prick the top of the cake with a fork in several places and then pour the lemon-sugar mixture over the cake and allow it to soak in. Cool.

I promise...

2008-04-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

Lemon Kiss Me Cake recipe is coming soon, I promise. (busy times at work)

Lemon Kiss Me Cake Recipe...

2008-03-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

I forgot to bring in my very own Lemon Kiss Me Cake recipe. I invented this cake not long ago and am very taken with it. I feel I have a responsibility to share this recipe with the world. It is ultra-moist (brown sugar does the trick), made with oil not butter, chocolate chips, walnuts, and a ton of grated lemon rind and lemon juice. Lemon, chocolate, moistness, what more could you want? Stay tuned for the recipe.

By the way, our Japanese students sometimes bring us delightful and strange candies from their homeland-they have a jelly-like consistency and sometimes taste like fishy seaweed. Nearly every Japanese student I've talked with dislikes American desserts (too rich) but for some reason everyone loves cheesecake.

Gifts of Food

2008-03-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

Sometimes people leave offerings of food at the front desk. I adore gifts of food, it's very warm and representative of the person. Leah (a Boston Life teacher) brought homemade hot cross buns yesterday...this sounded lovely and very British. I've never had hot cross buns but isn't there a song about hot cross buns? I think Leah must have made them with yeast because they seemed very professional and perfectly formed...and tasty. I will ask her if she used yeast as this would increase the difficulty quotient--and then today I notice Easter chocolates sitting in the basket on the intern desk...hmmm, chocolate covered marshmallows, peanutbutter chocolates, those funny marshmallow peeps...who brought these mystery treats in? I think maybe Kelsey (one of our interns from Northeastern) did. Unfortunately I brought an orange and an apple to work today, so I will try to eat these first so that I feel virtuous and healthy and deprived.