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YM COLUMN ARCHIVE

October 21, 2009

Wife is a ham?

Conversation with a well-known astronaut

“Don’t you think it’s hard to learn Korean for a beginner?”
“Maybe so, but for the time being all you have to know are ‘Anyonhashimunika (how are you?)’ and ‘Kamusahamunida’, I guess.”
“I can manage to say ‘Anyonhashimunika’ somehow, but what’s that “Kamu-----“ something?”
“I guess it means ‘thank you’.”
“’Kamu-----’? Say that again.”
“Kamusahamunida.”
“It’s a little bit hard to pronounce.”
“How about remember it ‘Kami-san’ (wife) is ‘hamu’ (ham)?”
“Ohhh, that’s too much easy-going, isn’t it?”
“Never mind. Just give it a try.”
“OK, I will.”
Next morning.
“Say, I tried that funny word yesterday, but I couldn’t get through.”
“What did you say?”
“Oku-san (another way of saying ‘Kami-san’ meaning ‘wife’ in Japanese) is hamu (ham).”
That’s impossible!

One week in Daejeon, Korea, where International Astronautical Congress was held, was quickly gone. But it’s true to have learned many things there. I had opportunities to talk with my friends about future development of global space activities undergoing new movements. I have a realistic feeling for sure that the space development of the world is facing a new era of dynamic change. This coming one-year will be a critical time for Japan, whether this country is conservatively going on as ever in the way confined in a cocoon, or take a firm standing to pioneer for new age of the earth with hard determination of willingness and hopeful mind to contribute to the history of mankind. Thursday, tomorrow, I’m going to make TV recording for NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) program “My viewpoint at issue” titled “Dream of manned rocket” on the NHK education channel.

On the way back to Japan, I flied to Okinawa via Osaka and I enjoyed “Space School” together with children of Okinawa. People there at Naha were all wonderful with bright and naïve children and their mothers and fathers. From “Kimchi (Korean pickle)” to “Goya (Okinawan vegetable)”: healthy foods made me healthier but the health-meter at home was broken. Yes, it was broken, for the pointer indicated zero with myself on it, although I forgot to make sure if the pointer circled around to stay at zero.

I welcome your comments on this column to the following E-mail address.
matogawa@planetary.or.jp

(Translated by The Planetary Society of Japan)