エッセイ

Notes:
alpine: 高山の，高山性;
biathlon: バイアスロン;
sledge hockey: スレッジ ホッケー;
first place: 第一; 首位;
blazing : 焼けつくような; まばゆい;
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The Sochi Paralympics began on Saturday, March 8, and will go on to March 16. There are four sports categories: alpine skiing/snowboarding, biathlon/cross-country skiing, ice sledge hockey, and wheelchair curling, and in each category, there are a number of events. After the first two days, Russia is in first place followed by Ukraine. Japan is in third place with five medals. I watched Kano Akira’s gold medal performances in the men’s super-G and the men’s downhill sitting. As the newspaper said, he was blazingly fast!　(by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
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Going to the doctor used to be different in Japan and the U.S. In Japan, you would walk in and wait until the doctor sees you. In the U.S., you would make an appointment in advance. Recently this is changing. Now there are clinics in the U.S. where you can go without an appointment, and there are clinics in Japan that require an appointment. I went to a clinic yesterday with an automated appointment system. You call a number, type in your number, and make an appointment without talking to anyone. It is convenient because you can do it at any time, day or night. (by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
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