blog 11: English outside of class

Today, we finished our class in 2006! Christmas and New year are coming soon!! Amazing!!
This semester is super busy for me because I take 3 English classes and one extra class with foreign exchange students. I have to use English EVERYDAY!
I hope it helps my English skills... but now I am afraid of forgetting EVERYTHING during vacation!

Then, I will talk about this question,
"What are some good ways to use English outside of the classroom?"

My answer is to put ourselves into English. It is a good idea to make friends with English speaker, and listen to English songs, and watch movies without subtitles! and so on. The best way is to make friends. Communication is good for our listening and speaking.

As I wrote before, becoming Japanese conversation partner is one of the way to make friends with non-Japanese people. Also, KGU has a lot of program connected with overseas. We can use them!

#10: Animal Therapy

Do you like a cat?
I have a cat in my house. She is super pretty!
She makes me happy, too!
So, I think animal therapy is really effective.

Shungo and Yuka gave us very good information about robot animal. I was surprised because I only knew the robot animal, 'Aibo.'

They asked us the discussion question, "Does Robot therapy have the same effect as animal therapy?" My answer is ...it depends.

Actually, Paro seems to be a real animal. It is so cute. Some people may feel better, and they may not feel lonely. It is ture, but I think it is still different from real animals. We can easily expect its actions. And it is kind of same as stuffed animals, because it has no body temparature.

When people who have Paro or robot animal become tired of them, perhaps people will just throw them away. It is sometimes good because we don't have to see the death of our pet. However, I think we are selfish.

To have a robot animal is NOT spenting time with it, but just using it. Then, I think there are some differences, so it is hard for me to robot therapy has the same effect.

My Hometown

December 10th- I walked around my hometown with my mother.
I live in Minato-ku, in Osaka city. As you know, 'Minato' means a port.
Actually, we have a port which is called 'Osaka-ko.'(means Osaka harbor)
Osaka-ko is usually called 'TEMPO-ZAN.'
Tempo-zan is the lowest mountain in Japan. It is only 4-5 meters above sea level! We can't find where the mountain is! Amazing!
And there is a famous aquarium called 'Kaiyu-kan.' If you have free time, please visit here and me! -Indeed, I live near Tempo-zan, and it takes 10 minues to get there by bicycle.


This picture is the scean that the ship put out to sea from Tempo-zan.

#9: Food in Japan and Turkey

As I wrote about Turkey in last blog, I have also tried Turkish food!
They are basically oily, but it doesn't taste bad.

I tried rice and pizza in Turkey.
This is pizza in Turkey.
It is called 'Pide.'
Ingredients are minced meat, cheese, etc...
It is a little bit spicy, but yummy!





This meat is kebabu, and rice is pilaf.
These are my favorite dish in Turkey.
Rice is a little bit different from Japanese one, but I like it very much! Yummy!



I could eat Turkish food, and it was good! However, I thought Japanese dishes are the most delicious in all over the world! I am really Japanese! hehe.

Travel To Turkey

Merhaba! -It means "Hello" in Turkish.
From Nov. 17th to 25th, I had been in Turkey! It was a super nice country! Lots of places to visit, yummy foods, and good-looking people!!
This is Troy. As you know, this picture is the Trojan horse used in the war of Troy. (If you don't know, please watch the movie "TROY") This horse is under repair, so I couldn't go inside this horse...





Here is Pamukkale. The ground is made from limestone. Beautiful!! Also, there is a hot spring. Hot water always flow! One bad thing is that ground is slippery. I almost fell down to the ground!





This is Cappadoccia. Here is famous for stones whose shapes are strange. This picture is most famous one. The shapes of these stones are like mushrooms! Very strange!






This is the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Outside is of course amazing, but inside is more interesting! The atomosphere is very unique. I could feel Islamic mood.

Istanbul is VERY interesting city! (Of course sometimes dangerous, so please be careful of pickpocket!) It has both European side and Asian side. Also, there are a lot of buildings to see! I couldn't have enough time to walk around Istanbul. This is my only regrettable thing in sightseeing.

And one more thing, I didn't have chance to speak English so much because Turkish people speak Japanese very well!

Anyway, Turkey is worthwhile visiting! If you have chance to go, I definitely recommend you to visit there!

#6: Most Impressive Athlete

Did you enjoy presentations?
I really dislike presentation because I am shy. This time, we had to give our presentation in front of all classmates. It was definitely hard for me!

I think Mayumi Narita is the most impressive person. Actually I did not know about her at all, even her name. Everyone including me chose famous athletes for the presentation, so almost all the classmates know about the athletes. It tends to be less impressive. Shingo and Kaori. A had good choice! Mayumi Narita is really strong person, both physically and mentally, I think.

Anyway, I am REALLY relieved to finish our presentation!
Then, I am going to travel around Turkey! After coming back to Japan, I will post some pictures and comments!

BBQ

November 3rd- I had a BBQ party.

This is 'Rokko Country House.' And there are many places for BBQ.
Members are my family, my brother's family, family of my father's cousin, and co-workers of my father. (12 people!)

We shared our job, -drink, meat, chicken, salad, and so on.
My job was making rice balls. I made 20 rice balls!

To eat in nature is very nice! Yummy, yummy!

Welcome Party for Barbara

Octorber 28- I joined the welcome party for Barbara.

She is an exchange student from New York, and I am a Japanese conversation partner for her.

This is her home in Japan. Her host family is a super nice family! They are professional because this is their 13 times to be a host family!

It was very fun party, and very international. The host father suggested us to introduce ourselves in not-mother language! So I had to introduce myself in English. I hope they could understand my bad English...

If you are interested in a Japanese partner, please let me know. I will introduce my partner, Barbara, to you guys!

#4: Someone Who Changed My Country

Did you watch the Shinjo's last game?
I had supported Fighters during Nippon Series, so I am happy to Fighters victory!
The next day I heard the story about Shinjo and Tanishige (Dragons' catcher).
In the batter box, Shinjo was crying. Then Tanishige said,
"Don't cry!! I let Kawakami throw only straight ball."
I was impressed by Tanishige's kindness.

Anyway, I was thinking about the person who changed Japan...
Then I thought the person is HIDEO NOMO.
Actually, he is the second Japanese who became a major leaguer.
Still, I think he is a pioneer.
Until Nomo became a major leaguer, the transference had been difficult.
Both American and even Japanese thought it was impossible for Japanese to play baseball in major league.
However, he accomplished no-hit, no-run in major league!
This made both American and Japanese surprised. American had thought the major league was the best in all over the world, and Japanese had also thought it was far beyond our level.
But he did it!!
After Nomo, a lot of Japanese baseball player crossed the ocean. Ichiro, Matsui, and Jojima etc...
Now, Matsuzaka (Lions) and Igawa (Tigers) try to join the major league.
I really think Nomo is a trailblazer!

Travel To Ehime

October 21 and 22- I went to Matsuyama city in Ehime prefecture.
There is a famous public bath called "Dougo-Onsen."
This is a picture of it.
It is said that this is a model of "Abura-ya" in ghibli's movie, "Spirited Away."


This is a picture of Karakuri Tokei.
It is a clockwork.
Every one hour, the clock makes sounds and many dolls start to move! Fantastic!!





I also visited Matsuyama castle, but it was under repair.
So, I didn't take good picture to share. Sorry.

#3: Most Impressive Destinations

Friday- we could really enjoy our presentaions.
All posters and their presentaions were beautiful, attractive, and intersting!

I want to join some tours.

1) Carnival in Venice (by Yuko);
I really want to visit Italy, so this plan attracted me very much!
Actually, I also talked about this carnival in my presentation.
That is why I chose this tour. Hehe!
And, I had ever watched TV program about this carnival.
It seemed interesting to me! All people wear musks and costumes! And they looked like crazy!!
Of course I will wear musk and costume if I go there!!

2) Falls of Iguazu (by Akiko);
This is the place I must visit!!!
I like nature, so when I was in Canada, of course I visited Niagara falls!
It was great! I could felt the power of nature.
But I heard Falls of Iguazu are much greater from my friend.
Akiko told how wide and deep the falls are, and gave a quiz; the meaning of 'Iguazu'!
I thought it was a good way to get attentions!
If I have a chance to visit south Americans, I defenitely visit there!

Do you agree with me??

What is this NABE called??

Last Saturday, I went to a restaurant to have dinner.
This picture is the main dish.
It looks like Chanko-nabe, but soup is VERY different!
And, taste is very unique! I like it!
We can put anything into the pot; vegetables, meat, and seafoods!



This picture is the soup.
It is mixed Japanese "dashi" and a plant.
This plant makes the soup that color (red? or orange?)!

Can you guess the plant???

→This is the picture of the plant.
It is used for coloring.



←Kaji answered my question!
The correct answer is saffron.
It is used for saffron rice with curry. Very spicy curry.

#2: Travel Dilemmas

When we travel around, there is a possibility to have a dilemma.
I really want to visit as many places as possible.
However, it is difficult for me to decide which way I should choose when I have a dilemma.

I chose the case 3)...
I will take the hard road; I mean I will climb up the steep way to Machu Picchu.
Because I want to try many things! Of course the way to the destination is very tough, but I don't think I can challenge it when I become older.
I would like to do many things while I am young!!!

Actually, I have a friend who has once been to Machu Picchu on foot.
She said, "That was soooooooo hard! I never try it again!!"
So, I am a little bit scary for going up by myself. But it is a challenge!
When I reached the top of the Kotohira-shrine, I thought it was soooo tough!
I went up 1368 upstairs!! But, after going up, I felt really happy and satisfaction!

Therefore, I will try the hard way. Hopefully, I can do it!

Wedding Party for My Friend

October 8th, 2006- One of my friend got married!
She is Nanako. We met at a cram school when we were junior high students.
We have been good friends in a group of the cram school.
Her honey, Hiroki, and my friend met when they were high school stuedents.
They had overcome many things, then decided to tie the knot.
I hope they will be a good couple, and good family.



This is champagne tower!

This restaurant is "Vino dell' Angelo."
It was a good party, and dishes were delicious!

Blog #1 -My Essential Travel Items

I am going to bring these 3 items with my journey.
1) Digital Camera
2) Laptop
3) Soy sauce

I really need these things because I would like to leave a lot of memories in my travel. Digital Camera is very very useful! We can sometimes take short movies with it.

Also I need laptop! It is a useful item, too. It can store a lot of pictures, and I can listen to music, or sometimes watch DVDs, and so on.

And, soy sauce is needed for my life! I think Japanese foods are most delicous in the world. So, sometimes I feel bad when I have foreign foods. But, soy sauce can make many kinds of foods delicous. Also it can remind me a taste in Japan. I am sure it is better for you to bring soy sauce with your travel. Definitely!!

Self Introduction

Hi, I am Hiroe.
I am a senior of KGU.
My major is law and politics, especially family law.
My home is Osaka. Do you know Minato-ku??
It is famous for an aquarium called "Kaiyu-kan."
If you have a chance to come to Minato-ku, please let me know!
My hobbies are shopping, watching movies, playing the piano, traveling...etc.
I have two big brothers who are 2 & 4 years older than me.
One of them got married last year and now he has a child whose name is Taiga.
I would like to learn English more and enjoy myself in this class!
Please talk to me.


This is my nephew: Taiga.