MR4: Monsters, Inc

   This movie is one of my favorite movies, and it was made by Walt Disney and Pixar in 2001. And the movie was released in March 2002 in Japan. I think this is a movie that adults can enjoy as well as children.

 

   This movie’s main character is James P. Sullivan, his nickname is Sully. He is a hairy blue monster and he is very big. He works in the Monsters, Inc. factory and his performance is the best first in the company. The work of his company lets them scare children and that have to collect the screams of children to make into energy. He seems to be have a scary appearance, but he is the popular monster and has a character that is gentle, and is loved by everybody. His good partner and friend, is Mike Wazowski, and is his nickname is Mike. He is a very funny monster. I like him the best. He has only one eye and his appearance is very weird, but his character and behavior are very nice. Sully and Mike are very good friends. Sully and Mike met a girl and they called her boo. She has got into the world of the monsters by mistake. She makes friends with Sully and Mike because of her lovely character.

 

The human children were considered to be danger in the world of monster. So their job is to scare human children, but, on the other hand, they are afraid of human’s children. One day, Sully notices at a door on the scare floor, and then he met a girl, boo. Boo is a human child, so at first he was afraid her, but he became a attached to her. While Sully spending time with boo, Sully found that the laughter of the children has energy 10 times as large as scream.

 

My favorite scenes are the scene of Sully parting with Boo and they met again in this movie. There is the moving scene and is also the laughing scene. Next summer, a sequel to the movie will be shown in Japan. I’m looking forward to watching the movie!

My important memory

  Last year, I could challenge a lot of things and made a lot of great memories too. To go to Minnesota was the biggest challenge for me. I had never been to foreign country before I went to Minnesota.  I went there and I met wonderful family and friends.



   In Minnesota I experienced many things. First I tried horse back riding, canoeing, bowling and so on. I had never tried a canoeing, so for the first time I was worried. But it was very interesting and I could enjoy watch a beautiful view. I rode a boat with friends and teacher. While we rode a boat, teacher shook the boat, it was very thrilling and I like it. I tried to horse back riding too. We chose a own horse and we had to indicate them. My horse liked leaf and flower, so he always loiter on the way. We passed on a mountain path and river, when I passed on a river, it was very thrilling. But this experience was very fun.



   I went to bowling with my host sister. When she go out, she always invited me. The day she took me bowling! My bowling score was very bad, but the game was very fun! and her friends kind me, I like her friends too.

   My host family took me a Japanese restaurant. There sushi's taste was not so good, but I was happy because I could eat Japanese food after a long time and I could eat a California roll for the first time. It was good taste, and I like it better than there Japanese sushi. I thought that the Japanese restaurant was little strange. Because there staff are all Chinese and BGM is Korean. But it was funny news!

   I could go and see one of a Great Lakes. It took for more than 2 hours from our house. I went there with host mother and younger sister. The Great Lake was very very big like sea. And the view was so good. I want to go there again.

  Going abroad broadened my outlook remarkably, and I want to go abroad many times. 10 years ago if I had a enough time and money, I would want to go to Minnesota to meet my host family again!




383 words/15043

Coming-of-age-celecration

   On the 14th of January in 2013, I reached my coming-of-age-celebration. The day before the coming-of-age- celebration, I worked 10 hours and I was dead tired. I came back home and I prepared for next day and I went to bed at 1:00 a.m. On that day, I had to get up early, so I got up at 5:00 a.m. When I looked out of the window, outside was very dark like night and rained a little. I went to a salon and had my hair set. After that I came back my home and I ate a breakfast. My mother cooked sekihan which is rice with red beans for me. And I was dressing by my mother. She has a license of dressing Kimono, so she is good at dressing.

    I put on Kimono and  went to meeting place. I met my friends and went to hall. There were a lot of people who reached  20 years old. And I could meet my friends from elementary school, junior high school, high school and university. I talked them and took many pictures.

   After that I went to my junior high school teacher's house to meet him. He is our soft club's manager. He was very very strict manager. Our team member is 13 people. And the day, 11 people could go to the house. He will reach the age of sixty in this year, so this year is the last for him. He and his wife were glad our visit and celebrated our coming of age celebration. His wife gave us a gift. I was very happy!

   And after it finished, I went to the down town to meet my friends from high school. Because we wanted to a prikura which is like pictures. And after we finished it, we went back in each houses for own preparation of junior high school's alumni. I took off Kimono and put on the dress. My kimono's color is pink and party dress's color is also pink. Before I bought the party dress, I wanted to buy black color dress, but my mother didn't like the dress color. And she chose a pink one. When I saw the dress for the first time, I thought that the color of pink is too cute to put on for me. But my mother said me, "You look nice in this pink!" so I decided to buy pink one. When I went to the alumni, my friends said me, "Your dress is so cute!" so I was very happy and I thanked my mother.

   In the evening, I went to junior high school's alumni. Our junior high school is very big school, and there were a lot of student, I have a lot of class mates. We have 11 classes, so I couldn't remember all of students' face and their names. All of girls became beautiful woman, and more than half of boys became cool man and all of boys became tall and their voice changed. So when I met them first, I couldn't realized who them were. We enjoyed talking over our junior high school days. I could talk with people whom I had never talked before. And I and my friends were very hungry so we ate a lot of dishes, they were so good. It was very fun time and I could make new important memories. This memory is my treasure.

   After the alumni, I went to another alumni of elementary school. My class has been get along well since we graduated from elementary school. We went to the local Izakaya. And we enjoyed talking over our elementary school days. On New Year's Day, we received a letter from us of 12 years old. When we graduated from elementary school, we wrote a letter for future us. So while the alumni, we talked about the letter. I wrote my letter about my dreams, at the time I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. Now my dream changed, but I study hard for my dream come true. We enjoyed talking, eating, drinking and broke up at the Izakaya.

   After that I had to go to down town, because I had a promise to go to high school's alumni. When I arrived at down town, the alumni already started. They enjoyed table tennis, so I joined it and won the 2 games. When I played it, I put on high heeled shoes, so it was very hard to play table tennis, but it was very very fun! I want to play table tennis with them again.

   After playing table tennis, boys went to Izakaya to drink alcohol, but girls didn't want to drink alcohol, so we broke up at the place. My friends went to Yoshinoya to eat something, but I didn't want to eat, so I said them good-bye. And I went to karaoke to join my friends from elementary school. I sang for Ikimonogakari, FUNKY MONKEY BABYS, YUI, Hikaru Utada and Ai Ootsuka. I am not good at singing, but I like sing a song. It was very fun time.

   One of my friends had to go back home, so we left the karaoke. When we left the place, I met my friends who I played table tennis together a little while ago. So I joined them and went to Izakaya. One of my friend was dead drunk and his character changed. And he was very funny. Yesterday I met him and asked, "Do you remember the day?" but he didn't remembered everything.

   After that one of my friends had to go back his home, he live in Kyoto now. So we went to Kumamoto station for him. And we said good-bye and let's meet again in spring vacation.

My coming-of-age day was  very very fun! This day was my treasure of my life! Thanks my parents! and my friends! I love you!!!



1008 words/14660

My host family

  Recently I thought about my host family. While I stayed in America, they took care of me and kind to me. My host mother is a single mother and she is very busy, because she had two jobs. When I got up time and my bed time, she often isn't at home. But when she had a time, she took me to a lot of places. I went to free concert which was hold in near shopping center and art festival in down town and go-cart game with her family. The free concert was very good! The live performance of the guitar and song were very very good and moved. And then, free tidbits and water were distributed. The free tidbits taste was so good. Art festival also fun too! I want to buy  picture and goods, but they were very expensive so I couldn't buy it. But someday if I had a lot of money and had a good own house, I would want to go there and buy them! Go-cart game was very thrilling. My host mother's nephew participated the game. He was very good at drive and very fast. He won the race. At that time, I met my host grand father for the first time. Grand father is gentle and talked me with slow English, so I could understand his English. I exchanged greetings with her family. They were very kind me and I miss them, I want to see them again.
 

   My host mother has a boyfriend. And I often went to his house with her and her family. We ate dinner, went to a big lake to swim, went shopping with his daughter, did a campfire and so on. He is good at cooking and he made us a delicious dinner with my host mother. My favorite his hand made dishes is a grill chicken. It was so good, and I want to eat again. One time, he came for me and while I rode the car, I asked him a lot of questions. He likes travelling abroad and he often goes to foreign countries for his job, so he knows a lot of things about foreign countries and traveling abroad. I like travel too and I'm interested in his talk. He told me his reminiscence of travelling abroad. He likes Italia the best, and told me Italian good place. If I had a chance to go to Italia, I would want to go there. H asked me, "What do you want to be in the future? and I answered. He said "You have a good dream, you can do it" This words made my happy, and I thought that I have to study hard!

   I have 2 host brothers and 2 sisters. Oldest brother lives in a neighboring state, so I met him only one time. He is very cheerful men and a popular person.

   Second brother is very shy but he is kind. He likes Japanese anime and music, he told me his favorite Japanese song. But I didn't know the details about Japanese anime, so I couldn't realize who they were. But I was happy, because American student was interested in Japanese culture. He often came for my after my school finished. And while I rode his car, I talked with him.

   Oldest sister is very funny and sexy girl. She is younger than me but she looks older than me. She took me lake which is near our house, it took 20 minutes. I went to the lake 2 times. When I swam, she showed me her handstand in the lake. And I tried it too. We enjoyed it together. And she took me farm festival by her drive. she likes animals very much and she is good at riding a horse, she has a own horse. The farm festival was very fun and I bought a necklace. When I entered the shop, a man came and asked me, "where are you from?" and I asked, "I'm from Japan" Then he said, "Oh! I have been to Japan and last month I visited in Kumamoto!" So I was very surprised and we got along well. And he showed a necklace and offered the necklace. But first he said the necklace's price was very expensive for me, so I bargained with the shopkeeper and got the necklace for 7 dollar. When I tried to beat down the price, my host sister watched and laughed. To beat down the price was my first time experience. It was very fun! And we were drew our likeness in the festival. The my likeness was very bad face, and very funny. So oldest sister looked it and laughed. But it is my good memory.

   Youngest sister is very very kind me. She has a lot of good friends, and I went to many place with them. She took me many places, for example I went to a baseball game, movie theater, her friends house and shopping with she and her friends. I like baseball very much and many of her church friends like baseball too. So she invited me for their baseball tour. I went to the game with more than 20 people. I could make many friends at the time. The game was lost, but very exciting game!! I want to watch the major leagues again! I tried to movie which was all English, and the movie, Bat man, which has 3 stories and I had never watched the bat man series. So I didn't understand the story at first, but my host sister told me the previous story while we watched it. So I could understand about the bat man. She always kind me, whenever I had some difficulty, she always helped me out of it. When I went to her friends house, I watched real fireplace! and American big house. There were movie theater in the basement and billiards place, a lot of game, dart and very big yard. At night, we laid at full length on the lawn and watched movie. The sky was very beautiful and I have never forget the sky. The movie was so funny and sister also explained me the story. I like her kindness. I often spent time with youngest sister. We played wii which is dancing game and ate big ice cream at midnight and made pizza and watched Korean drama, tried to face pack and we took many pictures. Every day we made a lot of memories.



   My host family has 2 pets, a dog and a cat. Dog is very gentle and clever. Cat is king of house. When I slept, he came my bed many times. And she always aimed my breakfast. It was my funny memory. They are very lovely family. I want to have pet too someday.

   I went to America and experienced home stay, I could meet wonderful family and a lot of good friends. I have never forget this great memories. I love them and I miss them too! Thank you!



1184 words/13652
 

Snowboard and trip in Fukuoka

   Three  weeks ago, I went to Gokase to snowboard with my friends from high school. Gokase is far from Kumamoto. So we got up at 6:00 a.m. and I left home at 7:00 a.m. It took 2 hours from Kumamoto, and one of my friend took us to Gokase.

   On the way to Gokase, one of my friends wanted to go to bathroom, so we went to a convenience store. I didn't eat breakfast at home, so I bought my breakfast at the store. There was very countryside and there scenery was very beautiful. And my friend who live in Hokkaido was moved the scenery and took pictures.

   After that we went to a skiing ground. There were not much snow, so I worried. But the skiing ground had a lot of artificially snow. First we chose own ski suit, ski boots and snowboard! I chose blue ski suits. It was cute!!! But one of my friend imitated my ski suit! And we were wearing matching ski suit, it was very funny! We changed our clothes and went to snow place!

   At first, I couldn't stand and if I could stand, few second later I slipped again and again. One of my friends are good at snowboarding and taught me. And 30 minutes later, I could stand and skiing. When I could do, I was very happy! We snowboarded for 7 hours. But I didn't feel the time was long.

   After that, our body got cold and we wanted to go to a hot spring! We were looking for the place. And we went there. We got warmer and we were hungry. And we went to Yakiniku restaurant. We chose the menu which was All You Can Eat for Three Thousand Yen. We ate a lot of meat!! It was so good.

    A weeks ago, I went to Hakata with my friends. The member was same as snowboard members. One of my friends became 20 years old in the day. So we wanted to celebrate his birthday. Before I met the friend, I bought a birthday cake. And afternoon, we gathered and went to Hakata by my friend car. At 7:30 p.m. we arrived in Hakata, and went to a famous giblets pot restaurant. The restaurant is very famous and popular, so we made a reservation. There were a lot of people. There giblets' pot was very delicious and we ate the pot soon. If I go to Hakata, I would go there again. After we finished to eat the pot, we celebrated my friend's 20 years old birthday. And we stood 2 candle and lighted! We sang a happy birthday song and my friend put out two candle. We ate cake and gave him a present.

   After that we went Tenzin. We wanted to eat a ramen at a street vendor's stall, but we ate a lot of giblets' pot and cake so we were full. The day, the plaza was brightly illuminated and we took many pictures. The day was very fun!!

   One of my friend who live in Hokkaido will go to Canaga from April to next year's spring. So this  spring vacation, we will held a good-bye party for him. I am looking forward to meeting them again.


555 words/12468

BR2-15: Seasons and celebrations

New Year's Eve is on 31 December, the last day before the New Year begins. (p.2)

   4 weeks ago, New Years begins! so I'm interested in how to spent New Year's EVE. This book told  us about The New Year's Eve in the world. In New York, thousands of people go to Times Square and they look at the clock, and together they count the last ten seconds before the New Year begins. In case of my family, we watched TV and ate soba. After that we count the ten seconds before the New Year begins. 

 After I finished read this book, I want to spend foreign countries' New Year's Eve. If I had a money and time, I would go to Times Square!

Maruire, Jackie. (1197). Seasons and celebrations. Oxford University Press

112 words/11913

BR2-14: Twelve Dancing Princesses

"Princesses should not be out dancing all night!" he yelled at them.  (p.7)

   There are 12 princesses in the country, and they likes dancing. But their father, king, doesn't like dance and he banned. But princesses want to dance as soon as possible! So they slip out the room at midnight. One day king noticed their action and he sets a watch on his daughters. So 12 princesses think of how to dance safely. 

When I was young girl, I wanted do what my parents banned. And I think that I can't stop what my favorite things. So I understand princesses' thinking! This book is easy to read and please read one!

Grimm, Jacob. (2004). Twelve Dancing Princesses. Usborne: London

101 words/11801

BR2-13: Stories of Mermaids

" That's the problem" replied Dr.Finley. "It only grows in the Pirates' Graveyard" (p.3)


   The main character is Harmony who is a very kind mermaid. One day her mother became a sick, and she want to get a good medicine, but the medicine is a very valuable. And it only grows in the dangerous place which live in Pirates. But Harmony determined that she go to the dangerous place for her sick mother. Will she come back here unhurt?

   The reason why I chose this book is I like mermaids. When I was a kindergarten child, I like the story of the little mermaid. And then I longed for the mermaids. This is a heartwarming story. I want to read again.


Punter, Russel. (2005).Stories of Mermaids. Usborne: London

123 words/11700

MR6:Gossip Girl

   I will talk about the first episode about Gossip Girl. This drama is popular among young people in America. This drama has 4 seasons now. This drama’s setting is the Upper East Side which is the richest area in Manhattan, and the information site which is managed by “gossip girl” who hides her identity is favorite with high school students who live in Upper East Side. Serena van der Woodsen is the focus of the people’s attention. She is a tall and beautiful girl with blonde hair. All the girls want to be like her, and all the boys want to associate with her. She was born to a wealthy family, and she went to a famous private school earlier, but last year suddenly she changed to a boarding school. And this year she came back to New York again. So the information site is full of articles about her.

   She had a best friend, Blair Waldorf. Blair is never content to be the second best and she always aims at perfection. Serena and Blair were close friend before, but Blair found out her boyfriend, Nate, had an affair with Serena. From then, Blair and Serena don’t get along with each other. Blair’s boyfriend is Nate Archibald, he is very kind and gentlemanlike. From the time he had an affair with Serena, he has never forgotten her. Blair believed that she married Nate before, but she noticed he doesn’t love her. And she spent the night with Chuck who is Nate’s best friend and their childhood friend. Chuck is known as a playboy. At first they were enjoying themselves, but one day Chuck noticed that he loves her. And their relation developed love. Serena met a man, Dan Humphrey, who grew up in an ordinary family. His parents think that children should get higher education, so he goes to a famous private school on a scholarship. And Dan fell in love her.

   There are many type of love in this drama. And we can enjoy American fashion, culture and life style too.

348 words/11577

BR2-12The Inch Prince

These people are kind" thought the fairy. "I'll be kind to them" (p.10)

There were 2 old people, and they wanted to have their baby but they couldn't. They are very kind and a fairy thought they should have a baby. This story is known for a lot of Japanese. When I was a kindergarten child, I had this book and I read it. The inch prince is a bravery boy. He is a very small, but he fight against the enemy. I like his fortitude, and I want to be strong woman like him. Someday if I became a mother, I would want to read the book for my children.

Russell, Punter. (2008). The Inch Prince. Usborne; London.


114 words/11229

The issue of divorce

I will talk about divorce in Japan and the United States. The reason why I examined the issue of divorce is that my host mother experienced a divorce. Before I went to America, I have heard that there is a high divorce rate in the United States. But I didn't know what it a fact. And I didn't even know about divorce in Japan. Therefore I intended to examine the issue of divorce of the two countries.

1.      In Japan

According to the Statistics Bureau of the Management and Coordination Agency and Statistics Abstract of the United States 2010, in statistics of the number of divorces per 1,000 person mouths, Japan is the 26th place. So Japan’s divorce rate is lower than any other countries. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japanese number of divorces has increased sharply in1975 and according to the divorce statistics of the government, the number of divorces has declined slightly since peaking in 2002. The number of divorces in 2010 is 250,000 cases, and a one-third of the couple will be divorced in comparison with the number of the marriage. The number of divorce rate in Japan is not so high but the fact that many people of couple divorced.

According to judiciary statistics, the reasons of the statement of the divorce are different in men and women. There are many reasons. For example, men’s main reasons are “A personality clash” is the most reason, and “Relations with the opposite sex” is the next reason, and “Abnormal character”. Women’s main reasons are “A personality clash” is the most reason; “Use violence” is the next reason, and “Relations with the opposite sex”. Their common reason is a personality clash. But in men and women, a purpose and contents of the communication are different. In case of men, their content of conversation is concisely and speaks plainly. In case of women, they think that mutual cooperation as the most important thing in the conversation. So they talk about information of own private things and they want to have jointly about emotional with partner. Objective difference in communication causes a personality clash. And incompatibility of temperament is behind the divorce.  

2.      In US

America is known as the high divorce rate country in the world. According to Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, divorce rate in America is ranked four in the world. And according to a survey by American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) in 2010, the numbers of divorces which cause by Facebook are increasing. According to AAML’s lawyer, recently they use SNS as a conversation tool and it became cause of divorce. For example, it was found out to have sent an inappropriate message to the opposite sex in Facebook. A couple living apart abused a partner on Facebook. And they received information from their friends of Facebook about the action of their spouse. All the people in the world can watch SNS anywhere and anytime. According to『The Secret Lives of Wives: Women Share What It Really Takes to Stay Married』American couples’ the reason why they divorced is their heart separate. And the point unlike Japan is religion cause the divorce. But this is a minority opinion, so heart is the most important reason for Japan and America.

      Recently there are many new businesses for the divorcee  For example, the radio program which the expert of the divorce sends advice to for the question from a listener. And event for divorced people were held in America. The event presented a lot of information about divorce, and there were many instructive books, moreover the professional lawyer and an accountant who accept distribution of property came to the event and helped couple. According to NHK ONLINE, there are planners of divorce party in America. The divorce party is hold for their new life, and through this party they dispelled their feelings toward husband. Recently, new types of divorce businesses are appearing in America.

3.      Conclusion　

     Recently Japan and America’s divorce rate are now declining. But a lot of couple divorce in the world. Their children are greatly influenced by divorce. According to investigate by Institute for American Values, daughters whose parents divorced become an unmarried mother rate is high. And when their children become a working member of society, their unemployment rate is higher than children whose parents are not divorced. And when they become adults, many of them receive a prison sentence. There are a lot of factors that divorce is a negative impact on children’s growth. According to Professor Lamb, the first reason is Parent-child relationship faded. And economic situation of children is worsening. Mother’s working hours increase. Conflict continues between parents. And they feel the stress of raised by a parent.

    My host brothers and sisters can’t live with their father. And especially my host sisters miss her father very much, and they often go to her father’s house. And while I stayed the house, they showed me their father’s pictures and talked me reminiscence. The reason why my host mother decided to divorce is she didn't love him and couldn't respect him too. When she divorced, her children were young, but she decided to bring up them by herself.  Now her children grow up and she began to thinking own happiness, and she wants to get married again to her boyfriend. But she can’t do now, because her children don’t agree the marriage. Children don’t want to have a new father and new brothers and sisters. My host mother has 2 jobs, she is very busy mother. So her worry is that she can’t have a lot of time with her children. When her children are in the house, usually she is not there. She tried to have a talk time with her children when she had a time. I think that divorce is not good things for oneself and own children. I want to decrease a divorce rate. But if they have to divorce, they should have a lot of time for their children. And they should make time which their children meet a divorced partner. Divorce is not just a matter of parents.

1050 words/11115

My winter vacation

   My favorite winter vacation memory is what I went to an alumni association of high school. January 4th, I joined it and I could met a lot of friends from high school. I enjoyed talking over our high school days. After that I went to restaurant to eat udon with my friends. because we couldn't eat food in the party. I ate tempura udon, and it was so good! And we went to karaoke until 4:00 am. I sang FUNKY MONKEY BABYS and Arashi, DREAMS COME TRUE, Ikimonogakari, Kobukuro, Mr.Children and so on. The time was very very fun and it was delightful memory! Someday I want to go there with them again!

   Almost my best friends live in distant places. One of my good friend live in Hokkaido, so it had been 2 years since I saw her last. Perhaps I am not able to met her for 2 years. Because she is going to go to Ireland from April. I miss her but I am looking forward to meeting her again.

   I could make a lot of memories in this winter vacation. First I joined Christmas party with friends of same class. The I had a part time job, so after I finished it I went to the party. I could not joined karaoke, but I could enjoy the party.

   Next day, I met my friends from high school and same club. When I was a high school student, I belonged baseball club and I was care taker in the team. The day I met friends who were care taker when they were high school student. we went to karaoke and sang for 8 hours! But I was not tired, because the time was very fun! After that I wanted to eat gyoza, and we looked for good restaurant. And we found a good gyoza restaurant. The restaurant has a lot of menu of gyoza. My favorite menu is mentai cheese gyoza. It is very good and I want to make it at home someday.

   3 days ago I met friends from junior high school and same softball club. It had been 3 years since I saw them last. Their looks are change but their character is same from junior high school. We talked a lot of things and ate a lot of dishes and drank a lot. Perhaps I can meet them in Coming of Age Day. I am looking forward to seeing them.

   Next day I went shopping with my mother and I cleaned my room. After that I went downtown, because the was a year end party with my friends from high school and same club. We ate nabe and karaage, salmon, tempura, dessert. And after that we went to a bowling with them. We made 2 team and contend. First my team won, but next game lost. But the game was very very fun! And after the game, we were hungry so we went to Izakaya again. And we ate food and drank. The day was rainy, and we bought two umbrella and walked home.

   Next day I had a part time job until 21:00. After finished my work, I went to Karaoke with my friends from high school. The day was our year-end party. We sang from 21:00 to 6:00, I didn't sleep. After that I went home and slept for 3 hours and My brother came to my house and we went to Hitoyoshi. Every end of the year we went to my mother's house. While we rode my brother's car, we sang FUNKY MONKEY BABYS. My grand parents house is big and they have a big yard, so we played baseball with my cousin. We wanted to go to batting center and went to it, but the day was the last day of the year and the batting center was closed. At night, we ate sukiyaki and sashimi and we watching a singing contest between a male and female team of popular singers, sponsored annually by NHK on New Year's Eve. This year, male team won the contest.

   New Year's day, my mother waked me early morning. Because I had to put on Kimono and went to a home for the elderly. My father's father live in the home. And he bought me the Kimono, so I wanted to show my kimono. My grand father looked happy and the smile made me happy too. I want him to live a long life healthy. The day I ate oseti and many people came to my grand parents house. And I could get New Year's gift.

   2 January, I waked up early and we ate oseti and zousui. and the annual card game has began. We competed for 10 games, the beginning to the game I took first place. But I had the table turned on us at the last minute, and lost the game. The day I had a part time job, so I had to go home early. From 16:00 I went to my job, there were a lot of customer. I was very tired.

   3 January, I had a part time job. 4 January, I went to an alumni association of high school. I met an old friends of mine. They didn't changed from high school.

   5 January, I had a part time job from 15:00. I was very tired. 6 January, I wen to Gokase for snowboard. I had never snowboard and at first I couldn't stand up. But I practiced and practiced, I could snowboard. I tried higher grade course. The course was a steeply slanting road. So for the first time, I was afraid of the course, but I could slide down. And I want to be good at snowboard someday and I want to go there again!
 
   This winter vacation, I could make a lot of memories with my friends and family.



 994words/10,065

Minnesota life ~7.27~

   I got up at 6:30 and took a shower and ate breakfast. When I was in Japan, I ate breakfast with my family. So I missed my Japanese family. After breakfast, host mother took me to the meeting place. But when we arrived in coffee shop, nobody came there. So we worried about we made a mistake in the time. But few minutes ago, my friends came. So we were feel relieved.

   We took a homeroom class in the morning, and took a school bus. We went to Minneapolis, the city is very big and there were a lot of big building. We went to History center, capital and cathedral. All of the buildings are different from Japan. Especially, I was touched the interior design of the cathedral. In the history center, I experienced a life the old days of America. I could see a beautiful building and street.


   After that we enjoyed river cruising. The river is very big! and the wind felt very very good. There were a lot of tourist. I heard language of French and German. I talked with a passenger who took a ship. I had never experienced river cruising, so I was very excited and I want to enjoy river cruising again!

   





207 words/9071

BR2-11:Stories of princes and princesses

"Are you princely enough to many my daughter?"  (p.4)

   One day, daughter took a boyfriend and said " I want to get married him". But her father, King, worried. Because the boyfriend looks is not strong and king didn't feel his zeal for princes. So King tested him. But the result took an unexpected turn. Why the princes fall in love him? If you read this book, you can understand the reason. I think every father worry about daughter's boyfriend. My father also worry about my boyfriend. But I am happy, because I can feel my father's love for me. This book has a lot of funny scene. Please read this book!

 115 words/8864

Rawson Fischel. (2004), Stories of princes and princesses. Usborne: London

My favorite country

   My favorite country is Japan. Because Japan has 4 season and Japanese foods are delicious, and I like the national character. I think Japanese are considerate and they are thoughtful of an unrelated person. Last summer, I went to America and I noticed Japanese good point and bad point. I like American character, for example, whoever they can make friends easily, they are very friendly. But I felt they are self-assertive better than Japanese. I grow and live in Japan for a long time, so people who are self-assertive are hard for me to deal with.

   Also Japan has a lot of good point. We enjoyed 4 seasons, I like Spring the best. While spring, you can enjoy flower viewing. My family often go to flower viewing every spring. While summer, you can enjoy sea bathing. Last summer I went to sea with my friends. And while the season, a lot of festival are hold in each place. And you can watch fireworks. I like a fireworks display in Hitoyoshi, because it launch a lot of big fireworks. It was very excitement. And I like baseball, so summer is the best season for baseball. Every summer, I enjoy watching a Koushien in TV. While autumn, you can enjoy colored leaves. When I went to Kyoto for school trip, I was impressed with very beautiful colored leaves in Kyoto. And this season easy to live, so I like the season next. While winter, you can enjoy having a snowball fight and ski and snowboard. Last Sunday, I went to Gokase for snowboard with my friends. It was very fun! And I want to snowboard again. In Hokkaido, Sapporo snow festival is hold every winter. I want to go it someday.
 
   I like Japanese food too. But I think we can eat good dishes in each country in Japan. There are many kind of restaurant in Japan. We can eat real Italian dishes in Japan. Of course we can eat real French dishes, Korean dishes and Chinese dishes too. And I think Japanese dishes are very beautiful, so you can enjoy watching the dishes. And I like Japanese sweets better than Western-style sweet. I like a bracken-starch dumpling the best. Japan is strict a food hygiene law, so we can eat food safely.

    Japan doesn't have a religion, so we can enjoy Christmas and New Year's Day. While we are children, we can get a Christmas presents and a New Year's gift. This New Year's Day, I could get a New Year's gift from my grandparents and relative. 

   In each country have own national clothes, and Kimono is Japanese national clothes. Kimono is very beautiful and I like it very much. Next week I am going to wear on kimono, because next Monday is hold a coming-of age celebration. I am looking forward to coming the day.

   I like Japan very much, and I want to protect Japanese good point.

498 words/8749