Brilliant Southwest Trip
South west of America was really valuable place to me. I
could have a lot of opportunity to learn many things through the South West
Trip. I was fascinated by everything there and many things told us many
tradition and culture. I could see many people and art, hear different language
and feel nature. Now, these experiences became my educational benefits.
If I didn’t
go on this trip, I would never know about the Native Americans, such as their
symbol, modern life and food. I could go many places which relate to Native
Americans. First, I learned many symbol of Pueblo people at the museum. There
are many potteries in each museum. Every guide explained about them so I
realized that how important to Indians the potteries are. The potteries are
symbolic of the insects. They symbolize water. Water is very important to
Pueblo people so the place where the insects are gathering means that is near
the water source. Second, when I went to the Acoma Pueblo, I saw the modern
life of the Pueblo people. I saw a few cars there, so I thought many people
changed Indian life style to modern life style. However, they still make many
potteries by themselves and bread from the corn. They are totally same as I heard
from my teacher about Pueblo Indians’ life. Finally, I could eat the Indian’s
traditional food on this trip. I ate Navajo fried bread in the restaurant and
high school. It was made from corns. I have never eaten the bread which made
from corns. However, taste was same as wheat bread. I was surprised at it. I
didn’t expect I could eat real Indian’s food there so I think this is amazing
experience to me. I had many opportunities to know about the Indians on this
trip. Actually, I could learn many things about Indians. I was always amazed by
the information of it and what I saw there. They are unforgettable experience
to me.
During the
South West trip, I knew that how important to us the language is. I heard many languages
and communicated with many people from different country. First, when I went to
Acoma Pueblo, I saw a few people who were talking in their own language. They
mostly talked in English but sometime they spoke their language. When they
talked in their language, I couldn’t understand at all but I was very enjoyed
hearing it because I have never heard it so I was very interested in it. I
could feel their tradition from their language. Second, when I was in the shop,
one of the women talked to me. She told me that she is Japanese and she is on
trip there alone. However, she couldn’t speak English at all so I helped her to
ask owner her question. After that, she appreciated to me. I was also glad because
people who can understand Japanese are only students in MFWI. I have no
opportunity to talk other people in Japanese. Therefore, I enjoyed talking with
her very much and at the same time, I feel the importance of the first
language. Finally, at Grand Canyon, I saw French. My teacher recommended me to
talk with them. At first, I was afraid of talking, because my French is terrible.
I said greeting and introduced myself. They tried to understand and ask me many
questions. At last, I really enjoyed talking with them. Next day in Grand
Canyon, I also saw many foreigner and they were very friendly. Many people said
to me the greeting. At the beginning of talking, I was also nervous but I challenged
to communicate. Then I realize language skill is very significant to
communicate with foreigners. The level of skill doesn’t matter to talk. If I
know the minimum speaking skill in other languages and have courage, I think people
can enjoy talking with everyone. In the south west of America, many people from
many countries travel there. The surrounding is totally different from the
MFWI. Sometime, I was afraid to talk and communicate with people who speak in
foreign language except English. In this situation, I could reconfirm that
learning language is amazing and the first language is valuable to us.
Landscape
tells us many things and has big power. South west of America was covered with wonderful
landscape. There are huge and beautiful scenery which I have never seen before.
First, when I went to the Sunset Crater, I touched many landscape. Everything was new to me. Each place is
different, such as trees, color of dirt and size of rocks. Some places are not
developed because of the sun. I was aware that the importance of clime to the
nature. I was felt the flowing of time by comparing each place in the Sunset
Crater. Second, the landscape in Grand Canyon is the best in my life. I was very
surprised at the size. The canyon’s color was different from each place also
these are changed by the sunshine. I could touch the oldest rock in the Grand
Canyon. I was impressed and felt the importance of the nature. The scenery of
the sunset and sunrise in Grand Canyon was so amazing. My friends and I went to
see and we talked about deep topic, such as our future and our goal. We gazed
myself and imagined our future. I felt that I restarted this life when I saw
the sunrise. Finally, I had no idea that how long the cactus can live. When I
saw the a lot of cactus, I couldn’t believe the scenery in front of me. One of
the cacti is living for 150 years. I was very surprised and it looks in the
movie. I realized these are very important landscape for people who live in
there because the cactus is one of the symbols of Arizona. I could touch and
see a lot of landscape in south west of America. It is very precious experience
in my life. Beautiful scenery makes us comfortable and move and also it makes
us kind. When we stand in the huge landscape, we could feel happiness that we
could be born in this earth.
Art shows us many things such as culture,
people and nature. There are many arts in the south west of America. Santa Fe
is the second artistic city and Grand Canyon was painted by many artists.
First, we went to the museum of international folk art. There is a lot of kind
of art. I went out to one of art. Actually, it is a toy but it is art to me. It
shows the heaven and hell. In the heaven, there are many angels; however in the
hell, there are many devils. It is very normal thing but it is too realistic.
Therefore, after I saw it, I was thinking about the death. However, it was good
for me because I realized that I should do anything whatever I want. It doesn’t
relate to my study but I felt that my personality grow up again. Second, in
Santa Fe, there is a museum of Georgia O’Keeffe. I have already known about her
before I went there but I could learn about how great woman she is through her
many paintings. All of the painting are very beautiful and has story which she
experienced. Also, the guide showed us one of the pictures which O’Keeffe was
in her car. She drove her car to see her husband from New Mexico to New York. I
realized she was independent not only about painting but also in her life. I
was very impressed and admired her. Finally, the Grand Canyon is also very
artistic place. There is a gallery of the Grand Canyon paintings. These pictures
are painted from many angles and seasons. I could know other seasons in Grand
Canyon through this gallery, also there are many kinds of animals on these
pictures. I knew that how great environment in any seasons this place is. The
arts can tell us anything and we can learn from them. I can remind the scenery
and atmosphere even though I didn’t see it because I was always amazed by the
arts in there.
I had two
opportunities to see students in south west of America. These are totally
different from not Japanese students and American students who I have seen. I
could know educational system and big differences between school in Japan and
in south west of America. First, I went to university of New Mexico. I saw many
students who are studying Japanese. We can communicate in Japanese and English.
I saw my partner’s Japanese text book. There are many formal Japanese which we
can’t use in conversation with friends. I asked my partner “Is it helpful?” He
answered “We use this text book for only test because Japanese don’t use these
words every day, right?” He showed me his note. There are many Japanese and
English in his note. All students learn Japanese by they let Japanese relate to
English. He said, “It is best way to learn language and memorize” I was impressed
because he looks very enjoy learning Japanese. Next, I also had opportunity to
go high school near the Acoma Pueblo. We joined the class and communicate with
students. I talked two students. Both of them live in the sky city. I was very
surprised because I didn’t expect it. Actually, they didn’t know about Japan so
I explained Japanese things as much as I can. I asked both of them about after
school. Both of them said “I would never hang out with friends outside after
school.” I was very surprised. After school, they sometime make potteries or
study because they have special culture which they have to keep carrying on. I
was very shocked because it is very different from Japanese students. I realized
that each state and school has own style to learn. Every school find style that
fit in the students. Also each country’s students are different. It may depend
on culture and life style. However, all information from each student who I
talk is totally new to me so it will be helpful to me.
As you can
see, I went to many places and I could get a lot of educational benefit from
each place. Sometime it doesn’t relate to study English and understand
different culture. However, it will be able to help my future and make my
personality grow up. I was thinking about many things to try to understand
during this trip. I was given many great opportunities. I’m sure that these are
valuable and educational benefit in my life.