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Certain Experience

Can you believe it? We have about just 1 week to leave here, MFWI. I am sure after I came as a Extension student, the large part of me has changed somehow. These are all connected with that I started to be curious to everything through my daily life and I turned to a person who think deeply about the subjects which I never had thought about. I would like to write about what I am interested in now.

First, I am very fascinated by the profoundness of the language. To be honest, I  totally didn't like to write such as essay, journal and report and it is still hard for me. However, I got one thing which was changed. It is when I choose a word to write something, I consider if that word really agrees with a situation and emotion I picture on my mind. Especially, when I wrote an essay about our presentation topic, I puzzled my mind about what words I should use to tell my idea to people as exact as possible. It is maybe because of the difference between Japanese and English, because it was very difficult for me to try to tell my own culture in another language. However, I feel the lack of my amount of the vocabulary keenly even in my own language because it is still hard task to try to tell Japanese culture well even if in Japanese. I always think if I had a more plentiful variety of vocabulary, I could tell people what I mean better. In such a time, I realize language which we use in our daily life without distinct consciousness is honorable and marvelous. Moreover, we have some opportunities to read books in reading class. Basically, I don't even touch books in Japan. However, I am impressed by intelligence of the author now. How can they come up with this word in that scene? Why do they have wonderful range of vocabulary? I think the amount of the vocabulary show how profound the personality and his or her way to think is. After I go back to Japan, I will read many books not only in English but also in Japanese. I hope I cherish each words is connected I live more massive life.

Second, I am so interested in religion especially inside of mind of people when they believe in the gods. In this semester, we Extension students had several opportunities to visit the church and my presentation topic is the Seven Gods of Fortune. Therefore I am so fascinated with the difference between them. As anyone knows, Christians believe Jesus sincerely. They pray him when they go to the church on every Sunday. Before they start to eat, and peruse the bible. Christians dedicate to him to spend their peaceful life. For them the existence of Jesus is absolute. On the other hand, how about Japanese? It does not mean all of Japanese, but almost all of them don't believe the gods strongly unlike Christians. We Japanese go to the shrines or the temples only when they want. We depend on the power of the gods when we want. We are not Christians but celebrate Christmas because we just like it. At first, I thought how selfish we are. However, through the research for the Seven Gods of Fortune, I noticed that is Japanese spirit itself. For Japanese, to believe the gods is not to dedicate, just to feel because the existence of the gods is involved in our daily life. Since olden days Japanese have believed that the nature, such as the mountains and the rocks, are the gods. Actually, I believe especially each of the mountains represents each of the gods. The gods rather to watch the people than to be accompanied them. Therefore, we Japanese people can do anything we want as we like, but when we get good fortune, we appreciate the gods to bring happiness to them. Now I had finished the presentation, but Japanese religion and their spirits are still profound and mysterious. I would like to continue to learn more not only about Japanese religion but also the other religion in the world.


Finally, in this semester I started to think the meaning of the word "Do your best" which we Extension students and teachers always use. I think I became stronger than ever. For example, as we already know our teachers give tons of homework to us everyday. Sometimes I feel it is impossible to finish it and satisfy high teacher's demand. Our teachers  also give us a lot of opportunities to state our opinions in front of the classmates. Sometimes I am upset because I can't tell what I really want to say well and my opinion is not so deep. Now, let's remember myself at the beginning of this semester. Finally, I have confidence a little compared that time. I think it is because I just keep trying. "Do you best," it is essential word for me because it means same as "Don't to be a perfectionist" in my definition. If we just keep going, without notice our efforts pay off someday. Of course, we are humans, so sometimes our emotions disturb our motivation. However, we are not perfect as I told you, so the process get connected with the result even if we don't please it. The time to go back to Japan is getting closer, but I hope I continue the strong determination and keep trying everything I want without afraid.

Through Extension program, I experienced irreplaceable things a lot. I would like to say thank you to teachers for giving me many chances to learn a lot, to be curious and to grow up as a person.

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