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Showing posts from September, 2012

Inconceivable shopping

I have many hobbies such as listening to music, going to movie, talking with my friends, especially going shopping. I often go shopping in Japan, actually I'm enjoying going shopping in America. I have experienced unbelievable shopping. First, the size is huge in the stores. When I went to Walmart for the first time, I was surprised that the shopping cart is twice the size of one in Japan. I thought I could get on the cart. I couldn't move it very well. I also noticed that we put goods in a shopping cart directly in America, but Japanese often use a shopping basket. We put our shopping basket in our shopping cart, and then we put goods in our shopping basket or we use our shopping basket only. Of course, I was surprised size of food, too. I'm sure that I can't see such big size in Japan. I have never seen such big milk, yogurt, pizza, snacks and so on in Japan. I can share these big food with my roommate, and we can use a shopping cart together. useful Walmart an

Satisfactory life

I feel that I am experiencing and retained life at MFWI again. I want to live comfortably and methodically to improve my English skill this semester. My new dormitory life is pleasant as well as my classes started a week ago at MFWI. However I feel that these are expected for me when I came here, so I want to tell you about one difficult thing and one bright thing of my MFWI life. my comfortable room First, I am living my delightful life in a dormitory now. After I came to here, I worried about a dormitory, because I didn’t know most members who would live in same dormitory together with me. Also my roommate didn’t come back to here, so I live in a room by myself now. However I worried whether I could get up by myself. However I have become good friends with my group now. Of course I know every member’s name and they are so kind. Every morning, Maiko, Kasumi, and Aki check on me about getting up and ready to school. I am taking care about my life style. If I go to bed at midni

Unbelievable Life

Fantastic Extension Life I have experienced some interesting things here at MFWI. There are a lot of things here which are not in Japan, so I can have a lot of new experiences. I learn many things from daily life like going to school, having lunch, communicating with many people, and going shopping. There are three things that I didn't expect. First, I was surprised at the weather here. I knew that Spokane was colder than Japan, but I didn’t expect such cold mornings and evenings. In addition to that, I am confused about change of weather. In the morning, I wear warm clothes because of cold weather. However, it changes to very warm temperature in the afternoon. Then, I become too hot. Also, it is very dry now. I have to drink water frequently. I have never experienced such situations, so I was upset at first. Second, I was shocked at extension classes and homework. Of course, I expected that they would be harder than regular program. However, I was surprised at the spea

Neccesary Shopping

I can do amazing shopping in the U.S. I don’t actually go shopping so often in Japan because I don’t want to spend money. However, I can’t help buying things here. One of the reasons I love the U.S. is shopping. I am so excited to go shopping here more than in Japan. A shopping in America is fantastic for three reasons. My Favorite Clothes of Holister First of all, there are many kinds of shops in Spokane. That means I have many choices to buy something. In Japan, I can’t buy easily things I want because Japan doesn’t have my favorite shops. In addition, I have to pay more in Japan than in America. If someone asks me my recommendation in America, I’d introduce incredible shops, such as Hollister , Bath and Body , Victoria’s Secret , and American Eagle , and Yankee. These shops are highly famous in the U.S, and I can't buy products of Hollister and Bath and body and Victoria’s Secret in Japan except online shopping. The other thing, I can visit other shops in Japan, but I’m s

Marvelous Emotion

I'm at MFWI as an Extension student now. My studying and living here compared with last semester are the same but I certainly have different emotions now. my precious group members   First of all, I feel more relief now at MFWI. Last semester when I arrived here, everything around me was new and I was both worried and excited. However, when I came back here about two weeks ago, it was just like after a long vacation. I lived here for four months before, so I know where Commons is, where classrooms are, most teachers and Advisors. Also, I already know the rules to have a comfortable life with my group members in the dormitory. Life and scenery of MFWI are not new for me and I don't have to remember all of the things about MFWI again, so I don't feel anxious. Next, I have a higher motivation. Of course, I also had it last semester. However Extension is special. There are motivated students, we will have a big presentation and we are studying here longer than other

My confusing life

One month since I arrived in Spokane. I can’t believe it. My head is in a whirl because my American life is tangle and confusing. First, unbelievable homework makes me upset. I already know that extension has too much homework, but content of homework is difficult for me. I have to read a lot, such as book, newspaper or any documents. These have difficult vocabulary and grammar. Also, books have many characters, I often think “who are you?” In addition, I have to write a lot, such as summaries, essays and my opinions. It’s so hard. Writing in my opinion especially hard for me because I have to think deeply and express my feeling or thinking. However, I’m excited a little because I believe my skills are improving. Second, new dormitory life makes me disorder. Last semester I lived in Covington, the third floor. Now I live in Helen Keller. I prefer Covington because Covington has a separate bathroom and washroom, so I use washroom when someone uses bathroom, but Helen Keller doesn’

Wonderful Church

  Beautiful Church I had a wonderful time at a church last Sunday. This church is called Cathedral . That was my third time to go to a church, because I went to another church with my group and host family last semester. However, this church was the most impressive one for me. Before I went there, I was a little bit scared because of misunderstanding. I'm not a Christian, so I don't know what behavior is good or bad. I knew the church people are very kind, but I didn't want to hurt their feelings. However, my groundless fears never came true. I had wonderful experience at there. First, I was very surprised how beautiful windows were. They are called "stained glass." I have never seen such big and beautiful windows. They were glittering with a lot of colors because of sunshine. Each wall of the sitting area had five stained glasses. They showed us the story of Jesus. One side showed us the first part of Jesus story, from birth to adulthood. Ano

Fantastic Fair

Amazing Amusement I have experienced some interesting things in America. One of them was at the state fair. The fair had many farm products like jams, and vegetables. I could see many kinds of farm animals such as pigs, cows, horses, and goats. I especially experienced three fantastic things there. First, I was surprised at the size of the foods. I knew that foods in America are always big from my experiences in regular program last semester. However I was amazed again. I bought a Funnel cake, but I shared it with my friends because of its huge size. Although it was too huge, I could enjoy it. It was delicious. Also I was surprised at the popcorn. A sack of popcorn was very big. I have never seen such sizes, so I was shocked. Second, I was excited about the rides at the fair. There were a lot of interesting rides. At first, they looked very dangerous, but I tried riding one of them with my friend. The ride kept spinning for a long time. Its name is zipper. It was amazing! We

Surprising differences in culture

I've been having a great time in Spokane. I found that there are surprising differences in culture between Japan and the U.S. throughout my time in Spokane.I'll write about my two unusual experiences. The two things were so unforgettable and made me depressed. First, almost of Americans are intrepid. Unlike me, they don’t think seriously about change. For example, when I went shopping recently and paid money, a clerk didn’t give me my change. I knew the change was only about 50 cents. In addition, I saw a case which was full of a few cents. I didn’t know the case, and then the clerk said to me “You can take your change from it.” I just thought “Oh, this is a kind of American style.” I couldn’t understand it. In Japan, I think Japanese people think exactly about change. I always get my exact change. I don't feel good if I can’t receive all of my change. Second, this experience happened only one time. One day I left my stuff behind on the STA bus. After I got off the

Earnest Feelings

poweful Rosy the Riviter I have been here more than a week as an Extension student. I wasn't worried about dormitory life, RAs, teachers, Common's food or whether I would go through customs without some troubles before leaving Japan, because I already knew these things from last semester, but I didn't know every Extension student very well. At first, I was worried about it. I know that everyone is such good friends and friendly now, but I sense that the Extension students are really different from the regular students, and I think there are many differences between them. I think there will be many hard challenges during this semester, but it not wrong to participate in the Extension program. I will tell you about the differences between now and before. First, I sensed the level is different. I belonged to a low class last semester. Actually, some students spoke Japanese in a low voice, even if it was in the class room. Of course, every teacher warned them, but they did

Wonderful changing food

More than one week passed since I arrived at Spokane. I’m excited in this life, I don’t feel new thing so much, so I think I’m home Spokane, but I found a few differences in Commons food compared to last semester. Tasty Salad First, the breakfast of Commons surprised me this time. When I went to commons my first time, scrambled eggs were served to us. Last semester, scrambled eggs were not good because eggs were a big boll together and a little hard I didn’t think they were delicious. However now the eggs are not smash together and they are soft and have cheese or potato. They are so delicious, but I haven’t eaten the potato which I like. I’m looking forward eaten it soon. Also I think the breads gone soon, so sometimes different breads appear. It has rye tastes, and size is a little bigger compare last semester. The last semester, there are not. Both of these differences the eggs and bread make Commons of better tastes for me. Second, the lunch of Commons is now not borin

Incredible Sizes

I can’t believe that it has been more than a week since I came back to MFWI. Now, I have been very surprised at “American sizes” again. Almost all of the things are very big for me, because I am small. I want to tell you about 2 sizes which surprised me most. First, I was surprised at size of people. When I rode on plane from Japan, a man who is a high school teacher in Oregon sat across from me. He had a massive frame. He taught English to high school students in Osaka. In the plane, he talked to me about Japanese English, how we should study other languages, and so on. His story was agreeable and profoundly interesting. While I slept on the plane at night, I was woken up by his motion because he is bigger than the average of Japanese. The economy seat was too small for his big body. I felt that I was shorter than usual sitting by him. amazing rides Next, I was surprised at the sizes of the ride at Spokane Country Interstate Fair. I felt “American size” again when I went to

Amazing Food

I had an unforgettable experience at the state fair on Tuesday. I ate some interesting food that I have never eaten before. It was a really wonderful experience for me. Before I went to the fair, I heard that there are many kinds of interesting food, so I was looking forward to eating them at the fair. When I entered the place, I was surprised because there were many people, and both side of the street were lined with a lot of stands and booths. Of course, some of the places sold normal American food, like hamburgers or hot dogs, but almost all of them were fresh to me. I'll tell you about some interesting food I ate. Yummy Gyro At first, I ate a delicious Gyro. I have never eaten and heard about it, so I decided to try it. Gyros are Greek sandwiches with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, cabbage, and meat. There was yogurt sauce on the top. I could choose three kinds of meat. The choices were chicken, beef or lamb. There was a long waiting line for buying Gyros, but

Incredible Weather

More than a week has passed since I returned to MFWI. I can't believe it! Now I'm surprised at the difference of weather and temperature between America and Japan again. It is almost fall now and the weather and colors of nature are different. First, I noticed about two differenses about temperature. One of them is the average temperature in Spokane is colder than in Japan. When I got off the airplane at Seattle Tacoma Airport, the air was chilly. In Japan, it is hot and I wore short sleeved shirts and short pants every day in the summer. However I'm wearing a soft parka and long pants now. On the other hand, Americans wear short sleeved shirts now. I wonder why they don't catch a cold. Another difference is the temperature range within a day is huge. Compared with the morning and the evening, the temperature difference is more than 15 degrees Celsius in Spokane. Although I always wear some warm clothes in the morning, I usually take them off in the afternoon and