This trip in Portland taught me a new part of
America. I learned different things from other trips I had before to the East Coast and Southwest I saw, smelled, heard, taste, and felt. America is
huge and has a lot of different history or aspects. Through the trip I learned
many important and interesting things I didn’t know, and I thought I want to
learn about American, because America is greatly different from Japan. I visited
many places and I had three favorite
places, Lewis and Clark in The Colombia Gorge Discovery Center, Rees College, and Powell's.
First, I learned about Lewis
and Clark in The Colombia Gorge Discovery Center. I saw equipment of Lewis and
Clark such as sexten which is for making a map. A staff momber showed us how to use
them. It looked difficult to use them. There was medical equipment and the way
to use it was a little gross, but at that time they had to do that way. I was
surprised that there was no doctor in The Corp of Discovery. Lewis tried to be a
doctor and studied about medical science for two years. Moreover, the staff showed us a
real rifle. We don’t see rifles or guns in our life in Japan because it is
forbidden to have them, so I had a little fear. The staff also showed us how
to use it. I was so surprised at the sound. It was much louder than I thought.
Another staff momber brought an owl and taught us about an owl. It was the first time for
me to see an owl so close. The owl can move his neck three of four degrees
each way, can fly very quietly, and can carry two or three times his weight.
The owl was cute but he had penetrating eyes. Thus, I could see equipment which we
rarely see today, hear the real sound of a rifle, and see an owl very
closely.
Second, I was impressed when I visited Reed College. The first impressive thibg about this college is that each student has their personality. I was surprised that there were many paintings on the walls inside buildings. I had never seen such own painting at other college I visited before. I was more surprised that there was a nuclear power plant under the building for research. Japanese are sensitive to nuclear power plant since the Tohoku Great Earthquake. I thought there is the different opinions for nuclear power plant between America and Japan. Reed College has some different points from other colleges. Students write books as a such a large graduation thesis. There were tons of books which graduates wrote in the library. I was very surprised that students wrote a graduation thesis. I thought they write about what they are really interested in. Also they can take final quiz anywhere. They don’t have to take the quiz in the classrooms. Teachers trust students. The most surprising thing is each student has only one teacher. It is rare for college students to have only one teacher. I thought Reed College is a little strange and unique, it is a place students can study deeply and enjoy their college life.
Finally, my most favorite place is Powell’s. I’m proud that I went to the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world. When I entered the bookstore, I smelled books. I was impressed by the area and tons of books. I might be able to find books I wanted without a map. There were many people who hold many books in the store. I wondered how many books there are in the world because I had never seen so many of books. Actually, I rarely buy books but I could find some books I want to try to read and I bought them. I bought The Beatle’s book for my father. I enjoyed finding books for someone. Also I bought a book about airplanes. It was a used book so I could get it for a cheap price. I’m really satisfied with the book. I knew that books make people happy. I couldn’t have enough time to look around at all areas so I want to go there again. I must find a interesting book.
I spent
valuable time during the trip. I have already traveled to some places in America but I
learned more during the trip. Through the trip I learned many important and
interesting things I didn’t know, and I thought I want to learn about American
because America is huge and has a lot of different history or
aspects.
First, I learned about Lewis
and Clark in The Colombia Gorge Discovery Center. I saw equipment of Lewis and
Clark such as sexten which is for making a map. A staff momber showed us how to use
them. It looked difficult to use them. There was medical equipment and the way
to use it was a little gross, but at that time they had to do that way. I was
surprised that there was no doctor in The Corp of Discovery. Lewis tried to be a
doctor and studied about medical science for two years. Moreover, the staff showed us a
real rifle. We don’t see rifles or guns in our life in Japan because it is
forbidden to have them, so I had a little fear. The staff also showed us how
to use it. I was so surprised at the sound. It was much louder than I thought.
Another staff momber brought an owl and taught us about an owl. It was the first time for
me to see an owl so close. The owl can move his neck three of four degrees
each way, can fly very quietly, and can carry two or three times his weight.
The owl was cute but he had penetrating eyes. Thus, I could see equipment which we
rarely see today, hear the real sound of a rifle, and see an owl very
closely.Second, I was impressed when I visited Reed College. The first impressive thibg about this college is that each student has their personality. I was surprised that there were many paintings on the walls inside buildings. I had never seen such own painting at other college I visited before. I was more surprised that there was a nuclear power plant under the building for research. Japanese are sensitive to nuclear power plant since the Tohoku Great Earthquake. I thought there is the different opinions for nuclear power plant between America and Japan. Reed College has some different points from other colleges. Students write books as a such a large graduation thesis. There were tons of books which graduates wrote in the library. I was very surprised that students wrote a graduation thesis. I thought they write about what they are really interested in. Also they can take final quiz anywhere. They don’t have to take the quiz in the classrooms. Teachers trust students. The most surprising thing is each student has only one teacher. It is rare for college students to have only one teacher. I thought Reed College is a little strange and unique, it is a place students can study deeply and enjoy their college life.
Finally, my most favorite place is Powell’s. I’m proud that I went to the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world. When I entered the bookstore, I smelled books. I was impressed by the area and tons of books. I might be able to find books I wanted without a map. There were many people who hold many books in the store. I wondered how many books there are in the world because I had never seen so many of books. Actually, I rarely buy books but I could find some books I want to try to read and I bought them. I bought The Beatle’s book for my father. I enjoyed finding books for someone. Also I bought a book about airplanes. It was a used book so I could get it for a cheap price. I’m really satisfied with the book. I knew that books make people happy. I couldn’t have enough time to look around at all areas so I want to go there again. I must find a interesting book.