From November 13th to 16th, our Extension students visited Portland, Oregon. It is rainy weather almost every day, but fortunately, we were blessed with fine weather. Portland is famous as place where we don’t have to pay for tax. Portland also has the largest outdoor arts and crafts market in the U.S. I was able to get a lot of good shopping done. Other than that, I visited tons of places. I learned about trail, students who study Japanese, history, and war. This trip was memorable and beneficial to me, especially because of three things.
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| Lovely memories |
First of all, I visited Columbia Basin College and encountered delightful students. In fact, I was not excited about this visit. Before this trip started, I visited office of Mr. Mukumoto because I have some troubles. It was that I was not good at having a conversation. Recently I felt unpleasant for conversation. I had thought my speaking skill worse than last semester, so I visited Mr. Mukumoto to get advice. He said to me “You try to speak perfect English. You don’t have to speak perfectly. You are afraid of making a mistake, so you can’t speak. Anything is ok, try do it! ” Before I saw students, I decided that I would speak as many as possible. I believed his advice and did my best. Before visiting, I showed little enthusiasm for this opportunity. However, a conversation became lively. I could speak while enjoying. It was my first time feeling comfortable. Sometimes what I said couldn’t get through to a student because of my bad pronunciation, but finally he praised me for my English! He said my English was good. I was blissful. I had never been said such a ward. Through this opportunity, I could get confidence. This is the first reason why this trip was beneficial for me. In addition to this reason, I have another reason. When I pronounce “war”, I pronounce by mistake. Then, he corrected my pronunciation. At that time, I noticed it having been wrong for the first time. It was helpful for me. This school visit was marvelous I have ever had.
Second, I absorbed appealing history of Oregon. I visited the Oregon Historical Society, McLoughlin House, and the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. I learned deeply about Oregon history from these places. At Oregon Historical Society, I learned about Oregon Trail. While crossing continent, they came up with various ideas to live. The most surprising thing was that the then women used curling iron. When I saw it, I thought it was scissor. I sometimes use curling iron, so I was interested to see the early stage of curling iron. The most impressive things is dentist and restroom. People had a tooth pulled out with tool whose shape was strange. Moreover, they didn’t pull under the anesthetic. I felt painful just by imaging their feeling. If I was them, I wouldn’t do that. I can’t imagine to pull out without an esthesia. In McLoughlin House, I saw restroom. Amazingly, it was pottery. They threw away every day. My quantity of evacuation is too much so I thought such a small pottery will not hold all my evacuation. Then, I respected ancient people. At The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, I saw and hear the moment to shoot for the first time. The sound was more enormous than I expected. It was unbelievably vast. I could endure this sound because I just watch from a distance. If I had to hunt, I couldn’t use a gun. I knew how difficult to use a gun. Suddenly I thought if I had not decided to join extension program, I could have not learn such an interesting history. It is more profitable than students who stay in Japan. I noticed that learning history is so much fun! I learned about world history roughly in Japan so I was glad to learn minutely.
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| Pretty streets |
Finally, I was moved by Japanese-American Memorial. There were many poetry and two big carving. Before visiting here, I learned about Japanese American from book and lecture. Actually, Japanese students don’t learn about Japanese American. I had no idea about Japanese American. Every information was new. I was surprised so many times. I knew their life was terrible. They were discriminated from America. They usually spoke English, but sometimes spoke Japanese. I had thought they treasured Japanese things and they were proud to be Japanese. However, there were some poetry which made me confused. It were written “Sure I go to school same as you. I am American.” “Our young men and women joined the army too. They are proud to be American.” Were their feeling American? I want to know this sentences was put meaning. Also, I saw the ward which I have seen it in the book. When I read the book, I couldn’t understand the ward but then, it became clear. These poetry made me impressed. I thought this memorial was important not to forget big mistake of the past.
In conclusion, this trip was valuable because of three things. Not only enjoying shopping, but also I enjoyed learning history. Through this trip, I met many people. Many people taught me a lot of things and helped me many times. They made me mature. This trip became as beneficial as Southwest trip. I’m glad to see countless view, memorial, building and people. I want to treasure only once fateful encounter. Thanks to many fabulous people such as teachers, driver, clerk, guides and places, this trip was beneficial to me. I’ll never forget this trip over my life!