MFWI Extension Writing Class

From November 13 th to 16 th , 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. 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 ...

It has passed half of semester since I came here. I have had a large number of impressive experiences such as classes, events, tours. These were more marvelous than last semester. The most helpful experience which made me mature as a person is Southwest trip. Then, I saw tons of people, cultures, traditions, arts, landscape, and nature. Through this trip, I learned prominent thing and got superb ability.   First of all, I learned the importance of understanding another culture. The most surprising and memorable thing is culture of Acoma Pueblo. Our Extension students visited Sky City. Then, I saw Native American. They sold pretty products which was handmade. They were products which they didn’t seem handmade. I knew their skill to produce was so high. Unbelievably, they have believed that camera take their soul away. This point is totally different from Japanese. At that time, I learned there are people with many kind of thoughts in the world. The thoughts attracted my interest...

In Portland, there are many shopping places using interesting ways to sell items, that is, Uwajimaya, Tebo’s, and Portland Saturday Market, because these stores have tried to connect items and people for three reasons.   Uwajimaya is an Asian grocery store, specializing in Japanese items. The store has purposes to connect Japan and people, American people and Japanese people. According to a buyer, Hiroki, who is a second generation Japanese-American, it was more important for more people to try new Japanese goods than to think about the store’s profit. It is the reason customers will come back to buy these goods again, if the goods are nice. As a result, more and more people will be interested in Japan. The store also has a good role for Japanese who live in America for a long time, like us, because someone including me really misses Japanese food. The store gives us some experiences to remind us of our country. This shop has two purposes. The store is good to know ab...

Our Extension student went to Portland trip on November 13 to 16. We got many great experiences in Portland and Oregon, for example, visits to Columbia Basin College, Mcloughlin house, and the oregon historical society. I have three highlights about my absolutely fabulous Portland trip. First, I really enjoyed The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center on first day. I saw real gun first time in my life and also one of center’s guide show us that gun shooting. I was really surprised because the sound of a gunshot was very laud. I leaned amazing history about Lewis and Clark’s expedition. I read one of interesting article. It was about their camp. In the 863 days of the expedition, the corps made over 600 camps. When they made it, they used 12 hours for 1 camp and also before departure the next day, they repacked everything. This history was really interesting for me because I saw replica of their camp. It was simple design but need a lot of time. I couldn't believe it. My best picture...

  The time that I spent in America is quickly passing. I had a great time with many people so far in classes and out of classes. Today, I have  two points of a  fundamental principal for my American life. They are my treasures that I focused on faithfully. First of all, I got special experiences through the Language Culture Day (LCD) class. Once a week, we had a opportunity to discuss each topics we chose with guests who have some connection with their topics. Such as gun control, international marriage, volunteerism, and so on. I was particularly interested in the topic "teenage dieting and body image", and I had a great time to discuss the topic with wonderful guests. Until that LCD class, I was very worried about gaining weight in America because when I was in Japan, I was on a strict diet that I didn't eat anything for 2 months. I had not noticed that I was standing on a start line of eating disorders. From that talk with guests who have experienced anorexia an...

Travel is Absolutely My Treasure What is the purpose of travels? We just enjoy traveling? I thought so before I came here. However, I could learn tons of historical things, cultural observations, and good friends from this trip. I especially like Columbia Basin College, a Japanese American Memorial, and Portland State University. First, I could make awesome friends at Columbia Basin College. I always feel nervous before I enter a class because my pronunciation is not good and I’m not good at talking with people I don’t know. However, they were very kind and talkative so I had a good time with them. Also, I talked two people, they were interested in Japanese culture so I could teach our culture and get American cultures. Moreover, I could present my topic. They told to me a lot of new information. For instance, they knew about American Symbols so we could compare Japanese symbols with American Symbols. It was very enjoyable. Also, Japanese people don’t say some words in front of a ...

  I touched two new cultures at Washington State University (WSU). I met a Southern Arabian guy and a Chinese girl.    I was interested in Southern Arabian traditional clothes and his way of thinking about alcohol. Southern Arabian people wore their traditional clothes. It looked so new for me. Whenever they go outside; go to their school, go to their firm, they wear the clothes. When they have to go to a formal meeting, Sothern Arabian people wear both the clothes and “Shima”; that is, like a hat. Also, I was really surprised at his way to thinking about alcohol. In his country, we cannot buy any alcohol, because of their religion. He had never drank alcohol.   I also had a great time with a Chinese girl and the time removed a prejudice Chinese from me. She was a talkative, gentle, and humble person. She taught me about her country, especially her government policy. The country has a one-child policy. I have learned it at my junior high school so I knew it...

I took a trip to Portland from November 13 to 16. The trip was totally awesome. I enjoyed everything. I have three favorite things during this trip such as an encounter with Columbia Basin College students, the view of Oregon, and shopping. First, I went to Columbia Basin College, and I talked to students who are studying Japanese. They warmly welcomed us. I conversed with one of them. She was very cute and kind. We asked each other a lot of questions about our cultures, so I was able to know her. I told her about my presentation topic and she said it was very interesting, so I got confidence in my presentation. It was a very good opportunity to talk to American college students. Also, I got new friends. I wish I would see them again. Second, I love the view of Oregon. It reminded me my hometown, Kobe. Kobe has mountains and sea. It also has a lot of high buildings and shopping malls. I think Oregon is similar to Kobe. Then, at the Japanese American memorial, there were a number of ...

We extension students went on a trip in Portland from November 13 th  to 16 th . I really like to visit the places that I've never been and I don't know, and Portland was also one of them. We visited many places and did various things. I had a delightful time on this Portland trip. I really came to like Portland because there are a lot of natures and the towns are beautiful. Through this trip, I had wonderful experiences, and had many fantastic memories, such as visiting International students, a wonderful book store, and fantastic falls. Fantastic Portland Trip First, I had a wonderful encounter visiting students at Columbia Basin College (CBC). We mixed with the students who study Japanese in CBC. I made a fabulous friend there. She is a high school student but she also takes 3 classes at CBC at the same time. She is very interested in Japan, and she is skillful at Japanese. She really inspired me, and I enjoyed talking with her. I was glad to have opportunity to talk...

I went on the amazingly fabulous Portland trip from November 13 to 17. It was last trip during this studying abroad. Until then, we went to East coast, Seattle, and South west. Portland is  There are a lot of attractive places and also I had a precious time there. I mingled with a lot of people, learned about Japanese American and enjoyed shopping. First of all, I had some warmth and funny encounters. I went to  Columbia Basin College (CBC) . I was able to talk with the students who study Japanese language about my presentation topic. I talked about it with one student at the CBC.  It was the first time to explain and talk about my presentation topic with people who are not MFWI teachers or my Japanese friends. I was worried whether the students were able to understand my topic or not. But, the student was very kind and tried to make sense about my topic. He is 28 years old and an American which grew up at Washington State. A...

The Portland trip was the last trip that Extension students experienced in America. Trips allow students to learn different historical aspects and facts in America. All trips we have experienced were not only enjoyable but was also beneficial in some points. This Portland trip was not an exception. Portland trip gave students some benefits by visiting famous or important places, learning American history, and interacting with people.   First of all, learning the history of the Lewis and Clark expedition and the Oregon Trail were beneficial experiences. The East Coast Trip was a trip to trace the footprints of pilgrims who created the basis of America. This Portland Trip was mainly about the expedition lead by Lewis and Clark which was extremely challenging. Japanese students don’t learn American history in Japan so learning them helped to understand America well. In addition, visiting museums and memorials were really good opportunity to see what happened in the past by...

We took the Portland trip for 4 days. It was the last trip that we were supposed to take here, and it was totally enjoyable one. I especially enjoyed at 3 places, Lewis and Clark at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, Powell's City of Books, and Portland English Language Academy. First, I learned about Lewis and Clark at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. We had a demonstration of a rifle which is the same type Lewis and Clark actually used. It was the first time I saw a rifle. I was amazed at the sounds because it was much louder than I expected. After that, I walked around to see exhibition. We were able to follow detailed history of Lewis and Clark and they were very amusing. Second, Powell's City of Books was a book store that I really felt pleasant to be in. I saw many people, from small children to elderly people enjoyed reading books there. Some people talked about books cheerfully, others were reading quietly I think it is kind of a style that we can experience o...

Wonderful Portland with my beautiful friends   Poem from Japanese American Memorial I had a wonderful time druing the 4 days in the beautiful city of Portland. It was my first time to go there. This trip gave me a lot of experiences, and taught me American culture, history and Japanese history. I had acquired great experiences through visiting  CBC (Colombia Basin Collage), Japanese American memorial , and the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center . First, I had a really great time at CBC. Accidently, I have met some of the students because I taught them about Japanese culture last semester in Japanese Culture Center. I didn’t know that the students are from CBC. I really surprised when I saw the students. In the class, I talked a lot with my partner. He is really interested in Japan because he likes anime in Japan. Japanese Anime is very popular in America. He knows about Japanese Anime more than me. I talked about my presentation...

We extension students went to Portland from November 13 to 16 last week. I was looking forward to this trip because I had heard that Portland is very famous city for American people. Actually, this trip was awesome and we made a wonderful memory there. I was attracted by the  Japanese American memorial,  the Columbia, and Columbia Basin College, especially. Primarily, I had a priceless experience at the Japanese American memorial and I was pierced by a melancholy feeling. There are many poems written by Japanese American people on each stones.  I found a poem which made me speechless there. The poem said, "Our young men and women joined the army, too. They are proud to be American." Following my interpretation, this poem was written by issei (1st generation of a  Japanese American). "Our young men and women" represents their children and grand children. I learned that issei people had often said "shikataga-nai (it cannot be help)"and they had...

Extension students went on the Portland trip. We visited many museums and places to learn American culture and also Japanese-American. It was colder than I expected, but I enjoyed everything on this trip. This trip was a last trip for us as Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute (MFWI) students. Looking back now, each trip has each wonderful memory. I really like the atmosphere of the downtown in Portland. There were many people running, and moreover, the shops were so cute and fashionable. On this trip, there are three experiences that were very worthful to me. Wonderful Trip in Portland First, there was an important chance for me to think deeply about how hard life Japanese-American and American people spent long time ago. I had studied the history about the war, but I had never thought about their life and feelings of them. We visited the Japanese American Memorial, and then, there were poetry that they wrote. When I...

The Extension students went on the Portland trip from November 13th to 16th and we had a totally great time, I could experience a lot of precious things and I felt tons of wounderful things. Portland was extremely nice place, it became my favorite place, because the street is a little nostalgic and beautiful, in addition there is no tax! The three places especially were most impressive for me.   my memory of Portland trip Among of all of those bright places we visited, Japanese-American Memorial was the most touching place for me. There were some stones that is engraved the poem which Japanese-American write during World War Ⅱ at the camp. I read all of them and I was moved. One of them is “Sure, I go to school same as you I’m American”. I thought it was written by child who younger than me. I learned that the war take away natural life. I should thank for doing what I want to do. We don’t have to repeat same mistake again. I was able to think about their life an...

Every day in Spokane is splendid for me. It has been more than three months since I came back here. This semester was totally different from last semester, such as atmosphere, motivation and class. My senses of values have changed a great deal thanks to this semester. I was able to mingle with several American people and experience American seasonal culture. First, we have astonishing opportunities to talk and mingle with American people, it is connecting to keep my motivation high, such as Language Cultural Day (LCD) classes and SFCC classes. Before I said, LCD classes helped to motivate highly. In the classes, we were able to see and talk with native speakers about themes which was decided beforehand. We discuss "gun-controlling", "adoption" and "international marriage". Every themes were concerned with differences between America and Japan. Each discussions were exciting for me, and I could know the local people's opinions and what they think abou...