MFWI Extension Writing Class

     Folk means “people in general”. Have you ever seen the arts were made by ordinary people? Folks come from culture of community. One man donated many arts. These arts reflect value of community. These arts are very beautiful and wonderful, and fascinate many people.      This exhibition expresses daily life of people. Some people work, and some people go to cemetery, and pray. Each person does own work. People can learn not only one part of people’s life but also whole people’s life from this exhibition.      This exhibition expresses a circus. There are many kinds of animals like elephants, zebras and hippopotamus. Also, there are some people who are playing musical instrument. Only seeing this exhibition let people think how this circus is popular and lively.      This exhibition expresses bullfighting. Bullfighting is developed in Spain, and brought to the New World by Spanish...

     When I found this poem, I could imagine the Japanese Americans’ lives and feelings during WWII. Even though this poem is very simple, it shows deep meaning. During WWII, Japan bombed Hawaii. Then American people started to fear Japanese Americans. Even though Japanese Americans would not do anything, Americans were prejudiced against them. Japanese Americans were interned in camps and lost their jobs, houses, things including their family pictures. Some were separated from their families.      Japanese Americans were not treated as Americans. This poem reminds us how they were discriminated against. Now, people know that act was wrong. According to this blunder, we must not do the same deed ever again. Sure, I go to school Same as you. I’m an American

I couldn’t understand the meaning of the poems at first despite there being many words that I know the meaning of in the poems. However, I finally noticed that each poem had a very deep meaning. Also, each poem included feelings of many people. The reason why I was impressed by this poem is the person who wrote this poem was not ashamed of being Japanese American. Although Japanese Americans were seen with different eyes those days, this person didn’t mind. I realized that this person was proud of himself.

I had wonderful times with all extension student in Portland. In four days, I experienced a lot of things that I had never been before, such as talking with Columbia Basin College students, buying the items which made by people in Portland and enjoying at the huge bookstore. In these places, I learned a lot of new information and found amazing places in Portland.There were three places on the trip that impressed me most. A great picture with students at the Columbia Basin College First of all, I enjoyed talking with students in Columbia Basin College . My partner was a man who is 23 years old, and he can speak English, Spanish, French and Japanese. I was really surprised at his numbers of speaking languages. At first, I taught him how to make a paper crane. It was a little difficult for me to teach in English, but he was good at making it, so I could teach it. After, he gave me a bookmark which written his words. He thought about a long times, he made “haiku”. It’s like short po...

I had a great time in the admirable city Portland. In the early November, I went to Portland as my study trip with extension students for 5 days. I could feel the history and beauty of Portland a lot. I especially enjoyed meeting people. Every experiences that I had was reasonable. I would like to share my 3 best memories of this trip. My great friends! First, on our way to go to Portland, we stopped Columbia Basin College. We had opportunity to communicate Japanese class students. At that time, I talked to 2 boys with my friend. At first, I was very nervous about its, because I did not think I could speak them well. However, they were so kind to me and we could talk about many thing, for example our dreams, Japanese and American culture. That was really fun to me, and I made really good friends. In addition, this experience made my confidence for speaking English with American people. The cute earrings I got in Saturday Market Second, I visited Saturday Market in Por...

Respectable Voice of The Japanese American Chisato Fujii             When I saw this poem, I felt strong feeling of this poet like “I am an American,” and I also felt this poet’s voice like “Why am I not treated as an American?” I’ve never lived in this period of world war Ⅱ , and of course, I’ve never experienced this suffering and war, but I could feel people’s voice of this period thanks to this poet. Without these Japanese Americans’ voices, I couldn’t feel and understand their feeling and thought. When I understand this poem’s meaning, this poem made me sad, but I also understood Japanese Americans were proud of themselves in the middle of the war. I respect them and am proud.  

I had wonderful time in Portland . Also, I could learn the history of Portland, such as the Oregon Trail, Columbia river, Dr. John McLoughlin, Lewis and Clark. It was the great experience to learn these histories, so I had interested in these histories by this trip. I have especially favorite places.  My Partner, Lachlan Corriell First, it was very excited to visit Columbia Basin College . In last semester, I have already met some students of the College, so I was really looking forward to meeting them. I could meet them. They have remembered me, so I was very glad. By the way, my partner was a person who met for the first time. He is twenty eight years old and gentleman. He gave me a bookmark with his name. It became my favorite thing, so I always use it when I read a book. He has studied Japanese for just two years. Nevertheless, he can speak Japanese fluently, so I was surprised. Also, he likes Japanese anime, so we really enjoyed talking. I think most people who...

Portland trip was great experience for me. All Extension students went to Portland by bus on November 10th through the 13th. This trip was the last trip for us during extension program, so I had the best memories through this trip. In addition, I had super exciting memories at three places. My partner, Lachlan Corriell First of all, we enjoyed visiting Columbia Basin College . There was a place like a botanical garden, and I talked to some students and ate lunch there. We talked about my presentation, favorite things and many more. They listened to my presentation carefully and advised and asked some questions against my presentation, for example, “You should explain more detail about the topic” and “What kind of duties do they have anything else?. I was really glad that they said to me “ we are interested in your presentation.”. They may come to MFWI to see my presentation. I’m looking forward to seeing them again. Finally, he gave bookmark to me. This became one of my ...

We, all extension students went on Portland trip from November 10 to 13. This was last trip for us. Portland is the best city that American want to live, and also Portland is known as City of Rose because the temperature is appropriate to grow roses. On this trip, I could learn about history of Portland and have a wonderful time with my nice friends and teachers.  With Nice Students First of all, I had a wonderful experiences at different two schools. On the first day, we visited the Columbia Basin College. We met students who are learning Japanese and made an origami crane with them. And then I introduced them my presentation topic. My topic is Karaoke. They were very interested in Japanese culture and history, and they asked a lot me questions. This opportunity became good practice for me. On the second day, we visited Portland English Language Academy. I was really surprised because this school is in the shopping mall. I had never seen the school that is in such an ...

Portland Japanese American Memorial Mika Suehiro Going home Feeling cheated  Gripping my daughter's hand I tell her we're leaving Without emotion             There were so many stone monument with thoughtful poems. I felt some strong message from all poems in Japanese American Memorial, and I thought a lot of things, so I want to write my opinion of my most impressive poem. I think this man had a daughter, and his family. He should protect his family and he also live for his life. I really moved with the last sentence, "without emotion". I can't imagine how they felt and thought, because it is too hard to imagine for me. Our generation don't know what war is. Of course, we learned about the war during junior high school and high school, but we don't know the truth and real information of the war because we have never experienced war. I have visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki for my school trip, and I saw a lot ...

I went to Portland from November 10th to 13th. It was awesome and exciting for me to visit Portland. I could not only enjoy going shopping and eating delicious food but also learn American history. I especially enjoyed the largest bookstore Powell’s City of Books, magnificent scenery of Multnomah Falls and beautiful downtown of Portland. A Lot of Books! First of all, Powell’s City of Books was surprising bookstore for me. Before I visited Portland, some teachers told me this bookstore is large and fun. I looked forward to going to Powell’s City of Books before Portland trip had started. When I entered the store, it was thronged with a lot of people. I have never seen this situation before, so I was surprised. Powell’s City of Books is the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world. It was founded in 1971, is opened 365 days a year. Powell’s buys around 3,000 used books a day! I bought two books, “Charlie and the chocolate factory” and “Harry Potter and the s...

OLD TOWN Our second trip in this semester was Portland trip on November 10 to 13 with extension students and awesome teachers. I felt something new again through this trip. It was different with Southwest trip. It took a lot of time to go Oregon state, but I liked the atmosphere of Oregon. I had known Portland is the most popular city where people in the world want to live. This rumor was real. I could feel it actually by my sight through some opportunities. First, I enjoyed two opportunities to talk with students in Oregon. On the day 1, I went to Columbia Basin College . They came to MFWI in last semester, so I could meet them again. The beginning of talking, we made a paper crane by Origami, and talked about ourselves and my presentation topic. I was glad to talk about Japanese humanoid robot to them, because they were surprised by my information and they asked me some question for me. It was good for me to know their reaction. Then, they take us to college tour. The campu...

War and change, My native land Once so hard to leave, is behind me now forever. This is my favorite poem that I found at Japanese American Memorial. When I saw this poem, it touched my heart. This poem tells deep feelings of Japanese American even if it only use just 16 words. War is very sad and bad history that people made. No one felt happy and it changed many things, such as lifestyle, minds and human. Japanese American had to leave their native land. They had to sell things for very small money. They had to live at internment camp as prisoners. Even if they could leave internment camp, their memories of internment camp stay in their minds forever. They had a loyalty to America, but American government decided to incarcerate Japanese American to protect America. This is very sad history and these things might not happen again in the future. However, we still have war in the world. There are a lot of complicate problems and it is very hard to solve wit...

Have you ever been to Portland. Portland is located in Oregon state and west area in the US. It is the most urban area in Oregon state. This place is also known for City of Rose because temperature is appropriate to grow roses. I spent wonderful time in Portland trip. I went to the Portland as a school trip for 4 days. I studied about Portland such as Ruis and Clark,and Oregon trail and so on before I go to the Portland trip. I really enjoyed visiting Columbia Basin college, the chocolate factory, and Multnomah Falls. I had great time in Columbia Basin college . This college is in Pasco, Washington. We went to the Japanese class to talk students who learn Japanese. I talked one girl who takes Japanese class in the college. When I met her first time, I was a little nervous,but she was so kind. She gave me a stuff as present. I was so happy. After that, I moved to another place that was located many nature such as stream, tree, small waterfall and so on. It made me relax. I talked abou...

I went to the Portland and Oregon from November 10 to 13. These are were really different from South West. So I had a very new wonderful experience in there. All places were amazing for me, so I was really impressed. For example, I spoke a lot of English more with my friends, teacher and a college student to compare Southwest trip, I really enjoyed shopping in the place that is the Washington Square Mall and Pioneer place because of no tax, and also I could learn Japanese American in the Japanese-American Memorial . I was moved by all stone that was written valuable poems in there. So, that was a very fulfilling trip for me. First, I had a lot of fun conversation with college students at Columbia Basin College . I could speak English a lot in there, so I got confidence thanks to this opportunity. My partner’s name was Anna. She has learned Japanese, so she really interested in Japan. First, I taught her how to make a crane. It was so difficult to teach, but after teaching she w...

     I went to the Japanese American Memorial. I was really interested in learning about Japanese Americans, so I was glad that I got to go there. I learned and felt many things. I thought learning about the Japanese Americans are essential point because I am Japanese and I have been in America. Visiting the Japanese American Memorial was an unforgettable experience. First, I found a poem which I felt strong emotions about. The poem reads, “Going home, feeling cheated. Gripping my daughter’s hand. I tell her we’re leaving. Without emotion.” When I read this poem, I imaged the situation and then I almost cried. The author couldn’t feel anything because of leaving house. I have never experienced such a depressing moment. However, I think “without emotion” is the saddest feeling more than feeling something such as sad or dejected. I also imagined leaving my own house and going to camp would be hard things to do. I felt pain in my heart. Second, on the stone, it s...

Do you know Japanese anime? It is a kind of animation first drawn by hand then made by computer. Sometimes it’s made into movies and sometimes into comics. It’s a symbol of Japanese culture. It has amazing history and process. Also, there are many genres of anime, such as fantasy, battle, romance, sports, history and so on. Then, there are many ways to enjoy by anime. Anime make everyone exciting not only children but also adult. It is very popular around the world. This presentation will explain the history, process and fascination of anime. Presentation Date: December 1

What do you know about traditional sports of Japan? Japan has many kinds of traditional sports, and players carry on a tradition. One of the traditional Japanese sports is karate. Karate has old history and spirit. Spirit is traditional Japanese sport’s characteristic, so players value spirit. Also, karate has ranking system and many styles. Karate also has two ways to play: competition and demonstration. Karate uniform is interesting, because player puts on a belt and uniform, and each belt has meaning. Karate has many interesting characteristics. In the presentation, the audience will learn about karate styles, and karate’s uniform.

How much do you know about Japanese pottery? Japanese pottery started in the Jomon Era about 10,000 years ago. Japanese pottery is still an important part of Japanese. The style of Jomonware used many patterns on the surface which were pressed by coils. In the Edo and Meiji Period, Japanese pottery and kiln were improved by the influence of foreign countries. Also pottery began to be used in the Tea Ceremony, and as a result Tea ceremony aesthetics are deeply connected to Japanese pottery. Japanese pottery gain experience of evolution and improvements. In this presentation you will learn about the early history of pottery, pottery materials and equipment, and Japanese pottery today.

Koyasan, or Mt. Koya, is the home of a Shingon Buddhist temple complex that is one of the most important religious places in Western Japan. Koyasan was founded twelve centuries ago by the great Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi (Kukai). Koyasan has a very long history which is the unbelievable story of Kobo Daishi. In 2004, Koyasan was selected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Many tourists from all over the world visit Koyasan. Tourists can stay at a temple hotel called “shukubo”. At shukubo, tourists have a Japanese vegetarian meal call “syojin-ryori”. This presentation will be about important places in Koyasan, it's interesting history and the historic temple lodging. Presentation date: November 29