Travel Memory is Treasure

Student ID: 07101

Portfolio for Writing IV,
Section 1a


(See: Note 1, below)

0.0. Overview

Reviews, Posts, Words, and More

(See: Note 2, below.)

1.0. Essays

(See: Note 3, below.)

Please complete this table with data gathered from essays on your blog. See the Key (below) for definitions of the symbols in row one, and complete columns four through nine with numerical values (0, 1, 2, 3, ...).

1.1. Showcase	Short titles with links	Dates yy.mm.dd	¶	W	C	L	P	M
Website review 08.09.29 (375+ words)	Travel Memory is Treasure	08.09.27	3	379	5	1	0	0
Favorite place(-s) 08.10.20 (450+ words)	My Favorite Places in Nagasaki	08.10.10	4	542	0	0	4	0
Mrs. Doubtfire 08.11.04 (500+ words)	Family love is forever	08.11.01	5	608	6	1	2	1
Community life 08.11.17 (default length*)	Emotional Growth	08.11.15	5	589	0	1	0	0
Kumamoto's best-kept secrets 08.12.01 (5+ ¶¶)	How to maintain the amusement park	08.11.30	3	331	0	1	4	0
Learning with computers 2008.12.15 (6+ ¶¶)	Useful but Pay attention!	08.12.13	5	413	0	0	2	0
Totals	---	---	25	2,862	11	4	12	1

Key:

¶: number of paragraphs five (5) or more sentences in length

W: number of words

C: number of comments

L: number of links

P: number of photos or other graphics
M: number of other media included in post
*: "long enough to cover the ... [communities] you choose," Writing Studio Blog, Preparation for Next Essays, 2008.10.29)

1.2. Best Essay

Selection and Assessment: Which of those six assigned essays do you feel is the best that you've written this semester, and why? Remember that a complete answer is better than a short answer, focus on your writing, and give at least two reasons to support your assessment.

• I think my best essay is "Mr. Doubtfire" movie essay(MR2-01: Mr. Doubtfire ~Family love is forever~) because it contains some pictures and also media and link, so it reminds us how this story is. Besides, I told about my opinions through this movie, so reader can find my thought. I didn't write outline of this movie because I wanted people to know my thought more than the outline. Then I divided a piece of writing into paragraphs included each topics I wanted to tell, so I think it's easy to see.

2.0. Comments

Showcase	Titles of posts with links	Dates of comments yy.mm.dd	Numbers of words in comments	Qualities of comments**
2.1. Your first comment on your instructor's blog*	...	...	...	...
2.2. Your best comment on a classmate's blog*	"Diary 7: Mon, August 25th"	08.09.01	65	friendly, cheerful ("You can!!You caaaaaaan!! HAHA:)")
2.3. Best comment by a classmate on your blog*	"Rotorua Weekend ~Part 1~"	08.09.04	94	heartwarming, friendly ("Nojomi〜〜!!I miss you, too!"/using smiley)
2.4. Most comments on:	Titles of posts with link	Dates of posts yy.mm.dd	Total number of words in comments	Qualities of comments**
2.4.1. Any one of your essays*	Essay2-01: WEB site review ~Travel Memory is Treasure~	08.09.27	184	questions, empathic (trying to continue conversation/having an interest)
2.4.1.1. When did you respond to those comments?	---	08.10.27	---	---
2.4.1.2. How did you respond to those comments?	---	---	132	thankful, response ("Thank you for commenting my essay"/respond to these question)
2.4.2. Any of your other posts*	NEXT	08.12.03	43	friendly, interest ("Do you have any favorite movies? if you have, tell me them, please ;) coz... i really like to watch movies!)
2.4.2.1. When did you respond to those comments?	---	08.12.12	---	---
2.4.2.2. How did you respond to those comments?	---	---	54	friendly, recommend ("Hey,what's up!?"/telling some of my favorite movies.)

----------
* Current semester comments on essays and other posts
** Please list the most important qualities of comments on each type of blog post. That is, explain briefly what makes them good comments.

2.5. Recent comments display

Does your blog display recent comments from blog visitors in a prominent location, for example, in a sidebar, header, or footer widget? Where, or why not? Please explain.

• I put a recent comments display on head of a sidebar because I can find new comment at once and reply to it immediately.
  

2.6. Additional reflections on comments

• I think giving and receiving comments are very good way to communicate with other people because it's easy to do and it sometimes cheer up people. I was really glad when I posted a blog post and then my friend replied a comment for it. Since then, I became even more conscious of that people look at my blog, so I became aim to write more interesting posts.

3.0. Book Reviews

3.1. Showcase	Short titles with links	Dates (yy.mm.dd)	Words	Comments
Example:	Vampire Killer	07.05.16	39	1
2-01	Magic Tricks	08.08.04	137	0
2-02	Boats!	08.08.14	160	0
2-03	Flood!	08.08.21	275	0
2-04	Shooting stars	08.08.25	243	0
2-05	Lost in the Jungle	08.09.05	268	0
2-06	The Rainbow Machine	08.09.12	158	0
2-07	Red Planet	08.09.15	156	0
2-08	Rescue!	08.10.02	184	0
2-09	Sam's New Flat	08.10.07	184	0
2-10	Dutch Adventure	08.10.13	210	0
2-11	Survival Adventure	08.10.19	167	0
2-12	The Coldest Place on Earth	08.10.25	219	0
2-13	Grasshopper on the road	08.11.01	291	0
2-14	Frog and Toad Are Friends	08.11.18	158	0
2-15	The Motorway	08.11.14	238	0
2-16	Alice's Adventure in Wonderland	08.11.21	162	0
2-17	The PIANO	08.12.02	238	0
2-18	GUCCI ~BUSINESS IN FASHION~	08.12.12	208	0
---	---	Totals:	3,656	0

Note: Please calculate and list book review Totals for words and comments without including those from the example (above).

3.2. Best Book Review

Selection and Assessment: Which of those book reviews do you feel is the best that you've written this semester, and why? Remember that a complete answer is better than a short answer, focus on your writing, and give at least two reasons to support your assessment.

• I think BR2-08: Rescue! is my best book review because it contains my opinion. It has not many words but it has a most impotant point I thought. Besides, I didn't write the outline a lot. Actually, this book is short story, so I tryied to think some ideas from this story topic. Then I changed the color of sentences which I'd like to enphasize. This is also a good point that it contained a photograph of this book.

4.0. Blog Layout, Labeling, Linking, & Media

Showcase	Yes	No
4.1. Does your blog display an archive?	○
4.1.1. Does the archive display the titles of posts?	○
4.1.2. Is the archive organized by month?	○
4.1.3. Is the archive at or near the top of the sidebar?	○
4.2. Does your blog have labels displayed in sidebar?	○
5.2.1. Do your labels include these required labels (typed accurately):	---	---
"books" (18) AND "reviews" (5)	○
"essays" (12) AND "portfolios" (1)	○
"quickposts" (21)	○
"links" (6) AND "media" (6)	○
"movies" (11) AND "websites" (０)		○
"brainstorms" (5), "essay prep.," (8)AND "free-writing"(4)	○
4.2.2. Does your sidebar display other labels?	○
How many other labels have you attached to three (3) or more posts? __17_ other labels attached to three or more posts	---	---
Which labels, and to how many posts each? Please list those labels instead of www, xxx, yyy..., and list numbers of posts instead of n, m, o... (in parentheses), below. photos (73) diary entries (51) homestay (35) YouTube (34) quickposts (32) book reviews (31) languages (30) New Zealand (29) opinions (26) families (25) friends (24) essays (20) introductions (15) medias (14) movie reviews (13) typing topics (13) amusements (9) essay preps (8) favorites (8) links (8) reviews (8) jobs (7) brainstorms (5) OtherReviews (4) free-writings (4) musics♪YouTube (4) outlines (4) animations (2) portfolios (2) drafts (1) lists (1)	---	---
4.3. Links & media	---	---
4.3.1. Does your blog include photos or other graphics?	○
Does your blog profile include a photo or graphic representation?	○
How many of your blog posts this semester include photos or other graphics? __73_ posts including photos or other graphics	---	---
4.3.2. Does your blog include posts with multiple links?	○
How many of your posts this semester include three (3) or more links? __2_ posts including three or more links (including this portfolio!)	---	---
4.3.3. Does your blog include other media?	○
How many of your blog posts this semester include other media? _48__ posts including other media	---	---
What kind(-s) of media have you included in posts this semester? Please list the kinds here: ...You Tube	---	---
What media content that you originally produced, if any, do your blog posts for this semester contain? Please list and explain each item briefly, and add short links and dates (yy.mm.dd) for reference. 　　 Nothing especially.	---	---

4.4. Overall presentation

What have you done to enhance the overall presentation of your blog? List and explain the three most important content, display, formatting, layout, or other presentation changes that you have made on your blog this semester.

1. ... I tried to add lists on my blog posting in this semester, so people can see the source.
2. ... I sometimes changed the font size and color which I'd like to emphasis.
3. ... I put some photos of people who are close to me on this blog.

5.0. Additional reflections on your blog and your writing on it

Please feel free to include reflections on both spring and fall semester work, as well as on the content of this portfolio (proto-portfolios, showcases, and reflections).

• ... It was nice opportunity to write free-writings in English.
• ... Fall semester was not so hard compared to the spring semester, so I could feel more free to try it than before.
• ... I wanted some advice for my essays.
  

6.0. Advice and suggestions for yourself, your peers, and your successors

• ... You'd better keep writing because you'll feel hard to do it later if you neglect.
• ... It's good to write about your interests or everyday life. Try as if it's going to be your diary and your own world.
• ... It's important to think about readers. You'll be able to write more plainly, and you can write the essay which is getting the point.

____________________
Notes:

1. This portfolio template derives from the templates for Writing IIIc and Writing IVc portfolios (2007-08), and Writing III, §§1a & 1c (Fall, 2008).
2. Please use the same code in section 0.0 that you used to embed your proto-portfolios (PPFs) in the footer of your blog, which you should already have revised to display your 2nd (fall) semester PPF first.
   
3. The essays section (1.0. Essays, above) derives from Proto-Portfolio 2-02 (2008).
   

____________________
License:

This portfolio template is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Please attribute to "the Writing Studio Blog" (without quotation marks).

Essay2-05: Learning with computers ~Useful but Pay attention!~

Hello, today I talk about learning with computers. Computers are very useful for our life. They have a lot of useful functions we can't expect and give us so much information, so they are essential things for human beings. We use them for work and also for fun in everyday life. We can get much information we don't know, file information or documents, watch movies and many TV program, play games, communicate with others, and buy and sell something on Internet. There are so many useful functions but also there are some problems, so I talk about these things, and my experience and favorite function.


First of all, I talk about my favorite function. My favorite function in computer is "YouTube" because we can watch many kinds of TV programs or movies or personal videos or animations. There are lots of things we can't understand that is only picture or composition. We can get easily when we watch animated video. And also we can watch other country’s TV programs. Sometimes I watch abroad TV programs in English. It’s so interesting because I can know many things and change my world view.


Next, I experienced that my data vanished!! It made me really irritated. And also my printer didn’t work, so I couldn’t use it although I had to hand out the next day. Computer sometimes don’t work normally, so we need to start working a little earlier, I think. If you use too much time, your eyes and brain will become exhausted, so we also need to take a break some time. These are precautions for proper use.


Finally, I talk about some problems on computer. For example, there are personal information, wrong information, an online bad site like a dating site, and post some malicious slander messages on a bulletin board and so on. We have to nip in the bud these things as soon as possible. To do so, we should have objective eyes; think what is true and what is false. We must not abuse information.


As a conclusion, learning computer makes us convenient when we use proper way. We can communicate with other people and abroad, and get much information. We can enjoy using computers. However, there are many problems we have to pay attention. It needs a common sense act one by one because we can use freely. If we take note, the society will be better and more convenient.

[413 words]

BR2-18: GUCCI ~BUSINESS IN FASHION~

I chose "GUCCI" book this time because I didn't know the history of GUCCI. Do you?

Do you like brand things such as GUCCI? Actually, I am not interested in brand, but I want brand thing someday when I become more adult and the woman who is suit the brand thing. I think having a brand thing is the women's status. Guys give women some brand bags or watch or something, like that and women walk smartly in the street. That is my image of GUCCI.lol

GUCCI is now famous fashionable company in the world. Guccio Gucci run established the company, and it started in 1921 in Italy. His name is like GUCCI. I didn't know that.
GUCCI was in World War 2, so it was hard to sell expensive brand things to people. However, the company's people protected the product and keep loving their GUCCI products. It's awesome.

There are some points to be paid attention. I think it's not so good that young people have brand products because it seems cheep. And many people have brand bag, so it become worth nothing. Having brand things is nice but think these things I told you, and enjoy your fashion life!!

[208 words]

Learning with computers: Free writing2-05

Computers are very useful for our life. They has a lots of useful functions we can't expect and give so much information. And also they're essential things for human beings. We use them for work and also for fun everyday. We can get much information we didn't know, file information or documents, watch movies and many TV program, play games, communicate with others, and buy and sell somethings on Internet.

However, there are some problems. For example, there are personal information, wrong information, an online bad site like a dating site, and post some malicious slander messages on a bulletin board and so on. We have to nip in the bud these things as soon as possible.

[120 words]

Learning with computers: Outlining2-04

This is a outline of learning with computers.

★Intro

• how useful computer's fanctions are
• my experiences form the viewpoint of learning computers

★Body

• my favorite fanctions (Youtube, blog, internet)
• problems as a matter of using computers (personal information, wrong information etc)
• how to nip the bud
  
• expectation about future
  

★Conclusion

• conclusion of Intro and Body paragraphs
• the things we have to pay attention

[64 words]

Learning with computers: Brainstorming2-05

This is a brainstorming of learning with computers.

• can write quickly
• difficult to use the various functions that a computer has
• can get lots of information
  
• keep pace with the times
• get some knowledges
• internet
• blog
• write in English
• know other world
• contact with others
• communication
• typing
• Youtube
• iPod
• learning English
• file some information
• copy
• print out
• skype

[58 words]

NEXT

I watched a movie with my parent on DVD last week. It is “Next”.
It was so exciting movie! The main character, Cris has a special power which enable him to foresee 2 minutes into the future. FBI needed him to save from the terrorists but he didn’t want to corporate with them. However, he wanted to save his sweetheart, so he participated FBI and did battle with terrorists.

The movie is that keeps us on the edge of our seat! Nicolas Cage is so cool! I recommend you to watch this movie.


[94 words]

BR2-17: The PIANO

Hi. Do you like music? I love music. I love listening to music and also love playing the music. I like many kind of musics such as pop music, R&B, hawaiian music, ratin music and so on. Also I like classical music, especially piano's. So I chose this book. I've taken lessons on the piano for about 15 years, but I couldn't play very well. However, this main character, Tony became greate pianist at last although he didn't learn piano lessons before.

He was a farm boy because his family was very poor and he had to work in farm and give some money to his parents. He was so nice boy, I thought. One day, a farmer told Tony to take all out of an old cottage and thraw it away. And it contained a old piano. Tony likes music and piano, so he wanted it. He'd never played before, but he could play some beautiful music very well. The music came to him and moved his finger. It's so strange but I think he might be a genius! I envy him.

Then he placticed playing piano everyday. At last, he became a greate pianist!
I thought that no matter how he is a genius and has a talent for music, he needs so much practicing. It is difficult to master something but it is good becoming enthusiastic about something.

[238 words]

Essay2-04 : Well-Kept Secret of Kumamoto ~How to maintain the amusement park~

Hello, everyone. Today, I am going to tell you about a well-kept secret of Kumamoto. And the secret is "Asian Park" !! Do you know the amusement park? Actually, I didn't know that. This park is now discontinuing operation but it was a once flourishing in the bubble economy. This was in Arao in Kumamoto in from July 21,1993 to August, 2000 and it's near the MitsuiGreen Land. To my surprise, it cost 44 billion yen! There were many theme parks in the bubble economy. The one example is Tokyo Disney Land which is biggest theme park in Japan. Then I thought why amusement park goes to different ways. On the one hand succeed and the other hand sink in the world. That is why I chose this topic.

Asian Park has some attraction such as "Asia cruise"and you can look around the scenery of the small world riding a boat. And the park also has some miniature figures of remains and castle such as the Taj Mahal, Anghor Wat and The Great Wall of China. You can feel Asia in your body. The admission fee was only 600 yen, so it was popular then. There were 10 thousand visitors every month. I've never been there, so I should have been there once.


In conclusion, It was good opportunity t0 know more about Kumamoto. I didn't know about these things although I live in Kumamoto for many years. Actually I want Kumamoto to build more amusement park like Tokyo Disney Land but I think the good point of Kumamoto is grand beautiful nature, so amusement park is unsuitable. However, the Asian Park's idea is nice, so it need more interesting idea which people can enjoy more and feel at home. I think the most important point of prosperity of amusement park is to make frequent visitors.

Kumamoto has great culture, so it can become more interesting region which other prefectures' people visit many times.

I love KUMAMOTO!!!!!

This is the Link→http://www.tanken.com/asiapark.html

[331 words]

Well-Kept Seacret of Kumamoto: Free writing2-04

Hello.
Today, I'm going to tell you about a seacret of Kumamoto. That is "Asian Park"!!
Do you know the amusement park? Actually, I didn't know that. This park is now discontinuing operation but it was a once flourishing in the bubble economy. There were many theme parks in the bubble economy. The one example is Tokyo Disney Land which is biggest theme park in Japan. Then I thought why amusement park goes to different ways. So I chose this topic.

[83 words]

Well Kept Secret of Kumamoto: Brainstorming2-04

I chosen "Asian park" in Kumamoto. Asian Park was discountinuing operation of a park.

• discountinuing operation of a park
• miniature model of remains and World Heritage
  
• bubble economy
• Mitsui Green Land
• desolate
• Asian Cruise (attraction)
• the Resort Law
• Tokyo Disney Land
• pachinko parlor
• 1993.7.21~2000.8

[34 words]

BR2-16: Alice's Adventure in Wonderland

I chose "Alice's Adventure in Wonderland" in this time because this is one of my favorite story. I knew it when I was a child and from Disney's animation "Alice in Wonderland". It's so interesting story because it is not normal story. Alice's wonderland is strange but has a dream because Alice could be bigger and smaller, flowers and cat and rabbit could talk, cards were like human, and so on. There were all her dream, but I thought it was so real.

I always dream and they are all strange story. However I don't think it is strange when I am in my dream. I wonder at I saw these strange dream although I didn't think about these things every day. I think Alice likes daydreaming and she has her own story, and it's also strange and abnormal story. It is great!

I also love the animation, so I gonna watch it again later:)

[162 words]

Nomination of movie review

I nominated Chie's 'Mrs. Doubt fire' essay is the best of 1c class!
Her essay is easy to read and it contains her own opinion about divorce and love.

I think it's so good! Besides, she added the movie's photo, so I could remember the story easily.


I could know new ideas from her.
This is her essay's link→http://tiesroom.blogspot.com/2008/11/mrs-doubt-fire.html

[63 words]

p.s. i love you

Hi, I watched a movie "p.s. I love you" on Sunday evening in a movie theater with my boyfriend.
It was so nice movie. I saw the story of the heroines in the movie superimposed on her own life. I have a sweetheart, so i fully understood the heroin's feelings. If I lose my sweetheart, may be I lost all will to live. So many letters from her dead husband are all her treasure and encouraging things, I think.

It's so interesting movie, so please watch it with the person you love.

[95 words]

Essay2-03: Community Life essay ~Emotional Growth~

Hello, everyone. Today, I will tell you about my community life. However, I don't belong to community now, so I will introduce my past community life and that is soft tennis club activity. I have been belonged to a soft tennis club in my junior high school days. My soft tennis club members of our grade were 8 people including me and they were all funny fellows and so precious existences for me. Then I could learn many important things from them and hard trainings. And they are the things that "Don't give up", "Don't lose myself" and "We can do it more than yesterday". Of course I learned more things which I can't explain with my words. However, these experiences trained my mind and I became more stronger, I think.


We had to practice the soft tennis hard every day. It was really hard for me. We had to run in a long distance and say some cheering words in a loud voice while we were training. I felt so tired after the training and had dinner so much. We had to practice under the hot rays of summer and also in the falling snow. I thought I wanted to stop practicing many times in those hard days, but I didn't because I had some valuable fellows of this club. We emulated one another when we felt the training was so hard. They didn't say cheering words but just they practiced hard. It was only action, but it awakened my combative spirit.

There were many coaches in my club not only junior high school teacher but also other old coaches who can play tennis very well. They were strict, but these advices were very important for us. We really needed them. In summer vacation, we had to go training camp for three days and it was so hard training for us. We run from the Hot springs dome (温泉ドーム) to Shichijo(七城) tennis court every day and then started training. It was really hot and I got sunstroke. A boy who belong to boy's soft tennis club was taken to a hospital by ambulance. However, we could build up our tennis techniques then, so it was good experience for us. In the last day, we barbecued and we did fireworks. I felt it was so beautiful then.

I was a sub captain of this club, so I have to support the captain and other members of this club. It needed sense of responsibility. I had to say cheering words more laudly than other members and bring the team together. Sometimes we had a quarrel with juniors of this club and then I had to scolded severely to them although I didn't want to say such strict words. Even so, I had to say that because they were all for our club.

As a conclusion, I feel it was really good experiences for me. Actually, I didn't like to plactice it, but after the all club activity, I could get important things and precious fellows, so it was good that I tried to do it hard. We are best friends and even now we gather and hold a drinking party sometimes and talk some memories of our club. The memories are about 6 years ago, but I can remember them vividly because they are my hard but also the memories of the days when I was more younger and full of energy.

This is ”Kikuyo junior high school soft tennis club” Link→http://www.kikuyo.ed.jp/kikuyou-jhs/

[589 words]

Community life: Outlines2-03

★Intro

• introduce about my past tennis club
• importance of club activity

★Body
Things I learned from this club activity

• hard practicing
• about summer training camp
• large voice
• games (Last big game)

Best freinds of my club

• mental support
• cooperation
• good rivals
• funny

★Conclusion

How I felt these things

[48 words]

BR2-15: The Motorway

How are you today?
Today is Friday, so I'm happy because it's last day of the hard week.

By the way, I read the book " The Motorway" today and it's Gran's story, my favorite.
This story is related with nature and taught me the importance of nature.


The main character, Gran live in a cottage in a little village and her grandchildren, Chip and Biff really like to play in her garden because it's grand and has a beautiful green nature. I thought that I became want to run in a such grand beautiful grass field. They played a Chinese big dragon kite. But... when the wind blew it away and landed in a tree, a woman who wearing a work dress and has a long pole got the kite down with it and told to Gran a plan of building a motorway in their village.

Gran, Chip and Biff were very upset and also the village people were upset. They decided to stop the plan, so they made some big banners and protected in a meeting but they couldn't stop it.
One day, Gran found a few rare flowers and it was a hope for the village future and nature's future. Thanks to the rare flowers, they could stop the plan!

I thought that nature's power is stronger than human's power. Human and nature have to live together!

[238 words]

Community life: Free-writing2-03

I have no community now, so I will introduce my past community. I was belong to soft tennis club activity in my junior high school days. My soft tennis club members were 8 people they were all funny and important exsists for me. Ofcorce we had to practice tennis hard every day. It was really hard for me. There were many coarchs in my club not only junior high school teacher but also other old coarches who play tennis very well. They were strict, but these advices were very important for us. We really needed them.

In summer vacation, we had to go training camp for three days and it was so hard training for us. We runned from the 温泉ドーム to 七城 tennis cort every day and then started training. It was really hot and I got sunstroke. One boy who belong to boy's soft tennis club was taken to a hospital by anbulance. However, we could build up our tennis teqnics then, so it was good experience for us.

[170 words]

Community life: Brainstorm2-03

My past community is soft tennis club activity.

• hard practicing
• summer training camp
  
• best friends
• club fellows
• many coachs
• games
• last big game for junior high school sporty students
  
• loss
• victory
• sub captain
• large voice
  
• supporter voice
• juniors of club

[40 words]

BR2-14: Frog and Toad Are Friends

Today I read "Frog and Toad are Friends". I have read this book in Japanese before. Maybe it was the time when I was a elementary school student and I was impressed by this story then. I love this story because the two frogs' characters are different and both interesting.

The main character, Frog and Toad are best friends and they always together. Also they always bear in mind their partner's position and feelings. For example, when Frog was not feeling well and rested in the bed, Toad thought story as hard as he could. And when Toad felt depressed about no mail, Frog wrote a letter to Toad. I think they are best friends in the world and I envy them. I have few best friends and I am happy to met them. I can't be with them everyday, but I love them.

This is short story but heartwarming. Also I thought about my friends.

[158 words]

Cooking is fun!

Today I made dinner for my family. I boiled rice, made miso soup and macaroni salad and broccoli salad. My mother helped me a little, so they were nice! My younger sister asked for a second helping of miso soup, so I was glad.

Actually, I don't cook everyday but I decided to cook dinner every Friday night because I learned that New Zealand people don't cook dinner on Friday. Friday is the day which people can feel relax and don't have to act hard. My host mother didn't cook on Friday and she ordered some fried potatos and fried fishes. So, people love Friday! Friday is best day!!:0
I think so too, if there are the habit in Japan.

I thought it's good idea, so I decided on try cooking dinner and that let my mother lead a confortable Friday night. Also cooking is one of the training for homemaking, so I'll try hard from now on!

[165 words]

BR2-13: Grasshopper on the road

What's up guys?

Cold these days, isn't it?



I read "Grasshopper on the road" today. I love this pictures in this book. Actually I don't like insect, but I like this Grasshopper on the picture because he is cute. There are some his short stories in this book, so it was easy to read and interesting.

I'll tell you a rough plot which is my favorite of this book a little bit. The main character of this story, Grasshopper wanted to go on a journey. He found a lovely road and met group of beetles at first. They were singing and dancing because they were morning lover club! I thought it's so funny because they are a likely thing in the actual insect world. Grasshopper love morning too, but he also love afternoon, so beetles were angry and shouted at Grasshopper. Then he were alone, so kept traveling. He met many insect.

He met three beautiful batterflies at edge of the road. He sat on the big mushroom and then three batterflies asked him to move aside from the mushroom. The three battaflies said they were doing some things every day. The mashroom is that they always sit on, and each and every day they do the same things at the same time. I think it's too boring thing. I wonder they never get tired of doing same things every day. I think human life and also insect life become more interesting because of doing different things and happning different things in every day life. That is one of the value of human and insect life, I think.

This is a insect story, but it was similar to human's life. I enjoyed reading this!

[291 words]

Zukudan Zun Bun Guuun~~~~!!!!!!

Hey, guys. What's up? I'm good today!
I'll talk about comedy today. Do you like owarai? I like watching comedy programs with my family. My family is similar to me about the essence of humor. We watch some comedy programs on YouTube
and we discovered ourselves quite taken with Hanya's short skit (conte)!

Their "Zukudan Zun Bun Gun Game" is sooooo funny and crazy!!!!

I think they might be crazy and idiot, but I love it. I wanna do together with them someday. HAHA
I think you go love it after you watch it.
Soooo, check it out!:b


[103 words]

MR2-01: Mr. Doubtfire ~Family love is forever~

I watched "Mrs. Doubtfire", and it was so interesting and heartwarming movie. I watched it about more than 10 times when I was a child, so it is one of my favorite movies. I love this movie because I feel familial ties and parental love. Daniel taught all people that there are many kinds of family style, the way of dealing of children, and how important "love" is. I think family is absolutely essential to human beings because human can't live along. Family helps you sometimes and supports you behind your back. Also family gives us peace of mind. I love my family and I think you too. We can learn a lot of things from family and the movie is also taught us many things with humor. So, I'm gonna tell you the three interesting points below.

To begin with, the story tells us the parent's love for their children. The main character, Daniel who has three children went to meet his children so far dress up as a woman. I think ordinary people can't do that. Daniel really wanted to meet his children everyday and watch over them at their side. It's interesting that child need parent and also parent need child. However, Daniel didn't treat his children as he done. He changed his before style and disciplined strictly. I couldn't understand why he did such a thing at the first time, but I thought that his purpose was to gain favor with Miranda and hired by her for a long time and make times to spend his children. The way of discipline is strict, but that contained his parental love for his children.

Next, the way of dealing with children is interesting. Daniel has highly humor and he allow his native sense of humor a loose rein. He always makes children smile. He doesn't treat child as little child but a human. He treats children on a footing of equality and he said "You don't have to play down to children. You just play to them" on this screen. And that is why Daniel is loved by children and other people, I think. If I have children, I'll try to treat them as he said. There are happy people and children always full of laughter around Daniel. He has a feeling like a child, he act just as he think and these are his personal magnetism.

Finally, Daniel taught us that there are many kinds of family style. I have father, mother and younger sister, but there are people don't have father or mother or even family, and there are also many children don't have parent because of highly divorce rate and single mother. It's sad thing for children that their family break up because of only their parent's selfish reason. However, Mrs. Doubtfire taught us "If there's love, we're the ties that bind. And we'll have a family in our heart forever". This is most important words in this story and it's so heartwarming.

In the conclusion, family is special existence, so if family break up, there are the ties that bind. We sometimes quarrel with our family over a matter because family is most closest existence but we have to know that is also most important existence for us. I'll try to remember Mrs. Doubtfire's heartwarming words and take good care of my parents and my sister. If I have my future family, I'll also take care them with love.

This is "goo movie" link →http://movie.goo.ne.jp/movies/PMVWKPD10771/

[608 words]

Disguises: Free writing 2

I have never disguised other persons or animals but I'd like to do it because I can change myself. I can be other person as if I have being the person. I think If we disguise, we will change not only our outward appearance but also our minds. It's interesting because we regarded outward as important not an interior although some people say "You can't judge people by appearance. It's what's inside that counts."

[79 words]

Family: Free writing2-01

Most people love family. I love my family also. I've lived with my family since I was born, so family is my special existence for me. My family is a happy family always full of laughter. We like watching interesting TV programs and movies. The time watching TV or movies with my family is my favorite time. If my family have a problem, I will help and support them and make them smiley face.

[75 words]

BR2-12: The Coldest Place on Earth

I read " The coldest place on earth" today. It is a history of Robert Falcon Scott who is an Englishman and went to the coldest place on earth. I didn't know the history, and also I've never been the coldest place, so I was interested in this story. Have you ever been to cold place? Kumamoto's winter is not so cold, y' know, so we can't experience cold place. I think the coldest place is not a place which human can live. There are no food and warm things. If I were there, maybe I can't spend a long time.

The main character, Scott is a captain of his ship and in summer of 1910, a race which to be a first human at the South Pole began. They tried to go South Pole, in Antarctica but it was really hard and dangerous place. Human can't go there easily, so Scott and his member took many ponies and dogs. They pull sledges and skied. The temperature was sometimes -40° Centigrade. I thought it's so hard and people maybe couldn't walk. We can go there by helicopter or other transportation system now, but they didn't have these then. It's impossible thing! They were really amazing guys, so I respect them.

[219 words]

Superstitions!

I learned superstitions in the United States and Japan in today's speaking class.
I didn't know about these, so I asked my mother and she knows a lots.
There are lot of lucky things in Japan.

• A thousand origami cranes tied together on a string
• A tea stalk (floats vertically in one’s tea)
• Four-leaf clover
• A good luck charm
• Cast-off skin of a snake

These are five things people in Japan believe bring bad luck.

• Breaking lace like shoelace before you get out
• Don’t use needle and thread before you get out.
• Getting a piece broken rice bowl or tea cup
• Getting a piece broken seal
• If you cut your nails at night, you will have bad luck
  

There are some superstitions in Japan.

• If you sleep wearing socks, you won’t be able to be with parents when they die.
• It’s better to eat head of fish when you take an exam.
• If you eat a deep-fried breaded cutlet before you take an exam, you will pass the exam.
• If you have a fit of sneezing, someone gossip about you.
• If you good-luck ribbon worn around the wrist break, your wish will come true.

My mother told me about the superstitions in my childhood, and she said “If you whistle at night, a snake will come to you”. Did you know that? I think your parents also told you before.

In United States, people believe that 13th is bad luck. The unlucky day in Japan is June 6th because it called “day of devil”.
I don’t want believe in superstitions but I believe it inadvertently because they’re traditions from ancient times. However, I learned that superstitions are for keep good manners. People don't want children or other people to act with bad manners. Then ancient people made superstitions, we thought. It's really thoughtful because I've never thought these things.

Superstitions are interesting.

[327 words]

Mrs. Doubtfire: Outline 02

This is "Mrs. Doubtfire" outline. My essay needs some photos and Youtube and links.



★Intro

• How I feel this story
• Why I feel it interesting...interesting point
• Main character
• About the story

★Body

• Interesting point 1 (Parental love and feelings)

Went to meet his children so far dress up as a woman. The way of disciplining of children.

• Interesting point 2 (The way of dealing with children)

Make children smile. Treat children on a footing of equality.

• Interesting point 3 (Daniel taught us the important things)

There are many kinds of different families. If there's love, we're the ties that bind.

★Conclusion

• My thinking about familial ties

[109 words]

Mrs. Doubtfire: Brainstorm 02

These are "Mrs. Doubtfire" essay's brainstorm.

• familial ties
• parent-child ties
• problem of divorce
• humour
  
• parental love
• different style of families
• house maid
• love
• confidence
• straighten up
• joint custody
• make a change
• the eyes of the world

[38 words]

Hair Spray

I wathched a movie "Hair Spray" yesterday with my sister. It's so fun movie and we really enjoyed watching it. This movie is musical and they were sometimes dancing and singing fantastic songs. The main character girl's dance is so cute and hot!! Actually she was an ordinary person before she appear on the screen. I was very surprised to hear that coz she has a very good talent. However, this is so fantastic movie, so if you like dancing and singing, you'd better watch this movie. Zac efron acting "Link" is so cute guy (>U<)

Check it out!!
[102 words]

BR2-11: Survival Adventure

Today, I read this book “Survival Adventure”. Have you ever experienced survival camping? I never, but I’d like to experience it. However, camping is so fun, isn’t it? I love the atmosphere of camping because we can have barbecue with friends or family with chatting and also we can contact with beautiful nature.

The main characters of this story, Wilf and Chip took a tent round to Chip’s house and they slept into the tent. They enjoyed the camping in the garden, but a magic key took them to survival adventure. There were a lot of wild animals like very big bear and Indians. Spending in forest is very dangerous, so we have to cooperate and help each other. It's not only a problem when we are faced in dangerous situation but also we have to help each other when we are cooking or washing or something like that. However, camping is so exciting, so I'd like to do it next year!!

[167 words]