I just found that I haven't updated this blog super for a while..
I think I did that last time in March.
OMG, May is already coming, time flies.
And there's one and a half month before I leave San Diego.
I can't believe that, cause everything here has already become 'natural'.
I will have another culture shock when I come back.
This quarter is busy (as usual...hey, I'm feelin like I'm always saying "busy"..lol. Whenever i see friends on the street, and converse, "hi, how are you, Kosuke" ," yeah, pretty good, I'm kinda 'busy'"..lol maybe i use that word as a proxy of something else, which comes from lack of vocabulary.)
anyway, what's so busy?
I go to the class two days in a week, but i started to go to the San Diego High School to tutor the relatively low-achievement students three-times a week. Most of them have less motivation for studying and no interest in college. What I should do as a tutor is empowering them and being a roll model as a college student. It's kinda tough work. They are really cute, though. They are the same as Japanese high school students, even though they differ culturally. The San Diego High School consists of the majority of Latino/a students. So, I am really rare, and I look like 'alien' for them. They come to ask me to speak or write Japanese. They ask me how to say 'F*ck' in Japanese. (soon they used that to their teachers, which is wonderful)
I'm having fun.
Plus I've gotta do additional preparation for test to become teachers as well as usual course work.
It's hard.
By the way, my roomies are really funny especially nowadays.
I think it's just because we have had fun time together for almost one year.
We became much closer,,,that's why. I should have fun time as much as I can with them together before leaving.
I'm not sure if I told here or not, but I was stalked by a crazy person for these months.
That was the worst experience I've ever had.
I rejected him by no contact anymore,,,,then he got excited. (I mean, he said, "why can you cut me off, souding like we are not friends anymore? my basic understanding is friends cannot cut communication suddenly, and friends should contact whenever and talk together." oh,,,well,,,,I'm sorry, at that time, I didn't think him even as "friends". Therefore what he's saying didn't make any sense)
To make matters worse, he started to obsess over me, and he seemed to have grudge against me absurdly,. (It doesn't make sense at all.)
What he did was trying to talk with my friends really randomly and spread the bad rumor about me. He tried to cut the friends connection of mine with my friends here in UCSD.
But it didn't work at all (no surprise). He tried to talk with people who don't know him at all. He just started to talk about me with unknown people suddenly. (He's just crazy) Every my friends is like "WTF are you saying? It doesn't matter. It's none of my businees." What's so mean and cruel is he hasn't come to me directly. I hadn't known that kind of crazy things were happning around me. My friends came to me and told me that he was doing super crazy things and I should be careful.
He even tries to report this problem to my home university. (I wonder if this can be categorized as that big problem to report my home university seriously. Definately not. It's just he stalked me and I rejected him. That's it.) I'm sorry. He cannot do that. He's niether even a UCSD student nor even a my home university student. My home university does not respond to you at all even if he tries that.
Even though he's not a student, he comes really often to my residence area, which makes me feel worried about going outside. ( I had extreme imagination that I would be killed by him, who gets excited so much)
He's usually staying at one mutual friend house.
One time, I was invited by the mutual friend to drink together. I thought only the mutual friend and I drink together one on one. But as soon as I entered his room, he (the crazy guy) was there!! That's much more scary than a cheezy horro movie.
From that, I haven't tried to see the mutual friend, because the crazy guy might be with him together.
yesterday, the mutual friend invited me to have dinner together. I honestly replied to him, "Sounds cool, but there's one thing I consider. Is ***(the name of the guy) with you? I seriously can't see him."
What do you think he said?
The mutual friend said to me, "Hey, actually I blocked him of the phonebook, facebook, gmail, skype,,,the reason? he's crazy. he's not my friends. "
Funny..but natural it is. The mutual friend cut off the all contacts with the crazy guy. He also rejected that crazy guy, too. It's no wonder that the crazy guy is seen as "crazy and so mean, cruel" from everybody. Now he can't come to our residence area. I finally can relax and walk around the residence area.
He should haven't tried to talk to everybody to speak evil of me. He has no one but yourself to blame. It's his fault.
So, now I have no fear. I can enjoy the rest of the study abroad life fully.
I'll come back on 13th June.
See you soon
Apr 30, 2011
Mar 28, 2011
Here I start. 11 more weeks, the Last quarter.
First of all, I pray for Japan, seriously. I still can't believe every news coming through on-line about current Japanese situation. I can't raise everything lost by this earth-quake. I always feel bad as a Japanese, cause I just make peace life here in the U.S. far from my country being in the disaster right now. What can I do? Radio active contamination is spreading, and Japanese products are refused to export to other countries. Related to the earthquake, Japanese economy is falling down. The only thing I can do right now is,,,pray, getting information, study, and think.
Today, here I start the final quarter! I have only 11 more weeks before leaving San Diego, CA, the United States. Time flies. I'm going to take 6 courses in this quarter. (Fall quarter: 3, Winter: 4, and...) Also I have to study for the test to become a teacher of Chiba prefecture. This quarter must be "study quarter". Sounds nice,,,(hahahah) I got the grades of the last quarter, which were B+, B, B, C+.. At least I passed all of them (yey) I was wondering if I could pass one of them, of which I didn't go to the lecture most of the time. That worked.. But one funny thing is a course I worked really hard was C+ and, a course I didn't study at all was B+....That happens.
Now I can count down until I go back to Japan.
77 more days.
Today, here I start the final quarter! I have only 11 more weeks before leaving San Diego, CA, the United States. Time flies. I'm going to take 6 courses in this quarter. (Fall quarter: 3, Winter: 4, and...) Also I have to study for the test to become a teacher of Chiba prefecture. This quarter must be "study quarter". Sounds nice,,,(hahahah) I got the grades of the last quarter, which were B+, B, B, C+.. At least I passed all of them (yey) I was wondering if I could pass one of them, of which I didn't go to the lecture most of the time. That worked.. But one funny thing is a course I worked really hard was C+ and, a course I didn't study at all was B+....That happens.
Now I can count down until I go back to Japan.
77 more days.
Mar 6, 2011
That's what I want to see!
Phew....today I have been writing a research paper almost all the day.
I've already written more than 4,500 words. I think this is the longest English writing ever.
I feel like getting back my concentration on study as I had when junior-high and high school.
I feel I can continue this concentration tomorrow, too.
By the way, as a study break, I went to see the volleyball game UCSD vs Stanford at UCSD arena.
Of course Stanford won. (UCSD is so weak. They miss service too often, and above all, setter is really bad. He is always "holding" What a poor set!)
What I got really excited was the team-formation and attack pattern is my ideal. They hit the ball smartly. They use fake, combination (awesome!), pipe (I love it!), and so on. Lots of techniques. They do not just hit powerfully without thinking like UCSD...lol Plus their services are contiuously focusing on one poor guy in UCSD who is bat at pass (service reception). That is so funny and cool. As we expected, that poor guy missed reception, which makes UCSD upset. They do three linked (connected) block. This is also awesome. Setter is really nice. i like the team whose setter is really nice.
I was kinda amazed and satisfied.
Good night.
I've already written more than 4,500 words. I think this is the longest English writing ever.
I feel like getting back my concentration on study as I had when junior-high and high school.
I feel I can continue this concentration tomorrow, too.
By the way, as a study break, I went to see the volleyball game UCSD vs Stanford at UCSD arena.
Of course Stanford won. (UCSD is so weak. They miss service too often, and above all, setter is really bad. He is always "holding" What a poor set!)
What I got really excited was the team-formation and attack pattern is my ideal. They hit the ball smartly. They use fake, combination (awesome!), pipe (I love it!), and so on. Lots of techniques. They do not just hit powerfully without thinking like UCSD...lol Plus their services are contiuously focusing on one poor guy in UCSD who is bat at pass (service reception). That is so funny and cool. As we expected, that poor guy missed reception, which makes UCSD upset. They do three linked (connected) block. This is also awesome. Setter is really nice. i like the team whose setter is really nice.
I was kinda amazed and satisfied.
Good night.
Mar 5, 2011
becoming better
After passing really lazy days, my motivation is rising up on this Friday.
phew. That's good. I think I can be passionate for working on my paper this weekend.
I definately need to work on that this weekend, because next weekend I'm going to go to San Francisco again to meet the person who was in the swim-team of Nanzan university.
When I went to the Nanzan University for Jo-Nan sen (Sophia vs Nanzan sports match), I met her.
She is also studying abroad now in Kentucky. She has been saying that she wants to come to California.
She asked me that let's go to the San Francisco together. But it's a little bit far from San Diego, Southern California to San Francisco, Northern California. I need to fly there. But I will go, cause I wanted to visit there again before going back to Japan. When I went there last time, I found there really awesome nice city. But as we were idiot, our schedule was pretty stupid. We went to bet 4 or 5 am and got up like at 3pm, so I didn't go to the town in daytime. hahaha.....and we just ran through the city by car.
My belief is that we need to walk through the city if we want to know and enjoy the city. Don't you think so?
So I'm gonna go there and check what it is like.
The only think I care is we are going to share the hotel....which means....only she and me.....lol....nothing would happen for sure. But......, no I'm just kidding....don't take it seriously....lol
By the way, I received the grade of mid-term of one class. I took 75. A friend of mine who is taking the same class with me got 70. She got little bit frustrated, because she always listens to the lecture and takes notes seriously. Contraty to that I don't listen to the lecture at all, instead I read a book irrelevant to the class. But I got better grade than her...lol I feel sorry for her. But it happens.
I need to get back my paper
phew. That's good. I think I can be passionate for working on my paper this weekend.
I definately need to work on that this weekend, because next weekend I'm going to go to San Francisco again to meet the person who was in the swim-team of Nanzan university.
When I went to the Nanzan University for Jo-Nan sen (Sophia vs Nanzan sports match), I met her.
She is also studying abroad now in Kentucky. She has been saying that she wants to come to California.
She asked me that let's go to the San Francisco together. But it's a little bit far from San Diego, Southern California to San Francisco, Northern California. I need to fly there. But I will go, cause I wanted to visit there again before going back to Japan. When I went there last time, I found there really awesome nice city. But as we were idiot, our schedule was pretty stupid. We went to bet 4 or 5 am and got up like at 3pm, so I didn't go to the town in daytime. hahaha.....and we just ran through the city by car.
My belief is that we need to walk through the city if we want to know and enjoy the city. Don't you think so?
So I'm gonna go there and check what it is like.
The only think I care is we are going to share the hotel....which means....only she and me.....lol....nothing would happen for sure. But......, no I'm just kidding....don't take it seriously....lol
By the way, I received the grade of mid-term of one class. I took 75. A friend of mine who is taking the same class with me got 70. She got little bit frustrated, because she always listens to the lecture and takes notes seriously. Contraty to that I don't listen to the lecture at all, instead I read a book irrelevant to the class. But I got better grade than her...lol I feel sorry for her. But it happens.
I need to get back my paper
Mar 2, 2011
What is happening?
Nowadays, I am the laziest in my life..
Hahaha, what happened to me?
As I've been saying, I am almost tired of lecture style class.
I don't want to go to the class, sit, and listen to the lecture...
Then I skip the class. haha. The funny thing is that once I skip the class, I become used to doing that and do that again and again.....lol
I should activate myself....
Plus I'm sick right now which makes me less powerful.
I attend the meeting only for attendants of CGIU (Clinton Global Initiative University)
We share our each proposal for global problems happening right now.
Every other member is really powerful. More passionate than me.
If I can make a speech in Japanese, I'm definately sure that I can be more powerful and I can make convinsing, persuasive, and clear presentation.
I didn't do well to talk about own proposal.
Someone gave me some feedbacks. They said, "You need to brush your public speaking skills."
Damn it...lol
and at night, I don't know why, I went to the bed at 9pm, but I can't sleep...
I stop trying to sleep, got up at 0am and browsed the internet for a while (I know that's waisting time.)
and get back to sleep at 3am.
I got up again 10am. (I had a class which starts at 9am,, I don't care lol)
Do you agree that we need a certain behavior to waste time?
Hahaha, what happened to me?
As I've been saying, I am almost tired of lecture style class.
I don't want to go to the class, sit, and listen to the lecture...
Then I skip the class. haha. The funny thing is that once I skip the class, I become used to doing that and do that again and again.....lol
I should activate myself....
Plus I'm sick right now which makes me less powerful.
I attend the meeting only for attendants of CGIU (Clinton Global Initiative University)
We share our each proposal for global problems happening right now.
Every other member is really powerful. More passionate than me.
If I can make a speech in Japanese, I'm definately sure that I can be more powerful and I can make convinsing, persuasive, and clear presentation.
I didn't do well to talk about own proposal.
Someone gave me some feedbacks. They said, "You need to brush your public speaking skills."
Damn it...lol
and at night, I don't know why, I went to the bed at 9pm, but I can't sleep...
I stop trying to sleep, got up at 0am and browsed the internet for a while (I know that's waisting time.)
and get back to sleep at 3am.
I got up again 10am. (I had a class which starts at 9am,, I don't care lol)
Do you agree that we need a certain behavior to waste time?
Mar 1, 2011
the next quarter
Yesterday I went to a rofessor's office whose research interest is the same as mine. I asked her to admit my taking the course, "special individual research". She said, "Cool, if you submit research proposal to me."
I asked her, "What is special individual research like?"
She answered, "It's like working on your research by yourself, no class."
Woo Hoo!! No class, and I can get 4 units ! Why didn't find that kind of nice free course until now?
I want to take the lecture style courses as less as possible..lol. I'm tired of lecture. lol
When I tell this to one of my friend, he said, "Huh? That's university." lol
No, it's not. University gives freedom, rights, and opportunity to study what you want as much as you want.
By the way, in the beginning of the next quarter, as I said, I'm gonna attentd the conference of CGIU.
(Clinton Global Initiative University)
On the facebook, the group of CGIU 2011 which allow only attendants of the conference to get in.
When I went in to the site of the group on the facebook, and saw the biograophy and self-introduction,
I found that the conference might not be the place I should be.
Many of the attendants are grad students, and most of them are from really good university like Harvard, Yale, UPenn, other IVY, MIT, and so on...
Moreover, many of them have already started thier own project closely associated with the local community. They are serious and practical. Some founded the organization or NPO...
What I did was.....just studing and researching......ah, oh....
That's fine,, anyway I can meet Clinton and such super students. That's the way lucky goes.
I asked her, "What is special individual research like?"
She answered, "It's like working on your research by yourself, no class."
Woo Hoo!! No class, and I can get 4 units ! Why didn't find that kind of nice free course until now?
I want to take the lecture style courses as less as possible..lol. I'm tired of lecture. lol
When I tell this to one of my friend, he said, "Huh? That's university." lol
No, it's not. University gives freedom, rights, and opportunity to study what you want as much as you want.
By the way, in the beginning of the next quarter, as I said, I'm gonna attentd the conference of CGIU.
(Clinton Global Initiative University)
On the facebook, the group of CGIU 2011 which allow only attendants of the conference to get in.
When I went in to the site of the group on the facebook, and saw the biograophy and self-introduction,
I found that the conference might not be the place I should be.
Many of the attendants are grad students, and most of them are from really good university like Harvard, Yale, UPenn, other IVY, MIT, and so on...
Moreover, many of them have already started thier own project closely associated with the local community. They are serious and practical. Some founded the organization or NPO...
What I did was.....just studing and researching......ah, oh....
That's fine,, anyway I can meet Clinton and such super students. That's the way lucky goes.
Feb 23, 2011
I'm good
I think I write this diary less often nowadays. That's not good.
I should write even short two or three sentences (that's too less though,).
Let me excuse...I'm getting really busy.
I got lots of nice opportunity here in UCSD in this one week.
As I told you, I was selected the member of Clinton Global Initiative University.
I was invited to enroll the group on the facebook only for the attendants of that meeting.
Every member of that group is really excited. They are really from all over the world to here San Diego! what a lucky.
Second, I met a nice professor who is working on bilingual education for linguistically minority student in the community school and she is also organizing the courses which send UCSD students to public school. That is what I am taking at next quarter.
Third, I decided to go to Europe, mainly London and France for my spring vacation.
And,,,surprisingly,,,I heard that one of my best team mates of volleyball in my high school is also going to France at the same period!! So we can meet!! I became so excited. that is awesome to meet him outside Japan...lol
Nowdays, my study is also keep on going well as a routine works.
I should write even short two or three sentences (that's too less though,).
Let me excuse...I'm getting really busy.
I got lots of nice opportunity here in UCSD in this one week.
As I told you, I was selected the member of Clinton Global Initiative University.
I was invited to enroll the group on the facebook only for the attendants of that meeting.
Every member of that group is really excited. They are really from all over the world to here San Diego! what a lucky.
Second, I met a nice professor who is working on bilingual education for linguistically minority student in the community school and she is also organizing the courses which send UCSD students to public school. That is what I am taking at next quarter.
Third, I decided to go to Europe, mainly London and France for my spring vacation.
And,,,surprisingly,,,I heard that one of my best team mates of volleyball in my high school is also going to France at the same period!! So we can meet!! I became so excited. that is awesome to meet him outside Japan...lol
Nowdays, my study is also keep on going well as a routine works.
Feb 16, 2011
Yes!! Yey!! I made it!!
Wow......super news...
I was selected to attentd the meeting of Clinton Global Initiative University!!!
http://www.cgiu.org/
This meeting is that students from all over the world gather at one place and talk and make presentation about world problem.
This event is founded and funded by former president of the United States, Clinton.
I can meet and talk with him!!! So excited!! I am also excited to meet genius students from all over the world.
I'm so happy and lucky...
Lucky 1; this meeting is annually held in a campus of the university in the U.S. and , super luckily, this year, our school, UCSD hosts this event!! So lucky was the UCSD chosen as a host school!! I heard last year was Miami, Florida. anyway, this is so rare chance I would never have in the future.
Lucky 2; to attend this meeting, each applicant has to submit application form and commitment for problems.
CGIU focus on five areas in world problems, that is, "Education, Environment & Climate Change, Peace & Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, and Public Health."
we need to make and submit plan and research for one things related to an area of these five when applying
Luckily, there is Education! so i wrote many things about minority bilingual education especially in california.
But seeing the students who attend the last year's one, everyone seems so smart and professional.
They are extraordinary. Many of them already are in some project closely connected to the community or society. In contrast, I am just reading books, researching on the desk. I haven't done any practical things to solve the problem I'm raising.
So I though i would lose in selection for attending this meeting. I really wanted to attend it.
I can't miss this super rare opportunity in UCSD. It will never happer for UCSD students also maybe.
I wrote so many stuffs including professors names working on the same field as mine. I pretended to work on my research with them..lol..
and,,,I passed!!
I can't believe it....
I difinitely need to study or research seriously to catch up the world elite students...
I was selected to attentd the meeting of Clinton Global Initiative University!!!
http://www.cgiu.org/
This meeting is that students from all over the world gather at one place and talk and make presentation about world problem.
This event is founded and funded by former president of the United States, Clinton.
I can meet and talk with him!!! So excited!! I am also excited to meet genius students from all over the world.
I'm so happy and lucky...
Lucky 1; this meeting is annually held in a campus of the university in the U.S. and , super luckily, this year, our school, UCSD hosts this event!! So lucky was the UCSD chosen as a host school!! I heard last year was Miami, Florida. anyway, this is so rare chance I would never have in the future.
Lucky 2; to attend this meeting, each applicant has to submit application form and commitment for problems.
CGIU focus on five areas in world problems, that is, "Education, Environment & Climate Change, Peace & Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, and Public Health."
we need to make and submit plan and research for one things related to an area of these five when applying
Luckily, there is Education! so i wrote many things about minority bilingual education especially in california.
But seeing the students who attend the last year's one, everyone seems so smart and professional.
They are extraordinary. Many of them already are in some project closely connected to the community or society. In contrast, I am just reading books, researching on the desk. I haven't done any practical things to solve the problem I'm raising.
So I though i would lose in selection for attending this meeting. I really wanted to attend it.
I can't miss this super rare opportunity in UCSD. It will never happer for UCSD students also maybe.
I wrote so many stuffs including professors names working on the same field as mine. I pretended to work on my research with them..lol..
and,,,I passed!!
I can't believe it....
I difinitely need to study or research seriously to catch up the world elite students...
Feb 14, 2011
It's been a while
It's been a while..I haven't updated this blog for a while.
That is because I had so many shocking things in this one or two weeks.
Simply put, that is , one of my friendship network here is broken up.
I had hung out with these freinds mainly until nowdays.
But I can't have fun with them anymore.
They're not friends anymore. Their personality is too crazy for me to understand.
Their manner of communication as adults are beyond my understanding.
Then I decided not to get along with them anymore. There're still more friends or new people here in the U.S.
I don't care and should not hesitate to cut off such crazy people to protect myself.
But honestly, my mental is being hurt.
Now is the good opportunity to study as hard as I did when I got ready for entrace examination.
That is because I had so many shocking things in this one or two weeks.
Simply put, that is , one of my friendship network here is broken up.
I had hung out with these freinds mainly until nowdays.
But I can't have fun with them anymore.
They're not friends anymore. Their personality is too crazy for me to understand.
Their manner of communication as adults are beyond my understanding.
Then I decided not to get along with them anymore. There're still more friends or new people here in the U.S.
I don't care and should not hesitate to cut off such crazy people to protect myself.
But honestly, my mental is being hurt.
Now is the good opportunity to study as hard as I did when I got ready for entrace examination.
Feb 8, 2011
The Half is done
The half of this study abroad is done. Already.
What did I do in this former period?
How did I change?
What did I get (gain)?
Did I grow?
I don't know how I changed and what I got completely.
But I can say while I try to get closer to American things (including people, language, culture, society, and so forth. Everything.), my identity as a Japanese is becoming stronger.
Nowadays I'm wondering what I can do if I go back to Japan. I feel like disadvantage of doing anything here in the U.S. That is why I feel like I can do more and I can take advantage in Japan. It doesn't mean only English skills. I mean, (this is actually related to language, though) here in the U.N. I still tend to be passive. I listen to the story from other people, and I just read or get input from media or something. Just receiving inputs. I still can't approach, state, be active, and change something by myself. When I'm in the think tank, I feel like I'm powerless. If I were in Japan, I could approach public, or some other people by myself.
What I should do in this latter half period is.....
Considering what I can and would do when I go back to Japan, study hard (as I say to myself usually).
Let's study pretty much harder than usual study abroad students. Most of them just finished study abroad by only making friends, traveling, improving their English (a little bit), and studying a little bit. I've never heard that "I studied really hard" from anyone , I know, who went to the study abroad. Everyone says, "I could make international friends.", "I could communicate internationally." and "That was the really great time I could be active and I became change." bluh-bluh-bluh-lol
Even though everyone (study abroad students) says, "I could communicate internationally" or "I could improve English", their English is not so good as I expected.
In terms of English skills, "usual" or "just good" English is not enough if they went study abroad.
If people went study abroad, they need to show "Extremely good" English.
Don't say it's hard. Study abroad students (we) have nice and important opportunity that everyone cannot have.
We should use this opportunity fully enough and study hard. This is kinda mandatory. Mission. It's not a trip. Mission. We should keep in mind, what and how we can contribute after we go back.
Of course not only English....I don't have to mention, right?
But the fact is...that most of the study abroad students here don't even think about such a thing. (maybe)
I don't say to each of them that kind of things.
I just don't wanna be "usual" case. I want to be "extremely successful" case in study abroad.
The half is done. There are 15 weeks.
Time is money.
Just enjoying, improving English, and
What did I do in this former period?
How did I change?
What did I get (gain)?
Did I grow?
I don't know how I changed and what I got completely.
But I can say while I try to get closer to American things (including people, language, culture, society, and so forth. Everything.), my identity as a Japanese is becoming stronger.
Nowadays I'm wondering what I can do if I go back to Japan. I feel like disadvantage of doing anything here in the U.S. That is why I feel like I can do more and I can take advantage in Japan. It doesn't mean only English skills. I mean, (this is actually related to language, though) here in the U.N. I still tend to be passive. I listen to the story from other people, and I just read or get input from media or something. Just receiving inputs. I still can't approach, state, be active, and change something by myself. When I'm in the think tank, I feel like I'm powerless. If I were in Japan, I could approach public, or some other people by myself.
What I should do in this latter half period is.....
Considering what I can and would do when I go back to Japan, study hard (as I say to myself usually).
Let's study pretty much harder than usual study abroad students. Most of them just finished study abroad by only making friends, traveling, improving their English (a little bit), and studying a little bit. I've never heard that "I studied really hard" from anyone , I know, who went to the study abroad. Everyone says, "I could make international friends.", "I could communicate internationally." and "That was the really great time I could be active and I became change." bluh-bluh-bluh-lol
Even though everyone (study abroad students) says, "I could communicate internationally" or "I could improve English", their English is not so good as I expected.
In terms of English skills, "usual" or "just good" English is not enough if they went study abroad.
If people went study abroad, they need to show "Extremely good" English.
Don't say it's hard. Study abroad students (we) have nice and important opportunity that everyone cannot have.
We should use this opportunity fully enough and study hard. This is kinda mandatory. Mission. It's not a trip. Mission. We should keep in mind, what and how we can contribute after we go back.
Of course not only English....I don't have to mention, right?
But the fact is...that most of the study abroad students here don't even think about such a thing. (maybe)
I don't say to each of them that kind of things.
I just don't wanna be "usual" case. I want to be "extremely successful" case in study abroad.
The half is done. There are 15 weeks.
Time is money.
Just enjoying, improving English, and
Feb 3, 2011
getting closet to right
Since I came here, I feel my opinion on several things getting closer to the right, conservative.
I didn't think that I was conervative while i was in Japan.
That is no surprise, becaue American's "Liberal" is EXTREME. too extreme. why are there so many people or idea extreme here in the U.S.. that's interesting, though..
I will never accept Marijuana, Drug, homo. Never. totally not. There is no room to discuss. Never necessary.
I need to mention that I am homophobia.
Plus, if I come back to Japan, maybe I might become xenophobia.
I know I need to protect and empower foreign immigrants entering Japan "involuntarily".
But because of the lack of the labors, some(many) of the componies try to loosen the restriction on the immigration and employ lots of immigrants who can work with really lower wages.
If we loosen the restricition of immigration, unprecedent number of immigrants would come into Japan.
They have totally different culture, and they don't speak Japan.
Japan is getting more Americanization. Why do some politician in Japan try to follow the U.S. on everything without analyzing and studying what the U.S. did and what was the wrong in the U.S. histrory. They just follow without thinking. They don't try to learn.
If the influx of 'voluntary' immigrants happens, I will become xenophobia.....
I didn't think that I was conervative while i was in Japan.
That is no surprise, becaue American's "Liberal" is EXTREME. too extreme. why are there so many people or idea extreme here in the U.S.. that's interesting, though..
I will never accept Marijuana, Drug, homo. Never. totally not. There is no room to discuss. Never necessary.
I need to mention that I am homophobia.
Plus, if I come back to Japan, maybe I might become xenophobia.
I know I need to protect and empower foreign immigrants entering Japan "involuntarily".
But because of the lack of the labors, some(many) of the componies try to loosen the restriction on the immigration and employ lots of immigrants who can work with really lower wages.
If we loosen the restricition of immigration, unprecedent number of immigrants would come into Japan.
They have totally different culture, and they don't speak Japan.
Japan is getting more Americanization. Why do some politician in Japan try to follow the U.S. on everything without analyzing and studying what the U.S. did and what was the wrong in the U.S. histrory. They just follow without thinking. They don't try to learn.
If the influx of 'voluntary' immigrants happens, I will become xenophobia.....
Feb 2, 2011
Thank you, San Diego
The weather here in San Diego helps me a lot...
Actually, I can't say what it is exactly, but anyway, yesterday I had several really shocking things which made me kinda panic. That was really shocking and extreme. I can give a hint of it, and that is "American" things. That shocking things are really American....I don't think that happen in Japan usually. (in my subjective opinion)
Anyway, I was so down and depressed....I couldn't avoid thiking that things last night even if I were studying or doing other things.
But this morning, I was amazed and realized the super clear warm weather here in La Jolla.\
Blue sky, no clouds, sunny. Warm. That makes me feel better. Thank you, San Diego.
I think I did good choice thinking about such situation. If I went to the East Coast, maybe my depressing and down feeling would not be better, because the weather is really cold and there so much snow. That makes my feeling remain negative.
Actually I still have bad feeling and being kinda negative,
But I empowered myself.
"I can study abroad by support of my family and Japanese people's tax (I got a scholarship that I don't have to return(pay back) )
I have to study hard and make use the most of this opportunity, and I have to contribute to the Japanese society later. This is mandetory. I owe Japanese society and my parents so much money and other thins.
There is no time being negative and depressed.
Keep on going for studying hard."
Actually, I can't say what it is exactly, but anyway, yesterday I had several really shocking things which made me kinda panic. That was really shocking and extreme. I can give a hint of it, and that is "American" things. That shocking things are really American....I don't think that happen in Japan usually. (in my subjective opinion)
Anyway, I was so down and depressed....I couldn't avoid thiking that things last night even if I were studying or doing other things.
But this morning, I was amazed and realized the super clear warm weather here in La Jolla.\
Blue sky, no clouds, sunny. Warm. That makes me feel better. Thank you, San Diego.
I think I did good choice thinking about such situation. If I went to the East Coast, maybe my depressing and down feeling would not be better, because the weather is really cold and there so much snow. That makes my feeling remain negative.
Actually I still have bad feeling and being kinda negative,
But I empowered myself.
"I can study abroad by support of my family and Japanese people's tax (I got a scholarship that I don't have to return(pay back) )
I have to study hard and make use the most of this opportunity, and I have to contribute to the Japanese society later. This is mandetory. I owe Japanese society and my parents so much money and other thins.
There is no time being negative and depressed.
Keep on going for studying hard."
Jan 31, 2011
hard assignment
for the social studies class, I need to turn in the reflection (what I thought, felt, or learned) of the class every week.
But the topic of the last class was "homosexual"....
that is really hard to mention about it. I should not be biased and say discrimination against homosexual in the class, which saves freedom and peace. There might be some homosexual people in the class. Even the professor might be homosexual!!
Mentioning about racial problem is easy, because it is obvious and no doubt what is bad. We must not discriminate people only by race (or skin color). That is it. Simple. No doubt. Everyone agrees if they have received common education.
But in terms of homosexual problem, that is too controversial.....
Eventually I couldn't stop being against admitting homosexual marriage or family publicly.
ahhhhhhhhh.
I should not care about it, because this is a reflection paper. I can write whatever I thought.
I hope the professor is not........ I'm just kidding....calm down
But the topic of the last class was "homosexual"....
that is really hard to mention about it. I should not be biased and say discrimination against homosexual in the class, which saves freedom and peace. There might be some homosexual people in the class. Even the professor might be homosexual!!
Mentioning about racial problem is easy, because it is obvious and no doubt what is bad. We must not discriminate people only by race (or skin color). That is it. Simple. No doubt. Everyone agrees if they have received common education.
But in terms of homosexual problem, that is too controversial.....
Eventually I couldn't stop being against admitting homosexual marriage or family publicly.
ahhhhhhhhh.
I should not care about it, because this is a reflection paper. I can write whatever I thought.
I hope the professor is not........ I'm just kidding....calm down
Test Of Evolving Idiotic Communication
By chance I came across the article about TOEIC, crazy popular English test in Japan.
This article says really interesting thing.
http://jalt.org/test/mcc_1.htm
I didn't know that TOEIC is fostered by Japanese people.
It says that Japanese people (officers of ministry) asked the ETS to make English test for Japanese people.
But first, Ministry of Education refused to such request, because they already supported "Eiken". They can't speak with a double tongue.
Eventually, some greedy people forcefully passed the acceptance to start TOEIC.
There is also the shocking fact in this article.
Actually, the fee of TOEIC is going to the profit of these founders.
Also the article mentions the relation of between the corpolation conducting TOEIC and "Amakudari". lol
Plus this test is not measuring the English skills of test-takers accurately. It doesn't show real English proficiency. It's really meaningless. That is working only as a motivation to study English.
Sadly, even if test-takers get a really high score, they still can't communicate with native speaker of English smoothly. For sure.
lol
What a nice test.....
This article says really interesting thing.
http://jalt.org/test/mcc_1.htm
I didn't know that TOEIC is fostered by Japanese people.
It says that Japanese people (officers of ministry) asked the ETS to make English test for Japanese people.
But first, Ministry of Education refused to such request, because they already supported "Eiken". They can't speak with a double tongue.
Eventually, some greedy people forcefully passed the acceptance to start TOEIC.
There is also the shocking fact in this article.
Actually, the fee of TOEIC is going to the profit of these founders.
Also the article mentions the relation of between the corpolation conducting TOEIC and "Amakudari". lol
Plus this test is not measuring the English skills of test-takers accurately. It doesn't show real English proficiency. It's really meaningless. That is working only as a motivation to study English.
Sadly, even if test-takers get a really high score, they still can't communicate with native speaker of English smoothly. For sure.
lol
What a nice test.....
lazy boy
I have a mid-term, tomorrow, but I can't concentrate on my study.
I lost interests in working really hard on usual course work.
I mean, usual course work is, taking a lecture, reviewing the class, study hard for exam, writing a paper on which I don't feel any interest, and getting grade.
I want to do more productive work. It is like telling other people what is happening in this world, what is important in our life and the world. I don't say studying hard for usual course work is not good. That is important.
But now I feel more interest on reading books I like, writing or expressing what I'm thinking, and researching on my thesis work.
There are too many important books to finish reading them in my life.
ahhhh....
I got surprised news.
One of my friend said, she applied for the admission of the University of Tokyo when she was in high school.
Really surprised.
She applied for it from California....How famous the University of Tokyo is.....lol
But she failed, and now she's in UCSD.
I lost interests in working really hard on usual course work.
I mean, usual course work is, taking a lecture, reviewing the class, study hard for exam, writing a paper on which I don't feel any interest, and getting grade.
I want to do more productive work. It is like telling other people what is happening in this world, what is important in our life and the world. I don't say studying hard for usual course work is not good. That is important.
But now I feel more interest on reading books I like, writing or expressing what I'm thinking, and researching on my thesis work.
There are too many important books to finish reading them in my life.
ahhhh....
I got surprised news.
One of my friend said, she applied for the admission of the University of Tokyo when she was in high school.
Really surprised.
She applied for it from California....How famous the University of Tokyo is.....lol
But she failed, and now she's in UCSD.
Jan 29, 2011
Facts
I found some interesting facts of the United States.
1. One out of eight (12.5 %) in the U.S. populations is foreign born.
2. Almost one in three Americans is non-white
3. The number of Latinos in the U.S. is greater than the population of Canada (!)
4. The boundary between Mexico and the United States has become perhaps the most militarized frontier between two nations at peace anywhere in the world. (!!!) (lol)
Easily we can imagine the United States will be "United Spanish".
I heard the racial remarks toward the immigrants from Mexico.
Some racist call them "wet bag"
That is because immigrants who crossed the boarder illegally, might have crossed the river, so their bag get wet. Funny reason and joke...
1. One out of eight (12.5 %) in the U.S. populations is foreign born.
2. Almost one in three Americans is non-white
3. The number of Latinos in the U.S. is greater than the population of Canada (!)
4. The boundary between Mexico and the United States has become perhaps the most militarized frontier between two nations at peace anywhere in the world. (!!!) (lol)
Easily we can imagine the United States will be "United Spanish".
I heard the racial remarks toward the immigrants from Mexico.
Some racist call them "wet bag"
That is because immigrants who crossed the boarder illegally, might have crossed the river, so their bag get wet. Funny reason and joke...
Jan 28, 2011
"What is this?" "Tar!" "Oh, year? Yes, Star! Good job!"
Today, in the class of language acquisition, the professor brought some children around 3~5-years-old.
We observe how those children produce words or sentences. That was like experiment.
We try to ask the children to produce some English words, "Red", "Star", "Car", and so forth through playing with them using toys.
They are really cute! Super cute! I love kids. Experiments went really well. As we expeted, the children produce sounds a little bit different from usual pronouncition.
They mainly drop "s" sounds which is the beginning of the words, like "Star", "Spoon", (they pronounce "Tar", "Poon"....) But it's natural. (this features is not necessarily universal. some children can pronounce them well, some cannot.)
Actually I did pey attention to how cute they are rather than experiment (observatory). lol
I really want kids.......
We observe how those children produce words or sentences. That was like experiment.
We try to ask the children to produce some English words, "Red", "Star", "Car", and so forth through playing with them using toys.
They are really cute! Super cute! I love kids. Experiments went really well. As we expeted, the children produce sounds a little bit different from usual pronouncition.
They mainly drop "s" sounds which is the beginning of the words, like "Star", "Spoon", (they pronounce "Tar", "Poon"....) But it's natural. (this features is not necessarily universal. some children can pronounce them well, some cannot.)
Actually I did pey attention to how cute they are rather than experiment (observatory). lol
I really want kids.......
Jan 27, 2011
If it's hard to choose one of two, just grab both
I don't think I can finish all the reading assignments in this quarter..
Even if I keep on reading everyday. I'm not lazy, and I rarely socialize with people in the dorm unlike the last quarter. I'm mainly in the library from the morning until night...lol
But too much. To make matters worse, the reading is not so fun...
I've just become excited.
Why?
Finally I could narrow down the topic "s" of my theses.
I decided to write two theses by graduation.
Until now, my topic was really blurred, like "Language education problem in Japan." or "language policy in Japan"
but it doesn't seem to be good thesis from such a broad topic.
and even if I read books, lots of topics attract me.
I was kinda lost in broad field of language education problem.
I am mainly interested in language education policy and bilingual education..
I want to write both.
To make it more specific, it's impossible to write these two topics in one paper.
Then I decided to write two theses. lol
I think it's a good idea, cause I can focus on each topic specifically.
What are these two?
One is "English education for elementary school in Japan" (This topic is really and "will be" hot this year in language education in Japan, definitely, for sure.)
The other one is "Bilingual education issue for minority children. ~foreign students in Japan and Japanese students in foreign countries~"
I'm already excited to start to research. Not blurred anymore.
If it's hard to choose one of two, just grab both.
This is really like me, my life.
I'm always taking "both" in anything.
Even if I keep on reading everyday. I'm not lazy, and I rarely socialize with people in the dorm unlike the last quarter. I'm mainly in the library from the morning until night...lol
But too much. To make matters worse, the reading is not so fun...
I've just become excited.
Why?
Finally I could narrow down the topic "s" of my theses.
I decided to write two theses by graduation.
Until now, my topic was really blurred, like "Language education problem in Japan." or "language policy in Japan"
but it doesn't seem to be good thesis from such a broad topic.
and even if I read books, lots of topics attract me.
I was kinda lost in broad field of language education problem.
I am mainly interested in language education policy and bilingual education..
I want to write both.
To make it more specific, it's impossible to write these two topics in one paper.
Then I decided to write two theses. lol
I think it's a good idea, cause I can focus on each topic specifically.
What are these two?
One is "English education for elementary school in Japan" (This topic is really and "will be" hot this year in language education in Japan, definitely, for sure.)
The other one is "Bilingual education issue for minority children. ~foreign students in Japan and Japanese students in foreign countries~"
I'm already excited to start to research. Not blurred anymore.
If it's hard to choose one of two, just grab both.
This is really like me, my life.
I'm always taking "both" in anything.
Jan 26, 2011
How do you write English?
I heard interesting opinion from my friends.
She said, "Why do we need to learn to write cursive writing in English? Is there any chanse to use it? No. We mainly use usual block letter when taking notes. Otherwise, we just use typing. Maybe we use it only when we signing. hahaha. That's the waste of time."
Interesting.
I remember my English teacher in high school always tried to use cursive writing on the black board, but we, students, said to him, "Teacher, I can't read it", kind of like that, he said, "O-kay....damn, you guys didn't learn how to write cursive writing in English. That is because the curriculum of English in high school was changed and cursive writing is disappeared from it. It's kinda troublesome to write block type writing..."
But that's not true....lol
I just timed which is faster to take notes, but the result was almost the same.
Hahaha.
So, eventually, we don't need to learn how to write cursive writing smoothly. It's obvious, cauze even native speakers say, "That's waste of time".
The only chance we use cursive writing is when we signing. That's really few.
MEXT sometimes, (rarely, though) makes "right" decision on curriculum.
She said, "Why do we need to learn to write cursive writing in English? Is there any chanse to use it? No. We mainly use usual block letter when taking notes. Otherwise, we just use typing. Maybe we use it only when we signing. hahaha. That's the waste of time."
Interesting.
I remember my English teacher in high school always tried to use cursive writing on the black board, but we, students, said to him, "Teacher, I can't read it", kind of like that, he said, "O-kay....damn, you guys didn't learn how to write cursive writing in English. That is because the curriculum of English in high school was changed and cursive writing is disappeared from it. It's kinda troublesome to write block type writing..."
But that's not true....lol
I just timed which is faster to take notes, but the result was almost the same.
Hahaha.
So, eventually, we don't need to learn how to write cursive writing smoothly. It's obvious, cauze even native speakers say, "That's waste of time".
The only chance we use cursive writing is when we signing. That's really few.
MEXT sometimes, (rarely, though) makes "right" decision on curriculum.
sigh
I'm now hosting the Japanese language conversation table once in a week.
This is what Japanese learners gather and have fun in conversation in Japanese with me.
That helps learners to practice listen and speak Japanese. I also can make new friends. Win-Win opportunity. As many of them are intermediate or advanced learners, so I can enjoy conversation without feeling any stress.
and...
as I expect, a cute (really) Asian-American girl came to the language table! (She's from orange county) I got really happy. lol. I'm pretty sure that Asian is the cutest...
anyway, she already came twice, and she's very nice. I really try to get to know her more, and I looked for her on the facebook (don't say stalking..lol)
What I found was....
lots of pictures of she and "her boy friend" doing touchy-filly thing. (holding tightly,,,bluh bluh.bluh)
Oh,hey, Sigh....
unlucky AS USUAL.....ironically, she looked really, really cute in the picture...
I got kinda mad. (I don't know why, but maybe because I felt betrayed.) (Don't ask, "What? By who? )
and I got frustrated and drank the woolong tea, which was really sweat, totally different from what I thought.
My life is like a wave. Good and bad luck come each other in each time. It seems big wave is not coming unlike La Jolla
This is what Japanese learners gather and have fun in conversation in Japanese with me.
That helps learners to practice listen and speak Japanese. I also can make new friends. Win-Win opportunity. As many of them are intermediate or advanced learners, so I can enjoy conversation without feeling any stress.
and...
as I expect, a cute (really) Asian-American girl came to the language table! (She's from orange county) I got really happy. lol. I'm pretty sure that Asian is the cutest...
anyway, she already came twice, and she's very nice. I really try to get to know her more, and I looked for her on the facebook (don't say stalking..lol)
What I found was....
lots of pictures of she and "her boy friend" doing touchy-filly thing. (holding tightly,,,bluh bluh.bluh)
Oh,hey, Sigh....
unlucky AS USUAL.....ironically, she looked really, really cute in the picture...
I got kinda mad. (I don't know why, but maybe because I felt betrayed.) (Don't ask, "What? By who? )
and I got frustrated and drank the woolong tea, which was really sweat, totally different from what I thought.
My life is like a wave. Good and bad luck come each other in each time. It seems big wave is not coming unlike La Jolla
Jan 25, 2011
be stratigic
Main things I've gotta do in this quarter.
1. Study for test for becoming a teacher, coming next July
2. Starting to write my final thesis.
3. Make my English skills as proficient as anyone.
I got a lucky news. One course I'm taking asssigns us a research paper as a final.
It accounts for 60% of a whole grade of the course. It's really big.
What is lucky is that topic of the paper is free if it's relevant to the social problems.
That is because the class is "social problems". lol
Of course I'll choose "bilingual education for minority children in California" as the topic.
It means, that I can use this research paper as a source of my final thesis again when I go back to Japan.
But 60% is really big......OMG. If I get really bad grade, I can't make it up.
As I told you guys last time, I am really poor at writing in English (even in Japanese).
So I decided to drop in to the professor's room as often as I can, to make him accept my research paper..lol. He might be lenient with me, if I introduce myself as much as possible including that I'm from Japan, I have never lived in foreign countries, and I learned English only in Japan, so I'm not good at writign English compared to other students whose first languages are English.
I hope it works....lol
Of-course I will do my best...(I should mention this,,)
1. Study for test for becoming a teacher, coming next July
2. Starting to write my final thesis.
3. Make my English skills as proficient as anyone.
I got a lucky news. One course I'm taking asssigns us a research paper as a final.
It accounts for 60% of a whole grade of the course. It's really big.
What is lucky is that topic of the paper is free if it's relevant to the social problems.
That is because the class is "social problems". lol
Of course I'll choose "bilingual education for minority children in California" as the topic.
It means, that I can use this research paper as a source of my final thesis again when I go back to Japan.
But 60% is really big......OMG. If I get really bad grade, I can't make it up.
As I told you guys last time, I am really poor at writing in English (even in Japanese).
So I decided to drop in to the professor's room as often as I can, to make him accept my research paper..lol. He might be lenient with me, if I introduce myself as much as possible including that I'm from Japan, I have never lived in foreign countries, and I learned English only in Japan, so I'm not good at writign English compared to other students whose first languages are English.
I hope it works....lol
Of-course I will do my best...(I should mention this,,)
Jan 23, 2011
Confidence, power, and popularity are only from achievement, not motivation
Week 4 is already coming in this quarter. I feel time is passing really fast. I can't believe it.
Since this quarter started, I've been working on lots of things including the ready for the test to become a teacher.
But I got the news nowadays, that some company try to require university students to take a certain amount of score of English test (TOEIC) to apply for the company.
As I said last time, more company require the person with enough English skills.
It means, more people become good at English in Japan.
That's the good thing, though.
But, how about teachers? To become English teachers, no one has to get a certain score in TOEIC or some English test. As a fact, they need to take a test including English test, but I don't know it motivates the future teacher to become more acknowledge in English.
If the parents of the students are better at English than student's English teachers, the teachers cannot have any confidence and power to teach children.
They will just get less confidence day by day, even if they have full motivation to teach students.
Maybe most of the parents will look down on those teachers.
What is the solution for this?
The only thing to get the power, initiative, control, and confidence is from achievement.
By not motivation.
I'm sure. This is the fact I learned through the experience of menu-maker in the swim team.
Even if I have motivation to do that work, it doesn't work to organize and control the team if I don't have better achievement than other members of the team.
That's the fact.
I do need to achieve something to show the power or initiative related to language education or general education.
To do that, I am thinking, I need to become the best English users among the Japanese English teachers.
That sounds really ambitious, but ambition is really prominent for people to evolve.
Since this quarter started, I've been working on lots of things including the ready for the test to become a teacher.
But I got the news nowadays, that some company try to require university students to take a certain amount of score of English test (TOEIC) to apply for the company.
As I said last time, more company require the person with enough English skills.
It means, more people become good at English in Japan.
That's the good thing, though.
But, how about teachers? To become English teachers, no one has to get a certain score in TOEIC or some English test. As a fact, they need to take a test including English test, but I don't know it motivates the future teacher to become more acknowledge in English.
If the parents of the students are better at English than student's English teachers, the teachers cannot have any confidence and power to teach children.
They will just get less confidence day by day, even if they have full motivation to teach students.
Maybe most of the parents will look down on those teachers.
What is the solution for this?
The only thing to get the power, initiative, control, and confidence is from achievement.
By not motivation.
I'm sure. This is the fact I learned through the experience of menu-maker in the swim team.
Even if I have motivation to do that work, it doesn't work to organize and control the team if I don't have better achievement than other members of the team.
That's the fact.
I do need to achieve something to show the power or initiative related to language education or general education.
To do that, I am thinking, I need to become the best English users among the Japanese English teachers.
That sounds really ambitious, but ambition is really prominent for people to evolve.
Jan 20, 2011
Extreme
I saw a pretty intense movie in the class. (Social problem)
That is the "Crash"
We saw it as a material to study about the race, racial inequality, and racial discrimination.
That was pretty intense....you should check it.
I never knew American people have such big stereotype in their mind about race.
I know there is discrimination, cause many of my American friends talk about race at least one time in conversation. When I talk about my friend souding new to them, they ask me, "What is race of him?"
Plus, many of my American friends (they are Korean-American, Chinese-American, Mexican-American, and so forth) say, "I don't like White." They always say, if they are in the situation they are surround by White people in the shopping center or amusement park or wherever, they say that they feel "Scary"
I don't get it, frankly. Everyone is seriously obsessed with racial stereotypical concept.
Such concept causes the xenophobical behavior and rules.
I'll show one of the extreme intense scenes...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr-vqKH56w8&feature=related
Two black guys are walking and talking. They have some sort of stereotype about "Every other race is scared about Black. They think Black people would commit crime or something scary."
Please pay attention. especially 1:05,
Black A" Wait, wait, wait,,,id you see what the woman just did?"
Black B "Well, she's cold."
Black A " SHE GOT COLDER AS SOON AS SHE SAW US"
you'll see..
later, it's appeared that she(a white woman) got black (or racial) phobia. She got scared by other race people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-Umf_chNHw&feature=related
She asked her husband to change the lock of the door so many times. She can't get relieved.
That is because the worker who is changing the lock is "not white".
---------
Another intense scene.
This is about racist cop(s)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DfvNjSuv80&feature=related
It's obvious that one cop of two is racist. He is kinda teasing Black people.
I want you to pay attention to two cops attitude.
One, a obvious racist one, has anything special other than extreme racist,
The other one looks like that he hates his partner(the racist cop) and he's reluctunt to catch these 'innocent' black couples. You can see by his face or attitude, can't you?
The (good) cop eventually stop working with this racits partner and start job with another partner.
He believes that he's not a racist and he can protect black or any racial people equally without any discrimination.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XymKTtPfG4I&feature=related
in this scene, he soothed other cops to shoot the black persone he knows. He wanted to protect the person.
He might have the vocational proudness as keeping district safe and excluding any hate crime.
Until here, that is good, yeah, he's really good. He can exclude racism. We can see he is trying to keep peace among races.
BUT
we find that even he has "racial stereotype" in his mind, deep inside.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bARV20dQ_m0&feature=related
In this scene, he(cop) kindly picked the black man wandering on the road.
they just have enjoying talking,
But the cop got a little bit annoyed by his (black) attitude, and
he asked him to get out of his car. The black guy can't understand what' going on,
and they started quarrering.
(Actually, the black guy laughed because he also had the same figure as the cop had in the car)
The black guy tried to explain why he laughed by showing the figure in his hand,
saying "You wanna see what's in my hand?"
but, sadly, the cop thought, "what's in his hand" was gun....
because he had the "stereotyoe" that the black people tend to commit crime often and they have gun.
and at the moment, he....
This film shows that everyone including even those who are against the racist has a certain "racial stereotype".
That was really moving film....
That is the "Crash"
We saw it as a material to study about the race, racial inequality, and racial discrimination.
That was pretty intense....you should check it.
I never knew American people have such big stereotype in their mind about race.
I know there is discrimination, cause many of my American friends talk about race at least one time in conversation. When I talk about my friend souding new to them, they ask me, "What is race of him?"
Plus, many of my American friends (they are Korean-American, Chinese-American, Mexican-American, and so forth) say, "I don't like White." They always say, if they are in the situation they are surround by White people in the shopping center or amusement park or wherever, they say that they feel "Scary"
I don't get it, frankly. Everyone is seriously obsessed with racial stereotypical concept.
Such concept causes the xenophobical behavior and rules.
I'll show one of the extreme intense scenes...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr-vqKH56w8&feature=related
Two black guys are walking and talking. They have some sort of stereotype about "Every other race is scared about Black. They think Black people would commit crime or something scary."
Please pay attention. especially 1:05,
Black A" Wait, wait, wait,,,id you see what the woman just did?"
Black B "Well, she's cold."
Black A " SHE GOT COLDER AS SOON AS SHE SAW US"
you'll see..
later, it's appeared that she(a white woman) got black (or racial) phobia. She got scared by other race people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-Umf_chNHw&feature=related
She asked her husband to change the lock of the door so many times. She can't get relieved.
That is because the worker who is changing the lock is "not white".
---------
Another intense scene.
This is about racist cop(s)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DfvNjSuv80&feature=related
It's obvious that one cop of two is racist. He is kinda teasing Black people.
I want you to pay attention to two cops attitude.
One, a obvious racist one, has anything special other than extreme racist,
The other one looks like that he hates his partner(the racist cop) and he's reluctunt to catch these 'innocent' black couples. You can see by his face or attitude, can't you?
The (good) cop eventually stop working with this racits partner and start job with another partner.
He believes that he's not a racist and he can protect black or any racial people equally without any discrimination.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XymKTtPfG4I&feature=related
in this scene, he soothed other cops to shoot the black persone he knows. He wanted to protect the person.
He might have the vocational proudness as keeping district safe and excluding any hate crime.
Until here, that is good, yeah, he's really good. He can exclude racism. We can see he is trying to keep peace among races.
BUT
we find that even he has "racial stereotype" in his mind, deep inside.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bARV20dQ_m0&feature=related
In this scene, he(cop) kindly picked the black man wandering on the road.
they just have enjoying talking,
But the cop got a little bit annoyed by his (black) attitude, and
he asked him to get out of his car. The black guy can't understand what' going on,
and they started quarrering.
(Actually, the black guy laughed because he also had the same figure as the cop had in the car)
The black guy tried to explain why he laughed by showing the figure in his hand,
saying "You wanna see what's in my hand?"
but, sadly, the cop thought, "what's in his hand" was gun....
because he had the "stereotyoe" that the black people tend to commit crime often and they have gun.
and at the moment, he....
This film shows that everyone including even those who are against the racist has a certain "racial stereotype".
That was really moving film....
Jan 15, 2011
Volleyball game
-----
1/14 training
Swim
W-up 50*2 *4 (IMR-order 1t:Swim, 2t:Kick)
Kick 100*6 2'
Pull 100*8 1'40 EN1
Swim 100*8 1'45 IM
Drill 25*4 "45
Swim 50*6 1'15 Des 1 to 3
Down 200
TOTAL 3200
-------------------------------
Study
Reading
"Ibunka ni sodatsu nihon no kodomo tachi" 94 pages
"nenkin no shikumi" 29 pages
"Social problems" 3pages
========================
I just watched the game of UCSD men's volleyball.
but they were really weak! I was disappointed that they are weaker than Japanese top high school team.
Reception is really bad, which cause miss setting.
Miss setting cause bad spike. They miss serve easily. (It seems they don't concentrate on each service)
Pattern of the combination of attack is not complex at all.
Easily spikes are blocked.
I want to see Japanese high school Volleyball game.
1/14 training
Swim
W-up 50*2 *4 (IMR-order 1t:Swim, 2t:Kick)
Kick 100*6 2'
Pull 100*8 1'40 EN1
Swim 100*8 1'45 IM
Drill 25*4 "45
Swim 50*6 1'15 Des 1 to 3
Down 200
TOTAL 3200
-------------------------------
Study
Reading
"Ibunka ni sodatsu nihon no kodomo tachi" 94 pages
"nenkin no shikumi" 29 pages
"Social problems" 3pages
========================
I just watched the game of UCSD men's volleyball.
but they were really weak! I was disappointed that they are weaker than Japanese top high school team.
Reception is really bad, which cause miss setting.
Miss setting cause bad spike. They miss serve easily. (It seems they don't concentrate on each service)
Pattern of the combination of attack is not complex at all.
Easily spikes are blocked.
I want to see Japanese high school Volleyball game.
Jan 14, 2011
Basket Ball game
Today's swimming training
----------
W-up 50*2 *4 (IMR-order) (1t:swim, 2t:kick)
Kick 100*6 2'
Pull 150*4 2'15 Fr
Swim 100*4*2 1'45 (IM-Fr)
Loosen 200*1
Swim 50*6 1'15 des 1 to 3
Down 200
TOTAL 3100
--------------
Study
Textbook social problems 4 pages
Reading "Ibunka ni sodatsu nihon no kodomo" 44pages
-----------------
Today, i saw the UCSD basketball game vs California state university LA.
That was really heating game. Two teams are even strength.
Finally we won.
In the end of the second quarter, UCSD is in bad situation
UCSD 59 : Cal State 62 we had only 1 minute before the game over,
But one shooting guard got the three point shoot three seconds before the bell!
It seems he were Mitusi Hisashi...lol
Still I don't know the detail of the rule and strategy of the basketball.
But that's fun.
Tomorrow, finally,
I can see the game match of Men's Volleyball!! So excited!
How long have I been waiting for this match!
I saw the Women't game in the last quarter, but I really wanted to see the Men's game.
I am wondering how powerful or speedy they are.
It's been a while to see the Men's volleyball game.
Reception, dig, big kill, block, serve, set, every performance must be cool to me..., because I haven't seen Men's game in real (not TV) so long time for about 2 years.
----------
W-up 50*2 *4 (IMR-order) (1t:swim, 2t:kick)
Kick 100*6 2'
Pull 150*4 2'15 Fr
Swim 100*4*2 1'45 (IM-Fr)
Loosen 200*1
Swim 50*6 1'15 des 1 to 3
Down 200
TOTAL 3100
--------------
Study
Textbook social problems 4 pages
Reading "Ibunka ni sodatsu nihon no kodomo" 44pages
-----------------
Today, i saw the UCSD basketball game vs California state university LA.
That was really heating game. Two teams are even strength.
Finally we won.
In the end of the second quarter, UCSD is in bad situation
UCSD 59 : Cal State 62 we had only 1 minute before the game over,
But one shooting guard got the three point shoot three seconds before the bell!
It seems he were Mitusi Hisashi...lol
Still I don't know the detail of the rule and strategy of the basketball.
But that's fun.
Tomorrow, finally,
I can see the game match of Men's Volleyball!! So excited!
How long have I been waiting for this match!
I saw the Women't game in the last quarter, but I really wanted to see the Men's game.
I am wondering how powerful or speedy they are.
It's been a while to see the Men's volleyball game.
Reception, dig, big kill, block, serve, set, every performance must be cool to me..., because I haven't seen Men's game in real (not TV) so long time for about 2 years.
Jan 13, 2011
Re-start
Week 2 is already going to end. Time flies. Soon will this quarter end, I think.
If I've done week 5, half of this study abroad program will be done.
Honestly I feel like, "Is it still half? Do I have still 15 weeks?"
That is because I can say I chaged a lot in this former 15 weeks.
My way of thinking is changed, my English is changed, and I found new parts of my personality.
I am wondering how much I can change or I can evolve from now on again.
I have one more set of 15 weeks in the U.S. (Accurately, I have 18 weeks, though)
Nowadays I got a new announcement of information about admission for exam to become a teacher.
I think I'm gotta start to stydy "seriously" from this quarter for the test. Lukily I've already got enough score on the TOEIC test to get an advantage on the test. (I mean, in Chiba prefecture, the persone who has a certain score of English test can take advatage over the test.)
Week 1 of this quarter is already done, but I feel this quarter is really busy... Each course has too many reading assignments. (a course assigns us eight books in this quarter. Each book is more than 300 pages...damn)
I'm beginning to think whether it is really most important to study following course work or not.
Basically I can' have enough time to do other things than course work study (mainly reading books., that's it)
I have to do other things to do than course work. I need to start working on my thesis.
I need to learn some other fundamental system or rule of the society before graduating.
I also need to do exercise...lol..
I definately feel my body weakeaning. I can't swim as I used to. That's sad.
It seems that I can't do exercise as an "exercise". I mean, I need to train myself seriouly.
Just exercise or fitness to keep my body health is not enough for me.
As I used to train myself in the swimming club, I need to tighten my body and to be strict to myself.
To do that, I decided to swim as often as I can.
This is not for exercise, but for getting back my strength.
Avoiding becoming lazy, I'll keep track on what I did on the day in this blog...lol
1/12/2011
Swim
------
Warm-up 50*2*4 (IMR-order, 1t: Swim, 2t: Kick)
Pull 150*4 2'20
Kick 50*6 1'15 dec 1 to 3
Swim 25*6 "45 easy (form)
Swim 100*8 1'45 IM
Down
--------
Study
Text "Social problem" 10 pages
Text "Modern history of Japan" 4 pages
If I've done week 5, half of this study abroad program will be done.
Honestly I feel like, "Is it still half? Do I have still 15 weeks?"
That is because I can say I chaged a lot in this former 15 weeks.
My way of thinking is changed, my English is changed, and I found new parts of my personality.
I am wondering how much I can change or I can evolve from now on again.
I have one more set of 15 weeks in the U.S. (Accurately, I have 18 weeks, though)
Nowadays I got a new announcement of information about admission for exam to become a teacher.
I think I'm gotta start to stydy "seriously" from this quarter for the test. Lukily I've already got enough score on the TOEIC test to get an advantage on the test. (I mean, in Chiba prefecture, the persone who has a certain score of English test can take advatage over the test.)
Week 1 of this quarter is already done, but I feel this quarter is really busy... Each course has too many reading assignments. (a course assigns us eight books in this quarter. Each book is more than 300 pages...damn)
I'm beginning to think whether it is really most important to study following course work or not.
Basically I can' have enough time to do other things than course work study (mainly reading books., that's it)
I have to do other things to do than course work. I need to start working on my thesis.
I need to learn some other fundamental system or rule of the society before graduating.
I also need to do exercise...lol..
I definately feel my body weakeaning. I can't swim as I used to. That's sad.
It seems that I can't do exercise as an "exercise". I mean, I need to train myself seriouly.
Just exercise or fitness to keep my body health is not enough for me.
As I used to train myself in the swimming club, I need to tighten my body and to be strict to myself.
To do that, I decided to swim as often as I can.
This is not for exercise, but for getting back my strength.
Avoiding becoming lazy, I'll keep track on what I did on the day in this blog...lol
1/12/2011
Swim
------
Warm-up 50*2*4 (IMR-order, 1t: Swim, 2t: Kick)
Pull 150*4 2'20
Kick 50*6 1'15 dec 1 to 3
Swim 25*6 "45 easy (form)
Swim 100*8 1'45 IM
Down
--------
Study
Text "Social problem" 10 pages
Text "Modern history of Japan" 4 pages
Jan 11, 2011
I still feel like a vacation.
I can't concentrate on my study even if I have many time.
Maybe I still feel like vacation. It's already week 2. There only 18 weeks for me in this study abroad life. I need to change myself and gain something. There is no time to see meaningless things.
A good thing in this quarter is that all my classes start early morning. Monday, Wed, Fri, they start at 9am, and Tuesday and Thu, they start at 8am.
In the last quarter I got up like 10am and just waisted my time. In this quarter I feel time passes really slow and one day seems really long. I should make use of each day....
Another reason preventing me from concentrating study is assignment.
Too much...lol Where can we find the person who assign 300 pages in a week?
This weekend is holiday weekend and next Monday is no class.
But I'm going to study all these three days to catch up with the reading assignments. (it sounds so boring...lol)
By the way, my family is going to come to the United States in February. That's kind of surprising. They said that there may be no chance anymore to go to the United States other than this time that I am here right now.....Usually tour for the west coast from Japan is focusing on Los Angeles, because Los Angeles is the main airport who connects with Japanese airlines. But as I told them there is nothing attractive in LA, so they decided to come to the Las Vegas directly.
And I will meet them at Las Vegas, which means I'm gonna go there by car by myself. Fun...
American Drive again.....I love it.....
Maybe I still feel like vacation. It's already week 2. There only 18 weeks for me in this study abroad life. I need to change myself and gain something. There is no time to see meaningless things.
A good thing in this quarter is that all my classes start early morning. Monday, Wed, Fri, they start at 9am, and Tuesday and Thu, they start at 8am.
In the last quarter I got up like 10am and just waisted my time. In this quarter I feel time passes really slow and one day seems really long. I should make use of each day....
Another reason preventing me from concentrating study is assignment.
Too much...lol Where can we find the person who assign 300 pages in a week?
This weekend is holiday weekend and next Monday is no class.
But I'm going to study all these three days to catch up with the reading assignments. (it sounds so boring...lol)
By the way, my family is going to come to the United States in February. That's kind of surprising. They said that there may be no chance anymore to go to the United States other than this time that I am here right now.....Usually tour for the west coast from Japan is focusing on Los Angeles, because Los Angeles is the main airport who connects with Japanese airlines. But as I told them there is nothing attractive in LA, so they decided to come to the Las Vegas directly.
And I will meet them at Las Vegas, which means I'm gonna go there by car by myself. Fun...
American Drive again.....I love it.....
Jan 8, 2011
Week 1
Week 1 is done. It's so early. Next week is already week 2. If we finish 10 weeks. This winter quarter will be done. I really need to use time carefully. What can I do in this 10 weeks.
Anyway, I'll change my phone. Surprisingly (shockingly), phone fee cost more than $100 in the last month, mainly because of the text. Each text costs $0.15... so expensive.. I'll get another phone and plan. Good bye Hana-cell. lol I don't like the phone system of the U.S. If I only receive a call, it'll cost. If the person who calls me talks a lot, it will cost a lot.
My $100......
By the way, nowadays, I found the shocking family (parents). What is shocking? I mean, they are trying to educate their children in English. Maybe because they wanted to become native-like speaker of English in their youth. (above all, they couldn't) Then they try to make their children take over their "dream". They try to make their children bilingual.
But this sounds really dangerous. That is because, they are not native speakers of English, which means, they can't give their children perfect input of English. The children cannot become "perfect" English speakers.
Plus what they need to do right now is talking with their children in Japanese, their mother tongue!!
This father publishes the book and makes the website of the diary of this rearing.
バイリンガル幼児の動画日記-日本在住の純日本人でもバイリンガルになれそうです-
I was also shocked that many other parents are really eager to knowing the process and agreeing with this idea, "making the child bilingual"
Bilingual is not bad. But the way of making children bilingual is really bad.
I want to stop such a stupid behavior obsessed with English.
There are so many crazy behaviors related to English.
My future hope is that everyone understands what is the best (at least better) things for language education and language policy.
To do that , I'll try to keep study and let everyone know the knowledge or tips of language education and language policy.
Here I decided to open another blog.
This is specifically for language education and language policy in this "global" society.
http://kosukelanguage.blogspot.com/
Anyway, I'll change my phone. Surprisingly (shockingly), phone fee cost more than $100 in the last month, mainly because of the text. Each text costs $0.15... so expensive.. I'll get another phone and plan. Good bye Hana-cell. lol I don't like the phone system of the U.S. If I only receive a call, it'll cost. If the person who calls me talks a lot, it will cost a lot.
My $100......
By the way, nowadays, I found the shocking family (parents). What is shocking? I mean, they are trying to educate their children in English. Maybe because they wanted to become native-like speaker of English in their youth. (above all, they couldn't) Then they try to make their children take over their "dream". They try to make their children bilingual.
But this sounds really dangerous. That is because, they are not native speakers of English, which means, they can't give their children perfect input of English. The children cannot become "perfect" English speakers.
Plus what they need to do right now is talking with their children in Japanese, their mother tongue!!
This father publishes the book and makes the website of the diary of this rearing.
バイリンガル幼児の動画日記-日本在住の純日本人でもバイリンガルになれそうです-
I was also shocked that many other parents are really eager to knowing the process and agreeing with this idea, "making the child bilingual"
Bilingual is not bad. But the way of making children bilingual is really bad.
I want to stop such a stupid behavior obsessed with English.
There are so many crazy behaviors related to English.
My future hope is that everyone understands what is the best (at least better) things for language education and language policy.
To do that , I'll try to keep study and let everyone know the knowledge or tips of language education and language policy.
Here I decided to open another blog.
This is specifically for language education and language policy in this "global" society.
http://kosukelanguage.blogspot.com/
Jan 6, 2011
That's what I said.
In the class, 'Social problems"
I was reading the textbook, which lists the some social problems in the United States.
then, what appeared in the first is...
"The 2000 presidential election was the most divisive and confusing in American history, with George W. Bush elected, although he had 500,000 fewer votes than Al Gore."
Oh my god. This was a really big social problem..lol
I'm getting more excited in this course!
In Japanese history class, we studied Horiemon, Aki"ba"hara, (The professor spelled it like this. I can understand him, cause in Kanji naturally it could be read "Akibahara", but actually "Akihabara", as you know already)
and "Denshaotoko" lol
Is the Denshaotoko so famous movie? I haven't seen it. Is it worth seeing? If so, I'll try..
But that is really funny that every other student take notes seriously about "Moe", "KY Japanese"
What a funny class.
I was reading the textbook, which lists the some social problems in the United States.
then, what appeared in the first is...
"The 2000 presidential election was the most divisive and confusing in American history, with George W. Bush elected, although he had 500,000 fewer votes than Al Gore."
Oh my god. This was a really big social problem..lol
I'm getting more excited in this course!
In Japanese history class, we studied Horiemon, Aki"ba"hara, (The professor spelled it like this. I can understand him, cause in Kanji naturally it could be read "Akibahara", but actually "Akihabara", as you know already)
and "Denshaotoko" lol
Is the Denshaotoko so famous movie? I haven't seen it. Is it worth seeing? If so, I'll try..
But that is really funny that every other student take notes seriously about "Moe", "KY Japanese"
What a funny class.
Jan 5, 2011
As hard as possible
Just winter quarter started. Classes of this quarter seem more interesting than those of the last one. I think I'm gonna take 5 (or 4) courses. That could be really busy, but every course seems very interesting. Study as hard as possible.
I'm crazy for linguistics and bilingual education in this quarter, too.
This quarter's courses
1. Bilingual education problem.
2. 1st and 2nd language acquisition
3. Social problems (so vague...lol)
4. History of modern Japanese
5. Language as a cognitive system.
Wow! especially I'm interested in studying Japanese things from American perspective.
How American people see Japan is prominent.
In addition to these courses, I'm going to join Japanese language class. I want to see how foreign students learn Japanese, how Japanese is taught. Luckily the professor said, I am welcome to the class as a guest. I'm looking forward to it.
I'm crazy for linguistics and bilingual education in this quarter, too.
This quarter's courses
1. Bilingual education problem.
2. 1st and 2nd language acquisition
3. Social problems (so vague...lol)
4. History of modern Japanese
5. Language as a cognitive system.
Wow! especially I'm interested in studying Japanese things from American perspective.
How American people see Japan is prominent.
In addition to these courses, I'm going to join Japanese language class. I want to see how foreign students learn Japanese, how Japanese is taught. Luckily the professor said, I am welcome to the class as a guest. I'm looking forward to it.
Jan 3, 2011
Happy New Year!! 2011
Happy new year! I hope 2011 becomes wonderufl year for everyone.
Sorry for updating this blog. I was really busy in traveling places in the United States.
I have lots of things about the trips, but too many to write in one post, and I don't have enough time and power to write them at one time. So maybe I'll mention about them later as I update this blog.
My new year's resolution is....
1. To get a job
2. To get a girl friend
hahaha I will definately get these in this year and I will graduate from university in 2012.
(by the way, there is a superstition that the world will end in Dec 12 in 2012,,,so everyone, we should do everything what we want to do before 2012 is coming...lol)
Newcomers from winter quater came to our dorm house. I am really exicited to meet new people. (I might be able to meet a nice girl...lol)
My new roomie is from Mexico. He looks nice guy. New dorm life has begun.
I'm taking 4 courses in this quartee. Plus I am trying to take two more courses as auditory.
So, my schedule will be really busy. I'll work hard and have fun. This quarter I will tend to touch American culture, people, and everything more than the last quarter.
I should read and write more as I found my writing skills very poor in last quarter.
I decided to read one chapter of a book and write the sammary about it everyday. That might be really hard, but I believe that makes my English better than ever.
Happy new year.
Sorry for updating this blog. I was really busy in traveling places in the United States.
I have lots of things about the trips, but too many to write in one post, and I don't have enough time and power to write them at one time. So maybe I'll mention about them later as I update this blog.
My new year's resolution is....
1. To get a job
2. To get a girl friend
hahaha I will definately get these in this year and I will graduate from university in 2012.
(by the way, there is a superstition that the world will end in Dec 12 in 2012,,,so everyone, we should do everything what we want to do before 2012 is coming...lol)
Newcomers from winter quater came to our dorm house. I am really exicited to meet new people. (I might be able to meet a nice girl...lol)
My new roomie is from Mexico. He looks nice guy. New dorm life has begun.
I'm taking 4 courses in this quartee. Plus I am trying to take two more courses as auditory.
So, my schedule will be really busy. I'll work hard and have fun. This quarter I will tend to touch American culture, people, and everything more than the last quarter.
I should read and write more as I found my writing skills very poor in last quarter.
I decided to read one chapter of a book and write the sammary about it everyday. That might be really hard, but I believe that makes my English better than ever.
Happy new year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)