looking back this semester

 First of all, I cannot believe that 14 weeks has passed since I entered this university. Time flew very fast. In these 14 weeks I think I have grown up.

 When I was in high school, I didn’t talk as much as I do in this writing class. Every time when we had discussion, I was only nodding or looking up on dictionary. However in this class I tried to participate in the discussion, so I had more chance to talk in English. Also I tried to ask question to professor and not only struggling not knowing what to do. I think I was able to do this because Professor Leyda was so kind that I had a confidence to speak English not being afraid of the mistakes.

 In this semester we had to do 10 blogs. This allowed me to express what I think in words, which was quite difficult. By writing these blogs I am more confident writing what I feel in English. Now I’m having less trouble thinking of the expression, what I want to write. Also as this blogs gave much information on the writer it gave us chance to know each other.

 Mostly we studied on the poem and short story called ”My Last Duchess”, which poem is by Robert Browning and the short story by Margaret Atwood. This was so hard. I have not had chance to read the poem this much deeply before and also I think this poem was so complicated. But I noticed the enjoyment of deciphering the poem with my group. We had many interesting idea about it. I think I was able to enjoy this because each of our group well prepared, worked very hard on this poem and participated in the discussion.

 I also learnt the MLA format. Before I take this lesson I didn’t have a clue on this. The textbook was written very easily so I was able to understand soon. There were many rules when writing the essay. I can’t remember all of it so I would like to repeat the corrections and rewriting again and again until I remember so that the MLA format would be in my head.

 I thought Peer Mark was great system. We had the chance to see other people’s work. It allowed me to steal other people’s good point and learn by other people’s mistakes. As I was able to hear many people’s opinions I was able to make my essay much better than the first one.

 In the next semester there are 3 things I want to improve. One is that I want to be able to use more formal language. I think my English is too easy. So I want to use more upgraded English. Second is that I want to be able to find arguable topic. For the essay this time, I was able to finish off my essay but I don’t think the context is great by reading other people’s essay. And finally I also want to be able to write an essay, which attracts the readers.

 Anyway, thank you to my classmate who read my blogs. Let’s enjoy ourselves this summer vacation as we really tried hard studying for the entrance exams last summer. I am looking forward to seeing you again in the next semester.

 And I also want to say thank you to Professor who helped me with my essay and also listened to me patiently when I was speaking.

 I’m so happy that our class and also the professor is not changing next semester and really looking forward for the next lesson. 

Summer vacation

This time I would like to talk about my plans on the summer vacation. Actually I only have three schedule at this point which is having a camp for training in G-splash, going to Osaka and going to see the dance competition called "Japan dance delight final".

As I have mentioned before G-splash is the dance club which I belong. We are having a training camp from 2nd August to 5th, I think. Now we are divided in to 8 genres; hip hop 1, hip hop 2, hip hop 3, girls 1, girls 2, Lock, House and Break. I belong to hip hop 1 which all the member is so good at dance and I am feeling some kind of inferiority. But the elders who are taking charge of this group is so funny but dances very cool so I am practicing my best so that I can be like the dancer they are. In this training camp, on the first day we are practicing the piece. On second day we are going to show our piece to other group and finally on third day we will be having fun in the sea. I'm really looking forward for the third day.

 And I haven't decided when but I am going to visit my grandmother's house, which is in Osaka, for a week. My father's parents are still both alive but my mother's side my grandfather is not here. So I am worried if she is not feeling lonely or not. Luckily she has five grandchildren including me so she has many chance to meet us. But mostly she is by herself so my mother is calling her almost every day. And when I call her she talk to me very happily. If I can I want to visit her house every day but in reality it is impossible so when I go to her house I would like to help her and make her relax as I think she is tired of doing all the house works.

 Finally the "Japan delight final". I have never been to such a big dance competition, so I am really looking forward for it. My friend is friend with the person concerned to this competition so we are able to have a good seat. It opens from 12:30 and starts from 2 p.m.. And it finishes at 9p.m. I don't know if I can stand for 7 hours but I think it is going to be great.

 I haven't talked to anyone so it is still my own selfish schedule but I want to go some where with AQUO member. Last Sunday they went to summer festival except from me. I went to dinner with my family to Outback steak as my mother and father's 20th marriage anniversary was on last last week. So I couldn't go. And I want to revenge by going to the festival with everyone. hahaha. There is a suggestion that we can go fishing. I think it is going to be fun as well. I also want to meet my friend in high school as well. We were planning to go to Disney land but because I have no money and I haven't started my part time job, they extended for me. I was not going to study this summer as this is my first summer after entering university. However my conscience didn't allow me. hahaha.. After I entered this university I realized how clever other people are. And I am feeling impatient about it. So I am planning to study for Eiken. I failed Eiken 1st grade last summer so I want to revenge. As I haven't studied Eiken for about a year now I have to restart doing it. So I would restart studying for it.  

Musicals I saw in London

This time I would like to talk about the musicals I saw in U.K...When I was in U.K. I saw Blue man, Fame, STOMP, We will rock you, mamma mia, wicked, chitty chitty bang bang, mid-summer night's dream and twelfth night. Well, actually the last two by Shakespeare was not a musical. Anyway, I saw these musicals. And this time I'd like to talk about Fame, STOMP and Blue man.

First of all, the Fame. This was the very first musical I saw in U.K... It was about half a year after we moved to London, when we saw this. This musical is about high school performing art in New York City. It included many dancing and performances. As I was still nervous of talking to the classmate in English and I was giving up finding the dance class because of my poor English, my father bought me the ticket of this musical. After seeing this musical, my passion toward dancing became stronger and I tried to go to the dance class which my mother found for me. After all I really enjoyed the dance class in U.K. and also I was able to improve my English as there were no Japanese in this dance class.

 

Next is the STOMP. This musical is the best musical I ever seen. I don't know how to explain this musical but it was so great. The actors make noise with the things which we saw in everyday life such as the broomstick, match and lots of others. This musical really affected me that I made the piece called STOMP when I was in high school, and this piece was really met the favorable reception. We danced this in the open campus and also this become kind of the tradition that my junior in high school are doing this every year and it is taken over. The power of the sound the performers make vibrates all my body. I was moved that I got goose bumps when I saw this. I would like to see this musical again some times in the future.

 

Finally the Blue man. I think everybody know this. Well this musical gave me another different emotion. The blue men do beyond my expectations. And everything they do is so interesting. I like the one which they put the paint on the drum which is lighted up. I wonder why the blue paint on their face and body doesn't disappear even though they wipe their face. I also like the last performance which we drag the big toilet paper from back to the front where blue men are. My mother told me that it was my second time to see this musical as I saw this when I was in America. I thought what a shame that I couldn't remember seeing such an interesting movie. 

 

 I really wanted to see "Billy Elliot". However I had my entrance exams for high school so I didn't have time to see it. And by the time I finished all my exams and ready to see it, I heard that the boy who is playing the main character was changed to Chinese boy so I reconciled and changed it to "We will rock you" which my sister wanted to watch. When I visit London next time, I would definitely see "Billy Elliot" musical. I am also interested in the musical called "Grease" as well. Grease was originally a film and I had a chance to see this in my leaving party in the primary school as we had to wear the clothes which was in this film. So I'm interested in the musical as well.

 

 If there is any musical which you suggest please tell me:)