Akemi's blog

Too much snow!!

2006-01-17T22:45:00.000-08:00

I was surprised to see that there were too early and too much snow at the Tohoku district. The news are telling that there are some houses that have colappsed becuase of the heavy snow!! Is this happened because of the climate change!? I am sorry to hear that news recently.... I haven't seen so much snow. The last time I saw was the first year past since I moved to Pennsylvania. It was was about 50cm high. But the snow at Touhoku is more than 2m high! I cannot belived that.... I hope people in Touhoku will be safe.

Ski tour....

2006-01-17T22:39:00.000-08:00

My sport association will held Ski tour this year,too. Last year, we recruitment 150 and before deadline, there was over 150 that want to go. But this year we recruitment 100 people but... we still need 40 more people!! We are saying that we ahve ski tour everyday at recess time in this freezing climate. If there are less than 100 people by the deadline, we have to cancel. That is sad that we can not have ski tour. If we don't have it this year, maybe there are not be ski tour next year! To say the truth, school are paying this money!! (not all but moslty) I am telling people to come because it is cheap!! I hope there will be 100 people by the deadline....

Too too too busy!!

2006-01-17T22:25:00.000-08:00

I am too busy right now... I have many papers due and have many work to be done at sports association. There are many work that should be shared with another person but I have to do it by myself because another person are away because for his club game. Also I had to be representive for my club and need to go to meeting far from here twice a month. I am going to be too busy... I want my time!!!! But through my work in Sports Association, we use many paper to hand out to other clubs. I thought it is waste of papers!! I thought we should save it!! SO, I am trying to use used papers to save papers.

Coming of age day!!!

2006-01-17T22:07:00.000-08:00

My area where I had coming of age day, was on January 8th. Also, we have ceremony at junior high school and we had to go to juniro high school where they graduated. Before that day, I had to go to hair salon had have my hair up. That day, I woke up at 5:30a.m. and go to hair salon. Then, I had my hair done and make up. After that, I had to go to place where I have my dressing. When I got there, there was many people waiting!! I had to wait for 20minutes and they dressed me. For this day, my parents bought me new long-sleeved kimono even though it was expensive and I was the only daughter in the family. After I had dressed, I went to photo studio to have pictures taken. Then, I went back to my house and my parents take a lot of my pictures. I thought it was enough. Also, my neibors came to look at me. The ceremony started from 11:00a.m. It was for an hour, and we had free time to take pictures with friends and talk with teachers. It was nice because I had chance to talk with many old friends. After the ceremony, I met with my classmates from my high school and went out for eating. I still had my kimono on so it was hard to eat!! At night, we had alumni meeting with friends from 3rd grade of junior high school. I was surprised that most peopl had chaged. But it was really fun!! I wish that there are more than one coming age day(laugh)

New Year's Day

2006-01-17T21:39:00.001-08:00

Everyone woke up early that day and ate Osechi. Osechi is traditional food that Japanese ate from new years day and for a couple days. In the past, on new years day and couple days after that, every stores were closed. So Japanase people made osechi that preserves for a long time. In Osechi, there many food which has meaning. For example, there is herring roe. The meanig of this that you could have many children. There is lotus root. There are some hole so the meaning is that you can see through the future. There are lot more that has meaning. I've been helping my mother to make Osechi every year since I was junior high school student. This year, I also made it. However, there are less number of families that make Osechi these days. Because many of the stores are hopen from the New Year's day and there is no need to make Osechi. I think this is one of the traditional thing in Japan so I think this should be taken over!!

Year end party!

2006-01-17T21:33:00.000-08:00

Most Japanese have year end party. This year I had year end party with my class in 3rd grade of high school. About 20 students and our teacher came to this party. We celebrated at one of my classmate's house. We ate sushi and nabe and we also drunk. We had party in summer holiday so it was not a long time to met them. And no body had changed except me ... Everyone said that I had changed. In the party, we chat a lot and take many pictures!! It was wonderful party. I love this classmate so much. I hope we could have some kind of party again.

Speech in ceremony!

2005-12-07T20:06:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, after school, I had a ceremony of changing old to new Sport Association head officer and I had to make a short speech in front of old head officer, some teachers, and leader and sub-leader of each clubs. It was imbearrasing because I had to memorise and can't make any mistakes. But I think I did pretty well on the speech. Then, we all had time to eat but because that we (new head officer) had to sit infront of teachers, we were not able to eat... I was really hungry!! After the ceremony, we had to clean them up. What I saw was that there was so much of left over!! I thought it was waste of food.... I was hungry so I've wanted to it that!
Yesterday, I felt tierd but it was nice day I guess. From yesterday, we beacme the real new Sports Association head officer. Therefore, I had to work harder and harder.

I am in Sports Association in Kansai Gaidai

2005-11-30T05:06:00.000-08:00

Most of my class (IES b) know that I am going to be in Sports Association in Kansai Gaidai from this December. I had interview last friday and it was terrible. I had interviewed for 30 min. They asked me a lot of questions about my club. After my interview, I was not able to stop crying. I thought I failed it because there were four girls that want to be in that but only two of them were picked. But on Monday I had call from Sports Association I they told me that I am going to be in that. I was happy and I cried again!! Tomorrow, I have first meeting. I am already nervous but I am happy that I am in it. I know I had to work much harder because there are meeting every Monday, Wednseday, and Friday after club. But this was my aim. Well, I will work hard!!

Kandai festival!

2005-11-08T08:12:00.000-08:00

We had Kansai gaidai festival last week and I went there on the first day! There were some friends selling food so I went there and I bought some with some discount!! I was really lucky.
And next day, I went to Kansai University because one of my friends go there. I was really surprised to see how huge it was when I compared with Knasaigaidai festival. There were more than twice as many booth as Kansai gaidai. And there was many different kind of food there. It was tasty too!! However, I was also worried about the trash. As you know, people use some plastics and some wood sticks, and papers to sell food. There was tons of trash! I thought it was a waste. I wonder how much trash there were in these four days in our school!!

We lost the game....because of the rain!?

2005-10-11T21:30:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh... We had three days off this week but I didn't had any off days. Saturday, we had game. Guess what! When were practicing before game start, it was not raining and soon as we started the game, it started to rain so badly... ans stoped as soon as we finished the game!! We were all wet and dirty because the condition of the ground was sooooo bad. It was slippery. We lost the game too. Everyone of us were crying. And on Sunday, we had practice in the morning to afternoon, and I had part time job that day. Next day was game for only fresh man. So we went to cheer my kouhai. And also that day, it was raining too. It was not so hard though. However, that day I had to wake up at 6:30 in the morning. It was earlyer than school days. I was sooo tired and I fall down to my bed as soon as I got home. This week we also have game. I think this might be the last game in this year. I hope I can play my best!!
By the way, don't you think we have too much rain in this season?? Weather forcast said that we have rain this weekend too. If it rain, we had rain in all games!! How lucky we are .... We are UNLUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love Lacrosse!!

2005-10-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

This is first blog in 2nd semester!! Everyone know maybe except Darren, I play Lacrosse in my school and end of last month I had game at Osaka Gaidai. I have two good news about that! My team win but also I scored. This was my first score in this league. I was not able to be in the team last year but this year, I am in the team and I play in the game. My team mate and also I was surprised that I socred!! I still can't belived it.... Also this week, we have game. We had two games so far and we haven't lose yet but next game would be hard for us to win. However, I had high fever today. I felt dizzy but I didn't realized that I had fever. I hope I can play tomorrow. WHat is bad is that it might rain tomorrow. Don't rain!! THis is picture we took in last game. Don't you think everyone is so brown!? As everyone know, ozone layer is been destroyed and ultraviolet rays are getting stronger. We put sun protection(?) but our sweat drops that. What should I do....

Last day for this semester!

2005-07-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day for this semester. I was surprised that I was able to go through this semester! This semester was very hard but next semester it will get little bit bitter becuase I have no 5th period next semester. This semester, I had 3 days to 5th period. I had so many homework. And also today, I only slept for couple minutes so I'm soooo sleeppy...zzzz. However, I'm not looking forward to summer vacation because when I look at my plan for summer, I realized that I am too busy. I have no time to see fireworks or go out with somebody. Samething happened last year. I had only 5 days to go back to Shizuoka and rest. Isn't this awful? Four days a week, I have club in this HOT climate. We play lacrosse at outside. I am going to die!!! What they make us do is run (dash) around 3 ground in Nakamiya two times before starting to practice. I always get tired before starting to pracatice. After practice, I have to go jyuku right way to teach students. TOO BUSY!
I can't believe that Scott is leaving... I wish he was the one who can teach us next semester, too. I enjoyed so much with Scott's class and studying Global Issues. I learned many things about global issues from him. If I hadn't learned global issues from Scott, I didn't have a chance to look through what is happening in the world. I really thank him for teaching us. Thank you Scott! Never forget us that we love you!

TOO HOOOOOT!

2005-07-18T05:12:00.000-07:00

I came back from my grandmother's house today. I took Bus, JR, Kintetu, and Keihan train. So I had to chage three times! In the train it was cold and when I go out, it was too hot! I can bear that temperture. So as in school. Now, I turn aircondtionar because it is hot here. We MUST do something to lower temperture or at least try not to increase. Everyone who see this must set the temperature over 28!(laugh) If this temperture get more higher in the future, I think I can't go out! I already suffer from summer heat so I can't eat. I didn't eat lunch yesterday, I didn't eay dinner today. Three days ago, I haven't eat any. So I lost 2kg. I know I have to eat but I can't. Is there go way to overcome this summer!?

Good friend!& Recycling

2005-07-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

Today, I met old friend in Shiga! I met him in Jyuku where I went when I return to Shiga from America. If he weren't in that Jyuku and not is the same class, I think I hated that Jyuku because there was anyone from same school. Even though I asked him to take me to somewhere in the midnight, he drove me to many places. I went to meet him to have some advice and he gave me good advise. I always thank him.
I also went to my grandmother's house in Shiga. There, I always get surprise what my grandmother is doing. She use back of advertisement in the newspaper as memo, she make small chair form cardboard and etc. I think she is good at using those. I really think shi has wisdom(?).

Almost finish!

2005-07-16T21:17:00.000-07:00

Only 1 day left in this semester! I thought it is long but now I feel the days have pasted so fast! I think aslo summer will past fast too. I wish I have more summer vacation. I think the length is same us high school and junior high school student. But we have longer winter vacation than them. That is the only luck things. What is more happy is that we don't have club in winter! I'm free in the winter. I already wish that winter vacation will come soon even though summer vacation has not come yet. Wich season do you like the best?? I love spring. It is nice and warm. Summer is too hot for me and winter is too cold for me. Fall is so so I guess. However, summer is the worst season for me because of global warming. I can't stand this temperature. It too higt. I am complaining this these days but I really hate this season. I hope time goes by more quickly. Why people did't start thinking about global issues earlier? By the way, I have a question. When people started to think about global issues?

YUZU kko!

2005-07-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

Did you know that I love music group called "YUZU"!? I didn't know about that group before I knew it when I was in third grade in middle school. One of my class mate play his guitar and play one of their songs and sang for us. The song was "ITUKA" in English maybe "SOMEDAY" and "SAYONARABASU". He played it in the goodbye party for students who are going to high school in other prefecture. He was one of them. He went to Tokyo. We all cried when we heard that song. Also, boyfriend in that time also played guitar and harmonica and sung songs. He was soooo good at it and since then, I started to listen to Yuzu's songs. Recently, they sold two album which songs that they had been sung included. Well, guess what. I bought them! It is good songs. I was happy that I bought them. However, I thought if this CDs recycleable. Is this? I don't know about it. There are millions of CD been sold. What should I do if I don't need that CD anymore? What if not able to recycle? It might be tones of CDs in the future! Please tell me about this if someone know.

Yummy ice cream !

2005-07-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

I have told you that I have sprain my little finger and I still hurt so I went to see the doctor. There was so many people waiting I waited for more than 2 hours. I took e-ray but I was not broken. HOWEVER it still hurts! I am not allowed to use that finger for three weeks and I need to go to see the doctor again two weeks later from today. I have to bear that pain and do Peter's class report. Also I need to work on Scott's paper too. I wish I had not sprain my little finger.
Today, my students I teach at Jyuku came to see me so we went to 31 to eat some ice cream. I haven't been to 31 since I was in high school. I use to go there after club in the summer. It is expensive but it is good. Now, it is able to eat triple ice cream for about 375 yen. There, it is able to choose a cup or a cone to put ice cream. SO I choose a cup. When I was eating ice cream there, the staff was putting away a trash that people threw away. I can't believe how many cups been thrown away. I mean it was too many! I have not think this way if I was not studying Global issue but it is waste of trees. I wonder if they recycle those. By the way, is it able to recycle? Does anyone know? They should recycle or do something to reduce the use of cups or trees will disappear from earth! Ahhhh!!

Poor me....

2005-07-12T05:58:00.000-07:00

Today in Gym class I sprain my little finger while playing volleyball. I have never sprain my finger. It still hurt and even when I use third finger it hurts!!! ahhhhhh. Now I am typing and it hurts (;-;)I hope it's not broken... because from 29th to Augest 1st I am going to freshman camp which sports association in our school holds as leader. And I have to climb mountains. I am leader so I have many things to do. This freshman camp is so hard but also fun if you have good group. Last year's group was so good that even year past, we meet each other. I never forget that last year fresh man camp. By the way this is the picture. sorry it is not able to see clearly.

We have been studying global issue for this semester, and I thought would this situation be better in the future or not. I think it would be little better but not improved so much. I think it is not going to happen which was said in the text book that it would be able to plant in other planets. Do you think possible?? If possible, how are we going to do with it? Ship back and forth by spaceship? It would cost so much!! we should find better ways. I can't think of any though.... I will think about it!

My brother's baseball game and using too many papers!

2005-07-11T19:35:00.000-07:00

My youngest brother is in Junior high school and in June, there was last game he would play. So even though I was busy that week I went back to Shizuoka to see him. BUt it was secret to my brother. On June 24th, after I had party with my club memeber wich was very important I went to Shizuoka by night bus. I drunk beer for the first time in that party so I went on the bus drunk. I arrived at Shiuoka station at 7:00 a.m. and I head for the place where my brother had his game. It was just in time when game started. He was first base player, and he was 4th batter. But pitcher was not throughing very well so coach changed the pitcher to my brother. Before he was changed, the score was 3-1 and were loosing. ( By the way, my brother scored) In the last inning, the score was 3-3. So they had to play spedcial rule. The game start with bases are loaded with no outs. I think it was very nervous for him. He throw, and no one scored. Then, it was he team to attack. Last batter hit and our team scored two more and we won! I was half crying because I was too happy. I haven't seen him throw for more than a year. So I was surprised to see how much his mentally grew. I see him so big and he had confidence when he was on the pitcher mound. He is so cool!! I wish he will continue to play baseball in high school too!

I've been teaching in Juku for a year now. In my juku, we use new paper as scrach paper to write some notes. I always think it is waste of paper. But we put papers that we miss print in the box seperately though. I hope that will be recycled. By the way, I use back side of the papaer wich I don't use any more and also back of hand-outs. Don't you think I am a good person!? BUt I think those hand outs are useless and it is waste of trees! I think people should stop using so many papers. IS there a way to stop that!?

Rainy Season

2005-07-09T07:45:00.000-07:00

It been rainy these days, so we didn't had club today!!But last Monday and Tuesday we had to do some training in front of club house. It was ashamed to do in front of club house because many people go by. We did sit ups 30 time x 3, two kinds of push-ups 10 times each x 3 and so on. I did this after 5th period so I only had to above, but if I had only until 4 th period, I had to run for 20 min. in Katahoko. It is boring because we have to run around the gym round and round....
Also, it's been hot!! I can't stand this!! So I already started to turn on the air condtioner. But!!!!! last year, I set the temperture around 22 or so, but now I set the temperature at 28. I have been thinking about envoiroment!! DOn't you think!? It is better not to turn on but I can't do that... It's too hot! But know, I am using electric fan! This is better than turning on the air condition, isn't it? Hey, Scott! You better set the temperture above 28 or turn off the air conditoner!(laugh)

Oraganization in Sumatora!

2005-07-03T04:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday and today was good day because I didn't have time to relax for more than month! But today and yesterday, I was able to sleep longer than usual. How happy I was! However, in my mind was all about homework I have to finish. This week is terrible. I have two presentation, one report due, one research to due and I need to go to city hall.... I have a lot of things to do! This weekend I have club and a part time job that I just started, tutor(?). I go to student's house and teach her. SHe is third grade in junior high school. But I still teach at juku, too. By the way, did you see how brown I am because of the SUN!? It is because of my club... It is too late to do something so I want to cry. Someone help me!!!!!

I was surprise to see what people were doing in Sumatora where tunami came. I forget the name of that organization something like "Earth.....". People in Sumatora have hard time recovering. So that oraganization came to Sumatora to help people. THey bulid house by using used tires, plastic bottle, bottle, and cement so that it doesn't coast much. I was surprise to see how the house been completed. It was built to use wisely. I wanted to show that TV program to my class mate. I hope this organization will help people in Sumatora to recover quickly.
I have to go!! I will write about my brother's baseball game in next blog.

I can't belive this!!

2005-06-04T04:43:00.000-07:00

Hi! Right now, I am at my friends house near Osaka gaidai becasue my friend in Shizuoka came to Osaka to meet me and friends in Osaka. Tomorrow, we are going to Kobe. I am very excited but I'm worried about my homework.... I have too much homework that I have to finish. I am little bit tired about thinking about my homework everywhere. I did not have a time when I never think about my homework. I think I fall into a depression. I know I have to do something.... Somebody help me!!!!
I was so suprise to see the news that said one person made some people to do a campaign to rise funds, but that money was not sent to needy people but those miney was sent to that person. I didn't raise money but I saw that people doing that. I was sad but also so mad at that person. I think I wrote this about this but I don't belive that a campaign money to raise fuds are send to poor people. Because of this news, people doing a campaign to raise funds honestly have lost trust from people who raised money. Do you still belive a campaign to rise funds.

Vegetable in USA and Japan.

2005-05-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I am at "Kaikatu Club" Do you know where this is? It is near my house. Here, it is able to watch DVD,read comic book, do TV games at sofa! This is good place to relax but also do hoework! This is my first time to come here but I really like here! I can't belive that I have club this Sunday...And what is bad is that I went to hospital because my foot hurt I was told not to move so much and I have to go to the hospital again next week. So I can't play lacrosse until I cure it While my member play lacrosse, I have to do By the way, my birthday is coming soon!! IT is June 2nd. I am very excited because my parents are going to give me something special for my 20th birthday.

I didn't know that new seed t make food are weak against some diseases. I thought new seeds are more stronger to diseases. And I thought that is why poeple make more new seeds. But it was not true. I think people who is making new seed must think more about making new seed that is strong to diseses. When Scoot told us that vegetable in Canda and in Japan are different, I remeber that vegetable in USA are diffrent to Japan,too. Japanese vegetable look same. BUt in USA, it was different. This means that Japan are using more insecticide. Is there insecticide that doesn't harm people like us?? People should find this!!

Food in the world!

2005-05-22T06:26:00.000-07:00

I am typing this with my ice cream in left hand right now! This is so delicious.Today, I went to see track and field which students I teach participate. One boy ran 800m, and a girl ran 100-meter hurdles and relay. Both win the heat and played in the final. In final, both were 5th place. I was very happy to see the different part of my students. There is a big competition which might be the last competition both will participate on June 11th. So, if I have time, I want to see them. I felt that watiching game and doing game, both are intersting!!

Did you see picture in page 75 in Global Issues book!? I'm so sad to see that child who is so skinny... I new that there are s many people who doesn't have enough food to eat and I thought it was because there are not enough food are produced. But I was surprised to hear that there are enough food are produced to feed everyone. Did you know that?? Since I start living by my self, I throw away some food because those are too much for me to eat by myself and it starts to go bad. I am not good at cooking so I can't use them wisely. Now I think why this world is not made equally... If it was made equally, these problem didn't occure. Well, we can't go back so we have to accept those promblems though.
I get more and more interested in Global Issues. And I am happy that Ii can study Global Issues through English.
I finished eating my ice cream so I will go.
See you!

Do you think government should control??

2005-05-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

How was your weekend?? This weekend, I was very busy. I had to go to part time job on Saturday, and Sunday, I had to take Kohai(Freshmen!?) to Osaka gaidai to play lacrosse. But I was the only one to take them and I had to wait until they finish playing lacrosse and I had to take them back to Hirakata. Osaka Gaidai is very far from here so I am very tired now...

Last class we talked about if government should control population growth. Don't you think it depends on the governmen?? I was talking to my group that I can not decide if government should control population growth. Because if government listen to people's voice, I think government should control population growth so that argument between people does not accure. It means that if government did not control, there might be some srguments between people and it will be terrible. On the other hand, if government which does not listen to our voice and does what they think is righ, it will be like China. I think there are woman that want more baby and does not want more baby. Therefore, government should listen to their voice and decide what to do. I think best way is that people should control government, which Scott told us on Friday.

Have you ever thought of??

2005-05-06T07:22:00.000-07:00

I finally got my blog able to see! Can you see it now!? I still don't know why was the problem....mmmm...Michika also fixed her blog too!! Please respond if possible! If not, I might cry...;_;

How was your golden week?? I was in Hirakata all week... It was boring. I see some of my class mate go back to thier hometown. I wish I could,too. I only went back to Shizuoka for 4 days in spring vacation. I wish I had more vacation....

What I want to talk about in here is that do you belive all the money you donate really go to poor people?? When we were writing letter in class, me and Aoba were talking about "is this money really go to poor people!?" We can see donating box every where. When I see that, I always think if this money goes to poor people. Once I saw a news about North Korea. I forget which country(I think Japan...) but they send some stuff for poor people. However, those where given to people who are middle class(?) and people who are given are selling them to wealthy people. When I saw that I was very sad. I thought that those supporting stuff goes to poor people, but actually not. Did you know that?? What do you think about this? So, I thought donating is good and easiest way but that is not enough. Please share some your idea how we could solve this problem.

This is test!

2005-04-26T23:52:00.000-07:00

hello