International relationships in October

First of all, let me talk about these experiences. This month I had the opportunity to work as a interpreter, volunteer as a host family for a international student from America and volunteer as a staff member for Higashiohmi`s sister cities. While working as an interpreter for Swedish visitors,  we went to Otsu to see a Judo demonstration. The Swedish visitors were very interested in Japanese judo, and we were able to meet an previous Olympic gold medalist, Kousei Inoue, who now trains younger generations in judo. This allowed me to practice my English a lot because Inoue only spoke in Japanese and the visitors did not understand any Japanese at all. Therefore I had to translate everything that was said into English. After the demonstartion we were able to take a picture with Inoue and meet him. It was amazing.

I went to Gokashou area to see the guests from Higashiohmi`s sister cities at the Marquette city. I helped them to write calligaraphy; after which we participated in a traditional tea ceremony, where I answered any questions they had or translated anything they did not understand. Sitting in Seiza style was very difficult for them, and even though I am Japanese, I  dislike sitting in Seiza style! They said that the green tea and sweets were very delicious. I was lucky enough to be able to enjoy the tea and sweets aswell. I originally come from Kyoto so I do not know about shiga prefecture very well, but I was to understand the meaning of the Ohmishounin (merchant) even though it was explained in English.

 I was  hosting a internation student from Texas. I was  amazed because, although he is only a first year in Japanese, his progress is very good. He does not know a lot of Japanese words so I have had the pleasure of helping him to learn more vocabulary; while he has helped to teach me better English. I was able to talk about a lot of topics and my English skill is improving day by day. He spoke very quickly and at first I could not follow his conversation, but now my listening skill has improved very much and I am able to understand him. He enjoyed played shougi with my husband and I was able to cook dinner together with him. My daughter was  learning English, and he was able to help tutor her. Last night we had a Shabu Shabu party and the food was very delecious. I am sure he was able to learn about a lot of traditional Japanese rules.

Whenever I get to know new people,  I enjoy being able to learn many new things from them. Therefore I will try and volunteer to host more international students in the future.

speech contest and impression

 I took part in the English Japanese speech contest last Sunday. This was first experience to me.

 At the beginning of this March, I suggested  that my acquaintance to produce a new category. She is the orner and  an English teacher of AGE(academy global education) Before now, entrants ahave been  elementary school  and jynior high and  high school students. I go to AGE in Ryuoh once a month. I heard about speech contest from her. I began to be interested in it.

The title was "For our future". I  had to make my own  original title.
It was very hard for me.

As we know,  a huge earthquake and Tsunami hit Tohhoku area in the middle of March. I could not afford to do anything at all after that.I had no idea about
 my future. I did not know what I should do at that time.

My pressure and stress  was increased day by day.
I began to write my essay from  the beginnig of July. I wrote again many times because I was not satisfied with it. Although it was written in Japanese,
it took a long time for me to complete it.

After I finished writting my essay, my son came back home from his dorm during his  summer vacation  in the middle of July. I concentrated on taking care of him  and my daughter because they needed my help.

I did not have enough time to interpret from Japanese to English. I was not sure if I would be successful or not. Whenever  I had a spare time, I  again wrote a lot.

After my son returned to his dorm in the middle of August, I began to concentrate on practicing a lot almost every day.  I often gave some speech in front of my family. They pointed out my mistakes and bad points. I tried harder and harder.

At last, the day of the contest arrived!
When I received the pamphlet , I was very surprised because I knew my turn was last.

While I was listen to the  other student's speeches, my heart began to beat  quickly because their speeches were amazing. Especially elementary school boy student's were very courageous.

My pressure was increased. I did not know how to recover my composure.
I was about to cry.

My turn came. I began to give a speech in a loud voice. I saw everybody was staring at me. I made some mistakes but I didn't use script. That was the  only one my pride. There were many mistakes. But I finished my first speech.

At the final  announcement, I heard the MC said my name. I got 2 prizes. It was  such an unexpected thing that I cried a little.

The reason  I  had a wonderful experience was that there were very nice friends who supported me. I am very proud of them.
I never forget such a wonderful speech contest like this.
I'm sure I need to challenge myself to reach higher levels.

Thank you very much,my dear friends!

Without your support,I could not have gotten this trophy...

Helping each other

Ten days have already gone by since my mother in law was hospitalized. According to my father in law, she is getting better and better.
She will come back home next Monday.

As you may probably remember, we live separately. I have to take care of two houses. The other day, my mother who lives in kyoto came to my house
and stayed for 2 days. She is a perfect housewife. She was willing to help my housework. She made  much delicious food for us and cleaned my room.
I was very appreciate for her kindness.

My father in law will be 81 years next month, He is very fine. He does not
usually do any housework. But this time, he washes the dishes and do the laundry by himself. I cook lunch and dinner for him. He is very good driver.
So he sometimes takes my daughter to the cram school from my house.
Needless to say, he supports  my family very well. I am also appreciate his kindness and good health.

Now my son has been  staying in my house from 7/19 last month. Although he has much homework, he often helps me. He sometimes cook lunch and dinner for us. While I was taking a nap today, he made some rice ball for my daughter. He is very kind and smart student.

Although I face some difficulties, I'm sure I will be able to overcome because I have my valuable family. I feel so happy and learn a lot from them.

These are my parents!

Be careful

This Monday, my mother in law suddenly came to my house and said to me.
"I am so sorry, I will go to hospital and have an operation. "
I knew that she could not take care of her self well. But it was unexpected.

After she fell down because of heat, she became handicapped a little bit.
she went to the hospital and consulted a doctor many times.
He suggested her to have an operation. She thinks that doctor is like God.
So she decided to have an operation.

When my husband and I were told about this situation by her at the first time,
we didn't agree it. But she didn't obey our opinion.
It was no choice.

She had an operation on her birthday. According to my father in law, she is getting better and better. I am relieved now.

It was cloudy last Thursday. I did not drink some in the morning and cleaned the house hard 2 hours. At noon, suddenly I fell down in the living room.
I felt dizzy. I laied  down on the bed, but it was getting worse and worse.
I asked my father in law to the hospital soon.

I arrived at hospital. I consulted a doctor. According to the blood test, I became
bad because of dehydration. I realized that I  was concentrating on cleaning without  something to drink. I was treated by drip infusion for 3 hours.

In my mother in law's case, she fell down outside when it was too hot.
She is an  old person,so it is difficult for her to notice if the temperature is high or not. I am sorry that she had a bad accident out side. If I had fell down outside, I would have been operated like her.

As we know, gloval warmimg is progressing.
Let's be careful especially in summer.

heat sickness

As we know, we are obliged to save  electriciy in this summer because of lack of electric power.
Now it is too hot in Japan. Probably all Japanese people are sure that it is necessary for us to do so.

Last Thursday morning, my mother in law went to play grand golf  with other old people.
At 9 AM, she fell  down because of heat and hurt her neck. My father in law immeadiately took her to the hospital. She recovered consciousness but her hand( fingers) started shaking.
Now she has to go to hospital and she can't move her right hand well.
She regretted to play grand golf outside although  it was too hot. But there was no choice.

When I watched TV, I knew that many young students fell down out side because of heat when it was held  at sport festival. And I also knew that many old people became heat sickness in thier house because they can't feel if  it was hot or not. It is dangerous thing.

My daughter often complains about the heat  because there were no airconditioners in her class rooms and other rooms. Whenever they take PE class outside, many students are about to fall down.
I advised  her to drink something but she told me that she had lack of drink . It is very dangerous situation because they can't go to the store easily and immediately.

Osaka governor  Hashimoto Toru  told us not to worry about saving electric power.
It is Kansai area. Kantou area only lack the electric power.
We can understand what he mention. But we  are sometimes confused ... Which way should we choose" saving or our life???
Even though there were no earthquake anc Tsunami , we would have face this serious problem.

In my case, I usually stay in the house. So I take a shower during a dialy time once. I don't use airconditioner. I use only fan. I try to drink something. When I go outside, I use umbrella to avoid ultraviolet rays. I don't want to become heat sickness. We continue to fight with intense heat.

Japanese educational situation

As you may probably know, Japanese high school students have to study very hard during thier school life. My daugher is a  high school student.She goes to cram school almost every day and I have to support as her  driver every night.

She does not have  a special dream or goal now, so she is troubled by  this situation.
But actually most high school students  wish to go to college or university. There are too many schools in Japan, I think. So some universites  are very popular but other universities are not popular. It is so difficult for them to pass  entrance exams  for popular universities.

When I was a high school student on  summer vacation, I studied  from early in the morning to late at night. It was too hard for me. But it was normal. At that time, there were not so many cram school, so I had to study by myself.
In my daughter's case, I think she is lucky. Her cram school teachers teach her and other students kindly and
politely. Most of the students pass  entrance exams every year. They have to think about after their graduation after that.

But it is said that Japanese university  students don't need to study very hard during  their school life.
They can easily graduate.So many of them slack off. This is the  Japanese people's situation
About 30% students can't find their company or job to work. Many students start to look for a company early in the semester.  Some students cut the class although monthly school fee is  so expensive. It is  a very sad story.

I don't like this Japanese style. But there is  no choice.
I think my daughter continues  to be troubled from now on,too. Because we can't answer the question.

" Why  do students have to study and go to university???"

Talk about victim's pets and animals

As we know,Fukushima power station problem hasn't been solved yet. Of course many victims are compelled to evacuate from Fukushima, but unfortunately their pets and animals were abandoned.

I happened to find one person's blog.

http://ameblo.jp/uchino-toramaru/

According to his blog, he often goes to Fukushima near the Fukushima power station in order to feed animals. I saw many pictures and read it and I was about to cry. That present situation is so terrible and sad.

Many pets were looking for their owner. Some pets died because of hunger.
He and other volunteer people are helping to them. They give some water and food to them.
And he tell about the situation for us.

By this disaster and radiation problem, many pets and animals are also damaged.
We are human being,so we can speak, appeal,cry.
But they can't speak.They can't understand their situation. They don't know what they should do.
I feel so sad and I have no idea.
But actually some kind people continue to help them.

Please read his blog and don't forget these present situation.

What a small world it is!

I usually make use of facebook. I have been using it for about 3 years. The reason is that Canadian   who have ever stayed in my house  suggested me to join.  After that I enjoy communicating with my friends.

The other day, I happened to see my page in my right side. As we know, many members who are my friends's friend are shown in our page. We can sometimes meet again accidentaly.

I saw one person's page. I was so surprised because I knew that we had a lot of in common.

I decided to write a message and ask many things to him.
I received his message.  And I was more surprised again.   Because our home town was the same, my brother's school was the same, our club was the same, my old friend is his school friend,and so on...)


What a small world is! Face book is so useful!  I am so excited now.

I was looking for other old friends by using facebook.
I found some old friends. I was also able to see some of thier pictures. Amazing!
I remember those days.

Most of my face book friends are not online friends but real friends. So I don't need to worry about too much. I will enjoy meeting old friends and communicate with them.