There is World Heritage of 890 all over the world. How many World
Heritage
have you seen before?
First of all, World Heritage indicates remains, the sceneries and the nature
etc.
Registered by General Conference of UNESCO based on World Heritage Convention.
689 of 890 registered in World Heritage are divided into the cultural heritage
and 176
are divided into the natural heritage and 25 mixed heritages. There is World
Heritage of
14 in Japan now. I had seen 5 World Heritages before. Those are old town
Kyoto, old
town Nara, shiretoko peninsula in Hokkaido, Horyu-ji temple and Nikko-Toshogu
shrine. I felt magical power from any heritages and relaxed. So I became that
I want to
come again for a long time.
It is not easy to admit as World Heritage. It is necessary to pass the
rigorous
examination. First of all, the person in charge in region or the government
agency
recommends it and the tentative list is submitted. Secondly, UNESCO World
Heritage
Center evaluates and investigated request it. The heritage is divided into
nature,
Investigated respectively, and reported to the World Heritage Center. And it
becomes
Formal registration if judge by World Heritage Center discussed at the
committee. At
last, it is taken as World Heritage by passing the rigorous examination like
this.
There is as a precondition. It reports on
the
maintenance situation every six years and it is necessary to receive the
reexamination
after it registers. If it is judged to no , it
will be
registration erase. It is the Dresden Elba valley that was blotted out for the
first
time in 2009 because this having been judged that the bridge that destroys the
scenery
is constructed.
There are World Heritages like express the racial discrimination and the
damage
Caused by wars . These are called the World Heritage of a negative alias. For
example
in the typical one the Atomic Bomb Memorial Dome in Hiroshima,
Auschwitz=birukenau gulag and Robben Island,etc.
There are counties where a lot of World Heritage registered too and are
38
countries without any. It is advanced to appeal to lose regional bias. Being
registered in
World Heritage has a large influence in the tourism industry in the
surrounding area.
However, the problem such as the number of tourists increases, and the trouble
with a
Peripheral resident occurs too.
I thought that it want you to defend the appearance because it had been
taken as
one of the heritages of the world though feelings of wanting you to visit the
power of
people. The heritages that exists by hundreds of years. I want to go to
the World
Heritage of Japan some time, and all to go also to an overseas heritages.
Showing posts with label Class A. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Class A. Show all posts
Friday, November 6, 2009
My Treasure
What is your treasure? Can you answer this question? Maybe this answer is not only one. We have found a lot of treasure in our life before. In my case, I really love my family, friends, darling, my part time job, Japan, time, school …countless things! So, my treasure is my life! I love my life. It’s not a joke. I am not joking, I really think I’m happy now, and I appreciate my mother’s love for me today.
Today, we can eat everything we want. If we are in our house, only one call or by the website, we can get some food. And in convenience stores, whenever we can get fresh foods. How useful Japan is! However, some Japanese think this circumstance is natural and it’s certain to continue forever, or they think that they are not concerned with the case. We must thank Japan for this wealthy life. Don’t think it’s natural. This happy life is my treasure.
In case of family, some people have parents, others not. My parents divorced 2 years ago because of money trouble, and my father is gone. Before it happened, I want to be rich, and I sometimes think my life was boring. I didn’t care about my family, but now I noticed that it was a huge mistake for me. I felt that common hardships knitted the family together. I think normal is the best now. Nothing special is okay. Family is also my treasure, so I want them to be healthy and happy forever.
Now, I’m in Tokyo without my family. At first, of course, I didn’t have any connection before, so I feel loneliness everyday and I want to go back to my home town. I didn’t like Tokyo. However, I could soon make so many friends here. At Bunkyo University and at my job, I could make my friends chain. They helped me change from a lonely life! I can laugh with them everyday and I think it’s really happy thing. I think I have fortune on my side. They are my treasure.
Finally, I live with my boyfriend now. I think it’s very good experience for us. He is my best, and I can spend most of my time with him! We cook, talk, wash, watch TV, read a magazine, and laugh together everyday. I really love him so I really enjoy my life. I always think like this “How happy I am!! If I die now, I won’t have any regrets!!” Maybe it’s a little bit much, but he is my treasure.
I think various things made me: society, my family, my friends, my partner, and so on. If one of these is missing, I’m unhappy. All of these are necessary for me to make me, so I must not regard this life as natural and must not forget to appreciate it, it’s very important. I love my treasure and I thank my treasure very much. If I were born again, I would like to be me again. I love my life!
What is your treasure?
Today, we can eat everything we want. If we are in our house, only one call or by the website, we can get some food. And in convenience stores, whenever we can get fresh foods. How useful Japan is! However, some Japanese think this circumstance is natural and it’s certain to continue forever, or they think that they are not concerned with the case. We must thank Japan for this wealthy life. Don’t think it’s natural. This happy life is my treasure.
In case of family, some people have parents, others not. My parents divorced 2 years ago because of money trouble, and my father is gone. Before it happened, I want to be rich, and I sometimes think my life was boring. I didn’t care about my family, but now I noticed that it was a huge mistake for me. I felt that common hardships knitted the family together. I think normal is the best now. Nothing special is okay. Family is also my treasure, so I want them to be healthy and happy forever.
Now, I’m in Tokyo without my family. At first, of course, I didn’t have any connection before, so I feel loneliness everyday and I want to go back to my home town. I didn’t like Tokyo. However, I could soon make so many friends here. At Bunkyo University and at my job, I could make my friends chain. They helped me change from a lonely life! I can laugh with them everyday and I think it’s really happy thing. I think I have fortune on my side. They are my treasure.
Finally, I live with my boyfriend now. I think it’s very good experience for us. He is my best, and I can spend most of my time with him! We cook, talk, wash, watch TV, read a magazine, and laugh together everyday. I really love him so I really enjoy my life. I always think like this “How happy I am!! If I die now, I won’t have any regrets!!” Maybe it’s a little bit much, but he is my treasure.
I think various things made me: society, my family, my friends, my partner, and so on. If one of these is missing, I’m unhappy. All of these are necessary for me to make me, so I must not regard this life as natural and must not forget to appreciate it, it’s very important. I love my treasure and I thank my treasure very much. If I were born again, I would like to be me again. I love my life!
What is your treasure?
Communication is Important
Now, there are almost very few people who don’t have a mobile phone. Most people think mobile phones are necessary recently, because mobile phones are very useful. For example it can send e-mails, call someone, net surfing, listen music and so on. If you have a mobile phone, you can contact someone every time, every where, when you want to.
However, I think we rely on useful tools too much. One study of people who have their own mobile phone said about 93 percent of people put their mobile phone beside them when they sleep, about 50 percent of people bring their mobile phones in to the toilet, about 45 percent of people keep their mobile phones at close quarters at meals, and also about 18 percent people bring their mobile phones to the bath!!
I think we need face to face communication! It has a lot of good points. First, we can look into each other’s faces. Then we can feel their mood, physical, or other things. Second, we can manage to express ourselves by gestures. When we communicate with foreigners, gestures are very useful. Finally, we can share same time, mood and so on. I think it is a very wonderful thing!
I think face-to-face communication is important for latest people, because it gives us happy time and we can know communicate with other people is very fun! Let’s try taking a face to face communicate.
However, I think we rely on useful tools too much. One study of people who have their own mobile phone said about 93 percent of people put their mobile phone beside them when they sleep, about 50 percent of people bring their mobile phones in to the toilet, about 45 percent of people keep their mobile phones at close quarters at meals, and also about 18 percent people bring their mobile phones to the bath!!
I think we need face to face communication! It has a lot of good points. First, we can look into each other’s faces. Then we can feel their mood, physical, or other things. Second, we can manage to express ourselves by gestures. When we communicate with foreigners, gestures are very useful. Finally, we can share same time, mood and so on. I think it is a very wonderful thing!
I think face-to-face communication is important for latest people, because it gives us happy time and we can know communicate with other people is very fun! Let’s try taking a face to face communicate.
A cup of Coffee
When do you drink coffee? Morning, Afternoon, Tea time, Night. Coffee is very popular drink all over the world today. I think some of the people drink coffee, but other people don’t. But what in the world do we know about coffee?
Last August, luckily, I had a chance to take part in a coffee seminar. Then I studied so many things about coffee and cultures. First thing I studied was the cultivation of coffee. Coffee is produced between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn. About 70 countries which are almost starving nations make coffee. It is hard to grow coffee trees. Coffee trees can grow over 1000 meters above sea level and the trees grow from 9 to 12 meters. Tall coffee trees need over high trees which are called shade tree to protect from the sun burn. Coffee trees are weak in high temperature and high humidity. And then, it takes 5 years to able to harvest. If you want 100 grams of roasted coffee beans, you have to pick 500 grams of raw coffee beans.
Next thing is coffee is good for our health and daily life. I think most of you drink coffee at study time, that’s because coffee keeps us awaking. Coffee effect not only sleepiness but also fatigue. The smell of coffee has long been known to have an aromatherapy effect. We can relax to smell delightful aroma of coffee. It stimulates part of the brain and produces a good feeling. New research from Oakland, California, says that coffee may protect the livers of heavy alcohol drinkers. The more coffee people reported drinking, the less likely they were either to be hospitalized or die of liver cirrhosis.
I drink coffee casually, but I found coffee is very deep and wonderful drink. If we drink coffee, we can save famine-ridden people. I thinking that being interested in a familiar and livings are important.
Last August, luckily, I had a chance to take part in a coffee seminar. Then I studied so many things about coffee and cultures. First thing I studied was the cultivation of coffee. Coffee is produced between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn. About 70 countries which are almost starving nations make coffee. It is hard to grow coffee trees. Coffee trees can grow over 1000 meters above sea level and the trees grow from 9 to 12 meters. Tall coffee trees need over high trees which are called shade tree to protect from the sun burn. Coffee trees are weak in high temperature and high humidity. And then, it takes 5 years to able to harvest. If you want 100 grams of roasted coffee beans, you have to pick 500 grams of raw coffee beans.
Next thing is coffee is good for our health and daily life. I think most of you drink coffee at study time, that’s because coffee keeps us awaking. Coffee effect not only sleepiness but also fatigue. The smell of coffee has long been known to have an aromatherapy effect. We can relax to smell delightful aroma of coffee. It stimulates part of the brain and produces a good feeling. New research from Oakland, California, says that coffee may protect the livers of heavy alcohol drinkers. The more coffee people reported drinking, the less likely they were either to be hospitalized or die of liver cirrhosis.
I drink coffee casually, but I found coffee is very deep and wonderful drink. If we drink coffee, we can save famine-ridden people. I thinking that being interested in a familiar and livings are important.
Child Care
Almost of the people will get married have a child. I think that that too. A marriage is easier than having a child. Because we just hand in a registration of a marriage to a government office, but having a child and child care is different I think. So I’m going to tell you about difficulty of caring of a child.
First of all, we need a large sum of money. I have heard that a childbirth’s costs are very high. We must go to a hospital to inspection etc. And children grow very quickly, so we give them clothes that fit them. Moreover I think all of parents think they want to give their children a good education. It is said that the average educational expenses is about ten million yen. But it is just a high school and a University.
Secondly, parents should teach morals and manners and so on to their children. Especially things that school doesn’t teach to them are must. When they become adults, they don’t know that and they will shame in a public. It is for that parents need tell that when children is young.
Third, parents are parents all the time and forever. Parents worry about them always. Parents protect their children from something that may have bad affects. For example, playing violent video games, or using the Internet too much. Recently, our life is very useful with mobile phone and Internet, but on the other hand, children have many chances to meet an accident.
Finally, these are difficulty of caring a child. But I think a child care is a wonderful experience. Because we can see a child is growing. They start to stand up, walk, speak, write… A child care has many difficult problems, but many happy things. So I want to have a child in the future.
First of all, we need a large sum of money. I have heard that a childbirth’s costs are very high. We must go to a hospital to inspection etc. And children grow very quickly, so we give them clothes that fit them. Moreover I think all of parents think they want to give their children a good education. It is said that the average educational expenses is about ten million yen. But it is just a high school and a University.
Secondly, parents should teach morals and manners and so on to their children. Especially things that school doesn’t teach to them are must. When they become adults, they don’t know that and they will shame in a public. It is for that parents need tell that when children is young.
Third, parents are parents all the time and forever. Parents worry about them always. Parents protect their children from something that may have bad affects. For example, playing violent video games, or using the Internet too much. Recently, our life is very useful with mobile phone and Internet, but on the other hand, children have many chances to meet an accident.
Finally, these are difficulty of caring a child. But I think a child care is a wonderful experience. Because we can see a child is growing. They start to stand up, walk, speak, write… A child care has many difficult problems, but many happy things. So I want to have a child in the future.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Works of the Center for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Kumamoto City
Do you know how many dogs and cats are killed for disposal in a year? About three hundred thousand dogs and cats are killed all over the country per year. Dogs and cats that have been caught or have been abandoned due to their owners’ circumstances are taken charge of by the Centers for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of local autonomies. When owners of those dogs and cats became clear, they are returned to their owners. Dogs and cats whose owners didn’t become clear, or which were abandoned by their owners are handed over to new owners. However, if the owners don’t become clear, and also, if they are not handed over to new owners, those dogs and cats are killed by gas. Nowadays local autonomies of all over the country devise various works to decrease the number of dogs and cats that are brought to the Centers. Especially, the Center for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Kumamoto City has greatly decreased the number of dogs and cats that are killed for disposal with some unique works. Let me introduce those works.
First, staff of the Center doesn’t receive dogs and cats that are brought there easily, and try to persuade owners not to abandon their pets. The staffs tell, sometimes with their voice raised, the preciousness of life, owners’ duty and responsibility to owners who brought their pets to the Center, and try to get them to change their minds. The number of dogs and cats that were taken charge of by the Center has decreased from 492 to 52 since the Center began this work.
Second, the Center holds a meeting to hand over dogs and cats once a month. However, new owners can’t receive dogs and cats easily. They must take a course about what owners should know, and must get an interview with a veterinarian to be judged whether he or she is fit to be an owner before they are handed over dogs and cats. Also, new owners must promise to prevent their dogs and cats’ conception or have them neutered after they are handed over them, and must hand in a written pledge to keep their pets until their death.
In addition, the Center discloses information of dogs and cats that it protects on website of the city. The number of dogs and cats that were returned to their owners and that were handed over to new owners has been increasing year by year by beginning to carry pictures of dogs and cats that are protected by the Center on website, and disclose information actively since October, 2002. Especially, the number of dogs and cats that had been handed over became about 10 times, from 28 to 237, over the past 10 years.
In this way, through those several works, the number of dogs and cats that had been killed for disposal in Kumamoto City decreased from 946 to 78 compared with 10 years ago. In 2007, the return rate was about 43% and the survival rate was about 78%, which was the top level in Japan. I think it is necessary to spread those works to all over the country, and to decrease killing for disposal. Also, I think it is important for owners to keep their pets until their death with responsibility. I hope that someday the world will be rid of killing animals for disposal.
First, staff of the Center doesn’t receive dogs and cats that are brought there easily, and try to persuade owners not to abandon their pets. The staffs tell, sometimes with their voice raised, the preciousness of life, owners’ duty and responsibility to owners who brought their pets to the Center, and try to get them to change their minds. The number of dogs and cats that were taken charge of by the Center has decreased from 492 to 52 since the Center began this work.
Second, the Center holds a meeting to hand over dogs and cats once a month. However, new owners can’t receive dogs and cats easily. They must take a course about what owners should know, and must get an interview with a veterinarian to be judged whether he or she is fit to be an owner before they are handed over dogs and cats. Also, new owners must promise to prevent their dogs and cats’ conception or have them neutered after they are handed over them, and must hand in a written pledge to keep their pets until their death.
In addition, the Center discloses information of dogs and cats that it protects on website of the city. The number of dogs and cats that were returned to their owners and that were handed over to new owners has been increasing year by year by beginning to carry pictures of dogs and cats that are protected by the Center on website, and disclose information actively since October, 2002. Especially, the number of dogs and cats that had been handed over became about 10 times, from 28 to 237, over the past 10 years.
In this way, through those several works, the number of dogs and cats that had been killed for disposal in Kumamoto City decreased from 946 to 78 compared with 10 years ago. In 2007, the return rate was about 43% and the survival rate was about 78%, which was the top level in Japan. I think it is necessary to spread those works to all over the country, and to decrease killing for disposal. Also, I think it is important for owners to keep their pets until their death with responsibility. I hope that someday the world will be rid of killing animals for disposal.
Why Do I Study English?
Have you ever wondered why we study English? Many people think it is because a
universal language. Some people think they need it for just travel or business.
This summer, I could know the true meaning of learning English.
On July 31, I arrived in Australia and stayed there for 5 weeks to study
English. It was my first time to study abroad, so before I went to there, I
hesitated many times because I worried whether I could do well in a new land,
since I can’t speak English very well. I didn’t know how to communicate with
people in English. However, when I met my host mother for the first time, my
anxiety went away somewhere because she talked to me with a smile, “Welcome to
my home!! If you don’t know something, please ask me anything and help
yourself !!” I found she was a very kind person and her smile made me
relieved. Before that, I had thought that homestay was only for studying
English. However, the more I lived with my host mother, the more I wanted to
know about her and I also wanted her to know about me, like a real family.
Then I started to go to university. I could make many friends who were from
other countries. Some students were from Korea, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. I
always ate lunch and went some places together. Then we began to understand
each other little by little.
I realized that I came to Australia not only to study English, but also to meet
such wonderful people. I found if I use English, I can learn many cultures and
understand mutually even people who live in other countries. Before I went to
Australia, I thought that English was only a tool to communicate with people,
but now, I have changed my mind. By taking communication in English, we can
meet many people who live all over the world and share our emotions and
cultures.
English is just a language but it has great power. My English is like a
property for me. We can do many things even I can speak it just a little. I’ d
like to meet many people who I’ve never met, so that’s why I keep studying
English.
universal language. Some people think they need it for just travel or business.
This summer, I could know the true meaning of learning English.
On July 31, I arrived in Australia and stayed there for 5 weeks to study
English. It was my first time to study abroad, so before I went to there, I
hesitated many times because I worried whether I could do well in a new land,
since I can’t speak English very well. I didn’t know how to communicate with
people in English. However, when I met my host mother for the first time, my
anxiety went away somewhere because she talked to me with a smile, “Welcome to
my home!! If you don’t know something, please ask me anything and help
yourself !!” I found she was a very kind person and her smile made me
relieved. Before that, I had thought that homestay was only for studying
English. However, the more I lived with my host mother, the more I wanted to
know about her and I also wanted her to know about me, like a real family.
Then I started to go to university. I could make many friends who were from
other countries. Some students were from Korea, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. I
always ate lunch and went some places together. Then we began to understand
each other little by little.
I realized that I came to Australia not only to study English, but also to meet
such wonderful people. I found if I use English, I can learn many cultures and
understand mutually even people who live in other countries. Before I went to
Australia, I thought that English was only a tool to communicate with people,
but now, I have changed my mind. By taking communication in English, we can
meet many people who live all over the world and share our emotions and
cultures.
English is just a language but it has great power. My English is like a
property for me. We can do many things even I can speak it just a little. I’ d
like to meet many people who I’ve never met, so that’s why I keep studying
English.
Behind The Surface
“Viva Mexico!” I have developed a great interests in Spanish by studying the history and culture of its countries since I entered into the University. So I was really excited about going to Mexico when I begun to get interested in it and started to plan to study abroad there. My experience there broke the stereotype that I developed in Japan. During my stay, I noticed that the way some people see the world is mainly based on what we have seen in ads and movies. I went through quite opposite things from those in Japan: working in the capital city and teaching in the school called Cajones, a small school for kids living far from the big city, to teach English.
All I was thinking about while in Mexico were optimistic thoughts. I would say to myself, “Mexican people are all friendly and happy” and “I am going to have an amazing time here.” There are some elements that helped me break the stereotypes I developed in Mexico.
I saw many impoverished people who asked for money. I talked on the streets, at some restaurants or some bars with many friendly Mexican people and I saw many active children like in Japan or in some other countries. Some are rich and very happy, but many kids approached me to sell the stuff they made and asked me to give money when I was taking a walk on the street and eating in the restaurant. I was asked so many times to buy one, they would say, “Please two pesos…. Please buy this….” They were asking me this while showing the things they made. Some kids just tugged my t-shirt looking hard at me silently. Those children looked like they were just 6 or 7 years old but they were working to make money to live even though they were at the age to be in school and to go out with friends to enjoy life and grow up. At that time I realized that some people in the world are very narrow minded. The image of Mexico in Japan is different from my experience there.
By the similar case, I understood how easily Japanese people are manipulated by advertisements or information in Japan at the language school where I studied Spanish. My Mexican teachers said to me, “This language school is the oldest school in this town, so, we taught a lot of students and made many memories here. But, unfortunately, this school is going to close next month. Few students come to study because of this economic depression and the flu.” And my Mexican teacher said “Many Japanese students canceled their plan to study here.” I could agree with part of what they said, but I also thought it was sad and ridiculous. The society in Mexico doesn’t have a big problem with the new flu. In fact, those people are living normally. I didn’t think Japanese people need to worry about it that much. I thought Japanese people had some other flu because they worry too much over the media’s exaggerations. Perhaps that is the one of the reason why the number of people committing suicide in Japan is top in this world and the amount of crime is increasing. I came to hate a particular bad characteristic of Japanese society. They are easily manipulated by external forces, such as the media and various propaganda, and then, they get wrong stereotypes about other countries.
Furthermore, I got shocked and greatly shamed when I went to Cajones where some American teachers teach English for Mexican children as volunteers. Those children can’t go to school because they’re living far from the central city. They are teaching and enjoying English all together and all children were studying English eagerly despite the insufficient learning materials. And when I performed Japanese comedy, Rakugo, for them in English and Spanish, they were gazing at me and asked curiously “How interesting! Then, please teach us Japanese!” Their strong curiosity really surprised me. At once, I suddenly felt ashamed because Japanese children don’t have such strong curiosity to study or to know even though there are a lot of materials and opportunities to study. They don’t listen to and follow what teacher says in the class, especially, in elemental school. However, it also holds true for secondly school and university. In some of my classes as well, even university students can’t study eagerly and concentrate. They don’t ask professors, sometimes do not homework and sometimes skip those classes.
All things looked through and considered, maybe now you can understand the reason why I said the realities of life in Mexico broke my stereotype and I came up with some thoughts. There are some difference between what we see our own country and what we see view in other countries. I was thinking of that Mexico is the country where there are many happy people and I can enjoy very much. I didn’t know that there many such children in Mexico. Now, I got start to think about what we can do for them and what we should do by ourselves thanks to those experiences in Mexico. Practically, we should go to see the side behind the wrong side in that country if we can afford to go those countries. However, we can do something by ourselves in our country. We can learn about the reality of other countries from the people who have been to those countries and we can choose right information carefully, not inconsiderately but considering matters from many different angles. If we do so, we can always know the real side behind the surface we are viewing.
All I was thinking about while in Mexico were optimistic thoughts. I would say to myself, “Mexican people are all friendly and happy” and “I am going to have an amazing time here.” There are some elements that helped me break the stereotypes I developed in Mexico.
I saw many impoverished people who asked for money. I talked on the streets, at some restaurants or some bars with many friendly Mexican people and I saw many active children like in Japan or in some other countries. Some are rich and very happy, but many kids approached me to sell the stuff they made and asked me to give money when I was taking a walk on the street and eating in the restaurant. I was asked so many times to buy one, they would say, “Please two pesos…. Please buy this….” They were asking me this while showing the things they made. Some kids just tugged my t-shirt looking hard at me silently. Those children looked like they were just 6 or 7 years old but they were working to make money to live even though they were at the age to be in school and to go out with friends to enjoy life and grow up. At that time I realized that some people in the world are very narrow minded. The image of Mexico in Japan is different from my experience there.
By the similar case, I understood how easily Japanese people are manipulated by advertisements or information in Japan at the language school where I studied Spanish. My Mexican teachers said to me, “This language school is the oldest school in this town, so, we taught a lot of students and made many memories here. But, unfortunately, this school is going to close next month. Few students come to study because of this economic depression and the flu.” And my Mexican teacher said “Many Japanese students canceled their plan to study here.” I could agree with part of what they said, but I also thought it was sad and ridiculous. The society in Mexico doesn’t have a big problem with the new flu. In fact, those people are living normally. I didn’t think Japanese people need to worry about it that much. I thought Japanese people had some other flu because they worry too much over the media’s exaggerations. Perhaps that is the one of the reason why the number of people committing suicide in Japan is top in this world and the amount of crime is increasing. I came to hate a particular bad characteristic of Japanese society. They are easily manipulated by external forces, such as the media and various propaganda, and then, they get wrong stereotypes about other countries.
Furthermore, I got shocked and greatly shamed when I went to Cajones where some American teachers teach English for Mexican children as volunteers. Those children can’t go to school because they’re living far from the central city. They are teaching and enjoying English all together and all children were studying English eagerly despite the insufficient learning materials. And when I performed Japanese comedy, Rakugo, for them in English and Spanish, they were gazing at me and asked curiously “How interesting! Then, please teach us Japanese!” Their strong curiosity really surprised me. At once, I suddenly felt ashamed because Japanese children don’t have such strong curiosity to study or to know even though there are a lot of materials and opportunities to study. They don’t listen to and follow what teacher says in the class, especially, in elemental school. However, it also holds true for secondly school and university. In some of my classes as well, even university students can’t study eagerly and concentrate. They don’t ask professors, sometimes do not homework and sometimes skip those classes.
All things looked through and considered, maybe now you can understand the reason why I said the realities of life in Mexico broke my stereotype and I came up with some thoughts. There are some difference between what we see our own country and what we see view in other countries. I was thinking of that Mexico is the country where there are many happy people and I can enjoy very much. I didn’t know that there many such children in Mexico. Now, I got start to think about what we can do for them and what we should do by ourselves thanks to those experiences in Mexico. Practically, we should go to see the side behind the wrong side in that country if we can afford to go those countries. However, we can do something by ourselves in our country. We can learn about the reality of other countries from the people who have been to those countries and we can choose right information carefully, not inconsiderately but considering matters from many different angles. If we do so, we can always know the real side behind the surface we are viewing.
Seeing Is Believing
How do you think about China? I didn’t have good images of China because I often watched not so good news of China. For example, poison in dumplings (gyouza) made by China was found in Japan in 2008. Moreover, there were a lot of foods that were rare and unusual like grubs and scorpions for Japan. We don’t have these foods in Japan. Other image was that the air of China was very foul, and the public hygiene was not good. I had these images, so I didn’t like China and I thought that I wouldn’t go to China.
However, I study Chinese in the university, and I went to China and stayed for a month in order to learn Chinese in this summer, as a result, my images of China were changed for four reasons.
The first reason is that there were many buildings and downtowns like Ginza or Shibuya. Last summer, the Olympic games ware held in Beijing, so people there reconstructed many buildings. Before I departed for China, I had thought there were more old and dilapidated buildings or houses in China. Of course, they were many in the town, but there were more beautiful and high buildings, and the towns had such beautiful night views. It surprised me and made me change my image of the towns in China.
The second reason for changing my image is the population of China. Do you know it? It is about 1,345,750,000, and it is No.1 all over the world. The thing I was surprised was the number of people, cars and bikes, and when I came back to Japan, I thought the number of people and cars was small. In China, because the number of bikes is very large, a wide road for bikes is set. On the road, people and bikes passed without stopping, and it’s difficult to cross the road. In Japan, drivers wait for pedestrians till they finish getting across, but in China, people give way to drivers of cars. When I crossed a street, some drivers often blew the car horns, and this is a frequent occurrence.
The third reason that I changed my mind was Chinese food. Do you like Chinese food? Moreover, what image do you have of Chinese food? I like Chinese food very much and often eat it. My images were that Chinese food was spicy and very nice. Actually, my images were true. Chinese foods we had in China were very spicy. In my opinion, Japanese likes Chinese food because Japanese food is similar to Chinese that in some points and it is famous and popular in Japan. However, in China I had some dishes that I had never seen before. When I went to the booths downtown, though I found the booths selling a skewered insect, starfish and grubs, I didn’t have the courage to eat those. However, I like Chinese food as I have said in the above. Above all things, my favorite point of Chinese food is that the food is very reasonable. I often had a lunch about 100yen in the cafeteria, and we can enjoy having many dishes at a low price in a lot of restaurants, so you can get many dishes and may be not able to eat all.
The last reason is about Chinese. What images of people in China do you have? In case of me, I thought Chinese resembled Japanese in appearance, and always looked angry. The reason that why they look angry is Chinese language has four tones, and it gave me the impression. Actually, they weren’t angry, but kind. For example, the cashiers of the supermarket and shop assistant were often kind, and many drivers taught us Chinese kindly and merrily. These experiences changed my image of Chinese.
Do you know the proverb “seeing is believing”? The meaning of this proverb is that it is more valuable for you not to hear so many times from people but to see for yourself. In this time, I understood the meaning of this proverb. Everyone often says the town in China is very dirty and the smell is bad, moreover China is not good place to stay. Surely I felt that the town was dirty, and the smell wasn’t good, but I had a very good time. Perhaps, I watched only good faces of China, but it was good because it was evidence that I was satisfied with the time at China with my best friends. I didn’t have good impressions and I had prejudice against China until the day I arrived at there, but I went to there and watched the many faces of real China. And more, I had a great experience, ultimately my ideas changed, my days for one month were very excellent, and they gave me things of great value.
However, I study Chinese in the university, and I went to China and stayed for a month in order to learn Chinese in this summer, as a result, my images of China were changed for four reasons.
The first reason is that there were many buildings and downtowns like Ginza or Shibuya. Last summer, the Olympic games ware held in Beijing, so people there reconstructed many buildings. Before I departed for China, I had thought there were more old and dilapidated buildings or houses in China. Of course, they were many in the town, but there were more beautiful and high buildings, and the towns had such beautiful night views. It surprised me and made me change my image of the towns in China.
The second reason for changing my image is the population of China. Do you know it? It is about 1,345,750,000, and it is No.1 all over the world. The thing I was surprised was the number of people, cars and bikes, and when I came back to Japan, I thought the number of people and cars was small. In China, because the number of bikes is very large, a wide road for bikes is set. On the road, people and bikes passed without stopping, and it’s difficult to cross the road. In Japan, drivers wait for pedestrians till they finish getting across, but in China, people give way to drivers of cars. When I crossed a street, some drivers often blew the car horns, and this is a frequent occurrence.
The third reason that I changed my mind was Chinese food. Do you like Chinese food? Moreover, what image do you have of Chinese food? I like Chinese food very much and often eat it. My images were that Chinese food was spicy and very nice. Actually, my images were true. Chinese foods we had in China were very spicy. In my opinion, Japanese likes Chinese food because Japanese food is similar to Chinese that in some points and it is famous and popular in Japan. However, in China I had some dishes that I had never seen before. When I went to the booths downtown, though I found the booths selling a skewered insect, starfish and grubs, I didn’t have the courage to eat those. However, I like Chinese food as I have said in the above. Above all things, my favorite point of Chinese food is that the food is very reasonable. I often had a lunch about 100yen in the cafeteria, and we can enjoy having many dishes at a low price in a lot of restaurants, so you can get many dishes and may be not able to eat all.
The last reason is about Chinese. What images of people in China do you have? In case of me, I thought Chinese resembled Japanese in appearance, and always looked angry. The reason that why they look angry is Chinese language has four tones, and it gave me the impression. Actually, they weren’t angry, but kind. For example, the cashiers of the supermarket and shop assistant were often kind, and many drivers taught us Chinese kindly and merrily. These experiences changed my image of Chinese.
Do you know the proverb “seeing is believing”? The meaning of this proverb is that it is more valuable for you not to hear so many times from people but to see for yourself. In this time, I understood the meaning of this proverb. Everyone often says the town in China is very dirty and the smell is bad, moreover China is not good place to stay. Surely I felt that the town was dirty, and the smell wasn’t good, but I had a very good time. Perhaps, I watched only good faces of China, but it was good because it was evidence that I was satisfied with the time at China with my best friends. I didn’t have good impressions and I had prejudice against China until the day I arrived at there, but I went to there and watched the many faces of real China. And more, I had a great experience, ultimately my ideas changed, my days for one month were very excellent, and they gave me things of great value.
One For All, All For One
“Let’s start a union, calling every human. It’s one for all and all for one. Let’s live in
unison, calling every citizen. It’s one for all and all for one.” This lyric is from one of my
favorite song “Union” of The Black Eyed Peas. They wish world peace and advocate us
partiality.
This year I started to study about poverty and peace building in class. It’s difficult to
decide whether one country is poor or not, but there are 42 countries which are
recognized as Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs). HIPCs are developing
countries which are bearing the heaviest debt and are the poorest countries in the world.
In these countries, person dies every 3 seconds from hunger. I learned in class that
although there are enough foods to feed every person all over the world, developed
countries including Japan buy too much food, and haven’t shared with developing
countries. In additions, Japan is the greatest food disposal country. I was shocked and
embarrassed to hear the fact. We have to face this fact and know that our happy life is
based on sacrifices of people who live in developing country.
I’ve heard one of Mother Teresa’s words “There are two poor countries in the world.
One is badly off country, India, and another is that though there are so many people
troubled in the world, pretend to be indifferent, Japan.” Japan is really good country. There are many things to be proud like beautiful natures, long historical cultures,
buildings and so on. However sometimes Japanese are said as poor mind country. I
think it’s too sad.
We humans live on earth together. We’re all the same human. We shouldn’t be divided
by belief, ethnicity and religion. My thought and knowledge may be still shallow, but
why don’t we start something we can do. My favorite singer also sings “It takes one,
just one. And then one follows the other one. And then another follows the other one.
Next thing you know you got a billion…Let’s change and do some powerful things.
Unity could be a wonderful thing.” It may be difficult to change the world by “myself”.
However, nothing changes if no one starts to do something for the world. For example,
I’ll try to not to make leftovers from meals. I’ll save water. I’ll use an eco-bag. I’ll save
electricity… These things are not so difficult, so whoever we can do. It takes one and
one follows the other one. Let’s start a union by the spirit of “One for all and all for
one.”
unison, calling every citizen. It’s one for all and all for one.” This lyric is from one of my
favorite song “Union” of The Black Eyed Peas. They wish world peace and advocate us
partiality.
This year I started to study about poverty and peace building in class. It’s difficult to
decide whether one country is poor or not, but there are 42 countries which are
recognized as Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs). HIPCs are developing
countries which are bearing the heaviest debt and are the poorest countries in the world.
In these countries, person dies every 3 seconds from hunger. I learned in class that
although there are enough foods to feed every person all over the world, developed
countries including Japan buy too much food, and haven’t shared with developing
countries. In additions, Japan is the greatest food disposal country. I was shocked and
embarrassed to hear the fact. We have to face this fact and know that our happy life is
based on sacrifices of people who live in developing country.
I’ve heard one of Mother Teresa’s words “There are two poor countries in the world.
One is badly off country, India, and another is that though there are so many people
troubled in the world, pretend to be indifferent, Japan.” Japan is really good country. There are many things to be proud like beautiful natures, long historical cultures,
buildings and so on. However sometimes Japanese are said as poor mind country. I
think it’s too sad.
We humans live on earth together. We’re all the same human. We shouldn’t be divided
by belief, ethnicity and religion. My thought and knowledge may be still shallow, but
why don’t we start something we can do. My favorite singer also sings “It takes one,
just one. And then one follows the other one. And then another follows the other one.
Next thing you know you got a billion…Let’s change and do some powerful things.
Unity could be a wonderful thing.” It may be difficult to change the world by “myself”.
However, nothing changes if no one starts to do something for the world. For example,
I’ll try to not to make leftovers from meals. I’ll save water. I’ll use an eco-bag. I’ll save
electricity… These things are not so difficult, so whoever we can do. It takes one and
one follows the other one. Let’s start a union by the spirit of “One for all and all for
one.”
The Importance Of Reading
Do you often read a book and like it? I guess that many young people may say “No, I don’t. It’s boring for me.” In fact, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology said in the newspaper that people who read books have gradually decreased year by year. I tried to read many kinds of books in this summer: foreign novels, Japanese ones and so on because I thought that reading books would have some effects on me. Then I noticed that there are some good merits to reading books through my experience.
First of all, people can increase their knowledge by reading because books include a lot of information, for example, kanji, idioms, proverbs, words in English and so on. If they suddenly came across a word which they didn’t know in the book, they would need to research its meaning so that they can continue to read it. Have you ever gone through such a situation? If so, you can get opportunities to improve your vocabulary and you should do this action and repeat! As a result of these actions, they will have more information than before when they finish reading it. What we know is that much knowledge is very useful for us in order to write a report on business or an essay, and speak in public.
Secondly, reading books give us calm time. As for me, one day I quarreled with my father, so I was irritated by that incident. However, I forgot about quarreling when I unconsciously started to read my book, and my feelings had been calmed very much before I knew it. I guess that we can enhance our concentration, and forget unpleasant feelings by reading. In addition, many people feel stress or uncomfortable owing to have a lot of trouble in their works, lives and relations in these days. It’s very important for us to spend time without stress because stress heavily damages our hearts and bodies, but in comparison with it, relaxation helps to keep our good health. If you have these problems, you should read books for your health.
Finally, reading books increases people’s imaginations. They imagine magnificent backgrounds, feelings of the characters, and many scenes which were written in detail by an author in their minds when they read each sentence. In other words, many authors want to tempt them into the world of their books so that they definitely tell their opinions or thoughts to readers and give us pleasure. In consequence, many readers can obviously improve their ability of imagination and understand author’s views. These effects give us rich expressions and ability for widely thinking, and I expect those effects to be useful when we talk or write about something. Besides, the more readers can enhance their imagination, the more enjoyable reading becomes for them!
Therefore, if some researchers compare people who like to read with others, they may tell that readers result in having more knowledge than others. I can actually say that what we read in books will surely provide some good benefits in our future because I could experience to improve myself, in particular about handling feelings. I could recognize and understand difficult words in the newspaper more than before. Recently we’re able to meet many kinds of people who have various fields of profession because of plentiful transportation. I think that we need to have many kinds of knowledge to communicate with them. Books can be carried around easily, so people can read them wherever they want to read, that is to say, you can get new information anywhere, for these reasons, I’d like you to read many different books that will be useful for your lives in the future.
First of all, people can increase their knowledge by reading because books include a lot of information, for example, kanji, idioms, proverbs, words in English and so on. If they suddenly came across a word which they didn’t know in the book, they would need to research its meaning so that they can continue to read it. Have you ever gone through such a situation? If so, you can get opportunities to improve your vocabulary and you should do this action and repeat! As a result of these actions, they will have more information than before when they finish reading it. What we know is that much knowledge is very useful for us in order to write a report on business or an essay, and speak in public.
Secondly, reading books give us calm time. As for me, one day I quarreled with my father, so I was irritated by that incident. However, I forgot about quarreling when I unconsciously started to read my book, and my feelings had been calmed very much before I knew it. I guess that we can enhance our concentration, and forget unpleasant feelings by reading. In addition, many people feel stress or uncomfortable owing to have a lot of trouble in their works, lives and relations in these days. It’s very important for us to spend time without stress because stress heavily damages our hearts and bodies, but in comparison with it, relaxation helps to keep our good health. If you have these problems, you should read books for your health.
Finally, reading books increases people’s imaginations. They imagine magnificent backgrounds, feelings of the characters, and many scenes which were written in detail by an author in their minds when they read each sentence. In other words, many authors want to tempt them into the world of their books so that they definitely tell their opinions or thoughts to readers and give us pleasure. In consequence, many readers can obviously improve their ability of imagination and understand author’s views. These effects give us rich expressions and ability for widely thinking, and I expect those effects to be useful when we talk or write about something. Besides, the more readers can enhance their imagination, the more enjoyable reading becomes for them!
Therefore, if some researchers compare people who like to read with others, they may tell that readers result in having more knowledge than others. I can actually say that what we read in books will surely provide some good benefits in our future because I could experience to improve myself, in particular about handling feelings. I could recognize and understand difficult words in the newspaper more than before. Recently we’re able to meet many kinds of people who have various fields of profession because of plentiful transportation. I think that we need to have many kinds of knowledge to communicate with them. Books can be carried around easily, so people can read them wherever they want to read, that is to say, you can get new information anywhere, for these reasons, I’d like you to read many different books that will be useful for your lives in the future.
Using cell phone
Nowadays, cell phones are very convenient for us. For example, we can communicate by sending e-mail, telephone and video calling much more easily than before. Also we can get lots of information from a cell phone. For instance, we can go to the internet and look up a word in a search engine. We can buy or sell something by using it, and we can check a train schedule…
Like this, cell phones are very useful. However, sometimes it cases a harmful influence for us.
First of all, there is communication on cell phones. As mentioned above, it’s very good to communicate, but the latest young people depend on the cell phone. They sometimes send lots of e-mail to their friends, and make a long phone call. If they have something to do for their friends, they also make contact by cell phone. Furtherer more, I surprised that family in same place－ for example mother in the kitchen, daughter in the her room, but they don’t speak, so they communicate by e-mail. When I knew that, I felt sad because they are family, so they should not contact indirectly, they should communicate directly. That’s why young people depend too much on the cell phone.
Secondly, we can get lots of information by using cell phone. However not all information are corrects. We have to make sure of the facts. We go to the internet everywhere by using cell phone. These days, minors are implicated in a crime by matchmaking sites, so their parents think about measure to protect their children from harmful sites. For example they use a filtering.
Finally, minors have lots of information tools, but its bad effect for them. Because we look up everything by using search engine, they fear that they can’t search by themselves and ask everything to someone or internet. Considering the circumstances mentioned above they should use it well.
In my opinion, you should think about what they use (e-mail, telephone or directly) and why you use it. I think basic communication is “face to face” and building more human relation is more important than using cell phones very well. Young people mustn’t depend on phones so much! Why don’t you spend a day with out cell phone?
Like this, cell phones are very useful. However, sometimes it cases a harmful influence for us.
First of all, there is communication on cell phones. As mentioned above, it’s very good to communicate, but the latest young people depend on the cell phone. They sometimes send lots of e-mail to their friends, and make a long phone call. If they have something to do for their friends, they also make contact by cell phone. Furtherer more, I surprised that family in same place－ for example mother in the kitchen, daughter in the her room, but they don’t speak, so they communicate by e-mail. When I knew that, I felt sad because they are family, so they should not contact indirectly, they should communicate directly. That’s why young people depend too much on the cell phone.
Secondly, we can get lots of information by using cell phone. However not all information are corrects. We have to make sure of the facts. We go to the internet everywhere by using cell phone. These days, minors are implicated in a crime by matchmaking sites, so their parents think about measure to protect their children from harmful sites. For example they use a filtering.
Finally, minors have lots of information tools, but its bad effect for them. Because we look up everything by using search engine, they fear that they can’t search by themselves and ask everything to someone or internet. Considering the circumstances mentioned above they should use it well.
In my opinion, you should think about what they use (e-mail, telephone or directly) and why you use it. I think basic communication is “face to face” and building more human relation is more important than using cell phones very well. Young people mustn’t depend on phones so much! Why don’t you spend a day with out cell phone?
Global Warming
Right now, how we should respond to global warming is becoming one of the serious problems around the world. I think we can hinder the global warming.
Global warming is the increase in temperature of the earth’s atmosphere that is caused by the increase of particular gases, especially carbon dioxide.
What becomes a problem if the temperature of the earth rises? For example, small islands will sink in the sea because the Arctic ice is beginning to melt and the seawater rises. Another example is that abnormal weather such as downpours and droughts increase, and, according to circumstances, there is a possibility that desertification, the shortage of water, and famines happen.
Recently, there are many laws and treaties. For example, “Law Concerning the Promotion of the Measures to Cope with Global Warming”, “Law Concerning the Recovery and Destruction of Fluorocarbons”. These are very sensible approach to the problem, I think.
So, what can we do as prevention measures against global warming? I will take it up from familiar things. First, when driving, remember not to start rapidly, not to accelerate, not to do a brake rapidly, and to keep a proper distance between two cars. However, using public transportation is the best measure. Second, at home remember to refrain from using the air conditioner, and to decrease time to watch TV. Finally, I think, the family spending time in the same room is the best measure. It is because useless electricity will not be wasted, and a very important communication space is created. Also, it is very easy to do. So, I want you to spend time in the same room with your family.
In conclusion, I think the earth to be changed with your consideration. Therefore, let’s decisively save the crisis of this earth by everyone.
Global warming is the increase in temperature of the earth’s atmosphere that is caused by the increase of particular gases, especially carbon dioxide.
What becomes a problem if the temperature of the earth rises? For example, small islands will sink in the sea because the Arctic ice is beginning to melt and the seawater rises. Another example is that abnormal weather such as downpours and droughts increase, and, according to circumstances, there is a possibility that desertification, the shortage of water, and famines happen.
Recently, there are many laws and treaties. For example, “Law Concerning the Promotion of the Measures to Cope with Global Warming”, “Law Concerning the Recovery and Destruction of Fluorocarbons”. These are very sensible approach to the problem, I think.
So, what can we do as prevention measures against global warming? I will take it up from familiar things. First, when driving, remember not to start rapidly, not to accelerate, not to do a brake rapidly, and to keep a proper distance between two cars. However, using public transportation is the best measure. Second, at home remember to refrain from using the air conditioner, and to decrease time to watch TV. Finally, I think, the family spending time in the same room is the best measure. It is because useless electricity will not be wasted, and a very important communication space is created. Also, it is very easy to do. So, I want you to spend time in the same room with your family.
In conclusion, I think the earth to be changed with your consideration. Therefore, let’s decisively save the crisis of this earth by everyone.
Make Life Valuable
Do you know how long your lifespan is? If you know your lifespan, how do you spend every day? What if your heart got old ten times faster than other people? We don’t know our lifespan, so, we spend every day without thinking about it, don’t we? I also spend every day without deeply thinking about my life. However, a girl whom I met on the TV program changed my how to think about my life. I got to think about every day of my life. I had been watching a documentary TV program. It was about a girl. Her name is Ashley Hegi. She is no different from other girls. She just has progeria. progeria is a disease. People who have progeria get old about ten times faster than other people. Their bones are weak, and they lose their hair. It is said that one person in eight million gets this disease.
Her way of life changed my way of thinking about life. Ashley knows her lifespan, so she does a thing that she can do that moment. She loves animals, likes to go shopping and has a boyfriend. There is no difference from us. She said, “The thing which is important about life is not the length but how you spend your life”. I was impressed by these words. She is only 14 years old. I thought she has really strong mind. If I know my lifespan, I’ll be afraid of death first. I think Ashley also was, but she said, “I don’t have any memories of being shocked to know that I had progeria. It’s not a big deal, so I don’t think about it”. She thinks the all things positively, and did things she wants to do. I really like her and her way to live. It is said that people with progeria live for about 13 years on the average, but Ashley lived for 17 years. People around her and her strong mind made Ashley’s lifespan longer. I also respect her mother. She let Ashley do everything she wants to do because she knew that Ashley would be unhappy if she worried about her too much and didn’t let her do anything. I think her mother is a one of the best mothers I’ve ever known, and Ashley is a lucky person because she was brought up by her. However, Ashley passed away on April 21, 2009.
Since I enter this university, I met a lot of people, went to many places and experienced a variety of things. Every time I met something and someone new, my heart was filled with gratitude to people who I met. It is important to keep doing something and planning for the future, but I think it is more important to try and do the things which we can do now. No one knows what happen tomorrow, so, we should think about this moment and try to do our best. I don’t want to waste my time. I’ll live life to the fullest every day. I can say that we owe it to ourselves to make the best of our lives. I appreciate to Ashley because she taught me the importance of living in this moment.
Her way of life changed my way of thinking about life. Ashley knows her lifespan, so she does a thing that she can do that moment. She loves animals, likes to go shopping and has a boyfriend. There is no difference from us. She said, “The thing which is important about life is not the length but how you spend your life”. I was impressed by these words. She is only 14 years old. I thought she has really strong mind. If I know my lifespan, I’ll be afraid of death first. I think Ashley also was, but she said, “I don’t have any memories of being shocked to know that I had progeria. It’s not a big deal, so I don’t think about it”. She thinks the all things positively, and did things she wants to do. I really like her and her way to live. It is said that people with progeria live for about 13 years on the average, but Ashley lived for 17 years. People around her and her strong mind made Ashley’s lifespan longer. I also respect her mother. She let Ashley do everything she wants to do because she knew that Ashley would be unhappy if she worried about her too much and didn’t let her do anything. I think her mother is a one of the best mothers I’ve ever known, and Ashley is a lucky person because she was brought up by her. However, Ashley passed away on April 21, 2009.
Since I enter this university, I met a lot of people, went to many places and experienced a variety of things. Every time I met something and someone new, my heart was filled with gratitude to people who I met. It is important to keep doing something and planning for the future, but I think it is more important to try and do the things which we can do now. No one knows what happen tomorrow, so, we should think about this moment and try to do our best. I don’t want to waste my time. I’ll live life to the fullest every day. I can say that we owe it to ourselves to make the best of our lives. I appreciate to Ashley because she taught me the importance of living in this moment.
To Realize Small Happiness
Have you ever felt “I was an unhappy”? When negative things happened, I’ve sometimes thought so. However, I’ve been changing negative thinking into positive thinking by a variety of experiences.
This summer, I went to India with 13 people strangers who applied for a tour which contains volunteer activities and sightseeing. It some reasons why I went there, and one of the reasons was that I wanted to do something for people. I think India is not such a wealth country. Some Indian people live in big and beautiful houses and stay at an excellent hotels, but others do not. I saw a lot of people, who sleep outside at night and some Indians including children begged me for some money, foraged for food, and worked on the road. These were shocking scenes for me because I’ve never seen them in Japan. At the begging of the tour, I couldn’t feel comfortable in my new environment, but I adapted a few days later. Especially, I was changed by volunteering.
Second day, I started volunteering at Mother Teresa House. I worked at Shishubawan which is like a home for orphans. In Shishubawan, there are many children and they were in different buildings depending on whether children have a handicap or not. Some volunteers play with them and feed them. Others including me, helped washing with some Indian volunteers. It was a sunny day, so the laundry dried well on the rooftop. Many colorful suits and clothing with cute prints for children were hanged out on the thin wires. After teatime with biscuits and cup of chai, we picked up and folded the laundry, which had already dried. Indians spoke Hindi, so I couldn’t understand most of what they said to me, but I could understand a little by gestures. They called me Anti. Anti means volunteer, so not only sister and adult Indian volunteer also children called me that.
Next day, some of the tour members and I worked at a Brother House. It was located in a different place from Mother Teresa House. I helped children to take a shower and played with them in there and fed men who had handicaps and couldn’t eat foods by themselves. Before they ate Indian chicken curry, we need to cut the chicken into small pieces for them. When I was cutting it by hand, I talked with Indian volunteer. I asked him, “Why did you volunteer?” then he answered, “For my experience.” When I just heard his answer, I was happy because I have thought the same as him. Even though we are from different countries, we were there as volunteers with similar thinking. I remember a man whose hands are handicapped very much. He sometimes looked me with big smile and we made some poses, piece and good luck by hands each other and I began to smile too. I realized then, that although I wanted to give something to people, actually they give me power and happiness.
On the last day of volunteer activities I came back to Mother Teresa House. In this time I took care of ordinary children. They were really cheerful, so I moved around, but I didn’t feel tired so that children who were in there were smiling. Non-handicapped children could be adopted, when they grew some extent up, they start to study English for their future. It helps them to living other countries and prepare for school and more. Actually, Indian came to the orphans’ home to see the children sometimes, when I played with children. Then I thought about the future of the children who were there and I hoped their happiness truly.
After I came back to Japan, I realized how happy I am and how rich Japan is in all. I can live in a strong house with my family, work and make money for myself. I have thought these were natural, and not special, but it might be wrong. Fortunately, I can do that. It’s really happy things and I need to appreciate all. I have an unforgettable phrase from Japanese sister who was in India. “Please find Calcutta in Japan.” Japan looks wealth country, but, on the other hand, too many current scandals happened every day. I realized poor means not only for people who have financial problems and also physical problem. I want to go step by step and make a kind action for someone although it may really small steps. If we realized our small happiness, Japan may become a lovelier and the world may become a more peaceful place.
This summer, I went to India with 13 people strangers who applied for a tour which contains volunteer activities and sightseeing. It some reasons why I went there, and one of the reasons was that I wanted to do something for people. I think India is not such a wealth country. Some Indian people live in big and beautiful houses and stay at an excellent hotels, but others do not. I saw a lot of people, who sleep outside at night and some Indians including children begged me for some money, foraged for food, and worked on the road. These were shocking scenes for me because I’ve never seen them in Japan. At the begging of the tour, I couldn’t feel comfortable in my new environment, but I adapted a few days later. Especially, I was changed by volunteering.
Second day, I started volunteering at Mother Teresa House. I worked at Shishubawan which is like a home for orphans. In Shishubawan, there are many children and they were in different buildings depending on whether children have a handicap or not. Some volunteers play with them and feed them. Others including me, helped washing with some Indian volunteers. It was a sunny day, so the laundry dried well on the rooftop. Many colorful suits and clothing with cute prints for children were hanged out on the thin wires. After teatime with biscuits and cup of chai, we picked up and folded the laundry, which had already dried. Indians spoke Hindi, so I couldn’t understand most of what they said to me, but I could understand a little by gestures. They called me Anti. Anti means volunteer, so not only sister and adult Indian volunteer also children called me that.
Next day, some of the tour members and I worked at a Brother House. It was located in a different place from Mother Teresa House. I helped children to take a shower and played with them in there and fed men who had handicaps and couldn’t eat foods by themselves. Before they ate Indian chicken curry, we need to cut the chicken into small pieces for them. When I was cutting it by hand, I talked with Indian volunteer. I asked him, “Why did you volunteer?” then he answered, “For my experience.” When I just heard his answer, I was happy because I have thought the same as him. Even though we are from different countries, we were there as volunteers with similar thinking. I remember a man whose hands are handicapped very much. He sometimes looked me with big smile and we made some poses, piece and good luck by hands each other and I began to smile too. I realized then, that although I wanted to give something to people, actually they give me power and happiness.
On the last day of volunteer activities I came back to Mother Teresa House. In this time I took care of ordinary children. They were really cheerful, so I moved around, but I didn’t feel tired so that children who were in there were smiling. Non-handicapped children could be adopted, when they grew some extent up, they start to study English for their future. It helps them to living other countries and prepare for school and more. Actually, Indian came to the orphans’ home to see the children sometimes, when I played with children. Then I thought about the future of the children who were there and I hoped their happiness truly.
After I came back to Japan, I realized how happy I am and how rich Japan is in all. I can live in a strong house with my family, work and make money for myself. I have thought these were natural, and not special, but it might be wrong. Fortunately, I can do that. It’s really happy things and I need to appreciate all. I have an unforgettable phrase from Japanese sister who was in India. “Please find Calcutta in Japan.” Japan looks wealth country, but, on the other hand, too many current scandals happened every day. I realized poor means not only for people who have financial problems and also physical problem. I want to go step by step and make a kind action for someone although it may really small steps. If we realized our small happiness, Japan may become a lovelier and the world may become a more peaceful place.
Japanese food
Eating is very important. We have to eat for life. In other words, eating can’t separate from life.
Food has nutrition, you know. We can prevent some diseases, and keep our health by take foods, but if you don’t take well balanced diet, you get life style related desease. People have to ingest “Protein”, “Fat”, and “Carbohydrate”. They are three major nutrients, called “PFC energy”. American’s main food is meat, so, intake of fat is a lot. Japanese is a well balanced diet of PFC energy. Expert said, it is the reason why Japanese live a long life. However, Japanese who has American style eat habit is increasing now. Why is it?
Now, many culture imports into Japan from abroad. For example in Japan, if you don’t decide your today’s lunch, what do you think at the first? Maybe you will choice Japanese, French, Italian, Chinese, or so. In the remote past, we had Japanese food only. We have used flesh domestic foods, and cooked it.
We can eat many kinds of foods from all over the world even though you stay in Japan, because transportation technique is developing in a surprisingly fast. We can get flesh foods from abroad, and cook it. On investigation, we can eat 75 foreign countries, and 68 regions food only stay at Tokyo and the Kanto district now. Moreover, It is exist which can eat more than 20 countries food only stay at one shop.
We aren’t tired of eating by many kinds of food and taste. It is happy, but we have good food culture adapted to our body and health. We should eat Japanese more.
Food has nutrition, you know. We can prevent some diseases, and keep our health by take foods, but if you don’t take well balanced diet, you get life style related desease. People have to ingest “Protein”, “Fat”, and “Carbohydrate”. They are three major nutrients, called “PFC energy”. American’s main food is meat, so, intake of fat is a lot. Japanese is a well balanced diet of PFC energy. Expert said, it is the reason why Japanese live a long life. However, Japanese who has American style eat habit is increasing now. Why is it?
Now, many culture imports into Japan from abroad. For example in Japan, if you don’t decide your today’s lunch, what do you think at the first? Maybe you will choice Japanese, French, Italian, Chinese, or so. In the remote past, we had Japanese food only. We have used flesh domestic foods, and cooked it.
We can eat many kinds of foods from all over the world even though you stay in Japan, because transportation technique is developing in a surprisingly fast. We can get flesh foods from abroad, and cook it. On investigation, we can eat 75 foreign countries, and 68 regions food only stay at Tokyo and the Kanto district now. Moreover, It is exist which can eat more than 20 countries food only stay at one shop.
We aren’t tired of eating by many kinds of food and taste. It is happy, but we have good food culture adapted to our body and health. We should eat Japanese more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
