author note:
this is my third piece about me in elementary school. i was in the period of rebeliousness.
i easily got angry at my mom because of a tiny thing.
As every child has the period of rebelliousness, I was not an exception.
It came in elementary school.
In my first period of rebelliousness, I easily lost my temper.
Now, I can say that I, in elementary school, did not make sense.
I will never forget those silly days.
My dad owns a small company and my mom also works there.
Dad's company is next to my grandparents' house and my house is next to my grandfather's house.
So there are dad's company, grandparents' house, and my house in a row.
Because both my parents work at dad's company, I took the house key to school.
Always I went back home, opened its door with the key, and went for playing with my friends.
I was a so hasty boy, so I forgot to take my house key to school.
But it was okay because my mom was at her office and always I could asked her for the house key.
Even if mom was not at her office, I could stay at my grandparents' house.
But I needed the house key when I promised my friends to play after school.
This is a story, which happened many times in elementary school, when I did not take my house key to school.
Probably that was before summer.
As usual, I slept over.
Mom woke me up once, twice, three times...
I woke up at 7:30.
I had to go in 15 minutes.
I swallowed breakfast, changed my clothes, and
So I couldnt get my house key and had to stay at my grandmother's house which is next to my house.
When I couldnt get my house key, had to stay at my grandmother's house, and couldnt play with my friends, I got really angry.
I always got mad at my mom who came back from her work and was tired.
I said to my mom, "Why were not you at office!? I couldnt play with my friends because of you!"
When I think back, I always feel sorry for her and also I feel that it is so hard to raise a child because of the period of rebelliousness.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Tsubasa's third piece.
This is my third piece.
For my third piece, I wrote the letter for thirty year old self.
It was quite useful to make it clear what I really want in my life and think the ultimate goal of my life.
This was good opportunity to write this letter to think about my life.
Here is the URL of my third piece.
http://vidalocat.blogspot.jp/2012/11/my-third-piece-letter-to-my-30-year-old.html
For my third piece, I wrote the letter for thirty year old self.
It was quite useful to make it clear what I really want in my life and think the ultimate goal of my life.
This was good opportunity to write this letter to think about my life.
Here is the URL of my third piece.
http://vidalocat.blogspot.jp/2012/11/my-third-piece-letter-to-my-30-year-old.html
Tsubasa's Second Piece
Author's Note
For my second piece, I wrote my personal narrative about how I was fallen love with my boyfriend.
In this piece, I especially focused on his eyes.
This is the URL for my piece.
http://vidalocat.blogspot.jp/2012/11/my-second-piece-my-personal-narrative.html
For my second piece, I wrote my personal narrative about how I was fallen love with my boyfriend.
In this piece, I especially focused on his eyes.
This is the URL for my piece.
http://vidalocat.blogspot.jp/2012/11/my-second-piece-my-personal-narrative.html
Ryo's third piece
Author's note: I wrote a letter to me one year later. I made a list of 10 questions in this letter.
In this course, I often confronted myself when I started to write. By doing so, I could think about myself deeply and understand myself more. I found my weakness. That is shyness. I am not used to express my feeling or thoughts, but I could change myself by publishing three different pieces and become used to express myself a bit. I have an anxiety for my future, so I wrote this letter to me with expectation that I can change myself such as a person with confidence or sociability.
https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1O5ozkf_n1JCbrx7HaHUoVm4kGP_r6qrssLpaS9mgk4Q
In this course, I often confronted myself when I started to write. By doing so, I could think about myself deeply and understand myself more. I found my weakness. That is shyness. I am not used to express my feeling or thoughts, but I could change myself by publishing three different pieces and become used to express myself a bit. I have an anxiety for my future, so I wrote this letter to me with expectation that I can change myself such as a person with confidence or sociability.
https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1O5ozkf_n1JCbrx7HaHUoVm4kGP_r6qrssLpaS9mgk4Q
Shoto's third piece "The letter to me at the age of seventeen"
Author's Note: I wrote a letter to me at the age of seventeen. When I was seventeen, I'm so troubled with dealing with studing, club activities, and human relationships at the same time in my high school days. That is why I put some hints to this problems and little intriduction about my college life in this letter to encourage me. It was very interesting experiece for me to write those things because I just remembered my serious distress at that time through a writting.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bznh8UL5kvlNUlRXWG53emFwR2M/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bznh8UL5kvlNUlRXWG53emFwR2M/edit
Saaya's third piece
Author's note
I produced letter for myself.
The setting of age is the exact same as my mother's age now. Therefore When I become fifty-two year-old, I will open this letter again.
I wrote about my university life, and I image future life. I was difficult to write for myself.
I think a part of talking about university life, someone has the same feeling as me.
I hope you enjoy my writing.
Thank you Moro, and Erika(my frind) for giving me some advice and improve my piece.
Shoto's second piece "English Haiku about Autumn"
Authors Note: I made English Haiku for the
first time although I have never made even Japanese one. I mixed the sentiment
I get in the cold day of Autumn and the representative constellation of Autumn,
Swan.
Thank you, Yumi and Mark for getting it a quite better one.
Thank you, Yumi and Mark for getting it a quite better one.
Shoto's first piece "Report of ACUCA Student Camp 2012"
Author’s Note; This summer vacation ACUCA Student Camp was held at ICU and a lot
of students from Asian universities joined for 5days. The theme of this camp
was ” Aiming for Tomorrow Where We can Walk Side by Side: Our Dream, Our
Efforts” and we deepened the understanding of the future, especially
environmental problem, together through listening to keynote speech,
discussion, and presentation. I participated in this camp as official assistant
staff and supported participants such as helping pre-assignments, life in the
dormitories, and progressing discussion.
I hope
you can get the ideas we shared and realize the importance of broadening
connection in the world to solve the environmental problem.I want to say thank you to Kumiko and Mark for giving me useful ideas.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bznh8UL5kvlNTnN3WmdKYnJNbDg/edit
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
masaaki's second piece
author note:
everyone has friends. it is natural to be with friends. friends are likethe air. so i
wrote a haiku about the "air".
everyone has friends. it is natural to be with friends. friends are likethe air. so i
wrote a haiku about the "air".
Friends
Indispensible like the air
Important like family
cry, smile,
and,
encourage each other.
masaaki′s first piece
author note:
this is my first piece. i wrote about gay people. i have many gay friends. through talking with them, i realized they are having troubles intheir life. so i wrote about one of their troubles：marriage right.
Recently, a lot of gay people are open, so almost all people know that there are gay people. But some people or society still has prejudice to gays. In most cases, gays are not treated equally. Even laws, which should be fair to all people and should give all people equal rights, do not treat gays as it does to hetero-sexual people. For example, in most countries, there do not exist gay marriage. But I really think all people should have the right to marry regardless of who they are.
Firstly, I think gay marriage will produce more money and will be good for economy. For example, in most countries, people need pay money to get married. The money goes to the local government or the country. If there is a law which allows gay people get married, the number of marriage in a year definitely will increase in a huge amount. And if the number increases, it means that the local government or the country makes a huge benefit. And it will give people benefit in a way too. Gay marriage has a positive effect on economy side.
Secondly, apparently gay marriage somewhat decreases the number of divorcing rate. Some people say that divorce rate does not decline if there is gay marriage. In Massachusetts state, the first state in the U.S. which allowed gay marriage, has the lowest divorce rate in 2008 in the U.S. and the divorce rate in Massachusetts continues to decline from 2004 when gay marriage was allowed. So probably allowing gay couples marry to their boyfriend or girlfriend may strengthen institution of marriage. When people can marry to someone they really love, maybe the marriage itself might be able to be stronger relationship. Gay marriage is good from social perspective.
Thirdly, I think gay marriage should be allowed because I feel it is good for their children. There is many adopt children in the world. But those children can have parents if gay marriage is allowed. The number of adopt children will decrease. Also, I think children of gay parents are more tolerant than the children of hetero-sexual parents. There still exists prejudice on gay people. But I think being children of gay people who are the target of “prejudice” makes them more tolerant because their parents are “oppressed”. I think the children can be better at understanding emotions.
Because gay marriage is good for economy, society, and children, I think gay marriage should be allowed. Gay people are the same as hetero-sexual people. So we all have the right to get married. It is strange that there is a border between people. Even if some people love the same sex people, every single human being should be treated equally. Therefore, gay people should have the marriage right as hetero-sexual people have.
this is my first piece. i wrote about gay people. i have many gay friends. through talking with them, i realized they are having troubles intheir life. so i wrote about one of their troubles：marriage right.
Recently, a lot of gay people are open, so almost all people know that there are gay people. But some people or society still has prejudice to gays. In most cases, gays are not treated equally. Even laws, which should be fair to all people and should give all people equal rights, do not treat gays as it does to hetero-sexual people. For example, in most countries, there do not exist gay marriage. But I really think all people should have the right to marry regardless of who they are.
Firstly, I think gay marriage will produce more money and will be good for economy. For example, in most countries, people need pay money to get married. The money goes to the local government or the country. If there is a law which allows gay people get married, the number of marriage in a year definitely will increase in a huge amount. And if the number increases, it means that the local government or the country makes a huge benefit. And it will give people benefit in a way too. Gay marriage has a positive effect on economy side.
Secondly, apparently gay marriage somewhat decreases the number of divorcing rate. Some people say that divorce rate does not decline if there is gay marriage. In Massachusetts state, the first state in the U.S. which allowed gay marriage, has the lowest divorce rate in 2008 in the U.S. and the divorce rate in Massachusetts continues to decline from 2004 when gay marriage was allowed. So probably allowing gay couples marry to their boyfriend or girlfriend may strengthen institution of marriage. When people can marry to someone they really love, maybe the marriage itself might be able to be stronger relationship. Gay marriage is good from social perspective.
Thirdly, I think gay marriage should be allowed because I feel it is good for their children. There is many adopt children in the world. But those children can have parents if gay marriage is allowed. The number of adopt children will decrease. Also, I think children of gay parents are more tolerant than the children of hetero-sexual parents. There still exists prejudice on gay people. But I think being children of gay people who are the target of “prejudice” makes them more tolerant because their parents are “oppressed”. I think the children can be better at understanding emotions.
Because gay marriage is good for economy, society, and children, I think gay marriage should be allowed. Gay people are the same as hetero-sexual people. So we all have the right to get married. It is strange that there is a border between people. Even if some people love the same sex people, every single human being should be treated equally. Therefore, gay people should have the marriage right as hetero-sexual people have.
Saaya's second piece " short story about Honkan"
Author's note
This is my second piece of publishing.
I wrote a short story about Honkan. I wrote three different stories the side from Honkan.
Honkan has a character who is a grandmother and almost 70 years old.
Her characteristic is tolerance and positive.
This story is about Honkan and her grandchildren enjoy autumn season.
You would be fun to see the Honkan after you read my short story.
Thank you very much Mark and Jun for giving me some advice to improve my piece.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SzID-jbo6u0WOkPKeWf2lIAJp1t0Sie8yUFUwlR0jlA/edit
Kumiko's third piece "Haiku on My Travels"
Author's note
My 3rd piece is Haiku on my travel in Middle East countries. I wrote Haiku about UAE, Oman, Egypt, Jordan and Israel with each picture. The Haiku describes each picture, so please look at the picture at the same time reading the Haiku.
It was first time for me to write Haiku in English but it was fun because there are no rules.
Thank you Mark for giving me feedback and chance to write Haiku.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11lkcQky7ppBLZJbl4cAVkPq_QIYldykmfyAUPHWBFfw/edit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I could not upload photo of UAE, Egypt and Jordan on Google drive. So I upload them here. Sorry for inconvenient.
UAE
Egypt
Jordan
My 3rd piece is Haiku on my travel in Middle East countries. I wrote Haiku about UAE, Oman, Egypt, Jordan and Israel with each picture. The Haiku describes each picture, so please look at the picture at the same time reading the Haiku.
It was first time for me to write Haiku in English but it was fun because there are no rules.
Thank you Mark for giving me feedback and chance to write Haiku.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11lkcQky7ppBLZJbl4cAVkPq_QIYldykmfyAUPHWBFfw/edit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I could not upload photo of UAE, Egypt and Jordan on Google drive. So I upload them here. Sorry for inconvenient.
UAE
Kumiko's second piece "Personal narrative about my mother's education"
Author's note
I like the way my mom brought me up. So I am going to introduce my mom’s education in my 2nd piece. My mom has 5 children including me. Although she has been working as a working woman, she brought up all 5 children as a mother. Always, she entrusted us and gave us many precious experiences. Thanks to mom and dad, we all are fine and doing what we want to.
I am going to introduce my mom’s education based on my experiences.
Thank you Mark for giving me nice feedback.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1asMVkZZBwCpgLAvIQGvkL5pcoGrZaaNRYWSu89uDVuw/edit
I like the way my mom brought me up. So I am going to introduce my mom’s education in my 2nd piece. My mom has 5 children including me. Although she has been working as a working woman, she brought up all 5 children as a mother. Always, she entrusted us and gave us many precious experiences. Thanks to mom and dad, we all are fine and doing what we want to.
I am going to introduce my mom’s education based on my experiences.
Thank you Mark for giving me nice feedback.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1asMVkZZBwCpgLAvIQGvkL5pcoGrZaaNRYWSu89uDVuw/edit
Kumiko's first piece "Travel report in Israel"
Author’s note
It is very difficult to enter and leave Israel. Before visiting Israel, I searched it on Internet very much. Many people stated that it was fearful and troublesome. So, I was afraid of visiting Israel. But you do not have to worry like me. Although you are asked many troublesome and disgusting questions, only thing you have to do is answer them step by step honesty. Now that you know how to enter and leave Israel, you need not be afraid of them.
Thank you Mark and Yumi for giving me nice advices.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hH6MQjQ8htE-FFk-zG3wpQEtVJ9KO478gQtIfN-HrjQ/edit
It is very difficult to enter and leave Israel. Before visiting Israel, I searched it on Internet very much. Many people stated that it was fearful and troublesome. So, I was afraid of visiting Israel. But you do not have to worry like me. Although you are asked many troublesome and disgusting questions, only thing you have to do is answer them step by step honesty. Now that you know how to enter and leave Israel, you need not be afraid of them.
Thank you Mark and Yumi for giving me nice advices.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hH6MQjQ8htE-FFk-zG3wpQEtVJ9KO478gQtIfN-HrjQ/edit
Ryo's second piece
Author's note: I produced four short stories for ESSC (Extremely Short Story Competition)
In the ESSC, people have to write short stories in about fifty words, so it was very difficult for me to include what I really want to tell in fifty words.
I will entry into ESSC, so I have to choose one story. I want you to help me to choose one.
I hope I would win this competition and get ten thousand book coupon.
https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=15rW_8Py8-xlKyKqs9l_cis5Rwc2_tDk9RmRXtbY_s3A
In the ESSC, people have to write short stories in about fifty words, so it was very difficult for me to include what I really want to tell in fifty words.
I will entry into ESSC, so I have to choose one story. I want you to help me to choose one.
I hope I would win this competition and get ten thousand book coupon.
https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=15rW_8Py8-xlKyKqs9l_cis5Rwc2_tDk9RmRXtbY_s3A
Yumi's third piece
This is my third publishing.
I wrote about kind of a book report.
I like Tsujimura Mitsuki, and last week, I finished reading a book written by her.
That was "ordermade homicide club".
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TP9i1g8bpyMERsOB0rsfnwvf9G42DYkWN5VLgBZpsMQ/edit
I wrote about kind of a book report.
I like Tsujimura Mitsuki, and last week, I finished reading a book written by her.
That was "ordermade homicide club".
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TP9i1g8bpyMERsOB0rsfnwvf9G42DYkWN5VLgBZpsMQ/edit
Risa's third piece
Author's note:
My third piece is poem.
For this piece, I wrote 4 poems about each season in ICU.
ICU campus is a great campus surrounded by nature, and because of that, the atomosphere that campus has are different in each season, and we can really enjoy the different atomosphere every day.
In each poem, I included sentences about Bakayama and Mckeleen Street from ICU. I think that these two places in ICU is the place with the most changes in each season.
On the background, I put pictures of each season in ICU with some editing, and I hope you can enjoy that as well as my poem.
I would like to thank Moro for giving me some advice to improve my piece.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=1w9UFtUs4JVOlVmcE5OdoVjWNoCsq028il4TwcmshpruYpFSGFW7YnE4a8vBL
My third piece is poem.
For this piece, I wrote 4 poems about each season in ICU.
ICU campus is a great campus surrounded by nature, and because of that, the atomosphere that campus has are different in each season, and we can really enjoy the different atomosphere every day.
In each poem, I included sentences about Bakayama and Mckeleen Street from ICU. I think that these two places in ICU is the place with the most changes in each season.
On the background, I put pictures of each season in ICU with some editing, and I hope you can enjoy that as well as my poem.
I would like to thank Moro for giving me some advice to improve my piece.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=1w9UFtUs4JVOlVmcE5OdoVjWNoCsq028il4TwcmshpruYpFSGFW7YnE4a8vBL
Monday, November 12, 2012
Ryoko's 3rd piece, "A Letter To My Hands"
Author's note:
First, I decided to write a letter to somebody. However, it was very difficult for me to choose who I would write to. Someone I respect, someone I love, someone I dislike......There are many people I want to write letters to actually. I was thinking about how I related to those people. To communicate with those who I have never met, like favorite singers, favorite actor, favorite anime characters, I use my hands by reading books, reading manga, using PC. To communicate with those who are close to me, I also use my hands, like shaking hands, high five, composing email. My hands are necessary to communicate with my precious people, and to relate with them. Then, I noticed that I had to say thank you to my hands. Therefore, I wrote a letter to my hands.
Thanks to Mark, I made this piece better.
Also, thanks to my hands, I am now composing this pieces.
------------------------------------------------
"A LETTER TO MY HANDS"
Dear my hands
Hi,
This is the first time for me to write to you guys.
First of all, I want to say Thank you.
You always work for me. You wash dishes, wash my hair, push the buttons, type on the key board. and so on.
I cannot live without you!
Since you are clumsy, you are often injured. You cut yourself by paper etc.
Also, you are injured because I practice Japanese sword. It really looks painful.
My right hand, I really enjoy drawing pictures with you. I am still poor at drawing pictures. I hope I will be good at it together with you.
My left hand, I sometimes disliked you, because you did not move as I want, especially when I was playing the piano! But we overcame the difficulties a little. Now, I don’t play the piano so much, but I hope we can overcome any difficulties from now on.^^
When I was an elementary school student, you were so chapped in the winter. It was really painful and so ugly. To tell the truth, I really hated you guys. I really didn’t know why you guys were so weak. You have been recovered and you are fine now. I still don’t know the causes. But I have to say sorry for my blaming you. Because I was mischievous, you may have been tired. I’m really sorry for that.
You never complain about any of these. You are really kind! I love you!
I will try to care about you more from now on.
I hope we can build better relationships with each other.^^
Bye!
Ryoko
-----------------------------------------------------------------
First, I decided to write a letter to somebody. However, it was very difficult for me to choose who I would write to. Someone I respect, someone I love, someone I dislike......There are many people I want to write letters to actually. I was thinking about how I related to those people. To communicate with those who I have never met, like favorite singers, favorite actor, favorite anime characters, I use my hands by reading books, reading manga, using PC. To communicate with those who are close to me, I also use my hands, like shaking hands, high five, composing email. My hands are necessary to communicate with my precious people, and to relate with them. Then, I noticed that I had to say thank you to my hands. Therefore, I wrote a letter to my hands.
Thanks to Mark, I made this piece better.
Also, thanks to my hands, I am now composing this pieces.
------------------------------------------------
"A LETTER TO MY HANDS"
Dear my hands
Hi,
This is the first time for me to write to you guys.
First of all, I want to say Thank you.
You always work for me. You wash dishes, wash my hair, push the buttons, type on the key board. and so on.
I cannot live without you!
Since you are clumsy, you are often injured. You cut yourself by paper etc.
Also, you are injured because I practice Japanese sword. It really looks painful.
My right hand, I really enjoy drawing pictures with you. I am still poor at drawing pictures. I hope I will be good at it together with you.
My left hand, I sometimes disliked you, because you did not move as I want, especially when I was playing the piano! But we overcame the difficulties a little. Now, I don’t play the piano so much, but I hope we can overcome any difficulties from now on.^^
When I was an elementary school student, you were so chapped in the winter. It was really painful and so ugly. To tell the truth, I really hated you guys. I really didn’t know why you guys were so weak. You have been recovered and you are fine now. I still don’t know the causes. But I have to say sorry for my blaming you. Because I was mischievous, you may have been tired. I’m really sorry for that.
You never complain about any of these. You are really kind! I love you!
I will try to care about you more from now on.
I hope we can build better relationships with each other.^^
Bye!
Ryoko
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Saya's Third Piece
Author's Note:
This is my third piece.
This is a translation of a lyric which I wrote once.
I like to make songs with the guitar or the piano. I often make songs in Japanese, so this lyric is one of such things. I made this originally with my acoustic guitar.
Actually it has a melody, but without it, the lyric seems simply the poetry. I was a little embarrassing about it, so I put the melody truck here (this is just a kind of my hobby...):
This is what I made on computer, so there's no voice, though...
(I don't know how to use "Vocaloid")
In this lyric, I focused at a Pierrot and tear.
I think Pierrot is sad because they must not cry, even though they are so sad.
It is one of the theme I often think about, because I've liked circus and a story about circus since I was a small child. The story was told from my mother, and Pierrot was drawn as a really sad character in it, because he must not cry but there were so many sad things. I cannot forget the story.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19nEwmJi7rjBWJ63ulxVDHUkvxOCa791k6ZxiIitHPkQ/edit
During the process I write it, I was given some advices from Mark and my friend, Yuki. They gave me some meaningful comments, and by them I changed some words. Thank you!
This is my third piece.
This is a translation of a lyric which I wrote once.
I like to make songs with the guitar or the piano. I often make songs in Japanese, so this lyric is one of such things. I made this originally with my acoustic guitar.
Actually it has a melody, but without it, the lyric seems simply the poetry. I was a little embarrassing about it, so I put the melody truck here (this is just a kind of my hobby...):
This is what I made on computer, so there's no voice, though...
(I don't know how to use "Vocaloid")
In this lyric, I focused at a Pierrot and tear.
I think Pierrot is sad because they must not cry, even though they are so sad.
It is one of the theme I often think about, because I've liked circus and a story about circus since I was a small child. The story was told from my mother, and Pierrot was drawn as a really sad character in it, because he must not cry but there were so many sad things. I cannot forget the story.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19nEwmJi7rjBWJ63ulxVDHUkvxOCa791k6ZxiIitHPkQ/edit
During the process I write it, I was given some advices from Mark and my friend, Yuki. They gave me some meaningful comments, and by them I changed some words. Thank you!
Moro's Third Piece "Shopping Guide to Sugamo Shitamachi"
Author's Note:
Last autumn my family took me to Sugamo Jizo Dori Shopping Street just for pleasure (actually my father loves this kind of traditional Japanese places in Tokyo). It is known as a place for old ladies, so at first I imagined that it must be boring. However, contrary to what I had expected, Sugamo Jizo Dori had many interesting things, such as Jizos, temples, funny items, and delicious food. Soon I liked the retrospective atmosphere of Sugamo Jizo Dori, and this place became one of the most relaxing places for me (but note that I'm still not an old lady). So for my final publishing piece, I decided to write a shopping guide to Sugamo Jizo Dori Shopping Street in order to let everyone know the enjoyable aspect of Sugamo. It was somewhat difficult to explain the meaning of Japanese words in English, but at the same time I realized the importance of being able to introduce Japanese traditional culture to foreigners in this way. After finishing writing this, I came to feel that I want to know more about Japanese culture as a Japanese.
Thank you for helping me to improve this piece, Mark, Risa, and Saaya (and my father). I hope everyone will enjoy my final piece.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bwd7SaNocZUrc0M4V1pWakxpazQ
Last autumn my family took me to Sugamo Jizo Dori Shopping Street just for pleasure (actually my father loves this kind of traditional Japanese places in Tokyo). It is known as a place for old ladies, so at first I imagined that it must be boring. However, contrary to what I had expected, Sugamo Jizo Dori had many interesting things, such as Jizos, temples, funny items, and delicious food. Soon I liked the retrospective atmosphere of Sugamo Jizo Dori, and this place became one of the most relaxing places for me (but note that I'm still not an old lady). So for my final publishing piece, I decided to write a shopping guide to Sugamo Jizo Dori Shopping Street in order to let everyone know the enjoyable aspect of Sugamo. It was somewhat difficult to explain the meaning of Japanese words in English, but at the same time I realized the importance of being able to introduce Japanese traditional culture to foreigners in this way. After finishing writing this, I came to feel that I want to know more about Japanese culture as a Japanese.
Thank you for helping me to improve this piece, Mark, Risa, and Saaya (and my father). I hope everyone will enjoy my final piece.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bwd7SaNocZUrc0M4V1pWakxpazQ
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Mariko's third piece
Author's Note: It is a short story titled Grandmother's hands.
I did not know what short story is. So I try to write short story. Short story is short writing. But this is difficult to write shortly. While I wrote short story, I hit on many ideas. But I did not write so many things because of short story. It was difficult things for me.
I wrote three publishing. I favor this short story. I keep to write short story
Thank you for Saya and Mark!!
Thank you for Saya and Mark!!
Jun's third piece "The evening sun"
Author’s note:
It is a poem about my feeling when I rode a
bike in ICU in the evening and saw a very beautiful evening sun.
When I was a child, I wondered why I
couldn’t become someone, I am just me. Even now, I sometimes think I want to
see my days through someone’s eyes. Especially when I see beautiful aspects, I
want to know what someone feels when he/she looks at that. However, it is
difficult to know because the person who I want to know his/her feeling is
usually in a distance. “You”in this poem mean such a person.
I would like to thank Mark and my roommate,
Alyssa, for giving me some comments and pointing out some words I should change.
This is my third piece↓
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12z3K0D1znLeDESx_U13NI08KOpIkozELrIdgGdYZQTk/edit
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12z3K0D1znLeDESx_U13NI08KOpIkozELrIdgGdYZQTk/edit
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Nozomi's Third Piece "Reading Reflections on "The Annointed""
This is a reading reflections on the short story, "The Anointed" written by Dr. Kathleen Hill
This story is about a girl’s recollection on her early teenage with her main focus on a boy, Norman. Norman, her classmate is a silent boy, whose father eventually commits suicide. She observes Norman, at school, mainly in music class, and also at her aunt’s house’s neighborhood, where Norman often came to visit his father who never responded to his visits.
It was really interesting to me, the way Miss Hughes, the music teacher was depicted in the story. The descriptions on various expression that she bears on her face made me really think of what she would be like if she were in front of me. "The silent mask"really made me think of what was really inside her mind, when she assumed that on her face.
Norman was also really interesting to me, although I could hardly grasp what kind of person he really is, reading the story. I also wondered what has happened already to Norman and his family at the point where the story started since, aside from his father, his mother never appeared in the story.
There are many factors in the story, that made me really curious about, at the same time I also enjoyed the uncertainty, or the mystery there. I also played the music as I read the story and it was the most fascinating thing to listen and read the depiction of the piece at the same time. I also thought it was wonderful to feel the dynamics of music contributing to the development of the story bringing me to a much closer sense of actually being there.
I found Miss Hughes comment on Mozart's Lacrimosa at the end of the story really interesting.
"If you listen closely, I know you cannot fail to hear something else: the tale of how our grief; the desire for what we do not have, the desire for what is forever denied us, may at length—when embraced as our destiny—become indistinguishable from our joy."
I found this comment really profound and pondered over what this really means to Norman, or further to myself.
The story ends, but there remains the uncertainty. What was the expression on Normans face that nobody has seen before, that looks into
"the eternity"? "What has happened to him after that?"
I think the latter one might be the feeling that Ms. Hill was talking about in our class, why she started to write this story. I thought, what Ms. Hill tried to do through writing this was not to create Norman's story that followed the incident, but a retrospective, creative, re-construction of her memory she had with Norman and her surrounding environment during that time of her age.
I would like to thank Ms. Hill for giving me this opportunity to read her story and, If I have any chance sharing my thoughts with you on this, that would be most wonderful.
This story is about a girl’s recollection on her early teenage with her main focus on a boy, Norman. Norman, her classmate is a silent boy, whose father eventually commits suicide. She observes Norman, at school, mainly in music class, and also at her aunt’s house’s neighborhood, where Norman often came to visit his father who never responded to his visits.
It was really interesting to me, the way Miss Hughes, the music teacher was depicted in the story. The descriptions on various expression that she bears on her face made me really think of what she would be like if she were in front of me. "The silent mask"really made me think of what was really inside her mind, when she assumed that on her face.
Norman was also really interesting to me, although I could hardly grasp what kind of person he really is, reading the story. I also wondered what has happened already to Norman and his family at the point where the story started since, aside from his father, his mother never appeared in the story.
There are many factors in the story, that made me really curious about, at the same time I also enjoyed the uncertainty, or the mystery there. I also played the music as I read the story and it was the most fascinating thing to listen and read the depiction of the piece at the same time. I also thought it was wonderful to feel the dynamics of music contributing to the development of the story bringing me to a much closer sense of actually being there.
I found Miss Hughes comment on Mozart's Lacrimosa at the end of the story really interesting.
"If you listen closely, I know you cannot fail to hear something else: the tale of how our grief; the desire for what we do not have, the desire for what is forever denied us, may at length—when embraced as our destiny—become indistinguishable from our joy."
I found this comment really profound and pondered over what this really means to Norman, or further to myself.
The story ends, but there remains the uncertainty. What was the expression on Normans face that nobody has seen before, that looks into
"the eternity"? "What has happened to him after that?"
I think the latter one might be the feeling that Ms. Hill was talking about in our class, why she started to write this story. I thought, what Ms. Hill tried to do through writing this was not to create Norman's story that followed the incident, but a retrospective, creative, re-construction of her memory she had with Norman and her surrounding environment during that time of her age.
I would like to thank Ms. Hill for giving me this opportunity to read her story and, If I have any chance sharing my thoughts with you on this, that would be most wonderful.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Moro's Second Piece "3.11 Experience- Interview with a Boy in Tohoku"
Author’s Note:
This spring I went to Kesennuma Oshima in
Miyagi prefecture in Tohoku (the northeastern part of Japan where the big
earthquakes and tsunami occurred on 3.11) to do some volunteer work, and had an
opportunity to interview one boy who experienced the disastrous situation. I
thought it was very meaningful and important for me to be able to hear the
actual voice of local people in Tohoku, so I want to share this experience on
this occasion and want many people to know the real story of 3.11.
I tried writing an interview piece with a conversation style, because I wanted you to feel as if you were in the very place of interview with me. (At first, I wrote this piece with a question-and-answer style, but it was just simple and boring, so I made my mind and revised it so much. I think I made a good choice.) It was very difficult for me to make the conversation flow naturally, since I didn't remember the exact conversation with the boy or didn't record it. Part of the conversation might be a little awkward (since I'm not an English native speaker!), but I am confident that I did my best to describe our atmosphere at the interview. I hope that everyone that reads this piece will have stimulation or get inspired by a little boy, and he/she will feel like going to Tohoku to help the people there, not only as a volunteer but also as a tourist.
Thank you very much for your helpful advice, Mark and Risa.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bwd7SaNocZUrbFpnUUZPX3lwdmc
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bwd7SaNocZUrbFpnUUZPX3lwdmc
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Risa's second piece
Author's Note:
For my second piece, I wrote my guide to the Tokyo Disney Sea.
I really love Disney Sea, and I go there very often.
Disney Sea is filled with fascination,dreams,and adventure.
It attracts people from little kids to elderly.
As a disney lover, I would like to introduce 7 best things you can ride or see in the Disney Sea on this paper.
I would like to thank Mark and Moro for giving me some advice in order to improve this piece.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=1hI9Uc0TB7Y7mD5kr2_Up9xYNvK0ukrMneYawXVeuWSHlMOp5pfvjisELP-rg
For my second piece, I wrote my guide to the Tokyo Disney Sea.
I really love Disney Sea, and I go there very often.
Disney Sea is filled with fascination,dreams,and adventure.
It attracts people from little kids to elderly.
As a disney lover, I would like to introduce 7 best things you can ride or see in the Disney Sea on this paper.
I would like to thank Mark and Moro for giving me some advice in order to improve this piece.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=1hI9Uc0TB7Y7mD5kr2_Up9xYNvK0ukrMneYawXVeuWSHlMOp5pfvjisELP-rg
Risa's First piece
Author's note:
I love eating and I love Kichijoji.
Kichijoji has many restaurants that I love.
So in my first piece, I wrote my 食べログ, introducing two restaurants and two cafe in Kichijoji that I would like to recommend.
I would like to thank Moro, Saaya and Mark for giving me some advice for improving my piece.
Here's my first piece
https://docs.google.com/open?id=1Pz3TxITqvssZCWzNtJACrGMDszrFfAl-oh4DCNZdTG0bbbUVKK-R32pXoyTo
I love eating and I love Kichijoji.
Kichijoji has many restaurants that I love.
So in my first piece, I wrote my 食べログ, introducing two restaurants and two cafe in Kichijoji that I would like to recommend.
I would like to thank Moro, Saaya and Mark for giving me some advice for improving my piece.
Here's my first piece
https://docs.google.com/open?id=1Pz3TxITqvssZCWzNtJACrGMDszrFfAl-oh4DCNZdTG0bbbUVKK-R32pXoyTo
Ryoko's 2nd Piece "Twin" (poem)
Ryoko’s Second Piece, “Twin” (Poem)
Author’s note:
Have you ever teased twins saying “Clone!!” or “Copy!!”?
I am twin. I was born 7 minutes before my twin sister was born. We went to the same elementary school, junior high, high school and now we are in the same university. We like same anime or manga. We like same types of music. What we are interested in is same.
But everything is not completely same. There must be some differences even though they may be really tiny.
We are twin, but I have my own identity and so does my sister. Those tiny differences make us different from each other.
We, twins, are different from each other. So, every person is so much different from others. They have their own identities or personalities. We should respect them.
Thanks to Jun, Nozomi,and Mark, I developed this piece including this author’s note.
----------------------------------------------
“Twin”
Almost same faces
small mouths, sleepy-looking eyes.....
Almost same interest
anime, Shinsengumi, Business.....
Almost same dislikes
vegetables, studying, playing sports.....
Tiny differences make big differences
Author’s note:
Have you ever teased twins saying “Clone!!” or “Copy!!”?
I am twin. I was born 7 minutes before my twin sister was born. We went to the same elementary school, junior high, high school and now we are in the same university. We like same anime or manga. We like same types of music. What we are interested in is same.
But everything is not completely same. There must be some differences even though they may be really tiny.
We are twin, but I have my own identity and so does my sister. Those tiny differences make us different from each other.
We, twins, are different from each other. So, every person is so much different from others. They have their own identities or personalities. We should respect them.
Thanks to Jun, Nozomi,and Mark, I developed this piece including this author’s note.
----------------------------------------------
“Twin”
Almost same faces
small mouths, sleepy-looking eyes.....
Almost same interest
anime, Shinsengumi, Business.....
Almost same dislikes
vegetables, studying, playing sports.....
Tiny differences make big differences
Jun's second piece "Haiku of four different seasons"
Author’s Note:
I wrote 4 haikus related to the four seasons with photos.
It was the first time I wrote a Haiku in English. It was difficult to express my feelings in short sentences or words, but it was really fun.
I felt I like writing a haiku in English more than in Japanese.
I want to thank Mark and my classmates, Ryoko, Nozomi, and Saaya, for giving me some comments and advice to rewrite more clearly what I want to express. Thank you very much!
This is my second piece↓
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dz_19elOm1U5xqjtDlvoKBN4j8V64lFAoFg6Wu0D7YM/edit
This is my second piece↓
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dz_19elOm1U5xqjtDlvoKBN4j8V64lFAoFg6Wu0D7YM/edit
Saya's Second Piece "TSUNAGU: Who Do You Want to Meet Again?"
I
wrote a book review for the second piece. This book is written by my
favorite author. I had been recommended her other books by my mother and
had borrowed many books by her, and she lent this book to me, too. When
she lent it, she said “I’m sure this book will be trigger for you to
recall a person.”
As she said, it reminded me of my grandmother. I cried when I finished the book. As I wrote in the review, I want to meet my grandma, because I really loved her.
But I have no idea whether someone will come to see me after my death. Even though I have many friends, family, and many people around me, I’m not sure they will want to see me again. So I want to live to be the one whom someone hope to see again. I don’t think I must have many people who think so, but I hope only one person thinks so. Then, I imagine, I will probably be able to say “my life was so happy” when I die.
I saw the movie yesterday, and I wrote a reaction to the movie in my blog, too.
While I was writing the piece,Mariko and Mark gave me some advices. Mariko gave me suggestion to add some explanation about the story, and Mark said that I could add my personal answer for the question (who I want to meet). So thank you Mariko and Mark!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XPkoK4DuMgnH9eUOazg4YXRrsOQQv1StWR-UQ9Qy_3Y/edit
As she said, it reminded me of my grandmother. I cried when I finished the book. As I wrote in the review, I want to meet my grandma, because I really loved her.
But I have no idea whether someone will come to see me after my death. Even though I have many friends, family, and many people around me, I’m not sure they will want to see me again. So I want to live to be the one whom someone hope to see again. I don’t think I must have many people who think so, but I hope only one person thinks so. Then, I imagine, I will probably be able to say “my life was so happy” when I die.
I saw the movie yesterday, and I wrote a reaction to the movie in my blog, too.
While I was writing the piece,Mariko and Mark gave me some advices. Mariko gave me suggestion to add some explanation about the story, and Mark said that I could add my personal answer for the question (who I want to meet). So thank you Mariko and Mark!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XPkoK4DuMgnH9eUOazg4YXRrsOQQv1StWR-UQ9Qy_3Y/edit
Preparing for the Final Class on 11/12 Monday
Hi everyone,
We have two more classes and here is the plan.
11/7 Wed
---------------
After my explanation about how to finish up the course, this will be our final free working day. Please find partners to do peer collaboration for brainstorming, revising, editing.
11/12
----------------
In this final class, each writer will share a little writing (favorite sentence or line), and/or also share a little about what you learned about writing or about yourself as a writer during this course.
Please prepare for that by finishing your 2nd or 3rd piece, and doing the final fixed blogging topic on the syllabus.
I'll also ask for your cooperation with a final anonymous online survey on this course, which can be done by email after the final class.
Finishing Up
-------------------
This class never finishes, in the sense that I hope your writing will continue as a long-long endeavor. Also, you are free to publish anything on this website and your blog any time you like, even after the course finishes.
The most important thing, as Kathleen mentioned, is that you keep writing down your thoughts and experiences day to day, and have a sensitive awareness to human life.
I hope you will do that.
If you are curious about your grade (as I often was when I was a student), just send me an email after the final class 11/12. I will be grading based on effort and engagement in three areas: 1) participation, 2) blogging, and 3) the process of publishing.
If you are worried about failing, please send me an email IMMEDIATELY and I will let you know if you still have a chance to do a minimum within the next 5 days. Those who have been frequently absent should definitely contact me. It may be too late already, but we may be able to come to an agreement if you have been doing some of the blogging and publishing work.
We have two more classes and here is the plan.
11/7 Wed
---------------
After my explanation about how to finish up the course, this will be our final free working day. Please find partners to do peer collaboration for brainstorming, revising, editing.
11/12
----------------
In this final class, each writer will share a little writing (favorite sentence or line), and/or also share a little about what you learned about writing or about yourself as a writer during this course.
Please prepare for that by finishing your 2nd or 3rd piece, and doing the final fixed blogging topic on the syllabus.
I'll also ask for your cooperation with a final anonymous online survey on this course, which can be done by email after the final class.
Finishing Up
-------------------
This class never finishes, in the sense that I hope your writing will continue as a long-long endeavor. Also, you are free to publish anything on this website and your blog any time you like, even after the course finishes.
The most important thing, as Kathleen mentioned, is that you keep writing down your thoughts and experiences day to day, and have a sensitive awareness to human life.
I hope you will do that.
If you are curious about your grade (as I often was when I was a student), just send me an email after the final class 11/12. I will be grading based on effort and engagement in three areas: 1) participation, 2) blogging, and 3) the process of publishing.
If you are worried about failing, please send me an email IMMEDIATELY and I will let you know if you still have a chance to do a minimum within the next 5 days. Those who have been frequently absent should definitely contact me. It may be too late already, but we may be able to come to an agreement if you have been doing some of the blogging and publishing work.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Mariko's second piece
Author's Note: It is a mysterious poem.
Every day I watched dream while I was slept. In this poem, I express a dream. Therefore, this poem is very mysterious. I do not understand this poem actually. So, if you read this poem, you do not think about this poem deeply. Please imagine freely. I think that all creation such as novels, dramas, poems and something like that do not have one interpretation. So, if you have an interpretation to this poem, this interpretation is right for you.
Thank you for Yumi, Saya and Mark!!
Nozomi's Second Piece "Midnight City" (Poem)
This is my second piece.
I wrote four poems each paired up by a picture.
The background picture is where I originally got the inspiration of the poem for, so please take the poem and the picture together as a piece.
I would like to thank Mark and Ryoko for discussing with me about my piece.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Yumi's second piece
Author’s note
I wrote extremely short story like a poem.
This is about solitude.
I sometimes write these things in Japanese.
Choosing suit words in English was
difficult.
Thank you for Megumi, Shoto, Mark.
Thanks from Kathleen in response to your comments
Hi everyone,
Kathleen had technical difficulty posting a comment, so I am posting this here on her behalf.
Mark
-------
Dear YOU Students,
Thank you all for your thoughtful and very kind remarks. I tried to send you a response but I'm afraid it didn't work.
However, I've been thinking about the things you wrote. It's amazing to me that you're so interested in writing in general and in writing particularly about yourselves in the world.
It's never easy, but from my point of view there's nothing more important because writing reminds us of what is human in ourselves, what is human in everyone.
Thank you making me feel so welcome in your class. I hope you'll be able to continue writing - in whatever way you like - your entire lives.
Kathleen
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