Sparring

Today I had a boxing class. A instructor makes us students work hard every time, so I absolutely have increased my abdominal muscles! After today's class, a professional boxer came to the boxing jim that the class took place, for the boxer is the instructor's friend. My friend and I were watching his workout for a while. He punched very very very fast and his punches sounded very different from mine. I felt that he was exactly professional! After that, unexpectedly he let us spar with him. Though we had worked out in class, I was a little bit nervous because we had never sparred in class. He and I sparred two times. He did not punch me and only guarded against my punches the first time since I was a beginner. The second time he punched in my body, and it was too painful to move...Obviously his punches were very heavy. After sparring, he praised me, but then I thought that he flattered me...Anyway, I really had a good experience today. Also, he was a very nice person, so I would like to spar again.

Subway

This is a subway map in Tokyo...It is confusing for me, too!

Choir

Yesterday some christian people including my friends and I sang a song in a church. The song is "The victory is ours." It was a little bit difficult since I did not memorize the lyrics...It was completely my fault, but I really enjoyed singing. Though I sang a song before in the church, looks like I had not sung a song in front of people since I was in junior high school. It is amazing. I would like to sing a song again!

The Tokyo Tower

Cool!

The Old Japanese Shrine

Sweet!

Exam

Last week I had the exam of Human Development. Though I did not have confidence about the result, I got a very good score unexpectedly! It really surprised me. That I have got a good score has a reason. The professor, Kelly Welch, who is Shawn's mom, has really supported me and been trying to make me relieved in class. That is the reason. Not to mention, she is a sociable, talkative, hilarious, and sweet woman! I appreciate her kindness. I have the final exam about that class in May, and I will do my best!

Easter

Today is Easter day, which is derived from the Resurrection. Thus, the people who believe in Christ celebrate the rivival of Christ today. I had not known about it until I went to church this morning. I feel that I should learn about Christ more.

Also, the weather was very nice all day. I hope that it will happen tomorrow!

Too Hot

What the heck is this temperature! It is too hot, isn't it? It was about 35 dgrees centigrade today. In Japan, this season never has such degrees, so it is too hot for me. What happened to Kansas? I know it is Kansas! It drives me crazy... The temperature in Japan is moderate. I really like it. Let's go to Japan to avoid the extreme weather in Kansas!

I Waaaaana Eaaaaaaat

Real Sushi!!! Not cheap but expensive one!!! Gosh!!!

Evan

I have got a new American friend, Evan, in my boxing class. Actually, he is my partner to work out in the class. I really think that I have had good luck since I came to the United States because I have been able to get to know good American people so far. I am very glad about it. Anyway, Evan is a very cool and funny guy. We had a chat today after the class, and I had a good time. Surprisingly, he can speak both English and Spanish! I envy him... Then, it is very sad that he will graduate K-State in May and leave Kansas since I will not able to meet him after that time. Therefore, I would like to spend good time with him until May!

Chewing gum

When I am in class, I see some American students chewing gum. While they listen to a professor's lecture and take notes, they chew gum. Furthermore, I often see many major league baseball players chewing gum on TV. Those things are very usual things in American culture.

However, they are not applied to Japanese culture. If professors find students chewing gum in class, they will be mad because it is very rude in Japanese culture. In my culture, we have to show respect toward professors because we are taught by them. Therefore,
when I saw the American students chewing gum in class, I was like, "How dare they!" when I was in Japan, I never did it because I did not want to hurt professors' feeling (But, I sometimes chew gum in class now since I am used to American culture!).

Additionally, we feel uncomfortable about baseball players chewing gum. The reason that they chew gum is that they can obtain more concentration by chewing gum. Although thr effect is proved scientifically, we tend not to accept it because of our culture. I think that Japanese people feel bad since most of them are not used to it. In addition, baseball players have to show respect because baseball in Japan is a sport with a proud history.

Showing respect is very important in Japan. We Japanese are likely to be demanded showing respect in various cases. I feel that American culture is more comfortable for me since I do not have to care about the thing which I have mentioned above. However, I am a native Japanese, so I must obey my culture. Thus, I will enjoy American culture as long as I live in the United States!

Gyudon

Do you know Gyudon? It is called a beef bowl in English. Gyudon is a very famous and popular food in Japan. I love it! Let's take a look at this if you do not know it. http://japanesefood.about.com/od/beef/r/gyudon.htm

"Yoshinoya" is a very famous fast-food restaurant which serves Gyudon in Japan.
http://www.yoshinoyausa.com/
When I was in Japan, I used to go there a lot. Thier Gyudon is cheap and tastes good. When I visited New York, I found "Yoshinoya" there. Since I had heard that there was "Yoshinoya" in New York before I went there, I was looking forward to being able to eat Gyudon. When I ate it, it reminded me about Japan! The taste is the same as the one which I used to eat in Japan. I was really impressed. In total, I went eat Gyudon three times during my staying in New York. It was really neat!

English Is!

English is very different from Japanese. Sometimes I am impressed about it.

For instance, in English, if I would like to say, "Do you like sushi?," I can use the same style to whoever the person I ask is. What I am trying to say is, I can say to both younger and older people, "Do you like sushi?" It is weird for me because I must use honorifics when I talk to older people than I in Japanese. I cannot use the same style which I talk to younger people. It expresses that English is a very flexible language. I love it!

9/11

It was shocking. Though I was watching that tragedy on TV, I could not believe what was going on. I was just able to imagine that the tragedy had a strong impact on the world.

My friends and I went see Ground Zero when I visited New York. I still could not believe that the tragedy really happened. Then, I saw that there was a flower placed on a fence. It made me think that the tragedy really occurred in September 11, 2001.

Actually, I do not see how shocked American people were by that tragedy, but I strongly feel sympathy. Why did ordinary people die out of nowhere? How come terrorists exist on earth?

When I was walking around Ground Zero, one American talked to me and asked, "What do you think about 9/11?" I just said, " It was tragedy. I feel sympathy about American people." Then, he asked me, "Do Japanese people compare 9/11 with anything to think about the tragedy?" I replied, "We tend to compare it with what you dropped atomic bombs in Japan." The situations between 9/11 and World War Two were very different, but I think that we Japanese were shocked as much as American people about 9/11. Although I could not answer him much since my English was not very good, he understood me.

I reconsidered terrorists by visiting Ground Zero. I hope that there will be no terrorists on earth and that kind of tragedy will never happen again.

Daylight Saving Time

Oh man...I did not know that "Daylight Saving Time" started this early morning. Since I had the appointment with Shawn, I missed it because of "Daylight Saving Time." I should have put my clock forward one hour...

That system is very weird for me because there is not such a system in Japan. Therefore, when I came to the United States, I was really confused. I was like, "I lost an hour! What a pity!" Obviously, I was not used to it. I still have not adapted to it even now...ha ha ha. I feel as if I had jet lag. I hate it!

"Daylight Saving Time" is to be light for an extra hour in the evening and save energy. It is a useful way. The Japanese government began and tried to continue that system once, but it was discontinued just because it did not work well.

Anyway, I do not like "Daylight Saving Time" because it annoys me. Do you like the system?