December 14 Homework

1.Have you ever eaten in a restaurant in a foreign country? Where? What did you eat? Did you make any mistakes? Please explain your experience.

I have never been abroad. So, I would like to talk about my experience of going to the French-like restaurant with my friend. The restaurant said their cuisine is based on French, but I know the restaurant is famous for its pizza. It is not a formal and traditional French restaurant. The dinner costed me less than 5000yen. Don't imagine the restaurant which is very expensive and has a dress-code.
Anyway, during the dinner, I was puzzled because I didn't know the proper way of eating the bread. I usually bite into a bread, but I knew it was not a good way. I tried to break the bread on the plate, but it was crumbled terribly. Maybe about half of the croissant was crumbled on the plate. In the end, I directly bit into a bread .

2. Did you learn anything?
I haven't knew what the proper way of eating a bread is. However, I learned that having dinner at the restaurant required table manner made me nervous and tired.

November 30 Homework

1.Since Japanese weddings are expensive, do you think having a massive wedding like Korea or UAE is a good idea? Why?
In my opinion, a massive wedding is too expensive for me. If I am allowed to attend my friend's massive wedding, I will enjoy it. However, I don't want to spend so much of my precious money on wedding.

2. What do you think about eloping? Is it a good idea or romantic? Why?
It sounds romantic, but I don't want to do so. Because if I eloped with someone, we can't make a good relationship with both parents. After I get married, I have to live with my husband for a long time. I want to get parents' help when I have a problem. I think they will give me some advice and money.

3. Have you ever thought about having a wedding in a foreign location like Hawaii? Would you do it? Why?Or Why not?
I have thought about that, but I want to have a wedding in my country. Because I want my friends to come my wedding ceremony and reception. I think it is difficult for my friends to go abroad for my wedding.

4.What is your ideal wedding?
I don't want to have a big party because I am cheap and don't want to spend too much money. I want to have a small wedding ceremony and a small buffet-style party. I want to wearing a wedding dress. Also, I prefer a church style wedding ceremony to Japanese.

5.What would you definitely do, wear or go to on that big day? Why is that important?
I don't know the traditional things we should do. But, I would say thank you or something to my parents. I want to show them my appreciation because I can't express it during normal days. Also, I want to wear a wedding dress in my wedding ceremony. I just want to wear a wedding dress before I die. But, I don't want to move around with a dress. I am surprised when I saw the bride get in a car and go to the church in the movie. It looks very tough.

6. Have you ever been to a foreigner's wedding? What was your impression?
I have never been to it.

November 16 Homework

please comment in your blog about Ms. Camilla's presentation. Which part surprised you the most? What kind of Danish food do you want to try?
I am surprised that ANDERSEN in Hondori was started by a man who was impressed on Danish bread. I have seen breads whose name are Danish roll or Danish pastry are sold at the supermarket. However, I didn't recognize they are from Denmark, because the name of the breads are written in Katakana. I think "Denish" is just a name of the bread. After her presentation, I first found デニッシュ means Danish and it makes me very surprised.
I want to eat a open sandwich with a fish. I seldom eat a bread with a fish, so I want to try it.

1.Do you think it is important to talk about superstitions in cross culture communication class? Why?
Yes. Because I think it is useful when we communicate with people in other countries.

2.Is communication affected by superstitions?
Yes. If a black cat walks through, I usually talk to my friend it is unlucky. (though I don't believe something unlucky will be really happened.) It sometimes can be a topic of conversation.
Also, I try to avoid doing something we think unlucky when I am talking with someone.

3.Do you believe in superstitions? If yes, what superstitions do you believe?Why do you do, use, or believe in them?
In fact, I think I don't believe in them. However, I will feel bad if someone do something we think unlucky. So, I try to avoid doing unlucky superstition in front of others in case they feel bad.

November 9 Homework

1. Please explain a time proverb in your culture.
My favorite Japanese time proverb is "桃栗三年柿八年". It means peach trees and maron trees take three years to produce their berries, and persimmons take eight. So, everything needs time to be succeed.

2. What do the following proverbs mean
a. Time is money.
I think it means time is really important like money. So, we have to have a well-spent time.

b. A stitch in time saves nine.
I checked the meaning of proverb on a website because I have never heard about it. The website told me it means if you do something at an early stage, you won't have to panic later.

c. There's no time like the present.
The present is very special and never happened again. So, we don't have to spend the present lazily.

d.Let's meet at 4. If I'm not there by 5, leave without me at 6, and I'll be there at 7.
I think this phrase means that don't be so nervous about keeping time. I am often late for the time and can understand the idea like this.

October 19 Homework

Clothes

1. Do you judge people according to what they wear? Why?

Yes. I can't see people without looking what they wear. Especially, I judge someone I don't know well according to what they wear, I think.



2. Do you think Japanese society puts an importance on clothing when judging other people from another country?

I think what foreign people wear isn't so important. But, I judge Japanese people by what they wear. I haven't found that until I try to answer this question.



3. What colors are you wearing now? Do they reflect your mood?

I am wearing a light blue sweat shirt. I don't care what I wear at home. I am wearing it because it was near me.



Friends

1. What are some subjects that you will never discuss with a friend?

I rarely talk about politics not because it may cause arguments, but because I'm not interested in it. Also, I don't like to ask about their family.



2. Do you have different friends for different parts of your life? If so, how are they different to you? Do you talk about different things? Go to different places? Give me some examples.

I talk about high school days when I see junior high friends and talk about sports when I see my teammates. When I meet a friend who has a little child, I visit her house. I think going out with little baby is taugh.

October 5 homework

1.Death and Funerals
a.Do you have any international friends or a host family?
No, I don't.
If not, then how would you express condolences to an American host family if their Grandmother died?
Firstly, I would say "I'm sorry to hear about her". Then, I try to avoid talking about her because I think talking about her is sad for the family members.

b. Have you ever been to a foreign funeral?
No, I haven't. I have been to only buddhism style funerals.

2. The language of Clothes
a.Why are Japanese designer label crazy? Why is what you wear so important?
Becouse someone who has designer label items looks fashionable, I think. Also, we can tell everyone that our clothes are not cheap by wearing branded clothes. I want people to think I am wearing fashionable and expensive clothes. So, I also like designer label clothes. ( but I can't afford to buy them.)

b.What does “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” mean to you?
I think it means we have to evaluate a book not only by its cover but also by its content. The cover is important to make someone pick up the book at bookstores. Also, if its content is not good, people give up to buy it. Maybe I have to care about both my clothes and my personality.

September 28 Homework

1. Today we discussed the Japanese concept of "wrapping". Do you agree with the web site's description?

Yes, but I'm not sure about heavy rope at the shrine.

What do you do that can be called "wrapping"? Give examples and reasons for your actions.

I wrap food because I want to protect it from dirty outside by wrapping. Wrapped food looks safe and clean for me.
I like to drew a curtain because I don't want to be seen by someone. I want to relax at home or somewhere I stay. If someone watches me, I should behave polite and can't relax.


2a. Where do you go when you die?

I think I just go to a grave after I died. I don't believe that people go to the heaven or hell after they died.


2b. Explain why do Japanese have death memorial services 1 month, 1 year, 3 years, 7 years, etc. after a person's death?


I don't know well about death memorial services, hoji, because I wasn't required to attend them. My mother and grandmothers always arrange hoji. My mother said that she knew we had to hold hoji on specific terms but she didn't know why we had to do so. According to Buddihism reason, we should hold it on 49th day after someone died because he or she is judged whether he or she go to the heaven or hell on the day. However, many people don't know this kind of reason and just pray for the person who passed away.

July 13 Homework

1 You're talking to a co-worker. How close do you stand?
I think I stand one meter far away from a co-woker. Because I don't know them so much. Also, they are opposite sex.

2 You 're talking to a friend. Do you touch each other?
I sometimes touch my friends when I am excited to chat with them.

3 Look at the diagramof a waiting room. Where do you look?
I'll sit the seat next to the upper left corner. I want to avoid sitting next to someone.

4 You're in crowded elevator. Where do you look?
I always look the number above the door. If the elevator has the window, I sometimes see the window.

5 You're standing in line. How close do you stand to the person in front?
I think I stand about 70 centimeter far from the person. It is comfortable for me.

6 You get on the bus. There is an empty raw of seats at the back, and an empty seat close by, Where do yousit.
I will sit a empty seat close by. But I choose the back one if there is a sitting person next to the seat close by.

7 You're in a library and there's an empty seat beside you. do you want to stop someone sitting there? If so, how?
I never stop someone sitting beside me. Of course, I don't want to sit someone near me in the library. I want to spend time alone and quietly there. But I think stopping someone sitting is really rude.

8 You're going to the beach. Do you like to see lots of people or very few.
I like to see very few people. I really hate crowded place.

9 when you're talking to someone, do you look them in the eye?
I often do so. But I sometimes feel awkward when someone look me in the eye. It is funny.

10 you're on a train. Do you talk to the passangers?
I never speak to strangers. But I don't care when someone speak to me. I'm just shy and can't speak to the strangers.

July24 Homework

If you were working for the UN, which job would like to do using your English abilities? Why?

I want to work for the UNESCO, because I' m interested in World Heritage sites. I like a view of old cities in Europe. I am happy if I work to protect these cities. Also, I'm interested in UNESCO's education sector. I have been studying at this university to take an English teacher's license. I think I can use what I learned if I work for the education sector.

July 6 Homework

What kind of work place do you think you will work best in? Choose a country other than Japan and research and explain 1 aspect of their business culture that is different than Japan.
I want to work in the Netherlands.
In the Netherlands, their working time is very flexible. There are many part-time workers and they are treated well.

Do you think it is a good practice? Why?
I think it is good because we can enjoy both working and doing other things. We can decide how long time we work depending on our lifestyle. In Japan, women often give up their job after they have a child, because we can't decrease our working time. After their children grow up, they often work as a part-time with very low salary and little benefit. In the Netherlands, they can continue working with decreasing their working time. Moreover, there is little difference between full-time workers' salary and part-time workers'.

June29 Homework

This is the graph of my ideal partner's characteristics. I think personality is important because it can't be changed easily. Having money or the same interests as me can be changed more easily than personality. Looks is also difficult to change. I like a good-looking person,but I think personality is more important than looks. Even if the person is good-looking, I'm feeling bad when I can't enjoy talking with him.

June 22 Homework

textbook on page 14, section 4 a-f.


a. When do children usually leave home?

I think childtren leave home when they are from18 to 22 years old, because they start going to the school or the company far from home. Since living alone costs a lot, some people don't leave home after they got a job. After Japanese got married, some people live with their parents. But I think many people don't want to do so.



b. How many people live in your home?

6 family members live in my house. My parents, grandparents and brother live with me. We have two kitchens and bathrooms, so we don't live completely together.


c. Do you have a head of the family?

I think we have. I am sometimes required to write the "Setainushi's name" on some forms. But it doesn't mean Setainushi has storng power to decide everything in my family.

d. Who does the housework?

According to my family, my mother does all of the housework. My father, brother and me never do it. I think it isn't usual in Japan, recently. I know many of my friends do housework in their house.

e. Who runs the family?

Both of my parents work and get money. My father's income is higher than mother's.

f. How many rooms do you have to sleep in

I think there are four rooms we sleep in, but we use the rooms not only to sleep but also to do other things. For example, I sleep, study, watch TV and so on in my room.

June 1 homework

1.Are feelings, emotions and facial expressions universal across borders, happy, sad, etc..?

I think they have many same points in different country, but there are small differences between Japan and another countries. I think I can raghly understand their feelings from their faces. For example, I can understand whether they are happy or not from their faces. But, I think I can't understand their complicated facial expressions. For exaple, I can't understand what tightening their lips or moving eyebrows means in different countries.


2. Try to name as many feelings as possible in Japanese. ( 10 minimum) Then, write the English translation.

楽しい fun 　 おこっている angry うらやましい enviable
うれしい　happy　　　　　 気まずい awkward いらいらする　annoy
さみしい lonly こわい scary 悲しい sad
驚く　surprised 　　　興味がある interested

3. Are there any feelings in Japanese that cannot be translated into English?

もうしわけない
もったいない
かんじがわるい

May 24 Homework

1. How do you greet members of your family?
I usually say 'tadaima' and 'okaeri' to my family. I sometimes say 'ohayou' or 'oyasumi'. But, I think I never say 'konnichiwa' or 'konbanwa'.

2. How do you greet people that are important in society?
Maybe I will say 'ohayougozaimasu', 'konnichiwa' or ' konbanwa'.

3. Do you greet people from the opposite sex in a different way?
If I knew the people from the opposite sex well, I will greet them friendly.
But, when I greet people I don't know well, I think I greet women(people from the same sex) more friendly.

4. Do you hug anyone? If yes, who and when. If no, why not?
No, I don't. Because hug is not my custom. Also, I am very shy. If I hug someone, I feel very embarrassed and nervous. But, I don't mind foreign people hugging me.

My name has three chinese characters. They were not chosen by its meanings. I was named after my family's first-name. The first chinese character is from one of my grandmother's name's character. The second one is from one of another my grand mother's, and third one is from one of my mother's.

May 11 homework

I try to greet politely when I see teachers, someone I don't know and so on. So, I say "ohayogozaimasu" in the morning and say "konnichiwa"in the afternoon. On the other hand, I try to greet friendly when I see people I know well like my family members and friends. So, I say "ohayo" in the morning. I don't use "konnichiwa" to my friends or family members.
I rarely touch people when I talk to them because I think I don't need to do that. Moreover, I am worried that people may not want to be touched.

Buddhism

I think there are many customs affected by Buddhism in Japan, but I don't know my customs are based on Buddhism or Shinto. I don't know teachings of Buddhist, though I take part in some religious events like obon.

1. When we get a ochu-gen or an oseibo, my grandmother put them in front of a butudan. I suppose she wants to give our ancestors them.

2. Before I take snacks from the butudan, I have to sit in front of butudan, pray and say hello to my grandmother who passed away and ancestors. I feel that taking them without doing this is very rude and bad.

3. My family visit and clean a grave in Obon season. I go there because I want to pray for my grandfather.

4. When my father sees a dead dog or a cat run over by a car, he says "namuamidabutu" or "nanmaida". He does this because he wants to protect himself from a bad spirit.

5. Once two or three manths, obo-sun comes to my house and pray in front of the butsudan. I don't met him because he comes while I go to school. My grandparents pray with him. My grandmother sometimes makes ohagi on the day he comes.

Two days of mass killings in Iraq; many victims Iranian
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/04/24/iraq.violence/index.html#cnnSTCText

60 people were killed by suicide bombers near a holy Shiite shrine in Bugdad, Iraq on Friday. Many of them were Iranian pilgrims and they were going to the shrine to pray. On the same day, seven people were also killed by a suicide bomber in Jawala, Diyala province. Jawala is a town that has been the center of a territorial dispute between the central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government. These kind of violence erupted as the Obama administration plans to withdraw American army from Iraq.