Ponyo

The day before yesterday I and my family went to see the movie that is Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea. This film was directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Do you know him? He is famous for a Japanese movie director. Most Japanese love his movies, of course me too! The heroine of the movie is ''Ponyo'', she is five years old fish! She met human boy (His name is Sosuke.) by a strange chance and fall in love with Sosuke!

My sister really enjoyed it! My mother is easily moved to tears at home and she doesn’t shed tears in outside. But sudden tears ran down her cheeks in Movie Theater because she was so imprested it. On the contrary, my father didn’t satisfied so much the movie and it didn’t make sense to him. My mother thought that he is stubborn a little and he seeks a logical argument. I think so too, but at the same time I also have some questions like him. So I want to see it again to solve my question.

Around Tokyo

Hello everyone :)　I remember our staying in Maryland again and again.　In fact, I miss America very much! (For example I want to eat American foods strongly because I love them.) Of course, Japanese life is also good!

Yesterday my mother and sister came to my apartment house. I had not seen them since my entrance ceremony so we have many things want to talk each other. Needless to say, I told about this trip but I couldn’t convey my feeling how enjoy I spent time in Maryland.

We went to many places today. At first we visited at Harajuku(I thought this town was a polished area at first. After I felt it was good old-fashion town. ), ate pasta in restaurant and shopping. I and my sister bought some accessories were reasonable prices! She knows about fashionable shops well because she has pinkeye. Next we went to Shibuya (There are many different people so I’m interested in this area.) and final destination was Ginza (It was really beautiful town!). We met our uncle and ate dinner together. It was a good time!

Back to Japan

Yesterday we came back to Japan. This two weeks program passed so quickly! I enjoyed spending time in Maryland so much :) Thanks to everyone; Nina, Heather, Nikki, Mike, Joe and AGU!

Some of us cried when we departure at the airport. But I hold back my tears because I wanted to say goodbye with smile and we can keep in touch with this blog!

I wake up at two in the afternoon. It was too late! Last night I called my mother, sister and father because I live a single in Kanagawa (My hometown is Kagawa, do you know?) so they worried about me. I must tell them about this trip. We experienced a lot of things so I think I can’t tell everything!

I’m going to keep my blog so if you read it and leave a comment, I’m very glad :)

Today is the last days of this summer program! I will miss it, but I have enjoyed everyday so I also enjoy today :)

Yesterday we were taught about the Prange Library. This is all Japanese media after the war; for example books, newspapers, TV, radio and so on. It was interesting.

After that, most of us went bowling at the University of Maryland. I couldn’t play well, but it was really exciting! Everyone is good player. Surprisingly, I did a strike! We went to grocery store to buy our souvenir. It was really big supermarket. I bought some sweets.

At dinner I ate curry at the Indian restaurant. It tasted really, really, really good! I was so satisfied. I want to eat again! We played batting and putter golf. I went to batting center for the first time but it was so exciting!

I also enjoyed yesterday but I was really sleepy so went to bet soon.

This summer program is drawing to an end; we have only two days left. I have enjoyed spending time with this members so I want to stay in America longer than now:)

Yesterday’s listening and speaking class was really fun because we talked to each other about some topics and I like this type of class. I could communicate with partners in some extent so I was satisfied. But I think communication is really difficult in some situation for example listener and speaker don’t open their mind each other or one.

At lunch Sae, Kei, Sachi, Sahori and I ate Pot Berry, it tastes really good. I have been four times!

After that we went to Capital Building and White House. Capital Building was so great, but we could only saw White house from distant place so I wanted to see White House more closely. In addition we walked much, we were so tired but I ate dinner and recovered my splits.

:-) FUN FUN

I am enjoying this summer program everyday. Yesterday we went to the Voice of America and listened to a presentation about American history and broadcast. It was interesting so I want to listen more long time.

At night, we went to Nikki’s house. Her house is so big and nice! I saw her high school days room; it was very, very cute!! After that Joe, Ayumi and I went to the backyard and found a hammock. One of my dreams is to lie down on the hammock so I was really happy because I did! It felt so good!

I played billiards, pinball and wii. It was really fun! This dinner was also very good; I ate hamburger, salad, potato salad, watermelon, sponge cake, nice dessert, and potato chips…all of them was delicious! Her cat is really cute! Thank you for inviting us. 

We didn’t have class three days completely, so I have a lot of things to write here.

On Friday, we went to Baltimore and rode Water taxi. I went to see baseball games for the first time, it was really exciting! The domed atmosphere was so nice.

On Saturday, I went to National Gallery of Art because I love art! (When I was in junior high school, I was member of the art club.) I saw Picasso, Van Gogh, and Gauguin and so on. I bought a postcard of Utrillo I like this artist. In the evening, I played volleyball so this was my three times I did! I couldn’t imagine I play sport so much in America!

On Sunday we went to the National Museum of Natural History. I saw so many beautiful jewelry, stone and minerals it was interesting! Especially blue stone was really nice, if I were a rich woman, I would buy these! Next we went to the top of the Washington Monument; this scenery was so good but many people also were here and these windows were small, so I couldn’t see so much. The Lincoln Memorial is really big. Before dinner, I played volleyball and basketball. We had a very good time.

Newseum&Chinese&Billiards

A few days ago, I went to some shoes shop to buy sandals. This shop assistant said to me,’’ How are you?’’ and I said’’ I’m fine, thank you,. And you?’’ He told he was fine too. Surprisingly he said ‘’ Are you Chinese?’’ I said ‘’No! I’m Japanese!’’ It was amazing for me because… I’m Japanese! Then he said’’ Oh, you are Japanese. We depend on Japan! High technology! Toyota, Honda….’’ He seemed excited. This story is really interesting, isn’t it? But today I saw Mike’s new posting blog and found my picture, actually I saw myself like …Chinese!

Yesterday we went to The Newseum it was really interesting. There are a lot of old and latest newspaper, phone and so on. We saw a short movie about 9.11 terrorism accidents.
I was sad. After that I went to souvenirs shop and bought fun cards.

At night some of us played billiards. It was for the first game for me and I really enjoyed playing! Kyoko and Masanori taught us how to playing, they are good at playing. I want to play again after come back to Japan. We played until over twelve o’clock so I have to say Mike sorry but thank you very much!

Since we came to Maryland, we almost always use computers to make blogs. It is really, really, really difficult for me!!! In listening & speaking class, we talked about Maryland university students study Japanese.

Lunch time, I and Sahori shared big ice cream and ate it together. This is biggest ice cream I have ever eaten! There were three different tastes, Fear the Turtle, peach and strawberry. It tasted very good so I was satisfied and full.

After lunch we attended class of Diplomatic History of the United States. The class was difficult but interesting, Heather and Dr. Marie Hallion gave us some sweets and tea. So I was happy.

Finally some of us played volleyballs and badmintons, it was really fun! We had a really good time.

We attended class for the first time and discussed about difference of Japan and America. It was so difficult for me because I spent in America naturally, I didn’t have question not so many. After the class we met students of Maryland studies Japanese. They study very hard. I talked two of them. They know Japanese very well.

Next we went to Kennedy center and listened jazz music, it was really impressed for me .I love these songs! Furthermore I took picture with the singer, how nice! She lived in Japan three years and missed Japan’s onigiri. This was happy memory. I want to go and listen the music again.

At dinner everyone went to Sushi but I don’t like Sashimi so went to hamburger shop with Nikki and Emily. This shop is American old fashion style so it was interesting. The Sushi restaurant seemed like a bar. All of them enjoyed dinner time.

Start Maryland Life

Now it is almost eleven o’clock. Air conditioning turns around in the ceiling. This is University of Maryland.

Hello, I’m Sanae Shirai, a University of Aoyama Gakuin student. My major is International Communication.

I really like see, know and go actually unknown places, it’s exciting for me. I also interested in America for some days. So I decided to join summer program when I heard this explanation for the first time.