Thursday, April 9, 2009

Words of Me


In Japan, there is no custom to write words on a gravestone. People only write their family name, but there are several ideas which I like to put if I have my gravestone. One of them is "smile," because graves are always sad and dark. Also, I really think "smile" is very important to be happy. Nobody will be sad and feel uncomfortable if people are smiling. This is the best expression to show happiness. Moreover, I want to write "good things that you did will come back to you." I heard the story from my friend. ( it might be from bible.) She told me everything will come back to you whichever you act badly or well. Then I could try everything which I think good and nice to other people if I believe all actions that I did will come back to me. After hearing the story, I could change my way of thinking. This is because I tended to avoid boring and hard jobs, so I became to be able to except any jobs that I was asked. Also, it could be small actions, like clean dishes or help my friends. I believe that this way of thinking will create a great person. The most favorite words is " do what you want." I always act and choose what I want, because this is my life. I think this is the best way of thinking for me. These three words influence me a lot to my life and my way of thinking. In addition, the story which my friend told me moved me a lot and made me want to tell all my friends. To tell you the truth, I was thinking I don't need to keep my words after death. However, it would be amazing if someone find my grave and read my words. It make my life worthful.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Girls!!!!!!!




There are many types of people in Japan, and people make a name of the group. Most of girls was called "Gyaru"( "frivolous girl" in dictionary) when they were in junior high school or high school. There are several stereotypes about Gyaru. First of all, these girls tend to wear a school uniform. It is for going to school, but they wear it to go out with their friends after classes. Also, they are thought that they wear too much make up on their face.These girls try to be cute and beautiful, but people sometimes think their make up is very dirty and messy. Moreover, people think they are very rude because of not only fashion or make up but also language they use. Young girls creat many new Japanese words to communicate each other. These words can not be understand by adults. In addition, they are good at following the fashion. These girls love fashion, so they check fashion magazines so many times. Althought they got ideas from medias, they make new trend by themselves. It could be new style of clothes, new hair styles, or new ways to make up. One of negative stereotypes is that Gyaru tend to sit down on the floor in the train, and talk with their friends with loud voice. As you can see, there are many negative stereotypes of Gyaru. However, they like to being Gyaru. This is because they enjoy their life a lot, and they do many things that they won't be able to do when they get old. They know it is the only chance; therefore, they don't care about what people say. When I was called Gyaru, my friends go out almost everyday, but they started study very hard for entering university. However, many adults think Gyarus are just people who don't think about anything, most girls know what should they do.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Japanese Flag that I Know


In Japan, there are a few opportunities to see the national flag. I seldom see the Japanese flag in my life. For instance, I could see it when I graduated schools, because schools tend to hang it on the wall during the graduating ceremony. Also, I see a few flags hung out at the front door of houses on national foundation day. Therefore, I’ve never thought the national flag is important and just a sign of the country. Although most Japanese don’t care about flags, people who believe conservatism regard as important. I found it on graduation ceremony of my brother. At that day, the right wing people came to the school and act demonstration in the school. This was because they thought school didn’t hung the flag. All students and teachers were surprised and scared, because they were violent and self-assertion. Some teachers were hit by them, but the police helped them. From that day, I started thinking the importance of the national flag. Yet it’s still not so important for me. I was taught about the flag when I was an elementary school student, so I know the red circle represents the sun. Still it’s the only one information that I know. I asked about the flag to my friends, but they didn’t know about it, like me. Finally, I wondered whether Japanese people are patriotic or not. After I came here in America, there are many chances to see foreign national flags. Also, it’s not only on the national day but also in my friend’s room. I felt that flag have meaning, and also show the culture from the ways of using it.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Be Happy :) Be Smile ;)


My favorite phrase is “Be happy Be smile.” I’ve heard this word from my host sister when I stayed in one family’s house in Australia. I thought how sweet word this is after listening it. This word reminds me not only my host sister but also my mother, because my mother is always smiling and looks happy. There are several reasons why I love this phrase. For one thing, I became happy if someone is smiling and looks happy. I think nobody become sad when they saw people smiling. Moreover, it is very important to smile especially during sad situations. I feel if I smile all the time whenever bad condition, some good things would come to me. In addition, I think smile and happy is the most positive words in the world. It would never be negative and imaged darkness. It is difficult to be happy all the time, so I respect my mother a lot. Also, I hope I could be like my mother, and I want to be a person who always looks happy.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Sharing Times

I think being alone is necessary for me, but it is more important to share times with somebody. The reason is that I don’t like being alone. I worry about many thing, care about many thing and be nervous when I’m alone. For this reason, I can’t spend hours at starbucks. Also, I don’t want to be alone when I feel bad or sad. Moreover, I love to enjoy a lot of times with my friends. Only talking with friends could be very great memorable time. Now I’m in America and I left my family, so these times are becoming more and more important for me. I easily feel homesick and feel alone, but my friends always help me. However, I think it is important to be alone for thinking, it is comfortable for me to share times.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Fears for my dream

I had had a dream that was to go to America since I was very small child. My dream came true, but I had many fears before coming here and I have fears still now. First of all, it is very difficult to get used to American custom. There are many differences between Japan and America. It was my dream to live American way, but there were things that I’ve never expected, such as traffic lights and huge meals. In addition, I have to care about money that I spent. I used to have a part-time job, so I could spend money that I want. During living here, I can’t live that way. The hardest fear is living without my family, because I had never lived by myself. Before coming here, I always worried about homesick. Also, I sometimes feel homesick and become lonely. However I feel them, my friends always help me. There are many fears to grant my dream, but I believe that I would get many things if I overcome those fears.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Halloween in Japan


I’ve never celebrated Halloween before coming here, so it was first time to celebrate Halloween. Halloween is popular in Japan, but we don’t hold parties and eat candies. I just can find some shops decollated Halloween style. There are a similar custom in Japan. However people don’t celebrate it, their ancestor’s soul come back that day. It happens in summer and all family members get together, then they pray in front of their family Buddhist alters. In my case, I’ve never done that. I think it is because this custom tends to disappear. I have to care about my ancestors, but I always don’t go my grandparent house and get together only because their house is very far from my house. For these reasons, I hadn’t known I’m a Buddhist until becoming a university student. Halloween is a very interesting celebration, so I want to celebrate like that in Japan. It is good for remember that day.