3rd~ news summary and my opinion

 

・Summary

 

On February 27^th, 2010, a big earthquake hit Chile and at least 214 people were killed by it. The magnitude of the earthquake was 8.8, and tsunami reached even Hawaii like another gigantic earthquake in Chile in 1950. Due to the damage to infrastructure, rescues have difficulty  getting to stricken areas.

The President declared it’s the state of the catastrophe. Although Obama, the US President stated US will help Chile, victims were suffering from aftershocks. Considering these damages, it may be the time to face the fact that Chile is no strong against the earthquake.

 

 

・My opinion

 

Considering the fact that this article was written a year before the Japanese big earthquake, 3.11, this might tell us what would happen in Japan the sooner the later. Although many earthquakes take place in Chile, it hadn’t worked on rebuilding the city which is strong against an earthquake. And perhaps, the same thing can be applied to Japan because it is often said that Tokyo is one of the weakest cities against it. In order not to remake the same mistake, I think we always need to keep in mind that an earthquake can occur anytime and anywhere and learn from the past disaster.

I also recognized how impotent we are against the nature. According to the article, the government and the supporters from all over the world were trying to help them. However, the broken roads and chaos among the people troubled them a lot. What’s more, I was very surprised that tsunami caused by this earthquake hit even Hawaii (it was reported that there was no damage in Hawaii though). Despite of the advance in technology, there’s still no way but to obey the nature.

This news was pretty shocking, but we need to learn from this. I hope there won’t be any disaster any more, but I’ll prepare for the next one which shall come someday for the sake of my life.  

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8540289.stm

2nd ~10 goals to achieve in this year~

1.      Keeping good grades and assessments in classes

Probably, that’s also what I was expected to do. I don’t like to say it, but putting one’s effort in classes is a part of duty as a university student. Also I want to learn more academic knowledge here to be a great engineer, which is my ultimate goal, what’s more, my parents are paying my fees and I don’t want to disappoint them.

It may be hard to always keep my shape in classes. I need to arrange my schedule to keep up with tasks in many classes. Maybe, some entertainments or club activities will be sacrificed, so I have to always find out what’s really the things I need to do and also a way to do my works more efficiently.

2.        A cappella

A cappella is what I began from this spring. I’d play some instruments like piano, but I’ve never really sung. (Of course, I sometimes go to a karaoke box, but I’ve never been so serious about singing.)

I hope to play the bass or voice percussion in my band and I need to practice to make a real sound of the instruments only with my voice. In this way I’ll find a new way to enjoy music anywhere and anytime. To addition, practicing and enjoying music with players in my band is what I’m really looking forward to. I want to share a good time with music with many people as one of music lovers.

3.       Controlling my physical condition

  

Now I don’t live with my parents any more. Therefore, I need to make my meals by myself. Now I have a PE class only once a week, more exercises may be needed.

Keeping in shape physically is very important to have a good life. If I’m sick, my activities will be limited. And it’s time to check and control my body by myself. For example, I need to have nutritious meals. (like not to skip breakfast or to eat vegetables) I’m now in an orienteering team and a good amount of exercises is guaranteed through running.

4.      　Learning to compose music

I used to try to compose music with a Vocaloid software, which is able to sing as you command. But I once gave up due to my poor knowledge on music and my financial problem. However, I just got good music composing software and I've got some knowledge and more experiences on music through my life, so I guess it’s time to retry.

My goal is to upload my music on YouTube or NicoNico Doga. I’m still not sure if I can really make a good song, but at least, I’ll try and study about it more if needed.

5.          Getting a better command of foreign language

I want to talk to more foreign people because I know it enriches my

life, provides good relationships with many people and gives me a nurtured better sense of value. But to achieve it, leaning foreign languages is needed.

              I still should seek a higher level where I can communicate more fluently in English. Also I’m leaning French in the University. It’s almost impossible to learn to speak in it only in a year, but I hope I’ll be able to make a easy conversation in it by next year. Classes in the university will help me, I hope.   

6.          Making a good score on TOEFL

Hopefully, I want to study abroad again while I’m in the university of Tsukuba. I need to plan well to do that, but if I really decide to go to USA, which is pretty possible, TOEFL score will be important to me. And I should prepare well for taking this exam. I took this exam last summer, but I couldn't make a good score and found out and preparation was needed anyway.

I couldn't take a TOEFL class in the university, so I’ll study by myself. I’ll focus on the exam held in autumn and I’ll see how my score will be going.

7.          Keeping traveling

Traveling is always meaningful. New people, new cultures and I

find out my home city is great after all when I come back. And I don’t need to insist on only Japan, now I can go wherever if I have money.

              This summer I’ll go to Turkey to see my old friends for the first time in three years. And in winter I’ll go to Taiwan to avoid Japanese cold climate and have wonderful foods. Also if I have money, I’ll plan to go to Shikoku, where I couldn't go because I missed my high school trip since I was in USA at that time. The problem is that I just have too many places I want to visit!

8.         Being more sociable

Some people say I’m a kind of shy to a stranger although they also say

I’m actually funny and intelligent once I get to know who somebody is. And my junior high and high schools were all boys schools and I think I’m not good at talking with girls.

              Maybe it’s time to open my mind to many people and try to have more mutual relationships with more people. To do this, I need to behave more friendly somehow and try not to give somebody unpleasant impression. It may be tough, but it’s also what I need to do before I really become the member of this society.

9.          Taking a time to think about what I should master

In the college of engineering science, we are to choose what part of

science we master in a junior and a senior year. Of course, it’s also important to keep my grades so that I can enroll in my first choice laboratory, but I need to think about what I really want to precisely study in the future from now on.

              I want to be an engineer, but this goal is still pretty vague. I’ll think about my biggest interest in science through dairy classes and I hope I have some opportunities to see what’s really going on in laboratories.

10.     Making my family less worried about me

This spring I moved to Tsukuba and now I live by myself. However,

I’m still dependent on my parents financially. I think they predominantly trust me, but they sometimes criticize that I lack of common sense and maybe I sometimes have hard time living by myself. I’ll learn daily things through my new life and I want to assure them that I can be more independent.

              My father got cancer last winter. Although he’s now fine, I want him to take an easier life. As a student, there won’t be so many things I can do about it right now, so I think being more independent will be the best way.

1st ~Self introducion~

Tasmania

 

Tasmania is the island which is located in the south of Australia. Although it’s smaller than Hokkaido, you can see unique wildlife and nature there. For example, when you drive, you’ll see many wombats, which look like tiny bears, are wandering along the road.

              My dad studied in Australia when he was a college student, and Tasmania is his favorite place. It was when I was 12 years old that he took me to Tasmania for the first time and I still clearly remember how impressed I was with amazing views there which were totally different from Japanese ones. It’s surely the opportunity for me to realize how meaningful it is to see the foreign world.

 

 

America

 

America is where I spent a year as a foreign exchange student. I stayed in Grand Junction, Colorado and went to public school there as a junior year student. M ultimate goal was to improve my English and learn how other people think and cultures.

              I had difficulty living in a foreign country as he only one pure Japanese in that community because the difference of languages and cultures was hard to overtake. However, thanks to the support from many people, I think I could achieve my goals. I want to keep leaning foreign languages and cultures to enrich my sense of values, though.

 

 

Rap

 

Rap is one of my favorite types of music. Although I sometimes don’t get what rappers sing in their songs, I really like the rhythms. Since Japanese rap culture has not developed yet so much, I usually listen to American raps. My favorite artists are Eminem and Macklemore.

              I recommend you to listen to American rap music. Not only were the rhythms which match the beats so cool but it may improve your ability of listening to English. I’m sure about those because these are what I really thought in USA!

 

 

Orienteering

 

Orienteering is my favorite sports. It’s the sports where you can use only a map and a compass to go to the point which is shown on your map. You are to compete with your time which is taken for you to check all points shown on your map. This sport is generally played in the mountains or parks. That means you need to be able to run fast and read a map correctly.

              I was inspired by my teacher who used to be a professional orienteering player when I was a junior high student, and I continued to play since then. Although few people play sports in Japan, I hear it’s very popular in Northern countries like Sweden.

 

 

Karate

 

Karate is a martial art I used to do. When I was a high school student, I thought I should do some martial arts to the better understanding of Japanese ethics. Although my school provided us with a judo class, it was far from serious. So I decided to go to a private karate dojo weekly.

              Although I didn’t try to get a black belt and only participate in a few meets, I think I could learn some sorts of Japanese spirits. For example, people who learn karate are supposed not to take any offensive attitudes to others although they really can win in a fight. I think these ethics are rarely seen in other combative sports.

 

 

Outdoor

 

I like outdoor activities although I also like indoor ones like surfing the internet or playing the instrument. I like fishing in the river. Rainbow trout are not o difficult to catch and they taste good when you bake them with salt. I also liked camping in the mountains. Since I live in Tokyo, living in the nature for a while is one of the best ways to keep away from busy cities.

              Obviously, the fact that I used to be a member of the Boy Scouts and experienced many outdoor activities has influenced me a lot. Although I’m busy in these days, I hope to find some opportunities to enjoy some nature outside.

 

 

Multi-lingual

 

To be multi-lingual is one of my goals I want to achieve in the future. I can communicate in Japanese and English, and I learned some Spanish in USA. Now I’m taking a French class. My plan is that I’m going to study Spanish by myself and go to and stay in Mexico for a few weeks to learn Spanish and cultures. Hopefully, I want to go to France someday, too.

              The reason I want to be multi-lingual is that I think acquiring languages is closely related to leaning cultures, which is my ultimate interest. Through my experience in America, the better my English became, the more things I comprehended. Also it’ll be helpful to be able to speak many languages in this globalized world.

 

 

Omochi

 

Omochi language club is where you can learn foreign languages from foreign students in the University of Tsukuba and you can also teach them Japanese. I decided to enroll in this club and I’m going to assist and interact with them. Everyone is welcomed to this club by the way. Since many foreign students can speak Japanese, you don’t need be afraid even if you think you’re not good at English

 

 

Running

 

Running is my favorite sports. I usually run in the middle or long distance, at least 3 or 4km. I used to run as a part of practices for orienteering, but I actually I don’t have any ultimate goals for running.

              Anyway, running is sometimes painful, but even this is a fun to me. The only thing I think during running is just moving forward and it keeps me away from my stressful life. I’m to feel exhausted to some degrees after running but then drinking water and eating meals become supreme joy. In addition to these, running doesn’t require you to pay a lot of money.

 

 

Ice cream

 

Ice cream is my favorite sweets. I generally like sweet and cold foods and ice creams meet both of them. I like to eat them even in winter. I really like Haagen Dazs ice creams, but since they’re pretty expensive, I usually try to find other cheaper ones at convenience stores.

              When I was in America, I liked Cold Stone Creamery ice creams. There you can pick up toppings you like with your ice cream and they are mixed up on the stone which is about -10°. I liked this because I can make my original ice creams by choosing toppings. I liked strawberry ice creams with a bunch of m&m’s. You should try that when you visit USA.