Family Life

a. When do children usually leave home?

I think most children usually leave home after graduated high school.
They can choose various way for themselves like go to college/university, go abroad, get the job etc.
But, some people leave home after graduated junior high school.
If the child excellent in sports, they may go to the famous high school that highest level in the sports.

b. How many people live in your home?

Four people including me live in my home.
But, I and my brother live by myself in other prefecture now.
So, only my parents live in there.

c. Do you have a head of the family?

Yes, I think my father is a head of my family.
When we have a problem, he decide or solve finally.

d. Who does the housework?

Mainly, my mother does it.
But, when my father is a holiday or she ask him to do the housework, he helps her.

e. Who runs the family?

I think my parents runs my family.
But, when my father has a work, my mother runs it.
And they also adopt the opinion of children.

f. How many rooms do you have to sleep in?

I have 5 rooms in my house.
Each family has a room and sleep in there.

Names and Addresses

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

In Japan, when the people ate delicious foods, they say "Oishii" or "Umai” with big smile. Maybe..they don’t use gesture. But, Italy expresses their feelings by use gesture and say “Bono”.
When I went to America, I was surprised Americans cheerful attitude. There was nothing stiffness like Japanese. And they have many facial expressions. When they felt funny, they laugh with big smile.
But, Japanese sometimes put on an insincere smile. I also use it..sorry.

I think almost feelings are same in the world. But, it is a little different by each country.


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

悲しみ 　　sad, unhappy, sorrowful
深い悲しみ　　grieve
怒り　　anger, rage, angry, sore, mad
喜び　　pleasure, delight, joy, happiness
興奮　　excitement, fever
感動　　move, touch, stir, feel
驚き　　amaze, surprise
呆れる　　shock, disgust
動揺する　　disturbance, flutter, shock
同情する　　sympathize, pity, feel
悔しがる　　regrettable, chagrin, mortification
羨む　　envy, jealous
辛い　　hard, bitter, heavy
いらいらする　　annoy, irritate
楽しい 　　happy, nice, pleasant


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

No, there are not.

Welcome Colgate University Students!

I talked with the Colgate University students who are twenty.
First, we talked about ourselves. She came from Shanghai that is to say her parents live in there. She lived in dormitory in her university. When I heard it, I couldn't believe. I also live in by myself in Hiroshima now and I often come back to my hometown. So I thought she is an independent peoson and enjoy her school life. I must follow her...
And she was belonging to track and field club and love running. Her school is famous for their sports proglams so I thought that the school matches her very much.

Then, we talked about part-time job. Most students worked at their university and she also worked there. I was surprised a little because we don't have place to work in my university. I couldn't imagine to work at University. Maybe her university must be very large.

I think this class was good oppotunity to exchange own opinion with other countries student. And I could know about diffrent culture. I thought that want to skill up my speaking ability.

Greetings

Text book p7.#7


1. How do people greet someone they've just met?

I will greet Hi or Hello with gesture like waveing hand.


2. How do you greet members of your family?

I usually say Hi or Good morning, I'm home.
I don't use a gesture and only exchange words with them.


3. Do you hug members of your family?

No,... I don't want to hug.
As a child, my mother or grand mother was sometimes hug me.
But, I can't imagine now.


4. How do you greet people who are important in society?

I will greet more polite than usual.
For example, I make myself and a deep bow to the person.
Then, I will exchange business card.


5. Do people greet people of the opposite sex in a different way?

I don't think so.
I greet the same way if people of the opposite sex.
I think it is rude to change the way by sex.


6. Are the customs the same all over your country?

I think almost same.
But, Some people may not do like it.

World Religions

How do you greet people in your life?

I will exchange light greetings “Hello” or “It’s been a long time” or “Hi” with bowing or raise my hand to the height of my ear at first.
Then, I will ask her or him like “How’s going?” “What do you do now?”
I have never greet hug or kiss with Japanese.


Is is different for different people? How so and why?

Yes it is. I think Greeting is diffrent by country or culututre, tribes.
Then, There are some diffrent greetings like bowing or shake hands, hug etc.
I think the greetings to be an important thing as same as symbolizing the country.


Do you touch people when you talk to them? Why? Or Why not?

Sometimes I do.
Because this action expresses a friendly manner.
I think that it is an action to be made very close.

Buddhism

1. How is your daily life affected by Buddhism? What do you do and why do you do it?

Yes. I think so. In my house, there is a household Buddhist altar. And my mother put her hands together and pray every night. I sometimes do like her. Then, I will visit our family's grave with my family in the equinoctial or Bon festival. We sweep around the grave and pull out the weed. After that, we pray with everyone.
I think The reason why I do this action is existence of ancestor. I can exist mow by existence of ancestor. So, we must value it.

Education

After listening to today’s presentations and reading what the new Minister of Education in the newspapers. Please read the opinion in the December 6th International Herald Tribune. http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/06/opinion/edkumiko.php　
Do you agree with the writer? Why? Give at least 3 examples to support your answer.


Yes, I can agree this writer. To study English in junior high school, high school or university becomes natural in Japan. And it is indispensable thing when Japan interchange with various countries in the world. Recently, Japanese educational institution introduce English into the class of the elementary school, and let you mention English since when people were child. However, In the present state of affaire, a drop in scholastic ability of Japanese come into question and score such as toeic shows a low position in Asia. Even if society forces to study English no matter how much, there is not a meaning unless people do. But, I think we also must answer the demand because Japanese English Education are slowing down.