My love for music

 Today, I want to talk about my love for music. I love some activities related music, so my hobby is listening, playing music and dancing. I practiced some kinds of dance from 6 to 15 years old and belonged to the wind orchestra club when I was in the jouior high school and  high school. Moreover, I had practiced piano for about 8 years.
 I have experienses playing some instruments, for instance the tuba, euphonium, trumpet and piano.  Tuba is the instrument which leads bass part in wind orchestra and needs a lot of breath to play because it is the biggest bruss instrument. Euphomium is minor instrument but the sound is very calm and I love it. On the other hand, trumpet is very famous and popular. As you know, the sound is gorgeous and cool.
...Maybe I can talk about wind orchestra and its instruments for all day!!!

 Though I don't practice any instruments and dance now, I still love those activities and, of course, music. There are three reasons I love music.  Firstly, it cheers me up whenever I want to be encouraged. Secondly, I'm also able to make people happy through it. Thirdly, we can share same feelings through it without any languages.
 I cannot imagine no music life. Someday telling my children the charm of music is one of my dreams.

To Hideaki

A Tale of Two Cities is pretty long and difficult. If you are used to reading old English books from the 19th century then maybe a shorter (abridged) version would be OK. Otherwise, I recommend he much shorter and more readable A Christmas Carol.

Family trip

Last weekend, I went to Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, and Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture with my family.

In Ito, I saw the sea! It was the sea which I watched for the first time this year. So I took a picture from a car. Although it was cold, there were a lot of people who rode the surf. We enjoyed eating seafood. Sashimi was delicious:)

In Hakone, we went to Yunessun. Have you been to Yunessun? There are many pools and bathes. A coffee bath and a wine bath are popular. There is performance to pour coffee or wine into the bath four or five times  a day. Our hand swelled up because we were in water for three hours. I had a good time. I want to go there again.

Shogi!

Hi, everyone!
Today, I'll write about one of my hobbies.


Playing shogi is one of my hobbies.
Do you know shogi and how to play it?
My father taught me how to play shogi when I was a 3rd or 4th year student in elementary school.
Shogi is played with 40 pieces and a board which has 81 squares.
First, you have to learn which pieces move to which squares.
This is the hardest task, I think.
You can't play unless you memorize it.
After doing it, just play!
At first, I would often play shogi with my father, but after a game held in a community center for word residents, which I took part in, an old gentleman (who also took part in the game and was much better at shogi than me) said to me "How about coming to my home and improving your skill?"
This made me glad, and I decided to do so.
As time went by, my skill improved a lot, and then he introduced another gentleman to me who had a license as an instructor of shogi.
This was also a big chance.
He was teaching shogi to a lot of children.
Thanks to their support, I was able to become better at shogi.
Unfortunately, during the entrance examination term for high school, I couldn't visit him, and even after entering high school, I couldn't visit him much.
Now, I live on my own, so I have nobody to play shogi with...


How about playing shogi with me???


Thank you!

My friend

Hi! It's Natsuki:) Again, I would like to write about my Debate life at AGU ESS club. Now, we are preparing for the practice debate at st. Poul university next Saturday. It is the second time that I can join in the Academic Debate PD. So I still feel nervous when I imagine about the game, but I am exciting at the same time! Of course, debate needs partner. This time, I was decided by my section ceef that I can be a partner of chisato! She is one of my friends at debate section, and we have been partners each other's for a long time. So I 'm very happy to be her partner again! She gives me a kind of relieved feeling.

This picture is one of my favorite one! I hope that we will be able to get a great result with her.

Summer2.

Howdy! I’m going to finish up writing about my (lacrosse) summer. In August, we the freshman had an official game called the ‘summer stage’. We practiced for the tournament and wanted to be the champion. We won the first game. I scored three times!!(: But unfortunately, we lost the next game. I was so sad because I really wanted 

to be the champion with my wonderful teammates.

We had to with both game to go on to the champion’s league. So we were over. It was not as easy to win as we thought it was. I had to practice more to play better. But fortunately, seniors saw us play and some of us were asked to play with the seniors. What I mean by this is that we practice separately by the level: A team, B team, and freshman. Before the game, I belonged to the freshman division as other freshman, but after the summer stage seniors thought I could play in a higher level, do I could go up to the B team practice. I was so glad. This made me to think more of being a good player. To sum these up, I really did nothing but to play lacrosse. I’m now practicing very hard to move up to the next stage, A team.

For your information, my name in lacrosse team is Hayao.

My weekends

This weeked, I had a very hard time because I went to Shibaura institute technology and took the  discussion. Every weekends were lost by discussion activity.:-/
However, I love the Freshman of the discussion section. They have a various point of view and the imagination. Their motivation always stimulate me. They are my good friends and great rivals. Moreover, today's table was so great because my senior praised me for my discussion stile. That made me so happy.Istart to think that I want to try harder than now.

Happy coincidence

Last Friday I went to the Porno Graffitti Museum.

Porno Graffitti is a Japanese rock band which I like the best of all.
After the day’s all classes was over, I felt like going to Tower Records, a CD shop.
When I went there, I found this signboard.

In fact, until I came there, I didn’t know this event was being held.
So I thought it was a very happy coincidence.

In the museum, I could see a lot of rare things.

 

For example, this is a music score written by Haruichi Shindo, a guitarist of Porno Graffitti, himself.

 

They are objects used for the jacket of their new CD.

 

Also, I could listen to the members' own recorded message to us.

 

Finally, I bought some goods of Porno Graffitti.

 

 

 

I think there will be few chances to experience such things like today. I was really lucky.

 

 

 

 

My dog

This is my dog, Chii. She came to my home when I was in the junior high school. She is 8 years old, maybe. she likes eating, sleeping, and going outside. My family take her to outside everyday and many people said to her "Kawaii!" However, we should be careful, because she eat things people thrown away. 

She doesn't like camera, so I couldn't take good picture.

The book

It was a bit hard to choose a book for the book report, but I did today.
The book I chose is A Tale Of Two Cities by Dickens.  At first, I was thinking about A Christmas Carol by Dickens because I know there is a movie and I'm interested in it, but I've never watched it yet.
I went to the library, but I could find only the books whose one part is Christmas Carol, and the other parts are other christmas stories.  However, I could find the title which I know near the book, and it was A Tale Of Two Cities.
I read an easier version of this book when I was in a high school.  All the same grade students got the same book, and it was our task to read that book.  Questions about the story appeared in the test, too.
So I know its brief story.  I hope that I can understand the whole story better than other books'.

Now I have two questions to Dr. Armstrong.
1. This book isn't in your list, so is it difficult to write the book report about this book?  I wanna hear your opinion if you've read this book.  When you say it's not good choice, I'll try to find another one.
2. I'm still interested in A Christmas Carol. Can I choose the kinds of book I wrote above next time?

my precious school day life

Hello everyone, it is getting cold day by day and unmistakably autum these days.

Well, I went to my old school's cultural festival today.
I didn't feel much nostalgic while walking the way I used to use to go to school, but when I entered the school, memories of my school days came back.
Because many people comes on Sunday, I wasn't able to meet so many of my classmates.Hoewever I met some teacher's whom I was taught by and talked a lot.I was so happy that unexpectedly, many teachers reminded me.
It has passed one and a half year since I graduated.I feel like it as a memory of the distant past.There was a lot of difficulties for me when I was a junior and high school student, but I am really proud of it being a graduate of this school.
I love my old school, teachers and friends from now on!!!
This is my homeroom teacher when I was third-yearhigh school student.

         


Just an aside, I went to 31icecream for the first time in a long time.
I like to make a collage:)

    ,   

Finally!

Finally I could log in this blog!
By the way, I'm Chika Nomura.
I'm a new member of this class, so I'd like to introduce little bit about me.
I'm turning to 21years old this year, and in the second grade.
I've been working for Starbucks for 2and a half years.
I used to belong to a wind surfing team called FLEET.
I like to watch movies and love to cook.
I live in Tokyo with one of my friends.
We are sharing a house. Living with my friend is really fun.
My home town is Oita, I'm from Kyushu!

I want to have fun in this class with you guys!
Talk to me:) nice to meet you!

Mr. Armstrong, I'm in your class again! I will do my best.
It's really nice to see you again!

Hey Natsuko!

I have tried and tried but, though I can receive your emails, your email (a Docomo address) will not receive mine. This is why you haven't gotten my replies or invitations. I think you will have to contact me with your Aoyama address or another email address than Docomo . . .

Send me an email and let's get you on the blog!

(Friends of Natsuko Saeki: tell her about this message!)

My part-time job

I work at Doutor Coffee Shop in Kitasenju. Recentry we have meeting once in a month and discuss about how we can make our cafe more comfortable. Yesterday, we were taught about coffee beans. Since I don't like black coffee, I thought it would be boring. But as I learned about coffee,
I became interested in it more and more. And now, I want to become able to drink various kinds of coffee someday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Summer.

Hi. I'm going to talk little bit about what I did during the summer. I did nothing but to play lacrosse!! I get up at 4am in the morning and get one the very first train to go to the practice. And play lacrosse for about 4hours a day. We also had lacrosse camp to Niigata for five days.  I was with the team almost every day. We practiced together, had dinner together, and chat before the last train leaves.

continue...

Summer Vacation

This summer, I went to Hawaii with my family.

We went there to have a family meeting. 

Family includes my grandparents,and aunts and uncles.

We talked about how we are doing recently, and what we are going to do in the future.

The meeting was more serious than I thought. 

All of the children had to do a presentation about their status and their dream.

After the serious meeting that lasted for two days, we enjoyed Hawaii for four days.

Although we couldn't go to famous sight seeing spots,  I got to know more about  other families,

and had fun with them, so it was a pretty good vacation.

Summer Vacation

Now I have to write something before today's IE class!
 But I have no idea because for the last few days, I didn't have anything special to write here;(
So I wanna talk about my special summer vacation like you.
Thanks you for giving me idea:) haha


I went to Vancouver alone during my summer vacation.
I did home stay and the house was in North Vancouver. There are a lot of nature and the wether was comfortable so I think it was nice place to spend time in.
I had a roomie who is from Rossia. She is 26 and graduated from the university in Vancouver. So her English was very good.
Fortunately we had a time to talk with after our dinner for about 2 or 3 hours every day. It was very helpful for me to improve my English of course, but it was also precious time because I could learn a lot about another country.

And also I went to language school in downtown. International student got together from all over the world to this school.
I could get wonderful friends there and we spend a long time together and visited to a lot of place; Victorea, Seattle, and so on. It was quite fun!! I love my friends so much I couldn't stop crying when I left Vancouver for Japan.

When it comes to the language school itself, they offered good education but of course it was only teatures who speak English as their mother tongue. I mean the majority of the school was people who have strong accent. So Im sure that it is better to study at local school.


Anyway,I had a great time there!!!!!

I love...!

As some of you know, I love Disney. I watch the movie, listen to the music and of course often go to TDL or TDS.
In This summer vacation I went there about ten times or more. Many people sometimes ask me "why so often you go there?" But actually I can't explain exactly why. Just because the place makes me relax and excited! Every time I go I realize new wasy of enjoying there. One of my recommendations is enjoying the sight. Especially in TDS at night there are many beautiful points of view!
This autumn, both parks hold Halloween special event and this is my most favorite seasonal event. I want to go once a week and If I could, I surely report in this blog.

the drive with my grandmother

 I took a drive to Machida with my family and grandmother on Tuesday. We don't have a car, so we use the rental car when we met with my grandmother who has pain in her legs. We visited the grave of my grandfather and my uncle, and had a lunch at Japanese food restaurant. Actually, I got carsick so I talked with my grandmother only at the restaurant. I told her about my trip to Singapore, and she told me about memories of my mother's childhood. She likes to talk with others and she is so clever woman, so she always tells me a lot of good things for me. I want to be like her someday.

my summer vacation

This summer was absolutely exciting and I spent great time with my friends. Every summer vacation, there were no free days because of studying, club activities, and plenty of homework. So this summer vacation is first time for me to enjoy summer. All of the events  were fantastic. Through this summer, my life style changed greatly. It becomes terrible! It's too hand to get up early morning, , ,

TAKOPA!

Hi! Let me write about what I did on holiday. My part time job is STARBUCKS and I have some employees who joined there in the almost same time. On this Tuesday, I did Takoyaki Party with them. We went to the grocery store and bought various ingredients together such as cheese, konnyaku, mentaiko, mochi, and so on. Talking with them was so fun! We talked about work and school life. Some time, we gave advice about working with each other. After the party, I felt that I wanna work harder. And I hope that I can have the chance of talking with them before long.

 

Dinner

Hi! Good morning everyone. It's Natsuki Again.this time, I'd like to write about my favorite things to do. Guess what? Yes, it's EATING!!! These days, I often visit  delicious cafe or restaurant with my friend Brianne! She also love to eat so we are good chemistry! Two days ago, we visited shibuya and had a great time at nice cafe. And actually, we went to two different place.

I and Brianne  ordered avocado tuna bowl and pancake and tapioca milk at different place. It was awesome!  Whenever I take dinner at shibuya, I can spend a great time because the dish is very delicious. We enjoyed our dinner time and talked about our ESS club a lot. In fact, she is a one of my club mate who belongs to Debate section. Debate section is the most hard section in AGU ESS sections, so that's why we often go dinner and  have a good relationship!  She is one of my precious friends who really understand about me. So I 'd like to keep on having good terms with her and visiting many kinds of cafes!

My summer vacation

This summer I did nothing but Ice-hockey. I belong to an Ice-hockey team of the other school and  I usually play it two or three days a week.  But this summer I played it almost every day.
Early in summer I went to Sendai to join the Ice-hockey team of the high school that I have attended. This was actually not a hard time for me because I could practice on my own pace. Moreover, I was able to eat well known products of Sendai so I fully enjoyed it.
After that I went to Nagano prefecture for the training camp of my team but this was unforgiving. I had to wake up early in the morning and get over the hard practice schedule. It was really hard but a good memory for me now.

My summer vacation

I visited Singapore for 4 days. It was first time for me to go abroad with my friends, so I was tense a little while I was so excited. There were so beautiful city and all building was so fashionable. There were also food courts which were filled with Asian atmosphere. Of course we had to speak with Singaporean in English, but some of them could not speak English. So we also used gesture to order noodles, or ask the way to destination! It was so fan!
The most impressive thing for me was its complicated culture. We visited many places such as China town, Arab street, and Indian street. We enjoyed seeing city-scape of each culture, and people who were wearing folk costumes. So we felt as if  we visited other country.  I was surprised  at the fact that there are many different race’s communities and each of them keeps their own culture in the small country. It was precious experience for me to see it directly.

I enjoyed this trip very much! 
And I found that it was so exciting to travel abroad with friends through this trip. So I'm looking forward to go abroad next time.

What is the best way to improve English?

When did you start studying English?
How much has your English improved since then?


I have wondered what the best way to improve my English is since I started studying English when I was a junior high school student.
I had assumed that "studying abroad" was the best way until I found that it was a little wrong.
It's true that studying abroad helps me a lot to improve my English, BUT my homeroom teacher, who taught me English in high school said to me "Studying abroad is only one of the best ways.  Now that there are a lot of people from other countries in Japan, I'm sure you have things you can do inside Japan."
I was surprised to hear that.
We can have opportunities to communicate with people from other countries, to be asked for the nearest way, to take the same train as them, and so on.
Now, I understand what the teacher wanted to tell me.
I always try to pay attention to the following things.
   Try to use English as much as possible in everyday life
   Listen carefully to English every day
   Take my time to choose suitable expressions
   In writing English, pay special attention to whether sentences I wrote are correct grammatically
All things considered, I have reached the conclusion that doing what I can do in Japan and then studying abroad is the best way.


Do you have any recommended way to improve English?

Festival!!!

I'm going to write about two days ago, Autumnal Equinox Day, in Japanese shubunnohi. That day was festival in Aoyama Gakuin University, Dososai. 

I belong to baton part of wind orchestra and baton twirling club. So I danced with pompon and twirled baton in the festival.

Because we are 1st grade and there were not many blue costumes, we wore red costume. All of us wanted to wear blue costume like seniors.

But show time was very fun! We, 1st grade, performed only Sakuranbo when all members of our club danced outside. Show time was in a moment.   

In afternoon, we performed with a cheerleading club and cheering party.  I danced with a flag. We jumped very hard. So I was tired. But I enjoyed that time.

We'll perform in school festival. I'm glad if you come to see us!!!

When I went to a convinience store this afternoon, what I've never experienced happened.  One foreigner man walked into the store and got some stuff and moved to the counter as he didn't realized there was a line waiting for the payment. (I guess it was hard to find the line from where he was)  The clerk told him "there is a line over there."  Then I was on a head of the line, and not in hurry, so I told to the clerk that I don't care about being after him.  Then the man approached, held out his hand, smiled, and said "Grazie!!"  I took his hand and then we shook hands.  I felt so heartwarming.  I can say it was a nice day today only with that event.

My memories of summer vacation2

As for the free time, it was wonderful, I think. I wanted to go to London since I was young, so I was so happy to have a chance to visit there in this program. London was really crowded with the tourists coupled with the fact that was the land which the Olympic Games were held in 2012. Not just only for this, London had so many places to go, and I enjoyed every bit of this. Because the guide map in London was so complicated and difficult to understand for visitors, I got lost in many places, in fact. I didn’t know the system of public transportation in England, so I wondered whether I could go back to the dormitory safely. All these things are good memories looking back from now. This summer’s event became unforgettable one for me. I also have a desire to go back there one more time when I improve my English skills in this IE3 program. By studying in Oxford, I could get motivated about learning English more than before. Holding this memory, I want to try to do my best in this college in order not to lose face when I go back to Oxford and meet RA.

My memories of summer vacation

 

　I’m going to talk about my impressive memories during this summer vacation. This summer, I joined a language-study program taken place in Oxford University in England. In this place, I could make a lot of progresses in the way of listening English spoken by native speakers. As for me, this development is the most important occurrence. At the first time, I was so confused because the English coming out of the native speakers’ mouth was so fast much more than I had expected. Therefore, I lost my confidence and I couldn’t talk with college’s friends and instructors positively. But as the day passes, I could feel I got used to catching up the native speed gradually. When I felt so, I was really delighted and surprised at the same time. Throughout this program, I could make great memories not only about my English but also about making many friends thanks to my peer. The Oxford University’s supervisors were also nice. There were a lot of chances to talk to them, so I could communicate frequently. They planned various activities in our free time and tried to make a good relationship with us all the time.

My ESS life🌻

Hi! It's Natsuki. I'm going to write about my recent daily life at ESS club.  On August twenty, I joined ESS debate section. Since then, my daily life has changed dramatically!! Because almost 80% of a week is filled with Debate schedule. Debating in English is very very hard but challenging. Also, luckily, I can practice debating with my amazing friends! Each background is different, but the purpose that we want to make effort to be nice debater in near future is same. So, for me, club members are the most precious people who support each other. Recently, I am doing both Academic debate and parliamentary debate. Both of it is really hard to do, but I promised to myself that I will never give up no matter how difficult to be good at debating.

My summer memory

Hello, this time I'm gonna write about one of my summer vacation memories.
I travelled to TOHOKU with my friend.
On the first day of the trip, We went Nogizaka46 concert live in Sendai. Though I didn't know about them and their songs, my friend want me to go so I did.
Actually I had wondered whether I can enjoy the concert, but it was crazy fun!
After the concert I listened to their songs many many times, I'm fan of them.
Next day we went Kuji Iwate where Japanese TV drama "Amachan" was filmed.
We both watched the drama and were encouraged so this was amazing time for us. 
During this trip we ate many delicious dishes like Gyu tongue or Kaisen donburi  and for the first time in my life  I ate blowfish. It was awesome.
While I'm a student of Aogaku Univ  I want to visit all prefectures in japan.

I met a wonderful band!

Yesterday I went shopping with my family. During the shopping I saw a band having a concert in the mall.

The band was SISAY from Ecuador. (“SISAY” means “bloom”)

 

 

SISAY was playing Latin music. I didn’t know about the band until I saw it there, but once I heard the performance, I thought it was awesome and I listened to it until the concert ends. It made me feel excited and the members of SISAY themselves seemed to be enjoying it, too. I was really impressed with their performance.

Also, I remembered my days I had spent in the brass band in my high school.

I enjoyed playing the tuba a lot when I was in the brass band.
Although I don’t belong to the brass band because of my part-time job, I do want to join a brass band and make many people happy someday.

 

 

Driving School

This is Shinnosuke!  This time, I will write about my driving lessons.

About ten days ago, I entered a driving school.
In Japan, anyone is allowed to get a driver's license anytime as long as he or she is over 18, but I want to get one as early as possible.
This is because I will be busier as I become 2nd year and 3rd year.
At school, I have to learn a lot about traffic rules.
There are things that I already know and that I didn't know.
And I have already experienced real driving inside the school 10 times as of today.
At first, my instructors said to me "You need to practice more.", but recently I have been said "Your driving has improved."
When I heard that, I was very glad.
The most surprising thing relating to driving, I think, is that a range of vision from a driver's seat is very narrow.
I have to pay special attention!
Getting a driver's license within this year is my goal.

crazy book

Today I studied during the whole day.
The WHOLE DAY!!!
Because I have to finish my report for a class called kisoennsyu which is for second grade students and is an introduction to a seminar of third grade. Maybe most of you guys will take it next year.
Anyway, I'm taking American literature as kisoennsyu and we are reading the book A Rose for Emily in the class. I want to say that this book is crazy! Have you ever read the book? Actually I was just fighting against it, but it seemed like my head almost explode.
Because in the book the incidents are not written in order, for example, the incident which actually happen in the end is written in the beginning or even if an incident which happen before another one, the former is written after the latter or something like that and they are very complicated. Then for the report I have to place them  in collect order and make a chronological table of this story. It seemed like a crazy puzzle.
Unfortunately I have not been able to finish yet. omg
So I have to do it tomorrow and I'm sure that my head will explode.

Yesterday！！

Yesterday, I had a very happy dayJ Some of my friends, Yuki and Rio have visited Tokyo since September 18^th. They are my friends in my hometown Oita, and it was a last day of their stay. In the morning, I showed them around Aoyama Gakuin University. They were very pleased with the school building of this university. Then we went to Rikkyo University to have a lunch. It was very very yummy!!

It was 500 yen! It’s very inexpensive, isn’t it? At night, we went to Hikarie and had a dinner. We talked a lot about high school days:) Today they left Tokyo for Oita. I’ll miss them so muchL

Discussion meeting

Today, I write about the my first Discussion meeting.

Last Sunday, Discussion meeting was  held at St.Paul University.  I am a member of the discussion section at Aoyama Gakuin University. So,  this meeting was precious for me to participate.

  We talked about Drugs issue. My topic is “Dangerous drugs”.  This topic is not easy for Japanese national, but we should fact it now. Dangerous drugs  exist anywhere in Japan specialy in Shibuya. Everyone, please be careful. Don't touch such a terrible drugs!

The last memory of the summer vacation

I’ll write about the last day of the first summer vacation as a university student.

I went to MAX BRENNER CHOCOLATE BAR in Omotesando with my friend. This photo is the marshmallow pizza we ate there! It was very delicious!!!!!! Although we had lined up for 1 hour before
entering the café, we were satisfied very much when we ate it. I recommend that you eat this pizza once :) 

LIVE!LIVE!LIVE!

"ARASHI" is a national famous artist in Japan.
This year,they are in the 15th anniversary from their debut.
They are having a concert in their place full of memories,Hawaii on sep20 and 21 at there time.
I wasn't able to go the site because it is too expensive for me:)lol,but I went to see a live viewing at the movie theater today with my mother.Although I wasn't actually in that place,I felt like enjoying the concert with fans in Hawaii.There was a sense of unity between Hawaii and Japan.I really had a great time and got energy from them.The past they had experienced may be not all a good thing,but I think happiness is over the difficulties.
I came to realize again that I want to root for them.
They are having a dome tour this winter.I can't wait!!!!!
Who is your favorite artist?

Last Saturday

Yesterday, I met some of my friends from highschool. We went to a famous restaurant and karaoke and theater in Ikebukuro. The movie we watched was 'Lucy'. Since there were some violent scenes and I didn't like seeing blood or wounds, I couldn't have enjoyed the film enough... But I was happy to have a good time with some of my best friends. I want to get in touch with them from now on:)