How was SE? What did I learn/discover during this course?

During this course, I learned to think deeply and explore my life and my way of thinking by writing blogs about difficult topics, such as happiness, love, and religion. I tend to avoid thinking about these topics in my daily life, however I noticed that it is important to have own opinion about these topics in a long term by sharing ideas in the class.

Also, I enjoyed reading classmates' blogs and publishing pieces. Their style of writing and choice of word were wonderful and sometimes unique. Especially, reading classmates' poems was interesting for me. There are various themes and styles, and all were made with creativity.

It was first time for me to make blog, and sometimes it was hard for me to catch up with a pace, however I enjoyed blogging free topics. In addition, I'm so sorry that I couldn't comment on other member's blog. I learned that I have to improve my time management skill.

In the publishing pieces, I wrote poem about my feeling of the season, autumn as first one, and I wrote report about my volunteer experience in Iwate as second one. Through publishing process, I learned how it is difficult to show my idea with thinking about readers. After this class, I want to continue improving my skill of writing.

Minzoku buyo class

In the fall term, I took a class of Minzoku buyo class as PE. I like this class! We now practice dancing "盛岡さんさ踊り”, it is from Iwate. If you don't finish PE classes, I recommend you to take this class!! I have three reasons to recommend this class to you. Firstly, you can learn how to wear Yukata, and you can wear Yukata during the latter part of class. Only wearing Yukata, you must be feel excited if you are Japanese people! Secondly, you can practice dancing with the music of drum and whistle. We make circle when we dance, so you can feel like actually participating the festival. Thirdly, Minzoku buyo class doesn't make you tired physically. Minzoku buyo only have slow and moderate motion, so even if you take 567 class after PE, you won't be tired and sleepy. Also, teacher told us, these traditional dance is used to unite the local people as community, and it gives vitality to the area. Nowadays, there are few chances to experience such traditional Japanese culture, but we have to save and keep such culture.

What do I want my obituary to say?

Mio Uemura, resident of Kyoto, passed away on August 30, at the age of 70, at the Tetsugaku no michi, the way to Ginkakuji temple, cause of heart attack.

Ms. Uemura was born on the September 20, 1991, in Saitama. She graduated ICU in 2014. She likes traveling, so she is fascinated by the job in airport. When she was in university,she studied to acquire English and Chinese skill hard, and she became an airport staff. When she was 27, she got married with the man, he is a colleague in her job, from Kyoto. She had two children, and lived happily.

Ms. Uemura wanted her funeral to be simple, so only her children and relative attended to see her off.

My second publish pieces

My first publish piece was short poem, so in the second one, I made long report about my volunteer experience Iwate in last summer vacation. However, the content is still confused, so I need to revise again.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nsiDvb3Q0xxd-S4JtnVvu-a1peBYAq9QE3pOts5lQZ0/edit?hl=ja

My favorite novels

I would like to write about my favorite novels. Recently, I have no time to read novels because I'm busy with doing homework and writing report for the class. However, books are piled on my desk which I plan to read on my vacation. In my life, my brother influenced on my reading habit because he really likes reading books, and he often recommends his favorite novels to me. There are various genres of novels, but I especially like mystery. When I'm absorbed in the story, I cannot stop reading to the end.
My favorite writer is Miyuki Miyabe. She writes the novels which genres are mystery, SF, and historical novels. The novel which I want to recommend the best is "魔術はささやく". This story's ending and description of the mind of the main character, the boy, Mamoru, is good. I'm looking forward to the Autumn vacation because I can read the novels as much as I like!!

What's my view of religion?

I don't have certain religion, however, I come up with the existence of the god when I have some matters I can't solve and need someone's help, or when I visit the temple.

I have culture to visit temple once or twice in a year since I was a small child, so eventually, influenced by Shintoism. I visit the temple on January 1st, and throw the money (お賽銭), and wish happiness of the next year to the god (神様). After that, I buy a kind of charm(お守り), praying for safety of the traffic, health, and achievement of the study. I feel some spiritual power from a charm, and when I have a charm with me, I can feel somewhat secured. My grandmother send me a charm for travel safety when I go abroad for the travel. I think a charm is the traditional way to wish happiness for someone or myself.

Also, Shintoism is deeply related to the nature, so we have a small festival to appreciate the nature in the period of the season, such as 雛祭り,七夕, 夏祭り, and 月見. On the other hand, Shintoism influence on us when the important point of our life, such as when a baby was born, when we get married, and when people die. I'm proud of these Japanese simple and quiet but warm culture.

What does "love" mean to me?

It's difficult to answer for me, because I rarely use the word "love" in my daily life. When I think about the meaning of love, I can come up with two kinds of love, in a couple and in the family.

Firstly, love is emotion of a special relationship between a boy and girl. It is closer relationship than friends, and it needs understanding each other. However, "love" between a boy and girl is sometimes difficult because it is impossible to know other persons mind perfectly.

Secondly, love is a emotion came up in the family, especially from parents to their children. Child needs love from parents, because they can't grow up by themselves, and child needs person who understand them sympathetically.

I think both need the dedications of themselves, for example, time, money, and freedom, so it's difficult!! However,"love" grow us up mentally, and make us happy. I noticed that I don't know much about love, and I tend to be hesitate to talk about love. So, "What is love?" is never ending question as much as I live!

My piece of writing

Now, I'm writing Poem as a piece of writing. It is difficult to make Poem than I expected because it is short, so I have to choose words carefully. Also, I can't decide where I finish it.
Link
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WEjgyZOBJBL5DcW1gXMh7qM5buQ5wX-d7Bn6aP6ZgZw/edit?hl=ja

If you have time, please give me advice!

Observer of a Civil Trial

   On October 19th, I went to Tokyo district court and heard a civil trial, which defendant is a foreign people with an interpreter. I decided to go to the court because it was additional assignment of the class, "Interpreting in Society" to write a report about that.

   When I entered the room, I remembered the movie of "Hero", acted by Takuya Kimura. It was smaller room than I expected, and there is tense atmosphere. There are two people in the center of the room, a defendant and an interpreter. It was the first time for me to observe the trial, but it was interesting for me. The trial which I heard is about the application for refugee status, by a Turkish man. Interpretation in the trial is consecutive interpretation, which means the interpreter starts interpreting when the speaker finish talking to some extent, in short, it was not simultaneous interpretation.

   I thought the job of interpreter is so hard! She has to hear the question from Japanese attorney with taking notes, and translate Japanese into Turkish, and hear the answer of Turkish defendant , and translate Turkish into Japanese for Japanese attorney. It means that interpreter have to listen two language conversation carefully, because interpreter can change the defendant's destiny and future, so it's responsibility is heavy. Also, interpreter has to be fair for both. I understood that prof. Hongo said "Interpreter has a role of mediator."

What is "happiness" to me?

     This is difficult question to answer. I can come up with a lot of "happy" moment for me. For example, sleeping time, eating delicious food, and watching TV, etc. However, I think "happiness" sounds like keeping more longer terms, and it is about future visions. 
     I found two answers for this question.
     Firstly I feel happiness for the situation that I can do something I'm willing to do. Now, I enjoy ICU life and it is happy for me. I can go university and make friends, thanks for my parent's working for my school expenses. I think happiness means felling appreciation for somebody.
   
     Secondly, it is happy thing that there are people who have relationship with me and help me when I am in the bad situation. Also, these people motivate me to do something for other people's happiness.

Bell peppers

I'd like to write about my club activity, Hand bell club, the name is "Bell peppers". Have you ever listened Hand bell music before?  Hand bell is suitable instrument for the Christmas song and a hymn, but we also play pop music. There are 51 bells, and it have a range of 5 octaves. The biggest, low sound bell is too heavy to lift and ring! Hand bell have many techniques s to ring. For example, ringing, shaking, plucking, and malletting, ...etc. I'm sorry I can't explain these ways of ringing in English, but I want to say bell can change effects of sounds, by changing the way to ring. Each one person is responsible for 3 or 4  sound, and we make one song, so hand bell needs good cooperation and team work with the members. Now, we practice hard for the Christmas concert, it is on 20th December, in the Chapel. If you want to feel reluxed by the cute sounds of hand bell, please come to the concert!!