Step Up★

This is a sound track of the movie "Step Up". This movie is based on dance. Following a party, Mac, Skinny Carter and their friend Tyler Gage break into the Maryland School of Arts and damage many of the props in the school's theatre. When a security guard appears, Tyler helps the other two escape and accepts the blame. He is sentenced to 200 hours of community service, which he has to serve at the school. While working, he watches a dance class and meets Nora Clark, a student preparing for her "senior showcase." The performance could determine if she gets a job with a dance company. Later, Tyler mockingly shows his friends some of the dance moves he learned while watching the school's ballet dancers, mixing them with break-dance and street dance moves.
Nora's dance partner sprains his ankle, leaving Nora without a partner. After auditioning some other students, she doesn't meet any who are good enough. Tyler offers to help, but she at first refuses. Eventually she changes her mind, having seen him dancing earlier, and convinces Director Gordon to allow Tyler to rehearse with her. During their initial practice session, Tyler is antagonistic toward Nora as well as her boyfriend, both of whom respond with haughty attitudes. As they continue to rehearse, Nora and Tyler grow closer, each teaching the other about their respective styles of dance. Tyler also befriends a musician at the school named Miles, who has a crush on Nora's friend Lucy.
One day, Nora takes Tyler to a special spot on the waterfront, which is where she envisioned her routine. She tells Tyler she always imagined it would be with a large group, and Tyler helps her dream come true by recruiting younger dancers from the school to perform in her number.
Nora's boyfriend gets a recording deal with a company, but in doing so, dumps Miles to sign the deal. Nora then breaks up with her boyfriend after seeing his poor treatment of their friend.
Tyler asks Director Gordon if she will let him attend the school, and her response is that he must prove to her that he deserves a chance. Upon hearing this, Nora says the showcase can be his audition. After dancing together at a club, Nora and Tyler begin a romantic relationship. However, when Nora's dance partner returns, seemingly healed from his injury, Tyler feels that he is no longer needed in the routine, and angrily accuses Nora of treating him the same way her ex-boyfriend treated Miles. He leaves the group and Nora and goes back to janitorial work at the school.
Later on, Tyler's friend Skinny, who is also Mac's brother, is fatally shot after stealing a car, prompting Mac and Tyler to realize that they need to make better choices in their lives.
Nora again loses her partner because he is not able to do the routine that Nora and Tyler came up with together. Nora finally decides to do her senior showcase solo. However, without a partner, the routine is not as good and she knows she will not be able to get accepted into any dance troupes. Before the showcase starts, Tyler arrives, and after making up they perform the showcase together. Nora is offered a place in a professional dance troupe, and Tyler is accepted into the Maryland School of Arts. After, they kiss and make up.
This movie is wonderful especially for dancer! These are a part of this sound track.→http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=WmOoBmUG9mk(Samantha Jade) and http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=DaaUnqoDl74 ( Chris Brown)

Jay sean

Do you know him? Jay Sean is a British Asian Pop singer-songwriter, best known for his hits "Stolen", "Eyes On You" and "Ride It". He has released two albums, Me Against Myself (2004) and My Own Way (2008) along with five top 20 hits (of which 2 hit the top 10, 1 even the top 5) in the UK single chart. Personally I like his song, "maybe"→http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=-jBTonlzLOE

Favorite movies -action-

Have you seen "The Bourne Ultimatum"? I've seen that in cinema last year! In action movie I like this BOURNE series the best, because although it's not like intense or noisy action movie, it has particular strains. Matt Damon is so cool in this movie. "The Bourne Identity" is a 2002 spy film loosely based on Robert Ludlum's novel of the same name. It stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, an amnesiac attempting to discover his true identity amidst a clandestine conspiracy within the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to track him down and arrest or kill him for inexplicably failing to carry out an officially unsanctioned assassination and then failing to report back in afterwards. Along the way he teams up with Marie, played by Franka Potente, who assists him on the initial part of his journey to learn about his past and regain his memories. The film also stars Chris Cooper as Alexander Conklin, Clive Owen as The Professor, Brian Cox as Ward Abbott, and Julia Stiles as Nicky Parsons.
The film was directed by Doug Liman and adapted for the screen by Tony Gilroy and William Blake Herron from the novel of the same name written by Robert Ludlum, who also produced the film alongside Frank Marshall. It received a positive critical and public reaction. The film was followed by a 2004 sequel, "The Bourne Supremacy", and a third part released in 2007 entitled "The Bourne Ultimatum". I really recommend you to see all series..!

Favorite movies -love and success stories-

As for love comedy, I really like "music and lyrics". music and lyrics is a film released byWarner Bros. The film stars Hugh Grant as Alex Fletcher, a washed-up 1980s pop star (based onAndrew Ridgeley of the 1980s British pop group Wham!) and Drew Barrymore as Sophie Fisher, aformer English literature major. It tells the story of their efforts to write a song for singer Cora Corman (Haley Bennett), and their subsequent romance.
The film received mixed reviews from contemporary critics, but topped the UK box office. The song used in this movie is really nice and I liked it. Hugh Grant is good at not only at acting but also song and dance! You can hear the song "way back into love" which is the main song in this movie at here→ http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bw52yaErXg&feature=related
"The Devil Wears Prada" is also fantastic movie. The Devil Wears Prada is a 2006 comedy-drama film, a loose screen adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's 2003 novel of the same name. It stars Anne Hathaway as Andrea "Andy" Sachs, a recent college graduate who goes to New York City and gets a job as a co-assistant to powerful and demanding fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep. Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci co-star in support of the two leads, as catty co-assistant Emily Charlton, and critical yet supportive Art Director Nigel, respectively. Adrian Grenier, Simon Baker and Tracie Thoms play key supporting roles. Wendy Finerman produced and David Frankel directed; the film was distributed by 20th Century Fox.
Streep's performance drew rave reviews from critics and later earned her many award nominations, including her record-setting 14th Oscar bid, as well as a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical. Blunt also drew favorable notice and nominations, as did many of those involved in the film's production. While critical reaction to the film as a whole was more measured, it was well received by the public becoming a surprise summer box-office hit following its June 30 North American release. The commercial success and critical praise for Streep's performance continued in foreign markets, with the film leading the international box office for most of October. The U.S. DVD release likewise was the top rental during December. Ultimately, it would gross over $300 million, mostly from its international run, and finish in 2006's top 20 both in the U.S. and overseas. It is also the 2nd highest-grossing film in Streep's career (the first being Mamma Mia!) and 1st highest grossing in Hathaway's. A television series is being developed.
Although the movie is set in the fashion world, most designers and other fashion notables avoided appearing as themselves for fear of displeasing U.S. Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who is widely believed to have been the inspiration for Priestly. Many designers did, however, allow their clothes and accessories to be used in the film, making it the most expensively-costumed film in history. Wintour later overcame her initial skepticism, saying she liked the film and Streep in particular.

Favorite movies -emotional ones-

It was raining today.... so I went to part time job by walking...Anyway, I'm going to write about one of my favorite movies. As for emotional ones, "Rain Man" is one of my recommendations. Rain Man is a 1988 dramatic film written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass and directed by Barry Levinson. It tells the story of an abrasive, selfish yuppie, Charlie Babbitt, who discovers that his father has left all of his multimillion-dollar estate to his brother, Raymond, of whose existence he knew nothing and who is an autistic savant. The movie stars Tom Cruise as Charlie Babbit, Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbit, and Valeria Golino as Charlie's girlfriend, Susanna. Morrow created the character of Raymond after meeting Kim Peek, a real-life savant; his characterization was based on both Peek and Bill Sackter, a good friend of Morrow who was the subject of Bill, an earlier film that Morrow wrote.The film won four Oscars at the 61st Academy Awards (1989), including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Actor in a leading role for Hoffman. Its crew received an additional four nominations. Although it's not a recent movie, but it tells very important thing for us.
"The Pursuit of Happyness" is also my favorite one. The Pursuit of Happyness is a 2006 American biographical film directed by Gabriele Muccino about the on and off-homeless salesman-turned-stockbroker Chris Gardner. The screenplay by Steven Conrad is based on the best-selling memoir of the same name written by Gardner with Quincy Troupe. The film was released on December 15, 2006, by Columbia Pictures. The title is intentionally misspelled, as it also appears as graffiti in a scene in the film. The misspelled phrase is actually taken from an essay written in 1776 that argued that whites and blacks were created equal. The essay, which was written by Lemuel Haynes, a biracial man living in New England during the Revolution, quoted Thomas Jefferson's well-known sentence from the United States Declaration of Independence, but spelled the last word of the sentence with a y. The sentence, as it appears in Lemuel's essay, is as follows: "We hold these truths to be self-Evident, that all men are created Equal, that they are Endowed By their Creator with Ceartain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happyness. When I saw the trailer of this movie, I thought it is a success story from poverty to rich. However, the most important thing in this movie is that no matter how busy or difficult he is, he stayed with his child.

anniversary..!

Yesterday, I stayed hotel in Minatomirai with my family to celebrate my parent's wedding anniversary and my father's birthday. We stayed at special floor which is in the uppermost floor. sooo fantastic!!! After checkin, we went to eat dinner at Queens square and did shopping and returend to go hotel bar. The bar was amazingly nice! We drunk and ate some snacks seeing beautiful night view. It was wonderful commemoration for us. Because it's x'mas season, x'mas trees were everywhere. I like this perple x'mas tree personally. Actually I don't like x'mas color like red and green..........! Anyway everything... room, restaurant, staff, view, amenity etc... was really great. I couldn't believe here is the same city to our house.....!!

IE2 Essay

Attraction of Hawaii

What is the image of Hawaii? Many people may imagine the beach, shopping and
hot weathers… Hawaii is one of the most popular sightseeing places in the world. About seven million people visit Hawaii each year, and twenty-four percent of the state tax comes from a sightseeing industry. What is it that attracts people so much?
Hawaii has a long history. Hawaii Island was born by a volcanic activity. It was shaped by lava which means erupting from hot spots, magma. The Hawaiians were a people without writing, who preserved their history in chants and legends. Much of the early history has disappeared with the death of the kahunas, the original inhabitants, and other learned men whose function it was to pass on this knowledge by means of chants and legends, to succeeding generations. It was BC 500 to 700 when man first settled in Hawaii as a desert island. It is said that Polynesian came from Marquesas Island first. In Hawaii, which was under the influence of the Polynesian culture, the idea to think that god inhabits everything was penetrated. They regarded food, herb, even earth as blessing. Therefore, the idea of ecology has been ingrained naturally.
Modern Hawaiian history began on January 20, 1778, when Captain James Cook made its first contact with the Hawaiian people. He was not the first man to “discover” the Hawaiian Islands, but he was the first European to arrive there. When he first landed on Hawaii, he couldn’t stay for a long time because of the research of Alaska. When he visited it again, there were festivals of crops and he was welcomed as a second coming of god. However, they gradually began to doubt him and he was finally killed by people. It was the wrong time for him to visit. There were many heads until Cook came. They ruled the islands fighting each other. However, when the King Kamehameha inclined to unify all islands of Hawaii, the Hawaii dynasty was born. The King began to accept foreigners as immigrants, because in those days, they were lack of labor force of sugar cane plantation, which is now a big industry in Hawaii. After that, Hawaii made complicated country mixed by various races. Hawaii formed unique culture in food, shopping, art and so on by assimilating the thing which got from these races and which was traditional of Hawaii.
The relationship between Hawaii and Japan has also long history. Two hundred years ago, a Japanese ship was shipwrecked and an American ship helped the Japanese crew and passengers. After that, Japanese people who were on the ship spent seven years in Hawaii. This is the encounter and the beginning of familiarity between Hawaii and Japan. Therefore, Hawaii also took in Japanese culture like shrines, sumo, the Bon dancing or Japanese food, so Hawaii is the country which Japanese people can　 get accustomed to easily.
After the Hawaii dynasty ended, Hawaii was unified by America and became the fiftieth state of America in 1959. While Hawaii has the sides of sightseeing places like marine sports or shopping, it has also the side of reviewing traditional culture. What’s more, remarkably, Japan and Hawaii has a long relationships. Hawaii is not only just a “resort place” but also has deep attraction as a “traditional island” which has proper culture. For these reasons, Hawaii has been attracting so many people for a long time.

News paper article vol.3

Newspaper Article Discussion



“Remote Island to get 1st doctor in 25yrs.” The Daily Yomiuri 3 July 2008


Written Summary:
According to this article, in Atatajima Island in Otake, Hiroshima, 64-year old former director of a Kyoto hospital will open a clinic. For 25 years, there had been no doctor in Hiroshima. Until today, fisherman of there island transported patients to a main hospital, which is 10 kilometers away. The former director in Kyoto looked for an area which is in need of full-time doctor and he was introduced to Atatajima Island by the prefectural government of Hiroshima. The population of the island is 320 and one-thirds of them are 65 or more. They had to go to the mainland by only ferry. By this opening new clinic, people in the island could be relieved for the first time in 25 years.


Opinion Statement:
I didn’t know about this matter, so I was really amazed. Although it’s great to have new clinic, 25 years is too long…


Discussion Questions:
1. If you were alone and in bad condition, but there were no doctor, what would you do?

2. Do you think the condition of Japanese hospital good or bad? Why?

3. If you were asked to be a doctor, because of the shortage of doctors, would you become a doctor and help people?

News paper article vol.2

“3,400 private school students in tuition arrears”



Summary: According to this article, parents of over 3400 private middle and high school students have not paid their tuition fees, because of the economical difficulties. Therefore, private schools pressure parents to pay the fees or children are forced to quit the school. In the survey, 3208 high school students and 208 middle school students had failed to pay tuition fees. The union said the number of parents who can’t pay tuition fees will increase because of the financial crisis and lower incomes.

Questions:
l Do you think Japanese school tuition fees expensive?

l If you were in financial crisis situation and asked to quit college, what would you do?

l What should private schools do to decrease these students?

Words:
l Tuition: the money you pay for being taught at a school or college.

l Arrear: money that you owe someone because regular payments such as rent have not been paid at the right time.

l Nationwide: happening or existing in every part of the country.

l Withdraw: to stop taking part in an activity, belonging to an organization etc... or to make someone stop doing this.

l Crisis: a very bad or dangerous situation that might get worse, especially in politics or economics.

IE2 Book Report

Book Report　



Desmond Bagley, The Enemy, Oxford; Oxford University Press, 104 pages, 1994.

Summary:
Malcolm Jaggard is an economist. However, his real job is industrial espionage counter-intelligence. He fell in love with Penelope Ashton, an intelligent biologist and they got engaged. One day, her sister, Gillian was thrown acid by someone. After that, her father, George Ashton suddenly disappeared. Therefore, Malcolm began to observe and protect him, and realized that his information was top secret in intelligence. Then, Malcolm went to Sweden where George and his servant, Benson ran away. However, George was killed by Benson. Later on, Malcolm found that George had been previously a Russian scientist who had been told to work on the development of the atomic bomb for Russia, and a man called Lord Cregar who was the head of the department Malcolm worked for was responsible for the death of George, because he told his man, Benson to kill George if he tries to go back to Russians. Cregar just wanted to know George’s secret knowledge of science to keep his power. At last, Malcolm fought against Cregar who was about to extort his love, Penelope Ashton.

Setting: Marlow, a small town in England.

Point of View: This story is told from the third person.

Conflict: Malcolm versus himself.
Although he was doing the job as espionage of George, he didn’t like what he was doing, because George was really kind to him and he didn’t want to become like his bosses who keep important information only to give them power.

Climax: The climax of this story is not happy. When Malcolm was fighting against Cregar in the secret laboratory, the new bacteria was spread, because they broke protective glass box of that by accident. While Penelope and Gillian recovered from the accident, Malcolm and Cregar got cancer. Malcolm went to Ireland with Penelope to live rest of his life happily. Finally, he died leaving quotation of great person: ‘We have met the enemy, and he is us.’

Symbol: The model railway. It was not a toy but a computer, where Ashton had been hiding all his original thinking. It stands for his intelligence and his hope to keep them away from men like Cregar and the Minister who use his thinking only to keep his power.

Irony: All of the people searching George thought that Mayberry who had thrown the acid in the face of Gillian must have something to do with George’s escape. However, he had no connection with George. Actually, he had grudge for Penelope, because he was the strong flock of Christ. He thought that biologists were breaking the laws of God. However, ironically, he mistook her sister for Penelope.

Theme: Theme of this book is that how difficult it is to overcome his own enemy. We have to fight with own enemy to progress to next step.

Evaluation: This story was simple detective story, but it was really interesting. Although I could grasp the story substantially, there were some questions. For example, the writer didn’t make mentions of the details of George’s secret like model railway. However, I think it makes this story more mysterious.
I was made to think deeply by this story. No matter what period it is, there are men like Cregar who thinks only his good. I think these people have been increasing, because there are much more terrible affairs, crimes and scandals than ever. I want many people to read this story and find the solution of this matter.

IE2 Book Report

Book Report



Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie, New York: Anchor Books, 188 pages, 1997.


Summary:
About twenty years ago, Mitch Albom was a college student whose professor was Morrie Schwerts. Mitch always respected Morrie, because he was always challenging no matter how old he was. They often chatted with each other. After the graduation, Mitch became a columnist of sports article, and he was terribly busy in interviewing famous sports players or writing articles and so on. Although he had a girlfriend, his job never allowed him to spend time with his girlfriend. He was tired of such life.
One day, Mitch happened to see his teacher, Morrie in TV news show. The content of the news was that he was suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and his life would be ended within half a year. By watching this news, Mitch visited Morrie for the first time in sixteen years. Then Mitch and Morrie began to talk about the “meaning of life” every Tuesday, because when Mitch was a student of college, Morrie’s class was on Tuesday. Although Morrie was suffered from bad disease, he looked always happy. Mitch wanted his advice to live happily. Then, Morrie began to tell him about important things in human life: family, society, marriage, forgiveness, aging, a meaningful life and so on. Mitch learned from Morrie many things that he had forgot a long time ago.

Setting: Massachusetts, USA

Point of view: This story is told from the first person.

Conflict: Mitch was in conflict with himself and his environment. Although he had a girlfriend, his life was full of job.　He struggles to find meaning with his life and to change the person he has become in the sixteen years since he had last seen Morrie.

Climax: In the end, thanks to the Morrie’s advice, Mitch realized the importance of love and married his girlfriend. However, Morrie’s illness got worse, and Mitch visited him again. Morrie hardly talk with Mitch, so they hugged each other as Mitch cried. Next week, Morrie died. The funeral was held, and his cemetery was indeed a lovely spot, trees and grass and a sloping hill. Mitch thanked him again and again. Then as he was about to return, he saw his watch and realized why. It was Tuesday.

Symbol: “Pink hibiscus plant”: As Morrie’s body deteriorates, so does the condition of the hibiscus plant. The plant’s pink petals wither and fall as Morrie grows increasingly dependent on oxygen. As his death approaches, so does the death of the plant. It is continually used as a metaphor for Morrie’s life. Like the plant, humans, Morrie in particular, experience a natural life cycle, which inevitably ends in death. Morrie must accept this inevitable fate, as must Mitch.

Irony: 　Most people are terrified of death, and it is hard to deal with it, especially when you do not know when it is going to occur. However, Morrie knew death was approaching soon and he did not show fear. He continued to live his life as any other person would....

Theme: The theme of this book is about an old dying man who teaches his young student about the true things that matter in life. Morrie shared a lot of wisdom with Mitch regarding a lot of subjects. It was important for Morrie to let the world know that it was okay to cry and mourn for one another. Then he said, "The most important thing about life is to learn how to give out love and to let it come in." Morrie found it absolutely imperative to be able to let yourself forgive, love, etc. Morrie had also made it clear that although the disease was decaying his body, he would not allow it to decay his spirit

Evaluation: This story was easy to read, but each word had deep meaning. For example Morrie sometimes said, "Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live." Few people know that how precious a day is. We can’t know when we die. If Mitch didn’t go to meet Morrie, his life would be filled with job forever. He was lucky to have such a wonderful teacher. When I finished reading, I was really moved. If you read this story, you may feel the value of everything, even living itself!

News paper article vol.1

Arson suspect in poor health ‘wants to die’

Summary:
According to this article, in Osaka, a man was arrested on suspicion of murder and arson. One day, he went to video-viewing establishment and set fire. By this accident, 15 people were killed. He had a wife and children, but he got divorced. According to the police, he said that he got heart disease this year and his debts were several million yen. This is the reason he did this terrible murder. He noticed that he had done a terrible thing, but it’s too late. However, there is another factor that caused this murder. That is fire alarm. After the fire broke out, the alarm stopped immediately, because its battery ran out. If the alarm worked normally, 15 victims could have run away.


Question:
l Have you ever seen fire broke out?

l If you were in these locked rooms and noticed the fire, what would you do?

l If you couldn’t get the last train, where would you stay?


Words:
l Diagnose: to find out what illness a person has or what is wrong with something.
l Snowball: if a plan, problem, business snowballs, it grows bigger at a faster and faster rate.
l Fetch: to go and get something and bring it back.
l Casualty: someone who is hurt or killed in an accident or battle.
l Ventilate: to let fresh air into a room, building and so on.

got a cold.......

It's a nice sunny day isn't it?! I really wanna go shopping! but I can't.....because I had a cold.....and not feel like going somewhere..... I rarely get a cold, but recent sudden nip made me sick!! What should I do with my part time job today........ oh, I have no idea.
Anyway I took a picture of my dog, Cookie again! She was basking in the sun shine in garden comfortably. I am rally healed by Cookie★ so............ I'm going to sleep again........!

MOTOMACHI

Motomachi is one of my favorite cities. The shops or restaurants are not change so much compared some years ago. Therefore, although there are not kind of special or extraordinary stores, many people come here and window-shop. Also Motomachi is next to China town! so it's one of the reasons too! If you have a chance to ride the train of Minatomirai line you should drop in here★

Cold Winter is coming.....

It's been pretty cold for the last two weeks isn't it? Winter is better than summer for me, because I can't stand that terrible heat. I changed my coat closet from summer ones to winter ones suddenly. However, the one I want now is mouton coat!! so I have to work hard for my part time job! oh....what should I write?! Anyway it's so cold now.......................!

China Town

Today, I went driving to China Town with my family. Because I have no sense of direction, my mother took me to the Chinese restaurant which is famous for Takana ramen. This was so tasty that we ate really quickly!! Also I had a tapioka, my favorite! After that near the restaurant, I found a really cute and individual clothing shop and I really liked it. I didn't know there is ordinary, I mean not Chinese, clothing shops, so I bought some. We also bought Chimaki for our souvenir. I had been to China town many many times, because I live in Yokohama, but wherever I eat, it's so delicious and satisfactory. so I'm not so worried about where to eat★

IE3 Book Report

Book Report

Author: Harry Mazer
Book Title: When The Phone Rang
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Place: New York, USA
Date: 1985
No. of pages: 181 pages


Plot Summary: One day, the phone rang a calm afternoon in the house of Billy and changed his life forever. Billy was a teenager who lives with his parents and a younger sister, Lori in a new city. One afternoon, Billy and Lori were cleaning their house, because they were waiting for their parents who were on a business trip. Suddenly the phone rang. It was from the airport and a woman told Billy that an airplane which his parents had got on crashed into the Caribbean and that their parents were dead. At first, Billy thought it was a joke and hung up the phone. However, when he saw the news on TV, he didn’t say anything. Later they receive a phone call from their uncles and his older brother, Kevin who was in a college studying to be a doctor. The next day Kevin came to visit them and a few days later their uncles and grandmother came too. After a few days the family members needed to go back to their homes, and they were going to take Billy and Lori with them. However, they didn’t want to, because they didn’t want to part with their house which has their parent’s memory and also wanted Kevin to stay with them. Therefore, Kevin stayed with his brothers and got a job and went to the college in the city while his siblings go to school. Billy tried to fix a room which was in the top of his house, because it was something he was doing with his father to rent the room. However, it was much harder than expected for them. They had problems. For example, Kevin sold the car because of the shortage of money while Billy didn’t want to separate from the car. Also Lori had a friend, Marianne who smoke and stole things from the stores and Marianne teached it to Lori. She did those bad things because she felt lonely and her brothers didn’t notice. Finally Lori went to visit her grandmother and stayed away from the bad friend. Kevin continued working while going to college. Billy found a part time job in an arcade. Billy also finished fixing the room and rented it. The three siblings continue their life missing their parents.


Literary Terms:
1. Setting
The time is at the present. Before move, the location was Delmar, but changed to New York after move.

2. Point of view
The story is told from omniscient.

3. Conflict
Man versus himself. Because young siblings lost their parents unexpectedly, they had to struggle against their own loneliness and sorrow.

4. Climax
In the first week of summer vacation, the siblings were down by the river. They felt all finished. They were not angry anymore, not feeling sorry for themselves, not blaming parents not being there. Finally Billy took off Dad’s hat and spun it out over the river.

5. Symbol
A car called Mercedes and Dad’s hat. For Billy, it was a parent’s memory. Lori’s braid and lipstick shows that she is becoming interest in fashion by Maryanne’s influence.

6. Irony
Although many relatives and neighbors were about to take advantage of the death of parents, they couldn’t because the siblings decided to live together so that they didn’t have to move anymore.

7. Theme
Help each other, and people can get over difficulty. No matter how much one cry or grieve, there are things which can’t be resolved. In this story, young children lost their parents and of course this is so tragic. However, they helped each other and tried to overcome difficulties.


Evaluation:
Before reading this book, I thought it may mystery story yet it wasn’t. I was made to think about life deeply. Including me, people aren’t usually living thinking what if parents die tomorrow. However, we have no idea what will happen in the future. Things are always sudden. Therefore we have to do what we can as much as possible. I really recommend this book especially for teenagers. In the story, the siblings continued life with effort despite of the death of the most important family member. In reality, there are many children who lost their parents or parents who lost their children by accidents. Although their sorrow would never be forgotten, they can learn a lot from it by helping each other.

★yummy★

Last week I had a lunch and dinner with my friend in Minatomirai. We had a lunch at Bay Quarter. It was bufe style so we ate so much! Although it was weekday there were so many people in this restaurant. I was amazed to see Okonomiyaki style omlet. It was first time to see like that but it was surprisingly yummy★ I wanted to know how to make! After that we had a window shopping but it is not sale season so we just looked around. Gradually we became hungry despite of that hearty lunch....! Therefore we decided to have dinner. We went to specialty store of Tofu in spicy Chinese sauce, you know 麻婆豆腐　in Japanese. It was spicy and also so yummy!! We really liked it. This day, I was filled with many foodstuffs......... I enjoyed very much★

Talk about movies.......

Have you seen any movies recently? This Wedensday, I mean ladies day, I saw a movie, Eagle Eye. A direction is Steven Spielberg and leading actors are Shia Labeouf, appeared in Disterbia and Michelle Monaghan, appeared in M:I:Ⅲ. It was so exciting and powerful! This is a suspense action based on 'Present'. One day a man working in a copy shop got a call from a strange woman and made to follow instructions. Also a woman working in lawyer's office got a same call. They don't know who the caller is and why they are chosen. With a confusion, they push forward to protect each important person... So thrilling!!! I was stillness during the car scene....★

Anyway from this weekend, Blindness is going to be released. Julianne Moore is the main actor. Also international Japanese actors, Yusuke Isetani and Yoshino Kimura will appear in this movie as wife and husband who became blindness first. They speak fluent English like native speaker. Not so many Japanese actors can appear in holliwood movie so I really wanna see that★

My dog again!

Do you remember my dog, Cookie?! She is really vigorous as usual. By going for a walk almost every day, she lost weight! It's really good however, she has so much appetite and always pester for me to give her food...... Anyway walking in fall or winter is much better than that in summer. It is hard for animals to walk or run in hot summer, because they are shaggy all the time. So although she was exhausted by only 20 minutes in this summer, now she looks fine. Maybe January will be the coldest of all the months.... so we have to stand a nip!

HW.....!

Recently, I've been doing many home works!! I did book report of IE, report of technology of aoyama standard and christianity introduction class. So I'm little tired and sleepy now...... Anyway, now I have to do IE Writing homework! I have no idea which subject to choose......help me!

★★★

I have no idea what to write.............! So I took a part of my room. This tuesday, I went shopping and had dinner with my best friend in Shibuya. I had a good time but I forgot to take pictures! Anyway, there were so many young people in 109. I bought some clothes and this flower. This is of course artificial one. Recent artificial flowers look like real ones very much isn't it? Now, my room is gradually captured by pink things..........!

CB

Recently, I bought Chris Brown's CD and it was so good! My favorite one is "With you". Not only songs, his dance is also cool. So I really recommend! His profile can be seen at this site.↓↓http://notrax.jp/bands/detail/00000531.html

Kamakura

Today, I went to Kamakura with my mother. Although it was Friday, there were so many people! I also saw many foreigners and they ware enjoying Jinrikisha! Kamakura Hachimangu is the first place we went to. People who came there, including us paid homage at a shirine. In new year's day, there are so many people we can' t imagine!! After that we had lunch and ate Japanese omlet. It was so soft and fluffy and... so delicious! Besides, we also ate Kamakura sausage, crape, and Anmitsu. Now, my stomach is full of these foods and about to burst............!!! Anyway, I enjoyed very much!

Report: Multicultural and Antiracism Education

Yesterday, there was a lecture made by professor of Canada. Culture is a system for differentiating between in-group and out-group people and is changing. They are so different that they become conflict sometimes. Each country has own tradition and rule called culture coat. Culture coat is including like humor, silence, gender roles, physical touch, individual and gruop etc........ I was amazed to hear that Canada is a mix nation or a nation of immigrant and so many people come to live there from other country every year. Therefore, in school or university of Canada, Coelho's activity which helps immigrants know the structure or rule of there is often done. Their goal is to accept immigrants actively.
As for racism, there are often many stereotypes. For example, Japanese are good at math or science, Chinese are quitet and peacable etc...... However, it is really important to see things from many point of views. The professor told us Cinderella story as an example of this idea. Cinderella is really romantic story when we read this by Dinsney style. However, in the Grimm Broithers' fairy tales, it becomes horrible story. Like this, we should not depend on our own stereotypes. It was really interesting lecture and I was made to think about these things seriously.

Essay 2

Fashion




No matter which periods it is, there is a matter of fashion. It means that fashion is not only the identity of people, but also the symbol of the history. No one lives without clothes. Let’s take a look at this important subject.
Usually, the age of fashion is divided into four, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. These four periods have many reactions or resistances to fashion, so it is useful to understand fashion.
50’s was a period which began culture of consumption after the war. In 1947, Christian Dior released “New Look”. It is feminine style which has roundish shoulder, thin west. This “New Look” made fashion current of 50’s. The main entertainment of 50’s was movies, so the fashion appeared in movies also came in. Audrey Hepburn is good example of this. As for men’s fashion, “Taiyozoku” was popular. This is quoted by a Japanese movie, “Season of the Sun”. This fashion was like musician. 50’s fashion was made by young independent people who had hope for new age and liberation from the war.
As rapid economic growth continuing, fashion of 60’s expanded greatly. Symbolic style of this age is “Ivy Look”. This style was originally a fashion descended from eight prestige colleges of America. The features are natural shoulder, silhouette of having no west and straight line. In 1964, Tokyo Olympic was held. That year, sudden trend occurred, “Miyukizoku”. It is named by “Miyuki Street”, Ginza. Men had big paper bags and women put on long skirt and wore handkerchief over their head. However, “Miyukizoku” disappeared soon, because police admonished them in order to regulate public moral for Olympic.
In 70’s, jeans came in. From latter 60’s, jeans were spread by campus activism and hippie. Jeans which stands for freedom, resistance or antiestablishment became popular among young people. Because of jeans, casual and practical items like down jackets, sneakers and trainers also came in. This current began from the end of the Vietnam War. It is also the feature of 70’s to start publishing fashion magazines. By using fashion models, big fashion boom occurred.
Fashion of 80’s was the age of DC Brand. DC Brand is an abbreviation of designer and character brand. Representative brands are “Y’s” by Yohji Yamamoto and “Comme des Garcons” by Rei Kawakubo. Because of the beginning of the bubble economy, young people could have money to use freely, so they could use the money for fashion. In latter 80’s, women who could not be satisfied with DC Brand began to wear “Body Conscious”. It was first released by Azzedine Alaia. Women who wore Body Conscious would often go to disco after working.
Fashion is said to revive. Actually, there are people who take in 60’s or 70’s fashion for modern fashion pretty well. It is interesting to know the history of fashion, because it makes our view much larger. We can express our identity more clearly if we know the knowledge of fashion history.

Essay 1

Differences between Ryokan and Hotel




If you were a foreigner who travels Japan, you may be puzzled which to stay hotel or ryokan, because both have attractions which are really different.
First of all, the greatest difference between hotel and ryokan is the fee system with the ryokan charging for one night’s stay with two meals. The two meals are the evening meal on the day of your arrival, and breakfast served the following morning. At the majority of ryokans, these meals are served in the guest room. However, at some ryokans, the meals are taken in a large dining room or private room specially for the purpose. As for hotel, meals are special rates. You can choose time and restaurants as you like. Besides hotel especially in western, guests often hand tip to the staff as gratitude, which is not normal at ryokan.
Secondly, constructions and features of rooms are really contrastive. For example, while you have to take off your shoes in ryokan, you need not to do that in hotel. At ryokan, you stay at room with Tatami flooring, changing into a typical Yukata after taking an Onsen hot-spring bath, sleeping on a Futon put down directly on the Tatami floor. At a hotel, however, you relax in a large bed, viewing beautiful night scene, and you can take your own bath whenever you like. What is more, interestingly, the staffs of ryokan are always women including Okami, the representative of Ryokan, but the main staffs of hotel are always men. The reason is that the rooms of hotel are really private, so staffs rarely come in to the guest’s room. However, at ryokan, staffs have many jobs like greeting, binging food, spreading out the futon and so on, so lots of considerations like mother are needed.
Finally, how about people? Of course most foreigners who visit Japan first time long to stay at ryokan to feel Japanese culture more. In Japan however, surprisingly, sixty five-percent of people under forty tend to choose ryokan and seventy-percent of people over forty tend to choose hotel according to the statistics. I was really amazed because I thought it would be opposite. It represents that ryokan is popular among families having little children because staffs are really kind to them and parents can lie by the side of their babies. While hotel is popular among business persons or the old couples because they can spend their time as they like. You can swim in a pool, drink in a bar….. whatever.
Considering these aspects, it can be said that both hotel and ryokan represent custom of culture. I think that hotel considers the practicability which is peculiar to the western culture, and ryokan emphasize the hospitability which is peculiar to the Japanese culture. However, both have the element of “relaxation” no matter which kind of place you stay. What’s more, nowadays, there is fusion of hotel and ryokan, like hotel which has unique Onsens. Therefore, you can enjoy your relaxation in various ways.

Night view

Minatomirai is one of my favorite spots in Yokohama, especially night!! I always go there with my friends for dinner, because its night view is wonderful. Their view is best for date course! I hate the ferris wheel because of the height, but I like to see that very much. In the weekend or holiday, there are so many people, so going there in weekday is much better. I feel like going there now............!!

Costco

Today, I went to Costco to procure dinner. Costco is big american supermarket and now expanding stores in Japan. I always go to Torihama store, near Sea Paradise. It takes about only 10 or 15 minutes by the car. In the store, there are many things, not only foods but also clothes, books, CDs, detergent, high brand bag or accessory, stationary, and even refrigerator!! Everything is big or has so much quantity, but cheap. This picture is shrimp salad and I like it very much! The left one is Mango and it's really juicy! Only ￥1200!! At lunch time or dinner time, we can taste some foods. So, in the weekend , so many people come to Costco! I have to mind not to overeat......!

Sushi..........!

Do you like sushi? Of course, I like it very much, especially salmon!! These days, sushi is really popular not only among Japanese but also among foreigners. We can see some unique sushi in other countries. Each country has own sushi style like California roll. If I had a chance, I want to try to make sushi! However, it could be terrible if I make..............!!

KATE!

Kate Moss is my favorite model. I love her fashion style very much, so of course I like her brand, Top Shop!! She is now doing so many advertisements of brand like Burberry, Longchamp, RIMMEL, Chanel and so on. People can see her everywhere. Now, she is fashion icon! Actually, she was selected as an ad model of H&M, but was changed for Madonna, because of the disclosure of cocaine. However, soon she got many offers from brands, even much more before cocaine affair! I was really amazed by her success. I think she has attractions which other models don't have. She is one of the causes of my shopping addiction.....!

Under picture is her first perfume, and it is really good! You should try it!

My favorite candle!

This is my favorite candle, Milena! I bought this in Hawaii, because it's cheaper than in Japan. It costs 13000 yen in Japan.....! However, it has wonderful smell. Mine is rose, bud there are many kinds. It is made of soy, so it is really good for enviroment. Besides, after using, it can be rubbed for body! So, although it's expensive a little, it has popularity among people!

My dog!

It's rainy today.....! Anyway, I'll talk about my dog. Now, I have a dog, called Cookie. She is a miniature dachshund. She is really cute, however, she got weight recently...! So, I began to walk with my dog in the morning. Gradually, she began to slim! I have to continue this exercise!!

Hawaii Trip Part3

On the way to the North Shore, we went to Dole Plantation: upper picture. Here is the home of pineapple, mango, orange and so on. There, I drank pineapple juice with sherbet. It was so juicy and fantastic!! Lots of pineapple are grown there, full of sunshine and clear water.
Also, we went to China town. I didn't felt I was in Hawaii, because there were many homeless and it was not clean. However, I felt this is the real life of the original inhabitants. We ate Chinese food there: under picture. Chimaki was especially nice! Anyway we had a very precious and good time in Hawaii trip! I'll go there soon!!

Hawaii Trip Part2

One of the days of trip, we went to Hanauma Bay: upper picture. It is pretty famous beach in Hawaii. When I arrived there, I was really impressed and surprised, because it was the most beautiful beach ever seen for me!! Clear sky, so many fishies, coconuts......like heaven!! I want to go there again now! Also, we went to North shore for snokel. It was also wonderful, and there we had a lunch at Kua Aina!: under picture. I can' t believe this SMALL size even now!! However, hamberger was really delicious, much more delicious than Mac!!!

Hawaii Trip Part1

What's up? This picture is Alamoana Sunset! This August, my family and I went to Hawaii! It wasn't first time to go there, but it was especially fantastic! From now on, I'll tell the detail of my trip for Hawaii with pictures!

Part time job

This summer, I started a part time job as a teacher of cram school, juku in Japanese. This school is one-to-one basis, not group basis. So, I'm doing all right. I'm only teaching an English, but it is much more difficult to teach than I thought! They ask me many questions, so I have to explain these plainly. Of course it is interesting to teach them, so I'll try hard!

Weeeeeeekend!

This morning, I tried hard to write an essay of IE writing. It was much more difficult than before. It took me 3 hours to write! After that I went to shopping to Bayside Marina with my mother. I often go there, because there are many great shops! I bought some clothes and cosmetics. It was really nice weather today, so I was very excited. Now I am a little tired.......... So, I may better go to bed early!!

First IE Core Class!

Hello! I'm Chie.
It's first time to make the blog, because I'm really bad at computer! Anyway, I'll talk about my hobby. I like to see movies and go trip and especially shopping! I always go to Yokohama for shopping, because I live there, but I also go to Harajyuku or Shibuya. As for trip, I've been to Hawaii seven times. Once I go there, I don't want to come back to Japan! So, Nice to meet you!