LOOKING BACK THIS COURSE

Finally I have done with all homework of writing class last midnight. I did till 2:00 am. I am steeped in a feeling of freedom now. Actually, this class was really hard for me. Every week I have much homework and there is even a period when I was always thinking about them whatever I was doing. So I am so happy!

At first, when I entered this university, I did not know anything about writing. At the first class of writing, I could not understand what Prof. Leyda was saying. For me at that time, English was like an incantation. What is MLA style? What is thesis? How should I quote? I really had no knowledge of writing. Maybe my first essay on the poem "My Last Duchess" was terrible. I quoted and listed works cited in my own way. I want to read it now to know how my writing changed. I hope it changed better. My writing started from "zero" so it must be improved now thanks to this class. I had much chance of writing English essays. I could make use of the knowledge I got in this class at other class. The knowledge must be needed in the future for me.

I had some times I was about to give up assignments because of the lack of time to do. I join a busy dance circle, so it was difficult for me to do well both on the assignments and dance. But I could have done with and submitted all homework. I think I could do well. The students in this class are all diligent so I was stimulated by them. Sometimes they pushed me to do. I did not imagine that I have to have much homework at university when I was a high school student. I thought university students were always hanging out with friends till late night. I was surprised with the gap, but I think it is better to study hard at university than the life I had imagined. I studied hard to enter this university, so I do not want to waste the time of study by hanging out every day. I could enjoy with my friends fully because I finished the homework of the week. I want to praise myself for having done well on both hobby and study.

Our last homework was 1700-2000 words essay. It was biggest and hardest. When Prof. Leyda told us about this, I feel something like a fear imagining myself suffering from this. I thought it was too hard for me to write 1000 words first. However, I could finish it earlier and less trouble than I had imagined. Then I thought I could grow up on writing. Through peer review, finally the time I have to complete 1700-2000 words essay. Firstly I changed some grammatical mistakes and added some sentences. However that did not reach at goal easily. I added and added sentences of explaining about my thesis till midnight. I thought this will not be over forever. Then I read back through my essay, revised many times, and finally I completed my final essay. Most hardest time on the final essay was yesterday night to complete. It was really hard...

Maybe I have to do hard work about English also after I became second grade. I do not forget the hard time and I want to make use of the knowledge of writing!

And dear Prof. Leyda,

I like beautiful your pink cheeks! :) I really thank you.

SIXTEEN GOING ON SEVENTEEN

Do you know the title of this post? This is the title of a song. This song appears in a famous American movie “The Sound of Music.” I introduced this movie a little in July, so this time I want to tell you about this movie and this song more.

“The Sound of Music” is a musical movie and the place is Austria. The main character is an apprentice of nun Maria. She becomes a private teacher of seven children of Colonel Trapp. The children are very naughty, but they like active Maria. There has been no music at the house since Colonel’s wife died, but Maria teaches many songs to the children. For example, when they are afraid of thunder, she sings “My Favorite Things” to forget the fear. This song is one of my favorite songs. She teaches from the basis of music to them because they don’t know anything about it. She teaches through “Do-Re-Mi.” Maybe you know this song. I think every child sings this song. Colonel is a strict man, but he opened to his children and Maria thanks to her cheerfulness. The scene they sing “Edelweiss” with smile is very impressive. Gradually they are attracted each other and fallen in love. This movie is full of love and great music.  

The song I’ll introduce this time is “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.” The first daughter Liesl is sixteen years old. She is in love relationship secretly with Rolf, who is seventeen years old messenger boy. During one dinner, Liesl sneaks away to meet Rolf. They spend sweet time and sing and dance together. In this scene they sing this song. In this song, firstly Rolf sings to Liesl to tell that she is only sixteen so she should trust to him. Then Liesl responds to him. My favorite is this part.

     I am sixteen going on seventeen

　 　 I know that I'm naive

　　  Fellows I meet may tell me I'm sweet

　　  And willingly I believe

     I am sixteen going on seventeen

　　  Innocent as a rose

　　  Bachelor dandies drinkers of brandies

　  　What do I know of those?

    Totally unprepared am I

　　  To face a world of men

　　  Timid and shy and scared am I

　　  Of things beyond my ken

     I need someone older and wiser

　  　Telling me what to do

　　  You are seventeen going on eighteen

　　  I'll depend on you.

In this part, she says she’ll depend on him and asks to teach many things. I think she is so cute. And I think Rolf is also cute because he acts like an adult for Liesl though he is only seventeen. When I watched this movie for the first time, I was maybe 15. So they seemed to be adults for me at that time, but now I like this scene because they are so cute. I also like to sing this song, especially Liesl part. I even remember the lyrics.

This movie is a little long, but people who like musical absolutely like this movie. And if you have not watched any musical movie, I think you will like this movie and come to like musical movies. Actually since I watched this movie I have loved musical movies. I really want to go to a theater to watch “Les Misérables” now. I heard this is so moving that we could not help but cry. When the spring vacation starts, I’ll watch it! And I want to watch “The Sound of Music” again!

X'MAS 2012

12/24

I went to school to practice dance at 9:00 morning. I woke up at 6:00 and left home at 6:50. I was really sleepy. We had only a few days to the stage, so we practiced hard every day. After the practice, I went to Carlos san’s house. Carlos san is a Peruvian man who lives near my house. He holds Christmas party every year. My family was invited to the party every year and many people gather to his house. They all bring many presents and put under a big Christmas tree. As I and my brothers grew up, we became busy and could not go to his house. I could not go last year too because I had to study. He prayed for my passing the exam at mass. I wanted to say thank to him so I decided to go to his house with my parents this year. Many people such as his family and his friends are at small house so there was thronged atmosphere. I ate various Peruvian foods. Since I was little, he and his family have offered Peruvian foods so I love eating them. My favorites are “Papa a la Huancaina” and “Anticucho.” Papa a la Huancaina is boiled potatoes and eggs with a little spicy cheese sauce. Anticucho is spit roasted beef hearts tasted with spice. I really like spicy taste of Peruvian foods. I also ate very sweet cakes. After dinner, I played with my friends and got many presents from Carlos san dressed in Santa Claus suits. And at the moment of changing to 12/25, we pulled crackers and drank a toast. At midnight we came home with many presents.

12/25

I had practice this day too. However, our dance circle held a Christmas party! We each brought presents and traded on music. I got black beers. I cannot drink so I’ll give to my father and brothers. After the party, I went to Sky Tree with my friends. I saw it for the first time. It was really big and more beautiful than I had expected. I took many pictures with friends! We had dinner at Afternoon Tea. The cake was really good. I was happy to be with my lovely friends on Christmas. <3

12/26

My Christmas was not over yet. On this day I went to Zepp Diver City in Odaiba with dance circle members to perform our dance. This performance was the first one for 19^th seniors. I was a member of genre of house, but I could be a part of opening members. I like the choreography, but the costumes were also good. Each member wore different costume. Mine was a red plaid shirt, a denim overall, a navy colored knit cap. And I made my hair single braid hair. We practiced everyday for this stage. Our group was the last number! When I was at the wing of the stage, I felt a little nervous, but once standing on the stage, I felt excited in front of much audience. I could watch guest dancers’ performance. There was a teammate of my brother! J I really enjoyed the day, BUT there was an accident. Actually, when I watched other group’s dance before our performance, I felt tired and my face was hot. My face on a mirror was red. I wondered if I had a fever, but I tried to forget that. As the time of our performance comes, I came to be exhausted more and more. I was sure I had a fever, but I had to finish the performance. After the performance, I told my senior that I cannot go to the close party because of fever. I was sad. L

My Christmas this year was a little full of ups and downs but I got a great new memory!

WEEKS IN MY CHILDHOOD

Now I'm so busy every day because I'm pressed by much homework and I have practice of dance stage on Dec. 26. When I was little I was also busy. I took various lessons in a week. I think I was the busiest elementary schoolchild. I'll introduce my life in a week when I was about 10.

Monday

I went to school in morning, and I studied until evening. From 17:00 to 18:30, I took a lesson of jazz dance at a gym. The instructor of the lesson was a woman named "Mayumi Sensei." She was tall and beautiful, and of course her dance was so nice. During the lesson she taught us dance in earnest, but after the lesson, she talked to us friendly. She was so funny, I cannot forget her. I had taken her lesson for only a few years, I think it was good that I learned jazz dance. I have not seen her for so log time, I want to see her.

Tuesday

After school, I went back home, I had my hair bun hair style by my mother, I wore flesh colored tights, packed the leotards, and went to a studio by train or by my mother's car. I took ballet lessons. It was the hardest time for me in a week. The representative of the studio was "Hiroko Sensei." I was always scared when I meet her. She was usually gentle and kind, but during lessons she scolded the students' mistakes. Especially, at the rehearsal on a stage before the recital, she scolded through a microphone from the seat for the audience. I was made cry by her many many times. I was easy to cry. I always felt bad on the way to the studio, but now I think ballet lesson was best for present me. Ballet makes my dance soft and balanced. I'm proud of that I was a ballerina!

Wednesday

After school I went to a little far (for little me) studio to take dance lesson. The instructor was "To-ru San," who was a member of very famous dance group "PYRO." He was young man so he was like a friend of us. At that time I did not know, he was great and famous dancer in Japan. Though he is not a member, PYRO is very very famous dance group, my friends and seniors also know. To-ru San danced with light steps. I liked him so much because he was really like our friend. We said joked to each other. After a lesson, he always drank packed strawberry milk! Genre of the lesson was house, and now my first genre is also house. I remember his lesson and make use of it in my dance.

Tuesday

After school, I took English lesson for kids. The teacher was my mother! She had taught English to elementary school students at a public hall for about 10 years. The lessons made me have interests in English. At the lesson, we learn English with some games, so we could learn with joy. She was great teacher for me!

Friday

After school and after dinner at home, I took dance lesson. The instructor was Japanese but he was called “Johnny San.” He was an instructor of dance community group which has men and women of all ages, so he taught dance for beginners. All of members were beginner at first, but thanks to him, later all came to dance very well. Some of them are working with dance now. I started dance in this group too. He taught us various genre of dance so we could dance not only one genre. I liked the member too!

Saturday

At morning I took piano lesson for 30 minutes. I think I had no sense of piano; I was really poor at it. Contrary to dance, piano didn’t fit me. But thanks to piano lesson, I got rhythmic sense which is useful to dance. After the piano lesson, I took ballet lesson at evening.

Sunday was the only holiday!

SELF IMPROVEMENT

During this week I changed my own looks a little. I think it is “trifle” for you. But I’m happy to be changed even it is a little thing. I want you to listen to my story!

Firstly, I had my hair cut on Friday. Actually I have made my hair longer and longer since this spring. While I studied for the entrance exam, about a year, I had no time to go to hair salon and have my hair cut. And my favorite actresses such as Yu Aoi had long hair (she had her hair cut very short a few month ago, I was a little disappointedL), I decided to long my hair on that occasion. I dyed my hair in March and I had my hair cut at that time. Since then I went to hair salon to have my hair dyed, and sometimes have my hair cut a little, only the tips of my hair, because I wanted to make mine beautiful long hair. However, one day I noticed that the tips of my hair were so damaged because I had not had my hair cut for about six months. Finally I decided to go to hair salon. This time I was a haircut model so a new woman hairdresser had my hair cut for free! Even now I’m longing for beautiful long hair so it is not big change, only small change. But I somehow feel refreshed now!

Next day, on Saturday, I had my ears pierced. It was that I had longed for a long time. When I was a high school student, I could not do it because of the rule of school. When I entered university, I wanted do it but I was told that it should be done in winter because in hot weather holes of ears fester easily. I waited winter comes, and finally I made an appointment with the doctor. I was really nervous. Is that painful? Can I bear the pain? I was always worrying about it though I wanted to. On the day the clinic was so crowded that I waited for an hour with anxious. My name was called and a nurse explained and decided the positions of hole. She talked with me and I was relaxed. Doctor came to the room and brought piercers. At that time my heartbeat speed was reached its peak and sweated on my palms. But piercing finished in a moment with small pain. Finally I got two pierce holes! For a month I must wear pierces called “first piece” so I cannot chose ones. I’m really looking forward the time I can wear cute ones comes! Please give me present of pieces. ♡ haha

Now I must improve my mind. When spring comes, I will be second grade and freshmen come. I will be a senior. I have to be kind to them, and I want to be close to them. I wish many of them join G-splash. On January, we have first dance showcase of freshmen. We have to make our showcase without any seniors. We decide the music, the choreography, the formation of members… It must be hard work. But we have to make much effort. Fighting! 

JASON MRAZ

The other day I introduced my favorite song “Lady Killer” by Maroon 5. Today I’ll introduce other favorite songs and the singer.

Do you know Jason Mraz? I think many people know him. Even if you don’t know his name, you may have heard his songs. He is an American singer and songwriter. He was born in Commonwealth of Virginia in 1977. He sings on slow and gentle music with speedy lyrics. He started live performance at a coffee shop “Java Joe’s” in San Diego in 1999, and he released his first CD. That was acoustic live CD recorded at the coffee shop. He released his second album “Mr. A-Z” in 2005, and that recorded fifth ranking in the album chart of all America. His third album ” We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things” was released in 2008 and got third ranking. The most famous his song in this album “I’m Yours” recorded the first rank all over the world and it was nominated for Grammy award of the year. As you can see, he is loved not only in America but also all over the world. Out of his songs, I’ll introduce two songs.

“I’m Yours”

As I mentioned above, Jason Mraz’s best hit song is “I’m Yours.” I listened to his song for the first time last year. My favorite artist sang the phrase of this song. At that time I was interested in this song because I liked the artist, and I listened to the full of song on YouTube. I was totally fascinated this song in a blink of an eye. The sound of guitar and his gentle voice are mixed beautifully and penetrate in my mind. The lyrics are also nice. The hook of this song is below:

  So I won't hesitate no more, no more

It cannot wait I'm sure

There's no need to complicate

Our time is short

This is our fate, I'm yours

This describes a man’s uncontainable feeling for his loving women. He loves her too much so he wants to get her his own. The line “I’m yours” is like “I love you” but it expresses stronger feeling, I think. He wants to keep her to himself. He seems to be madly in love with her!

“Everything Is Sound”

This is not famous song I think. There may be those who know only “I’m Yours” in his song. But I really recommend you this song. The time I knew this song was when I watched my brother’s dance movie. He uploaded the movie which is taken in Hawaii. He dances on this song in the movie. With nice choreography, with wonderful landscape, and with beautiful music, he dances. I watched it again and again and listened to this song. At the ending part of this song, Jason Mraz sings on music in little volume. We can listen to his voice at the part. His voice is really really beautiful and attractive. To tell the truth, when I listened to this song for the first time without the artist name, I didn't notice that this song is by Jason Mraz. When I knew these two songs are both by him, I noticed that I was attracted his voice.

When you are happy, you can appreciate his songs. When you are sad, his songs will make you happy. When you are busy, his songs will make you feel relaxed. When you are sleepy, you can sleep soundly with his songs. I hope you will listen his songs and like them. When you listen to them, please post a comment with your impression!

SOPHIA FESTIVAL

From November 1st to 3rd, Sophia Festival was held at Sophia University. There are many stalls at campus, and many groups performed on the stage. G-splash, the street dance circle I belong to, have performance every year too. Actually, the performance at Sophia Festival was what I had been looking forward to in all of events of G-splash since I joined it because I can show my dance in front of many friends. This time I was a member of genre of house dance. At first, I was really nervous and worried about whether I could become close to friends in house because I was in genre of lockin' until this summer. However, all my friends and my seniors really really kind to me from the beginning, so I was relieved. 18th, the top seniors of house were Kurumi-san and Yu-san. They made musics and choreograph to us. Kurumi-san is so cute. When I was talked to by her, I was surprised at her cuteness. She makes funny and unusual choreograph, so her cuteness and her choreograph attracts audiences' eyes. Yu-san is the leader of us and beautiful lady. I have thought that she was cold to us because of her cool and calm looking, but actually she has cute character, especially, when she is with her boyfriend. We have also another 18th senior, he is Tomoki-san. He put enthusiasm into every our practice times, so I did not feel tired thanks to him. He is so tall (maybe over 190cm), funny, and very very kind. The performance at Sophia University was the last stage of 18th seniors.

The practice started on September 19th, and we practiced for three hours twice a week. There were only seniors and friend I loved much. For me, the practice days were not pain but happy time. I was looking forward to next practice days every day. At the same time, I had another practice at midnight every Tuesday. It was practice of hip hop special. The end of summer vacation, the audition of it was held and choreographer chose the members. I challenged it and miraculously I was chosen for one of them. Midnight practices were not unfamiliar to me, and I have classes on Wednesday, I was really sleepy during the classes. There were some days I did not want to go to practice, but dance was what I want to do so I made efforts every week. From October 15th, every day practice started. We practiced every day for about three weeks. Many members got a cold and the looked really tired, of course me too. However my friends encouraged me and each other. I was really helped by them.

On November 3rd, the performance day, it was a little cold day. Before the performance, at the back of the stage, our seniors gave us comments with tears. I also cried seeing them. In front of the stage, many many people were coming to watch our performance. Once I was on the stage, I felt really good, and I could dance with smile. After that, our captain of G-splash, Kyon-san talked to us, I was so moved. Through Sophia Festival, I could talk with and I was much closer to my seniors and friend. I'm already looking forward to next Sophia Festival. Thank you so much, 18th seniors!

 

These are videos I performed. Please check these and find me!