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!