Cakes in a box attracted me a lot. They are all tiny and cute, and each of them are made from different ingredients. I like this sort of colorful small things arranged in a lovely place.
7.31.2009
こまごまカラフル
7.30.2009
Day off at the beach
We drove to Yamaguchi prefecture and had a glance at an aquarium. Then we drove down to the island, which is connected to the main island by a long bridge. The beach was very beautiful with the blue sky and white sand. The condition of the sea was a little bit rough but it was still a good day for swimming.
After that we went to a lighthouse which was very big and eye-catching.
Time flies when I am having so much fun!
7.26.2009
"Raising Helen"
What if you become a mother of 3 children all of sudden? One is a teenager girl who wants to be an adult, second one is a boy in an elementary school who still misses his mother, and the third is a little girl in a kindergarten.Helen was astonished but works really hard to get along with the 3 children of her late sister. Beside her own job, she has to take care of them, so her life seemed very busy and tough. This is what working mothers do.
Raising is not easy at all but it is sure a precious experience because you would know how you were brought up, and how hard it was. Educating children is very difficult and delicate since it has a big influence on their personality.
"Goal!"
A rainy weekend is perfect for watching movie at home.Today's film is "Goal!", about football in Newcastle, the UK. The young guy got a chance to have a trial of Newcastle team. His dream to become a football player in the UK has just started. Getting over the obstacles coming one after another, he finally wins a goal in a very important match!
The plot was wonderful, and it encouraged me to take chances, go straight to it, and never give it up.
"Knowing"
I saw "Knowing" with my friends the other day. The theater was full of people, so we had to sit just in front of the screen. It was too close.It was a story of man who notices that the world would come to an end soon. He struggles to find a way to avoid it, but accidents and disasters happens just as the prediction written 50 years ago...
I felt the plot was very frightening. It did not seem that he would save the world. I do not like such stories very much. If I had not been with my friends, I would have gone out in the midst of the movie. I almost cried in the end and it kept me up until 3 am.
I wonder how other people there think of this movie.
Solar eclipse
On July 22nd, Solar eclipse occurred and could be seen in Japan and northern part of Asia.
It was my first time to see solar eclipse, which was amazing and fantastic. Though it was not a total eclipse, the Sun looked crescent, just like the Moon.
Many people in the lab went up to the roof, so it was fun meeting friends and seeing the rare phenomenon.
Heavy Rain
It rained very heavily last Friday. Along the road were 15 cm-deep streams at around 7 pm. I walked 30 minutes to go home, with my ankles under the water, and got totally soaked. Even though I was holding my umbrella, my jeans and parka were dripping wet.
Landslide has been reported in Northern Kyushu area due to this heavy rain. It is estimated that it rained twice as much as average precipitation in July for the last 3 days.
I have never experienced a heavy rain like this. It seems strange that it rains quite often this month, when usually it is very hot and sunny.
7.23.2009
Single Reflex Debut!
This is quite different from a compact digital camera! Single reflex can have a wider field of vision, and so recognize objects even if there is smaller amount of light.
I want to take a lot of beautiful pictures with this new camera .
Maid cafe
When we opened the door, two girls dressing in maid-clothes said "Welcome home, my Ladies." Yes, according to them, the cafe is our home and they waited for us to come back. We couldn't take picture of them without paying additional 500 yen.
We had to order something over 500 yen, so we had a cheese cake, and milk crape. Cakes were fine. We sat on a table, but there were some VIP seat just in front of the counter, where the maids working around. With extra 2000 yen, you can be a VIP and sit on that seat. What an easy business!
Anyway, it was a good experience seeing one of Japanese culture on my own.
7.20.2009
Concert♪
もう60歳くらいなのに、声も衰えず歌が非常に素敵。スタイルもよくて、ドレスが似合っていた。バックバンドの方々もかっこよかった。お客さんは、真理子さんと同じくらいの年代の方が多いよう。でも、立ち上がって手拍子して、ノリノリでした！ いい声、いい曲、いい音楽。大満足のコンサートでした☆
Mariko-san has been a famous singer for no less than 36 years, and she still has a clear, beautiful voice. Many of the audience seemed 40-60 years old, but they often claped their hands, stood up, and even danced! I wondered what I world say if I were to meet my professors. It would not be absolutely impossible, but luckily or unluckily, I saw nobody.
My mother, one of the big fan of her, and I enjoyed the concert so much.
7.18.2009
Watermelon
They taste clearly different from what I buy in a supermarket. It is kind of thick and really good.
A bit about my company
I will be working in a brewery company next year.
It produces and sells a lot kind of alcohol, such as shochu, sake,wine, fruit wine.
They also started a new business. Since ocean dumping of industrial waste is forbidden, they have to look for some way to make use of it. After researching on that carefully, the waste, dregs of alcohol has been found to be good for health. So the company is trying to develop a new food containing this dregs. One of these products is barley vinegar.
In addition, the dregs can be fermented to form methane, which is a good fuel to generate electricity. It can reduce the amount of fossil fuel they use. I am interested in this field very much, and I want to work for that.
It produces and sells a lot kind of alcohol, such as shochu, sake,wine, fruit wine.
They also started a new business. Since ocean dumping of industrial waste is forbidden, they have to look for some way to make use of it. After researching on that carefully, the waste, dregs of alcohol has been found to be good for health. So the company is trying to develop a new food containing this dregs. One of these products is barley vinegar.
In addition, the dregs can be fermented to form methane, which is a good fuel to generate electricity. It can reduce the amount of fossil fuel they use. I am interested in this field very much, and I want to work for that.
How experience influences on one's nature
Occasionally some people say that I am too serious or believe anything without doubt.
Such disposition may come from my bad memory of my junior high school. One of my classmates was bullied all the time by many of the boys. I am still sure that there was nothing wrong with him, so I wanted to, and should have, helped him. Everyday I saw him spoken ill of, excluded, and even kicked. I wanted to but I could not tell them to stop because I would be bullied too if I do so.
To date, I cannot forget the sad feeling of it. Some people say that I am too serious to take a joke, and I admit it. My bad memory keeps me from laughing at someone even if it is an expression of friendship. I am careful in talking about someone else so that I make nobody feel hurt or distressed. I want to protect the feelings of the weakest because they sometimes cannot say so even when they are annoyed or sad.
That is how I am, how I think I should treat other people. It is changing, however, slightly, and gradually. It makes me still confused to think how I should treat people when I am a newcomer.
Such disposition may come from my bad memory of my junior high school. One of my classmates was bullied all the time by many of the boys. I am still sure that there was nothing wrong with him, so I wanted to, and should have, helped him. Everyday I saw him spoken ill of, excluded, and even kicked. I wanted to but I could not tell them to stop because I would be bullied too if I do so.
To date, I cannot forget the sad feeling of it. Some people say that I am too serious to take a joke, and I admit it. My bad memory keeps me from laughing at someone even if it is an expression of friendship. I am careful in talking about someone else so that I make nobody feel hurt or distressed. I want to protect the feelings of the weakest because they sometimes cannot say so even when they are annoyed or sad.
That is how I am, how I think I should treat other people. It is changing, however, slightly, and gradually. It makes me still confused to think how I should treat people when I am a newcomer.
Cigarette
I went to a beer garden today, which is one of typical drinking place in summer here in Japan.
They served Mongolian mutton barbecue, Japanese and Chinese cuisines. All the dishes were so delicious. You can roast the mutton on your own, and it tasted very nice. I thought mutton would savour of chicken, but it was more oily than I expected. BBQ on the roof on a very humid day made all of us perspire a lot.
Everything was fine, except the smoke of cigarette of some people. Since it was outside, the fume diffuses everywhere, which sometimes made it difficult for me to breathe. Everybody knows that smoking is bad for health, but they cannot simply quit it. Cigarette makes you seriously addictive to it once you start.
I wonder why some of the researchers smoke who study on prevention of lung cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and hyperpiesia. What they do is pure opposite what they say. It is a big contradiction that quite a few researchers have.
The law to forbid smoking in public has been implemented, so they should obey it.
Sadly, Japanese people are rather law-abiding, but not strong enough to tell other people to keep the law.
I wish the smoker would give a little consideration to non-smokers.
They served Mongolian mutton barbecue, Japanese and Chinese cuisines. All the dishes were so delicious. You can roast the mutton on your own, and it tasted very nice. I thought mutton would savour of chicken, but it was more oily than I expected. BBQ on the roof on a very humid day made all of us perspire a lot.
Everything was fine, except the smoke of cigarette of some people. Since it was outside, the fume diffuses everywhere, which sometimes made it difficult for me to breathe. Everybody knows that smoking is bad for health, but they cannot simply quit it. Cigarette makes you seriously addictive to it once you start.
I wonder why some of the researchers smoke who study on prevention of lung cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and hyperpiesia. What they do is pure opposite what they say. It is a big contradiction that quite a few researchers have.
The law to forbid smoking in public has been implemented, so they should obey it.
Sadly, Japanese people are rather law-abiding, but not strong enough to tell other people to keep the law.
I wish the smoker would give a little consideration to non-smokers.
7.16.2009
7.15.2009
Yamakasa
Yamakasa
I went to see 博多祇園山笠, the biggest festival in Fukuoka city, with my friends this morning. A lot of men in each 8 teams ran in the grey dawn.
The street they ran was full of people watching them and taking pictures.
I remembered clearly this day of last year I went to see the festival early in the morning with international students. We went there after spending all night at karaoke, but we were very excited rather than exhausted.
This festival really took me back. Time has passed very very quickly.
Summer has just come.
7.13.2009
7.12.2009
"GHOST"
"Ghost" was terrific. Despite some violent scenes, the whole story is not just horrific but sad and moving.
What happens when a person died?
It is one of the most fandamental question which we cannot say anything for sure. If the person left his loved one, he remains here and protects her; that is one answer which this film suggests.
Every day, the newspapers and TVs report death of a lot of people in many parts of the world. However, few of them knew so beforehand. In the end the wicked are punished but the dead does never revive. That inevitable fact makes this film sad. Instead of a happy miracle that he comes back to life, she only got her life without him.
Too sad a story, but quite impressive.
7.11.2009
"If Only"
I saw "If Only" today.It was one of the best movie I have ever seen. The storyline is sophisticated, and the end is so impressive.
In the movie, Ian had a little argument with Sam. He could not attend the concert for which Sam had been preparing for 3 years. He just thought there would be another chance to listen to her concert. BUT....
Generally speaking we believe tomorrow will come, with no doubts. It is natural because we cannot lead a peaceful life without believing so. Therefore, we sometimes make mistakes thinking we have tomorrow, day after tomorrow... "a plenty of time".
This movie reminded me that it is not.
You cannot rewind the time, and there is no guarantee for tomorrow coming as today.
So, if you do not want to regret, you should be kind to others, grateful for the fact that you are here, and not argue with your loved one over a trivial thing.
It is worth seeing again for several times. Thank you!
Vegetable and cheese
最初に茄子、ピーマン、じゃがいも、玉ねぎ、えび、トマトをケチャップで煮込んだら、チーズをかぶせて焼いて、出来上がり！ 野菜のうま味が全部溶け込んで、チーズのコクがよく合います。
久しぶりに料理したら楽しかった！！
I cooked vegetables that my grandparents grew. I stewed some eggplants, green peppers, potatos, onions, tomatos and shrimps altogether. After adding ketchup, I baked it in the oven with a slice of cheese on. It tastes soooo nice. The umami of all summer vegetable was good.
Next time I will cook it with chicken, which will increase the amount of protein. I enjoy cooking very much.
7.08.2009
夏野菜
トマト、なす、ピーマン、きゅうり…産直でいただけて幸せ！ とうもろこしや枝豆は美味しいおやつになるし、冷凍できるから重宝する。おかずをまたたくさん作ろう。
7.06.2009
アメリカと日本をエジプトからみると
今日長崎旅行に行った友人から、アメリカ人は原爆を落とすことを三年前に決めてずっと黙っていた、それからいきなり通告も警告もせずに原爆を落とした。それによって自分たちの強さを示そうとしたんだ、と言われた。
歴史認識の仕方がまったく違うことを、とても実感した。
彼は、だから、日本人がいまどうしてアメリカ人と仲良くできるか分からない、という。アメリカは、当初の予定では17か所近くに原爆を投下し、日本を壊滅させるつもりだったらしい。日本は確かに侵略戦争をしていた。軍事力で他国を支配していた。しかし、それを終わらせるための手段がまた軍事力であってはいけなかった。何の通告もなしに、何百万人もの一般市民を犠牲にしたことは公平でない。
しかし、だからといってアメリカ人と仲良くできないというのは別問題ではないだろうか。こう思うのは、私が戦争を経験していないからかもしれない。（だから軽はずみな発言は慎まなければならない。）しかし、原爆を投下することも、侵略戦争をすることも、敗戦国を占領することも、みんな当時の国のリーダーが決めたことである。責任があるのは彼らであって、62年たって出会ったアメリカ人に、嫌悪感を抱く理由はない。彼らも、自分で選んでアメリカ人になったわけではないし、私たちも同様である。国民である以上、その国の歴史をいやがおうでも背負うことになる。しかし、その重みを誰かのせいにしてもしょうがない。それがなぜ重いのか、は忘れてはいけないけれど。
平和ボケした考え方かもしれない。
だからこそ、自分がいま平和な時代に生きていること、昔、戦争という想像を絶する出来事があったこと、それを生き抜いてきた祖父母や親がいて、自分がいること、ときどき、思い出す。
アメリカ人とエジプト人は、友達になることができないだろうか。
個人レベルで考えたら、そんなことはないだろう。
逆に、彼は私が日本人だから、友達になったのだろうか。
そんなことはないだろう。
井上ひさしさんの小説「握手」の一節を思い出した。
「日本人とかアメリカ人とかカナダ人とか、そんなものが存在すると思ってはいけませんよ。一人ひとりの人間がいる、それだけのことですから」
こういったデリケートな話ができるようになったので、信頼されていると感じ、嬉しい。
歴史認識の仕方がまったく違うことを、とても実感した。
彼は、だから、日本人がいまどうしてアメリカ人と仲良くできるか分からない、という。アメリカは、当初の予定では17か所近くに原爆を投下し、日本を壊滅させるつもりだったらしい。日本は確かに侵略戦争をしていた。軍事力で他国を支配していた。しかし、それを終わらせるための手段がまた軍事力であってはいけなかった。何の通告もなしに、何百万人もの一般市民を犠牲にしたことは公平でない。
しかし、だからといってアメリカ人と仲良くできないというのは別問題ではないだろうか。こう思うのは、私が戦争を経験していないからかもしれない。（だから軽はずみな発言は慎まなければならない。）しかし、原爆を投下することも、侵略戦争をすることも、敗戦国を占領することも、みんな当時の国のリーダーが決めたことである。責任があるのは彼らであって、62年たって出会ったアメリカ人に、嫌悪感を抱く理由はない。彼らも、自分で選んでアメリカ人になったわけではないし、私たちも同様である。国民である以上、その国の歴史をいやがおうでも背負うことになる。しかし、その重みを誰かのせいにしてもしょうがない。それがなぜ重いのか、は忘れてはいけないけれど。
平和ボケした考え方かもしれない。
だからこそ、自分がいま平和な時代に生きていること、昔、戦争という想像を絶する出来事があったこと、それを生き抜いてきた祖父母や親がいて、自分がいること、ときどき、思い出す。
アメリカ人とエジプト人は、友達になることができないだろうか。
個人レベルで考えたら、そんなことはないだろう。
逆に、彼は私が日本人だから、友達になったのだろうか。
そんなことはないだろう。
井上ひさしさんの小説「握手」の一節を思い出した。
「日本人とかアメリカ人とかカナダ人とか、そんなものが存在すると思ってはいけませんよ。一人ひとりの人間がいる、それだけのことですから」
こういったデリケートな話ができるようになったので、信頼されていると感じ、嬉しい。
七夕茶会
七夕というわけで、笹に短冊をつるしたり、美味しい笹まんじゅうをいただいたりした。食べ終わったあとの笹は笹舟にして、炭で書いた川の絵のところに置くという素敵な演出つき。今日は雨が強かったけど、七夕の日は晴れるといいな。
そういえば最近夜空を見上げていない。曇天が続いているので、月明かりが待ち遠しい〜
7.05.2009
7.04.2009
コンクール中止
所属している合唱団で、夏の合唱コンクールの出場取りやめが決まった。
この間の合唱祭で、指揮者の先生から「コンクールに出るレベルではない」とはっきり言われたそうだ。確かに、私は入ったばかりだから特にそうだけれど、全然音が取れなかったし、ハモっていなかった。暗譜でもなかったのに。練習で感じたほどの一体感は、本番では味わうことができなかった。
大部分の会員の方々は、無理をして今から一か月コンクール対策をするよりも、定演に向けてしっかり準備をした方が妥当だと考えていた。私もそう思う。週に一、二度の練習ペースでは、そんなに歌いこめないだろう。コンクールで評価されるようなレベルになかなか達せないことに、焦りやいらだちも感じてしまうだろう。楽しんで歌を歌おう、と集まった社会人団体なのだから、それでは趣旨からはずれてしまう。
皆さんも本業があるのだから、合唱に全力を注ぐわけにはいかないのが現状である。コンクールに出るという具体的な目標を持つことは大事だけれど、今回は見送った方が良いと思った。でも、初志貫徹すべきだという意見も根強かったから、決してこれ以上レベルを落とすことなく、定演で素晴らしい合唱をしたい。無理のない範囲で、練習に力を入れたい。
むずかしいなあ。
社会人サークルって、趣味程度なのか本格的にコンクールに出たいのか、が個人によって違うから…。いい息抜きに、と考えています。
この間の合唱祭で、指揮者の先生から「コンクールに出るレベルではない」とはっきり言われたそうだ。確かに、私は入ったばかりだから特にそうだけれど、全然音が取れなかったし、ハモっていなかった。暗譜でもなかったのに。練習で感じたほどの一体感は、本番では味わうことができなかった。
大部分の会員の方々は、無理をして今から一か月コンクール対策をするよりも、定演に向けてしっかり準備をした方が妥当だと考えていた。私もそう思う。週に一、二度の練習ペースでは、そんなに歌いこめないだろう。コンクールで評価されるようなレベルになかなか達せないことに、焦りやいらだちも感じてしまうだろう。楽しんで歌を歌おう、と集まった社会人団体なのだから、それでは趣旨からはずれてしまう。
皆さんも本業があるのだから、合唱に全力を注ぐわけにはいかないのが現状である。コンクールに出るという具体的な目標を持つことは大事だけれど、今回は見送った方が良いと思った。でも、初志貫徹すべきだという意見も根強かったから、決してこれ以上レベルを落とすことなく、定演で素晴らしい合唱をしたい。無理のない範囲で、練習に力を入れたい。
むずかしいなあ。
社会人サークルって、趣味程度なのか本格的にコンクールに出たいのか、が個人によって違うから…。いい息抜きに、と考えています。
July has come
Half of the year has just passed.
It is unbelievable that time goes so quickly.
I often think why I am here and what I am doing because I spend every weekday on only 3 things; experiments, meals, and sleep. 5 consecutive days would repeat these 3 things this year, and it is really kind of boring.
In order to do something else interesting, time should be arranged carefully and not be wasted!
I want to read many books, write to my friends, watch movies, learn English, and cook. So many things are waiting for me. I made up my mind having some time for cultural thing every day.
It is unbelievable that time goes so quickly.
I often think why I am here and what I am doing because I spend every weekday on only 3 things; experiments, meals, and sleep. 5 consecutive days would repeat these 3 things this year, and it is really kind of boring.
In order to do something else interesting, time should be arranged carefully and not be wasted!
I want to read many books, write to my friends, watch movies, learn English, and cook. So many things are waiting for me. I made up my mind having some time for cultural thing every day.
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