summer vacation is over...

Long time no see. I was very busy during summer vacation. I practiced dancing, worked, prepared school festival with my classmates and so on. Classes began on September 25. Last day of summer vacation, members of AGU in America 2007 met and ate dinner together. I had not seen and talked with most of them in Japan, so I feel funny. We talked memories in Maryland and recent conditions. We enjoyed the time.
Now, I am writing a paper about American politics. This assignment is for student attending studying abroad in university of Maryland and American. I must hand in tomorrow…(>_<)

August 29~31

On August 29~31, I went to Ibaraki prefecture with my classmates. We stayed in my friend’s house. He has a dog named Pesuke, it was very cute.















On the first day, we went for a walk between rice fields. My friends enjoyed catching crawfishes.

















After that, we enjoyed a barbecue in front of my friend’s house. Meats were very delicious.(*´▽｀*) And his mother’s rice balls were delicious, too!

















On the second day, we went to Hawaiians which has pool and hot springs. I had planed to go there, but I couldn’t go then, so I was very happy to go. There were water slides, and I tried them. But when I was on the one of them, WATER HORN, my swimming suit didn’t slide well, so I went down with my hand(^o^;)















At night, we congratulate two friends’ birthday (one of the friends is Fumiha!). We made video letters secretly for presents. And we enjoyed eating grapes and playing sparklers. I could take interesting pictures!














On the last day, we went to a restaurant to eat a big parfait, but I couldn’t eat because I felt sick then. That reminds me of my high school days because a restaurant near my high school has “King parfait”!!





I had a good time for three days. I could become closer with my friends！

Today, the Kanto area where I live is hit by a typhoon. It is raining heavily and there is a strong wind. I won’t be able to go out today…

Thursday, 28 August GARDEN

I belong to ADL (Aoyama Dancing Lovers), and ADL had “Garden”, dance festival on 28 august.

On the day before the festival, I and my friends practiced about 8 hours!







Our team’s turn was third, so I was very nervous. During performance, I danced too powerful, and I almost fell down. I wasn’t satisfied with my dancing because I couldn’t show the result of practice, but this was good experience for me. Some people said that we were cool, so I was happy.






Watching other person’s dancing, I was stimulated. I’d like to be fascinate people with my dance. I practice dancing harder from now on!!!!!

my determination

This was the first time I saw real the White House!! I'd like to see it closer.....



I think day after day about 2 weeks when I was in Maryland. If I had a time, I sat in front of the personal computer and I watched pictures, blogs, or messages. I can’t believe it has only a week since I left Maryland.
I thought I had studied English hard, but I couldn’t express what I’d like to say. That was regrettable for me. So, I think I must study English harder from now on! And I’d like to study abroad again in near the future!!!!!


It is 1:45am now in Japan. But I am hungry... Is this jet lag!?(^^;)

Japan

At last I came back to Japan on Friday. Japan is more humid than Maryland. I miss being in Maryland. Before leaving for Maryland, I didn’t want to go to Maryland because of anxieties. But now, I am sick for Maryland.

These days, I am busy because I must practice dancing. I belong to a dancing circle and an event will be held on 28 August. So I won’t be able to update pictures for the time being...

I often dream that I am in Maryland. And I’d like to return to Maryland!!

Tuesday, 14 August

On Tuesday, after class I went to an African-American neighborhood in Washington DC in the afternoon. There were many people who spoke languages I don’t know. Then we went to see the White House. I had never seen it, so I was impressed. But I wish I could have seen it closer.

I’ll be back to Japan tomorrow, so this is the last post from America. There were many confusing things for me, but there were also many valuable things. I’d like to thank you to Nina, teachers, mentors, and all who involved in this travel. And Hiromi, Dennis and Berta, thank you for your comments. Your comments made me so happy! After returning to Japan, I’d like to update new posts and photos, so please visit my blog again.

Monday, 13 August

On Monday, I walked to Lake Artemesia in the afternoon. It was so hot, so walking was very hard. But the lake was very beautiful. We played Double Dutch beside the lake. I really enjoyed it! After that I drank Bubble tea. I drank a sour apple tea. I felt it was more delicious than usual because I was very thirsty.

Friday, 10 August, Saturday, 11 August and Sunday, 12 August

On Friday, I learned about Prange Collection in the afternoon. I had never known that it existed, so I was very surprised. In the evening, we went to Nina’s house. There were many points which were different from Japan. I wish I live in American house someday. At night, I went to karaoke. I was very happy because I had thought I’d like to go to karaoke. Mentors sang very well, so I want to listen to their song again!

On Saturday, I went to Annapolis. It was a very beautiful place. At first, we went to the Maryland State House. After having lunch, I bought a T-Shirt for my father and an ornament for my brother. Then we got in a boat. I could see a big bridge from boat.

On Sunday, I decided to go to National Museum of the American Indian in the morning and National Museum of National History in the afternoon. I noticed that I have a lot of misunderstandings about Indian. In National Museum of National History, there were many precious stones which were very beautiful.

Wednesday, 8 August and Thursday, 9 August

On Wednesday, I visited WUSA channel 9. I had never visited a TV station, so I was very excited. I saw a live broadcast of news. There were many things which surprised me. After broadcast, I took photos with the announcer!
After that, I went bowling. I was very tired because I played 5 games, but it was very exciting.

On Thursday, I went Inter-American Development Bank. I listened to speeches by Japanese. I had little knowledge about banking and the IDB, so it was a good lesson for me. After returning to Japan, I’d like to study more about banking and the IDB.
Then, I went to Museum of American Art. There were many works of art in museum, so I couldn’t see all works. I was interested in landscapes.

Tuesday, 7 August

I went to the Washington Post yesterday. There were many things which I had never seen. I would like to see working machines. In the afternoon, we practiced chatting. Chat in English was very difficult, but it was very interesting. In the evening, we went to a supermarket. It was very big. There were many foods, so I was very excited. I bought a lot of cookies, candies, and so on. At night, we had a donut party. I was very sleepy, but I was so happy because I made friends with classmates!

Sunday, 5 August and Monday, 6 August

On Sunday, we went Washington, DC and visited monuments and memorials. At first, we visited Jefferson memorial and Roosevelt memorial. There is big statue of Jefferson in Jefferson memorial. I have never read independence declaration, so this is the first time for me to read it. Then we went top of the Washington monument. We could see many buildings, for example White house. Then we separated into two groups, and I decided to go monuments and memorials. In Vietnam War memorial, I thought war must not be repeated.

On Monday, we have lecture about international relations and diplomacy. I was interested in that theme, but it was too difficult for me to understand everything. I was sorry that I couldn’t ask questions, because I didn’t know what I didn’t know.
At night, we went to shopping to Pentagon City. I bought souvenirs for my friends and accessories for me. I enjoyed shopping yesterday.

Saturday, 4 August

I went Alexandria and Georgetown. Streets of Alexandria are very cute. Buildings are different from Japan. I got on a boat to go Georgetown from Alexandria. On a boat, I could see Washington. wind is very cool.

My trip

This is my first travel going abroad.
So,I was very confused.

Buildings are different from Japan.
They are not so tall , so I feel sky is very wide!
I was very surprised because campus is very lerge,compared with AGU.

I hope I enjoy this travel.