News update and Seattle

Hello everyone! The translations of my words into Japanese will take some time because Brian has a job now! Well it's a temporary job but it will last for a few months. It's in downtown Chicago and close to the train station. So Brian has less time to translate. I might try but I think Brian's Japanese is better than mine. So everyone, please do your best to read my English (I'll make the easy English easier!)

皆さん、こんにちは！ブライアンは仕事がありますので、このブログの翻訳は時間がかかります。実は、一時的な仕事ですが、数ヶ月間で続きます。シカゴの町中にあって駅の近くにあります。だから、ブライアンは翻訳の時間が少なくになりました。私は翻訳してみると思いますが、ブライアンは私より日本語がもっと上手。だから皆さん、英語を読むことをがんばってください（優しい英語がもっと簡単になります）！

We went to Seattle to visit Mel, our friend from Japan. Mel was an English teacher for one year in Yano and we became good friends. She lives in Tacoma, which is 45 minutes from Seattle. On our first two days we went to Seattle to walk around. It was a little cold but not too bad. We went to Pike's Market, which is a famous market in Seattle. You can get almost anything. I even saw some maitake, but they are very expensive in America compared to Japan! It made me laugh. I also saw people throwing fish around. It was very cool! We also went to the first Starbucks and I bought a mug. I don't think the coffee tasted different from the Starbucks in Chicago or Hiroshima but it was fun to see where it all started.

日本に会った友達のメルを訪ねるためにシアトルに行きました。メルは一年間矢野町で英語の教師で友達になりました。４５分間シアトルからのタコマに住んでいます。最初の二日間で、歩き回るためにシアトルに行きました。ちょっと寒かったですが、まだいい天気でした。シアトルの有名なマーケットのパイクプレースマーケットに行きました。ほとんど何でもが買えられます。私は舞茸を見ましたが、アメリカでは日本よりとても高いです。笑ってしまいました。さらに、私は魚を投げる店員を見ました。すごかったと思います。その後に、最初のスターバックスに行ってマグカップを買いました。シカゴか広島市にあるスターバックスのコーヒーの味が違わないと思いますが、始まった場所を見ることが楽しかったです。

The next day we were joined by Fish. Fish was in Japan for three years teaching English and he lived in Kure. We went to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. Tacoma has a big glass industry according to Mel. We got to see people blowing glass and making beautiful sculptures. I saw so many beautiful things that I wanted to take home.

翌日は、私たちの友達のフィッシュが会って来ました。フィッシュは三年間日本で英語を教えていて呉市に住んでいました。私たちはタコマでのグラス博物館に行きました。メルによると、タコマではグラス産業が大きいです。グラスを吹いてきれいな彫刻を作る人を見ました。私は家にきれいな持って来たいものをみましたよ！

The last day we decided to go for a hike in the rainforest. The rainforest in Washington is very different from rainforests in places like South America or Singapore. This rainforest has lots of moss, pine trees, and mushrooms. We made temaki (handrolls in English) to take with us. I am a little out of practice at making temaki but they tasted alright. We stopped in a small town called Poulsbo which had lots of cute shops and bakeries. We bought some chocolate and bread there. THe hike was lovely. Brian likes moss a lot so he was really happy. It was an easy and fun hike. We really enjoyed ourselves. We took a ferry back to Seattle and ate dinner then went home. We flew back to Chicago the next day. It was great to see Mel and Fish and talk with them about their lives now as well as all the fun we had in Japan.

最後の日に、私たちは降雨林をハイクして決めました。ワシントン州の降雨林はシンガポールか南アメリカの熱帯雨林よりもっと違います。この降雨林はたくさんの苔と松の木と茸あります。私たちは持って行くために、手巻き（英語で、「Handrolls」）を作りました。私はちょっと練習不足ですが、味がオーケーでした。可愛い店とパン屋があるポールスボという小さな町に立ち寄りました。そこでチョコとパンを買いました。ハイクは素晴らしかったです。ブライアンは苔が好きですが、とてもうれしかったです。安くて面白いハイクでした。絶対楽しみました！その前に、フェリーでシアトルに行って、晩ご飯を食べて帰りました。次の日、飛行機でシカゴに来ました。メルとフィッシュに訪ね生活と日本での座興のことをてしゃべって嬉しいです。

Easy English:
Hey guys! Brian has a job, but it is temporary. It is very easy to go to his job because it is close to a train station. So it will be hard for me to translate my blogs. Please do your best with the easy English!

We went to Washington to visit our friend Mel. Our friend Fish also came to visit. Both of them were English teachers in Hiroshima with us. Fish lived in Kure and Mel lived in Yano. We went to many places. We went to Pikes Market in Seattle, which is famous for fresh local food. I saw maitake and they were very expensive. It was very different from JapanWe went to the first Starbucks, which was fun because I like coffee! The next day we went to the Museum of Glass. There were many beautiful sculptures made of glass. It was amazing. Then the next day we went to the rainforest. It is very different from rainforests in Singapore or South America. There is a lot of moss and pine trees. We also went to a small town called Poulsbo that had many cute shops. We took a ferry back to Seattle. We went back to Chicago the next day. It was really great to see our friends again. W

School is over!!

Well my semester is over! I have a month off from school now which is really nice! I hope that I can update this blog more now that I don't have 800 papers to write and reflect on. It was a great semester and I worked hard. I also learned a lot and I'm excited about next term. Today I'm going to the library to get some books to read. I plan to read, play video games, write, and do LOTS of cooking (so look for more food pictures). Brian is also done with National Novel Writing Month so he will be doing more translation as well. So hopefully later today or tomorrow we will have an update on our trip to Seattle!

学期が終わりました！今から一ヶ月冬休みがあって良かったです。論文を八百冊書いて省みる必要がありませんので、ブログを更新するように。とてもいい学期で私は一生懸命働いていろいろなことを習って来学期のことを楽しみにしています。今日私は本を持ち帰るのために図書館を行く予定です。私は読んで、テレビゲームを遊んで、書いて、よく料理をする予定です（それから、食べ物の写真を待ち望んでね！）。ブライアンは国立の小説文筆月を終了しましたので、もっと翻訳する予定です。そして明日か後日はシアトルの旅行のことを書き込みますように！

（ブライアン：もう二つの記事を訳さなきゃだめだ。大変だ。でもがんばるよ。後で別の記事を訳してみる！）

Thanksgiving photos!

Hello everyone! Last week was Thanksgiving in America. It's a day that we get together with our families and have a big meal. Brian and I took the train to visit my parents in Kentucky. The train was not as fast as the Shinkansen. I miss the Shinkansen. Anyway, here are the pictures and I'll write more about American Thanksgiving after this weekend. This weekend Brian and I are taking the JLPT N4. We've both been studying very hard so hopefully we will both do well.

皆さん、こんにちは！アメリカンでは先週にサンクスギビングです。その祭日にはアメリカ人が家族と集まって大きな晩ご飯を食べます。ブライアンと私はケンタキー州にすんでる両親と訪ねるために電車で行きました。その電車は新幹線ほど早いではありません。新幹線がなつかしい。。。とにかく写真があって週末の後にアメリカサンクスギビングデーの事を書きます。ブライアンと私は今週にN4の日本能力試験に受けます。私たちは十たくさん勉強してて善くしたらいいと思います。

Illinois is going to try and build a high speed train. Trains in America have a reputation of being late, so 85% more trains on time would be a big deal. It's very different from Japan, isn't it.

イリノイ州は高速度の電車を建ててみます。アメリカでは、電車は名声の遅刻がありますので、８５パーセント以上が時間通りだったら素晴らしいです。日本ととても異なりますね。

This is a teppenyaki restaurant in Paducah. In America, we call teppenyaki "hibachi" which Brian and I just can't say after living in Japan. The chef was from Thailand and he made a lot of jokes while cooking. It was still a fun time.

これはパデゥーカの鉄板焼きレストランです。アメリカでは鉄板焼きは「火鉢」と呼ばれています。でも、私たちは日本に住んでいたので、「火鉢」を使えません。シェフはタイから来て料理してる時によくふざけていました。とても楽しみました！

This is my Dad's house. I grew up in this house. I remember playing in the construction site while they were building the house. Brian says it is prefect in case of zombie attack.

これは父の家です。私はこの家で育ちました。家を建てる時に工事場所で遊ぶ事を思い出します。ブライアンは「ゾンビーの襲撃の場合はパーフェクトだよ！」と言います。

My plate for Thanksgiving. There's turkey, cranberry sauce, corn, stuffing, a deviled egg, and a little bit of garlic mashed potatoes. I was really excited about the potatoes, my dad makes amazing garlic potatoes!

私にはサンクスギビングのお皿です。七面鳥とクランベリーソースとコーンとデビルドエッグと少しにんにくのマッシュポテトあります。父は素晴らしいにんにくのマッシュポテトを作るのでとても楽しみにしました。

Our Thanksgiving table. The woman with blonde hair is Christy, my dad's girlfriend and her youngest daughter. It was a really nice meal with lots of fun conversation and good food.

サンクスギビングテーブルです金髪の女性は父の彼女のクリスティーです。横の女性はクリスティーの一番若い娘です。楽しい会話とおいしい食べ物があるいい食事でした。

Gizmo! This is Dad and Christy's dog and he is sooooooo cute! He's very affectionate too and likes to sit in your lap. I think I'm in love!

ギズモー！これは父とクリスティーの犬でとてもとっても可愛いですよ！優しくて膝に座ることがす好きです。惚れてると思います！

This is my dad the day after Thanksgiving. Because we have a lot of food many people eat leftovers for days after thanksgiving. My dad is making a turkey sandwich. He had just woken up and was a good sport about me taking this picture.

サンクスギビングデーの翌日に父です。父は七面鳥のサンドを作っています。起きたばかりですが、写真を優しく取れさせてくれました。

My Dad, Christy, and Gizmo. They often watch TV together. Today they were watching an American football game. University of Kentucky was playing University of Tennessee (the state below Kentucky) and UK won for the first time in years! Admittedly, UK is better at basketball.

父とクリスティーとギズモー。一緒にテレビをよき観ます。今日は、アメリカンフットボール ゲームを観ています。ケンタッキー大学はテネシー大学（ケンタッキー州の下に州）を相手にしてケンタッキー大学は昔から初めてに勝ちました！正直なところで、UKは野球が得意です。

Brian playing ball with Spiffy, my mom's dog. Brian usually doesn't play with dogs so I had to take a picture of him playing with Spiffy. Spiffy is an older dog and she is blind in one eye but she still loves to play ball.

ブライアンは母の犬のスピッフィーと遊んでいます。ブライアンは常時に犬と遊びませんので、写真を撮らなければなりません。スピッフィーは古い犬で一目がブラインドですが、まだボールを遊ぶことが大好きです。

Photo Time!

Hello everyone! It's a cold, rainy Saturday in Chicago today but hopefully it'll still be a good day. Today our friends Lilly Mae and Aaron are coming over to watch videos. They are my classmates and we all need a break from writing papers. We're going to watch a British TV show called the Prisoner, which is one of Brian's favorite TV shows. Because it's a British TV show Lilly Mae is making crumpets and I am making scones and tea. I'll be sure to post pictures of them next week. I've been doing a lot of cooking because cooking helps me relax. So enjoy your photos and have a great weekend!

皆さん、こんにちは！今日はシカゴに寒くて雨天の土曜日ありますが、まだいい日だのを希望します。今日は私たちの友達のリリメーとエーロンがビデオを観るためにきます。彼らは私のクラスメートで私たちは論文を書く事からの休みが必要です。「囚人」（ザ・プリズナー）というブライアンの好きなテレビ番組の一つのイギリスなテレビ番組を観る予定です。イギリスな番組なので、リリメーはクランペットを作って私はお茶とスコーンを作ります。来週は写真をきっと書き込みます。料理はリラックスするので、最近たくさんの料理をしています。だから、写真の事を楽しんでいい週末を！

It was Brian's dad's birthday last weekend. Katie brought this cake. It's decorated to look like her dog Maddy. It's really cute and it was chocolate cake!

先週はブライアンの父の誕生日でした。ケーティーがこのケーキを買いました。彼女のマディーという犬のように飾れています。すごく可愛くてチョコケーキでした。

I went to a special Saturday class to prepare for next semester's class. The professor brought us these things. They're from ISPA, the Illinois Association of School Psychologists. She's the president and is an overall great professor. I seriously want to be like her when I grow up!

私は来学期の授業を備えるために土曜日の特進授業に行きました。教授がこの物を持って行きました。イリノイ州の学校心理学者の協会（ISPA）からです。教授はISPAの会長で素晴らしい教授です。私は大きくなったら、教授のようにきっとなりたいですよ！

Brian and I heard about a special kimono exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. We couldn't take any pictures of the kimono, which were from Taisho to Showa era in some really pretty patterns. But they also have a section of Japanese art which is where this picture was. It looks like some of our friend's houses or the Tea Ceremony room at Chiyoda High School. Brian and I felt very nostalgic.

ブライアンと私はシカゴ美術館での特別の着物展覧会の事を聞きました。着物はきれいな模様で大正から昭和時代まででした。写真は禁止でしたが、日本美術もあってこの写真はそれからです。友達の家か千代田高校の和室を似ています。ブライアンと私は懐かしかったです。

I miss Japanese style sponge cakes with just the light whipped cream frosting and nice decorations. So for our game today I decided to make an early "Christmas Cake". The pan was too big and it could have been better but you know, it looks really pretty and tasted pretty good so I was told. I already know how I want to decorate my next cake. I'll have to use less strawberries because they are expensive in winter. In Japan they're a winter fruit but in America they're a spring/summer fruit.

私は軽い生クリームときれいな飾り付けの日本風のカステラが懐かしい。だから、今日はゲームがありますので、早いクリスマスケーキを作って決めました。パンが大きすぎてもっと良くてになれましたが、「美しそう！」と「おいしかった！」と言われました。私はまだ次のケーキの飾り方を知っています。イチゴが冬に高いので、私は少ないのを使わなければなりません。日本では冬の果物でアメリカでは春と夏の果物です。

Katie and Maddy. Maddy isn't even a year old but she's already a big dog and she's still growing. The other dog that you can't really see is Aspen, Katie's other dog. Katie really loves dogs, one of the reasons she is a veterinarian.

ケーティーとマディーです。マディーは一歳以下ですが、既に大きな犬でまだ成長があります。他の見えない犬はケーティーの他の犬のアスペンです。ケーティーは獣医である理由の一つである犬が大好きです。

My bento! I bring my lunch to school every Tuesday and I decided to go "traditional" because I miss my bentos. It's rice, green beans with walnut miso, and tamagoyaki with a few spinach leaves. I ate it using the chopstick set that Shirai-sensei gave me! My classmates were impressed.

私の弁当！私は毎週の火曜日に学校に弁当を持って行って私は弁当が懐かしいので伝統的風を決めました。これはご飯と、くるみの味噌とサヤインゲンと、ほうれん草と卵焼きです。白井先生が私にくれた箸で食べました！クラスメートは印象付けられました。

American Elementary school!

Regular English- As a part of my degree program I have to complete 70 hours of service. This isn't common in most graduate schools and it's one of the reasons I chose to go to Loyola. I volunteered at an orphanage when I was in Japan and before that I was a volunteer EFL class assistant so I really like to volunteer. It makes me happy and I like being helpful. Plus it gives me a new point of view and helps me become a better person. Anyway, at the begining of the year a bunch of different organizations came to campus. I chose to go to a public school in Chicago. I haven't been in an American school since I was a student (which was a long time ago. I graduated from high school in 2003...). I've worked in a Japanese classroom but it's very different in some ways. But I can't give a lot of details about my school because this is a public blog and I want to respect everyone's privacy.

大学院のプログラムの一部として、私は７０時間でコミュ二ティサービスをしなければなりません。大学院では通常じゃなくてそれは私がロヨラ大学に入る理由の一つです。日本に住む時に私は孤児院でボランティアをして、その前にEFL*の教師のアシスタントをしました。実はボランティアをすることが大好きです。私はボランティアをすることが幸せにして役に立つことが好きです。その上、新しい視点の事を考えさせていい人になることを役に立ちます。兎に角、年度の初めにたくさんの団体がキャンパスに来ました。私はシカゴの公立学校に行くことを決めました。私は生徒時以来、アメリカの学校の中にいませんでした（それ昔なの。２００３年高校学校に卒業した。。。）。日本の教室で働いていましたが、境遇がとても違います。でも、公共のブログなので、私は学校の細部を伝えられなくて皆のプライバシーを尊びたいです。

（翻訳者ノート：*EFLとは「English as a Foreign Language」の意味です。他の言語を話す人に英語を教えることです。）

But I'll talk a bit about American education. First of all, it can look different based on where you live. CHicago Public Schools, which is a huge system, looks very different from my school in Kentucky. At the school I volunteer at "elementary school" goes until 8th grade when students go to high school. At my school in Kentucky it was that k-5 was elementary school, 6-8 was middle school, and 9-12 was high school. I started going to school when I was 4 years old. Some kids will go to pre-school if they can afford it. It can be very expensive to go to preschool and some very elite preschools (which I think are silly) cost almost as much as I pay for university. There are also programs for families with less money and some preschools are a part of churches. I went to preschool at my mother's church. I mostly learned to sing, play outside, share, and things like colors and how to say my ABCs. Brian went to preschool was not a part of a church but he says he doesn'T remember what it was like. My brother's preschool taught him to read a little so it can be very different.

そして、アメリカの教育の事を話します。先ず住んでいる場所に基づいて異なれます。巨大なシステムであるシカゴの公立学校はケンタッキー州から異なるらしいです。学校でボランティアをする事では「小学校」が八年生まで続いてその後に生徒が高校に通ります。私のケンタッキー州で卒業した学校では、小学校が幼稚園から５学年までで、中学校が６学年から８年までで、高校が９学年から１２学年までです。私は４歳の時に学校に入りました。余裕があったら、何人かの子供がプレスクールに通ります。プレスクールは時々とても高いで、いくつかの清栄なプレスクール（それおかしいと思ってる）の値段はほとんど私の大学院の値段です。貧しい家族のためにプレスクールがあっていくつかのプレスクールは教会の一部です。私は母の教会でプレスクールを通りました。私は歌うし外で遊ぶし分け合うし色の名前が分かるしABCを話す方法を習いました。ブライアンの通るプレスクールは教会の一部でわありませんが、ブライアンはどうだったのを覚えていないと言います。弟の通るプレスクールでは弟が読むの方法を少し習いました。そのため、とても異なれます。

（ブライアン：その通り、覚えてない。ごめんなさい。　m(-_-)m ）

After preschool we go to kindergarten, which is usually public. There are private kindergartens too, some of them are faith-based and others are just charter schools (I'll explain about charter schools in a later post. It's a mess.) It's very different to be in kindergarten now than when I was a kid. Now there are standards that teachers have to meet and things kids have to know in order to go on to 1st grade. When i was in kindergarten as long as you could basically write your ABCs, cut out shapes, and count to 100 you could move up. My kindergarten did have fun "units" of lessons. Like one unit was on the rainforest, which I was very interested in, and we decorated our class like a rainforest for a whole week (which felt like a month to a kindergartener). Also some places have "half day" kindergarten but there's a movement for full day kindergarten as well. I went only in the afternoons. Brian doesn't remember kindergarten.

プレスクールに通る後に子供が通例公共の幼稚園を通ります。 私幼稚園もあります。いくつか事は宗教教育で他のはチャータースクールです（後でチャータースクールのことを説明しよう。めちゃくちゃよね）。今は幼稚園に通る事が私が子供だった時よりとても異なります。今は一学年に入るのために教師が満たさなければならない教育水準と生徒に知られなければならない事実があります。私が幼稚園を通る時に、ABCを書けるし、形を切れるし、１００まで数えれる事を卒業できました。でも、私の幼稚園は楽しい授業もありました。例えば、私にとても好きだった授業は熱帯雨林のことで生徒は一週間熱帯雨林みたいのために教室を飾っていました（園児には一ヶ月のように感じた！）。ある場所が半日の幼稚園がありますが、全日制の幼稚園のムーブメントもあります。私は午後だけ通りました。ブライアンは幼稚園を覚えていません。

Then we start "real school" as a friend of mine says. 1st grade-5th grade all have things you need to learn. Now in America most of them take tests that are supposed to tell how well the school is doing. I don't think these tests always do this but that's another post for another day. Elementary school in Kentucky starts later than the middle and high schools. My school started at 8:30 in elementary school and we finished at 3:30 (like Japanese high schools!). In some places elementary schools start earlier because kids need less sleep. In some places we have recess time, which is separate from lunch time. My school that I volunteer at doesn't have recess. This is sad! Kids need to play outside!

その後、私の友達が言うとして「本物の学校」を始めます。一学年から５学年まで知られなければならない事実があります。アメリカでは生徒が学校の改良のことを知らせる試験を受けます。私はその試験があまり完遂しないと思っていますが、それは後日のために他の書き込みです。ケンタッキー州では小学校が中学校より遅く始まります。私の小学校は午前８時半に始まって午後３時半に終わりました（日本の高校学校みたいよね！）子供は睡眠があまり必要なので、所々で小学校はもっと早く始まります。所々で昼休みと別れられる外の休憩があります。私がボランティアをする学校は外の休憩がありません。悲しいですね！子供は外で遊ぶことが必要です！

Also some schools have breakfast programs. Actually most schools do because some kids can't eat breakfast at home for reasons like poverty or parent's jobs. So the school provides breakfast and lunch for kids. If your parents don't have a lot of money you can get free or reduced cost lunch and breakfast. Also some schools have after school activities and others don't. My elementary school didn't but in 5th grade we had before school activities like chorus (which I was in!). Brian doesn't remember most of elementary school but I wrote a lot then so I have journals to help me remember.

いくつかの学校は朝ご飯のプログラムがあります。実は、貧困や両親の仕事のような理由なので、何人かの生徒が家で食べられませんので、そのプログラムがほとんど学校であります。それから、学校は生徒に朝ご飯と昼ご飯を賄います。両親はお金がなかったら、無料か引き値の昼ご飯と朝ご飯が賄われます。いくつかの学校は放課後活動があっていくつかの学校はその事がありません。私の小学校ではありませんでしたが、５年生の時にコーラスなんて（私はそれ入っていた！）朝の活動がありました。ブライアンは小学校を覚えていませんが、私はその時によく書きましたので、思い出す事を役に立つのため日記があります。

Easy English: Hey guys, I promised I would write about American school. I volunteer at a school here in America. I help a teacher in a classroom, it's almost like when I was an ALT in your classes! But I can't talk too much about that because I would get in trouble.

In America we can start going to school when we are 3 or 4 years old. We call this preschool (pre means before so preschool is before school!). It can be very expensive and not everyone goes to preschool. I went to preschool at my mother's church so it was cheaper. Some preschools can cost as much as I pay to go to university! How strange! In preschool I learned to share, to sing, and to say my ABCs and colors. But it is different in every preschool.

When we are 5 we go to kindergarten. Kindergarten comes from a German word that means "children's garden". Kindergarten is very different now from when i was a kid. now they have to take tests but I never had to take tests. We often did fun things. Once we made our classroom look like the rainforest, it was really fun.

When we are 5 or 6 we start "real school." ALmost every year students take big tests that show how well the school is doing. If the school is doing well then they can get more money. If the school does badly they can get in trouble and lose money. My elementary school started at 8:30 and ended at 3:30, much like a Japanese high school! There aren't many clubs for elementary school students but older kids can do clubs before school. My school had a 5th grade choir.

Kids in America can eat breakfast and lunch at school. This is because sometimes kids can't eat breakfast before school so the school prepares it for them. If parents can't pay then they kids can get free lunch or pay less for lunch. Kids also have recess at some schools. The kids at my school do not have recess which I think is sad. Kids need to play outside! It's very important I think!

Next time I will write about American middle school. Do you all have any good memories from elementary school?

The past three weeks

The past three weeks have been very busy for me. I forgot how much work being a student can be. I've been volunteering in a classroom twice a week as well as helping out at another school. I also am doing research with two teams. Plus I have class and homework. It has been a good three weeks and I am learning a lot but I am sorry that I've been neglectful about posting photos and stories. I want to post soon about: education in America, our friends, and a bit more about my work and Brian's Japanese studying. Brian and I are taking the JLPT4 on December first. I know Brian will do very well, but I have strange grammar so I'm really worried I won't do well! Anyway, thank you all so much for your patience. Here are some photos. Later this week I will try to blog about American school if you'd like (I know some of you are Americans so feel free to chime in.)

過去三週間は私にとても忙しかったです。学生のことはどのくらいの学業を忘れてしまいました。私は一種間二回中学校の教室でボランティアして小学校で教師を手伝います。さらに私は二つのチームと研究して授業と宿題があります。この三週間が良くて私はたくさん勉強になりましたが写真と投稿の事を怠慢しますので、本当にごめんなさい。近日はアメリカの教育や友達や私の仕事とブライアンの日本語の勉強の事を書き込みます。私とブライアンは十二月の四日に日本語能力試験を受けます。ブライアンは善くするとおもいますが、私の文法がきっとおかしいので、とても心配しています。何しろ、あなたの辛抱をありがとうございます。ここはいくつかの写真です。近日はアメリカの学校の事を書き込んでみます！

I see the bus that goes to this center almost everyday. Chicago doesn't have a huge Japanese population, at least not in the city. There is a suburb called Arlington Heights that has a Japanese bookstore, grocery store, and restraunts, and travel agency. But I think it's important to have this center because Chicago has many different people who have contributed to the city. Everyone should have a place to go.

ほとんどの毎日私はこのセンターに行くバスを見ます。シカゴは街の中に日本人が少ないです。日本の本屋やスーパーやレストランや旅行代理店がアーリングトンハイツという郊外にあります。でも、シカゴに貢献した別個の人々が多いので、私はこのセンターが必要だと思います。誰もには行ける場所があっていいと思います。

I saw this at the school I volunteer at. Some of my kids asked me if it was right. I had never seen library written in katakana. I'm used to seeing it written as " 図書館" instead but my dictionary says it can also be written in katakana. What do you guys think?

私はボランティアする学校に見えました。いくつかの生徒が正解ですかと聞きました。私はかたかなで書いてある「Library]を全然見えていませんでした。私は「図書館」が見慣れますが、辞書によればかたかなで書いてよろしいです。どう思いますか？

Brian is on his computer. He uses it to play games, study Japanese, and apply for jobs. I can always see Brian's desk from where I am in the living room but it's very different then our "kotatsu desk" in Japan.

ブライアンはコンピューターを使っています。コンピューターでテレビゲームをするし、日本語を勉強するし、仕事を探します。私は居室で私のいる場所からブライアンの机をいつも見えますが、日本で「コタツ机」ととても違います。

Loyola has a community garden. Students take care of it and use organic ways of growing plants. I had never seen it before, but I got lost on my way to the student health center (I had to get a shot!) and walked right by it. There is a scarecrow up, which was perfect for almost Halloween.

ロヨラ大学は公共の庭があります。生徒は預かって有機的な手段で草木を植えます。私は是全見えませんでしたが、生徒保険所に行く時に（注射が要った！）無くなって見過ごしました。案山子があってハロウィーンにパーフェクトです。

Brian has many happy Ramen pictures from Japan but this is his first one in America. We found a restraunt in Chicago called "Gyukaku" and decided to go inside. We were greeted by a chorus of "いらしゃいませ！” and we could hear people speaking Japanese. The restaurant is mostly yaki nikku but it has items like ramen, yaki soba, and other dishes we miss from Japan. I will say that yaki nikku is a bit cheaper in America (at least at Gyukaku) because meat is less expensive. The food was great and now any time we miss Japan we know where to go.

ブライアン日本のはたくさんのうれしいラーメンの写真があってこれがアメリカの初めてです。私たちはシカゴで牛角というレストランを探して入って決めました。「いらっしゃいませ！」のコーラスが出迎えられて日本語が聞こえました。このレストランは大半が焼肉でラーメンや焼きそばや日本の他の懐かしい食べ物があります。肉はもっと安いので、アメリカの焼肉がもっと安いです。その食べ物は素晴らしくて日本が懐かしい時にレストランの行くことが分かります。

That's my sister-in-law Katie and I at a Halloween 5k. I started running while I was in Japan but I'm still not as fast as I want to be. But this was my first 5k event and I was proud of myself. I did not walk once! Katie is dressed up as Sue Sylvester, a character from the TV show Glee. Sue is a very mean PE teacher/Cheerleading coach. I was my favorite X-men character, Phoenix. My costume isn't very good but it was really fun to run in it. I am now training to run a 10k! I won't give up until I run in the CHicago Marathon with my sister-in-law (Katie is a very experienced runner)

これは私と義姉がハロウィーン５Kの写真です。私は日本にいる時に走って始めましたがまだ速さのよになりたい速さがないです。でも、私は５ｋするのが始めてで私は肩身が広かったです。一回全然歩きませんでした！ケーティーが「グレー」というテレビ番組からのスーシルべスターというキャラクター を仮装します。スーはとてもひどい体育の先生とチアリーディングのコーチです。私は「フェニックス」という一番好きなX-menキャラクターを仮装します。私の仮装は下手ですが、それを着て走る事を本当に楽しかったです。今１０Kで走るためにトレーニングします。私は義姉とシカゴマラソンで走るまで絶対頑張ります！（ケーティーはすごく上手な走者です。）

Like Aquas in Shimane Prefecture, Chicago's Shed Aquarium has Beluga Whales too. They were eating lunch when we say them and the trainers would ask them to do tricks. They were so cute!!!

島根県のアクアスと同様に、シカゴのシェッド水族館もベルーガがあります。私たちは見ながらご飯を食べて調教師がベルーガにトリックを行う事を聞きました。可愛すぎました！

SPeaking of cute, Japan is not the only place with cute mascots! Otters are one of my favorite animals and this is a picture outside their tank. With the cuteness and big eyes, of course it reminded me of Japan.

可愛いと言えば、日本では可愛いマスコットの唯一の国ではありません！ラッコは私の一番好きな動物の一つでこれは貯水槽の外の写真です。可愛さと大きな目でもちろん日本の事を思い出しました。

That's all the pictures. Thank you all for your continued patience.

写真が終わります。 あなたの辛抱をありがとうございます！

Photo Friday

Everyone, I'm really sorry that I didn't post photos last week! I try to remember but I have a lot of school work as well. I study a lot and I often go to schools to help or watch a school psychologist. Being in a school makes me really nostalgic for my time in Japan and I hope that after this we'll be able to return. Anyway, enough about school. Let's see some photos!

先週私は皆さんに写真を投稿しなくて本当にごめんなさい。思い出してみますが、たくさんの宿題もあります。よく勉強して心理学者を見る事か手伝う事のためによく学校に行きます。学校に入っているので、日本が懐かしくて大学院の後に日本に帰れるのが私の夢です。何しろ学校の事は足ります。写真を見ましょう！

Brian likes moss. It's one of the reasons why Ginkakuji is one of his favorite temples. He loves moss gardens and we've always said if we ever had a yard of our own we would put moss down instead of grass.

ブライアンは苔が好きです。だから、銀閣寺が大好きなお寺の一つです。苔庭も大好きで私たちは自分の庭を持ったら草せずに苔を植える予定です。

I love orchids, like most people in my family. My uncle grows many orchids in his green house. This is orchid is part of the Chicago Botanical Gardens, which is free and has many beautiful flowers (and not a lot of moss, poor Brian)

私は家族のほとんどの人と同様にオーキッドが大好きです。弟小父が植物館の中にたくさんのオーキッドを植えます。このオーキッドは無料でたくさんのきれいな花があるシカゴ植物園の一部です。（でも、苔が少ないです。可愛そう）

A seal at the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is also free. We went there with Brian's parents. The seal was hiding from me last time so I was happy I got to see it this time!

海豹は無料のリンコンパークズーにあります。私たちはブライアンの両親と行きました。先回は海豹が自分を覆って私は見えてよかったです。

On Monday and Tuesday we went to visit Brian's parents in Batavia. Brian's parents have a dog named Bandit. Brian doesn't like Bandit because he's noisy. Bandit likes Brian for reasons we don't know.

私たちは月曜日と火曜日にバタビアにブライアンの両親と訪ねに行きました。両親はバンディットという犬を飼っています。バンディットが煩いので、ブライアンは好きじゃないです。バンディットはブライアンが好きで理由が知っていません。

It's fall! Fall is my favorite season in America (It's a tie between fall and spring in Japan)! This is the sidewalk on my way to a school. I miss all the momiji but it's really fun to play in the leaves. I think I'm still a child at heart!

秋です！私は秋がアメリカの一番好きな季節です。（日本では秋と春と両方の同じ好きです。）これは学校に途中の歩道です。私は紅葉が懐かしくて葉で遊ぶことがとても楽しいです。私の心の中にはまだ子供と思います。

I had to take a picture of a squirrel because my Geihoku ichinensei said they had never seen one! Well if they read this blog (hi everyone!!!) then they have now seen a squirrel. This one let me get very close. Clearly he's very brave.

芸北一年生がこれを全然見ませんと言ったので、私はリスの写真を撮らなければなりませんでした。では、このブログを読むと（皆、こんにちは！！）今リスを見ました。このリスは私に非常に近くに許しました。とても勇敢です。

Last week I mentioned Sukkot. This is our Sukkah (booth). The kids who go to my temple decorated it. I think they did a good job. I live very close to temple so I see the Sukkah everyday.

先週私はスコットを述べました。これはテンプルのスッカです。テンプルへ通う子供が飾りました。良いと思います。テンプルの近くに住んでいますので、私は毎日スッカを見えます。

I did miss all the Halloween decorations while I was in Japan. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. This is a pizza place near the train station. Do you think it's scary?

日本にいる時にハロウィーンデコレーションが懐かしかったです。ハロウィーンは私の一番好きな祭日の一つです。この写真は駅の近くのピザレストランです。怖いと思いますか？

This is by a really nice building in downtown Chicago. My friend and I thought this one was a little more scary. What do you guys think?

これはシカゴの町中のきれいな建物の横にあります。私は友達と先の写真よりもっと怖いと思います。どう思いますか？

The New Year

Regular English- I said in the last photo Friday that Rosh Hashanna is the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanna is part of a set of holidays called the High Holy Days. These two days, Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur. They're the most important holidays for Jews. THough they're really close together, these holidays are different in some ways too. I'll tell you a bit about my Rosh Hashanna.

先のフォトフライデーにロッシュハシャナがユダヤ教の正月と言いました。ロッシュハシャナは「ハイホリデーズ」という祭日の一部です。ロッシュハシャナとヨムキプールはユダヤ人に最も重要な祭日です。その二日はとても近いですけど、ちょっと違っています。私のロッシュハシャナについて説明します。

Jewish holidays start at sundown. Rosh Hashanna started on Wednesday at Sundown and finished on Thursday at sundown. We eat a lot of sweet foods during this time: apples dipped in honey, honey cake, and round raisin challah (my picture from last week). Traditionally we say these foods will bring us a sweet new year. It's kind of our version of osechi because moms and grandmothers (and me) take a lot of pride in their Rosh Hashanna meals. On Wednesday night I went to temple, it looks very different from a Japanese temple. Many people come to the Rosh Hashanna service so my temple sells tickets to get in (I'm a member so I didn't have to buy one). We read from the Torah, or the Jewish holy book (it's the Old testament from the Bible). The Rabbi, a kind of Jewish preist, leads the service. Those of you in Japan will think it's interesting that we bow a lot while praying. I woke up early the next morning to go to the morning Rosh Hashanna service. It was a beautiful service filled with the sound of the Shofar. The Shofar is a horn that is made from a ram's horn. It's probably one of the most important parts of Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur. It's very hard to play the shofar! My dad is really good at it but I still need to practice. After services Brian and I were invited to have dinner with other people from the temple. Before we could eat, we went to do what is called Tashlich. Tashlich is a ritual where we throw bread into the water, it symbolizes throwing away the past years sins. We had an amazing dinner with wonderful company.

ユダヤ人の祭日は暮れに始まります。ロッシュハシャナは水曜日の暮れに始まって木曜日の暮れに終わりました。この間はたくさんの甘い物を食べます。例えば、はちみつに濡らしたりんごやホニーケーキやレーズンの丸いハーラ（先週の写真）。伝統的にその食べ物が甘い正月になると言われます。お母さんとお祖母さん（と私）はロッシュハシャナの食べ物に誇りますので、ユダヤ人のお節少しみたいです。私は水曜日の夕方にテンプルに行きました。ユダヤ人のテンプルは日本の寺に全然似ていません。たくさんの人がロッシュハシャナの祭祀に行きますので、テンプルは切符を売ります。でも、私はテンプルの団員なので、切符を買うのが必要がありませんでした。ユダヤ人の聖書のトーラ（旧約聖書 ）を読まれます。ユダヤ人の祭司のラビが祭祀を導きます。多分日本で読む人はユダヤ人が祈りながら頭を下げる事が面白いと思うでしょう。ロッシュハシャナの祭祀に行くために私は翌朝に早く起きます。ショーファの音で満たされた素敵な祭祀でした。ショーファとはホルンが牡羊 の角で出来ています。ショーファはロッシュハシャナととヨムキプールの一つの重要な一部と思います。ショーファをとても弾きにくいです。父は上手ですが私は練習しなければなりません。祭祀の後にブライアンと私は他のテンプルの団員と招待されました。食べられる前に「タッシュリック」と呼ばれる物を遣に行きます。タッシュリックとは湖か川にパンを投げるの儀式です。その儀式の意味は去年の罪を投げる事を象徴するのです。食べ物はとても良くて連れは素敵でした。

Yom Kippur is different because we don't eat. From sundown tonight to sundown tomorrow I will not be eating or drinking anything (I did this every year in Japan and it sometimes worried people). It's hard when you have to work but this year I get to spend the day in Temple. Yom Kippur services are much longer than Rosh Hashanna services. But there is the sound of the Shofar and it's a good time for me to think about how I can be a better person this year. My father's favorite Jewish holiday is Yom Kippur for this reason. Mine is a different but I'll write about that when it happens. Yom Kippur ends with the sound of the Shofar and then we go outside and hammer the first nail for a special booth for our next holiday, Sukkot. I'll write about Sukkot when it gets closer to time.

ユダヤ人が食べませんので、ヨムキプールが違います。私は今日の暮れから明日の暮れまで何でもを全然食べなくて飲みません。（毎年日本でそうして時々同僚が心配していました。）もし働いたら、大変ですが、今年私は終日テンプルでいます。ヨムキプールの祭祀はロッシュハシャナよりもっと長いです。でも、ショーファの音があって私は良い人になる方法を考えるのがいい時間です。その意味なので、父の一番好きなユダヤ教の祭日は読むキプールです。私のは違いますが、未来にその祭日の事を書きます。ヨムキプールはショーファの音が終わって私たちは外に行って「スコット」という祭日のために特別のブースの最初のネールを打ち止めます。その時間に近づく時に、スコットの事を書きます。

（翻訳者ノート：スコットは日本語で「仮庵の祭り」も呼ばれています。）

This is a shofar. It looks like the one in our temple. It's almost as long as my arm.

これはショーファです。テンプルの中のを似ています。私の腕と同じくらい長いです。

Easy English- Hey guys! Do you remember the picture of the bread from last weeks's photo friday? I made that bread because it's the Jewish New Year, which is part of 2 special days for Jews! We eat lots of sweet things so that we will have a sweet new year. The Rosh Hashanna meal is kind of like osechi because you work very hard to make it and many foods have special meaning. All Jewish holidays start at sundown and end on sundown the next day. Rosh Hashanna was the 28th-29. After going to temple, which looks different from a Japanese temple, we went to a friend's house for dinner. Her Rosh Hashanna dinner was great. On Rosh Hashanna we play an instrument called the Shofar. The Shofar is made from a ram's horn and it's very hard to play!

Yom Kippur is the other speical day. Yom Kippur is a day when we don't eat at all or drink at all. Tonight at sundown until tomorrow at sundown I will not eat or drink anything, even water. It's an important time because I go to temple and I think about how I can be a better person this year. After the sunsets on Saturday though, we eat a lot! We play the Shofar on Yom Kippur too. Yom Kippur is my dad's favorite holiday, but my favorite holiday is later in the year. I hope you guys are having a great year!

（翻訳者から質問：英語のしたにか英語との間、どっちがいいかな？僕に答えを伝えて。　（＾＾）ｖ）

Photo Friday Double Feature!

This is from the laundry room window. Sadly I can't go swimming anymore because it's too cold!

選択ルームから見た海岸の写真です。寒すぎますので、泳げなくて悲しいです。

Our friends Kateri and Damion got married! This is Kateri with her father. Isn't she pretty?!

私たちの友達のカティリとデミオンが結婚しました！この写真はカティリとお父さんです。本当に美しいですね！

At the reception, this is what our table looked like. The wedding and reception took place in their backyard. It was a beautiful wedding for a wonderful couple!

披露宴ではこれが私たちのテーブルでした。結婚式と披露宴は裏庭にありました。素晴らしいのカップルのためのきれいな結婚式でした！

Kateri and Damion cutting their cake. Yes, that's a katana, but it's a reverse-blade katana because both of them like Kenshin. Damion is also a martial arts instructor and Kateri studies with him.

カティリとデミオンはケーキを切っています。それは刀ですが、二人とも「るろうに剣心」が好きですので、反対の剣身の刀です。デミオンは武芸者でカティリはデミオンと勉強しています。

My bento! Every Tuesday I bring my lunch to class. The hashi/spoon set and furoshiki were a gift from Shirai-sensei so I think of her when I use them.

私の弁当です！毎週火曜日授業にランチを持って行きます。箸とスポーンのセットと風呂敷は白井先生からのプレゼントなので、それを使うとき白井先生のことを覚えています。

Everyone deserves an education! I saw these on a walk down Michigan Ave. with my friend. There were many other ballons that had messages like this on it.

皆が教育に値します。私は友達とミシガン通りで散歩してそれを見ました。たくさんのこれようなメッセージのバルーンがありました。

Me! On Friday I decided to wear my fun socks, which are dark red and purple. I always feel very happy when I wear them. Brian thought I looked cute so he took a picture.

私！金曜日に紅と紫の楽しいソックスを履いて決めました。履くとき私はいつもとてもハッピーを感じます。ブライアンは私のことが可愛かったと思いましたので、写真を撮りました。

On Wednesday it was the start of the High Holy Days, the first of which is Rosh Hashanna, the Jewish New Year. We eat sweet foods for a sweet year. When I was in Japan I made Honey Cake for my coworkers but since I had an oven this year I made Challah, or braided egg bread. It had raisins inside. I brought it to class so that my friends could have some. Brian also got a whole loaf to himself!

水曜日には「ハイホリデーズ」が始まりました。最初の ハイホリデーズはユダヤ教の正月の「ロッシュハシャナ」です。ユダヤ人は甘い年のために甘い物を食べます。日本にいるときに私は同僚にホニーケーキを料理しましたが、今年オーブンがあって卵の結うパンのハーラを作りました。パンの中にレーズンがありました。友達が食べるのために授業に持って行きました。ブライアンは全部のパンを食べられました！

Announcement!

There will be no photo friday tomorrow because Brian and I are going to a wedding in Philadelphia. We'll have pictures of an American wedding for you all later in the week.

My classes are going well but I am very busy. I have to study a lot and there's a lot of homework too. But, I really love studying School Psychology so I don't mind at all. It's important to do something that you love doing. Even when you feel worried or tired you remember how much you love studying or doing your job and it makes life much easier. I also joined Dr. S's research group. There are more students in this group and it's very different from Dr. W's group. Today there was a big picnic with lots of food for all the students today. I'm getting to be good friends with all my classmates. Some of them got to meet Brian last weekend.

Anyway, it's getting late so I should go to bed! I have a lot to do tomorrow. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Miss you guys!

明日はフォトフライデーじゃなくてブライアンと私はフィラデルフィアの結婚式に行きます。後でアメリカ風の結婚式の写真があります！

授業がいいですが、とても忙しいです。よく勉強しなければならなくてたくさんの宿題があります。でも、心理学を勉強が大好きなので、全然悪くないと思います。好きな事をすることが重要です。もし心配や疲れを感じれば、勉強ことが大好きを覚えて生活が安くになります。Dr. Sの研究グループに入ります。Dr. Wのグループよりもっと生徒がいてとても違います。今日はたくさんの食べ物がある大きなピクニックがありました。クラスメートと仲良くになります。先週末いくつかの友達はブライアンと会えました。

遅くになりますので、寝ることの方がいいと思います。明日はとても忙しいです。良い週末を！皆は懐かしい！

（翻訳者ノート：ごめんなさい。日曜日に前のフォトフライデー書き込みを翻訳するつもりです。そのときまで英語を勉強してください！(≧▽≦) 　）

Photo time!

The sunset over the lake near the library at Loyola's campus.

ロヨラキャンパスの図書館の近くの湖の上に日没です。

Marilyn Monroe statue in Chicago.

シカゴのマリリンモンローの像です。

Pokemon stand near my Loyola bus stop! Pokemon is popular in America, but mostly with kids...and my friends.

ロヨラバス停の近くのポケモンのガチャポンです。ポケモンはアメリカで子供と私の友達にも人気です。

On Friday Brian and I went to the Lincoln Park Zoo. It's a free zoo and these are the chimpanzees. One of them is cleaning the other one.

金曜日にブライアンと私はリンコンっパーク動物園に行きました。無料の動物園でこれは黒猩猩です。一匹は他のを毛繕いしています。

The baby monkey here was really cute. He was running around all over the place.

小猿は本当に可愛かったです！至る所で走り回りました。

The polar bear going for a swim. It wasn't very hot but I imagine he was very happy about that.

白熊は水泳します。暑くなかったが、多分白熊は水泳のことがとてもうれしかっただろうと思います。

About my first week of school （やっと翻訳した！）

First week of school!
Casual English: Last week was my first week of classes. I'm really lucky in that I only have class two days a week. Every Tuesday and Thursday I head to downtown Chicago to Loyola's Water Tower Campus. Loyola has another campus near my apartment but all of my classes are downtown. We can't live downtown beause it's really expensive. Both days my classes start at 10:00 in the morning. I usually take the 8:30 express bus and arrive on campus at 9:00. I talked with my classmates. There are 26 of us in this group, which we call a cohort since we take all the same classes together (it's basically another way to say homeroom).

My school logo! This is close to the campus shuttle area.

On Tuesday I have a class that's all about the history of school psychology and what it means to be a school psychologist. My professor for this is a guy named Dr.S and he seems really nice. He also teaches another class that I have so I'll probably be talking about him a lot this semester. We went around the room and introduced ourselves and talked about why we wanted to be school psychologists. My classes are all 2hours and 30 minutes long. There was a 30 minute break between my first class and 2nd class so I had to eat lunch very fast. I packed my own lunch so it wasn't too hard. My next class is called Data Based Descision Making. It's a fancy way of saying “how do we make descions for a school”. My professor for this is Dr.F and her assistant Stephanie. We played a warm up game where you tell 3 truths about yourself and 1 lie. My truths were “I like reading. I have been to Singapore. I have 1 brother” and my lie was “I speak Japanese and Spainish fluently”. I speak Japanese, but not fluently and I can't speak Spainish at all! This class finished at 3:00 and then we all went home.

My friend Tamanna with her cake! She's really pretty!


On Wednesday I went to a special research group with my friends Tamanna and Michael. We met Dr.W and a few of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years. We are going to study homeless parents and kids so that we can give them better services. It's really exciting.

On Thursday my first class was with Dr.M called “Academic Assessment”. This is about helping individual kids. It's exciting but looks like there will be a lot of community work too. There was a 4 hour break between classes so I went to lunch with Tamanna and Schevita. We then went to hang out with our classmates/friends Lilly, Leah, and Theresa. We got a bit bored waiting for class. Our last class of the day was with Dr.S again. It's called “Multiculturalism for Social Justice”. It's about how we can make sure others are treated fairly and receive the help they need even if they are different from us. He brought us cake and used it to talk about how we could divide the cake in a socially just way. Classes finished at 6:45. I accidently took the wrong bus home so it took me an hour to get home! I was really tired.

I'm making a lot of new friends and I really like my school a lot. I'll try to write more about my friends next week! I have so much reading to do!!!!!

My friends before class!

Easy English:
Hey guys! The new school year has started for me! I'm now a first year student at Loyola University Chicago! I had a very good first week. I go to class twice a week but each class is 2 and a half hours long. On Tuesday I have two classes. One class is with Dr. S about how to be a school psychologist. My next class is with Dr. F about how to helps schools make decisions. I go home on Tuesdays at 3:00! On Wednesday I went to a special group meeting with Dr.W. Dr. W does research about homeless kids and parents so that we can better help them. I'm excited to go to the meetings! On Thursday I have two classes. My first class is with Dr. M about how to test kids. My second class is with Dr.S again! It's about how to make the world better for many different people. He brought us cake to start a class discussion.

There is a 4 hour break between my 1st and 2nd class on Thursday so I spent time downtown with my friends. My class has 26 people in it and they are all very friendly so I think I will have even more friends this year!

Sorry this is a little late and was so long! I miss you guys!

日本語：

先週は授業が始まりました。毎週の２日にあります。ロヨラ大学の「Water Tower Campus]に行くために毎火曜日と毎木曜日にシカゴの町中に行きます。他のキャンパスがアパートの近くにあって私はすべての授業が町中にあります。高すぎなので、町中に住めません。両方の日の授業は10時に始まります。8:30時急行バスに乗ってキャンパスに9時に着きます。最初の授業の前にクラスメートにしゃべりました。グループは26人がいます。同じ授業を受けますので、グループは「コホート」と呼ばれています。

火曜日に学校心理学の意味と学校心理学の歴史について授業があります。教授は名前が「Dr. S]で優しそうです。その人は他の私の受ける授業を教えてるので、多分今学期に教授と話し合うでしょう。クラスメートは自己紹介して学校心理学者になる理由を討論しました。授業は2時半かかります。一番目の授業から二番目の授業まで30十分の休養がありますので、私は昼ご飯を早く食べなければなりませんでした。自分の昼ご飯を持って来たので、食べやすかったです。午後の授業は「Data Based Decision Making」と呼ばれています。「Data-Based Decision Making」とは学校に決める方法の研究です。「Dr. F」という教授と教授のアシスタントのステファにーがその授業を教えています。三つの真理と一つの嘘をつくの準備ゲームを遊びました。私の真理は「読むのが好き」と「シンガポールに行って来た」と「弟いる」で私の嘘は「日本語とスペイン語は舌が回る」でした。日本語を少し話せてスペイン語を全然話せません！3時に授業が終わって皆が帰りました。

私は友達のタマナとマイカルと水曜日に特別の研究会に行きました。「Dr.W」と二年生と三年生と四年生と会いました。社会福祉をよくなるためにホームレスの両親と子供を研究します。私は楽しみにしています。

最初の「Dr. M」の教える授業は木曜日に「Academic Assessment]と呼ばれています。授業の教科は子供を支援です。エキサイテイングで社会福祉がいっぱいと思います。一番目の授業から二番目の授業まで4時間休養なのでタマナとシェビタと昼ご飯を食べに行きました。その後クラスメートたちのリリとレヤとテリサと会いました。4時間の休養は本当につまらなかったと思いました。最後の授業はDr. Sが教えました。その授業は「Multiculturalism for Social Justice」と呼べレテいます。授業の教科は他の人がフェアな扱いさせられて別な人に必要な助力を受けさせる。教授がケーキを持ってきてくれてケーキで公明に細分する方を討論しました。授業が6:45時に終わりました。違うバスに乗るので、1時間帰りました。とても疲れました。

新しい友達に会って大学院がとても好きです。来週友達のことを書き込んでみます。私は読まなければなりすぎないです。

おまたせしました！皆が寂しいよ！