Twin CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Ayumi Haba SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: azure_angel_1732@hotmail.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 19 22:00 INTENDED READERS: The young who feels I should think over our own family ties and also someone who want. to read something snug. Wow, you are living image of your father!! I heard this kind of words so many times. And it is true. I resemble my father in appearance, a way of thinking, and character. My mom always says with smile, I don't have to ask the two, as you say the same thing as your father says. When I was a child, I was proud of this resemblance. Because my mother always says, Your father is the best man in the whole world!! and I believed her words. But the more I grew up, the more I hate this. My father anticipated my mind and words, and made pointed remarks about me. He became an unpleasant man for me. The turning point was his transfer to Norway. It was when I was just studying for the entrance exam of the university. And I realized that he was my best adviser. I think we are so alike in natural sense. Of course we are different person and have different experience, so sometimes we have different idea. But he can understand me better than anybody by our common sense. Suddenly he went out from my own backyard, and then I found his remark relevant. He came back to Japan last early summer. I was so sorry to lose the chance to go to Norway (I planned to go to Norway in August), but to tell you the truth, I'm so happy to live with my parents. Mother who has spent 21 years with me is also my close friend, and Father is my senior in life. I can talk about my daily life with her, and get some information and advice about society from him. But our relationship is not one-sided. My duty is to reconcile him and her when they quarrel. I know Mother's way of thinking better, for I spent more time than him, and I also knew his sense naturally. In such situation, they say heartily A child cements a marriage". One year canned life CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Yusuke Okada SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00195yo@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 07 00:42 INTENDED READERS: I want to tell you, how to try to do your best. I could get spilits of effort, result of this experience. Reflecting in my life, my turning point is when I wait for another chance to enter university. The reasons are two points. First point is I got feel enjoyable to study in this life. Second point, I learned to do what I can do then. This two changed my way of thinking. So I can say this term is very big effect for me. In this essay, I want to write process to change my thinking. At first, I didn't like studying in high school. I cannot feel enjoyable to study. Maybe, my childhood made me think that way. In my child days, my mother said to me, "why don't you study by yourself? Always you study, after I said you to study. You must do yourself." I can agree her idea now. But in these days, I could not understand her idea. I thought, "I am always studying. Why my mother gets anger? I can not understand... " But in this term, I must study myself, whatever I want or not. It makes me change my idea. I tried to study to pass the examination all the time. Continuing to do this, I can understand what I did then. When I came to understand the contents, English and Japanese, world-history etc, I come to get fun of learning. This attitude still remains in my mind. Second, at beginning of this life, I could not catch what I should do. But I did my best then. Time goes by, I can get my interest in learning. If I cannot understand what I do then, I said myself "first of all, you should think what you can do now." I want to be a researcher. This mind makes me think this way. These two experiences is very big effect for me, and they give me hints of my around things. It is not change in my university-days. Never forget your first resolution. Never and never.. . Her Way of Thinking CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Mikiko Honma SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00836mh@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 18 18:36 INTENDED READERS: My friends and people who will be my friends. I want them to know the idea what I am Do you have a sister or brother? I have an older sister. She is 5 years senior to me. I was so deeply impressed by her way of thinking. If there were no chance to know her way of thinking, I would not be what I am today. My way of thinking radically changed when I read her way of thinking. I want you to know her way of thinking that I was deeply impressed. Today, I have many good friends. They help me so much, and I also want to help them. But I think if I would not know my older sister's way of thinking, I couldn't have so wonderful friends. Do you want to know her way of thinking? Then, I will introduce her way of thinking that I was deeply impressed. When I was junior high school student, my older sister began to live for herself near the university. When I was high school student, my sister graduated the university. But she didn't come back to her parents' house. My mother and my sister quarreled so much about that. Then, my sister sent a letter for her mother. And the phrase that I deeply impressed was in the letter. This is her word "In my high school days, I thought it was O.K. if I was right. But it was wrong. People disable to exist alone. Human can exist only in the human. People around them make one person's value. People are all interactive." This is her way of thinking that I deeply impressed. I strongly agree with her opinion. Human can live only in the human society. People can exist only in the human relationships. But if I would not have a chance to know her way of thinking, I would have never been aware of such a thing. What do you think about her way of thinking? What Starbucks taught me CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Mizuho Hanazawa SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t01760mh@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t01760mh/ DATE & TIME: April 18 19:40 INTENDED READERS: My intended audience is highschool and college students who have part-time job. Students who want to have part-time job at starbucks Do you have part-time job? What have you learned by part-time job? I have part- time job at Starbucks and have learned a lot of things. Among these tings "importance of consideration" have changed me better. I would not be what I am today were it not for the experience at Starbucks. It was last autumn that I started having a part-time job at Starbucks. As you know Starbucks is American company which franchising its coffee stores all over the world. And recently Starbucks coffee shops are getting popularity. At first I was very happy to work at Starbucks so I did my best every time. But soon I tried of working because I should learn a lot of things. At that time I thought part-time job is just the way to make money. So I did want to go home early and didn't want to do exhausting job. And I thought, "It's natural that I make mistakes because I'm a freshman". As time goes by, I got to feel unwillingness when I was working. Because other partners were somewhat distant with me. Especially I was scared one person. She always managed her job perfectly so warned me every time I made mistake. One day she asked me to grain coffee beans. Although I have never grained coffee beans for myself, I grained at my discretion. The completion was messy. She had big sigh and said, "We can't serve such terrible stuff to our customers." She continued calmly. "You always act without considering others. You never help your partners. Besides you can't do your job perfectly. You are already not a freshman, aren't you?" I was so shocked that I lost my words. "If you make mistakes, it would be our mistakes. We will not consider you as our partner one of these days. We are considering ourselves so we help ourselves. You should see other partners." Certainly other partners had helped me a lot. They were active to do exhausting job. I took it for granted their action. But it was a big mistake. I realized lack of my consideration. With lack of consideration, I might make mistakes without scruple. I was ashamed and cried. After this occurrence, I changed my mind. Every time I went to work one hour early and I studied a lot. In addition I endeavored to help others with consideration. The situation suddenly changed. Other partners got to speak to me a lot, "Thank you." "May I help you?" "You should do like this" etc. I was very happy to communicate with others. And my mistakes have got to decrease. I now feel comfortable when I am working. I have got more preious thing than money from Starbucks. I thanked her very much for realizing me how I important consideration is. And from this experience I always endeavor to be more considerate of others so that I communicate others pleasantly. Treasure Hunting CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Aya Kosao SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ayakosao@hotmail.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 25 23:52 INTENDED READERS: This essay is for the people who are not satisfied with themselves because of a limited, busy life like a typical Japanese. If you were my friend, a friend who hadn't kept in touch with me for a long time, you might not recognize me. A small adventure changed me last summer. I don't mean a physical change. It is a mental change. For instance, I used to be the kind of serious student teachers like, and a good daughter parents are proud of. But, my turning point came suddenly through my friend, Denis. It was trivial to meet an American girl, Denis. We met each other through a student exchange program in the last summer. Every summer, some American students visit my city, and then Japanese students visit their city, San Diego. Mainly, we visited public buildings, met the mayor, and so on. Anyway, we were taking part in an "official" program. Thus, whenever other Japanese students were absorbed only in entertainments instead of volunteer work, I could not stand their behavior because I was too serious a student. Seeing that I was angry, Denis used to laugh at me. Yes, she was a typical American teenager. She was cheerful, outgoing and playful. Sometimes, I envied herŽ¡ŽÄ One day, Denis invited me to go to Tijuana, a city in Mexico. Tijuana is next to San Diego so we could visit that Mexican city easily. But, the exchange program said that going to Tijuana was prohibited for security reasons. Of cause, I refused it at first. I wasn't worried about security. I just didn't want to be considered " a bad student" and I was afraid that everyone would know I did break rules. " O.K. What if I said I will change your life?" Denis continued, then smiled. "Change my life? That's ridiculous!" Ignoring me, she kept driving, and we passed across the border after all. "Forget about everything! Your busy life in Japan, rules, everything! Be relaxed, try to enjoy yourself, and let's hunt treasure! " As soon as we arrived in Tijuana, I was excited like a kid as if it were magicŽ¡ŽÄ The next day, I was extremely happy. I knew I shouldn't tell anybody about secret tour in Tijuana, but I was bursting to tell the secret. I remembered that night from morning to night. Vivid colors, brilliant downtown, street children, driving vehicle wildlyŽ¡ŽÄIn Tijuana, everything was attractive, exciting and brand-new for me. But, the most important thing was "breaking the rule." It was my adventure, literally. I didn't understand why Denis said, "Let's hunt treasures!" It was after I came back to Japan I figured out that meaning. I became totally different person! Denis knew that I was drowning in the sea of a limited, busy, typical Japanese life. She thought I was always stuck in something. That's right. I had lived following rules. What's more, whenever I did something, I was afraid what others would think about me. Now, I am not such a person, because I finally found my treasure. There are no more densely written schedules in pocketbooks. I don't need to decide something looking into my parents' face. "Enjoy yourself and hunt treasure". That means " Enjoy my life and try to savor the precious things in life so I don't regret it" What Denis said encourages me always. If it were not for meeting Denis, I would not be what I am today. I would have given up my dream of studying abroad, and make every effort to hunt a job without any purpose, like so many other people, instead of hunting for my treasure. Are you satisfied with your life? If not, enjoy your life, and hunt for your treasure! The braves CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Takashi Kawashima SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t01017tk@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 19 01:53 INTENDED READERS: People who have a complex or be facing a problem , or People who have some disorder and couldn't go out This winter you might have watched Olympic game in SaltLake city , but you might not have heard the game to be called Paralynpic . The word of Paralynpic is from "paraplegia" and "Olympic". Paraplegia is one of the physical disorder. Paralynpic has started since 1960 in Roma. And it takes place after every Olympic game. This game have a just one rule, that is,athletes who have some disorder participate in this game. When I was high school student , Nagano Olympic and paralynpic was hold . You might remember Nagano Olympic as SHIMIZU who is a skate aslete have got a gold medal or Japan jump team , too. Someday I watched the TV casually, I couldn't believe the scene that a blind woman was skiing on the steep hill where ordinary person can't ski, or a man who doesn't have left leg was Ž¡ŽÄ I was so surprised , and absolutly I changed the image of disabled person. I think , in Japan a lot of people have a bad or dark image to disorders still now. Some one might say " don't play sports because you are disabled" . But the man I watched never suited those images . I don't know why I thought that,suddenly I thought I had to go to Nagano , and next week I had been there with my friends. In Nagano I have assisted to clean the stage after closing ceremony in M wave,or I had been to HAKUBA where many athletes had played with best. And I talked or saw many braves with brighten faces. Of course I have ,all people also have complexes , but if you give up or flee from problems , you have never a solution. I think that even if we face a clutch or problem ,it would be a chance. Asking to myself CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Hiroyuki Tanabe SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00609ht@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 19 02:12 INTENDED READERS: For the poeple who experienced "ronin" (waiting for the next chance to enter university) and don't have enough confidence because of "ronin" How often you ask to yourself what you really want to do? We can spend the time somewhat. So we tend to forget what we want to do ourselves. Years ago, when I was a high school student, I tried to ask, and "What do I want to be in the future?" On that time, however, I couldn't answer that question. At the same time, I failed in entrance examination of university. And unwillingly I had to continue to ask that question one more year. It is called as "ronin" that such a condition, which is waiting for next chance to enter university, and people who is under "ronin" is called "ronin- sei". Usually "ronin-sei" goes to preparatory school for university entrance examination. In that school, there are many familiar people who are "ronin- sei". But I didn't want to go to preparatory school and I've passed a year in my home (Of cause I sometime went to go out for mood conversion). Because I wanted to ask to myself what I really want to be and I wanted to be alone while my "ronin" finished. Finally, I couldn't find out what I want to be in the future by my entrance to my university. And I hesitate my "ronin". But now I can say "ronin" changed my life. It was good for me. So I don't want people who experienced "ronin" before entering university to hesitate "ronin". I often think and confirm, "What do I want to do?" And I can know what I should do, or which way is the best for me, whether it is necessary for me or not. It is often said, "Goal setting is very effective. That is because you will tend not to miss your way that you should go. Also I believe, asking what I want to do to yourself is the best tool which leads me to my fantastic my future. After I saw CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Lisa Kudo SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t99332lk@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 15 12:23 INTENDED READERS: People whom are interested in to media or the influence of television. Students, who have chances to learn from what the see. Ex, class, television, books, Internet, their experience and so on I have been working at NHK's press bureau as a visual translator for a year. I saw many tragedy fields as self-destruction, the war at Afghanistan and so on. And found out the truth that won't broadcast. At the same time I was shocked at the power of an inedited "raw material". It wasn't edited and there was no narration but it was enough. The power of visual image gave me a chance to think. I started to think about the collision between Israel and Palestine than before. Actually before I saw I was just an audience of the news. Lately at last we often see the issue on TV, but couple of months ago we only saw an empty village or heard sounds of shooting. That is not enough. Not enough to feel and to think about the issue. During those days in work I saw, hundreds of people wounded and dead. And it is not as simple or easy to look at as in the movies. The reality is crueler. For example there is a girl my age that was enjoying her Friday date at a restraint. Jeans and shirts speaking English, not so much different from young girls around me. But after the explosion every thing changes. Now I see people yelling with broken glass allover themselves. Dead people who blew up. A father who has got mad, losing his daughter. I felt the weight of "humans death", which is not the size of the happening. Not form the language but form what I see made me feel. And because I feel, I started to think. To feel is the key to start to think and make action of something. It seems that there are many happening is this world that we have chances to feel. But most of them we just consume and leave it out and those are not what I call "to feel". To feel we might need to be conscious about it because we are so used to exciting information. And as the saying, to see will be one of the strongest occasions. The Third Eye CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Chihiro Ichikawa SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s01081ci@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s01081ci/ DATE & TIME: April 25 00:18 INTENDED READERS: I want this essay to be read by many people(especially, to those who haven't contacted with people who have handicap) Have you ever sat up in a wheelchair? Or did you pushed or touched one? -- Yes, I have. My younger brother has handicap and has been used wheelchairs. So, for me, it is quite common to see wheelchairs. But it was a few years ago that I realized wheelchairs had made my vision broad. My brother began to use a wheelchair when he entered the elementary school. He and I went to the same elementary school and junior high school, and he, in the wheel chair, was always near me. He entered the class that other students who didn't have handicap entered and led a happy school life. And a lot of my friends, teachers and people in the local community knew that my brother had used the wheelchair. Sometimes I played with my friends including my brother. But my surroundings radically changed when I entered the high school. He and I began to go to the different schools, and those around me knew nothing about him. They knew only that I had a brother. In course of time, little by little, I got to hesitate to tell my friends that my brother was disabled and to hide that fact. In such days, one day, one of my friend said to me, "How old are your brother? What school does he go to? Does he take part in any sports?" -- Sports? He didn't, or rather he couldn't. I did not know what answer to make. I was wondering about which was better to keep hiding the fact or tell the truth. Finally I made a decision. I concluded to tell the truth to everyone. I told my friends about my brother's handicap. Then one of them said, "Thank you for telling us. Well, I have done a volunteer job a few years ago and come in contact with some handicapped persons, but there were a lot of things I didn't know. I had no idea what I can and how I should do. Perhaps, what I couldn't do at that time would be easy and usual for you. So you have experienced a lot of wonderful things thanks to your brother and his wheelchair, which leads to your personality or your good point!" That was an unexpected reaction. I was very impressed and very glad, but at the same time I was ashamed of myself before. Since then, I have been being proud of my precious experiences with my brother and his wheelchairs and also grateful to them. The wheelchair is my third eye that makes my vision broad. Finally I want to say To those who have some handicap: Please be proud of yourselves and speak more to people who have no handicap, To those who have no handicap: Please don't hesitate to speak to people who have handicap, Because we are company! Ping-pong CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Amiko Nishijima SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: amiko@jcom.home.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 19 21:22 INTENDED READERS: I wrote this essay to those who always compare themselves with others and suffer from an inferiority complex,and want to change their situations. There is no question that I would not be what I am today if it were not for my junior and high school days in a ping-pong club. Playing ping-pong made my mental condition stronger. I learned a philosophy of life while joining the ping-pong club. When I entered a junior high school, I wanted to join sports club because I was eager to improve my abilities in sports. So I joined the ping-pong club. You may think ping-pong is not a hard sport. I thought so at that time too, but as I came to know it deeply, I realized that it was not true. In fact, ping- pong is a very difficult sport and requires players to lot of exercise. I was a poor athlete, so I could not catch up with other members in my club for a long time. I got nervous because I could not do what other members could. Such hard situation gradually changed when a coach, who was a university student told us, "You must not compare yourself with others. What is count is how you progress not how you are superior to others." This phrase encouraged me to practice more and more. As time passed, I continued to play ping-pong and I could play ping-pong far better than ever. What is more, I defeated many members in my club, but it is not important for me. Thus, it may be a slight exaggeration to say I learned an important philosophy of life but, it is no doubt that I would not be what I am today without the experience in the ping-pong club. "Practice something hard without comparing myself with others and God helps those who help themselves." In fact, this is a very troublesome thing to practice, but I would like to do my best. Long Vacation CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Yuki Murayama SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: yu-muray@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: Oct. 11 10:49 It is impossible to talk about today's me without making mention of the term when I couldn't go to school in my junior-high school days. If you heard the word, "toukou-kyohi", you may only have dark and bad images, but if I come to think of it, these one and a half years when I couldn't go to school were indispensable to my life. Then, how did these dark and miserable days come to make my life more wonderful? It was from November of grade 7 to April of Grade 9 when I didn't go to school. I don't know why I came not to be able to go to school. Since primary school, I was shat is called a good girl who was a class representative or a school captain, so I think it was maybe because I didn't want to continue being a good girl anymore. I'm often asked, " What were you doing while you didn't go to school?" and I always answered, "Nothing." Actually I have only been watching TV, doing jigsaws, reading, shopping with my aunt and going out with my best friend at rare intervals. My living rhythm went wrong and I kept the life that I sat up until a newspaper carrier came and went to bed when people got up. I've never studied. Of course, I wasn't satisfied with such and everyday life, on the contrary, I was always tormented with the anxiety about the future. Such a dark "toukou-kyohi" days came to an end by a phone from one of my friend who also didn't go to school. She asked me to go to school with her at night and we started to attend a class at night under my homeroom teacher. After a while, I began to attend classes at normal time. I could know that all classmates were anxious about me and that the homeroom teacher whom I refused all the time tried everything in order to make me come to school again. I would not notice their kindnesses, if it were not for these days. Also, I could charge a full of energy that I can use at any moment during these days. Thus, these days I couldn't go to school have me wonderful times and experiences. I think now that these one and a half years were never useless days, but a long vacation that Got gave me to make the future more wonderful. I would not be what I am today if were it not for that long vacation. If you met with a difficulty and could not get over, I would like to say to you, "You don't have to be worried or be hasty. You only have to think that the present time is the rest that your are given to make the future better." Days of America CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Yuki Togawa SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: yuki_togawa@livedoor.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: Oct. 11 21:20 In Japan, it is said that "to agree in everything" is the best way to get along with companies. I really was the person like I said above, because I was a very shy and silent student. I never said "no" when I was asked to go out with my friends because I was afraid of being disliked. Also the same kind of thing happened in school, too. When I was in middle school, I had a science experiment in the class. We were divided into groups and told to do the assignment, to find the same answer. Of course, we came to the same conclusion, and write the same thing as the science text says on the report. However, I always wanted to know the theory of how the phenomena occur. So I wanted to ask the teacher in the class, but I couldn't because if I ask about it, the teacher and the classmates will think that I'm an argumentative person. I was afraid of being an outcast, and I thought that "to agree in everything" is the best way to live in the society. However, my idea was totally changed when I started to live in the U.S. I was so surprised that American students are so curious about any small things, and they don't mind to ask anything to their teacher. I felt so annoying because they care about so simple things, and teachers take so many times to explain the theory. Also, when starting a project or having some discussion, American students are so outgoing and it takes a lot of time to get their ideas in shape. I thought they were so self-centered because each student won't concede any point to others. I was so disappointed and I didn't say opinion. Then some students pointed out me that if I never tell what I feel, I would be regarded as a fool. I was so shocked to know about it, because in Japan, I believed that "to remain silent and shake my head up and down" is the best way to get along with companies. But considering carefully about it, I thought what the American students were saying was right. In Japan, we often hear the proverb, "he who is ashamed of asking is ashamed of learning." But actually, there are still many situations that never provide us any chance to say an opinion, or there exist people who don't accept novel ideas. I'm quite a quibbler now and have some hardships by being it, but I never forget the days I spent in the U.S. and I believe that "to have my own opinion" is the finest way to live my own life. My six friends in my youthful days CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Yosuke Sakurai SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: s-yosuke@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: Oct. 10 16:31 Do you have the people who cannot forget in your life? I happened to meet many people.They gave me something great. Of them,I have best six friends whom I remember first in my mind.They gave me self-confidence of the fight against anything, and bravery of my dream coming true. It has changed my life. I would not be what I am today, were it not for them. I and my friends were so notorious that all teachers disliked us. They were always angry with us that we got bad score, but we didn't feel inferior to others about it. We had great imagination to produce something great. We instituted the association of movie. We produced some movies every day, having movie cameras ,though we must take examination of university. Others guessed that it was a trifle,however. We all have taken pride in it. If I hadn't had them, I would not have self-confidence of the fight against anything. They gave me bravery of my dream coming true. We all faced up to much troubles and anxieties every day.We encouraged each other to put up with them and supported each other . We shared great memories with us in youthful days. I guess that when one has a dream, a dream will become itself, however when one has a dream with comrades, a dream comes true. They gave me bravery of my dream coming true. They also have gone to their dreams, remembering great youthful days in their minds. I would not be what I am today, that is to say cowardice, were it not for my comrades. They got me self-confidence of the fight against anything and bravery of my dream coming true.They all guess so too. I would like to say to them, Thank you!!! and we are friends for ever. Going with friends and rivals----For introduction CATEGORY: What Makes Me Special? AUTHOR: Kentarou Ofuji SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99235ko@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s99235ko DATE & TIME: Oct. 25 15:25 Do you have someone who is your model? Or someone you think you doesn't want he/she beats you? I think such the people have indirectly trained me. Thanks to them, I could have strove myself to grow better and be stronger for the purpose I could catch up with them. In the process of everyday friendship, they showed me a purpose of life, "competition". No stimulus, no motivation, I could have been dull and plain one person. Now let me talk about the meaning of competition for me mentioning to my personal experience. My first "friend and rival"has appeared when I was in a junior high and high school. He and I has been good friend in daily school life and rivals to each other in studying field and sports. Especially in the field of studying, first he was getting higher marks than I was, which pushed me to study hard. After my hospital life in the tenth grade, his advantage stood in front of me as a throat. Eventually in most academic parts, I have beaten him. But is everything over? No. I didn't feel contented. Soon after I studied to defense my advantage for fear that I was so proud myself that I became dull.I believe that the competition by setting target is a field we can polish ourselves by constant stimuli. That example above is a personal case, however I think such the competitions together with friendship have made my days special and no meaningless. Though I sometimes hear from somebody, "I have nothing to do specially," I convince myself that no competition makes our life sluggish. So I don't want to spend sluggish times. My life is all the seeking for stronger rivals or newer targets. In this process, I found this interactive writing community, which I regard as a step for my advance. I'd like to compete with you to get a lot of stimuli. How do you do? Japanese educational system your efforts pay off CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Masakazu Kurashige SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99319mk@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s99319mk/ DATE & TIME: Oct. 17 07:11 I would not be what I am today were it not for the entrance examination of university. It told me that my efforts paid off. Many people criticize the educational background society. It is true that it has many problems. For example, memorizing and cramming are central, placing too much emphasis on technology to get points, depriving of personality and creativity. But I think it is more hateful society our career is decided by ancestry and the status of parents. If you were born in such a society, you could not get a job you want to. The educational background society is the society better than the society I mentioned above in the sense that the opportunity is given to anyone equally and efforts are paid off. What you are asked is to get the minimum point to pass. Special talent is not needed different from art and sports. If you have a will to pass and study hard by the right way, you can pass it. You must use the opportunity to be what you want to and to do what you want to. College students should thank to have got the chance to study. In spite of entering the university you want to, many people lose will to study after several months. It is true that many classes in the university are boring. But we should remember there are many people who could not enter the university even if they have the ability. Now Japanese society is the one the possibility is opened by studying. In studying, inherent ability is not absolute element. Method and will to study are more important. So Japanese society is very good society for people who were born in the environment that are not favored. Before you criticize the educational background society and the system of entrance examination, you need to realize the fact. My favorite actor CATEGORY: My Favorite Person AUTHOR: Saori Abou SCHOOL: Chubu University E-MAIL: f01002@isc.chubu.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 16 15:40 INTENDED READERS: I want to introduce my favorite Japanese actor named Yousuke Kubozuka. He is so cool and intelligent man. Anyway, he is nice guy. Let me introduce my favorite actor. I will write about my favorite actor. My faborite actor is Yousuke Kubozuka. He is twenty-two years old now, and he was born on May 7th, 1979. He is from Yokosuka city in Kanagawa prefecture. He has two brothers, and he is the eldest son. I hear his hobby is reading books. His first teleplay is "Kindaichisyounennnojikennbo" when he was fourteen years old. Mako Ishino played the criminal at the time. He acted her student and lover who killed himself because of bullying. I saw this chapter, but I did'nt know him yet at the time. Since then, he has been appearing on various teleplays. The most impressive teleplay is "GTO" because I began to like him just then. I came to know him when I watched "GTO". In those days, he still had long hair. Next, he is appearing many on teleplays, movies, and TV commercials, and so on. On the other hand, he is always getting involved in a lot of scandals and rumors recently. For example, passionate love with Takako Tokiwa. A weekly magazine reported that he is passionately in love with her, but another one denies that. I wish that was just a wild rumor. Next affair was Sachiko Kokubun. Unfortunately, it seems to be true. Because all of the weekly magazines report that. A few years ago, he played with her and went out with her. But two or three monthes ago, they were separated. According to the weekly magazines, she cried on the street late at night. Frankly speaking, I was glad to hear that. In the end, he is subjected to rumors and scandals. Nevertheless, he is still gaining popularity. I want him to do his best from now on, and I will support him from now on. That's all. Global Warming CATEGORY: What I'm Thinking Most About AUTHOR: Takuya Watanabe SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s01000tw@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 08 18:36 INTENDED READERS: I want to read this essay to those who don't know much about global warming. I show 5 specific examples if the globe keeps warming in this pace. What I'm thinking most about is people actions that endangered global environment. I'm going to write my opinion about these activities. There are many phenomenons that are believed endangering global environment. First, I want to say about "Global Warming". I think this is the most dangerous phenomenon occurred by human activity such as generating power plant, auto emission and use of electronic products. Most of our activity is contributing to global warming. So we have to think much on this issue. What will occur if the globe keeps warming at this pace? I took a look at this so I'm going to write below. 1. Glaciers and ice sheets are melting and collapsing. This will cause rising sea level. It is predicted that if the Earth going to be 2 degree Celsius warmer, sea level will rise 1 meter. You may say "just only 1 meter sea level rising is nothing. It does not matter." But scientists predict more than millions of people will be screwed with only 1 meter sea level rising. 2. Forest will be destroyed. Forest and its trees are better suited for its soils. But climate will change by global warming, so one thirds of the forest will be inadaptable. 3. Many places will turn into desert for two reasons. First, amount of moisture vapor that evaporate into air will be increasing. Second by global warming, the climate changes and in some regions the amount of rainfall will be decreasing. These two reasons will contribute to desertification. 4. Epidemics will spread to many regions. Some epidemics are spread by direct touch of bugs that only exists in south hot area. So now epidemic like malaria is thought local disease. But if the globe keeps warming, the scope of activities of the bugs that have malaria will be wide spread and malaria will might be a disease not only in south area but also in north area. As I wrote above, there are many harm that will be to us if the globe keeps warming in this pace. I strongly believe we have to cooperate to stop global warming. It is the global issue that it can't be solve unless we don't cooperate. I want to know more and more people about the harm of global warming and I also want to prevent it. Thank you for your reading. When did you laugh last? CATEGORY: What I Like Best AUTHOR: Takuya Watanabe SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s01000tw@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 26 00:41 INTENDED READERS: I want to this essay those who don't laugh recently. I want to make them know about how laughing is efficient. I can say that what I like best in my life is laughing. How long did you laugh yesterday? If your answer is "I laughed lots." I think yesterday was a wonderful day for you. But, if your answer is " I didn't laugh" yesterday must be a boring day. Fun in your life depends much on laughing. I want to say how wonderful laughing is in this essay. First, in communication laugh is a sign of reliance. When you are talking with the person you are not reliable, you don't laugh so much. But when you are talking with reliable mate, you may laugh much. So laughing makes comfortable atmosphere. I think somebody smiles on you. I think he has little bit reliance on you. Second, laughing has also attention in the medical world. I watched a TV program about laughing it said "laughing makes your immunity stronger." Of course strong immunity is good for health. TV program also said "laughing changes your mechanism of your body better." Laughing is good for not only for health but also for stress. Please remember the time after you saw entertainment TV program. You must feel very fresh. Laughing kick your stress out. So let's laugh! Third, in Japan there's saying, "Warau kadoniha Fukukitaru" it means that "happiness is around laughing" I think this saying is true. In life, important scene in life for example, the entrance ceremony, a wedding ceremony, birth of a baby are full with smiling. It prove that there're laughing around happiness. As I wrote in this essay, laughing has a lot of effects for you. I'm trying to laugh all time. You don't need money to laugh. If your life is boring or lazy, why don't you talk with your friend and laugh? I'm sure that your life expands infinitely. If I am born not as a human CATEGORY: Reaching Out for World Peace AUTHOR: yuki otomo SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: yuki0929@aioros.ocn.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 26 17:32 INTENDED READERS: people who can not see exept him/herself. All the adults. All the teachers(because they have big responsibility to grow a new children for a future). My freinds, parents. What had become if I am born not as a human? What had become if I am born as a plant? What had become if I am born as a fish? What had become if I am born as a dog? Have you ever thought about that? Sometimes I dislike being as a human. Hate, kill, violence, insultŽ¡ŽÄ. When I see that, I become disagreeable. Why do we need to hate each other? Why do we need to kill each other? Aren't we same human beings? At that time I think about what had become if I am born as other existence. Can you suppose my these feelings? Our earth is becoming dirty steadily. And it was distorted so that society was not believed, either, and our heart has also gone out of use. It seems that many men feel such nothing as for this situation. But I receive continuously and I want to be honest about my feeling. So I don't want feel disagreeable about our world or society or ourselves and so on. If I were a tree, I would not feel that kind of feelings. I want much more peaceful world. I want live happily. I don't want hating. But if there are no helping of other people to change the world much more happily one, nothing will change. It remains uncomfortable forever. I want all the people to have a big attention to our world. It has gold how much, which is powerful, or such a thing is not related. We are all the same human beings, are such things and do not judge man. I rewant you to return to the starting point once again and to gaze at myself. Since what was not visible may be visible and it may turn out that I do not understand. The world is not enough CATEGORY: Reaching Out for World Peace AUTHOR: Nomoto A SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: nomoto-a@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 23 10:08 INTENDED READERS: All people who think peace is necessary for human's happiness, and hate a fighting. And the world is not enough to be peaceful. I think that "peace" is one of a few common criterion for human. A man is not the living thing which wants to kill others in their basic part.However, actually, war always breaks out, even at this moment, and a human is continuing killing other one.Although a man does not like fighting in their basic part, why does he continue fighting? It can be said that one of the reasons is because a man has what should be protected. If his valuable thing becomes danger, a man can take an edge in order to protect it.But it cannot be said that it is enough to explain why a man fights.Many of war is because it originates in the difference about thought, religion, race, and desire.And those all do not become the reason a man may kill a man so that everyone may know.As the second reason, I think a man which can be hard to see as a same life which has same value for the a man different from himself. As the sad thing a man can become very cruel especially which he does not know it.It is impossible to lose fighting as long as a man values something. Those who cannot hate someone never can do loving someone. However, isn't there any way a man stops damaging each other by the other reason? The most ideal method will abolish the difference among men. But there is nothing until it says, a man cannot be completely same existence.A man can imagine something based on knowledge. Now by various methods, we can know about the people it is considered that are different too much in ourselves.If all men can imagine that they are the human beings who does not change them at all with us, and image they are his neighbor,fughting will be able to be reduced from this world.Although a man may be able to become cruel to what is not known, he does not become cruel which is wounded his neighbor. Of course, it is not the eady way. It is awfully difficult to have imaginative power to the extent that the too large wall as a country or a race. However, a man still has to walk at the goal. It is because it is the only way which they cannot avoid if their own,their children and grandchildren to live peacefully. And when we reach out our goal,the world is enough to be filled with peace. Thank you for reading my essay. How To Find True Happiness CATEGORY: What is true happiness? AUTHOR: Frank Ramos SCHOOL: Perth Amboy Vo. Tech. Perth Amboy, NJ E-MAIL: frankieramos84@yahoo.com, Bella9971@aol.com WEB PAGE: www.mc-votech.org/pie DATE & TIME: June 27 23:18 INTENDED READERS: this essay is intended for any young adults who are looking for happiness and any adults who may also be seeking success and true happiness What is true happiness? Is it fame, fortune and being famous? Or is it having people who care about you? Who will sacrifice themselves for your life instead of theirs? Life is a special thing and requires patience. To me, the whole point in life is not being wealthy and famous, but finding true happiness. Until we find it in our lives, we will be miserable forever. I may be sixteen, but I feel like a veteran in life. I have been through a lot more stress than most teenagers. When you are my age, rejecting money or hanging out with your friends can be stressful. You don't like to reject your friends because you don't like like to be rejected yourself. Money is a powerful thing that changes people's perspective on life. Once a teenager or young adult sees money, they loose sight of what really matters in life. That is, being happy and really loving yourself. Some people say loving yourself is being conceited, it is just being happy with who you are. We are supposed to be proud of ourselves even if we are nobodies. To ourselves we should be happy and that is all that matters. My true happiness is God, my family, and baseball. On the playing field, I could relax and clear my mind. If I do well, I am still happy because it is what I love to do. My family supports me and never lets me down. They have been with me since I was born, and will be with me till I die. The final piece of my true happiness is God. Since I am a true believer, I feel happy and protected that he is looking down on me. It is a great feeling when you have happiness in your life. Not by what you have done or people have done for you, but for who you are. No matter what age you are, take a view of your life. Find out what makes you most happy and you will become a success. That is the hardest part of life. So, once you accomplish that, you have found all you need to live for. Remember, no one can tell you where to find it; you have to look in your heart. Once you are born you start to die. Please, become happy while your life lasts. The Truth of Happiness CATEGORY: What is true happiness? AUTHOR: Nicole Reale SCHOOL: Miami Southridge High, USA E-MAIL: Aprieto628@aol.com WEB PAGE: www.miamisouthridge.com DATE & TIME: June 05 01:15 INTENDED READERS: Anyone who has ever felt happy before, so that includes, but does not limit it to, adults, children, boys, girls, women, men, and even pets! "I am so happy!" This expression has been used numerous time for many different occassions. However, most of the time, the people saying these words have no clue as to what they are saying. What is true happiness? The answer to this question lies in the hearts of many people around the world. In the following essay, I will discuss a few of the different types of true happiness felt by people around the world. Hopefully, after reading this essay, everyone will be just a little bit smarter than before on the subject of true happiness. To begin with, one type of happiness is love. When someone is in love, no matter how tired, sad, hungry, busy, bored, excited, or crazy they are, they are happy. There are many different types of love. There is love between a mother or father and their children or familes. This type of love involves the type of happiness one feels when they are comfortable, knowing that there are many people around them that love them. It is a warm feeling, and everyone should experience it at least once in their lives. An additional type of love is one between a man and a woman. The type of happiness involved in this type of love is more passionate, more romantic, and even more amazing. This type of love is optional, so when people fall into this type of love, it is because they chose to, and that makes it even more special. With this knowledge, it is obvious as to why people are truly happy when involved in these relationships. However, sometimes people feel happiness for the wrong reasons. For instance, if one persons hurts another, physically or emotionally, the person hurt tends to want revenge on the other. Technically, they are right in wanting that, because they do feel hurt. So when they end up messing up the other person's life, they feel happy about it. While this happiness lasts for a while, eventually, it fades out, and most people end up feeling guilty about it. At this point, they no longer feel happy, and the person who initially hurt them is now hurting, and it ends up being one big circle of hate, and no one is happy any longer. Therefore, in conclusion, I would like to say that happiness is great, but there are different types that people feel. There is happiness in love, and that feels great, especially with the different types of love, and there is also happiness in revenge, which feels good at the time, but eventually ends up hurting everyone involved in the issure to begin with. Therefore, the true meaning of happiness is unknown, and the only way to find it out is to look deep inside what one truly feels in his or her heart at the time. Your own life CATEGORY: What is true happiness? AUTHOR: Shiho Ueno SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00143su@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 02 03:56 INTENDED READERS: I want to be read my essay by someone who want the answer what the true happiness is and want to live with happiness. When do you feel the happiness? You may answer the time you achieve something, talk with friends, or watch the movies. There are all sorts of "happiness", because each person feels different happiness. When do you feel gloomy? You may answer the time things never work or you get tired. We live going round and round in circles of "happiness" and "unhappiness" every day. Can we always live with happiness? The answer is "no". However big the happiness is, it cannot prevent us from feeling unhappiness. There are so many problems and difficulties in our daily life. Besides we often feel uneasiness or loneliness without any reasons. We often hear the opinion that "There are a lot of people who is more unhappy than you --- like hungry children or injured soldiers. So you should be satisfied with the existing state of things and feel happiness." That's wrong! If there are so many people more unhappy than you, the fact that you feel unhappiness won't change. Happiness gettable from comparing someone with us is meaningless at all. Happiness gettable from gazing fixedly at myself is most important. We all love happiness and always wish to be happy, but we can get happiness thanks to serious unhappiness. What is true happiness? There is no "true happiness" for all of us. The answer is in you. When you smile naturally, when your heart beats fast, you are just truly happy. Regardless of size or kind, each happiness is "true happiness" for each person. Happiness gives us the power to contend with our own life. The most important thing is to come face to face with yourself. We can't always live with happiness, but we just have to accept all happiness and unhappiness in our life honestly. To live your own life is the ultimate happiness, I think. What's happiness? CATEGORY: What is true happiness? AUTHOR: syujiro ide SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00081si@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 28 05:26 INTENDED READERS: all of people in IWC, people who forgot the most radical happiness because of their too much desire and all people who make me what I'm now What's happiness? When we realize what we want we are satisfied and feel happy. Then, is happiness to satisfy one's desire? This answer is not true. I think we have already got true happiness. For, true happiness is to have a heart. And it is also to feel and experience various things during our life. If we are satisfied our all desires, our life will be boring. I have read an interesting sentence. It said, "Oh, my son, I bought you all what you wanted. I give you toys, cars, ever a house. Why did you need drugs?" Our desires have no limit. But like this example, even if we are satisfied them, we are not always happy. One of my favorite songs says, "Though you don't have good looks, if you have a heart, you are lucky and have a meaning of life." I think this is true answer. We are fortunately born with a heart. Under the favor of it, we can feel happy or sad. And through the feeling, we can experience and grow up. Are there more happy things than it? I don't mean we shouldn't want. Actually I also want many things to feel more convenience. I want a car, a new bass, and more money. But we have to notice that now we are too well off. There are some children who can't enough foods somewhere. Although I won't pretend to be gentle, I think we need to rethink this fact. What we often feel sad may be little things for them. I thank all people who make me what I'm now. Thank father, mother, all relatives, and all my friends. I have already been happy and I will be happy from now on. You see, I have already had a greatest treasure. Are you happy? Be happy! CATEGORY: What is true happiness? AUTHOR: harue SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: d-harue@par.odn.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 27 18:49 INTENDED READERS: People who think his/her life is dull. And people who think happiness is hard to attain, I want them to know what I think happiness is. Is there something interesting? My life is boring. Probably you would know someone saying like that. Or may be it were you to say such a phrase. It is the easiest way to complain about your daily life. But think it again. Is your life actually boring? In my junior high school days, all most of things were boring to me. Going to school was boring, so I skipped classes occasionally. Speaking someone was hard work for me, so I liked for being alone. I can now recollect those things and I can now define such my attitude was because of adolescence. In those days I thought that happiness is so big and hard to get. Seeking for such happiness, I paid no attention to my daily life. But now, I don't think happiness is hard to get at all. Never the less, I think happiness is always around us. One day I was walking in a hurry on the way to station. Suddenly, I stopped walking and looked back. Guess what made me to do so. It was flowers, blooming at their best. When I passed them, a wind was born and it made me notice those flowers and their nice smell. Flowers told me that summer was coming. They also made me realize that I had just a narrow sight toward both outer and inner world of myself. This experience made me happy because I could feel seasons, nature, obviously. And one more, I was happy with me that I could pull myself up. I think that human is born to be happy. It is non-sense to make one's life boring by oneself. We can find no happiness in case we only dream big things that hardly happen in actual life. Imagine your yesterday. You probably had one thing that you feel nice at least. To speak of my yesterday, I woke up with fresh feeling, I did a big job in my English class, I saw beautiful sunny sky, I met a friend of mine whom we haven't met for a long time, and I watched a nice movie, and so on.. . These things themselves are happy things for me. Happiness is always around us. The main point is whether we realize it or not. Calculate My Span of Life CATEGORY: What is true happiness? AUTHOR: Hiroaki Terauchi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: zinai@cat.zero.ad.jp WEB PAGE: http://sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00682ht DATE & TIME: July 03 23:07 INTENDED READERS: Those who is taking trouble of love. Especially those who has love conection with many persons and on wondering whether keep on going or not. "There are two type of man -- who can love with only one women, who can love with a lot of women. I am the former one and you are the latter. It's the difference between us. That's all." My best friend said. Then I was seventeen. He was eighteen. Is it a vice to falling love with the other girl friend? Such an idea made me nerves and made me perplexed. Anybody has the right to stop the man? Is there anyone who is enough silly to forgive him? Sometimes what he said resounded in my head. : There is no man who can love many girls like me. I cannot stand any more. Why I should be bind by the hypocrite moral? I tried to answer his question. And it was my answer that we cannot understand whether it is a mistake or not without making the mistake. It is too much for the man who is tender. It is hard for the man who can sympathy and who cannot betray another person. If you have some money, some looks and some status, it would be easy for you to go to bet. And this is the turning point. May be there two thinking ways : Life is short so that we should do everything as possible as we can. Life is long so that the point is whether we can protect what is important for us. And indeed the former makes his life shorten and the latter longer. I like human none the less for his faults. Now that I'm twenty I've grew up to forgive and allow him. Because I've experienced so many things which gave me another insight that everyone has each perspective and happiness so that we cannot judge whether it is good or not easily. And recently I've been wondering if I would be dead early or not. Why do we have a question like "what is TRUE happiness" My answer is??? CATEGORY: What is true happiness? AUTHOR: Nobuya Kobayashi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t99373nk@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 29 03:58 INTENDED READERS: one who feels "I am unhappy", one who is thinking about what is happiness, one who isn't satisfied what one is, one who cannot take things straight,that is, a crank What is true happiness? If you are asked about "true happiness", what kind of answer do you take? I have a unique answer about this theme. So I hope you are looking forward to my answer! Below I will show you my idea about "true happiness". When we think of true happiness, we have to clarify the word true happiness. In particular we have to be conscious of the word "true". That is, "true" means absolute, valid for everyone. So "true happiness" is the happiness that most people should be convinced. So next what is "happiness"? I think there seems to be lots of ideas about happiness. Three of my friends showed me three types of ideas of happiness. The first answer is like this: happiness is to pursue one's desires. He said that he got a lot of pleasure when he got a lot of money or had a delicious dinner. When his desires are satisfied, he feels happy. This is an answer. The next answer is like this: happiness is to be with one's friends and families. She said that she felt much relaxed when she could have a great time with her friends and families. She added that she can notice that how many people take care of or love her. This is another answer. The last answer is like this: happiness is to hit on some great ideas. He insisted that when he studied at his college, he sometimes was obliged to struggle with some obstacles which prevented his research. But when he hits on a good solution to that, he feels fine and can have a kind of fulfillment. In addition when he imagines that his work contributes to the world, he becomes happy. This is an answer. These answers over happiness are so interesting and give us a lot of hints. But we have to notice that all of their ideas are a bit subjective. To pursue one's desires, to be loved, and to have a fulfillment may be "a happiness", but not "true happiness". The reason is that they are not always true of most people and they think over true happiness consciously. So what is "true" happiness? I think "true happiness" is in a natural condition, that is, not being conscious of what is true happiness. We have some questions to the world when we don't live a happy life. In other words, the question "what is true happiness" appears when he or she is not happy or has some troubles. My friends answered to this question because I asked them. They usually have no awareness about "true" happiness. In sum I want to suggest that obsessing with the idea like what is "true" happiness is a kind of unhappiness. When we are really happy, we have no question like this. In other words, we are happy if we have never felt unhappy. So my answer to "what is true happiness" is like above that! What do you think of my opinion??? virtual children CATEGORY: What is true happiness? AUTHOR: Motoki Yasui SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00935my@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 28 07:23 INTENDED READERS: I want to see many children that is interested in virtual. And Mother who take care about children so 5 to 10 years old. "Kids will be kids." This popular expression is often used to refer to the idea that kids through the centuries have never changed. Due to their inexperience in life, they are viewed as overly active, mischievous, and generally difficult to handle. This is natural, or so we have thought. However, due to the growing reliance children have on certain forms of media, is it possible that we will reach a point in the future when, at least in modern societies, kids will be something else ? There is an undeniable trend in which children are sitting more and more in front of audio-visual screens. On an average day they watch breakfast TV, operate computers at school and play virtual games when they get home again. This screen addiction continues well into the weekend when it often intensifies. In the meantime, many playgrounds are empty and parents, with ever- increasing work commitments, spend less time interacting with their children. It may be too soon to evaluate this trend, but many child experts and non- experts alike believe that there are some negative signs that may arise on a physical, intellectual and emotional level. Common sense tells us that a lack of physical exercise will not only lead to obesity in young children, but also weak bodies that are susceptible to injuries and illnesses such as allergies. One also can see the downside of unsupervised children relying totally on the media for information for information. Undoubtedly, many distorted views on such topics as violence and sex as shown on TV and computer games can prevent children from maturing naturally and developing realistic views without the aid of parental interaction and real-life experience. Overall, people worry that children s alienation from intimate relationships with people will stifle their ability to express feelings and deal with others. The prospect of children turning into cold, calculating creatures who value ideas and people on the basis of media standards and trends may be an extreme view, but unless we get in touch with our children, some of the symtoms mentioned could turn into reality. So next time you see your children or younger brothers and sisters glued to a screen, take the opportunity to engage them in conversation, sport or some other hobby. For the sake of their health, they need to be able to see that virtual experiences can never replace those which are real . Was "Jyuken Benkyou" happy for you? CATEGORY: What is true happiness? AUTHOR: Hanako Kariya SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00262hk@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 17 02:09 INTENDED READERS: all perople who's interested in happiness to make one's life better What is hard for me to give up? It is to stop making effort to reach some kind of goal I set.Even if the process is not so happy for me, I just can't stop. Why I can't stop if the process includes not much fun? .. . Because I can find happiness there! I'm going to show you why I have this idea through my preparing for entering university, named "Jyuken Benkyou". When I was in high school, I knew that time I'm going to spend in university could be one of the most important period in the sense that I can have much more free time compared with other period in my life. So I wanted to enter university which gives me plenty of time to spend what I want to do. I knew about SFC which gives lots of chances to learn about almost any kind of study so that I was very attracted. I was believing (and still though) if I make certain amount of efforts to reach any goal everybody can make it, started making effort to pass entrance examination of university. My "Jyuken Benkyou" life, which made me think about what is my happiness, started this way. Process preparing itself was not so comfortable. Obviously sitting in front of desk for a long time looking at textbooks almost everyday was not so interesting thing. Also my high school was Nihon university's attached school, no people have never got into SFC or any other university which is about same level as SFC. So, if I'll be realistic about my situation, it was extremely difficult to pass examination. Not much people around me support my idea I wrote above, had to make every step by believing my own one. Not much friends in the high school was not studying like "Jyuken" style because didn't need so much effort to go to attached university so that I was also very lonely. At that time, I sometimes felt like,"Am I really happy spending most of time for not so happy thing to reach some happy goal? And even if I can enter university, I would repeat the same thing over and over again and then why should I spend more time simply to enjoy the present time I have now?" I couldn't find the answer but any ways continued,time passed , and I entered university. I had enough time to think about what was going on then now. I realized I have 2 kinds of happiness in my life. One is normal happiness, to do what I feel happy doing that. (listening music , cooking, talking with friends, traveling, etc.) And the other important happiness I lately notice is making effort to reach some goal I set even the process itself is not so enjoyable. Because by doing this, I can look back the experience with confidence, can get another happiness after I reach the goal. I'm still not sure how I can take balance of this 2 happiness but making effort to find best balance maybe one of the biggest goal for my life. TURE LOVE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING YOU'RE NOT SURE OF! CATEGORY: What is true happiness? AUTHOR: Deena Day SCHOOL: Miami Southridge Senior High School E-MAIL: Sweet_Singer03@hotmail.com WEB PAGE: www.miamisouthridge.com DATE & TIME: June 02 01:19 INTENDED READERS: My intended audience is that of a person who really cares about their personal life and that this should not be taken as a joke. Most people think that they are in love when they get all them funny feelings. For example, when that person is around you, you get that funny feeling like there is a bunch of bugs in your stomach. Well if you think that's true, you have another thing coming. The way you know that you're really in love with a person is when you feel as though there isn't anything in the world that you wouldn't do for that person. Loving somebody consists of many sacrafices that many people, espcially if you're a woman, are not willing to take. From my experience with some of the boys that I've been with is just not great. I mean you know how some of these boys are, they tell you that oh they love you and that they want to be with you. Come to find out all they want is one thing and when they get it they leave. What boys really need to understand about girls is that our feelings are weaker then theirs. I mean when a girl gets a boyfriend that girl tends to not go beyond her limits to be with that boy unless she really loves him. Like me, for example, my boyfriend and I are separated right now. It seems as though everytime he finds something that he wants, his family messes it up. I'm not the type of person that just listens to one side of the story. I really like this boy and I do want things to last but if it keeps going the way it's going I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't know what else to say. In conclusion, my overall point of view about love is that it is a sweet and beauitful feeling that is to be taken not as a joke. life in a foreign country CATEGORY: What is true happiness? AUTHOR: Shinobu Kanemoto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99275sk@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 25 20:18 INTENDED READERS: People who are intrested in developing country What is true happiness? This question always makes me think that I stayed in Bangladesh. In this essay, I would like to tell you what's daily life in developing country from my experience. Bangladesh- this country is called as one of the most poorest country in the world. For example, the scores of GNP is low, the unemployed population is much bigger than other countries. But in my trip, I change my idea of happiness. I have been to that country for two weeks in last spring vacation. Most people around me asked me why I went to Bangladesh, so at first I would write the reason. Actually, the reason is simple. I have a little different reason I go to foreign countries from other people. I love the trip to make me some changes. So, it should be those countries in which I have never experienced if I would stay in Japan. Also, I like communication with local people. They are so kind to me even we don't have common language. In those situation, what becomes a substitute for verbal words? The music becomes so. Singing a song, playing some instrument makes me feel close to local people easily. In Bangladesh, most part of activity is volunteer work because there are so few sanitation. Japanese members help the local NGO to dig wells and make drainage. Also, we went to school in one village and enjoy some games with children. It was great time! I don't forget that time we and children did activity on school grounds. But, to be honest, I came upon one idea. It always makes me feel sadly and lonely. The idea is that the economical poorest country is not always the spiritually poorest country. For this trip, I knew that children are very cheerful, cute, and kind. They are innocent just as a child. Actually, their smile proved that they are happy. How about Japan? In the same period, elementally school, some children bully one person too much and he or she commits suicide. Also they concentrated on TV games or something which is not real world, so it is difficult for those children to communicate with other people even they would be adult. I think the number of smiling is going down in Japan. They are filled with many product and information. It makes them not try something or have a dream. What is real happiness? I, of course, know that there are many problems in developing country, for example, the difference between rich and poor, the slums, education and so on. But I think that we shouldn't separate people into happy or unhappy by the place to live(developed country or developing country). Now that Japan keep helping those country, I hope now Japanese children would be satisfied with joy and dream. For this, the education play a great role to let them have dream, sympathy with other people. Thank you for reading. The population explosion : What will we feed our new born babies ? CATEGORY: The Population Explosion, Food and Emergency Crises : What Will The Future Hold? AUTHOR: Kazi Faisal Zaman SCHOOL: Chubu University E-MAIL: a00040@isc.chubu.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 20 18:00 INTENDED READERS: People who are interested in environmental pollutions.I may also wel come the people who want to know about developping countries' problems. The earth, where we are living, was not so polluted naturally hundreds of year ago.We are responsible for our this conditions. Almost all third world countries' population is increasing rapidly. Every day millions of new babies are coming. They need foods, clothes etc.But regretably, the earth is not expanding every day. We are to build new buildings, new schools, new facilities for the new babies.As a result we are to break the natural orders sometimes. Consequently, environmental polutions are occuring day by day. The developed countries have already controled population growth. But I am saying about the developping countries.They are lag behind yet. I can't do criticism for developping countries.They are also trying best to control their rapidly growing populations. But financial problem is the great problem. There are lots of illiterate people in them. They even need literacy.We have to convince them about fatal problems for population growth. Among the developing countries, some countries (China etc) have became successful in such projects. For about once grown population, we can't do nothing for it.So now are to think for the coming future.Giving birth a new baby is a thing of great joy for any one, may be.When we see a poor mother has 7-12 babies and she can hardly feed her babies 2 times a day, can we become joyful in it? Yes, I am describing a real aspect of a developing country. Actually they have many anxiouses and dreams for the coming future. So they want to realize their dreams by their new baby. For an example, a mother in a developing country is thinking : "I want an engineer son, a doctor son, a lawyer daughter, a professor daughter, a businessman son and a son and a daughter who will always be in my side everyday." So she desires 7 babies in her life time. Thus many women give birth a lot of babies. If we can ensure their rights of foods, clothes and dwellings plentifully, they may become unwilling to take many babies. For that purpose developing countries will have to be economically sound. I think it will need a large invest of money for the developping countries. In this concern, developed countries may have a unique role for the improvement of the developping countries. Developed countries have lots of industries and mills, atomic power for various purpose. They produce a great quantity of dust materials, exhaust gases etc.These are making many problems in environmental balance. These problems affect the whole earth. So the people of developping countries also share these environmental pollutions. So not only the developping countries, but also the developed countries should think about our environment.Let's build a clean and fine environment for our coming new babies. About the future of materialism and spiritualism CATEGORY: Materialism versus Spiritualism AUTHOR: Atsushi Inagaki SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: inagaki@ma.kcom.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 16 00:19 INTENDED READERS: Anyone who is interested in this essay I think materialism was born after the arrival of Industrial Revolution in nineteenth century. It was born in Europle and then moved to America. Finally, it spread throughout the world. However, the arrival materialism called for a decline of religious belief. It means materialism attracted many people's mind and took over the attention from spiritualism, so it gave a big influence on people's way of thinking and lifestyle. Today, we have no doubt that materialism is actually the majority in this world, and people believe and rely on the power of materialism. I think it was the beginning of postwar that Japanese people had been largely influenced from American culture. After that, as you know it, spiritualism and religious beliefs had become less admired than previously. To think about spiritualism, it is important to cosider what is needed for human beings. It looks more reasonable only wishing for visible things than religious faith which is on the opposite side. But even so, I think spiritualism is more important than materialism. I remembered when I was asked of my religious belief in the U.S.A. It was the first time when I was asked and answered, "nothing", and people around me made strange faces because I was looked to be an immoral person. I had never thought such kind of thing before, but I happened to know many people in foreign countries believe in God by this unexpected event. This means the religion is often convenient for you to know about people at the first time meeting. After the event I say, "I am a Shitoist(I had heard from my mother that Shitoism is the oldest Japanese religion unless I am a person with no religious faith!)". Anyway, I think the religion in foreign countries describes for people's identity and justice. So if you don't believe the existence of God, you have to express to them by your own way that you are such a "self-discipliend" person, but it is difficult to explain in English. If Japanese people would try to be more global, we should be more interested in and know more about the foreign cultures and customs. In Japan, people don't have good images to be religious because some special religious parties had caused terrible and unforgettable incidents in last 10 years. Nevertheless, I think it's time to think again. People should keep the balance of those two things, materialism and spiritualism, which against which. Materialism and Spiritualism CATEGORY: Materialism versus Spiritualism AUTHOR: Nohelia Garcia, Regina Gutierrez, Sherley Castellanos, Llyrlen Suarez SCHOOL: Miami Southridge Senior High,USA E-MAIL: nvg684@hotmail.com WEB PAGE: www.Miamisouthridge.com DATE & TIME: June 04 03:20 INTENDED READERS: This is intended to seek the attention of all those who do not know how to distinguish between material and spiritual value. This essay is aimed to all those that do not know how to distinguish between material and spiritual value. Those who have their doubts about whether or not they should be in the latest fashion or concentrate more on their beliefs in God. Iam writing this to state that sometimes, material things have no value. Sure you can have the nicest house, decorated with antiques, but have you ever seen those rich peoples home? They all have famous artwork on their walls, but do any of them have one cross or one picture representing their belief? And if they ever do, arent they always extremely expensive, as if to show off their money and not thier real value? People should understand that there is a time to worry about material things, and a time to concentrate on their true beliefs. Now a days, everywhere that you go, you can see all the new things that have hit the market. Everywhere you look, whether its on a magazine ad, a commercial, or even on a billboard out in the streets, youll find an advertisement on any type of material object. If you really look around, there arent many ads, which advertise a specific religion. If there ever is one,its either very small, or on a less trafficated area, as if to be hidden for no one to see. Another good example of materialistic value taking over that of spiritualism are uor teens. Teens are the main goal of all those businesses, which try to encourage them to buy their products. They are also the ones who always are in the latest fashion and instead of worrying about their spiritualism, they prefer to think of what they will wear the next day to school. How many teens do you know, that actually go to church on their own will and not because they are forced by their parents? Not many right? By simply giving into materialism, we demonstrate that it has a greater value than believing in God or your religion, when most of us know that this is not really true. In conclusion, we could say, that we live in a sad world. A world which prefers objects, over what is truly important, spiritualism. " Are you good at explain your opinion?" CATEGORY: Education : Japan and The World AUTHOR: taishi kobayashi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: taishi-k@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 06 13:04 INTENDED READERS: I want to make an attention to this especially, students who study English. When you try to communicate with a foreign people, you got to say your own opinion. Mr.Mizuno's class is a good training. Essay: Have you ever thought that Americans are so good at presentation? I know many friends who envy Americans and have a complex for that. In fact, many Japanese people are bad at presentation. But why is that happen? I sometimes think about this. Maybe one of a big reason is education. In Japan, there are about 40 students in one class. And there are not so many discussions. I have lived in the U.S. when I was seven years old. I went to an American school for one year. In the school, there was a presentation time. At that class, every student had to bring a favorite toy. And everybody should explain about each toy. I bought a Japanese toy, many students are interested in my toy. My toy was a transform robot. It was really difficult to explain about that, but it was a good training to be good at presentation. However, why are Japanese and American classes are different? One of the reason is that there are a lot of races in the U.S. There are many English, German, Spanish, etc. Of course there are also many kinds of races in Japan but the number of people is quite small. Different races have different cultures and customs, so that they have different values. It is possible that these difference cause problem between different races. American people need to tell about own opinion. This kind of situation train American to be good at presentation, because in presentation, it is really important to tell own opinion and explain the reason. I felt these things when I lived in the U.S. Even I was only seven years old, I really suffered to express my opinion. In the future, the world gets more international and we will have to explain our opinion to other people including foreigners. I really think that taking Mr. Mizuno's class will help you in the future. Thank you for your reading. Are you good at explaining your opinion? CATEGORY: Education : Japan and The World AUTHOR: taishi kobayashi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: taishi-k@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 10 16:24 INTENDED READERS: Every one who study English. When you try to communicate you got to say your opinion. This essay will help you. Essay: Have you ever thought that Americans are so good at presentation? I know many friends who envy Americans and have a complex for that. In fact, many Japanese people are bad at presentation. But why is that happen? I sometimes think about this. Maybe one of a big reason is education. In Japan, there are about 40 students in one class. And there are not so many discussions. I have lived in the U.S. when I was seven years old. I went to an American school for one year. In the school, there was a presentation time. At that class, every student had to bring a favorite toy. And everybody should explain about each toy. I bought a Japanese toy, many students are interested in my toy. My toy was a transform robot. It was really difficult to explain about that, but it was a good training to be good at presentation. However, why are Japanese and American classes are different? One of the reason is that there are a lot of races in the U.S. There are many English, German, Spanish, etc. Of course there are also many kinds of races in Japan but the number of people is quite small. Different races have different cultures and customs, so that they have different values. It is possible that these difference cause problem between different races. American people need to tell about own opinion. This kind of situation train American to be good at presentation, because in presentation, it is really important to tell own opinion and explain the reason. I felt these things when I lived in the U.S. Even I was only seven years old, I really suffered to express my opinion. In the future, the world gets more international and we will have to explain our opinion to other people including foreigners. I really think that taking Mr. Mizuno's class will help you in the future. Thank you for your reading. The Real Education CATEGORY: Education : Japan and The World AUTHOR: Atsushi Inagaki SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: inagaki@ma.kcom.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 08 00:02 INTENDED READERS: Thinking about the present child education, I hope the readers more concerned and more positively discussed about school system and education I think there is no one who has no interest on school education. But recently, people look like having no time and effort to think about it. Although people have enough desire to tackle with the problem, economic depression has given a bad effect. In this economic crisis, people try to cut extra expenditure except a minimum cost for food, clothing, car, and etc. But I believe education itself is necessary no matter with economic boom or depression; or government should make an issue to secure people's living. So what is now needed for educational crisis? Shamefully, I don't know many governors' names except for famous Makiko Tanaka and Junichiro Koizumi. I don't even know the name of Ministry of Education. But there is a reason for that. I don't see how the ministry works for every day, and also where he is heading for. Although I don't deny the Prime Minister's nomination of Ministry of Education, the system is still remaining unchanged even compared to the latest ministry. That is a big problem. And also, the atmosphere of educational environment has changed a lot. Now, the children feel no fear against teachers; teachers may not become afraid of children but their parents. But more surprise for me was that the parents had enabled schoolmaster to remove the placement system in an athletic festival. In my mind an athletic festival is just for children; set up only for children and conveyed by children. It is strange that parents come into the child festival. They are only allowed to enjoy the atmosphere, or encourage their children; but still they are outsiders. I feel the placement system itself makes children exciting. I don't know whether the parents feel more ashamed if her child was settled at the bottom, but people don't care much about it. If the system is removed, it is just a boring event for children. Is this really a good way for their children? That is a problem, too. By the way, it is partly correct that parents worry and try to protect their children from external negative factors at present time. The reason is, now a period of decreasing number of child population. That is inevitable and unavoidable to be serious about their only child. But the educational system itself needs to be changed by educators' side. That would be very true that we need much time and effort to build up a new system again, but we have to find the real answer to restructure the system. And hopefull, we will step forward in order to get teachers, parents, and children together. Thank you for reading my essay. Don't be a ghost of technology! CATEGORY: What Will Rapid Advances in Technology Bring About? AUTHOR: Shinya Yamamto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00992sy@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 27 23:26 INTENDED READERS: People in capitalism society ,especially the elite and president of company, who think that money is the most worth and don't have emotional heart. Advance of technology has given us much more and more comforts. We can move fast far away by car, train or airplane. If we get hungry around midnight, we can get some foods at closest convenience store. If we feel bored, we can get much entertainment by turning on TV's switch. And technology gave us CDs, cellular phones, computers, medicinesŽ¡ŽÄ too many things to count. Our happy life owes to technology. But today, I'm gonna write about technology's some bad aspect. The first point is like this. Society is changing drastically and rapidly day by day. Speed of age is accelerating. It's too fast. We are desperate to cling to the changing society. We can't stop running with society. We are not allowed to stop even in order to think deeply. And, Information's value today, is rapidity more than authenticity. Information is given to us next by next and we can barely read surface of information. We don't have time to read between the lines. The second aspect is that humanity is being taken away today. Emotion is enemy of money and capitalism. And, in capitalism society, there are many cases that money is more worth than heart. If we want success in capitalism, we have to forget some emotion. For example, Media sells someone's misfortune (watch "wide show"!) and music hit chart are filled with songs like shit! (Have you seen million seller is sold for about 100yen at used shop?) That's because society asks for the thing that sells well more than including much humanity. (You can watch the TV program like "human drama" but that's because it sells.) So we do animal experiments or cutting down wood. People are going to be mechanical in this technology society. Of course we can' t stop capitalism. We can't stop animal experiment. We can't stop cutting down wood. But, at least we should have emotion. Let's feel happiness of being human. Don't be mechanical. Melancholy in Akita CATEGORY: Human Rights AUTHOR: Eiichi Takeda SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99554et@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 12 11:30 INTENDED READERS: Those who have considered suicide. Those who have considered the useful purpose for our life. Those who have considered old age. I came from Akita. Akita is beautiful land. I love the land where I was born. However, sad to say, the rate of suicide in Akita is the highest in the whole prefecture in Japan. The rate of the suicide occupied in all death now is the 6th place. I understand that every year took the life of oneself in 31,755 persons in 1998. It does not seem to be only it, although suicide of persons of middle or advanced age increases and restructuring and various social stress are called cause. I understand that there are most suicides per 100,000 population in national all prefectures as for Akita Prefecture. If restructuring and the so-called social stress are the causes, it is thought whether the direction of the number of suicides of big cities, such as Tokyo which is a city, and Osaka, increases. However, another cause can be considered from the self-governing body of the first place of suicide being Akita Prefecture. It is a thing that there are not living alone but many old people who have a living-together family as a feature of the suicide of Akita. It is supposed in that there are those who live both lives that the solitary feeling is increasing conversely. Moreover, there is no definite aim in life in addition to work, and a hobby is working. Seemingly, it will be easy to think that valid value and meaning are lost, if working becomes impossible. And trouble will be made to a man if I come to have you take care of, without the ability working. It is supposed that it is one of causes that the idea from the ancient times to say has also permeated. The daylight hours of Akita are short and the long climate of winter and natural features are said that Melancholy is brought and it makes it into the feeling of wanting to commit suicide. It is clear that a close relation has depression and suicide. It is also conducted European and American large-scale investigation that 10% of the man of depression commits suicide. Surely the medical treatment of depression may also contribute to the reduction in suicide. However, it is important for being helpful it not to be good to make a man trouble and to work etc. I think that I am one with important correcting the criterion to say and a view of life. An alive meaning is not required for not considering a difficult question for what it is. Discrimination CATEGORY: Human Rights AUTHOR: Daiju Masuma SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: d-masuma@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 11 11:52 INTENDED READERS: Especially, people who are interested in the"Buraku (people who are discriminated because of their blood)" problem, or have read "Hakai" by Touson Shimazaki. Of course,I want everyone to read my essay. First of all, I should say, "I never intend to hurt others, through my essay." "What is discrimination?" If I am asked, I reply to this question this:It is a very natural feeling that human beings have by nature like anger,sadness,pleasure,and joy. Discrimination is a feeling that is the opposite of the sense of superiority. So, discrimination do not disappeared as long as we are human beings. And it is a lie that to say, "I do not have this feeling." If you say so, you deny that you are human beings. It is often said that people do not have the rights to hurt others. But, I think that it is wrong. It should be said that people do not have the rights to hurt others actively. Why? Because I think that to live is always to hurt someone, even though you do not intend to do. For example, now I am a student of Sophia Univ.. This is because I passed the entrance examination. In other words, because of my success, another person failed. Of course, I did not want to hurt him/her. But, in fact, I hurt him/her. Then I think that as long as we live, it is impossible to avoid hurting others. I never want to justify discrimination. I just said that people do not have the rights to hurt others actively. They are different. This spring, I had finished reading "Hakai", the story about the people who are discriminated, written by Touson Shimazaki. Now, they are discriminated because of their blood. I think that it is absolutely wrong. I think that their job is very important in our society. Some of them work in slaughterhouse. In other words, if they do not work, we seldom (or never) eat beef, poke, and so on. It is necessary for our lives to kill animals. Animals, for example lions, kill other animals in order to live. But what we do is only eating. So, we should respect for them. Why are they discriminated? Send the Protest Mail to White House! CATEGORY: Environmental Problems and The Future of Human Race AUTHOR: Tetsuo Tsunoda SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t99629tt@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t99629tt/ DATE & TIME: May 17 12:57 INTENDED READERS: People who are interested in Environmental Problems but not concerned with the environmental activities. USA exhausts one-forth of the greenhouse gas of the world. And the president of this country announced that USA will leave from the "Kyoto Protocol". An environmental NGO, Friends of the Earth, is gaining attention by sending a message through the internet of "filling the White House with e-mails protesting this movement". If this message is delivered to your mail box, would you send a protest mail to the White House? I first knew the protest mail of Friends of the Earth when I read the " Environmental News" written by an environmental journalist. This high-quality mail news is sent by Ms. Edapi, an environmental journalist who is working around the globe. In the news, Lester R. Brown, the founder and head of World Watch Laboratory known as publishing The Earth White Paper, said "President Bush seems to know that the 20th century ended, but he went to the 19th century instead of the 21st century." This movement is maybe a large retreat in a sense. President Bush said "We will not do anything that would damage the American economy, because who are to have priority over anyone is the people living in USA." Friend of the Earth says that if so, all we can do is to decide on a boycott of American products. This is that very things that will damage the American economy. And if the boycott turns out to be effective, President Bush may reconsider this movement. Many people knows now that the world is heading in a really bad direction staring at the critical issues the mass production, mass consumption and mass- waste type capitalistic society brought out. Beginning with global warming effect, there are issues such as resource fuel impoverishment, forest decrease, dioxin and famine. There are many movements that are being carried out against these issues, and there must be many people around the world thinking somehow that something must be done before it's too late, but on the other hand, the conditions are becoming serious increasingly. I believe that we must take action under our free will and responsibility. How to send protest mails through the environmental NGO, Friend of the Earth, is detailed in http:// www.foeeurope.org/climate/. How do you think about US's withdrawal from Kyoto protocol? CATEGORY: Environmental Problems and The Future of Human Race AUTHOR: Kuniko Nakamura SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00675kn@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 24 21:02 INTENDED READERS: anyone On march 28th, US government announced the withdrawal from Kyoto protocol (to the United Nations Framework Convention on Change). This protocol was adopted at COP3 that was held in Kyoto in 1997,and it assigns a duty to developed countries to reduce the discharge of gasses, such as CO2 and methane, which have effect on global warming. Japan is under an obligation to hold down the amount of gasses to 6% decreases of 1990, US is 7% and EU is 8%. The spokesman of states also said " President Bush doesn't support this protocol by the reason that it damages US economy." Japan, EU, Australia and other countries are in great reaction against this decision. Yasuo Fukuda, the Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, said, " US discharges the largest amount of gasses in the world, so US's signature to the protocol is very important." UK Minister of Environment blamed US strongly "it's discreditable!" Hill, Australian Minister of Environment said, "We can't allow US to avoid its responsibility as the Powers of the world." In US, the industrial circles insist that doing the duty will bring the economic decline. But Australia can forecast to reach the goal although this country has many chemical industries that discharges CO2. Most of developed countries prefer the environment of the world to economy. I think US's withdrawal is very egoistic. But why did US make such a decision? Bush's supporters are oil, gasses, mining and automobile companies, so I think he is afraid of loosing their supports. What I am anxious about is that the Japanese government follows US because Japan has took a compromising attitude toward US at international disputes. I think it is high time for Japan to part from US and to cooperate with other developed countries for make this protocol to be international conventions. Who Should Make a Food and Meal for You? CATEGORY: Living Locally, Thinking Globally AUTHOR: Hiroaki Terauchi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: zinai@cat.zero.ad.jp WEB PAGE: http://sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00682ht DATE & TIME: May 17 00:11 INTENDED READERS: people who eat anything with indifferense What do you think about who should cook for you? I? You? The cook? Or my mother? Usually we don't care about such a question at all. Everyday we eat anything with indifference. If I ask him" Did you make the meal by yourself? If not, you had better appreciate it." And in turn, Someone might say "I spent some money on this food. Can you make a complaint of my food? That's none of your business!". But I can't agree with him. Because I don't believe in what he said. Therefore I want to make sure whether what he said is right or not. In Japan, come to think of relationships between man and woman, a wife or a mother plays an important role for domestic works. Old-fashioned family styles still linger on the home Ž¡Ž½ the myth of "the man is superior to the woman and should be treated as such!". If not so, the neighborhood or some relatives criticize her. Because there is a prevailed concept that a wife is the mirror of the home, and a wife should be "Good" and "Perfect". Not only in a house but also in the nation there is the relationship alike. The governments also tell that people are the mirror of the nation. The democracy and even the socialism also asserts that citizens should be a "Good" person so as to become a person who contributes the neighborhood. If every man could become such idealistic person, the benefit would be raised up and there is no poverty. Aren't these only a fake to domestic someone else? For example people in South Africa are exploited by the heavy tax and starve to death because they are banned to plant the wheat by the government. Such a hypocrite dogmatic causes kills people for the sake of wealth for the nation. Like this case, such as "Good" concept excludes every other unusual strange concepts. So, is it really "Right" to express something to be "Good"? To come back to first question, I think, food should be made by everyone who concerns with the meal. We could gain a hint and learn something from the "Good" relationships. Because those who haven't experienced to make a meal can't understand how hard it is. If people could detect such a fake and if everyone at least concerns with "food", even the world perspectives would be changed I believe. Helen Keller and Hisako Nakamura CATEGORY: What Is Real Wealth? AUTHOR: taishi kobayashi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: taishi33@hotmail.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: Oct. 07 16:00 INTENDED READERS: I want that all audience read my essay. But especially Japanese people, students and everyone who think that ones like is very borling On first day of the 2nd semester, we saw a video. It was about Helen Keller and Hisako Nakamura. Helen Keller is very famous. She is blindness, unable to talk and unable to hear. She was very suffering, but she caught up her disadvantages. She wrote many books and cheered many people up. On the other hand, Hisako Nakamura is not so famous. I didn't know about her. She was so strong-willed and impressed me. When I watched the video, I thought that the poorness affected her life. For she was so poor, she got to do a lot of things. She did needle work without both hands, she went to draw water without the hands. I thought that was so tough. However, she is not. She praised God that she was born as a disadvantage woman. Why did she think like that. Most of people think that to be born as a physically handicapped person is very tragic. Most of people don't want to be a handicapped person. And I don't want to be, either. However, she was different. She said that there is the truth that only handicapped persons can know. I was so impressed. I thought how strong she was. Then I begun to think about me. Even I am not a handicapped person, I am so envy and don't like to make effort well. I was so shamed about me. Now I decided to change my mind and try to make my school life more valuable. To achieve the purpose, what can I do? First, I try to listen every lessons very carefully. Actually, some lessons are really difficult. Some teachers are using only difficult words. But I try to understand them. Then some of difficult lessons may became easy. Anyway, this kind of story make me feel that I will make my daily life change. Reunion of old classmates CATEGORY: Coming-of-Age Ceremony AUTHOR: Takashi Katsura SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ta-katsu@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 23 10:12 INTENDED READERS: Foreigners who are interested in Japan and Japanese cultures and events, and Japnese who have not met old friends for long time. In Japan we have the coming-of-age ceremony when we are twenty or nineteen years old. This ceremony congratulate on our coming-of-age. But recently the public questions this ceremony. Why the public questions this ceremony? Because many people who come to this ceremony was tired of the speeches that made by person in a high position, and almost all of them don't listen those peach, so many people think this ceremony has little meaning. What is even worse some people put a stay upon mayor's speech and this ceremony! But I would like to continue this ceremony. Of coerce I would not like to listen those speech. I would like to meet old friends of mine. It is the only reason. After graduating from junior high school, I can meet few friends of junior high school. Of coerce I meet some of them but I don't know what the others do, so this ceremony is one of the valuable chance to meet them. Of coerce holding reunion of old classmates is not the main purpose of this ceremony, but even the purpose is different from main purpose, I think this ceremony has its own meaning. Maybe someone challenge the criticisms of this opinion. They think we had better hold reunion of old classmates in another time. But for the record we don't hold reunion of old classmates. It maybe has many contributing factor, but biggest factor is chance I think. If the coming-of-age ceremony makes the chance, it is very good effect. Now I am nineteen years old and next year we participate in the coming-of-age ceremony, so it is the matter of amusement to me. If this ceremony is blown off, It's really too bad. I hope don't blow off this ceremony, and can meet many friends of junior high school. The legends of the cherry trees CATEGORY: Hanami (Flower Viewing) AUTHOR: Atsuko Shimazaki SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00463as@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00463as DATE & TIME: June 07 00:40 INTENDED READERS: Foreign people who have never been to "Hanami"(Flower Viewing) that is one of the Japanese traditional custom and don't know legends about the cherry trees. Today, In Japan, when spring has come, a lot of people go to see the cherry trees and they get drunk and eat food. For long, this action has been Japanese custom. Why do Japanese go to the cherry trees and they get drunk? The cherry trees are so beautiful. Maybe you must think if Japanese want to see the beauty of the cherry trees, they should not get drunk. Maybe you must think if they want to get drunk, they should go to the bar where they can get drunk. I want to the reason I think that why Japanese get drunk when they go to see "Hanami". One of the legends said that originally, the red of the cherry trees are called "the red of the blood", the cherry trees sucked the blood of the people. So Japanese were afraid of the cherry trees and get drunk to divert fear. Not only this legend but also, in Japan, in many places, many kinds of the cherry trees have many legends. Some of these legends have sad stories and interesting stories. For example, the story like that the lovers couldn't live together and the woman died, be connected to the origin of the cherry tree in the country. The cherry trees have sad and beautiful impact on Japanese with these various legends. And I think sometimes they get drunk with seeing the beautiful cherry trees to ease the sadness of the people in the legends. I think this custom become very luxurious custom for Japanese with time. I'm afraid of the legends of the cherry trees "the red of the blood", but I think the cherry trees have seen so many people and know so many stories like the sad love stories and the interesting stories, so when I stand by the cherry trees, I can image that the cherry trees talk to me about a lot of stories that the cherry trees have seen, and I want to get drunk with the comfortable way to talk by the cherry trees. The Japanese have a beloved sense. CATEGORY: Hanami (Flower Viewing) AUTHOR: harue SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: d-harue@par.odn.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 16 20:07 INTENDED READERS: Those who have a wonder about Hanami. One day, middle of the last April, I went Chidorigafuchi. A large number of people were also there. Those who doesn't know Japanese custom may wonder 'Why so many people were there in spite of there were no special events?' But we all knew the reason. We went there to LOVE cherry blossoms. Chidorigafuchi is a noted place for its super view of cherry blossoms. From time immemorial, Japanese have been loved seeing cherry blossoms very much. There are many evidences in old books, historical ruins, songs and so on. For example, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who is a Samurai of the medieval times, built a temple in Kyoto only to have the best place to see cherry blossoms. And in Japan, the observation when cherry blossoms will be in full bloom appears top of the news programs during April. Don't you think this phenomenon is wonderful? Most of all Japanese are waiting the flowering season of cherry blossoms. And in this season, people go out only to see cherry blossoms. This is the traditional Japanese custom called Hanami. Under Cherry petals are felling like snowflakes, people talk together. This view is very beautiful, I think. In these days, people came to give a banquet under the trees. But anyway I think the Japanese have a beloved sense to think tendering of cherry blossoms. I could know many things through tracing the history of Hanami. And I thought it is wonderful that the Hanami custom remains even in this modern society. At the same time, I noticed one more thing. It is that our ancestors had a respect towards nature and they thought honestly that God dwells on all the creatures. I think probably this thought gave a birth to Hanami! I could know many things through tracing the history of Hanami. And I thought it is wonderful that the Hanami custom remains even in this modern society. At the same time, I noticed one more thing. It is that our ancestors had a respect towards nature and they thought honestly that God dwells on all the creatures. I think probably this thought gave a birth to Hanami! Why had my father read Nietzsche on X'mas in his university days? CATEGORY: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day AUTHOR: Eiichi Takeda SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99554et@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 13 07:27 INTENDED READERS: people who think the relationship between yourself and your parents I like to reading. Good books are good foods for mind --- I think such idea is inherited from my father to me. My father is not bookworm, but he frequently read books. That's why, I often think about him when I read some books. One of such book is "Also sprach Zarathustra", authoring by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche. I often read a book on philosophy --- I think philosophy is not only for someone who study it but also for everyone who try to think differently and deeply. I want to think in that way. One day, I read "Zarathustra" and I looked up a message at the last page of the book. I understood my father wrote this message. For, this book is owned by him. It said "I've read this for 3 days but I didn't understand this at all. --- 26th on Dec. 1969" . When I read it, I've thought for a few minutes - -- I thought "My father write it in 24 years old, and moreover, their 3days is 24, 25, 26 on December --- oh my god!! He'd read this book surely, and maybe he was alone in their days." I felt my father is curious. And I felt I'm his child surely. Because I always live alone "on the end of the year" , exactly to say, "on X'mas". That's why at first I regarded him (and me) as an unhappy man (exactly to say, "men"). However I just thought differently. Let you think deeply. X'mas is the birthday of Jesus Christ and this day is originally very sacred. And I thought my father's behavior is quite appropriated. "Oh, he is just right and I'm his child!" I smiled, smiled, smiled --- Of course, such mention is quite joke. But at that time, I can't have helped feeling relationships between him and me. We are parent and son. We are curious but maybe happy. My School Life CATEGORY: School life AUTHOR: Fern Labega SCHOOL: Perth Amboy Vo. Tech. E-MAIL: fernbizz376@aol.com, bella9971@aol.com WEB PAGE: www.mc-votech.org DATE & TIME: Sept. 15 01:15 INTENDED READERS: This essay is for anyone who is bored with their school. It talks about the reasons why life at my school is boring for me. Hi my name is Fern Labega, and I am a senior that attends Perth Amboy Vo-Tech. I am going to write an essay about school life. To me, School life is very boring. It seems like all you do is work, work, and more work. It would be much better if the teachers would at least make the learning more fun by doing hands on activities. For instance, let's say we are learning about rocks and minerals in science class. I feel it would be more interesting if we would go outside to see all the different types of rocks and minerals rather then to see a picture of a little rock on a page with a bunch of words. It probably would have been interesting if I was younger, but as you get older reading words out of a book just doesn't cut it anymore. Another topic about school life is the sports programs they run in some schools. You see, my school used to be an all boys vocational school but now we have a lot of girls that attend. Our gym classes consist of three sports. Football, Basketball, and Baseball. They make such a big deal about those sports. Why couldn't we have a softball team? Now they have volleyball, which makes it a little bit better. But, none of the boys want to play with the girls. That's why my life in school is boring. I know all the schools are not like that but my school is. Other than that, I guess I could just survive my last year in this school. I mean most of the teachers are really nice. Well I just wanted to let every one know how I personally felt about my school life. Thank you for taking the time to read my essay. My four years in Perth Amboy Vocational and Technical High School CATEGORY: School life AUTHOR: Carmen S. Lozano SCHOOL: Perth Amboy E-MAIL: nelsonandcarmenmercado@msn.com WEB PAGE: www.mc-votech.com DATE & TIME: Sept. 15 02:17 INTENDED READERS: Anyone who is interested in life as a High School student at a school in Perth Amboy, NJ. My experience has been an interesting on: Hi, my name is Carmen and I have been attending Perth Amboy Vocational High School for four years. I would like to describe to you my four years in this school and what has happened to me. My freshmen year everything was going fine until my Math teacher decided to quit. After that we had a couple of different teachers, but none of them worked out. One after the other the teachers kept coming and going. My English teacher was an older woman, who was old fashioned; she used to put me to sleep. She would always read and read and read. My sophomore year was a little better; we finally got a better English teacher. She had a better way of teaching and she did not put everyone to sleep. As for our Math teacher, we kept getting different ones all the time. The only different thing about my schedule is that I had two different math classes. For one of our math class we had a good teacher who was a lot of fun. For the other math class we had a new teacher every other month. My junior year was a little on the rough side. My shop teacher got very sick that summer, and she had to retire that following year. So, we had a new teacher who was very strict. No one got along with her, especially the seniors. But I feel the reason students didn't like her was because we finally had a teacher. The class was up graded from Automated Office Technology to Computer Applications for Business. As for my math class, half of the year we had a foreign teacher who did not know any English. Then finally, we were blessed with a good math teacher, Ms. Faurot. My senior year so far is going very well and I am very happy with my schedule and teachers. Well this is what I have been through the last three years of my life. I still have thirty-eight weeks of school left, and I hope it to be the best one in my four years of High School. Thank you for taking time to read and comment on my essay. A New Life - A New School CATEGORY: School life AUTHOR: Roselio Ovalles SCHOOL: Perth Amboy Vo. Tech. Perth Amboy, NJ E-MAIL: Bella9971@aol.com, dennis_12_8@hotmail.com WEB PAGE: www.mc-votech.org/pie DATE & TIME: June 28 23:15 INTENDED READERS: The essay is written for students of all ages who may be having problems adjusting to a new school. In the essay advice is given on how to find new friends. Being in a new school is a new beginning for all students. I seriously believe this, because students that enter a new school for the first time are starting all over. Students will have to meet new people, and deal with the ones that don't like them or don't get along with them. Another issue is staying out of trouble during the year. Although these are problems, there are ways to solve them. Once students enter into school they see new people that they have not seen before. That is like leaving New York City and meeting different people, talking to them, and trying to form friendships with them. Sometimes, students will have their old friends from the last school year, but there will be more people to meet and become friends with. At times, students may have a tough time forming new friendships with older or even students of their own age. This is when the problems of fighting and staying out of trouble may occur. The best way to stay out of trouble or fighting with other students is for kids to try out for sports and be a part of activities in school. For example, when students are involved in sports and activities they will forget about the other students that are giving them problems in school. Students will be thinking about the sport or activity and will not think about those students that are causing them trouble. While being a part of sports and activities, students are also learning new skills and making new friends, while staying out of trouble. In conclusion, students should always try new things so they could stay out of trouble. Ways of staying out of trouble are by being a part of activities and sports. This will make the new beginning in school, an enjoyable experience. Sigh Language gives me.... CATEGORY: School life AUTHOR: Shinobu Kanemoto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99275sk@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 03 17:37 INTENDED READERS: People who do some activity in your school or who are intersted in "Life Uncommon".And Someone who have learned Sigh Language. Can you imagine the world with silent? Do you get angry if I say " the world with silent is wonderful? If you are deaf, do you feel unhappy? I now join in the club of Sigh language. Today, I would like to introduce my activity to you. It is simple reason why I started learning sigh language. When I was high school student, I met a boy. He was deaf, so I couldn't communicate with him by verbal words. We used to use pen and paper as our language. It means that we communicate with each other by writing. But it was inconvenient because we were allowed to use one or two phrase when we write down paper. When I wanted to write long message to him, it took much time to write and made him waited as well. I wanted to communicate with him more easily and comfortable. That's why I began learning sigh language. Some people said " you are wonderful person! I am proud of you!" when I told them the fact I have learned sigh language. I hate the phrase because it includes other cynical meaning in their heart, that is to say, " Why on earth you learn sigh language -- There must be other activity you can enjoy". But I just chose a sigh language circle because I am interested in sigh language as same as people chose a circle by each interest. Also, I thought that the campus-life in only SFC made me narrow my view to the world. So, I wanted to make friends who went to another campus. Sigh language circle in Keio University is in Hiyoshi campus. That was the other reason I join in. Our circle name is MiM. If you are interested in our circle, please check this Web site. (http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~j99521hn) After I join in the circle, my senior students (Senpai in Japanese) told us sigh language kindly. It was warm atmosphere. They taught us the importance of speaking in sigh language. When they were with deaf people, they always use sigh language and tried to let everyone to understand what they said. I liked their attitude to other people. When I was freshman, I tried to learn sigh language hard. Now that I am getting used to speak in sigh language, I owe what I am today to my Senpai. There is one thing more I found in MiMi. Deaf people seemed to be cheerful and enjoy their life. Before I joined in MiMi, I had a prejudice that every handicapped people were definitely unhappy and people who couldn't hear sound were miserable. But I realized that it is wrong. They have positive thinking and teach us many words in sigh language. It is important to use various facial expression when we speak in sigh language. When you want to express your joy, you have to add the facial expression of joy to sigh language. They are good at expressing their feeling. Non verbal words sometimes reach my heart directly. If it is a distant which you can't reach your voice to people, sigh language doesn't matter the distant. We could keep speaking. I had one problem when I joined in sigh language. At the same time I know the silent world is beautiful, I have known that music is wonderful through playing flute. Which was what I was, when I used sigh language or played flute. I lost my identity. I thought I couldn't let them know that music was wonderful if I tried to play flute well. I felt sad. I overcame the annoyance after we joined in Mita Festival. We did a sigh language chorus in the Festival. It is that we sang a song with sigh language. I realized that both of myself is important, whatever silent or sound world. And I can love music more deeply. When I play flute, I always image the silent and beautiful world in my heart. Sigh language gives me many precious things, friendship, kind feeling, the heart to understand other people. I think that I can change my attitude in front of people and know communication is wonderful. If you have learned music or singing, I stongly recommend that you touch the silent world by learning Sigh Language. Thank you for reading. Do you love your campus? CATEGORY: School life AUTHOR: Shinobu Kanemoto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99275sk@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 17 09:35 INTENDED READERS: Sophia students, SFC students Hello, Sophia students! I am now writing this essay from SFC. Do you like your campus? When I was a first-year student, I didn't like my campus, SFC. How about Sophia campus? What do you think of the Yotuya campus? If you don't mind, could you tell me your feeling how much you love your campus? Of course, I am also very glad to receive the comment from SFC students! Today, The theme is "campus". I now go to Sophia campus every Saturday for the meeting of "Gakusei Kaigi". I know a part of Sophia campus life. So, I would like to introduce you (Sophia, SFC students) each campus. -location- Sometimes, location becomes a remarkable factor how much we can love each campus. SFC is so countryside, far from big city. The nearest station is Shounandai. But from the station, you have to take a bus to our campus. It takes 10 minutes or more. I was trying to walk to my campus two or three times. It takes 40 minutes. If you (Sophia)have a chance to come to our campus (it may be a rare chanceŽ¡ŽÄ), be sure not to take a bus called " Endou keiyu" which means that the bus uses another route through rice fields. If you take the bus "Endou keiyu", your nose becomes bent or stopped up. Because there are cows in the fields around my campus. Can you imagine? From the window of the bus, smell of the manure comes to your nose directly and strongly. And when you notice that, it is too late. If you close the window, the bus becomes like a box which have no way of escape. The bus is filled with the smell.. . I don't need to say more. Sophia campus is located in the center of Tokyo. The nearest station is "Yotuya". It takes 10 minutes from Tokyo station by using JR Tyuuou line. We use the class at "Sangou Kan" building for the meeting. I like the path in front of main gate. In April, I walked the path under beautiful cherry blossoms. The one thing I always think when I go to Sophia is that the campus has history and I feel the atmosphere of warmth from some part of the classrooms, corridors and walls made by wood. Because SFC's buildings are made only by concrete and iron, I can not feel the warmth from building. Like this, when I was a first year students, I just focus on the campus building and the environment around the campus. But now I am third-year students, (I get accustom to the smell of manure), I love my campus. "How much you love your campus" depends on not only building but also that you have nice friends in your campus or not. I have met many friends in my campus. We support each other, talk so much, go to bar and share the wonderful time together. How about your campus life? I hope each of Sophia and SFC students enjoy the school life as much as possible! Thank you for reading. School Life at Miami Southridge Senior High CATEGORY: School life AUTHOR: Jonathan Goolsby & Charles Velez SCHOOL: Miami Southridge Senior High E-MAIL: sweetpeathepimp@hotmail.com WEB PAGE: www.Miamisouthridge.com DATE & TIME: June 01 21:57 INTENDED READERS: This is intended to people that are interested in learning what goes on during school in Miami Southridge Senior High School This essay is to give an idea of what school life is like in America. It is geard more to people from around the world who want to know what school is like in Miami, Florida. This essay will explain the type of school work that is given to the students at Miami Southridge Senior High. It will tell people what else goes on during lunch and our eight minute breaks between each class. My goal in writing this essay is to give the reader an idea of school is like at Southridge. The first issue I will talk about is the type of school work that is given to students at Southridge. Some teachers will give work that is easy to do and other teachers will work the is hard. Depending on the person, the work that is given will take up the hole day or it will only take up ten minutes of the students time. For me, most of the work I recieve only takes me ten minutes to finish. Then I relax or read a book to gain more knowledge. Most of the work I recieve is book work. In book work, im either doing definitions to words or copying important information from the book. Most of my teachers give me worksheets with the same information as the book. Once the worksheets are done and the book work is finished, it is usually collected by the teacher and graded. Another thing is our tests. Our test consist of information that we are suppost to know by the end of one week or two. This is usually the type of work that I get every day. My second issue that I will discuss is the type of things that go on during lunch and breaks between classes. During lunch, many people find their friends and go somewhere on school grounds so they can talk or just hang out. Others, like me, go get something to eat then hang out with their friends for a while. During our eight minute breaks most people quickly go to there lockers then rush to class. Others find time to talk to friends then there on there way to class. This is what mostly goes on during lunch and during our breaks. To conclude, this is what life at Southridge is really like. Lots of work from our teachers and hangin out with friends during lunch and breaks. SCHOOLLIFE CATEGORY: School life AUTHOR: Genta Shinkai SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00494gs@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 21 19:16 INTENDED READERS: The school life is like a triumph baseball game. Generally speaking, it is not very interesting. And it is a boring thing. But whether that is interesting or not is up to your doing thing. In a word the way of your deed or thought can be change your school life. The high school and the junior high school that I graduated is the same school. Then I had been gone to the same school for 6 months. When I entered there, the everything around me was new and interesting. And so I felt so nice. And school life is not so bad. However, when I became the second year student the everything around us was old and boring. Moreover I lost my clear purpose in both long and short span. The school life at that time is like a triumph baseball game. I had been feeling from then to 3rd year high school student. But when I became 18 year old and began to study to enter the university, I noticed how interesting the learning is and what a good feeling the curiosity is. At the same time, I learned to enjoy making the teachers angry. That is also fun and important thing ,I suppose. I regretted my useless 4years. Now I think the even notice at that age is important and wonderful experience. The last year in the high school is not so bad. To study hard to enter them is not funny but stimulus, to make the principal angry became my hobby. The school life is one of our life. But the period from 13years old to 18 years old is more important than the life after that. We learn countless things at that time including the academic thing. You should make senses in school life. That is important. American School Life CATEGORY: School life AUTHOR: Edward Perez, Gabriel Carter, Anthony Dowdell SCHOOL: miami southridge, usa E-MAIL: Carterboys_2000@yahoo.com WEB PAGE: WWW.miamisouthridge.Com DATE & TIME: June 05 01:10 INTENDED READERS: This essay is intended for any student around the world who wants to learn about american ways in school and how students live their everyday lives at their school. This essay is so the Japanese students can get an idea of how life in the United States is. We are addressing the general issue of our school system and the student life. In our school many stundents don't like each other, therefore there are fights once in a while. Some of our classes are too over crowded because of the enourmous amount of students. Then some teachers try to do something about it, but no one listens. The teachers in our school our very thoughtful about the students. Many teachers do anything they can to see their students graduate highschool. In addition to helping the students, the teachers also breal up numerous fights that may occur. To begin life as a student could get very rough, with the pressures of meeting the standard proccedures of graduaion. The students have pass a srandard test called the Florida Comprehensive assesment Test, people know it as the Fcat. This test determines if a person graduates or not. The student also have to give community services hour which means giving back to your community. The administration has also recommended that take personal Fitness and Health, and a half credit of P.E.. The students are also faced with violence, that occur in everyday life. Children often have disbutes.Because they can not talk their problems out so they resort to barbaric way problem solving. Some juveniles just have some sort of grudge against a particular person. To conclude, school life is totally different from the way people view it. Students have their own style of dressing. What matters is are their happy with what their wearing. The United States school life is mostly about stlye and who you hang around. For example, if you don't have on brand name clothing you will not be allowed to hang around the crowd. That's if you want to hang around the crowd. But if you don't want to hang around the crowd, then you invent your own fashion. The crowded bus CATEGORY: Transportation and Commuting AUTHOR: Hiroki Futatsugi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t98836hf@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 11 19:37 INTENDED READERS: or the SFC students who always feel stress on the way to their school. If you are not a SFC student, but have the same experience on your way to school, please tell me your ideas and solutions to this problem. In this essay, I would like to "shout out loud" to the bus company, Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu, about the dissatisfaction on riding the bus to SFC. If you have a chance to visit SFC, you'll be surprised to see the queue of the bus stop. The bus stop is always crowded, since both university students and teenager ride on the same bus. Actually, the bus is not always filled with people. But if you ride on the bus around the time when each term begins, you might end up annoyed waiting for the bus on such long queue. Worst of all, if the weather condition is bad, students who usually don't take bus also joins in the queue. This bus from Shonandai station is always crowded until afternoon. The bus from SFC to the Shonandai station would be crowded on the opposite at afternoon, since the junior high student and high school student rides the bus around four to six o'clock. The final bus would departure SFC around eleven, but since the fee would be doubled, almost all the students rides on the previous bus, which is always crowded as you may have guessed. Are there any solutions on resisting the crowded bus? Adjusting the time may be a good solution, like taking the bus thirty minutes earlier before the next period begins, may be a nice way to avoid the congestion. But I would like to demand Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu for re-planning the time table for bus route, and also, they should consider more about the passenger's (i.e. SFC students) life-styles. In the beginning of this semester, the university had changed the time of each period, but I don't think the bus company has considered this situation when they made the new time table. The best solution is to make the time table more flexible, like increasing the bus when the weather is bad. Knowing that this would be a difficult thing, I can't stop wishing the bus company for this kind of "service." Mineral water CATEGORY: Food and Drink AUTHOR: Okushi Kenichi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ken-@jk9.so-net.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: Oct. 10 08:12 INTENDED READERS: People who like mineral water or not like mineral water. Or people who have interest in other drinks or to drink. We needs some drink in daily life. Nobody does not drink anything. I also have to drink something every day and often buy something to drink. I think that it costs to buy drink for me. By the way, there are very various drinks around us, for example, cola, fruits juice, sports drink, coffee, tea etc.. . Then, what do you usually drink, in other words, what is your favorite drink? I often buy mineral water. It is my favorite drink. But I did not do it before, because I thought, " It is too expensive to buy water!" There are many people to think so. They spoke "it is luxury to buy drinks " Surely, I can understand their opinion, because, I also think so before. We can get water to drink everywhere, and every time, in Japan. So, it can be said that we do not need to buy water to drink. But now, various water is sold in many places. It means that many people buy water, and that they think that mineral water has value for pay some money. I also think so now. First of all, the taste of mineral water differs other water clearly. If we would drink mineral water some times, we notice it soon. Secondly, mineral water helps our health. It does not contain sugar, salt and calorie. Othere hands, it has much mineral that we need iron, magnesium. Thirdly, it is rare. We can not make mineral water anywhere; it is made by nature at a place. Probably, it is difficult to get mineral water for us. Therefore, I think mineral water has value for the pay for me. What do you think? And do you like mineral water? If you have not drank mineral water, I recommend you to drink once. (Finally, My favorite mineral water is volvic) MOGU MOGU in South East Asia CATEGORY: Food and Drink AUTHOR: emiko suto SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ume.ume@anet.ne. jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 23 10:34 INTENDED READERS: Now, are you hangry? please read thie essay.For people who are interested in food ,like to eat, and know international relationship about food!! What do you think when you hear the word South East Asia. The Vietnam war, Mekong, impeachment in Indonesia, and East Timor? Many people will have different ideas and I think you think about political or international problems. But we do not know their lifestyle too much. Each Asian are more friendly each other near future. So, we should know them from their lifestyle. Especially, I would like to talk about food in this essay. When we eat South East Asian food, many people fell it very hot. For, spices and fermented food make dishes hot. When people cook something, it is important to cut ingredients in Japan, control heat in China and mix spices are on a mortar. On the other hand, fermented foods are made by fish. And it is peculiar to South East Asia. It is in dishes as a seasoning and plays an appendage role like Hasabi.It smells strong and tastes like Miso. In Japan, It is called Shotturu. We use soy sauce and miso now. But during world war 2 we often used fermented food of fish. In Asia, Asian often share some seasonings in different dishes. In South East Asia, fry are influenced by China, spices by India and vegetables by China and West. Traditionally, people in South East Asia cook ingredients on the floor. When they use fire, they use Shichirin. Considering the heat of Shichirin, you will notice fry can not be done on the Shichirin. Actually, They mostly cook food which boiled and seasoned and fry are new food from China. They pick out their own share from big dishes in a circle. They wad up rice in a hand, add vegetable food to it and eat. And they use their hands when they eat. Then, there is a table manners. Before and after meals they have to wash their hands using a special pot. At first sight, Japanese think it is easy to use hands. But it is difficult because food often fall from gap of the hand. What we learn from South East Asian food is that it influenced by other Asian country except for Japan. But Japan is influenced by South East Asia. On the other hand, South East Asia has their own seasoning. It is interesting to see influence relationship. Because it is like human relationship. For the better life CATEGORY: Health AUTHOR: Toshihiro SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: kimata-t@msd.biglobe.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 05 12:39 INTENDED READERS: To the people who had forgot safe importance in peace in every day. To the person who loses sight of the one for which is important Yesterday, I had an accident. It happened at 3 a.m.. I did not go to bed for two days. I swigged black coffee and went out to the drive like always for the diversion. When I approached a familiar curve and the car rushed out from small road in front of me !! I tried to avoid the car. Then, my car fell into the panic. It wasn't passing many day after exchanging a usual suspension in the sports type. It was a fact that the limit to the corner of the car was rising. However, I was trusted too much it. In the moment that the rear tire lost a grip, I did the reflex procedure of the return like always. However, it wasn't possible to have taken safety from the shortened margin. The wall approaches me in the moment. Then, the strong impact came with the detonation. The accident happened ! There was a image of my love car no longer. It hanged on the place unbelievable and it was stopping. It was happy and there was not an injured person. However, the more I saw my broken car, the more I reflected on me. " Why did not sleep -- " " why did it go out to the drive " "If I operated more carefully.. . "and so on. The car to have completed little by little. I called the police and a explained situation. It was soon and the wrecker arrived. The bumper of the car breaks completely in front of me when putting a rope to the bumper and lifting the car. Such sad scenery to be spreading didn't concern, and my feelings were why cooled down. Somehow, it was the complicated feelings as refreshing and sad. But the word, " happy in the misfortune ", was recurring to the head. It was when hearing the word of the employee of the wrecker that the contradiction could be barely understood. " It was your luck that all broken things are possible to buy at the money, isn't it -- " I am not thanks to the bucket seat. I had no injury. There was not a person in the neighborhood and the reverse car finished without bumping. Only my love car and the wall was broken. I call some person. All are kind for me and it was anxious with word full of the warm heart. Then, I learned an important thing. " Safe importance be forgot in the safe life ". " The higher limit has, the bigger rebound when doing a break become ". " What is most important for me." Then, I obtained the important one which it isn't possible to buy at the money in exchange for the one which it is possible to buy at the money through the accident this time. Thank you for your reading. The worst thing for human health. CATEGORY: Health AUTHOR: Kuniko Nakamura SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00675kn@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 02 01:41 INTENDED READERS: People who are influenced on the survey and think to start diet, and also many people who are interested in world poverty issues. Which do you think that it is the worst for human health in smoking, drinking, overweight, and poverty? An American scholar challenged such a difficult problem and reached the conclusion that overweight was the worst thing This conclusion was carried by the Public Health that was British medical magazine. The economists Roland Sterm of the Land Research Institute in the United States asked 9585 American man and woman height, weight, an annual income, and health. A result -- overweight -- it made people have more risks which hold cancer, heart disease, and diabetes far than those who suck tobacco, or those who often drink alcohol. He also researched the relation between overweight and the number of chronic diseases. According to the research, he found people who are overweight have chronic diseases twice as much as normal weight people. Mr. Sterm said " Although the American government is eager for reducing smoking, they should turn cautions just to fatne I thought poverty was the worst of all before I knew this result. This research is the thing performed only in the United States. Therefore, if the same research is conducted among other poor countries, a result will surely be different from United States. Many people are having forced a poor life in developing countries. Food runs short and they cannot obtain clean drinking water, either. Its health will also be ruined in unsanitary environment. So the rate of neonatal death is quite high. However, they do not have sufficient economic strength to receive medical treatment. In such countries, the poverty will overhang the people's life mostly. This investigation clarified an irony that there were those who there is no sufficient food and die of hunger on the one side and those who are in pain with fatness on the other side in "ŽÇŽ½=NOH" -- DO you relax yourself ? CATEGORY: Health AUTHOR: emiko suto SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ume.ume@anet.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 30 00:25 INTENDED READERS: For people who are interested in Japanese culture, people who feel tired involuntarily while you enjoy your life and people who have a relaxation place What do you do when you are tired? And where is your relaxation place? I think most people have each relaxation place. For me, it is "NOH". There is silence and motion in NOU, which greatly helps to me heal my soul. As you know, "NOH"is the oldest extent musical dance originating in the 14th century. "NOH"is designated as important and intangible cultural asset by UNESCO. There is a picture of pine tree on the stage of "NOH". Unlike musical, The stage set never changes . So, if scene changes, we have to know the change from the text of "NOH"and dance. And the text is very simple and often sad. Generally, an old woman or a monk look back his/her past. In addition to this, the mask is unique to"NOH"There are many kinds of masks. Performers cherish their masks because they often wear masks which were made 300 years ago !! Some people say"NOH"is sleepy and get boring. When I looked at it for the first time, felt like that. But now, I don't feel so. I changed my viewpoint of the appreciation. When I enjoy TV or musical, I always expected them to be interesting. I think it is passive appreciation. To be honest, I don't like this appreciation because it makes me lose the element of things. However, Since I appreciate"NOH", I have tried to appreciate something positively. There is long silence and difficult words in"NOH"It presents a different place far from ordinary lives . So, unless I concentrate on"NOH"positively, I don't understand anything. It is not a difficult thing. Just feeling! I can relax myself in the atmosphere. Time passes like an arrow, which makes us getting. And we are apt to get tired involuntarily. In this situation, many people would have different places where they can relax. For example, a park home, talking with your best friends and so on. When we are in the place, it is a chance to think about various things especially myself. So I think we have to cherish our own relaxation place. Trendy Clothings CATEGORY: Clothing and Fashion AUTHOR: StephenSander, Fiona Maldonado, Juliana P. SCHOOL: Miami Southridge Senior High E-MAIL: Sublime1314@yahoo.com WEB PAGE: www.miamisouthridge.com DATE & TIME: June 02 01:11 INTENDED READERS: People interested in Cothing and Fashion , also People that provoke the way they are By the Things they Wear ! The reason why we are writing this essay to inform the reader about clothing and fashions around the world. Fashions and clothings are different all over the world. What some may think is fashionable , some think is really ugly. Clothing and fashion tell alot about a person , and what they like. Many young people think that clothing and fashion , and the way you look is very important to them, but in fact it is not all that important at all! They way you look and dress can sometimes help you in life with some things, but with others its all about you. Dressing fashionable is important because, when a person sees you for the first time what you are wearing tell them alot about yourself. So what is always important, is to look descent when you know it is going to help you. For instance, when you go to a job interview you want to look your best so the interviewer will get a good first impression of you. If you see a group of guys or girls that always hang out together you will notice that they wear the same kind of clothes. If you look at a different group of people you will also notice that they are wearing the same thing as each other, but not as the same group ! Many companies and schools demand that there employees and students wear the uniforms. Uniforms are a way for the employees and students not have to worry about what they look like , because everybody will be wearing the same thing at the same time. We personally do not think uniforms are necessary , because it wont let you show others what you are all about. However, uniforms do help in some ways. In Conclusion, clothing and fashion is a very important topic to write about, because there are so many different fashions and clothings, between different groups all around the world. I like to wear what I want to wear, because it lets me express my personality, however uniforms do not.Many people enjoy The different fashions all over the world and tey also like to express themselves with their clothing. Fashions such as Uniform CATEGORY: Clothing and Fashion AUTHOR: Yuko Fushimi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: fushimi0@mba.sphere.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 22 18:50 INTENDED READERS: This essay is aimed at young people who are interested in clothing and fashion, or people who like to dress in trendy style. Almost young people try to keep up with the latest fashions. Especially, young women are fashion-conscious. In downtown (like Shibuya ,Harajuku ) we can see the teens in trendy clothes, and their looks are very pretty much alike! Do you think yourself fashion-conscious? And, How do you think of such a phenomenon? It is said that at present we are living in a highly informationalized society. An enormous amount of information about the fashions and the lifestyles floods in the world. So we can get some pieces of information that we want. Many young people (especially university students) have interest in the latest fashion, and they desperately try to keep up with it. It may be one of the most interesting things for university students. Actually, to follow the fashion has various advantages. For example, people get a good impression of you. It is better than not to be with it. Possibly companies appreciate your talent of gathering information. Mentioning a passive reason, it is convenient for them to get along well with their friends. Well, on the contrary, how do you think people who wear almost the same clothes in groups? I think that they wear uniforms. Don't you think that they are buried in groups? They may think that they are all right if only they had match people around them for the present. I don't like such an easily way. They have no personality and originality. I think that the most important thing is to balance the fashion. Of course clothes which come into fashion is pretty or cool. So I think it isn't bad enjoying a boom. It is important to find some way to express your originality. I think that really refined person can express himself / herself very well. At first, everyone imitates celebrities who are called "Fashion Leaders". However, don't you think it's about time we wear increasingly complex and varied clothing and fashions? Fashion2001 CATEGORY: Clothing and Fashion AUTHOR: Vanessa & Vanessa SCHOOL: Miami Southridge Senior High, USA E-MAIL: Chica2000_143@msn.com WEB PAGE: www.miamisouthridge.com DATE & TIME: June 01 21:12 INTENDED READERS: My intended audience that i have in mind are in each local community and country. I would like as much peple as possible to hear me and be my audience. Fashion is what our country is namely known for. It is what some women and men die for. Teens are the ones who are truely most affected by this trend. Fashion, although masking the horrible truth behind with artificial beauty, is not harmful by itself. The problem is that society pressures, especially women, to look like a supermodel. This causes many people to go bulimic, anarexic, and starve themselves to fit in a size zero. Even though most of these people might reach this size, once they do, they still feel fat, and keep trying to lose weight. The goal is to inform the people the truth about the facade of fashion. Bulimia and anarexia is a serious disease. This means that some people throw-up or do not eat in order to be thinner. This is not a nutritional way to lose weight. It is very unhealthy for you, and could actually kill that person. These people want slimmer waist and thighs to fit smaller jeans and skirts. Women are pressured by so-called men to look their best. These innocent victims do not have the self-esteem by fashion, but exactly the opposite. The is the reverse idea of what fashion was meant for. Fashion aims thir customers directly at teens in high school. While the "popular" kids wear the nicest clothes they can afford, it leaves the poor to endure their wraths from misunderstanding to lead to violence. Many students in school are teased and judged for what they wear. Girls are called hoes for wearing attractive clothes, while guys and girls are called thugs for wearing big clothes. There are so many styles you see at Southridge, but each one of these groups judge each other without knowing so. Teasing other studetns have led to the Columbia shooting. Cosmetic surgery centers play their commercials everyday frequently. Do you have a television? I belive that the majority of the population watches television for at least one hour a day. These commercials are so common that everyone knows their logo. They show women with implanted breasts, liposuction, and face-lifts. When youg teens feel their worst, and see these replays, they wish that they had the kind of lives they see those women having, therefore, young teens go through cosmetic surgery to fit in, and for the sake of fashion of the world today. To conclude, fashion makes our country look like paradise, when the truth is that they are in misery. It has caused many people to give up their health and die. Many students have suffered voilence as a result. Cosmetic surgery is now found common for young teenage kids. Although fashion can make one look and feel beautiful, it can also end that very life. Todays Styles CATEGORY: Clothing and Fashion AUTHOR: Jennifer Ospina & Lesbely Sardinas SCHOOL: Miami Southridge Senior High E-MAIL: jao585@hotmail.com WEB PAGE: www.miamisouthridge.com DATE & TIME: June 01 01:22 INTENDED READERS: All young people who are growing up and are aware about the latest fashion. Also to those who like to dress to impress. Fashion is what concerns many young people and its an issue everyone is talking about. Many people have their way of dressing to express who they are and how they feel about themselves. Some young people dress business like, while other dress simple and according to where they are and what they are doing. My objective in writing this essay is to inform to all young people that what you wear reveals who you are. Knowing the proper way to dress will prevent many problems that may arise over the way some young adults dress. Everyone like to dress nice and with the lastest fashions. There are certain ways in which we can all dress without going against anyones beliefs or custom. Its a way in which avoids sexual thoughts and actions. It is stated that people who dress provacative are involved in more sexual abuse than those who dress conservative. Dressing the proper way is a way to show high self- esteem about oneself. It is also a way to have others respect you and treat you as you are deserved. For example, if you dress properly others around you will think of you as a responsible and mature. It is important to dress profesional at all times. To keep out of trouble the best thing to do is to not dress in a revealing way that draws attention to others. The point here is to dress decent and in a formal way other will take you more serious. No matter who you are , the way you dress will influence you and other in a positve or negative way. So everyone should try to dress for success. You must always keep in mind that what you wear distinguishes who you are. It depends on you, what you want others to think about you. Don't make them think negatively about you. Be positive about yourself by wearing the right clothing. What I Like Best CATEGORY: Sports AUTHOR: maiko ichikawa SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ichika-m@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 11 10:41 INTENDED READERS: I wrote this essay for the people that do not like sports very much and feel resistance against sports. I want to tell them that sports are so good and valuable! Do you like sports? I love sports. I don't know this reason. Maybe because I did not play sports very much. When I was a junior high and high school student, I belonged to the orchestra club. I took part in violin for five years, from junior high first grade to high second grade. I enjoyed the life of the club. But because I belonged to the club, I did not play sports very much for long time. So when I entered this college, I wanted to exercise. When I was a high school student, I hated exercise. It was not only because I was in the orchestra club but also I had delicate health. Perhaps because I felt excess stress, I came to have delicate health. It was even if I exercise, I did not sweat. Instead of sweat, I had got eczema. So I came to hate sports. Then I tended to be absent from the physical education of the school. I have one of the painful memories.. . But now I love sports. Why do I come to like sports? It is because I overcome the eczema! So it is only one that I got from it. It is that sports are for me valuable. That is to say, sports have the power. I think it reduces my stress. Stress influences my body a lot of harm. For example, headache, stomachache, eczemaŽ¡ŽÄetc. But from the time I start to play tennis, I do not feel excess stress very much. I forget the bad things of the day, if any, while I play tennis. What do you think about it? I am so happy and grateful. So I want to continue playing tennis, I think. So when I entered this school, I have belonged to the tennis circle. I have not played tennis. But I am so enjoying. To my surprise, I come to perspire heavily. I am so glad because I worried the delicate health. Why do you think that my predisposition changed? I think my body' s metabolism promotes. In any case, I have good health. It is my happiness. I want to everyone that feels resistance against sports. For sports give us courage and good health! Big footprint of the World Cup CATEGORY: Sports AUTHOR: Masahiro Higashi SCHOOL: Chubu Unviersity E-MAIL: g00224@isc.chubu.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 06 12:19 INTENDED READERS: The people who are interested in soccer and are looking forward to watching the FIFA World Cup KOREA JAPAN in 2002 The history of the World Cup started in 1930. Dream "The world convention of soccer" was realized by the over 20 years long difficulties of Chairman Joule RIME (that time) of FIFA (International Federation of Football Associations). In the first Uruguay convention, a total only of 13 nations participated to nine countries from the north south United States and four countries from Europe in 1930. And the goddess of the World Cup gave the first blessing to Uruguay, and "FIFA World Cup 2002 KOREA JAPAN" tends to be held now. The World Cup will be opened once in 4years and, next, counts the 17th time. There may be those who think, "Calculation does not suit!" It should become 19 times if surely it counts from 1930. When the countries in this world were peace, possibly it had become so. However, that was not right. As anything have the reverse side, the World Cup is not only pleasant. The situation of the world may often be involved in soccer. There was often exception and declining participation. Although the 4th convention was due to be held in Germany, Hitler did not desire holding. And World War II, which raged the all of the world, obstructed holding of the World Cup. And the 4th World Cup was held after the discontinuation for 12 years in Brazil in 1950. Moreover, high-level soccer was unfolded in the convention in 1970. It became the convention, which did not record leaving of a one player, either for the first time above all since holding. And it was the shining thing called "most beautiful convention" to many people. However, does it know that war was caused between both countries availing of El Salvador won Honduras by the primary of the convention? 200 dead persons and about 1000 injured are taken out with the dispute over three days, and it is proving that action in which soccer was abnormal can be caused. It is although this is an old talk to be sure just for a moment. However, can it be said that it does not happen by any means in the present age? Soccer will give people a dream, hope, and impression. Its own country World Cup holding is a really wonderful thing. On the other hand, it is also really difficult. It cannot be said that what is necessary is just to merely do happily. I want you to know that various histories are in the World Cup. A new view may be able to be discovered by it. I want many people to give a dream, hope, and impression in a convention in 2002. Although the goddess of the World Cup becomes 71 years old now, she is fresh as usual and is attractive. It is that this also nobly capricious goddess gave up a smile only to the very fortunate person of a mere handful. Next, who is the fortunate person who wins her heart? Hidetoshi Nakata CATEGORY: Sports AUTHOR: Masanori Hirano SCHOOL: Chubu University E-MAIL: g00228@isc.chubu.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 27 12:50 INTENDED READERS: I would like to read my comment many peoplet who are interested in Hidetoshi Nakata (Italy SERIE A A.S.Roma). He is a great famous Japanese player. Hidetoshi Nakata is the Japanese number one player which everyone accepts. He has led the soccer community in Japan rightly. He is playing an active part in the highest league Serie A in the world now. And Roma to which he belongs at last won the victory in Serie A. He played an active part as important player in it. He came to Serie A in 1998. The media of Italy indicated Nakata to be the reinforcement of money at first. And who imagined that Nakata became the player so far in two years? The biggest problem of Nakata which came from Japan deeply was gaining reliance of a teammate In soccer, reliance of a teammate is the most important. If unreliable, a path will not turn. However, he reliance was gained in the opening game of the year. He played, without being afraid in spite of a debut game by this game. He got 2 goals suddenly. To this moment, Italy of the existence of Nakata and it was shown at it. There were a technique, strong physicalness, and character which it is not afraid of in Nakata. However, the first reason for having succeeded may be the strong will that soccer wants to become skillful. He is a player with very high will. And he already speaks Italian well. In soccer, communication is very important. In present Nakata, the prejudice of Japanese people has already been lost. He became the existence which must be in the Italy soccer community. It may be the player accepted in the only world level Japanese player. If these are considered, it can be convinced that he was also successful. And as long as there is this strong will, growth of Nakata will continue. And I want to bless championship of Roma and Hidetoshi Nakata. About Concentration CATEGORY: Sports AUTHOR: Hiromi Midorikawa SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: hi_rochang@mbh.nifty.com WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00568hm DATE & TIME: June 28 11:42 INTENDED READERS: i want everybody loves sports and especially person play sport not partly for pleasure but seriouslly and in earnest to read this essay. I went boring last Thursday. And there is what I found. That is about concentration. I think as one tennis player (I am a member of KEIO tennis team) ability to concentrate is very important for all kind of sport player especially. I went boring with my friend belong in KEIO American football team "unicorns" and he hurt his leg. Of course he play boring better than I, as I am not good at boring because I rarely play boring but we enjoyed boring and we looked at score sheet then, I was shocked. Though he got injured he got "strike" after he got "spare". On the other hand, after I got "strike" or "spare" I got "garter". It is may be natural that everybody want to get "strike" then because how to gain points in boring games is repeating "spare" or "strike" as a rule but what I was surprised at was that he got "strike" certainly and securely with a power of concentration. I thought that's like great American football player! Then, I thought about concentration. Certainly his power of concentration was great! But well, I don't have a power of that, do I? I can't concentrate to play tennis in match, can I? It is very sad conclusion. But I think ability to concentrate for tennis is different from that for boring or American football. That is related to how to play each sport. For example in American football game 11 players must concentrate 1 kick heavily because the kick has a great deal of weight on game. On the other hand in tennis match it is impossible and nonsense that player always concentrate 1 ball too heavily and all along because we play tennis in match lonely and very simply. So a power of concentration I have is ability to keep the same condition without lose my composure and that of him is ability to choose the condition he concentrate or doesn't concentrate. I think how to concentrate is different each how to play. So it can't be helped that I am not good at boring, maybe.. . But I want to get power of all kinds of concentration as woman love sports. Ž¡“ªCHIRO SUZUKIŽ¡ÿî CATEGORY: Sports AUTHOR: taishi kobayashi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: taishi-k@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 19 17:06 INTENDED READERS: Ž¡“ªCHIRO SUZUKI is in the best place to work and enjoy it. How about YOU will work in a foreigh country. This essay is aimed at young students, because the chance to work in international countries is going to increase. What kinds of advantages are thereŽ¡Ž© And what kinds of problems are there? Now I'm going to express about the activities of ICHIRO SUZUKI and think about what kinds of advantages and difficulties are there. The goal of the essay is to find some of merits and demerits of working in foreign countries and prepare for global world. ICHIRO SUZUKI is the most sensational star now. Japanese wide-show programs tellls about him everyday everytime. TBS (Tokyo Broad Staion) announcer Ms. Fukushima is his wife. Sport newspapars tells not only abour his activities but also wife's looks. Why did ICHIRO decide to work in a foreign country? What kinds of advantages are there? At first, some fields are in higher level than Japan. Everyone wants to test their real ability. Secondly, people sometimes can earn much more money than Japan. Of course, ICHIRO'S income in America hasn't reached higher than in Japan yet, but he will probablly reach soon. The CEO of NINTENDO, Mr.Yamauchi earns more than 3 BILLION yen every year in the United States. However, there are also some kinds of problems. For examples, we got to speak a different language in a foreign country. ICHIRO maybe got this problem,too, because even he only tries to play baseball, it is impossible to play without any communicatons. Secondly, the difference of eating habits is a big problem. For example, if we change the eating habits suddenly, we must feel like vomiting. I don't know about what the SUZUKI family are eating everyday, but maybe he likes Ms. Fukushima's Japanese food. As you read, I want say that the big problems of working in a foreign country are language and food. Therefore, I enphasize that you had better to learn a foreign language and research for Japanese food shops before you start to work in a foreign country. By reaing this essay, I wish that you will think about working in a foreign country. There are many attractive jobs and some of these might fit you. But please be careful,language and eating habits are extreamly important to live abroad. You got to keep that in your mind. I wish you'll find a good job and enjoy your life! See you then bye-bye. Let's play Archery CATEGORY: Sports AUTHOR: Mitsuhito Uchida SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: m-utida@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 23 08:55 INTENDED READERS: I have written this essay for people who is seeking for an interesting thing or is interested in a minner sports Do you enjoy your life in your university? Now I can respond to this question at onceŽ¡Ž½'Yes, I am!' Why can I tell you so? Because I play archery in my university, I can enjoy my life very much. Do you know archery? Most of the people in Japan know Japanese kyudo, but they don' t know archery. Archery differs from kyudo in many points. Kyudo has many manners. For example, it requires wearing hakama and playing in determined style. On the other hand, archery is very free. We don' t have to wear uniform except when we take part in the game among universities, and we can play in free style. This freedom attracted me and I began to play archery. I'll tell you about archery in this essay. There are several kinds of archery (for example, target archery, field archery and ski archery). Target archery is the most general. In this game, there are some kinds of distancesŽ¡Ž½18 meters, 30 meters, 50 meters, 60 meters, 70 meters and 90 meters. We practice the game of 30 meters and 50 meters commonly. People who have very good skill can hit an apple at intervals of 50 meters. (We don't aim apples in actual game or our practice. Don't misunderstand!) I often play the game of these distances, but I'm very sorry that I have never played the game of 90 meters. I heard that this game is the most exciting. I'll play that someday. Do you find the fun of archery? To be honest, I think that only players of archery can understand the fun. If I hear the charm of archery without playing it, I can't find it interesting. So, LET'S PLAY ARCHERY, everyone. As soon as you play archery, you will be fascinated by it. Archery may give the vitality to your life. Go Go GIANTS! CATEGORY: Sports AUTHOR: Ryou Takagi SCHOOL: chubu University E-MAIL: I00054@isc.chubu.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 30 12:14 INTENDED READERS: Please, listen to me your mind. You, too, will have be come a Giants fan in this? Let's see a dream together! Hi! Nice to meet you. I'm first post in this page. I would like to introduce myself. My name is Ryou Takagi. I was born on October 16, 1981. I am the man who enrolls in the Chubu University. Today, it talks about being enthusiastic now. It is a professional baseball. My hobby is watching baseball games! When I am watching game, it is very exciting! I like baseball very much, but I can't play. I often go to Nagoya dome. But my love baseball team is "GIANTS". Player is my hero! The Giants has a lot of wonderful players but in it, I like Yoshinobu Takahasi most. We call him a "wolf". It is because his move resembles a wolf. It is a strike, to give up well, a well running excellent player well. Besides, too, Matsui, Kiyohara, Nishi, Nioka, Shimizu, Eto, Abe, Murata, Motoki, Kawai, Goto, Kuwata, Uehara Iriki, Okajima, Kawahara, Kimura, wonderful players are gathered. Last year, it shone to Japan 1 to the thing to be glad about. It believes that it wins the victory this year, too. It isn't possible to pull out a mood because it is keeping first place at present but the wonderful player matches the other team, too. There is a person who says that it wins because only the strong player matches Giants often and that it is consequential. However, it is a mistake! It invests only an ace when the other baseball club will win Giants. In other words, it receives a centering attack. To confront 5 teams of the remainder, it is the meaning which must make a better 5 teams of the other baseball club. However, if thinking that Giants is strong, it must be the difference of the ability. But, as for the ability, don't forget not being gotten without the effort. It goes to do a game in the view fight to the Nagoya dome on June 15th. The wonderful play will be surely seen. The beer to drink after the Giants wins a game is good in the maximum. Last year, when winning the victory, it opened a celebration meeting with the friends and it ate "yakiniku". It is wishing that ignorant "yakiniku" can be eaten this year. You, too, will have be come a Giants fan in this? Let's see a dream together! the evolution SHORTKUT gave CATEGORY: Leisure and Entertainment AUTHOR: Satoshi Haruta SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t99762sh@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t99762sh DATE & TIME: June 28 14:10 INTENDED READERS: This essay is written for everyone who like scratch djs, dj battle and scratching, and I want SHORTKUT to read this essay. SHORTKUT gave me an evolution. SHORTKUT belonged to Invisible Skratch Piklz. It's one of the most famous team of djs. It included Q-BERT,MixMasterMike and D-STYLES and so on. To my regret Invisible Skratch Piklz has split up in July,2000. Now SHORTKUT is achieving remarkable results as a member of (THE WORLD FAMOUS) BEAT JUNKIES and a member of TRIPLE THREAT DJs. Check http://www.beatjunkies.com and http://www.triplethreatdj.com . He played with TA-SHI(BeatKnukles)at logos June 21. I went to Yokohama on the midnight of 21. Before his play, I caught him at the floor and got his autograph on my record jacket of ISP, yeah. Besides, I shook hands with SHORTKUT!!! Calling "SHORTKUT", audiences stuck their bodies on dj booth. His juggling and scratching were very cool. My eyes were glued to both of his hands and I couldn't turn my eyes away till hi finished playing. After his play, I shook hands again, and was taken a picture with him. When he left from this club, he and I passed each other. At that time he smiled at me!! I was very glad to be remembered by him. Even it was very very short time. In my room, his autograph, the poster of the event and the pen he gripped as many as three times were set on the wall and the rack. I practice scratching seeing those items. Those make me crazy about scratching. After June 21, I came to watch SHORTKUT's video more often. After watching video I scratch, after scratching I watch video. This repetition occupies a large part of my daily life. Coming December, he will come back to Japan as a member of TRIPLE THREAT DJs. Before it, I have to practice speaking English for talking with SHORTKUT. I'm looking forward to your play and contact with you again, SHORTKUT!!!!! Things People Do To Have Fun CATEGORY: Leisure and Entertainment AUTHOR: Ralph Savercool and Jean Matus SCHOOL: Maimi Southridge Sr. High Schoolq E-MAIL: Whosierdadi@aol.com WEB PAGE: www.miamisouthridge.com DATE & TIME: June 02 01:01 INTENDED READERS: Everyone who wants something to do, and to keep themselves entertained. Those who want to know what others do to keep themselves occupied. Many people around the world have many different ways on entertaining themselves. It can be as simple as tossing ball(s)at the wall or as complicated as playing a rousing game of chess with your fellow friends. How do you entertain yourself? Do you play a sport or play a board game with your sibblings? You can think of many different ways to keep yourself busy and happy. My friend Jean, likes to play sports. He prefers to play such athletically challenging games such as basketball, baseball, street-hockey, tennis, and you might also catch him, once in a while, competing in a weightlifting tournment. Besides sports he enjoys many relaxing activities as watching television, going to the cinema, listening to soothing sounds of Kenny G, and his most favorite activity, sleeping. On the other hand, I prefer to play music such as the guitar whether it is acoustic, electric, or bass; and I enjoy playing the drums as loud as I possibly can. I also like to make movies on my free time with my friend for school projects. Sports aren't really my thing, but if I had to choose a sport it would be football. Unlike Jean, I prefer the loud sounds of METALLICA. There are many other ways that we have not mentioned, to entertain yourself, like: 1) shopping 2) resting in a hammock with cold glass of lemonade 3) visiting family members 4) consume delicious delights 5) ANYTHING As you can see, there are many many ways a person can enjoy their free time. Although we did not mention ALL the ways to keep yourself occupied, we summarized a great deal on what we and our friends like to do in their free time. Not everyone will enjoy the same activities, and its okay because entertain is what keeps YOU and others having F-U-N!!! I take that CATEGORY: Shopping AUTHOR: Shigeko Nanbu SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t98710sn@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 27 03:17 INTENDED READERS: shopping lovers and those who do not like shopping that regard it as wasting of money, time, and humanity or in short, everything. I love shopping. I can't think my life without it. I like buying anything.. . clothes, foods, magazines, CDs, even things that's not quite regarded as luxury such as detergent for cleaning toilet. I wonder why I like shopping so much. It may be filling my complaints of daily life by owning things and may be not. It may be making me feel grown up by using money as I like. It may be simply giving me the pleasure to bring home things I liked But this time I think not jumping on to conclusion and think it over more carefully. When I buy something, I am choosing something I could say. When I choose something, I'd be with some of my value system. I'd see the purpose of spending money and compare it to my mood that decides what money cost how much on mental, at the very moment on the situation. This is a very hi-level calculation that meets its answer instantly. One possible answer is here. I might be addicted to the excitement of this, gamble bet like, quick call and response processed inside me. The problem of gamble is as well known, that you don't always win. I've got heaps of clothes that had not been worn so often, ruffle and squashed in the bottom of drawer. Some magazine is kept unread and foods going off in the fridge. How could this be, I sigh. I remember I think it was going to be crucial to me that could have made my life much different. I'm obviously expecting shopping to be some spice to pull me to feeling fresh daily with some contrast out of routine. And the attempt sometimes fails because of too much luck of vision or too much expectation that I can't help minding gaps for the peace of myself. I guess I need balancing myself on proper contrast of peace and gamble to keep myself happy. And it seems like I prefer shopping as the tool. Learning English CATEGORY: Languages and Communications AUTHOR: Abel Quintana SCHOOL: Perth Amboy Votech E-MAIL: boricuachulo83pr@aol.com, bella9971@aol.com WEB PAGE: www.mc-votech.org DATE & TIME: Sept. 15 01:57 INTENDED READERS: Anyone interested in Education and expecially language barriers faced when entering a foreign country. Basically the message is do not give up. Hi, my name is Abel Quintana; I attend the Perth Amboy Vo-Tech. I'm a senior in High School. My essay is going to be about the trouble students are having when they first enter the United States from their country. The first time I came to this country I had a lot of trouble talking and making new friends. The reason I had trouble and problems was because they did not have a bilingual class for me. I had to start in a regular class with people that I did not get along with or spoke to. Because of this, I was alone, with out friends for two years. After I entered High School I knew a little bit of English, so I had couple of friends from elementary school. It was a better experience for me. Well, over the years I've bean making a lot of friends. People think that making new friends is hard. But, this is not true. Just because you don't know their language doesn't mean that you can't make new friends. I think that if you believe in your self and not in others you won't have to listen to others. Over the years a lot of Spanish people are having trouble talking to others, and I think that if they make an effort to learn the language and culture, they will be fine. Nowadays they won't let immigrants in this country because of language and other reasons. I think that if every one in this world would have the opportunity I had to learn and have communication with others, they would all try their best to be helped. Finally, over the years many people have helped me. And I hope every one that needs help will get it, like I did. Do not give up on learning. No One Studay English !? CATEGORY: Languages and Communications AUTHOR: Muneyuki Hashimoto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00744mh@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 17 13:54 INTENDED READERS: Students who are studying English. To study English might be useless in the future. Recently, rapid advances in technology gave us a lot of changes. As you know, internet made your life more convenient. Medical advances made your life span longer.I think these are good results of improvement of technology. And these technologies will be advanced more and more in the future to come. BUT, I heard something terrible on TV news 1 year ago. When I first heard this news, I was so shocked. It said that advances of technology will be able to take any communication difficulties away. This means, you will be able to communicate with American people, despite you cannot speak English. If you put a machine on your head or body, this machine will translate what your foreign partner says within 1 second!! So, this machine will help you to understand what American friend talk to you. And also, this machine will translate your Japanese into English immediately. How convenient machine this is!!! Then, I noticed something. I'm studying English hard now, but this might be useless in my future. Because I will be able to communicate with every foreign people very smoothly with the machine. Like this, I considered I need to study English or not. I thought over very seriously. But I never had a conclusion. Why I'm studying English? But an advice of my friends changed my thought. And I got the reason why I'm studying English. He said, "to learn English will give you another way of thinking." It was enough to understand for me. He meant English is more logical language than Japanese, so English will give you more logical way of thinking. If we can think 2 different ways (English way and Japanese way), you will be more smart and clever. And I think the communication must be heart-to-heart. Do you think the communication with translation machine is real communication??? The great darkness - On the edge of communication part II -- CATEGORY: Languages and Communications AUTHOR: Eiichi Takeda SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99554et@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 23 19:43 INTENDED READERS: I hope that my essay is read and replied by those who considered comunication and language,and those who anxious to communicate each other I have often considered communication. People often use the word "communication" in different ways. Its meaning is not shared among people. I want to consider communication by the origin of this word. That is, the center of communication is common. And the definition of communication is "to share something among people." Ideal communication is that something is shared between two persons, and the shared thing has high value. One of the means of communication is language. However, utterance acts needs for a mouth and ears. If there are those who are blind and deaf, what is the means that connects us and him? What is the common between him and us. It is very severe for such person to communicate with someone. However, I know a person who practices it. He regards both fingers as the typewriter for Braille points, and he understands words by transcriber near by him typing his fingers. And he has exactly replied to everyone. Surprisingly, he said he is recognized as a partner's figure in the form of language. That is to say, he watches the outer world like reading texts. Our existence is linguistically reflected in him. He have us reflected as the some styles of texts. When I interviewed to him and seeing him, I remember, his artificial left eye reflected deep darkness. I think he is the great darkness (quoted by Natsume Souseki). His name is Fukushima Satoshi, and he works as the assistant professor of the University of Tokyo though his blindness and deafness. What I understand through this experience is how serious language is for human. We should be earnest to language. We should not make light of language. Eager desire for communication of him is applied also to us. The means which connects each other is language. And it is one attitude which should be shared that communication is value as ends for human. Communication is not for informational transmission, and since value is in itself, it exists. Free Thoughts and Discussions CATEGORY: Languages and Communications AUTHOR: Tetsutaro Iwaoka SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00103ti@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00103ti DATE & TIME: April 27 17:38 INTENDED READERS: A person who have a strong mind and who is easy to be influenced Everybody has each consideration toward their own life and toward the other person. It is very natural thing. In former days, a nation tried to make people's thought even, but now, that was too wrong we say. I think various thoughts should exist in various fields, and it will make better many things. But discussions are needed in such a situation. If various thoughts exist without discussion and consultation, it is difficult to understand each other. It is hard to connect with. In these days, I noticed that I need discussions more now. My thoughts about the others are as following. Each person has each own thought, and it should not be interfered with anyone. So, I shouldn't mention about other person's thought. Of course, I will say something when their idea is clearly wrong. Relationship is complicated and delicate, but fairly strong. No mention doesn't make problem, but it doesn't make human relations either. Many people are afraid to discuss something with their friends. If a friend of us gets angry by our statement, if our proposal was denied, if we make some mistakes on our remarkŽ¡ŽÄ. They said "It is not so important. I leave it in your hands." frequently. .. . Really? Maybe to say something bears some responsibility. I think they have no confidence, and they don't want to have responsibility. On the other hand, it is sure that each individual are free from everything unless not interrupting another person, but I wonder what is interrupting. When I advice toward someone, it influences their thought inevitably. If I force them to say about something and to have responsibility about it, does it means changing their lives? Do I have such a right? It is an extreme example, but I know when we say something to another person, it makes some effect. I don't want to have much responsibility too. Maybe this topic is not talked over seriously because to say something is a matter of course in the scene of discussion. I want to hear of your thought about saying your thought. On the edge of communication --Talking with my old grandfather CATEGORY: Languages and Communications AUTHOR: Eiichi Takeda SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99554et@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 25 05:08 INTENDED READERS: people who have old grandparents I have grandfather. He is very old. He is maybe ninety-six years old. And he have forgotten many things. He didn't understand his son (my father), and of course, his grandchild. He walked around with me when I was little. It was very exiting for me to go outer world far from home. The scenes have impressing my mind. And I think I've liked him very much. However, I haven't talked with him for some years. Because I've lodged since I was high school student. And even, sometimes I went home, he slept in his bed or entered hospital. When I came back home at Akita two months ago, he d gone into a hospital in a neighboring city. One day, I visited him with my family (father, mother, and brother). I always felt the image of death (or eternal sleep) when I walked in the hospital. In his room, a female helper was with him. And he lied in his bed. He watched us when we surrounded him. I thought he didn't understand us very much. We greeted him. How are you today? He responded Fine. My father said Do you know who I am? He said Non. I am your son. He said Oh are you? I talk to him again How are you today? Oh I'm fine he said. I didn't have any words for him. I didn't know what I said to him. Talking to him, we left his room. However it is better to visit him rather than not, I always got down when I saw him. My word is flying over there and disappeared like song of soap bubble (the Japanese song, Shabondama). The spleen comes from my uneasiness about our communication. In short, if the word, communication , is based on common in the origin of a word, what common do I have with my grandfather? It makes me thinking about our dialogue and our communication. And Lastly, if you were I, what do you talk with my grandfather? A special book CATEGORY: Literature AUTHOR: a-daichi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: nejimaki@mx.tramonline.net WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 04 00:42 INTENDED READERS: If you like reading books, do you have any special books? I hope people like reading books read this essay.. reading book read my essay. Do you know Haruki Murakami? He is a novelist. And his works are the most favorite novels for me. Of course there are many novels that have made me moved, but there have never been any books touched the bottom of my heart as his works. If I had not read his work two years ago, I would have been different from what I am today. On a rainy day in October in 1999, I met "ŽÉŽ¦ŽÎŽ²ŽÎŽ¤„ÆŽ°Ž¤Ž±" in a bookstore opened all day. I could not get home because I had quarreled with my father, so I was wandering in midnight-town alone. Then, I found the bookstore accidentally, and take the book by chance. I read it through standing in the shop. After a few weeks, I had already finished reading six titles of all his works. Although I don't know what have made me do so, I read his works like mad. Until now, I have read all his works in print. His style is very easy to read, humorous, and comfortable. So his writings touch my heart directly. I like "Ž¤ŽÍŽ¤Ž¸Ž¤ŽÞŽ¤Ž­ŽÄŽ»Ž¥Ž¯Ž¥ú§ŽËŽ¥Ž¯Ž¥õƒ the best in all his novels. I have read some part of the book many times. It gave me something very important for my life. I don't have good words to express them. If you have not read the book yet, I recommend you to read it. Although I can't be sure whether you feel such things as I felt, maybe you will be able to enjoy reading it. It is the only book that I have cried reading. He said, "It is very happy to have a special book for oneself", in an essay. As "Ž¥Ž®Ž¥æ§ŽÄŽ¥ŽÓŽ¡Ž¼" is a special book for him, "Ž¤ŽÍŽ¤Ž¸Ž¤ŽÞŽ¤Ž­ŽÄŽ»Ž¥Ž¯Ž¥ú§ŽËŽ¥Ž¯Ž¥õƒ is a special one for me. What is the special book for you? I wish everyone could find it. METROPOLIS CATEGORY: Manga & Animation AUTHOR: Okushi Kenichi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ken-@jk9.so-net.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 03 17:31 INTENDED READERS: Do you like Osamu Tethuka and his comics? Or do you like an animation? If you do it, would you go to see "Metro Police"? Do you know Osamu Tezuka? He was the most popular comic creator in Japan. Now, "METROPOLIS" that is one of his comics become the movie, and it is showed. I have seen it other day. It is very interesting and exiting for me. I would speak about it. Firstly, A theme of "Metro Polis" is very interesting. It is that "If a robot has mind, what it dose?" Surely, the theme of"METROPOLIS" is not unique specially now. But we don't forget that the comic was made about 50 years ago, and that the theme is still used often in many stories now. For example, Steven spielberg makes the movie that has the same theme. I think that Mr.Tezuka is a great creator. Secondly, "METROPOLIS" of the movie has also own attractive points. One of them is the beautiful graphics. It is made by the newest skills. Another is that the some story changed to the comics. It makes us not feel the old and the stress. In addition, the music in the movie are beautiful and proper. They are used efficiently. Some people say, "The story of the movie differs one of the comics, so, I don't like the movie." Surely, I understand their insists. But I think it is little problem, because the most important thing is that it is interesting or not. In this point, I think both of them have own attraction. Of course, it is free to like one more than other. I think "METROPOLIS" is the good movie. Other hands, I know that there are some people who have not any interest in comics and animations. So, I don't think to recommend them to see it. But if you have interest in it, would you go to see it? "METROPOLIS" has the dream that the people had 50 years ago and the drama that the people want now. I tried to find out my own meaning of life. CATEGORY: Philosophy, Religion, and Psychology AUTHOR: Kentaro Sakuragi SCHOOL: Chubu University E-MAIL: g99267@isc.Chubu.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www2.g-com.ne.jp/~nano-bit/ DATE & TIME: July 04 11:48 INTENDED READERS: I tried to find out my own meaning of life. That is "realizing one's own desire". Everyone lives for that purpose. But.. . Thank you for reading my essay . I think that everyone has an individual different interpretation of the meaning of life, and nobody can decide which one is right or wrong. Someone may keep on finding the real meaning of life through one's life. I tried to find out my own meaning of life. I think that everyone has an individual different interpretation of the meaning of life, and nobody can decide which one is right or wrong. Someone may keep on finding the real meaning of life through one's life. I tried to find out my own meaning of life. That is "realizing one's own desire". Everyone lives for that purpose. But people influence each other while they live. If we did what we want to do, we would give many troubles to others. So I think that life is that people do what they the place where I leave. Own action without thinking, for example, throwing a dust or a can on a rood may make bad feeling when they saw that situation, or they may get hurt by that. Then news often report that a fire caused by someone who threw a cigarette with fire. In order to get money, a person put poison in a curry pan; someone stubs the other person by knife or wring his or her neck. I do not admit such kind of people who do not mind hurting other person for their own desires as the same human beings. And we must consider nature and wild animals in the same way. If we don't take care of them, we will give a bad influences in the future. Whenever we live, we give some influences to others, but we can make minimum influences with our effort. For these reasons, I think that life is doing what we want to do as minimizing our bad influences to others. If we live for satisfying own desire, we can't distinguish human beings from the other living things. We have to live as human beings, we need to be careful about others. Young people today are irreligious? CATEGORY: Philosophy, Religion, and Psychology AUTHOR: Nobuya Kobayashi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t99373nk@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t99373nk/ DATE & TIME: May 17 13:03 INTENDED READERS: Young people today "What is your religion? What kind of religion do Japanese have?" If asked in this way by people from overseas, what will you answer? It may be a tough question to answer, but this story is based on the facts when I went abroad. At that time I answered like this, "There are various kinds of religions and beliefs in Japan, like Shinto, Buddhism, etc. And as well as the young people in Japan, I have no belief." But he was not convinced to my answer. "But I saw a picture where lots of Japanese visit a shrine on TV or a scene where lots of young people are enthusiastic about watching Baseball. That looksŽ¡ŽÄa kind of religion and don't you visit a shrine at the beginning of the year? " I could not answer. These days we young people in Japan seem to have no religion. They have little chance to talk about belief or religion at home and at school. And they have little knowledge about religion and seem to have no relation about it. So if they hear the word "religion", they have an image of cult like Omu shiri-kyo, or famous religion like Christianity or Islam. For them, it is mysterious and dangerous sometimes and they have a vague image about it. They pretend that there is no need to think about it and to pay no attention. But I think human being cannot live a life without some kinds of religion. So they must have some kinds of counterpart. What is that? There are various kinds of function about religion or belief. But I want to define it in particular as a something motivate us, something make us not what we are every day, and something excite us, giving us an impression that we are a member of a larger group. This is an aspect of religion and not enough. Yet we have a better understanding about the essence of religion or belief if we broad the definition of them. Visiting a shrine is a religious act? Watching baseball game as a crowd in the stagium is religious act? Going to the rock concert like X-JAPAN is a religious act? Going to the club (a kind of a disco) and dancing to the music is a religious act? Being a member of a TAIKUKAI has similarity about religion? BOUSOUZOKU is a new religion (they have strong belief and easily get into full swing!)? Or Marxism is a religion? Science is a religion?Ž¡ŽÄŽ¡ŽÄŽ¡ŽÄŽ¡ŽÄ.. I show you lots of examples above but have no clear idea about religion. What is religion? What is the difference between religion and no-religion? How can we call it religion? We have no need of religion now in the way that we called it a religion in those days? And this is a vital question of this essay. Again, do you think the young people today are irreligious? Japanese products CATEGORY: Economy : Industries AUTHOR: KoichiŽ¡Ž¡Ogawa SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: koichi-o@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: Oct. 24 09:58 INTENDED READERS: People who are proud of Japan and have been surprised at the greatness of Japanese companies and products all over the world When you travel abroad, you must see Japanese cars on the road, Japanese electric goods in the room or a lot of other Japanese products and their advertisement. All over the world, they are used by lots of people for the reason why they are so reasonable, useful and stylish. When I was staying in Australia, I talked with many people from various countries. When we talked about Japan, I heard the names of Japanese products and companies again and again, and they were so admired with high qualities of Japanese products opposite to their low prices. A Swedish with G-Shock on her wrist said there are lots of Japanese cars running in Sweden though they have Volvo. An English who was listening to music by his Walkman was so fascinated by the form of my Ixy. A German who likes playing Play Station and Nintendo 64 was surprised at many functions of my mobile phone I am always using in Japan. Like these examples, I was surprised at good jobs of Japanese products and I could not help realizing that there is no other country like Japan that can produce such products in the world. How couldn't I be proud of this reality? According to statistics, Japanese automobile manufactures put together sold 27,4% of all cars in the world in 1999. This in not No.1, however, is it amazing that one fourth of people in the world is driving Japanese cars every day? The other day, I heard the news that NTT Docomo is planning to make their way into foreign markets. The day is coming when our familiar I-mode used in foreign countries. From now on too, Japanese companies will continue supplying lots of useful products to people in the world. It is necessary that we should feel proud of Japanese products and companies. Is Your Life Worth It? CATEGORY: Social phenomena AUTHOR: Matt Diaz SCHOOL: Perth Amboy Vo. Tech. E-MAIL: hotstuff5362001@yahoo.com, bella9971@aol.com WEB PAGE: www.mc-votech.org DATE & TIME: Sept. 15 01:51 INTENDED READERS: This essay is written for any person who thinks that life is not important. It provides my insight on the fact that we all face obstacles. Life: A four-letter word with a powerful meaning. Why is your life important and worth it? I take my life to be a wonderful, learning, growing and unexpectable determination to experience everything I can in the length of time I live. Life takes you through so many obstacles. It's a challenge to see what you can accomplish. You never know how much time you will be here so every day it's another 24 hours to gather up useful information that can lead you to an enjoyable, peaceful life. When you are born, you are an individual with your own mind. You can choose to move on or leave your mind to drift off. You were taught the basics as a child, as an adult you will give that knowledge back to another. You witness all the technologies the tragedies and use full knowledge to keep you moving on. My life is so important to me. I am so glad I am here today. I want to do all the things I possibly can. I want to succeed in my career in baseball, maybe one day become professional, and I want to use my carpentry knowledge for a great job and someday start a family of my own. Life is so precious you can't put a dollar sign on it or a time limit on it. You have to live it to fullest. Life is a miracle in itself. Sometimes there are setbacks in your life and you wish not to be here to have to go through them, but each and every obstacle that may come your way is a challenge you must face. Your decisions have to be planned out correctly and you can overcome these obstacles. Not everything in life is free, you have to earn it and work hard for it. I want to be remembered in life for what I did and how I got it done. I have been given the chance to live and I am going to live my life to the FULLEST!!!!!!!!!!! SINGLE LIFE CATEGORY: Social phenomena AUTHOR: Yuka Tanaka SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00646yt@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 26 22:00 INTENDED READERS: People who do not want to marry and people who want to marry. And people feel loneliness by their single life. In these days, the number of people who do not want to marry is increasing. They say, "I don't like to live with others." "It is so comfortable to live alone.""I cannot keep good relationship with my wife as many men cannot." Do you want to get married? Why and for what, do you think, we have to get married to someone? I also think I don't need to get married. This idea comes from my mother. She divorced her husband (my father) when I was a baby and she brought up me with my grandmother. She often says that she did a right decision. Surely, she works for a big company and she enjoys her work and her life itself. She is really free from many of troubles surrounding marriage. I love her lifestyle and I want to be like my mother. But I would like to give birth a child. Do I have no choice except to be a "single mother"?? This trend that young people hate marriage may come from the trend they hate close relationships. Marriage brings some the most close ones between not only the couple but also the relatives, friends, and so on. Close relationships give us many supports but they bring us many troubles at the same time. There is another reason for this trend. A lot of women came to be able to live alone. They can earn much money. They can bring up a child all by herself. So a lot of women hate marriage. And they don't want to take care of their big child; their husband! Though many people like SINGLE LIFE, many people feel loneliness at the same time. They conceal their loneliness by e-mails and so on (we can communicate with other people without close relationships). I think this trend is an irony of the modern society. StopŽ¡Ž¡Gossip!!! CATEGORY: Social phenomena AUTHOR: Koichi Ogawa SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: koichi-o@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 23 10:50 INTENDED READERS: Especialy for people who are so crazy about idols or groups of them, and like talking about topics on them too much When you get on a train, you will easily find advertisements of magazines that feature the gossip, or when you hear people around you talking, sometimes you must notice that their topic is about famous people. (The most obnoxious thing for me is that I see young people being passionate about idols.) And, almost all of them have nothing to do with us, and be useless and never important. I cannot help thinking that what it would be good thinking about that. What I want to say is that we should not make the market of gossip bigger any more and stop them. It is just that we have only to stop thinking about people living in different worlds and not waste our valuable time thinking about worthless things. Why do people in this country prefer gossip (though I don't think it is so only in Japan)? I think that quite a few young people or housewives are crazy about gossip topics. When I guess the reason why that is happening, I can easily get to an answer that they don't have anything else to think about. Maybe, It cannot be helped, for we don't have to think about more serious things to live and cope lives. But, I don't want to see so many people caring about others just on TV any more. So, how can we be free from that? I have an idea that we should pay attention to ourselves more and find something new, interesting and exciting. (By sharing a topic about us with our friends, we can get closer and closer, and, this can make our lives more interesting and meaningful.) Though, it would not be so easy. However, if you cannot do, you would continue to live in same world forever. Which would you like? Is Your Life Hard? CATEGORY: Social phenomena AUTHOR: Tetsutaro Iwaoka SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00103ti@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 16 15:36 INTENDED READERS: Someone who are thinking about own value. The other day, there is a news that two high school students jumped down from the eighth floor to put and end to their own life. They left many loose-leafs which says that "We have no reason." "We make forcibly the reason, we are exhausted." "We have no reason to commit suicide, but also no reason to be alive." To think the reason why I exists now, how should I live, is possessed by many parsons in all likelihood. When I was high school student, I thought about it. Once in a while I call it to mind still now. But I think it is meaningless on the whole. To think about yourself deeply is very important and necessary though the action can lead depressed mental condition. Regarding me, I have no reason to live and to die as well as those high school students. But I think I have a lot of reasons not to die. I have been related to many persons, dogs, cats, and the others. Some of them already passed away. We say "You notice that it was important for you when you lost it". Perhaps all the persons can be fit for this expression. All the persons can be "you" and "it" of this phrase. When you are taken ill, your mind become very sensitive. So if your mind gets ill, a vicious circle is formed. You had better to consult a mental counselor or a psychiatrist with no shame. That is normal ill as such a cold. The ministry of education suggested making education system that free of pressure. The contents of that is not easy to understand for me, but I can make out that the importance of leisure hours. In a movie I watched once, an actor said like that. "Everybody wants to live now and tomorrow anytime. And to live is precious itself. It needs no reason." What do you do in a train? CATEGORY: Social phenomena AUTHOR: Yuka Tanaka SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00646yt@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 16 01:15 INTENDED READERS: people who felt uncomfortable in public place "What do you do in trains?" Some people use mobile phone, some girls make up, some men read sexual articles, and some eat foods or sweets. Have you ever had any troubles in trains? And with which kinds of others' action do you have troubles? In train, we have the same space with those who do not know each other. In other words, train is one of the public places. But we are apt to behave freely in such a place. What can be against the moral and what can be for the moral? I am going to pick up a matter about eating food in public place. In the United States, people often eat foods in subway and on streets. And In the movie "Roman Holiday" princess Ann eat ice cream on the street. Like these examples, Western people feel free to eat in public place. Contrary to this, it is the custom in Japan to sit and eat in the specific place. But we cannot say which is wrong or which is good. This is because we have different histories and cultures. So it is very natural that we have different moral senses in every country. In these days there are new trends. As you know, young people in Japan also eat in public place like Western people. So I think we have different moral senses in every era too. Now our life style is changing with a lot of materials like IT tools. As this changes the moral sense is also changing. We have to think again what is for our moral. It is not so difficult, I think, because we should think just about what is uncomfortable for me and what is uncomfortable "for you". And I hope we feel more comfortable in any public places. "MANGA and KICK BOARD" CATEGORY: What do you think Japan can be proud of when compared to the rest of the world? AUTHOR: Muneyuki Hashimoto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00744mh@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 27 16:36 INTENDED READERS: Everyone who is proud of Japan and who is not proud of Japan. And young people who want to go abroad. "Are you proud of Japan?" "What can Japan be proud of?" These might be difficult questions for us. But when we go abroad and communicate with foreign people, we are ashamed that we don't know so much about Japan, even though we are Japanese!! Now, I want to tell you my experience of being proud of Japan. I went to Europe last year, and it was the first time that I felt Japanese identity. This was amazing experience for me. And I noticed a lot of things that I had never had. I had some friends from different countries. One day when we were chatting, I was so surprised at that my Spanish friend knew some Japanese animation. And she called it "MANGA" despite she didn't know any Japanese language. And also Korean friend said she like the "DRAGON BALL" and "POKEMON." For me, it was amazing that "MANGA" has already became English as well as "JUDO" and "KARAOKE." From this time, I can be proud of Japanese animation culture. This is not big matter for all Japanese and any other countries, but I was so glad to find "MANGA" was common word all over the world. And do you remember the "KICK BOARD" was very popular in Japan 2 or 3 years ago? When I went to London last year, I found that KICK BOARD was very popular. A lot of English boys and girls were playing with it on the street. My English friend said it was imported from Japan. In that trip, I looked a lot of Japanese things in Europe. I think it means some Japanese good cultures are admitted by a lot of foreign people. Now, we need to keep Japanese culture well. At the same time we need to improve and create the new part of Japanese culture. I wish every Japanese people can be proud of Japan!!! Japanese products CATEGORY: What do you think Japan can be proud of when compared to the rest of the world? AUTHOR: Koichi Ogawa SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: koichi-o@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 04 07:16 INTENDED READERS: Foreign people who are interested in Japan and are using Japanese products and Japanese people who can not be proud of Japan When you travel abroad, you must see Japanese cars on the road, Japanese electric goods in the room or a lot of other Japanese products and their advertisement. All over the world, they are used by lots of people for the reason why they are so reasonable, useful and stylish. When I was staying in Australia, I talked with many people from various countries. When we talked about Japan, I heard the names of Japanese products and companies again and again, and they were so admired with high qualities of Japanese products opposite to their low prices. A Swedish with G-Shock on her wrist said there are lots of Japanese cars running in Sweden though they have Volvo. An English who was listening to music by his Walkman was so fascinated by the form of my Ixy. A German who likes playing Play Station and Nintendo 64 was surprised at many functions of my mobile phone I am always using in Japan. Like these examples, I was surprised at good jobs of Japanese products and I could not help realizing that there is no other country like Japan that can produce such products in the world. How couldn't I be proud of this reality? According to statistics, Japanese automobile manufactures put together sold 27,4% of all cars in the world in 1999. This in not No.1, however, is it amazing that one fourth of people in the world is driving Japanese cars every day? The other day, I heard the news that NTT Docomo is planning to make their way into foreign markets. The day is coming when our familiar I-mode used in foreign countries. From now on too, Japanese companies will continue supplying lots of useful products to people in the world. It is necessary that we should feel proud of Japanese products and companies. Anytime smokin' cigarettes CATEGORY: Smoking: Should smoking be allowed in public places ? AUTHOR: Hiromi Midorikawa SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: hi_rochang@mbh.nifty.com WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00568hm DATE & TIME: June 07 12:49 INTENDED READERS: i want the person think about smoking both the person are always smoking and not smoking never and all to read anyway. We have a song "Anytime smokin' cigarette" by globe in Japan. In this song, they said, "Menthol is in my bag and in the hidden in the inner part. Cigarette is allowed in legal, and so it could be alright about 1 hour with two coins and a little more." I didn't like cigarette both I smoke and the other smoke when I was still little, and I don't like so much now and I never smoke because I have to play tennis hard now but I can understand the heart man want to smoke cigarette and can't stop smoking. If we smoke everyday we receive a bad influence on our body really, give the person around smoking trouble, get hoarse and spend money. We don't have lucky any, do we?! I think so strongly. But they are smoking when they are lonely and sad, feel embarrassed, and want to kill time because smoking helps them a little. I can understand a little that the person want to depend on smoking. But I think it is not good young people's smoking especially young girls at the same time. I have friends have been smoking since they are 12-14 years old and I didn't think anything when they start to smoke, however, I think now it is so bad to theirs baby. I am 19 years old now and will be 20 years old on 10th June. We are grown up an adult, so we should become to keep our head presence of mind and smile without depending on harmful anything like a cigarette a little by little. And so my friends should stop smoking by degrees for themselves and theirs baby, too, and I want them to. Though we know smoking don't have only simply bad influence but also effect to keep calm, we should stop smoking after all with distinguish as an adult. I want people are smoking to increase the number of cigarettes at least for themselves. Manner of smoking is important CATEGORY: Smoking: Should smoking be allowed in public places ? AUTHOR: Motoki Yasui SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00935my@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 13 08:51 INTENDED READERS: I want to read about this essay for heavy smoker and high scool student who think smoking is cool. And smoker who is parents has baby I thought about smoking. and manners. I mostly agree with these essays. I thought smoking is bad influence to our body and health. Particularly smell is to make badly condition about the lungs. I can not smoke now. Because I still nineteen years old. In Japan smoking is allowed by over twenty years old. I do not want to smoke. I do not want to Lung cancer or pneumonia. I thought second hand smoke is most serious things of smoking problem. I thought second hand smoke is really bad for people include children because second hand smoke give them cancer even do not smoke people include to children. If you have children in the future. Do you want to smoke at home -- near the children -- maybe your children has cancer or has a weak chest. Cigarette smell is influence to people as same as smoke. So that can not cut off. If I will go to the restaurant and sit down with smoker. I thought "I do not like to smoking and smoke with eating " So I will change to non-smoking section. But I will smell of cigarette and feel of shy. Cigarette smell has some of same points about smoke from the nature of the matter. Especially smell is bad natured of smoking. For example Cigarette smell is soak into those around one's clothes. Almost people aware of the smell too late or can not aware of the smell. I thought cigarette smell and smoke like an infectious disease. I can not think of the way of prevent about infection. I hate to smoking and can not understand reason of smoking till quite recently. So I associate with teacher, storekeeper, and friends. I understand about reason of smoking. Cigarette is feel delicious. And for a change, alleviate stress. Smoking is behave like a grown-up. Smoking is one of one of communication tool. I understood about these things. I understood smoking has not only problem but good points. But smoker should more pay attention to around people. Asking the morality of smokers CATEGORY: Smoking: Should smoking be allowed in public places ? AUTHOR: YOSHIDA, Taro SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99951ty@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s99951ty/ DATE & TIME: June 13 14:14 INTENDED READERS: Person thinking that the smoking in public place is not good things and it should be baned. And, person who has an opposite opinion of the former. There are two opinions that opposing to each other, smoking is good or bad. I never smoke cigarette, but I don't think it is very bad things to smoke the cigarette, because it is totally on smoker's responsibility and weather you smoke or not is due to your judgment. But, I want to say one thing to all smokers in this world. Please, do not give harm to the people around you. Smoking cigarette, what kind of image will come up with these words. Is the image you had from those words has good aspects or bad aspects. I had bad images rather than good images. The reason is very simple and easy. Nobody can doubt that the smoking cigarette does harms to us, and not only the person who smokes but also people around the smoker. Who breathe in the smokes will be suffer from the danger of the smoking. This fact is not fair for the most of nonsmoker, and if there are rules like bans the smoking in public place, there won't be any problem like this issue. But, there are many people who likes to smoke, so is it okay to take the rights to smoke in the public place from the smokers? I don't think it is good way of solving this problem. So, the problem about the smoking in public place is now, very difficult problem in today. I want to think about the "morality" of the smokers. I sometimes saw a person who is walking with the cigarette in their hand and scattering the smokes around, or I also saw a person who smokes in nonsmoking area. With the lack of the morality of smokers, they are adding more disadvantageous to their standpoint in society. Many of the nonsmokers have some difficulty by these sad actions of smokers. I don't think it is not good to ban the smoking in public place, so I want the smokers to have more morality and think about the nonsmokers in public place. I don't want to feel bad in the public place, and I don't want to the smokers feel bad in the public place too. I know, for the many of the smokers, the smoking cigarette is one kind of the pleasure, or rest. I don't think taking away the pleasure from the people is the best solution, and we don't have the right to do so. I want to find the way, both smokers and nonsmokers can feel better in the today, and in any place in the society. FREEDUMB CATEGORY: Smoking: Should smoking be allowed in public places ? AUTHOR: Smokey SCHOOL: FrIsCo E-MAIL: www.downwithcomp@yahoo.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 24 00:37 INTENDED READERS: What kind of loser country do I live in? How many rights will be taken from me? Why should I not be allowed to smoke outside and in public because of people's stupidity? I am the one smoking the cigarette, don't you think if it was that horrible I would be dead after six years. I'm not saying it's not bad for you but for god's sake! Why are you so worried about second hand smoke? I inhale first and second hand smoke all day. Why is everyone so paranoid about their health. Can't get sick, gotta swallow ten pills a day; can't go outside ,the sun will give you skin cancer; don't drink the water,it has harmful minerals; don't breathe the air, it has NO3 phosphate-3sulfer squared in it, who cares! God, people make me sick. Cavemen did not have medecine, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, or useless pills and they obviously survived or we would'nt be here. Why do people hold themselves up so high and make our lives sound so important and relentlessly trying to improve it? we are just tiny ants in a universe that does not stop unless you think there is a wall in space, preventing you from going further, which there is not. There are trillions of other galaxies like ours with millions of planets like ours so quit whining about my second hand smoke and be a man , not a child. Our lives are small and meaningless so stop trying to...... . I guess what I am trying to say is there are much more important aspects in life than my second hand smoke. I didn't mean to get off the topic but I can't help it. And if you are still complaining, boo-hoo Open your mind, tell me what you find Now im only writing this sentence because my essay has to have at least 300 words, what genuis made that up? Good smoker or bad smoker? CATEGORY: Smoking: Should smoking be allowed in public places ? AUTHOR: Ryo Takagi SCHOOL: Chubu University E-MAIL: I00054@isc.chubu.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 27 12:05 INTENDED READERS: The smoking person has a right. A little understands it and is wnted. Will a little get to say in the egoism when it shows sincerity? Hello! My name is Ryou Takagi. I am the man who enrolls in the Chubu University. Today, it thinks that it wants to talk about the smoking. First, it speaks about my own smoking. I am 19 years old at present but am smoking. Of course, as for being permitted to smoke, it knows a fact of 20 years old. It is at the time of the high school 1 grader that it sucked. At first, it was to be as interest this but became that could not smoke from around when. Of course, in the high school times, it was paid attention to by the parents, too. It had been found out to the teacher, too, and it become caring to the police, too. However, there was a mood to stop scarcely and it continued to suck until today. It thinks that it is because it isn't doing the importance of being committing law in it too much in the fruit sense. Tentatively, is there but will law not be strong in the sense which doesn't so make an age a mood even if it makes liquor and it makes a cigarette? The person to have never drunk so far will not have to be clumsy. At present, the parents, too , consent. The university student seems to be the idea to be permitted suck. This will be a general idea in the world. Does it accomplish and will a lot of university student make drinking, smoking a bad thing from inside the non-majority? It thinks that it is important for me to adjust to the environment. Therefore, it thinks that the 20 year-old rule is the one as it is not, being. It is strange to say by it, too, but it thinks that to say that it smokes from the time in the high school to be raw is too early. However, if becoming around the year which can have a responsibility to it, it thinks that it doesn't care. About the person who doesn't smoke next. The person who doesn't smoke tends to treat a smoking person like the troublesome person. Narrowing and assume to the corner and giving a smoking place and moreover making no smoking. It does the pretense of our right. However, the smoking person, too, has a right. A little understands it and is wanted. Moreover, above the half with the cigarette charge which we are paying is the fact to be a tax. It is burdened with the risk to pay a high tax instead of hanging inconvenience on a stranger. The debt of JR is catered for at the cigarette tax. Nevertheless, all the vehicles are the present situation which is made no smoking. It is that I think most in the impossible answer. Will a little get to want to say in the egoism when it shows sincerity? It thinks that to be important is the heart where each other sympathizes in the present society. Smoke by Oneself CATEGORY: Smoking: Should smoking be allowed in public places ? AUTHOR: Mitsuhito Uchida SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: m-utida@hoffman.cc.sophia.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 13 09:18 INTENDED READERS: I have written this essay for people who hate smoking and people who like smoking or people in the public place. Wherever we are, we can see people who are smoking. Are they happy? If so, I think that we should not prevent their smoking a little bit. But, most people who don't smoke, including me hate the smoke. In this essay, I'll tell you my opinion about smoking in public place. There are two reasons for hating the smoke. To begin with, I think that the smoke is very unpleasent. The smell is nasty, and I sometimes get headaches or have a sore eye when someone around me smokes. And the smell is very obstinate. Once someone smokes, the smell of smoke sticks to the smoker's or our clothes and the displeasure lasts. I can't stand this. Secondly, not only the smoker but also people around the smoker breathe dangerous smoke. In addition, I hear that the smoke they breathe is more poisonous than the smoker's. That is to say, smokers harm us seriously. I can't bear this, too. On the other hand, why do smokers like cigarettes? When I asked a friend of mine about this, he said, "At first, I thought smoking looks cool, but indeed, I hated the smell of smoke at the at the first time I smoked. Now I addicted to the nicotine!" I heard most people smoke for this reason. Really? If so, I think they are very troublesome people. What a trifling reason it is! To conclude, I think smoking in public place should be banned strictly. (At Sophia University, people must not smoke since last fall. But still there are persons who smoke in the campus.) If only smokers will be harmed, I don't say anything about smoking. But smoking has a great influence on people around smokers. There are very many persons in public place: the elderly, children, babies and pregnant mothers. I think that to smoke in public place is nearly a crime. Smokers, please smoke at the place nobody is! Smoking should not be allowed in restaurant. CATEGORY: Smoking: Should smoking be allowed in public places ? AUTHOR: Iris Castillo, Racquel Beckford, Sherri Stephens, Paola Lorenzzi SCHOOL: Miami Southridge Senior High, USA E-MAIL: hottie4show2000@yahoo.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 31 23:36 INTENDED READERS: this is to tell people why smokinh should not be allowed in restauran and we tell you the reason why no. In htis essay I will talk about why is it that we believe that smoking should not be allowe in restaurant. Everyone has there own opinion but this is just what we believe. We understand that people who are addicted to smoking might want to have a cigarrete right after there done but just because they want to smoke it does not mean that otehr people would have to smell the nasty scent of cigarrette right after they are done eatin.First of all second hand smoke it's not goo it can give people cancer even if they are not smoking, second not every want's to smell that nasty scent after they are done eating,thirbecause even though they have different side's for people who want to smoke the scnet will still be in the air. First of all second hand smoke is really bad for peole and it can even give them cancer even if they don't smoke. Second hand smoke can also get sick from it. Second, another reason why smoking should not be allowed in restaurant is because not everyone want's to smell the smell of a cigarrete as soon as they are done eating. The people who are addicted should go outside and samoke out there and not mess up everyone else appetite. Third of all, smoking should be not be allowed in restaurrants because smoke travels from the smoking section to the non smoking section and people do not want to smell smoke while enjoying their dinners. In conclusion smoinkg is harmful to everyoneand those are some of the feason's why we believe that smoking should not be allowed in restaurant's. Everyone might have there own opinion but that is just our but thern agin other people migh just think differnt that us bu we believe that is not right to smoke inside a reatauran for those reason and many more, but the main on is tyhe danger of second hand smoke. We should study not hard, but seriously!! CATEGORY: College Students: Should they study hard ? AUTHOR: Youko Miyahara SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s98956ym@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s98956ym DATE & TIME: June 14 13:51 INTENDED READERS: The university students who can not see enough results for their studying even though they spend enough time for their studying I think college students should study hard. However I think the word of STUDY and HARD have some meanings. The meanings of STUDY and HARD are very vague for us. (college students) Some people say, " Recently young people is so selfish that they do only what they want to." But others say, " If you don't have what you want to study specially, you should not enter any university." These confuse college student. We use the word of STUDY when we discuss with classmates or somebody, and we go to an exhibition. And often to play games is "STUDY". Although what we do is regarded as STUDY in the university, sometimes as an only PLAY in society. If general people watch our lives, they may think, "Their (= our lives) lives are so irregular, and they make light of daily life." But for us, everything we do is what we have to do and want to. We often say, "I studied very hard yesterday because I have an exam today." What is the meaning of this HARD? I studied for a long time? Or I studied with concentration? Or I studied effectively. This HARD has different meanings. And it depends on each people that how much we study. When we are a junior high school or a high school student, I think, we use the word of HARD when we study for a long time. Because what we studied was what anyone could do if only we spent enough time for studying and memorizing it, or if we studied for some hours, we could see some results to some extent. But even if we study for a very long time, we often can't see any results. Now we can choose what we study to some degree. So we have the responsibility for what we chose. We may don't have to study hard, but we should be engaged in the STUDY seriously not to betray and lie to our true intention. It depends CATEGORY: College Students: Should they study hard ? AUTHOR: Shigeko Nanbu SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t98710sn@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 07 15:17 INTENDED READERS: students who is blaming themselves for not attending class or students who are enjoying themselves at university with some of their important friends Most of what I learnt from university is from out of the class. It is very exciting to be in contact with the glimpse of the vast knowledge of professor in seminar but how to assimilate it and how to make decision of what to take from it, I learnt through my friends. When talk about studying, it is impossible to take no account of influence of significant others for I give a definition to the word "study" a meaning of absorbing of several aspects and checking it in own way with some kind of curiosity. Say, you should go to job-hunting and explain yourself to the company, the person you think to be yourself is not grown up and acquired all the knowledge or vision or the way of thinking by yourself like green microbe lives on their own life system. You might have learnt your logic through your research in the class or seminar or whatever is called "study" that is regarded student should be engaged in. But there is also a possibility considerable you have been influenced by the way of viewing world of your friends through only daily conversation. And you can never tell what had specially made you "study" and made yourself rich in thought or emotion or communication or whatever the way to handle life for your peace. I do think we student should study hard but in every way. If thinking of keeping peace in ourselves we had better study all through life, which is always said by Education ministry and their textbooks, but it is very hard to keep the style for workers with many responsibility to keep. We are in unbelievably lucky situation to concentrate on study without thinking of anything else that is pesky protected by society. It's ridiculous to miss this chance. All works no play make Jack a dull boy CATEGORY: College Students: Should they study hard ? AUTHOR: Hiroaki Terauchi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: zinai@cat.zero.ad.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 07 14:40 INTENDED READERS: Those who want to make good in business or who too much rely on the educational knowledge for the business worlds Should college students study hard? I answer "Yes! We should study hard out of the school". Some one might be perplexed by this idea. And response" What are you talking about? Are you crazy? How do you do without education? " By the way, do you think that the study on the desk which is the real study and we should keep on going it? I doubt it. But it doesn't mean the study on the desk count for little. Indeed knowledge is the arms in the business. And we cannot do without it. Have you ever heard that an ordinary salary man in Japan uses Micro Economics in the conference or uses Politics in the office? It is the extreme examples but probably get the points. Because I think in the office we accomplish the works not with the educational grades or scores but with each own's personality or humorousness. In Japan typical teacher says as if the grades promises the future. Imagine, only a skillful person would succeed in? The proverb says "All works no play make Jack a dull boy". Recently I come to realize it gradually from the experience of venture office. It was surprising experience. There are many highly educated people but they don't use the knowledge but the communication. And I become to believe communication skill would be advanced in talking with a strange person. It has one reason. One day I got the business but failed. My boss didn't blamed me but adviced " You are very clever but we are the human. If you try only to make money, you can only associate with them superficially. Again we are the human don't deal with them as if you are the machine. Don't rely on your own knowledge but your communication." It was the great lesson that still lives in my life. And such a lesson teaches me that before we enter the labor market we should cultivate ourselves as possible as we can in order to make business as human. What do you want to be in futere? CATEGORY: College Students: Should they study hard ? AUTHOR: Okushi Kenichi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ken-@jk9.so-net.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 11 18:33 INTENDED READERS: People who do not want to study in collge, or think it is useless to do it, or do not decided to want to be a job in futere yet. "Should college student study hard?" I think that the key to this theme is "What do you want be in future?" Firstly, if we want to be an artist or an athlete, we don't need to study academic theory, as so called, the study that we study in university. Secondly, if we want to be social or science specialist, for example, an academia, a scientist, you have to study hard in university naturally. Those are both extreme examples. Next, if we will be businessman in big company, do we need to study in a university? I think, if we will want to be a useful employee, we don't study hard the theory in university. Because, all we have to do is to deal with our job that our boss gave, and we may do it with only our experience. But if we run out a company or we create our own plan and we do it really with dictating our follower ship, we have to do deal with the task that we have not come across. In this case, I think the keys to do it are the theory and the experiences. The best way is to modify the theory that we studied with the experiences that we got. We may deal with a new task to do it. And we can study the theory on desk or from experiences. It is people's business to select the way to study, but it is fact that we need study them. I think, probably, if we can experience everything, we have better to do so, but we are limited with time and our power, and it is also difficult to use our every experience. Because we always continue to forgot our experience. Therefore, We cannot deny the need to study on desk, and the university helps us to study on desk. In addition, we may not study lie in university basically. I think it is useful to study in a university. Surely, their theory is too abstract and too ordinal not to adapt our real life directly. So, we should modify theory on desk with our experience. After all, I think it is better to study university with selecting. If we truly think, "it is useless", it is sure to be truly useful study for our. They should study. CATEGORY: College Students: Should they study hard ? AUTHOR: Genta Shinkai SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00494gs@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 07 16:10 INTENDED READERS: Family,or like that. Anyway I must study because I am student,too.And friends of mine are students,for example Muneyuki Hashimoto.The people who wre younger than I. What is what students in the college or the university can learn? I think there are two types. One is academic type. And the other is practical type. We, students, had better be useful people for the social or the community. In the future we will face to the practical problems in the various situation. And then, the people who want to study academic thing should know the way to use their own knowledge for practical matter. The men who want to study the practical one should study harder. And the people who do not want to study should know the social problem and work out the class or and so on. I think there are two types there. Both of them are important for the society. Academic thing means learning for the sake of learning and knowledge for the sake of knowledge. It is the characteristic of an academic, I think. It is because knowledge like that leads to the thirst for more knowledge. If something is half known then the academic seeks to complete that knowledge. But they will not be able to solve the practical problem because they do not know how to use their knowledge in real world. And so such people should study hard to know the way to do so. The practical man may claim that the half that is known is the most important half and that much can be done with it even before the rest is discovered. This has certainly been the case with medicine where doctors know very little about the action of the drug they use. The people like that men probably study the practical thing. Knowledge they have is for the sake of solve the real problem and facing to the society. They should study hard to know the how to avail of the knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Indeed, it is supposed that as this knowledge for knowledge's sake progresses certain basic laws of nature will be discovered and then these can be taken over and applied by the practical man or technician. The students who do not want to study should think to play is also the learning. If they do not think so, to play is just funny. If so, that becomes funny and interesting. And then they want to know the various things and to study. They should play as studying the society. The students in the college or university are due to be leader in society. And the students and studying in college I think is given above. So, we students should learn with the way for each person. It isn't possible to become equal. CATEGORY: Sexual Discrimination: Is there still discrimination against men or women ? AUTHOR: Toshihiro SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: kimata-t@msd.biglobe.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 28 14:00 INTENDED READERS: For the person who doesn't become too serious .However, it is the person who thinks of the root of the man and woman discrimination. -I don't approve man and woman discrimination. Which is the man or the woman that be discriminated against? And then, to find the answer, we should think about what isn't realized yet at present in which we can realize to become realy epual world by our selves? When it come to the story of the man and woman discrimination , may women are disadvantageous. However, it cuts off the fact to be disadvantageous and the problem of the discrimination and it should be argued. I think. When there is discrimination , there may be two causes. It is same problem that is may sexality, human race, religion, or caste. One is merely custom and the feelings from the old days. The other one is the situation of some interest is there. As for the 1st problem, the citizen must make an effort for excluding the discrimination when society judge that it is unnecessary. In Thailand, " Shoujou-Buddhism " is believed and a woman is still forced into the various efforts not to touch a priest. However, it is possible to say that to lose this discrimination isn't necessary, as long as women accept that. Houever most of the problems which aren't still solving in Japan -It doesn't concern to people know that it have to solve.- is sometimes obstructed by the 2nd problem. In other words, there is against to be equal and the principle of the capitalism. It is no matter that that is he or she, the office worker who has the fear which is absent from work later by several years will not get important place. It is natural if you are in shoes of the boss. Because it is only the woman that can have a child even if one woman said " I don't marry " or " I don't have a child ", if comparing to the man with the same situation, in that the appeal becomes low, it is in way's there not being. It is only the woman that has the liberty to have a child. It is the man who can not have a child and in the capitalism, is more productive. Will it think that it is only me that that there was a system of the marriage that the man and woman becomes together from the ancient times is not the conduct of the lust even if merely is accidental ? Thank you. Three Questions CATEGORY: Bullying in School: How should we deal with it ? AUTHOR: Daiju Masuma SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: d-masuma2sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 13 10:55 INTENDED READERS: I would like the bullied, bullies, and others, everyone to read my essay. And, the people who want to know my viewpoint of bullying. I reply to three questions. First, "Do the bullied have any reason?" Second, Is talking with each other, the bullied and bullies, the best way to stop bullying?" And, some people says, "Bullies are children, too. They are not adults, so they should not be punished as adults." Then, Finally, "Is it true kindness?" I want to show my viewpoint of bullying by answering these First, "Do the bullied have any reason?" I say, "No. The bullied have no reason." Maybe some say, "Why?" Because, at least in Japan, bullying is that the strong bully the weak. And, in almost all cases, the strong group together, and bully only one person. Now, please think of him/her. Do he/she have any reason? If you say "Yes", you say "To be weak is bad." If you say so, maybe, it is you that are "bad". Second, "Is talking with each other, the bullied and bullies, the best way to stop bullying?" I think that it is "good" way to stop bullying. But, Is it "best" way? Of course, the bullied think that an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, our society will become very barbarous and bloody But, please think of current society. Now, many children commit suicide because of bullying. Is it ."barbarous and bloody" society? I want to think talking with each other is the best way. But, when does our society change into such a society? 2 years later? 5 years later? 10 years later? You are kidding? The bullied say, "Help!", now! Finally, some people says, "Bullies are children, too. They are not adults, so they should not be punished as adults." Then, "Is it true kindness?" Of course, they are children. But, in some (most?) cases, there is the fact that they kill the person. And, some of them do not recognize their guilt! If they are not punished, when and how do we teach them conscience? To recognize their own guilty is the way they live as a human. And teachers and parents should make them do. It is their obligation! I think that in some cases, penalty is true kindness. It is penalty to help them. Of course, what I wrote above is my opinion. Although I have read books about bullying and thought of it over and over, there is some (many) mistakes. So, I want to know your opinion. Maybe others have other opinions, which are different from mine. I think that (unless we are the bullied and bulies,) discussion about bullying is the way people think deeply of it, and it is beginning of the solution to this problem Killing yourchildren legally. CATEGORY: Sex Education in School: Is it a good idea ? AUTHOR: harue SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: d-harue@par.odn.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 06 21:09 INTENDED READERS: People who graduated from Japanese high school. The sex education that he/she had was useful or not? I wanted them to reconsider it. You can kill your children legally. Did you know this? It is called artificial abortion. In Japan, the number of abortion of teenagers was doubled in this decade. What do you think about this number? Is it large or small? In my opinion, that number is huge. In this essay I would like to talk about the contents of sex educations at Japanese school. In my high school days, there were two or three sex education classes a year. But they were like science classes. The mechanism of pregnancy, bodily differences between man and woman and about AIDS were the main tames. Of course these classes are important but these are just the entrance of sex education. There are lots of things that we have to know about pregnancy and sexual disease and etc. Loking from the survey of 'Sex Education at school: Is it a good idea? ', most people think such education is good and they also had sex education classes by and large. How about the contents? Is there no great difference between those of mine? It is because there is no fixed item about sex education in the study-guideline made by Ministry of Education. The contents depend on teachers. And this tendency is ascend in new one which will take effect next year. I think such circumstances grew worse the number of abortion that I told in the first place. Then what should be taught in sex education? After the general ideas such as I learned at my high school, I strongly recommend teaching about contraception and abortion. Because my father is an obstetrician, I've heard many stories about undesired pregnant and abortion. Those people conceived due to lack of knowledge about contraception. In some case they didn't know how many weeks are permitted to have an abortion in Japan. And in sex education there should be not only conception but also real notes. Showing the real notes, we visibly feel and think the importance. A doctor said 'The basis of sex education is to make it possible to affirm themselves and to make good relationship between man and woman.' I agree with his words and hope such sex education will made. ---------------------------------- I had a look at there sights. http://www.jaog.or.jp/JAPANESE/teigen/teigi.htm http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/education21/news/100401.htm http://www.mext.go.jp/ http://wwwdbtk.mhw.go.jp/toukei/data/220/1999/toukeihyou/0002348/t0036175/n14_00 1.html to Stupids CATEGORY: Gambling: Should it be banned ? AUTHOR: Satoshi Haruta SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t99762sh@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t99762sh DATE & TIME: June 07 15:08 INTENDED READERS: who likes to gamble and often goes to pachinko parlors or racetracks or bicycle race track in spite of whose saving is not enough I have never played pachinko, and never gone to a racetrack and a bicycle race track in my life. In short I have never made a bet. Somehow I have never had the emotion of wanting to go to those places. Putting in another way, I just can not understand the emotion of wanting to go to those places. If you have had something to buy, and had little money, despite the big possibility of loss you might go to a pachinko parlor. I don't understand the stupid thinking like this. If I have had something to buy and had little money, I would wait next income. Then I would get enough money to buy it, and I spend less time than you would do. I think that if we have had something to buy, we ought to save up enough money. We ought to wait without gambling till enough money gather in us. Who like gambling must get some money in gamble, and they hope to get some money one more time. You might make a profit by gambling sometime, but you might lose more more time. Don't you think you are wasting your money? Pachinko parlors making profit means your loss of money, doesn't it? Please observe the system of this society and find out that things are not easy in the world as you think. Please recognize that you are wrong. The existence of pachinko parlors, the existence of racetracks, and the existence of bicycle race tracks mean your loss of money. Those live by eating your money. Gambling is not for whom is badly off like you, but for whom is well off. Who is well off may play gamble under permission of the surplus of money. Think well about this point or die a dog's death. Death Penalty CATEGORY: The Death Penalty: Should it be abolished ? AUTHOR: Ryohei Uto SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: r-uto@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 04 12:52 INTENDED READERS: People who are interested in deaath penalty. Or people who were condemned death penalty. Or people who agree or do not agree with death penalty. Frankly, I agree with death penalty. Criminals who commit a crime which deserve death penalty should make amends for the crime. And I think that sufferers or their families may want to kill the criminals. Maybe, if I fall into such a situation, I will think so too. But if we debate about this subject, I thinkŽ¡Ž¤people who agree with death penalty will not win. People who do not agree with death penalty will insist on "people do not have a right of taking one's life". This argument is used by people who do not agree with death penalty very often. Is it right? Maybe mostly right. But the case of death penalty can notbe applied to the argument. The case of death penalty, I think, society kill criminals. So people do not kill criminals. But people's who agree with death penalty most weak point is existence of a false charge. This is fatal weak point for them who agree with death penalty. All crimes have a chance of a false charge. If a person who did not commit a crime but he was arrested was executed, there is no mending. This is the most and fatal weak point of people who insist on death penalty should be continued. If there are no false charge, death penalty will be accepted by most people. But it is impossible. False charge will not be lost for some time. Then, death penalty should be abolished? Do we have to abolish death penalty? I think if death penalty is abolished, we have to make a new punishment. For example, imprisonment for life is one of this. Usually, prisoner who told imprisonment for life release from prison before their penal servitude. So it can not be told imprisonment for life. We have to make a new imprisonment for life which can not release before their penal servitude. I think it is best. Various penalties CATEGORY: The Death Penalty: Should it be abolished ? AUTHOR: syujiro ide SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00081si@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00081si/new.html DATE & TIME: June 07 04:29 INTENDED READERS: people who think the death penalty should be abolished and who are interested in the law, especially in penalties for climinals, I agree to the death penalty. If you have become a victim whose family or friends are killed, you would want to kill the murderer. But you can't kill him/her. There is the death penalty in order to substitute you. It is easy to argue back using human's right to live, but we can't understand victim's feelings unless we become it. I often hear that a murderer and his/her family are too protected but victim's feelings are neglected especially in Japan. I feel this tendency bad. For, Originally the law should protect the weak. In this case, obviously the weak is the victim. Surely a criminal has human rights and it should be protected to some extent, but it is nature to consider victim's feelings to be more important. There are many difficulties about the penalty. For example, the problem on the second paragraph, or if a victim doesn't hope to, should the death penalty applied to criminals? , Or to whom should it applied or not? I have an idea. To solve them, I suggest that the Government should make more various penalties. I have heard that in A state in the U.S, criminals who have committed child abuse receive a punishment that they must paste a notice which is written that "Don' t enter unless you are over 18" on their house's front door, and actually they must not let people under 18 into their house even if they are his relatives. This penalty is very severe. Like this case, should various penalties, which are suitable for his/her crime be made? And a basis to apply to them need to be clearly. I think the death penalty should not be abolished. But now there are many problems about not only the death penalty but also penalties itself. We need to reconsider how penalties apply to criminals. Killing a person CATEGORY: The Death Penalty: Should it be abolished ? AUTHOR: a-daichi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: nejimaki@mx.tramonline.net WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 20 01:51 INTENDED READERS: Particularly peple who agree with death penalty. Or people who don't go against death penalty. And people who think death penalty should be abolished. Have you ever watched the movie titled "Deadman Walking"? I watched the movie 5 years ago. Its story was about a condemned, which was played by Sean Pen. Watching the movie, I was made to think about "the Death Penalty" deeply. First of all, why "the Death Penalty" needed? There are several kinds of answer to this matter. Many people will say that criminals must be punished, or suggest that "the Death Penalty" makes crimes less. Although I can understand the idea that criminals should be punished, it is doubtful whether "the Death Penalty" has effective deterrence. In fact, in U.S.A, there is not much difference between states have death penalty and don't have. Even so, do we need "the Death Penalty"? Capital punishment has another problem. As long as death penalty exists, there are people who kill criminals in some way. Is it forgiven? We don't have any rights to deprive others of life, I believe. We must not accept murdering even if there are any reasons. Murdering is absolutely evil, so death penalty is also bad. It seemes to be too simple, but I think so. How do you think about it? In "Deadman Walking", which is a movie deal with capital punishment, Sean Pen said, kind of "I should not kill her. I can understand it now. I, or you, or even a nation, should not kill any kinds of people." Sean Pen played a criminal who had killed a woman. He was sentenced to death. As the time to be killed was closing to him, he knew what is murdering. There is not anything after death. There is not heaven, or hell. We must not kill anyone, and we must not accept any kind of murdering. It is simple, important, and the most basic rule of human, I think. Right to Live CATEGORY: The Death Penalty: Should it be abolished ? AUTHOR: YOSHIDA, Taro SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99951ty@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s99951ty/ DATE & TIME: May 16 23:55 INTENDED READERS: Person who thinking about death penalty Most people know that the law prohibits murder. And, the revenge for killing is prohibited too. It means, you can not kill the person even if the person had killed your family or friend. Everything should be judged based on the law. The law is basic rule for people who living in the country. But, do you think the law is perfect? Who can say the law is perfect and there is no need of improvement. I want to think about the death penalty system once more again. Now, there are two major opinions that are conflicting, abolish the death penalty, and should not abolish the death penalty. The death penalty is also called capital punishment. What do you think about this issue? I think people should think this issue without any emotion, such as anger to the criminal or frustrations of family, because they should not think about the law with any emotion or feelings. My idea is, the capital punishment should be abolished. There are some reasons I think so. The main reason that supports my opinion is that no one has the right to plunder the right to live from anyone even if it is the criminal. But the executor of capital punishment is not a person, it is the nation. Do you think it is okay that the nation plunders the right to live? I don't think so. The role of nation is to protect the right to live for everyone, and it is not to take the right to live from someone. In fact, many of the advanced countries have already abolished the death penalty. Now only Japan and U.S.A. are still having the law of capital punishment. There are two more reasons that support my opinion. Those are, that the result of trial judgment is not all ways true, and the capital punishment doesn't have the restrain effect of murder. Talking about the former, in long history of trial in Japan, there were many judicial decisions that were proved a false accusation. To kill a person by mistake is the worst failure that law can make. It should not be occur, but we have no way to pay reparations for the mistake. Talking about the latter, it is already shown by the statistics survey. Most of the people are not killing because there are capital punishment. Thinking differently, supposing myself as damaged person, I think I will say I want to kill the assailant. I think it is very serious problem for the people in vortex. But what I want to say is, we need to think the problem very hardly, and try to find out the answer for what is right to live, and the role of capital punishment. Out-side people never knew and can't feel what is happing to the person who suffer miserable fortune. Can you kill criminals? CATEGORY: The Death Penalty: Should it be abolished ? AUTHOR: Yuka Tanaka SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00646yt@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 06 20:01 INTENDED READERS: people who have little knowledge about a system for the death penalty and people who have never thought about the system and the problem Now over 50 people are under final death sentences in Japan. Sooner or later our law for the death penalty will kill them. But over 100 countries (including England and France and Germany) abolished the law for the death penalty. Are you sure that we can kill the criminals? I wrote over 100 countries repealed the death penalty. Contrary to this, about 90 countries (including Japan) use it for atonement for big crimes. Why we use it? I think we have to think again about this question. You may think it is natural that a man kills someone is killed by the law. But the law says that killing people is a crime. And the law does not have the common standard to decide which the crime applies to, the death penalty or life imprisonment. You may think the death penalty is necessary for the victim's family. But even if the criminal is killed, the victim cannot come back to life. In the States, there is a unique instance: "Journey of Hope". It is held for reconciliation between victim's family and criminal's family. This is founded on the thought that they are on the same position in the point they loose their valuable man. You may think the death penalty can decrease the number of big crimes. But the United Nation says that we cannot explain the death penalty can deter the big crime more than life imprisonment by the scientific investigation. The above is only "my" opinion. You may think different from me. And I also think a man commit a big crime has to atone for it even if it takes for his all life. But there is a fact. "No one can be the God." We cannot decide the others' death. I am sure that our life and death depend on ourselves. University Entrance ExaminationsŽ¡ŽÁShould English be included? CATEGORY: University Entrance Examinations: Should English be included ? AUTHOR: Nobuya Kobayashi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t99373nk@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t99373nk/ DATE & TIME: June 07 22:50 INTENDED READERS: Highschool students and teachers, people who are concerned with this issue in the Ministry of Education, people who engage in teaching foreign languages Should English be included in the university entrance examinations? Today some people propose that English should be excluded from the university entrance examinations. They say there is little meaning to add English to the university entrance exam because English needed to pass the entrance exam is unbalanced. They also insist that young people today are too busy to study and have so little time to do what they want to do freely. So if English is excluded, they feel relaxed. But to this question, I would like to answer "English should be included". People who think English is excluded don't seem to think highly of the importance of English. In my opinion studying English as a subject for the entrance exam is so important for the students because English has a special meaning compared to the other subjects. English is not just a subject. Rather Studying English is a process of experiencing a new way of thinking or looking. Some famous linguists said that Language influence the user's way of thinking. This means that if we speak Japanese, we think or act in a way peculiar to Japanese. So if we cannot speak only one language, we have only one way of thinking or looking to the world. I think it is so important for young people to notice and get some shock from the experience of studying English. For this reasons I think English is included in the university entrance exams. If English is excluded from the university entrance exams, lots of students come to pay little attention to the importance of studying English (foreign languages) and take little time to study English. What a tragedy it is ! Of course people who are against to include English, as introduced in the first paragraph, has some reasons. We have to reconsider the contents of the entrance exam. But at all costs I think English is included. The Education of "Yutori(leeway)" CATEGORY: Elementary School to High School: Which is more important, studying or playing? AUTHOR: Namiko Kaminuma SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: n-kaminu@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 27 10:03 INTENDED READERS: Those who have any opinions about education ,espeacially education in Japan and those who have some experiances to teach someone else. The Ministry of Education worked out the policy, named the education of "Yutori (leeway)". This policy says that children must not be pushed to study, and so the quantity of studying should be reduced. So the Ministry of Education has rapidly reduced the quantity of education. Probably the Ministry of Education worked out this policy, because one of the biggest reasons that many children have become to refuse to go to school, to bully others or to commit suicides is the huge quantity of studying. However, I have a question about this policy and I think that the quantity of studying is not big problem and reason those children became so. If the reason were the quantity, the children in today would be more stupid than the children in 30 or 40 years ago. But it is not true and there must be another reason. 30 or 40 years ago, when our parents were the children, there were many of them who wanted to become more rich and to change their lives and study hard, which was the most steady way to become so. Perhaps it must be all they could to think seriously about their futures and to make efforts to be realized their dreams. Today, as everyone says, children do not study hard and are not apt to make efforts for their dreams. They must be uneasy and unstable than the children in 30 or 40 years ago. What do you think the difference of children between two ages? I think the difference is whether the children have their aims and dreams, or not. Few of children in today become desperate to get away from their poor lives. In other words, however, it stands for children in today are satisfied with their lives now, so they need not be desperate and need not make any efforts to change their situations at all. So, I think the big problem is that children in today do not notice how much they are blessed and rich. Thus, children in today not only should notice their blessed lives, but also teachers and parents should tell them "why" they must study or "the meaning of study". As you know, no one would try to make any efforts if there were not its meanings, aims or dreams. Which is more important: studying or playing? CATEGORY: Elementary School to High School: Which is more important, studying or playing? AUTHOR: Crystal Beaulieu and Yusanny Gonzalez SCHOOL: Miami Southridge Senior High, USA E-MAIL: qutie2003@hotmail.com WEB PAGE: www.miamisouthridge.com DATE & TIME: June 02 01:07 INTENDED READERS: My intended audience that I have in mind are everyone that goes to school and anyone that wants to read me and my friends essay. Studying is very important in school. There are many reasons why studying is more important than playing. In life you have to be prepared and if you just play around you won't get any where. Also if you play around you won't be taken seriously from anyone you know. Finally you won't achieve any intelligence if you just play around. The most important thing in school is studying and not playing. First of all you have to be prepared for life and if you just play around you won't get any where. In life you have to have common sense. If you don't study you won't have any common sense. You also have to know math, science, and english. If you don't know any of these courses, you can get screwed by a lot of people who do know them. Also, if you don't study than you will be extremely dumb. People will obviously make fun of you for the rest of your life and your kids will be extremely embarrassed by you. You have to study in order to be prepared for life. Secondly, you won't be taken seriously by anyone. Being known as the joke of everyone can not be a good thing. Eventually you get bored of it and will realize how dumb not studying was. It will also hurt your feelings when you hear other people say bad things about you because you never studied in school. Being taken seriously is a good thing. Last but not least, you will not achieve any intelligence. Intelligence sets us apart from the animals. Achieving intelligence is the most important thing students today should be thinking of. When we get older we want make the world a better place and if we just play around that won't happen. Intelligence is a great thing. It can determine everything that you wish to become in life. You achieve intelligence by studying. In conclusion, studying is way more important than playing. If we didn't study then we wouldn't be writing this right now. In life you have to be prepared for what might be approaching you. Also you won't be taken seriously by anyone. Finally you won't achieve any intellegence. Think about childrenŽ¡ŽÇs future seriously! CATEGORY: Violence: Should violence on TV be regulated ? AUTHOR: Atsuko Shimazaki SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00463as@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00463as DATE & TIME: May 24 14:16 INTENDED READERS: The members of the staff on TV. They must know the influence of TV. And the educator and the parents. They must know how they save their children and students from violence on TV. A lot of TV programs are influenced on children's actions. If an animation character like pokemon is popular, a lot of children buy the goods of the character. Sometimes children want to be a character who is popular among children. So the influence of TV programs are very big. And not only animation programs but also comedy programs or drama are influenced on children. And I want to talk about the effects of violence on TV. Recently, some TV programs were banned to broadcast. One of the TV program is banned as the influence of violence on children. I have watched the TV program. The content is that if someone fall the games, he had to be hit by a lot of men. Then, my brother was schoolboy. This TV program was very popular, so this game became popular among schoolchildren. My brother said, "This game is very interesting for us, but we don't hit friends. Just we enjoy the rhythm. " This words eased me, but the fact that they like the TV program exist. Maybe the words that they didn't hit friends is true. But If they really hated violence, they didn't play the game. Everybody's hearts have the parts of violence. I have hit someone. Everybody has hit someone. But usually we don't hit the other. Much less, a lot of people shouldn't hit one person. This action can be bullying. This TV program broadcast that a lot of people hit one person. I want to know how the members of the staff for this TV program thought about this TV program and violence. This TV program was a comedy program. I think that the comedy program should make the viewers happy by speaking and action except violence. If the comedy program contains violence, the comedy lose purity to enjoy comedy. I thought that children don't know about how bad hurting someone is. Essentially, these TV programs shouldn't exist. If adults think about children and their future, these programs don't exist. Before we discuss about regulating violence on TV program, these program shouldn't exist. What children watch violence on TV program will be connected with committing crimes by children or bullying. Adults must think about this problem of violence on TV programs seriously. I think that if adults think about children's future, this problem don't exist. We need to think again about violence on TV. To lazy lazy adults CATEGORY: Violence: Should violence on TV be regulated ? AUTHOR: Shinya Yamamoto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00992sy@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 13 23:00 INTENDED READERS: Lazy lazy adults who think that do away the violent expression from media is the best way ti get rid of the crime Entertainment on media has much influence especially on kids. Heroes in TV are always what children yearn for. And teens try to imitate the hairstyle of their favorite singer. And, some of TV programs or music includes violent contents. Should violence on TV be regulated? It is often said that some of murder case is related on violence in TV or agitating lyric on music, or some violent video games. It might be said that some of those programs should be regulated (How to make a bomb, how to get use the gun, or how to get drugs). But, some adults try to hide those out of kid's reach without any explaining. They think hiding the violent expression is the best way to get rid of crime of the young. Is it really right? Indeed it is dangerous for there to be the crime by teens because of TV's influence. And some of TV programs or movie have too violent footage too see. But, I think adults put too much responsibility on the media. Why do they avoid explaining real evil? Why don't they tell children that violence is painful? Adults are too lazy. Don't take "KUSAIMONO NI WA FUTA" attitude! Children get curious in hidden things. So, When children grow up and get free from adults hiding, they might to want much about violence. It's just a "Time Bomb"!!! Just hiding the violence means no solution. Adults should explain why violence is evil and what is violence. If they do that, children will be able to judge goodness and evil. I like violent movies and violent music but I've never felt an impulse to kill some one nor to commit suicide. I can judge and I think that entertainment is just entertainment and reality is another thing. My parents and teachers told me that. National policy vs. homosexual CATEGORY: Same-sex Marriage: Should it be allowed ? AUTHOR: Yosuke Yamada SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s01960yy@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: Oct. 25 10:45 INTENDED READERS: The person who were thinking to concern to public measure. Or the person who are in the position to choose the statesman. Seemingly, homosexualities exist in a world as a steadfast fact. Individually, I am affirmative position about homosexuality and homosexual person. However, when it sees from a social and political standpoint, I have a negative opinion about the homosexual. The reason why that I am affirmative about homosexual, in the level of individual, was the very sinple two reasons. The first reason, that's because exist of them might not bring a disadvantageous to us in the individual level. The second reason, I don't have an emotional discrimination to them. But however, I have negative opinion to affirmative their existence socially. For exanple, like accept their marriage legally, or accepted the homogeneous customs. Because of that opinion, thay might bring a large loss to a country or a public society. The only and greatest reason of that is "they can't and might not make a child". The greatest national foundation is the children. And if a spur starts this tendency in Japan to which a decrease in the birthrate goes the country will decline gradually. That is very serious problem, that is potentially and hide by right of personal liking. Of course, if the existence is not accepted publicly, homosexuals do not necessarily decrease in number. But if the existence is accepted publicly, homosexuality and homosexuals will increase in number every day. Because of that, by accepting from society, the homosexuality becomes one part of social "common sense". And that will became potentially homosexual to actual homosexual. That is what the result that I am most afraid about. As mentioned above, accepting a homosexual publicly will hold a big social crisis potentially. I wants to eliminate to recognizing their exist for the common sense of front society, if there is mind in connection with a public measure. It makes a country go out of use gradually. Please accept t her love!! CATEGORY: Same-sex Marriage: Should it be allowed ? AUTHOR: Yuuko Hayashi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: cqe15616@nifty.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 04 09:50 INTENDED READERS: People who are interested in this problem or who donŽ¡ŽÇt agree with same-sex marriage, I want such people to read this essay. Here in Japan, most people think that the same sex lovers are abnormal, strange, not beautiful thing. When we see these people in our eyes, we feel unacceptable and uncomfortable. Of cause me too. I can accept these people in my mind, but my feelings in my nature can't understand these people' s love yet. Maybe social understand to these people is lacking in Japan. Last Sunday, I met my friend, Aya, who was going to America last year. And Aya came with her friend who is Australian. She spoke Japanese very fluently, and we enjoyed talking. I asked her with a joke, "Are there any gay in Australia?" She answered with her smile, "Yes, of cause. We most girls, want to make friends with gays because they are very kind and they understand girls' feeling. We can get good idea from them when we are in trouble with boyfriend. Gays are best friend for us!!" And Aya also said "Gays in my school are very popular among girls, they are accepted by everyone unlike in Japan." I was surprised though I already had ever heard such a story. Gays who live in Japan is regarded as abnormal fellows and they live out of normal world. Both law and society don't understand these lovers. Then how do they live in love? What accept their love? Maybe there is no way expect giving in if they are in Japan. I think there are many types of love. No loves make bad matter. We, Japanese, should accept these lovers and allow same sex marriage, I think. People have a freedom of love. Not accepting them is robbing of freedom. We should not forbid their freedom.Maybe they are in sadness because not only the law but also this society doesn't accept them. Won't you try to understand their feelings?? This wedding should be accepted? CATEGORY: Same-sex Marriage: Should it be allowed ? AUTHOR: Atsushi Inagaki SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: inagaki@ma.kcom.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 17 00:39 INTENDED READERS: I don't care if the reader is male, or female, or still undecided (if you are planning to change sex in future... ) I think "gender" is the approriate word to describe my theme. Recently I heard the government of Netherlands had approved of homosexual marriage plan. First time I heard, I felt"People in this country are very flexible", but suddenly I fixed my idea. "Is it right way to get married?", because of this question. I hope anyone to be happy so that people find their best partner for life is right thing. But in that case, I can't ignore the feeling "Same-sex marriage is something unnatural". It means I still have prejudice to homosexual people because in my mind I feel people should marry their opposite-sexes. But in Netherlands' case, it is still difficult to enforce the law because several religious associations had strongly disagreed. In their opinion, it is against their preachings so that creates nothing but social and moral corruption (I agree some of this opinion. Also, Government in U.S.A had partially approved of the plan. The action of homosexuals is more aggressive in America. I have seen over one-million homosexuals in California marching and calling for their right against government. I was stunned when I watched in TV news because of their strong behavior (In Japan, homosexual people feel negative for themselves). I suppose there is a limited place in which people are permitted same-sex marriage in U.S.A. I have seen those people kissing and hugging at the wedding, but I was very mixed up. Should I make a big smile and say "Congratulations!" from bottom of my heart? I know homosexual people have long been prejudiced until now, and possibly for future. But the question is, do you really think "any rights" of homosexual people should be protected by law? I think that's the main point to discuss this problem. In my opinion, the honor of homosexual people should be protected, but same-sex is just another problem. If they hope to marry each other, it's alright. But if exceptionally, they hope to marry those who love opposite-sexes, what happens? They may become stalkers (The famous talent in Japan, Kimura Takuya, would be chased by "twice" as many fanatical fans as before). Because of this reason, I think law should be a collective view; should be decided by many people. I'd like to ask readers to give some specific ideas. And thank you for reading my essay. By the way, I forgot to talk about "bisexual" people's marriage. But it is far more complex than same-sex marriage... (I have no more ideas) The prohibited love CATEGORY: Same-sex Marriage: Should it be allowed ? AUTHOR: Toshihiro SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: kimta-t@msd.biglobe.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 17 05:53 INTENDED READERS: The person who believe that Japan and America secures liberty. How do you do if the person is robbed under the state power whom you love? You will think that there is not possibility that such an un- modern thing happens in the democracy country where liberty was secured. However, such law (it is changed a word) exists actually. In America, and then in Japan, too! Imagine the person whom you love. Is the person kind? Is the person beautiful? Is the person cool? Does the person have love to you all the time? Now, if you don't have a sweetheart, think of the previous day of the wedding of your ideal. When you face to the person whom you love really, Do you confirm that you and your lover sexuality ( It is not the story of the sexual interest. Of course, it is a story with physical sexuality.) are different? Of course, there is a thing that most of people want child, or in the mariege life and that the sex life is important, too. However, all the people have all right which don't have a child, too. And they are permitted to do a gusto with various kinds. Even if it supposes that two to love each other to want to marry were accident the same sex, Who will be able to reflect on the two? two of the same must not marry is a reason on the religion and because it is against the social model. If saying a reason on the religion To eat pork in Islam is prohibited. It is because there is danger of the food poisoning from pork because of a bad sanitary condition in the religion which progressed in the group act. In the same way it isn't strange to have limited marriage from the viewpoint to increase the child which was made the help for the power of the person in the group to get the bread. However, in today to have achieved social ripeness, the marriage is not merely the system which increases child. Today when the desire diversifies, the system of the marriage which laid stress on the more mental love should be arranged. And at least, it should not limit the liberty. Because even if my sweetheart is man in physicaly I want to love her(him??) thank you. Same-Sex Marriage: Prohibit or Allow It? CATEGORY: Same-sex Marriage: Should it be allowed ? AUTHOR: Jocelyn Tamarit/Adriana Diaz SCHOOL: Miami Southridge Senior High, USA E-MAIL: APrieto628@aol.com WEB PAGE: www.miamisouthridge.com DATE & TIME: June 02 03:12 INTENDED READERS: This essay was written with the intention to explain to people our views and that having a closed mind about same-sex marriages is not fair to those with the controversy of being able to marry their loved one because they are the same genders. Imagine that you are in love a special someone, one who you thought would never come. They are perfect in every way, and when you're with them you above everyone and in complete bliss. You plan to get married someday, but when will this day come. In fact when will this even be allowed? Indeed you are in love, but with a person of your same sex. To some extent people believe it should be allowed, but others are very much against it. What is your opinion? Put yourself in the foot steps of those who have to face this problem every day. I have never had to face this problem, but I can only imagine the pain someone is going through during this controversy. I personally believe a person is entitled to love who ever there heart desires. It is not fair to have to surrender to the person you love just because society will not allow it. To be honest, it is a little weird to see a homosexual couple and it may be uncomfortable to see, but one should always understand that if that is what the person prefers, then no one should stop them. If it were me I would strive to have our love survive, no matter what society opinionated. If you were in this situation what would you do? A lot of times, the people who object to homosexual marriages don't try to put themselves in the shoes of a homosexual couple. Which they should because I'm sure if they were in love with someone of there same sex, they would want to be left in peace and be able to live with the person they love with out having to hide it. Many people aslo have sarcastic views on homosexual marriages. They feel that the first people put on earth were a man and a women, not a man and a man or a woman and a woman, therefore a man should only love a woman. A very conservative view that is very unfair to homosexuals. As the leader of the world CATEGORY: Gun Control in the U.S.: Should regulations be more strict ? AUTHOR: Koichi Ogawa SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: koichi-o@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 18 10:43 INTENDED READERS: People who hanker for the U.S. thinking it as a country that has freedom and people who have an interest in gun control in th U.S. I have some images of the United States, though I have never been there. I can divide them into two parts. One is that it is the biggest power of economy, army and technology in the world, and another is that it is a country that has lots of serious problems to solve on crime, drugs, the gap between poverty and rich, and so on. In a state of affairs like this, guns are so closely connected with them, and what's more, they are giving rise to so many tragedies. So it is the strongest image for me that the U.S. as a "dangerous" country. Quite a few of people hanker for the U.S. thinking it as a country that has freedom. I accept it. However, there must be many people who consider it as dangerous In the U.S, guns kill about 10,000 people every year and about 1000,000 guns are sold not only at the shops but also over the Internet. So juvenile like students of junior high school and high school can easily get guns. What's more, the opinion of NRA (National Rifle Association) that it is necessary to have guns in the U.S. is strong. On the contrary, according to the public opinion poll after the case of a gun at a high school in Colorado, more than 80% of people in the U.S. think that gun should be controlled. This clearly shows that put pressure on the political world. As above, the government has to contend against that pressure of NRA that has vested interest in order to achieve the goal. Needles to say, the gun control should be stricter, aiming for the perfect eradication of all guns from the daily lives of people in the U.S. if it wants to keep being a leader in the world. Unless it can change the present condition (for example, students can easily can take guns to their schools). It cannot be proud of their own country and receive the administration from all over the world. We Depend on Them CATEGORY: Animal Rights: Should animals be used in experiments ? AUTHOR: Tetsutaro Iwaoka SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00103ti@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 07 01:08 INTENDED READERS: Who have been to zoo in your life. Who keeps (kept) dogs or cats or hamsters. And who loves Disney Land. In earlier times, human used the human body as a material for experiment (for example, a dead body, a slave etc) but now, we can not be allowed to do such a experiment from a morality standpoint. So we do the experiments with animals and that have contributed to improvement of medical science, medical treatment and cognitive science. But why can we use those lives as just an object? There are some types of experiments. One is for the purpose of killing by using chemicals which do not come to light how dangerous it is. The aim of other one is to make clear how do they grow up or to get the key how do we improve our knowledge or other abilities of human. I think that the former is a typical animal experimentation of using mice and rats. They are injected a various chemicals into their bodies. The latter is a kind of cognitive science. For example, a chimpanzee who is called "Ai" is one of major object in Japan. The experiment of latter one can give us the knowledge of a mode of life. If we can get some pieces of information about their life, we can understand how to protect their life and circumstance. And when we investigate about them by such an attitude, we feel affection toward them. So the experimentations often make good relationship between the observer and the subject. But the former, the large number of lives are consumed for improving new chemical medicines and other products. Maybe, I am also in their debt without knowing it. We can not easily say "that a wrong way" clearly, though it is surely crucial when we think that if we were them. If it had not been for such experiments, we can not take medicines at ease. I think, the important thing is taking notice that "I am a sinner because I am a human." -Animal's right- What do you think? CATEGORY: Animal Rights: Should animals be used in experiments ? AUTHOR: yuki otomo SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: yuki0929@aioros.ocn.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 06 21:07 INTENDED READERS: This distorted society. This society ditort human ourselves. I want real peace. So now I want to say it to all the people in the world. Ž¡ŽÖ200000000Ž¡Ž× What do you think this figure means? This is the number of animals that is sacrificed for an experiment In a year whole world. This fact is shocking and unbelievable for me. Why we do animal experiment? For what? Is it natural or vital thing? This feelings made me research about it. There was a result that I have anticipated but I have wished not being so. There was several case of animal experiment. So I introduce two types of it now. The first one is the experiment of chemical materials. Researchers invent new materials. But he/she doesn't know whether it is harmful for human or not. So they use animal for experiment. For example some shampoo or cosmetic or something is tested actually. The second one is experiment of disease. Especially, complicated disease is experimented many times. Stress, mental illness is an example of it. Each one is done in bad environments. Very dirty and unsanitary conditions. And experiments is done without using anesthesia(ŽËæÁ÷Š. Can you imagine how much pain animals are taken? I can't believe it still now. Why? Why our human can do such a terrible things? Do we have a right to do it? Do not animals also have a right? Aren't we animals? Are we great to do it? I want to hear your opinion. I hate such a distorted world. When I see a movie Ž¡ŽÖcrock work orange(Ž»ŽþŽ·Ž×Ž»ŽÅŽ³ŽÝŽ¤Ž±Ž¤ŽÎŽ¥ŽªŽ¥ø§†§Ž¸)Ž¡Ž×, I feel same thing such as now. Have you ever seen it? In this movie, researchers distort a rude boy. And he become to such as Pavlov's dog(Ž¥ŽÑŽ¥ŽÖŽ¥ú§ŽÕŽ¤ŽÎŽ¸Ž¤). Pavlov's dog is distorted to response a ringing. Whenever he hears ringing, he imagines foods. His mouth is watered. I think who distorted them is society itself. We don't notice it still now. Someday, we will distort our human. And we can feel how painful experimental animals are taken at that time. Using Animals in Experiments CATEGORY: Animal Rights: Should animals be used in experiments ? AUTHOR: Group 2 SCHOOL: SECTI, SCECO EAST, KSA E-MAIL: aaim2001@hotmail.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 06 19:43 INTENDED READERS: This essay about using animals in experiments is aimed to the general population and all students in high schools and universities What is the difference between animals and humans? Do animals have rights? Do people have the right to use animals in their experiments? What is your opinion? People have different opinions on using animals in their experiments. Those who are in favor of using animals in experiments believe, first of all, people are in need of producing new useful medicine. Second, there is a similarity of body system between some animals and humans, such as rats, monkeys, and rabbits. In addition, some of these experiments could produce a way to save many human lives. They think human's life is more important than animal's life. For example, using just a few rats can be helpful to come up with a new medicine that can be used to cure and save many people's lives. More over, animals life period is shorter than human's life. Also, animals can be easily killed by other animals or by environment conditions. Next, these experiments can help to discover medicine for other animals not only humans. Finally, some experiments could increase animals productivity. Such as, dairies, meat, and wool. On the other hand, there are those who are against using animals in experiments. First, that it is wrong for anyone to take animals life. Second, animals are useful for humans. People use them in different ways. Finally, animals have spirit and feelings that should be respected. I think these experiments are very useful and helpful for both of human and animals. Comparing, the advantages of using animals in experiments to the disadvantages, it is clear that the advantages overweight the disadvantages. Therefore, I believe that it is necessary to continue these experiments. Nowadays, some people are suffering from many kinds of dangerous diseases. These diseases need more researches and experiments to fight. Also, these experiments could come up with antibiotics that could find a solution for dangerous diseases. Our death CATEGORY: Euthanasia: Should physician-assisted suicide be legal ? AUTHOR: Yuuko Hayashi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: cqe15616@nifty.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 12 23:36 INTENDED READERS: I want to hear my voice people who think of death in dairy life. But people who seldom think the matter of death is also OK!! Please think this topic together!! Well, before thinking of euthanasia, we need to mediate about other problem. For example, what is our life? Why do we live in this world? What is death? All of these questions are difficult to find the answer. And even if the answer is founded, each answer will differs with the individual. So I want say my idea in this essay. Please hear my opinion as one way of thinking. I don't like stopping something on the way. Stopping is compromise. Stopping is giving up. Not stopping is because there are purposes. We can't say our direct aims to live in this world. But we have something to do in our life. It is, say, our purpose. But if we lose our goal, what will we do? Without purpose, I stop it. I can't do no-purpose thing. No-purpose thing is boring and meaningless. I can continue something because I have an aim. So, we can't live without our goal, I think. When we lose our aim to liveŽ¡ŽÄthen, we can be allowed to say good-bye to this world. Yes, I AGREE WITH EUTHANASIA. If I was in a situation of a vegetable; those who can't live on their own, I don't want to live in this world any more. I rather want to say good-bye to this world. I can't put up with live in naught. It is more painful to live in silent naught than to dieŽ¡ŽÄ. It is rather severe for vegetables to stick to such a world. When we lose our goal in a life, we may well think of the end of life. Or when we attain all of our goals, it is time we had right to bring our life to an end. Euthanasia may bring awful sorrow and agony to people who are around a person who chose death. Someone may say that he must live as long as possible. Or some one may say that we must not waste our lives. But I think as follows. It is a life without aim that is wasteful and meaningless. It is more important to live a worthwhile life than live a long empty life. So he may well decide to put an end to his life. And his company should understand his decision. Thus, I agree with euthanasia. I think we have a right to die as well as a right to live. But it's my opinion. My idea may have some prejudices. So I want to know your idea. Please let me hear your voice. Thank you for your reading my essay. See you!! I want to hear my voice people who think of death in dairy life. But people who seldom think the matter of death is also OK!! Please think this topic together!! Can You Use The Cellular Phone In Public? CATEGORY: Should cellular phone use be banned in public places? AUTHOR: maiko ichikawa SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ichika-m@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 14 22:30 INTENDED READERS: I wrote this essay about the theme. I want everyone to read my essay, especially who have pacemaker or the celluar phone, and have faced the unpleasant situation in public space. Most people have their own cellular phone. In fact, it is said in the world, the user of this is more than one hundred million. In the United States, the 84% of the people have the cellular phone. Of course, I now have it because it is so convenient, for example, when I want to meet someone and directly call the person. But the cellular phone creates a lot of problems. I want to introduce the details. Can you telephone in public? Can you be careful about talking to someone toward those around one? For instance, when you are taking a train, a person who is next to you start speaking with someone loudly on his or her own cellular phone. What do you feel? Comfortable? Uncomfortable? As to me, I will be uncomfortable because I want not to listen and hear the conversation. It changes the noise! Even if I want to read the book, sleep, think about something and study, its "noise" bothers my valuable time. So I want everybody not to use the handy phone in public which is not only in the train but also the theater, restaurant, hospital and park etc. In the Hong Kong, in this year, February, the matter that the machine that bothers the handy phone wave in public space, especially theaters, in short, not uses the phone there was discussed. And in the city of New York, some of the restaurants part the seats by the using phone or not. I think the same idea about smoking. It is a good idea. Secondly, a cellular phone emits a radio wave. The wave sometimes affects the bad thing to the people who have the heart pacemaker. The bad thing is to go out of order. That is to say, the heart pacemaker goes out of order. Then a person who has the device is threatening his or her life. I am afraid of the wave! So in Japan all hospitals banns the use of the handy phone. I think right. If it is not banned, the hospitals will become in confusion. A cellular phone is proceeding by degrees. But users must consider its manner, I think. In one park, in the US, to use the phone expect the emergency is illegal now. In public, we all people have the own time that we like, I think. But we shouldn't annoy the others. So, like smoking, we must consider the others always. It is so important, I think. In Japan, the US, Hong Kong and so on, almost developed countries; the users should discuss how to use the cellular phone in public. I think, for example, if my phone starts calling, I talk to the person to return because I am in the train as quick as I can. It also is a manner. In any case, we have a lot of things that we can do not to disturb others. We should start that we can do! Cellular phones vs pacemakers CATEGORY: Should cellular phone use be banned in public places? AUTHOR: Hiroki Futatsugi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t98836hf@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 13 21:25 INTENDED READERS: People who are interested on problems between the cellular phones and pacemakers. (Any good ideas would be appreciated. Thank you.) aaa In this essay, I would like to write about the usage of cellular phones in public areas. These days, when we ride on public transportation, there's announcements saying "Please turn off your cellular phones." Indeed, the noise of the melody on cellular phones and people's chattering voice is such a noise to some people. In my case, I always set the phone to the vibration mode when I go out, so that people won't get annoyed. By doing this, I always thought that I'm doing the right thing and all the people would be happy. But according to the announcements, they are saying that still, there are some people who are unsatisfied; they are the people using the cardiac pacemaker. The best part of owning the cellular phone is that it's real-time. We could receive or send information easily by using this small device. Not only sending voices real-time, but emails could be sent also. Using this email service, we could send messages to people without making any noise. This is very useful especially when you're in the train. Imagine.. . you want to tell your friends that you're going to be late. You don't have to whisper to the telephone anymore. All you have to do is just move your thumbs and type in a message and send it. Usually, if you don't have something that attracts you, people would see their cellular phones and send messages to someone saying, "I'm in the train now, it's boring here.. . and blah-blah-blah." I really liked this convenient tool, but now we aren't allowed to use it in many places, even though we try not to disturb other people because of the cardiac pacemaker. This is such a difficult problem. The users of cellular phones would increase more, and of course, we can't ignore the people who has heart trouble. Then what should we do? It's easy to say "stop using the cellular phones. Although we can live without them, but some people can't live without the pacemaker." Thinking of the advantage and the future of the "information technology" nation, it's almost impossible to do this. We could separate the train into two sections and allow them to use cellular phone only in a particular section like Tokyu railways. But what shall we do on smaller spaces like bus and crowded places? I don't have the perfect idea. Do you have one? The relationship between the cellular phone and the pacemaker is very important and thus, we can't make an easy decision. It may be easy to isolate each other, but that would cause a segregation to the people with heart disease. The policy that concerns with information technology is rapidly prevailing in many countries including Japan. Let's don't put the spotlite only to the technology. We must think of a smart way to make all of us, human beings, to have a fortunate life. Blah Blah Blah CATEGORY: Should cellular phone use be banned in public places? AUTHOR: Sarai Moreno, Anna Allen, SCHOOL: Miami Southridge Senior High, USA E-MAIL: iceprincess0206@aol.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 02 03:07 INTENDED READERS: This essay is to tell people why it is we believe that cellular phones should not be banned from public places. Cellular phones should not be banned from public places. There are a few reasons why cellular phones should not be banned.First is because it would defeat the purpose of having one in the first place. Another reasons why cellular phones should not be banned from public places is because cellular phones are often used for emergencies or personal issues. Lastly, cellular phones should not be banned from public places because people have the right to talk to whomever they want whenever they want as long as they're not disturbing others, too much. The purpose of cellular phones is to be reached and reach others when not at home or in case of an emergency. If you can't use your cellular phones in public, it defeats the purpose of having cellular phones in the first place. You may as well just stay home and call from there. What if there's an emergency? You don't have time to drive all the way home to use the phone which is why cellular phones come in handy. They're there whenever you need them for whatever you need for. People should be able to talk to whoever they want whenever they want because it's a free country. If they are on the phone with somebody it is obviously for an important reason. Therefor you should just let them be and let them talk in peace. All in all, we believe that cellular phones should not be banned. They are a freedom of communications. Banning them would defeat the purpose of buying one in the first place. Also cellular phones are used for emergency and personal purposes. Lastly, cellular phones should not be banned from public places because people have the right to talk to whomever they want whenever they want. Well now that you know what we believe, what do you think? EMERGENCY! CATEGORY: Should cellular phone use be banned in public places? AUTHOR: Leah Strachan, Cheryl Myles, Lissette Marquez, Latoya Burgess, Mario Wimbley SCHOOL: Miami Southridge Senior High E-MAIL: gprincessleah@aol.com WEB PAGE: www.Miamisouthridge.com DATE & TIME: June 01 03:22 INTENDED READERS: My intended audience would be the middle age onlookers who despise technology. And to those who don't know how to use a celluar phone properly. What if you were out in the market place with one of your parents and something happened to one of them. You look up and there is a sign that says "No celluar phone use in this area!" You would be devasted if the are no police around, and no local telephones. It's always the mean, quiet people who don't what you to talk on the phone. Mainly you middle aged folks who have nothing better to do with your time other than harrass celluar phone users. These new devices that are coming out (making it possible to cut off celluar phone users service), will never make it in the market. It would be an outrage! I am writing this essay to show the importance of celluar phones in public places. Many people have celluar phones for business purposes. Others have them for fas- reasons. You cannot punish the good with the bad in this type of situation. The point I'm trying to make is that a celluar phone can save your life. For one they are convinent, and time efficient. All phones are made now with a quiet ringer and/or vibrate. I admit some people are rude with their conversations, but things can be done to help change this. Many times on the news, we hear of how a cell phone led the police to someone who had been held up and/or kiddnapped. You have to look at a situation from all angles before you can judge. What would you do if it were you? You can help in this saga of cell phones. Don't get caught with the fact that they make noise and you can hear someones conversation. I'd rather hear them talk, then to see them lie died on the concrete because noones celluar phone could dial out. Or being stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere all by yourself. Think about it and then, ask yourself "What if it was me?" Can you do that? The power of MOTHER CATEGORY: Should working women quit their jobs after childbirth? AUTHOR: Keiji Takahashi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99542kt@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 07 16:26 INTENDED READERS: all women, especially who want to have jobs or who have opinion about sex discrimination or who like babies or children. "Should working women quit their jobs after childbirth?" I don't want to say "working women should do this way", because I think how we deal with this problem depends on each family's situation. If it is hard to live on or if there is only mother for some reasons, mothers have to work after childbirth. So I'm going to write my idea about this problem. I mean I write what I "want". In my opinion, if I had a wife and a baby, I would want my wife to quit a job because of the importance of mother in childhood. Even though she wants to continue a job, I ask her to give up it at least while the child is little. It is the existence of "mother", not "father", that is more important for babies until about 3 years old. It is true that father needs, but mother' love is more essential for baby to grow up well. Why? We are born from mother's body and growing up with drinking mother's breast milk. I think there is a stronger tie between a baby and Mother than him and Father. Mother gives a lot of love to the baby. Baby who is loved a lot becomes kinder person than those who are given poor love. How long mothers spend time with their baby must influence with his growth. Some may say it is sex discrimination. But it is quite different from sex discrimination because the power of Father and the one of Mother are different. I'm sure what only mothers can do exists. Children feel relax in mother's body more than father's body. Others may say it is possible to be with baby even though she has a job. But I think it is not enough. They always want the mother's love. I don't say father doesn't need at all. Of course, they want father's love too. But I think mother's love more important for babies. So when I'm married and have a baby, I'll ask my wife to stay home and bring up child. Of course, I'm willing to help her take care of the child together. And I have to work hard for my family to live on. I want to say female that please spend time with their babies as much as you can if you really think about the child. A right to decide freely CATEGORY: Should married women be allowed to use their maiden names? AUTHOR: Yuko Fushimi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: fushimi0@mba.sphere.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 12 22:52 INTENDED READERS: All generation's people, especially young women who want to marry. And people(both men and women) who will get married in the future. In former times, in Japan, family system was the base of Japanese society. People (especially women and children) were restricted by it, the happiness and benefits were all of them. So some people wanted to free themselves from those restrictions. Now, the system is becoming the old-fashioned way of thinking. Some young women come to seek to use their maiden names after they married. In the background of such assertions lies the problem of Japanese traditions. People who want to take their maiden names think it serious matter. They dislike the old-fashioned system and they are afraid of being restricted. They also feel anxieties that their existences may be threatened. They think it threatens their identities. In the meantime, there are many people who are glad to change their surnames when they married. Asking my friends, all the members said that they feel happy or don't care about it. There are reasons that they can realize they married, or feel the union of husband and wife. Like this, we can't deny the fact that some women still want to take their husbands' family names. Well then, what should we do to satisfy both of them? I'll suggest that "everybody has the right to decide it freely." All women choose which family names do they take after they married. I think that is the best way. Actually, in France the national assembly established "PACS" (le Pacte Civil de Solidarite Ž¡Ž½Ž¡Ž½ the civil contract of solidarity). This law is unmarried couples have the same rights what married ones have. Of course, the traditional marriage system continues. Some French people (especially young people) choose "PACS", and they are satisfied with their decisions sincerely. It is important that we have flexible way of thinking and attitude. We don't have to be possessed with the way of thinking which is old-fashioned. So, "should married women be allowed to use their maiden names? " I can say "yes!" Independence from atomic power plants CATEGORY: Should nuclear power plants be abolished in Japan? AUTHOR: Tomoe Tomari SCHOOL: Aichi Prefectural University E-MAIL: ia981022@cis.aichi-pu.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: Aug. 07 13:09 INTENDED READERS: Please remember to save energy for future. We will never increase atomic power plants.Thank you for reading my essay. Do you know how many atomic power plants are in Japan? There are 52 atomic furnace in 15 areas, and 4 atomic furnace in 4 areas are under construction. Atomic power plants are usually located in the countryside where the sea is clean. They are never located near cities where a lot of people live. I was born and brought up in Sendai City of Kagoshima Prefecture. In the city there are 2 atomic furnace. I wonder if atomic power planets are necessary in Japan, and someplace must be a sacrifice. Are atomic power plants necessary? In Japan atomic power plants supply 1/4 of electric power. It is the second largest amount of supply of electric power, next to the thermal power generation. This shows we depend on nuclear power plants in Japan. But there are a lot of problems in Japan, One problem is where people send used fuels. In a lot of areas, people hold a referendum, and people refuse that it sends their town used fuels. There are a lot of used fuels, which do harm to people. A second problem is to build new atomic power plants and new atomic furnace. For example, in Sendai City, which is my hometown, the third atomic furnace, which will use plutonium, may be going to be built. Plutonium is new energy, which will be used in atomic power plants. But it is very dangerous, so people reject this plan. I think Japanese waste energy. When I live in Nagoya, I was surprised at glaring neon signs at night. In summer I feel very cold in subways, trains, buses, department store, and other stores. On the other hand, in winter I feel very hot. People should cut down the waste of energy. Then we won't need new plants any more. We will be able to decrease the number of nuclear power plants in the future. Where the nuclear power will go? CATEGORY: Should nuclear power plants be abolished in Japan? AUTHOR: Nomoto A SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: nomoto-a@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 15 15:27 INTENDED READERS: Those who get interested in an energy problem of Japan. It is because it thinks that it cannot be told for excepting a atomic power. Now, the energy which nuclear power brings is very important for Japan. However, needless to say, nuclear power has the huge danger. For example, huge damage may be done like Chernobyl.Should we use atomic power positively in the future? Or should it abolish? I think human beings regard atomic power as it using positively for some dozens of years at least. Because each of other energies currently used now is the limit is in sight or it is the energy on the way of development. The problem of a fossil fuel and global warming is in fire power, and there is a problem of the bad influence which the place which builds a dam, and a dam have on environment in hydraulic power. By the above problems, two power which has supported energy of Japan with nuclear power until now cannot desire the development beyond now. And, clean energy for example the solar light or wind force which attract attention recently also has the problem in respect of efficiency. Therefore it cannot perform producing the huge energy which supports Japan at least now. Of course, I do not think that they are all good with now. Nuclear power has the risk of making Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the hand of ourself, if it mistakes 1 step.n energy for example the solar light or wind force which attract attention recently also has the problem in respect of efficiency. Therefore it cannot perform producing the huge energy which supports Japan at least now. We ask for all possible prudence and safeties those who deal with this. The time when it does not need atomic power may come. However, it is not a tomorrow and not a next year, and may be it is a far future deream. To be sure, atomic power is dangerous. If possible, it turns out that it is better for there to be nothing. But if it is required for a man, should not we associate with it well? Thank you fou reading my essay. The conversion of new energy into old energy. CATEGORY: Should nuclear power plants be abolished in Japan? AUTHOR: Kuniko Nakamura SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00675kn@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 08 10:40 INTENDED READERS: The young people on whose shoulders rest the 21 century and also many people who are interested in environment and energy problem. Japan provides the great portion of energy from oil. The quantity is 329 million calories. And this quantity occupies 55% of the energy supplied. But there is a limitation in the fossil fuel including oil. It is said that oil is drained within 45 years. The problem is not only it. The carbon dioxide discharged by combustion of a fossil fuel will cause global warming. Global warming threatens human beings before drain of a fossil fuel. The Kyoto Protocol in such a situation imposed a duty of 6% curtailment of carbon dioxide upon Japan. In order to attain it, the Japanese government decided to prepare 21 nuclear power plants by 2010. In present, the quantity of the energy supplied by nuclear power generation is 302 billion kW. Compared with the amount of energies supplied by waterpower generation being 82 billion kW, the immensity of the quantity is known well. Nuclear power generation actually supports economy of Japan and the life of people. Suppose that all the nuclear power plants situated in Japan were abolished. If it does so, an electricity bill will go up several times. And a domestic factory cannot be managed in Japan and begins a move abroad. This thing causes degeneration of Japanese industry and brings the damage in the quality of a life of people. Moreover, probably, energy must be imported at a high price from overseas, in order to compensate the amount of electricity, which runs short. According to survey of IWC, many men regard Japan as dependent on nuclear power generation. And they also consider that abolition of a nuclear power plant is unrealistic. However, they fear nuclear danger by one side. Probably, fear was promoted by the accident of the nuclear fuel plant of JOC that occurred last year. The accidents of Chernobyl are not other country's affairs any longer for them. I also have full knowledge about the danger of a nuclear power plant. I think that a nuclear power plant should not be increased recklessly like especially Japan that has many natural disasters. However, I think that the solution, which is said that we need to return at ancient times is not realistic. I think that this is the view that moves against a time. Energy is indispensable for Japan and, probably, we have to depend on nuclear power plants. On the other hand, the new energy that does not spoil environment has been advocated. Solar energy, wind power, hydrogen energy, etc. are they. They are not the stages of practical use yet. However, if development progresses, they will greatly contribute to environment. ok and Branch Davidian Fiasco CATEGORY: Should the U.S. bases be removed from Okinawa? AUTHOR: cooper SCHOOL: frisco E-MAIL: kuykendk@friscoisd.org WEB PAGE: friscoisd.org DATE & TIME: April 24 00:05 INTENDED READERS: asdf Two of the most influential world events happened the other day, the Branch Davidian Fiasco and the Oklahoma city bombing. Both of these were close to home, both literally and figuratively. So many people died during these events and all for nothing. The Branch Davidian Fiasco had no true meaning besides a belief and it wasn't even a good one either. Some guy basically made up a lot of stuff and said he was their way to God and found a hole bunch of people to follow him. These people didn't just drag themselves into this but they brought their whole family even the kids. They were all trained to give up their life before surrendering(even the kids). Something had to be done there were many people in this compound in Waco and the police decided to make a move and end this madness. This started a battle that carried on for days and many went through with suicide while others found this as an opportunity to escape. The Oklahoma bombing wasn't as weird as this event but it was just as disturbing. A federal building got bombed as a some sort of attack against our government. I remember turning on the tv and seeing the mess that these crazy people left my country in. It was awful. Death, destruction, and confusion spread across my country and I got scared. I began to think the worst. I began to think of the problems in Europe and how they might be coming here. I was terribly frightened. I tried to forget about it by changing the channel but I never did forget. I wish everyone could live with out these type of tradgedies but there is always some type of sycho who thinks he needs to make a point. I wish it weren't so. We don't need any wars, any more. CATEGORY: Were the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary? AUTHOR: Atsuko Shimazaki SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00463as@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00463as DATE & TIME: June 21 01:32 INTENDED READERS: The future descendant . And the young people ,including me ,who haven't experienced the war. The bosses of a lot of country. First, the war, itself, is bad, I think. Before discussing about the atomic bombings, we must not do wars any more. Because, when we have wars, we lose a lot of children, women who don't hope wars. This is bad, very bad. Why we do wars? What makes us doing wars? For money? For greed? I don't imagine. And about WWŽ­Ž¶, couldn't we stop without the victims in Hiroshima and Nagasaki? What, who, did kil a lot of people in Nagasaki and Hiroshima? When I know the wars in the news, I saw the news like that the bosses of the wars always live and the children, women died. I haven't experienced wars, but I know the wars are crazy, because killing each other is very terrible. These terrible fact is permitted. These situation are crazy, terrible. Sure, one of the chance to do WWŽ­Ž¶ was Japanese greed, but why do people who are innocent had to die? Why did Japan surrender to America? Why did America use such the terrble atomic bombings? Why do wars kill innocent people and let the bosses who are bad people live? Sure I don't say I want the bosses who are bad people to be killed. But I can't stand these situation that the innocent people are killed and Why are they killing each other? Just only, before discussing about Hiroshima, Nagasaki, we must stop any wars. And the question " Were the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary? " is not good question. The atomic bombings is crazy. We live for life, I think. I don't know why we had the wars. But we have been talking to our future descendant about the terribleness, the wars will be decreased, I belive. Before discussing about the atomic bombings, we must know that the war, itself, is bad. For the end of war CATEGORY: Were the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary? AUTHOR: Kaori Yamamoto SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: mosa502@ic.netlaputa.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 11 01:40 INTENDED READERS: People who are interested in history especially World WarŽ­Ž¶.And people who have some thinking about the problem of atomic bomb As you know, because of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki the World WarŽ­Ž¶ was ended. But it needed too many sacrifices. Many people died in that war ; not only in Hiroshima and Nagasaki but also in the whole of world. By the atomic bombing about 270 thousand people were killed and even now, there is many people suffering from an aftereffect in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But I don' t think the atomic bomb was the best choice. Were there any other ways to end the war? My opinion is of course "It was wrong". The atomic bomb can kill many many people once. It has enormous destructive power and brings radioactive contamination. Why UŽ¡Ž¥S.A used it though they know its horror? They didn't have to use it. There were many ways to end the war, for example economical sanction, talks and so on. But from the view of history, it was necessary ; in other word , it was right. World WarŽ­Ž¶ was so big that it was need big event to end it. This opinion may be heartless but in fact , a war needs a sacrifice. If the World WarŽ­Ž¶ wasn't ended by the atomic bomb , victims of that war would continue increasing. And in that war , Japanese forces committed many crimes in Asia , maybe to stop them they could not help using such a fear way. Certainly, it isn't the best way and it is right to sacrifice a few lives for saving many lives. But at that time, maybe there was no other way. I'm against the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in my heart . I think it was a tragedy and feel sympathy for victims . But in the historical viewpoint, I'm for. So to be honest, I'm undecided. I can't decide whether it was right or not. But I can say it ; such a heartbreaking event must not happen in the future. Never Use The Master Card CATEGORY: Were the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary? AUTHOR: emiko suto SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ume.ume@anet.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 13 14:01 INTENDED READERS: For people who want to create the world without threat of atomic bomb and are for or aginst atomic bombs. Welcome many idea all over tha world!! A strong flash. A big atomic cloud. Two atomic bombs killed about 27 thousand people instantly in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and even now. People who died were vanished by bomb's heat or suffered serious disease. So ,there were two needless salughters. Everyone has to know these tradegies because atomic bombs are "threat of people ,by people ,for the earth." Of couse, I don't think the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were necessary. There are three reasons. At first, atomic bombs' tests should not have been conducted with humen lives. America made the most of these two cites to test atomic bombs and show America's power to all over the would especially USSR. Because America competed with USSR. They think the country which made atomic bombs first of all got a great power in the world. These two cities were selected geograficcally and by the weather of the day when bombs dropped. Nobody in the cities were told America would drop bombs.many chilren and women were living as usual at that time. the mont important enemy for America are the top or army and emperor. they did't live in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Anyway, many civilian were killed instantly. On the other hand in America, Few American of army knew atomic bombs would drop in the cities. Even secretary of army (the top of army) clamied America should not use atomic bombs. Atomic bombs not only killed many people but also were ont acknowleged by American people in a democracy. Secondly,WW2 would have ended soon even if America had not dorpped the bombs. Until the day when the bomb was used in Hiroshima, Japan was suffered badly in Okinawa, South pacific and Tokyo. It was said Japan would surrender to Allied Forces In no time. Finally,There is discramination toward Japanense. Now, American bilieve Truman's(the president of the U.S.who order directly to use the bobms) statement that atomic bombings are right because they saved 50 thousand Aamerican army who expected to die in Honshu. atomic bombs should not be jastified. Actually, the number of 50 thousand was exaggerated. 4 thusand army were expected to die by army committe and Truman kenw this thing. I think Truman tried to jastifiy atomic bombs by using the number "50 thousand American army" which is more the expected number of died people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki . he was grown up with surrouded with salves and he didn't mind discramination toward Asian and Africa-American. When he become a president, he use descramination words privately for example "Jap(Japanese),Nigger(African- American)" His discramination might infulence the dicition of using bombs. And he might remember humiliation of Pearl Harber. In 1945 atomic bombs killed so many civilian. this is quite wrong. But I would like to add another past and now. people who died and suffer in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are called victim of atomic bombs. However, we, japanese don't forget Japan was a offerder as well as a victim. As a offender, Japan invaded into Korea ,China and so on. And killed so many civilian. And now, atomic bombs gurantee humen safety from war . Japan will be not servived if there is no American force which has atomic bombs. What we can do is only to cut automic bombs fairly all over the world. we never change past. so, we,world people have to learn from past ,share each thougt about war and create tmorrow. Thank you. I appreciate your reading my long essay. The Seriousness of Murder CATEGORY: Should Criminal Law Be Applied to Juvenile Murderers? AUTHOR: Mayu Inoue SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00115mi@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 14 00:41 INTENDED READERS: I want my essay to be read by those who are interested in juvenile deliquency, especially those who are against applying criminal laws to juvenile murders.. Criminal law should be applied to juvenile murderers. In Japan, the existence of the exceptional law for juvenile criminals gives them the idea that they have been protected under the law, and it increases the number of juvenile delinquency. To solve this problem, juvenile murderers should be judged under criminal law. In Japan, juvenile criminals who are under twenty years old are judged under the exceptional law that is more gentle than criminal law. Regardless of the seriousness of crimes, juvenile criminals under eighteen years old do not get sentenced the death penalty. Knowing this fact, some of the juvenile criminals take it less serious to commit crimes at young ages, and it is one of the reasons that explain the increase of juvenile delinquency. I do not deny the need of the exceptional laws for juvenile criminals. In some cases, the juvenile criminals should be judged differently than grow-up criminals. This is because since many of them are still very immature both mentally and physically, they have more chance to be rehabilitated than grow-up criminals do. They should be given the chance to be trained once more. However, the juvenile murders have actually taken someone's life, and it is serious enough to judge them under the same law as grow-up criminals. Whether or not they have understood what they had done, I think that taking someone's life deserves to treat those who have done it as distinct human beings regardless of age. They should be responsible for what they have done. From this reason, I think that criminal law should be applied to juvenile murderers. Applying criminal law will make the children realize the seriousness of taking someone's life, and it will let them learn that everyone has to take the responsibility of what he or she has done. Clever Juveniles CATEGORY: Should Criminal Law Be Applied to Juvenile Murderers? AUTHOR: Muneyuki Hashimoto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00744mh@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 06 22:24 INTENDED READERS: Everyone who think juveniles' delinquencies are big modern problem in Japan now. And everyone who are interested in modern juvenile law. I think criminal law should be applied to juvenile murderers. What I think strongly is that modern juveniles know they will be treated softly under the present Juvenile Crime Act, which is an incentive for them to commit crime. I think this is true and we have to manage to solve this problem as soon as possible. Juvenile delinquency is increasing rapidly in Japan. Every day, we can find those kinds of shocking news easily, when we read a newspaper or turn on TV. On the other hand, parents' violence against their child is also increasing rapidly in Japan. I think these 2 problems connect strongly each other and it is a terrible phenomenon in Japanese society. I think these problems are caused of the lack of understandings between juveniles and adults. Adults have to admit that juveniles are cleverer than adults expect. And also, juveniles have to admit that adults are cleverer than juveniles. You might feel this is strange. But I really think like this. Sometimes, I'm really surprised at the juvenile violence and murderer. Because they are so clever when they killed someone or they do violence to someone. What is worse, I sometimes feel that those kinds of modern juveniles are making fool of adults!! I think this is a fact which adult don't think so. Again, we have to admit that juveniles are very clever. I'm not sure of the law of America and any other foreign countries. But when we think like this, criminal law should be applied to juvenile murderers. I don't say they have to be punished the same as an adult criminal. But we need to have stricter law against juveniles. I'm sure that this will help decreasing juveniles' delinquencies and having good relationship between juveniles and adults. What do you think about this? What do you think? CATEGORY: Should Criminal Law Be Applied to Juvenile Murderers? AUTHOR: Takashi Katsura SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ta-katsu@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 20 10:18 INTENDED READERS: People who think about juvnile crime and have some opinion about this problem, or who don't think about this plovlem at all. Recentry many climes are commited by young people in Japan. But almost all of them are not in judgment by adults' low regardless of thair crime. What do you think about this? The followings are my opnion. Recentry the age of 17 is cared about by many people, because 17 years old people commit a shocking clime frequently. Regardless of the shocking clime almost all of them are not in judgment by adults' low, as a matter of fact thair facees are not puted on view, even to the familys of the sufferers. I think it is one of the aggravating cause to this young people's crime. Many people think so, too. But the others think by this lenient judgement the young offenders can clean up thair act, if they in judgment by harsh treatment they can not clean up thair act. It is also true I think. So I would like to listen to someone's opinion. But when it comes to the murder I don't throw in judgment by harsh treatment into doubt. Because murders are the men who despoil the life of the sufferers, so they don't have the rights of freedom, I think. The sufferers also have the rights of live, so if one despoil the rights he/she also despoil the rights of live at lowest the rights of freedom , if it is conscious decision These are my opinion but I don't think it is the perfecy opinion many people have different opinion, so I would like to listen to those opinions. Of course I also would like to listen same opinion as me. By those opinion I can think this question about young offender by dimensional. And I hope it become one of the reason that makes people to solve the ploblem and make some new lows. When I got lost in KoreaŽ¡ŽÄ CATEGORY: Show & Tell AUTHOR: Keiji Takahashi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99542kt@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 21 14:45 INTENDED READERS: People who are interested in Korea, or travel I visited Korea with my friend. We took trains from Kim-pom airport. It was the first night in Korea on January. "Here we are!" We just arrived at a nearest station to a planning hotel from Kim-pom airport in Seoul. It's already 10 p.m. But going up the stairs, what we see on the top isŽ¡ŽÄthe different world. The world around us is quite Korean world. No Japanese, no English. "It's all right." I said. I don't worry at all, because I have confidence in my sense of direction. "Let's look at the map!" I thought I could understand a map since it is written by picture. Thanks to the map, I know where the hostel is on the map. But it is ONLY on the map. Usually when we try to go someplace with a map, we first try to find a landmark. But there we can't find even the landmark or even the directions. The map says quite poor information. And the biggest problem is all of the words around us looks just strange signs like circles or squaresŽ¡ŽÄ "What do they say?" I can't understand any of themŽ¡ŽÄ "Where am I now? " I come to worry about it. To be worse, there are few people passing by us. We are at lost. I have never been put into such situation.I really am scared that I will spend all night outside. It is very very cold day in January. "Ž¡–£ˆ¤Ž¤Ž¡ŽßŽ¡ŽýŽ¡†¤Ž§?" Suddenly, a man said something to us. I know later his name is Kim-san. He is a little drunken. At first, I just thought a drunken man closed to us. But he tried to say something, and I noticed he was trying to help us. We showed him the map. "Can you speak English?" I said to him. I haven't talked with foreigners very much that can't understand English. So I am really confused with the world that I can't understand. I supposed "if he can, we can communicate a little." "Yes, yes" he says. "Really!!" I get relieved. I try to communicate with English. But what he says is "house" "OK", and "Yes". He can't speak English at all in fact. "You said you can speakŽ¡ŽÄ" I felt in my heart but I didn't say. "Ž¡ŽþŽ¡â£€¨ŽÁŽ¦ŽÈŽ¡—�" he talks and explains us something very hard. But we can understand few things only like the direction he points. Then he said something in the strange language. From pointing and body language, It provably means "well, shall we go to that coffee shop and talk over a cup of coffee? It is very cold outside." When I see the direction, there is a dark and strange coffee shop. We follow him to enter the shop fearfully. " So dark, it smell dangerous.. " I think.But suddenly I can't believe my ears. "Dokokara kitano? (Where did you come from?)" said a gentle lady, who is the shop owner. I doubt my ears, but I surely DID. It was Japanese. "Nihongo hanaserun desuka??!! (You can speak Japanese?!)" it was very rude way, but I said it unconsciously. She might have heard us talking in Japanese, and talked to us in our familiar language. She has been to Japan many times. There are more 2 ladies who can speak Japanese. They gave us cups of hot milk there and became translators Kim-san and us. Thanks to them, we found the hostel of course, and we spent a good time in Korea even though we couldn't understand Korean language. If Kim-san didn't talked to us, we never see the ladies. And the shop people helped us many times. They are really kind. So I really appreciate Kim-san and the ladies. Let's train our will!! CATEGORY: What Makes Me Special? AUTHOR: Namiko Kaminuma SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: n-kaminu@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 05 04:46 INTENDED READERS: I want to be read by those who have a question about one's lives and those who have ever thought about suicide. Have you ever heard the word, "Man is thinking reed (in Japanese, "Asi")", which was said by famous philosopher. I could a little realize the meaning of this word by the book, which author is a Jew and one of only a few survivors of the victim of the Nazis. He experienced the life in a concentration camp. As you know, the life at there was like Hell. The Jews were not regarded as human beings; the Jews could not satisfy their basic desire, like appetite, sleep, etc. Naturally, the Jews were far from ordinary lives: live with a family, get marriage, love someone, make efforts for their dreams, be happy to see beautiful scenes, etc. The lives waited for them were starvation, torture, and being killed with poison gas. So in a concentration camp, many Jews committed suicides and died for having no meaning of their lives and nothing to live for. In his book, he wrote, "Almost all the Jews died physically as soon as they were injured mentally". But like the author, only a few Jews could survive. Of course, survivors may have a little luck for survival, but he wrote in his book, "The biggest reason I could survive was I could find the meaning of my life. And its meaning made me remain to be a human being, so made me bear the worst life." After I read this book, I could realize again that human beings are alive not only physically but also mentally. Perhaps in case of animals, the death means the physical decline, but in case of human, the death means not only physical decline but also mental one. Even if we think our daily lives, we could find how much we are influenced by our mental decline, (the meaningless of life). Recently, there are many people, from young to adult, who commit suicides. Probably they were satisfied physically, but were not satisfied mentally. They could not find the meaning of their lives. It means they could not live without finding something to live for or the meaning of life. Thus I was realized that we are so-called "thinking reed". At the same time, I was realized that because of being "thinking reed" and finding something to live for, people could make efforts. "I want to become Ž¡ŽÄ." "My dream isŽ¡ŽÄ" "I could not die, leaving my child so I must live!" "I want to live for my lover!" All these are something to live for and it makes our lives come to life. This is our ability, so we must train our will and keep finding something to live for or the meaning of our lives. Dear Mr. Perfect CATEGORY: A Love Letter AUTHOR: Hiroki Futatsugi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t98836hf@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 17 10:50 INTENDED READERS: People who has complex to themselves (like me) Dear Mr. Perfect, I must confess that I have fallen in love with you. I always think of you when I feel inferiority to myself. You're so perfect: you never make mistakes and always have confidence in everything. You are my hero; such figure to worship. My only wish is to be like you. Being perfect, I would be loved by everyone and never feel miserable about my capability. That's why I really, really adore you so much. So please.. . please give me a opportunity to be "Mr. Perfect" like you. Do you have your own space? In my case, I'm having trouble trying to find my position in SFC. Feeling isolated from everyone, I'm in a total solitude. Maybe I don't have any friend at all in the university. While all the other students are having such fun time, I'm secluded from all the people. I may have fun time, but they are rather like bubbles; they disappears quickly like a dream. I always worry about relationships between my friends. Maybe he or she is angry about me. Or maybe, my words made him or her disappointed, since I babble too much. Life is too difficult for me to understand. Friendship is also a difficult problem for me to cope with. If I was you, since I'm perfect, I would know the answers to the questions like "Why am I alive?" or "What's the meaning of life?" and have good relationship with all kinds of people. I wish you could tell me those answers and solutions secretly. My dear Mr. Perfect. I know that you don't exist. I also know that I can't be like you either. But I can't stop thinking about you. Knowing that there's no such thing as "perfect person" in this world, you were the kind of a dream in my life which is impossible to make it come true. I hope someday, I could be able to work out all the things right like you. So good bye, Mr. Perfect.. . With Love, Hiroki Futatsugi My Favorite Person CATEGORY: My Favorite Person AUTHOR: Dainelle Wilson SCHOOL: Miami Southridge Senior High, USA E-MAIL: APrieto628@AOL.com WEB PAGE: www. MiamiSouthridge.com DATE & TIME: June 02 01:52 INTENDED READERS: Students that are interested in who is my favortie person as well as appreciate their mothers or fathers or maybe a best friend. If you love that person so much the bond shouldn't be broken My favorite person in the world is my mother. My mother was born in Jamaica in a country called St. Anns. My mother grew up very poor, she had to scrub peoples floors to earn money to buy her school uniform and school supplies. My mom worked very hard to get into college to become a school teacher. My mother moved to the states and in Miami I was born. My mother is five feet and six inches, she has short brown hair, nice, soft, brown skin and a beautiful smile. My mother has done so much things for me that nobody will ever do or top. She put her life on hold for me as well as my brothers so we can make her proud and when we succeed, I would like her to say, "It was worth it!" My mother was suppose to be a college professor at a university, but she was pregnant withe my little brother at the time. As I was getting older, my mother taught me my ABC's, how to count and spell. My mother has a part time job that allows her to pick me up from school, take me to swim practice as well as water polo practice, while I'm at practice she's cooking and serving my brothers their food. When she finish eat her dinner she comes and picks me up from my practices. When my mother is sick I'm always the one that takes care of her. I end up washing clothes, cooking and cleaning. On Mothers Day I always buy her clothes, jewelry and perfume. I'm not working, but all the lunch money that she gives me I save it to buy her something for her birthday and Christmas. My mother is so special, she taught me the importance of saving money in the bank, now I have a bank account. My mother called a good friend of the family to come in and teach me the importance of investing my money. Now that I'm getting older my mother is encouraging me to get a job because I need a car. My mother says that she is going to pay for half when we go together to get my car and I must pay for the other half and the same goes with insurance. My mother is the best, we talk about everything such as sex, problems we are having in school, as well as problems with our friends, we argue sometimes, but we always manage to work things out. We do a lot of things together, we love to go shopping and go to the movies two times a month. My mother is always educating me about life and what I must look for and want in life. I can go on and on about my mother, but I think that all I've mentioned is the total package of what a cool mom is. I always think about, what if my mother had died, I don't know what I would do or even know if I would be able to live if she wasn't. Now I don't think about it anymore I just concentrate on the present and the special bond we share. My mother is and will always be with me whether its now or in spirit I will always keep her in my heart where she will never be forgotten. I love my mother very much. MY HOMETOWN CATEGORY: I'm Proud of My Hometown AUTHOR: Feraih Mufleh Al_anezi SCHOOL: SECTI,SCE-EAST E-MAIL: fme2003@hotmail.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 09 20:41 INTENDED READERS: This assy about beeing proud of my hometown is for all people in my hometown and all people in the world. My hometown is called Hafar Al-Batin. I was born in Hafar Al-Batin and I have been living here for 25years. It is small and beautiful. I like my hometown very much and I love the city. It has many things that make me so happy such as family, friends, home berthed, my job; it has friendly people and my relatives. It is in the northeast of Saudi Arabia. Hafar Al- Batin has a good geographical location. It is connecting many areas. It connects some of the gulf countries and the Mediterranean Sea countries such as Jordan and Syria. It is 500 kilometers away from Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. It is about five hundred kilometers from Dammam. Also, there are many wonderful roads, wide streets and many green gardens. It has open areas and nice desert. There is a big sheep market in Hafar Al-Batin. The weather in my hometown is a desert like. However, My hometown is a modern city and it has many tall buildings. In winter season, my hometown becomes wonderful area, because the desert wears a green dress. Besides that, my friends and I go to the desert hunting, barbecuing, and camping and stay there for a few days. When we go to the desert, we are very happy there, especially at night. We watch the stars when the sky is clear. There are also visitors from the gulf countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and United Arab of Emirates who come to spend some time there. There are some companies in my hometown; they offer good jobs for people. In spite of my hometown is a big city, there is a little facility like a university and standard schools. I am proud of my hometown because I spent my childhood there and my family and friends are also there. Do you still want to live in Tokyo? CATEGORY: I'm Proud of My Hometown AUTHOR: Ryota Mizuno SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: ryotam.09@d5.mnx.ne.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00895rm/ DATE & TIME: May 18 12:20 INTENDED READERS: City populace I live in Yokohama City now. And I go to Tokyo two times of the week. So I know Tokyo is very useful and fun City. I can find all I want to get. I can enjoy amusement like movies, amusement parks, shops, restaurants, and so on. And I can find any job I want to be. You may think you can get all you need in Tokyo. But it is wrong. You may think why do I say such a thing. The reason I can say so is I am not born in Tokyo area. I am born in Hokkaido and lived there in 19 years. In Hokkaido, there are many things you can't get in Tokyo. First, there is the very wide sky in Hokkaido. In Tokyo, the sky is very narrow because of high buildings and narrow roads. But even in Sapporo City, the population is 1.8 millions, there are the wide sky. Of course there are many high building in Sapporo, but Hokkaido has the vast land, so the road and building's interval space are very wide. Second there are many greens more than Tokyo. And this means there is a comfortable wind too. In Tokyo, there are so small and few greens. But in Hokkaido, there are many small greens in the city area and vast forests in local area. Greens heal our tired heart. We have not to spend much money and time to go to greens in Hokkaido. Besides these things, Hokkaido has many things we can't get in Tokyo. Although I can't tell you all, I want to tell one thing in the end. It is the season of the winter. In the winter, Hokkaido has much snow and freezes. The world gets white. Person lives in such a world grows to have strong mind and creative brain. If I didn' t experience the winter life of Hokkaido, I can't be what I am. So I recommend you that you have the winter life in Hokkaido for less than one month. If you do so, your idea will be changed, I think. We have things we can experience only in Tokyo. But we have things we can experience only in Hokkaido too. So please come to my hometown, Hokkaido. If you visit, you may be changed. I Am Proud of my Hometown CATEGORY: I'm Proud of My Hometown AUTHOR: Kareem Mohsen SCHOOL: SECTI.SCECO, Saudi Arabia E-MAIL: kareem_9663@yahoo.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 09 20:47 INTENDED READERS: This essy about beeing broud of my hometown is aimed to all people in my country and all people around the word My hometown is called Jubail city. It is an industrial city in the Eastern Province in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is located on the Arabian Gulf. It is located on the Arabian Gulf. It is famous for its factories and big companies such as SABIC. My hometown is a modern and beautiful city. Also, it has malls, a big hotel, Corniache, and a marine club. I can find all I want there. I can also spend good time with my family or friends in amusement parks. It is a wonderful, clean place. There are huge trees and give a lot of shade .In spring, there are many kinds of flowers and roses. I like my hometown very much. It has many things that make me so happy such as visiting my mother, brother and friends. People in Jubail are friendly. Many visitors come to see old Buildings and modern ones. Moreover, many people from different cities in the Kingdom and from the Arabian Gulf countries visit my hometown especially on holidays and they enjoy shopping, fishing, and swimming in the sea .The sea is always clean and there is special area for children. Others go to the desert around Jubail city shooting gerbils, small mouse like animals or looking for Truffles, a special type of mushroom. Also, Jubail municipality takes visitors around the factories and good facilities every weekend and. explain to them about Jubail's history. Nowadays, people work in government departments, private businesses and other jobs. Jubail has many important facilities such as a collage, schools, hospitals, mosques, sports clubs and electricity offices. Also, there is a charitable society to help poor people. In a religious festival, people sing folk song and dance in public places. If you are in the eastern province do not forget to visit my hometown, and remember that the weather is warmer in the summer than in the winter. MY HOMETOWN CATEGORY: I'm Proud of My Hometown AUTHOR: OWAID AL_SHAMMARY SCHOOL: SECTI,SCECO-East,Saudi ARABIA E-MAIL: AL_FADLY@YAHOO.COM WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 09 20:35 INTENDED READERS: stations. There are also visitors from the gulf countries such as Kuwait and Bahrain. who come to spend some time there. One of the most important reasons to be proud of is having many friends there. Usually, I spend a wonderful time with them. MY HOMETOWN I was born in Khafji, and I lived there for 22 years .It is in the north-east of Saudi Arabia, near the border of Kuwait. My hometown is small and beautiful. I like my hometown very much. In khafji, there are many things that make me so happy such as my family, friends ,Ž©ŽÆtc. It has many factories, stores and companies. My hometown is Famous for its three oil companies called Arabian oil AOC, TAXCACO and ARAMCO. In spite of my hometown has big oil companies; there is a little facility like a college, standard school, mallŽ©ŽÆtc. Weather in khafji is extremely hot and humid in the summer season. But, in the winter season it has a wonderful weather. In the spring season, people usually go out camping in the desert. When we go there, we've very interested in doing many things like hunting rabbits and finding mushroom especially at night. We do many other activities there such as walking, looking at the stars at night, and barbecuing. My friend and I go to the desert and stay there for a few days. People there work as engineers, businessmen, and owners of supermarkets. Most of the houses and flats and in the khafji are modern. Most of the men work in the factories or oil companies. But many men are unemployed because there is not enough work in the companies. When young people leave school they often cannot get work because there are very few jobs available. Some young people get jobs in shops, in banks or in public services offices. Other young people have to leave khafji because there is no work for them. There is a big car exhibition in Khafji. Also Khafji has a small sports club called AL- HELAL. Houses there are fed by two electrical system .One called underground system and the second called overhead. khafji has three grid-stations. There are also visitors from the gulf countries such as Kuwait and Bahrain. who come to spend some time there. One of the most important reasons to be proud of is having many friends there. Usually, I spend a wonderful time with them. Do you like your hometown CATEGORY: I'm Proud of My Hometown AUTHOR: abdulaziz SCHOOL: SECTI, SCECO EAST, KSA E-MAIL: aaim2001@hotmail.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 08 17:06 INTENDED READERS: this essy about beeing broud of my hometown is aimed to all residents in my hometown and all people around the world People don't choose their birthplace, but they mostly like it. That is because they get used to living there. They have relatives, friends, and memories there. They know all places and everyone in the area. This introduction is about being proud of my hometown. Speaking about myself, I would like to say that I am so proud of Nayriah, my hometown. Beside that, I am also proud of Shqra, the place where my parents and I were born. I am going to speak first about Shaqra and then I will speak about Nayriah. Sagra is a small city near Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. It is a nice place. It has a wide area and open sky. The air is fresh because there are no factories in the area around it. Also, it doesn't have crowded traffic. It is easy to do your daily activities, such as going to work and coming back, shopping, walking around, and so on. I usually go to Shaqra once a year. I spend about two weeks there. When I am there, usually, I go to Riyadh once or twice. I have relatives to visit there. But, Riyadh is unlike Shaqra. It is crowded and busy during the day and night. I don't like crowded cities. So, I spend only a few hours there. Fortunately, my hometown is almost like my birthplace. I always have fun when I visit Shaqra. Now, it is my hometown, Nayriah. It is a small city. It is located in the Eastern Province. It is about two hundred kilometers from Dammam. It has an open area. It is wonderful especially in winter and spring. All the areas around it become green during spring. So, people usually go there and spend some pleasant time during their holidays or even on weekends. There are also visitors from the gulf countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and United Arab of Emirates who come to spend some time there. Also, Nayriah has a good geographical location. It is connecting many areas. It connects some of the gulf countries and the Mediterranean Sea countries such as Jordan and Syria. One of the most important reasons to be proud of is having many friends there. Usually, I spend a wonderful time with Dedication CATEGORY: The Most Important Thing in Life for Me AUTHOR: Frank Ramos SCHOOL: Perth Amboy Vo. Tech., Perth Amboy, NJ E-MAIL: frankieramos84@yahoo.com, bella9971@aol.com WEB PAGE: www.mc-votech.org/pie DATE & TIME: June 29 01:54 INTENDED READERS: This essay is written for anyone who is trying to find what is truly important to them. In my case it is dedication. I've dedicated myself to what I feel will help me in the future. How do you find the most important thing for you in life? Do you see it, do you hear it, or do you feel it? There are many ways to find out what is most important to you. To me, I have to look inside of myself. Find out what I need, and not what I want. Life is a large obstacle course. To survive, you need to know what is important and what isn't. Look inside your heart. Some people search their whole lives for what is the most important thing to them. It takes some people a short while. Some people never find it, and are miserable their whole lives. I'm one of those people that know what is important. What I need to be is a survivor in this game of life, dedication. Dedication is the most important tool I use in life. I was born with fight inside of me, and a will not to give up. Dedication helps me in sports, school and everyday decisions I have to make. For example, I spend hours on a baseball field working on little things. I work on little things that help improve me for the next year in about ninety-degree weather. Another place I use my dedication I use is in my schooling. I want to improve my knowledge, so I attend school during the summer. While kids my age are sleeping late, I'm working on my writing. While people are at the beach, I am studying for my SAT. Instead of playing baseball, I think of what I am going to write about the next day. I'm dedicated to school because it is important to have an education. I take it serious because I want to be someone in the future. I don't want to be looked down upon by society. I don't care about fame and fortune, but dedicating myself to being the best I can be. I love the way I live my life; I am fortunate. Fortunate that I know what is important in my life. When you know what is important in your life, you feel great; you feel like you could never get lost. I feel confident that I will become successful in life. That is my opinion, and I hope you find what is important in your life. It will help you in the future. It's never too late to find out what is the most important in your life. Nice person will get nice feedback CATEGORY: The Most Important Thing in Life for Me AUTHOR: YOSHIDA, Taro SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99951ty@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s99951ty/index.html DATE & TIME: July 05 01:52 INTENDED READERS: Person who do not know the meaning of proverb "Nasake ha hito no tamenarazu". Or person who are remembering it in wrong way. To be a kind person is a one of goals of my life. If I am not kind person, I might be very pity and sorrowful person. If I help other person in some case, we both can be get very good feelings. And one more, the good things that you did before will be come back to you in the future. The short story I wrote tell you this very clearly. The story's title is "THE PRESICENT AND THE YOUNG STAFF". If you are not kind person, please read this story and change your mind as soon as possible. ----------------------- One day, as the president of the company was walking down the corridor in his office building, a young staff, walking with hurry, tread on the president toes. "Ouch!" said the president "Now I shall fire you, worthless little man!" The president face turned red with anger. "I'm so sorry, Mr. president. I was in hurry and I didn't mean to hurt you. Please do not fire me, for I have to feed a family of 8 on this measurable salary. I am not even worthy of your attention." said the young staff. The president, felt little of sympathy with the young staff, let go him with no punishment at the time. Months later, the president was in an island alone. The airplane he was on had big accident and nobody was alive except him. He had only his laptop computer, and he didn't know how to do E-mail with his computer. "I can never get out of!" thought the unhappy president, with hopelessly face. "Oh, woe is me!" And he set up a roar that filled the island with its echo. The young man, heard the voice of the president who had spared his and his family's life, and ran to the spot. He was the another survivor from the accident. "Mr. president, I am so happy that I found you alive. I know how to use E- mail with your computer, so we can get out of this island." said the young staff. And before the san go down in to the horizon, the president and young staff could get on to the rescue helicopter. "I thank you, good man," said the president. "I see now that any kindness we can do is always worth while. I shall remember the lesson you have taught me! And I shall study how to use computer too!" ------------------------- Do you know the proverb "Nasake ha hito no tamenarazu"? You will know the meaning of it in English. "He that gives lends." "One good turn deserves another." "Cast your bread upon the waters (and it will return to you)." It means, if you are kind person to other people, many people will be kind to you. Shown by this proverb, we must be kind person, if we wanted to be treated kind from others. How to be an adult CATEGORY: What I'm Thinking Most About AUTHOR: Yuko Fushimi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: fushimi0@mba.sphere.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 02 23:50 INTENDED READERS: People who will be adults in the future, or who already have become adults. And all people who want to be cool adults! In my childhood, University students looked mature. And I thought that if I will be university student, I become an adult. Now, though I'm a student of university, I can't think I'm grown-up at all!! What is the definition of adult? In Japan, "to be 20 years old" is "coming of age" by law. However, do you think it correct that "to be 20 years old" is equal to "coming of age"? I don't think so. What is becoming an adult?And, don't you want to know how to be a cool and smart adult? Looking over adults around me, I sometimes feel "what a childish person he/she is!" On the other hand, when I talked with a man/woman of the same age, I often admire "He/She is mature for his/her ageŽ¡ŽÄ!" I think that real age has nothing to do with the level of maturity(mental age). Well then, do you think that the definition of adult is only the level of maturity? It's true that we judge people by their mental ages as well as the way they look and dress. However, we lose something as we becoming adults. It' s "Childlike". Adventurous spirit which children have, pure hearts, and so onŽ¡ŽÄ To my regret, most people have lost them in return growing up. I can't think that's the best way. I think that real adult is to have grown up in mentality, and in addition, continuing to have "childlike". As growing up, both of our appearance and mentality are changing. On that time, if we will be able to have "childlike" not "childish", I think that is the secret how to be a cool and smart adult!! I will be 20 years old next year(coming of age!). So, I'm going to make an effort so as not to feel regret afterwards. Listen to the voices of the heart CATEGORY: What I'm Thinking Most About AUTHOR: Daichi Akiba SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: nejimaki@mx.tramonline.net WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: Oct. 09 23:25 INTENDED READERS: Have you ever thought about the importance of imagination? If you have'nt, this essay would help you doing it, I think. Do you know the song that named "Last night I had the strangest dream"? It is in the album made by Simon & Garfukel, although the song was not written by Paul Simon. Actually, I don't know who has written it. But I like the song, because of its lyric. The song starts with this phrase: "Last night I had the strangest dream I ever dreamed before." Then, these words follow it: "I dreamed the world had all agreed to put an end to war. I dreamed I saw a mighty room. The room was filled with men. And the paper they were signing said, 'They'd never fight again'". If you had never heard the song, I would recommend listening to it. And I want to know how people feel doing so. Even if you didn't know that, you would know "Imagine" written by John Lennon. In the song, he says ,"Imagine there's no countries. It isn't hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too. Imagine all the people living life in peace... " If I were not me, if I were himŽ¡ŽÄ Imagination is one of the most important thing we have, I think. Birds have wings, so we do. I want to say to so many people: for example, politicians, public officers, school teachers, or adults all over the world. "Think a lot. And imagine." If more people thought about things well, and if more people used their own imagination well, the world would not be such a thing as it is today, I believe. In "Imagine", Lennon says, "You may say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will live as one." Maybe Some people will say that it is just a song, others will say that they are just words. But, have you ever think about something with your own imagination? We should do so, don't we? At last, I'd like to finish this essay with the words by Paul Simon. If you have any time, please think about and imagine the meaning of the words. "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls, and tenement halls." Having a pet CATEGORY: What I'm Thinking Most About AUTHOR: Mitsuhito Uchida SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: m-utida@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 04 00:52 INTENDED READERS: I have wrote this essay for people who like animals, have ever had a pet, or are going to have a pet Have you ever had a pet? Many people have pets. A cat, a dog, a bird, and so on. My family had a dog. But, last month, he died because he was very old. He was 12 years old. I heard that 12 years for a dog are equal to about 80 years for a man. I don't know whether it is true or not. But, surely, he was so weak that he could not walk. In this essay, I'll talk about the meaning of having pets. The dog (he was still a baby) came to my family 12 years ago. I have never had pets, so I was moved and very happy when I saw him for the first time. The appearance was so cute! But our dog was 'German shepherd', so he grew big and strong. When I was an elementary school student, I was a little afraid of him. But I liked him. For 12 years, he was always around us, so I thought it was natural that he was beside us and he was a member of my family. When he died, of course, I was very sad. But I had not only sad feeling but also strange feeling. The existence ought to be there isn't here now. It's distasteful. I hate this feeling. If you have a pet, you must experience the sadness at the parting. As you live longer with the pet, the feeling become stronger. (I'm 19 years old, so in more than half of my life I live with my dog.) When people make up their mind to have a pet, they rarely think the sadness at the parting. I didn't think, too. But I don't regret having a pet. Now I think having pets means learning the importance of life. You should prepare for the death of the pet if you are going to have a pet. And, if the pet died, you must not waste the death. You ought to learn something from it. New posibilities of education. CATEGORY: What I'm Thinking Most About AUTHOR: taishi kobayashi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: taishi-k@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 04 11:50 INTENDED READERS: Everyone studies English. Techniology is develping fast, some of them are very unuseful things. However, some of them are very usuful. PC is one of it. Please use PC in study. It must help you. In ten years ago, many people didn't think that computer becomes as common as today. However today, many people have a computer and have communications with it. Education is not in exception, in university, there are many lessons with computers. Mr. Mizuno's class is one of it. In his class, there are several unique lessons. One is that we make a comment on partner's essays every each lesson. We have to make a comment in English. Even in Japanese, to tell one's impression is difficult, much more in English, it is really difficult for us. The study in the class is really good practice to improve our English writing skills. Next, we make a comment on BBS, so that we can exchange ideas over University. We cannot do that without computers. By exchanging opinions with other University's students, we can catch our essay many-sided. This also improves our English ability. When we make a comment on BBS, we got to score on parter`s essay. The scores are automatically calculated. This shows me how good (or bad ) my essay was. This is also usuful. Lastly, we sometimes excahnge e-mail over many Universities. These are in Japanese. Even that, these are good comunications for us. I really hope that some of othar University`s students come to my University. I will lead you all over the University. Before, e-mail was invented, it was hard for us to make friends study in other university. Now some students make club page in inter-net. And few of them made foreign friends. That is very wonderful thing. As you read, computer brings new way of education and helps our study. It is possible to read our essay anyone wants to. In the near future, I hope that the world over Universities enjoy within the BBS, so that we study much more way of thinking. Everyone have own Freedom CATEGORY: What I'm Thinking Most About AUTHOR: Tetsutaro Iwaoka SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00103ti@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 26 23:35 INTENDED READERS: Who has an Idea that everyone can be free from everything and everybody. Or who think that each one should have an original thoughts. Each person has a peculiar thought and ideology, and each sense of values. It is the natural situation. If everybody has the same idea, there are some possibilities of causing war or kind of commotion. In the present day, the many ways and purposes of life are accepted in various societies. Many people can live under their own ideology and sense of values that don't need to be agreed with society. We can create our life freely, but it is not easy. I was a high-school graduate who has failed to enter a college last year. Then I had been free though it was a little bitter experience for me. In my case, the very free situation was too free to do something. Perhaps almost all people want to have more time to use freely, and give full scope to their imagination to do something, for example reading much more books, going to somewhere, studying harder than now. But on one occasion, someone gets enough time to do something, the person who is a idle fellow can not use the time effectively in general. When you read this sentence, what is the word "effectively" means? To study foreign language is effective, to listening to one's favorite music is also effective, even to take a rest is one of the effective way. The way which to make something "effective" depends on a sense of each person. The best way of sense of values is difficult to define. The Ministry of Education have suggested one principle that education which gives the children latitude. In one sense, it shows that one must find the best way for oneself by oneself because the schools can propose only several limited courses to various pupils. To be free is important, after that, what you do freely is important too and rather difficult for many person. If you are free from everything, what do you do? TO SPEND HAPPY LIFE CATEGORY: What I'm Thinking Most About AUTHOR: Hiromi Midorikawa SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: hi_rochang@mbh.nifty.com WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00568hm DATE & TIME: May 17 13:48 INTENDED READERS: The people wanna spend happy time with boyfriend/girlfriend, friends and family I bought and read a comic yesterday. The name of comic is "NANA" you don't know maybe and just a comic for young girls. But I read this comic in the train yesterday, I felt uneasy strongly about "change the emotion". I will tell you about that Everybody has a lot of friends and family, so a person is surrounded by many people think a great deal of he/she. Especially, we are supported strongly by the person pass the line "more than friends" each other if we happened to meet. But he/she hurt his/her feelings as deeply as believed and supported if the either person change the emotion. I am worried about "change his/her emotion".. . Though we had a time to get acquainted, love each other, said, "I can't live happily without him/her!" and spent happy time, why does man's emotion changes? It is very painful and heartrending. There is no help for it really, isn't there? A few years ago though I thought we promise to love "FOREVER" if we marry, lately it doesn't come true in the world. And I think "FOREVER" is highly improbable or we must not say easily. "FOREVER" is not conclusive and impervious. Well, how can we keep his/her emotion? I think that all along. One of my answer is I try to be attractive so that he/she is not fascinated even though he meets the girl charm everybody or she meets the boy has an appeal for her. It is important that we always try to cultivate ours character and brighten in one's life independently of people without taking it for granted that we spent That we have the person always support us is very wonderful and not easy to keep... very fragile in reality. To be able to keep is a miracle. It's not unusual. And so we must always try to progress to keep his/her emotion of course for ourselves, too and spend happier and happier life Japanese Viewpoint CATEGORY: What I'm Thinking Most About AUTHOR: Namiko Kaminuma SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: n-kaminu@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 24 14:01 INTENDED READERS: People who have ever been to foreign countries for trips or study, and who plan to do so. People who long for foreign countries(especially Europe and America.) Have you ever thought as follows? "Why Japanese are so attracted by the foreign country, especially Europe and America? " or "Why in Japan, being able to speak a foreign language are regarded as so great? " I often think about these. Probably one of the biggest reason that Japanese are apt to think so is "Meiji-ishin"; from at the age of 1868, Japanese introduced culture of Europe and America. "Samurai" or the code of "samurai" changed into the Japanese imitating the Europeans and the Americans in the very short time. From at that time, the Japanese just kept introducing the culture of Europe and America. I think that the way we introduced them has still remained now. In other words, even we only know them superficially in fact, we think as if we know everything about the country. I want to tell you two episodes. I have a friend who lived America for 7 years and she often said as follows. "Why Japanese often sayŽ¡ŽÖAmerica is great!Ž¡Ž×or Ž¡ŽÖI long for America!Ž¡Ž×? In fact, there are many problems like politics corruption cases etc. as Japan has." And I have a friend who home stayed in America for 1 month, and when she returned to Japan, the mother of home stayed family asked her as follows. "Don't you think Ž¡ŽÖYou like America better than Japan, so you don't want to return Japan.Ž¡Ž×? Those who come from Japan are apt to think as if they know everything even if they lived here only 1 or 2 months, and say Ž¡ŽÖI like America better than Japan!!Ž¡Ž×" These episodes of my friends impressed me very much, because I could find that I am also the Japanese who will probably say, " I like America better than Japan." Then, I thought that we Japanese should take more objective views of Japan and Japanese, before we long for the foreign countries. If we could do so, perhaps we can know the better parts of Japan again. So I don't want to be a Japanese who long for the foreign countries only by looking superficial parts, but who knows the better parts of Japan! Heartbreak CATEGORY: What I'm Thinking Most About AUTHOR: TARNEISHIA ROSS & VICTORIA DUPREE SCHOOL: Miami Southridge High, USA E-MAIL: SHORT_N_LUCIOUS@YAHOO.COM WEB PAGE: www.miamisouthridge.com DATE & TIME: May 31 21:26 INTENDED READERS: To those that have been in love before, or experiencing love now. This is for those looking for the answers to their questions on love. Love is a special feeling that many wish to enjoy, but not everyone has to chance to feel this enjoyment. It always seems that someone ends up getting hurt within the relationships. Why is this? Is it always the girl to get hurt? Or is it the boy? Why is it that love is suppose to be so delightful but can end up so tragic? Love can be delightful to many, but I have had my share of tears within the situation . It seems hard to find someone to love you for you. In a relationship it seems that there is one that is scared to commmit, or afraid of falling in love. From experience ,I have learned to trust my heart and not my instinct.I had once fell in love with an old time friend but eventually we separated and it ruined our friendship. The cause of the break up was because he felt the need to go out and find someone else. Not because I wasn't being the perfect mate but he felt he wanted all that he can have and more. And you can guess who was left worried with tears in their eyes. Crying every night wondering what went wrong. But if the tables were turned how would the situation have been? From a man's prospective I have found that every man is not the same and some do experience heartbreak also. But what I wonder is where are these men? I wonder do they sometimes blame the girl when thay are in the wrong? Love can mean so much to one. The way it starts to the way it ends. Love can be such a lifetime scar. If you have been in any situations like me then, you will understand. But what I want to know is how can we prevent heartbreaks? Can there ever be a love that stands for a lifetime without pain and misery? Thinking about dignified death CATEGORY: What I'm Thinking Most About AUTHOR: Kaori Yamamoto SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: mosa502@ic.netlaputa.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 23 01:47 INTENDED READERS: people who are interested in dignified death , bio-ethics or life and death . People who have some opinions about it and tell me that opinion. Do you know the word "dignified death"? It is a kind of way to death. Last year , I studied it in the class of Bio-Ethics. Since then, I have been interested in that study. In this essay, I want to tell about "dignified death" which I pay notice to recently. In resent year, there is many argument about "dignified death" in the world especially U.S.A. and Holland. In Holland, a month before, the law of dignified death was passed. That news surprised the whole of world and I was, too. In many newspaper write about it and they often ask us "for or against -- ". As for me, I'm for. If I have terminal disease , I will choose death. Because I can't call it "being alive" to live only waiting for death. I know there are many opinion against mine and I can understand their opinion. But many people who have terminal disease are confined to bed, and live only to die. Is it a real life? Certainly many of them are not so, but as for me I can't bear with it and I may say " I would rather die than suffer so much!" But I'm not for it completely. In other words, I can't always agree with" dignified death". If my parents have terminal disease, can I have same opinion as what I have now? How about the case of my friends? Or how about my lover? Can I allow them to choose death? I have no idea. And I worry about patients' mentality ; they may be forced to choose death because they don't want to trouble the others. Certainly, dignified death is so wonderful . But we should think about facts behind it. There are many many problems to be considered and solved. So I think the law in U.S.A. and Holland passed too early: they should have had more argument. This is very serious topic. When I think about this topic I often feel depressed. And I don't know whether I can have answer. But all living people will face this problem someday. So I will continue thinking about it. What do you think -- It is nonsense to ask for "Yes, No"answer, but I dare to ask you "Are you for or against the dignified death ?" Technology and human CATEGORY: What I'm Thinking Most About AUTHOR: yuki otomo SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: yuki0929@aioros.ocn.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 16 22:17 INTENDED READERS: people who is older than I and my same generation What is the meaning for us to live? But Nowadays, most of people are seemed to forget the happiness of life. I think why we have became so?After the war, we have changed everything as possible greatly. Technology is good example of that. It made tremendous progress in our daily life and sense of value. So we could get a great power that can not conceive before. Almost all of these development have done in purpose of our human`s desire and satisfy.And those people might not think about it carefully. Now many problems that can not suppose at that time are turned up. For example, a computer gives us much convenience and helps our work greatly. In other side, because of convenience of computer we tend not to write a words or KANJI(computer change HIRAGANA to KANJI quite easily). So we forget KANJI certainly. Many people may not care about it, but KANJI is our japanese` own character. Forgetting KANJI means forgetting our culture. so, there are need for immediate action toward this problem. Not only the problem of forgetting KANJI, there are also problem of VIRTUAL WORLD. Almost we use computer by alone, and we plunge to the virtual world. At that time, we shut up outside, and devote to the computer.Especially for children, that is very serios problem. If child grow up only with computer, he/she does not know a real communication. I think that is one reason of causing a juvenile crime. Goverment has to take measures to deal with it and conrtrol it. Now, I want you to think what is the happiness of our human. Nowadays, we may not lose sight of ourselves because of the burden of a work.Sometimes we ma be killed by fatigue caused by overwork. we are not living for a company. I want to say real happiness of life is whether we can live with a cheerful and tender hearts. How to feel everyday life will be the bottom of happiness.however rich, if he/she lack the energy and feeling of happy, his/her life never be to beatiful and happy one. So, I will keep my positive aspect and evelation how old I became to. And I will smile to everything with my lovely family. This is my eternaly dream. The Value Of Death CATEGORY: What I'm Thinking Most About AUTHOR: Daiju Masuma SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: d-masuma@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 22 22:51 INTENDED READERS: I would like to people who regard death as terrible, meanigless, bad and so on, to read my essay. Maybe I think that it is everyone. I am afraid of my own death. Maybe so are you. And death of people I know makes me very sad. Needless to say, I don't want to die. I think it is natural that human beings should be afraid of their own death. But I think this too : death is not only terrible, but also meaningful. When I was in the second grade in elementally school, my grandfather (my mother's father) passed away. Ironically, it was my birthday. This is why on my birthday, eleventh of July, I think of birth and death. Every my birthday, I think "what is life and what is death?" Do you know the name of movie, "Life is beautiful?" I think "Yes. Life is beautiful, wonderful, and precious!" Maybe you have heard like this. Then, what images do you have, when you think of "death"? I think that you have a bad image and it is natural. But, then, can you still say "Life is beautiful?" Is all you can say "Life is meaningless?" Why? Because everyone, of course including you, must meet their death, which you think bad. In other words, the end of life that you think beautiful and wonderful is what you regard as bad. For Christians, maybe, death is sacred. When they pass away, they can go to heaven, where God live. And they can become a part of the world. And for Muslim too. The person who pass away for "jihad"( Muslim's war) can go to heaven. In other words, I think that, in old times, death is the way they go to heaven. So they were less afraid of their own death than we are. I don't want to say "Death is beautiful." I don't want to die. But I want to think "Life is beautiful." This is why I think that death is not only terrible but also meaningful. Traffic accident CATEGORY: What I'm Thinking Most About AUTHOR: Motoki Yasui SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00935my@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 17 02:40 INTENDED READERS: All of driver Traffic accident Now Japan has many traffic accidents everywhere. It almost case is car accident. Car accident was very dangerous and high possibility to death or get hurt. Why happen many car accidents in Japan? What are causes of car accidents? Have you met with car accident? In this week I have met with a car accident on 246 of national road when I drive a car. I was crashed into the rear of my car when I stopped in front of signal. I was surprised at that time. Because I could not to expect to crashed into the rear of my car. So I found out driver and ask the reason of this situation. That driver was a forwarding agent. He answered reason about lose the control of the steering wheel. I surprised again when listened reason of this situation. Because he drunken driving at that time. And he had not attentive about signal. I thought drunken driving was most of bad character cause of car accident. But almost person can prevent from drunken driving who can control to myself. I talked about other type causes of car accidents. That is interval of signal on the road. I thought interval of signal was very short in Japan. There are about 3 point on 1 km at least. And there are a lot of path that right or left. The Metropolitan area was more short interval. The driver influenced by short interval of signal. The driver was felt irritated, not attentive, and tired to everything. But the signal is necessary tool in traffic. So I thought it can not decrease and change to interval. Japan has heavy traffic and traffic jam. This situation was reluctantly things. Japan is most developed about business in around of the world. But I thought there are may of solve of decrease about car accident. For example remake to more wide about national road, remake to more flat about national roadŽ¡ŽÄ Japanese traffic facilities have to improve soon. So I thought Traffic accident is increase to the future. What do you think about Traffic accident in Japan? Fighting Against Dioxin CATEGORY: What I'm Thinking Most About AUTHOR: Maiko Ichikawa SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ichika-m@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 25 10:24 INTENDED READERS: I have written this essay for people who are interested in environmental pollution and want to know what dioxin is. The 21st century has started. We wonder, with hope and expectation, what kind of life we will come to have in the new century. As everyone knows, the 20th century, which has just passed, of wealth, comfort and convenience. In this case, I mean the life of people in the industrially developed countries. I am sorry to say there are a great number of people in the world who are suffering from poverty and destitution. But please let me limit the topic of my essay to a certain aspect of a highly advanced country, Japan. First of all, what is dioxin and what kind of danger does it threaten? Let me be a scientific. Dioxin is emitted when garbage, especially garbage that contains chlorine, is burned at a temperature of 800 degrees centigrade or lower. When it accumulates inside our bodies more than a certain level, it brings about dangerous effects such as cancer and severe allergies. And it has been found that dioxin tends to accumulate in the fat of a mother's milk. So it becomes dangerous for a mother to breast-feed her baby because the baby is liable to ingest dioxin. We sometimes read in newspapers that people who live near incinerators complain to the local government and demand that the incinerators be removed. I can fully understand their anxiety. If that incinerator does not have sufficient facilities, not only their lives, but also those of their children will be in danger. Now what must we do to reduce harmful emissions of Dioxin? There is one thing every one of us can do in daily life - to dispose of our garbage in a proper way. We should follow the garbage collection rules, clearly dividing burnable and unburnable garbage. I hope companies will clearly show whether or not their products contain vinyl chloride. For example, erasers, wrap, mechanical pencils, packages for eggs, vinyl umbrellas and so on, which we use in daily life contain vinyl chloride. If the government or private companies show the consumers a sign like "This commodity uses vinyl chloride", we will be more careful about the disposal of commodities. So we may well always have our own cloth bag, instead of plastic one. Many supermarkets are collecting plastics or polystyrene as well as milk packs and PET bottles. They are made into paper or cloth. Useful Recycling! In this way there are a lot of things we can easily do in daily life. Even our small efforts, if they are made every day, will lead to big results. It is the duty of us who live in the 21st century, to make our earth a truly safe and comfortable place to live in. future CATEGORY: What I'm worried Most About AUTHOR: Shigeko Nanbu SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t98710sn@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 17 13:40 INTENDED READERS: 4th grades Like most of the other people in their 4th grade of university,I'm worried about the future of mine.Many students of our kind are now struggling with what confronts them:job.Deciding life-time job is not easy a problem but for most of us with whom no special knowlege or experience,it is a kind of gamble.If you think over and over on yourself and possible job you can think of,it is not at all sure if you can get one you wanted.My friends starting to feel empty about this matter and looks tired out. I am also the one worried and desperate because I have no skill to help work the great world of outside this comfy and well-protected garden. There is no reason I won't be pessimistic and distressed. Although I do not regret entering this school and seeing many significant people in my life, let tell you it is hard to accept that you are not wanted, rather needed, and you look down yourself from the head to the toe and find out that you're useless in the social world. And of course this is the only traditional way of teaching us of the most basic rule of give-and-take, not a joke of grinning grown-ups. But sometimes you can get into the scene that MUST be a joke during this process of finding your future. For example, seeing hundreds of gray suits lining up silently moving to the next room to interview might break your sweet dream of career world. I am worried but can't be too worried seeing these joke-like realities that I first met in my life, it is funny actually. Thinking that funny things are the real core of working this big and important Japanese economy, makes a little easier to put you into this big stream and go anywhere I might be flown to by this water. It could be the smartest choice of my life, and at the same time it may be not, you'll never know. a happy AFRO life CATEGORY: IF ...... . AUTHOR: Satoshi Haruta SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t99762sh@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.keio.ac.jp/~t99762sh DATE & TIME: May 17 13:25 INTENDED READERS: the people who want one's hair to be permed Afro For these last thirteen months I have been with Afro.(As a matter of fact, my hair is not Afro but spiral perm.)The reasons I became to be with Afro are as follows.For the first time I had my hair permed Afro, I like hip hop music and I wanted my friends to laugh at me. So I did as I wished. For the second time I did, the hairdresser who is taking charge of me misunderstood my wish. My hair being permed Afro, many people became to talk to me more friendly.Tanks to Afro, I could make friends who like hip hop music. Sometimes we enjoy music all night at school or club. It is a great experience for me to share wonderful time with my friends. Afro is my favourite hair style, but my parents seem not to like Afro. "I think you flunked many credits for Afro" my father said. They may know a week point of Afro, but they don't find many good points of Afro. They don't knoe how much Afro has contributed to my life. I want not to think in that passive way like my parents. I want to say "The reason I flunked credits is not Afro but my looseness." If my hair were not Afro, Iwould have not been as impressive as now. And I might not have made friends who like hip hop. If so, my happy life would not be. Without Afro, I can't have the courage to talk to strangers and teachers, and I can't behave optimistic. Afro always gives me courages and chances and good feelings. What a benefit hair style Afro is!! Don't you think so? I think Afro changed my campus life happy. With Afro you might get a wonderful life. Let's Afro! Let's enjoy your happy AFRO life!! If I were a father CATEGORY: IF ...... . AUTHOR: Genta Shinkai SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00494gs@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 28 14:15 INTENDED READERS: My fahter who is died when I was two years old, and myself in the future who will have some children. If I were the father, what would Ž£ŽÉ tell my son and what could I do for him. There are a lot Ž£ŽÉ should tell him. The kinds of topics I want to say are various. What is most important thing is that those are useful to my dear son. And I think the father should give his son the hint to live strong and get satisfaction. There are countless choices and challenges in our future. We sometimes get the success and sometimes fail. The life is full of decisions. That is like the boat in the big sea. The father is to be man who can teach his son how to control the boat in the wide sea. If I were the father, I would tell my son to study and play hard as you can. The various experiences make you wonderful. You can know yourself by that. The success gives you the confidence. The failure shows you your weak points and makes the strong spirit. But when we failed, we lose our confidence and give up to try and fight even if we know that. The father is needed in such situation. When the son is afraid to try something, the father must tell him not to fear the failure and say to him "I am sure that the everything you will experience become the benefits for you. So try hard." If I were the father, I would do so. And then, that son will be the father by doing that someday. In the future I want to read the many books to my little son, and talk with the big son during the night. Through this activity, I will give them all knowledge I have. And that knowledge must be useful for live strongly and get satisfaction. If I were the father, I want to be the man to be one example as a human. And the father is should be so. we don't know when we have to say good-bye to this world CATEGORY: IF ...... . AUTHOR: Youko Miyahara SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s98956ym@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s98956ym DATE & TIME: May 16 20:31 INTENDED READERS: people who forget that death may come suddenly A certain happening made me rethink death. I have ever had third hospitalization. The name of my disease is still-disease. It was caused because of being under a lot of stress. The first time was when I was a first grader in this university. I had a high fever ( more than 40Ž¡ûŠ and couldn't eat anything about for five days or more. However, I had to take an intensive foreign language class. So I continued to go school. But at last I went into hospital. The second time was when I was a third grader in summer. I was busy because I had to take many examinations and I worked for a hotel. The third time in winter was most painful and unforgettable in my hospitalization and life. I almost died! Only did I cough, I had a nosebleed. My father is always busy for his work and he doesn't have a day off. But he took it and came to Tokyo from Osaka. And he gripped my hand and never let it go. And one day in having an inspection, suddenly my breathing stopped! So I thought" I may die." I am scared of death really. Sometimes they say " I want to die without pain." Maybe nobody die without pain. And I think in fact what we are scared of is not only what I die itself, but also someone who I love feels sad by my death. We don't know when we will have to say good-bye to this world. So I think I want to be kind and gentle to people and have a good relationship with my family and friends as well as possible. If we should go that world with fighting with someone, we can't apologize to him or her until they come to that world. From young people CATEGORY: My Message To ..... AUTHOR: Kaori Yamamoto SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: mosa502@ic.netlaputa.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 01 01:55 INTENDED READERS: Of course, I want adults to read this essay and know our thinking. And the young people who have hostility against adults , I want them to read this essay ,too. Dear adults, I have something what I want to say to you. What is the difference between us? You often say "The latest youth areŽ¡ŽÄ", including critical feeling. From years ago, young people and adult people are unfriendly to each other. But adults were young many years ago and young people will be adults many years later. So I think we can understand each other. In this essay, I want to talk about a generation gap in a form of message to adults. Between us, there are many different points. I think they cause a generation gap. And that is one of cause of our unfriendly terms. The most remarkable difference is thinking about job. First, our attitudes to job are different. Adults take up their job at the all cost and they work for their company. But young people are different. We consider jobs are one of way to we live well. We work hard for ourselves not for companies. So it is needless for us to work like adults. Second, adults think it is good to engaged in a fixed job after graduation from school. But we don't think so. Recently , there are many "freeter" who have no fixed jobs. This is my opinion, most of young people are for it. The term of "Freeter" is used as a term of prepare for our future ;finding what we really want to do , earning money for our dreams , and so on. But most adults can't accept it. Under their background, there is a difference of times when we grew up. In different background, it is natural to have different thinking. In every times, adults criticize young People and young people criticize adults. But we don't have to make effort to understand each other. Because that conflict of generation make us grow up. In a word, we ,adults and young people, are grown up by a generation gap. It is necessary for our growth. Don't you think so? My old friend CATEGORY: My Message To ..... AUTHOR: kana takarada SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00568kt@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 17 13:47 INTENDED READERS: The person who dear his/her childhood Hi! My old friend. You are always in my heart, aren't you? You always give pain to meŽ¡Ž¤and break my heart. But you are always in my heart. You always check my mind, my thinking, and my behavior. You don't like me? You hate me? Because? So, because you always hurt my heart, and you are very strict to me. Do you remember? When I was a child, I can see you clearly. Probably your face looks like me. It is not only your face, but also your body, hands, foots, yes,,,. Everything! Your everything looks like me. I loved you very very much. When I was child, you let me show many beautiful things. For example, many stars, many flowers, many dresses, and love. You show to me gorgeous love, and gave it to me. I could fly if you said " you can fly!"(Yes, but,,, I flied like a bird a long long time ago.) I could jump in the cold water. I could. You were my love, and I was your love. But when I was grown up, I find one thing. I can't see you at all. I loved you so much, but I grow up without you! Without you? I could such thing? No. Probably, you have stand in my heart. And always you are together with me. Is it fool thinking? You laugh about it? But I believe it. Because when I do fool things, my heart sink deeply. I feel that you hate me, as if you look everything and criticize my behavior. Someone will call you "creation of a fancy" But I understand you really exist in real world. And you help many many people. And, please stay with me anytime. I know, you keep my kindness, and pure heart. I want to see you again. Please say Hello to your friend. With love, Kana. Ireland/The land of fairly tale. CATEGORY: My Message To ..... AUTHOR: Kuniko Nakamura SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00675kn@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 16 23:59 INTENDED READERS: People who are not interested in Ireland. During this spring vacation, I visited Ireland. Now, how do you think about Ireland? Some people say it is a country of terrorisms, and another says where it is. Like this, Japanese people seem to have little knowledge about Ireland. Well I am going to introduce Ireland. Ireland is an island country that set in Atlantic Ocean and its neighbor is UK. Ireland is in the same latitude as Hokkaido but its climate is milder than Hokkaido's. The terrorisms were occurred in Northern Ireland, a district of UK, not in Ireland and for the peace negotiations, the terrorisms become to be calmed. So now Ireland has a reputation of being the safest country in Europe. Ireland is also a historical country. Since ice age, many people have come to this island and settled down. Celts were one of them and flourished very much and we can see or hear their remains even now. In Glendalogh, which is a small town near by Dublin, the capital city of Ireland, there are many ruins of Celts. The famous one is high cross which is a cross decorated Celtic letters. Most of Irish speaks English but some people still speaks Gaelic, which is a Celtic language. In addition, Ireland is the place that has produced many men of distinguished talent. You must have heard these names like Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wild or James Joyce. They are world famous literator. Recently Ireland is known as a music country. Enya and U2, you know, are from this country. I think the most wonderful things of Ireland are people and nature. Irish people are very friendly and they are kind to tourists. So if you go to Ireland, you will be impressed with their warm hearts. If you go out from cities, you will also be impressed with nature. The hills range boundlessly and are covered with rich green. The air is clear and sky is beautiful. You will find that Ireland has a mysterious atmosphere like fairly tales. I hope you will be interested in Ireland by this essay and visit there someday! State Troopers on Trial CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Roselio Ovalles Jr. SCHOOL: Perth Amboy Vo-tech. E-MAIL: bella9971@aol.com, dennis_12_8@yahoo.com WEB PAGE: www.mc-votech.org/pie DATE & TIME: July 28 00:36 INTENDED READERS: Any person interested in racial profiling or in aggressive officers. Cases of this sort are very common in the State of New Jersey. Please Read. On April 23,1998 two New Jersey state troopers opened fire on a minivan going in reverse towards them, but the four men were unarmed. The public believes that the troopers opened fire on the men because of their race. Almost every time this happens it's always a colored or Hispanic person who gets shot at or pulled over because troopers believe, they look suspicious. It's very hard four any one to watch the news and hear about the troopers doing some thing good. This case has been very popular in New Jersey because it is not the first time this has happened in the state. New Jersey Troopers have been known to racially profile. Three years have passed since the turnpike shooting. State troopers James Kenna and John Hogan allegedly opened fire on a van carrying four unarmed men. If the troopers were convicted on all counts they would be sentenced to prison for ten to twenty years and a fined up to $300,000. On July 16,2001, superior court judge, Charles A. Delehey told the lawyers from both sides that they had two weeks to reach an agreement in the case or go trial. If no body reaches an agreement, Judge Charles will set the trial for July 30,2001. State trooper James Kenna was charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault, John Hogan was charged with aggressive assault. After a year of the shooting, Attorney General, Peter Verniero admitted that the state troopers targeted minority drivers for drug prosecution. Attorney General agreed to pay nearly thirteen million to settle the lawsuit. In conclusion, I feel state troopers should be checked by their supervisors every two weeks or when their supervisor is not doing something. More supervision will reduce the amount of drivers being pulled over for no reason and shootings. PARENTS KILLING THEIR CHILDREN CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Jose Irizarry SCHOOL: Perth Amboy Vo. Tech. E-MAIL: josei786@yahoo.com, bella9971@aol.com WEB PAGE: www.mcvts.net DATE & TIME: July 25 22:55 INTENDED READERS: This essay is intented for any person who is not familiar with the crimes committed on children by their parents. It is also intended for anyone who may be interested in learning of this subject. Children today are victims of various child crimes and murders. Parents today are people who you don't really expect to kill their children. However, these days, that's a big problem with the parents; they choose to kill their children for such rash reasons. Some examples of parents who kill their children, in such a way, are Andrea Yates and Susan Smith. In this essay I will describe just how distraught these parents really are. In Houston, Texas there was a case in which a mother killed her children. The mother's name was Andrea Yates; she was a young mother at the age 36 who killed all five of her children one by one. Andrea managed to kill her five children by drowning them one after the other. She gave chase to her terrified oldest son to finish the job. After she committed the murders she told the police that she did this to her children. But what set her off? What made her do it? Another incident where a parent killed their children was in Penrose Park, Northern St. Louis. A 31-year-old woman watching her son's baseball game from her car noticed her husband approaching. She yelled for her son to return to the car quickly. The man shot his wife first then waited for his son and shot him as well. Police soon found him with a gunshot wound to the head, which police say he did himself. The police found the 40-caliber pistol, which was used to perform the crime. Susan's husband he mentioned that she showed no remorse for what Susan Smith was another mother who killed her children by drowning them in a river. What makes this case different from the example of Andrea Yates is, that unlike Susan Smith, Andrea Yates had mental problems while Susan Smith was of sound mind. Another thing, which separates these two stories, is that Andrea Yates drowned her children in a tub, while Susan Smith drowned them in a river. In an interview with she did to their children. What goes through the mind of these so-called parents is what I wonder when I learn about these type of stories. What possesses these people to even think about doing such a hideous crime? These parents must realize that their children are a part of them and they are too precious to even think about harming them. So, in conclusion, I hope these parents realize what they did and come to their senses. Also I hope that other parents never consider doing this to their own children. UFO Sightings CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Gerardo Garcia SCHOOL: Perth Amboy Vo. Tech. E-MAIL: bella9971@aol.com WEB PAGE: www.mcvts.net DATE & TIME: July 28 07:03 INTENDED READERS: Anyone who is interested in UFO's or Science is welcome to read and comment. This is just one case of many sightings in the United States. What is a UFO (Unidentified Flying Object)? Is it lights spinning around or is it a beam of light going through the sky? Many people in the United States have claimed to see UFO's, and these are the latest. The Residents of Carteret New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Star Ledger, claimed to see unusual lights above Arthur Kill on Sunday night, July 16, 2001. They asked themselves what the mysterious lights in the sky were; the word UFO was their first idea. Veronica Bagley an eyewitness is shocked and she says, ŽÅŽª don't know what's going to become of it. Lieutenant Daniel, from Carteret, did not what to do him self because he was so amazed. He said he saw sixteen orange-yellow colored lights and most in a v- shape and the rest were also around the v-shape. The residents of Carteret called the police department and asked them about this unusual event. Joe Malvasio, eyewitness, says that it was one of the most amazing things he has ever seen in his life. He said that divers pulled over to avoid accidents from watching the mysterious lights in the sky. They all say that the lights were just flying around and one by one they faded away until they were gone. The people in Carteret say that they were not alarmed because it was peaceful. UFO sightings have been popular throughout the years. And many people have claimed to see them all over the country. Places like WI, AZ, CA, FL, MN, NJ, PA, and so on have claimed to see UFO's. Of course it has never been proven. Do you believe in UFO's? Have you ever seen a UFO? Residents in Carteret believe they have. Maybe you also have spotted a UFO and you just do not know. Chandra Levy CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Angel Falcon SCHOOL: Perth Amboy Vo. Tech. E-MAIL: ang033@excite.com, bella9971@aol.com WEB PAGE: www.mcvts.net DATE & TIME: July 26 01:02 INTENDED READERS: My intended audience is anyone who is interested in this case, whether you are an adult or young adult. This is one of the biggest cases in the United States. Today marks the eightieth day since former Bureau of Prisons Intern Chandra Levy disappeared. Police say that if they don't find any leads soon, they've thinking of stopping the search and calling it a missing persons case. Congressman, Gary Condit was having an affair with intern Chandra Levy. In the beginning he denied the affair, so he wouldn't look like a suspect or diminish his reputation in any way. Condit, ŽÅŽ¯ot a Suspect, as police may say, is still believed to be the main key in solving the case. Although Condit's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, thinks he is helping Condit by releasing well timed publicity stunts, like when Lowell said that Condit passed a private polygraph, it is hurting his credibility. Condit tried proving his innocence by revealing to police that he did indeed have an affair with Levy. He stressed to authorities that in his last few conversations with the intern there wasn't any breakup or fight that would lead to her disappearance. Since their last meeting, the two spoke over the phone with each other almost everyday. The last conversation Condit had with Levy was on April twenty-ninth, approximately two days before her disappearance. Levy said that she would call him once she arrived in California. On May first, Levy logged on the Internet for three hours sending e-mail and looking at travel websites. After this there is no trace of Chandra Levy. In my opinion, after all the Media attention Condit has received, even if the authorities do not consider him to be a suspect at this time, in the eyes of the public, he has received enough publicity, to make him a suspect. As for Chandra Levy, I feel, if she were alive she would have turned up by now. It's very possible that this mystery will stay a mystery and remain unsolved! Car license CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Okushi Kenichi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ken-@jk9.so-net.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 22 23:33 INTENDED READERS: People who have a car license or want to get a car license now. What do you think or have image about driving schools? I got a car silence two month ago. I made a poor fight to get it. Do you have a car license? Or do you want to get a car license? My school is very small and teachers are little. Probably, it is poor. But I decided to go it because its fee is cheaper than others. I made a poor fight to get it there. Most driving schools have two lessons. One is the skill lesson and the other is the information lesson. My school also has them. But I am poor at both lessons. At first about skill lesson, I could not drive a car with speaking something, but my teacher on next seat continued to speak. I understood that he spoke me to save others and ours. But he has better to think that each person have each characters. As me, there is a person who is poor at doing something with much being spoken. I cannot concentrate on driving very much. In addition, I didn't have good driving technique and I experienced bad happening. Secondly, it was very difficult to solve a problem in a paper tests for me. For example, "When an accident happend, a person was injured his head. Do not move him even if that is the reason for second accident. Yes or No?" I do not still solve this problem. I major in law now, but I think that this problem would not be the traffic law problem, rather than the philosophy problem. After all, I am sorry that my memorial in my driving school is not got. But I am reminded of it now. The skill lesson is useful for me. I do not know other driving schools, and I cannot know my driving school is good or bad. I hope that my choice is not wrong. If I don't come across serious accident, it will have been proved that my choice is right. Oklahoma City Bombing CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Stacy SCHOOL: Frisco High School E-MAIL: kuykendk@friscoisd.org WEB PAGE: friscoisd.org DATE & TIME: April 23 23:37 INTENDED READERS: I can clearly remember the day of the bombing. I came home from school to find my mom sitting on the couch looking very disheveled. The tears had clearly been flowing down her cheeks for hours. This bombing not only affected those in the building. It reached people on all sides of the world. The tears from my mothers' eyes were because my grandparents live in Oklahoma City, and my grandpa's office is in that building. She didn't know what to do, who to call, or who to talk to. The first step she took was to call my grandparents house and see if my grandma was home. Ring after ring, the phone was never answered. Looking into my mom's eyes I could see the fear and worry that lay there. Next, she decided to call her brothers and see if they had heard the news of the bombing. Of course they had, and they too had no idea where my grandpa or grandma was. They weren't at home or their neighbors' house. Finally after talking to her brothers for an hour or so, they all decided that the best decision was for my mom, since she is the oldest, to call the number given on the television and see if they had found anyone named Gerald Pewthers (my grandpa). The lady that answered said that no one had been found by that name. After some time of pacing my mom decided it would be a good idea to call my great grandma and ask her if she knew anything. Well, it was a good decision because my great grandma told my mom that my grandparents had gone to the lake on an unplanned, spur of the moment fishing trip for the weekend. The look of relief on my moms face was incomparable to any other I had ever seen. Quickly dialing, she called my uncles to tell them the good news. I was so happy to find out that my grandparents were okay. The sad thing was that I knew, even at my young age, that there were other families out there going through the exact same thing. Only some weren't as lucky as we were. They got the unfortunate news that there loved ones were gone. Sadly, there is nothing we can do except kept them and their loved ones in our hearts, and remember them on this day, and every day. Our thinking of the wars CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Yuuko Hayashi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: cqe15616@nifty.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 23 05:40 INTENDED READERS: I want any one who think of our peacehull life!! Of caurse one who have not thought these things is OK!! Today, there are many ways to know about passed wars. Reading books, watching TVs or movies, hear from old someone, and so onŽ¡ŽÄ But in any case, we cannot get firsthand information. Is our knowledge right? As for me, it was when I was a very little girl that I heard about wars first. May be I was told that we, Japanese, were the victims of the war and many Japanese were killed in the war. So I felt sorry for Japanese strongly. But as I grow up, I found that Japanese are murderers, too. Japan also killed many people in other countries. When I notice this point, I was very sad. Surely Japan is not only the victim but also the murder!!! Then I wondered why I was not told about the story of Japanese violence. I have read/watched books/TV programs about a war. But I wonder many of them regard Japan as a victim. I assume there are more depictions as a victim than as a bad man? Why don't we write more stories as a murder? May be we apt to have a strong sense of being victimized. Not only Japan but also all the people. We should accept the whole fact even if it put us to shame. We also have to have sophisticated eyes to view the situation without any prejudices. And then we have to express it somehow to recognize it. I bet this process will help us avoid wars. I want no one to be killed in action. So each country had betterŽ¡ŽÄ.. no, SHOULD turn our eyes to passed events and admit her fault each other.I think we are lack of this thing now. With this, conflicts in the world will decrease, I'm sure. Well, I hope there will be no more conflicts. Oklahoma City Bombing CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Ashley SCHOOL: Frisco High School E-MAIL: Kuykendk@friscoisd.org WEB PAGE: Friscoisd.org DATE & TIME: April 24 00:20 INTENDED READERS: Six years ago today, April 19, is when the tragic Oklahoma City bombing occurred. It is hard to believe that a whole six years has already passed by since the horrible event. The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building not only touched many lives, but also opened the eyes and hearts of all the people who were affected by it To imagine how a person could have so much destruction and hate inside of him is inconceivable to me. But, from the negative event, many positive things have come out of it. We cannot change what happened or even explain why it occurred, but as long as we learn and grow from it, then we are better off. I think that the whole country has learned something from all the pain experienced in Oklahoma. The situation brought strangers together to love, support, and care for one another. There has been a sense of togetherness seen from all the survivors and victims as they try to cope. Being a teenager in society today has made me seize each day that I have. We never know what tomorrow holds, so we should take advantage of every opportunity that we have to be with the people we love. I have learned through this that we should never take our life, family, or friends for granted. My heart continues to pour out to everyone who was involved in the Oklahoma City Bombing. We do not always know why our cards are dealt the way they are, but as long as we keep a positive attitude and continue trusting and looking up to God, then we will triumph. One survivor from the tragedy stated that, "My heart looks like that building did ... with a hole in it that can't be fixed," she said. No one will ever truly get over the heartbreaking event and all of the lives lost because of the acts of an evil man, but with time will come healing. As six years have past since the event, it is painful to look back and recall the experience, but doing so will help everyone to cope with the damage and devastation left behind from the bombing. The emotional wounds will never completely heal, but the lives of all the victims will live on in hearts across America forever. Something heals my heart CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: a-daichi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: nejimaki@mx.tramonline.net WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 18 02:47 INTENDED READERS: everyone "This world is not so bad", someone said. I think so, too. Certainly, there are too many things that spoil, hurt or bother us in the present world. But, at the same time, there are also numerous things heal my heart. They are maybe some kind of art, sport, or person. Last two years were the worst period in my life. In the year before last, I was wandering because I didn't figure out what should I do. Last year, I was oppressed by study for entrance examination. It was very important problem what should I do. Almost my friends began to study for entrance exam, and it was natural for them. But I couldn't do so. I thought there would be some way other than going to university. So I decided not to study for exam. While my classmates studied hard, I read books and watching movies. Maybe it seems easy and enjoyable, but it wasn't. I was restless so mach. If it had not been for certain books or movies, I would have become crazy considering my future. My friends also helped me mentally. One of them supported my way, and another gave me a hint of what should I do. My girlfriend said to me "If you think so, it will be right". I was encouraged so mach by her. The friends I had kept touch for a long time made me fun with their telling stories. And my father and mother. Their tenderness was very important for me. If there were no heals like these, I would never have such confidence as I have. The world manages to make me suffer, I know there are something heal me. I call the factors "LOVE". Maybe some people think I am green. But, owing to "LOVE", I can say, "This wold is not so bad". Oklahoma City Bombing CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Lindsay SCHOOL: FHS E-MAIL: kuykendk@friscoisd.org WEB PAGE: friscoisd.org DATE & TIME: April 24 00:06 INTENDED READERS: When Timothy McVeigh decided to take his van filled with explosives and park it directly outside of the building he knew he wasn't making the decision that no one would forget. When those bombs exploded and the building collapsed, a smile crossed his face. He knew exactly what he was doing. He didn't have a care in the world. I think that's what makes the Oklahoma City Bombing so important to us. That man didn't care about anything except the fact that he was going to get his publicity. He killed millions of people and children, whom he has no remorse for. He states that the children were just "collateral". He ruined so many people's lives by taking others just for his revenge. Because of something that the government did, a year ago in Waco, he decides to strike back in Oklahoma! It's unorthodox. He has made people turn against each other. Those who lost their loved ones are resentful for those who were saved and are alive today. He has not done a good thing. Now that McVeigh has gotten his publicity for this stupid stunt that he's pulled he is facing death row. He is sentenced to die by lethal injection and there is no one feeling sorry for him. This is one of the many astonishing events that have happened throughout history today. There are memorials all over the world honoring the brave and the courageous. To think of all the hearts that have been broken because of one person's distraught, stress, or unhappiness is unfathomable. I know there is really nothing that anyone can do about our world and the sad sad people who live in it. It's just a reality that we all have to face. This event has now gone down in History and has its place there forever. Two tragedies CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Luke Vaughn SCHOOL: Frisco High School E-MAIL: kuykendk@friscoisd.org WEB PAGE: friscoisd.org DATE & TIME: April 23 23:59 INTENDED READERS: On April 19, around 9:03a.m. just after many parents had dropped off their children at day care at the Munah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City, one of the greatest traedies occurred. A massive bomb inside a rental truck exploded and blew half of a nine story building into pieces. A sunned nation watched as the bobies of many men,women, and children were randomly for almost two whole weeks. When the smoke cleared and the rescue workers packed up and left, 168 people were dead in the worst tragedy that has ever occurred on U.S. soil. Just 90 minutes after the explosion occurred, an Oklahoma patrolman pulled over Timothy McVeigh for driving without a license plate. Shortly befor McVeigh was released, McVeigh was charged with the bombing. Anther event that has occurred in the U.S. that has made a huge effect on the U.S. citizens over the past years is the 1993 incident known as the Branch Davidian Tragedy. This was the centerof an investigation of weapons illegalities sponsored by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and firearms. The Batf's search warrant was executed in a "no knock, dynamic entry" style attack on the community center called Mount Carmel, a home shared by 130 men, women, and children. In the gunfight that resulted from the "dynamic entry, six Davidians and four BATF agents were killed. When the BATF ran out of ammunition, they retreated from direct attack, but kept the Davidians surrounded by armed forces. The siege was taken over by the Federal Bureau of Investigations the next day, and continued for fifty one days. On the fifty first day, claiming frustration over the Davidians refusal to leave the building, the FBI had tanks insert CS gas into Mount Carmel; a fire broke out, and 76 out of the 85 people remaining in the center died. These two tragedies have had a huge impact on my life because it teaches me the importance of life itself. April 19, Desaster Day CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Alexandria SCHOOL: Frisco High E-MAIL: kukendk@friscoisd.org WEB PAGE: friscoisd.org DATE & TIME: April 23 23:50 INTENDED READERS: April 19th On April 19, 1993: eighty-seven members of a religious cult calling themselves the Branch Davidians died in an explosive fire. The lethal fire marked the end of 57-day stand off between the religious cult and the US. The cause for the stand off was that the Davidians were housing illegal weaponry. The Davidians were arguing their right to militia and the right to bare arms. Witch was all fine and good but there was suspicion that some of the people living in the compound were being held there against their will. It was the authorities belief that David Koresh (the leader of the cult) was manipulating them into staying at the compound. Throughout the 57-day stand off a select few were allowed to leave the compound. (Mainly children) The ATF shot tear gas into the compound the morning of the 19th. The shots of tear gas ignited the artillery that the Davidians were housing. The fire quickly spread trapping and eventually killing eighty-seven men, women, and children. (David Koresh included) Two years later to the day Timothy McVeigh bombed the Oklahoma City Federal Building. He did it in protest to the Davidian Stand-off two years before, and in overall protest of the government. He killed hundreds of people (children included) in one of if not the most vicious terrorist attack in US History. The search for bodies stretched on for about a month. The bombing caused millions to wonder if they could be bombed at work. People feared leaving their children in office daycares of fear that they would lose their children if the building was bombed. Many lawmakers stared bills that would prevent daycare from being in federal buildings. The constant media coverage set the country in an uproar. The US government accused forigen terrorist of the horrible deed. But their accusations would be proven false when Timothy McVeigh confessed to bombing the building single handedly. McViegh was put on trial and he has been sentenced to death by lethal injection on May 16, 2001. He has said that he is not sorry. Not sorry for murdering hundreds of innocent men, women, and children. April 19th CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Amanda SCHOOL: Frisco HS, TX, USA E-MAIL: kuykendk@friscoisd.org WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 23 23:48 INTENDED READERS: Students What does this day mean? To a few people it may not mean anything at all. But to most of America, this day speaks of horrors, pain, and loss. A day long ago that blood was shed for absolutely no reason whatsoever. The day we got a reality check. We were surprised at the utter cruelness of one person. "How could he do it and why?," cross our minds every time we think of April 19th. Timothy McVeigh is now in prison and he is still alive. I know that he is going to be put to death very soon. Everytime I see him on the news, I always say to myself"I thought he was already dead?" In a way he is dead. He does not have a heart and he has certainly lost his mind. He most likely died a long time ago. How? Some of us will never know. Maybe we just don't want to. A couple of weeks ago, on the news, I saw some of the damage that had happened at the bombing. All the people and children that suffered really made me think. Why would someone want to harm other people? What drives to do the unthinkable. Innocent lives lost for no purpose but to satisfy a man hell bent to kill. Why?-Is our only question now. We do but we don't want to know why. We do because we want to know what made him do it, what was the reason. But we also don't because it would kill a part of our innocent spirits. We would know the reason why but we would keep on asking more and more until we were inside his mind. The reality is that this wasn't the last time. It has happened to other innocent people for no purpose but to satisfy the killer. What do human minds come to? Why? Oklahoma City Bombing CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Kelli SCHOOL: Frisco High E-MAIL: KuykendK@friscoisd.org WEB PAGE: friscoisd.org DATE & TIME: April 23 23:47 INTENDED READERS: The tragedy of the Oklahoma City bombing was felt all around the country. Every one mourned for the people who died and everyone felt sorry for the families who lost a loved one. So many people died that day and more scared for life. The man who did this, Timothy McVeigh, is caught and has been scheduled to be executed in May of this year. Families who lost a loved one have the choice of being able to watch his execution on TV and 10 will be chosen from a lottery that want to watch to be able to be there. The people are hurting and they still have very harsh fillings and rage against this man. Who could blame them? Should those 10 people be allowed to be in the room next to McVeigh and watch him die. I don't think that they should only unless they can contain all of their emotions and they don't start screaming or anything. Even though this man did the worst thing imaginable his family who wants to be there should be able to watch there loved one die and not have people behind then yelling and screaming or mumbling under their breaths. Those people who want to watch should be in a room Where they have a TV hook up but not with McVeigh's family. I don't care if he is hurt by the harsh things families say to him or about him before he dies but I do care about how his family members who love him feel when they see this. They didn't do anything so why punish them? In conclusion what happened in Oklahoma was a horrible tragedy and I am glad that the man who did all this will be executed next month. However I do agree that the families of the victims should be able to watch but not in the room with McVeigh's family. They should be able to watch their loved one in peace without having raged people sitting next to them smiling or mumbling under their breath. The Branch Davidian Fiasco CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Kelli SCHOOL: Frisco High E-MAIL: KuykendK@friscoisd.org WEB PAGE: Friscoisd.org DATE & TIME: April 23 23:39 INTENDED READERS: I don't remember much about what happened in Waco when all this took place but I don't like what I hear about it. My Uncle lives in Waco and he says that every fifteen minutes the news would interrupt the program and bring briefings on the situation. I keep hearing that the FBI made a few mistakes or the moved to quickly or the Group that had a warrant to look for narcotics only staged it so they would look better and I don't like it. The FBI should have handled the situation more maturely. I don't like what the leader David was standing for and all the things they did but if your dealing with people that are crazy than you shouldn't act like your dealing with ordinary people that are not crazy. The smallest things set off most crazy people, and they shouldn't be provoked. I also understand that in order to talk to David that you had to know a lot about that bible cause that is how he talked. The FBI refused to except people's help on how to talk to him saying that they had enough of the bible blabber. For a man who thinks that he is Jesus Christ that you should not make fun of the book that was written for Jesus Christ. That is like you claiming you family and your heritage and then having some group of authorities who are trying to make you stop doing something you really want to do start making fun of you. In conclusion, I don't think at all that David was sane but I think that the situation was handled all wrong. This tragedy could have been over with sooner if the FBI would have taken a little help and not insulted David. You must understand someone before you try to reason with them. Two Catastophese CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: m.b SCHOOL: frisco high school E-MAIL: kuykendk@friscoisd.org WEB PAGE: friscoisd.org DATE & TIME: April 23 23:39 INTENDED READERS: Bad things have always happened throughout history. But there are two things that stick out in my mind that I consider major catastrophes The Oklahoma City Bombing and The Branch Dravidian Fiasco. These two events stick out in my mind more than others because I was alive and they impacted my life. The Branch Dravidian was when a man named Davis Caresh decided that he woul brain wash people into believing that he was Christ. He held a group of his followers in a compound for 57 days, both woman and children. I was sitting in my fourth grade class learning about the heart and how it works. My teacher was making us listen to Billy Ray Ciruses "Achy Breaky Heart" on the radio when all of the sudden the news came on that there was fire burning down the complex. I also remember where I was the day the Oklahoma City Bombing took place. I was sitting in Ms. Sue Stafford's seventh graded English class and she informed us that a bomb was planted in a van parked in front of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City and when it exploded it took down the whole building with it. The building housed many federal offices and a day care center inside. One hundred and sixty eight people where killed by one mans selfish act, that mans name is Timothy McVeigh. Timothy McVeigh is now awaiting his death sentence, which is set to occur in May. Many people feel that this execution should be a televised event, and this is a big controversy. I cant even fathom what was going on in these people minds when they were making these decisions that would effect so many peoples lives. The oklahoma city bombing and the branch davidian fire are two events that will go down in history. Bombings and Stand-offs CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Troy SCHOOL: Frisco High School E-MAIL: kuykendk@friscoisd.org WEB PAGE: Friscoisd.org DATE & TIME: April 23 23:38 INTENDED READERS: people On the day of April 19 two horrible tragedies occurred in the United States. In Waco Texas, there was a standoff between the ATF and a religious cult. In Oklahoma City a bomb exploded sending a federal building crashing to the ground. Why do things such as these happen? What makes people do things like take hostages and blow up buildings? These terrible events must stop, and we have to be able to feel safe where ever we go. I remember the Branch Davidian Fiasco well. The standoff at the Branch Davidian occurred in Waco just a few miles from my hometown. It was scary to think that something so tragic could happen so close to home. During the long ordeal, several innocent people were killed senselessly. I always wandered if anyone that I knew was in Waco when this ordeal took place. Another event that took place somewhat close to my town was the Oklahoma City Bombing. A man planted a bomb in the back of his van and drove it and parked it in the parking garage of a federal building in Oklahoma City. He then left the building and detonated the bomb. There were several injured and killed victims at this incident. People from all over came to help aid the victims, and to help clean up the aftermath. After a couple of weeks they caught the man responsible for the bombing and punished him. They went to where he was making bombs and found boxes full of bomb making devices. No one knows exactly what possessed the man to bomb a building. The man was very smart and he knew exactly what he was doing when he did it though. People in today's society have to be afraid to go anywhere because of the few lunatics who start cults and bomb buildings. Many people do things like this simply for attention. I do not know why that people would want this bad attention, but they do it at the expense of innocent peoples lives. Society needs to put a stop to these fiascos and stop being scared of going out. A day to remember CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Jessica SCHOOL: FHS E-MAIL: kuykendk@friscoisd.org WEB PAGE: friscoisd.org DATE & TIME: April 23 23:38 INTENDED READERS: April 19, 2001 marks a day to remember in US history. On this day two major things happened that would make our country stop and take a good look around, two things that will be remembered forever in this country. On April 23rd, 1993, the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco was raided. 75 people died, including the leader of the group, David Koresh. He had been the leader of a cult, and the people inside had been brainwashed by Koresh to follow him. One girl who had come out of the standoff reportedly told one talk show that she was taught numerous ways to commit suicide and predicted that David Koresh would not come out. For almost a year the FBI had been trying to get inside the compound, thinking that the people inside wanted to be rescued. Koresh let the people who wanted to leave go, and the others stayed. After numerous attempts to end the standoff, the FBI decided to burn the entire compound down, and eventually ended up killing 75-85 people, including David Koresh himself. To this day there are many cults that appear on the news regarding their mass suicides or other things, but the Branch Davidian Compound Standoff is one of the biggest and most controversial in our history to date. Another tragic thing that happened on this day 6years ago was the Oklahoma City Federal Building Bombing. Timothy McVeigh left a truck outside of the building and the bomb exploded at around 9:00 A.M. Reports said that the blast could be felt from as far as thirty miles away from the building. After the rubble had been cleared, hundreds had died, including many children. The number of walking wounded was astonishing, and the entire country mourned for the losses people endured. Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols eventually confessed to the bombing. Nichols received life in prison, and McVeigh is scheduled to be executed on May 16th, 2001. Recently to date there have been more historical events in the surrounding days, but these two are so historical that they will never be forgotten. I hope that people will remember what these have done to our country and teach their children about it so that they will know what has happened.the two incidents opened up our minds to a new side of America; the terrorist side, and the ease with which they can get what they want done. The Branch Davidian Fiasco CATEGORY: Free Composition AUTHOR: Jennifer Phillips SCHOOL: Frisco E-MAIL: lucyjen7@hotmail.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 23 23:36 INTENDED READERS: Although I believe in the right to choose one's religion I am conflicted when that religion is one that practices child abuse, child molestation, polygamy, and terrorist ideals. The sect of the Branch Davidian religion, located in Waco and centered around the leadership of one less-than-sane man, David Koresh, (who gained that position by murdering to real leader) is one such belief. It is my belief that the FBI was completely justified in their attack on the Davidian compound. A religion should be restricted when it physically and psychologically hurts those who have not chosen to practice it, specifically children. In a tape he sent out of the compound for the media, Koresh admitted to have had 12 children with his "wives". Some of the "wives" had barely reached puberty and were 12 or 13 years old when they gave birth to his children. It was also reported that he spoke of inappropriate sexual behavior during children's bible study and brainwashed girls about to reach puberty the honor of having one of his children. Besides the sexual abuse, former Davidian members evaluated by a psychiatrist also reported Koresh to have physically abused the children in the compound by beating them with a wooden spoon and withholding food for as much as a day. This type of abuse and "practice" of a religion is unacceptable and dangerous. If this abuse had been inflicted upon willing adults who understood the consequences then the practice should be legal. But imposing such behavior on children who haven't consented to such treatment because they haven't known any other way is wrong. It's true that there is a fine line between a religion and a cult. The main difference between the two is that one enlightens and uplifts, while the other hurts and drags. A cult enforces abuse, and that should not be allowed. Restrictions should be placed on "religion" when it is detrimental to its members. The Branch Davidian "religion" was detrimental to its members and deserved to be reprimanded. The methods the FBI used to reprove them were, in my opinion, unsatisfactory because they killed those whom they were trying to protect. But something had to be done and was. Koresh and the sexual and physical abuse of children was stopped. I would not be what I am today were it not for this class CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Daiju Masuma SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: d-masuma@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: Aug. 01 20:44 INTENDED READERS: I would like the members of IWC, my new friends, and a person who in interested in IWC, to read my essay. I had written essays and comments in English. And I had read others' essays and comments on classroom and on the BBS. It is very interesting. But, this is why these 3 months passed so fast. My teacher, Mr. Mizuno, said SFC students finished this class. It makes me very sad. If you have a time, please read our essay. 1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? A1. I think that my best essay is "Three Questions". When I wrote this essay, I got used to writing essay in English. (Of course, "a little"!) And I spent the most times writing it than other essays. I read many books about bullying over and over, and think of it over and over for the essay. Of course I did it for me. Why? Because, it gives me my own viewpoint of bullying: "It is often said that the bullied have some reason. Is it true?" now I can say, "No. The bullied have no reason." "It is also said that talking with each other, the bullied and bullies, is the best way to stop bullying. Is it true?" now I can say, "I want to believe! But, it is very difficult." "Is saying'Bullies are children too, so they should not be punished as adults'true kindness?" now I can say, "If they are not punished, when and how do we teach them conscience? To recognize their own guilty is the way they live as a human. I think that in some cases, penalty is true kindness. It is penalty to help them." It is very wonderful and great! 2. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? A2. On the classroom, I like the comment that was written by Yuko Fushimi. This is a comment on my second essay, "The Value of Death". In this essay, I wrote "I think that life is very beautiful. And ending of our life is death. So, I should think death is not meaningless but meaningful!" She says "Positive thinking makes me encouraged and it makes the power to live!" Positive thinking! I should and wanted to use it! Her comments tell me a new viewpoint of death. I very much appreciate her opinion! On the BBS, I like the comment that was written by Mayu Inoue. This is a comment on my third essay, "Three Questions" In this essay, I wrote "Three Questions": "Do the bullied have any reason?", "Is talking with each other, the bullied and bullies, the best way to stop bullying?" and "That children should not be punished as adults seems to be kindness. But is it true kindness?" She makes comments on each question. And as I wrote later, what she thought of about juvenile murders is like what I thought of about bullying. For example,"Some of them do not recognize their guilt! If they are not punished, when and how do we teach them conscience? To recognize their own guilty is the way they live as a humanŽ¡ŽÄ I think that in some cases, penalty is true kindness. It is penalty to help them." I say, and "As I wrote in my essay, I agree with you that juvenile murderers should be judged under criminal law. That way, they will learn the seriousness of their crimes and that they have to take responsibility of what they have done. " she says. So, when I received and read her comments, I was really happy! (Of course, I like the comments that say different, sometimes opposite, opinions. It gives me other way of thinking or values.) 3 Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS? Why? A3. I like "Re: The Seriousness of Murder" best. At the time, I wrote "Three Questions", so I was interested in juvenile murders. I agreed entirely with her. And what I wrote was like her opinion. "From this reason, I think that criminal law should be applied to juvenile murderers. Applying criminal law will make the children realize the seriousness of taking someone's life, and it will let them learn that everyone has to take the responsibility of what he or she has done." she says. "Agreed. I also think that criminal law should be applied to juvenile murderers. Since some of them NEVER think that they are not wrong and bad! In other words, they do not have conscience! Can you say that they live as a human? So, I think that to apply criminal law to juvenile murders is one way they recognize their sense of guilt. Then, penalty is true love sometimes." I say. So, I wrote this comment very happily! Of course, some people may say that it is very short. But, a long comment is always good? Although it was short, it was what I wanted to say. And there is a fact that I wrote it happily. I think it is most important. 4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comment on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? A4. I learned from Yuuko Hayashi to write logically and attractively. Then, I quote an essay of her, "Our death". This theme is euthanasia. First, she wrote "What is our life? Why do we live in this world? What is death?" These are very difficult questions. But, these are also questions that we want to find answer. So, it is very attractive when we read only 7 lines. And she wrote "Please hear my opinion as one way of thinking." I like this expression. She doesn't impose her opinions on others. Next, she wrote this: "Stopping is compromise. Stopping is giving up." First, I didn't know what she says. Is it an essay about euthanasia? But, it makes me read more! This paragraph says the importance of an aim. Then, next paragraph, she says "When we lose our aim to liveŽ¡ŽÄthen, we can be allowed to say good-bye to this world." It is very logical and attractive, isn't it? ("Our death" by Yuuko Hayashi, Sophia Univ. student, its theme-Euthanasia: Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?) 5.6 This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? And "Situated" in such an interactive writing environment, how has your act of writing been facilitated? A5.6. Of course, I have cared grammar. It is very important. (But, I have often made some grammatical mistakesŽ¡ŽÄ) But, what I have cared about mainly is using words everybody can understand without dictionary. Reading essay is not an "examination" but a "pleasure"! And the motto of this class is not "Write to be SOLVED" but "READ". So, I would like everyone to read me essay at ease. When you read my essay and find a word you don't know, you cannot reading happily. "Hmm, what does this word mean?" This is why I use the words that almost all junior high school students know. Emiko Suto says, "It is comfortable to read your essay easily." (It is quotation from the comment on my first essay, "A teacher", on the classroom.) It makes me very very happy! What I want readers to know is not meaning of a word, but what I want to say. 7. In order to make this class more enjoyable and educationally valuable, how do you think this class should be improved? Please write some constructive suggestions for the next semester. A7. In this semester, usually, someone and me, two people, exchanged our essays each other. But, once I exchanged our essays among three people. I would like to talk about this advantage. Then, I didn't know what I should talk about. But, a person asked a question. So, I was able to ask a new question that was related it, and our discussion was very interesting. I think that a question makes a new one, and that it makes discussion very interesting and exciting. In short, I would like to exchange our essays among three people. Express Oneself Freely CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Namiko Kaminuma SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: n-kaminu@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: Aug. 01 16:42 INTENDED READERS: I want to be read this essay by all the people who have taken this class "Writing for Pleasure" in this semester. This class,"Writing for Pleasure" was one of the most meaningful classes among I have taken during this semester. Not only I could improve my English ability, but also I could notice the dificulcy of expressing my feelings by writing. Now I think writing a essay is the useful way to find my own feelings, because by writing a essay I try to make others understand my ideas, without thinking by myself. So writing a essay is difficult for me, but meaningful, too. Q1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written -- Why -- The essay I like the most among those I have written is "The Education of "Yutori"". In this essay, I think I could express my ideas straightly and simply. In fact, I was said by my mother,"You are not desperate at all, compared with when I was the same age as you now.". As she said, certainly our generation do not notice how much we are blessed and rich. I think I could tell the readers that those are not the problems of quantity, but the problemes of inside of our hearts;whether one has one's aims or not. Q2. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS -- Why -- The comment I like the most among I received is "Re: Japanese Viewpoint " (category is What I'm Thinking Most About) by Keiji Takahashi. In the comment, he gave me another view about "Japanese are so attracted by Europe and America". He told me by some examples that Japanese have good images on America and Europe, but as the same, Americans are intrested in Japan, too. For example,in Japan there are many cars which use English for their names, because of having better images than Japanese names. But in America "Kanji" is used for arts and pleasure. So he told me that people are apt to envy another cultures, but the important thing is whether we have pride on our cultures or not. Q3. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS -- Why -- The comment I like the most among thouse I have written is "Re: Do you love your campus?" (category is School life , and the author is Shinobu Kanemoto). I like this comment ,because I could write it very interestingly. As all my essays treat seriouse topics, the comments I receive can't help being serioyse. But from writing this comment, I could notice that if authour is write an essay interestingly, the readers can come to be interesting, too. So I thik that it is also a good essay which makes reders funny or interesting. Q4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays -- Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? The most biggest things that I learned from reading others' essays is that it is very important that the author's opinion is clear from the beginning to the end. I could notice that the essay the author's opinion is clear is very easy to read and we needn't read twice. By reading such an essay, I came to be care about making clear my opinion. "Learning from an American Family"( category: I would not be what I am today were it not for... , author:Mayu Inoue, SFC) is the essay I could learned such a thing. In it,she questions us in the introduction,"Have you ever realized how much your family cares about you?" In the body, she told us her concrete experience. And in the conclusion she writes again that how much our family cares about us. This essay was very eay to read and to understand what she wants to say. Q5&6. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing -- As I wrote an essay, I was conscious of making my opinion clear in all of the paragraghs. For example, I read again and again caring about whether the quoting examples are better one or not , or whether my opinion is same or not in the introduction and in the conclusion. I also tried to read as others who read it first time. Q7. In order to make this class more enjoyable and educationally valuable, how do you think this class should be improved? Please write some constructive suggestions for the next semester. I like this free class which means it is the class for students communication( not the class a teacher only teaches and students only listnings). But sometimes I come to know the teachers opinion about essay. So if it is possible, I want to know the opinion of teacher. Ž¡ŽÈNow we are trying to find out a better way of studying and enjoying English CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: taishi kobayashi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: taishi-k@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: Aug. 01 13:47 INTENDED READERS: I want to read the essay not only Mr.Mizuno but also other students, too. Some of you may want to read my essay. It has passed three months since this English Class has begun. It was really exciting class, but it was also really hard class. It is because it was really hard to comment each lesson. Sometimes, I don't have any idea to comment on my partner's essay.. Ž£ŽÁt that time, I feel sorry to my partner. I really want to develop my English skills to be able to write good comments to every essay. 1.Which essay do you like the most among those you have written -- Why? The essay which I like the most is essay whish is called "Are you good at explaining you opinion." It is about why I think many Japanese are not good at explaining own opinion. I picked up two reaons. One of a big reason is education. In Japan, there are about 40 students in one class. And there are not so many discussions. I have lived in the U.S. In the school, there was a presentation time. It was really difficult to presentate, but it was a good training to be good at presentation. I like the essay most, because I could explain about some difference between Japanese and American education and say about my opinion of merits and demerits of each. I am also glad that I could explain about that in simple English. When I wrote the essay first time. The essay was 50% longer. There were too many unneeded sentences. I really suffered to choose which sentences were really unneeded. 2. Which comment do you like the most among those you received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? My favorite comment which I received is a comment from Muneyuki Hashimoto (SFC). His comment gave me another opinion. His comment was about Ichiro Suzuki in Seattle. I thought that language is really important even in sports. However he said that it is not so important, he gave me a reson too. That was really a valuable information. 3. Which comment do you like the most among those you wrote on the BBS? Why? The most favorite comment of mine is the comment for Keiji Takahashi about American Football. I choose this comment, because the comment was the first comment which I could feel an affinity with it. Before I read Keiji's essay, I read essays about life in a clever high school or meaning of reading books. As you know, I am not clever student and I am also not so good student who read difficult book even it is not a homework. 4 You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others, What did you learn from reading others' essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what have learned form it? When I read other people'Ž£…�essays, I found out that every people have each different idea. The most impressive essay is titiled " Right to Live" which was written by Taro Yoshida(SFC). The category of the essay is The Death Penalty: Should be abolished? , so that the essay is about death penalty. Before I read his essay, I thought that death penalty is definitely right. The head of OWM religion, Syoko Ashara, must be killed. However, he wrote "Does nation have right to kill people? " After I read his essay, I began to think about demerits of death penalty. Then I found that death penalty can kill innocent people. Police is not perfect. After I read his essay, I begun to read over my essay again and again. By doing this, I could read my essay in several view points. This makes my essays better. 5Ž¡Ž¦6. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing -- In this writing class, it is so important to express own opinion. Knowing difficult words are important, too. However, it is more important to express. Even in Japanese, it is difficult. To achieve to write better essay, I got to write and read more essays both in English and Japanese. 7. In order to make this class more enjoyable and educationally valuable, how do you think this class should be improved? As we talked together, it will be better to talk with three students. It is because people can get several ways of thinking. I think that some students are good at speaking and some are not. Writing something CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: a-daichi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: nejimaki@mx.tramonline.net WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: Aug. 01 02:27 INTENDED READERS: From this class, what we can learn? The style of this class is a good way to learn "how to write"? People interested in such matters. First of all, I took this class because I like writing something. But writing an essay in English was very difficult for me. I was made to know that my English is very poor, and especially, my English vocabulary is too poor to write something. Then, I want to look back this semester for my essays in next semester. Ž£ŽÑŽ£Ž± Which essay do you like the most among those you have written -- Why? Ž¡Ž½Ž£ŽÁ. My best essay is "Killing a person", I think. Although I don't want to choose one from the essays I have wrote, maybe it is better than the others. I couldn't write the other essays exactly as I thought. I knew that it isn't good way to make an outline in Japanese, but I could not think about something in English. My English vocabulary was too poor. "Killing a person" is just better than the others. And there are little difference from the other essays. Ž£ŽÑŽ£Ž² . Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS -- Why -- Ž¡Ž½Ž£ŽÁ. I like the comment which is Masuma's one to "Killing a person" I have received in classroom the most. Even his conclusion was not same as mine, his comment was very serious at least. Ž£ŽÑŽ£Ž³ Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS -- Why -- Ž¡Ž½Ž£ŽÁ. There were not any comments I could regard as my best. Because of I couldn't write anything such as the matters I had thought about someone's essay. As a man aiming to be a writer, I can't choose the best comment from those I have ever wrote. Ž£ŽÑŽ£Ž´ You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays -- Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? Ž¡Ž½Ž£ŽÁ. I didn't learn anything from this class. Dare to say, I learned only the matter that "I can't write anything in foreign language". Of cause, doing training to write something in English, I will become "a better writer" than I am. But I can't help stopping myself to regard the essays on the BBS as something shallow. Nowadays, it is doubtful for me that writing a "essay" is a good way to learn "how to write in English". I am in "intermediate level", and standing on tiptoe don't always cause a good result. Ž£ŽÑŽ£Ž¶ You have received a lot of lively responses to your essays through the interactions with your classmates and those joining in the BBS from all over the world. "Situated" in such an interactive writing environment, how has your act of writing been facilitated -- Ž¡Ž½Ž£ŽÁ. I don't think the BBS is "an interactive writing environment" at all. We don't know anything about the members in SFC. When there is no communication, it could not be regarded as "interactive". It is no more than self-satisfaction, I think. Talk about "Write to be Read", it is just a matter of cause. On writing something, it is the most basic thing, I think. Ž£ŽÑŽ£Ž· In order to make this class more enjoyable and educationally valuable, how do you think this class should be improved? Please write some constructive suggestions for the next semester. Ž¡Ž½Ž£ŽÁ. I have only one opinion. When we talk about each essay in AV class, I want to use Japanese. I can't talk about detail of someone's essay in English. From shallow arguments with poor English, we can't learn important things about "how to write", I think. Drawing Word Picture! CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: emiko suto SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ume.ume@anet.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 31 12:17 INTENDED READERS: For people who communicated each other in IWC, had a good time with new friends! And people who are interested in IWC. All essay describe its own personality. I learned from them new information, the way of writing. I feel three months have passed fast. But I satisfy that we communicated and provoked each other. For next semester, Sophia students will continue writing in IWC. But I hear that SFC students finished this class. So, I want them to sometimes join in this class!! See you again!! 1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written -- Why -- A1: The essay I like the most among my essays is"in front of many people." until I decided write this essay I had not composed my thoughts for complex in front of many people. But, as I expressed myself in my essay I could do it. And in our classroom, Mr. Daiju Masuma commented on it and quoted the phrase which was written by Soseki Natume. The phrase was "If you failed, the failure will develop you otherwise you are stupid" I satisfy of it a lesson. I will try to improve my complex not only in front of many people but also of many things. This essay became one of my treasures because it encourages me to formulate a new direction for doing positively. In addition to, I received many warm comments and the comments encouraged me very much. 2. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS -- Why -- A2: At first, comment in the classroom. I received a comment for "MOGU MOGU in South East Asia"from Ms. Namiko Kaminuma. She pointed out the ambiguity of my writing. I wrote "Japan didn't influence on South East Asia"in this essay. But I reconsider it, and think it may be wrong because South East Asia are influenced by Japan during WW2. I was impressed with responsibility of writing essays. So, I thank her having pointed out my essay. All comment has the faithful in words. So, I think an author have to listen to readers' voices and make essays. Secondly, The comment on the BBS came from Ms. Maiko Ichikawa. I received 2 comments from her about my essay "In Front Of Many People"I would like to treat 2 comments one content. At her first comment, She said "I have had the experience like yours"And "it is so important how I get something to develop me failure"I am glad to share with her opinion not because she experienced like me but because she also try to be positive. I also learned from her that getting out of complex needs practice. At her second comment, she concretely explained how we practice for getting out of the complex. Just then, I had to make a speech. So, I practiced hard than ever. When I practiced to express my thought, I always tried to do with a clear consciousness of her advice. After the speech, I was content with speaking without complex. I thank to her (of course other authors for my essay.) 3. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS -- Why -- A3: The best comment I wrote was "Re: my hometown"because the comment contained a important meaning. I had thought desert is near death place. From media, I have known vast desert, disappearing the rainforest and famine. So, desert has only negative image for me. But this essay reversed the stereotype. She said"When we go to the desert, we are very happy there, especially at night" in the essay, "my hometown"So, I had to improve my stereotype by writing the comment. So, this comment was very important for me. 4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays -- Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? A4: All essay described its own personality. All personality was brilliant treasure. I learned from them how I had to express myself and how I made them read easily. I usually don't express myself in front of people except for my close friends. But on BBS, I can do without constraint. I learned from Mr. Satoshi Haruta to express oneself. He wrote about his Afro. He said"if my hair ware not AfroŽ¡Ž¢ I would not been as impressive as now."Oh~ he is a interesting person. His essay provoked me to write "NOH~ do you relax yourself?"I wanted to express myself by my character. Secondly, the best essay I like is "Be happy"in "what is true happiness" by Ms. Harue at SFC. I think happiness is always around us. But when I image what I will be in the future, I am apt to hope to get big happiness. So, her essay reminded me that happiness is always around me. She gave readers examples of happiness in the essay. I think these examples describe her personality. Flowers were blooming at their best. Her personality boomed at their best in her essay! And her way of writing was very attractive. The introduction made me come to think of happiness, the body was composed "CertainlyŽ¡ŽÄ ButŽ¡ŽÄ."and I could satisfy the conclusion. It was comfortable to read easily. I learned the technique of writing from her. 5. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the processand purpose of writing -- And "situated" in such an interactive writing environment, how has your act of writing been facilitated -- A5: I had cared grammar since preparation for entrance examination and I didn' t like writing in English very much. But since I have had this class, I become to make much of telling people what I think. Especially I tried to make much of titles and body. I tried to devise attractive titles. I think titles are looked at instantly. So, titles have to be outstanding. Next, writing bodies of essaies were very difficult for me. I wanted to write many things in the essay. But people usually understand one thing rather than many things. So, I want to write new essays which address one theme per one esssy in next semester. Body holds an important place to attract readers. I think Mr. Shujiro Ide tried to make full body. He wrote essays with his passion. he said "I wants to be big humanly" in "To be Big" I strongly agree with him. He proved me think about my future. And in "what's happiness"He also provoked me to say"thank you" to my neighbors. I am impressed that he wrote his essays which appeal to one's mind. Secondly, Writing comments is also difficult because I have to keep a balance between evaluation and my opinion ( Involuntarily, I am in the habit of writing only my opinion.) and if I have a different opinion against an essay, I have to make the phrase which he/her and I respect each other's opinions . This is good experience for me. . Finally, The system of this class is very solid. Olympics and Evaluation drove me to write better essays. The best thing is we can communicate all over the world. In a essay by Mr. Ibraham from Saudi Arabia. I could share two cultures. He said"People in Saudi Arabia usually eat sea food because they think it healthy foe themselves"I was little surprised because Japanese also think so. We can find connection among Asia. Thank to Internet ( I concern about digital divide ), people live all over the world can share each other cultures, histories, technologies and so on. 6. In order to make this class more enjoyable and educationally valuable, how do you think this class should be improved? Please write some constructive suggestions for the next semester. A6: I would like to submit two suggestions. About writing comment on BBS in the classroom: We write comments only at home. When we write them in the classroom, we do it as homework or study ( of course study but ) but if we do it at home, we can feel we write letters to one's close friends. About writing comments in the classroom: I suggest that we don't writing comments in the classroom, we do other things. For example, you give us a theme which is interesting, we research it form Internet and discuss it in a circle. Finally, we each make report about the theme. A theme per a month. It will be more pleasant if you show us movie and video from TV about the theme. Writing Free CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Yuuko Hayashi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: cqe15616@nifty.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 31 06:00 INTENDED READERS: I want people who read my essay or whom I wrote a comment on to read. Ofcourse those who is not know me is welcome!! In this class I wrote English without being afraid of making mistakes. I didn' t think I want to get good marks or use difficult words. I came to think I want to write essays that is easy to show my feeling and comfortable to read. It was enjoyable for me to search for a good term for my feelings. I could find great pleasure in that. Of course reading others' essays was fun. Many ideas in essays and comments of you made my eyes open to the other world. I want to give special thanks to all of you. 1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? The essay I like the most is "Our death". The other day, I handed in "Please accept their love!!" as my favorite essay. Certainly I LIKE it the most. But it is "Our death" that is able to say as my DEAR essay. I received many evocative comments on this essay. And they made me think deeply about this problem. I could also consider whether my old notion is really justice or not. Whether my idea have some prejudice or not. With that could add some new idea on it. I put on weight (around my brain) through this essay. 2. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? My favorite one that I received on the BBS is a comment on my essay "Our death" from Shinobu Kanemoto. First, this is the very comment that gives me a new perspective. He said in his comment that >I think that "death" is a part of life. And he explained the reason for this as quoting my idea in my essay. Thus I could accept his idea of this readily. This new idea broadened my narrow view of things a bit. Second, as many of other comments, this one also said his opinion clearly. Partly he agreed with me, but partly he doesn't. I think I need a lot of opposite opinions. They always pitch a question to me. His definite idea made me think much. The one that I like the most among those I received in the classroom is a comment on my essay "Our death" from Taiju Masuma. In discussion, our viewpoint was almost in harmony. And besides he also mentions his original idea. He said life is beautiful. He said > I think, "Death is meaningful." If we regard our life as important, we should think, "Death is not only terrible, but also important" This notion of him was added to my mind as a new viewpoint. In my class I think that giving a comment after having discussion is more effective. 3. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS -- Why -- My favorite one among those I have written on the BBS is a comment on "Dear Mr. Perfect" which is written by Hiroki Futatsugi. In this essay, I could reveal my bare sincere feelings. I think maybe somewhat in his essay evoke my passion of something. I expressed my feeling and idea about his essay just as it was. (But I might write my idea too selfishly.) And I could get his comment on this comment of mine. I was grad to receive his opinion about my comment. I could know how correctly I read his mind. I mistake it a bit. (He doesn't think Mr. Perfect as a real image as I thought.) Anyway I could wrote my bear idea and hear his opinion about it. I was satisfied!! 4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? The most stimulative essay that I have read is "Right to live" categorized into The Death Penalty: Should it be abolished? This essay was written by YOSHIDA, Taro (SFC student). In short I have learned > no one has the right to plunder the right to live from anyone even if it is the criminal. I was thinking the death penalty should not be abolished before. This notion is based on "An eye for an eye, a tooth for tooth" But I found that this is thinking with emotion. He said in his essay that > people should think this issue without any emotion, such as anger to the criminal or frustrations of family. Now I can understand. Our emotion often deprives our fair eyes. When there is any emotion, our judge varies depending on this emotion. That is not truth. He also said that >The role of nation is to protect the right to live for everyone, and it is not to take the right to live from someone. Yes, murder produces nothing even if it is executed by a nation. 5,6. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? At first, I could hardly recognize existence of readers. So I wrote essay rather selfishly. But as I wrote more essays and receive comments, I was gradually aware of thatŽ¡Ž½readers read my essayŽ¡Ž½. Many of readers pointed to my detailed expression. Sometimes readers' keen eyes made me come to my senses. So I came to be not able to be careless. I always felt readers' pointed eyes. I couldn't look away from them. Like this my attention to readers got increased. 7. In order to make this class more enjoyable and educationally valuable, how do you think this class should be improved? Please write some constructive suggestions for the next semester. Well, so far I enjoy this class fully as it is. I satisfied with this class. But if I should suggest some new ideaŽ¡ŽÄ. shall we have a discussion more large group? We have discussed among tow or three people. We get used to it. So I think more large discuss can be more interesting. Not only useful but also enjoyable class! CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Okushi Kenichi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ken-@jk9.so-net.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 31 01:08 INTENDED READERS: To my friends who pass the same time and share each feeling or thinking in our classes. Thank you! And good-bye! Introduction: I feel it that the time pass very quickly. Of course, that is also reason why the class in a university have 3 month. But the time that I study this class is very short truly. I want our juniors choice this class. If they do it, they also feel the form of English class. Q1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? My most favorite essay is "A chance in daily life!" There are some reasons. Firstly, it is my first essay. "First" is very memorial specially. Secondly, though this episode "he told me that he was the lawyer and he said me that he thanked for my mail." is very important for me, but I have not tell it with anyone. Thirdly, I write this essay very easily, but I think I can say what I want to say straightly. So, I like this essay. Q2. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? It is "Re: What do you want to be like?" by Hiroaki Terauchi on BBS. His comment is very powerful and thought provoking, for example, "I want attack the adult world as long as I can possible with this perspective." His opinion does not much me well, but I enjoy discussion with him. I think it was very exiting and valuable discussion truly. Q3. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS? Why? It is "" to Taiki Masuma in the classroom. I think that I can contrast and compare our opinion between his and mine in the comment. I can feel write what I want to say then in short time. And I enjoyed talking with him very much. So, it is my most favorite comment. Q4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays -- Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? I feel much to an essay "Clever juvenile" by Muneyuki Hasimoto. Because he suggested me an opinion that it is I don't think. It is "What I think strongly is that modern juveniles know they will be treated softly under the present Juvenile Crime Act, which is an incentive for them to commit crime." Other hands, my opinion is "I don't think much that to apply criminal laws to juvenile decreases their criminals." It is very interesting, that though his opinion and my opinion start to think at same point, each conclusion is different perfectly. I feel lively communication strongly. Q5.6. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? I think that reactions are most enjoyable. It is important "the catch ball of word". So, I tried to reply for the comment to me as many as I can. I am happy to read comment to my opinions and insist by many people. It is very valuable experience in my future. Because I think it is difficult to say different opinion each. Q7. In order to make this class more enjoyable and educationally valuable, how do you think this class should be improved? Please write some constructive suggestions for the next semester. I think that the class needs more people. Probably, people of my class (Tuesday 3,4 in Sophia) are too few. To enjoy various communications, it is better that about 20 people. And 3~4 people par a group discuss each other. Surely, it is difficult problem to increase people. In addition, I have wanted to read an essay by the teacher. It is very interesting for students what the professors in universities think. Now, a Little CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Mitsuhito Uchida SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: m-utida@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 30 16:53 INTENDED READERS: I have written this essay for a person who takes the writing class or is interested in the writing class now To be honest, I didn't like this class at first. I don't know how to use a computer, and I was anxious about that. But, I was accustomed to this class, and my mind changed. I like a little this class now. 1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written -- Why -- A. I like "A Happening" the most. Because this essay was my first essay. I have never written an essay in English, so I had the feeling of achievement and was very happy when I finished writting my first essay. The feeling was very impressive and I remember it now. 2. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS -- Why -- A. The most favorite comment in the classroom is Yuko Hushimi's reply to "Smoke by Oneself". She has written that she could understand smoker's mind a little. I knew that people who didn't smoke can sometimes understand smoker's mind. The comment I like the most on the BBS is Youko Miyahara's "Re: Having a pet". This comment is based on her experience, and I think she could understand my mind very much. I was glad that others understand my sorrow. 3. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS -- Why -- A. It is "Re:Technology and human". I wrote about my happiness in this comment. If I didn't wrote this comment, I didn't think about happiness. I got a chance to think about happiness through this comment. 4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays -- Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? A. The most impressive essay is "a happy AFRO life(category: IF..... )". This essay was written by Satoshi Haruta. He is SFC student. The reasons I became to be with Afro are as follows. For the first time I had my hair permed Afro, I like hip hop music and I wanted my friends to laugh at me. So I did as I wished. For the second time I did, the hairdresser who is taking charge of me misunderstood my wish. When I read this paragraph, I laughted. I thought the auther must be an entertainer. I wanted to read the following paragraph and I started reading the following paragraph. But as I read, I found that he wasn't a mere entertainer. If my hair were not Afro, I would have not been as impressive as now. And I might not have made friends who like hip hop. If so, my happy life would not be. Without Afro, I can't have the courage to talk to strangers and teachers, and I can't behave optimistic. Afro always gives me courages and chances and good feelings. What a benefit hair style Afro is!! Don't you think so? I think Afro changed my campus life happy. With Afro you might get a wonderful life. Let's Afro! Let's enjoy your happy AFRO life!! I was very surprised at the unexpected development. I learned from his essay that we must not judge a person by his/her appearance. His essay was not only homorous but also interesting. I think a surprise makes an essay attractive. So, I like "a happy AFRO life" the most. 5Ž¡Ž¦6. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing -- A. When we were high school student, we memorized difficult words. But, when we communicate with someone in writing or speaking, we don't need difficult words. Through this writing class, I think I learned to write sentences by using easier words. 7. In order to make this class more enjoyable and educationally valuable, how do you think this class should be improved? Please write some constructive suggestions for the next semester. A. In last semester, two students talked to each other about their essays. But I think the talking should be done by three persons. I think this makes the talking more lively. Communicating and Writing CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Yuko Fushimi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: fushimi0@mba.sphere.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 29 10:51 INTENDED READERS: I wrote this essay for all people who join in this BBS community site and the class "Writing for pleasureŽ¡ŽÉ in Sophia and SFC. I don't know how to express my feeling nowŽ¡ŽÄ To be honest, in my heart, there are two feeling is mixed. Those are happy feeling and sad one. This class is too difficult for me, and I desperately kept up with it! So, I'm glad to finish the first semester. However, this class also improved my ability to write English. In this meaning, I'm grateful for this class!! 1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written -- Why -- It's "Free Trip". Because I could express my opinion most correctly and enjoyably! This is also the reason why I have chosen is that I was given many interesting and useful comments. I enjoyed exchanging our opinion each other. For example, Mr. Muneyuki Hashimoto wrote in his comment, "I think my trip widened my horizons as well as you. And now, if I have a opportunity, I also want to go abroad again. Because I'm sure that the trip will make me improve." I deeply sympathized his opinion. We enjoyed sharing our experiences and feeling. 2. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS -- Why -- The essay I like the most in the classroom is "Re : Free Trip" by Namiko Kaminuma. Because, she came to be interested in traveling on free trip. I was so glad that my essay moved her mind and She agreed with her. The essay I like the most on the BBS is "Re : Fashion such as Uniform" by Gene Sutton-&-Stacy Pridemore. There are two reasons. First, they commented to me from over the sea! I was simply surprised and impressed. Secondly, their comment gave me a good impression. I was grateful for pointing out my mistakes frankly. I was also glad that my opinion has got through to them! 3. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS -- Why -- It's the second comment on "The power of MOTHER" by Keiji Takahashi. Because, we could exchange our opinions several times. His essay and comment stimulated my opinion, So I could show him more definite plan in my comment (for example, to make a new system about working parents). 4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays -- Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? "The Value Of Death", What I'm thinking most about, by Daiju Masuma, Sophia University.This essay gave me a good chance to think about "Death". He wrote "I don't want to say "Death is beautiful." I don't want to die. But I want to think "Life is beautiful." This is why I think that death is not only terrible but also meaningful." I felt this opinion is very fresh and interesting. He says if a person's life is beautiful and meaningful, his/her death is of great value to himself/herself, too! I think that his way of thinking about death is positive and original. However, his essay isn't depressing at all. I also attracted to this point of his essay. 5. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing -- First, I was aware of writing what I want to tell the readers, is a precondition for writing a good essay. And it is also important to choose a topic which the readers interested in. Secondly, It is the point to explain giving some concrete examples. Because an essay, which is full of practical examples, is very easy to understand. The third point is having an original point of view. It gives my essays a great charm. I'm take care for these points when I write essays. 7. In order to make this class more enjoyable and educationally valuable, how do you think this class should be improved? Please write some constructive suggestions for the next semester. Ž£ŽÉthink that we should make every effort to write good essays. For example, being interested in various kinds of fields, or collecting information and exchange them. If we could have a time exchanging information, our essay would be more meaningful. The conclusion is that I enjoyed this class very much. Communicating and Writing in English give me a lot of useful knowledge and experiences. In the next semester, I'm going to be more positive and enjoy studying English. taking 3 times CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Keiji Takahashi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99542kt@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 28 00:17 INTENDED READERS: Mr. Mizuno who made this class and is the very teacer of this class. I didn't write this essay for anyone except my teacher I had taken this "Interactive Writing" three times! I'm more familiar with the name IW than current one. Why I took this class as less as three times results from one reason. I want to USE English. I want to speak it, write it, communicate with it, because I learn from Mr. Mizuno it is the best way to archive English. There were 4 students in my class this semester. This is the least number that I have ever taken. But it became the most memorable class, because we, including Mr. Mizuno, had troubles and got over them together. The classmates are my companies. It is wonderful point of small class. So here is my 3rd last essay. I try to write my thoughts. 1.Q Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? A. This semester I wrote 4 essays, which is less than every semester. My favorite one is the second essay "When I got lost in KoreaŽ¡ŽÄ" Last winter vacation, I had a trip to Seoul in Korea. There happened what I had never expected. So I decide to shear the experience with IWC mates. But the reason I chose this essay best is I like the style to write. Before writing I want to break the usual way of essay. Because it is "essay", anything is OK. I mean I don't have to write like a logical article that consists of 4 parts. I don't like the style. I want to write in more casual style like a novel. Easy and familiar style. I thought over and use "" and quotation the real talking. "Here we are!" We at last arrivedŽ¡ŽÄ "It's alright" I saidŽ¡ŽÄ By changing the lines, I aimed to make it easy to read. And it meant the change of situation. I guess I can use the "" effectively. I could give the rhythm to the essay. I think I made the new style. 2.Q Which comment do you like the most among those you received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? A. In the classroom there was few times to talk because we talked once a class. The most impressive one is talks with Shinobu Kanemoto about my first essay. He was also belonging to sport club activity, Basketball club. So I had him understood my idea well. We discuss the importance of club activity and what we achieved from high school club activity. We said at last the activity influenced what we are today very much. Moreover, he has been to my high school for a game. It made our talk heated up. We had a lot of fun. The best comment I received on BBS is the comment to my essay "The power of MOTHER" from Mayu Inoue. When I choose a topic, I always try to choose the one about which I think I have an original idea. I mean I write an essay predicting the opposite comments. In this essay "the power of MOTHER" I wrote "women, please give up working after childbirth." predicting women would oppose it. So what was the result? It was true some women oppose saying she didn't want to quit a job. But also it was the woman that supported my essay a lot. In her comment, she said this. "The connection between mothers and babies are more important than that of fathers and babies. I also think that mothers should always be with the babies while they are little. It is important that the mothers keep showing their love toward babies to make them relax". The reason why this comment is strong is that this is her experience. This is her opinion through her experience. "My mother could work even when my sisters and I were little, but she didn't work to take care of us all day. When I became about ten years old, she started as job as a teacher. I appreciate her staying with us when we were little because that way, I could spend a lot of time with her and could learn a lot from her." When I read this comment, I had more confidence with my essay because her experience proved my idea. What's more, I was very pleased to know the writer was female. She is sure to stop working until her child grows up enough like her mother did. 3.Q Which comment do you like the most among those you wrote on the BBS? Why? A. The best comment I wrote on the BBS is a comment to "Japanese Viewpoint" written by Namiko Kaminuma. In this comment, I'm satisfied I expressed my idea from various points. For example, I wrote about why Japanese companies tend to use Alphabets to their own products. I'm sure I could let her know the new viewpoint. And in the comment I quoted a sentence well. This is like the follow. "Why don't sony use Japanese language for your products?" He answered, "because customer don't have good images if it is in Japanese." This quotation showed the real reason because it was from the very Company. It supported my idea well. 4.Q. Which tree benefited the most from your interactive comments? Why? A. It is the tree of my essay "The power of MOTHRE." Why I think so is because I knew the female's viewpoint about this topic. Through their comments, I noticed a big social problem behind this topic. I said only "women should quit a job for child". But from the point of women, if they quitted a job once it is hard to get a job again because of current society system. The coronet system doesn't allow women to give child-care leaves easily. So as long as the system exists, women hesitated to quit a job, even if they want to be always with baby. My idea was deepened by women's viewpoints that I had never thought. That's why I chose this tree. 5.Q You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? A. All people sometimes are negative. So I am. There is not Perfect man. The author, Hiroki Futatuki, of "Dear Mr.Perfect" wanted to say so. He said some who read the essay advised to him "there is no perfect man." or "I don't want to be perfect." But I think they are not what he wants to say. I learned 2 things from the essay. First is that "I'm not special. Everyone thinks like him, too." Secondly be careful what the author really want to say, read not the word simply, but the aim deeply. He knows there is no perfect man, and he doesn't want to be perfect. He said what everybody thought at least once by a paradox. He wrote this: "I always think of you when I feel inferiority to myself" I think everybody feel inferiority to oneself. So it is natural. That's what he wanted to tell. He represented our thoughts and aim to cheer us up saying it is natural. The author is my classmate, so I know him. He isn't perfect, but I know he isn't pessimistic. It is true that he depressed sometimes, but he is rather optimistic. 6,7.Q A. Every comment I got made me happy. But to tell the truth, almost all comments are boring because they just said, "I agree with you" "I understood you." I don't want to hear it. I want to know the opposite idea. So I tried to write like "it is partly true, butŽ¡ŽÄ" being aware of the existence of readers. I wrote comments to the essays that I can't agree with. It is interesting to do so. By doing in the way, I'm sure we can notice which part is weak point in our essay. 8.Q What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? "This class is evolving even now." I felt so when I took this class since 2 years ago. The most stuff is IWC. Last 2 times, there is only writing marathon. But now it has a lot of system, like partner or comment Olympics or peer evaluation. So I recommend this class to not only the new comer but also students who have ever taken it. Suggestion 1.Write the reason for peer essay/ comment evaluation. I got some poor evolution from some one, but I can't know why did he feel so, or I can't know where is bad point. So why don't you write down the reason with the evolution? 2.And let us know each evolution. We know someone evolve our essays but we can't know the point for each. We only know the total points. 3. Make IWC students' introduction page. Putting on one's pictures and some information, we have more familiars to the students. 4.Use partner system more effectively When I checked partner lists of some students, there were some that don't have any. As for me, I couldn't understand how to use it till the middle of the semester. I register 2 students for my partners, but nobody chose me. It made me sad. I think some people don't know how to use it well. Or they don't think what is the advantage to use partner system. So I have a suggestion. As I write on No3, first make an introduction page. On the page we can know which topic or theme they are interested in. Considering it, we can make partner with each other easily. Or until students are get used of it, it is better that teacher makes partners. With 3 or 4-partner group, we do a project at least once a semester. That is to discuss and make a conclusion about any topic. When Phil came to our class and talked about the religion, he finally defined what the religion is as a conclusion. I think we should do it on the BBS with their partners. Because they all have the same interest in a topic. How about this idea? The enjoy CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Hiroaki Terauchi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: zinai@cat.zero.ad.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 28 00:05 INTENDED READERS: Those who enjoyed mizuno kunitarou's class and want to share the memory of the class and want to return this classagain This is the last essay of this class. Through this class I have gotten some new insights and some perspectives. So I would like to introduce how I felt then and how much I was changed. Because I think this class was not ordinate class and worth more than one semester I think. 1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written -- Why ? Ž¢ŽÍ I like my first essay very much. Because that gave me a new insight through writing essay. The new one is that people who is becoming an adult has some worries. But I thought then what is the use of dwelling on the useless idea that people should lose one's humorous sense or childish things when become an adults. I thought then, on the contrary, I want to become a cool adult who can show us funny behavior and make us happy and that is the man real cool adult. I want to make me read this 10 years later. And I want him to contrast this my ideal man with what he is. If he could make it, that would be the best good points of this class. And I really hope so. 2. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS -- Why? Ž¢ŽÍ CLASS: I like the Midorikawa's comment about free infatuation. He suggested me a new insight that as long as you can control it we can have the right to enjoy it. Or you might hurt someone's feeling to you. I was shocked and cured about my past hurt. Because what he said was the answer which I have been searched. And because of his opinion I could have cured what I had done. Were it not for his opinion, I would have still perplexed sometimes. BBS Ž¢ŽÍ sometimes someone gave me such as very stimulating comment as followsŽ¡ŽÄ Ž¡çª'm afraid that this is wide of the mark, I think the study is just a study, so there is no "real study" and "untrue study". Sorry, it is not so important in this topic, but it relates to my thoughts. When I got such a comment which means that I cannot understand or what you said was even fault, I was irritated. But through discussion as followsŽ¡ŽÄ Ž¡ç£y the way, you gave me such a "PUNCH" like this.. . Ž¡çµhis is my turn. Are you ready to be knocked? (Of course this is a joke.) I would like to let you know that in this line I don't aimed the meaning of the real as "true" but as "realistic".Usually we study the study for the career. I come to enjoy making myself understood in English. When we got to some conclusion finally, then we could make even a friendship. Especially the comment between me and Tetsutaro Iwaoka was so enjoyable because of our novel jokes and clear opinions. 3. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS -- Why ? Ž¢ŽÍ I like the comment of "the energy" the best as followsŽ¡ŽÄ Year! I think so too! Because the proberb says "A friend in need is the friend indeed." Seemigly you think so too. Since I have gone to the college, I have met many friends. To my sad but also there are many only superficial friends. If there were a high school, I would not contact with surrounding people with such a way. Why? May be this is the my development but I don't like this. Because through this comment we can understand how we think about friendships and how we should be. I think because of our an experience that we had gone to only men school we could share our thoughts easily. But with this process I could rechecked about my friendships and I could remind of how I thought when I was in high school. 4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays -- Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? Ž¢ŽÍ I thought at first as followsŽ¡ŽÄ So I just want to ask you "Should we need lose these to become an adult?" It may be rather hard to us to be an adult with that. But I don't want anything as an adult if I can't gain without lose such a thing. And in turn Hiromi gave me such asŽ¡ŽÄ You are very strong! I am sorry that I am not as strong as you probably. But in addition, if I find the something very important for me, Surely, I do not hesistate to lose something to have. Needless to say, before I decide to choice which one, I contrast them carefully as I can. As I wrote to you before, I know that something you think important is very important, and that people who have them are respectable. But also, I think that something to have now is not only best. However, I continue to value good points to have now as I can. When I received this comment, I realized that like a child the way which is the best to me isn't the best for me in the future. And Vice Versa. It was a very common idea but I too much believe in what I said I was blind about more broad insight about thinking way. What Hiroami advised me was not novel one but made me realized about new perspective that what is worth is not worth ever and ever. 5. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the processand purpose of writing -- 6. You have received a lot of lively responses to your essays through the interactions with your classmates and those joining in the BBS from all over the world. "Situated" in such an interactive writing environment, how has your act of writing been facilitated ? I would like to first question(5). Through this class I really felt that if people write about something sincerely or with fun Every one who read the essay / comment always felt or inspired by this. And at least gives some curiosity about it. In this class the writing which I wrote with my hole heart was gotten many many comments with my honor. So I came to try to write an essay as possible as I can with my best ability. 7. What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? The point which distinguishes this class from this class is that this class has every point we need in the study. I mean reading which gives me new in sight speaking which sustain one's opinion writing which cultivate our skill of ability. Other courses usually lack some of those. This class was really tough for me but after going abroad I want back this class And enjoy again. Thank you. THIS CLASS FOR ME CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Hiromi Midorikawa SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: hi_rochang@mbh.nifty.com WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00568hm DATE & TIME: July 27 21:33 INTENDED READERS: I want person joined my Interactive Writing Community, classmates always talk fun with me, teacher always wached intently to read this last essay. Four months has passed since I took this class. I wrote many comments and essays and exchanged for idea with readers for this period of four months. Though I didn't know them well at first, I know classmates well now through the exchange of essays and comments. I was very very interested in joining the class and writing or reading in English. My heart is warm now somehow or other. So I want to answer the 7 questions with tender heart for teacher, my classmates, readers and my own from n 1.Q. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? A .I like "TO SPEND HAPPY TIME" best. It is because I can express sentimental feeling, anxiety and my strong decision. And a lot of readers wrote me comments because I wrote this essay with all my heart. I always think I want to spend happy time and everybody maybe thinks so. Let's be happy!!! 2.Q. Which comment do you like the most among those you received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? A . I like "Re.TO SPEND HAPPY TIME" YOSHIDA, Taro(SFC) wrote on the BBS and comment "I want to stop smoking from today!" Youko Miyahara wrote in the class room best. About the former it is because he said me "pure". I was glad to hear this word simply. And because I know new good idea about "Forever". So I can think more deeply to spend happy time with my precious partner like that it is wonderful and the best that he/she is the suitable person for me and I am for him/her whenever we make a progress each other. And about latter it is because she wrote me a full of paper and her comment and talking with her is fun for me very well. I hope her to stop smoke for herself really. Thank you. 3.Q. Which comment do you like the most among those you wrote on the BBS? Why? A. I like comment for Hiroaki Terauchi about "TO SPEND HAPPY TIME". It is because I could write this comment with happy and warm feeling. I think it is very important to write a comment or letter for classmate or friend with these. Don't you think so? And because I always think about this theme I could wrote well, deeply and frequently as me. 5.Q. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others '. What did you learn from reading others' essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? A.title: SINGLE LIFE CATEGORY: Social phenomena AUTHOR: Yuka Tanaka SCHOOL: SFC If I mention the essay I have learned best, I want to take this. She is SFC student and one of my classmates. I knew that she had very strong thought about marriage when I talked with her. However I want to marry someday, I can understand that she want live single life. It is first time for me that I can understand each other naturally though we had different ideas. Maybe her english was written well. So I rethought deeply about marriage. It was very good for my future.I will not marry just "because I want to be happy" or "loneliness is sad". 6.Q. This class has made its motto, ¼ÔWrite to be READ¼Õ. Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? 7.Q You have received a lot of lively responses to your essays through the interactions with your classmates and those joining in the BBS from all over the world. ¼ÔSituated¼Õ in such an interactive writing environment, how has your act of writing been facilitated? A. I often wrote in English during I have motto, "write to be READ" for this four months. At first I became to take care a stage, for example introduction,body,conclusion. Secondly, I became to take care cutting sentences in order to read easily. Thirdly, I became to take care don't use unintelligible words and grammer.. . So, gradually I became to write look like spoken language. I thought "WRITE IN ENGLISH" very firm in some respects, but what it is easy to understand for me is look like spoken language. So I have been able to write frequently since I have motto "Write to be READ". Of course, it is important that we arrange what we should write as well as we can. 8.Q. What do you think makes this class special? Please write a letter of recommendation for the newcomers next semester. A. This class was very good for me. If you wrote essays or comments in good order every week during you always have motto "Write to be READ", you can get used to write in English frequently. In addition to that, this class has very good atmosphere. I made friends with most of students this class. And I can understand all kinds of ideas of all kinds of category by exchange essays. It is fun for me because we rarely have the chance we exchange ideas each other these days. I want to take this class next semester. Let's join Interactive Writing Community with me! Awkward CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Eiichi Takeda SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99554et@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 27 16:00 INTENDED READERS: Everyone who react by IWC system, who make this system, who reads my essay and reply for me. the persons who got pain and joy for this lesson -- I think that I want all to read. From beginning to end, my expression and concern were turned to man's way that should be. It is my theme how man should live between rationality and irrational nature. And I can find other expression by other people. They are commune for me. I want to communicate someone by such style --- by language and mind. Q1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? My best essay is "On the edge of communication." For me, it is because the most earnest theme is treated. The theme is "communication and dialogue." Why do people talk each other? --- If it carries out, how can a man send the heart? --- by language. I often think about it. And I want to get such language. Q2. Which comment do you like the most among those you received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? I think it is written by Shinobu Kanemoto replying to my essay on the web. He/She write his/her own experience in grandfather and write about communication and word. Shinobu wrote "maybe he was happy not by talking but by being with someone." This phrase expressed me. I often forget such mind --- however I won't forget it. Q3. Which comment do you like the most among those you wrote on the BBS? Why? It is the comment replying for "Young people today are irreligious?" by Nobuya Kobayashi. Since it was clarified to communication called religion. It is also the author's favor. His problem institution and logic were helpful also for themselves. Q4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others. What did you learn from reading others essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? They made me know the diversity of others' awareness of the issues. For example, "Young people today are irreligious?" by Nobuya Kobayashi treat about Japanese conscious of religion. It is also whether rationality can compensate the domain of irrational nature with it. Although I considered that, it had not expressed in the sentence. Q5,6. This class has made its motto, Write to be READ¼£ Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? I understand that it is difficult to write such an essay writing to be read. Because, in the first place, it is the theme which is well-informed about someone's awareness of the issues. Second, express it for your own style. And third, its essay needs interesting also for others. Simple is best and most hard. Q7. What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? I like this class since it is one to write that it reads. Each fact feedbacks counterpart. It is effective and effectiveness often rise up interesting. This class style is probably applicable to a reading circle etc. Thanks for everyone! See you. Express Myself CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Tetsutaro Iwaoka SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00103ti@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 27 13:59 INTENDED READERS: Who doesn't know what is this class, and who are confusing which class can be benefitable for his or her English skill in SFC. I could touch others thought about various themes. At the same time, I could know what I was thinking. I do not know whether it was good or not good for me, but it gave deep insight to me. Q1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? My first essay "Free Thoughts and Discussions" has big mean for me. The story of that is "Don't be afraid to express your own idea if the idea is accused or make some mistakes then". When I wrote this essay, I didn't have particular person who fits for this essay. But I had taken part in this course, I noticed that this essay pointed me out. Q2. Which comment do you like the most among those you received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? In the classroom it is about animal experiments written by Yuka Tanaka. I could not express my thought about it cleverly, but she could understand. Perhaps her essay was similar to my essay, so we could share own thoughts each other. Q3. Which comment do you like the most among those you wrote on the BBS? Why? Now, I answer Q2 and Q3. On the BBS, I and a student of Sophia made Interactive Communication. Almost all case which I write comments, I agree with his or her essay. The student said," I suggest that everybody has the right to decide it freely. All women choose which family names do they take after they married." I said about it "All men and womenŽ¡Ž¦Ž¡Ž¦Ž¡Ž¦Ž¡Ž¦Ž¡Ž¦". And "feminists are captured by old-fashioned idea tightly." I was afraid to be refuted emotionally. She replied very straight comment. That comment showed her heart I think. Q4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others' . What did you learn from reading others' essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? There are many essays on IWC web, and each of them has incentive and provocation. That BBS is able to be use by anyone. So sometimes I get a worse comment from some one. I got angry very much such a time, but I make it a rule to think about the comment " The world is vastŽ¡ŽÄ." One essay reminded me of my memory. It is bullying. When I was a junior high school student, one student died of bullying. It was a big thing for me. I think that I should not forget about this. Other's essay gave me fragments of memory and pieces of new information. Those are very precious for me. Q5,6. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? Frankly speaking, I could not have such a room that to think to be read when I wrote my own essay. In addition to that, I wrote 4 essays in this course, all of that are abstract to make clear conclusion. So my essay was difficult to be read and given a comment by someone. But many of IWC members have similar impression in some topics. Q7. What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? Reading, Writing, Speaking English is very effective to improve our English skill. In this class, we can try to do all of them at once. We have many reading chance at the class and on the BBS. We can write our own idea anytime. Furthermore, the "speaking" in this class is real conversations. There are no document, you think that how you get across to your partner on the spot. It just fit to educational concept of SFC, maybe. My true feeling now CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Youko Miyahara SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s98956ym@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s98956ym DATE & TIME: July 27 13:20 INTENDED READERS: All of them who took this English class through spring semester and had trouble in wrinting essays and comments and Mr.Mizuno who is always gentle. I spent long time to write my essays and comments through this semester. So I am sad a little that this essay is the last work. (At the same time I am very happy.) I got many things from this class. For example an opportunity to talk about serious topics, new friends who isn't the same age, and strict opinion and advice to my thought. So this class was so meaningful for me. I want my comments and discussion with me made this class for my classmates meaningful. 1Q. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? 1A. I like "I want to be a wife and a mother" the most. I wrote this essay to someone who I had never met, and I also could make sure of my dream as I wrote. When I decided to write about my dream, I thought it seemed to be the easiest topic to write at first. But when I started to write about it, I was puzzled. I couldn't write. " What do I want to be actually?" I didn't know. No. I didn't spend enough time to think about my dream. So I thought. After I thought and thought, I wrote the result in this essay. What I wrote in other essay was what I had thought for a long time. However I didn't think about my concrete dream until I decided to write about it. So this essay is most meaningful as for me. 2Q. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? 2A. Shigeko Nanbu and me decided to take this class together. We have been friends for four years. That is to say, we have known each other since we entered this university. She knows my daily life, health, family and love to some degree. She wrote in her comment (Re: I want to be a wife and a mother!) "I think you will be a good mother. Very good mother." I am very happy to get my dream say like that especially from her. Because this essay took long time and needed some courage to write. 3Q. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS? Why ? 3A. I think I could write my opinion frankly in "Re: If I were a father". I wanted to tell him only to share one's own time with children don't mean teach the hints. However his father passed away, he became a person who could have the thought like that about his future children. So his father is one example and gave him the hints enough. But on the BBS to tell as I think is so difficult. Because my English is not so good and I don't know him! But in this comment I could tell him how I thought about my father frankly and honestly. So I really want him to understand my thought about a father. 4Q. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? 4A.I don't have many boy friends. I always talk to my girl friends about my daily life and problems. And so do they. That's why I don't have many opportunities to hear boy's daily life, problems and so on. So I was very glad to read "To be BIG"in What is your dream?.. . by Syujiro Ide, a KEIO university student. Because I felt as if this essay had made me understand a boy a little. In this essay he said I'm proud of my change, and I want to grow up to be more "BIG". I think a girl will not say and think like that. After I read this essay, I thought if we (a boys and a girl) could exchange our own thought more each other, we could find many things which each of us doesn't have and think nice. 5Q. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? 6Q. You have received a lot of lively responses to your essays through the interactions with your classmates and those joining in the BBS from all over the world. "Situated" in such an interactive writing environment, how has your act of writing been facilitated? 5A.6A. On the BBS, sometimes the readers couldn't understand my essay. I think I may have not understood their essay. Sometimes their comments didn't hit the mark. Because our English and our skill of telling our thought isn't so good and we don't know each other, we may have misunderstood each other, I think. But through the interactions with my classmates I could understand the background (For example their character and attitude toward people) which they didn't write in their essay. According to its motto, we may have to write not to get our essay misunderstood even on the BBS. But as for me, I was happy and amused to feel "On the BBS he /she was such a person. But in fact he / she is such a person. They might be different persons." 7Q. What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? 7A. In this class I could have many new friends and they were different grade students. I am a forth grade student now. So in school we rarely have a chance to make new friends. By taking the same class, we could behave toward each other like we were in the same grade. I felt as if I had been back to a second grade student. That's why this class is more wonderful than other classes, I think. Thank youŽ¡ŽªŽ¡ŽªŽ¡Žª My important experience CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Atsuko Shimazaki SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00463as@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~kmizuno DATE & TIME: July 27 12:09 INTENDED READERS: The people who join in this class, and the people who want to join in this class, intereted in joining this class 1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? My most favorite essay is "We don't need any war, any more". Ž­ ŽÈBefore discussing about the atomic bombings, we must not do wars any more." This is my true thought. And I think this word is thought by everybody. Everybody dosen't want to do any wars. I want to say "Do as the true thought! None wants to do wars! ". Ž­Ž¢"When I know the wars in the news, I saw the news like that the bosses of the wars always live and the children, women died." Anytime, anywhere, people who don't have money, power are sacrificed. Who don' t have money, power don't want to do any wars. When the war is over, the bosses can get a lot of money, but if the war win, the victims can't come back to life. Ž­Ž£"But we have been talking to our future descendant about the terribleness, the wars will be decreased, I believe." I don't have experienced any wars. But we can listen to the voices of people who experienced the war by internet, newspaper and so on. We should study about the wars more. Then just only we see the fact by the one side, but also we should see the fact by the other side. And this is connected to that the decrease of the war, I think. 2. Which comment do you like the most among those you received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? Class My favorite comment in the classroom was received from Shinya Yamamoto( Ž»Ž³ŽËŽÜŽ¿Žµ ŽÌñŠ. His comment taught me that what is need more, what we need to teach children. Ž­ ŽÈTeachers and parents are lazy to explain how evil real violence is." I sympathize with his word. My English is so poor, so my essay is too extreme. "We should think about this problem seriously", just this words, this problem won't be solved. I was taught this by him. We should know why this problem is serious, why violence is so evil. To think about those things is needed. Ž­Ž¢"the violence in entertainment is not so evil" But I can't sympathize with this thought. I think that the ability to influence on children can't be denied. I think the violence in this TV program is so evil. the scene that a lot of people hit one person is so evil, I think. Just only we sympathize each other, we need to know the difference of each thoughts. I had seen this problem by the one side, but by knowing the difference of each thoughts, I can see this problem by the other side. BBS My favorite comment in BBS is written by Kaori Yamamoto. She talked about the parents' responsibilities. Ž­Ž¡ We should rather than show children that TV program. Then, children and their parents judge them "yes or no". This words shocked me. I had thought the bad things should be banned. So I was very surprised. But I can understand the word after this. Ž­Ž¢ This opinion come from my experienceŽ¡ŽÄŽ¡ŽÄŽ¡ŽÄŽ¡ŽÄ.. I agree this opinion. If the parents and children judge together, these experiences are good for children. But to do this, we need a lot of time. Like her, parents need to teach their children what is good or bad, how the children should watch TV programs. Her opinion is very interesting. And her experience is very good. The communication among parents and children is very important. The problem of TV programs is very different. But if the parents and children judge together, these problems would not be happen. 3. Which comment do you like the most among those you wrote on the BBS? Why? Re: Our death. This comment on article 'Our death' by Yuuko Hayashi. Euthanasia: Should physician-assisted suicide be legal? This Euthanasia is very difficult problem. If the person have heavy diseases, the person live with heavy pain, he/she will want to die. He/She should be permitted to choice the way to live and die. "There are possibilities to make crimes" I hear that there are some cases who the bad people abuse euthanasia the in the foreign countries. If Japan government permitted the euthanasia, we can't deny the possibilities that those case can happen. The writer wrote that "we can't live without our goal. " I agree with her thought. So much more we must think this problem seriously. This essay give me the chance to think again what is life and death. So this essay and this comment are very important for me. 5. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? The essay is written by Hiroaki Terauchi (Ž»–ÈäÏŽ´ŽÎŽ¼). His major is Policy Management. So usually I don't think the North- South problem seriously. But he think this problem seriously. First he talked about the person who should make a food and meal. But at last, this problem is connected with the North- South problem. "Because there is a prevailed concept that wife is the mirror of the home, and a wife should be "Good" and "Perfect". "Like this case, such as "Good" concept excludes every other unusual strange concepts." We lived in Japan. And Japan is one of the developed countries. And we don't know how rich we are. But our wealth is based on the efforts of the people in the developing countries. Like that we press the role cooking a food and meal on the mothers, we press the role making wealth on the people in the developing countries. 6. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? I must know about a lot of things. I hadn't been interested in the the problems like society, policy and so on before taking this class. Particularly my major is Environment Information. And I don't have the chances to know the problems about society, policy and so on. But by discussing in the classroom, the consciousness that I should know and study about the problem of society, policy and so on. And I think that the porpose of this class for me is to know the existence of the worlds that I don't know. 7. You have received a lot of lively responses to your essays through the interactions with your classmates and those joining in the BBS from all over the world. "Situated" in such an interactive writing environment, how has your act of writing been facilitated? I don't have the experiences that I have been to abroad so much. So I don't have the chances to talk the people in the foreign countries. And I haven't written the BBS making by the people in the foreign countries. But by taking this class, I can join this BBS. And I can know the thoughts of the people in the foreigners. So the writing 8. What do you think makes this class special? Please write a letter of recommendation for the newcomers next semester. I think that this class is so interesting. I can discuss with a lot of people about a lot of serious problems. But if I can say my thought about this class, I want to say that this class should add to something more except reading and discussing the essays. For example, just only watching the TV programs taking the social problems, we should discuss about these programs after Find to new idea and different view. CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Motoki Yasui SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00935my@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 27 11:32 INTENDED READERS: I had talk about essay in IWC class and I don't meed parson who is geve me some comments. And othre english class people who is interested in IWC. I had read to many essay that was writing to other parson. I got and share experience about comment and essay. So I become to I like reading essay and writing comments. And I thought grow up to writing skill and know many words. I want to more communication othre parson. Ž£Ž±Ž¡Ž¥ Which essay do you like the most among those you have written -- Why? The essay what I like the most among those I wrote and titled "Let's play Wheelchair Basketball" This content is talk about the How about wheelchair Basketball? and comments of playing that. That is a little people know to about Wheelchair Basketball. So I want to know many people not only basketball player. And I was help and play Wheelchair Basketball every week. I do not know about people who is interested in Wheelchair Basketball. So I want basketball friends and I want found to help with player. I want to many people who is interested in this sports. I want to friends help and play with this sports. Wheelchair Basketball is exiting. And to think of problem about this sports. Now helper of wheelchair basketball is not enough in Japan. I want satisfied about play basketball all of disabled person. So I have to make known about wheelchair basketball. I hope all of basketball player has interested in wheelchair basketball and help. This essay was strong hope about Wheelchair Basketball. And written on storong my mind. So I like this essay. I want to say "Let's play Wheelchair Basketball" for every one. 2. Which comment do you like the most among those you received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? The one of that I like the most among those Ireceived in the classroom for my essay. That title was"comments of Traffic accident"by Toshihiro Kimata(SFC). This traffic accident was first time.I was very surprised to this accident. This comments was cheer up for me at that time. And Mr.Toshihiro gave me important advice. He is think to deep about japanese traffic problem. So I want to speak with him about traffic in japan onece more. the other hand Ilike the most among those you received in BBS is"Contribute to soscieties"by harue(SFC). I to wheelchair basketball. This essay was my best essay and I want to understand for meny people.I uneasiness about noone understand to my essay at that time. Ms.harue was understood for my essay.and She have to play basketball in junior and high school. I think more and more people, ofcourse including me, should think more what we can do for our societies. I like to this comments. This is simple to say for my mind and strong agree with this idea. Next time we met, let me known more about thin topic. I said "yes!" in my heart. Ms.harue was different time student about IWC class. I want to more speak with Ms.harue. I met one of good friend in this IWC. 3. Which comment do you like the most among those you wrote on the BBS? Why? I like the comment about article is "sence of feeling Art" byYOSHIDA, Taro(SFC) this comment wrote on BBS. Because his content thought beeply feeling Art. I mede panflet and ticket about Aki-matsuri with Mr.taro. He has good Idea about design of all things. And I agree with his content. Especialy sentence of sence of feeling Art is grow up more and more. I want to be cleative artist with he. 4 You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others, What did you learn from reading others' essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what have learned form it? I don't have read other student's essay ever this class. I understood for all of students have a original and different view and idea. I had read a lot essay. So I especially to mention about "Technology and human " category of "What I'm Thinking Most About"by yuki otomo(SFC). This essay wrote to Technology that is always grow up. Computer gives us much convenience and helps our work greatly. But if human always use to Technology so human has many problem. For example people can't wrote Kanji and writing become to dirty. And Especially for children, that is very serios problem. If child grow up only with computer, he/she does not know a real communication. This opinion was strong agree. I thought this problem was very serious. Recently we become to like that. Especially SFC student is always to use computer so we become to does not know a real communication. this essay gave me knowledge about these problems. And I was aware of SFC student's problem about communication. So this essay was very useful for me. 5. 6.This class has made its motto, " Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what cousciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? I thought IWC was useful for me. That reason is we can read many essay and write to many comments. If you wrote to good essay so that essay read by somestudent and get to comments. You can know other parson's opinion. If you meet normal class you get to read other parson's essay was difficult. IWC has many readers and writer. So writeing to good essay made good comments. This process, our writing abilities is grow up to see easy. And share to comment and essay. That can know to other parson's idea. When I wrote comments so that is same to situation to speaking. And share to idea or own experience. Received those comments was gave me to special experiences. 7. What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? I did not have taken that like a IWC class. Almost english class was non communication or communication has only in classtime. I want to more speaking and writing but almost Teacher was teaching writing skill and check point only. So motivation was down and I thought this class was needless for me. But this IWC class has meny speaking time and writing. And most interactive for me. I can Know other parsons opinion and writing to skill. That is very useful and grow up to my reaction from speaking. I thought this class system of IWC should share to other english class. So all of english class become to more interesting and interactive. Find to new idea and different view. CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Motoki Yasui SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00935my@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 27 11:29 INTENDED READERS: I had talk about essay in IWC class and I don't meed parson who is geve me some comments. And othre english class people who is interested in IWC. I had read to many essay that was writing to other parson. I got and share experience about comment and essay. So I become to I like reading essay and writing comments. And I thought grow up to writing skill and know many words. I want to more communication othre parson. Ž£Ž±Ž¡Ž¥ Which essay do you like the most among those you have written -- Why? The essay what I like the most among those I wrote and titled "Let's play Wheelchair Basketball" This content is talk about the How about wheelchair Basketball? and comments of playing that. That is a little people know to about Wheelchair Basketball. So I want to know many people not only basketball player. And I was help and play Wheelchair Basketball every week. I do not know about people who is interested in Wheelchair Basketball. So I want basketball friends and I want found to help with player. I want to many people who is interested in this sports. I want to friends help and play with this sports. Wheelchair Basketball is exiting. And to think of problem about this sports. Now helper of wheelchair basketball is not enough in Japan. I want satisfied about play basketball all of disabled person. So I have to make known about wheelchair basketball. I hope all of basketball player has interested in wheelchair basketball and help. This essay was strong hope about Wheelchair Basketball. And written on storong my mind. So I like this essay. I want to say "Let's play Wheelchair Basketball" for every one. 2. Which comment do you like the most among those you received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? The one of that I like the most among those Ireceived in the classroom for my essay. That title was"comments of Traffic accident"by Toshihiro Kimata(SFC). This traffic accident was first time.I was very surprised to this accident. This comments was cheer up for me at that time. And Mr.Toshihiro gave me important advice. He is think to deep about japanese traffic problem. So I want to speak with him about traffic in japan onece more. the other hand Ilike the most among those you received in BBS is"Contribute to soscieties"by harue(SFC). I to wheelchair basketball. This essay was my best essay and I want to understand for meny people.I uneasiness about noone understand to my essay at that time. Ms.harue was understood for my essay.and She have to play basketball in junior and high school. I think more and more people, ofcourse including me, should think more what we can do for our societies. I like to this comments. This is simple to say for my mind and strong agree with this idea. Next time we met, let me known more about thin topic. I said "yes!" in my heart. Ms.harue was different time student about IWC class. I want to more speak with Ms.harue. I met one of good friend in this IWC. 3. Which comment do you like the most among those you wrote on the BBS? Why? I like the comment about article is "sence of feeling Art" byYOSHIDA, Taro(SFC) this comment wrote on BBS. Because his content thought beeply feeling Art. I mede panflet and ticket about Aki-matsuri with Mr.taro. He has good Idea about design of all things. And I agree with his content. Especialy sentence of sence of feeling Art is grow up more and more. I want to be cleative artist with he. 4 You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others, What did you learn from reading others' essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what have learned form it? I don't have read other student's essay ever this class. I understood for all of students have a original and different view and idea. I had read a lot essay. So I especially to mention about "Technology and human " category of "What I'm Thinking Most About"by yuki otomo(SFC). This essay wrote to Technology that is always grow up. Computer gives us much convenience and helps our work greatly. But if human always use to Technology so human has many problem. For example people can't wrote Kanji and writing become to dirty. And Especially for children, that is very serios problem. If child grow up only with computer, he/she does not know a real communication. This opinion was strong agree. I thought this problem was very serious. Recently we become to like that. Especially SFC student is always to use computer so we become to does not know a real communication. this essay gave me knowledge about these problems. And I was aware of SFC student's problem about communication. So this essay was very useful for me. 5. 6.This class has made its motto, " Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what cousciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? I thought IWC was useful for me. That reason is we can read many essay and write to many comments. If you wrote to good essay so that essay read by somestudent and get to comments. You can know other parson's opinion. If you meet normal class you get to read other parson's essay was difficult. IWC has many readers and writer. So writeing to good essay made good comments. This process, our writing abilities is grow up to see easy. And share to comment and essay. That can know to other parson's idea. When I wrote comments so that is same to situation to speaking. And share to idea or own experience. Received those comments was gave me to special experiences. 7. What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? I did not have taken that like a IWC class. Almost english class was non communication or communication has only in classtime. I want to more speaking and writing but almost Teacher was teaching writing skill and check point only. So motivation was down and I thought this class was needless for me. But this IWC class has meny speaking time and writing. And most interactive for me. I can Know other parsons opinion and writing to skill. That is very useful and grow up to my reaction from speaking. I thought this class system of IWC should share to other english class. So all of english class become to more interesting and interactive. Relax Writing CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Muneyuki Hashimoto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00744mh@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 27 07:21 INTENDED READERS: Every students who were joining this writing class and this IWC web site. And especially my interactive partners on this web. This is the very last essay that I'm writing in this class in this semester. Now, I have to do this assignment, despite I have a lot of exams and some reports now. But I'm willing to do this. Because this class made me feel relax when I write English sentences. I don't care so much I make mistakes or not. So I want to write this last essay with no worrying, about my English writing skills. And now, let's start final relaxing writing. Q1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? I wrote 4 essays in this semester. I like each 4 essays, because I wanted to write my essay to make it best essay. So for me, every 4 essays were the best essays at each time. But if I have to dare to decide the NO,1 essay that I wrote during this semester, my best essay was "MANGA and KICKBOARD." This was my 4th essay, and I introduced my amazing experience in this essay. The main content of this essay was my trip. When I went to England last summer, I was so surprised at that my Spanish friend called Japanese animation "MANGA", despite she didn't know any other Japanese language. And she liked Japanese some famous animation that I used to watching on TV. And my insistence was that we can be proud of those sort of Japanese culture. I have some reason that I like this essay the most. First reason is I could introduce my good experience on this essay. I think a lot of Japanese student didn't know this fact, and I didn't know Japanese animation is so popular in Europe before I went to England. So I could mention what I wanted to tell everybody. Second reason was some people were interested in my essay. I wrote my essay to be read, so I tried to make my essay attractive. Some people were surprised at that fact in my essay. This is very important thing for the writers. Third reason is my insistence on this essay. In that trip, I found Japanese identity and I feel " I'm Japanese." In daily life, we don't have such opportunity to feel it, but I could feel it for the first time. I really wanted to tell this feeling to readers and I wanted everyone to be proud of Japan. So for me, this essay was very successful. Q2. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS -- Why -- < in classroom > Thanks to the everyone, I could get a lot of comments in classroom. And the best comment that I received in the classroom was Taro Yoshida's comment against my essay "Clever Juveniles." Because his comment was very logical and we could share our opinions. We have common opinion about juvenile crime. And we have different opinions about it in some points. Not only his comment to me but also our discussion in the classroom was very informative for me. That's why I like his comment the most. < on the BBS > The best comment I received on web site is Hussain Al-Hazzani's comment against my essay "No One Study English!?" I didn't expect I could get a comment from foreign country student, so I was very glad to get this comment from him. He was Saudi Arabian and I could find a lot of big difference between me and him. I thought this was due to the difference of the way of thinking. His opinion was so unique for me, on the other hand he might feel my opinion was very strange. But totally, his insistence was very realistic. I don't know how old he is, but he was very mature, I felt. As a conclusion, the reason I like this comment the most is his comment was the most different from my opinion. Q3. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS -- Why -- Now, I'm surprised at I wrote nearly 30 comments in this semester. But my best comment I wrote on the BBS was toward "In front of many people." Because I could encourage her and we could share the similar experience. If we talk face-to-face, we might not share the similar feelings. Through my comment to her, I could advise what I think so often. Because it was very successful way for me, so I wanted to tell my opinion directly. Even now, her phrase "I tried to accept room for failure in my heart" has remained in my mind. It was very simple opinion, but this sentence was unforgettable for me. Q4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays -- Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? I'm so impressed by "A chance in daily life" by Okushi Kenichi in Sophia. That category was "I would not be what I'm today were it not forŽ¡ŽÄ." Literally, his essay told us that important chance comes everybody suddenly. The reason I like his essay the most is his essay make me recall the same experience when I was a child. I had forgot so long time before I read his essay. But when I finished reading his essay, I recalled my experience suddenly. This was amazing. His essay made me recall the same experience in my memory. He said, the first chance for him to get interested I law came in a small event. That event was to send a new year mail to neighbor seniors. And lucky, his neighbor was lawyer. Then he interested in the job of lawyer. As for me, the first chance that I got interested in finance came when I was a elementary student. During I was watching TV, I found the smart, intelligence, rich, handsome, famous banker. I feel it cool, and then I got interested in the job of bankers. And I could completely agree with his opinion, "an important chance comes suddenly." So it made me feel that I have to keep being curious about everything and I have to spend informative time in daily life. His essay was very persuasive and had influence power, I think. Q5. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? Q6. You have received a lot of lively responses to your essays through the interactions with your classmates and those joining in the BBS from all over the world. "Situated" in such an interactive writing environment, how has your act of writing been facilitated? I wrote 4 essays in this semester. I wanted everyone to read my essays. So I needed to make my essay attractive. If readers weren't interested in my essay, I would not get such a number of comments. So my trial might success to a certain extent. The most important part of my trial, in writing essay and make it attractive, is to make the titles and introduce parts interesting. If the title was not interesting, the readers don't want to read its essay. And if the introduce part of essay is boring, the readers would stop reading, and would try to read other essays. So I took care of my essays' title and introduce part the most. After I finished 4 essays, I found one more advanced thing. That is to make the story interesting is very important when not only writing essay but also we talk face-to-face each other. So if we can't be a good writer, he or she can' t be a good speaker. On the other hand, if we can't be a good speaker, we can' t be a good writer. Though there are a lot of differences between writing and speaking, we need both of these. Improving writing skills must be related to improve speaking skill. In fact, through the writing and discussion in the classroom, my speaking skill was improved. I'm sure about it. Besides, my act of English has been facilitated my attitudes against writing English. This class made me feel relax, when I wrote a essay. So I could feel free to write essay and my comment. I think it's very important. I didn't take care of mistakes so much. So my essays and comments can have a lot of mistakes. But I think, if we were worried about making mistakes so much, our essay wouldn't be funny and interesting. Actually, we can't use any dictionaries and we can't fix our sentences over and over again, when we have communication with someone. So I think this attitudes that I learned through this class is very important when we write and speak English. Q7. What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? This unique class is fresh and new for me. Though, I took 4 English lessons in a week during this semester, this writing class will be most unforgettable class because of a lot of hard works and other reasons. One of other reasons is that we can tell somebody what we are thinking about. So we could choose our topic in our favor. It might make us easy to write. The second reason is that we could communicate with other university student, not only Sophia students but also foreign students. If this class was only in SFC, we would be ashamed when we wrote a comment on BBS. So this was a very plus aspect of this class. The third reason is that we could discuss only 2 in the classroom. Only 2 people discussion sometimes made us a little nervous, but I could get used to do it gradually. And now, I can exchange frank opinions face-to-face. So this is one of the improving of my English. I think both this type of lesson and other type of lesson are very important. However, in society, we will be evaluated by the score of English test, like a TOEIC or TOEFL. So we tend to learn only grammar and only listening skills. Certainly, it's very useful to get high score in those English tests. But if we want to share our opinion and use English as a tool, we will choose this kind of writing class!!! I think this class was very informative for me. As I said in this essay, this lesson made change my attitude toward the writing style. Of course, my writing skill was improved. I'm certain about it. So if someone is trying to join this class, I will encourage him or her. Emitting the internals to the world CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Hiroki Futatsugi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t98836hf@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 27 05:39 INTENDED READERS: To especially all the people who read my essay and gave me comments, and yes Mr. Mizuno for giving me the opportunity. This was my second time to participate in this "interactive" class. When I attended this class for the first time, I was a sophomore student who had enough time to consider about various things and write it down. But this time, since I'm a senior student, I always wished for sufficient time. With the limitation of time, I tried to do my best on conveying my feelings on each essays. Having comments from many people who read my essays, I was filled with joy reading each one of them. So writing this final essay is quite difficult for me; I can't choose the best comment that someone gave me. They're all precious for me! Q1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? I had hard time deciding whether I should take "Dear Mr. Perfect" (http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~kmizuno/newbbs2001s/article.cgi?id=369) or "Cellular phones vs pacemakers." (http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~kmizuno/newbbs2001s/article.cgi?id=804) The former aroused controversy because of its negative ways of thinking and the contents being too idealistic. It was sort of an experiment for me to find out how the reader's would think after they read this. I actually wanted to make this a essay filled with humor, but some people thought it was very serious. Since the theme is too serious, I tried to make it look comical. However, it looks like I failed on this experiment, hearing what many people said to me. That's why I've chosen the "Cellular phones vs pacemakers" essay instead. I think this one is the best among all of my essays, since the motto of this class is "Write to be READ." People definitely understood my doubt in daily life and considered about the theme I wrote. Besides, it's well structured compared to the other of my essays. One thing I was sad about was that there was only two people I received comments. "Dear Mr. Perfect" received more comments than this. Which do you think is a success? Q2. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? I wanted to choose the comments for the "Dear Mr. Perfect" since people gave me earnest words to me. For example, Mr. Koichi Ogawa at Sophia University (http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~kmizuno/newbbs2001s/article.cgi?id=532) tried to encourage me by saying "... I have similar worries too. Don't forget this!" and gave me many advices too. I was very happy that he understood that this essay was a humor. (He said "I was amazed at your humor that made you write this letter!" in his comment.) I'm so glad to hear people's messages through comments; it makes me discover new ways of thinking. Q3. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS? Why? Actually I couldn't choose my favorite comment, instead I selected this comment (http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~kmizuno/newbbs2001s/article.cgi?id=1038) which I wrote for the essay "Freedumb." From his sentence and attitude, I know this essay isn't written carefully, but since he said "Why are you so worried about second hand smoke? I inhale first and second hand smoke all day. Why is everyone so paranoid about their health... " I was very curious and wanted to ask smokers "Why do I have to tolerate on smelling that smoke?" I tried not to offend the author, but he didn't sent any comment to me. By writing this essay, I tried to include emoticons :-) to make the comment not too serious. I wonder.. . was my comment rude? 4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others.' What did you learn from reading others' essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? I like Ms. Harue Dozono's "Be happy!" from the category "What is true happiness?" I like her essay since it has a positive taste. While I'm mumbling, "I wanna be Mr. Perfect... " she wrote this essay saying, "I think happiness is always around us... " "I think that human is born to be happy... " Her essay is definitely not an easygoing essay with only happy things written on it. I think she had many worries, as every young people does, during her teenage and these experience made her strong and led to the conclusion to face the brighter way of life. She's right. Happiness should be around somewhere near me like the story "Blue Bird." Actually, I was tired during this semester since I had to make serious decisions for my future. Ms. Dozono's essay tried to cheer me up saying, we are born to be happy, not to be unhappy. 5. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ." Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? 6. You have received a lot of lively responses to your essays through the interactions with your classmates and those joining in the BBS from all over the world. "Situated" in such an interactive writing environment, how has your act of writing been facilitated? I always say to myself, "Remember, people are going to read this. Are you really willing to post this on the web?" I have a bad habit of writing something that only satisfies me. It's like writing graffito on rest room walls. Trying not to make the sentence self-esteemed, I try to do my best on writing sentences that make people arouse something from my essay. Receiving comments is really an important opportunity for me, since the reader is giving me feed backs about my way of thinking. By reading their comments, I could discover new ways of thinking and values. 7. What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? I could answer this question simply: it's interactive. I've never took a class besides this (and the Technical Writing class by Mr. Mizuno) that offered me an environment for exchanging my own ideas to others. Although I had hard time writing essays, I really enjoyed this experiment very much. Writing essay was an experiment for me. I always tried to make the essays attractive so that people would be interested. Some succeeded, some didn't. Compare to the essays I wrote two years ago (http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~kmizuno/cgi-bin/99s/icc/l/bbs.cgi?num=30&ope=v&page=&id=), all the essays I wrote for this semester was a bit serious. I think some people were surprised at "Dear Mr. Perfect." I had hard time during this semester, that's why the essays looked so different compared to the ones I wrote before. For the question, "which do you like better and why?" you all know my answers, right? I won't take the class twice if it was awful. This semester, I think there wasn't many people, but I enjoyed writing comments to many people. I would like to say thank you, to all the people who read my essay and gave me comments, and yes, Mr. Mizuno for giving me the opportunity again to have such wonderful experience. We are same, but we are different CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: YOSHIDA, Taro SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99951ty@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s99951ty/ DATE & TIME: July 27 05:27 INTENDED READERS: Teacher Mizuno, and other person who read my essay or comment in Interactive Writing Community or English Class or from anywhere in this world. The title of this last essay is "We are same, but we are different". This was the words came up when I was reading the comments to my essay. I know it is very natural that everyone has everyone's own idea about something. Maybe, nobody has "exact" same idea. But we can't say everyone is not same. So I came up to this idea "every idea is not same, but we can have same idea in some way". When thinking about this class, everyone will be pair up into many group and discuss about some issue, aren't this very strange? Everyone has different idea, but by reading the essay, we can share our same idea. From this point, I decided this essay's title as "We are same, but we are different". 1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written -- Why ? My first essay "sense of feeling Art" is the one I like most. It was my first challenge to write my opinion about "art" in to sentences, and I felt I could write all of my opinion into my essay after writing. However, I received many comment in the BBS. It was very happy to me, and I tried to give back a comment to everyone. Through this interaction, I learned many things. I now have big interest in expression and designing, so the sense of art is very important to me. I always think about art now. I can't stop thinking about making something new and cool. This essay gave me many chances to me to think about art over and over, by getting new idea from the reader of my essay. By talking about this essay in the class and BBS, I could find many new things, so I like this essay best among my four essays. 2. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS -- Why ? The happiest comment that I received in class was the first comment to my first essay. And in BBS, I also like the comment I received at first. In the class, one classmate I pair up with gave me very nice comment. The classmate wrote a very impressive comment talking about an ART. My first essay's main idea was "what is creative", and the comment gave a one answer to the question in original way. When I was talking with the classmate, I thought that the classmate has different idea than mine, but I didn't feel we couldn't understand each other. I had my own idea, and the classmate had own idea too. The basic ideas of the two are same, but we have different goals, so I can say, "we are same, but we are different". Talking with this kind of person, I can learn a lot of new things. Same things can be said to the best comment I received in BBS. The person was also had an interest to ART, and we talked about our own idea. I had very good time when I was reading the comments I received. 3. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS -- Why ? In my comments, I like the one I wrote to the Sophia student whose name is a- daichi. His essay was about "reading book". He says reading book is one of important thing in his like, and I can agree with this. Reading is the one of most important things in my life too, so I decided to write a comment to his essay. The reason why I choose this essay is, I just want to talk about "reading book" with other person. After I wrote the comment, I received a comment from him. It was very interesting; we could have communication through BBS. In his essay and comment, there were many points that I can agree with, so I thought that we could have nice discussion about reading. At last, we came up to the one opinion "I can't believe person who don't read books". This is never changing idea in my mind. I was happy that I could have such a chance to think about "reading" in the BBS. 4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? There were many essays in BBS, and there were also many good essays too. This time, will not write about "good essay" in this question, because there are too many good essays. I will write about the essay, which I was strangely impressed. The essay's category was "smoking", the title was "FREEDUMB". Looks like student of Frisco School "Smokey" wrote this essay. The essay is kind of interesting and kind of stupid. It completely oppose to my idea about smoking in public place. He says, "Why should I not be allowed to smoke outside?" in his essay, but I think he should not smoke in outside. Because in my opinion, bad manners smoker should not smoke in public place. He is not good manners essay writer, because he never put a space between paragraphs. I guess his enter key was broken. Anyway, his English was good, and there were two comments from Japan and Saudi Arabia (it is international!), I could have fun reading his essay. 5. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? I was taking this class before, so this time was not my first encounter to this class. I had many advantage from this fact. I knew how to behave in the class and what should I do in the class. The experience that I get from last class helped me a lot this time. So, for me, thinking about the relationship between reader and writer was not so hard. What I was thinking most in the class was, "what I can receive from the classmate, and what I can give to the classmate". What I can learn from other person's essay or comment was very important for me. Through this class, I met many people, talked with them, and learned many things. What I was thinking most when I was writing my essay is, the existence of reader, which discuss with the essay's topic with me. It was my pleasure in this class to think about the new idea, which I never come up with. This class made me feels better. 7. What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? When I first took this class, I felt this is new kind of English education for me. Now, I am thinking that it was right. I never experienced this kind of class until I come to this University. It made my English skill improved, and it changed my opinion about English education. What I was shocked were, we can talk to each other and have a conversation, we can read other's essay and think about it and talk with the author of the essay, and no one will correct the grammatical error. I first thought, "this is not English education", but it was wrong. Now I am thinking that this type of class is very effective, and all of the Junior high school and high school should adopt this kind of class in to their bad English education. For me, this class was special. None of the English call gave me "fun" in the class before, but this class gave me "fun" in the class. Maybe, I can't take this class again, but I will not forget about this unusual English class forever. Thank you very much Mr. Mizuno. Experience of writing CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: syujiro ide SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00081si@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00081si/ DATE & TIME: July 27 03:53 INTENDED READERS: For all members of IWC and pople who will take this class in the next term. Of course I wanted Mr.Mizuno to read to make better class. I have taken the class "Writing for Pleasure" for the spring term. There were a lot of homework but this experience taught me pleasure of writing an essay and communicating with strangers in English. Q1.Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? A. I like "To Be Big" the most. Because I could express "me" the most than other essays I have written. I had wanted to write about my sense of value before I have taken the "Writing for Pleasure". I think reading essay written by other people is feeling the writer's sense of value. Even if I can't agree it, I wanted to accept it and grow. Meeting other sense of value is very important for me. That's why I think "To Be Big" which expresses "me" is the best essay for others and me. Q2.Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? A. I read many comments to my essay. In them, Yuko Miyahara's comment to "To Be Big" is very interesting for me. I wrote about my growth. The next lines are what I wrote. I had had a bad character and hurt many people around me when I was a child. Some times I hit fellows I didn't like, the other times I abused them in foul language. But as I grow older, I knew how influence myself to hurt people around me. I lost my popularity and my friends kept me company with fear. So gradually I thought to be mature. I think kind and gentle is good now. But she said, "But girls sometimes like cool boys." To be honest, I was surprised very much! I felt that other people have other idea, again. What I think important is not always what they think so. It is very interesting experience for me. Q3.Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS? Why? A.I like the comment against Yuka Tanaka's comment about Death Penalty. This is because I could express my opinion most obviously. For, she has an opinion opposite to mine. I agree almost of all writers' opinion in the comment to other essay. I thought I could offer new ideas in it, but I could express a little about what I really want to say. So I frustrated. I like this comment simply because I could say what I want to say. Q4.You read many essays as well as you wrote your own and made comment on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essay? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? A. I like Shinya Yamamoto's essay "Rockin' life" the best. He is in SFC, and this essay in a category "I would not be what I am today were it nor forŽ¡ŽÄ" His idea is very young! "I have to judge what is important and what is not. And if the judge is against the society, I might have to fight." This lines are expressed his personality and I like this rock style. Tough we tend to try to match the idea many people think (and it also important), he insists to have one's identity. I rethink its importance after reading his essay. Q6.You have received a lot of lively responses to your essays through the interactions with your classmates and those joining in the BBS from all over the world. "Situated" in such an interactive writing environment, how has your act of writing been facilitated? A. I have been able to write to be read. I could communicate with many people through each essay, and so I could know them more easily. Then, I tried to write an essay having a consciousness that it would be read. I was happy to be situated this environment because I could interact with many people. Q7.What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? A. There are a positive side and a negative side. The former is to communicate with strangers. So we naturally know various ideas and sense of value. I think it's very important to grow. And in the point of English class, we will able to speak and listen to in English more easily. For, writing essays and discussion with classmates let us raise up our ability of composition that is the base of them and communication in English. The latter is simply this class have too much homework. The number of our essays or comments is counted and evaluated. I think too much homework make the quality of essay become poor. If the number of them is increased, the number of words limit of them should be decrease. I don't know how to comment using 100words and more to the comment that only agrees my essay. I like the system of this class better because I can grow emotionally and in English. If the problems of it are improved, this class will be better for students. I can do anything whenI'm an English Speaker CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Shinya Yamamoto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: 70059911 WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 27 02:52 INTENDED READERS: I want to dedicate this last essay to myself who do well duaring a semeste, and also Mr.Mizuno who gave me the chance to find new way to learn English This essay is my last work in this semester. I'm going to finish this semester by writing this essay. I've been busy for these four month because I had two English class in a week despite that I had four Indonesian class. At the beginning of the semester, I thought I had to study English for myself though I didn't need to get many credits of foreign language like that in this semester. And I decided. It was really hard more than I expected. Every week I had to do homework. But I kept attending without giving up. I want to dedicate this essay to myself who did well in developing English skill. 1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? My best essay is "Easy life sucks". My life style and thinking is based on Rock n' Roll attitude. The essay indicates that well. I don't give in to anything, even money and I enjoy everything, even trouble or painful things in life. That is my basic attitude that I want to keep. But sometimes especially when I get tired or feel bitter, I become lazy and I unintentionally think if I had more money or if I could live easier life. Then I fixed myself by writing that essay. The essay was a kind of my resolution and declaration toward myself. And also from now, when I am depressed, I can fix myself again and again by reading or remembering the essay. And, I can keep my attitude in my life. 2. Which comment do you like the most among those you received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? My favorite comment for me is Ž¡ŽÄ NO. I can't find any good comment. I'm so sorry that I couldn't receive any critical comment from anyone though I expected much. Everybody says "That's right!" "It's nice idea!" "I think so too." Of course I was glad to find that they appreciate essay. But everyone said the same! That was so boring for me! No one gave me new idea. I bet some of those who read my essay hit upon a new idea or opinion against me. But they just don't say it frankly. I think it's only one weak point of this English class. 3. Which comment do you like the most among those you wrote on the BBS? Why? My favorite comment that I wrote was the one I wrote to Kaori Yamamoto, a student of Sophia University. The topic was about atom bomb of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. She had two opinions in herself. And she couldn't find the answer of whether the bomb was necessary or not, to end the war. I couldn't also judge that. But I had one positive idea." We have to know that our peace consists on the sacrifice in old war. And we must not waste our peace and freedom. We have responsibility to enjoy our life as much as possible." I said. Then I received a comment from her to this idea. She said that idea was so new to her and. I was very happy to read that. 4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on other' s. What did you learn from reading others' essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it. The best essay other wrote is this. TITLE: "For the end of war" CATEGORY: Were the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary? AUTHOR: Kaori Yamamoto SCHOOL: Sophia Her essay made me think so deeply about atomic bomb. What is new to me is that she doesn't only criticize the bomb but she also agree from the historical aspect; "But from the view of history, it was necessary ; in other word , it was right. World WarŽ­Ž¶ was so big that it was need big event to end it. This opinion may be heartless but in fact , a war needs a sacrifice. If the World War Ž­Ž¶ wasn't ended by the atomic bomb , victims of that war would continue increasing. And in that war , Japanese forces committed many crimes in Asia , maybe to stop them they could not help using such a fear way. Certainly, it isn't the best way and it is right to sacrifice a few lives for saving many lives. But at that time, maybe there was no other way. " That fact was shock to me though I had heard that kind of opinion and it made me think deeply. And I can't say anything for a while. After I read this essay, I wrote a comment to her with my tears dropping. And the comment became my best comment as I mentioned in Question#3. 5. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? 6. You have received a lot of lively responses to your essays through the interactions with your classmates and those joining in the BBS from all over the world. "Situated" in such an interactive writing environment, how has your act of writing been facilitated? I always tried never to write the essay that everybody agrees. I was always pure to myself. And I expected many critical comments because it's good to know the different opinion. I thought anybody could write critical comment on the BBS because they don't have to say that in front of me. And I wrote my essay, sometimes with a little bit extreme ways with looking forward to the comments. After all, I couldn't receive critical comments. That disappointed me. But it's good to keep writing my pure opinion. Actually, intended readers of my essays include myself. By that, I could reconfirm my will. 7.What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? The style of this class was so new to me. I learned both writing and conversation. When I was writing essay or speaking in English, I become more positive and aggressive. I felt as if I found another me in me. He was very strong fellow who can do anything and kicked my ass when I (me in Japanese) was lazy. It was so interesting experience. I felt so happy when I got comment and I enjoyed conversation so much. And I read and appreciate Sophia student's essay on BBS. It was unique to exchange opinions with many kinds of people through the class. I have taken only two English class in SFC so I can't compare but I love this class much. Practice makes perfect. CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Kuniko Nakamura SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00675kn@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 27 00:56 INTENDED READERS: For all my classmates who wants to share their thoughts of our class with me and also people who are interested in our activities. Participating in this class, I could learn the joy of writing essays in English. The writing essays are the work that needs vocabulary, grammatical knowledge and also logical thinking, so it was very hard for me but I think I could enhance these skills. To contribute to BBS and discussion in class were also good activities because I had never shared my view with other people and gained information by them. So the attendance promoted my writing, expressing and communicating English s 1. Q. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? A. My favorite essay is ¼ÔIreland/the land of fairy tale.¼Õ The reason is that I could write both good introduction and my strong attachment to Ireland. What I want to tell audience is that Ireland is very good country, and I think I could convey it. 2. A. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the class and on BBS? Why? Q. I like Mr. Iwaoka's comment on my ¼Ô How do you think about US's withdrawal from Kyoto protocol¼Õ the most among all comments which I received. He gave me interesting objection and questioning to my essay, so I enjoyed replying to him on BBS. 3. Q. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS? Why? A. My favorite comment that I wrote is the reply to Mr. Ide's ¼ÔVarious penalties ¼Õ and it was hard for me to write a comment because it was very serious and ethical problem. So I had to examine this problem before I wrote. I think I could write my view of death penalties clearly. 4. Q. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others. What did you learn from reading others' essays -- Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? A. There are many essays which I received suggestions, so it is difficult for me to refer to a specific essay but I'll try. I want to mention Mr. Hashimoto (SFC)'s essay. I've read all essays that he wrote, and then I am impressed that his essays reach completion, above all, his ¼Ô Clever Juveniles¼Õ( the category is Should Criminal Law Be Applied to Juvenile Murderers )is very well. He tackled with this difficult theme seriously. We need to have stricter law against juveniles. I'm sure that this will help decreasing juveniles' delinquencies and having good relationship between juveniles and murderers. Before he reaches this conclusion, he describes his view of penalties in clear and appropriate words and its style is easy. And it contains both persuasive and informative elements, but they don't force us to agree to him. 5&6. Q. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing -- A. When we write essays, we often neglect the existence of readers. The reason is that we are eager to write our thoughts too much. So the essay tends to be too subjective to be understood by other people. Some essays lack explanation and are abstract. It is not kind to readers. If we don't consider readers when we write an essay, it becomes merely our self-satisfaction. So we should consciousness of being objectiv 7. Q. In order to make this class more enjoyable and educationally valuable, how do you think this class should be improved? Please write some constructive suggestions for the next semester. A. The aim of this class is promoting students' spontaneous study. So the style of class is not lecture but communication in English. As proverb goes, practice makes perfect, so such unique activities such as BBS or discussion contribute to our English skill up. But I often felt the class activities monotonous, because we did same things every week. So I suggest debate or other communication ways to add color to the Not only English CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Kaori Yamamoto SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: mosa502@ic.netlaputa.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 26 18:40 INTENDED READERS: All people who have taken the writing class and joined BBC. And all people who have read my essays, with my thanks. About three months ago, I met this class. When I met it, I was surprised at the method of this class. And I thought I can't follow this class. Because , till then I had not been used to expressing my feeling in English and I can't use personal computer freely. So, it was big burden for me to write a long essay in English in a week. But now, I can follow my class and I enjoy it. In that class , I learned how to express my feeling in English, how enjoyable it is to communicate with others, and how to use a computer( This is most important! I have had no knowledge about computer). This class taught me not only English but also more important things. Q1: Which essay do you like the most among those you have written -- Why ? A1:"UGRY PINK". Because in that essay, I could express what I want to say ; how do I want to live my life . And it was my first essay written in English. Writing the essay, I had many trouble and needed many times , so I wanted to stop writing it at that time. But now, I think it was good experience for me. The English in that essay is not so good, but this essay is most precious for me. Q2: Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS -- Why ? A2: On the BBS, I like the best the comment for "For the end of war"written by Harue . It gave me an information of the site dealing with the war in Kagoshima. "I want you to visit this site ; http://www.synapse.ne.jp/~chiran/peacemuseum/index.html" I visited there and read the comment of one of the member of "tokkoutai". Her comment was the first and the only one that tell me a site connecting with my essay. SO, that comment was impressive for me. In the classroom, I like the best the comment for "For the end of war" written by Yuko Fushimi. She majors in history in this university , same as me. So, she said her opinion from the view of history. "Actually the atomic bomb killed many many people, but it also saved so many peoples lives." This opinion is saying about atomic bomb objectively. Her opinion same as me, and she understood well the contradiction between using the atomic bombing and not using it. Q3: Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS -- Why ? A3: I like the best the comment For"We should study not hard , but seriously!" That essay is written about whether college students should study hard or not. In this comment, I considered about what is "study hard"? ,in the other words what is it meaning "study" and "hard"? And I could say clearly my opinion ; we should do selfishly what we are interested in , not only studying . This is one of my motto in my life. Q4: You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others .What did you learn from reading others' essays -- Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? A4:"The power of MOTHER" , the category is " Should working women quit their jobs after childbirth?", written by Keiji Takahashi, his school is SFC. In this essay, I was surprised rather than learned from it. The author of this essay is man. I have thought those who are interested in this theme are only women, so it was surprising for me. But his essay taught me much, especially what are men thinking about marriage , childbirth, mother, and so on. For example, he said ; " I want to say female that please spend time with their babies as much as you can if you really think about the child." In this point, I can't agree, but it was good learning to know about men's opinion, of course his opinion is not all. And he also said ; " It is quite different from sex discrimination because the power of Father and the one of Mother are different." I think it is right. I think the ability of men are different from women's one. I was surprised but felt happy to knowing that some men have same thinking as mine. Knowing men's consideration from this essay, I could understand about men's thinking a little, and this will do good on my life. And I think this should be a start for men and women to understanding each other. Q5&6: This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing ? A5&6: When I began to write an essay, I can' t think about readers. But now, I have some consciousness when I write an essay. First, I use easy word as I can. This is very important. If there are many difficult words in an essay, I would not want to read it. To be read by as many people as possible, using easy word is important very much. Second I make my essay be suitable long. Too long essay is difficult to read. So we should say concisely what we want to say. These are points which I take care of when I write. Both of these are result of considering about readers. Q7: In order to make this class more enjoyable and educationally valuable, how do you think this class should be improved? Please write some constructive suggestions for the next semester. A7: First, I recommend group discussion. Now, we talk with only our partner in a time, but between only two person it is difficult to continue talking. But if there are three or four person, we can continue talking easily. Second, I want longer time to write comment for partner's essay. The comments received in a classroom are not as good as one received in BBC. I think the cause is too short time to write comment in the classroom. If the time longer, we could write much better comment . Writing "Is" a Pleasure! CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Yuka Tanaka SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00646yt@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 26 16:47 INTENDED READERS: Students who took (and will take) the Mr Mizuno's writing class and who join this BBS. And of couse,our teacher, Mr Mizuno! I enjoyed this class so much. Surely, I had many difficulties to write some essays because I had many assignments in other classes. But I could forget the difficulties when I get some comments on BBS and in classroom. I learned that I could communicate with others only with my poor English. I came to like writing more than before I took this class. Q1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? A1. I like "What do you do in a train?" the most. This is because I am satisfied with this essay. In last semester I took a "public speaking" class. And I had a short speech about the same theme; manner in public places. But I could not make a good one. I could not make me understood what I really wanted to say. So I challenged the same theme in this writing class. And I got many comments! Many people understood my massage and made good comments. So I like this essay. Q2. Which comment do you like the most among those you received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? A2. I like the comment from Takashi Katsura the most. This comment was for my favorite essay "What do you do in a train?" This is because I could find his earnest attitude for my essay. He tried to think about my theme so well. I was so happy to receive his comment. Q3. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS? Why? A3. I like the comment for Shujiro Ide, this was about the Death Penalty. He has exactly the opposite of my opinion. So I wrote attacked his opinion strictly. And he also attacked my comment strictly. Through these steps I thought about the theme and I could get a lot of information about what I have not known. And I enjoyed exchanging opinions frankly. Q4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others. What did you learn from reading others' essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? A4. I think all essays had things I learned. But I could learn a lot of things from the essay "The worst thing for human health"(category: health). This is the essay written by Kuniko Nakamura; She is a SFC student and one of my classmates. And I read most of her essays. First of all, I love her topic. She often chooses social topics and she shows her position for them clearly. Secondly, I like her English. Her English is so simple and clear that I can understand easily what she wants to say. Ž¡ŽÄBut she said her essay hardly gets comments and she feel so sad about this. I cannot believe it! Q5&6.This class has made its motto, "Write to be read". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? A5&6.In the process of writing I always paid attention whether my essay is "easy" to read. This means I tried to write my opinion clearly. And I also tried to make "the comfortable style for reading". I made one paragraph with only 3 or 4 sentences. And I keep space with every paragraph. And I tried to use simple words (I emphasized this point the most). So I was happy to get a comment which said my English was so clear. In the purpose of writing I tried to choose "interesting and close" topics both for readers and me. From this, readers can enjoy reading and I can enjoy writing. Q7. What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? A7. There is a big difference that this class is an "interactive" class. We are not just taught by teacher. We can teach other classmates and students on BBS. I like this system so much. But I cannot say which type do I like better. This is because both of them have good points and bad points. The system of this class is so good, I think. But this is good only for "good" students. If the student has aspiration, he can learn from others' mistakes and his own mistakes. But if he doesn't have, he cannot learn anything from this class because there is no way to correct his mistakes. I know the style of this class is the ideal one for education. But I am a bad student; I could not brush up my English through this class though I could understand the pleasure of "Write to be read". Writing is Fun! CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Mayu Inoue SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00115mi@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 26 13:51 INTENDED READERS: Anyone who had taken this course or who is interested in taking this course next semester or who wants to improve his or her English skill This course, "Writing for Pleasure", was fruitful for me in two ways. One is that I could improve my English skill through writing essays and comments. The other is that I could enjoy communicating with people from outside of school. Considering these two points, I will write a reflection of my experience from taking this course. 1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written -- Why -- The essay I like the most among those I have written is "The Period of Sazaesan". In this essay, I compared the present and the past that we can see in the comic book, "Sazaesan" and wrote about what we have lost in exchange for technology. I think that I could remind the readers the good of old days that we have forgotten by showing the examples in "Sazaesan". 2. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS -- Why -- The comment I like the most is "Re: The Sense of Feeling Art" by Taro Yoshida (SFC, category: I would not be what I am today were it not for). Based on his essay, we discussed about how to gain creativity. Since we are both interested in art, it was very enjoyable talking about it. In his reply to my comment, he said, "you should feel the creative thing and think about the reason why you feel it is creative." It was a very meaningful suggestion for me since I had never thought of like that. Since there weren't so many people who gave me their original opinions, I was very glad that he gave me the opinion that I have never thought of. 3. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS -- Why -- Among those I wrote on the BBS, the comment I like the most is the one I replied to "The Sense of Feeling Art" by Taro Yoshida (SFC, category: I would not be what I am today were it not for). As I wrote in the paragraph above, I exchanged comments with him about are and creativity. I gave comments on this essay twice, and I like the second one better. This is because when I gave a comment to him for the first time, he replied it with his original idea that stimulated me to think more about it. Therefore, in the second reply, I could give him more developed idea and suggestion for gaining creativity. I said, "One thing I learned lately is that to try imagining the creator's mind helps you learn deeper about his or her work." I think I could share my original idea with him in my second comment. 4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays -- Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? From reading others' essays, I learned the importance of the concrete details in any essays. If there are no concrete details, that essay cannot be persuasive no matter how the topic and the conclusion are interesting. To support one's idea, concrete details are essential. In the essay "Books" by a-daichi (Sophia, category: I would not be what I am today were it not for), he explained how books are important for him in the first paragraph, and in the second, he named a few novels and explained how each of them affected him. By reading the body paragraph, I could understand what we can learn from reading books. The composition of his essay was very simple, but easy to understand and still very persuasive. 5&6. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing -- What I was conscious of as I wrote essays is to make the composition of an essay very clear so that the readers would easily understand what I want to say the most. To achieve this purpose I always have to think of composing an essay with an introduction paragraph, body paragraphs that contain concrete details and a conclusion paragraph. Thinking of how the others response to my essay, I tried to tell my opinion very clearly, especially in the introduction paragraph. I think my way of writing an essay became simpler and easier to understand. 7. What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? Since I haven't taken any other writing classes yet, I cannot compare this class to others. However, I think that the special thing about this course is that we can communicate with many people through Internet. Through reading many of others' essays or opinions and replying to them on Internet, we can learn how we should compose an essay to make our opinion clear and persuasive. This course also gives us good chances to practice telling our opinion constructively through discussing with others. It would be a good practice for both listening and speaking English. Besides improving our English skill, we can enjoy exchanging opinions through Internet. Opinions from outside of our school give us new ideas and stimulate us a lot. Direct Communication By Thinking In ENglish. CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: harue SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: d-harue@par.odn.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 26 13:13 INTENDED READERS: Students who joined IWC web site and people who read my essays. Thanks to them I could enjoy this class much better. Three months flowed very quickly. At first, to write in English was hard work for me, because I thought it as a very difficult thing and I thought I was supposed to not to make any mistake in my essays. But it was not. In IWC, my English was OK. This made me feel relaxed when I wrote essays. And one more, in IWC, I read many nice and wonderful essays. I could know what other people think and I could make friends. They also gave me comments and this encouraged me much to write in English. In this last essay, I would like to show what IWC was for me by answering following questions. Q1: Which essay do you like the most among those you have written? Why? A1: I like the most ''Be Happy!'' among my essays. In this essay, I wanted to show that happiness is always around us. From the time when I entered Keio Univ., I have felt like that. However small things can be happy things and this is the easiest but the most important way to enjoy ones' life. If we feel happy and content with our life, we can be kind to the others. In this essay, I could explain my thought well and I think those people who read this essay could be happy slightly. In fact, given comments tell me this. I could achieve my goal in this point. Also, I was happy when I was writing this essay. It is because I was able to express my thought in English. This was great pleasure for me. Q2: Which comment do you like the most among those you received in the classroom and on the BBS. Why? A2: That is the comment titled '' Wonderful words from you'' and the comment on my essay ''What it is for me to sing''written by Mr. Shinobu Kanemono. The reason why I choose these comment as the best comments is because he put not only his impressions of my comment but also his experience. In other words he linked my experience and words with his and he developed both his essay and my comments. In this way, he could make his comment more convincing and acceptable for me. Unlike those comments, which only give an address of thanks for the essay or comments, his comment expanded my scope. Q3: Which comment do you like the most among those you wrote on the BBS. Why? A3: This is the most hard question to answer for me because on every comment I made a great effort to tell my thought and feeling toward the essay and author. When I write a comment, I always keep it in my mind that to write comments that would be some help or that would be some benefit to the authors. Being based on this point of view, I tried to show my experience, information and acquaintance in my comments. I wanted to write comments, which make those people who read my comments think the topic deeper. Dare say, however, I like the most the comment to Ms.Kaori Yamamoto's essay (Were the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?), which title was ''During the WWŽ­Ž¶''. Her essay was dealing with two worldwide wars. I habitually think that we should know much about our past especially these two wars. Then, she wrote an essay about them. As reading her essay, lots of things passed in review. I wanted to share them with her. In this comment, I think I could achieve my style definition of comments. Those are reasons I chose this comment as the best one, but this question still remain difficult one! Q5: You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned it. A5: First, I realized the importance of entitling. I learned this from Emiko Suto's essays. Her title were like these; MOGU MOGU in Southeast Asia, ŽÇŽ½=NOH" Ž¡ŽÁDO you relax yourself. These titles jumped to the eye among lots of essays. Her title attracted my eyes, so I always interested in them and made comments on them. I think her titles filled the bill of IWC. Second, from Mayu Inoue's essay, I learned that how to make my comments interesting for those who receive my comments. Comments are written not for myself but for the author. She put this into practice. In her comments, she quoted some part of the essay and described her ideas in fine detail. In order to write attractive comments, I often read her comments to the others. Q6: This class has made its motto, '' Write to be READ''. Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imaginations as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? Q6: When I write essays, I tried to write essays, easy to understand. Even though I have much knowledge and information about one thing, the readers are not also having them, and vice versa. Keeping the idea ''Write to be READ'' made me notice this, and enabled me to try to write not complacent essays. Also, I consider which title should I put on my essay because there are many essays in one category, I tried to put a title that make people want to read and want to make a comment. When I write comments, I gave attentions to those points that I wrote in answer of No.3. In both of writing, essay and comments, I tried to write not only my concept but also statement that make people happy or that will be of reader's help. Q8: What do you think makes this class special? Please write a letter of recommendation for the newcomers next semester. A8: In your high school days, did you find English writing interesting? My answer is no. But taking this class you will find its true pleasure! In this class we always talk and write in English. At first you may be bewildered, but in this way we can brush our both speaking and writing skill effectively. In this class, we use BBS system on the website at which we can exchange our direct feeling and thought in English. How nice it is to be able to deliver your opinion in English! Besides there are not only Keio students, so you will get a broader point of view by reading other essays and making comment on them. When you feel disgusted with writing in English, comments from your friends join IWC would encourage you. When you feel happy or sad, you can share it with them. How about come and join our interesting class!? speaking ,reading &writing CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: yuki otomo SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: yuki0929@aioros.osn.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 25 20:52 INTENDED READERS: student who have a big motivation about english, my teacher Mr.Mizuno, my family,friends, and myself. or who is interested in taking this class. When I was young, I wrote an essay 'I like write an essay'. So I like writing an essay from my childhood. In this class, I appreciate to having many chances to write. Now I am ready to write my last essay in this class. 'finish' means 'start', I think. So I want to write much more good essay than now, and I will try it. Thank you. 1Q I chose 'technology and human' for my best essay. I always think about our human. 'what is life?' 'what is true happiness' 'why do we kill each other?' and so on. In this essay, I could write both good and bad aspect of technology. And conclusion is also clear, I think. Not only contents, I chose it from composition as an essay. 2Q The comment from Motoki Yasui at 5th July is the most I like. The comment was toward to my ' what had become if I am born not as a human'. Sometimes he also think about our human, and ' what our life is going to?' That thought is very fresh for me. For example, ' 100years after from now, human may not use a pen because they only use a computer Ž¡ŽÄ' and he said ' in the future, our human may become cool. And we may think nothing. They may feel nothing.' I was very happy to share same kind of thought, and I enjoyed talking with him. He gave me new aspect of thinking. That is my treasure. Q3 The best comment I wrote is ' world wide love!!' This comment is reply to the ' Oklahoma city bombing'. At that time I interested in that news, so I looked for the essay about it. And the most important reason I choose it for best comment is that I did not stick only to the contents of the essay. I could give the comment of other side of aspect. That is the big reason of choosing it. Q4 The most important thing in the essay is ' is it easy for read or not?' I think. What I want to say is some people uses difficult words is their essay. That is not good thing. Because essay is a thing of being read. So writers have to think about their readers, I think. Report and essay is an other thing!! And I chose `BE HAPPY` (category=what is true happiness) written by harue in sfc. Her essay was very positive and the passion has been transmitted. She was telling very positively "happiness will be what", and I who am reading became fine about it. By the way, with it being such, since energy can be given to a man, a sentence thinks that it is great. Simultaneously, it was good also at how to use an example. Since it was intelligible, was familiar and was suitable in the example, I was allowed to choose. Q5,6 As I mentioned in Q4, I tried to use easy words for readers. And I try to explain one thing in detail. Especially, some concrete things are needed to be explained carefully. Readers do not have information about it. So I try to explain in detail. And when I talked to my partner in a class or BBS, I try to speak easy words, at first. It helps our conversation spreading. Then, I talk more deeply. So at first, I try to keep calm, and listen to reaction toward my essay. That can help me to understand partner's opinion objectively. Q7 To speak English fluently, there are several points. We must do SPEAKING, READING, WRITING. All the things are vital. But other classes lack each one. Student have to read too much or they can only writingŽ¡ŽÄ.and so on. But in this class, I can do all the vital things. That is great. Mostly we cannot do these things so easily. I am very lucky and happy to take this class. And my motivation toward English become much more bigger than before. Thank you! provoking CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Shigeko Nanbu SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t98710sn@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 25 15:19 INTENDED READERS: classmates and those who starts perticipating in this class.everyone without a chance of learning English because of th lack of occasion, time or money I've written 4 essays in this class and I am proud of that. I had never written essay to be read by possibly many people before, that it made me for the first time feel responsible for what I say. I did not really write something VERY important that infers to one's life or something, but still it was very serious perticipation personary. Now I evaluate this class and the words will be read. I surely must be serious. I guess. 1. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written -- Why ? I wrote once on shopping, which makes me some feeling of excitement. I've been feeling lately that what I enjoy in my life is some contrast mentally or bodily, that I thought I could show it as evidence in the shoppping essay. 2. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS -- Why ? I like the comment written on my essay on the topic "should student study hard", which was persuasive on well understanding on my essay. 3. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS -- Why ? I like the comment I wrote on the essay Youko Miyahara wrote, on her dream. What she said was very clear and I think I could write what I felt and thought very honestly and straightly. 4. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays -- Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? So I found the essay I refered above very important to me. We are very close in age, but what we had been through is pretty defferent. It was motivating and at the same time thought provoking essay. 5. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing ? I felt the responsibility of what I say. 6. You have received a lot of lively responses to your essays through the interactions with your classmates and those joining in the BBS from all over the world. "Situated" in such an interactive writing environment, how has your act of writing been facilitated ? I tried to be clear not to be too much pressure for reader. I tend to write in order as I thought which makes my essay messy. 7. What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? It is better in the point that it is interactive and you see what you have done. This class showed me what my classmates are thinking now and helped me better understanding of my friends.It is nice. I enjoyed the class very much and I believe it helped my English to be better. thank you. Last essay CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Shinobu Kanemoto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99275sk@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 25 13:39 INTENDED READERS: It has been passed 4 months since I first participated in this class. I want everyone who take this class read my last essay. It has been passed 4 months since I first participated in this class. I have written 4 essays and 33 comments. I can't believe myself to study in this class very hard. When I was freshman and second- year student, I didn't try to study English so much because there are few classes that I could enjoy and join in. As for me, this class which provide the best interaction are very attractive. Ž£Ž±Ž¡Ž¥ Which essay do you like the most among those you have written -- Why? The essay I like the most among those I have written is the one I titled " life in a foreign country". The content is about the volunteer work in Bangladesh. Actually, I was concerned with how I could express my feeling toward a developing country. As most people think, I also tend to think that life in the developing country is unhappy or miserable. Especially, A small number of Japanese people even feel that life in those countries are inferior to life in Japan. I hate the stereotype because we have many problems in our society and the stereotype prevents people from learning other culture, value, and society. I wanted to insist that people in a developing country are not always unhappy and get rid of prejudice. In my personal opinion, I was able to express my feeling very well. Also, I was delighted because I have received several essays in which they wrote their experience and thought. Which ever the responses were for or against, the fact those students read my essay and write a comment made me very happy. 2. Which comment do you like the most among those you received in the classroom and on the BBS? Why? The one that I like the most among those I received in the classroom is a comment on my article " to be stronger, to be kind" from harue. I remember that I was talking with her about each essay at first class. Actually, I was nervous about my English because it was difficult for me to explain the mental aspect of Martial Arts. But she read my essay carefully and understand my poor English. Her essay was beautiful and she wrote a comment sincerely to me. She also gave me the comments on the BBS and it was a great relief for me because I had few comment in my essay at first 3 weeks. I could be happy when I received her comment. For that reason, I like her comment the most among those I received in the class room. The one that I like the most among those I received on the BBS is a comment from Yuko Fushimi (Sophia). I wrote a essay I titled " Do you love your campus?", especially for Sophia students. I wrote the essay because I have been to both campuses and thought that it might be enjoyable that I compared to both of them. She is the first lady in Sophia who wrote a comment to this essay. I enjoyed her essay in which she wrote her own experience and feeling. Her comment includes other points of view or humor that I had never thought. After I read her comment, I could feel that my essay got connected to Sophia campus and SFC campus. I think that she was good at writing a comment. 3. Which comment do you like the most among those you wrote on the BBS? Why? I like the comment on article "Let's play Wheelchair Basketball" by Motoki Yasui(SFC) the most among those I wrote on the BBS. Because his content was very nice and I could feel close to him. I had never thought that you could help disabled person who were playing basketball. As one of basketball player, I wrote my feeling with empathy. 4 You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others, What did you learn from reading others' essays? Please refer to a specific essay and explain what have learned form it? Whenever I read other people's essays, I have realized that each people have a different view and insightful thought. Especially, there are two essays that I want to mention. One is " ŽÇŽ½Ž¡á¯oh Do you relax yourself?" written by emiko suto(SFC). Actually, I like the essay that includes one of Japanese culture. She tipped off me about what Noh is and how valuable she thought Noh is. Also, the essays she wrote was attractive because she had the ability to put a nice title on her essay. She could catch audiences by her title. I have realized that nice essay have "nice title" which is attractive. The other one is " Car license" by Okushi Kenichi( Sophia). The content is about his annoyance in his driving school. His essay provoked my interest because everyone who got car license had some trouble in teacher or test of driving school. His sentence was humorous and easy to read. I could have learned from his essay how to convey his opinion smoothly. It is very useful for me. 5. 6.This class has made its motto, " Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what cousciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing? I think that IWC is useful because there are readers on the BBS. When you write something, you want to be read your essay by someone. Although , in daily life, it is difficult to get readers to write a comment. But IWC provide the interactive readers. The participants in IWC try to write nice essay because they want to receive comments from other people. In this process, we lift our English abilities each other and share ideas with others. I wrote comments that should includes my experience concerned with each essay. It would be enjoyable when I received those comments which referred to their experiences. 7. What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? I have taken many English classes in SFC. Most classes were boring to me because it was not interactive in the true meaning. Teacher spoke to students who can speak English enough not to take English class. My motivation was going down when I was listening to those people's English. But this class is much different from the classes I have ever taken in that students can get a reaction from other students and try to facilitate the writing skill. I recommend that people who truly want to lift your English take this class. Attendances brings me many friends CATEGORY: Self&Class evaluation AUTHOR: Satoshi Haruta SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t99762sh@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t99762sh DATE & TIME: July 23 04:28 INTENDED READERS: This essay is written for... first, Mr.Mizuno. second, my friends in the class. third, who want learn English in SFC and SOFIA This class brought me many friends and many knowledge about English. I had not been concerned with English. For this class, I recalled many words and to use such words. I do thank this class very much. Q. Which essay do you like the most among those you have written -- Why ? A. My hairstyle is Afro. This hairstyle makes me active. I love this hairstyle and want people to know the good points of Afro. Those are the reasons I chose "a happy Afro life" as best. Q. Which comment do you like the most among those you have received in the classroom and on the BBS -- Why ? A. If you receive a comment, what kinds of sentence make you happy? With my occasion, it is question. In this point, Mitsuhito Uchida's "Re: a happy Afro life" is best comment. Q. Which comment do you like the most among those you have written on the BBS -- Why ? A. I like my comment "Re: Let's play Archery" best. In the comment, I could write some questions, and tell my campus life. Q. You read many essays as well as wrote your own and made comments on others'. What did you learn from reading others' essays -- Please refer to a specific essay and explain what you have learned from it? A. I know only a few words. So I read some essays with difficulty. If I want my essay, I shouldn't use too difficult words. I read Mitsuo Uchida(sofia)'s essay "A Happening" (I would not be what I am today were it not for... ) with fun. I couldn't stop reading. In some essays I must use my dictionary for many times. For example, the sentence "The happening was very shocking to me." doesn't include any difficult words. This essay doesn't have any difficult words like the example. Q. This class has made its motto, "Write to be READ". Being aware of the existence of the readers and using your imagination as to how the readers will react to your ideas, what consciousness has risen in the process and purpose of writing ? Q. You have received a lot of lively responses to your essays through the interactions with your classmates and those joining in the BBS from all over the world. "Situated" in such an interactive writing environment, how has your act of writing been facilitated ? A. Comments on my essays made me happy. So I wanted many comments. I think too difficult essay can't have many readers. So I use easy words and chose a close subject. I want my essay to be read by many people. And I want them to read with fun. Q. What and how do you think this class is different from those you have taken in the past? Which do you like better and why? A. Other classes need some techniques so I sometimes couldn't follow. But this class needs not any techniques but two dictionaries only. In this class, I spend happy time with my friends (some are new). I want to study with Mr.Mizuno next semester too, if I can. Student life in Japan. CATEGORY: Write about an experience where you cried your heart out. AUTHOR: Kazi Faisal Zaman SCHOOL: Chubu University E-MAIL: a00040@isc.chubu.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 04 14:01 INTENDED READERS: I wrote this essay about my life in Japan.Actually I want to get the Japanese boys and girls read this essay. I am a boy of twenty one. Now I am studying in a university in Japan. When I came in Japan, I had a lot of experiences of troubles and sufferings. Here I would like to tell about my life in Japan. If you come in Japan, you will see all most all overseas students are from South-East Asia. If you are from south Asia, you may sometimes find it difficult to communicate with them. Again, when an overseas student from south Asia wants Japanese friends, it is the most important point, if he is handsome or not. The Japanese young girls hardly call out such overseas students. A very few boys are interested in such foreigners. If I do self-judgement, my appearance is not so bad. But when I was fresher's student I call out many xenophobia Japanese and at last got shocks several times. I saw many old Japanese who like foreigners very much. In Japan they are called "OJISAN" , "OBASAN". When sometimes I am called out by such Japanese , I cry out joyfully. Actually I always looking forward to be called out by young Japanese boys and girls. Before coming in Japan, I had a very good, moral and ideal image about Japan and the Japanese. But after coming in Japan I became disappointed many times. I entered some Japanese internet sites where the Japanese make friendships with unknown people. These site are called "ME-RU TOMO SAITO" or "DE-AI SAITO". I attempted for several months to make some new Japanese friends. But I found it almost impossible to communicate with them, because I am an Asian foreigner. I had a good experience that it is very easy to make friendship with them, if you one is from Western countries. I also sometimes cry out when some of my kind Japanese professors call out me and ask me about my study, daily life and others. When they help me personally, I feel very gratitude for such good Japanese. The Period of "Sazaesan" CATEGORY: If you could be born again, in what period would you like to live? What would you want to do? AUTHOR: Mayu Inoue SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00115mi@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: June 24 22:07 INTENDED READERS: anyone who sometimes thinks of living in another period or anyone who likes reading "Sazaesan" a lot and yearns for that period The period of "Sazaesan" that covers from 1940's to 1960's reminds us of something we have forgotten nowadays. In those days, technology had not spread much, and it is the reason I yearn for that period. I feel that the insufficiency of technology had made the relationship among people much stronger compared to this period. In addition, I think that it had brought people the excitement of encountering the new technology. For these reasons, I wish to live in the period of "Sazaesan" if I could be born again. In "Sazaesan", I often see the scenes where I feel the strength of the relationship among people. It can be the relationship among friends, or in families. Since no one had computer games in those days, many kids spend their free time outside playing baseball, playing hide-and-seek or swimming in the river. Compared to the present kids who often play themselves inside the house playing computer games, the kids then played with many other kids. In addition, the family members also spend more time together. At dinnertime, they sat together surrounding "chabudai" and talking about many things. The family members could gather most of the time because kids didn't go to "juku" or go out late at night as many kids nowadays do. Through communication with one another at dinnertime, families then had established the strong relationship. What I also envy in "Sazaesan" is that people in those days live with the excitement of encountering the new technology. Though most people including Sazae's family already had televisions, the entrance of color televisions gave people great shock and excitement. In "Sazaesan", there is also the scene in which the family members got very excited when the father brought home electronic rice- cooker. Since we already have both of them and many other electronic products nowadays, we tend to forget the freshness of encountering the new technology. Since the period of "Sazaesan" which is about fifty years ago, technology has tremendously advanced. It might be true that it has brought us much convenience. However, as I read "Sazaesan", I see the good of old days. By looking at that period, I realize how our present life has been flooded with too many products of technology and feel that we have lost many things instead of gaining technology. If I could be born in the period of "Sazaesan", I would like to send a life that is simple but full of strong relationship with people and the excitement of encountering new technology. Ice cream day and Miss mystery CATEGORY: If you had enough money to not work, what would you do for the rest of your life? AUTHOR: Yuuko Hayashi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: cqe15616@nifty.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 31 17:58 INTENDED READERS: Ž¡Ž¡Ž¡Ž¡Ž¡Ž¡I think those who donŽ¡ŽÇt have enough money to enjoy themselves or who have andŽ¡Ž¡those who want to have a great dream can enjoy this essay! If I get a great deal of moneyŽ¡ŽÄŽ¡ŽÄŽ¡ŽÄ.. At first I thought I would save it and live a safety life. However, it is not exciting!!! And if I do so, may be I will continue to save it until I die. And after all I will be lead to death before I use up. So here, I want imagine more enjoyable way to USE it!! First, I want to buy ice cream. I'll buy too much to eat all. There is only ice cream in the cooler box in my house. My cooler box is not big enough to save ice. I'll be surround by ice cream. I can choose my favorite one and I can eat from favorite one. My stomach will be filled with ice cream!! Wow! What a happy day it will be!!! I'll name that day "ICE-CREAM DAY" Next, I go to Easter Island. (Of course with my ice cream!) Do you know Easter Island? Yes, there many statues of Moai stand!! I am very interested in these statues. These statues have many mysteries. So, I go there and I possess one of them to solve the mysteries of ancient times. Perhaps, it will take a lot of time and money to solve the mysteries. I want use a great deal of money in this research. At last, I will solve these mysteries!! But I would not say my answer to this mystery to anyone. This world is boring if there is no mystery. So I wouldn't tell anyone but I wrote down my answer to these mysteries on a piece of paper. And I hide it somewhere before I die. Yes, I'll make the second mystery. Descendants will keep on studying mysteries made by me with curiosity. Descendants will call me "mysterious mystery maker of mystery". J This is my way to use a vast sum of money. If you were in my place, what would you do with that money? Please tell me how you would use it!!! Thank you for your kindness to read my essay!! Easy life sucks! CATEGORY: If you had enough money to not work, what would you do for the rest of your life? AUTHOR: Shinya Yamamoto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00992sy@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 17 05:40 INTENDED READERS: mainly young people and ... me If I get big big money by a lottery or something, I will use them all onenight. I'll buy a few something big, and have a big party, and money will be gone. That's enough for me. Why will I not save the money and live the rest of my life with the money? Well, because I don't want to live easy life. Easy life is boring. If I keep money, I may live the rest of my life without do nothing. It's not cool. It's the life style of old people. I'm still 19 years old! With big money kept, I'll be lazy and crazy and I may become a pig! I need much stimulation in my life. I want to build up my mental part and become creative. And I want to leave something creative( mainly music but not only) in this world. So I have to live hard life. People usually work for the money. I'll work for the money of course, but not only for the money. I want to work for my own satisfaction too. So I'll keep working if I get enough money to live. And , Money is a sweet temptation. It will prevent me from what I really want to do. I don' t like the money but the money like me! So I have to keep the money from me. If I get the big money enough to live when I am old, I might keep them. But now and these 10 years from now are the most important parts of life. I don't want to have them spoiled by the money! I'll make money by my own effort. The money by effort has more value than the money that suddenly appeared. I want to struggle in my life. I want to keep "hungry attitude". So too much money is the enemy! If I get the big money enough to live when I am old, I might keep them. But now and these 10 years from now are the most important parts of life. I don't want to have them spoiled by the money! I'll make money by my own effort. The money by effort has more value than the money that suddenly appeared. I want to struggle in my life. I want to keep "hungry attitude". So too much money is the enemy! I want to be a wife and a mother! CATEGORY: What is your dream? What do you have to do before you start making your dream become a reality? AUTHOR: Youko Miyahara SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s98956ym@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s98956ym DATE & TIME: June 28 00:40 INTENDED READERS: People who want to marry someone special as soon as possible and to be a mother having problems in oneŽ¡ŽÇs mind. When I was an elementary school student, I wanted to be a pianist. When I was a junior high school student, I wanted to be a flight attendant. When I was a high school student, I wanted to be nothing. Maybe I was too busy to have a dream, because I had to study for the entrance examination and wanted to play with friends. I think when people have a dream, people have time and composure to some extent. I think I didn't have both of these then. But I have a dream now. I want to be a wife and a mother. This may be a dream which many girls had when they were children. However, I didn't want to marry anyone when I was a child. In fact, I wanted to be a career woman! I really changed very much before I knew it. Why? I don't know obviously. Probably I fell in love some times, I got old a little, I am very worried about my health, and I envy my brother because he has two cute children and so on, there are many reasons, I think. I don't want to marry someone simply. I want to marry someone whom I think special. And I want him to love me, of course. This seems easy, but I think this is most difficult. For this, I need to look for this person. But before searching for someone, I have a thing that I must do completely. The thing is to cure my disease. I don't have an average physical strength and can't even bathe in the sun without wearing a shirt with long sleeves. In such situation, my future child is too poor. So to realize my dream, before find someone special I need to be healthy first. Should I stop smoking first? Can I do? To be Ž¡ŽÈBIGŽ¡ŽÉ CATEGORY: What is your dream? What do you have to do before you start making your dream become a reality? AUTHOR: syujiro ide SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00081si@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00081si/new.html DATE & TIME: May 17 02:39 INTENDED READERS: All people around me What I'm most interesting in is music now. I have composed some songs and played a bass in many bands for three years. That's why I want to work for what relate to music. But it is not my dream. My dream is to be "BIG". Of course "BIG" doesn't mean "tall" in this case. I mean it as greatness or kindness of human. I want to be "BIG" humanly. This is because I had had a bad character and hurt many people around me when I was a child. Some times I hit fellows I didn't like, the other times I abused them in foul language. But as I grow older, I knew how influence myself to hurt people around me. I lost my popularity and my friends kept me company with fear. So gradually I thought to be mature. Now I think I have been kind and gentle to some extent. But I often think I am "small". It is when I face pinches or get nervous. For example, live concerts of my bands or speeches in front of many people. Sometimes I couldn't do my best. I have a weak side mentally. To be more "BIG", I want change this side. What do I need to do it? I think I have to have more experiences. People grow up when they try to improve themselves after they experience failures and accept it as bad things. I also have to listen to advices from many people. If someone point out that a side of mine is bad, I want not to deny the advice, to accept it after judging whether I should change it or not. I would grow mentally if I keep this thought. To change our bad side is difficult, but important. If we deny to do it, we won't be able to grow up. I proud of my change, and I want to grow up to be more "BIG". Lately I often heard " You always feel at ease, aren't you?" I'm glad then. But at the same time, I often heard " You are an "OYAJI", aren't you?" The Ginermous Misunderstanding CATEGORY: What is the biggest failure in your life? AUTHOR: Hiroaki Terauchi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: zinai@cat.zero.ad.jp WEB PAGE: http://sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00682ht DATE & TIME: June 19 10:19 INTENDED READERS: Those who often get to the point early and who want to correct it. Especially people who is going to take the exam of Japanese University. It was 17 ,February 2000 that I first sat down the Keio University's chair officially. Also the day is the first time to the examination of the university. To me the successive three days includes and from that 17th day can not be forgotten forever. The day was so memorable not because I was impressed by the pressure of the other students but because I was moved by the notion that I could get half of the ticket to enter this college. In exam I made good as possible as I could. After all of the exam, I got a little confidence but it was too little to confirm. Therefore until I saw the paper which tells me whether I could make it or not , I could not slept well. Some night suddenly I was struck upon a strange idea such as I failed the exam again and again. The day of announcing the successful candidate was soon came. I was so nerve that I could not have anything but drinks. In spite of bad condition, to make sure the result, I decided to go to the Keio University on Mita campus. The road was so winding and steer that I could not help beating my hearts. I don't know whether it was because of the road or pressure. At last I managed to reach the main gate. There were many type of people. Some were with the great joy and others were in the great depression. I was afraid that I got out here immediately. I don't know why but I came to do the warm-up exercises. Surrounded peoples were looking at me as if I was crazy. After finishing this the result was appeared. I was running the road in order to tell the result to my family and girl friend and high school friends. The result was more than I had expected because I didn't make sure of passing SFC. In usual judge, if the students pass the SFC ,he all but pass the other faculty of the university. But there is foreign proverb "Vice Versa". I passed SFC but I failed other two exam. In the exam, we cannot tell what will happen which is common sense but I was surprised such an ordinary happening. The Most Beautiful Pictures CATEGORY: Who has had the greatest effect on your life? -or- What event has made an impact on your life? AUTHOR: Mayu Inoue SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00115mi@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 17 03:06 INTENDED READERS: everyone Holding a brush in his mouth, Tomihiro Hoshino draws the most beautiful pictures in the world that influenced me a lot. Since his body below the neck became paralyzed, he has drawn numerous pictures of flowers by moving only his head. He has also written a lot of poems that touch a lot of peoples' hearts. Those pictures and poems taught me the most important thing to live. He used to be a gymnastic teacher until he fell from a horizontal bar when he was twenty four. As soon as he found that he had lost the freedom of his body below the neck, he fell into despair. He felt as if he lost everything, and he even wished to die. Cursing the fate and complaining it to his family, he spent two years at a hospital until he began drawing pictures and writing poems. When he first drew a single line by biting a pen, the strength of his neck was still very weak. However, he continued practicing, being encouraged by his family and people around him. Since then, he got maturer as he kept drawing. His pictures and also the poems has influenced a lot of people including me. When I first saw his pictures, I was a middle school student in Japan. I thought they are very beautiful, but it was all I felt. After that, I moved to the United States. The life in the foreign country was harder that I imagined. One day, I casually found his book again and opened it. The pictures looked much more vivid and beautiful than when I first saw them. In addition, I could understand the poems more clearly. I think it is because I was in the more difficult circumstances that when I was in Japan. Since I was suffering, I could understand his pain a little bit. I was surprised and impressed that Tomihiro Hoshino never gave up although he was suffering much more that I was. I felt I could overcome any obstacles as long as he continued drawing pictures and writing poems. I noticed that I could never feel it if I were staying in Japan. He reminded me that I was happy to come to the United States, and he gave me the power to do my best in this country. His pictures and poems taught me one more thing that's very important. One of his poem says, "When I believed that life is the most important thing, it was painful for me to live. When I noticed that there is something more important than life, it was joyful for me to live." I think "something more important than life" means love. The reason he never gave up though he had a tragic accident is because he could feel the love of his family and people around him. He taught me that we can live even if we have lost everything as long as we didn't lose our love for our family and their love for me. He taught me that by drawing pictures and writing poems. Therefore, his simple pictures and awkward writing look the most beautiful to me. Seriousness CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Ryohei uto SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: r-uto@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 09 12:17 INTENDED READERS: A person who is interested in seriousness. And serious person Today,a lot of young people think that seriousness is ugly.I think it is not good idea.I think everybody has serious part.So I want to think why they think so and is this idea true.But I think seriousnessis not ugly at all.I want you to think this thing by reading my essay.Seriousness is not ugly or bad thing.This is my idea. Why seriousness is regarded as gloom or ugly? Maybe some serious people are quiet, so people confuse gloomy with quiet. This difference is big. Quiet and gloom is different thing. Of course, not all serious people are quiet. But serious people whom I met are almost quiet. I think quiet is not bad thing. Return to the main subject, I watched TV program which broadcast a girl who is worried about her seriousness. She had a feeling of inferiority about her seriousness. She thought seriousness is bad thing, so she want to be not serious. But one day, she notice that seriousness is not but thing. I think it's good idea. Like this,serious people are worring about their seriousness.Are they all right that they are seriousnessŽ¡Ž©Some of them think so.And some of them think that seriousness is ugly,so they become delinquency or spend their time in pleasure.The more the tendency which is that seriousness is ugly continue,the more serious people do that. I think, as mention, seriousness is not bad thing. And it is necessary. But it is not necessary that we are always serious. I think the best is to distinguish a case that we have to be serious and a case which we don' t have to be serious. To distinguish a case is the most best and wise, I think. Seriousness is not ugly. According to the time and circumstance, seriousness is attractive. So seriousness is by no means bad. Free Trip CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Yuko Fushimi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: fushimi0@mba.sphere.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 25 12:44 INTENDED READERS: People who have never traveled abroad on free trip. Traveling overseas on free trip is troublesome and stressful. However, it gave me great enjoyment and many wonderful experiences. I show you how it is enjoyable to travel abroad on free trip through my experiences. Why did I wanted to travel abroad on free trip? The reason is very simple. I wanted to travel as I likes. I have traveled overseas on package tour, but I have never traveled overseas on free trip. On package tourŽ¡Ž¤people act decided route in group. I think it very uninteresting. So, I decided to travel freely original. The biggest point of a free trip which differ from a group tour, is that you have to do all processes of trip by yourself. It is very hard and troublesome. Because, Japanese and common sense of Japan are not accepted in foreign countries. You can rely on only yourself. You have to bring together any information about travel: for example, the way of reservation of flight and hotel, the climate of your destination, and so on. Because of this, I got the power of thought and the ability of act. Meetings with various people were also valuable experiences for me. I met good people and unpleasant people, too. I will never forget every meeting: the taxi driver who took in me, the desk clerk who were kind to me when I was in trouble, children who showed me the way. I' m glad to see them. They told me the pleasure and the interest that communicating with local people. This trip gave me many wonderful experiences. It greatly widened my horizons, and I gained confidence in my own ability. I would not be what I am today without this trip. I really appreciate my first free trip abroad. And, I want to travel overseas on free trip again. The tale which tedium induced CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Yosuke Yamada SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s01960yy@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: Oct. 11 11:05 INTENDED READERS: Those who did not have the hobby called this, or have been bored in order that a situation may not allow devoting oneself to one's hobby Do you have anything that you could say, "this is the hobby what I like"? If your answer was yes, that's so good! But if you don't have any hobby that you like, or you have the hobby but you don't have good environment to do dose hobbies usually, and if you are tedious from dose reasons, please read this essay onse time. Also, it will be the help for you to escape from the tendiam. My hobby was the Game. And I like the Game's not only the TVgame's. I like the Game's like Board Games or card Games or whatever that table game's that didn' t need any electrycal power suppluy. Also more than TV game's. I could say this will came from the experince in the days of my high school and junir high school. I had born in TUKIJI town. But the reason of the family, I haven't lived in one town more than 3 years. So, I came to the boy who plays with the TV and computer games more than human friends. But every thing was changed from the entrance to the junier high school. The school I enterance has the dormitory, and all student must live in there 6 years. Many rules start to restriction my daily life. First, the TV and comics are prohibition in the dormitory. There don't have any TV, so I couldn't play any TV games too. I couldn't get out from school's site free, so I couldn't go to game center usually. Of course, junir high school student don't have a note PC. So I, the game junkie will become hunger for the hobby. I am the boy who only has week knowledge other about the TV game. So I coudn't follow to others talk, and couldn't make me interest about. So I couldn't make many friends. After while, I will devote myself to reading books. And while, I will be saunter in the bookstore to seeking the interesting books. One day, I found the book what writing the view of playing the board games. If the time that I was enthusiasm to the TV game, I will also not take that book. But I was hunger of hobby in that time, so I take that book in caprice. After I read that book, I got strong interest to that board game. So I propose to my friends to play that game. After all, now my friends and me will say "board game is one of my great hobby". After all, what I want to say is, if you are embarrassed your time, how about to turn your eyes to somewhere you never interested. Perhaps, there must be something more interesting things!!! Do you love your country? CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Ryohei Uto SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: r-uto@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 21 13:20 INTENDED READERS: A person who is interested in patriotism I have no special what I want to write about myself. So I would like to write what I have thought. The subject is " Patriotism ". I have been interested in this subject recently.Pleasse read my essay and please tell me your opnion I think most of the Japanese don't have patriotism. Why they are so? I think it has two reason. The first,Japan has never been face a national cricis.And when occasion demands,many Japanese think American army in Japan helped them.So people in this country don't have to have patriotism.The second,people in Japan have never think for each country. To a greater or less extent,people in this country are indivisualism.I don't think it is not good idea. And it is important. What is more important, however, it is balance of the two(patriotism and indivisualism). Now, is patritism good thing or bad thing? I think it is good thing. Up to this day,patriotism regarded as racialism or facism that is like a state in Japan of about 56 years ago. But I think it is wrong. Because other countries have more patriotism than Japan. And I think people who don't have mind of their love for their country aren't respected by people from other country. I think patriotism is very importrant and we should have this spirit. Therefore, I think patriotism is important and good thing. But in Japan, patriotism is regarded as not good idea. I think that we should be proud of our culture and our history. If we do so, we can be proud of our country and have patriotism.ButŽ¡Ž¤it is important that we should keep a balance that is patriotism and indivisualism. Maybe, I write drastic theme. But I think so. Please think about this theme and tell me your idea.I want to think about it more. Japan CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Ryohei Uto SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: r-uto@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: July 04 10:24 INTENDED READERS: People who lived or traveled other country. Or people who would like to go to other country.Or people who want to come to Japan I have been in Malaysia the old from a sixth-grade pupil to a third-grade junior high school. So I could go through many precious things. These are the things which are not be able to go through by Japanese young men. These are really precious experience for me very much, however, I could not experience what young mans who live in Japan during I did not in Japan went through. So when I come back to Japan, I had a lot of things which made me annoyed or embarrassed. So I want to make a statements which made me annoyed or embarrassed. First, the life of young mans is one of these. I went to Japanese school in Malaysia. So I thought life in Japan is like life of there. But the life in Japan was not what I had expected. For example, students' attitude in classes is one of this. In Malaysia, most of the students concentrate on the classes. But in Japan, students who do not concentrate on the classes are many. Of course, there are students who concentrate on the classes. But I think students who do not concentrate on classes are more than school of there. Second, a measure of moving is it. In Japan, most people use train. But in there, we used cars if we want to go out. Maybe, other countries are also.So I did not know how to ride a train. But there are many cars in this country. Third, the taste of Japanese food is one of these. I am Japanese so it is natural that I feel tasty of Japanese food. But I feel so. Therefore, I felt many difference. But I felt that Japan is convenient to live. We,in JapanŽ¡Ž¤have many things. So even if we want somethingŽ¡Ž¤we do not suffer from lack of goods. And I am able to make myself understood with my Japanese. This is the most important point for me. I like this country and feel convenient, howeverŽ¡Ž¤I would like to go to abroad once in a while. FRIENDS CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Genta Shinkai SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00494gs@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 21 19:04 INTENDED READERS: Do you have any friends? I have some friends. Then do you know how many friends do you have? Can you count them exactly? I don't know that answer and I can't count them. It is because there are a lot of definitions of friends. However for everyone friends are important. And that definition is eternal. I would not be what I am today if I had not met my friends. They are wonderful people. What is the definition of friends? There is no right answer, I suppose. I cannot tell anybody the best friends from the standard friends. But I know nothing is as precious as friends. When I went to the high school, a lot of interesting or funny men are around me. At that time I was in the basketball club. The members of that club I like more. It is because we had shared the disgust, happiness, anger and other emotions and I had had many experiences. We had trained, played, won and lost together. If I had not met them, I didn't have experienced like that. I never forget them. And they are nothing but friends. In university I was able to meet many wonderful people, too. In first semester I was in the 4th class. In this class I didn't make very many people, but men they became good friends to me are stimulus to me. They are always active and their thoughts are logical. I had decided to study hard in order to follow me. They are friends. By the way who is not my friends. I don't know. Probably it is not possible to define a friend in any simple way. But we know they are important. Regardless of whether we can say what the friends or the friendship mean, everybody recognizes the importance of friends. That is truth about friends. These are my real reasons why I study English. CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Kentaro Sakuragi SCHOOL: Chubu University E-MAIL: g99267@isc.Chubu.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www2.g-com.ne.jp/~nano-bit/ DATE & TIME: May 30 11:53 INTENDED READERS: I think that English must be the most language, but my real reasons why I study English is not all, and I want to tell you my real reasons why I study English. Hello. My name is Kentaro Sakuragi of Chubu University. I told in my introduction that I selected this class (English for the Internet Communication) because I want to be able to read and write English sentences by e-mail. For I would like to do business not only in Japan but also all over the world through the Internet. Then from now on, I would like to tell you my real reasons why I study English. First of all, I traveled in France with my family about one year ago. One day, I went shopping alone. I bought a kind of potato chips, which had not been sold in Japan. However, I was asked to pay the double of the real cost. I found out this fact half a day later. I was so shocked to know this fact, and I got angry with him and myself deceived. Secondly, several years ago, Hattori, a Japanese foreign student, was killed because he was fired a gun. Then he didn't know what "Freeze!" has meaning of "Stop!" For that reason the tragedy was caused. If he had knew that, he might escape that trouble, and if I encountered that situation, I got a result he had gotten, too. It is dangerous not to know which affect my life. So from now on, I must study English for saving my life. In the third reason, I heard that one Japanese company only uses English and many Japanese elementary schools are beginning English conversation, so I think Japan will frequently use English. These reasons are my real reasons why I study English. So I belong to a English club named "ESS", and I enjoy English with club member. From now on, I'm going to study English not to be deceived, and to use work the future. Thank you for reading my essay. In front of many people CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: emiko suto SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ume.ume@anet.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 04 00:15 INTENDED READERS: people who come into nagative action in front of many people Have you ever performed something or spoken in front of many people? And, did you accomplished it fully? Perhaps some of you took small action or spoke in a small voice because you were under extreme tension. You also felt how difficult you did something smoothly .As for me, the experience has been fruitful and become the basis of my action. A year ago, in my high school, I snag in a rock band. Member of my band were beginner. We were not good at performing. But we were satisfied with our playing one day, we are asked to perform in "livehouse" by other bands of my school. We practiced harder than usual. We fixed our hopes on our "live" on that day. The "livehouse" was too small, but we caught different mood from our school. At the last moment we performed, I was under extreme tension. I thought if I had failed, my band would have gotten bad image. I hounted myself by negative thought . As I expected, I forgot texts of songs, confused and lost my voice for a while. Bitter experienceŽ¡ŽÄ After the "live", many friends consoled me. Since this experience, I had been timid when I did something in front of people. But I noticed not failure but cowardice is a bad thing. I tried to accept room for failure in my heart. For example, I think how I think positively In front of people. Human relationship consists of look-be looked relation. This means people always want to know each other. So, I accepted people's interest in me. I tried to express myself. I become to think failure as its lessons which make me develop. Like this, I have changed my mind gradually and become to think positively before many people. In a way, I thank to my failure, but I do not want to do that any more. STIMULUS CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Muneyuki Hashimoto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00744mh@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 24 15:52 INTENDED READERS: especially young people One year has passed since I entered SFC. Looking back on my last year, it was the most valuable days in my life. Because I met a lot of good friends who stimulated my mind. Moreover, not only my friends but also the school lessons were much exciting for me. Now, I can say "My choice to come to SFC was very successful." with confidence. Before I came SFC, I was in small world. I didn't know there are so much active and competent students in my age. But my friends made me change. One of my friends is very active to study what he is interested in. He makes research about minority in northern Canada, and he even fo there as a fieldwork. When I listened to him first, I was so shocked to think about the diffrences between him and me. Another friend of mine is working at venture. He has his business in spite of a teenager. And his way of thinking was logical and reasonable. They are just a small part of my friend. I have a lot of good friends who stimulate me. Besides, some school works made me change as well. One of the hardworking classes if unforgettable for me. We searched about Information Technology in India very deeply as a group. We had discussion till midnight and sometimes it took us till next morning. Fortunately, our final presentation was very successful. One of my English lessons required us to create new company to make money. That was also groupwork and we researched some aspects of the new business. For example, marketing, financial plan, organization, advertisement strategy and so on. I hadn't ever joined these groupworks, so those were good experiences and enough to stimulate me. I think I'm lucky to meet those stimulus friends and surroundings. I was encouraged by those things so often. And now I want to tel a lot of people as young as me. To find stimulus friends is so important for you. They will improve your ming and you will be able to try hard. I would not be what I'm today if I were not able to meet them. Do you bave those stimulus friends? Begin to love English CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: taishi kobayashi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: taishi-k@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 08 23:21 INTENDED READERS: I hope audience try to think again about for what purpose to study English. Nowadays I am communicating with a lot of friends and stimulated much. But 5 years ago, I didn't like study hard and especially I hated English. My 7th grade school record was worse than the worst 10th of my school. If you heard the word "yakyu^ baka" you may imagine that I was playing nothing but baseball. That's exactly what I was in those days. These gays may have been effecting today's my poor school grades. However at least, I get to like English by an event. Then I'll write about the event in the following paragraph. It was August of grade 8. I changed to another school, because my parents circumstances. At that time, I was so blue for I get separated with my old friends. I feel depressed to go to school. I was keeping quietly and was waiting the lessons were ended. Since I was in the old school, I was called a boy who was active and participated plenty of questions. I was so bored with lessons and eagerly desire to come back to old school. Such a dark and foolish days come to an end. One day, my new school's English teacher took a videocassette out said "Let's watched a video together". He brought a television and turned the light off. The video program was a story of a Japanese student who studied in the U.S.A. The student had no friend and was always alone. In his school or in his apartment, he was always alone. But he never gave up, he tried to spoke to many foreigners. There were not only Americans. There were Indians, Chinese, Brazilians and etc. And he also asked number of questions to many teachers. After few weeks, he made many international friends and enjoyed his school life. He learned a lot of cultures, customs and national characters. After the video program, my new school English teacher told us "To learn English is very hard. There will be a lot of troubles. But don't forget if you can be able to speak English only a little bit, your world will get much more bigger. You can communicate with a lot of foreigners by e-mail. But at last, he also gave us candid advice. He said "But you should mention that you should know the Japanese cultures and customs. And the most important thing is to understand your own value and having your own opinion. Otherwise you cannot communicate no matter any languages. Thus, I realize the attraction of English and begin to love English. And I also learned that having my own opinion is really really important. I think now that the event was indispensable one. I would not be what I am today if were it not for that event. If you want to make international friends, I advise to you that you will study not only English but also Japanese peculiar cultures and have your own opinion. Books (for me) CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: a-daichi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: nejimaki_may@livedoor.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 02 03:04 INTENDED READERS: People who don't read books so much Reading books are one of the most important things in my life. It is not anything like a hobby for me. So to say, reading is one part of my life. In fact, it is not too mach to say that I would not be what I am today if I had not read any books. Books often bring me something moving, intellectual and suggestive. I've done my best to receive them, and now, they make up one piece of my personality. Last year, I read "Kaze no uta wo kike", written by Haruki Murakami. Before then, I hadn't read such a type of novel, and I am addicted to Haruki's world once. His style is very calm, intelligent and humorous. Those who hardly have read his novels often say that his style is something too light, but it is misunderstand. In fact, I have studied so many things reading his books. If you had such idea, please read his book carefully. So you will understand one piece of what he mean. But, book is not equal novel. there are many sorts of books. In particular, I have been taught many things by Makoto Oda, the most famous book in his work is maybe "Nandemo mite yarou". I learned a way to think of world, or peace, by his essay. What he meant (in whole his books) was very simple. He said, "we have to live as human". It is simple, but not easy. I can say "People had better to read more books". Old days, people found joy and progress in reading books. Why don't you? For me, some books are precious friends, and some are respectable teachers. Sometime they make me feel joy or progress more than them in reality do. Novels give me wonderful experience in imagination, and essays give me valuable knowledge. I didn't want to study computer CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Atsuko Shimazaki SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00463as@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp DATE & TIME: May 07 23:35 INTENDED READERS: Educators When I was a child, I didn't expect that I would study a computer. I wanted to be a young mother or a kindergarten teacher. I wanted to be someone that little children want to be. I thought that who studied computer was a hard worker and gloomy type. I had prejudice against a computer and computer users. And when I was a child, a computer was very expensive, I couldn't have a chance to use a computer. I want to talk about why I learn Computer and what education need in the position of students. When I was a junior high school student, I had a computer class. This class is very interesting. I learned drawing a picture with a computer. I could know how interesting and useful computer is. I was interested in computer. Then "Windows 95" became famous. The mass media told everybody that how useful "Windows 95" was and "Windows 95" was sold well. This news shocked me. I was interested in a computer further.I wanted to know how useful "Windows 95" was by using "Windows 95" actually. I wanted to use "Windows 95".The computer began to mark the new era. The school education that I took introduces the new era. Now everybody knows how useful a computer is. The price of a computer is getting lower. The number of computer users has been increasing. A computer isn't rare. But when I was a little child, computer is very expensive and rare. But I could use a computer and know how useful computer is through school education. This experience was a chance that I want to enter this University, SFC. And now I have been learning Computer. I think that how important school education has computer and how important school education introduces something new. To introduce something new is to give students some possibilities. High School Days CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: maiko ichikawa SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ichika-m@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 27 16:17 INTENDED READERS: I want to be read my essay by someone who both enjoyed your own high school days and didn't enjoy the days. My high school days were so full. How about you? Especially my high school gave us who had wanted to get something a variety of valuable experience. For example, club activities, volunteer activities, and learning hard and so on. As to me, I think club and volunteer activities gave me so rich experience. From them, I have got a lot of "power of life". I had belonged to orchestra club for five years since my junior high school days. Because I had played violin since junior high school first grade, I had wanted to continue, I thought violin is so difficult for me at first. I didn't like playing violin very much by degrees. But I had longed my senior and she was good at teaching us violin. So she encouraged me and I learned importance, which I try to improve it. As the days went by, when I became senior student. I took charge of coach who directed the violin to "kouhai", I also learned the technique of direction. Then if I look at it from a different angle, I learned the way of use time. Because I was so busy due to combine club and study. So I noticed I had been doing very well as both club and study. Then I volunteered near my school. There was home for old people. I visited there with my schoolteacher and good friends. We cleaned the room, beds, table etc, and talked with old people about us and the story of their youth. I enjoyed and was fruitful. And I sometimes go there from then on yet. Though these experience, I was influenced a variety of thought and they has came to change much power. Materializelly the power is to try, keep and the wish of my future and importance of trying to keep and the like. This valuable experience made me today's me, I think. Then I went to experience which I don't know and broaden my view for my future. To be stornger, to be kind CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Shinobu Kanemoto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99275sk@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s99275sk/ DATE & TIME: April 23 19:09 INTENDED READERS: People who don't know what Aikido is. "Aikido" gives you many things, friends, strength, the way of thinking, culture and so on. On this essay, I would like to introduce you what is Aikido. Do you know Steven Seagal? He is one of the famous action star in the Hollywood movie. His movie style is so clear, because there are always bad man to be defeated by him. The movie style like him is called "kanzentyouaku" in Japanese. When he attack the enemy in the movie, he uses actually the martial art (Budo), "Aikido". Aikido is like throwing a person away or holding a enemy tightly by arms. That means its style look like "Jyudo". But there are two big different points between Jyudo and Aikido. Firstly, talking to Jyudo, it would be advantageous if you were more heavy. Although, as for Aikido, you don't have to put on weight. Because Aikido uses not your power but other people's power. If someone grab your hand or your neck, you can protect yourself easily by using your hand to overturning and hold the person down on the contrary. Secondly, Aikido doesn't have a competition to judge who is strong (weak) or who is winner (loser). So, you have to show your progress by taking the test called "Syoudan Sinsa" in which you do some techniques ("Waza") decided in advance by master. Why "Aikido" doesn't have game or competition? The reason is simple. Aikido is not for beating someone or not for hurting each other. It's originally for stopping a struggle. When the Samurai periods ended, The "Budo" , Japanese Martial Arts ,(ex. Jyudo, Kendo, Aikido) lost the meaning of fighting but still remain that manners. Now that I am in the habit of going "Aikido dojo" two years, I think that I become stronger not only physically but also mentally. When I started doing Aikido, my simple desire is to be strong. But, as time passed in Aikido, I realized the meaning more and more deeply. I would be not what I am today if it were not for Aikido. Because Aikido tell me many thing, ,for example, what is real strength, the good behavior of daily life, the beauty of "Budo". Those things allows me to touch Japanese culture to feel identity as a Japanese. Also I realized the importance of having sympathy with other people, seeing the good in others, and the sincerity. If you are interested in "Budo" or you want to do some exercise, my best bet is "Aikido". My brilliant days CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Hiromi Midorikawa SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: hi_rochang@mbh.nifty.com WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00568hm DATE & TIME: April 27 00:44 INTENDED READERS: all people want to make friend with me or know me Needless to say, Futaba Gakuen is one of the most important and biggest elements of me. What is Futaba? It is the kinder garden, the elementary school, the sinior high school, and the high school that I graduated from. So I spent twelve years of my life for nineteen years in Futaba. And all of grateful days that I had spent in Futaba, school policy, friends and memories were great, special, wonderful and kindhea What made such brilliant days? I want to tell you firstly, school policy. My teachers always held up ¼Ôyou should respect everybody one after another as well as yourself¼Õ. So we always think of the others as well as me naturally and basically and the mood was always kindhearted peaceful. Secondly, friends as I told you. I think now I go to SFC everyday that we are very similar in Futaba on some pretext or other in an aspect of surroundings-economy, family structure and so on. So we rarely run counter hard but the girls always be with me were not similar, what we thought each other were not same except in such an aspect. Our destination and the favorite thing each is completely different but what we believe never change even now. Lately, I have to tell you without fail, memories. For example, Futaba Festival we painted and made stage with a loud laugh, A Ball Game Festival we practiced everyday and everyday whatever we want to win, A Thank-you Party For The Teachers I act as master of ceremonies and finally tears welled up in my eyes, writing many graffiti on the school wall though we know that we must be scolded before a schoolhouse destroyed to rebuild and so on! I will never be satisfied if I remember my memories and tell you. And such memories make me happy a little whenever I In conclusion, Futaba is very important factor for me. I think I will be supported by a lot of brilliant days that I spent in Futaba whenever I have a hard time and face a difficulty from now, too. I have thought a great deal of Futaba and lovable friends. And I love them! So I would not be what I am today were it nor for Futaba Gak Learning from an American Family CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Mayu Inoue SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00115mi@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s00115mi DATE & TIME: April 24 00:10 INTENDED READERS: everyone in Japan Have you ever realized how much your family cares about you? I hadn't until I stayed with an American family in the United States. The difference between the ways Japanese and American family treat their families taught me something I had never been aware of if I hadn't lived with an American family. As I started living with an American family, I was very surprised that they express their love toward their family as much as they can by kissing, hugging, and praising one another. They seemed to be confirming one another's love every day. At first, the sights of them showing their love openly entertained me a lot because it was a habit that I had never seen in Japan. However, those sights gradually started to bother me. This is because they made me worry if my family loved one another as much as those Americans do. My family rarely hug or kiss but often argue with and revile at one another. It took me a long time until I finally reached to the answer that my family's love was as strong as that of the American family's although we didn't show it physically. I noticed it by receiving a lot of letters a month from them and being told that they worry about me so much. In addition, they tried to do everything they could to let me stay in the States comfortably. When I noticed this, I learned how lucky I was to be given the opportunity to think about my family's love by observing the way Americans treat their families. At the same time, I was worried that a lot of people in Japan might not be aware of their families' love because the Japanese don't show it so often. If we at least try to express it by words more often, more people will feel being loved. Since the meaning of the family is to help and support one another, it is very important to show one's love to his or her family clearly. In addition, our life will be much happier if we can realize every day that there is always someone who has loved and cared about us. This experience taught me the importance of expressing one's love to his or her family, and since then my attitude toward my family changed a little bit. Although I couldn't get Americanized at once and start kissing and hugging my family, I started trying to tell them that I'm always thankful to them and that I care about them a lot. By doing that, I'm sure that I can make someone in my family feel being loved and supported and make his or her life a little bit happier. Energy CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: yuki otomo SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: yuki0929@aioros.ocn.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 25 23:53 INTENDED READERS: my friends Can you imagine the life without air or water? It is impossible for me to imagine the life without my friends and music. It is quite natural and vital existence for me to live. Today, I want to know the great power and beauty of friends. Every day and every times my friends give me the great power and much courage to live every day. However, in the daily life, it is difficult for us to find that we give and take the power and courage or support each other. Do you know Why? It is very difficult question. I think that the daily life is so usual for us that we think the life such like usual would be continued forever. Our daily life may be too peaceful. Our life is not always happy. Sometimes it may be so sad. Or sometimes it may be so strict. We cannot guess what will happen in our own life. Of course, we are not a perfect person. Everybody has weak points, but everybody has a good points. This is a very natural thing. But an important thing is that we can support each other. Sometimes we feel tiredness or worry about something bother us. At that time, the most important things are we, friends. We can share the pain of his/her, we can give a some advise and courage. That is our humans' love I think. With our love, daily life will be much more energetically. Our humans'love is one kind of potentiality, I think. It can be beyond logic. Someone say `it is impossible for you`, I hate like this words. Impossible things would not be exist. I believe that even if it is difficult for me to do something by myself, with friends' supporting everything can be done. love my friends. The turning point CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Keiji Takahashi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99542kt@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 24 11:59 INTENDED READERS: People who like sports I think there are two turning points in my life. That is the club activity at high school and experience of host family in high school days. In this essay, I want to talk about the former one that changed my life a lot and opened up my mind largely. It is an encounter with American football that is indispensable in my life. Before entering junior high school, I had a big motivation that was "when I am a junior high student, I'll study hard and play club activity hard!" But actually, I couldn't keep the motivation. I retired a club activity for not suiting to the atmosphere. Since then, I had nothing to do. I stayed at home long time. Of course, I didn't like my life. But I didn't know what to do. I was eager to change my life. But the turning point had come. It was when I went on to high school (I went chu-ko ikkan school.) "If I miss this chance, I can never change." the thought gave me a large power to take an action. I chose football because the protector looked cool and almost all students begin football from high school, I mean we can start from the same level, and it seemed suited for me. Football indeed suited for me, and it didn't take a long time until I fell in love with it. I became crazy about it, I was thinking about it even in the classes. I liked my high school life. Now I think that it was not necessary to be American football. I needed whatever I could devote myself to. Because I met football, I am what I am today, and because there was the charging time during junior high school day, I am what I am today. A Turning Point CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Yuka Tanaka SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00646yt@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 26 12:59 INTENDED READERS: those who took some entrance examinations The spring before last, I was in the big blues. I felt I am something unnecessary or useless. This is because I could not enter the university I wanted to the most. And I had to enter a prep school. This meant my mother must spend much money for me. I was distressed by the fact for some weeks. But I changed my thought as a result of a long suffering. I decided to reconsider my future. Until then, I had a little course for the future, but my failure made me find that there were a number of choices. I got a long time, a year, to think about my life! I entered kawai prep school and started to study very hard. I attended "all" my classes. I reached at school at 8 am and I left the school at 8 pm. As I took one and a half hours to go to school, I had to get up so early. At first, until I got a goal, I was worn out everyday. But it is happy that I could get a wonderful goal in April! One of my friends gave me some information about SFC. I was attracted this campus so much and I studied more hard for the goal. During the year I had many troubles. Sometimes I was suffered from the fact that I was a prep school students. Sometimes I had the illusion that I could never pass any examinations. But I found solutions one by one with my mother's and my friends' help. In these steps I got a strong mind slowly. And now I am enjoying my campus life. I came to think that I had to fail the first entrance examination. This is because, I believe, the failure made what I am today! I can be here by glace of her CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Ryota Mizuno SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: ryotam.09@d5.mnx.ne.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00895rm/ DATE & TIME: May 18 12:08 INTENDED READERS: depressed young person Now, I am a student of SFC, KEIO Univ. I enjoy the life of university, studies, group activities and so on.But I have never thought that I can live a nice life.2 yeas ago, I ran across her songs. That was my Turning point. 2 years ago, I was very depressed. I saw the sky from the window of my room and sighed deeply. Because I failed in the entrance examination and broken-hearted in the same time. In that time, I ran across her singing voice. It calmed down me and heal my sorrow. Her name was Yuka Kawamura. She is a singer. When I saw the TV CM of cola, I heard her singing voice by chance. The name of the CM song is "Tokimekino rhythm." I was very impressed her song, and I bought her CD "Lush Life". This CD tell me about her things. Surprisingly, she composed the very popular song "Yozoranomukou." I love her song. For example, I can feel her kindness by "Tooihoshitotikakunokimi." I weep when I listen "Travels" every time. Because I love her song, I access Internet and search her information. Then, I found the radio program of her and the program was broadcasted in my area, Hokkaido. The name of the program is "Midnight Lariat." This program told me she is from Kansai area and very funny. She had radio programs in many areas. So, she is popular disk jockey in the world of the Japanese radio. I was healed her talk too. Next Spring, I could enter SFC. I owe what I am to her. If I couldn't heard her song, I am not here. I went her concert in last summer and that is the first time I met her. Her singing voice was grate more than CD. I thought Tokyo is a great place because I could see her. But I was pity only one thing. In Tokyo, She had no radio program. However I have not to be pity because Her radio program started on the Internet. Now she becomes popular artist more and more. Her song used in TV dramas and was to use in cinema. She works hard to do her best. So, I works hard to do my best too. Seven days war CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Nomoto A SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: nomoto-a@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 09 10:29 INTENDED READERS: Especially people who have read seen "Bokurano nanokakan sensoh" Reading is one of my hobbies. To the novel recently read from the fairy tale read as a child, I have read many books. Almost all books were only interesting, and there was also a petty book in inside. However, there were some read books which have big influence which changes my way of life. In this essay, I think that one in such a book will be introduced. Although there may be some persons who have looked at and noticed the title, the book which I make subject after this is "my war during seven days" written by Mr. Osamu Soda. Although it is a comparatively famous book in my age, the image of the movie which carries out based on this book and was made rather than the book may be stronger. Although it is unnecessary addition at those who know, this book is the contents that the children who resisted adult society, for example, parents and the teacher , make their community. I think that it is surely that I read this book for the first time as a first-year student in a junior high school. I have it even now, but I will not already read. Because, I am too older for having sympathy in the characters of this book. However, I think that the influence which it had on me of those days was very large. After reading this book I changed to one who does not hear what is said if not convinced from the good child who often listens to what parents say. If the influence is raised concretely, it will be that I have a question in what has merely followed till then, and came to judge myself. For example, it is why I have to study and why may not drink alcohol or smoke tobacco. I think it is the required and important, since it has my idea which is not imitation of someone's ideas having a question in something, and to judge it by myself. This book that taught it will be one of the elements which have completed present me rightly. Of course, only this book has not formed myself. It supports to many men, many books, and many experiences, and there is present himself. However, probably, I had become more different human being, if it did not meet with this book. Therefore, I think that it will raise having met with this book as one of the answers of the question of the beginning The happening which changed my whole life. CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Youko Miyahara SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s98956ym@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s98956ym DATE & TIME: April 26 13:58 INTENDED READERS: People who cannot have been to school I got into a certain girl's junior high school in Osaka. The school is a Christian school which is famous because the uniform is not lovely at all and its very strict rules. For example, our hair style was restricted to braids or short hair. And the school forbade us to talk to a man except relatives. I think the rules are trivial matters now and I thought then, too. But the teachers said always "To break the rules means to bring shame on the school!" I couldn't understand what the rules were for, and I can't still. I thoght it was foolish. I couldn't observe the rules. Every time I broke the rules, my teacher phoned my mother up and told her to come to the school. The teachers treated me as a nuisance. Gradually I got to hate my school. The nearer I got to my school, the more pain in the stomach I had. When I entered this high school, I became thin morbidly. But a good happening took place unexpectedly. when I was a first year student in high school. My father transferred to the Ehime branch suddenly. Though he said he would go alone at first, I asked him to take me to Ehime. I couldn't put up with the situation anymore. So my family moved to Ehime. Next school was Christian school and strict rules, too. But after changing schools, I had a very good time which I had never had. Because the teachers listened me. And they told me their opinion itself not the rules. Not until that time did I know how enjoyable going to my school is! During I lived there, I could met many honorable teachers and friends. They were alive surrounded by many friends, not by many unnecessary rules. When I go to Ehime to see them is my best pleasure. Thanks to these people, I could enter this university. My father's transfer changed not only my school life but also my whole life. An implication of freedom CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: syujiro ide SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00081si@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00081si/rockstar.html DATE & TIME: April 26 07:22 INTENDED READERS: my friends I would not be what I am today, were it nor for my high school. One of the most impressive things I learned at high school is "an implication of freedom". If I didn't learn it, I might be lazy and uninteresting man. My high school, whose name is Toho, is famous for it's free atmosphere. Rules are only what are needed. Teachers (not all of them) don't force us to study, but advise us to study. Therefore Students can spend more time for extracurricular activities etc. For example, sports, music, art and literature. Actually I had played soccer until first year student and after that I had been a member of a rock band. But therefore students must study by themselves. Unless they don't do so, they drop behind the rest of the class because most of them have good heads. That is, students who are too dependent on free environment and pass days idly always marks low in their class. I don't mean to be in favor of systems of education we have to compete in class. What I want to say is the relation between free environments and lazy is not only about study but also about daily life. If you are in free environment and don't make efforts, you will be lazy and can't grow up emotionally. Freedom demands that we make a clear distinction between time to effort and to play. My high school taught us it indirectly. Now I learn information process and so on in Keio University. I also enjoy my free school life; I compose original music and play bass with my band's member in clubs about once a month. If I didn't know "an implication of freedom", there would be not what I am today. And I want to try hard from now on, too. Thank Toho high school !! LetŽ¡ŽÇs consume doctor CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Yuki Fuseya SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t99794yf@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 28 03:29 INTENDED READERS: All people not to choose doctor Many Japanese trust doctor perfectly, because doctor has technique (which is very advanced we can't use) and they cure us using their technique. Many Japanese rely on doctor doctor like as the God. But I think that patient is a consumer and a doctor is a merchanise in capitalistic world. We have to consume doctor cleverly. There are many doctors in this world. Part of them are very superior, and part of them are very bad. We have to choose good doctor by ourself. So, Choosing doctor and choosing merchanise is same thing. But many Japanese don't choose doctor because they trust doctor perfectly. Why them trust doctor and doesn't mean to choice doctor? It is a matter of life or death for us. When I was 6 months years old, my stomach was upset and I was hospitalized. But this hospital is very bad, and my body was weakened and weakened. Because doctor and nurses were too irresponsible. For example, I couldn't eat or drink something, so I was put on an intravenous drip. But it came of on Sunday. My parents reported to nurses, but they said that they couldn't correct it without doctor's permission, though It's only correct an intravenous drip. So, I was neglected 2 days ! My parents thought that this hospital is very danger. So I was moved another hospital. In this hospital, doctors and nurses were very hospitably, and them treatment were very sincere. I recovered soon through by them help. I would have died If I had not been moved here. Choosing doctor is a matter of life or death for us like this. It's very important things for us. We have to develop our ability to tell the difference between good doctor and bad doctor. I would appeal to everyone to choose doctor and consume doctor. And I thank this doctor and my parents. A Happening CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Mitsuhito Uchida SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: m-utida@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 01 13:35 INTENDED READERS: People who can't swim When I was an elementary school student, I thought we don't have to learn to swim. Human beings live on land, so I thought we didn't need the technique of swimming in our life and only fish could swim well. But an experience in summer made me change my mind and now I think the idea was very ridiculous. The happening was very shocking to me. When I was 9 years old, it happened. On a hot day in our summer vacation, my friends and I went to the pool. In those days, I couldn't swim at all. I was so-called kanazuchi. But I like the pool very much and I sometimes went there. On the day, I entered big pool for the first time. At the corner of the pool, I could stand easily. But as I approach the middle of the pool, the pool became deeper. In spite of this situation, I went to deeper point I couldn't stand, and I nearly drowned. At that time, a friend of mine helped me, so I can write this essay now. Thank you, my friend! After this, I was afraid of water during the summer vacation. But I don't want to nearly drown, so I practiced swimming seriously and I learned to swim a little in the next year. Surely, human beings live on land but we need the technique of swimming. If you fall in the sea and nobody help you, how do you survive the situation? The answer is very clear. 'Swim by yourself. Good luck!' So, now I think we must learn to swim and I want to practice swimming. If I have not gone through the experience, I would not be willing to practice swimming and could not swim at all now. And by this experience, I learned that anything would do well if we tackle seriously. Is it too natural? make an intelligent robot CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Takashi Katsura SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ta-katsu@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 09 10:04 INTENDED READERS: Students who is not an department of science and engineering Recently many robots are work all around the world it is same in Japan. Almost all of them are for industry, but some of them are not. One of those is intelligent robot. My dream is making the robot that can speak and act by itself, and has the heart. Of course the robot's type is humanoid. The present, the robot is developed by all around the world, and Japan is one of the most advanced countries on this field. My first encounter at robot is my junior high school age. It is not a robot, because it made by radio control car and metal boards. These are made for Sumou. These are simply attack only but it is my first experience of makes a robot. By this robot I could get third prize. By this event I was interested in robot. After that I see many robot for industry, for amusement etc. But intelligent robot is most interested me. Because I was interested in clone during high school years. So the robot it has intelligence is so interesting. And then my dream makes an intelligent robot is decided. Recently some people say all the robots don't have to make like the human, but I think in this human society the humanoid type is very useful because this society is maid for human. Still more the robot that shape is far from living thing is not a robot it is machine I think. Generally it is of course wrong but this is my opinion. In the future, human beings and robots are living in the same society it is my ultimate dream. My dream was started by the radio control Sumou robot and decided by the clone technology. If either this event or this technology isn't existence, I was not major in the mechanical engineering. Nice to meet you... CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Hiroki Futatsugi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t98836hf@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 25 11:52 INTENDED READERS: For the people who I met for the first time Hi! My name is Hiroki. People call me "Nickey," since my name could be read "Nikki" besides "Futatsugi." I used to take the "Technical Writing" class several years ago, which I liked it very much. That's why I've chosen this course again. (I think this class and the "Technical Writing" class is almost equal.) I had to take two more language courses in order to graduate this university, so that's why I'm here even though I'm a senior. Well, most of the senior grade students are busy with finding jobs. I want (have) to do this, but I must earn enough courses or else I can't graduate this university! Sigh. Four years ago, I was influenced by two people on selecting the university I would like to go. This two people, which is my mother and her friend, advised me to go to SFC while I was searching for the perfect university for me. It was difficult for me to decide, since I was not good at mathematics and most of the university I was interested required mathematics knowledge in order to pass the admission test. Studying abroad was one of my choice also, but my mother gave me another choice: Faculty of Environmental Information in Keio University. My mother's friend gave me many precious advices before the admission test and reassured me before taking it. Without their advice, I would have studied abroad and didn't have a chance to go to Japanese university. Going to a foreign university would be a nice experience for me, but since I didn't go to the Japanese public high school, even if I graduate the international high school my final background would be "graduated junior high school" instead of "graduated high school." I think I made a better choice by selecting SFC, because I had a wonderful time here and also my final background would be "graduated university." I had a broken leg CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Satoshi Haruta SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t99762sh@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t99762sh DATE & TIME: April 26 13:34 INTENDED READERS: Friends When I was 10 years old, I was a member of the softball club. One Sunday we had a practice game. In the softball game, the moment I slid into the third base, I got a fracture of my right leg bone with a snap. At once accompanied by my coach, I went to an emergency hospital. A little while after we got there, my parents arrived. And my mother fainted. Since I had broken my leg, I couldn't move my body as I wish. At the beginning, I couldn't take a bath by myself, and I couldn't go to the toilet by myself. My parents and two sisters always helped me. Especially, we had many difficulties until I became to be able to use a pair of crutches. When my mother helped me stand up, She hurt her waist. She seems to feel pain in her waist still. For a while, I was absent from school. After I could go to school, I went to school by taxi. And I went back home by taxi. The most difficult thing in school was to go up or down the stairs. Just when I wanted to go up the stairs, a friend who had experience in having bone fractures. And, when we moved from classroom to classroom, a friend of mine had my notebook and my textbook and my pencil case. The experience of breaking leg made me know the importance of family and friends. I became to think I can't live alone. Now I can walk smooth, and go up or down the stairs smooth, but I want to rememmber this thing. If you had a certain trouble with your body, could you live by yourself? How long can you survive without any helps? I think many many people make us alive. Good Experience!!! CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Koichi Ogawa SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: koichi-o@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 25 10:22 INTENDED READERS: People who want make foreign friends I was packing my things the day before leaving Japan, thinking about what would happen in a strange country. I had been to Korea 5 years before and stayed only for 3 days, and I had never had foreign friends. So, imaging the life in Australia for 5 weeks, my feeling was filled with excitement and anxiety. I stayed with an Australian family and went to an English school for first 2 weeks. Then, I spent next 2 and half weeks at a farm, which was longer than I planned. Though the life itself was so boring, I was working with 3 German girls who are so friendly. After the farm, I went back to the family and stayed there for about 1 week, looking for next accommodation and decided to make my stay longer. I remembered that one of my German friends recommended I should try a backpackers hostel where she had spent a good time with good people. Then, I decided to stay there and started the life with new people. I stayed for about 3 weeks at the backpackers hostel, cheap accommodation especially for young travelers. And, I shared a room with more than 10 people. They were English, Irish, Danish, Swedish, Dutch, German, Italian and so on. There was few Japanese or Asian. We often had parties at pubs near the hostel. Making use of this opportunity, I made lots of friends and went to sightseeing or had lunch together with them the next days after the nights. In this situation, I had to speak English and be outgoing in order to become good friends with them. Even now, I am keeping in touch with them by E-mail and want to see them again in their country. Now, I can say that the life there was much greater than I had imagined in Japan, and what's more, this good experience showed me a possibility that I can have lots of fun with new people in new countries, and a new goal that I go to travel around the world. To achieve that, I am studying English harder and saving money working part-time jobs. This makes my present life more meaningful. When I look back on this experience later, I will probably regard it as a big change in my life! What do you want to be like? CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Hiroaki Terauchi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: zinai@cat.zero.ad.jp WEB PAGE: http://sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00682ht DATE & TIME: April 26 23:03 INTENDED READERS: Those who are less than 20years old and afraid of becoming an adult. Can you recollect what you were 15 years ago? And can you tell what you were and what you are? What is the difference between these? Sometimes such an idea hit upon me and perplex me. Anyway, who is this cute child? Girl or boy? Can you tell it? And can you foretell what he will be in the future? During the years ahead he will have to make many important choices. Go to school, or enter the labor market? Marriage? When and with whom? Seemingly he will overcome these difficult decisions. To tell the truth, he is me. And he is 5-year-old boy. And today is my 20th birthday. You know, physically I wear mustache and beard. In addition, my cute eyesbecome very keen so that no sooner do cute girls see me than they run away. And I don't know why so. Now that I'm twenty. In terms of the law, I have some sense of duty and responsibility. But is this the proof of becoming the adult? I don't think so .Therefore to me, the adult means the man who acquire some abstract things. If so, what do I like to be? Frankly speaking, the point is only one. "Whether what I was can respect what I will be or not." Nowadays I respect some adults. Considered deeply, they have some common pointsŽ¡Ž½foolishness childishness in good sense and hot heartŽ¡Ž½and these are the key which very important to me .Because,without these points, a man would become to no having wits and humors and could not understand other person's pain. The proverb says "Nothing is so precious as time". And indeed it is true I think.But ,I think, however hard I may try to get the cool adults, it is nonsense. Because another proverb teaches "Practice makes perfect". Not linger on something trifling thing, I want to make own way and do what I believes in right from now on. And in this way I could be a COOL adult. New Experience CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Atsushi Inagaki SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: inagaki@ma.kcom.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 09 00:07 INTENDED READERS: Especially for those people who will go to the other countries in the future For me, it was my first travel to foreign countries. I was 14 years old when I had moved to the United States. I expected to have some difficulties to living there because I couldn't speak much English then, and it came true. But I could have found some pleasures from my school life, too. One day at night, my father came home and suddenly said, "My work place will be changed to Washington D.C.". My family was struck by this sudden announcement, but finally understood his message and decided to go with him. On the day of departure, however, my dog suddenly got frightened and refused to be abroad at the airport. I was kind of such feeling that my dog looked like. In the other word, I felt strong sympathy to my dog. However after the arrival, she was very cheerful. I got so shocked. My biggest problem was actually how I could get used to American culture. My school life didn't go easy because I didn't speak fluent English, and I had hard time to communicate with classmates for a long time. I knew that a few Japanese students in my school could help me, but there were rare chances to meet them. Then, I tried to find Asian students who help me so I can get into classroom atomosphere and get more relaxed, too. This try came to success, and I could have spent really good time in the United States. It is often helpful ways to go over the difficulties that people make close friends when you are come up to have problems. They would encourage and give you strength even if you are in a trouble and ask for their help. But it is really up to you that you choose other different ways, and if you look forward and try to find solutions for yourself, it makes you a nice person, I think. Rockin' life CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Shinya Yamamoto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00992sy@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 26 01:47 INTENDED READERS: the same generation I love Rock music. I listen to them everyday and also I love to sing and play the guitar. I love them because their cool melodies and amazing guitarplay make me feel happy and they take my stress away. But the most important point is their influence on my thinking style and life style. Actually, without Rock n' Roll, I would not be what I am today. Rock n' Roll is not only a kind of music but also a kind of philosophy. My favorite Rock musicians have common attitude. It is "living for selves and by selves". We (especially teenagers or young generation) are supposed to do what we don't want to because the power that is much bigger than ours-parents, teachers, and a whole society-make us to do. For example, young people like to change their hair color or some likes strange styles. But it is hard to find the jobs with strange hair. So some of them give up their hair colors. I think half of what the society tell us may be right. But the other half is bullshit! It may be easy to follow whole of what they say and go on the rail they made or be the wheel of the society because I don't have to fight against them. But if I do that, I will lose real meanings of my life. I need to go off the rail and go on my way freely to find the meanings of my life. It requires much risk to go one's way. I have to judge what is important and what is not. And if the judge is against the society, I might have to fight. So people tend to follow the society or compromise as the " hair style" case. And I used to be afraid of living against the society before I met Rock n' Roll. Rock n' Roll told me the importance of going my way. That's why I would not be what I am today without Rock. The encounter "once-in-a-lifetime chance" CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: TaskŽ¡Ž¡Nishikimi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: task@makegumi.com WEB PAGE: http://www.iface.ne.jp/~task DATE & TIME: April 26 14:27 INTENDED READERS: My sense of value was changed very much when I encountered the person. It was about Oct 2000. I was a High School student living in Nagoya. At that time, I was bad student, didn't study, didn't work, and I emptied days. Someone around me maybe looked me as "a juvenile delinquent". Now I look back those days and guess that maybe I didn't have self-confidence and pride. I vaguely thought limitation of my future, but I couldn't get how to do. But I met the person at a day in Oct. From that day my thought changed very much. The person's name is KENTARO Iemoto. At that time he was 18 years old young man same as me. But circumstances he lives differed from me very much. He was the founder and CEO of venture company. The company's name is "Clara online, Inc". If you are interested in this company and him, access "www.clara.co.jp". He came to my high school to give a lecture and I went to hear his lecture by chance. It's still a riddle why I went to the lecture, but sometimes fateful encounter is unexpected. He started to talk. He talked how he had lived and challenged. When he was in an elementary school, He suffered from a brain disease and was operated on. But unfortunately, that surgical operation made a mistake. After the operation, he lose the use of the lower half of the bodyŽ¡Ž¥ Therefore he couldn't go to high school, And he despaired. But he never gave up all hopes. In a disabled sickbed, He got interested in PC and learned basic PC skill. He earned 500000 yen by writing column at PC magazine. Then when he was 15 years old, he established "Clara online,Inc" by that money. This was the record that the youngest representative director of Japan established an incorporated company. And now "Clara online,Inc" have achieved very rapid growth. These were his lecture's summary. For me, the most impressive of his words is "Challenge". The encounter with him and this word changed my sense of value. He over and over said "Don't forget challenge spirit anytime. And, we are young." This word told me that under any situation, we can do anything by challenge spirit and his best effort. The,I just decided to do my best anyway and started to study. After all, I passed the Univ's examination. Then I passed one valuable year. This encounter still remain deep inside my heart. This occurrence taught me two things. Always render the best in the environment in which I am. And it is although one more is a more important thing, The encounter with various persons makes myself and my sense of value. I feel that encounter of a man and a man is a very great thing. So I very value the word "once-in-a-lifetime chance","ichigo ichie"in Japanese", and am alive in every day. What's life? CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Yamamoto Naoto SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00996ny@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00996ny/ DATE & TIME: April 26 13:28 INTENDED READERS: People who study biology "what's life?" If you are asked that, how do you answer? Maybe you will say "It is difficult to this question" because clear definition about life doesn't exist. I think, phenomena what are looked upon "life" is a part of life in a broad sence.In other words, life as organic matter is one of lives as it could be. If life can be organized by expect organic matter, and be produced by the network it is formed by conpornents of life phenomena, tha information about the network is life. This This concept makes me drive to search for ultimate question "What's life?" By making artificial life, I may be able to understand what a life is. So, I study every day to produce a life system ,and to evolve and an observable method should actually be made. If it does in this way, the natural laws which manage a life are discovered, and more complicated non-line type self- organization will also be able to be found someday. However, if we can make an artificial life, we can control the existing living thing kinds or the process of evolution itself. It is the same as that of expecting future to control evolution. Unless "Devil of Laplace" of setting the Nature to determinism exists, it is fundamentally impossible to expect the result which this caused. Therefore, making a life is taking responsibility to all natures, and this also needs deep understanding to a life. While feeling the profanity guilty to all lives, I cannot forbid a shiver to taking such responsibility. I myself am a life. Therefore, I want to know what a life is. Probably it will become not only a life but getting to know myself. Now,I become same size with this question. Some day, I can answer now to the question. The book changed me CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Hayashi Yuuko SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: cqe15616@nifty.com WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 03 14:08 INTENDED READERS: People who know Ž¥Ž¦Ž¥Ž©Ž¡Ž¼Ž¥ô£Ž¼Ž¤„¦ŽµŽ¤Ž¬Ž¤Ž» I was not patient very much when I was a child. I could keep on doing nothing. Everything was interesting to me at first, but on the way, I got bored with everything. So, I was just"Mikka-bouzu". But one day, I changed. "Where's Wally?"made me patient. One day in the morning, I got to school and enter the classroom. All of my friends circled a book. "What's up?"I asked. "Don't you know the name of book,'Where's Wally?'?"one of my friends answered. "I don't know ! What's it?" I looked into the book. I was surprised!! There were sooooooooooooooo many many people in the book!! The book was a kind of game book. The pages were full of a great number of people. Wally is somewhere in a page. A Wally a page. It is very hard to look for him soon. I was very interested in the book. Not only me but also all of the class. Everyone go to ground to play after lunch. But since these books were popular, everyone kept on looking for Wally in the classroom. Everyone wanted to find Wally first!! But my mother never bought me the books. She said,"You will be bored soon, I'm sure Ž¡“ƒ Oh , my mom know my boring temper very wellŽ¡ŽÄ.oh my god!! But I could not forget the books however. I kept on asking my mother and father to buy me the book, so repeatedly. "If you buy me the book, I will do anything, I will be a good girl ! Please!!!!"At last , my parents took me to a book shop. Finally, I got the book, "Where's Wally?"!!! Since I got the book, I was looking in the book to find Wally day and night. I love it to the extent that my parents were surprised. I brought it always when I got out; even in a train, in a car, I kept on looking for Wally!! At last, I had found each Wally in all of pages! Ž¡ŽÄ. But I didn't stop it! Next stage started. So, I began to search for other characters! Ž¡ŽÄ. Like this, I enjoyed this book fully. (Another word; I ate this book.) Since I got the book, I was looking in the book to find Wally day and night. I love it to the extent that my parents were surprised. I brought it always when I got out; even in a train, in a car, I kept on looking for Wally!! At last, I had found each Wally in all of pages! Ž¡ŽÄ. But I didn't stop it! Next stage started. So, I began to search for other characters! Ž¡ŽÄ. Like this, I enjoyed this book fully. (Another word; I ate this book.) sence of feeling Art CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: YOSHIDA, Taro SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s99951ty@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s99951ty/ DATE & TIME: April 26 01:07 INTENDED READERS: Person who likes Art I am twenty years old now. When I look back my twenty years overview of my life, I might find that something changed my way of living in my age of children. The first major memory that I still remember about Art is the painting which I did in elementary school. I was second grade student that time, and as most of the small students are, I didn't have so much interest to paintings. Now I already forgot the reason I did so, but I did the painting as hard as I can do. I mean, I did my best only one time. After all, I quickly forget about the painting. About after half years from that time, the teacher told me that my painting was awarded by the mayor. I could not believe it at that time, but soon the painting returned in my hand, and there were gold paper and award paper was on the painting. When I was painting, I could not think about the award at all. But when I was awarded once, I started to think that "making something is fun". From that point of time, my life with art was started to begin. I now studing Graphic Design, Computer Art, and Colors. For me, these are very interesting part of learning. In my dairy life, I'm spending most of the free time to "think" something. To think, is the necessary action to give a birth of brand-new idea. When I starts to love art, it means that I started to love making something new. Everyday in my life, there are many many new discoveries. But now, I don't have the skill to transport all of the new discoveries to creative work from myself. The thing that I am wanting most now is, the "creativity". I want to be a "creative" person. What is creative? What can the creative person do? I don't know the answer. How can I be like that? I know it is very hard way, but I don't know the way how to be a creative person. The word "creative", this is the word that changed my life. I now know, that first thing that I should do now is, improve my sence of felling about Art. This is the answer to me. Volunteer help to yourself CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Shigeaki Hamada SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00771sh@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~s00771sh/ DATE & TIME: April 26 11:15 INTENDED READERS: who don't know me well Now, I belong to AIESEC, which is a NPO (non-profit organization). I have enjoyed volunteer work. To think, I was so opposed to the idea of doing it. What changed my mind about it? Before I enter the college, I thought that it is better to do part time job and to earn money than to do volunteer work. It is because that volunteer is non- profit, so I thought it is waste of time. But then, after entered my college, I definitely wanted to do something that was different from. I want to do different from simple part time job or simple study in front of desk or simple play, for example Karaoke, mah-jongg and so on. I did some activity involving international exchange (that is core work of AIESEC). In my project, I helped trainees who came Japan from foreign country. Is it sounds so meaningful? But really, I admit, my motives were selfish at first. I have little volunteerism. I have little interest in exchange. But then I started getting really into it. It is great situation; by making other person happy, I feel happy. By developing other person, I also develop myself. Even if I do that activity, I can't get school credit for it. Also I can't get money for it, even though I use my time, energy and so on. But through the activity I get a lot of experiences. It is useful to get experiences to improve myself. For example, it is group-work ability. Working with other people to same direction. Each member has his or her own particular role. These members have to work and communicate with one another. Through a lot of experiences, not only I acquire many skills, I have grown to maturity. So I bless myself to do the volunteer work. My choice is success. AŽ¡Ž¡Teacher CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Daiju Masuma SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: d-masuma@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 01 00:14 INTENDED READERS: Perhaps, there are some people who have bad images when they think of their teachers. I would like to them to read this essay, because I would like to them to know the teacher who is maybe difficult from their teachers It was four years ago that I met him first. I understood he was in charge of our class when I was a tenth grader, and that he was a teacher of world history during homeroom. Then, I thought he would taught us only world history. But now, I can say "I owe what I am today to him." When I was a eleventh grader, he taught us world history. He usually talks calmly, but when it comes to world history, he talks passionately. I can have felt his passion for history not only during class. During recess, if I asked him a question, no matter how busy he was, he spared a time for me. At that time, a friend of mine told me that he was the most popular teacher in our high school. I thought that it was reasonable. Do you know the man, Napoleon Bonaparte? It is said that he slept for only 4 hours every day. But, it is said that the teacher slept for only 3 hours at most! Rumor had it that he was working till 4 a.m., he backed home, and he went to work till 7 a.m.! Maybe that's why he needed to be hospitalized. He was suffering from a very serious illness. Indeed, there was some possibility of his death. These days, I was a student of a prep school. Almost every Sunday, I visited him because I wanted to encourage him as he did. But, by contraries, I was encouraged by him. One day, he said "You must persevere before you can succeed. Confidence is half the battle." I thought "Why he can say such things?" Maybe, you may think "These were what he should say as a teacher." But, I cannot keep back my tears, because there was a possibility of his own death! By the way, I wrote " I owe what I am today to him" above. Now, I am majoring in history in Sophia Univ.. This is partly why I can say that. Of course, there are other reasons. What it is for me to sing? CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: harue SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: d-harue@par.odn.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 24 19:18 INTENDED READERS: Person who are interesting my hobby and experiences. I started the study of singing by chance. My singing teacher was my sister's piano teacher. At first, I wanted to study about playing the piano by the same teacher. But at my first piano lesson, the teacher said `How about starting the study of singing? ' And then I said `Yes'. To tell the truth, I was not enjoying my life and everything seemed boring to me in those days. So it is still wondered why I said `Yes' at that time. We musicians play music not only to be exactly to music notes but also express our feeling or something eager to tell to others. But in those days, I was not good at it at all. I was afraid of causing troubles among friends or teachers by saying my opinion. However, little by little, I came to be able to express it. Because I could know the beauty of the world from lyrics of tunes, wonderful melodies. It makes me aware that life is not so bad!!And I could become to be a cheerful girl than before. Besides, I can meet many people. Through music contest or other students of my singing teacher. Talking with them, I knew, how small my viewpoint was. I also had a chance to sing songs at a terminal hospital. I sang `Konomichi` composed by Kousaku Yamada. Then one patient talked to me with tears that she thought her own passed life and her coming life through my music. From then I came to think strongly that music has a special power to make people relaxed. This experience gave a big interesting of music therapy. And I decided to be a music therapist n the future! As you can know from my essay, to sing songs is my basis of life! And I've got a big dream from it. Let's play Wheelchair Basketball CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Motoki Yasui SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00935my@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 02 14:11 INTENDED READERS: All Basketball player Have you play or experience Wheelchair Basketball? When I am seventeen years old I have an experienced for the first time. I have played basketball since five years old. I like basketball more than anything else at that time. So I was join to basket ball club of SFC junior high school and high school. Our team had purpose what is most high level in this teams history. What does "high level" mean about basketball? I am asked many friends and high school teacher. Generally speaking "high level" mean is lead in about tournament game. But our team thought different "high level" mean. Our team said "high level" mean was "useful and work for the public good". We want to help about disabled person who playing basketball. At first I search to How about disabled person who playing basket ball. So I found out to person When I watched the Paralympics on TV. That was wheelchair basketball player. We helped about practice and talked about basketball each other at once. When I am seventeen years old I played basketball ride on wheelchair for the first time. I understood to very tired about wheelchair basketball. I did not know this spots was need more physical strength and power of the upper half of the body. I felt wheelchair basketball is too difficult through practice. And I understood two important things. At first these sports was need to helper who was understood about disabled person. At second helper have experienced situation about them. I did not forget these two things. Now helper of wheelchair basketball is not enough in Japan. I want satisfied about play basketball all of disabled person. So I have to make known about wheelchair basketball. I hope all of basketball player has interested in wheelchair basketball and help. Do you want play wheelchair basketball with us? Precious Experience CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Namiko Kaminuma SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: n-kaminu@sophia.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: May 09 13:03 INTENDED READERS: People who experienced the entrance examination for the university, or who have some opinions about it. It is essential for me today to have studied for the entrance examination for the university. Nowadays memorization, most part of the studying for the examination, is apt to be thought wrong. Probably there are also some people who will say, "It is just a waste of time to devote all his time to his study." As for me, however, I tried to make the best use of this chance. (An entrance examination for the university.) In stead of using a recommendation to the university, I studied for the entrance examination about 1 year when I was a third-grade student in high school. When I was a first and second year student in high school, far from studying or throwing myself into my club, my life style was irregular and I was a lazy fellow and so did not try to do something. These were the reason why I made a decision to study, and especially I regarded the studying as a trial. I strongly thought,"I want to change myself. If I do not change now, I will not change." Thus, my life style changed completely from before. When my school finished on the morning ,I went to study to the preparatory school from 8 or 9 at night. During summer vacation and winter vacation, I went to study at the preparatory school from 9 in the morning to 9 at night almost everyday except Sunday. This change of my life style surprised my family very much. Of course, I could not change my life style so rapidly because until then I had not studied at all and had not known the way of studying. I was always at a loss and in a slump; Because of my laziness, I went to the preparatory school to sleep without studying. When my grade did not rise expectedly, I gave up studying on the pretext of others like a teacher. Although I always at a loss, my decision " I want to change myself. If I do not change now, I will not change" was somewhere in my heart. Gradually, the meaning of " studying for an entrance examination" became " fight against myself ". This fight was not against others but against myself. The examination got nearer and nearer, my action and thought became more different. I tried to find my own way of studying without imitating others way. I tried to put my thought practice first of all without being at a loss. I tried study as much as I could that day. Thus, this experience was very precious one in my life. I would not think and practice, if it were not for this experience. It taught me that we must find our way out of the difficulty ourselves. The proverb says," All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy " but do not you think it is good chance if we devote our all time for studying only 1 year? What do you think about it? Ugly Pink CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Kaori Yamamoto SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: mosa502@.ic.netlaputa.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 25 12:19 INTENDED READERS: The people who interested in japanese rock music. "UGLY PINK" is symbol of one man who changed my dull life. His name is "hide"; a member of famous rock band "X japan". His music and words always encouraged me. But many people especially adults likely to have prejudice against him. So, I want to tell them about him to abolish that prejudice. It was when I was 12 years old that I encountered Hide. He played the music I have never heard. I became being crazy about his music. It was sensational , impressive and magnificent. When I am depressed and worried his music always encouraged me. My bloom of youth has been with Hide. When I was 18 years old I worried about my future course. First I was going to major in law in the university because studying law is useful for finding a job. But one day I heard Hide's word and very shocked. He said "I do only what I want to do". That word changed my decision; I decided to study history which I like the best. If I major in history, I may have disadvantage in finding a job. But I decided to do what I really want to do during my university life. And now, I am a student of History. I am very happy everyday. Three years ago, Hide died. Even the moment of death his hair was "UGRY PINK". I think that symbolizes his motto "I do only what I want to do".Even if all of others against that style, he must keep it. I love his lifestyle and I want to live like him. I don't want to be only what is called an honor student, but "selfish"against myself as Hide did. He isn't here, but his music, word and spirit of "UGRY PINK" are here and still encourage me.Now his motto is my motto, too. My experience in privateschool for speaking English CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Hanako Kariya SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t00262hk@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t00262hk DATE & TIME: April 26 14:04 INTENDED READERS: person who cares about freinds very much No one can imagine what lead your life dramatically change, I guess. When I was in highschool, I began to go to private school for speaking English, what is socalled "eikaiwa gakkou". The start was very simple but, for me, this experience became the one I mentioned. I would not be what I am today were it not for experiences in the school. Untill I get into the school, I was just repeating going juniorhighschool and privateschool for entering university almost everyday. Everything was ok because life was not so great but there was not really serious problem. I wanted to join some club when I got into highschool but can't find very interesting one so that decided to going "eikaiwa" school just for curiosity insted of one. When I first took a class ,i stilll remember how much I went hesistated. We had to make pair to practice some short conversation freely , and my partner was office worker! At that time, Ž£ãÆfore the problem to express what I'm thinking in Ž£ŽÅnglish, I felt like person from differnt age is another creature coudn't imagine what kind of topic we can share. But as I began used to communicate with these diffrent aged, raced people, I began to realize that they are just same human from variety of background, and by sharing understang for each person's life. we can learn irreplaceable things each other. This oppoturnity to communicate with great variety of people make my point of view much wider. From these experience, I got so many clues to think all about myself. I became more enthsiastic to do anything, and by doing thigs more aggresivery in a good way (i mean with good attitude when I encounterd something hard, for example) adn all these factors made me tough. I'm still on the process to make my life better, and I don't think I'm especially tough or smart compared with others, but the confident that I have awesome friends who supports me deeply from mental point of view always helps me to confront anything hard so far. The meaning of reading books CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Shiho Ueno SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: s00143su@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 22 18:51 INTENDED READERS: Young generation Today, people become more and more busy, and have less and less time.Therefore people come to spend less time for reading books. I know there are alsonegative opinions toward reading books, too. There is the opinion that "Reading books is only killing time." It is sure that many disposable magazines and cheap novels arrive on the market. In addition, many people don't trouble themselves to find time to read books. Mostly, they read in their excess time --- for example in the train or bath --- different from other entertainment. If you want to see the movie, you will decide the day and time, and spare the time for it. That also holds true of me. Though I read the book in my excess time, I can get significant time since I read good quality book. For example, interesting novel always give me precious experience of climate, period or life that I never know. The books have power and possibility that enrich my imagination. However you may say that "Actual experience is much better than reading book. "It is absolutely true. If I have knowledge only from books, it is very dangerous. On the other hand, if I believe only the actual experience, it is very dangerous, too. It is because there is a limit in the actual experience. The experience from my book is useful to make up for it. From the above, you can understand how important it is to read books. I learned and experienced a lot by reading a book. However, you may still think it is tiresome. Don't be nervous. You don't have to spare the time to read books. You just reached out the book you like when you are in excess time.The books are always with us and always invite us the new world! Of the spice in my life CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Toshihiro SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: kimata-t@msd.biglobe.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 20 12:18 INTENDED READERS: The person who is bored by the life The motorcycle is not merely vehicle. The motorcycle is completely inconvenient one as the movement means. If it rains, it is wet. There are not air conditioner and audio. However, the motorcycle is very important to me. Have you ever driven a car?ŽÍŽÚes. Then have you taken a motorcycle so far?ŽÍŽÂlmost NO. In the winter, it is cold as freezing. While ridding, the music except the sound of the wind can't be listened to. However I like a motorcycle. I am taking the motorcycle of the single-cylinder engine. Because cylinder ( the burning room= energy source )is only in one, to be different from the car with cylinder with the being of four or six and that one part broke down only, and then have gotten not to move at all. Because of that, I have to know the role of each part and can repair it by me. Now that it repair once with it, it must assume the responsibility of the following trouble. If the engine has stopped in the touring, it has no choice but to repair by it or to camp there. If letting out a speed too much, there is not the way which avoids an obstacle on the road to rush out. If having stepped on the frozen floor, it slips and it does big injury. There are not a cover and an air back and a sheet belt. When taking a motorcycle, the person must always be naked confronted with the environment. It is the world which the comfortableness and the danger always in front and back. I learned two important things from the motorcycle. It is challenge by myself and it is a self responsibility. The car is safe, is comfortable and is pleasant. I like a car, too. But it is a vehicle only for me. The motorcycle doesn't have a back gear. The motorcycle is not merely vehicle. It is my life itself BROTHER CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Shigeko Nanbu SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t98710sn@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t98710sn DATE & TIME: April 26 14:28 INTENDED READERS: friends I left my home in Kyoto for university here in Kanagawa. It meant leaving my brother. He would marry his sweet pretty girlfriend going together long after graduation of his university ,maybe in a few year, build a happy home ,going to classic concert with her once in a while. He had been a significant element in my home in Kyoto, which means my whole childhood. He did have been my big brother with strong influence. Because he was born two years ahead by me ,he could easily beat me almost in every way. For example, running ,writing ,making quarrel ,or even making parents laugh. I was complexed to see him with his own friends looked so mature to me.I tried to behave just like boys ,so as to be treated the same as his friends.I pretended to be scared by nothing, just to be counted by his big friends, speaking as wild and funny. I didn't think what but watched what is interesting him now, and get it as fast as I can. I didn't give it to him ofcourse.. I didn't wanted to be his BROTHER but get even. So like this our fight started. My behavior got even more and more wild after he started to learn to behave himself later on. I thought him coward and laughedat his nice and kind character he was trying to be, and studied so hard to break his logic. I had to be always ahead of him laughing his so-called-sincerity.. his sincerity can't be true one. It must not have. I had no reason anymore but his existence counting on me, not laughing. Because I was jealous. He had a value of himself, and I was not. My value was always him. When I tried to please someone,it was to make him see my behavior. I learn to make people laugh but it was to make people see and listen to me instead him. Long after we together left Kyoto, we talked somehow feeling enbarassing, he told me that he was jealous of me doing freely what I want to do. It was not free at all I well knew, but I did not tell him that. I guess I was afraid to break myself by showing my respect and dependence to him. Now I believe I'm a little more confident of myself and trying to the way to stand still by myself, but I have to admit my closest other, my brother, built up the very primitive bones of mine, and I stand on it. A chance in daily life CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Okushi Kenichi SCHOOL: Sophia E-MAIL: ken-@jk9.so-net.ne.jp WEB PAGE: DATE & TIME: April 25 12:17 INTENDED READERS: People who want a new stimulus in daily life. Now, I study the law in Sophia University. Needless to say, that is the reason why I have been interested in it. But I have not been interested in it since I was a baby. However it is very difficuit for me, Why I got interested in it? I tried being remind of a chance to get interested in the law. The first chance for me is a small event. When I was a child, there was a program in my elemental school. It was to send a new year mail to neighbor seniors. Naturally, I had also take part in the program. I did not want to do it much clearly. After all, I wrote two or three mails. I did not remember the mails much. Probably, I wrote two or three sentences and a small picture. They almost are same contents each other. They are not good at all. I did it in December. When a new year came, I had forgot the mails. But before a third term started, a mail came me. It was reply from the one of persons that I sent a mail to. I am sorry that I do not remember that also the mail much. But I remember that he told me that he was the lawyer and he said me that he thanked for my mail. Then, I asked my mother what a lawyer was and I could know about a lawyer. But I did not yet want to become a lawyer then. It is a just story. When I am remind of my childhood, it was the first chance to get interest in the law. Now I think it, it is an important event for me. I think that the first chance of something may often be such a thing. Probably, an important chance comes everybody suddenly. The most valuable experience in my college life CATEGORY: I would not be what I am today were it not for ... AUTHOR: Nobuya Kobayashi SCHOOL: SFC E-MAIL: t99373nk@sfc.keio.ac.jp WEB PAGE: http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t99373nk/ DATE & TIME: April 24 01:14 INTENDED READERS: college students What is the most valuable experience at your college life? As for me, the most valuable experience is the experience of studying abroad! I participated in a program of William and Mary- Keio Program at 2000 last summer. This exquisite program gave me a lot of chance to think about various things about America and Japan. And I could make friends with a lot of Japanese people and American people. So what was the thought-provoking things and what did I learned from the experience from this? What the program means to me was that I had the opportunities to experience the real America. Today we know much about America by mass media. Owing to mass media, the information about America is more than that we could get 100 years ago. For example we have much chance to watch various America in the daily life on TV. Going to the theater, we can see new movies made in America. And lots of Japanese go abroad today more than it used to be. More and more people come to be interested in the interchange both Japan and America. But the information we get about America every day is just through the media. This means what we have is a secondary, biased knowledge about America. Against the increase of our knowledge, we partly become unaware of lots of other important things. Therefore from now on what is important is the quality of experience. In other words, we should clarify the reason we want to go and what to do in the states. The harvest I had was to have a chance to observe a lot of things at the daily life in America. Of course I knew some aspects of America on TV or books. But it is the image of America made by mass media. We rather knew little about the real America especially at the daily life level. Some stereotypes by media are still contained within myself. As for America, there are likely to be various kinds of elements that compose the whole. Real Americans lived a different life than I have expected. From a set of experiences, I could get a lot of knowledge about their conduct, their way of communication, their image of Japan and America etc. But it was not enough for me. I would like to talk with them more and learn a lot of things more. Doing so, I can make a comparison between Japan and America and I can have a relative view both America and Japan more. It is the continuous process of learning and interesting to be researched from now on.