2009 October Newsletter
Volunteer Work
Claremont Democratic Club
Mariya Fukuma 
In October, I started volunteer work at Claremont Democratic Club. I prepare and package Halloween candy and made ornament. It is bird by origami, and October 24 I distributed candies at Claremont Democratic Club’s Village Venture booth. I have two reasons why I decided to work at this club. First, I am interested in Halloween. Because people don’t celebrate Halloween in Japan. Second I like simple work. This work was fun. And this club is complaining about health life insurance system. I heard from person who belong this club about American life insurance system. So I could learn about this while I worked. I could do valuable experience in this club. So I think when I back to Japan I search like this club.
My first volunteer work
Kana Onishi
My first volunteer work was in October 10th. My volunteer work was assisting runners and walkers. This marathon name is the Costanoan Rumsen Wellness Center 5K run/walk. My host sister and her two friends entered this marathon. That was how my volunteer working all started. My job is standing by the marathon course and leading entrant people. This day was very cold, but I enjoyed this work, because everyone's appearance that worked hard was seen. After the marathon, I distributed the free taco to the runners and walkers. We are looks so tired, but refreshed. This volunteer work was valuable for me. I could speak to with another volunteer work people. I could practice my speaking skill practice. It is very important things for me. Finally, I like volunteer work because I learned I can help other people.
Walk for the Hungry
Megumi Fukuoka
On October 11, Aya and I went to church to do volunteer work. The project name was”Walk for the Hungry”. First, we made balloons arch. We blew up balloons, and carried them. I never did such a job, so it was very interesting for me. Second, we set a table and covered with blue sheet. We tried to get a neat this job. We made beautiful table lines. Finally, we put in bread in plastic bags to serve people who hungry. Then, we could do a conversation with other volunteer worker. I talked with some girls. I knew volunteer work is common in students in America for the first time. This day, we did a volunteer for 4 hours. It became my new experience, so I thought I’d like to join other volunteer work actively.
Current Events
Halloween
Chihiro Nakatsuma
American people are looking forward to celebrate Halloween. On Halloween, we can see many people wearing Halloween costumes. It is scarcely, cute, cool and funny. Everyone dress up. My host family’s Naty is 7 years old who wears peacock costume. I watched her costume it is very pretty. This year, I am in U.S.A. So I can celebrate Halloween in U.S.A. I already bought Halloween costume. I do not know still about Halloween. It is fan to try new thing. I am looking forward to celebrate Halloween.
Halloween Party
Kumi Tomiyama
American children can enjoy several things at the Halloween party. First, American children enjoy some games at the Halloween party. I went to one Halloween party with my friends who are KWU students at Fumi’s house, and there’re a lot of children came to this party, too, so we enjoyed some game. We did musical chairs, cup and ball that it looks like Jack-o’-Lantern, pitch 10 small snacks, like candies and marshmallows in the bucket. These games much delighted the children, for they smiled very much as doing them. Second, children listened to Halloween music, and they enjoyed dancing with this music. They listened to popular music, like Ne-Yo. Their dance was so good, I thought. Third, they enjoyed wearing the Halloween costume. We decided most scary costume, the funniest costume and the best costume at this party. Therefore they wore the costume with considerable spirit. I was chosen for the funniest costume and I felt happy. In short, Halloween party makes American children’s feel so exciting.
Sorrowful News
Miho Kusakabe
There are various sorrowful news in the world. I saw news on TV news with my host mother. The news was many American daughter’s sad thing. They have raped by their father. A girl appeared on the news to talk about her sad experience. She is after 20 years old now. She have raped by her father when she was 8 years old at first time. She always has raped by her father since then, and her father said her “Don’t tell this thing anybody! I will kill you if you told it.” However she couldn’t patience it always, so she told it to her mother. Difference her mother didn’t believe it. She told it many time to her mother and she asked to help from it, yet this thing didn’t improvement. Addition the girl got pregnant three times by her father. Of course she didn’t bear these babies. My host mother said “Often mother don’t believe such the thing and mother imagine that my daughter tell a lie. Because mother is busy, so child wants to look for oneself, or mother can’t believe and mother love the father, so don’t want to believe. Such the thing doesn’t decrease because of it. American parent are busy, so I think father do it after mother leave a work. This case is not rare in America.” I think this thing involve with divorce rate and remarriage rate. Cause America has a lot of divorce and remarriage. Addition each other have some child when they remarried. Sometime a father and daughter don’t link blood. Then such the thing will happen, but this story is just my guess. All country has some problems and all country is different character. For example, Japan has many molest and rape too. I think these problems are consequence problem for Japan. Recently I saw a woman was raped by same train’s passenger in Japanese train of news. In spite of there are 40 people in the train nobody didn’t help her from the passenger, and just they were looking. This event could prevent if someone say something to passenger. Why these people didn’t help her from it. I have talk to my American friend about such the problem. He said “Japanese often neglect if a women was raped or molested at public space. Such the thing can’t understand for American people, because probably American people say “Hey!” or something to suspect when women was raped or molested. Almost Japanese people are very shy, so this is problem for Japanese.” I think so too. Such the event isn’t rare in Japan. In short, I think these things will not decrease in the future if both country didn’t go over the country characteristic.
http://www.j-cast.com/2007/04/23007096.html
Classes
My Physical Education
Fumi Fujikawa
If you tried new things in life, you can grow up more. I take a PE class of racket ball by myself that is very difficult for me, because I am poor to exercise and this is my first time to play it. When I went to PE class for the first time, I was very confused. We made the pair and practiced in a court after instructor’s explanation. But I didn’t know the rules, so I couldn’t play well. It was difficult to understand the rules. That night, I learned about racket ball on the internet at my house. Racket ball that is not squash was born in USA. We can use all walls, ceiling, and floor. It needs skills and brains to win. It doesn’t need power and strength, so we can play the game anybody sex and age. I recommend anyone to play it. I often practice with Hanna in PE class. I often swing at the ball and miss, but she says every time “It’s OK! Good job!” She is very kind person. Thanks to her, I am able to play good every time. Now, I’m still afraid of balls, because they make a loud sound and I don’t know when the ball is coming to me, but I enjoy playing the game with my classmates. I learned that if I work hard, I can do anything. It is difficult to begin new things, but we should try it for good experience.
Stores
Bass Pro Shops
Miku Kish
i
I went to Bass Pro Shops with my friend and her host mother. The store has 2 stories and there are many kinds of outdoor goods: clothes, fishing poles, motorboats and more. I’ve never come to a store like this, so I was very excited. The store looks like wild because there are many kinds of fake animals and plants. I could find animal trucks on the floor. It was very interesting for us, and we took a lot of pictures. We looked around and tried get some boat or bike. I thought that I want to go on a cruise and try to live villa near the ocean at summer. The boat has comfortable chair and floor. I felt that the place was a part of house. If you want to buy some outdoor goods, you should go this store.
Food
Okonomiyaki
Risa Asai
Ingredient
- 1 cup of plain flour
- Half a cup of water
- 1 Egg
- 2 cabbage leaves
- Pork 50g
- Cheese
- Half cup of tenkasu
- Half a cup of dried shrimps
- Dashi
- Oil
- Okonomiyaki Sauce
- Mayonnaise
Okonomiyaki is one of the easiest and most delicious foods in Japan. I cooked it beforewith Miho for Miho’s host family. Some American people say it like a Japanese pancake. First, cut the cabbage into very small pieces. Cut the pork into slices. Mix the flour, water, egg, soup, cabbage, cheese, tenkasu and dry shrimps. Heart the pan at a medium temperature and add the mixture to the pan, making a flat round shape, put the pork on top. Heat the okonomiyaki on both sides until cooked evenly. Put the okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise on top. All Japanese people like it. Finally Okonomiyaki is a delicious and popular food anyone can make.
In-N-Out Burger
Yoshiko Sotani
In-N-Out burger is popular with Californians, especially my host family. I have been there, and I think it is ok. First, In-N-Out is super easy. They have only three types of hamburger, French fries and shakes. These are cheap, so you can order when you don’t have enough money. Second, they are making high quality burger. They make everything the old fashioned way and use fresh vegetables. Third, it is easy to get food in In-N-Out. In-N-Out open late, so you can get whenever you want. You can find In-N-Out all over the place and drive-thru. In short, In-N-Out is an important part of California life.
Denny's
Maki Tsuda
I went to restaurant with my host family. Restaurant name is Denny’s. It is very popular in America. And Japan too. I ordered I wanted to eat foods set. This after, I choose food on hot plate. In Japan, I had never been to Denny’s. So I didn’t clear understand. But I think can’t choice food than American’s. So I think different. And It is very interesting.