2009 September Newsletter
Life in California
My Birthday in the USA
Fumi Fujikawa
I had never held my birth day party that friends come in my home before. September 20 2009, in my birth day, I spent the best time.
When it came midnight and I am be twenty years old, I listened to the Mariachi that is Mexican music. My host family made a request for a birthday song for me. I impressed by this song and my great family.
In morning, I and my sister Danielle cleaned to yard for party. I spattered tables and chairs with water. I had to prepare 15 chairs for lunch. Then I helped my mother in cooking.
At one and half o’clock, my four friends came in my house. I felt little nervous.
Danielle has one snake and one dog. Snake is rare animal for Japanese. So we played with snake. But one friend was so scared of it. It is funny.
Well, we had a lunch. We ate teriyaki chicken, sushi, salad, strawberry cake and banana cake. Sushi is my request. I got it in Sam’s club, because I can’t cook it. But my mother is good cook. Hers foods is everything delicious. We felt so happy.
Party was very lively. Many people that are my mother’s daughters, my mother’s grandchildren, Danielle’s friend Hanna and my friends came for me in there.
There is big pool in my house. After lunch, we spent to swim in the pool. I am poor swimmer, but I was so excited to swim.
After swimming, we played the Mexican card game until 6. I was tired and sleepy. But I felt satisfied very much.
This is my birth day of 20 years old. I got a lot of present. I think I have never forgotten this day forever.
Water Ski Is Very Fun!
Miho Kusakabe
August 30, I went to lake to do first time water ski with my host family. I like marine sports. I had do yet wake board, Jet Ski and etc in Japan. But I hadn’t do water ski ever. I like lake. Because lake haven’t wave. So we can move smooth by boat. And I can do it easy. Instead Ocean have hard wave. Water ski little bit difficult for me. Because water ski has two boards. I had do wake board. Wake board has a board. These were important for me. I couldn’t stand up easily on board. I was regrettable. So I tried many times. My host family supported to me. And I knew this is resembled in how to stand up when I could stand up on it. Then I could stand up anytime. Water ski and wake board are resembled in knack. My favorite sports increased for it.
My First Coming U.S.
Chihiro Nakatsuma
It is my first time to come U.S. The reason why I like English and I would like to be a Japanese teacher in Japan. I want to help for foreigners in Japan. So I need English skill. I went to MacDonald in U.S. to compare size between U.S. and Japan. Hamburger is very big size in U.S. Fry potato too. I was surprised to everything is big size in U.S. I am worry to fat my body. California is very beautiful city. A lot of trees, there are nature in California. Sometimes, I see squealers. It is very cute. I like nature and people are precious to nature. My host family is very kind. I think them like real family. They like Mexican food. I never eat Mexican food in Japan. But I like Mexican food now. Every day, I learn new culture. I have a wonderful American life.
Great People
My Family
Maki Tsuda
I introduce my host family. My host family is 5 people. Father works is high school teacher. My host mother’s job is housework. 27 years old sister, Crystal job is teacher. 22years old sister, Gina and grandmother job is nothing. My father’s second job is coating high school football. Now host father’s leg is broken. Because high school football game was held at last Friday and in game came ball at manager room. And hit him leg. So now walking is difficult for father. My mother likes talking. Because she always speaking in her car. So I don’t feel awkward. If I gave unclear answer, she talks continuation. Grandmother is very cute. If grandmother says mistakes things, she always let out her tongue. So cute!! My sisters always don’t meet. So I don’t know about their hobby and something. My host family is a little perfunctory. But I like my host family. Because very kind. So I want to be communication.
My Discussion Leader
Risa Asai
I would like to introduce my discussion leader. Her name is Taylor Aston-Nielsen. She is Pitzer Collage student. She is twenty years old. Her major is economics and political studies. She’s living in dorm. Her hometown is Valley. Her hobby is to go shopping. She’s doing homework, talk to friends, and go shopping. She has ever been to England and Ecuador for study experiences abroad. She can speak Spanish. She’s vegetarian.
My discussion group member is Kana, Maki, and me. We’re always talking to Monday and Wednesday while eating lunch in dining room. She’s very kind. She teaches me various things. We can get new things every time. We can speak English well for talk to her. So I like her very much.
A Wonderful Family in Claremont
Kumi Tomiyama
August 25, 2009, I started to stay in Claremont with a great host family. So I’d like to introduce about my host family. I live there with Diane. I like her so much because she is so kind and she is always smiling. Her job is a teacher at the elementary school. She loves children, so she can take enjoyment in one’s work. She likes Japanese food. Her favorite Japanese food is Sushi and Shabu-shabu. Japanese food’s taste is very good and it is delicate food she said. She likes Japanese and Chinese gardens. She and I enjoyed looking beautiful gardens when we went to the LA country fair last month. I will come back from here to the Kobe next March. Therefore I enjoy staying here with Diane.
Discussion Leader
Mariya Fukuma
I’d like to introduce my discussion leader. He is Sai and his major is music and economics.
His home town is Riverside. His hobby is to sing and he sings classical music. I think his sing is very well. In future he wants to music teacher. He plays the piano, drum and ocarina. And I play the trumpet. So he and I common things are to play the instrument.
He stayed at Tokyo for 2 weeks. So he can speak Japanese a little. I think his Japanese is very nice!
He is very kind and funny person. So I like discussion class.
Where to Go
L.A. County Fair
Yoshiko Sotani
L.A. county fair is a big event for a month and has a lot of fun place to enjoy from morning till night. For example, there are many kinds of small food shop. You can eat hotdog, french-fries, BBQ chicken, ice cream etc. Another example, there are different kinds of attraction to ride like corks crew and Ferris wheel. You must be enjoying with anybody. As well as them, you can shopping at shopping area and see some animals and competition like table decoration. In short, you enjoy very much with your friends or family all day long.
Disneyland
Miku Kishi
I went to Disney Land with my friend, her host sister and her friends on September 7. There are many differences California and Tokyo. California and Tokyo have a lot of visitor, but we can ride without wait a long time in California. California has a lot of ride. If you visit this, you should ride “Splash Mountain”. We rode this and we were drenched, but it was very exciting. However, I think California has few things that we think cute. You can take a picture with Disney character easier than Tokyo, but you can’t find the plants or foods in the shape of the character. I was the most surprised that “it’s a small world”, because the building was all white. Tokyo has colorful one. When I found it, I didn’t notice it. I had a very interesting time. I think that I’ll try more time, and I want to find more differences on some event days.
Try It!
13 Going On 30
Kana Onishi
It’s about a 13 year old girl named Jenna that wants to be popular, but her friend Matt is a little geeky. So she wishes she can be 30. Her life isn’t how she expected it. Jenna’s life gets turned upside down. This movie is a romantic comedy. I saw this movie with my host family. If you want to see this movie you could rent it or buy it. I recommend this movie, because it’s a funny and exciting all at the same time. This movie is perfect for girls any age. It’s a all about a girls dream and you will love to see what happens.
American Talent
Megumi Fukuoka
I watched “American talent” about one week ago at 8 to 10 o’clock. My host mother told me that the person who wins this show can hold a concert in Las Vegas, and become a star. Many people appear this TV show, singer, dancer, comedian, and so on. They showed us their wonderful talent and fought very well. I was impressed with their talents. Their performances are also enthusiastic, so I was very excited. I saw the winner. The winner is a man whose name is Kevin. He and his family looked like very happy. I thought this program can give people big dreams. This TV program became my favorite program.
Make Biscuits!
Aya Hashimoto
I tried to make cookies. My host family made cookies sometimes. So I tried to make cookies. At first, Heat oven to 450°F. I put 2cups pancake mix into bowl and 2/4 cup milk. Then I stirred ingredients until soft dough forms. My host family said you don’t stir strong, you should stir gently. Second, I placed on surface sprinkled with pancake mix. Knead 10 times. We made like bread dough, we rolled dough 1/2 inch thick and cut with 2 inch cutter; place on ungreased cookie sheet. We make some circle shape of dough. Third, the biscuits were baked 10 minute. It looked brown. So we completed to cook biscuits. We could make delicious!!
Curry and Rice
Maki Kakizoe
Curry and rice is very famous food and it is the simplest cooking in Japan. Many Japanese like curry and rice. Because it makes many kind of vegetable and it is very healthy. I cooked it last Sunday. At first it cuts vegetables and fries it. The most basic vegetables are a potato, an onion, and carrots. Next I add water and put carry powder if it boil. Fainally, it is over if it stew. It takes one hour to make curry. But it became more delicious if it stew more time. So most Japanese eat the curry consecutively on 3rd. Japanese enjoys curry while putting the vegetables of the season.