Japanese culture

Hello, everyone!  How are you?
These days, I went to Sydney with Emika and Kaho.  We saw Aladdin, went to the Blue Mountains, opera house.  I really enjoyed my trip!

There are only 2 months left before I return to Japan.  Time flies like an arrow!
At first, I really missed Japan, my friends and my family.  However, I got used to life in Brisbane, and now I don't want to go back to Japan.  I'm going to miss my host family, new friends, ICTE, everything! 
Anyway, I'm going to talk about Japanese culture.  Actually, before I come here, I didn’t understand the importance of knowing our own culture well.  However, as I came here, I realised how wonderful is it and the importance of understanding Japanese culture. 
It has delicious food, beautiful traditional clothes, exciting festivals and so on.  Today, I will introduce one of Japanese cultures: calligraphy.

I had been taking lessons in calligraphy for 11 years.  I really like the smell of Indian ink (sumi).  Calligraphy is interesting because I can write a various of styles of handwriting.  I learned four styles: kaisho, gyousho, sosho and reisho. 

Kaisho

Reisho

Each style has characteristic.  Maybe most Japanese are familiar with kaisho and some of them are familiaer with gyosho.  However, sosho and reisho are hardly used in everyday life. 
Calligraphy was introduced into Japan from China many years ago.  After that, Japanese people developed our own calligraphy style.
I want introduce more about appeals of calligraphy, but I won't be able to stop talking if I continue to talk, so I had better to stop here now.  If you are interested in calligraphy, please let me know!  I will introduce as much as I can.

 

As I said, only 2 months are left, but if you change the way of thinking, there are still 2 more months before going back to Japan!

Let’s enjoy our life in Australia!

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of days.  See you!

 

 

My trip to Cairns

Long time no see!

There are about 3 months left to going back to Japan.  Time flies so fast. I can’t believe about 6 months have passed since I came to Brisbane.  Now I’m in EAP II and study English.  EAP II is quite different from EAP I although both of them are the same course.  I had to write essay about tourism of virtual country (maybe you know this country, Pahiti) as assignment.  It was hard for me, so that it took 2 days or more to finish.  I hope my essay is not so bad.

By the way, I went to Cairns with Emika and Kaho in the beginning of August for 3 days.  On the second day, we did snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef.  The sea was so beautiful and I could see a lot of fish there.  This will be one of the most unforgettable memory in this study abroad.  The rest of this trip, we walked around the city, ate ice cream, bought three matching bracelets, and took a lot of photos (unfortunately I couldn’t take photos underwater).  Somebody think the trip like this is a little boring, but I really enjoyed this trip!!  But I regret not going to Kuranda, so I hope that I can go there before returning to Japan!

I have 2 breaks before I go back to Japan.  I’m thinking to go to Sydney with Emika and Kaho to see a musical and sightseeing places such as Opera House in October.  I’m looking forward to going there and enjoying everything!  But I don’t have any plans in the last break (December 11-16), so I will make a plan to travel to somewhere.

Difference in Studying

Hello
Long time no see.  I really enjoy my life in Brisbane.  It has been about 100 days since I came here.  It was not just good things.  I had painful experience a lot.  For example, I lost my iPod, which I cherish, because of my careless.  I am always disappointed with myself.  I am doing my best including all experience and trying to change myself.

My third session in ICTE is being over this Friday.  I found some difference between studying in Australia and in Japan.  Firstly, classmates are so different.  In Japan, I usually study English with my classmates.  All of them are Japanese.  In contrast, I am studying English with many people who come from different countries in Australia.  Some come from Colombia, and others come from Saudi Arabia.  I made many friends around the world through studying in ICTE.  And also, the class are always  over at 12:45, so I have plenty of free time.  That's why I can do everything what I want.
Sometimes I go to the city with my friends and sometimes I go back home straight and take a rest. 

 I noticed that my learning attitude has a lot of improvements when I started studying.  Many of my friends, including Kansai University students, study much harder than me.  I sometimes see one of my friends study at library after the class.  I follw their example.

Through thie study abroad, I learn a lot of things.  I found heaps of weakness.  I hope that I will have grown a lot when I go back to Japan and see my parents after a long time.

The Most Interesting and Surprising Thing

Hello!
It has been 76 days since I left Japan.  I got used to live in Brisbane.  I made a lot of friends all over the world.  These days, I joined wasabi, which is UQ's Japanese social activity, and made  many Aussie friends!  My life in Brisbane is so good.  I can enjoy my life.  My teachers, Agnes and Martin, give me many tips for IELTS every day.  And at home, I talk with my host mother during dinner.  I talked about my birthday with her on Tuesday and she asked me what kind of food I wanted on my birthday!  I'm very happy to stay with her.

However, not everything is going well.  I have some problems, of course, it is included my poor English skills.  I took IELTS last month, but the scores were not good.  I MUST study English and use it more.  Moreover, I cought a cold this month.  It was so terrible.  I couldn't help being absent from school because of it.  Now I feel much better!

I also found some differences between Australia and Japan, which are so surprising and interesting.  Among them, the most surprising and interesting experience is closing time.  A lot of shops close too early!  In Japan, stores open till late especially on holiday.  In contrast, some shops don't open on public holiday in Australia!  At first, I couldn't understand why stores close on holiday because holidays are good time to make more profits for shops.  But now, I think that Australian people consider spending their time with their families is more important than working to earn more more money.  How wonderful! I wish I could work here. but I'd also like to work in Japan.  Both of them are fascinating for me!!!

Anyway, I have an awesome time in Brisbane.  I really like this city.  I'll enjoy everything in Australia!

My First Session and Break

Hello, everyone!
My first session and break were over.  I had so many great experiences in Australia.

During my first session in 5 Pink, I studied many vocabularies and grammars.  It was the first time for me to learn grammar in English.  It was so difficult to understand grammar in English.  Sometimes I was disappointed at myself because my English skill was so bad, but thanks to my classmates, I could enjoy this session.  In addition, one of my classmates, John organized lots of nice plans, such as BBQ, picnic, and so on.  I enjoyed everything!  I'm so happy to be a member of 5 Pink.
I miss 5 Pink.  I like them very much!!  Thank you!!

In this break, I did lots of things!  The biggest event was traveling to Melbourne.  I went there with Emika and Kaho for 4 days.  Melbourne was lovely city.  The buildings were beautiful.  There were so many cafes in the city.  I enjoyed delicious food!

                                               

Furthermore, I went to some awesome places.  The most memorable place was Great Ocean Road, specially Twelve Apostles.  I can't express how beautiful they were. 

Unfortunately, I couldn't take photos because my digital camera was out of battery.  I want to visit here again.  Of course, I will bring fully charged digital camera.

My next session will start tomorrow.  I must switch my mind.  Only 41 days have been left before IELTS.  I should study hard.  I worry about my English skill.  Anyway I'll do my best in the next session!

    

My Three Aims

Hello!
I'm Mizuki.  Nice to meet you!

One month has been passed since I left Japan.
My new life in Brisbane, Australia is so fantastic.  Everything is new for me.  I have good experience every day every time.  Sometimes I miss Japan, but I enjoy Australian lifestyle. 

It's my first time to post my blog, so I'll write about my 3 aims during staying in Australia.

1. Improve my English skills
I have been studying English for about 7 years, but I have few chance to use English in Japan.  On the other hand, I have so many chance to use English now.  I  use English a lot to improve my Englih skills, specially listening and speaking skills.

2. Make many friends
I go to ICTE now.  Many students come from many countries.  Each student has each idea, culture, and opinion.  When I talk with my new friends, I can expand my scope!  I make a lot of friends and keep in touch with them after I arrive at Japan.

3. Do anything what I want
I think enjoying everything is the most important thing when I study here.  There are heaps of events and activities around me.  I have lots of things to wanna do.  It's a good opportunity to try something new.  I try something interesting and enjoy them!

I have about 8 months left to go back to Japan.  Time runs so fast.  I shouldn't waste my time.  I hope that I can achieve these aims before returning to Japan.