Movie

Reflections class #2

In your blog please write your comments and thoughts of the movie.
-Do you think this is a true story?

I thought this film was much more the romantic comedy.
But is was true story, from a story line. I thought Hellenism is totally different from other countries.

-Can this really happen in today's modern times?

Yes, it happen in today's modern times. I think it happen around the world.
I really interested in her parents language behavior.
First, marry Greek boys, make big Greek babies. He had a strong desire to get marry to Greek boys.
Ian's parents succumbed to the power of big Greek family. It was so interesting.
Finally, I could understood orange and apple meanings. Toula's father said, we are all different, but all fruits. He worked a few jokes into his speech.
I've never watched this firm, it was pretty good and was funny stories. I really enjoyed it.
Thank you Meiki Sensei!

Weddings

1.Since Japanese weddings are expensive, do you think having a massive wedding like Korea or UAE is a good idea?

I don't think massive wedding is a good idea so much. Because I don't want to put up the a lot of money plus for the wedding.
It looks terrible for arrange the wedding ceremony and invitation.

2. What do you think about eloping? Having a wedding in a foreign location like Hawaii?

I never thought about eloping, I watched just in the movie and the drama.

Hawaii is so popular for the wedding to the Japanese.
My friend works at wedding center in Hawaii. She said that there's a lot of Japanese people do a wedding.

3.What is your ideal wedding?

My ideal wedding would be hold small wedding in a quiet and beautiful place, with only relatives and close acquaintances attending.

4.What would you definitely do, wear or go to on that big day? Why is that important?

I would wear a white dress and I want to design a bridal bouquet.
That is important for me, because bridal is once in a lifetime experience.

5. Have you ever been to a foreigner's wedding? What was your impression?

I never been to a foreigner's wedding. I wish to go once at least.

Superstitons

-Do you think it is important to talk about superstitions in cross culture communication class? Why?

I think it is important to talk about superstitions, because we have a lot of different superstitions and it is vary in different countries.

-Is communication affected by superstitions?

I think communication is affected by superstitions depending on circumstances. But, I never to communicate affected by superstitions.

-Do you believe in superstitions? If yes, what superstitions do you believe?Why do you do, use, or believe in them?

I don't believe in superstitions. I usually think that all just superstitions...

Time

Proverbs

1. Time is money.
I think it means "Time is the most important or valuable time in the days ahead". In other words, "Nothing is more valuable than time". I really think it would be best to people act promptly in anything one does.

2. A stitch in time saves nine.
This means we should plan ahead before it is too late.
It is too late after we have trouble.

3.There's no time like the present.
I think this means should now be doing, this is the chance have been waiting for, and "the time is now".

4.Let's meet at 4. If I'm not there by 5, leave without me at 6, and I'll be there at 7.
I'm not sure these proverbs, but I think we should be habitually punctual or keep to time!

Language of Clothes, friends

homework#3

Language of Clothes

1. Do you judge people according to what they wear? Why?

Yes, sometimes judge people what they wear. Because, clothes have individuality and shows one's personality. I think first impression are important. Sometimes it is according to what they wear.

2. Do you think Japanese society put an importance of clothing when judging other people from another country?

I think Japanese society put an importance on clothing. We don't have people of other races living in Japan compared to the United States. So we may judging other people from another country on clothing.

3. What colors are you wearing now? Do they reflect your mood?

I'm wearing green and black color. I think reflect the mood.

Friends

1. What are some subjects that you will never discuss with a friend?

I will never disscuss about very sad story.

2. Do you have different friends for different parts of your life? If so, how are they different to you? Do you talk about different things? Go to differnet places? Give me some examples.

Yes, I have different friends. All the friends have reprective personals, and also they have own ideas. But I don't different places with all my friends.

Death and Funerals

homework #2

1. Death and Funerals

a. Do you have any international friends or a host family? Is so, how would you express your condolences to them if a family member died? If not, then how would you express cindolences to an American host family if their Grandmother died?

I would express condolences to an American host family if their grandmother died "I'm sorry heard about that. Please allow me to extend my deepest condolences on your grandmother".

b. Have you ever been to a foreign funeral?

I never been to a foreign funeral.

2. The language of Clothes

a. Why are Japanese designer label crazy?

I think Japanese designer label is not crazy. But, compare to foreign famous designers, the label is showed completely different.

-Why is what you wear so important?

I think to wear is part of personal identity. People wear a lot of clothes depending on the situations. For example, wear a suit and tie at work, dress up at the party.

b. What does "Don't judge a book by it's cover." mean to you?

I think it means "don't judged by one's appearances"!

homework #1

Sunday, October 05, 2008

1. I agree the Japanese concept of "wrapping". Japanese people tend to keep someone at a distance. Especically, when meet someone for the first time. I think people protect themselves from other person unknowingly. Also, I think it is difficult to open myself to others in a little while to any stuation.

2. "Death and Funerals"

a. Where do you go when you die?

I will go to heaven when I'm dying.

b. Explain why do Japanese have death memorial services 1 month, 1 year, 3 years, etc. after a person's death?

In generally, we pray for the souls of the dead and comfort the spirits of a person's death. we are inmouring for a person's death 49 days after. Death memorial services from 1 year, we call "motyuu". 1 year mean is the day in. It is call "mo ga akeru". We have to Death memorial services (Buddihist memorial service) 1 year and 3 years with blood relative.

Politics

For homework, research the UN in the library or on the Internet http://www.unic.or.jp/ . If you were working for the UN, which job would you like to do using your English abilities? Why?

If I were working for the UN, I would like to work at UNICEF(United Nations International Children's Find).
UNICEF is a UN agency which protects children's rights and promotes their health. To this end, it sponsors activities related to child healh care and education. So, I want to help for the most disadvantaged children such as victim of war, disasters, extreme poverty. I think children should not be dying from preventable causes. Therefore, the agency focuses particularly on education. My English skills are still not highly developed, but I would like to teach them using my English ability, because all children in the world can receive basic education.


I've had great time in this class. Every classes have an interesting subjects and presentations, and also some classes came to guest speaker. I was very glad meet fantastic people at this class! Thank you very much!!

Personal Spaces

1. You're talking to a co-worker. How close do you stand?

I think I will talk to a co-worker at intervals of one meter. When talk too close to the person that feel doscomfort.

2. You're talking to a friend. Do you touch each other?

I don't touch each other. But I sometimes touch my friend's on the shoulder during a conversation when I'm so happy or be in high spirit.

3. Look at the diagram of a waiting room. Where do you sit when you enter?

I sit on a seat nearest to the entrance. Because I can sit in a moment!

4. You're in a crowded elevator. Where do you look?

I look elevator door or floor numbers lamp. It's common knowledge that face the front to the door.

5. You're standing in line. How close do you stand to the person in front?

I stand in line at a distance from one mater or more, but when I wait long lines it shorten the distance.

6. You get on the bus. There is an empty row of seats at the back, and an empty seat close by. Where do you sit?

I sit on a seat close by. Because I want to sit in a moment than sit on a seat to the back.

7.You're in a library and there's an empty seat beside you. Do you want to stop someone sitting there? If so, how?

I'm not care. But there are a lot of enpty seats somewhere else, I might say that I'm afraid...Could you sit an another empty seat...?

8. You're going to the beach. Do you like to see lots of people or very few?

I like to see very few people at the beach. Basically, I don't like being in crowds, so I avoid the crowds.

9. When you're talking to someone, do you look them in the eye?

I look people in the eye moderately, but I don't look people in the face.

10. You're on a train. Do you talk to the other passengers?

I never talk to the passangers in Japan. In Japan, it's very rare that talk to the other passangers on a train.

Work place Questionairre

I choose to 2 coutries Japan and Germany.

My score is 50 on a scale of 0 to 100 = Preference for Tolerance for Ambiguity

Your score indicates that you have a moderate Tolerance for Ambiguity and might be willing to give up job security for more opportunity. In countries/cultures with a Tolerance for Ambiguity, conflict in organizations is perceived as natural, and rules may be broken for pragmatic reasons. If you work in countries/cultures with a Need for Certainty, such as Japan, France, and Greece, you might react by creating a micro-environment that would shield you from the burden of what you might perceive as excessive structures, rules, and regulations. In countries with a high Need for Certainty, loyalty to an employer is seen as an advantage; a specialist career is preferred over a career in management.

The countries you requested are listed below. The numbers in parentheses refer to the country scores as listed by Professor Geert Hofstede in his book Culture's Consequences:
Germany (65) Need for Certainty, a moderate preference for an environment that is more structure-oriented, and where rules, roles and management practices are clear and unambiguous
Japan (92) Need for Certainty, a strong preference for an environment that is more structure-oriented, and where rules, roles and management practices are clear and unambiguous

I agree with this result. There is difference between Germany and Japan. In Germany,the based on a moderate preference an environment. But in Japan, the based on a strong prefernce for an environment. This is tottaly different result. I unterstood what I need of work best in my country.

Lesson 11 Dating Customs

I think personality is the most important things. Because I have a feeling of intense attraction toward the personality, and each other with respect to personality.

Next, kindness of heart is important for me, and followed by humor and looks. Sense of humor is appealing, so I want to use of humor in everyday situation.

Class #9 Reflections

a. When do children usually leave home?

I think when reaches the age of 18, it is time to leave home. Because, that age of the people go off to university or college.

b. How many people live in your home?

I live at home with my family. There are four people in my family, my father, mother and brother.

c. Do you have a head of the family?

My father is head of my family. He is usually makes the final decision.

d. Who does the housework?

My father, mother and I. My brother rarely lifts a finger to help around the house. My father usually goes grocery shopping, vacuum clean and fold laundry. My mother does the cooking so do I, hang out the laundry and clean a house.

e. Who runs the family?

Both of the parents. They work hard everyday, and work till late evening. Sometimes work on holiday.

f. How many rooms do you have to sleep in?

I have three rooms to sleep in.I think one person to a room to sleep in is enough.

Homework

Lesson 7 Names and Addresses

1. Are feelings emotions and facial expressions universal across borders, happy, sad, etc...?

I think those are almost same. But, some feelings and emotions are differ from country to coutry.

2. Try to name as many feelings as possible in Japanese.(10 minimum) Now write the English translation.

穏やか peaceful, quiet, soft, mild
愉快　 cheerful, raughty, pleasant
ワクワク excited
喜ぶ　　　 delighted
平静 undisturbed
夢中 infatuated
至福 bliss
無関心 apathy, disinterested
平凡な bland
むかつく disgusted
イライラ　 stressed, disconcertedness
飽きた tired
悔しい　　 flustrated

3. Are there any feelings in Japanese that cannot be translated into English.

ウケる, めんどくさい These are difficult to be translated into English.

Homework

Welcome Colgate University Students!

I talked to Colgate University student. He is nineteen years old. He likes Japan, and he's intersted in Japanese culture. To my suprise, he can write a bit of kanji ! He works part-time at the library. At the end of the class, he showed me the Japan Railways ticket for foreigner. I hope everything is satisfactory during his stay in Japan.

Homework

Class#5 Greetings

From the text
a) How do you greet members of your family?
I say 'good morning' or 'good night' a family member.
b) Are the customs the same all over your country?
I think the customs are the same, but greeting way is vary in different families.
c) How do you greet people who are important in society?
I think I greet important people politely, with a smile, and I greet people with a bow.
d) Do people greet people of the opposite sex in a different way?
I think both of same way.
e) How do people greet someone they've just met?
People give someone a cheerful hello and look into someone's eyes when one talks to.
f) Do you hug members of your family?
I don't hug of my family.

Homework

Class#4 World Religions

1. In Japan, we bow in saltation when people meet someone, and sometimes we shake hands.
2. It is different for different people, because of there are different ways greet in the various countries. For example, some countries greet each other with hug.
3. I don't touch people whem I talk to them. Because I think it is important to have a clue about distance each other, but I'll touch people when I talk to my close friend.

homework

class#2 Buddhism

1. Buddhism exsist to such as teaching of Buddhism and these in mind in daily my life. For example, praying hands is one of Buddhism. I do it before and after eating everytime. Because of I express apprecition and regardful for Buddha by prainf hands. In this way Buddhism is intergrated into our everyday life.

2. summarize newspaper
I found an article about "In danger of the spilit of Buddha." Religion scholar Tetsuo Yamaori said independence and unite in Tibet. He went to Forbidden City twenty years ago. He got lost in Lhasa while out for a walk. Fortunately, the bus conduct picked him up to the hotel.He holt out a token of his appreciation to the bus conduct. But, he was turned down it like rolled up surprisingly. Because of he said "we can't take it with this Buddhism in mind." That was express Tibbet Buddhism pridein his words. And Mr.Yamaori thought their spirit of self-reliance and that was inextricably linked by intuition. More than twenty years later, he worried about various problem in danger of the spilit of Buddism.