Brain storming3 Secret of Kumamoto

Asoji (eating country food for example takanameshi, dagojiru)
Rojipan (bakeryshop),
Horafukitei (okonomiyaki),
My house’s porch (night view)

17 words

BR 2-14: THE UGRY DUCKLING

Once upon a time, nine ducklings hatched. Eight were pretty and fluffy and yellow, but the ninth duckling did not look like the others. “Ugly duckling! Ugly duckling!” said the eight other ducklings. “Ugly ducklings go away!” Once the mother duck took her ducklings to visit another duck family on the other side of the lake. They teased the ugly duckling. “You can not be a duck!” the ugly duckling cried and he ran away. The ugly duckling hid in some grass. Soon it got dark. The ugly duckling was scared and lonely. He went to sleep. The next morning, the ugly duckling went to look for food. “What kind of bird are you?” asked some wild ducks. The ugly duckling said “I am a duck.” However the wild duck teased him. The ugly duckling ran away from the wild ducks. He ran and ran until he came to another lake, and he stayed there. The ugly duckling stayed all winter. It was cold, and windy, too. One day, the ugly duckling saw some swans flying south. They called “Come with us.” He tried to fly, but he could not and the swans could not wait. The ugly duckling stayed by the lake. He grew and grew and he became a swan but he did not notice. In the spring, the ugly duckling flapped his wings. They were big and strong. “I can fly, I can fly!” he said. He flew to a riverbank. “Come and stay with us,” said the swans. The ugly duckling said “You do not want me. I am just an ugly duckling.” “A duckling?” they said. “No, you are a swan. A beautiful swan, just like us!”
282 words

STUDY ABROAD

ABOUT MINNESOTA AND KUMAMOTO FASHION

BY

Miho Chiwata
A SHORT PAPER
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE OF
SUMMER STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM (US)
Kumamoto Gakuen University Foreign Language Department
English Course

SUPERVISOR: Miho ChiwataKumamoto Gakuen UniversityOe 2-5-1 KumamotoJapan
October 21, 2008
This paper consists of 1161 words





1. Introduction　
There are many kinds of fashion in Japan. They are trendy and fashionable and individual. Many Japanese people, especially girls, like to read fashion magazines and go shopping.
In America, there are many kinds of fashions, too. Are American girls interested in fashion? I researched about it.
To answer, I went to several different shopping areas in Minnesota and read American fashion magazines. Also I asked Bethel students or my host family some questions, and used graphs to indicate the results which will be discussed in section 2 and in section 3.

2. In Kumamoto 　
Kumamoto has some local magazines; for example, “No” and “Tankuma” and so on. There are many things written in magazines about Kumamoto. In Japan, slim, beautiful girls appear in fashion magazines. They are leading Japanese girls to fashion. It seems that this is one strategy used to sell expensive clothing, and one reason why Japanese girls are absorbed in fashion. It is good for girls to read fashion magazines, because they can be fashionable and they can show their own individuality. Also they can become more beautiful, because the fashion magazines sometimes insert articles about good ways to diet or how to make up and so on.
Also many fashion stores are introduced in these magazines. When college students go to school, they dress up, and wear make up. Most Japanese girls like to go shopping and they are interested in fashion. They are especially interested in fashion outside of Japan. They observe Paris and Reahna and so on in magazines.
Table 1 below shows the results of a questionnaire given to KGU students in Kumamoto. According to the results, in Japan they read fashion magazines, and it seems that they don’t want to be considered unfashionable. Also the research said that most Japanese people are interested in fashion very much. It is an important point to know the way they think about Japanese fashion. Looking at question 6, it says that most Japanese people think fashion is fun and shows individuality. Both of them are positive attributes of fashion. On the other hand only 3 people thought that fashion was a bother or expensive. As a result, we can see through these answers that Japanese people (32 out of 35) are generally addicted to fashion.

Questions
Number of people

1. How interested in are
you in fashion?
Very much
23 (61%)
So-so
9(25%)
A little
2(5%)
Not at all
1(2%)
2. Are you conscious
about what you wear?
Very much
14
(40%)
So-so
19
(54%)
A little
2
(5%)
Not at all
0
(0%)
3. What kind of clothes
do you like best?
Dresses
5(14%)
Slacks
3(8%)
Jeans 10(28%)
T-shirts
13(37%)

Tops
5(14%)

Skirts
5(14%)
Others
Jackets
Blouses

4. What colors do you
tend to wear most?
Deep colors
13(37%)
Primary colors
2(5%)
Muted colors
3(8%)
Patterns
1(2%)

Pastels
6(17%)

Others
Blue
White

Bright co
-lors
9(25%)

Table 1. Results of Japanese students (age 19 to 21)

5. Do you read
fashion magazines?
Very much
9(25%)
So- so
17(48%)
A little
7(20%)
Not at all
2(5%)
6. what do you think of
fashion?
It’s fun
25(71%)
show
Individu
-ality
7(20%)
It’s expensive
2(5%)
It’s a
Bother
1(2%)

3. In the US[1]
According to 6 Bethel college student girls, when they go to college they wear clothing that is easy moving, but when they go out to dinner, shopping or the theater, they dress up and put on make up. Recently skinny jeans and baggy pants and high-waist jeans are popular among young people in America, and when they feel cold, they sometimes put on scarves.
I wanted to find local fashion magazines in Minnesota, but there were no local magazines about fashion. It seems that Minnesotans are not so much interested in fashion.
As above, Table 2 shows answers by Minnesotans about fashion. The research said that they are not so interested in fashion, because 8 people answered that fashion is a little interesting and 5 said not at all. Even so for question 2, they indicated they are not so interested in fashion, but they are conscious about what they wear. They like jeans, maybe because they are easy moving, and they are comfortable. One person answered that he (she) wore light clothes so that he (she) would not get too hot. Surprisingly, they seldom read fashion magazines. They seem not to spend much money to buy clothing. Also, 8 out of 25 people think that fashion is expensive. One person said that fashion is something pushed on people so they will spend money, which is a unique and thought provoking opinion.
People in Minnesota seemed not to buy expensive clothing, but they spent money on other things, for example going driving, going out to dinner, traveling, buying a jet-ski and fishing gears; in other words, on their own hobbies. Minnesotans like to go outside, because they seem to enjoy hiking, and sports. Therefore they wear clothing that is easy to move or walk in.


Questions
Number of people

1. How interested in are
you in fashion?
Very much
4(21%)
So-so
2(1%)
A little
8(42%)
Not at all
5(26%)
2. Are you conscious
about what you wear?
Very much
7(35%)
So-so
6(30%)
A little
6(30%)
Not at all
1(5%)
3. What kind of clothes
do you like best?
Dresses
2

Slacks
8

Jeans
14

T-shirts
7
Others
Button- up
Shirts
Second hand store

Tops
7

Skirts
3
4. What colors do you
tend to wear most?
Deep colors
4
Primary colors
3
Muted colors
5
Patterns
0
Pastels
1
Others
Blue
Kahki
Black
Bright co
-lors
5
Table 2. Responses of Minnesotans (age 18 to 50)
5. Do you read
fashion magazines?
Very much
1(5%)
So- so
1(5%)
A little
4(20%)
Not at all
14(70%)
6. what do you think of
fashion?
It’s fun
5(25%)
It’s expensive 8(40%)
It show
individu
-ality
5(25%)
It’s a
bother
5(25%)


7. Conclusion　
From the above, we see that Japanese people are interested in fashion. There are many kinds of fashion magazines in Japan, and they read them. It seems that they are influenced by fashion magazines, and they may be happy to dress up and make up. Fashion has continued from a long time in Japan, with changing popularity. It seems to be Japanese culture, because Japanese people like fashion without generation differences.
On the other hand, American people are not so interested in fashion. They buy cheaper clothes, but they are original and cute. They make a point of wearing clothes that are easy to move in. Also when they go to college or just go to the grocery store to buy something, they do not make up or dress up, but when they go to dinner, birthday parties or hung out with friends, they make up and dress up. It is American culture.
American people are natural, active and healthy. Japanese people are fashionable and conscious about health. Both of them have good points.

8. Bibliography

American fashion retrieved from http://www.anyfashions.com/
NET ViVi retrieved from http://www.joseishi.net/vivi/
アメリカの女の子のファッション(American girls fashion) retrieved from http://ameblo.jp/megunokokoro/entry-10125666344.html
ファッション通販（fashion walker）retrieved from http://gw.tv/fw/

9. Questionnaire
1. How interested in are you in fashion?
Very much So-so A little Not at all
2. Are you conscious about what you wear?
Very much So-so A little Not at all
3. What kind of clothes do you like best?
Dresses Slacks Jeans T-shirts Tops Skirts Others
4. What colors do you tend to wear most?
Deep colors Primary Muted colors Patterns Pastels Bright colors Others
5. Do you read fashion magazines?
Very much So-so A little Not at all
6. What do you think of fashion?
It’s fun Show individuality It’s expensive It’s a bother

1362 words
[1] I had not known so much about American fashion until I went to Minnesota. When I went to Minnesota, and I saw American college students in Minnesota generally wear T-shirts, jeans and sandals. I was surprised at that thing, because in Japan we dress up and wear make up.

Community Youth hostel club

I will introduce my circle, youth hostel. we have a big program. It is a school festival.

my school held a school festival in Oct. 31, Nov. 1,2. Our club sold fried bread ice cream. isn't a strange name?:> this is an our club’s traditional food and we sell it every year. I will teach u how to make it. First, you ready bread (the bread is thin and it will be usually baked by (an electric) toaster) and ice cream (about 2 or 3 spoonfuls). you cut off the crust and you push all inside of the bread and spread a little water around the bread because it is helpful to put together each corners of the bread, and put the ice cream on the center of bread, and you cover the ice cream with bread like triangle. Finally you fried it about 30 seconds or less (till become brown) and shift sugar on it. The points are keeping not melting the ice cream till fry, you should make it as soon as possible you can. I wanna make it for you, but I cant;<> that’s so nice. Our school’s exchange students ate it, and they said to me this is so nice!!:-] I recommend it. Also we made exhibition of Japanese era. We made each Japanese era’s symbols and we made room each era’s symbols. Making was so tired, but finally we made it we were so excite and impression. Also we could get the superior prize of the exhibition. Before school festival, we walked in down town with funny costume and portable shrine.
311 words

Brain storm2 community

Course mates, work mates, volleyball team, Clubs/team (youth hostel, photo, sightseeing, ESS, flower arrangement, tea ceremony, calligraphy, and so on), cram school, dance club, piano club.
26 words

BR 2-13: My Tooth Is Loose!

George was not playing. His friend, Daniel asked to him “What’s wrong?” George said that his tooth was loose. He did not know what to do. Daniel told him about himself when he tooth was loose her dad took it out with a string. George did not want to use a string. Then Diana came and heard that and she said “Bite into an apple and your tooth will come out.” However George did not to bite, because it might hurt. Then Carol came and she heard that and she said “Let the dentist pull it out,” but George did not want to do it. Also Bobby appeared and asked them what’s wrong, and he said “Twist it! Until it comes out.” However he did not want to do it, because it might bleed. Then Linda appeared and heard that and she said “My grandma gave me fudge. I bit the fudge and swallowed my tooth.” However he did not want to swallow his tooth, because it might grow inside him. He wanted to help his mama, his mama heard that and she said “You do not have to do anything, your tooth will come out all by itself.” After that it did.
There were many ways of pulling tooth. However I do not do anything, because I hate the ways. It is good to do nothing with the tooth.
230 words

BR 2-12: TOAD EATS OUT

It was Toad’s birthday. He can do what he wants. He went out of his house to eat in restaurant. He pick up Bug, they drive around. The rides are fun at FOOD PLAYGROUND. They have good friends at HOT DOG POWER. They liked the clown at PANCAKE TOWER. Their favorite place, the CHEW AND VIEW! They were hungry. A table for Toad, Bee would his server today. There were his friends and they shouted SURPRIZE!! They all put on their birthday caps, Toad did not know Jumbo Gumbo a la Pat. He tried it. Roll and butter, water with ice, plenty of forks- this place is nice. Here it came! Their food was ready. Jumbo gumbo and spaghetti! There were hot buttered corn and black-eyed peas and cake and candles. They had a great time. Toad was given a big balloon and matching socks a book a glove a rocket ship. He looked happy.
155 words

Mrs. Doubtfire bonds and family

I watched “Mrs. Doubtfire”. The movie is so funny. First I will introduce the story. One day, father wants to cerebrate to son’s birthday, so he held party. He invited moving zoo, and he invited many children his house. His wife were working, but she got a call, so she went back home. When she went back home police were there. He said that it is noisy also it is ban to enter animals in house. His wife apologized to the police, and she was angry at her husband.
She decided divorce, but father did not want to divorce, because he loves her and his children. As the justice, mother could get a parental authority. Father was allowed to see his children one a week. He was so sad, because he never part from his children.

One day he found that mother is finding home helper to clean, cook, wash, and take care of children. He decided to disguise old woman to become home helper. He made himself Mrs. Doubtfire. Mother took an interview with Mrs. Doubtfire, and she decided that ask her to take care of. Mrs. Doubtfire was good home helper. She read books to younger sister, also she scold them when they did bad things. Also she let them to study home work. They are getting like her also their mother, too, but they didn’t know that she is their father.
One day they invited dinner to cerebrate mother’s birthday. Of course, Mrs. Doubtfire invited, too, but she had another schedule. As the result, she was found out by his family. Finally, father could not get a parental authority, besides when he sees his children with oversees, but mother withdrew oversees. So he can see his children without oversees, also he can see children evening weekdays.

I think this movie want to say about family, divorce, bonds, works and so on. Mother decided to divorce with father, it is problem not only mother and father but also their children. Mother likes father’s good strength for example funny and positive, kind, but he does not have work. Her work is becoming hard, so she irritates father’s behavior. After divorce she found home helper, but in fact she was her old husband. But she didn’t notice that fact. When the house helper was coming to the house they have laughed many times. They were happy, but they found out she was their father, mother angry so father could not see children weekdays.

Since father have not come the house, they have not laugh. Then mother noticed father was important for children. I think divorce is very hard problem, because it is problem not only father and mother but also children. Children are sad if parents decide to divorce, but there are many patterns bonds. If parents divorce, it can not cut families bonds. If parents are thinking their children, they have to do something for children, like this movie.

Also, divorce is not bad, because it is getting bad if parents do not divorce. I think divorce is not matter. It is important how to improve bad bonds. This movie tell us importance of bonds and the way of family.
531 words