Friendship Assortment

October 21st, 2005

While being at Alfred Pharmacy, I found something nice to me. Those were just cards about friendships. I want keep these words in my mind, so that I won't forget thoughtfulness to all people around me. That's why I liked and purchase them.

See these with pictures.

1. "For A Wonderful Friend"

Just a note to let you know that you are being thought of and missed by me.

2. "Your Friendship Means So Much To Me"

I can't remember better times than those that we've shared together.

You have brought so much to my life and are a terrific friend.

3. "For A Wonderful Friend"

I've been thinking about what a wonderful friend you have been to me,

and I want to let you know that I really appreciate that.

I hope that I am just as good of a friend of you.

4. "To My Friend"

It takes a lot of wonderful things to make a special friend, like all the things you are.

5. "Thinking of You"

and sending a note to say hello and hope that everything is fine.

Mr. Curry's for Dinner

October 4th, 2005

I haven't written for a while... I know I'm lazy since classes were busy. However, I want to write anytime when I have time without caring about messiness in order not to rush myself.

Since I updated pictures when we visited to Mr. Curry's house, I'm going to write about it. It was the last day of mini break. He planned to invite us to his house for dinner several weeks before that day, but I was going to NYC during the mini break and not sure when I came back. After considering, he gave us directions with his great kindness.

Nine Japanese students joined it; ones in his class this year and last year. He is very helpful to international students. (I don't mean his class is easy; it is rather hard...) We all like him very much.

His house was located in Angelica where there were many antique shops. I guess it took over 30 minutes from our campus though I am not sure because we got lost, actually. The town had a lot of nature and inspired us enough. We went to falls just near his house while his wife was cooking for us. All of us got into a river with his dog and got wet as well. Some of us slipped and fell down. Also, we played badminton. They were nice entertainments and good exercises before dinner.

She made a good meal: fried rice with nets and raisin curry based taste, booiled squash, and salad. In addition to them, she baked a chocolate cake for us! The way of having a piece of cake was with vanilla and strawberry ice cream. It tasted good, too. One more, the tea we had during dinner was homemade!! Some of us asked for that recipe.

After eating, we went out again. Surrounding was so beautiful in yellow, red, and light green. Such a constrant made us more relaxed. As soon as getting the river, boys began to throw small stones in order to compete how many times they could bound a stone on the surface of water. There was a small concert playing some instruments: the piano and the guitar. He had two pretty and cheerful daughters who made the atmosphere brighter. Little one dressed up and brought some staff. Good. Good.

The members who went to Mr. Curry's were all good. That was why I felt comfortable to be with. I hope I could build better relashionships with them. Anyway, the day was really really enjoyable to me.

Visiting Erica's for Dinner

September 18, 2005

Erica is my new friend who lives in the same dorm and is in the same psychology class. I went to her house for dinner today. My teacher in Japan told me that I should have at least become a friend with whom I could be invited to the Chiristmas dinner to learn real American culture. This was not Christmas, but I could go to my American friend's home. I must not be satisfied with only this, but I was very happy for the event.

Her house was in Wellesiville and located on just across the Pink House which was famous in NY. She had two dogs and a cat. I liked them and went for a walk with them and Erica around her house.

Her mother cooked chicken, potato, and broccoli dishes for us. I had dinner with Erica, her parents, and her little sister. They also invited me to a hiking on Oct. 15th. I was so excited to hear that already.

Children's International Festival

September 17, 2005

Today we had Children's International Festival at downtown, Alfred. According to Mao's web site, it was the second. Joyce and the president of Alfred State College stared it last year. We focused Japanese culture this year, so some of us wore Japanese traditional costumes for the Festival. So did I. There were many people at downtown; the range was from little children to elder people. I found my composition professor there. He was with his wife and daughters. Joyceand the president were there as well. My sociology professor told me that he was there in the next class, but I did not recognize him, actually. Everybody told me that they liked this costume, and it seemed beautiful. I was happy to hear that. As Alfred State has many Japanese international students, people of the town are getting be interested in Japanese culture.

In fact, this festival is held for charity, I did not know the fact though. Alfred State has another charity called "Hot Dog Day." However, some people said this festival was better than that event. A particular newspaper called "The Spectator" reported that "Students at displays and booths along Main Street said they were enjoying the event." "It's a good thing. They all come together for a good cause." "It's very nice for the community and also good for the students."

Roommate

September 15, 2005

We had Sociology and Mathematics tests today. We meant my roommate and me. We have classes whose professors are same but just time shedule is different. Only for sociology, we are in the same class though.

After classes, we went to Dollar General which was 30 minute-walk from campus. It offered us dairy goods and stationery with lower prices than usual ones. When I went there at the beggining of this semester, I did by myself. It was a beautiful day, so I could enjoy walking to and from the shop (According to my memory, it was Aug. 23rd). Today we enjoyed as well talking a lot and finding many things.

At that night, Tiwanese Mike came to our room and stayed a long time. We three had a good time thanks to him. Why I am saying such a thing is I have not been in a good mood with my roommate these days. One of the causes was that I was out of room and stayed the lounge downstairs to study. I don't think I have to stay at room all day long, but I guess she felt lonely when I was out.

When we were taking a walk, she told me that she liked sharing a room with someone. Could it be taken as she liked being with someone all day long and did not like to be alone?? I am not sure, but she is two years younger than I am. I think she is enough old to be alone... however, we cannot categolize people with ages.

Americans look much older than Asians, but not so much inside.

Mike, finally stayed till 3 in the morning. In addition, Atsuko joined us on the way and started singing Japanese songs. Megan went out to her boyfriend's room. That was a strange but good experience.

The Pshchology Test

September 14th, 2005

This was the first test here (not ESL class). I was very nervous because I changed my psychology class and had not been accustomed to her teacing style and how she would ask us in a test. I asked her if I could use my translater for the test; however, I did not at all. Of course I had many words I did not know though. I found that her teaching policy was "Be Fair." I'm trying to join a kind of discussion in class. I hope this class trains and helps me to join an American school.

Before the test, my friend Erica who lives in the same dorm invited me to her home for dinner this Sunday. That made me very happy.

AU Party and GJ's

September 9th, 2005

Once I went back to my room, Tiwanese Mike came there and asked me to join him to go to a party at AU. A person owned it so that we could drink without police. I thought Americans were sharp...

As I usually did not drink alcohol, I gave my cups to my friends. What we did at the party were only talking and playing a game called "Beer Pong."

The rule of the game was pointing a ball into a cup with some beer. If you got the cup, the other team had to drink it. Continuing it, the team that pointed all cups would win the game. We could make some friends whom we had not meet on campus before.

Next, we went to GJ's where we could dance to music. Boys went around to offer dancing to girls. The place was rather crowded, and I lost my sweater while dancing.

Feelings Only International Can Understand

September 10th, 2005

Absence of Akko gave me a chance to eat brunch with Shiho and Misato. They two were only the students who were from HIUC Osaka, not Tokyo this year. After they left me in terms of cleaning Terra Cotta coffee house as volunteers, I met Denny and Kalin. As you know, and as I mentioned before, they were also international students here.

While eating, we exchange our opinions. We internationsl students felt it was not easy to express what we wanted to tell exactly in English, not in our native languages. Kalin seemed he had more sense of humor in English; at the same time, he seemed more intelligent in Burgarian, he said. On the other hand, Denny seemed more quiet in English; more active in Korean. In case of me, that was same as Denny. I could not express my feeling or what I really want to tell in English. We considered if it was possible that all people in this world could communicate with each other because of different languages which gave us invisible barriers. I actually felt sorry to hear that.

Could all the societies in the world be even more comfortable in the future if we made it possible to understand each other in one language? I think this is one of the big issues we have to wrestle with for the future because I hope everybody in the world can join anything together and get along with each other.

The International Dinner♪

September 8th, 2005

Feeling hungry and for my club, I went out for dinner with Atsuko. The most frequent meeting with seniors is at CDH for food. Whenver we go there, we see some of them.

After eating, a boy called me to stop and join him. It was Kalin. He wsa with Denny and Yuta. Why I said "international" was that Kalin was from Burgaria, Denny was from Korea, and Yuta was from Japan. The international conversation had started when Atsuko and me joined them. Although it was in English, it interested me a lot. If it were not in English, we could not have understood each other because our native languages were so different, new, or just did not know at all. Nonetheless, it was a great opportunity to have it.

Friends in the Same Dorm☆

September 6th, 2005

We usually don't have the composition class on Wednesdays. As my classmate Kyle was absent from the last class, he asked me if there was a class tomorrow. He lived the same floor in Burdick. The first talk with him was when I was at a computer lab in Braddon Hall. At that time, my computer did not work, and I had to print my essay for the class. He was also there to use a printer. He spoke to me, and we found we were in the same composition class. I had three "Kyle" in the class. That gave me a question and an interesting discovery at the same time. I guessed THREE meant Kyle was a common name for American boys. Moreover, when he introduced himself to me, his name sounded "Kayo" in Japanese. It sounded cute because an American boy had a name that was one for a Japanese girl. In addition to his name, Yuri which is my friend's name is Russian boy's name. He wanted to study abroad as well as us but gave up for money. I was so happy that one step for the future that was STUDY ABROAD was come true.

Back to the talk of the night, we had a good time with not only usual answer-and-question conversation but also about Japanese and our club. I had a kind of reference book (idioms and useful phrases) with me at that time, so I showed him the book. He showed me a good interest. I hope more students and people in different country have more interests in different cultures.

Making friends who live in the same dorm has some advantages. One is more cahnces to meet; others are easier to have talking and to remember them.