ウォルマートで買い物中に後ろを振り向いたらロボットがいた。。
お掃除ロボットかと思って、反対側を見に行ったら謎のライトみたいなのがたくさんある。
家に帰って調べたら商品棚管理ロボットと判明。
私はアメリカの結構な田舎暮らしだけれど
未来を見せてもらったような気分。
最近のウォルマートでの買い物をするときは、事前にリベートアプリとクーポンを使って買うものを選ぶ。
生鮮食品とか、割引の個別リベートの無いものはアプリ経由でピックアップの注文をしておく（アプリで3ドルリベートあり）。
クーポン使用品だけを店に入って買う。その時に物が見つからないときはアプリで検索。
値段がわからないときはアプリ起動してバーコードをスキャンで判明。
帰りがけにピックアップ場所に行けば買い物終了！
効率が良いし節約ができて楽しい。
はれ
今日は新しく来たしまじろう教材でお勉強。
キッズワークの説明をしていたら、”ピピ”という登場人物の名前を聞いて
”ピピー！！”と息子が笑いだした。
こういうのはちょっと嫌な感じがする。。
日本語的には問題ないけれど、ベネッセは子どもチャレンジイングリッシュ
を宣伝しているのだから、細かい事まで気にしてくれる良いのになー
子どもチャレンジイングリッシュの体験教材にはブタの警察官の歌があったし。。
もしこれでドーナツを手に持っていたら入会者が減るぞ～
はれ
ブログ久しぶり過ぎっ！！
二人目の子どもを無事に出産した。でも会社は産休中に新しい人を採用しており、
私は遠まわしな方法で退職に追い込まれてしまった。
仕方がないのでコミュニティーカレッジにまた通ってました。
いまだに英語の聞き取りと話すのがとても苦手！でも時間をかければ書くことは何とか出来ている。
English 101クラスのCompair and Contastエッセイの課題。
リサーチ不足で詳細は間違いが色々ありそうだけれど私のスケート愛を表現して見た。
でもちょうどオリンピックの時期に書いていたので
オリンピックは全く見ていない。優勝したリプリツカヤ？も見てないし。。
これから動画を探してみてみようっと。
Katarina Witt and Midori Ito: Figure Skating- an Art or a Sport?
Women’s figure skating is one of the most attractive events among the winter sports. Female skaters wear gorgeous costumes and demonstrate various movements as if they are floating on the ice. Figure skating is notable because unlike many other sports, it is not only the competition to compete technique or time, but also it is an artistic show. There are two icons still shining in women’s figure skating history, Katarina Witt and Midori Ito. Although Katarina was a very artistic skater, Midori, who was famous for her athleticism, had more impact in the world of figure skating.
In order to understand the difference between Midori and Katarina, it is helpful to understand the scoring system. Single figure skaters perform two programs: a short program and a long program. In both programs, skaters need to complete mandatory elements which are jumps, spins, and steps.The judges score the quality of their performance. Unlike other sports, the significant features of figure skating are that the score is not determined by only the complication of skill. In the period that Katarina and Midori flourished, in the 1980s, scores were determined by Technical Score plus Program Artistic Impression. At that time, there was one more program called Compulsory Figures. Originally, figure skating was a game to etch specific figures or patterns on the ice. Compulsory was a relic from the past and was abolished in 1991(JOC).
Jumps make up the greatest part of the Technical Elements score. Jumps are distinguished by six kinds: Toe Loop jump, Salchow, Loop, Flip, Lutz, and Axel. Axel is the only jump that is initiated facing forward. All other jumps, the skaters take off facing back using different skate edges. The Toe Loop is the least difficult, and the Axel is the most difficult jump (Everything).
The Artistic Impression Score is influenced by the skater’s appearance, flow of movement, harmonious composition, conformity to the music and the use of the skating rink. This score is sometimes controversial because it tends to be determined by the judge’s personal eye for beauty.
In the athletic part of figure skating, Midori was a better skater than Katarina. They took very different positions for the technical elements of figure skating. The 1988 Winter Olympics was held in Calgary, Canada, and was the only Olympics that Katarina and Midori competed against each other. Many technical aspects could be studied from their competition. Katarina became the Olympic gold medalist, and Midori finished in fifth place. The biggest difference between them were their jumps. Katarina executed two kinds of triple jumps, Triple Toe Loop and Triple Salchow during her free program. Although she had an ability to jump the Triple Loop, she doubled it. Her jumps were clean and solid, but she only executed four triples.
On the other hand, Midori performed five kinds of seven triple jumps including Triple Lutz, Triple Flip, Triple Loop, Triple Salchow and Triple Toe Loop. Midori’s jumps surprised audience with their height and distance. On the ABC News program, the analyst and former figure skater Richard Totten “Dick” Button described her program as “The triumph of athleticism” (“Midori Ito 1988”). She not only mastered the jumps, but also did a spectacular Flying Sit Spin. She was the only woman who did it during this Olympic game. Every time she demonstrated high and difficult jumps, the audience’s excitement accelerated, and at the end, it looked like everyone stood up from their seats and praised her. The best skaters perform in the final group. But she performed in the group one ahead of the final group. The excitement that audience showed on that day was a rare thing for an athlete, who was not even in the final completion group. Although, her technical score was high, she couldn’t beat Katarina because she couldn’t get high scores with her Compulsory Figures, and her artistic impression scores were low.
During the 1989, The World Championships held in Paris, Midori became the first woman to perform the Triple/Triple combination jump and the Triple Axel jump in major international competition. Triple Axel is very difficult jump even for male skaters. Even today, to jump facing forward is so hard that most female figure skaters can only perform a Double Axel. Kurt Browning who was the Men’s Champion at this competition, praised Midori saying, “She’s a different level from the others. She’s the only woman I’ve seen who could compete with the top men. Her jumping ability is incredible” (World Figure). With that incredible jumping ability, Midori became the first Asian to win a world figure skating title.
In the artistic part of figure skating, Katarina was more artistic skater than Midori. The artistic aspects of Katarina and Midori were very different. Katarina is a white woman from East Germany who is 5’4” tall. She attended a special school for children who were talented at sports (“Katarina Witt – Two”). According to Ms. Magazine, she was considered “the most beautiful face of socialism.” They also described her as, “She was a natural performer, delighting audiences with her energizing, beautiful routines. Her triple jumps were sturdy and strong, with crisp landings, and her footwork is bold and dynamic. But what made Witt shine above all the rest was her knack for striking the perfect balance of grace and power” (Katarina Witt: Diplomatic). During the Calgary Olympics, Katarina skated to the music from Carmen wearing a vibrant red costume. It was clear that she focused her concentration on playing Carmen’s life. She often slowed down or stopped her skating then showed choreography. She looked as if she was a prima ballerina on the ice. Her dramatic expression pulled audience into her world (“Katarina Witt (GDR)”).
Midori is a Japanese woman and only 4’9” tall (“Midori Ito – Japanese”). Compared to the skaters from the European countries, she looked like a little kid. After winning the World Championship in 1989, Sports Illustrated magazine described her: “Ito’s victory is a breakthrough in skating not only because of her amazing ability but also because she lacks the glamour of a Witt or a Trenary. As small as Ito is, she looks chunky. Midori said, “I envy American and European girls because they are so tall (Mite).” Because figure skating developed in Europe, being tall still appears to be the European standard of beauty. Women’s appearance and gracefulness are very important factors of figure skating. When Midori debuted at the Calgary Olympics, even though her movements were smooth and flowing, she looked a little rough. She boldly showed her feelings rather than expressing the music. By the time she completed her jumps, her smile became bigger, and her excitement covered the entire hall. Compared to Katarina who played a passionate Carmen, Midori was being herself, showing her love of skating.
When Midori looked back on her career as a figure skater, she often spoke about Katarina. On a TV program, which showed in 2013, she said, “Even though I completed five kinds of triple jumps, I couldn’t beat the beauty of Katarina Witt” (伊藤). It looked like Katarina strongly influenced Midori’s career. Midori attempted gutsy jumps because she knew that her jumps would be a great advantage to compete with European and American skaters. At the same time, Midori took ballet lessons and worked to lose weight. Sports Illustrated magazine appraise her effort as, “Ito’s skating has improved dramatically since the 1988 Calgary Games because she has made great strides in her artistic performance. The Japanese team’s co-leader, Junko Hiramatsu says, “She is a little girl who jumps like a big girl. However, her artistic impression had not been good at all. But she worked so hard, and it paid (Mite).” All of her effort pursuing athletic and artistic
perfection led her to the gold medal of the World Championships in 1989.
Both Katarina and Midori greatly influenced today’s figure skating. Katarina was persuaded to perform programs that remain in the audience’s memories for a long time which needed to be beautiful and clean. To the contrary, Midori was the pioneer to open the door of the jumping for women. Now, many women skaters attempt triple/triple combination and triple axel. Midori has changed figure skating to be a more athletic competition. After they retired, their achievements were honored by inducting them into the Figure Skating Hall of Fame (“World Hall”).
It was clear that Katarina was the more artistic skater; Midori worked hard to be artistic, because she knew the ideal figure skater should be athletic and artistic. If audiences want to see dramatic and beautiful skating, they can watch ice dancing. Figure skating is a sport that requires athletes to show technical improvement. Artistic expression stands only on the firm athletic abilities. Midori demonstrated to future skaters what ultimate figure skating should be.
Works Cited
"Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Figure Skating but Were Afraid to Ask." Slate Magazine.
N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.
"伊藤みどり YouTube. YouTube, 21 Dec. 2013. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.
"JOC 公益財団法人日本オリンピック委員会." JOC. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2014.
"Katarina Witt - Two Time Olympic Figure Skating Champion." About.com Figure Skating. N.p., n.d.
Web. 13 Feb. 2014.
"Katarina Witt: Diplomatic On And Off The Ice." Ms Magazine Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2014.
"Katarina Witt (GDR) - 1988 Calgary, Ladies' Long Program." YouTube. YouTube, 02 Nov. 2009. Web.
17 Feb. 2014.
"Midori Ito 1988 Calgary Olympics LP." YouTube. YouTube, 05 Jan. 2008. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.
"Midori Ito - Japanese & World Figure Skating Champion & Olympic Silver Medalist." About.com
Figure Skating. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2014.
"Mite Makes Right." Tiny Midori Ito of Japan Leaped to the Top at the World. Sports Illustrated
Magazine, N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2014.
"World Figure Skating Championships Japan's Midori Ito is Flawless in Victory." Los Angeles Times
(pre-1997 Fulltext): 11. Mar 19 1989. ProQuest. Web. 13 Feb. 2014 .
"World Hall of Fame Members." World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.
はれ
ブログブログ放置中～
去年の夏から仕事始めた。今は2人目妊娠中。お腹大きいけれど仕事は続けてる。
日本に行って和食を食べたい。でもこんな状況なので
当分行けそうにない。。
ブログ再開しようかな。。
くもり
息子が一歳半になった～♪
今学期から保育園にフルタイムで行ってる。かわいそうかなと思ったけど
時間単位で預けていた時は空きがなくて、預け先に苦労した時も結構あったから
今回はその意味ではストレスなしで良かった。ESLの時みたいに簡単に休むことは
出来ないし。本人も早めに迎えに行くと、保育園から帰りたがらないくらいに
楽しんでいる様子。何だか親としてはある意味落ち込む。やっぱり個人だと保育園のように
色々な遊びや体験をさせるのに限界があるのかなとか。
息子のためにも自分がアメリカで自立できるようになる事も優先事項だから
頑張らないとと思う。年齢を考えると旦那に家族全員が頼る生活はリスクが大きいし。
今回はEnglish98でAを取る事が出来た。大学レベルにも達してないクラスだから
当たり前かも知れないけど、私以外全員アメリカ人のクラスで良い成績を取れたのが
自分としては達成感が大きい。本当ににある意味大変だった。みんなが簡単に理解出来る文章でも
私は平均2行に一回位辞書を引いてたし。。。しゃべれないし、クラスメイトが何を言ってるのか
理解できないし。文章を書く事は自信がついてきたけど、夏休みの課題は基礎的な
コミュニケーション力の向上だなぁ・・・
その保育園の献立がアメリカらしくて面白いなーと思う。
朝 Cheerios,Pears,Milk
昼 Chicken Tenders, JoJo's, Watermelon Wedges, Milk
おやつ English Muffin, Cheese Melt, Water
朝 Bagles, Cream Cheese, Mandarin Oranges, Milk
昼 Sweet n Sour Meatballs, White Rice, Green Beans, Tropical Fruit, Milk
おやつ Club Crackers, String Cheese, Apple Juice
朝 Banana Muffins, Peaches, Milk
昼 Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup, Cantaloupe, Milk
おやつ Applesauce, Ritz Crackers, Milk
朝 Cinnamon French Toast, Honeydew Melon, Milk
昼 Chicken Menudo, Brown Rice, Peas&Carrots, Mandarin Oranges, Milk
おやつ Goldfish Crackers, Milk
朝 Life Cerial, Bananas, Milk
昼 Pepperoni Pizza, Honeydew Melon, Baby Carrots, Milk
おやつ Yogurt
一歳半直前に卒乳したけど、この献立をみて平日は家で牛乳をあげていない。
夕食は出来るだけ和食で野菜を多く取るようにしている。
