Learning with Computers

Computer is a very useful tool for us to do whatever you do. You can do many things with computers. You can write an essay, or you can draw a graph, or you can listen to music, or you can watch a movie and of course, you can learn with computers. Computer is now one of the necessary things to learn with. Lately they teach kids how to use computers in elementary school. It's getting important more and more to be able to use computers mainly for students to learn.

Computers are very useful when I write an essay for class so I use computers a lot for assignments. But you need some skills to write essays with computers. Before I started to learn with computers, I couldn't type as fast as I do today. I had known how to type but I used to type so slowly. Now I use computers almost everyday. It doesn’t take so much for me to write with computers. There is a proper way to write an essay and I didn’t know that before. After I wrote with computers, I didn't check for typos or grammar mistakes. Teacher once gave me back my paper with a lot of red marks and taught me how to check for typos and grammar mistakes. Now I make sure that I don’t have any typos or grammar mistakes on my essay every time after I finish writing them. I just didn’t know that it was very easy to do with computers. Nevertheless to say, editing is also much easier when you write an essay with computers than when you handwrite it. It’s troublesome to use an eraser and rewrite paragraphs with a pen, but with computers, you can do it all by dragging clicking. It takes only a few seconds. That’s what I like the most about writing essays with computers.

I had never written blogs before I took Writing IV. For Writing IV, I had to take write something on my blog almost everyday. I had never done it before. To be honest, I was pretty lazy to write blogs everyday at first. It is just like taking diaries. I thought I couldn’t do it at first. I wasn’t good at keep doing the same thing everyday. I didn’t want to do that even for the credit. But as I tried to keep writing it, I became used to it. Whenever something good or bad or extraordinary happened to me in life, I thought “I’m gonna write about this on the blog”. Blog became a part of my life. As a matter of fact, I now enjoy writing blogs very much. I also enjoy attaching the pictures on the blog. After I write a post of the day, I go on to the internet and look for a picture. Blog can look much better by decorating with pictures. When you keep taking diaries on blog, there will be many posts. To organize them, you should label each post so that the posts will be classified in categories and it’s easy to read or find a post you want to read or edit.

The internet is something helpful for us. If you wanted to know about something, you can search for the information on the internet and mostly you can find what you want. There is an internet site called Wikipedia. Wikipedia is an online dictionary where you can find various kinds of information. Besides Wikipedia, you can discover so many things if you use the internet. By using the internet, you can communicate with people all over the world. If you install a messenger into your computer, you can chat with people far away. You can exchange opinions or make friends with people anywhere on the earth. You can know what is happening in other countries by using the internet. It broadens your perspective. I have a messenger installed into my computer and I chat with my friends in Canada one and off. It’s very fun and easy. I feel them very close to me even though they’re across the Pacific Ocean.

I think computers help you learn better. It provides you with a lot of things. You can write essays much easier than you do with your own hand and the typed sentences look better. You can learn many things from the internet. And the internet gives you the opportunity to experience other worlds in your room. You can even talk to the people on the other side of the planet. So I think computers are very important.

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TV

I like watching TV. I spend at least an hour per day for watching TV . I usually watch TV a few hours before I go to bed. Sometimes I watch TV as eating snacks. I have favorite TV programs I don't miss every week.

One of my favorite TV programs is "Ururun Taizaiki". It is a documentary of Japanese actors or TV personalities or models or artists go abroad and spend a week to homestay with local families. They always challenge new things there. It's very interesting because by watching that show, you can learn a lot about other cultures. Sometimes they are sent into the jungle and stay with unknown tribes. They ofcourse don't know the languages. I'm interested in foreign cultures so I enjoy this TV program so much every week.

I'm always looking forward to wathing "Grey's Anatomy" on Saturday nights. Even when I cannot be at home on Saturday night, I record it on the HDD player so I won't miss it. "Grey's Anatomy" is American TV drama about the interns. It's not only about their work at hospital but also about their families, romances, and lives. I like this show because of its unpredictable story and good entertaining performances. I also like the music they play behind the story.

Besides "Ururun Taizaiki" and "Grey's Anatomy", I watch the TV shows on FOX a lot. FOX is a satellite TV station airs many good shows. They are mainly American TV programs and dramas. They air constantly for 24 /7. They often repeat the shows again and againg so if you missed a show you wanted to watch, you will have another chance soon again. My favorite TV shows on FOX are "So You Think You Can Dance" which is American dance competition show, and "24" which is another American TV drama. I think FOX is a very amusing station.

I can say that TV is essential to my life. I enjoy wathing it everyday especailly "Ururun Taizaiki" and "Grey's Anatomy". I even have a favorite TV station. TV is not only an entertainment but also a tool to learn about things through the programs like "Ururun Taizaiki". I like TV. It is an important thing to me.

[372 words]

Community Life

I have been working part time since I was 18 years old. And I can get connected with communities through working. I haven't been working at the same place all the time. I have changed my part-time job for a couple of times. I'm going to introduce what I have done.

First one, I was in highschool and about to graduate. I had been already finished with the entrance examination of the university and had a plenty of free time after school. So I decided to start, very first time in my life, woking. I chose to work at a restaurant in my neighborhood. It was a Korean restaurant. I was a waiter there. I had to talk and communicate with so many people in one day. I always have to be polite and carefle not to offend customers' feelings no matter how busy I was. It was sometimes very difficult because there were so many different kinds of people with different thoughts. Some people may be upset about things I will never be upset about. Some people could be very sensitive and picky while some people could be very friendly and generous. You have to make every customers satisfied by your service. That's what they said. At first I didn't understand this idea. But I eventually I learned that's about being professional. I worked at the restaurant for 3 years.

The next one, I started it when I was 20. I was still working at the first restaurant but I needed more money so I decided to have two part-time jobs. This one was a horse restaurant. It was located on Shimo-tori. Horse meat dish is onen of Kumamoto's specialities so many people from outside Kumamoto came to the restaurant. There were once costomers from Italy. They saw the home page of the restaurant and came Kumamoto to eat horse meat. They came there 2 nights straight. Horse meat is expensive. People came to the restaurant were rich. I had oppotunities to talk with such rich people and foreigners through this job. It was very interesting.

Now I work part time at a drugstore near my house. It is not restaurant so it is different from what I have done before. I have less opportunites to talk to the customers than the two jobs I had before. I sometimes feel it's boring. But I just started it so maybe I should stay and see for a while.

[408 words]

"Toy Story"

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“Toy Story” is an animated movie produced by Pixar. It is the first movie with everything is in CG animation. The main characters are toys. Woody is a stuffed cowboy and Buzz is a spaceman figure. And there are many other various kinds of toys appear in the movie which move and talk vividly. Tom Hanks plays Woody’s voice and Buzz is played by Tim Allen. They are both American actors. The director is John A. Lasseter who is also the director of “toy Story 2” and “Cars” which are made afterwards.

Woody has been Andy’s most favorite toys among many toys he has. All of Andy’s toys move and speak only when Andy is out of the room. Woody is also the leader of other toys. They are Mr. Potato Head, Hamm the piggy bank, Bo Peep the ceramic girl doll, Slinky the spring dog, Alex the dinosaur figure and some other. But Andy always plays with Woody.
On Andy’s birthday, he gets the new toy. It is Buzz. Buzz becomes Andy’s new favorite toy instead of Woody, so Woody doesn’t like Buzz. Buzz thinks he’s a space ranger and has a mission to beat his enemy. He is not aware of that he’s a toy. Woody tries to kick Buzz out. One day, the accident happened. Woody and Buzz fell out of the window of Andy’s room. They didn’t die but had to manage themselves to go back Andy’s room because the other toys thought they were dead and couldn’t help.

Next Andy’s house, a boy named Sid lives. Sid also has many toys too. But he enjoys breaking them. Unluckily, Woody and Buzz were found and taken home by Sid. They were taken into Sid’s room and met many creepy broken toys. They were cut apart and converted by Sid. Woody though they he and Buzz would be one of them. But they were actually nice and cooperative to Woody and supported them to escape from Sid’s house.

Andy’s family was moving to a different place. Andy thought he lost Woody and Buzz. He was very sad but Woody and Buzz made it to come back to Andy. They got on the truck leaving from Andy’s house in the end of the movie. All the other toys were there too.

I thought this movie was really fun to watch. I had watched it twice before but still totally enjoyed it. I liked that Buzz misunderstood that he was a real space ranger at first. He is a hilarious character. I think whoever made this movie is such an innovative idea man.

[434 words]

"My favorite places"

I like traveling very much. I like visiting somewhere I’ve never been to before. And I have been to many places inside and outside Japan. Among those places, I’m going to introduce the three of my favorite places. Two of them are in Japan, Kamakura and Okinawa, and the other is in US which is San Antonio, Texas.

I visited Kamakura for the first time this summer. My sister just moved to Kamakura from Yokohama so she invited me to her new house during the summer vacation. Both Kamakura and Yokohama are in Kanagawa prefecture which is close to Tokyo, the capital of Japan. Kamakura is a very old city with a long history and you can see that as you walk around the city of Kamakura. It has many temples and shrines all over so I went to see some of them. It also has small modern cafes, shops and bars stands along the streets. It has a mixture of history and modern culture in the city and I love the unique atmosphere. It’s quiet, relaxing, quaint and fashionable. Kamakura is the city which contains good elements of both the old tradition and the new fashion at the same time.

Okiniwa is another favorite place to visit. I went there for the first time when I was in junior high as a school trip. But it was November and it had already been getting colder. And the
weather wasn't really good the whole time I was in Okinawa so I couldn't experience the best of Okinawa that time. I really found how amazing Okinawa was last summer. I went there with my friends and stayed for a few days in summer vacation. The weather was fantastic everyday during I was in Okinawa. The oceasn was incredibly beautiful. I spent all day hanging out at the beach so I got tanned no like before. The food is another reason why I like Okinawa. Soki-soba is Okinawan noodles and it's really good and my favorite. Once you arrived in Okinawa, you would feel like you're in somewhere outside Japan. You will feel very happy and welcomed by the island. You can escape from life in reality and forget your stress. Okinawa is such an attractive place.

San Antonio is the third favorite place to introduce. When I was 16 and 17, I was an exchange student in San Antonio, Texas. I went to school called St. Anthony Catholic High School for one year. I have so many memories about San Antonio. In San Antonio, you will hear many Spanish everywhere in the city as well as English. San Antonio faces the border between US and Mexico, so there are many Mexican people live in San Antonio. They have Spanish radio station, Spanish TV program, and delicious Mexican food. At my school, at least 50 % of the students were Mexican or Mexican American. They sometimes talk to each other in Spanish. The school had Spanish class and many students were taking it. I used to hangout with friends from the dormitory where I stayed the whole time during I was in San Antonio. We often went to movies and a shopping mall together in the weekend, and played pool and watched TV at the dorm. San Antonio has a tourist attraction called “River Walk” in its downtown. It’s an artificial small river and has many restaurants and bars and souvenir shops along the river. It’s a very beautiful place with colorful booths, music from bars and many people from all over the world.

I have introduced my three favorite places. First, Kamakura, I like its atmosphere. Second, Okinawa, I like it because it makes me feel as if I’m in a totally different world. And lastly, San Antonio, I have many special memories of spending my 16 and 17 of life there. They’re all my favorite places. I would like to visit there once again or even more. I would also like to visit more places and find more to be my favorites.

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Mega Essay

We examine Kumamoto’s famous things. On examination, we find what we don’t know it unexpectedly without being concerned with the hometown.

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One of the famous foods in Kumamoto is “Karasi Renkon” It is very famous in Japan. People in Kumamoto like it very much and often eat it　there is a famous shop in my town. Its name is Takasimaya in Sinmachi near the Center Office. Many customers bay it in the shop every day. “Let’s eat it in lunch together!”

Hitomoji Guruguru is local cooking of Kumamoto. First of all, I introduce a recipe. At first, you boil a scallion and dip it into the iced water. You coil up the part of the leaf centering on a root. You serve it afterward in a plate, and it is the completion in this. You rank miso and vinegar sauce, and it is general how to eat. It looks like nuta. It is Japanese tradition food. Kumamoto citizen call a scallion Hitomoji. It is said that this name arrived because coil up.

There is a variety of ways of eating horse meat but the most common way is sashimi style which is basashi. There are about 10 kinds of basashi from different part of horse’s body. My favorite is tategami which is a neck part. It’s all white and looks like a fat but is mostly consisted of collagen. It is hard to describe but it has a different texture and taste so if you haven’t had it before, please try. It’s available at many izakayas in Kumamoto. It is very good.

http://www.umasakura.com/

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The water which we drink is “underground water” this is rare in Japan. Many people in Japan have to buy water. But many people in Kumamoto don’t have to buy it. The water in Kumamoto is very delicious, and healthy. It is indispensable for us to drink water for our daily lives. The water of Kumamoto comes from Aso And we drink often drink.

The mandarin orange (unsyu mikan) is one of the special products of Kumamoto. It is made in juice. It is called juicy in Kumamoto. JA Kumamoto fruit produces them. It is offered in lunch in the elementary and junior high school in Kumamoto.In addition, There is 100% Hinokuni Mikan juice as a famous commodity.

People in Kumamoto love shochu more than any other alcohol. Especially the one made from rice because it is local. There are other kinds of shochu made from sweet potato or wheat, and they’re also popular here. However, compared to them, rice shochu is sweeter and easier to drink.

Kumamoto's Tousit Attraction
One of the famous places in Kumamoto is “Kumamoto Castle” We call it one of the famous castles in Japan the beautiful views outside is very famous. Not only many people in Japan but also a lot of people in foreign countries visit there. As for it, a repair is performed now. Because it is two hundreds years old. It is very old. We have to preserve it for future gererations!
Kurokawa hot spring is a hot spring in the Aso-gun, Kumamoto Minami Ouni town. Nature of the water of a hot spring is a sulfur spring, it is 80 degrees from the stratum The source of 98 degrees springs out.

Kurokawa Hot Spring started to gine an entrance hand print to the visitors. By this, the Kurokawa hot spring became famous. It is an annual event every year on Kurokawa hot spring Thanksgiving Day. An employee disguise Japanese daimyo, princess. They acted daimyo procession.

Mt.Aso is a great mountain and Kumamoto people are proud of it. It is magnificent nature and the world biggest caldera. Mt.Aso is an active volcano so sometimes you can’t get close to the crater. Many caws are kept throughout the mountain. It’s a very beautiful place.

http://www.aso.ne.jp/~aso/

http://www.kurokawaonsen.or.jp/

Kumamoto's Big Faces

One of the popular entertainer’s groups is “CREAM STREW” They consist of two people. They are from Kumamoto graduated from “Seiseiko high school” The school is very famous and popular in Kumamoto. It is the oldest high school in Kumamoto. People in Kumamoto are very proud of “CREAM STREW” Also. Their university is Waseda. So they are very clever. Moreever they are funny. So I like them!

http://www.ntv.co.jp/tarirari/

Isao Yukisad is born in Kumamoto for 1968 years. He is a famous movie director in Japan. His best work is 『GO』, 『Jam films』. He made clean sweep of prizes for each movie of 2001 including the Japanese Academy Award best Directing Award. He attracts attention as director young person on behalf of today's movie world from the various quarters

Kiyoko Suizenji is one of the greatest singers in Japan and she’s from Kuamototo. She was named after Suizenji, Kumamoto where is her hometown. She was born in 1945 and she has been called Cheeta which means “little Tamiko” (Tamiko is her real name). She has several hit numbers and they’re known by many generations. She also appears in TV commercials, radio, and talk show.

http://www.chita365.net/

We have introduced Kumamoto’s food, drink, and famous people. We have local foods which are called hitomoji-guruguru and karashi renkon. We also favor to eat horse meet and drink shochu. The castle, Mt. Aso and Kurokawa are very famous tourist attractions in Japan. Many people visit there from outside Kumamoto. There are comedians, a singer and a movie director who sprang from Kumamoto. They are in big success. There are things we already knew and things we didn’t know. We leaned many another things about Kumamoto.

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