A Lecture

I write about an event the day before yesterday.

I was invited to a lecture which is about a history of Vikings in 7-9th century.
The lecturer was a husband in my host family.
I mentioned a husband, but he is maybe over 70 years old. (I don't know his accurate age)
He loves history and he cherishes the fact that his ancestor came from Norway.

He is now retired, but he was a Director of the Far East Forensic Laboratory for the Department of Defense(it's so long..), and lived in Zama, Japan, from 1981-1984.
Although he cannot speak Japanese, he is interested in everything related to Japan! (history, culture and etc..)

I've been to his house before. I remember that there are so many historical goods and his house was like a museum!


By the way, I met him in the lecture hall and he was so pleased that I came to the class.
But, I was so suprised there are so many people attending the class to listen to his lecture.
Most of them were elderly people, and I was the youngest of all... There are more than 100 people!!
In the begining of the lecture, he said there is a special guest in that lecture.
I was wondering who would appear.
And, he called my name!! I was so astonished. (but it was hard for him to pronounce my last name "Kikuoka"...)
I standed and bowed, and he introduced me to his students. They were all welcomed, and they are interested in me.
It must be rare for them to see Japanese here. During the short break, many people talked to me and I enjoyed.

It was a nice experience and could know the history because he was a nice lecturer.

2 months.......21 years

It has passed two months since I came to US.
I can't believe I've spent only for two months here!
The new life here is so exciting! And everything is new to me.

But, it is often said the time passes so fast while we are enjoying.
Although I enjoy everyday and am excited by everyday life, I feel I spent more than two months.

I think it is because I live a full life, on the contrary. I have many things to do, so I might not waste a time.


And, I become 21 years old on last Friday.
Becoming 21 is important in US because..... we can drink legally!


But, I need to be aware that I am an adult.
My friends in Japan have started finding jobs. And, other exchange students from Japan also have started.
Actually, I'm absent from the school in Japan for a year, so I don't need to start job hunting right now.
But, it's important to keep in mind that other people are going to return their skills to societies.

Win!!

Boston won!!
Boston came from behind by 0-7 and won the game!!
It was marvelous game!



By the way, I have no classes on every Friday. So, I didn't need to study tonight.
Therefore, I went to listen to a speech with one of my friend.
The person,Taguba, is first Filipino who became a major general in US army.

Although I concentrated on listening his speech, I couldn't understand... It was hard for my English ability..

However, it'll be a good experience for me. (maybe..)

Go Red Sox!!

Now, I'm watching ALCS game, Boston vs Rays!
I was so excited when David Ortiz hitted a three-run homer and I'm still excited!

A starting pitcher of Boston was Daisuke Matsuzaka. I expected he would shut out Rays.
But, he lost 5 points by three homers...
Now, Rays leads by 7-4.

I've been a fun of Boston for 9 years.
I've


Oh!! J.D. Drew hitted two-run homer right now!!!

How we should confront environmental issues

Last night, I came back from Virginia Power Shift at Virginia Tech.
It was a nice convention. I learned many things about environmental problems.
The event was held to bring up leaders who take action for environmental issues.

We took four lectures on Saturday. And, we could choose the lectures that we wanted to know.
I introduce the lectures I took below.

"Fighting Climate Change through Organic Farming and Local Commerce"
In this lecture, we learned how organic farming contributes to a good environment. According to the lecturer, there are two advantages for organic farming.
1. Contributing to GDP
Replacing mass production farming, we can provide job opportunities to all individual farmers and small restaurants.
2. Maintainning our good health.

"Youth Empowerment and Green Jobs"
I knew about the buzzword "Green Jobs."

"On the Edge of Global Warming: Antarctica"
A lecturer went to Antarctica last year and showed us photos and videos that he took.
Some photos showed the moment of breaken ice.

"How to make Global Warming and sustainability the Biggest Issues on Campus"


We attended not only lecturers, but also a speech of a famous professor.
And after that, we went to two parties. I enjoyed both parties.


To sum up, it was a good experience for me. I met many energetic people and learned the environmental policy in America.

However, I felt that they need to consider "how they take actions to those problems."
I knew the problems that coal mining has caused, and I also think America should decrease its mining. Most students who came to this convention will try to set up campaign about these issues. But, they should have broad point-of-view toward environmental problems. Otherwise, it will be difficult to make other people involved in those campaign.

Although I attended this convention, I will not be involved in campaingns any more. It was a nice experience for me, but that's all.
My interest is business. But, I need to have broad point of view to the world.

Fall Break

I write down the schedule of fall break.

I'm going to join Virginia Power Shift 2008 on Friday to Sunday with my friends.
To tell the truth, I don't know exactlly what it is. The only I know is that is a convention for students in Virginia.
And, the event will be held at Virginia Tech. It takes more than 4 hours from here, Williamsburg.

We attended a meeting for the Power Shift tonight.
I'm so excited to go!


And as you know, there was a gun shooting at Virginia Tech last year.
I watched the news and it surprised me.
Moreover, a teacher in my English class used an article about the massacre as material. I still remember the teacher translated the sentences to Japanese with sheding tears.

I'm going to pray for the victims after arriving at Virginia Tech.


And, I also need to study in this fall break....
I have two tests after fall break. One is on Wednesday...

Friday-Sunday midnight: Attend Power Shift
Monday and Tuesday: Study

Now, I must start studying...

My Dream

In short, my dream is contributing to the real globalization by being involved in marine transportation business.

Now, we can contact with people around the world thanks to the development of Internet technology. So, we can share our ideas with people all over the world.

The more the globalization proceeds, the more we tend to depend on other countries. We've known that we can improve our life by using goods companies in other countries made, we can make up for lacks by importing goods, and we can help poor countries by importing goods those countries made.


Moreover, I could know the importance of goods trading when I learned the history of my country, Japan.
Japan prohibited trade with foreign countries from 1650 to 1853. In that period, Japan was isolated in the world. In 1853, Japanese government decided to open their harbors. It was a big opportunity to change the nation.

I believe countries can rely each other by making profits in their business.
Therefore, I'd like to work as an intermediary in their trade. By doing so, I think I can contribute to the real globalization.