Writing Final Exam

Writing classes were so hard. But they were very good to me because I could get writing ability and I could get also reading ability because I had to review of a lot of books. I think it is important to use a computer. I was not good at using a computer so some of theme were difficult to me. But Mr. Beaufait and Mr. Tomei helped me. If you cannot using the computer and cannot understand, you don’t have to be nervous. Mr. B and Mr. T will help you.

The Writing Ⅲ class was little easier than the Writing Ⅳ class because I had to write at least only 10000 words. However I had to write at least 15000 words in the Writing Ⅳ class. But it was fun to typing my favorite things on my blogs and reading my classmate’s blogs. And I went to Minnesota so I had to finish all earlier than other classmates. So it was so hard. I think it is better to write everyday little by little. I think it is important thing of Writing class. Writing class is hard.. But when I could finish all of themes, I could get acquire a sense of accomplishment. 

You should write about something everyday or at least 4 times a week on your blog like a twitter or facebook! You must not be get lazy because you will be very hard in the last. When you could not understand you have to ask teachers as soon as possible! They are my advice to you. Do your best. If so you can get acquire a sense of accomplishment! These class make your good ability of English.

Homestay Program Ⅰ

  I will write about homestay program in summer vacation. I was able to make very very wonderful, fabulous, great recollections.

July 22

  I was able to go to sleep only for 2 hours because I had to do themes. I went to air port with my family. Some my friends came to seeing me off. I was very tired to flight because it is too long! I saw some movies and listened to musics. We arrived Minneapolis air port, I got tense but I could see my host family and talk with them I was very exited! We went to WELCOME PICNIC at the evening. I took a yukata and it was soooooo fun! And in the home, Jay asked me that "Do you sleep with Moon?" I answered "YES!" Therefor, Jay give me a stuffed animal of dog! He is gentle boy! I was sooooooo happy.

July 23
I woke up at 5:30 AM! And then, I took a shower and ate toast and egg. I went to university by ban. The university was too big!! And we went to Mississippi River by school bus. I was happy to ride a school bus but it was soooooooo hot!! But it was so fun and excited! And at the dinner, we ate dinner by chopsticks. We went to the Target after the dinner. I said "I love ice cream" to my host mother, she bought so big ice cream! It was so yummy! I watched a lot of pictures with my host family.

July 24
It was so hard rainy day and the electric current was cut off. I was so surprise and scary because it was so dark and I could not see and my host sisters were crying. And in the university, we enjoyed games of mummy and balloons and so on. It was so fun! After school, I went to burger shop with my host family. And the last, I get a ice cream and birthday song because tomorrow is my birthday! So I was so surprised and I was happy. <33

July 25
Today is my birthday! I get a tiara, some birthday cards and a cup cake from teachers! It was colorful and yummy. And we went to the Mall of America! It was soooooooooooooooo big!! There were a lot of shops! I love juicy couture and I would love to go there and I was looking forward to go there but it was renewal and not opened. I was so shocked and sad! But I could buy a lot of things by Victoria's Secret, Ed Hardy, Abercrombie & Fitch, Estee Lauder and so on! Everything is cheaper than Japan so I was excited! I LOVE the Mall of America. I ate shrimp pasta with Chiiko. Paying money was difficult for us because we have to pay also chip in the U.S. After the shopping, we went back to the home, we ate dinner with my host brother's girlfriend too! She was kind too. And we ate a big colorful cake and ice cream! And they gave me a present and birthday card. I was so happy and it was one of the my special and wonderful day! And I would love to there again so much!

July 27
After the school, all of my host pick me up and we went to pizza shop. I love pizza and I could ate a whole pizza by myself. It was soooooooo yummy I love it. <333 After the dinner, we watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. But I was sleepy and slept down on the sofa. And I washed my clothes with my host mother. 

July 28
Today, I could sleep a lot of time and we went to the lake with my host brother's girl friend. We played boat. It was so fun. <33 We could enjoy sooooooo much! There were a lot of lakes and they were very large in Minnesota. I was surprised and I though "Is it sea? Is it really lake?" LOL. After it, we took a shower and we went to a Chinese restaurant. I was full. We watched DVD and played card game with my host sisters. <333

July 29
I went to the church for the first time! It likes a concert. I was surprised. My host brother and sisters goes to pre-school in there. I saw the class room. There were a lot of pictures on the wall. And the doughnuts and drinks are free! After the lunch in our house, we went to outlet mall! It was large too! I enjoyed shopping so much. I bought clothes for my father , brother and my shoes. <333

July 30
I went to university and I went to cafeteria in the university. I drunk a caramel drink. It was so yummy. And I felt bad in the ban of return. So I slept down in the home. 

July 31
Today, I felt bad bad bad!!! So I could not go to university. I would love to go to school because it was shopping day! I was so sad. I took a medicine and sleep. My host brother and sisters went to pool. They enjoyed so much <333 And I met the Kiki who house cleaner for the first time. I ate a lot of ice cream at the night. <333 

August 1
Today, I could go to school. We learned about the wedding in the U.S. There were a lot of differences between Japan and the U.S. "Something old, Something new, Something borrow, Something blue" I LOVE this style. <333 I saw the wedding dress, goods and pictures. I would love to wedding! I am looking forward to my wedding in the future.<333 After it, we went to a farm by school bus. It was so hot in the bus and farm. But pizza was so yummy. <333 My host family did lemonade charity in the home! I love lemonade. And it likes a drama world.

August 3
Today, we rode canoe! It was so hard to row the canoe to me. I was so tired. But we enjoyed playing of water in river. And after canoeing, we took a shower and we did picnic with all of our host family. And we did play and everyone's were funny. But our's was the most funny I think. We went to free zoo and I ate ice cream! And in the car of return, we watched Matilda. I had ever watch this DVD when I was a child.

[1103 words]

The Differences Between Japanese and American Supermarkets

The Differences Between Japanese and American Supermarkets

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE OF

SUMMER STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM (US)

Kumamoto Gakuen University Foreign Language Department

English Course

1. Introduction　

In Minnesota, various goods are sold at very large supermarkets. There are numerous differences between Japanese and American supermarkets. For example, items like cake and milk, which generally require freshness, are put on sale for a number of days. Due to this, I doubted the freshness of many products in American supermarkets. This paper compares the supermarkets in the United States and the supermarkets in Japan.

2. In Kumamoto

Supermarkets and parking lots in Japan are a lot smaller than in America. In Japanese supermarkets we are able to buy food and household items, but if we want to purchase electronics etc. we have to go to a specialist shop. In Japan, many people put baskets into their shopping carts, or they simply just use a basket. Not many supermarkets have moving conveyor belts at the till. This is why we use baskets, as we put the basket in front of the cashier. It is also common for most people to pay with cash. A couple of years ago, fruit and vegetables were wrapped and sold at every supermarket. However, recently many supermarkets have adopted the grocer style of America and sell unwrapped fruit and vegetables. It is rare to find cut vegetables in many Japanese supermarkets. Bags are carried back home in either vinyl plastic or paper bags, which you may be charged for. The price differs according to the size. Therefore, recently many Japanese have begun using “My bags”, which are bags you keep for life.

3. In Minnesota

Target is a very popular supermarket in the US. Many things are larger in America, such as carts, food, ice cream and parking lots. In Target, you can buy almost anything you want, from food, clothes, accessories and electronics to toys, household items, health and beauty aids and medicine. Those who shop at target usully only carry a basket if they’re purchasing a few items.  If they are purchasing many items then they use a shopping cart without a basket. All of America’s supermarkets have conveyor belts at the till.  When they arrive at the cash register, they load everything onto the conveyor belt and the cashier scans each item to ring up the price. Most people pay with a credit card, but some pay with a check or with cash.  Usually they don’t have enough cash to pay for large purchases, so they only use cash when they buy only a few items. It is common for people to use coupons, also. People who work at Target receive a 5% discount if they pay with their Target Visa card.

Target sells both wrapped and unwrapped fruit and vegetables.  They have different sizes and quantities and a lot of convenient items like cut up fruit and vegetables. Goods are brought home in vinyl plastic and paper bags, which are usually free of charge. If the buyer is not satisfied with their bought products they can return it back to the store. American supermarkets seldom care about best-before dates and sell products which have gone past this date. Therefore, it is important to check items’ best-before date. Also, in America, some people might open some items before they pay for it.. However, it is not an everyday occurrence and I personally did not see it happen.

4. Conclusion

American supermarkets have different layouts and a lot more choice when compared with Japanese supermarkets. Most things in America are larger than in a Japan, and a bigger variety of fruit and vegetables are available. For example, yogurt and cheese have a lot of various flavors. Americans believe that most things in their supermarkets are from the US. The supermarkets also sell wrapped and unwrapped fruit and vegetables. In fact, it is said that unwrapped vegetables and fruit are fresher than wrapped vegetables and fruit, because we can purchase them in smaller quantities. I found this out by watching TV. Also, because they are unwrapped, it reduces the amount of waste they produce, which I better for the environment. In the case of the vegetables and fruit which are not wrapped, you can only purchase a certain amount. However, it is convenient as there is more available to use.

The quality acceptance of items such as milk and cake is different between the two countries, but the best-before dates in America seem to be longer. Americans never really care about quality, as it is easy for them to return the item. In the US, you have to check for mistakes yourself, so most people will investigate their receipts to see if one has been made. This is the opposite case in Japan. If a mistake is made, the cashier will notice it. They will be very apologetic to the customer. It is also up to the customer to check the best-before dates of their products in America.

The difference in culture definitely shows in something as simple as a supermarket, and it is clear that each country has both good and bad points to how they shop. It is interesting to see this.

APPENDIX: Questionnaire or Survey

1.      Where do you often go shopping to buy food?

We go to Target or to a large grocery store nearby our house

2.    Do you use shopping basket, cart or both? How do you use them?

If we are just getting just a few things, we carry a basket. If we are getting many things, we use a shopping cart without a basket.

3. Do all supermarkets have a conveyor belt at the cash register?

Yes, in the US all supermarkets use a conveyor belt. When we get to the cash register, we load everything on to the conveyor belt and the cashier scans each item to ring up the price.

4. How is the bill paid? (cash or card)

Most people pay with a credit card, but some pay with a check or with cash. Usually, I do not carry enough cash in my purse to pay a large bill, so would only pay cash for a small purchase. At Target, I get a 5% discount if I pay with my Target Visa.

5. Are the vegetables sold wrapped?

We have both wrapped and unwrapped fruits and vegetables. We have different sizes and quantities and a lot of convenient items like cut up fruit and veggies.

6. What do you think about supermarkets in Japan?

It sounds like there are fewer options than in the US.

7. Do you think that vegetables and cakes are fresh?

Yes.

10. How many years have you worked in Target?

Almost five years.

11. What kind of work are you doing in Target?

I manage all of the software testing work for our technology systems used in stores, distribution centers, and head quarters

12. What kind of things are sold at Target?

General merchandise, clothing and accessories, electronics, toys, household items, health and beauty aids, pharmacies, and groceries. (Everything you

could ever want!) 

[1195 words]

The differences of the supermarket in Japan and the United States

The differences of the supermarket in Japan and the United States

BY

Saho Fujiwara

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

1. Introduction　
In Minnesota, things of various kinds are sold at the very large supermarket. There are many differences in the supermarket in Japan and Minnesota. For example cakes and milk and so on, what is asked for freshness was sold between for many days. Then, I doubted about the freshness of foods of the supermarket in Minnesota. This paper compares the supermarket in the United States and the supermarket in Japan including it.

2. In Kumamoto
The supermarket and the parking in Japan are narrower than it of Minnesota. We can buy food, household items but if we want to buy electronics and so on, we have to go other shop. We put and use a shopping basket on a cart or only a basket, when doing shopping. Almost all supermarkets don’t have conveyor belt. We put basket on front of the cashier and almost people pay with cash. Few years ago, vegetables and fruits were wrapped and sold at almost all supermarkets. But now, there are many supermarkets which have taken in the unwrapped style like U.S by the environmental problem. And in almost all supermarkets, cut vegetables are not sold. We bring back bought goods home using a charge vinyl bag and paper bag. They differ in a price with size. So recently, a lot of Japanese use “my bag”. 

3. In Minnesota
Target is very popular in the US. All of things such as a cart, food, ice cream and parking are bigger than Japan. In the Target, we can buy everything we want such as general merchandise, clothing and accessories, electronics, toys, household items, health and beauty aids, pharmacies, and groceries. If they are just getting a few things they carry a basket.  If they are getting many things they use a shopping cart without a basket. All supermarkets use a conveyor belt.  When they get to the cash register, they load everything on the conveyor belt and the cashier scans each item to ring up the price. Most people pay with a credit card, but some pay with a check or with cash.  Usually they do not carry enough cash in their purse to pay a larger bill, and would only pay cash for a small purchase. Many people use a coupon. At Target, people who are working in there get a 5% discount if they pay with their Target Visa. They have both wrapped and unwrapped fruits and vegetables.  They have different sizes and quantities and a lot of convenient items like cut up fruit and vegetables. They bring back bought goods home using a free vinyl bag and paper bag. When we are not pleasing of bought goods, almost all things can be returned. But it seldom cares about a best-before date, things of past the best-before date are also sold. So we need check it. It is said in the US that the goods before payment are opened and they pay after opening them. However it is not an everyday occurrence. So I did not look at such a spectacle.

4. Conclusion　
The supermarkets of US have more options than the supermarkets of Japan and different styles. All of things in US are bigger more kinds of vegetables and fruit are sold than Japan. For example, yogurt and cheese have a lot of various flavors. Americans think that all of things of the supermarket of US. In US, almost vegetables and fruit are unwrapped. In fact, it is said that unwrapped vegetables and fruit are fresher than wrapped vegetables and fruit because we can choice one by one. I had watched it by TV. And since the quantity of garbage can be reduced, it is good for environment. In the case of the vegetables and fruit which are not wrapped, we can buy only a required number. It is very good for us because there is no uselessness. About a best-before date, since quality such as milk, a cake and so on are differs from Japan so a best-before date is also long. American do not care so much because they can return them. The US is a country of self-responsibility so if there are mistake for the register, they are our mistake. Therefore, almost American checks a receipt. I think that this is a very big difference. In this case, it is the casher’s mistake in Japan. And the casher has to apologize to a customer. I think it is uneasy to buy something after check everything because a best-before date is also self-responsibility in the US. I think that the difference of culture has appeared also in the supermarket and there are a lot of good points and bad points each other. It is interesting for me.

APPENDIX: Questionnaire or Survey

1.      Where do you often go shopping to buy food?

We go to Target or to a large grocery store nearby our house

2.    Do you use shopping basket, cart or both? How do you use them?

If we are just getting just a few things, we carry a basket. If we are getting many things, we use a shopping cart without a basket.

3. Do all supermarkets have a conveyor belt at the cash register?

Yes, in the US all supermarkets use a conveyor belt. When we get to the cash register, we load everything on to the conveyor belt and the cashier scans each item to ring up the price.

4. How is the bill paid? (cash or card)

Most people pay with a credit card, but some pay with a check or with cash. Usually, I do not carry enough cash in my purse to pay a large bill, so would only pay cash for a small purchase. At Target, I get a 5% discount if I pay with my Target Visa.

5. Are the vegetables sold wrapped?

We have both wrapped and unwrapped fruits and vegetables. We have different sizes and quantities and a lot of convenient items like cut up fruit and veggies.

6. What do you think about supermarkets in Japan?

It sounds like there are fewer options than in the US.

7. Do you think that vegetables and cakes are fresh?

Yes.

10. How many years have you worked in Target?

Almost five years.

11. What kind of work are you doing in Target?

I manage all of the software testing work for our technology systems used in stores, distribution centers, and head quarters

12. What kind of things are sold at Target?

General merchandise, clothing and accessories, electronics, toys, household items, health and beauty aids, pharmacies, and groceries. (Everything you

could ever want!) 

[1164 words]

Writing Ⅳ

I will write about the class of Writing Ⅳ. I think the class of Writing Ⅳ is more difficult than the class of Writing Ⅲ because I had to type to at least 15000 words and I had to revierw of a lot of books than the class of Writing Ⅲ. So I was so tired because it was sooooooooooooooo hard!! And I think that to use the computer was more difficult too than the class of Writing Ⅲ. There were a lot of tools than the class of Writing Ⅲ. I do not like to use the computer. It is little hard to me.
Writing class is hard.. But when I could finish what I had to do, I can acquire a sense of accomplishment. It is pleasant thing to me.
I think I could get writing power because of this Writing class. So I can exchange of e-mail and chat on the facebook. It is fun and pleasant things to me. 
I think I could did my best for this class. But I do not finish all of Writing class's subject so I have to do more! I can do it! I can finish all and I can get a credit! Never give up!!

[204 words]

BR 2-18: The Story of Chocolate

An American, names Bruce Murrie, gave Mars some money for the project. So they called their new chocolates M&M's. (P.4)]

This book is written about chocolate. I think there are no people who do not like chocolate. Everyone like chocolate! Chocolate has a lot of flavor! For example, bitter, sweet, milk, strawberry and so on! What taste do you like? Chocolate is used a lot of food and chocolate is very good item for food! I LOVE chocolate!! <333 And Valentine's day is coming soon! A lot of girls buy chocolate and make a chocolate and then give their boyfriend in Japan. But boy give something to girl in foreign country. I would love to eat a lot of chocolate!!

Daynes, Katie. (2004). The story of chocolate. London. England: Usborne

[141 words]

BR 2-17: Princess Polly and the Pony

Princess Polly was in trouble. "You've got mud on you!" cried her father, the King. (p.2)

This book is written about a active princess. It is little long but I could read quickly because it is written to use easy words. So it is good to me and this story is interesting. So I can read it very quickly. This reminds me that I rode a horse in the U.S. I like to ride on a horse. This princess is good at riding on a horse. I would like to ride on a horse again.

Susanna Davidson. (2007). Princess and the Pony. London, England: Usborne.

[116 words]