Movie Review 6 Whale Rider

It tells us that to change what we think is needed and also it is important. A tradition is wonderful, however, it becomes new one when long times past.
The main character is Paikea. She is serious and interested in the culture of Maori. Koro is Paikea’s grandfather, who is a very strict person. He is really proud of the culture of Maori. Nanny is Paikea’s grandmother, and she cherishes Paikea and was kind to her.
At the beginning of the story, when Paikea was born, she wasn’t congratulated by Koro because she was a girl and a woman couldn’t take over the culture of Maori. When she grew up, he was kind to her and always went to school to take her when the time to finish her classes. One day, Paikea was shocked Koro’s word. Paikea’s father had a new lover, and Paikea and he left their home. However, they went back home because Paikea asked her father to do it. Koro began to start teaching taiaha, which was a tradition and it banned women do. Paikea was been angry by Koro because she had taiaha taught by the boy.
At the climax of the movie, Koro helped for ancestors with speaking of Maori words. Paikea tried to say it and it received for them. One day, Paikea give Koro a incitation card to the school plays. That day, he didn’t come. Koro saw the incredible scene at the beach. A lot of whale lay down on the beach. He wondered very much. The whales came to help the people, and also Paikea called to them. The pople gathered and to made their effort to return them to the sea. However, it didn’t work. Then Paikea rid on a whale, it began to move and went to the sea. Paikea was admitted as an especial person.
The story of the movie was a little difficult for me. Although, it made me sad that Koro was strict for Paikea when he devoted to teach the culture to keep it.
[340 words]

Book Review 13 The Princess and the Pea

I read the book whose title was the Princess and the Pea. There was a prince who wanted to marry. He saw a lot of princesses, but they were not real princesses. One rainy night, a princess visited the castle with her cloths getting wet. The king and queen let her come in the castle. She seemed not be a princess, but she insisted that she was a real princess. So the queen tried a test to her to prove that she was a real princess. She put a tiny pea on the bed. Beside she put 20 mattresses on the bed above the pea. And she let the princess go to bed. The next morning the princess got up. The king and queen asked her whether she could sleep well. She answered no. She couldn't sleep at all because there was a tiny pea under the mattresses. Then, the king and queen believed that she was a real princess. And the prince and the princess married.

I wonder why the queen put the tiny pea under the mattresses. So I looked up the meaning of pea in dictionary. I found that pea means happiness and love. So I think she will become happy princess! [205 words]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Happy new year!! I ate ozouni and osechi in the morning. The thing into the cup of tea is umeboshi. Did you eat ozouni? Today, I went to my grandparents' house with my family. The relatives gathered in my grandparents' house and we met. We enjoyed talking. Also, I talked with my cousins. She and I had not met for a while because she was very busy for her exam and study. It was fun to talk with my grandparents and cousins and relatives. I had a good time! [89 words]

Trip to Beijing 5

Today it was the last day for my Beijing trip! I just went to back to Kumamoto, Japan. I got up at 4:45 a.m.! It was very early morning! I dressed and finished everything for leave. Then I had my suit case and the baggage with my hand and went down the floor to the entrance floor. At the front desk, I checked out the room. Then I left the dormitory with him and went to the airport. It was very cold outside. We got on a bus to go to the airport. It was until dark and we could see the full moon. We were a little sleepy. After a while, we got to the airport and got off the bus. We looked at a board to find the airplane’s leaving time. However we couldn’t see it because it was wrong place. I should have got off at another terminal. We had enough time because we had left early, so we got on a bus and went to the terminal where I should go. We arrived there on time, and I checked in at the airport. I had to go soon, so I said him good bye. Before I went, he wrote some Chinese phrases which I could use if I should be bothered something in the airport. I was worry about going back to Japan alone. However, there were some Japanese people who turned to Japan, so I felt relief. I had no problem after that and I arrived in Fukuoka at about 2:30 p.m. Then, I waited a bus for a few minutes. When I arrived, it was a little snowy and a little cold. But it was much colder in Beijing! The bus came and I got on it. I was tired, so I slept in the bus until it arrived in Kumamoto. Then, I called to him to inform my arriving at home.
It was very exciting and rememberable trip!!! I got many interesting and wonderful experiences during the trip!!! I not only enjoyed the trip but also learned many things. I have a lot of things which I must learn, and also I should do now, I think. The trip was a very precious experience for me!!! [373 words]

Trip to Beijing 4

Today, we visited in the Great Wall of China!!! We got up early morning about 7:30 a.m. I dressed in the warm cloths, knit and down jacket and mutton boots. And also I couldn’t forget to wear the gloves and scarf! His uncle and aunt who lived in China were to take us there by their car. They waited near the dormitory, and we went to there. I met them and introduced myself. His aunt seemed to be very kind. She smiled and talked to me brightly. They seemed to have been looking forward to meeting me! I gave them presents, which were a pair of chopsticks. Also I got a broach from them. Its form was flower and so cute! When we talked, I couldn’t speak Chinese, so he talked to them what I talked instead of me. We enjoyed during the drive with talking. His aunt said it was more exciting that I visited to China in summer because it was very cold and there were nothing interesting in winter. But it was so interesting for me to visit in winter because it was warm in Kumamoto and I couldn’t experience the cold weather! Also I can’t see a pound frozen too! On the way, we enjoyed seeing the view. I could see a village which was the old form and there were less houses, which were not so big. These were different from Japanese old houses. After a few minutes driving, a part of the Great Wall appeared!

After a while, we arrived at the Great Wall of China!! It was so cold there! His aunt and uncle were to wait in their car while we enjoyed there. First we got off the car and bought each ticket. And he and his aunt and I took pictures together in front of the gate. There was a pick-up bus to the entrance, so we got on the bus. Then we got off it, his aunt and uncle went back to their car. They said “Have a good time and enjoy there!” He and I began to walk on the Great Wall. How wonderful and magnificent it was!!! The view was so beautiful!! We could see the long wall continue. But, it was so freezing!! I felt a pain with my face. He and I often said “What a freezing!” Walking was a little hard for me because the Great Wall had steep slopes! Also there were a little hard stairs. However, the view from the top was beautiful! We took many pictures there.

We got on a ropeway when we went back. A cabin could accommodate 6 people. The door was not automatic, so I closed the door. In the cabin, he talked with a man who was sitting next him. I think they talked it was cold or something. I wish I could speak foreign languages as he spoke, of course English! I took a picture from the cabin. I could take a good one. When we came down, I saw a camel. People could ride it and enjoy with it. But it was just his thought. He said that.

After we enjoyed there, we went to eat lunch with his aunt and uncle. We went to the Chinese restaurant where he and I had been once on the first day when I had come to Beijing. We ordered soup and boiled fish and roast chicken and so on. The pot of tea’s scent was good, which was chrysanthemum. We enjoyed eating. His aunt talked to me in easy Japanese words. She had lived in Japan a few years ago, she said. She was really kind! After eating, I said to his aunt and uncle good-bye and went back to home with him.

We took a rest about 1 hour in the room, and we had a time, so we went to go shopping. We walked around stores. Also we dropped on at a supermarket and bought some foods. There were a lot of foods and many kinds of food. It was same as Japanese supermarket, I thought. Then we went back to home by the subway.

At the night, we and his cousin went out to dinner together. She had finished her job early today, so she could come to dinner with us! I was glad to meet and talk with her again. Then, she gave me presents. The one was a key ring whose design was giant panda. The other was a red pouch, which had some different size pouches in the big pouch. It was interesting. I liked these very much! I said to her thank you! We ate okayu and gyoza and sauté. Of course, I ordered okayu without Coriander! Haha We spent a good time and it was my last night of the trip.

After he and I got back to home, I prepared for my going back to Japan. I put my cloths and presents in my suit case. I was lonely to leave Beijing! I wanted to be in a few days!! I wish I had much time to stay! I had to wake up in early morning the next day, so I went to bed until midnight that day. [870 words]

Trip to Beijing 3

I got up late morning today. Maybe it was at 9:00 a.m.? So we drank a cup of corn soup which I brought from Japan as a breakfast. I dressed up, and first we went to the bank to exchange the Japanese money to Chinese money. There was a guard standing in front of the bank. We went into there and received a ticket as we do in Japan and waited a few minutes. It was a difference which I found between a Japanese bank and a Chinese bank that the front desk was glassed in. It had a small hole which we could receive the money from. I was just looking him exchanging. It seemed to be bother because it was needed to write something.

After that we went back to dormitory. It would be noon soon, so we went to eat lunch at a restaurant, which had Thailand’s dishes. We ordered fried potato, which formed round and was like a ball, and stir-fry, meat dumpling, pineapple juice which had some pineapple pulp into it, and so on. I felt the rice was a little dry than Japanese rice. Of course these dishes were delicious!!

Then we went to the Beijing zoo today! As soon as we went into the zoo, we found the Giant Panda’s place and watched them. It was a first time to watch Giant Panda except TV program. It was much prettier than I watched on TV!! The giant panda didn’t move first, but it began to move a little! It turned again and again with its body lay. It was so cute!! It seemed to be like a father resting on his holiday. Next, we watched many kinds of animals, for example monkey, rhinoceros, hawk, bear, tiger and so on. I felt the Beijing zoo was much broader than the zoo in Kumamoto. Each animal place was far from another that place. When we watched bear, the bear moved little. We thought the bear had fallen asleep because it was winter. The bear was so cute too. Then, we watched hawk and took a picture of it. There were some little holes which a hand could be in. The persons who were taking pictures of hawk said, “Take pictures from the hole and you can take good pictures!” It was a good chance to take pictures because a hawk was near us and the hole. I could take good one! Then, we found a lion’s monument which was being made. It was so big!!! In the zoo, there was the aquarium too. We didn’t go there, but I thought we could watch every animal in the Beijing zoo! We took pictures in front of the fountain, whose water froze a little because of cold weather. At a shop, I found a unique design tie, which was Giant Panda and so cute. So I bought it for my father as a present! We enjoyed there.

After that, we went to go shopping to downtown in Beijing by subway. There were many shop buildings and a wide and long street! First we enjoyed shopping at the street shops. It was a Chinese atmosphere and very exciting! I found some odd foods there!! Scorpion, starfish, caterpillar, these were grilled and stuck on a skewer!! I couldn’t believe that people ate these. I didn’t try to eat. On the other hand, there were some foods seemed to be delicious. I ate strawberries wrapped melted candy and picked on a skewer, which was like Ichigoame in Japan. It was sweet and delicious! Also I tried to eat a grilled lamb on a skewer. He said it had a peculiar smell before I ate, but it was no smell and good taste. In the street, some clerks talked to me in Japanese, “Why don’t you see my shop and buy something?” They spoke Japanese a little and talked to visitors. It seemed to be invitation of club in university. haha Then, we walked the big street and entered another store. I bought souvenirs there for my friends and family and grandparents. For my grandparents, I chose tea. When we bought it, we could drink a cup of tea. The scent was very good!! I liked and took it. For my family and friends, I bought candies and snacks. I hope its tastes are good. After shopping, we enjoyed taking pictures of the view of the downtown with walking. There were still a few Christmas decollations. In Beijing, it was still Christmas!

At the night, we went to eat dinner at a restaurant near the dormitory. It had a lot of kinds of okayu and these were cheep. Do you know Coriander? It is sometimes called Chinese parsley. It is often used into okayu in China. But I don’t like its taste! Yesterday, I heard from the senior that Coriander smelled like stinkbug and she didn’t like it. I agreed it! We could order okayu without it. But he wanted me to eat it once! I never want to eat it again. Of course okayu was delicious if it didn’t have Coriander.

On the way to go the restaurant, we walked a street, and there were some people selling things on the street. At nights, there were often these people, so we could enjoy shopping. I thought we didn’t find such a little shop in Japan.

After dinner, on the way to go back to the dormitory, he bought a fruit at a shop on the street. It was his recommend fruit and cheep than we bought it in Japan. We ate it as a dessert. It was good!

We got back to home early today, and we spent in the room and relaxed with watching TV. I was tired to enjoy sightseeing, so I was very sleepy. I went to bed early tonight. [973 words]

Trip to Beijing 2

I wake up at 7:30 a.m. in the morning. He and I went out at 9:00 a.m. It was so cold in Beijing! First, we bought fried breads at a shop on the street, which was often eaten as a breakfast in Beijing. And we bought a cup of soy milk. These tastes were good! To surprise, the fried bread was very cheap, whose cost was about 20 yen in Japan. It was so cold in outside that the bread became cold soon during eating.

After eating, we got on a bus and went to Summer Palace, which was very famous place. When I got on the bus, I found that we pay the money on ahead and got the ticket from the clerk. Also, the line of seats was different from in Japan. In spite of early morning, there were many people.

Anyway, we arrived at Summer Palace. There was a big lake, which has frozen over! First, we asked women and had a woman take a picture in front of the lake. Then, we went down to the frozen lake. It seemed to be a skating rink! I found a rental shop of boat. However, the shop closed off because boats were not needed! Also, I saw some people taking exercise there. It is similar to Japanese exercise with radio, I thought. Then, we walked around the lake and went to Paiyunmen Gate and the octagon tower. These were so beautiful! We went up the stair of the tower. I felt as if I were in a different place from ordinary. The view from the top of the tower was beautiful too. And also, we walked the Long Corridor. My friend said to me the paint which is drawn has each story. These were wonderful! We watched some beautiful building and colorful outfits.

Next, we took the subway and went to the next place. In Beijing, passengers needed to be checked the bag before took the subway. We only let own bag pass the machine. Also, I got not a ticket but a card to take the subway. It was noon, so we went to eat Chinese dumpling. We ordered two plates of boiled dumplings. The material of the one was Chinese chive and stirred egg, and cut shrimp, which was common dumpling. The material of the other was ground meat. These were delicious!

We went to Tiananmen Square. There were some guard and strong security. I gazed some structures there, for example Great Hall of the People, Zhengyangmen Gate, Tiananmen Gate and Monuments there. I often see Tiananmen Square on TV, but I felt it was magnificent when I went there. However, we couldn’t go into National Palace Museum because we didn’t have enough time. If you want to visit here, it needed much time because there are many wonderful things to see.

After that, we went back home by subway. My friend just had a test. In evening, he introduced his friends to me. They were two women and have been to study Chinese too. They were talkative person and fun to be with. The two senior women and I went to go shopping together by taxi. They took me a store which was build recently. I surprised that there were many booths. It was very different from Japanese store. In Japan, it was very wide and some shops in a store, but in China, there were many individual booths, which was crowded a lot of goods. I bought a pair of boots whose color was black. In China, we could ask the clerk to make the cost down, so the seniors bargained the cost for the clerk. After shopping, we took a rest at a starbucks and enjoyed talking for a while. I heard much interesting stories and their experiences in China from them. And I talked about my incidents that I had arrived at Beijing and so on. When we went out the shop, I had a different. I needed not to remove a cup and could leave it on the table. By the way, I heard from them that we could get the tumbler which had a different design from each city’s starbucks in China. So it is good to gather all design.

At the night, we met my friend again, and went out for dinner together! We chose going the restaurant by taxi, so we took a taxi on the road. However, we didn’t know well where the restaurant was. They explained the general place to the taxi driver. He was so kind that he sometimes got off the taxi and asked someone the way to go there! My seniors said he was really kind and there were seldom such a driver and also his way of speaking was soft. In Beijing, some taxi driver says passengers to get off the taxi if the driver doesn’t know the place where we want to go.

We managed to arrive at the restaurant, which was Din Tai Fung. The restaurant is in Japan too. There were so beautiful and dishes were delicious! We ordered Xiaolongbao, which was known soup dumpling, and Almond jelly; annin tofu, and so on. I was full! We spent a very good time eating and talking.

After dinner, we dropped in at the place which had beautiful decorated lights. If we arrived there earlier, we could see the broadened light on the ceiling too. The senior said it could light the
letters on the ceiling if we sent an e-mail that we wrote messages. How wonderful it is! We took pictures together there and enjoyed seeing the beautiful lights. It was late at night, then, we went back each home by taxi. I really enjoyed the day! [957 words]