Final, final, final....

So fall semester is almost over and it is time to really focus on my finals... Luckily, I don't have any exams this semester!!!I have only final projects which are not that bad than I expected...I guess. I really liked what I learned in classes this semester because those are what I wanted. I feel like finally I can learn what I want and what I need for my future. I have been spending productive days at my college so far.


I still remember when I was in Ohio, I spent a lot of time on studying for finals and mid-terms. I took Psychology, Into to Theater at the same time and these classes killed me. I liked Psychology class a lot because the professor was nice and she always understood me a lot. What I learned in the class was very interesting, but it was really hard for me to memorize all the words, terms, and explanations in English. Especially, that was in my first semester in the States, so it took me a while to study psychology for each exam. The grade I receive the end of the semester was pretty good.


On the other hand, Intro to Theatre was awful from the start. I hardly understood the professors' lecture in English, and also I was not familiar to theatre at all. And I didn't even know why I chose the class. What is worse, we needed to read plots before the class and we had quiz about the contents. Oh my god, I could not answer anything...because some plots were written in old Irish English. I got 0 point once and I was very shocked. So I decided to talk to the professor about how I can understand his lecture. After that, I could somehow catch up his class and submitted paper. This class was too much for me just started studying in the States at that time.


I know it was 3 years ago (!) but the time I spent in Ohio was so precious to me even if Ohio has bad weather in winter. I met many people and had many experiences there. If I didn't decide to study abroad 3 years ago, I do not think I am here in the States right now because it changed my life and vision. I might write about my life in Ohio sometime soon...


Good luck on you finals, everyone! xo

It Is Over Now...

3 days ago, I just received a package from my mom in Japan. In the package, there were some Japanese instant food, such as noodle, miso soup, seasoning, green tea, and stuff like that. Also, I asked my mom to send me a jacket, a pair of boots, and an uniform of Chunichi Dragons. Just a couple of weeks ago, Japan Series was held and my most favorite baseball team, Chunichi Dragons made it to the series! I wanted to wear and cheer my team in the States, but it was too late because now it is over. 


I have been writing about Chunichi Dragons since I started this blog, but I did not mention which team became the champion in the central league and who made it to Japan Series because I was waiting for Chunichi Dragons to become the Japan champion. They actually became the Central league champion despite the fact that they used to be in the 5th place this summer. Also, they won at the playoff games and made it to Japan Series. 


In Japan Series, Chunichi Dragons played with Fukuoka Softbank Hawks which is also the league champion in Pacific league. This year, the Japan Series dragged both teams into 7th game. I was excited to have 7th game because I can still enjoy baseball till the last of the season. Especially,  for Ochiai, the head coach of Chunichi Dragons, this year is the last season to conduct Dragons because he got fired due to so many stupid reasons. I am still mad at the owner of the team though. (I don't want to mention the reasons in here this time.) The score was 0-3, and Softbank Hawks won which means they became the Japan Champion. I was so sad and could not stop crying...but Hawks has been great this season so I need to admit that they deserve that.


I know so many fans of Dragons want them to win for Ochiai because he has done such a wonderful job over 8 years. He led the team to Central league champion 4 times and Japan Champion once. He had always been thinking of the team and the players. I am so sad to see him go. But the memories he left for fans are huge and unforgettable. I am not sure what's going on next season, but I will always be a fan of Dragons no matter where I go.

(At Nagoya Dome, Oct 19, 2011 Courtesy of my sister)

Meet the Professor in DC

So in the last blog, I wrote about my thanksgiving break in DC. While I stayed there, I also met my professor from Japan.

He had been teaching at my undergrad college in Japan for 5 years. I was taking his classes and also I was a member of his seminar class because my concentration from junior year was American Politics. Under his guidance, I developed my knowledge and understanding of American Politics....maybe. Everybody got along each other well in my class and we still hang out together. So we call the class "Yamagishi Family." 

This summer, my professor moved to DC to research his main concentration, health care in Georgetown University. And I decided to see him and his family as well during the thanksgiving break.

His family invited me and my friend who also took his class, and we had dinner together. We had Temaki-zushi which is one of kinds of sushi, crabs, miso soup, and salad with Japanese sesame dressing. Every meal was great and it made me miss Japanese food more!

My professor has 2 sons and they are soooo cute. They are 4 and 7 years old and they have just started to go to school in the States. It seemed like they are having fun there. 

We caught up each other and my professor seemed glad that I am having fun and productive days in my grad school. I am happy that I have many acquaintances here in the States, so I sometimes don't feel like I am actually in foreign country. That's why I have never felt home-sick. My friends/ professor always inspire me and they are my motivation. I want to be a person who inspire them as well sometime in the future.