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Open the New Fields

In this semester, I’m taking two geography classes (Introduction to Physical Geography, Introduction to GIS), one economics (Principles of Macroeconomics), and English (Introduction to College Writing). The one of the remarkable class is, I would say, economics. It’s my first time to study about economics. To start to learn this field is one of the reasons I reenter a college. I’d like to see how this society is managed in terms of money circulation, understand what newspaper says in the economics section, and expect the future. …Well, the goals sound high, which requires a lot of effort. I did a first step yesterday…that I read the textbook. It took me much more time than reading geography textbooks. It’s no wonder. I’ve had no background and haven’t learnt the field by myself. Moreover, I have to admit that it is less interesting to me. I admire the other students majoring economics… What are the interesting points of economics? Tell me, somebody! It’s going to be hard to keep up with the class, but I’ll try to like it, and eventually it’ll be exciting as much as the geography classes.

Decoration of My Room

To begin the semester comfortable, I organized and put some new stuff in my room. First of all, I bought sectional shelf which can be composed of six boxes in all. But I made up two shelves which has two boxes for each and put one next to my desk and another next to my bed for my books, folders, and some other small stuff. And then, I put up a Japanese print poster the English professor gave me and some flower stickers and butterflies on the wall. Also, it doesn’t really show up in the picture though, I stuck a used cloth and a piece of paper I clipped out of a magazine ELLE on cardboards which I use as a storage box under the bed. IN addition, I have three calendars and put them all; the tear-off one I bought at Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston is on the shelf next to my bed, Van Gogh’s one hangs on the wall, and Seiichi Hayashi is on the drawer (you may see the tear-off one in the picture below). Now I feel refreshed and comfortable, and get ready for the new semester which I’m pretty sure is going to be crazy…

Ice Skating

During the winter break, my friend and I went to ice skating. I used to ice skate a few times a year when I was in elementary school, but gave up after I graduated. That means, it was for the first time in almost ten years. It was weekday, and any school except for colleges has already started, so there were around ten people in all. Even though there was ten year interval from the last time I ice skated, it was not that bad as I expected. At least I could go around the rink a few times without touching the wall, go backward a few meters, and make a stop. Since my friend used to learn figure skating, she was the best at the rink during the time we were. She spun around and went backward drawing an arc and did something crazy. I think I was the weak at the rink. Everyone has own ice skating shoes, skating around very fast. Unfortunately, the rink was private that they didn’t smooth it, which made it very dumpy. Moreover, there is a high school behind the rink and their ice hockey club uses the rink that it closed at 2:30 pm. We stayed there just for an hour and half, but still had a great time. Next, I have to go skiing…I’ve never done that in my life yet! The snow in here is more powdery must be good to ski. I hope that I can enjoy every winter sport until I leave here.

Last Day of Winter Break

Today is the last day of this winter break, and I'm going back to school tomorrow. It was just three weeks, but such fulfilling days. First two weeks I stayed at Jewish family. It was my first experience that I met Jewish people. I learnt about Jewish, celebrating Chanukah, attended a couple of cultural event such as music concerts and museums, and read some books, magazines, and articles. Third week I stayed at my friend's home. I enjoyed snow, reading books, and having time with her and her family. Honestly, during this special season I kind of missed my warm home in Japan...my parents, friends, New Year's Day and the related events and customs, the food, the language, and the atmosphere. I could go back to Japan, but didn't, and it was right. I think now I'm able to read, speak, and listen a little bit more than before the winter break. I'm still kind of nervous about this semester... However, I don't have to worry about it. I will have confidence in what I've done during the winter break in the U.S., instead of going back to Japan, and face up to this semester. Everything is gonna be alright...I'll enjoy it! :)

Play in the Snow

Last night snow storm hit and piled more snow twenty to thirty centimeters deep. I borrowed a pair of pants and gloves for skiing, and went out with my friend and her dog, Rusty, to play in the snow. The house is on top of a hill surrounded with woods and bush. So there is a slight slope down the house, and I slid over it with a sled on my own or with her. Also we run around and chased the dog, rolling around in the snow. It was so fun...Since I almost had no experience of playing in the snow, I just romped around like a kid. After a while, we put aside the snow piled on their cars, which was my first experience as well, and had a lunch that was cooked ground meat with corn and mashed potatoes on the top in one pot with cranberry sauce (I forgot the name of this dish). Oh, New England! I really enjoyed this lovely region today! I hated snow, but it seems like from today I started to like it. (but I know I'm going to hate it again when I get back to school...)