My Memorable Trip to Seattle

My Memorable Trip to Seattle

Last year, I went to Canada and studied there for about eight months. At first, I lived in Victoria, but I moved to Vancouver after staying in Victoria for three months as I wanted to see many places. Though I enjoyed and loved Vancouver very much, I missed my friends in Victoria, too. Therefore, I made a plan to see one of my best friends, who was from Hokkaido and same age as me, in Seattle. The reason why I chose Seattle is that I knew she wanted to watch a baseball game in which Ichiro play. We booked a cheap youth hostel in downtown for two nights. I decided to go there by bus and she decided to come by ferry from Victoria. We were looking forward to seeing each other again. However, it wasn’t easy trip for both of us.

At first, I didn’t know I had to pay money at the border between Canada and US in US dollars and I hadn’t change my Canadian dollars to US dollars before I got to the border, so I didn’t have money to pay though it was just six dollars! Fortunately, a nice person who was in the same bus lent me six dollars. After arriving at US, by the way, I gave her back six dollars with deepest appreciation.

Secondly, my friend from Victoria mistook the hostel and went other hostel. Since we were going to meet at hostel, we couldn’t see each other for two hours at a strange place and I was almost on the verge of tears because of the loneliness. It was almost eight at evening when we could finally meet. That was the most memorable moments in recent time…

Then, we enjoyed dinner together at a wonderful restaurant. However, disaster on that day wasn’t the end. We had another misfortune at a hostel at that night. Due to a mistake by staff, though we reserved two beds in the biggest room which had fourteen beds, there weren’t enough beds for us. We claimed in our poor English and at last we got two beds to sleep. We were totally exhausted at that night and fell asleep as soon as we went to bed.

Although we faced lots of difficulties, the trip was exciting and wonderful over all. For example, we could see Ichiro and he was fantastic. After seeing him at the stadium, we became proud of him more than before since he was loved by everyone in Seattle and many people were cheering him up passionately. In addition, a huge outlet mall in Seattle was amazing though we regretted having bought clothes too much. Moreover, we enjoyed famous lovely market, which name is Pike Place Market, and went to the first Starbucks! We got a tumbler which was only sold at the Starbucks at Pike Place Market. Above all, we loved people who live there as they were very kind and generous.

Thus, despite many problems our trip to Seattle was fantastic!! Furthermore, perhaps, we could learn lots of things from these troubles. Anyway, we enjoyed the trip and our friendship was cultivated through this trip, too.

Gender equality is still a hard goal for Japan to achieve



Nowadays, it is often said that the number of women who work outside has been increasing every year. However, Japan is still lagging behind other developed countries in women’s social advancement. Promotion for women at a company, for example, is much more difficult than men in Japan. In my opinion, women receive such an unfair treatment due to Japanese old tradition.

Firstly, many people in Japan still think women should stay home and do their housework and take care of children after they got married. As a result of such a way Japanese think, women are thought to quit a job after they got married so they cannot get promotion.

Secondly, even if women continue to work after marriage, it is hard to combine childcare and their job in Japan. The reason is that most of Japanese men do not help housework or childcare after they get home. According to statistics, compared to United States where 40 percent of men help housework, only 10 percent of men do in Japan. Therefore, Japanese women cannot concentrate on their job and it is difficult to work fulltime. Thus, besides the old way of thinking, lack of help by men at home is also one of the reasons why women cannot move up to managerial positions in Japan.

In conclusion, Japanese old tradition, for example women should quit their job and stay at home after marriage or men should not get into the kitchen, is what makes women’s social advancement difficult. Unless Japanese change such an old way of thinking, gender equality cannot be achieved.

The Reflection of Fashion on Lifestyles

Have you ever thought about the reflection of fashion? Fashion has been reflecting changes in how people live. Thousands years ago, human beings also didn't wear clothes. At first, they started to wear them to protect their body from injury or coldness. However, the meaning of clothes has changed. People started to wear clothes to show their personality. In the past, it also showed their status. In addition, we became to change clothes depending on the situation such as for a job, school, or house work. Fashion reflects our daily lives.

Only in some years, clothing styles change a lot. For example, when our grandparents were young, women didn't wear pants or short skirts, but now, women also wear pants. Also, women didn't wear caps, but they wear them now.

These changes in fashion were caused by not only its comfortableness but also the culture in the country. In my opinion, the changes among women's fashion shows decreasing discrimination to women. These days, the fashion between women and men are becoming similar, which means they are becoming equal. Moreover, as women wear pants more like men, they became to act like men, too. Fashion also changes our behavior.

Thus, fashion has changed our lifestyles and people have also changed with fashion. In the future, it will change more and more as long as people wear clothes.

Comfortable Home Makes Us Happy

Choosing a good house is difficult but very important. If I can't feel comfortable at home, my life will be uncomfortable. There are some kinds of houses such as an apartment, a modern house, or an old house. If I choose one, I would choose modern house.

At first, a modern house is convenient and comfortable. It has a lot of equipment such as an air conditioner, a dish washer, or a nice bath tab. It's convenient and I can can also save time and enjoy my bath time or cooking in the latest kitchen. In this point, an apartment might have good equipment and cold be convenient, but it doesn't have a garden which is important for me to enjoy the gardening and tea party!!

Moreover, a modern house smells good and is warm. It's very important point because I live there every day!! Thus, a modern house has everything which makes me happy. It's very important to choose house which suit you to live happily. Which kind of house would you choose?

The Global Warming

The global warming is now serious problem.Average temperatures in Tokyo have risen 3℃　in past 100 years. The global warming would one day melt the polar ice and cause worldwide flooding. It would also exacerbate desertification.

Cars, which run on gasoline or diesel oil, exhaust gas and it is known to be a major cause of global warming. If you go out alone or the destination is near to your home, let's avoid using cars and use public transportation or a bicycle!!
Now, hybrid cars are replacing the conventional cars. It combines an electric motor with a gasoline engine and has better fuel efficiency and lower gas emissions compared to a conventional car. In addition, buyers can now receive tax credits for purchasing hybrid cars or other eco-friendly cars. Therefore, buying such cars is both budget-pleasing and environmentally friendly.

Thus, avoiding conventional cars can stop the continued global warming and help the earth. There are lots of things we can do in daily lives for the earth.


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H.W.
Birth rate in Japan is decreasing. For instance, my grandparents have about ten siblings but I have just one sister. One of the reasons is many women have been becoming to work hard as much as men and the age of the marriage is being rate.

Zero Waste

Let's Aim For Zero Waste!!

When I was in Canada, I heard about the "3Rs", which means reduce, reuse, and recycle.
In Japan, it's not well known, so I want many people to know this idea and practice it.
With this idea, a great deal of garbage will be cut down!!

At first, you can reduce garbage by adjusting our shopping habits for example by not buying too wrapped things. Sometimes, foods are wrapped in plastic and in a box with another plastic bag which are not necessary.
If you don't buy such goods, you can reduce garbage. Also, if you bring your own water bottle, you don't need to buy juice with plastic bottle and you can reduce garbage and save your money at the same time.

Secondly, you can cut down on garbage by reusing things such as using not only the front of paper, but also the back of the paper or giving clothes which you don't wear to others.

Thirdly, "recycling" will reduce garbage. However I think recycling centers are not enough in Japan. These facilities should be set up more. Also, in my opinion, each family should compost organic waste, meat, dairy or cooked foods.

The "3Rs" is not difficult and anyone can practice these habits.
Even if only few people do this, they won't make a big change, so everyone should do it together.
It's time to make a change for our environment with these kinds of good ideas!