-St.Valentine's Day-

Hello.

Today, I’m going to write about St. Valentine’s Day in Japan.

In Japan, usually girls or women give the chocolates to boy or men. If it is near of Valentine’s Day, many girls start to find sweets recipe. Some girls make by themselves and some girls just buy the sweets that are already rapping beautifully. In my opinion if they don’t have many people to give the sweets, they buy the sweets instead of making.

There are three types of the name of gifts. One of them is Honmei chocolate that gives to a lover from woman. Honmei means the favorite in Japanese. If a girl likes someone, and wants to say that she likes him, she gives him Honmei chocolate. It is also same to couple. If the girl friend gave to her boyfriend, it calls Honmei chocolate. We usually say this one in shorten; Honmei.

The next type of name of the gift is Giri chocolate that is given to a man who the girl wants to say thank you. Giri means obligatory in Japanese. Usually women give it to their classmates or teachers or bosses. There is no existence of love between them. We call it in shorten; Giri choco.

The third type of name of the gift is Tomodachi chocolate that give to women’s friend, and it is women for women. Tomodachi means friends in Japanese. Recently, Japanese woman prefer giving Valentine’s gift to female friends to give to men. I also prefer to give to my female friends. We usually call it in shorten; Tomo choco.

The fourth type of name of the gift is Gyaku chocolate that gives from man to woman. Gyaku means opposite in Japanese. In Japan, it is rare that man gives to woman, because the form of Valentine’s gift is woman to man. The man got Valentine’s gift, usually gives a return gift on March 14^th that called White day in Japan. In Japan there exist White day, that’s why giving a gift man to woman is rare. If a man gives the gift of Valentine to woman on Valentine’s Day, it means that he loves her. The shorten name of it is Gyaku choco.

We call the gift name adding chocolate, but it doesn’t matter if it is chocolate or not. It is just a form of the name of the gift.

The last time that I gave Honmei chocolate was when I was elementary school student, so I hope that I will have someone to give it as lover as soon as possible… :)♥ haha

-Diana-

-The place I'll never forget-

Hello.

Today, I’m going to write about the place I’ll never forget.

The place name is Cusco in Peru. When I was 12 years old, I visited my home country Peru with my mother and an older brother.

Peru is a country located in South America continent. Peru was the center of Inca Empire that was the largest empire at that time until conquered by Spain. Peru has 10 of UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of them is the Machu Picchu in Cusco Region. Machu Picchu located in really high place, 2,057m. It usually called as "Lost City of the Incas", because we can’t recognize it from the bottom of the mountain.

When I went to there, I was so excited, because I could see the “Nazca Lines” that is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site from the plane during the way to get to Machu Picchu. The lines were really big. I wondered how the people could write such big lines. My birth place was the capital city, so I didn’t see much cultural things such as colorful poncho and folk craft articles, but I could see them at Cuzco.

The first day of the trip, we got mountain sickness. It was terrible. When I was walking around to buy some souvenirs, suddenly my body became heavy. I couldn’t keep standing, because I didn’t have any power. I sit down on a bench that was near from me. At that time, I thought that I caught a cold or something, but my mother and brother were also same with me. Even to move our mouths was hard for us, so we went to back to hotel without any talking. My mind was clouded and I couldn’t think well. It was the hardest time in the trip.

Next day, we went to the Machu Picchu. We were not sick any more. The sky was so blue. Sunshine was sparkling. My mind was really clear!! It was really nice day. Everything looked shining. We walk around of the remains and took many pictures. There were Llamas that is South American camel, so I pet it. I got nervous at that time, so I’d just touched it for a second. My brother and I made a friend, one boy. We talked a lot and ate traditional supper together with his mother.

The trip was really nice. I can’t forget about Cusco because, it is one of important places of my home country, and I don’t know if I can go there again. If you have a chance to go to Peru, you should go to the Cusco. I hope that I can go there again too :)

-Diana-

-Culture party-

Hello.

Today, I’m going to write about a culture party that I attended today.

Last Friday, I had a meeting with my language partner. Language partner is one program of Intensive English Program of University of Manitoba. Intensive English Program in shorten, IEP provides the English speaker to each student who wants to speak with English speaker. My language partner‘s name is Ann. Ann asked me while the meeting, if I want to join a culture party and showed me the e-mail. It said that we’ll represent our culture to the other people who come from different country. It reminded me the presentation that I did during the class of IEP and I felt really nervous. I also had a plan already, but I chose to give it a shot, because I thought that I’ll never have such opportunities. I have just 2 months left to stay in Winnipeg, so I wanted to do anything that I can do.

My choice was right. The party was really fun. There are 14 people including my language partner, her husband and me. I met people who come from China, Nigeria, Iran, Africa, Chili, and of course Canada. Almost of them are University students of University of Manitoba. The woman who comes from Chili was the IEP student, so when I saw her, I surprised. We all had a presentation about our culture such as dance or singing. I did about “Origami” that is Japanese traditional paper holding. I taught how to make crane. It was really hard to explain. Actually I taught to some IEP students when we were making Christmas gift for IEP Christmas party, but at that time I couldn’t teach well. This time was a kind of revenge for me. It was really tough. I needed to show each steps to every single person, because just the words couldn’t give specific information of the shapes. I was sweating very much. I was so nervous, but everyone was really kind. They said to me that I did well so I felt relieved.

 After that, we had supper together. We all brought some traditional food and eat together. There were many kind of food, Guacamole that is avocado paste to dip by chips from Mexico, Chapati that is fried bread from Kenya and so on. All of them were really delicious. When Ann asked me to go back home, it was already 10:30 p.m. I felt like “Already!? “. I had really nice time there. Thank you Ann for taking me to the party. Thank you god to give me such a nice language partner. Next Saturday, I’ll go to French Canadian Festival with Ann. I’m looking forward it :)

-Diana-

-My Life in Winnipeg-

Hello.

Today, I'm going to write my life in Winnipeg in Canada.

Since last April, I've been stayed in Winnipeg in Canada, for studying English. I've been studied in Intensive English Program; in shorten form IEP that is one of English learning programs of University of Manitoba.

My day starts from taking a bus, because the transportations to get to school are just bus or car. I don't have car license, so there is just one choice. The classes usually start from 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On the other weekdays, it starts from 9:00 a.m. All classes are 50 minutes, and we have two or three classes in morning and two or three in afternoon. The classes are usually over around 3:20 p.m. In the classes, basically, we learn writing, reading and speaking. The curriculum depends on the level.

After classes are over, there are two choices to go back home or go somewhere with friends. The big shopping mall is located in middle way of my home stay house and school, so on the way to go back home, I can go to the mall with my friends who use same bus or who want go to the mall together. If I don't have much homework, I go shopping at there or go to eat supper with my friends. Every night, after I eat my supper, I make my lunch for next day. Before I go to bed I check my e mail, Facebook and Skype. I usually use my laptop listening English music because it can improve my listening skill.

On every Thursday, IEP has an activity that called conversation cafe. We have conversation eating cookies or drinking juice. The classes are separated by level, so this activity is one of chances to get know many students over classes.

Friday is the day that we are looking forward. IEP usually has activities on every Friday. There are activity leaders who make the plan of activities and support them. We can go to Karaoke, Bowling and so on... It is really good chance, because we can make friends over classes and we can enjoy Winnipeg. The school bus pick us up to the place, so we don't need to know the exactly place, and we also don't need to spend money for transportation.

I changed to homestay from residence in September. Living in residence was not too bad, I could go to school by walking and I didn’t need to buy bus pass. I could sleep anytime, I could wake up whenever I want, but there was a big problem. In my residence there were my Japanese friends so I used Japanese when I talked with them. At lunch time I needed to go back to residence to eat lunch, even though my class mates invite me to eat together. I have no regret about changing to homestay. After I changed to homestay, I was homesick. Almost of my friends went back to their home country. There were many new students. At that time, I was full of worries. Because of the experience, I started to think about the importance of meeting with people. Winnipeg is the place that many people come and leave. Same times as meetings we have parts, so I want to cherish every single meeting. Someday, I want to visit my friends’ place, Winnipeg as well. I’ll enjoy my rest Winnipeg life to not regret and improve my English. For the day, I need to keep and improve my English skill, even after I go back to Japan.

When I’ll visit Winnipeg, I’ll speak frequently, so see it :)

-Diana-

-A Cinderella story-

Hello.

Today, I'm going to write about one of my favorite movie "A Cinderella Story ". This blog contains the story of the movie, so please be careful to read it.

 In this movie, a girl drops "cellphone" instead of "glass high heel". This story is about love of different worlds. The main character is Sam a girl who is high school student. She lost her mother at her childhood and also she lost her father later. She was working at "Diner" a restaurant that her father left. Her nick name was "diner girl" because she was working at there. She was bullied by her step mother Fiona and Fiona's 2 daughters. At that time, what encouraging her were her only one friend Carter, the clue who were working at "Diner" and one online pen pal Nomad.

 They had a Halloween party and Nomad said to Sam to meet up there. She went there and she noticed that "Nomad" was "Austin" the president of the high school and quarterback of the school's football team. He was really popular guy. He even had a girlfriend. Sam shocked about the truth. However, Sam was wearing a mask so Austin didn't notice who she was.

 

They danced together and when she rushed to go back to “Diner”, she dropped her cellphone, and Austin found it. He started to find the girl who dropped cellphone, who were seeing him without any expectation, just seeing the true him. But Sam didn’t want to tell him that she was the girl. She was a quiet girl.

If I write about whole of this story, you would not enjoy at DVD, so I'll not write any more, but it is a happy ending story. In this movie the actress Hilary Duff got a Golden Raspberry Award, what is an award that present to the worst movies, as the worst leader of the movie. Even though, it got the award, I really like this movie, so I wrote about this movie. This movie has sequels and the first one is "Another Cinderella Story" that starring by Selena Gomez. Another one is "A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A time". I've never watched the sequels, so  I want to watch them as soon as possible. I hope that you can enjoy these movies :)

-Diana-

-Crepe-

Hello.

Today, I'm going to write about crepe.

Have you ever tried it? Crepe is thin baked dough that usually rapping flesh cream and fruits. You can change the filling as you want. For example, my favorite filling is banana with fresh cream and chocolate syrup. If it has an ice cream on the top, it will be really yummy. It also has non sugar filling, such as hamburger, but I've never try it. It is because I really like to eat sweet things.

 In Winnipeg, there is one crape shop in Downtown. The name of the store is "Kawaii Crepe". Kawaii means cute is Japanese. I have no idea why the store used Japanese but maybe because usually crepe is eaten in Japan. When I was high school student, I usually bought crepe with my friends on the way to go back to home from school. It was a kind of symbol of youth for us. The crape is in here, had spread of nutella, a kind of famous chocolate cream in Winnipeg. My friend really likes the cream so once she complained to me that her crape had less nutella than mine. After she saw the bottom of crape she said "Oh, I had" laughing. It was really funny. If you have a chance to go there, you should go at least once.

To make the crepe is not difficult as you are thinking. Even elementary school students can make it. You just need to make a thin rap and fill all the things you want. We usually eat it having in hands but if you want, you also can use knife and forks. The appearance is also important, but the most important thing is the taste. ha ha Enjoy your own crepe~!!:D

-Diana-

-Wedding ceremony in Japan-

Hello.

Today, I’m going to write about the wedding ceremony in Japan. I've never been wedding ceremony yet, so even I researched it, it is kind of my image.

First of all, there are 2 types of wedding ceremonies in Japan. One is called Shinto style wedding ceremony and another one is called Christian style wedding ceremony. The Shinto style wedding ceremony is held at Shrine and the bride and groom wear Japanese kimono. In this style, usually a Shinto priest leads the bride and groom and walk in the Shrine.  The Christian style wedding ceremony is held in a hotel or chapel and the bride wears wedding dress and groom wears a tuxedo. Bride has a bouquet and she through it.

If the bride and groom want to wear both of kimono and wedding dress, they can wear, because usually at the wedding ceremony in Japan, they can change their clothes whatever they want. But it is at “Hirouen” that is a party after the wedding ceremony.

After the wedding ceremony, Japanese have a party that called “Hirouen”. It is set with wedding ceremony and if it is not finished, the wedding ceremony can’t complete.

At this party there is a master of ceremony and he or she sometimes they progress the party. One person sometimes it is the master of ceremony, does the greeting and starts to talk about the beginning of the bride and groom’s romance. Then, all of the people cheer the champagne, and starts to drink it. After cheers, the bride and groom start to cut the wedding cake. Usually the people who have camera take the pictures at this time. Then, the meal will start. During the meal, everyone enjoy talking. The bride changes her dress once or twice from wedding dress to color dress or Japanese kimono at this time. The groom also changes hiss clothes but usually the main is the bride. After the bride and groom change their clothes usually 1 or 2 people who are friends of bride and groom say a message of congratulations and talk in front of all the people about the bride or groom or both. After that, bride or groom’s friends do some performance, such as dancing or magic or shows bride and groom’s pictures that making in video to make the party more interesting.

 At the ending the bride and groom give flowers to their parents and read letters. The Hirouen will finish with the greeting by the master of ceremony and after that, all the people who attended at the Hirouen will receive a present from bride and groom.

I want to get married someday, and do wedding ceremony with Christian style, because I’m Christian. But before that, I need to find a groom…:P

-Diana-