Daylight Impact

It was January 17th and a perfectly normal Thursday. It was pretty cold but the sun came out. I send my host boy to the busstop and went to story time at Highland park library with my host girl. We had good fried rice from Taste of Thailand which was left-over from my birthday party the night before. See, it was a normal day.

After the girl's nap time, we decided to go to a library to pick up books and play at the children's area. Usually we choose Highland park one, but we already went there that day. Also that day was the last day for my ESL teacher Lisa to come to the Rondo library. I remembered that Lisa told me that she had never seen my host kids and wanted to meet them. So I asked the kids how about going to my school and they loved to go. We drove to Rondo.

I asked 'Can we say hi to my teacher?' to kids. They said 'No! I want to go to the kid's section right away!' 'Okay Okay (well, I can bring them even if they don't want to)' the conversation went so.

So, we arrived at the liberary and put the books into the box, headed to teacher's room (kids were asking where we were going and I said nothing) to say hi to Lisa and other teachers. We got to the room and Lisa was there. The kids were a little shy at first but I don't know why they got so excited that we stayed and talked maybe about 30 minutes. I was supposed to just say hi but the kids were just excited and wouldn't go, we stayed.

After Lisa got bored with my kids, I managed kids to say bye to her and headed to children's area. Then, we ran into my class mate Korse, we said hi to eachother and were having a small chat. Right when we were saying bye to each other, something boomed out and everyone in the library stopped motions. I didn't think it was a big thing, and I headed to the children's area with the host kids. The closer we went to the area, I noticed the more people went to the same dirction where we were heading and talking about something bad. But I still didn't get what had happened. When we got to the area, I realized at last.

Tons of people surrounded the childrens area. They were looking at something. I am so short that I couldn't see what was something. But we managed to squeeze our bodies and got to the front line. I lost my voice. So did my host kids. It was a car crash. The car crashed into the window on the children's area. Fragments of broken glass covered all of the children's area. A familiar peaceful sight changed into'accident scene'. The headlight on the car was sticking in the children's area. The driver was already carried out to somewhere. There was only a broken car and broken glass.

The people were talking, wondering what had happened and how this crash was crazy. Nobody knew what had happened because nobody was around there when the crash occured. Nobody got hurt. No children were there in children's area. But we were supposed to be there. If there wasn't Lisa in the teacher room, If my host kids were shy enough to leave Lisa little earlier, if I didn't see Korse...I could't stop thinking for a while.

We changed place to Highland park library and had a good time.
I couldn't see Lisa that day (suppose to be a party for Lisa) which is sad.

The Minnesota State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair is held for two weeks until Labor day in Saint Paul. I heard that the Minnesota State Fair is the largest State Fair in United States. I don't know if that is true or not, but the fair was huge! Everything in the states is big for me, so I have I wouldn't be surprised at what I see anymore. But I was! I can't understand why you keep such a vast land for State Fair held only for two weeks. If you try to do the same thing in Japan, everyone would get mad and send complaint letters to governors! Anyway, the Fair was huge and I couldn't see everything in there. It takes several days to see everyting in the Fair.

I went there with my host family. My host kids love animals and I am an Animal Science student, so we focused on the farm area. First, we went to 'The Miracle of Birth' barn to see the moms and baby animals. This was my host mom's favorite part. They gathered pregnant animals in this barn such as cows, horses, pigs, goats, sheeps, and ducks. They were giving birth everyday during the fair. You can attend a birth if you are lucky. We didn't have that oppotunity, but we could touch all different kind of animal babies. They were warm, cozy and tiny objects.

There was several barns for each farm animal, horses, cows, and pigs. My favorite one was the cattle barn. There were many breeds I'd never seen. I was so excited! And there was a competition. The farmers combed their cow's fur and trimmed their hooves. The cattles in my school farm were always dirty. I don't think they never trimmed thir fur. Therefore the cattles in the barn were so beautifu for me.

My host kid's favorite was the horse barn because he loves horses, but he was scared when he saw real one. When we entered the barn, the mountain police from Canada was getting ready for the parade. Each policeman had a horse. We could see how they harnessed the horses. They were also beautiful in the harnesses with the maple trademark on their hips. After making a roll call, they went to the parade.

The Fair also had some rides. We rode on the gondola. We could see everything in the fair from the sky. But I couldn't see where the end of the fair was because the fair was huge.

After that, we got a famous cookie bucket for $13, which were delicious! I wish I could buy these cookies anytime I want. I loved them. I can't wait the fair next year. I can't wait for seeing farm animals and eating yummy cookies again!

Fashion Check!

We have some big colleges in my neighborhood and many college students live around my house. Some of them pass by my house in the morning and late afternoon. My secret hobby is to check their fasions through the window. I have two favorite students who have good senses of fashion. They have good hats, jackets, shirts, pants and shoes, and know how to use them very well.

One of them is a boy who passes my house around 7:30 by bicycle. This is the time when I'm feeding the kids, so I can check him out from my kitchen window every morning. But he goes so fast down the street, that checking his style is difficult. Also I can't see him when I am busy with the kids. But most days I check him out. I cannot tell how he looks, because he passes so fast, but I think he is cute... Anyway, I am sure that he is the best dresser in my neighborhood. I can give him a prize!

The other is a girl I see when I get back from the busstop after saying bye-bye to the boys. Around 9:00 is the time she comes out from her house. She is so pretty, has big round eyes and very short red hair. Also, she has a good sense of fashion! There is a proverb 'Heaven doesn’t hand out double servings', but God gave her style and sense! Hey godess, that's not fair, give me either one of them!

This is why I enjoy my neighborhood. It's a secret!

Express more!

I found out that to express myself is the hardest thing for me in the United States. I don't tell many things. This is because I don't think that to tell everything to other peoples is always the best way . So sometimes people think I am shy, but I'm not, I just don't want to express myself out loud.

I was surprised how people express their feelings a lot when I moved to United States. Americans, Brazilians, Mexicans...everyone except Japanese. They laugh a lot, are quick to cry, and get angry everyday. I thought this is too much. You may say this Japanese girl has no emotion, but this is my way. Why do you need to tell everything out loud?

Sometimes my friends tell me 'I talk to you and you just listen. Don't you want to tell me something?' But I answer them 'No, that's okay. I enjoy your story and I have nothing to tell you now. I will start talking when I have something to tell you.' Just because the different how many stories do you have you want to share with your friends.

I think this is a part of Japanese culture, we are good at reading the minds of others. We guess what the others are thinking about. Then we find out what we can do for the person. I think most of Japanese do this way. But in the United States, if you don't say anything, nobody understands you. This is the difference. In Japan Silence is Golden.

EDIT:
I went to Minnesota Science museum this weekend and found the Einstein's saying on a mugcup. It goes
If A equals success, then the formula is A = X + Y + Z.
X is work.
Y is play.
Z is keep your mouth shut

I Am From

I am from islands where the sun rises from
Surrounded by wild waves and deep forest where hundreds of gods live
Samurais who fought for their honors

I am from the small barbarshop where my grandpa cut my hair
The dark closet I hid when I felt sad
The worm hugs of grandma game when she found me in there

I am from the sunset shore I walked along with my grand parents
The wild field where grandma grew hens and vegitables
The dark factory where grandpa made clothes

I am from the uncountable steps on the mountains dad took me to
The cold winds we felt on our faces
The white flowers we sketched on our sketchbooks

I am from the dogrun mama made in our backyard
The allergies that made my sneeze
Sad tesrs I shed for death of pets

I am from secret baseI made on a hill with my sisters
Sour orenge picked from orchard there
Unexploded bomb we found on our adventure

I am from every single piece of land I have stepped on

My Persistence

Thinking my every little things, there occers my persistence. I can't accept anything but agree my persistence. It is difficult to explain that, but it exist. It can be cute, but not too cute. It can be colorful, but not too much. It can be simple, but needs something special.

To have examples is easier. I have a this lap-top. This is a lap-top from panasonic, silver, simple one. My persistence to this lap-top is customized. I don't know very much about computer, but I don't like to buy store one. So I asked my friend who loves computers (He is a kind of Otaku), and he made me a ordinal lap-top for me! So I love this lap-top and I will use this until it is broken. This have all programs I need, beautiful shape, and perfect performance! This lap-top is only for me!

When I buy clothings, I don't care if things have brand name or not. My rule is to buy good things with less money, just like target motto 'eat well pay less'. So I love to buy used clothings. Used clothings are sometime good and cheap most times. My clothings now I keeping is almost used. I sometimes buy new shirts, pants, and jacket, but everytime my favolite one is used. They are unique!

This is my persistence.

How Can I Enjoy Minnesota?

Now summer is leaving and autumn is coming. I'm little sad because I like to play outside. I really enjoyed camping this first summer in Minnesota. Minnesota has a lot of state parks, which I love! I enjoyed canoeing, camping in tents and campers, and the beautiful views. My favorite season, autumn, is now coming. I love to see the leaves change colors and feel breezes. Minnesota is a such wonderful state has many things to do in nature, so I can really enjoy it here.

I came to Minnesota late in March. So I don't know how cold here in winter time. But everyone told me that the winter in Minnesota is very cold and dark. But I played curling for 5 years, when I was University student. I know Saint Paul has a big and old curling club. I want to join them. I think it is the best way to enjoy winter in Minnesota for me!

Being a Twin is Difficult!

I have two sisters and a brother. One of my sisters and I are identical twins. Her name is Nodoka which means 'peace'. Mine stands for 'happiness'. I was born 15 minutes after her. We were always together since before we were born.

Some people say that twins have a special ability. I don't know if it is true or not, but we have several experiences being twins. One time when I was singing a song in my mind, my sister came over to me and sung same part of same song! It happen several times.

We were interested in the same things when we were elementary school students. Our favorite subjects were paints and science, especially we were interested in animals and nature things. We liked same cloths, food, color, toy, and boys! Our interests, faces and shapes were so similar. Because of this reason, we fought a lot of times. And what's more, everyone around us compared us. The scores of our tests were especiallyour huge stress. We cannot mark the same score. So there was always a winner and looser. We hated that. So my mother decided to separate us. We went to different junior high and high school. Then everything have changed. Our characterestics and interests became different. I'm now studying animal science and Nodoka is studying German history.

But still the root of our interest is the same. I'm now coming to United States as an Aupair and she was Aupair in Germany two years ago. We are so interested in other cultures and curious about all different kind of things. When I face the torouble, I send e-mail to her and she gives me advice. Her advice encourage me a lot! Because she was an Aupair. My twin knows both preasure and difficulties being Aupair.

We are far from each other now because I'm here in Minnesota, but I believe our hearts are very close! Just because we are twins!!!

The Most Beautiful Sight

I have several beautiful sight I can't forget. One of them is a beautiful snow in Hokkaido.

I was a student in Hokkaido for 5 years. Hokkaido is a nothern island of Japan. The winter in Hokkaido is very cold and we have heavy snow in winter time. I am from Shizuoka and we don't have snow there, so my first winter in Hokkaido was wonderful and surprising for me.

One my first winter morning in Hokkaido, I woke up with surprise.Everything around my house looked different. Everything was white, but they had colors until the day before. Andthere was silence. there were no car, no people, nothing was moving. I didn't have any class that day, so I called my friend and drove to Furano, which is famous for beautiful view. Getting out from the car, and we couldn't talk. We saw white fields against a backdrop of the blue sky, and white trees on the horizon. Mt. Taisetsu stood behind us. The view was huge and we were tiny. We just stood in silence.

My Sweet Home

I live with my host family. They let me use one room with a bed, desk, and TV. My room is small, but I like my room. I didn't know why I like my room until I traveled to MoMA in New York last week. The museum has some Henri Matisse. He is my favorite painter. I was so impressed when I saw his 'the blue window' and 'the red studio' because they have beautiful blues and reds. I noticed I have these two colors in my room! My room has Matisse blue walls, curtains, and sheets. I also have Matisse red carpet candy jar, and candles. They mach the white desk and shelves. So I really love my room now!

Another space I like in the house is the backyard. Taking care of children is my job. I like to play with kids in the backyard because I can feel the time pass quickly. We choose what we do everyday. Basket ball, golf, soccer, bicicle, swimming pool, sand box, slide, or swing. Whichever we choose, we can really enjoy! I think the backyard has a magical power to make us happy.

Eating Dolphins

I am from Shizuoka. Shizuoka is aprefecture by Mt. Fuji, so we can see the mountain everyday. My city is famous for its fishing port. We can eat fresh fish and shellfish everyday. We can eat delicious sashimi or sushi everytime we want. Yummm....I miss sushi!!! Sometimes we eat dolphins! I didn't know that the meat I ate sometimes was dolphin, so I cried when I realized that was dolphin!!! I can't eat dolphin now because they are so cute and smart!!

Japan

What do you imagine when you think about Japan? Sushi, Tempura, Samurai, Kimonos? Do you think it is a very different country? Yes, Japan is different from other countries. We have old and new culture. We mixed them up and made another new culture.

We closed all our ports until we opened trade in 1868 except only one port for official ships. We kept only old Japanese culture. But after trade opened up, we began to import new culture. It was a big big change. In fact, we didn't eat meat and always wore kimonos before that. After that, Japanese people tried to eat meat, wear dresses or pants. They made up new dishes from new materials brought by European people with Japanese taste. Sukiyaki for example, is a Japanese famous meat dish. I think Japanese are flexible to new things now because of this big change in 1868.

I am...

My name is Miyuki,
I'm from japan,
I've been U.S. for 3 monthes.
I am a Au pair in Saint Paul now and I am taking care of two children.
I'm studying animal science at graduate school in japan and especially interested in animal hygiene and animal breeding.
I like to watch movies, listen to music, and go shopping!!

Nice to meet you!!!!