hayuru’s Neighborhood

So four months have passed since I returned back to school in September!

The first two months were really trying both physically and psychologically. I didn’t recall encountering a return to school like this. Well, from November, things are going back to ‘normal’.

I have worked on different things besides my job and have continued my studies. I get used to my tasks at school but I had to get used to a new topic of studies!

Along my studies, I worried on and off about some subjects. Still, as I passed exams in lessons I wondered about beforehand, I felt more confident.

So why worrying in advance? It is of no help. It just stresses us more. The result is according to our work and the effort we put into something. Apply to yourself what you advise the others, I thought… so I decided to take my studies in stride. I felt far better! This is available to language learning too. I was so stressed when I had my first English discussions three years ago. I can tell it was not a good approach.

One field after the other, time passed. I worried about mathematics or English lessons and it went all fine. With some more difficulties, I went through biology but passed as well.

November, December and Physics!

I went through biology so what? Let’s go for physics. Wow, a tough time waited for me in this field though -- I can tell that I got my worse grade in this field L -- And you know what? I am relieved, really relieved, to see this lesson coming to an end! Finish, over, the end…

Next subject: literature. I welcome it with open arms. I far prefer dealing with words than numbers. I’m not a scientific.

I love books, I love all that is related with words and all that they could suggest, bring out, create. I admire those who can paint beautifully with brush as well as those who do with words.

That’s it. Yesterday, I received my booklet and a few book. Below are pics of the first two books I am going to study.

I am thrilled to study this lesson. Among the books, there is one story written by Shakespeare. oh la la…

I read a post from Suzanne regarding perfectionism. I understand her so well. Mentioning Suzanne reminds me my promise.

Two years ago, I began to create a story for the LingQ library. It was at a time when I pondered about some more contents that I could upload, what could be of interest. Suddenly, an idea came up. I didn’t know the result or even if it would be of interest, but I gave it a try. If it works, perfect. If it doesn't, well trash were created to be filled.

I was enthusiastic to work on a story. I wanted it a short one. It was not really clear in my mind; I only had a vague idea. I took a piece of paper and began to write. Once I began, I couldn’t stop and created one part after the other. The more I wrote, the more the story came alive in my mind and took shape on the paper. After the third part, only a blank was on my mind :(

I took a pause. I wasn’t inspired for what would come next. I attended to my other occupations and sadly, almost forgot about this story.

A few weeks ago, I promised to create a sequel of it. I will! I’m so sorry for setting aside this story for two long years.

01

02

My last post was written in August?? Wow! So many things have occured since then.

Not the time to say more from the time being though, sorry! But soon...

Languages...I eventually am able to work more with English as I was used to be. Even though, it is not enough according to me, if ever one day I find this enough ;) Anyway, I love working with languages. It has become my passion.

Not only English, but also my own language which is French and I have begun to learn Spanish for several day. I have many goals that I want to reach and am working toward them...slowly but surely. It is used to say that it's better not to say too much before it is reached so, when it is the time, I say more.

Here is links towards items in French that I shared on LingQ. I hope you'll appreciate them:

Apprendre avec LingQ : http://www.lingq.com/learn/fr/store/38156/

Votre aventure dans l'apprentissage du français : http://www.lingq.com/learn/fr/store/40975/

Améliorez vos écrits : http://www.lingq.com/learn/fr/store/41112/

I would appreciate to hear from you. Give me your feedback :)

For me, not yet.

I got some packages of Windows 7 for my PCs. But they are still not be upgraded. I didn't use Windows Vista. I'm using Windows XP. This means you have to format disk and install Windows 7 on your PC. If you are using Windows Vista, you can overwrite Windows 7 on your Vista. It means you can keep your own settings and compatible applications. However, mine is XP. Therefore, I have to format and delete my properties.

This is a bit hard work. So, I hesitate to install it. And I have one more problem.
My PC is iMac and MacBookPro released in 2006. They have Intel based CPU and chipset on it. But Apple computer will not support 2006 model of them. It means that they do not release any drivers for them.

That's big problem for me.

I'm considering of that resolution.

Recently, I started to read the scripts of VOA Special English Web site.

VOA has some features, is written with limited words and easy grammars so that non-native Speakers of English can understand, and the audio of VOA is read out more slowly than normal speed as well.
Despite of that, it’s difficult for me. I import the scripts of VOA into the LingQ site, and then I read them on LingQ, while looking up words and phases that I don’t know in the dictionary. After that, I memorize vocabularies with flash cards test system.

I intended to read them carefully and understand them well. However I couldn’t remember the contents. Though I can remember what I read in Japanese, I can’t remember what I read in English. The contents that I read in English tend not to remain in my head. I need to read them over and over until I can explain the summary.

 I'm so exiceted to wait to see the Cirque du Soleil performance tonight, here in Japan.

Fortunately, my place is very close place to Tokyo Disney Resort. Therefore, I can get to its theather in 30 mins.

I went to see the performance. It was awsome!
It is a wonderful show I've never seen before. You can see ZED in Tokyo. It is a bit expensive. However, you should go there if you have opportunity.

I thought I want to write down my deep impression detail here. But it will be better not to do it for the people who are not go there yet.

It's been long long time to visit and type out on the vox. It has been very busy days after baby comes around for 2 yeas. :) The baby growth as a toddler now. She speaks lots of words and even sentences nowadays...!

By the way, I excited to announce you that I've got a amazonKindle generation 2 international version from amazon.com. I've orderd there online and what a surprise it arrived for only few days at our place (Japan) !

amazonKindle is a populer e-book device in the U.S which has a 3G mobile connection tool for download all materials you purchased. Now, it is spreaded to 200 of countries in the world. Japan is one of them. Therefore, I tried to get this one. It will be good to keep me to continue to study English, anyway.

You can buy e-book via 3G mobile network from amazon.com. You can subscribe not only books but daily newspapers, magazines cheeper than paper book. If you subscribe a newspaper, such as NewYorkTimes, monthly, it will be automatically delivered to your Kindle device everyday. Oh, 3G connection is free for download. That's awsome !

In addition to it, you can read such kind of world-wide-famous newspapers, magazines out side of the U.S. I've tried to buy some of newspapers as "current issue". It's wonderfule to read on real time.(Maybe faster than paper one, actually)

amazonKindle also has a awsome text-to-speach function. You can listen the sound of text with mail or femail voices. It is really enhanced computer voice. But my wife told me "That's computer voice, anyway. You should not practice your pronounciation." :)  However, I really impressed by these voices none the worse for accenting wrong sometimes. 

It will be good function for English learners just like me.

amazonKindle uses special ink for display characters and pictures. This is also watchable technology.

Thank you for reading my poor typing.
Keep in touch with all of you on the vox.

best regards

It's been a while since I wrote on this blog last.

To tell the truth, I have spent the toughest time in my lifetime: my father was diagnosed as having cancer. His cancer is in its terminal stage and cannot be removed in the operation.

No one in my family noticed his illness until he said he was so tired that he stayed in his car while we went shopping together.

He was so shocked to hear that and so was I.  I could do nothing but cried everyday.

so tough... and so much tears...

I couldn't write how tough it was.

However, after a long struggle, I have come to appreciate the time we are given.

I am very busy taking care of him in my parents' home. (as I live next to their house, I can stay with him any time.)

I am very happy to do so.  Actually I feel happiest in these ten years or so.

I will write on this blog again.  This blog will be a wonderful memory.