Cool, Fall Weather!

It's finally getting cooler in Japan! The cool air feels great after the hot summer we had. I was beginning to worry whether we'd ever feel the normal fall temperatures. On the other hand, cold season is coming, so we all have to be careful and get enough rest. Take care of yourself!

The next essay is not due until Nov. 17, but I will introduce it today so you have enough time to work on it. Next week (Nov. 3) is a holiday, so there is no class. That gives you 3 weeks to prepare! The next essay is a restaurant review. This can be really fun if you do your best. I will tell you about it in class and post more details about it on this site in the future. For now, please check out the restaurant reviews from last year at the special site for this purpose:

Tsurumi Eats!

Also, here is some online grammar practice for you to do during class:
Conjunctions
Connectives

Recently, there have been some interesting international news stories (Libya, for example), but I suppose the offbeat news and entertainment news from Japan are more interesting for students. Following are links to a mix of serious and not-so-serious news stories. Please comment on one, OR scroll down to the student essays posted below and comment on one of them:

Disaster recovery minister calls Tsunami victims "idiots"
Japanese nurse to get death penalty in Malaysia
Erika Sawajiri Snickers commercial
Popular UK fashion brand uses strange Japanese

Please check out these Change Essays from your fellow students:
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How My Attitude for Work Has Changed
by K.I.

Most university students have to look for jobs when they become third year students. When I went to Tsurumi University after study abroad and I met my friends, I heard the word "internship" for the first time. I was not totally interested in becoming a member of society yet, and I thought that I did not have to do job hunting yet. However, I decided to go to the placement office then because I was not so busy. After talking with the staff, I learned that nowadays, finding employment is not so easy. I decided to participate in an internship to change myself and become more positive. I wanted to know about the real business world.

And so my life commuting to the placement office began. I talked with counselors many times, and I practiced how to write a resume and how to respond in an interview. Before summer vacation of my third year, I got an internship in the apparel (clothing) industry. The apparel business was harder work than I thought. I had imagined only a gorgeous and simple work before my internship, but in fact, it is difficult to have contact with customers with a smile in high heels all day. When I began, my smile was unnatural, and I felt only loathsomeness for the service industry. My eyes sometimes filled with tears, and days of severe instruction continued. These were such hard days, but my weak points for the service of customers gradually disappeared, and I started to think that talking with customers was fun. My smile became natural, and I was praised by senior staff. On the last day of the internship, I achieved unprecedented sales from a customer I was in charge of.

The time for job hunting began in earnest in the winter of my third year. The job hunting that I had regarded as a pain became very fun and I met various companies and people. These encounters led me in a good direction, and I think I grew up as a person greatly. And fortunately, I obtained a job!

Now I am able to contact people with a smile even if I might be sad. I want to laugh with people any time and the people around me change with my smile.

My way of thinking about work changed dramatically. I thought that I would suffer to earn money, but it was a big misunderstanding. I find pleasure in work now, and I can manage even difficult work if I and other workers encourage each other and change our attitude. After this internship, I found these ideas. That helps my present life and I now spend more substantial days. Even though the internship was hard, I am glad I took part in it. Everything that I learned will stay in my memory and help me in my future life.

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I Changed My Way of Thinking about Contact with Handicapped People
by S.K.

When I was younger, I was not good at being sociable. I was uncomfortable talking to handicapped people in particular because I didn't understand how to communicate with them. I used to have a prejudice. I changed my way of thinking about contact with handicapped people because I met three handicapped people. Now I think that a handicapped person in not different from us except the handicapped people need assistance.

The first disabled person I met rode in a wheelchair and he couldn't talk with us. He needed assistance with everything, so we helped him. For example, I brought his lunch box and I pushed his wheelchair. Then he always smiled. I remember his smiles well.

The second person doesn't have hair, but she is not different from us except for her hair. She is of a cheerful disposition and positive. I made friends with her so she spoke to me many times. She was always dignified even when someone made fun of her and she said, "I have a disease, so I have to accept my fate." I have the best impression from these words.

Finally, I know a person who has autism. My school has a special class for handicapped people. We ate our school lunch and practiced sports day together. I remember particularly practicing sports day so hard. Making progress took more hours for the autistic person than the others. I felt a sense of fulfillment when we could make a good performance.

Many people have a prejudice against handicapped people. If you make contact with them, they are glad for your effort. You would find they are not different from us and they are such kind people. These experiences when I met three handicapped people were valuable, and they changed my way of thinking.

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How I Changed My Eating Habits
by C.H.

I used to eat a lot of potato chips, chocolates, hard candy and other junk foods. When I was a high school student, I often went to McDonald's with friends. I particularly liked cheeseburgers, but I disliked vegetables.

Some years back, the skin on my face became rough. Moreover, my face was covered with many pimples. I thought maybe the cause was my unhealthy meals. I tried many cosmetics to make it better afterward, but my face didn't heal. However, my mother recommended making fresh juice. I made fresh juice from apples, lemons, bananas, carrots and soy milk.

After drinking it twice a week, the effect was magical. Fresh juice is a good drink in the morning and at night. Also, I ate fermented soybeans (natto) and soft seaweed in order to cure my face. I became interested in healthy eating habits.

By changing my eating habits, I could improve my condition. My skin is much healthier now. I have been making fresh juice for about 3 years.