http://hayasey.blog80.fc2.com/ I'm Hayase, a Japanese graduate school student who is going to go to UK this summer. I'll write my days to prepare for study abroad. ja http://hayasey.blog80.fc2.com/blog-entry-24.html I have experienced so many things at the same time. Once I tried to write down everything which had happened before, but I gave up! It was really impossible...I have studied Education as a master's level from the beginning of October. A half of teaching of this semester (autumn semester) has already finished. I have many assignments which are compulsory to get a master's degree. I cannot fail even
I have studied Education as a master's level from the beginning of October. A half of teaching of this semester (autumn semester) has already finished. I have many assignments which are compulsory to get a master's degree. I cannot fail even one module. That is quite stressful! I have been struggling against one of the essays, and I came here because I got bored so much!

Anyway, I have not forgotten enjoying being in the UK. I will go to London this Saturday with my welsh friends named Amy. That day is her birthday! We are sure that it will be a special day! Well, I will go back to my work now.

Here is the link to see MANY pictures I have taken.

-From the departure to the first week in Cardiff (August) long time ago... he he
http://picasaweb.google.com/yamagishihayase/20079?authkey=Awmw-z9uP8g

-Graduation ceremony of summer English language school
http://picasaweb.google.com/yamagishihayase/20070907PreSessional?authkey=M8K7pGo-GzM

-Trip to Leeds in England
http://picasaweb.google.com/yamagishihayase/2007?authkey=PNaiuU2D14A

-Trip to Scotland
http://picasaweb.google.com/yamagishihayase/2007091417?authkey=IK6EiQd1eAg

-Trip to London (Covent garden, Kew garden)
http://picasaweb.google.com/yamagishihayase/2007090809LotR?authkey=RZ-DsGbyRnU

-Trip to Brecon Becon in Wales
http://picasaweb.google.com/yamagishihayase/20070911?authkey=hWtsvqEgdS8

-Trip to London2 (British Museum etc)
http://picasaweb.google.com/yamagishihayase/AmyTheQueenSGallery?authkey=1JOwS23y-rg ]]> 未分類 2007-11-16T08:21:31+09:00 Hayase FC2-BLOG http://hayasey.blog80.fc2.com/blog-entry-23.html The teaching in our pre-sessional English course was very easy last week. However it has started becoming difficult recently...We made presentations yesterday, and mine was the poorest! I was too nervous, indeed. I realised that I was speaking very bad English because of being nervous, and that made me more nervous. I wonder why my Chinese and Arabic classmates never become nervous? Does this diff The teaching in our pre-sessional English course was very easy last week. However it has started becoming difficult recently...
We made presentations yesterday, and mine was the poorest! I was too nervous, indeed. I realised that I was speaking very bad English because of being nervous, and that made me more nervous. I wonder why my Chinese and Arabic classmates never become nervous? Does this difference come from differences in way of thinking? or educational system?
It is true that I have not had presentations so many.
I have a confidence in my grammer skills, but not in presentation at all.
]]> Study English 2007-10-15T09:39:24+09:00 Hayase FC2-BLOG http://hayasey.blog80.fc2.com/blog-entry-22.html 14/08/2007I decided to stay with an another host family this week, instead of moving into the university accommodation. This is because I have been so happy to experience staying with the first host family... They taught me the history of Wales and Cardiff, new words, their way of living and their way of thinking.I will let you know some of the things I found by staying with them;- They really lov I decided to stay with an another host family this week, instead of moving into the university accommodation.

This is because I have been so happy to experience staying with the first host family... They taught me the history of Wales and Cardiff, new words, their way of living and their way of thinking.

I will let you know some of the things I found by staying with them;

- They really love drinking tea! It was the very same as my image of English.
They even said that they were addicted! Well, I think I am also becoming addicted! There is no reason to stop drinking delicious tea!
I think we drank a cup of tea about 4 or 5 times per a day.

- I feel that many people here are more interested in gardening and environmental problems than Japanese.


- The interests for healthy, or organic food are as high as in Japan.

- Food is different, especially breakfast. It depends on families, but I used to eat Ochaduke (rice with tea) or Udon for breakfast in Japan. Here, people eat some slices of toast, cereals and fruits. Also it was interesting to eat a semi-boiled egg on a stand by cracking it.


I don't know how I can generalise what I found by talking with a few people, but I hope that I caught some aspects of British culture.


Anyway, when I left the previous host family's house, I was so sad... I cried secretly. When I arrived in Cardiff, I cried to miss Japan. Now I also cried to miss my host family. Well, how busy I am! Ha ha.

My second host family is Welsh and fortunately I can listen to welsh culture. They are pleasant and cheerful couple.

However now I have a problem...
I could listen to what my host father says. Why??? He is very funny and often tells jokes. It takes time to understand the meaning of jokes... probably it is because I cannot guess the meaning when I hear jokes.
Another reason must be my poor listening skill. When I took a lecture to practice to take a note in English, I could understand only a half of it. Why??? Should I get drunk?
Well, if I can catch his jokes immediatly, that could be a sign that my English improved. Lets try!
]]> 未分類 2007-10-15T09:29:02+09:00 Hayase FC2-BLOG http://hayasey.blog80.fc2.com/blog-entry-21.html 10/08/2007I have had so wonderful time! In Cardiff, everyone is so kind. Now I am sure that I have no problems to live there. I will rush into writing some of what I have experienced. I have been too busy to find the best accommodation, and open my bank account now. Here is the list what I have done. I will upload pictures later. Sun: Castell Coch & Golf club My host family took me to a castle cal
I have had so wonderful time! In Cardiff, everyone is so kind. Now I am sure that I have no problems to live there.

I will rush into writing some of what I have experienced. I have been too busy to find the best accommodation, and open my bank account now.

Here is the list what I have done. I will upload pictures later.

Sun: Castell Coch & Golf club
My host family took me to a castle called "Castell Coch". I was moved to cry... At that time, I felt like a homesick and I was deeply depressed. I could not find the meaning of why I came here, leaving from my precious people... my friends and my family. However, when I saw the castle, I found the meaning where I am here. William Barges (not sure the spelling), the architect who designed the castle, must to be genius..... Gothic Revival, full of his dream about Medieval period .... I will go there again and again, thinking about the ancient days.

At lunch time, we were invited to a golf club by George. I had a supurb meal there. The view from the restaurant was also nice.

Mon: The first day of pre-sessional course (Exam) + university walking tour.
I met new friends from Korea, China, Mexico, India and Oman. One of my Korean classmate is very interested in Japanese culture, such as SMAP, Visual kei band, dramas and so on. I did not know the half of them and I was doubted whether I was a real Japanese or not... oops!

Tue: Exam + bus tour around Cardiff

Wed: Cardiff Bay Rotary Club
I was SUDDENLY invited to a meeting of Rotary. I went to a new hotel in Cardiff Bay. I was a bit drunk, and became very talkative! I suddenly started speaking Engish better than usual. Everybody said that my English was quite good. One of them said it was the best of the international students she had ever met. Later I told this story to my parents, but they said "She must have met only a few international students, ha ha.
Anyway I was praised (or flattered) and starting speaking , speaking and speaking!!!
And the food!!! It was ... fabulous!!!!!!!!! I wanted more, and I said "One more beaf, please!", but it did not remain any more. Noooo! Then a very gentle rotarian, who must have a spirit of high hospitality, gave me his beef. Later desserts were served. I had two puddings and everybody said that there was no one who had eaten two pieces. They seemed to be very surprised ... Indeed, the cakes were too rich than I expected, so I could not finish eating. I felt sorry for chef (and the earth).

Thu: Today (Party)
I went to the party organised by the univ. However..... my Korean friends kept speaking in Korean. I asked them to speak in English, but they did not stop. I felt so lonely. When the dance started, I said "Let's go and join the circle." , but they said they wanted to be on the corner and just sit and talk, of course in KOREAN! Until that time, I had been very happy to be in Cardiff, Cardiff Univ. and with my new friends. However, I felt that they were not the people I wanted to be together forever. I wanted to go out. After I danced just one music, I escaped from the party.
I wanted to be away from the Koreans and Chinese. Of course, they are nice. I like them. However, once they gather, they seem to be with only the people who have the same nationalities. They are a bit rude, aren't they?
I decided that I WILL NOT to be them too much. I found that what I need is my own time... my own life in Cardiff.

When I was thinking about such things, I found THE PERSON... whom I have been looking for. It was like a miracle! It was Hahiu-san(this is her nickname on the web) who kindly has advised me many things by emails. It was the first time to see her directly. She kindly invited me to her house, though it was too sudden. We had a chat for about an hour.
I started leading my own life in Cardiff which is different from Korean friends. Well, well, well....!

Other stuffs I found:
- I want to repeat; people in Cardiff are soooo kind. I have had no problems for the time being. I like this city so much.
- The clothes people wear are very similar as what Japanese girls do. I found many lovely clothes which are reasonable prices. What I have been worried about before I came here??? Who said British clothes are quite different?
- I went to a "Korean & Japanese food shop" near the uni. I found many Japanese food and ingredients such as rice, mirin, su, udon, noodles and kinoko-no-sato(^^;. I do not need to miss Japanese food. How comfortable here is!

I have to go to bed, see you. ]]> Cardiff 2007-10-15T08:49:09+09:00 Hayase FC2-BLOG http://hayasey.blog80.fc2.com/blog-entry-20.html Well, lets restart this blog!! I will upload my diary since I arrived here. I hope that you will enjoy reading them. Also it could be a good opportunity for me to remember things. Any comments or corrections of English are welcome!----04/08/2007Now I am writing this from a room of my host family. I cannot use Japanese font, so forgive my poor English. I arrived at Heathrow Airport in the early mor
I will upload my diary since I arrived here. I hope that you will enjoy reading them. Also it could be a good opportunity for me to remember things. Any comments or corrections of English are welcome!


----
04/08/2007

Now I am writing this from a room of my host family. I cannot use Japanese font, so forgive my poor English.

I arrived at Heathrow Airport in the early morning. The flight was too long... I should have bought an other flight ticket not through Malaysia.
I caught a coach to Cardiff at the airport, and I succeeded to see George, who is a rotarian in Rotary Club of Cardiff, at Cardiff Bus Station. He kindly took me to my host family's house.

I, the host family and my counsellor gathered there. We had very good tea time, chatting about many things. I was very relieved that everyone was so kind.
My host family's house is like ... like a house in a dream! Very lovely, indeed. It is like a house appearing on a picture book. I was told that I can use a room and a bathroom for my own, because they have another ones.

They took me to Cardiff Bay. I found that Cardiff is much more modern than I expected. There are so many artistic and sophisticated buildings. Personally I love more historical, old things, but works by artists in Cardiff Craft Center and some kind of exbition ( not sure, hehe) was interesting. There were many lovely masterpieces. I was inspired by the unique works I have never seen.

At the lunch and dinner time, I had very delicious tea and food. Irene who is my host mother is good at cooking. I have never eaten such a delicious tea and food. I was told that every vegetable and herbs we ate today were grown in their garden. Is it what is called "organic food"?? Anyway, everything was exactly the same as what I imagined as a "Traditional British house".

It is time to go back to my room and go to bed (about 10pm), see you.
-------------------------
Links for you;

So what is "Cardiff"? Where are you now?
-Information about Cardiff
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff

-Cardiff University
http://www.cf.ac.uk/
]]> Cardiff 2007-10-15T08:16:11+09:00 Hayase FC2-BLOG http://hayasey.blog80.fc2.com/blog-entry-19.html I have really enjoyed being here, Cardiff! However I feel that how my English is not well enough... 未分類 2007-10-15T07:45:33+09:00 Hayase FC2-BLOG http://hayasey.blog80.fc2.com/blog-entry-18.html I have been in trouble with my teeth! I'll explain my situation.I had three wisdom teeth pulled from June. A dentist at a local dental clinic did upper ones, but he told me that it was a bit too difficult for him to do the lower ones because he was not a specialist. This is due to the fact that surgery on the upper wisdom teeth are usually simpler than on the lower wisdom teeth, because upper jaw
After that, I was introduced to a specialist in oral surgery and had my one of the lower wisdom teeth pulled. That was the beginning of my pain!
Firstly, he cut my gems to extract my tooth and sewed up the cut with 2 stiches. Thanks to the dentist, the surgery itself succeeded.
Having said that, I found that opening my jaw has been becoming painful after a few days. It has became worse and worse and I could opened only 2cm in the end! I went to see a local dentist and he said "Oh, this is weird. It looks like a temporomandibular disorders, but it does not. I've never seen it though I have experienced pulling wisdom teeth for many years"
I was sooo worried, wondering like "What can I do if my jaw was seriously damaged, though I chose a travel insurance uncovering dental clinic...". The dentist cocked his head slightly, and recommended me to see the specialist as soon as possible
. I was very shocked and cancelled my part-time job beginning within 2 hours by telling a silly lie. Oh.. I suppose I will never get a new part-time job from the job agent!

After about1 hour driving, I arrived at a big hospital. Many X-ray photos were taken from various angles. Waiting time made me nervous.
Finally he said that my bones and muscles of my jaw were OK and a kind of inflammation has caused. Then I received some medicines and went back to my house.
Three days passed after starting taking the medicines. Now I feel that my jaw has been getting quite better!
I thought that if I had had the surgery much earlier, I would not have been panic like that...
]]> 未分類 2007-07-05T08:25:41+09:00 Hayase FC2-BLOG http://hayasey.blog80.fc2.com/blog-entry-17.html Well, I cannot believe that I have only a month to my departure! As you know, I couldn't have kept my English diary well... and my English is still poor. I think I have to concentrate on learning English from now on.I'll try to keep this diary more often. Please come here and correct what I wrote!! Anyone is fine.Oh I have to go out now.
I think I have to concentrate on learning English from now on.
I'll try to keep this diary more often. Please come here and correct what I wrote!! Anyone is fine.

Oh I have to go out now.
]]> 未分類 2007-07-04T10:19:36+09:00 Hayase FC2-BLOG http://hayasey.blog80.fc2.com/blog-entry-16.html Long time no see! I have been very, very busy. Why?This is because I have concentrated on preparing for going to the UK.Yes! At last, I received a letter ensuring my enrolment from my first choice University!!! I can enroll in Cardiff University in Wales, UK from this September!! Wow wow wow!!!I would like to thank everyone who helped me. You don't know just how thankful I am.As I have still lots This is because I have concentrated on preparing for going to the UK.
Yes! At last, I received a letter ensuring my enrolment from my first choice University!!! I can enroll in Cardiff University in Wales, UK from this September!! Wow wow wow!!!

I would like to thank everyone who helped me. You don't know just how thankful I am.

As I have still lots of stuff to do, I'll go back to my work. See you soon!
]]> 未分類 2007-06-07T00:22:22+09:00 Hayase FC2-BLOG http://hayasey.blog80.fc2.com/blog-entry-15.html There are many things to do before I go to the UK.Here are the lists to do.1 Medical Checkup2 See a dentist3 Apply for a University Accommodation4 Apply for a pre-sessional English course5 Buy an airplane ticket6 Get VISA7 Apply for a Travel InsuranceWith regards to 5-7, I cannot do anything before receiving admission letters from the university and the language school. Oh, I do want to get them a Here are the lists to do.

1 Medical Checkup
2 See a dentist
3 Apply for a University Accommodation
4 Apply for a pre-sessional English course
5 Buy an airplane ticket
6 Get VISA
7 Apply for a Travel Insurance

With regards to 5-7, I cannot do anything before receiving admission letters from the university and the language school. Oh, I do want to get them as soon as possible!

Talking about 1-4, They have already been done!
Today I went to see a doctor to have a medical checkup.
It is required by my sponsor to show that I am healthy enough to be under stresses that I will experience in the UK.
The doctor examined me with chatting like asking where I will go.
It was interesting to hear that his brother was a student at Cambridge University and found strong accents there. The doctor advised me that there are many things that I can learn only on the spot.

After I received a letter showing I am quite healthy ( Yeah! ), I went to see a dentist. It is because that an oversea travel insurance usually does not cover dental treatments. The dentist said that I have some small cavities (Oh no!). However, he also said that all of them were not so bad (Well, well). It was a bit earlier than I thought that I had one of them treated by the dentist today. I was surprised, but treating them early is far better than just before I leave. Therefore the problem of my cavities was not so serious.

He recommended me to extract wisdom teeth to prevent them decayed. I stammered out saying "Yes, please" because it sounded painful! Finally I made my decision to get the treatment next time. I am bit scared, but I will try to stand the pain!

(Sigh) In this diary I tried to use new words and expressions. I wonder whether they were used in a correct way or not... but I believe that these trials are effective to improve my English!
]]> 未分類 2007-05-12T00:23:47+09:00 Hayase FC2-BLOG