Hiroko’s Diary

The day before yesterday, a rhythmic lesson’s presentation was held at Maytheater Hall. My son took part in it. Before the presentation a piano recital was also held, so a lot of people gathered in the hall. I was impressed by each child’s performance.

When my son’s turn came, he got so nervous that he wouldn’t go without me. As a result, I had been on the stage until his performance finished. I was a little bit embarrassed but at the same time I myself enjoyed singing songs.

My husband and daughter sat on the audience seats and watched the presentation. After we came back home, we watched the video my husband took. It was a good day.

About a week ago I participated in the experiencing Japanese culture program for foreigners who study at Osaka University. I helped my friend who was the program’s coordinator as a staff. The contents are as follows.

1. tea ceremony

2. listening to and playing "Okoto", Japanese traditional musical instrument

3. wearing Kimono

4. Origami, paper craft

The program started at 10:00 a.m. and finished 4:00 p.m.. 17 people participated in the program. After it finished, each participant visited a Japanese house and enjoyed a short homevisit eating dinner with each host family. It was a fantastic experience for me, too. What impressed me the most was all the participants seemed to be having good times, especially when they were wearing Kimonos. If I have a chance, I’d like to volunteer such a program again.

Graduation ceremony was held at my daughter’s kindergarten today. I saw a lot of mothers wearing Kimonos. They were so beautiful. I love Kimono very much. I would like to wear it if there is a chance but it is very few these days. The last time I wore a Kimono was when we celebrated my daughter’s "Shichi-Go-San", Japanese traditional way of celebration for kids thanking God for each kid’s growth at the age of 3, 5, and 7.

At the playground many students who had just finished the ceremony were being taken photos by their parents. Parents’ faces seemed to say thank all teachers at the kindergarten and especially to their own child.

About 2 months ago, Kyle, my English teacher told all the students to keep a journal in English every day so that we could have an opportunity to think in English at least once a day. Since then for about 3 weeks, I was able to keep my journal every single day. If I have time, I have kept the journal using blog. However, now I start to find it difficult to do it every day. I would like to post some pictures to my blog but I don’t know how. I’m trying to find out the way following the explanation page how to put pictures.

My 2-year-old son started to take rhythmic lessons. My 5-year-old daughter was also taking the lessons before she entered kindergarten. In the lessons kids with their mothers move around listening to the piano by a teacher and play various musical instruments such as castanets, tamourines and drums. Both my son and I are having a enjoyable time there.

Today I went to Costco, an American supermarket in Amagasaki, for the first time. It was a very interesting place. I was surprised by the each product’s size. Everything was so big! I found English picture books for kids though I didn’t have enough time to read. I also found a loose-leaf notebook that I used to use when I studied in America as an exchange student about 15 years ago. That yellow notebook reminded me of that wonderful year I spent in Washington D.C.. I wish I could go back to my student days.

Today I participated in the general meeting that consists of students’ parents at my daughter’s kindergarten. While listening to the chairperson’s speech that was about full of her kindergarten memories, my eyes were filled with tears. After being reported the statement of accounts for fiscal 2005 and the budget for fiscal 2006, presentation by two mothers’ clubs; a chorus and a puppet show, started. Again I was impressed by those presentation. Each mother had an expressive face.

Today after the English class at church, I attended the farewell luncheon for my daughter’s kindergarten. My daughter has one more year to go but I felt "Time passes so fast!". It’s easy to find children’s growth but considering myself, it’s difficult to say how much I’ve grown as a mother and as one woman. At my daughter’s kindergarten there are a lot of mothers who are activily doing a lot of things except for raising children. This year I’d like to find something I could use English with.

Today is "Hinamatsuri", the girl’s festival. According to my daughter, they celebrate the festival, singing songs, watching the puppet show and listening to the choir by mothers’ circles at her kindergarten. She also ate some cookies that the eldest students cooked. She was so happy.

At home I cooked "Hina-zushi", sushi topped with egg and several seafood such as tuna, salmon roe, and shrimp. It was delicious. When I was a child, my mother also cooked "Hina-zushi" every year on March 3rd. She also displayed "Hina-Ningyou", dolls displayed for the festival. I was so happy to see those dolls and listen to the song "Hinamatsuri" through a music box.

Today I went to an elementary school near my house to see the international understanding class. One of my friends teaches English and gives international understanding lessons as well. Today she was with a Vietnaminese and gave a lesson to have students understand about Vietnam.

Before the class students were told to study about Vietnam and each student wrote what he or she learned. Various things about Vietnam such as foods, religion, clothes, and history were written on a piece of paper.

In the class, they were taught how to count one to ten and how to play