Lakes in New Zealand

What are the interesting things about geography in New Zealand? Are there differences or common things between New Zealand and Japan? I heard that in New Zealand, there are many interesting things about geography like volcano, hot springs, falls and dams. When I tried to search, I found information about lakes in New Zealand. I was really interested in it because the pictures of lakes that I saw were really beautiful. So today, I am going to talk about lakes in New Zealand.

Do you know how many lakes are there in New Zealand? New Zealand has 775 lakes that are at least 0.5 kilometers long. The largest lake in New Zealand is Lake Taupo. It is located in the central North Island. The area of this lake is about 616 square kilometers, so this lake is as large as Lake Biwa that is largest lake in Japan. Lake Taupo was created by the eruption in 181. This eruption was the largest eruption during the last 20,000 years. The ash turned the sky red over Rome and China. Now, there are a lot of hot springs and power plants near this lake. As you can see from the picture, this lake is really beautiful. A lot of people visit this lake every year. There is another reason why people visit there. City Taupo in which Lake Taupo is located is a really good place for sightseeing and activities. Many visitors enjoy not only seeing this beautiful lake but also doing exciting activities. You can enjoy fishing, flying, water-skiing, and canoeing. However, the most famous activity is bungee jumping. When you jump from the stool which projects 20 meters from the cliff, you can see beautiful Waikato River and magnificent scenery. You will be moved to see them. I also would like to introduce about the deepest lake. The deepest lake in New Zealand is Lake Hauroko. It is lacated in the south Island of New Zealand.The depth of this lake is 462 meters and it is the 16th deepest lake in the world.

The Maori word for lake is ‘roto’. The names of many lakes start with this like Rotoiti, Rotoroa, Rotomanu and Rotomahana. It is really interesting, isn't it? I have never been to New Zealand. However, if I go there, I really want to go to the largest lake; Lake Taupo and the deepest lake; Lake Hauruko. I also want to try bungee jumping! I think that you will be able to feel refreshed by visiting these lakes! Why don't you go there?

Thanksgiving Day

How do Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day? Americans think this festival as the most important event in America because this festival has a long history as Yasuna has already told you. So all of the family members gather and spend time together. Even students who live alone for college go back to their home town and have a good time with their family and relatives. It is like Bon festival in Japan, isn’t it? They appreciate for gods who have given food for them. They enjoy talking, playing games, watching a football game on TV and going to parades.

The most famous parade in America is Macy’s parade

presented by Macy’s Department Store in Manhattan.

This parade is one of the necessaries of Thanksgiving Day. In this parade, you can see a lot of big balloons of characters that are famous in America. People in America also enjoy delicious food and dessert.

Halloween

When autumn comes, I often see the Halloween goods or snacks sold at the shop or the department store. When I see them, I remember my memory of the Halloween day. When I was a high school student, My English teacher from America made Jack O’ Lantern that is a ghost of pumpkin, put a candle in it and lighted it. She surprised us! My friends and I were very happy. After that, I ate snacks with my friends and had a really good time. Therefore, when I hear the word “Halloween”, I feel exciting! However, what is the origin of Halloween? How people celebrate the day? Today, I would like to tell you about “Halloween”.

You know that Halloween is October 31st. Halloween was originally All Saints’ Eve. All Saints’ Day is the Catholic event that people enshrine saints who have been dead. Also, October 31st was the New Year’s Eve for Celtic in the 5th century. In those days, November 1st was the New Year’s Day for them. These two things fall on the same day. Therefore, they started to celebrate the day, October 1st as Halloween festival. It is said that the souls of the dead return to the earth on Halloween. I think that Halloween is like the Bon Festival in Japan though the ways in which people spend are different.

Now, what do people do on Halloween? Children in America make the rounds of their neighborhoods in Halloween costume and say “Trick or treat!!” on October 31st. This word means that if you do not give snacks or candies, we will trick you! The neighbors prepare snacks or candies in advance not to be tricked and when children came to their house, they give these confectioneries to children. The neighbors will be happy when they see children smile. Do you know “Candy corn”? It is a candy that is famous and standard goods of Halloween in America. Also, it is in the shape of corn. I have never tasted this candy. I want to try to taste it someday wearing Halloween costume!

I think that Halloween has a long history and it is celebrated by many people in various ways. The ways in which people celebrate are different from country to country or people to people. However, I think that it is good to keep a traditional festival and have a good time with their family or friends. What are you going to do on Halloween day? I wish you could have a good time!!

Pobby and Dingan

Have you ever used the place called MLC in NUFS? You know that NUFS has a place where you can watch movies (DVD and VIDEO).The place is MLC. In this summer, I saw a lot of movies at MLC. Today, I am going to talk about the movie which I like. “Pobby and Dingan” This is one of my favorite movies. I read it in the original when I was an elementary school student.

This is the story about a boy named Ashmol who has a younger sister. Her name is Kellyan. She has two friends, ”Pobby and Dingan”. She loves them very much. However, they are not real friends but imaginary friends. Only she can see them. Ashmol know the fact that her friends do not exist and he does not like his sister’s friends, ”Pobby and Dingan”. So he makes a fool of Kellyan and never tries to believe her. Their parents also do not believe her and they even try to vanish her imaginary friends. One day, Kellyan are confused because she loses her friends and she does not know why. She starts to look for them. After all, she cannot find them. After this incident, she becomes ill. She cannot eat anything and she throws up. The doctor does not know the cause of her illness. Ashmol thinks that Kellyan really needs “Pobby and Dingan” and he starts to look for them in order to see her smile again. He is sure that Kellyan will recover from her illness by believing the existence of “Pobhby and Dingan” and finding them.

I also introduce about the scene of this movie. The story is set in Australia. You know that Australia has a rich natural environment. So, I think that you fell relax when you watch this movie. Ashmol and Kellyan’s father is a mineworker who works to find opals. You can rarely see the spot where mining is done in Japan. I think that you will be surprised if you see it. Also, it is really interesting for me that opal is used for the part of the body of Kellyan’s friend. You will not be able to see the figures of her friends. However, you should pay attention to Kellyan’s expressions. If you do so, you will really enjoy this movie.

Can you guess why I like this movie? This movie teaches me the importance of believing. If I am in Ashmol’s place, I do not know whether I can believe Kellyan or not. However, the end of the story, Ashmol can help his sister by believing not only her, but also himself. If he does not believe his sister and himself, I do not think she is able to recover from her illness. I think that believing is a really important thing because people can realize their hopes by believing first. I could realize by watching this movie that people can do their best by believing their hopes, the things which are important for them, and themselves. I will be happy if you enjoy this movie and think about many things which you cannot think in daily life. What is your favorite movie? Tell me about it!

My Summer Vacation

How was your summer vacation? Was it great? Good? Busy? My vacation was really…!! I cannot find the word which can explain how exciting my vacation was!! I went back to my hometown, Toyama. Today, I am going to tell you what I think. I was looking forward to going back to Toyama because I really wanted to meet my friends and my family in Toyama. When I took the train to Toyama from Nagoya station, my heart fluttered with excitement!! It took about 4 hours to go to Toyama. However, I felt as if I took the train for 10 hours!! I could not wait to hang out with my friends! In Toyama, my friends and I set off fireworks on the beach, went to the aquarium in Ishikawa by my friend’s car, visited our high school and did a lot of things which could be done only in summer.

However, I was satisfied with not the places where we went or the things we did but the feelings I had. Our friends also go to college in another prefecture and some friends work in Toyama. So we could not meet each other for a long time. Summer vacation was a great opportunity for us to hang out together. I was a little nervous before I met my friends because I did not know we could talk or hang out like what we used to be. However, it was not a problem! When we met, our face was filled with a big smile! We talked a lot about school life, working and the memorials of our high school and junior high school days. I was very happy that our friendship was not changed and I felt relief because my friends look very fine. I had a really good time!

I know that we will not be able to meet frequently in the future. However, we promised to keep in touch each other. Last year, I was in Toyama and I have not thought the things like this. I realized the importance of friends. So, this summer vacation was special for me! How was your summer vacation? Tell me about your summer vacation.

Pilates

I often hear that more and more people are interested in pilates recently. One of my friends is also interested in it and she enjoys it. However, what is pilates? What are the differences between yoga and pilates? Today I would like to tell you about pilates.

It is said that pilatis was created by the man named Joseph .H. Pilates in the early 1900’s as the way of rehabilitation. He was in delicate health when he was a child. He learned a lot about sports and exercise because he wanted to overcome his problems. During World War I, he worked as a nurse at the hospital to help the injured. He taught them the way of rehabilitation. It was pilates. In 1926, he went to America and established the studio in New York. Pilates was supported by many people there. And now pilates has been recognized as the medical treatment. Then what are the differences between yoga and pilates? One difference is that the way to breathe. Yoga needs abdominal breathing, while pilates needs thoracic breathing. Also the purposes and the effects are different. Yoga was originally to concentrate but pilates was to rehabilitate.

However, I think that it is common that people enjoy yoga and pilates as exercise today!
Pilates has been done by people of all ages because it doesn’t require skills or techniques! I have never tried it yet but I want to try it this summer!

Yoga

There are many ways of exercise, such as jogging, swimming, and aerobics. However, I heard that the number of people who try to do yoga as exercise is increasing recently. Why is yoga so popular? What is the benefit of yoga? Today, I would like to tell you about yoga!

To begin with, what is yoga? It is said that yoga was born in India as things that are related to religion. It is not clear when it was born, but it has a long history. Many people in India have done yoga as a part of religious austerities. More than a thousand year ago, yoga was brought to Japan. Japanese people also have tried Yoga as religious austerities or mental concentration.

However, about four or five years ago in Japan, people took an interest in yoga because the media such as TV and magazines feature about effects of yoga. They said that yoga has effects of keeping fit and getting into shape. Since then, yoga has been getting more and more popular in Japan and many people have done yoga as exercise. Now we can learn yoga at fitness clubs and public lectures. I think that it is popular because we do not have to use tools. So people can try yoga easily and do not have to think about the place where they do yoga. Yoga has many kinds of poses. I recommend you to check this site and try yoga! I think that the most important thing is enjoying yoga!

Laughter

What are the benefits of laughing? It is often said that laughing is good for our health and people can live longer. Is it true? I think that stress problems sometimes cause diseases or mental disorder. Stresses and strains have a great influence on our health. I think, however, there are ways to reduce stresses. One of them is LAUGHING!! If people can feel relax and reduce stresses by laughing, we will be able to avoid having diseases. So I think it is almost true that laughing is good for our health. And it is a great thing to laugh with your family, friends, and fellows at your work.

Then, what makes people laugh? Or when people laugh? There are a lot of factors that make people laugh. Today I would like to introduce you the movie clips that makes me laugh.
This movie clips is a collection of funny incidents from home videos. It is very funny because unexpected things happen with perfect timing. Some situations appear to be very dangerous for me, but people who are in this animation also laugh in spite of their incidents. So my anxiety is not an important problem.

I think that people feel happy when they laugh because they can have a fun time while they are laughing. Also, laughing is a great benefit for our health! So have a liberal heart that we can laugh at even a small incident! Laughing will bring us happiness!