Time to Go Back to Japan

I love Australia, I love Brisbane.
But, I've got to return very soon. Honestly speaking, two feelings are mingled: I want to stay in Australia longer and I want to get back.

I experienced chunks of things which are not always about English or cultural differences but how hard my mother cooks every day and washes clothing, and how hard my dad works for such a long time.I did develop English proficiency through this study abroad, and at the same time develop as a human, as an adult.I have no doubt that this successful study abroad was supported by family, friends, homestay and teachers. I just want to say thank you so much.

When I go back to Japan, I'll set two goals in order to keep me busy.
One thing is that trying to learn a new language(Korean). Technically, Korean isn't a new language for me because I've alreay started learing Korean last year. I'm interested in Korea.(i.e culture, music, foods and so on) That's why I want!

The other is that I want to be a starting line-up member of lacrosse. I play lacrosse in my home uni, but I have not played for ages, so it is going to be hard to get a position but I have amazing teammates and want to share the pleasure of win with them.

See ya, Brisbane!!

Everest

The title of today's blog is 'Everest' but it doen't mean that I climbed up the mountain!  I watched a movie 'Everest'. 

This movie was based on the real story!  The story featured that many guys who gathered from all over the world tried to climb up the Everest and made it, but on their way down they got troubles.
It was not only a scaring and thrilling movie but also touching and heartwarming one.  The freindship and the family bonds were described in this movie.  I highly recommended this and I think worth watching!

One thing I would like to know is how this film was shot, for the snow and the beautiful scenery didn't seem like CGI.  I think all cast went to the mountains(I don't think they actually went to the Everest) and they shot this movie.  There was an avalanche in a one shot of the movie, but I don't think they shot a scene when an avanache occured because it's too dangerous.  So, I wonder if this film used CGI or not. 

Anyway this is one of the most stunning movie that I've ever seen!!

What I Want to Do Before Internship

In two mounths times, I am going to start my internship in Australia.  Before getting cracking, I have a few things that I'd like to do.

The first thing is that I would like to go the Gold Coast.  I haven't been there since I came to Australia, but I've heard from some friends of mine that Byron Bay is a great beach spot with crystal-like water and shiny white sand.  Beaches shows the images of the typical Australia, so I can't miss it!

The second one is watching movies a lot.  From time to time, I feel my listening ability has improved greatly because when I watch sitcoms or radio programs, I'm able to understand what they're saying.  At the first three or four months, I didn't enjoy them and even catch English.  However, six has passed now and then I have a little bit confidence!  So, I would like to try how my listening adapt English in movies. 

What I really want to do is to go to Urulu, but actually I'm unlikely to go there because I didn't plan during this semester break and I have no long holiday.  I might get a break after final exam and before the internship.  If so, I really want to go there!

UQ Life

The weather having been getting warmer and warmer, I feel spring is just around the corner.  For me, the lifestyle was dramatically changed during last two months.  I might say ' Out of the frying pan into the fire'.

About two months ago, I finished the programme at ICTE and then started the undergraduate course at UQ.  I've heard from friends of mine that studying at UQ is like living in a hell but at that time I didn't take any notice of what they said so much.  But it is true.

I have a lot of pre-reading materials and one course requires me to answer mini quizs every week with writing a pretty short eassy(250-300wrds).  Most of the lectures are similar to Kansai Uni's but what is total different is that almost all lectures have a tutorial after taking the lecture, which is new sensation for me because Kansai Uni doen't introduce that sort of system.  In a tutorial, all students are required to get involved with in-class discussion or group works.  These excercises are really practical to deepen the understanding of the lectures.  In a class, the courses I took are for international students so that we have a different nationality(I don't go far as to say that we have as many nationalities as ICTE).  We've got Indian, Indonesian, Filipino, Franch, German, USA, UK, Scandinavian, a few Australian and so forth.  Of course, their English proficiency was extremely higher than I'd expected even though some of them aren't native English speaker.  Until a last few weeks, I couldn't contribute the discussion because they speak English so fast, but gradually I got used to the tutorials and said my opinion a little.

From last week to this week, I had a big report which covers 40% of the total assessment, which I've already submitted and this Saturday I have a mid-term exam.  So I spent and will do a busy time......

2 Months!!

For second month in Australia, I experienced a lot of things that I cannot do in Japan.  I'll write about this.


When the last session finished, I joined BBQ which was held by ICTE.  My last classmates are soooo nice and funny that I really enjoyed a school life every day.  I had this picture taken!
This is a memorable and one of my treasure in my life!

Before this session began, I had had a week session break.
One of the most impressive things is that I went to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.  As the name shows, I looked at Koala there!
They are quite lovely and seemed sleepy.

From 5th May the new class has started and I met new classmates!
My new class is abundant with nationality such as Peru, Indonesian, Colombian, Chilean, Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean,Saudi, and Omani!  This makes me very excited and stimulates my curiosity that I want to get to know other cultures!

Last weekend, I went to my classmate's house and made okonomiyaki for them.

 I was very glad to hear that they'd said yummy!


I've enjoyed living in Aussie, but I'm going to take an IELTS exam, which has been stressful a little.
So recently, I've been studying very very very hard;)

New Life in Australia!!

I've been staying in Brisbane, Australia since 23rd March, so 

a month have roughly passed.  I experienced heaps of things when I came here.

This picture below is near my homestay house, where there are lots of fresh green trees and I hear a beautiful birds' voice.
Also I can see a large amount of brilliant stars I've never seen in Japan!!  It's like a planetarium!!

The University of Queensland(UQ), where I study English, has stately an besides modernized buildings and the campus is extremely large. The atmosphere of the campus is so peaceful that I can concentrate on studying.

There are a lot of people from all over the world in UQ, and I can go through the different cultures, ways of thinking and sometimes religion. Most people are really kind, friendly and sociable so  
people try to listen to my English even though my speaking is
terrible.

Anyway, I've been spending an enjoyrable and meaningful time in
Australia!!