My English Life 23-30 April

Hokudai/Cast: Your Fun-service podcast for learning Japanese, English, and Chinese.

Here is installment two of Haruka's Diary of her Life in England. It looks like she's settling in nicely in Bath.

23th April: This morning, I made a sandwich for lunch and I walked though Royal Victoria Park when I went to school. This day, I was walking, I saw a squirrel. I saw a wild squirrel for the first time, so I took a picture. When I arrived at University and talked with my classmates, I saw some new students. I was very surprised because almost all the students were Japanese students!! Five new students came to my class. All the students were Japanese. My class has 10 students including new students. Seven students are Japanese!! I made friends soon. They're good people.

After school, I got a student card and went to the city centre with my friends. We went window shopping and went to a photo shop to develop a lot of photographs. But when we arrived there, the shop was closed, so I'm going to go again tomorrow. After I left them. I went to the sports and leisure centre and heard about a street dance. Then I decided to get a dancing lesson and got a membership card.

24th April: This day was a rainy day. I don't really like rain... On the way to school, I met a new student. We went to school together and talked using English and Japanese. Today's class was interesting, too. After school, I went to the photo shop to develop lots of pictures, and I called my brother because he called me during my English lesson. I talked with my family for a long time. Then I came across a my classmate, Ladda, and we went to the bus station to go home. When we arrived there, I met Cecilia, the American student I live in the same house with, so we went home together.

25th April: After school, I went to the city centre with some classmates. I went to the photo shop to get a lot of photographs with my classmate, Asuka. I asked a member of staff, but my photographs hadn't been developed yet, so we returned to the meeting place. Nobody appeared, so we went our different ways. I bought pants and tank top to wear in the dancing lesson, and I went to the sports and leisure centre. I couldn't understand how to use a locker and when I received a lesson, I had to give the instructor a piece of paper. The lesson started at 5:20 and finished at 6:10. The street dance lesson was difficult for me, but it was very pleasant!! I'll go every Wednesday.

26th April: Today I went ice skating in Bristol. After school, I went to the bank to take out some money and went back home once. I ate some dinner and went to the city centre again. Then we got on a bus and left for Bristol. We arrived in Bristol at 8:30. We skated until 10:00. It was the first time I've been skating so I couldn't walk unless I held on to the side. After a while, I could walk without holding on to the side. But I could only walk slowly. I fell over 3 times. I was a little sore. I thought it was more difficult than the dancing lesson. When I got home, I couldn't walk properly.

27th April: I wore a dress I bought in this city because I was asked to by my classmates, then I wore my new high heels which I bought in Bath, too. The shoes didn't fit because I was wearing them for the first time. I injured my heels, so I went to the shoes shop and bought new shoes which is flat. It was easier to walk than before. I thought that I have to be careful about new shoes.

29th April: Today, I went to the city centre with my Japanese classmates, Kimika and Yuko. We met in front of McDonald's, and we ate lunch and talked there. We spent about 2 hours talking. Later, we walked through the streets and went shopping. It was fun!! Then we met other students, Ju Yeon, Jinny, and Asuka. They went to the library, and we went to Sainsbury's which is a big supermarket in Bath to buy something. Then we went home. This day, my host family went to a family birthday party. They said it was exciting!! I ate dinner and sent e-mail.

30th April: Today, my University started IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) classes. I didn't take a IELTS class, because I thought I didn't need to take this class. I took the same lesson as before. After school, I went to the computer room with my classmates and used the Internet. Then we talked about English life and our plans for this weekend. It was fun. Then we went home at 6:30. I went home with my classmates, Yuko and Eriko and we talked about lots of things. When I arrived home, my host mother was already sleeping because she had a cold, so I ate dinner alone, watched TV and did my homework.

My English life 12-22, April

A special study abroad diary from Haruka in Bath, England! It is interesting to note that she is using British spellings (centre vs center) and the British way of writing the date (12 April vs April 12). Haruka learns very quickly!

On 12th April, I went Narita International Airport with my mother and grandmother. I got on a plane to Heathrow; it took about 12 hours. I went Padindon by train, and left that from Bath. It took 1 and a half hours by train. It was very hard for me. After I arrived at Bath Station, I took a taxi and went to my host family's house. When I arrived there, I was very tired and went to bed early.

13th April. After I woke up, I talked with host family. My host family is a single mother. She has a daughter named Madison. She will become 3 years old this summer. She is cute but very powerful girl!! She has a small house to have some toys in the garden. I played with her with a ball. Later, I ate dinner. I heard English food was not good, but my host mother's meal was delicious!! I went to bed about 10:00.

14th April. I went to the bus station which is near my house with Madison and her grandmother. It took about 5 minutes. It's very close!! Later, I played with Madison.

15th April. I went to the city centre alone. Then I took a bus for a first time. I couldn't understand how to ride, so I was confused. I managed to arrive at the city centre and went window shopping. I bought some clothes and accessories.

I went the rounds of the city centre. Bath has lots of hills, so I was tired. Later, I returned home and talked with host mother, Hayley. I couldn't speak well and couldn't understand her completely. Since I came here, I have managed to speak in English, but I have a small vocabulary, so I often stop talking. This thing was very regrettable.

16th April. Bath Spa University started. I took a test and an interview. The test's style was multiple choice. Later, I had a tour of Bath Spa University with some classmates. I was worried about making friends, but I didn't need to worry. I could speak with some students and ate lunch. But in the afternoon class all the students spoke English well except for me. I felt down a little.

The next day, I changed class. I was relieved because I thought I could take a lesson at a slow pace. I became friends soon in my new class. I don't speak English well yet, so it is very hard for me. I found it hard to remember the names of my classmates.

18th April. I am used to my class. I thought this university's lesson is intelligible to me and useful. I couldn't speak well but I could understand more words than before. My course has three Japanese, but we have talked using English. Sometimes during talking, we came to a deadlock, then we use English a little. I thought this was very important thing because if we spoke Japanese often, we wouldn't learn anything.

20th April. This day was my teacher, Cal's , so we prepared for the party after the 1st lesson. Then a surprise party started. Cal was very surprised and pleased. I was happy, too because she was pleased. We took some pictures, drank champagne and ate cake and sweets.

After school, I went the city centre with my classmates and located Pizza Hut. This Sunday, my classmates will be in a football game. We're going to met in front of Pizza Hut, but some classmates and I didn't know where it was, so we went to find it. Then we went to the post office. I sent postcard to my friend. Later, we drank coffee and talked. We parted and I went back home with my classmate, Asuka. We use the same road on our way home and at this point I knew our houses were very near.

My host mother worked late, so I ate dinner alone and talked with Cecilia who is an American student who lives with us.

The next day, I had free time. I used the Internet and played with Madison.

22th April. I woke up at 6:00 and called my friend in Japan. I reassured myself about her because I haven't contacted with her recently. After breakfast, I did my homework. Then I left my house for Pizza Hut. We got on a bus and went to a stadium. When we arrived at the stadium, the players were practicing. At 2:30, the football game kicked off. My three classmates tried their best. We cheered, too. Their team won 3-0. We were so excited. Afterwards we took some pictures. This day's game will be a good memory.

Haruka