It's been 10 months since we started the 1st year of the IES class. Today, this is the last computer class and Phillip's class will be all over tomorrow. For the last time of updating my web page, I wanna write down my reflection and feeling on the 1st year.

Looking back on the beginning of Phillip's class, my first impression of my teacher, Phillip, was pretty good. Why? Because he is the man on the school guide of KGU, and I just thought "He must be the most competent teacher in this university! What's more he is so cool!". I still believe he is, and as time goes by his figure and his class also turned out to be very very characteristic. What impressed me a lot was the content of his lecture. He taught me, for example, the concept of 'propaganda' and ' rhetorical triangle', which was deep and interesting. I was so happy because those were exactly what I had wanted to learn in this program. In short, I have been blessed with a great teacher and what I've learned in his class was invaluable. Overall, my 1st year included lots of new academic experienses and learning. I appreciate the God giving me the chance to join this class.

Ok, that's it for my last comment on my LOVE&PEACE. I hope I can keep it up in the coming second year.

See ya (>_<) (>_<) (>_<)

Today, Phillip gave us an assignment, reading a letter on BSE in the Japan Times (http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?rc20040114a4.htm), answering the question (explain the word "Amazing"). So I'll write the answer of it.

I think the author mentioned the comment of U.S. government as "Amazing". Probably, the author thinks of the idea as rediculous that we should not worry because the dangerous parts of sick cows are removed and processed into feed for pigs and chickens. Even if pigs and chickens are slaughterd at a younger age, it must be still dangerous to eat them. Now we can say that not only cows are dangerous but also pigs and chickens are dangerous. So it's out of question of U.S. government to assure safery and the author used the word "Amazing" to critisize it.

Again, I'm updating the blog today as well as yesterday. So this is the real on-line journal of this week.

These days it's sooooo cold, isn't it? I don't check out the daily tempreture in the weather news, but I can keenly feel that the climate is getting awfully cold. The problem of its getting cold is that I can't wake up in the morning! I can barely wake up for the class. Still, I'm always stuck in the futon and won't get out of it untill the time to left for school. I really can't resist cold morning and it keeps me in the warm futon. However, sleeping late is bad for the rhythm of daily life. Will anybody tell me a good way to wake up punctually in the morning?

Oooops! Actually, this on-line journal is supposed to have been posted last week. 'Cause the computer room in the collage was all the way closed during the winter vacation, I wasn't able to update it constantly. It's really inconvenient not to have my own PC ... .

As you know, we, all freshmen, took the TOEFL test last Saturday. As far as I know, most of IES students didn't study for it a lot because, unlike the case of the regular course, IES classes basically won't be reshuffled according to this time's TOEFL scores. I think many of us took it easy. Though, at least we are curious about how much our Englsh skills have progressed and how it will reflect on the score of TOEFL, aren't we? As for me, well ... I'm not sure of the result. In my opinion, TOEFL test is always tricky and difficult, so I can't guess how well I've done. Anyway, time will tell.

Hey, guys. How's it going? I came back from Singapore on 5th. 'Cause I was so exhausted having debated every day in Singapore, recently I've been all the way chlling out and sleeping at home. ZZZ ... .

Well, the class is gonna start again today. What do you expect for the rest of this semester? What we're gonna work on for the last two weeks is Englsh resume in Phillip's class and persuasive speech in Kim's class. Regarding Kim's final speech, my topic is 'English education'. I'm interested in English education in Japan and I'm planning to critisize it in my speech. Then, I will state my opinion, what kind of English education can be the best for the Japanese. This topic may not be easy to mention, but I'm so excited and I'll do my best.

Happy new year, guys! How are you spending the new year days of 2004?

You know, now I'm in Singapore attending the World Debating Championship. I'm updating my page from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, where the tornament is held. Actually I've already finished all 9 rounds of the tornament. Well, to be honest, sorry, my team ended up with lower score. In every round, I was surprised at how high the level of the foreign teams (especially teams from English speaking countries) is. In fact, it was way tougher than I expected to debaete against the world. However, going thorough the world tornament for the first time, at least I enjoyed every round and I suppose I learned a lot of debating skills from each round. It's been really great experience.

For the rest of days I'm planning to go shopping and sightseeing. I hope I can enjoy it and I wish you all the best new year.

Yesterday, a really big news rocked the world. The missing notorious dictator, Saddam Hussein was captured by American forces. Turning on the TV, I saw many people were yelling on a street in Iraq, celebrating the end of the evil president. I also saw the British prime minister, Tony Blar, was making a comment about that on the TV.

Hearing the historical news ----- because I had thought he's already dead and his body or any trace of him would never be found ----- it totally seemed an unexpected thing to me. I was a bit surpriesd and checked out what's reported on the news at all again and again. The video of the wounded old man with long beard was undoubtedly Hussein. He appeard to be awfully tired and no longer looks like what he used to be, so much proud of himself with the green hat on his head. At first sight, actually I felt a little bit sympathy to the seemingly poor old man. However it's self-evident that he is an vicious dictator, who killed thousands of people. He asked for what he is now, I thought.

Today is December 8th. As you can see, Christmas is just around the corner. Sadly, I have no lover to spend the day with this year. Of course, spending Christmas with a date is the sweetest thing to do. Still, even without a lover, I like this holy night pretty much. Everything seems special and romantic on the day and I think I can have fun with my family, my friends, whoever.

When Christmas is coming, I also think about some well-known Christmas songs. My favorite is, though it's orthodox, `Last Christmas`, the song of Wham!. I also like `Happy Christmas`, John Lennon & Yoko Ono.

So, what's your favorite Christmas song?

Everybody, listen up! You know, I join the debating team in this college. This time I have been picked up as a member of representatives for the world tornament, which is going to be held in Singapore! That rocks. Don't you think so?

Actually, I have been dreaming about it since the last semester, so I tried harder and hareder in every week's practice to get into the squad (only 4 students can be sent to the tornament) for Singapore. And ... finally I made it. Now I'm so excited, preparing for the tornament with my other 3 team mates. I hope we can do our best in Singapore and stand out among other teams from all over the world. Japan is gonna do something (>_<)

In this semester, we are doing presentation stuffs in Kim's class. And tomorrow, it's my turn to present a big one in front of the class. It's a pair presentation, and my partner is Shiho. Our topic is AIDS/HIV (big topic!). We've been preparing for it since the last semester. Now, it's time to present our hard work to everybody. I hope we can give my classmates a valuable presentation on AIDS/HIV.