Class # 6 TIme

Homework #5

Time is money 時は金なり
I can do buy something if I pay for what I want. But there are lots of things that I can't get by just paying for as well. That is time. We all have the same length of time and the value of time is different. We can spend time for whatever we want to. So that means there is nothing valuable things other than time.
Even if I have much money and high status in society, I should consider how precious time is. Time is equal for all people. I shouldn't waste time.

A stitch in time saves nine.　転ばぬ先のつえ

That means if I have some important things, I'm supposed to prepare for them. Then I probably make it to success. If you don't want to fail, be get ready. Actually I'm not the kind of parson. I do many struggles before something start.

There is no time like the present 思い立ったが吉日

One man asked for an old man teaching something. But at that time, he said "I will start after another year starts" and the old man said back "why don't you start right now!?" That means if you really want to do something, you don't have enough time to think about it. Just do it. Don't be scared.

I like this words. I'm always trying to get start if I have something to want to do. But I shouldn't be in a hurry too much. If so, I would be in trouble....

Let's meet at 4. If I'm not there by 5, leave without me at 6, and I'll be there at 7.

Is this one of proverbs? I tried to figure out what it means, but it was hard for me to get it, of course I understand the actual meaning though. But if that situation happens for me, (I'm the person waiting for my friends or boyfriend) I'm sure that I will get back home after I wait for him or her for an hour with upset.

This kind of homework is really tough for me. I'm still struggle with this homework.... because I've never thought of Time seriously that much.

Thank you so much, Dr. Phuoc

I had a very good opportunity to know about education systems in Vietnam and what do we speak English for. I felt the class passed very quick because I was interested in his experience and story.
I just imaged my life in Vietnam. If I were there, what's my student life like or how I can make friends in trains there, something like that.
What I was surprised mostly is about tuition for school. It's about $100 per an year! Although the value of money is different, it was surprising for me.

Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Phuoc and Dr. Klein to give us the great opportunity.

And I'm sure I will ask my Thai friends about Thai culture which we will have a presentation next time. That will bring us big idea about Thailand!

The language of clothes

1. Do you judge people according to what they wear? Why?

In Japanese society, what people wear is so important thing. I think that how make others feel trust us and give the best impression is important. Especially when we go to work and go in public, many people see our appearance. There is a word "Be not judged by our appearance (You can not judge a book by its cover)" But appearance is influenced our everything, I mean friendships, jobs...

In my case, if I see improper clothes in formal place, I would doubt whether they have a common sense. So we can not see all about them by just what they wear, but that's very influential matter.

2 Do you think Japanese society puts an importance on clothing when judging other people from another country?

Strongly yes.
I don't really care about what kind of clothes they wear, but I would judge sort of their culture and customs. If I don't know any other people from a county, my impression about the country is built.
So I don't exactly mention, but Japanese society puts an importance on clothing.


3. What colors are you wearing now? Do they reflect your mood?

Actually I am wearing a suit for a job meeting today.
We learned what we wear is reflect our mood. That was very interesting for me. I usually wear dark color no pastels. That means........ no energy?? I don't know... I should wear colorful clothes some time for getting power.


Preparation for next class (about friends)

1. What are some subjects that you will never discuss with a friend?

I don't really have subjects that I can't talk to my friends, but that's for only close friends.
For me, I don't talk about myself that much to not so close friends


2. Do you have different friends for different parts of your life? If so, how are they different to you? Do you talk about different things? Go to different places?

I think that it's better to have different types of friends. There is the only one important thing. I respect all my friends, in other word, I would like to make a friend with people I respect.
Therefore it's no wonder if I have different opinions or thoughts.
I'm happy to talk about different things and to go to different places.

It's important to be able to get inspiration whether I can grow up by them at the first time I meet people.

Homework #2

1.Death and Funerals

a. Do you have any international friends or a host family? If so, how would you express your condolences to them if a family member died?

This is an actual story. When I had a host family in the States, I experienced that my host father's mother passed away. One day he told me that he'll go to somewhere another states in the next day. He said "Sorry I won't be at home for a few days. I'm worry about living by yourself though" (Actually my host was only an old single man) At the moment, I had no idea what I should say to him, so I answered to him just "hmmmmm, OK". And next day when I go to school, I asked my teacher what I should say in the case. My teacher taught me to say just "I'm sorry to hear that"

If I express my condolences to him, I would say like...........

Dear Tony

I’m sorry to hear that. You must feel so lonely.
I remember you showed me some pictures of you and your mother. Although I haven’t met her, I’m sure you and she are tight-knit family.
If you keep being sad, she has to go to heaven with many worries. I believe that she had the best life in the world, because she spent her life with a good son, you.
I’m looking forward to seeing your smile soon.


Have you ever been to a foreign funeral?

I haven't had opportunities.


2. The language of Clothes (preparation for next weeks topic)

a.Why are Japanese designer label crazy?/ Why is what you wear so important?

We really care about what others are thinking of myself too much. So fashion is crazy important. That would be sometimes stressful for me.

b.What does “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” mean to you?

Things are not always as they appear. We shouldn't make judgements for just looking.
See what they are thinking, and their mind and characters.

Homework #1"wrapping"

1. Do you agree with the web site's description? What do you do that can be called "wrapping"? Give examples and reasons for your actions.

I totally agree with the description for this topic. I believe that's not a bad thing. It can be sometimes confusing, but that's the Japanese culture.

I had an interesting story relating this topic before.
I took a class like Cross Culture Communication long time ago, and we had a guest who is working in a bog company. And he talked about people in the world working there, and how do they survive in the company something like that. Actually that was a so interesting topic and I got many new information about working other countries at her lecture.
At the end of the lecture, he said that "do you have any questions??" I guess it's so natural in Japan. Nobody raised their hand and asked anything back. That's kind of normal in Japan.
At that time, the speaker said with anger "That's weird, you should ask something. SO it's hard to survive for Japanese in big companies!! People from other countries have so many discussion and questions" He is even a Japanese, but he said like that.

I understood what he meant, but what I thought of the opinion is we were brought up in that cultures and customs which is like having inner opinion or mind without saying to others.
I don't know it's the right answer for this question, but this is my story for wrapping of Japanese.

2. a. Where do you go when you die?

I believe we go to heaven and keep our spirits forever, even if we change our life.

b. Explain why do Japanese have death memorial services 1 month, 1 year, 3 years, 7 years, etc. after a person's death?

We think ancestors are very important existence for us. I was taught that we need to respect them and appreciate what we are living by now to them. Since we shouldn't forget them, we have death memorial services.