Homework8: Weddings

Since Japanese weddings are expensive, do you think having a massive wedding like Korea or UAE is a good idea?
I think having a massive wedding is a good idea. Because it is important and meaningful to our lifetime.
What do you think about eloping? Is it a good idea or romantic? Why?
I think eloping is not a good idea. Because you can't leave your family alone and eloping. It's selfish and frivolous action. It will heart both of you and your family members.
Have you ever thought about having a wedding in a foreign location like Hawaii?
Yes, I have thought about having a wedding in a foreign location like Aegean Sea.
What is your ideal wedding?What would you definitely do, wear or go to on that big day? Why is that important?
I think that will be my ideal wedding in my life to have a wedding in Aegean Sea. I can enjoy both the beautiful sea and my wedding. At that time I will wear white wedding dress and traditional red garment (QiPao ) on that big day. Because I think that will be a wonderful marriage in my lifetime, and wear a bridal veil and traditional costumes in my wedding I think I will have a happy and harmonious family in the future.

Homework7: Superstitions

Do you think it is important to talk about superstitions? Why?Is communication affected by superstitions?Do you believe in superstitions? If so, what superstitions ,what do they mean and why do you do, use, or believe in them?
Yes, I think it is important to talk about superstitions in the class.
Every country has their own superstitions. So, it's interesting to know about the background of superstitions and we can know much general knowledge about the superstitions. People in nowadays believe that superstitions influence our cultures and communication affected by superstitions.

We have a lot of superstitions in our cultures. Some comprises the number, animal, ghost, supernatural, etc. Some superstitions I'm also believe in .

Geomantic omen is the most popular superstition until now. It means proper location of house, grave, placing furniture or something important. Many people, especially traditional businessmen believe good geomantic omen will lead to luck and fortune.

Another one is if you cry on New Year's Day, you will cry all through the year. Therefore, children are tolerated and are not spanked, even though they are mischievous.

Before you get married Wedding clothes should be red, and/or white. Wearing black, or gray will bring bad luck to the marriage.

The number.Number 8, by the homonym to 發[Fa] . Most people believe the number will bring luck to us. What more, the 2008 Beijing Olympics are set to kick off at 8:08 p.m. on Aug. 8 , which fuels the number 8 superstitions in china . Why this happen? Easy. Our unique linguistic features and our psychological gratifications exert a great influence on our mindsets.

Homework6 : Time

1. Please explain a time proverb in your culture.
People all know the famous proverb in my culture."An hour in the morning before breakfast is worth two all the rest of the day". That means the best time of the day is morning.If you lose an hour in the morning, and you will spend all day looking for it. So, time in the moring is very important in our dailylife.
2.Please explain what you think are the meaning of each of the 4 expressions.
a. Time is money.
Money is precious, so is time. On the other hand, if you have time, you can get a lot of things just like knowledge, skill and so on throughout your laborious learning. Once you have those abilities, you can earn money everywhere. So, as a result, " time is money".
b. A stitch in time saves nine.
If one takes action or does a piece of work immediately, it may save a lot of extra work later.
c.There's no time like the present.
Now is the best time to do something.
For example: "There is no time like the present to talk with him".
d.Fashionable late
For example, I think if you are going to attend a party, but you find your clothes are not suit for the party, you come back to change it for another one, then you arrive the party later, it called "fashionable late".

Homework3: Friends

1. What are some subjects that you will never discuss with a friend?
Such as one's family circumstances. I think it's privite things and rude to discuss with 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? Give me some examples.
Yes. I have Primary School, Junior High School, High School, University friends for different parts of my life. They are all important and good to me.
Yes, I talk about different things with different people, and go to different places.For examples My mother is also a special friend in my life. I will talk about some trouble things happened to me in my life with her.My classmate is also different friends in my life, we will talk about our future, our dreams, what is going on nowadays and sports, anything that will be the topics between friends. And, the place will be at school, at resturant, in the public place.

Homework2: Language of Clothes

1.Why are Japanese designer label crazy?
Maybe they want to leave deep impression on people and also let people know their designs,too.

2.Why is what you wear so important?
Because wear will leave a good or bad first impression to others. and as is known to all, the first impression will somewhat influence the decision or judges by others. Besides, sometimes, what people wear will indicate their social status and their taste.

3.What does “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” mean to you?
To me, one's inner world, or his characteristics are more important than his look. What really matters is not what he is look like, but who he is.

4. Do you judge people according to what they wear? Why?
No.I will not judge people by what they wear, whatever they are ordinary people or superstars. Because people are equal in the world.

5. Do you think Japanese society puts an importance on clothing when judging other people from another country?
Yes.Japanese are tend to attach an importance on clothing when judging other people from another country.

6. What colors are you wearing now? Do they reflect your mood?
I'm wearing Red now.Yes they reflect my mood. Because when I wear red I will feel energetic and passionate, and are confident to handle things well.

Homework1:Death and Funerals

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.
Yes I agree with the web site's description. Wrapping may refer to something that separates one thing from another. In a deeper degree, I think it hides the inner world of ourselves so that we won't get hurt.
I surely think many goods is wrapped inidividual in Japan. It reason is convenient and easy to use. Also it appearance is good and looks very polite. Japanese more care about appearance than other people. I think maybe "wrapping" is the one of the Japanese culture.
For example, wears a mask when talking or meeting strangers, and we won't expose ourselves to the unfamiliar environment, so the mask serves as the wrapping that we may pretend to be what we are not in order to get away from hurt.
Also, if tomorrow is my friend birthday, I'll send her a birthday card and wrapping up the present.

2.Where do you go when you die?
I think people may go to heaven when they die.

3.why do Japanese have death memorial services 1 month, 1 year, 3 years, 7 years, etc. after a person's death?
I'm not sure why do Japanese have death memorial services.Maybe to have the death memorial services is to guide the dead to the right road. perhaps, they may feel lonely and scared, the memorial service is to accompany them by the living people.

4.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? If not, then how would you express condolences to an American host family if their Grandmother died?
I have some international friends. First, I would say"I'm sorry to hear the news." and then, I would tell his family that what is gone has been gone. The past one will not be back. so just let it go, and life consists of ups and downs, twists and turns.

5. Have you ever been to a foreign funeral?
No.I have never been to a foreign funeral.

Blog comments lists

Here is the blog lists that I have commented to.

1.Dating Practices
http://sen-wherever.blogspot.com/
http://y9-y4--tu-to.blogspot.com/
http://pekochandays.blogspot.com/
http://becky-tt.blogspot.com/
http://carp-carproom.blogspot.com/
2.Working with different culutures
http://y9-y4--tu-to.blogspot.com/
http://sen-wherever.blogspot.com/
http://pekochandays.blogspot.com/
http://ohohoho-kang-fu.blogspot.com/
3.Politics and Reflections
http://sen-wherever.blogspot.com/
http://charlie12345-charlie.blogspot.com/
http://hidekiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.blogspot.com/
http://mame-mochi.blogspot.com/
http://mazda-chuck.blogspot.com/

Politics and Reflections

The United Nations (UN) is the key organization to promote and maintain world peace between governments. If you were working for the UN, which job would like to do using your English abilities? Why?

I would like to work as a spokesperson for the United Nation. A spokesperson can serve as a bridge that connects the UN with the whole world, and plays a very important role in the UN activities. I think life will be more meaningful if my job is somewhat challenging. As I like to deal with people relationship, and my dream was once to be a journalist back in my childhood, being a spokesperson is just what I enjoy and I am good at. Besides, as an English major student, I think communicating with people in English is the way that we can maximize our English ability.

Working with different cultures and special guests

Q:What kind of work place do you think you will work best in? Choose a country other than Japan and research and explain 1 aspect of their business culture that is different than Japan. Do you think it is a good practice? Why?
A:I will choose to work in New York. As you know, NY is the most glamorous city all over the world, where lots of work opportunities could be offered, and where I can grow maturely. Although many people say New York is a fast, money-worship city where the relationships between people are so indifferent, I still think working there is a good opportunity for me to get to know the whole world: the diversified culture, the edge-cutting technology, the advanced ideology, etc.
For me, it's rather a learning trip to broaden my horizon. Besides, since NY is a big pot that mixes different people and their culture, I'm very interested in knowing people from different background.

Dating

This is a pie of my ideal partner's characteristics.These 4 things are mainly important:Honesty,

Responsibility,Job, and good-looking.

Honesty: This is the personality that every human being should possess, let alone my ideal partner. We love, trust and respect each other on the basis of honesty, otherwise love cannot be called love, but cheat.

Responsibility: The relationship between 2 people not only relies on the feels we have towards each other, but on the responsibilities we bear in mind. Those who have a sense of responsibility will have a clear picture about where we should go, how we treat each other. He will not ignore you when you are in trouble, and he is mature enough to take care of you.

Job: He also should have a decent job and salary, so that we will not struggle for our life. Just as an old Chinese saying goes “Everything is miserable when the couple doesn’t have money”, which indicates that happy marriage life is still depend on your money, status, etc.

Good-looking: It would be better if he is a good-looking man, because it is our nature to love beautiful things. But it is also ok if his look is not that outstanding, and the only criteria towards my ideal partner is he should be taller than me.

Homework--Family Life

For homework please answer the questions in the textbook on page 14, section 4 a-f. Do not give one sentence answers, but explain them by giving evidence and examples.

a. When do children usually leave home?
I cannot tell the specific time when children will leave home. But I think when they have jobs or get married, they will leave home. Maybe at that time, they are mature enough to handle the failure properly, to face the difficulties with strong wills.
b. How many people live in your home?
There are three people living in my home: My father,my mother and I. I am the only child in my family.
c. Do you have a head of the family?
No.People in our family are equal.
d. Who does the housework?
My mother do most of the houswork in my family, like cooking, washing, and sweeping. And my father will give a little help sometimes, such as cleaning the dishes or the air-conditioner net.
e. Who runs the family?
My father runs the family. Because he is still working in the company and paying my tuition fee. My mother has retired and now she is a housewife in my family.
f. How many rooms do you have to sleep in?
There are two bedrooms in our family. One is my parents' and the other is mine. so I have one room to sleep in.

Homework--Names and Addresses

Q1.Are feelings, emotions and facial expressions universal across borders, happy, sad, etc..?

A1.Yes, I think so. Because we are human being. So, it's common to feelings, emotions and facial expressions universal across borders, happy, sad, even others through all over the world in our dailylife .

Q2. Try to name as many feelings as possible in Japanese. ( 10 minimum) Then, write the English translation.

A2.　羨ましいenvious　　嫉妬jealous 　怖いafraid 困るconfused 　がっかりdisappointed 　寂しいlonely 　恥ずかしいashamed 　緊張nervous 　満足satisfied 　驚くsurprised 　怒るangry 　退屈 boring　嬉しいhappy

Q3. Are there any feelings in Japanese that cannot be translated into English?

A3. I'm not sure. But I think there are some Japanese words and sentences that are difficult to translated into English. Such as dialects and the unique words of feelings. Because every country have their only languages, so that there are not exactly words to translate one language to another language all over the world.

Greetings

Q:1. How do you greet members of your family? (mother, father, older brother, younger brother, grandparents, etc.)

A:1. I'll say hello to my mother,father,older brother, younger brother, and my grandparents in an informal way, sometimes will make fun of them,or call them in their nickname.

Q:2. How do you greet people that are important in society?

A:2.When I greet people who are important in society, I'll take it seriously. I'll say hello to them while wearing a smile, and shake hands with them.

Q:3. Do you greet people from the opposite sex in a different way?

A:3.Sometimes I'll greet them differently, especially when they are strangers for me. I'll keep a certain distance to avoid some unnecessary contact with them.

Q:4. Do you hug anyone? If yes, who and when. If no, why not?

A:4.Yes, I hug my parents all the times, and my friends as well when they need some encouragements or when I want to congratulate them on their great performances.

Homework3-Answer the following questions

Q1:How do you greet people in your life?
A1:Just say "hello" to them.

Q2:Is it different for different people? How so and why?
A2: I think it differs. When back in old days, people in our country always greet people with a sentence like "Have you eaten?" while people, especially in western countries just say "hello" or "how do you do?". It may trace back to the different culture. We attach great importance to the food, so that's why we greet people with something related to the food.

Q3:Do you touch people when you talk to them? Why? Or Why not?
A3:I think it depends. When talking to strangers, I will keep a certain distance. Maybe this is for safety reason. But when interacting with my friends, sometimes I will touch them to show the intimacy between us, which draws us close.

Homework2: Buddhism

My daily life affected by Buddhism are the following things.

1. I often helps my parents do the housework in my daily life.
2. Do all I can to care about others.
3. Study hard so that I can be an important person to the society.
4. Try my best to do the charity work.
5. Once a year to go to the temple to visit the Bodhisattva, to bless and protect my family's everyghing ok and happy every day.

Homework:Cross Culture Communication Problems

Once, in a newspaper, I saw an article whose author said，“Don’t wear your shoes into a Japanese house. And don’t stick your chopsticks into your rice and leave them standing there—otherwise my wife will kill you”. I was puzzled at the beginning, and then understood that the Japanese regard this sort of behavior as unlucky. Not only the Japanese, but also other people from other cultures have their particular taboos. For example, in England, never give a lily as a gift at any time other than Easter, because old people in England associate white lilies with death and funerals. Lilies will be considered unlucky in America, too. In Japan, don’t give a potted plant as a get-well gift to a hospitalized person, because it will cause him to be “rooted” in the hospital. And in China, you should never give a clock to a person, especially an old one, as his birthday present, or you will cause a hostile atmosphere, for “clock” is pronounced the same as “death’’ in Chinese. Drawing the Swastika is regarded as taboo in Germany; I think that is because of the terrible history of the Nazis! The appropriateness of physical contact varies in different cultures. In America, physical contact is generally avoided in conversation among ordinary friends or acquaintances. Merely touching someone may cause an unpleasant reaction. If one touches another person accidentally, the offender usually utters an apology such as "Sorry", "Oh, I'm sorry", "Excuse me". Chinese people are used to showing their love to children by fondling, however, American mothers are not used to this. Such behaviors---whether touching, patting, hugging, or kissing---can be quite embarrassing and awkward for mothers from American context. They know that no harm is meant, and that such gestures are merely signs of friendliness or affection, therefore, they cannot openly show their displeasure. On the other hand, such actions in their own culture would be considered rude, intrusive and offensive. This is especially true with little girls, as an embrace by a male adult may be perceived suspiciously as possibly obscene. So the mothers often stand by and watch in awkward silence, with mixed emotions, even when the fondling is by Chinese friends or acquaintances. Meanwhile, there are different things that are considered lucky in different cultures. For instance, Englishmen knock on wood for luck and they think four-leaf clovers are lucky. Magpies are the lucky birds for Chinese, no matter how many there are, while for the British, one magpie is unlucky: you must look for a second one. In India, cows are sacred. People will never totally understand why some things are looked on as taboo or lucky objects in other people’s opinion. Maybe some will consider it superstition. However, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do’’, so from this thinks i know that different cultures will help us avoid misunderstandings.