Sep. 27 (Mon)

Today I rode a bike along a river with my friend. On the way we fed geese and it was GREAT! There were many trees and leaves were about to change. I heard there is a forest not far from here. I'm looking forward to going there next time.

Sep. 26 (Sun)

This week I went out for fun many times and didn't study much. So today I stayed in my room and studied. I could finish one of my assignments so in the evening I went out to watch a movie "God Father". It was shown at Gradudate Student Center, so it's free.
It didn't have a subtitle so it was difficult for me to understand.

Sep. 25 (Sat)

I went to Washing ton DC! It was organized by a group of school so tranportation fee was only $25! It took about 3 hours by bus one way. I visited The White House, Lincoln Memorial, Capitol, and National Air and Space Museum. A picture of 1 cent coin is Lincoln Memorial. In the middle of the building you can see something. It's a statue of Lincoln. Check out your 1 cent coin!

# Lincoln Memorial

Sep. 24 (Fri)

Today John Kerry, a democratic presidential cadidate came to Penn to have speech for campaign. I went to the place around 11 am and Kerry started speaking 12:40. It was a beautiful day but too hot to stand outside for hours. So I listened to him for a while and left in the middle of his speech.
My impression was that when speakers (many supporters made a speech before Kerry) mentioned about Bush's policy in Iraq audience ran high.

#Kerry

Sep. 23 (Thu)

Today I attended two parties, FREE drink and food as usual. One was at a restaurant near school organized by my department, the other was at a BEAUTIFUL & ROMANTIC restaurant 15 minutes by car. Let me talk the latter one. It's in Penn Landing, harbor and a whole ship is a restaurant. It's open space so I could see other big ships, New Jersey across from Delaware River. I should have taken a picture but I didn't bring it... It was a GREAT night.

Sep. 22 (Wed)

Today I went to a language school in center city. I am going to work as a volunteer assistant teacher there. Well, it is a course requirement, but it is a good chance to work and have a contact with real society. The educational policy of Penn puts emphasis on not only theory but also practice. I think it's important and I like that.

# armor in museum

Sep. 21 (Tue.)

For an assignment I conducted a small survey about an "Academic Life at Penn". I made a questionnaire and asked about 10 subjects. Questions are about time spent for preparation of classes per day, times to visit a library per month and such.
It was amazing to see that Penn students are very earnest and hard-working. 45 % of students study more than 4 hours a day for classes. A total of 8 % of students study more than 7 hours a day. It means that they spend almost one third of a day for the preparation of classes. That’s a long time. I have to study more...

#a jar of hell, an art in museum

Sep. 20 (Mon)

Today I met a Japanese woman who enrolled in Penn this semester just like me. She got married with American and moved to Philadelphia more than 10 years ago. Now she is working as a Japanese teacher. That's why I arranged to meet her again at a cofee shop. As we talk, we found out that we studied at a same Japanese school. We knew some teachers in common. Although there is about 15 years difference between our studying at the school. It was wonderful to meet my senior of school in Philadelphia!

#Philadelphia, a view from a museum

Sep. 19 (Sun)

Today I went to a Museum of Philadelphia. This is famous for a movie "Rocky". He goes up stairs of this museum and screams or something. Well, I haven't seen it yet, I heard a scene was like that.
I took a subway from my dorm and took a walk. It was a wonderful place I loved it so much! Not only a museum but also surroundings. I like Philadelphia so much.
# museum of philadelphia

Sep. 18 (Sat)

I was planning to study in a library today, but I didn't because of a bad weather. It was storming. I heard it was an effect of hurricane in Florida. It's coming upward less strong.
So I didn't go outside and read books at dining room. Today was going to be a first day that I didn't speak with people, however, a friend visited me and had dinner together.

Sep. 17 (Fri)

Today I was shopping at a supermarket and I heard a passer-by said something to me. It sounded "Your shoes are cute!". I looked back and found a black woman looking at my shoes. I replied thank you to her and walked away. I didn't mention where I bought them because I bought them in Rome. It's too far for her to buy a same thing.

People here are friendly as I touched on the other day. They smile at me, talk to me, keep the door open for me. Those are kinds of manner here. I like that!

#my shoes

Sep. 16 (Thu) X-ray

I was positive on Tuberculin Skin Test. Of course! Almost all Japanese have BCG when they are babies. That prevents them from other diseases. It's really good for babies but not for adults. In US they don't give BCG to babies. So usually US citizens are negative. Today I had X-ray to make sure that I don't have tuberculosis. And I was negative, of course!

Interesting thing was that a doctor who saw me was so friendly and asked me about Japan a lot. Doctors in Japan as far as know, don't chat with patients so much. Some doctors look arrogant. I know a few doctors here in US but they are all kind and friendly.
#Franklin Bridge???

Sep. 15 (Wed)

Today I got a flight ticket to PERU!!! I'm going there on winter vacation. I really wanted to visit Peru because it has many things to see! It's very far from Japan so I was thinking to travel while I'm here in US.
Now I prepared the reward so I have to work on my study.

Sep. 14 (Tue)

I was overwhelmed by so many reading stuff that were required by a course I took! I was carrying 6 thick books today. Oh... I have to control my time, otherwise I will be always sleepy.

I attened a class without finishing reading. I felt bad, however, the professor didn't check our reading or understanding of books. Oh, good! I found out that I don't have to read everything thoroughly.

Sep. 13 (mon) injection

The other day I was told by a staff of a university hospital that I have to take the injection. Because the school won't take the shot done in other countries. I wasn't sure what kind of shot I have to take, medical terms were too difficult for me. Anyway I made an appointment and went to a hospital today.

I asked a receptioninst where to go for the shot and found a room. The doctor in the room asked my name and confirmed it on the computer. Then she asked me which injection she should give! I didn't know the name of the shot because I relied on the hospital and believed that they would take care of it. She checked the computer which immunization（予防接種）was lacked on me but she wasn't sure... I told that the injection was taken only in US that's why I came. Then she found it out and gave me a shot. How scary it is if it were mistaken. Actually the shot was tuberculin skin test.（ツベルクリン反応）

After the injection she just gave me a piece of gauze and didn't tape it. I was bleeding and asked to tape it. But she didn't have a tape...

The hospital here is very different from Japanese. I have to be more responsible what I take and why I take.