Real Reporter Online – Page 16 – We have the courage to make mistakes.

Global Warming and the Loss of Biodiversity in Brazil

Global Warming and the Loss of Biodiversity in Brazil

December 19, 2018

Glenda Souza da Silva

Centro Universitário de Jaguariúna

In recent years, the planet has been affected by rising temperatures that have generated major concerns throughout the country. This is due to a phenomenon known as global warming, which is caused by burning fossil fuels such as gasoline, coal, diesel oil. It has also been caused by industries and non-renewable energy production, pollution and forest deforestation.

Brazil, because it is located near the equator and because it is a region that receives the sun’s rays with greater intensity, will feel the effects of the temperature changes affecting the country directly. In addition, because it has large coastal areas, it becomes vulnerable, as global warming intensifies the melting in Antarctica, which consequently increases sea level.

Another concern here is the impact of deforestation on animals. Animals, such as jaguars, blue macaws, maned wolves, among many others, are on the list of endangered animals in Brazil. The country is considered the richest in biodiversity in the world, but the loss of biodiversity is a worrying factor when talking about nature. It is estimated that the deforestation will cause the loss of the natural habitat of animals, causing these species to stop living. Scholars have reported that if the forest reaches between 20% and 25% of its area, it will be considered a climatic abyss.

To try to reverse this situation in the Amazon, actions such as reforestation have already been carried out. The fight for the preservation of species has increased, and with animals that are in serious danger of extinction, projects such as artificial insemination have already been carried out.

There must be a global awareness of how such factors are detrimental to life, not only to animal and plant life, but also to the quality of life of people.

Measures such as expanding the generation of energy through clean and renewable sources must be implemented by the country. Only then can we hope for a better future for both society as a whole and our beautiful natural biodiversity

Homestay in Canada Opens a New Door

Homestay in Canada Opens a New Door

December 19, 2018

Kosaku Hasayama

I participated in the study abroad program of the University of Shimane and studied at Langara College in Vancouver, Canada, in August 2018. I was simply interested in visiting a foreign country, but my experiences in Canada changed the meaning of studying English. I feel strongly I want to improve English and my desire to share ideas with many people around the world increased.

My life in Canada was all immersed in English for 24/7. I went to school every day to study English all day. All the classes at Langara College were conducted in English. It was very exhausting. At home I talked to my host family in English because it was homestay. I realized that my talking ability of English was low because I often could not express well what I wanted to say. But even so in Canada, I needed to express my ideas. For example, if I do something at home in my way and it is not right in Canada, my action will cause trouble to the host family. So I needed to ask questions and make my requests. I strongly wanted to be able to speak more with host family.

Using gestures was very helpful for my communication. I learned how to use gestures at school. I tried to use gestures to express my opinion in English, and I gradually was able to convey what I meant to others. After coming home, I always tried to put what I learned at school immediately to my conversation to the host mother. My host mother was a bit surprised at my improvement, and she praised me. It seemed that she understood well what I meant. I was happy to tell what I meant and I was touched by the fact that it was easy to convey the things I would like to convey by engaging gestures even in my poor English.

In Canada, I could make new friends, but I could not make friends other than Japanese. Why? It is because I don’t have strong English ability. I thought I had to improve my English ability. If I have more English ability, I could talk more with others. I think that I did not have the courage to talk to foreign people from myself, because I was worried that my English would not be understood. I strongly wanted to learn more English in order to be confident about my English ability.

In the end, I went to Canada and had a wonderful experience. I felt that I had to improve my English ability and I want to talk a lot with foreign people. The study abroad program gave me a new goal to me.

Students’Exchange Deepens Japan-Russia Friendship

Students’Exchange Deepens Japan-Russia Friendship

December 19, 2018

MarikoEguchi University of Shimane

University in Vladivostok, Russia, visited the University of Shimane on June 26, 2018,while their sailing training ship Nadezhda stayed in the Hamada Port,Shimane, Japan.

About 40 students arrived at the University of Shimane campus, wearing white sailor uniforms and caps. They are cadets who are trained to be officers after finishing their education.

Both Russian and Japanese students gathered around the memorial garden of Miyako Hiraoka to pray. Miyako, whose dream was to study abroad, lost her life when she was only 19 years old in a terrible murder. In 2009, the training ship Nadezhda first visited the Port of Hamada, and Miyako, who studied Russian, visited the ship and made friends with students from Maritime State University. Her dream never came true, but her wish has been, and will be passed on to other students, because the Maritime State University established a scholarship for Shimane students in memory of Miyako Hiraoka.

In the afternoon, both Russian and Japanese students had a great time at the gym. The Office of International Affairs of the University of Shimane prepared for dodge ball, but they failed to communicate the rules of the game to the Russian students. They ended up playing volleyball and Japanese traditional games. It was an instance of a cross-cultural communication problem, but the participants enjoyed being together.

YuriNakano, senior of the University of Students, showed some Russian students how to play a Japanese toy called “kendama.”The player is supposed to place a wooden ball connected to a stick into cups of the stick. She said that it was hard to describe how to play with the toy in English,but the Russian students were quick learners and they enjoyed playing it together.

Yuri said, “I had a lot of chances to talk with Russian students and I got very motivated to study the Russian language. I hope to greet them in Russian when they visit here again.”

Students from Maritime State University in Vladivostok, Russia and the University of Shimane in Hamada,Japan on board the Nadezdha

Preparing to be cultural ambassadors

September 27, 2018

Eleven students of the University of Shimane got together to brainstorm ways to promote Japanese culture to the United States. Eight students from Hamada Campus and three students from Izumo campus met at a historical mansion in Gotsu City on September 29 and 30.

They studied Japanese music and dance called kagura, one of local cultures, from specialists of the tradition.

Kazan: The Heart of Tartarstan

Kazan: The Heart of Tartarstan

June 24, 2018

Russia is the biggest country in the world. It consists of 85 subjects called areas, republics and regions. I would like to tell you about one of them: Kazan, which I was lucky to visit several months ago.

Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. The city was founded on the bank of the Volga River in 1005. Today, it is one of the biggest cultural, religious and sports centers of Russai.

If you ever decide to visit this place, don’t miss the chance of visiting the Kazan Kremlin, which is the oldest construction in the city. There are a lot of towers and historical monuments on the territory of the Kremlin. But my favorite sight in Kazan is the Kul Sharif Mosque. It is the most beautiful building that I have ever seen!

Another must-see in Kazan is the Temple of All Religions. Unfortunately, you can’t get inside on weekdays. It is open for visitors only on Sundays. But don’t be sorry if you can go there only on weekdays. Enjoy the beauty of the facade. I will impress you, too.

Also Kazan is a sport cit. A lot of international sports events, such as the 2014 World Fencing Championships, the 2015 World Aquatics Championships and many other took place there.

Now Kazan is getting ready to be the host for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

If you would like to relax, go to the Millennium Park. It is a perfect place to escape the city rush and to listen to the sounds of nature. Townspeople and tourists enjoy the trancuility of this peaceful place.

By Daria Gorbacheva
Ural State Pedagogical University

Photograph by exlex via Wikimedia Commons

How to Make Most of College

How to Make Most of College

June 21, 2018

These days, a high school diploma does not the end people’s education, as more and more people choose to enroll at Universities across the globe. But surviving on campus is becoming increasingly difficult to university students. To understand these difficulties we conducted a survey to see how students feel about their school life. Many classmates say that is so boring, because they have plenty of time but do not know what to do. However, from my point of view, the campus life in university is interesting and can be colorful as long as you make it meaningful. After starting my course roughly one year ago I was surprised to find the vast differences between high school and university. For example, in high school, we always rely on parents and teachers to solve all the problems, but in university, we have to rely on ourselves. More importantly, we must also learn how to do deal with our classmates and roommates. The four years we will spend at university is very important, but it is also very short, so here is some of my advice on how to make the most of your time at University.

The first is to become familiar with all the main buildings on the campus. Students should spend one to two hours on a campus walk, and become familiar with the local library, canteen, post office, classrooms and other important places like the hospital. Next, try to become self-reliant. Learn to make your own decisions, to arrange how to use our time, how to plan your expenses and so on, but also learn to wash your own clothes. Furthermore, develop good study habits through the exchange of student ideas and learn from each other. Finally, students should actively participate in various activities and let themselves be lively, outgoing, and friendly with classmates. All of these factors will make lead to personal growth and make your time at University a bit more bearable. Treasure your college years. Make the best of your free time, become an independent thinker, evolve yourself into a multicultural talent, be bold to experiment, learn and grow through your successes and challenges. Only then will you be able claim that you have made the most of your time at University. After all, we can only be students once.

You Ying, University of Ulsan

Jeju Island, Natural Wonder

June 21, 2018

A short distance away from the Korean peninsula is one of the most iconic tourist attractions in Korea. Jeju Island is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and is renowned for its green open fields and endless blue seas as well it’s “refreshing” powers it bestows on anyone who visits it.

Three of the biggest reasons among many on why you should visit Jeju Island include the following.

First, the natural view of the island is truly beautiful. Jeju-Island has many beaches, but ‘Woel-Jeong Ri beach’ which locates in the northern part of the island is highly recommended. When you first arrive at the beach, you will see colorful benches and a “big stone grandpa” which are famous photo zones located at this beach. At night, the ocean glimmers due to the reflection of the moonlight. You may have been to many beaches before, but many people would agree that this beach is the most beautiful and memorable beach they have ever visited.

Second, there are many delicious foods to eat. Jeju-Island is famous for its fresh seafood and black pork meat. You can eat raw fish at very cheap price in Jeju in the islands eastern market. But the food that comes with my highest recommendation is “Cheonhyehyang”. It is a kind of mandarin like fruit, only much bigger and sweeter. If you taste it once, you will be hooked and will wish that you can eat it again and again.

Third, you can enjoy a lot of activities on the island. This includes horseback riding, hang gliding, and snorkeling. The most joyful thing for me personally about Jeju-Island was solving a maze made with trees and stones. You can race with your friends or family to see who can finish the maze first. Although it may sound easy, it definitely is not that simple and some might even find difficult. However, it comes really recommended that you try it at least once, since it really is loads of fun.

Given these and many other noteworthy reasons, it is thus no surprise why so many people buy a ticket to Jeju-Island when they feel tired or frustrated. Should you ever buy a ticket or spending your money or time traveling to this wonderful island in future I know that you will not regret it.

By Kim Ju Mi, University of Ulsan

Being a college students by living alone

Being a college students by living alone

June 21, 2018

Two years ago, my parents dropped me off at the dorm of the University of Shimane in April. As I watched their car driven off, I felt really sad. My new life so far has been not easy, but my college life experiences helped me grow a lot.

First, I realized the difficulty of housework. I learned how hard it was to do housework because I live in an apartment alone. It took a long time to go shopping, doing laundry, and clean my apartment room. I am very grateful for my family.

Second, I learned how to cook. I had not cooked very much when I lived with my parents. My mother always cooked meals for everyone. But I now cook meals all by myself. My cooking skills improved a lot and I can cook many dishes now.

Third, I grew up to have a strong sense of responsibility. I can manage my life better. For example, I wake up by myself in the morning, because no one wakes me up. Also, I learned to fill out important documents like pension forms or tax forms, which I have never done before.

By Yurina Kuno

Own cultural knowledge necessary

Own cultural knowledge necessary

June 21, 2018

My friends and I had an opportunity to share ideas with American students in Hiroshima on Saturday, May 20, 2018. We had fun with students from East Carolina University, but this experience was shocking, too, because I realized how ignorant I am about Japanese history and culture.

While we stroll around Hiroshima Peace Park, I was asked many times by the American students like that “Have you been there before?” or “What do you know about Hiroshima?” I had thought I knew about Hiroshima but I was not able to explain my knowledge well because my understanding about Hiroshima was very superficial.

We took a ferry and arrived at Miyajima in the afternoon. American students and I went looked around souvenir shops, and there were many cat figures which are called manekineko, meaning “welcoming cat.” I wanted to explained the meaning of the welcoming cat, but I was not able to talk about it sufficiently.

Then we entered the main building of Itsukushiam Shrine, and I only washed my hands, when an American student pointed out that I was supposed to purify myself by cleansing my mouth. I was very ashamed of my ignorance.

During the short exchanges of the American students I learned being raised in Japan does not mean I know Japanese culture explicitly. I felt I need to make effort to understand Japanese culture so that I could explain Japanese culture to people abroad.

Mutsumi Higashio (University of Shimane)

Missing Sound of Police Cars?

June 17, 2018

Missing Sound of Police Car?

Shimane students and American students from East Carolina University exchanged differences of cultures while walking around Hiroshima and Miyajima on May 20. What impressed me the most was differences of cultures of the two countries.

I chatted with Remi and Tina from East Carolina University about their experiences in Japan. They said Japanese cities were really quiet, and to my surprise, they miss the siren of the American police cars. According to them their city, Greenville, North Carolina, is noisy because they hear police sirens almost every day.

Remi and Tina also said high school life is very different. American high school students do not have uniforms. They can color their hair. They can wear piercing. Tina had a pierce on her nose. Tina said, “American high scool students are crazy.” I was very intrigued.

Exchanging ideas about our cultures was so much fun.

At the end of the day, Remi introduced me to one of her friends, saying, “This is Ako. She is my best friend today.” I felt warm in my heart. We said good bye to each other at a JR station, hugging each other. The meeting with ECU students at Hiroshima and Miyajima was a wonderful experience for me.

By Ako Miyama (University of Shimane)