As I wrote it before, there are some English people working at the hostel where I am staying at this moment. They mostly coming to Paris in order to practice their French skills as far as I heard.
Throught this joruney, I met a lots of people from all over the country. People from England, France, the United States, Australia, Benesuera, Alzentina, Israel, China, India even Japan and almost all parts of Europe and few of them from Africa. Potencially, I saw a lots of African or I would say black people but I coundn't talk with all of them.
And then, when I try to communicate with people I have to speak English except for Japanese.
I didn't talk a lot about this topic to the people who can speak English as a native language, but how they feel about when a lots of people from all over the world trying to speak their mother tongue? I can't imagine if people in the world they try to speak studying Japanese as the first foreign language.
At the same time , it would be hard to imagine in Europe that if there is any country try to teach any language other than English as a first foreign language.
Only once when I was in Romania I encountered the situation I didn't expecte. A friend of a girl who I met, she study French for her first foreign langiage which she chouldn't speak English. For us, in Japan, people start studying English when they are thirteen years old, which is the first year of junior high school.
We study English without any reason just like studying science or math. That's all Japanese students starts after enrolled junior high.
But, how is the people from native English country? Like them who I met at the hostel, do they study French as the first foreign language?
I can imagine that people in England might want to study French because it's giografically close. But I cannot imagine that people in US they prefer studying French more than Spanish and other language. Probably people in US such as the state of CA, they got a spanish culture from Mexico and Hispanic. How about Australian and people in Nz? Depends on the person what they want to learn?
If I were English, I could speak French at the moment.
If I were the US, I could speak Spanish.
I have been feeling quite hard to study French in here. Yes, just trying to have a dream if I were. I envy those people who can speak French as a foreign language.
Yet, I could make a good friendship with the people from Britain in Paris, which I respect how English is important to communicate with the people.
Yuji @ Paris, France 13
28.12.09
Enough for a day to end up with French book
Since two days ago, I have started to read a book about immigrants as well as sociology book about Paris written in French.
I thought it could be possible to read French book only with dictionary but that isn't true. It won't need a lots of time to give up to read French book.
Since I have been using English for the past eight months and I already read some English books before coming to here in Japan, which I could mostly understand this kind of book relate to my study without dictionary nowadays.
In my opinion, the differences between French and English for writing does't that much more than speaking. Some French words are similar to English which aren't that hard to guess the meaning of the word. The problems when I try to read a book in French is that I cannot understand French preposition and the connection between the sentences. Finally, I could order the same book in English version which was three times higher price than the French version but I feel that I really want to read before I leave here.
Two days ago after Cristmas I and the couple which I told you before taking in a room. I with a man from India started to talk about the district where I wanna go where there are a lots of immigrants are living in.(about 15km outside in Paris) Even 18&19 district in Paris (northern part of Paris) regarded as a dengerous zone. As far as I heard from the local those places might be dangerous in the middle of night. But I can go there in the daytime as he told me.
Since yesterday I feel like better than before that's why I was going out to explor close to Monmartol where there is a hill and a lots of tourist walking arond there located in 18.
As I heard from the people, in 18 district there were a lots of immigrants(I don't know if they exactly immigrants but they are or their ancester originally not from France) walking around and watching for the peole. The feeling which I got from there was not special. Of course it wasn't feel safe as I felt in Tokyo but that's not exceptional. I also got similar feeling when I was in Brassels as well as outside of Stockholm. Everytime when I saw those people I feel like not so confortable. I could imagine several reasons but it's unclear.
Anyway, when I started to talk about that I wanna go to so called those places where there are a lots of immigrants living in with the couple. The girl from Cameroon started to tell me with strongly "Why do you wanna go to those dengerous place?(It was French, I couldn't get it but from him with translation) If you are normal tourist you should go to Effel tower and those beautiful paris in 16 district and the central part! You don't exactly know how dangerous in Paris"
I don't know if it is true but as I heard from him that two weeks ago people at the hostel where I am staying fought with each other and five of them died. I really don't know but the trouble was between the customer. Sounds like Africa as my friend told me about Tanzanian experience different from when I was.
I could try to explain why I wanna go there with the man from India but finally she couldn't understand what I was trying to do. I thought that people like her who has typical African mentality they don't understand why I am trying to go those dengerous places by choseing or even they might not understand development aid which I majour in my school. Of course, we couldn't talk a lot without translator that would be another reason why she couldn't understand me. I gave up to explain it though since she was excited to talk about.
After that our relationship getting weaker and weaker. Of course, when we met at the hostel I say "Bonjoure" and they reply. Making a friend with different country arn't not easy especially if there is a economic differences. People from Japan they might thought to be rich in any country in the world I think. Even it is true it is sad that is hard to make a friends because of the economic differences which has been made with nation. People cannot choose the place where they were born.
Yuji @ Paris, France 12
PS. Since I saw the French flag in the city, I finally feel like that I am in France.
I thought it could be possible to read French book only with dictionary but that isn't true. It won't need a lots of time to give up to read French book.
Since I have been using English for the past eight months and I already read some English books before coming to here in Japan, which I could mostly understand this kind of book relate to my study without dictionary nowadays.
In my opinion, the differences between French and English for writing does't that much more than speaking. Some French words are similar to English which aren't that hard to guess the meaning of the word. The problems when I try to read a book in French is that I cannot understand French preposition and the connection between the sentences. Finally, I could order the same book in English version which was three times higher price than the French version but I feel that I really want to read before I leave here.
Two days ago after Cristmas I and the couple which I told you before taking in a room. I with a man from India started to talk about the district where I wanna go where there are a lots of immigrants are living in.(about 15km outside in Paris) Even 18&19 district in Paris (northern part of Paris) regarded as a dengerous zone. As far as I heard from the local those places might be dangerous in the middle of night. But I can go there in the daytime as he told me.
Since yesterday I feel like better than before that's why I was going out to explor close to Monmartol where there is a hill and a lots of tourist walking arond there located in 18.
As I heard from the people, in 18 district there were a lots of immigrants(I don't know if they exactly immigrants but they are or their ancester originally not from France) walking around and watching for the peole. The feeling which I got from there was not special. Of course it wasn't feel safe as I felt in Tokyo but that's not exceptional. I also got similar feeling when I was in Brassels as well as outside of Stockholm. Everytime when I saw those people I feel like not so confortable. I could imagine several reasons but it's unclear.
Anyway, when I started to talk about that I wanna go to so called those places where there are a lots of immigrants living in with the couple. The girl from Cameroon started to tell me with strongly "Why do you wanna go to those dengerous place?(It was French, I couldn't get it but from him with translation) If you are normal tourist you should go to Effel tower and those beautiful paris in 16 district and the central part! You don't exactly know how dangerous in Paris"
I don't know if it is true but as I heard from him that two weeks ago people at the hostel where I am staying fought with each other and five of them died. I really don't know but the trouble was between the customer. Sounds like Africa as my friend told me about Tanzanian experience different from when I was.
I could try to explain why I wanna go there with the man from India but finally she couldn't understand what I was trying to do. I thought that people like her who has typical African mentality they don't understand why I am trying to go those dengerous places by choseing or even they might not understand development aid which I majour in my school. Of course, we couldn't talk a lot without translator that would be another reason why she couldn't understand me. I gave up to explain it though since she was excited to talk about.
After that our relationship getting weaker and weaker. Of course, when we met at the hostel I say "Bonjoure" and they reply. Making a friend with different country arn't not easy especially if there is a economic differences. People from Japan they might thought to be rich in any country in the world I think. Even it is true it is sad that is hard to make a friends because of the economic differences which has been made with nation. People cannot choose the place where they were born.
Yuji @ Paris, France 12
PS. Since I saw the French flag in the city, I finally feel like that I am in France.
26.12.09
Recent Life in Paris
Merry X'mas!!
Christ mas passed without saying anything.
Both Eve and the day I didn't even feel that I am on Christ mas in Paris. One of the reason is that I didn't exactly know where I should go.
As I have been making a life in here, the Eve I was back to my hostel in the early evening and making a meal as usual. However different from fomer hostel the customer at this hostel they speak French more than English. That is why I am making a hard life in here at the moment.
I met a couple (a man from India and a woman is from Cameroon) who have lived the next door to me. The man barely can speak English but the woman from Cameroon she couldn't speak English. That's the thing what I should overcome as long as I am staying in here. I could manage to communicate with her of my poor French but I cannot explain a lot as I can do in English.
Today, I am thinking about why I am staying in Paris. I could make a plan to stay in here before I came but for the past one week I couldn't do almost nothing.
When the day start I was out from the hostel after I had breakfast and get into the metro without decideing the place to go. I was just riding on the metro in order get closer to the centrum but I have no idea to go. I really don't feel like that I want to go to so called touristic places. Moreover I haven't been making this kind of travel for the past eight months.
On the way to hostel by bicycle where I am staying at the moment, I go through "the Arch of Triumph" which is regarded as a symbol of Paris for Japanese people. I only saw the Effel Tower from a metro but it was smaller than Tokyo tower. I think Tokyo tower is the copy of Effel but Tokyo tower is 333m hight from the ground which I strongly higher than Effel, right?
Anyway after getting off the metro somewhere in the sentral area, I probably go to the Rouve in order to watch some paintings. I am interested in those paintings from few hundreds years ago but watching statues for me it was boring. I skipped that part. Even so, the museum is very huge. Venus de Molo is fine, by the way! At the museum I hear a lots of Japanese but I didn't communicate with them. This is Japanse culture at least for me. Sometimes when I talk about it to the Europeans they couldn't understand and they probably say "why didn't you talk to them?" I might say because it's them.
To tell the truth, I didn't feel good since I came to here in Paris. I still feel sick and couldn't recovered it well. In addition staying at a hostel cost more or less 20 euro per day and at the momement I couldn't find a value to stay there.
The thing what I should do in here is to take a rest and do the thing what I want to. I want to learn about immigrants in Paris and I asked my teacher what I chould do in Paris. (as well as French but that's not top priority at the moment) If I were just staying at the hostel hunging around in the city, it won't be a big differences between what I am doing in Tokyo.
That's why I bought two books today.
One book is written in French and the other one is in English.
As you know I cannot understand French but I will try to read somehow to get a help from the people in Paris or trying to understand from the dictionary.
The first book I bought is the titled "IMMIGRANTS YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS THEM", which is about immigrants in the global city such as London, Washington DC... I only read few pages at the book store and I felt it is interesting to read and good to know about immigrants breifly. I think this is the first book in English that I really interested to read about. Especially I am staying in France, English is worth reading.
The another one written in French is the book which my teacher in Japan recommend me to read before I get into Paris.(too late I am coming!)
The authur of that book is the teacher of my teacher as fas as he told me. He is French. According to my teacher's information there is the same book which is written in Englisg but I couldn't find it in here. Here isn't in London, is it? The title of the book is "Parias urbains" written by Loic Wacquant.
I even don't know what is written in the book exactly but it is something about the Ghetto in Paris the places where a lots of poor people living in where is located outside of Paris from wikipedia. That's what I want to know and go.
I feel probably go back to Japan from Paris since my energy hasn't come. If I could I also want to go to London but I feel it wouold be hard for me to take my bike to get there.
In the reception and a bar at the hostel where I staying there is an English girl from Berminghan and she is pretty. I though French girl is one of the most beautiful girl in Europe but British would be win!
As everyone know if you once had an experience to live in Paris, one third of the people in Paris might immigrant and a lots of poor people at the undergrounds.
Yuji @ Paris 9
Christ mas passed without saying anything.
Both Eve and the day I didn't even feel that I am on Christ mas in Paris. One of the reason is that I didn't exactly know where I should go.
As I have been making a life in here, the Eve I was back to my hostel in the early evening and making a meal as usual. However different from fomer hostel the customer at this hostel they speak French more than English. That is why I am making a hard life in here at the moment.
I met a couple (a man from India and a woman is from Cameroon) who have lived the next door to me. The man barely can speak English but the woman from Cameroon she couldn't speak English. That's the thing what I should overcome as long as I am staying in here. I could manage to communicate with her of my poor French but I cannot explain a lot as I can do in English.
Today, I am thinking about why I am staying in Paris. I could make a plan to stay in here before I came but for the past one week I couldn't do almost nothing.
When the day start I was out from the hostel after I had breakfast and get into the metro without decideing the place to go. I was just riding on the metro in order get closer to the centrum but I have no idea to go. I really don't feel like that I want to go to so called touristic places. Moreover I haven't been making this kind of travel for the past eight months.
On the way to hostel by bicycle where I am staying at the moment, I go through "the Arch of Triumph" which is regarded as a symbol of Paris for Japanese people. I only saw the Effel Tower from a metro but it was smaller than Tokyo tower. I think Tokyo tower is the copy of Effel but Tokyo tower is 333m hight from the ground which I strongly higher than Effel, right?
Anyway after getting off the metro somewhere in the sentral area, I probably go to the Rouve in order to watch some paintings. I am interested in those paintings from few hundreds years ago but watching statues for me it was boring. I skipped that part. Even so, the museum is very huge. Venus de Molo is fine, by the way! At the museum I hear a lots of Japanese but I didn't communicate with them. This is Japanse culture at least for me. Sometimes when I talk about it to the Europeans they couldn't understand and they probably say "why didn't you talk to them?" I might say because it's them.
To tell the truth, I didn't feel good since I came to here in Paris. I still feel sick and couldn't recovered it well. In addition staying at a hostel cost more or less 20 euro per day and at the momement I couldn't find a value to stay there.
The thing what I should do in here is to take a rest and do the thing what I want to. I want to learn about immigrants in Paris and I asked my teacher what I chould do in Paris. (as well as French but that's not top priority at the moment) If I were just staying at the hostel hunging around in the city, it won't be a big differences between what I am doing in Tokyo.
That's why I bought two books today.
One book is written in French and the other one is in English.
As you know I cannot understand French but I will try to read somehow to get a help from the people in Paris or trying to understand from the dictionary.
The first book I bought is the titled "IMMIGRANTS YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS THEM", which is about immigrants in the global city such as London, Washington DC... I only read few pages at the book store and I felt it is interesting to read and good to know about immigrants breifly. I think this is the first book in English that I really interested to read about. Especially I am staying in France, English is worth reading.
The another one written in French is the book which my teacher in Japan recommend me to read before I get into Paris.(too late I am coming!)
The authur of that book is the teacher of my teacher as fas as he told me. He is French. According to my teacher's information there is the same book which is written in Englisg but I couldn't find it in here. Here isn't in London, is it? The title of the book is "Parias urbains" written by Loic Wacquant.
I even don't know what is written in the book exactly but it is something about the Ghetto in Paris the places where a lots of poor people living in where is located outside of Paris from wikipedia. That's what I want to know and go.
I feel probably go back to Japan from Paris since my energy hasn't come. If I could I also want to go to London but I feel it wouold be hard for me to take my bike to get there.
In the reception and a bar at the hostel where I staying there is an English girl from Berminghan and she is pretty. I though French girl is one of the most beautiful girl in Europe but British would be win!
As everyone know if you once had an experience to live in Paris, one third of the people in Paris might immigrant and a lots of poor people at the undergrounds.
Yuji @ Paris 9
21.12.09
LOUVRE
Four days passed since I came to Paris as well as youth hostel close to Bastille. In the evening people at the public space in the hostel starts to talk. I am normally sitting on the table and making something to eat with finding a person who want to talk.
As you know most of the Japanese people they are apt not to talk a lot with the people, which they are back to their room soonly. But for me, I really feel confortable in some part to meet a new people at there.
Yesterday I talked with a student from US and then started to talk Mexican couple and then a girl from Brazil and Tlinida-do tobaco joined us, which was really international to talking with them. My room mate was the guy from US and another man from Benezuera. From the view point of politics they were really bad as far as I heard but we enjoyed talking.
Even people say that in France people speak French and they don't want to talk in English. In my four days experience that is not true. Still English is the most important language to talk with the people who are from all over the world. However, when I want to talk with the man at the hostel I have to speak French. Since my French has been still poor, it is hard to communicate with them unfortunately.
At breakfast, I talked with a girl from Indonesia and I told her that for the past four days I was in Paris and only walking from hostel to library and haven't been any touristic places. In addition, I have been trying to cure my throat.
Then in this morning she told me with a little anger that I should visit somewhere in those touristic places! And I finally decided to visit Louvre with the American room mate.
It was funny for me that a lot of Japanese people who are staying at the hostel they really want to visit museum. I personally not the person who really like hanging around museums when I was in Japan because those pictures and statues looks same for me.(Am I boring person?) If I really try to understand what is the statue or scaluptures I have to know about the history which is hidding behind the back. Even I am in Paris I don't have to visit those museums but I feel that I coulnb't sometimes catch up with those conversation which we make with the people at hostel.
That is not isolation. I would say that the differences between people who come to Paris as a tourist and a person who want to take some rest.
Anyway, we were in Louvre. I didn't feel anything special when I was in front of La Joconde. The reason was it was pretty far from her and there are a lots of people took pictire to her. I didn't feel why she has good reputation? She is not so cute neither beautiful. She was there, that's it. Or no?
Just before visiting Louvre, I bought a post card of Renoir "La lecon de piano" and Van gogh "Le cafe le soir", those peinting looks much better than the rial Monariza.
The value to visit Louvre for me was the entrance fee in this time. Normally when you go to Louvre you have to pay 9 euro except for late evening both Monday and Wedensday. (6 euro) I was thingking the possibility to buy something cheap because it didn't feel good price to go to the museum for 9 euro one time. And then I saw an ad. about one year pass for Louvre which was 15 euro under 26 and then I finally decided to buy that one. When I was at the ticket counter the woman told me that I can buy that ticket only with 13 euro since I show my student card to her.
Yes! so I can visit everday in Louvre with special cards and I can come with my freind in the late eveing for both Wedensday and Friday. I haven't decided by when I am going to stay in Paris but it would be nice to touch French as well as european culture from arts.
One place where I really want to visit is the gate of Triumph which must be one of the symbol of Paris. But before recovering my sickness I will be in library and maybe in Louvre escaping from bad sickness.
Yuji @ Paris, France
PS. Even Today is a week day but Louvre was a full of people because of the one year pass? Maybe??
As you know most of the Japanese people they are apt not to talk a lot with the people, which they are back to their room soonly. But for me, I really feel confortable in some part to meet a new people at there.
Yesterday I talked with a student from US and then started to talk Mexican couple and then a girl from Brazil and Tlinida-do tobaco joined us, which was really international to talking with them. My room mate was the guy from US and another man from Benezuera. From the view point of politics they were really bad as far as I heard but we enjoyed talking.
Even people say that in France people speak French and they don't want to talk in English. In my four days experience that is not true. Still English is the most important language to talk with the people who are from all over the world. However, when I want to talk with the man at the hostel I have to speak French. Since my French has been still poor, it is hard to communicate with them unfortunately.
At breakfast, I talked with a girl from Indonesia and I told her that for the past four days I was in Paris and only walking from hostel to library and haven't been any touristic places. In addition, I have been trying to cure my throat.
Then in this morning she told me with a little anger that I should visit somewhere in those touristic places! And I finally decided to visit Louvre with the American room mate.
It was funny for me that a lot of Japanese people who are staying at the hostel they really want to visit museum. I personally not the person who really like hanging around museums when I was in Japan because those pictures and statues looks same for me.(Am I boring person?) If I really try to understand what is the statue or scaluptures I have to know about the history which is hidding behind the back. Even I am in Paris I don't have to visit those museums but I feel that I coulnb't sometimes catch up with those conversation which we make with the people at hostel.
That is not isolation. I would say that the differences between people who come to Paris as a tourist and a person who want to take some rest.
Anyway, we were in Louvre. I didn't feel anything special when I was in front of La Joconde. The reason was it was pretty far from her and there are a lots of people took pictire to her. I didn't feel why she has good reputation? She is not so cute neither beautiful. She was there, that's it. Or no?
Just before visiting Louvre, I bought a post card of Renoir "La lecon de piano" and Van gogh "Le cafe le soir", those peinting looks much better than the rial Monariza.
The value to visit Louvre for me was the entrance fee in this time. Normally when you go to Louvre you have to pay 9 euro except for late evening both Monday and Wedensday. (6 euro) I was thingking the possibility to buy something cheap because it didn't feel good price to go to the museum for 9 euro one time. And then I saw an ad. about one year pass for Louvre which was 15 euro under 26 and then I finally decided to buy that one. When I was at the ticket counter the woman told me that I can buy that ticket only with 13 euro since I show my student card to her.
Yes! so I can visit everday in Louvre with special cards and I can come with my freind in the late eveing for both Wedensday and Friday. I haven't decided by when I am going to stay in Paris but it would be nice to touch French as well as european culture from arts.
One place where I really want to visit is the gate of Triumph which must be one of the symbol of Paris. But before recovering my sickness I will be in library and maybe in Louvre escaping from bad sickness.
Yuji @ Paris, France
PS. Even Today is a week day but Louvre was a full of people because of the one year pass? Maybe??
18.12.09
Paris!
I thought it could be possible to take a bicycle into train from Brussel to Paris but was not true.
When I tried to buy a ticket to Paris, the person at a counter told me that I cannot ride a train with bicycle. Since I tried to learn French (Brussel is the city where people speak French), I dercided that I won't speak any English at that time. When the person asked me if I can speak English like "Do you speak English" and I said "Non. Japansk." Reminding of the situation what I was facing with I should speak English. The person said to me that "You cannot ride on your bike with train!" in Japanese from a paper which was translated from Franch into Japanese.
I wanted trying to ask what kind of option do I have to get to Paris with bicycle but I couldn't ask them with my poor French. After few minutes later I really feel solely and started to cry in public. I didn't know the reason exactly why I started to cry but I cannot help crying at that moment.
After that I decided to break my bike in order to attach my bag to ride on the train. About two hours later, I finally packed it up and could buy a ticket to Paris with the same person. I only said "Pari".
The luggedge was incredible heavy! It was over 30kg and I couldn't walk straightly but that was the thing what I could do at that time. The another choice which I could think except for packing that I could ride on it to Paris with snow. That must be hard and I didn't have enough motivation to get here. Or I could let my bike at Brussels which I really didn't want it to do that as you know.
After I got to the station in Paris, I finally started to use English. People in Paris they speak English more than in Tokyo I feel and finally could get to the hostel which I booked. I don't exactly know but there are a lots of Japanese people staying at the hostel. The beginning of this journey I really didn't want to talk in Japanese but now I could communicate with Japanese people. Probably I have already sartisfied with my English and want to learn French.
It is quite strange that I feel that I don't really feel like wanna go to Effel tower or those kind of places what we call, tourist places. Moreover I simply want to take some rest for me to reminds my appatite. I will be stay at the same hostel until 22nd of Dec then to move another one.
Yuji @ Paris, France
PS. I don't feel that I am in France. Crossing q border by train makes me feel no border in Europe.
When I tried to buy a ticket to Paris, the person at a counter told me that I cannot ride a train with bicycle. Since I tried to learn French (Brussel is the city where people speak French), I dercided that I won't speak any English at that time. When the person asked me if I can speak English like "Do you speak English" and I said "Non. Japansk." Reminding of the situation what I was facing with I should speak English. The person said to me that "You cannot ride on your bike with train!" in Japanese from a paper which was translated from Franch into Japanese.
I wanted trying to ask what kind of option do I have to get to Paris with bicycle but I couldn't ask them with my poor French. After few minutes later I really feel solely and started to cry in public. I didn't know the reason exactly why I started to cry but I cannot help crying at that moment.
After that I decided to break my bike in order to attach my bag to ride on the train. About two hours later, I finally packed it up and could buy a ticket to Paris with the same person. I only said "Pari".
The luggedge was incredible heavy! It was over 30kg and I couldn't walk straightly but that was the thing what I could do at that time. The another choice which I could think except for packing that I could ride on it to Paris with snow. That must be hard and I didn't have enough motivation to get here. Or I could let my bike at Brussels which I really didn't want it to do that as you know.
After I got to the station in Paris, I finally started to use English. People in Paris they speak English more than in Tokyo I feel and finally could get to the hostel which I booked. I don't exactly know but there are a lots of Japanese people staying at the hostel. The beginning of this journey I really didn't want to talk in Japanese but now I could communicate with Japanese people. Probably I have already sartisfied with my English and want to learn French.
It is quite strange that I feel that I don't really feel like wanna go to Effel tower or those kind of places what we call, tourist places. Moreover I simply want to take some rest for me to reminds my appatite. I will be stay at the same hostel until 22nd of Dec then to move another one.
Yuji @ Paris, France
PS. I don't feel that I am in France. Crossing q border by train makes me feel no border in Europe.
15.12.09
At Youth Hostel
Even I have started to stay at youth hostel, it won't easy to sleep deeply as I expected. Dusseldorf, Koln, Luven(Belgium), and Brussels.
At a room, there are 6-8 beds inside and people can sleep freely but it depends on a person when they are going to sleep and wake up, which cannot help disturbing someones dream. Even I pay some money for sleeping, but I feel that camping is much better that to sleep in the doorms unless rain comes.
However, tempretures in outside in these couple of days are very low and hard to go around outside. That was -2C. (It was even hard to believe!)
Luckly, yesterday when I tried to make a food in a kitchin at the hostel, I met a guy from Japan and surprisingly he came from the same school as I have belonged. He is a senior student and have been to US for his exchange program which I wanted to go. (Unfortunately, I couldn't pass the exam)
I enjoyed talking with him about some topics for schools, future, those topics which students like. After that we got a offer to play cards and we goined them. Those two girls who offered us to play they are from Sweden and Spain respectively. And both are student which I strongly feel that talking with the people from same generation is one of my prersure for my journey.
_____________________________________________________________________________
[from "Believe"]
When you feel like being hurted and couldn't coming out from darkness.
I will be in besides of you to suppor of your back.
The earth go rounding with hopeing for the world.
And now the time we try to open the door for the future wishing those sadness and suffering will turned to be happiness soonly.
I believe in future.
______________________________________________________________________________
Yuji@ Brussels, Belgium
At a room, there are 6-8 beds inside and people can sleep freely but it depends on a person when they are going to sleep and wake up, which cannot help disturbing someones dream. Even I pay some money for sleeping, but I feel that camping is much better that to sleep in the doorms unless rain comes.
However, tempretures in outside in these couple of days are very low and hard to go around outside. That was -2C. (It was even hard to believe!)
Luckly, yesterday when I tried to make a food in a kitchin at the hostel, I met a guy from Japan and surprisingly he came from the same school as I have belonged. He is a senior student and have been to US for his exchange program which I wanted to go. (Unfortunately, I couldn't pass the exam)
I enjoyed talking with him about some topics for schools, future, those topics which students like. After that we got a offer to play cards and we goined them. Those two girls who offered us to play they are from Sweden and Spain respectively. And both are student which I strongly feel that talking with the people from same generation is one of my prersure for my journey.
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[from "Believe"]
When you feel like being hurted and couldn't coming out from darkness.
I will be in besides of you to suppor of your back.
The earth go rounding with hopeing for the world.
And now the time we try to open the door for the future wishing those sadness and suffering will turned to be happiness soonly.
I believe in future.
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Yuji@ Brussels, Belgium
11.12.09
X'mas and New Year in Paris
Even though I couldn't ride on my bike for these two weeks after Holland, I cannot make a lots of time to take some rest except for those dreaming days.
I ran with my bike from Dusseldorf to Koln but others were not riding on my bike. Instead I traveled by train with bicycle. Holland, Germany, Belgium and France, those country can possible to carry on my bike to most of the trains as far as I heard. Actually, I took four times in tortal to travel in these region.
It was so nice to stay at youth hostel in Dusseldorf and I feel that I have to be there in order to take some rest for further journey as well as touching for French as I told you before. That's why I am going to Paris for the rest of Dec. to stay at youth hostle and do everthing what I want to. I haven't decided to if I tay in Paris in Jan. either to find a place to stay in Paris or going up to London.
For the next few days, I will be in Belgium and after that I will take a train to Paris. I have to use my brain instead of my mustle.
Before going to get there, I am trying to make it clear the reason why I am going to Paris.
Firstly, I want to study French. I know it's impossible to speak well only for a month or two but I somehow trying to speak as much as I can. People in Europe, they say, people in Paris or Franch they can't speak English which would be nice to study French. (some people say Paris is the only place where you can possible to comminucate in English)I know a lot's of problems about communicateion without language but I think it would be fine as I experiences in Eastern Europe. Moreover, I am really happy that the French mentality would be nice for me.
Yesterday, I was at a table with five of all. A couple from Germany and a girl from France and Belgium. I think that was my first time to hear about French between the conversation with two people. Of course, I couldn't hear what they were talking about. But the thing what I surprised was the girl could speak English as well. Sometimes people in and out side of their country they are pretty different. Most of Germany who are outside of their country they can speak English very well. Only I could hear "Oui", by the way.
The another reason to go to Paris is that I want to know about the immigrants in Paris since I have heard about a lots of problems with. As far as I heard, Paris is the best city where the number of immigrants in Europe. It would be nice to see those people in Paris for my study.
Lastly, I simply need a place to take a rest before going up to UK. If I go now I won't have a power to do anything and I don't know if I have a chance or motivation to go to Paris. Do first, what I want.
X'mas and New year in Paris sounds cool and I think I can find something interesting to stay in those day.
If you know about good tips for Paris, I'd be glad to hear!!
Yuji @ Maastricht, Holland
I ran with my bike from Dusseldorf to Koln but others were not riding on my bike. Instead I traveled by train with bicycle. Holland, Germany, Belgium and France, those country can possible to carry on my bike to most of the trains as far as I heard. Actually, I took four times in tortal to travel in these region.
It was so nice to stay at youth hostel in Dusseldorf and I feel that I have to be there in order to take some rest for further journey as well as touching for French as I told you before. That's why I am going to Paris for the rest of Dec. to stay at youth hostle and do everthing what I want to. I haven't decided to if I tay in Paris in Jan. either to find a place to stay in Paris or going up to London.
For the next few days, I will be in Belgium and after that I will take a train to Paris. I have to use my brain instead of my mustle.
Before going to get there, I am trying to make it clear the reason why I am going to Paris.
Firstly, I want to study French. I know it's impossible to speak well only for a month or two but I somehow trying to speak as much as I can. People in Europe, they say, people in Paris or Franch they can't speak English which would be nice to study French. (some people say Paris is the only place where you can possible to comminucate in English)I know a lot's of problems about communicateion without language but I think it would be fine as I experiences in Eastern Europe. Moreover, I am really happy that the French mentality would be nice for me.
Yesterday, I was at a table with five of all. A couple from Germany and a girl from France and Belgium. I think that was my first time to hear about French between the conversation with two people. Of course, I couldn't hear what they were talking about. But the thing what I surprised was the girl could speak English as well. Sometimes people in and out side of their country they are pretty different. Most of Germany who are outside of their country they can speak English very well. Only I could hear "Oui", by the way.
The another reason to go to Paris is that I want to know about the immigrants in Paris since I have heard about a lots of problems with. As far as I heard, Paris is the best city where the number of immigrants in Europe. It would be nice to see those people in Paris for my study.
Lastly, I simply need a place to take a rest before going up to UK. If I go now I won't have a power to do anything and I don't know if I have a chance or motivation to go to Paris. Do first, what I want.
X'mas and New year in Paris sounds cool and I think I can find something interesting to stay in those day.
If you know about good tips for Paris, I'd be glad to hear!!
Yuji @ Maastricht, Holland
8.12.09
Dreaming Days
Both in Leiden and Dusseldorf, I met two freinds each who I knew before this journey.
The guy from Leiden who has been to Japan to study Japanese as well as for his MA study at my neibouring university. In addition, he was participated in our seminar's study tour to Indonesia in 2008. We had a nice time in both.
A woman from Dusseldorf who she is blonging to the same university as I. At the same time she has studied with the same teacher of my seminar called KG. Even before she started to live here with her husbund, I took part in with her PHD class which I was very interested in.
Those days when I stayed with them in a past one week, I was very relaxed to stay talking Japanese as well as tuching Japanese mentality which we have.
The last time to meet a guy from Leiden was last Feb. brfore he was back to Holland at the Sibuya St. in Tokyo after we done a last drunk in there. Few days ago, we met in Leiden after long break and he showed me around. The city was really beautiful looks like pretty AMS and I enjoyed drinking with him as well as his friend. Since he was back to here, he is hard to make a time to speak Japanese and looks like hunger to speak it as I was. We were talking with Japanese as much as we can at the first day we met again. The next day when Santa Claus Day in Holland, he showed me at his pretty city with some Dutch foods. One of the finest thing which I ate was a fish called "nishin" in Japanese. That was very tasty and reminds me Japan. Just few days before I came to at his place, he with his girlfriend went to Japan and some of the Asian country for traveling. Even after he back to Holland, he looked that he want to get in touch with Japan. It was easiliy to understand how he is crazy to Japan once you saw a lot of manga such as "Hazimeno-ippo" out of his shelf. According to his information, he is the only MA student who haven't done for his final thesis to his study. I hope that he will work out before too late! He bought me a lots of foods. I really appreciate about it.
The wonam who I really respect from Dusseldorf in Germany I met her last time in Tokyo close to my uni. on Feb 2008 when was about two years ago. She is a person who strongly have a Japanese mentality more than that I have. Two days when I hanging out with her were really great and important time to my mentality. It won't hard to find the similar person who have a Japanese mentality even in Japan which I strongly feel in these two days. She always tried to think what I want to do and gave me a lots as much as her could. Again, I haven't met such a woman who have strongly has a Japanese mentality even in Japan.
What I felt from her with our conversation was that she was hard to make a life in Germany even she can speak both English and Germany (English won't work in here, by the way) . Why? Because there is a big differences between the people in Germany or I would say in Europe and Japan. People in Europe they think "I am the first." When they need something they require strongly or try to make them happy by theirself. But in contrast as I told you before typical Japanese people they might wait before something happen even though we want to something. I heard from her that there are several things which people feel rude when she tried to do something with Japanese way. It is not easy to live at a place where is a big cultural differences. In addition, she is writing a paper to her PHD school in Japan but for her it is not easy to write in her life having a cultural differences as well as language differences.
If you think that languages are not a part of culture, culture is important than language. I need English to travel but it is not enough to make my travel confortable in here. I cannot completely understand what mentality they have! How people's mentality is different from Asia and Europe. Both should be respect but both should be adaptable.
I know a little bit how hard to make a life in a middle of European country as a stranger. That's what I want to write for a graduation paper by the way!!
I hope she will be fine to live in Germany!!
I am going back to Japan in a next few months but she won't be back in next few year I think. However, I simply hope we can meet again in next ten year somewhere in the world.
She gave me everything while I was in Dusseldorf. Doumo arigatou gozaimashita.
People who have same identity helping with each other in the world.
Nations makes a small family outside of that country.
Yuji @ Dusseldorf, Germany
PS. Who said Dusseldorf is a boring city? Seeing is believing!!
Dusseldorf is the best city with the number of Japanese people in Europe. I came across a "Japan town" in Europe. Nihonshu, umakattna-
The guy from Leiden who has been to Japan to study Japanese as well as for his MA study at my neibouring university. In addition, he was participated in our seminar's study tour to Indonesia in 2008. We had a nice time in both.
A woman from Dusseldorf who she is blonging to the same university as I. At the same time she has studied with the same teacher of my seminar called KG. Even before she started to live here with her husbund, I took part in with her PHD class which I was very interested in.
Those days when I stayed with them in a past one week, I was very relaxed to stay talking Japanese as well as tuching Japanese mentality which we have.
The last time to meet a guy from Leiden was last Feb. brfore he was back to Holland at the Sibuya St. in Tokyo after we done a last drunk in there. Few days ago, we met in Leiden after long break and he showed me around. The city was really beautiful looks like pretty AMS and I enjoyed drinking with him as well as his friend. Since he was back to here, he is hard to make a time to speak Japanese and looks like hunger to speak it as I was. We were talking with Japanese as much as we can at the first day we met again. The next day when Santa Claus Day in Holland, he showed me at his pretty city with some Dutch foods. One of the finest thing which I ate was a fish called "nishin" in Japanese. That was very tasty and reminds me Japan. Just few days before I came to at his place, he with his girlfriend went to Japan and some of the Asian country for traveling. Even after he back to Holland, he looked that he want to get in touch with Japan. It was easiliy to understand how he is crazy to Japan once you saw a lot of manga such as "Hazimeno-ippo" out of his shelf. According to his information, he is the only MA student who haven't done for his final thesis to his study. I hope that he will work out before too late! He bought me a lots of foods. I really appreciate about it.
The wonam who I really respect from Dusseldorf in Germany I met her last time in Tokyo close to my uni. on Feb 2008 when was about two years ago. She is a person who strongly have a Japanese mentality more than that I have. Two days when I hanging out with her were really great and important time to my mentality. It won't hard to find the similar person who have a Japanese mentality even in Japan which I strongly feel in these two days. She always tried to think what I want to do and gave me a lots as much as her could. Again, I haven't met such a woman who have strongly has a Japanese mentality even in Japan.
What I felt from her with our conversation was that she was hard to make a life in Germany even she can speak both English and Germany (English won't work in here, by the way) . Why? Because there is a big differences between the people in Germany or I would say in Europe and Japan. People in Europe they think "I am the first." When they need something they require strongly or try to make them happy by theirself. But in contrast as I told you before typical Japanese people they might wait before something happen even though we want to something. I heard from her that there are several things which people feel rude when she tried to do something with Japanese way. It is not easy to live at a place where is a big cultural differences. In addition, she is writing a paper to her PHD school in Japan but for her it is not easy to write in her life having a cultural differences as well as language differences.
If you think that languages are not a part of culture, culture is important than language. I need English to travel but it is not enough to make my travel confortable in here. I cannot completely understand what mentality they have! How people's mentality is different from Asia and Europe. Both should be respect but both should be adaptable.
I know a little bit how hard to make a life in a middle of European country as a stranger. That's what I want to write for a graduation paper by the way!!
I hope she will be fine to live in Germany!!
I am going back to Japan in a next few months but she won't be back in next few year I think. However, I simply hope we can meet again in next ten year somewhere in the world.
She gave me everything while I was in Dusseldorf. Doumo arigatou gozaimashita.
People who have same identity helping with each other in the world.
Nations makes a small family outside of that country.
Yuji @ Dusseldorf, Germany
PS. Who said Dusseldorf is a boring city? Seeing is believing!!
Dusseldorf is the best city with the number of Japanese people in Europe. I came across a "Japan town" in Europe. Nihonshu, umakattna-
1.12.09
Liberal Country
In the past few days from the airport I still didn't have a power to take my bike in order to get from one city to another especially if it is raining. Actually the day when I left at the airport, I took a train from there to get into the central Amsterdam. Then I stayed two nights in the city center and moved to Utrecht by train as well. The day was raining and I felt that "Maybe I can go by bike in the rain but I don't have to do that. When I feel like tired, I have to take a rest."
From Amsterdam to Utrecht, it takes only 30 minutes by train and was easy to find the train to get there. The main reason to visit Utrecht was neither visiting beautiful old town nor university. I got a family who I want to meet.
Actually, I met them in Finland this summer! When I was in Turku archioerago they were also traveling by bicycle from Helsinki. We met at a ferry and talking all the time while we were there and then we finally decided that we were going toghthere by bicycle for couple of days. I really enjoyed talking with them from some stupid topic to social problems. And then they offered me to stay in Utrecht when I come to the city. Four months later we met again in Utrecht.
I really feel from them that people, the way of thinking are very liberal. They are talktative and very honest and easy going. This is the feeling what I feel not only from them but also another people from Holland. And I strongly feel like these liberal thinking coming from their society. For example, gay people they can openly to say "I am gay!" and the society accepted as far as I heard. And in Amsterdam there is a district called "Red Light district" where there are a lot of girls trying to ask for a man who want to have sex or something just in front of the window with their under pants. It is looks like the same when we saw some dogs or cats selling over the window. I will say that this kind of show must forbidden in Japan and definetely we need a gurde in front of the show window. But the thing people who want to see those girls they can do from the street. And if you don't want to do that you won't go there. In Netherlands, people have a lot of option different from our society which I feel like the country is liberal. I figure out through this journey strongly what is liberal which I didn't feel in Japan.
If I were them, I am not sure that can offer a place to stay in Japan. The thing that we in Japanese people they are not used to having a guest at their place. But I feel from here that it is very nice thing to do that even though we have to be care about the people who I am trying to offer the place.
Yuji @ Utrecht, Netherlands
PS. I will move to Rotterdam today. Maybe go by bike!!
From Amsterdam to Utrecht, it takes only 30 minutes by train and was easy to find the train to get there. The main reason to visit Utrecht was neither visiting beautiful old town nor university. I got a family who I want to meet.
Actually, I met them in Finland this summer! When I was in Turku archioerago they were also traveling by bicycle from Helsinki. We met at a ferry and talking all the time while we were there and then we finally decided that we were going toghthere by bicycle for couple of days. I really enjoyed talking with them from some stupid topic to social problems. And then they offered me to stay in Utrecht when I come to the city. Four months later we met again in Utrecht.
I really feel from them that people, the way of thinking are very liberal. They are talktative and very honest and easy going. This is the feeling what I feel not only from them but also another people from Holland. And I strongly feel like these liberal thinking coming from their society. For example, gay people they can openly to say "I am gay!" and the society accepted as far as I heard. And in Amsterdam there is a district called "Red Light district" where there are a lot of girls trying to ask for a man who want to have sex or something just in front of the window with their under pants. It is looks like the same when we saw some dogs or cats selling over the window. I will say that this kind of show must forbidden in Japan and definetely we need a gurde in front of the show window. But the thing people who want to see those girls they can do from the street. And if you don't want to do that you won't go there. In Netherlands, people have a lot of option different from our society which I feel like the country is liberal. I figure out through this journey strongly what is liberal which I didn't feel in Japan.
If I were them, I am not sure that can offer a place to stay in Japan. The thing that we in Japanese people they are not used to having a guest at their place. But I feel from here that it is very nice thing to do that even though we have to be care about the people who I am trying to offer the place.
Yuji @ Utrecht, Netherlands
PS. I will move to Rotterdam today. Maybe go by bike!!
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