About+me

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 * About Me **

I am from Shiga prefecture in Japan now studying as a graduate student at [|Saint Michael's College]in Vermont, USA. There are some common aspects between my hometown and Vermont. I grew up in a quite safe and clean neighborhood surrounded by rich green and fresh air like Vermont. In my childhood, I often hiked the mountains near my place bringing lunch with my family and friends. When I was a senior in college, I studied abroad in the USA as an exchange student. It was one of the best moments in my life. Now, here I am back in the states again, and consider the USA my second hometown.

What I think is special about my hometown is a festival which is held for three days in April. This is called "Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri", which celebrates the birth of a child of the well known general [|Hideyoshi Toyotomi]in the Azuchi-momoyama era. In this festival, boys under 12 years old perform [|kabuki], a performance with stylized movement, speech and dress; since the general had been waiting for the birth of a boy as his successor, and since girls were not allowed to inherit, girls are not allowed to even get on the stage.
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 * ** Kabuki ** ||

Regarding my work experience, I have had two types of jobs in full time capacity; one is to teach English at elementary school while the other was working as a sales associate at a securities firm. Both experiences gave me many insights and thoughts about my future career. These insights and thoughts made me determined to start graduate study. In the future, I am hoping to teach English at high school as the first step of my new career as an English teacher.

About my personal interests: I like doing active things such as swimming and running; and hanging out with friends when I have free time. I also like reading fantasy novels, and various other kinds of books.

Developed by Mika Sakamoto. GSL520/GED565: Computer-Assisted Language Learning Online [|Saint Michale's College] Last updated on June 19th, 2010. email: msakamoto@smcvt.edu