#12 SOY

Before I came to Boston, I supposed that soy products were considered as healthy foods in America since Japanese foods have become very popular in the U.S. in the last decade.

In fact, soy products WERE considered as healthy foods, and now it seems to me that there are many opponents against soy products.
Some says that consuming soy products would increase the risk of cancer, and unfortunately this idea has been disseminated all over the U.S.

Discussion about soy products is one of the big controversial topics in America.

No body could not anticipate this situation in a decade ago because soy beans were not well known food at that time in the U.S.
Today, many people discuss whether soy beans are beneficial food for us or not.
It means that people are very curious about soy beans.

I suppose that they have already known that soy beans are very healthy since Japanese people who eat many soy products are obviously healthier than American people.

However, sadly, every conspicuous people, products, or companies tend to be a target of criticism.

As a matter of fact, there is no wonder that soy beans are more beneficial foods than a jar of peanut butter.

Never will America's obesity problem be solved without changing the dietary customs.
Accepting soy products is one of the steps to solute the social problem.

Soy products such as tofu and miso are worth trying at least once for your health.
And, those products deserve to be the American staple food.

The way of retrieving the honor of soy beans is not likely easy, but I would rather be an advocate for soy beans than just a bystander.

#11 Hackschooling makes me happy: Logan LaPlante at TEDxUniversityofNevada

Hacking is not only to hack someone's computer, it also has a meaning of creating innovative something new such as products, markets, categories, and so on by cutting the existing those preconceived ideas, like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerburg did.

This 13 years old kid, Logan LaPlante, is trying to hack the new educational standard which is taking a home schooling and disseminated his idea through the TED talk.
Actually, Logan does not go to any school, instead he is taking a home schooling.
Before I watched this video, I had a negative image against a home schooling because I thought taking a home schooling was not enough to improve social skills.
But,  I was convinced that I did not know about positive affects of home shoaling at all.

At the beginning of his talk, he said, "I've been watching TED videos for as long as he can remember.  But I never thought I'd make it on stage so soon".
As he mentioned on his speech, typical teenagers are interested in video games, how to get her/him to like me, and worthless worries rather than watching TED talks.
At least, I had never willingly watched this kind of videos when I was in middle school and high school.
Our common topics were just about TV shows, who was the coolest and hottest, and some gossips.
I learned a lot which include both of academic knowledge and social skill from schools.
But, I've realized that  even if I would have all As on my grades, those records were valuable only in schools and for college application processes.  No body cares about our grades in schools after we graduate school and become a member of society.

As a matter of fact, I have never been asked my grades and scores by my customers and clients.
I think that many adults including me have noticed that a lot of knowledge which is taught in schools is not useful in a real work environment.

Also, almost all typical teenager may not willingly have a presentation at the front of many people, much less on the public space.
Even many adults tend to be nervous before a presentation, but Logan seemed like he had a confidence and was dignified attitude.
I couldn't believe that he was still 13 years old.

He has already known that what his future vision is and what he should learn for it.
He is not passive at all and I think this is a side effect of a home schooling.
On regular schools, students are apt to be passive because teachers give them homework, assignments, agenda, and tests.
On the other hand, students who are taking a home schooling are able to choose their interest subjects and to decide their own goals.

I cannot say either regular school systems or home schooling systems is better than another.
But, I can say from my experience that passive people will never be successful in the real work environment.

#10 BC

Yesterday, I participated in a meeting of the Boston Japanese & English language club after school.
This club is one of organizations from "meet-up" which is a social networking site.
They have a periodic meeting and last night was my second time to take part in the meeting.
Literally, this club is organized for people who are studying Japanese or interested in Japanese culture and Japanese native speakers.
I think that it is very good opportunity to communicate with people whose backgrounds are different.
Now, I'm struggling to acquire the ability of speaking natural English, so I can understand how difficult studying another language is.   Particularly, Japanese is one of the most difficult languages to master.  I prefer teaching something rather than learning something, so teaching something about Japan to foreigner people is very fun for me.
I wish my advise would be useful for them.

Anyway, to sustain high motivation is very difficult.  I particularly dislike studying, so it is very demanding for me.  But,  I found a good method of keeping high motivation toward studying which is visiting well-known universities.
Today,  I visited Boston College after school, it was the most beautiful college I ever visited.
One of our company's employees is going to Boston College as a business school student, so I visited him.  He introduced me some facilities and while I was walking around there, something hit me.
Somehow I became that I really wanted to study.   Visiting there motivated me to study harder.

#9 GREEK YOGURT

A half of my stay in Boston is over.
I've become accustomed to the life in Boston.
I've done one of big step to be a member of American society that I've overcome a peanut butter.
I still cannot say that a peanut butter is my favorite, but I found myself that I can eat it.

Also, I found very interesting food at the super market which was a greek yogurt.
I was supposed to buy a regular yogurt, but there were many variety of greek yogurts.
As a matter of fact, I've never tried it before, so I had no idea about it.
One of greek yogurt brands, which is named Chobani captured me.
The reason why I was interested in this brand was that it had many variety of flavors.
Generally, strawberry, blueberry, plane, and vanilla are typical flavors of yogurts.
But, Chobani has about 20 different flavors.

I bought 3 different flavors of Chobani yogurts because it was $4 for 3 cups.
Next morning, I ate Orange Vanilla flavored one.
Its taste was beyond my expectation.
I felt that greek yogurt was solider than regular yogurt.
I prefer a greek yogurt rather than regular yogurt.
I might be addicted to greek yogurts.
Actually, I bought another 6 pacs of Chobani yogurts after school at the super market.

In Japan, greek yogurt is not popular yet.
But, many people eat regular yogurts at every morning and they believe that it is very healthy.
I think we should distribute greek yogurts in Japan.

#8 Red Sox

Today, I went to Boston Red Sox's game after school.
It was my second time to watch a major league game on the stadium.
Boston Red Sox is the world champion of 2013 season and they have two eminent Japanese pitchers who are Uehara and Tazawa.

The final score of today's game was 4-3, and Boston won the game.
Today's opponent team was Cincinnati Reds.
Reds scored first 2 points by hitting a home run.  Then, Boston caught up with Reds by multi hits and Red added another point.
This was all I knew about today game because I left there after 7th inning to prevent a traffic congestion.
Unfortunately, there were some exciting scenes after I left the stadium.
Actually, Boston came from behind and won the game and also Uehara pitched as closer.
I missed the most exciting moment of the game.
I really resent myself….
This ending was totally coming out of left field.

#7 I got my stuff from Japan

KJ, who went back to Japan to see his baby, backed to school today.
He conveyed some of my stuff from Japan.
I asked my fiancé to take my stuff to the hospital where KJ's wife is, and KJ transported those items to me.
I do not want to criticize American foods; however, some of them are too sweet or too fatty.
Therefore, I asked my fiancé to put some Japanese snacks on the package.
Those snacks will comfort my fatigue.  Since I came to Boston, it has been mandatory to use my brain as much as possible.  As you know, sweets are appropriate nourishment for overworked brain.
I hope that my brain's capacity will be extended by taking some Japanese sweets.

Living in another country is not easy, especially for elder people, because people tend to be more stubborn as they older. It would be very difficult to accept another culture for them.
I cannot imagine that my parents move to the U.S. and accommodate new environment.
I think that they would be stressed out even they move to Tokyo or other big cities in Japan.
One of my classmates is almost same age as my father.  I can affirm that he has a great ability of accommodating new environment.  I really admire his efforts.

#6 Cinco de Mayo

Today was the Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican holiday.
I went to the Mexican restaurant after school and tried some Mexican ethnic appetizers and a glass of special margarita.
To experience an another culture's conventional event is very beneficial to grasp and accommodate that culture.  I could feel and understand what the Cinco de Mayo is.  
Anyway, it was really fun!!  I like the Cinco de Mayo!!

Actually, today, May 5th, was the Children's day holiday in Japan.
It was one of my favorite holidays when I was a kid.
It is the only day that kids can be naughty!!