A Learner's Permit

I got a learner's permit today! I started to go to the driving school in my spring vacation, but I couldn't feel happy. So, it took me much time to get the learner's permit. Now, I'm very happy because I got over the first obstacle. From now, I'll challenge to drive a car on the street. I want to get a driving license as soon as I can.

My Part-Time Job

I work part-time in a cram school twice a week. I teach English and math, but mainly English. Now, I take charge of nine junior high school students. I feel all of them like my brother and sister. For their dream will come true, I'll do everything I can do for them.

The Wind in the Willows

I read one book "The Wind in the Willows." Mainly, four animals appear in this story. They are water rat, mole, badger and toad.

First of all, Mole met Rat at the bank. Rat was across the river. They became friendly and began to live toghther in Rat's house.

One day, Mole and Rat visited Toad. Toad is friend of Rat. Toad likes something new, but also he soon loses interest. He can hardly stop talking about himself because he is proud of himself so much.

Toad met them with delight. And he showed them his beautiful red and yellow caravan. It was the most favorite thing for Toad then. He asked them to start with this caravan toghther. This temptation made Mole excited but made Rat anxiety.

Rat's fear came true. In the way of their journy, suddenly they saw a lot of dust in front of them with a loud noise "Poop, poop!" The caravan fell over in the road. It was a car. Rat was very angry. But Toad said again and again, "Poop, poop!" He was fascinated by the car. The next day, he bought a large and very expensive car in London.

Next, Mole wanted to meet Rat's friend Badger. Rat refused it because Badger doesn't like visitors. But Mole had Badger at heart.

One afternoon in the middle of winter, Mole went out to visit Badger while Rat's sleep. Mole entered the Wild Wood where Badger lives. But the day turned into the night, he couldn't his way. He was too tired and scared to walk anymore. So, he stopped and slept in the hole under the big tree.

Rat woke to find that Mole wasn't there. He worried about Moly, but he noticed that Moly went out to visit Badger. Moly doesn't know the Wild Wood. Rat left home hastily with a small gun and a heavy stick. He walked for more than one hour, but he couldn't find Mole. Rat cried and found hard. Then, Mole replied "I'm here!" At last, Rat found Mole.

They went out of the hole after Mole's an hour sleeping. But then, everything was changed into white by snow. So, they couldn't find their way out of the Wild Wood. They were very tired. But then, Rat noticed that there was a house nere them. After about ten minutes, Rat found a little door. There were the words MR BADGER on the door. Rat began to hit the door and shouted, "Badger!"

After a long time, the door opened and somebody shouted angrily, "Who's there? I don't want any visitors!" But, as he found that Rat is behind the door, he became friendly and showed them in his house. Badger made dinner for tired them. After that, Badger asked them about Toad. Rat told him all about Toad. Toad is a bad driver and he had six accidents before, but he won't stop driving. Badger thought that we'll must do something for Toad as his friend. Next day, Rat and Mole got out from Wild Wood and came back to their home.

The winter ended. One morning, Badger visited Rat and Mole, because Badger felt that they have to talk to Toad. So, they went to Toad's house. Badger persuaded to stop driving a car, but Toad rejected it. Badger couldn't no longer put up with his behavior. Finally, Badger said "Mole, Rat, take Toad to his bedroom. Lock the door." After that, Badger, Rat and Mole kept watch by turns. One morning, Rat was in Toad's room. Toad said queitly, "I know I'm a bad driver. But I feel very ill. Perhaps I'm going to die." Rat ran out of the room to get the doctor without lock the door. But, Toad wasn't really ill! Toad left his house quietly. At lunchtime, he was a long way from Toad Hall. Then, he happened to find a car! He opened the door and got in because the driver wasn't there. He started it and drove away joyfully. But, the police caught Toad. Next day, the judge sentenced; "You have to go to prison for twenty years."

Toad was overwhelmed with grief in prison, and he thought his behavior over deeply. But then, he got to know a pretty girl. She was a daughter of one of the prison officer. She tried to escape Toad from the prison. She said "My aunt is a washerwoman. Give her some money and she'll give you her clothes. Then, you can leave the prison." Toad worked at the girl's suggestion, and he left the prison. But, he didn't know the way home. At that time, he found a train! However, he couldn't get on the train because he had no money. He began to cry. The driver saw Toad and spoke to him. Toad said "I have to get home tonight, or my children will have no food." The kind driver will see him home for nothing. After some time, the driver found that another train packed with a lot of policemen was behind them. Toad was in panic and told that everything was lie. But the driver said "I'll help you. We're coming to a tunnel. At the other end of the tunnel, there's a wood. You can jump off the train!" Toad jumped off and ran quickly into the wood. The police train didn't stop. Toad was so happy. But the wood was very quiet and dark. He slept in a hole he found.

The next morning, Toad woke up and started to walk. Then, he came to a river. There, he took one woman's horse and ran away. On his way home, he sold the horse, and got some money. After that, he walked for about an hour, so he began to feel tired. He heard a car behind him. He talked to the driver, but checked himself. He recognized the driver is who. The driver had own car stolen by Toad before! Toad sat down on the road and closed his eyes. But the driver didn't recognize Toad. The driver thought that a very ill washerwoman is there. The driver take Toad to the next village. Of all people, Toad asked the driver "Can I drive the car?" Then, Toad drove carefully for a minute or two, but then he drove very fast. Toad shouted "I'm not really a washerwoman. I'm clever Mr Toad!" The car went off the road and hit a tree. Toad ran into the river near him. Then a hand pushed him to the bank, and somebody talked to Toad. It was Ratty.

Toad told Rat about his adventures and said "I'm very clever!" But Rat said "You're not clever. Didn't you think about Mole and Badger and me? People say bad things about us because we're your friends." And Rat added that Toad Hall is occupied by the weasels now. Later, Badger and Mole came. Four animals planed to take back Toad Hall. Badger suggested entering to Toad Hall through the tunnel under the ground. Tomorrow night, the weasels will have a big party, so four animals will make a surprise attack. The next morning, Badger, Toad and Rat are fully prepared with each arms. But Mole wasn't there.

Late in the afternoon, Mole came in and said "I went to Toad Hall." Mole found Toad's washerwoman's clothes so put on them and went to Toad Hall. And Mole said to one weasel that A hundred brave, strong badgers are coming to Toad Hall with hundreds of rats and toads and moles. When it was dark, four animals went to inside of Toad Hall through the tunnel. Then, they ran into the middle of the party with their guns and sticks and knives. The weasels were surprised and afraid because they remembered the words of the washerwoman. Some weasels were hit and fell down on the floor, and others ran away. Now, Toad Hall is Toad's again. On that night, four animals slept there.

Next morning, Badger said to Toad that we'll have a party for Toad's friends tonight. Toad began to write the invitations as Badger was told soon. Toad had an idea as he went to his desk. The idea was he'll write some songs and sing them at the party. He began to write happily. But the invitations Toad write wasn't approve by Badger. Badger said "We don't any songs at the party tonight. And you don't have to tell your friends the story of your adventure." In the evening, Toad found that he was wrong and his friends were right. He sang one last song in his bedroom alone. At the party, Toad didn't tell anyone his adventure. Toad was different now.

After the big party, Toad lived quietly at Toad Hall. He sent some money to the prison officer's daughter. He wrote a nice letter to the train driver. But he didn't buy any more cars.

About My Self And Mind

Hello, my name is Miki O. Please call me Miki. I'm 19 years old. I study English in KGU. And, I belong to a volunteer club. The name of my club is "Asunarou." That means "Tomorrow, we will be a cypress." The name has our hopes of growing straight like cypress trees. I enjoy club activities with my special circle. My voluteer club activities are playing a central role in my university life.

And also, I really like Japanese rock music. My favorite rock bands are BUMP OF CHICKEN, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, BEAT CRUSADERS, ELLEGARDEN and so on. They are popular rock bands among people who love rock music like me. I'll bring their CDs! So, shall we listen to their music? If you like them, I'll be glad!

Next, I'll talk about my family. There are four people in my family. They are my father, my mother, my brother and me.

My father's name is Shuichi. He works for a factory. And my mother's name is Megumi. She is a housewife. At last, my brother Takahiro is 13 years old. He goes to Shimizu junior high school. My family is great I think. How about your family? I want to know you.

To be frank with you, I have misgivings about my homestay. Far from homestay, I have never been abroad. But, I decided to stay with your family because I hope to grow as a human being through this homestay. And, of course I want to enjoy my homestay with you. So, would you tell me any places to see? I'm waiting for your reply! And I'm looking forward to my homestay!