Go For It!

Friday, September 5, 2008

Buffalo Wings

This is a famous food in Buffalo called

'Buffalo Wings'.

Before I came to the States, I was told by my English teacher I should eat this Buffalo chicken wings. He says many times it is tasty, loves it and you should try it. Since I came here, there has been no chance to eat one until this semester. But this semester I found a store on campus serving chicken wings. I believe it means I must eat chicken wings. After the last class today, I went and tried it. It is like fried chicken but its source is unique. It tastes sweet, sour and spicy. Umm, It is not bad but not so tasty for me. The source is like a mix of sugar, vinegar and toubanjan (a chinese seasoning). If bouillion had been added to the source, it would have been more tasty. Because I like fried chicken and sweet sour source, I want to definitely try one in another restaurant. I better ask somebody about restaurants that serve tasty chicken wings before I eat.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Downtown of Buffalo

Buffalo is the city my university is located in. It's only a 15-minute drive from its campus to the downtown of Buffalo. In spite the fact that I stayed Buffalo for the whole spring semester, 4 months, I never went to the downtown. I didn't even get out of the campus except for grocery shopping. I wasn't in good mood that I would go out because plenty of homework kept driving me crazy and the typical freezing cold weather tried making me stay home. It has passed four months since then, and the chilly and hard season passed away. This beautiful season drove me cheerful So I felt like going out to explore the city I have been living in.

A view of the downtown of Buffalo from Lake Erie

The downtown of Buffalo has many tall buildings for its small city. Buffalo used to be flourished until the early 20th century as an ore shipping port, steel-making operation and grain-milling center. It used to rank 8th largest city in the states in 19th century but it is now a local city western New York state.

A photo of downtown. This shot was taken Saturday afternoon, and although there were a lot of stores along the street, there were only few people in the photo. There should have been a lot of people on Saturday's promenade. I felt it like a ghost town. So, when I got to the downtown, I hesitated to get off the train. The odd air made me nervous. But finally, my curiosity got me to decide to get out of the train.

City hall of Buffalo

I felt the past prosperity from the city hall.

Lake Erie

I couldn't stop thinking it was ocean seeing the waves coming. It is much larger than Shikoku!!

This short trip was so nice to forget all about the college study. As long as the nice weather lasts, I will go enjoy Buffalo.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Football season (アメフトの季節)

It's raining now. It looks like I wouldn't be able to go for a walk today.

In spite of the rain, a lot of people are gathering and heading for the stadium. That's because this season's first match of Bulls, a university football team, is going to start today. The people are so enthusiastic and love our team. They're already drinking beer and barbecuing at parking lots. I heard this is a common scene of a football match. I wanna go join one when another game takes place.

Walk Distance: 30 min, 1.5 miles (2.4 km)

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Fall season (秋到来)

The temperature outside during daytime rose to only 20 degrees, and it was chilly like a day I used to go mushroom-picking in the middle of October.

気温は日中で20度までしか上がらなく、朝も10月中旬のまつたけを穫りにいく時のような感じ寒さ。ここは残暑とは無縁のよう。

It's about the season to pick fruit. The pictures are about fruit that I found walking on campus. As I've paid college tuition and fees a lot, I bet I have right to eat the fruit.

自然の果物も食べごろになってきたようだ．ウォーキング中に見つけた実。キャンパスの中の茂みにあるので、授業料のほか様々な料金を払ってる自分は食べる権利があるはず。

Apples りんご

Grapes ぶどう

Pears 西洋なし

Walnuts くるみ

I woke up today at 2 am. So I can say " it worked but is not sufficient." I may have no option but try to get accustomed to the Buffalo time gradually.

Walk Distance: 1 hour, 3 miles (4.8 km)

Monday, August 25, 2008

First Day and Walking

Today is the first day of this semester.

The classes are what I've really wanted. They seem tough. The classes I took previous semester were too easy. So I'm satisfied with and excited about taking them.

今日は今セメスターの初日。

授業は自分が望んでいたものだった。難しそうだ。前セメスターの授業が簡単過ぎたので、今回のに満足していて、わくわくしている。

As I wrote the previous post, today's classes were introductions. As we haven't had assignments yet, I had free time in the evening. So I went for a walk around the campus. During the summer in Japan, I often worked out and to keep on working out is a decision I made before I came back to college. That's why I walked today.

前回のブログに書いたように、授業はイントロだった。まだ宿題は出ていないので、夕方から時間が空いた。それでキャンパスのまわりを歩いた。夏、日本にいる間、よく運動していて、アメリカに帰っても続けようと決めていたのだ。

There is a path, which is for bikes, inline skaters, joggers and walkers and is constructed by the city of Amherst, along a creek and I walked on the path. Part of the path is on campus, and part of it is on private place, and it stretches over 5 miles. I mainly walked on campus part, and it was three-hour walk, 6 miles or 9.6 km. This purpose of the walk was not only for diet but also for overcoming the jet lag I'm suffering. While I was walking, 4:30 to 7:30, I was extremely sleepy. It's quite natural because I fall a sleep at 4 and wake up midnight in Buffalo due to the jet lag. By walking during the time, I had to stay awake and get exhausted. SoI thought I'd want to go to bed at right time at night. It's 9 O'clock now. So I don't know it'd work well but I'll realize its result when I wake up.

バイク、インラインスケート、ジョギングする人、歩く人用に道が川沿いに整備されていて、そこを歩いた。一部はキャンパス内、一部は私有地に通っていて全長8キロにもなる。主にキャンパス部を歩いて、結局3時間、9.6キロも歩いた。健康のためもあるが、実は時差ぼけを治すためでもある。4:30から7:30まで歩いている間、非常に眠かった。それも当然。アメリカに帰ってきていつも夕方4時に寝て、夜中に起きているのだから。歩くことで、夜まで起きていられ、しかも疲れる。だから夜に眠れるはず。今９時だ。明日起きた時点でこれが効果あったか分かる訳だ。