This is a platform for students of Japanese in Birmingham, Alabama, to communicate with students of English in our Japanese sister and friendship cities of Hitachi and Maebashi, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Japanese sister universities of Ibaraki University and Nihon University. To post messages in this group, either click on “Write Post” at the top and check the box “Birmingham, Alabama, English-Japanese Exchange” under “Audience” so that your entry will appear here, or else use the Comment feature in this group if you don't care for the entire Mixxer community to have access to your post.
In the event of synchronous communcation (e.g., Skype), remember that Japan is 15 hours ahead of Alabama during Standard Time and 14 hours ahead during Daylight Savings Time. In most instances, the most convenient times for this will be in the morning in Japan (before noon) and the evening in Alabama (before 10:00 pm). If the reverse (morning in Alabama and evening in Japan), morning will be very early or evening very late, or both.
ここはアラバマ州バーミングハム市の日本語の学生と、バーミング市の日本姉妹都市である日立市、友好都市の前橋市、アラバマ大学バーミングハム校の姉妹校の茨城大学と日本大学の英語の学生がお互いに交信するための発着場です。メッセージを投稿すると二つの書き方があります。一つ目は一番上の"Write Post"をクリックして内容を作成。必ず「読者」の下のBirmingham, Alabama, English-Japanese Exchangeのチェック・ボックスを選択。二つ目はこのグループに入ってから直接Commentを書くこと。ご注意：一つ目ならThe Mixxer全員が見られます。
同時交信（スカイプ等）の場合は、アラバマが日本より１５時間遅い（サマータイムなら１４時間）事に注意。通常は日本の午前中とアラバマの夕方以降（午後１０時前まで）で交信する事が好都合。その逆（アラバマが朝で日本が夜）なら朝は早く、夜は遅くなるであろう。
I'm looking for a conversation practice partner!
Hi there! Im Megumi Ohba from Ibaraki Christian Unversity in Japan.
I'm 20, female, and studying English. I have been Canada for 1 year, and Australia for 10 days.
As you see on the title, Im looking for a conversation practice partner who speaks English, either boy or girl.
It's been a while since I came back to Japan and I feel Im losing my English, so I'll be happy to talk with somebody on Skype.
Of course I can help people who want to practice japanese.
Feel free to contact me!
Thank you
To Alabama student from Noriko, Ibaraki University
Hello! My name is Noriko Tezuka. I am a 3rd student of Ibaraki University and studies English and foreign culture. I belong to the archery club and the billiards club. I always practice archery on Wednesday and Saturday, and go to the billiard club once a week. These clubs are very fun to me!!! But, now I don’t attend the activities because I am busy for job hunting.
In my free time, I listen to music on Youtube. I like Japanese rock and foreign music. I especially love Green Day and Avril Lavigne!! Also I look at social network like Facebook and twitter. Moreover I go shopping to the department store and buy some clothes and goods. But recently I don’t do that because it is very cold outside and I have little money!! So, how about you? I want to know about you. If you are OK, please get along with me!!!
Skype name: rico123lwab
Hello to University of Alabama students
Good morning ,my name is Akiko Kawamura. I am a student of Ibaraki University.
I am 21 years old. My hometown is Fukuoka which is west side of Japan. I major in social psychology.
I work in Japanese restaurant as a part time job. I work twice in a week. Both are 4hours. My hobby is cooking. I like eating with my friends too. I am interested in various country foods. And I like traveling around in japan, especially Kyoto and Osaka. I want to travel around the world someday. I do walking and basic yoga three times a week.
My skype name is akiko2010cms.
Tokyo time
Available is Monday 9pm -10pm Tokyo time
こんにちわ
わたしは スコット-です。 UABーのだいがくせいです。よーねんせいです。
I am looking for a conversation partner. I do not care wether they be male or female, younger or older, or anything else. I am available Mondays and Fridays from about 6pm CST to about 10pm CST. I am available all day on Saturday and from about 12:30pm CST to about 6pm CST on Sundays. Please do not hesitate to send me a message. I may not check this site regularly so if you want to send me an e-mail at bhol1989@uab.edu I will probably get that message faster. I do not currently have Skype but I do have various messengers and can get skype quickly. Just let me know.
どうもありがと。
thank you! /from Kaoru, Ibaraki Univ.
I’m glad to write you and talk with you! I think your Japanese skill is great! I’m surprised that most of you have been to Japan, and like manga. I feel manga has a big role in Japanese culture when I talk about it to foreign people. I should read more manga!
I really enjoy talking with you! Let’s meet at skype again!!
See you again! / from Ami, Ibaraki University
Thank you for exchanging messages in the mixxer. I enjoyed it very much. Now, I have more interest about your country, and Japan. It is because I'm happy that you learn Japanese and are interested in Japanese culture. I will learn more, and see you again!
Ami
Nabe Party / Saki from Ibaraki U.
Next Friday, I will join Nabe party at my friend's house. Do you know "Nabe"? It's Japanese one-pot dish that cooked in winter. We can cook it with many kinds of materials, for example, vegetables(especially root vegetables), meats, tofu, and so on. We stew them in a deep earthenware pot and deal out from the pot, place in own bowl and eat. There are many kinds of flavor. Miso, Jjigae(Korean dish that seasoned with chili pepper), and recently curry taste is popular. We can cook it easily. Nabe dishes warm us.
Thank you very much for exchanging
I was happy to have exchange with you. Thanks to you, it was a pleasant time for me. I hope that we could see again somewhere. I want to keep get in touch with you on skype or E-mail. Good luck with your learning Japanese. Thank you!
Good bye / Kanako at Ibaraki U
I'm sad because I will not need to log in the mixxer and write my blogs. I enjoyed blog entries, comments and skype! If you keep contact with me, I'll tell you my e-mail adress. Then I can send you messages and return your messages. Because we knew each other, I don't want to stop our connection. I want to talk more and be good friends with you. I am waiting to a comment or a message. Good bye.
Kanako
Last entry/Ryusuke from Ibaraki U
Our exchanges seem to be ends.
I'm very happy to exchange various member for a short period.
Thank you for the all of you who commented on blog.
I'm glad when I can talk again by some kind of opportunities.
Thank you. Bye.
Talking with Barmingam.u students / Yuka from Ibaraki.U
November 9th, I had skype practice with Barmingam.U students. We talk in English and Japanese. We were in America and Japan, but we could talk and see each faces. It is excellent! It was my first time to talk through television telephone. I was surprised that American students know lot kinds of Japanese Manga. You know many characters. I want you to read Manga, and to know Japan! Moreover, your Japanese is very good!
It was my first experience, I was exciting and feel happy.
Yay, Papers!
こんにちは! Finals are coming up, and I'm currently writing a number of papers, from Shakespeare to political drama theories. For my English 208 class, I've chosen to write a paper about the Mixxer. The paper is supposed to deal with discourse communities, a place where groups of people get together and form different texts and share similar goals and ideas. I've chosen to write about the Mixxer because, as students from around the world, we form a unique discourse community. And don't worry, I'm not using anyone's real name and only my English teacher will read the paper.
That being said, I have a favor to ask, if anyone is interested. If you have the time, would you mind answering a few questions for the paper? This includes anyone and everyone--UAB, Ibaraki, and Nihon University students, and senseis, too!
If you would like to help, can you answer at least some of the following:
1. Why did you join the mixxer?
2. What do you feel is the purpose of the mixxer?
3. How does it feel to talk with people from around the world?
4. Think about your writing practices. Do you take a lot of notes in class? Do you writer short stories or manga? Do you write online? What do you write?
Feel free to add and answer your own questions.
どうもありがとう！！！
Driver's License from Megumi / Ibaraki
I have begun to go to a driving school to acquire a driver's license recently. Several people of my friend go to the same driving school now. I went to there and practiced driving a car today. It is difficult for me to drive a car...
But I think I can more easy to go to everywhere I want if I have the license!! So I think I shold practice driving more.
Brass band concert! /from Kaoru, ibaraki univ.
I went to the concert of my high school’s brass band club today. I belonged to it when I was in high school. I practiced French horn every day, but I don’t belong to any band and haven’t played it for nearly 2 years. The club invited the OG who is professional clarinet player, and they played pop songs and clarinet concertos. Their play was so wonderful! I want to join them very much!!
How to pastime/Ryusuke from Ibaraki U
Yesterday, I went to Sentou with my senior friends. Do you know Sentou? It’s a public bath. Is there it or same thing in America? I like it, because it’s very comfortable and pleasant.
Yesterday, the place that we went was near to the sea. I often go there with my senior friends. There is inside and outside bath. We can see the sea from outside bath. I was able to watch the star too, because I have good weather yesterday. We often take a bath about one hour. Also, we talk various things.
It’s an important time for me. What do you spend your pastime?
My Hometown, Ibaraki ~part 2~ / From Miho
This week, I’ll introduce Ibaraki Prefecture, especially sightseeing. Ibaraki has one of The Three Parks of Japan. It is in Mito City and is called “kairakuen”. In March, it is full of plum and it is full of cherry blossoms in April. It is very beautiful.
In Oarai Town, in the south of Mito City, many people go to the sea to swim. Oarai is also famous for an aquarium. You can see many kinds of fish and touch them with your fingers.
Ushiku City, in the south of Mito City, has a great statue of Buddha. It is called “ushiku daibutsu”. It is the biggest statue in the world. It can put a great statue of Buddha in Nara Prefecture (in fact, it is more famous than Ushiku ones) on its hand. It is very big.
School Festival / Yuka.S from Ibaraki
The school festival of Ibaraki University was held in November 13th and 14th. It is called SHIENSAI. Many clubs and circles sell food at each booth. members take a charge of the booth every year. Therefore I don’t have to keep staying at the booth. I could walk around the campus through them.
There are a lot of booths. For example, crepe, grilled chicken, cookie, cotton candy, octopus fritters, chocolate coating banana, and so on!
Also, there are stages in campus. One group which is the senior appeared danced on the stage.
First day, one group danced “Gee” which is the song of Korean idol group “Girlhood”. The group has been popular in Japan. Their dance was so cute! There were ten members and they wore same parka.
No.4/from Wataru at Ibaraki
Hello! everyone!
I had a school festival yesterday.
I work as a member of soft tennis club.
I made taiyaki.
Do you know taiyaki(鯛焼き)？
Taiyaki is a Japanese sweets.
It is like a fish.
There are a lot of tastes.
