Erika's life

These days, I like two Japanese singers, Kumi Kouda and Ai Otuka. Do you know them? They are very popular among young women and men.
She is Ai Otuka. I often listen to her CDs or albums.
She is very cute, isn't she? Her voice is also very cute. I want to be like her. Among her CDs, I like "Sakuranbo", "Smily" and "Happy Days". I like the PV, "Sakuranbo" the best. In this PV, she is sooo cute♡ Her songs make me happy and encourage me. Recently, her new CD, "Furenjya-" was released and I like this song, too!



She is Kumi Kouda. Now, she is twenty-five years old and is called "Ku-chan". Her popular CD, "Butterfly" was a great hit in Japan. Actually, among her CDs, I like "Butterfly" the best. Until few years ago, most people didn't know her but now, she is really really popular, especially among young girls. Many girls say they want to be like her. As you know from the picture, she is very sexy!! And, Her PVs are more sexy and cool!! Please check out her PVs:-) I like her PV, "Cutie Honey" the best. She is so erotic, though... In Japan, there weren't sexy and cool singers like her. Some poeple say she is too erotic but I think it is her weapon to sell her CDs. When I saw her for the first time, I thought she looks Japanese Britney Spears. Don't you think so? Well, my overseas friends say they love her. I wonder why she attracts them.

Please check out these two girls!

Last week, I went to Karaoke with my Korean and American friend and her boyfriend. That's very interesting group because I'd never met her boyfriend. He came to Japan to see her. When I saw him for the first time, I thought he looks like a punk rocker and is a little bit scary for me. But he is a very good man.
I heard that Karoke is very expensive in America. We have to pay about 3000 yen for an hour! It's soo expensive, isn't it!?
Then we went to Karaoke in Hirakata and spent about two hours in there. I was a little bit confused because I didn't know whose songs I should sing. I thought maybe they don't know Japanese singers a lot so I sung songs which they seem to know, Utada Hikaru or BOA or Kouda Kumi. But my Korean friend know a lot of Japanese singers and sung them for me. Her voice is so great! I was surprised at her skill of songs and she is like BOA;-) Also, I listend to her Korean songs. It was interesting for me that I could listen to Korean and American songs. My American friend and her boyfriend was madly in love each other so they always sung together. Very cute couple♡ Suddenly, my American friend suggested me to sing "YATTA!" of Happa-tai together! Do you remember Happa-tai? The picture is the CD of Happa-tai. I rememberd they were temporarily very famous in Japan. They were group of Japanese comedians and released their song by the Japanese program. Besides, they advanced to USA! But I didn't know they were also became famous in USA. Although she suggested me, I didn't know their song...so she and her boyfriend sung instead of me. Then I listend to it again, the song is very funny! If you don't know, try to listen to their song!
Anway, I enjoyed Karoke with them. I like Karaoke very much;-) How about you?

From this week, the new term started and I'm a little bit busy to prepare for new classes. This year I take many classes so that means, I should buy many texts... Oh, that's too expensive! I paid about thirty thousand yen... Now, I take Environmental problem, Religion, Business English, English grammar and so on. Each class is very interesting and some teachers are curiosu and very funny. I think I can enjoy their classes. But one class English grammer, is very difficult for me! The text is written in English and I have to understand the sentences about English grammer. It's very tough for me however, it is good study for me to improve my reading skill so I'll try to do my best.
In adittion to these classes, I have to take two required classes which are taught by native teachers. Yesterday and today, I took their classes. You know, last year I took Aussie and Canadian teacher's classes. Suprisingly, my one teacher is a friend of my last Canadian teacher. He is also from Canada and very kind teacher. He had lived in some countries, Vietnam, China, Europea and Thailand so his story is very interesting. And, the other teacher is from England and he had also lived in some countries, Mexico, France and so on. He loved traveling and I saw some pictures. Their common point is that they can speak several languages and visited many countries. Fantastic! I also want to visit many places like them.
Anyway, my teachers are very good people. As yet, I can't be accustomed to my class, though...

Now, I'm on spring vacation so I have much time to do something. BUT I'm spending so boring days everyday. My schedule is like this.
I wake up at late time in the morining about 10 or 11 and eat breakfast. Then I watch TV about two hours and eat lunch at noon. After having lunch, I watch TV again and go to work. When I come back to home, it is about 10 or 11 o'clock. Recently, I'm spending such lazy and boring days. I know I should keep regular hours and study much more... but when I'm staying at home, I can't be motivated. How can I solve this problem? What do you advise me? Please tell me!
As for my job, I have been working at supermarket as a cashier for a year. Now, I could be accucstomed to work. Every staff is kind and I can work comfortably. Some customers are strange, though. But it's a little bit stressful for me to work alomost everyday. I'm always very tired and return to my house. I want to get rid of this stress. How do you get rid of your stress?
By the way, I want to do Hanami with my friends! This picture is Sakura street near my house;-)

Yesterday, I came back to my house from Hiroshima trip with my family. This is the first time for us to visit Hiroshima. It took about 4 hours to go to Hiroshima by car. It took so long time so I was boring... I only slept all the time however, the trip was very fun!
At first, we went to Itukushima to see Itukushima shrine and stay in the ryokan in Itukushima. It takes about 10 minutes to go to Itukushima by ferry. The shrine seeing from ferry was so beautiful and artistic. After arriving at Itukushima, we went to the ryokan. The ryokan was so clean, and of course, our room was so clean and comfortable. Besides, we could see beautiful cheery blossoms from the room. Then we went to Itukushima shrine. Yes, it was very beautiful and artistic. Since it was low tide, we could see soil from the shrine and people were gathering shellfish. But next day in the morning, since it was high tide, I could see the Itukushima shrine filling with water. It's really different sight between high tide and low tide. Check it out!
In Itukushima, Momiji-manju and Shyamoji(rice scoop) is famous so we bought Momiji-manjyu as a souvenir. It's cute and delicous. The below picture is the biggest Shyamoji in Japan!
After returing to ryokan, we had dinner. I ate delicious Japanese cuisine like sashimi, soymilk nabe and so on. It was a gorgeous dinner! After that, we experienced bedrock bath for the first time! Now, it is popluar in Japan and said to be good for our health. My feeling is comfortable and I slept all the time. Please try bedrock bath! Maybe you also feel so comfortable. Then I took a hot spring and open-air bath. From the open-air bath, I could see the illumination of Itukushima shrine. Very beautiful! I realaxed and had a good bath.

Next day, we went to Atomic Bomb Memorial Dome. Um... it was more tragic sight than I expected. There were many people from other countries and I thought I want many people to visit here and know this fact.
At noon, we went to Okonomiyaki town in Hiroshima city. In the one building, there are a lot of Okonomiyaki shops. At there, we ate nice Hiroshimayaki. It was so big and delicious! I think Hiroshimayaki is healthier than Okonomiyaki because Hiroshimayaki is put more vegetables. I prefer Hiroshimayaki.
Anyway, Hiroshima trip was fun for me☆
By the way, Hiroshima dialect is cute, isn't it? When hearing Hiroshima dialect, I always feel so.