English for Wizards

Meet Uncle Sam online

By John Moore

It's sometimes scary how much the government controls our lives. But in addition to the annoying things governments do, there are actually quite a few good things. After all, the Internet itself was originally developed by the U.S. government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Like many large, wealthy organizations, the American government sponsors lots of useful and interesting Web sites. Just try visiting FirstGov (www.firstgov.gov). This is a U.S. government portal providing easy access to some 22,000 different Web sites.

I suggest you look in the "Information by Topic" section, in the middle of the main page. Then you can click on "History, Arts and Culture" to learn about Native Americans, African Americans and even Asian Americans. There's an extensive section on U.S. history and lots more on art and culture. Or try "Science and Technology," or else "Travel and Recreation." The amount of stuff here is mind-boggling. Luckily, FirstGov also has its own search engine.

OK, but this government information all looks so serious. If you want to have some fun, try FirstGov for Kids (www.kids.gov). This colorful site will lead you on a Web treasure hunt. There's nothing you can't find here if you look - even online games and puzzles, which are under "Fun Stuff."

What if you are planning to study in the U.S. some day? The government can help you choose the best academic program for you. You might even get some financial aid. So go to the U.S. State Department's international education page (http://educationusa.state.gov), which offers lots of resources. In addition, the U.S. embassy in Tokyo has a helpful page in Japanese. Visit a http://japan.usembassy.gov, click on the "Nihongo" link at the top-left, and then explore the "Beikoku Ryugaku" options in the lower part of the left-side menu.

Of course, after you decide to study in the States, you'll need a visa. Again, the embassy here is the place to go. Visa rules and procedures seem to change every week, but the Tokyo embassy posts all the latest information. (I know, because I'm the one maintaining this Web site. That's my main job.)

And if you are actually interested in politics, you can go straight to the White House (www.whitehouse.gov) and meet President George W. Bush. Or go to the State Dept. main site (www.state.gov) to see all the latest news from Iraq and elsewhere. Learn all about the issues. Compare what the government says and what the newspapers say. That's really cool.

Shukan ST: Dec. 12, 2003

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