YAY! Tests are coming to an end! I finished one more today. Next week leaves only 3 tests/presentations or whatever things. Umm that's all I guess...
I dunno what else to talk about sorry, all I have been up to for the last week is study - test. study - test. study - another test. bleagh... it's almost over, I guess, that is as far tests and school stuff is concerned.
Oh, one short thing: I saw Death Note the movie 2 the last name. It was really engaging!! That's all.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Shizuoka Mayor 静岡の市長
Well, guess what? I got up today, and while munching on some senbei (rice cracker thingy) I put on my suit. Only to discover two things: No tie, and it's raining. So, leaving with Nick and Ouji we headed for city hall threatening to hail a taxi the entire time. Luckily we made it to city hall without getting drenched thanks to our umbrellas.
After a short meeting with Harasawa sensei we proceeded by elevator to the 8th floor via the eleventh floor.... why the elevator couldn't stop on the 8th floor I still don't understand. There we met up with two men from the mayor's office who we exchanged greetings and were informed of the order they wanted us to sit in the Mayor's office. Then after 5 minutes of akward silence we were allowed to enter into the Mayor's office.
It was really interesting. We all got a little introduction and then in between either conversation by the two office workers or the Mayor, we got asked questions like "What sort of culture shock have you experienced?" "How's Japan?" and other little questions. Although, I think the best thing I have to take from the experience is that the Mayor mentioned the Huskers and asked how they were doing this year. It turns out he had been to a game when in the US one time. Sweet.
I'll have pictures when they get back to Harasawa-sensei from the Mayor's office.
Well, to switch notes...
It feels like a lot has happened this week but really not too much has happened I think... Next week is chock full of reports and tests so I am getting busy with all sorts of preparatory work... but besides that I should be in bed now but there's a party going on. Sasha (pronounced zasha), one of the germans, has his Ping pong club here in the next room so I got to know them a little. I learned the kanji for "eagle."
Besides that I haven't gone anywhere today... at all. We are in a Typhoon threat area. Actually it has been raining and blowing all day pretty hard... it seems to have laid off a little but it was pretty bad earlier. Btw we had a little argument here today about Hurricane and Typhoon and what was the difference. Checked Webster. A Typhoon is a Hurricane that occurs in the region of the Phillipines or China sea. Otherwise they both mean big ugly rainy storm.... or storm with over 76mph winds that is ocean based.
To take advantage of the time indoors I made mochi... more on that later. I have to work on my presentation about my experience... :)
After a short meeting with Harasawa sensei we proceeded by elevator to the 8th floor via the eleventh floor.... why the elevator couldn't stop on the 8th floor I still don't understand. There we met up with two men from the mayor's office who we exchanged greetings and were informed of the order they wanted us to sit in the Mayor's office. Then after 5 minutes of akward silence we were allowed to enter into the Mayor's office.
It was really interesting. We all got a little introduction and then in between either conversation by the two office workers or the Mayor, we got asked questions like "What sort of culture shock have you experienced?" "How's Japan?" and other little questions. Although, I think the best thing I have to take from the experience is that the Mayor mentioned the Huskers and asked how they were doing this year. It turns out he had been to a game when in the US one time. Sweet.
I'll have pictures when they get back to Harasawa-sensei from the Mayor's office.
Well, to switch notes...
It feels like a lot has happened this week but really not too much has happened I think... Next week is chock full of reports and tests so I am getting busy with all sorts of preparatory work... but besides that I should be in bed now but there's a party going on. Sasha (pronounced zasha), one of the germans, has his Ping pong club here in the next room so I got to know them a little. I learned the kanji for "eagle."
Besides that I haven't gone anywhere today... at all. We are in a Typhoon threat area. Actually it has been raining and blowing all day pretty hard... it seems to have laid off a little but it was pretty bad earlier. Btw we had a little argument here today about Hurricane and Typhoon and what was the difference. Checked Webster. A Typhoon is a Hurricane that occurs in the region of the Phillipines or China sea. Otherwise they both mean big ugly rainy storm.... or storm with over 76mph winds that is ocean based.
To take advantage of the time indoors I made mochi... more on that later. I have to work on my presentation about my experience... :)
Friday, July 6, 2007
Newt/gecko! イモリ・ヤモリ
-6-
As requested by my cousin I am supposed to throw up some Engrish examples. Exhibit A is a Women's clothing store.
I guess I spoke too soon. About the bike that is. I got a flat Thursday, this time in the front tire. I fixed it Friday. Yeesh... all my luck.
Exhibit B is .. well.. maybe a salon, I am not sure.
I went to a japanese tea ceremony thing at school Friday with a bunch of other exchange students a group of korean students visiting Shizuoka. It was pretty amusing. Most of us/nearly all of us really have no clue how to participate in tea ceremony. So, there were lots of mistakes and funny occurences but I still am not sure I could explain the details of tea ceremony right.
Basically, we all entered the place and after they shifted us around into a circle around the edge of the room, the passing of the kashi(candy.. kinda). Before you take your kashi off the tray and set it in front of you, you have to bow and say something like "I'll go ahead of you." Then you wait until everyone has done so and then you slowly unwrap it and eat it. When finished you carefully wrap up the remains(leaf/packaging etc) and make it pretty.
At this point the actually tea part begins. In a nutshell, you get tea along with bowing and picking up the cup with your right hand and placing it on your left hand. Then before you drink you make the part that is before you at the beginning switch to the opposite side with 3 turns.
Then when you are done you do the same thing in reverse. Then more bowing etc.
We all got to try our hand at whisking the tea properly. . . my partner said he couldn't get it right but I got told that I did a really good job. . . not that I had any clue what I was doing. I just mimiced to the best of my ability.
In another story, I was looking through the Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan (english version from 1983) , something I have been doing pretty often, and found something kind of disturbing. In the Adultry「姦通罪」 section in reads, : "Until the 1947 revision of the Penal code, Japan's adultry laws punished women far more severely than men. Under the present code, however, adultery is no longer a criminal act." The fact of the matter is that I don't know if this still holds true but the entry goes on to explain the past laws and how the postwar constitution's part on equality prevents such as being a criminal act. Also, towards the end it mentions that the decision was also partially based in Japan's tolerance for husbands' extramarital affairs. Also, "Adultery is still considered grounds for divorce." Oh, random entry thing too, you are considered an adult in Japan once you become 20.
Another random thing is that the sigting of a small creature in the hallway on the second floor here. A not wholly unwelcome critter, and more importantly not a cockroach or a spider. We had a gecho/newt, and while the jury is still out as to what it is was... it is undeniably cute.
なんか言いたい事があったんだけどな～ 覚えていないけど。。。
ドカーン、自爆。 結局覚えてない。。
ま、最近天気はそんな悪くないと思う。 ただ暑い。。 ま そういう事と言いたいけど 今雨を降るのはまた始まった。。。
As requested by my cousin I am supposed to throw up some Engrish examples. Exhibit A is a Women's clothing store.I guess I spoke too soon. About the bike that is. I got a flat Thursday, this time in the front tire. I fixed it Friday. Yeesh... all my luck.
Exhibit B is .. well.. maybe a salon, I am not sure.I went to a japanese tea ceremony thing at school Friday with a bunch of other exchange students a group of korean students visiting Shizuoka. It was pretty amusing. Most of us/nearly all of us really have no clue how to participate in tea ceremony. So, there were lots of mistakes and funny occurences but I still am not sure I could explain the details of tea ceremony right.
Basically, we all entered the place and after they shifted us around into a circle around the edge of the room, the passing of the kashi(candy.. kinda). Before you take your kashi off the tray and set it in front of you, you have to bow and say something like "I'll go ahead of you." Then you wait until everyone has done so and then you slowly unwrap it and eat it. When finished you carefully wrap up the remains(leaf/packaging etc) and make it pretty.At this point the actually tea part begins. In a nutshell, you get tea along with bowing and picking up the cup with your right hand and placing it on your left hand. Then before you drink you make the part that is before you at the beginning switch to the opposite side with 3 turns.
Then when you are done you do the same thing in reverse. Then more bowing etc.We all got to try our hand at whisking the tea properly. . . my partner said he couldn't get it right but I got told that I did a really good job. . . not that I had any clue what I was doing. I just mimiced to the best of my ability.
In another story, I was looking through the Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan (english version from 1983) , something I have been doing pretty often, and found something kind of disturbing. In the Adultry「姦通罪」 section in reads, : "Until the 1947 revision of the Penal code, Japan's adultry laws punished women far more severely than men. Under the present code, however, adultery is no longer a criminal act." The fact of the matter is that I don't know if this still holds true but the entry goes on to explain the past laws and how the postwar constitution's part on equality prevents such as being a criminal act. Also, towards the end it mentions that the decision was also partially based in Japan's tolerance for husbands' extramarital affairs. Also, "Adultery is still considered grounds for divorce." Oh, random entry thing too, you are considered an adult in Japan once you become 20.
Another random thing is that the sigting of a small creature in the hallway on the second floor here. A not wholly unwelcome critter, and more importantly not a cockroach or a spider. We had a gecho/newt, and while the jury is still out as to what it is was... it is undeniably cute.なんか言いたい事があったんだけどな～ 覚えていないけど。。。
ドカーン、自爆。 結局覚えてない。。
ま、最近天気はそんな悪くないと思う。 ただ暑い。。 ま そういう事と言いたいけど 今雨を降るのはまた始まった。。。
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Watermelon? 西瓜
-8-
Watermelons are 'spensive here but I found some at the dollar store, slices that is. For only a DOLLAR!!!!! Which is phenomal because a soccer ball sized watermelon typically costs 10+ dollars ... yeesh. Haven't eaten the watermelon yet but it looks good.
Fact you can ignore if you would like but I encountered a little creature in the kitchen the other night. Good news is he is now dead, bad news is he was a cockroach. Did you know that if you only smash their abdomen and then attempt to clean up with a tissue that the legs still function just fine??? Nothing quite like the shock of the all the legs flailing when you think the things already dead… especially at one in the morning.
Watermelons are 'spensive here but I found some at the dollar store, slices that is. For only a DOLLAR!!!!! Which is phenomal because a soccer ball sized watermelon typically costs 10+ dollars ... yeesh. Haven't eaten the watermelon yet but it looks good.
Survived Korean test barely… ouch. Not much to say here except when I see the Japanese I can’t seem to remember the korean but if I see the korean I can typically remember what it means. So, I think I might have gotten 11-12 out of 20 right on the last test… mostly because I only answered 15 of the questions.
Fact you can ignore if you would like but I encountered a little creature in the kitchen the other night. Good news is he is now dead, bad news is he was a cockroach. Did you know that if you only smash their abdomen and then attempt to clean up with a tissue that the legs still function just fine??? Nothing quite like the shock of the all the legs flailing when you think the things already dead… especially at one in the morning.
申しは 「申うし」 ではないですね。
でも申し暇だったらご覧ください
匿名のクラスメートへ
多分私の名前でも知らないでしょう。 私もあなたの名前にも知っていませんが今二ヶ月以上同じ授業を受けてます。 申し良かったらあなたの事ちょってでも知りたいんですから今週の金曜日“お茶”でもどうですか。 六時半駅と近いスタバで会わないですか。私は一人で座っていても飲み物を二杯持ちます。
無名のクラスメートより
そして僕の日本語は本当にまだまだと思っているんだけど 申し僕は日本語で挨拶をしたら その「日本語で話した！！」か「日本語うまいですね」と言う反応は嫌だと思う。 特にもう二ヶ月以上その人を知り合いとしていていた。 わかてくれるかな～。
六級
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Weeds 雑草
The path along the ground is overgrown.
I search amongst the weeds but it is not there.
Is there but one rose amongst these briars?
It cannot not be. or is it possibly the wrong season?
My shoes vanished awhile back when they were outgrown.
I stray from life's path to seek a new pair.
The shops I stray to are all full of liars.
I don't speak to speak. while seeking a reason.
~"the don't ask me, it's only 6am now" rambling
It might be safer to ignore the above ramblings, but putting that aside I have announcement to make. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!! - to my Dad!
This public service has been brought to you by Charlies Chicken wings, "burnt to a crisp so even with their heads off they can't cross the road." Laters.
I search amongst the weeds but it is not there.
Is there but one rose amongst these briars?
It cannot not be. or is it possibly the wrong season?
My shoes vanished awhile back when they were outgrown.
I stray from life's path to seek a new pair.
The shops I stray to are all full of liars.
I don't speak to speak. while seeking a reason.
~"the don't ask me, it's only 6am now" rambling
It might be safer to ignore the above ramblings, but putting that aside I have announcement to make. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!! - to my Dad!
This public service has been brought to you by Charlies Chicken wings, "burnt to a crisp so even with their heads off they can't cross the road." Laters.
Friday, June 15, 2007
追っかけられる夢 Chasing dreams
Just for my friends to know I was able to accomplish something today I haven't done in about 9 months. I played the piano with a passion. I took all might sheet music with me to school and for about 2 hours just hammered the keys. I feel kind of bad because all my past memorization is pretty much gone. However my fingers find themselves fast becoming comfortable with past songs. I mostly did finger exercises but it's a start. I intend to play at least once or twice a week, if possible.
I am starting too many powerpoint projects. I have to do one for the computer class I am taking. It will be about my home town, Omaha! I have also started a short one detailing usage of various internet based tools for learning Japanese such as rikaichan. Beyond that I will be doing a picture based one for my presentation about "mochi" which I can only really start after I have begun the research.
The final project is for Daisai the movie (http://www.daisaimovie.org/). It was a project started last year at the Fall Matsuri at Shizuoka University to be about the festival itself. I somehow end up on it from what I understand, mostly because I ended up on stage with the karate club during the festival. My project is to create a presentation to introduce what the movie is all about. I cannot start, of course, until I have seen the movie, which will happen tommorrow.
夢の分析は面白いと思う。 申し追っかけられる夢がよく見たら生活の中でなんか不安があるみたい。 それはそうだと思う。 小さい頃「４歳」から１１・１２歳ぐらい蜘蛛が追われている夢をよく見てた。 普通にその夢の背景はピラミッドの中だった。 いつも逃げている僕は部屋から次の部屋まで永遠に走っていたのは続けた。 ある日同じ夢が起こっていたけど今度意思を固めた僕は振り向いて攻撃した。 その大きくて黒い蜘蛛を手で壁に投げた。 その蜘蛛は一発で殺すこと出来なくてこれを終えてしまう方法を探そうと思っていた。 その時僕がいた部屋の配置がいきなり分かってきた。 部屋の真ん中広いプールがあった。 逃げている夢中していたからその部屋に入った時見えなかったかもしれない。 でも周りが分かってきたから考えずにその気絶され蜘蛛の体を取ってプールに投げた。 青かったプールは真っ黒になった。 墨のようになったみたい。 今でもそういう黒い水が入ったプールの部屋に夢の中で訪ねてしまっている。 そういう部屋に現れたら起きるまで僕の戦った日を思い出してしまう。 不思議だと思うけどなんと思う？
I am starting too many powerpoint projects. I have to do one for the computer class I am taking. It will be about my home town, Omaha! I have also started a short one detailing usage of various internet based tools for learning Japanese such as rikaichan. Beyond that I will be doing a picture based one for my presentation about "mochi" which I can only really start after I have begun the research.
The final project is for Daisai the movie (http://www.daisaimovie.org/). It was a project started last year at the Fall Matsuri at Shizuoka University to be about the festival itself. I somehow end up on it from what I understand, mostly because I ended up on stage with the karate club during the festival. My project is to create a presentation to introduce what the movie is all about. I cannot start, of course, until I have seen the movie, which will happen tommorrow.
夢の分析は面白いと思う。 申し追っかけられる夢がよく見たら生活の中でなんか不安があるみたい。 それはそうだと思う。 小さい頃「４歳」から１１・１２歳ぐらい蜘蛛が追われている夢をよく見てた。 普通にその夢の背景はピラミッドの中だった。 いつも逃げている僕は部屋から次の部屋まで永遠に走っていたのは続けた。 ある日同じ夢が起こっていたけど今度意思を固めた僕は振り向いて攻撃した。 その大きくて黒い蜘蛛を手で壁に投げた。 その蜘蛛は一発で殺すこと出来なくてこれを終えてしまう方法を探そうと思っていた。 その時僕がいた部屋の配置がいきなり分かってきた。 部屋の真ん中広いプールがあった。 逃げている夢中していたからその部屋に入った時見えなかったかもしれない。 でも周りが分かってきたから考えずにその気絶され蜘蛛の体を取ってプールに投げた。 青かったプールは真っ黒になった。 墨のようになったみたい。 今でもそういう黒い水が入ったプールの部屋に夢の中で訪ねてしまっている。 そういう部屋に現れたら起きるまで僕の戦った日を思い出してしまう。 不思議だと思うけどなんと思う？
Thursday, June 14, 2007
日本語。。Japanese
おす！
久し振りなので日本語でポストしようと思っていた。 三ヶ月間だけは残っているみたい。 九月の末ぐらい帰らなきゃならない、アメリカに。 ちょっと悩んでいるかな。。本当に帰りたいかどうか分からない。 勿論家族に会いたい。 でもね、帰ってから日本語を学ぶ為の時間は少なくなっちゃと思う。 希望は帰った後日本語能力試験を合格出来る能力はもう身に付けた。 でも今の所沢山読めるけど創造するのはまだ難しい。 それより僕の弱点は聞き取るのは弱点になっている。 どうしてか？ えっと、僕だったら見るのほうが聞くより分かり易い。 漢字が見られるから。 漢字を見たら意味が大体与えられるけど。。。 どうせ・とにかく まだ勉強しているところだから大丈夫 ただこのヶ月もっと上手になるしかない。 負けずに頑張る。
雨、雨、雨。 梅雨が始まったみたい。 今日ずっと雨が降ってきた。 そして明日も降水率は高い。 いや、僕は天気官じゃないんだけど日本へ来てから天気を知るのはちょっと大事にしているようになってきたみたい。 雨だったら学校へ行く為に準備しなきゃならないから。
め、つまらない話ばかりしているのは 御免。
蜘蛛が好きじゃない。 エイリエンみたいな種類が会館で増えている。 でも日本だから殺しては駄目かな。 もう一匹の命を消したけどやっぱり僕の部屋に侵入したから。 他の蜘蛛の存在を見過ごすつもりだけど寝ている時蜘蛛に会いたくないね。
皆はパイレット三番目もう見た？ スパイダーマン３？ 両方は最高だと思っている。 ジャックは相変わらず面白かったけど猿は確かにピーナツが大好きだね。 うん、ジャックと言う猿について話している、"The undead monkey(ゾンビなので死ねない猿)。" スパイダーマン３だったら僕の一番スパイダマンの敵が出たから凄かった！ ベノムだ ま、たぶん黒が好きだから。 是非時間があったら見てください！！
寝るつもりだからこれ以上今今日書かない。 お休み、また！
久し振りなので日本語でポストしようと思っていた。 三ヶ月間だけは残っているみたい。 九月の末ぐらい帰らなきゃならない、アメリカに。 ちょっと悩んでいるかな。。本当に帰りたいかどうか分からない。 勿論家族に会いたい。 でもね、帰ってから日本語を学ぶ為の時間は少なくなっちゃと思う。 希望は帰った後日本語能力試験を合格出来る能力はもう身に付けた。 でも今の所沢山読めるけど創造するのはまだ難しい。 それより僕の弱点は聞き取るのは弱点になっている。 どうしてか？ えっと、僕だったら見るのほうが聞くより分かり易い。 漢字が見られるから。 漢字を見たら意味が大体与えられるけど。。。 どうせ・とにかく まだ勉強しているところだから大丈夫 ただこのヶ月もっと上手になるしかない。 負けずに頑張る。
雨、雨、雨。 梅雨が始まったみたい。 今日ずっと雨が降ってきた。 そして明日も降水率は高い。 いや、僕は天気官じゃないんだけど日本へ来てから天気を知るのはちょっと大事にしているようになってきたみたい。 雨だったら学校へ行く為に準備しなきゃならないから。
め、つまらない話ばかりしているのは 御免。
蜘蛛が好きじゃない。 エイリエンみたいな種類が会館で増えている。 でも日本だから殺しては駄目かな。 もう一匹の命を消したけどやっぱり僕の部屋に侵入したから。 他の蜘蛛の存在を見過ごすつもりだけど寝ている時蜘蛛に会いたくないね。
皆はパイレット三番目もう見た？ スパイダーマン３？ 両方は最高だと思っている。 ジャックは相変わらず面白かったけど猿は確かにピーナツが大好きだね。 うん、ジャックと言う猿について話している、"The undead monkey(ゾンビなので死ねない猿)。" スパイダーマン３だったら僕の一番スパイダマンの敵が出たから凄かった！ ベノムだ ま、たぶん黒が好きだから。 是非時間があったら見てください！！
寝るつもりだからこれ以上今今日書かない。 お休み、また！
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