If Air Canada's site is accurate and I'll be allowed back into my own country, I'll be arriving at about 00:15 (GMT-4 +DST) of what is technically the twenty-third. My time in transit will be about twenty-six hours.
So, let's do the numbers:
I have twenty-three days left (discluding today, including day of departure, Japanese time).
I have six days of school left (including closing ceremony).
I have 1011101111100100 yen left to spend (you know what binary is, right?).
I will be bringing back twenty boxes of Calorie Mates, each box contains two packets, each packet contains two bars (this deserves a math question).
I would give flight information and such if this weren't the internet, so that's really about it for the numbers.
Oh, wait, how many times can I watch the 2001:A Space Odyssey movie in flight?
(Zero, I can't stand that movie.)
I might have to ship empty cases and Gundams, that'll be annoying, but luckily I'll have the contents. Meh, anyways I've forgotten everything else I wanted to write.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
There's no such thing as too many entries in one night.
That's my momentary shallow opinion and I'll stick to it as long as I blog tonight.
I just got a comment saying that I should have something like a list of stuff to do and people to do it with when I get back. Any because it's me, friends names will not be used, it'll leave hints at their identities instead.
I smile at the prospect. I'll add more in future entries if I think of anything or am given any ideas. So let's see what I have for now...
Alright, from the airport, there's the obvious meeting of family, friends (if awake) and Rotary (which may consist of the previous category). I'll want food, specifically Boston Pizza food and/or nachos. I'll either be driven home, or, if I'm not too late, I'll probably be taken to work. Either way, I'll be sleeping in the room I stripped bare before I left, but it'll still feel like home to me.
I dismantled my computer to deter my from using it right when I get back and hopefully I'll be able to avoid using the PS3 right away too.
The next day there's Boston Pizza Sydney's party on the patio. I'll make my appearance and many of my friends have been invited. I expect my mom will invite family and word of mouth, most everyone else. I hope to make my specialty pizza in as large a size as possible. I wouldn't be surprised to be working though. I remember cleaning my cake off of plates all night on my birthday last year (that and my friends were all studying for exams the next week).
From there I might just head off with them for whatever they can think up. It'll be nice to be back with old friends. Even just playing Halo would be fun.
I as lo have to see Transformers 2 with my sister Laura.
There are lawns to be mowed, that'll be a good day's work.
Also the grass at the property, which wasn't meant to be tall grass, but we bought the wrong type.
I've been invited to a grad party, despite not being a grad they're my class.
I hope to have a run, specifically with a girl who, last time I checked, has pink shoes and a "boy's" blue backpack... she also has an important piece of my computer, that's good, it means I won't be able to work it properly.
I'll be running with the RHS team, much to my overused legs chagrin.
Some D&D with [wears sunglasses and a hawaiian shirt] and [friend, gamer, knows how to study and isn't afraid to be active, last name sound like it means "the cool"].
Sitting down, relaxing, reading a book and just resting. I've got a good line-up of books to read including the new Ender's, The Count of Monte Cristo (in French), Pride & Prejudice and Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, a title so long I copy&pasted it. By the way, Life of Pi was good, excellent character development and a believable but extremely unlikely story.
I will be eating a lot of nachos and making a lot of food, you can have some too, but I'll force you to eat non-finger food with chopsticks. Also, I'll be very protective of my Calorie Mate stash. I'd like to make some KD, pizza, nachos, pasta, salad, melon bread, nachos, sandwiches, milkshakes, nachos, custom topped icecream, garlic toast and as I didn't mention enough of them; nachos.
I'll probably be put to work, especially that including garbage, beer and dishes. I almost look forward to it. It'll also be interesting working with [a simple type of soup] and [Romantic (language) name, double letter nickname].
I'll have a lot of catching up to do, mostly with friends, I just hope that she'll come out to do something next time I walk up to her door and ask, only to find out she's busy. [As an extra, unnecessary hint, she has a boyfriend.]
I also hope that she (different one) stays, though that's just me being nostalgically selfish, and goes to CBU. Well, I at least hope I get to say a proper "hello" as last time I didn't get to say a proper "Goodbye," or to be more particular, "I'll see you later."
I'll need to get some practice in for my driver's test, I'll be able to take it in August. I assume I'll be doing a lot of deliveries.
I'm planing to make a fixy bike... and padding.
I'm betting I'll have to do a presentation for Rotary, thankfully I have this blog to work with.
When [family member, but these cryptics are fun, Japan enthusiast, good artist] comes over we'll probably spend a lot of time chatting, though I hope to do more than translate and debrief about Japan. Probably stuff involving bikes as well.
Anyways, that's enough of them for now.
I just got a comment saying that I should have something like a list of stuff to do and people to do it with when I get back. Any because it's me, friends names will not be used, it'll leave hints at their identities instead.
I smile at the prospect. I'll add more in future entries if I think of anything or am given any ideas. So let's see what I have for now...
Alright, from the airport, there's the obvious meeting of family, friends (if awake) and Rotary (which may consist of the previous category). I'll want food, specifically Boston Pizza food and/or nachos. I'll either be driven home, or, if I'm not too late, I'll probably be taken to work. Either way, I'll be sleeping in the room I stripped bare before I left, but it'll still feel like home to me.
I dismantled my computer to deter my from using it right when I get back and hopefully I'll be able to avoid using the PS3 right away too.
The next day there's Boston Pizza Sydney's party on the patio. I'll make my appearance and many of my friends have been invited. I expect my mom will invite family and word of mouth, most everyone else. I hope to make my specialty pizza in as large a size as possible. I wouldn't be surprised to be working though. I remember cleaning my cake off of plates all night on my birthday last year (that and my friends were all studying for exams the next week).
From there I might just head off with them for whatever they can think up. It'll be nice to be back with old friends. Even just playing Halo would be fun.
I as lo have to see Transformers 2 with my sister Laura.
There are lawns to be mowed, that'll be a good day's work.
Also the grass at the property, which wasn't meant to be tall grass, but we bought the wrong type.
I've been invited to a grad party, despite not being a grad they're my class.
I hope to have a run, specifically with a girl who, last time I checked, has pink shoes and a "boy's" blue backpack... she also has an important piece of my computer, that's good, it means I won't be able to work it properly.
I'll be running with the RHS team, much to my overused legs chagrin.
Some D&D with [wears sunglasses and a hawaiian shirt] and [friend, gamer, knows how to study and isn't afraid to be active, last name sound like it means "the cool"].
Sitting down, relaxing, reading a book and just resting. I've got a good line-up of books to read including the new Ender's, The Count of Monte Cristo (in French), Pride & Prejudice and Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, a title so long I copy&pasted it. By the way, Life of Pi was good, excellent character development and a believable but extremely unlikely story.
I will be eating a lot of nachos and making a lot of food, you can have some too, but I'll force you to eat non-finger food with chopsticks. Also, I'll be very protective of my Calorie Mate stash. I'd like to make some KD, pizza, nachos, pasta, salad, melon bread, nachos, sandwiches, milkshakes, nachos, custom topped icecream, garlic toast and as I didn't mention enough of them; nachos.
I'll probably be put to work, especially that including garbage, beer and dishes. I almost look forward to it. It'll also be interesting working with [a simple type of soup] and [Romantic (language) name, double letter nickname].
I'll have a lot of catching up to do, mostly with friends, I just hope that she'll come out to do something next time I walk up to her door and ask, only to find out she's busy. [As an extra, unnecessary hint, she has a boyfriend.]
I also hope that she (different one) stays, though that's just me being nostalgically selfish, and goes to CBU. Well, I at least hope I get to say a proper "hello" as last time I didn't get to say a proper "Goodbye," or to be more particular, "I'll see you later."
I'll need to get some practice in for my driver's test, I'll be able to take it in August. I assume I'll be doing a lot of deliveries.
I'm planing to make a fixy bike... and padding.
I'm betting I'll have to do a presentation for Rotary, thankfully I have this blog to work with.
When [family member, but these cryptics are fun, Japan enthusiast, good artist] comes over we'll probably spend a lot of time chatting, though I hope to do more than translate and debrief about Japan. Probably stuff involving bikes as well.
Anyways, that's enough of them for now.
Rant in' Japanese
Rant in Japanese/Ranting Japanese
Actually I'm ranting about Japan's language skills.
Starting off, Japanese is an expression based language with specific sayings and responses for most occasions. It has a lot of kanji, but they're easier to understand than any other Japanese writing system as it has too many homophones. It's also an old language with and old dialect not even most Japanese understand. Their language is easier and more structured than English and has government regulation (like France's academy).
English is a mish-mash of languages starting with German and currently forming more and more dialects as it continues to traverse the world. It is full of slang, dialects and commonly mispelt words (did you spot it?). It's most famous writer couldn't even find a consistent way to spell his name, and is (in)famous for his creative (incomprehensible) works. The language excels at being chaotic, different and loves originality. Though most of its phrases are used beyond cliche, new ones are always welcome. I myself am well know for my.... overzealous use of English.
I know I've descirbed these languages before, but this is a refresher course.
It's painful for me to listen to Japanese English. Most of it is phrases they've been prediterminedly taught which the use out of context. They believe English is as structured as their own language (like one teacher who thinks that "nice to meet you" is only used at the end of your self-introuduction, and probably that any introduction requires it). They have difficulty with it's flexibility. Difficulty isn't the right word. They can be utterly confused if you don't follow their predetermined conversation patterns. What's worse, they think they know English better than you. I could go on and on and on, but I'll just say that I can't wait to be back in a country where English is spoken fluently.
Next, I'll be taking back what I said early on in my blog about translation. Knowing how Japanese works, I'm not sure that translation is best. The Japanese way of speaking and communicating is different than ours, with honorifics, the kanji system, and many things that can only be understood in context (what would be extremely fragmented sentences in English are common to Japanese). This as well as other differences means that you would have to learn quite a bit about Japanese and the people behind it.
I think how much you care to learn about Japan should determine whether you go for translation or interpertation. If you want to get inside the culture, go ahead and translate. If you want to enjoy the occasional viewing, have it interperted.
I don't even translate anymore. I watch their shows with Japanese subtitles, and watching dubs is hard for me because my mind will always be guessing what they are saying in Japanese.
One thing I do like Japanese for; their rapping is very good.
Actually I'm ranting about Japan's language skills.
Starting off, Japanese is an expression based language with specific sayings and responses for most occasions. It has a lot of kanji, but they're easier to understand than any other Japanese writing system as it has too many homophones. It's also an old language with and old dialect not even most Japanese understand. Their language is easier and more structured than English and has government regulation (like France's academy).
English is a mish-mash of languages starting with German and currently forming more and more dialects as it continues to traverse the world. It is full of slang, dialects and commonly mispelt words (did you spot it?). It's most famous writer couldn't even find a consistent way to spell his name, and is (in)famous for his creative (incomprehensible) works. The language excels at being chaotic, different and loves originality. Though most of its phrases are used beyond cliche, new ones are always welcome. I myself am well know for my.... overzealous use of English.
I know I've descirbed these languages before, but this is a refresher course.
It's painful for me to listen to Japanese English. Most of it is phrases they've been prediterminedly taught which the use out of context. They believe English is as structured as their own language (like one teacher who thinks that "nice to meet you" is only used at the end of your self-introuduction, and probably that any introduction requires it). They have difficulty with it's flexibility. Difficulty isn't the right word. They can be utterly confused if you don't follow their predetermined conversation patterns. What's worse, they think they know English better than you. I could go on and on and on, but I'll just say that I can't wait to be back in a country where English is spoken fluently.
Next, I'll be taking back what I said early on in my blog about translation. Knowing how Japanese works, I'm not sure that translation is best. The Japanese way of speaking and communicating is different than ours, with honorifics, the kanji system, and many things that can only be understood in context (what would be extremely fragmented sentences in English are common to Japanese). This as well as other differences means that you would have to learn quite a bit about Japanese and the people behind it.
I think how much you care to learn about Japan should determine whether you go for translation or interpertation. If you want to get inside the culture, go ahead and translate. If you want to enjoy the occasional viewing, have it interperted.
I don't even translate anymore. I watch their shows with Japanese subtitles, and watching dubs is hard for me because my mind will always be guessing what they are saying in Japanese.
One thing I do like Japanese for; their rapping is very good.
Game Over
Yes, I know I've talked too much about games recently, actually, that's what I'll be avoiding in this entry, so without further ado, aside from this, let's get into it.
Well, school's been boring. The most interesting thing I've done recently is misrepresent my house by attempting to draw it from memory. I'll see about scans of my attempts later. I exaggerated the space of our living room a bit. I forgot the garage roof extends over my window to reach the door, and I thought we had out house number on a coloumb rather than the wall. I forgot about a couch and don't remember our van being black (I know THAT's new). I'll have the Japanese decide how well I did on Monday, when I next see them.
Also, their exams being on Tuesday. I would have taken some, but I only have a little time left, and friends wanted to do something in that time, as well as I decided not to bother. Also, Rotary has me showing a group from Seattle around on my second last week leaving me with only seven days of school left. School here is boring, more boring than in the West, English classes are PAINFUL to anyone who understands how the language should be used (I'll get to this in a future post), and my only asylum from these are my friends in my math class and my social studies teacher (who is actually really good). Still, time out of school is time with less to do. There is no one else to hang out with. There is very little to do. Japanese students consider free time a bad thing... as do most Japanese. Being here, I know why.
Still, I have 肉's SNES to play, a computer to use, new music to listen to (thank you Laura, and my PSP started working again as suddenly and strangley as it stopped working), shopping, once I get my last allowance and security fund from Rotary (current cash: 554円) and more plans with other exchange students. This includes going to the beach Tuesday.
Also, two days ago, while running around, I clipped my foot jumping over a barrier. Don't worry, the foot is fine, it's what landed on the concrete in its place that hurts. It was only a skinned elbow, a few cuts on my hands and a banged knee and hip. Though I must say, my accuracy at knowing whether I can make a jump is impressive. Before even attempting it, I knew I wouldn't make it (though I still consider the injuries worth the fun), and several other time's I've figured out just how close I'd come.
My way of explaining my bandaged arm (thanks to Red Cross trained 肉) to the Japanese consisted of laying one hand perpendicular to a desk and having the other run on and fail to jump over the wall/hand while doing Mario sound effects (hence the title, Game Over, it's not a reference to the end of my trip, as that's still over twenty days away).
Let's see, what else... I'm shaving more often... found something for Matt Larade that he's not expecting... oh yeah, my last host family.
I was very worried when I moved from 松崎's. It was boring and crowded there but they weren't bad. Well, all my worrying was for nothing. Shigenami (who's name's kanji is old and appearently not typable) is very nice. I live with a host mother in an apartment. Her son, my age, lives nearby and often visits. Her daughter went on exchange and now lives in Tokyo. She's very nice and is extremely leanient allowing me to do things that would merit hours of shouting at some other Japanese homes (including my first and 肉's current). I told her not to worry about me and she hasn't. She's also very Westernized in a truer sense than most Japanese. She uses many transliterated words, listens to Western music and has many contacts abroad.
Also, I feel so much like Callan at the end of his exchange. He too had a lenient family, a gaming console at his place, had Japanese equal to mine at the time (as 肉 is in the process of surpassing me) and was cheerful in a very sad time for me (while 肉's current family mirrors my own from that time). The difference would be that I've gotten to know Japan better, especially the language, so really, it's like the next step up. I'm not saying my exchange was any better or that I'm any better than Callan, but he really seemed to have a lazy time here.
Anywho, that's enough for this entry.
Well, school's been boring. The most interesting thing I've done recently is misrepresent my house by attempting to draw it from memory. I'll see about scans of my attempts later. I exaggerated the space of our living room a bit. I forgot the garage roof extends over my window to reach the door, and I thought we had out house number on a coloumb rather than the wall. I forgot about a couch and don't remember our van being black (I know THAT's new). I'll have the Japanese decide how well I did on Monday, when I next see them.
Also, their exams being on Tuesday. I would have taken some, but I only have a little time left, and friends wanted to do something in that time, as well as I decided not to bother. Also, Rotary has me showing a group from Seattle around on my second last week leaving me with only seven days of school left. School here is boring, more boring than in the West, English classes are PAINFUL to anyone who understands how the language should be used (I'll get to this in a future post), and my only asylum from these are my friends in my math class and my social studies teacher (who is actually really good). Still, time out of school is time with less to do. There is no one else to hang out with. There is very little to do. Japanese students consider free time a bad thing... as do most Japanese. Being here, I know why.
Still, I have 肉's SNES to play, a computer to use, new music to listen to (thank you Laura, and my PSP started working again as suddenly and strangley as it stopped working), shopping, once I get my last allowance and security fund from Rotary (current cash: 554円) and more plans with other exchange students. This includes going to the beach Tuesday.
Also, two days ago, while running around, I clipped my foot jumping over a barrier. Don't worry, the foot is fine, it's what landed on the concrete in its place that hurts. It was only a skinned elbow, a few cuts on my hands and a banged knee and hip. Though I must say, my accuracy at knowing whether I can make a jump is impressive. Before even attempting it, I knew I wouldn't make it (though I still consider the injuries worth the fun), and several other time's I've figured out just how close I'd come.
My way of explaining my bandaged arm (thanks to Red Cross trained 肉) to the Japanese consisted of laying one hand perpendicular to a desk and having the other run on and fail to jump over the wall/hand while doing Mario sound effects (hence the title, Game Over, it's not a reference to the end of my trip, as that's still over twenty days away).
Let's see, what else... I'm shaving more often... found something for Matt Larade that he's not expecting... oh yeah, my last host family.
I was very worried when I moved from 松崎's. It was boring and crowded there but they weren't bad. Well, all my worrying was for nothing. Shigenami (who's name's kanji is old and appearently not typable) is very nice. I live with a host mother in an apartment. Her son, my age, lives nearby and often visits. Her daughter went on exchange and now lives in Tokyo. She's very nice and is extremely leanient allowing me to do things that would merit hours of shouting at some other Japanese homes (including my first and 肉's current). I told her not to worry about me and she hasn't. She's also very Westernized in a truer sense than most Japanese. She uses many transliterated words, listens to Western music and has many contacts abroad.
Also, I feel so much like Callan at the end of his exchange. He too had a lenient family, a gaming console at his place, had Japanese equal to mine at the time (as 肉 is in the process of surpassing me) and was cheerful in a very sad time for me (while 肉's current family mirrors my own from that time). The difference would be that I've gotten to know Japan better, especially the language, so really, it's like the next step up. I'm not saying my exchange was any better or that I'm any better than Callan, but he really seemed to have a lazy time here.
Anywho, that's enough for this entry.
Walking Through a Fantasy (gaming, may want to skip this one)
I've kept in touch with gaming over this year, listening to podcasts, reading articles, looking through Japanese magazines and even watching videos online. I know mostly all of the latest news and am looking forward to what's coming (though now I face the prospect of playing my Japanese games in their language of origin).
I've also been playing a bit with a few Metal Gear games and demos on PSP, retro gaming on 肉's SNES (which he can't use at his current "home," so I have it here) and wondering what to bring back (or look to import).
I've even got a list of what to play when I get home, getting back into MGS4, some Warhawk, teaching people the love of all things fun that is LittleBigPlanet, hoping for some Fallout 3 and inFamous as well as upcoming Uncharted 2, more Metal Gears and more Final Fantasies.
To this I'm going to add something, a game that came out a few years ago. The XBOX360 is stats-wise almost equal to the PS3 (while the XBOX360 is more similar to PCs, making it easier to develop for, PS3's more complex processor is just a bit ahead of it, as well as PS3's blu-rays holding over ten times XBOX360's DVDs) with a larger, America centric, infamously annoying fanbase. (Yes this paragraph is an irrelevant bash of Microsoft's console)
I'd like to borrow one to play a game that should have been the next Final Fantasy. Lost Odyssey was made by the creator of the Final Fantasy series, fired from Square for his multi-million flop of a movie, Final Fantasy:The Spirits Within. He created his own company and even hired Final Fantasy's world famous music composer (who went freelance about the same time). I'm a hardcore fan of the Final Fantasy series (my favourite being FFVI for it's incredible story) who learned the piano to play Uematsu's music.
I've also been playing a bit with a few Metal Gear games and demos on PSP, retro gaming on 肉's SNES (which he can't use at his current "home," so I have it here) and wondering what to bring back (or look to import).
I've even got a list of what to play when I get home, getting back into MGS4, some Warhawk, teaching people the love of all things fun that is LittleBigPlanet, hoping for some Fallout 3 and inFamous as well as upcoming Uncharted 2, more Metal Gears and more Final Fantasies.
To this I'm going to add something, a game that came out a few years ago. The XBOX360 is stats-wise almost equal to the PS3 (while the XBOX360 is more similar to PCs, making it easier to develop for, PS3's more complex processor is just a bit ahead of it, as well as PS3's blu-rays holding over ten times XBOX360's DVDs) with a larger, America centric, infamously annoying fanbase. (Yes this paragraph is an irrelevant bash of Microsoft's console)
I'd like to borrow one to play a game that should have been the next Final Fantasy. Lost Odyssey was made by the creator of the Final Fantasy series, fired from Square for his multi-million flop of a movie, Final Fantasy:The Spirits Within. He created his own company and even hired Final Fantasy's world famous music composer (who went freelance about the same time). I'm a hardcore fan of the Final Fantasy series (my favourite being FFVI for it's incredible story) who learned the piano to play Uematsu's music.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Grandpa of Gaming
The current generation of gaming (mistakenly dubbed "next gen") has duo- and multi-core processors, top of the line, realist graphics and on the porper console, up to fifty billion bits of data per disc.
Well, that's nice, but tonight, 肉 and I went out to find something to do. We could buy a PSX, a Gamecube, or a Sega Saturn for not too much, instead we bought... a Super Famicom, also known as, the SNES.
Two player (more-so than the PSX), easy to understand games, and the grandfathers of most good Japanese franchises. I just got back from playing Starfox. We also got a small, little know game for fifty cents call STREET FIGHTER II (the original, with booklet). You also might have heard of Super Metroid, Chrono Cross, Zelda and more. Now excuse me as I look up the Contra code.
Well, that's nice, but tonight, 肉 and I went out to find something to do. We could buy a PSX, a Gamecube, or a Sega Saturn for not too much, instead we bought... a Super Famicom, also known as, the SNES.
Two player (more-so than the PSX), easy to understand games, and the grandfathers of most good Japanese franchises. I just got back from playing Starfox. We also got a small, little know game for fifty cents call STREET FIGHTER II (the original, with booklet). You also might have heard of Super Metroid, Chrono Cross, Zelda and more. Now excuse me as I look up the Contra code.
Sony FTWTF ynoS
Sony For The Win/What The Firetruck?
This is the second time a PSP has done this to me. It shut down for a few hours, then it started working again (the other time was a very rainy day), though the battery seems fried. Meh, replacing a battery is easier than replacing a whole PSP. Any customer support is useless across regions.
So, aside from that, today started out badly. I was trying to stay awake in classes, did some work in math class, and then came English. It was painful. What made it more painful was that the teacher was explaining how people in the West have opinions (I'll add to clairify, even not caring is an opinion) and people in Japan don't. I said nothing to provok this, she said it on her own, and seems to prefer the Japanese way while thinking Westerners funny.
Thankfully the day didn't end there, or I might have ended with it. I had social studies where the teacher (one I consider very clever) started the class by turning off the air conditioning and opened the windows. This may seem simple to you, but Japanese students are lemmings when it comes to these sorts of things. The overheated class cooled down very quickly (I wanted to do this, but Japanese kids (what they look like to me) never believe me about these things). I like listening to his classes because he teaches social studies, and in a way that even I understand most of it. I even get my say now and again. Not only that, he asked me to attend tomorrow (usually I'd be in math) for what I think wil be their lesson on the internet.
Then came my last math class. One of the ones where I don't listen and instead talk with my friends. It was pretty plain today until they asked me about my house. So, I drew up blue-prints and showed them my drawing of my room, as well as a drawing I made on the spot of our basement. They were amazed at my house's space, size and basement. I'm drawing the living room for tomorrow. On which note, mom, could you send me some pictures of the house. They'd probably like to see the living room, basement (take a picture from the basement window as proof it is, in fact, underground), garage and/or cetera.
Anyways, bye.
This is the second time a PSP has done this to me. It shut down for a few hours, then it started working again (the other time was a very rainy day), though the battery seems fried. Meh, replacing a battery is easier than replacing a whole PSP. Any customer support is useless across regions.
So, aside from that, today started out badly. I was trying to stay awake in classes, did some work in math class, and then came English. It was painful. What made it more painful was that the teacher was explaining how people in the West have opinions (I'll add to clairify, even not caring is an opinion) and people in Japan don't. I said nothing to provok this, she said it on her own, and seems to prefer the Japanese way while thinking Westerners funny.
Thankfully the day didn't end there, or I might have ended with it. I had social studies where the teacher (one I consider very clever) started the class by turning off the air conditioning and opened the windows. This may seem simple to you, but Japanese students are lemmings when it comes to these sorts of things. The overheated class cooled down very quickly (I wanted to do this, but Japanese kids (what they look like to me) never believe me about these things). I like listening to his classes because he teaches social studies, and in a way that even I understand most of it. I even get my say now and again. Not only that, he asked me to attend tomorrow (usually I'd be in math) for what I think wil be their lesson on the internet.
Then came my last math class. One of the ones where I don't listen and instead talk with my friends. It was pretty plain today until they asked me about my house. So, I drew up blue-prints and showed them my drawing of my room, as well as a drawing I made on the spot of our basement. They were amazed at my house's space, size and basement. I'm drawing the living room for tomorrow. On which note, mom, could you send me some pictures of the house. They'd probably like to see the living room, basement (take a picture from the basement window as proof it is, in fact, underground), garage and/or cetera.
Anyways, bye.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
What the !"#$%&'()
DAMMIT!
My PSP just bricked. It hasn't been cracked and I haven't done anything to it. It just didn't turn on, not with it's regualr battery, a different battery or AC. It's battery doesn't even register on my other PSP. These things are supposed to be reliable as... more reilable than most other devices. Oh well, at least it's not an XBOX360, especially since the warranty on those just ended.
Still...
DAMMIT!
(I can still use my other PSP, it's just that I have a lot of region coded stuff for my Japanese one)
My PSP just bricked. It hasn't been cracked and I haven't done anything to it. It just didn't turn on, not with it's regualr battery, a different battery or AC. It's battery doesn't even register on my other PSP. These things are supposed to be reliable as... more reilable than most other devices. Oh well, at least it's not an XBOX360, especially since the warranty on those just ended.
Still...
DAMMIT!
(I can still use my other PSP, it's just that I have a lot of region coded stuff for my Japanese one)
The Conditional is Useless
Have you ever heard "A Thousand Miles" (which I might still be able to play on piano) or "I'm Gonna Be (500 miles)"? Both claim they would walk a thousand miles for their loved one. Well, guess what? I don't need the conditional. By the time my exchange is over, I will have walked a thousand miles (average of eight hours a week for over forty weeks at a pace of about five kilometres per hour=1600km=1000m). Ironically I don't have a girlfriend. Is "bored, good with maps and money and able to travel long distances without a car or plane" anyone's type? I'll add that the Japanese think me good looking.
Also, I say to hell with conditional form because I'm getting tired of the Japanese English classes. They're worse than non-immersion French classes in Canada. I asked their teachers whether students could write in English, to which I got the unspoken answer of "no" (they wouldn't say it themselves, the best they could say was that they had to write an essay for the exam for high school, but I know how low the pass make is, they could (and in all likely hood, did) skip it without any trouble). I've also gone on rants about how they should learn how to speak the language as opposed to memorizing obscure sentence structures, to which the teachers almost agree, but remind me that it's not about learning English, it's about passing the exams. No wonder Kenji has so much trouble in these classes. All I can offer to their credit is that I've heard of someone who became fluent via this system, and I've seen hundreds who can't get through two sentences of a conversation with me. At least there's the punk rockers.
Aside from that, I'll be back in a month. I've still got a few things left to do, including some shopping... hmm, well I need to write the list down anyways, so,
I need to get:
twenty Calorie Mates (mostly for me)(Gavin can have some too)
two Gundams
some gold-leaf
a piece of tapestry
a Japanese comb
a book
a CD or two
two mangas if they come out before I leave
a game
more random gifts (I'd ask for help, but they're people who don't read this)
on that note, maybe an ooban (though I'll be keeping a five-hundred for myself)
and that should be about it. Anime itself is too expensive. I'm also looking for a recipe for melon bread. Remember, if there's anything you want, now's the time to ask (actually, that'd be pay day, July first, but now's good too).
Most of my plans for the rest of my stay go as such:
Concert on the twelfth
Karaoke with cute Japanese girls
Karaoke with 肉 singing dirty rap songs
See the sun set over the Sea of Japan
Do something (Tokyo?, hike?) with 肉
Translate Shyuna's Journey
Meet Western guests of Rotary from Seattle and cetera
Play video games with friendly otaku
Find a Japanese friend I can keep in touch with in Canada
Effect a revolution (a bit risky, but they could use it)
Get on a plane bound for Canada
Also, one of my hobbies right now is confusing people by being both "Yankee" (id est rebel) and otaku (id est extreme geek) and having them try to decide which I am. They have trouble with this because they assume I can only be a part of one stereotype, though they could just say "gaijin" (foreigner, outsider).
Anyways, that seems like enough for today.
Also, I say to hell with conditional form because I'm getting tired of the Japanese English classes. They're worse than non-immersion French classes in Canada. I asked their teachers whether students could write in English, to which I got the unspoken answer of "no" (they wouldn't say it themselves, the best they could say was that they had to write an essay for the exam for high school, but I know how low the pass make is, they could (and in all likely hood, did) skip it without any trouble). I've also gone on rants about how they should learn how to speak the language as opposed to memorizing obscure sentence structures, to which the teachers almost agree, but remind me that it's not about learning English, it's about passing the exams. No wonder Kenji has so much trouble in these classes. All I can offer to their credit is that I've heard of someone who became fluent via this system, and I've seen hundreds who can't get through two sentences of a conversation with me. At least there's the punk rockers.
Aside from that, I'll be back in a month. I've still got a few things left to do, including some shopping... hmm, well I need to write the list down anyways, so,
I need to get:
twenty Calorie Mates (mostly for me)(Gavin can have some too)
two Gundams
some gold-leaf
a piece of tapestry
a Japanese comb
a book
a CD or two
two mangas if they come out before I leave
a game
more random gifts (I'd ask for help, but they're people who don't read this)
on that note, maybe an ooban (though I'll be keeping a five-hundred for myself)
and that should be about it. Anime itself is too expensive. I'm also looking for a recipe for melon bread. Remember, if there's anything you want, now's the time to ask (actually, that'd be pay day, July first, but now's good too).
Most of my plans for the rest of my stay go as such:
Concert on the twelfth
Karaoke with cute Japanese girls
Karaoke with 肉 singing dirty rap songs
See the sun set over the Sea of Japan
Do something (Tokyo?, hike?) with 肉
Translate Shyuna's Journey
Meet Western guests of Rotary from Seattle and cetera
Play video games with friendly otaku
Find a Japanese friend I can keep in touch with in Canada
Effect a revolution (a bit risky, but they could use it)
Get on a plane bound for Canada
Also, one of my hobbies right now is confusing people by being both "Yankee" (id est rebel) and otaku (id est extreme geek) and having them try to decide which I am. They have trouble with this because they assume I can only be a part of one stereotype, though they could just say "gaijin" (foreigner, outsider).
Anyways, that seems like enough for today.
Monday, June 22, 2009
My Favourite Wine is "That's not Fair"
Actually I don't have a favourite, I find both red and white disgusting, don't even ask about sake.
Regardless, this entry is me whining, maybe complaining would be more accurate. Not ranting or anything bad, just minor stuff. Hell, I'm not even in a bad mood.
Anyways, getting right into it, I'll start off with it raining. I don't mind the rain so long as everything I have is "allowed" to get we (id est no one will complain and everything will work once dried out). I just didn't like carrying an umbrella.
I need new music, old music could work too, just somethin different than the playlist I've had for the past year (thanks Matt for the additional few tracks). Brie seemed impressed that I didn't have to read the words to sing Old Man, well, if you've listened to it as much as I have, you wouldn't even need the music.
I'm tired of walking around 金沢. Some of you might be able to understand the physical strain of walking for over five hours, then add on the mental stain of doing it on your own. It's boring as heel, but often more interesting than anything I could do at "home." I at least wish that I had something to look forward to in them. The purpose of my last walk was checking prices on Calorie Mates.
Also wish I had an easier way to get around 金沢. I usually have no problem with walking, I usually prefer, but... read the last complaint.
I will certain NOT complain about how few comments I get for all my writing. It doesn't matter that I get nothing for the blood, sweat and tears poured into the making and maintaining of this log of so much of my life. To find out how little you care to write about my greatest feats and worst hardships.
I'm kidding, mostly. Terry comments on almost everything.
I wish I had Japanese friends who would do something, I know I've said that before.
I hate analog clocks, I can't sleep with those and the heat here (I sleep in my running shorts).
I hate sleep deprivation.
Hmm, I should have thought about this more before writing. Meh.
Also, a note about the last entry about my plans, I don't mean to limit my plans to my time on exchange.
Regardless, this entry is me whining, maybe complaining would be more accurate. Not ranting or anything bad, just minor stuff. Hell, I'm not even in a bad mood.
Anyways, getting right into it, I'll start off with it raining. I don't mind the rain so long as everything I have is "allowed" to get we (id est no one will complain and everything will work once dried out). I just didn't like carrying an umbrella.
I need new music, old music could work too, just somethin different than the playlist I've had for the past year (thanks Matt for the additional few tracks). Brie seemed impressed that I didn't have to read the words to sing Old Man, well, if you've listened to it as much as I have, you wouldn't even need the music.
I'm tired of walking around 金沢. Some of you might be able to understand the physical strain of walking for over five hours, then add on the mental stain of doing it on your own. It's boring as heel, but often more interesting than anything I could do at "home." I at least wish that I had something to look forward to in them. The purpose of my last walk was checking prices on Calorie Mates.
Also wish I had an easier way to get around 金沢. I usually have no problem with walking, I usually prefer, but... read the last complaint.
I will certain NOT complain about how few comments I get for all my writing. It doesn't matter that I get nothing for the blood, sweat and tears poured into the making and maintaining of this log of so much of my life. To find out how little you care to write about my greatest feats and worst hardships.
I'm kidding, mostly. Terry comments on almost everything.
I wish I had Japanese friends who would do something, I know I've said that before.
I hate analog clocks, I can't sleep with those and the heat here (I sleep in my running shorts).
I hate sleep deprivation.
Hmm, I should have thought about this more before writing. Meh.
Also, a note about the last entry about my plans, I don't mean to limit my plans to my time on exchange.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The Best Laid Plans of Men and Mice
"To a Mouse" by Robert Burns. If you celebrate his birthday, I suggest you skip the haggis.
So, this isn't a regualr post, this is something I'll be e-mailing to a number of you to make sure you read it and reply if necessary.
Okay, so, I'm winding down my year, I have a month left today. I'm finalizing my plans and there's just one last thing I need to get straight, how should I go about getting to Tokyo?
Well, technically the Willer bus should be the cheapest way from Kanazawa. Niku would really like to go and I have a host relative living there with time on the weekends. I might even be able to just catch my flight ot of Tokyo rather than Komatsu.
However, that's not the only option I'm considering. I'm also wondering whether I should wait until my brother (learning Japanese), uncle (Japan enthusiast), sister (I don't know much about why she would, but she was planning to learn Japanese), other sister (loves to travel) or cetera plans a trip. It would be fun going to Japan on vacation, I could help read anything (though I'd be useless as a tour guide as going to Kanazawa isn't worth the fare from Tokyo) and I wouldn't be bound by any strict rules. The con of this would be the planning, air fare and how annoying I would be to them (debatable, but not a null point).
Anyways, I have a week to decide on this. Both ways can be done legitimately, both have different pros and cons, what do you guys think? (Yes, I'm asking for feedback again, man isn't this whole typing an opinion in an easy to use comments system ssssooooooooo annoying?)
So, this isn't a regualr post, this is something I'll be e-mailing to a number of you to make sure you read it and reply if necessary.
Okay, so, I'm winding down my year, I have a month left today. I'm finalizing my plans and there's just one last thing I need to get straight, how should I go about getting to Tokyo?
Well, technically the Willer bus should be the cheapest way from Kanazawa. Niku would really like to go and I have a host relative living there with time on the weekends. I might even be able to just catch my flight ot of Tokyo rather than Komatsu.
However, that's not the only option I'm considering. I'm also wondering whether I should wait until my brother (learning Japanese), uncle (Japan enthusiast), sister (I don't know much about why she would, but she was planning to learn Japanese), other sister (loves to travel) or cetera plans a trip. It would be fun going to Japan on vacation, I could help read anything (though I'd be useless as a tour guide as going to Kanazawa isn't worth the fare from Tokyo) and I wouldn't be bound by any strict rules. The con of this would be the planning, air fare and how annoying I would be to them (debatable, but not a null point).
Anyways, I have a week to decide on this. Both ways can be done legitimately, both have different pros and cons, what do you guys think? (Yes, I'm asking for feedback again, man isn't this whole typing an opinion in an easy to use comments system ssssooooooooo annoying?)
Rekindling the Fire
It's been a while since I was serious about anime. Things have been going down hill for a long time and we haven't been on good terms lately. Oh, sure, I'd seen her on tv, say hi when we met walking around town, but it's only recently that I've decided to rekindle the fire. We've started off lightly and if things go well I'll try to stay steady. I hope we get along better this time, it's nice as long as she stays off her chibi and moe addictions. And if all else fails I can always leave her for porn (kidding)(hopefully you've realized how much of this is a joke).
Anyways, getting more serious, I am getting back into anime, slowly. I've started it off with Genshiken, for which I will probably buy the manga in Japanese. That's going well. A nice anime showing the good side of otaku. I find it suiting, being considered by some to be otaku myself.
The second is one I've seen at the local anime store and have heard's good from a fellow enthusiast. It's called Eden of the East, which I almost confuse with East of Eden. The show looks good so far, what really surprises me is the level of detail. The characters are decently draw, but it's the background that amazes me, not just the scenery, which looks as if they've taken anime photos of real life Japan, but the detail in things like coins (and yes, the five-hundred really is fun to play with), brands on drinks, stores, computers, the way people act. The story and the selected few may be fake, but most of this is just like Japan.
Well (hey, I didn't say "Anyways" this time), that's enough of that. I'll also be following the new Haruhi and Fullmetal Alchemist.
Anyways, getting more serious, I am getting back into anime, slowly. I've started it off with Genshiken, for which I will probably buy the manga in Japanese. That's going well. A nice anime showing the good side of otaku. I find it suiting, being considered by some to be otaku myself.
The second is one I've seen at the local anime store and have heard's good from a fellow enthusiast. It's called Eden of the East, which I almost confuse with East of Eden. The show looks good so far, what really surprises me is the level of detail. The characters are decently draw, but it's the background that amazes me, not just the scenery, which looks as if they've taken anime photos of real life Japan, but the detail in things like coins (and yes, the five-hundred really is fun to play with), brands on drinks, stores, computers, the way people act. The story and the selected few may be fake, but most of this is just like Japan.
Well (hey, I didn't say "Anyways" this time), that's enough of that. I'll also be following the new Haruhi and Fullmetal Alchemist.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Japanese Media
Well, there's not much I like about Japanese television, but I'll see about ending this on a high note... damn, too bad I ran out of marijuana. Well, that would probably be good considering I'm in Japan, which followed Western paper companies into banning something considered a gift from god by the Chinese (canabis has too many uses for me to name and less negative effects than many legal drugs). Anyways,
I'll start with their news. A lack of interesting national and local events and of international interest means they have little to talk about. They fill their time by talking about new bad trends in internet use (old for most others), over-analyzing any panic-causing things (influenza and the Korean rocket we're on forever, it's a good thing I have Doraemon's time machine) and other types of filler. Their presentation is mostly done by showing boards with all the important information covered with paper. They tear off the paper as they read. Occasionally they'll use a model. They don't seem to know much about digital effects.
Their talk shows drive me mad (mostly because the Japanese watch them twenty-four seven). Done seemingly mostly by comedians (i.e. people from Osaka), their flashy with cheap, overdone, over-used effects. They range from strange ways of asking questions to straight kanji tests. There aren't as many actors in Japan, so you'll see them a lot. They try mostly to be silly, and while I understand their humour, I don't like it. (They also have very awkwar selections in music, like using "Paint it Black" as background for a trip through Australia.) Their dramas are wroth a few laughs. The overdone style is hard to take seriously in any way, luckily they're not supposed to. Cheesy effects and the awkwardness of Japanese social lives make them worth watching, though I miss something serious (House M.D. specifically).
Anime has been getting worse for a while now. Lower quality, less effort, more bad effects, more moe, slow, dragged out and repeating storylines and cetera have lead to this. Even some otaku don't like the new Gundam. I'm a fan mostly of older stuff. If you like anime, check out Ghibli, Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, the old Mobile Suit Gundam, Fooly Cooly and Haruhi. I'm starting Genshiken and looking for Eden of East.
I also like some of the music here. From their current pop culture, I like GReeeeeN. RADWIMPS is a nice punk rock band with really good use of English. Utada Hikaru has some nice music which I found from games, though she's mainstream. Nobuo Uematsu made some good stuff for the Final Fantasy game series, buy my favourite is Yoko Kanno. Her music is wonderful. "Gotta Knock a Little Harder" is better than the namesake of the movie it's for (Cowboy Bebop:
KNOCKING ON HEAVEN'S DOOR), "The Real Folk Blues" really is something blue, "I do" is soothing to the soul (and in russian, that must have been a challenge).
I'll see about posting links to these and Group of Povery's music.
...hell, Just Google them.
Note: I have never had marijuana, it was a joke, but my brother does live in Vancouver.... just kidding.
I'll start with their news. A lack of interesting national and local events and of international interest means they have little to talk about. They fill their time by talking about new bad trends in internet use (old for most others), over-analyzing any panic-causing things (influenza and the Korean rocket we're on forever, it's a good thing I have Doraemon's time machine) and other types of filler. Their presentation is mostly done by showing boards with all the important information covered with paper. They tear off the paper as they read. Occasionally they'll use a model. They don't seem to know much about digital effects.
Their talk shows drive me mad (mostly because the Japanese watch them twenty-four seven). Done seemingly mostly by comedians (i.e. people from Osaka), their flashy with cheap, overdone, over-used effects. They range from strange ways of asking questions to straight kanji tests. There aren't as many actors in Japan, so you'll see them a lot. They try mostly to be silly, and while I understand their humour, I don't like it. (They also have very awkwar selections in music, like using "Paint it Black" as background for a trip through Australia.) Their dramas are wroth a few laughs. The overdone style is hard to take seriously in any way, luckily they're not supposed to. Cheesy effects and the awkwardness of Japanese social lives make them worth watching, though I miss something serious (House M.D. specifically).
Anime has been getting worse for a while now. Lower quality, less effort, more bad effects, more moe, slow, dragged out and repeating storylines and cetera have lead to this. Even some otaku don't like the new Gundam. I'm a fan mostly of older stuff. If you like anime, check out Ghibli, Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, the old Mobile Suit Gundam, Fooly Cooly and Haruhi. I'm starting Genshiken and looking for Eden of East.
I also like some of the music here. From their current pop culture, I like GReeeeeN. RADWIMPS is a nice punk rock band with really good use of English. Utada Hikaru has some nice music which I found from games, though she's mainstream. Nobuo Uematsu made some good stuff for the Final Fantasy game series, buy my favourite is Yoko Kanno. Her music is wonderful. "Gotta Knock a Little Harder" is better than the namesake of the movie it's for (Cowboy Bebop:
KNOCKING ON HEAVEN'S DOOR), "The Real Folk Blues" really is something blue, "I do" is soothing to the soul (and in russian, that must have been a challenge).
I'll see about posting links to these and Group of Povery's music.
...hell, Just Google them.
Note: I have never had marijuana, it was a joke, but my brother does live in Vancouver.... just kidding.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Mad World
A strange song I listen to too much.
Anyways, this is another rant, you'll get a lot of bi-polar stuff from me now. I'll probably even let the political correctness slide, down a vertical ice hill into a firey pit of spikes, or maybe not. Anyways, annoy me all you want, this is MY, SUBJECTIVE blog. If you want a different one, why are you reading this?
So, to start things off, I've about thirty-six days left. Memories of a place I've come to know as home are now a daily event. A sound, a feeling, a scene, it's as though my mind is slowly coming home in preperation for my body.
I'm buying gifts for friends, to whom I say don't expect much and don't worry about price, but if you have a request I'll see to it.
I already have plans for the twenty-third and -sixth, and I hope to keep busy.
Anyways, Japan.
A few days ago 肉 and I went around 金沢 (does the 漢字 bother you guys?) looking for something to do. We found nothing.
In short, 金沢 has many crappy and overpriced clothing stores. Japn's fashions include misusing Ingerish and turning lolita to emo.
Karaoke is fun.
Arcades are expensive, fighting games are probably the cheapest so long as you're not facing an otaku. UFO catchers are well rigged.
金沢 is famous for its many bars, but we're not drinking age here.
A girlfriend might have been nice, but I've seen a lot of long-distance relationships fail in the past while.
I don't know of any maid cafes or brothels around here (despite being legal age, I'm kidding, well, actually I haven't found any, I'm kidding about going)
The Game Freaks I went to had too few games, a decent computer, lots of manga and most people seemed to be using the booths for porn. You almost have privacy, maybe a good place for an otaku girlfriend(?).
Get a Tsutaya card for renting movies.
On exchange here you'll have either too much or no time depending on whether you join a club. Either way, good luck.
The next day we went to 富山 for the chartering of a new Rotary club. We went early to explore and look through book shops. We found free bike rentals and went about it. Ironically, though I had four maps, 富山 is so stright forward I had trouble navigating it. Usually I use different shapes in roads, strange angle turns and such to find out where I am. 富山 has three main roads running from the station and a whole lot of perpendicular roads. We did manage to make it to one decent store, but even putting the staff to use, we couldn't find anything. Though I came up with a new game: "Is it Porn?" You guess whether a bookshop is porn or not (we found 4/5). They'll always have at least a decent selection (for quantity, not quality) and every convenience store has some, even DVD rental shops. Aside from that 富山 is empty.
The former fact is one that disturbs me. Let me explain. I am human, I can tell you, every male is genetically made to be perverted (anyone who says otherwise is either genetically defective or a liar), as are women to an extent. In general, I don't have a problem with porn so long as it knows it's place. HOWEVER, Japan is a country with more females than males, they have needs too (I assume(?)) and yet hardly a one is taken. Guys here seem to perfer the fake over the real. THAT is my problem, it creeps me out. I'm quite shy myself (debatable), but at least I can talk to girls (awkwardly, probably too much and about the wrong things).
Next, no, I've said enough for now.
Anyways, this is another rant, you'll get a lot of bi-polar stuff from me now. I'll probably even let the political correctness slide, down a vertical ice hill into a firey pit of spikes, or maybe not. Anyways, annoy me all you want, this is MY, SUBJECTIVE blog. If you want a different one, why are you reading this?
So, to start things off, I've about thirty-six days left. Memories of a place I've come to know as home are now a daily event. A sound, a feeling, a scene, it's as though my mind is slowly coming home in preperation for my body.
I'm buying gifts for friends, to whom I say don't expect much and don't worry about price, but if you have a request I'll see to it.
I already have plans for the twenty-third and -sixth, and I hope to keep busy.
Anyways, Japan.
A few days ago 肉 and I went around 金沢 (does the 漢字 bother you guys?) looking for something to do. We found nothing.
In short, 金沢 has many crappy and overpriced clothing stores. Japn's fashions include misusing Ingerish and turning lolita to emo.
Karaoke is fun.
Arcades are expensive, fighting games are probably the cheapest so long as you're not facing an otaku. UFO catchers are well rigged.
金沢 is famous for its many bars, but we're not drinking age here.
A girlfriend might have been nice, but I've seen a lot of long-distance relationships fail in the past while.
I don't know of any maid cafes or brothels around here (despite being legal age, I'm kidding, well, actually I haven't found any, I'm kidding about going)
The Game Freaks I went to had too few games, a decent computer, lots of manga and most people seemed to be using the booths for porn. You almost have privacy, maybe a good place for an otaku girlfriend(?).
Get a Tsutaya card for renting movies.
On exchange here you'll have either too much or no time depending on whether you join a club. Either way, good luck.
The next day we went to 富山 for the chartering of a new Rotary club. We went early to explore and look through book shops. We found free bike rentals and went about it. Ironically, though I had four maps, 富山 is so stright forward I had trouble navigating it. Usually I use different shapes in roads, strange angle turns and such to find out where I am. 富山 has three main roads running from the station and a whole lot of perpendicular roads. We did manage to make it to one decent store, but even putting the staff to use, we couldn't find anything. Though I came up with a new game: "Is it Porn?" You guess whether a bookshop is porn or not (we found 4/5). They'll always have at least a decent selection (for quantity, not quality) and every convenience store has some, even DVD rental shops. Aside from that 富山 is empty.
The former fact is one that disturbs me. Let me explain. I am human, I can tell you, every male is genetically made to be perverted (anyone who says otherwise is either genetically defective or a liar), as are women to an extent. In general, I don't have a problem with porn so long as it knows it's place. HOWEVER, Japan is a country with more females than males, they have needs too (I assume(?)) and yet hardly a one is taken. Guys here seem to perfer the fake over the real. THAT is my problem, it creeps me out. I'm quite shy myself (debatable), but at least I can talk to girls (awkwardly, probably too much and about the wrong things).
Next, no, I've said enough for now.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Full hands in, Full hands out
is what I say at Boston Pizza when I need the servers to bring dishes back out after having brough them in. Well, I'll keep it clean, but it's time I dishes some out.
First of all, this is my subjective opinion, though much of this is shared with others, and we have lived here for five to ten months, so we should know a little better than you.
Another title I was thinking of for this was Difficulty setting, you'll see why in a moment.
Yes, this is it, when I dish out a lot of kuso about Japan that I've grown tired of. I still like the place, but it's hard, you'd understand if you were here, I hope this might help that along.
First, I'll say that many of us have had backwards exchanges,
Brie, who is given so much, has so little (I'm not being mean, it's true),
Mike, who made some of us wonder how he got in (I understand that he's a good guy, just sometimes he makes you wonder), has a Rotary club trying to kick him out (which the district is against for reason and pride),
肉, who, if I haven't made it clear is about the ultimate in showing interest in Japan, he now reads novels in Japanese, he does well in class (better than a lot of other students), he knows the history and popular culture, he shows every interest, and gets nothing for it. Despite his efforts the Japanese do little, if anything (usually not) to help him along.
And myself, who was placed in a strict family for six months and a private school, have turned into a... technically the word is rebel, but really it's more so independant, something that got me out of my first host family.
Anyways, Japan, that small Asian island of the cost of Korea and China, with Korean roots and Chinese influence (ironically hating both). Ah, Japan.
If asked the difference between Japan and Canada (or as I would say, the West), I would say freedom. Freedom, independance, liberty, individuality, what ever you call it by, what ever form you use.
If asked what life in Japan is like, I'd say it was life in easy mode (the West being medium, hard is debatable, Africa would be extreme).
Here's why:
Japan is an isolated country. The Japanese are very specific in this, they are not Korean, Chinese, or Western and any of the above not only stick out, their pointed out. Japan has a history of kicking people out and of making foreigners uncomfortable. Even today, if you are an outsider, you'll feel it in Japan (though maybe not in a city like Tokyo).
While polite, it's more so memorized phrases and translated, required formalities, many people have found them cold and xenophonbic (afraid of foreigners). None of us really "fit in" here. Even when I say I'm otaku, there are people who'll disagree, but I don't fit in as popular (all foreigners have a pseudo-popularity), I don't play baseball so I'm not a jock, and cetera. Even if I fit perfectly, the simple matter of my different birth would make me different.
The Japanese themselves are born into a system. They are brought up by a mother who is strict in taking care of them while their father overworks himself (only in Japan is the expression "work yourself to death" a common reality) at an average job.
They enter school and are forced to study all their time. A system of memorization rather than logical learning. (Kenji is almost failing his English class BECAUSE he is fluent. He knows how to speak outside of a predetermined conversation.)
In middle school, they take the test to determine which high school they may enter, as well as join a club (to not join a club would be to have spare time with nothing to do, appearently they have trouble having fun outside of school, not that there is any to be had in school, most people don't like their club, but it takes up hours and hours of every day, including holidays). Add study time to this and there is effectively none left over (people I've asked have said they DON'T have fun).
This repeats in high school except the tests are the standardized tests for university, making the stress to study more.
In university they receive a level of freedom about equal to our high school or university (or college). Companies hire directly out of university, streamlining the change from learning (debatable (my first joke of this entry)) to work.
They will work and overwork at their job until retirement, almost refuring to do so. They are VERY unlikely to be fired and will certainly not quit (since no company would hired anyone so fickle as to quit their job). If they do well, they will get more pay, but seniority is still the more important aspect.
They will marry and have a normal life.
I'll aslo mention that Japanese adult's sex live are less alive than those of the West (Reuters) and I was talking with my teacher about Japanese overworking today, it's no exaggeration. I've tried their tests, their simpler and more memorization based than ours (I'll be bringing them back in case you don't believe me)
Their lives are much simpler and "safer," hence I really believe that this is life on easy mode.
That should be enough. Mind you I am being more harsh than I should be here (though having a safe, simple and easy life isn't a bad thing, it's the way I say it), but after so much time of writing about the bright side, I need to vent. Even this was a little hushed.
Anyways, that's enough for now.
First of all, this is my subjective opinion, though much of this is shared with others, and we have lived here for five to ten months, so we should know a little better than you.
Another title I was thinking of for this was Difficulty setting, you'll see why in a moment.
Yes, this is it, when I dish out a lot of kuso about Japan that I've grown tired of. I still like the place, but it's hard, you'd understand if you were here, I hope this might help that along.
First, I'll say that many of us have had backwards exchanges,
Brie, who is given so much, has so little (I'm not being mean, it's true),
Mike, who made some of us wonder how he got in (I understand that he's a good guy, just sometimes he makes you wonder), has a Rotary club trying to kick him out (which the district is against for reason and pride),
肉, who, if I haven't made it clear is about the ultimate in showing interest in Japan, he now reads novels in Japanese, he does well in class (better than a lot of other students), he knows the history and popular culture, he shows every interest, and gets nothing for it. Despite his efforts the Japanese do little, if anything (usually not) to help him along.
And myself, who was placed in a strict family for six months and a private school, have turned into a... technically the word is rebel, but really it's more so independant, something that got me out of my first host family.
Anyways, Japan, that small Asian island of the cost of Korea and China, with Korean roots and Chinese influence (ironically hating both). Ah, Japan.
If asked the difference between Japan and Canada (or as I would say, the West), I would say freedom. Freedom, independance, liberty, individuality, what ever you call it by, what ever form you use.
If asked what life in Japan is like, I'd say it was life in easy mode (the West being medium, hard is debatable, Africa would be extreme).
Here's why:
Japan is an isolated country. The Japanese are very specific in this, they are not Korean, Chinese, or Western and any of the above not only stick out, their pointed out. Japan has a history of kicking people out and of making foreigners uncomfortable. Even today, if you are an outsider, you'll feel it in Japan (though maybe not in a city like Tokyo).
While polite, it's more so memorized phrases and translated, required formalities, many people have found them cold and xenophonbic (afraid of foreigners). None of us really "fit in" here. Even when I say I'm otaku, there are people who'll disagree, but I don't fit in as popular (all foreigners have a pseudo-popularity), I don't play baseball so I'm not a jock, and cetera. Even if I fit perfectly, the simple matter of my different birth would make me different.
The Japanese themselves are born into a system. They are brought up by a mother who is strict in taking care of them while their father overworks himself (only in Japan is the expression "work yourself to death" a common reality) at an average job.
They enter school and are forced to study all their time. A system of memorization rather than logical learning. (Kenji is almost failing his English class BECAUSE he is fluent. He knows how to speak outside of a predetermined conversation.)
In middle school, they take the test to determine which high school they may enter, as well as join a club (to not join a club would be to have spare time with nothing to do, appearently they have trouble having fun outside of school, not that there is any to be had in school, most people don't like their club, but it takes up hours and hours of every day, including holidays). Add study time to this and there is effectively none left over (people I've asked have said they DON'T have fun).
This repeats in high school except the tests are the standardized tests for university, making the stress to study more.
In university they receive a level of freedom about equal to our high school or university (or college). Companies hire directly out of university, streamlining the change from learning (debatable (my first joke of this entry)) to work.
They will work and overwork at their job until retirement, almost refuring to do so. They are VERY unlikely to be fired and will certainly not quit (since no company would hired anyone so fickle as to quit their job). If they do well, they will get more pay, but seniority is still the more important aspect.
They will marry and have a normal life.
I'll aslo mention that Japanese adult's sex live are less alive than those of the West (Reuters) and I was talking with my teacher about Japanese overworking today, it's no exaggeration. I've tried their tests, their simpler and more memorization based than ours (I'll be bringing them back in case you don't believe me)
Their lives are much simpler and "safer," hence I really believe that this is life on easy mode.
That should be enough. Mind you I am being more harsh than I should be here (though having a safe, simple and easy life isn't a bad thing, it's the way I say it), but after so much time of writing about the bright side, I need to vent. Even this was a little hushed.
Anyways, that's enough for now.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Megathon
I'm mostly going to talk about random things here, but probably the most interesting even was this;
One day, a week or two ago, the 松崎s were all headed out for a day, the apartment was to be empty for ten hours, including of me. So, I got a ten hour walk on the town. Ten hours. Ten hours. Ten hours. 十時間。I spent it walking around 金沢, from store to store, asking if my friends were up for anything, checking e-mail, going into toy stores, looking for puzzles, buying a deck of Bicycle cards, proving Calorie Mates work as well in real life as in video games (Final Fantasy's "potion" drink on the other hand fails outright) and walking.
The highlight was one of my quick breaks, I stopped into the Rifare to look through the library and met a foreign (not ALT) teacher. He recognized me from a gathering in January. We spoke in French (he's from Vermont, near Quebec). We spoke about how hard it is keeping up French while learning Japanese. He alos gave me a website where I can look up public domain books online. I found what I was looking for, The Count of Monte Critso in French, but it is longer than... any anime series (coincidentally, it is also an anime series). I'll probably hack it up into readable chuncks for my google site, same as I did for whatever the last Twilight book was.
In new news, WHAT, THE, FSCK! There will be a life size, eighteen metre tall Gundam built in Tokyo this July. Words fail to explain what I am feeling, mostly because I don't know what it is. Awe? Amazement? Weirded out (unlikely, this is me we're talking about)? Scared? Perhaps, hoping to see it on my way back to Canada, hoping it will distract Godzilla long enough for the plane to take off, though it might need back up to deal with the zombies.
I other news, I've stopped building Gundams for reasons of packing and money, though the latter hardly seems to matter here... well, for me (NOT directed at Brie, though she might get touched in the crossfire, I'm talking mostly about the Japanese themselves).
I'll be watching a lot more Japanese movies and shows since I just got a rental card.
I'm learning a really girly dance at school for an upcoming sports day. I'm one of the better guys at it because I'm the only one willing to practice it in front of everyone else, though the girls still blow me out of the water, it is after all a girl's song.
And my anime friends in 3-8 will be performing Hare Hare Yukai, that should be funny. The're okay otaku guys who'll be wearing shirts that say "Both of you, dance like you want to win!" an anime quote (at least their not stupid enough to dress up in femaile sailor suits (Japanese school girl uniforms, as used in the dance they'll do)). I'll see about video of both.
I'll also take part in a four-legged race, though with my stride I think they picked the wrong guy. Should be fun, to laugh at.
Anyone want anything specific from Japan? I'm at the point where I'm thinking of gifts, any idea might help. Don't worry much about finances, their governement just gave me money for being a foreigner in Japan (I was expecting reinstatement of the expulsion edicts).
Party at my work place when I get back!
Mom, you're plan sounds good.
My last few days I'll have no school, I'll see how much I can pack into them.
The days before those I'll be showing exchange students from Seattle around (weird, kanji just cut out on this computer) Kanazawa (oh well, it just means you know how to pronounce it this time).
Hmm, I still don't know how I'm going to pack all my video games and manga.
I don't think I'll be allowed to bring a real Japanese sword back to kanada, especially on the plane.
I'm having a lot of fun chatting at school, but I still want to hang out outside of it.
I've found that as my time is growing short, my memories are growing stronger. My mind is thinking back and ahead to the place I'll return to. I'll be back soon, but until then I'll continue to make my time here, and therefore also my return, all the better.
I meant the title as a reference to my ten hour walk, but it seems to fit the blog entry quite well also.
Anyways,
I'll write you later.
One day, a week or two ago, the 松崎s were all headed out for a day, the apartment was to be empty for ten hours, including of me. So, I got a ten hour walk on the town. Ten hours. Ten hours. Ten hours. 十時間。I spent it walking around 金沢, from store to store, asking if my friends were up for anything, checking e-mail, going into toy stores, looking for puzzles, buying a deck of Bicycle cards, proving Calorie Mates work as well in real life as in video games (Final Fantasy's "potion" drink on the other hand fails outright) and walking.
The highlight was one of my quick breaks, I stopped into the Rifare to look through the library and met a foreign (not ALT) teacher. He recognized me from a gathering in January. We spoke in French (he's from Vermont, near Quebec). We spoke about how hard it is keeping up French while learning Japanese. He alos gave me a website where I can look up public domain books online. I found what I was looking for, The Count of Monte Critso in French, but it is longer than... any anime series (coincidentally, it is also an anime series). I'll probably hack it up into readable chuncks for my google site, same as I did for whatever the last Twilight book was.
In new news, WHAT, THE, FSCK! There will be a life size, eighteen metre tall Gundam built in Tokyo this July. Words fail to explain what I am feeling, mostly because I don't know what it is. Awe? Amazement? Weirded out (unlikely, this is me we're talking about)? Scared? Perhaps, hoping to see it on my way back to Canada, hoping it will distract Godzilla long enough for the plane to take off, though it might need back up to deal with the zombies.
I other news, I've stopped building Gundams for reasons of packing and money, though the latter hardly seems to matter here... well, for me (NOT directed at Brie, though she might get touched in the crossfire, I'm talking mostly about the Japanese themselves).
I'll be watching a lot more Japanese movies and shows since I just got a rental card.
I'm learning a really girly dance at school for an upcoming sports day. I'm one of the better guys at it because I'm the only one willing to practice it in front of everyone else, though the girls still blow me out of the water, it is after all a girl's song.
And my anime friends in 3-8 will be performing Hare Hare Yukai, that should be funny. The're okay otaku guys who'll be wearing shirts that say "Both of you, dance like you want to win!" an anime quote (at least their not stupid enough to dress up in femaile sailor suits (Japanese school girl uniforms, as used in the dance they'll do)). I'll see about video of both.
I'll also take part in a four-legged race, though with my stride I think they picked the wrong guy. Should be fun, to laugh at.
Anyone want anything specific from Japan? I'm at the point where I'm thinking of gifts, any idea might help. Don't worry much about finances, their governement just gave me money for being a foreigner in Japan (I was expecting reinstatement of the expulsion edicts).
Party at my work place when I get back!
Mom, you're plan sounds good.
My last few days I'll have no school, I'll see how much I can pack into them.
The days before those I'll be showing exchange students from Seattle around (weird, kanji just cut out on this computer) Kanazawa (oh well, it just means you know how to pronounce it this time).
Hmm, I still don't know how I'm going to pack all my video games and manga.
I don't think I'll be allowed to bring a real Japanese sword back to kanada, especially on the plane.
I'm having a lot of fun chatting at school, but I still want to hang out outside of it.
I've found that as my time is growing short, my memories are growing stronger. My mind is thinking back and ahead to the place I'll return to. I'll be back soon, but until then I'll continue to make my time here, and therefore also my return, all the better.
I meant the title as a reference to my ten hour walk, but it seems to fit the blog entry quite well also.
Anyways,
I'll write you later.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Pictures in no particular order
Mostly everyone, tired and happy the night of the orientation.
Samurai on horses, I think this is backwards because they were last chronologically.
Female samurai, Japan of old had some deadly ladies (while high on samurai status, they were still forced to obey the men in their lives)
Golden samurai on a horse and smiling too, must be paid well (百万石まつり means "million bushels of rice festival," the largest salary of any samurai in Japan).
Samurai walking about.
Another well paid samurai.
七人の侍, not really, still, it's a REALLY good movie.
Drawing their swords, careful or you might get a closer haircut than mine.
Rifle armed samurai, yes, they had basic guns.
Standing around.
Archers.
Foreigner samurai, I think one of them is my ALT friend.Yes, there were foreigner samurai, starting with William Adams (I highly suggest James Clavell's fictional book based on him, Gaijin).
A drum.
Marching in lines.
More. Seriously, you have no idea how excited I was to get pictures of decent fake samurai, I yelled "samurai," then ran from the fourth floor of the Rifare to the streets.
Not as orderly, meh.
Being led on a long boring parade march.
Negative last minute touch ups.
More samurai in battle armour.
I'm running out of things to say.
Spears.
(listening to Prince Ali in my head)
Another drum.
Little geisha (芸者, literally art-ist) and somethings lead by scouts.
Film crews getting footage of old style somethings (firefighters, I think) who show how well they can balance on ladders.
Same type of thing being set up.
Scary guy in mask.
Same guy
.
Fish? Dragon? Hell if I know.
松崎's dining area, in perfect view of the television.
Their kitchen.
Their television and computer, I don't know why I don't have pictures of them.
A drum.
Marching in lines.
More. Seriously, you have no idea how excited I was to get pictures of decent fake samurai, I yelled "samurai," then ran from the fourth floor of the Rifare to the streets.
Not as orderly, meh.
Being led on a long boring parade march.
Negative last minute touch ups.
More samurai in battle armour.
I'm running out of things to say.
Spears.
(listening to Prince Ali in my head)
Another drum.
Little geisha (芸者, literally art-ist) and somethings lead by scouts.
Film crews getting footage of old style somethings (firefighters, I think) who show how well they can balance on ladders.
Same type of thing being set up.
Scary guy in mask.
Same guy
.Fish? Dragon? Hell if I know.
松崎's dining area, in perfect view of the television.
Their kitchen.
Their television and computer, I don't know why I don't have pictures of them.Ugh
A castle in Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail and an exclamation to something unpleasant.
That's for the night I had a few days ago. Friday night I was running around "my" room packing for my move the day after next, finding how to pack all my junk and stuff I'll be leaving behind (all gifts, most books, a few games, shoes, and cetera). I stabbed myself packing my Rotary blazer.
I had just come from meeting my next (current, now) host mother and a sister who would be in Tokyo when I got there. We had supper, but the conversation didn't get much of a chance as the mother spent most of the time chatting with the waitress. What I did get was less than I usually exchange with any random foreigner.
That was the reason I missed going to a festival with my friends,
who were to e-mail me information on the orientation the next day that Rotary failed to inform me or my family about (depite having spoken with the distric councellor two days beforehand).
Coincidentally receiving an e-mail from a Japanese friend asking if I wanted to go to the festival tomorrow, which I couldn't answer until I got the information from 肉.
This was all in a room too hot for my Canadian standards
with the wait of "less than two months left" weighing down on me.
Yeah.
Also, Terry, I get it, the ampersand was annoying, I was using it to cut down on characters for the PSP (and I only used in in lists). Regardless, as I doubt any of you realize from the character count of this entry, I'm using a computer. Glad you got your stuff, how was the Calorie Mate?... or did Gavin eat it all himself? or was that Canadian customs?
That's for the night I had a few days ago. Friday night I was running around "my" room packing for my move the day after next, finding how to pack all my junk and stuff I'll be leaving behind (all gifts, most books, a few games, shoes, and cetera). I stabbed myself packing my Rotary blazer.
I had just come from meeting my next (current, now) host mother and a sister who would be in Tokyo when I got there. We had supper, but the conversation didn't get much of a chance as the mother spent most of the time chatting with the waitress. What I did get was less than I usually exchange with any random foreigner.
That was the reason I missed going to a festival with my friends,
who were to e-mail me information on the orientation the next day that Rotary failed to inform me or my family about (depite having spoken with the distric councellor two days beforehand).
Coincidentally receiving an e-mail from a Japanese friend asking if I wanted to go to the festival tomorrow, which I couldn't answer until I got the information from 肉.
This was all in a room too hot for my Canadian standards
with the wait of "less than two months left" weighing down on me.
Yeah.
Also, Terry, I get it, the ampersand was annoying, I was using it to cut down on characters for the PSP (and I only used in in lists). Regardless, as I doubt any of you realize from the character count of this entry, I'm using a computer. Glad you got your stuff, how was the Calorie Mate?... or did Gavin eat it all himself? or was that Canadian customs?
Sunday, June 7, 2009
The Long Awaited Entry
Okay, sorry, I've been busy, E3, orientation, changing host families, having fun, building gundams andwatching movies.
I'll see how much I can get through.
Alright, I'll get gaming out of the way since it has little relation to Japan. E3 is the world's biggest year;y gaming convention, a quick tip of my hat to two MGS games for Sony, team Ico's project, Little Big Portable, Rock Band unplugged etc.
With my extra time I've been building Gundam models, now including the Tallgeese and Strike, that probably means nothing to you, I'm also looking for a good one thousand piece puzzle.
I went to orientation yesterday, watched a parade through 金沢 with many samurai in it (picutres later), had another fun night, but this time rather than alluding to it in ways impossible to understand without already knowing what your looking for, I'll say we had fun.
Us continentally American exchange students got flags to sign, on which most people said goodbye and I asked to hang out more in the time we have left.
I met Kenji and had a chat with him. Appearently things are still strict as ever in that house, I honestly feel sorry for him and wil make sure we hang out at least once more before I leave.
I also got a few hints on what books to use for studying Japanese.
I also switched host families again, I'd explain why I have five, but contact with my Roatary club here is... lacking, hell, they never even told me or my host family about the orientation, I heard it from 肉 who thankfully also e-mailed me a picture of the schedule the night before, and the night after orientation, tonight, I switched host families. That waqs hecktic.
My new host family consists of a mother. She's nice and uses a large amount of assimilated English. She's more than nice and the area I know live in is more than convenient, though a few minutes farther from the city's center.
Anyways, I can write more later, I'm still alive.
I'll see how much I can get through.
Alright, I'll get gaming out of the way since it has little relation to Japan. E3 is the world's biggest year;y gaming convention, a quick tip of my hat to two MGS games for Sony, team Ico's project, Little Big Portable, Rock Band unplugged etc.
With my extra time I've been building Gundam models, now including the Tallgeese and Strike, that probably means nothing to you, I'm also looking for a good one thousand piece puzzle.
I went to orientation yesterday, watched a parade through 金沢 with many samurai in it (picutres later), had another fun night, but this time rather than alluding to it in ways impossible to understand without already knowing what your looking for, I'll say we had fun.
Us continentally American exchange students got flags to sign, on which most people said goodbye and I asked to hang out more in the time we have left.
I met Kenji and had a chat with him. Appearently things are still strict as ever in that house, I honestly feel sorry for him and wil make sure we hang out at least once more before I leave.
I also got a few hints on what books to use for studying Japanese.
I also switched host families again, I'd explain why I have five, but contact with my Roatary club here is... lacking, hell, they never even told me or my host family about the orientation, I heard it from 肉 who thankfully also e-mailed me a picture of the schedule the night before, and the night after orientation, tonight, I switched host families. That waqs hecktic.
My new host family consists of a mother. She's nice and uses a large amount of assimilated English. She's more than nice and the area I know live in is more than convenient, though a few minutes farther from the city's center.
Anyways, I can write more later, I'm still alive.
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