Speaking went okay yesterday as it was the only class. We went over how to say things like "-ish." As in "childish, sexy-ish, gangster-ish, forgetful-ish" and so on. Then a little bit of a new form which is something like "with even [subject 1], [subject 2]." the context is confusing due to the tense of the verb in S1... But to detract from grammar specifics which I'm sure you love, everything else was good. I understood everything and it went great!
Yesterday was also busy due to little tasks piling up. One of them being finally getting a bike! I walked to the 7/11 outside the main campus gate (15-20 minutes from Seminar House I on foot,) and took some money out of the ATM there (which was right next to the pornography. I swear I averted my eyes.) The smallest bill you could get was 10,000 yen, or $100. I'll use the post office around the dorm from now on... Less porn there too.
At the bike shop I picked out a nice crimson bike, with good brakes, a bell, a light, and a black basket. 7,000 yen, so basically $70. It rides very well. So much better than the crappy bike I got in America at Walmart (well, duh) for $65. I like having a bike without gears to shift too. Right after I bought and registered the bike (with the country) two more foreigners came in and I had to help one of them by mediating between him and the shop-keep-lady (who was so nice) since he knew no Japanese at all. He was a rather large fellow too so it was hard finding a strong enough bike...
We then rode back to campus to register our bikes there for 100 yen. You had to go get a sticker out of a vending machine. This guy whom I was with was complaining about the bureaucracy of it all, since it's so difficult to walk to the next building over and buy a sticker. Then all you had to do was fill out another sheet to register your bike with the school, get it stamped, and you're good.
As far as riding went I was still a little shaky since I was never that great to begin with having just learned how to ride... last year? Not long ago at all. But here there are treacherous ditches about 4 inches wide and 6 deep. That and random metal poles on the sidewalk to prevent disenfranchised salary-men from driving on the sidewalk to take out pedestrians. It was an awkward ride back but I'm getting better now. Riding on the left isn't as weird as it sounds, but I'm always careful when turning or changing lanes; I just stop completely and wait... I don't want to take any chances, since even being on foot can be dangerous. I swear if I wasn't standing still on some occasions scooters and motorcycles would have clipped me by now. I'm just waiting for one to get my bag caught on it and that'll be a great time for everyone.
Laundry and other things took up time, and then I just studied vocabulary until 0:00. 48 new words...
The next morning (today) I studied in the lounge in the morning then had Writing / Reading. We had our review test, which is sort of like another placement test. I suppose there were things you could do to study for it, but you're supposed to already know the things in it, hence the "review". However, our school does not use Genki, so 90% of the student base knows slightly different things and can usually speak better / know more kanji. Needless to say the test went horribly. I don't beat around the bush with tests or worry about them like most people do in school (which annoys me.) If I say I did bad, I did; I didn't get a B+ or something like that, such as in the case with people obcessive about grades. Ugh.
Tirade aside I'll probably be bumped down to level 3 for writing but I'm okay with that, considering I didn't know the material on the test. I dislike this class very much so far.
I then went to Speaking an hour early and another guy from my class did too; we saw eachother and thought "Oh yeah, he's in my class... I guess we go in." We thought everyone was dropped or something when we got in with different people. We were then laughed at and left. I took this oppurtunity for a short nap in the lounge while meditating on new Japanese words.
Speaking was fun, we practiced new grammar and I understood everything! I then had from 12-14:30 off so I screwed around for a bit... And went to the Center for International Exchange to ask why everyone but me from Gettysburg already got their stipends (I ran into Caitlin at a restaraunt last night and ate with her an her friends and learned of this.) The office worker's English was better than my Japanese (but not enough,) so I didn't get a clear reason why, other than seeing a paper with all the 4 girl's names on it with signatures of confirmation, and no blank spot for me. Hopefully an email to Gettysburg will shed some light on this, since It hurts watching my own savings dwindle. I'd totally work a job here if I could, but I wouldn't be able to until next semester, when I won't be here. And I don't want to be deported now.
Intercultural Communication was good. We discussed what the class is, and all related to our own experiences here. It's unique in that we're all from different cultures experiencing one new culture, so the different opinions and norms are fascinating. I think the two Japanese students in the class must enjoy listening to us at times, but I wonder if they refrain from cringing other times...
Negotiation was good too, we looked at the mock negotiation we did over selling / buying pistons and learned some things. I did horribly by being nervous and rushing things, plus I couldn't work my cellphone calculator yet... Anyway I'll be thinking more next time. It should be and interesting class... We'll see if I utilize any of this later in life. It could be useful in business, but I honestly have no idea as to what I want to do or where I'll fit in after school... Speaking Japanese but not living in Japan... What else will I have going for me? What do I even like to do, that isn't irresponsible and earns money, but that I won't hate? Questions for another day.
The rest of the night was okay. I was going to go eat out with another guy I met, Jesse, but he doesn't have a phone so we never met, and I ended up going there alone, to find I should have just knocked on his door instead of waiting in the lobby... oops. When I got there, there were already other foreign students, 4 girls and two stupid guys. Having sat down I somehow found it subconsciously proper to immediately pour water on my pants, so I was off to a good start. The food was great though; you get a heaping pile of rice, miso soup, and two meats of your choice over noodles / sprouts. Only 550 yen! One of the dumb Americans left his watch behind and I chased him out of the store with it to give it to him... I really hope the lady waitressing didn't think I was dining and dashing (eat and escape in Japanese, although I forget how to say it.)
And now I'm here writing this up.
Other interesting things: I find that I am actually missing some things:
- YouTube and other video capabilities
- Using Hulu.com for the Daily Show / Colbert Report (can't outside USA)
- Being able to torrent TV shows like Eureka, and soon Heroes...
- Being able to use Pandora online radio (copywright issues outside USA)
- Cheap coffee
- Cheap peanut butter
- People who scatter the damn bathroom slippers. Make it easy for the rest of us to get our feet into them! I find myself doing awkward yoga positions to get into slippers sometimes.
- Dumb foreigners (typically Americans) drinking beer in the park and looking creepy. People want to exercise or play there at night when it's cool. Go to a bar!
- Not having Japanese friends. My speaking partner is great practice for texting in Japanese. I really hope this obscene phone plan was worth the pain it
- The forklifts that play the "Mickey Mouse Club" song at random intervals.
- Cold coffee being cheap as water (but tasting more like chocolate milk.)
- Cheap, healthier food
- Being able to walk anywhere, bike anywhere, bus anywhere, take the train anywhere... Man does public transit make sense here. We're all slaves to our cars in America, and doesn't that make city/suburban planning just beautiful? Who doesn't love strip malls and identical chain-stores... Okay, enough ranting...
- People being polite and helpful.
- The people in my dorm. Mostly all nice! Only a few idiots, but they're dumb in the sense that they're wasting their time doing karaoke and the like all the time. No one mean. The two Koreans and the South African can cook like no one's business.
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