Today was the start of what is called Doshisha Eve Festival. This week marks the 133rd anniversary of Doshisha. In Japan, Colleges and (i think) high schools have huge festivals open to the public for a few days. Because of the school festival, we have the week off!
I attended the festival today, and it was like nothing I have ever experienced. Imagine the Dogwood Festival (for those of you who are in Atlanta) placed in a small space such as ummmm the AD YMCA parking lot. With as many people, and 10x pushier vendors.
In other news, I went shopping for a new coat and nice shoes, and I learned that I have a gift of bargaining without even trying. I was at a Department Store (where you usually NEVER get discounts according to my teachers) and everything I bought ended up being at least 20% off. I just had to follow a formula I learned at the 1st place, go to a younger, college age guy. start asking about stuff in Japanese, compliment their english no matter how bad. tell them I am a student at Doshisha, and therefore need to save. Mention that their fashion is great and I want a similar fashion. then pick what I want, act like I can't live without it but the price is soooo high. From there, out comes the calculator, and before I know it I have a discount! (It probably helps that I look so exotic here...)
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
MEXICAN FOOD!
I FINALLY was able to eat mexican food!!!! YAY!
It was expensive, and a bit wrong, but it was delicious!
I had tortilla soup, a mexican steak, avocados, and chili rellenos!
While there I also met a few people who studied at GA State (WHAT ARE THE ODDS!)
anyways, it was alot of fun!
This week I don't have school except for monday (which is weird because Monday is a national holiday haha)
It was expensive, and a bit wrong, but it was delicious!
I had tortilla soup, a mexican steak, avocados, and chili rellenos!
While there I also met a few people who studied at GA State (WHAT ARE THE ODDS!)
anyways, it was alot of fun!
This week I don't have school except for monday (which is weird because Monday is a national holiday haha)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
so finally a real update...kamo
Whew, it`s been a long time since I last updated my blog... I`ve just been very busy.
Every week I have 3 tests (2 character tests, and 1 grammar test) for my morning class and presentations/homework for my afternoon classes, so it has been very intense. Yesterday, my favorite sensei, Furukawa sensei was sick, so our class was cancelled (therefore I have free time here in the library now.
I just finished my first English lesson with Junko san, who is a TA for my Japanese culture class. Today was a kind of "where are you at in japanese right now?" check.
Since we finished one textbook in Japanese class (9-12:15 every day) we`ve started working on different skills during the last half of class. Since we have a different teacher every day, each day is a different skill.
monday- storytelling/comprehension
tuesday- conversation
weds - essay writing
thursday- listening comprehension
friday - speed reading
These skills are all geared towards the JLPT (japanese language proficiency test).
I`m still making many friends, which has become somewhat of a problem. When a new number is sent to my phone through infrared, I sometimes forget which japanese characters go whith which face, especially now that I see repeat kanjis!
I guess that`s the least of my worries though...
Well, We`ve had 4 holidays on mondays so far... but at Doshisha all of those holidays are class days. HOWEVER, next week is Doshisha`s birthday so we have an ENTIRE week off!
I am totally going to get some rest!
In the last few days it`s started to get really cold here so it`s getting difficult to wake up in the morning... insulation here sucks.
I have a presentation for my UK class tomorrow on Cool Britannia and Brit Pop... lol the class is so easy because it is an advanced level english class for Japanese students.
I`m so happy to have peanutbutter in my cubboard right now, it`s so good to taste it again!
Every week I have 3 tests (2 character tests, and 1 grammar test) for my morning class and presentations/homework for my afternoon classes, so it has been very intense. Yesterday, my favorite sensei, Furukawa sensei was sick, so our class was cancelled (therefore I have free time here in the library now.
I just finished my first English lesson with Junko san, who is a TA for my Japanese culture class. Today was a kind of "where are you at in japanese right now?" check.
Since we finished one textbook in Japanese class (9-12:15 every day) we`ve started working on different skills during the last half of class. Since we have a different teacher every day, each day is a different skill.
monday- storytelling/comprehension
tuesday- conversation
weds - essay writing
thursday- listening comprehension
friday - speed reading
These skills are all geared towards the JLPT (japanese language proficiency test).
I`m still making many friends, which has become somewhat of a problem. When a new number is sent to my phone through infrared, I sometimes forget which japanese characters go whith which face, especially now that I see repeat kanjis!
I guess that`s the least of my worries though...
Well, We`ve had 4 holidays on mondays so far... but at Doshisha all of those holidays are class days. HOWEVER, next week is Doshisha`s birthday so we have an ENTIRE week off!
I am totally going to get some rest!
In the last few days it`s started to get really cold here so it`s getting difficult to wake up in the morning... insulation here sucks.
I have a presentation for my UK class tomorrow on Cool Britannia and Brit Pop... lol the class is so easy because it is an advanced level english class for Japanese students.
I`m so happy to have peanutbutter in my cubboard right now, it`s so good to taste it again!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
woot
Guess who saw the Japanese emperor by total chance today? that's right! It was me!
OH P.S., I know I said that I am 13 hours ahead, but now it's 14 hours, so for example it's 8 am on the east coast, Japan is 10 p.m. REMEMBER THIS FOR SKYPE CONVOS!
OH P.S., I know I said that I am 13 hours ahead, but now it's 14 hours, so for example it's 8 am on the east coast, Japan is 10 p.m. REMEMBER THIS FOR SKYPE CONVOS!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Japalloween
so one question asked of me recently was whether or not Japan celebrates Halloween.
The answer: not really...
I'd say it celebrates the day more than anywhere else in Asia, but it is an Irish (Catholic) holiday that was imported and popularized in America after all...
There is no trick-or-treating, so candy sales do not go up at all, BUT costume parties are definitely a mainstay for University students. I ended up attending three costume parties all in the same costume, a 6 foot tall white dog. The dog costume I purchased is actually 犬のお父さん (papa dog), a popular mascot for a cell phone company, softbank, here in Japan, here is his ad (though it is in Japanese... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2mb9S_uHsA&feature=related
Anyways the parties were nonetheless fun, and I met a ton of people! The dog costume was definitely the best choice for it's "kawaii(cute)" factor and attention grabbing power. My friend Hayato commented that I am quite モテモテ(mohteh mohteh)（a slang word for popular).
Yesterday, a friend (Sandy Ito) from Kalamazoo came to Kyoto to visit, and we went to Teramachi and shopped/chilled. I bought a new coat (with way too many unnecessary pockets) because I need one, and I also ended up buying a new japanese style shirt (3 layers sewn in to 1 shirt because layering is popular here), and pants with too many pockets. I also got a new messenger bag. It was a tough choice between a plaid one that had SO much engrish, and the white one I got which just says "Ain't I right? Just go easy!"(a.k.a. the white one was cheaper...)
It was a good budget day japanese-shopping wise.
Right now I'm working on a 500 character essay for class, and also beginning to write my speech for next friday. I only have to pay for 1 night's hotel stay and a few meals the whole trip! so excited!!!!!
The answer: not really...
I'd say it celebrates the day more than anywhere else in Asia, but it is an Irish (Catholic) holiday that was imported and popularized in America after all...
There is no trick-or-treating, so candy sales do not go up at all, BUT costume parties are definitely a mainstay for University students. I ended up attending three costume parties all in the same costume, a 6 foot tall white dog. The dog costume I purchased is actually 犬のお父さん (papa dog), a popular mascot for a cell phone company, softbank, here in Japan, here is his ad (though it is in Japanese... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2mb9S_uHsA&feature=related
Anyways the parties were nonetheless fun, and I met a ton of people! The dog costume was definitely the best choice for it's "kawaii(cute)" factor and attention grabbing power. My friend Hayato commented that I am quite モテモテ(mohteh mohteh)（a slang word for popular).
Yesterday, a friend (Sandy Ito) from Kalamazoo came to Kyoto to visit, and we went to Teramachi and shopped/chilled. I bought a new coat (with way too many unnecessary pockets) because I need one, and I also ended up buying a new japanese style shirt (3 layers sewn in to 1 shirt because layering is popular here), and pants with too many pockets. I also got a new messenger bag. It was a tough choice between a plaid one that had SO much engrish, and the white one I got which just says "Ain't I right? Just go easy!"(a.k.a. the white one was cheaper...)
It was a good budget day japanese-shopping wise.
Right now I'm working on a 500 character essay for class, and also beginning to write my speech for next friday. I only have to pay for 1 night's hotel stay and a few meals the whole trip! so excited!!!!!
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