I can't believe it's already been 10 months since I arrived in Japan!
I've got 5 weeks left before I land in the UK.
I've still got a fair bit I need to do before then!
I'm taking the JLPT2, now known as the N2, in 2 days time.
So all of my focus has been on studying for the test.
Grammar wise, listening wise and maybe even kanji wise - I'm ready.
However, as far as vocabulary and idiomatic phrases go, I'm probably going to fail ><
They've changed it so you have to score 60% in each section of the test (rather than 60% of the total score).
This is to prevent Chinese people from passing based purely on their kanji knowledge. :S
After the test is over I have to write a report for the international centre, although I'll probably just copy the report I wrote for my home university since all the same stuff they want to know about is in there anyway....and there's no grade for it.
I also need to box all of my books and send them back home. £_£
Most importantly I need to complete my dissertation research, which has been completely neglected since January for JLPT revision T__T
I'm a baaaaaaaaad student!!!
Saturday 17 July 2010
Wednesday 7 July 2010
Hetalia Movie
I'm gonna make this really fast, cos I have to go to class...and I'll probably add some more later. XD
The movie was really awesome <3
Kinda wierd, but that made it more interesting XD
I won't let out any spoilers, just in case :P
The cinema was packed out and the tickets were selling out really fast!!!
Animate was also packed out. They have tons of new merchandise, especially Hetalia merchandise|
They had a Hetalia stamp rally event. It's going to be on for a while now, so I'm going to go back to finish collecting stamps and get some nicer photos of the exhibit.
I got a really cute t-shirt (the Hetalia football picture)!
It was quite cheap and I never expected it to fit because it says size M on the packet. They only had the one size O_o
The movie was really awesome <3
Kinda wierd, but that made it more interesting XD
I won't let out any spoilers, just in case :P
The cinema was packed out and the tickets were selling out really fast!!!
Animate was also packed out. They have tons of new merchandise, especially Hetalia merchandise|
They had a Hetalia stamp rally event. It's going to be on for a while now, so I'm going to go back to finish collecting stamps and get some nicer photos of the exhibit.
I got a really cute t-shirt (the Hetalia football picture)!
It was quite cheap and I never expected it to fit because it says size M on the packet. They only had the one size O_o
Monday 3 May 2010
Doll Show
GOLDEN WEEK IS HERE AND THE WEATHER IS 26 degrees C/75 degrees F OF SUMMER-Y GOODNESS!
Yesterday, despite being full of cold and asthma-y nastiness, I went to Hamamatsucho in Tokyo for Dollshow.
I met up with Donnoir and Mizuzu from DOA and we went together.
I'm kind of worse for it now, but I'm still glad I went in the end!
I took some awesome photos, bought some cheap MSD fur wigs (500yen/$5) and a violin for tiny size (I thought it was a bargain at 1000yen/$10).
My digital camera battery decided to die about 5 photos into the show, but I continued taking photos with my Softbank mobile phone.
Some of those mobile phone photos actually came out better than the ones from my digital camera - my digital camera's flash tends to white out doll faces in most light :/
I'm not sure whether I should post the nicer photos on DA or not.
Obviously, they're NOT my dolls, but they ARE my photographs
I did post them up on Facebook though, so my friends could see my Japan adventuring.
Tomorrow is the Volks Dolpa 23!
I plan to get there early, so I can meet up with people and have a chance to get little Kakeru.
My health isn't really up to it at the moment, but I already bought the guidebook and I think I would kick myself for missing the chance to go while I'm here.
So I will bring my inhalers and cold medicine and try to make the best out of the event while I'm here!
Being ill does come with a slight advantage...no appetite = 3 inches off my waist XD
Yesterday, despite being full of cold and asthma-y nastiness, I went to Hamamatsucho in Tokyo for Dollshow.
I met up with Donnoir and Mizuzu from DOA and we went together.
I'm kind of worse for it now, but I'm still glad I went in the end!
I took some awesome photos, bought some cheap MSD fur wigs (500yen/$5) and a violin for tiny size (I thought it was a bargain at 1000yen/$10).
My digital camera battery decided to die about 5 photos into the show, but I continued taking photos with my Softbank mobile phone.
Some of those mobile phone photos actually came out better than the ones from my digital camera - my digital camera's flash tends to white out doll faces in most light :/
I'm not sure whether I should post the nicer photos on DA or not.
Obviously, they're NOT my dolls, but they ARE my photographs
I did post them up on Facebook though, so my friends could see my Japan adventuring.
Tomorrow is the Volks Dolpa 23!
I plan to get there early, so I can meet up with people and have a chance to get little Kakeru.
My health isn't really up to it at the moment, but I already bought the guidebook and I think I would kick myself for missing the chance to go while I'm here.
So I will bring my inhalers and cold medicine and try to make the best out of the event while I'm here!
Being ill does come with a slight advantage...no appetite = 3 inches off my waist XD
Friday 23 April 2010
Dolpa 23 & Dollshow are coming!
Dolpa 23 is in 1 week and 5 days time!
I should probably be more excited about this.
If I had real money to spend I totally would be!
At the moment I'm hoping my credit card will work.
I haven't used it for many years and noticed some spending space. XD
Try calling he credit card company in the UK from Japan to let them know?
Do you have any idea how much that'd cost from my mobile phone??? O_O
We had classes last week in uni. They were more like into classes rather than actual classes, so there wasn't really much work involved.
This Mon-Wed they were performing medical examinations on every student in the uni.
I didn't like it much to be honest...some of the questions were too personal.
I have my first badminton class tomorrow. I haven't played for a very long time, so I'm a little nervous.
Next week classes are normal. I ended up with 7 classes rather than 8:
German class
Tennis class
Kanji class
Japanese expressions class
Japanese reading comprehension class A
Japanese reading comprehension class B
Badminton class
The following week is Golden Week. I only have plans to go to Dolpa and Dollshow that week...if you count Sunday 2nd as being the start of the week XD
After that it's back to the grindstone until August!
I'm starting a 2 hour a week job on the 19th May, but the pay is pretty decent at 5000yen for the 2 hours.
Would be nice to be able to do more hours though!
I should probably be more excited about this.
If I had real money to spend I totally would be!
At the moment I'm hoping my credit card will work.
I haven't used it for many years and noticed some spending space. XD
Try calling he credit card company in the UK from Japan to let them know?
Do you have any idea how much that'd cost from my mobile phone??? O_O
We had classes last week in uni. They were more like into classes rather than actual classes, so there wasn't really much work involved.
This Mon-Wed they were performing medical examinations on every student in the uni.
I didn't like it much to be honest...some of the questions were too personal.
I have my first badminton class tomorrow. I haven't played for a very long time, so I'm a little nervous.
Next week classes are normal. I ended up with 7 classes rather than 8:
German class
Tennis class
Kanji class
Japanese expressions class
Japanese reading comprehension class A
Japanese reading comprehension class B
Badminton class
The following week is Golden Week. I only have plans to go to Dolpa and Dollshow that week...if you count Sunday 2nd as being the start of the week XD
After that it's back to the grindstone until August!
I'm starting a 2 hour a week job on the 19th May, but the pay is pretty decent at 5000yen for the 2 hours.
Would be nice to be able to do more hours though!
Thursday 1 April 2010
Uni Entrance Ceremony & Dolpa
The university entrance ceremony is on Monday. I've been warned to wear something nice.
The teachers didn't say anything about that, but a senpai(who showed up in t-shirt and flip flops last time) did.
We're supposed to have a medical exam in a couple of weeks time as well.
Our schools/universities don't bother by the time you reach high school.
Only in Japan I guess :S
Just like in an anime XD
Really though, I don't fancy queuing up all day just so the doc can tell me I'm overweight...I can well see that myself! If I hadn't destroyed my knee a decade ago, there's lots of sports I'd love to do!
I went to the Akihabara Volks store the other day to reserve my guidebook for Dolpa!
I should be receiving a postcard to say I can go and collect it from the store.
I'm guessing around 10th April.
I know I won't be able to buy any dolls, but it should be an interesting day out!
oh yeh! Sakura viewing festival on Saturday evening! Looking forward to that ^__^
dewa! gokigenyou!
The teachers didn't say anything about that, but a senpai(who showed up in t-shirt and flip flops last time) did.
We're supposed to have a medical exam in a couple of weeks time as well.
Our schools/universities don't bother by the time you reach high school.
Only in Japan I guess :S
Just like in an anime XD
Really though, I don't fancy queuing up all day just so the doc can tell me I'm overweight...I can well see that myself! If I hadn't destroyed my knee a decade ago, there's lots of sports I'd love to do!
I went to the Akihabara Volks store the other day to reserve my guidebook for Dolpa!
I should be receiving a postcard to say I can go and collect it from the store.
I'm guessing around 10th April.
I know I won't be able to buy any dolls, but it should be an interesting day out!
oh yeh! Sakura viewing festival on Saturday evening! Looking forward to that ^__^
dewa! gokigenyou!
Sunday 28 March 2010
Tokyo Anime Fair
Tokyo Anime Fair was open for the public last weekend.
I went on the Saturday, because I had to teach a lesson on Sunday.
I got the earliest possible train and arrived at Tokyo Big Sight around 8am.
I queued up for about an hour and a half. They started moving people in around 9:20, because the queue was so big.
The tickets were really cheap - only 800yen if you pre-book or 1000yen on the day.
The cost of getting to and from Tokyo Big Sight stung a bit though!
I expected more stalls selling things like at London Expo, but it was mostly displays and previews. I ended up with a ton of leaflets and postcards that were being given out.
I was really surprised at how small the Pokemon display area was.
There was an ad for the kimi ni todoke NDS game that's coming out soon.
I think I might have to get that!
There was a preview for the new Kuroshitsuji. I'm still excited to watch it, even if they've changed the characters.
Someone was dressed up as the Black Rider in the Durarara!! display area, there were so many people taking photos.
It would have been more fun if they'd allowed cosplay! I think they didn't want people parading the streets of Tokyo in cosplay...freaking people out.
I was glad they allowed photos in most areas, otherwise I wouldn't have a great deal to show for the day :S
I went on the Saturday, because I had to teach a lesson on Sunday.
I got the earliest possible train and arrived at Tokyo Big Sight around 8am.
I queued up for about an hour and a half. They started moving people in around 9:20, because the queue was so big.
The tickets were really cheap - only 800yen if you pre-book or 1000yen on the day.
The cost of getting to and from Tokyo Big Sight stung a bit though!
I expected more stalls selling things like at London Expo, but it was mostly displays and previews. I ended up with a ton of leaflets and postcards that were being given out.
I was really surprised at how small the Pokemon display area was.
There was an ad for the kimi ni todoke NDS game that's coming out soon.
I think I might have to get that!
There was a preview for the new Kuroshitsuji. I'm still excited to watch it, even if they've changed the characters.
Someone was dressed up as the Black Rider in the Durarara!! display area, there were so many people taking photos.
It would have been more fun if they'd allowed cosplay! I think they didn't want people parading the streets of Tokyo in cosplay...freaking people out.
I was glad they allowed photos in most areas, otherwise I wouldn't have a great deal to show for the day :S
Monday 8 March 2010
Spring Break Adventures
I've been out and about lately. So haven't gotten much revision or report work done XD
I went to a eikaiwa party in Shibuya. I was kind of nervous, but it wasn't bad.
There were many people of different English levels.
Although there was one guy who had been learning for 30 odd years who asked strange questions which made me feel rather intimidated.
Two weeks ago, I went to Chiba to visit my friend Ayako.
Her house is amazing! It's really old Japanese style.
She compared it first to a o-tera and then to an obake yashiki lol XD
I met her at Narita station and we drove to a park called "boso no mura".
I drank amazake and tried on a kimono!
Afterwards we watched a horror film called Mirrors and ate Gyuudon at her house.
Her mum and sister were really nice! I hope I can visit her house again before I return to the UK.
Last Wednesday Ayako and I went into Wakaba (nearby my town in Saitama).
After having lunch, making Purikura and looking around the shops, we went to BanBan Karaoke.
Even though I can really sing it was so much fun!
They had so many of my favourite songs, even ones from anime.
That would be impossible in the UK!
On Friday, I went on a Tobu line adventure with my flatmate.
We also stopped in Wakaba and made Purikura.
We went as far as Tobu Nerima and had a look in the big mall.
We had to come back quite early though. My cousin wanted to pick me up in Kawagoe at 7pm.
I spent Friday night, Saturday and Sunday at my cousins house in Fussa-shi.
He lives in the American military air base.
I was really surprised, because it was like being in an American town inside the base.
There were so many houses, flats, malls, a gym, cinema, swimming pool and a park inside the base.
My cousin's house was really nice and comfortable.
It had 4 bedrooms, kitchen, lounge, 2 bathrooms and 3 toilets.
He has 2 sons and a daughter. We went to watch his sons play basketball.
Their team lost by 1 point, but they played really well!
There were little blond identical twins playing in the match, who were adorable!
Later that evening we had a BBQ, but it was raining so we had to eat the BBQ inside.
One of the guests was a Japanese lady and her son. I practiced speaking Japanese with her.
I was a little nervous because everyone else was listening too.
I forgot that most the Americans in the base don't speak Japanese - so they wouldn't have been able to understand anyway.
The son spoke very clear Japanese. Unlike a lot of young Japanese males I've listened to.
My cousin let me use his wireless internet. I'm so glad I brought my laptop and NDS!
It was an unsecured network, so I was able to access the Pokemon GTS and download the Shiny Pichu mystery gift. With Shiny Pichu I was able to obtain Spiky Eared Pichu as well!
I came back to Sakado on Sunday and haven't really done anything constructive since.
I've been sleeping too much, playing video games (Pokemon Ranger 3), updating my blogs, uploading photos, listening to music, watching Heroes and various yaoi titles.
oh yeah...the spring weather we had last week has now vanished and it's snowing quite heavily!
WTF XD
I went to a eikaiwa party in Shibuya. I was kind of nervous, but it wasn't bad.
There were many people of different English levels.
Although there was one guy who had been learning for 30 odd years who asked strange questions which made me feel rather intimidated.
Two weeks ago, I went to Chiba to visit my friend Ayako.
Her house is amazing! It's really old Japanese style.
She compared it first to a o-tera and then to an obake yashiki lol XD
I met her at Narita station and we drove to a park called "boso no mura".
I drank amazake and tried on a kimono!
Afterwards we watched a horror film called Mirrors and ate Gyuudon at her house.
Her mum and sister were really nice! I hope I can visit her house again before I return to the UK.
Last Wednesday Ayako and I went into Wakaba (nearby my town in Saitama).
After having lunch, making Purikura and looking around the shops, we went to BanBan Karaoke.
Even though I can really sing it was so much fun!
They had so many of my favourite songs, even ones from anime.
That would be impossible in the UK!
On Friday, I went on a Tobu line adventure with my flatmate.
We also stopped in Wakaba and made Purikura.
We went as far as Tobu Nerima and had a look in the big mall.
We had to come back quite early though. My cousin wanted to pick me up in Kawagoe at 7pm.
I spent Friday night, Saturday and Sunday at my cousins house in Fussa-shi.
He lives in the American military air base.
I was really surprised, because it was like being in an American town inside the base.
There were so many houses, flats, malls, a gym, cinema, swimming pool and a park inside the base.
My cousin's house was really nice and comfortable.
It had 4 bedrooms, kitchen, lounge, 2 bathrooms and 3 toilets.
He has 2 sons and a daughter. We went to watch his sons play basketball.
Their team lost by 1 point, but they played really well!
There were little blond identical twins playing in the match, who were adorable!
Later that evening we had a BBQ, but it was raining so we had to eat the BBQ inside.
One of the guests was a Japanese lady and her son. I practiced speaking Japanese with her.
I was a little nervous because everyone else was listening too.
I forgot that most the Americans in the base don't speak Japanese - so they wouldn't have been able to understand anyway.
The son spoke very clear Japanese. Unlike a lot of young Japanese males I've listened to.
My cousin let me use his wireless internet. I'm so glad I brought my laptop and NDS!
It was an unsecured network, so I was able to access the Pokemon GTS and download the Shiny Pichu mystery gift. With Shiny Pichu I was able to obtain Spiky Eared Pichu as well!
I came back to Sakado on Sunday and haven't really done anything constructive since.
I've been sleeping too much, playing video games (Pokemon Ranger 3), updating my blogs, uploading photos, listening to music, watching Heroes and various yaoi titles.
oh yeah...the spring weather we had last week has now vanished and it's snowing quite heavily!
WTF XD
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