水曜日 ありました。木曜日あります。
Halloween was so much fun…
Me as Wednesday Addams
Yes I am now one of those tw**s that takes a picture of themselves in the mirror!
Had a listening test today in Japanese. Those of you who are friends with me on Facebook (click here if you want to be) will have noticed already, heh! It went so very well but then I ran out of time! Damnations. I missed about 6 questions (out of 50?) but all of them that I did answer I think I got correct.
I find listening in Japanese so difficult. It’s ok when it’s written down and I can see what the vocab is, but when it is said (in super fast speed) I miss all of the important bits. Tomorrow I have Japanese conversation so I will get to practice some more!
I haven’t done my portfolio work yet and Sensei’s getting a bit miffed at me I think, so I better go and do that hey!
じゃまたね！
Wednesday Addams and Foreign Language Teaching
I’m going to a Halloween party tonight and I will be dressing up as my most favourite fictional person; Wednesday Addams
I was a little obsessed with her (and Christina Ricci) when I was younger and I pretty much own the same dress already (faux pas?)
So today’s Japanese lesson went really well actually. I nailed the vocab test and then actually understood most of the new grammar notes (causative form?) It’s getting a bit full on now so I must start living in the library again soon.
I’ve got half an hour to kill before my next lecture; Methodology of Foreign Language Teaching (yes, it is as boring as it sounds). It’s not that difficult, but so so loooong. The lecturer is a crazy cat-lady/hippy/extrovert and she repeats everything at least twice, sometimes three times. It kills me. And it’s 3 hours long. THREE HOURS GUYS. I stop concentrating after 20 minutes so you can imagine the joy I go through every Tuesday (I say every Tuesday but I’ve actually missed 4 lessons already… I just couldn’t cope okay!)
Tomorrow if I’m not too hungover I’m going to spend the WHOLE day doing work! I’ve got my first Japanese listening test on Thursday and then on Friday the Japanese exchange students will be visiting our class so that we get a chance to speak to them 🙂 I always get a bit nervous when speaking to actual Japanese people (mainly because my Japanese is excruciatingly terrible) but I want to try my best to at least impress them a little!
I still haven’t decided on a Japanese university but I think I’d like to go to Obirin… it may be a little far-fetched since they only allow 2 people in the year from our university, but a girl can dream right? I need info on Obirin please!
Other than that I hope everyone enjoys Halloween tomorrow. Halloween in Japan must be the funnest time of year.
Apologies served with a review to sweeten you back up!
Well it’s been a while, but hey summer seems to have finally arrived in jolly Old England, a girl’s gotta enjoy it while she can! I also went on holiday and in between I’ve had to show the shoe industry how to make money. Before all of this I wrote a new review and I haven’t even checked that it got put up! Obviously it did, here it is:
Click for Vital Review!
I promise to be back soon! I have to get back onto revising some Japanese!! September is so near now, it’s kinda freaking me out!
Lesbian Invisibility in Japan
NEW POST FOR LINGUALIFT!!!!!! It’s about lesbians in Japan. I did an essay on this topic and I found it really interesting, so please read! (Click the pic)
Click for my article on Lingualift
Sorry I’ve been away for a while, I’ve been back home to Liverpool (YAY) Before that I interviewed the creators of Fullmetal Alchemist!!!!!!!!!!! The interview will be up on Japan Cinema soon, I’m so freaking excited!
Oh and the best news of all I PASSED ALL MY EXAMS!!!! Wow! I got all B+ so that ain’t half bad! My sensei even emailed me to tell me I’d done really well! Wonderful news 🙂
I’m just working full time at Russell and Bromley right now so life is a little dull, but I must get back to studying Japanese!
Brain-dead bunnies and a happy Pikachu
This is it, the day before my last exam! Been up since 8am, it is now 10.20am and my brain has already shut down.
I’m just doing some reading comprehension (lame!) I think the exam will give me a bunch of Japanese texts with some Japanese questions about said texts which I then have to answer in Japanese? Either way I’m pretty screwed… and scared! So I need to practice my reading skills, which are shocking to say the least:
All the pretty Japanese writing is tainted with my inevitable doom!
The library is dead! It’s hard to believe that this time 2 weeks ago people were actually sleeping in here. Now it’s just me and some other guy exchanging glances of worry.
So once again I need lots of luck, I might even wish myself luck because I’m grasping at straws here!
3 images in one post? Aren’t you lucky!
Library revision break post
Revision is going so well today! Hopefully I will be ready for tomorrow’s exam. Sweeet.
Currently doing some noun modification exercises (draaag) Please excuse my awful handwriting:
Yellow paper? Why not!
That looks awful! Needless to say it is kinda going in! If you’re having a little trouble getting your head around the craaaazy Japanese grammar, I recommend this book, it has literally saved my life!
BUT THIS BOOK NOW
That’s it for now I reckon. Should be getting on with these nouns. WISH ME LUCK!
I’M SO SORRY PLEASE COME BACK!
Right well I’m finally back! The month of coursework hell is over!!! All I have left is 2 exams and I’m FINISHED with this year!!! So this is the part where I apologise about the quite frankly crap effort I’ve been making in every other part of my life that doesn’t involve coursework:
Sorry guys 😦
So let me update you on the last month: COURSEWORK. JOB, STRESS.
That’s pretty much all I’ve been doing! Japanese seems to be going pretty well, I feel ready for Friday’s big exam. The exams are multiple choice BUT with negative marking if you get the answer wrong, intense. You better all wish me luck! So today I’m going to be mostly going over grammar points (I hate grammar!) Too many particles to understand, so I went and bought myself a super book to explain the lot to me BUT I can’t even understand the ENGLISH words (words like idiocyntasmiplosia… hnn, not exactly that but you get the idea).
Also gonna review a filmy for the beautiful Marcello 🙂
Polka dots and lesbians
Loving life today..
Had a reasonably fun Japanese lesson; some sort of stereotypically cute Japanese trainee teacher taught us… I didn’t understand a word she said but she was nice to look at (looking back at this comment I realise that, combined with the fact that I’m doing an essay about lesbianism, I must appear inclined that way..) Anyway, it was fun let’s leave it at that.
Got an hour before Japanese Modern History (BANE OF MY EXISTENCE!) but now that that awful exam is over I can go back to not paying any attention which will undoubtedly lead to failing again next time. The joy.
I managed to write another post for Lingualift about Yayoi Kusama, she’s awesome, let’s all just look at how awesome she is:
She’s in her 80s, living in a mental institution (voluntarily) likes painting polka dots and is collaborating with Marc Jacobs for Loius Vuitton. Oh, she also likes to get people naked and cover them in polka dots…
Hopefully the post will be up on Lingualift soon because quite frankly, I’m not gonna repeat myself when I’ve already written a whole article about her!
I also watched another crrrazy Japanese film last night ‘Apartment 1303’. Verdict: Don’t watch it, but DO read my review (which I haven’t actually started yet… Sorry Marcello, you will have it by the end of the week!)
Right, history lesson time….
Fashion, art and a near-mental-breakdown
Right well I seem to have returned from the portal of stress! In the past 2 week I’ve had THREE exam a presentation, 2 mini tests and I’ve been to work for 6 days. AND THEN my laptop broke so I couldn’t do any of the above with ease, but I made it out alive!!! I can hardly believe myself!
And yeah, so what I haven’t actually painted anything as the above implies I HAVE written another article for Lingualift about a painter… pretty much the same thing right? Japanese painter Nakanishi Natsuyuki. It’s pretty bad ass so go have a look pretty please:
I’m working on another one about Yayoi Kusama, you may have heard of her as she is AWESOME! Crazy, but awesome. She’s doind a fashion collaboration with Louis Vuitton, but I won’t say too mucha bout it as I do want you to read my post when it’s done don’t I?!
Kanji writing practice is on the cards today, I’m a week behind (oh no!) so these are last weeks which I need to learn how to write from memory:
走 送 待 貸 多 単 短 暖 遅 長 痛 低 利 親 足 男 弟 頭 彼 母 妹 友 知 着 通 働 動 読 買 売 泊 発 疲 飛 払 聞 閉 変 返 勉 歩 忘 遊 落 理 料 練 連 話 加
BLEURGH!!!!
So I gotta go and pick up my laptop from the repairers and then we can expect a lot more posts! Hazzah!!!!
Cure to flying time?
It’s been a while! I’ve had so much work to do you wouldn’t believe! And as we all know, time flies… 
I had my oral exam yesterday (describing that photograph that I showed you..? Remember?) which, needless to say went pretty horrific! I had prepared and gotten myself an AWESONE little speech together and then as soon as I got the computer room to record it, everything went away! Hopefully I will have still passed because what I did manage to say was pretty good! Then today, another exam! This time a writing test, eek! I had to talk about food from Japan and England WITHOUT A DICTIONARY! Who do these people think I am???
AND next week I have another exam on Japanese History! I seriously don’t know how I haven’t pulled my hair out! I don’t think I can cope much more! In between all of this I haven’t managed to write any more posts for Lingualift.com, but somehow pulled another film review out of thin air….
READ READ READ.
So I’ve gotta go and revise now! But I will be back soon!
Remembering my natsuyasumi when all I have now is work!
It’s a wonderful day! I’ve had another post put up for Lingualift! Yesh! It’s about the Japanese conceptual artist On Kawara. He’s pretty awesome and a bit obsessed with the concept of time and existence, it’s deep stuff! Check it out yo!
I’m currently working on another little art-related article for the wonderful people of Lingualift BUT I mustn’t neglect Japancinema.net so tonight I’m gonna watch another explicit movie and see what everyone has to say about it!
Until all of that however I have a lot of uni work to do (it never ends!) Today I’m focusing on 2 (TWO!) presentations that I have next week! One is a Japanese speaking test, I’ve gotta describe a photo, I’ve decided to use one of me and my friends on holiday in Italy… I’ll show you it:
Ahhh, my beautiful long hair *sniff*
I figure that there’s quite a lot to talk about in this picture so it should make for a good presentation.
My next presentation is about… Hmmm… I don’t actually know! That doesn’t help… Let me see…
The history of Japan – The Twenty-one Demands (don’t know what that is?) The Peace Preservation Law (again, what?) and The March First Movement! So all in all, I’m pretty screwed for that! Sounds as boring as it gets doesn’t it really? Any takers?
Valentine’s blogging and gross houmous.
I’ve been LAZY today, instead of doing work like a good little girl I’ve been shopping for clothes. Beautiful clothes! Since it’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow and all I’ve gotta be keeping up those appearances!
Aww, Valentine's Octopussy
And luckily, here in the UK we get chocolates and presents, yay! I know that in Japan it’s customary for the women to give chocolate to men and then you have a sort of ‘reply day’ a month later? But from what I’ve read the women get back about 3 times what they gave so that can’t be bad! To be honest, Valentine’s Day is a bit of a jib really, all this commercialism is enough to make me wanna throw up! And literally all the shops turn pink and fluffy, it’s a bit too much (Japanese shops are probably pink, fluffy and kawaii all year round so it wouldn’t be that bad!)
I’ve just eaten out of date houmous. Ew.
In other non-Valentine’s news, I got myself a post for a wonderful blog; Lingualift.com 🙂 The site is aimed at those wanting to learn Japanese but they also have a brilliant blog section with all sorts of articles about Japanese culture, food, fashion etc. It seemed apt that I start out writing a post on a Top 5 must-see Japanese films sooooo GO:
Click for my post 🙂
All this blogging and review writing gets me really excited 🙂 Anyway, on with my Japanese studies, I’ve been a bit naughty and neglected it! Happy Valentines Day Everyone..
Not a happy Naruto today
I’ve been in the most awful mood for the past 2 days, I’m feeling a bit down.
Yesterday was just awful, I had work all day, got home and then had to do loads of reading (which I didn’t finish) and then revise for this silly Japanese test I had this morning. Consequently, I revised the wrong thing and had to guess most of the answers. Needles to say it didn’t go very well. FML. Then in class we learned the simplest crap that I’m sure we’ve already covered, namely ‘koto ga’, ‘dekiru/wakiru’ too easy (I’m on the uni computers, they don’t write in Japanese.) So although I’m finding the lessons so easy, my tests don’t reflect that because I’m an IDIOT!
Now I should be reading about the Meji Restoration but I think my brain has stopped working and nothing is going in anymore 😦 I need help and nice words to make me feel better about myself because I currently feel like s**t.
And then when I finish uni (in three frickin’ hours) I have to go home and do more reading because I have to go back to work tomorrow and as such will have no time.
I hate life today.
I’m a busy bee!
I really shouldn’t be writing for two websites, have a part-time job AND go to university. But hey, it’s fun (if just a bit stressful!) I am constantly writing, reading, learning and listening.
Today I have revised some of the kanji that we now have to learn to write from memory. EEK. Fortunately they are really easy this week, stuff like 石、川、兄、分、上 etc, which I can do already anyway. Then next week we are tested on a a few more complicated kanji: 雨､音 and then harder ones for the next 5 weeks. There will be 50 each week, so that 250 in 5 weeks. Seems a bit daunting.
At least my grammar lessons are going swimmingly…
Other than that I have got a hell load of boring, long readings to do for Japanese History and Gender in Japan. BOOORING!!!
Jidaigeki madness
Jideigeki Kitty!!
Today I must concentrate on Contemporary Japanese Cinema, this is one of the modules I have to do for my course and on Thursday we have an exam on the subject! 神経!
The exam will mostly be on names and dates of films, and although it is called CONTEMPORARY Japanese Cinema, most of the films are on the Jidaigeki 時代劇 which is basically their equivalent of a Costume Drama (Pride and Prejudice etc) but based in Edo Japan and more than likely to contain some sort of awesome Samurai fight… rather than boring English acting. Though it is important to remember that they are contemporary… I just don’t consider historical pieces to be contemporary, no matter when the film was made (although Pirates of the Caribbean is a costume drama… mmm Johnny Depp).
But I am just complaining for no reason, admittedly I enjoy complaining, almost as much as I enjoy doing nothing on my days off rather than STUPID REVISION! I wish I could remember things after the first time of reading them, alas, I am no Albert Einstein.
Does anybody have any favourite Japanese films? I would be really interested in watching some other than the generic titles that we’ve all seen (Battle Royale, Casshern etc). Suggestions are very welcome! Also, are there any Japanese Christmas films? I know Japanese people aren’t Christian, but from what I know quite a lot of people celebrate Christmas in Japan. I’m really in the mood for Christmas films at the moment, but I think I’ve exhausted Home Alone more than my boyfriend would like! Another thing I’m interested in is a good comedy, my boyfriend doesn’t really enjoy watching Japanese films but I think I can change his mind with some sort of awesome comedy.
お読みいただき、ありがとうございました
じゃまたね
Pen Pals!
So today I’ve spent most of the afternoon replying to my Japanese pen pals. I’m not sure if one uses the words ‘pen pal’ for friends you write to via email… but I’m gonna! If you’re learning Japanese and you don’t have an email pal then I suggest you find yourself one right away. There are millions! Just type it into Google and see what you find. Writing to others in Japanese really helps with grammar and vocabulary and usually gives you a chance to teach English too. My method is to have them write to me in English, I reply in Japanese and then we correct each other with explanations, it’s really good practice and sometimes they can make more sense to me about my mistakes than my teachers at uni! One email can take the best of an hour though so it is pretty time consuming!
Other than that I’ve just been cleaning the bathroom, gross, and I also bought some advent calendars for my boyfriend and I, as well as little Christmas tree for out room 🙂 I’m quite sad like that!
I didn’t go to my Japanese reading and writing lesson on Friday since it was my birthday, so now I’m probably a bit behind and not really sure of what I have to learn for this Friday. We have a Kanji review test at the beginning of next semester so I better get my butt into gear and start revising!!
またね
A Hundred Views of Edo
From Oxford to Japan 