In case you didn`t know I have joined a Choir here in Japan. It is called the Amadeus Choir, and is comprised of about 30 members. Me sing a collection of music ranging from Japanese choiral pieces, Gospel, and we even started a Jpop piece (which is extreamly difcult and annoining). I write now to explain differances and my reasons for them. If you haven`t studied singing some of this may be foriegn to you. Also my Japanese is not very good and so class has a tendancy to be confusing, thus the reasons for choir practice come from my own observations and not explinations.
First is that our choir makes a distinction between upper and lower breath. When adding a bright tone to a piece an upper breath is to be used. the ribcage expands but the shoulders stay down, wether the diaphram expands down is of little consequence. I have a very difficult time with this concept, for obvious reasons, but I try not to judge or dismiss. And in my "feeling time" (see below) I have seen my "sempai," or upperclassmen (yet so much more than that... see below), use these tech niques. They have practiced this way thier entire choir career and the way thier ribcade can expand out and up is incredible, almost as if it were split at the sternum.
Second. The choir is a club and as such is run by the students alone, but in japan this doesn`t mean it is undisiplined. The Sempai run the choir and teach thier Kohai, underclassmen, (again, over simplification) much as a professer teaches a student. There is a faculty advisor but he comes only occasionaly. We practice for three hours on Monday and friday from 5-8. There is also optional practice wedsdays at the same time and everyday at lunch. The sempai go to all rehersals. The rehersal is divided into parts. first is about 45 min for warm ups, streches, and breathing exercises. next it 45 min of part practice. hour for song practice. and the last 30 min are reflections on the practice.
In reflections we sit in a circle with our part and discuss what the group needs to work on and where we thier is trouble. The order always begins with the person on the partleaders left and goes around clockwise. everyone must say something constructive. Needless to say, with my poor language skills, I dislike this part. I always end up feeling like an idiot.
It is also important to note that at a Japanese collage a person has one activity they are involved in and that`s it. those people are your friends, family, and responsiblity, sometimes even more so than your education.
third is that they seem to consentrate on different things. Alot of time is spent correcting notes and learning words, but little is spent on part ballance and sound. We consentrate on the form of the choir itself; how we sing and what we sing over the feeling and movement of the piece. This also has roots in Japanese culture as well, but that is complicated so I`ll write about that later.
The girl who runs the choir is an incredible soprano, but isn`t very good with conducting, though she is learning. I see in the choir alot of steriotypes from my choir back home. Thiers a proud and haughty individual who reminds me of Paul Teipi (no offence Paul). He`s also the leader of the Bass part. There`s a little girs who is extreamly loud and boisterous who reminds me of Will. She also yells things out in the middle of Choir. (Curse you Proffeser Ferguison!) Theres also a quiet kid, who is very good, that reminds me of Dennis.
Chouir is tough here and I`m still getting used to it. If you have any questions... ask em!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Tokyo time out
I thought this was funny. It was on Wiki`s worst movies ever.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worst_movies
Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo (2005)
A follow up to the 1999 sleeper Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, Rob Schneider reprises his role as the inept gigolo who travels to Amsterdam to see his friend, T.J. The critically reviled film just broke even on its $22 million budget at the U.S. box office before bombing overseas. The film became the subject of a heated debate between star Schneider and movie critic Patrick Goldstein, who wrote an article about studios producing terrible movies, citing this film as one of its examples. In January 2005, film critic Patrick Goldstein of the Los Angeles Times said in an article that Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo was overlooked for an Academy Award because "nobody had the foresight to invent a category for Best Running Penis Joke Delivered by a Third-Rate Comic."
Schneider responded two weeks later with full-page ads in Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter where he said
“ Well, Mr. Goldstein, I decided to do some research to find out what awards you have won. I went online and found that you have won nothing. Absolutely nothing. No journalistic awards of any kind ... Maybe you didn't win a Pulitzer Prize because they haven't invented a category for Best Third-Rate, Unfunny Pompous Reporter Who's Never Been Acknowledged by His Peers... Most of the world [has] no idea of your existence. I can honestly say that if I sat with your colleagues at a luncheon, afterwards they'd say, 'You know, that Rob Schneider is a pretty intelligent guy' ... whereas, if you sat with my colleagues, after lunch, you would just be beaten beyond recognition.[79] ”
Film critic Roger Ebert responded to Schneider saying
“ Reading this, I was about to observe that Schneider can dish it out but he can't take it. Then I found he's not so good at dishing it out, either. I went online and found that Patrick Goldstein has won a National Headliner Award, a Los Angeles Press Club Award, a RockCritics.com award, and the Publicists' Guild award for lifetime achievement.
Schneider was nominated for a 2000 Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor, but lost to Jar-Jar Binks.
But Schneider is correct, and Patrick Goldstein has not yet won a Pulitzer Prize. Therefore, Goldstein is not qualified to complain that Columbia financed "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo" while passing on the opportunity to participate in "Million Dollar Baby," "Ray," "The Aviator," "Sideways" and "Finding Neverland." As chance would have it, I have won the Pulitzer Prize, and so I am qualified. Speaking in my official capacity as a Pulitzer Prize winner, Mr. Schneider, your movie sucks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worst_movies
Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo (2005)
A follow up to the 1999 sleeper Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, Rob Schneider reprises his role as the inept gigolo who travels to Amsterdam to see his friend, T.J. The critically reviled film just broke even on its $22 million budget at the U.S. box office before bombing overseas. The film became the subject of a heated debate between star Schneider and movie critic Patrick Goldstein, who wrote an article about studios producing terrible movies, citing this film as one of its examples. In January 2005, film critic Patrick Goldstein of the Los Angeles Times said in an article that Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo was overlooked for an Academy Award because "nobody had the foresight to invent a category for Best Running Penis Joke Delivered by a Third-Rate Comic."
Schneider responded two weeks later with full-page ads in Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter where he said
“ Well, Mr. Goldstein, I decided to do some research to find out what awards you have won. I went online and found that you have won nothing. Absolutely nothing. No journalistic awards of any kind ... Maybe you didn't win a Pulitzer Prize because they haven't invented a category for Best Third-Rate, Unfunny Pompous Reporter Who's Never Been Acknowledged by His Peers... Most of the world [has] no idea of your existence. I can honestly say that if I sat with your colleagues at a luncheon, afterwards they'd say, 'You know, that Rob Schneider is a pretty intelligent guy' ... whereas, if you sat with my colleagues, after lunch, you would just be beaten beyond recognition.[79] ”
Film critic Roger Ebert responded to Schneider saying
“ Reading this, I was about to observe that Schneider can dish it out but he can't take it. Then I found he's not so good at dishing it out, either. I went online and found that Patrick Goldstein has won a National Headliner Award, a Los Angeles Press Club Award, a RockCritics.com award, and the Publicists' Guild award for lifetime achievement.
Schneider was nominated for a 2000 Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor, but lost to Jar-Jar Binks.
But Schneider is correct, and Patrick Goldstein has not yet won a Pulitzer Prize. Therefore, Goldstein is not qualified to complain that Columbia financed "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo" while passing on the opportunity to participate in "Million Dollar Baby," "Ray," "The Aviator," "Sideways" and "Finding Neverland." As chance would have it, I have won the Pulitzer Prize, and so I am qualified. Speaking in my official capacity as a Pulitzer Prize winner, Mr. Schneider, your movie sucks.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Hello from Kanazawa!
I`m writing from an internet cafe in Kanazawa where I`m visiting Hilary Barry, a friend from illinois weslyan. If your interested in her story please check out:
japanadventure.livejournal.com
she is in Kanazawa teaching english to young children.
Kanazawa is apperantly called little Kyoto because of all the old buildings that are here. It`s situated on the coast of the Gulf of japan basicaly streight across from Tokyo. I came by bus, which was about a 7 hour ride, but extreamly injoyable. we stoped many times at stations and the bus was nearly empty. When I arived I checked out the Phonograph museum first. They have a working edison.
Edison was an incredible guy. recorded sound, invented electricity. I don`t think he gets the respect he deserves.
Then I saw a Samurai`s home, with an incredible garden. Apperantly the isalias there have been blooming for over 300 years.
Then, after geting lost, I came to Freaks internet cafe where I write now. Tomarrow I think I`m going to go to the castle here and maby hike up the mountain trail. I leave Sunday at 10:10 meaning I`ll get back to Tokyo around 5:00. Then I can do the homework I`ve been putting off. . . woops
I had a very interesting experiance yesterday. I was begining to look like Tevya from fiddler on the roof, so I desided to get a hair cut and beard trim. I asked my homestay parents where I could get said things and they hooked me up with a friend of theres who worked at a salon. Ok, well first off the trim cost me 3500￥ which is like 35 bucks. I was a little miffed but i figured maby hair cuts are just expensive and it was a little late to turn back now. What I had gotten myself into, however, was steeped in Japanese culture. They don`t cut your hair here, they give you a salon experiance. First a was wraped in several layers of cloth, then my hair was lightly trimed and cut by a very friendly man who tried to comunicate the best he could. Then he shampooed and massaged my sholders and head with oil. Then, with lather and razor (sweet!), shaved my nech, forehead, and cheeks. after he finnished with trimming everything up. I belive this is common in Japan. People`s apperance is very inportant here, so people tend to splurge of haircuts, makeup, and clothes. Of course this is a generality, but never the less... Also men and women are increasinglt resiving the same sort of teatment. It`s not uncommen for young men to get manacures, die thier hair, pluck thier eyebrows, and use makeup. As one speaker pyt it, "there is a lessening of the differences between sexes... in the area of clouths and fassion."
omoshiroii. See yous latter.
japanadventure.livejournal.com
she is in Kanazawa teaching english to young children.
Kanazawa is apperantly called little Kyoto because of all the old buildings that are here. It`s situated on the coast of the Gulf of japan basicaly streight across from Tokyo. I came by bus, which was about a 7 hour ride, but extreamly injoyable. we stoped many times at stations and the bus was nearly empty. When I arived I checked out the Phonograph museum first. They have a working edison.
Edison was an incredible guy. recorded sound, invented electricity. I don`t think he gets the respect he deserves.
Then I saw a Samurai`s home, with an incredible garden. Apperantly the isalias there have been blooming for over 300 years.
Then, after geting lost, I came to Freaks internet cafe where I write now. Tomarrow I think I`m going to go to the castle here and maby hike up the mountain trail. I leave Sunday at 10:10 meaning I`ll get back to Tokyo around 5:00. Then I can do the homework I`ve been putting off. . . woops
I had a very interesting experiance yesterday. I was begining to look like Tevya from fiddler on the roof, so I desided to get a hair cut and beard trim. I asked my homestay parents where I could get said things and they hooked me up with a friend of theres who worked at a salon. Ok, well first off the trim cost me 3500￥ which is like 35 bucks. I was a little miffed but i figured maby hair cuts are just expensive and it was a little late to turn back now. What I had gotten myself into, however, was steeped in Japanese culture. They don`t cut your hair here, they give you a salon experiance. First a was wraped in several layers of cloth, then my hair was lightly trimed and cut by a very friendly man who tried to comunicate the best he could. Then he shampooed and massaged my sholders and head with oil. Then, with lather and razor (sweet!), shaved my nech, forehead, and cheeks. after he finnished with trimming everything up. I belive this is common in Japan. People`s apperance is very inportant here, so people tend to splurge of haircuts, makeup, and clothes. Of course this is a generality, but never the less... Also men and women are increasinglt resiving the same sort of teatment. It`s not uncommen for young men to get manacures, die thier hair, pluck thier eyebrows, and use makeup. As one speaker pyt it, "there is a lessening of the differences between sexes... in the area of clouths and fassion."
omoshiroii. See yous latter.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
School's out for the summer!
Ok so here is some crazy ness for news!
First off Kyoko san is fine. Apparently what happened isn’t very serious and she was up the next day doing things like making breakfast, cleaning, and going about her job. She was still technically on hospital watch so we couldn’t take the boat out, but Takuro san thinks we will be able to do it later, right before the rainy season.
My External is a mess. I eventually had to format it, but managed to recover all my PDF, mp3s, documents, and a few other odds and ends. Most my visuals (a.k.a. pictures and vids) were corrupted and had to be erased, but I did manage to save the pictures I took of the Native American powwow and something else. The only problem now is that all the files were unformatted and as such have to be renamed. This means I have to open every file and rename it as what it is. What a hassle.
Ok now the big news. Apparently Measles broke out among the elementary school kids and jiyochi daigaku (Sophia) and as a result closed the schools for a week. A week! Kind of like 7 snow days in a row. I don’t know what my teachers are going to do about their syllabi or homework. All I know is that now I have to find something to do this week. Maybe I’ll go up north and visit Hillary, or go to Fuji san if I can climb to the top. Aaron suggested Osaka… I wonder what’s there…
Me and Aaron went to Harajuku today which was a bit of a disappointment. All they seemed to have there was loligoth (wikipedia is your friend), Gucci, and sweet, succulent Crepes. You could even get crepe meals with tuna, cheese, pizza sauce, and lettuce. Of course there was Meigi jingo (Meigi Shrine) and Yoyogi park, but me and Aaron were really hoping for cosplayers (gotta love that Wikipedia). Guess Akihabara is the place for that.
I have a new favorite drink: Bikkle by Suntory. It tastes kind of like peach nectar, milk, and sugar. If you can find it in the states I say give it a try!
That’s all for now. Ta Ta
First off Kyoko san is fine. Apparently what happened isn’t very serious and she was up the next day doing things like making breakfast, cleaning, and going about her job. She was still technically on hospital watch so we couldn’t take the boat out, but Takuro san thinks we will be able to do it later, right before the rainy season.
My External is a mess. I eventually had to format it, but managed to recover all my PDF, mp3s, documents, and a few other odds and ends. Most my visuals (a.k.a. pictures and vids) were corrupted and had to be erased, but I did manage to save the pictures I took of the Native American powwow and something else. The only problem now is that all the files were unformatted and as such have to be renamed. This means I have to open every file and rename it as what it is. What a hassle.
Ok now the big news. Apparently Measles broke out among the elementary school kids and jiyochi daigaku (Sophia) and as a result closed the schools for a week. A week! Kind of like 7 snow days in a row. I don’t know what my teachers are going to do about their syllabi or homework. All I know is that now I have to find something to do this week. Maybe I’ll go up north and visit Hillary, or go to Fuji san if I can climb to the top. Aaron suggested Osaka… I wonder what’s there…
Me and Aaron went to Harajuku today which was a bit of a disappointment. All they seemed to have there was loligoth (wikipedia is your friend), Gucci, and sweet, succulent Crepes. You could even get crepe meals with tuna, cheese, pizza sauce, and lettuce. Of course there was Meigi jingo (Meigi Shrine) and Yoyogi park, but me and Aaron were really hoping for cosplayers (gotta love that Wikipedia). Guess Akihabara is the place for that.
I have a new favorite drink: Bikkle by Suntory. It tastes kind of like peach nectar, milk, and sugar. If you can find it in the states I say give it a try!
That’s all for now. Ta Ta
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Woah!
Ok so these last couple days have been pretty crazy ... and not in a good way.
Fist was last night when my host mother overdosed on her sleeping medications and had to go to the hospital. I was relly woried about her though she seems to be doing fine. Needless to say I didn't get much sleep. When I was sitting in that cold windy house, it was the first time that I felt scarred being alone in a foriegn city.
I was realy excited about going on a sailing trip on tokyo bay with my home stay father and some friends from school, but now, with Kyoko san on Hospital watch we have to cancel the trip.
On top of this my external was apparently damaged on the mailing from home and now my computer want's to format it, which means I will loose all my books, documents, pictures, and media. Well I decided I don't want to do that so I got a free wear datarecovery program and am using it to see what I can recover from the drive. Hopefully it's alot.
On a good note I made zori the other day. Zori are traditional japanese footwear made from straw and rope. we didn't make the straw ones and instead used old scraps of fabric. they are cool and I like them. As a friend says: "the're what Jeasus would wear."
Fist was last night when my host mother overdosed on her sleeping medications and had to go to the hospital. I was relly woried about her though she seems to be doing fine. Needless to say I didn't get much sleep. When I was sitting in that cold windy house, it was the first time that I felt scarred being alone in a foriegn city.
I was realy excited about going on a sailing trip on tokyo bay with my home stay father and some friends from school, but now, with Kyoko san on Hospital watch we have to cancel the trip.
On top of this my external was apparently damaged on the mailing from home and now my computer want's to format it, which means I will loose all my books, documents, pictures, and media. Well I decided I don't want to do that so I got a free wear datarecovery program and am using it to see what I can recover from the drive. Hopefully it's alot.
On a good note I made zori the other day. Zori are traditional japanese footwear made from straw and rope. we didn't make the straw ones and instead used old scraps of fabric. they are cool and I like them. As a friend says: "the're what Jeasus would wear."
Friday, May 4, 2007
Hon-Kawagoe
Yesterday I went to Hon-Kowagoe (hon-ka-wa-go-i), or "Little Edo". I really like it there. In fact I've been there twice already! It's called "Little Edo" today for two reasons. First is because before the Edo pallace in Tokyo burt down a section was moved to Hon-Kowagoe and is now the only section of the palace still remaining. Second is because in the Edo period Hon-Kawagoe was a center for trade and as such a vast number of store houses were built, a few of which survived to this day and now make up a shoping district. It's awsome! when you enter the little back alleys lined with shops it's almost like steppig back in time. Except with Ice cream!
There is also a castle and a musieum and, of course, many many shrines.
The shrines are one of my favorite things about Japan. They are everywhere, and I don't mean like on every streat corner. I mean that you could be walking down the streat in down town Tokyo and in some back alley you could see a shinto shrine. Driving down the street you can look out the window and see statues, dating back to past the edo period, just standing there waiting for the bus. Things in Japan arn't old. The oldest buildings in Tokyo only date back to the Meji restoration which is around the Civil war. But a great sence of history hangs arount the city. Not that the buildings are old, but that the country is old, the land is old, or the people are old. It's a sensation I can't realy explain. In europe the history exudes from the structures, churches, and relics. Here history exudes from the land itself.
By the way I am well on my way to watching all of Miasaki. Mom, Dad I have an assignment for you. Go out and find or rent Totoro. It is a happy story, short, with no violence, sex, or swearing and it's steaped in Japanese Shinto mythos. And it has a happy ending! You'll like it.
Ok talk to ya later
There is also a castle and a musieum and, of course, many many shrines.
The shrines are one of my favorite things about Japan. They are everywhere, and I don't mean like on every streat corner. I mean that you could be walking down the streat in down town Tokyo and in some back alley you could see a shinto shrine. Driving down the street you can look out the window and see statues, dating back to past the edo period, just standing there waiting for the bus. Things in Japan arn't old. The oldest buildings in Tokyo only date back to the Meji restoration which is around the Civil war. But a great sence of history hangs arount the city. Not that the buildings are old, but that the country is old, the land is old, or the people are old. It's a sensation I can't realy explain. In europe the history exudes from the structures, churches, and relics. Here history exudes from the land itself.
By the way I am well on my way to watching all of Miasaki. Mom, Dad I have an assignment for you. Go out and find or rent Totoro. It is a happy story, short, with no violence, sex, or swearing and it's steaped in Japanese Shinto mythos. And it has a happy ending! You'll like it.
Ok talk to ya later
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Spiderman 3
Tday me and Aaron went to see Spiderman 3 at Ropongi Hills, which is a "foriegn" mall. It's kind of like a city within a city; if you have alot of money you could live, shop, eat, work, and problably die there. You might have to go to school somewhere else...
We watched Spiderman in english with Japanese subtitles ... which made me wonder about the implications of Holywood's influance on the world. I mean the movie was packed, completely sold out. A foriegn film would never sell out in America, at least not in huge movie theater like the one I was in.
We ate at a chinese resturant, which Japanese people love because chinese food (real chinese food) is delicious. I had dumplings which were exquisit and only 600 en (6.00 dolars) Japan seems to be the Land of Tasty snacks. The snacks here are sooooo good. Pocky and kowala choclates and ice cream everywhere, which is a good thing, because Japanese traditional cooking seems to be a time for adventure. Japanese food tends to tast odd, give interesting sensations, or is still alive. I'm not saying it's bad, but sometimes I'd just like my meals dead and cooked.
I sometimes get discuraged by my train rides. Today aman started to sit down when he saw I was sitting next to him and he backed off. A while ago a mother tried to get her two kids to sit next to me, but they were to scared. I am a big scarry gaijin (forener) and I had fore-knowlage of this kind of thing, but it's the first time I've been a racial minority in a country and it's not the most comforting of experiances.
As a last thought, it is amazing how little japanese you need to know to survive in this country. Most menus have pictures to point at or tickets to buy. A quick "Domo" and bow solves nearly any problem and poniting helps too. Oh and it turns out Cash is a universal language.
We watched Spiderman in english with Japanese subtitles ... which made me wonder about the implications of Holywood's influance on the world. I mean the movie was packed, completely sold out. A foriegn film would never sell out in America, at least not in huge movie theater like the one I was in.
We ate at a chinese resturant, which Japanese people love because chinese food (real chinese food) is delicious. I had dumplings which were exquisit and only 600 en (6.00 dolars) Japan seems to be the Land of Tasty snacks. The snacks here are sooooo good. Pocky and kowala choclates and ice cream everywhere, which is a good thing, because Japanese traditional cooking seems to be a time for adventure. Japanese food tends to tast odd, give interesting sensations, or is still alive. I'm not saying it's bad, but sometimes I'd just like my meals dead and cooked.
I sometimes get discuraged by my train rides. Today aman started to sit down when he saw I was sitting next to him and he backed off. A while ago a mother tried to get her two kids to sit next to me, but they were to scared. I am a big scarry gaijin (forener) and I had fore-knowlage of this kind of thing, but it's the first time I've been a racial minority in a country and it's not the most comforting of experiances.
As a last thought, it is amazing how little japanese you need to know to survive in this country. Most menus have pictures to point at or tickets to buy. A quick "Domo" and bow solves nearly any problem and poniting helps too. Oh and it turns out Cash is a universal language.
I'm in Tokyo!
Hello friends and family! I'm in Tokyo! (in case you hadn't noticed.) I technicaly live jut outside tokyo to the west in a suburb called Tokorozawa.
A Day in the Life
I get up every day around 6:30, groan, roll over, and go back to sleep. Then I get up around seven, get dressed and head down stairs. Kyoko san, my homestay mother who had been up sence five, greets me with an Ohyoo! Which I return with an Ohyoo Gozaimasu! She serves me breakfast which usualy consist of japanese omlits (take a scrambled egg and arfully make it square), miso soup, and a vegtible of some kind. Lately we have been having meat too, usualy a suasage or unidentifiable something of some kind. I tend to eat whats been handed to me with out much question and see if I like it or not. Then it's out the door to catch the 7:50 express to Seibu-Shinjuku.
If I catch the train, and I stress If, then the train ride takes about 45 minutes. If I'm lucky I get a seat, but usualy I don't. The trains are packed tight with people in the mornings and on the way home. You will touch the people around you. It's sad but Japanese people perfer not to sit next to Gaijin, or foriegn people, on the train. Just as well, more room for me. I change lines at my favorite stop: Takadanobaba. I just like saying it. A quick "catle drive" esque people shuffle and I'm on the Yamanote line for Shinjuku. I used to get off at Shinjuku, one of the largest trainstations in Tokyo, but a new found friend showed me how to change lines in Yoyogi instead, saving me the crazyness of early morning Shinjuku. At Yoyogi I get on the Chuo for Yotsuya, which is my stop for school. a hop, skip and jump later and I'm in my first class.
I allways have Japanese 111 at 9:15 am. It's pretty easy, but my other classes arn't so it evens out. Plus it will get harder later, I'm gonna know 200 kanji by the end of class! after that my day differs. Here's my scedual:
Japanese 111 M-F 9:15-10:45
Topics in the Performing Arts T+F 11:00-12:30
Individual Culture in Society T+F 3:30-5:00
Youth and Capitalism M+TH 1:30-3:00
Plus CIEE has a class in the afternoons on wenedsdays. A lecture or day trip usualy. I'll give you a better class descriptions in a latter post. On fridays and Mondays I have Amadaeus Choir from 5:00 till 8:00. We als0o meet at lunch times as well. It's kind of come and go, but they are actualy quite good... I wonder if they have a CD so that I can send you a sample?
When I'm not in class I am usualy in the library. I use the comp rooms to work and the 8th floor to hang out, cus it has some of the only comfy chairs on campus.
After School I come back to Tokorozawa by crowded train. If it's not monday or friday, I eat with my host parents. We eat some very interesting stuff I must say. I've been having them watch movies. I like them and they seem to enjoy it too. We watch american films that have crossed over the pond and Miazaki. If you don't know who Miazaki is shame on you! Look him up! He draws anime and is curently working with Disney. We watched The Terminal whit Tom Hanks tonight, which my host parents liked very much.
After dinner we watch some crazy, crazy Japanese TV. around 9:00 I excuse myself, take a shower, finish my homework, watch, read, or write something on my lapu topu and then go to bed. And So... now you have some insight into what it's like to be me.
A Day in the Life
I get up every day around 6:30, groan, roll over, and go back to sleep. Then I get up around seven, get dressed and head down stairs. Kyoko san, my homestay mother who had been up sence five, greets me with an Ohyoo! Which I return with an Ohyoo Gozaimasu! She serves me breakfast which usualy consist of japanese omlits (take a scrambled egg and arfully make it square), miso soup, and a vegtible of some kind. Lately we have been having meat too, usualy a suasage or unidentifiable something of some kind. I tend to eat whats been handed to me with out much question and see if I like it or not. Then it's out the door to catch the 7:50 express to Seibu-Shinjuku.
If I catch the train, and I stress If, then the train ride takes about 45 minutes. If I'm lucky I get a seat, but usualy I don't. The trains are packed tight with people in the mornings and on the way home. You will touch the people around you. It's sad but Japanese people perfer not to sit next to Gaijin, or foriegn people, on the train. Just as well, more room for me. I change lines at my favorite stop: Takadanobaba. I just like saying it. A quick "catle drive" esque people shuffle and I'm on the Yamanote line for Shinjuku. I used to get off at Shinjuku, one of the largest trainstations in Tokyo, but a new found friend showed me how to change lines in Yoyogi instead, saving me the crazyness of early morning Shinjuku. At Yoyogi I get on the Chuo for Yotsuya, which is my stop for school. a hop, skip and jump later and I'm in my first class.
I allways have Japanese 111 at 9:15 am. It's pretty easy, but my other classes arn't so it evens out. Plus it will get harder later, I'm gonna know 200 kanji by the end of class! after that my day differs. Here's my scedual:
Japanese 111 M-F 9:15-10:45
Topics in the Performing Arts T+F 11:00-12:30
Individual Culture in Society T+F 3:30-5:00
Youth and Capitalism M+TH 1:30-3:00
Plus CIEE has a class in the afternoons on wenedsdays. A lecture or day trip usualy. I'll give you a better class descriptions in a latter post. On fridays and Mondays I have Amadaeus Choir from 5:00 till 8:00. We als0o meet at lunch times as well. It's kind of come and go, but they are actualy quite good... I wonder if they have a CD so that I can send you a sample?
When I'm not in class I am usualy in the library. I use the comp rooms to work and the 8th floor to hang out, cus it has some of the only comfy chairs on campus.
After School I come back to Tokorozawa by crowded train. If it's not monday or friday, I eat with my host parents. We eat some very interesting stuff I must say. I've been having them watch movies. I like them and they seem to enjoy it too. We watch american films that have crossed over the pond and Miazaki. If you don't know who Miazaki is shame on you! Look him up! He draws anime and is curently working with Disney. We watched The Terminal whit Tom Hanks tonight, which my host parents liked very much.
After dinner we watch some crazy, crazy Japanese TV. around 9:00 I excuse myself, take a shower, finish my homework, watch, read, or write something on my lapu topu and then go to bed. And So... now you have some insight into what it's like to be me.
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