Domo, Makku Desu. Konnichiwa, Pasokon Desu. Bye-bye, iPoddo Desu.

I have just about had it.

My iPod is totally shot from here to kindgom come. I can`t put it on hold anymore because the hold button will freeze my iPod (harks back to the time when I did not use my case and just tossed it into the depths of my bag) and the battery is so gone that I have to carry my charger with me now so that I don`t have a dead iPod for my 2 minute bike ride home.

Just goes to show how dependent on my iPod I am. I am using it again at night to help me fall asleep since I haven`t been sleeping well lately.

This re-emergence of the loathing that I have for my dear iPod was triggered once again by an email I got from Apple, announcing that their nifty clip-on iPod shuffles now come in color a la iPod Nano. About time. They are also very affordable to - $79 or 9800yen. Before everyone goes aghast at the difference in price, I did the math: when you configure the NYC taxes (as the 9800yen list price includes the tax) and convert 9800yen into USD, its actually $80 - 5 dollars less than the $79 iPod shuffle after taxes (which comes to about $85). And besides, my income is in yen - best get things on this side of the world. I WOULD get an iPod video, but I want to wait for the latest generation (or the iPhone!). Furthermore, the iPod shuffle is good for the gym, which I plan to join in March.

On another note, when I was on the Japanese site, I came across the Japanese versions of the Mac vs. PC commercials. Not only did I understand them but they were HILARIOUS. There is this one where the Pasokon (PC - as represented by a salaryman) is decked out in all protective gear with the katakana for `Pa` (as in `pa-so-ko-n`) emblazoned on the front. He tells the Mac (hipster) that it`s for protection against viruses, and they are all the spyware and firewalls. Mac doesn`t wear anything (obviously!) but here is the kicker: unlike the American commercials, where Mac and PC keep chatting till the end, Japan Mac tells Pasokon that there is a virus (off screen) and then Pasokon slowly meanders behind Mac. Mac just looks at Pasokon, who has this look of fear on his face.

For some strange reason, the Japanese Mac ads are much more hilarious than the American ones. I noticed that Mac uses informal language, while PC uses formal language. That surely drives the point home, ne?

DIE, KANJI, DIE.

I just took my kanji final and my grammar final.

Kanji - failed. For sure. I took one look at that thing, and in spite of the fact that I studied maybe over 200 words, the ones that I studied were not on the test.

Not that it matters; the down low for the Monbusho kids is that so long as you try and go to the classes and make some effort, its not like they are going to kick you out of the program. And that will be the only final that I fail regardless. I took Intermediate Kanji as opposed to Basic Kanji III because I wanted a challenge and I did not want to repeat stuff I learned. So while I did learn ALOT of new Kanji and vocabulary, etc. etc. the stuff I did cover was unfortunately not on the test. Maybe I will pass the class by the skin of my teeth - I always do well on the quizzes and I come to every class.And besides! EVERYONE and their mothers use the denshi jishos anyways. You see all the Japanese kids with one (You can tell I am in a bad mood over my kanji final - I busted my ass for THREE weeks preparing for that test and it was all for naught at least in terms of passing the test).

I on the other hand, have my pink Nintendo with the pink pig cell phone charm, which my teachers are just amazed by - my kanji teacher asked that since I got my DS in NYC can I play Japanese games? Of course - I got the jisho game here.

DS`s are very rare in Japan and if you do find one, its twice the price than the US.

Moving along...Grammar - pass. That was pretty easy. Maybe over an 80 - I will be happy with that, but I still get the ~sou desu stuff mixed up sometimes.

Remaining tests*

Listening: Final/Wed
Integrated: Quiz on Ch. 9 & 12/Wed; Final/Thurs
Reading: Quiz & HW/Fri
Coversation: Final/Mon

Pfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffttttttttttttttt...

Ok, for the LAST TIME...

...I am NOT a professor!

Get it straight!

I did not write it anywhere in my application. I know that you think that that is the safest action so that you do not offend anyone, but when you have the 5 different options for salutation (Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms./Dr.) and I do NOT choose `Dr.` obviously I am not a doctor!

In other news, I just got my official notification that I was accepted to the Asian Studies Conference Japan in Tokyo this June - in my Spam box.

Shake, Rattle and Roll...Ride that Earthquake Baby!

Karma can really bite you in the arse.

The day that I say that I haven`t experienced an earthquake was the EXACT same day that I experienced one!

I went to bed my normal time, but around 2:14 a.m. my bed shook enough to wake me up. I can be a bit of a light sleeper (sometimes I need a blindfold just to force my eyes closed so I stay asleep, but then the elastic wears out so I go through quite a few blindfolds) so needless to say I was obviously woken up. By the time I gathered my senses - oh, about less than half a minute - the shaking stopped.

`HOLY CRAP! What was that?` I thought.

I sent texts to Colleen and Alisa; Alisa responded, confirming that it was indeed an earthquake. She asked if I was alright; I was perfectly fine, if a bit shaken up because I had never experienced an earthquake. So, I began to laugh because it was a bit funny because I freaked out so much.

According to a link from the Japan Meterological Agency that a forum member posted in a thread aptly titled, `Shake, Rattle and Roll...Ride that Earthquake Baby!` there was an earthquake in Fukui-ken and the measurement was a 4.4 - what I liked about that link what that it measured the seismic activity in the rest of the area, and in my neck of the woods, it was a 1.

Of course, my mom got all freaked out but with good reason - she was in a 7.1 earthquake back in the day when she used to live in California.

Musings for the End of the Semester

The end of the first third of my year in Japan is coming to a close. More so school-wise than time-wise; of course when one is going to travel to KOREA for two weeks, then Mel coming for two weeks in March, surely makes the almost two month long vacation less dreary, for at first, i I didn't know how to fill it up. For the time that I am not in Korea or that Mel isn't here (did I mention he is coming in March? WOO-HOO!) I plan to do the following:

1) SLEEP. Oh yes, sleep till like 1 o'clock in the afternoon like any proper student should!
2) Practice the koto.
3) Reading and research - but that is enjoyable. And yes, I once again reiterate the fact that I am a geek.
4) General sightseeing around Kyoto - Colleen and I plan to go to Nara for a day.
5) HAVE FUN. Ingram, if you are reading this, I MIGHT consider karaoke. Just might.
6) Oh yeah, and review my Japanese, in preparation for the scary transition that is known as "From Safe, Pretty Bubble of Japanese Classes to 'The Real World-Japan.'" Bye-bye, getting away with speaking English most of the time since that is the common language (besides jacked-up Japanese) amongst the international students at Kyodai.

The reading/research part will probably take up alot of time. There is alot of background reading that I want to do. I plan to do it all at cafes - namely Ogawa and Starbucks. I'll probably switch back and forth between the two.

So, I have compiled a list of my first impressions/general observations about Japan. Maybe when March 2008 comes, I will look back on this and laugh. And provide my list of second impressions.

The Musings:


1) Anything that has the word “katsu” in it is extremely addicting and is my nutritional downfall.
2) I was able to bypass the horror known as the Japanese rental system, because I pay attention to the bulletin boards at school and look DOWN as well as UP.
3) Google and I have a great relationship. Without Google, I wouldn't have found the place in Osaka that does eyebrow waxing. On the other hand…
4) …I have a love-hate relationship with iPhoto. I hate the fact that it sort of duplicates my photos in form so I can use the program, but I love how I can make a really spiffy photo album and then order it when I am done. So, unlike my London photo album which is still not done yet, I will have my Japan photo album waiting for me when I arrive home.
5) I notice there is a big difference in mentality between the Monbusho kids (already college graduates and then some) and the KUINEP kids (still in college).
6) Japanese college students really like their drums and brass instruments. I hear a cacophony of them at all hours of the day on campus and I hear them outside the library.
7) People really like my project. For real! I got accepted to the Asian Studies Conference Japan in TOKYO, run by the Association for Asian Studies - woot! (It's posted on the site, they havent given me official notice yet.)
8) But I really need to get my bum cracking on something related to it, even if outside background reading. Can someone give me suggestions?
9) I am definitely going to have to come back hear for another year at least in grad school.
10) Japanese cell phones aren’t as confusing as one thought. I actually do have a manual in English. And I figured out how to use the internet on my phone. Can anyone say, "Yahooooooo!"
11) Speaking of English stuff – I don’t use the English bus map. I try to incorporate Japanese as much as possible.
12) I know all the street signs of the major streets on the Eastern side of the city like the back of my hand and in kanji to boot.
13) I can read the kanji of a street sign before I get close enough to read the romaji.
14) I hate karaoke. I refuse to do karaoke. I have a hate-hate relationship with karaoke.
15) Nitori delivers furniture for free. Not that I need anymore.
16) Feta does exist in Japan. At a price.
17) I can cook Japanese food. Heck, I can cook!
18) My speaking is still a bit off.
19) Jikoshokai is the most annoying thing – how many times do I have to do it?
20) My legs are too long for this country.
21) My left knee has been bothering me since I left Japan – I can’t bend my leg back all the way – and I have no clue why.
22) I can’t sit on the floor with my legs folded underneath – see knee problem above.
23) Free koto lessons! And at the same time, Japanese language practice with someone that is not a teacher or a classmate.
24) Kyoto is really rainy. And really humid. And apparently, really cold.
25) But that means I get to use a really cool umbrella. And contrary to popular sayings from the locals, come on, its NOT that cold! I am used to zero degree weather (Fahrenheit) WITH a wind chill. Beat that.
26) You would be stupid if you didn’t have a bike.
27) You would be crazy to ride your bike in the rain, holding your umbrella with all your crap in the bike basket – that’s why they invented umbrella holders to attach your umbrella to the handlebars. But that doesn’t mean I have one yet.
28) There is no such thing as gas or oil heat. Unless you have a kerosene heater.
29) Shop 99, 3 Coin Shop and any 100-yen shop are a student’s lifesaver.
30) The cafes here are awesome. If sometimes a bit expensive.
31) It is actually cheaper to eat out than in sometimes.
32) Sushi on a conveyor belt!
33) The cafeteria here kicks Sodexho’s butt anyday.
34) That drum cacophony is REALLY pissing me off.
35) I feel more comfortable in Kyoto than in Osaka. And I am not the only one who thinks so.
36) Onigiri is a great snack. But beware if you can't read the label, then it's the most disgusting food on earth, next to natto.
37) Japanese chocolate – wow. It kicks Cadbury's butt anyday.
38) PIZA MAN!
39) When I get back home for good, I am definitely going to get tons of stuff from Sun Mart and Hong Kong supermarket.
40) They need to introduce the uni coop system in the States. Travel agency, dry cleaner, pharmacy, book store, school supplies, books and food all in one spot – come on! One stop shopping for students!
41) Photocopying is really cheap, so long as you make the paper settings to B4.
42) Unfortunately if I did get that umbrella holder for my bike, I would be laughed at from here to kingdom come, since only "obaa-sans" have that on their bikes.
43) I still haven't felt an earthquake.
44) Japanese offices are run so bureaucratically to the point that they become inefficient.
45) I still can't type properly.
46) And I still write my kanji a bit backwards. Gotta love genetics for making me a lefty.
47) However, that might be rectified, since the electronic dictionary for my Nintendo only recognizes the kanji if it's written in the correct stroke order.
48) Cute little pink pigs as cell phone charms? Of course!
49) Cell phone charms in general? Hell yeah!

and for the last one:

50) The McDonald's in Japan are way cleaner, much nicer and is THE place for students to chill and do their homework. The Kyodai area really needs a Starbucks.

Lil' Miss Goody Two-Books

Finals are approaching. I have 5 tests in three days, and then one more the following Monday. That is just pure hell.

I had a three day weekend since this Friday was the day of reckoning for all high-school students:

the once-a-year-do-or-die-National-Examination-Day.

In an ironic twist of fate I think, the exams were held at Kyodai (as far as I know, for there could be other test sites) - the one place that all high schoolers want to go to to, second only to Tokyo Uni (Todai). That could motivate students more, as Alisa pointed out but I tend to look on the darker side of things. I took the SAT once at Columbia and I had that awful experience of two rejection letters on the same day.

So, what did I do this weekend? I surely did not go out and see the pretty sights of Kyoto even though the weather was nice.

STUDY.
STUDY.
STUDY.

I wasn't the only one - the library on all three days was packed. When I got there in the mornings, the bike racks in front of the library were all full; on a normal non-finals-are-coming-up day, they are usually pretty empty. By the time I left at around 4pm (Saturday and Sunday, I left the library at 8 on Friday, but got there at 1), not only were the bikes racks PACKED, but the space in between them (for there are two sets of bike racks at the library) were so filled with bikes that you couldn't even walk in between them. Funnily enough, there are signs everywhere that say to not park your bike in that area. You always park your bike where the signs say to not park your bike.

Nonetheless, I work my arse off in the library but when I get home, all the stuff on my "To Do" list is done. Comapred to my procrastinating habits in college it sort of feels good to come home and then just chill because all your stuff is done. Sometimes I worry that I am not studying enough for finals because I come home and then chill for 5 hours before I go to sleep or so but I need to kind of remind myself that you worked in the library for 6 hours. Chill. It will get more hectic during the week with class and all but it is manageable.

So now my dinner is cooking - tonight I will slurp udon whilst watching "Monsoon Wedding."

You Know You`re a Mac User When...

...you are on AIM on a PC and you forgot all your friend`s screenames and get them mixed up, because on iChat you have it configured so that it shows the real name and not the screen name.

Also, when you are on a PC you unconsciously move the mouse to the upper right hand corner and get mad when nothing happens, because you have too many windows open and you just want to get to that particular one that you need in a flash.

The Air Routes More Traveled

I cannot contain myself!

I AM GOING TO KOREA!

I AM TRAVELLING!

I AM GETTING OUT OF THE COUNTRY!

I WILL SET FOOT ON MAINLAND ASIA!

On a sarcastic note as Deena pointed out, it's not like I can get to the rest of Asia through Korea - good ol' Kim Jong-Il is standing in the way with his oversized Ray-Bans and frizzy combover.

I got my plane ticket today from Kyoto Uni's Co-op today; Alisa told me that they have good discounts for students. Another thing I like about the co-op is that I can pay my ticket in cash right then and there and thus would not have to use my credit card. Pay it and get it over with. I like that Japan is more cash-based: don't have the money, then you don't buy it because they don't take debit or credit cards 90% of the time anyways.

I was going to do it this morning actually - I had gone to the co-op, asked for the information, got the information and was just about to fork over the money when I realized that I should err on the side of caution, and ask my homeroom teacher just in case about when the classes officially end and when break begins. So I took my printout and told the lady I would come back probably on Thursday, since I would see my homeroom teacher tomorrow for listening class.

Turns out, I ran into her today; so right after grammar class, I went back to the co-op. I have to say it was quite interesting to actually fork over the money to a travel-agent-person and just get it all done and over with.

Deena already has a bunch of stuff planned. Ice skating, skiing, the DMZ, her kindergarten class graduation, shopping, museums, palaces, and maybe a temple stay overnight.

So excited!

Go Ahead. Make His Day.

So, the guy from the company that runs my building dropped in promptly at 7pm this evening, as per our arrangment over the phone earlier today. He comes in, takes his shoes off and heads to my itinerant bathroom with the pissy pipes, bucket and plunger in hand.

Pissy pipes - not really. More like stuffed up strainer.

He lifts up the metal lid on the floor and I actually gasp out of embarrasment. It wasn't a case of "the shower is clogged, get the Drano and sulfuric acid" (one time, I poured candle wax down the sink, now THAT was embarrassing). The plumbing here is a wee bit different - the pipe from the shower and the sink empty into this hole that the strainer was covering together. There is no separate pipe for the shower, like back home. I was thinking that it was going to be a major operation, as memories of my dad with the infamous "snake" came into mind.

No, this was a simple case of the strainer wasn't cleaned. I was so embarrased, and started to ramble off in Japanese: "I am so sorry, this is so embarrasing, this is my first time living alone, Japanese plumbing is quite different..." I felt so bad that I had to make the guy come, I took the strainer and began to clean it myself - and since he also touched it, pumped some of the liquid hand soap that I had luckily bought earlier in the day and directed him to the kitchen sink so that he can wash his hands.

I then proceeded to wash the strainer in the kitchen sink; he kneeled on the floor and we chatted about this and that, since I wanted to make sure that it was just the strainer and not some bigger problem.

In retrospect, it was a total "gaijin" moment and quite funny. I'll bet it will be the watercooler topic for tomorrow at the company.

One other thing that I noticed: when I was rambling quite coherently all in Japanese, I noticed that I did just that - ramble in the way that I just let myself go and didn't stop to think about trying to translate a sentence or a word. I probably made some mistakes but I didn't stop, which I think, is a good thing.

This little fiasco probably made the guy's day - go to building, soothe nervous female gaijin and get to sit down and chat while she cleans the strainer.

Beef: It's What's for Tabehodai

Japanese Lesson #12 (I think):

1) Tabehodai: ALL.YOU.CAN.EAT.

Other than the nice, juicy steaks that I had back when I was home for Christmas - prompting my mother to comment that I am eating too much red meat, but there isn't much to be had on this side of the sea regardless - I don't and haven't had the chance to eat red meat ever since I left for Japan. Like beef for example. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. Yum yum. My "farewell" dinner cooked by Mel back in October was a steak, potatoes au gratin, corn and A-1 steak sauce.

Of course a lot of red meat is bad for you, and it's really expensive here so I don't bother. It's chicken and fish for me, with the occasional meatballs.

On Saturday, the day before the "my bathroom is flooded" fiasco, I went to Prof. S.'s house in Gion (I love that house) for a presentation on a course that he is preparing for next fall: Kyoto's Modern History. When he told me about it, I had the following reactions (internally of course):

1) My mouth dropped.
2) I began to hate those future KCJS kids, damn lucky people.
3) "PLEASE PLEASE can I just at least sit in on the class? I will be quiet, not say a peep and do all the readings and the homework!"

Just as I was getting the balls to ask if I can sit in the back corner of the J-pod next fall, he turns around and says, "You know, since you are doing this exact thing, you could be my TA, help out with the students, etc...."

So my internal reactions changed to the following:

"HOLY CRAP, REALLY?!?! Thank you so much this is such an awesome opportunity!!!"

First off, I'll get more hands-on-force-me-to-think in depth study. Secondly, I would get paid (not that it matters, hell I would have done it for free since it's such a great oppoortunity). Thirdly, its nice "shiny" (as Cat would say) TA experience that would look great on my resume and grad school apps. This was all before vacation but I really didn't say anything till now because of the presentation and that it is still all up in the air. Scheduling and all, but I will make this fit. Not like I have to take zillions of classes, especially in Fall '07.

Fourhtly, I have now more resources to look at. Part of the presentation included a tentative syllabus. What was cool was that about half of the stuff can be found in my bibliography. At least I know I am doing something right. ;-)

The presentation was in Japanese but I got about 50% of the specifics and a good general sense about it. Prof. S. actually introduced me (and this other student) to the crowd of the academic people attending and actually passed around two copies of my thesis (the edited/long one, as of June 2006). At first I was a wee bit surprised but I figured fine by me. One woman actually took a copy, saying that my work was very interesting. I also met a girl, who said that she was in the seminar hosted by my professor at Ritsumeikan (Prof. S. asked me who was my teacher in front of the whole crowd when introducing me); I asked what kind of teacher he was and she said "Very kind." That's a relief - one guy mysteriously guffawed loudly when I said my teacher's name to the crowd.

After, I called Alisa and asked if she was still up for watching Grey's Anatomy together. She totally forgot, saying that she was at Fuji Daimaru with Ted and Tracy (two JETs) - but since I had told her that I was on Shijo anyway, want to come for dinner? (We watched GA the next day).

No prob, I said. Sounded like fun. And now, Fuji Daimaru is my new favorite department store. I want to buy stuff from there, and furnish my future house/apartment with that stuff. Japanese house stuff is awesome.

We all got hungry. MEGA hungry. And we wanted to pig out. So Ted knew this Korean BBQ tabehodai place for about 2000yen. We had to wait a bit when we got inside, but it was totally worth it. We had a starter of three plates of meat and kimchi veggies, and THEN comes the all-you-can-eat. My favorite was this beef called "Den-niku" which uses the characters for "heaven" and "meat" so Alisa and I called it "heavenly meat." It sure was heavenly!

The Japanese are smart about tabehodai. To prevent customers from staying there FOREVER, there is a 90-minute time limit. Fine by us. We got stuffed, and we had all three desserts on the tabehodai menu.

That was the best meal I have ever had while going out for dinner in Japan. Gotta love tabehodai.

Being An Adult Sucks

You have to pay bills.

Yiu have to pay health insurance.

Don't forget the rent!

Oh yeah, and if you rent an apartment and something goes awry, you have to wait till the landlord recieved your email so that he can fix the clog in your shower that lead to a flood in the bathroom because all the piping is connected. Daddy isn't here anymore with the snake.

Luckily, my landlord is the sort to reply to his emails promptly.

What Country Are You In Now?

So I never did any of my homework over the vacation.

Oh, bloody well. I needed to detox - this vacation was sorely needed to "take the edge off" as Mary says.

Study for million hours? Yeah, I needed that two week break. Plus in the first week, I was stil getting over my cold and had really bad jet lag - on Wednesday last, I slept for 20 hours straight. I really didn't do that much if you think about it, since the first week was rest and detox from my first three months in Japan. When I go back, it's only a month and a half of class left then six weeks vacation. Awesome. I am making a list of places to go and things to do already. I refuse to stay put, except for maybe the last week or two where I will study to prepare for my placement tests in Japanese at Rits (nickname for Ritsumeikan, which is what I will use from now on.)

So how was my vacation? I'll make a list for ya:

1) According to a Fordham insider I am still famous at Fordham. Yikes. I was mentioned in the Fordham Magazine like three times for the same thing. Sort of excessive in my opinion. Oh well, all universities toot their horns any chance they get - and Fordham slipped two spots this year in the US News & World Report rankings.

2) Saw friends. They loved all their little goodies from Japan. And I missed going out in NYC. I love the downtown/Wall Street bar scene, because the pubs date back from the 1800s and pub food is so good.

3) Went to Whole Foods. Twice. Woot!

4) Jaywalked. Four times. Double woot!

5) J.Crew "After Christmas" sale. 'Nuff said.

6) GREEK FOOD. Oh, greek food.

7) STEAK. Mashed potatoes. REAL FOOD.

8) My friend Kathy thought the line, "I was born in Astoria, but I live in Japan now" is really cool. In a way it is. ;-) It's kind of funny, how I have two cell phones, for two totally different countries. In London, I used the same cell as I did in the States since the network is the same, I just had a different SIM card. The bar has been raised in terms of the fact that I am a resident of two countries.

9) Downloaded alot of 80's music. I am on an 80's music kick.

10) I got the Nintendo DS Lite in PINK! Triple woot. Now I will be occupied when I am bored, and will get the dictionary game so I can use it in class.

11) It was SEVENTY DEGREES FAHRENHEIT (about 23 C for the non-US crowd) today in the city. It is JANUARY. I wore a cardigan and no jacket. The world is coming to an end. I never needed my warm weather clothes and again, I overpacked.

12) Saw Phantom of the Opera on Broadway with Leah and my parents. It was awesome - the music is amazing, and Leah got us good seats.

So again, I am packed and I go home with more stuff, like some of my Spring clothes (which isn't much, because I don't like warm weather clothes that much). My next return to the States will be July, but in March I go to Korea and in May I go to the Philippines (90% possible).

Lots of countries. Not enough passport pages.

A Whack in the Face

I know I am home.

First off, on the way back home from the airport, Mel and I were yelling (a bit) at the other stupid drivers with out of town license plates (yes we are evil when it comes to the highway) because they drove too slow and don't know how to handle NYC traffic.

Secondly, I went into the city and preceeded to be swarmed by tourists and people who actually STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK to take photos of the "really tall buildings." MOVE IT, people!

Thirdly, I totally lost my uptown-downtown/East Side-West Side orientation. Shame on me.

Fourthly, in my futile search to find a pink Nintendo DS Lite (obviously sold out because every kid wanted one for Christmas) I got whacked in the face by a father at the Toys R Us in Times Square (stupid, stupid move Maria, you do NOT go to Times Square!) wielding those plastic security cases with a video game inside. There is a scratch along my right eye, and the father proceeded to say "Sorry!" so fast and so loud as if I was going to pounce on him because he wacked me in the face.

I was exclaiming rather loudly, but no I wasn't going to kill him.

I am a NICE New Yorker.

But sometimes, I do give out the wrong directions on the subway. That's an accident.