I'm now two weeks into my regular seminar courses! Since I'm in a lower level of Japanese, I am taking these in English. I doubt I could understand a lick of a teacher talking about if America as a Foreign Country, Political and Social Issues of Japan, or Japanese Religions were taught in Japanese. I am taking a hanga (woodblock printing) course in Japanese, but that requires little interaction between me and my sensei.
I am so extremely excited for my courses! America as a Foreign Country and Political and Social Issues of Japan are with the same professor, a native Japanese man who speaks perfect English teaches it, and the course is half exchange students and half Japanese students who speak English fluently (because they are British and American Studies majors). I've already made a few friends from these classes and they showed me around downtown and did yoga with me :)
The hanga course is so much fun, I've wanted to do hanga since I saw a Yoshitoshi art exibit in California (http://www.google.co.jp/images?q=yoshitoshi&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=ja&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=649). All we've done yet is a woodblock print of our names, but it was still so much fun! We carved out a piece of balsa wood, put a bit of glue and ink on it, and after we rubbed it in we stamped it on a piece of paper. I missed having art class...
Then last, my Japanese Religions class is incredibly interesting. My teacher is an Indian man educated in Britain who is working in Japan, so his perspective is fantastic. The lecture is 2 1/2 hours long once a week, but I am always interested through to the end of class. It's nice learning about these things, especially when I go to temples. You gain a new appreciation for cultural things when you know their history.
Not much else going on for me besides studying! Hopefully I'll be able to update you all more soon :)
Friday, September 24, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Long time no see!
Sorry this took so long to get up! It seems like life took me by storm the past couple weeks. What I am doing is a college education and a vacation all at once.
Since I last wrote, I've begun my Japanese classes! I've had about a week and 2 days of it. I got into 300 level, and it seems like the work there is the level of difficulty that I need.
I've also been running around experiencing Japan! Kazuno has taken me shopping and bought me an adorable skirt, and okaasan took me hiking and bike riding. I've also been cooking with okaasan (logging all the recipes, of course :D), and running around with friends experiencing the area. Me and my friends Taylor, Whitney, and Melody met a girl in the film-making club, Maki, at "coffee hour", which is where exchange students can meet Japanese students. We went to one of those meetings and ran around Nagoya with Maki, Anna (Maki's friend from another school), and Takumi (another film-club student).
Then, this weekend we went to Kanazawa, all the way on the North side of Honshu. It was a busy couple days, and a lot of time in the bus. It's a town both on the outskirts of the Japanese Alps and close to the coast of the Sea of Japan. We wandered through the fish market, made gold leaf boxes, relaxed in the outdoor hot springs, went to a famous garden in the area, and drank matcha tea in a historical district. I got to try black sesame and tofu ice-cream. It all was wonderful. I wish I got to see more of the mountains, though. But me and my friend Chris are going to start hiking on the weekends around Nagoya, so all is well.
Otherwise, I have my final test today to keep me in 300 (which better happen, because 200 is just going over everything I've already learned...) And I got me inkan, hooray! It says Kasurin, or "singing festival bell" :)
Jaa Mata!
Since I last wrote, I've begun my Japanese classes! I've had about a week and 2 days of it. I got into 300 level, and it seems like the work there is the level of difficulty that I need.
I've also been running around experiencing Japan! Kazuno has taken me shopping and bought me an adorable skirt, and okaasan took me hiking and bike riding. I've also been cooking with okaasan (logging all the recipes, of course :D), and running around with friends experiencing the area. Me and my friends Taylor, Whitney, and Melody met a girl in the film-making club, Maki, at "coffee hour", which is where exchange students can meet Japanese students. We went to one of those meetings and ran around Nagoya with Maki, Anna (Maki's friend from another school), and Takumi (another film-club student).
Then, this weekend we went to Kanazawa, all the way on the North side of Honshu. It was a busy couple days, and a lot of time in the bus. It's a town both on the outskirts of the Japanese Alps and close to the coast of the Sea of Japan. We wandered through the fish market, made gold leaf boxes, relaxed in the outdoor hot springs, went to a famous garden in the area, and drank matcha tea in a historical district. I got to try black sesame and tofu ice-cream. It all was wonderful. I wish I got to see more of the mountains, though. But me and my friend Chris are going to start hiking on the weekends around Nagoya, so all is well.
Otherwise, I have my final test today to keep me in 300 (which better happen, because 200 is just going over everything I've already learned...) And I got me inkan, hooray! It says Kasurin, or "singing festival bell" :)
Jaa Mata!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Lotsa Japanese....
Where to start?
Well, took the placement test, though I took the 200-level test. I thought 200-level was actually 200-level, while it turns out that it, in fact, is 100-level. Sooo I felt really stupid afterwards since we had the choice of what test to take, but apparently they'll test and re-test us during the first week of class. Lucky us. At least it means we should be in the right level!
Either way, my okaasan and Kazuno (my ane, or older sister) are great teachers, so I at least have adjusted to hearing and speaking Japanese, though I haven't even gotten to the point of understanding everyday things. This is soon to come, I hope!
Otherwise, the past couple days of orientation before the weekend was just meeting people and going over stuff in our welcome packet. So basically zone-out time, except for when we ordered our inkan for making a bank account. Kazuno helped me come up with name kanji for it, so I shall be--from now on--formally known as 歌須鈴 (Kasurin, pronounced like Kathryn), which basically means singing festival bell. Hooray! Basically, an inkan is the small stone block that has your name carved on the bottom, so you can stamp official documents with it. It's the red mark you see on a lot of asian paintings.
Also, I don't know how I forgot to mention this, but my okaasan got a brand new Panasonic electric bicycle just so we could both ride our bikes places together! It's a pretty sweet ride, cherry red with a little bell in front. It's especially sweet since I was thinking of even buying a bike while I am here! So, after orientation Thursday and Friday I rode my bike around, and went running in the morning Friday. I'd say by now I'm a little acquainted with the area, especially since okaasan, Kazuno, Kazuno's baby Yuno, and I rode the Chikatetsu (subway) around all weekend to go shopping in Sakae and to go to the Thai festival. I'm not used to cities this old, and it seems like there's a little surprise around every corner. Especially memorable was when I ran across a huge graveyard going up a hill and climbed it just in time for seeing sunset over part of Nagoya. I didn't have my camera, sorry :(
being a dork on my bike
My host family is super nice and helpful, and we've definitely been eating well. Obaasan and Obasan (Grandma and aunt) came to visit and brought cake, and ever since we've had it every day between breakfast and lunch! Okaasan made lotus root one day with a sweet sauce that was sooo good--super crunchy. Plus Saturday I made pancakes and eggs over easy with dried cherry cookies for dessert for okaasan, Kazuno, and Kazuno's husband Akashi and they loved it. I think pancakes are universally delicious. Yay for pancakes!
Otherwise, I have discovered nashi, a Japanese pear that's crunchy and big like an apple. It's the greatest thing ever.
Jaa mata!
Well, took the placement test, though I took the 200-level test. I thought 200-level was actually 200-level, while it turns out that it, in fact, is 100-level. Sooo I felt really stupid afterwards since we had the choice of what test to take, but apparently they'll test and re-test us during the first week of class. Lucky us. At least it means we should be in the right level!
Either way, my okaasan and Kazuno (my ane, or older sister) are great teachers, so I at least have adjusted to hearing and speaking Japanese, though I haven't even gotten to the point of understanding everyday things. This is soon to come, I hope!
Otherwise, the past couple days of orientation before the weekend was just meeting people and going over stuff in our welcome packet. So basically zone-out time, except for when we ordered our inkan for making a bank account. Kazuno helped me come up with name kanji for it, so I shall be--from now on--formally known as 歌須鈴 (Kasurin, pronounced like Kathryn), which basically means singing festival bell. Hooray! Basically, an inkan is the small stone block that has your name carved on the bottom, so you can stamp official documents with it. It's the red mark you see on a lot of asian paintings.
Also, I don't know how I forgot to mention this, but my okaasan got a brand new Panasonic electric bicycle just so we could both ride our bikes places together! It's a pretty sweet ride, cherry red with a little bell in front. It's especially sweet since I was thinking of even buying a bike while I am here! So, after orientation Thursday and Friday I rode my bike around, and went running in the morning Friday. I'd say by now I'm a little acquainted with the area, especially since okaasan, Kazuno, Kazuno's baby Yuno, and I rode the Chikatetsu (subway) around all weekend to go shopping in Sakae and to go to the Thai festival. I'm not used to cities this old, and it seems like there's a little surprise around every corner. Especially memorable was when I ran across a huge graveyard going up a hill and climbed it just in time for seeing sunset over part of Nagoya. I didn't have my camera, sorry :(
being a dork on my bike
My host family is super nice and helpful, and we've definitely been eating well. Obaasan and Obasan (Grandma and aunt) came to visit and brought cake, and ever since we've had it every day between breakfast and lunch! Okaasan made lotus root one day with a sweet sauce that was sooo good--super crunchy. Plus Saturday I made pancakes and eggs over easy with dried cherry cookies for dessert for okaasan, Kazuno, and Kazuno's husband Akashi and they loved it. I think pancakes are universally delicious. Yay for pancakes!
Otherwise, I have discovered nashi, a Japanese pear that's crunchy and big like an apple. It's the greatest thing ever.
Jaa mata!
Friday, September 3, 2010
CONTACT INFO
Because I'd love to receive letters and packages (& Skype calls are cheap)!! Peanut butter every now and then would be nice :)
Address:
#509, 74 Yamazoto-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8673, Japan
Phone:
(country code +81) 804-073-5603
Thanks!
Address:
#509, 74 Yamazoto-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8673, Japan
Phone:
(country code +81) 804-073-5603
Thanks!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
日本語をあまりおもいおもいだしていません。。。
That first line means I don't really remember Japanese...
But! I completely lucked out on my host family, though I'll get to that in a moment. We'll do this in an orderly fashion.
When I last left off, we just went to dinner (dipped stuff in raw eggs, surprisingly delicious), then onsen, then passed out.
Went for a run before breakfast and saw a Japanese graveyard, it was gorgeous. Then breakfast, Mika party (Mika like the singer, you gotta know them!), pack, and go! We went to Nanzan University (finally), and were called one by one to our host family members. When I was called, I was instantly greeted by a hug from my host mother, Ryoko! Her daughter, Kazuno, and Kazuno's baby were with her, and they both walked with me to Ryoko's apartment. It's literally across the street from the university, how lucky am I. Some of the others got a 1 hour commute!
My meal with my okaasan
Me n' okaasan!
my room
We dropped off my stuff in my room, and Ryoko (from now on I'll call her Okaasan, because that's what she wants me to call her :) It means mother) sat me down and wrote down the things I will and will not eat. Then we took a taxi to a traditional and exceedingly fancy restaurant, where you sit on the floor and the area below the table is built lower for your feet. We ate the best meal I've had yet here, a smorgasbord of sashimi, kabocha soup, seaweed, custard, you name it. Then we finished with ice cream and ooh was it good. Afterward, we went to register me as an alien resident, which was an adventure in my Japanese skills, but Okaasan was really helpful and helped me fill everything out. Then they took me to the Hyakuken (100 yen or 1 dollar store) where I bought pretty stationary, and afterwards to the grocery store to buy food for dinner. We kept using the subway, so it was good practice, and they were quite patient with my awful Japanese, helping me out when they knew the English words for things. Their English is pretty good, they've travelled a bit in Austrailia, so I'm assuming that helped. When we went home, I put everything away and studied Japanese. My host mom is so warm and my room is so cozy, this place really feels like home!
Tomorrow is the Japanese placement test, wish me luck! Jaa mata :)
But! I completely lucked out on my host family, though I'll get to that in a moment. We'll do this in an orderly fashion.
When I last left off, we just went to dinner (dipped stuff in raw eggs, surprisingly delicious), then onsen, then passed out.
Went for a run before breakfast and saw a Japanese graveyard, it was gorgeous. Then breakfast, Mika party (Mika like the singer, you gotta know them!), pack, and go! We went to Nanzan University (finally), and were called one by one to our host family members. When I was called, I was instantly greeted by a hug from my host mother, Ryoko! Her daughter, Kazuno, and Kazuno's baby were with her, and they both walked with me to Ryoko's apartment. It's literally across the street from the university, how lucky am I. Some of the others got a 1 hour commute!
My meal with my okaasan
Me n' okaasan!
my room
We dropped off my stuff in my room, and Ryoko (from now on I'll call her Okaasan, because that's what she wants me to call her :) It means mother) sat me down and wrote down the things I will and will not eat. Then we took a taxi to a traditional and exceedingly fancy restaurant, where you sit on the floor and the area below the table is built lower for your feet. We ate the best meal I've had yet here, a smorgasbord of sashimi, kabocha soup, seaweed, custard, you name it. Then we finished with ice cream and ooh was it good. Afterward, we went to register me as an alien resident, which was an adventure in my Japanese skills, but Okaasan was really helpful and helped me fill everything out. Then they took me to the Hyakuken (100 yen or 1 dollar store) where I bought pretty stationary, and afterwards to the grocery store to buy food for dinner. We kept using the subway, so it was good practice, and they were quite patient with my awful Japanese, helping me out when they knew the English words for things. Their English is pretty good, they've travelled a bit in Austrailia, so I'm assuming that helped. When we went home, I put everything away and studied Japanese. My host mom is so warm and my room is so cozy, this place really feels like home!
Tomorrow is the Japanese placement test, wish me luck! Jaa mata :)
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