A real entry! My gads!
So, right now I should actually be studying for a very-important-test, and doing homework, and studying Heian Era Japan, but I can't be bothered to just at this moment. Unfortunately, while I would normally be instead vegetating in front of the TV, the shows here suffer from a bit of Totally-In-Japanesitis, and with the exception of Badassia Kickassia (which has already been watched) the internet is kind of boring. And so I'm updating my livejournal with a real entry, woo!
I haven't really been doing much in Japan these days. Oh, I'm talking more in Japanese than I ever thought possible, continuing even if I don't know a word or a phrase, which is cool, and my knowledge of the Kyoto area has increased twofold (more on that later), I haven't actually done much Japanese-related stuff lately. Part of it is that I haven't had time to leave my small circle of life lately, and part of it is that I don't have any money *to* leave my small circle of life. Last semester I had shamisen lessons every Wednesday downtown, which became a perfect excuse to not only browse the shops but also eat out at cheapo Japanese fast food restaurants like Sukiya(which is ironically or not often built right next to a McDonald's). Since I don't have an excuse to go downtown anymore I've instead been feasting on sandwiches and cheapo gyoza from Gyomu* in my dorm or on campus. It keeps me from spending money, but man, it's getting boring.
I have gotten out a few times - like, seriously, twice - but they were enjoyable. Most recently, I had to venture out to Nijo Station to meet a potential student (more on that later). I vastly overestimated how long it would take me to bike there, and so with 900 yen in my pocket and an hour to spare I ventured over to the nearby arcade. DAMN. I mean, DAMN. I'm used to my (not so) local arcade, which has at its disposal three floors of games - 1fl: Rhythm and claw machines; 2fl: Fake gambling 3fl: Shmups, racers and electronic card games. On the first floor in particular, they have one Taiko Drum Master, three Rhythm Poppers, two Guitar Masters (the LAMEST Guitar Hero knockoff I've ever seen), and a whole bunch of other games. Fun times.
Sounds pretty epic, right? Hah. Within two seconds of walking into the station arcade, my old standby was blown out of the water. Firstly, it had THREE taiko drum masters - and they were all equipped with RECENT music. Secondly, they had a DDR machine in the far corner, loaded with probably EVERY song used in DDR to date. And 100 yen gave FOUR songs, instead of the usual three. You'd better believe I rocked out on it. Butterfly, Dub-i-Dub, Here it Goes Again, and Sakura. It was epic. I didn't even know Japan KNEW about OK Go.
But anyway, yeah. DDR in Japan. Awesome times.
As for that potential student...eh, I don't think he's going to choose me as his teacher. For one, he told me he was still looking no less than seven times. Secondly, I only have ten (or so) weeks left, and he wants a more full-time teacher. Unfortunately, with the exception of extraordinarily casual teaching, this basically puts me off any potential job. Which, again, is bad, thanks to...
The money situation. Oh yeah, that again. I'm lucky that my dorm is MOSTLY paid for by the monthly tuition I get. The issue is that I've joined a club (as...I think I might have previously mentioned?) and it's...well, it's not cheap. But really, it's something that I can only do in Japan, and I really want to make the most of it while I'm still here. It's a yosakoi club, a kind of traditional-esque dance that's more like the awesome lovechild of hip-hop and kabuki. I really want to bring it to Pittsburgh, but a) I will have approximately 20 weeks of experience with it when I return and b)I'm no great dancer. Also c)I have no idea if anyone else wants to do it. Ah, well. Regardless, this club, it's dance, so we're actually PERFORMING. And to perform we have to go somewhere...namely Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. And to get there it costs money... And to perform, we need costumes. Which cost money. :( Now if only I didn't have to eat, think of all the money I could be saving!
Also have to get a haircut at some point. There's another $12 down the drain... D:< Stupid recession.
I've finally found people willing to geek out with me about video games! Well, sort of. My dear friend Megan is will to talk with me, drunk or no, about Zelda for hours. :D Squee! I've also found several willing contenders for Mortal Kombat II...sadly, none of them can come within a mile of beating me. :( They usually quit after about five rounds. I've had warnings that they WILL look up moves and they WILL school me, but...hasn't happened yet. They can school me all they want in Mario Kart, though. Give and take.
It's getting warmer here. I'm gonna have to box up my jeans as well as my blankets if it continues to be this disgusting...D: Which it will! And it'll get worse! T-T How'm I gonna survive on four dresses and a skirt?
My Korean friend said that I have adorable hands, like a baby. I'm both pleased and confused as hell. O_o
I'm subjecting myself to the horrors of another Sensei-Ren this weekend. Sensei-Ren, since I neglected to tell you guys last time, is where the woman who choreographed our dance yells at us for about eight hours and tells us to keep our arms up (alternatively, our other random stance) for ten minutes at a time, or forces us into stretches that our bodies can't do. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay. It's good for learning the dance, though, so...
I bought this awesome toilet paper today. It's made my entire bathroom smell like an old lady. :D
And...that's it. :/
*And now a word on Gyomu: Gyomu Supermarket (shortened to "Gyomu" by...actually everyone I think) is the Japanese equivalent to Supr Sav-a-lot or any other terrifyingly named cheap supermarket. Its food is delicious, but the price and conspicuous lack of any known brand still makes you cringe as you purchase that can of peas. Or in Japan's case, that packet of frozen squid.
I haven't really been doing much in Japan these days. Oh, I'm talking more in Japanese than I ever thought possible, continuing even if I don't know a word or a phrase, which is cool, and my knowledge of the Kyoto area has increased twofold (more on that later), I haven't actually done much Japanese-related stuff lately. Part of it is that I haven't had time to leave my small circle of life lately, and part of it is that I don't have any money *to* leave my small circle of life. Last semester I had shamisen lessons every Wednesday downtown, which became a perfect excuse to not only browse the shops but also eat out at cheapo Japanese fast food restaurants like Sukiya(which is ironically or not often built right next to a McDonald's). Since I don't have an excuse to go downtown anymore I've instead been feasting on sandwiches and cheapo gyoza from Gyomu* in my dorm or on campus. It keeps me from spending money, but man, it's getting boring.
I have gotten out a few times - like, seriously, twice - but they were enjoyable. Most recently, I had to venture out to Nijo Station to meet a potential student (more on that later). I vastly overestimated how long it would take me to bike there, and so with 900 yen in my pocket and an hour to spare I ventured over to the nearby arcade. DAMN. I mean, DAMN. I'm used to my (not so) local arcade, which has at its disposal three floors of games - 1fl: Rhythm and claw machines; 2fl: Fake gambling 3fl: Shmups, racers and electronic card games. On the first floor in particular, they have one Taiko Drum Master, three Rhythm Poppers, two Guitar Masters (the LAMEST Guitar Hero knockoff I've ever seen), and a whole bunch of other games. Fun times.
Sounds pretty epic, right? Hah. Within two seconds of walking into the station arcade, my old standby was blown out of the water. Firstly, it had THREE taiko drum masters - and they were all equipped with RECENT music. Secondly, they had a DDR machine in the far corner, loaded with probably EVERY song used in DDR to date. And 100 yen gave FOUR songs, instead of the usual three. You'd better believe I rocked out on it. Butterfly, Dub-i-Dub, Here it Goes Again, and Sakura. It was epic. I didn't even know Japan KNEW about OK Go.
But anyway, yeah. DDR in Japan. Awesome times.
As for that potential student...eh, I don't think he's going to choose me as his teacher. For one, he told me he was still looking no less than seven times. Secondly, I only have ten (or so) weeks left, and he wants a more full-time teacher. Unfortunately, with the exception of extraordinarily casual teaching, this basically puts me off any potential job. Which, again, is bad, thanks to...
The money situation. Oh yeah, that again. I'm lucky that my dorm is MOSTLY paid for by the monthly tuition I get. The issue is that I've joined a club (as...I think I might have previously mentioned?) and it's...well, it's not cheap. But really, it's something that I can only do in Japan, and I really want to make the most of it while I'm still here. It's a yosakoi club, a kind of traditional-esque dance that's more like the awesome lovechild of hip-hop and kabuki. I really want to bring it to Pittsburgh, but a) I will have approximately 20 weeks of experience with it when I return and b)I'm no great dancer. Also c)I have no idea if anyone else wants to do it. Ah, well. Regardless, this club, it's dance, so we're actually PERFORMING. And to perform we have to go somewhere...namely Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. And to get there it costs money... And to perform, we need costumes. Which cost money. :( Now if only I didn't have to eat, think of all the money I could be saving!
Also have to get a haircut at some point. There's another $12 down the drain... D:< Stupid recession.
I've finally found people willing to geek out with me about video games! Well, sort of. My dear friend Megan is will to talk with me, drunk or no, about Zelda for hours. :D Squee! I've also found several willing contenders for Mortal Kombat II...sadly, none of them can come within a mile of beating me. :( They usually quit after about five rounds. I've had warnings that they WILL look up moves and they WILL school me, but...hasn't happened yet. They can school me all they want in Mario Kart, though. Give and take.
It's getting warmer here. I'm gonna have to box up my jeans as well as my blankets if it continues to be this disgusting...D: Which it will! And it'll get worse! T-T How'm I gonna survive on four dresses and a skirt?
My Korean friend said that I have adorable hands, like a baby. I'm both pleased and confused as hell. O_o
I'm subjecting myself to the horrors of another Sensei-Ren this weekend. Sensei-Ren, since I neglected to tell you guys last time, is where the woman who choreographed our dance yells at us for about eight hours and tells us to keep our arms up (alternatively, our other random stance) for ten minutes at a time, or forces us into stretches that our bodies can't do. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay. It's good for learning the dance, though, so...
I bought this awesome toilet paper today. It's made my entire bathroom smell like an old lady. :D
And...that's it. :/
*And now a word on Gyomu: Gyomu Supermarket (shortened to "Gyomu" by...actually everyone I think) is the Japanese equivalent to Supr Sav-a-lot or any other terrifyingly named cheap supermarket. Its food is delicious, but the price and conspicuous lack of any known brand still makes you cringe as you purchase that can of peas. Or in Japan's case, that packet of frozen squid.