It's 12pm. Steph's sitting next to me working on her homework for a class she has in about an hour. She does not seem to be enjoying it. The two of us have just returned from a two-day stay in a hotel in Waikiki, a coastal entertainment district on Oahu. This evening we'll be flying off to the "Big Island" to see volcanic lava and stuff.
I am, quite simply, exhausted.
It'a not even just because I've been up to so much over the last few days, not just because circumstances have meant that 7am starts every day are effectively necessary, something I thought I had left behind with the end of 4th year term time. It's not even because the sun never stops shining, burning my back off, and sucking the life out of me like I was some kind of reverse-Venusaur. But Hawaii, for all its smiley laid-back-ness, is an exhausting place to be. Everything's so big and vibrant, there's nowhere to hide from it. Even the people are all larger-than-life, making even simple day-to-day encounters really draining.
And it doesn't stop here.
Don't worry, I'm not complaining. As you're about to find out, I've been having a great deal of fun, and the sacrifice of energy for that cause is fine. I just wish we had more time so we could recover between crammed-in events, Steph especially who still has classes to attend.
Well, I'll leave that alone for now. Here's what's been happening.
Entered into Honolulu Airport at 7.30pm, quite exhausted. Also felt a bit sick off of some cheesy crisps we'd bought as a plane snack. Got a taxi to Steph's place, the sky already pitch black, and dumped off a bunch of my stuff, before heading out again to see Steph's friend Erin, at whose house we would be spending the night. It was late by the time we got there, and after a quick introduction we all went off to bed.
Awoken at 6.30 so Erin and her flatmate K-... Kaley? Is that it? I'm sorry... But yeah, so the two of them could head off to their horrendously early classes. We parted ways at the busstop, Steph and I heading back to the house for a sit-down. After she'd gotten her things together, she set off to class herself while I sat around trying to pull together some semblance of energy, writing last time's blog and playing more Macross ("Bomber!!"). She returned some 2.5 hours later to fetch me, and we went to Hawaii Uni together to get lunch. They have this great place called 'Godiver's', all veggie stuff at cheap prices. Superb. Then a quick tour of campus before I headed home, Steph having another class to got to. Manoa campus is pretty sweet, some really massive trees around. There was this one tree, looked like a whole lot of trees put together. And this other one had, like, human skin. Pretty crazy stuff. Also the birds there are really quite cute. Didn't get any photos, the camera was on the fritz, but I'll be back soon to get some.
Steph returned at 4 to do her homework, me still just sorta sitting around and killing Vajura. Oh, also turns out I got bit, like, a bunch of times the other night. Really annoying, though I guess it was inevitable. We set off again at around 7 to catch the bus to Waikiki, meeting Erin en route. Not a great state of mind to be meeting friends in, mine, and it was a fair while before I woke up enough to actually formulate a decent conversation. We ate too much, then returned to Erin's to half-watch Scott Pilgrim, the two ladies not knowing a good film when they see it. I tell you, falling asleep during the fight with Todd, inconceivable!
Another 6.30 start the next morning, me feeling pretty rotten, which was unfortunate as it was Steph's birthday. After an all-to brief nap at Steph's, we set off back to campus so Steph could go to class and I could do her homework. No kidding. Aren't I great. Steph had two further classes that day, so when I was done with the 'hawk' and 'nightjar' I proceeded to finish Macross Ultimate Frontier. Gave that Macross Galaxy a run for its money, and enjoyed me some credits. In between the last two we met up with Jessie for lunch at Godiver's and to watch a small boy fail at eating a cracker for about 20 minutes. After parting ways with Jessie, we went off down to the athletics hall to rent out some snorkel gear. 'Least, we would have, only they had moved the rental shop and it took us a good half an hour under the scorching sun to locate it. Got to see more of campus, though; who'd have thought American football pitches were so small. Lugging our gear back, we stopped by the canteen for veggie burgers and ESPN basketball, and then homeward bound once more. There we packed, until about 8pm, Steph assuring me that we'd have time for food, and we set off for Waikiki.
The hotel was quite nice, all in all. Everything you could want, including sufficient cleanliness. Dumping out stuff we got another bus even further out to a 24 hour WalMart on the edge of the district to pick up food and swimming costumes. Can you see a theme emerging? Next was food, but catastrophically our planned food court dinner had become unavailable, it now getting close to 10pm. Collapsing internally, we returned to the hotel district and, after trying a couple more places that turned out to be shut, we happened upon a Round Table sports bar which did pizza until late. Never been more thankful of pizza in my life. Hotel, sleep.
Now, Thursday is where everything really kicked off, it being the first day Pete did something touristy. But seriously, two construction sights outside our hotel window? What idiot thought up? Way to wake me up at 7am with a pneumatic drill, Hawaii. Anyway, snorkels in tow, we hopped on an early bus to a place called Hanauma Bay, a nature reserve that lets you swim in it. Steph and co had been here not so long ago, and highly recommended it, and it was easily the most aquatic thing I'd done in the last decade, so I was up for it. After a ten minute video about not stepping on the coral or touching the fish, we set off.
Oh! I just remembered something that happened Wednesday night, on the topic of seeing animals. Just off Steph's street, we totally saw a massive centipede. It was easily the most disgusting lifeform I have ever had the misfortune to encounter. It was just... just urgh! All those little legs, those hideous feelers... Vibrant memories of a Youtube video of one of those guys eating a whole snake... U-Uuuurgh!! Horrendous little thing! The pizza guy passing by told us it was easily the biggest he'd ever seen, a good foot and a half, and informed us that getting bitten was not pleasant. I took his word for it before we moved on. Centipedes... Why, Lord?
But yeah, turns out snorkelling takes some getting used to. I spent a good few hours with salt water up my nose, trying frantically to remember my seven-year-old self's snorkel lessons. Whole lung-fulls of water. However, I did slowly get used to it again, and it was totally worth the effort. Big fish, bigger than my face, whole schools of little yellow fish, all not minding at all the clumsy oafs in the water around them. There were a bunch of big blue fish like that mnemonically impaired thing off of Finding Nemo, name escapes me. It was really something, cute little guys all over the place. The way we all got buffeted by the waves as one was quite moving, no pun intended. But that, great though it really was, didn't compare to what I saw next. Towards the end of our stint in the water, I totally saw a sea turtle! A real one, a live one! Just swimming about in front of my face! Nearly collided with me before I spotted it! I love sea turtles, mossy little guys that they are. He kept coming up for air, little head bobbing above the waves while I followed. He was barely an inch away, I could have easily reached out and shook his hand were I not a goody two-shoes who follows the rules. But yeah, a sea turtle, seriously immense.
But now I have a nasty sunburn on my back. Like, all over it. Stings to the touch. Quite annoying. Worth it, but annoying.
That's all so far. All we've done today is get time-wasted by Denny's so Steph missed her class, and I totally annihilated Pokemon Champion Adek. Feel the might of Metagross, Champion! Not feeling too good today, but hopefully I'll recover in time for the flight tonight. Seriously want a lazy night in one of these days. Now, it may look like I've not been really doing the whole tourist thing this holiday so far, just bumming around playing video games. But I assure you, readers, it's been really great so far to experience Steph's life for myself. Seeing her school, her home, has been something I couldn't replace.
Just sucks I gotta use a hostel starting next week.
Thanks for reading.
P.S. Yogurtland really, really rules.
Friday, 1 April 2011
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Fukiyose Life (Part 1)
It's 9am. I am sitting in Steph's room in Manoa, Hawaii, with the sun coming in through the window. She's not here just now, she's at class until about 12, but has lent me the use of her room until she returns. It's up to me to not get spotted, as being in a resident's room without them around is against the rules.
It's about time I let you know what's been happening.
This is part one, covering Seattle. Hawaii comes later. It's for organisation purposes.
A certain someone told me that if you take the number 66 bus from Paisley Gilmour Street, Glasgow, you can't get to the airport. A certain someone would be very wrong. They may also want to know you could take the 500. It was my first proper time in Glasgow, but I didn't exactly stick around to see the sights. I wanted as much time as I could so I wouldn't be late for the flight at 1.30. And so, much to my happiness, I arrived at 11.30. Great, eh?
Ever heard of an ESTA form? If you're going to America for less than 90 days and don't have a visa (or a desire to get one) you need this $14 form which permits you to travel freely. Information to be included is name, contact details, passport number and place of stay for the first night. Simple enough, but quite important. It's because of this that the travel company I booked with sent me a link to the online version of the form a good month in advance. Good show on them.
If only they hadn't lost the thing.
That's right. I arrive at the Icelandair desk with what I think is everything I need, and when asked for the ESTA form that I have not done yet according to the computer there was little I could do but seethe inside. First Shall-Remain-Nameless Travel charge me £100 pointlessly for my tickets, only to reduce the price again the next day, but then they go and, I dunno, EAT my flipping visa waver form! It's not the fact that I had to pay another $14 for another form, nor the fact that I was struggling for time once the whole thing had been sorted (my passport wouldn't go into the system because apparently it's a freak 11-year one) but the fact that all this could have been avoided had they just been a LITTLE more careful REALLY gets to me. Nameless Travel, sleep with one eye open from now on.
Got on the plane no problem after that. The 2 hours to Iceland passed without event: I spent the whole time dozing in my seat. And 2 hours isn't that long, really, not when you compare it to flipping 8. I'd love to show you the 3 pictures I have of the bleak, lifeless land around Reykjavik Airport (unexpectedly, Iceland looks just as I expected), I don't have an adapter for my Micro SD, and until Steph gets back and I can ask if she has one I can't get my photos off the camera. May not, for that matter, until I get home. Well, you'll just have to wait.
8 hours of flight then passed from Iceland to Seattle. Much to my surprise, the film Inception was one of the many on offer, a film I'd never seen before but been itching to. Turns out it's really great. And you know the surprising thing? There's a fair amount of dudes getting shot or stabbed or blown up, but there's no sex and no drugs. Now, I'm no prude, but that's quite a refreshing thing to see: a successful film without anything unsightly, something many other films seem to... Oh wait, what if there WAS sex and so on but it got taken out of the aero-edit? Hm, I wonder. Steph was mentioning the other day that there are a load of films (citing a bunch of Adam Sandlers) that are better in the air that on the ground, without any of the ridiculous, immature humour. Well, whatever. Inception seemed like a long film when I saw it, so unless it's meant to be a REALLY long film I don't see where they could have added extra things. It was also a really great film.
Steph was waiting at SeaTac International when I arrived. That place is a flipping maze, nearly got lost. And American border guards, though I'm sure well-meaning, are well scary. There was also a distinctly disproportionate number of staff to deal with US and Canadian citizens off a flight that went from Oslo to Glasgow to Reykjavik to Seattle than maybe there should have been. That was one terminally long queue.
We took a long look around the city at night before heading back to her home in Gold Bar, and got some Italian food at a place that was open to 11pm. I never seem to be able to remember that American portions are quite different from British ones, but thankfully I was able to take home most of my aubergine spaghetti thing and have it for breakfast yesterday. Everyone was asleep when we arrived, and I soon followed.
The next day I awoke at 11.30am for a breakfast of pancakes. Finally met the parents, who are really great. No guys, I'm not just saying that. I was blown away by how easy Steph's parents were to get along with and talk to. Like to think I fitted in pretty good. Late awakenings invariably lead to late starts to the day, and Steph and I set off to see her high school buddies a little later than would have been sensible. It being Steph's birthday tomorrow, the lot of us went off to a cupcake shop to celebrate, before doing a bit of a tour of the local sights. Guess what 'Granite Falls' is famous for. Also drove past Steph's old house in 'Indian Summer Park', which has apparently changed quite a bit. After stopping by the grocery store for plane food, we drove off to meet Steph's grandfather in the home a short drive away. It was good to meet Granddad Deivert, and I hope to do so again soon. Then it was off to wash the car and a brief trip up the side of a mountain before turning back on account of it being too dark. And this is what really showed off Seattle's scenery. It's a really great place; not too hot and not too cold, and with mountains literally all over the place. There are some really excellent views to be, uh, viewed, many of which you will see once I get my adapter. Driving up a mountain road, pitch-black save for the headlights of our car, with fog rolling in great sheets off the road underneath us, all to the chorus of frogs in the bushes to both sides, was a really haunting experience. It was EXACTLY like being Harry Mason in the Wii Silent Hill game, sitting in a car and talking to someone perfectly happily whilst you as a player watch the shadows nervously for signs of monsters. Really phenomenal place. We arrived home at around 8.30pm, and then it was straight off to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. Again, too much food. And that was without the birthday pie when we got home. This country will make a porker out of me...
Early start the next day for our flight. Unlike getting into the country, travelling around inside it was pretty simple. Got myself AIT'd, watch this space for whether I'll get myself some super powers. Come on, laser eyes. Seattle to LA was uneventful, another short flight compared to the latter connection. Tried to sleep as best I could, but was ultimately unable to. Why break the habit of a lifetime? LAX was nicer than I remembered, maybe because we spent the whole time inside and out of the smoggy heat. The flight to Hawaii took a lot more time.
Now, let me tell you, American Airlines seems to be run by a bunch of very lonely people. Did you know they don't allow kissing on a plane? An 8 hour flight next to Steph, and no kissing? Ridiculous. 'There are children on board', admittedly, but then why-oh-why does that allow for the flipping pilot across from us to drink himself into a whiskey-fueled sickness, eh?! Why not chastise Captain Drunkard too, eh?! Wanna raise a nation of alcoholics, American Airlines?! Tch, load of rubbish.
Fortunately they showed The Kings Speech, another film I'd been itching to see, which is also really excellent, and the rest of the time went by with Steph asleep and me rekindling my love of Macross Ultimate Frontier. That Macross Plus punk cannot die quick enough.
Arrived in Honolulu at 7.30pm, it already dark. But that, guys, is a story for next time.
Thanks for reading.
It's about time I let you know what's been happening.
This is part one, covering Seattle. Hawaii comes later. It's for organisation purposes.
A certain someone told me that if you take the number 66 bus from Paisley Gilmour Street, Glasgow, you can't get to the airport. A certain someone would be very wrong. They may also want to know you could take the 500. It was my first proper time in Glasgow, but I didn't exactly stick around to see the sights. I wanted as much time as I could so I wouldn't be late for the flight at 1.30. And so, much to my happiness, I arrived at 11.30. Great, eh?
Ever heard of an ESTA form? If you're going to America for less than 90 days and don't have a visa (or a desire to get one) you need this $14 form which permits you to travel freely. Information to be included is name, contact details, passport number and place of stay for the first night. Simple enough, but quite important. It's because of this that the travel company I booked with sent me a link to the online version of the form a good month in advance. Good show on them.
If only they hadn't lost the thing.
That's right. I arrive at the Icelandair desk with what I think is everything I need, and when asked for the ESTA form that I have not done yet according to the computer there was little I could do but seethe inside. First Shall-Remain-Nameless Travel charge me £100 pointlessly for my tickets, only to reduce the price again the next day, but then they go and, I dunno, EAT my flipping visa waver form! It's not the fact that I had to pay another $14 for another form, nor the fact that I was struggling for time once the whole thing had been sorted (my passport wouldn't go into the system because apparently it's a freak 11-year one) but the fact that all this could have been avoided had they just been a LITTLE more careful REALLY gets to me. Nameless Travel, sleep with one eye open from now on.
Got on the plane no problem after that. The 2 hours to Iceland passed without event: I spent the whole time dozing in my seat. And 2 hours isn't that long, really, not when you compare it to flipping 8. I'd love to show you the 3 pictures I have of the bleak, lifeless land around Reykjavik Airport (unexpectedly, Iceland looks just as I expected), I don't have an adapter for my Micro SD, and until Steph gets back and I can ask if she has one I can't get my photos off the camera. May not, for that matter, until I get home. Well, you'll just have to wait.
8 hours of flight then passed from Iceland to Seattle. Much to my surprise, the film Inception was one of the many on offer, a film I'd never seen before but been itching to. Turns out it's really great. And you know the surprising thing? There's a fair amount of dudes getting shot or stabbed or blown up, but there's no sex and no drugs. Now, I'm no prude, but that's quite a refreshing thing to see: a successful film without anything unsightly, something many other films seem to... Oh wait, what if there WAS sex and so on but it got taken out of the aero-edit? Hm, I wonder. Steph was mentioning the other day that there are a load of films (citing a bunch of Adam Sandlers) that are better in the air that on the ground, without any of the ridiculous, immature humour. Well, whatever. Inception seemed like a long film when I saw it, so unless it's meant to be a REALLY long film I don't see where they could have added extra things. It was also a really great film.
Steph was waiting at SeaTac International when I arrived. That place is a flipping maze, nearly got lost. And American border guards, though I'm sure well-meaning, are well scary. There was also a distinctly disproportionate number of staff to deal with US and Canadian citizens off a flight that went from Oslo to Glasgow to Reykjavik to Seattle than maybe there should have been. That was one terminally long queue.
We took a long look around the city at night before heading back to her home in Gold Bar, and got some Italian food at a place that was open to 11pm. I never seem to be able to remember that American portions are quite different from British ones, but thankfully I was able to take home most of my aubergine spaghetti thing and have it for breakfast yesterday. Everyone was asleep when we arrived, and I soon followed.
The next day I awoke at 11.30am for a breakfast of pancakes. Finally met the parents, who are really great. No guys, I'm not just saying that. I was blown away by how easy Steph's parents were to get along with and talk to. Like to think I fitted in pretty good. Late awakenings invariably lead to late starts to the day, and Steph and I set off to see her high school buddies a little later than would have been sensible. It being Steph's birthday tomorrow, the lot of us went off to a cupcake shop to celebrate, before doing a bit of a tour of the local sights. Guess what 'Granite Falls' is famous for. Also drove past Steph's old house in 'Indian Summer Park', which has apparently changed quite a bit. After stopping by the grocery store for plane food, we drove off to meet Steph's grandfather in the home a short drive away. It was good to meet Granddad Deivert, and I hope to do so again soon. Then it was off to wash the car and a brief trip up the side of a mountain before turning back on account of it being too dark. And this is what really showed off Seattle's scenery. It's a really great place; not too hot and not too cold, and with mountains literally all over the place. There are some really excellent views to be, uh, viewed, many of which you will see once I get my adapter. Driving up a mountain road, pitch-black save for the headlights of our car, with fog rolling in great sheets off the road underneath us, all to the chorus of frogs in the bushes to both sides, was a really haunting experience. It was EXACTLY like being Harry Mason in the Wii Silent Hill game, sitting in a car and talking to someone perfectly happily whilst you as a player watch the shadows nervously for signs of monsters. Really phenomenal place. We arrived home at around 8.30pm, and then it was straight off to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. Again, too much food. And that was without the birthday pie when we got home. This country will make a porker out of me...
Early start the next day for our flight. Unlike getting into the country, travelling around inside it was pretty simple. Got myself AIT'd, watch this space for whether I'll get myself some super powers. Come on, laser eyes. Seattle to LA was uneventful, another short flight compared to the latter connection. Tried to sleep as best I could, but was ultimately unable to. Why break the habit of a lifetime? LAX was nicer than I remembered, maybe because we spent the whole time inside and out of the smoggy heat. The flight to Hawaii took a lot more time.
Now, let me tell you, American Airlines seems to be run by a bunch of very lonely people. Did you know they don't allow kissing on a plane? An 8 hour flight next to Steph, and no kissing? Ridiculous. 'There are children on board', admittedly, but then why-oh-why does that allow for the flipping pilot across from us to drink himself into a whiskey-fueled sickness, eh?! Why not chastise Captain Drunkard too, eh?! Wanna raise a nation of alcoholics, American Airlines?! Tch, load of rubbish.
Fortunately they showed The Kings Speech, another film I'd been itching to see, which is also really excellent, and the rest of the time went by with Steph asleep and me rekindling my love of Macross Ultimate Frontier. That Macross Plus punk cannot die quick enough.
Arrived in Honolulu at 7.30pm, it already dark. But that, guys, is a story for next time.
Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Hedgrows
Magical Girl Sayaka is a flipping psychopath. I love this show.
But that's not what I came to talk to you about. Though to be fair there's nothing any more serious than that.
Last day of SLA reading week today, and last day of relaxation for some time to come. For this coming week with be Psycholinguistics assignment writing week, and I'm not massively looking forward to it. Neither my linguistics nor psychology written assessments have every been quite up to my high expectations, and to bring the two together feels a little disastrous, but here's hoping I can still pull something decent out of all this. Urgh, starting to lose the passion of linguistics now, it's just not as novel and exciting as it used to be. It's probably that I've just gotten so into Japanese linguistics sorta pales in comparison, which is a shame. I'll soon be leaving the field to those with more enthusiasm for it, I'll get these assignments and exams done as best I can and then I'll call it at that. It was fun.
So this week was mostly spent not catching up on reading because I'm a goody two-shoes and have already done it. So instead I've been binging on Persona 3. Not as good as 4, in my opinion, I prefer 4's plot and characters and the way you only get new people to use once you've defeated their evil shadow forms in excellent boss fights. In 3 they just sort of dish them out at whim, so there's no exciting build up and little passion for them once they join the team. The bosses are also a little flat and simple; climbing as far up Tartaros as you can before fighting them makes them a bit too easy. In 4 they were always a real challenge, which I loved. Having said that, last night's 12th big shadow battle came with a sweet plot twist which as left me bubbling over with enthusiasm for the game. Looking forward to reaching the conclusion pretty soon.
That's right, that's all I've been doing. You really haven't been missing anything.
So, yeah. Thanks for reading.
But that's not what I came to talk to you about. Though to be fair there's nothing any more serious than that.
Last day of SLA reading week today, and last day of relaxation for some time to come. For this coming week with be Psycholinguistics assignment writing week, and I'm not massively looking forward to it. Neither my linguistics nor psychology written assessments have every been quite up to my high expectations, and to bring the two together feels a little disastrous, but here's hoping I can still pull something decent out of all this. Urgh, starting to lose the passion of linguistics now, it's just not as novel and exciting as it used to be. It's probably that I've just gotten so into Japanese linguistics sorta pales in comparison, which is a shame. I'll soon be leaving the field to those with more enthusiasm for it, I'll get these assignments and exams done as best I can and then I'll call it at that. It was fun.
So this week was mostly spent not catching up on reading because I'm a goody two-shoes and have already done it. So instead I've been binging on Persona 3. Not as good as 4, in my opinion, I prefer 4's plot and characters and the way you only get new people to use once you've defeated their evil shadow forms in excellent boss fights. In 3 they just sort of dish them out at whim, so there's no exciting build up and little passion for them once they join the team. The bosses are also a little flat and simple; climbing as far up Tartaros as you can before fighting them makes them a bit too easy. In 4 they were always a real challenge, which I loved. Having said that, last night's 12th big shadow battle came with a sweet plot twist which as left me bubbling over with enthusiasm for the game. Looking forward to reaching the conclusion pretty soon.
That's right, that's all I've been doing. You really haven't been missing anything.
So, yeah. Thanks for reading.
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Liftoff
Magical Girl Sayaka, methinks, will not last long.
But that's not what I came to talk about.
So today was the dreaded JET interview. The whole thing lasted from 10.15 to 11.05, or something like that, the actual interview taking about 20 minutes, just as was written in the letter. (Hmph, could have said 'to the letter' there, another decent joke missed.) SO now I'm gonna tell you about it.
First five minutes was me taking a grammar test. Mostly rather simple stuff, choosing the right spelling from three choices and whatnot, but the correct a paragraph of text bit needed a bit more work. Did you know 'it b-' Ah, wait, maybe I shouldn't just go giving away the answers like that. Some unsavoury types might steal them and take my place! So yeah, grammar test not a problem. Next was a video, which lasted exactly 18 minutes. In it were three case studies of second and third year ALTs across Japan, all charming people, and their success stories. It was nice, good to know I'd made the right decision, though it was a touch on the cheesy side. And you know me, I love cheese, but this video...
The actual interview went off without a hitch. Three panellists, two of which were Japanese, and a randomly selected series of questions. I got asked for my take on three current Japanese news items of my choice, how I would pick a topic for 40 obnoxious male students, whether I played any instruments and whether I would sing in front of classes, to name a few things. The 20 minutes flew past, it really did. There was even a short passage on libraries to test my alleged Japanese language ability, which I ace'd.
Now I wait. Should be April by the time I hear, which is a whole trip to Hawaii away. here's a shoutout to potentials not yet at the interview stage, best of luck to you. It's not that bad, really.
Thanks for reading.
But that's not what I came to talk about.
So today was the dreaded JET interview. The whole thing lasted from 10.15 to 11.05, or something like that, the actual interview taking about 20 minutes, just as was written in the letter. (Hmph, could have said 'to the letter' there, another decent joke missed.) SO now I'm gonna tell you about it.
First five minutes was me taking a grammar test. Mostly rather simple stuff, choosing the right spelling from three choices and whatnot, but the correct a paragraph of text bit needed a bit more work. Did you know 'it b-' Ah, wait, maybe I shouldn't just go giving away the answers like that. Some unsavoury types might steal them and take my place! So yeah, grammar test not a problem. Next was a video, which lasted exactly 18 minutes. In it were three case studies of second and third year ALTs across Japan, all charming people, and their success stories. It was nice, good to know I'd made the right decision, though it was a touch on the cheesy side. And you know me, I love cheese, but this video...
The actual interview went off without a hitch. Three panellists, two of which were Japanese, and a randomly selected series of questions. I got asked for my take on three current Japanese news items of my choice, how I would pick a topic for 40 obnoxious male students, whether I played any instruments and whether I would sing in front of classes, to name a few things. The 20 minutes flew past, it really did. There was even a short passage on libraries to test my alleged Japanese language ability, which I ace'd.
Now I wait. Should be April by the time I hear, which is a whole trip to Hawaii away. here's a shoutout to potentials not yet at the interview stage, best of luck to you. It's not that bad, really.
Thanks for reading.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Countdown
Geoff couldn't spot a predicative complement if it dressed like rose-coloured Twinkle and danced a one-man noh play entitled 'The Finer Points of Defining Predicative Complements'. He can take that C and... flipping well... eat it.
I know, I know, a pass is a respectable grade.
Just fuel to the fire to get me working harder on the rest of this semester. Second Language Acquisition is actually a delight, and what I'm learning is both kinda interesting and easy to remember, without being so easy as to feel underwhelming. Psycholinguistics is a touch on the tricky side; it's very 'psychology', something I had difficulty with in first year. Had a bit of a go on UNIX for the first time today, and I think I'm getting the hang of it. Still not wholly sure I see the point of typing code out when a click and a drag can be just as effective.
Japanese carries on as normal; nothing added and a few things left on the side of the path to be returned to at zero hour. Got my first big bit of work back tomorrow, the Japanese-English Translation assignment, as well as a speaking exam on interview etiquette and the like. Confident, but we'll just have to see.
And then there's the JET interview. I'm sure it's nothing too scary, but the letters and such really don't make it easy to get confident. Spent a bit of today memorising key figures in politics and names of islands, and reading up on current affairs. Did you know Japan's debt is twice its economic output? Sensationally dull stuff, but important stuff to know. Need to brush up those tenses as well, and come up with intelligent answers to those dreaded teaching role-play questions like 'What would you do if there's an obnoxious, disruptive kid in your class?' There goes my weekend.
Also turns out I have a problem with anger. Who'd have thought. Hopefully I can put at least a chunk of it down to iron deficiency, but it's starting to sound like this thing goes back a long way, gonna need a fair amount of fixing. Strategies are in place, only thing left is to try to relax. As they say, keep calm and carry on.
There's a new anime season out. Oh, and on the topic, I keep being told not to mention anime in my JET interview. Are they expecting me to lie? Say I got into Japanese through something else? Well no can do. I can reduce the emphasis, talk about the fascinating, and it IS fascinating, personality and psychology behind Japan, the vibrant culture and deep systems of social interaction, but that all stems from catching small monsters in red and white balls, and if JET don't want to hire someone who admits to that then they're clearly not an organisation that I'm destined to be a part of.
It's in God's hands.
Oh, right, Spring anime. Not a lot to talk about this season, it's a bit of a slow one. Still enjoying the second series of Letter Bee, really focussing on the main plot this time and it's working very well. Also very promising is Puella Magi Madoka Magica, a magical girl show (yeah, I'm way past the point at which I try to hide watching stuff like that) done by the Bakemonogatari team. Third episode saw someone getting their head chewed CLEAN off by a monster shaped like a licorice cake-snake, awesome. Same music director as Kara no Kyoukai, don't you know. Looking forward to seeing much more. Also going to need to check out stuff like Fractale, just to say I have. Oh, and holding out for the next Unicorn. That'll be sweet.
So, yeah, prayer appreciated for nerves and such, not just for me but for all J4ers. And the J2 lot, here's to you, writing applications for 3rd Year. This semester is only gonna get darker, need all the light we can get.
That enough angst for you, Natasha?
Thanks for reading.
I know, I know, a pass is a respectable grade.
Just fuel to the fire to get me working harder on the rest of this semester. Second Language Acquisition is actually a delight, and what I'm learning is both kinda interesting and easy to remember, without being so easy as to feel underwhelming. Psycholinguistics is a touch on the tricky side; it's very 'psychology', something I had difficulty with in first year. Had a bit of a go on UNIX for the first time today, and I think I'm getting the hang of it. Still not wholly sure I see the point of typing code out when a click and a drag can be just as effective.
Japanese carries on as normal; nothing added and a few things left on the side of the path to be returned to at zero hour. Got my first big bit of work back tomorrow, the Japanese-English Translation assignment, as well as a speaking exam on interview etiquette and the like. Confident, but we'll just have to see.
And then there's the JET interview. I'm sure it's nothing too scary, but the letters and such really don't make it easy to get confident. Spent a bit of today memorising key figures in politics and names of islands, and reading up on current affairs. Did you know Japan's debt is twice its economic output? Sensationally dull stuff, but important stuff to know. Need to brush up those tenses as well, and come up with intelligent answers to those dreaded teaching role-play questions like 'What would you do if there's an obnoxious, disruptive kid in your class?' There goes my weekend.
Also turns out I have a problem with anger. Who'd have thought. Hopefully I can put at least a chunk of it down to iron deficiency, but it's starting to sound like this thing goes back a long way, gonna need a fair amount of fixing. Strategies are in place, only thing left is to try to relax. As they say, keep calm and carry on.
There's a new anime season out. Oh, and on the topic, I keep being told not to mention anime in my JET interview. Are they expecting me to lie? Say I got into Japanese through something else? Well no can do. I can reduce the emphasis, talk about the fascinating, and it IS fascinating, personality and psychology behind Japan, the vibrant culture and deep systems of social interaction, but that all stems from catching small monsters in red and white balls, and if JET don't want to hire someone who admits to that then they're clearly not an organisation that I'm destined to be a part of.
It's in God's hands.
Oh, right, Spring anime. Not a lot to talk about this season, it's a bit of a slow one. Still enjoying the second series of Letter Bee, really focussing on the main plot this time and it's working very well. Also very promising is Puella Magi Madoka Magica, a magical girl show (yeah, I'm way past the point at which I try to hide watching stuff like that) done by the Bakemonogatari team. Third episode saw someone getting their head chewed CLEAN off by a monster shaped like a licorice cake-snake, awesome. Same music director as Kara no Kyoukai, don't you know. Looking forward to seeing much more. Also going to need to check out stuff like Fractale, just to say I have. Oh, and holding out for the next Unicorn. That'll be sweet.
So, yeah, prayer appreciated for nerves and such, not just for me but for all J4ers. And the J2 lot, here's to you, writing applications for 3rd Year. This semester is only gonna get darker, need all the light we can get.
That enough angst for you, Natasha?
Thanks for reading.
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Collect all Chaos Emeralds!
It's now coming up to nearly a month since my last post. Some of you may cry laziness, but you would find it difficult to write about goings on too had you so much... going on. The Christmas Holidays had barely begun when I was visited by... tch, I want to say 'my very own Ghost of Christmas Present' but that doesn't sound very nice. Steph came to the UK, is what I'm trying to say, and though I am now exhausted beyond belief I can safely declare this holiday as being THE best in living memory, the absolute best.
Although Steph's List of Places in Engand I want to Visit probably did not include Leicester and it's surrounding cities (taking yours truly out of the equation for a moment), we still managed to find enough stuff to do. For Christmas was upon us, and there were all manner of Christmassy things to keep us entertained. Here's a big thanks to all who helped make the day great: Mum, Dad and Andy for being there and helping out around the house, aunts, uncles and cousins for visiting, and especially to Ralph and Marsha for their generous gifts. There in spirit, they were.
Just afterwards saw the two of us heading to Birmingham for Steph to do some nostalgia-tripping with Oxford alumni, and me to find myself in the presence of the first of I'm sure a long string of people that I would need to prove myself to. I think I did alright. I even ate a boiled egg. Huge thanks to the Baylisses (is that how it's spelt?) for a really excellent couple of days. Those cheese potatoes shall never be forgotten.
Time in Leicester again saw the two of us head off on our first proper date (Tron: Legacy followed by Pizza Hut), attempt a trip to London several times before giving in and sleeping, and to Stratford for a New Year's celebration. I cannot say a single bad thing about any of the days we spent in Leicester, they were all matchless and time very, very well spent.
Edinburgh was a different matter. Nah, I'm joking. I'm pretty sure Steph's first trip to Scotland was enjoyed by her, despite some nasty weather. We saw the sights (y'know, those sights you have to see in Edinburgh), had a really fancy meal, even went to the borders with resident driver Lor, something I'd not done before. Massive thanks for that, by the way.
And now she's gone. In March the trip will be taken again in reverse, with my first ever journey to distant Hawai'i, but until then it's settling back in, getting my essays printed and trying my best to recover before this vicious new term begins. And boy will it be vicious. No dissertation, but three 9am starts every week, and no days off. Oh, joy.
Spent today curled up in bed reading Iain Banks. There is nothing more to say about it.
Thanks for reading.
Although Steph's List of Places in Engand I want to Visit probably did not include Leicester and it's surrounding cities (taking yours truly out of the equation for a moment), we still managed to find enough stuff to do. For Christmas was upon us, and there were all manner of Christmassy things to keep us entertained. Here's a big thanks to all who helped make the day great: Mum, Dad and Andy for being there and helping out around the house, aunts, uncles and cousins for visiting, and especially to Ralph and Marsha for their generous gifts. There in spirit, they were.
Just afterwards saw the two of us heading to Birmingham for Steph to do some nostalgia-tripping with Oxford alumni, and me to find myself in the presence of the first of I'm sure a long string of people that I would need to prove myself to. I think I did alright. I even ate a boiled egg. Huge thanks to the Baylisses (is that how it's spelt?) for a really excellent couple of days. Those cheese potatoes shall never be forgotten.
Time in Leicester again saw the two of us head off on our first proper date (Tron: Legacy followed by Pizza Hut), attempt a trip to London several times before giving in and sleeping, and to Stratford for a New Year's celebration. I cannot say a single bad thing about any of the days we spent in Leicester, they were all matchless and time very, very well spent.
Edinburgh was a different matter. Nah, I'm joking. I'm pretty sure Steph's first trip to Scotland was enjoyed by her, despite some nasty weather. We saw the sights (y'know, those sights you have to see in Edinburgh), had a really fancy meal, even went to the borders with resident driver Lor, something I'd not done before. Massive thanks for that, by the way.
And now she's gone. In March the trip will be taken again in reverse, with my first ever journey to distant Hawai'i, but until then it's settling back in, getting my essays printed and trying my best to recover before this vicious new term begins. And boy will it be vicious. No dissertation, but three 9am starts every week, and no days off. Oh, joy.
Spent today curled up in bed reading Iain Banks. There is nothing more to say about it.
Thanks for reading.
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