And so have classes.

Classes for the new semester started yesterday. It wasn't a very good start, since it was raining the whole day. I had to wake up early to finish rewriting my essay for Japanese IV. I started writing it the day before yesterday (yes, I'm still a UP student at heart) and and I finished with 3 pages and half of the 20x20 原稿用紙 (genkouyoushi), that is, 1400 characters on my experiences during the spring vacation. But I'm afraid it's too long again. Last semester, I sort of overdid my presentation for Japanese III, and instead of giving a 15-minute presentation, I ended up giving a 20-30-minute one. My classmates found it interesting, though.^^;

I thought (because the schedule from J3 said so) that we were supposed to have a Kanji review test, too, but it turns out, it's not until next month. Yatta! I wasn't able to study at all so I was worried.^^;;

After our Japanese class, we had to rush to Building 8 for the Summer Semester Orientation. We only had ten minutes in between the J3 class and the orientation so we didn't have enough time for lunch. They gave us the AIKOM Summer Semester booklet, as well as the Todai book and pamphlet for classes, and then Kibata-sensei talked to the ten students taking the Independent Study course, and those include me. They gave us the contact details of our advisers, so that we can talk to them asap about our topics, and then told us about the monthly meetings aka progress report dates.

As soon as the orientation finished, third period started. I went to the second floor (we were on the third) to check the class under Prof. Carter, a visiting professor from Australia. The course was titled Cultures of English-speaking Nations in the AIKOM pamphlet so I was thinking of trying it since it may be related to my degree program, but as it turned out, it was about Multicultural Australia, meaning, the professor will talk about Australia, Australia, Australia, and yes, you guessed it right, Australia. So I decided to go back to the third floor and take the class about Japan's Modernization and its Issues. It's Takada-sensei again, but I guess he's more bearable since I will be learning about Japan, not Australia.;P

Fourth period was literature (again) but this time, our professor's kind of an "otaku." She kept on talking about works that have anything to do with manga, even mentioning Ikebukuro West Gate Park. Well, the course is about contemporary literature, after all, so I guess it can't be helped? But before you go thinking that I will also be jumping on the bandwagon that is IWGP, I am thinking of taking a regular course in English, which is Introduction to Sociolinguistics. This will help me in my undergraduate thesis after all, so I guess I will bid farewell to Otomo-sensei's class. I'm still not sure yet, though, since the course description's written in Japanese, so I will consult with Ellis-sensei first on Monday. It's time to get serious with my studies here. I did come here with the intention of gathering data for my undergrad thesis so I hope I can take at least one subject here in Todai that can help me finish that last requirement. Last semester should be enough goofing around with subjects that aren't related to my major at all.^^;;

By the way, I got all A's in my classes last semester. But take a look at the equivalent. A=100-80. Very motivating, yes? D: Well, at least I didn't get a B. Just imagine how mortifying that would be?XD

Which means that I only have 8 months left in Japan. Have I gotten better in Japanese? Most Japanese friends said I did. As for my opinion, I think I became better, being able to talk in Japanese straight (though still not spontaneously), than the me who had forgotten all her Japanese and could not talk at all four months ago. とにかく、日本語がペラペラになるように、頑張ります！

Last week's schedule had been very hectic. I had to write report papers for the Relay Lectures and History of Science and Technology classes, do presentations in Japanese Literature and Nihongo, and write the proposal for the Directed Independent Study course for Summer Semester. I was supposed to give a presentation in the Lit class earlier, but I couldn't finish the book I chose, so I just asked Ellis-sensei for a shorter and much easier story. That was okay, since she warned me about the complexity of the book I chose anyway. For the presentation in Nihongo, I did my best. I even think I overdid it a little. I think my presentation was 20 minutes long, but I realized that only after watching the video of the presentations. The proposal for the Independent Study was easy for me, since I'll try working on the same topic as my thesis. Having a Todai professor whose specialty is language change will be a big help for my thesis come November when I have to continue writing it.

So yeah, I was so busy I didn't even had the chance to blog about my first snow in Tokyo so I'll just put up the links to the pictures and video here.

Sorry for being such a dork. It was my first time to see snow after all.:P Anyway, Miggy and I will be going to Yuki Matsuri on the 5th so we'll be seeing large snow sculptures there.(*o*)/ Nagi will be going with her friends, but we're going to meet in Sapporo.:D I'm getting excited, after seeing the snow sculptures they're going to have (and a biiiiiig snow slide and snow maze, too!!!) I'll try my best to record videos of the festival, using my DVD camcorder. But I still have to buy blank DVD-RWs for it, and one blank 8cm DVD-RW costs 1000yen.

We still have to pass two term papers, one for the Japan's External Relations class and the other for the Lit class. But I think those'll be easy since for the JER class, we only need to pass a 500-800-word essay and in Lit class, a 2000-word essay, which is what I consider a normal term paper in UP. But for the time being, since I have a loooooong break (Spring-Summer semester will start on April) I plan to travel a lot.:D After Yuki Matsuri, we have the overnight trip to an onsen in Hakone, then two days after, Viet Thi and I are off to Nagano Prefecture to ski~!(^.^)/ There is also the plan to go to Kansai region with Karen and the others, since we were invited by Micchan, who's studying in Osaka GaiDai.:3

Of course, I'm still doing part-time jobs. I've been able to save quite a lot, but I had to spend 10,000 for the Ski Tour.>_<;; I'll definitely return that to my savings when I get my allowance on the 15th. My student who lives near my dorm also contacted me again, after having a hectic week at work. I have online conversations with the Algerian guy almost every night, and meet once a week for the payment. The third one is an employee in an insurance company, a Todai alumnus, who wants to improve his conversation skills. We also talk online, and he'll be depositing his payment to my bank account every month.

I don't know what else to write here. I just want everyone to know that I'm going fine and still alive! But I lost weight, actually. In three months, I lost 3 pounds.D: I guess not eating fastfood for a change helps.^^;;

Random Thing #1:

There are only three weeks left till the end of fall-winter semester. After January, we have a two-month break (Feb-Mar) and go back to school for the spring-summer semester on April.:3

Three weeks left and I still have to do these things:

• 2nd long test and presentation on Japanese III
• Test on Japanese History
  
• 3 report papers and 1 term paper on Japan External Relations
• 3 report papers on Relay Lectures
• Presentation and term paper on Japanese Literature
• 3 report papers and 1 term paper on History of Science and Technology of Japan

I regularly pass report papers on the Relay Lectures and History of Science and Technology classes so I don't have to worry about those. I just have to read the assigned readings and write a 300-500-word essay. What I'm worried about is the External Relations class because I have not passed anything from the start of semester until now.x__x;; Oh well.:P

Random Thing #2:

I wasn't selected in the Ski Tour organized by Todai, but I applied for MISHOP's Ski Tour, which costs exactly the same as Todai's. This tour's capacity's 50 people, compared to Todai's 30, so I think I have a bigger chance of being able to join this one. Also, when I called MISHOP this morning to confirm whether they've received my e-mail or not, the guy on the phone said that I might be able to come (maybe, there aren't many people who applied for the tour). So this means, SNOW!XD

Random Thing #3:

AIKOM's organizing an overnight trip to Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture on Feb 20th-21st. This means onsen, Lake Ashi and Mt. Fuji!\(^-^)/ We'll be staying in this ryokan where there is onsen.:D Yay~

Random Thing #4:

Today, I was able to talk to Ayumi-san, the Japanese student to came to UP last year as an exchange student. Mhel-senpai wanted us three to meet before I left for Japan, but she wasn't able to contact Ayumi-san so I couldn't meet her. It was fun talking with her (her English is really good), especially when I asked her about cockroaches and Ma'am Cory of OIL. She's working part-time as a call center agent now, but I hope she can get to join our field trips.:)

Random Thing #5:

Tomorrow I have an interview in Gaba. This will be my second interview. Wah. Wish me luck.o(>_<;;)o

Random Thing #6:

I received another package from Mama today. And finally!

Yoshi yoshi! o(^-^)o

I saw my grades today, which pulled me back to reality that even if I am , quoting Klao, or more appropriately, Frederik Schodt, in "dreamland Japan," I am, still a student of the University of the Philippines. I had 3 2.25s this semester, which pulled my GWA down to 1.85, a .1 difference from the "Graduating with Honors" status. My GWA for the sem was a depressing 2.0. Fark, I really did screw up this time. So next year when I come back, I have to study really really hard to pull my grades up.

*sigh* Now, I'm wishing I really am a student of Toudai, where the assignments and term papers are counted by words and not by number of pages. Then again, I wouldn't be able to speak straight English.x__x;; The students in Toudai are intelligent, fine, but when they are asked to speak English now and then, they're all shrinking in their seats. Most of my Japanese classmates are all relying on us to answer the instuctor's questions. They don't even bother reading the assigned readings. Whut.

So yeah, in a temporary state of depression. I hope tomorrow will be worth the 3,000 yen I shall be spending. WE DEFINITELY MUST GO TO UENO ZOOLOGICAL PARK AND TOKYO TOWER. They're (the Filipino exchange students here) are planning to go to Asakusa, so this will be the second time for me. Then off to Ueno Zoo to see some pandas, and then! TOKYO TOWER! Since I'm going out anyway, I should be able to enjoy these tourists spots as much as I can.:3

Yesterday was the welcome party organized by the AIKOM office for us AIKOMsei. It started late, mainly because our last class was at fifth period.x_x But it was fun, there were a lot of food, and people, AIKOMsei, Japanese classmates, tutors and teachers. Of course, there was the never-ending self-introduction. And mochiron~ Picture taking. Pictures here.

Today's the most boring day so far. I was falling asleep in my classes all day. But today's lecture on the evolution of the human mind in relation to that of a chimpanzee was quite interesting, especially when Hasegawa-sensei was discussing how conflicts are resolved chimpanzee-style. I don't know which part this is from, but I specifically enjoyed listening to the statement the world of a chimpanzee is limited to its immediate surroundings. It doesn't think about its past, future, other chimpanzees in other places, or any complicated matter. Sounds a bit like how human beings are sometimes.

Tomorrow I shall be going to Nihonbashi to look for the only Western Union branch in Tokyo. I'll be sending my aunt the money we borrowed for the plane ticket. Thanks to Hyperdia, I know how to get around Tokyo using the trains.^^;

Anyway, regarding my hair, no, I didn't cut it and yes, it's still long. As Winston-san pointed out, having your hair cut here costs a lot, around Php3000, I think? That's what I saw in the salon near the dormitory, anyway. So yeah, I won't spend that much money on just trying to get rid of this. I was just bored.XD Having long hair is really helpful, especially when it's autumn here already. It's gotten really cold. I'm having a hard time riding the bicycle to the station.x_x But my hair keeps me warm, sometimes.^^;;

So much for today. I've got much more important things to do than stare at Oto's screen. I'll be meeting Klao tomorrow, too, so "shit!" I guess? This means I'll be spending money again...(-.-;)

Even though my classes start at 1pm, I woke up early today to finish my paper in Eng 120.x_x"

Classes ended at almost 6. Uguu~ I hate Mondays. We have to squish ourselves in the train because it's sooooo crowded.T--T

The professor for the last class was sooooooo boring. But that's already given since he can't speak very well because the right side of his face is paralyzed. But to read his lecture like he was giving some sort of speech? Myuur. He said he was an ambassador before. Ok, that explains it.=_="

But... ureshiiiiiiii~ We got our relocation allowance + stipend for October today! That means I have 220,000 yen in my bank account!XD Wai~ I'm moneyless no more!XD Now I have to pay all my expenses before I can shop for my denshi jishou.>_<"

I'm also done with my research proposal!!! Whee~ \\\\(^O^)////

And lastly...

HAPPY 3RD MONTHSARY, TERRY~! <3

Uwaaaah~ Tsukareta!!!

Yesterday, we had double Nihongo (like double Potions, yeah XD /dork). It went well for me, I think, because I was able to study the lesson the night before.=P The sakubun (composition) part was sort of embarrassing because I've forgotten most of the kanji I've studied, that's why I had to look at the denshi jishou (electronic dictionary) I borrowed from the AIKOM office. I really want to buy my own, because this one is really just a simple one. You just type in the English or Japanese word and it translates it to Japanese or English. Sore dake da. You can't look for a kanji character's meaning. So yeah, when I get my relocation allowance, after I send the Php40,000 to my aunt, I shall go to Akihabara and buy my own denshi jishou. I prefer one with an IME pad. =D

Next class was in fourth period, the seminar class thingy. I was assigned to lead the discussion next meeting. Actually I was asked to help Hide-san, and since everyone was declining the request, I simply said "ok" to Takada-sensei, and everyone went "eeeh~."^^;;;

Today we went to Asakusa and Ueno. Uguu~ We walked all day.x_x We went to Asakusa from Hinode Pier by boat, and then walked the streets of Asakusa. I got an omikuji and I got the luckiest fortune in our group. Ehehe~ Then took the metro train to Ueno and then walked agaaaaaaaaain to Hongo campus and another jinja. I finally saw the infamous clock tower and akamon of the Hongo campus!(^o^)/ Pictures here.:3

I was also able to meet my tutor, Matsumoto Kanako-san. She's a year younger than me, and gets lost easily.^^;; This morning, she was late because she took the train with the longer route in the Yamanote Line.^^;;;;; She's not that good in English, but that's ok since I'm not that good in Nihongo either. We can teach each other, ehe~ Too bad she's from the province, so she's not used to Tokyo yet (she's a sophomore). But we live in the same dorm so I can always ask for help from her.^.^

Too bad I wasn't able to join everyone in eating dinner in Ueno. I had to take our final exam for our Anthro 170 class, which I haven't received until now. They're all probably drinking right now... ii na~ I wasn't able to join our first night out with the AIKOM teachers, because of this.*sulks*

Did nothing all day yesterday except sleep. Started doing my Eng 191 at around 6pm. Only one part left.

Had a little accident in the kitchen this morning.x_x I was scared the smoke might activate the smoke alarm.^^;; Anyway, had three classes today. We're still studying keigo in Nihongo class. Second and third periods are Japanese Literature, and History of Science and Technology of Japan. We were given assignments already. Two novels for next Thursday in Lit class and 2 essays in the Science and Tech class. Tsukareta~

Must also start on my research proposal today and finish it tomorrow.

I received my bankbook and cash card today!(^o^)/ We're getting our money on Monday! Squee~

Haaaah~ I'm so tired... But I still have to finish my papers.x_x" *ded*

Almost forgot. My schedule for the autumn-winter semester:

Monday
1-2:30 Japanese III
2:40-4:10 Dynamics of Japanese Cultural History I
4:20-5:50 Aspects of Japanese Society: Japan's Diplomatic Policy

Tuesday
9-10:30 Japanese III
1-2:30 Relay Lectures

Wednesday
NO CLASSES WHEE!

Thursday
10:40-12:10 Japanese III
1-2:30 The Dilemma of the Modern in Japanese Literature
2:40-4:10 The History of Science and Technology in Modern and Contemporary Japanese Society

Friday
9-10:30 Japanese III
10:40-12:10 Japanese III
2:40-4:10 Seminar

Just finished our Nihongo class. Uwaah~ I really have to review all my lessons before, because I can't keep up with my classmates. I was placed in Japanese III, by the way, which is the intermediate class. Viet Thi got placed in Japanese V, where all the gooooood speakers are. She said she was scared because she's not that good yet. Anyway, we're ten in the class: Ben from Canada, Wan from Malaysia, Shu from France, Max from Germany, Bernard from Singapore (I think), Andrew from China, Zeno from Switzerland, Lam from UK, me, and Nguyen from Vietnam.

Our Nihongo class is on Tuesdays and Fridays, 9am. So I have to leave the dorm at around 7:45am to get on the train at around 8:15, then get squished by people in the train and arrive at school at 8:45.

I also bought the textbook for this class, which costs ¥2400 (around Php1200).x_x" Nguyen, Wan and I are on our break now, so we're here at the library, surfing the net.XD Our next class starts at 1pm. After that, Viet Thi and I are heading to the AIKOM Office to fill out forms so we can get our stipend for October. I'm running low on money now; I only have ¥13000 left.x_x"

Wah~ I'm sleepy. Will edit this later.