リンのブログ

今日と七夕の話

2008-04-18T23:12:00.000-04:00

今日はちょっとあたたかくなりましたよね。それから、私も今日たくさん色々な高校生と高校生の父母を見ました。高校生たちはしょう来のバージニア大学一年生になるでしょう。高校生がここに来るのはとてもおもしろかったですが、先しゅう高校生もう来ました。それから、私のひるごはんの時に食どうには人がありすぎたので、少し大へんだったと思います。でも、私は今日私より一つ年下高校生の友だちに会って、色々な事について話しました。私はあの高校生のはここに大学生になるつもりだろうと思います。
とにかく、私はクラスにいるほくの日本語の学生と七夕の話しを読みました。七夕の話はちょっとかなしと思います。織姫（おりひめ）は神さまのむずめで、織姫は毎日天の川のそばにはたを織りました。神さまはやさしいので、神さまは天の川の向こうにまじめな男の人をみつけました。あの人は彦星（ひこぼし）か牽牛（けんぎゅう）でした　（牽牛は彦星の中国語の名前　－　人々は時々中国語のかんじを使いますが、おなじのひとなんです）。　彦星は畑で働く男の人でした。ある日、織姫は彦星とけっこんしました。二人はとてもしあわせになりましたが、二人はせんせん働かない人になりました。だから、神さまは怒って、織姫を連れて帰ました。織姫はとてもかわいぞうになっので、神さまは一年に一度彦星に会ってもいいだと言っていました。あの日は七月七日です。でも、天の川をわたるのはちょっと大へんでした。でも、烏はたくさん来ました。烏は羽を使って、橋を作りました。今、日本人は七月七日にたんざくに願いを書います。いつか、あの願いはかなうでしょう。

烏（からす）－crow
橋（はし）－bridge

So...ummm...speech...yeah....about that....

2008-04-11T20:44:00.002-04:00

Wasn't speech day the greatest? Seriously, though, many of the speeches were interesting as they covered a wide array of topics from summer vacations to rubik's cubes (which I remember solving simply by peeling of the stickers and reapplying them). Following the speeches were also the most interesting if not off the wall and in such a quantity that they could have been perceived as a stall tactic. I loved the Q&A part though, simply because of the funny questions and answers. Overall, the speech day was fun, if not dreadful.

My speech on the other hand was a pitiful utter piece of crap...which you can witness in the uploaded file below. It was scary, wrong, and just outright bad, lacking any sense of coherency or flow. Oh well... at least I tried (doesn't really show). At least it's over... that's always a relief.

Anyways, set your standards really low before listening to the speech. I find that it sound much better after three shots of vodka or so. Earmuffs may also help as would setting your computer to mute. In fact, I completely recommend against listening to it at all. But if you insist on listening to it, remember, the more alcohol you have in your system, the better...

スピーチ

2008-04-04T21:25:00.001-04:00

先週、私はイェさんとカレスマさんのスピーチを読んで、ピアレビューをしました。イェさんのスピーチはとてもおもしろかったと思います。イェさんは今度のなつ休みにフランスに行くつもりで、そこでたくさんおもしろくて、新しい食べ物を食べたり、びじゅつかんにえを見に行ったりします。カレスマさんはゲームを作るつもりです。わたしはカレスマさんはゲームを作る事はとてもおもしろいと思います。私はいいスピーチを読んで、みんあさんのスピーチはいいと思います。でも、スピーチをおべるのはちょっと大変だとおもいます。私は日曜日にスピーチをおべるつもりですが。。。:(

けいけん/Speech Draft #2

2008-03-28T20:22:00.002-04:00

私はあまりおもしろいけいけんがありません。私はよく家でねたり、食べものをたべたりします。ねるのや食べるのが大好きだから、私はそれをするのはおもしろくて、とてもたのしいと思います。私は今日じゅぎょうでそれを言いました。休みの時に、私はねるのや食べるのやテレビを見るのが好きです。それだけじゃありませんが、私のほかのする事はとてもおもろしろくないよ。とてもつまらないエントリーですね。。。

父母のアメリカに来るの

父母は台湾から来ました。二十五年ぐらいから今までアメリカに住んでいます。父母はアメリカのほうが台湾よりいいと思って、アメリカで家ぞくをはじまるつもりでしたから、ここに来ました。父母はアメリカはたくさん新しい夢をはじまる国で、あそこには仕事や機会があると聞いたから、アメリカのほうがいいと思いました。だから、アメリカに行きたかったから、はやく機会をとって、台湾を出る事にきめました。でも、二十五年前、あまりお金がありませんでしたから、一しょに来ませんでした。まず、お父さんはおとうさんの家ぞくとハワイに行きました。私はお父さんは後で、仕事がありましたから、シカゴに会社につとめに行ったと思います。私はその後、シカゴが好きじゃありませんでしたから、お父さんはバージニアに行ったと思います。それから、お母さんはひ行きでアメリカに来ました。お父さんはお母さんとけっこんして、家ぞくになりました。その時から今までバージニアにすんでいて、今家の子が二人います。今、あねは二十歳で、大学生です。きょうしになるつもりです。私も大学生ですが、おなじ大学に行きません。父母のアメリカに来た事はかんたんじゃありませんが、父母はそれをしましたから、私は今ここにいて、いい生かつがあります。たとえば、私は今たくさん友だちがいて、私の未来にはたくさん機会があると思います。

今年の三月には父母の二十五のけっこんしている日でした。今父母はアメリカにすんでいるうちの子が二人います。二十五年前、その未来は夢でしたが、今、その夢は本とうの事になります。

Kaiwa Day

2008-03-21T21:59:00.002-04:00

During this week's Kaiwa section, many of us switched sections presumably in order to increase interaction with others and further develop out Japanese speaking skills in a different environment that we were not normally accustomed to. However, I was unable to switch sections because of my class conflicts that day, but I wish that I could have because I totally bombed that quiz that day.
That day, the class was significantly smaller. As such, I felt as if the attention was more individualized and more speaking was accomplished overall. In other words, it definitely promoted participation. Nevertheless, I am unsure if it actually led to more learning. I'm not sure why, but while good and enjoyable and certainly different, it just seemed to be more of the same. I don't know, maybe it's just a short-term effect, and in the long-run, it would be better. I felt like the new interaction was good, but being too removed from that comfort zone may be slightly detrimental. Either way, it was a good experiment, and by all means, it was sucessful. Perhaps we'll do it again someday...

Speech Draft #1

2008-03-18T22:37:00.000-04:00

父母は台湾から来ました。二十五年ぐらいから今までアメリカに住んでいます。私は父母がアメリカのほうが台湾よりいいと思って、アメリカで家ぞくをはじまるつもりでしたから、ここに来ました。でも、二十年前、あまりお金がありませんから、一しょに来ません。まず、お父さんはおとうさんのかずくとハワイに行きました。それから、後で、私は仕事がありましたから、おとうさんはシカゴに会社につとめに行ったと思う。私あはその後、シカゴがすきじゃありませんから、おとうさんはバージニアに行ったと思う。それから、お母さんはひ行きでアメリカに来ました。お父さんはお母さんとけっこんしていて、家ぞくになりました。あの時から今までバージニアにすんでいて、うちの子が二人あります。今、あねははたちで、大学生です。きょうしになるつもりです。私も大学生ですが、おなじ大学に行きません。

今年の三月には父母の二十五のけっこんしている日でした。今父母はアメリカにすんでいるうちの子が二人あります。二十五年前、その未来は夢でしたが、今、その夢は本とうの事になります。

はる休みと今しゅう

2008-03-14T22:03:00.000-04:00

はる休みはよかったけど、ぼくはべつに何もしなかった。ぼくは家に帰って、家ぞくに会った。ぼくはたくさんしゅくだいをするつもりだったけど、ぼくはそれをしなかった。ひまな時があったけど、ねるのが大すきから、ぼくはよくねて、毎日おそくおきた。でも、それだけじゃない。ぼくは時々テレビをみた。ぼくもよく食べた。ぼくは日本語をべんきょうするつもりだったけど、ぼくはよくねたから、ぼくは日本語をべんきょうしなかった。だから、ぼくは日曜日にたくさんしゅくだいをして、日本語をべんきょうした。

今しゅうの日本語のクラスはちょっと大へんだったと思う。文ぽうはちょっとむずかしくて、たくさんたん語があるから。そして、スキットを書くのはちょっとむずかしかった。だから、ぼくはしゅうまつ日本語をべんきょうするつもりだよ。

今週は。。。：（

2008-02-22T19:51:00.001-05:00

今晩、僕はおもしろいと思うブログを読んだけど、まだコンメントをしていない。

今週はとても大変だったよ。けいざいのクラスとたくさん人がとているじんり学のクラスはやさしくて、よかったけど、すう学のクラスと日本語のクラスはとてもむずかしかったよ。すう学のクラスの先生はいい先生だけど、しゅうくだいは無理だった。僕はすう学のしゅうくだいをするのが上手だけど、するのが好きじゃない。あまりしつもんがあったけど、とてもむずかしかったと思う。ぜひ、僕は日本語のクラスが好きだけど、時々僕はちょっと大変だと思う。第九かの単語と文法はむずかしいから、まだおえないけど、今それを勉強している。兎に角、今僕は少しねむい。だから、今ちょっとテレビを見る。じゃあ、また。

何もべつに

2008-02-15T22:54:00.002-05:00

For a change, this week’s blog post will be in Japanese (of course not counting this little section) as will most of the following ones. It is late, and I’m relatively tired, so it’ll be relatively short, but hey whatever. Okay, here we go…

今しゅうは大へんでした、おもしろいでした。金曜日（今日）、ぼくはしけんを二つしました。日本語ととてもむずかしいすう学のしけんがありました。日本語はちょっとむずかしいでしたが、すう学は。。。：（　　今しゅう、スキトはとてもたのしくて、おもしろいと思う。今しゅう、日本語のクラスはちょっとむずかしいけど、たのしいと思う。どうして。。。分からん。でも、よかった。じゃあ、このしゅうまつ、ぼくはしゅうくだいをする。ぼくはたぶんおさけをのむけど、今分からない。じゃあ、またね。

... something or another.... you decide

2008-02-08T22:55:00.000-05:00

Well, this would be week 2 of my Japanese-less, computerless entry. Apparently, my friend needs to some "webwork" thingy, so this'll be quick, hopefully, maybe, probably... Anywho, apparently, Dell decided to send the big giant computer fixing box thingy to my home address, which sorta kinda sucks because I'm here and not there. Gotta love customer service (goddamn mother*censored* pieces of *expletive*... or just really, really hate it (then again, I did sort of do that type of job back in the days of my employment at QVC... bad repressed memories of hell, torture, and doom beyond the ninth circle). In the end though, the problem was resolved, but now that means that it'll most likely take a week longer than projected originally. As such, next week's entry will be in English as well, unless by some divine providence the mail decides to be really speedy... doubt it. Hopefully, this won't seriously detriment my grade ... maybe it will :(
On another note, the internet died earlier today when some really smart construction workers decided to cut through a big wire cord cable thing that killed the beloved internet. And it sure did take the University a long time to get on it... gotta love them... or not (it's really up to you).
I did go to Shea House for Curry Night today. It was good and all, and I really enjoyed free food... it was pretty good. Getting back to the dorms was pretty interesting though, including wrong buses, missed buses, missed stops, getting lost, not finding the bus stop, jaywalking excessively all in half an hour. Then again, you already know about how I feel about the bus system.
The review session today at noon was pretty useful, and it proved to be highly interesting as I had no idea who that lady was that was leading it. I didn't really know what she was saying half the time given my très minute knowledge/vocabulary. However, I think that I was able to piece together enough of it.. and I also just basically followed the group as who doesn't love the bandwagon?
Well, that my little spiel. Now it's time to go to sleep, watch a movie or something of the like, do some homework, or write that awesome scholarly work of art known as the sakubun (note the exaggeration) .... yeah, I highly doubt that the latter two will happen...

This semester and other stuff...

2008-02-01T23:08:00.000-05:00

Well, my computer sorta kinda died yesterday, and it's going to take the awesome (and I state this very sarcastically) Dell company about 2 stupid weeks to fix it. And I also don't know where the post office place thing is, and the whole shipping of a big giant box with a computer inside seems like a big confusing hassle. Furthermore, there's a ginormous chance that I'll royally screw it up. As such, I'll likely be typing these blog entires on suitemates' computers in the meantime (probably this and next week's entry). In other words, they'll probably be in English as I don't think that it would be ethical to install Japanese thingies on their computers, and it's way too complicated anyways. Doesn't life suck so very much?
Anyways, my method for studying Japanese is cramming and just general studying that I really don't know how to describe as it's just, well... studying. Also, there's this huge luck/fate/Godspeed factor that goes onto the tests/quizzes because they're just either really easy or ridiculously WTF... I have no idea/umm.../How am I suppossed to know.../ I just straight up forgot.
My goals for this semester include surviving... oh, and doing well. But we'll see how that plays out...

あたらしいセメスター

2008-01-25T23:04:00.000-05:00

このセメスターはむずかしくて、ひまな時がちょっとありません。日本語のクラスは大へんで、すうがく三百二十五もたいへんですが、バージニア大学はよかったです。たくさんともだちがいますから。一しょにべつになにもしませんが、たのしくて、いいです。ともだちとたいていばんごはんを食べて、テレビを見て、ゲームをたくさんして　。。。あの、このあたらしい十時の日本語のクラスはとてもおもしろくて、むずかしい文ぽうがありますが、たのしいです。クラスには十四人がいて、あたらしい学生がいます。今、私はとてもねむいですから、じゃあ、また。

Semester Overview/Thoughts

2007-12-11T00:27:00.000-05:00

Well ... this is kinda sorta late. Anyways, my speech really sucked a lot. It was pretty generic and standard, but the content wasn't bad. What really killed it for me was my awesomatic coughing attack. It was like bronchial death on crack. Apparently, well... just follow my flow chart:
nervousness = quick, heavy breathing => quick breathing + bronchitis = dead lung + lots of coughing, wheezing, and icky phlegm crap. Oh well. There's another failure in my book.
Anyways, this semester in Japanese was by far by busiest class. It was a lot of work, and it made me so stressed at so many times. Then the grading for the course makes you feel so disappointed with not-so-good grades. However, I must say that it was the most meaningful course that I have taken this entire semester. I really feel as if I learned a great deal. Japanese was constantly my most hated class, but it is by far my favorite class is the end. While I do not look forward to all the work ahead in 102, I look forward to all of the fun, learning, and experiences that are sure to come with the class (and of course, all of the disappointing grads/ failures as well, too).

I also bombed my first exam today .... I wonder how Saturday will be.... :(

Peer Editing

2007-11-30T17:23:00.000-05:00

I found peer editing to be very useful. However, there are always positive and negative sides to things. In terms of peer editing, one plus is that you know if what you are writing is comprehensible to others. In other words, since it is being edited by peers, if the peers don't understand the content, then obviously, there's a disconnect somewhere, so revision is called for in this case. Beyond that, peer editing allows one to see other writing styles and structures as writing skills develop in Japanese. Furthermore, one can see how things are done similarly. Of utmost importance though, is that one is able to catch the mistakes of others to help their writing along. On the downside of peer editing is that since it is peers actually editing the paper, the corrections may not be correct, or the editor doesn't really know how to fix something that just sounds a little awkward. Another downside is that if the peer editors all make the same mistake, then the mistake sounds right to all of them. Consequently, the mistake will not be remedied, and it will remain. In other words, with peers editing a paper, the highest quality possible is often not achieved. Nevertheless, peer editing puts things on a more personal and even level for all, making an interesting learning experience. But those are jyst my rushed two cents.

Revised Japanese Speech

2007-11-30T17:21:00.000-05:00

Revised Speech:

このセメスターの日本語のクラスはとてもおもしろかったです。私は九月にバージニア大学にいました。私の一ねん生の一ばんのクラスは日本語でした。とてもこわかったでした。私は日本語のクラスにともだちがいませんでした。たくさん人もいました。一ばんの日、私はクラスにはいって、サトウ先生にあいました。やさしかったですが、ちょっとこわっかたです。大学に、ぶつり学とすう学はあまりむずかしいしゅくだいがありません。えい語はぜんぜんしゅくだいがありませんが、日本ごはたいていとてもむずかしいしゅくだいがたくさんありました。だから、一ばんの日のらいしゅう、学生の半分ぐらいがいました。今、十六人がいます。日本語のしゅくだいがたくさなりますから、私はよく日本ごをべんきょうします。ひまな時がありません。でも、日本語のクラスはとてもたのしいですよ。いい先生がいて、クラスにともだちがいますから。私はともだちと時々ニューコムホールでひるごはんを食べて、そこで一しょに日本ごをべんきょうします。私はともだちとそこでも二時かんぐらいもはなして、あそびます。

ﾄﾞﾗﾌﾄ#2｡｡｡pretty much the same.

2007-11-16T21:54:00.000-05:00

このセメスターの日本語のクラスはとてもおもしろかったです。私は九月にバージニアだいがくにいました。私の一ばんのクラスは日本語でした。とてもこわかったでした。私は日本語のクラスにともだちがいませんでした。たくさん人もいました。一ばんの日、私はクラスにはいって、サトウせんせいにあいました。やさしかったですが、ちょっとこわっかたです。だいがくに、ぶつりがくとすうがくはあまりむずかしいしゅくだいがありません。えい語はぜんぜんしゅくだいがありません。でも、日本ごはたいていとてもむずかしいしゅくだいがたくさんありました。だから、一ばんの日のらいしゅう、学生は半分がいました。今、十六人がいます。日本語のしゅくだいがたくさなりますから、私はよく日本ごをべんきょうします。ひまな時がありません。でも、日本語のクラスはとてもたのしいですよ。私はクラスにともだちがいます。私はともだちと時々ニューコムホールでひるごはんを食べます。そこで一しょに日本ごをべんきょうします。私はともだちと二時かんぐらいもはなします。

日本語のクラスはとてもむずかしいです。時々ちょっとクラスがきらいですが、ぜひ、私はクラスがだいすきですよ。日本語のクラスはとてもおもしろいです。日本語のクラスもとてもたのしいですよ。

日本ごのクラス

2007-11-09T22:59:00.000-05:00

このセメスターの日本ごのクラスはとてもおもしろかったです。私は九月にバージニアだいがくにいました。私の一ばんのクラスは日本ごでした。とてもこわかったでした。私は日本ごのクラスにともだちがいませんでした。たくさん人もいました。一ばんの日、私はサトウせんせいにあいました。やさしかったです。でも、ちょっとこわっかたです。だいがくに、ぶつりがくとすうがくはあまりむずかしいしゅくだいがありません。えいごはぜんぜんしゅくだいがありません。でも、日本ごはたいていとてもむずかしいしゅくだいがたくさんありました。だから、一ばんの日のらいしゅう、がくせいの半分がいました。今、十六人がいます。クラスはとてもむずかしいです。しゅくだいがたくさなりましゅ。私はよく日本ごをべんきょうします。ひまな時がありません。でも、日本ごのクラスはとてもたのしいですよ。私クラスにともだちがいます。私はともだちと時々ニューコムホールでひるごはんを食べます。そこで一しょに日本ごをべんきょうします。私はともだちと二時かんぐらいもはなします。

日本ごのクラスはとてもむずかしいです。私は時々ちょっとクラスがきらいですが、ぜひ、私はクラスがだいすきですよ。日本ごのクラスはとてもおもしろいです。日本ごのクラスもとてもたのしいですよ。

日本ごのクラス

2007-11-02T21:18:00.000-04:00

私の日本ごのクラスはむずかしいですよ。だい五かはたくさんがありめん。でも。。。わかりません。たくさんしゅくだいがあります。私はよく日本ごをべんきょうします。ひまな時がありません。私はいいがくせいじゃありませんよ。でも、いいクラスですよ。おもしろいクラスですからサトウせんせいはたのしいです。あの、今私はブログをかいます。私は十時の日本ごのクラスにともだちがたくさんいます。火曜日と木曜日に十一時にニューコムホールへいきます。そこで日本ごをべんきょうします。ひるごはんも食べます。時々日本ごにともだちともはなします。いいじゃありませんよ。日本ごはむずかしいですから。でも、だいじょうぶですよ。

わからん...わたしの一ばんの日本語のブログイントリです。

2007-10-26T23:03:00.000-04:00

こんにちは。きょう、あめがたくさんありました。いいじゃありませんでした。いまはごご十時半です。わたしはともだちと八時にサッカーゲームへいきました。でも、あめがありました。だから、たくさん人がありませんでした。ゲームはオーバータイムがありました。二ばんのオーバータイムもありました。でも、わたしはともだちとはやいりょうにかえりました。七-十一もいきました。きょう、わたしは日本語のだい四かのテストがありました。いいじゃありませんでした。わたしはたぶん二時かん半ぐらいとしょかんで日本語をべんきょうしました。でも、すうがくとぶつりがくもいいじゃありません。わたしはバージニアだいがくでたくさんをします。時かんじゃありませんよ。わたしはこばんパーティへいきません。いまブログをかきます。いまとてもねむい。わたしはねます。

バスてい and other crap

2007-10-19T20:36:00.000-04:00

UVA/CTS bus system ... stupid .... confusing ... craptastic (I know it's not a real word, but I've always been a fan of portmanteaus). Anyways, today one of the screws in my glasses fell out, and I couldn't find it, rendering them practically useless to me. I used a spare that took me a half hour to find for the day (missed my fist class as a result). I was told by a friend that I should go to the Lenscrafters in Fashion Square to fix them. Needless to say, I accomplished the task at hand, but it took an excessive amount of time, even by excessive standards. The following is a rough itinerary of my day on the wonders of the bus and all of its workings:

(1:00ish) - Depart on Blue Route near O-Hill heading towards Barracks.
(1:30-1:45ish) - Depart from Barracks at CTS bus stop near McDonald's on Route 7
(Around 2:00) - Arrive at destination (Fashion Square)
(2:00-2:45) Wandering around Fashion Square wondering where the hell Lenscrafters is: running back and forth to take a glance at the only mall directory in the whole place. Eventually figured out that it was outside. It's just plain sad to be lost in such a small mall...
(2:45-3:00ish maybe possibly who knows) - Glasses Repairs (cost: $5 for one screw - Goddamn it)
(3:00-5:00) - Took possibly every CTS bus route possible ... 5,3,1,96,84,572, etc... getting off at random stops and becoming really lost ... eventually making my way on Route 7 back to Barracks ... after two whole wasted hours....
(5:00-5:30 - around that time) - Ate (was hungry)
(5:30-6:00ish) Boarded Blue Route in front of McDonald's and headed back towards O-Hill.

So... a day wasted with crappy buses. It could be that the buses and the entire system sucks sucks in general, or it could simply be my overall incompetence, stupidity, and lack of sense of direction (seriously, I could get lost in a box). I would like to think that it's the former, but it's most likely the latter. Possibly it's a combination of the two, but that's a far fetched claim given my ability to navigate anything.

Japanese Section:

Drill #3 was interesting. Once again, I failed to get on the ball and was completely lost in a sea of confusion. So essentially, nothing new. The reporter gimmick was entertaining though. It's like the class is so intense, painful, and yet enjoyable and entertaining at the same time. All in all, at the end of the day, Japanese is learned. Ideas and concepts are still fuzzy around the edges, but I know that they'll come along eventually. Despite how much I hate Drills as I know that if I get called on that I'll just freeze up and blurt out incorrect crap as I have no idea what I'm doing (sometimes I do - once in a blue moon). The extra Chapter 4 review session was extremely useful, but this chapter is so intense to the point that even though this particular session was longer (compared to Chapter 3), I felt that unlike last time, while I learned new things and had some other things cleared up, the basic result was me feeling stupid and realizing how much I didn't know. It contained many answers, but left far many more questions. However, I am grateful that I went as every little bit of help is useful... and that session was surely useful.

If you're still reading this...wow, there's something wrong with you. No one in his or her right mind would read this ramble/rant. Anyways, what makes a good blog.... Essentially, the exact polar opposite of this. A good blog would be able to keep the readers' attention (short and cohesive), unlike my long-winded passively structured ranting format. Since it is a Japanese class blog, usage of Japanese would make the blog better... notice my lack of it. So, in conclusion: good blog = opposite of my blog. Well, that's about it.

Stressful week over... and a new one to soon begin

2007-10-12T23:44:00.000-04:00

Coming back from Fall Break and doing all of this college crap that I had neglected to do made this week more stressful than ever, although the break was a nice change of pace. I had an English research paper to start and complete is one day (I knew about it for about two weeks though), an impossible physics assignment due (had 10 days - but really, it was impossible), a massive amount of math homework and a quiz to study for (had about a week to do all of that) and a Japanese skit to prepare, and a Japanese test to prepare for. And all of this fun happened in the course of ... three days. I also have to lead a discussion on two case study things for English on Monday. Today, I also found out that there's a Physics midterm on Monday... and the thing was, I wasn't even planning on going to class on Monday. I guess I am now. Perhaps I should pay more attention to the syllabus. Oh well. Life royally sucks.
Anyways, in relation to Japanese, I felt confident in Chapter 3 materials, and I think that I did well on the test. Nevertheless, I feel a B coming along only because I know that I most likely screwed up somewhere along the line. Even if I have full confidence in my ability (which I don't), somehow, I know that I'll still screw up. That's just how things are. So there's this Chapter 4 grammar sheet thingy to do as well... and that always takes forever. I know that I'll get killed in the drills coming up next week, as my usual response is either a) nothing or b) huh?. I think that I'll take a friend's advice and try to do the Mallard exercises earlier so that I'm not completely lost. What's the worst that can happen?

Back home... (I'll fit in Japanese somehow)

2007-10-05T22:42:00.000-04:00

At this point, I feel as if I may have enough knowledge to maybe perhaps type up a blog entry in Japanese. However, since this is due by the end of today and I'm really tired, I'll forgo that plan this week and continue once again in English. Well, today I went back home for fall break. The ride was long as we literally parked the car in the middle of the highway before the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. It was heavily congested, it took about forty minutes to even start moving again after we stopped. I feel bad for saying this, but at least five people better have died in that accident to have made me wait that long. Then again, what can one possibly do? I went to my high school's homecoming came, only to come to the realization that high school, in terms of sports at least, pales in comparison to college (and we lost too). Anyways, onward to Japanese...
First things first: Mallard sucks. It seems to be VERY picky with answers, and it no margin for error. It even says that a correct answer is incorrect, and that is very interesting to me. Other than that, chapter 3 is coming along swimmingly. Everything so far seems to be going okay. All in all, I am more confident with Chapter 3 than Chapter 2. The only thing that I honestly don't like is Mallard. Mallard doesn't like me, and I don't like it. It takes so long to do it "correctly" (and by that, I mean it's way). I often believed that the program was busted, and it very well may be, but I eventually got a 100% on everything, albeit after many, many submissions.

I'm sleepy

2007-09-28T22:27:00.000-04:00

Well, I just got back from the VA Tech and UVA soccer game, and I almost forgot about this blog thingy. The game ended in a 1-1 tie, but it was intense, and I don't even know all of the rules of soccer. I've realized though that although the Blue Route is correct to get back from Klockner to O-Hill, one bus goes all the way to Barracks, tracks back to the stadium, then progresses to O-Hill in a timely fashion of approximately 35 minutes, while the other Blue Route bus directly goes back to Grounds. Anyways, now I'm too tired to go partying, although the time is prime as the football game is not at noon this time. Anyways to the actual Japanese portion of this entry... Today, I completely bombed the vocab quiz, leaving blanks and making stuff up, but on my own fault. I neglected to study for it as much as I normally would do, opting to prepare more for Physics and Multivar Calculus after completely failing (not really, but I didn't do well) on the tests. I do like Physic's 25 point grading scale though (i.e.: 75 = A-, 50=B-, etc.). In the end, I figured that quizzes and tests were not commonplace in those classes, so sacrificing one Japanese quiz was justified. I will, however, try to study more Japanese over the weekend so as to not fall behind. I did go to the Chapter 3 review session, and I found it extremely useful. It really helped me with word order (and how to arrange a sentence in such a way to emphasize certain points) and particle usage. It also broke down the differences between "iku" and "kuru" really well. At this point, I feel more comfortable with Chapter 3, despite a stumbling start on the quiz. Perhaps the misfortune that was Chapter 2 will not repeat itself. Nevertheless, I am still enjoying Japanese class, and I am especially looking forward to this weekend. Well, it's still early... perhaps I will go out.

Japanese....is so fun...

2007-09-21T21:09:00.000-04:00

Seriously, I have full intention of typing a Japanese entry one day...that is to say once I feel as if I know enough material to do so. Anyways, Japanese class has been interesting to say the least. The amount of work and preparation required continues to pile up as its magnitude escalates. It also seems to be getting more intense, confusing, and just plain hard overall. I just seem to have a penchant for failing, or at least not succeeding well. It would seem as if it is almost a physical impossibility to excel without prior exposure to the language, which I lack yet about half or more of the class has. As the class has progressed, I seem to be spending more and more time on Japanese, and the work is simply completely disproportional to any other class (although Multivariable Calculus is somewhere up there as well, but still not as much). The effort that is put through, however, is not exactly translated to success. There just seems to always be something wrong. At this point, I can either just stop trying or try to the point of exhaustion. Neither are good, but the status quo isn't too hot as well. I guess that only time will tell.... (But the class is still nevertheless fun and enjoyable, albeit intense with a lot of other stuff)

First Blog Post

2007-09-13T18:04:00.000-04:00

I have never blogged before, and I never thought that I would have, but I guess that now is as good a time as any. Anyways, I'm currently a 1st Year student at the University of Virginia taking First Year Japanese. I must say that the magnitude of work in that class is extreme, although it is manageable. It certainly does exceed all of the work in all of my other classes (ENWR 110, PHYS 151, and MATH 231) combined, however. Nevertheless, it is definitely worthwhile (besides, it is too late to drop now jk), and hopefully, it will be rewarding. It is hard work, but I don't seriously mind although I do sometimes wish that there was less. Some days are better than others though, so I guess it evens out. Overall, though, I must say that Japanese is my most enriching class thus far, and it can be fun sometimes once one searches past all of the work, but the class just seems to move at a brisk lightning-fast pace. So today I went to the East Asian Major/Minor session thingy, and it was interesting, albeit short. I mean, it was good, although I did think that Wilson-san was a little soft-spoken. Even so, it was very informative. Umm, what else is there to say? Well.... can't think of anything. Oh well. I guess that means that I'm done then.