At the moment, I'm watching the Simpsons, yes the Simpsons in Japanese, yes that's right... Japanese. *ahem* Anyway, it sounds strange, but it really really helps when you can recite the lines in English ad verbatim and then see how they fit into the Japanese style translation. Its also useful for vocab as I'm picking up words through known context of the episodes.

Anyways, its really strange hearing the voices of Marge, Homer, Bart et al done in Japanese. In many ways, the Japanese voices are eerily similar to that of the voices in English. You see in Japan, voice-actors (声優 - seiyuu) are artists next to major movie stars, authors and sports-stars. With the massive proliferation of the animated art-form, people who provide voices for a cartoon are simply not niche actors - they make a tidy profit out of the business.

Chief Wiggum's voice is typically nasal (not unlike the robust deep gravelly accent in the French syndication) and Krusty's is neigh on spot on. Even in japanese, you can also hear the clear Mr Burns intonation in the voices. But Marge's voice is so damn highpitched and squeaky in the Japanese version of the show. If you are a fan of the show, you'll know that Marge is anything but high-pitched and squeaky. She sounds like she's just smoked a packet of several Marlborough cigarettes. That's my one main gripe with the Japanese version so far. The rest is well done. The seiyuu working on the Simpsons have done a fine job. They have taken the original and attempted to rework the original sounds of the characters albeit suited more to a Japanese eardrum.

Given the fact that the Simpsons is an American comedy, many of the jokes can't cross over well - this is more so in the latter seasons where the cultural references are far more explicit than in the earlier works (which are some of the finest TV programming in history imho.) Even some of the jokes still fall on deaf ears towards us British viewers who need a slightly more in-depth working of American pop culture - but for these misses it delivers mostly quality hits we can laugh at. Although we obviously don't share these same references we do of course get the added bonus of the language - in which we get to hear the Simpsons in its truest form. That is to say the English language and the wonderful voices of Dan Castanella, Hank Azaria and co.

I always think its interesting how TV programmes in Japan are often repackaging and sold off to the west and horribly misconstrued and badly translated. One of my favourites is a show called Crayon Sin-chan (クレヨンしんちゃん) which is about a little boy living in Japan who always gets up to crazy hijinks. (Trust me its a killer.) Unfortunately, this show has been shown several times in the west as Shin Chan, and the dubbing is simply horrendous. In the English version, several jokes play on the fact of Shin Chan's crude behaviour rather than his very clever wordplay. Many of those who would encounter this programme would think it to be a very banal and basic Japanese cartoon about a rude little boy. But sadly its anything but. It has some funny gags in it, based entirely around the comedic use of wordplay in Japanese. For example, one episode sees Shin-Chan playing junior football at his school. In arguing with the opposing keeper about how Shin-Chan can't score past him, the goalie remarks about his tetsu no kabe - lit. 'the wall of steel.' However, Shin-chan mistakenly hears this as ketsu no kabe - lit. 'a wall of butt-cheeks.' and promptly imagines the keeper mooning every shot that gets fired at him, much to the goalie's chagrin.

You see this is how Shin-chan works. He is an essential master of the word-pay and cultural misrepresentations purely associated with Japan and the Japanese language. I think its impossible to translate and doing so just gives the show an entire kick in the balls, because it loses the magic of why it is so great in Japan. Can you image the Simpsons being mutated into something that deviated from the original intentions of the American writers?

As I've said earlier, I think they've done a good job translating it, but some of the jokes and wordplays even in Japanese fails, leaving many Japanese to become quite confused over that is happening. I suppose it becomes a difficult line to draw when you are stuck between keeping things truthful as a translator and sizing up the relevancy and accuracy of what you are translating. I don't why it is but I am drawn to watching the Simpsons in Japanese, but then horribly turned off whenever I see a game or anime dubbed into English.

I think its a clear connection of how the world works in this equation. The Japanese simply do voice-acting better than we do. And I think that is down to the rich heritage of the format in that part of the world. We simply can't compete in terms of market stakes.

However, in the land where the noble seiyuus are lauded, its not always a bed of roses. You may of course remember that the Simpsons branched out into their own little movie. I've just watched it on blu-ray and I still think its freaking hilarious. Now, you'd think if Fox decided to realise this in Japan, they would use the voice-actors who have been doing this show in Japanese for the past few years?

You'd be wrong. In fact Fox decided to switch the actors for the movie. Japan probe takes up the rest of this story.

The little clique of diehard fans (the show is very much a niche show over there, same way many anime shows are over here) were naturally outraged and thus began long standing campaigns to get the original voice actors back. Can you image if they made a movie of a long-standing TV show in the UK and then decided to replace the original cast of that TV show with celebrities in order to appeal to a wider audience on cinematic release?

Anyways, you may notice a lot of Japanese on the Simpsons from time to time. I'm thinking the one where they go to Japan and also the one where Homer phones Japan. Let me tell you, they keep it real. They don't mess about and the Japanese they speak and show is spot-on. Its fantastic attention to detail, although I think this partly due to some of the writers being Japanese-American. (Ken Tsumara who worked on the earlier seasons for example as well producer Richard Sakai.) You'd think with such indepth knowledge and attention to detail for the English audiences, they would allow the same level of detail and continuance for the Japanese?

I haven't slept for the past few days. I haven't showered for about a week either. All I can hear in my head is the sound of '99 Luftballons' and childhood memories of the Berlin Wall. I'm a nostalgic quivering wreck of nerves, a giant ball of sweaty pubic hair and alcohol fueled vitriol. I'm losing weight thanks to pure laziness and a desire to eat nothing whatsoever. I'm not even depressed. But I'm not even happy either... What the hell is wrong with me?

Hast du etwas Zeit für mich, dann singe ich ein Lied für dich...

Japan is now firmly on the horizon. My certificate of eligibility is winging its way to my doorstep sometime this week (bizarrely my Uni have decided to send it themselves rather than it coming direct from the Japanese government) and now its just up to me to finalise travel dates etc. Whilst I would love to go early, its a matter of studying and preparation. If I was to leave at the end of August or even the first few days of September - I would be going with zero preparation, both mentally and logistically. Simply put I haven't prepared much for Japan. I don't even know what I want to do when I get there. Erm yeah. The entire experience is kinda flat at the minute. Its like I don't care tbh, but at the same time I do but am powerless to change my opinions or mood. I don't know how I'm going to survive out there for a year, leaving the UK behind. I've still yet to feel excited about this. Its feeling like one giant inconvenience.

Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont, hielt man für Ufos aus dem All, darum schickte ein General

Japan is basically like one giant blur on the horizon. Something I've waited for two year but now the entire experience is leaving me with the mood of complete apathy. I'm more interested in leaving the UK and experiencing being a student elsewhere rather than experiencing Japan itself. Japan has just become a friend to me, rather than an intimate lover.

99 Kriegsminister...Streichholz und Benzinkanister.

My Japanese lnguage ability has taken a nosedive of late and I really, REALLY need to start studying again. I've simply forgotten so much and I need to get these fears out of my head. So much kanji, grammar and vocab - I've simply been to preoccupied with wasting time and have neglected the Japanese. My goals have simply not been set.

Well fuck that.

Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger, Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr...

That's not gonna keep me down.

Und auch keine Düsenflieger, heute zieh' ich meine Runden....

Because, tomorrow I'm back to these kanji and stomping Japanese to the curb.

Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen, Hab' 'nen Luftballon gefunden

You hear me Japanese? You are going to fucking die!!!!

Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen

*ugh* I probably need to get some sleep and possibly a change of song.

Grades are in and after thankfully staying awake until 3am on Friday night, I managed to log into our university's network before everyone else did the following morning and routinely crash the server, giving people a long anxious wait over their results. Its a common occurrence sadly. I do wish they would just e-mail our results via our departments.

Anyway, I was reasonably pleased with the grades, although I felt my score for Classical Japanese was a little poor, but considering I didn't do much work for it and missed a ton of lectures post-Easter, it was more than a justified 2.1, albeit a low one. 2.1 was also my grade for Contemporary Society, again quite surprised but I normally okay on these types of things now. I also somehow managed to pass Japanese Language IV fairly successfully with no major hiccups. So now there is officially nothing stopping me going to Japan next year and then progressing onto my final year of uni.

I just hope in that final year, I can boost my grades somewhat because I am still so close to obtaining a 2.1 overall and need to push myself a little harder on all my subjects on return from Japan. I guess now that the YA looms, I've just gotta hope that I push my Japanese on and improve on my return to Sheffield, one year and a bit from now.

I've calculated that I have about 40 to 50 days until the dreaded Year Abroad, which is absolutely nothing really. The moment July ends, the shit will really hit the fan as then I know that from a month from then, Japan will seem very close. Anyways, I'm still having some huge reservations about the year abroad, some good some bad. The major ones is the lack of info surrounding where I will be living in Japan and secondly the whole rent payment procedures etc. Simply put, I have organised nothing for Japan yet, aside from buying clothes etc. The other little niggly ones are basically about the whole orientating myself in Japan and meeting many new and old friends again.

I'm a little sick of being back home at the moment. Basically because I miss my personal space and time a lot. Its just a compendium of small little things that are slowly building up and irritating me. I just want to do my own things and am annoyed at various little things getting in my way. I'm a person who often just likes to be left alone to get on with things and don't always like the incessant protrusion into my activities throughout the course of the day (and night!)

In many ways, I would love to the leave the UK right now. But I know with nothing planned and with nothing revised (my kanji and vocab list builds up by the day) it would be a pointless endeavour. Ultimately I want my Japanese to reflect the two years worth of hard work I've put in and not just the past 3 months I've wasted.

Mentally I feel a lot more stable, thanks in no part to regular exercise and a medium-to-good diet. This becoming an important process of my summer so far because it is helping keep my mind focused off other things that are causing me a little distress (women, japan, money, my language ability etc.) One of the great paradoxes of life is that we seek some type of end-goal but are less willing to take that journey that allows us to get to that goal. Like a incredibly long run, a huge marathon that we take, its always the final few steps, those final few miles that are the hardest. Right now, I'm about 2 miles away from the finishing line, I've come so far so I can't possibly quit now but these 2 miles seem like 2,000 and I'm fraught with how to deal with them.

However compared to last year, the summer seems to be flying by so far thanks in part to this routine which is keeping me more active and less brain-dead on the computer speaking to some random Japanese girls on MSN. I think coming back late from Sheffield and moving all my stuff out has had a good impact on me, as it was the 14th of June I came back last time and by about late July, I was becoming bored rigid.

Anyways, I'm just waiting for my wonderous certificate of eligiblty to arrive soon - which will allow to get my visa in Edinburgh. Hopefully that should arrive in about 2 weeks from now. And the fun of planning my journey begins!

Jaa ne.

Exam results are out tomorrow and to celebrate, I think I am now officially single again. Huzzah! Or at least by default I'm single again. *shrug*

I'm not looking forward to the results quite frankly, and more to the point - I don't care one jot. Not one little bit. Nada. Nothing. In fact, I might not even bother looking up the grades. Its pointless. I've probably failed or possibly scraped a pass. Meh, its only Japanese. I mean its not even that important a language or culture. There I said it. I want to go on a big rant against Japan but I really couldn't be arsed, because I'm still feeling a little sick and a bit sad now that singlehood is back on me. Oh well, should have some fun in Japan. NOT. :-p

laters folks.

* I definitely don't understand women. But then again, I'm not supposed to.

* I need to get out my current malaise and start partying - because studying Japanese is grating my tits.

* And on the notion of that, I need to start exercising and eating right as my tits are getting bigger. Subway, KFC and McDonald's does not constitute a balanced diet.

I've also become something of a staunch anti-Japaner now. Well, I've become more crustier and bitter than I was before. Where has my joie-de-vivre gone? Am I as really self-loathing as I feel? Surely not?

In summary I need to forget about women (they aren't worth it), forget about Japanese to the extent it is giving me panic attacks (again, it isn't worth it - well it is, but you get the point) and start to rediscover my passion which has been zapped out of me in the past two months. I really want to shout "FUCK JAPAN" really loud in my room right now - but my flatmate might be in earshot and hear my evil plans to bring down his country from the inside whilst masquerading as someone who genuinely gives two shits about his country.

Oh shit, I've gone and spoilt everything now. I can hear the secret-hypocrisy police sounding their way up the stairs to come and send me to the immunisation clinic where I can be injected with some of that nauseating serum that makes me think of Japan as that wonderful candyland with gumdrop trees and pedophile rapists.

This week Richard is... attempting to form a polemic on why Chinese and Japanese people exist only to discover its mildly racist and slightly controversial. Next week, I'll be attempting to ring up beloved Tenko actor Bert Kwouk and make accusations that I slept with his granddaughter. Which I did... and it was the best sex I've ever had...

じゃまたね。。。

I'm normally wide awake on Mondays. However after Nagai sensei's class even the lure of warm coffee couldn't keep me awake and I ended up slumping on my bed and had a quick power nap before I woke up in a daze, believing I had slept in and then rushed off to uni to go learn about Japan's Minorities with the semi-legend that is MC Sick Riddles. Perhaps it was the fact they ran out of those delicious bacon and egg sarnies you can buy in Tesco on west street and which I seem to buy everyday as brunch alongside my morning coffee. It knocked me off my balance and the chicken sandwich was clearly not ample replacement.

Anyways, our flat at Rockingham House was subject to a mandatory inspection today to make sure we are keeping the place clean. So after hours of scrubbing and scrubbing on Sunday night (well 30 minutes.) We passed the inspection with flying colours. Well actually, I was really dishearted by the fact that we were only awarded 'OK' for the state of our kitchen desktop but 'Good' for our furniture and coffee table etc... The fact our only 'clean' flatmate is still in Reading explains the semi-derelict state of living room and kitchen in the past few weeks.

Because of my nap, I launched myself towards the Arts Tower a bit early, before buying some colour pens (more on this later) and then decided to spent 20 minutes taking photos with my mobile phone. Oh the joys too. I didn't know the quality was that good (not bad for 1.6 mega pixels!) Here is the highlight of that journey with yours truly looking really interested about his lecture on Burakumin.



Later in the day I also discovered that I need another injection before I go to Japan, bringing the grand total up to 6. (!!!!) My exam is just under 7 weeks or so away and I feel really unprepared and really shitty about my Japanese ability - especially my speaking, which has gotten worse despite the benefits of having Japanese people around me 24/7...

Oh well, onwards and upwards. My essays are done and things are going okay in my life right now. Except this vulture of japanese doom circling my head everyday I look up.

Right I'm off to memorise these kanji compounds. I've got a feeling some funny bastard is going to choose 性欲 (lust, passion etc) just to annoy me.

またね☆

I am now starting Week 10 of my teaching here in Sheffield and that means I have less than 3 weeks to go and 8 weeks before my exam! *eek* Christmas is just about in the air, with shops now putting up their crappy tat in the windows (including a rather festive Nandos on West Street) and the weather is goddamn freezing. All in all, winter has arrived and its being a bitch.

I woke up at 8.02am today (those two minutes past the hour are important!) and looked outside my window to see the sun just lifting its head beyond the clouds. Not today, just not today. But then I thought about my 義理 - my social obligation to go to class on time and study Japanese like a regular trooper, regardless of the time and the weather.

I shouldn't have bothered with this attitude really, as several people missed the class, some turned up late and then there was a complete carry-on with people reading sentences and forgetting rudimentary kanji. Either its just one of those mornings or my classmate's hours of partying and procrastinating is coming back to haunt them. A few weeks ago, yours truly was worried about his Japanese ability. But now it seems after this week at least I am actually beyond the curve when it comes to studying. So far I managed to finish my sakubun (handwritten and ready to hand in - ON TIME!), I 've learnt this week's kanji (to some extent), finished off my translation (well 90% of it) and also managed to almost complete my other essay!

And others seem to be moaning about having not done any of it. I suppose my complete lack of social life is bearing fruit in some ways.

Anyways, to get back to the story at hand - the class I have just this very minute finished (our lovely 9am grammar class with the wonderful Nagai-sensei) was a bit of a joke. You could well see the consternation in poor sensei's face when a good chunk of the class struggled to remember very basic kanji and make no real effort to translate sentences. To this point, I get very concerned both for the long-term prospects of some of my classmates - who are going to get a sharp and very hard lesson in Japan (things like punctuality are severly frowned upon) and also when we sit our exam in January. In many ways I both fear and am generally excited about sitting the exam - because above all, it will give me a good excuse to shine and put into practice all this hardwork I have supposedly been doing.

As I walked back from the class. I spoke to Chris, as I seemingly always do. He's probably the nicest guy you could ever meet and works unbelievably hard on this course, somehow managing to juggle all sorts of activites and part-time work in his life. Contrast that with some of the antics of my classmates sometimes and I just think how they would last if they were in his shoes. Perhaps the end of this semester will be the watershed before Japan, the final push to see who finally lasts and ultimately stays the course of the degree.

A part of me believes everyone is judged by the effort they put into the course and I am hoping my efforts will be rewarded and some other people's not so.

The exam timetables are out; and they are as follows;

Friday 23rd January: Japanese Language - 9am (3 hours)
Tuesday 27th January: Lexicology - 1.30pm (2 hours)
Wednesday 28th January: Japan's Minorities - 1.30pm (3 hours)

Eep. This means my exams are tightly packed but obviously its quite nice as I can now possibly plan a nice trip for myself - or maybe just go home and get drunk (probably the latter.) I think I have 10 days off altogether. Currently my revision and exam preparation during the holidays is going to physically kill me.

I still feel slightly shit, which is down to several reasons. The first is that I have done very little work over the weekend and really wasted what was supposed to be a great opportunity to get some things done (especially doing some cross-over revision from last year) and secondly, I haven't been to the gym yet (lolz?) and am still eating crap. Okay, the time starts now. This is a new leaf and I'm ditching all the crap. Maybe...

On a final note, I was deciding to take a small weekend break somewhere in Europe on the first weekend of December - but after looking at some of the prices (£148 to Lille and about £87 to Brussels) I think I will decide against it. I am not working at the minute, so its very much draining my finances. I think I might just go to London for the day and do some shopping. Which reminds of me going to York last December and walking from the train station to my previous home in Endcliffe Village - which despite its huge distance was somewhat enjoyable. I am a strange fellow.

Onwards and upwards. I just have to rote memorise these 600 kanji, learn some new grammar, type up my translations notes and lexicology notes, read some stuff on the Ainu and finish off the segement of the Japanese translation. And all this in one day. Because I couldn't be arsed to do any work this week. YAAAARRRGGH!

I've decided to resurrect my blog after some inactivity of about two weeks. Lolz. How time flies. The main reason has been the amount of work I've been doing and a general lack of 'can't be arsed typing out my feelings' syndrome.

At the moment things are feeling pretty shitty but at the same time they are going very well. The very things which are causing to me go insane are making me feel stronger and the things that are making me feel strong and causing me to crash down to earth with a sharp bump.

I've highlighted several things as I'm now officially back into the groove of uni.

1. I'm not going to get a g/f. I might if I try, but I just can't be arsed. There are lots of cute girls here, but I officially can't be bothered. When I try, I come off as desperate and when I don't - I end up seeming distant. Tbh, what started out as a priority for me has dwindled pretty fast. I also can't be arsed with the whole 'I'll be going to Japan next year, so see you later' type thing either. Ugh. I have decided just to make as many cool friends as possible and if things happen, then things happen. I just can't be bothered to hunt them down - as I well know, nothing good will come of that.

2. I've done 4 weeks of Japanese, and I've still not improved. For sure, I have learnt more kanji and grammar but this has pushed out all the old stuff. My listening is still bad and as for my speaking.... Its like talking with a mouth full of sodden ash sometimes. Sod it all I say.

3. I am almost 70% (well, maybe 90% certain) that I will go to Kansai for my year abroad, Kobe to be exact. After some researching and soul-searching it seems the best option for me. Hoo-dee-hum. It all depends on whether I will be allowed to go, or if I can bribe my YA co-ordinator. Our first really *big* meeting is next week, so this when the fun really begins. There seems to be a lot of apathetic people this year and maybe only a few who truly want to go to certain areas, so it would seem so utterly shit, if I wasn't nominated by my university and someone who was ambivalent about ending up at Kobe went there instead. Gyaaaarrrggh! If I can't go here, I'll try and sneak back to Tokyo somehow.

4. In contrast to no3, the whole YA (Year Abroad) seems like a cool novelty so far. As it stands, a lot of people will drop out after the exam and some people will end up getting scared off due to costs. At the minute, even yours truly is viewing next year with huge grey suspicion. Pass the first semester and you'll be fine I've been told. Yeah right.

5. I am detesting the size of my classes so far. It seems as if the guys who went before us (especially those who graduated last year and the current fourth years) had such great small groups. It seems as if we are suffering this year. Oh, and the JS newbs (japan studies freshers) have about 76 odd in their year. Christ, what a living joke.

6. Back to point 1. My friend Aya contacted me today and I was overcome with a sense of emotion. Okay, she might have been a bit humble when she told me that she doesn't think she will pass her year abroad exam, but a huge part of me is wanting her to fail - just for the completely selfish act of me being in Japan (or more to the point Kansai) when she is there. *sigh*. I really like her and she is very sweet - but the small part of my soul which is telling me to do the 'friend thing' first (that is to say, support her in what she wants to do) is coming to fore, more and more now. At the end of the day, I want what is best for her, and screw the practicalites. If we both pass our exams, our paths will cross - but we will of course still share some common bonds. Its a friendship I always want to maintain with her - because she is such a unique individual who I want to know until I'm old and grey. And I know that is trite, but she geninuely is an amazing person who makes me feel good about things...

Well in short: I love my flatmates, I love my flat, I love my course. I love my sensei, I love my classmates, I love my subject, I love the new Japanese people who come here, I love my inability in Japanese, I love my charming northern style, I love my intellect, I love being able to think about things that don't concern me, I love not giving a fuck, I love seeing the months fly away, I love everything, I love nothing, I love not havign any money, I love having student loans, I love buying drinks and getting drunk, I love people, I love me, I love YOU, but most of all I love my life at the minute - no matter how shit it feels at times.

Where does the time go?

It seems like only yesterday I was lamenting about last week. The work has slowly increased and I'm now feeling the burn somewhat. Tomorrow, I have to remember 5 more kanji (woop de doo), plan my story for sensei (about reflecting back on my first year - so lot's of I should have done, or I shouldn't have done etc.) and I have to finish off my translation. But maybe, I only have to do one page of it. In short, I have to cram a alot in, because I will be verrry busy tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the first real official Japan society event thingy and I shall be donning my hachimaki and happi coat and dancing around like a prick. Hopefully I will be able to meet some more Japanese people as I have been shamelessly hanging around this Japanese girl I like, like the proverbial goldfish poo. Hopefully she will come for a few drinks at my flatmate's birthday on Friday, so its all good. Before then, I'll say hello and be making myself known to a few more people. And getting drunk. getting very drunk. Hehehe.

I have been so busy this week and there are so many things to do, but its all worth it in the end. The work and social life is coming thick and fast after a slow malaise leading up to this week. Hopefully I'll post some pictures soon.

Tomorrow, I'm up at the crack of dawn and then working from around 1pm until 5pm, typing furiously into my laptop in the IC! Please save me!!!! >o<

Damn! Where does the time fly, when you are having fun eh? Let me summarise things so far...

Monday: First day excitement and something of damp squib in more ways than one. Classes started at 9am and although its an early start, I would happily get up at 4am for my grammar teacher. The grammar, was kinda pointless and very soft - thankfully she must know how much we are all feeling about our Japanese after 4 months off.

The day ended with a bit of a rush. A 5 hour interlude and then an introductory spell about Japan's Minorities. I then rushed home in the rain and then onto Las Iguanas in the rain and said a sad farewell to my friend Michiko whose birthday it was and also who is going back to Japan next month. How I'll miss her. Our relationships is so unusual, and I kinda think of her as an older sister. I tell her all kinds of crap about my relationships and social life and she in turn listens and makes me feel good about myself. If all goes to plan, I'll end up seeing her sooner than some of her other friends in Sheffield, which really brings home how long and how far some people can be apart from each other at times.

Tuesday: Tuesday is a pain in the arse, because I have three classes and have a ton of fecking work to do. It starts by having some more grammar and writing in Japanese at 10am and ends with Nic giving us a sheet to read in Japanese which half of us can't read. The size of the class also takes the proverbial with people sitting on the windowsills and ceiling. Yes, the class is that big! Before that, I get the luxury of Japan's Minorities in the same room, which also has capacity problems. Sort it out Sheffield!

Wednesday: We recieved the dreaded talk by Angela-sensei, the head of our second year, who instilled confidence in us by telling us how hard this level is. If you miss several classes, you get refered and sent a letter, then if you fail the exam, you get told to switch degrees... and its not optional. In short, YOU WILL FAIL, YOU WILL NOT GO TO JAPAN, YOU WILL BE A LONER FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!!! Tbh, although a lot of what she said was tough, I agreed with her. If you struggled with last year's Japanese you will find this very hard. Likewise, people who are struggling along will probably never improve whilst on the course, given the intensive workload placed on us poor bastards. I hope for the class size's sake at least, some people will do the honest thing and drop out (what a terrible thing to say behind the keys of a laptop overlooking a tiling shop in central Sheffield.)

Later on it was the dreaded Japan Society Intro thing. This was kinda surreal for several reasons; Firstly, I totally underestimated how many people would turn up. In the end it was a lot. And secondly I seem to undersell myself sometimes. I just randomly start chatting to Japanese and English alike after just one pint of Czech beer. I am also pondering something else, which I'll talk about later and which I think is hilarious and sad at the same time.

There was a few nice girls there (well what can I say) and I ended up walking four of them back home (I am a kind person amongst this fragile shell of a hubris.) And lastly, we found another full-time Japanese student!!! And he's from KANSAI! Brain overload. Seriously. I just can't wait until next week, when we have the big intro thing and another bout of tandem learning.

Thursday: Today? Oh today was boring. In fact, today never happened. That's how interesting it was. I had another spell of lexicology today with my lecturer reminding me of a Eddie Izzard type character with a severe bout of lexiphilia (love of words.) No actually, he just doesn't love words, he REALLY loves words. Words cannot describe his love for words. Haha. Me and my flatmate also completed Resistance Fall of Man on the PS3. And then we are waiting to for number 2, to justify the crappy ending of the first one.

Friday: Tomorrow I have just the one lesson, with the delightful Arai-sensei, whom I was so close to adding on facebook. Technically we have one mutual friend. The friend in question whose birthday it was on Monday and who is leaving Sheffield as we speak. I think I'll do the Japanese thing and keep my distance and respect the honoured gakusei-sensei hierarchy.

Plus, I don't want her to see photos of me drunk in some nightclub, before my kanji test on Monday morning. I've learnt one thing about the Japanese people in my four odd years of socialising with them - THEY TALK!

So busy right now, so...

jaa ne!

My flatmate is now back and the set is complete. The flat is now at its full complement and Sheffield is struggling to handle us. ven though the flat holds 4, we have an extra Chinese person living with us for some unknown reason. However they are both quiet and clean - it its no real problem for us.

Now according to my recently moved in Japanese flatmate, he has some information on a year abroad student from Japan. According to one of my friends last year who was from Keio, supposedly one of the two girls coming from that uni on an exchange to Sheffield is hot. Hmmm. Calm down Rich, calm down. The problem is, that this information comes from a dubious source, as the person in question has a bizarre rating of women. And also, what's hot and cute for a Japanese person is not necessarily the same for an English person. The amount of times, I've had people say the girls I've fancied in Japan are only midly attractive by Japanese people is either jealously or presumably a kernel of truth wrapped in there somewhere. Bah! Less competition I say!

Hahaha. Still its going to be fun finding out - and I least I have a few conversation starters somewhere. Oh, you're from Keio - you must know X-san and Y-san then? Yeah they are my best friends etc etc...

My shower is now broken and I have not been able to use it yet. I called in twice downstairs and still nothing done. The thing is so small in detail, I would happily do it, if I was allowed to. I can see a situation of me being charged for damaging it. All it needs is to be opened up and the switch placed correctly, because the switch head has not been fitted on right.

If there is nothing done tomorrow. I'm taking matters into my own hands with a very large screwdriver (to batter the people downstairs to death with!!!)

Anyways, to prove how sad I am here's the start of my Japanese sticky wall, full of random facts and stuff I have to remember. Who knows, maybe it will get out of control and end up consuming the entire back wall of my bedroom?


Tomorrow, I'll be trying out the new Japanese sushi bar (Sakushi) and trying to get this t-shirt done up. Maybe... Possibly.

Yay! I've finally moved in. My room is clean(ish) my flatmates are nice and clean (in more ways than one *cough*) and I got the internet working as well. The flat itself is not a bad price considering we get a flat screen HD-TV, super fast broadband, a big bed and en-suite. Oh sir, with these facilities you really are spoiling us. Overall I think we are saving about 500 to 600 from last year.

Rockingham House (awesome name) is literally a stone's throw from campus - which is handy for those nights out - and given the fact its on a fairly uncommon route - is not always full of students keeping everyone awake.

I also seem to be the only white person in this entire building! Seriously. Yay for ethnic diversity! But its obviously something I'm going to have to get used to in a few years as I'll be surrounded by Japanese/Chinese/Koreans all day. Its a weird experience being back in Sheffield right now. No-one is back and the IC has a creepy air about it. The air of saddos studying in their own time. Saddos like me.

I really now have to start studying though. The kanji writing come and go like the wind, but the readings should really be set in stone. I discovered a fair few extra readings which we haven't learned but which are probably quite effective in a few years. I also gave myself a scare when I had a sneak peak at the Year Abroad handbook. Its really putting me off now. The whole money/jouyou kanji/scholarship thing. I have come to the realisation that I probably won't get into my chosen uni (whatever that is) and won't get a scholarship (I don't work hard enough) and won't get a girlfriend, a well paying job or a nice car. Woe is me. >o<

Apparently I've learnt the following already;

* I can't work until 3 months into my visa (which the uni will advise against even after the 3 months.)
* I have to obtain a certificate of eligibility - which is issued in July/August (when I may be in China!)
* I need to take this thing to the Hong Kong embassy - because the Japanese embassy in China don't issue to non-Chinese nationals and take an age to sort things out.
* I need about 6 grand in the bank

Oh well. These are problems for another day. I have to plan and apply for my trip yet! And I also have to pass this year!

Laters;

Richard
リチャード☆
(Putting the Rock in Rockingham House!) ^o^

I don't know where this optimism for next year is coming from... Perhaps its living with people I genuinely like, or maybe its because I've braved the first year and have developed a smugness. I don't have to work hard as those in their final year, and I can lecture the first years on life in Sheffield and beyond.

I'm starting to plan what I'm going to do for freshers, as last year was a bit of a washout because I still felt way out of my comfort zone at times. It should be nice if we can get something organised for all the JS crew (that's Japanese Studies folks) as it would be really good to get to know everyone. The wonderful thing about Japanese at Sheffield is that because its such a niche subject, everyone knows everyone and there is a friendly, family feel amongst the people who study it.

Hopefully the dates we plan for the intro thing, will be on a date that suits my timetable! ^o^

There is something weird in the air. Maybe its week old beer and monster munch farts, but I think this year is going be quite good for me. Maybe, just... maybe. We shall see. Optimism is an usual thing. I just wish it isn't a cruel one.

14 days to go until Sheffield has to tighten its stomach muscles and close its mouth...

It now Saturday, Boro are just an hour away from embarrassing themselves at home to Stoke (the last time we played Stoke at home we lost one nil in the pissing rain) and I'm now having just weird random thoughts about my life and my future life at Sheff.

I seem to be thinking about losing things I don't have, wasting things I haven't bought and forgetting things I haven't learnt.

Anyways, I have only been to Japan twice in my life-time. Once last February in 2007 for a week and previous to that way back in 2005 when I didn't know any better. I feel a little underwhelmed having not lived in Japan and having not spent the long summers camped out in the middle of some ryokan in Magome-juku with a bowl of natto and a damp futon for company. However that is the experience I feel now. A sense of complete isolation from the world. A complete disconnection from myself and the things around me. I need Sheffield, whiskey and some Japanese people to reel me back in and get me back to my (un)usual self...

In many ways however I feel more confident and buoyed by the fact that my Japanese is not that bad - and its capable enough having not lived in Japan for a long period and having only just started studied this language two years to the day last week. Before then, I couldn't read, write or speak anything - and now I am being politely undermined by the Japanese リチャードさんは上手ですね。 God, I hate the Japanese so much sometimes. LOL. You can never tell if they really think your Japanese is good or are just humouring you. Credit to my flatmate, who will cut it straight with you - a rarity for a Japanese person.

I am now in the advanced stages of planning my second year - and I'm having to budget A LOT, especially now that I am travelling over the summer as well as across Japan next year (hopefully.) My parents are doing the softly softly approach of dropping hints whenever I mention travelling next summer ("better start saving then...") So far I have about £500 in savings, which should see me across Siberia. Perhaps I should just stop there, find a rustic town, teach English to the locals, marry the beautiful mayor's daughter, settle down and forgot all this Japanese rubbish. Or maybe not...

God I think I'm going insane.

I need some Sheffield to calm me down.

Timetables are now out, albeit for Linguistics and here it is;

Wednesday - 12:10 - Lecture Theatre 6 - Hicks
Thursday - 12:10 - Lecture Theatre 4 - Hicks

Well I only have one module!

As anticipated, I have pretty much all of Friday off! If Nagai-sensei allows me to come in earlier on a Friday of course. I would happily get up at 9am, just so I could have the rest of the day to myself... お願いします先生。。。 -_-

I can't believe the folks on ELL220 (language politics, Policy and planning) however. They have just one 2 hour lecture a week! Grrrr. This is the module I wanted to do, but wasn't allowed to, because it was overbooked. I'm still sorta happy doing Lexicology though, even if there is an exam and essay. No seminars does kinda make up for things however.

Wednesdays are officially a bitch!!! My week is almost like a sandwich with all my stuff packed into the middle of the week. Heh. The tutorials are basically stuff for our year abroad and are apparently quite informal. Sadly it looks like my other module "Understanding Japan through Contemporary Texts clashes with my Lexicology lecture and the other seminar thingy is straight after my Lexicology lecture on the previous day! So there is three different modules in 3 hours - back to back. I hope to god, they can see the light and change the timing ever so slightly just to give me a break. Come on SEAS sort it out and release some info for me! The pressure is killing me.

Obviously this is only provisional so I anticipate them to be switched to later time in the day. The department themselves have even said they prepared everything as not to clash with anything. -_- Hmmmm.

But potentially having all of Monday and Friday off is just: mwahahaha. *o*

Went to the gym today for the first time in ages and my back is now very sore. Plus I also can't remember any of these goddamn kanji. I hate them so much. >o<;

Also my Japanese friend asked me what 'rueful lament' is in Japanese. I can't even find 'rueful' or 'lament' in my jisho, so his guess is as good as mine. Just shout what you think it is really loud and most English people will get the gist I reckon. Hell, who needs English teachers when you have the power of shouting at will, the most arbitrary and inane things in your language?

SSSSTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOMMMMMMMPPPPP - STOMP!

PS: I've reached 4 days so far. Things are looking good.

I still haven't received my timetable for the 2nd year yet, which is kinda annoying because I have to start planning what I can and can't do next year. It seems pointless volunteering to do something if I have a load of work to do or come off the backend of a seven consecutive lectures (well not really, but you get the point.)

Strangely this year, I will be having less contact time than I did in the first year. Last year I had four allotted things to go to for Linguistics and now I just have to stay awake during two lectures. However I am expected to read a shit load of books for it. I actually feel more energised doing this as last year I seemed rather perturbed by being forced to do my modules last year.

Lexicology still haven't released any info over times yet, so provisionally my timetable could be looking like this;

Monday: 9.00 - 10.00 - Japanese Grammar (you;d think this would be a pain, but you don't know my grammar teacher! ;-))
Tuesday: 12:10 - 13:00 - Japanese Grammar
Wednesday: 11:00 - 12:00 - Japanese
Wednesday: 13:00 - 14:00 - Lecture
Thursday: 10:00 - 11:00 - Japanese
Thursday: 12:00 - 13:00 - Lecture
Friday: 9:00 - 10:00 - Japanese

If sensei is reading this, I prefer the early morning affairs - because I'm usually more awake. Thankfully last year we had grammar classes at 12, 10 and 9. Hehe. Somewhere I have to sandwich in two lectures and I will happily pay for them to be on Monday, any time after 11am on Tuesday. I want that Friday free goddamn it!

Overall its shaping up quite nicely. I just wish MOLE would fucking update so I can have a gander around the files for next year. >o< I have managed to download the listening exercise for week 1 of Japanese and my reaction is...

Holy shit. Well I understood the basic gist and its about Bob (the legend of Sheffield) preparing to study for his year abroad in japan. The problem with my listening is that I always understand the least important bits and don't focus on the main stuff. Well, apparently his friends want him to do his best! Its not as if I struggle to understand what is being said it just takes a while for my brain to join the dots and get the overall picture. I need a lot of practice in this!

Lastly I am making changes to my summer travelling plans. It looks like I will not be going to SE Asia as planned and am deciding to shelve it until one year later (still going on the Trans-Siberian though) - more info on this soon...!