I would love to know how one surives in Sheffield without a laptop, an Ipod, a book to read or quite litterally in the case of me - absolutely nothing in my room.

This is the harsh reality facing me at the moment, as I sit all alone in Sheffield, flatmates deserted in a room that has been stripped clean, waiting for the soul-filling journey that will take me from the City of Steel to the City of Donny and then onwards onto Darlington, then home-sweet-home. The past 22 months or so have been the greatest and most emotionally challenging of my life and it is one to which I close a chapter to with thanks to the people who have made this possible, and then onto writing a new chapter with the large emblazoned headline of Japan, which will become the starting point of the next 14 months or so of my life.

Its very sad to leave the people I care about in Sheffield; close and random friends, inspirational guides, well-wishers, my teachers and lecturers and everyone else who has supported me in making this small dream become a big reality. What I am facing at the moment is a huge pivot in my life, the turning point not just for the here and now, but possibly for the rest of my life. I enter the tunnel as one man and will leave it as another - for better or for worse.

I start my life again at ground zero (albeit with a few friends and classmates in Japan to help me if I get stuck) and enter a mystical world which I do not see as the glittery lights of Shinjuku or the hazy sunsets of a cherry-blossom spring in Yoyogi Koen. I see this chapter as representing anything but Japan. Japan is merely a by-word, something that is environmental to my changing state of being, a changing state of my inner-self from one form to the next.

This change is confronting me with tons of emotions that range from dangerous interpretation and cynicism to childhood excitement and anxiety. Every single one feels like a sharp prickly pin-drop that pierces into my sweaty, clamoured body. It keeps me awake at night. Its all I ever think about. Not the journey of simply going to Japan - but the journey that will awaken me spiritually and emotionally. I hope that this journey brings me fortune, and helps me discover myself and what I want to do - because right now I am unsure of what the future brings to the table and whether or not I want to eat what is front of me regardless of how juicy it may seem to the person standing next to me.

Yes, I will miss Sheffield. I will miss everyone who has had a part in my life for the past 22 months. But ultimately, I am going to miss the person who is sitting here typing this and who leave the UK in the next 2 months. I will miss him. Because I don't know if 14 months from now, he will be the same person.

I am being told that Sheffield will not be quite the same without me, but I think it is me who will not be quite the same without Sheffield.

And it is that closing comment that ends this rather turbulent chapter in my life. Thank you Sheffield for all the memories, onwards Japan and the potential wonders it may bring.

A long time has passed since my last blog, so I'll try and be quick. Well firstly the good news is that I am confident that I have passed all my exams, as I have had no threatening e-mails sent to me (normally when we screw the exams up, we are given an e-mail from our head of year demanding, sorry requesting a chat to discuss what happens next.) So thankfully that hasn't happened, and I am freaking happy that there are no new e-mails in my e-mail box.

However one message I would like in my e-mail box is one from my university in Japan. The last time I had contact with them was back in Easter when I sent my stuff off about my finances. So far, I have no idea where I will be living in Japan next year or when or if I can come to Japan. Right now, I am waiting for the Certificate of Eligibility, a piece of paper that allows me to apply for a student visa at my local consulate - which incidentally is in Edinburgh. It seems out of the 30 odd of us going to Japan, only three of us have to apply for our visas there. After the horror stories of the embassy in London as well as having to potentially wake up at 5am and drive for 6 hours - its a welcome relief I only have a 2 hour drive to Scotland. I've also heard the entire procedure at Edinburgh runs a lot smoothly given the smaller numbers of applicants for Visas up there.

If all goes to schedule (so far Seijo have been really quick and easy with any queries and paperwork) then I should have my certificate sometime in about 3 weeks.

Currently my short-term goals are to lose weight for Japan and also to get cracking on this vocab and kanji. My vocab has gotten increasingly shit as the 2nd year has trudged on and its something that is going to pull me down in Japan.

At the moment Sheffield is a picture of slow death. Nobody is here except international students, postgraduates, people who have failed and are studying for resists and then of course an usual hybrid of International postgraduates who are resitting. (!) So basically the whole student lifestyle and running into random people you know is probably gone for a while. Sadly its going to be gone for quite a bit. A sad fact of life is many of my friends outside my course will probably have graduated by the time I come back, meaning that for Year IV of my degree in Sheffield will probably be ground-zero again. Oh well, its been two years of fun in Sheffield, a time of fun coming to an end and a time that I probably will never get again. I just can't describe how fun its been and how much I've really enjoyed it in a disappointing yet rewarding kinda way. I suppose all of these sad emotions is the price I pay for going to Japan for a year. And that is something most people would probably give their right testicle for (I know my flatmate would!)

Anyways, Japan is something like 70 odd days away and I have a wide-open summer ahead of me. I just want to get back to my hometown, get on my bike and think about other things now. My mind is slowly leaving the life of Sheffield now, even though my body is still here.

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☆

Last night, I met a few of the new Hosei students from Japan. They are here for just 5 months rather than the full year and are mostly doing cultural and language modules. I can remember Rui, Takahiro, Masato, Harumi, Miki, Natsumi (who was very friendly - stop it Rich!) and a load more whose names I have completely forgotten. "I can remember the face but..." I think there was a Satoko as well. Oh well, I'll get their numbers and demand some facebook when I see them next time at our big intro party thing.

Afterwards, I ended up meeting a few international students who I knew through my Japanese friend last year. It also looks like Masato 'scored' with an English student of Japanese who is resitting this year. Ah, well done kind sir, showing us how its done. *jealous*

In the words of my flatmate, that was just the start of things. The real buisness begins when we meet the proper exchange students. Mostly, I got on well with them last year. I think I really need to know every Japanese person here, as last year I was a bit anti-social at times. It would be nice to know every single Japanese student in Sheffield, although that is a big ask.

New classes are just less than a day away and I am now very nervous. Because my kanji has gone to pot and my grammar, speaking, listening.... ARRRGHHH HELP ME!!!! The thing is, I just feel really rusty. Its not as if I have done no Japanese in the holidays, I just can't remember stuff as easily as I could. Its going to be nice to have some schedule in my life. I'm so sad, that I'm actually looking foward to printing out my study schedule.

However I am really looking foward to doing this Japan's Minorities module as it looks really interesting. This module could be a blessing in disguise for me.

Despite my reservations, I still feel really excited about this year. Japan seems closer and the Japanese language is now seeming less challenging to me. Is this self confidence? Me? I think I may need to just sit down.

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^

Ugh, I'm starting the detox early and never eating fatty foods again. I stupidly ate a KFC today and I feel like crap. I actually feel fat and stodgy. My whole body has some sort of ache about it. The thing is, I'm not really addicted to this thing. It just somehow forces its way down my esophagus.

Honestly, I don't know why I put myself through this much pain. I am going to the gym tomorrow to sweat out this crap and then detoxing with some nice fruit and veg and water. I was planning to start my diet and detox when I get back to Sheffield, but I've decided its best to do it ahead of schedule.

I'm also giving up the booze and will only drink in social situations when I go out with friends to the pub or nightclub. My body is slowing down. Aaaarrrggggghhhh. I also installed MSN ahead of schedule because I need to talk to Murakawa (ah bless him - he's even back on facebook now.) Sadly its getting unintsalled in about 30 minutes because I want to stay true to my promise and not just detox my body. I want my mind in tip top shape for the start of my second year in Sheffield.

Unbelievably, I have given up the idea of finishing these books for linguistics. The main problem is the sheer distance to the library. I can't focus at all in my room and I have to go to the library to study. However its 2.6 miles either way (that's a total 5.2 miles on the bike) and I just don't have the strength to do the journey just to read some books.

Thankfully I'll be able to study when I get back as I'll be in a much more stable environment and of course a far less daunting journey to get there! For the first few days back in Sheffield and pretty much 75% of fresher's week I'll be studying in the IC. What a comepletly sad bastard I am!

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.

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...!

I remember Nagai-sensei (the legendary Japanese grammar teacher of Sheffield) was trying to explain to me the notion of being shocked びっくりする and used the example of, if I hypothetically went to her office and told her I will be leaving Sheffield and quitting Japanese.

Hmm. I suppose its always nice to have sensei on your side. My advice to anyone would be to speak to sensei and get her on your side. I suppose, ability will show but hard work will always shine. I'm sure even if you aren't the best at what you do, but give 100% and get help then that counts for something, and its something I'm always impressed with. The people who come with no Japanese ability whatsoever are the people I really admire the most on this course.

Overall I have mixed feelings over the second year, but if we have a more relaxed approach and smaller groups I may just feel that I have something worth fighting for... I will also feel pretty shit if some good people drop out, because there are such nice people doing this course and it would be a bastard to see them not doing the degree any more.

I'm just itching to start even though I feel very unprepared for all my modules so far. And for what its worth 上手じゃないよ！

Been so long wince I blogged my feelings and aspirations down. Maybe its due in part to my current job/holiday in France and also the fact I have nothing noteworthy to write because I'm stuck in a rut for 4 weeks until I return to my spiritual home of Sheffield.

At the minute, I'm suffering a crisis of confidence with my Japanese (mainly because I haven't studied at all for a week now.) I am also feeling pretty shitty about being single because its timeｓ like this, I just want to ring some girl up and do something mind numbingly boring. At least female company can keep me sane and not incessantly ruminating over my work.

So aside from ducking and weaving all these kanji compounds and vocab (*urgh*)　I am starting to plan my trip next summer. So far I'm working out the logistics and its going okay. I'm intending to make it up as a go along, although funds may hamper my attempts to backpack across SE Asia and most of Europe by train. I may negate visiting SE Asia altogether however I know I really want to go - even if it bankrupts me before I go to Japan.

And on the notion of that, I might not even go to Japan if I keep on feeling really low about my Japanese ability. I really want to pass this year, just to give myself a feeling that I am able to do this. I passed the first year okay - but something tells me until my exams in January, I still won't feel 100% confident about things. There is no question I feel much more confident going into this year than the first year. I feel a certain level of superiority now and almost a burden to be something greater. Maybe things will fall into place now, who knows... I have certainly got rid of my previous hangups now - and just want to slide into the second year and make the most of it. If I fail, I fail - but I want to do so without feeling like shit all the time.

Well, as for my round the world trip, I have sought out companies and providers who can get me to Moscow in 3 days from London (for the pricey sum of £188! which doesn't include visa fees for Belarus + 3 days worth of food) and now I have to work out the complicated matter of stopping off in Irkutsk (near Lake Baikal) and Ulan Bator before I end up Beijing. The rest may just be made up on the spot. Well, anyway - the very worst I can do is end up Beijing and tour around China until I go to Japan, although the trip across Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia is one I really want to do. If I could get to Moscow for under £100 on plane, I would happily negate my devotion to the train and end up flying. It might be much cheaper for me in the long-run. I'm not going to visit any of the countries I pass through (France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Belarus) so maybe I should fly straight to Moscow instead.

Finally, Yukari said she would be coming to the UK in November. As much as I believe her, I don't think she will come (its very expensive for just one week.) I'm playing my cards close to my chest with regards to her at the minute, because something is praying on my mind with her. She clearly likes me, but we'll have to see how much she likes me. Women eh? Aren't they just the greatest?

PS: My contract for my flat was finally e-mailed and I'll be moving in on the 13th! Finally!

Recently once people find out that I study Japanese at Sheffield, they are keen to know what's it like and do you have any tips?

Apparently at Sheff we have the highest dropout rate of any course at the university and around 25% of the people who started in September are expected to graduate four years later. I think 14 graduated from about 50 something last year and a few years ago, only 8 people passed. Its really fun to look into some people’s eyes and even your own and think to yourself, “I wonder who’ll be next.” I honestly expect about 28, next year with a few people dropping out after a few weeks into the second term. You can sort of guess who is going to drop out. Harsh but true. Even in the fourth year people dropout or have to resit the year.

It’s a shame, because its very hard to convey the intensive nature of the course on the prospectus. I think many people drop out due to the sheer workload and the fact that you can’t really glide by without doing any revision.

I think Manchester have the best advice of any potential Japanese studies candidates on their website. Incidentally, Manchester was my first choice when applying, as I really like the city. Strange as gun crime may be of course.

Sometimes people develop a habit of lacking confidence and just give up at the first hurdle. Languages are a struggle and you will find that it takes years and years maybe even a lifetime to ever truly reach any sense of native competency. Failing in French and Russian has taught me harsh things about language learning, that to your average Japanophile may not be too obvious. There are days when I wake up and think “I don’t know this, the world is going to collapse” and then may end it in a barrage of “hey, I know this, let’s learn them kanji.” As long as there is some fire in the belly I’ll be here until I either die or sensei kills me with a pointed stare.

If someone were to ask me what were the reasons why people drop out I would probably suggest the following. Bare in mind, this is my own perspective on the matter;

1. Learning Japanese is not learning about Japan. People may think that Japanese is zany, wacky and off the wall. Its anything but. Its highly organised and the language reflects that. Unless you have a systematic brain that can handle grammatical concepts and memorising characters your intimate knowledge of InuYasha and Deathnote won’t come in handy. That said some expressions from manga and anime are quite useful to know. I say *some*
2. Class sizes – this one gripe I had, especially on really cold and grey November mornings that I had issues with. Although I love all the sensei at Sheffield, sometimes the sizes of the classes can be off putting at first. Some thrive on these environments, I for one. Don’t. I like smaller groups where is there more interaction both with sensei and your classmates. During one class, right before our final mid semester, only 8 people turned up after everyone else decided to skip in order to throw up in the toilets or something. However, despite this, I felt I learnt more being able to have more speaking time and more crucially more time that sensei could assess us and add comments etc. At first, the 20+ sizes of the classes are very off-putting and only gets better when people drop out or get sick I guess
3. Confidence. As above. You have to have some confidence in yourself to be able to study a foreign language.
   
4. Just generally not academic or cut out for it. Language degrees on the whole are not for everyone. Being able to speak Japanese takes considerably more hardwork than other languages (such as Italian or French) therefore you really have to know how to manage your time effectively and know how to study a foreign language (some of the international students we have, are therefore very good on our course.) This is something I’m shit at. Sometimes people will see from afar me saying something in Japanese to a Japanese person and think that its cool and they want to do that. Sadly, even to reach that very basic standard takes months and even years of hard-work. People are guilty of seeing the end product without the hard work that went into it. Anyone who thinks language degrees are easy because they have a B and an A at the beginning should try it for a second.
   
5. Duals. Some people also underestimate the complexity of some dual-degrees. Politics is fiendish for example. Luckily because I do an Arts based subject (linguistics) there is probably no difference between myself and maybe the people who do full Japanese Studies. This year I will be doing 40 credits in Linguistics, 40 in SEAS and 40 in Japanese. Even then the 40 in Seas are about the Japanese language. According to some of my friends at SOAS, the dual degrees are amazingly hard.
   
6. Uni/City/Job/Money – all the other major reason why people drop out be it for Japanese or Bioengineering.

I know a few dropouts but I’ve never really asked them t explain why they dropped out. I guess it could be a touchy subject coming from a person who has managed to brave ¼ of it so far.

That’s not to say that studying Japanese at Sheffield entails getting tied down and having zero fun whilst kanji radicals burst your eyeballs.

There are some positives though;

1. City. Sheffield is a vibrant student friendly city. Plus its cheap and the locals are a right laugh.
   
2. University. I love my uni. Just an amazing student union.
   
3. Teaching – all the sensei have their unusual quirks and sense of humour which you will come to love instantly. Because SEAS is a very small department, everyone is very relaxed and approachable. Its not like some departments where two or three heads have hundreds of students to deal with. Sensei will also make time for you if you need it.
   
4. Environment – It’s a mix of the Japanophile, the otaku and the “how the hell did I end up here?” crowd. Nearly all the people who study Japanese at Sheffield are very friendly and given the small numbers who study it, you’ll soon know everyone and come to get eyebrows raised at house parties when you tell people what you study. There is a good mix amongst senpai and kouhai and people are always willing to help each other out.

Overall I would say the social side of things often works in harmonising some of the negative things about the course (such as the ridiculous work load every week.) I am very grateful that I was given the opportunity to study here – and unlike some people on some other courses I want to make the most of that. Being a relative old fart of 23, I cherish these chances because I’ve experienced being rejected and told that I’m not good enough on many occasions.

So would I have any advice for any potential people who are thinking of coming to Sheffield to study Japanese in the future? Possibly…

1. respect your sensei – it really did piss me off how many people did not appreciate the time and effort they put in running this course. Being polite, apologising for missing lessons (something I was guilty of at times) and being late, as well as listening to what they teach you will come in handy. Once they are gone, I know I will miss them a lot. Make the most of the three years or so you have with them. N-sensei has the final say on whether or not you pass the course. Even if you get bad grades but make a good impression that shows you are working hard, it will stand you in good stead.
   
2. Speak as much Japanese as possible – and if so with Japanese people. These guys are the judges of how good your Japanese is. You are studying Japanese because you obviously want to speak Japanese. The main people who speak this are, strangely enough, the Japanese.
   
3. A-levels mean nothing. You’ll soon find that the people who sat back through all the easy stuff, start to feel the burn once the real stuff kicks in, basically the things that are not on the A-level syllabus. Speaking to my old sensei, she was dismayed at how poor some components of the Japanese A-levels have become. They seem to be less functional and practical now. Don’t come with the attitude that you know it all, you probably don’t.
   
4. Don’t underestimate yourself or others. Some people who appeared amazing in the first few weeks have either dropped out or changed courses and the people who seemed poor in week one, now seem really confident and at ease with Japanese.
   
5. Speak with the senpai. Because we know all the tricks of the trade. Also, make sure you speak to the 4^thyears, because they’ll know the best of what to do during the YA.
   
6. Enjoy your time and be productive. Don’t go to the pub every night but then again don’t sit at home looking at kanji flashcards over and over again. You’ll get bored and you won’t make any cool friends to get drunk in Japan with.

Above all, have fun, work hard and enjoy your time here! I should be looking really hungover on the intro thing for new Japanese students at freshers with sensei (because its after my birthday - did someone say Rhino's and shots?)

Hopefully I will look so bad that people will already think how intensive the course is! :-D

Given the number of utter crap I get sent in my mail box, I could probably document an entire series of these. They are thin on the ground so far thanks to uni being shut for the summer.

Here's the first in what I hope could be a long series;

CAN YOU HELP OUR RESEARCH?

WE ARE LOOKING FOR HEALTHY FEMALE VOLUNTEERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 20 - 39

We are conducting a healthy volunteer study to investigate the effects of
calcium fortified ice-cream on bone health. The study will require you to
eat one ice-cream each day for 28 days. The ice-cream you will eat will be
one of four ice-creams with different calcium contents.
There is an inconvenience payment for participation in this research.

The study will involve 5 visits to the clinical trials unit each lasting ½
to 1 hour for blood and urine sample collection.

This study does not involve any medications.

If you think you would like to help with this research, or if you would like
more information please contact the research nurse:

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Please Quote: ICE-CREAM study

I did giggle when I saw that. In an age where looks are now everything and women are content with looking their best. What better than to pay them money to stuff their faces with ice-cream all in aid of medical research. One ice cream for 28 days, you can't go wrong really.

For many people who don't know me. I normally shave once in every solar eclipse. To prove my 男らしい over the course of last year, I shaved the grand total of 3 times throughout the year. Shaving becomes an almost cathartic experience in which I remember the occasions like having sex, seeing as they are so few and far between. Sadly since July 3rd, 12:47 am I have been without my prized possession for sometime and am counting down the days that it can return. With a beard I look like a homeless person but without it I look like a creepy child molester. I'd rather look homeless than look like a damn pervert tbh.

For a few of my classmates, they are off to Japan this summer whereas yours truly is stuck middling amongst doing odd jobs and sods in the UK and France chatting to Japanese people over MSN until 6am every night. I really am counting down the days that I can return to Sheffield, although when I get there I will probably be sat in the IC, wondering when I can return home. Grrr.

If I was to look back on my first year in Sheffield I would say its been a mostly positive experience.

• I didn't drop out (more on that later) and managed to even obtain some decentish grades
• I met some wonderful friends from all around the UK and the world
• And I feel more confident about myself.

However, I had some quite negative experiences and certain cases of "should try harder." I really need to stay fit, because I've put on a lot of weight since last summer and even more so since the amount of kilos I lost sweating out my shirts in Malaysia in 2006. So, I need to keep more active physically and socially. Hopefully this where the gym, Badminton, Ju Jitsu and Japan Soc will help. :-)

I also need to study a bit harder. Granted my effort has deteriorated since I moved houses right before my exams and more so since I developed a nasty virus the week after Easter.

The only thing keeping me sane right now, is learning Japanese (so I don't forget everything!), chatting with Yukari on MSN (the Anglophonic, wants-a-boyfriend-fancies me-but doesn't-want-to-openly-say it Nagoya girl) and my diet and exercise regime (which although has improved since last week is still not perfect.)

Yes, it truly is a summer of boredom until the football season kicks off and I have something else to worry about. I have about 8 weeks or so until I return to Shef, so I need to start revising. Keeping in touch with my japanese friends is allowing me to maintain my level of grammar and now its just a case of attempting some more listening and kanji practice as well increasing my vocab. I can only seem to remember アイスクリームのように溶かす。And sadly given the current weather in the UK, won't come in handy anytime soon. However time is very much on my side, and being able to memorise this vocab, kanji and grammar should be beneficial given the very fast paced of my Japanese course.

This summer I was intending to go to Japan but pulled out at the last minute. I had a job offer to work the summer in Okinawa, but this fell through as they couldn't guarantee me to be back in the UK by the start of the 2nd year. The money I did save up, probably isn't enough and I am looking to spend it on travelling across SE Asia next summer. I'm intending to jump ship in July, visit my relatives in Thailand and work my way across Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and China, going all the way down to Hong Kong and then fly across to some country called Japan.

Let's hope in the meantime my beard returns, and with it some increased knowledge of the Japanese language and the complexity that it is women.

First post, so its probably a big HELLO to anyone who is sad enough to read this. My name is Richard, I am 23 years old going on 13 and am currently studying Japanese at the University of Sheffield.

Sadly despite my nerdish appearance (most of which is remembering information about world football) I still struggle to understand how you turn my PS3 off let alone messing about with a blog. I hope to write in both Japanese and English (if I can!)

じゃね。☆