quick update

Sorry for the brief hiatus. I kind of didn't have time/didn't feel like updating. I figured I would use the time between vocab reviews to update the blog. My JPN teacher all of a sudden told us we needed to memorize 46 vocab words for a quiz tomorrow. I luckily already knew more than half of them already. *phew*

So Japanese classes are going better than expected. After attending a few classes of the Japanese I got into, I've discovered that this will actually be really good for me. The classes I am in for Japanese focus on exactly what I am lacking on right now: grammar and listening practice. I am taking two levels of Japanese at the same time: 121, and 131. 121 is the level 2 beginner class. It is kind of embarrassing to be in that class, but I never really got very good grammar practice in Kato Sensei's class... 131 is the pre-intermediate class. It focuses on listening practice. I will also be taking a Kanji and oral composition practice class. I think these will all be pretty positive.

As for other classes, I am still feeling my way around finding what I want to take. I think I'll take one sports class to fill a spot/meet Japanese people: table tennis. The Mongolian guy I met early on saw me today and told me about a control engineering class he is taking in English. So I think I might take that with me. Maybe get some credit towards my degree??? I am excited to take an engineering class. These humanities classes kind of bore me. Most likely because I often don't see a need to study the topic given for those classes. I'm always up for a good science/math/engineering class.

I'm starting to learn that knowing people really gets you places. Just having connections will get you far pretty easily it seems. The person doesn't even really have to know you well to help you out immensely. If they have met you once before, they are quite likely to give you a hand.

For example: I went to a Japanese politics class today to see if I would like it at all. The class ended up being a real bore. The teacher was kind of hard to understand. I did meet a Japanese guy named Seiya. He was telling Lauri (another exchange student) and I how he really wanted to learn more English and that he really loves metal rock music. He literally said to the whole class when we did self introductions "Please teach me English!" Both Lauri and I are fans of Metal, so we got along pretty well. I asked Seiya if he is part of a rock band club at the university. It turns out he is. He was very helpful in getting Lauri and I involved with the university’s rock music community. He brought us to the rooms where the different music groups practice. The place had a great feel to it. It was just some rundown cement structure. I'll be going to a meeting for one group on Friday to ask if I could sing for them. Lauri has played keyboard for bands previously, so he is going to do that. So, that was pretty sweet. I have kind of been in the dark as to how I will get into one of the rock clubs until now.

It was quite clear that Saiya mostly wanted to know Lauri and I to learn English. Saiya's English was not all that good, so I think that hanging out with him wont be bad. He will end up speaking Japanese, I'll end up speaking English at times. I think it will be mutually beneficial hanging out with him. We will see how it goes. Just talking to him and my tutors today helped me a bit with my Japanese. I will never forget the word ばしょ(place). I didn't know the word at all before, but I used it a lot today.

I am trying to speak Japanese so frequently and failing so much that I am starting to feel incompetent sometimes. It was kind of funny to me. I was feeling like this today, but then I spoke in English to another student and realized "HEY! I'm not incompetent! I can express myself! In English at least." It was a really funny thought to me.

I skipped breakfast today. Mostly because I think I have been eating too many eggs and I didn't have much more than eggs, rice, and curry in my room.

Lunch was pasta at an Italian restaurant with my Japanese tutor. It turns out she is 22 as well! She is a grad student! I was unaware that Japanese people start school earlier and get to grad school by about the age of 18!

Dinner was boring today. I just went to a grocery store and bought some sushi and cold black tea. It was my first sushi meal in Japan. Certainly wasn't disappointing. I bought dinner because I didn't feel like making it tonight.

OK, back to vocab studying!