My back and neck hurt from grading all the essays in front of me. I think I'm grading the essays in too much detail. It's taking way too long...
Grading a page and a half worth of Japanese freshmen college work is infinitely more difficult than grading 20-page North American freshmen college work. They enjoy using big words that are freshly plucked from their electronic dictionaries that just don't make sense at all... despite my warnings to keep their work simple but correct.
I meant to go shopping for shoes today, but ended up just majorly cleaning my apartment. The weeds in my backyard had grown to about 3 feet tall and was just looking like a mini-jungle. That was only a month's growth! *sigh* That's one of the sucky things about living alone... you have to do EVERYTHING yourself.... but then, I'm also thankful that I don't have to pick up after someone else.
Got loads to look forward to in the coming weeks. Tomoko comes to visit next weekend, Michael comes the week after and then Tea the week after that.... then it's the end of the semester! Woohoo! I get 6 weeks off! Gosh... I love my job for the holidays. My winter break's even longer... I get 2 or 3 weeks off for Christmas, then back for 3 weeks... then the big, long winter break - all of THREE MONTHS! How awesome is this job?
I'm stretched thing during term-time though. The responsibilities that come with a university job are really trying.
Must sleep... then more marking in the morning. I pretty much work 7-days a week... Blah.~
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
*Movin' Up*
I'm moving up the "costliest cities" list. I've finally reached number one!!
So here's the lastest rankings for the world's costliest cities (courtesy of Mercer Human Resources Consulting, by way of CNN:
POOR.~
So here's the lastest rankings for the world's costliest cities (courtesy of Mercer Human Resources Consulting, by way of CNN:
- Tokyo, Japan
- Osaka, Japan
- London, England
- Moscow, Russia
- Seoul, South Korea
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Oslo, Norway
13. New York, USA
After living in 4 of these cities in the past 6 years, what does this make me???POOR.~
Monday, June 20, 2005
*BIG one*
I just experienced the biggest earthquake yet, here in Japan.
I think it's about a magnitude 5.6-ish on the Richter scale... which is pretty huge by my standards. It was long too... I think it lasted about a minute.
I didn't crawl under my tables... I just kinda sat at my computer wondering if I SHOULD be crawling under something. By the time I decided to... the shaking stopped.
I'm not very good at this earthquake thing... despite all those earthquake drills at school in Vancouver... I don't panic... but it just takes me too long to decide on whether or not I should crawl under something and what I should crawl under...~
I think it's about a magnitude 5.6-ish on the Richter scale... which is pretty huge by my standards. It was long too... I think it lasted about a minute.
I didn't crawl under my tables... I just kinda sat at my computer wondering if I SHOULD be crawling under something. By the time I decided to... the shaking stopped.
I'm not very good at this earthquake thing... despite all those earthquake drills at school in Vancouver... I don't panic... but it just takes me too long to decide on whether or not I should crawl under something and what I should crawl under...~
Sunday, June 19, 2005
*Random*
Went to a lot of places this weekend...
Friday night was a girls' night in (a.k.a. Weekly Bitch-fest). We went for Chinese food and bitched about the boys over dinner...
Saturday was jam-packed. I went into Tokyo to do some shopping (but of course!). I FINALLY bought myself a camera for Japan. I'm now the proud owner of some teeny-tiny 5.0 mega-pixel camera by Canon. I have no idea what the functions are or whether it's a new model... or any of those other techie things that boys care about... all that matters to me is that it's a nice shiny RED colour! It's pretty and I bought a pretty shiny lime carrier for it. Yay!
I also bought a Yukata - a summer kimono. It's a starter kimono... It was really cheap. It's something for me to practice on before I upgrade to the REAL thing. I attempted to tie the Obi today and did a not-so-sucky job at it... but it's difficult!
After shopping in Akihabara (Camera) and Shinjuku (Kimono and Zara!), I met up with Nic in Ikebukuro to go to some Fireflies festival up in the north of Tokyo-ku. It took us about 40 minutes to get up to wherever it was... We took a very expensive cab ride to the place and saw the line-up wrapped 'round the block with workers and their sign-posts saying it was a 200 minute wait. We just told the cabbie to haul-ass back to the station. TWO HUNDRED MINUTES just to see some insect with a glowing green ass??
We headed back Shibuya for dinner at some Hawaiian restaurant (VERY good garlic fries), then headed to John's (Nic's bro) bar for a pint.
Stayed over at Nic's and fell asleep in my kimono - was woken up this morning by Nic laughing at me for sleeping in my kimono.
So yeah... I had a busy weekend... but it was fun. Nic and I are now planning a 'round-the-world trip for our 2 and a half month winter break. Gee... work can be tough some times...~
Friday night was a girls' night in (a.k.a. Weekly Bitch-fest). We went for Chinese food and bitched about the boys over dinner...
Saturday was jam-packed. I went into Tokyo to do some shopping (but of course!). I FINALLY bought myself a camera for Japan. I'm now the proud owner of some teeny-tiny 5.0 mega-pixel camera by Canon. I have no idea what the functions are or whether it's a new model... or any of those other techie things that boys care about... all that matters to me is that it's a nice shiny RED colour! It's pretty and I bought a pretty shiny lime carrier for it. Yay!
I also bought a Yukata - a summer kimono. It's a starter kimono... It was really cheap. It's something for me to practice on before I upgrade to the REAL thing. I attempted to tie the Obi today and did a not-so-sucky job at it... but it's difficult!
After shopping in Akihabara (Camera) and Shinjuku (Kimono and Zara!), I met up with Nic in Ikebukuro to go to some Fireflies festival up in the north of Tokyo-ku. It took us about 40 minutes to get up to wherever it was... We took a very expensive cab ride to the place and saw the line-up wrapped 'round the block with workers and their sign-posts saying it was a 200 minute wait. We just told the cabbie to haul-ass back to the station. TWO HUNDRED MINUTES just to see some insect with a glowing green ass??
We headed back Shibuya for dinner at some Hawaiian restaurant (VERY good garlic fries), then headed to John's (Nic's bro) bar for a pint.
Stayed over at Nic's and fell asleep in my kimono - was woken up this morning by Nic laughing at me for sleeping in my kimono.
So yeah... I had a busy weekend... but it was fun. Nic and I are now planning a 'round-the-world trip for our 2 and a half month winter break. Gee... work can be tough some times...~
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
*Roller-Coaster*
What a Roller-Coaster kinda week I'm having...
I had a horrid Monday and an even worse Wednesday. Both days were so horrible, I cried on both days - both instances due to MEN. Today's was pretty bad... I gave a co-worker a piece of my mind - pretty bluntly too...
I've been particularly homesick this past week. I miss my old life in New York... but mostly, I miss familiarity. I also miss trying on clothes in shops in New York...
BUT, I just got an email that made this week much better. My conference proposal has been accepted!! I'll be presenting my research at Asia TEFL! Yay! It's a HUGE conference too! Imagine that! My first submission gets accepted to a big conference! I'm so excited, I could pee my pants!
Yes, I do recognise that I am still single because I am too independent and too fiesty. It's a huge dilemma for me because I WANT someone, but I also don't want to change who I am. Does anyone out there know a guy who'll put up with someone like me??~
I had a horrid Monday and an even worse Wednesday. Both days were so horrible, I cried on both days - both instances due to MEN. Today's was pretty bad... I gave a co-worker a piece of my mind - pretty bluntly too...
I've been particularly homesick this past week. I miss my old life in New York... but mostly, I miss familiarity. I also miss trying on clothes in shops in New York...
BUT, I just got an email that made this week much better. My conference proposal has been accepted!! I'll be presenting my research at Asia TEFL! Yay! It's a HUGE conference too! Imagine that! My first submission gets accepted to a big conference! I'm so excited, I could pee my pants!
Yes, I do recognise that I am still single because I am too independent and too fiesty. It's a huge dilemma for me because I WANT someone, but I also don't want to change who I am. Does anyone out there know a guy who'll put up with someone like me??~
Monday, June 13, 2005
*Stretched Thin*
I can't do this for much longer. I need a break - FAST.
I'm all worn out. I've got a pile of fresh essays stacked on my desk and a bunch of peer feedback forms that I have to go through. I'm dying here and I need a break from all this to catch up.
The reality of my job is starting to hit me. I don't know why it took this long to sink in. It's a tough and demanding job. What really angers me is when people say "I'm busy too, but I make time to..." People don't realise that on top of this incredibly demanding job, it's my first "real" job... AND I'm living in a country where I'm still trying to learn the language!
I was in the post office earlier today, and the two young-ish guys who work there were so horribly mean to me. I just started tearing up in front of them. They just kept shouting at me and speaking faster and faster in Japanese. It was such a horrible experience for me, because I'm not used to feeling inadequate and out of control. The old man at the post office came to my rescue after I started crying... He was really nice. I think I'll bake him a cake...
I miss friends too. Jay's just emailed to say that he won't be able to see me as he stops-over Japan on his way back to New York. I can't say that I'm not disappointed. I was looking forward to having a piece of my old life here...
So I guess what I'm feeling now is a mix of homesickness and too much work and feeling lonely. I expect I'll pop out of it soon enough.~
I'm all worn out. I've got a pile of fresh essays stacked on my desk and a bunch of peer feedback forms that I have to go through. I'm dying here and I need a break from all this to catch up.
The reality of my job is starting to hit me. I don't know why it took this long to sink in. It's a tough and demanding job. What really angers me is when people say "I'm busy too, but I make time to..." People don't realise that on top of this incredibly demanding job, it's my first "real" job... AND I'm living in a country where I'm still trying to learn the language!
I was in the post office earlier today, and the two young-ish guys who work there were so horribly mean to me. I just started tearing up in front of them. They just kept shouting at me and speaking faster and faster in Japanese. It was such a horrible experience for me, because I'm not used to feeling inadequate and out of control. The old man at the post office came to my rescue after I started crying... He was really nice. I think I'll bake him a cake...
I miss friends too. Jay's just emailed to say that he won't be able to see me as he stops-over Japan on his way back to New York. I can't say that I'm not disappointed. I was looking forward to having a piece of my old life here...
So I guess what I'm feeling now is a mix of homesickness and too much work and feeling lonely. I expect I'll pop out of it soon enough.~
Sunday, June 12, 2005
*Trouble*
I know I'm in trouble when...
But I've always ended up drinking more than the previous week. I think I may have developed a drinking problem.
Chris had a fun party tonight. He and Keita have a really rockin' apartment in Tokyo. Gotta get Keita to do my hair soon... it's getting dark again.
Time to crash... Got loads of work to do before the work week starts again on Monday.~
- I've downed a pitcher of Screwdriver and chased it with an Avril Lavigne song.
- Gene and Ben take their shirts off to rap Eminem... then try to get mine off too.
- It takes me an hour and a half to get home from the train station - normally a 15 minute walk.
- Kirsten, Nicola, Anneli and I go out together...
- Karaoke is "San-ji-kai".
But I've always ended up drinking more than the previous week. I think I may have developed a drinking problem.
Chris had a fun party tonight. He and Keita have a really rockin' apartment in Tokyo. Gotta get Keita to do my hair soon... it's getting dark again.
Time to crash... Got loads of work to do before the work week starts again on Monday.~
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
*Mortified*
I flashed my class today. The wind blew my skirt WAY up... They saw everything... butt cheeks and all...
I'm digging a hole and plan on living there for a while...~
I'm digging a hole and plan on living there for a while...~
*Eureka!*
It's back! It's back!
I thought I'd lost my ability to care about people about 4 years ago. It was a really bad break-up and it took a really really long time to get over THAT one.
Well... I think I've found that fuzzy feeling again. I can't stop smiling. I'm not in a relationship and I don't intend to get into a relationship right now, but it's nice to feel this way again. I just think about this person and I can't stop smiling! The last time this happened, it took me 4 years to recover... I don't think I'm going to do anything about this fuzzy feeling. I'm choosing to just concentrate on my career and my life right now.
So yeah... I hate Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It just swallows me up. I don't even have time to breathe on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It's HORRIBLE!
A bunch of us are planning on doing an all-nighter in Roppongi this Friday. I'm still trying to piece last Friday night together. I can't remember how I got home... and B's been fabricating stories about Friday night... Don't believe him!~
I thought I'd lost my ability to care about people about 4 years ago. It was a really bad break-up and it took a really really long time to get over THAT one.
Well... I think I've found that fuzzy feeling again. I can't stop smiling. I'm not in a relationship and I don't intend to get into a relationship right now, but it's nice to feel this way again. I just think about this person and I can't stop smiling! The last time this happened, it took me 4 years to recover... I don't think I'm going to do anything about this fuzzy feeling. I'm choosing to just concentrate on my career and my life right now.
So yeah... I hate Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It just swallows me up. I don't even have time to breathe on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It's HORRIBLE!
A bunch of us are planning on doing an all-nighter in Roppongi this Friday. I'm still trying to piece last Friday night together. I can't remember how I got home... and B's been fabricating stories about Friday night... Don't believe him!~
Monday, June 06, 2005
*I'm a Pear!*
Awesome!
Pears Healthier Than Apples
I've never been so happy about my hips before! Yay for hips! Yay for Pears!~
Pears Healthier Than Apples
I've never been so happy about my hips before! Yay for hips! Yay for Pears!~
Friday, June 03, 2005
*They were ALL THAT*
Ever go through your old pictures and come across that one picture with all the "cute guys"?
Jeez... I had one of those moments today. I accidentally came across a picture with some guys I had a crush on back in high school. Now I'm thinking - What the HELL was I thinking? Boy was my world small then. I thought they were THE shit.
Now comparing how we are in high school (in North America), with these university kids I'm teaching over here in Japan... I'm amazed by the difference. They're such babies here! Not it a bad way, they've just obviously been really sheltered. The really funny thing is when you walk into a university classroom for the first time - the boys are huddled in a corner, and the girls are bunched together on the other side. Try lecturing to a class configuration like that! It's like watching a tennis match from the sidelines... My neck aches and my head spins after every class. I've come up with all sorts of devious ways to mix the boys up with the girls...
So here was my question for my second year students yesterday - When do Japanese boys realise that girls aren't scary? Because it obviously hits them SOME time... they DO get married and have children... but WHEN does this happen? I thought the university days were for "experimenting"??~
Jeez... I had one of those moments today. I accidentally came across a picture with some guys I had a crush on back in high school. Now I'm thinking - What the HELL was I thinking? Boy was my world small then. I thought they were THE shit.
Now comparing how we are in high school (in North America), with these university kids I'm teaching over here in Japan... I'm amazed by the difference. They're such babies here! Not it a bad way, they've just obviously been really sheltered. The really funny thing is when you walk into a university classroom for the first time - the boys are huddled in a corner, and the girls are bunched together on the other side. Try lecturing to a class configuration like that! It's like watching a tennis match from the sidelines... My neck aches and my head spins after every class. I've come up with all sorts of devious ways to mix the boys up with the girls...
So here was my question for my second year students yesterday - When do Japanese boys realise that girls aren't scary? Because it obviously hits them SOME time... they DO get married and have children... but WHEN does this happen? I thought the university days were for "experimenting"??~
Thursday, June 02, 2005
*One of those days...*
Ya know it's "one of those days" when you walk into the copy room, straight to the photocopy machine expecting to toast your bagel in it.~
*Babies*
One of the headlines from today's news in Japan:
Birthrate hits record low under 1.29 in 2004
Whoever's doing these studies into the demography and birth-rate in Japan obviously isn't looking or polling in the right places. Ever been to Lalaport or Ikspiari? These places are INFESTED with babies! There are couples who have 3 kids under the age of 6!
Anyhoo... Japan's great. The humidity's climbing, which indicates the beginning of bug season. I'm totally prepared for bug season. I have bug sand, flying-insects spray, crawling-insects spray, electric mozzy repellent, old-school mozzy coils, citronella garden pails, cockroach houses and ant bait. Actually, I think I'm more than prepared for bug season. I have enough bug stuff to wipe out the entire bug population in Chiba.
Have I mentioned that I hate bugs?~
Birthrate hits record low under 1.29 in 2004
Whoever's doing these studies into the demography and birth-rate in Japan obviously isn't looking or polling in the right places. Ever been to Lalaport or Ikspiari? These places are INFESTED with babies! There are couples who have 3 kids under the age of 6!
Anyhoo... Japan's great. The humidity's climbing, which indicates the beginning of bug season. I'm totally prepared for bug season. I have bug sand, flying-insects spray, crawling-insects spray, electric mozzy repellent, old-school mozzy coils, citronella garden pails, cockroach houses and ant bait. Actually, I think I'm more than prepared for bug season. I have enough bug stuff to wipe out the entire bug population in Chiba.
Have I mentioned that I hate bugs?~
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