12/20/2005: "Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, and a merii kurisumasu to you as well."

My Christmas Tree

First and foremost, Merry Christmas. The above image is a photo I took yesterday of my Christmas tree. Do ignore the excess, non-Christmas-tree-stuff. I was working on a Christmas photo of myself with full reindeer antlers, but unfortunately the camera wasn't charged. It's not even my digital camera, so.. such is life. I'm considering looking into the possibility of buying a digital camera for Christmas or my birthday.. but that's another story for another time.

Just got my final grades back today. Not so bad, all told. Art, Writing, and Japanese were all A's and a B in Math. I also registered for my Spring classes over the weekend, so I (hopefully) don't have to worry much about school such-and-such until mid-January.

Other than that, now that school's out for a month or so, there really isn't much worth talking about that's happening on a daily basis. Today, I met with Aya (someone I was introduced to about a month or so ago) for the last time before she goes back to her home in Japan. Hopefully we'll be able to keep in touch via e-mail. Still, though, I couldn't help but remember all the different, quick meetings with people I'd meet for the last time before I left for Tokyo and again when I left to return to America. I'm not one for flashy, or even decent, goodbyes. Ask Citlali. We've parted ways 3 times already, and we've yet to actually have a proper goodbye. Hitomi, well.. I've said "goodbye" to her for the last time.. 5-6 times. I guess you never really know who you'll see again, so it's not quite worth giving up right away. Anyway, the past aside, we had a nice conversation and I had a nice afternoon.

Tomorrow/Today/Tuesday, I don't think anything's planned. Clearly, I should do something productive with my free time (like clean my room or somesuch). In an effort to be productive, I will be watching anime through most of the day, possibly breaking from time to time to drink more caffeinated beverages and play a quick round of a game or so inbetween. I think this is long overdue, anyway. Wednesday, going to get a check-up and some new glasses. Thursday, meeting with someone. Friday, no clue. Saturday, celebrate Christmas at home. Sunday, go up to my father's house to celebrate Christmas. Somewhere in there, I need to buy some stuff and mail out last-minute Christmas packages and cards that won't possibly make it until well after Christmas.

Oh, and I need to return some Japanese books to the University library before I leave town for WA (next week). I hear they get a bit 'upset'-ish if you steal their books for an extended period of time.

Speaking of WA, I'll be away from my house from Christmas day until.. the 7th-8th of January. Shouldn't matter, but assuming any letters or anything is sent to my address, I won't be around until then (highly unlikely, but worth mentioning). I'll still be checking my e-mail addresses (just e-mail whichever one you're most familiar with, I check all of them at least daily), writing here, and checking the message board while away. Again, shouldn't be too important, but it can't hurt to mention. I also should be online at night, so maybe I'll be able to keep in touch with some people.

Other than some site-related stuff (regarding MN, and the possibly soon-to-come associate site) and further info on the WIP build of the CCSakura game, not much else to talk about, I suppose. It's also late at night, so I likely stopped making sense awhile ago.

Off to bed, sleep for awhile, get back up and watch some movies. All day long.

Ack! Almost forgot!! Included under "more..", in the "extended entry" (which is what my journal program calls them. I just throw extra stuff in there that I don't want to clutter the main page with), I posted the transcript from my Japanese oral presentation. This is what was written on my final draft that I read from while practicing, including the actions, which were notes to myself. First in romanized Japanese, then a translated English version.

Anyway, I should be off. I'll write later..

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Japanese Oral Presentation
12/06/2005

[Japanese]

Title: Nihon no Eigo no Jugyou

*start
-minasan, sugu ni jugyou wo hajimemasu. shizukani matte kudasai.
-jugyou wo hajimeru mae ni dareka shitsumon ga arimasuka? shitsumon
wo kikitakattara, ima kiite kudasai.
*wait
-iie, sakuradasan. nihongo de kiite ha ikemasen.
-hoka ni.. *wait* tanakasan, douzo. *wait* hontoda.
-fuyuyasumi ni gokazoku to amerika ni iku tsumori desune? omiyage wo
kau yotei desuka?
-iidesuyo. tanoshisou.
-aa! jugyou wo hajimemasu. suwatte kudasai. minasan, kyoukasho no
284pe-ji wo akete kudasai.
-mannaka kara yomemasuka? dare ga yomitai desuka?
*wait. sigh. choose instead
-ishidasan, hai. douzo, yonde kudasai.
*wait. look confused
-ishidasan, shukudai wo shimashitaka? *wait. get upset* dameyo!
mainichi shukudai wo shinakute ha ikemasen!
*sigh
-boku ga yomimasu. "The bird flew to the store to buy a carton of
milk."
-"bird" ha nihongo de nan to iimasuka?
*wait
-ushi ja naidesu. *write* kono kanji no yomikata wo shitteimasuka?
tori desuyo.
-imi ha nanda to omoimasuka? *pause* hai, soudesuyo. minasan,
wakarimashitaka? kinyoubi ni test ga aru kara, uchi de renshuu
shite kudasai.
-tsugi ha... nanisore? ee? kochira ha jugyou ja nai da? koko ha
donna tokoro? quiz no game show? quiz no game show ni iru no nara,
watashi ha dare? *pause* host ne? naruhodo! wasuretta!
-Jaa, game wo shimashouka?
-ichiban! *pause* sesame street no big bird ha naniro?
*wait
-akaino? *sound effect, make X* elmo darou! Bsan, naniro?
*wait
-hai! *sound effect, make O* iiyo. tsugiyo!
-niban! yuumeina uta no naka de, nanbangou to iu? *wait* hayaku
kotaeru...
-Bsan, hai! 867-5309? *sound effect, make O*
-sorekara, *pause* hai? nan to ittano?
*pause
-demo, watashi ha host. *wait* uso! watashi... watashi ha anohito
janai. anohito janaine. *pause* watashi ha... hitler no?
*drop, yell
-iyaaaaaa...! *quiter, fade*
*walk up, look back
-zannen desune. *look ahead* kochira ha *pause* Twilight Zone.
-owarimasuyo!

[English]

Title: Japanese English Class

*start
{{Formal}}
-Everyone, class will begin soon. Please wait quietly.
-Before class begins, does anyone have a question? If you want to
ask a question, please ask now.
*wait
-No, Sakurada-san. You must not ask in Japanese.
-Anything else.. *wait* Tanaka-san, please. *wait* Really?
-You intend to go to America with your family on winter break?
Do you plan to buy souvenirs?
-That's good. It sounds fun.
-Ah! Class will start. Please sit. Class, please open your textbook
to page 284.
-Can you read from the center? Who wants to read?
*wait. sigh. choose instead
-Ishida-san, yes. Go, please read.
*wait. look confused
-Ishida-san, did you do your homework? *wait. get upset* That's bad!
Everyday, you must do homework!
*sigh
-I will read it. "The bird flew to the store to buy a carton of milk."
-What is "bird" in Japanese?
*wait
-It's not cow. *write* Do you know how to read this kanji? It's a
bird, of course.
-What do you think the meaning is? *pause* Yes, that's right.
Did everyone understand? Because you have a test on Friday,
please practice at home.
{{Informal}}
-Next is... what's that? Hm? This isn't a classroom? What kind of
place is this? A quiz game show? If this is a quiz game show, who
am I? *pause* Host, right? That's right! I forgot!
-So, shall we play a game?
-Number one! *pause* What color is Sesame Street's Big Bird?
*wait
-Red? *sound effect, make X* That's Elmo! B-san, what color?
*wait
-Yes! *sound effect, make O* That's good. Next!
-Number two! Within the famous song, what number do they say?
*wait* Answer quickly...
-B-san, yes! 867-5309? *sound effect, make O*
-Because of that, *pause* yes? What did you say?
*pause
-But, I'm a host. *wait* Liar! I... I am not that person. I'm not
that person, right? *pause* I am.. Hitler?
*drop, yell
-Nooooooo...! *quiter, fade*
*walk up, look back
-Sad, isn't it? *look ahead* This is *pause* Twilight Zone.
-Done!
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Jason