A JASON!!?!?! Yes, they live.

Current Sounds: Ayaka - Why

What's it been? 6 months or so since I last wrote? Rest assured, this website/journal hasn't been forgotten. Not by a long shot. In fact, I even paid for more webhosting, bought and moved the domain, and challenged charges related to it all the while doing absolutely nothing with it. To be honest, not a week went by when I didn't think of something I wanted to post, be it a picture, video, or short missive on what's been going on in my life.

"So," the casual observer may ask, "why didn't you write, you lazy bum?"

"Simple," I'd reply with practiced non-chalance, "I had too many things to say and not enough words to say them with."

In short: writer's block. Or not so much a block, but a sheer and complete inability to put the complex events and feelings into words. So I came up with a great solution: To not talk about it at all and simply move forward. So that's what we're gonna do, dear reader! It's a new year and time for new things. No sense in letting the past hang us up, right?

Where've I been the past 6 months? Living, basically. I've had amazing gains, and harsh, soul-tearing losses. I've been in speech contests, I've taken (and passed!!) Japanese proficiency tests, and I've traveled. Went to a lot of places actually, all that I wish I could write about. Have hundreds of pictures too.. but hey, we're not going there, remember? (e-mail me if you want some updates, though, be it pictures or otherwise). I've bought new furniture, and I've taught myself how to knit (are either of these useful...?).

So though last year was a mixed bag, I regret none of it and would generally call it all a great experience. But enough of that!

What we're talking about now is 2010. It's already the 5th, and there's a lot to do in only 360 days. My goal for this year is to pass the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) Level 1 (the top level.. I took and passed level 2 last year in July), in the summer, take the GRE, and apply for graduate school sometime this year. I toyed with the idea of attending grad school in 2010, but for the sake of "living while you're young" (and I can still be insanely irresponsible without it really affecting anyone), so I decided to stay in Japan as a teacher for 3 years for more real-world experience and to save more money. Plus, the economy stateside's kinda shady, if you know what I mean.

Though most of those goals are still quite a bit off, I try to study Japanese for 3-4 hours a day, 4 times a week (plus meeting with my friend/coworker and studying together). Take that, yo.

And.. well, that's pretty much where I stand, as I write at 1:45am here in Japan, now officially 24 years old. Though older, I don't seem to be taller or wiser quite yet, though I'm working on at least one of the two of those.

I should be going, but I just wanted to get something down and get myself back in the swing of writing and logging my life again. For anyone who's curious, however, I did make a video of my 24th birthday (I had a little party!). For your viewing pleasure.

Off I go.. and don't miss me too much.
Jason on 01.06.10 @ 01:51 AM JST [link]