Life

Life is finally starting to pick up pace again. But when I say pick up pace, I actually mean do a billion assignment and tests in a really short space of time. It's pretty dumb, I'm not going to lie. This week Ryan and I had a linguistics test on Monday worth 2o percent of the total grade. The test was on first language acquisition, so basically questions about aspects of children's use of language and the way they learn language. This also includes child-directed speech as it is an important aspect of the process of learning a first language. It was a very fascinating topic, minus the syntax lectures, which are always a little dull, but Ryan and I are both looking forward to moving onto second language acquisition.

Tomorrow, we've got a translation assignment due for Japanese which basically involved translating a documentary script. The documentary is about the population of brown bears living in the Shiretoko Peninsula in Northern Japan. Apparently there are quite a few bears in certain places in Hokkaido and they can be quite dangerous, too! Anyway, that assignment is finished. It wasn't too tough but there were a few sentences which I struggled with, as well as a few nuances of the Japanese language which I am still unsure of how to translate. In addition to this, it's hard to know exactly what level of translation our Japanese lecturer is after, so I'll just have to cross my fingers and hope I've done the right thing.

The assignment I'm working on at the moment is for International Relations and it's about cultural traditions and how they've shaped the structure of state power. I'm feeling confident so far. All my research is done and I've started writing so now I've just got to put my head down and work hard.

Wish me luck!

So that's due next week. Afterwards, I have a Japanese test, Linguistics assignment and Japanese Drama test to worry about. Then 'holidays' in which I'll probably just be doing assignments. Good times.

In other news, Ryan and I are currently seriously considering the idea of going to Japan next year as exchange students (to Japan, of course). We've got a university that we'd like to go to (Kansai University in Osaka) and talked to a student who went on an exchange last year about life and also about how she funded the exchange. There are quite a few scholarships available, however there is no guarantee we will be able to get them. But we'd still really like to go. At the moment, it is incredibly difficult to be motivated for Japanese as Ryan and I have reached the so-called 'intermediate plateau' in which it feels like we aren't progressing at all. It's very awkward, and I feel certain that the only way to become fluent is through complete immersion. Thoughts? We can talk this weekend!

Looking forward to being home :)

Love Erin

Earthquake in Japan

Wow. The recent earthquake in Japan has been absolutely devastating, hasn't it? It has been absolutely horrible to watch about the destruction on the news, especially since Japan holds a special place in my heart. For all those wondering, Shoko, Chie and their family's both OK. Gifu is a fair distance away from the epicentre, and because it isn't a coastal prefecture, they didn't have the worry of any tsunamis. Chie told me that all the trains were stopped in Tokyo. Japan's train system is amazing and always on time, so this is HUGE.

Actually, my Japanese tutor this year is from Sendai, which is were most of the destruction was to the best of my knowledge. But our teachers e-mailed us to let us know that her family is OK which is a relief.

Earthquakes everywhere. Makes the one in Christchurch seem a little more insignificant :/

Poor Japan.

In other news though, the 10 of March marked the English release of the newest POKEMON NINTENDO DS GAMES. Black and white. I couldn't resist. I ordered them off MightyApe for Ryan and I, only to cause huge trouble with delivery. They were to arrive Friday. Courier NZ tracking told me when they had left, arrived in Wellington.... DELIVERED. I was excited. So so excited. Down to the mailbox, nothing. We waited a little, just in case. Nothing. Checked again... Nothing. We even asked the receptionist numerous times. NOTHING. By this time I was a wreck. Waiting with anticipation for the whole week and NOTHING. Arrrg. Called the Courier they said, "Well it's been delivered, have you checked it's there?" ONLY A THOUSAND TIMES O_O They took our details and got back to us. Apparently the Quest (hotel part of apartment) Is notorious for not giving people their parcels (so, slack in other words). Ryan went down. And they had it all along...

Oh well. It's a great, amazing, fantastic game. I probably won't do anything else for the rest of my life... xD

Erin

Apologies

I apologise immensely for my lack of post-age.

I doubt anyone actually looks at this any more because I never post!

But now that we've got the internet up and running, I can post whenever I want and I can even upload photos! Hurrah!


So, what's been up lately, you may ask?

Well, not much to be honest. The last two weeks of the holidays pretty much consisted of relaxing at home. Watching anime, cooking, baking, reading, walking etc. etc. Not to mention sorting stuff out like organisation of the apartment and setting up the internet and whatnot.

Ryan and I took our thermos out a few times and had coffee in various locations. Our favourite was the waterfront and below are two pictures of our adventures.



But now that university has started, both of us are trying to concentrate on study so such events don't happen as often anymore.

But that's OK. :)

Speaking of Uni, it is going very well. Nothing exciting to report, in fact nothing much exciting to report in general. I have tuesday's off and friday's are very cruisey with only one class but the other days are pretty full-on. Other than that though, my classes are generally enjoyable and I already have a few assignments to worry about at the back of my mind.

Well, until next time when I have something actually interesting to write about!

:)