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