Just thought I should say that I'm rather looking forward to Hitoyoshi. You probably already know I'm not doing the rafting [due to extra cost, even with it being good value on the time front], but I'm looking forward to seeing the town and - hopefully! - making something.
One thing, however.... if I make a knife, would Customs allow me to bring it home?!
Wednesday 23 June 2010
Wednesday 16 June 2010
Whale Wars Addendum
As much as I enjoyed that episode, I thought that it didn't go into as much detail about the whaling situation in Japan as I think it could have done [no mention of embezzlement or bribes].
However, I did like the fact that Japanese whaling and environmental activists are both criticised.
Also, I'm not entirely sure how Hiroshima and whaling would be connected in real ife, or even if they ARE actually connected.
_:_:_
Just reading an article on Japan Today (here: http://japantoday.com/category/entertainment/view/cove-star-calls-on-hollywood-to-save-dolphins) and I'd actually like to see The Cove. Wonder if there's any way to do so [I assume it's not out on DVD or anything yet?]
However, I did like the fact that Japanese whaling and environmental activists are both criticised.
Also, I'm not entirely sure how Hiroshima and whaling would be connected in real ife, or even if they ARE actually connected.
_:_:_
Just reading an article on Japan Today (here: http://japantoday.com/category/entertainment/view/cove-star-calls-on-hollywood-to-save-dolphins) and I'd actually like to see The Cove. Wonder if there's any way to do so [I assume it's not out on DVD or anything yet?]
Whale Wars
NOW I think I know why it's so bad to kill whales... or at least, part of the story why!
I know this article's only from Yahoo! News, but nonetheless it's pretty cool to know that something as base as whale poo can help our planet: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20100616/tsc-whale-poop-fights-climate-change-stu-c2ff8aa.html
The title for this post comes about from the name of a reality TV show in an episode of South Park.
_:_:_
The story: One of the kids (Stan) is at a whale and dolphin park for his birthday treat and a whole pile of Japanese randomly kill all the dolphins and whales there. Stan is so upset about how the day went that he goes to his three best friends (Kyle, Kenny and Cartman) to tell them of the problem, only to find that they're playing a videogame where you are part of a band, complete with insturments for controllers.
This video shows how apathetic/uncomfortable the kids are in response to the issue [WARNING: Some bad language, but it's only 1:30 long. Sorry about the bad quality, but I didn't upload this myself]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5whxrvlb4Q
After that, Stan tries to get his friend Butters to help him with the cause. Butters says no but tells him about Whale Wars, an [apparently real!!] US reality TV show about an environmental activist group who try to prevent illegal whaling. Stan joins them, is unimpressed with their 'stinky butter' 'weapons', lights a flare gun and sinks the ship.
As Whale Wars becomes more popular, Kenny and Cartman join Stan just to be on TV.
A battle between the Whale Wars team and the team for another reality show - Deadliest Catch - ensues, with the three children being cptured and taken to Japan where they learn from Emperor Akihito that whaling is done in retaliation for the Hiroshima bombs and shows Kenny, Stan and Cartman a doctored photo of a fighter plane with a whale and a dolphin on board. Stan declares that as a fake and shows then Prime Minister Hatoyama the 'real' photo.... with a cow and a chicken on the plane instead.
In the end, the Japanese go on a rampage killing lots of cows and chickens and Stan's dad congratulates him for making the Japanese "normal, like us."
I know this article's only from Yahoo! News, but nonetheless it's pretty cool to know that something as base as whale poo can help our planet: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20100616/tsc-whale-poop-fights-climate-change-stu-c2ff8aa.html
The title for this post comes about from the name of a reality TV show in an episode of South Park.
_:_:_
The story: One of the kids (Stan) is at a whale and dolphin park for his birthday treat and a whole pile of Japanese randomly kill all the dolphins and whales there. Stan is so upset about how the day went that he goes to his three best friends (Kyle, Kenny and Cartman) to tell them of the problem, only to find that they're playing a videogame where you are part of a band, complete with insturments for controllers.
This video shows how apathetic/uncomfortable the kids are in response to the issue [WARNING: Some bad language, but it's only 1:30 long. Sorry about the bad quality, but I didn't upload this myself]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5whxrvlb4Q
After that, Stan tries to get his friend Butters to help him with the cause. Butters says no but tells him about Whale Wars, an [apparently real!!] US reality TV show about an environmental activist group who try to prevent illegal whaling. Stan joins them, is unimpressed with their 'stinky butter' 'weapons', lights a flare gun and sinks the ship.
As Whale Wars becomes more popular, Kenny and Cartman join Stan just to be on TV.
A battle between the Whale Wars team and the team for another reality show - Deadliest Catch - ensues, with the three children being cptured and taken to Japan where they learn from Emperor Akihito that whaling is done in retaliation for the Hiroshima bombs and shows Kenny, Stan and Cartman a doctored photo of a fighter plane with a whale and a dolphin on board. Stan declares that as a fake and shows then Prime Minister Hatoyama the 'real' photo.... with a cow and a chicken on the plane instead.
In the end, the Japanese go on a rampage killing lots of cows and chickens and Stan's dad congratulates him for making the Japanese "normal, like us."
Sunday 13 June 2010
Mental Health
I have a friend who may be bipolar or have clinical depression and I've noticed that in the university publications that us 留学生 had delivered to our home addresses before we came to Japan, there is no mention anywhere of counselling, and I have absolutely no idea how they'd be able to get get help if they were to come to Japan.
Just from what I've generally observed through watching the news; reading newspapers et al is that mental health is generally kept quiet about, which makes me think that it's more than likely a taboo subject out there.
I think it would be a very interesting topic to cover - if indeed a complex one - although the fact that there could be some painful issues brought up makes me think that it might be best to leave it out for now.
Something slightly more relevant coming up soon....
Just from what I've generally observed through watching the news; reading newspapers et al is that mental health is generally kept quiet about, which makes me think that it's more than likely a taboo subject out there.
I think it would be a very interesting topic to cover - if indeed a complex one - although the fact that there could be some painful issues brought up makes me think that it might be best to leave it out for now.
Something slightly more relevant coming up soon....
Sunday 6 June 2010
1b: Communication's Lost Addendum
I should mention that I alwasy find conversation a sruggle because there's more often than not at least one word I don't understand, but I never have writing materials on me when this happens [and no,using my phone hadn't occured to me!!] and I have such a bad short-term memory that by the time I try to file this one word/conversation away in my mind, it's lost in a black hole *spooky echoing voice* forever.
Saturday 5 June 2010
2: 敬語の悪夢とほかの健吾の礼節
ついて、このポストは敬語ではなします。
イギリスに敬語がありませんよかっただよ！！そして、礼節の意味合がありわけではないんです。真正直のような言うにしろ、礼節の争点で思いましたことはないんです。
私の知っ ている限り, 英語は特定の礼節のような単語がありませんの同じように日本語があります。
フランス語の礼節の謙語にもだけ本当に二つの「あなた」があります： "vous" [ブー] は "君たち、あなた" に等しいで言葉と"tu" [テュ] は "君" に等しいで言葉です。このテーブルで見てうださい： http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~cama/france/lecon/lecon3/tu_vous.html
礼節の質問はずいぶん複雑です。 ほかの謙語の礼節はだろうか。
イギリスに敬語がありませんよかっただよ！！そして、礼節の意味合がありわけではないんです。真正直のような言うにしろ、礼節の争点で思いましたことはないんです。
私の知っ ている限り, 英語は特定の礼節のような単語がありませんの同じように日本語があります。
フランス語の礼節の謙語にもだけ本当に二つの「あなた」があります： "vous" [ブー] は "君たち、あなた" に等しいで言葉と"tu" [テュ] は "君" に等しいで言葉です。このテーブルで見てうださい： http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~cama/france/lecon/lecon3/tu_vous.html
礼節の質問はずいぶん複雑です。 ほかの謙語の礼節はだろうか。
Thursday 3 June 2010
1: Communication's Lost
Continuing with the communicatino theme in class, I'm going to mention a few more experiences of communication problems I've had.
_:_:_
Firstly, an incident that happened last Sunday. I was at a festival with my choir club and all the other choirs of Kumamoto [the 60th one, apaprently]!
After rehearsals - which were from 9-6 and before which I'd had no time ot clean my teeth or wash or really do anything to make myself look vaguely presentable - , some people took bikes into town while myself and about 3/4 others took a bus in.
On the way to the bus, I remember a conversation taking place between myself, the senpai and another member, both of whom were asking me whether I had a busy schedule. I remember saying that I'd planned on going home at half 7, but the senpai said something like "Heeee-eeee? But it starts at half 7".
Apparently everyone was going for drinks, and I'd thought it would be a relatively peaceful (?!?!) 1 or 2 before heading home, which I would have had enough money for along with the bus there and back.
I just remember being in an utter panic and responding with the first thing that came into my mind because I thought not responding at all would be very rude. So I ended up saying I was going to go along for drinks.
HOWEVER.... when we got into town, it turned out that EVERY SINGLE PERSON who'd been at rehearsals that day was there and we were going for tabenomihoudai; but [in my mind at least] nobody had told me this.^
In the end, the only thing I felt able to do was fake a stomachache. The senpai from choir accompanied me on the bus all the way back to university and gave me a hug before I went upstairs to bed.
I felt a little bad that I was missing out on all the fun of tabenomihoudai, but frankly I'd been stressed enough at rehearsals without having to sit and talk and drink with a load of people who I'd never met before and would perhaps never meet again.
^ One thing I should add is that as part of being Aspie [I may or may not have mentioned that I have Asperger's Syndrome in a previous post], change and routine disturbances are not always appreciated.
I can ususally handle change to routines and if something ends up cancelled at the last minute, I might get annoyed for a few minutes but then calm down and understand why.
However, in this case as I was stressed about finances, my inability to speak Japanese, being so scruffy and being on a big stage in front of a load of people, I found that something was bugging my eye in the lifts on the way up to the tabenomihoudai place.
Then there was the fact that I spent most of the time while I was there hiding in the toilets and calling a friend in tears.
_:_:_
I did tell a couple of people that I didn't have enough money to do much but I don't think they listened. Or maybe my attempts at vaguely hinting I wanted an early night missed.
But I'll tell you something I learned that day:
_:_:_
Firstly, an incident that happened last Sunday. I was at a festival with my choir club and all the other choirs of Kumamoto [the 60th one, apaprently]!
After rehearsals - which were from 9-6 and before which I'd had no time ot clean my teeth or wash or really do anything to make myself look vaguely presentable - , some people took bikes into town while myself and about 3/4 others took a bus in.
On the way to the bus, I remember a conversation taking place between myself, the senpai and another member, both of whom were asking me whether I had a busy schedule. I remember saying that I'd planned on going home at half 7, but the senpai said something like "Heeee-eeee? But it starts at half 7".
Apparently everyone was going for drinks, and I'd thought it would be a relatively peaceful (?!?!) 1 or 2 before heading home, which I would have had enough money for along with the bus there and back.
I just remember being in an utter panic and responding with the first thing that came into my mind because I thought not responding at all would be very rude. So I ended up saying I was going to go along for drinks.
HOWEVER.... when we got into town, it turned out that EVERY SINGLE PERSON who'd been at rehearsals that day was there and we were going for tabenomihoudai; but [in my mind at least] nobody had told me this.^
In the end, the only thing I felt able to do was fake a stomachache. The senpai from choir accompanied me on the bus all the way back to university and gave me a hug before I went upstairs to bed.
I felt a little bad that I was missing out on all the fun of tabenomihoudai, but frankly I'd been stressed enough at rehearsals without having to sit and talk and drink with a load of people who I'd never met before and would perhaps never meet again.
^ One thing I should add is that as part of being Aspie [I may or may not have mentioned that I have Asperger's Syndrome in a previous post], change and routine disturbances are not always appreciated.
I can ususally handle change to routines and if something ends up cancelled at the last minute, I might get annoyed for a few minutes but then calm down and understand why.
However, in this case as I was stressed about finances, my inability to speak Japanese, being so scruffy and being on a big stage in front of a load of people, I found that something was bugging my eye in the lifts on the way up to the tabenomihoudai place.
Then there was the fact that I spent most of the time while I was there hiding in the toilets and calling a friend in tears.
_:_:_
I did tell a couple of people that I didn't have enough money to do much but I don't think they listened. Or maybe my attempts at vaguely hinting I wanted an early night missed.
But I'll tell you something I learned that day:
- Slow DOWN. Don't respond straight away with the first thing that you believe makes sense to you and the other party in a vain attempt to be polite - stop and think, even if it maybe means having to pull out a densji jisho in the middle of the road or something.
- Bulid up self-confidence in speaking Japanese. On reflection, I think this is by far the biggest hurdle I have facing me.
- If you say you're ill, then you will be looked after as best as possible!
First one in a VERY VERY long time... sorry!
I'm sorry I wasn't in last week's class. I don't feel comfortable divulging the reasons in such a public space, if that's OK.
Seeing as I've not written one for almost two weeks, there's a lot for me to witter on about. So much, in fact, I may have to do several 'short' (haha!!) entries, seeing as everything I want to talk about wouldn't really fit together cohesively in one that took up the whole of your average computer monitor.
じゃ、よっし。。。。
Seeing as I've not written one for almost two weeks, there's a lot for me to witter on about. So much, in fact, I may have to do several 'short' (haha!!) entries, seeing as everything I want to talk about wouldn't really fit together cohesively in one that took up the whole of your average computer monitor.
じゃ、よっし。。。。
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