Wow, I somehow skipped the entire month of April. Too busy studying and partying. :) I have officially graduated magna cum laude with majors in International Studies and Sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University.
I have official dental clearance from the Peace Corps (the letter came in yesterday) so now all that I am waiting for is my medical clearance, which will definitely be much tougher to pass. We'll see! I will be volunteering at Heartland Human Care Services this summer, assisting an English class and tutoring one-on-one. I also applied for a job as a receptionist to earn some money over the summer, but if that doesn't work out I won't be too sad about it. More time for vacation!
If you can't tell already, I have been pretty much chillaxing since graduation. I am watching Battlestar Galactica, various anime series, and various network shows; rewatching Stargate SG-1 in preparation for Gatecon, and annoying the poor volunteer coordinator to make sure I can get my required English tutoring hours before my Peace Corps assignment begins. I have also been keeping up with the k-pop fandom (I appreciate Super Junior's BONAMANA album, f(x)'s NU ABO, and the Wonder Girls' 2 Different Tears - I bought the last eight tickets for their Chicago concert!). My friends also created an entirely new card game based on the binary numeral system so I had to (kind of) learn how to count in binary.
The highlight of my vacation so far has definitely been Anime Central, the Midwest's largest anime convention. I have missed the past two years so coming back to it was so much fun! Friday my friend and I first went to H-Mart to buy some yummy Korean alcohol (막걸리 and 소주) and eat some delicious Korean food (부대찌개).
I went to a Naruto panel (yes, I watch it and yes, I enjoy it), a Fullmetal Alchemist panel (lame since the panelists failed to show up), Whose Line is it Anime? (absolutely hilarious), Soul Eater panels featuring Japanese voice actors Yumiko Kobayashi (Black Star), Narumi Takahira (Patty), and Kouki Uchiyama (Soul); a Fairy Tail panel (spoilers galore!), and amv viewings. I somehow also managed to fit in manga shopping (catching up on series I have been behind on for a year). Needless to say, great day!
Yesterday I went to a One Piece panel (I can't wait to see how the current anime arc ends!), a Soul Eater panel featuring Kaori Nazuka (Tsubaki), autograph sessions for the Japanese Soul Eater cast (all the voice actors and the producer), a Soul Eater panel featuring all of the Japanese voice actors as well as two English voice actors, the masquerade (kind of - it was streaming live), amv contest winners viewing, and said friend's birthday party! I also bought more manga and the cutest onigiri shirt!
Best ACen ever for me, probably because I actually attended panels instead of spending all of my time in the dealer's room! Right now I am biding my time before my graduation party for the family. I know that some of my relatives will be like "why isn't she going into something useful, like nursing?" but I am very happy with my decision to go into the Peace Corps even if I am unsure of my career path after my service ends. I'll hopefully be updating this lovely blog more now that I have loads of free time, so please bear with me, my reader(s), and thanks for stopping by!
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Monday, October 19, 2009
Halfway done but still going strong!
I have LOTS to blog about concerning the last two weekends. I should be studying for my Korean Social Welfare midterm in three days...
So, JAPAN! We left from Gimpo Airport and arrived at Kansai International at approximately 10:30 AM. After a bus ride and delicious shellfish free bento we arrived at the Golden Pavilion, which is really gold.
I bought charms for my parental units, my language exchange partner, and of course myself. Hehe. The next stop was Nijo Castle, home of Tokugawa Ieyasu. It was pretty sweet. I couldn't stop thinking of Rurouni Kenshin (for those anime fans out there).
Next stop, the hotel and meeting my Technos buddy! Thankfully everything went according to plan and I met up with her and her roommate. I decided that I wanted to see the Gion district to possibly see a modern day geisha, and this worked out well since they were meeting friends there. I wanted something really Japanese so they took me to a sushi conveyor belt place that was all sorts of delicious.
While waiting for her friends to show up we chatted about life, studying abroad, memories of our first time in Japan...good times, good times. When we did find her friends they were a tad intimidating but overall pretty cool people. After finding them food we chilled on the riverside. One of the best things about Japan is the fact that there are so many rivers to chill on! I unfortunately had to leave (early start the next day) but I loved being able to see her again, back in Japan! Joelle, whenever you are in the Midwest, facebook me so we can go sushi hunting!
The next day was dedicated to the purpose of the CIEE excursion - the Korean diaspora. First on the agenda, though, was a walking tour of Kyoto, which in reality meant visiting various temples and shrines. We managed to observe a traditional wedding!
At Osaka we took a tour of Korea Town, where of course the largest concentration of Koreans in Japan can be found. Meat, kimchi, and various Korea foods could be smelt all around. I suppose I should say something meaningful here about what I learned...the number of Koreans is decreasing thanks to interracial marriages and those kids identifying themselves as Japanese. Since Koreans in Japan are third or fourth generation the language nor culture is not being passed down as much in favor of assimilating into Japanese culture. However, with the hallyu wave of Korean pop culture sweeping Asia I think more ethnic Koreans are taking pride in their heritage.
At night we were left to explore Osaka. Friends and I went to eat non-deadly okonomiyaki and of course go shopping. I ended up buying more Engrish shirts to add to my growing collection. I can't wait to wear them around IWU, hehe.
Sunday we left for the ancient capital of Japan, Nara, now the deer capital. No joke. Deer EVERYWHERE. We went to Todaiji Temple (largest wooden one in Japan) and Nara National Museum. We ate a delicious traditional lunch and returned early to spend our free time around Osaka. I bought legit clothing, surprisingly enough, and an art book for my 姉, which resulted in all my yen being totally spent!
For our final day in Japan, we went to see Osaka Castle, home of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. This was the dude who decided to invade Korea in order to prove his manhood or something. Yay Japanese history!
We then had to go to the airport. :( I loved being in Japan. I could actually communicate with people! But ultimately I am glad that I chose to study abroad in Korea - the food's cheap, my classes actually apply to my major, and I have met some pretty awesome people!
Back to routine. The week before midterms was full of people asking teachers for breaks and less homework. I had to work on a presentation for my Intercultural Communication class about Social Identity theory with a friend. I think we did fine - the class didn't seem too bored! Wednesday night I went to N Seoul Tower with my language exchange partner, adding to my list of towers that I have visited around the world (Tokyo Tower, Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Sears Tower). At the bottom was this ADORABLE teddy bear museum and the view at the top was excellent. I could see Seoul in all its sparkling glory! Anyone recognize the 궁 bears?
What did I do after that...oh yeah, I basically studied the entire weekend, with generous breaks for a traditional music concert, watching One Piece, and a 노래방 jam session with people I should hang out with more often. Today I had my Intercultural Communication midterm - I think I knew everything on there, but the extent to which I knew those things is to be determined by the professor. We'll see! Well, this turned out to be a picture post more than anything - I'll update Facebook with photos come December. XD More blogging after midterms!
So, JAPAN! We left from Gimpo Airport and arrived at Kansai International at approximately 10:30 AM. After a bus ride and delicious shellfish free bento we arrived at the Golden Pavilion, which is really gold.
I bought charms for my parental units, my language exchange partner, and of course myself. Hehe. The next stop was Nijo Castle, home of Tokugawa Ieyasu. It was pretty sweet. I couldn't stop thinking of Rurouni Kenshin (for those anime fans out there).
Next stop, the hotel and meeting my Technos buddy! Thankfully everything went according to plan and I met up with her and her roommate. I decided that I wanted to see the Gion district to possibly see a modern day geisha, and this worked out well since they were meeting friends there. I wanted something really Japanese so they took me to a sushi conveyor belt place that was all sorts of delicious.
While waiting for her friends to show up we chatted about life, studying abroad, memories of our first time in Japan...good times, good times. When we did find her friends they were a tad intimidating but overall pretty cool people. After finding them food we chilled on the riverside. One of the best things about Japan is the fact that there are so many rivers to chill on! I unfortunately had to leave (early start the next day) but I loved being able to see her again, back in Japan! Joelle, whenever you are in the Midwest, facebook me so we can go sushi hunting!The next day was dedicated to the purpose of the CIEE excursion - the Korean diaspora. First on the agenda, though, was a walking tour of Kyoto, which in reality meant visiting various temples and shrines. We managed to observe a traditional wedding!
At Osaka we took a tour of Korea Town, where of course the largest concentration of Koreans in Japan can be found. Meat, kimchi, and various Korea foods could be smelt all around. I suppose I should say something meaningful here about what I learned...the number of Koreans is decreasing thanks to interracial marriages and those kids identifying themselves as Japanese. Since Koreans in Japan are third or fourth generation the language nor culture is not being passed down as much in favor of assimilating into Japanese culture. However, with the hallyu wave of Korean pop culture sweeping Asia I think more ethnic Koreans are taking pride in their heritage.At night we were left to explore Osaka. Friends and I went to eat non-deadly okonomiyaki and of course go shopping. I ended up buying more Engrish shirts to add to my growing collection. I can't wait to wear them around IWU, hehe.
Sunday we left for the ancient capital of Japan, Nara, now the deer capital. No joke. Deer EVERYWHERE. We went to Todaiji Temple (largest wooden one in Japan) and Nara National Museum. We ate a delicious traditional lunch and returned early to spend our free time around Osaka. I bought legit clothing, surprisingly enough, and an art book for my 姉, which resulted in all my yen being totally spent!
For our final day in Japan, we went to see Osaka Castle, home of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. This was the dude who decided to invade Korea in order to prove his manhood or something. Yay Japanese history!
We then had to go to the airport. :( I loved being in Japan. I could actually communicate with people! But ultimately I am glad that I chose to study abroad in Korea - the food's cheap, my classes actually apply to my major, and I have met some pretty awesome people!Back to routine. The week before midterms was full of people asking teachers for breaks and less homework. I had to work on a presentation for my Intercultural Communication class about Social Identity theory with a friend. I think we did fine - the class didn't seem too bored! Wednesday night I went to N Seoul Tower with my language exchange partner, adding to my list of towers that I have visited around the world (Tokyo Tower, Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Sears Tower). At the bottom was this ADORABLE teddy bear museum and the view at the top was excellent. I could see Seoul in all its sparkling glory! Anyone recognize the 궁 bears?
What did I do after that...oh yeah, I basically studied the entire weekend, with generous breaks for a traditional music concert, watching One Piece, and a 노래방 jam session with people I should hang out with more often. Today I had my Intercultural Communication midterm - I think I knew everything on there, but the extent to which I knew those things is to be determined by the professor. We'll see! Well, this turned out to be a picture post more than anything - I'll update Facebook with photos come December. XD More blogging after midterms!
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