JLPT Results

So as an aspiring Journalist or writer I figured I should try to post at least everyday. I WILL post about Magome and Tsumago but something did happen today that I want to discuss.

I got my JLPT Results andddd I failed.

Yep. I failed the N4 JLPT. And here are my results in full:

Scores by Scoring Section	Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar), Reading	38 ／ 120
	Listening	30 ／ 60
Remarks	Vocabulary	B
	Grammar	B
	Reading	C
Total Score		68 ／ 180

 

 

A : Percentage of questions answered correctly is more than 67%.
B : Percentage of questions answered correctly is between 34% and 66%.
C : Percentage of questions answered correctly is less than 34%.

I don't know where to go from here. Mostly cause I need to pass the N3. If I don't bye bye Japanese Major. I mean it isn't a huge deal. BUT I really do want it. And my Japanese is improving. I am having conversations I don't have to rely on subtitles as often! I have to begin to read more and write more.

I can do this! I know I can. I know some people told me I can't, but I want this!

Since coming to Japan I realize I really love this country. I want to see more of it. I want to come back! I want a job where I can speak it and keep in contact with those I can discuss things with in the language. I want this so badly.

I will do it! I cannot and will not let this failure get me down I will use this to fuel me to surpass my track record. I will register for the N3 and I will do my absolute best! And if not next semester then after that! I will do this!

Well look at that.... I guess I do know where to go from here.

More Trips But First a Letter

So Yea I plan on posting of my trips starting with Magome/Tsumago. Hopefully will get to it tonight, but first I want to discuss a letter I received today.

I really don't know how to feel about it.

A while back I was in the International Center of the school with Leah waiting till we could go shopping. A wild looking crazy lady walked in. I mean her hair was a mess, she was literally in rags. Her shirt was torn, knotted, a washcloth was used as part of it. She looked as if she hadn't washed up in about a good couple of days. She had the biggest smile though.

I forget her name, just that it began with an A... and that she was Japanese but had been to the States and could speak English and Japanese. She also had ADD/ADHD. She thought we were kindred spirits when she guessed that I must've had it as well. We talked and chatted for over an hour, she had tons of paper scraps of things that she would proudly show to me. And eventually I managed to disengage from the conversation and Leah and I went shopping together. I hadn't expect to hear or see her again. Mostly I thought she was crazy and I kinda thought my Mom would have a field day when she found out mostly cause she always complained of me meeting the strangest people.

Last night I went to go check my mail. I rarely get anything but I wanted to see if my results came for the JLPT. And there was a letter from Chukyo, turns out she had sent a letter to Chukyo and they forwarded it to me.

The letter itself was a mess. Cryaon, Marker, tattered with pen. Written out to Chukyo University International Center to Ashley from North Carolina, USA.  The return address is all Kanji and the zip code is 3 numbers followed by a question mark.

On the back was a smiley face and a flower.

Inside the letter was a scrap of paper with a castle on it or some building, some stickers from a cellphone company called softbank, and a tattered letter (1 page) made up of 2-3 pieces of paper and written in different pen colors.

I can't really read the first half... it is a lot of Kanji I don't know. Then it switches to English: (I'm guessing YR= your)

"take YR time. SAY "元気？!"(Lively/good health/how are you)2 yr buddy. Load of s*** is happening in the states, but no worries lots of specialists R franticaly examining how 2 make this world a better planet so YR generation will B comfortable making babies. 

Next Month I am going 2 have a ovary taken out due 2A tumor, It could B cancer. I am writing every1 I have met just in case I do not make it. 

Tks 4 being there @ that time and being U! Stay Sweet" 

So for some of my readers who may have difficulty understanding, basically she wrote to me cause she thinks she might not make it through a surgery on an ovary that might have a cancerous tumor.

This....makes me feel sad. I don't think I can do anything but pray. I can't write back really... I doubt I will see her again. I mean... I just don't understand why she would go through such lengths to write to me. Especially when we talked maybe 2 hours or so.

I really don't know what to think about this.

Movies

So first lets begin with Tuesday,

I went with Leah to go see Avengers!!! 

YESSSSS!!!

Let's just say movies in Japan are very very different than movies in America. The prices were good pretty much the same as American, you know slightly expensive. But They had some added twists like they gave you a tray for the popcorn and snacks and you had the cupholders like always. However upon purchasing the ticket you were also able to select your seats.

NO MORE SCRAMBLING TO FIND A PLACE FOR EVERYONE!!

haha Well sorta, since it was just Leah and I we picked a place in the center of the Theater. It was so worth it.  Leah and I wandered around the mall more, it reminded me of the fancy malls back home, you know where everything is luxury, brand name, designer. It was pricy stuff. But We came back got some snacks and there were some rules even chewing too loudly was against the rules.

In Japan you have to wait to get seated, they only will let you in 10 minutes before the movie. And so around that time, they call out the movie they are going to seat and everyone lined up. Strange, just a bit. You had the previews then it went straight into the movie which was subbed and not dubbed (Though Dubbed was an option)

I loved it, but I have to say I think Japanese and Americans are also different when watching the movie. In America we talk and interact with it. You know, cheering, Oooooing, and Aaaaahing, and what not. Japanese just watch it quietly. I had to be careful not to do what I normally do but even when I laughed it was just Leah and I.

And they are the parts you are supposed to be laughing at!!! Only part I heard them remotely laughing was when Loki got smashed by the Hulk.

After the credits Leah and I were talking and reacting as normal, people stared. But all the pent up excitment really at that point poured out. Something about a good movie that just gets you pumped up so so sosososososoossoooooo much!

Anyways back to Tokyo I will blog about that later.... and Himeji, And Yokohama, and Motoyama, and Kyoto....

Yup the list is long my friends

Just another weekend

So cleaning has been coming along slowly... But it has made progress I just need to wrap it up soon...

On Thursday I hung out with Kimiyo again. Maisoue also came we went to an Italian Resturant called Cannery Row. I loved it, it was very good but again the Japanese don't drink a lot with their meal. I tried at least everything and the pasta portions were so large I could not finish mine.

You were also allowed to get Salad and kinda appetizer things. Kimiyo always wants us to eat a lot even if we are full. She also thinks I like Shrimp so she gave me all of hers... Now the little unshelled shrimp made me gag like normal... I dunno why! I hadn't had that reaction in so long. But the one still in the shell that I had to peel I was able to eat. Maisoue said it was cause of the moisture. I kinda believe her.

We later went shopping at the Department Store she also bought us sweets since the fruit shop was too crowded to go to. I bought a nice dress and then some matching shoes and rose hair pins. I'm going to wear it sometime and have Maisoue take a picture. I really want to do something nice for Kimiyo... any ideas?

Also-

Really I have a problem with my camera.

After Himeji something got stuck on the inner lens now it is in all my pictures and it is awfully annoying. So I asked Kodak what I can do and they said I had to get the receipt then send it to America for repair... and they didn't know if they could do it.

Just my luck getting ready to go to Tokyo and Magome/Tsumago and I have no Camera!!! AGH! What will I do??!

I could buy a new one but Im not sure if I should...

Recently

Dear Me I hope the Himeji trip doesn't become like Kyoto, Matsumoto, and Yokohama (I WILL WRITE ABOUT THEM I PROMISE!!!!)

Overall I am doing well... I really need to go through everything and just pick out what I know and what I remember I feel bad that  really never update this. 

I've been cleaning, a lot.... it seems like it never ends. I am also running low on money... so I am going to be borrowing some from home soon. And I mean probably a lot since I am taking trips to both Tokyo and Tsumago and Magome....

 I am still worried about money not much else I can do. I would also like to get a CD of the concert I had on Sunday. It was 10 hours long.... very exhausting and I didn't go to the party afterwards to help me save money. On Sunday I did get to talk to my parents which is nice. I miss home sometimes.

It has been storming a lot recently. A lot of rain so it makes me hesitant to do laundry even though I need to do it at this point. It just annoys me that I have to rely on the dryer and not the washer. I am probably going to hang out with Kimiyo today. I will see if Mallory can come.

Also my camera is broken, well not broken but a tiny hair has gotten in the way of things... which makes me unhappy.

It is on the inner lens and I will have to get someone to take apart the camera to fix it... I don't know what to do... I told Mallory she can try to take it apart, but I am nervous. What if it gets broken permanently??? Ah well it is late and I need to sleep... I am pretty sure I should've expanded but another time. I chalk it up to the other 10000000 things I have to do and write about. First is the room, Ive made some headway I can see the floor and the closet is wonderfully organized. Just need to wash Dishes, clear desk, vacumn floor. Lol did I mention it Never Ends?! 

Relaxing in Himeji

So I think this was probably the best idea ever. Like seriously haha.

Right now I am so relaxed right now for the first time in a while. Like I really am not worried with the gigantic pile of work and money and whatnot. I am really enjoying my time here and I've gotten around quite well. A couple struggles here and there but nothing too bad.

For those of you who do not know I am currently in Himeji, I booked a trip last week (finalizing it on Monday!!!) It is an overnight trip, merely a pop in and out kinda deal but man-o-man was it worth it.

It was pricey in some ways on travel and hotel it is around 20,000 yen (Over $200) But that was because I used the Shinkansen (Which while expensive did give me more time to travel and explore) And I am staying at a nice hotel (It wasn't too bad about $70 a night) Apparently it is supposed to be more expensive I think... considering when I told a tourist information lady where I was staying she was like "Oh that is a very nice hotel very expensive!" Is it bad that I don't think 7,000 yen is that bad for a night stay? I think it is cause then one in Yokohama was around 3x that price even if it was two nights)

Desk!

Bed, with pajamas, I noticed Japanese Hotels tend to include those...

Either way needless to say I am enjoying myself. I'm glad I came here. I really am. Anyways In order to motivate myself I've been keeping a notebook writing notes of my travels so I blog later. I am probably going to add more commentary. Anyways it is almost 1am, time for me to chill and I will write everything tomorrow :D

Meiji Mura Festival!

(Written Yesterday )

So today I went to another Matsuri as well as rather unsucessfully tried wearing a Yukata. (Well I wore it but it kept coming undone. Yukatas are very diffcult to wear! Just letting ya'll know.

I learned how to do a Hair Knot. (Sorta) It looked alright though. Meiji Mura is a town made of buildings that were moved and restored. There were some impressive ones! I cannot wait to upload the pictures I took, we really didn't look at the town as much as eat food and walk. By the way Geta the wooden sandals hurt after a while.

Most of the night we exchanged stories, we talked. I was with Miho my tutor and a friend of hers. So the conversation took place in broken English and Japanese. Mostly Japanese though which made me feel happy I just hope my Japanese continues to improve.

Overall the fireworks were awesome I wish they were longer... I felt they were too short. It made me quite bummed out.

Here are the Fireworks!!!

Travel Plans Made! Sorta

Heya,

So far Japan still remains to be pretty hot. I've been staying up later, still getting nothing done. Somehow I managed to not blog about 3 major trips which I need to do so. I ended up going to the travel agency at the school.

I've made an overnight trip to Himeji for next week. I dunno how much it will cost just yet. But I am excited none-the-less.

I dunno what I will do there. But I heard the castle is wonderful even if it is under construction I am excited.

So Himeji, Tokyo, Magome/Tsumago, and someplaces in September, and in and around Nagoya. Seems like Summer will be expensive. But worth it. I am excited.

Overall summer is going to be relaxing I think. There is still so much to do. Right now I should be cleaning. But the heat makes me wish I was home cleaning my room there (It would be so much easier and cooler haha)