Idle times...

Am into my second week of nothingness at the schools. Not going too bad actually, though I really need to figure out a way to exercise as I sit on my bum all day in the air conned しょくいんしつ and then go home to my room where I sit in the air con and check my bank account at 5 minute intervals to see if my tax return has been deposited. Should learn to be more patient as standard processing time is 2 weeks and that will be tomorrow night. Very happy if all goes well with the return as it will pay for my flight home in December and help shave off some of my credit card debt.

Kanji practice is coming along nicely. I've estimated I know around 150 kanji by sight and can confidently write around 40. Not too bad. Find it all therapeutic going through stroke order, kind of like meditation- instead of observing my breath I am keeping calm by counting my strokes. Ichi, ni, san, shi and so on.

Have many things to get done by next Friday when mum and dad arrive. Really looking forward to seeing them so can hug and laugh loudly and moan when the fancy takes me without being made to feel like some weaker species for offloading my emotions. Perhaps that is too much to say, but nonetheless looking forward to being with mum.

List making feels very productive so will pop these to-do things down here and check in later to see if I have scratched 'em all off my list:

1. Clean car (empty boot, remove shoes)
2. Cull clothes and bag up for garbage deposit
3. Clean bathroom (must buy cleaner first)
4. Vacuum all areas of my 'zone'
5. Nails (clean and polish)
6. Bleach
7. Organise paper work (phone and car papers)
8. Research international drivers licence (ask Chris/go to Akashi)
9. Re-schedule yoga class (call Miki-chan)
10. Wrap dad's Father's Day present
11. Download photos from けいたい on to computer

That's it for now, am sure some other to-do's will sneak their way in but that's all I need to do. Despite all this free time I really am getting things done. The only other thing I would like to do but have been shying away from is write another article. This one may be an annonymous piece though as a little sensitive. Not sure where to send it yet.

Forgot to mention 100 heaven last week. Found the cutest little red polker dot envelopes for when have miscellaneous messages/cash to hand out to someone. Love how Japanese women do their business in that manner. Also got myself a nice purple zip up folder to hold all me kanji worksheets in. Exciting I know!

This weekend might go to Midori and check out cameras for mum. Also might pop into JUNKUDO and get myself another John Grisham novel. The last one was such a tease- a great plot, awesome climax and then the most useless ending. Is called THE ASSOCIATE. Don't buy- email me and I'll be happy to offload to you:)

Stay tuned...

ぼちぼちやね

Well I'm having one of those days. Probably not the best day to be blogging, but there's not much else to do today. I'm not in a kanji mood though I did try to scribble down a few when I got to work this morning. I know I really only need to be able to identify the kanji to pass the JLPT but I really like being able to write them and think it helps me to remember them more easily. Was bloody shocked though, after only a weekend, how much I have forgotten! Must be this getting old thing hey?

Went to another lithography class on Saturday. My print was a summer inspired うちわ but it didn't turn out as well as my koala. Next class is in September. So have to start thinking autumn themes. Totally devoid of any inspiration...perhaps something 秋祭り related?

Yesterday was a trip to Osaka. Now I'm just not a fan of Osaka. I guess considering my first living experience in Japan was in Tokyo has something to do with it. Anyway got there around lunch time and was greeted with ridiculously hot weather and NO breeze, a million people (literally) and just a short amount of shopping time before we headed off to the big matsuri (forgot the name). Popped into H&M and found a nice flowy top which I'm wearing at work today and a summery striped tank which I probably didn't need. Nonetheless it was fun to poke around. The last H&M I went to was in Dubai where everything was a total mess and not fun at all. Matsuri was just stupid hot and a bit of a non-event because we missed the parade. Highlight was 200yen beers and a big frankfurt dipped in ketchup. Have decided to go easy on matsuri's now. Have been to three this season and to be honest, big or small, night or day, they are all pretty much the same. Did enjoy Aioi's PERON though, because the fireworks was amazing.

Have the potential to fall into a slump today and declare myself to be in a neverending rut, but doing my best to just not think that much. I guess that's my biggest downfall- I think and I think the worst, the most negative and then I spook myself about things that haven't even happened. Well, santa all I want for christmas is to be more positive.

So in the spirit of being positive and productive and rut-free here's a list of the things I'd like to achieve by the time I am 30 (next year!!):

1. Sit and pass the JLPT N4 level
2. Lose 15 kilos
3. Go to New York
4. Own a GUCCI handbag (shallow I know)
5. Find inner peace (world peace can wait til next year)
6. Be engaged

I will fulfill all these goals, all of them very attainable.

Peace out and here's hoping next time I log in I'll have loads of happy thoughts to get out!

Stay tuned...

夏休み

Schooools.. out.. for.. summer!! Thank you kami sama for this much needed reprieve. Although I have to spend the next 2 weeks coming to school because my holidays don't officially begin until August, I am using my time well. I decided to download all the material I could find on the JLPT N4 test and start studying the kanji, in anticipation of doing the exam next July. Thought December this year might be a bit ambitious, because although I could probably get the kanji together, I think I need to go back to the classroom and start having grammar based lessons. わ　か　で　を　に　etc are the bane of my existence at the moment. Not unlike many other people who study Japanese I guess... Must remember everyday to thank ole kami sama that my native tongue is English- just think of all our complex grammar rules and exception to the grammar rules, not to mention bloody phrasal verbs and idioms that originate from god knows where sometimes.

In other bloody exciting news, have booked my flight home for Christmas. Have managed to fly on days just outside the Japanese holiday season. Poor bloody Japanese, everyone has roughly the same piddly 5 days off, so they all have to fly on the same days and at ridiculously expensive prices. Had I left a day later, and returned a day earlier I would be out a further 40,000yen! Anyway am locked in for 16 days of Australian summer and couldn't be happier. Most important thing is I will be waking up on Christmas day in my house where we do Christmas the way I like it!

Mum and Dad will be here in exactly two weeks today. Can't wait to go shopping in Kobe with mum and just relax. We have one day trip planned for Hiroshima/Miyajima. Hopes it's bloody perfect weather that day and the torii in the water is on it's best behaviour, not skulking while the tide is out.

Need to pop down to 100yen heaven today- haven't been for a while and need some folders to store all my JLPT junk. And who knows what else I might find, eh?

Stay tuned...

p.s cooked ridiculously yummy chicken teriyaki last night. Thank you Nintendo DS game. Secret ingredients in the marinade- ginger + love;)