Makun

Keyboards with small space bars are difficult

2007-09-03T08:18:24Z

Moved into my room for the year today. Its about 3 times bigger then the room I have at home so instantly it has endeared itself to me. Also its on the 7th floor so I have somewhat of a view. A serious negative though is the likelyhood of now internets for at least 4 weeks. >.>

This internet cafe is a little far from the building but I am sure Ill make the effort for my fix.

Walking

2007-09-01T15:06:36Z

I was making my way back to the hotel this evening and decided to take a little walk to clear my head. I got off at sakae to do the 15 min walk back to the hotel and came across a band playing in the open in one of the park areas. I saw a couple of people with a guitar and mic outside one of the malls last night and didn't think anything of it, it happens in the UK. The band tonight was the proper thing set up (bass, drums, guitar) which was a little unexpected but I am really glad I decided to take the detour. I only caught the last couple of songs but I gots myself a leaflet and plan to see them on the 22nd. After watching Berryz earlier its turned into a good day for live music :)

:D

2007-09-01T09:40:33Z

Oh the awesome XD. My first concert in Japan and it was thoroughly fun. I haven't stopped grinning.

It was great to see Anna again. Her English is impressive nowadays which makes me kind of hopeful I can reach an similiar level of fluency in Japanese by the end of the year. She speaks to me in Japanese regularly which no one else really does, its nice.

When we got to the concert I got my first climps of the otaku fan base that follow the band....
Oh my good God. It was like looking at all the things about Japanese society that make me sad and generally feeling sorry. I noticed 2 girls out of the entire bunch. The rest where 20 something to 30 something Japanese men who looked so inent on the concert it scared me. I almost felt like not going in and being associated with that kind of crowd.
I got past it though and went in and thankfully the people near us where a bit more sedate then the rest of the arena. I say sedate in a kind of staring intently, not moving a muscle.... at least they were quiet and let me alone.
The girls where great though :D Seeing them for real was well worth it and although the played songs mainly from the 4th album which I don't really know yet, it was good fun. I had my glow stick and waved it about a bit. I may have even shouted out my favorite members' name when everybody else did >.<

I am seriously concidering taking a flight to fukouka next weekend to see them again there. I really want to travel around Japan and this seems like a good opportunity. Just have to see how much its gonna set me back....

Alones

2007-08-30T10:11:30Z

Bought myself a shirt today :D
Could have easily bought more but I want to be responsible with my money until I can get my hands on my bank account properly.
This means that no electric dictionary nor phone for me yet but soon. My UK vodafone found the network here and connected quite happily which is a pleasant surprise. I "can" use it out here and take advantage of my contract to an extent. As long as I don't mind paying 75p at the beginning of every call >.>

Argh argh. I just put my music into this laptops iTunes and a whole bunch of tags have changed themeselves. Argh. Why iTunes? why do you hate me so?

maakun @ 2007-08-29T15:34:00

2007-08-29T15:07:53Z

I fskcing hate flying!!! I loathe it! it is by far my least favorite activity. It is misery incarnate to me.

That aside I am now in the Nagoyan hotel typing away on the old wi-fi. I feel thoroughly displaced at the moment and not just because I didn't eat anything for a day. Its not a bad little room but there are no free plugs.... the fridge and TV take up the only 2! *grumble* shall have to design a system for recharging rights.

I have decided to try a system of tasting every onigiri and every coffee I see. Todays onigiri was tastey and filling and until I get my dictionary out I don't actually know what it was. The cafe mocka was absolutely scrummy and was devoured in seconds. mmm, i think i want more...

Weeee, I get to see berryz on saturday :D. I actually know how to get to the place now which was worrying me but now there is a ticket waiting and a map prepared.

Argh

2006-12-08T19:41:54Z

So today I finally managed to arrange a time to do my assessment on a Foreigner learning English. Ami was lovely about it and very helpful (although less then pleased about needing to be recorded) anyways due to reasons out of my control (it seems every building in the Uni closes earlier on Friday's) we came to my flat to do the work. All went well and I just walked her home. Because I didn't know she was going to be coming here I didn't have chance to remove my more embaressing items of Jpop (i.e. momusu poster plus discs). All went fine until she saw the poster on the back of my door on the way out. She laughed all the way back to her halls.... thats a good 10 minute walk. YAY!

maakun @ 2006-11-28T20:12:00

2006-11-28T19:12:08Z

Oh my head is full. So much to do but my head hurts. Not much time left before the end of term and the deadlines are looming. I have been more pro-active then last year but still gonna be having many a late night.
The 4th years gave a presentation on their year abroad in Japan today. Most of them went to Nagoya daigaku and it looked kind of tempting. I was thinking about going to Nagoya before hand anyways because of its geographical position in the middle of the country. My major concern is how much its going to cost and what kind of loans I am going to need. I would have asked Amano sensei but she looked knackered (she's lost her voice and felt rotten all day, bless her).
Need to get through this year first though XD

Kitto Daijyobu

2006-06-23T18:20:55Z

Provisional marks show me as having passed the year, w00t!

maakun @ 2006-05-10T02:00:00

2006-05-10T01:03:12Z

Well its 2 o'clock on the last night i'll be in this room. An odd feeling but im sure i'll get over it. Tomorrow/today is going to be hellish. Mother is arriving in Preston around 11ish so that we can get everything in the car nice and early. At some point before 1:30 I need to get a bankers draft for next years rent sorted and paid in. After that I have a 3 hour exam on Nationalism and Imperialism in Asia answering questions I get to choose about India and China (OMG so dead). Finally to top it all off the 4 hour plus car journey back to Crawley...
I still need to finish packing, ars.

maakun @ 2006-05-05T12:15:00

2006-05-05T11:10:39Z

Sugar. Just left the flat to go and buy a memory stick, go to the library and get some lunch. Just left the flat wearing my slippers and not realising until I was in the courtyard. Makun = fscking foo'

maakun @ 2006-04-29T01:07:00

2006-04-29T00:12:05Z

Thus ends a 4 exam week. Sodding horrible. I think everything went ok apart from business which I felt I fluffed up. Ah well, in theory through my other work already done I have passed the module but still wish I could have had a better showing.

Its looking likely that I will be leaving Preston for the summer on the 11th of May. Not far away at all, odd to think I won't be in this room ever again after that date nor live with all the people I do now.
I want to go home but I want to maintain the little freedoms that I have here that aren't possible at home. Ah well, if all goes well I'll have next year to look forward to.

Phew

2006-04-25T13:03:22Z

Just had my Japanese aural exam with Iwakami-sensei. I think I did ok and she said there were only small mistakes however I did forget the verb for tired when I tried to expand a sentence (I almost said I am having a holiday because I was bored not because I was tired). Ah well glad its over. Its the last time I'll be taught by Iwakami which is a shame though as I could just gobble her up sometimes, she's lovely :)

Background essay writing went reasonably well yesterday. 2 down 4 to go.

maakun @ 2006-04-22T19:18:00

2006-04-22T18:19:39Z

Back in Preston after an enjoyable stay over at Ho's. It was refreshing to see her again and catch up. *gets on with unpacking*

maakun @ 2006-03-27T01:05:00

2006-03-27T00:09:01Z

Yooooooooooosh! Finally finished the bleeding background to Japan report. Been trying to do it for the past 3 weeks but it just kept on evading my attention. It has to have been the most painful thing I've had to write since coming to Uni. Ah well, its done *bounce* (p.s. Katie is a star for letting me use her printer)

Now one more deadline to meet and then pretty much free until Easter hols. w00tzor.
For those people who want to know whence I returnith I should be back in Crawley on the 9th/10th. Looking forward thoroughly to my 14 days off and perhaps earning some cash (mental note contact Kelly's)

oink

2006-02-04T23:13:10Z

Biji, biji, biji. Many things to do and plenty of time to not do them in.
Semester has started well apart from having to change Japanese class. The new class isn't bad although the lecturer employs a rabbit in the headlights policy. She scans the room for the flagging/sleepy student and pounces on them with a question in just a way to put your mind completely blank and make you feel very stoopid.

Got my name down for a new flat next year. Ladywell house about 5 mins walk away from this place. There will be 5 of us and I am living with 3 of them now anyways so all should be good.

Home

2006-01-27T19:36:53Z

Being home rocks XD
Although I may lodge in Preston and enjoy my time their it doesn't have the goodness this place does. Sorry if I make people feel homesick.

maakun @ 2005-11-04T15:10:00

2005-11-04T15:01:13Z

Weeeee! At last I have the net in my room *bounces*

at last

2005-09-29T19:36:17Z

Wai wai! Emma has let me on teh net in her room.

heh heh, juice!

2005-09-29T10:40:24Z

I haven't had a full week yet and already I have 4 essays and a portfolio that need to be done (>.<)
Its not to bad though. Nov is the earliest deadline. It does suck huge ass though that my christmas and next summer holiday homework has already been set.
uhhh, light headed. On the tail end of the flu/cold thang. Drinking sake and 10 o'clock in the morning probably doesn't help either.
I intend to go out tonight about 7ish to meet up with the Japanese society and the Grey Friar's. Its not a funded society so I don't need to sign up which I like.
Oh and it looks like internet in my room may never come to be. Kos has said that he'll let me use his if I needs too which is nice. Might try and set up a network from he's PC and leech.

maakun @ 2005-09-24T14:20:00

2005-09-24T13:21:08Z

Uguuu~ Emma seems to have the symptoms of freshers flu. I'll probably get it now.

fumes

2005-09-23T12:56:57Z

Argh not a good start. 3 lessons missed already because nobody seems to know whats going on in my course!

Just a quicky

2005-09-22T12:43:18Z

Begger me it feels like I have been here years already -_-
Thats not to say that I haven't been enjoying it...
I have been really lucky with the peoples in the flat as we all get along quite well.
The internet in the halls is aggrivating as it refuses to work for me *wails*. Fortunately I can do most things in the library. As coincidence would have it a girl from my course is sitting behind me *stares at her*.
There are only around 6 of us doing the course.
I have nothing to do until monday now so I am just going to tag along with either emma or katie for the weekend. Tonight is a school dress-up night at a local nightclub and they are dressing up XD. I may go along with them (dressed up or not) so I can be social and make friends (not to perve like an old man, oh no)

maakun @ 2005-09-15T00:02:00

2005-09-15T00:17:37Z

2 days left in Crawley. Eep. I just need the loan peoples to pull their finger out... ("being processed" they say). My funds have been savaged by the lovely people who are providing me with accomodation in Preston. Managed to get a 150 pounds discount though XD. Mother and I are going up on saturday and she shall deposit me there until Christmas holidays. On monday we went on a bit of a splurge for supplies. Ended up with new trainers, 3 fleeces and a coat which is very snuggly :)

Left work on last friday which was pleasant. Gail (I think thats how she spells it) phoned me in the morning to wish me luck and remind me to come back. There is a tradition of making people who are leaving speak over the tannoy. This is supposed to be a team building thing with clapping and people being interested in what you have to say. Generally it is flop with only Sue (team leader) playing along. I was spared though as they all forgot I was going. (Alex did try to make me do it at the end but I ran away). Over all it was probably my best job. No heavy lifting, my own music, nice peoples and towards the end I had an apprentice(which made it a whole lot better).

I haven't posted anything about going to Japan yet... It was over 2 months ago @.@
Me and Mr Finch spent 2 weeks in Narita which is about an hour away from Tokyo. I was able to sleep through most of the flights out (much to Alex's chagrin). I suck at flying and not being ill all over the place is always a bonus.
We landed in Japan early in the morning looking like death and proceeded to find our nearest source of internet. After revitalising ourselves at the internet spring (first encounter with a drinks machine) we set off to tackle the rail system. It turned out to be really easy to get from the airport to Narita itself (only one stop).
I think we arrived in Narita at around 8 am. It was pretty much dead with mist all over the place. Using maps provided by Alex's father we made our way to the hotel. It takes about 20 minutes from the station to the airport if you know the way. We didn't but managed to find it without much difficulty (it being huge and sort of sitting by itself in a clearing may have helped). By now we were more then a little feeble from carrying luggage and respite seemed to be nearby. As sod would have it the hotel policy is that people who book on line can't check in till 3pm... Right we said, we'll have a look around Narita and get something to eat/drink. I quite enjoyed this at first as we set off for the nearest shopping mall (oh Aeon I miss thee(and I imagine it misses my money)). We walked the long way round but found it in the end.
My memory blurs here as the next bit I remember is sitting near a little river a good walk away from Aeon. It was a really nice spot where we could sit and relax a bit. It hadn't got 'bloody' hot yet and I found it quite pleasant. Its a funny spot. Surrounded by town with a main road bridge less then 500 yards away. Pedestrian bridges on both sides and grass embankments with some concrete steps and walkways. After a while we both decided it was close to 3pm and we should return and collapse in the room. Alas unfortunately when we arrived at the hotel again we realised it was around 1pm. WTF happened there neither of us know. We sat around in the entrance/check in/slash ball room for a while and got some memorbale looks from the foot staff. (one of which thought we should be going to airport again!) After a while we set off again to walk around again. By now the humidity and heat had increased. Memory fails again and we magically arrive in our room.
I was quite chuffed with the 'pad'. 2 Beds, nice AC, fridge and a deep bath :). We got a 20 inch plasma screen TV as well that was thoroughly used. The kettle was an arcane device which took a while to master (no on button). I think we spent the rest of the day pretty much in the hotel unpacking and recovering. With our first forays into Japanese TV we were treated to a selection of adverts which had us bemused and in stitches. (exploding stuffed panda tails and affros the size of tractor wheels)
Probably the major attraction in Narita is the Narita-san temple complex. We ended up going 4 times at least. The original shrine is about the size of a 4 four bedroom detached house. The newer building is about the size of a sports hall with a semi-detached houses on the west and east sides. That was pretty big but a little way off is the caligraphy museum which is flipping hooooge. The temple grounds sported some great views of Narita (being on a hill and all) The best bit for me was probably a little grove to the east of the main temple. Its reached by going down some stone steps into the trees (it was a lot fresher down there so we stayed a while). Its a little valley with paths leading through. On one side is waterfall about to people high which feeds a little stream that follows the path. On the other side is a little storage building. All wood traditional Japanese looking. This leads to some ponds and paths that take you around the hill. Further up the path is surrounded by standing stones all ingraved with Japanese script. They are impressive works of art ranging from small modest sizes too being taller then Alex (over 6 foot).

I grow weary now and shall continue this recall another time.

Yoooouhsii

2005-08-26T09:11:24Z

Japanese GCSE result = A*
XD

wibble

2005-06-21T13:55:50Z

Waaaah. Need to pack.
Going to Japan tomorrow and damn that came round quick. uber panic is starting to subside. Just hope I don't forget anything >.