゜*。(*´Д`)。*° Finals are over!!

Finals are over for this semester. I have no idea how I did on my exams yet but I know I passed em! Or should have. This means I finally have some free time to put some content on here!

I am planning to go to Japan for around a month this may/june and I hope to assemble some relevant information on here as I prepare! I know it seems far off now, but the day will arrive before I know it.

I'm not sure where I'm going to go other than Kyoto~ I want some kitsune udon (I'll put some info on that later). It looks and sounds really yummy! (No actual foxes are used).

Where else to start looking? Hmm. It's hard to say. I'd love to meet up with one of my blogging friends but I'm not sure how to pose that without sounding like a weirdo. He's a teacher in the field I want to go in, so I would love to establish a better rapport with him. One needs to keep those connections fresh as well as finding someone to talk to while I'm there. It helps to build a network before you get someplace. Never know when a job offer might open or at least someone can point you in the right direction.

I'm really excited and very nervous at the prospect of this trip. I hope I can follow through with it. I don't have much choice when it comes down to it. I really need to visit at least once before I move there.

Hope you are all doing well!

International Festival

So.. Today we are having an International Festival on campus. All levels of the Japanese language students are performing a song. I thought I'd share the song since it is pretty cute. I plan on putting up some pictures when I get back home after the performance (as long as I'm able to take some interesting ones).

Wish me luck!




Lyrics for Ashita ga aru sa

Romaji

ashita ga aru sa asu ga aru
wakai boku ni wa yume ga aru
itsu ka kitto itsu ka kitto
wakatte kureru darou
ashita ga aru ashita ga aru ashita ga aru sa

kaisha wo okoshita yatsu ga iru
kaisha ni nokotta ore ga iru
aseru koto nai sa aseru koto nai sa
jibun ni iikikasu
ashita ga aru ashita ga aru ashita ga aru sa

atarashii jousih wa furansu jin
bodii rangeeji mo tsuuyou shinai
kore wa chansu kore wa chansu
benkyou ni shinaosou
ashita ga aru ashita ga aru ashita ga aru sa

aru hi totsuzen kangaeta
dou shite ore wa ganbatteru n darou
kazoku no tame? jibun no tame?
kotae wa kaze no naka
ashita ga aru ashita ga aru ashita ga aru sa

chikagoro no wakai yatsu wa toyoku iu keredo
jibun no koro yori daibumashi
oome ni miyou oome ni miyou
keigo ga dekinai kurai
ashita ga aru ashita ga aru ashita ga aru sa

ashita ga aru sa asu ga aru
wakai boku ni wa yume ga aru
itsu ka kitto itsu ka kitto
wakatte kureru darou
ashita ga aru ashita ga aru ashita ga aru sa


Translation

There's always tomorrow, there's always tomorrow
I'm young, and I have dreams
Surely some day, surely someday
You'll see
There's always tomorrow, there's always tomorrow, there's always tomorrow

There's a guy who left work to start his own company
I'm still left behind here at work
There's no need to hurry, there's no need to hurry
I tell myself
There's always tomorrow, there's always tomorrow, there's always tomorrow

My new boss is French
Body language doesn't even work with him
This is my chance, this is my chance
I should start studying again
There's always tomorrow, there's always tomorrow, there's always tomorrow

One day I suddenly thought
Why am I trying so hard?
For my family? For myself?
The answer is in the wind
There's always tomorrow, there's always tomorrow, there's always tomorrow

Some say that young people aren't very good at their work
But they're better than myself when I was young
Just let it pass, just let it pass
That they can't be polite
There's always tomorrow, there's always tomorrow, there's always tomorrow

There's always tomorrow, there's always tomorrow
I'm young, and I have dreams
Surely some day, surely someday
You'll see
There's always tomorrow, there's always tomorrow, there's always tomorrow

The Japan Guy's Survival Guide

Thanks for your patience.

I haven't read this but I know that Donald wouldn't put out anything that wasn't 100% his best. I don't have the cash to nab it but I think it's awesome that he put it together. Alot of this info was available on his blog too somewhere but I imagine he's gone into greater detail (maybe moved that information as well xD..) to put this together. He's one of my favorite bloggers. :) Give it a look or if nothing else poke around his site!


*Update* Donald-kun decided to offer this to free to anyone who signs up his newsletter instead of charging for it. He always has such great guides and he's pretty funny too, so why not sign up for it?

Book Review: Gambatte Means Go For It, Or... How to Become an English Teacher in Japan

This book is geared to individuals who have not begun their preparations for moving abroad to teach in Japan (or any country). It is filled with practical knowledge such as when to get your passport and what vaccinations you should have. There are extensive contact and website listings, but I do not feel that the material delves deep enough for anyone who has done even preliminary research.

Still, if you are looking for information about the broader scope of becoming an English teacher overseas this small guide is a good place to start.


You can buy it here!

Tamago-ago!

So, tomorrow I am going to try my new recipe for sweet egg rolls, Or as they are commonly called tamago. I'm also going to make some dumplings and egg rolls. I stopped by the local Asian grocery, some of the ingredients are not common, to get mirin. It is a sweet rice vinegar that is used in many common Japanese dishes.

Are there any other types of dishes that I should try to make? My dumplings are going to be beef and pork with veggies. I am also going to try a recipe for carrots in an orange chili pepper sauce. I still need to find some of the items used in it.

I am looking forward to seeing how these work out!


- Nanami posting from iCharlie

Brrr..! It's getting cold

The autumn season is upon us, with the last days of fading warmth. It is a little melancholy. My fiend, Yoko-San, and I were discussing how Japan looks in the fall. She laughed when I asked her if the leaves changed color in Kyoto as drastically as they do here and told me it is quite beautiful there. I assume that is related to the fact it used to be the capital and because of all of the temples and shrines located in Kyoto. I would love to see it sometime! She is from Osaka. I wonder if she gets homesick or if our studies keep her too busy?










This is one of my favorite times of year. :)

Aki means fall.

Koyo means autumn leaf.











I saw some pretty leaves around campus.










I love the red and orange ones best.










Yellow leaves are pretty too!










The squirrels kept playing. The were so cute!










Winter will be here soon though.









Kide!









I didn't mean to get my cane in this one lol.










Ii desu.










Kide!










:)










A different angle can change the whole perspective.










Can I be scenery too?

Yoroshiku!

My name is Nanami. I am a graduate student studying ESL and Japanese. I am here to present you with my journey, eastward bound as it is, to Japan. The plan is to become an English teacher there after I graduate next year. I plan to record things such as my learning experiences and teaching methods/plans that I learn about as well as more mundane things like new recipes I learn for Japanese cuisine! I am still studying Nihongo at a beginner level so please bear with me. Recently I tried making tomago, and I was pleased with the results. I need to modify the ingredients as it was too sweet. I will post my recipe later this week! Jyaa matte ne!