More Random Thoughts
Feb. 21st, 2008 11:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
teddogI reevaluated the Japanese classes. The factors were the following:
- When the class starts.
- How much the teacher thought I was getting out of the classes (IE, my test scores).
- When I get home.
The results were a bit surprising.
I came early, intending to drop the class and be done with it, but the only one who was there before was the teacher and we talked a bit about how the class was going and my thoughts on it. She was a bit surprised and excited that the only reason I'm taking the class is for recreational reasons. I admitted that I did want to eventually travel to Japan, mostly on an architectural tour or, failing that, a tour of various Japanese amusement parks for my coaster track record (which has been sadly dead for some time). She gave me some basic travel tips about when I should plan to visit and pretty much left the door open for any other travel questions that I had, even though any trip like that would be at least a year or two away.
Now, because the turn out for the early classes was so low, the class time got bumped back to 7pm. That works fine for me, well, except for last night because I couldn't eat. One problem solved.
Then came the test results. If I was failing, I was going to drop the class. Languages and I tend not to get along well, which is kinda funny considering I love studying culture. Last week's test came back... and I got 88%. WTF?!
Finally... there's no way to solve the going home problem. No matter what I do, I'm forever stuck at taking an hour and a half to get home. The process is...
- Hop on the 196 southbound. Hope and pray I don't die, since it's an express and the drivers are insane.
- Hop on the southbound Yonge-University-Spadina subway at Downsview station. Get off at Eglinton West station.
- Grab the 32 eastbound. Take it to Eglinton West station.
- Grab anything heading to Bayview. Thankfully, this list is huge: 34, 54, 56, 100. It's usually not a problem, but last night I was stuck for about 10 to 15 minutes waiting for ANYTHING to come. The result of that is I'm home sick today.
Any other route will result in either more transfers or more time. Barf.
There's also the issue that I came home late last night... and the light in the kitchen blew. So, I couldn't cook at all and had to wash dishes by the light of my fridge, which wasn't overly happy to have it's door open that long. :P
So, I'm just going to suck it up and complete this round of classes. They end early in April, anyway.
- When the class starts.
- How much the teacher thought I was getting out of the classes (IE, my test scores).
- When I get home.
The results were a bit surprising.
I came early, intending to drop the class and be done with it, but the only one who was there before was the teacher and we talked a bit about how the class was going and my thoughts on it. She was a bit surprised and excited that the only reason I'm taking the class is for recreational reasons. I admitted that I did want to eventually travel to Japan, mostly on an architectural tour or, failing that, a tour of various Japanese amusement parks for my coaster track record (which has been sadly dead for some time). She gave me some basic travel tips about when I should plan to visit and pretty much left the door open for any other travel questions that I had, even though any trip like that would be at least a year or two away.
Now, because the turn out for the early classes was so low, the class time got bumped back to 7pm. That works fine for me, well, except for last night because I couldn't eat. One problem solved.
Then came the test results. If I was failing, I was going to drop the class. Languages and I tend not to get along well, which is kinda funny considering I love studying culture. Last week's test came back... and I got 88%. WTF?!
Finally... there's no way to solve the going home problem. No matter what I do, I'm forever stuck at taking an hour and a half to get home. The process is...
- Hop on the 196 southbound. Hope and pray I don't die, since it's an express and the drivers are insane.
- Hop on the southbound Yonge-University-Spadina subway at Downsview station. Get off at Eglinton West station.
- Grab the 32 eastbound. Take it to Eglinton West station.
- Grab anything heading to Bayview. Thankfully, this list is huge: 34, 54, 56, 100. It's usually not a problem, but last night I was stuck for about 10 to 15 minutes waiting for ANYTHING to come. The result of that is I'm home sick today.
Any other route will result in either more transfers or more time. Barf.
There's also the issue that I came home late last night... and the light in the kitchen blew. So, I couldn't cook at all and had to wash dishes by the light of my fridge, which wasn't overly happy to have it's door open that long. :P
So, I'm just going to suck it up and complete this round of classes. They end early in April, anyway.
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no subject
Date: 2008-02-21 05:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-21 09:52 pm (UTC)But, yes, once I secure this knowledge, work will continue on my scheme to rule the media world!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-21 10:51 pm (UTC)*nods* The primary reason for learning another language, for me, would be the simple ability to enjoy the everyday culture of that country. And yet, I haven't even managed to learn French. Go, me. :P
I'd strongly suggest picking it up. It reads very fast and, while sometimes heavy handed, is pretty enjoyable.
Where would I even find such a thing?
no subject
Date: 2008-02-21 11:30 pm (UTC)The English version of volume one of Kino No Tabi was released in 2006. Amazon still carries it:
http://www.amazon.ca/Kino-No-Tabi-Beautiful-World/dp/1598164554/
And it sometimes pops up at odd places in Coles/Chapters stores, since nobody is quite sure if it's a science fiction novel, a teen novel or if it belongs with the manga. Or, heck, I could loan you my copy.