これからだよ

I've sent my application to the JET embassy in London, and I received a card today saying they'd got it. I guess all I can do now is wait... (and study Japanese for the written test and interview... assuming I get an interview!) eee

Back again...

So I said I was done, but I've decided to update this blog again... to say... I'm currently mired in the application process for JET. I'm applying to be a CIR. The UK application is still not open, but luckily I have pretty much all the materials I need for it. I'm really excited about this and I hope I get in. Of course I want to return to Japan, but I also want to *work* there. In fact, I want to work, period. I'm tired of being a broke student.

In other news, I've started learning Korean and am enjoying it a lot, especially its many grammatical similarities to Japanese which makes things easier.

I'm still missing Japan and I'm still in reverse-culture shock. I wish I had kept this blog updated properly,  but I've got stacks of photos and a box of various mementoes from Japan, so I won't forget anything. 

I'll update again when/if there are any developments re JET.

goodbye japan

This will probably be the last entry to this blog-

I'm back home in the UK and not liking it very much. Feels like black and white after technicolour Tokyo. I miss my friends and my happy Tokyo life. All I can think about is getting back. The lifeplan remains unchanged. One year to study, one year to try and get back.

thank god or karma or whoever for an amazing ten months.

on a less positive note

I've had a wonderful time this year, but I feel like there have also been a lot of really tough aspects of living in Japan, at least for me.

Japanese class. I was placed in level 5 and progressed to level 6 last semester. It's been really, really difficult and not much fun. I missed a lot of class because I sometimes really couldn't bear to go. There are times when I don't know what's going on, I don't know what I'm supposed to do, I feel like the teacher is unsympathetic, like I'm the class retard, etc. Ok, so it's supposed to be good that I got into such a high level (mid to higher advanced) after a paltry two years of learning Japanese. But I would rather have gone into a lower level and had fun. Japanese at Sheffield is a breakneck-pace, hardcore study experience, and I didn't want to spend my year abroad struggling to keep up. A break would have been nice after two years of extremely intensive classes. At least my japanese teachers at Sheffield are sympathetic and encouraging. Here I constantly feel like "well, you got placed in this level, so you should be able to do this without complaining", so I don't complain. (except on this blog, lol) 

I'm also disappointed that the lower levels get to do fun things like go to the Ghibli museum and try on yukata during class. We never do anything fun. we just have kanji tests and we have to read newspapers and we have to do a bajillion presentations and projects on complicated topics.  This year has kinda sucked  the fun out of studying Japanese.

ok, so enough whining about that. Other things have to do with attitudes towards my being a foreigner. People don't seem to realise that commenting on my eyes, and saying things like "I love foreigners" to me is really kinda... meh... (and since they don't realise, I can't be too annoyed about it) one MAJOR gripe I have is the behaviour of certain  men in clubs. I've had creepy guys come up while I'm having a conversation with someone and just grab me. which is really really not cool. Or they say they want to practice English with me and then come out with something perverted in English!!

another thing that really sucks is when i or one of my foreign friends happens to be sitting or standing near a japanese person who thinks it's a huge amusing joke to strike a pose next to them and get their friend to take a picture. I now know how an animal in the zoo feels!

I don't enjoy being treated as a) a pet b) a child or c) an idiot, simply because I'm a foreigner. it's not cool.

As I may have already said a million times, I've had a beautiful year here, but the reality is that it's a strange and bewildering experience living in Japan sometimes. It does have its perks, I'm not denying that, but I'm going to enjoy going home and being normal again for a while.

Izakaya people

Recent 100 yen beer consumption in Shinjuku Kabukicho...

後もう少し。。。

It's really hitting home that I'm leaving soon, and while I want to go home, I absolutely DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE.

Gah! it's like as soon as the end is in sight the homesickness disappears and I just want to stay forever. I love it here so much.

I'm expecting massive reverse culture shock when I go home to rain, grey skies everyday, Tesco, the BBC, Eastenders, pubs, chips and mayo, dirty nightclubs, towerblocks, shitty central heating, chavs, sandwiches with the crusts still on, virgin trains, heat magazine, topshop, primark, wellingtons, bad service, hellos from strangers, being called "duck", roast dinners, 2am pizza delivery, hangovers from hell, alcohol that actually contains alcohol... etc, etc.

Ok, so I am quite excited. But my aim is to get back here as soon as possible. Within a year. If possible.

Both my parents are coming to Japan to "pick me up" (for which read; have a vacation and synchronise our return)... my parents love Japan soooooo much. Well, I'm happy if they're happy and they promised to help me haul my junk back to England, which is sweet.

One thing I am actually really concerned about- I've been joking about this for a while but I am actually worried. Ok, one thing English people like to do is take the piss out of each other. Accents are an easy piss-take. And my accent has become amusing. Living 23 years in England and coming into contact with few foreigners (Anglicised people of foreign origin do not count), I've not really known many non-English people. Since coming here, I only know a handful of English people and as a result my accent has become muddled (mostly from hanging around with Americans who I have to say I do love A LOT). 

The inevitable result of this is, when  I return to England, if I find myself saying things like "pants" instead of "trousers", "chips" instead of  "crisps", and peppering my speech with various Americanisms like "super" and "chill".... I am going to sound sooooooooooooooooo strange. I don't think I even remember how to speak English 'properly' anymore.

This isn't just my paranoia speaking... I've run into English expats around Tokyo who have expressed surprise when I say where I'm from. I've even been accused of being an American trying to fake a British accent. Well, what can you say to that? 

Hmm.

Luckily I've found a job for the summer at the same company I've worked for the previous two summers. It's a really nice place to work, so I'm pretty pleased... And hopefully talking on the phone all day will help me remember how...

/end ramble... I'm going to go eat ramen with an American :P

How many people can you fit in a purikura booth?

Here's 12.