That's Okay, Weak Sister

I'm officially half way done with finals!

This week was a nightmare, but it's done now. Friday I had 3 finals, but one didn't really count. Toda's B seminar final was awful. 100 questions, 102 grammar points covered, 1 hour to do it. My brain was fried afterwards. Not to mention I was going on 4-5 hours of sleep.

Thursday night Jen and I decided to study. It was ridiculous. We reviewed over 50 grammar points, which was good, but concentrating is so hard! Towards the end of it we started getting really slap happy (~_^ AHHHHHHHH!). It was fun though. Studying really is more fun with friends.

Wow this blog is painful to write. I don't know how to order it and I'm still feeling last night....

So after Okada's final, Nicole and I took care of some errands and made our way back to my place. I got nail polish! We met Sam and hooked up with Lily and Jen later on. The 5 of us watched Vampire Diaries and played our game. It was hilarious. After that was over we decided to go out.

The original plan was just to go to Milan's Bar and hang out with some other people. What ended up happening was this:

We hit up Milan's, met some new people from Australia and made our way over to this club called Metro. Apparently one of Sam's friends from Cambridge will be DJing there on Tuesday. So we walked over there for some dancing. Turns out it was Drag Night. Yeah. That's right. DRAG NIGHT.

It was GLORIOUS. A small place, but it was nice. When we walked in, there was this dude on the stage up at the front. I have never seen so much eye make up on a woman, let alone a MAN. I wish I could have taken a picture with him. His get up was awesome.

So we danced and danced and danced some more. It felt so good. Around 3am we headed home.

As we exited Milan's there was a ¥100 Lawson's next door. We grabbed a snack for the ride home. I had the best onigiri I've ever had. It had a creme coroque on top of this flavored rice. Oh man. I'm going to have to find it again.

Anyway, we grabbed a taxi and made it home. Living across from Nishi Honganji makes giving taxi directions really easy. I crashed the minute I stepped through the door. Nicole stayed up for first train home. I fell asleep, but I think Jen and Lily kept her company for a bit of it.

It was an eventful and entertaining night to say the least.

I got to destress from this week, and now I have to prepare for the next. Sunday is going to be study day. Tsukiyama's final is going to kill me.

Monday Jen and I are going to take care of our re-entry permits. I'm so excited! Just another month and I get to see everyone! Weeee

Other plans for this week include a class party on Tuesday, followed by Metro to watch Frankie DJ, finishing finals, making reservations for Shikoku, and doing nothing at all to celebrate the beginning of Spring Break.

That's all I've got for now!

Love until later,

Caitlin D.

Pacing in the Cage

I am officially engaging in grooming patterns.

Guess that only makes sense to my family, so let me explain. When my mom was in college she would always start cleaning everything when she got stressed around finals and whatnot. One of her professors dubbed it "engaging in grooming patterns." Apparently it's a pretty common psychological thing. I've got it too.

First day of finals was today. I feel like I did alright. I'm really confident about my second final of the day- general Japanese grammar. It was a test on the first three chapters we studied. I hope I actually did as well as I feel I did. Even if I didn't, I know what to expect from the rest of the tests now.

After that test was over I felt so good. I'm not facing the unknown anymore! Yay! So I came home and got on top of things. I did the laundry that had been sitting for weeks, picked up my room, scrubbed my bathroom, made food, and did the dishes.

Now I can study in peace.

I've got two more general tests tomorrow and another one on Friday along with Toda's B-seminar and Okada's hatsuon class. Then I get the weekend to study up for my last few finals.

There's still a ways to go, but I'm feeling good about it. I just need to keep my spirits up. There's a lot of good things coming my way; I just need to remember that.

Love until later,

Caitlin D.

Echo

Woo! Well it took me almost a month to get back to you, but here I am!

So far the new year has been pretty good. I've been sick twice, but that's normal for me. School is drawing to a close. We just had our last day of official classes. I still have two classes on Monday to make up for days teachers cancelled lecture (what's up with that, right!?) and then finals.

It's going to be an intense week to say the least. The only thing keeping me going is the thought that after all that misery is pure bliss.

Lily, Jen and I are planning a 10 day trip around Shikoku and then up to Hiroshima in February. I'm really excited about it. It'll just be the three of us, youth hostels, and trains around Japan!

Then, after those glorious adventures I get to kick it in Kyoto for a week or so. I'm hoping to go back to Nara to hit Horyu-ji and see the massive collection of buddhist art. I'd also like to see some more temples around Kyoto. It's hard to go sight seeing when you're in classes all day. Perhaps a trip to Lake Biwa, as well.

After all that, I get to go home!

Last minute Jen decided she wanted to go back home, which left me without a travel partner. I was a little annoyed for a bit, but then I decided to go home earlier. The new plan is to head to Narita on a night bus on March 2. I'll fly out of NRT on March 3 and arrive the same day around 5pm in Ontario, CA! I'll be home for almost a month.

I can't wait to see everyone again. I love Japan and I'm really happy here, but I miss my friends and family unbelievably much. I miss taiko and taiko hang outs. I miss my dog and my car. I miss my grandma and my brother. I miss my parents. I can't wait to just relax at home.

It'll be interesting to see how America feels after being in Japan for so long. I'm seriously doubting I'll ever remember English again. I'm stuck permanently in Japenglish. Just writing for this blog in english is an arduous task!

At any rate, I'll be glad when finals are over and I get to relax.

Until then, I'll be studying and worrying my butt off!

Love until later,

Caitlin D.