２０１０年０３月２４日

I just came back from a full day town hall.  Let me tell you, the first thing that you do after the town hall is to take off your name tag.  It's a good thing I had my coat on, otherwise people from downtown all the way uptown would have known my name.

So anyway, I have a two week break from 日本語 class before Level 3 starts again in April.  Every level goes on for eight weeks so I kinda have a routine going every Saturday for those eight weeks.  Hmmm......the next two Saturdays....ひま、どうしますか。。。(^_^) 来週　私は　NYC へ　行きます(^_^)。

２０１０年０３月２０日

Today, was the last day of my Level 2 class....I'm on my way to Level 3 すごい！  What can I say so far?  Level 2 definitely wasn't easy, however, the way the class was conducted was interesting, therefore, rather than feel frustrated, I didn't much feel how difficult it was.  I come out discovering something new after each class, this is especially true when I am writing my にき or when I am watching a show.....ah so that's how it is.  

The most common question I get asked is: 　どうして　日本語を 　べんきょうしていますか。　Why are you studying Japanese?

どうして。。。。　Just because.....I want to, I like it and I am interested.  I think that is the strongest motivation....and not because I have to.  Hmmm.....I think that's going to be my official answer from now on (^_^).

I have also attended my second Conversation Club last Friday which was fun as usual.

Tonight, I went to a Language Exchange meet-up....wanted to try something outside of school just to see how it was.  It was pretty interesting.  I ended up having a one on one with a native Japanese speaker who is studying English here in Toronto.

So how do they compare?  They are different.....but I think both are good opportunities to practice my　
日本語。

Choya Umeshu

I finally found umeshu at the LCBO, I was looking all over the store but couldn't find it, good thing I have my trusty iPhone, showed the LCBO guy the Choya from their website - of course, he says, we have Choya and directed me towards the "New Zealand" shelves....ummm....there was no way I could have found Japanese Plum Wine under New Zealand - I wouldn't even think about it - they aren't even neighbors are they?  Anyways, it was actually on a shelf behind "New Zealand".  So these things are not cheap.  It was $31.50 for this bottle.....but as I have been looking for it - I had this kind of obsession that I had to have it.  I couldn't very well not buy it when I finally found it.  And by the way, it isn't plum wine - it's Ume Liqueur.  Ahhhh.....now I get it:  Ume = Plum,  Shu = alcoholic drink.

(^_^)  Looking forward to enjoying this stuff (^_^)

2010年 03月 07日

Yay!  Spring is really just around the corner, such a nice day outside が　such a headache I have!!!  I think I would be an embarrassment to my college drinking buddies if they knew that after a pint and two bottles I'd be having a headache the next day - not a hangover mind you, just a headache - not too bad considering I'm out of practice - not counting those nights when I sneak a bottle while watching my favourite shows - yeah yeah maybe not something to be proud of......so anyways!!!

Yesterday, after　日本語クラス　my classmates and I went over to the Japan Foundation on Bloor St to see the photo exhibition and check out their library.  The library had LOTS of manga (in English and Japanese), it is a regular library where you can get a library card and borrow stuff - meaning I can borrow the manga for free が　at this point though if I cannot read the manga in Japanese, I really see no point in borrowing them as it defeats my purpose of reading the manga.

それから　we walked to Guu Izakaya on Church and a little south of College, we were in line to get in at around 4:40pm - the place opens at 5:00pm.  Too excited to get in?  Weeeeell.......we were actually glad we came that early as 10 minutes after we got there the line just kept on growing.  This is a new place in Toronto - I think just about a few months old so not sure if it was the novelty of it being new that the line-ups are quite long, however, the concept of the place is supposedly like a Japanese bar wherein the staff would yell out the orders - pretty much a loud and lively place.  There is a two hour limit by the way - which was okay as the place was quite pricey and the servings were small (but beautifully presented).  We shared our orders so we got to try different kinds of stuff - one of my favourites:  Maguro Tataki.  I as well discovered Ume-Shu (Japanese Plum Wine) - gotta look for this at the LCBO (^-^).

After we dispersed (as we had the two hour limit).....I was on to my second party - a birthday party - you gotta be proud of me - I was nowhere near the microphone!  That could also have contributed to my headache - I was exercising self control not to sing the whole night!!!

So here I am today, nursing a headache - though I am not about the waste such a great day outside - so what's on for today......I shall see.......