２０１０年０４月１７日

It's another Saturday.  It felt like this week went by pretty fast.  It couldn't have been the weather as it was crappy most of the time.  You get weather forecasts telling you that it's going to be a nice 18 degree weather outside, so you dress up for it, only to find out that they might have made a typo on the 8 there. 

Today, I hand in my essay.  I had been mulling it over since last Saturday - what to write, what to write?  Days are ticking away.  I had finally decided to write about my trip to New York.  So with my currently ;-) limited Japanese, I wrote my essay.  I wanted to write so much more, however, at this point I still do not how to write more complex sentences, so I had to settle on writing about things that I knew how to write.    Anyway, I do notice some improvement now from Level 1 and I'm happy with it.

I was going to go for a morning run - but brrrr cold - so here I am sipping my morning coffee - warm and cozy, waiting to get ready for class.

Hi-ho Hi-ho! It's Off to School I Go!

First day back to class Level 3 yay!  This is exciting!  If I were this enthusiastic in those days of school, my Dad and Mom would probably have pinned more medals on me (^-^).

Actually what I said above isn't true - I was enthusiastic too, I wasn't a slacker,  I just thought differently.  What made me realize that?  It wasn't any sudden revelation, rather, when I realize that some of my reactions and decisions now to certain situations, wouldn't necessarily be the same as my reactions and decisions back then, I think to myself - oh I've grown up!

Though my Dad and Mom did not get to pin numerous medals on me - I think I turned out with a good head on my shoulders and I'd like to think that they are proud of me (^-^).

Home Sweet Home

Finally back in Toronto last night.  The trip back wasn't as long as the trip going to New York - it was two hours shorter, so it still took about 13 hours.  Though the train ride was long, it was a relief not to have to look for parking and move the car every night.  Looking for parking in Manhattan is a nightmare!

It was a good short vacation - did not do much shopping this time but rather went around the city a lot.  Went uptown and walked not-quite-in-Central Park. Went to the Apple store which is always crazy full of people - they were going to launch the new iPad the next day - gotta check that out - when all the hoopla dies down.  This was the first time that I actually walked across the Brooklyn Bridge.  It was a good 20 minute walk, lots of people on the bridge.  On that one day been to the three boroughs - Manhattan - homebase, Brooklyn - walked Brooklyn Heights for the first time too - and incidentaly saw someone with an iPad - he must been one of the first to own one as it was only launched the day before; and Queens - had a late lunch at a Thai place.  Took the subway majority of the time - the New York subway makes me claustrophobic everytime, especially when I look down and realize its multi-levels and think how far below I am.  And oh yeah, when in New York I never miss to have dimsum at Golden Unicorn in Chinatown.

After my New York "getaway" which I was spoiled with, with great weather.....here I am back in Toronto with not so great weather - it is 10 degrees colder! reminding me I'm back in Canada.  As I was on the train ride back - I can feel bad colds starting to creep into my system and - voila! - I wake up this morning with a major headache that Tylenol couldn't get rid off and yes - bad colds finally made its way into my system.

Home Sweet Home.

２０１０年０４月０３日

Thanks to アレックスさん　who has so far been patient in helping me with my Japanese writing skills.  Even during my break I still get to practice.  Speaking skills still to be tested.

So I am into my second week of break from classes (which means classes start again soon!) and have decided to spend Holy Week - or Easter Weekend - in New York City.  I took the train for which next time I am going to think twice before doing - the whole trip took 15 hours!!!!  When I booked, I was promised with wifi connection all throughout the trip, but since it was a crossborder trip I was actually taking an Amtrak train rather than a Viarail train - somewhat like codeshare flights - so no wifi!  We spent two hours at the US-Canadian border when we had to turn off all electronics which means my cellphone and laptop was of no use.  When we finally moved it crawled at a snail's pace (I think definitely not a しんかんせん） I mean really no exaggeration there, we also had to stop several times - in between stops mind you - because the temperature was becoming too hot - whatever - I couldn't really pay attention to all the announcements anymore - as long as I was on the train and it was headed to NYC, that was all I cared about.

At times like these, rather than get stressed out about it - it is my philosophy to make the best of the situation - so I planned in advance, I loaded my laptop with shows that I could watch on the trip - yes, Japanese dramas, and I brought my workbook along, and lots of paper for my scribbles.  Of course, never leave home without it - my dictionary - which just happens to be on my iPhone - so all is good (^_^).

Here I am in New York finally, the long trip was well worth it - we have really great weather this whole weekend!  I have two more days til I have to endure that train ride back.  Really if I were on a plane I'd be in Tokyo by now.