So this might be a short post. I don't have too much to say. Since Anthony left and I started school again not much has happened..
Mayumi ->
The week after Anthony left I went to a temple with my friend Mayumi to celebrate new years. It was fun...There were alot of people...and alot of foriengers..and everyone talked to me like I was a tourist...which is very condesending when I approach them in Japanese first.. Some guy was trying to get me to buy something, he was talking in english and saying things like "traditional japanese, very very cheap, all japanese people have this so you should buy it blah blah" (in broken english of course) After failing at tring to ignore him, I told him off in Japanese. He was very startled and left me alone. And by told him off, I told him it was WAY overpriced and that I didnt need it.
Here's a statue of buddah....
Here's a giant shoe...
Since then school has started....I'm taking 6 Japanese classes: Kanji, Reading, writting, speaking, listening, and grammer. I'm also taking ONE biology class... Its a very intense class..but only becuase I make it so.. It's taught out of a book thats been simplified from "The Cell" but instead of reading the simplified book (which is about 1/4 the size of the real book) I read The Cell. And I learn EVERYTHING in the book..or at least I try to. We really dont touch on alot of the content in the cell...deffinately none of the interesting stuff....but its the interesting stuff that keeps me going during my hours and hours and hours of reading (about 200 pages a week... in a text book thats insane)
Lab is worse than ever. For a couple weeks after the break, the post doc that I was working with decided he was too busy for me, and I just sat in the Lab all day. I was required to come, but had nothing to do... Everytime I tried to talk to him he was "be-ri busy" but finally i was able to talk to him and asked if I could still help him. So...I've started doing actual work again...but I kinda regret it.... I'm in the lab for 9-10 hours a day, and I have no time to study for my Japanese classes... I'm doing pretty awful in almost all of them, and I rarely know whats going on during class. At first it was embarassing, but now that everyone in my classes just assumes im a retard and dont ever expect me to get the right answer, its ok. I might be exaggerating things (about the being a retard thing that is...NOT exaggerating about lab..) I know whats going on in...most of my classes...but there are those days...where i litterally have no clue...
But back to lab...its awful. Still no one talks to me...but I've given up. I dont have time to eat or sleep really...its just...gah bad. My tutor (who also works in my lab) doesnt talk to me... infact she doesnt even look at me when i pass her in the hall....
I do have one friend in the lab though.... a girl from Tsunesia (sp?) whos about to start her PhD. Shes treated as bad as me, if not worse. (the post doc doesnt like her). She keeps me going through the rough lab days T_T.
Apparently I have 2 presentations that I'm supposed to give...one tomorrow in front of 10 people or so, and one of the 15th of Feb in front of the entire lab (around 50 ppl). I have no idea what this is supposed to be on....it was the post docs decision to make me do the presentation... I asked him what I was supposed to do it on,
he said "your results"
me:"what results?
"my results"
"im supposed to give a presentation on YOUR results?"
"yes"
it was left at that.
Im kinda dreading tomorrow...
I always thought that I was a hard working person... but it seems that here in Japan im one of the laziest.... The mere fact that i try to sleep at least 6 hours a night is proof.... Apparently here they only sleep 3-5 night. And becuase I only do 10 hour days (as opposed to 16 hours like everyone else) im seen as a slacker.
I love learning all the things that I have...and I'm so greatful for the opportunity that I have had here...it was more (much more..in many ways...) that I could have ever imagined...But I cant keep it up. Im not a PhD student...and I'm not a 4th Japanese university student workng on my graduation thesis...yet i am treated, and expected to function like one... I dont think that I can keep this up...And I've decided to quit starting next quarter. I hate that I've had to choose this...but life is really miserable... I cant do class and homework and have any sort of a life on TOP of a 10 hour work day... physically and mentally...i cant do it...
In other news...I'm planning on going to korea in feb! I'm SO excited! I'm only going for 4 days or so, but the plane ticket AND hotel together is only 250 dollars-ish. I'm going with my Japanese friend Sachiko, her bf, my two amerikan friends Patrick and Alex, and Sachiko's friend nakayamanakaguchidgglgsja;gd something or other.
It snowed the other day here... not too much....maybe only 2cm or so..but I was scared. I didnt get outside before it melted though.. too bad...
I've started cooking more... I make dinner for my two (only two..) friends, Alex and Patrick. And I'm also going to start making them lunch 3 times a week. Haha, I'm like a mom... the reason is, we're all poor and cant afford to eat out...and i thought it would be fun >.> :D
well, this update was alot longer than I thought it would be...but now im going to take a nap here on my lab bench...im...so...tired...
As always, thats for all your love and support. I would really love to hear back from you guys. I know I dont always answer your email replies, but I LOVE getting them. anything, even if its just "cool" =p
and just for fun...here's a myspace-esque picture of me :]
