Aikawarazu

Have I got a story for you! Gather around and have a listen.

So today was the day I was supposed to meet with my latest student (number 2, or 3 if you still want to count that one who stood me up) and the plan was to meet at 6pm on Thursday at the corner of Kitaouji and Kitashirakawa. The text I was sent, I have it right here, said the following: "6 on Thursday is good for me." Now, this guy (I still don't his real gender, name, age, occupation or anything) was using some seriously good English in his texts, so I didn't really expect a great deal of trouble.

Here's the first hurdle: there is no Kitashirakawa in Kyoto. It was with some hesitancy, therefore, that I arrived at plain, old Shirakawa, and crossed my fingers. I was 15 minutes early, and it was raining. And I didn't bring my umbrella, 'cos I was sure my hood would be fine. And I'm sure it would have been, for the 15 minutes I intended to be there in the rain.

30 minutes past, and I grew anxious. I texted the guy, asking if I was indeed waiting at the wrong place, and waited. 15 more minutes later and I went home. It was there that I got an email asking why I was there at all, as the meeting wasn't going to be for another 2 weeks.

...

Turns out when he said '6 on Thursday', he thought I meant 'Thursday the 6th', which would be the day Golden Week ends. So, wet and sleepy, I made dinner and resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn't be making any additional money for a little while. I'm actually quite happy about what happened, to be quite honest, as it's been a long, long week and I'm really very sleepy. This extra rest (or, in this case, time spent reading over the articles for Humanology (made-up name)) really did me some good. Also means I have no work looming over me so I can enjoy my planned no-work Friday to the fullest.

So yeah, that's my story. Honestly don't know who was at fault, and I'm beyond caring.

Next up, the second season of Swanner goes to School.

It's nearly been three weeks so far, and they've been full, exciting weeks. Just not really full of the sort of stuff you'd be all that interested in hearing about; grammar particles and the like. Though I will have you know there have been some pretty soap-opera-esque things flying about. That's all I'm saying.

So, a rundown of classes. First and second periods are reserved for language classes, as per usual, except this time around there's always one period of grammar and one of something else. Monday and Tuesday are reserved for reading skills, Wednesday for writing, and Thursday and Friday for speaking. I actually prefer it this way; it breaks up the mornings nicely into more interesting chunks, doubly so as we actually get two teachers for the morning classes this time. Returning special guest stars are ace-of-spades Takada on Monday 2nd (a great place for him, acting as a sort of Monday gloom buffer zone) and not-cool-enough-to-be-given-the-name-of-a-playing-card-but-still-pretty-cool Tsukiyama on Wednesday 2nd. Other than that it's all New Challengers, none of whom I actively dislike which is a superb thing to discover. Well, give it a few weeks and we'll see how I feel.

Bonus classes this semester are the unavoidable JLPT Seminars, this semester I rose from B to C, as well as a supplementary 'Intermediate Grammar' course which is essentially the same thing. AND, you will be I'm sure ecstatic to hear, I can actually take my Manga class this semester! So far it's not been eye-wateringly fascinating like I'd hoped, but it has been easy as walking with cake. I mean, one lesson (usually 1 and a half hours) was a 45 minute tour of the Museum. The first of 3 such tours over the semester. And they're giving us credit for this? The last two are both Bruce White courses, the guy who gave us Intercom B last semester. Both are pretty much the same thing, but with slightly different nuances, like certain Japanese grammatical structures I'd care to mention. Tuesday 3rd has been dubbed Humanology (real title: What makes Humans Human), and is a small class of mostly Shugakukan residents. Tuesday 5th is Identology (real title: Divisions of Culture in Society) and is a much bigger class of Californians. The latter I'm likely to drop (huge apologies to Bruce if this is where you heard it first!) just because by 5th on Tuesday I find myself dead. Like, seriously. Also, the courses don't really slot together as nicely as a lazy student like me would like, so I think only one would be better than both.

That's it for class. Homework's been improved (in that there's the same amount of it but it's, y'know, better) but free time has been utterly devastated. However, tomorrow is the first meeting of a cool-looking English Workshop Circle that I was invited to, and I seem to have time for that. Also, there is always time for anime. Letter Bee, you cheeky muppets!! Oh, and I heartily recommend these first three episodes of the stunning-looking Angel Beats.

Was there anything else? I don't-

Ah! Golden Week!

Plan is, from the Thursday night to the Monday morning we're gonna head to Tokyo (that's Team Korea plus Special Guest Star Jess (maybe)) and spend the time in an interesting (and cheap) ryoukan just off the circle line. Really, really looking forward to it. Plans so far include a day in Kamakura (where we can, I hear, get inside Buddha's head) and a day in Yokohama (where we can, I know, visit another Pokemon Center AND a Gundam-themed bar). Lor comes down with her folks on the Thursday after (i.e. the day I am actually supposed to be meeting anonymous-eikaiwa-san) so it's gonna be a good couple of weeks!

Related plans for long weekends to come include Fukuoka, Nagoya and Hiroshima (the first two containing my last, final two Pokemon Centers) which all sound superb.

Phew, wore myself out a little bit there...

Thanks for reading.

***

俺の場合は相変わらずけど、マーシア君はいつも変わってる。シルクちゃんにもアーケヂアにもあのルーパスの奴にもシャウトアウトだ！

Creap

Okay, long time no see!

A few things to catch up on, but not a great deal, considering the huge time we've had free since Korea. Things have been pretty slow, with Hanami season now at its height, but on Wednesday the term starts anew. I guess that's the main thing I'm gonna talk about today.

So, this term I've been placed in proficiency level 5, two higher than last semester. Exactly as I was hoping it would be, so that's good news! Also in my level are the other members of Team Korea, and we even managed to place in the same class by... complete, uh, coincidence.

*ahem*

Extra classes for me will take up Monday and Tuesday afternoons: new seminars for the JLPT (which starts its brand-new system this year) and supplementary grammar courses, along with a new Intercom course and an anime and manga course! That's right, this time the dream becomes reality! On top of that I have two English students to teach on certain evenings, so I'm going to be earning some money as well! Everything's looking up Pete!

I'd still rather not go back, mind... This holiday has been su-PERB, and I'm going to miss all the time spent travelling around or watching films at ridiculous-o'clock. I'm NOT going to miss spending all that money, though. Seriously, ouch.

I... can't really think of what else needs saying... Like I said, a bit of a slow few weeks.

Ooh, we went to Himeiji Castle a couple of weeks back! That was pretty good, though I can't quite see what all the fuss was about. It's not the biggest castle in Japan, nor is it the whitest, nor the most important historically. Himeiji Castle is famous because it is the castle-i-est castle in the whole of Japan. I took a grand total of one picture, having left my camera's memory card at home, but I daresay another member of Team Korea took some beauts. Steph's got a stunning set of pictures regarding a chance meeting with Winston, the all-time best cat in Japan. Seriously made up for all those dumb, scaredy cats that run when I get near. Watch the photo albums for that!

Last couple of Sundays (not counting yesterday's Easter Sunday) have been Team Korea outings too, with the Team setting course for Osaka in search of the rumoured Jesus Life Church. We didn't realise when we were going there, however, that participation first requires that you defeat a grand and noble task of actually finding the place. Each week the venue changes (each week!), so regular watching of the website is in order to see which of the plethora of tiny, insignificant train stations across Osaka is this week's. As you may be able to gather, neither time were we able to locate the place, not even after the service had long since concluded, and I for one have given up hope. My loyalties will lie with the Doshisha Church!

Ah, right! There're a bunch of new guys starting their years here now! Among them are some ace new additions to the Shugakukan squad, such as Steph's school friend Jessie. Shout out to you all, best of luck for the new term!

That's it, that's everything I can think of.

So yeah, now I'd like to talk a little about some anime.

With the Spring Season just starting, the Winter must draw to its inevitable conclusion. Since Korea we have seen the last of Kobato and Armed Librarians, two of the three shows I was keeping up with. The third, Letter Bee, has more to go, with last episode's preview making it look like the end is gonna be a good one! Kobato ended rather well, in true CLAMP rose-tinted style, though I would have liked something a little more epic. Something big and loud, something not so... CLAMPy. Armed Librarians was looking stunning right up until the very last moment, but the last episode was something of a disappointment. All it really ended with was a chance for each member of the cast in turn to show off a bit, so the actual plot ended up being mired somewhat beneath chest-beating and meaningless fights. Still loved the show, but I'll now be less sure about getting the DVD.

And that's it! I'm making Omrice, so I'll speak to you some other time.

Thanks for reading.

***

タワータイクゥゥゥゥゥン！！てめえぇぇぇ！！何者だ？！