neondandy

Areas of study most interesting: Literary Flow of Time, Connectedness, East-west literature studies, Linguistics, Grammar, Poetics, Cultural Studies, Globalism, Society/Anthropology, World Literature, Interdiciplinary studies, Philosohy, Non-traditional literature (Film, comics, ect.), Art.

Graduate Program Desires:

1. MUST be a progressive and liberal university that embraces traditional literature along with non-traditional literature (e.g. Shakespeare, Chaucer AND multi-cultural literature, female authors, queer studies, science fiction, fantasy, comics, film, and other stigmatized art forms)

2. An appealing location (e.g. preferably not in the mid-west or any red-state) Locations most appealing: California, Washington, Oregon, Canada and anywhere overseas

3. A small or medium-small sized program. An intimate atmosphere, but with plenty of resources. A small program at a large school is fine.

4. Preferably affordable, but if teaching fellowships are offered I will apply. If overseas, preferably an America sattelite school for affordability.

Real gentle organic foaming face wash works well for me. Also washing and showering with cold water helps. Rose toner is good for red blotchy skin like mine. Maybe I have Rosacea? Onsens are the best for my skin, I want to take them more often. I try the Biore strips. They work, but I can’t do them often because they strip your skin of natural oils (I think.) Also, not wearing makeup helps or wearing minimal all natural makeup (not crap makeup with crap chemicals like “Wet ‘n Wild”) I want to buy more face wash, face scrub, and a clay face mask when I go home or in the next big city I visit. Just splashing my face with cold water when I’m sweating from all the humidity is good.

I’ve been doing them often, not every day but that’s not going to happen. Also have been doing pull ups for about a week now. I try to do them everytime I pass a certain spot when I’m with my partner. I wouldn’t say this is truly a habit until I’ve been doing it for more than a month.

The natural disasters to most worry about around here are Typhoons, floods, landslides, and earthquakes. I found out the two closest shelters are at the gym and at the high school. I looked up how to prepare for a typhoon. I’d have to tape up the windows and hang blankets down to protect them, no drapes. We have to shut off electrical appliances before leaving because fire often happen after a typhoon or earthquake.

I need to pack a get-a-away bag:

1. Knife
2. Fire
3. Water
4. Flashlight
5. Batteries
6. Food
7. Water
8. Blanket
8. Emergency contacts
9. Money

Should I register with the embassy. Hmmmm…

My partner is doing work exchange. He’s teaching English and getting free massage lessons. He’s brought home a couple books, but they are in Japanese so we can only look at the pictures. He’s practiced what he’s learned on me and teaching me as well. I’m not an expert of course.

I am going to start studying for this after I take my GRE, so in September. Right now I want to put all my energy into the GRE. One thing at a time. But I’ve gotten a good start on it. I might have to take the JLPT4 instead of the 3 if I’m not ready by the time I need to register.

Fruit for dessert is satisfying when you are over-sugared already.

If I write semi-quickly I can keep a flow going and my handwriting is more regular. I’ve decided not to stress about this. It’s a small thing.

I’ve actually planned 2 of the next 3 adventures. Yaku Island for my birthday. I’ll be climbing a mountain and then taking a hot spring bath. It’s back to the U.S. in August to visit family and take the GRE test. Then Kyoto in September to see the fall leaves with my partner, my girlfriend, and her partner. I hope I have enough money…

1. Make salads

2. Use fresh fruit for dessert.

Right now we are looking at Spain, New Zealand, Sweden, and we are glancing nervously at South America. Hey, at least it’s warm.

I noticed that practicing Tai Chi before Kyudo helped calm my anxiety so I was able to perform better in Kyudo. I want to start making a habit of this. I want to practice Tai Chi before Kyudo at least every Thursday and whenever else I feel my anxiety getting the best of me. I also want to learn how to sit down, close my eyes, and let the world stop spinning instead of increasing the momentum.

1. study text book 5x/week

2. study JLPT3 Kanji 1x/week

3. review everything regularly

4. utilize newly learned Japanese with locals

5. teach newly learned info to partner

It’s something my partner really enjoys, and it would be a good way to express love and also good for his health. (And I want him to give me massages. What better way to hint at wanting a massage than giving one? I guess just saying, “Give me a fecking massage!” but besides that.) Also, I want to buy a few nice aromatherapy massage oils.

edit I will buy said oils in Kumamoto or if I can’t find them there, in the U.S. when I visit.

I finally got accepted in the JET program, and I am currently living in Japan. Yay.