I seem to have caught a cold, which has had the rather unfortunate side effect of having no voice. Class today was quite interesting. Running into people I knew was doubly so. I eventually started to just write things down if I needed to say anything. But I have study group and swing dance practice this weekend, and I can't answer my phone at the moment, so I hope it comes back soon.
For now I'm just pretending that I'm the Little Mermaid. (Actually, that probably isn't the best idea...)
Well then. Happy weekend!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Riceballs!
I seem to be getting the hang of history homework, which is wonderful, as it is currently the source of much procrastination and I really do need to start researching the Japanese eel for Aquaculture. (I kind of wanted either the meagre or the milkfish, but neither of them are in Japan. For the sake of pretending to be a good student in my major, I picked the eel, but it does look interesting. More on that later.)
Today we made onigiri, or Japanese riceballs! Since I do have a rice cooker, quite a lot of rice, and some actual time to cook it, it turned out to be a lot of fun! Marcelyn and Risa came over to help me make and eat some, it made more than I thought it would. And now I have some in the dorm freezer that, hopefully, no one will eat. (I wouldn't eat random strange food. Okay, I might, but it depends on what it was.)
But since it is the name of my blog I thought it would be fitting to write about riceballs.
Aside from being stuck with homework, it was quite a pleasant day, and since I can't remember what else I was going to write about, I'm going to finish trying to work out Japanese passive tenses. I understand how they're formed, I just don't know WHY or WHEN you would ever use them. Especially since they're nearly the same as conditional tenses, which I very much prefer.
I kind of like taking Japanese just because I was listening to a song yesterday and parts of it suddenly made so much more sense. ('He switched verbs! That must mean the subject changed!')
And, on a parting note, did you know that the Spanish 'll' used to be pronounced more like an actual 'l' sound? Historical Linguistics is really quite fun.
First-mate pirate kitty Rachel, signing out. (Except that she nearly put 'singing', and that isn't until tomorrow.)
Today we made onigiri, or Japanese riceballs! Since I do have a rice cooker, quite a lot of rice, and some actual time to cook it, it turned out to be a lot of fun! Marcelyn and Risa came over to help me make and eat some, it made more than I thought it would. And now I have some in the dorm freezer that, hopefully, no one will eat. (I wouldn't eat random strange food. Okay, I might, but it depends on what it was.)
But since it is the name of my blog I thought it would be fitting to write about riceballs.
Aside from being stuck with homework, it was quite a pleasant day, and since I can't remember what else I was going to write about, I'm going to finish trying to work out Japanese passive tenses. I understand how they're formed, I just don't know WHY or WHEN you would ever use them. Especially since they're nearly the same as conditional tenses, which I very much prefer.
I kind of like taking Japanese just because I was listening to a song yesterday and parts of it suddenly made so much more sense. ('He switched verbs! That must mean the subject changed!')
And, on a parting note, did you know that the Spanish 'll' used to be pronounced more like an actual 'l' sound? Historical Linguistics is really quite fun.
First-mate pirate kitty Rachel, signing out. (Except that she nearly put 'singing', and that isn't until tomorrow.)
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Hula!
I am already behind on my homework, which is never a good sign. I should catch up tomorrow though!
But more importantly, we got to start hula this week! Tonight was the first class! Shiori's doing it again, and Carrie who is also my swing dance buddy (we had a conversation about our perfect swing partners, Casper and Jasper - they're invisible, but that's a bit of a tangent), and two or three other people from last semester, but pretty much everyone else is brand new. They're from all over too - Utah, Nebraska, South Dakota, New York, Spain... it was pretty cool.
My legs really hurt now! After three weeks of NOT doing hula and avoiding exercise in general, it was really weird to be in class again! But I didn't fall over this time. Which is good. And no one did duck walks.
As far as Swing Dance goes, the video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gVvcynNYQU (There were two dances, but the other one was way more fun to be in than watch.)
I'm the tall one in the back, in case you were wondering. :)
And the one I'll be learning next is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTkgSfQAu1Y
I have already memorized the song. But it's really fun.
Tomorrow's Wednesday, which means intermittent classes from 10 AM to 8 PM... yikes!
But more importantly, we got to start hula this week! Tonight was the first class! Shiori's doing it again, and Carrie who is also my swing dance buddy (we had a conversation about our perfect swing partners, Casper and Jasper - they're invisible, but that's a bit of a tangent), and two or three other people from last semester, but pretty much everyone else is brand new. They're from all over too - Utah, Nebraska, South Dakota, New York, Spain... it was pretty cool.
My legs really hurt now! After three weeks of NOT doing hula and avoiding exercise in general, it was really weird to be in class again! But I didn't fall over this time. Which is good. And no one did duck walks.
As far as Swing Dance goes, the video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gVvcynNYQU (There were two dances, but the other one was way more fun to be in than watch.)
I'm the tall one in the back, in case you were wondering. :)
And the one I'll be learning next is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTkgSfQAu1Y
I have already memorized the song. But it's really fun.
Tomorrow's Wednesday, which means intermittent classes from 10 AM to 8 PM... yikes!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
First week back!
I've survived Spring semester so far! It's been slightly crazy so far, so I'll try and keep things short. (She says. Ha, ha.)
My classes this semester are Japanese 202, which is just a continuation of last semester's class, Japanese History, Historical Linguistics, Phonetics and Phonology, and Aquaculture. (Only 5 classes, I know, I know. Sorry.) Oddly enough, I am really disliking my history class - the class itself and discussions are fun and lively and informative, but the homework is horrible. And the book is rather dreadful as well. It seems a bit stuffy and pompous, maybe because we're discussing the 16th and 17th centuries and they were all a bit stuffy themselves, judging by the pictures we've seen so far.
But I do love my Linguistics classes. And Linguistics in general. A lot of people are in both of my classes, they're all a pretty friendly bunch. And someone's starting a Linguistics club, which looks more fun than any of my other clubs (they're definitely going up in number), except for swing dance.
The swing dance club was practicing furiously all week for our performance in the Ho'olaule'a this morning! We did three numbers - Shim Sham, Charleston line, and a choreographed dance that I am still learning and didn't perform. I get to do that one in February. I think we looked awesome, although we were first in the morning and not many people were there. The dances are going to be on Youtube, I've been told, so that's exciting!
The event had a bunch of booths and food and shave ice (!!) and a petting zoo and horse rides. I did not do the horse rides, but we tried to get Risa on one... she wasn't thrilled.
I did get to pet goats, though, and had a rather nice ram chew on my arm for a bit. It was just like home!
Unfortunately, the craziness meant that I couldn't go shopping for food until today. But now I have an entire package of Oreos to sustain me. (And healthy food too, don't worry...)
There is a small contingent of ants in my room, and I do not appreciate them.
Until next time...
My classes this semester are Japanese 202, which is just a continuation of last semester's class, Japanese History, Historical Linguistics, Phonetics and Phonology, and Aquaculture. (Only 5 classes, I know, I know. Sorry.) Oddly enough, I am really disliking my history class - the class itself and discussions are fun and lively and informative, but the homework is horrible. And the book is rather dreadful as well. It seems a bit stuffy and pompous, maybe because we're discussing the 16th and 17th centuries and they were all a bit stuffy themselves, judging by the pictures we've seen so far.
But I do love my Linguistics classes. And Linguistics in general. A lot of people are in both of my classes, they're all a pretty friendly bunch. And someone's starting a Linguistics club, which looks more fun than any of my other clubs (they're definitely going up in number), except for swing dance.
The swing dance club was practicing furiously all week for our performance in the Ho'olaule'a this morning! We did three numbers - Shim Sham, Charleston line, and a choreographed dance that I am still learning and didn't perform. I get to do that one in February. I think we looked awesome, although we were first in the morning and not many people were there. The dances are going to be on Youtube, I've been told, so that's exciting!
The event had a bunch of booths and food and shave ice (!!) and a petting zoo and horse rides. I did not do the horse rides, but we tried to get Risa on one... she wasn't thrilled.
I did get to pet goats, though, and had a rather nice ram chew on my arm for a bit. It was just like home!
Unfortunately, the craziness meant that I couldn't go shopping for food until today. But now I have an entire package of Oreos to sustain me. (And healthy food too, don't worry...)
There is a small contingent of ants in my room, and I do not appreciate them.
Until next time...
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Holidays!
Happy New Year! It's also the 12th day of Christmas, so Merry Christmas too!
It has been brought to my attention that I don't blog while I'm home. I have been happily avoiding the computer and anything that resembles school for the 2 1/2 weeks I've been home so far, as well as playing with goats and cleaning horse stalls. Not to mention seeing family, seeing friends, having tea parties... all that good stuff. Plus eating candy like there's no tomorrow.
It's also been quite chilly here - down to 30 degrees last week, or worse. I do, however, really like being able to wear jackets and lots of layers. And especially my scarf that I finally finished! I'm not sure what I'll do with it now, of course...
I'll be going back to school on Sunday, since classes start Monday, and then I will have less than 24 hours to get my books and schedule and unpacking and room all together. Fun stuff!
I also have a performance next Saturday for swing dance. Which I have not practiced at all. Except dancing at a Christmas party, but that doesn't really count.
It will be a fun first week, I'm sure.
I'm leaving right as we're starting to get the first babies of the year! There's three in the house at the moment, and they're very cute. And loud.
It has been brought to my attention that I don't blog while I'm home. I have been happily avoiding the computer and anything that resembles school for the 2 1/2 weeks I've been home so far, as well as playing with goats and cleaning horse stalls. Not to mention seeing family, seeing friends, having tea parties... all that good stuff. Plus eating candy like there's no tomorrow.
It's also been quite chilly here - down to 30 degrees last week, or worse. I do, however, really like being able to wear jackets and lots of layers. And especially my scarf that I finally finished! I'm not sure what I'll do with it now, of course...
I'll be going back to school on Sunday, since classes start Monday, and then I will have less than 24 hours to get my books and schedule and unpacking and room all together. Fun stuff!
I also have a performance next Saturday for swing dance. Which I have not practiced at all. Except dancing at a Christmas party, but that doesn't really count.
It will be a fun first week, I'm sure.
I'm leaving right as we're starting to get the first babies of the year! There's three in the house at the moment, and they're very cute. And loud.
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| She can totally fit in my carryon! |
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