Grammarland

I realized that somewhere along the way, I fell off the planet and landed in a book. My Japanese grammar book introduces grammar through the lives of cartoon characters. I am starting to refer to Noriko and Maria by their first names (greeting grammar), and feeling sorry for Carlos who is in love with Noriko (expressing upsetness grammar). But Noriko is secretely in love with Peter I think because he taught (how-to grammar )her how to ride a bike. I was there for Maria's first job even (polite speech). Also, there is this mean little Japanese man who yells (imperative) Japanese orders them. I can picture it perfectly. It's like a soap opera and hopefully it will help me retain what I need to pass this freaking test! I have been studying so much, I almost forgot I was in Japan. I am in Grammarland with Noriko, Peter, Carlos and Maria.  Yesterday, Noriko tried to eat moldy bread (become grammar), and Maria saved her. It was so good, so good. You should come sometime to Grammarland. Carlos is hot (adjectives), and tomorrow is Christmas (5 senses grammar)! I wonder if Noriko will like him (expressing desire) next week?

 6 days til the Japanese Language Proficiency Test! Whoo!

I had a dream

I had a dream that one day I forgot my pencil, eraser and passport, so I couldn't take the JLPT. That's right THE Japanese Language Proficiency Test. It was awful. I woke up sweaty. I just thought you should know, since I never dream.

3,333 steps

I took a grammar break for a momentous occasion: To climb 3,333 steps. For all of the things I had to skip so I could study, I could not miss this. I did not prepare for it. No, no. That would have made it easy. I wanted it to be hard, almost impossible to do. The first 100 steps hit me like a ton of bricks. But it got better from there, as long as I didn't stop it was like I was in a bad dream, but a dream nonetheless. Got to the top, got a drink and went down all 3,333 steps and that was THE WORST. No more dream, this was a nightmare, that was real. My legs were like jelly at the first 100 steps. I told my jellyfish legs "GO" but they just wobbled. So I had to stumble down the stairs trying not to bend my knees. You can do it if you hold on to the parts where there's railing and kind of tumble down the stairs swinging yourself down with one arm then stopping and doing it again. Like dragging yourself by the arms and not really using your legs! It works! Then, for all our exertion; all 2 hours 24 minutes of it, I got a mini bag of rice, a towel, some handwarmers and a certificate with my name and time on it. YAY! I couldn't walk for 2 days and couldn't sit on my legs for a week, but I did it! See what no preparation gets you!

Today is Pocky Day

Today is 11/11. Therefore it's Pocky Day (like the little chocolate sticks) not to be confused with Pokey Day (like the hokey pokey). Why? Well, notice all the 1's in the date, don't they look like Pocky sticks sort of? Well, as I was unaware of this grand holiday, I thought I would enlighten you too just in case. A teacher went around and gave out chocolate sticks to us to celebrate....And then we ate them... And that was it..... 

Everyday should be Pocky Day! 

New Campaign

So the handtowel campaign is at an end, and now there is a new school campaign. The "Clean Desk Equals a Clean Heart" Campaign!!! I LOVE this campaign, it is too much! So everyday after school the teacher checks the desks, to make sure they are clean, and to make sure that the students take their books home every night to study! So the students are lugging this huge mass of books home every night, because this campaign will ensure that now they will study. I have noticed an increase of students that don't have books in class, but hey! Clean hearts are worth it I say!