I’m sick as a dog, so no New Year’s going out for me this year. I ordered what looks like it will be a great book on Reason, and I started reading “BasicSynth,” a book about synthesizer programming. Good times. Happy New Year.
Shopping
You Komplete Me
Komplete showed up today. Installing took a while, but just skimming the surface, it looks like a ton of fun. I also picked up SynthMaster and Chromaphone, which are also on sale, as well as a second monitor for photo and audio editing work.
N1, Take Three
Another year, another N1. I feel okay about how I did. If I passed or failed, I’m sure it was close either way. (I hope I passed!) In general, I’m going to focus more on writing to improve my Japanese, as well as reading “meatier” stuff, like literature, as opposed to light novels. That sort of thing. Heading home tomorrow morning. Also, my hotel room is creepy.
Music Composition // Bargain Hunting
I finished my second musical doodle the other day. I’m also starting to scope out some potential deals coming up next weekend. It’s a great time to pick up audio-related software. (And a lot of other things.)
Back in Manhattan.
I made it safely to Manhattan, went to Kinokuniya, then settled down for the evening.
Fahrenheit 451 or What Do I Do With These Things You Call “Books?”
It seems like everyone is getting rid of paper copies of books these days, and I’m joining the herd. I’ve donated 8 boxes of old books so far, and I probably have another 8 or so I can get rid of. Companies like O’Reilly that let you get DRM-free e-books make the transition a lot smoother.
Another December, Another Try at the N1. (Day Two.)
The N1 was a bear again. After the bear mangled me, I went to Georgetown for a bit, then headed back to the hotel. I’ll be heading home tomorrow.
Books and Hot Pizza
I ran around Manhattan and checked out Book Off and Kinokuniya, then burned my tongue on good pizza at Frank’s. After that, I high-tailed it back home. I got back in around 1:30 a.m., and got to bed at 3. Oof.
Boston to Manhattan
I made it safely to Manhattan. The trip wasn’t too bad. I checked out B&H and Kinokuniya, and I’ll check out Book-Off and maybe Mitsuwa tomorrow.
Harajuku, Akihabara, and a View I Won’t Forget
Regardless of my sore throat, I pushed on today. I shipped out some boxes, went to Harajuku and had fish pizza at Shakey’s, bought more souvenirs for people, then went to Akihabara and looked at video games, manga, and electronics. After that, I stopped by Marunouchi and Maruzen, and then had dinner at Sou Hon Kei in Shinjuku again. The view was incredible. Tomorrow I go home. (Sad Face.)
Last Trip to Anjo
Today was the last big testing day. I forgot to attach a file I was sending to one of my teachers, so I had to race home at lunch to send it. There was an earthquake in class, too. After class, I went to the calligraphy store in Anjo, where everyone was really nice again. I bought more packing materials at the Daiso, and frantically packed until 2 a.m. Oof.
A Master of Saying Nothing
Getting ready for the big test tomorrow; mastering how to say nothing; one last trip to Nagoya to pick up supplies and souvenirs. I’m going to really miss living in Okazaki!
Jackson Pollock and The Tallest Toilet in Nagoya
Today I went to see the Jackson Pollock exhibit at the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, then went to the Midland Square Building to see some great views of Nagoya. More book shopping after that, then expensive crepes for dinner, and a train ride back to Okazaki. I managed to take some really good photos with my cheap little IXY, too!
Toyohashi!
Today I went to Toyohashi to pick up a calligraphy brush. The famous dish there is the curry udon, or so I was told by the people in the restaurant. It’s good, but really messy. I hope I can go back again sometime.
N is for Nagoya and N is for N1
I went to Aichi Gakuin University in Nisshin to take the JLPT N1, then did a little shopping in Nagoya. This was my first try at the N1, and it was a bear.
Nonbiri Saturday
A bit of a relaxed Saturday, with a few errands around town, and general chilling out before the JLPT N1 tomorrow in Nagoya. That’s going to be busy.
Kitsutsuki and Mokumoku
I love the food at Kitsutsuki on the Yamasa campus. Get the A set. I also went to Nagoya to do some shopping, and ate at Mokumoku again. Dumping food over the rice in the bowl is really tasty, too.
First Night in Kyoto
I made it to Kyoto; discovered a few things about buying shinkansen tickets, ate some delicious food in Kyoto, and some not-so-delicious food.
My Manly Hat
I bought a 100 yen manly hat, found someone to take my extra supplies, and I found a room for one night in Kyoto, but not two.
Feeling the Heat, and the Cold
Today was my interview test in JBPP, and it was pretty stressful trying to remember everything I need to do in the proper order. Japanese-sized clothes still don’t fit. Also, Family Mart gloves save me from freezing.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
In spite of the pouring rain, I went to Nagoya, saw the Tokugawa Art Museum, shopped a bit, and made a full day out of it.
They Got the Computer Store, Too!
Mid-week shopping to get supplies for class, something surprising happened to the computer store, and I heard some mysterious warning sirens.
Puttering Around in the Rain
It’s raining again, so today I’m just going to run a few errands– to the post office and mall. No fireworks for me.
ã”ã‚ã”ã‚ and é›»å辞書 (Gorogoro and Denshi Jisho)
It’s Saturday, and for once it’s not raining. It’s not really sunny, but it’s not raining. I’ll take what I can get. My electronic dictionary is dying, so I’m off to Nagoya to buy a new one, among other things.
It’s Saturday, So It Must Be Raining. Also, Wingtown.
It’s Saturday, and it’s raining like hell. I can’t go to Nagoya, but I can go to Wingtown!
Mall-ed on a Saturday
The Nagoya Matsuri was cancelled today due to rain, so I went to Aeon Mall in Okazaki. A lot of other people had the same idea.