- わかります　か？ 2002-09-01 22:33:04 I am having trouble getting around to writing here, but I'd just like to say that today was my first day of school... and I got to get up in front of the whole school and make a totall ass of myself trying to speak Japanese. I hope you are all doing well in the states... and I'm still trying to get at my godamn money. Whatever.
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I made it...　I think
2002-08-30 03:51:40
This keyboard is really messed up, so I ｈave to make this brief (that is... assuming you can read it at all)
I am there. I made it to the land of the rising sun. And you know the land of the rising sun. And you know the second you are in the mecha of all otaku when you go to the nearest news stand and buy a whole manga for 270 en (roughly $2.50） Only problem with that is that I can't seem to read it. I am really sad, because I realized how bad my Japanese is, and I am being spoon fed bad my Japanese is, and I am being spoon fed by Uno Sensei (my english teacher, and also my temporary host "family" teacher, and also my temporary host "family" of one member) I can't go anywhere without him... not that I could with my horrible knawledge of the Japanese transportation system (I am warning you right now... never get lost in the Tokyo train station without a native guide.... it is a freaking huge place)
I want to write more about all this, but I want to write more about all this, but I should be studying right now, and my hands hurt from trying to use this damn keyboard.
I miss you all already! Wish me luck!
Ashton (oh... pretty keyboard... チシトン） -
The calm before the storm
2002-08-25 12:47:01
So...
Now I sit... in front of the computer... waiting. I spent the whole week running around town, collecting clothing and Visa's and mastercards, and ATMs and... whatever. The point is that... I'm done. I'm completely done packing, even have the gifts for my host family. I'm going to try to enjoy my stay on the island... but it's sure stresful preparing for it. Anyway, I'm ready. and now I'm just sitting here waiting. Nothing left to do. Tonight, my mom is macking my favorite meal for me. It is my last night in The States for some time. I'm both excited, and uneasy.
Last night I bitched everyone in the chat room out and burned all the bridged I could before I leave. I don't know if that was such a good idea ^_^
Oh well, so... Tuesday I leave, and I arrive wednesday, after having lost half of that day to the international dateline. The fact that wednesday is my birthday quadruples the level of annoyance at a system that destroys time... that doesn't make any sense, but not much does right now.
I finished Boys Be last night, and I'm supremely annoyed. That show deserved a more complete ending. Maybe I'll read the manga... is there an english version? whatever.
So now, I'm cleaning my room so it looks all nice while I'm gone. I'm washing all my cloths and doing everything to be totally ready, but non of this abates my level of stress. I mean, I won't see my family again for 5 months. I sure hope this is actually worth it.
Stupid consulate. Stupid 9/11. Stupid me. Getting a Visa is no easy process.
I'm burning off a CD full of my AMVs as a gift to my host family. I don't know if they'll really like that so much. I often wonder about the Japanese perspective on anime. I suppose I'll know full well pretty soon. I just wish I could do my editing while I was there.
.............
Alright... time for me to eat breakfast. -
Leaving, on a jet plane...
2002-08-20 03:37:21
The time draws near that I will leave my small hunting village, and set out on my quest to become a man, like the other tribesmen.
^_^ that aside, sometimes I feel like that's what I'm doing. It's only 7 days away. In 7 days, I will get on a plane at 8:30 AM August 27th, and I will arrive, after having lost a whole bunch of hours to the international dateline, at 3:30 PM on the 28th.
My parents are freaking out about this crazy Visa deal from the consulate, it's late. I'm worried, but not like they are. I'm more worried about my language skillz.
Oh, and speaking of language, it seems I nailed some kind of odd mixed blessing thing where, the people in Japan couldn't find me a family fast enough, so it seems that for the first couple of days, I'll be staying with my school's English teacher (SCORE!). All this means is that I can get off the plane and not worry about the fact that the guy trying to find me will understand how badly I really must use the rest room ^_^ It just helps.
I get my American side cultural orientation this tuesday. I go to someones house I bring a big sheat of paper full of all my pressing questions. After that, I think the last thing I have to worry about is getting on the plane.
I think I'm going to postpone my next entry until I am in Japan.
On a more AMV oriented note, www.Originalskin.org went up today ^_^
That is good and all, but then the results of the Senpai competition came back aswell. I'm sad. Not so much about not winning anything in this particular competition, but because I realized how many times I have failed already. It really makes me mad when I see guys like SpPanda who won awards with their first vid. Oh well. I'm begining to sense this trend of not winning a single thing anywhere. It's just typical of me. I'm going to stop sulking now, and try to sniff the ink on my plane tickets to make me feel better. At least I know that I'm the only reject from the Senpai competition that is going to Japan! ^_^ -
It is time....
2002-08-12 00:19:42
Alright, after the longest wait of my entire life, a large packet full of information, a T-shirt, and a round trip ticket to Japan arrived in my mailbox today. My departure date is now fixed. I will be leaving August 27th of this year. That's right, about 2 and a half weeks from now, I will be boarding a plane to take me to the place I will live for the next 6 months. I will be arriving at Narita Airport at 3:30 PM on August 28th. It is somehwat Ironic that I should arrive on that date, because it is my birthday. And I see no other present more fitting. Thank you mom and dad!
I will be living in a city called Zama. I haven't a clue how large the city is, but I do know that it's about 25 miles southwest of Tokyo central. It looks like I'll be living in a suburb of the great Anime Meka itself. Two quick trainrides will take me to that place of magic all Otaku recognize as the center of all magic and love in the universe. I feel elated beyond any hope of ever regaining control of my body.
Unfortunately, I still do not have any information regarding my family. It would be great if I could have one male and one female "sibling" while I was there (you know, one to try to take out on dates, and the other to discuss anime with ^_^) but I really don't know anything at all.
Now, it's time to get packing ne?
JOURNAL: Ashton (Stephen Cilley)
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