Today I am in Tokyo, yesterday I was in Kyoto. It's not a far distance but I get overwhelmed with the "whoa really?" feelings every once in a while--life sure is interesting.
(Just because it's fun to remember...and because I got so much help from my friends, I might as well post it here in case it can help someone someday.) The teachers and students were super surprised and super excited that I spoke so much Japanese in my speech. Obviously I didn't write all, or even most, of the Japanese in this speech, but the students and teachers appreciated the gesture so much that I am really glad I just asked for help from as many Japanese-studying/speaking friends as I could. ------------------------------------------------------------- Mina-san, konnichiwa/ohaiyogozaimasu. Good morningeveryone! I have been in Japan and teaching at Ikakita (my school's nickname) for one year, and it has been very enjoyable. Ima made watashi wa ichi-nen-kan Nihon ni ite, Ikakita de oshiete imashita, taihen tanoshikatta desu. It's a shame that I have to leaveIkakita. Ikakita o sarukoto ni nari, zannen desu. Kocho-sensei, Kyoto-sense...
I love trying on dresses :) Ever since my friend Cherilyn showed me this dress I've been wanting to try it, so when I found it on eBay for $29.99 (Retail $88) I had to buy it for her birthday. And of course I had to try it out first (just to make sure it was as awesome as it looks in the catalog) First of all, I apologize for my obvious novice-ness in modeling clothing. It took almost the whole time for me to realize that my hair was down and I was wearing white stockings. This is in the Twisted Front Halter. To style: 1. Step into dress with the top of the dress just under your bustline. 2. Cross the straps in front so that no hole is present. 3. Re-cross the straps in the back 4. Wrap then ends under the bustline and tuck in or knot the ends. The is my variation on the Strapless version. To style: 1. Step into dress with the top of the dress right above the bustline. 2. Cross both straps in front right on your bustline and continue wrapping in a crossing style under the bustline...
As I am preparing to return to grad school once again, I can't help but reflect back to one of the first papers I wrote in graduate school. Here's the end of my "Extended About Me" from August 2013: I returned from Japan almost exactly one year ago, certain that I wanted to go back to school, but uncertain of how to translate my interest in out of classroom learning into a degree program. Even though I knew I was not going to stay in Japan for more than a year, I dreaded returning to California without an idea of where I was going next. After all the work I had done, would it be a step backwards? To alleviate my conflict, I knew that I wanted to get a job in a community school, and within a week I had a first grade teacher’s aide position at a Catholic elementary school which neighbored my own elementary school. Providing service to my home community proved more fulfilling that I ever envisioned. One day, I stayed seven hours past my typical clocking out time t...
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