A little more about what I metioned before

I wonder how many people noticed when I wrote down before about how the Samurai had to go through special courses on how to serve tea. Well, I haven't checked for myself just yet but that is exactly what my History teacher mentioned (^_^;) Of all the weird things no?

Apparently it was because during war times that's what they did to relax and discuss things over. But then again if you know the Japanese well enough, you might know they don't really... say it. I mean to say that they don't say anything more or less unless it was to agree with what you might be talking about. In other words, here is a race of people where a majority just can't say no to a group-based-activity. I'm digressing.

Besides the art of tea, the Samurai as I mentioned before had to learn almost every kind of 'warrior art/skill' as one might call them, which includes, if I take Tokugawa Yoshinobu the last Shogun (Generalissimo? A Shogun was basically a leader of all the Daimyo, land-owners of the united Japan who had armies, and he ruled the country in place of the Emperor) during Edo Period for example, he had taken archery lessons, fencing (?), how to shoot on horseback, etc.

I'm kinda amazed that they had to go through all that training. I mean, I only have a few months experience with Kyudo and it does take a lot of energy and effort to go on with it. Not to mention the 'sense' for the sport which they keep talking about. Of course, then again I didn't start learning about these skills from childhood either.

Anyway, since I have now lost my trail of thought due to worrying over that speech assignment for tomorrow, I'll end here with a picture I found of my sister playing the violin.


Feel her wrath.

Hehe.

Some truth behind it

The Last Samurai... I'm sure a lot of you out there have seen it. (It's a Tom Cruise movie after all. And it has to do with samurai too hahhaha)

Meiji Period, 10th Year. A civil war that had lasted 6 months. Samurai against the new Government. It all began when one guy, Saigou, came up and decided to become leader over all the Samurai who have lost their status. Status, being the heirarchy with 4 tiers set up Confucianism in Japan. It's a pyramid with Merchants taking the lowest rank. Then Farmers, Artisans and then the top cats- the Samurai.

After the downfall of the Tokugawa Government (which operated on the aforementioned Confucianist heirarchal system), the new Meiji Government (which operated more on equality of all classes that did not belong to the Imperial family -kind-of-system) was set up. And back to what I said earlier, at the set up of the new Governments, the Samurai basically all lost their 'jobs'. I guess Saigou felt some pity and wanted all the Samurai to get their 'life' back by giving them one last war to fight. Even though he knew that it was a losing one.

We had a very interesting discussion about this in class, on whether or not Saigou was a great person or a really foolish one. Frankly, what he had done, leading all those people to a losing battle, was foolish, but he seems like a really great person, and very sympathetic. A 'romantist' he was, someone said at one point. A very uniquely Japanese way of thinking, giving your own life so others can complete theirs. I don't know, it's pretty cool, it's pretty foolish. You know how they say that there's always a thin line between being a total genius and or a total maniac.

I can really see why people like this image of Samurais so much. They're so mysterious. Dangerous. You never know what they might be thinking. They have weird hairstyles, very restricting clothes. They study for years on sword-fighting, archery, military history, tactics, serving tea. Brutality and elegance mixed up in such a weird way.

Ah, I don't know what I'm talking about anymore hahaha... I'll see you guys around~~

It snowed again

I was wondering why it was hard to wake up last night and why I kept on almost falling off my bed... it turned out that the wall side of my bed was really cold and I was just trying to get as far away from it as I could. It snowed a lot in on us again today.

It just kind of made me wonder about what a friend had told me a while back... snow really is much better experienced from the inside ^^ Outside it's all over your face. I mean, rain can get everywhere, but snow. Snow can get anywhere. At least rain doesn't look like cotton flying towards your mouth/eyes/nose/ears right? ^^ Haha But when you're inside! That's a whole other thing. Those cottony pieces you see flying through the air splat on to the window and drop down to the window sill in a puddle, all away from your body.

You are comforted by the fact that there is a glass sheet in front of you to protect you from all the battling to not accidentally start breathing cold snow up your nose.

Yup yup, looking at snow from the inside is most definitely more enjoyable that breathing -woops- being outside in it. I'll see you guys.

Effort

Two years ago, 2004, around this time in MD I was probably thinking: "Oh this is going to be such a tough year. I need to get a little more serious. I need to know how to study more effectively so I can have more time to relax. There was one last issue for the Voice that the seniors had to do, so what should be done about it? Only January, the results for the Nov AS exams were about to come out/or had already come out, what to do with my results after I get them? ......

One year ago, 2005 at home I know I was thinking: "I'm going to Japan! I can't believe it! This is so cool! I get to learn Japanese, get to go to a University there, for 5 whole years too! I can't wait to tell all my friends! I can't wait to start packing! I can't wait to go! (Oh, but wait, are the results for the Nov A Level Exams out yet? ^^;) ......

This year, right now, I'm thinking: "This is going to be such a weird year. But it'll be nice, I'll be going to Kobe U... but then again there's no official confirmation just yet. I was planning to go get my own place, with a friend, if circumstances allow it. This thesis is really bugging me now, I have to finish the first part by Tuesday next week. Come to think of it, I have two speeches to do on Wednesday -_-; Saturday is movie night with the girls too; it's about time we go out rent a movie for the weekend ......

It's amazing how much time passes by and you still remember some things, you forget some things, you see how years can fly by so fast, you see how some of the time it actually passed by so slowly. If you've just visited here after reading Ali's blog, you might be in the same mood that I came out of there with. I'm not feeling glum, just, thoughtful maybe. 2 years ago, all it took was a 10sec walk to the next class to go find a friend. 1 year ago it would've taken a call or a ride down to Gadong, or some place, to go see someone. Now? An email or a call is the easiest way one could take, but it takes so much effort to initiate it.

First of all, you don't really know what to say. How to write something so it won't sound too self-centred? How to write something so it won't sound like you're ordering them to tell you exactly what they have been doing? *sigh*

MyHatHatHat^^

Watched a movie in class today for Japanese Cultural Background called Hotaru no Haka, or in English "Graveyard of the Fireflies". Shown, as my teacher said, every summer, due to the season in the background of the movie as well as the political goings-on in the background, and all around, the movie as well. The background of the story has to do with the period towards the end of the Second World War and the surrender of Japan to the Allies. The main characters are two siblings: an elder brother, and a younger sister. It's a very sad story (?). I wouldn't really know how to put it any other way but 'sad'. But it's a definite must-watch.

beep beep beep

I lost my phone yesterday afternoon so if I got any messages from yesterday about 4.00pm (JST) to about 4.00pm today, I didn't get it ^^;; I'm using a temporary phone now so you guys can still e-mail me, whatever ^^ same number, same address; had to pay, of course, that's what happens when you're careless, but it's cool. It's fine. I just have to collect all the e-mail addresses and contact numbers of everyone I know... again ^^;;;

My first self-made scarf ^^

Picture for today... a scarf I finished making a while back ^^ Took me 10 days, but I'm very happy. I finally got to finish a project I myself started... and in good time too.

Some interest from within monotony

Third day of classes and I already feel all the homework sloshing towards me like water to the lower end of a pool. Heavy.

Besides that, almost everyone has come back, everyone's here with smiley faces despite the tough weather back in school. The blast of classes is at the same time getting their minds of the gnawing home-sickness that has suddenly come up and decided to haunt them, all of the systems being new... we no longer study Japanese Language during all our morning classes, no we have Japanese Language only on Tuesdays. On Wednesdays we have presentation classes, Thursdays we have Academic Writing, Fridays we have (though we haven't had the actual classes yet) Reading Comprehension as well as summary writing. Mondays, I think, we have listening. It's all new and pretty interesting.

Life's not filled with any much excitement nowadays, and even I feel like I have nothing to write about. Sad really. I know I must have glazed over and missed some things I wanted to say, especially in that one week block when I didn't have internet access. But I guess I'll just be happy for now, and start thinking about all of this when I get back to my own room later on.

I'll write it down on my own computer so I won't forget. How easy it is to forget such good things after such a short time when all you really want to do is keep it in your memories forever.

Anyway, just for the record, it's a rather chilly day today, but it's relatively warmer than yesterday; there's just a slight chill in the air, I can't place it very well, it's not cold, but it is cold, kind of chill? (haha) There hasn't been any snow falling for some days, which is a little bit of surprise since a little while back at least a little snow would be blown in our direction once in a while, even for a minute. 10 seconds a day even at least, there would be a little almost every day. Adjusting to the cold hasn't been really a bad thing. Actually I can even go as far as to say that I'm getting used to it. ^^;

Small jabber

Thank you everyone for tagging- I really appreciate it ^^. It's Aidiladha in Brunei today, so again, for you folks in Brunei, Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha!

Now I just want to mention a little thing Uda brought up- school girl in short skirts in the cold. (Hahaha, just thinking about it makes me want to laugh at how ridiculous it looks ^^;) I don't know how they do it! It's amazing how they can stand the cold! I mean, when I say short skirts, I mean half-way down their thighs wearing ankle-hight leather shoes and nothing covering in between. This is how it is in the Summer at 35 degrees, this is how it is even though it gets about 5-10 degrees outside! They're crazy! I really don't know how they do it! (I actually can't believe also the fact that I failed to mention this before!)

Occasionally I see a girl walking around in a short skirt with knee-high leather boots and I understand. The material of the skirt is sure to be thick and leather boots are relatively warm... but sometimes... it's really weird to see all these girls walking around you know. Crazy... crazy... crazy... *sighs* oh well.

Have a fun night you guys!

KOBEkobeKOBEkobe

Hey hey hey! I got placed for Kobe University! Looks like a sure bet, no interview, no special exam ^^ Whew I'm so glad that it's all over. Now I know where I'll be headed next year- whoops- this year ^^

Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe... now that I remember it, it's actually on the top 5 Universities in Japan. It comes after Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and is interchangeable, I think my teacher said, with Tohoku University's position. So it's actually the 4th or 5th top University in Japan. Happy Happy Happy.

I know it's Aidil Adha in Brunei tomorrow, but in Japan it's today, so, Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha everyone!

New Year!! 2006 (^^)/~

Last year my New Year's Resolution was: to study in a better way. I believe I've achieved it ^^ It took almost 9 months in Japan (up till this moment even) but I feel as if I've achieved it.

This year's New Year's Resolution is a little bit more simple ^^ I'm going to keep my room as tidy as I can for the Entire Year. 5 days down. 360 days left. Of course the fact that I'll be moving to a new place late March is definitely going to help *heee*

Happy New Year everybody!