Basically I'm getting my MAEdHD in International Education... and I'm still contemplating some sort of certificate (or I may just break down & get the whole other MA degree) in Anthropology. We'll see. I have time. ;D
As a result of my research this semester, I should have at least one article published (maybe two, waiting to find out) on global education in the Netherlands and Finland. My partner did the Finland portion, and I did the Netherlands. Really exciting, and I think it would enlighten educational policy folks to read it.
And finally on the grad school note, I should be visiting Europe next Summer for study or research. Right now, things are a little unclear, but while I'm over there I would like to visit many friends in varying countries! :3
I haven't been to the Nordic countries since 2008, and that's where the brunt of my travels will leave me (mostly Sweden). I will be in France for a short period, and potentially the Netherlands as well.
Now, regarding the rest of my life:
My hair is much shorter, even more than the photo, which is silly, because I was messing with my hair after swimming. XD;
I've started yoga!
I've been swimming like a fiend.
Otakon & cosplay arrangements need to be made.
Visiting my sister & niece in June, probably going to go beach camping/
Becca's wedding is in September (bridesmaid), and I totally can't wait!!
And the cherry on the cake: I need to take some language courses, but I can't decide which languages to study next!! （ｉДｉ）
Help me!! I am already at a certain level with Japanese and French. I know that eventually I will have to take Korean and Mandarin. Honestly, should I bother with Swedish? It would even prove useful when in Finland (second official language) for research! Need to decide, but I'm just so unsure!
Today I had a meeting for Sakura Matsuri. Andra and I met to discuss responsibilities for January - so... not much to do for it until maybe February. That leaves me with preparations for graduate school (reading ahead, finishing surveys for future use, etc.), figuring out best means of commuting, tutoring/teaching English, my language classes, and preparing for conventions/cosplays.I'm planning on attending the next local-ish convention, Katsucon. Super excited about photographing cosplayers! I will be using a new camera this time - link. Soo happy~♪
Scatter-brained message is sort of scatter-brained. ( ﾟ ▽ ﾟ ;) ... here, have a photo of a cute kitty!
In 2011 I got an amazing internship with a Japanese organization in Washington DC. I gained valuable experience and even more valuable relationships. I was accepted into a competitive education program for graduate school, and started my job as an ESL teacher. Next year seems like it will be quite similar as I've already been preparing for my duties with the next Cherry Blossom festival with many of my same co-workers/friends. However I have started organizing research that I will be conducting in other countries. This means plans to travel!! Hence the photo of the Skeppsholm Bridge in Stockholm, Sweden (one place I will be traveling to again).
Therefore in 2012, I will be facing many challenges, but I'm looking forward to all of the new opportunities!
1) Grad. school studying International Education!!
2) New students that I will be teaching, and learning from as well!
3) New jobs and responsibilities!
4) My new roommate and close friend/colleague. The two of us combined have Japan-ified the apartment with tatami, zabuton, and all! We also have a big gym and a sauna! (°∀°)b
4) New language classes!
5) Making travel plans (mostly to Northern Europe-Scandinavia and Northeast Asia), and getting really really excited over them! ☆-( ^-ﾟ)v (need to save money)
Happy New Year's!! （‐＾▽＾‐）♪
#00FFFF |
Your dominant hues are green and blue. You're smart and you know it, and want to use your power to help people and relate to others. Even though you tend to battle with yourself, you solve other people's conflicts well. Your saturation level is very high - you are all about getting things done. The world may think you work too hard but you have a lot to show for it, and it keeps you going. You shouldn't be afraid to lead people, because if you're doing it, it'll be done right. Your outlook on life is very bright. You are sunny and optimistic about life and others find it very encouraging, but remember to tone it down if you sense irritation. |
In other news, I can't get my wall shelf to be still! GRRRRR!
- I have applied to a few second jobs, one of them I'm very very excited about. However the interviewing/screening process is exceptionally lengthy.
- I am moving December 20th to a new and quite lovely apartment with my close friend. My current roommates are really ... well ... ((>.<))
- I am taking the JLPT exam on December 4th, but it feels like I have not studied nearly enough. (￣Д￣；；
- I have the Japanese big annual auction dinner on December 7th, and luckily I found a new dress for it!!
- I need to finish a bunch of Japan related surveys and research before grad. school starts...
ふゎぁぁぁ！！（￣▽￣）=３
I've been so busy!! I started my new job this week, and it has been pretty amazing. I love all of the kids in the school! Their personalities are just so bright and unique. My co-workers are really interesting people too! I've made a couple of new friends whom rock my world! One is super theatrical and tells the best stories. The other friend always keeps me company on the playground talking about our favorite things, like we both love the book "The Hungry Caterpillar". There will also be a jam out session in our futures, as he plays his guitar for the kids, and I play my ukulele. ~☆
I've been doing all sorts of extra research to make myself feel more prepared for graduate school. If I can only just get this research survey finished and sent out to the anime convention folks, then all will be well!
Next week I will get to choose classes, and starting in November, register for the classes. Eeee!!! ← very very very excited
My hair is no longer red, but is in fact back to its closer shade of natural blonde! It looks really good, and is refreshing. I feel almost as if I have more energy now. (≧▽≦)
In the anime/manga area of life -
The new season of SIH is so uber amazingness times one hundred, and I'm happy that I'm getting to watch it! ('-'*)(,_,*)('-'*)(,_,*)
I've noticed that they leave some more intimate details sex out of the anime, unlike the manga.... which, yea, I'm a little disappointed, but still LOVE it!! Unlike Junjou Romantica, I feel that now I'm almost forced to focus solely on the intricate details surrounding the development of relationships. It's a good thing, I think!
I've been watching a ton of ヘタリア (APH)! I was advised to watch this anime a year or two ago, but just never got around to it. I think I saw one episode somewhere in the middle of the second season, and though "Oh, this is cute, but I'm not really into it right now."
BIG MISTAKE.
I love that show now. The characters are beyond adorable, the history is fitting for the history geek in me, and the material is highly marketable considering, you know, they're the personification of countries. Again, without fail, I find myself most drawn to the Nordic characters. I think I'm just biased due to my heritage. silly Norwegian genes
In other news, today was my birthday!! I went to small market where they sold pumpkins, drank yummy coffee, and ate far far too much cake... and fish... I recommend NOT mixing the two. Ｏｏ｡｡(￣￢￣*)
Here's a fun little article, as well as the season 2 promotion video: link♪♪
Time has really flown by this year in super fast hyper mode, and I can hardly believe that we're already into October.
This week is the big political/international/US-Japan related conference with a bunch of big name folks there. （ｉДｉ）~nervous!!
On Wednesday I will be volunteering with the event, and on Thursday I will be attending interesting panels centered on educational policies in Japan/educational influences globally.
たけど！Before that I have lessons to teach all this week, research project/survey thingy to finish, emails that will not write themselves, and a whole list of things I must be doing. ::busy busy busy:: (・・；)
I would really like to be able to spend some time doing craftsy things, like my No.6 mice plushies. Though I will have a little time on Tuesday, and then some again this weekend.
(＾ε＾)
(Icon definitely represents my feelings when I'm so busy.)
I will just have to do my best this week!!
(Appropriate icon is appropriate because I am sleepy.)
After my lessons this evening, I had the urge to bake something... but as to what, I really did not know. Roomie suggested baking something from scratch and using fruit, which immediately made me think of muffins. I gathered my ingredients and went to work!
Now these muffins were not your "run of the mill" fruit muffins, oh no no. I decided to change up the recipe, making them banana-almond-cinnamon-apple spice tea muffins!
I love infusing tea into baked recipes, because it always adds this refreshing and yet comforting quality to the treats. (゜ρ゜) おいしそうな～
I decided to also make big pretty muffins and tiny bite-sized muffins. An interesting variety, definitely!
いただきまーす！
Needless to say, it was fairly effortless and we ate so many of them.
I think I will bake more things from scratch in the future. (^-^)ノ~~
忙しい．．．((((((ﾉﾟ⊿ﾟ)ﾉ
Luckily I think my cold is going away. Bring on the tea!! 三 (/ ^^)/
I'm guessing that I caught it from one of my roommates, but geeeez, do I feel terrible! (x_x；)
I have two English lessons that I'm teaching tonight. がんばりまーす ::sniffle::
Tomorrow I have a really important concert to attend - really important meaning, I bought the tickets back in April because for only one night do I get to see my favorite violinist, Joshua Bell.
I have been listening to him since I was in Junior High School, and the first time I get to hear him in person... I'm sick. I will not miss this concert!! (b^-゜) ::sniffle::
Not only is tomorrow an important day, but Monday is going to be very busy. I have an Ennglish lesson in the morning, meeting an important professor for grad. schools in the afternoon, and in the evening I have the start of my next Japanese class. (^▽^;) たすけて！
Why must I be sick right now?! ((＞д＜))
The good news..? I got a second job!! And... it's teaching!! I'm so happy to have received this opportunity. I will be teaching in the field of early childhood education at a prominent facility. I originally applied to this same place earlier this fall, but in the end (between me and another candidate) they took the candidate with the specialized degree in this field (mine is in International Education). It turned out that they had another opening suddenly, and the director told me that she did not want to interview anyone else. She called me~♪♪
Now all I need to do is to beat off this cold with all of my might!! p(^-^)q
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ashita_wa_ok- キッちゃん (ki-chan)
