Career blah
I officially started my new job yesterday (checks time)...on Friday, May 4th. But I already reported to the office on the 2nd and 3rd for trainings. I can't say much about it since I am only a few days old into the job. Will post more probably after my first week. All I can say is that...freedom is so good! We have YM!! And MSN! And iTunes! And a lot more! Wipee! Goodbye proxies. ^_~
Speaking of careers, I had a chance to think about what I really want to do with my life. And that is to teach Japanese. I know that there is absolutely no money in teaching. I know that people actually expected me to be some big-shot banker, economist, corporate planner or a CFA but I am only 75%-80% convinced that I can be happy being any of those. I mean, really happy. I know people will say that if I pursue the teaching path, my economics degree will go to waste and that the
cum laude (kung laude?) thingie would mean nothing.
So what?
Right now, I do not care about those things anymore. I am in search of my 'best place' (Refer to the anime
Shaman King) and I have a pretty good idea of what it is.
However, I don't have any immediate plans of quitting the rat race. Not yet. I still want to save some money. Maybe work for the next couple of years with the teaching job on the side. I will be teaching anyway starting next year so I have a weekend part-time job too. Before I go 100% into the teaching world and quit the corporate world altogether, I want to move into a decent place of my own, have 'respectable' savings...the loose change I keep doesn't count.
I know that I am heading for the right direction. I am always happy whenever I am involved with something related to Japan or Nihongo. Whether it is something for
Japinoy.com or something for school, I never feel that I am being forced.
If I can't logon to Japinoy at least once a day, I'd feel deprived...forget GirlTalk and PinoyExchange. I'm going to channel all my energy and resources into the site I love most in the entire WWW:
Japinoy.com ^_^
At
school, I am always
bibo, enthusiastic. I go over the moon every time sensei says something really nice about me...like that time he called me the 'go-go-go' type of teacher. ^_^
As early as now, I am already trying to come up with things to make my lessons more interesting: great looking visuals, funny anecdotes, Japan trivia, songs, whatever. I (mentally) prepare them for every lesson. Like this one: Ben Affleck to Wentworth Miller to dochira ga hansamu desu ka? Hek-hek-hek.
As early as now, I am already thinking of what I want my students to call me:
- Ramos-sensei - No way. It ages me at least 10 years.
- Catalina-sensei - Nope. Not cool enough.
- Cat-sensei - Pittari!!
As early as now, I am already picturing what kind of teacher I will be...I want to be the cool one. ^_~ Someone like Alfred-sensei, maybe. Someone who's ready to go to karaoke after class. Someone who enjoys pop culture. Someone who is funny. Someone who makes impossible-to-answer exams...not!
As early as now, I am already thinking of how to improve name and face recall. I am bad at remembering names and faces and if I were to become a good teacher, I should at least be able to tell who's from my class and who is trying to stalk me!
So many plans for next year...andI still have eight months to come up with more. ^_^
Ok, this is the part that I say
oyasumi and
mata ne. I have to rest and catch up on sleep. I just hope my diarrhea has stopped already. I got it from drinking too much coffee...I so badly wanted to stay awake in class!
Oyasumi! Mata ne! (Whenever that is)
Labels: career, j-wave, japanese, japinoy, language, nihongo center, nihongo center foundation, philippine institute of japanese language and culture, PIJLC
Posted by Unknown at 01:02
模擬授業 - Trial/practice class
Mojica-sensei (Edwin-sensei) told us that Kouchou-sensei (Betty-sensei) wants our class to have a 模擬授業 as soon as we finish Chapter 5 of the book. As expected, everyone was surprised with the announcement. We weren't happy with it...we were scared! Besides, we thought it was too early to be doing practice classes. Those usually come in the second semester. But Kouchou-sensei insisted that we have it. ASAP. We did bargain that the practice be moved to after the Holy Week, so we have the long vacation to think about what to teach and how to teach. Wipee...not.
Why am I scared? I suppose it's not because I'm scared of teaching...I'm scared of making a fool of myself in front of Kouchou-sensei! Her presence is always so intimidating. If she weren't there, it wouldn't be so bad, but the thing is, she wanted to be there and observe everyone. 校長先生がいなければ、大丈夫かもしれません。でも、模擬授業は先生のアイデアです。ですからいるはずです。恐い。。。
But why should I be scared? Shouldn't I be proud that one of the best Nihongo teachers in the country will be observing me in class? I do not exaggerate when I say 'one of the best'. Kouchou-sensei has been recognized by the Emperor of Japan for her contributions to Nihongo education in the country. Together with Edwin-sensei and Ogata-sensei, they are the pioneers of teaching Nihongo in the country. I am proud to say that I am studying under the very best people in Nihongo education in the Philippines. Reading
this speech by Ambassador Yamazaki during the conferment of Kouchou-sensei's Order of the Rising Sun made me really happy and proud....Teacher ko yan!
Geez...if only it was so easy to measure up to the three of them...just as it is easy to feel proud that I am their student. ^_~
PS: Pag ako naging teacher na, sure ako na magiging mabait ako sa mga estudyante ko...hindi ako mahirap ayain sa gimik. Pag gusto nila ng karaoke, papayag agad ako. Yun na! ^_~
Labels: career, japanese, nihongo center, nihongo center foundation, philippine institute of japanese language and culture, PIJLC, teaching, 日本語
Posted by Unknown at 15:17
Death Note デスノート
Finally got to watch the first part of this live action movie. For those who do not know,
Death Note is a manga series about a high school boy (named Light Yagami) who receives a notebook
called "Death Note" from a shinigami called Ryuk. This notebook empowers him to kill anyone just by writing down a name. Light eventually becomes known as
Kira (Killer).
Ryuk has written the rules inside the Death Note. Interestingly enough, he wrote it in English because it is the most popular language in the world. Cute.
The Death Note rules:
- The human whose name is written in this note shall die.
- This note will not take effect unless the writer has the subject's face in their mind when writing his/her name. Therefore, people sharing the same name will not be affected.
- If the cause of death is written within 40 seconds of writing the subject's name, it will happen.
- If the cause of death is not specified, the subject will simply die of a heart attack. (In the crappy subbed version I have, it says 'heart paralyse')
- After writing the cause of death, the details of the death should be written in the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds.
The manga is up to 12 tankobon, plus a 13th volume entitled "Death Note - How to Read". The anime version is expected to reach 37 episodes and a Nintendo DS game has already been released last month.
Now, the movie...we were able to finish the first part. We still have to find a nicely subbed 2nd disc. Hopefully, the subs will be done this month. Shit, bitin na bitin ako. All I can say it that this is a brilliant movie! It is a real battle of the brains between Light Yagami and L. Actually, I'm still torn...I still don't know whose side I'm on. But leaning towards L for the simple reason that I love sweets. Duh, right?
The thumb-sucking L is played by Matsuyama Ken'ichi, who incidentally is the seiyuu of Jealous, another shinigami in the anime. (Might have to watch Gokusen again...his Wiki profile says he was one of Yankumi's students.)
Light Yagami is Fujiwara Tatsuya, well known for his role as Nanahara Shuya in the cult hit, Battle Royale and Battle Royale 2. He also played the role of young samurai Okita Souji in NHK's Taiga dorama for 2004, Shinsengumi.
I hope to get all the Death Note anime and manga volumes. According to our
Japinoy discussions, only the English version mangas can be found locally. I guess for the Japanese ones, I would have to look at Mandarake... *sigh goes my credit card*
I am really, really praying hard that I can get my hands on the second part. This is one brilliant movie, and I cannot say that enough. ^_^
Labels: dorama, j-dorama, j-movie, japanese, japanese actors, japanese tv
Posted by Unknown at 14:00
My Boss, My Hero マイ★ボス マイ★ヒーロー (A J-dorama review)
Here's something I did for
Japinoy a few weeks back. This funny dorama stars J-pop superstar (and cutie) Nagase Tomoya, of the JE group TOKIO. ^_^
========================================
My Boss, My Hero
Date aired: July - September 2006
Episodes: 10
Starring:
Nagase Tomoya - Sakaki Makio
Tegoshi Yuya - Sakurakoji Jun
Aragaki Yui - Umemura Hikari
Kashii Yu - Minami Yuriko
Tanaka Koki - Manabe Kazuya
Ichimura Masachika - Sakaki Kiichi
Kikawada Masaya - Sakaki Mikio
Synopsis:Sakaki Makio is a 27-year-old next-in-line to a powerful Yakuza family who gets sent to high school again after he botched a multimillion dollar deal in Hong Kong. With his stupidity, his father ruled that he can only inherit the Boss position after getting a high school diploma.
Pretending to be a 17-year-old high school boy, he gets into St. Agnes Academy with the influence of his Yakuza boss of a father. Born under power and privilege, Makio must now try to live the life of a normal high school boy and get along well with his teachers and classmates. Can this feared gangster keep up the act while living a double life? Will he finally get that coveted high school diploma and the Yakuza leadership? Find out in "My boss, My hero"!
======================================
My own review:
Hilarious! Not as hilarious as Densha Otoko, but close. Nagase Tomoya is very convincing as a yakuza boss-in-waiting, and a not-so-sharp high school student. As a student, he appears to be very gentle, especially when he finally warmed up to his teacher and classmates. He volunteers to be the class president, because he wanted to learn how to create a good 'gumi' (group), which he equates to a Yakuza gumi.
One of my most favorite parts include the Agnes exercises. It was so funny watching a tall, macho guy like him trying to do the drills, but always out of beat. 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2 Agnes!
His dad reminds me so much of Mojica-sensei, I don't know why. Hehe.
Tanaka Koki (of the uber popular group KAT-TUN) shines as Kazu. He is a natural comedian. I really think he could surpass Kame and Jin in the acting department.
Oh, did I say how much I love "Sorafune"? ^_~ A couple of weeks after we finished the dorama, I couldn't get this TOKIO song outta my head.
Labels: dorama, j-dorama, j-drama, japanese, japanese actors, japanese tv, japinoy, nagase tomoya, review, tokio
Posted by Unknown at 19:20
あけましておめでとうございます！
It's the third week into the new year and my blog still hasn't been updated. Sorry, very busy with...stuff. Ok, tis the time to make resolutions again. First, here's a review of my 2006 plans and how I fared:
- Debt-free 2006 - Check. I've managed to fully eradicate my credit card debt. Wipee! Thanks to my super supportive boyfriend! Well, I still have some balance left, but that's because of Christmas shopping and nothing else.
- Manage my finances well - Check. I've been frugal, buying only the things that I needed. And NO MORE ONLINE SHOPPING! CD Japan what?
- Study for JLPT level 1 - Not accomplished. I did try to study for the JLPT but I stopped even before March. :P
- Be a better penpal - Not accomplished. Sad.
- Take good care of my health - Check. I've been eating healthy and exercising whenever I can. I walk, walk, walk a lot.
- Find a new job. Not accomplished. Bren-duh was the reason why this item was in my to-do list last year. But she was fired so I never looked for a job.
- Go back to grad school - Not accomplished. Never had the time or the money for it.
- Get part-time jobs - Small check. I guess you can count my CD business as a part-time job. :P
For this year, I'd be keeping those that I wasn't able to keep last year:
- Remain debt-free and keep on managing finances well
- Study for JLPT level - I already am!! :P
- Be a better penpal - I've already started with Miho and Ji Hye and I hope I can renew ties with my other penpals...if they still remember who I am :P
- Stay healthy
- Go back to grad school
- Continue to find ways to earn money - Translation, tutorials and what-have-you. I really think I should start earning money for the crafts I do. I can also enrol in seminars for home industries (I'd really like to learn sewing. Not just dressmaking, though. I'd like to learn how to sew bags, hats and other everyday items).
* * * * *
OK, it's official: I'm going to start studying to be a Japanese teacher starting this year. ^_^ Wipee! Schatz and I dropped by the school on Saturday and we were able to discuss stuff with Betty-sensei. The teacher-training course is a 2-semester course aimed at enabling teachers to teach lessons 1-20 of the Minna no Nihongo series and with this, lesson plans, teaching methods and others. I'm really nervous, and excited at the same time. I found out from Sensei that Gail is going to be my classmate again. Hehe. After so many years, we're reunited in the same class ^_^ Oh well. 一生懸命頑張ります！
Labels: japanese, new year, resolution, teaching
Posted by Unknown at 14:27
Christmas party 2006
We had our Christmas party last Friday. It was held at the pool side of the Shang Grand Tower. The theme for this year was 'A Season of Colors' and everyone was supposed to come in costumes in a single color, except black, white and gray. I didn't have time to come up with that Shaider costume I wanted. I originally decided to scrap the Harajuku getup and wanted to make a Iga/Ida costume instead. But when I looked for pics in the net, I saw that her (actually, she was a 'he') costume was white, with just a little bit of gold. So I had to scrap that as well, and decided to just borrow Violy-sensei's yukata, the one she wore for the 2006 NCF Open House.
Wala nang isip-isip, yun na!!It was funny because when sensei asked me if I already knew how to put on a yukata, I said yes.
Nagdudunung-dunungan kasi ako. Ganda. Then I found out it wasn't that easy!! Especially putting on the robe and folding it so that it falls ankle-length and the fold goes under the obi neatly. Gosh!! I wasn't able to concentrate on the Amazing Race because I couldn't get a neat fold!! The obi was a different story. I saw this website with an animated tutorial on how to tie an obi. It was cool and I'm proud to say that I did it in one pass. ^_~ Yebah!
Anyway, I was kinda nervous...because I wasn't in one solid color. Sensei's yukata is in yellow with red flowers. The geta had some red in them. But I told myself
Buti nga naka-costume e. Yung iba nga, mag-brown na lang kasi may brown pants and shoes sila. That's like walking poo-poo!! Belat! :P
I just made some hair ornaments by wrapping chopsticks in yellow crepe paper then attaching yellow paper flowers. I also bought some yellow hair spray from HBC/Hortaleza for some effect.
Tapos, bahala na si Batman. Ayun, ang tagal ko sa washroom. Dun lang ako sa disabled section, walang ibang makagamit kasi nga matagal ako. When I finally got out of the cubicle, everyone was like Wow! Ano yan! Wow ang galing! Wow kaya pala ang tagal mo! It was almost embarrassing. :P
When we got to the party, I found out that I was a bit overdressed. :P Of course I was the only one in kimono, so I guess I stood out. It was enough for me to win the 'Natatangi' Award, which was originally for the person who came in a color unlike anyone else. I was thinking it could be Lala, who came in silver or KG, who came in gold. So I was like,
bakit ako?! Nyek! But I was happy I won, P500 din yun no? P500 in SM gift certificates. Hehe. I also won P200 in Starbucks GC from the raffle.
Other costume winners were Mang Ed and Xtine, and Lilibeth and Badinger-Z.
But the more important news was that our quadrant won in the Decor Contest! Woohoo! In your face, Red!
Sobrang kabado kami. Our closest rival, Orange, didn't even take 2nd place. In 3rd place was Pink, and Blue took 2nd. Gawd, you couldn't believe how we shouted when they announced that we won!
Pwede na magresign si Mau, narating na nya ang tugatog ng tagumpay. Hehe.PS: Additional Christmas wishes on the Wish List
Itchan: Muscle shirts and tummy tuck
Vans: Muscles lang
Mau: Brazilian wax
Maligayang Pasko sa lahat!
Labels: christmas, japanese, kimono, party, yukata
Posted by Unknown at 17:06
