September 13, 2007

• Let’s Move Along

  I think I should be more conscious of how much time I am wasting. I procrastinate a lot and I am not proud of that at all. If I really want to graduate next year I really have to apply myself. I wish I knew what motivates me, and then life would be so much easier. I can’t imagine myself graduating, I just can’t. I’ll just study my heart out and hope for the best. I don’t want to be one of those kids who get stuck in high school for the rest of their lives.

  I am going to make another change. I want to stop rambling about unnecessary things. It seems like for the past week I have been getting way too detailed about my mundane life and it was starting to annoy me. Yes, I do annoy myself, and occasionally I listen to myself talk. It sounds like a very funny but sometimes when you think about what you do, or say, you will come up with your own answers and know yourself better. That’s maybe the reason I am more emotionally stable compared to most people.

  I got a surprising call from my old tutor yesterday. It has been about a year since I last saw her and I really missed her. I really owe her a lot because she got my writing level from nothing, to grade level in only a few months. She says she has a new way to get my basic math down. I am so excited to see what she has for me! I still have some books from last year I forgot to return to her. I still haven’t read it and I don’t think I really plan to. One of the books she let me borrow was The Screw Tape Letters by C.S. Lewis. Is that book any good? I keep hearing it is.

  In Japanese class we got to practice greeting and business cards. I actually had a lot of fun with that. I have to remember how to respectfully take and present business or name cards. When Japanese people introduce themselves they go by title, or rank. This is how a conversation might go.

  Hajimemashite, Olympic koh-koh no Carlson des(u).

  Japanese use last names to introduce themselves. I think they use first names when you’re more acquainted with the person. In English I just said, Hello pleased to meet you. I am Carlson from Olympic High School. I also learned you only say “desu” when you’re trying to be formal and use “des” if you are informal. After my introduction my partner named Jordan introduced himself. Then I said…

  Kore, watashi no meeshi des(u).

  Basically meaning, here is my card. They take this very seriously but I have to hand out my card respectfully and bow as they accept it, making sure that the words are readable towards them for easy reading. You also have to be very careful how you take your card out. You cannot put your card in your front or back pockets at any time. Guys have to use their front shirt pocket or ladies have to use their purse. If you have neither of these then you’re basically screwed. Your card represents yourself and your life. If you pull out your card from your back pocket it basically means you don’t care.  Then we say thank you in Japanese.

  Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu.

  Overall today was great! I am getting ready to study American Literature now, the story doesn’t catch my attention so it is really hard focusing on something that isn’t interesting. I have about seven days of home school study to catch up on but I’ll be fine. Rickey almost went through my Japanese notes. I get embarrassed when people look at what I write. I might let him look though my notes tomorrow if I am in a good mood.

  • 1:58 pm
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