Welcome party just for us new students!
(Monday, April 5, 2010/10:17 PM)
Finally settled my phone, insurance, and housekeeping matters! Gosh, I'm beat as hell, but I'm still enjoying every single second. Just had Japanese placement test this morning and I fared atrociously. Apparently, my "advanced" qualification in Singapore is only on par with my university's "intermediate". (=.=)
Just some leftover photos from my welcome trip to Beppu...
Surrounded by Caucasian beauties! Annika, a German, on the left. And Vanessa, an American on the right.
Joined by Reina, my Singaporean friend, on the left. And Mengyao, a young student from China.
Surrounded by Caucasian beauties! Annika, a German, on the left. And Vanessa, an American on the right.
Joined by Reina, my Singaporean friend, on the left. And Mengyao, a young student from China.An extravagant welcome party awaited us the day after we returned back to our dormitories from Beppu! Chinese buffet with a little Western and Japanese, with free flow desserts and liquor. I'm becoming so fat. (=.=) Didn't eat much because I was socializing more than I was eating. I guess everyone did the same so the restaurant manager should be laughing all the way to the bank...
Kazu, my Japanese buddy, on the left. Park, an "ikemen" (handsome guy) Korean. And Zaf (not sure if that's the right spelling), he's superbly funny. :P
Now, joined by a Japanese "ikemen", Moricos (cos' he likes a volleyball player named Marcos and decided to adopt a nickname after him).
Niroch, the gorgeous Swedish girl whom I've mentioned before. (Ok, you guys might be wondering if I was drunk, but I'm NOT! Everyone knows how alcohol has a good effect on my cheeks... =.=)
More Japanese cuties... Yay! :) Carolina, a French girl, on the right.
A short SG reunion...
Kieran, a 193 cm (!) tall American. And Haley, a bubbly Vietnamese American.
Nooo... Why is my face so dark in the background in this picture? She's Nagisa, a final year student in Dentistry. Haven't got the chance to know her better yet, but we'll see.
Fumiko, a very dedicated and nice girl who took care of all our needs during the Beppu trip
Akemi, a good friend of my Japanese buddy Kazu!
Misaki, a Japanese buddy to one of my Singaporean friends, but she has already graduated and started working...
Kazu, my Japanese buddy, on the left. Park, an "ikemen" (handsome guy) Korean. And Zaf (not sure if that's the right spelling), he's superbly funny. :P
Now, joined by a Japanese "ikemen", Moricos (cos' he likes a volleyball player named Marcos and decided to adopt a nickname after him).
Niroch, the gorgeous Swedish girl whom I've mentioned before. (Ok, you guys might be wondering if I was drunk, but I'm NOT! Everyone knows how alcohol has a good effect on my cheeks... =.=)
More Japanese cuties... Yay! :) Carolina, a French girl, on the right.
A short SG reunion...
Kieran, a 193 cm (!) tall American. And Haley, a bubbly Vietnamese American.
Nooo... Why is my face so dark in the background in this picture? She's Nagisa, a final year student in Dentistry. Haven't got the chance to know her better yet, but we'll see.
Fumiko, a very dedicated and nice girl who took care of all our needs during the Beppu trip
Akemi, a good friend of my Japanese buddy Kazu!
Misaki, a Japanese buddy to one of my Singaporean friends, but she has already graduated and started working...I've always like observing people, esp. in an international setting such as this. Opening my eyes to see the dynamism and interaction among people from different nations and backgrounds truly made me a wiser man.
It's natural to lay back into the comfort of familiarity. Asians stick with Asians, esp. if they speak the same mother tongue e.g. Chinese from SG, China, HK, Taiwan etc. Caucasians stick with Caucasians. And esp. those who aren't confident in their Japanese, and people who just want to have a fun time without a serious interest in Japan or its culture.
Screw that. I came here to learn so much more. I just can't dip back into the rut which I was in for the past few years. I'm gonna embarrass myself unconsciously doing things which would be in conflict with other cultures, or speaking broken Japanese hoping people would understand.
But I just don't have the privilege to care about my pride. Carpe diem, this is the one and only opportunity for me to open up.
I'll be needing to practise my Japanese a little cos' tomorrow, there's an interview test to gauge our speaking capabilities. I'll sign off here. Ciao! :D
It's natural to lay back into the comfort of familiarity. Asians stick with Asians, esp. if they speak the same mother tongue e.g. Chinese from SG, China, HK, Taiwan etc. Caucasians stick with Caucasians. And esp. those who aren't confident in their Japanese, and people who just want to have a fun time without a serious interest in Japan or its culture.
Screw that. I came here to learn so much more. I just can't dip back into the rut which I was in for the past few years. I'm gonna embarrass myself unconsciously doing things which would be in conflict with other cultures, or speaking broken Japanese hoping people would understand.
But I just don't have the privilege to care about my pride. Carpe diem, this is the one and only opportunity for me to open up.
I'll be needing to practise my Japanese a little cos' tomorrow, there's an interview test to gauge our speaking capabilities. I'll sign off here. Ciao! :D
posted by MightyFlameboy. shoot me? | 0 shot me.