Effective Speech – I wonder what I should do my speech on?

Honesty, I really don’t care much about world problems, or what is happening to other people I don’t know and my community. As long as it doesn’t really effect me why should I bother really worrying about it?

For my speech class, I am guessing I am supposed to do a speech on a significant social problem. I wonder what I should do it on? I am pretty tolerant as it is and me trying to convince other people about something I really don’t care about isn’t going to work. So, I can’t just pick a topic out of no where.

I really wonder why schools force their students to take things that really don’t matter to their overall career path? Why can’t I just learn Japanese and specialize in that? I’m tired of the whole well rounded individual nonsense. If I have an interest in another topic I read about it.

If anything, I might go with the topic about how America is so uninformed about other cultures and how people should learn more languages. Even that I really am not enthusiastic about, but I guess anything that I have to do research for isn’t going to excite me. Well, tomorrow in class we’re going over what to do so I guess I’ll have time to think of something then.

Vey anticlimactic e-mail about study abroad is anticlimaaaaactic

Dear

This letter is to inform you that you have been placed on HOLD pending the decision of the third party provider (ARCADIA, CIEE, IES, University of Minnesota) and/or the institution in which you are applying.

You will be notified immediately when a decision has been made.

Program: IES: Nagoya, Academic Year, 2008,
Status: Wait List

Sincerely,

-

Tell me something I didn’t assume would happen. I’m wondering where is that e-mail about signing stuff or whatever that one guy was talking about in his one e-mail because currently I haven’t received anything like that. Hmmm…

I have found the song I want played when I die

Course it’s in Japanese but man, great lyrics. B’z is so awesome.

Farewell Song
B’z
http://bz.9fishdesign.com/bzlyrics/farewell.htm

Melting away under the sun
When I open my eyes, everything has become pure white
Where is this wind blowing from
The green (leaves) are moving invitingly

Yesterday whom was it that I met and what did we do?
The needle of the clock is moving much too fast

Goodbye, my beloved one
Nothing is said, I’m going now
Forgetting about the frozen tears
Time I cannot tell is coldly wrapping me around

I can fall asleep in tenderness
For the length of 100 years, I wanna doze off on that lap
“Come home now” Mama is calling
“It’s time to go” Papa is also calling

Rules have been broken, who is crying now
Soon the next night will get much brighter

Goodbye, my beloved one
Nothing is said, I’m going now
The breathing rhythm of the street is in order
Even if a storm occurs suddenly

Goodbye, not because of hating each other
While laughing, wave your hand to me
There’s absolutely nothing on me now
Only one flaming soul still exists

Goodbye, my beloved one
Nothing is said, I’m going now
Forgetting about the frozen tears
Time I cannot tell is coldly wrapping me around

BUSY BUSY – And yet I find time to raid Kara every week

I just ate a very delicious dinner and now I feel like writing a long post. I have two main things I want to write about but I’m not sure which one I want to write about with first.

Recently I was browsing around my old high school’s network just for nostalgia’s sake since I am very nostalgic person. I can’t really view anyone else’s profiles, and I’ve stopped wanting to just friend everyone and their mother at this point. Anyway, from just their profile pictures some look like they’re really going places (not sarcasm) and are having a lot of fun unlike me but I don’t let this bog me down.

Sometimes I wonder if I’m ready for the “real world” because I’m not worrying about getting in my own apartment or looking for a job. I’m worried about studying abroad, what’s going to happen in the next episode of Clannad and if I’m going to get that epic shield from Nightbane. I want to stay a kidult as long as I can. I guess it’s all about priorities, and some people might just be more grounded than I am. Although, I’ve gathered around people that seem to feel the same way so if worse comes to worse we could always just live together and play WoW.

As my birthday approaches in less than 50 days now I’m not really sure what to think of it. I haven’t been all that big on birthdays I mean, it’s another year which means you’re so much closer to your ultimate demise. It will be nice to be able to drink legally though and I will definitely be celebrating it in my own way.

Gurren Lagann marathon party, probably. Unless I’m still busy even then. As always I still probably won’t feel any older or changed although it always seems to be the case looking back like, “If only I was the same person I am now then things would have been different.” or “I wish I knew the things I did 5 years ago.” Something like that.

It’s weird because things I worry about now don’t seem to compare to worries I had years ago like being able to finish a project on time for Mrs. Klotz or I’m so sad because I’m alone kind of deal. The worries I have seem to be related to my future in one way or another so maybe I’m not that far off as I previously assumed.

Today I decided to face my fears of speaking in front of an audience and just went head on into it and volunteered to go first. Something which is very uncharacteristic of me. It went well and I made some mistakes but I think I did better than other people before me since I actually worked the freakin aisle and walked around while I talked, but I did go over the time limit a little. Meh…

Things are somewhat busy or will be. Thursday I have an oral Japanese test, Friday an American Studies exam. Then a Japanese Lit exam on the 6th of March followed by a speech written in Japanese needs to be turned in the following day for Japanese 110.

Then it’s spring break but it really doesn’t quiet down because I hear if I was accepted to study abroad on not at the end of the break so I’ll be worrying over that. Then I have a book report pretty much due when I get back, and then the 2nd speech for speech class is pretty much right there too when I get back. This semester is such a busy time. Makes last semester seem like nothing.

How am I still finding time to play WoW and raid?

I’m tired but I’ve gotten over being sleep deprived.

After spending about a month and a half wallowing in the usual things I seem to succumb to at times (laziness, gluttony, etc), I’m feeling really motivated and setting stuff back into motion at this time.

Bryan’s Japanese Helpful Study Guide Thing for tomorrow

I don’t know but this test in Japanese for tomorrow I’m not too worried about but then again I am a little bit because I haven’t really studied for it, but then again the grammar this chapter hasn’t been all that complicated, but then again I have no idea what she could put on it that has been covered before.

Although, Suzuki-sensei doesn’t seem like the kind of teacher that pulls anything out of no where. So if you’ve been even half awake during the class and paid attention to things she pointed out she’ll have it on the test.

So this is what I’m lead to believe what WILL be on tomorrow’s test. I’m just kind of bored I guess and trying to sort out what kinds of things I NEED to work on.

1. Pick the right honorable form.

There probably will be without a doubt a section like this which I believe will be the fill in the blank where you will choose which honorable form to pick.

Like for example the stuff on pages 168-169 D. SO MAKE SURE YOU STUDY THOSE FORMS FROM CHAPTER 19!!

I’m guessing a chunk of the other grammar will be also in the fill in the blank from ~naide to yasui/nikui

2. The turn right at the corner thing

I’m hoping this will be the Listening Comp section. I personally had an easier time listening to this than saying it. This thing can’t be something we write out because we spent so little time on it in class, but then again you never know. I’m still studying how you write it.

3. Particles

Might be a mixed bag. If you have trouble with particles I don’t know how to help you because for me it’s kind of natural… but I would go back to the part about transitive and intransitive verbs and which particles go to which because we spent some time in class on those. As always read the dialogue because phrases are usually pulled from that.

4. Multiple Choice

Might have some stuff about ageru/kureru/morau again. So I’d look into that if you’re still having trouble knowing when to use those. Also, it might have some honorable forms that you have to choose which is the right one.

5. Vocab

Be smart and check what we used and what we didn’t. I doubt God and space alien will be on the test tomorrow, but moushiwakearimasen and those other honorable like expressions might.

Other than that I don’t know. I forget what older grammar we used. I know we used shimau for ~naide so maybe that might appear. Oh, yeah and make sure you ALWAYS read the little footnotes on the grammar points because even though we don’t cover them in class you’re better off reading them because you never know.

Well, good luck.

Whoa – Looking forward to my speech presentation

I’ve been going over some interesting ideas here and there in my head on how to make this fun and I like where this is going. I’m basically getting a grade to rant and I’m good at that. So basically if I write my sources down on flashcards and practice what I’m going to say in between those I should do just fine.

I have some neat ideas for this. Wow, I really can’t wait. Then again thinking is a huge leap from doing.

Health classes SHOULDN’T have quizzes

Uh, yeah so I just got back from my health class I’m taking this semester on how to be fit, and I didn’t know anything on the quiz. You’d think it’d be common sense stuff, right? Wrong. When you got questions like what are the 5 components of fitness and what not you know you’re in trouble. Though, this might have been greatly avoided with a little effort on my part.

You know, if anything, these classes really shouldn’t have tests. It’s really stupid because it’s one of those things where the knowledge is overly useless (more useless than classes outside my major) in real life and to even study for it is a waste of time in of itself.

So, I failed this thing big deal and didn’t get that 15 points on the quiz that I probably needed. I’m not going to lose much sleep over it since it is a fitness class after all, and the lowest I can get by failing the quizzes is a B-. I wonder just how many other people BS’d this thing too because everyone else seemed to know it pretty well and was out relatively fast. I on the other hand was one out of 3 people to leave last.

All and all, I will most likely put a little more effort into this thing for the second and final quiz because being one of the last people to leave makes me feel a little dimwitted even if it is just a health class.

Speeches suck – Just why am I having trouble with this?

Well, I’ve gotten over the anxiety of trying to figure out a speech topic, and I’ve gotten over the anxiety of putting off writing the thing. Now, I’m having a lot of damn trouble writing it.

I blame high school and school in general. I don’t know how to write a speech. I need to write a speech outline it says. This look real easy and yet I’m like, “Uh, does this go here?” or “Am I doing this right?” I think it’s mostly because I’ve been writing essays my entire life and something that seems to require less work is boggling my mind.

So, from the looks of it you start with an introduction that has an attention getter which then leads into something that explains why they should listen to you and why it is relevant to your audience which then leads into a transition about what you’re going to be talking about. I think I got this all right.

It’s basically the body. I have no idea how I can write all this under two pages. I guess you have a main point and then your sub points are the research you got? Sounds easy, maybe.

This is bullshit. Speeches seem to be more about etiquette than actual material. Least that’s how I’m seeing this. This speech is a pain, but I am going to try and give a good faith effort because the teacher said those that at least go on the day they’re scheduled and give a good faith effort they’ll end up with an A or B, and that is something I really need.

Valentine’s Day?

*Fap Fap Fap*

Essentially.

Way to go at keeping my ass safe, Penn State

I laughed reading today’s Collegian because there is an article on the front page that tries to defend the people that clean up the snow and make sure the sidewalks are clear. It says that they try to do a good job and they work very hard. O rly?

Hmm, well seeing how I had to walk from Hartranft to Willard on sidewalks with sheets of ice on them who could guess that they’re trying their best and working very hard? I underestimated the situation outside and almost fell flat on my ass because I didn’t notice that my whole sidewalk outside my dorm is full of ice, and it still is. I mean, what the hell? I really thought by now it would be cleared up or have salt on it by the time I got back from my 9:00 class. Maybe I should buy my own pack of salt or carry around a pick because at least it would get done.

If you’re not going to give a delay or a day off at least get the major sidewalks done. Hell, I almost slipped a few times. Fast reflexes for the win. I guess it’s going to take a few students to crack their heads on the sidewalk to get something to be done which is usually the case in most situations. Some one always has to pay before something can change for the better or worse.

–

Also, I’m not really sure what is the deal with that one blonde girl in my Japanese class. Maybe it was all the ice on the ground because I’d be pissed too but I mean I got to my Japanese class. Basically, fun time which can make the problem of the ice go to the side for a bit.

Regardless, she was kinda tsuntsun (ツンツン) to Wessner-san, Chin-san and I. Maybe over the fact that she moved some desks that I should have moved or there not being enough room or something? I don’t know. It’s not like a whole lot of people came to class today anyway. I’m just surprised because I don’t think I’ve ever came across a person of this personality type since like high school. I don’t get out much to meet such people although I try to stay away from mean and angry people that seem to think they are better than you in the first place.

And yeah, I totally agree with Wessner-san. I miss having Japanese everyday. At least it kept me focused on my major and just helped me keep focus in general. Having it every other day just seems to kinda make me want to slack more, and I’m too lazy to force myself to focus.