I have about three weeks remaining of the current term. I'm going to be finishing up my assignments and projects and reports for the semester in the next three days or so. I have plans to go hiking the weekend after next. It should be nice with weather befitting spring, so I'm excited. I think I'm going to the Punchbowl Falls and a few other places. Multnomah is always a must-see, but the other falls are great because we can actually walk right up to where the water is falling and get within a few centimeters of the water for pictures and so on. I like to just go and gaze at the falls for a while. I'll post some pictures. My friend and I are going, and I think that we'll probably invite one more along just to round things out.
I have a bunch of tutoring lined up, and I will be doing observations at some local universities.
I have an appointment with my adviser today to see about starting the paperwork for my teaching practicum abroad. It's set for 2010, April, so I have about a year. I need to register for the Japanese Proficiency Exam, which is held in December. I am going to take Level 1, which proves fluency at an adult level. I'm nervous, but I plan to study a lot before December. I'm going to start in May studying vocabulary words and example sentences and reading newspapers every day.
More later.
For My Dear
作詞：浜崎あゆみ
Lyrics: ayumi hamasaki
(私の存在。My existence.)
It may be that I'm singing this song since
I'm unable to say just the words I wanna say most.
Happiness you dream of is always best before you catch hold of it
Because once it's in your hands, you're assailed by the fear of losing it.
And that's why humans are not such simple creatures
As to be able to explain them through reason
Because everyone has their wounds,
Sometimes gentleness stings as it soaks in
And it hurts so much that we feel about to burst into tears
My loneliness heals me
Because I don't wanna be all alone
Because I have you
I wanna feel at peace and fall into deep sleep
It may be that I'm continuing to sing this song since
Some day, I feel I'll be able to say just the words I wanna say most
It may be that I fall in love since
I don't get to hear just the words I wanna hear most
It may be that I'm continuing to sing this song since
Some day, I feel I'll be able to say just the words I wanna say most
It may be that I fall in love since
I don't get to hear just the words I wanna hear most
We make our move, headed for the next stage
And keep walking
On this road that leads on and on,
We keep shining
I wonder how I can make a new start
Beginning from this point forward
I looked up at the sky and then a smile gently escaped from my lips
I could hear someone saying, "Don't be afraid. It's all right."
I looked up at the sky and then tears suddenly overflowed from my eyes
I can think tenderly of even the scars left behind in my past
I hear the signal heralding the future ring
And my eyes meet yours
My heart pulses with excitement
I wonder what I'll choose to draw
And what kind of map will come out of it
When we feel the wind, let's reach out and grasp each other's hand tightly
We don't need a lot of words anymore
When we feel the wind, let's set out, stepping forward strongly
Let's go on at the same pace, go on gazing at the same scenery
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I really like this song. It makes me feel like "It's all okay. No matter what the scenery looks like, it's gonna be fine."
This translation, I wanted to do, because I wanted to tell my friends the things that this song talks about. I hope you all know--and I hope I say it enough--that I love you all. Happy spring.
How was your 2008? Did it turn out as you expected? I suspect it did not. Mine, of course, did not. Nowhere in the program was there an indication that I would be sitting here in a Portland suburb, typing away at my laptop and telling you about graduate school. I was not supposed to be studying English and second language acquisition (SLA), either. It was supposed to be business and tourism, actually.
But at the same time, I would not trade this moment for anything. Even when things do not seem to go as they 'should'. Maybe I've grown up a little bit.
It is really cold this morning. Recently, Portland was hit by a few weeks of really heavy snow, as many of you know. My photos are on my Facebook and my mixi, so please take a gander if you have yet to do so.
I am listening to the Carpenters. I have been recently playing their greatest hits album almost daily. I don't know why. I was not born when Karen was singing these songs. I have no deja vu, nor does any particular scene dance before my eyes when I listen. But, I feel strangely connected to these songs. Maybe it's a common American culture. They were a great duo. They have inspired a great many people, including some of my favorite singer-songwriters of these days (e.g. Chihiro Onitsuka).
Well, I've got to get some work done~! I was invited to be the Director of International Student Academic Support at Concordia, so I've been setting up some new activities for the international students. I will also, I hope, be tutoring in the writing center. I will have a meeting with the director on Wednesday. She didn't say anything about 'welcome aboard', just that we would discuss the center. I hope that doesn't mean 'no.'
hi!how are you read more
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