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[RevenantKioku]

Goddamn Kanazawa!
Although the 17th they kick me out of my school apartment so I'm floating around til I leave from Narita on the 19th.....

 

[MetatronM]

Put me down as a maybe for now for Friday. I may or may not be able to come, but I probably won't have a better idea until tomorrow night.

 

[DCharlie]

Cool - let us know - at the moment, it looks like you are the only new face!

so , if you aren't coming - we'll probably just call it off to another time

let us know,
d.c.

 

[DCharlie]

Actually, would next monday (12th) be better?

I know Black_Ace is more partial to Monday...

thoughts?

 

[FortNinety]

Sorry to go off topic, but DCharlie, what happened to your avatar?

 

[DCharlie]

oh ? forgot about that... just didn't set it up. Hmmm.... perhaps i should?

I think i'll make a new one.

 

[MetatronM]

Hmm, looks like tomorrow is gonna be a bust. I'm free on Tuesday for sure, but otherwise I think it is pretty much just a day by day thing from now until I leave on the 24th. Next weekend (next Friday thru Monday) I'll be in Kyoto, doing god knows what. Hooray for lack of planning!

 

[DCharlie]

Tuesday is great with me too - lets do tuesday!

So - Tuesday - 6pm - Hachiko in shibuya

 

[john tv]

Tues is prolly OK for me too. Please remind me DC!!

 

[DCharlie]

okay - will do.

BlackAce ?
Troidal ?
Evilromero ?
Singh?

You in?

 

[Blackace]

okay - will do.

BlackAce ?
Troidal ?
Evilromero ?
Singh?

You in?

I'm down.... make sure you remind me

 

[MrSingh]

I'll be there unless I'm down with food poisoning.

 

[Shouta]

I`ll be in Tokyo starting the 15th. Bought my train tickets yesterday ;p.

 

[DCharlie]

"I'll be there unless I'm down with food poisoning."

ugh.
alcohol and pork - a leathal combo.

 

[Blackace]

"I'll be there unless I'm down with food poisoning."

ugh.
alcohol and pork - a leathal combo.

I have an interview on tuesday..so I might be held up for a bit.. I will email you once I find out what time I will be free....

 

[Shouta]

Hey Black Ace, where do you live? I need to come by and bother you ;p.

 

[Troidal]

Gaaah! I'm out of town until Wednesday, unfortunately I won't be able to join you folks :/

Have fun though you guys!

 

[Blackace]

Hey Black Ace, where do you live? I need to come by and bother you ;p.

I live in Tsunashima! Just drop me a line on the 14th or whatever

 

[DCharlie]

lets get fucked up at my place when Shouta arrives...

or something similar.

 

[XS+]

I'm heading to Yokohama in like an hour or so (Shin Yamashita Park area), anyone want to meet over there?

..I didn't think so..

 

[DCharlie]

well, me and EvilR are pretty fecked up and we are on your way to Yokohama....

what is your plan there?

we could come along

edit ; sorry - i mean we are in a location that is ON THE WAY to Yokohama.

 

[Blackace]

I'm heading to Yokohama in like an hour or so (Shin Yamashita Park area), anyone want to meet over there?

..I didn't think so..

What's the deal... I live near that area....

 

[DCharlie]

it`s getting old skool here.

Don`t the trains stop soon?

So.. whats the plan for getting fecked up???

 

[Blackace]

The trains stop... but the party burns on... (or something like that)

 

[XS+]

What's the deal... I live near that area....

Matrix..

 

[Blackace]

Matrix..

As in red pill, blue pill? Where is it at and what is going on?

 

[XS+]

It's Club Matrix (Odoriya-sponsored tonight), a dance club I visit maybe once a month. R&B and Reggae music. And drinks. Lots of drinks.

 

[Blackace]

I live in Tsunashima... on the Toyoko sen... how do I get there?

 

[DCharlie]

ugh - (looks at empty bottle of Vodka) that could be suicide for at least one of us...


... and that`s probably the one of us who can`t type a comple sentence.

(i`m looking at you Evil)

 

[XS+]

You can't read that can you?

I don't know street/train directions, I'm driving on the highway. By the highway, you drive on the K1 and take the Shin Yamashita Park exit. The club has a huge 'MATRIX' neon sign on the building, you can't miss it from the highway exit.

3000 yen cover charge.

 

[Blackace]

ugh - (looks at empty bottle of Vodka) that could be suicide for at least one of us...


... and that`s probably the one of us who can`t type a comple sentence.

(i`m looking at you Evil)

That's never stopped you before!

 

[DCharlie]

Ah, calling it a night.
I really should check out the Yokohama scene, although the last time i went to an R&B/Reggae club i got hassled. A first for in japan, but hey.

Tuesday night - XS+ any chance you can make it?

 

[Shouta]

I`m staying at the Tokyo Inn near Magome Station on the Toei Asakusa line fyi ;p. Train leaves at 12 something and I get into tokyo around 2:3opm IIRC. I think my check in time was like 5 or 6 though...

 

[XS+]

Ah, calling it a night.
I really should check out the Yokohama scene, although the last time i went to an R&B/Reggae club i got hassled. A first for in japan, but hey.

Tuesday night - XS+ any chance you can make it?

Actually, the old lady's coming back from Hawaii this week, so Tuesday isn't good. I'm usually free on Sunday and Monday, and I have a lot of free time coming up in August.

 

[DCharlie]

cool. I'm probably going to be up to my neck in it during August, but we should hook up for sure.

 

[God's Hand]

You know, one day these "meet up" threads will result in manslaughter or worse, rape. Count me out.

 

[DCharlie]

"You know, one day these "meet up" threads will result in manslaughter or worse, rape. Count me out."

gah, where is your sense of adventure?

 

[DCharlie]

Reminder :

Tomorrow 6pm : Hachiko (the statue of the dog) in Shibuya.

Thanks,
d.c.

 

[Shouta]

2 more days until I`m in Tokyo!

On that note, I just finished reading Harlem Beat, go Shibuya Scratch! XD

 

[MetatronM]

Argh, these fucking study abroad bastards changed our fucking schedule again today. They are the least organized, most incompetant bastards EVER.

Anyway, I'm now out for tomorrow, since they decided to reschedule a mandatory event (it counts as a class and has a graded homework assignment pertaining to it) for tomorrow at 6:30! On our day off!! ARGH!

I should have just come here on vacation. But nooooooooooooo, I wanted to try and "learn the language" so I have to deal with these clowns.

For the record, I skipped out on my Japanese class today to go to the lounge/computer center and TEACH THE CLASS TO MYSELF as an experiment. After meeting back up with my classmates afterwards, I found that I had taught myself FAR more than they had learned in class. For example, today was our first day we covered kanji in class, and they learned the numbers 1 - 5. I learned the numbers 1 - 10, plus 100, plus 1000, plus 10000 (meaning I can basically write out numbers into the millions in kanji now), as well as the kanji for ji (time). I also managed to teach myself how to use the te-form to describe events or activities currently in progress, as well as actions which have caused some kind of change, AND I taught my self a whole host of descriptive adjectives. The class only learned how to talk about events in progress and SOME adjectives. And I did all of this in 2 hours, as opposed to the class, which is 3 hours and 20 minutes. In short, the Japanese educational system and teaching method blows, and these study abroad people suck.

The big problem is that despite the fact that I'm still going to be here for another week and a half plus, almost the entire rest of my time here has already been scheduled out. There is a slim chance that I might be able to do something on Monday or possibly Tuesday of next week, but those are by no means solid and that's about all I think I have for free time (or at least, free time that can be used for meeting up) for the rest of my time here.





Oh, and sorry about that rant about the study abroad business. I just hate stupidity and bulshit, and they have it in spades.

 

[DCharlie]

no problems man, Gang - what shall we do?
Now that shouta is due here in a day or so - we could do .... friday?

I'm still up for tomorrow though

 

[MetatronM]

Bah, don't quit on my account.

 

[DCharlie]

ha ha - i'm REALLY trying to avoid drinking.
I'm turning into a fat ass.
me and Evilromero polished off a bottle fo vodka on saturday
and any meeting tomorrow will undoubtably get messy.

Ah, we'll take a straw poll tomorrow and see how it goes.

 

[dark10x]

For the record, I skipped out on my Japanese class today to go to the lounge/computer center and TEACH THE CLASS TO MYSELF as an experiment. After meeting back up with my classmates afterwards, I found that I had taught myself FAR more than they had learned in class. For example, today was our first day we covered kanji in class, and they learned the numbers 1 - 5. I learned the numbers 1 - 10, plus 100, plus 1000, plus 10000 (meaning I can basically write out numbers into the millions in kanji now), as well as the kanji for ji (time). I also managed to teach myself how to use the te-form to describe events or activities currently in progress, as well as actions which have caused some kind of change, AND I taught my self a whole host of descriptive adjectives. The class only learned how to talk about events in progress and SOME adjectives. And I did all of this in 2 hours, as opposed to the class, which is 3 hours and 20 minutes. In short, the Japanese educational system and teaching method blows, and these study abroad people suck.

Self-teaching works pretty well IF you are dedicated. Having friends to talk to really helps, though. One thing though, you are just learning that stuff and you're over there now? How are you getting by? I was planning on heading over there sooner for work, but I decided to finish up my two bachelor degrees first. So, now I'm not heading over until early 2005. I thought I was extremely far behind by only knowing about 600 or so Kanji. I was back at that level you mentioned well over two years ago. :\ How well are you getting by? Although I speak with others very decently now, I've been getting concerned that I am too far behind and would have a very hard time for a while.

Hmm, maybe it won't be so tough at first? We'll see...

 

[MetatronM]

Self-teaching works pretty well IF you are dedicated. Having friends to talk to really helps, though. One thing though, you are just learning that stuff and you're over there now? How are you getting by? I was planning on heading over there sooner for work, but I decided to finish up my two bachelor degrees first. So, now I'm not heading over until early 2005. I thought I was extremely far behind by only knowing about 600 or so Kanji. I was back at that level you mentioned well over two years ago. :\ How well are you getting by? Although I speak with others very decently now, I've been getting concerned that I am too far behind and would have a very hard time for a while.

Hmm, maybe it won't be so tough at first? We'll see...

Very easily. There's English everywhere, and it's quite clear that the Japanese desperately wish they were Americans, so it works out just fine, really.

To be fair, I do know a FEW other random kanji (for example, exit and entrance signs, some of the directions like east and west, Tokyo, and the most important kanji of all, being the kanji for mizu). As a general rule, though, I don't use Japanese outside of the classroom at all, save the occasional sumimasen, arigatoo, kudasai, and onegaishimasu. Basically, if you know those words, hiragana, and katakana, you can pretty much get by quite well here. It might be a different story trying to make a living here with my level of knowledge, but simply existing is pretty damn easy, really.

 

[dark10x]

Just as an example of where I'm at, here is some random reading material from a practice site that I've visited. Yeah, it's pretty simple stuff...but I'm still working.

It's just an excerpt from a "diary" entry that was there. I tend to pick up and read whatever I can. I'd say that's about where my reading abilities stand, sadly. Hopefully, once I get over there, I'll be able to start picking up things faster. I don't have any real problems with normal conversations or anything, but sometimes things go off in an unfamiliar direction.

　今日は「花祭」というお釈迦様の誕生日だそうだ。アメリカにいた時、日本人には宗教を持たない人が多いと聞いていたが、実際に日本で生活してみると日本人はいろいろ宗教的なことをしていることがわかってきた。大伯父は朝晩二回必ず仏壇に御飯をそなえ合掌し、お祈りをする。神棚にも手を合わせ拝む。おじさんも車にお守りをつけ、彼岸には家族と一緒に先祖の墓に墓参りに行く。結婚式は、神式、仏式、キリスト教式、といろいろあり、葬式は仏教のやり方で行われる。お盆の時には故郷に帰り、先祖の霊を迎える。日本人は一人の神だけではなくいろいろな神を信じている。受験生は試験に合格させて下さる神様のところへ、子供がほしい女性や、もうすぐ子供が生まれる母親は「安産」の神様のところへ、交通事故にあいたくない人は「交通安全」の神様のところへいってお祈りをする。一人の人がさまざまな神様にお願いに行くのもよく見受ける。近所のある女性は、娘さんに良いお婿さんが見つかりますようにと「縁結び」の神の神社へいってお祈りし、息子が学校で良い成績がとれますようにと「学問」の神に祈り、御主人の商売が繁盛しますように「福」の神を拝みに行く。キリストだけが唯一の神であるキリスト教中心の社会で育った僕には、日本人がいろいろな神様に違うお願いをしているのをはじめて見た時変な気持がしたが、だんだん慣れると別に変だとも思わなくなってきた。

Which city are you in BTW? I didn't actually read through the whole thread. Things keep getting turned around for me, but it sounds as if I will actually be going to live in Nagoya.

 

[MetatronM]

I see no way in which an individual can read that. A lot of those kanji are damn near illegible.

Anyway, I'm in Chiba prefecture, so I've spent the past month bouncing all over the greater Tokyo area.

 

[JackFrost2012]

I see no way in which an individual can read that. A lot of those kanji are damn near illegible.

Well, that's the fault of font size 9 italics, not the actual kanji themselves.
wait til you start reading script

 

[Lyte Edge]

Very easily. There's English everywhere, and it's quite clear that the Japanese desperately wish they were Americans, so it works out just fine, really.

Interesting; I was hoping for as little English as possible to help improve my poor Japanese skills. When I was in Tokyo for a week or so in 2001, I didn't come across too many English-speakers, though. The problem was that many people talked too damn fast for me to understand them, but that was three years ago, and I've had three more years of schooling, so I hope that helps me when I get there next week...

To be fair, I do know a FEW other random kanji (for example, exit and entrance signs, some of the directions like east and west, Tokyo, and the most important kanji of all, being the kanji for mizu). As a general rule, though, I don't use Japanese outside of the classroom at all, save the occasional sumimasen, arigatoo, kudasai, and onegaishimasu. Basically, if you know those words, hiragana, and katakana, you can pretty much get by quite well here. It might be a different story trying to make a living here with my level of knowledge, but simply existing is pretty damn easy, really.

Heh, my Kanji reading skills suck too. A friend of mine has had a HUGE improvement; he got these Kanji flashcards from Barnes & Noble/Amazon, which I finally ordered. He brings them everywhere with him, and has learned a LOT in just the past few months alone.

 

[dark10x]

Well, that's the fault of font size 9 italics, not the actual kanji themselves.
wait til you start reading script

Yeah, that actually looks a lot more complex than it actually is (For some reason, Neo GA always displays Japanese in a very small font). The site from which that originates from is basically a collection of writing on various topics. They range from 1 to 4 star difficulty and most of the difficult kanji can be clicked on for help (though, I know most of those kanji). That is a 2 star document, but the higher levels are much more difficult for me. I can kinda understand, but it is just overwhelming. That piece I posted is pretty easy for me now, but I have assumed that it is nothing more than "beginner" material (and I still feel that way). I can read that and feel like I'm doing OK, but then I click on a 4 star article and I'm totally just lost.

I am actually a bit relieved that you are getting by just fine without being a pro at the language, Metatron. I mean, I have always believed that people just visiting wouldn't have any real problems...but if you are living there, the knowledge seems very important. I really want to master it during my years there...so I plan I studying my ass off. Hopefully I can get by in the beginning...