Another year, another hectic graduation--J-school is out for summer!

I'm kind of sad about that... just as the year starts wrapping up, I make a few new friends. Jaymie and Kevin are off to college and Michelle has yet to create an e-mail address. But they're cool... and I'm glad I met them.

Graduation was, as previously stated, hectic. Although, I'm sure it was entertaining for my parents. Every year, the graduating class is required to do a project or two. The other classes do them sometimes, but not always. This year was no exception... but it was slightly more disastrous than previous years. We had finals one week... then we had a break the next week... then we had a pointless day where we basically just hung out, doing nothing. That day, projects were mentioned and ideas were thrown around... but nothing solid. The week after that was the field trip. We took the Metro down to J-Town and went to the Japanese American National Museum (I have a rant about that trip, but I'll save it for later). Then, today, it was graduation. Throughout the week, we were getting emails about what we were doing for the projects and stuff, but didn't get to practice any of the materials until today. Gyaah! And, of course, I also found one of the projects very, very irritating.

( Blah blah blah... )

But it was also kind of fun... J2 did a presentation on Pokemon and sang the Pokemon theme song, which is now stuck in my head. My class also did a Japanese onomatopoetic expressions presentation (animal sounds and the like), which was... quite... odd. But funny as hell. Also, I had to give back my diploma because of an error in my name. They added a P to my first name. Zopie. Sara now refuses to call me anything else. Also, somehow, one of the teaches got it in her head that I was dating one of the 16 year olds in my class while we were rehearsing. One of my onomatopoetic expressions was わくわく(wakuwaku)/excited or trembling with excitement. I couldn't think of a sentence to do to demonstrate how the expression would be used and the teacher suggested that I explain how excited I would be when I was going on a date with my boyfriend. Jaymie was quite entertained. I have no idea what gave the teacher that idea. We've probably said two words to each other in the past two years, haha. Whatever. Oh... and we were trying to figure out a sentence to do for ぴかぴか(pikapika)/shiny or new, and a few of us immediately jumped on saying something about Pikachu. My teacher responded with something along the lines of, "Pikachu is bald??" I still have no idea what she was talking about. But it was funny. And Jaymie and I don't understand why Pikachu's baldness wasn't mentioned in the description of him during the Pokemon presentation.

It was a good year and I'm looking forward to next year. =]

母が　とってもかわいいな　猫の　しゃしんみつけました。　　猫が　きものを　きます。　　私は　ウィローに　きものを　あがたたいな～。

すっごくかわいいな　猫です。♥

このしゃしんも　かわいいですよ。

どこかに　猫の　きものを　ありますか？　　わかると、　おしえてね！

私の　日本語で　何かが　間違っていたらてっつだてください。

On Saturday, I went into Japanese school, totally exhausted and hoping we wouldn't have to take finals. I didn't feel prepared because I was so tired. I knew all my stuff and had studied enough... but that "enough" was assuming that I was going to be awake enough for my brain to function. So I kept wishing that I would be the only one in class so we wouldn't have finals or the teacher would forget the test at home. Once I saw that everything was in order, I hoped I would somehow hurt myself so badly while pulling my chair out, I could go home. After I sat down successfully, I gave up. I knew I had to take the test and I was pretty sure that I was absolutely doomed. We had 20 minutes to do some extra studying and boy did I burn through all the pages I had relating to the test. I even made a (crappy tracing of a) map of Japan and stared at it for a while. All of that and I was still pretty sure that the highest score I was going to get was a C. The teacher handed us our tests. My friend and I were the first people to finish. We handed them in and our teacher said we could start break early. I mainly burried my face in my hands until break ended and we had to go in to get our test scores. I took the paper from my teacher veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery sloooooooooooooooooooowly, dreading to see my score. My friend saw my score as I took it and her eyes went all wide. I flipped the page over to look at my grade...

I got an A! I GOT AN A!! I GOT AN A!!!

94% baby! Oh yeah! w00t!

Afterwards, my teacher grabbed me and my friend and took us into a classroom and made us do a traditional Japanese dance. In 2 weeks, we'll be doing it for graduation day. I've never felt so white before. I was the youngest girl in the room, but I was the tallest and the least Japanese looking... and I was in the front line. So I'll have to do this in 2 weeks in a kimono and the whole bit. I'm not really sure why my friend and I have to do it because we're not graduating, but whatever. I'll panic for a while, I'll do the performance, my mom will take pictures, we'll post them, you can laugh hysterically. Isn't that the way the world works most days?

Another game my mom bought for me is called Nova Bunny's Game Ryuugaku?! (I don't know what ryuugaku is. Will ask Sensei (teacher) tomorrow). It's kind of odd really. There's this bunny with a beak that never opens his eyes (what the hell is up with all the creepy bunnies lately?) as the mascot for the game. It's a bunch of mini-games made to teach Japanese kids English. There really is a lot of Japanese involved, including a bunch of words and kanji I don't know, making playing the game a bit difficult. It's also very repetative, which isn't something I like in a game. You have to get 100% in every mini-game before you can "move up a grade level", meaning you have to play each game many, many, many, many times. Some of the games are fun... but there comes a point when I want to move on, you know? The graphics are decent, though rather strange, considering the bunny with a beak that doesn't open his eyes. I like Happy Kitchen much better.

Graphics:
5/10 (It's kind of pixelated... and don't forget the bunny with a beak and eyes that don't open)

Tutorial:
N/A (There isn't really a tutorial for me to rate)

Game play:
5/10 (It's not really horrible and some of the little games are fun, but, like I said, it's very repetative)

今日に　ノヴァうさぎの　ゲームで　留学を　あそびました。　　ちょっとへんな　ゲーム　でした。　　あのゲームで　うさぎが　あります。　　でも、　ほんとに　へんな　うさぎ。　　うさぎが　とりの　くちばしが　ありますので、　目が　あけません。　　ゲームで　いっぱいの　ミニーゲームが　あります。　　日本語の　こどもに　えいごおいしえてるの　ゲームです。　　グラヒクは　いいです。　　でも、　ちょとへんです。　　だから、　あのうさぎが　あります。　　私は　しあわせキッチェんの　ほうが　すきです。

グラヒク：
5/10

ツトリャル：
N/A

ゲーム：
５/10

My mom bought me a bunch of Japanese games. I tried one out today called Happy Kitchen. It's like Cooking Mama, but there's no time limit and you get to customize it more towards the end (what place mat, what dishes, what silverware, etc.). When you start up the game, there's a girl talking about how her dad is coming home from America soon and she promised him she would make him a feast. The only problem is, she hasn't started cooking, nor does she know how. She asks her stuffed bunny if she should just give up and tell her dad that she couldn't make the feast, but rethinks that idea because she's in the third grade and probably shouldn't still talk to stuffed animals. Then she goes to her window and tries wishing on falling stars. After the third falling star, a little light comes towards her. It comes in her room, talks about how it can make the girl's wishes come true, and then zaps the girl's stuffed bunny with a lightning bolt. When the screen goes back to looking at the girl's room, the bunny is now alive, for the little light has basically possessed it. The girl gets freaked out, convinces herself she's dreaming, and goes to sleep. When she wakes up in the morning, she goes downstairs to find a cooking TV show celebrity. The celebrity is there to teach the girl how to cook because that's what the possessed stuffed bunny thought would help the girl.

Now, after reading, tapping a button, reading a bit more, tapping a button again, and some more reading, you get to the actual game. If I wasn't mainly playing this because I want to advance in Japanese, I would be pissed at the game for there being so much reading. I want there to be game-play when I buy a game. So yes, there's a lot of reading, but the parts that are more game-like, are actually rather fun, which makes up for the fact there's SO MUCH READING!!!! I mean, seriously! I spent half an hour just READING!!!

Graphics:
7/10 (Cute, very Japanese-ish, but not much else going for it)

Tutorial:
6/10 (Unlike most tutorials, it's fun, but it's not always specific enough about what it wants you to do)

Game play:
9/10 (Quite fun, love the customization of the way the dishes look at the end. Not too easy, not too hard)

母が　私に　日本語の　ビデオーゲームを　かってもらたんだ。　　今日に　私は　しあわせキッチェんを　あそびました。　　クキングママと　にてると　おもいますけど、　タイマーが　ありません。　　はじめの　ときに、　女の子は　お父さんすぐ　かえると　言います。　　ごちそうを　つけてと　女の子が　お父さんに　やくそくしたんだ。　　けれど、　女の子が　おりょりかたを　しりません。　　女の子が　ぬいぐるみの　うさぎに　「どうしよう」と　きいて、　でもそれへんと　女の子が　おもいます。　　女の子が　まどを　あけて、　おほしさまに　おねがいします。　　あのときに、　へんなあかるいボールが　女の子の　へやに　はいて、　ぬいぐるみの　うさぎを　ザップして、　ぬいぐるみに　はいてる！

このゲームが　いっぱいよむことが　あります。　　ちょとおいすぎると　おもいます。　　でも、　ほんとの　ゲームは　たのしいです。

グラヒく：
7/10

ツトリャル：
6/10

ゲーム：
9/10　　　
　

I have decided on my Japanese name! I am Kameko (Kame for short)! I even have a kanji for Kame, haha. So I will now sign all my Japanese papers with this as my first name:

亀子

Yay me! やった！

Hello, my name is Kameko.
こんにちは、私の　名前は　亀子です。

Is Kozika's Tune for Cherry. I've been listening to it for the past 20 minutes and I love it. It's so cute and bubbly... and happy. I like happy. Happy's good.

チェリの　おんがくは　さいこ！

夏の　てんどん (Natsuno tendon (Summer Tempura Bowl))
ざいりょ (Zairyo (Ingredients))=アスパラ (Asupara (Asparagus))、　なす (Nasu (Eggplant))、　そらまめ (Soramame (Broad bean))、　えび (Ebi (Shrimp))、　きす (Kisu (Kisufish))、　あなご (Anago (Eel))、　ごはん (Gohan (Rice))　
とくべつな　ざいりょ (Tokubetsuna zairyo (Special ingredient))=アオリいか (Aoriika (Aori Squid))
とひょす (Tohyosu (Votes))=2

夏の　かいせんどん　(Natsuno Kaiisendon ( Summer Seafood Rice Bowl))
ざいりょ (Zairyo (Ingredients))=かに (Kani (Crab))、　ほたって (Hotatte (Scallop))、　しまあじ (Shimaaji (Stripped jackfish))、　うに (Uni (Sea urchin))、　いくら (Ikura (Salmon roe)), ごはん (Gohana (Rice))　
とくべつな　ざいりょ (Tokubetsuna zairyo (Special ingredient))=ぶどうえび (Budouebi (Grape shrimp))
とひょす (Tohyosu (Votes))=7

わたしは　夏の　かいせんどんの　ほうがたべたいな！　　あなたは　どっちの　ほうが　たべたいんですか？
I would've voted for Kaiisendon! Which would you have voted for?

I have narrowed it down to these names:

Kameko/かめ子
Pronunciation: kah-meh-koh
Meaning: Turtle child
Short version: Kame/かめ
Kameko is part of my Maple Story name (KamekoHime) and I've liked that name for a while. realityengineer  pointed out that slow and in a shell is a lot like me. =P

Sayuri/さゆり
Pronunciation: Sah-yoo-ree
Meaning: Small lily
Lily has been a nickname of mine for a long time and there are still a few people that refer to me as Lily.

Yukiko/雪子
Pronunciation: Yoo-kee-koh
Meaning: Fortunate child; snow child
Short version: Yuki/雪
I love the way this sounds, with my last name and by itself. Also, one of my nicknames is Snowy... long story having to do with neopets and me wanting a white horse.

Kuruko/来る子
Pronunciation: Koo-roo-koh
Meaning: Child of the future
Short version: Kuru/来る
I like technology! I could be a scientist invite a time machine!

But I still cannot narrow it down to one. One last time, I ask for your opinion on this.

I've decided I want a Japanese name. I don't like the fact that, when I write my name on all my schoolwork papers at Japanese school, it's all in katakana. So, when I got home from school today, I looked up baby names and then did a specific search for Japanese names. Here are the names tori04, realityengineer, and I like:

Emiko/えみ子
Pronunciation: eh-me-koh
Meaning: Child graced with beauty; smiling child
Short version: Emi/えみ

Hanako/花子
Pronunciation: ha-nah-koh
Meaning: Flower child; favorite child
Short version: Hana/花

Imako/今子
Pronunciation: ee-mah-koh
Meaning: Child of the present
Short version: Ima/今

Kameko/かめ子
Pronunciation: kah-meh-koh
Meaning: Turtle child
Short version: Kame/かめ

Mizuki/みずき
Pronunciation: mee-zoo-kee
Meaning: Beautiful moon; beautiful month

Sayuri/さゆり
Pronunciation: Sah-yoo-ree
Meaning: Small lily

Suzume/すずめ
Pronunciation: Soo-zoo-meh
Meaning: Sparrow

Yoko/よ子
Pronunciation: Yoh-koh
Meaning: Giving child

Yukiko/雪子
Pronunciation: Yoo-kee-koh
Meaning: Fortunate child; snow child
Short version: Yuki/雪

My favorites are Emiko, Kameko, Sayuri, Suzume, and Yukiko. Which do you think is best for me?

まぐろの　へんかの　ごちそう (Magurono henkano gochiso (Tuna Variety Feast))
とくべつな　ざいりょ (Tokubetsuna zairyo (Special ingredient))=ほんまぐろ (Honmaguro (Fatty tuna))
とひょす (Tohyosu (Votes))=2

牛肉の　へんかの　ごちそう (Gyunikuno henkano gochiso (Beef Variety Feast))
とくべつな　ざいりょ (Tokubetsuna zairyo (Special ingredient))=ふるたけ牛肉 (Furutakegyuniku (Furutake beef))
とひょす (Tohyosu (Votes))=7

わたしは　まぐろの　ほうが　たべたいな。　　あなたは　どちの　ほうが　たべたいんですか？
I would've voted for the tuna! What would you have voted for?

They changed the show! They spend more time talking about the special ingredient instead of listing the ingredients as they cook! It makes me quite sad. The show isn't as interesting but I will do my best to continue posting.

ハヤシライス (Hayashiraisu (Hayashi rice))
ざいりょ (Zairyo (Ingredients))=みやぎ牛肉 (Miyagi gyuniku (Miyagi beef))、　デミグレーズソース (Demigurezusosu (Demi-glaze sauce))、　きんかハム (Kinkahamu (Kinka ham))、　たまねぎ (Tamanegi))、　バター(Bata (Butter))、　ちゃいろの　さと (Chairono sato (Brown sugar))、　赤いワイン (Akaiwain (Red wine))、　フライドたまねき (Furaidotamanegi (Fried onion))　
とくべつな　ざいりょ (Tokubetsuna zairyo (Special ingredient))=じょスーパージャンぼマッシュルム (Josupajanbomashurumu (Extremely super jumbo mushroom))
とひょす (Tohyosu (Votes))=８

オムライス (Omuraisu (Omu-rice))
ざいりょ (Zairyo (Ingredients))=めぐみたまご (Megumi tamago (Megumi egg))、　ベージェル (Bejeru (Basil))、　ポルチ二 (Poruchini (Porccini))、　パーマジョン (Pamajon (Parmesan))、　モツレラ (Motsurera (Motzzeralla)、　とり肉 (Toriniku (Chicken))、しょ (Sho (Salt))、　オリーブオイル (Oribuoiru (Olive oil))、　パスター (Pasuta (Pasta))、　たまねぎ (Tamanegi (Egg))、　セロリ (Serori (Celery))、　にんじん (Ninjin (Carrot))、　にんにく (Ninniku (Garlic))、　ソセージ (Soseji (Sausage))、　オイル (Oiru (Oil))　　
とくべつな　ざいりょ (Tokubetsuna zairyo (Special ingredient))=シシリアンルージュ (Shishirianruju (Sicilian Rouge))
とひょす (Tohyosu (Votes))=１

私は　ハヤシライスの　ほうが　たべたいな！　　あなたは　どっちの　ほうが　たべたいんですか？
I would've voted for hayashiraisu! What would you have voted for?

くろずの　すぶた (Kurozuno subuta (Black vinegar pork))
ざいりょ (Zairyo (Ingredients))=きんかの　ぶたにく (Kinkano butaniku (Kinka pork))、　山の　じゃがいも (Yamano jagaimo (Mountain potato))、　こしょ (Kosho (Pepper))、　しょ (Sho (salt))、　らおちゅ (Raoshu (Chinese wine))、 たまねぎ (Tamanegi (Onion))、　しょが (Shoga (Ginger))、おきなわの 黒の　さと (Okinawano chairono sato (Okinawa black sugar))、　びんこっと (Binkotto (Fermented red grapes used in wine))、　たまご (Tamago (Egg))、　かたくりこ (Katakuriko (Potato starch))、　こむぎこ (Kokugiko (Flour))、　しろごま (Shirogoma (White sesame seeds))、　パンの　くず (Panno kuzu (Bread crubs))、　パプリカ (Papurika (Paprika))　　　　　　
とくべつな　ざいりょ (Tokubetsuna zairyo (Special ingredient))=かくいだの　くろず (Kakuidano kurozu (Kakuida black vinegar))
とひょす (Tohyosu (Votes))=８

いせエビの　チリソース (Ise-ebino chili sosu (Chili sauce lobster))
ざいりょ (Zairyo (Ingredients))=トマト (Tomato)、　とうがらし　パースと (Tougarashi pasuto (Chili paste))、　とうがらし (Tougarashi (Chili pepper))、　中国の　しょゆ (Chugokuno shoyu (Chinese soy sauce))、　らおちゅ (Raochu (Chinese wine))、　らーゆ (Rayu (Chili oil))、フランスの　バター (Furansuno bata (French butter))、　かたくりこ (Katakuriko (Potato starch))、　いせエビの　たまご (Ise-ebino tamago (Lobster egg))、　ちゅにゃん (Chunyan (Fermented malted rice))、　しょが (Shoga (Ginger))、　にんにく (Ninniku (Garlic))、　たまねぎ (Tamanegi (Onion))、　たまご (Tamago (Egg))　　　
とくべつな　ざいりょ (Tokubetsuna zairyo (Special ingredient))=かのこいせエビ (Kanoko ise-ebi (Kanoko lobster))
とひょす (Tohyosu (Votes))=３

わたしは　いせエビの　ちりそーすの　ほうが　たべたいな！　　あなたは　どっちの　ほうが　たべたいんですか？
I would've voted for Chili sauce lobster! What would you have voted for?

三人たちが　ないたんだ！
The three people that didn't get to eat were crying. I would cry too.

ひやしちゅか (Hiyashichuka (cold Chinese noodles))
ざいりょ (Zairyo (Ingredients))=えび (Ebi (Shrimp))、　ほたて (Hotate (Scallop))、　いか (Ika (Squid))、　かに (Kani (Crab))、　くらげ (Kurage (Jellyfish))、　とり肉 (Toriniku (Chicken))、　ごまソース (Gomasosu (Sesame sauce)、　しょゆ (Shoyu (Soy sauce))、　しょが (Shoga (Ginger))、　たまねぎ (Tamanegi (Onion))、　きゅり (Kyuri (Cucumber))、　豚肉 (Butaniku (Pork))、　たまご (Tamago (Egg))　
とくべつな　ざいりょ(Tokubetsuna zairyo (Special ingredient))=おごんす (Ogonsu (Ogon Vinegar))
とひょす　（Tohyosu (Votes))=６

たんたんめん (Tantanmen (hot spicy noodles))
ざいりょ (Zairyo (Ingredients))=ひだ　サーロイン　(Hida saloin (Hida sirloin))、　酒 (Sake）、　らーゆ　(Rayu (Chili oil))、　らおちゅ　（Raochu (Chinese wine))、　竹の子 (Takenoko (Bamboo shoots))、　しいたけ (Shiitake (Shiitake mushroom))、　ボックチョィ (Bok choy)、　ほたて　(Hotate (Scallop))、　ごまソース (Gomasosu (Sesame sauce)、　しょゆ (Shoyu (Soy sauce))、　たまねぎ (Tamanegi (Onion))　
とくべつな　ざいりょ (Tokubetsuna zairyo (Special ingredient))=たかのつめ (Takanotsume)
とひょす (Tohyosu (Votes))=５

わたしは　ひやしちゅかの　ほうが　たべたいな！ あなたは　どっちの　ほうが　たべたいんですか？
I would've voted for Hiyashichuka! Which one would you have voted for?

Lately, I've been very interested in anime. I've asked my mom a few times if I could get anime style drawing lessons. Some of my favorite manga are: Tokyo Mew Mew, Cardcaptor Sakura, and One Piece. I watch Cardcaptor Sakura, Kaleido Star, Yukitsukaino Sugar, Hikaruno Go, and Angelic Layer. I've started drawing anime style art on my own but it isn't that great. I can draw the hair fairly decently. I can draw the eyes pretty well. I can draw pretty much all of an anime person except for the hands and the feet. On animals, I have a hard time drawing the bodies in general. The tails and paws I can draw, but not the rest of the body. Sometimes, the heads are really hard. So, after trying to draw my own stuff for a whie, I started tracing other stuff to get a hang of the way it's done. It's VERY complicated. The top of the eye takes more than 10 strokes sometimes. I tried to trace some of the Tokyo Mew Mew stuff and it was SO hard. Each little strand of hair was like 20 strokes. I won't be drawing stuff like that anytime soon.

I have a story idea for a manga but I'm really not good enough at drawing it yet. I would love to be a voice-over in an anime show someday but I would REALLY love to make an anime show. I don't think it's something I would want to do for a living but it'd be fun for a one time thing. But, for now, I think I'll just stick to tracing and drawing randomly.

あにめは　さいこ！