I have been stressing about my meishi. Meishi are business cards, and they are extremely important in Japanese society. I am sure that I will post more about meishi etiquette when I get to San Francisco (apparently, there is a presentation on meishi alone!), but I have been stressing about them for one very specific reason.
One side must be in English. That's easy. The other side? Must be in Japanese.
HOW IN THE WORLD AM I SUPPOSED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN???
So, I started doing some research. There are companies on the Net who will more than gladly translate them and print them for me...all for the bargain basement price of $150. Please. They're cards. I don't care how important they are, I am not forking out that kind of money.
On a lark, I decided to write Keiko Kurabawa, the professor of Japanese language at Indiana University Southeast. She has graciously agreed to meet with me on Monday to translate my English info into Japanese. Thank goodness! I was concerned that I would use an online translator service and my name would come back translated as "Stupid White Woman" and I wouldn't know it! I'll update the card process later. Just had to post my sigh of relief!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Oh wow!
After making the earlier post, I realized that exactly four months from today, I will board a plane for San Francisco, thus beginning the first leg of my trip to Japan.
This is a happy moment!
This is a happy moment!
I am SUCH a slacker!
When I initially started this blog, I was afraid that I would post too much, too often, and somewhere aroud mid-April I decided that I needed to hold back bit. Well, now it is June 12! How in the WORLD did that happen?
As we speak, the June group is in Tokyo. Lucky kids. In their honor, I composed a haiku:
Hi to the June Group
I'm jealous that you are there
Have fun without me
Yeah, yeah, I know that haiku is traditionally done on topics found in nature. But, the way I figure it, I know those guys are outside at some point. Wouldn't that make them something found in nature then? Don't I sound like one of my students trying to defend a wrong answer???
Anyway, I have no real excuse for why I have been absent from my blog for so long. Life got in the way, and I think I was trying to slow my excitement down a bit about this trip...I think I am becoming obsessed! I know what an honor this trip is, and I know that it is going to be a life-changing experience. I cannot wait to go!
Here are some updates...I promise to be better about this in the future!
1. No new books on Japan have been purchased by me in the last month. Had to slow down there! However, that does NOT mean that I don't have a list of books that I want to purchase!
2. Still going to Disney. No changes there.
3. Found a little story in Budget Travel about a geisha experience that you can have in Tokyo. You get all dressed up in the right clothes (either for a geisha or as a maiko, an apprentice geisha), makeup, and hair(!!!) and then have your portrait taken. The only problem is, it is a bit expensive, and it takes around three hours to complete. However, it's very cool. The studio is in Harajuku, and it is called Studio Mon Katsura. The English on this site is a bit choppy, but you get the general idea. Be forewarned, though...if you try to go to the main page, it loads VERY slowly, if it loads at all! I have yet to fully read the main page...my machine locks up every time.
This could be me!
4. Language process? I know nothing more than I did before. I have big hopes for next month!
5. Got a package of stuff from the Japanese Consulate in Chicago. Woo hoo! Stuff about Japan AND it was free...and Lord knows I love a bargain! I'll do another post where I will describe what came in that lovely packet.
That's all for now!
As we speak, the June group is in Tokyo. Lucky kids. In their honor, I composed a haiku:
Hi to the June Group
I'm jealous that you are there
Have fun without me
Yeah, yeah, I know that haiku is traditionally done on topics found in nature. But, the way I figure it, I know those guys are outside at some point. Wouldn't that make them something found in nature then? Don't I sound like one of my students trying to defend a wrong answer???
Anyway, I have no real excuse for why I have been absent from my blog for so long. Life got in the way, and I think I was trying to slow my excitement down a bit about this trip...I think I am becoming obsessed! I know what an honor this trip is, and I know that it is going to be a life-changing experience. I cannot wait to go!
Here are some updates...I promise to be better about this in the future!
1. No new books on Japan have been purchased by me in the last month. Had to slow down there! However, that does NOT mean that I don't have a list of books that I want to purchase!
2. Still going to Disney. No changes there.
3. Found a little story in Budget Travel about a geisha experience that you can have in Tokyo. You get all dressed up in the right clothes (either for a geisha or as a maiko, an apprentice geisha), makeup, and hair(!!!) and then have your portrait taken. The only problem is, it is a bit expensive, and it takes around three hours to complete. However, it's very cool. The studio is in Harajuku, and it is called Studio Mon Katsura. The English on this site is a bit choppy, but you get the general idea. Be forewarned, though...if you try to go to the main page, it loads VERY slowly, if it loads at all! I have yet to fully read the main page...my machine locks up every time.
This could be me!
4. Language process? I know nothing more than I did before. I have big hopes for next month!
5. Got a package of stuff from the Japanese Consulate in Chicago. Woo hoo! Stuff about Japan AND it was free...and Lord knows I love a bargain! I'll do another post where I will describe what came in that lovely packet.
That's all for now!
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