8/29/2011

TOEFLとステキな休日

I had a busy but very good day on Sunday.  Keeping myself busy is... GOOD! :-)
As I wrote here last time, I woke up at 4am and got on a shinkansen.  At 8:30am I was already in Osaka and heading for TOEFL place.  The test was held in Kyobashi area in the city.
Well,,, it was hard, especially the 1st section "reading" part.  I'm still a slow reader and met so many words that I don't know.  The first 1 hour, reading part, was tough and very long.
Struggling for 4 hours, I finished the test at 2pm.  I was so... I mean my brain was so exhausted...  And it was very hot and muggy with bright blue sky and sunshine when I came out of the building after the test.  It seemed like midsummer day was back again!
Worn out... midsummer... you know what comes next.  Yes, time to fuel me! lol
I met my younger brother who lives in Osaka city and went straight to a place with cold beer♪
We went to a sushi bar.  Ahhh... that was really nice beer, I was happy :-)
We enjoyed lunch and chatting for a while then I left there for Shinsaibashi area.
Because I wanted to say "hi" to my coworkers at other branch shops, I visited 3 places.  One was in Shinsaibashi and the other 2 were in Umeda.  Though I like walking around by myself, Sunday crowd in Osaka city was too much for me! lol
...yeah, fill her up again♪  My friend made time for me and bought me some beer then♪  That was fantastic otsukare-sama! beer for me :-)
Then I bought a pack of cookies for my coworkers in Hiroshima and came back home.
What a nice busy day in Osaka, huh? :-)  I really enjoyed my day in Osaka because I could see many people I was hoping to♪

I don't know the result of TOEFL yet.  It will be sent to me in 2 weeks.  I just hope I will get enough score for my applications.  The test is over, anyway.  I'm just expecting my score.  Now it's time to focus on inventory and sales report stuff at the end of month! lol    "Time flies!"
...and I'm looking forward to my trip♪  My summer vacation will start on September 4th :-)
 I'll carry my small PC with me.  I hope I can report my trip here, hopefully with some pictures♪

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8/27/2011

本日ヨジラーなり

Good morning!
I woke up at 4 this morning. It was still dark outside.
Now I'm heading for Osaka for TOEFL.
I don't know how much I can do but I will do my best :-)
My 4-hour struggle will start in 3 hours... GOOD LUCK! to myself♪
After the test, I'm going to see some people there, including my brother in the city.
I'm sure I will have a nice relieved time with them♪ Looking forward to it!
Everybody, have a good Sunday!

8/24/2011

成績消滅 -dealing with documents-

 
I don't know if I really have to drive a car when I trip to the US next month,
but I got an international driving permit today...   JUST IN CASE!  lol
Because I'll be traveling around by myself and one of the schools that I'm planning to visit is in a rural area.
Public transportation is limited then buses are barely available there. 
Well... I never think I'm good at driving even in Japan so I'll try to wait and catch buses.
so... this is a just-in-case license for me.  :-)
Because I've been preparing for my applications and trip, I've got a lot of documents that I don't usually see.
For example, bank statements which shows how much I got, high school transcripts...
Speaking of transcript, I can't ask my high school to issue my grades any more because of the law.  They can issue a document to prove my graduation, but they no longer keep my grades, exam results or the other academic records.
I asked my high school to write an official letter about it so I can explain the situation to the admissions.  Then I talked to the admissions and they said the letter might work.  I hope my documents will be acceptable!
Schools used to keep the grades for 20 years but the law changed the system.  The term for keeping the grades is only for 5 years, they say.
My graduation was in 1997... 14 years ago! lol
Yeah, it is too late for the system! ha!
But I wonder why.  Is this for the Personal Information Protection or something?
Hmm... this is not educationally supportive for people who want to return to learning like me!

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8/19/2011

ある意味わたし的 "go with the flow"

Even though I post my stuff here sometimes, it takes me way too long to write something nice, polite and logically organized... like essays for applications! lol
Because I know what I usually write here is almost 100% same as how I speak!  haha!
And it's very casual and often unnatural.
Hmmm... I'm supposed to write a lot at college, so this must be just the beginning of it and a very good practice, I guess.

I've been thinking a lot about myself recently, I mean why I choose the US, what I want to do after college, how I can express myself when it comes to my career.

... honestly, I've never thought about these kind of things so much like this!
My system is always like...
Even if I don't really know what's going to happen with it, I follow my feeling and start it when I really want to.  Then I try my best faithfully, don't give up easily, be humble, but on the other hand, keep being greedy! lol, like "I can do more, I gotta do better!"
While I keep doing it I can find something, for example, successful result, new goals or better way to go.  I'll be able to feel the progress, definitely.

Work, hobbies, relationship, whatever... the system always works to me, no matter what I do. :-)
I think I'm really lucky, lol  because everything will be alright if I keep trying♪  Sometimes it takes very long or it comes with struggling time though!  haha!

Anyway, it's time for me to write something nice, polite and logically organized. lol
I look forward to feeling that I'm making a progress and the good result after this hard time♪

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8/18/2011

今日の脳内


Today, my brain is made of...
20% : The upcoming event at work for our VIP customers when we are supposed to make more sales than
usual.
20% : Daily sales target.
10% : Submitting monthly sales plan for October.  The deadline is tomorrow.
20% : Finishing my essay for application.
20% : Upcoming TOEFL in a few days.
10% : Trip in September♪

Just like that! lol

8/16/2011

夏、終わるんかぁ...

In the middle of a week, I'm having a day off today.  Because I was always out on my recent days off, I'm so glad to have a time to do my own stuff at home... finally♪
My room is... very messy now! lol
Things... everywhere!  Some unopened mails on my table... this is not good.  A book I ordered at Amazon has arrived, but I haven't even opened yet. lol
I have to clean and organize it after finishing here.

I usually try to post a picture which is related to what I'm writing.
Though I wrote about my room today, I put a nice picture of pretty flowers instead, because I can't exhibit my mess in here! ;-)
 
How is the weather in your town?
It was raining a lot here in Hiroshima this morning.  It's still drizzling and I can hear the thunder rumbling.  They say it'll be a little cooler after this rain.  Getting cooler is good but I feel a little bit sad... because it means summer's ending.
I wish I could enjoy sunny summer time more!

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昨日の続きで...フライト予約

Because my work shift for next month has been fixed, I booked my flight♪
I didn't think I would have time to visit a travel agency this month, so I bought tickets online this time.  I checked flight schedule and decided to fly by United Airlines.
It was the first time for me to book flight directly from UA website,,, and by myself. 
But It was not difficult♪
Even I made it! lol
Some people know that I like airplanes, airports... and being on airplanes. :-)
During my trip, I'm supposed to fly 7 times and stop at 6 airports♪
I already know it's gonna be a fun trip to me, no matter what! lol

It's always fun and exciting when you plan your trip, right? ;-)  I'm gonna work hard and study hard looking forward to my trip!

8/15/2011

旅だ♪

My summer vacation time is comming in September.  I'll take a week off!  Yeah~♪  lol
What I'm going to do is being on a trip, of course! :-)
I'm planning to go to the US and see the colleges I'm interested in because it'll be a very good chance to learn about the schools and environment.
I had many ideas about where to go for my college plan,
but now, I am thinking about 2 places, NY state and Seattle are on my mind.
I have been emailing to the admissions of some coleges there.  I'm going to visit both of them♪
I really hope it's gonna be a very good trip and successful♪

8/13/2011

癒しのおすそわけ♪

The summer blue sky and bright green of mountains... ahhhhh, this is very refreshing!
I saw a contrail, too♪

A white contrail and white cotton roses.  Beautiful! :-) 

When I walked to a cemetery place, I met a lot of things that I don't really see here in my town.
I met so many grasshoppers... they were huge!
And lots of Japanese ginger which grow naturally in the bushes.
Do you know the flowes in my picture?  They are flowers of walnuts, I heard.  Pretty flowers. :-)

My uncle's delicious  beautiful cow.  She has just had a baby this summer.
Look at those big wet eyes with enviably long eyelashes...

I found a big spider at the entrance door of the cowsed.  It was the first time to see such a beautiful colored spider like this.  It seems like a venomous one but it's not... I think. lol
My mom and my uncle told me they used to use its spider web to make a tool for bug hunting when they were small kids.  Because the web is very strong and sticky, they could net insects with it.
It was a very interesting story♪ 

For 2 days,
No makeup, no high heels, no hair spray... lol
Wearing just flip flops and walking around in the sun.
It was a very good refreshing 2 days off in the countryside. :-)

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田舎で happy reunion♪

Taking a walk in the natural clean air under the blue sky is so good! I enjoyed country girl time in this morning.
My grandparents live in a mountain area. 3km to the first grocery store and bus stop, 18km to a train station. And it is also about 6km to the nice beaches along the Sea of Japan.
My uncle is a farmer who raises cattle near my grandparents' house.
Well, I'm not a big fan of beef but his cattle ... I mean wagyu beef is fantastic! No matter how you eat, it's very delicious!
Maybe it's a little cruel to talk about eating it with a picture of cattle in green grass.
...but it's true.
After a walk to the farm, I had lunch and spent time with my grandparents.
I also met some more relatives there. Everybody was so nice and said "Good luck!" to me when I told them about my studying abroad plan. I know I'm lucky because they are all supportive.
I had a really good time there.Now I'm heading for Kyoto city by a train. I will change to shinkansen there to go home tonight. I hope it won't be too crowded because of obon trip!...After this trip, I'm going back to my reality! lol
I feel I could refresh a lot and charge my battery enough :-) I'm ready for my busy days♪


8/12/2011

修学旅行気分、、、?

It's been a long but wonderful day!
I have been enjoying rural time here at my grandparents' place♪
One of my cousins from Nara is staying here with me.
We spent a day with cleaning and vacuuming around the house, having dinner with my grandparents and drinking wine after that♪
My mom is also staying here now.
We all had a great day :-)
Now my cousin and I are laying down in futon in a zashiki room. lol
She, my cousin, is in her twenties. This reminds me of the night time chatting during a school trip :-)
I'm going to enjoy our girls' pajama party time a little tonight♪
Have a good night! and have a nice obon weekend!

heading for the rural air

How's everybody doing during obon time?
Fortunately, I have 2 days off this weekend, I decided to be on a short trip.
I left home at 7am this morning, took a shinkansen and am in Hyogo prefecture.
The train just left Toyooka station for the northern part of Kyoto prefecture where my grandparents live.
Yes, I decided to visit them :-) I want to see them before leaving for the US.
So,,, I'm heading for the rural area of Japan♪
This is a very short trip. I have to go back to Hiroshima tomorrow night. I know I won't have much time to stay there, but visiting my grandparents in the countryside is slow and relaxing.
I like it once in a while :-)