The Potato Heads are so over Hell Week, Part 1.

First, I just want to thank my best friend for the new Potato Head parts. Seriously, I have awesome friends. 

So, I actually wanted to update much earlier this week, but this week turned out to be part one of The Hell Week. It also marked the return of that evil witch: thesis.

So, where to begin? Well, my week started out alright with the Super Bowl. I ate lots of yummy food and slept wonderfully.....

Then it was Monday.

Monday's are actually my new Wednesday, in terms of classes. I have no afternoon classes and no evening commitments, so it's a very nice situation. However, I got some bad news on Monday: I didn't get into a certain program I applied for.

At the time, I was very distressed. I was able to have my episode and tried to give myself as much "me time" as I wanted. Reflecting days later, I feel 95% better about everything, but there is little fun in being rejected. Surely we all know that feeling.

The rest of this week was just emotionally draining. If your week starts out with a .2 pound weight gain and being rejected from something, it's very easy to just mark off the week with bad choices and be like "Oh well, there's always next week!" Also, you then realize "Oh wait, the paper that decides whether I graduate or not is due next week. WELL FU-". However, nothing really good comes out of that. My cures for a bad week: Ben Folds, Harry Potter audiobooks, sleep, and deleting your facebook.

So, despite having the most important paper of my life due, an interview to prepare for, and a science test which I am NOT prepared for, there is some silver lining to this coming Hell Week.

1) Being done with thesis.
2) Having my test done early.
3) Lots and lots of coffee

 I will probably try to avoid any kind of blogging (not that that's a surprise, amirite?) until Friday at 4 pm when I turn in my thesis. After that, I will probably be a much happier person with much happier blogs.

Wish me luck on Hell Week, Part 2!

Today, Mr. Potato Head is sad, but trying to keep in the love and the light

It has been a very sad few weeks here at Earlham. As some of you may or may not know, three students were involved in a train accident a few weeks ago. Sadly, one student lost her life at the scene, while the two others remained in critical condition. Just this week, one of the other victims passed away. While it is a blessing that the third person is out of the hospital (to my knowledge), the loss of two students is very sad. I did not know either person except by face, but I do think it is very sad, and my thoughts are with the families and friends of all the victims.

I've been very emotional with these events despite not knowing any involved very well. Why? Well, I have had a lot of loss in my life. As I joke with my friends, I've been to more funerals than birthday parties. However, it doesn't matter how many times it happens:

Losing someone is never easy.

Just in my time at Earlham, along with seven Earlham students, I've lost family members and my high school room mate/friend. I think losing my Aunt was very hard, but the hardest recently had been my room mate. While we were not like, super super best friends, we were close friends. We had an experience together, and I am so glad we got to have that experience together. It's never easy losing someone your own age... it makes you realize just how mortal you are, and how quick life can go by.

So, without being super depressed, I really wanted to write this about the service I went to this evening for one of the victims. I felt almost like an intruding presence, because I was not friends with the victim. However, the reflection and silent service really helped me think about my time at Earlham, my friends, and the community I have at this school. I love this school. I love these people. I love the connections I've made with friends and teachers. I will miss it all terribly.

In closing, if you have experienced loss recently, I am very sorry for your loss. However, while you cry, there are words which I think have stuck with me for awhile, especially since coming to college

"Don't pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living and above all, all those who live without love."

                                                             - Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Thankfully, all those who passed away, and those in my life now are full of love, and I could not be happier to cherish my time with them. I hope you all do the same with your loved ones.

Today, Mr. Potato Head is stressing over finals and his future

So, I suppose I could just use this shot over and over until December 6th, but that would be redundant.

So on top of my thesis, I also have to write a science Lit paper, which is only 5 pages. Normally, I'd be like "meh, that's nothing." However, I am terrible at writing (hence why I am doing terrible on thesis), and I am also not very good at reading science papers.... lots and lots of math.

In good news, today I went to an information meeting about graduate schools in Japanese Studies (aka my major). I'm really stuck on what I want to do. I know first I want to get some work experience, but after that, I know I have to go to graduate school... I am just afraid because I am having a terrible time writing "just" a 30-page thesis.. how am I going to write a like, 100 - 200 page paper?

I've been trying to take my friend's / teacher's advice when it comes to both jobs and academics. My teacher probably gave me some of the best advice: work like a solider, deal with that is right in front of you. Yes, there may be all kinds of other worries about, but if you deal with that is in front of you. As for jobs, I've been told to really work for what makes you happy, and the money will come later. I'm thinking I really want to work in study abroad. I love Japan, and while I would prefer to work for a school with a large East Asian / japanese Studies department and several East Asian/Japan study abroad programs, I think if I can even just get into something involving students and study abroad, I would be pretty happy. As much as I may have complained about my experience (for examples, see this blog), I loved my experience in Japan. I would not give it up for anything in the world, and I want to go back to Japan so badly, whether to promote study abroad, teach English, or fieldwork.

I am thinking for graduate schools either Canada or the United States. One of my favorite teachers went to  school / lived in Canada, and said graduate schools there were interesting. I love America, but I also think I'd really like to try and live in Canada.... and no, not because of my boyfriend who happens to be Canadian. He's in western Canada, and I'm leaning more towards eastern Canada, although apparently Alberta has a big East Asian studies program. Plus, the price of school in Canada is much smaller than schooling the USA.

So my readers (if any of you exist still): What advice to you have for careers / post-graduate activities? Also, what do you want me to write about / see Mr. Potato Head do? Just leave me comment!

<3 The Official Photographer of Mr. P Head

Today, Mr. Potato Head is prepparing for Christmas at school

Hello everyone! It has been awhile, hasn't it?

Mr. Potato Head and I are back in America, and back at my home school for my senior year. I am currently writing my thesis (which happens to be due in about < 2 weeks), and stressing out over classes.

I recently got back from Thanksgiving break. As much as I love Japan, it was wonderful having a real Thanksgiving with family, and black Friday shopping in person. I am so happy I able to be with my loved ones this year.

Anyway, I was able to get a new Christmas tree, which I love. I'm saving my smaller Christmas tree from my mother until next year, when I am hopefully back in Japan.

As we speak, I am applying to a few programs where I can be abroad. Along with JET, I am applying for my school's program where you also assistant teach English in Japan.  As soon as I graduate, I plan on applying to the Teach America program, so I can at least have some kind of job. I suppose the worst thing that happens is that I am not accepted anywhere... I really don't want that to happen, but we'll see.

Anyway, so I am hoping to update this more. While Mr. P and I are no longer in Japan, we still try to have adventures. If you all have questions or things you want me to discuss regarding my time in Japan, or my current adventures, please feel free to ask. I will gladly answer!

With much Love,

The Official Photographer of Mr. Potato Head

Today, Mr. Potato Head is learning about sake!

So today, my resort that I work at had an event about 雪中酒, which is basically where you take wine, bury it in the snow in February, then took months later it is totally fermented!

First, we went to a factory and say people make the rice meal for the sake, then we returned back to the resort. Then, we put a bunch of crates in rows, covered them with snow, then did a blessing to make the wine delicious in spring.

Afterwards was the best part: taste testing! We tried two kinds of sake, made last year with the snow method. It was VERY delicious. Honestly, I don't like straight alcohol...I need mixtures/flavour. However, Japanese sake is a more-delicious vodka, minus the burning sensation.

Then, my friend Alice and I went to the other event at our resort:  snow bar! The other workers made an outdoor bar in the snow, with candles and everything! It was gorgeous. Also, we got to star gaze, since it was a clear NIGHT... I have to say, the prettiest night sky has to be from Nagano prefecture. Tokyo can suck it!

Tomorrow we move back to the cabin. うれしーい！ [Im so happy!]

Until tomorrow,

Mr. PH and his photographer

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Today, Mr. Potato Head is settling into the "special room"

So first, I should probability explain this "special room". Last year, two of my friends did the same internship I'm doing right now. During their time here, they stayed on the second floor of what the staff calls the garage,  and I call "the shack". The room is about the size of my room in my apartment at Tokyo, except it is tatami-matted.

It's "specialness"is more sarcastic than anything,

But it's really not TOOO bad...[knock on wood]

On Saturday nights, when guests use our cabin, we stay in this room. No bath, no sink, no toliet... it's like a step between motel/tent camping.

However, as much as it seems I am complaining, I'm honestly the second happiest I've been in Japan [the first waz a retreat to Karuizawa, also in Nagano Prefecture].

I've learned I don't like Tokyo people. AT. ALL. The people in the country are SO MUCH friendlier, and don't stare at me constantly like Tokoyo people. Sure, I work my butt off for 8 hours a day, and it's super cold, but I could honestly not be happier....

[Knocks on wood]

Until tomorrow,

Mr. PH and his photographer

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Today, Mr. Potato Head is stuck in the snow

As a native Hooiser, I thought it was bad enough when we had a foot of snow. That is NOTHING compared to Iiyama.

The past two days it rained, so that got rid of a lot of snow. For next two days, though it is supposed to KEEP SNOWING.

For reference, we shoveled snow from the 玄関 [entrance] three times today, in a course of five hours, because it kept getting too hard for the guests to enter. Also, on the way to clean a cabin, I fell into a pile of snow which came up to my hips... I'm 5'5.5" aka that's about 2.5 feet of snow in less than a day.

However, I got to eat Au Gratin style food today for the first time, not just potatoes. SUPER YUMMY!!! I'm do thankful for the cooking here. It's nice to have a home cooked meal after a hard morning's work.

Off to make dinner and pack. Tomorrow we move to the "special room"for the next two nights which my friends who did this practicum last year stayed the whole time.

Until Tomorrow,

Mr. PH and his photographer

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