|
| Wow. Time flewww. I'm seriously very pleased with how things have went this month. September 2009 has been a very happy month. Recap:
- I've been wanting to get back into the classroom and I got my wish. I'm finally starting my very first Japanese class, and being that I tried studying on my own before, these first few weeks have been a breeze. But I don't need to reminded that I have A LOT of hard work in front of me. I've met a handful of native Japanese speakers already and that puts me back into reality. Whew, learning another language is hard, especially when you're doing it later in life. But I'm going to continue trying. Maybe by next summer I can have a couple hundred kanji down, and be comfortable with basic grammar and oh! actually have some handy verbs and adjectives under my belt. Haha...yup.
The best thing about this semester is that I've been fortunate enough to meet a lot of great people. Seriously, I'll spare you the details of last year, but this month alone has been better than all of last year combined...hmm. Is it strange though that the folks I've met have been through Japanese class and organizations? I think it is. I have so much trouble making friends in my other classes. But it's no surprise that people with common interests will get along better. Such is the case for me. I'm grateful.
- Went to South Padre early this month. What a way to end my summer break. Met a few special people that I hope are lifelong friends...we shared a night to remember. I have to thank my mother's work because without their hard work, us families wouldn't have had such an experience. It pains me that this is just an ANNUAL thing though...that's too long. But again, I'm grateful.
- I've been thinking again about this job thing. I was serious in my last post, but call me silly, but now I'm re-thinking my decision. So I'm financially-dependent as ever, but why add a part-time job to my already full-time school schedule? I wouldn't have time to go to school organizations, social outings and special events during the weekends. F' that...I want to have fun. You don't know how deprived of that I was last year. As if I'm making up for it this year. So you know what, it's all right. I miss getting my own income, but my priorities continue to be my studies and also making sure I stay in touch with friends. Why should *the dreaded word* WORK get in the way? haha...this is so contradictive to all that stuff I was preaching earlier...oh well.
- I've said it before and I'll say it again - Autumn is my favorite time of the year. The weather gets cooler, the breezes are so refreshing and depending on where you live, the changing of colors all around you is something that shouldn't be taken for granted. Man...not to mention it's the time where you bring out your jackets/sweaters/headgear/etc. and that it's a sign that the holidays aren't too far off. It gets me excited. I'm already thinking about Thanksgiving (which by the way, I enjoy better than Christmas).
All right...looking forward to another good week. Same to you.
~ Jerry
| | |
| Tonight is my last night in Houston, at my parent's house. A pretty eventful summer, I'd say. And because I'd like to spare you (and myself I suppose) a whole bunch of nonsense and the ease and convenience of bulleted lists, here are the pros/cons of this past summer:
+ Japan. Those two weeks I spent there are the highlight of this year, hands down. I can't stress enough how much I needed this trip, finally getting to see the land in my middle-school dreams, interacting with the Japanese people, hearing the language. Add to that seeing my cousins I haven't seen in years, very important cousins, those that shaped and molded me during my preteen years. Incredible experience. You should have seen how I was when I came back though. I was soooo down...but, I always get like that after a great vacation.
+ Florida. This was more of a last-minute thing, but whatevs. I usually become a little apprehensive when I hear it's just me and my family going on a trip (BECAUSE), but fortunately my sister's friend and her mother came along and we spent a few days in my father's old friend's house. This is how Filipinos do. See old friends and sleep over. Talk and eat, talk and eat. The best part was not seeing the most beautiful beaches I've seen in my life, but rather meeting a couple of people that soon became friends. And you know how I feel about the power of friendship.
+ Apartment. Look, I'm just glad that I'm outta the dorms! WHEW. Gawd. I have my own space, my own bathroom, my own kitchen, my OWN bed. After some researching I narrowed down my choice to this one complex and so far, I am pleased with my decision. It's quiet, it's safe. No rowdy college students and the walls aren't thin enough where I can hear what my neighbor is listening to or doing. Man, dorms are so overrated. But still, I suggest any new college student to *try* it, at least for a semester. Just so you can familiarize yourself with the campus. Thennn get the hell out. 
+ Leisure time. Summer vacation, like the ol' days meant having all the time in the world, with no worries. Ten years old, twenty years old, same thing. Slept late, woke up late, played games, surf the internet, go out and do stuff, that's the way to spend my free time! It was nice, for the most part. Spent time with my siblings, which is the best part. I won't see them much anymore since I'll be alone in Lewisville.
Ahh and of course, the cons:
- Money. Haven't had a job since last August. The money I earned working for 2 years slowly evaporated and while I was ready to spent thousands in Japan, I wasn't prepared for all the miscellaneous costs afterward. Let's see...after the trip, I bought a bass guitar, paid for lessons, paid for books, food, movie tickets, other small things to furnish my apartment. All that added up. Now I'm literally broke. Ugh. You know how I hate *asking* for money, even if I have no choice. But someone's gotta pay the rent, the tuition, the books. I was a bit too late finding a summer job, so that didn't work out. My mom insisted I stay home and take care of the house, my siblings and the dog, but still. No income, no rewards. I applied to three school districts where I WANT to work, but no reply yet. Man, it's tough. I keep saying I don't NEED a job, but as time goes on, things are looking bleak. I really want to be employed again, and in a school, not just any job in sayyyy a grocery store or a fast food joint. Nah. But yeah, WTF.
- Apartment. I was a first-time renter. I had to communicate via telephone since I couldn't just drive four hours to ask a question or look around this apartment. I have to admit, I was kind of stressed learning so much in so little time about how renting works and what not. I didn't know I had to set up my utilities before I moved in. I signed my first lease contract, but now I have to make sure I understand everything that's in this "binding agreement". Then there was the multiple trips from Houston to Lewisville, moving all my belongings. A lot of work, most of it a positive stress, but I could have prepared a little better. I'm just glad that everything has worked out for the most part. But by the way, I'm going WITHOUT TV or Internet these next couple of weeks, in an effort to save money, and hey, it might be a good lifestyle choice. I can just go to the library to use the internet/print stuff. I'm going to catch up on movies by going to Blockbuster. But still, Internet is pretty big. I'll need that eventually, hehe.
- Body. Yikes. I had a gym membership last year and my brother and I went to exercise twice a week. We didn't have one this summer. I've been pretty lazy and have gotten a lot of rest, ate food from Japan and ate my parent's cooking. Played a lot of Rock Band 2 and watched a lot of DVDs. I did walk the dog a couple times though! Andddd ran a mile or so uhhh...twice this summer. Haha but seriously, I know for sure I gained a couple pounds this summer. I need to get back into shape. That's what I plan to do this fall. There's a fitness room in my apartment complex, so I'll use that. But damn. I think I gained 8 pounds or so. I hope some of that was muscle though, lawl. Probably not.
- Leaving. I hate to leave Houston, but it's time to get back into the school mood. I'll be on my own again, which is a mix of good and bad. Did my time in Denton, but now I'm in a completely new city here in Lewisville. It's important that I make friends or at least be acquainted with people around me. It will do me some good. I'll also have to make sure I use my time wisely as I know there will be times I'll feel lonely. Ehh, I'll get through it. School keeps me busy enough anyway.
And so, there you have it. Summer 2009. Three months after the Spring semester ended and me feeling satisfied and well-rested, it is time to get back to work! Much success to you too!
| | |
| Hello again, Xanga world. I'm still feeling the effects of having had so much fun in Japan. Then I come back here in the States and go through a little funk. Fortunately, my family went on a mini-trip to Destin, FL and I got to meet new people and yes, set foot on the beach. Man, when was the last time I went to a beach!? I enjoyed myself, that's for sure.. Unlike in Houston, there's white sand and crystal blue beaches in Florida. It was...nice. I didn't have time to take pictures; that's how much fun I was having. And it's not like I can bring one in the water anyway. 
So yeah, these family trips are something to look forward to. We may only have one once a year, but they are times to catch up with old friends and relatives, meet new people, and have some fun. The thing about vacationing though is that I hate the part where we have to head back. Why is it that it never feels like I get my fill? *sigh* Maybe because when I'm back home, I'm literally...AT HOME. I don't go out much, and I don't want to. Unless with good company. Shopping? I did all that in Japan. Food? I like cooking my own food now. Friends? Umm, they're either far far away from here or just busy doing other things. Thank goodness I have siblings and a dog to spend time with. And the occasional visitor.
Summer 2009. I am certainly very happy. Japan, Japan, Japan. Hanging out in a pool and a couple of beaches in Florida. And now that I'm finally thinking rationally, the next thing to do is to get ready for the fall. THEN I'll be busy. Let's see...right now I'm finalizing renting my first apartment, trying to look for a job at a school district, and setting up my class schedule just right. And I will have a Saturday class. Yup. I made sure that I'll be plenty busy these coming months. I think that will make up for being so idle in the summer. It should be exciting and stressful, but the good kind of stressful. Time to be productive.
Autumn is my favorite time of year...Thanksgiving, Christmas, the changing of the seasons. Man, I'm getting giddy just thinking about it. But yeah, now I have something to look forward to - next summer. Where will we be going next? California? Canada? Florida? Washington state? You know how Filipinos are...relatives everywhere and they let each other sleep in their homes. Yet I enjoy these moments. And who knows, maybe I can scrounge up enough money again to go to Japan with Louie. Whoa, whoa, one day, one week, one month at a time Jerry...Sorry, I just want to have some fun. Enjoy the playlist. | | |
| Wow...so I haven't updated this thing in months. I'm surprised that this place still exists, but judging from the homepage, there still seems to be life here. My page gets like 5 views every month, haha. Whatever, I'm too lazy to discontinue to this account anyway.  Plus like I mentioned before, this space is for all the miscellaneous stuff I want to talk about. All my major "works" are on Facebook. Xanga now is like me summarizing what's happened since the last update and a follow-up to my writing on Facebook. (And this serves as a bonus for the extra-curious. Hello secret admirer(s)!) Kiddiiiinnnngg. *cough*
So yeah...the trip to Japan filled me up with so much joy. Looking back to the months of preperation, seeing my cousins after so long, the wedding and our adventures in Tokyo...I'm just so grateful for the opportunity. Some people can only dream about it. It was expensive, but oh so worth it. Coming back home to the States was particularly difficult though. I call it the post-vacation blues...I don't know if you can call it depression, but I experienced sadness, loneliness, longing to be back in Japan, etc. That wasn't very pleasant. And the jetlag intensified those feelings. The next couple days saw me sighing and sighing some more, dozing off a lot. Fortunately it's subsiding now and I've pretty much gotten over it. The rational side of me tells me that it was just vacation, and I have yet a lot of things to do here back home, back to "normal life". So there you go. It just sucks that all my cousins and ol' friends are no where close, so who to turn to when I'm bored? At least I have my siblings. Anyways, I just try to keep myself busy. Being idle isn't good for me, because I start thinking, then I overthink, and I get kind of miserable.
Honestly, summer vacation is pretty overrated. 3 months? And it sucks here in Houston. It's hot, it's humid, it's bright. Can't go outside until 7pm; I hate it. If folks ever visit, the best I can do is drive around (with A/C at full blast) and check out a big mall and/or eat. That's not very exciting. I long to be somewhere else right now. Can you guess where? It has reached triple digits a couple times this week already. Can you imagine what it will be like come July and August? Bahh.
Right now video games, movies and the internet are keeping me occupied. I wanted a summer job with a school district or language school, but one, I haven't found anyone in need of tutors/helpers and two, it's already halfway through summer. Soon enough it will be time for me to go back to Dallas, so just filling out forms and waiting for calls and interviewing and all that would take another few days/weeks and by the time I do get something, it will only be for a couple of weeks. My parents says it's okay, just take care of my brother and sister and the dog, but you know me...I hate feeling dependent, especially financially. Oh well. I'm looking at apartments right now, blogging like what I'm doing now, teaching Justin how to drive, taking care of the puppy, attempting to cook, driving Sammy to piano class, learning bass guitar, making sure my class schedule works, exploring everythign Japanese and a whole bunch of other stuff, so maybe it isn't so bad. But that doesn't give me money, heh. I seriously need a job in the fall though. Just so I have supplemental income for myself. The parents will pay the rent, and I am grateful, but if I can just help with utility bills and groceries for myself, it will make me feel a lot better.
Oh yeah, I want to learn how to snowboard, but the closest resort is in New Mexico. And I would have to fly to an airport in El Paso (the closest major airport) and drive 100+ miles west to reach it. WTF. See this is why if I stay in the states, I want to move up north. For me, it's so frustrating living in the South. Summer is dreadful. Texans pride themselves with the "Everything is big in Texas" motto, but so what? Big whoop. Big land-wise, meaning you need to drive to get anywhere. I'd be perfectly fine living in say...Japan? Uh oh!  Where there also is clean, safe and efficient public transportation. Psshhh. Louie and Japan made me unpatriotic.
Whoa, I don't think I've ever written this much since...2006? But look at my situation. I have all the time in the world to do whatever. At least blogging to...myself passes the time. And it calms me when I get to express myself through places like this. *sigh* I already had my vacation of a lifetime, and now I'm ready to go back to school and work, work, work. Major goals? Keep working on that Bachelor's degree, BEGIN learning Japanese, get a job so I can start gaining income again. All that so I can be prepared for my next major step in life. Right now it seems to be me trying to teach English in Japan for a year or so after I graduate. That sounds exciting. Give me a couple of years though.
For now, I guess I can continue relaxing. *whistles* ...wait, I can't whistle.
~ Jerry
| | |
| I can breath a sigh of relief now, as I can relax now. Going back home for Spring Break. Of course, I worked my butt off this past weekend, completing three essays. Man, I haven't done this much reading and writing since...I don't know. I don't even have time for video games anymore! Anyways, just waiting a couple more days till I can drive back.
It's the midpoint of the semester and soon will come the time to sign up for classes in the Fall. Already? Wow. I hope I can start gaining income again because I'm broke, broke, broke. I've been living frugally for the past year, thinking my parents already pay for tuition/books/housing, so anything else I'll pay for. I mean, considering that I haven't worked since last August and that I still have *some* money left, that's an accomplishment right? Anyways, I might be subbing or being an after-day aide. I'd rather do that than be some waiter or bagger...
Things are all right, school's fine, I'm fine, my family's fine (my brother is learning how to drive!), so yeah. I have my mind focused on the NOW, but summer's not too far away. I can't wait to travel and do some things. Living frugally during my time up here in school meant I haven't gone anywhere, so this gives me something to look forward to. Till the next update.
| | |
|
|
