Respect the Schedule

Haha.

Well got my first rejection today. Il'd like to believe it's not a true rejection... because the page said they had a strict deadline those wanting to work for them have to be diploma-ed by the 10th of June. Unfortunately I won't be "graduated" until the 13th of June... although my last classes are this term and I'll technically be graduated at the end of this one.

Bureaucracy!!!

So... just like America's Next Top Model I'l just apply for other stuff and remember that there is a new cycle coming up and I will be fully and legitimately diploma-ed and still have all my experience by that point. Just have to keep working hard.

There is also a small job in Aichi-prefecture that I would like to apply to. I wrote a cover letter in Japanese today but I'm kind of worried about it. I know it's probably not near perfect. And there are some things I'd like to add. They just relisted the job... which means they haven't found anyone yet ;) And boy would I love to go back to Aichi.

So there are at least three places to apply to right now... they're always really vague about when they want workers to start... but I know Amity and Aeon is usually about 6-12 months after you apply...

We'll see. I'll keep you posted.

Ballet and Yoga is going really well. My strength is coming back quickly. I'd like to do a pre-pointe class and maybe even start to dance on pointe again. I'm such a water person though... always rushing... definitely hate taking things one step at a time. I'm working on it.

Another Recollection

*** We went for a "big sushi" dinner, good times! ***

So this week I have brought you everything from pomeranians to electrosmog... why not do some more walking down memory lane~~~ and get away from wondering how much my mitochondrial DNA is being affected by wi-fi, cell phones, and microwaves.

For the first time in a while, since my schedule has let up and I've been feeling better, I sent letters/Christmas cards to all the people who have been good to me in Japan. ^.^

I got one from my friend Taeko today. My first host family ^.^

Anyway, she has a blog too. It is in Japanese but Google Chrome can translate it.

-----> http://ameblo.jp/lapisia108/entry-10773972694.html

Anyway, I'm putting a picture on my blog of when we went to sushi with her family.

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I know a lot of people going to see Gants. I think it comes with being in a Japanese major. If you're not that into manga/anime sometimes you can feel like the odd one out in classes. I wouldn't mind seeing it but the tickets were $12.50 each and for Max, I, and his brother to go that would come to 40.00. I want to buy some ballet shoes and might have to buy an expensive book for my research project... so I guess we'll have to entertain ourselves tonight. Which is fine by me, we have yoga!

Electrosmog

http://emf.mercola.com/sites/emf/archive/2009/07/30/4-steps-to-reduce-electrosmog-in-your-bedroom.aspx

Yes... I know it's Mercola.com.

But you can't help but scratch your head when you listen to the points and think about the biology. After all, how can humans be so pompous as to even assume that we know everything about the workings of the universe. I know I feel awful if I sit around a computer all day. It didn't bother me when I was a kid... but thinking about how fast things are changing I remember a book I read in high school called "Future Shock." I think it is plausible that at the pace society is changing and adapting new technologies knowing nothing of long-term effects... is dangerous and unprecedented. But there's your rant for the day. I can't write coherently or in depth, I'm quite tired and classes have got me pretty busy. Luckily I have acupuncture today. Down to one appointment a week and holding my own pretty well in the interim between appointments. Much better than before. I attribute it to being out of the house and away from computers more.

Other crazy, but worthwhile topics include geopathic stress. But I really think that the technology explosion is something that should be looked into. If I were still in science I would look into it but now the only position I can take is journalistic.

Happy pondering.

FLUFF POM: SMILE

AN EPIC PICTURE

I wish I had an exact link to hook you guys with but I think the source website is written in the bottom corner of the picture.

日本で宗教の社会に与える影響：アメリカ人からの見地２

It's not good, I still need to edit it, but it's about religion and society again for my humanities class that I am taking in Japanese this term. It's a challenge but I can actually say that I can write a paper much more easily in Japanese now. I'm a little frustrated though when I find myself limited by the expressions I can comfortably use while continuing to make sense. Mostly transition words, which even if I have heard before I don't feel comfortable using yet by myself. I'd think with all the reading this would get easier but I realize I ignore those words completely when I am reading...

日本で宗教の社会に与える影響：アメリカ人からの見地２

　歴史的に話せば、宗教の日本人社会に与える影響で、和風の神道以外に、外国で始まった宗教の吸収しかたで主に２つのパターンが出ると思います。その一つのは、日本でもう存在している宗教、発想、人々の考え方などの新しい宗教を吸収することです。二つ目は、その日本人が吸収された宗教の文化に影響を与えることです。この現象はもちろん、日本だけでの現象ではないが、この話では日本のことに集中します。

　先週仏教の日本での儀式に与えた影響について書いた。七五三や成人の日や結婚やお葬式などが出ました。この儀式は１つ目の宗教吸収パターンになると思います。七五三は平安時代からの貴族が参加された儀式でありました。また、その時代の仏教は「貴族仏教」との名前を得た。儀式は実在には仏教てきではありませんが、歴史的で考えると「あ、その時代に貴族仏教というのがありましたから、貴族がそのような安産、出世、子供のだんだん大きくなるのを拝んで頼みましたから、現代で残っている七五三という儀式は仏教的のはずです」のような考え方になります。

　私には、儀式の残っている理由は昔での宗教的であったことがありますが、現代ではこのことは同じように宗教的ではないと思います。よく若い日本人に「宗教は何ですか」と「宗教はありますか」を聞いたら、「宗教はありません」との返事が普通です。日本での儀式はこの頃宗教的な目標はありませんが、日本人認識で習慣は大切になります。アメリカで、宗教のない人の間でこの現象があって宗教のない人はクリスマスやイースターを祝う人はいます。アメリカと日本の違っている点は儀式と祝日は日本の祝日と祝日の儀式の日本人国民認識で強さであると思います。アメリカは最初から移民の多い国で、宗教と宗派が多くて、アメリカでは国民の祝日と感じる代わりに、祝日と儀式は宗教のあるアメリカ人に宗教的なイメージが強いと思います。

　宗教の影響へ話を変えたいと思っています。この現象は宗教を吸収することと違います。この影響は宗教の社会の前に持たなかった発想や考え方や文化などのことを新しく維持することであると思います。日本ではこれはお寺を建立されたことと新しい哲学の日本に着いたことではないか。日本で、このことはどんどん国の文化と発展での影響の深い根っこであると思います。日本文化の勉強で：文化でも、茶道でも、よく耳にする侘び寂び（仏教の三法印（さんぼういん）の「無常」と似ているのでしょうか？）はこの影響をこのことを勉強してからはっきり分かります。人間は日常生活にそのように深く歴史的に考えませんから、このことも易しく宗教哲学ではなく、日本これは国民認識になったと思います。アメリカの憲法でキリスト教、キリスト教の神様のGODの名前は出ますが、何度もそれを聞くと、キリスト教を信仰しませんから、アメリカは国民認識があったら、わずか憲法の言葉やお金に印刷したの「神様に信じている、イン・ガッド・ウィ・トラスト、In God We Trust」に見れます。

　このように見ると、宗教の社会的な影響は二つあります。最初は、社会の持つ慣習を維持することです。これは時代によって違いますが。日本の奈良時代に出た国家仏教は国の安定のため、平安時代に勢力を持った貴族の貴族仏教。また、現代に慣習を維持するのは国民認識などと、重要な理由は、人々の本心で感じた望みや願いを述べるのは永遠な理由だと思います。ほかに永遠には、社会の宗教を吸収することとその宗教で社会の変わることです。

UNANSWERABLE QUESTIONS: KOANS

So two days into the term... so far so good. Just hope it lasts. I have a normal amount of tired and no creepy-crawlies.

I'm no longer signed up for honors college Literature by and about Gay Men. NOW I'm in the Japanese Global Scholars class. It's really hard but I think it should theoretically get easier since my only other class is Japanese speaking and Beginning Korean. Regardless... the lack of a class intense on English should allow them to at least abstractly support one another. Not even out of the honors college yet and things are already getting more relevant. So there will be a research project this term.

We're covering Buddhism and our homework was to get our tails home and research sects of Japanese buddhism. I'm writing on SHINGON and RINZAI. RINZAI is a zen sect and has is about meditation, finding out who you are, and KOANS (unanswerable questions) are often utilized as lessons. Regardless, I like things that make me think.

If the sound of two hands coming together is the sound of a clap, what is the sound of one hand?

Not even a thought has arisen. Is there still sin or not?

I will think about this in acupuncture today. I have to type up paragraphs about it in Japanese today when I get home from acupuncture, ballet, and dinner. But until then, ponder away. It's really interesting, perhaps I found my term research topic?

Happy 2011 Blogspot

Courtesy Stumbleupon~~

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Not much to report from this front. I'm feeling better pretty consistently. I get a little "wired" at times but magnesium, taurine, and if necessary a little 5-HTP seem to help right away. Or sometimes I just have to go a night with not so great sleep. But I've been able to be reasonably active and have done a lot this week. I went ice skating twice (last night was the best, the local team had a game and there was a free skate afterward, ideally for those that had bought tickets but they allowed us to come in...), on a drive up around Spencer's Butte but never did get off at the park... we passed it... but it was a nice drive.

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Some resolutions for 2011:

-graduate in Spring (figure out how to get out of my science major and honors college... mostly because I feel they are not preparing me for the jobs I'm applying to and are just extra money and hassle, forcing me to take grad requirements instead of classes I'm interested in or I think would be helpful for me)
-think positively

-make some friends, reconnect with who's left in Eugene and keep in touch with everyone who has escaped

-have a wonderful time with Tomona when she comes to visit

-start getting stronger with dance and yoga

-apply and get accepted to various companies in Japan

-maybe I'll be in Japan by September? It all depends on the companies' schedules