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Zug Zug

When I first bought this I just presumed its more of a kiddy dictionary or just for more commonly used words. Turns out they have got nearly every anatomy words I have thrown at it so far! Just needs furigana -.- so awesome though!

 

I have been real busy with work lately, nothing unusual in that. It’s back to uni in a few days time now *shock* *horror* Albeit that will be sort of interjected, nearly immediately, with a visit back home for chinese new year. I am not sure if I should be looking forward to it. Mother and the weather definitely put off the idea of visiting altogether. However, It’s been a while since I have paid my respects to my dad’s side of the family, formally, and it would be a nervous, awkward change.

Furthermore, I suppose it’s a good idea to go back and visit and also do some courtesy calls/visits and what not, although some of these visits will have to wait till the end of this year or the beginning of the next due to superstitions. With dad now gone, someone has to pay courtesy calls on people my dad was friends with. These people have kept in contact and visited dad at the funeral. Left to my mum, I supposed the ties will be completely broken. Dad would be terribly upset. However, I am no good at “courtesy calls” either. What to bring, what to say, what to do? *fidget* oh well, if i make any errors, I am sure I won’t get invited again! then I would know, hahahaha!

As for uni, having advanced standing made enrolment an interesting event. I knew some of these would happen, I have been forewarned. Still, it was a little odd and nerve wrecking, to say the least, at the blase pace the university went at to get me into the course.

Things of note:

1) This year, University of Canberra changed their nursing curriculum. What this means, really, I have no idea for I have nothing to compare it with. According to a person I spoke to over the phone, this resulted in the limited number of student intake last semester (whereby I was affected, which, in hindsight, was probably a good thing).

2) Just because I had advance standing didn’t mean that I had a whole lot of leeway. Within this uni, due to the structuring of their course, it’s still going to take me a whole 3 years to finish the course. It’s irritating, but at least the course load is (sort of) lighter.

3) Despite having studied here, finished courses blah blah blah, I am still classified as an international student for entry reasons and is required to sit through the IELTS both before and after the course. It’s quite disturbing to say the least. Considering the level of English of doctors and nurses at the hospital, I wish they would make everyone sit through the IELTs for re-registration. makes it fair!

4) I have picked up Japanese since, for some semesters, I need 1 more unit to be considered full time. Plus, it sounds fun. Plus, I have done Jap before. sort of. maybe. one semester’s worth hahaha!

5) UC has had winter semesters for a few years now. It would not shorten my time at uni very much, but it would lighten my workload for the final 2 semesters I believe, not to mention possibly remove the need for placements during the semester (thereby taking time away from Japanese). I look at this option with great interest, but I am not sure entirely if I would like to be “schooling” the entire 3 years worth. It could make a dark tunnel longer, lonlier and darker.

For the most part, this is already appearing to be a rather smooth sailing rest of the year. UC did screw up a bit, telling me i was in, then I wasn’t, then I was. After enrolling in my units, I received a phone call wondering if I am accepting the offer (~_~), which then led to me making really exasperated noises in bed. However, I am communicating with the lecturers before the enrolment. Paperwork has been sent to me and all – this is getting on at a good pace and I like it :) .

Of course, I am still worried about some aspects. Japanese worry me. However, if I throw in some immersive techniques, I believe this would work eventually (JDramas, news articles, not to mention some light novels). here’s to hoping – and also to building my own flashcards hahaha!

BY THE WAY! I can’t believe it’s been months since I talked about my Vita! I have been playing heaps on it, and intending to review Disgaea and Ragnarok Odyssey! Despite taking tonnes of screenshot and having bought my second vita, in white (!!) I never got around to it! :( was so hook on playing them. I will get around to it when I can :)

Current Mood: (content) content
Current Music: Aika Sekiyama - Aesthetic
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Fukubukuro, 2013!

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you know, I just sort of realised I never quite finished talking about my Japan trip. Things kind of got caught up and was forgotten. It’s not like I deliberately did that, but in truth, so much has happened since my Japan trip.

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Walking around the shops the last few days, I often thought of Japan… Mostly because I miss a particular drink from Japan, or food, or convenience of the konbini.. It’s really weird. It just sort of suddenly pop up in my head. People would sometimes wonder why – Australia has no lack of good food or Japanese cuisine. The truth is, though, all food in Japan tastes different from those in Australia. The tastes are, generally, much lighter. So, when I got hunting for a compatible yoghurt drink, for example, I often muse over how thick and heavy the drink tastes :)

food eaten in japan

One of the few things I really want to do, at some point in my life before I get too old (!!!!) is to eventually get around to Japan during the New Year’s celebrations. Nothing to do with the actual celebration, I just LOVE fukubukuros and a reason to buy them (of course, I could just buy heaps and then pan them off to my sister!).

 

Fukubukuros, also known as happy bags or lucky bags, are basically bags worth of products sold off at a massively discounted price. Retailers in Japan, at the end of the year, tries to clear all the stock by bundling all the items up in a bag. Usually, you have no idea what you are getting besides a rough gauge of what might be there (clothing stores = clothes; electronic stores = gadgets). In recent times though, this has changed some what. Some retailers reveal what’s mostly likely in the bag (sometimes, they still differ due to stock levels).

OMIYAGE!!!

My very first fukubukuro was from Strapya a few years ago. It was a classic fukubukuro in that it was in a red paper bag that says “lucky bag” in japanese on the front (these days, depending on what store you can go to, sometimes the bag itself is part of the fukubukuro’s gifts). However, there’s only so much netsuke one can use in one’s lifetime, particularly since I have already shopped like mad in Japan for netsuke things before. Furthermore, there were few useful items in the strapya fukubukuro for me :( so sadly, it is possibly one of those fukubukuros you buy once every few years.

Aranzi Aronzo was a brand I discovered quite by accident. During one of my pilgrimage up to Sydney’s Kinokuniya, I discovered that they were having this exhibition of Aranzi Aronzo products. There were a couple of craft books that I bought from there, as well as a couple of containers and what not. Aranzi Aronzo’s products are filled with cute, whimsical yet simplistic characters. This year, I finally bought one of their uber fukubukuros.

When I got the parcel today, I was both excited and disappointed. They have listed the items inside the parcel on their site, and some people have already blogged about the clock being included in the fukubukuro, amongst many other things. I am sort of in need of a clock. However, not only did I not get the clock, the list that was included in the parcel revealed that not all of the items came with the parcel :(

 

HOWEVER!

Whatever came with the fukubukuro… was absolutely wonderful! I would so use all of them, except for the picnic mat! Here’s a picture of some of the things I have got

Aranzi Aronzo Fukubukuro 2013!

Aranzi Aronzo Fukubukuro 2013!

Aranzi Aronzo Fukubukuro 2013!

Aranzi Aronzo Fukubukuro 2013!

Aranzi Aronzo Fukubukuro 2013!

I am also very very thankful that they took notice of my note to them. Most of my friends know me by the nickname of Panda, rather than Anivyl. Thusly, I requested if I could have the Panda bag out of the “possibilities” – and they gave me the panda bag! yay! thanks Aranzi Aronzo :)

There were a few other things that I didn’t take a picture of or isn’t clear in the pictures – notepads, stamps, an apron, 2 onsen towels and the picnic mat itself. The missing item, that I wasn’t expecting but loved the idea now, is the usagi chopping board. This was a fairly expensive fukubukuro, but if I had bought each item individually, they would have costed me more. Also, I love them, so they are worth it :)

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