Darlo's World

Yesterday a friend of mine who pop’s onto this (and on accaision the Japanese blog) made a fair comment. Why is it that the the Japanese blog is updated more often. So as a means of repeating what I said to him incase anyone reading this was wondering that too, I thought I’d answer in an exclusive English only blog.

If we take my latest entry to the other blog, 老若男女 (rounyaku nannyo, Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys & Girls), I spend the entry talking about how I went into a shop, saw a quirky book on sale and bought it. I then procede to comment on how all I seem to do at the moment is study.

The thing is unlike when I was in Japan where everyday was a mini adventure, right now I do spend about 80% of my waking day doing things that aren’t worth reading (let alone writing) about. Today for example, I woke up, ate some (own brand) Weetabix, studied, ate a lasagne, studied … which leads me up to now. Perhaps things will pick up again in a months time when my Japanese “do-or-die” exam has ended.

One of the main reasons I’ll still continue to write arbitrary faff on the Japanese blog is mainly for me to continue practicing. I have a regular couple of commenters there to spot me when I balls up, so it’s really helpful for me.

We’ve still not got internet at home yet, but that’s soon going to end now that we have a BT line coming in and O2 Broadband at under a tenner a month.

Today, I had an awesome coincidence happen.

I was in town doing a little shopping, when all of a sudden, suitcase in hand, I saw one of my teachers from Konan University (Japan). At that time I was heading to the Virgin Media shop, so nearly ended up going down another street. Unfortunately we didn’t have long to stop and have a good chat, but I guess it goes to show how small the world is.

Living with no internet, or that is to say, very limited access to the internet is a real P.I.T.A (pain in the arse). Though I have been lucky in that the Uni’s Wi-Fi just reaches my house (sometimes, that is) it’s speed has been lacking a lot of lustre and not to mention there are some websites that are blocked from accessing on that connection. We’re looking into getting our own connection, just a matter of finding a decent provider at a decent price.

I managed to submit my ‘Year Abroad Report’ on time last week, and though I won’t put it up online for you all to view (mainly because if you look back through my blog you’ll be able to see everything anyway), the 2500 word limit meant I had to cut a lot of what I wanted to discuss from the report. Looking back over all the things I’d done (despite an even longer list of things I wanted to do) and all the people I’d met made me feel really nostalgic. This was especially hit home when I stared blu-tacking some of my photos on to the wall and chatting to a Japanese friend on Skype. It made me realise how I’d made Japan my home, and how, for the first time in my life, I was homesick.

So now I don’t (technically speaking) have to do anything until September (though I am re-studying what I balls’d up on for my re-test), I’ve been on the look out for a part time job. In the news there’s been a lot of information about graduates struggling to get into jobs, but what hasn’t been covered is the current students who are struggling to find part time jobs in order to stay alive during their time at Uni.

Seriously, last week I printed off 50 CVs and went into town. I only saw one place actively hiring anyone (a gents hairdresser looking for a full timer), but what really shocked me was the number of places that wouldn’t even take a copy of my CV. These shops told me they had either just taken on people, or had no intention of hiring in the foreseeable future. But come on, taking the CV gives me a glimmer of hope. Even though there’re no signs in the window and you could just as easilly bin it the moment I leave the store, giving a straight up ‘no’ is just irritating.

So I guess it’s down to pasta and meatballs and minimal pubbage so I don’t exhaust my penny jar before my next student loan payment … in September!