Well, as of monday morning, at 10:45, I will start working as a cashier/line server at golden corral! Yesterday went amazingly well. I went through 2 chapters in one of my Japanese language books(the furthest I've done in one day), I found my missing checkbook and sound card for my laptop(it's about the size of a credit card - easy to misplace). On top of that, to make everything more enjoyable, they were playing Handel's Messiah on the radio, which I love listening to.
The day turned out to be a good one. Today, I'll be heading up to Clarke in order to take care of some business. If any of you Clarkies are reading this, make sure that you say hi to me while I'm up there.
On a final note, I direct you to a website that I found to be interesting - for all of you people who can't decide whether to use Google or Yahoo! for your main search engine, here's a better option: GahooYoogle. It combines both search engines to make this choice between now nonexistent. It shows both engines simultaneously in the window, split down the middle to show both, so you can compare searches and see which has what you want.
Have fun, all!
31 January, 2007
29 January, 2007
Job hunt...
Went for a job interview today - it was at the Golden Corral restaurant. We went to eat there Friday night, and they were overwhelmingly understaffed. It looked like they would take help from anyone, even if they were only going to be here a short while.
DING DING DING!!!
I'm waiting for a reply from them, to see if they will have me. I'm hoping that this one works out, because it looks like a friendly environment, and the food is excellent. :)
Still waiting for my paperwork so I can go to the Consulate. I'm hoping it comes soon, because the visas are hard to get when you're close to the leaving date. I also need to make it back up to Clarke to get some paperwork finished there, and to see if I can get some of my student loan money for my plane tickets. If they've already transferred it over to UW-P, then I'll ask them to see if I can use it. Looks like plane tickets will be in the $1400 - 1500 range, a little more towards the higher side. I'm gonna call a couple of travel agents too, and look around some more , to see if I can get any better price.
Aside from that, it's just a waiting game.
Bye for now.
DING DING DING!!!
I'm waiting for a reply from them, to see if they will have me. I'm hoping that this one works out, because it looks like a friendly environment, and the food is excellent. :)
Still waiting for my paperwork so I can go to the Consulate. I'm hoping it comes soon, because the visas are hard to get when you're close to the leaving date. I also need to make it back up to Clarke to get some paperwork finished there, and to see if I can get some of my student loan money for my plane tickets. If they've already transferred it over to UW-P, then I'll ask them to see if I can use it. Looks like plane tickets will be in the $1400 - 1500 range, a little more towards the higher side. I'm gonna call a couple of travel agents too, and look around some more , to see if I can get any better price.
Aside from that, it's just a waiting game.
Bye for now.
26 January, 2007
Some Good news
The past 2 days have been quite good. A little bit more happened for my trip, and some stuff also happened that might help me land a good job after graduating.
I use a wonderful little OS. It's not what most people use, but it gives you the power to define how you want to control your computer. I, of course, am referring to GNU/Linux. Now, the idea behind this is that people come together to write software to be given out for free, where in turn the users of that software have the ability to contribute back to that software. My personal distribution, named Sabayon Linux, is possibly one of the cleanest and most organized desktop operating environments I've ever used. I then decided that I would like to contribute by coding for them, and I've been accepted as a "dev-in-training", as co-head Chris Villareal put it. Any code I produce for this I can show as code I wrote, and given to this project. It may be a job without pay, but at least I can get the experience of working on a big project with other people.
Also, yesterday in the mail came two very, very nice things.
My camera, as told about in the previous post, arrived yesterday at 5:36PM. Also, from UW-P, I received my International Student Identity Card (pictured, taken with said camera.). This acts as my id as a student, a phone card, plane ticket price shrinker, and general coolness. The camera takes wonderful pictures, as I've been playing with it since I got it. It's very easy to use, in comparison to other digicams because of the Image Stabilization feature, which compensates for hand-shaking while taking the pictures. I have to buy more memory for it, but that won't be too bad, because it uses SD-cards.
Have a good day everyone!
I use a wonderful little OS. It's not what most people use, but it gives you the power to define how you want to control your computer. I, of course, am referring to GNU/Linux. Now, the idea behind this is that people come together to write software to be given out for free, where in turn the users of that software have the ability to contribute back to that software. My personal distribution, named Sabayon Linux, is possibly one of the cleanest and most organized desktop operating environments I've ever used. I then decided that I would like to contribute by coding for them, and I've been accepted as a "dev-in-training", as co-head Chris Villareal put it. Any code I produce for this I can show as code I wrote, and given to this project. It may be a job without pay, but at least I can get the experience of working on a big project with other people.
Also, yesterday in the mail came two very, very nice things.
My camera, as told about in the previous post, arrived yesterday at 5:36PM. Also, from UW-P, I received my International Student Identity Card (pictured, taken with said camera.). This acts as my id as a student, a phone card, plane ticket price shrinker, and general coolness. The camera takes wonderful pictures, as I've been playing with it since I got it. It's very easy to use, in comparison to other digicams because of the Image Stabilization feature, which compensates for hand-shaking while taking the pictures. I have to buy more memory for it, but that won't be too bad, because it uses SD-cards.
Have a good day everyone!
One of our family cats: Chocolate Pot. Chad named them both. The other one is named Yoda.
My mom, intently watching an episode of Ugly Betty. Some people have their shows, and that's one of hers. Now, if I could get her to watch Scrubs with me...
19 January, 2007
Chotto mite! Mite!
Welcome again.
Due to a large benefit from my mom, I've (as of 7:16PM today) ordered a digital camera to take along with me on my trip. I've also got a lead on a couple of possible jobs, including one at a cookie factory. Hopefully, it'll be a good lead, and I'll have somewhere to work for the next two months. Here's hoping.
Still waiting on the Cert. of Eligibility. It should be here in 1-2 weeks. If I get it the same time as my camera, I'll be ecstatic.
Since I have nothing else to talk about, I guess I'll just let everyone know about my other hobby. I'm currently a regular tech support person in multiple linux IRC chat rooms. We sit in and basically solve the problems that anyone that comes in bring us. Anything from printer/mouse/keyboard support, fixing graphics problems, to even talking about how things can be improved. I'm even looking at doing something for Google's Summer of Code. I'll have to see how that turns out, especially with my trip coming up too. Maybe something for next year.
I'll have some pictures and first impressions about the camera when it comes in. For now, you can see any info on it Here. I'll probably be up at Clarke for a visit/business day next week.
Later all.
Due to a large benefit from my mom, I've (as of 7:16PM today) ordered a digital camera to take along with me on my trip. I've also got a lead on a couple of possible jobs, including one at a cookie factory. Hopefully, it'll be a good lead, and I'll have somewhere to work for the next two months. Here's hoping.
Still waiting on the Cert. of Eligibility. It should be here in 1-2 weeks. If I get it the same time as my camera, I'll be ecstatic.
Since I have nothing else to talk about, I guess I'll just let everyone know about my other hobby. I'm currently a regular tech support person in multiple linux IRC chat rooms. We sit in and basically solve the problems that anyone that comes in bring us. Anything from printer/mouse/keyboard support, fixing graphics problems, to even talking about how things can be improved. I'm even looking at doing something for Google's Summer of Code. I'll have to see how that turns out, especially with my trip coming up too. Maybe something for next year.
I'll have some pictures and first impressions about the camera when it comes in. For now, you can see any info on it Here. I'll probably be up at Clarke for a visit/business day next week.
Later all.
16 January, 2007
Tsuzuke-yo. (Let's Continue.)
Ok, so I got ahold of the Consulate today. While talking to the man in charge of visas, I found out that I need to wait a bit longer, so that the Institute in Nagasaki can send a Certificate of Eligibility to UW-P, which in turn will send it to me. I then need to make a photocopy of it, and send (or more likely, take) both copies, my passport, a completed application form, and other various materials to the Consulate in Chicago.
Still need to get plane tickets, too. It'll be interesting, because all of the money for my trip is through student aid, and so I need to figure out how to apply some of that money to plane tickets.
In the meantime, I've got a few different books that I'm working through before my classes begin. I have two books that I bought at the beginning of September - Japanese for Busy People, Kana Version and Easy Kana Workbook. More recently, I've been studying on a bit of a lighter side, thanks to Jesse - for Christmas, he gave me two other books: Making out in Japanese, which is a phrasebook of a more...colorful...use, and Dave Barry Does Japan. Both are highly entertaining.
Next steps: Check on class credit transferability, get class books, and wait as patiently as possible.
Until next time.
Still need to get plane tickets, too. It'll be interesting, because all of the money for my trip is through student aid, and so I need to figure out how to apply some of that money to plane tickets.
In the meantime, I've got a few different books that I'm working through before my classes begin. I have two books that I bought at the beginning of September - Japanese for Busy People, Kana Version and Easy Kana Workbook. More recently, I've been studying on a bit of a lighter side, thanks to Jesse - for Christmas, he gave me two other books: Making out in Japanese, which is a phrasebook of a more...colorful...use, and Dave Barry Does Japan. Both are highly entertaining.
Next steps: Check on class credit transferability, get class books, and wait as patiently as possible.
Until next time.
07 January, 2007
Trip Prep
Hello again.
Well, I've looked at all of the paperwork that I've gotten back from UW-P, and I have quite a bit to do. In the next week, I'll be going back up to Clarke to check on the classes I'm taking, get to Walgreens to take a couple more passport-type photos, and then call and eventually head to the Japanese Consulate in Chicago to fill out information to request a Japanese student visa. It's gonna turn out to be a busy week.
Meanwhile, I'm still looking for a job to get me through the next couple months. I wish that there was a place where I could do some computer work for just until the end of March. Unfortunately, it seems that no one wants any temporary help. Go figure.
Well, I've told a couple people about this, and hopefully I'll start getting responses. We'll see. I'll set up the RSS atom so that my parents can see when I make a new post, and I'll just let everyone else know about it - either through Facebook or just by word of mouth.
L8.
Well, I've looked at all of the paperwork that I've gotten back from UW-P, and I have quite a bit to do. In the next week, I'll be going back up to Clarke to check on the classes I'm taking, get to Walgreens to take a couple more passport-type photos, and then call and eventually head to the Japanese Consulate in Chicago to fill out information to request a Japanese student visa. It's gonna turn out to be a busy week.
Meanwhile, I'm still looking for a job to get me through the next couple months. I wish that there was a place where I could do some computer work for just until the end of March. Unfortunately, it seems that no one wants any temporary help. Go figure.
Well, I've told a couple people about this, and hopefully I'll start getting responses. We'll see. I'll set up the RSS atom so that my parents can see when I make a new post, and I'll just let everyone else know about it - either through Facebook or just by word of mouth.
L8.
05 January, 2007
Ohayo Gozaimasu!!
Hello, one and all, and welcome to my world. Come, as I set the stage for a marvelous event in my life - a once-in-a-lifetime chance - to go to Japan on a study abroad trip. I am planning on keeping this blog to let everyone know about my situation, how things were arranged, and (hopefully) how much fun I will be having. Currently, I'm writing this from my cushy seat in front of the home computer right near the Quad Cities(the border of Iowa and Illinois, for those unfamiliar). My trip was organized through two different schools: My very own Clarke College, in Dubuque, IA; and the hosting school, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, in Platteville, WI. I have been accepted into the program, and have a few steps to go. The money for the trip should all be there; it's getting things done and organized, and turned in on time that'll be interesting. I've got paperwork to turn in, photos to take, and places to visit before I have all of my stuff organized. The most immediate step is to get my introductory paperwork turned in, and make sure that the credits from Japan transfer back to Clarke. I have to make my schedule as well.
It's a lot of work ahead for me, but I'll be ready for it.
Sayonara!
It's a lot of work ahead for me, but I'll be ready for it.
Sayonara!
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