tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6721937937904276172024-02-08T08:23:30.789-08:00Cross meOn language, culture and the daily problems of a commuting student who can't get the hell out of NYCCross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-36131124988387744182010-08-04T22:54:00.001-07:002010-08-04T22:57:33.655-07:00Things I've done.1. Went to England and Finland. Yeaaaaaaaah boooooy.<div>2. Snuggled. A lot.</div><div>3. Had an amazing time.</div><div>4. Walked at graduation but didn't get to technically graduate. That's in the works.</div><div>5. Got into grad school in London. Peace out NYC.</div><div>6. Spent some time down the beach. Noice.</div><div>7. Discovered I can get wasted off of a bottle of wine, and that there is no better club than The Purple Turtle.</div><div>8. Beer in England is RIDICULOUSLY CHEAP.</div><div>9. Lunch in the park with your boyfriend is kind of amazing.</div><div>10. Summer in NYC is hot and busy but my friends make it fun.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's a quick list. Today is a trashy trance day and I love it. I've been experimenting with tumblr but I don't like it's commenting and such. I still like Vox the most. Once I get back to England, I'll revive my abroad blog and do some vlogs too perhaps?</div><div><br /></div><div>Okay. Bedtime for me. Peace.</div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-38855165210925256492010-02-10T09:19:00.000-08:002010-02-10T09:38:00.484-08:00Wow.So I completely forgot about this blog. 100 percent. I need to start writing again. I've been blogging since 2001 and I don't intend to stop. Those deadjournals and livejournals have been closed for quite a long time now. I don't intend on reviving them.<div><br /></div><div>Needless to say, lots and lots has happened. The fall semester of 2008 was extremely rough, but the Spring of 2010 was nice. I received an award from the Italian faculty for the History of Italian Literature courses, which was a nice pat on the back. </div><div><br /></div><div>My Summer was a bit of a whirlwind. I couldn't tell you what I did during the first half of the summer. I did enjoy a bit of time at my grandma's beach house. My favorites are the days where I can sit with my grandma and the dog, relax and chit-chat and then ride my bike over to my friends house and get inebriated off of magical drinks that my ex's sister makes. My ex and I are best friend's thankfully. I decided I liked men, it happens. She's currently living in NYC but we always hang out down the shore, go figure.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had a bit of a revelation when a good friend and I finally admitted we liked each other. More on that later. Then I flew off to Japan for Obon, which is a holiday period in Japan. The dates depend on where you live in Japan, but in Kansai (i.e. Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto) it's in early August.</div><div><br /></div><div>The weather was surprisingly nice in Japan. I got to meet the host student my Japanese mom and dad took care of in the spring and we all went on a trip. I'd say he's kind of like my brother via my non existent Japanese lineage. After he returned back to the ol' US of A, I spent lots of time relaxing with my good friends from my Uni there, three of whom are possibly the best women I've ever met. </div><div><br /></div><div>One of the most surreal moments was sitting with my two friends, meeting an italian girl friend of theirs, speaking to her in Japanese since my Italian had grown rusty and then meeting up with my Dutch friend that I go to para para clubs with, all in Kyoto which was the capital for roughly 1,000 years.</div><div><br /></div><div>I fell in love with Kyoto this past summer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cooking with Okaa-san and drinking beer while talking about deep stuff was lots of fun. I'm grateful that I can do all of that while not speaking a word of English, and we rarely have to pause so I can look something up. </div><div><br /></div><div>The rest of my summer was lazy.</div><div><br /></div><div>The fall semester was insane, but I was reunited with my favorite professor (who is now back on sabbatical, sad face) and spent much time talking with my first professor, who I wish was my sister. I love my department and I love the friends I've made. Minus one who's a hick and did something not so nice to one of my best friends but stupid American boys will always be stupid American boys.</div><div><br /></div><div>Most recently, I spent a week in Iceland. Reykjavík to be exact. I fell in love, both with the city and with my aforementioned i-was-always-in-love-with-him friend. Granted we live nowhere near each other but it's quite nice managing to find someone who thinks as highly of me as I do him, and who treats me nicely as well. Dating in New York City is absolutely awful and I'm glad to never have to do it again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, things to come in the future! In a convenient bulleted list.</div><div>-Losing my European virginity in June and July. I'd love to visit my friends in France Germany and Norway but the three places that I am going without a doubt are England, Finland and Italy. Staying with friends is very visitor and wallet friendly.</div><div>-Graduating. Then going for my MA, perhaps across the pond.</div><div>-Spending as much time studying in Central Park as I can. I haven't taken advantage of it.</div><div>-Getting used to driving. I have my license, but it's time to stop letting it languish.</div><div>-Lots and lots of papers in Italian and lots of art history. I'm proud of myself for staying on top of my work rather than ignoring readings etc. as usual.</div><div>-JLPT in the summer. And perhaps I'll take a Finnish course. I may be insane.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think that's all. It's been such a long time, but I really need to get writing more. I miss it.</div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-34036650456427544192009-06-10T04:24:00.000-07:002009-06-10T04:28:07.618-07:00Oops.It seems like I forgot about this blog.<div><br /></div><div>Recap:</div><div>-All done with Japanese. For now. </div><div>+Back to Japan in August for O-bon, clubbing, gaijin drinking fest, nomikai</div><div>+Finished with Italian for a while. Managed to get a 90's on my Lit History midterm and final.</div><div>-My huge final paper made no sense. As I wrote it in Italian in 5 hours.</div><div>+My teachers are amazing.</div><div><br /></div><div>For now, I'm doing a whole lot of nothing. Work, relaxing, and eventually cleaning my room.</div><div>I'm planning on reviewing for JLPT and looking over Italian grammar sheets I have, but I don't want to be too ambitious cause then I won't do anything.</div><div><br /></div><div>A presto, vado a dormire.</div><div><br /></div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-91411393258242732182009-01-31T17:41:00.000-08:002009-01-31T17:45:59.970-08:00Ho il rafffreddoreI caught another cold. I'm not surprised, cause in every one of my classes someone was blatantly contagious and coughing. My friends out of class were coughing. The guy I see was sick last week. With just a little bit less sleep than usual and eating habits that kind of went astray, I guess I was asking to get sick.<div><br /></div><div>I have to read a bunch of "Orlando Furioso" still. I only got about 6 stanzas in on Thursday. I have probably about 40-50 left. My teacher said we didn't have to understand it word for word, but still. I did my first journal entry for composition, I need to re-read for my lit class, and do some work for Japanese.</div><div><br /></div><div>I got some booty the other day. A simple date turned into a by-the-pool-table make out session. Which then became street corners and the subway platform. To go further or not to go, the debate rages on until next time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Okay. I should stop listening to Liz Phair and pull out some Ariosto. Peace out.</div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-7756995047050887992009-01-28T00:06:00.000-08:002009-01-28T00:09:34.241-08:00RicominciamoI'm back.<div><br /></div><div>Classes have started up again. I have reading to do on some 15th century authors, a journal to write in, readings for Composition, and lots of other stuff. Japanese will be easiest by far.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm a bit worried about workload but thank God for breaks.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm kind of sorta seeing this guy now. I feel a bit...too naïve at time I guess but whatever. I need to just go with the flow.</div><div><br /></div><div>Canada was cold, P.S.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm tired. Goooodnight.</div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-12732515442039227752009-01-05T09:17:00.001-08:002009-01-05T09:19:29.259-08:00AssI think I caught the flu over New Year's weekend.<div><br /></div><div>I managed to get two B's and a B+ in my Italian classes. Japanese is so far my only A. Next semester I'm taking the minimum to be full time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Has anyone ever tried chugging Cava? It's like champagne, but doesn't taste like rubber tire. </div><div>I chugged a bunch on New Year's. Why? Because I'm classy and my friend's cousin told me to. </div><div><br /></div><div>Okay I'm gonna take some pills and pass out. Later.</div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-45075254332958806412008-12-23T05:10:00.000-08:002008-12-23T05:15:29.134-08:00Al finoFinally, I am almost done with the Fall Semester of 2008.<div><br /></div><div>It seriously blew. I didn't do my best, I took 21 hours of class, and I let myself (and to some extent my professors) down. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, I did pretty well in some aspects. My Italian has improved, I've gotten a bit better about being proactive in regards to readings and homework, if only a little bit, and I didn't party. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had Japanese yesterday which was surprisingly long but not too bad. I slept when I got home, woke up at midnight, read, then did some homeworks to be resubmitted for the end of the semester. </div><div><br /></div><div>I got a box of candy for my professor since she was really kind. She went so out of the way to help me. I love professors that come off as stern and serious at first but turn out to be the most interesting, kind and amazing people ever. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now I'm off get ready and go to school to study for my last final. Wish me luck. </div><div><br /></div><div>いよいよ、ほっと出来る様にになると思う。</div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-82477632781736640792008-12-20T04:17:00.000-08:002008-12-20T04:20:52.872-08:00Be Mine!I'm doing my revision for the Italian final paper I'd been freaking out about.<div><br /></div><div>My topic has broadened a bit and changed to the evolution of the idealization of the woman loved. It's really hard to make sure I'm talking about the idealization and not the figure of the woman herself as she's never really humanized. She's just this amazing image in a poet's head.</div><div><br /></div><div>Which just made me think, "Don't I do the same when I think about what I want in a relationship?" Which might explain why I'm eternally single. </div><div><br /></div><div>I picked up some new cd's I'd been looking at for a while. I've listened to "Be Mine!" by Robyn for about a year and a half now but it never gets old. Pick it up for Christmas, it's worth it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back to the paper. 5 pages to go. </div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-50008510055474471152008-12-10T21:38:00.000-08:002008-12-10T21:44:59.189-08:00Oh baby can't you see, 待つのは得意じゃないけど...Commencing Anthropology essay.<div><br /></div><div>We were talking in class the other day about our favorite thing (out of the art world, or what we can relax to).</div><div><br /></div><div>I said languages and music, specifically how someone expresses themselves through the lyrics in a song in different languages. English tends to be a bit more rhythm gamey and flat out with emotions, Italian I'm honestly not sure but a lot of it is kind of...corny to me (unless it's Carmen Consoli), and Japanese uses shitloads of imagery and description, plus lots of forever's (永遠) and I love you's. </div><div><br /></div><div>In other news, my friend told me to find a boyfriend. Pardon me while I find out what is wrong with me. Clearly I'm an ugly beast with a low intelligence level.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh wait not so much. I will be the 40 year old virgin. Oh my. (I'm more than half-way.) Less to take up my oh-so-plentiful free time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Right. Onto conservation in Southeast Asia. Go makeout with your significant other if you're reading this. You should be fucking, not reading a blog.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-61924800446048331192008-12-09T02:44:00.000-08:002008-12-09T02:48:08.675-08:00Scacco MattoHere's a poem we had to read in class. My teacher had gotten it from her father who had gotten it from co-workers. They were in Italy. If you understand Italian, read this.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; "><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><b><i>Scacco Matto</i></b></span><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>Sono nato a Rockaway,sotto Brooklyn, in un lembo di terra che sembra un dito largo e teso nell’ Atlantico.</i></span><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>Non ricordo donna che m’ abbia custodito d’ amore l’ infanzia e i primi incanti.</i></span><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>Ma è stato bello crescere dietro una siepe, ogni giorno l’ oceano negli occhi,</i></span><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>bello come scovare orgoglio malnascosto nella faccia italiana di mio padre</i></span><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>la volta in cui entrai a casa con il primo stipendio da contabile.</i></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">Volle giocare una partita a scacchi e fumando due sole sigarette,</span><br /></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>fece che lo battessi senza scuse su una mossa di torre e di regina.</i></span><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>Concluse che dovevo sempre stare attento alle torri,</i></span><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>comunque infide nei loro movimenti lunghi su un percorso di croce bianco e nero.</i></span><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>“Infide” disse serio il mio vecchio</i></span><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>E ricordavo la parola sorridendo di martedì quell’ undici settembre</i></span><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>Mentre correvo a lavorare per Manhattan.</i></span><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>E il suo monito posso riconoscere ora che sono polvere dispersa da un lampo osceno,</i></span><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>polvere abbandonata fra altre polveri scomposte sotto un marciapiede divelto,</i></span><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>a fianco della foglia dove mio padre non potrà mai trovarmi,</i></span><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>nemmeno per tenermi la mano degli scacchi.</i></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Ero di Rockaway e non ho avuto amore né conforto di donna:</i></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>una adesso ne venga e chieda agli iris bianchi</i></span><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><span lang="IT" style="color: black; "><i>di fiorire nel nome mio indistinto, cancellato.</i></span></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; "><br /></p><p class="ecmsonormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: white; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">And I'm off to bed. Let me know if anyone got that. I have to re-read it myself. I was supposed to do a homework on it quite a while ago but I'm getting to it now.</span></p></span></div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-56650913864852900902008-12-04T06:45:00.000-08:002008-12-04T06:46:20.739-08:00オールI stayed up all night. I've done nearly all of my midterm Part 1.<div><br /></div><div>I also have a few regular homeworks to do. I'm currently enjoying VH1 and some music videos. Let's hope I don't pass out cold in class.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm only taking 12 credits next semester.</div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-56285947544860432392008-12-02T01:41:00.000-08:002008-12-02T01:43:26.746-08:00Fuck my life, part 2I have just started my essay. It's 4:41 AM.<div><br /></div><div>I cannot wait for this semester to end. Two weeks then finals. Fuck my school is so late.</div><div>Someone tell me why I'm not in Japan right now?</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh right I need to actually graduate someday soon and I'm not rich. Also, the dollar is fucking 93 yen to a dollar. That means everything is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">fucking 高すぎる。</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div>Really going to do this shit. I PROMISE.</div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-42448154387243846122008-12-01T19:36:00.000-08:002008-12-01T19:38:35.120-08:00Fuck my lifeI have a rough draft due for class tomorrow. <div><br /></div><div>I decided to do Dolce Stil Novo but we only did 2 works from Guido Guinizelli and 1 from Dante that would be considered so. Not to mention we discussed EVERYTHING in such detail that there is barely anything to say.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think I'll just talk about how the comparisons of a loved woman to religious figures, mainly God, reflect the importance of religion in the authors' lives. </div><div><br /></div><div>OH and it has to be in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">perfect italian</span>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Off topic, I need to stop playing with my claddagh ring. I'm going to lose it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Somewhat on topic, I want an Italian boyfriend. So he can make out with me and do my homework.</div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-4562170155231988292008-11-27T00:47:00.000-08:002008-11-27T00:51:19.327-08:00Una figuracciaToday was not a good day.<div><br /></div><div>Not for any reason in particular. I did want to buy a new computer and I didn't cause I let what certain people have to say burrow into my brain and I second guessed myself. The usual damn pattern.</div><div><br /></div><div>I do like the song "Broken Strings" by James Morrison. Nelly Furtado is in it, which is enough for me.</div><div><br /></div><div>I made brownies and they turned out awful.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have to write homeworks for grammar class on bicyclists, songs about them, clips from a movie, etc. etc. etc. So annoying but god are they late.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anche se non voglio fare una figuraccia, la faccio ogni giorno.</div><div><br /></div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-90921323882265130512008-11-22T13:00:00.000-08:002008-11-22T13:06:29.017-08:00Il cerchioWe've started and finished Dante. I really like his stuff, and it's really interesting to see how his body of work reflects his life at the time. Of course, as it's literature, you can't parallel everything to a real-life event as there's no auto-biography written by the great author himself.<div><br /></div><div>It's amazing to see how he wrote all of these beautiful works in the dolce stil novo period, and then gets hardened, and goes so far as to write in poetry in hard sounds and in a really hard, tormented manner. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course the Comedy in and of itself is layered with morality, personality and emotions. He almost condemns his past work in Canto 5, which we read. </div><div><br /></div><div>In other news, I had a presentation that went far too long in Japanese, I have a Japanese accent when speaking Italian, and cronica gialla are not fun at all because I can't do thrillers in English, much less Italian peppered with Sicilian vocabulary.</div><div><br /></div><div>I went to a show on Thursday night and got much drunker than expected, though the cab ride to my friend's was safe and much faster than a trip back to my own home. I'll be doing that more often.</div><div><br /></div><div>Off to do absolutely, positively <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">nothing</span>.</div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-16535754422554104912008-11-14T22:53:00.000-08:002008-11-14T23:00:35.230-08:00C'è un po'I have a Japanese accent when I speak Italian.<div><br /></div><div>My professor said it, then some friends, then my other professor confirmed after a presentation.</div><div><br /></div><div>Honestly, that's pretty crazy and just a little bit exciting. I'm used to speaking in another language so I don't hesitate trying to pronounce things correctly. Too bad I pause too much at double consonants and don't keep my self from pronouncing rolled r's a bit like l's. </div><div><br /></div><div>Example: rilassarmi. It's one of my least favorite words.</div><div><br /></div><div>I do enjoy the words auguroni and 希望 at the moment. Many wishes and hope.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm proud of the fact that my brain adapted to Japanese enough to leave an accent when I speak Italian. It's kind of frustrating that I'm fluent in neither but what can you do.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I did do a presentation on dialects. I hope I can learn more about dialects besides some Osaka dialect in Japanese. I'd love to learn some Sicilian or Calabrian Greek. I need an Italian boyfriend.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>In other news, I watch <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">P.S. I Love You</span> and cried like a baby. I hope I'll find someone that nice. One really does start to feel like they have a disfigured face when their longest relationship is 9 days and they've never said those three special words. </div><div><br /></div><div>Work in the am. Goodnight.</div><div><br /></div></div><div>P.S. If anyone even reads this, can you leave a comment? I've not done anonymous blogging before. I've blogged for over 8 years but never on a site like Blogger and not under cover of night. Go click that button.</div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-22692825852772480992008-11-03T20:13:00.000-08:002008-11-03T20:25:12.016-08:00Hometown GloryI live in arguably the best city in the world. Songs have been written about it.<div><br /></div><div>Yet, the last place I want to be is here. It's fucking lonely. My friends are all busy with new relationships or busy with their own problems and dramas. I need to make new friends but come next semester, it will be very different since most people work and their schedules don't match.</div><div><br /></div><div>And so on and on and on.</div><div><br /></div><div>I found out I won't be working every weekend. I just may not make it to both Italy and Japan this summer. Those are the two things keeping me going. I also am looking forward to Canada over Winter break to visit good friends. I'll be hitting up New England too.</div><div><br /></div><div>I really just don't know. I have no motivation for Italian. I feel awful and blocked and lost. I do well in Japanese class at least.</div><div><br /></div><div>(miss)understood - Ayumi Hamasaki</div><div>「君は一体何が欲しいの</div><div>君は一体何を願うの</div><div>君は一体どこを目指すの</div><div>そしてそこへは誰と向かうの</div><div><br /></div><div>君は君で生きられるのは</div><div>最初で最後この一度だけ</div><div>大きな地図を広げた後は</div><div>君だけの道を描けばいい」</div><div><br /></div>"What do you really want?<br />What do you really wish?<br />Where are you headed?<br />And who are you going with?<br /><br />It's the first and the last time<br />For you to live as yourself<br />After spreading out your map<div>you should draw your own way"<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Forgive the lyrics, but it's been on repeat lately. </div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-68309883960834370272008-11-01T17:27:00.000-07:002008-11-01T17:33:49.892-07:00一人きりでI'm thinking of changing my major to Classics.<div><br /></div><div>I won't, but I love the idea of moving to Greece and traveling through the Mediterranean researching ruins and gods that aren't discussed anymore. I feel like marrying someone Greek and eating Baklava once in a while. I want to sit on a beach with clear blue water. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was talking about Japan again last night. As claustrophobic as that society is, I really would love to live there again. Even if I don't have a deep friendship with 2 people, at least I'll have 20 to e-mail with, get a drink with and bullshit with.</div><div><br /></div><div>Right now, I have no friends I see and hang out with on a regular basis. Open bar last night was good though. I needed some drinks and a loud and crazy cab ride back to get out all the kinks.</div><div><br /></div><div>This doesn't change the fact that I have to translate Cavalcanti and read more about Dante.</div><div><br /></div><div>We're doing <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">La Vita Nuova</span> and moving onto <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">La Commedia </span>soon. I need to get into Italian.</div><div><br /></div><div>Does anyone know any Italians who need a boyfriend? Thanks.</div><div><br /></div><div>Right. Off to the Cavalcanti.</div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-43184924771705710112008-10-23T06:34:00.000-07:002008-10-23T06:39:33.330-07:00RempairaI have a cold so no work for me.<div><br /></div><div>There's two things I know I can always count on in my life: my mom and my grandma. They've been there for me since the beginning and they always have advice for me. My grandma always visited me in the nursery and I've always seen her plenty. My mom has always helped me with whatever bullshit I'm going through.</div><div><br /></div><div>She's also helping me figure out what to do right now, and making sure I don't just give up and stay a miserable p.o.s.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not dropping my hard-as-shit literature class. I'm taking the midterm and at this point, I feel good about it. I guess our teacher wants us to just do well and understand, rather than amaze her with these clear and brilliant points on poetry and the meanings of the works. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also have to take a Sociology midterm, but I like Sociology and it makes sense.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe I'll be a translator but maybe I'll do sociology/anthropology. I could also possibly study Greek or Mandarin or Portuguese. I don't know, I just find the ability to speak multiple languages extremely amazing. Not in another person romantically, but just in general.</div><div><br /></div><div>America needs more foreign language education. </div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, I need to get ready. Wish me luck.</div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672193793790427617.post-76511468617425011752008-10-19T06:43:00.000-07:002008-10-19T06:48:26.674-07:00Two months and countingI've been home for two months.<div><br /></div><div>I've thought about starting to blog anonymously and I think its what I needed to do.</div><div><br /></div><div>Long story short, I spent a year out of the States. I can speak Japanese now. I can't say I would live in Japan for the rest of my life, but I made some good friends.</div><div><br /></div><div>Two problems.</div><div><br /></div><div>1) I have no clue why my major is what it is, why I'm still in NYC, what the fuck I'm doing and why the fuck I'm still alone. I have 5 friends that I see. That's right, 5. I have not been out for weeks. I'm lost.</div><div><br /></div><div>2) I can't say some of my friends in Japan ever really connected with me, but while I complain about that, what the fuck about my friends here? Are any of them worth it?</div><div><br /></div><div>I haven't been able to sleep. I just zone the fuck out. I haven't handed in assignments and right as I'm about to graduate (relatively anyway) I'm wanting to leave. Drop everything, go someplace new with no connections. Japan was that but in a way it was still connected <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">to</span> me. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have been home for two months and not for one moment have I felt like this is where I should be.</div><div><br /></div><div>I just want to be in my favorite city chugging beers and speaking Janglish. Or with some good friends here. </div><div><br /></div><div>Doesn't anyone else feel fucking frustrated with their lives and like they're in the completely wrong spot with nothing to do about it?</div>Cross these oceanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098211925400817669noreply@blogger.com0