So this week we are to write about what makes a good blog. It's tough to think about - I guess soon we will be able to start writing posts in at least mostly Japanese; that is way cool I think and will improve our blogs somewhat. Other than that, I think a good blog post includes a bit about what we are learning in class and how the writer feels about it, (for example, right now Chapter 4 is pretty tough but I am excited because we have 'and' now, as well as a bunch of other useful things) a bit about what is going on in the writers life outside of class, and since we post of Fridays, perhaps a bit about the weekend (I am working a lot this weekend, and that is it basically) and maybe some random thing the writer is thinking about. It should be interesting but also potentially helpful to other students.

So Chapter 4. It is pretty hard, and I am working harder than ever, but it is worth it because I think I am improving a lot. My class grade is currently not exactly where I would like it to be, but I am confident that I will be able to bring it up to something I am happy with by the end of the semester if not sooner. Isn't it crazy that this semester is already half gone? It feels like it just started, and then we have midterms and stuff all over the place.

Then outside of school I am excited for a new job I just started; my friend Rick just opened a cafe on the corner, and in about a month I am going to barrista-ing there, but already I have started working as the cultural attache, and yesterday I set up a gallery showing with a local artist; next week we are going to hang the show. In addition, Rick knows tons about coffee but not much at all about tea; since I used to be a tea nerd and still drink enough tea to sink a horse I am going to be the tea supervisor. All these jobs; I am going to need to print business cards I think. Basically I am going to set up the tea menu and show Rick how to make green teas and Yerba properly. I love green tea (particularly くきちゃとほじちゃ） and I lived for a bit in Buenos Aires and picked up a fondness for Yerba Mate, but nowhere in the US I've been makes it properly. So basically I am super-stoked for this job and you guys should come check this place out, it is nice and close to the university and cheap and delicious: Fox Park, Between Black Cat and Baha Bean!

TEST

Oh no. Oh goodness. I have been studying for this test all tonight and I wonder if it will help. Maybe I am stressing about it too much and I am going to make myself blank out when it comes time. Maybe right now I am just rationalizing reasons not to keep studying. Maybe I need to sleep. But I can't anyway, other things to do. Goodness me, what a funny life we lead.

So this どようび　I am doing a film project with some friends. The concept is make a film in 二十四hours, you get the topic at ごご九時, write the script, shoot the film, edit it, and turn it in at ごご九時 am the next day. And then a grammar sheet on げつようび! Awright, who needs sleep. Spanish students, I bet.

I also think I figured out hiragana and katakana, but I have to restart my computer first so we will see. Here's hopin'.

Edit: as you can see, I have figured out ひらがな　and かたかな。

So currently kanji is actually not as hard as I expected it to be - it takes a bit of work but it is actually not as terrifying as I thought it might be. The real difficult bit of this chapter is the grammar stuff - mainly particles I think. I understand when to use the different particles but it is sometimes hard to tell if I need a particle at all. Anyway, I am sure I will figure it out.

I just got back from a roadtrip my friend Charles and I took. We went to Richmond to visit Katie again, and then down to Williamsburg to visit my brother at William & Mary - he was throwing a party with the theme '100 years of solide dudes', which turned out quite nicely. Williamsburg seems like a boring town though, so I'm glad I went to UVa. I'm spending the rest of the weekend studying, catching up on reading, and working - though a few friends and I recently got some golf clubs at goodwill and are probably going golfing tomorrow, which promises to be fun.