Christmas Cake Event

My seminar house had another event. The first they held this semester was a sushi making night. I couldn't go to that one. We had also had an event where we made udon. Last week we had a Christmas event where we'd make cakes! Actually, it was more of a cake decorating event.

now there's a Christmas tree in the kitchen

Everyone divided into smaller groups. These are the things my group got to decorate our cake with

The process of our cake being decorated. Everyone had a lot of fun with this. I didn't participate.

other cakes

our completed cake

I have no idea how people managed to cut this. I didn't stay around for that and I didn't eat any cake.

Pictures from November

My extra pictures from November.
I can't believe it's already the last month of the year.

plastic parfait display in Osaka

the real thing!

I was wearing light pants so I thought it was a good opportunity to show what happens when I ride my bike in the rain. I get completely soaked every time, despite wearing a rain poncho. Rain is no joke here. Luckily this happened to me last week when I was on my way home, so I could change right away. I haven't always been so lucky though, since I sometimes had to go to school in the rain.

Even my winter coat, which is waterproof to an extent (at least it looks that way), was no match for the rain. Water leaked through my sleeves.

In my Japanese class last week we made a samurai hat and shuriken out of origami

I went to a sushi restaurant. There's a slot in the table for the empty plates. After a certain number of plates have been inserted, a video showing a cartoon plays. By chance, you can win or lose. If you're lucky, the video will reveal that you won, and you get a random prize from the vending machine thing above the table.

on campus

the main train station in this small city

TVXQ released a new single in Japan last week!

Remember this? I finally ate it!

the kitchen and dining area in my building

my food box... it's fairly empty

located here

at an okonomiyaki restaurant

Last Week of Classes Before Final Exam Week

Today is Monday! It marks the start of the last week of classes.
I've felt the semester winding down in the last few weeks. Last week, for example, all I was doing in three of my four classes was watch people give presentations. I also had two presentations last week. All we're doing in all of my classes now is either watching people present or doing review.
Now, all that's left for me is a final exam, an oral exam, a quiz, and two essays. I'm not stressed at all though. The way I see it, I have plenty of time since I don't have any homework this week. All I have to worry about is writing my two essays eventually. I need to study a lot for my final exam in Japanese too, since it covers a lot of material.
This week looks like this for me:
Today I only had one short class because my second class was cancelled.
Tomorrow I'm going to two classes. On Wednesday I also have two classes.
I don't have any class on Thursday!
On Friday I have two classes and my oral exam for Japanese.

Next week is finals week. The semester will be completely over after December 13.
We don't have a normal schedule during finals week. It all depends on the classes you're taking. In my case, only one of my classes is meeting normally as it has all semester.
Therefore, I have a final exam and a class on Tuesday. Then I have to go to a class on Friday. That's it. I have a test and two essays due next week, but after Tuesday I'm pretty much done. I plan on getting my essays out of the way this week. I also need to review Japanese this week.

The semester is close to being over. I say it all the time, but time really flies.
I'm glad I'm staying for another semester. There are still many things that I plan on doing in Japan.

Links

Why do the Japanese draw themselves as white?


Japan Gender Reader, November 2013

What’s Holding Japanese Women Back

‘You Mean Women Deserve Careers?’ Patriarchal Japan Has Breakthrough Moment


Japanese Prime Minister Stokes Wartime Passions

New evidence of Japan’s wartime sexual enslavement emerges

‘Comfort women’ take on Hashimoto

Japan Didn't Really Change

Japan Grapples with the Rise of Hate Groups (video)


映画『ハーフ』予告編　Hafu: the mixed-race experience in Japan [Official Trailer] (video)

Hafu: Half Japanese

There is more to my son than the fact he’s a ‘half’

In Japan, Will Hafu Ever Be Considered Whole?

Double the trouble, twice the joy for Japan’s hafu

Hafu Film Official Website

«Bist Du ein Hafu?» (in German)

Prove you’re Japanese: when being bicultural can be a burden

White Japanese People – 白人系日本人


J-Pop's dream factory

Momoiro Clover Z: What We Talk About When We Talk About Idols

Sexy Zone: This Isn't It

Igawa Mototaka says he witnessed sex favors being given by idols, netizens discuss identities


Why Japanese Web Design Is So… Different


Myth of Beauty: Facial Features and Skin