I attended a Korean language lecture at the Korean Cultural Centre today. It was about Korean honorifics and their usage in Korea. It was really interesting to see how the Korean society structure is so complex, and also how complicated it all is. The lecturer even said many Koreans don’t know how, or get wrong, honorifics which makes me feel a lot better, if and when I learn the language. It’s amusing how Koreans try so hard not to call each other by their names, but will strive to call them using a honorific instead. In English, we only really have one word for “you” which is…”you”. XD We did have both thou and you, thou being used for someone you’re close to, but that has fallen out of context. In Korean, there are many ways on saying “you”, depending on your age, gender or your position in society. Likewise in Vietamese, there are 7 ways to say “you”. In Chinese, we have 2 ways. Well, 3, if you count 爾, which I have never been seen used, apart from in words such as 威爾斯 and 北愛爾蘭, which actually are the names for Wales and Northern Ireland in Chinese. Even then, I don’t really think you can class them as true honorifics.
I started filling in my UCAS application and writing my personal statement. I never knew that it would so hard to write. So many things to consider and add, yet I only have a small space to write. I’m definitely going to put in that I attended the Korean lecture though. I think attending a lecture at 6:30pm on a Tuesday evening is a good way to convey that I really want to study Korean.
Currently listening to: 미워도 사랑하니까 by DAViCHi, from the album Vivid Summer Edition [AMARANTH (Repackage)].
I’ve been reading a lot of books lately. Currently, I’m reading Wrong About Japan by Peter Carey. The book was written after his and his son’s trip to Japan sometime in 2002, I believe. I’m finding it an enjoyable read, but the book is mainly based around manga and anime, which I don’t really have that much of an interest. Still, it’s interesting reading a gaijin (外人) view on Japan. I read another travel book, called Meeting Mr Kim: or How I Went to Korea and Learned To Love Kimchi by Jennifer Barclay. I really enjoyed the book. It’s about a woman who accompanies her boyfriend to Korea for 3 months and travels around Korea in search for the soul of Seoul. Her stories about meeting a wide range of friendly Korean people makes me want to visit. Hopefully I can, if I read Korean Studies at university.
Currently listening to: So Hot by Wonder Girls, from the album So Hot.
I went to my first university Open Day on Saturday. It was at Oxford. No, it’s not the prestigious Oxford University, but it’s less glamorous brother Oxford Brookes University. It was okay. I went to check out the Japanese Studies and Politics courses. I went to both taster sessions. It was rather interesting. In Japanese, we just learnt really basic words like “kantan” and “jouzu”, and how to use them in context. In Politics, we had a little debate about the “crisis of democracy”, something I didn’t take part in. I don’t really want to do Japanese as my major, so I’ll probably put Oxford Brookes as one of my back-up choices.
In front of me, I have an application form for Mandarin lessons. I’m pretty sure I want to take them, but I’d also like to take another language. Anyone have any ideas what languages I should consider? The options are:
- Italian
- Spanish
- Turkish
- Arabic
- Greek
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Polish
Oh, and I’m also going to take Japanese lessons. I’m taking a bit of a risk because I’m not even sure if I’ll have enough time on my hands, but I think I should be okay. The courses aren’t particularly complex, or very intensive.
Currently listening to: KEY OF HEART by BoA, from the album MADE IN TWENTY(20).
I really enjoyed the film Persepolis. I watched it a few days ago. If you have no idea what it is, it’s based on a graphic novel about the authors life during the Iranian Revolution. It’s interesting to watch films about subjects you know little about. To try and keep authenticity, I watched it in French with subtitles, but I’m sure there’s a dubbed version at mainstream cinemas at the moment.
Boris Johnson was recently elected mayor of London. I have my reservations. To be honest, I think he’s going to a catastrophic failure. At the moment, he seems to be getting on quite well with the role, but I think it’s all the doing of his publicity team. Further on down the line, he’s going to do something outlandish, like ban all teens from using public transport or something. I wasn’t a fan of Ken Livingstone, but I felt like that he did a good job, especially during the London bombings. I love how everyone just ignores the BNP member in the London Assembly.
I decided that I’m going to take up Japanese and Mandarin sessions in the new academic year, just so I have something more interesting to do in my leisure time, and to strengthen my university application. I thought about doing something like Greek as well (which I might well do), but I haven’t spoken to the teacher in charge of Greek yet, so I haven’t decided. I’m not sure why I want to do Greek; I think it’s because I want to prove to myself that I can learn a completely different language. I’m not amazing at languages, but I find that if I enjoy it and concentrate, I can understand it pretty quick. I haven’t studied German for a year, yet I can still remember most of it. I can remember the basics of French as well, but I didn’t enjoy it that much.
So the spring break is coming to a close. I really didn’t do anything, which I’m pretty glad about. Gives me more time to rest and study. = D I’ve basically been doing the minimum amount of studying a day. I should probably work on a better regime next time. I should also make it fun. Sometimes I feel like I’m only studying to torture myself. But at least I’ll reap the benefits of ~good grades~.
So I’m thinking of signing up to a language course so I have some extra-curricular activities in my university application. Maybe Japanese or another Asian language so when I come to write my personal statement, I have something to use to show my interest in Asian languages. The Japanese course near where I live is meant to be a 4 year course, but I only have a year before I go to university. That doesn’t really bother me, because if I do the whole 4 years, then there’s really no point in doing a Japanese minor at university. I’d actually like to learn something other than Asian languages so I can prove I’m adept to learning other languages, but there’s nothing that has caught my eye. Maybe Spanish? I’m not very interested in it, but it’s something I can study further if I go to university (hopefully).
I’m totally in love with this Japanese band called AKB48. Yeah, they’re J-pop *hears people moan*. They’re a group of teenage girls (48 in total) who sing songs about wanting to make out with their teacher and taking off their school uniforms to experience adult pleasure. What’s not to like? KOJIMA HARUNA <3333
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