New Beginnings （新しい始まり）

New Beginnings

新しい始まり

새로운 시작

Hello World, it’s Abby here. I’m practically dying of shame here, as I haven’t updated my blog in way too long. I wanted to write about something every week, but so much stuff has been going on that I felt overwhelmed and ended up not writing about anything at all. From now on I promise to do one of these at least once a month! ^^ I also decided, that instead of just jabbering on about my life, I would blog about specific topics, like my language journey and different Japan related things. For example, I want to talk about the differences between the different cultural foods, and the differences between how people express feelings in both, the way Americans feel about Japanese culture, my experiences with it, etcetera. Just different stuff that interests me. I don’t just want to go on and on about my life updates all the time, that would bore everyone to death. But since so much has happened, this blog will be devoted to catching you guys up on things… So bear with me. This is kind of important. The last couple months have been full of endings and beginnings.

First of all, it was my 14^th birthday on April 9^th. That’s right, I’m no longer 13. I SURVIVED!! LOL

No really, I was kind of relieved. I went to 3 Japanese restaurants within the course of a week. My family knows how I like to celebrate ^^. We got sushi and sashimi and ramen. One of the restaurants had waitresses working there who were actually Japanese, so I got to have a linguistic ordering experience as well. I think it went well, because I got the correct food and the waitress seemed to understand everything. I also went to get my ears pierced, and my hair cut. So I have a completely new look. Bangs and double ear piercings. A new look for a new year!

Second of all, I applied to a high school nearby to start 9^th grade next year, and I got in!! It is a really great school- they offer 6 languages and international bacchelaureate programs as well as great academics all around. I went and toured there, and the people seem lovely. I can’t wait to start! I was originally planning on finishing Junior High in my school, but since I got this opportunity I’ve turned Junior High into Middle school! I only had to do 7^th and 8^th grade, and then my high school career begins.

Speaking of which, 8^th grade is almost coming to a close. One more month!! Final exams and stuff aside, I can’t wait. 8^th grade hasn’t been completely terrible, but it has been stressful. Due to some friend-related drama, my social life wasn’t really a highlight, but since that time I have regained some lost friendships and made new friends as well. I have learned that teenagers can be horrible human beings, and that no one in their right mind survives 8^th grade without losing a few people to the hands of popularity and malice. I also had my first boyfriend. We recently broke up, due to several reasons involving the fact that we will both be going to different schools, and we weren’t really interested in the same things or the same kind of relationship. But we had a great time while it lasted. So while this is bittersweet, I am glad to have a new beginning there. I will be keeping in touch with my middle school friends, and although I will be sad to have to leave them, Central High School presents great opportunities I can’t turn down. So lots of happy and sad things in store for leaving Maple Grove Junior. I’m just glad this is happening more than anything else.

Oh yeah, summer! Summer is coming up faster than I can handle… But I am so pumped for Japanese camp. Mori no Ike, I’m coming home!!! ^^ I love that place. I am looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones, and of course learning lots and lots of 日本語.  After 2 weeks of Mori no Ike, I will be doing Penumbra Theatre acting camp again for 4 weeks, although it is day camp, so I will still have time for other things on weekends and after hours. Busy busy busy! We’re writing monologues this year.

And… I’m doing Korean. My Korean study has progressed amazingly in the past 6 months- I can now actually speak in sentences and convey things that I never thought I would be able to. This is partially due to the fact that my K-pop/K-drama obsession has become slightly… more of an obsession than it already was ^^;  한국 문화 사랑 해요 ~

My plans for the future year involve high school amazingness, more Korean studying, studying to take the Japanese Language Proficiency test, and lots and lots of YouTube videos.

So that’s what’s up with me!

Next blog will have a more fun/interesting topic. I promise. ^^

P.S. If you haven’t checked out my forum website for Japanese learners, that is

www.japanese.freeforums.org/

Thanks!

See ya Later!
じゃ、またね。

안녕!