「言葉より大切なもの」

I've just finished reading Long Way Down and I am exhausted from all that reading. I certainly took my time with it, though. On one side it was great reading about their journey through and experiences in all the different countries, especially the UNICEF, Riders for Health trips for raising awareness. On the other, it was an exhausting read, country after country, border after border.

Maybe it's because I couldn't see the gorgeous scenery for myself. But I think they're really amazing to have done this, and Long Way Round too. I haven't had the chance to get my hands on Long Way Round but that's definitely on the reading list.

Although it was a book as long as it's journey, it was entertaining because sometimes those two write funnily and threw mock insults at each other. Early on in the book, especially, I loved it when Charley keeps calling Ewan Star Wars-related names. They even got to visit the Star Wars set! I am a mild Star Wars fan. I don't follow the whole thing a lot, especially after Anakin Skywalker came into the picture; I'm more like a Obi-Wan & Qui-Gon fan because I read the Jedi Apprentice series in primary school.

Apparently there's going to be another journey called Long Way To Go which Ewan has said on Facebook will take place next year in May or June...so I'm hoping to follow that as best as I can! :D

Speaking of travelling, 2 more days till I leave for Sydney / Adelaide!! It turns out I'll be having quite little time in Sydney, actually. I'm rather sad about that, but I'll try to squeeze in as much as I can. Feeling very fortunate that I'm able to get away for awhile, just like I secretly wished for when the exams were approaching.

Went karaoke today with (most of) the poly gang. Matsumiya friend and I were searching for Arashi in the Japanese Male and Group categories so that I could sing A.RA.SHI but we couldn't find any Arashi; there was SMAP, Kinki Kids, and KAT-TUN plus Yamapi (Daite Senorita) even!

I was kinda sore at that. So I went flipping through all the artists in the Japanese Female category to look for stuff I may be able to sing and I found this:

Japan-Female 43/45 嵐

Oh well so I got to sing A.RA.SHI in the end ^^

I even tried Shiina Ringo's ここでキスして and BoC's 天体観測 - I mangled them of course. Couldn't even remember how to sing V6's Darling properly :x

I'm worried because I think with the lack of exposure, my Japanese is deteriorating (I know it's not even a very high level). Need to buck up and work towards JLPT3 at the end of this year!

Pulled out How's it going? to watch for a bit...I conclude that I need to rewatch all those concerts even though after kokuritsu they're now all freaking lethal and have high chances of leaving me sobbing / tearing / in some form of crying.

Vlcsnap-HiG

Today's Japanese class was very funny and interesting. Sometimes it gets a bit dull because the class in general and sensei will talk about brands or travelling (which I can't relate to sometimes) or discuss stuff based on stereotypes (I don't like this), but today it was quite interesting!

We talked about our 夢 and so one classmate said hers was to live in Japan. I said the same too, but I think I'd prefer to just experience living there for a few years. When sensei asked why, I said it was because they have seasons. Since we're stuck so near the equator XD But of course there are other factors far more influential, lol.

Ah and so this classmate who went to work at the tv station in Japan last year when the Arashi boys were doing 24Jikan Terebi said she went for SMAP's concert last year! I was sitting right beside her today but somehow...somehow I felt weird talking to anyone in class about stuff related to Johnny's.

I believe there is either a NEWS or KT fan in class too ^^

Ooh and today when I was ION, we went up to one of the food places in the basement - it was selling dango and they had samples of mitarashi dango and we just wanted to try those to see if the ones we made last time tasted like the ones they sell at a dango place.

There was this guy at the counter, who told us it was sweet soy-sauce dango, he saw the Tekkon Kinkreet Uniqlo T-shirt I was wearing and he said "Taiyou!" to me. At first I was like O.o until he said "Matsumoto Taiyou". I was quite happy after that, strangely. I guess because I never had a Japanese recognize a shirt I was wearing before XD

Even though I couldn't go and that made the past three days very emotionally draining, I've been feeling very grateful and happy while reading all the fan reports. ..I think today has been particularly special because it's not just his birthday. I think on a day like this it's just not possible to not be emotional.

I just feel so overwhelmed by this gratitude, I feel like I'd get swallowed up by it if I don't put this out.

Thank you for making me cry for all sorts of reasons.

Thank you for making me laugh at the weirdest times.

Thank you for making me smile to myself like an idiot.

Thank you for giving me strength and telling me to wipe my tears.

Thank you for making me try to become a better person.

Thank you for the passion.

Thank you for my friends.

Thank you for today and right now. It wouldn't be this right now if not for you.

It's weird because when I was watching Rent, Maureen said the same thing at Angel's funeral and I realize I'm about to say the same thing now.

You said that you were blessed as a group to have such fans that support you, who've enabled you to hold concerts every year, who've been with you from strength to strength and everything else in between during these ten years.

But really, I think we are the lucky ones to know you and be your fans. At least, this is how I feel. That I'm lucky to be your fan.

潤くん、お誕生日おめでとう...

Thank you for bringing 嵐 into my life. 

It's been awhile since I blogged on vox; it feels sorta foreign now. I guess that's partially because I couldn't post or comment for quite a while and then I got busy with school work, so time just flew...

Anyway it's study break now for about one and a half weeks before the final exams for two modules, after which I will be free for semester break.

So I just got back to watching TQS today because I have more time on my hands now. Just finished episode 5.

Personally I really like and enjoy the variety of moods Sho's character is allowed in the show. But I'm getting a bit tired of needing to sit through every episode where it's the same ol' same ol' as the guests are slowly tortured on tv. Too repetitive...And I'm only on episode 5!

Just yesterday, actually, I kinda tipped the normalcy balance in my life. My dad is taking a business trip to Sydney somewhere in mid September and he asked me if I was free to join him, and I just said, Yeah sure, because I guess I just wanted a change for awhile. So I've never gone on business trips with my dad before - it'll be kinda exciting, I guess?

I've been to a few parts of Australia when I was younger (most vivid memory was watching the 2002 World Cup Finals and rooting for Brazil somewhere in Perth :D) but not Sydney. So I guess this is going to be quite cool. And apparently my dad will be busy for the first 3 days or so, so I'll be wandering the whole place alone.

I did think of visiting Crys by taking a train down to Adelaide, but I don't think it's that feasible now...so. Yeah. I'm pretty excited! ^^