Terriffic!

[azurite]

Alas, the weekend has come to an end! Am I some kind of weirdo for having classes today, when everyone else seems to be off work or school? I had a geography quiz today, and in a few hours I'll have a dialogue for memorization, two response drills (eugh), and I have to turn in my Listening Comprehension. My LCs have gotten a LOT harder since last semester; the speakers go so fast I can barely understand them! Last night the sheer speed of the speakers on the MP3 tracks got me so stressed out and worried about my homework -among other things- that I nearly started crying.

I guess it would make sense for me now to start freaking out-- I've gone half the distance and gotten letters of recommendation, filled out applications, sent forms, filled out my FAFSA, and all that blather. Now it's a matter of finishing up, writing more essays, getting more letters of recommendation, and getting into a program. I would hate myself if I didn't try at all, or if I quit halfway through, but likewise, I'm terrified of the prospect of actually getting in. I'd be leaving a lot behind -friends, family, material objects. What if I don't make it? What if I end up being a dissapointment to all the teachers that have called me brilliant, motivated, creative, and determined? What will happen to that part of my personality that is always looking for the unknown, or a great challenge? I love that wonderful sense of accomplishment when you achieve something, even if it doesn't mean money in your hands. I get giddy knowing I have a high GPA, or that I'm only 49 more units away from graduation and a degree-- a real degree!

And I believe in what my dad's drilled into my head all my life: reach for the stars, land on the moon/reach for the sidewalk, land in the gutter. I know I might be trying for the impossible, but I'll still go farther than I ever would have if I set my sights lower, because of my bad self-esteem or whatnot.

So here's the situation: I need more letters of recommendation. janimelee, I know you said you were interested, and I would really appreciate it if you're still open to the offer. Likewise, guardian_kysra, I don't know if you saved your old letter that you sent to my teacher, but if you have the DOC file saved, I would love it if you could help me out again.

This time, it's for Waseda University itself, not for a particular scholarship-- although there are other scholarships I'm applying to that will need letters, but considering they all mostly ask the same thing, what I'm really asking for is:
* Permission
* Your signature

Here's my current list of recommendations:
* Takase-sensei - 3 (1 for Waseda through CSU IP, 1 for Tokiwa, 1 for NSEP)
* Blumenkrantz - (1 for Tokiwa)
* guardian_kysra - (1 for NSEP)
* Scott - (1 for NSEP)
* Salido - 1 for Waseda through CSU IP
* Hirota-sensei (1 for Presidential Scholar's faculty statement)

The Waseda University one seems to imply that it should be from a professor though-- so I'm hoping I can ask Prof. Hirota again, and possibly Prof. Davidson, my Geography teacher. I've had him twice now (including this year), and even though it's early in the semester and he might not remember me well, I hope he's willing to give me a recommendation based on what he DOES remember of me from previously. I'm willing to ask Salido or Blumenkrantz again; Scott gave me a copy of his letter so I could re-use it if necessary. Again, it's a matter of signature and permission though, so I don't want to be frivolous with these.

I'm also applying for other scholarships:
* The Bridging Scholarship
* The JASSO scholarship (if I get accepted; I can only apply if/when I get accepted)
* The Aurora Grant
* any others I find
Most of them seem to have deadlines in mid-March. The Tokiwa application is due on the 24th of this month; all I have to do is finish estimating the dates, attach my photos (make 4 more copies), and print it all out. I hope Blumenkrantz really did mail my 2nd letter of recomendation and that the people at Tokiwa didn't throw it out b/c they didn't have a matching application!

In any case, please let me know if you can help; I'll have more information when I'm at home (today's my long day).

So Scott left earlier this morning after he dropped me off from school; we had a fantastic weekend, I'd say. Yesterday we went out to Los Angeles near Westwood, and we went to this "legendary" eatery called the Apple Pan, a diner that has been around since 1947. They had classic burgers and really delicious fries, but it was so busy there even on a Sunday afternoon that there was a line all around the restaurant (which was tiny), and getting seats pretty much depended on the honor system (which in LA, means nothing).

The burger was incredibly expensive ($6.10!) and very messy-- lots of special sauce and the like, but it was made fresh, and despite the soggy top bun, I finished it all off; it was delish. The fries were really the best part; they were cooked to that perfect golden temperature, and they tasted delicious with a bit of salt and ketchup. I could have ordered pie too, but I was too stuffed by then. After that, we looked at the WP (Western Pavilion? Westwood Pavilion?) mall, since they had an A&E, and my grandparents gave Scott an A&E giftcard for his birthday last year. They had some pretty cute flowery tanks (I'm looking for Hawaii-clothes already), but I didn't buy anything-- I'll try and hold off for anything but necessities until my next paycheck.

My bookstore "paycheck" was miserable, because I failed to take into account that the pay period I was looking at, I only worked a few days a week, for a few hours at a time, at minimum wage (FYI-- in SoCal, that's $6.75/hr). I already spent most of that money-- I bought a new showerhead for my bathroom, superglue for my bulletin board, industrial-strength Velcro, lunch at the Apple Pan for both myself and Scott, and a rental of "House of Flying Daggers" at Blockbuster. I was sorely tempted to buy something at Anime Gamers, this shop on West Pico right next to Apple Pan, but Scott held onto my purse while I drooled over everything. With the closure of San Francisco's J-town practically imminent (at least, that's how it sounds), I wanted to find any source of J-goods that wouldn't mean horribly overpriced or waiting a long time to ship... or even potentially counterfeit products.

I also got my new slimline modded PSTwo in the mail-- it works SUPERBLY! Props to Quick-Mods and Julian Quick (if that's his real name, he certainly lives up to it) for the excellent service. I tested Star Ocean 2 (PSX), FFX-2 I+LM (PS2-JAP), Katamari Damacy (PS2-US), and DDR 3rd Mix (CD-RW). I have some DVD-RWs (which are not recommended), but not of any games, and of the ONE movie I have, I actually have the real DVD-- which surprised me, because I don't know why/how I got it. o_o;

Passover has also been decided-- it will be, as my Dad calls it "in the ancestral home" (which means here in Northridge). It may mean a bit more stress for Baba and Grandpa, but I'm always willing to help them out if I can. I may not be "officially" Jewish, but I'll be damned if I miss a chance to be with my family and have a good time. I also love cooking and learning new things, so if I can "kill two birds with one stone," all the better. The problem of course is, where will everyone stay?

It'd be nice if Scott can come over too, considering he'll be back from Belize and I'll be back from Hawaii. Dad will be on his Spring Break, so he can stay longer if he wants--which Baba and Grandpa probably do, since Dad's the only one that ever helps them with the house (construction-wise; I can't do stuff like cleaning off the roofs or replacing banisters). I'll also be 21 and Grandpa will be... older. ^^; Hopefully we can have a Passover/Birthday bonanza! :D

Baba also said that inbetween now and then, I can go see Scott if our schedules allow; apparently Amtrak's having a sale on tickets! The last "train ride" was a harrowing experience, but this weekend just proved that we care about each other even after more than a month of not seeing one another. :) Not a single disagreement or bad word spoken-- everything was bliss.

And now I have to try and study for my Japanese.
Kono shigoto wa dono gurai kakarimasu ka?
Isshukan gurai deshou?
Jya, raigetsu no mikka goro dekimasu ne?

Comments

[guardian-kysra.livejournal.com]

I'll help in any way I can.

[janimelee.livejournal.com]

Send me the info and I'll get to work on it.