スピーチの二ばんドラフト： こどもの時に

私はこどもの時にインドのデリにいました。私のこども時だい[1]はとてもたのしかったです。あさがっこうに行きました。あとでテレビゲームをして、ばんにともだちとクリキットをしました。

がっこうに一ねんせいのクラスと十二ねんせいのクラスがありました。こどもがたくさんいましたから、とてもにぎやかでした。先ぱい[2]はやさしかったです。だから、がっこうは大へんじゃありませんでした。そこにクラブがありませんでしたから、たくさんべんきょうして、こえんであそびました。よくソッカーをしました、クリキットのバートがありませんでしたから。でも時々先ぱいのバートをかりて、クリキットをしました。

それからうちでテレビゲームをしました。私はセガがありました。ともだちはたいて私のうちにいニンテンドをもってきて、ゲームパーチエをしました。ストリートファイターとコントラをしました。それから、外でクリキットをしました。こえんにありませんでしたから、みちでしました。時々まどをつぶしました[3]が、とてもたのしかったです。

私は十四さいまでそのまちにいて、そのがっこうに行きました。それで私のすきなともだちがいます。その時はぜんぜんわすれません、こども時だいはよかったですから。

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[1] こども時だい　＝＞　childhood

[2]先ぱい　＝＞　upperclassmen

[3] つぶす　＝＞　to break

スピーチのドラフト： こどもの時に

私はこどもの時にインド^１にいました。私のこども時だい^２はとてもたのしかったです。あさがっこうに行きました。あとでテレビゲームをしてばんにともだちとクリキットをしました。 がっこうに一クラスと十二クラスがありました。

だから、しょうがくせい^３とこうこうせいがいました。がっこうにこどもがたくさんいましたから、とてもにぎやかでした。たくさんべんきょうして、がっこうのこえんでたくさんあそびました。よくソッカーをしました、クリキットのバートがありませんから。でも時々先ぱいのバートをかりて、クリキットをしました。先ぱいはやさしでした。がっこうはほんとうにたのしかったです。

それからうちでテレビゲームをしました。私はセガゲネシスがありました。ともだちはたいて私のうちにいニンテンドをもってきて、ゲームのパーテイにやりした。ストリートファイターとコントラをしました。それから、そとでクリキットをしました。こえんにありませんでしたから、みちでしました。時々まどをつぶしました^４。でもとてもたのしかったです。

^１India

^２childhood

^３elementary school student

^４broke

Fourth Required Post

I realize that I have been slacking off a lot. But, what could I do; I was suffering from what is known as "Halo flu" XD. But, now I think I feel a lot better.
Anyways, it seems like Sato-sensei wants us to think about what makes a good blog. I think that there shouldn't be any set rules or guidelines for writing a blog. A blog is basically your thoughts in words and no one can tell you how to write your thoughts except you.
A blog is not a skit that you could better by changing some sentences and including more vocab. Every single blog is a good blog and nothing should change that fact.

p.s. I will review Love Hina next week.

Rurouni Kenshin

Rurouni Kenshin takes place during the Meiji Era of Japan, or the late-1800s of Japan. The story revolves around Kenshin, a wanderer who used to be the legendary manslayer during the revolution ten years ago. During that time he slew many people to create the new era, but afterwards took up a reverse blade sword to represent his vow to never kill again.
Rurouni Kenshin has a total of 95 episodes. There is one main story with sub-stories or arcs that bring about the main plot. There are a lot of characters and a lot of time is spent on the interaction between Kenshin and the people he becomes involved with. Some are ghosts of his past and others are the ones he now protects with his reverse blade sword.
For an anime involving swords, there needs to be action sequences that interest the watcher. Rurouni Kenshin shines in that aspect. Most of the battles were very captivating and original, upto the Kyoto Story arc.
This brings us to the major fault with this series. It seems that the anime just went on until it hit 95 episodes. After the aforementioned arc, the plot seemed drawn out and the action started to get a little repetitive.
This by no means makes the series any less amazing. It has memorable characters, a captivating story line, a colorful art style, exciting battle sequences , and excellent musical scores. The series is still popular despite the fact that it aired in 1997. So, if you haven't seen it yet, give it a try. I guarantee that you will enjoy it.

Third Post

I can't believe I forgot to write my blog. Here goes...I have never really thought about devising a way to learn or anything of that sort. I just go with the flow. Right now, I am only worried about what's due tomorrow and I don't sleep until I finish it (except for CS).
I consider entertainment as much a part of my life as studying and I make time for anime and video games even if I have a lot of work to do. I suffered in my academics because of it but I consider it a fair trade.
It's all about what you think is more important and you spend time accordingly. I don't have any special methods to share with you all. Just be yourself and enjoy life one moment at a time.

Oh, and on a side note, I will review Rurouni Kenshin this Friday.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

This is one zany anime. It is actually based on the first novel in the Suzumiya Haruhi series. I have never read the books, so I cannot comment on the similarity between the anime and the novels.
The first episode will have you going nuts. It's basically a fan-made magical girl video directed (very badly) by Haruhi herself. In the second episode Haruhi introduces herself as the eccentric high school girl who is here to meet people as unusual as her. Thus, begins the story of Haruhi, Kyon, Yuki, Asahina and Itsuki as the SOS Brigade. And the purpose of the SOS Brigade: to solve mysteries around the world.
This anime is anything but melancholy. It's wild and crazy and gets even crazier when you find out the truth about Haruhi and the other members of the SOS Brigade. The episodes are shuffled and without any sort of chronological order. There is a bit of fanservice, but it only adds to the fun of the anime.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is one anime you don't want to miss. If I say anything more about the anime, I'll be spoiling it for you guys. I want you to enjoy this anime to its full extent.
Here is a special ending dance by the SOS Brigade.

Required Second Post

Well, it looks like I have to talk about how I feel about Japanese so far. I read some of the posts from our class, and it seems that most people are overwhelmed by the effort they have to put into Japanese.
I have to say that I agree with most of my class fellows. I knew what I was getting into, but I never realized that there would be so much difference in knowing and actually experiencing. I find it very hard to maintain a balance between Japanese and my other classes. Japanese consumes a lot of time everyday, but the fact that it is the only class I have liked so far, is what keeps me going.
So far, the weeks I have spent in this semester have been few of the worst ever. I study everyday, but I feel like I am behind in every class (except ASTR 121 - the only easy class this sem). I call my weekends "catch up weekends."
I can't believe I am still awake right now. I will have to skip my morning classes again...ahhh.

p.s. for all RPG fans out there, Persona 3 is a lot of fun. I am hooked.

Bleach

Ok, it's finally time for the review. Where should I start...the main character is Kurosaki Ichigo and he receives shinigami (death god) powers from Kuchiki Rukia while she is on a mission to destroy a hollow (spirits turned into monsters) in his town.
This is his story. The anime walks us through his life and how he gets accustomed to his newfound powers. Sounds pretty generic, right? I felt the same way few episodes into the anime, but then the story starts to pickup and all the pieces fall into place. I am a sucker for good stories and for an action anime, Bleach has very deep plot.
The main focus of the anime is how Ichigo and his friends battle the hollows and maintain stability in the world. The action sequences are very well orchestrated and the visuals are top notch. I go as far as to say that Bleach is one of the best action oriented animes ever.
It is currently at episode 141 and airs in Japan every week. The plot has become more complex than I could have ever imagined and the action is even "cooler".
FYI Bleach does have "filler" episodes, but it is a lengthy arc with a mediocre plot and action. The fillers aren't as frustrating as ummm...what was it called...ahem...Naruto.
I have already written too much. I can write more about how amazing Bleach is, but I am tired right now and want to sleep.

I would like some feedback as to what animes you want reviewed. Just leave a comment...and if I haven't seen it, I will watch it and review it.
Next week I will review The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Here is some more eye candy.

First Post (cause it's required)

I have never been into blogging and I don't think I would have created a single blog if it weren't for JAPN 101. Now that I am required to write a blog every week, I will write about something that fascinates me the most: Anime.
In order to make this whole blogging experience interesting, I will review an anime every week. Initially, it will be in English, but as time goes by, I will start including Japanese as well (since that is the whole point of this assignment).
Some of you might be wondering as to why I am only going to write about anime. Well, my reason behind taking Japanese is that I want to watch anime without subtitles. So, it's only fitting that my blog be about anime as well.
That is all for the first post.
Stay tuned for next week because I will be reviewing Bleach. Here is a cool wallpaper as my parting gift for this week.