Mission Accomplished, One more to Go!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
I cannot believe that I am FINALLY over and done with my thesis. I extend my sincerest thanks to B.D. for submitting the final copy of my thesis by post to my department. I initially thought of sending it by Fedex or UPS or any other supposedly reliable international express mail, but I just chickened out and imagined the worst... Schools in Japan are generally strict in maintaining rules and I was afraid that there would be some mail delays which could cause the postponement of my much-awaited graduation from MA. I have tried quite a number of times to negotiate with university rules, and most of the time, I failed. University policies in Japan are just 99.9% non-negotiable and totally unlike my university back home where one can just get sick of the over-flexibility of rules.
I do not intend to write so much today as I have to go now, now, to begin thinking about another paper for a
conference in Kobe.
Ok, I am posting a photo from long time ago:
Hiratsuka, Kanagawa-ken. Found object during a day of fieldwork.
Paalam, ulam!Labels: japan, Phil-Jap relations, student life
Author: Filipina Travels » Comments:
New York Take Two and Farewell to my Room
Friday, February 22, 2008
My old, empty room. Now nothing but dust.
It's still cold here in New York but this time, I am better equipped. I got myself a couple of thicker jackets and a pair of furry (fake, of course) and all-weather boots. I have not been making use of them, however. I am stuck in the apartment, still jet lagged. Also, I do not have all the luxury to "enjoy" the biting cold outside for I really have to beat some important deadlines due March 31.
I find quite tough to answer the questions of family and friends why I am back here in the big Apple. I would have to defend myself from the initial impression that I have too much money to spend. In fact, this is definitely untrue. I am also now just finishing the final draft of my thesis. Internet technology now allows me to complete all my requirements online. The story why I am here is not as easy as it appears. I am moving out of Japan and preparing to go back to my beloved Philippine Islands. Before coming to New York three days ago, I had to vacate my place already otherwise, I would end up paying some 600 US dollars of rent and other living fees, on top of this of course, would be my daily expenses which is not really too cheap. There was also another Filipina who was ready to move in... So in short, there was no more space for me in my good old apartment. Actually, I feel like there's no more place for me in Tokyo. Japan suddenly got smaller and I felt like I just had to leave. With all the difficulty that one has to come across when finding a place in Tokyo, and with all the cash one has to shell out, it almost makes no sense to bother staying. There's a ready home here in N.Y. where I can stay, and besides, Mr. Inspiration is here as well.
Oh, I am finally participating in an exhibit after a long time of hibernation from the art scene. It will be in a place called "Poetry in the Kitchen," somewhere in Tokyo, with another Filipino "ahhhtist" cum migrant worker in Japan. The exhibit title will be "Disconnected Joints" and wil also be my sort of despidada party. Watch out for details. I am leaving and I think other doors (and windows) are welcoming me in.
Ciao, amigos y amigas.
Labels: New York, student life, travel
Author: Filipina Travels » Comments:
Little Farewells
Friday, February 08, 2008
My 3-year academic life here in Tokyo is almost over. My feelings are mixed though. Little by little, I am finishing tasks that need to be done... I have already completed and defended my masters thesis; I have bought a huge
balikbayan (tagalog: homecoming) box which I will fill not with gifts (oooppss), but with both memories and garbage collected from 2005; I am letting go of items that I no longer need...
Japan is already my second home. Having stayed in Osaka for one year, and in Tokyo for three years, I cannot deny the fact that I am already attached to this country. How sentimental I am tonight!
Tomorrow, I will be selling my bike which I have been using since April 2005. I am actually surprised that I got replies to my post at www.gaijinpot.com so fast. If I only knew that there would be such high demand for my bike which I am selling just for 2,000 yen (with registration and all), I would have kept it, just for sentimental reasons, until the very last week of my stay in Tokyo.
I am not exaggerating my sadness at all. I do have lots of fond memories of my bike, especially when I was still living at the Soshigaya International Students Dorm. I used it almost everyday and I even had minor accidents while on it. Once, on the way to school, I hit an electric post so hard that my nose bled badly. And of course, I will never forget my everyday parking lot incidents... like when I would spend quite a long time, under the rain or snow, trying to pull my "vehicle" out of a sea of entangled bikes. I am also never ever going to forget March 2007 when I was apprehended three times by Yoga Station's patrolling officers, who asked me about my bike registration, but who where actually just curious to know my status as an alien in Japan (whether or not I have legal documents).
That's it for my bike. So long, my precious!
Labels: japan, student life
Author: Filipina Travels » Comments:
My "New" Equipment: Nikkormat FTN
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
I am so happy today. I finally got a myself a manual camera. It's a dream come true! I can't wait to take b&w photography classes again when I go back to the Philippines this April! HBB has tried many times to persuade me to pursue digital photography instead because b&w photography is actually non-vegetarian (films have gelatin content, and gelatin is made out of animal bone and tissue extracts). I had to excuse myself, however, from this rather "hard core" veggie request because for me, nothing beats the darkroom experience. Not that I am addicted to the vinegar-ish smell of darkroom chemicals, I just love it when the photographic images begin to appear right before your eyes -- it is definitely like a magic -- and it is magic that you are orchestrating yourself...
So anyway, the camera I got today is a precious
Nikkormat FTN 1967 from a middle-aged American guy who spends his money earned from teaching English in Japan on a lot of long-term overseas photography trips. Having purchased a set of the top-of-the-line
Nikon D300, he wanted to get rid of his four other cameras, one of them is my Nikkormat which I got from his for 20,000 yen (about 188 dollars, half of which will be shared by HBB as his way of encouraging me to continue with what I enjoy doing). It was his grandfather's, then his dad's equipment. Nikon manual cams are tough: while fourth-hand, my Nikkormat still's looks as good as new.
A friend's friend also bought a Nikkormat body with one lens for about the same price, while I got the following bargain (photos to follow):
- Nikkormat body with all original leather case
- 3 lenses including:
- 1 Nikon lens 35 mm lens f2
- 1 Nikkor-Q 135mm lens f3.5
- 1 Soligor lens 28mm wide angle lens f2.8
-
3 Nikkor close up filters no. 0, 1 and 2 -
Nikkor polarizer -
80B -
Kenko Hoya Y(K2)- Accura automatic extension tube
- 1 extra camera strap
So purchasing my camera will be this month's highlight, not my thesis defense this coming Friday!
Bye for now and big thanks again to HBB for supporting me in my creative ventures.
Labels: art, student life
Author: Filipina Travels » Comments:
Hiratsuka, Kanagawa-ken. Found object during a day of fieldwork.
