New Assignments

The group of us going to Japan met up on Saturday. It was relatively easy-going. My CD with all of the pictures I had taken around the city read as "blank" according to Chris' Mac (I personally don't like Macs because they don't make sense sometimes), so I tried my best to explain pictures. It was pretty funny, to say the least, but we did decide on what we were going to do for our presentation and which T-shirt designs we agreed upon.

Speaking of T-shirts, I've had this vision of making my own online T-shirt business come true. I've been researching--from the type of style I've wanted down to what type of printing and which T-shirt brand to use for printing--and I've come to the realization that I could design T-shirts and be successful at it. I've done the background work and I know what it takes to make T-shirts and who to go to. I did T-shirts for my campaign on campus, several for events on campus, and now I'm doing one for the City delegates. I just need to actually do it, get the business and everything going together.

The style I want to incorporate into the shirts are similar to my favorite T-shirt sites, like Shanalogic.com, or Threadless.com. I really like the Harajuku style too, but it's too girly or sweet for me. I'm not overly girly or anything, I just like to look good (most of the time).

Still, designing the shirts for the trip to Japan is really big for me.

As far as my spoken Japanese, I'm getting the jist of it. I've picked up the grammar. I just need to learn some words. The phrase I do need to know is how to introduce myself, since I will be interacting with the City Councilmembers there.

Quick lesson in Japanese, or Nihongo:
Hajimemashita (ha-gee-meh-mahsh-ta) the "i" is silent - means "How do you do?" formally.
Dozo yorushiku (doh-zoh yoh-roosh-koo) - means "Pleased to meet you you" or "Think kindly of me."

If you're introducing yourself, here's a couple ways of doing so:
Jade desu. (Jade dess) - "I am Jade."
Watashi no namae wa Jade. (wah-tah-shee no nam-may wah Jade). - "My name is Jade."

It's fun learning a new language. I've been reading books and speaking to other people, and so far, it's helped me a lot. You should see my work area at my job. I have stickies around the office in Japanese, and everyone always ask me to say something in Japanese. It's pretty annoying after the seventeenth time, but it's helping me too.

Hopefully, everything goes well, and I can pick up more Japanese before my plane leaves.

Till next time, ja ne!