NEW - the fiasco artier

Completely out of pure boredom, I decided to create another blog completely devoted to academics. It is titled, the fiasco artier. There is not much to say about the title, but that it was a difficult decision made between it and "The Fiasco Rhyme-Riot Trio" and "The Fiesta Mayor Choir." The final call was made on the idea that the shorter it was, the better.

You see, a few posts ago I said something about giving U.S. history a second chance. If you know me at all, I despise U.S. history because it was so boring when I was forced to take it in high school. But when I opened the late AP U.S. history textbook, I realized that I have to take notes. I have this habit of not being able to learn unless I take notes, but I didn't want to take notes via handwriting, and I didn't want to bring my laptop to work everyday, so I decided to make it web-based and the logical conclusion was, of course, to create another blog. Don't know how long this one will last, but the last time I claimed that I wouldn't last 3 days, I proved myself wrong by continuing for almost a year, and besides, no one reads it anyway, so who cares. Additionally, this will come into good use when I start my thesis for my MSc.
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Just a space-holder entry.

Because, not much has been going on. I've been working hard on putting together the final details and such to Mustang Splash 2007. The task is not made any easier when you are working with other 'older' adults who seem to have a hard time at letting things take their place, knowing that you can't possibly control everything, and that sometimes you need to trust other people to do their job. The last trait is not often found amongst adults anyway, and it's not like I was born with that trait either (and I still can't, sometimes), so I understand that it's difficult to just 'let go'. I just gotta say though, it's quite tiring when I have to repeat myself over and over again, answer the same questiosn, and go through all the planning and the details of the event--for the third time!!--because it takes a long time to explain it all. Each time I give a more succinct, if not simply 'cut down' version of it. Well, I guess this is what it's like to work in The Real World.

Al and I have been trying to fit in little excursions within and beyond Tokyo, and it's quite wonderful being exposed to parts of Tokyo that I never knew existed. I mean, I guess I did know that they existed in some sense, but I didn't ever take the time to see them or observe them while I lived here before university. Tokyo still bothers me in all its hussling speed and organized chaos, the carbon monoxide-filled air (although, not as bad as it was Beijing), the noise pollution, the mass-consumerism, the anonymity of people combined with a certain superficiality that is always maintained to ensure that no one is offended and thus, everyone knows quite nearly nothing about the person they ride the transit with everyday. In fact, they wouldn't even realize that they do.

So, it was really nice to escape all that this past weekend when Al and I hiked out to the edges of Tokyo, although it would be quite the overstatement to say that it was the fringe of civilization. For me this was a hike through Mount Takao, but for Al it was a walk because, according to him, "On hikes you don't have these vending machines or these little souvenir shops." I looked around me on a path that Al would deem at the most a 'pseudo-trail', the shops, the vendors, the vending machines, and people--people in Converse shoes, or even some others in heels. Alright, I suppose I can buy that argument.

In between all the mini-trips, the hours of coaching, and the 'on duty' obligations, I've managed to start practicing for my symphony auditions this coming September. This has also been a collection of pleasant moments. I can feel my rustiness slowly wearing off as I spend hour after hour toiling at the notes for my xylophone solo, and when I play Tchaikovsky 4 on my iPod and attempt to play the timpani along with it. My biggest challenge so far has been Scheherazade's snare drum part. It is so damn fast! Hopefully I'll get there in time..
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the airline industry

When you ask for a flight from City A to City B, you expect a flight from City A to City B with maybe the occasional stopover. Less frequently do you expect two, or even three, stopovers in order to reach one destination. Well, American Airlines gave my boyfriend two stopovers thousands of miles apart, and when we asked them to change the date of the flight, they decided that they would charge him fees for having to change all three flights. The cost? It would've amounted to $310. Ridiculous!

So for a short period of time I thought that maybe I would be able to visit New Zealand to shorten the 5-month separation time, but alas, not anymore. I was even prepared to take an unpaid leave because the only return flight I could get from Auckland to Tokyo at the end of March was a business class seat, bound to arrive in Tokyo on 2 April--of course, the day that school reconvenes. The Faculty Handbook clearly states that

Personal leave or unpaid leave may not be used the day before or the day after a school vacation or a long weekend for the purpose of extending the vacation or weekend.

Due to 'extrenuous circumstances' the principal was going to try to get me one day of unpaid leave. Well, that seems no longer necessary.

Long-distance relationships are difficult because they challenge both parties to maintain an undying, unfloundering loyalty and, more importantly, trust for each other. Unfortunately this trust is like the First Pig's house of hay. It takes so much effort to build once, and it may withstand some natural elements, but at the end of the day it is quite frivolous, and one substantial blow! reduces it to rubble. It must be built up all over again. The second time is harder; with the falling of the walls came the falling of a certain trust in oneself that you could accomplish things. So you must first build self-trust, and then rebuild the trust you had for the other. This, needless to say, takes a long time and a fortituous spirit of persistence.

Being a fairly weak person in spirit the abovementioned task has proven to be quite difficult. I suppose it is just one of those things you have to work hard to get, because it takes a long and difficult fight before you get to keep some of the best things in the world. I just get tired sometimes of putting up a good fight for it.

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Moving.

My new subdomain is "foresightedthorn"
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Master of Social Science, Global Politics

So I finally went against my initial desire to go to SOAS.

It wasn't an easy decision. In fact, it was probably the most difficult decision I've had to make in a while. The money factor is still nudging my on my side, reminding me how expensive the programme is. But, after all, it is an investment. A Masters of Social Science degree in Global Politics will hopefully take me further and open up a lot more options in my future than a Masters of Arts degree in International Studies and Diplomacy. Being a bigger school, it will provide me with ample opportunities to meet people and make connections. I would get a taste of academia and it would also allow me to pursue a postdoctorate later on in a similar field if I so desired, whereas SOAS' MA degree doesn't have a PhD option.

Congratulations me for deciding. Finally.
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STILL Undecided.

I think I've managed to slice off KCL for the time being. I am concentrated on LSE and SOAS. At the very moment I could care less which one I go to; I was leaning towards LSE all day but then I know that the programme at SOAS is pretty near-perfect to what I'm looking for. And they say that SOAS is famous in the IR/politics sphere espeically if you are working in Asia or Africa. Sigh. This seems like it is getting no where!

On a different note, I am currently working on putting together an event called Mustang Splash!! It is a charity swim meet hosted by our Varsity Swim Team, and it's also my very first event in which I play full facilitator. Quite exciting. Registration forms have been made and are waiting to be passed out, promo-team is on their way, a venue map completed, and most of the event has been planned out to the details. Good stuff. I've missed doing this.
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LSE vs. SOAS vs. KCL

Now, the Big Question.

I realize, first off, that it is an enormous privilege to be able to think, "LSE, SOAS, or KCL?" I wasn't expecting to face this situation so I am definitely not prepared to decide...just yet.

My former high school teacher, an LSE alum, says, "Definitely LSE. Not only is it a great school, its brand name will take you far along. Sure, we're stuck up but we have reasons to be. After all, 56 of the world's presidents are all LSE alums." That's great. Another teacher, a SOAS alum, says, "SOAS. No question. LSE's a great school, but for what you're looking to study, I think SOAS is your school." And KCL has a famous department, that of War Studies. The one and only of its kind in the UK.

Ok, so here are the hard facts:
LSE: 12,936 pounds sterling for the MSc Global Politics programme. A bit on the expensive side for me, but I suppose it is a price to pay for the quality education and the brand name. Bigger school, more people. Very probably elitist, but like Bapi says, I suppose they have every reason to be. The programme itself is fairly broad. A very thorough and comprehensive overview of how global politics function. Possible courses include Ethnic Diversity and International Society, Institutions and the Global Environment, Globalization and Democracy, National and Ethnic Conflict Resolution.

SOAS: 10,450 pounds sterling for the MA International Studies and Diplomacy programme. Originally my first choice. The least expensive of the three. I hear they are more laid back than the rest of the University of London colleges, and it is substantially smaller than the other two. The particular programme is diplomacy-heavy, with a practical element to it that the other two lack. Also, in addition to a course on general diplomatic practices, my course includes a whole unit on international law, and the international politics of Asia. But then, I do read a lot of people slandering SOAS for a lack of freedom of expression... which is interesting for its unaccountability, but this could be highly problematic for a person who hates having her freedom restricted.

KCL: 11,000 pounds sterling for the MA International Peace and Security programme. Didn't think I would get into this one, but what the hell, I did. Not as expensive as LSE but more expensive than SOAS. Lack of residence halls that I like. The programme itself is focused on the functions of international law in preventing conflicts and securing peace. There is an optional course on the proliferation of weapons, or diplomacy, along with several others of interest. The key is that KCL's Department of War Studies is the best of its kind in all of UK. I like how this one combines law and politics, whereas LSE doesn't seem to...as much.

Fuck.
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hurrah! part 2

And then, a teacher whose maiden name used to be "Fujimoto" handed me a package and said, "I think this is yours."

Apparently, SOAS also says, "YES!"

MA International Studies and Diplomacy. Oh my.
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hurrah!

King's College London, School of Law sent a nice package and said, "YES!"

MA International Peace & Security!
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Happy 2007!!

As the days pass by in the new year, I keep forgetting that it is now 2007. It always takes me a while to get used to writing the correct year.

Al flew in on the 29th, and we didn't manage to make it to Daniel's gig. Oh well. Since his arrival, we have visited a couple temples to take part in end-of-the-year/new-year festivities, and eat a whole bunch of things without feeling like throwing up. It's a good start. I don't think he's used to Japanese germs, though, and his constant sniffling is a case in point.

I hadn't been to Jindaiji in years. I can't remember when was the last time I had visited this neighborhood temple. We took a good bike ride down to Jindaiji on the 31st--ohh and it was COLD!!--and did the whole ordeal: walked through the gates, waved incense smoke on our heads, walked up to the shrine, threw in a couple 10 yen coins, clapped our hands twice, and bowed. Then we continued to walk through the temple, people-watching, mostly, and drank some tea while munching on some dango (small dumplings on skewers).

Tonnes of people were lined up at Ookuni-tama-jinja on New Year's Day to pray for health, success, and happiness in the coming 365 days. Many brought last year's charms to burn in a huge bonfire, and replace them with new ones appropriately fashioned for this year. In order to keep the sanpaisha (lit. "the pray-ers") happy while they waited in line, stands were lined up on each side to serve them warm beverages and food cooked on the spot. Al and I took part in this mass, and happy, consumerism by eating a plate of takoyaki. It was such gooey-goodness.

Today we are heading out to Shibuya to observe the so-famous Tokyo masses. Check back for pictures.
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