Tanabata!

[forever_wandering]

Independence Day was pretty fun. We had free tickets, so we decided to go to Busch Gardens to see their fireworks display. In the end they were canceled due to horrible weather, but I got to spend time with my family (minus my sister, who is still living in Hawaii). My brother left for Alaska yesterday morning and won't be coming back to Florida until December. Depending on when he comes, I might already be back in Japan, so who knows when we'll get the chance to take another 4-family member photo. 

Since my brother is gone now, I can go back to following a routine. Most people don't believe me when I say this but I actually have really low self-esteem. There isn't a single thing I would change in the way I've lived my life. I have no regrets when it comes to that. But there are many things I want to change in myself and I always try to do so much at once that I burn out.  

So this is it. This is a clean slate. I'm focusing on two and only two goals for the next year (Today - July 5, 2013).

1. LOSE 10KG & PRACTICE

NATURAL BEAUTY

The trouble with being short is that it shows. Short people just can't hide their weight. Tall people are so lucky! I was advised against losing more than 5kg by my doctor but I want to try to lose 10kg in a healthy fashion.

The last time I was only around 2kg away from meeting my goal, everyone told me I looked like a corpse. Obviously, I don't want to look like that. I want to lose weight but maintain a feminine body.

In order to achieve my goal, I need an effective work out regimen. I want to work harder, not longer, so I plan on creating a plan around my strengths and weaknesses.

On top of that, I want to improve my natural appearance. I depend a lot on things like  make up, hair irons, heels and cute outfits to make me feel pretty. I want to have that same confidence when I'm not wearing make up or dressing up in nice clothes. 






2. STUDY SERIOUSLY AND

TAKE A JLPT.

I study Japanese a lot. However, I do it by watching dramas, listening to music and talking to friends. My Japanese is incredibly casual, but I get by just fine on my own in Japan. However, I've always felt inferior to those who have had the opportunity to take and learn through formal classes. I always say that I'm going to take the JLPT just to see where I am compared to other students, but I always chicken out. I'm not going to do that any more.

Next year, I will definitely take the JLPT. Until then, I will study as much as possible. If I can, I'll update my Japanese blog daily. I'm also thinking it would be a good idea to find a study partner who is also learning Japanese, so that we can study together via voice chat or cam. 




Lets see if I can maintain these goals =) 
I chose to write about this today because it's Tanabata! While I was cleaning out my parent's book shelf, I came across a wish I had sent them my first year abroad, which was more than two years ago. My wish was to have more confidence in myself.  This year will be four years since that day and I still have the same wish. 



   Ladies and gentlemen, please inspire me with your wishes and dreams!    

Comments

[xbleedingheartx.livejournal.com]

I believe in you!!! I think it's awesome that you are setting goals for yourself and if anyone can ace the JLPT it's gotta be you.

Have a good Tanabata!

[upanddoing.livejournal.com]

They say it's very good to find Japanese native-speaker who wants to learn English. You will teach each other then (if your native language is English). One day you'll speak Japanese and another day you will speak English with him (or her)

[upanddoing.livejournal.com]

I am sure you will get everything you want to have and I wish you good luck! I just told about my problems with weight, there was no any connection with yours. You are much younger than me and everything will be easier for you.

[star0cean.livejournal.com]

I wish you the best of luck! This year, I also hope to improve my self confidence.

[countess-mina.livejournal.com]

Good luck! I'm sure you're do well :)

And actually, as many posittives being tall has it still has a few bad qualities to it. I'm about 175 cm, I used to grow about 10 cm each year until I was 16 yrs old - thanks to that I'm missing calcium and other important stuff for my bones, thanks to which I have scoliosis since I was very young. I was always way taller then the rest of my playmates and classmates in kindergarden and later in school thanks to which I've been called names and have been bullied. At the age of 14 I've been taller then most of my teachers and the 1st - 4th grades always greeted me in the halls as a teacher (all my life I've been feeling old!) and even now, when I finally stoped growing, I'm still taller than most of the guys of my age (or any other age, for that matter!) - the only guys that I pretty much feel that "oh yeah, he's tall!" are those 2 m long dudes...

So, don't feel sad for being short if your only trouble is that you're weight is more seen. It's not worth the trouble ;)

And my wishes and dreams? Hmmm... I'd like to learn Latin when I'll have the money to buy the book for self-learners and a huge bunch of other stuff. :D

[ninchu.livejournal.com]

Which JLPT do you want to take? I personally haven't had real classes since I was 16 (and on JLPT 4-kyuu, now N5 level), and while people who have been taking classes might know more words, I feel their Japanese sounds really artificial at times, especially if they haven't been living in Japan for some time.

[palebold.livejournal.com]

Good luck with your goals! Oddly enough your first goal is similar to one of mine and that is lose some weight. Granted the weight I want to lose is more in the realm of 12kg. I know most of it i shave away if I eat better but gosh! It's so hard to give up some foods for me.

[chochajin.livejournal.com]

Looking at those photos, I really don't know where you want to lose those 10kg. Even your doctor said you shouldn't lose more than 5kg, so please be careful!! :(
It doesn't help if your super skinny, but unhealthy!

JLPT: What level do you want to take?

[moldypotatochip.livejournal.com]

Those sound like good, reasonable goals :)

I also want to lose weight. I have been trying to eat less, and I have been trying to pick healthier options when I have a choice. But sometimes, I don't have a choice, for example, school lunch...
I wish you the best of luck with your workouts! Marcel and I have just discovered a gym in our city where you pay 150 yen each time you go rather than having a membership. It's not a great quality gym by the looks but it sounds better than nothing.
I'm tall and I show that I'm overweight :P

Good luck with the JLPT! Do you know which level you're going to take? It's still early now but if you have time you might try to find a practice test online to see about where your level is and focus on what you need for improvement. I took JLPT 2 three times to pass it. But at least failing it showed me where I needed improvement. And last time I was quite close to passing level 1 so I'm hoping I can pass next time. Keep in mind they send you the test scores for each section so you can see exactly where you are... it's very helpful even if you don't pass. Just give it a shot!

[azuma-chan.livejournal.com]

I've been studying Japanese for nearly a year now, I too wanted to take the JLPT but I stopped my Japanese lessons many times for some reasons. Like you mine is self teach also and I do it just fine.

Wish you best of best dear and may you achieve all your goals soon as possible.

[aoko.livejournal.com]

Even if they canceled the fireworks, It must be awesome to share the 4th of July with your family =)! All of you look so happy together x3!

I believe that you will achieve your goals ;)! Specially because resolutions are crucial just to take the first step ;)!

[gavluvsga.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the goals - I always find focussing on studying difficult because I get distracted easily.

Sounds like you had fun for July 4th - I was chatting to an American guy on the 5th over in London and it sounded like he hadn't really celebrated much.

[raihnsage.livejournal.com]

Yes! Us short people are suffering because of this! If we gain 2 kg is SHOWS while if a tall person gained 4 kg it won't even show. -____- But you have lost weight since the time you posted saying that you want to diet. That's a great achievement. :D
I'm trying to lose weight, I set 2 phases and I made it to phase 1 and now it's getting really hard to proceed to phase 2. -___-

[subetekiero.livejournal.com]

10kg!!?! Sounds like fun. Even if its not for you later you can see what weight you -do- end up liking the most. May even be that you're happiest when you're at the weight you are now! I would get down as thin as possible just to see what it was like. Maybe like 43kg. ^^

[hovstaterppret.livejournal.com]

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