Kon'ichiwa, minna-san.
I came home this afternoon to find my mom lying on the couch, reading newspapers. What a scare. I had completely forgotten that she said she might take a day off because of the excessive amount of snow.
Which reminds me. This morning I was fifteen minutes late because of the traffic jam on Victoria Park caused by the snowstorm last night/this morning. It took...forty-five minutes to get to school by car; whereas on a normal day, if I left at the same time, it would only take twenty to twenty-five minutes. The funny thing is, I got there a few minutes after my teacher, Ms. Fisher. And I wasn't even the last one to get to school in my class.
I didn't really have a great day. I only got six hours of sleep (which, strangely enough, is actually more than I usually get these days) and spent three quarters of an hour in the morning in traffic, so...please excuse my irritability. I almost forgot that I hadn't already attended ICS earlier, and mistook my Period D class (French) as the last class of the day. Imagine my surprise when I didn't see anyone else at their lockers.
ICS seems to get shorter and shorter. I don't feel like I'm getting a sufficient amount of work done. Nevertheless, last night I typed up the good copy of the About the Authors page and helped Lisa finish part of Test One. I have also been asked to edit half of the Glossary terms (the definitions) and edit the If Statements Lesson. I still have to complete a few more flow charts.
Suddenly, I feel like a world of work has been piled on me.
I want to do as much ICS as I can tonight, but I have to allow time to practice for my English CA. My group is presenting tomorrow; and I don't want to be the one to bring our marks down. So I have decided to finish my Science first (as it's due tomorrow), then work on ICS until eight- or nine-ish, and finally, spend a few hours practicing my lines for English.
Hopefully I stick to this schedule.
Wish me luck, minna-san!
---
Current Music: Meltdown - Len Kagamine & Kaito Shion
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
In which Pearl questions her sanity
(Or, in which Pearl's brain becomes so fried that she can't act sane.)
Konbanwa, minna-san!
Well, I'm certainly quite a bit more upbeat than I was the week before Winter Break. I feel like I shouldn't be, considering Culminating Activity deadlines and the ever-terrifying exams are quickly approaching. Then again, this might just be my way of keeping myself sane. Yes...acting crazy to keep myself sane...what a reasonable explanation.
I wonder why people stare at me strangely when I say "This is so interesting!" about a crime fiction/mystery novel. Or a show where something - doesn't matter what: vehicles, trains, airplanes, houses, barren fields, etc. - blows up. Or a chase scene. Or a gunfight scene. Is it strange to like that?
Meh. Castle always says (and yes, this is part of the introduction to each episode) "There are two kinds of people who spend their lives thinking of ways to murder people. Psychopaths...and mystery writers."
I relish in that kind of stuff.
Anyways, before I completely forget what we did in ICS this morning, let me write it down here.
Today was basically another work period for the Culminating Activity. (Why do I capitalize that? Is it simply an example of how much it towers over me; an example of how much of our mark this is weighted on?) Yes, er, well. I made some necessary edits to the About the Authors page, since Shreya joined our group. Lisa had asked for it to flow better (see, before I had tried to follow the model of a short About the Author[s] blurb in the back of a fiction book), so I had to change a few things.
Last night, Shreya sent me the glossary terms she wrote. I put those up on the Wiki. Looking over them, I feel like we'll have to do some editing. The language is not exactly professional, but that's okay. At least she has the basic idea. Don't get me wrong - I'm very glad she's so eager to contribute to our project. But...the grammar Nazi I am, I just...I'm picky about these things.
Which reminds me, as soon as exams are over, I need to reply to my pen pal (sort of) on FF. I still remember the days when we sent several messages back and forth on the same day.
So, for tonight I have to finish the flow chart about Tutoring Turing and the edits to the AtA page. Lisa will (hopefully) send me the rest of the introduction so I can put the two parts together.
I can't feel the pressure. Is that a bad thing?
Nevertheless, we're making good progress. Hm. That's probably why.
I'm feeling wistful now. Mm.
I think I'll go talk to my friend on MSN for a bit. He's always fun to talk to.
Mata ashita!
---
Current Music: Victory Korea - Super Junior
[Zarin-dono, you'll be happy to know I've gotten somewhat addicted to their songs. And Amy, too, if you're still reading my blog.]
Konbanwa, minna-san!
Well, I'm certainly quite a bit more upbeat than I was the week before Winter Break. I feel like I shouldn't be, considering Culminating Activity deadlines and the ever-terrifying exams are quickly approaching. Then again, this might just be my way of keeping myself sane. Yes...acting crazy to keep myself sane...what a reasonable explanation.
I wonder why people stare at me strangely when I say "This is so interesting!" about a crime fiction/mystery novel. Or a show where something - doesn't matter what: vehicles, trains, airplanes, houses, barren fields, etc. - blows up. Or a chase scene. Or a gunfight scene. Is it strange to like that?
Meh. Castle always says (and yes, this is part of the introduction to each episode) "There are two kinds of people who spend their lives thinking of ways to murder people. Psychopaths...and mystery writers."
I relish in that kind of stuff.
Anyways, before I completely forget what we did in ICS this morning, let me write it down here.
Today was basically another work period for the Culminating Activity. (Why do I capitalize that? Is it simply an example of how much it towers over me; an example of how much of our mark this is weighted on?) Yes, er, well. I made some necessary edits to the About the Authors page, since Shreya joined our group. Lisa had asked for it to flow better (see, before I had tried to follow the model of a short About the Author[s] blurb in the back of a fiction book), so I had to change a few things.
Last night, Shreya sent me the glossary terms she wrote. I put those up on the Wiki. Looking over them, I feel like we'll have to do some editing. The language is not exactly professional, but that's okay. At least she has the basic idea. Don't get me wrong - I'm very glad she's so eager to contribute to our project. But...the grammar Nazi I am, I just...I'm picky about these things.
Which reminds me, as soon as exams are over, I need to reply to my pen pal (sort of) on FF. I still remember the days when we sent several messages back and forth on the same day.
So, for tonight I have to finish the flow chart about Tutoring Turing and the edits to the AtA page. Lisa will (hopefully) send me the rest of the introduction so I can put the two parts together.
I can't feel the pressure. Is that a bad thing?
Nevertheless, we're making good progress. Hm. That's probably why.
I'm feeling wistful now. Mm.
I think I'll go talk to my friend on MSN for a bit. He's always fun to talk to.
Mata ashita!
---
Current Music: Victory Korea - Super Junior
[Zarin-dono, you'll be happy to know I've gotten somewhat addicted to their songs. And Amy, too, if you're still reading my blog.]
Monday, January 10, 2011
In which our CA group gets a new member!
Konichiwa, minna-san!
Even as I type this, I'm creating flow charts for our ICS Culminating. Oh, the month of January is so busy! With exams coming up in two weeks, and Culminating Activities to finish, I'm as busy as a bee. Some people are stressing out, but not me! No, my mind has already blown up! I just get really hyper and then sporadically change energy levels and get depressed. Then I get hyper again. Yes...if you see me acting drunk, you know what happened.
"Mi-mi-mikuru, mi-mikurun-run!"
You might hear me singing that. Three cheers for Mikuru and all the people who act like her in real life (a.k.a. me)!
Yup. That's how far I've gone.
Well, today we got a new addition to our ICS Culminating group! I'd like to extend a welcome to Shreya, from Class A. She will be taking care of the glossary - not exactly an easy feat.
As for my tasks, all I have to do is edit the About the Authors page and the first part of the Introduction. Then I'm going to help Zarin-dono with the Case Statements lesson, and I have offered to help Shreya with the Glossary. Then, I will get to work thinking up test questions.
Ah, but before that, I have to finish creating the flow charts that were requested. It's pretty easy, and everyone else is doing so much; so I want to contribute as much as I can in any way possible.
Then I must memorize my lines for English CA; and do research for French CA, which is more about science (environmental problems). If I may, I'd like to voice my anger at Naeem for basically forcing our group to do Climate Change - something he's been obsessed with for the past two years (at least).
It's shameful.
Ah, well, there's no time to blow up at anyone. Besides, my brain is already fried.
"Koi no magiku, mi-mi-ku-run-run!"
Mata ashita, minna-san!
---
Current Music: Koi no Mikuru Densetsu - Yuko Gotou (Mikuru Asahina from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)
Even as I type this, I'm creating flow charts for our ICS Culminating. Oh, the month of January is so busy! With exams coming up in two weeks, and Culminating Activities to finish, I'm as busy as a bee. Some people are stressing out, but not me! No, my mind has already blown up! I just get really hyper and then sporadically change energy levels and get depressed. Then I get hyper again. Yes...if you see me acting drunk, you know what happened.
"Mi-mi-mikuru, mi-mikurun-run!"
You might hear me singing that. Three cheers for Mikuru and all the people who act like her in real life (a.k.a. me)!
Yup. That's how far I've gone.
Well, today we got a new addition to our ICS Culminating group! I'd like to extend a welcome to Shreya, from Class A. She will be taking care of the glossary - not exactly an easy feat.
As for my tasks, all I have to do is edit the About the Authors page and the first part of the Introduction. Then I'm going to help Zarin-dono with the Case Statements lesson, and I have offered to help Shreya with the Glossary. Then, I will get to work thinking up test questions.
Ah, but before that, I have to finish creating the flow charts that were requested. It's pretty easy, and everyone else is doing so much; so I want to contribute as much as I can in any way possible.
Then I must memorize my lines for English CA; and do research for French CA, which is more about science (environmental problems). If I may, I'd like to voice my anger at Naeem for basically forcing our group to do Climate Change - something he's been obsessed with for the past two years (at least).
It's shameful.
Ah, well, there's no time to blow up at anyone. Besides, my brain is already fried.
"Koi no magiku, mi-mi-ku-run-run!"
Mata ashita, minna-san!
---
Current Music: Koi no Mikuru Densetsu - Yuko Gotou (Mikuru Asahina from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)
Friday, January 7, 2011
In which the first signs of exhaustion appear
Konbanwa, minna-san.
I'm scared. Very scared. The lack of sleep resulting in drifting off at certain times in class is getting out of control again. Today, when walking home, I only had to climb two very short hills and it got me wheezing. Moreover, those incessant, painful headaches I get are annoying me. These are the same things that happened last year, before I went into my period of exhaustion. Now, this wouldn't terrify me as much if it wasn't January; that is, exam month. I absolutely cannot afford to get sick now. Besides, exhaustion is frightening in itself.
Today Mr. Arkin asked us to send him the link to our PDF files (for the Mosaic Project). There were a few problems with most of them, so we were asked to resend them. Ah. I should go do that now, before I forget.
Done! *smiles wryly*
That project has caused me a lot of pain.
Now, my main focus will be on Culminating. Luckily (in a way), there is no CA for Science, so I won't have to worry about that. And the French CA appears to be much simpler than the ones for English and this class, ICS.
Zarin-dono and I edited and improved our group's proposal in class today. Strangely enough, that took the entire period. Huh.
As I have mentioned before, we are writing a manual (similar to the Topic for Dummies series) teaching the reader about Selection.
I have been assigned the Introduction to the book, the About the Authors blurbs and the Glossary definitions. Writing out a lesson for one of the components of Selection would've been fun to do, but oh well. I'll take what I get.
I plan on finishing the Introduction tonight so I can send it Tasfia. She'll edit it into the manual.
Over the next two days, I plan to do as much as I can between the About the Authors blurbs and the Glossary. I want to finish at least one blurb, but am aiming for all of them to be done.
I'd also like to edit the book. I love editing others' work. But after my meeting with Mr. Arkin a few days ago, I wonder if my corrections are, well, correct. I hope so. It would make me feel really guilty if they weren't.
On another note, we got our exam schedules today. My ICS exam is on the same day as my French one. Luckily, I have my Science exam last - more time to study!
I'm off to work now.
It's back to class on Monday!
---
Current Music: Motteke! Sailor Fuku (Lucky Star OP) - Aya Hirano, Emiri Kato, Kaori Fukuhara and Aya Endo
^I can do the dance, too. Except for the high kick. I'm not flexible.
I'm scared. Very scared. The lack of sleep resulting in drifting off at certain times in class is getting out of control again. Today, when walking home, I only had to climb two very short hills and it got me wheezing. Moreover, those incessant, painful headaches I get are annoying me. These are the same things that happened last year, before I went into my period of exhaustion. Now, this wouldn't terrify me as much if it wasn't January; that is, exam month. I absolutely cannot afford to get sick now. Besides, exhaustion is frightening in itself.
Today Mr. Arkin asked us to send him the link to our PDF files (for the Mosaic Project). There were a few problems with most of them, so we were asked to resend them. Ah. I should go do that now, before I forget.
Done! *smiles wryly*
That project has caused me a lot of pain.
Now, my main focus will be on Culminating. Luckily (in a way), there is no CA for Science, so I won't have to worry about that. And the French CA appears to be much simpler than the ones for English and this class, ICS.
Zarin-dono and I edited and improved our group's proposal in class today. Strangely enough, that took the entire period. Huh.
As I have mentioned before, we are writing a manual (similar to the Topic for Dummies series) teaching the reader about Selection.
I have been assigned the Introduction to the book, the About the Authors blurbs and the Glossary definitions. Writing out a lesson for one of the components of Selection would've been fun to do, but oh well. I'll take what I get.
I plan on finishing the Introduction tonight so I can send it Tasfia. She'll edit it into the manual.
Over the next two days, I plan to do as much as I can between the About the Authors blurbs and the Glossary. I want to finish at least one blurb, but am aiming for all of them to be done.
I'd also like to edit the book. I love editing others' work. But after my meeting with Mr. Arkin a few days ago, I wonder if my corrections are, well, correct. I hope so. It would make me feel really guilty if they weren't.
On another note, we got our exam schedules today. My ICS exam is on the same day as my French one. Luckily, I have my Science exam last - more time to study!
I'm off to work now.
It's back to class on Monday!
---
Current Music: Motteke! Sailor Fuku (Lucky Star OP) - Aya Hirano, Emiri Kato, Kaori Fukuhara and Aya Endo
^I can do the dance, too. Except for the high kick. I'm not flexible.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
In which Pearl blows up at her computer
Konbanwa, minna-san!
I'm taking this opportunity to relax a little since I finished all my homework, and all that's left to do is write this blog and make some progress on Culminating (for ICS). Of course, I do plan on working on that, but I need a break first. However, I plan on going to sleep by midnight at the latest tonight. I've only gotten seven hours of sleep in the past two days!
Today Mr. Arkin introduced us to CutePDF, a program which allows an user to convert web pages into PDF files. It's very easy!
Nevertheless, I had some problems when I tried to convert my Mosaic Project's web page into a PDF file. In the PDF file and the print preview, the text got pushed down, and there was a vast amount of blank space to the left of my image. This annoyed me to no end because no matter what I tried, I couldn't get the layout to be the same as my web page. So I posted up my question on the Discussion forum in the class Wiki.
Since no replies had been posted, and I wanted to finish this trivial task quickly, I asked Zarin-dono to take a look at the print preview for my web page, to see if it looked the same for her. Surprisingly...it didn't. Later, when Mounir (thank you so much!) answered my question, he said the same thing. It still shows up strangely on my computer, so I guess there must be something wrong on mine. I'm not sure what, though, but if I remember, I'd like to ask Mr. Arkin tomorrow.
Now, I can officially say that the mosaic project is over! From tomorrow on, I will be focusing solely on the Culminating Activity. As I said before, my group is writing a manual. It's an interesting process, and we even set up a Wiki so we can plan and communicate with each other.
Exams are coming up, too, so I need to start gathering my notes and summarizing them. I plan to type out all my notes for all my classes so that I have a neater, shortened copy that is easier to study from.
So! Until tomorrow, minna-san!
---
Current Music: Bleed it Out - Linkin Park
(Suggested by one of my very close friends. Unfortunately, the latter part scares me quite a bit.)
I'm taking this opportunity to relax a little since I finished all my homework, and all that's left to do is write this blog and make some progress on Culminating (for ICS). Of course, I do plan on working on that, but I need a break first. However, I plan on going to sleep by midnight at the latest tonight. I've only gotten seven hours of sleep in the past two days!
Today Mr. Arkin introduced us to CutePDF, a program which allows an user to convert web pages into PDF files. It's very easy!
Nevertheless, I had some problems when I tried to convert my Mosaic Project's web page into a PDF file. In the PDF file and the print preview, the text got pushed down, and there was a vast amount of blank space to the left of my image. This annoyed me to no end because no matter what I tried, I couldn't get the layout to be the same as my web page. So I posted up my question on the Discussion forum in the class Wiki.
Since no replies had been posted, and I wanted to finish this trivial task quickly, I asked Zarin-dono to take a look at the print preview for my web page, to see if it looked the same for her. Surprisingly...it didn't. Later, when Mounir (thank you so much!) answered my question, he said the same thing. It still shows up strangely on my computer, so I guess there must be something wrong on mine. I'm not sure what, though, but if I remember, I'd like to ask Mr. Arkin tomorrow.
Now, I can officially say that the mosaic project is over! From tomorrow on, I will be focusing solely on the Culminating Activity. As I said before, my group is writing a manual. It's an interesting process, and we even set up a Wiki so we can plan and communicate with each other.
Exams are coming up, too, so I need to start gathering my notes and summarizing them. I plan to type out all my notes for all my classes so that I have a neater, shortened copy that is easier to study from.
So! Until tomorrow, minna-san!
---
Current Music: Bleed it Out - Linkin Park
(Suggested by one of my very close friends. Unfortunately, the latter part scares me quite a bit.)
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
In which Pearl's pride takes a blow
Konbanwa, minna-san!
Last night I slept at 2:30, seeing as I wanted to finish a rough draft of my Mosaic Project so I could clean it up today, and I had to read some pages in my Science textbook. Then I had to get up early so I could meet my French group to practise for the presentation today. However! Although majorly sleep-deprived, I have finally managed to complete my Mosaic Project! So, I'm in quite the good mood right now.
Remote Access Trojans are very interesting. To me, at least. I was always fascinated by how the Greeks defeated the Trojans by hiding in a wooden horse. Actually, I even learned something new from this - did you know that this legend is actually a myth? Like Miria says, "Sugoi~!".
I'd like to give a big thanks to Mr. Arkin and Zarin-dono for editing my work and helping me think up an idea for a conclusion respectively. It really helped!
Ah, now this is where the title plays in. As most of you know, I'm very confident in my English skills. Mr. Arkin found grammatical errors that I didn't even know existed in my writing, so my pride took a blow. Like he said, "You look like I just ran over your cat with a steam roller". Ah, well, that made me laugh. *smile* This incident hasn't dimmed my love for the English language, and I will strive to get better and understand what I have done wrong and why, so my writing will improve!
After I finish my French and study a while for my Science test, I will devote my time to the Culminating Activity. My group members - it's been finalized - are Zarin-dono (Class C), Lisa (Class A) and Tasfia (Class A). We're going to write a manual on Selection. Everyone is brimming with ideas, and eager to contribute, so everything's going great! I feel so lucky to be in such a motivated group.
Because we are all working on our Mosaic Project tonight, the real work will most likely start tomorrow.
On that note, I'm off to study now. Or, at least, try to study.
---
Current Music: Shut Up! - Simple Plan
---
Translation Notes:
Sugoi [sue-go-ee]: An expression of amazement: awesome; amazing; wow.
Last night I slept at 2:30, seeing as I wanted to finish a rough draft of my Mosaic Project so I could clean it up today, and I had to read some pages in my Science textbook. Then I had to get up early so I could meet my French group to practise for the presentation today. However! Although majorly sleep-deprived, I have finally managed to complete my Mosaic Project! So, I'm in quite the good mood right now.
Remote Access Trojans are very interesting. To me, at least. I was always fascinated by how the Greeks defeated the Trojans by hiding in a wooden horse. Actually, I even learned something new from this - did you know that this legend is actually a myth? Like Miria says, "Sugoi~!".
I'd like to give a big thanks to Mr. Arkin and Zarin-dono for editing my work and helping me think up an idea for a conclusion respectively. It really helped!
Ah, now this is where the title plays in. As most of you know, I'm very confident in my English skills. Mr. Arkin found grammatical errors that I didn't even know existed in my writing, so my pride took a blow. Like he said, "You look like I just ran over your cat with a steam roller". Ah, well, that made me laugh. *smile* This incident hasn't dimmed my love for the English language, and I will strive to get better and understand what I have done wrong and why, so my writing will improve!
After I finish my French and study a while for my Science test, I will devote my time to the Culminating Activity. My group members - it's been finalized - are Zarin-dono (Class C), Lisa (Class A) and Tasfia (Class A). We're going to write a manual on Selection. Everyone is brimming with ideas, and eager to contribute, so everything's going great! I feel so lucky to be in such a motivated group.
Because we are all working on our Mosaic Project tonight, the real work will most likely start tomorrow.
On that note, I'm off to study now. Or, at least, try to study.
---
Current Music: Shut Up! - Simple Plan
---
Translation Notes:
Sugoi [sue-go-ee]: An expression of amazement: awesome; amazing; wow.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
In which Pearl starts to stress out...again.
Kon'ichiwa, minna-san.
With Culminating Activities to do and Exams coming up, I'm just as stressed as I was before Winter Break. Coupled with a painful feeling of nostalgia, I'm in a very...fragile...state right now.
Today in ICS we were assigned the main part of our Culminating Activity. Mr. Arkin gave us a large spectrum of choices, as well as the advantage of getting into groups.
Of course, I'm not a very social person, so the very thought of working with others scares me. As it seems, there's a conflict between who is in which group. I hope that we can work this out tonight (the sooner the better), but if not, I'd like to finalize things by tomorrow.
The calendars in my room, in my agenda and in my locker are constant reminders of the extremely short amount of time we have to complete this. Three weeks may seem like a lot, but days pass by so quickly. Time flies.
I mean, it's already exam time - Semester 1 is over in a mere three, four weeks. Allow me the pleasure of being depressing for a minute: I feel like I haven't accomplished anything, and I'm missing the luxury of middle school where I felt more at home more and more each day. Have I mentioned that I keep seeing people from my last school in the halls, then realizing that I don't know them at all?
Anyways, the project I plan on doing is the Education one, where you teach any concept (selection, repetition, animation, etc.) to another in a media form. My "group" is planning to write a small instruction manual.
The Mosaic Project, as small as it is, is most likely due tomorrow. I have a lot to do. I shouldn't have volunteered to work on my English script (for Culminating) tonight. Wish me luck!
---
Current Music: Welcome to my Life - Simple Plan
With Culminating Activities to do and Exams coming up, I'm just as stressed as I was before Winter Break. Coupled with a painful feeling of nostalgia, I'm in a very...fragile...state right now.
Today in ICS we were assigned the main part of our Culminating Activity. Mr. Arkin gave us a large spectrum of choices, as well as the advantage of getting into groups.
Of course, I'm not a very social person, so the very thought of working with others scares me. As it seems, there's a conflict between who is in which group. I hope that we can work this out tonight (the sooner the better), but if not, I'd like to finalize things by tomorrow.
The calendars in my room, in my agenda and in my locker are constant reminders of the extremely short amount of time we have to complete this. Three weeks may seem like a lot, but days pass by so quickly. Time flies.
I mean, it's already exam time - Semester 1 is over in a mere three, four weeks. Allow me the pleasure of being depressing for a minute: I feel like I haven't accomplished anything, and I'm missing the luxury of middle school where I felt more at home more and more each day. Have I mentioned that I keep seeing people from my last school in the halls, then realizing that I don't know them at all?
Anyways, the project I plan on doing is the Education one, where you teach any concept (selection, repetition, animation, etc.) to another in a media form. My "group" is planning to write a small instruction manual.
The Mosaic Project, as small as it is, is most likely due tomorrow. I have a lot to do. I shouldn't have volunteered to work on my English script (for Culminating) tonight. Wish me luck!
---
Current Music: Welcome to my Life - Simple Plan
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