...i now have no furniture and its odd, it really is.

I miss my furniture.

I had to move it out so that i would be able to move out, apartments in japan are completely empty. weird

I taught my actual last class today, it was nice, a little embarrassing as I said goodbye to them on Monday as I thought the class was canceled. I mentioned to the teacher I work with that I thought Monday was the last class and she said that she was confused as to why I was saying goodbye on Monday. Of course being in Japan she didn't think to mention to me that I had another class with them on Friday, that would be crazy. Luckily I had a lesson I had taught the first years, which I could use, but it was frustrating. Still a little sad to say goodbye.

Today I gave two speeches, both equally awful. They were in Japanese. They had been translated from English. I had no idea how to say them with any emphasis at the right times. The first speech was this morning and one minute long. The second was this afternoon and was five minutes long. It was pretty terrible. I only hope that my students were entertained by the man who forced them to speak in front of the class in a foreign language tasting his own medicine and having to talk for five minutes in Japanese. I tried to remember what I had taught them about presentations and was not a hypocrite. I stumbled over words, mispronounced words and discovered that Japan is a language full of many giant words. That only part of the speech I really was able to put emotion into was the final line. "Good Luck, Do Your Best, Thank You For Everything". Then they gave me flowers, I love flowers, I never get flowers, but I love them, and then I walked through the center and the students and I couldn't stop smiling. It was really really nice. Standing up and giving a terrible speech for 5 minutes in a language I can't speak was worth it for that moment of walking through my students. It was a nice way to say goodbye.

Now I have been given some presents and a sort of certificate but I'll open them when I get home.

Despite starting badly, this has been a great day. Also its hot, I am in a suit, (with a fantastic tie) and I don't feel too confident about how my face is shining, but its still a good day.

... so said goodbye to my students in my less good school, but it was nice. I liked those students.

Said goodbye to my good schools english club, that was a little sad, said goodbye to my third years, that was also a little sad. Say good bye to my last first years on tomorrow and Friday.

Said goodbye to a guy yesterday, he was cool, it was the last poker game.

I'll be saying goodbye to more people in the next two weeks. its weird.

In other news, I have accepted a place in NUIG. Now to get actually sorted.

Accommodation, grant, and all that jazz.

I've been blogging a lot about my masters.

The next one I write will be my decision.

I am torn, on the cities and the people. I know that Cork would be amazing and the Galway would be amazing.

The most important thing however is the courses. I can overcome all other issues and I know the good things in both places are amazing.

Film Studies is a solid academic degree, it was my first choice and I thought I had decided.

Then I called the NUIG people and they were lovely and really helpful, and part of me is really curious to try Screen Writing, they even have someone who went from an MA in screen writing to an MA for screen writing in interactive media, which sounds amazing. I could even do a PhD by practice where I would write a Screenplay and then critique it. I could still pursue an academic PhD if I didn't like screenwriting.

So they game me the email of this girl who did this MA in the past and I have emailed her.

I also emailed the wonderful Gwenda Young of the english department.

I'm torn. I'll see what happens when I get my responses.

... Japan has been a good experience, although these last few weeks are starting to drag, last lessons are next week, then final event and then nothing till i get on my plane home.

I am looking forward to being home but will be sad to leave. Its a mixed feeling.

It's been good here. Even if it was hard sometimes.

I will start posting memories in the next few weeks of Japan. Tell some stories of people and stuff. Look back on it all and what it meant.

It has been good here though, I'm glad I did it.

(On the masters front UCC Film Studies still looks strongest)

... I want a Phd in game studies.

I didn't write a dissertation for my degree and it seems like i should try to write something long before jumping into a Phd.

I want to work in the academic study of video games and the best way seems to be to do a masters in film studies and then do a Phd on games.

So out of my masters applications I got one no response, one denial, one waiting list, and three acceptances.

Not I have the horrible problem of choosing. I have until Monday to choose.

Here are the masters.

American Lit and Film http://www.ucc.ie/en/CKE27/

Film Studies http://www.ucc.ie/en/CKE02/

Screenwriting http://www.go4th.ie/filmschool/ma_screen.html

Good news for anyone who got a bare 2.1 out there, you can get a masters with it :D

Okay so I am making a Pro Con list

American Lit and Film is the safest as it is both a film and lit masters

Film Studies would give me a grounding in Audio Visual Studies which would then hopefully allow a transition into game studies.

Screenwriting would be awesome, but I don't know if its something I could carry on afterwards and its more creative than academic.

There is also the Cork vs Galway Issue.
                                 
Cork                                                                                                              Galway
I love cork and the people                                                                             Its a new city and I know some of the people,
I have a strong basis in Cork                                                                         New Adventures
There are things in Cork I want to be near                                                   There are things in Cork I would like to be away from
Academic leading to PHD goodness                                                             Creative leading to filmy goodness
I could live with people I know                                                                       I don't know where I could live
Home                                                                                                             New setting

Honestly I am torn

I walked in a badass parade through my city dressed as a samurai. It was awesome and I am very glad I did it.

I have a poker night. Its fun.

I went to the jet farewell party. Some people are still confusing but I don't really care anymore. If we stay in touch afterward, great. If not that is okay too.

Planning my final weeks in Japan.

Applying for masters, still no confirmations.

Feeling unmotivated, I hope this funk ends soon.

Booked my flights.

Leaving Japan and Arriving in London on the 30th of July. Staying in England for four days. Although I don't have a plan yet for what I will actually do.

Flying from London to Ireland on the 3rd.

Its not the full crossing england trip i wanted but I should see some people.

I'll start making plans for England soon.

... I have lots to say but for some reason I am not blogging it.

Its been a long time since I blogged anything and I will, I will write a series of blogs about each big thing in my life right now.

I guess I need to start poker.

I have never exactly been a guys night person. Not that I don't like hanging out with guys. Its just that I never felt the need to seperate guys and girls. Although I have had a lot of nights that happened to be just guys. Anyway my point is that I have never felt a need for guy time.

Anyway the random small thing I am blogging now is I have a guy's night. It sort of just happened that way but I think I will leave it a guy night. Mostly because I know that the other guys appreciate the guy time, and I don't want to take something that seems important away.

Basically I have been trying to organise poker for a long time, Eventually I said "Screw it, lets just do this." and it worked and then we scheduled it for same night next week in the next guys place and now its same time next week in my place.

It was funny, it was the first time the guy had friends over with a male majority.

Anyway yeah I have a guys night, not sure what it means, I mean we are not suddenly more crass than we are with women but yeah, guys night.

Its fun, and yeah it took me ten months to get something regular going, go figure, leaving in a month and a bit.

Thats life I guess.

Oh I won last week :)

Anyway I have to clean my apartment because they are mine enxt week.

I will give the other bigger news things soon.

Umm I was just wondering who actually reads this, or am i just sending my thoughts into the vastness of the web.

I mean there are a few people who i know read this but if you are a silent poster who reads but says nothing, could you say hi o i know you are there.

If its an anonymous post please sign off your name at the end.

Thank you

Fergal