Dear 2008 JLPT Test Taker,

This message is for those who have NOT yet received their test vouchers and vital information sheets.

If you have not received a voucher in the mail, you should login to your profile on My Account and print out your voucher from there (Link included below). You will be able to use this just like the actual voucher.

You will also need to bring one piece of official picture identification on the test day.

If you have any questions or problems, please contact us as soon as you can.

My Account Login Page
https://www.jflalc.org/jlpt/

Vital Information Download Page
http://www.jflalc.org/index.php?act=tpt&id=24

JLPT Administration Committee
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles
Tel: 213-621-2267
Fax: 213-621-2590
Email: noryoku@jflalc.org

I'll be at DePaul in Chicago on D-Day, if anyone has any questions about the city or the location. Take the Red Line to Fullerton and head west out of the station. DePaul is a few blocks away. The building where the test is is on a small north/south side street.

This year work and school has kept me too busy for real preparation. Next year I will be really trying to pass it, and since most of the traffic here is JLPT related, I have a few ideas for next year. But right now is what matters, so study your ass off! It's hard, but if you used a good study guide and practiced your reading, you will pass.

So last week I ended a 2 month smoking relapse, and gave up coffee at the same time. It wasn't too bad this time (I've quit smoking many, many times). I hope I can put a few years of non-smoking together; that would be nice. Getting the caffeine out of my system was tough for a few days. I have experienced a strange muscle ache that seems to be related to the caffeine withdrawals. I googled around and it doesn't seem too common, but I can't explain why, but it feels connected, like muscles relaxed as I the caffeine left my system.

Anyway, I joined a gym down the street today. I got on a scale for the first time in 3 years. omygod. Let's just say the treadmills and bikes will become my friends for a few months.

My main test strategy with the JLPT is to hope that they give me the 3kyuu by mistake; I haven't had time to study these past few weeks with school and work. Worse still is that my speaking ability is going down the drain. I went to my weekly lesson and realized how much I am regressing. It's understandable, but makes me a little sad. Oh well. Coming back was necessary, as was going back to school while working. I am starting to build some savings, the work I am doing is a challenge and gives me great opportunities, and the degree is slowly becoming more of a reality I never thought I would undertake. It's a worthwhile trade off.

I would love to be back in a more formal classroom setting. Many people knock taking foreign language classes; to me it's a place to practice where there is no (major) embarrassment in making a mistake. My case was different though; I was in Japan, no English was spoken. It's safe to say it would be different in the States.

I have two left this week. Geography, which is rather hard (damn those good teachers, with their high expectations!), and Accounting (damn those below average teachers, with their poor explanaitions!). So after this week, it will be a load off. Still this term is plodding.

So I skipped Japanese lessons to clean and do laundry today. It was either that, or wear a bathing suit instead of underwear. Today i will run errands and come back to study. I am craving Korean food, but don't feel like leaving my neighborhood. It's funny how my perception of "too far" has changed. Anything further than walking distance is a pain in the ass. I have to change that.

I looked around for weekend getaways to reward myself for this semester. I wish there was an intensive Japanese language onsen, with cleansing and massage, and warm weather in the US. Maybe a target market of one person doesn't create supply like I wish.

Here are all levels of the JLPT from 1991-2007 which I found on a Chinese website. There are other tests to explore as well. So if you want to get a feel for what the test will be like in a mere 2 months, check it out. Whoever built this site takes these tests pretty seriously.

Guilty pleasure: zaeega.com.

Great daily reading practice from a history buff.

What did graphic designers do before photoshop? It makes for some awesome botch jobs, as seen here.

Lastly, an inspiring speech from the AFL-CIO's Rich Trumka. Tell this guy he's an elitist. Guys like this make me proud of my fellow Americans.

Let me preface this with the statement that I have a lot going on. Specifically:

• I am taking 17 hours in college.
• I am working full time (30-45 hours/week). I am a manager at a medium size IT firm, and in charge of several large projects.
• I am the chairperson for a community event in December that has about 12 committees and will host 250 people.
• Also, I have been very physically fit at times. I used to go to the gym daily, and at one time a few years ago, I had very little body fat, and was running >10 miles at a time. Running 10k's, etc.
• Even now, I ride my bike everywhere I go. Maybe an hour a day on the average.

These aren't meant to be complaints or self-praise. I don't think anything I listed is particularly impressive or noteworthy. But what I am getting at is lately, I am getting soft. I am still at a phase where if I suck it in, I look the same (maybe, I hope). But I am losing the battle. And my main weakness is my diet. I would love to take the time to get back in shape, and learn how to cook fast meals, etc. But, I barely have time to do laundry once a week.

Does anyone have any ideas about the most efficient way to eat healthy that requires no extra time? Again, I listed the above facts to express that while I am looking for the easy way out, it's because there is not much I can change about my schedule right now. And self-discipline isn't my problem. I may try the tips that are listed in justbento, but even the amount of time to do that makes me anxious. Is it possible to spend 1/2 hour a day preparing all my meals? If there are any ideas, let me know. Don't make me turn to yahoo answers(>.<)

So it has been some time since I have posted. Even now, I should be studying. I have midterms this week; this semester is not too difficult, but it has been plodding along. I am working a lot, as well. As far as JLPT study, it has not fared so well. Last week, I quit carrying my study guides in my backpack, because I just couldn't get to them. By the time Friday comes, I am dead tired, and the last few weeks have been stressful enough for me to realize that I need time on Saturday or Sunday to relax and clear my head.

I am going to Japanese lessons on Saturday mornings, for about two and a half hours, and I am reading for fun when I can. That's all I can do. This test will truly be for practice; I see no way I can pass. It's a little stinging, just like when I feel my level drop: I have trouble forming sentances that were easy in the past, forgetting easy words, making dumb mistakes. What can I say, it's natural, and not like my brain is damaged. When I go back to Japan, I am sure it will come back. No need for melodrama. I am on my way to getting my degree. My girl will be here in the US next year, and I will have a person to ask my endless questions. It's all okay. No complaints.

I know, I know, everyone says, "I've made mistakes, but I have no regrets..." Well, then I say you are either a saint or a sociopath. However, if you are interested in other human's regrets, visit rigureto.jp. You can read bite-sized thought bubbles of real Japanese regret and be uplifted by the responses that appear. The layout is kind of mesmerizing.

More JLPT stuff is coming soon.

The place where I took my first Japanese lessons asked me if I will be taking lessons there when they start, in a few weeks. I am sort of torn about going there, because I am unsure about how they teach. The woman who will be my teacher is adorable and about 75 years old, so I am always polite and respectful. But all I really want is  conversation practice. I am reticent to ask if the class speaks English, or if we will be using Japanese for Busy People (yuk). It's a tiny operation, and if I don't go I will feel bad.

Plus I am really digging the JLPT study, and I am starting to believe that I might have a chance at passing. If not, it's a great level-up thing. The verbs! The ｢完全マスター」books are meant to be prep guides for the JLPT, but I would recommend them to anyone wanting to learn some intermediate Japanese.