Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Mono Lake Trip + Trenton Blows His Top

Well, I had a good weekend. Took a trip to Mono Lake. Would have been more of the same in Lynn and Soo had not come. But they came. *hin*



So then today I tried to send the people at Summer Abroad my itinerary for travel. I had listed the only flight I needed them to know, the one I would be arriving on. But that was unacceptable to them. They wanted me to send all of my flight information. When I learned this I became very angry. So angry that I actually yelled at them over the phone. I have never done that before. I spent all day figuring out why it hit such a nerve with me.

And in one of my classes today I figured it out. This trip represents freedom for me. It is my trip. Its success or failure depends on me. The fact that they wanted to watch me like a parent on every leg of my trip to check to see if I was OK I found incredibly insulting. This really is the trip that I am taking to prove that I am an adult, and I don't want them acting like a parent.

That said, I really would appreciate if people I love checked in on me from time to time. I just don't want my school treating me like a child anymore.

Thursday, May 26, 2005

Grrrrr

I swear, planning for this trip has been nothing but trouble! First I buy tickets thinking I will have a job in China, only to have the whole tour be canceled, and now I just checked my tickets from Korea to Osaka and they have me flying out of Inchon. I'll be in Pusan. I specifically said Pusan. Darn it. I should have checked to tickets the moment I got them. Oh well. I'll call them tomorrow and see how much it is going to cost me. *Sigh*

In other frustrating news regarding my trip, I took my Japanese Oral Test today... I did not do nearly as well as last time I thought. I am perfectly confident speaking Japanese, it's just I also had two other papers due today in other classes and I worked till midnight last night, so I didn't get around to the review of the specific questions like I should have. It was quite embarrassing when I could not remember any of the questions from the last section. *Sigh*

Oh well, its actually not much to complain about, really. When it comes down to it, even if I did badly on my Oral Test, I am still going to learn to speak Japanese. And I am going to Japan...

I'm also stressed out for other reasons. My grandmother seeming sick being the most important of these. Another reason is I think I may have accidentially been rude to Lynn today.

Sunday, May 22, 2005

Great Weekend

So this weekend I took Lynn to the Ranch. What a great day! I haven't had that much fun in a long time. Yeah. Well, that's preaty much all I'm going to let the public know. Great time. Ate too much. Obviously, we rode horses.

Monday, May 16, 2005

And the Bridge collapses...

But I am already sitting in a boat.

So, looks like Kohala's China tour plans fell through. I have no job, and no reason to go to China... Aside from the fact that I have already spent almost $2000 on plane tickets. So I'm gonna go anyway. I hate to sound cliche, but everything does seem to happen for a reason, since everything inevitably leads to something else.

To tell you the truth, I have always wanted to go on an adventure. I saw friends and family go off and travel on their own and I always said "I'll do that someday, when I'm ready". Well, why bother waiting?! If you start waiting you'll never really be ready. That's what I am telling myself now at least.

Well, this means I don't have to buy an expensive camera and worry about it being stolen. I won't have to carry too many valuables on me, a great relief since I will probably get robbed on this trip. I could just leave all my really expensive stuff in Tokyo and travel with the bare necessities.

I probably don't have to buy an insanely expensive backpack either. Ooo, and now I can take much more leisurely trips if I want to.

Saturday, May 14, 2005

Mundane news

Asked my mom to purchase a backpack for me with her REI store credit. Thanks mom! Sorry everyone else for wasting your time with such boring news. Not like I forced you to read it, though.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

I bought Tickets

I just bought my tickets for Narita. I leave the 7th of June and arive on the 8th of June around 4pm. The price diffrence from my old tickets to Osaka on the 24th: 30 cents. Of course, I also had to pay a $200 ticket change fee. And I still don't have a way to get to Shanghai yet or have any idea how I will get anywhere in China.

In other news, I really blew it yesterday. I was feeling a little less sick than I did on Tuesday, so I decided to go to 学生の日 to see Kira, Lynn and my class' skits. Stupid move. I feel terrible today. I may not be able to go to class again.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

This trip is going to leave me broke

Plane Tickets + Train Tickets + Tarrifs + Gifts + Food + Hostels + Positively Gigantic Camera + Positively Amazing Bag To Carry Gigantic Camera + Clothes + Calling Card + Stuff I Haven't Thought Of = Broke.

Oh well. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005


変な外人だよ。 Posted by Hello

Monday, May 09, 2005


Me and some friends on our trip to Japantown in San Francisco. Practicing for the trip. Posted by Hello

Me. The Bandana's because I don't know what to do with my hair. The Hand sign is called "Shaka". Posted by Hello

The background story...

I feel like one of the luckiest people alive.

Recently I have discovered some new ways in which I am extreamely lucky. The first I am not going to tell you about, but the second is this: I'm only 22 and I have been given an opprotunity to do one of my dream jobs. This summer I get to go to China as a photographer for a band that is going on tour! Then I get to hang out in Asia for 2 and a half months and practice my social skills and my Japanese! すごい!中国と韓国と日本に行きますよ!

If you haven't realized it yet, my name is Trenton McManus (トレントン マックマナス) and I am a student of Japanese (日本語の学生です). I come from Hawaii (ハワイから来ました) and am a student at UC Davis (UCデビスの学生です).

That should be sufficent information for now. Take Care 皆さん!