Archive for the 'Personal' Category

Page 2 of 2

The Test From Hell!

Published on December 5, 2006 in Language, National and Personal. 0 Comments

When it comes to tests, I’ve pretty much seen it all. I have been through the labs and essays. I’ve survived four hours exams and thirty minute interviews. I even walked away with a University Degree at the simple cost of my soul. Yet no exam in the entire world has frustrated me more than the dreaded Japanese Proficiency Exam(日本語能力試験.) I just wrote the 2nd level test for the third time this past Sunday and I want to scream “bloody murder!” Now I’ll tell you why.

The first and foremost reason why I hate this exam is that it’s very difficult. It keeps getting more difficult every year you take it. Almost like a cold war between exam writers and participants. Every year, I approach the exam site with an arsenal of new grammer and vocabulary. Oh, but the test is ready for me. It constantly finds new ways to confuse the hell out of me and leave me bleeding on the floor. But that is only the worst part. I bet you didn’t know there were other nasty elements to this exam. .

Did you know that the exam only happens once a year? Yes, you have one shot to nail it or you’re screwed. But if that wasn’t bad enough, you also pay 5500 yen to take the damn thing. Oh, and guess what happens if you actually find a way to pass an exam. If you ant to receive the a diploma, you need to send them money for the diploma and the shipping cost. Yes, they are so cheap they won’t even send you a diploma with your results. Also, did want to see how you did on the exam. Too bad! You don’t get your results. You only know if you passed or failed. You can, however buy a copy of the answer for about 1200 yen at the bookstore.

So you can see, I am not a big fan of this exam. Lucky for me, the only reason I take it is to improve my Japanese. I’d be in real trouble if I needed it for a certification of something. To wrap this up, I’m going to go out and call JESS(the organization that administrates the exam) something they need to be called. You are TEST NAZIES. Stop being so damned cheap and extreme about this test! There, I feel much better now.

I’m an Atheist

Published on November 29, 2006 in Personal. 2 Comments

There, I’ve come out and said it.

I’m an Atheist.

I have some friends who proudly announced it when they found Christ. I suppose that when your heart is full of joy, you just have to tell the whole world. I suppose that is why I am placing this on my blog. An old friend told me that coming to Japan would change my life. I didn’t know how right she would be. Japan itself doesn’t have a lot to do with this decision, but it was the place I was in when I made it. So I’d to announce it once again for the entire world to read.

I’m an Atheist.

I have decided to completely turn my back on organized religion. In addition to this, I will also being making brochures that proclaim critical thinking and open-mindedness as the only salvation for humanity. Whenever I see Mormons or other preachers on the street, I will hand out my brochures after them and encourage people to consider reason over madness. I am not the first to do this, but I think it’s essential to progress. So what is my new philosophy?

-I find the existence of a God to be highly unlikely or impossible (as god is currently defined)

-I live for the here and now, knowing that an afterlife is not waiting for me.

-I live as a secular humanist to help the plight of the poor and the persecuted all over the world.

-I will encourage critical thinking and skepticism. I seek the truth, regardless of how harsh that truth may be. I seek comfort what is.

-I will explore the natural world. It is my home. It is all I know.

-I will look at everything with an open mind.

For the first time in my life I feel truly liberated. I’ve known about this for a long time now, but I wanted to make it official.

If you feel the same as I do, I encourage you to comment and talk about it as well. Here are some places you may with to check out:

Point of Inquiry

Center for Inquiry

The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science

I feel it is important to get involved now. The forces of intolerance are closing in and we need to prepare. We need to do everything we can to spread the word of free thought and reason.