I didn't read your posts that way. I think it's good to have a solid plan for where your life is headed and to be realistic about it. But I absolutely agree that life can completely change at any moment and you have to be able to adapt when it happens. But from what you've said, it sounds like you'll be fine no matter what happens. It may not end up exactly as you've planned, but I think you'll at least "get out" and experience new things.

It's good that you can recognize when you're getting a little ahead of yourself though. I had a rude awakening when I applied to JET. I kind of just assumed that I would get in since I had been working toward that goal for so long. Yet I didn't stop to think that the thousands of other applicants wanted the job just as much as I did. When the results finally came, I was told that I was an "alternate" (I would only get the job if someone else dropped out). That was a humbling moment, but a necessary one. I realized that I hadn't prepared a backup plan and I'd put too much stock into something beyond my control. I think it was good that I spent a few agonizing weeks before I knew if I could actually go or not since it certainly made me more appreciative when I got the job in the end.

But in response to your main post:

Ugh, I know what you mean about verb tenses. I did learn a little in my high school and college English classes, but I really learned what the differences were when I started taking Japanese since understanding the functions became crucial. Then I started taking TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) classes, which taught me explicitly about the intricate rules of English grammar and how to teach them to others. I've learned a bunch of grammar terms in Japanese too, since I spend a good part of class time listening to my co-teachers explain English grammar rules to our students. :lol:

For all my complaints about my college Japanese classes, they probably were good as a foundation. So you're probably right that you can become more or less fluent in French in about a year if you moved to France and spoke it everyday. In my case, since I have to use English as part of my job and since Japanese is so utterly different from English, I don't think I'll ever become fluent to the same degree as a native speaker, but I am already "fluent" in the sense that I understand most of the stuff that's said to me and respond immediately in Japanese, rather than translating things in my head into English first.

I'm glad that your parents were able to bounce back after losing their jobs! It's scary how the economy has affected so many lives. I'm fortunate that even my brother was able to stay afloat thanks to my parents, but I know many other people weren't so lucky. I hope you can keep your scholarships, but even if you have to take on some debt, it doesn't seem like you'll have too much of it.

Hello everyone! I'd kill myself trying to reply to every single post, so just know that I read your posts and all that and think they're interesting, but my brain is not always great at coming up with lots of replies.

Hello HIM, hummy and luna!

Ferra - After your description of your herpst, I looked those up. I actually had something very similar, they just always called it "springs." It was a metal rod attached to the bottom teeth that went inside a spring attached to the top. So yeah, I guess that would have been a herpst? It didn't correct my overbite, though, it just closed a gap in my molar areas. I had such severe overcrowding that in addition to pulling all the baby teeth that never fell out, they also had to pull one permanent tooth. And since some of those baby teeth never fell out on their own, some of them never got a replacement in (but not the front teeth, the replacements came in there - i had two rows of teeth @[email protected]), so at the end of it all I have fewer teeth than I'm "supposed to." But with such a small mouth, this arrangement fits much better. :lol: There's honestly no place, even in the back, where I think another tooth could fit.

Ohgod Cherry. Last night I had a nightmare that I was chewing gum and it got all hooked into the metal buttons on my teeth and I couldn't get it out. And that half of my teeth on top were like removable (like, still inside my gums, I could just take that section out and put it back in as I wished, with the gums attached and everything).

It was horrible xD

Oh man, I'm sorry. :rofl:

My brain just comes up with the weirdest stuff. Like, I've never had chewing gum get caught on my buttons before. And I've never had any of my adult teeth loosen or come out. And certainly not in large chunks like that.

Why does it torture me in my sleep? :lol:

At least it's not as bad as dreams where part your jaw bone is sticking up though the gum

I was trying to poke it back in and all but it just kept comming out.

I think I just dreamed about it because I was talking about it yesterday xD

Nuuuuu my teeefs xD

Personally, I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all explanation for a certain dream. It has a lot to do with how you've been feeling and what's been going on in your life.

Eek, that sounds creepy, HIM. D:

We tend to skype a looot, especially at night since he's halfway around the world, so that's the time when we're both awake.

/flop
Criminal Minds Marathon!! And headache and homework. Gah.

I need to eat something. Blehhhhh~~

Pizza!! 8D
That's what I had!

That sounds good!

I wonder what is even open today, it being a holiday and all.

We'll probably get McD's or something, even though I don't really want it xD

MCNUGGETS!!
8D
:drool:
(I love your yan and yan outfit~)

I'd get a big mac or two cheeseburgers. I don't understand why I like their burgers so much xD

Thanks! I wish we had the Yan mouth expression! I think there's a similar one in Makin' Faces but it has color :C

I was just about to say the same thing, your yan avatar is so cute! The yan mouth would be really cool.

Oh and I really admire your signature links, I love the way it looks.

Thanks! I made them myself! Well, not the images I used for them. But I assembled them, I guess you could say xD

Challenge accepted -waltzes in-