So I was playing around with my livejournal layout. I haven't quite gotten the hang of it just yet (as you can see) but at least i've managed to figure out how to change my background images. NB I am not techno-savy and have extremely limited knowledge of HTML. But the header and the footer is really annoying me. I can't seem to get it transparent so that my background image will be visible. And even after I uploaded an image for my header I couldn't the image to take up the entire header area so it was only limited to the centre of the header leaving 2 white edges on the side. It looked strange so i decided to just do away with the image for now. At least, until I figure out how to totally change the header. And i need to figure out how to get my background image to just stretch out instead of tiling it.

I'm sure all the things i want to do with my layout are possible. I probably just don't know how to. Dang.

Anyway. 

I no longer have to worry about exams! Well, at least for the next 3 weeks. I'm about 99% sure I messed up at least one of my written exams so far so I'm gearing myself up for the worst. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?) I won't know the results to the exams I think i messed up until July. Urgh. Waiting sucks. I wish they'd just tell me now. Then at least I can plan my revision and arrange my flights and all that jazz.

Enough about exams. On a happier note, I'm quite happy with my achievement(s) this month! Not that i actually have an achievement-of-the-month thing going on but that's the term i'll be using to describe my accomplishment :) Last Saturday I managed to (1) donate money to help Japan; (2) get a good workout and (3) speak Japanese to a total random Japanese person! Yayyy!

Okay so number (3) isn't strictly an "achievement" per se but.... hear me out!

I went for a Zumba class at the studio I usually go for Zumba classes because it was being organised by someone who was raising money for the victims affected by the recent earthquake in Japan. Too lazy to explain what zumba is in detail. Suffice to say, it's a combination of latin dance moves + exercise. Anyway, i figured why not because I sure as hell wasn't going to be doing anything productive if I stayed home. Plus it was for the ppl in Japan! Japan is like THE magic word when it comes to me. And I felt like doing my share of helping out. Obviously I couldn't afford to give much but I did pay more than the minimum fee for the class. And of course, on top of donating, I got a good 90min workout that afternoon. Sure, I probably made a fool out of myself but it was for a good cause :)

The ppl who turned up for the Zumba workout that day were mostly friends of the instructor herself and I went for class alone because my hsemate (whom I usually go for Zumba with) was out that afternoon. So i kinda just kept to myself during the breaks in between the songs. But I did notice 2 Japanese women who turned up for the class (lol my Japan-and-all-things-Japanese-Radar perked up when I saw them lol) but didn't speak to them or anything. Just smiled at them when I saw them. Not that I didn't smile at other ppl lah. lol. The younger Japanese girl turned out to be the friend the Zumba instructor was supposed to pass the money we raised to because she had a direct contact in Japan.

So the class went on as per normal but during one of the breaks that Japanese girl turned around and I was standing just diagonally behind her so obviously I saw her and we both smiled. Then she asked in Japanese if I was Japanese. Enter years of self-taught japanese and years of watching anime and Japanese dramas: I replied her in Japanese and said that I wasn't but that I could speak a bit. Booyah! I managed to speak to her in my somewhat broken Japanese but the point is, she understood me! And more importantly, I understood HER! Obviously I got tongue-tied at some parts because I was thinking in English and translating it to Japanese on the spot but I think I didn't do too badly. Honestly, I think I have Arashi and their TV shows to thank for helping me up my level of comprehension of Japanese to what it is today especially in terms of conversational and slang Japanese.

I have to say, I am quite proud of myself :)  Heh. Okay okay enough boasting. I'll stop now.