Bonnie
Recent Boston University graduate, off to know the world.
My Blog- @bonbontub
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Posts
It’s about time I updated some profile pics…with the help of Instagram filters of course.
It’s been 24 hours since he gave me his number. Do I have to wait for him to text me? Is it acceptable to send him a message? Will I come off desperate? Is this message witty yet nonchalant enough to give off the vibe that yes I’m interested, but no I don’t need him in my life? I hate waiting…
#palabra Estoy cansado de los juegos, pero los cambian en otra lenguaje. No soy experto de nada. 勉強しなきゃ‼
I love my sister so much! She and I totally vibrate on the same thought wavelength. I think she’s the only person in the world who relates to me completely.
She just emailed me pics of the journal I gave her a couple years ago. I’m so glad her dream of going to England is coming true. She’s young, but she’s strong - and she’ll grow so much when she’s there her first semester in university. Watch out world! She’s beautiful, smart, hilarious, independent etc. Wayy to many threats. Oh and she’s physically fit so yeah she literally and figuratively kicks but… she’s nice too!
The latest post I wrote for Audacity Oven:
Let me preface this with some personal background info: I came to Japan with an American boyfriend. Now, I’m single and staying here indefinitely. This means I can start dating new people, but I’ve quickly discovered that relationships in a foreign setting are very confusing. I’m basing this on my western lens being flipped sideways by Japanese mindset. Basically, I’m experiencing relationship culture shock. I wish I could divulge what little personal experience I’ve had, but… let me just talk about what I’ve seen happen around me.
- We had over 1,700 views today! Our most-viewed day ever!
We’re just the new little blog that could!
No, but seriously. This is a very big day for us over at Audacity Oven. You should probably follow us on tumblr. And check out audacityoven.com
Best be finishing that post!
- Learning everyday - roots
For some reason, people keep assuming my mother is Filipino and my father is American. I am 100 percent Filipino. I know humility is respected in Japan, but Filipinos are proud people so I cannot help myself.
I know why people make their assumptions. I just have to express myself. It’s possible to be Filipino and be successful. Both of my parents, born and raised in provincial Philippines, went to university, went to America separately and started dating in the States. Each of my parents obtained graduate degrees in the US and I consider both of them successful role models.
But this exception cannot escape reality. I’m learning I am different from the norm… I felt this back in the states and its even more amplified here.
My first post for @AudacityOven. From now on, all my musings about life in Japan will be posted in there. It’s a fresh site - here’s a bit about it:
About Audacity Oven
Whether you’re in high school, college, a recent grad still looking for work (what up), or professional person, AO is here to entertain and educate.
We here at AO are held to near zero standards and, as of yet, have no allegiances. All topics are open to discussion, criticism, praise, and snarky commentary. Trying to never take ourselves too seriously, AO examines the arts, current events, society as a whole, and even ourselves. Remember, if you read a post you don’t necessarily agree with that that post is the opinion of the author and not necessarily the blog as a whole.
We are always looking for new talent to contribute so feel free to shoot us a guest post. Who knows, maybe we’ll even ask you to contribute regularly!
To follow Audacity Oven click here!
A casual dance/ hidden message video posted by Selena Gomez - Everybody knows “you’re boyfriend is a douche-bag.” Lmao!
- Hisashiburi
It’s been a while. That’s what a lot of people say when they haven’t updated their blog, but I guess I didn’t feel like writing.
Right now, I’m going back to basics, xanga no toki style. I just want to write for myself because I haven’t really been doing that. Well, naturally I love sharing new experiences/ ideas/ culture because I want the world to know it too.
But today’s post is more selfish. It’s more expression. I’ve always thought it cathartic writing to the internet because you feel like someone is listening.
I’m in a different country, so it’s hard finding someone close enough to say anything. Heart-to-hearts are hard to come by here. When your best friend is your bf, and your heart changes, you bottle things inside. But now, I’m free.
And life is filled with possibility. I’m so lucky, so grateful to be where I am.
I recommend living in a different country. You’ll learn so much about yourself.
- Valentine's Day in Japan aka Chocolate Day
Since coming to Japan, I’ve become a novice chocolate connoisseur just because I literally try a different type of chocolate everyday. Why? Because:
- Japanese chocolate is amazing. It has less sugar than American versions and the milk is nicer quality. Despite eating it everyday, I’ve lost weight since being here.
- There’s about a billion different varieties of chocolate products in this country. O.o
So, I’ve been paying attention to the supermarkets and convenience stores. And a few weeks before Valentine’s Day, the chocolate displays start looking more appetizing than usual.
It’s hard to tell from the pic, but that’s a giant chocolate bar. The paper sign on the right is standard printer paper size.
When Japanese people incorporate a western holiday, they mold it to fit cultural standards. There’s a lot of ritual behavior passed through the centuries, but it’s funny to see when they create new traditions with various interesting customs and whole-heartedly commit to them (i.e. Christmas cake and Kentucky Fried Chicken).
The main Valentine’s Day tradition is the giving of chocolate. Usually girls give to boyfriends and male friends. The more “special” the chocolate, the more the girl is interested in the boy. Then they wait until “White Day,” when the boys return the favor with White Chocolate. My friends also said girls give chocolate to their female friends, and older women give chocolate to their male coworkers.
Various chocolate products are the norm year-round, so to make it special, they got to roll out with specialty products:
- “Belgian” chocolate
- Ferrero Rocher
- “BonBons” filled with brandy, wine or whiskey
- Giant Meiji bars
- giant bags filled with meltable chocolate for DIY projects
- and more!
The “First Valentine” for パパ (Papa) caught my eye haha.
- Culture shock? Perhaps. Temperature shock definitely.
I had anticipated culture shock coming to Japan, but things here are more like pleasant culture surprises. What’s more shocking is that I’m constantly cold. Despite coming from a colder placein America, I feel freezing here. Why?
Central heat does not exist in Japan. Perhaps that’s an overstatement, but most buildings don’t have it. What they do have is small AC units that blow hot air into one room, making it warm, but incredibly dry.
This is the AC unit currently attempting to warm my room at 30 degrees C, the highest it can go. Still, I’m bundled up in blankets and sweats.
What’s really shocking is that you can be warm in one room, move to the next and BAYUM! Coldness slaps you across the soul. Sorry that’s the only way I can describe it. It’s a daily occurrence at work. Maybe it’s because the walls are so thin that heat escapes so easily, so if you’re not immediately next to something warm, you’re screwed.
I wish I had a kotatsu, a warm fuzzy heated blanket table that most families bring out during the winter.
Well, at least Uniqlo has heat-tech clothing. It really helps!
- All is not lost, except plans to stay in Japan long-term
I`m talking about money. Since I`m a recent expat in Japan also paying off U$ college debt, I`ve been carefully following currency. When I first got here, the Yen was just under 80 to a dollar. In the past week it reached over 90. That basically meant I lost around $7,000 in yearly salary if I converted it all.
So you can see why I`m a little concerned. Luckily, it seems like the inflation target by Shinzo Abe`s new government isn`t working, according to today`s Reuter`s article:
Asian shares retreat, Nikkei hit hard as yen stays firm
… The BOJ on Tuesday doubled its inflation target to 2 percent and adopted an open-ended commitment to buy assets starting 2014, sparking an unwinding of yen short positions from speculators looking for more immediate easing step.
The dollar fell 0.6 percent to 88.20 yen while the euro slid 0.7 percent to 117.45 yen. The dollar hit a 2-1/2-year high of 90.25 yen on Monday.
Many still believe the yen will resume its recent downtrend, seeing the latest rebound in the Japanese currency as a correction to its rapid and sharp decline.
Whew? Not sure… Maybe I`m making a big deal about things. Because I have debt in dollars, I`m scared I won`t be able to pay it off.
What is certain is that despite my love of Japan, I`m not sure how long I can stay here. It`s economic power is contracting. Another article from today:
Japan’s central bank pledges new stimulus to combat deflation
The Bank of Japan adopts a 2% inflation target and plans to pump money into the financial system by buying government bonds. Critics say it isn’t doing enough….
Still, experts don’t think that the yen will fall much further. Even if it dropped 10%, they said, it would probably have only a minor effect on the overall economy.
“I don’t think trade surpluses will come back for Japan,” Stanford’s Hoshi said. “They need to come up with a new growth model.”
I know I shouldn`t think this things considering it`s still #3 in the world… Maybe I`m too much of a realist. Anyway, it seems like the entire world is doing poorly. #zero-gain #zero-sum?
Well, I`ll just have to pay attention to how America is doing.
- Coexist - perfect album to let yourself feel the beauty in loneliness
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Tweets
- Japan the Model http://t.co/AHZQTLgRnm
- Asia Stocks Cap Worst Week Since XXXX; Japan Plunges http://t.co/jqEaRfHaPS via @BloombergNews
- First Tumblr, now Yahoo! joins bidding for Hulu - http://t.co/7ojScwY0JP http://t.co/H2eylUeBh9 via @nypost
- Personality, social media and marketing: No hiding place | http://t.co/Ef6zAv7Vi6 via @TheEconomist.
- "BBC News - Boy Scouts of America votes to ease ban on gay members" http://t.co/ffahnan55i
- "The Best Japan Blogs" putting on my to do list. http://t.co/xcZJwFhFOd
- Going through @mihaela_tuballa Instagram pics and LLOLing, especially at Poppy wanting a new FB pic haha. I miss my family!!
- Photo: It’s about time I updated some profile pics…with the help of Instagram filters of course. http://t.co/C9ndPh9oQh
- La Chinita Loca: To play games or to not to play games... - ramblingsoflachinitaloca: It’s been 24 hours... http://t.co/PSbkuUStti
- For Westerners in Asia, Job Market Tougher - only in Chinese speaking countries. Should I start learning Chinese? http://t.co/fNHmqK97f2
- @antmats what's your prediction? SAFT ON WEALTH-Japan rates may torpedo recovery http://t.co/zr5B0i0A8T via @reuters
- Merkel tops Forbes power women's list again... but most of them are from the US. http://t.co/NOTJlki9il via @Newsday
- 20 Reasons Why Graduating From Boston University Sucks http://t.co/xIs1RoZXgU via @actuallyamanda
- Weak Yen means more Travel to Japan. via Forbes http://t.co/Foe3lY2pxEMay 21, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Photoset: I love my sister so much! She and I totally vibrate on the same thought wavelength. I think... http://t.co/b74eWQkx78
- "On the Street…..Centro, Mexico City « The Sartorialist" http://t.co/KWEw0vZ0Ig
- Photo: Karaoke facilities are out of this world. Free drinks, ice cream, showers etc. #Japan http://t.co/z44MMAI78P
- my types http://t.co/W2wYMfQSqw
- I liked a @YouTube video http://t.co/iC7uD1rlbQ To Those Nights - Wong Fu Productions
- All white outfits via Rei Shito Style from Tokyo http://t.co/godeYLK0F3
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Info
- Experience
- Sept 2012 - PresentNative English Teacher / Amity Corporation
- May 2011 - Apr 2012Online Marketing Coordinator / United Planet
Increased average Twitter following from 1.5 to 10 followers per day.
Wrote news releases and gained coverage in Budget Travel Magazine online.
Created and regularly edited WordPress blog for country manager based in Japan.
Updated website using Drupal content management system.
Managed Mgive mobile marketing initiative. - Sept 2011 - Dec 2011Account Executive / Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries
Executed public relations campaign for client.
Wrote news releases and promoted campaign through social media outlets. - Aug 2010 - May 2011National Director / Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue, Inc
Travelled periodically along East Coast with National Board to advance FIND, Inc.'s mission.
Oversaw planning of conference that gathered over 1,200 collegiate delegates.
Facilitated development of CMS-based website.
Education-
2008 - 2012Boston UniversityBachelor of Science in Public Relations
Activities: Alpha Phi Omega, Students Helping Honduras, BU Culture Shock, BUFSA -
2008 - 2012Boston UniversityBachelor of Arts in International Relations
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