Activities galore!

Of the events that took place throughout May, I have:

1. Taken a Japanese proficiency test that I found to be too advanced for my level. (I still have about a month to prepare for the next test, which will hopefully be about my level).
2. Declined a visit to the Korean embassy to listen to my professor give a talk about peace between China, Japan and Korea (although I heard that I didn't miss too much substance).
3. Planted some sweet corn, soybeans, ginger, melons peanuts, and rice in my farming class.(Apparently the rows of rice I planted with the rice planter were crooked, although I blame this on my classmate who came before me.  Maybe my inability to plant rice neatly is a metaphor for my life, since I didn't do it by hand when I was WWOOFing, either).  We also harvested some tomatoes and got to take some home!  Free produce in Japan is a blessing!!
4. Went to the museum of the famous Japanese animation director, Hayao Miyazaki.  It re-instilled my love of art and the animated world.  Colors are really captivating.  After which, I met my Japanese friend from WWOOFing who lives in Mitaka, and we proceeded to have dinner and chat about interesting foods and plans to start an international restaurant in the future.
5. Ditched the opportunity to clean up a beach (I thought it would rain) and went to see a Yosakoi dance which a friend from Indonesia participated in.
6. Learned more about Table for Two, an organization that Chiba sponsors through a club called "Fabric." By buying special lunches, you can also buy a lunch for children in Africa.  I was interested, so I want to investigate the club next week and see what it's about.

 Other than that, recently I feel like I'm not fully taking advantage of all of Japan's great opportunities. The problem is that there are too many.

Right now in my economics class, we are deliberating about policies to bolster food security and agriculture in the APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) community, and at the end of class, we are to submit a formal proposal to Prime Minister Hatoyama (says my professor, whose connections I can safely deem as reputable)

In my general Japanese class, I am due to give a speech about environmental problems in my country next week. (I'm doing eutrophication of the Chesapeake Bay)

I feel that this is all excellent preparation for my future career doing whatever I end up doing in the government or wherever (FAS, USAID, EPA, JICA...the list continues). 
This is my chance to shine, but I really can't muster up adequate concentration or yaruki right now.

Some more distractions:
Tomorrow I plan to get a haircut.  This weekend I also have an appointment to make brownies, as well as a concert to go to featuring one of my favorite artists!  The problem, however, lies in the fact that I have an extra ticket to the event.  Initially I purchased one ticket, at the last minute, when the concert was on the verge of being sold out.  After reaffirming that it would not be sold out, I then told my friend about it, who also expressed interest in going.  At that point, I decided that it wouldn't hurt to order 4 more tickets, and without actually thinking, proceeded to do so, hoping to find willing concert-goers after the fact.

So far I've pulled together 3 people who are willing to go with me, but this leaves one extra ticket.  Furthermore, the seat for this ticket is separated from the other 4, meaning I need to find someone who doesn't mind sitting alone (although it will be closer to the stage).

In other news, I may also be spending too much money by traveling, buying concert tickets, signing up for tests and things I don't need, etc.  Eek.  But I've been saving all along to come to Japan, so I think spending is acceptable to some degree.

Trying not to have regrets is hard work!  I think I need more than a year to get my life together and accomplish some goals.