The Blue Fox Alley

Hold that thought.

University Life

After two years of atrophy, both physically and mentally, I am finally a college student. After hours of flying, I am back in Boston once more and headed straight to my university so that I could move into my room. And it was a surprise to me to find myself in a house where all the rooms had white boards hanging on them with Japanese hiragana and katakana written on them.

Apparently I have been allocated to a place where the occupants are mainly ‘Lovers of the Japanese Culture’. It was unexpected but after pondering for a bit, it is probably because I had submitted certain information about being interested in the Japanese language during my Housing Survey. It was a pleasant surprise, though somewhat embarrassing, but at least I am not living with a group of party girls and jocks and my roommates are very nice boys.

Anyway, having spent most of my life in Singapore, it is obvious that I am not so acquainted with the culture of college in America. But I have made a few observations which are subjected to debate of their credibility.

1. Most conversations made by freshmen students are never devoid of Facebook.
2. If you want to speak more casually with Americans, add ‘IT IS LIKE….’ into your conversations.
3. Freshmens are the noisiest bunch in college as they are fresh from high school graduation and there are lingering characteristics of high school stereotypes in them.
4. Juniors, Seniors and Graduate Students tend to be ghosts in the campus, as they are indifferent to the noise and activity going around in the campus (usually caused by freshmens)
5. Although freshmen students tend to make a lot of friends during the beginning of their first semester, those relationships tend to fade away gradually. It is like how everyone’s social circle eventually shrinks to its equilibrium state.
6. Everyone loves Family Guy.
7. You have to play pool in college.

Entering university life is quite a rude disruption of your life as compels you to plunge into a different lifestyle. It has been an unpleasant yet peculiarly exciting journey so far and I am… learning big words that will make me sound smart!

Code Geass R2

With my entry into college life, there is a significant reduction in my viewing of anime. But that has not stopped me from following the fabulous Code Geass R2. With the show coming to an end, I am gradually summing up my conclusion on the show. And hey! Suzaku’s spinning kick can now shatter spears!

About Nanoha StrikerS

I blame the recent reading of some silly French philosopher’s essay for being the reason for the ridiculous randomness of my post. But anyway, I would like to follow up on my journey with Nanoha StrikerS after having completed it a month ago. Coincidentally, The Animanachronism recently wrote a short but concise post (as short as Caro) about the show as well.

In the middle of the show, I found myself turning away in a fit of rage (exaggerated of course) with one obvious reason. I started Nanoha StrikerS with certain expectations and it was not exactly what I had wanted. But still, Nanoha StrikerS is refreshing as compared to what Nanoha A’s had offered. Yet it had certain flaws which hindered one’s willingness to embrace this sequel and exposed it to comparative criticism with its AWESOME predecessor.

As IKnight has mentioned in his post, Nanoha StrikerS in my opinion stretched too far on the various themes it was attempting. Mainly being the antagonist’s perspective of the world which drove him to commit those deeds. And with the show spreading too thinly, there was hardly anything memorable or deeply etching to the viewers. There it is not true it lacked any sort of merits. Specifically, I found some characters intriguing to follow. That applied mainly to Erio due to his interesting background story but he was also a victim of the show’s feeble development.

Nanoha StrikerS suffers from droughts time to time

1. Anticipation due to excitement left by the AWESOMENESS of Nanoha A’s
2. Unrealistic, but somewhat mushy, depiction of military life.
3. Signum appears
4. Transformation scene for Nanoha and Fate. Not to forget Subaru’s GaoGaiGar tribute.
5. Like the sands in a hourglass, so are the Days of the StrikerS’ lives. Relatively draggy.
6. NANOHA OWNS QUATTRO’S ASS. FATE UNLEASHES RIOT ZAMBER.

On the other hand, Nanoha A’s itself is an epithet to one of its insert songs ‘Brave Pheonix’ as it was one heck of a blaze. A’s, though not as complex as StrikerS, was simple in its execution yet it allowed us to be focus simply on its AWESOMENESS.

1. A lack of enthusiasm because of a mediocre predecessor.
2. Fate saves Nanoha from Vita.
3. Fate goes to school.
4. Nanoha and Fate obtain their upgraded devices. LOAD CARTRIDGES.
5. Signum says, ‘If we had not met this way, we would have been friends’
6. The Book of Darkness awakes.
7. NANOHA PUMPS A COUPLE CARTRIDGES INTO ONE SINGLE ATTACK THAT BLASTS THROUGH THE BOOK OF DARKNESS’ MAGIC SHIELD.
8. Anti-climax

AND CHECK THIS OUT

Ha, I am so silly.