Jafax at GVSU, Michigan

Post by **Rekka Alexiel** » Tue May 31, 2005 9:57 pm

Well, since we have a new thread, I just wanted to see how many Michigander's out there might be going to this here [puny] anime con at the end of June. I'll be there, hopfully cosplaying as Akane from Harukanaru Toki no Naka de and I should be "working" in one of the subbed rooms. For anyone around the Grand Rapids area who may be interested in going, you can read up a little more on the con here:

http://www.jafax.org

The con is June 25 & 26th, and it will be held at Grand Valley State University. Hope to see some ppl there!!!

Elendil · Post by **Elendil** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 2:56 pm

Cool, I didn't know there were other West Michigan folk around the forums.

I've gone to Jafax for the past 3 or 4 years in a row now, but I'm not sure if I'll be going this year. For one, I'm studying abroad in Japan starting in September and so have no money to spend and two, most of the anime they screen I've already seen/own/not interested in. And after going to a real con, Jafax looks so.....sad.

But who knows. Only a 20 minutes drive for me. Maybe I'll pop by.

Nikki

Post by **Rekka Alexiel** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 3:09 pm

lol oh yeah, Jafax has always been rather sad, but... it's the only thing I've ever gone to.

I'm not all that interested in anything they're screening and I doubt they'll be selling anything of all that importance, but... it's something to do. I'm a little excited about the silly costume, though, if it gets here by then. =P GVSU is a bit of a drive for me since I'm from the NE side of Grand Rapids.

Elendil · Post by **Elendil** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 3:13 pm

I'm from the NE side of GR as well. Over near Riverside Park. Craziness. Such a small world it is.

Nikki

Post by **Rekka Alexiel** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 3:24 pm

lol too cool! I love riverside park. We used to go there for the pow-wows. ^^; Maybe I'll see ya at the con then!!

ReiTheJelly · Post by **ReiTheJelly** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 6:23 am

I have never attended this particular con before. Is it worth the drive from Ann Arbor? Since I am currently in Japan (spending all my $$), I am not even sure if I will have the cash to attend, but I will keep it in mind...

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 6:23 am

Would you like to have attended this particular con?

Elendil · Post by **Elendil** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 6:56 am

ReiTheJelly wrote:I have never attended this particular con before. Is it worth the drive from Ann Arbor? Since I am currently in Japan (spending all my $$), I am not even sure if I will have the cash to attend, but I will keep it in mind...

I'd have to say no on this one. If you have been to any other con before, you will be underwhelmed by Jafax. They have screening rooms for anime, and thats about it. Also you wont find a huge selection of anime merchandise to buy, compared to in Japan (usually they have 8-10 vendors), and it seems like every year, a lot of it (CD's anyway) are bootlegs. But if you have a real interest in going, you should check their site a few days before the con. They genereally will post *some* information about what anime they are going to screen, so maybe you'd find something that will peak your interest.

On another note, yeah! An Ann Arbor person.

Thats where I was living before I moved home (being a U of M student and all). A note of caution: don't go to Wizzywigs. They may have cool stuff but they are horribly overpriced and the people that own the place are just well....spawns of the devil, to put it nicely. I worked there for a short time. It was a nightmare

Nikki

Post by **Rekka Alexiel** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 11:27 pm

ReiTheJelly wrote:I have never attended this particular con before. Is it worth the drive from Ann Arbor? Since I am currently in Japan (spending all my $$), I am not even sure if I will have the cash to attend, but I will keep it in mind...

You'd be coming from Ann Arbor....? No. I'd say it's not worth the drive. But if you're really bored and have nothing else to do, sure! Why not? lol No, personally, I think your money's better spent in Japan. ^_~ Hope you're having fun!!!! Where in Japan are you?

Elendil wrote:a lot of it (CD's anyway) are bootlegs.

Yeah, that always bothered me. I believe that's Joy's Japanimation that sells those CDs. There's usually another guy that sells the real CDs, but ya figure they sell the bootlegs for $10/each and the other guy sells the real CDs at $30/each, you know which the majority of people will choose, sadly.

But if you have a real interest in going, you should check their site a few days before the con. They genereally will post *some* information about what anime they are going to screen, so maybe you'd find something that will peak your interest.

I never paid much attention to their website until this year. Even then I sorta browsed through it. I dunno, I'm both excited and disinterested at the same time. lol

On another note, yeah! An Ann Arbor person. Thats where I was living before I moved home (being a U of M student and all). A note of caution: don't go to Wizzywigs. They may have cool stuff but they are horribly overpriced and the people that own the place are just well....spawns of the devil, to put it nicely. I worked there for a short time. It was a nightmare

Oooh, a UofM'er! heehee, no I didn't go there... I'm a Western girl. Go Broncos!! I really wonder if their Japanese program is better than it was when I was there. I ended up going to Japan not knowing ANYTHING, or at least that's what it felt like. I do kinda miss school......

Elendil · Post by **Elendil** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 11:46 pm

Rekka Alexiel wrote:
Elendil wrote:a lot of it (CD's anyway) are bootlegs.
Yeah, that always bothered me. I believe that's Joy's Japanimation that sells those CDs. There's usually another guy that sells the real CDs, but ya figure they sell the bootlegs for $10/each and the other guy sells the real CDs at $30/each, you know which the majority of people will choose, sadly.

What I don't understand is what they are doing back every year. I'm pretty sure I keep reading on their site and at the con about how they are trying to keep the bootlegs out.

Rekka Alexiel wrote:
On another note, yeah! An Ann Arbor person. Thats where I was living before I moved home (being a U of M student and all). A note of caution: don't go to Wizzywigs. They may have cool stuff but they are horribly overpriced and the people that own the place are just well....spawns of the devil, to put it nicely. I worked there for a short time. It was a nightmare
Oooh, a UofM'er! heehee, no I didn't go there... I'm a Western girl. Go Broncos!! I really wonder if their Japanese program is better than it was when I was there. I ended up going to Japan not knowing ANYTHING, or at least that's what it felt like. I do kinda miss school......

Well I'm an Asian Studies major, have just taken 1st year Japanese, and will be going to Japan starting in September through April. I've been kinda.... *cough* slacking off on my studying over the summer, but I felt like I learned a ton in my first year of study. I don't really think you can compare any language study in the US to being actually immersed in the culture/language you are studying. I expect to feel totally awkward and silly speaking in Japanese when I first get there.

Nikki

ReiTheJelly · Post by **ReiTheJelly** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 5:45 am

Having lived in Ann Arbor my entire life, let me say that Wizzywig *used* to be really cool --- they carried a TON of Japanese imports when they first moved in (when they were at their old location above The Village Apothocary)...now they mostly carry Sanrio crap, which bothers me. But at least they are a great rental place (even though I do not rent from them).

Well, I will probably not be headed to JAFAX, but for anyone going to Otakon, be sure to look for me!

Post by **Rekka Alexiel** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 12:20 pm

Elendil wrote:What I don't understand is what they are doing back every year. I'm pretty sure I keep reading on their site and at the con about how they are trying to keep the bootlegs out.

Heh, really? Yeah, they're usually there every year. I haven't heard that the con's been trying to keep bootlegs out...but I haven't really paid much attention either. It is sad to see bootlegs at a supposed "legit" con/gathering. I dunno if you can actually call JAFAX a con....

Well I'm an Asian Studies major, have just taken 1st year Japanese, and will be going to Japan starting in September through April.

Oh cool!! I'm glad you'll be going for a full "year" though! That's definitely the way to go. I know some people can only go for one semester and that's nice, but... if you really want to learn the language, the longer you're there, the better. Do you know where you'll be going yet?

I don't really think you can compare any language study in the US to being actually immersed in the culture/language you are studying. I expect to feel totally awkward and silly speaking in Japanese when I first get there.

Ohhh yeah, you'll feel awkward and self-conscious for a good week or two; at least I did. ^^;; I'm just a dork and afraid that I'm saying something wrong or afraid that I won't understand something and won't know how to respond. lol But that's probably just me. It is kinda funny, though. When in doubt, just smile and nod.

Elendil · Post by **Elendil** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 12:47 pm

Rekka Alexiel wrote:
Elendil wrote:Well I'm an Asian Studies major, have just taken 1st year Japanese, and will be going to Japan starting in September through April.
Oh cool!! I'm glad you'll be going for a full "year" though! That's definitely the way to go. I know some people can only go for one semester and that's nice, but... if you really want to learn the language, the longer you're there, the better. Do you know where you'll be going yet?

Yeah! I'm headed to Hikone, to stay at the Japan Center for Michigan Universities! (See the Japanese site here and the MSU site (they administer the program) here.) Its not a Japanese university, but rather a center set up between Shiga prefecture and Michigan as sort of a sister-state/friendship program. Students from Michigan universities can go there and study Japanese (and some other classes), and Japanese students from Shiga can go there to study English. Hikone is the sister city of Ann Arbor.

Rekka Alexiel wrote:
Elendil wrote:I don't really think you can compare any language study in the US to being actually immersed in the culture/language you are studying. I expect to feel totally awkward and silly speaking in Japanese when I first get there.
Ohhh yeah, you'll feel awkward and self-conscious for a good week or two; at least I did. ^^;; I'm just a dork and afraid that I'm saying something wrong or afraid that I won't understand something and won't know how to respond. lol But that's probably just me. It is kinda funny, though. When in doubt, just smile and nod.

Um yeah....I can't even bring myself to say arigatou or gochisousama to the chefs/waitstaff of Japanese restuarants I go into because I don't want to do something wrong and look like an idiot.

So yeah thats something I have to work on.

And um sorry Rekka for totally diverting your thread. To keep it on topic (ha!) um.....GVSU has a nice campus and um......too bad there aren't more cons in Michigan.

Nikki

Post by **Rekka Alexiel** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 1:10 pm

Elendil wrote:Yeah! I'm headed to Hikone, to stay at the Japan Center for Michigan Universities!

Oooh! Ok! Hey, I think I might know someone who's going...this summer maybe? I'll have to ask him again, but if you run into a Dane Potter, that's me friend. lol He's real cool and could totally lick you in DDR, even though he refuses to play because he's "too rusty". He lies really well. lol

I've heard that Hikone is a nice place just to be in Japan, but as far as other things to do... It's pretty dead. I think you have to travel quite a bit away to get anywhere exciting. I think it's still kinda far from Nagoya or Osaka, but maybe you'll be able to travel around a bit. If you see an Indoya, go there and order the Vegie curry for me. I love my Indoya!!

Elendil wrote:Um yeah....I can't even bring myself to say arigatou or gochisousama to the chefs/waitstaff of Japanese restuarants I go into because I don't want to do something wrong and look like an idiot. So yeah thats something I have to work on.

Heehee, well, don't feel too badly then! You're not alone! I remember in one of my classes we had to give a little speech...and I totally bombed it. lol I do badly with speeches anyway, but in a foreign language? Sure, I had written the speech and had it sorta memorized... but that didn't help much. I am just not a good speaker. I get too nervous and then it all goes downhill from there.

But if you get to meet some other Japanese students, that's probably going to be your best way to practice speaking. Plus, anyone you meet there will more than likely stay long-time friends, so keep that in mind when you're there. =)

Elendil wrote:And um sorry Rekka for totally diverting your thread. To keep it on topic (ha!) um.....GVSU has a nice campus and um......too bad there aren't more cons in Michigan.

I don't mind. I really doubt there are any other Michiganders on the board that will appreciate this thread anyway.

Elendil · Post by **Elendil** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 6:54 pm

Well it looks like I won't be making it to Jafax this year. Place I'm working for this summer is making us do overtime that Saturday, and Sunday.....I'm driving to Detroit to catch just about the ONLY screening in the midwest of Howl's Moving Castle!!! I'm so excited.

Nikki