So this past weekend, I was able to go to Fushimi Inari Shrine (the shrine in Memiors of a Geisha). It was one of the places that was on my list of things to see before I left for Japan, but my determination wavered when my friend Tine told me about the giant spiders. Now, when I say giant, I don't mean the size of camel spiders of even trantulas, but I was told they were pretty big. Maybe half the size of your fist. She told me that they were everywhere and that one was crawling on a guy's leg, and all I could think was 'It's the spider apocalypse.' And it wasn't like I was going with someone that can handle spiders. No, I was going with someone who is more arachnophobic than I am. We're talking can't-look-at-a-spider-even-in-a-movie-or-videogame type phobia, so if a spider fell on one of us. I was going to have to be the one to get it off...knowing this, my interest in Fushimi Inari just soared, but I was still determined to go (despite being told by two other people that there were spiders too, so it wasn't just a one time thing).
I literally spent a half hour talking to two girls, Heather and Sarah, in the seminar house about spiders and Fushimi Inari Shrine and how its more likely for me to get killed by a refrigerator falling on me rather than being bit by a spider. Somewhere in there, there was a discussion on the uselessness of pandas and how they are a waste of money trying to save.
Anyway, before I left for Fushimi Inari Shrine the Heather I talked to about the spiders found the Heather I was going with and told her that if I was nervous about spiders falling on my head, I should take an umbrella because two other people in the seminar house went with their Japanese friend who told them that they should have umbrellas up the whole time. I hadn't told the Heather I was going with about the spiders because I knew she wouldn't want to go if I did, but so much for that! But it's actually good that she knew so we could both take umbrellas.
When we got to Fushimi Inari Shrine, we looked at a bunch of shops and I bought golden poop stickers! Golden poop is supposed to be good luck and poop is like my favorite word so of course I bought them! Then, I bought a yukata (2000 yen) and an obi (1500 yen), which I'm going to wear for the international student graduation ceremony. Now, I just need to buy the socks and sandals for it!
Right after I bought my yukata, a group of elderly Japanese came up to Heather and I and started talking in English. They were studying English and needed to practice with foreigners. They were so friendly. When they asked why we were in Japan, Heather said we were studying abroad, but they somehow thought she said bird watching. Even though Heather said we weren't bird watching, they kept mentioning it, so we think that they think we go to Kansaid Gaidai University to learn about bird watching. haha But that's ok! They gave us candy, to which Heather pointed out after we talked to them, 'Did you notice that we just took the candy unquestioningly in Japan, yet you don't take candy unquestioningly in the U.S. unless it's Halloween.?' lol Also when we were shaking hands to say goodbye, one of the women began stroking my hand and said something in Japanese to another woman, who also felt my hand. Then, a man looked at my hand because of what the woman was saying and then shook my hand. I don't know if that was a good thing to a bad thing! But it was nice talking to them!
Right after, Heather and I began our climb up Fushimi Inari Shrine with our umbrellas out, making us look like super weird gaijin (foreigners). Whenever we went up hill, I eventually got out of breath (man, I miss working out because then I know I'm in shape), but it wasn't as bad as the Great Wall. The Great Wall doesn't have breaks where the path goes straight or downhill. It's all uphill with high uneven steps. Fushimi Inari's steps were the annoying couple inch steps that were too long to take steps by two. But in all honesty, it wasn't that bad, and...we didn't see any spiders at all! Or at least I didn't. Heather said that she might have seen a few small ones, but she didn't freak out. We picked a good day to go!
Also, I can only buy Mountain Dew at select places in Japan. What a wonderful surprise it was finding that, when going through Fushimi Inari Shrine, someone was selling Mountain Dew, so I bought one (though I wanted to buy four! XD)
After we were done climbing Fushimi Inari, we went to the stores again to see if anyone was selling sandals for a yukata. One store was, but I think the sandals were for kids, but I'm not sure. Instead, at another store, I found cinnamon KitKats and bought a box (along with a bag of fox-faced cookies). The KitKats are so delicious! I want to buy more! If only they weren't $10 for twelve (mini)! It's funny because the night before, I was eating a normal KitKat and thought it tasted like cinnamon so I thought 'it would be a good idea to make cinnamon Kitkats.' Low and behold, they actually do exist (in Japan)!
After getting back to Makino Station near the seminar house, Heather and I stopped at a couple stores and asked about boxes for shipping stuff back to the U.S. (but before that, on the way to Sanko, we heard this guy playing the accordian in a park; he was awesome! I wanted to tell him that his music was good, and Heather wanted to stop to listen, but when we did, he kept looking at us so we decided to walk slowly so we could hear him longer). Anway, I have three umbrellas that are too long for my suitcase so I need so find a box long enough to fit them, and I need to find one in two weeks. The stores we went to didn't have big enough boxes, so we were planning to go to the post office today, which I was looking forward to so that I could get it over with (and so I would know where the post office was), but Heather told me that, at a store called Life, a bunch of boxes are available for people to take. So she wants to go there to see before going to the post office where you have to pay for boxes, and we're not going today. I doubt Life has a box long enough for my umbrellas, and I'm willing to pay for a box just to get it over with (I still might go to Life though), but first, I have to find someone who knows where the post office is. If I can't find a box, then I'm just going to have to try to get them on the plane. These are awesome umbrellas so I am not leaving them here. Plus, two of them are gifts. I hope I can deal with the whole shipping thing soon, which reminds me. I have to practice packing soon to see if I need to ship anything else back home as well.
Oh the joys of moving...in less than two weeks! I really don't want to go home. I'm also not going to see anyone from here (probably) ever again because we all come from different places. But I do have an incentive to travel to Europe one day because I have two friends from there now.
I am looking forward to going home though so I can see my puppy (though she's old so she's technically a dog)! And my family and my friends!
Wednesday through Tuesday next week are my finals, and I've finished my papers and my study guides so all I have to do is study for my tests, which is pretty easy. I recently got my Betraying the Martyrs: Breathe in Life CD, and I can't stop listening to it! It really helps me study.
So most of you guys are on summer break now. I hope you are all enjoying the pleasant warm weather!
5.15.2012
5.09.2012
Im sow sumart
Hello! It's been a while since I've updated my blog and perhaps it would have been longer if I wasn't avoiding my two final papers. My life since the last post has been both wonderful and tragic (maybe you already know from my facebook statuses), so let me begin.
First, I'll start with the most depressing story since I've been in Japan...I...was going to go to a Hanshien Tigers game with this Japanese guy that I know...I went to the spot to wait for him early since I was already out of class; however, I waited in the wrong spot, which was only a thirty second walk from the place we were supposed to meet. We didn't have each other's email so we could text, and the foolish thing on my part was that I didn't even look around that much because he had said 'next Thursday' in a conversation we had that week, but originally, he had said April 26th, which was that Thursday. So I walked back to the seminar house only to find that he had tried facebooking me...What the poop? I was so upset because I was really looking forward to the game and wanted to go to one before I left Japan. It was one of the most embarrassing moments that I've had here actually. I never mess things up like that, and I felt bad. The guy tried to pay me back the money for the ticket that I bought, but I told him no and that it was ok. I just think this guy and I are not meant to be friends because something always comes up. For instance, for my birthday party, I invited him to come and said it was on Wednesday night. He said he had a part-time job...then on Wednesday night he was hanging out at the univeristy, and when I asked him about his part-time job, he said that he didn't have it that night and was going bowling. Fancy that because that's where I said I was going for my party. He then told me that he thought I said Thursday and not Wednesday....-.-
But my birthday was rather enjoyable. I got to eat lots of Italian food and then went bowling. I even had a cake, which I wasn't expecting. Thanks, Veronica (my lovely roommate)! I also wasn't expecting to get a 21 (oh...21...haha...I get it! XD) on my first round of bowling, and like a 27 on the second round. It was wonderful really...being surrounded by Japanese girls that could actually hit the pins (unlike me) and groups of Japanese boys that really should go pro. I mean they did the pro ball curve, the lift one leg in the air move, and the 'I'm the man strut' after their billionth strike. Sometimes, they got so into it that while letting go of the ball, they would slide on their knees across the floor, and there I was with my 21 and 27. It was rather amazing.
I, being the crazy person that I am, cheered everyone at my party on their bowling, despite whether they were good or bad. I mean, come on! That just makes it all the more fun! But my friends weren't as into it as I was...*drops head in defeat* Oh well...I had fun! Oh! And we did puri kura (the cool photobooth) afterwards so I can treasure that day in my heart forever. From my friends, I got some incense, a cool duck plate, a pen with an otter charm on it, a small takoyaki plush (XD!!!), and a handmade takoyaki coupoun (=') ). I loved them all and am very thankful to my friends!
The next day, I went to Osaka Aquarium with my international advisory program partner, Miki! It was rather large and had a few sea animals that I hadn't seen before. My favorite parts were seeing the whale shark(! Oh my gosh! So cool!), the gian manta rays (<3 <3 <3 my favorite sea creature), the squid, the jellyfish (another favorite sea creature of mine), and the sea turtle (I finally saw a sea turtle in an aquarium! Normally, they're off swimming where I can't see them)! It was great. The path inside the building wrapped around the big tank (with the whale shark, manta rays, seat turlte, and other fish) so you could have a lot of chances to look.
Afterwards, I went to one gift shop and bought a small, fat whale shark plushie. XD Then, I went to a bigger gift shop and remembered that I've been on a long tedious search for finding a giant sting ray plushie. Perhaps Japan would end my search... I thought. Turns out, there was a box for giant sting ray plushies, but it was empty. Luckily, since Miki is awesome, she asked the workers at the store if there were any more giant manta ray plushies; however, the sales associate couldn't find any...The one aquarium where I find giant sting ray plushies is actually sold out of them! And it didn't make much sense...there were tons of fat, big eyed, cute mouthed seals; fat, colorful dolphins; giant turtles; and other really cute things...but no, everyone wanted the giant sting rays, which were not getting as much attention in the tank as the dolphins and seals. Thinking my search had been vanquished for the day, I walked around the store until Miki saw two people taking a giant sting ray plushie into the back storage room, and she asked about it. A few moments later, it was brought out to me, and I was like 'Heck yes, I'm buying this!" So I did!...and um...Yeah! I know 21 year olds shouldn't be buying plushies, but I've been wanting a sting ray one for so long...I had to have it! XD
Other than that, not a lot has been going on. I have finals next week and the week after and then I'll be back in the U.S.! Then, I'll be home for a month before I go to China for six months. Now, I love China and all, and I have lots of Chinese friends, but that's not going to save me when I don't know any Chinese and get lost. My plan is to cram as much Chinese into my brain as I can before I go. Lord help me!
Other small updates (that you probably don't really care about but here they are anyway): My writing has slowed considerably over the next few weeks, but I have been editing a bit and feel good about this story. I don't know if it will ever be good enough for publication, but I feel as if it has a lot of potential so we'll see. Am I allowed to talk about my own writing like that? =S I have an idea that I think is good, but I don't have the skills to write it...Must. Keep. Practicing. My second update is that I've been looking at universities in England for the possibility of getting my Master's degree in Creative Writing. I know...so smart sounding :P... I can see it now.
"What did you get your Master's in?" - Some elegant woman in a sparkly cocktail dress
"Oh, Me? (insert guffaws) I got a Master's in Engineering. How about you?" - Some tall, lanky guy in a suit
"Physics, but that was so long ago. I got my Master's by the time I was twelve." - The woman
*Both turn to me* "How about you?" - they ask at the same time (because, you know, that happens)
"I got my Master's in Creative Writing! ^.^" - Me (btw, I'm wearing a band Tshirt and jeans, just thought I'd throw that out there)
"Creative Writing? Is that like doing academic papers on the creative functions of the human brain?" - The man
"Nope! Just writing stories. It helps keep me sane. Oh, and I also critically analyze the creative works of others!" - Me
*Both give me a disturbed look and simply walk away*
Anyway, I'm still thinking and praying about it. So far, I've found one university in London, the one my friend Tine goes to, that has an excellent sounding Creative Writing program, but I kind of don't want to live in such a busy city. But if it remains the best, then I will go there. I'm also thinking of the University of Nottingham...The good thing about getting a Master's degree in England is that most are only for a year. Hooray! But I will definitely have to work for a year beforehand to save up money. That's alright with me though.
Next week, I plan to go shopping for a yukata with Miki, and I hope to go to Fushimi Inari Shrine with Heather. And I guess I should study for finals and write my final papers as well...
Anyway (again), I know a lot of you guys are free from school now. I hope you all have an awesome summer!
First, I'll start with the most depressing story since I've been in Japan...I...was going to go to a Hanshien Tigers game with this Japanese guy that I know...I went to the spot to wait for him early since I was already out of class; however, I waited in the wrong spot, which was only a thirty second walk from the place we were supposed to meet. We didn't have each other's email so we could text, and the foolish thing on my part was that I didn't even look around that much because he had said 'next Thursday' in a conversation we had that week, but originally, he had said April 26th, which was that Thursday. So I walked back to the seminar house only to find that he had tried facebooking me...What the poop? I was so upset because I was really looking forward to the game and wanted to go to one before I left Japan. It was one of the most embarrassing moments that I've had here actually. I never mess things up like that, and I felt bad. The guy tried to pay me back the money for the ticket that I bought, but I told him no and that it was ok. I just think this guy and I are not meant to be friends because something always comes up. For instance, for my birthday party, I invited him to come and said it was on Wednesday night. He said he had a part-time job...then on Wednesday night he was hanging out at the univeristy, and when I asked him about his part-time job, he said that he didn't have it that night and was going bowling. Fancy that because that's where I said I was going for my party. He then told me that he thought I said Thursday and not Wednesday....-.-
But my birthday was rather enjoyable. I got to eat lots of Italian food and then went bowling. I even had a cake, which I wasn't expecting. Thanks, Veronica (my lovely roommate)! I also wasn't expecting to get a 21 (oh...21...haha...I get it! XD) on my first round of bowling, and like a 27 on the second round. It was wonderful really...being surrounded by Japanese girls that could actually hit the pins (unlike me) and groups of Japanese boys that really should go pro. I mean they did the pro ball curve, the lift one leg in the air move, and the 'I'm the man strut' after their billionth strike. Sometimes, they got so into it that while letting go of the ball, they would slide on their knees across the floor, and there I was with my 21 and 27. It was rather amazing.
I, being the crazy person that I am, cheered everyone at my party on their bowling, despite whether they were good or bad. I mean, come on! That just makes it all the more fun! But my friends weren't as into it as I was...*drops head in defeat* Oh well...I had fun! Oh! And we did puri kura (the cool photobooth) afterwards so I can treasure that day in my heart forever. From my friends, I got some incense, a cool duck plate, a pen with an otter charm on it, a small takoyaki plush (XD!!!), and a handmade takoyaki coupoun (=') ). I loved them all and am very thankful to my friends!
The next day, I went to Osaka Aquarium with my international advisory program partner, Miki! It was rather large and had a few sea animals that I hadn't seen before. My favorite parts were seeing the whale shark(! Oh my gosh! So cool!), the gian manta rays (<3 <3 <3 my favorite sea creature), the squid, the jellyfish (another favorite sea creature of mine), and the sea turtle (I finally saw a sea turtle in an aquarium! Normally, they're off swimming where I can't see them)! It was great. The path inside the building wrapped around the big tank (with the whale shark, manta rays, seat turlte, and other fish) so you could have a lot of chances to look.
Afterwards, I went to one gift shop and bought a small, fat whale shark plushie. XD Then, I went to a bigger gift shop and remembered that I've been on a long tedious search for finding a giant sting ray plushie. Perhaps Japan would end my search... I thought. Turns out, there was a box for giant sting ray plushies, but it was empty. Luckily, since Miki is awesome, she asked the workers at the store if there were any more giant manta ray plushies; however, the sales associate couldn't find any...The one aquarium where I find giant sting ray plushies is actually sold out of them! And it didn't make much sense...there were tons of fat, big eyed, cute mouthed seals; fat, colorful dolphins; giant turtles; and other really cute things...but no, everyone wanted the giant sting rays, which were not getting as much attention in the tank as the dolphins and seals. Thinking my search had been vanquished for the day, I walked around the store until Miki saw two people taking a giant sting ray plushie into the back storage room, and she asked about it. A few moments later, it was brought out to me, and I was like 'Heck yes, I'm buying this!" So I did!...and um...Yeah! I know 21 year olds shouldn't be buying plushies, but I've been wanting a sting ray one for so long...I had to have it! XD
Other than that, not a lot has been going on. I have finals next week and the week after and then I'll be back in the U.S.! Then, I'll be home for a month before I go to China for six months. Now, I love China and all, and I have lots of Chinese friends, but that's not going to save me when I don't know any Chinese and get lost. My plan is to cram as much Chinese into my brain as I can before I go. Lord help me!
Other small updates (that you probably don't really care about but here they are anyway): My writing has slowed considerably over the next few weeks, but I have been editing a bit and feel good about this story. I don't know if it will ever be good enough for publication, but I feel as if it has a lot of potential so we'll see. Am I allowed to talk about my own writing like that? =S I have an idea that I think is good, but I don't have the skills to write it...Must. Keep. Practicing. My second update is that I've been looking at universities in England for the possibility of getting my Master's degree in Creative Writing. I know...so smart sounding :P... I can see it now.
"What did you get your Master's in?" - Some elegant woman in a sparkly cocktail dress
"Oh, Me? (insert guffaws) I got a Master's in Engineering. How about you?" - Some tall, lanky guy in a suit
"Physics, but that was so long ago. I got my Master's by the time I was twelve." - The woman
*Both turn to me* "How about you?" - they ask at the same time (because, you know, that happens)
"I got my Master's in Creative Writing! ^.^" - Me (btw, I'm wearing a band Tshirt and jeans, just thought I'd throw that out there)
"Creative Writing? Is that like doing academic papers on the creative functions of the human brain?" - The man
"Nope! Just writing stories. It helps keep me sane. Oh, and I also critically analyze the creative works of others!" - Me
*Both give me a disturbed look and simply walk away*
Anyway, I'm still thinking and praying about it. So far, I've found one university in London, the one my friend Tine goes to, that has an excellent sounding Creative Writing program, but I kind of don't want to live in such a busy city. But if it remains the best, then I will go there. I'm also thinking of the University of Nottingham...The good thing about getting a Master's degree in England is that most are only for a year. Hooray! But I will definitely have to work for a year beforehand to save up money. That's alright with me though.
Next week, I plan to go shopping for a yukata with Miki, and I hope to go to Fushimi Inari Shrine with Heather. And I guess I should study for finals and write my final papers as well...
Anyway (again), I know a lot of you guys are free from school now. I hope you all have an awesome summer!
4.26.2012
More random updates
The Tuesday after spring break, I had put together a small birthday party for my roommate. I invited her friends who helped me put it together. Four girls reserved the restaurant for me, and I bought the cake. It was at an Indian restaurant called New Dehli, and the people were quite nice, giving us extra nam, desert, and a free chicken appetizer. Not knowing many of the people that well, I kind of sat there awkwardly until I got my food, then it didn’t matter if I wasn’t saying anything because I was eating! Overall, things went well and my roommate had a really good time.
Not a whole lot has been going on, except that last Friday, two Japanese guys came up to my friend Tine and I while we were hanging out in the lounge before meeting two other girls to go out to eat with and to do karaoke!
“Hi, we’re students at Kansai Gaidai and want to make international friends. So let’s be friends, ok?”
That’s literally what they said before we talked for two hours straight, and I’ve come to learn that this is the process called gaijin hunting. Japanese people seek out international students to befriend them. It doesn’t matter who you are… they will attack!
Anyway, they invited us to lunch on Tuesday, and Tine and I agreed. However, Tine bailed on me because she’s not the sociable type when it comes to random people who just want to be your friend because you’re an international student so I went alone. One of the guys didn’t show up, but the other took me to a large group of his friends to talk, and at first, he wasn’t going to sit by me, but then he did. Can you say awkward? He’s the one who invited me!
Anyway, I was thinking of things to say, and immediately brought up the Hanshin Tigers, the baseball team for the Kansai region (they are the equivalent of the Cubs…not very good), and suddenly, his friends became interested in the conversation. I said I wanted to go to a Hanshin Tigers game so Koki, the guy’s name, said that we could go on April 26th, and I’m looking forward to it! I think baseball is more popular in Japan than in the US. I read that people stand up while their team is at bat, and they have cheers for all the players…sounds crazy to me! Hopefully, it will be awesome!
For the rest of the time, I talked with Koki, and he suggested that we play catch and said he wanted to do karaoke. He also did a magic card trick for me…haha! It was interesting, but we haven't really talked a lot since then.
And now I have an update on Big Daddy…he is no longer cool in my book! He basically threatened to take away my friend Tine’s participation and attendance points (25% of the grade) just because she looked like she had a bad attitude, but she didn’t. I wanted her to tell someone because it’s unfair, but eventually, she got upset with me for pressing the issue and just wants to forget about him so I will.
On the bright side, for the past 3 weeks, I have written 36 pages to a story (all together), but I’m slowing down, and this week, I’m dedicating to editing my stories. I made a pact with my friend Kathleen from back home that we will be writing accountability partners and will encourage each other to write/ have weekly goals that we work on. This week, my goal is to edit two chapters so that they are pretty cleaned up…I’m not doing too well though. I moved to one of my older stories to edit/ I haven’t been doing a lot of editing/writing at all, which is bad on my part, but in my defense, I’ve been pretty stressed this week. Mainly over the weekend, but some of the effects of the weekend are still lingering. Also, I’m updating my blog for you lovely people.
I’m not doing a good job at writing, but as long as I keep writing and editing and working on stories then I’m happy. As long as I don’t stop, I know I’m making progress.
This weekend, I went to Osaka Castle in Osaka with a handful of people and got to see all the cool Sakura trees. While we were there, this guy that really loved America came up to us and asked us where we were from and which states we came from. He then shook our hands saying nice to meet you. Then he said “Obama” in hopes to make us smile and asked if he could take a picture with us, and we said he could. He then shook our hands three more times and said, “You make me so happy! Have a great day!” I asked if he was drunk or something, and one of the girls said that they just think he has an obsession with America. It probably should have been a little creepy, but it was mainly entertaining.
Then we went to this restaurant called sweets paradise, where you pay 1500 yen to have 70 minutes to stuff your face with as much pasta and cake as you can. The sweets were ok, but there’s nothing like the super sweetness of American cake icing. I quickly got tired of the cakes and ate mostly pasta, which was ok, but there is this Italian restaurant that has pasta that tastes a lot better. Everyone loves the place, but I’m indifferent to it.
After that, we went to a manga store, and everyone else is buying a series in manga that is in Japanese so I decided I would do the same thing. One manga I wanted to buy, I couldn’t find; another, I couldn’t find; another, I didn’t think to look for; so I bought 12 manga books (out of the 17) for Lovely Complex which is this lovey dovey manga (which isn’t the type of manga I normally read, but I love the story). I will now proceed to give you a short description of it. The shortest guy and the tallest girl in a class don’t get along and joke about each other’s heights, and everyone in their class, including the teacher, thinks they should get together. So it’s about whether they will get together or not, and it’s pretty cute. I also find it relatable because Risa, one of the main characters, is considered to be tall and is more tomboyish…Anyway! It’s a nice manga, but I might buy another series too since the books are so cheap here. I can get three here for the price of one back in America. The only thing is that I don’t understand most of it!
It is helpful though because I practice the speed of my reading and pronunciation, and I get excited when I understand one phrase about every other page! Hopefully one day I’ll be able to understand all of it!
Finally, I went to karaoke with the girls and had a lot of fun. I’m always up for a good night of karaoke! XD
Also, I just realized I only have 4 more weeks after this one in Japan, and I really don’t want to leave! I’m looking forward to seeing everyone, but I’m going to miss the friends I made here and being in Japan. Who knows though? Japan might be in my near future (when I say near, I mean a few years at least).
Also… Also…in less than a week, I’ll be 21! Imagine that!...oh my gosh, I have to be more mature and responsible than this past year…I must do something crazy before my birthday…like dancing in public in Japan! Or dancing in public at Kansai Gaidai…I already get stared at by the Japanese students, might as well give them a show of crazy awesome dancing right? Right!
Anyway, I’m going to work on my dance routine. I hope you’re enjoying some nice warm weather!
4.05.2012
Spring Break pt 1
Hello everyone!
It's been a while, and I know what you're thinking. Thank you, Captain Obvious! Well, how else was I supposed to start this post? Just ignoring the fact that I've kept you all waiting, some in eager anticipation, for my next post? I apologize. I don't even have an excuse to give you, but here is my next rambling...
Day one for spring break was a success. After dinner on Friday, I went with two other people to Kyoto Station to wait for the night bus that would take us to Tokyo, and since we got there early, we were able to walk around. The station was huge and crowded but awesome! We (Heather, Derek, and I) decided to go up 4 escalators that took us to the top of the station (which was at least seven floors high). On our way up, we spotted a Doraemon projection on the stairs on the other side of the station. Of course, that became our next destination. We took a tunnel to the other side and took a bunch of pictures of the exact same thing as if each picture got more exciting.
After that, we went outside and saw one of those light up music fountains and took videos until we had to take the night bus. It was an interesting experience because we got to go on the second level of the bus, which was really short by the way. The windows were covered in curtains so it was like sleeping in a small enclosed room with other people. I actually slept for a few hours.
Once we got to Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, we had to catch a train to one destination and then transfer to another with only three minutes to buy our tickets and get on the train. We literally made it with five seconds to spare. Once we got to our final destination in Fujisan, we stuffed our stuff in coin lockers and joined a tour.
First, we went to the shrine that was the original entrance for Mt. Fuji. There was snow and ice everywhere, and it rained a lot, but I got to participate in a purification ritual. At a fountain, which contained water from Mt. Fuji, there were golden ladels that we could use to scoop up water. The first scoop was used to clean your hands by pouring half on one and half on the other. Next, you pour some water into your hand to put in your mouth so you can purify it. Then you spit into a small stream of water at your feet. Finally, you get another ladel full of water and tilt it until the water pours over the handle, thus, cleaning it for the next person. At the temple, I saw one lady give an offering and pray, and there was some sort of service going on...
Second, we went to the Mt. Fuji Visitor Center, where I spent all my time at the gift shop. Hoorah!
Third, we went to the "first" step of Mt. Fuji. Normally, we would get to go to the fifth step when it's not climbing season (July and August is climbing season), but there was snow and rain so...
Then, we went back to the station to eat lunch, and we got the local specialty, hootoo. It's this huge pot of noodles with vegetables like cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, and there was pumpkin at the bottom too, and the broth was just miso soup. It was pretty good! Then, we went back out for the ice cave. We had to be super careful because it was slippery outside and some parts inside. This would not be the place to go if you were claustrophobic. There was a tunnel that was so small that I got on my hands and knees until I could grab the rope to help me balance as I squat walked.
Inside, there were giant manmade blocks of ice to make it look like an igloo, and it was so icy, each step was a slip. It was nice having large, sharp icycles over our heads too! Finally, we got to the part of the cave where the natural icycles were formed, and they were pretty cool!
After that, we went to a wind cave, but we had to walk in the Lava Forest for a while to get there, which would be fine, except for all the snow, ice, and slush. At one point, the slush was so deep that everyone's shoes got soaked. My socks squished with each step. Ugh... but we got to the wind cave and could only stand outside. Only those with the right equipment and permission can go in.
Since we had more time than expected, we got to go to some awesome waterfalls. The water was so clear!
Last but not least...ok maybe least...we went to Lake Motosuko, one of the Mt. Fuji Five Lakes. It would have been nicer if I wasn't so cold! And if the weather was clearer. We couldn't see Mt. Fuji because it was so rainy and hazy.
Afterwards, we went to dinner at an American styled restaurant, and I splurged on food. I have no regrets! Especially when I didn't really get to eat for the next few days. X(
Now, before I tell you all about the next part, let me just say this. When I got to Shinjuku Station, the first thing I saw were these Japanese boys on a poster with their mouths open and rays of different colors coming from their mouths, advertising a brand of gum. I bought a pack of this gum before. It had three flavors; berry, cough syrup, and then mint. Despite the cough syrup taste, it was ok.
Anyway, after we ate at the diner, we went to 7/11, and I found the picture of the guys on folders. The box said "100 yen" so I was going to buy some to bring home...and a pack of gum for breakfasts. I went up to the counter to buy them, and the guy only charged me for the gum, so I pointed to the folders. He counted them, laughed, and asked if they were a gift, and I said yes. He still didn't change the price so I got 5 awesome folders for free! XD
Oh! Something I forgot to tell you... On the way to the "first step" of Mt. Fuji, the road played a Mt. Fuji song! You know when you get too close to the side of the road and tires make that farting noise? Well, grooves in the road were strategically placed to make a song. Part of it on the way there and another part on the way back!
The second day, we got up to do something called the "Music Forest" with automated instruments. We went to a show where a bunch of dolls and instruments played on their own. It was pretty cool...and maybe a tiny bit creepy! The rest of our time was spent in the gift shop. There were so many music boxes, and I really wanted one! But instead, I bought some for friends. There were cool ones, dancing ones, automobile ones, clocks, bags, all had music (mostly Japanese). But the coolest ones were plastic fruit that played Disney songs. Yep, only in Japan!
Oh, I also forgot to mention that, on the way to the Music Forest, we crossed one of the Fuji Five Lakes, and I'm not joking, it was like walking through a wall of gnats for a whole mile.
They were on our clothes, in our hair, flying into our noses, etc. But it was worth it because, Rachel, a girl we met on the tour, thought to look behind her for Mt. Fuji. Although it was another rainy, foggy day, we could see Mt. Fuji and got some pics. I was so happy!!! On the way back, we couldn't see it anymore, so I'm glad Rachel looked for it when she did!
I was thinking about joining the running club on campus along with Heather when we got back from spring break, so we decided that, since we were in a hurry to catch our bus back to Tokyo, we would practice running. Ha! Haha...hahahahaha...hahaha...Ha! Perhaps it would have been better for me if I didn't have a bag on my back, my gifts, and loose pants while I ran. ^.^'' We only ran once but made it to our bus.
Once we got to Tokyo, we went to our hostel where we had these awesome cabin beds that had a window and a closeable door. I want one of those in my home!
After settling in, we decided to go to eat. I really wanted to go to a Hard Rock Cafe so that was our destination, but since almost all the dishes were over $20. Heather and Derek ate pizza at another restaurant while I ate garlic bread. Then, when we got to the Hard Rock Cafe, I bought three shirts and got one free. The shirts in Japan were also more expensive...I mean come on now! :'(
Then, I ordered my meal, the cheapest burger I could get, and then a milkshake...a real milkshake! It was delicious! But I'm getting ahead of myself...before we sat down, we waited in the bar area, and experienced the craziness that is Hard Rock Cafe Roppongi...first off, everything was decorated for St. Patrick's Day, one guy even wore a red beard and a green top hat. Then, "We Will Rock You" played, and everyone, I mean everyone, stood up and started clapping to the song and singing. Then, they did the "YMCA." It was crazy awesome!
Anyway, back to the food. The hamburger was so delicious and definitely worth the $17-$19. Yeah... Heather and Derek were still hungry so they splilt a hamburger and had dessert.
Little did I know that that would be my last decent meal for a while. Boohoo!
I hope to get more about spring break up soon...and then posts about more current stuff! I hope your guys' spring break...though a couple weeks ago, was great too!
It's been a while, and I know what you're thinking. Thank you, Captain Obvious! Well, how else was I supposed to start this post? Just ignoring the fact that I've kept you all waiting, some in eager anticipation, for my next post? I apologize. I don't even have an excuse to give you, but here is my next rambling...
Day one for spring break was a success. After dinner on Friday, I went with two other people to Kyoto Station to wait for the night bus that would take us to Tokyo, and since we got there early, we were able to walk around. The station was huge and crowded but awesome! We (Heather, Derek, and I) decided to go up 4 escalators that took us to the top of the station (which was at least seven floors high). On our way up, we spotted a Doraemon projection on the stairs on the other side of the station. Of course, that became our next destination. We took a tunnel to the other side and took a bunch of pictures of the exact same thing as if each picture got more exciting.
After that, we went outside and saw one of those light up music fountains and took videos until we had to take the night bus. It was an interesting experience because we got to go on the second level of the bus, which was really short by the way. The windows were covered in curtains so it was like sleeping in a small enclosed room with other people. I actually slept for a few hours.
Once we got to Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, we had to catch a train to one destination and then transfer to another with only three minutes to buy our tickets and get on the train. We literally made it with five seconds to spare. Once we got to our final destination in Fujisan, we stuffed our stuff in coin lockers and joined a tour.
First, we went to the shrine that was the original entrance for Mt. Fuji. There was snow and ice everywhere, and it rained a lot, but I got to participate in a purification ritual. At a fountain, which contained water from Mt. Fuji, there were golden ladels that we could use to scoop up water. The first scoop was used to clean your hands by pouring half on one and half on the other. Next, you pour some water into your hand to put in your mouth so you can purify it. Then you spit into a small stream of water at your feet. Finally, you get another ladel full of water and tilt it until the water pours over the handle, thus, cleaning it for the next person. At the temple, I saw one lady give an offering and pray, and there was some sort of service going on...
Second, we went to the Mt. Fuji Visitor Center, where I spent all my time at the gift shop. Hoorah!
Third, we went to the "first" step of Mt. Fuji. Normally, we would get to go to the fifth step when it's not climbing season (July and August is climbing season), but there was snow and rain so...
Then, we went back to the station to eat lunch, and we got the local specialty, hootoo. It's this huge pot of noodles with vegetables like cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, and there was pumpkin at the bottom too, and the broth was just miso soup. It was pretty good! Then, we went back out for the ice cave. We had to be super careful because it was slippery outside and some parts inside. This would not be the place to go if you were claustrophobic. There was a tunnel that was so small that I got on my hands and knees until I could grab the rope to help me balance as I squat walked.
Inside, there were giant manmade blocks of ice to make it look like an igloo, and it was so icy, each step was a slip. It was nice having large, sharp icycles over our heads too! Finally, we got to the part of the cave where the natural icycles were formed, and they were pretty cool!
After that, we went to a wind cave, but we had to walk in the Lava Forest for a while to get there, which would be fine, except for all the snow, ice, and slush. At one point, the slush was so deep that everyone's shoes got soaked. My socks squished with each step. Ugh... but we got to the wind cave and could only stand outside. Only those with the right equipment and permission can go in.
Since we had more time than expected, we got to go to some awesome waterfalls. The water was so clear!
Last but not least...ok maybe least...we went to Lake Motosuko, one of the Mt. Fuji Five Lakes. It would have been nicer if I wasn't so cold! And if the weather was clearer. We couldn't see Mt. Fuji because it was so rainy and hazy.
Afterwards, we went to dinner at an American styled restaurant, and I splurged on food. I have no regrets! Especially when I didn't really get to eat for the next few days. X(
Now, before I tell you all about the next part, let me just say this. When I got to Shinjuku Station, the first thing I saw were these Japanese boys on a poster with their mouths open and rays of different colors coming from their mouths, advertising a brand of gum. I bought a pack of this gum before. It had three flavors; berry, cough syrup, and then mint. Despite the cough syrup taste, it was ok.
Anyway, after we ate at the diner, we went to 7/11, and I found the picture of the guys on folders. The box said "100 yen" so I was going to buy some to bring home...and a pack of gum for breakfasts. I went up to the counter to buy them, and the guy only charged me for the gum, so I pointed to the folders. He counted them, laughed, and asked if they were a gift, and I said yes. He still didn't change the price so I got 5 awesome folders for free! XD
Oh! Something I forgot to tell you... On the way to the "first step" of Mt. Fuji, the road played a Mt. Fuji song! You know when you get too close to the side of the road and tires make that farting noise? Well, grooves in the road were strategically placed to make a song. Part of it on the way there and another part on the way back!
The second day, we got up to do something called the "Music Forest" with automated instruments. We went to a show where a bunch of dolls and instruments played on their own. It was pretty cool...and maybe a tiny bit creepy! The rest of our time was spent in the gift shop. There were so many music boxes, and I really wanted one! But instead, I bought some for friends. There were cool ones, dancing ones, automobile ones, clocks, bags, all had music (mostly Japanese). But the coolest ones were plastic fruit that played Disney songs. Yep, only in Japan!
Oh, I also forgot to mention that, on the way to the Music Forest, we crossed one of the Fuji Five Lakes, and I'm not joking, it was like walking through a wall of gnats for a whole mile.
They were on our clothes, in our hair, flying into our noses, etc. But it was worth it because, Rachel, a girl we met on the tour, thought to look behind her for Mt. Fuji. Although it was another rainy, foggy day, we could see Mt. Fuji and got some pics. I was so happy!!! On the way back, we couldn't see it anymore, so I'm glad Rachel looked for it when she did!
I was thinking about joining the running club on campus along with Heather when we got back from spring break, so we decided that, since we were in a hurry to catch our bus back to Tokyo, we would practice running. Ha! Haha...hahahahaha...hahaha...Ha! Perhaps it would have been better for me if I didn't have a bag on my back, my gifts, and loose pants while I ran. ^.^'' We only ran once but made it to our bus.
Once we got to Tokyo, we went to our hostel where we had these awesome cabin beds that had a window and a closeable door. I want one of those in my home!
After settling in, we decided to go to eat. I really wanted to go to a Hard Rock Cafe so that was our destination, but since almost all the dishes were over $20. Heather and Derek ate pizza at another restaurant while I ate garlic bread. Then, when we got to the Hard Rock Cafe, I bought three shirts and got one free. The shirts in Japan were also more expensive...I mean come on now! :'(
Then, I ordered my meal, the cheapest burger I could get, and then a milkshake...a real milkshake! It was delicious! But I'm getting ahead of myself...before we sat down, we waited in the bar area, and experienced the craziness that is Hard Rock Cafe Roppongi...first off, everything was decorated for St. Patrick's Day, one guy even wore a red beard and a green top hat. Then, "We Will Rock You" played, and everyone, I mean everyone, stood up and started clapping to the song and singing. Then, they did the "YMCA." It was crazy awesome!
Anyway, back to the food. The hamburger was so delicious and definitely worth the $17-$19. Yeah... Heather and Derek were still hungry so they splilt a hamburger and had dessert.
Little did I know that that would be my last decent meal for a while. Boohoo!
I hope to get more about spring break up soon...and then posts about more current stuff! I hope your guys' spring break...though a couple weeks ago, was great too!
3.16.2012
March updates
So I haven't posted in a while, but that is because I don't feel like I have a lot of interesting stuff to say, so this post will just be about specific updates.
First, tonight, I'm going to take a night bus to Tokyo with two other people. I'll get there at 6:00AM, and then I will have to find a train in the busy (I don't know how busy it will be that early, hopefully not too busy!) Tokyo station and buy train tickets within 15-20 minutes to go to Fujisan. Then, I'll be joining a tour that lasts for the whole day, and basically, it will show me popular places around Mt. Fuji. Sunday, I'll go to a music forest, and then I'll go to Tokyo. In Tokyo, I plan to go to the Roppongi Hard Rock Cafe, Disney Sea (no, not like Sea World; it's like Tokyo Disney but has more thrill rides), Tokyo Tower, Harajuku, the Oriental Bazaar, Ikebukoro/Sunshine City, and the Ghibli museum (Feel free to look them up; I will obviously post about them next week). On Thursday, I'll ride the bullet train alone to Hamamatsu to see my friend Sakura! Her family was kind enough to let me stay in their house until Saturday. Then, I will ride the shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto...then, I'll have to magically find my way back to the seminar house on my own.
This week, I had to give two presentations. One, I didn't understand what the professor wanted, and it was a complete failure, but I blame my classmates who glared at me while I was speaking. I smiled for all the other presentations, but when I went, everyone was like this >:(. Seriously, what the poop? It only made me more nervous, and I didn't even pay attention to what I was saying. I know for sure that it didn't make any sense. My other presentation for another class though was successful. The class loved it, so I was happy!
Sad news for me but probably to no one else. I found out that The GazettE is going to tour again but not until July through November, and they're coming to Osaka. I'm really sad that I'm not going to be able to see them and practically just missed their concerts. If I come back to Japan, it probably won't be for another 2-3 years at least. Sigh... I really want to see them!
Oh, I also found out that I might be able to take Phonology (it's required for my TESOL major) online in the month of June, which is great. Because if I can take Phonology, then I don't have to take six classes my last semester, I only have to take five.
The Wednesday after I get back from spring break, I have 3 midterms. I'm not studying over break, except maybe the second weekend of spring break, so we'll see how that goes. Two of them are my Japanese language classes, so I guess I'll be practicing them anyway.
One thing I was hoping to escape when I came to Japan was the Iowa weather, but it's almost exactly the same. Warm one day, rains the next day, snows the next, deceptively sunny but ice cold another day, and so on and so forth. I can't wait for it to get warmer!
I can't believe that when I get back from spring break, I'll only have 2 months left! It's so sad. :(
Side note: I made grilled cheese for the first time yesterday (I've eaten it before, but haven't personally made it myself), and it was delicious!
I'm pretty sure this blog is all over the place, and as I reread it, it is quite bipolar. Yay, spring break! Boo, presentation! Yay, presentation! Boo, I can't see The GazettE! Yay, I might get to take Phonology! Boo, I have 3 midterms! Boo, weather! Boo, I have to go home in 2 months! Yay, grilled cheese!
Anyway, I hope you all have a lovely weekend, and try to make grilled cheese. It's both easy and delicious! ^.^
First, tonight, I'm going to take a night bus to Tokyo with two other people. I'll get there at 6:00AM, and then I will have to find a train in the busy (I don't know how busy it will be that early, hopefully not too busy!) Tokyo station and buy train tickets within 15-20 minutes to go to Fujisan. Then, I'll be joining a tour that lasts for the whole day, and basically, it will show me popular places around Mt. Fuji. Sunday, I'll go to a music forest, and then I'll go to Tokyo. In Tokyo, I plan to go to the Roppongi Hard Rock Cafe, Disney Sea (no, not like Sea World; it's like Tokyo Disney but has more thrill rides), Tokyo Tower, Harajuku, the Oriental Bazaar, Ikebukoro/Sunshine City, and the Ghibli museum (Feel free to look them up; I will obviously post about them next week). On Thursday, I'll ride the bullet train alone to Hamamatsu to see my friend Sakura! Her family was kind enough to let me stay in their house until Saturday. Then, I will ride the shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto...then, I'll have to magically find my way back to the seminar house on my own.
This week, I had to give two presentations. One, I didn't understand what the professor wanted, and it was a complete failure, but I blame my classmates who glared at me while I was speaking. I smiled for all the other presentations, but when I went, everyone was like this >:(. Seriously, what the poop? It only made me more nervous, and I didn't even pay attention to what I was saying. I know for sure that it didn't make any sense. My other presentation for another class though was successful. The class loved it, so I was happy!
Sad news for me but probably to no one else. I found out that The GazettE is going to tour again but not until July through November, and they're coming to Osaka. I'm really sad that I'm not going to be able to see them and practically just missed their concerts. If I come back to Japan, it probably won't be for another 2-3 years at least. Sigh... I really want to see them!
Oh, I also found out that I might be able to take Phonology (it's required for my TESOL major) online in the month of June, which is great. Because if I can take Phonology, then I don't have to take six classes my last semester, I only have to take five.
The Wednesday after I get back from spring break, I have 3 midterms. I'm not studying over break, except maybe the second weekend of spring break, so we'll see how that goes. Two of them are my Japanese language classes, so I guess I'll be practicing them anyway.
One thing I was hoping to escape when I came to Japan was the Iowa weather, but it's almost exactly the same. Warm one day, rains the next day, snows the next, deceptively sunny but ice cold another day, and so on and so forth. I can't wait for it to get warmer!
I can't believe that when I get back from spring break, I'll only have 2 months left! It's so sad. :(
Side note: I made grilled cheese for the first time yesterday (I've eaten it before, but haven't personally made it myself), and it was delicious!
I'm pretty sure this blog is all over the place, and as I reread it, it is quite bipolar. Yay, spring break! Boo, presentation! Yay, presentation! Boo, I can't see The GazettE! Yay, I might get to take Phonology! Boo, I have 3 midterms! Boo, weather! Boo, I have to go home in 2 months! Yay, grilled cheese!
Anyway, I hope you all have a lovely weekend, and try to make grilled cheese. It's both easy and delicious! ^.^
3.05.2012
The side I never knew
Last Thursday, my International Communications class started as usual with the mundane things like attendance and talking about the presentations coming up. My professor clicked on the start button on his laptop while I was staring off into space when all of a sudden my friend Tine said, "look at the name!" Of course, being in a daze, I asked loudly, "What name?"
"The name! His name on the computer!" (which is on the projector screen)
When I found out what she was talking about, I kind of wish I would have stayed oblivious, but instead of the name of my professor, he had put Big Daddy.
Now, I don't know about you, but this was quite disturbing news to me, despite the fact that I couldn't stop laughing after I had seen it. I mean, what professional professor would put that on his laptop? Personally, I think it's a little creepy, but it fits him well because he is that type of professor. You know the one who isn't married and feels the need to feel younger? (now, I'm not saying that people who aren't married are like this; he just chooses to be like this because he's not married and wants to feel younger) I don't know. It just sounds like a midlife crisis. Also, I have issues with the phrase 'Big Daddy.' Out of all the ridiculous names out there, it is perhaps one of my least favorites if not my least favorite, just because it sounds both cocky and stupid to me.
It seems that I learn something new about my Intercultural Communications professor every week. I'm worried what I will learn about him this week...or next week...
Anyway, on a much better note, I went to karaoke for the first time on Friday, and it was awesome! Why can't we have awesome karaoke in the U.S.? Basically, (at the place I go to) you pay about 600 yen for 8 hours of karaoke and free drinks (soda and juice; if you want alcohol, you have to bring your own), and there are all sorts of songs: Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and English. It's just amazing, and I hope to go back this Friday!
On Saturday, I went to make daifuku, which was pretty good! It's like this sticky dough made of rice flour and some other ingredients, and you put sweet bean paste in it. Other things were available to put in it as well if you didn't like sweet bean paste like strawberries, whipped cream, bananas, and chocolate.
When my group went into the kitchen to make daifuku, we almost made the microvave explode. There were sparks flying everywhere!...actually, it was just that the saranwrap covering the bowl touched the microwave door while the stuff was cooking, and there were a few sparks. XD Overall, it was a good experience.
Afterwards, I went with three girls that I met: Noel, Chanae, and Maura to a restaurant to eat Takoyaki! It was sooo goood!!! I got french fries, ice cream, and a drink with mine for a meal. The owner of the restaurant was so nice that he cooked us a giant plate of yakisoba, and he also made us takoyaki tacos, which were actually quite good, for free!
Basically, a takoyaki taco is two balls of takoyaki in an orange shell that looks like orange styrofoam, only it's edible and made out of rice, and then there's the sauce, mayonnaise, rice crispies, and green stuff (onions?) on top.
Then yesterday, I went to an Indian restaurant for the first time, and I decided that I really didn't like Indian food that well...but, I used to not like mexican food, and now, I like it...maybe ten years from now, I'll like Indian food. However, I was given a free mango milkshake (now, remember, milkshakes here are like milk, ice, and flavoring), so that was good!
After school, I went with Heather, Noel, and a new person Don to Hirakata-shi station. We looked for CDs again, and I got two more for a cheap price! Afterwards, we went shopping at an anime store and ate crepes! Side note: Crepes are so much better with ice cream!
After eating crepes and going to the anime store, we went to the grocery store, and I wasn't planning to buy anything until I found dumplings!!! There was a set of either 5 dumblings or 8, and I honestly had to mentally debate which to buy. Of course, I went with eight! Then, the cashier gave me two pairs of chopsticks because apparently it's supposed to be for two.
XD
Anyway, that's all that has been going on. Thanks for reading my blog, and have a good week!
"The name! His name on the computer!" (which is on the projector screen)
When I found out what she was talking about, I kind of wish I would have stayed oblivious, but instead of the name of my professor, he had put Big Daddy.
Now, I don't know about you, but this was quite disturbing news to me, despite the fact that I couldn't stop laughing after I had seen it. I mean, what professional professor would put that on his laptop? Personally, I think it's a little creepy, but it fits him well because he is that type of professor. You know the one who isn't married and feels the need to feel younger? (now, I'm not saying that people who aren't married are like this; he just chooses to be like this because he's not married and wants to feel younger) I don't know. It just sounds like a midlife crisis. Also, I have issues with the phrase 'Big Daddy.' Out of all the ridiculous names out there, it is perhaps one of my least favorites if not my least favorite, just because it sounds both cocky and stupid to me.
It seems that I learn something new about my Intercultural Communications professor every week. I'm worried what I will learn about him this week...or next week...
Anyway, on a much better note, I went to karaoke for the first time on Friday, and it was awesome! Why can't we have awesome karaoke in the U.S.? Basically, (at the place I go to) you pay about 600 yen for 8 hours of karaoke and free drinks (soda and juice; if you want alcohol, you have to bring your own), and there are all sorts of songs: Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and English. It's just amazing, and I hope to go back this Friday!
On Saturday, I went to make daifuku, which was pretty good! It's like this sticky dough made of rice flour and some other ingredients, and you put sweet bean paste in it. Other things were available to put in it as well if you didn't like sweet bean paste like strawberries, whipped cream, bananas, and chocolate.
When my group went into the kitchen to make daifuku, we almost made the microvave explode. There were sparks flying everywhere!...actually, it was just that the saranwrap covering the bowl touched the microwave door while the stuff was cooking, and there were a few sparks. XD Overall, it was a good experience.
Afterwards, I went with three girls that I met: Noel, Chanae, and Maura to a restaurant to eat Takoyaki! It was sooo goood!!! I got french fries, ice cream, and a drink with mine for a meal. The owner of the restaurant was so nice that he cooked us a giant plate of yakisoba, and he also made us takoyaki tacos, which were actually quite good, for free!
Basically, a takoyaki taco is two balls of takoyaki in an orange shell that looks like orange styrofoam, only it's edible and made out of rice, and then there's the sauce, mayonnaise, rice crispies, and green stuff (onions?) on top.
Then yesterday, I went to an Indian restaurant for the first time, and I decided that I really didn't like Indian food that well...but, I used to not like mexican food, and now, I like it...maybe ten years from now, I'll like Indian food. However, I was given a free mango milkshake (now, remember, milkshakes here are like milk, ice, and flavoring), so that was good!
After school, I went with Heather, Noel, and a new person Don to Hirakata-shi station. We looked for CDs again, and I got two more for a cheap price! Afterwards, we went shopping at an anime store and ate crepes! Side note: Crepes are so much better with ice cream!
After eating crepes and going to the anime store, we went to the grocery store, and I wasn't planning to buy anything until I found dumplings!!! There was a set of either 5 dumblings or 8, and I honestly had to mentally debate which to buy. Of course, I went with eight! Then, the cashier gave me two pairs of chopsticks because apparently it's supposed to be for two.
XDAnyway, that's all that has been going on. Thanks for reading my blog, and have a good week!
2.27.2012
Seeing your professor on the weekend
So last Friday, I had my first meeting for the International Advisory program, and I was really hoping that my university wouldn't get merged with another since there were so many participants. Luckily, when the director called out my school's name, he then read off my name and one other person named Miki (she's a Japanese student going to my university). I'm so happy to have one partner who is going to my university rather than several just going to America!
After the the opening meeting, Miki and I went to a cafe to eat. She had to choose because I don't know any good places near the school, and it turned out to be pretty great. The whole menu was Italian food. Yum! As we were talking and I was telling her about my university, I noticed a professor who lives near Seminar House 1 walk in. A few minutes later, one of the most awkward things that can happen to a student happened to me. I looked behind Miki and saw my Intercultural Communications professor chatting away with the first professor...oh dear... Now, this normally wouldn't be an awkward situation back home, but the fact that he was my Intercultural Communications professor and the fact that he kept looking at me to make sure I was "communicating effectively with a person from a culture very different from my own" made it awkward. I informed Miki, and she thought it was funny...but it wasn't funny for me...actually it was...it was just uncomfortable. XP
It was worse when Miki bowed her head to say thanks for the meal, and I copied her. But in the middle of copying her, I remembered I needed to pray for the meal so I prayed, and it looked like I thought she was praying so I mistakenly chose to pray too. I hope my professor didn't see. Luckily, he didn't say anything to me in class yesterday.
Overall, the meeting with my International Advisory partner went well, and over the semester, I'll be telling her all about UNI.
Btw, I really love Amazon Japan. Japanese and Korean CDs: they're all mine!!! XD
The other day, I heard something quite sad in the "girls' kitchen" in Seminar House 1. Some girls were talking about marriage and how people leave their spouses because their "needs" aren't met, and one girl commented on how being married for six years is a long time. What the poop?! No, it's not! 20+ is a long time. Gee Willikers, 'till death do us part' doesn't mean anything anymore, does it? And as their conversation went on, I was reminded about how shallow people can be in relationships. No thank you!
On a positve note, in my International Communications class yesterday, a Korean boy (I'm not sure what his name is) was sharing his International Advisory experience. He and another Korean boy were talking in Korean about the Japanese girl that was their partner, and they didn't say anything bad, but despite not knowing any Korean, she knew they were talking about her. Japanese girls tend to smile in uncomfortable situations, and that was what she was doing so the Korean guy thought things were ok; however, he saw that her smile dropped until she noticed he was looking at her, then she smiled again. So as the Korean guy explained this misunderstanding to the class, he said that he was worried about the girl's feelings and texted her. She was mad that he had been talking about her, and he apologized, and thus, he handled the misunderstanding well.
I just think it's sweet how he was worried about her feelings considering most guys (that I know) don't think about someone's feelings like that. Anyway, it isn't that big of a deal, but it really caught my attention so I thought I would contrast it with the story before.
Lately, I've been randomly thinking about how I'm going to have to fly all the way back to America and all the way back to China. Yay, I love long flights! *sarcasm* Long flights are perhaps one of the worst things ever. Bleh...XP
I'm looking forward to going to China, but I'm a bit nervous because I'm worried about the teaching part (for fall semester). I'll only be a teacher's aid, but I think it will help me finalize whether I truly want to be a teacher or not. I'm fine with teaching. I just don't know if I could teach continuously for a year and so on. Not to mention that I never wanted to be a teacher ever and then after three weeks of not real teaching, I was like "ok, teaching!" But if I didn't become a teacher, I don't know what I would do.
Along with that, I don't want to teach in America, I would like to teach in Asia, but I don't know where. I like China and Japan, but maybe God will want me somewhere else like Korea... or Taiwan as suggested my my crazy Chinese roommate from Malaysia (how else do I say that? \-o-/): Cally. She told me that the people in Taiwan are crazy so I would fit right in! XD
Anyway, there is me rambling along. I don't know what I want to do for sure, and I'm running out of time. I know one thing that I want to do that will probably never happen though: being an author. We'll see though.
Anyway, now that I've drifted away from talking about Japan... that's all for now...so...er...um...bye! ^.^
After the the opening meeting, Miki and I went to a cafe to eat. She had to choose because I don't know any good places near the school, and it turned out to be pretty great. The whole menu was Italian food. Yum! As we were talking and I was telling her about my university, I noticed a professor who lives near Seminar House 1 walk in. A few minutes later, one of the most awkward things that can happen to a student happened to me. I looked behind Miki and saw my Intercultural Communications professor chatting away with the first professor...oh dear... Now, this normally wouldn't be an awkward situation back home, but the fact that he was my Intercultural Communications professor and the fact that he kept looking at me to make sure I was "communicating effectively with a person from a culture very different from my own" made it awkward. I informed Miki, and she thought it was funny...but it wasn't funny for me...actually it was...it was just uncomfortable. XP
It was worse when Miki bowed her head to say thanks for the meal, and I copied her. But in the middle of copying her, I remembered I needed to pray for the meal so I prayed, and it looked like I thought she was praying so I mistakenly chose to pray too. I hope my professor didn't see. Luckily, he didn't say anything to me in class yesterday.
Overall, the meeting with my International Advisory partner went well, and over the semester, I'll be telling her all about UNI.
Btw, I really love Amazon Japan. Japanese and Korean CDs: they're all mine!!! XD
The other day, I heard something quite sad in the "girls' kitchen" in Seminar House 1. Some girls were talking about marriage and how people leave their spouses because their "needs" aren't met, and one girl commented on how being married for six years is a long time. What the poop?! No, it's not! 20+ is a long time. Gee Willikers, 'till death do us part' doesn't mean anything anymore, does it? And as their conversation went on, I was reminded about how shallow people can be in relationships. No thank you!
On a positve note, in my International Communications class yesterday, a Korean boy (I'm not sure what his name is) was sharing his International Advisory experience. He and another Korean boy were talking in Korean about the Japanese girl that was their partner, and they didn't say anything bad, but despite not knowing any Korean, she knew they were talking about her. Japanese girls tend to smile in uncomfortable situations, and that was what she was doing so the Korean guy thought things were ok; however, he saw that her smile dropped until she noticed he was looking at her, then she smiled again. So as the Korean guy explained this misunderstanding to the class, he said that he was worried about the girl's feelings and texted her. She was mad that he had been talking about her, and he apologized, and thus, he handled the misunderstanding well.
I just think it's sweet how he was worried about her feelings considering most guys (that I know) don't think about someone's feelings like that. Anyway, it isn't that big of a deal, but it really caught my attention so I thought I would contrast it with the story before.
Lately, I've been randomly thinking about how I'm going to have to fly all the way back to America and all the way back to China. Yay, I love long flights! *sarcasm* Long flights are perhaps one of the worst things ever. Bleh...XP
I'm looking forward to going to China, but I'm a bit nervous because I'm worried about the teaching part (for fall semester). I'll only be a teacher's aid, but I think it will help me finalize whether I truly want to be a teacher or not. I'm fine with teaching. I just don't know if I could teach continuously for a year and so on. Not to mention that I never wanted to be a teacher ever and then after three weeks of not real teaching, I was like "ok, teaching!" But if I didn't become a teacher, I don't know what I would do.
Along with that, I don't want to teach in America, I would like to teach in Asia, but I don't know where. I like China and Japan, but maybe God will want me somewhere else like Korea... or Taiwan as suggested my my crazy Chinese roommate from Malaysia (how else do I say that? \-o-/): Cally. She told me that the people in Taiwan are crazy so I would fit right in! XD
Anyway, there is me rambling along. I don't know what I want to do for sure, and I'm running out of time. I know one thing that I want to do that will probably never happen though: being an author. We'll see though.
Anyway, now that I've drifted away from talking about Japan... that's all for now...so...er...um...bye! ^.^
2.23.2012
Mini updates
So I haven't posted in a while... this is because nothing too exciting has been happening. There are just a few small interesting things that I would like to talk about.
One of them being that one of my professors got a haircut and dyed his hair...now, this might seem like a normal thing, but what makes it interesting is that his hair was more of a reddish color rather than his natural brown color, so it was completely noticeable, but what would make even those who are oblivious to their surroundings notice is the fact that his whole stature and energy were completely different. He was not only more confident but also more excited and tried to talk like us undergrads (think of those TV scenarios where a dad says cool to fit in with his children rather than saying groovy). His self esteem was at its peak. It was actually quite amusing (not in the making fun of someone way). Good for him! My friend Tine (Tina) from Germany thought it was funny, and she also thought that his hair looked better before the hair dye. But if he feels better with dyed hair then...ok!
The next thing I want to talk about are the birds in the area. Most of them sound human and not in a good way. There's a bird that sounds like its screaming and being tortured, another sounds like a wailing baby, another sounds like someone moaning, and there's some other noises, but I can't quite think of them at the moment. Anyway, its a little disturbing when, while you're walking, you hear a bird that sounds like a screaming human being. >.<
Last week or so, I signed up for something called the International Advisory Program, where I'll be partnered with Japanese students who want to go to my university or other universities in the Midwest, and I will tell them what they need to know about the American culture, lifestyle, and academics. The opening meeting is tonight, so I'll know more about the program, and I'll meet my group. One of the heads of the program said that the meeting would end just in time to go out with my 'new friends.' It's a good thing I didn't already make plans! I think it will be fun, but I hope we don't go anywhere too far because I have to walk back to the seminar house when we're done (most likely alone, and it's not the dark I'm worried about its the possibility of getting lost part). Anyway, I will probably post an update later on how it goes.
Btw, I recently tried Amazon Japan, and Omgosh! I love it! XD The used things are so cheap online compared to in the stores (unfortunately, you can only get stuff if you live in Japan). I bought 4 CDs. One The Gazette CD for $15 (It would probably be $22 in a used store), another for $6 (which I already bought at a store for $23), a W-inds. CD for $3, and a Super Junior CD for $12 (which would be about $30). Yay! ^.^ I'll probably post whether they are in a decent condition or not...
Today, I got my cash card for meals, and I went to get a balance inquiry, but most of the receipt is in kanji so I have no real way of knowing how much I have. I will have to look at the materials I got to see if the amount is on there, but hallelujah! I don't have to spend $40 of my own money per week for groceries! ...Yes...Japan is expensive...
I'm so excited that I know hiragana and katakana pretty well now! I'm looking forward to learning kanji (which will take me forever and a day to learn)!
I apologize that there isn't a lot of story telling in this one...maybe after tonight, I will have some more stories to share!
Also, I love my Monsters, Ghosts, and the Making of Japan class because we watch horror movies sometimes! XD
Midterms will be here in about two weeks already...which means spring break will be here in three!!! Some people I know are planning to fly to China for spring break, and all I can say is wow! Good for them! Tine asked me which city in China I would recommend: Beijing, Shanghai, or Hong Kong. Since she wants more historical sites, I suggested Beijing (I haven't been to Shanghai and Hong Kong has a lot of Western influence). I hope she enjoys China!
I plan to go to Tokyo for break. I don't really want to stay for the whole week, maybe four days so I can go to Tokyo Disney and see the old and new part of Tokyo. My roommate wants to go for the whole week and Heather doesn't know how long she wants to go. I suggested that we stop at Mt. Fuji for a couple days on the way there or the way back, and they seemed interested. But...I feel like we need to make plans now since a lot of people will probably go to Tokyo for spring break. Once I know when or if we go to Mt. Fuji before or after Tokyo, I think I'll try and make plans with my friend Sakura who lives between Osaka and Tokyo (or even Osaka and Mt. Fuji).
Anyway, those are my plans. Do any of you guys have special plans for spring break? XD
Well, that's all for now. Tata!
One of them being that one of my professors got a haircut and dyed his hair...now, this might seem like a normal thing, but what makes it interesting is that his hair was more of a reddish color rather than his natural brown color, so it was completely noticeable, but what would make even those who are oblivious to their surroundings notice is the fact that his whole stature and energy were completely different. He was not only more confident but also more excited and tried to talk like us undergrads (think of those TV scenarios where a dad says cool to fit in with his children rather than saying groovy). His self esteem was at its peak. It was actually quite amusing (not in the making fun of someone way). Good for him! My friend Tine (Tina) from Germany thought it was funny, and she also thought that his hair looked better before the hair dye. But if he feels better with dyed hair then...ok!
The next thing I want to talk about are the birds in the area. Most of them sound human and not in a good way. There's a bird that sounds like its screaming and being tortured, another sounds like a wailing baby, another sounds like someone moaning, and there's some other noises, but I can't quite think of them at the moment. Anyway, its a little disturbing when, while you're walking, you hear a bird that sounds like a screaming human being. >.<
Last week or so, I signed up for something called the International Advisory Program, where I'll be partnered with Japanese students who want to go to my university or other universities in the Midwest, and I will tell them what they need to know about the American culture, lifestyle, and academics. The opening meeting is tonight, so I'll know more about the program, and I'll meet my group. One of the heads of the program said that the meeting would end just in time to go out with my 'new friends.' It's a good thing I didn't already make plans! I think it will be fun, but I hope we don't go anywhere too far because I have to walk back to the seminar house when we're done (most likely alone, and it's not the dark I'm worried about its the possibility of getting lost part). Anyway, I will probably post an update later on how it goes.
Btw, I recently tried Amazon Japan, and Omgosh! I love it! XD The used things are so cheap online compared to in the stores (unfortunately, you can only get stuff if you live in Japan). I bought 4 CDs. One The Gazette CD for $15 (It would probably be $22 in a used store), another for $6 (which I already bought at a store for $23), a W-inds. CD for $3, and a Super Junior CD for $12 (which would be about $30). Yay! ^.^ I'll probably post whether they are in a decent condition or not...
Today, I got my cash card for meals, and I went to get a balance inquiry, but most of the receipt is in kanji so I have no real way of knowing how much I have. I will have to look at the materials I got to see if the amount is on there, but hallelujah! I don't have to spend $40 of my own money per week for groceries! ...Yes...Japan is expensive...
I'm so excited that I know hiragana and katakana pretty well now! I'm looking forward to learning kanji (which will take me forever and a day to learn)!
I apologize that there isn't a lot of story telling in this one...maybe after tonight, I will have some more stories to share!
Also, I love my Monsters, Ghosts, and the Making of Japan class because we watch horror movies sometimes! XD
Midterms will be here in about two weeks already...which means spring break will be here in three!!! Some people I know are planning to fly to China for spring break, and all I can say is wow! Good for them! Tine asked me which city in China I would recommend: Beijing, Shanghai, or Hong Kong. Since she wants more historical sites, I suggested Beijing (I haven't been to Shanghai and Hong Kong has a lot of Western influence). I hope she enjoys China!
I plan to go to Tokyo for break. I don't really want to stay for the whole week, maybe four days so I can go to Tokyo Disney and see the old and new part of Tokyo. My roommate wants to go for the whole week and Heather doesn't know how long she wants to go. I suggested that we stop at Mt. Fuji for a couple days on the way there or the way back, and they seemed interested. But...I feel like we need to make plans now since a lot of people will probably go to Tokyo for spring break. Once I know when or if we go to Mt. Fuji before or after Tokyo, I think I'll try and make plans with my friend Sakura who lives between Osaka and Tokyo (or even Osaka and Mt. Fuji).
Anyway, those are my plans. Do any of you guys have special plans for spring break? XD
Well, that's all for now. Tata!
2.16.2012
I gave up my glove for love
So Valentine's Day has come and gone both in Japan and back home...so sad yet so sweet! I passed out my chocolates to friends, the RAs, otoosan and okaasan, and a couple teachers. Otoosan and okaasan kept saying thank you over and over again and gave me small Japanese chocolates and a rice cake. Then, this morning, okaasan informed me that she really liked my oreo bon bons. When I gave chocolate to the RAs, they said they would give me something in return and Kaito hugged Heather and me. My reading and writing teacher gave me a small note with English and Japanese saying thank you with a sucker attached to it, my speaking and listening teacher said they were oishii (delicious) and the TA for that class asked me how to make them. One friend said they died a little inside because of happiness. Overall, I think it turned out pretty well.
I was going to force myself to give some to a Japanese guy, and my roommate suggested this one guy we met; however, I saw all my friends on the same day and at the same time, so I passed out all my oreo bon bons, and the second I gave away my last one, the Japanese guy walked by. Oh well. I'm glad that my friends really enjoyed them! I really enjoyed making them! Maybe I'll make more later!
Anyway, yesterday, I went to the city hall with Veronica and Heather because Veronica and I needed to turn in our applications for alien registration. After we were done, we walked around and found a bookstore full of manga in Japanese...I would have gotten some, except for the small problem of me not knowing any Japanese. Later though, we found a used video game, book, DVD, CD, etc. store, and as soon as I saw the CDs, I looked all over for The Gazette. I saw CDs for a band called Gackt and knew The Gazette CDs were nearby, but I simply could not find them...I would walk around the store and then walk back to that section. Of course, it wasn't until a Japanese man stood in front of the CDs that I saw them.
The second my eyes read "Stacked Rubbish," I yelled, "Yes! OMGOSH, yes!" My yelling accompanied jumping before I lunged to grab "Stacked Rubbish," not caring what the other Japanese, who probably wouldn't do the same thing if they were in my place, thought. Despite my happiness, the Japanese man would not move for about five minutes, and when he left, I found another CD from The Gazette called "NIL." Together they were a little under 4,000 yen. Totally worth it! (Each has a DVD with one music video as well)
Yes, yesterday was good. Veronica, Heather, and I went back to Hirakata Station to find something to eat. They wanted crepes, but I wanted something more for a meal rather than dessert. So what did I get? Takoyaki! Why did I get it? Two of my favorite anime characters were obsessed with the stuff! Seems logical, right? Anyway, they were pretty good...fried balls that are mushy on the inside (the only bad part), and mine had small pieces of octopus. I love octopus!!!! The cook asked me if I wanted sauce, mayonnaise, or spices on top of it, but I said no. Maybe next time I'll try the sauce or spices...The only downside to eating the Takoyaki is that I stupidly ate almost all of one right away and scalded my mouth. It was so hot that I had tears coming out of my eyes. It was pretty bad, but what was worse was me trying to eat the Takoyaki with chopsticks. It was bigger than normal so I couldn't put a whole one in my mouth. Instead, I picked one up with my chopsticks and shook it until a piece broke off, then I would eat it.
Once, I tried to take a bite instead and got the awkward taking too big of a bite so that part of it hung out of my mouth situation. I tried to quickly get all of it into my mouth, which looked really awkward until the piece hanging out of my mouth fell back on the small box (hehheh). I then looked up to see if anyone saw me, and sure enough, there were two Japanese guys watching me and snickering. Look at that stupid gaijin. She doesn't know how to eat Takoyaki!
I have now decided that whenever I go out, I'm going to bring a fork with me...
On the way back to the university, I took off my glove so I could get my change out for the bus. After a while, I looked on my lap to see if I put my glove on my lap or in my bag. When I didn't see it on my lap, I assumed it was in my bag and got off the bus at the stop. Inside my bag, my glove was nowhere to be found, so I walked home with one glove off, and by the time I got back to the seminar house, my hand was burning.
But you know what? Losing a glove was a small price to pay for getting two The Gazette CDs. The thought of having them made me warm inside so I didn't even think about the cold. XD
And today, I bought new gloves at the 100 yen store. Yay!
Another thing that happened today makes me wish I was fluent in Japanese. I said Konichiwa to a Japanese woman, who then spoke to me in Japanese. She said Japanjin desu. So I said Amerikajin desu. Then she kept saying Nihongo (Japanese), and when I kept saying eh??? and shrugging because I didn't know what she was saying, she said Iie (no) and Gomen (excuse me or sorry) and then we smiled and parted. Now that I think about it, I think she was asking me if I knew Japanese...I wish! I believe one day I will be fluent...after many looooooooong years. X(
Also, I now have a list of places I want to go and things I want to do or see:
Osaka Castle
Fushimi Inari Shrine
The Gazette Concert in Tokyo (I don't think I'm going to find anyone to go with me since it's far and expensive)
Tokyo for part of spring break; Tokyo Disney
Mt. Fuji
To see my friend Sakura
Those are the main ones for now!
An update on classes:
They are going pretty well...I found out that my new friend from Germany is in every one of my classes so I normally sit by her in each one. Unfortunately, my morning classes and my afternoon classes normally have a 2-3 hour gap in between them, but I end up going to the computer lab in the CIE building to check my email, write my blogs, check facebook, and write my stories. I now have time to write! We'll see if anything comes from it at the end of the semester...
Well, hopefully I'll have an interesting story for next time. Toodles!
I was going to force myself to give some to a Japanese guy, and my roommate suggested this one guy we met; however, I saw all my friends on the same day and at the same time, so I passed out all my oreo bon bons, and the second I gave away my last one, the Japanese guy walked by. Oh well. I'm glad that my friends really enjoyed them! I really enjoyed making them! Maybe I'll make more later!
Anyway, yesterday, I went to the city hall with Veronica and Heather because Veronica and I needed to turn in our applications for alien registration. After we were done, we walked around and found a bookstore full of manga in Japanese...I would have gotten some, except for the small problem of me not knowing any Japanese. Later though, we found a used video game, book, DVD, CD, etc. store, and as soon as I saw the CDs, I looked all over for The Gazette. I saw CDs for a band called Gackt and knew The Gazette CDs were nearby, but I simply could not find them...I would walk around the store and then walk back to that section. Of course, it wasn't until a Japanese man stood in front of the CDs that I saw them.
The second my eyes read "Stacked Rubbish," I yelled, "Yes! OMGOSH, yes!" My yelling accompanied jumping before I lunged to grab "Stacked Rubbish," not caring what the other Japanese, who probably wouldn't do the same thing if they were in my place, thought. Despite my happiness, the Japanese man would not move for about five minutes, and when he left, I found another CD from The Gazette called "NIL." Together they were a little under 4,000 yen. Totally worth it! (Each has a DVD with one music video as well)
Yes, yesterday was good. Veronica, Heather, and I went back to Hirakata Station to find something to eat. They wanted crepes, but I wanted something more for a meal rather than dessert. So what did I get? Takoyaki! Why did I get it? Two of my favorite anime characters were obsessed with the stuff! Seems logical, right? Anyway, they were pretty good...fried balls that are mushy on the inside (the only bad part), and mine had small pieces of octopus. I love octopus!!!! The cook asked me if I wanted sauce, mayonnaise, or spices on top of it, but I said no. Maybe next time I'll try the sauce or spices...The only downside to eating the Takoyaki is that I stupidly ate almost all of one right away and scalded my mouth. It was so hot that I had tears coming out of my eyes. It was pretty bad, but what was worse was me trying to eat the Takoyaki with chopsticks. It was bigger than normal so I couldn't put a whole one in my mouth. Instead, I picked one up with my chopsticks and shook it until a piece broke off, then I would eat it.
Once, I tried to take a bite instead and got the awkward taking too big of a bite so that part of it hung out of my mouth situation. I tried to quickly get all of it into my mouth, which looked really awkward until the piece hanging out of my mouth fell back on the small box (hehheh). I then looked up to see if anyone saw me, and sure enough, there were two Japanese guys watching me and snickering. Look at that stupid gaijin. She doesn't know how to eat Takoyaki!
I have now decided that whenever I go out, I'm going to bring a fork with me...
On the way back to the university, I took off my glove so I could get my change out for the bus. After a while, I looked on my lap to see if I put my glove on my lap or in my bag. When I didn't see it on my lap, I assumed it was in my bag and got off the bus at the stop. Inside my bag, my glove was nowhere to be found, so I walked home with one glove off, and by the time I got back to the seminar house, my hand was burning.
But you know what? Losing a glove was a small price to pay for getting two The Gazette CDs. The thought of having them made me warm inside so I didn't even think about the cold. XD
And today, I bought new gloves at the 100 yen store. Yay!
Another thing that happened today makes me wish I was fluent in Japanese. I said Konichiwa to a Japanese woman, who then spoke to me in Japanese. She said Japanjin desu. So I said Amerikajin desu. Then she kept saying Nihongo (Japanese), and when I kept saying eh??? and shrugging because I didn't know what she was saying, she said Iie (no) and Gomen (excuse me or sorry) and then we smiled and parted. Now that I think about it, I think she was asking me if I knew Japanese...I wish! I believe one day I will be fluent...after many looooooooong years. X(
Also, I now have a list of places I want to go and things I want to do or see:
Osaka Castle
Fushimi Inari Shrine
The Gazette Concert in Tokyo (I don't think I'm going to find anyone to go with me since it's far and expensive)
Tokyo for part of spring break; Tokyo Disney
Mt. Fuji
To see my friend Sakura
Those are the main ones for now!
An update on classes:
They are going pretty well...I found out that my new friend from Germany is in every one of my classes so I normally sit by her in each one. Unfortunately, my morning classes and my afternoon classes normally have a 2-3 hour gap in between them, but I end up going to the computer lab in the CIE building to check my email, write my blogs, check facebook, and write my stories. I now have time to write! We'll see if anything comes from it at the end of the semester...
Well, hopefully I'll have an interesting story for next time. Toodles!
2.12.2012
Best day ever!!!
This Saturday, I had the chance to go to Kyoto with Veronica, Heather, and Rose, and let me tell you, it will be hard to beat that day (although I know my REAL best day ever will be on March 10th...but I'll write about that later). We rode a bus to the train station, and I tried to follow my friends as they were debating what train to go on and whether to transfer or not. I'm still confused, but I think I might be able to manage the train system. We took the slower local train (the same price as the express train), and it was less crowded than the express. We had to go about 15 stops before we made it to Kyoto. Basically, when we got there, we walked to this shrine where there are a bunch of shops and went through several of them.
One of our first stops was to get crepes (flavors: chocolate banana, sweat bean, and strawberry). I got strawberry, and it was pretty good! It had strawberries (obviously), whipped cream, edible cinnamon stick chunks, and an edible cinnamon stick for decoration. Our other stops consisted of random stores, but the most important store was the Ghibli store, where there were tons of items from Miyazaki films. It was pretty much the coolest thing ever...Spirited Away, Ponyo, My Neighbor Totoro, etc. It was great!
After shopping, we decided to get something to eat, and after walking around for about twenty minutes and looking into really risque restaurants, we found this restaurant, where the food looked ok, but what got my vote were the cute Asian guys in tuxes. We went inside and ordered our food (there was American and Japanese food) and decided that the restaurant was a good choice. Then...a string quartet came out to play music, making this restaurant even more awesome, but the awesomeness didn't stop there. Oh no, it went all the way to completely epic when they played songs from Miyazaki films!!! It was like a Miyazaki night. Between us girls, we decided that Veronica would marry the celloist, Heather the violist, Rose the violinist on the inside, and me the violinist on the end. XD
When our food came out, we were both preplexed and pleased. Heather and Rose got spaghetti, Veronica ordered a 6 object meal (I say object because coffee isn't realy a course), and she got six pieces of silverware while the rest of us only got one or two pieces of silverware. I had ordered a hamburger which was three separate slices of hamburger, lettuce, and ham on thin slices of toast, and it was pretty good! Heather and I ordered milkshakes, which was just milk, ice, and flavoring. It tasted like tapioca pudding! Rose got a parfait which was basically a huge ice cream and fruit sundae.
After reluctantly leaving the restaurant, we decided to do Purikura, which is basically a photobooth, but way more awesome.
The photobooths are in a place that is all pink and girly, and there are mirrors provided and curling irons so you can do your hair (may I remind you, all for a photobooth costing 400 yen). You take six pictures, decide what type of eye editing you want (they enlarge your eyes and sometimes it looks freaky), pick your background, and then you get ready to pose. You have to be quick though, and sometimes, the machine will make you squeeze into a small area for a picture. Then afterwards, you go to a separate booth to edit your photos; however, your time is limited. When finished, you send two to your email and get the rest in tiny pictures.
We did it twice and Heather took out her knitted cat that her friend made for the second round. When we were finished, we went upstairs, where there havare crane games...totally rigged...like always...but Veronica, Heather, and Rose each played at least once.
Finally, we left and took the express train home. Then, we found out that we could take the bus from the station to a stop close to the seminar houses rather than stopping at the university and then having us walk back to our houses. Overall, it was a great night!
An update on the Valentine's chocolates:
I made them yesterday, and they turned out pretty good! It just took about 4 hours to make them. Plus, I had to walk to the store three times: once to get the last few things I needed, once to get something I forgot, and once to get more white chocolate. I plan to give them to otosan, okasan, the RAs, and my friends.
*******Also the best thing that could ever possibly happen happened last night*******
I really like this band called The Gazette (they are basically my favorite band ever), and I went on their website last night to see if they had any shows coming up.... They have only one...A 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW!!! It was all in kanji so I had to ask one of the RAs to translate for me, and when I found out there was a concert, I danced and spazzed out. It's March 10th in Tokyo and costs 7,300 yen. I will do what I have to to be able to go. My only dilemma is finding someone else who will go see them with me since I can't read Japanese, and it's a long trip. I will go without someone else if I have to, but I would like to go with someone...and I have to find someone preferrably by this Saturday because that's when tickets go on sale, and I'm pretty sure it will be sold out quickly...so I really hope I can find someone to go with me, and I hope I can get a ticket!!!!!!! It's an 8 hour bus ride to Tokyo from here, but it's 2-4 hours by bullet train; however, the bullet train costs over $100 one way...so I think I'll take the bus. Wish me luck!!!
One of our first stops was to get crepes (flavors: chocolate banana, sweat bean, and strawberry). I got strawberry, and it was pretty good! It had strawberries (obviously), whipped cream, edible cinnamon stick chunks, and an edible cinnamon stick for decoration. Our other stops consisted of random stores, but the most important store was the Ghibli store, where there were tons of items from Miyazaki films. It was pretty much the coolest thing ever...Spirited Away, Ponyo, My Neighbor Totoro, etc. It was great!
After shopping, we decided to get something to eat, and after walking around for about twenty minutes and looking into really risque restaurants, we found this restaurant, where the food looked ok, but what got my vote were the cute Asian guys in tuxes. We went inside and ordered our food (there was American and Japanese food) and decided that the restaurant was a good choice. Then...a string quartet came out to play music, making this restaurant even more awesome, but the awesomeness didn't stop there. Oh no, it went all the way to completely epic when they played songs from Miyazaki films!!! It was like a Miyazaki night. Between us girls, we decided that Veronica would marry the celloist, Heather the violist, Rose the violinist on the inside, and me the violinist on the end. XD
When our food came out, we were both preplexed and pleased. Heather and Rose got spaghetti, Veronica ordered a 6 object meal (I say object because coffee isn't realy a course), and she got six pieces of silverware while the rest of us only got one or two pieces of silverware. I had ordered a hamburger which was three separate slices of hamburger, lettuce, and ham on thin slices of toast, and it was pretty good! Heather and I ordered milkshakes, which was just milk, ice, and flavoring. It tasted like tapioca pudding! Rose got a parfait which was basically a huge ice cream and fruit sundae.
After reluctantly leaving the restaurant, we decided to do Purikura, which is basically a photobooth, but way more awesome.
The photobooths are in a place that is all pink and girly, and there are mirrors provided and curling irons so you can do your hair (may I remind you, all for a photobooth costing 400 yen). You take six pictures, decide what type of eye editing you want (they enlarge your eyes and sometimes it looks freaky), pick your background, and then you get ready to pose. You have to be quick though, and sometimes, the machine will make you squeeze into a small area for a picture. Then afterwards, you go to a separate booth to edit your photos; however, your time is limited. When finished, you send two to your email and get the rest in tiny pictures.
We did it twice and Heather took out her knitted cat that her friend made for the second round. When we were finished, we went upstairs, where there havare crane games...totally rigged...like always...but Veronica, Heather, and Rose each played at least once.
Finally, we left and took the express train home. Then, we found out that we could take the bus from the station to a stop close to the seminar houses rather than stopping at the university and then having us walk back to our houses. Overall, it was a great night!
An update on the Valentine's chocolates:
I made them yesterday, and they turned out pretty good! It just took about 4 hours to make them. Plus, I had to walk to the store three times: once to get the last few things I needed, once to get something I forgot, and once to get more white chocolate. I plan to give them to otosan, okasan, the RAs, and my friends.
*******Also the best thing that could ever possibly happen happened last night*******
I really like this band called The Gazette (they are basically my favorite band ever), and I went on their website last night to see if they had any shows coming up.... They have only one...A 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW!!! It was all in kanji so I had to ask one of the RAs to translate for me, and when I found out there was a concert, I danced and spazzed out. It's March 10th in Tokyo and costs 7,300 yen. I will do what I have to to be able to go. My only dilemma is finding someone else who will go see them with me since I can't read Japanese, and it's a long trip. I will go without someone else if I have to, but I would like to go with someone...and I have to find someone preferrably by this Saturday because that's when tickets go on sale, and I'm pretty sure it will be sold out quickly...so I really hope I can find someone to go with me, and I hope I can get a ticket!!!!!!! It's an 8 hour bus ride to Tokyo from here, but it's 2-4 hours by bullet train; however, the bullet train costs over $100 one way...so I think I'll take the bus. Wish me luck!!!
2.10.2012
Valentine's Day Pt 1
Valentine's Day is around the corner, and the one thing keeping me from ignoring the holiday like always is the fact that I'm in Japan!!! Now, for those of you that don't know how Valentine's Day works in Japan, I will add a brief explanation.
Girls give chocolates to guys (the person they like or just a friend [they can also give chocolate to their girl friends]). They can buy it or make it, and how cool would it be to make chocolate? At least, I think it would be cool.
Here's the thing about Valentine's Day though. If you give a guy chocolates, he has to get you a gift for White Day on March 14th.
I'm going to be honest and say I wish I could participate in both, but I'm only going to participate in Valentine's Day since I really don't know any guys here yet.
I'm going to make oreo bonbons, and I'm going to give them to otosan, okasan, the 3 RAs and my friends. I do have a dilemma though...one of the RAs is a guy...Veronica suggested that I find out where his refrigerator is in the downstairs kitchen and put it in there secretly, which I think would be funny, and similar to what a kid does in elementary school. haha I think I'm just going to give his to Eriko so she can give it to him without him knowing it's from me.
I was happy to buy the little decorated boxes with wrappers in them for the chocolates...in fact, I was so happy that I didn't realize the cute bunny boxes actually said 'I'm in love with you.' Seriously? I'm not in love with anybody! So I have to go back to the store and buy some new ones...
Anyway, I'm nervous about making the bonbons...I think I might mess up, but at least trying should be fun!
I guess I will post an update on how it goes later!
Girls give chocolates to guys (the person they like or just a friend [they can also give chocolate to their girl friends]). They can buy it or make it, and how cool would it be to make chocolate? At least, I think it would be cool.
Here's the thing about Valentine's Day though. If you give a guy chocolates, he has to get you a gift for White Day on March 14th.
I'm going to be honest and say I wish I could participate in both, but I'm only going to participate in Valentine's Day since I really don't know any guys here yet.
I'm going to make oreo bonbons, and I'm going to give them to otosan, okasan, the 3 RAs and my friends. I do have a dilemma though...one of the RAs is a guy...Veronica suggested that I find out where his refrigerator is in the downstairs kitchen and put it in there secretly, which I think would be funny, and similar to what a kid does in elementary school. haha I think I'm just going to give his to Eriko so she can give it to him without him knowing it's from me.
I was happy to buy the little decorated boxes with wrappers in them for the chocolates...in fact, I was so happy that I didn't realize the cute bunny boxes actually said 'I'm in love with you.' Seriously? I'm not in love with anybody! So I have to go back to the store and buy some new ones...
Anyway, I'm nervous about making the bonbons...I think I might mess up, but at least trying should be fun!
I guess I will post an update on how it goes later!
Unintentional stalking
I'm so awkward...I'm so awkward...I'm so awkward...
Remember AHG from my story about getting my computer registered? I'm going to tell a short story about him...and another story about this other guy, but first, I have to ask...Does this following scenerio happen to you? You're just walking on the sidewalk minding your own business while the birds are chirping and golden rays of sun light up your beautiful (or handsome face) and then you hear someone walking behind you, but it's no biggie, they'll pass you eventually...but they don't, so you only hope that they'll go another direction, but they don't, and end up unintentionally stalking you? I've had something similar happen two days in a row.
The first day, someone came out of no where behind me...seriously, I looked behind me and no one was there, and suddenly, I heard footsteps....so I thought ok...no big deal...and kept walking until I got to the bike parking lot, where I cut through, thinking that the person behind me would walk around like everyone else...nope...
This person ends up following me across campus to the CIE building, and the whole time, I thought he was going to pass me...but no...even when I sped up, he kept in pace behind me...Finally, I held open the door for people coming out and then this random guy going in. He was completely oblivious to the trouble he caused me. XP
Then the next day, I saw AHG walking ahead of me. An international student went up to talk to him, and in my head, I was thinking that I didn't want to feel obligated to say hi. I wouldn't mind saying hi, but he hasn't said hi to me after the computer registration, and I haven't really had the chance to say hi to him. Sometimes, I'll go to say hi, but he's not looking at me so I'm like...ok and look away. :P Anyway, I wanted to avoid another one of those awkward should I say hi or not thingymabobs...so I was like 'whatever way he's going, I'm going the opposite way.'
There are two ways to the CIE building: diagonally (shorter) and walking around some buildings in a square. It appeared he was going to go diagonally with the international student, so I chose the long way, which no one chooses because it's long. So I go that way, and a few moments later, I hear footsteps behind me. I look over my shoulder, and there he is following me...almost all the way to the CIE. I was trying to walk as fast as I could hoping he wouldn't recognize me...
The world of Ashley is full of detours to avoid awkward situations...It's very inconvenient.
Anyway, here are a few current updates...
I got a local phone today
I'm going to Kyoto (or Osaka) tomorrow
I'm afraid that bugs (apparently centipedes are common) are going to get me in the middle of the night because my futon is so close to the ground...
I really like toast!
Remember AHG from my story about getting my computer registered? I'm going to tell a short story about him...and another story about this other guy, but first, I have to ask...Does this following scenerio happen to you? You're just walking on the sidewalk minding your own business while the birds are chirping and golden rays of sun light up your beautiful (or handsome face) and then you hear someone walking behind you, but it's no biggie, they'll pass you eventually...but they don't, so you only hope that they'll go another direction, but they don't, and end up unintentionally stalking you? I've had something similar happen two days in a row.
The first day, someone came out of no where behind me...seriously, I looked behind me and no one was there, and suddenly, I heard footsteps....so I thought ok...no big deal...and kept walking until I got to the bike parking lot, where I cut through, thinking that the person behind me would walk around like everyone else...nope...
This person ends up following me across campus to the CIE building, and the whole time, I thought he was going to pass me...but no...even when I sped up, he kept in pace behind me...Finally, I held open the door for people coming out and then this random guy going in. He was completely oblivious to the trouble he caused me. XP
Then the next day, I saw AHG walking ahead of me. An international student went up to talk to him, and in my head, I was thinking that I didn't want to feel obligated to say hi. I wouldn't mind saying hi, but he hasn't said hi to me after the computer registration, and I haven't really had the chance to say hi to him. Sometimes, I'll go to say hi, but he's not looking at me so I'm like...ok and look away. :P Anyway, I wanted to avoid another one of those awkward should I say hi or not thingymabobs...so I was like 'whatever way he's going, I'm going the opposite way.'
There are two ways to the CIE building: diagonally (shorter) and walking around some buildings in a square. It appeared he was going to go diagonally with the international student, so I chose the long way, which no one chooses because it's long. So I go that way, and a few moments later, I hear footsteps behind me. I look over my shoulder, and there he is following me...almost all the way to the CIE. I was trying to walk as fast as I could hoping he wouldn't recognize me...
The world of Ashley is full of detours to avoid awkward situations...It's very inconvenient.
Anyway, here are a few current updates...
I got a local phone today
I'm going to Kyoto (or Osaka) tomorrow
I'm afraid that bugs (apparently centipedes are common) are going to get me in the middle of the night because my futon is so close to the ground...
I really like toast!
Being late, eating raw chicken, and getting lost: a wonderful combo!
Wednesday was just one of those days...
First, I felt sick in the morning until I had 20 minutes to take a 30 minute walk. Then, when I went downstairs, I saw them...huge, fluffy flakes of snow. Now, because I was already late, I didn't bother to go get an umbrella or a sweatshirt with a hood because I'm from Iowa, and I walk out in the snow without a hood all the time! But I forgot that is only the distance from the car to the store. :P Thirty minutes without coverage from the snow...blowing towards my face...imagine how that might feel... having these huge pieces of snow land on your face, making your black coat look like the night sky and tumbling down your hair...now imagine after half the walk, your sock magically slides off half your foot. Oh, and don't forget that you're ten minutes behind schedule and if you're late three times it equals one absence. If you don't care about being late, then ignore this point; either way, snow in the face and a sock sliding off can be...rather unpleasant.
Anyway, I was a whole whopping 6-7 minutes late to class. My teacher looked very disappointed in me...but after the first few awkward moments, I was really enjoying my Reading and Writing Japanese 1 class, partly because I spent some time memorizing hiragana, and I felt pretty smart when I was able to name different characters....although I'm in the small group of students here that can't read hiragana haha
After class, my teacher seemed in higher spirits and asked if I missed the bus...I explained, and she seemed to understand...phew...
The rest of the day went by normally...
I've grown accustomed to going to the grocery store ten minutes away rather than the one twenty minutes away. The farther one is called Top World, and it's pretty good, but it's more expensive...the closer one, Sanko, is pretty good too and it has a 100yen shop inside, but you should never ever ever....even if someone threatened to replace all your music with Justin Beiber songs...eat the chicken at Sanko...I bought and ate some the other day, and it tasted pretty good. A few bites were mushy and tasted weird (it didn't look raw when I cut it)...I get to the last piece and find that about half of it is raw still... I immediately threw it away while trying not to think of the mushy bites I had eaten before. BLEH!!! My roommate then informed me that she got sick after eating chicken at Sanko...so it has been confirmed that the chicken there is very very bad...
But their fried shrimp is good...I've also gotten yogurt, cereal, milk, bread, peanut butter, deli sandwiches, donuts, oreos, crackers...and other food that I can find at home...so I think Sanko is still worth going to.
I would now like to inform you about the time I got lost...
Jessica showed me the way to the university. When my classes were over, I remembered most of the way back, and I get back most of the way and take a wrong turn and walk fifteen minutes until I find the park that is actually right across the street from my seminar house. I then wander aimlessly for another fifteen minutes or so looking around for my house when the street was right by the park. I then saw another foreign student and followed him to Seminar House 2. Then, I knew where I was going and went back the way I came and chose the right street...well, I'm glad that's over with...=]
First, I felt sick in the morning until I had 20 minutes to take a 30 minute walk. Then, when I went downstairs, I saw them...huge, fluffy flakes of snow. Now, because I was already late, I didn't bother to go get an umbrella or a sweatshirt with a hood because I'm from Iowa, and I walk out in the snow without a hood all the time! But I forgot that is only the distance from the car to the store. :P Thirty minutes without coverage from the snow...blowing towards my face...imagine how that might feel... having these huge pieces of snow land on your face, making your black coat look like the night sky and tumbling down your hair...now imagine after half the walk, your sock magically slides off half your foot. Oh, and don't forget that you're ten minutes behind schedule and if you're late three times it equals one absence. If you don't care about being late, then ignore this point; either way, snow in the face and a sock sliding off can be...rather unpleasant.
Anyway, I was a whole whopping 6-7 minutes late to class. My teacher looked very disappointed in me...but after the first few awkward moments, I was really enjoying my Reading and Writing Japanese 1 class, partly because I spent some time memorizing hiragana, and I felt pretty smart when I was able to name different characters....although I'm in the small group of students here that can't read hiragana haha
After class, my teacher seemed in higher spirits and asked if I missed the bus...I explained, and she seemed to understand...phew...
The rest of the day went by normally...
I've grown accustomed to going to the grocery store ten minutes away rather than the one twenty minutes away. The farther one is called Top World, and it's pretty good, but it's more expensive...the closer one, Sanko, is pretty good too and it has a 100yen shop inside, but you should never ever ever....even if someone threatened to replace all your music with Justin Beiber songs...eat the chicken at Sanko...I bought and ate some the other day, and it tasted pretty good. A few bites were mushy and tasted weird (it didn't look raw when I cut it)...I get to the last piece and find that about half of it is raw still... I immediately threw it away while trying not to think of the mushy bites I had eaten before. BLEH!!! My roommate then informed me that she got sick after eating chicken at Sanko...so it has been confirmed that the chicken there is very very bad...
But their fried shrimp is good...I've also gotten yogurt, cereal, milk, bread, peanut butter, deli sandwiches, donuts, oreos, crackers...and other food that I can find at home...so I think Sanko is still worth going to.
I would now like to inform you about the time I got lost...
Jessica showed me the way to the university. When my classes were over, I remembered most of the way back, and I get back most of the way and take a wrong turn and walk fifteen minutes until I find the park that is actually right across the street from my seminar house. I then wander aimlessly for another fifteen minutes or so looking around for my house when the street was right by the park. I then saw another foreign student and followed him to Seminar House 2. Then, I knew where I was going and went back the way I came and chose the right street...well, I'm glad that's over with...=]
That awkward moment when your computer is the only one that causes problems...
During orientation, I had to get my computer registered at the CIE computer lab...ok...whatever...so I go there with my laptop at my time slot. When I get there, I'm met by a friendly Japanese girl, who then points me to a cute Japanese guy. Oh my poopscates!!! >.<
I start my computer so he can look up two of my computer's physical addresses, and while doing so, I start talking to him about random things...whatever pops into my mind. The first few things are normal like: Are you a student? What year are you? What's your major? And in between each question is an awkward silence...when he sees my desktop background with members of The Gazette (one of the best Japanese bands ever!!!), he asks me who they are and some other questions about them. Of course, I was pleased to share my knowledge. XD For the next few minutes, we talked bands. Then, when he was looking for one of the physical addresses on my computer, he couldn't find it (I couldn't find it either) so he had to ask the Japanese girl to help...after looking, she left with an EEEEEEEHHHHH!!!
My computer turned out to be special...so special in fact that it took an hour (rather than ten minutes) to register my computer. Another Japanese guy with awesome hair (it was an uneven hairstyle; short on one side and long on the other) rolled in between...(I'm going to call him H) H and I to look at my computer. Of course he asked me what band was on my desktop background, and I told him The Gazette and proceeded to ask if he knew them and liked them. He knew them, but he said they were ok. -.-...no comment...
After getting confused, he left, and H and I automatically closed his space and continued talking. I spoke like I had some speech impediment, and I even talked to him about working out...somehow that seems like a weird topic to be talking about to a cute guy. XP He then asked me who my favorite band member was from the Gazette, and I pointed to Reita...but before he could get a better look, the guy with awesome hair came between us again and tried again at my computer...he sat there for a while, and I was just sitting there awkardly, looking at my phone, around the lab, watching the clock, making faces, and of course, meditating on how awkward the situation was. Eriko, my RA, and a friend of hers then came into the computer lab and sat across from where I was sitting, and judging by the look in (I'm going to call him AHG for awesome hair guy because I didn't ask him what his name was) AHG's eyes and the smirk on his face he either A) liked Eriko or her friend B) he has that type of cocky personality or C) both.
Eriko said hi to me and then AHG talked to her in Japanese, making me feel even more awkard sitting there, waiting for my computer to get internet (life without it can be incredibly boring or a pain). Once again, AHG left because he couldn't figure my computer out, and I guess I looked depressed or disturbed...or like someone haunted by a ghost that doesn't stop singing Friday by Rebecca Black because H said, "Everything will be alright."
We continued talking again, and I was getting comfortable talking to him about things that were even more random than before, but eventually, I ran out of things to say, and when AHG came back, I got out my notebook to prevent another long awkward sitting session. Shortly after, H left to help someone else get their computer registered...Darn me and my notebook and awkwardness...so I decided to talk to AHG...it was more awkward talking to him, but I enjoyed talking rather than sitting there awkwardly. After a little while, he told me I would have to go somewhere else to get my computer fixed...so I followed him and said goodbye to H as I headed towards the door, but then AHG told me I had to stay ten more minutes, so I awkwardly told H I guess not... I sat down with AHG again, and he was definitely dramatic like me...he had an epiphany and went AHHHH!!! while looking at me, to which I copied him but did the expression that Kevin did in Home Alone when he was putting on his dad's cologne?...he then turned my computer upside down...wrote down a number and that was the key to getting my computer registered. He was so happy that he figured it out, and we high fived each other...he then told all the other workers in the computer lab, and they all got excited. I told AHG thank you in Japanese to which he didn't respond and just left...ok???
As a result of my time in the computer lab, I've been more in tune with my awkwardness and shyness. I then had an idea for writing a series of books called an awkward girl abroad....maybe I'll write them...after I write all the other books I need to finish...hehe
Anyway, this incident was a week and a half ago. I've seen AHG several times but not H. It's almost as if he had vanished, which is dissapointing because I would have liked him as a friend (anyone interested in The Gazette or who likes The Gazette must me my friend XD). I would try to be friends with AHG, but he's always talking with someone, which makes it hard for me to cut in and talk to him. I have a story about him for later...Dun Dun Dun!
I start my computer so he can look up two of my computer's physical addresses, and while doing so, I start talking to him about random things...whatever pops into my mind. The first few things are normal like: Are you a student? What year are you? What's your major? And in between each question is an awkward silence...when he sees my desktop background with members of The Gazette (one of the best Japanese bands ever!!!), he asks me who they are and some other questions about them. Of course, I was pleased to share my knowledge. XD For the next few minutes, we talked bands. Then, when he was looking for one of the physical addresses on my computer, he couldn't find it (I couldn't find it either) so he had to ask the Japanese girl to help...after looking, she left with an EEEEEEEHHHHH!!!
My computer turned out to be special...so special in fact that it took an hour (rather than ten minutes) to register my computer. Another Japanese guy with awesome hair (it was an uneven hairstyle; short on one side and long on the other) rolled in between...(I'm going to call him H) H and I to look at my computer. Of course he asked me what band was on my desktop background, and I told him The Gazette and proceeded to ask if he knew them and liked them. He knew them, but he said they were ok. -.-...no comment...
After getting confused, he left, and H and I automatically closed his space and continued talking. I spoke like I had some speech impediment, and I even talked to him about working out...somehow that seems like a weird topic to be talking about to a cute guy. XP He then asked me who my favorite band member was from the Gazette, and I pointed to Reita...but before he could get a better look, the guy with awesome hair came between us again and tried again at my computer...he sat there for a while, and I was just sitting there awkardly, looking at my phone, around the lab, watching the clock, making faces, and of course, meditating on how awkward the situation was. Eriko, my RA, and a friend of hers then came into the computer lab and sat across from where I was sitting, and judging by the look in (I'm going to call him AHG for awesome hair guy because I didn't ask him what his name was) AHG's eyes and the smirk on his face he either A) liked Eriko or her friend B) he has that type of cocky personality or C) both.
Eriko said hi to me and then AHG talked to her in Japanese, making me feel even more awkard sitting there, waiting for my computer to get internet (life without it can be incredibly boring or a pain). Once again, AHG left because he couldn't figure my computer out, and I guess I looked depressed or disturbed...or like someone haunted by a ghost that doesn't stop singing Friday by Rebecca Black because H said, "Everything will be alright."
We continued talking again, and I was getting comfortable talking to him about things that were even more random than before, but eventually, I ran out of things to say, and when AHG came back, I got out my notebook to prevent another long awkward sitting session. Shortly after, H left to help someone else get their computer registered...Darn me and my notebook and awkwardness...so I decided to talk to AHG...it was more awkward talking to him, but I enjoyed talking rather than sitting there awkwardly. After a little while, he told me I would have to go somewhere else to get my computer fixed...so I followed him and said goodbye to H as I headed towards the door, but then AHG told me I had to stay ten more minutes, so I awkwardly told H I guess not... I sat down with AHG again, and he was definitely dramatic like me...he had an epiphany and went AHHHH!!! while looking at me, to which I copied him but did the expression that Kevin did in Home Alone when he was putting on his dad's cologne?...he then turned my computer upside down...wrote down a number and that was the key to getting my computer registered. He was so happy that he figured it out, and we high fived each other...he then told all the other workers in the computer lab, and they all got excited. I told AHG thank you in Japanese to which he didn't respond and just left...ok???
As a result of my time in the computer lab, I've been more in tune with my awkwardness and shyness. I then had an idea for writing a series of books called an awkward girl abroad....maybe I'll write them...after I write all the other books I need to finish...hehe
Anyway, this incident was a week and a half ago. I've seen AHG several times but not H. It's almost as if he had vanished, which is dissapointing because I would have liked him as a friend (anyone interested in The Gazette or who likes The Gazette must me my friend XD). I would try to be friends with AHG, but he's always talking with someone, which makes it hard for me to cut in and talk to him. I have a story about him for later...Dun Dun Dun!
Orientation week
First off, I would like to apologize because my posts might get really long. I like to go into details about things...and I ramble...a wonderful combination, don't you think? I'll try to summarize my orientation week...
During orientation week, everyone has to stay at the seminar houses, so there might be 3 people living in one room during the week. Jessica was my first roommate, and she's from Australia and doing a homestay. Thus, she left after a week. My second roommate was named Sabrina, and she decided to rent an apartment instead of living in the seminar houses...so what happens to me at UNI (switching roommates every semester or having a roommate leave) actually happened in Japan! Woo! Well, now I have another roommate name Veronica, and she's from New York. She's pretty cool. We have a class together and eat together sometimes....and the most important thing is that she likes Epic Rap Battles and the LOTR movies XD.
Anyway, back to my first roommate, Jessica, she was really nice, friendly, and helpful. She introduced me to the Big Bang Theory, which is ok...I like Sheldon's character! XD And we attempted to do a Harry Potter marathon...and epically failed. We fell asleep during the first movie and stopped after it was finished...haha so much for that! She's actually sitting next to me in the computer lab as I type this. Random fact....=] (but not anymore because I'm editing this in my room. :P)
Orientation was filled with a bunch of helpful and useless meetings...I registered for classes and got into Reading and Writing Japanese 1, Speaking and Listening Japanese 1, Monsters, Ghosts, and the Making of Japan, International Communication in Japan, and Japanese Popular Media and Culture.
I'm so lucky that I got into Monsters, Ghosts, and the Making of Japan because 30 people can be in the class...and there are 29 people on the waiting list!!! Unfortunately, these two girls, who are twins, signed up for the class, and one got in and one didn't. Go figure!
I found out that my International Communication in Japan course counts for Sociolinguistics as part of my TESOL course...so I can graduate from UNI in two years, and study abroad twice (er technically 4 times if you count summer)!
At the seminar house there are three RAs, Eriko, who is really awesome and I talk to her sometimes; Midori, whom I have talked to a couple times (she tried to talk to me in Japanese), and Kaito, who said hi to me. They're really nice. Kaito said he likes to work out and said that if anyone wants to go with him to the gym that they could go with him, and I was tempted to ask because I work out sometimes at home, and I don't know if I can go four months without working out. I think it would be awkward if I asked though. Of course I think a lot of non-awkward things are awkward because I make them awkward. =D
My next post will be about me getting my computer registered XP ~Fin~
During orientation week, everyone has to stay at the seminar houses, so there might be 3 people living in one room during the week. Jessica was my first roommate, and she's from Australia and doing a homestay. Thus, she left after a week. My second roommate was named Sabrina, and she decided to rent an apartment instead of living in the seminar houses...so what happens to me at UNI (switching roommates every semester or having a roommate leave) actually happened in Japan! Woo! Well, now I have another roommate name Veronica, and she's from New York. She's pretty cool. We have a class together and eat together sometimes....and the most important thing is that she likes Epic Rap Battles and the LOTR movies XD.
Anyway, back to my first roommate, Jessica, she was really nice, friendly, and helpful. She introduced me to the Big Bang Theory, which is ok...I like Sheldon's character! XD And we attempted to do a Harry Potter marathon...and epically failed. We fell asleep during the first movie and stopped after it was finished...haha so much for that! She's actually sitting next to me in the computer lab as I type this. Random fact....=] (but not anymore because I'm editing this in my room. :P)
Orientation was filled with a bunch of helpful and useless meetings...I registered for classes and got into Reading and Writing Japanese 1, Speaking and Listening Japanese 1, Monsters, Ghosts, and the Making of Japan, International Communication in Japan, and Japanese Popular Media and Culture.
I'm so lucky that I got into Monsters, Ghosts, and the Making of Japan because 30 people can be in the class...and there are 29 people on the waiting list!!! Unfortunately, these two girls, who are twins, signed up for the class, and one got in and one didn't. Go figure!
I found out that my International Communication in Japan course counts for Sociolinguistics as part of my TESOL course...so I can graduate from UNI in two years, and study abroad twice (er technically 4 times if you count summer)!
At the seminar house there are three RAs, Eriko, who is really awesome and I talk to her sometimes; Midori, whom I have talked to a couple times (she tried to talk to me in Japanese), and Kaito, who said hi to me. They're really nice. Kaito said he likes to work out and said that if anyone wants to go with him to the gym that they could go with him, and I was tempted to ask because I work out sometimes at home, and I don't know if I can go four months without working out. I think it would be awkward if I asked though. Of course I think a lot of non-awkward things are awkward because I make them awkward. =D
My next post will be about me getting my computer registered XP ~Fin~
Ready for take off
First off, a warning to the people reading this...weirdness might ensue. So saying that, let me open with something that might make you roll your eyes. =]
The first thing I remember about going to the Des Moines International Airport was having my mom tack on the end of a prayer that I would not bring home an Asian guy...
Now, if you know me, you know that I joke around about liking Asian guys...but behind my jokes lies a true desire...now that I type that, desire seems like a strong word. I like Asian guys, ok? Some people might think I'm weird because of it, but you know what? I am weird and always have been! Plus, I have a few friends who are my support group on liking Asian guys. XD Anyway, the point is that I felt like my mom had cursed me...not that I'm looking for a guy honestly... I'm the 'if it happens, it happens; if not, it doesn't' type of girl...but my mom's words certainly aren't going to help anything. haha
Now, to jump to a completely different subject...the plane rides...Des Moines to DFW (leaving at 6:00AM I might add so I had to be at the airport two hours earlier and I couldn't sleep that night)...I sleep...DFW to Tokyo Narita...I sleep for 2 of the 13 1/2 hours...the rest of the hours are filled with eating food (which surprisingly had sushi, crackers and an individual package of cheese, a brownie, a salad or a few slices of fruit, a small water bottle, and then the normal gross airplane food...although one of the meals was pizza, which made me giddy considering I was feeling sick, and I didn't want to eat normal airplane food like beef and nasty potatoes, and brown vegetables, or overcooked chicken and rice. Somehow, eating pizza made me not feel sick...Does that make sense? Of course not!
The rest of my time was spent watching movies...one of them was Japanese with English subtitles called Kaiji 2. It's about a gambler who gambles his money to try to buy him and his friends out of working underground. It's actually quite good! In fact, I watched it two times. It refered to the first movie a lot which reminds me of an anime called Deadman Wonderland...where criminals are forced to play certain games that might cost them their lives. I so want to watch Kaiji: the ultimate gambler...but first, I have to find it and buy it...I'm not sure about the rules about watching stuff online in Japan.
Now, the TVs were small personal ones on the back of the seat in front of you, and the guy in front of me just happened to be one of those people who recline their chairs back as far as they can without any consideration for the person behind them...and people with long legs...you know how bad this can be. This guy didn't stop there though...oh no...he placed his hands behind his head so that his fingers were less than a foot away from my face and started picking at them...which distracted me from my movies.
You can imagine that I was happy to get off the plane...and the second I got off, I did a five second dance because I was in Japan (I danced in the tunnel from the plane to the airport; I figured that there wouldn't be a lot of people behind me to see me XD)! Finally, after 6-7 years of waiting!!!
I found out that I had to get my bags and go through customs...everthing is in Japanese and everyone speaks Japanese, but I manage...after I got my official ticket, I went to wait at the gate for an hour...wanting to fall asleep because I only had two hours of sleep in about the past 48 hours. Once on the plane, everything said was in Japanese followed by English. Luckily, I had a whole row to myself, and I immediately slept...after staring out the window to see Japan from the air at night.
Once I landed at the Kansai International Airport, I got my stuff and had to ask for directions on where the shuttle bus to the Best Western hotel was. It was about 8, so I had to wait until 9 for the next one. While waiting, I exchanged my money, and then waited outside for the shuttle...the driver could hardly speak English, and since I didn't know any Japanese, I just followed his actions.
Once at the hotel, I got my key and went up to the twelfth floor, took a much needed shower, tried to call my parents and failed (so I used Skype credit to post a facebook status so someone would inform my parents I was alright [my SIM card hadn't been activated]), took a couple pictures of the mini room, shampoo, soap, and conditioner dispenser, and passed out on the bed. Thus, this concludes my description of my flight and first night in Japan.
The first thing I remember about going to the Des Moines International Airport was having my mom tack on the end of a prayer that I would not bring home an Asian guy...
Now, if you know me, you know that I joke around about liking Asian guys...but behind my jokes lies a true desire...now that I type that, desire seems like a strong word. I like Asian guys, ok? Some people might think I'm weird because of it, but you know what? I am weird and always have been! Plus, I have a few friends who are my support group on liking Asian guys. XD Anyway, the point is that I felt like my mom had cursed me...not that I'm looking for a guy honestly... I'm the 'if it happens, it happens; if not, it doesn't' type of girl...but my mom's words certainly aren't going to help anything. haha
Now, to jump to a completely different subject...the plane rides...Des Moines to DFW (leaving at 6:00AM I might add so I had to be at the airport two hours earlier and I couldn't sleep that night)...I sleep...DFW to Tokyo Narita...I sleep for 2 of the 13 1/2 hours...the rest of the hours are filled with eating food (which surprisingly had sushi, crackers and an individual package of cheese, a brownie, a salad or a few slices of fruit, a small water bottle, and then the normal gross airplane food...although one of the meals was pizza, which made me giddy considering I was feeling sick, and I didn't want to eat normal airplane food like beef and nasty potatoes, and brown vegetables, or overcooked chicken and rice. Somehow, eating pizza made me not feel sick...Does that make sense? Of course not!
The rest of my time was spent watching movies...one of them was Japanese with English subtitles called Kaiji 2. It's about a gambler who gambles his money to try to buy him and his friends out of working underground. It's actually quite good! In fact, I watched it two times. It refered to the first movie a lot which reminds me of an anime called Deadman Wonderland...where criminals are forced to play certain games that might cost them their lives. I so want to watch Kaiji: the ultimate gambler...but first, I have to find it and buy it...I'm not sure about the rules about watching stuff online in Japan.
Now, the TVs were small personal ones on the back of the seat in front of you, and the guy in front of me just happened to be one of those people who recline their chairs back as far as they can without any consideration for the person behind them...and people with long legs...you know how bad this can be. This guy didn't stop there though...oh no...he placed his hands behind his head so that his fingers were less than a foot away from my face and started picking at them...which distracted me from my movies.
You can imagine that I was happy to get off the plane...and the second I got off, I did a five second dance because I was in Japan (I danced in the tunnel from the plane to the airport; I figured that there wouldn't be a lot of people behind me to see me XD)! Finally, after 6-7 years of waiting!!!
I found out that I had to get my bags and go through customs...everthing is in Japanese and everyone speaks Japanese, but I manage...after I got my official ticket, I went to wait at the gate for an hour...wanting to fall asleep because I only had two hours of sleep in about the past 48 hours. Once on the plane, everything said was in Japanese followed by English. Luckily, I had a whole row to myself, and I immediately slept...after staring out the window to see Japan from the air at night.
Once I landed at the Kansai International Airport, I got my stuff and had to ask for directions on where the shuttle bus to the Best Western hotel was. It was about 8, so I had to wait until 9 for the next one. While waiting, I exchanged my money, and then waited outside for the shuttle...the driver could hardly speak English, and since I didn't know any Japanese, I just followed his actions.
Once at the hotel, I got my key and went up to the twelfth floor, took a much needed shower, tried to call my parents and failed (so I used Skype credit to post a facebook status so someone would inform my parents I was alright [my SIM card hadn't been activated]), took a couple pictures of the mini room, shampoo, soap, and conditioner dispenser, and passed out on the bed. Thus, this concludes my description of my flight and first night in Japan.
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