Friday night I went over to the Seminar Houses for our weekly cooking party. Oglivie was cooking Mexican food, as per her heritage. I met up with her on campus and we set out to find ingrediants.
Let me assure everyone, firstly, that Japan Supermarkets, have nothing but Japanese food. Now, I know some of you are saying "Well duh, it's JAPAN" but think about it. The supermarkets at home have Indian, Jewish, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, Italian sections and more. True, these sections arent large, but they always make up enough of the supermarket to have an asile or half asile of "Ethnic Foods."
The second hiccup came later when we could only find taco shells and then Oglivie (who was supposed to cook for 12 people mind you) admitted that she didn't know how to brown beef. So then it became me who was leading her through the store and helping her make up a new menu on the fly to account for the lack of ingrediants.
The tacos (p.s. taco shells in Japan cost the same amount as ground beef, wtf?!) turned out good, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I then went home and collapsed. Up until now I haden't really had time to rest after Tokyo.
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Breakfast on Saturday was at 9 am. I literally got up, threw on cloths, went upstairs and ate. Which breakfast was kind of nasty. It was a traditional Japanese Breakfast. Rice (okay), Miso Soup (not bad) and a main dish. The main dish was really fatty beef, I mean like gross amounts of fat (they like fat on their meat here... ick) with Kimchi, it's spicy Korean vegtables with an odd tang to it.
Now, Ive eaten a lot of things for breakfast, but spicy and onions is not what I normally reach for. I ate as much as I could and then washed my dishes. Okasan asked me what I was going to do now, I said, go back to bed!
I slept until 1!! It felt so good.
Later in the day I went out with Oglivie and Sara to the downtown area and walked around department stores. I found the cutest pair of shorts ever that were a half inch from fitting me, I could've died. I also found out another problem I'm going to have with tights (everyone wears tights here all the time). I tried on a pair and the crotch was just above my nees and my feet were all the way in the bottom! My legs are too long! I think finding Japanese clothing may be more difficult than even I first expected.
Then that night we went to the grandmothers house for dinner as we do every Saturday. Dinner was good, but everyone eats so fast! I barely got anything, I wasn't starving or anything, but I would've liked some more.
After that I watched this crazy Japanese TV game show. It was like a game of hide-and-go-seek with Japanese idols and sports stars, in Universal studios, and the people who were it were called the "Hunters" and they looked like matrix meets terminaors. It was really amusing, and very, "only in Japan." (that's my slogan now)
When we got home Toko asked me what I was going to do, I said I didn't know. I asked her the same and she said she was going to go to the rental movie store. DVDs and CDs are really expensive in Japan, so the rental business is still a big deal here and works for both CDs and DVDs. I asked if I could come and she said sure. I think Toko and I are beginning to bond. She asked me if I ever felt lonely, and I was honest and said I did now and then. She's been with host famlies in America and in Australia, she said she understands and if I want to do something to ask her. I really appreciated it.
We ended up getting "Without a Trace" and went home and watched it late into the night.
----------------------------
Today (Sunday) I slept in again. I heard my Okasan come in to do laundry in the morning and I barely remember getting up and telling her I didn't need breakfast, that I was sleepy.
I got up around 11:30, and got dressed and ready to go to the mall as Toko promised. I went upstairs and they brought back lunch for me. I apologized for sleeping so much, explaining that I was still very tired from Tokyo as I hadn't had a chance to sleep much since. They seemed to understand.
We watched two episodes of CSI:Miami, one of their favorite TV shows before getting ready to go.
The car ride was very quiet, I wanted to say something but I didn't know what. With my limited Japanese sometimes I find myself unable to start a conversation because I feel like there's nothing meaningful I haven't asked. And even if their was, I likely wouldn't understand the response given.
The mall was very cool, it's four stories tall and has all kinds of shops. We first walked around a home goods store and Okasan got glasses. Then we went down to Gap. I'm used to thinking of Gap as a fairly reasonable store, not in Japan. Everything was so expensive! 30.00$ for a cami, too lavish for me!
We then went to the grocery store (in the mall). I was originally going to cook chili, but I wanted to make cornbread to go with it and they didn't have Cornmeal. (See what I was saying about the grocery stores not having stuff?) So if anyone knows any way to make cornbread without cornmeal please let me know.
My second plan was to make baked breaded chicken and mac and cheese. Toko said she loved Mac and Cheese so I was like "Good, going with that." When we were checking out Okasan put certian things in a seperate basket. Apparentally offering to cook means I offer to buy the groceries as well.
So after a 25.00$ grocery bill (Cheese is friggin expensive here, like 3.00 for a 50g baggie of cubed chedder) we went home. I was really dissapointed to be honest. I thought when my sister offered to take me shopping we'd really go shopping... But the mall has a station right next to it, so I know how to get there on my own now from Hirakata station. So I can go back whenever.
I rested for a bit at home (when I wrote the first long blog post) and then went upstairs to cook. I made sauteed carrots, mac and cheese, and breaded chicken. I got to use their microwave as an oven and found out it works pretty good, which is a relief for future cooking and baking projects. They seemed to be very impressed to see me in the kitchen, espically so that I required no assistance other than explination on how to use their microwave or where an extra collender was.
I set the table western-style and we ate with forks and knives. Toko said she doesn't normally like chicken (She explained because she could see the animal) but that this was okay. I'm thinking it was because it was the breast fillet, which looks like any other fillet of meat. They both were saying how good everything was, and I don't think they were just being polite since they went for seconds on mac and cheese and carrots and were lamenting that there wasn't enough chicken to go for seconds.
It seemed like such simple food to me, but they loved it and were so impressed. It made me feel a bit good inside about the whole thing. Okasan kept asking me what I did to make things and kept repeating them to herself. They said I can cook anytime and I plan to, it may be a bit expensive, but cooking food I can dig into and that is comfort food makes me feel really good. Hopefully next week I can cook chili.
After dinner Toko asked to see my Japanese book. She quizzed me a bit and worked on my pronounciation. I have a hard time with Katakana words (Words that are English but then written in the Japanese syllabary. For example: Coffie = Kohee) because I know what word they're supposed to be and I just want to say it in English rather than spelling out the Katakana. Plus, it's very hard for me to say the Katakana when I think to myself that it isn't the right word.
We talked for a bit, and she said that she thinks I need to work on speaking more in Japanese. I think she's right. I've gotten a bit lazy, and nervous. It's hard always doubting your communication skills, so you fall back onto what you know and don't want to uncomftorably move beyond that.
With my new resolve I've begun a new study plan. I'm going to study for at least an hour at home (on top of studying at school) in front of the TV. The TV gives me a distraction, but the distraction is in Japanese, not like my computer which links me to the world of English. Plus, this way I get to see all the crazy TV shows.
I actually got lucky and got to see the new season of one of my favorite Japanese TV shows: Ninja Warrior. For anyone else who likes it WATCH IT! This season is great, so when it comes to G4, Do it!!
Now, I'm pretty tired, got another early day so it's futon time. I'm glad I finally caught up on everything and I'll be more regular now. Tokyo pictures/video will be up soon too, but not tonight.
Love and miss you all.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Way Past Due... Tokyo and more
So, this post is way past due I realize...
Getting back to Tokyo. The last day we walked around Shinjuku and just shopped a bit. Jennay got in touch with her friends and we stopped by a station in Shinjuku just to learn what we could about the Shinkansen.
Everything in Tokyo was way out of my price range, so I didn't really buy anything, but it was fun to window shop. I got a look at 3,000$ kimonos, which were beautiful, in a large Kimono shop. Hats here are also a way of life! A hat is like 20$-40$!
We didn't really do much since we wanted to get home at a resonable hour so we went back to the Hostel (Where they let you store your things after you check out) got our stuff and headed to Tokyo Station. At Tokyo Station we were going to meet up with Jennay's friends, but we were a little early. Soon, they were 15 minutes late. Jennay called them and they said they'd be up to another hour! So we decided to just do it on our own, we'd done everything else that way. Getting the ticket was pretty easy, and we went up to the counter together. I'd forgotten my discount slip from the school, which saves you about 20.00. It's unfortunate but if I'd went back to get it on the night we left we would've missed the bus.
We got to the platform and the train was already there, so we tried to enter and the cleaning crew promptly shooed us off. We then noticed the line of people, so we just hopped in line. When we were waiting I saw a train with Pokemon painted all over it, only in Japan. So when we were getting on we were trying to figure out our seats. There's two kinds, reserved and non-reserved. The reserved seats are more expensive and exactlly what they sound like. The non-reserved are cheaper and are confined to three cars and it's essentally every man for themself to find a seat. At this point in time, we didn't know this.
So after struggling a minute or two, I heard some english on the speaker that the first three cars were for non-reserved. I confirmed this with a man in a uniform. The train was leaving in 3 minutes, we were in car 8.
Leaving the car we're walking up the platform in a rush, trying to get to car 3. All of a sudden around car 5 I see flashing lights and notice the clock just hit the time the train was leaving. I just said to Jennay, "Let's get on, we can walk through the train."
We hopped on at car 4, and the doors promptly closed behind us, it was a sigh of relif. Car 3 had lots of open seats, but it was a smoking car (which I was thankful they didn't recycle that air with the whole train) so we moved through it quickly. Since we were the last ones to get there we couldn't find any two seats together. We both settled between two businessmen type people and enjoyed the ride.
On the Shinkansen you put your luggage in front of you, there's tons of legroom so it's built for that. Backpacks and briefcases go on a ledge over the seat. That's it though, there's no room for checked bags or anything. Since I only had a backpack, a purse, and one shopping bag of things I had plenty of room. At first I was watching the scenery go by, we went by the coast and through a bunch of small towns, it was fast but lovely. Then though the gentle rocking of the train put me to sleep against my will for about an hour.
They have little food carts that go through the train too, like stewardists. It's expensive, and I didn't get anything, but it really shows you that it's a nice way to travel.
To get back to Osaka was 2 hours and 45 minutes, and it really wasn't a bad trip. On the subway and small train headed back to Hirakata Jennay and I were talking about how we felt Osaka was so small now, and how if we could handle Tokyo we could handle anything. I think the trip was a big confidence booster.
When I got home my Okasan cooked me a quick dinner, which I was greatful for. Then after a much needed shower, and hand-washing my cloths, I collapsed from exhaustion. (It's Sunda now, and I'm just now feeling like I caught up on my sleep from the trip)
............................
On Thursday it was the last day to switch classes, and I made the last minute decision to switch my anime class. The class I was in was more like a film critique than a study on the culture. The teacher was very understanding and even said I could sit in on the movies if I wanted to see some of the more rare ones. I think I'll definately take him up on that. The new class I'm in looks more at the evolution of anime and manga and the culture of it. The Teacher was a bit skeptical of my last minute change, having now missed four classes, but I assured him I was comitted to learning the material and catching up, which I am. I'm very excited.
Friday I found out it was too late for me to switch my Japanese class, oh well I suppose. Refounding my basics will be good I suppose. Even though it's not very hard I do and have learned new and important things since taking the class. Plus, I'll have more advanced language at home.
It's dinnertime now, I'll post more later though, sorry this is all so late.
Getting back to Tokyo. The last day we walked around Shinjuku and just shopped a bit. Jennay got in touch with her friends and we stopped by a station in Shinjuku just to learn what we could about the Shinkansen.
Everything in Tokyo was way out of my price range, so I didn't really buy anything, but it was fun to window shop. I got a look at 3,000$ kimonos, which were beautiful, in a large Kimono shop. Hats here are also a way of life! A hat is like 20$-40$!
We didn't really do much since we wanted to get home at a resonable hour so we went back to the Hostel (Where they let you store your things after you check out) got our stuff and headed to Tokyo Station. At Tokyo Station we were going to meet up with Jennay's friends, but we were a little early. Soon, they were 15 minutes late. Jennay called them and they said they'd be up to another hour! So we decided to just do it on our own, we'd done everything else that way. Getting the ticket was pretty easy, and we went up to the counter together. I'd forgotten my discount slip from the school, which saves you about 20.00. It's unfortunate but if I'd went back to get it on the night we left we would've missed the bus.
We got to the platform and the train was already there, so we tried to enter and the cleaning crew promptly shooed us off. We then noticed the line of people, so we just hopped in line. When we were waiting I saw a train with Pokemon painted all over it, only in Japan. So when we were getting on we were trying to figure out our seats. There's two kinds, reserved and non-reserved. The reserved seats are more expensive and exactlly what they sound like. The non-reserved are cheaper and are confined to three cars and it's essentally every man for themself to find a seat. At this point in time, we didn't know this.
So after struggling a minute or two, I heard some english on the speaker that the first three cars were for non-reserved. I confirmed this with a man in a uniform. The train was leaving in 3 minutes, we were in car 8.
Leaving the car we're walking up the platform in a rush, trying to get to car 3. All of a sudden around car 5 I see flashing lights and notice the clock just hit the time the train was leaving. I just said to Jennay, "Let's get on, we can walk through the train."
We hopped on at car 4, and the doors promptly closed behind us, it was a sigh of relif. Car 3 had lots of open seats, but it was a smoking car (which I was thankful they didn't recycle that air with the whole train) so we moved through it quickly. Since we were the last ones to get there we couldn't find any two seats together. We both settled between two businessmen type people and enjoyed the ride.
On the Shinkansen you put your luggage in front of you, there's tons of legroom so it's built for that. Backpacks and briefcases go on a ledge over the seat. That's it though, there's no room for checked bags or anything. Since I only had a backpack, a purse, and one shopping bag of things I had plenty of room. At first I was watching the scenery go by, we went by the coast and through a bunch of small towns, it was fast but lovely. Then though the gentle rocking of the train put me to sleep against my will for about an hour.
They have little food carts that go through the train too, like stewardists. It's expensive, and I didn't get anything, but it really shows you that it's a nice way to travel.
To get back to Osaka was 2 hours and 45 minutes, and it really wasn't a bad trip. On the subway and small train headed back to Hirakata Jennay and I were talking about how we felt Osaka was so small now, and how if we could handle Tokyo we could handle anything. I think the trip was a big confidence booster.
When I got home my Okasan cooked me a quick dinner, which I was greatful for. Then after a much needed shower, and hand-washing my cloths, I collapsed from exhaustion. (It's Sunda now, and I'm just now feeling like I caught up on my sleep from the trip)
............................
On Thursday it was the last day to switch classes, and I made the last minute decision to switch my anime class. The class I was in was more like a film critique than a study on the culture. The teacher was very understanding and even said I could sit in on the movies if I wanted to see some of the more rare ones. I think I'll definately take him up on that. The new class I'm in looks more at the evolution of anime and manga and the culture of it. The Teacher was a bit skeptical of my last minute change, having now missed four classes, but I assured him I was comitted to learning the material and catching up, which I am. I'm very excited.
Friday I found out it was too late for me to switch my Japanese class, oh well I suppose. Refounding my basics will be good I suppose. Even though it's not very hard I do and have learned new and important things since taking the class. Plus, I'll have more advanced language at home.
It's dinnertime now, I'll post more later though, sorry this is all so late.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tokyo Day 4
Today we had another late start, though this time Jennay called me when she was up, so I didn't get up and wait.
First we went to Ginza and walked around. My host sister's (Toko's) favorite candy is See's Candy. Before I left she was looking up locations in Japan and found that the only two locations were in Tokyo. Since it's Japanese ettiquette to bring back a gift when you go on a long vacation I figured I should bring this back. It was 35.00 for a small box of chocolates!!! That's more than I've spent on myself for any soulviners! But, it's worth it I suppose, I'm not going on many trips this semester, and I'm still in the "make a good impression" stage.
As we were walking around Ginza we stumbled across a Kabuki theatre. I picked up a pamphlet and discovered they were a very English-friendly theatre. That they not only had times and information in English, but for 400 yen you could get an ear bud and transmitter for the show and listen to commentary/narration in English.
Jennay was a bit hesitant at first, but after looking it over she was excited too. After Ginza we went to Akihabara, the anime center of the world. I walked around, but didn't see anything I really had to have. It's odd but anime DVDs are actually more expensive here than in the U.S. but the Manga is a lot cheaper. I won a stuffed animal anime cat that walks on my first time from a claw machiene, it's kinda cool. I guess that's my soulvinere.
Akihabara is also the "Electric City" the center for all kinds of electronic goods and whatnot. And they had a rare trailer playing for a new video game I'm excited about, I recorded it and it'll go up on youtube when I have time.
We were both really tired today, despite getting rest, we agreed it's because we've been doing so much. So we went back to the hostel and made some food in the kitchen then chilled before going to the theatre.
Since we arrived just on time there was only standing room left. But that was okay with both of us, we only went for one "Act" as they call them, but an act is a full show. It's about an hour long. The ticket was only 800 yen, so even combined with the english translation ear-bud it was only 1200 yen for a Kabuki night out.
The theatre was AMAZING, I could go watch it many times over. It was funny, intense, and beautiful, I've never seen anything like it. Mom, Dad, everyone, when you all come over we should go see an act in the theatre. You can get a seat for 2500 yen in the back, but I actually think it was easier to see standing.
I came home and decided to look up Bunraku theatre, the puppet theatre, and found that there's a national theatre for Bunraku in Osaka with the Ear buds too, and they also do Kabuki. If the prices are as reasonable there I could see myself going to bunraku or kabuki once or twice a month.
I'm really tired now, so this is a bit short. Tomorrow we're going out to Shinjuku to walk around a bit, then meeting up with Jennay's friend who's pro with the trains to get on the Shinkansen. I should be back in Osaka tomorrow night about 9:00pm my time, and home by about 10:00pm. Meaning after I shower and visit with my family for a bit I should be skype available by about 11:00pm if anyone's interested send me a mail.
Love you all! Kabuki is awesome! Night!
First we went to Ginza and walked around. My host sister's (Toko's) favorite candy is See's Candy. Before I left she was looking up locations in Japan and found that the only two locations were in Tokyo. Since it's Japanese ettiquette to bring back a gift when you go on a long vacation I figured I should bring this back. It was 35.00 for a small box of chocolates!!! That's more than I've spent on myself for any soulviners! But, it's worth it I suppose, I'm not going on many trips this semester, and I'm still in the "make a good impression" stage.
As we were walking around Ginza we stumbled across a Kabuki theatre. I picked up a pamphlet and discovered they were a very English-friendly theatre. That they not only had times and information in English, but for 400 yen you could get an ear bud and transmitter for the show and listen to commentary/narration in English.
Jennay was a bit hesitant at first, but after looking it over she was excited too. After Ginza we went to Akihabara, the anime center of the world. I walked around, but didn't see anything I really had to have. It's odd but anime DVDs are actually more expensive here than in the U.S. but the Manga is a lot cheaper. I won a stuffed animal anime cat that walks on my first time from a claw machiene, it's kinda cool. I guess that's my soulvinere.
Akihabara is also the "Electric City" the center for all kinds of electronic goods and whatnot. And they had a rare trailer playing for a new video game I'm excited about, I recorded it and it'll go up on youtube when I have time.
We were both really tired today, despite getting rest, we agreed it's because we've been doing so much. So we went back to the hostel and made some food in the kitchen then chilled before going to the theatre.
Since we arrived just on time there was only standing room left. But that was okay with both of us, we only went for one "Act" as they call them, but an act is a full show. It's about an hour long. The ticket was only 800 yen, so even combined with the english translation ear-bud it was only 1200 yen for a Kabuki night out.
The theatre was AMAZING, I could go watch it many times over. It was funny, intense, and beautiful, I've never seen anything like it. Mom, Dad, everyone, when you all come over we should go see an act in the theatre. You can get a seat for 2500 yen in the back, but I actually think it was easier to see standing.
I came home and decided to look up Bunraku theatre, the puppet theatre, and found that there's a national theatre for Bunraku in Osaka with the Ear buds too, and they also do Kabuki. If the prices are as reasonable there I could see myself going to bunraku or kabuki once or twice a month.
I'm really tired now, so this is a bit short. Tomorrow we're going out to Shinjuku to walk around a bit, then meeting up with Jennay's friend who's pro with the trains to get on the Shinkansen. I should be back in Osaka tomorrow night about 9:00pm my time, and home by about 10:00pm. Meaning after I shower and visit with my family for a bit I should be skype available by about 11:00pm if anyone's interested send me a mail.
Love you all! Kabuki is awesome! Night!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Crazy Tokyo: Days 2 & 3
Alright, so much to say, so many pictures, and so many videos to post. I think what'll be the easiest is to post and then follow with pictures, there's also new videos in my youtube account.
So... Day 2
We woke and decided we wanted to go to Harujuku. Harujuku is a upscale high-fashion area near Shibuya. It's characterized as being a location where people in crazy outfits of all kinds will gather to just kind of be crazy and fashonable together. So we got on the train and went to Harujuku.
When we got out we noticed we'd stumbled upon the Meiji Shrine, a really famous shrine. We decided to go and see it since we were there anyways. At all shrines there's a little offering box, where you offer, bow and then clap your hands, I don't really know what it means, but I do it anyways. If figure it can't hurt, combined with the yen will go to helping upkeep the shrine. So the shrine was big, cool, and shrine-like. We couldn't take many pictures because there were NO PHOTO signs everywhere, but I think it's one of the more sacred shrines where many will go to worship, so we understood. As we were leaving I said to Jennay that we were likely racking up some good karma from doing that at every shrine....
We walked around Harujuku, saw a bunch of crazy Japanese things going on, even a festival that they were gearing up for. We were headed to get lunch and saw Forever 21 and H&M off in the distance. We decided we should go see them, but that first we were hungry...
After eating we headed out for those stores. On the way we noticed this like 8 story department building. Outside of this building is a massive line heading into a store. We walk in and see it's for a Kitson that just opened up. Since we were already in the building we decided to walk around. Even though we couldn't afford 99% of things in there it was fun to look at what Japan thought was "worth" spending 26,000 yen on. Then we notice this line. This line is about 100 people long and is wrapping up the stairway of the building and we're thinking "What the heck is this line for?" So finally, after about 2 floors we decide to forget it and keep milling around.
We went into this one store, part of the 1% that we may actually afford and were looking around. A store attendant came up and asked us if we needed help in English. Since she knew some English we decided to ask her what the line was all about. It was difficult communicating but she told us there was a fashion show. We were kind of like "What? A fashion show? Can anyone go?" She said no, but then asked us to wait a minute. She went into the back and produced two invitations, saying they were for her and the other girl at the store, but they were both stuck working so we could have them. Jennay and I decided then to go and got in line.
Unfortunately the line was so long that we missed the first show. They even put up signs saying "No more people, too full" Some people got out of line but we decided to wait anyways. It paid off, inbetween shows some peole left (for whatever reason) and they let people in again. Jennay and I were the last ones to be let in!
We went behind the rope that the bouncer man held back for us and up the final set of stairs. They asked for our invitations and when we presented them they let us through. There was a table of all sorts of pamphlets and things about the show and designers and things. And they gave out complementary snacks and drinks. We ended up being like 4 rows of people from the runway. There was press and cameras and all kinds of awesome.
It's the 25th Anneversary of Hello Kitty so they had a hello kitty collection. Then a famous model Akina Minami spoke for a bit. Then had another show. I have videos of almost everything that I'm going to upload on youtube.
After that it was pretty late. We came back to the Hostel and crashed for a bit. Then decided to go out to Akihabara, the anime and electronics center.
Akihabara is kind of perverted at night (not like we got solicited or bothered, nothing like that) but the stores and what they're selling is definately adults-only in many cases. But it was still fun to walk around the city at night.
Went home, and then crashed.
-- Day 3 --
Day 3 I got up and checked out of my room. I switched to a cabin room today, which is really cool and very nice. You can padlock your room, so you can get comftorable and then just lock it up without having to uproot everythingi into a locker. They're small, almost like a capsule or tube hotel, but I prefer to think of them as cozy. The only complaint is the airflow sucks if you close the doors. So I may sleep with the door by my feet open to get some air.
Jennay was an hour late, she fell back asleep, so we got a bit of a late start. Today was our "tourist seen-it" day.
First we went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government office and went up to the observation deck. Unfortunately it was cloudy today, so it wasn't a great view, but it was still awesome. We stopped to eat our breakfast in a nearby park, apples, before getting on the train again.
Then we back-tracked a bit and went and saw Tokyo Tower. It's expensive to go up, and we already got a better view for free. So we took some pictures, crossed it off our list, and were on our way again.
Then we went to the Imperial Palace, which is boring actually. Just because you can't go in anywhere, the best view you get is of one building from across a moat. The Palace is only open two days out of the year, January 1st and the Emperor's birthday. Then you can go in and take pictures of him and his family. Since I am going to be here on the first it is my must-do now. So the Imperial Palace was checked off our list and we moved onto Odaiba.
Odaiba is a man-made island off the coast of Tokyo. It's connected by one train, and by the Rainbow Bridge (kind of like the Golden-Gate bridge of Japan). Odaiba is the futuristic area and all the architecture is really modern. The life-sized gundam was there, but they took it down about three weeks ago very saddly...
We got off the train about 3 stops early and decided to walk. Jennay had looked up this mall that was designed to look like and about the size of a small european city. So we wanted to head there and see the Rainbow Bridge.
In walking we ran into what we first thought was an anime con. Hundreds of cosplayers were about and taking pictures. Then we realized it was more of a photo-shoot. I tried to take pictures of these one people and had a women telling me in Japanese very fast that I couldn't. I didn't actually understand what she said, but the tone was clear. I took a few candid shots and we moved on, it obviously wasn't intended to be an observed thing.
We eventually found the mall and on the outside it looked like just a big square boring building. Skeptical, we found the entrance and went in. Inside it was just like a street in Venice. The store-fronts, the ceiling had a sky painted on it, the lighting, everying. I snapped a few photos.
So our cool thing of the day happened as we were milling about. All of a sudden, we began to head Miachel Jackson music. We begin to head toward the source, it's a Miachel Jackson convention and there was a live impersonator giving a concert. So of course, like everything else we hopped in and joined in. I have a video of thriller, I'll post to youtube.
Finally after being depressed that I have the body of a Japanese girl minus my boobs and thighs and therefore nothing fits right, we headed out. Now dark we went to a place called the "Docks" an upscale night-life area and took pictures of the rainbow bridge and the lit up Tokyo skyline. I have a panoramic shot on youtube.
We then decided to head back and rest our legs for an hour. We've walked so much, I'm always hungry!! No matter how much or what I eat I'm hungry like two hours later. So now I'm blogging and I'm going to go out and we're going to explore something somewhere. I'll post pictures and videos when I get back.
Here's to good karma!
So... Day 2
We woke and decided we wanted to go to Harujuku. Harujuku is a upscale high-fashion area near Shibuya. It's characterized as being a location where people in crazy outfits of all kinds will gather to just kind of be crazy and fashonable together. So we got on the train and went to Harujuku.
When we got out we noticed we'd stumbled upon the Meiji Shrine, a really famous shrine. We decided to go and see it since we were there anyways. At all shrines there's a little offering box, where you offer, bow and then clap your hands, I don't really know what it means, but I do it anyways. If figure it can't hurt, combined with the yen will go to helping upkeep the shrine. So the shrine was big, cool, and shrine-like. We couldn't take many pictures because there were NO PHOTO signs everywhere, but I think it's one of the more sacred shrines where many will go to worship, so we understood. As we were leaving I said to Jennay that we were likely racking up some good karma from doing that at every shrine....
We walked around Harujuku, saw a bunch of crazy Japanese things going on, even a festival that they were gearing up for. We were headed to get lunch and saw Forever 21 and H&M off in the distance. We decided we should go see them, but that first we were hungry...
After eating we headed out for those stores. On the way we noticed this like 8 story department building. Outside of this building is a massive line heading into a store. We walk in and see it's for a Kitson that just opened up. Since we were already in the building we decided to walk around. Even though we couldn't afford 99% of things in there it was fun to look at what Japan thought was "worth" spending 26,000 yen on. Then we notice this line. This line is about 100 people long and is wrapping up the stairway of the building and we're thinking "What the heck is this line for?" So finally, after about 2 floors we decide to forget it and keep milling around.
We went into this one store, part of the 1% that we may actually afford and were looking around. A store attendant came up and asked us if we needed help in English. Since she knew some English we decided to ask her what the line was all about. It was difficult communicating but she told us there was a fashion show. We were kind of like "What? A fashion show? Can anyone go?" She said no, but then asked us to wait a minute. She went into the back and produced two invitations, saying they were for her and the other girl at the store, but they were both stuck working so we could have them. Jennay and I decided then to go and got in line.
Unfortunately the line was so long that we missed the first show. They even put up signs saying "No more people, too full" Some people got out of line but we decided to wait anyways. It paid off, inbetween shows some peole left (for whatever reason) and they let people in again. Jennay and I were the last ones to be let in!
We went behind the rope that the bouncer man held back for us and up the final set of stairs. They asked for our invitations and when we presented them they let us through. There was a table of all sorts of pamphlets and things about the show and designers and things. And they gave out complementary snacks and drinks. We ended up being like 4 rows of people from the runway. There was press and cameras and all kinds of awesome.
It's the 25th Anneversary of Hello Kitty so they had a hello kitty collection. Then a famous model Akina Minami spoke for a bit. Then had another show. I have videos of almost everything that I'm going to upload on youtube.
After that it was pretty late. We came back to the Hostel and crashed for a bit. Then decided to go out to Akihabara, the anime and electronics center.
Akihabara is kind of perverted at night (not like we got solicited or bothered, nothing like that) but the stores and what they're selling is definately adults-only in many cases. But it was still fun to walk around the city at night.
Went home, and then crashed.
-- Day 3 --
Day 3 I got up and checked out of my room. I switched to a cabin room today, which is really cool and very nice. You can padlock your room, so you can get comftorable and then just lock it up without having to uproot everythingi into a locker. They're small, almost like a capsule or tube hotel, but I prefer to think of them as cozy. The only complaint is the airflow sucks if you close the doors. So I may sleep with the door by my feet open to get some air.
Jennay was an hour late, she fell back asleep, so we got a bit of a late start. Today was our "tourist seen-it" day.
First we went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government office and went up to the observation deck. Unfortunately it was cloudy today, so it wasn't a great view, but it was still awesome. We stopped to eat our breakfast in a nearby park, apples, before getting on the train again.
Then we back-tracked a bit and went and saw Tokyo Tower. It's expensive to go up, and we already got a better view for free. So we took some pictures, crossed it off our list, and were on our way again.
Then we went to the Imperial Palace, which is boring actually. Just because you can't go in anywhere, the best view you get is of one building from across a moat. The Palace is only open two days out of the year, January 1st and the Emperor's birthday. Then you can go in and take pictures of him and his family. Since I am going to be here on the first it is my must-do now. So the Imperial Palace was checked off our list and we moved onto Odaiba.
Odaiba is a man-made island off the coast of Tokyo. It's connected by one train, and by the Rainbow Bridge (kind of like the Golden-Gate bridge of Japan). Odaiba is the futuristic area and all the architecture is really modern. The life-sized gundam was there, but they took it down about three weeks ago very saddly...
We got off the train about 3 stops early and decided to walk. Jennay had looked up this mall that was designed to look like and about the size of a small european city. So we wanted to head there and see the Rainbow Bridge.
In walking we ran into what we first thought was an anime con. Hundreds of cosplayers were about and taking pictures. Then we realized it was more of a photo-shoot. I tried to take pictures of these one people and had a women telling me in Japanese very fast that I couldn't. I didn't actually understand what she said, but the tone was clear. I took a few candid shots and we moved on, it obviously wasn't intended to be an observed thing.
We eventually found the mall and on the outside it looked like just a big square boring building. Skeptical, we found the entrance and went in. Inside it was just like a street in Venice. The store-fronts, the ceiling had a sky painted on it, the lighting, everying. I snapped a few photos.
So our cool thing of the day happened as we were milling about. All of a sudden, we began to head Miachel Jackson music. We begin to head toward the source, it's a Miachel Jackson convention and there was a live impersonator giving a concert. So of course, like everything else we hopped in and joined in. I have a video of thriller, I'll post to youtube.
Finally after being depressed that I have the body of a Japanese girl minus my boobs and thighs and therefore nothing fits right, we headed out. Now dark we went to a place called the "Docks" an upscale night-life area and took pictures of the rainbow bridge and the lit up Tokyo skyline. I have a panoramic shot on youtube.
We then decided to head back and rest our legs for an hour. We've walked so much, I'm always hungry!! No matter how much or what I eat I'm hungry like two hours later. So now I'm blogging and I'm going to go out and we're going to explore something somewhere. I'll post pictures and videos when I get back.
Here's to good karma!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Temples and Osaka at Night
So after returning to the Hostel and napping/relaxing/recharging for about an hour and a half we set out onto the streets of Osaka again. Nearby is a very famous temple known as the Sensoji Temple. We decided to put what daylight we had left to good use and go and visit the temple.
So we set out onto the streets of Osaka and began to explore in the general direction in which we believed the temple was...
The stalls went all the way up to the temple, and turned into traditional looking vendors with all kinds of food right by the temple. Being Silver Week (the week with so many holidays) we ran across a few people dressed in Yukatas (summer kimonos). Many Japanese people seemed to be going to the Temple to pray, there was likely something we missed.
Me in front of the main gate before the temple. Yes, this is just the main gate, not the temple iteself! Unfortunately though the Main Building is undergoing rennovations, and I couldn't get any pictures, only lovely "Pardon our dust" tarp. 
So we set out onto the streets of Osaka and began to explore in the general direction in which we believed the temple was...
Eventually, we came across a line of shops leading up to the Temple. We knew it by the famous giant lantern hanging in the distance. The shops had all kinds of things, kimono's for festivals, food, and really touristie things as well. We didn't buy anything... though the chocolate covered Bannanas cought our eyes...
The stalls went all the way up to the temple, and turned into traditional looking vendors with all kinds of food right by the temple. Being Silver Week (the week with so many holidays) we ran across a few people dressed in Yukatas (summer kimonos). Many Japanese people seemed to be going to the Temple to pray, there was likely something we missed.
Me in front of the main gate before the temple. Yes, this is just the main gate, not the temple iteself! Unfortunately though the Main Building is undergoing rennovations, and I couldn't get any pictures, only lovely "Pardon our dust" tarp.Even though the main building was under rennovations, we still walked around the grounds and took pictures of the other structures.
It looked like a small temple in and of itself, with large statues of cows, three in total. It must have been very very swanky inside. It's the temple of the Cow...
I have more pictures, I'll likely post them and more from this trip in a later post. We decided to leave the temple area and wander a bit, to get the lay of the land. I came across this...
I have to admit, I was tempted to buy it... It's a bit funny, espically seeing it in Japan. We continued walking and passed a lot of shops. Jennay and I have both agreed we're trying to save money by not eating out, so we're buying from supermarkets, and snacks from 100 yen stores. Every now and then we'll eat out, but we both agreed we'd rather spend the money on other things!
We did pass this one restraunt though:
It looked like a small temple in and of itself, with large statues of cows, three in total. It must have been very very swanky inside. It's the temple of the Cow...We also ran across this:
Yes, that is a giant add for something featuring a princess in a kimono and a ninja, riding on a panda. I don't know what it's for, but I'd buy that product!
Yes, that is a giant add for something featuring a princess in a kimono and a ninja, riding on a panda. I don't know what it's for, but I'd buy that product!
We walked around a little more and ran into an arcade. I posted a video (mainly for Jeff, so check it, you'll see why!!!) to my youtube of an arcade game. Goes to show you how awesome arcades are in Japan.
At around 7:30 we trecked back to the Hostel. I ate a little, but I'm still full from lunch, so I put my food in the fridge. The place is really nice, free wi-fi, TV, full kitchen, shower, toilet, (each locking obviously), it's really not a bad set up. I changed my room for two of the nights to be in a cabin room. The bunk room is okay, but I got the short straw and got three guys. I checked them all out, none of them tickled my "creeper" meter. In fact they've all been very respectful of my space, if not I would've demanded a new room no matter the cost. The cabin room will be something I can lock, and it shows me two sides to the hostel life! I'll be fine though, if I feel the least bit uncomftorable I'll get out of here, I'm not going to push it.
I'm absoutely exhausted though, I feel like I could sleep for three days. Tomorrow we're going to Harujuku, the cosplay area of town. Then I think we're headed to Odaiba the futuristic area of town to see the architecture, Jennay wants to go to a big shopping mall, to see the Rainbow Bridge and the Gundam in the day and night. I'll keep you all posted.
As always, love and miss you all!
P.S.
Mom and Dad, I should be up around 8:30-9:00am tomorrow my time, if you want to plan on skyping around that time. Maybe even earlier.
Friday, September 18, 2009
The Night Bus and Tokyo Day 1
So the night bus was crazy... It started with me realizing at 9:00 (mind you we were meeting up at 9:45) that somehow I lost the slip of paper with my bus ticket on it. So I rushed over to the Seminar house and Jennay ended up printing it out for me because I wasn't allowed to use the computer as a vistor. We got on the bus to Hirakata Station at 10:10pm, the literal last bus headed that way from the Seminar Houses.
I navigated us to Osaka, then to the station called "Shin-Osaka" You see our bus was leaving from "Osaka Station" and I assumed since the Shin-Osaka subway stop was the only one with 'Osaka' in it that it was the right one. Well after walking around the station we ended up asking someone in a kisok. Thankfully, they spoke English! They told us that Osaka was the next stop over by the JR line (Japanese Railway) so we hopped on and got over to Osaka station.
After asking two more people we were in the right line waiting for our bus. It doesn't sound like much, but all this took us about 2 hours to complete. But now we know, and will be pros at it. Japan has so many forms of Public Transport it's really hard to keep track.
When Jennay and I checked in we realized we were on different busses, upon closer inspection she'd booked to get off at Shinjuku, not Tokyo Station. Since she was supposed to get there before me and Tokyo Station was closer to the Hotel we decided to meet there.
I got a window seat on the bus, and actually slept, enough that I feel well rested. The only scenery I really saw was going into Tokyo when I was up, but it was nifty to see the skyline gradually raise. At Tokyo station I struggled with my Japanese, but eventually got directions to Asakusa where our hostel is. I also met up with Jennay without a hitch.
So we made it to Asakusa and then began to find our hotel. Here is a picture from a bridge:
We eventually found the hostel and dropped off our things we couldn't check in until 3:00 so we locked up our things in the free lockers and walked around for awhile exploring Asakusa.
In walking we found the Bandai corporation, a big liscencing headquarters.
We also ran into a bunch of small shrines around the place.
Jennay is sleeping now, she was in the back of the bus and in the middle of a seat of 5 so she couldn't sleep. In an hour or so we're gonna go back out and tackle Tokyo!
I navigated us to Osaka, then to the station called "Shin-Osaka" You see our bus was leaving from "Osaka Station" and I assumed since the Shin-Osaka subway stop was the only one with 'Osaka' in it that it was the right one. Well after walking around the station we ended up asking someone in a kisok. Thankfully, they spoke English! They told us that Osaka was the next stop over by the JR line (Japanese Railway) so we hopped on and got over to Osaka station.
After asking two more people we were in the right line waiting for our bus. It doesn't sound like much, but all this took us about 2 hours to complete. But now we know, and will be pros at it. Japan has so many forms of Public Transport it's really hard to keep track.
When Jennay and I checked in we realized we were on different busses, upon closer inspection she'd booked to get off at Shinjuku, not Tokyo Station. Since she was supposed to get there before me and Tokyo Station was closer to the Hotel we decided to meet there.
I got a window seat on the bus, and actually slept, enough that I feel well rested. The only scenery I really saw was going into Tokyo when I was up, but it was nifty to see the skyline gradually raise. At Tokyo station I struggled with my Japanese, but eventually got directions to Asakusa where our hostel is. I also met up with Jennay without a hitch.
So we made it to Asakusa and then began to find our hotel. Here is a picture from a bridge:
We eventually found the hostel and dropped off our things we couldn't check in until 3:00 so we locked up our things in the free lockers and walked around for awhile exploring Asakusa. In walking we found the Bandai corporation, a big liscencing headquarters.
We also ran into a bunch of small shrines around the place.
Jennay is sleeping now, she was in the back of the bus and in the middle of a seat of 5 so she couldn't sleep. In an hour or so we're gonna go back out and tackle Tokyo!Thursday, September 17, 2009
Today: Tea Muffins, Tomorrow: Tokyo!
Hello Everyone!
So it's another day, another set of classes. I'm working still in pottery, I'm getting really good now, so I'm taking all orders! Plates, cups, bowls, vases, all large and small, let me know what you need in your kitchen! If you have a specific pattern you want find a picture and e-mail it to me ^_^.
Dinner last night was awesome. Gita taught us all how to make home-made gyoza (dumplings). I did a bit of vegtables in a pan, and Dasha made rice in the rice cooker... That's about the extent of her cooking skills, but we appreciated the motion none the less.
When I got home I went upstairs to take a shower. While I was waiting for Okasan to get out of the tub I spoke with Toko and Otosan. They asked about my day, and if I was excited to go to Tokyo. Of course I was. But Toko said something very nice that kinda touched me a bit. She was like you'll be gone for so long (and made a pouty face) I'll miss you. I kind of thought she was indifferent to me, so that was nice.
I'm beginning to sleep better. Before I'd wake up a lot in the night, now I sleep pretty solid all the way through.
Breakfast this morning was edamame, a bagel, a small salad (of course, salad), a fried egg, bacon and yogurt with fruit. It was all really good, but the yogurt was a bit, chunky. I figured it was likely a more natural yogurt, and combined with the fruit juices it appeared chunky because it tasted and smelled fine. Otosan left, and Okasan asked if I minded if she went downstairs to do laundry, for the first time I was like "Yes oh please go" in my head. I finished picking the fruit out of the yogurt and washed the half-full cup down the drain. I know it's a bit wasteful but I didn't want, in the off chance, food poisioning when I go to Tokyo from spoiled yogurt.
Then I went to class, I have the worst luck. Right as I walk up to the intersection by my house the walk sign turns red. (And Japanese Drivers are Crazy, Jaywalking is definately At your own risk, for your life, here) Then I watch the bus pull up on the opposite side of my street, and just as it begins to drive away the light turns green.
I made it to school on time, but it's an annoying fate!
Japanese Speaking was good, had a test, definately aced it. I realized after on one answer I spelt a word wrong, but it's not a word we've learned yet, I was trying to push myself a bit (okay I realize the test may not be the best format for that) but I'm hoping she doesn't actually mark off because we haven't learned it yet. Even if she does, I'm still going to get an A, so I'm not too worried.
Cermaics, as I previously mentioned was awesome. Now I'm just chilling waiting for my class at four. I went to the Seattle's Best coffie on campus and got my favorite, a green-tea chocolate chip muffin:
Yes this is an utter delicious bright green muffin. It's amazing!!!
Thats the inside.
So it's another day, another set of classes. I'm working still in pottery, I'm getting really good now, so I'm taking all orders! Plates, cups, bowls, vases, all large and small, let me know what you need in your kitchen! If you have a specific pattern you want find a picture and e-mail it to me ^_^.
Dinner last night was awesome. Gita taught us all how to make home-made gyoza (dumplings). I did a bit of vegtables in a pan, and Dasha made rice in the rice cooker... That's about the extent of her cooking skills, but we appreciated the motion none the less.
When I got home I went upstairs to take a shower. While I was waiting for Okasan to get out of the tub I spoke with Toko and Otosan. They asked about my day, and if I was excited to go to Tokyo. Of course I was. But Toko said something very nice that kinda touched me a bit. She was like you'll be gone for so long (and made a pouty face) I'll miss you. I kind of thought she was indifferent to me, so that was nice.
I'm beginning to sleep better. Before I'd wake up a lot in the night, now I sleep pretty solid all the way through.
Breakfast this morning was edamame, a bagel, a small salad (of course, salad), a fried egg, bacon and yogurt with fruit. It was all really good, but the yogurt was a bit, chunky. I figured it was likely a more natural yogurt, and combined with the fruit juices it appeared chunky because it tasted and smelled fine. Otosan left, and Okasan asked if I minded if she went downstairs to do laundry, for the first time I was like "Yes oh please go" in my head. I finished picking the fruit out of the yogurt and washed the half-full cup down the drain. I know it's a bit wasteful but I didn't want, in the off chance, food poisioning when I go to Tokyo from spoiled yogurt.
Then I went to class, I have the worst luck. Right as I walk up to the intersection by my house the walk sign turns red. (And Japanese Drivers are Crazy, Jaywalking is definately At your own risk, for your life, here) Then I watch the bus pull up on the opposite side of my street, and just as it begins to drive away the light turns green.
I made it to school on time, but it's an annoying fate!
Japanese Speaking was good, had a test, definately aced it. I realized after on one answer I spelt a word wrong, but it's not a word we've learned yet, I was trying to push myself a bit (okay I realize the test may not be the best format for that) but I'm hoping she doesn't actually mark off because we haven't learned it yet. Even if she does, I'm still going to get an A, so I'm not too worried.
Cermaics, as I previously mentioned was awesome. Now I'm just chilling waiting for my class at four. I went to the Seattle's Best coffie on campus and got my favorite, a green-tea chocolate chip muffin:
Yes this is an utter delicious bright green muffin. It's amazing!!!
Thats the inside.So I packed all my stuff for Tokyo this morning, I just need to throw it in my backpack. 5 tee-shirts, two jackets, two pairs of jeans (one pair of jeans and one jacket I'm wearing on the train) and p-jays. The things that are gonna be the most bulky will be my towel, and my pillow. But I only want to take my backpack, it'll be more manageable that way.
The place I'm staying at has free wi-fi, it may not be very good, but I'll still be able to update. I leave at 12:20am my time, and get there at 8:30am. Hopefully I'll sleep most of the trip, then I'll be taking the Shinkansen back on Wednesday.
In other news...
I found out one of my favorite groups is touring and coming to Osaka. They're kind of still going through getting their big break, so even in Japan they're kind of indie and not well known. The tickets are about 40.00US I think. I really want to go, but I can't find anyone to go with. 40.00 isn't bad for a concert, but it is hen you've never heard of the band. The girl that was gonna go with me had to cancel because one of her friends is coming into town, which I understand.
The show is on November 15th, so I still have time to find someone and decide. But I really want to go to a concert, and this is the kind of band that I have no chance to see outside of Japan. Sometimes bigger Japanese artists are brought to America on limited tours, or play at big anime conventions, but these guys definatly won't be that, at least for many years.
Here's one of my favorite songs by them, it's called 'Feedback': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66YjAKw4Jfs
So that's kind of everything in my world. I'll try to e-mail everyone when I check into my place in Tokyo safely and let everyone know I'm okay.
Likely another blog today, but that's it for now.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Artifical Flush
Something cool I feel the need to mention is in the bathroom they have an artifical flusher. It's a sensor placed in the wall of the stall that you wave your hand over, along with a button. When you wave your hand over it, it begins to make a flushing noise. It'll make the noise for 25 seconds or you can push the button to stop it.
It's for people who may go into the bathroom to take care of things other than the end result of digestive needs. Often times those people will flush the toilet anyways so people don't wonder what they were doing. The artifical flusher is to help conserve water, and it sounds really real when you shut it off after about 6-8 seconds, I can't tell the difference sometimes.
Now isn't that nifty?
It's for people who may go into the bathroom to take care of things other than the end result of digestive needs. Often times those people will flush the toilet anyways so people don't wonder what they were doing. The artifical flusher is to help conserve water, and it sounds really real when you shut it off after about 6-8 seconds, I can't tell the difference sometimes.
Now isn't that nifty?
Days Go By
So yesterday morning I got pancakes for breakfast. I think it might have been because I didn't eat very much for dinner the other night and they were trying to make up for it. Of course I'm in Japan still though, they don't put syrup on the pancakes here, they put honey. It was still okay, but different.
The spider was sitting on the wall where you put your hand on the railing (Sneaky bugger), I snuck around it.
School was just school, I had a Hiragana quiz and a vocab quiz, I got both back today, I aced both. I'm thinking of looking into another class on Anime and switching. This anime class is interesting, but seems to be a lot more of a film critique, than looking at the culture surrounding it and implications. It's interesting, but I'd rather the later over the former.
When I came back the Spider was still there. I think the Japanese Spider's secret is they linger in one spot till you think they're dead. Then they eat your face. There's this spider at school, a big bugger, who's been there for three days now. Their stillness makes them easy to catagorize.
I grabbed a big boot, I think it's Kai's, and tried to kill it, but I got too scared. A few hours later I tried again, this time with the swiffer. I could stand inside the door when I wacked it, so should it be a rare 2 foot jumping spider I was safe. I had to get it in one hit... WHAM! I smushed it! It fell off the wall and landed a few steps down. I left it's body there as a reminder to all Spiders... but this morning... the body was gone... See, this is why you MUST flush them, proof they otherwise come back to life.
Joan of Arc had her visions, Don Quixote had his windmills, I have the secret spider legions of doom. None of us are understood... but you'll thank us later... you'll thank us!!!
Okay so last night was actually good. My family talked a good deal with me, and then Ken and Mitachan came over again for a few hours. Ken was talking and I responded, and he Asked for some water and without missing a beat I got it for him. I'm not trying to be like a servant or anything, just helpful, you know? He was really impressed, said my ears were getting better at hearing Japanese. It was actually, dare I say, enjoyable? So I'm trying to use it to be optimistic.
My Okasan must be psychic because this morning I had an egg sandwich for breakfast, carbohydrates!!!
When I got to school I found out that the girls are making Gyoza (dumplings) this week. So I'm going to go over there for dinner instead and hang out awhile. I texted my Okasan and she was like "okay! Have fun" but in Japanese. I'm really looking forward to it, it should be fun. I'm thinking of cooking some kind of basic veggie to go with it. Everyone pitches in some money and helps pay for the cost, so I'd be reimbursed.
I decided to take the Shinkansen (bullet train) back from Tokyo and cancelled my bus ticket. Jenay is taking it, and I figure I need to learn how to use it. On top of that she's going with someone who knows how to do it, so I'll have like a "guide" teaching me how. Finally I'll get home on Wednesday night, so I'll actually get some sleep before classes on Thursday, which sounds great. If I took the bus I'd go right from the bus to class and likely be dead tired. I got a discount slip for students from the school, so the Shinkansen shouldn't be that much more... I just need to get some extra money to make sure I can cover it. I hate feeling like I can't use my cards anywhere if I get in a pickle so I have to make sure I have enough cash on me, it's really uncomftorable.
Anyways, I'll likely post more later, love you all!
The spider was sitting on the wall where you put your hand on the railing (Sneaky bugger), I snuck around it.
School was just school, I had a Hiragana quiz and a vocab quiz, I got both back today, I aced both. I'm thinking of looking into another class on Anime and switching. This anime class is interesting, but seems to be a lot more of a film critique, than looking at the culture surrounding it and implications. It's interesting, but I'd rather the later over the former.
When I came back the Spider was still there. I think the Japanese Spider's secret is they linger in one spot till you think they're dead. Then they eat your face. There's this spider at school, a big bugger, who's been there for three days now. Their stillness makes them easy to catagorize.
I grabbed a big boot, I think it's Kai's, and tried to kill it, but I got too scared. A few hours later I tried again, this time with the swiffer. I could stand inside the door when I wacked it, so should it be a rare 2 foot jumping spider I was safe. I had to get it in one hit... WHAM! I smushed it! It fell off the wall and landed a few steps down. I left it's body there as a reminder to all Spiders... but this morning... the body was gone... See, this is why you MUST flush them, proof they otherwise come back to life.
Joan of Arc had her visions, Don Quixote had his windmills, I have the secret spider legions of doom. None of us are understood... but you'll thank us later... you'll thank us!!!
Okay so last night was actually good. My family talked a good deal with me, and then Ken and Mitachan came over again for a few hours. Ken was talking and I responded, and he Asked for some water and without missing a beat I got it for him. I'm not trying to be like a servant or anything, just helpful, you know? He was really impressed, said my ears were getting better at hearing Japanese. It was actually, dare I say, enjoyable? So I'm trying to use it to be optimistic.
My Okasan must be psychic because this morning I had an egg sandwich for breakfast, carbohydrates!!!
When I got to school I found out that the girls are making Gyoza (dumplings) this week. So I'm going to go over there for dinner instead and hang out awhile. I texted my Okasan and she was like "okay! Have fun" but in Japanese. I'm really looking forward to it, it should be fun. I'm thinking of cooking some kind of basic veggie to go with it. Everyone pitches in some money and helps pay for the cost, so I'd be reimbursed.
I decided to take the Shinkansen (bullet train) back from Tokyo and cancelled my bus ticket. Jenay is taking it, and I figure I need to learn how to use it. On top of that she's going with someone who knows how to do it, so I'll have like a "guide" teaching me how. Finally I'll get home on Wednesday night, so I'll actually get some sleep before classes on Thursday, which sounds great. If I took the bus I'd go right from the bus to class and likely be dead tired. I got a discount slip for students from the school, so the Shinkansen shouldn't be that much more... I just need to get some extra money to make sure I can cover it. I hate feeling like I can't use my cards anywhere if I get in a pickle so I have to make sure I have enough cash on me, it's really uncomftorable.
Anyways, I'll likely post more later, love you all!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The Great Battle and Grand Table
Today was another randomly emotional day for me. Some days I'm perfectly fine, going about my business, and other days I feel so emotional, heavy, and drained. Today was more the later than the former.
School was okay, my Ceramics Sensei taught me the use of a new tool to help me make bigger bowls. I can't tell what he really thinks of me, but he is a nice guy. I likely shouldn't be in the advanced class, since we're going over a lot of stuff that I've never learned, it's surprising how much my other teachers failed to teach, I feel jipped.
My Japanese class is still a little too easy at times, but I am learning new things, and I'm reinforcing things I wasn't strong on before, so I think I may just stick it out. I'm thinking it may be better to "learn less" Japanese, but have what I do learn be really strong and skilled. So that's what I'm leaning toward.
After classes I tried to go to the Seminar Houses, but no one was in the room, and the Okasan of the Seminar house is hardcore strict. You have to check in, wear a badge, and if they don't think the person you're meeting is there the person has to come downstairs and fetch you. I couldn't even go up to see if any girls were in the room and then come back down. It was annoying and kind of embarassing, I don't want the Okasan of the Seminar House to think I'm like trying to sneak in and mooch or something.
I didn't really know what to do after that so I went home. Thinking that just sitting at home was a bad idea I packed my purse to go to the station downtown area and then, it happened...
As I'm quietly minding my own business, walking down the stairs to go out, I see dead ahead of me, at the bottom of the stairs, hanging is a spider... and let me tell you, Japanese spiders are CREEPY. I have the jeebies right now just thinking about it. So I'm trying to not let this spider ruin my day so I get a big umbrella hanging on the wall outside (no, I've got no idea whose it is) and try to lean over the upper stairway so I can reach the lower stairway and knock the spider down. This spider was floating in thin air because I knocked out like all it's webs.
Defeated, I returned to my room and lied down and took an hour nap. When I woke up I asked Heewon if she wanted to go to Mos Burger (a Japanese gourmet type burger chain) with me and try it. She said sure so I headed out again...
IT WAS STILL THERE!!!! Just like, waiting for me. Determined to see my friend I went upstairs and readied myself with a weapon, the swiffer. Walking back down the stairs, umbrella in one hand, swiffer in the other, my best running shoes on I am prepaired to do battle with the eight-legged creepy feind of doom. But, to my surprise, it was gone!! It ran from my superior weaponry and cunning. So I returned the items to their place, and began to creep down the stairs. I saw it on the ceiling, near the far corner. Prepairing myself, I made a break for it, and I ran down the rest of the stairs flailing. Thankfully, no one was around...
Unfortunately my battle was for naught. Heewon lost her notebook and had to go on her own grand exodus to find it. So I walked around a book store for awhile, and looked at all the books I can't read. Then went upstairs to the second level where the manga is. I found two manga that look decent with furigana. Furigana is when the hiragana (basic syllable characters) are written next to the Kanji (the symbol characters). I got these two for the price of one manga in America, and I'm going to work on translating them and I hope they help me learn the Kanji or reinforce them.
Following that I went to this place called "Grand Table" it's a bakery and cafe. I went in and they had this grand table (what a surprise?) with all these different breads on it. You pick a tray and some tweasers and pick the breads you want. I picked this lemon scone thing, and a bread that tasted like a cheesy pig in a blanket. If you eat it there they warm it up for you and bring it out on a little plate with a drink. It was SO good, and really cheap. I got both for 105 yen. It made for a really nice snack in the middle of the day. The lady behind the counter spoke some english and asked if I knew Japanese, I said very little. She was very kind and used simple Japanese, and English when it was too difficult or complicated. She asked where I was from and why I was in Japan. It's within a 10 minute walk from my house, so I'm thinking of making it my personal coffie shop. Go in once every day or two and relax, eat scones, or hot dog bread and make friends with the locals. It seems like a good thing to do. It was mostly older ladies in there, and some were staring a bit but they'll get used to seeing me around.
I walked back home and went upstairs. They were watching an American movie on the laptop called "Passengers." I'd never seen it and watched the end. Then, as always, no one said anything. Okasan didn't need help with dinner, so I went downstairs, got my book, and sat and read like everyone else.
Tonight was the first dinner that I didn't like... It was like an odd Japanese stew... They tried to explain it and used their electronic dictionary to look up a word and all it said was "Processed Fish" that didn't give me much hope. It looked strange, tasted strange, and had a strange texture. I ended up eating the potatoes in the bowl, and the other veggies. Eating the tofu and egg that was in there for some protein. Tried to get down as much of the fish as I could, and then ate a salad and all my rice to fill me up. I'm not packed to the brim like I am on most nights, but I'm also not going hungry. I was honest and said I didn't really like it and was sorry, Okasan wasn't mad and seemed to understand that it was a lot of odd things and flavors for an American. I've been pretty good until now about putting whatever's in front of me into my mouth and eating it, so I think she knows I at least give things a shot.
After dinner was good, Mitachan (the baby) and her parents came over. My Okasan and Toko began to teach me the months, days of the week, and days of the motnh. Okasan said that every time I wake up and come up for breakfast she's going to ask me what day is it? And I should respond with the Month, the Day, and the Day of the Week. Then we had a small english lesson. They had a big picture book with a lot of simple words for basic things. They asked me questions mainly on pronounciation.
I taught Toko the concept of bi=two, tri=three and so on with examples, I felt proud. I also learned her favorite candy is See's Chocolates, there's a See's in Tokyo apparentally, I'm going to try to find it and bring her back some candies when I go this next week.
Then it's shower and downstairs, blogging and to bed with me. I'm always tired, so I'm trying to get as much sleep as possible so I don't get sick. I don't feel like I'm getting sick though, thankfully, just really tired.
I miss you all very much, tons of love from Japan.
School was okay, my Ceramics Sensei taught me the use of a new tool to help me make bigger bowls. I can't tell what he really thinks of me, but he is a nice guy. I likely shouldn't be in the advanced class, since we're going over a lot of stuff that I've never learned, it's surprising how much my other teachers failed to teach, I feel jipped.
My Japanese class is still a little too easy at times, but I am learning new things, and I'm reinforcing things I wasn't strong on before, so I think I may just stick it out. I'm thinking it may be better to "learn less" Japanese, but have what I do learn be really strong and skilled. So that's what I'm leaning toward.
After classes I tried to go to the Seminar Houses, but no one was in the room, and the Okasan of the Seminar house is hardcore strict. You have to check in, wear a badge, and if they don't think the person you're meeting is there the person has to come downstairs and fetch you. I couldn't even go up to see if any girls were in the room and then come back down. It was annoying and kind of embarassing, I don't want the Okasan of the Seminar House to think I'm like trying to sneak in and mooch or something.
I didn't really know what to do after that so I went home. Thinking that just sitting at home was a bad idea I packed my purse to go to the station downtown area and then, it happened...
As I'm quietly minding my own business, walking down the stairs to go out, I see dead ahead of me, at the bottom of the stairs, hanging is a spider... and let me tell you, Japanese spiders are CREEPY. I have the jeebies right now just thinking about it. So I'm trying to not let this spider ruin my day so I get a big umbrella hanging on the wall outside (no, I've got no idea whose it is) and try to lean over the upper stairway so I can reach the lower stairway and knock the spider down. This spider was floating in thin air because I knocked out like all it's webs.
Defeated, I returned to my room and lied down and took an hour nap. When I woke up I asked Heewon if she wanted to go to Mos Burger (a Japanese gourmet type burger chain) with me and try it. She said sure so I headed out again...
IT WAS STILL THERE!!!! Just like, waiting for me. Determined to see my friend I went upstairs and readied myself with a weapon, the swiffer. Walking back down the stairs, umbrella in one hand, swiffer in the other, my best running shoes on I am prepaired to do battle with the eight-legged creepy feind of doom. But, to my surprise, it was gone!! It ran from my superior weaponry and cunning. So I returned the items to their place, and began to creep down the stairs. I saw it on the ceiling, near the far corner. Prepairing myself, I made a break for it, and I ran down the rest of the stairs flailing. Thankfully, no one was around...
Unfortunately my battle was for naught. Heewon lost her notebook and had to go on her own grand exodus to find it. So I walked around a book store for awhile, and looked at all the books I can't read. Then went upstairs to the second level where the manga is. I found two manga that look decent with furigana. Furigana is when the hiragana (basic syllable characters) are written next to the Kanji (the symbol characters). I got these two for the price of one manga in America, and I'm going to work on translating them and I hope they help me learn the Kanji or reinforce them.
Following that I went to this place called "Grand Table" it's a bakery and cafe. I went in and they had this grand table (what a surprise?) with all these different breads on it. You pick a tray and some tweasers and pick the breads you want. I picked this lemon scone thing, and a bread that tasted like a cheesy pig in a blanket. If you eat it there they warm it up for you and bring it out on a little plate with a drink. It was SO good, and really cheap. I got both for 105 yen. It made for a really nice snack in the middle of the day. The lady behind the counter spoke some english and asked if I knew Japanese, I said very little. She was very kind and used simple Japanese, and English when it was too difficult or complicated. She asked where I was from and why I was in Japan. It's within a 10 minute walk from my house, so I'm thinking of making it my personal coffie shop. Go in once every day or two and relax, eat scones, or hot dog bread and make friends with the locals. It seems like a good thing to do. It was mostly older ladies in there, and some were staring a bit but they'll get used to seeing me around.
I walked back home and went upstairs. They were watching an American movie on the laptop called "Passengers." I'd never seen it and watched the end. Then, as always, no one said anything. Okasan didn't need help with dinner, so I went downstairs, got my book, and sat and read like everyone else.
Tonight was the first dinner that I didn't like... It was like an odd Japanese stew... They tried to explain it and used their electronic dictionary to look up a word and all it said was "Processed Fish" that didn't give me much hope. It looked strange, tasted strange, and had a strange texture. I ended up eating the potatoes in the bowl, and the other veggies. Eating the tofu and egg that was in there for some protein. Tried to get down as much of the fish as I could, and then ate a salad and all my rice to fill me up. I'm not packed to the brim like I am on most nights, but I'm also not going hungry. I was honest and said I didn't really like it and was sorry, Okasan wasn't mad and seemed to understand that it was a lot of odd things and flavors for an American. I've been pretty good until now about putting whatever's in front of me into my mouth and eating it, so I think she knows I at least give things a shot.
After dinner was good, Mitachan (the baby) and her parents came over. My Okasan and Toko began to teach me the months, days of the week, and days of the motnh. Okasan said that every time I wake up and come up for breakfast she's going to ask me what day is it? And I should respond with the Month, the Day, and the Day of the Week. Then we had a small english lesson. They had a big picture book with a lot of simple words for basic things. They asked me questions mainly on pronounciation.
I taught Toko the concept of bi=two, tri=three and so on with examples, I felt proud. I also learned her favorite candy is See's Chocolates, there's a See's in Tokyo apparentally, I'm going to try to find it and bring her back some candies when I go this next week.
Then it's shower and downstairs, blogging and to bed with me. I'm always tired, so I'm trying to get as much sleep as possible so I don't get sick. I don't feel like I'm getting sick though, thankfully, just really tired.
I miss you all very much, tons of love from Japan.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday Yoga and Monday Bath Time
So I'm still a bit behind, I know, how is that possible after those massive posts?!
On Sunday morning I got up and went to Yoga class with my Okasan and Toko at what seemed to be the community center. The instructor was really nice to me, and I was very excited that the class was basic so I didn't look dumb. It was actually only a little bit more difficult than our warm-up in Capoeira. The instructor would come over to help me if she was explaining something difficult that I couldn't figure out by watching. At the end she said to my Okasan that she was surprised at how well a "foreginer" and likely implied American did. I understood the Japanese though I didn't say anything and was quietly proud. She was also really impressed that I did Capoeira, and I think my Okasan and Toko was impressed too.
After we went to lunch, I had some odd omlette with rice (of cource rice) in the center with chicken. It was actually pretty good all things considered, and oddly it was served with western utensels as well as chopsticks. I got to give Toko and Okasan a little etiquette lesson and that made me happy.
Following that we walked around a bookstore. I geeked it at a few games that you can't get in the U.S. and I may go back and get them. Even though I can't read them, some of them were cheap and may be a fun novelty item. We went right in our workout cloths, which was okay in that I didn't get sweaty, but not okay in that I wasn't very styleish. I groanted that I was wearing navy blue sandals with black pants (my black capoeira pants) and they were like "so?" Then I realized why Japan was awesome. They totally don't know the no blue and black type rule.
The rest of Sunday is honestly kind of a blur. We went to the market and got stuff for Sukiaki which is delicious, but everyone left and it was just Okasan and me. I felt bad if Okasan made it for me and no one else likes it. The baby was also left with us, which I have no idea how to handle a baby as I despirately tried to help my Okasan. I have a picture of me and her, she really is cute, she's smiling in the picture because Otosan in the background is making faces. I think she's scared of me when I hold her.
This morning I was running a bit behind and made it to class like 3 minutes late unfortunately. But I have 3 tardies throughout the Semester, I hate to use one so early but I'll never forget the bus schedule again I can assure you. And other than that I can't forsee a reason why I'd be late.
School was normal, I hung around with people for awhile. We went to this donut cafe called "Natural Donut" by campus. It's like real hand-made donuts, all organic stuff, but it tastes amazing, not to mention it's really cheap and Kansai Gaidai students get a discount. After that I hung around a little longer, but I was really tired for some reason and went home.
I lied out on the floor and in about 5 seconds later I was out. I slept for a good two hours, I'm still tired, but I'm going to go to bed shortly. I woke up and helped Okasan with dinner. She's really quiet sometimes, I can't tell if she's mad at me or if I'm just being paranoid. I cleaned up then came back downstairs, she obviously wasn't in a mood to chat. I worked on my homework then went up to take a shower. She was on the phone.
I sat in the furu, or the bath for the first time. In Japan you shower, and then sit in the bath after you're clean to relax, almost like a hot tub. It's deceptively large, what they lack in length they make up for in height, I actually managed to position myself comftorably so that I was up to my neck in water and nothing was exposed. I sat there awhile and was impressed at how nice it felt, the whole tub is heated and felt great. When I got out I was a bit light headed, not in a bad way like "Oh that was too hot I feel sick" but a happy warm feeling.
Okasan was still on the phone, and no one else was home... so I just went downstairs and finished my homework for the week, watched an episode of South Park, and now I think I'm going to go to bed. I'm actually a little soar today from yoga, so the hot bath and now a warm bed (or futon rather) sounds good.
Things aren't great at home I wouldn't say, but they're not bad. My bus pass now is truly unlimited, so I'm going to go visit people all the time as well. Espically when I don't have homework on nights when Okasan doesn't feel like talking.
My trip to Tokyo is coming up. Janay bought her bus ticket and is staying in the same hotel as me. She's taking the Shinkansen (bullet train) back though. But that's fine, the Shinkansen likely leaves from the same station my bus does and she's leaving on the same day I think, so it'll be fine. We're making lists of what we want to do and see, so we can compare and contrast. I have all the maps and things printed out, so I'm ready and excited.
But now I'm really sleepy, tomorrow is an early day so it's time to go. I love you all muchly, hope to talk to you all soon.
On Sunday morning I got up and went to Yoga class with my Okasan and Toko at what seemed to be the community center. The instructor was really nice to me, and I was very excited that the class was basic so I didn't look dumb. It was actually only a little bit more difficult than our warm-up in Capoeira. The instructor would come over to help me if she was explaining something difficult that I couldn't figure out by watching. At the end she said to my Okasan that she was surprised at how well a "foreginer" and likely implied American did. I understood the Japanese though I didn't say anything and was quietly proud. She was also really impressed that I did Capoeira, and I think my Okasan and Toko was impressed too.
After we went to lunch, I had some odd omlette with rice (of cource rice) in the center with chicken. It was actually pretty good all things considered, and oddly it was served with western utensels as well as chopsticks. I got to give Toko and Okasan a little etiquette lesson and that made me happy.
Following that we walked around a bookstore. I geeked it at a few games that you can't get in the U.S. and I may go back and get them. Even though I can't read them, some of them were cheap and may be a fun novelty item. We went right in our workout cloths, which was okay in that I didn't get sweaty, but not okay in that I wasn't very styleish. I groanted that I was wearing navy blue sandals with black pants (my black capoeira pants) and they were like "so?" Then I realized why Japan was awesome. They totally don't know the no blue and black type rule.
The rest of Sunday is honestly kind of a blur. We went to the market and got stuff for Sukiaki which is delicious, but everyone left and it was just Okasan and me. I felt bad if Okasan made it for me and no one else likes it. The baby was also left with us, which I have no idea how to handle a baby as I despirately tried to help my Okasan. I have a picture of me and her, she really is cute, she's smiling in the picture because Otosan in the background is making faces. I think she's scared of me when I hold her.
This morning I was running a bit behind and made it to class like 3 minutes late unfortunately. But I have 3 tardies throughout the Semester, I hate to use one so early but I'll never forget the bus schedule again I can assure you. And other than that I can't forsee a reason why I'd be late.
School was normal, I hung around with people for awhile. We went to this donut cafe called "Natural Donut" by campus. It's like real hand-made donuts, all organic stuff, but it tastes amazing, not to mention it's really cheap and Kansai Gaidai students get a discount. After that I hung around a little longer, but I was really tired for some reason and went home.
I lied out on the floor and in about 5 seconds later I was out. I slept for a good two hours, I'm still tired, but I'm going to go to bed shortly. I woke up and helped Okasan with dinner. She's really quiet sometimes, I can't tell if she's mad at me or if I'm just being paranoid. I cleaned up then came back downstairs, she obviously wasn't in a mood to chat. I worked on my homework then went up to take a shower. She was on the phone.
I sat in the furu, or the bath for the first time. In Japan you shower, and then sit in the bath after you're clean to relax, almost like a hot tub. It's deceptively large, what they lack in length they make up for in height, I actually managed to position myself comftorably so that I was up to my neck in water and nothing was exposed. I sat there awhile and was impressed at how nice it felt, the whole tub is heated and felt great. When I got out I was a bit light headed, not in a bad way like "Oh that was too hot I feel sick" but a happy warm feeling.
Okasan was still on the phone, and no one else was home... so I just went downstairs and finished my homework for the week, watched an episode of South Park, and now I think I'm going to go to bed. I'm actually a little soar today from yoga, so the hot bath and now a warm bed (or futon rather) sounds good.
Things aren't great at home I wouldn't say, but they're not bad. My bus pass now is truly unlimited, so I'm going to go visit people all the time as well. Espically when I don't have homework on nights when Okasan doesn't feel like talking.
My trip to Tokyo is coming up. Janay bought her bus ticket and is staying in the same hotel as me. She's taking the Shinkansen (bullet train) back though. But that's fine, the Shinkansen likely leaves from the same station my bus does and she's leaving on the same day I think, so it'll be fine. We're making lists of what we want to do and see, so we can compare and contrast. I have all the maps and things printed out, so I'm ready and excited.
But now I'm really sleepy, tomorrow is an early day so it's time to go. I love you all muchly, hope to talk to you all soon.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Osaka Day Trip
On Saturday it rained for the first time in two weeks. I was excited, actually, by the familar sound and smell of rain. But, it was also the day that we were all supposed to go on our day trip to Osaka.
My sister bought my pass from me in the morning for it's worth. Then, already running late, I rushed to the station. The busses seemed to crawl there and I arrived already five minutes late. Sophia texted me earlier saying that Sara wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be comming. And Dasha sent the "don't ask" text of: "Dude, Stuff happened last night, I need a nap, can't come." One person I got in touch with, Heewon (The Korean) said that she was running late too. So I thought "Oh sweet, I can try to get my bus pass."
I forgot that I speak at the Japanese level of a 5 year old apparentally.
So after much apologizing to the woman behind the counter, the kind man on the phone whom she called, and the people behind me in line I left (now 17 minutes late) to find Heewon, empty handed because I couldn't figure out the bus pass. Heewon and I met up and she said that she heard from Ogivie that a lot of people weren't comming. Apparentally it was "Let's get hammered" Friday night and they were all sleeping off hangovers. I was a bit irked that only two people thought to let me know, but the outing was informal to begin with.
So Heewon and I get in touch with Jordan and Jordan is also running late. We walk around and then I realize "Hey, Heewon's Japanese is really good." So she kindly agrees to help me get my bus pass and serves as a translator. The pass ended up being more expensive than I thought, 30,000 yen. But it's still cheaper than the bare minimum by my aformentioned math, so I thought it was still something I should get not only for conveniance but to save money and be able to see friends. Heewon was really nice and I really appreciated it big time (making a mental note to buy her coffe or something).
About an hour late and after Heewon and I walked around half the shops in the station Jordan arrived. Our little three person party set out to go to Osaka. They all looked at me and asked if I knew how to get there, I promptly responded that if I did it wouldn't be an adventure. I also figured if we had to struggle with it a bit it'd really stick for the future. So with some asking, and some difficult map reading we got on the express train to Osaka.
Here's how difficult it is to get to Osaka from Hirakata. Pay just 320 yen, take the express train 20 minutes to the last stop, get off, you're in Osaka. Tada!
Since it was also raining in Osaka and because of the late start we didn't have much time we decided to go to Shinbashi and in Shinbashi, Shinsaibashi-Suji. Shinsaibashi-Suji, asside from being a mouthful, is a big shopping areas that's covered and you can walk around in. It's massive and stretches for blocks, and shops of all shapes and sizes and heights open into it.
The Entrance:
On the way we passed a Hard Rock, and of course I had to stop to get a pin to add to my hat!
But also remember that I'm in Japan, so the Hard Rock can't just have normal Hard Rock things, of course not, it must be cute!!
Hello Kitty meets Hard Rock:
So Hello Kitty Pin in hand we explore the stores of Shinsaibashi. Everything was there, shoe stores, clothing stores, 100 yen shops, Rolex, there were restraunts, cafes, arcades, everything you need to exist can be found in the halls of Shinsaibashi. We walked around and got a lay of the land. Heewon saw this store called "Tokyu Hands" which is this giant store that has everything. It's like, walmart meets ikea and becomes awesome. I found an onigiri box for when my Okasan makes me some for school. Onigiri, for those who don't know, is rice balls, and they have a tendancy I've discovered to be a delicious lunch, but easily smush in backpacks. I also found a bento box that was a mate to the box I bought Jeff a long time ago, so that came home with me too.
I was really excited, at the Hard Rock and Tokyu Hands I could use a credit card!! I felt like a normal person again. We all had a long talk on how weird Japan is for not taking cards and being cash-only everywhere!!
Before we headed home we stopped to get food. This is Heewon and me being silly and her takeing a picture of me taking a picture of her.
We got desert from a street-side vendor (of course in Shinsaibashi). Imagine a creme puff filled with green tea ice cream, that's what the girls got. I got a cream puff but like baked with hardened sugar on top and hot cream with chocolate chips inside. It was -amazing-.
Heewon, myself, and Jordan are all homestay kids, on the way back we called ourselves the HSA or the Homestay Students Assocation. It was nice to talk to people who knew about troubles or feelings with regard to homestay and see how others were doing. Since Osaka was so close and cheep, and now we're pros on how to get there and navigate the subway around, we all agreed we're going to go back almost every week.
In the evening after I came back I went to dinner at the gramma's house. She's a sweet old asian lady, exactlly what you'd expect and really cute. Dinner was really traditional, and seated on the floor, it was kind of cool actually.
I've got more to say, but now that I have net I have time to say it, so I'll post more tomorrow. For now it's sleeping time.
Miss you all!
My sister bought my pass from me in the morning for it's worth. Then, already running late, I rushed to the station. The busses seemed to crawl there and I arrived already five minutes late. Sophia texted me earlier saying that Sara wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be comming. And Dasha sent the "don't ask" text of: "Dude, Stuff happened last night, I need a nap, can't come." One person I got in touch with, Heewon (The Korean) said that she was running late too. So I thought "Oh sweet, I can try to get my bus pass."
I forgot that I speak at the Japanese level of a 5 year old apparentally.
So after much apologizing to the woman behind the counter, the kind man on the phone whom she called, and the people behind me in line I left (now 17 minutes late) to find Heewon, empty handed because I couldn't figure out the bus pass. Heewon and I met up and she said that she heard from Ogivie that a lot of people weren't comming. Apparentally it was "Let's get hammered" Friday night and they were all sleeping off hangovers. I was a bit irked that only two people thought to let me know, but the outing was informal to begin with.
So Heewon and I get in touch with Jordan and Jordan is also running late. We walk around and then I realize "Hey, Heewon's Japanese is really good." So she kindly agrees to help me get my bus pass and serves as a translator. The pass ended up being more expensive than I thought, 30,000 yen. But it's still cheaper than the bare minimum by my aformentioned math, so I thought it was still something I should get not only for conveniance but to save money and be able to see friends. Heewon was really nice and I really appreciated it big time (making a mental note to buy her coffe or something).
About an hour late and after Heewon and I walked around half the shops in the station Jordan arrived. Our little three person party set out to go to Osaka. They all looked at me and asked if I knew how to get there, I promptly responded that if I did it wouldn't be an adventure. I also figured if we had to struggle with it a bit it'd really stick for the future. So with some asking, and some difficult map reading we got on the express train to Osaka.
Here's how difficult it is to get to Osaka from Hirakata. Pay just 320 yen, take the express train 20 minutes to the last stop, get off, you're in Osaka. Tada!
Since it was also raining in Osaka and because of the late start we didn't have much time we decided to go to Shinbashi and in Shinbashi, Shinsaibashi-Suji. Shinsaibashi-Suji, asside from being a mouthful, is a big shopping areas that's covered and you can walk around in. It's massive and stretches for blocks, and shops of all shapes and sizes and heights open into it.
The Entrance:
Inside Sinsaibashi
On the way we passed a Hard Rock, and of course I had to stop to get a pin to add to my hat!
But also remember that I'm in Japan, so the Hard Rock can't just have normal Hard Rock things, of course not, it must be cute!!
Hello Kitty meets Hard Rock:
So Hello Kitty Pin in hand we explore the stores of Shinsaibashi. Everything was there, shoe stores, clothing stores, 100 yen shops, Rolex, there were restraunts, cafes, arcades, everything you need to exist can be found in the halls of Shinsaibashi. We walked around and got a lay of the land. Heewon saw this store called "Tokyu Hands" which is this giant store that has everything. It's like, walmart meets ikea and becomes awesome. I found an onigiri box for when my Okasan makes me some for school. Onigiri, for those who don't know, is rice balls, and they have a tendancy I've discovered to be a delicious lunch, but easily smush in backpacks. I also found a bento box that was a mate to the box I bought Jeff a long time ago, so that came home with me too.
I was really excited, at the Hard Rock and Tokyu Hands I could use a credit card!! I felt like a normal person again. We all had a long talk on how weird Japan is for not taking cards and being cash-only everywhere!!
Before we headed home we stopped to get food. This is Heewon and me being silly and her takeing a picture of me taking a picture of her.
We got desert from a street-side vendor (of course in Shinsaibashi). Imagine a creme puff filled with green tea ice cream, that's what the girls got. I got a cream puff but like baked with hardened sugar on top and hot cream with chocolate chips inside. It was -amazing-.
Heewon, myself, and Jordan are all homestay kids, on the way back we called ourselves the HSA or the Homestay Students Assocation. It was nice to talk to people who knew about troubles or feelings with regard to homestay and see how others were doing. Since Osaka was so close and cheep, and now we're pros on how to get there and navigate the subway around, we all agreed we're going to go back almost every week.
In the evening after I came back I went to dinner at the gramma's house. She's a sweet old asian lady, exactlly what you'd expect and really cute. Dinner was really traditional, and seated on the floor, it was kind of cool actually.
I've got more to say, but now that I have net I have time to say it, so I'll post more tomorrow. For now it's sleeping time.
Miss you all!
Pictures from dinner with friends
Since I obviously have net now, picture time!
Pot of deliciousness, that was the sauce for our spagettii
(Left to Right) Ogivie (Spain), Sophia (Morocco), and Jordan (U.S.A.)
Sophie, always with the tongue out
Pot of deliciousness, that was the sauce for our spagettii
(Left to Right) Ogivie (Spain), Sophia (Morocco), and Jordan (U.S.A.)
Sophie, always with the tongue out
A Late Post
(I wrote this about two days ago, but didn't have the net to post, now that I do I thought it'd be a shame not to...)
Hi everyone,
I’m in much better spirits now.
Classes today were good, and after I walked to the Seminar Houses. The walk was familiar to me, and made me feel good. The sky was also really pretty, so that made me happy too. When I get they they’d already begun cooking. Gita made the menu and it turns out she’s an amazing chef. Like if Martha Stewart was tiny, young, tan, and from Nepal. She made spring roll like things, salmon fillets and pasta with a sauce she made herself and salmon fillets, everyone pitched in money to off-set the cost and we should get a little bit back. It was all delicious and refreshing to me. Having rice as your main source of carbohydrates for a week makes you appreciate spaghetti noodles in an odd way. I miss tortellini, oh so good… okay anyways. It kind of reset me in a positive way the dinner. Having three and a half hours to speak English, relax, make jokes, and eat familiar foods really helped my mental state. It also reminded me that these people aren’t -that- far from me and getting to them is possible.
When I came home Okasan and my host sister were messing with the new router that arrived. I tried to help but there’s like four boxes and everything is of course labeled in Kanji, so I couldn’t really do anything. They never got it to work, but are saying perhaps tomorrow. After my shower I sat with them for awhile, normally I go downstairs and go to bed, but I didn’t have anything else to do and I need to really put forth the effort to bond with these people.
My sister said she could buy my other bus pass from me, that it was what she normally gets anyways. So then I’ll use that money and put it toward the new 26000 yen bus pass. I know that’s really expensive, but here’s my logic:
1 bus trip = 220 yen
Let’s assume that I walk to and from campus from the station every day. So then that’s two bus trips in a day.
220 x 2 = 440 yen
I have classes every day of the week (sadly)
440 x 5 = 2200 yen
But let’s also assume that at least one day out of the week I walk to the Seminar Houses from Campus and then take the bus back to the station.
2200 + 220 = 2420 yen in bus fairs a week
So then I’m going to be here for 14.5 weeks
2420 x 14.5 = 35090 yen in bus fairs my time here!
Even though the pass I have now will give me some discount it won’t be that much. Plus, with this pass I can ride unlimited. So I don’t have to worry about going into the studio to put in a little extra work. Or feeling guilty because I want to spend 10.00 to get out of the house for awhile and walk around downtown for a bit. Not to mention it saves me from constantly feeling like I’m going to DIE in the streets of Doom and Misery known as Japan… As a side note on this, one of my friends actually wrecked on her bike yesterday, trying to pass someone, hit a small curb (because there’s tons), and went chin-first over the handle bars into the pavement. She had a small concussion and doesn’t remember anything after that until she woke up in the hospital. Apparently it happened outside of a salon and the women inside saw the whole thing and called an ambulance. She had a CAT scan, and all kinds of things done, she’s okay, thankfully. Aside from her face being a bit messed up and her body slightly mangled, but thankfully nothing severe. But further proof that it’s not just me, Japan is SCARY for bikes!! Okay now back to what I was talking about… Plus, now that I’m really trying to make my host family work, it’ll help that resolve. I know myself, and if I spend the money I’ll want to make it worthwhile, so it’ll give me added incentive to make things work. I know logically that the host family is best, plus they’re really good people. The bus pass will help me overcome the loneliness and isolated feeling, and I will work hard to overcome the language barrier. I know it won’t be easy, but I’m not here that long, if I don’t try I think I’d be mad at myself in the future...
I also told my Okasan about this slang that the foreign students made. “Daijobu” is Japanese for “I’m fine” or “It’s okay” or “Don’t worry about it” kind of things. But the American students thought this sounded too formal so all of a sudden all the foreign students are saying “Daijobbs!” making it slang and mock gangsta, and it’s really caught on. I told my Okasan and she blinked, and explained that the “bbs” part of it the way we were pronouncing it meant ugly face! Everyone got a good laugh out of that. I made a mental note to not say it around a fluent speaker!
So tomorrow I’m going to get up, my Okasan went out of her way to find bagels for me since I was explaining how they were my favorite. So I’ll have my bagel (see how Japanese bagels stack up) and then head to the station. Me and about 13 other girls are meeting up to day trip into Osaka. We’re going to see Osaka Castle, head downtown to the beach type area and look around, maybe sing some karaoke? Just have a generally fun day out and about. I’m really looking forward to it. Some people were a bit nervous to not have structure, but a few girls have been before, and I’m all for kind of getting on a train and getting off and exploring for awhile. The Moroccans are fasting again (Those Islamic girls always are!) so we’re going to have a big dinner with them around 6 when they can eat and sample the local fair.
Thank you all for being so helpful to me. I really miss home a lot I think, more than I realize likely. I think I got upset because things were so different and I was coming to terms with that difference and the fact that it’d be that way for awhile. But I’m going to try to keep positive and be determined to make everything work, have a great time, AND learn a lot of Japanese.
I love you all lots, and I hope everything is good back in the states. Sorry for being a bit down these past few posts, but I have to admit it’s getting better… A little better… All the time!!! Buahaha, song reference from the future!
P.S.
The net is still messed up at home, but hopefully it’ll be up tomorrow so I can upload pictures!
Hi everyone,
I’m in much better spirits now.
Classes today were good, and after I walked to the Seminar Houses. The walk was familiar to me, and made me feel good. The sky was also really pretty, so that made me happy too. When I get they they’d already begun cooking. Gita made the menu and it turns out she’s an amazing chef. Like if Martha Stewart was tiny, young, tan, and from Nepal. She made spring roll like things, salmon fillets and pasta with a sauce she made herself and salmon fillets, everyone pitched in money to off-set the cost and we should get a little bit back. It was all delicious and refreshing to me. Having rice as your main source of carbohydrates for a week makes you appreciate spaghetti noodles in an odd way. I miss tortellini, oh so good… okay anyways. It kind of reset me in a positive way the dinner. Having three and a half hours to speak English, relax, make jokes, and eat familiar foods really helped my mental state. It also reminded me that these people aren’t -that- far from me and getting to them is possible.
When I came home Okasan and my host sister were messing with the new router that arrived. I tried to help but there’s like four boxes and everything is of course labeled in Kanji, so I couldn’t really do anything. They never got it to work, but are saying perhaps tomorrow. After my shower I sat with them for awhile, normally I go downstairs and go to bed, but I didn’t have anything else to do and I need to really put forth the effort to bond with these people.
My sister said she could buy my other bus pass from me, that it was what she normally gets anyways. So then I’ll use that money and put it toward the new 26000 yen bus pass. I know that’s really expensive, but here’s my logic:
1 bus trip = 220 yen
Let’s assume that I walk to and from campus from the station every day. So then that’s two bus trips in a day.
220 x 2 = 440 yen
I have classes every day of the week (sadly)
440 x 5 = 2200 yen
But let’s also assume that at least one day out of the week I walk to the Seminar Houses from Campus and then take the bus back to the station.
2200 + 220 = 2420 yen in bus fairs a week
So then I’m going to be here for 14.5 weeks
2420 x 14.5 = 35090 yen in bus fairs my time here!
Even though the pass I have now will give me some discount it won’t be that much. Plus, with this pass I can ride unlimited. So I don’t have to worry about going into the studio to put in a little extra work. Or feeling guilty because I want to spend 10.00 to get out of the house for awhile and walk around downtown for a bit. Not to mention it saves me from constantly feeling like I’m going to DIE in the streets of Doom and Misery known as Japan… As a side note on this, one of my friends actually wrecked on her bike yesterday, trying to pass someone, hit a small curb (because there’s tons), and went chin-first over the handle bars into the pavement. She had a small concussion and doesn’t remember anything after that until she woke up in the hospital. Apparently it happened outside of a salon and the women inside saw the whole thing and called an ambulance. She had a CAT scan, and all kinds of things done, she’s okay, thankfully. Aside from her face being a bit messed up and her body slightly mangled, but thankfully nothing severe. But further proof that it’s not just me, Japan is SCARY for bikes!! Okay now back to what I was talking about… Plus, now that I’m really trying to make my host family work, it’ll help that resolve. I know myself, and if I spend the money I’ll want to make it worthwhile, so it’ll give me added incentive to make things work. I know logically that the host family is best, plus they’re really good people. The bus pass will help me overcome the loneliness and isolated feeling, and I will work hard to overcome the language barrier. I know it won’t be easy, but I’m not here that long, if I don’t try I think I’d be mad at myself in the future...
I also told my Okasan about this slang that the foreign students made. “Daijobu” is Japanese for “I’m fine” or “It’s okay” or “Don’t worry about it” kind of things. But the American students thought this sounded too formal so all of a sudden all the foreign students are saying “Daijobbs!” making it slang and mock gangsta, and it’s really caught on. I told my Okasan and she blinked, and explained that the “bbs” part of it the way we were pronouncing it meant ugly face! Everyone got a good laugh out of that. I made a mental note to not say it around a fluent speaker!
So tomorrow I’m going to get up, my Okasan went out of her way to find bagels for me since I was explaining how they were my favorite. So I’ll have my bagel (see how Japanese bagels stack up) and then head to the station. Me and about 13 other girls are meeting up to day trip into Osaka. We’re going to see Osaka Castle, head downtown to the beach type area and look around, maybe sing some karaoke? Just have a generally fun day out and about. I’m really looking forward to it. Some people were a bit nervous to not have structure, but a few girls have been before, and I’m all for kind of getting on a train and getting off and exploring for awhile. The Moroccans are fasting again (Those Islamic girls always are!) so we’re going to have a big dinner with them around 6 when they can eat and sample the local fair.
Thank you all for being so helpful to me. I really miss home a lot I think, more than I realize likely. I think I got upset because things were so different and I was coming to terms with that difference and the fact that it’d be that way for awhile. But I’m going to try to keep positive and be determined to make everything work, have a great time, AND learn a lot of Japanese.
I love you all lots, and I hope everything is good back in the states. Sorry for being a bit down these past few posts, but I have to admit it’s getting better… A little better… All the time!!! Buahaha, song reference from the future!
P.S.
The net is still messed up at home, but hopefully it’ll be up tomorrow so I can upload pictures!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Trying to Sell the Bus Pass
Still upset with myself over this bus pass I'm trying to figure out someone who will buy it off of me... no luck.
I'm going to stick it out with my host family, when I have an unlimited bus pass going to the Seminar Houses to hang out for an hour will be no big deal, because it won't be as expensive, and I'll make full use of it... that's what I'm hoping...
I'm going to stick it out with my host family, when I have an unlimited bus pass going to the Seminar Houses to hang out for an hour will be no big deal, because it won't be as expensive, and I'll make full use of it... that's what I'm hoping...
A New Day
Well my whole body hurts from my biking escipades yesterday and I have really random bruses, but I'll be fine. There's nothing serious though so I'll be fine in a day or two.
I bought a 50.00US bus pass you get an extra 600 yen when you get it, but it's like a card and deducts money... And then met a girl on the bus that had something even more awesome... it's 260.00US but it's unlimited rides on the bus and lasts 3 months. My mom said it'd be 100.00 for a bus pass for one month and that it only lasted till the end of the month. I.E. If I bought it now I'd be paying for a full month and only getting half. But this pass lasts until three months after the day you get it. I'm going to try to sell my 50.00US bus pass to someone and get that instead, since it's obviously the best deal even though it's more expensive. But I am a bit hesitant because if I do move out of my host family then it's money down the tube.
I'm not quite sure what to do about the bus pass situation, if I should try to sell mine and get the new one right away which seems like the best option, or use it up then get the other, which seems significantly less efficent......
I also decided on a compromise with the bus. Since it's only about a 15-25 minute walk to the train station, but almost an hour walk from the train station home I'm going to walk to the station then bus home, at least while I'm on the 50.00 bus pass.
I'm going to go to the Seminar Houses tonight, there's a little get-together going on. The girl from Napal is cooking dinner, everyone's pitching in for the cost and we're chowing together. Hopefully we'll go out for karaoke or something after... Though I have to make sure I head home by 11:30, because the last bus leaves at 11:40...
I feel better knowing I'm going to be going out and doing things and not just going home and sitting. Classes today have been good, my throwing is getting better. I threw a vase, small cup, and a big cup. So that makes three cups, two bowls, and a vase this week in total. My Okasan is really nice, I feel bad at the thought of leaving, I don't think I will but right now it does make life significantly more miserable, and I don't feel like I'm learning anything, hopefully it'll turn around soon.
I'm trying to keep a positive attitude about things today, even though I'm mad at myself for getting that 50.00 pass and possibly wasting my money...
I bought a 50.00US bus pass you get an extra 600 yen when you get it, but it's like a card and deducts money... And then met a girl on the bus that had something even more awesome... it's 260.00US but it's unlimited rides on the bus and lasts 3 months. My mom said it'd be 100.00 for a bus pass for one month and that it only lasted till the end of the month. I.E. If I bought it now I'd be paying for a full month and only getting half. But this pass lasts until three months after the day you get it. I'm going to try to sell my 50.00US bus pass to someone and get that instead, since it's obviously the best deal even though it's more expensive. But I am a bit hesitant because if I do move out of my host family then it's money down the tube.
I'm not quite sure what to do about the bus pass situation, if I should try to sell mine and get the new one right away which seems like the best option, or use it up then get the other, which seems significantly less efficent......
I also decided on a compromise with the bus. Since it's only about a 15-25 minute walk to the train station, but almost an hour walk from the train station home I'm going to walk to the station then bus home, at least while I'm on the 50.00 bus pass.
I'm going to go to the Seminar Houses tonight, there's a little get-together going on. The girl from Napal is cooking dinner, everyone's pitching in for the cost and we're chowing together. Hopefully we'll go out for karaoke or something after... Though I have to make sure I head home by 11:30, because the last bus leaves at 11:40...
I feel better knowing I'm going to be going out and doing things and not just going home and sitting. Classes today have been good, my throwing is getting better. I threw a vase, small cup, and a big cup. So that makes three cups, two bowls, and a vase this week in total. My Okasan is really nice, I feel bad at the thought of leaving, I don't think I will but right now it does make life significantly more miserable, and I don't feel like I'm learning anything, hopefully it'll turn around soon.
I'm trying to keep a positive attitude about things today, even though I'm mad at myself for getting that 50.00 pass and possibly wasting my money...
A little harder now
Everything seems to be a little harder now. Not only are there more difficulties than what there were before but there are no distractions to keep me from them.
When I was in the seminar house I had 10 other girls who were awesome. Even if it was just going to the super market three would come and you'd always have company. Now I do everything alone.
My host family is really nice, and everything is fine, truly, but it's really lonely here. I can't speak to anyone, they don't know enough english and I don't know enough Japanese. And since I'm the minority I come upstairs for dinner, say the 20 words I know rearranged as best I can to say I like something, don't like something, want something, or ask what something is, then sit quietly. I'm a very talkitive person, and not having anyone to speak with I'm finding is very difficult for me. And with the internet at the apaerment dead right now because the router died when I come home I have no one to talk to other than e-mails on my cell. I know some would argue it's good for me in a way to sit quietly and listen, but it doesn't help the lonelyness. I just feel like another body in the room, I can't bond with these people because I can't even communicate with them. I wash the dishes from dinner, take my shower, go downstairs and go to bed. And no matter how much I sleep every day I still feel tired in the morning. I know I asked for this, but I can't help but think right now that I bit off more than I can chew in this regard. Plus I'm so far from the friends I've made and the people I know that it's not like I can walk 10 minutes down the road and see them. I have to plan days in advance like a daytrip. It's like I'm by myself on my own little island.
It's not helping too right now that I tried riding a bike to school today. My host mom was very insitant and I agreed, and then found out as she was sending me off with the bike that no helmit was involved, that was the first mistake. Then the apartment is at the top of a very steep hill, I tried it, and crashed, my second mistake. As I'm trying to manage the streets I try to swerve to avoid someone and run into a short wall and crash another time. I end up walking half the way anyways, because the hills are too steep for me to ride up or down. There are also these short posts in the middle of the sidewalk, which make no sense, but I ran the bike into one of those too... But I make it to school on time... Then after class I thought I'd run to the store because as I was leaving okasan said the brake pads needed to be replaced because they squeal loudly (which they do). As I'm going along all of a sudden to other bikers come out of the side ally I try to swerve to miss them and end up crashing into some nice old lady's flower pots. I didn't brake anything and she seemed more worried about me then her tiny garden, which was a relief that she wasn't mad.... So I head back to campus, then begin to head back home. I'm riding on the sidewalk and as I'm wondering why it's so hard I realize that the front tire is so low on air it's almost flat. So, I walk, an hour and 15 minutes, pushing my bike, the whole way home. My right shin is brused baddly from wacking into foot pedal and I hurt pretty much all over. For short distances I'm thinking a bike is a must. But for long distances and people who don't know how to bike on hills, I'm thinking it's not a good idea... I'm taking the bus tomorrow....
The only internet I can get right now is upstairs, so I'm sitting at the kitchen table, but no one is home... It's like, I can't even stay with the people I can bond with, because I gotta go home, but then home is lonely and sad. They should have a new router by Saturday...
I'm eating... Shrimp flavored, crunchy, potato things... There are no normal snack foods in Japan!
Pottery was good today though, I threw some big udon bowls and soup bowls and a mug. I also went through about double the clay than I needed, but that was the high point of my day, I have class again tomorrow thankfully. Someone in my pottery class though had the bright idea to talk about all the foods they missed... and right now I'm craving Papa Johns Pizza, Nachos made with Tostidos Chips, tortellini, olive garden salad....
Maybe I'm just a bit homesick? Maybe I'm just tired... but everything seems a lot harder now, and I can't wait for it to be like orientation week again, when everything was exciting and fun...
P.S.
Thanks everyone for the comments, I appreciate it.
P.S.S.
Hi Grandpa!! Love you!!!
When I was in the seminar house I had 10 other girls who were awesome. Even if it was just going to the super market three would come and you'd always have company. Now I do everything alone.
My host family is really nice, and everything is fine, truly, but it's really lonely here. I can't speak to anyone, they don't know enough english and I don't know enough Japanese. And since I'm the minority I come upstairs for dinner, say the 20 words I know rearranged as best I can to say I like something, don't like something, want something, or ask what something is, then sit quietly. I'm a very talkitive person, and not having anyone to speak with I'm finding is very difficult for me. And with the internet at the apaerment dead right now because the router died when I come home I have no one to talk to other than e-mails on my cell. I know some would argue it's good for me in a way to sit quietly and listen, but it doesn't help the lonelyness. I just feel like another body in the room, I can't bond with these people because I can't even communicate with them. I wash the dishes from dinner, take my shower, go downstairs and go to bed. And no matter how much I sleep every day I still feel tired in the morning. I know I asked for this, but I can't help but think right now that I bit off more than I can chew in this regard. Plus I'm so far from the friends I've made and the people I know that it's not like I can walk 10 minutes down the road and see them. I have to plan days in advance like a daytrip. It's like I'm by myself on my own little island.
It's not helping too right now that I tried riding a bike to school today. My host mom was very insitant and I agreed, and then found out as she was sending me off with the bike that no helmit was involved, that was the first mistake. Then the apartment is at the top of a very steep hill, I tried it, and crashed, my second mistake. As I'm trying to manage the streets I try to swerve to avoid someone and run into a short wall and crash another time. I end up walking half the way anyways, because the hills are too steep for me to ride up or down. There are also these short posts in the middle of the sidewalk, which make no sense, but I ran the bike into one of those too... But I make it to school on time... Then after class I thought I'd run to the store because as I was leaving okasan said the brake pads needed to be replaced because they squeal loudly (which they do). As I'm going along all of a sudden to other bikers come out of the side ally I try to swerve to miss them and end up crashing into some nice old lady's flower pots. I didn't brake anything and she seemed more worried about me then her tiny garden, which was a relief that she wasn't mad.... So I head back to campus, then begin to head back home. I'm riding on the sidewalk and as I'm wondering why it's so hard I realize that the front tire is so low on air it's almost flat. So, I walk, an hour and 15 minutes, pushing my bike, the whole way home. My right shin is brused baddly from wacking into foot pedal and I hurt pretty much all over. For short distances I'm thinking a bike is a must. But for long distances and people who don't know how to bike on hills, I'm thinking it's not a good idea... I'm taking the bus tomorrow....
The only internet I can get right now is upstairs, so I'm sitting at the kitchen table, but no one is home... It's like, I can't even stay with the people I can bond with, because I gotta go home, but then home is lonely and sad. They should have a new router by Saturday...
I'm eating... Shrimp flavored, crunchy, potato things... There are no normal snack foods in Japan!
Pottery was good today though, I threw some big udon bowls and soup bowls and a mug. I also went through about double the clay than I needed, but that was the high point of my day, I have class again tomorrow thankfully. Someone in my pottery class though had the bright idea to talk about all the foods they missed... and right now I'm craving Papa Johns Pizza, Nachos made with Tostidos Chips, tortellini, olive garden salad....
Maybe I'm just a bit homesick? Maybe I'm just tired... but everything seems a lot harder now, and I can't wait for it to be like orientation week again, when everything was exciting and fun...
P.S.
Thanks everyone for the comments, I appreciate it.
P.S.S.
Hi Grandpa!! Love you!!!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Finally a new post!
Sorry everyone that it's taken me so long to post again. Life has been pretty crazy.
My Okasan and Onesan met me at the school and right off the bat were very kind. Their apartment is kind of out in the boondocks, about 40 minutes bus trip from campus. It's about 440 yen each way to take the bus, so that's about 10.00USD a day to ride the bus to campus. I'm going to try it on my bike. I payed attention today, and it's really not that far, it just seems far becuase the bus stops and starts, stops and starts. If I do decide to take the bus I'd have to get a bus pass, but even the student discount one is very expensive, 100.00 USD a month. Plus by biking not only will I be working out a bit, but I saw a lot of really cute shops I'd pass on the way to campus! Wait, maybe it won't be chaper! So, I'm really hoping the bike works out... even though I'm nervous about biking...
Anyways! So they live in an apartment, well actually two. The apartments are big enough maybe for three people? (I'm going to post a walk-through of the apartement on Youtube) This is the building and my stairwell:
They have two apartments, one on the third floor and one on the fourth floor. The fourth floor has my host sister's room, the shower, a toilet, the living area, the kitchen, and Okasan and Otosan's rooms.
The third floor has a washing machene (where the shower would be) a toilet, sink, my room, a more informal living area, another "kitchen" which is more like a second wash room for things by hand, and Kai's room. Kai is my big brother. This is the view from the third floor:
But, that's not the view from my room, this is:
They said it's a great view because I can actually see trees. I guess it's a little park-type area for the surrounding apartment buildings. But I think I need to help them redefine their opinion of a "great view!"
Anyways this is my room with my futon out:
During the day the futon is packed awa and it's just open space, which is kind of nice actually. I have a dresser, a closet, some shelves and the desk which you can see. Because I live in a different apartment from Okasan and Otosan I don't really have a cerfew because I have a key, I just need to tell them when I'm coming home. (Oh, and PS, doesn't the stuff look like something you'd find at Ikea? Just saying...)
So the first night for dinner I had a "night off" from my normal chores and things. We had "do-it-yourself" sushi. The table had seweed paper, rice, and all kinds of vegtables and meats. You took a piece of seaweed paper into your hand, put rice on it, whatever else you want, and then yum! It was good, the older brother Ken, who is married and has a newborn baby came over. Kai the brother who lives with me works late and gets up early, he works at Mitsubishi, I think as an assembley worker... Either way there were a lot of people all of a sudden around me and only one of them spoke decent English, and one other speaks very broken english (okasan).
But, at the first dinner I did have my moment of glory. They began talking about my hair and it being blonde as if I couldn't understand, but I could. So I said "Kinpatsu wakarimasu!" (I understand, blonde hair) and they all blinked at me and were impressed, hehe. Then I showered and pretty much went to bed. The first night was really mentally exhausting for me. Getting moved around to begin with, then being thrust somewhere that's so different and really only the sister speaks decent english is hard. But, I'm already using my Japanese a lot, and I'm sure it'll get better from here on...
This morning I had a breakfast of a fried egg, toast (which Japanese bread is sliced like an inch thick!), fruit, yogurt, sausage, and salad. It was so good and filling that all I had between that and dinner at 7pm was a soyjoy bar.
Then I braved the bus. It was an experience, but now I know where to go... I got the first bus right, easy. But it drops you off in a big hub for the entire city where there's like 20 different busses. I walked around and began trying to read signs and remember the one time I'd done it before as best I could. Then this nice asian lady walked up to me, didn't speak a lick of English but said "Kansai Gaidai?" I nodded, and she walked away from her own bus to help me find mine. After myself asking two other people I was finally on the way to school.
I had my first ceramics class today. I spent the whole class trying to become familar again with the wheel. My professor was helping the newbies do wedging, I'm SO glad I din't take the beginner. Then all of a sudden in the last 30 minutes he came over and demonstrated techniques and Japanese bamboo tools I'd never seen that makes your entire world easier on the wheel. I was SO impressed, and felt so stupid. But he seems really nice, and hasn't given up on me being intermediate. He gave me DVDs of the entire class and what he'll cover for the semester. They're 300 yen, but I'm really going to pay attention because what he did today was awesome.
Then I braved the buses home. I still had to ask for help once, but it was much better than headed to campus. When I got home I immedately began to help with dinner. My chores are:
1) Help cook dinner (which I wanted to do anyways)
2) Help clean up/wash the dishes
3) Take the trash down twice a week
4) Clean my room twice a week. (Which won't be hard considering it's tiny and I don't have much stuff)
I learned a lot tonight about Japanese table manners. For example, the Japanese don't use napkins (that's the hardest to get used to). And your right hand holds the chopsticks and your left hand holds the dish. You never put it below the table (I was resting mine on my seat). Also, Japanese meals are like a lot of little side dishes you pick from, rather than one big main dish in the middle. We had fried eggplant. These delicious, I don't know what you call them but they were like a potato pancake with onions and sushi - awesome. Rice, of course. Eel to dip in soy sauce. Tofu with grated ginger and soy sauce on top, and a few other small things.
Oh! I also introduced them to Spagetti Squash. They said out of all the 13 homestay students they've had (yes, 13 they have this down to a science) I was the first one to tell them about it. They all want to try it now.
This dinner was a lot more bareable, significantly less overwhelming than the first dinner and equally as good. I'm still not sure how asians stay so friggin skinny on their diets!
I showered second tonight, and then came downstairs. I'm really tired and I can't wait to go to bed. They turn the AC off here at night, my Okasan told me to open the door for some breeze to keep cool. But I didn't... what if a spider crawled in?!!! When she asked me today if I did or not I told her I turned it off, but didn't open the door because I was afraid of Spiders, she just laughed. It really didn't get -that- hot in here anyways... not hot enough to make me want to brave a hell-spawn. Then she told me right after to open the door (the slider to the balcony where the cloths dry, in my room, not the front door) when I go to school, I wanted to be like "WOMAN did you not just hear what I said about the spiders?!!" But I just said sure and did it...
It's time for bed now, another host student left a bike here, but it needs new tires, I offered to help pay to replace them, since I thought I'd have to buy a bike anyways, and this is likely significantly cheaper. But, until the bike is fixed, it's the bus for me!
Tomorrow, Okasan and Otosan and myself are headed to City Hall. I need to perform alien registration so I have a verification card that I'm staying here legally. Technically without it any Police officer can detain me. Not that it actually happens, but it could. Then Otosan is going to drive me to school, and I'll take the bus home.
I really miss everyone. Like I said, after the first week, it's finally beginning to sink in how long I'll be here. I'm still excited, but I have a bit more anexity about everything. I know I've made the right decisions, but I'm still nervous, and I miss everyone and everything that's familar a lot.
So, sleepy time, much to be done. I look forward to talking to you all soon!
Also, P.S.
If you want to mail me something I have a physcal address now, so e-mail me if you need/want it and I'll e-mail you back with it!
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