I will start from today, and perhaps work my way backwards.
Today I went to Aeon (the mall) with some of my class mates and we saw the movie Benjamin Button, with Brad Pitt and all. And I cried. I tried so hard not to, but I looked over at my friend sitting next to me and se had her towel under her eyes and she was sniffling and I couldn’t fight it any longer. So I shed my first tears in a movie theater in Japan. The funniest part about the movie was that it was in Japanese. It was like watching an old Chinese Kung-fu film with bad English dubbing, except the other way around. Well… the dubbing wasn’t THAT bad, but it did throw me off a bit there in the beginning. It was interesting how the Japanese had to substitute certain voices and characters. Like the miracle preacher. This isn’t a character you can find in Japanese society, so the way his Japanese character spoke seemed really odd to me.
After the movie we ate doughnuts because none of us had eaten lunch and it had some home become four in the evening while we were watching the movie (how on earth!?). I just discovered I can’t spell doughnut. My English speaking mind is deteriorating. Then we took purikura… which is a strip of tiny photos taken in a small photo booth and then decorated at a monitor. Its amazing… I mean you can stick a little animated bit of poo in the photo… in fact… we did. Then we ate ice cream and made our way home. I had a good day.
Before that I’ve had two hectic weeks filled with various rotary events. Fist I went to RYLA, or Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. I got a new pin for my blazer. I had to participate in a discussion about what makes a person have a beautiful heart in Japanese… It was really hard. I basically looked like an idiot, but I think it got things moving. Next years outbounds were a little shy at first. They were shy afterwards as well but oh well.
Now I will go back to the beginning. I went to Hokkaido about two weeks ago. Hokkaido is Japan’s northern most island and is very very cold. Every year they have the winter festival in Sapporo with lots of giant carved ice sculptures. I saw these on my last day visiting. I went on a three day bus tour and basically got drove all around Hokkaido. First day we mostly drove and stopped to buy souvenirs. Hokkaido is famous for “nama caramel” which is a really odd candy that somewhat resembles gum. Its also really expensive so I only ate a little bit of it. That night we stayed at a Ryokan (Japanese hotel) and took a bath in a rotemoro (out side hot spring). And do too lucky timing we got to watch fireworks while taking our bath outside in the snow. It was AMAZING. Something I really can’t do twice in a lifetime. The next day we went really far north to see the “ryuhyo” or the ice fields in the ocean. We took a boat out a few miles till Hokkaido disappeared and then BOOM the boat is surrounded by odd enormous lily pad shaped ice … plates? We floated around in that for a few hours before headed back to Hokkaido. We stayed at a Ryokan again the next night, but no Ryotembero. That and I accidentally walked into the mens’ bathroom. And in Japan… that has a whole new consequence. That night there was a mini ice festival real close by so we went down and played around there for a while. Everything was made from frozen ice used from the river close by. And they had pretty colored lights to make an icy rainbow wonderland with a giant ice slide, that I slide down. It was epic yes. They also had little shrines made out of ice. It was actually really warm inside the ice too! I started to sweat.
The last day we went to Asahiyama dobutsukoen and the ice festival, then took a real late flight back to Tokyo. I got to bed at 2 30 that night, and had to stay home from school to the next day to rest and unpack.
That’s about all I got for now. I will try my damnedest to keep updating this blog, but like I said. 30 minutes a day. And updating the blog takes the whole time, so I’m a little reluctant to update it so much.
Photos on face book, check ‘em out.
Love You
STIL miss you
Half way home
Diana
Monday 23 February 2009
Thursday 1 January 2009
and belated Hollidays.
I didn't do much for Christmas this year. There was a small Rotary party where we ate cake and such, but that was about it. I didn't do much for New years either, due to bad luck. My host mom is sick. Luckily, I went to another Rotarians house for a family party for New Years today, and I will be going out with him again tommorow, so my host mom can rest easy. Apparently this is the first time she has been sick in some 20 years. Tommorow I'm going to go to the movies to sea "The Day the World Stopped"? (I know the title in Japanese, and thats a direct translation). Any way, Keanue Raeves.
I don't have much else planned for my winter break from school. I go back on the 8th, and its the first time in my life I'm looking forward to going back to school. I'm quite bored here at the house. Im looking forward to tommorow though. I'm also glad that when I return to school, PE dance will be over finally. Since I came to Japan, until winter break, PE has been Dance. We started with folk, moved to ball room, and eventually we were givin the task of geting in groups and making our own dance. My group had 12 girls. You have to put together all your own music, make your costume, and coreograph the dance. It took about a month to do. My groups title was "Running moving garusu" with the running and moving in english, but the "girls" in Japanese. Our theme was being late to school. Out of 17 other groups we were voted 5th best, which was pretty exciting.I also took some exams before winter break. I took the German exam (which I bombed), and an Enlgish exam, which I did very well on. And before you go "of course" I was mostly being tested on matching Japanese vocabulary with Enlish, so It was somewhat challenging.
I feel really bad for anyone that doesn't own a dishwasher, because I have now just come to understand the phenomenon that is "dish pan hands" and no... its not when your hands get all soggy after being in water for so long. It happens with you wash dishes with hot water in winter, in a pourly inselated house. Basicly first your skin gets dry and itchy, and then it cracks, and then you actually get open sores that are like cuts... and it really hurts. I know this because I wash dishes three times a day now. I havn't got cuts yet, but my hands are rather dry and itchy.
Not much else to blog about.
Update when I have somthing better to say
Love you
Miss you
Diana
I didn't do much for Christmas this year. There was a small Rotary party where we ate cake and such, but that was about it. I didn't do much for New years either, due to bad luck. My host mom is sick. Luckily, I went to another Rotarians house for a family party for New Years today, and I will be going out with him again tommorow, so my host mom can rest easy. Apparently this is the first time she has been sick in some 20 years. Tommorow I'm going to go to the movies to sea "The Day the World Stopped"? (I know the title in Japanese, and thats a direct translation). Any way, Keanue Raeves.
I don't have much else planned for my winter break from school. I go back on the 8th, and its the first time in my life I'm looking forward to going back to school. I'm quite bored here at the house. Im looking forward to tommorow though. I'm also glad that when I return to school, PE dance will be over finally. Since I came to Japan, until winter break, PE has been Dance. We started with folk, moved to ball room, and eventually we were givin the task of geting in groups and making our own dance. My group had 12 girls. You have to put together all your own music, make your costume, and coreograph the dance. It took about a month to do. My groups title was "Running moving garusu" with the running and moving in english, but the "girls" in Japanese. Our theme was being late to school. Out of 17 other groups we were voted 5th best, which was pretty exciting.I also took some exams before winter break. I took the German exam (which I bombed), and an Enlgish exam, which I did very well on. And before you go "of course" I was mostly being tested on matching Japanese vocabulary with Enlish, so It was somewhat challenging.
I feel really bad for anyone that doesn't own a dishwasher, because I have now just come to understand the phenomenon that is "dish pan hands" and no... its not when your hands get all soggy after being in water for so long. It happens with you wash dishes with hot water in winter, in a pourly inselated house. Basicly first your skin gets dry and itchy, and then it cracks, and then you actually get open sores that are like cuts... and it really hurts. I know this because I wash dishes three times a day now. I havn't got cuts yet, but my hands are rather dry and itchy.
Not much else to blog about.
Update when I have somthing better to say
Love you
Miss you
Diana
Friday 7 November 2008
Oops... Don't hate me :P
Well, I absolutely fail at bloging. But this is nothing new to anyone who ever seen me blog before (aka back when I used xanga). Well I suppose I have a lot to update people on. Let me pull out my diary and update you guys on the past month.
Lets see. October fourth I ate dinner at a Rotarians house. He was an ear nose and throat doctor, and his clinic was right by his house so we got a tour. And it frightened me. I’m not a fan of scary look instruments (torture devices) that are meant to go up your nose. But anyway we ate dinner at his house this time and his wife made all the food from scratch. It was really delicious and I’m sad that I couldn’t eat more than I did do to my sensitive stomach, aka there were mushrooms. I can sometimes stomach them, but honestly, when I say I don’t like a food, it means that if I put it in my mouth I will vomit. That simple. After dinner we watched my neighbor totoro! Very nice evening.
October fifth was the Halloween festival in Kisai, those pictures are posted on face book. I made a Jack-O-Lantern which unfortunately collected lots of bugs and had to be thrown away. I told my host mom you need to put a candle in the lantern, but she was like “its got to dry first”… pumpkins don’t dry. Anyway, poor lantern died. I saw a costume contest and for some reason lots of men where in women’s clothing while the women were in men’s clothing. The Japanese are very willing to cross dress when the occasion arises. Kisai’s mayor was there, and he fell off the stage. I felt bad for him, but it was also kind of funny. I’m horrible.
October tenth I went to Tokyo again, this time to celebrate Shinya’s birthday, and I got to sleep on the comfy futon again! I ate tempura at this famous tempura place in Ginza. Unfortunately I can’t name the place, all I can say is its famous and it was delicious. I even ate mushroom tempura. That night when celebrating shinya’s birthday we ate shabu shabu and sukiyaki. And for desert we ate this really expencise and delicious strawberry cream cake. I about died from the yummyness of this trip.
October sixteenth was the schools walking marathon to Tonegawa, aka a really big hill by a river. All the students in the school walked in there jerseys about 10 miles that day (five there and back). It was a sea of red, blue, and green. It was sunny all the way there and the entire time we were cooking. I made yakisoba and pancakes. It was funny when It did start to rain and the students were using the little roaster thingies to roast marshmallows they all pulled out umbrellas to hold over the tiny fires and over the baggage, and very few people actually kept the umbrella to cover themselves. It rained the entire time home and I happened to have forgotten my umbrella that day and got soaked and horrible blisters on my feet. But it was awesome.
I also totally got sick the next day. First time I ever threw up and still decided to go to school.
The nineteenth I walked in a parade in Kazo with the rotary club and got sunburn on my face. After the parade Natalie and I ate udon (our counselor has an udon booth open and so we got free lunch). Then we made our way to the station and met up with Izumi and went to Kawagoe. There was a festival and we chilled with the rotexs. I ate kakigori (shaved ice). These pictures are also somewhat loaded on face book.
Then last weekend I helped my host mother volunteer at a festival in Kisai and walked in another parade, this one much smaller. I also bought lots of cheap clothes, and watched lots of people do the Yosakoi dance, look it up on you tube.
Last weekend, actually Monday which was a holliday, I went to the three day march in Higashi Matsuyama. I walked 12 km with the rotex and Rotarians. We also picked up trash along the way. It was tons of fun, and I’ve been trying to load up pictures onto face book but face book hates me now so It may be another while.
I don’t feel like typing anymore. I’ll try to update more often later.
Love you
Miss you
Diana
Lets see. October fourth I ate dinner at a Rotarians house. He was an ear nose and throat doctor, and his clinic was right by his house so we got a tour. And it frightened me. I’m not a fan of scary look instruments (torture devices) that are meant to go up your nose. But anyway we ate dinner at his house this time and his wife made all the food from scratch. It was really delicious and I’m sad that I couldn’t eat more than I did do to my sensitive stomach, aka there were mushrooms. I can sometimes stomach them, but honestly, when I say I don’t like a food, it means that if I put it in my mouth I will vomit. That simple. After dinner we watched my neighbor totoro! Very nice evening.
October fifth was the Halloween festival in Kisai, those pictures are posted on face book. I made a Jack-O-Lantern which unfortunately collected lots of bugs and had to be thrown away. I told my host mom you need to put a candle in the lantern, but she was like “its got to dry first”… pumpkins don’t dry. Anyway, poor lantern died. I saw a costume contest and for some reason lots of men where in women’s clothing while the women were in men’s clothing. The Japanese are very willing to cross dress when the occasion arises. Kisai’s mayor was there, and he fell off the stage. I felt bad for him, but it was also kind of funny. I’m horrible.
October tenth I went to Tokyo again, this time to celebrate Shinya’s birthday, and I got to sleep on the comfy futon again! I ate tempura at this famous tempura place in Ginza. Unfortunately I can’t name the place, all I can say is its famous and it was delicious. I even ate mushroom tempura. That night when celebrating shinya’s birthday we ate shabu shabu and sukiyaki. And for desert we ate this really expencise and delicious strawberry cream cake. I about died from the yummyness of this trip.
October sixteenth was the schools walking marathon to Tonegawa, aka a really big hill by a river. All the students in the school walked in there jerseys about 10 miles that day (five there and back). It was a sea of red, blue, and green. It was sunny all the way there and the entire time we were cooking. I made yakisoba and pancakes. It was funny when It did start to rain and the students were using the little roaster thingies to roast marshmallows they all pulled out umbrellas to hold over the tiny fires and over the baggage, and very few people actually kept the umbrella to cover themselves. It rained the entire time home and I happened to have forgotten my umbrella that day and got soaked and horrible blisters on my feet. But it was awesome.
I also totally got sick the next day. First time I ever threw up and still decided to go to school.
The nineteenth I walked in a parade in Kazo with the rotary club and got sunburn on my face. After the parade Natalie and I ate udon (our counselor has an udon booth open and so we got free lunch). Then we made our way to the station and met up with Izumi and went to Kawagoe. There was a festival and we chilled with the rotexs. I ate kakigori (shaved ice). These pictures are also somewhat loaded on face book.
Then last weekend I helped my host mother volunteer at a festival in Kisai and walked in another parade, this one much smaller. I also bought lots of cheap clothes, and watched lots of people do the Yosakoi dance, look it up on you tube.
Last weekend, actually Monday which was a holliday, I went to the three day march in Higashi Matsuyama. I walked 12 km with the rotex and Rotarians. We also picked up trash along the way. It was tons of fun, and I’ve been trying to load up pictures onto face book but face book hates me now so It may be another while.
I don’t feel like typing anymore. I’ll try to update more often later.
Love you
Miss you
Diana
Tuesday 30 September 2008
If walls had ears....
They would look weird
So… It seems like I’m in need of an update… badly.
Lets see, I guess I will start with last weekend. I had my first big outing to Tokyo, W00T. I stayed with my host mother’s sister’s family, who happen to live a few blocks from Akihabara. (I’m tying this at school and the keyboard is obnoxiously loud). Sachiko’s family also happens to consist of the worlds two cutest little boys Shinya, and Yuuji. Shinya is 5 (about to turn 6) and Yuuji is almost 2. So… lets see… I toured Tokyo by bike, all local like. First we went to Asakusa, which is this big shrine/temple that is very famous in Tokyo. I saw some traditional drumming and made a wish. Surprisingly enough, it seems like no matter where you go, you make wishes my throwing coins into some thing or other. After Asakusa we parked our bikes underground in a big storage area that is just for parking bikes, and we took tour of the Tokyo river side on a “bus”. This “bus” was actually a boat, kind of like going on a river boat at the lake and just floating around. I saw a lot of bridges. There were all very short. That reminds me of the Tokyo highway! Get this, its three stories, first story is for trains, second is for going traffic, and the third for coming traffic. Freaky awesome to drive on.
After our boatly bus tour Sachiko’s husband (who was always refered to as Jiji, so I don’t know his real name) and I split ways with Tamaki, Shinya, and Yuuji, because Yuuji was in need of a nap. So then we biked around Akihabara which was crowded and therefore very annoying to bike around. There were a lot of figurine and electronics stores, and not nearly enough goth loli’s and cosplayers. They probably know to stay away from Akihabara though… On our way home we stopped by this shop that makes very realistic fake food. It was crazy, although it was rather realistic, the fake food was EXPENSIVE!!! And the smaller it got the more expensive it was. I happened to spot a fake sweet that looked very yummy, it was a type of dango, and so we decided to actually go and buy some dango… which was delicious. So after a brief rest and snack of yummy dango, I snuck back out with Tamaki and Shinya to go to Ueno, which is the district of Tokyo with a lot of Toys and nerdy stuff. This is where I did my shoping, tehe. Although I didn’t actually buy much, and I picked up a few souvenirs. We returned once more to the Tokyo abode and rested for a bit more, then went out for dinner… Which was sushi. And they proceeded to discover what an annoyingly picky eater I am.
The next day we toured Tokyo again, but this time by train, so I couldn’t actually see anything, and it was rather pointless, but in a way it was fun. I rode four different trains and the subway. I also had the best coffee in the world, it was a “tiramisu” late. Yeah… I went to Tokyo…
I got back Sunday afternoon and proceeded to do nothing!! Monday was the second day of the sports festival here at school, meaning it was my turn to embarrass myself in front of the whole school. I participated in girls volley ball. Sports festival at Japanese schools is a big competition between all the classes and all the grades. There are tournaments of various sports and one class wins. There were six events here. Our class won girls volleyball, which was really exciting because I made an awesome almost game point serve, and apparently I looked very cool (not).
I also helped out the english debate team with a few fack matches.... they are good! I mean... they debate... in ENGLISH!!!
Did you know Japan took the big mac a step to far and made the mega mac? Which is a burger with FOUR meat patties!!! MADNESS I TELL YOU!!!!!
I’m not sure what else to write about. Those are all my recent good news happenings. I guess I will leave it at that and try to update more often.
Love you,
Miss you
Diana
So… It seems like I’m in need of an update… badly.
Lets see, I guess I will start with last weekend. I had my first big outing to Tokyo, W00T. I stayed with my host mother’s sister’s family, who happen to live a few blocks from Akihabara. (I’m tying this at school and the keyboard is obnoxiously loud). Sachiko’s family also happens to consist of the worlds two cutest little boys Shinya, and Yuuji. Shinya is 5 (about to turn 6) and Yuuji is almost 2. So… lets see… I toured Tokyo by bike, all local like. First we went to Asakusa, which is this big shrine/temple that is very famous in Tokyo. I saw some traditional drumming and made a wish. Surprisingly enough, it seems like no matter where you go, you make wishes my throwing coins into some thing or other. After Asakusa we parked our bikes underground in a big storage area that is just for parking bikes, and we took tour of the Tokyo river side on a “bus”. This “bus” was actually a boat, kind of like going on a river boat at the lake and just floating around. I saw a lot of bridges. There were all very short. That reminds me of the Tokyo highway! Get this, its three stories, first story is for trains, second is for going traffic, and the third for coming traffic. Freaky awesome to drive on.
After our boatly bus tour Sachiko’s husband (who was always refered to as Jiji, so I don’t know his real name) and I split ways with Tamaki, Shinya, and Yuuji, because Yuuji was in need of a nap. So then we biked around Akihabara which was crowded and therefore very annoying to bike around. There were a lot of figurine and electronics stores, and not nearly enough goth loli’s and cosplayers. They probably know to stay away from Akihabara though… On our way home we stopped by this shop that makes very realistic fake food. It was crazy, although it was rather realistic, the fake food was EXPENSIVE!!! And the smaller it got the more expensive it was. I happened to spot a fake sweet that looked very yummy, it was a type of dango, and so we decided to actually go and buy some dango… which was delicious. So after a brief rest and snack of yummy dango, I snuck back out with Tamaki and Shinya to go to Ueno, which is the district of Tokyo with a lot of Toys and nerdy stuff. This is where I did my shoping, tehe. Although I didn’t actually buy much, and I picked up a few souvenirs. We returned once more to the Tokyo abode and rested for a bit more, then went out for dinner… Which was sushi. And they proceeded to discover what an annoyingly picky eater I am.
The next day we toured Tokyo again, but this time by train, so I couldn’t actually see anything, and it was rather pointless, but in a way it was fun. I rode four different trains and the subway. I also had the best coffee in the world, it was a “tiramisu” late. Yeah… I went to Tokyo…
I got back Sunday afternoon and proceeded to do nothing!! Monday was the second day of the sports festival here at school, meaning it was my turn to embarrass myself in front of the whole school. I participated in girls volley ball. Sports festival at Japanese schools is a big competition between all the classes and all the grades. There are tournaments of various sports and one class wins. There were six events here. Our class won girls volleyball, which was really exciting because I made an awesome almost game point serve, and apparently I looked very cool (not).
I also helped out the english debate team with a few fack matches.... they are good! I mean... they debate... in ENGLISH!!!
Did you know Japan took the big mac a step to far and made the mega mac? Which is a burger with FOUR meat patties!!! MADNESS I TELL YOU!!!!!
I’m not sure what else to write about. Those are all my recent good news happenings. I guess I will leave it at that and try to update more often.
Love you,
Miss you
Diana
Wednesday 10 September 2008
I like a girl in uniform~
So! The long awaited promised update about school! (and maybe some pictures if I have the time).
I started school aproximatly a week.5 ago. Aka on the 28th. I completed my first full week last week, and I have already pretty much clicked up with a few girls. I sat with alot of people randomly at lunch and decided where I felt most comfertable at, so there I remain, with that click.
So, I have these classes:
P.E
Math 2 A
English Expression
Health
Geography
Current Japanese
LL
Biology
English Grammar
and German
I am currently in the status of skiping all classical Japanese classes. Its just not going to happen. So classes do not nessacarily occur in such order. I have 5 hours everyday, and no two days are the same. As a matter of fact, in America there where A days and B days, here, there are A and B weeks.
I have so far been to 3 volleyball practaces, and attended English Speaking Society club. I'm still in the club veiwing stage at the moment, but I would really like to join volleyball. But that will most likely not be happening. The rotary club here wants me to join a more traditional club. The onlything that is traditional that I really want to do is Judo, but my host mom won't let me join it... so... things are about to get complicated and possibably sucky. Oh well, more time for me. Club activites end at 7! In Japan, sunset is at 6:30. So I bike passed several dark rice feilds on my way home from school. Volleyball also meets everday, so there really is no way I can join. Its very inconviniencing for the host families.
What else is there to talk about... I go to school with three first year girls (I'm second year), and I usually walk Natalie to the train station after school and we fart around at the stores then I go home. I have actually kinda been warned/scolded for hanging out with Natalie too much. But the truth in the matter is, I'm attending FUDOUKA HIGH SCHOOL!!! The best school in Saitama. I've been told to make and hang out with Japanese friends, but these kinds live and breath school, they don't have free time. I have expressed this to the teachers and they understand, so if I am scolded again, I will simply make my way from A around B and over to Nakamura sensei, who can speak for me to rotary and be listen too. (A to B comunication in Japan...)
And yes, it IS the best school, one of the girls in my class commutes 1 hour... on the TRAIN! I'm not even sure she is in the prefecture. But yeah, see the likeliness of me having hang out time? Tests are about to happen as well. After tests I will ask if anyone wants to go see a movie for an after exams reward or somthing like that, see how it works out (chances are I won't be allowed).
Well, I guess, ask me questions, and I will know what to acutally type up in here. I'm kinda drawing a blank. There isn't much at the moment besides school. I'm really sleepy alot... I geuss I havn't been sleeping well, different bed.
OH!!! "anticipate weight gain"... I have lost 3 killos in the period of two weeks. Thats 6 lbs... I've heard stress can do that to you though.
There is a posibility of me going to Akihabara pretty soon with Natalie and her family, other than that.. I'm having a brain fart (sorry dad).
Well, more later I suppose,
Love and miss everyone
Diana
I started school aproximatly a week.5 ago. Aka on the 28th. I completed my first full week last week, and I have already pretty much clicked up with a few girls. I sat with alot of people randomly at lunch and decided where I felt most comfertable at, so there I remain, with that click.
So, I have these classes:
P.E
Math 2 A
English Expression
Health
Geography
Current Japanese
LL
Biology
English Grammar
and German
I am currently in the status of skiping all classical Japanese classes. Its just not going to happen. So classes do not nessacarily occur in such order. I have 5 hours everyday, and no two days are the same. As a matter of fact, in America there where A days and B days, here, there are A and B weeks.
I have so far been to 3 volleyball practaces, and attended English Speaking Society club. I'm still in the club veiwing stage at the moment, but I would really like to join volleyball. But that will most likely not be happening. The rotary club here wants me to join a more traditional club. The onlything that is traditional that I really want to do is Judo, but my host mom won't let me join it... so... things are about to get complicated and possibably sucky. Oh well, more time for me. Club activites end at 7! In Japan, sunset is at 6:30. So I bike passed several dark rice feilds on my way home from school. Volleyball also meets everday, so there really is no way I can join. Its very inconviniencing for the host families.
What else is there to talk about... I go to school with three first year girls (I'm second year), and I usually walk Natalie to the train station after school and we fart around at the stores then I go home. I have actually kinda been warned/scolded for hanging out with Natalie too much. But the truth in the matter is, I'm attending FUDOUKA HIGH SCHOOL!!! The best school in Saitama. I've been told to make and hang out with Japanese friends, but these kinds live and breath school, they don't have free time. I have expressed this to the teachers and they understand, so if I am scolded again, I will simply make my way from A around B and over to Nakamura sensei, who can speak for me to rotary and be listen too. (A to B comunication in Japan...)
And yes, it IS the best school, one of the girls in my class commutes 1 hour... on the TRAIN! I'm not even sure she is in the prefecture. But yeah, see the likeliness of me having hang out time? Tests are about to happen as well. After tests I will ask if anyone wants to go see a movie for an after exams reward or somthing like that, see how it works out (chances are I won't be allowed).
Well, I guess, ask me questions, and I will know what to acutally type up in here. I'm kinda drawing a blank. There isn't much at the moment besides school. I'm really sleepy alot... I geuss I havn't been sleeping well, different bed.
OH!!! "anticipate weight gain"... I have lost 3 killos in the period of two weeks. Thats 6 lbs... I've heard stress can do that to you though.
There is a posibility of me going to Akihabara pretty soon with Natalie and her family, other than that.. I'm having a brain fart (sorry dad).
Well, more later I suppose,
Love and miss everyone
Diana
Friday 29 August 2008
School Dayzed
Sorry I havn't updated. I just havn't had much posotive to talk about recently and my blog is not here for me to complain in, its for me to share my experience... and know that I've got some worth talking about I shall update!
So I started school on thrusday. The original plan was that I was going to bike myself, pretty much all the time, but August got existential on its self and decided to pretend it was June, and it rained... alot. And apparently its a Japanese no-no to bike with an umbrella (although I see it alot). So da mama took me to school and picked me up. This is not the most preferable situation because I would really like to stay after and look at the various clubs, but without a cell phone I can't get in contact with da mama to let her know I would like to be picked up later. So both days I was drivin.
My frist day turned out to be very uneventful. I showed up, was put in an empty classroom with Natalie for a bit, introduced to all the teachers, taken to the foriegn language office, chilled there for a bit. Then we were both picked up by our homeroom teachers and taken to our classes (actually I was taken by Noguchi sensei because my homeroom teacher was missing). Natalie dissapeared up one more flight of stairs and I was taken to my class (I'm on the thrid floor) and all the girls in the room promptly started to squeel and make imposible noises really fast. So then I was made to introduce myself in Japanese, then seated. Then the rest of the class each stood up individually and said their names. I can't remember them :P. Then there was a firedrill/ assembally, and I was forced to introduce myself, once again in Japanese, to the whole school. It was horribly hot in the gym and I was sweating allot, so I'm sure I looked very attractive, not.
After the assembaly everyone had exams so me and natalie just chilled in the foriegn language office some more. aka... for the rest of the day...
sorry, good mood ruined... update later.
So I started school on thrusday. The original plan was that I was going to bike myself, pretty much all the time, but August got existential on its self and decided to pretend it was June, and it rained... alot. And apparently its a Japanese no-no to bike with an umbrella (although I see it alot). So da mama took me to school and picked me up. This is not the most preferable situation because I would really like to stay after and look at the various clubs, but without a cell phone I can't get in contact with da mama to let her know I would like to be picked up later. So both days I was drivin.
My frist day turned out to be very uneventful. I showed up, was put in an empty classroom with Natalie for a bit, introduced to all the teachers, taken to the foriegn language office, chilled there for a bit. Then we were both picked up by our homeroom teachers and taken to our classes (actually I was taken by Noguchi sensei because my homeroom teacher was missing). Natalie dissapeared up one more flight of stairs and I was taken to my class (I'm on the thrid floor) and all the girls in the room promptly started to squeel and make imposible noises really fast. So then I was made to introduce myself in Japanese, then seated. Then the rest of the class each stood up individually and said their names. I can't remember them :P. Then there was a firedrill/ assembally, and I was forced to introduce myself, once again in Japanese, to the whole school. It was horribly hot in the gym and I was sweating allot, so I'm sure I looked very attractive, not.
After the assembaly everyone had exams so me and natalie just chilled in the foriegn language office some more. aka... for the rest of the day...
sorry, good mood ruined... update later.
Saturday 23 August 2008
What goes up must come down (unfortunatly)
Soooo, as the adjustment cycle goes, I thought I was going to be fine. I liked where I was, everyone was nice and I liked the food. But it only took the smallest most insifnificant details to bring me down. I swear, Its like I'm PMSing or somthing, I have very little reason to get upset.
So, we didn't go to Tokyo like I thought (I have no idea when I actually heard them say that but I did) we went to Nikko with Senzui mama's sister's family instead. And Nikko is increadibly awsome by the way!
But first, the insignificant details. It was raining, and this I didn't mind so much, but I kept getting hit with umbrellas. And when you try to take a picture, normally in America, people wait, in Japan people are oblivious. But I geuss because of the amazing populous and lake of space, if everyone waited for people to take a picture there would be some serious backupage. Other than that I looooved Nikko
But then all day I kept getting upset with little things Senzui mama would do. The other day she asked if I wanted to go an Onsen, and I felt horible for saying no, but I honostly can't do it. I feel uncomfertable half naked infront of my closest friends, there is no way I could be naked infront of strangers. So I thought she understood and wouldn't make a big deal about it. But ever single person we've met up with, she has told. And its starting to get embarasing. They all respond the same way, by looking at me all confused like and saying "but everyone is built the same". I understand this, but I look around, and its just not true. I'm built alooot different. anyway, more about my insecurities.
There are things in Japan that are not considered rude like they are in America, and I understand this, and It didn't bother me at first. Like having an audience while I weighed myself, asking me my clothing size (and then being very surprised) and responding that in Japan I was an XL. This didn't bother me, I came to terms with my weight along time ago, because I felt like it wasn't a big deal, I weigh 150lbs, see I'm not shy about it. But later that day when I happened to have the cycle triggered, we went shoping. At first it was fun because we mostly shopped for shin chan (kana's cousins son, 5) and I got to play with Yuuji (1, almost 2). But Senzui mama kept wanting to shop for me. Which I immediatly dicided I didn't want to do because of the price alone. But then I just got really embarasing. I felt like got the message that I didn't want to shop for myself accros to Kana and her cousin, but da mama kept pushing it. She would shout "would this fit Diana" accross a store, and little things like that, which I geuss in Japan isn't a big deal. But then they took me to a Japanese plus size store, and I lost it. I immediatly walked out and tried really hard not to cry. I feel so petty because I didn't think this would bother me. Oh well, horrible shoping experience. (then they baught me icecream after I said I didn't want any >.<).
Enough about my insecurities! I will blame it on the exchange cycle. And hope that next time I go shopping, the company is a little more understanding... I feel so silly for having got upset at all. But oh well, I get to meet Natilie (I was in such a bad mood I didn't go to meet her last night, I went to sleep instead... needed a cool down moment). And school will start soon.
So yesterday we went to Nikko. And I have noooo Idea what the historical significance behind it is because it was all in Japanese... but it was pretty. Like it popped right out of a Miyazaki film. Anyways, It was like going to mount rushmore... its boring to talk about but nice to look at photos so I will attach some.
Tehe... I've experienced two earthquakes so far. Once when I was at the school and once when I was taking a bath. They arn't that big a deal. The teachers explained to me that most building built within the last 20 years are earthquake proof, and sense Senzui mama's house has survied since the meiji era I will asume its can survive a few more centuries.
Well... I really don't feel like typing alot right now... sorry that most of todays blog was me whinning. I will avoid that, it doesn't do anybody any good.... so here is NIKKO!
never mind. THis uploader is soo anoying. I'm uploading to facebook. So check it out there. If you don't have one, email me and I will send you some photos. promise
Love you
Miss you
Kinda wish I was Japanese sized
Diana
So, we didn't go to Tokyo like I thought (I have no idea when I actually heard them say that but I did) we went to Nikko with Senzui mama's sister's family instead. And Nikko is increadibly awsome by the way!
But first, the insignificant details. It was raining, and this I didn't mind so much, but I kept getting hit with umbrellas. And when you try to take a picture, normally in America, people wait, in Japan people are oblivious. But I geuss because of the amazing populous and lake of space, if everyone waited for people to take a picture there would be some serious backupage. Other than that I looooved Nikko
But then all day I kept getting upset with little things Senzui mama would do. The other day she asked if I wanted to go an Onsen, and I felt horible for saying no, but I honostly can't do it. I feel uncomfertable half naked infront of my closest friends, there is no way I could be naked infront of strangers. So I thought she understood and wouldn't make a big deal about it. But ever single person we've met up with, she has told. And its starting to get embarasing. They all respond the same way, by looking at me all confused like and saying "but everyone is built the same". I understand this, but I look around, and its just not true. I'm built alooot different. anyway, more about my insecurities.
There are things in Japan that are not considered rude like they are in America, and I understand this, and It didn't bother me at first. Like having an audience while I weighed myself, asking me my clothing size (and then being very surprised) and responding that in Japan I was an XL. This didn't bother me, I came to terms with my weight along time ago, because I felt like it wasn't a big deal, I weigh 150lbs, see I'm not shy about it. But later that day when I happened to have the cycle triggered, we went shoping. At first it was fun because we mostly shopped for shin chan (kana's cousins son, 5) and I got to play with Yuuji (1, almost 2). But Senzui mama kept wanting to shop for me. Which I immediatly dicided I didn't want to do because of the price alone. But then I just got really embarasing. I felt like got the message that I didn't want to shop for myself accros to Kana and her cousin, but da mama kept pushing it. She would shout "would this fit Diana" accross a store, and little things like that, which I geuss in Japan isn't a big deal. But then they took me to a Japanese plus size store, and I lost it. I immediatly walked out and tried really hard not to cry. I feel so petty because I didn't think this would bother me. Oh well, horrible shoping experience. (then they baught me icecream after I said I didn't want any >.<).
Enough about my insecurities! I will blame it on the exchange cycle. And hope that next time I go shopping, the company is a little more understanding... I feel so silly for having got upset at all. But oh well, I get to meet Natilie (I was in such a bad mood I didn't go to meet her last night, I went to sleep instead... needed a cool down moment). And school will start soon.
So yesterday we went to Nikko. And I have noooo Idea what the historical significance behind it is because it was all in Japanese... but it was pretty. Like it popped right out of a Miyazaki film. Anyways, It was like going to mount rushmore... its boring to talk about but nice to look at photos so I will attach some.
Tehe... I've experienced two earthquakes so far. Once when I was at the school and once when I was taking a bath. They arn't that big a deal. The teachers explained to me that most building built within the last 20 years are earthquake proof, and sense Senzui mama's house has survied since the meiji era I will asume its can survive a few more centuries.
Well... I really don't feel like typing alot right now... sorry that most of todays blog was me whinning. I will avoid that, it doesn't do anybody any good.... so here is NIKKO!
never mind. THis uploader is soo anoying. I'm uploading to facebook. So check it out there. If you don't have one, email me and I will send you some photos. promise
Love you
Miss you
Kinda wish I was Japanese sized
Diana
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