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
Friday, 7 November 2008
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
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Frosted flakes are more than good...
They're great!
So yeah, bland foods. Blandest meal I've had so far was breakfast this morning. I'm starting to see a patern. I start to get nausous after lunch time, maybe its because I'm so full, or I'm not used to eating around this time. I know for a fact that I also feel sick when I'm hungry. It wasn't so bad yesterday, but I did start to feel ill a little bit again.
So yeah, care packages? I know what I want! Pepermints and wetones! I'm still not used to the heat and I feel like I persperate more that the average Japanese, so I've been using my wetones alot to whipe my face off and such. I brought a handfull of pepermints with me and I've already eatin them all (they help with digestion and make me feel less ill). I havn't asked if there are any in Japan yet, I'm pretty sure that are, but not the delicious fluffy kind you can get from Mr. Bulky. I heard somewhere that sweat was good for your pores... opens 'em up and gets the dirt out and such. Been here for 2.5 days and I can already tell my skin is better... but its alot shiny-er too.
Well I lied, yesterday I went to a temple (otera), they never said otera so I wasn't sure. I know this because when praying they didn't clap! At shrines they clap 2 or 4 times, at temples they just put their hands together to pray. The priest surpised me because he spoke very good english (and philipino... random!) and he used an english word I've never heard before to translate a Japanese word I was unfamiliar with: Epcuriam... was how he said it but I'm still unsure what the word what... anyone wanna find that out for me?
So yesterday we couldn't go out because Kyomi went to the hospital (I don't know why, I felt it was rude to ask).
OH YEAH!!! Kyomi is the maid. They never call her a maid, they say "employee" but unlike the male employes she cleans the hous, makes lunch and serves people drinks when they come over.
I should probably explain Senzui mama's buisness. She hasn't told me what it is, she just says "company", but Ithink they sell rice. I asume this because right next door (as in if I leaned out the window I might be able to touch it) Is a building the the largest walk in freezer in the world, and inside there is rice. Lots of rice. Anyway, across the street is where the men work and meet with costomers, its a small office like building with a dog in front. His name is Kuu. There are three dogs. Inside the house is a doxin/wheiner dog named Love (rabu tehe), in front of Kana's house is Joy, a golden retreiver, and Kuu is some really popular bread in japan that I don't know the name of.
We've looked at puppies a few times and you wouldn't beleive the price of dogs here! 2000 dollars or a pure bred puppy, that in America would be 500 to 800 dollars.
So anyway~ back to not being able to go out. I geuss Senzui mama thought I was bored or she didn't want to entertain me anymore (I fallow her around because I don't want to be shut up in my room on my computer *coughcoughlikenowcoughcough*. Go out, do stuff! That was what I was told to do, some I'm gonna do it!) (now is ok because Senzui mama went out, and I'm here with Kyomi). So she got out the bike and told me I could bike anywhere I wanted as long as it wasn't too far, and she gave me her buisness card and said "if you get lost, ask a lady to take you here, no boys! Boys dangerous!" So I went out and biked around for about 20 minutes and got an idea that I wanted to try to bike to school. So I went back and asked Senzui mama if this was ok and she drew me a map, and gave me 150 yen to buy a drink (I baught aquarious(only relevant to tina)). So I biked too school, which took about 20 minutes. Unlike Tina's route mine is very flat, it was pretty easy.
So Senzui mama gave me an address and told me to ask for Ishi because he would show me around the school. I couldn't find the place and so I went to a sports shop on the same street to ask (Senzui mama bragged about that alot because on my first day she said to go there if I got lost because her friend owned it). And then a lady named Hiromi took me to the very obvious building that I passed.
So Ishii took me to the school where they contacted the english teacher, who spoke english very well, and with a british accent. He took me around the school and too my class, where I met a few of my classmates, three girls: Aya, Yuri, and Yuuka. I can't remember the teachers name... I'm very bad like that, people keep telling me all these names and its rude not to know someones name so... I fail.
I got to see where the judo club meets (they didn't have club activities today) and I got to see the Kendo club and the ping pong club.
After that we went back to Ishii's company, and I guess Senzui mama got worried because she came and then picked up the bike and myself and we went home.
I got a little sunburnt (not that bad dad, its gone today, I was just a little red) and I had a bit of a hard time trying to explain sun burn to Senzui mama. We even put it in her electronic dictionary, and she still didn't really understand. But she took me to a home suply store where I found sun screen on a shelf. So now I am fully protected, my very white easy to burn self.
People say "Hi" to me. But at first I don't realize they are talking to me so I respond to late (both times I was on a bike). The first time it was a guy I had biked by earlier. There was a group of, I think, junior high boys biking on the wrong side of the street, and I let them pass. I biked by one of them later waiting for his friends outside the family mart and he shouted "HI!", I thought he had picked up a cell phone or somthing so I tunred around to look, because he didn't say anything else, and I noticed that he was lowering his hand and he looked kinda embarased... oops. Oblivious me.
The second time I was bikign to the school and I biked passed a truck, and a moment later I heard "HELLO!" and I was like wtf? So I turned around and there is a random black man. I geuss he was a little excited to see an American, but once again my reaction was delayed and so I just kept on biking. I'm propbably going to get a reputation for either being rude or being hard of hearing.
So yeah... yesterdays events.
I'm gonna go try to call my mom now. I hate having to call from outside.
Love you
still miss you
Diana
So yeah, bland foods. Blandest meal I've had so far was breakfast this morning. I'm starting to see a patern. I start to get nausous after lunch time, maybe its because I'm so full, or I'm not used to eating around this time. I know for a fact that I also feel sick when I'm hungry. It wasn't so bad yesterday, but I did start to feel ill a little bit again.
So yeah, care packages? I know what I want! Pepermints and wetones! I'm still not used to the heat and I feel like I persperate more that the average Japanese, so I've been using my wetones alot to whipe my face off and such. I brought a handfull of pepermints with me and I've already eatin them all (they help with digestion and make me feel less ill). I havn't asked if there are any in Japan yet, I'm pretty sure that are, but not the delicious fluffy kind you can get from Mr. Bulky. I heard somewhere that sweat was good for your pores... opens 'em up and gets the dirt out and such. Been here for 2.5 days and I can already tell my skin is better... but its alot shiny-er too.
Well I lied, yesterday I went to a temple (otera), they never said otera so I wasn't sure. I know this because when praying they didn't clap! At shrines they clap 2 or 4 times, at temples they just put their hands together to pray. The priest surpised me because he spoke very good english (and philipino... random!) and he used an english word I've never heard before to translate a Japanese word I was unfamiliar with: Epcuriam... was how he said it but I'm still unsure what the word what... anyone wanna find that out for me?
So yesterday we couldn't go out because Kyomi went to the hospital (I don't know why, I felt it was rude to ask).
OH YEAH!!! Kyomi is the maid. They never call her a maid, they say "employee" but unlike the male employes she cleans the hous, makes lunch and serves people drinks when they come over.
I should probably explain Senzui mama's buisness. She hasn't told me what it is, she just says "company", but Ithink they sell rice. I asume this because right next door (as in if I leaned out the window I might be able to touch it) Is a building the the largest walk in freezer in the world, and inside there is rice. Lots of rice. Anyway, across the street is where the men work and meet with costomers, its a small office like building with a dog in front. His name is Kuu. There are three dogs. Inside the house is a doxin/wheiner dog named Love (rabu tehe), in front of Kana's house is Joy, a golden retreiver, and Kuu is some really popular bread in japan that I don't know the name of.
We've looked at puppies a few times and you wouldn't beleive the price of dogs here! 2000 dollars or a pure bred puppy, that in America would be 500 to 800 dollars.
So anyway~ back to not being able to go out. I geuss Senzui mama thought I was bored or she didn't want to entertain me anymore (I fallow her around because I don't want to be shut up in my room on my computer *coughcoughlikenowcoughcough*. Go out, do stuff! That was what I was told to do, some I'm gonna do it!) (now is ok because Senzui mama went out, and I'm here with Kyomi). So she got out the bike and told me I could bike anywhere I wanted as long as it wasn't too far, and she gave me her buisness card and said "if you get lost, ask a lady to take you here, no boys! Boys dangerous!" So I went out and biked around for about 20 minutes and got an idea that I wanted to try to bike to school. So I went back and asked Senzui mama if this was ok and she drew me a map, and gave me 150 yen to buy a drink (I baught aquarious(only relevant to tina)). So I biked too school, which took about 20 minutes. Unlike Tina's route mine is very flat, it was pretty easy.
So Senzui mama gave me an address and told me to ask for Ishi because he would show me around the school. I couldn't find the place and so I went to a sports shop on the same street to ask (Senzui mama bragged about that alot because on my first day she said to go there if I got lost because her friend owned it). And then a lady named Hiromi took me to the very obvious building that I passed.
So Ishii took me to the school where they contacted the english teacher, who spoke english very well, and with a british accent. He took me around the school and too my class, where I met a few of my classmates, three girls: Aya, Yuri, and Yuuka. I can't remember the teachers name... I'm very bad like that, people keep telling me all these names and its rude not to know someones name so... I fail.
I got to see where the judo club meets (they didn't have club activities today) and I got to see the Kendo club and the ping pong club.
After that we went back to Ishii's company, and I guess Senzui mama got worried because she came and then picked up the bike and myself and we went home.
I got a little sunburnt (not that bad dad, its gone today, I was just a little red) and I had a bit of a hard time trying to explain sun burn to Senzui mama. We even put it in her electronic dictionary, and she still didn't really understand. But she took me to a home suply store where I found sun screen on a shelf. So now I am fully protected, my very white easy to burn self.
People say "Hi" to me. But at first I don't realize they are talking to me so I respond to late (both times I was on a bike). The first time it was a guy I had biked by earlier. There was a group of, I think, junior high boys biking on the wrong side of the street, and I let them pass. I biked by one of them later waiting for his friends outside the family mart and he shouted "HI!", I thought he had picked up a cell phone or somthing so I tunred around to look, because he didn't say anything else, and I noticed that he was lowering his hand and he looked kinda embarased... oops. Oblivious me.
The second time I was bikign to the school and I biked passed a truck, and a moment later I heard "HELLO!" and I was like wtf? So I turned around and there is a random black man. I geuss he was a little excited to see an American, but once again my reaction was delayed and so I just kept on biking. I'm propbably going to get a reputation for either being rude or being hard of hearing.
So yeah... yesterdays events.
I'm gonna go try to call my mom now. I hate having to call from outside.
Love you
still miss you
Diana
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
First day!
So, yeah. I'm willing to bet 100 dollars (10,000 yen) that I had the longest flight. Anyways~
My flight was delayed by 2 hours and I felt sooo bad that the people picking me up had to wait so long for me. But I arived at 7 pm Japan time and was picked up by Mr. Umezawa, Mr. Nakamura, and his daughter. She has a son who was one year old, he was soo cute, he reminded me of my own little chunky monkey.
We drove out of narita airport and through Tokyo. Japan is such a contradiction, its huge, and small at the same time. The cars apear small and thin from the outside, but its alot like a prius on the inside. The wheels are on the opposite side too, and you drive on the left side of the road. It freaked me out how close together everyone drives, but they are all very carefull and everyone signals.
It took about an hour to drive out of tokyo (HUGE!!!) and we drove past Disney land. I said I wanted to go and Yuki (nakamura's daughter) is going to take me for christmas!!! When we arived in Kazo they took me too a sushi resturant, I felt bad because I didn't eat much, but Japanese sushi is alot different from american sushi, different fish and stuff. It was really hard communicating at first, but I've got the hang of it now. Most people speak Japananglish.
So they called Senzui mama from the restuant and handed me the phone. I wish they wouldn't because its 10 times harder to talk on the phone than it is in person (i've been handed a phone about 5 times). And she said she was coming. So her and Kana came to pick me up. Senzui mama has a pink car!!! Its soo funny, even the colors of the cars are different, baby powder kinda...
So Senzui mama's house is suuuuper old and traditional, aka SCORE!!! Its really cool being able to stay here. All the rooms have tatami mats, and sliding doors, and you can get to any room through any other room. Even the bathroom is super traditional (which I really like). I'm on the second floor and it gets really hot but I will get used to it. Every room has its own "aiacon" instead of central airconditioning, which is also very Japanese.
When we got here Kana and Senzui mama helped me unpack, I took a bath and went to sleep. Its really hard to beleive is only my second day because on the first day I did sooooo much!!!
First day activities:
I woke up at 6 am which really surprised senzui mama, and I ate a huuuuge breakfast. Toast, curry rice, eegs over easy with bacon underneath, and pears. I don't know how all the women are so thin they eat soo much at every meal, its really hard for me to eat everything, most likely because I'm used to eating at different times.
We went to a castle
the library
a small convenience store
drove to kana's house
drove to the school
went to a temple and went to senzui mama's parents grave
went to town hall
met the mayor (who is in rotary)
had my insurance card changed to Japanese
came back, ate lunch
OMG I ate a whole fish!!! It didn't have a head or guts, but it was a whole fish, and it was delicisous! (take that dad, picky eater huh!?)
I took a couple of naps
then we went to the mall
McDonalds is expensive here, a double cheesburger meal is about 6 dollars.
(I feel horible right now because senzui mama is cleaning my room!!! I can clean! gah~)
Today I had to wake up early and go to a Rotary meating at, geuss what, a shrine!!!
It was sooooo cool. Like how we pray for the deceased rotary members in america, they read the sutra in a traditional shinto shrine. The preist could speak english pretty well, and for some reason everyone thinks I'm christian. But I explained that I'm not religious and they are very understanding and don't make me do any praying or anything unless I want too.
There is a gray payphone near my house (only relevant to Tina) So I can use my phone cards and have already called dad.
So, that is all that has happened so far. Pretty long first blog. I'll be sure to get this address to alot of people but if you want it would be nice if you could pass it along.
Love you
Miss you
Diana
My flight was delayed by 2 hours and I felt sooo bad that the people picking me up had to wait so long for me. But I arived at 7 pm Japan time and was picked up by Mr. Umezawa, Mr. Nakamura, and his daughter. She has a son who was one year old, he was soo cute, he reminded me of my own little chunky monkey.
We drove out of narita airport and through Tokyo. Japan is such a contradiction, its huge, and small at the same time. The cars apear small and thin from the outside, but its alot like a prius on the inside. The wheels are on the opposite side too, and you drive on the left side of the road. It freaked me out how close together everyone drives, but they are all very carefull and everyone signals.
It took about an hour to drive out of tokyo (HUGE!!!) and we drove past Disney land. I said I wanted to go and Yuki (nakamura's daughter) is going to take me for christmas!!! When we arived in Kazo they took me too a sushi resturant, I felt bad because I didn't eat much, but Japanese sushi is alot different from american sushi, different fish and stuff. It was really hard communicating at first, but I've got the hang of it now. Most people speak Japananglish.
So they called Senzui mama from the restuant and handed me the phone. I wish they wouldn't because its 10 times harder to talk on the phone than it is in person (i've been handed a phone about 5 times). And she said she was coming. So her and Kana came to pick me up. Senzui mama has a pink car!!! Its soo funny, even the colors of the cars are different, baby powder kinda...
So Senzui mama's house is suuuuper old and traditional, aka SCORE!!! Its really cool being able to stay here. All the rooms have tatami mats, and sliding doors, and you can get to any room through any other room. Even the bathroom is super traditional (which I really like). I'm on the second floor and it gets really hot but I will get used to it. Every room has its own "aiacon" instead of central airconditioning, which is also very Japanese.
When we got here Kana and Senzui mama helped me unpack, I took a bath and went to sleep. Its really hard to beleive is only my second day because on the first day I did sooooo much!!!
First day activities:
I woke up at 6 am which really surprised senzui mama, and I ate a huuuuge breakfast. Toast, curry rice, eegs over easy with bacon underneath, and pears. I don't know how all the women are so thin they eat soo much at every meal, its really hard for me to eat everything, most likely because I'm used to eating at different times.
We went to a castle
the library
a small convenience store
drove to kana's house
drove to the school
went to a temple and went to senzui mama's parents grave
went to town hall
met the mayor (who is in rotary)
had my insurance card changed to Japanese
came back, ate lunch
OMG I ate a whole fish!!! It didn't have a head or guts, but it was a whole fish, and it was delicisous! (take that dad, picky eater huh!?)
I took a couple of naps
then we went to the mall
McDonalds is expensive here, a double cheesburger meal is about 6 dollars.
(I feel horible right now because senzui mama is cleaning my room!!! I can clean! gah~)
Today I had to wake up early and go to a Rotary meating at, geuss what, a shrine!!!
It was sooooo cool. Like how we pray for the deceased rotary members in america, they read the sutra in a traditional shinto shrine. The preist could speak english pretty well, and for some reason everyone thinks I'm christian. But I explained that I'm not religious and they are very understanding and don't make me do any praying or anything unless I want too.
There is a gray payphone near my house (only relevant to Tina) So I can use my phone cards and have already called dad.
So, that is all that has happened so far. Pretty long first blog. I'll be sure to get this address to alot of people but if you want it would be nice if you could pass it along.
Love you
Miss you
Diana
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