Days fly by here. Last week we did flower arranging (sado) and went to a high school. I'm getting a bit tired of being paraded around as an American, but apart from that I enjoy the excursions.
This past weekend I had another homestay, this one in Nara. I have to say that I generally did not have a good time. First of all, my host parents (having no children at home) didn't really seem to have an interest in me. Second, and more importantly, another girl from my trip went with me. I was classroom friends with her until we came on this abroad trip, and now she has become one of the most annoyingly idiotic people I have ever met. She wouldn't even attempt to speak Japanese; she treated our host parents like they were stupid; she complained the entire time about everything, including having tonsilitis again. Despite these complaints, upon returning to the kaikan, she refused to go to the doctor because if she takes antibiotics, she won't be able to drink. They last time she thought it would be a clever idea to do so, one our professors had a good scream at her. In essence, she ruined it for me. I think it wasn't -me- that Miwako and Chido had no interest in...but it's impossible for the Japanese to extend an offer of return to one and not the other. We did go to a nice temple and museum. I enjoyed that and the food. They kindly paid for everything.
Upon returning, I was terribly angry after holding it in for three days, so Marissa, Steven, Brian, and I went to the arcade and played with the clas machines. I love those things. We won lots of things... I probably spent 1000yen, which is pretty low for one of those place. That night I was hyperactive from not enjoying myself all weekend, so I took the opportunity to steal Jim's keys... and start a commotion. Naturally it was amusing as more people got involved. Then a lot of people played cards with me. A lot of people that I really enjoy spending time with. It was very fun.
Today was sensei ginko (teacher bank = pay day.) We get $200 (20000yen) every monday.
Class is going well. I should get an A.
I like it very much here. The streets are clean. People are always polite to one another. Everyone respects everything. No one ever steals (people don't lock up there bikes.) It's just a nice atmosphere that everyone should experience.
Today we went to an elementary school. The children were excited. Generally, we were paraded around again, but I didn't mind so much.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Kyoto and Nishinomiya
On Thursday we were all carted of the Kyoto to stay in a ryokan (traditional inn) and go see temples and castles. Now I like temples as much as the next person, but when you see a large amount in one day they tend to run together. I bought a shodo book for all the monks to sign. That was fun. Kyoto is full of foreigners speaking english. That, I didn't like. Anyway, I didn't get much sleep because ryokan paper walls don't really shield against the sounds of yelling. A lot of people didn't agree with me that we should sleep. Meh. Cindy didn't come to Kyoto because she sprained her ankle climbing out onto the roof while drunk... Wow. Becca came up with tonsilitis and woke me up at 6 with her crying. I had to run around trying to convey to the inkeepers that I needed a fever reducer... apparantly tylenol and i b profin don't exist. Mine was at the kaikan.
After seeing the temple plated with gold, we took the train back to Rokkomichi. I went to Sannomiya instead to get Brian some little presents for his birthday. I came back very tired and exchanged presents with him. He set up a surprise party. Very sweet. The cakes were lovely. Unfortunately within ten minutes Chris had broken glass there was alcohol all over my presents and I was pissed. I didn't really want a crazy drinking party... I didn't really want people who I didn't like to be at my birthday...and I wanted people to at least acknowledge that it was in fact my birthday. In other words: I wanted to be the center of attention. Apparantly the aim was just to drink that night, so I took my things and went to bed. I do very much appreciate that Brian took all the effort to set it up. It was very fun until all those drinky people that I don't much like showed up.
The next day was actually my birthday, thanks to those who wished me a happy one. That evening I went to Nishinomiya for my first home stay. I went late because my family couldn't recieve me until 5:30, so Aiko played cards with me until then. My host mother Masuko picked me up at the train station. She sounded like she was angry with Aiko, but it turned out she was just very apologetic for being about 2 minutes late. Lol. She's really awesome. Her husband, Hitoshi, was very nice, too. They live in a little condo in Sakurashuugawa (I think), and she wants me to come back in Spring to see the blossoms. Anyway, she showed me my room and gave me tea and cake. She was wearing a kimono. She's extremely good at english. Anyway, She loves me, which is fantastic because I love her. We went out to dinner with Masuko's father and their friend. Everyone seemed to be very pleased that I was turning twenty (the techincal drinking age here) so they decided we should have champange and white wine. Not to mention Hitoshi spoke much more (and much more english) when he had some alcohol in his system. Masuko works in a disabled childrens' school, which I suppose would explain her incredible patience with me and my japanese difficulties. They've invited me to come back whenever I like. They most common phrase during my whole stay was うれしい！！ (I'm so proud/happy!!) It was very encouraging. The bed was comfy and it was nice to go to sleep with no one screaming in the background. She loved the glass blue birds I gave her. Apparantly blue birds are lucky here.
When I came back to the kaikan on Sunday, I brought Masuko with me because she wanted to help me with my yukata for the festival. She was also very unhappy that she had missed a chance to buy me a yukata (which was why I didn't tell her about it until the last minute.) She ended up helping everyone and finally, putting on my other yukata and coming with us. It was very fun! Especially because she knows everything about it. I think she would be a wonderful mother.
Later Brian and I went to play with the UFO machines. Like the claw machines at home, but slightly more expensive... and they work; you actually win stuff which gives you the incentive to keep trying. What a surprise. We won a gigantic stuffed fish. And a baby fish. And a few other things. It was very fun.
Yesterday we got dragged to Shoin high school after class. I don't much like these tihngs where they parade us around and use us for our english skills. We had to listen to the girls' presentations (in english) and correct them. Then the walked us around the campus so that the girls can scream, giggle, and take pictures with us... Yeah.... After that we went out to dinner in Sannomiya for Brian's birthday (Sunday) sort of, but the same thing happened that happened at my party. A ton of uninvited people showed up. Even though we had a reservation. Le sigh. The place was fun though. It was called the Lock Up. You sit in these cell-like rooms and occassionally monsters come running through to scare you... or high-five you, depending on your response to them. They gave Brian and I each a piece of cake with our names on it for our birthday, and a card each. Except for some reason they took our birthday cards back and replaced them with Happy Anniversary. And they spelled my name Grolia. Well.. Guroria can be confusing if you don't know my actual name... I thought it was funny.
After seeing the temple plated with gold, we took the train back to Rokkomichi. I went to Sannomiya instead to get Brian some little presents for his birthday. I came back very tired and exchanged presents with him. He set up a surprise party. Very sweet. The cakes were lovely. Unfortunately within ten minutes Chris had broken glass there was alcohol all over my presents and I was pissed. I didn't really want a crazy drinking party... I didn't really want people who I didn't like to be at my birthday...and I wanted people to at least acknowledge that it was in fact my birthday. In other words: I wanted to be the center of attention. Apparantly the aim was just to drink that night, so I took my things and went to bed. I do very much appreciate that Brian took all the effort to set it up. It was very fun until all those drinky people that I don't much like showed up.
The next day was actually my birthday, thanks to those who wished me a happy one. That evening I went to Nishinomiya for my first home stay. I went late because my family couldn't recieve me until 5:30, so Aiko played cards with me until then. My host mother Masuko picked me up at the train station. She sounded like she was angry with Aiko, but it turned out she was just very apologetic for being about 2 minutes late. Lol. She's really awesome. Her husband, Hitoshi, was very nice, too. They live in a little condo in Sakurashuugawa (I think), and she wants me to come back in Spring to see the blossoms. Anyway, she showed me my room and gave me tea and cake. She was wearing a kimono. She's extremely good at english. Anyway, She loves me, which is fantastic because I love her. We went out to dinner with Masuko's father and their friend. Everyone seemed to be very pleased that I was turning twenty (the techincal drinking age here) so they decided we should have champange and white wine. Not to mention Hitoshi spoke much more (and much more english) when he had some alcohol in his system. Masuko works in a disabled childrens' school, which I suppose would explain her incredible patience with me and my japanese difficulties. They've invited me to come back whenever I like. They most common phrase during my whole stay was うれしい！！ (I'm so proud/happy!!) It was very encouraging. The bed was comfy and it was nice to go to sleep with no one screaming in the background. She loved the glass blue birds I gave her. Apparantly blue birds are lucky here.
When I came back to the kaikan on Sunday, I brought Masuko with me because she wanted to help me with my yukata for the festival. She was also very unhappy that she had missed a chance to buy me a yukata (which was why I didn't tell her about it until the last minute.) She ended up helping everyone and finally, putting on my other yukata and coming with us. It was very fun! Especially because she knows everything about it. I think she would be a wonderful mother.
Later Brian and I went to play with the UFO machines. Like the claw machines at home, but slightly more expensive... and they work; you actually win stuff which gives you the incentive to keep trying. What a surprise. We won a gigantic stuffed fish. And a baby fish. And a few other things. It was very fun.
Yesterday we got dragged to Shoin high school after class. I don't much like these tihngs where they parade us around and use us for our english skills. We had to listen to the girls' presentations (in english) and correct them. Then the walked us around the campus so that the girls can scream, giggle, and take pictures with us... Yeah.... After that we went out to dinner in Sannomiya for Brian's birthday (Sunday) sort of, but the same thing happened that happened at my party. A ton of uninvited people showed up. Even though we had a reservation. Le sigh. The place was fun though. It was called the Lock Up. You sit in these cell-like rooms and occassionally monsters come running through to scare you... or high-five you, depending on your response to them. They gave Brian and I each a piece of cake with our names on it for our birthday, and a card each. Except for some reason they took our birthday cards back and replaced them with Happy Anniversary. And they spelled my name Grolia. Well.. Guroria can be confusing if you don't know my actual name... I thought it was funny.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Osaka Weekend
先しゅうまつはとても楽しいかった。私はあやかちゃんにあそんだつもりだったけどあやかちゃんのお父さんはびょうきでしたから、会わない。日がさがほしで三宮のラフトで日がさを買った。くろいだ。
The above is mostly a lie. It's the regular speech I have to make up to give to my teacher everyday.
This past weekend was fun. I spent a lot of time in Osaka. I hung out with Ayaka and Jim and Brian mostly. I'm quite tired for some reason, and I can't seem to remember what I did. Homework and running around probably occupied most of that time. Ayaka taught me basic kendo when we caught Jim practicing (poorly) in the lounge. Apparently I'm a natural. She helped him, too.
I've been trying lots of new foods. I don't like pork here any more than I do at home, though. I like chickenkatsu instead of tonkatsu (think tasty breaded chicken and pork). We had okinomiyaki last night- vegetable pancakes.
My successful purchase for the weekend was a parasol. It's called a higasa. Hi means sun and kasa means umbrella, so quite literally it means sun umbrella. They're very popular here because it's so hot. I've been looking for one for a while. Most people carry black ones, so I just copied. It's nice. Pictures later.
The above is mostly a lie. It's the regular speech I have to make up to give to my teacher everyday.
This past weekend was fun. I spent a lot of time in Osaka. I hung out with Ayaka and Jim and Brian mostly. I'm quite tired for some reason, and I can't seem to remember what I did. Homework and running around probably occupied most of that time. Ayaka taught me basic kendo when we caught Jim practicing (poorly) in the lounge. Apparently I'm a natural. She helped him, too.
I've been trying lots of new foods. I don't like pork here any more than I do at home, though. I like chickenkatsu instead of tonkatsu (think tasty breaded chicken and pork). We had okinomiyaki last night- vegetable pancakes.
My successful purchase for the weekend was a parasol. It's called a higasa. Hi means sun and kasa means umbrella, so quite literally it means sun umbrella. They're very popular here because it's so hot. I've been looking for one for a while. Most people carry black ones, so I just copied. It's nice. Pictures later.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Let's Try to Actually Learn Japanese.
きのう、日本語のクラスでべんきょする後で、私はしょいん大学せえが専門の英語と会った。好きだ。楽しいかったです。そうして、私とブライくんはかいかんに帰りた。みんなは飲みほうだいに行った。わかた？
After class yesterday, we went up to meet the english majors at shoin. They were so excited. My boobs got stared at a lot. By girls. It was rather odd. They asked me how American women get such big boobs. I said genes... or plastic surgery. Anyway, it was fun. Later, we went to a nomihoudai- which is basically an all you can eat all you can drink shindig. Considering we have no classes on fridays, it works out just fine. It was crazy and ridiculously fun. Drunk Japanese are funnnny.
Today: we go to Osaka to see a castle and then to でんでんtown. It's an electronics street of joy. It should be fun.
At the Baseball Game on Wednesday
At Nomihoudai
After class yesterday, we went up to meet the english majors at shoin. They were so excited. My boobs got stared at a lot. By girls. It was rather odd. They asked me how American women get such big boobs. I said genes... or plastic surgery. Anyway, it was fun. Later, we went to a nomihoudai- which is basically an all you can eat all you can drink shindig. Considering we have no classes on fridays, it works out just fine. It was crazy and ridiculously fun. Drunk Japanese are funnnny.
Today: we go to Osaka to see a castle and then to でんでんtown. It's an electronics street of joy. It should be fun.
At the Baseball Game on Wednesday
At Nomihoudai
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
A Couple of Photos!
Actually, Paul took these and I'm just stealing them from facebook. ^-^ I'll upload later.
Yakiniku Tabehoudai!! All you can eat cook it yourself meat!
At Shoin University
Ayaka is at the very bottom here.
Today we went to a Sake Brewery Museum. I like my class. There are only seven people in it so we get lots of attention. I'm learning much faster than at home. Hopefully tonight I will get to hang out with Ayaka and Miki (another girl I met at the university.) I've noticed that I like the japanese girls, but if Americans acted like they did, I'd hate them. I guess it's the novelty.
Yakiniku Tabehoudai!! All you can eat cook it yourself meat!
At Shoin University
Ayaka is at the very bottom here.
Today we went to a Sake Brewery Museum. I like my class. There are only seven people in it so we get lots of attention. I'm learning much faster than at home. Hopefully tonight I will get to hang out with Ayaka and Miki (another girl I met at the university.) I've noticed that I like the japanese girls, but if Americans acted like they did, I'd hate them. I guess it's the novelty.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Ayaka-chan
So quick update to be filled in later: I met my language partner. Her name is 彩加 (Ayaka) and she's awesome. We manage to communicate okay despite my excessive deficiency in Japanese.
Friday, June 6, 2008
I've Been Awake For 27 Hours
And I need to learn that the apostrophe on the Japanese keyboard is shift-7. Odd.
The plane ride over was as eventful as a 13 hours flight can be. I sat between Brian and Bec-chan. be. I sat between Brian and Bec-chan. It was much better than American flights, I'll admit.
I read, watched a movie, had trouble sleeping (yes, on a moving vehicle!!,) played games on the television thing in the back of the seat in front of me, and ran around the plane. I snagged some chocolates from first class when none of the stewardesses were watching. Yummy! The food was very good: two real meals and lots of drinks and snacks. Once we finished our two plane rides and bus ride, we checked out our neat little rooms and went to the grocery store. I]ll discuss that tomorrow. It's late. No pictures yet, because the internet is being whiny.
The plane ride over was as eventful as a 13 hours flight can be. I sat between Brian and Bec-chan. be. I sat between Brian and Bec-chan. It was much better than American flights, I'll admit.
I read, watched a movie, had trouble sleeping (yes, on a moving vehicle!!,) played games on the television thing in the back of the seat in front of me, and ran around the plane. I snagged some chocolates from first class when none of the stewardesses were watching. Yummy! The food was very good: two real meals and lots of drinks and snacks. Once we finished our two plane rides and bus ride, we checked out our neat little rooms and went to the grocery store. I]ll discuss that tomorrow. It's late. No pictures yet, because the internet is being whiny.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
New York City
After Carl spent a few days helping me out with prepping all my stuff for Japan, and of course, being constant companions with me :), I met Brian on the Amtrak train today and took it up to the city. I slept the whole way there. Ha. Then we took a shuttle, then a bus, then a taxi to our hotel. It's a nice little room. And it's free because Brian's Dad found a cheaper price for the room than given. (Find a cheaper price and it's free!) And it has free wi-fi which allows me to talk to you lovely people.
You can reach me on skype or aim; just remember that it's a fourteen hour time difference with Japan ahead of central. So your best bet to find me will be around 5 to 7 pm. (Before I have class at 9 am.)
You can reach me on skype or aim; just remember that it's a fourteen hour time difference with Japan ahead of central. So your best bet to find me will be around 5 to 7 pm. (Before I have class at 9 am.)
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Packing!
I leave for New York tomorrow on Amtrak, and then the next day I will have the pleasure of a 12+ hour flight to Japan. Hopefully I'll have some crazy pictures and stories for you people on here.
I'm nearly packed, and amazingly, I am not going to have to sit on my suitcase in order to close it. :P
Updated a least once a week, but likely more often because I'm a blogging addict.
Ja.
I'm nearly packed, and amazingly, I am not going to have to sit on my suitcase in order to close it. :P
Updated a least once a week, but likely more often because I'm a blogging addict.
Ja.
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