Namba April 30, 2008

Here is Japan, we are in Golden Week, which is basically a week consisting of 5 days of holidays. It’s rather oddly put together, as I had school Monday, a day off on Tuesday, and school again until Friday. Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday are all holidays.

Anyhow, yesterday was a lovely day off. I went to AU to get my cellphone switched from prepaid to a monthly plan, and although that took 1 1/2 hours, I got it done. I also now have a student discount, which reduces my monthly fees by 50%. I consider that pretty damn awesome.

After AU, Mama drove me to Toga-Mikita Station, basically kicked me out of the car (I was enthralled by my keitai [cellphone in Japanese] and she was kind of like “OKAYBYENOWOUT!!!” and I was like “HUHWHAT?!?!”) and I walked to the center of the T-walkway intersection to meet Amy and Minami.
We took the train to Namba, which maybe took 1/2 hour tops, including stops etc.
Namba station is pretty massive, Amy thinks it rivals Tokyo station. I think it’s a bit more organized than Tokyo station.

Amy and I had no idea where we were going, so Minami basically led us around. Actually, it was mostly straight forward, since we just spent most of the time in this covered walkway with stores on either side. We did a lot of looking, and Amy did most of the buying.

At around 2pm, we stopped at Makudo for lunch. And stuffed our faces. And it was great. It was seriously busy there though, and kind of reminded me of Europe, just because there was another floor downstairs where you could eat.

We walked for a looong time, looking in many stores. I bought only a long-sleeved shirt. It’s kind of cream colored with small green polka-dots. It was only around $10CAD, which I think is kind of cheap. Clothes aren’t that bad here. Oh, and we went into UniQlo, and they sell yukata there (basically summer versions of kimono) and I am definitely going to buy one. I didn’t because there is a UniQlo in a mall near Komyoike station, and I bet its cheaper there than in Namba.

We also saw some things that Namba is famous for, like the big crab on the front of a crab restaurant that moves its arms, and the Glico running man made of lights. We didn’t go to Dotonburi, though. Dotonburi has this famous restaurant with a famous mannequin that beats a drum standing outside, but the restaurant is shutting down forever in June or July.

We also checked out this massive department store that had like 10 floors and was SUPER expensive. I also lost my ability to speak here, calling moccasins “eskimos” and “muskrats” before I could think of the right word. It’s pretty funny, actually. And I find that often when I want to say something, the first thing that comes to mind now is Japanese, not English. This makes me feel like I’m actually getting better at the language.

Anyway, after the big department store, we walked back down the covered street (perhaps its called Shinsaibashi) to go to Starbucks. But we got there, and there was a MASSIVE line-up. I spotted a gelato and crepe place, so we went there. The gelato looked delicious. Amy went for strawberry, while I decided to be daring and tried something called blue salt. I obviously ought to learn to read better, because it was indeed, salt flavour. It was the strangest thing ever. It was sweet and salty at the same time. Funny thing is, Minami tried it and even she thought it was disgusting!! I tried some of Amy’s strawberry, though, and it was pretty amazing.

After icecream we went and did purikura. We were halfway though decorating the photos, though, when Minami had to leave to go meet her friends. So there is a way that you can send the photos to your keitai, but Amy and I are basically stupid in Japanese, and we had nooo idea what we were doing and just pressed buttons and no photos to keitai
At least they printed out though, haha.

Then Amy and I took the train back to Toga all by ourselves!!! I was so proud. Amy thought I made us get lost in the department store attached to the station, but I proved her wrong!! (After a lengthy meander through the shoe floor…)

We walked from Toga back to Amy’s house, dropped off our bags, and then went back to the park for some chatting and exploring. We happened to pass this group of guys who were hanging out on their motorbikes. We passed them 3 times, and every time they would call out to us. It started with “haaaaiiii~~ and by the last time the one guy was like “I LOVE YOU!!!!!!” It was pretty hilarious, actually.

We got back to Amy’s around 7:15 or so, and her host parents came home soon after and then we got in crap for being outside past 7pm and in the dark. I’m sooo happy my host parents don’t care about my well-being!! Honestly, I just do whatever and never bother to call, and they couldn’t care less. And like, Eri stays out until 10pm sometimes. Crazy!

Photos April 26, 2008

Well, today was Saturday, which means it was a half day at school for me….Or, it was supposed to be anyway.

First was English Oral, and I didn’t do so great on today’s quiz. I have, however, discovered that if I just study the order the English words are in on the worksheet, I will do well on the quiz, because Wakana Sensei just copies and pastes! Silly teacher.

After that, I had Japanese with Kawamoto sensei for 2 hours. I took a test, and I actually did really well! Yay! I have Japanese class 5 days a week, so my Japanese is improving fast. Which is good! I am feeling more confident in my Japanese currently.

Last was self-study, so I went to the library, took some stealth photos, and explored a new-found English book section, which is loaded with books of awesomeness. I am really excited to finish them.

At 12:30 I went to the exchange student room to eat my lunch with Sehee. I had chocolate melon pan (not really made of melons; shaped like a melon), an apple, and orange juice (which I am constantly laughed at for here, because apparently its strange if you drink anything other than tea at lunch).

Today me and Sehee were supposed to take photos together and with Japanese students for the school pamphlet and probably other things. Anyway, we were less than thrilled with the idea. Also, we thought we would get it over with quickly, but we ended up having to wait until 2pm!

Finally, the lady was ready, and we went outside and took a bunch of photos while Sehee and I talked….But then we discovered that the photos were only tests and that we had to wait for the real photographer!!
We walked around the school for a while, and went out to the ground, where the sports club were practicing. Many cars were driving in and parking in the courtyard, and Sehee’s friends were bowing to the cars! So we asked why, and Sehee’s friend told us that because Tezukayama is a well-known school, they have to make a good impression. So then Sehee and I stood at the roadside and bowed to cars as they drove in, and of course then the people in the cars were required to nod their heads in response. It probably looked pretty hilarious, two exchange students bowing to cars.
Anyway, so then we went back inside, but it turned out that the photographer was still busy, and we had to wait some more! By this time, it was nearing 4pm, the time when we were supposed to be finished!
Finally, the photographer and his troupe arrived, and we went outside and took a photoshoot with some middleschoolers and then highschoolers. It took at least an hour, and was super boring. And we basically were forced to laugh and smile the whole time, so by the end of it I was sooo tired and uncomfortable from sitting in an awkward position.

Then Sehee, some 2nd years, and I took the bus to Izumigaoka Station together, where I stayed and waited for Amy and her host sister Minami. I didn’t end up meeting them until around 5:30. We went to Makudo (McDonald’s) and had dinner. I tried the new matcha oreo Mcflurry (matcha = green tea); it was good!
Afterwards, we checked out Honeys (a clothing store) and a hyaku-en shop (Dollar store), where we went on a mini spending spree. I adore hyaku-en shops. I bought some candies (Amy and I have an addiction to these gummies called Pure), markers, mints, and scissors so Amy can cut my bangs!

Then we went to the arcade, where we did purikura (short for print club – purinto kurabu). Purikura is basically the most amazing thing ever. You go into this big photo booth, equiped with a greenscreen, lights, and everything. Then you pick 7 different poses/backgrounds/pictures to do. For example, you can take a picture with you being hugged by a panda, or sitting in a cup of wine. There is a touch-screen where you can choose the poses and see the pictures when you’re done.
Then you move to the next booth over, where you can draw all over the pictures. You can add clip art and stamps (bunny ears, dresses, hearts, sparkles, flowers, etc.) and you can use the pen tool or pre-set alphabets to write on the photos.
When you’re happy with the pictures, you pick the size you want (purikura are remarkably small; popular to stick on cellphones) and then it gets printed out! Then you can cut it up and stick it anywhere! It’s pretty awesome. You can also get the photos mailed to your cellphone, but unfortunately my cellphone can’t do that….I’m going to change that though.

Then I went home around 7:30 or so. Remarkably, Mama didn’t care where I was, or why I was coming home so late. I love that about her. I am sooo happy she lets me take care of myself.
But I will be changing host families in July.
I don’t have a new one yet.

P.S. Best thing ever: standing in a busy train station in a foreign country and being recognized by your classmates. I felt sooo good when people were like, “Aaa! AAANIYAAA~!”

Recycle April 25, 2008

Does this kind of creep anyone else out?

It’s a commercial on TV right now about recycling. The band is Perfume, and the song is called Polyrhythym.

Kado Club April 23, 2008

Since it’s pretty much crazy if you don’t join a club in Japan, today me and Sehee went to check out Kado, or flower arrangement (you might know it as ikebana) club after school.
After getting kind of lost, Kawamoto sensei lead us to this Japanese style room (as in, tatami floors and rice paper doors), which I didn’t even know existed!
The teacher is this old lady, and she’s basically a genius at kado. Seriously, she made it look waaay easier than it really is. It’s hard.
Today we had daisies, these really pretty blue flowers, and massive pink flowers. I forget their names. But daisies are called margarets in Japan?
Anyway, the teacher helped me and Sehee out…A lot. Haha. But I’m sure with time, we’ll get better. Sehee is probably going to join too, which makes me happy.

Hmm, what else?

Today was my 2nd gym class of the week. We did….something strange. It was kind of some mix between a dance and army marching….Yeah. It was confusing. But it was funny, because at one point during our marching, Mai was having problems getting the beat, and I’m pretty sure the teacher was like, “EVEN THE EXCHANGE STUDENT CAN GET IT!!!” hahaha.

Also, this group of like 3 or 4 boys who sit in the corner of my homeroom are obsessed with this song called Shuchishin (by a group of 3 guys with the same name) and keep singing it out loud hahaha. It’s pretty hilarious. I thought girls normally sang together in groups?
Anyway, Shuchishin is REALLY popular in Japan right now, and they’re all over the TV, specifically on this show called QUIZ HEXAGON (which is happen to be watching right now….) because they’re like, the theme song singers?
Listen!

Scared April 22, 2008

So today, I was walking from my classroom to go downstairs for my Japanese lesson with Kawamoto sensei.
To get there, I have to walk down a hallway that has some 3rd year classes.
As I was turning the corner, I noticed an abnormal amount of the 3rd year guys standing on either side of the hallway.
All of a sudden, this 3rd year leaps out from behind the corner (I hadn’t suspected a thing) and goes “BLAAAAAAGHHAHAHAGG!!!!” I basically freak out and jump in the air, because I was SO not expecting that.
The guy is like, (In Japanese), “OH MY GOD I AM SOOOOO SORRRY!!! YOU ARE THE WRONG PERSON!!! SORRY!!!!”
Me, half in hysterics, is like “Errr, it’s fine.”
As if that wasn’t embarassing enough, I had to walk down the rest of the hallway, with aaaallll the 3rd year guys laughing at me.

Ohhh, Japanse school.

Running April 21, 2008

Remember that sports test I had to take the other week? Remember me being happy about not having to run 1000 meters?

Yeah, today that came back to haunt me.

In gym, we had to do the 1000 meter run, which was 5 laps around the ground.Oh my goodness. It was terrible. By the end of it, I was pretty much feeling like I was either going to pass out or puke, and my lungs burned for about an hour afterward. Yuck. I guess I’m really out of shape

Also, I have to bring my pee to school. Yay. The medical tests just keep coming and coming.

I had a pretty crappy day today, actually. Well, each individual thing wasn’t that bad, but combined all together, it made my morning suck. Buut, I don’t really want to talk about it. It’s probably just a homesick thing.

I had my computer class for the first time today. The teacher was hilarious and all like, excited about making tables and bolding font. The lab is pretty spiffy. I sit at a long table with two other guys and inbetween our monitors, there is a monitor showing what the teacher is doing!! It’s so cool. And I like this class because I can follow along fairly well due to me being “conpyutaa puro”, as my host mother likes to call me.

Tomorrow is English Conversation class, and that makes me happy. Yay for the crazy punkrocker teacher from Manchester! <3

Shrines April 20, 2008

I just had pretty much the most amazing day ever.

Mama and I went to Amy’s house to pick up her and her host mother at 12pm….Actually, it was like 12:20, because we got lost, but whatever.
So then we drove to Otori to see the shrine that me and Amy failed to find by ourselves last weekend.
Turns out that we were totally in the wrong place.

At this shrine, people bring their babies when they are one month old to get blessed, so we saw a ton of babies while we were there. The shrine was really neat, and pretty big (or so we thought at the time). We couldn’t go inside any of the buildings, though.
There were some priestesses too, which was pretty cool. They’re all very young (teenagers).
Amy and I explored the shrine, while our host mothers sat on a bench and gossiped.

Then we convinced our host mothers to take us to Sumiyoshi Taisha, which is one of the oldest (or maybe it is THE oldest) shrines in Japan. It was about a 30 minute drive from Otori.
Basically, Otori was nothing in comparison to Sumiyoshi. Sumiyoshi is massive. There were a ton of stone statue-things (they kind of look like birdhouses) and there was a river and a famous bridge.
Near the bridge were a bunch of street vendors selling food, flowers, and umbrellas. Mama bought us some sort of doughnuts from the vendors, which were really yummy!
We crossed the big red bridge and went to wash our hands. At every temple, there is a fountain where you wash your hands.
Then we went inside the actually gate itself, and inside there were a ton of buildings. We walked around, and then we made a wish! To make a wish, you throw a coin into a building or a well-looking container and then clap your hands once or twice and close your eyes and make your wish.
After that, we went to a place where there were a bunch of stones behind stone bars. You are supposed to fish around in the stones until you pull out three with the Kanji for five, big, and power on them. You keep the stones, and it is supposed to bring you good luck and fortune.
We were walking back to the exit, and passed the place where we had made our wishes and saw…a wedding!!! A Japanese style wedding is very rare to see these days, so we were very lucky! It was so interesting. The bride and groom sat with their backs to us inside the building (with open walls) and the guests sat on either side. Inside, there were priestesses and a monk performing the ceremony, which involved chanting and a sort of fan dance by the priestesses. It was sooo cool.
When the ceremony was over, the bride and groom went in front of the building for pictures. Amy and I were trying to get a good picture, but everyone from the wedding party was crowding around. All of a sudden, this man comes up to me and says something in Japanese. I kind of thought he was asking me to go with the bride and groom to get a picture!!! But then I was like “no way!!” But no, he was serious. He basically dragged me and Amy out of the crowd and we got a picture with the bride and groom!! It was soooo embarrassing (people were taking pictures of us) but probably the coolest thing ever. The bride and groom were sooo cute!!!!
After that, we basically ran away and forgot to congratulate them. Oops. I felt kind of bad, but was waaay too flustered to go back (despite our host mothers’ protests).

You can read more about Otori Jinja and Sumiyoshi Taisha Jinja here and here, respectively

Karaoke April 19, 2008

Okay, before I write about today, here are some things I wrote about yesterday (Friday):

1. So we’re all sitting there in Korean class. I am doing my own thing (making ridiculously detailed notes on Korean letters, actually) and the teacher is busy lecturing about said letters. All of a sudden there is this extremely loud “BANG!” and we all like, jump out of our chairs and look around. We discover that one of the boys had somehow fallen out of his chair and taken the chair down with him and was still lying on the ground. It was pretty hilarious.
Also, Sehee taught everyone how to say “stupid” or “idiot” in Korean – “pabo”. After that, me and Maiko kept yelling “pabo!!!” for the rest of the class. Fun
Oh, and I can spell my name in Korean now!!

2. I met my fanclub today. Turns out it is a group of boys from 1-C. They’re kind of silly and a little shy, but I’m really just thrilled that I’m being recognized by the opposite gender. That sounds really awkward, but here boys and girls don’t really associate unless they’re dating.
Also, near the end of lunch, I went downstairs and was chatting with Sehee and her friends and one of her male classmates came up to get into his locker. He saw me, stopped what he was doing, and just stared at me with his mouth a little open. I was like, “hi..?” and gave a little wave. He kept staring.

3. I was walking downstairs to go to the exchange student room, when I passed a few girls on the stairs. One goes, “aa, gaijin!” and the other goes, “blah blah blah kirei!”. Basically they recognized the fact that I was a foreigner and then called me pretty. The Japanese are really intense about praising each other, and especially foreigners.
Oh, and the other day, I was walking down the hallway with my classmates, and Tomohi starts going off about how I have nice hair and then starts stroking it and before I know what’s happening, I have six girls petting my hair. That was kind of awkward haha.

Today!
So in the morning I had English Oral, Japanese, and Self-Study.
After classes (12:40 or so), I went down to Sehee’s homeroom and met up with her and her friends.
We took the bus to Izumigaoka station, where we bought bread and juice and then we took the train to a city called Fukai, where we bought more bread and then walked to Karaoke Smile.
We went upstairs into this room, where the six of us sat down.
There were a bunch of song books (massive things), a giant remote, a sort of electronic song dictionary, and two microphones.
We spent the next 4 1/2 hours singing. It was pretty ridiculous. I am soooo tired now.
But it was actually tons of fun!! There were a fair amount of English songs, so I sang too (Michael Jackson, High School Musical, Mariah Carey, AQUA, Journey, Feist…)! And Sehee sang some songs in Korean. I took some videos, so I’ll put that together later.
I went home with Mami and another girl (oops, I don’t know her name), which was lucky for me. Mami gets off at the station after mine (Izumichuo) and the other girls gets off at Komyoike too, but she goes the opposite direction.
Still, I’m happy they take the same train!!

ONE MONTH!!! April 17, 2008

I can’t believe I forgot to write this!!!
I have officially been in Japan for one month today!!!

Wednesday?? April 17, 2008

Today I must have been delusional or something, because I thought it was Wednesday (okay, the chalkboard SAID Wednesday!!) and as a result, I accidentally skipped my first period class (World History). Hahaha. Oops. Oh well. Instead I sat in the library checking out the rather lackluster English book collection.

Other than that, pretty normal day. Well, for me. Probably wouldn’t be normal for you. Unless you’re Japanese.

Today was Sehee’s 17th birthday, so I bought her cake at the train station

Also, funniest thing ever, I totally saw Amy getting off the train at Toga station….She was sitting in the car beside mine! I kind of thought I must’ve been hallucinating or something, but we confirmed it via Facebook later on.

I also found out that my grade is going on a trip to Nara in May. Also, I am going to Otori Shrine this weekend with Amy’s host family as well as mine! Yay I love Amy.

Oh, and while getting on the bus this afternoon, this girl goes “aaa! reiyugakksei!” (ahh! foreign exchange student!) and I look over at her like, “yeah, whaddayawant?” and she was like “……” and looked kind guilty haha. Silly Japanese. I can understand SOME of what you say!