Valentines Day and White Day
Yesterday was Valentines day, the holiday which I have been forced to celebrate through school functions, store advertisements, and many other modes has come and gone in Japan. In Japan Valentines day takes on a slightly different meaning. Supposedly it was a mix up in translations, but I somehow think it was the male-dominant society of the time, that made Valentines a gift giving day only for girls. On February 14th all the Japanese girls hand out chocolate to their male friends and family members. These chocolaty treats no doubt overwhelm the more popular boys. The saving grace of this unfair one-sided exchange is found in the form of White Day which is I think March 14th when the boys return the favor, though after a months wait, and give presents of 'white' chocolate to the girls who had given them chocolate the month before. Odd as it may seem at first glance this seems like a reasonable way to do it, though this time the more popular men find themselves in the bind! My Onna to Otoko teacher had us read an article about it all and it was suggested that White Day, though probably hated by every male and opposed out of sheer spite, came about because of the Shinto/Bhuddist influence of the day. It is either the Shinto half or the Bhuddist half that believes in an equalization, or maybe it is both. I forget.
Marie, bless her, treated Valentines like in the US and gave out packets of skittles to everyone. So I got a Valentines! I feel bad because I didn't get any for anyone, but not so bad, because I don't think you should have one day where you 'have' to give chocolate to everyone. I enjoyed my Valentines day with Liz and Marie, we went to Hirakata and did Purikura and shopped around the Vivre. Marie bought a cowgirl hat that looks very nice on her, she says I can't pull of the Texian cowgirl look, sigh...so sad. She certainly does though. The pictures were the best we have ever tafken, and I am highly destressed because I can't find my strip. We did the Harry Potter ones that allow for all kinds of fun backgrounds and cool other additions. Afterwards we ate a quick dinner at Moss Burger and came back for tons of candy and a showing of Moulin Rouge in the new hangout place, Marie and Liz's room.
I was really tired because of a very short night's rest the night before and so I retired at around 11pm for a shower and bed. I barely managed to drag myself from my covers at 10am. I was sooo exhausted. I had a bad dream last night and it is weird because I am not sure if it is real or not. I was dreaming that my knee was hurting me a lot, and I know my knee bothers me a lot at night, but I don't know if this was just a dream or if my knee really was hurting a lot. Strange... Well I hope it was only a dream!
My Ceramics class is definately the highlight of my weeks. This week we are working on trimming our pieces, which means putting the bottom rim on them and cleaning up the sides. I am really proud of the one I trimmed on Monday. I think it looks really good. It will be a small soup bowl or sauce bowl I think. I have a lot of other things to work on this week so I will be doing a lot with them. I really like this class and I think I will definately take another this summer and one when I get back to Millidgeville.
The last few weeks have been up and down, up and down. Sometimes I feel like running across the ocean home, and other times I feel like staying for a hundred years, but mostly it is the first option. I, and all the others who have extended their stay, are counting down the weeks. 14 exactly..well less than that actuall more like thirteen and three or four days depending. such a short time and yet still forever away. But it isn't it will come before I know it and then I will be home! I can't wait to get there. I miss you guys so much and love you.
Marie, bless her, treated Valentines like in the US and gave out packets of skittles to everyone. So I got a Valentines! I feel bad because I didn't get any for anyone, but not so bad, because I don't think you should have one day where you 'have' to give chocolate to everyone. I enjoyed my Valentines day with Liz and Marie, we went to Hirakata and did Purikura and shopped around the Vivre. Marie bought a cowgirl hat that looks very nice on her, she says I can't pull of the Texian cowgirl look, sigh...so sad. She certainly does though. The pictures were the best we have ever tafken, and I am highly destressed because I can't find my strip. We did the Harry Potter ones that allow for all kinds of fun backgrounds and cool other additions. Afterwards we ate a quick dinner at Moss Burger and came back for tons of candy and a showing of Moulin Rouge in the new hangout place, Marie and Liz's room.
I was really tired because of a very short night's rest the night before and so I retired at around 11pm for a shower and bed. I barely managed to drag myself from my covers at 10am. I was sooo exhausted. I had a bad dream last night and it is weird because I am not sure if it is real or not. I was dreaming that my knee was hurting me a lot, and I know my knee bothers me a lot at night, but I don't know if this was just a dream or if my knee really was hurting a lot. Strange... Well I hope it was only a dream!
My Ceramics class is definately the highlight of my weeks. This week we are working on trimming our pieces, which means putting the bottom rim on them and cleaning up the sides. I am really proud of the one I trimmed on Monday. I think it looks really good. It will be a small soup bowl or sauce bowl I think. I have a lot of other things to work on this week so I will be doing a lot with them. I really like this class and I think I will definately take another this summer and one when I get back to Millidgeville.
The last few weeks have been up and down, up and down. Sometimes I feel like running across the ocean home, and other times I feel like staying for a hundred years, but mostly it is the first option. I, and all the others who have extended their stay, are counting down the weeks. 14 exactly..well less than that actuall more like thirteen and three or four days depending. such a short time and yet still forever away. But it isn't it will come before I know it and then I will be home! I can't wait to get there. I miss you guys so much and love you.