blog from Japan 4
I'm wondering how many titles I will have with "blog from Japan" and numbers and if I keep it up like that or not. Hm.
Anyways, this weekend was eventful~
Friday was the Japanese placement test and I think that I will get into intermediate again. I am okay with this because I don't really remember much from my summer class- I put it all into short term memory so I remember vocabulary but not grammar. The test was really hard, like the kanji section was okay for the first part, and then when I got to the second section I was like "I don't know any of this!" because there were kanji I had never seen before on it.
We also had the clubs do some presentations for us, and I really want to check out the karate club. I was reading their flyer, and it said that they are more serious, that you have to attend the practices and that gives me the impression that they don't drink as much as the other clubs, if at all. That made me excited because I was told that many of the tennis clubs were actually drinking clubs. I want to join the karate club, I think (if I can afford it, it's going to depend on how much it costs) and maybe one of the international friends clubs. I also decided on my classes- Japanese, Approaches to Japanese Society, Survey of Japanese Lit 1 and Modern Japan (history class.)
After that, I went to the Sophia Welcome Party with Emily and Gerri. Emily and I were so happy because there was free food, and we decided to seperate from the other CIEE kids and sat at the other end of the cafeteria. Over there, we talked to some Japanese girls and Gerri found a girl she met at the 7-11 earlier. We were supposed to do a few games, but decided that after we ate we had enough. We walked around Yotsuya (the area around the school) and went to a cafe. I had mango pudding which was amazing and I forgot to take a picture of it sadly. After that, we went to Shibuya to find a department store and a music store, and I wanted to see Hachiko. I would have taken a picture of Hachiko but there were too many people around the statue to make it worth while. The first thing I noticed in Shibuya though, was the huge billboard as you exit the station. It was Hey! Say! Jump, and I took a picture of that. :)
We went to the music store which was fun, but I didn't buy anything. I found the magazines and I saw one with Big Bang on it, I almost bought it for Katie and Kelsey but then I flipped through it and it was a little disappointing. Next we went to Loft, a department store and I bought a compact mirror so I can put makeup on in my room. Before I left, we went to Puri Kura (it's a picture booth that makes stickers) and did that, which was kind of fun. I tried to take pictures of that, but it didn't work because my camera isn't good enough to get them.
I came home and talked to Aki-san and Kazu-san for a little bit, and then I took a shower and talked to Katie for a long time on Skype. I'm really glad that my aunt told me to get that, because I think that I would be terribly depressed if I didn't have it.
Saturday was kind of a boring day for me, I didn't really go out at all, and stayed home and talked to people on Skype again. Chelsea went to try and buy a cell phone, and my host family went to the park so I was here alone for a long time, but it was okay.
Sunday, I talked to people again for a little while, and then went to Harajuku with Emily and Gerri. I found a ton of used clothing stores that I want to go to (probably next weekend) but we didn't stop on any of them. We went to lunch in a food court sort of thing, and I ate Indian food (ahaha) but it was delicious. Emily and Gerri got some sort of takoyaki and I saw a place that served crepes and boba. We also had taiyaki, which is a fish shaped pastery. The kind that we had is different than other kinds apparently, because it had the same consistency as mochi, but it didn't have azuki beans in it (thank GOD, Japanese people love those stupid azuki beans.) I got caramel, and shared with Emily who got custard (we couldn't decide what to get,) and Gerri got macha green tea flavored. It was really good, I suggest you try it if you come to Japan.~
After that, we went to the Meiji Jinja (shrine) in Yoyogi Park and ran into some people from CIEE. We stopped and looked at the cosplayers (who hang out in Yoyogi park on Sundays) and I took a picture of the CIEE people with one. They were really nice, and were happy to take pictures with people. We went to the shrine with them (CIEE people,) but Gerri wanted to take pictures and they didn't wait for us which was sad, because Erika was with them and she was like a tour guide for them. After we went through the shrine, we found a little omiyage (souviner) shop and I found a lot of things that I can buy for you guys :) We also found the Johnny's Store which was one of my biggest disappointments since I got here. All they had was some random NEWS and KinKi Kids fans, and then pictures which were totally over priced. Melissa said that I should go to one of the seedier shops to get bigger, non-official, cheaper ones and probably the cell phone straps too.
When I came home, we had dinner and then Aki-san turned on Sasuke (Ninja Warrior!) and I watched that for almost three hours. Here, it's not split into different episodes, the whole tournament is one episode. I think that it was fairly new, because some of the All Stars looked different. I was so excited that Nagano was there, though and of course he was the last one to go through the first stage. I didn't even watch it to the end because I was tired.
Today was the last orientation! We had a socialization lecture which was boring like no other, and had a really dated video. I almost fell asleep :( Then, we had a little information session about the trips tomorrow and Wendesday. After that we went to Shinjuku to find Mister Doughnuts, which was good but I can't justify going all the way to Shinjuku JUST for it. After that, we roamed around Shinjuku for a little bit, and we found a store that sold things for 315 yen. I want to go back there I think, because there were some cute things that I can buy for you (again, omiyage for YOU guys, not for me. Haha.) We went to the Red Light District (it was the middle of the day though, don't worry) just to see if the hosts were out yet and they weren't.
Gerri came back to Shinagawa with me, and we wandered around looking for some capsule hotel that they are going to tear down she wanted to see. We didn't find it, but I saw some new things in Shinagawa I haven't seen yet. Then, I came home because I was so tired... but then I played with Saya-chan until dinner about an hour and a half later.
Tomorrow, we have our elementry school visit which is going to be interesting and I hope that it's not a disaster. Naoko and I didn't decide what to do for it until today (we are supposed to have the kids play a game in English and we have 2nd graders) but we finally decided on Pictionary. This evening Chelsea helped me come up with some words that kids might know (they're all animals.) Wednesday we are going to Kamakura for the day, which will be cool. Kamakura used to be the capital of Japan for a little while so there are temples there, and that's also where one of Japan's giant Buddha statues is. I'm excited for that trip, and then on Thursday we start classes!
I'm happy to inform everyone that I feel like I can really smile, for real- again. I'm getting along really well with the baby in my host family- Saya and I am getting along with Aki-san pretty well too (I think, I feel like I am.) which is important because she's home all the time as compared to Kazu-san.
I'm still so happy to hear from everyone so e-mail me any time! On my cell phone is FINE, I don't mind to wake up to an e-mail from someone I love. :) My cell phone e-mail is on my Facebook page for those of you who don't have it. Also, thanks Katie, Kelsey and Vance for posting pictures for me~ Please continue to do it so I don't feel too left out. It makes me feel better to see you!
~Pictures are here, new ones are last~
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=111267&id=501763026&l=272575a535
Anyways, this weekend was eventful~
Friday was the Japanese placement test and I think that I will get into intermediate again. I am okay with this because I don't really remember much from my summer class- I put it all into short term memory so I remember vocabulary but not grammar. The test was really hard, like the kanji section was okay for the first part, and then when I got to the second section I was like "I don't know any of this!" because there were kanji I had never seen before on it.
We also had the clubs do some presentations for us, and I really want to check out the karate club. I was reading their flyer, and it said that they are more serious, that you have to attend the practices and that gives me the impression that they don't drink as much as the other clubs, if at all. That made me excited because I was told that many of the tennis clubs were actually drinking clubs. I want to join the karate club, I think (if I can afford it, it's going to depend on how much it costs) and maybe one of the international friends clubs. I also decided on my classes- Japanese, Approaches to Japanese Society, Survey of Japanese Lit 1 and Modern Japan (history class.)
After that, I went to the Sophia Welcome Party with Emily and Gerri. Emily and I were so happy because there was free food, and we decided to seperate from the other CIEE kids and sat at the other end of the cafeteria. Over there, we talked to some Japanese girls and Gerri found a girl she met at the 7-11 earlier. We were supposed to do a few games, but decided that after we ate we had enough. We walked around Yotsuya (the area around the school) and went to a cafe. I had mango pudding which was amazing and I forgot to take a picture of it sadly. After that, we went to Shibuya to find a department store and a music store, and I wanted to see Hachiko. I would have taken a picture of Hachiko but there were too many people around the statue to make it worth while. The first thing I noticed in Shibuya though, was the huge billboard as you exit the station. It was Hey! Say! Jump, and I took a picture of that. :)
We went to the music store which was fun, but I didn't buy anything. I found the magazines and I saw one with Big Bang on it, I almost bought it for Katie and Kelsey but then I flipped through it and it was a little disappointing. Next we went to Loft, a department store and I bought a compact mirror so I can put makeup on in my room. Before I left, we went to Puri Kura (it's a picture booth that makes stickers) and did that, which was kind of fun. I tried to take pictures of that, but it didn't work because my camera isn't good enough to get them.
I came home and talked to Aki-san and Kazu-san for a little bit, and then I took a shower and talked to Katie for a long time on Skype. I'm really glad that my aunt told me to get that, because I think that I would be terribly depressed if I didn't have it.
Saturday was kind of a boring day for me, I didn't really go out at all, and stayed home and talked to people on Skype again. Chelsea went to try and buy a cell phone, and my host family went to the park so I was here alone for a long time, but it was okay.
Sunday, I talked to people again for a little while, and then went to Harajuku with Emily and Gerri. I found a ton of used clothing stores that I want to go to (probably next weekend) but we didn't stop on any of them. We went to lunch in a food court sort of thing, and I ate Indian food (ahaha) but it was delicious. Emily and Gerri got some sort of takoyaki and I saw a place that served crepes and boba. We also had taiyaki, which is a fish shaped pastery. The kind that we had is different than other kinds apparently, because it had the same consistency as mochi, but it didn't have azuki beans in it (thank GOD, Japanese people love those stupid azuki beans.) I got caramel, and shared with Emily who got custard (we couldn't decide what to get,) and Gerri got macha green tea flavored. It was really good, I suggest you try it if you come to Japan.~
After that, we went to the Meiji Jinja (shrine) in Yoyogi Park and ran into some people from CIEE. We stopped and looked at the cosplayers (who hang out in Yoyogi park on Sundays) and I took a picture of the CIEE people with one. They were really nice, and were happy to take pictures with people. We went to the shrine with them (CIEE people,) but Gerri wanted to take pictures and they didn't wait for us which was sad, because Erika was with them and she was like a tour guide for them. After we went through the shrine, we found a little omiyage (souviner) shop and I found a lot of things that I can buy for you guys :) We also found the Johnny's Store which was one of my biggest disappointments since I got here. All they had was some random NEWS and KinKi Kids fans, and then pictures which were totally over priced. Melissa said that I should go to one of the seedier shops to get bigger, non-official, cheaper ones and probably the cell phone straps too.
When I came home, we had dinner and then Aki-san turned on Sasuke (Ninja Warrior!) and I watched that for almost three hours. Here, it's not split into different episodes, the whole tournament is one episode. I think that it was fairly new, because some of the All Stars looked different. I was so excited that Nagano was there, though and of course he was the last one to go through the first stage. I didn't even watch it to the end because I was tired.
Today was the last orientation! We had a socialization lecture which was boring like no other, and had a really dated video. I almost fell asleep :( Then, we had a little information session about the trips tomorrow and Wendesday. After that we went to Shinjuku to find Mister Doughnuts, which was good but I can't justify going all the way to Shinjuku JUST for it. After that, we roamed around Shinjuku for a little bit, and we found a store that sold things for 315 yen. I want to go back there I think, because there were some cute things that I can buy for you (again, omiyage for YOU guys, not for me. Haha.) We went to the Red Light District (it was the middle of the day though, don't worry) just to see if the hosts were out yet and they weren't.
Gerri came back to Shinagawa with me, and we wandered around looking for some capsule hotel that they are going to tear down she wanted to see. We didn't find it, but I saw some new things in Shinagawa I haven't seen yet. Then, I came home because I was so tired... but then I played with Saya-chan until dinner about an hour and a half later.
Tomorrow, we have our elementry school visit which is going to be interesting and I hope that it's not a disaster. Naoko and I didn't decide what to do for it until today (we are supposed to have the kids play a game in English and we have 2nd graders) but we finally decided on Pictionary. This evening Chelsea helped me come up with some words that kids might know (they're all animals.) Wednesday we are going to Kamakura for the day, which will be cool. Kamakura used to be the capital of Japan for a little while so there are temples there, and that's also where one of Japan's giant Buddha statues is. I'm excited for that trip, and then on Thursday we start classes!
I'm happy to inform everyone that I feel like I can really smile, for real- again. I'm getting along really well with the baby in my host family- Saya and I am getting along with Aki-san pretty well too (I think, I feel like I am.) which is important because she's home all the time as compared to Kazu-san.
I'm still so happy to hear from everyone so e-mail me any time! On my cell phone is FINE, I don't mind to wake up to an e-mail from someone I love. :) My cell phone e-mail is on my Facebook page for those of you who don't have it. Also, thanks Katie, Kelsey and Vance for posting pictures for me~ Please continue to do it so I don't feel too left out. It makes me feel better to see you!
~Pictures are here, new ones are last~
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=111267&id=501763026&l=272575a535