Exteme random update time!
So in November I didnt really go anywhere, what with Japanese exams (which I think I passed well) and then lots of days of kenkyu classes (observation classes). so I dont have any more trip photos. But I do have some random photos I meant to upload a while back...and didnt. I really should take a photo of my school and the kids and stuff...but I figure they are there all the time, so when Im bored I'll do that.
Since its Christmas I'll start with that.
About a month ago I bought a Christmas tree for £5 :) It was second hand and I though wow....cheap and big. That was until I got home and realised that the tree takes up most of my room! Its kinda cute.
The blanket under the table is a kotatsu. Japanese houses and flats dont have central heating. Nor do they have insulation because of the hot summer months.... so I have this...my kotatsu...which is heated inside and you put your legs under and become nice and toasty. I love this thing. Its so warm and nice and fluffy. But I do have a tendancy of falling asleep under it!!!
Ok, so about a month back I went to a nice crafts fair with Mayu and Christina. I ended up painting something fancy for mum, and I made a ring for Rin. (yes...a ring!) which was pretty cool. I got to smash the metal with a biiiig hammer until it came out shiney. After the fair we were waiting for the bus and we found a giant leaf...and seeing as we were bored we thought it was fun to take pictures with the leaf...and thus came about a a folder containng 40 or so pictures on the fun that you can have with a leaf in 20 minutes whilst waiting for a bus..
Me and Mayu....we <3 the leaf.
Christina, me and Mayu.
It was a big leaf...
Ok so...enough with the silly leaf updates. Heres my workspace at one of my schools;
Honden sho gakko. The closest one with the orange pencil case is mine.
Every day I start at 8.20 or so and I eat lunch at 12.20. School lunches here are a set menu so we all eat the same. Heres some typical lunches that I have;
Rice and curry mince stuff, Squid, carton of milk and a fruit and milk pudding. (pudding is rare!!!)
Rice, fried fish, salad, miso soup an orange and a carton of milk.
Every day we get Cartons of milk. But oranges and puddings are rare.... Every Wednesday is bread day :)
So school lunches are pretty awesome. The only problem is that they are so huge and full of calories because growing kids need extra food...but Im not growing so I dont need it....damn....but meh cant be helped.
Other things I do on a usual basis...are going to izakaya's or in English the pub :) with friends. This one time in particular was for Scotts birthday.
Pontus, Jini, Scott, Me and Kylie. This is Ogiya, one of my favourite izakayas near the university from when I was a student.
Half way through the evening I decided to be stupid and everyone followed suit.
Followed by the reverse...
Spending time like this is fun. Japan has an amuzing range of cocktails to try so Im never bored of finding new things.
Next up for Scotts birthday was Karaoke until 5am the next morning... we went to a pub, we then departed from those that went home and then we sang the most random japanese and english songs out there until 5am to go to McDonalds to wait for the first trains and buses. It was fun.
Please note that my Tshirt says....You'll all die in your cars and has a dead mitchellin man... I <3 it.
Me and Kylie have a habit of making a fool of ourselves....but its funny.
Following that I took Rin out to a Shabu Shabu place. Basically dipping Meat into a bowl of steaming hot water until it cooks and then eating it. Its loverly. Mum would love it.
The orange side is tomato flavoured sauce.
The big pile of meat, oysters, vegetables and sausages that you can add in yourself.
Rin likes anything involving grilling, dipping or cutting meat. Its a japanese thing...they like meat. Whereas I dont mind. My favourite foods are contained with the Atom boy sushi chain;
My favourite being Eel Sushi;
Cooked Eel in sweet sauce.....its so nice!
Hamburger Sushi aint too bad either;
followed by some more traditonal sushi;
Mmmm yum yum. Sushi is really nice here.
Although at Halloween I got the most awesome Baskin Robins Ice cream Sundae;
It had cake inside it and everything. Yum Yum Yum! Food here...is incredibly fattening. They lie about it being healthy!!
Occasionally I went up to the university to have food and sometimes wine with people.
Jeff, Scott, Pontus, Kylie and me in the uni's kitchen.
And then later on it became a candle lit affair.
So yeah thats a small round up of the photos Ive been randomly taking. I have alot of more random ones, but I'll post them later.
Anyway tomorrow Im away to Kyoto and tonight is a Christmas party at my house so I'll be sure to have lots to update later on!
Have a merry christmas :)
Since its Christmas I'll start with that.
About a month ago I bought a Christmas tree for £5 :) It was second hand and I though wow....cheap and big. That was until I got home and realised that the tree takes up most of my room! Its kinda cute.
The blanket under the table is a kotatsu. Japanese houses and flats dont have central heating. Nor do they have insulation because of the hot summer months.... so I have this...my kotatsu...which is heated inside and you put your legs under and become nice and toasty. I love this thing. Its so warm and nice and fluffy. But I do have a tendancy of falling asleep under it!!!
Ok, so about a month back I went to a nice crafts fair with Mayu and Christina. I ended up painting something fancy for mum, and I made a ring for Rin. (yes...a ring!) which was pretty cool. I got to smash the metal with a biiiig hammer until it came out shiney. After the fair we were waiting for the bus and we found a giant leaf...and seeing as we were bored we thought it was fun to take pictures with the leaf...and thus came about a a folder containng 40 or so pictures on the fun that you can have with a leaf in 20 minutes whilst waiting for a bus..
Me and Mayu....we <3 the leaf.
Christina, me and Mayu.
It was a big leaf...
Ok so...enough with the silly leaf updates. Heres my workspace at one of my schools;
Honden sho gakko. The closest one with the orange pencil case is mine.
Every day I start at 8.20 or so and I eat lunch at 12.20. School lunches here are a set menu so we all eat the same. Heres some typical lunches that I have;
Rice and curry mince stuff, Squid, carton of milk and a fruit and milk pudding. (pudding is rare!!!)
Rice, fried fish, salad, miso soup an orange and a carton of milk.
Every day we get Cartons of milk. But oranges and puddings are rare.... Every Wednesday is bread day :)
So school lunches are pretty awesome. The only problem is that they are so huge and full of calories because growing kids need extra food...but Im not growing so I dont need it....damn....but meh cant be helped.
Other things I do on a usual basis...are going to izakaya's or in English the pub :) with friends. This one time in particular was for Scotts birthday.
Pontus, Jini, Scott, Me and Kylie. This is Ogiya, one of my favourite izakayas near the university from when I was a student.
Half way through the evening I decided to be stupid and everyone followed suit.
Followed by the reverse...
Spending time like this is fun. Japan has an amuzing range of cocktails to try so Im never bored of finding new things.
Next up for Scotts birthday was Karaoke until 5am the next morning... we went to a pub, we then departed from those that went home and then we sang the most random japanese and english songs out there until 5am to go to McDonalds to wait for the first trains and buses. It was fun.
Please note that my Tshirt says....You'll all die in your cars and has a dead mitchellin man... I <3 it.
Me and Kylie have a habit of making a fool of ourselves....but its funny.
Following that I took Rin out to a Shabu Shabu place. Basically dipping Meat into a bowl of steaming hot water until it cooks and then eating it. Its loverly. Mum would love it.
The orange side is tomato flavoured sauce.
The big pile of meat, oysters, vegetables and sausages that you can add in yourself.
Rin likes anything involving grilling, dipping or cutting meat. Its a japanese thing...they like meat. Whereas I dont mind. My favourite foods are contained with the Atom boy sushi chain;
My favourite being Eel Sushi;
Cooked Eel in sweet sauce.....its so nice!
Hamburger Sushi aint too bad either;
followed by some more traditonal sushi;
Mmmm yum yum. Sushi is really nice here.
Although at Halloween I got the most awesome Baskin Robins Ice cream Sundae;
It had cake inside it and everything. Yum Yum Yum! Food here...is incredibly fattening. They lie about it being healthy!!
Occasionally I went up to the university to have food and sometimes wine with people.
Jeff, Scott, Pontus, Kylie and me in the uni's kitchen.
And then later on it became a candle lit affair.
So yeah thats a small round up of the photos Ive been randomly taking. I have alot of more random ones, but I'll post them later.
Anyway tomorrow Im away to Kyoto and tonight is a Christmas party at my house so I'll be sure to have lots to update later on!
Have a merry christmas :)