(no subject)
Today was a lovely curry tabehodai date with Ashley. We went to Shinjuku, ate curry, wandered around the bookstore looking at english books, went to Disk Union to look at vinyl, and ended up at the Asahi brewery where I got a "homeland" beer. But it didnt taste like it was from the homeland, it was still Soybean flavored!!! Ohh I also got a new schedule book since my old cute one got lost somewhere between Japan and Australia. I think koalas are using it as their new bathroom paper now... makes me sad, but what can you do? I'm in the process of making my schedule book my very own by adding pictures to it.
Anyway, I haven't been up to a whole lot here in Japan land, yet I've kept quite busy! Its mostly just school, chillin' out, homework, sleep, eat.. etc. Ohhh but I did join the folk song club (rock band club!!) so I get to finally play the drums in Japan and hopefully join a Japanese band by the end of my stay! haha I am super excited by this.. and once I get over my foreign language speaking nervousness, I can make lots of new Japanese friends! =D Obirin has gotten a little more rigorous.. I think I have to put a bit more effort into my classes this semester to walk away with a good (A) grade but not as much effor as KU required. However, since Japanese has become quite challenging, I feel like I will learn a lot this semester and come home with a pretty good foundation on this here language.
I also GOT A JOB for August!! I will be an RA at the GSP/Corbin dorms at KU! I just hope I can be a cool RA and still a rule abiding one. But, this takes care of my living situation problem for now I don't have to worry about a roommate, bills, rent, food. Just where to live when school isn't in session.. guess I'll be couch surfing.
Seeing as you all love photos, I've included some for your viewing pleasure. There are rather funny stories behind a lot of them, but I gotta spare that for the sake of time and because really... I dont even know who if anyone reads this anymore and I'm kind of losing interest in writing. I can hardly believe I will be home in 3 short months. Freaks me out, really.
Funny story: I wanted to do hanamizaki (flower viewing while drinking sake) during cherry blossom festival this year, but my host family didnt think there would be a good place to do so. So, we went to the sakura matsuri (cherry blossom festival) near our house that was being thrown by one of the apt complexes. We saw lots of people like this doing hanamizaki, so my host dad asked one of the groups (pictured) if we could take a picture of them. Next thing I know, we're all sitting down drinking these people's beer, eating food with them, singing songs and having a merry ol' time. They were like super happy to have a foreign guest... they even wrote us a letter (my host dad gave them his business card) and enclosed pictures of the even. I got my hanamizaki for sure, and made a whole bunch of people's day... guess they dont get very many foreigners at their festival. Mission accomplished.
Here are my mommy and daddy at Kinkaku-ji (the Golden temple) in Kyoto. Yes, the temple is made out of REAL gold! well, gold leaf. It was really quite the sight... my parents loved the gardens too... surprisingly my dad knew soo many of the plants names even here in Japan! I'd expect it in USA cuz he is a horticulture person, but in Japan! My host families were impressed too when they were showing him their gardens.
My mom and I in front of a very famous tree at the Imperial Palace in Kyoto. This day was extra special because the palace was open to the public! (I guess this happens like once in a blue moon). We got to go inside and get a look along with most of the rest of Japan! It was soo crowded, but it was free and rare, so what can you expect? We had a good time, if not a tiring one!
I have tons more pix of my parent's visit, and they may or may not (depending on my motivation) be posted later on.
Finally, here is my host dad with his new hobby:
The BASS GUITAR! He's learning to play bass to join a Hawaiian band with his friends (why Hawaiian, no clue). He's trying to be a rockstar.. is it working? I stringed his bass for him.. but it strained my brain trying to remember anything at all about the bass cuz the last time I really tried to play it was at least 5 years ago when my sister was into bass. But I remembered how to play the main part of Weezer's "Only in Dreams". Not that I knew a whole hell of a lot more than that anyway. But now when I come home from school, I can hear the faint sound of music (awhhh) coming from his office room. Reminds me a little of SFH and home.
Anyway, I haven't been up to a whole lot here in Japan land, yet I've kept quite busy! Its mostly just school, chillin' out, homework, sleep, eat.. etc. Ohhh but I did join the folk song club (rock band club!!) so I get to finally play the drums in Japan and hopefully join a Japanese band by the end of my stay! haha I am super excited by this.. and once I get over my foreign language speaking nervousness, I can make lots of new Japanese friends! =D Obirin has gotten a little more rigorous.. I think I have to put a bit more effort into my classes this semester to walk away with a good (A) grade but not as much effor as KU required. However, since Japanese has become quite challenging, I feel like I will learn a lot this semester and come home with a pretty good foundation on this here language.
I also GOT A JOB for August!! I will be an RA at the GSP/Corbin dorms at KU! I just hope I can be a cool RA and still a rule abiding one. But, this takes care of my living situation problem for now I don't have to worry about a roommate, bills, rent, food. Just where to live when school isn't in session.. guess I'll be couch surfing.
Seeing as you all love photos, I've included some for your viewing pleasure. There are rather funny stories behind a lot of them, but I gotta spare that for the sake of time and because really... I dont even know who if anyone reads this anymore and I'm kind of losing interest in writing. I can hardly believe I will be home in 3 short months. Freaks me out, really.
Funny story: I wanted to do hanamizaki (flower viewing while drinking sake) during cherry blossom festival this year, but my host family didnt think there would be a good place to do so. So, we went to the sakura matsuri (cherry blossom festival) near our house that was being thrown by one of the apt complexes. We saw lots of people like this doing hanamizaki, so my host dad asked one of the groups (pictured) if we could take a picture of them. Next thing I know, we're all sitting down drinking these people's beer, eating food with them, singing songs and having a merry ol' time. They were like super happy to have a foreign guest... they even wrote us a letter (my host dad gave them his business card) and enclosed pictures of the even. I got my hanamizaki for sure, and made a whole bunch of people's day... guess they dont get very many foreigners at their festival. Mission accomplished.
Here are my mommy and daddy at Kinkaku-ji (the Golden temple) in Kyoto. Yes, the temple is made out of REAL gold! well, gold leaf. It was really quite the sight... my parents loved the gardens too... surprisingly my dad knew soo many of the plants names even here in Japan! I'd expect it in USA cuz he is a horticulture person, but in Japan! My host families were impressed too when they were showing him their gardens.
My mom and I in front of a very famous tree at the Imperial Palace in Kyoto. This day was extra special because the palace was open to the public! (I guess this happens like once in a blue moon). We got to go inside and get a look along with most of the rest of Japan! It was soo crowded, but it was free and rare, so what can you expect? We had a good time, if not a tiring one!
I have tons more pix of my parent's visit, and they may or may not (depending on my motivation) be posted later on.
Finally, here is my host dad with his new hobby:
The BASS GUITAR! He's learning to play bass to join a Hawaiian band with his friends (why Hawaiian, no clue). He's trying to be a rockstar.. is it working? I stringed his bass for him.. but it strained my brain trying to remember anything at all about the bass cuz the last time I really tried to play it was at least 5 years ago when my sister was into bass. But I remembered how to play the main part of Weezer's "Only in Dreams". Not that I knew a whole hell of a lot more than that anyway. But now when I come home from school, I can hear the faint sound of music (awhhh) coming from his office room. Reminds me a little of SFH and home.