More busy-ness!
Greetings!!
This week has been long, crazy, and mostly totally fun. Let's see....
Wednesday was the Eastern Youth show. I ended up going with my friend Nas who had a great time. It took place at a small indie club on the fifth floor of a building in Shibuya. We met, drank a few beers, enjoyed a Happy Hour (or 2) at TGI Fridays, and then took off for the show. Oh WOW are they ever amazing live!! Last time I saw them, 2 yrs ago with Cursive at the Bottleneck, I didnt really pay attention to them a whole lot because I had no idea who they were. But this time was different... it was an awesome experience. And my friend had fun too. Always important. Ohh and I got the best ever Eastern Youth Tshirt... it was my xmas gift to myself.
Wednesday was also the day that my host brother, Shotaro, returned from his study abroad experience in Canada. So I gave him a welcome home gift of 3 different beers... they even gift wrapped them at the store. Japan loves gift wrap. =) Anyway, he is really nice and we get along well. He is already teaching me "warui nihongo" (bad japanese). Its fun, cuz every time he tries to teach me some new vocabulary, my host mom always tells him "nooo!! dont teach her bad japanese"!! But he doesn't listen. hehe.
Today Chie and I went to
It was soo fun! Yomiuri-land is an amusement park. It was really old, and almost falling apart... it was in such disrepair in some areas. The whole thing needed a fresh coat of paint... and some of the rides could pass for antiques, if only they were better cared for. Haha. But that aside, it was a fun time, I rode a lot of roller coasters and other strange rides and i DIDNT DIE!! yes! That was the goal... especially while riding on the tall, fast roller coaster that was entirely constructed of metal that was rust-colored. Hmm..... But it was fun, I hung out with Chie and her Japanese friends.. spoke a little Japanese, ate Churrios (Mexican, maybe? long friend bread sticks with sugar and cinnimon on the outside), and risked my life. In all, a day well spent.
Now, I'm spent. Ive been running around all week doing so many things. I dont forsee an end 'til at least Monday.
Tomorrow I am going to Ashley's host family's house for a Christmas party--japan style! Im not sure what that means. All I know is that they made me a special veggie feast or something. Im excited! I think we will just talk, play games, eat, drink wine.. etc. Sunday should be a replay of Saturday... my host family likes Christmas a lot.
Click the read more link to view more random pictures that either pertain to the above topics or were just forgotten over the past few months.
Chie and I today at the amusement park, on the ferris wheel. It was soo big and we were soo high up, we could see all of Tokyo. But sadly, by the mountains there was a lovely layer of clouds and smog blocking our view of Mt. Fuji... which is beautifully snow-covered this time of year.
My host mom handmade me a Christmas stocking!! Here it is! This is the front. It says "Merry Christmas" in Katakana with my nickname T.T. My host mom is soo cute, thoughtful, and just all around really cool. I was soooo surprised when she showed me this!!
This is the back. Cute, huh?? The tradition here is to hang the stocking on your doorknob on Christmas Eve so that Santa can fill it with gifts during the night. Japanese houses don't have fireplaces, or central heat for that matter. But I'm excited to see what Santa brings, cuz I think he likes the Hiruta family a lot! =)
Big intersection in Harajuku (downtown Tokyo). You can see the enterance to Meiji shrine behind the street... This is a RARE sight to see such big intersections!! Usually they are crowded and narrow!
My favorite: ANKO (sweet bean paste) ICE CREAM!!! Yes, that red stuff is frozen beans... MmmmMMMMMMmmm! This one was bought as a consolation prize by my host dad after we, as a family, went in search of Christmas lighted houses and couldn't find any pretty ones.
Hope you enjoyed! <3
This week has been long, crazy, and mostly totally fun. Let's see....
Wednesday was the Eastern Youth show. I ended up going with my friend Nas who had a great time. It took place at a small indie club on the fifth floor of a building in Shibuya. We met, drank a few beers, enjoyed a Happy Hour (or 2) at TGI Fridays, and then took off for the show. Oh WOW are they ever amazing live!! Last time I saw them, 2 yrs ago with Cursive at the Bottleneck, I didnt really pay attention to them a whole lot because I had no idea who they were. But this time was different... it was an awesome experience. And my friend had fun too. Always important. Ohh and I got the best ever Eastern Youth Tshirt... it was my xmas gift to myself.
Wednesday was also the day that my host brother, Shotaro, returned from his study abroad experience in Canada. So I gave him a welcome home gift of 3 different beers... they even gift wrapped them at the store. Japan loves gift wrap. =) Anyway, he is really nice and we get along well. He is already teaching me "warui nihongo" (bad japanese). Its fun, cuz every time he tries to teach me some new vocabulary, my host mom always tells him "nooo!! dont teach her bad japanese"!! But he doesn't listen. hehe.
Today Chie and I went to
It was soo fun! Yomiuri-land is an amusement park. It was really old, and almost falling apart... it was in such disrepair in some areas. The whole thing needed a fresh coat of paint... and some of the rides could pass for antiques, if only they were better cared for. Haha. But that aside, it was a fun time, I rode a lot of roller coasters and other strange rides and i DIDNT DIE!! yes! That was the goal... especially while riding on the tall, fast roller coaster that was entirely constructed of metal that was rust-colored. Hmm..... But it was fun, I hung out with Chie and her Japanese friends.. spoke a little Japanese, ate Churrios (Mexican, maybe? long friend bread sticks with sugar and cinnimon on the outside), and risked my life. In all, a day well spent.
Now, I'm spent. Ive been running around all week doing so many things. I dont forsee an end 'til at least Monday.
Tomorrow I am going to Ashley's host family's house for a Christmas party--japan style! Im not sure what that means. All I know is that they made me a special veggie feast or something. Im excited! I think we will just talk, play games, eat, drink wine.. etc. Sunday should be a replay of Saturday... my host family likes Christmas a lot.
Click the read more link to view more random pictures that either pertain to the above topics or were just forgotten over the past few months.
Chie and I today at the amusement park, on the ferris wheel. It was soo big and we were soo high up, we could see all of Tokyo. But sadly, by the mountains there was a lovely layer of clouds and smog blocking our view of Mt. Fuji... which is beautifully snow-covered this time of year.
My host mom handmade me a Christmas stocking!! Here it is! This is the front. It says "Merry Christmas" in Katakana with my nickname T.T. My host mom is soo cute, thoughtful, and just all around really cool. I was soooo surprised when she showed me this!!
This is the back. Cute, huh?? The tradition here is to hang the stocking on your doorknob on Christmas Eve so that Santa can fill it with gifts during the night. Japanese houses don't have fireplaces, or central heat for that matter. But I'm excited to see what Santa brings, cuz I think he likes the Hiruta family a lot! =)
Big intersection in Harajuku (downtown Tokyo). You can see the enterance to Meiji shrine behind the street... This is a RARE sight to see such big intersections!! Usually they are crowded and narrow!
My favorite: ANKO (sweet bean paste) ICE CREAM!!! Yes, that red stuff is frozen beans... MmmmMMMMMMmmm! This one was bought as a consolation prize by my host dad after we, as a family, went in search of Christmas lighted houses and couldn't find any pretty ones.
Hope you enjoyed! <3