tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50187718542753469782024-03-18T21:44:34.725-07:00gaijinzillaSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-86879868866801925192013-11-13T01:39:00.000-08:002013-11-13T01:39:15.501-08:00Sapporo...Chocolate...Japanese Business World...here I come. Watch Out!So I know that it has been quite some time since I have updated this blog. A lot has happened since my return from Osaka, and by "a lot", I mostly mean "nothing really".
I graduated from high school, <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzz0GeYWtFRWBZ8H94qGb8DNfGb4aDFROIxOPPgB1swVbQsAuuaMQwtf7uviZEMAN436f2pP79jv_1Q69nYV78uP76ZwsEDJXQkzlTh0wd_jb13mMEou0EgcPq7-v4OdSVZVeeqETeaXK5/s1600/graduation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzz0GeYWtFRWBZ8H94qGb8DNfGb4aDFROIxOPPgB1swVbQsAuuaMQwtf7uviZEMAN436f2pP79jv_1Q69nYV78uP76ZwsEDJXQkzlTh0wd_jb13mMEou0EgcPq7-v4OdSVZVeeqETeaXK5/s320/graduation.jpg" /></a></div>
moved out,
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started working a lot,
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thought about college (then couldn't afford it), got fat, and contemplated the meaning of life...except for not really on that last part because what 20 year old cares about that(although I did dye my hair rainbow).
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The moral of the story is that I have not been slacking off in my duties to you, my dear readers, I just haven't done anything cool enough to write about.
Well, now I am going back to Japan (FINALLY!) and I believe this is cause for Gaijinzilla to get up and going again.
This time around I will be living in Sapporo for 3 months and be working with a company called Royce Chocolates. Now, I don't know if any of you have heard of Royce but that chocolate changed my life...
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My uncle is the one who first introduced me to Nama Chocolate (and set me up with this sweet deal that is sending me back to Japan) and it was love at first taste. Royce uses only the best ingredients in their chocolate and they create these heavenly confections with the most meticulous care. Nama Chocolate practically melts on your tongue with a symphony of tastes that can only be described as pure joy...
But I'm getting distracted (and a little drooly)...what I mean to say, is that I am going to be working for this company and helping them to the best of my capacity as an English speaker and Japanese attempter.
I may have been to Japan before but that was high school. This is going to be a completely new (and somewhat terrifying) experience for me. I am determined, however, to finally acheive Japanese fluency (or at least proficiency) and I am going to make sure I tell you all about it along the way. I am going to make sure these blog posts become much more frequent this time around and that they include lots of pictures (because who doesn't like pictures?!). In fact, here's a picture of a unicorn for you! How pretty!
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So hopefully you all will join me as of November 19, 2013, for an all American romp around Japan. I think we will have a grand time together playing in Onsens, eating sushi, learning Japanese the hard way (and hoping we didn't offend the person who taught us the difference between "let's meet" and "let's love"), and lots of other adventures along the way!
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlhz7DwdiMrXyIdiITVd7SvI9JBhwkLeLK-lCPhpwbizLN4OzSateyMNdJ4nX-baP08scYLRMCFvkWy0GbquSX_EuwiwgwPkUUUCzUnqd3R3Aoi06G4aZGybcAkULgVzMJmHSKtExeDKr/s1600/420131_3200180726201_1864482586_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlhz7DwdiMrXyIdiITVd7SvI9JBhwkLeLK-lCPhpwbizLN4OzSateyMNdJ4nX-baP08scYLRMCFvkWy0GbquSX_EuwiwgwPkUUUCzUnqd3R3Aoi06G4aZGybcAkULgVzMJmHSKtExeDKr/s400/420131_3200180726201_1864482586_n.jpg" /></a></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-71103015835564510332011-02-06T11:43:00.000-08:002011-02-06T11:50:53.159-08:00For all you girls out there who want to Gaijin it up!Good news for all you girls out there who want to go to Japan like I did!<br /><br />During my stay in Japan, I visited a small private girls school for just a day. Although I didn't attend this particular school, I was able to meet the English teacher (Mr. Paul Alexy) and chat with him about the exchange program they offer to high school age girls who want to visit the Land of the Rising Sun.<br /><br />This exchange program is something I would recommend to anyone who wants to experience life in japan. You have my word as a gaijin, this school is great <br /><br /><a href="http://www.osakagirls-shs-international.org/"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-46101622753442026092010-07-23T22:40:00.000-07:002010-07-23T22:51:04.128-07:00Tadaima!Well, I made it home. After approximately 35 hours (according to my mom) in planes and airports I arrived home safely yesterday night, or well, I guess midnight means it was this morning. <br />Being at home seems so very, familiar. I thought when I returned everything would seem different but rather, it is Japan itself that seems different to me now. Being home, I feel almost like my 3 months in the land of the rising sun was just a dream. A marvelous, difficult, beautiful dream. One thing makes this dream different though...memories. This trip will not fade away into something that is barely tangible as I continue through my life. It may seem far away now that I am sleeping in my own bed and well, talking in English again, but this experience is something that has been such a big part of my life that it will continue to structure the rest of my life which is yet to come. <br />I referred to this trip in a previous entry as a "chapter of my life". This chapter may have come to a close but it has been such an integral part of the story of my life that I know I will never forget it.<br />One day I will travel back to the Land Of The Rising Sun but for now all I can do is thank all of you who made that trip as amazing as it was. I love traveling, I love Japan, and I love all of you. ほんとうに ありがとうございます!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-83972388507031998692010-07-20T01:46:00.000-07:002010-07-20T02:10:36.010-07:00Farewells<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQV9mwd1GeiXC7WozIbNyG6jVCQVF81KGVvaBrlvT19yC1pq-lxF9p9tz4yZKQsi3ad9udS5Mc7NSscIYuYtXJ4spXdwmw3BW5pXmV_OnqyXVJwbn3SqXIRSkFBWjsXt1OBM0lO-xoAlZ/s1600/DSC01569.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQV9mwd1GeiXC7WozIbNyG6jVCQVF81KGVvaBrlvT19yC1pq-lxF9p9tz4yZKQsi3ad9udS5Mc7NSscIYuYtXJ4spXdwmw3BW5pXmV_OnqyXVJwbn3SqXIRSkFBWjsXt1OBM0lO-xoAlZ/s400/DSC01569.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495913202433263874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuSohJshOyRogtrDWAlRZvrJcyXhcG02eVxLpuAQkvYzZdPtzwbnMPQqKyny3E2NoZkn6UasV6c0Jy9TAcx6-O2KFdDBJJFfvlm8259F0zNfuZuEs3UaJftJyQ5kAEtuG-1ja-AVeiX6N/s1600/DSC01570.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuSohJshOyRogtrDWAlRZvrJcyXhcG02eVxLpuAQkvYzZdPtzwbnMPQqKyny3E2NoZkn6UasV6c0Jy9TAcx6-O2KFdDBJJFfvlm8259F0zNfuZuEs3UaJftJyQ5kAEtuG-1ja-AVeiX6N/s320/DSC01570.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495913111642439970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfSH1WWnWTyIzgxpYMZkMJFr5Kp_l2crmVY4T1qjJMy8A8kXi95_9Z098obtsEBGPyeo_fl78wz03rdZ5wqx59xfFaMBJFlS4R9dWCHpORWAiPLnnA4BX0uWTXYTAi7bs38z61bmdsUwV/s1600/DSC01575.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfSH1WWnWTyIzgxpYMZkMJFr5Kp_l2crmVY4T1qjJMy8A8kXi95_9Z098obtsEBGPyeo_fl78wz03rdZ5wqx59xfFaMBJFlS4R9dWCHpORWAiPLnnA4BX0uWTXYTAi7bs38z61bmdsUwV/s320/DSC01575.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495912949420338434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQlHRDPZdtN796mCSzKH-FClAPZuiQQp3KuVpxuZWAU_UNTMx6Pm2Y0-jJeaJpvQld5xdaPULxqkSGB7tYPdvltJAWj-D-jC9vBdG8Hy1-Q-dVLR6DK4xIPRATdR_9OVlWlJ9u2Xcj0o5/s1600/DSC01578.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQlHRDPZdtN796mCSzKH-FClAPZuiQQp3KuVpxuZWAU_UNTMx6Pm2Y0-jJeaJpvQld5xdaPULxqkSGB7tYPdvltJAWj-D-jC9vBdG8Hy1-Q-dVLR6DK4xIPRATdR_9OVlWlJ9u2Xcj0o5/s320/DSC01578.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495912938623655298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi232kQBhLltEZUJqm8JYyenoM7cuWtQP7qW1ikZsck6hpTU8u2p1lM5maS4usJqwPT_90DmibNkMJ0r3n4yuAC4Q_I1UnYLdowYH_xfAhIGq3OZ2w2XMEfQEU5yueiHx8PDsdiDdSWz54Y/s1600/DSC01584.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi232kQBhLltEZUJqm8JYyenoM7cuWtQP7qW1ikZsck6hpTU8u2p1lM5maS4usJqwPT_90DmibNkMJ0r3n4yuAC4Q_I1UnYLdowYH_xfAhIGq3OZ2w2XMEfQEU5yueiHx8PDsdiDdSWz54Y/s320/DSC01584.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495912931804361010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEsak2rEZDgICHlmvZY3sZmjfeBroxkYdHdnc-omSuRDcFAx1EpiC0LeRr4W-oEqaDrnwMlKfj9_kdKnxG3InT6dMnqvbvqAFYXGbzL-pRe0ZKSDr9jbEHwPD_Tce7VopPBitNmJUyray/s1600/DSC01580.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEsak2rEZDgICHlmvZY3sZmjfeBroxkYdHdnc-omSuRDcFAx1EpiC0LeRr4W-oEqaDrnwMlKfj9_kdKnxG3InT6dMnqvbvqAFYXGbzL-pRe0ZKSDr9jbEHwPD_Tce7VopPBitNmJUyray/s320/DSC01580.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495912921881949426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zqUDalpMm-MS7JFqfQ5I8jZU1LBXTkgttAz0UGtmi9L9mXVHunANjR4ffVWycX1DeVKaQEXL6wYgt1KqQMz6s5AVqABd0vVKgibMxKLxWN4RDr4w4jQXY-LxJtAutZAJLNxXqf6be_-y/s1600/DSC01588.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zqUDalpMm-MS7JFqfQ5I8jZU1LBXTkgttAz0UGtmi9L9mXVHunANjR4ffVWycX1DeVKaQEXL6wYgt1KqQMz6s5AVqABd0vVKgibMxKLxWN4RDr4w4jQXY-LxJtAutZAJLNxXqf6be_-y/s320/DSC01588.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495912917054208386" /></a><br />You know, some of my friends thought I was crazy for wishing to attend school when I should be enjoying summer vacation and who knows, maybe I am. That wouldn't surprise me. Anyway, last day of school has finally come for me. After 3 months in Japan and 2 at this school it felt weird to think of that being the last time I would see those halls or trek up that impossibly long staircase to my homeroom class which has been on the top floor both times.<br /><br />The imposing feeling of the last day did not get in the way of my usual joking around with my friends in my homeroom class. We laughed and joked as if nothing were happening. As if I had been there for years and I would be there for years. <br /><br />The farewell ceremony which the teachers put together was lovely. My host family couldn't come since it was at noon but practically my whole homeroom class came. The principal, my friend Juri, and I all gave speeches. The principal gave his speech in English for the Australian exchange students but for me he used simple and slow Japanese almost as if to say that he had noticed how much I had learned in my stay here. Juri started crying halfway through hers which of course forced me too wipe away some tears of my own. The students laughed out loud when I said "classes were fun" since they had caught me sleeping through them multiple times but I wasn't lying when I said how much I loved their school. It has been an amazing experience at both Mishima and Takii. Japanese school is so very different from American school that it takes a little getting used to but I loved every minute of it! People ask me why I decided to by Takii's uniform even though it is quite expensive and I always reply "because lots of people go to Japan. Few people go to Japanese high school." My uniform is my absolute most treasured souvenir and I think it will continue to be so. <br />Thank you Mishima, Thank you Takii! I love Japan!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-80601367518909744702010-07-15T03:50:00.000-07:002010-07-15T04:12:10.258-07:00Dinnertime! gaijin-style ^^Since coming to live in Japan I have been plagued by the feeling that I am really not contributing to anything at all. This normally wouldn't bother me. At home I certainly don't have a problem lounging around on the couch while indifferently observing my mom breaking her back over some chore or another. Yet for some reason, it is really troubling when it is a different family I am living with.<br />Anyway, I decided to remedy this by offering to cook dinner for my family. It was simple yet difficult to decide what to make. My repertoire of dishes which I know how to cook is limited to scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and anything out of a can that just needs to be reheated. This made choosing simple yet frustrating as I realized my own failure as a girl (no offense if any of you, my readers, are in fact some psycho feminist). I hate making decisions more than I hate failing as a female though so I had no problem with this. I made mashed potatoes, baked chicken (thanks for the recipe mom! It actually turned out fairly edible!), and corn (and yes, it <span style="font-weight:bold;">was </span>frozen packaged corn). <br />My host sister and I went grocery shopping on our way home from our...well...shopping trip to get the ingredients. I had hoped to make home made macaroni and cheese too but I was easily convinced otherwise when I saw that cheddar cheese was approximately $6 for a tiny brick so small I would probably need two or three for the dish. <br />My American side was shocked when there were no baggers to do all our work for us after our purchase. Merely a little table with the plastic bags on it for the customers to place their groceries in. <br />Dinner itself turned out okay I guess. I am not a gourmet chef but it was edible. The chicken and the potatoes needed a lot of added salt and pepper but the corn was actually quite tasty. Maybe that is just because of the liberal amount of butter I added to it before sticking it in the weird Japanese microwave-oven thingy. <br />The potatoes couldn't have been all bad though since my host mom asked for the recipe and hey, I got the opportunity to not feel like a worthless couch potato which would be worth it even if I had made packaged Ramen and burned it. I am such a good person :)Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-40498454947158928422010-07-11T00:28:00.000-07:002010-07-11T00:55:54.238-07:00Mountain AdventuresOn Saturday I went hiking with a bunch of friends from church. The plan was, hike up to the Onsen which was apparently pretty famous. Play around and soak our tired muscles in the naturally heated water and then hike back down. Pretty standard right?<br />Well, it would have been standard if things had actually gone <span style="font-weight: bold;">according</span> to said plan. *sigh*<br />By taking a couple wrong turns and following a couple wrong paths we managed to not only miss the Onsen altogether but we ended up just making a big loop and ending up basically where we started, adding many miles and quite a few hours to our hike. We started out at approximately 9 and made our way out at about 4:30. How is that for a killer hike? For the beginning parts of this trip "hike" is quite an understatement. It was more like a "climb". We weren't walking uphill. We were literally climbing up the mountain through a "rock garden".<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR-uA21IJp2_abjwy1ScPzjyOY_O47xu8UHdA1uaAmSd0p4KEAV4lHtAURKqOfeRNOqqsErgZXb_yGphgXfqcOQ7XPsnCIRKJFjpFpNznF0TH3QB-aNCAzcSTZgpgqSoOZhSk-2EB7Bks/s1600/DSC01427.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR-uA21IJp2_abjwy1ScPzjyOY_O47xu8UHdA1uaAmSd0p4KEAV4lHtAURKqOfeRNOqqsErgZXb_yGphgXfqcOQ7XPsnCIRKJFjpFpNznF0TH3QB-aNCAzcSTZgpgqSoOZhSk-2EB7Bks/s200/DSC01427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492552648646675042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbcxQhUO4RTchTJm4CDDU1_CEOdQ45n7vbIDEt4XXzTn7M3kxiv4EdO8LWvo7RIWu3SEBsvMgfzz2CArw0DrHEADmVm8EtCCRjIFzR47l4i9UQCZYQLGQ8i7akB5j3HjAyKyzorqEikSC/s1600/DSC01426.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbcxQhUO4RTchTJm4CDDU1_CEOdQ45n7vbIDEt4XXzTn7M3kxiv4EdO8LWvo7RIWu3SEBsvMgfzz2CArw0DrHEADmVm8EtCCRjIFzR47l4i9UQCZYQLGQ8i7akB5j3HjAyKyzorqEikSC/s200/DSC01426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492552474144826370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Now, I am not a big fan of really hard hikes but I love nature and I am inclined to look on the bright side of that adventure. The scenery was quite breathtaking and I actually got to see my first <span style="font-weight: bold;">real</span> wildlife when we stumbled across a family of wild boar! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwse6L_0p2d6RNOKyh6eFCLVcFbD-Z0Y0rmYHEHc1x3vz29vXg6vkT8VnKGW2jnqCZh0eelKxMV4gR82UJtEp60qRHEc0IRJKuVZ5xAhAr6VJJc51dP8b5y47oDOkh2vvqAogBornotO9Z/s1600/DSC01429.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwse6L_0p2d6RNOKyh6eFCLVcFbD-Z0Y0rmYHEHc1x3vz29vXg6vkT8VnKGW2jnqCZh0eelKxMV4gR82UJtEp60qRHEc0IRJKuVZ5xAhAr6VJJc51dP8b5y47oDOkh2vvqAogBornotO9Z/s200/DSC01429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492552469734370882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6G_ua8RmDb6si24hxFm22ueyQqmMz_o3RfuaDrc5hLzmIyOBna-nx-pJeEzW_MOAwVqcLskNX0rfNAt0SZusw-JzijEwsShwjwsLmVvbrE5TJCuBB9FNrjgZkTlX62lpxr69sOt-dhsmB/s1600/DSC01460.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6G_ua8RmDb6si24hxFm22ueyQqmMz_o3RfuaDrc5hLzmIyOBna-nx-pJeEzW_MOAwVqcLskNX0rfNAt0SZusw-JzijEwsShwjwsLmVvbrE5TJCuBB9FNrjgZkTlX62lpxr69sOt-dhsmB/s200/DSC01460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492552465432858658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihR8RAx40RIpDIw2jL5fUfLYN3zZudWtHL16Tfu6xAr9xyljzxIYCRWAxeJZfxP-ffYqV1R7xnaAjqBDuR7YglV7-bivc_nG_B5V2kN6dOzS0c8-uTC5e79HKkI6mJBcnKNKIaCTgIPIfq/s1600/DSC01461.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihR8RAx40RIpDIw2jL5fUfLYN3zZudWtHL16Tfu6xAr9xyljzxIYCRWAxeJZfxP-ffYqV1R7xnaAjqBDuR7YglV7-bivc_nG_B5V2kN6dOzS0c8-uTC5e79HKkI6mJBcnKNKIaCTgIPIfq/s200/DSC01461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492552457868706770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZFPGPAqe6UZduvU0XHm8s53oW8zAa3qySzovYJNEbDGuw0iG3dt9BVeZhoMw7cHTXrPlyLddCSzX5Qm9kFFx3YL9GDTfsyuRPpUBukLtiPiYtA3_8F3IH_czVZ1dllBkJkzl9-HfKx42/s1600/DSC01462.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZFPGPAqe6UZduvU0XHm8s53oW8zAa3qySzovYJNEbDGuw0iG3dt9BVeZhoMw7cHTXrPlyLddCSzX5Qm9kFFx3YL9GDTfsyuRPpUBukLtiPiYtA3_8F3IH_czVZ1dllBkJkzl9-HfKx42/s200/DSC01462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492552450833891250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji46_Kf1ibSH0rtq5ewM3Fp7PGNv2iIXsnrVFZIRRY_bxuq9Wdlclp4jIBc0Ixv3Ey3JEgwNBYelxw6Luw81PGn-iE30mhilov2aI8cHPaiW3YyPkfl_3nvpIHLxp_V3jZKp-Rsb9eiik8/s1600/DSC01424.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji46_Kf1ibSH0rtq5ewM3Fp7PGNv2iIXsnrVFZIRRY_bxuq9Wdlclp4jIBc0Ixv3Ey3JEgwNBYelxw6Luw81PGn-iE30mhilov2aI8cHPaiW3YyPkfl_3nvpIHLxp_V3jZKp-Rsb9eiik8/s200/DSC01424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492551528172687922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewP3GhENogsP-moOKoTuCfNvW1EIMsR7InB5DJ5-GOUMrU0PONK7eXGKwlwNb9ydnZ-buGtGKzapeyPnqD_1mj6W3WsnzAStV6xvxn3hJOMg_jITs7YpGAbFzqpTp1nzRz5DJ2_RY7fRh/s1600/DSC01451.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewP3GhENogsP-moOKoTuCfNvW1EIMsR7InB5DJ5-GOUMrU0PONK7eXGKwlwNb9ydnZ-buGtGKzapeyPnqD_1mj6W3WsnzAStV6xvxn3hJOMg_jITs7YpGAbFzqpTp1nzRz5DJ2_RY7fRh/s200/DSC01451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492551523284463202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgSMnTvleG6qK_sQ3FiKLG9ce9POiS5NWW4DMfLM6GII8V4px7x4Biaexb0CreMK50zKtUPIefLCYIx5ezHuS-hc0wbITPShpJGAFvDtExq5HXy4zVzzmqex2n7OOCMVSJ95jQZUG-p6s/s1600/DSC01454.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgSMnTvleG6qK_sQ3FiKLG9ce9POiS5NWW4DMfLM6GII8V4px7x4Biaexb0CreMK50zKtUPIefLCYIx5ezHuS-hc0wbITPShpJGAFvDtExq5HXy4zVzzmqex2n7OOCMVSJ95jQZUG-p6s/s200/DSC01454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492551518417567122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />To top the day off, when we stopped at McDonald's afterward I forgot all about the adorable baby pigs when I met some adorable Japanese boys. ;) These are the first boys to be brave enough to talk to me and I definitely appreciated it. We exchanged emails and hopefully we can keep in touch.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVnxBRCufLKTxHGWnkbShm_cadvGD6ZGIr2BFBVBJr7tG3OSyRmUT1zYMln795gL8eGxFAQYuOPf5X3ypRb0CwZNaB1F2_mpQJ-HXUxPk04OM9Ovo6N2FkDpERKNbrfd3Qde25hYmwU9o/s1600/DSC01466.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVnxBRCufLKTxHGWnkbShm_cadvGD6ZGIr2BFBVBJr7tG3OSyRmUT1zYMln795gL8eGxFAQYuOPf5X3ypRb0CwZNaB1F2_mpQJ-HXUxPk04OM9Ovo6N2FkDpERKNbrfd3Qde25hYmwU9o/s200/DSC01466.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492551509591568482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8BHL5Tu0iyBMwDx0FKgJuk30EVZUlBsesdvewSrzEap9BXp9wyaDPo_X0gC2yDOJvF61FHU3SaseXa3wpsqVBE0XkrN833L8sErEK6Y7o3NChCneUpdO_jW9sF0eJyFWBgbYOO5O61py/s1600/DSC01465.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8BHL5Tu0iyBMwDx0FKgJuk30EVZUlBsesdvewSrzEap9BXp9wyaDPo_X0gC2yDOJvF61FHU3SaseXa3wpsqVBE0XkrN833L8sErEK6Y7o3NChCneUpdO_jW9sF0eJyFWBgbYOO5O61py/s200/DSC01465.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492551504434815090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So all in all I had a fairly bitter sweet day. There were mistakes, sore muscles, and no onsen, but there was also beautiful nature, cute animals, and cute boys. I guess it all kind of evens out.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-59011046948843090352010-07-09T08:23:00.000-07:002010-07-09T09:03:33.392-07:00Saying Goodbyes: The Beginning of the End<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcCFT2ZPy8Bp59cES_ZNcTG1H9KHOXuIsdeN-UJJOmjdgrEEX5uH0oW8Os_Q5ckmTjwUIQ008vpo-EKGYFR8qOf3f9FS-Ayzrt0pVL8jh0KAL3u55sVoTii0TC65AmtYzhmnbPe1eX-To/s1600/Sarah+2.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcCFT2ZPy8Bp59cES_ZNcTG1H9KHOXuIsdeN-UJJOmjdgrEEX5uH0oW8Os_Q5ckmTjwUIQ008vpo-EKGYFR8qOf3f9FS-Ayzrt0pVL8jh0KAL3u55sVoTii0TC65AmtYzhmnbPe1eX-To/s200/Sarah+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491937665776604882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR47Gf2Y3VqBu1MHtTV9UsMnV1Sj0l0Vk7ThhIVvkH6M6YGhPlBE5fnE8uM_7uIQixewMsI3VGXaA3QHBjWL_V_OvUG9tbGSY55CmlO4bZzPfIrLO8HisGU-JpuVMvTnOQbw2BS_ndnIlw/s1600/DSC01127.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR47Gf2Y3VqBu1MHtTV9UsMnV1Sj0l0Vk7ThhIVvkH6M6YGhPlBE5fnE8uM_7uIQixewMsI3VGXaA3QHBjWL_V_OvUG9tbGSY55CmlO4bZzPfIrLO8HisGU-JpuVMvTnOQbw2BS_ndnIlw/s200/DSC01127.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491937286448614114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3A-KSJb7CSVS3BZYyRzv0Aa7k5rgoOWBUfqW9avphx1u802q0cRvEHaVqMpoWkSEoYFld4MU-44cq3n2VLmLUDzbXDfDVw9nVbys1bSKOCdughWx_26uaSIs3cPmwNCFByuUKGib-ViwA/s1600/DSC01140.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3A-KSJb7CSVS3BZYyRzv0Aa7k5rgoOWBUfqW9avphx1u802q0cRvEHaVqMpoWkSEoYFld4MU-44cq3n2VLmLUDzbXDfDVw9nVbys1bSKOCdughWx_26uaSIs3cPmwNCFByuUKGib-ViwA/s200/DSC01140.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491937282668882402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMPiq5ty6J4pi2tKpwXL7booy6Qv5ge2sIezkdU9j15wNvmEfodwfQwX87uKJTvaQe83Zw96M7hED-uWODZ2BkOeGkzbm-hD4Hmiwlzb5cpmIGoPkE-KzRosptLYxisCLoQgwEjJ1fdr9/s1600/DSC01155.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMPiq5ty6J4pi2tKpwXL7booy6Qv5ge2sIezkdU9j15wNvmEfodwfQwX87uKJTvaQe83Zw96M7hED-uWODZ2BkOeGkzbm-hD4Hmiwlzb5cpmIGoPkE-KzRosptLYxisCLoQgwEjJ1fdr9/s200/DSC01155.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491937276107053970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxhTGr0LfqpKDLjOgfGYBq13ZmYIHegP3UDbqJS5Yu9VuDYJQUpjaT8z3lr5Eu8umQGQNyV5mmf7Z8HhabK6JKSfg2jOs6y-kqdojYAOI1Pe4UpWFS9FExV3SPdnRk89EGYGFISYPYO_3/s1600/DSC01278.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxhTGr0LfqpKDLjOgfGYBq13ZmYIHegP3UDbqJS5Yu9VuDYJQUpjaT8z3lr5Eu8umQGQNyV5mmf7Z8HhabK6JKSfg2jOs6y-kqdojYAOI1Pe4UpWFS9FExV3SPdnRk89EGYGFISYPYO_3/s200/DSC01278.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491937259924805058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhytQJJFhCsmaVPGw3__SlZyYzD4D9PWeyvdqFUEIWSXiP0LZGBuLCD1Kv6My5gGQ013LS29lCg0UV5GlDqZCO63XV65hjklBlILH4XxMDGyauiDvRd-fEOtP8udmvVKYWfNxtd3iC04L/s1600/DSC01279.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhytQJJFhCsmaVPGw3__SlZyYzD4D9PWeyvdqFUEIWSXiP0LZGBuLCD1Kv6My5gGQ013LS29lCg0UV5GlDqZCO63XV65hjklBlILH4XxMDGyauiDvRd-fEOtP8udmvVKYWfNxtd3iC04L/s200/DSC01279.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491937254878323458" /></a><br />Tuesday was my last day to see my old homeroom class before they went to Canada, today was Mel and Kiera's last day at school. Now I have said my goodbyes to them and it will probably be a while before I see them again. <br />I loved all my friends from 2-1. They were all so amazing and friendly and cute. My nervousness at transferring schools was quickly set aside as I realized just how great these girls are. Within the first week of transferring to Takii I had almost 2 whole weeks filled up with various play-dates with various people. We soon developed a communication understanding between us, everyone had a feel for how much Japanese I knew and I had a feel for what level of English they are at. We were all able to help each other because of this. I cannot even count all the things the people in this class taught me and not just Japanese either. They taught me how to loosen up around people I just met, how to enjoy lunchtime to it's fullest, my playdate experiences taught me not only that Kyobashi station really DOES have a "big escalator" and that when you plan to hang out in Japan you better not wear heels. I made so many friends in that class, I know everyone's name and most of their email addresses. I consider all 17 of them to be my good friends and I will miss my new "good friends" very much.<br /><br />Seems funny that I was just barely writing a post the other day about going to classes with the other exchange students and now I am writing one about saying goodbye to them. Our day today seemed kind of unreal. It didn't really hit me that that was goodbye until after it was over. I just can't really imagine them <span style="font-weight:bold;">not</span> being there.<br />They too helped me greatly with my Japanese but in a different way. They say when you teach something you are much more likely to remember it. Well it must be true, helping them with their Japanese in turn improved my Japanese greatly. Although we enjoyed teasing each other about how "my country is better", being with them has inspired me with a desire to visit Australia as well as a need to one day see my new Australian friends again. <br /><br />One of my favorite quotes is "Goodbyes are only painful if you know you will never say hello again". No matter how sad saying goodbye is now, it is not the end of the world because I know I have made friendships that will last a lifetime. Friendships that, against all obstacles, won't be kept apart. I will see my new friends again. This is not "goodbye" this is "See you later".Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-23986764671380099292010-07-07T00:56:00.000-07:002010-07-07T01:18:49.687-07:00Aquarium Time!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq270xQVhe0kQ-P-pXLGNxt6DicVnK2QPm0ihTM05X7u24gvHEQclurwWU4FSPoSpqPIvq2r9CzjQ8IXUgwtIgK_oHL2ldVPqE41VgZJehujTbml02KlXhTrws_hKCkJG36dDIeOSzkF5x/s1600/P1070616.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq270xQVhe0kQ-P-pXLGNxt6DicVnK2QPm0ihTM05X7u24gvHEQclurwWU4FSPoSpqPIvq2r9CzjQ8IXUgwtIgK_oHL2ldVPqE41VgZJehujTbml02KlXhTrws_hKCkJG36dDIeOSzkF5x/s200/P1070616.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491075759591011682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVK3yqyHO5KtlR6XJjQGXDDYe2DOf324WTSjbZK_DmOGhSQIJqYP6jXNtjZpOprJvGWJhQUZYq76eFHKcDJLpZZgsXdUxebJnqAg5CjCDW134D8LFlvrH2swYY556OPsB2hxEJnOx_syXa/s1600/DSC01385.JPG"><img style="float:right; 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margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXsUa1LFuU2YtafZKd031ef_mybPxMJWB4HazndyD86rbrxr7F8qutGlNtlRek8-_vix_dmvE783aSddObUtCzRza3fbKPNqXKy5SxjBqd6gYjcZqGWO8dKUgGz3kd8rowrQFVS4gv74m/s200/P1070630.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491074694506571298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYoz9H_SGzzDNOfiwJv4eSUlzbH7NmAybBjUI3mHHuA9bbxARG7uSy7V0C4tzvKzPJCGilQGwKvxp9NuEDs2uHmr000lx1mHCaPn5uMqpfB8TrbvQTxQmDWv-X1gmhZqNCQQj0w8jj4Tn/s1600/P1070633.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYoz9H_SGzzDNOfiwJv4eSUlzbH7NmAybBjUI3mHHuA9bbxARG7uSy7V0C4tzvKzPJCGilQGwKvxp9NuEDs2uHmr000lx1mHCaPn5uMqpfB8TrbvQTxQmDWv-X1gmhZqNCQQj0w8jj4Tn/s200/P1070633.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491074690489329746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rjb4VhN4VsRrvXjYWJtuN_dNssFCHhxi6DX_1BYzOkU5p0Yv7b1GtUQgG-pOtyWb_DtSykKLNE8M65K5hLWXP4Cqq6DIVKN3NfAiNnrjjLFBmCSA1gAwB5YKQ-msZey_lOYKicrV7mdK/s1600/P1070636.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rjb4VhN4VsRrvXjYWJtuN_dNssFCHhxi6DX_1BYzOkU5p0Yv7b1GtUQgG-pOtyWb_DtSykKLNE8M65K5hLWXP4Cqq6DIVKN3NfAiNnrjjLFBmCSA1gAwB5YKQ-msZey_lOYKicrV7mdK/s200/P1070636.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491074680140319586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i937gU_b9Dg1naDtjDqk-3iQMuoHm1m8pyjjiUNXLWJK6hF5RBAzZgt5pQCMYEDPqsuWbfF7i5wQE2f1_8bLJTxHMAZtDL3L29BE5em7noGodmjE3NyBD6GQNm6iESl1SNiZYEU4Bbl7/s1600/P1070622.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i937gU_b9Dg1naDtjDqk-3iQMuoHm1m8pyjjiUNXLWJK6hF5RBAzZgt5pQCMYEDPqsuWbfF7i5wQE2f1_8bLJTxHMAZtDL3L29BE5em7noGodmjE3NyBD6GQNm6iESl1SNiZYEU4Bbl7/s200/P1070622.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491074668957246018" /></a><br />I got excused from school today in order to go to the aquarium with my host sister!! We had a great time! We saw penguins, sea otters, dolphins, jelly fish, a GIGANTIC whale shark, and lots lots more! We also go to touch the sting rays and even some small sharks (at least, I think they were sharks)! <br />It was so cool! the aquarium was built so that at the beginning you went up a super long escalator and then you work your way down from the top to the bottom. almost all the tanks were super deep. As deep in fact as the building. The animals were all super active so it was so fun to see them all!<br /><br />We also got to ride on this enormous Ferris Wheel. It was so tall that it towered over some of the tallest apartment buildings. In fact, it towered over pretty much everything! <br /><br />It is kind of interesting to note the ratio of various other gaijin in tourist hot spots like this. In Kyoto, which is the very historical city with lots of shrines and temples, you see a lot of, well, white people. All the Americans, Brits, and pretty much any white person, who goes to Japan wants to see the traditional temples so you find them all congregated in Kyoto. However, at places such as USJ and the Aquarium we ran across many Koreans, Chinese, etc. I'm not quite sure why this is, it's just something I have noticed. <br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dznx8bkpJ8t0OzjkKFowO8NmofunhVRjjoJMQymyqY69_Yp13qwIuNpaRFVt30_Kn2nR-T7LdThFk4M6uH2cQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-42746752206455443472010-07-02T01:44:00.000-07:002010-07-02T02:00:14.110-07:00Special Class Schedules for the Special Exchange StudentsRight now there are two girls from Australia attending my school as "real" exchange students. I am in fact just a tourist visitor and cannot be defined as an "exchange student" but Takii tries to make my trip as close to an exchange program as possible.<br />Before Mel and Kiera came I attended classes like a normal student. Just the usual run-of-the mill Japanese classes. <br />However, these girls get a special schedule set up for them. They go only to English and Oral communications and various other fun classes such as Calligraphy or cooking. When they aren't going to classes they get to play on facebook or do homework in the International Room. Now that they are here I get to join them for many of these classes. Although I don't have "spares" (free periods) it livens up my schedule and, needless to say, makes school a lot more fun! We go together to Calligraphy, Japanese Culture, Cooking, various English classes, Japanese class (which takes place off campus and I will explain more about that another time), and sometimes we just watch a Japanese movie together. It is great fun! I have become very good friends with Mel, in fact, I jokingly refer to her as my Aussie twin for it is almost scary how alike our personalities are. I will be very sad to see them go back to Australia but I am definitely glad I got to meet them in the first place. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFatz1hpSQYvuX895gyRKB6DAYPrRP0qWbftyRw7EDlKETe98v9coa5Hln0lxNx8BUDsp1i4q1kntHFv5pamsTCdNdu40u8ALpY7bScz5Apr7nhi6XMcWY83xyNfNbPNm15k7LIc77Ocz/s1600/DSC01344.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFatz1hpSQYvuX895gyRKB6DAYPrRP0qWbftyRw7EDlKETe98v9coa5Hln0lxNx8BUDsp1i4q1kntHFv5pamsTCdNdu40u8ALpY7bScz5Apr7nhi6XMcWY83xyNfNbPNm15k7LIc77Ocz/s400/DSC01344.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489229505506168082" /></a><br />Today's cooking class creations. The ugly ones are mine ;)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCiBYabCouEIAdfuHCMMOzJdYLZqWxigcACD2pAtCV4wxq9fl3UHm7tP_ajSkWtgDt9hLL6OecgUpRCD6TZuxsiW-aYCYpTrItmSeEtKklLg5LdkfKsJSnn25WuBm_z5sDjMLzDlACkXG/s1600/DSC01346.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCiBYabCouEIAdfuHCMMOzJdYLZqWxigcACD2pAtCV4wxq9fl3UHm7tP_ajSkWtgDt9hLL6OecgUpRCD6TZuxsiW-aYCYpTrItmSeEtKklLg5LdkfKsJSnn25WuBm_z5sDjMLzDlACkXG/s400/DSC01346.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489229496954320050" /></a><br />Shodo class (Calligraphy)! In case you are wondering, in this picture I was making the ink I used to practice. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEdf0aHWGQvRqvCqy7iDmrwXIbbyhSYLKwadtFcWPzmfUOwrpdnyIHpiIoZf9TaQsOSs4DuYQeLE9z3Twod8-VqcCpuOpuX5gJG0ot14nTDuW-zReVG-4C1dN2TpuitZGe4Z_JFt6TQMl/s1600/DSC01343.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEdf0aHWGQvRqvCqy7iDmrwXIbbyhSYLKwadtFcWPzmfUOwrpdnyIHpiIoZf9TaQsOSs4DuYQeLE9z3Twod8-VqcCpuOpuX5gJG0ot14nTDuW-zReVG-4C1dN2TpuitZGe4Z_JFt6TQMl/s400/DSC01343.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489229491426356002" /></a><br />Melanie, Myself, and Kiera at the ATMs in the post office. We stopped by on our way back from our Japanese class.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilt4V5P2NvjW66ph5_ivcluThNK2HArY6hoZoOJ4g-XOQBxcfzzruBjcDwR8PeSNxVmr6y4zvmSUsnhTVcTRBWen1F1IyV0t_sHjvR7wCY0ncEGFMxFmPIlcfPOxDZaHUrv9rvu3q423WU/s1600/DSC01277.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilt4V5P2NvjW66ph5_ivcluThNK2HArY6hoZoOJ4g-XOQBxcfzzruBjcDwR8PeSNxVmr6y4zvmSUsnhTVcTRBWen1F1IyV0t_sHjvR7wCY0ncEGFMxFmPIlcfPOxDZaHUrv9rvu3q423WU/s400/DSC01277.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489229511847068818" /></a><br />Japanese Culture class!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK528Ty91YxcMUGcTmha09FbRHnVGsJWdImWkVKcULFVnarTpmEUHkTdEpxVcyyIhR2eJShfSCPxZTNZQU93JPAsx7XQGZ4ypp0sayXCWcCZjTVbTqZ8RhllamEQCV1jYrOoS921QlNlc/s1600/DSC01279.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK528Ty91YxcMUGcTmha09FbRHnVGsJWdImWkVKcULFVnarTpmEUHkTdEpxVcyyIhR2eJShfSCPxZTNZQU93JPAsx7XQGZ4ypp0sayXCWcCZjTVbTqZ8RhllamEQCV1jYrOoS921QlNlc/s400/DSC01279.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489229507741916914" /></a><br />Me and "my aussie twin" (also taken during Japanese Culture class)Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-20424968502144830932010-06-30T08:46:00.000-07:002010-06-30T09:04:12.490-07:00Nara Day Trip!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6tl0ZzflD3sFKFa91-34OCwF6FWCyS9JI92BT63U0QnPV7jlbnUSoTndSGOrODNf8476pTu-yCCAOyfjXTezXxYMOLHBgIpXdCq28ZiXoBDDkmx0aBrESIOVf_pRx_Ep3sV-nUSaIjRL/s1600/DSC01338.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6tl0ZzflD3sFKFa91-34OCwF6FWCyS9JI92BT63U0QnPV7jlbnUSoTndSGOrODNf8476pTu-yCCAOyfjXTezXxYMOLHBgIpXdCq28ZiXoBDDkmx0aBrESIOVf_pRx_Ep3sV-nUSaIjRL/s320/DSC01338.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488597719261038482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakhiCXZ7iOXt51Roruxxl12uzLFBdFGtQ0X-fLfR0A5BaTapVAWvjGTDHogE3ORAbcmvgT4IW1DKNhsLcweP_w80KeBsQuF-QdAsjEe-qeEzQMfP2kzHOYGYtL3MUzHN-tzMB_44gSkl9/s1600/DSC01342.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakhiCXZ7iOXt51Roruxxl12uzLFBdFGtQ0X-fLfR0A5BaTapVAWvjGTDHogE3ORAbcmvgT4IW1DKNhsLcweP_w80KeBsQuF-QdAsjEe-qeEzQMfP2kzHOYGYtL3MUzHN-tzMB_44gSkl9/s320/DSC01342.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488597713454636850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlTE5RkdgEo_uF4_FSU3f_OQuaU_iVeNjDA1qVz0zJJ0nAvXezK7pkRzWVxKtI5ytScWThQn-f-FLI3MQ03BND4PpT6fsk3w8I8i1MqhjDcfyZl0__vgvq9mJ-UJ1SoRRR2xqSuAj7yuY/s1600/DSC01335.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlTE5RkdgEo_uF4_FSU3f_OQuaU_iVeNjDA1qVz0zJJ0nAvXezK7pkRzWVxKtI5ytScWThQn-f-FLI3MQ03BND4PpT6fsk3w8I8i1MqhjDcfyZl0__vgvq9mJ-UJ1SoRRR2xqSuAj7yuY/s320/DSC01335.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488597707373380690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mqVjLc8IrF2lme4ybK63xURtwJpP1D0GbgvS-9UAmG6LaxuujCqjhQzxJdmPqCiznWroPDQblbCKrMVal3OP_uwa7n2aR6d7_mz0Wn487oB4cY0tWaIt1ANWSM24FsF3bZy51J-Cvq7y/s1600/DSC01337.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mqVjLc8IrF2lme4ybK63xURtwJpP1D0GbgvS-9UAmG6LaxuujCqjhQzxJdmPqCiznWroPDQblbCKrMVal3OP_uwa7n2aR6d7_mz0Wn487oB4cY0tWaIt1ANWSM24FsF3bZy51J-Cvq7y/s320/DSC01337.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488597956088247730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__aSnqVbnKN6T0ATB455D7MsWRWJzeTqWqEXX9QX46m6KrhmHrF86R3KvZH70HV0RyTWRuok-BisJWIlXLyd2k8W0z0G6YCL8-DRAjvCNpatF4cuaes31X2RAWpbWFqS49fnkiwgRJfaK/s1600/DSC01336.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__aSnqVbnKN6T0ATB455D7MsWRWJzeTqWqEXX9QX46m6KrhmHrF86R3KvZH70HV0RyTWRuok-BisJWIlXLyd2k8W0z0G6YCL8-DRAjvCNpatF4cuaes31X2RAWpbWFqS49fnkiwgRJfaK/s320/DSC01336.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488597697531207378" /></a><br />The day after my Japanese class came to Osaka I got to go to Nara with the two Australian exchange students and Carl. Carl, "forgot" to tell us that we didn't have to wear a uniform so Mel and Kiera wore free dress anyway assuming we could and I...well...let's just say <span style="font-weight:bold;">I</span> am a <span style="font-weight:bold;">good</span> student. I sweated through the day in my many layers of uniform. <br />However, it was still a blast!!! We visited two temples, my favorite one was the Todaiji Temple. This temple is apparently the biggest wooden building in the entire world! It was HUGE! Inside was the famous giant Buddha statue that many of you probably recognize. In a certain part of the temple there was a large hole in one of the posts that is apparently as big as his nostril. There is some sort of good thing that happens if you could fit through this hole but I don't know what it is. Anyway, I could have fit through it if I hadn't been wearing a skirt. *sigh* silly Carl >.<<br />Oh well, to be honest the nostril hole wasn't the thing I had been looking forward to believe it or not, so I wasn't too bummed. What really made my day were the famous deer parks. Nara is famous for it's "wild" deer which just roam around practically everywhere. However, these deer are far from "wild", they are so used to humans that you can pet them. There are also street vendors everywhere that sell deer treats and if you buy some of these you quickly find yourself surrounded by insistent, and extremely pushy deer. If you don't feed them quick enough they will nudge you or, rub their head on your leg, try and eat something else on your person, or, if they are <span style="font-weight:bold;">real</span> gentlemen, they will bow (needless to say the bowing ones got the most food). Since I was wearing a skirt these deer were constantly perplexed by how they couldn't rub their head on my leg without catching my skirt and almost flashing the whole park, or just getting their whole head under it. Or maybe they did realize and they are just as perverted as the wind that blows when you ride bicycles (oh jidensha... >.<). Either way I had a few close calls.<br /><br />I loved Nara so much! It was absolutely beautiful and so tranquil. Although it was overrun by tourists (myself included), it was still a great experience!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-405809372037772872010-06-29T14:01:00.000-07:002010-06-30T08:46:37.553-07:00A Bit of Home In My Bit of Not-So-HomeYesterday all the people from my school in America who went on the Japan trip came to Osaka!! about 3 weeks ago I had been struck by a marvelous idea and since then I had been planning together with a teacher from my school(Carl) and my Japanese teacher (Mrs. Fullmer) to arrange something where my class could come visit my school and see a real Japanese high school. I could not have been more pleased at how it turned out!<br /><br />Me, Carl, and the two other exchange students met Mrs. Fullmer and her possy at the train station right on time for 7th period. Then we all joined my homeroom class in the Japanese culture lesson for a special activity. Rather than going to Oral Communications, (which is what my class would normally do) they got to dress up some foreigners in Yukatas!! there were approximately 2 Japanese students to every American one and I think everyone had a blast all around. After that some of the girls showed how to do Japanese Tea ceremony and taught my classmates a little about it as well. <br />Afterward there was about 10 minutes free talking time between the American and Japanese students. The Japanese girls got to practice their English and the American girls got to practice their Japanese and everyone was happy. <br /><br />We didn't end until well after school got out but no one seemed to really mind. Mrs. Fullmer and her group headed back to their hotel to drop off their stuff, Miyuu and I tagged along for we had all planned on going to Karaoke together afterward. However, because everything took longer than expected and Miyuu had to get home early, we ended up going to dinner with her instead. We went out for Okonomiyaki which none of the girls had tried before and it was super delicious!!!!!! Then we had to part with Miyuu and part of the group (who were saying they wanted to go back to the Hotel). Everyone shed a few tears over leaving this new friend they had made and then they said goodbye. <br /><br />The girls who had stayed with me and Mrs. Fullmer(Lauren, Emily, and Holly) came to Karaoke with us!!!! It was sooooo fun! It is one thing to go to karaoke with your friends, it is quite another to go with your teacher, and ten times more fun too! <br />Since we are all Americans it was even more fun than before because we all knew almost all of the songs that everyone sang so we all sang them together! I had so much fun and it was so great to see people from home! I can't wait to see the rest of you when I return! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaR6WL8FsO3FcFNjQfLRVqn4WoZmZOrfoJeRj-_624Lp1Wd1pEdtgRVvNateme7c3oMVnaExPGTSg8YH6QgtI2zd-wOXmiOvj0VMh4A7C3TM3ruLuiAJklRcHsvBxYXKioF_1bjBgquTH2/s1600/DSC01306.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaR6WL8FsO3FcFNjQfLRVqn4WoZmZOrfoJeRj-_624Lp1Wd1pEdtgRVvNateme7c3oMVnaExPGTSg8YH6QgtI2zd-wOXmiOvj0VMh4A7C3TM3ruLuiAJklRcHsvBxYXKioF_1bjBgquTH2/s400/DSC01306.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488593109165803378" /></a><br />Mrs. Fullmer and Emily get dressed up by their new friends<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZyxASeKgy0Izsy2Yd5bHe2wwtQhEFExCed_RqN8DGcAY3WRQqtQv7eLug5OQoMvfZ6jwBZ1qMN3ibsbq0dFlnbEfNmASJ0-ANCjuM40SV7uRXnMSEZ4Gj-5ha830V302zCrp0ctVOhYf/s1600/DSC01319.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZyxASeKgy0Izsy2Yd5bHe2wwtQhEFExCed_RqN8DGcAY3WRQqtQv7eLug5OQoMvfZ6jwBZ1qMN3ibsbq0dFlnbEfNmASJ0-ANCjuM40SV7uRXnMSEZ4Gj-5ha830V302zCrp0ctVOhYf/s400/DSC01319.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488593094970364690" /></a><br />Everyone posed for a picture together after the American's were Yukata-ified<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADGThRJ_oDStUOIVx2rTsll9SDbCgQyax9fmz6Zre9GZ7N1aqGjytcOMfFWFQAU67AIGs9VhPqBNzvjI84btzZkYGtsgu310a5mIC9vsX0rs-9DFp6M_DwjTgXqmAj9pncT2hSqu4rwNN/s1600/DSC01323.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADGThRJ_oDStUOIVx2rTsll9SDbCgQyax9fmz6Zre9GZ7N1aqGjytcOMfFWFQAU67AIGs9VhPqBNzvjI84btzZkYGtsgu310a5mIC9vsX0rs-9DFp6M_DwjTgXqmAj9pncT2hSqu4rwNN/s400/DSC01323.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488593087427148466" /></a><br />A Japanese student shows everyone how to do Japanese Tea Ceremony<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLTsTD8n350_PkglYPEntPHsS3TparK7jhbFtvyT8GB62HyBJv-noNMGdx7uG9FJGt1bJlv4FBlG_Eb7CCgvvNI7ihphCs55J9rjxuwzcrEnXwELQ_U6cKcOofL5rzhibINRaye6QZmPn/s1600/DSC01327.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLTsTD8n350_PkglYPEntPHsS3TparK7jhbFtvyT8GB62HyBJv-noNMGdx7uG9FJGt1bJlv4FBlG_Eb7CCgvvNI7ihphCs55J9rjxuwzcrEnXwELQ_U6cKcOofL5rzhibINRaye6QZmPn/s400/DSC01327.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488590988463700738" /></a><br />Everyone had a great time when they got to talk together for 10 minutes after "school" got out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9K722bTPULXwkt5I9CdV3XFz2boVC95JF_8PdKoC3d53U7cSjHX5WtyJKSUvCE5p1WYQ31IloPbc-evtGO7_vbvzU8mOZOe4x19apKXW9L7m5ZmMOiM97O7N6VI_KycQRA_QnEDS7te2/s1600/DSC01326.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9K722bTPULXwkt5I9CdV3XFz2boVC95JF_8PdKoC3d53U7cSjHX5WtyJKSUvCE5p1WYQ31IloPbc-evtGO7_vbvzU8mOZOe4x19apKXW9L7m5ZmMOiM97O7N6VI_KycQRA_QnEDS7te2/s400/DSC01326.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488590978230800002" /></a><br />Breanna talks with her group of new Japanese friends!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpGYHLwoqS6hI4JH2iPtrbzguQSqHEEO8dU01UJcAjZ6xjgPE0tTUGEh5zBYjqeEU_3YLQbYCLdkrnAJeIb-rXXaPUgh7DmeAilYkAXnv920cfS7FQywbAsl4ijzvaaWgpSzvR_EeYEEn/s1600/DSC01329.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpGYHLwoqS6hI4JH2iPtrbzguQSqHEEO8dU01UJcAjZ6xjgPE0tTUGEh5zBYjqeEU_3YLQbYCLdkrnAJeIb-rXXaPUgh7DmeAilYkAXnv920cfS7FQywbAsl4ijzvaaWgpSzvR_EeYEEn/s400/DSC01329.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488590973472651746" /></a><br />Lauren was really thirsty after walking to the restaurant. She consumed not only her own water, but bits of mine and holly's as well. ^^<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlEUUf3ylMV6dd1d2_Q7CHUDSplFXpiZZTerpqsXSa5L5pu1DS5jQ-uNYpmzJbxd0KK97ZjpBpCM0C6p-DgeUOdFM4o4w0L_-keeeWOg-ueaM9wOWhbxmZyXcWXcs1SyxLUAo928Va_OH/s1600/DSC01328.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlEUUf3ylMV6dd1d2_Q7CHUDSplFXpiZZTerpqsXSa5L5pu1DS5jQ-uNYpmzJbxd0KK97ZjpBpCM0C6p-DgeUOdFM4o4w0L_-keeeWOg-ueaM9wOWhbxmZyXcWXcs1SyxLUAo928Va_OH/s400/DSC01328.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488590964450481330" /></a><br />Holly and Richard on a busy Osaka street as we waited for everyone to finish purchasing their takoyaki.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGVqTmNt-MfWnRRl1scgEvyhsrnEeXPGGH1sqBunMngUkaVbUno_4GfVubcV0o1E_-2XC73hMJbqtsMxhRBfG9U8wHjIhjnPd5kum07O_cP3WNjW-b0BjTJcH3bh8pnTmjl0fZEFoVo-E/s1600/DSC01331.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGVqTmNt-MfWnRRl1scgEvyhsrnEeXPGGH1sqBunMngUkaVbUno_4GfVubcV0o1E_-2XC73hMJbqtsMxhRBfG9U8wHjIhjnPd5kum07O_cP3WNjW-b0BjTJcH3bh8pnTmjl0fZEFoVo-E/s400/DSC01331.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488590956093565538" /></a><br />Lauren and I rocked out together at Karaoke! It was fun to do this with Americans because we all knew the same songs so we could all sing together!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-21017395591494870112010-06-26T23:32:00.000-07:002010-06-27T14:07:26.280-07:00Watch Your Mouth!It is a well known fact that Japanese people are very helpful. This is a wonderful quality to have but as an American visiting Japan, you quickly learn when to hold your tongue. In America complaints such as "I'm hungry" or "my head hurts" are simply vaguely annoying but quite common. Japanese people are definitely not above complaining. "I'm hungry" "its so hot" etc etc are heard often. However, as a foreigner, the minute you speak openly about your discomfort it is like you put whichever Japanese person you are with into emergency mode. They will worry about said discomfort all day or until they can have it fixed. <br />They are also very sensitive to any interest you might show in anything around you. For example, I went out to dinner with Serina and her Aunt after USJ on Saturday. I knew we were running late and so we were hurrying through a shopping mall. I saw a store that looked interesting and all I did was simply look inside on our way past and Serina asked "Do you want to look around?". I of course replied that no, we had an appointment to get to and she looked pleased. As if I had passed a test. However, Test or not, I know that if I had said "yes" we would have done just that. She would have silently informed her aunt that we would be even more late but she probably would not have reminded me about our appointment. She simply would have made me as happy as possible and indulged in everything I wanted to do.<br /><br />For the most part, this quality is a good thing. The sensitivity to others is something that I think everyone should have a bit of but as a gaijin, you learn very quickly when and how to subtly hint at what you would like to do without being direct, and when to keep your complaints and desires to yourself for the good of whichever freakishly accommodating Japanese person you are with.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-35279806772547638182010-06-26T07:14:00.000-07:002010-06-26T07:41:48.111-07:00Universal Studios Japan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVuf4DtUNp70yg6FwEvdYKrKhmFbR14tl3sbVUs538I90hQ1HjwTH9twFkIVUIv21WTD0kd_ZLMpElTh1nLvDTY45F1Jh9kY_vVeU7lzk3-BkE1GxYvOTKQnDuXmFj9YhDXn4Z_5GY_6j/s1600/DSC01250.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVuf4DtUNp70yg6FwEvdYKrKhmFbR14tl3sbVUs538I90hQ1HjwTH9twFkIVUIv21WTD0kd_ZLMpElTh1nLvDTY45F1Jh9kY_vVeU7lzk3-BkE1GxYvOTKQnDuXmFj9YhDXn4Z_5GY_6j/s400/DSC01250.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487090280158286690" /></a><br />Today I got the opportunity to go to Universal Studios Japan(USJ) with my friend Serina!!! I was greatly looking forward to today because this was one of the things I wanted to do very badly when I came to Japan. USJ did not let me down! We arrived just as it opened and for a short time we were treated to fairly short lines. We rode some rides, watched some shows, and explored gift shops! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZ5CgnnHYQmzjc1zV8yZymL5z6dT4PA5QgDJ2L67cbtcwkn2cYlM7Q9qwFQ2GCnpBaMHloBG3wOXREOO5LnpMN_3NpNk950Dnxg741ZMQtNSrrDdM08dCM__sFATkOgK7K3JJC5WSVd4Y/s1600/DSC01248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZ5CgnnHYQmzjc1zV8yZymL5z6dT4PA5QgDJ2L67cbtcwkn2cYlM7Q9qwFQ2GCnpBaMHloBG3wOXREOO5LnpMN_3NpNk950Dnxg741ZMQtNSrrDdM08dCM__sFATkOgK7K3JJC5WSVd4Y/s400/DSC01248.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487091064384069570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijz6SOzclPy0rYYUrX-Jp2hqonSjoiFhyphenhyphenHzdT3HOIUcQeN0_OOVEPi_XwieLZuI8cG0pyLZOccHjSRYuSuZGwBUsN8OX9YrfoJ11jcRqB7ZZmfzS2KhP2k2ypgeeacFb40brGrYejWnm2I/s1600/DSC01257.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijz6SOzclPy0rYYUrX-Jp2hqonSjoiFhyphenhyphenHzdT3HOIUcQeN0_OOVEPi_XwieLZuI8cG0pyLZOccHjSRYuSuZGwBUsN8OX9YrfoJ11jcRqB7ZZmfzS2KhP2k2ypgeeacFb40brGrYejWnm2I/s400/DSC01257.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487091062073641138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrC6P9eDiVQHRdTQV63Aj5J6oSdV00UbI6ZbYlVXdl0GqoUWNZj6j0z3xvlaz9-TN7HAW0KnnCdNZw1-qgiiXUGU6Uc3DZ3G4R91FASBH_0dCFn9KXi3Wp_FM6sTDs3NXSmgJthLDI3y0/s1600/DSC01265.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrC6P9eDiVQHRdTQV63Aj5J6oSdV00UbI6ZbYlVXdl0GqoUWNZj6j0z3xvlaz9-TN7HAW0KnnCdNZw1-qgiiXUGU6Uc3DZ3G4R91FASBH_0dCFn9KXi3Wp_FM6sTDs3NXSmgJthLDI3y0/s400/DSC01265.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487091056289050306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCl6p2aIotQR8jerdwVkbZV9-69QVco0aH_dkMLBKWUxkGndqiJ57MtapmyuW4eo2Xe-XE8vwBS1mQSpDF5ORZ7QB0pwqN2gYyTlH1xUnfi9XyMPWBoy_zgC-wAmox7KJDm6fCC5_bH0lz/s1600/DSC01258.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCl6p2aIotQR8jerdwVkbZV9-69QVco0aH_dkMLBKWUxkGndqiJ57MtapmyuW4eo2Xe-XE8vwBS1mQSpDF5ORZ7QB0pwqN2gYyTlH1xUnfi9XyMPWBoy_zgC-wAmox7KJDm6fCC5_bH0lz/s400/DSC01258.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487091047864439522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmRPfjWFyWlOzHDTetsX_IK3cFWkDzs-8qs274r-k5xT1I4OwlPHOTkPzzdMMVvOZAITAOAr-WGVgdZ0LUmF3hanMeYBuVz-w1rAFDGgi2WMZsnC-hpE3GRagKosI6up8ZiFWvsAhRwot/s1600/DSC01259.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmRPfjWFyWlOzHDTetsX_IK3cFWkDzs-8qs274r-k5xT1I4OwlPHOTkPzzdMMVvOZAITAOAr-WGVgdZ0LUmF3hanMeYBuVz-w1rAFDGgi2WMZsnC-hpE3GRagKosI6up8ZiFWvsAhRwot/s400/DSC01259.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487091041712971490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnBpH7_pOEq8ePVFNoW5R0dboyW4_lnVWnUudg4phZFX78rLkP5ibRkZNvc-IZcJUnxegkS6bKbE7bolSOoIJs103RsXGoSCqe7QvSOUVKJxsGHV3pvqg_j70mbn50FvSzdQhv_8W8PM0/s1600/DSC01252.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnBpH7_pOEq8ePVFNoW5R0dboyW4_lnVWnUudg4phZFX78rLkP5ibRkZNvc-IZcJUnxegkS6bKbE7bolSOoIJs103RsXGoSCqe7QvSOUVKJxsGHV3pvqg_j70mbn50FvSzdQhv_8W8PM0/s400/DSC01252.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487090301063703858" /></a><br />One of the shows I most enjoyed was the "Wicked" production. It was a greatly shortened and condensed version of the play that was acted using English AND Japanese (in case you are wondering how that works, they switched between the languages in seemingly random places). <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXcmmxurCSp11pqXG4kMmnRm6vjcpzXy_1vt2UOo4LqHd66pirj-LITbbJiumUEID4rLLRkdHrN4-_UbKZWlc8SyjxAwbgRbyrB4zW-NihpA0MaINnSGaK30_JXkoULQzqf9iWRP8lFEc/s1600/DSC01266.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXcmmxurCSp11pqXG4kMmnRm6vjcpzXy_1vt2UOo4LqHd66pirj-LITbbJiumUEID4rLLRkdHrN4-_UbKZWlc8SyjxAwbgRbyrB4zW-NihpA0MaINnSGaK30_JXkoULQzqf9iWRP8lFEc/s400/DSC01266.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487090306058103346" /></a><br /><br />For lunch we ate Caramel Popcorn and later (around 3:30) we stopped for some real food. Pizza. I have never paid so much for pizza before but I also have never tasted anything so good! It was italian style (rather than the usual greasy American stuff) with a splash of Japanese taste (in the form of tomato braised octopus on one of the pizzas). Looking at the menu I laughed as I spotted something really unusual. A pizza whose ingredients are "shrimp and potatoes". Kinda interesting, I was tempted to try it but I was afraid it wouldn't be worth $20.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FjR7sr8-KArkYYpvk7vCFNBSxPkHBPafHpMS2IOgrxtEZr_0gjow2tmbOYHkfs6Pc-7CxZqRupKIUCEuTOJpIhwyNVq-ei4KHhFk7x5NbAZmTPv69qHBp0Wjf7zKRYaZdlhWQr10W4Ib/s1600/DSC01256.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FjR7sr8-KArkYYpvk7vCFNBSxPkHBPafHpMS2IOgrxtEZr_0gjow2tmbOYHkfs6Pc-7CxZqRupKIUCEuTOJpIhwyNVq-ei4KHhFk7x5NbAZmTPv69qHBp0Wjf7zKRYaZdlhWQr10W4Ib/s400/DSC01256.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487090290522572818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazbVeuGiT8UNsLk0l3cJH2mEb7FflXCyQ3AyNPy-jtE_c6tSOks_WH8E9P2dKz0pdHju70psdb_rBJhsWvXEejAoSKqMWBDNZ6usu0I67dWgTAvX7x1RkgoSmS16-L9sAE4fC3_kb-zQC/s1600/DSC01269.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazbVeuGiT8UNsLk0l3cJH2mEb7FflXCyQ3AyNPy-jtE_c6tSOks_WH8E9P2dKz0pdHju70psdb_rBJhsWvXEejAoSKqMWBDNZ6usu0I67dWgTAvX7x1RkgoSmS16-L9sAE4fC3_kb-zQC/s400/DSC01269.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487090285674814482" /></a><br />The only unfortunate (or was it fortunate?) thing about today was the rain. It rained all day. It wasn't too heavy but it was enough to soak my pant legs halfway to the knee and enough to make carrying an umbrella an obnoxious but necessary task. <br />The appearance of said rain also was the reason we didn't go on some of the rides I had been looking forward to. Jurassic Park was shut down and we didn't want to get even <span style="font-weight:bold;">more</span> wet by trying Jaws. <br />However, the rain did help us in one way. It made all the lines much shorter! the average wait time for these rides was 30 minutes rather than the usual 1 or 2 hours. So I haven't figured out whether the rain was a blessing or a curse but it doesn't matter too much since today was fabulous anyway.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-51468393663175034022010-06-25T02:53:00.000-07:002010-06-25T02:58:22.191-07:00Homeroom Changes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3npBL2Zmsh71Tb-YkJkuvOop7hyphenhyphen7Qu5OIOYOL6IYPtYK47yIb136kEXF8kB5vcfGTOL7WmtOL_4UsJ3p-FoxQC_XhvFflLfP9_RncyfLowDhmK3rqv4svZ0Bp-vfUArBjX94GECwWmSkW/s1600/DSC01232.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3npBL2Zmsh71Tb-YkJkuvOop7hyphenhyphen7Qu5OIOYOL6IYPtYK47yIb136kEXF8kB5vcfGTOL7WmtOL_4UsJ3p-FoxQC_XhvFflLfP9_RncyfLowDhmK3rqv4svZ0Bp-vfUArBjX94GECwWmSkW/s400/DSC01232.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486648420037343826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtNG6rjxnLCIRulMsWrsFFFpDtg-IP0LqbrrwB005cxF3FS5v5LwH-EYqeL-d3hhAobNBM21YCCz40A0zRaTBDqH77a_pviBZYQltNtJ5Een1dkdL6uomo5tZGsyNuDqU7NsyF-vYZhuC/s1600/DSC01230.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtNG6rjxnLCIRulMsWrsFFFpDtg-IP0LqbrrwB005cxF3FS5v5LwH-EYqeL-d3hhAobNBM21YCCz40A0zRaTBDqH77a_pviBZYQltNtJ5Een1dkdL6uomo5tZGsyNuDqU7NsyF-vYZhuC/s400/DSC01230.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486648418080026850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nt1mXd3GFYbjacrJEm-HpqsNiEt05lHv3lTNAS2hWiFyAghBYQU3pateOQrNsM4wMCIrqQivmyIC7eclew_IuQXSCXhAsGBMCyrRJg-tsLDJuoN1fP1XK4KZxJW0HwBlpZa-brbjen6U/s1600/DSC01229.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nt1mXd3GFYbjacrJEm-HpqsNiEt05lHv3lTNAS2hWiFyAghBYQU3pateOQrNsM4wMCIrqQivmyIC7eclew_IuQXSCXhAsGBMCyrRJg-tsLDJuoN1fP1XK4KZxJW0HwBlpZa-brbjen6U/s400/DSC01229.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486648410223497730" /></a><br />Since Monday I have been attending a new homeroom class. My previous homeroom class is currently preparing for their month long school trip to Canada so the school thought it best that I split my time at Takii between two classes. This new class is with the year one students (the equivalent of a highschool sophomore) and so far they are great!<br />Although I miss my old class very much since I made friends with literally every single one of them I am still enjoying making new friends in this class as well. I have gotten a little more than half of their names memorized but I haven't gotten all of them yet.<br />Hopefully soon I will be able to form some friendships that are as strong as the ones I made in my last class. Somehow, I think I will. :)Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-3160069778815891952010-06-24T03:29:00.000-07:002010-06-24T03:47:54.255-07:00My apologies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhR04Anj3chBlR9JQDSAz0CtyCb70u47zptHLXd53w3tyDfEl6FGgmxOJtZNIb3MuOLSPmYh1U-yAalVRYwNJ_rEvaP4Z7y98PeJ5XX9HlMPPVkcMHi-qCKa4rFg0Eud8gfrbXlhnXxBHk/s1600/DSC01240.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhR04Anj3chBlR9JQDSAz0CtyCb70u47zptHLXd53w3tyDfEl6FGgmxOJtZNIb3MuOLSPmYh1U-yAalVRYwNJ_rEvaP4Z7y98PeJ5XX9HlMPPVkcMHi-qCKa4rFg0Eud8gfrbXlhnXxBHk/s400/DSC01240.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486290052308788978" /></a><br />Hello my avid readers...or well, people obligated to read this blog because you are family or friends...<br />I am sorry that my blog posts have not exactly been very regular. I guess I suffered from a major case of writers block but I promise that I will right this wrong. You will get exactly 29 more posts for that is how many days I have before I return to the states. <br /><br />Anyway, today I got the opportunity to attend the Brass Band club. Clubs in Japan are a big thing since they don't really have any fun classes the only fun thing about school is the after school activities. At my last school, as well as the first month of this school I was really indecisive about a club. There were so many to choose from I just couldn't decide. My exhaustion after an approximately 8 hour school day didn't help matters at all.<br />However, today was so fun!! Everyone practices individually or with friends for the first half of club activities. I peeked into one room with a bunch of 3rd years "practicing" (aka, talking and taking pictures of each other with their cell phones) and the next thing I knew I was surrounded by these same 3rd years then practically dragged into the practice room amidst a flurry of excited Japanese chatter and then posed for pictures from multiple cameras. Nothing makes you feel like a movie star like a group of Japanese school girls. <br />We spent the next hour or so just talking. They exclaimed in surprise at my "wonderful Japanese" and then proceeded to interrogate me about my likes, dislikes, things I want to do, and the usual do I "have a boyfriend". I attempted to learn their names (and almost succeeded, not quite) and we all got along quite well.<br />We laughed at each other as we each tried to pronounce different words in English and Japanese. The video I attached is my new friend Maria's version of "cereal". <br /><br />Only the last 20 minutes were spent playing our instruments with the group and that was just as fun as talking had been. I do rather miss Band class. Maybe I have found the club I want to join!<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy4mi_e5ptX_bvv-78IwuDbPlxZOi_lbx3yNbvp2XlgKUV3QYmz_sr7wIu2-whOfrKgkwyJ8DyN3KKefLm-kw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-6358143509565263492010-06-18T03:20:00.000-07:002010-06-18T04:05:07.092-07:00Behind the Scenes: What It Took To Get Where I AmPeople always ask me how I planned my trip to Japan. Some of them are merely curious and some ask because they would like to do something similar. I personally believe this has been a life-changing experience for me and one that I think everyone should be able to enjoy so I am going to share with you all my not-so-secret secrets!<br /><br />I spent almost a year preparing for my application to the "ideal" exchange program. I wished and hoped and wished again that it would work out for everything I had was dependent on getting accepted by this program. Needless to say, when I got rejected I didn't really know what to do. I didn't want to deal with the hassle (or the expenses) of applying for another program so it seemed the only other option I had was to make my own!<br /><br />First I had to figure out more or less how this trip would lay out. I ideally wanted to go for 6 months because it is said that that is how long it takes to be fluent however, with my trip rushing in on me I realized that I did not want to deal with the hassle of getting a student visa. I can be here 3 months on a tourist visa (aka just a passport) and I realized this would just have to do. I asked around to find out what a reasonable sum to pay my host family for boarding me would be, I applied for a passport (of course), and I calculated approximately what all the expenses would be. <br /><br />Next, I needed to find a host family. Thankfully I happened to have contacts in Japan through my Japanese aunt, my Japanese teacher, and my church (the LDS church). I am not exactly sure how the host families were found except that my aunt somehow contacted a church leader and the church leader found 2 families who would be willing to accept me. My Japanese teacher found one more willing family through a friend of hers who happens to live in Osaka. I decided to stay with one family from my aunt for 1 month and the family from my teacher for 2. With the first big hurdles done I was on a roll!<br /><br />Lastly I needed to find something to fill my time while in Japan. I knew I wanted to go to school but I if that had not worked out I would have found a different sort of volunteer opportunity to make this trip really worthwhile! I asked my host families what the closest high schools were and it turned out that my host sister from my first family went to a school that loves exchange students. I wrote a formal letter to this school requesting that they allow me to be a visitor at their school. I offered to volunteer in the English classes if I couldn't be a student and basically assured them that I would respect their rules and be a great addition to their school. I had this letter translated into Japanese by my aunt and sent it off to the school. My second host family did basically the same thing for my second school. They went through about the same process.<br />For those of you wondering what the school's wanted of me this is what I provided for them:<br />-2 recommendation letters (one from principal, one from Japanese teacher)<br />-proof of health insurance that would cover me in Japan<br />-a few photos of myself (for the first school)<br />-and other various paperwork that will vary from school to school. <br /><br />These 3 steps seem like very little but there are many little minute details that had to be planned in there as well but since every trip is different these details will vary. Basically the thing that made this trip possible was having contacts in Japan. Family, friends, church, teachers, etc, all of these are great resources for planning a trip to another country. The only thing you have to keep in mind with something like this is that there is <span style="font-weight:bold;">always</span> a way. Some plans may fall through, others won't work out quite like you wanted and all you can do is keep yourself open to many options and you can accomplish anything! To all those who are going to embark on a journey like mine I say "good for you! good luck! and you will <span style="font-weight:bold;">never</span> regret it!"Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-69683209466356910572010-06-12T23:38:00.000-07:002010-06-13T00:18:33.321-07:00No Cheapskates AllowedI am going to take this opportunity to fill you all in on what I have been doing lately while at the same time comparing Japan and America as everyone expects me to do.<br /><br />I become increasingly busier everyday at least 3 times a week I head off together with friends to a different destination. I've Osaka Castle for the first time, enjoyed the more karaoke (that never gets old), and gone shopping two days in a row! Almost everyday now is filled with a new adventure. This coming week I am looking forward to Universal Studios Japan, more karaoke, and probably a lot more. Each time I go out with friends I make it a priority to get purikura to remember the day by and so far I have done just that, my purikura collection is becoming quite vast. <br /><br />However, the interesting thing is this: in America everyone is familiar with the phrase "just hanging out" which simply entails being together with friends. If you happen to have money you go see a movie, if no one has money then you just "chill" somewhere and do very little. Here, there is no such thing as "just chillin" when you want to hang out, you better have money because you will need it. I have not gone out once without spending at least 1000 yen (about $10). Because of this, play-dates are usually great fun and you don't often have to worry about long awkward silences or bored friends. You do, however, have to worry about going completely bankrupt. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkjeLxOevDPz6tqAYrNTEeQCdcQNk_ErGv0zyY2qpO4zuaRV8xQ7ilgMuz1RivJz0DiVL3uQH5sL52UBXpIbHsiPuC8wXwy_SYHizrRDcmeHUCnq0dV57naEiyj-p5p1m_nv8tZ8N-k1q/s1600/DSC01180.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkjeLxOevDPz6tqAYrNTEeQCdcQNk_ErGv0zyY2qpO4zuaRV8xQ7ilgMuz1RivJz0DiVL3uQH5sL52UBXpIbHsiPuC8wXwy_SYHizrRDcmeHUCnq0dV57naEiyj-p5p1m_nv8tZ8N-k1q/s400/DSC01180.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482153626423895938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8tHtDcS5wAWQg5YK3K29CnoETTodHoMhfFYnXIoo7fQvj9pRDwA5datuU9-P2QfDgEFKkqqjiIJqnsZhBjpWonSFf1tKQa3ptYPPtd2XBYcg-8maaubY-MTR9F6F3JMGYRfaBgX0wSl2/s1600/DSC01179.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8tHtDcS5wAWQg5YK3K29CnoETTodHoMhfFYnXIoo7fQvj9pRDwA5datuU9-P2QfDgEFKkqqjiIJqnsZhBjpWonSFf1tKQa3ptYPPtd2XBYcg-8maaubY-MTR9F6F3JMGYRfaBgX0wSl2/s400/DSC01179.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482153617897012114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aL_SGLmKvhADYVUMTgWiNwFwFhzPQPlA79JP8eLvCThei4xVX7Kuh2BJqMss0251TVbFTtYsXtJha1dkLx0RnSTrKZ8Ne_dlN8gKyz25bLJCAxTsHIfffZkmGdgTgWBfySuJUuaSW3AR/s1600/DSC01152.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aL_SGLmKvhADYVUMTgWiNwFwFhzPQPlA79JP8eLvCThei4xVX7Kuh2BJqMss0251TVbFTtYsXtJha1dkLx0RnSTrKZ8Ne_dlN8gKyz25bLJCAxTsHIfffZkmGdgTgWBfySuJUuaSW3AR/s400/DSC01152.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482153617082952002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVsPxZAzzMlmBckfoJWeA4VNIN2Ch_nQwKHQCMTbb6XtPXr3SMSCfvHkT7lDh_3RgXr9Ucz18WGTAiNzmVjYvnVI8tPckmZtGuiLl6LA3xnWOt9plPOzIHbQkKfwJwClbrv_QsCcTLOrV/s1600/DSC01160.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVsPxZAzzMlmBckfoJWeA4VNIN2Ch_nQwKHQCMTbb6XtPXr3SMSCfvHkT7lDh_3RgXr9Ucz18WGTAiNzmVjYvnVI8tPckmZtGuiLl6LA3xnWOt9plPOzIHbQkKfwJwClbrv_QsCcTLOrV/s400/DSC01160.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482153606295416930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-F8th2PO05JKrwLHr6I8M9XXcWqlksvOUqlx8MJNU2pGNjCk2wCN0DysnHxQupi3Taz1yVngrNX6-ObswNkrv9BJIxX-IuVtMHGRHjCLedMwtkNbrJa98vjF8Kj09Rgq1E_twVBVEPSm/s1600/_%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB0028.jpg_"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-F8th2PO05JKrwLHr6I8M9XXcWqlksvOUqlx8MJNU2pGNjCk2wCN0DysnHxQupi3Taz1yVngrNX6-ObswNkrv9BJIxX-IuVtMHGRHjCLedMwtkNbrJa98vjF8Kj09Rgq1E_twVBVEPSm/s400/_%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB0028.jpg_" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482152517042094738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16PdOUcilsYKt63v15fylHoi01IPi1UZYVcbp7eSZSaGdWd4ZArgWcANeBS8fQ6GeFzu7g4CDRHedsVOT5z22W-gFQtMhCwYcx3cAvYuRlqWcAqqjHKWCytNCwU9rT0koyZSjfE-ajn0z/s1600/Beauty_L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16PdOUcilsYKt63v15fylHoi01IPi1UZYVcbp7eSZSaGdWd4ZArgWcANeBS8fQ6GeFzu7g4CDRHedsVOT5z22W-gFQtMhCwYcx3cAvYuRlqWcAqqjHKWCytNCwU9rT0koyZSjfE-ajn0z/s400/Beauty_L.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482152508859545570" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-25082873862331402862010-06-10T02:07:00.000-07:002010-06-10T02:42:50.432-07:00BunrakuI had the great opportunity to go to a Bunraku performance with my school on Tuesday. For those of you who don't know, Bunraku is traditional Japanese puppet theater. Needless to say I did not understand a word of it but this didn't seem to be a problem because judging by the looks on their faces, I don't think any of my friends did either. <br />Bunraku uses very old traditional Japanese the language, imagine really difficult Shakespeare then times it by 10 and you probably have about the right idea of what I was attempting to understand....yeah, probably not gonna happen any time soon. Not only this but the narrator (Tayu) puts so much characterization into his voice that even the Japanese people needed subtitles to have any idea what he was saying. Imagine really nasally shouting with a lot of breaks into the vocal ranges that shouldn't be possible for a grown man with lots of long drawn out syllables and you have about the right idea of what a Tayu sounds like. <br />However, through the eyes of a theater geek this performance was interesting on a different level. It was so cool to see the Tayu and Shamisen player working together to weave this story. At times it seemed like they were almost trying to outdo each other in their performances but according to the brochure this is the way it always is and in all actuality their efforts matched each other perfectly. The Tayu went from talking to singing and back seemingly at random but his "singing" was something new altogether. <br />All the puppets were so complex they needed two or three people apiece to operate them and almost every limb down to their eyebrows were mobile making this performance far more intricate than your standard sock puppet show. <br /><br />I don't think any of my friends quite understood why I said afterward that I thought the Bunraku was quite interesting, most of them dosed off before it was halfway through but I wasn't lying when I said it. Bunraku is as different a type of theater as you can get from my usual Broadway musicals and quite an experience. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1UKa4KlshL2sqf5tDMgWA1CQQzGdXd8nLwIgQU_tcHPvvGe_wWv0QVGSFFLezrhGxqG90mzTYJbQml3QUxjzRopV3WcnKPj-Ml8raE30TC8xItzV0CTmOmGNOMhwg_68UFvHc_ghCMN6/s1600/bunraku+narrator+and+shamisen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1UKa4KlshL2sqf5tDMgWA1CQQzGdXd8nLwIgQU_tcHPvvGe_wWv0QVGSFFLezrhGxqG90mzTYJbQml3QUxjzRopV3WcnKPj-Ml8raE30TC8xItzV0CTmOmGNOMhwg_68UFvHc_ghCMN6/s400/bunraku+narrator+and+shamisen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481070839556308882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5hi0130L9Vfcdw6HdSyw767gkUZuXSthZ2NHfWtKa1b4xSNjwL5zsNOqOsjkAitt7FLUDW6btxqJV06K6D9lpe1TiT5nBZFotFNr1S2L_FDMT1aMHIa-0kE2EZqKy3pHxzR0-Y6FvasS/s1600/bunraku.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5hi0130L9Vfcdw6HdSyw767gkUZuXSthZ2NHfWtKa1b4xSNjwL5zsNOqOsjkAitt7FLUDW6btxqJV06K6D9lpe1TiT5nBZFotFNr1S2L_FDMT1aMHIa-0kE2EZqKy3pHxzR0-Y6FvasS/s400/bunraku.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481070832760499106" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">photos courtesy of:</span> eee.uci.edu/clients/sbklein/images/EDOTHEATER /bunraku/images/chanter02.jpg <span style="font-weight:bold;">and</span> http://www.pref.osaka.jp/en/attraction/culture/bunraku/img/main.jpgSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-16391612029806203732010-06-05T14:33:00.000-07:002010-06-05T14:56:17.248-07:00America vs Japan: Reading Between The LinesEach conversation that people have has underlying currents and extra communication that goes on. The direct meaning of the words you say have little to do with what you communicate. However, I have noticed the means for this underlying communication is different from culture to culture.<br /><br />In America, tone of voice and inflection is a very important communicator. You can say the exact same words simply in a different manner or place the emphasis on a different word and change the way your comment will be perceived. Sometimes we Americans are a little oblivious to feelings or emotions but tone inflection says a lot.<br /><br />When you are participating in a Japanese conversation this is very different. Heavy inflection is not often used when speaking in Japanese. In fact, I vaguely remember someone once telling me that the reason most Americans have an accent when speaking Japanese is that they put so much inflection into the words. <br />Yet there is much more that is perceived in a conversation than you might think. The Japanese are very attuned to emotions. They are much more sensitive to how the other person is feeling or the atmosphere of the room and conversation in general than many Americans. I had a talk with my host sister about this the other day and she told me that when she attended BYU Hawaii, her professors would often ask her to "speak up" and voice her opinions because they couldn't understand why she was so quiet. She said she was surprised at how oblivious they were to her emotions if she didn't speak. <br /><br />Everyone "reads between the lines", humans communicate in far more complex and descriptive ways than the words that are spoken would allow, and everyone does it differently. Next time you have a conversation with someone this is a good thing to keep in mind.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-7715552454203882232010-06-04T05:28:00.000-07:002010-06-04T06:04:12.765-07:00The New Girl. Again ;)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkQnzA8wRGCJBzHOKIxKjpI6BKdrevmumuwbQjnLwz98-x8zs5yTiE2PGCRXdyUKWp4QfWaJmDBpd1t2b_Lq76_0w0Dcx9h2UffbauOpJLjIF05GPgKy378PZnSHLrM1VuTqYIi0MtN5f/s1600/DSC01134.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkQnzA8wRGCJBzHOKIxKjpI6BKdrevmumuwbQjnLwz98-x8zs5yTiE2PGCRXdyUKWp4QfWaJmDBpd1t2b_Lq76_0w0Dcx9h2UffbauOpJLjIF05GPgKy378PZnSHLrM1VuTqYIi0MtN5f/s320/DSC01134.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478903484819646146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ebYYzFD8VB3WZvJoII4Q75ejoBi7hzOvXodw5DCeWiwajYSp-my0NE_N87yGsMamNx7CEihTkbni-1l4ld7n9XzclWP7MY67Gec1zMDDeKOOPCpazuwPg1UxW6AflfRfhfXkcMKLbOus/s1600/DSC01133.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ebYYzFD8VB3WZvJoII4Q75ejoBi7hzOvXodw5DCeWiwajYSp-my0NE_N87yGsMamNx7CEihTkbni-1l4ld7n9XzclWP7MY67Gec1zMDDeKOOPCpazuwPg1UxW6AflfRfhfXkcMKLbOus/s320/DSC01133.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478903479503312434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1BhKlbKrt-GS8r4aQwt9ug1Ggve0P78lZHn_1X-Sw7-pnTwl7waUJVdHuzTslU-n21wKl5csd_aqO52xeev4b1BgZ_qZmJwE19DZPnvP7aVygUs8pff33gR4f4rjLgozk5A7pFzFdO3h/s1600/DSC01132.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1BhKlbKrt-GS8r4aQwt9ug1Ggve0P78lZHn_1X-Sw7-pnTwl7waUJVdHuzTslU-n21wKl5csd_aqO52xeev4b1BgZ_qZmJwE19DZPnvP7aVygUs8pff33gR4f4rjLgozk5A7pFzFdO3h/s320/DSC01132.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478903471364300242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHmejWa4rEZOibuu53SVtGOVMqEKu0kROvElsG-nUwFawOUpTb5GgoOksz9OGU4ikHutMS1N-3X_KDrIIkHduCIhpeZwgfNQESI8kgy0pMpuZkFUH6JMcXLQ_nQHQ5H-3vI2JPFyEvI81/s1600/DSC01125.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHmejWa4rEZOibuu53SVtGOVMqEKu0kROvElsG-nUwFawOUpTb5GgoOksz9OGU4ikHutMS1N-3X_KDrIIkHduCIhpeZwgfNQESI8kgy0pMpuZkFUH6JMcXLQ_nQHQ5H-3vI2JPFyEvI81/s320/DSC01125.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478903465837567042" /></a><br />As I sit here struggling to think of a clever and unusual to write this blog post and consuming large amounts of ice-cream like the American I was born to be I realize that I can't put off this post any more. In conclusion (or well, the conclusion of the introduction) you are just going to have to deal with a sad lack of originality. So suck it up and have a nice day ^^<br /><br />Well, I am the new girl again. Not that I mind really, my first day of school was great. The first day is always the most entertaining for a gaijin exchange student. Unless of course you don't like being constantly stared at and admired out loud. <br />I was saved having to give multiple introductions by being asked to prepare one speech to give to the entire school. As an actor, large groups of people really aren't a problem for me, speeches have never really been a problem. However, put that speech in another language and I think Oscar winners would get nervous! Thankfully it went well and I didn't sound like a <span style="font-style:italic;">complete</span> idiot. <br /><br />Classes here are structured much the same way as at Mishima. We stay together as a homeroom class for every class except history in which half the class goes to another room for World History and half the class stays for Japanese History.<br />My classes are still practically impossible but I have taken to writing down all the notes solely for kanji practice. However, it's a given that I have no idea what I am writing on my paper, nor can I read it later. <br /><br />As a private school, International Takii High School, is a bit different from the public Mishima. They are sticklers for the formalities, mainly the bow which we must perform before and after each class. Yet with this added strictness there is also a certain amount of freedom. Students actually speak up in classes here and ask questions when they have them and teachers talk a bit slower (which has done wonders for the gaijin's understanding level). There are other subtle differences but these are hard to put into words. Perhaps in the future (when my brain is not so clogged with writer's block) I will be able to describe these differences in more detail. <br /><br />For today, I hope this simple description has sufficed.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-15930223776835104662010-06-04T05:08:00.000-07:002010-06-05T03:50:35.353-07:00gaijinzilla's alter-ego: UNIFORMzilla!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEr1ZqvDa3qJAoKQGSRgl3RVSr3zFJF1KhO1FA_wTuonCOsUf1okC8raJY_neG-amJkz-Nnaa88c6UGWHOWBjLhqD2ui4DCtvobKlWQWHmd5n8YkQIAnInFNkqrmu5y3lvWFNY5rv8eJ-o/s1600/DSC01121.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEr1ZqvDa3qJAoKQGSRgl3RVSr3zFJF1KhO1FA_wTuonCOsUf1okC8raJY_neG-amJkz-Nnaa88c6UGWHOWBjLhqD2ui4DCtvobKlWQWHmd5n8YkQIAnInFNkqrmu5y3lvWFNY5rv8eJ-o/s200/DSC01121.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478893707559947426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTun0eb3DoFndKoexFiTgCo_Y38KvlGPSRnWI0-BMUVI9-95BvSWac31CE9-N_8oI9ye0UHEgvJrUiH7wH0-tRQXazeoDnq9TrYCtqxt6M-sSsykNiVLOpvG-RvZh2Wih8agFPJMEmz4D/s1600/DSC01122.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTun0eb3DoFndKoexFiTgCo_Y38KvlGPSRnWI0-BMUVI9-95BvSWac31CE9-N_8oI9ye0UHEgvJrUiH7wH0-tRQXazeoDnq9TrYCtqxt6M-sSsykNiVLOpvG-RvZh2Wih8agFPJMEmz4D/s200/DSC01122.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478893699582609970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0jw7apeuUQsvkGGmGm6OIcU7HgOcekFvhONATKjDzQ2V2YkduhIuPTjddfPUdMVWkPkMXvBYD5mmcaCUoBMu3xVGWAfwWWCxyAj3ku5QjnWKDHE-BgxSOfwf6Pqs-H67HoMf0W5ADO_j/s1600/DSC01150.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0jw7apeuUQsvkGGmGm6OIcU7HgOcekFvhONATKjDzQ2V2YkduhIuPTjddfPUdMVWkPkMXvBYD5mmcaCUoBMu3xVGWAfwWWCxyAj3ku5QjnWKDHE-BgxSOfwf6Pqs-H67HoMf0W5ADO_j/s200/DSC01150.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478893692378913218" /></a><br />Every morning I wake up and I am saved the effort of trying to put together some sort of outfit that doesn't look horrendous by having my clothing dictated to me in the form of a school uniform.<br /><br />I don my pleated skirt and collared shirt and try to convince myself that I am a real Japanese school girl. However, this facade doesn't really last when I actually get to school. No matter how similar the uniform is a gaijin is still a gaijin. In fact I probably get more stares in a uniform than I did in casual dress. I guess I can understand though, it would be like seeing Godzilla waltzing around in a sundress. I would stare too. <br /><br />It is hard for me to understand other's conversations but I do know enough to understand that when I hear "gaijin" and "seifuku" (uniform) in the same sentence it is safe to assume that they are talking about me. Now, I get the opportunity to make this assumption all the time!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-56290793249566179712010-06-01T01:58:00.000-07:002010-06-04T06:05:48.375-07:00Chapter 2: New Home, New School, New Experience.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYE72RadUiyceh-Uf3CYVCV9_3Our_Fwq9jk1h8WXv44bzHihW-evvVU0QNqqaZqpPA_bA_dwOr1DVbTz2bC5W36FwTfwemBESpnqy1LZf8QD_8cpIvziutFgxT2L0vRpRLfFaKGtOoZJY/s1600/DSC01137.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYE72RadUiyceh-Uf3CYVCV9_3Our_Fwq9jk1h8WXv44bzHihW-evvVU0QNqqaZqpPA_bA_dwOr1DVbTz2bC5W36FwTfwemBESpnqy1LZf8QD_8cpIvziutFgxT2L0vRpRLfFaKGtOoZJY/s320/DSC01137.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478903913819191074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXumgtTzHlgXVv82weCxliA3KQR4GfYx6LVphczb3FnNoUhtmFHWZzN4VLxyuvg1fCC-ak3RzBmIZsgAxz-6RYO_M5MG8zPgYhI7_UFTD0Th0DuDNL4ccOELMSDxnx_BefFLw56H4psUv/s1600/DSC01139.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXumgtTzHlgXVv82weCxliA3KQR4GfYx6LVphczb3FnNoUhtmFHWZzN4VLxyuvg1fCC-ak3RzBmIZsgAxz-6RYO_M5MG8zPgYhI7_UFTD0Th0DuDNL4ccOELMSDxnx_BefFLw56H4psUv/s320/DSC01139.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478903903672547042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGtjDsplighVmklcLcBQd3mZuml-MypUp6dMxsEM-nGtd9HZcA-bzTyORqdXyQVv0BG2_nXHJAeVITSzWCoKhIVz02I9Xqw0w92POjinQVAUuhQQBSxRrzKAO-d0ojXwxAHY-f0ERYiQH/s1600/DSC01135.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGtjDsplighVmklcLcBQd3mZuml-MypUp6dMxsEM-nGtd9HZcA-bzTyORqdXyQVv0BG2_nXHJAeVITSzWCoKhIVz02I9Xqw0w92POjinQVAUuhQQBSxRrzKAO-d0ojXwxAHY-f0ERYiQH/s320/DSC01135.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478903898681016642" /></a><br />Yesterday I made the move to the residence of my new host family. Due to this change I get the most thorough experience of Japanese culture because everything is very different than my last family. The only problem with this is that I feel like a newborn gaijin again! <br /><br />I thought Takatsuki was a big city before(probably due to Mapleton being so small we only have 2 notable businesses) now I have moved to Osaka city. Which happens to be the 3rd largest city in Japan. I see now why Airi laughed when I noted how "big" Takatsuki was on my first day in Japan. I would have too.<br /><br />Rather than my western bed in a western bedroom that I had become so accustomed to before I now reside in a traditional tatami room with a traditional futon to sleep on for the next two months.<br /><br />After getting so very skilled at riding a bike on the terrifying Japan streets (or well, I didn't die every time I went out) now I must ride the bus to school and I am sure that will be an adventure in and of itself!<br /><br />My new school is amazing, huge, beautiful, and "private". I thought I had a good handle on what Japanese schools were like and then I switched to a private one...hmmm. This isn't to say my new school is bad. No, in fact I will write a whole new post solely for its awesomeness. It is just, like everything else here, a bit different. <br /><br />Thank you fate for giving me such a...thorough...Japanese experience. Hopefully I can come out of it alive, or at least sane.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-55442149871785771552010-05-31T14:42:00.000-07:002010-06-01T01:50:18.672-07:00Aisatsu: A Farewell to MishimaDear Mishima High,<br />Well, we had our month together and it was wonderful. We made many good memories that I will remember for the rest of my life. Now I am turning the page to a different chapter in my life.<br /><br />I am very glad that I got to experience Mishima High school. My first day of school was terrifying but you all welcomed me with open arms. I improved my Japanese a bit during that short time period but I still had a hard time understanding when I left (Which is code for, I absolutely had no idea what was going on most of the time). I didn't talk much because I didn't know how to say what I wanted to and I wasn't exactly the flamboyant outgoing person I am when I actually speak the language. In fact, I don't think I have been that quiet of a person since I was born.<br />I appreciated everyone who had the courage to come and say hello and I felt so bad when it took me so long to learn names. All you boys seemed to shy to really talk to me much but those of you who did were highly appreciated and all the girls who surrounded my chair on my first day of school and continually tried to communicate with the gaijin even though we all know it is difficult made my stay at Mishima even better.<br /><br />I will miss you all but as we know, I am not leaving Japan till July 22nd. I hope to receive emails from every one of you (yes, this includes you boys too). Maybe, just maybe, yesterday will not be the last time I see you. ;)<br /><br />sincerely,<br />the gaijin<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWQdO3IFA0QNzcVGulvV-u6Ik_lwps0faNruvdUdxJDNdjXCgaNwh7UBcQcth969zO_l1c8bXNGOE5cObZQ1Tdzeo6lis5x6iuYh-GtctudMX-CGBgn8e6fVfoUpjTNjBlC-klOtBRKlB/s1600/DSC00920.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWQdO3IFA0QNzcVGulvV-u6Ik_lwps0faNruvdUdxJDNdjXCgaNwh7UBcQcth969zO_l1c8bXNGOE5cObZQ1Tdzeo6lis5x6iuYh-GtctudMX-CGBgn8e6fVfoUpjTNjBlC-klOtBRKlB/s400/DSC00920.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477724603996404450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK9tdAjnrocXnE-qUPH0QG_uhPby84dErIhrllsy7VzbS76-_a-1vTehw0en7y18XVA5OGU2bSlf0W0Z7UFj5hcd30mJM9sWRu9Vj2KndDMZvhtMjPk849y16ohXAfW7IsCAf9Ka3AYNy/s1600/DSC00947.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK9tdAjnrocXnE-qUPH0QG_uhPby84dErIhrllsy7VzbS76-_a-1vTehw0en7y18XVA5OGU2bSlf0W0Z7UFj5hcd30mJM9sWRu9Vj2KndDMZvhtMjPk849y16ohXAfW7IsCAf9Ka3AYNy/s400/DSC00947.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477724266019482818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgSerw3a4h3bYx2yoLOzUrzzqqfq3HAwhAdO4MqLqhRhfPzBUMTgfG57piVAhQD4FIirj09hGrzgrBFI2BVdKVASRJnjDy1jwNZ45h-0weaNkCXZqN_G7UC1Grtb0wPF2nLeY9IOLOA4_/s1600/DSC00949.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgSerw3a4h3bYx2yoLOzUrzzqqfq3HAwhAdO4MqLqhRhfPzBUMTgfG57piVAhQD4FIirj09hGrzgrBFI2BVdKVASRJnjDy1jwNZ45h-0weaNkCXZqN_G7UC1Grtb0wPF2nLeY9IOLOA4_/s400/DSC00949.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477724253633941666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQltcJhsQMgdRsoI5zfOc0yK6ur1ObU-hyzur64YXU51yDTKRwxcAbav3xskgA0Ud5oliX3ojkUT7A55LtAi2Vgunl02W-YPa7PZNgdNQ1e7oU9AvB8DHdIXfAi1ICyiii0CesUJ26Tk_/s1600/P1040893.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQltcJhsQMgdRsoI5zfOc0yK6ur1ObU-hyzur64YXU51yDTKRwxcAbav3xskgA0Ud5oliX3ojkUT7A55LtAi2Vgunl02W-YPa7PZNgdNQ1e7oU9AvB8DHdIXfAi1ICyiii0CesUJ26Tk_/s400/P1040893.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477724238947862498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzBp5Csgx9zvDM6j9XqfZGjZhMsdH4sdDHtb6RTFNkwI4LkUL-00fSK9FDL0549sx89rEl4iMk1ieacRYsU48uYR62DVN1TJcf5yqd8sS9ajpfpsuJv1Kw57nb3fTc3-XudCUy-QupFn3/s1600/DSC00707.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzBp5Csgx9zvDM6j9XqfZGjZhMsdH4sdDHtb6RTFNkwI4LkUL-00fSK9FDL0549sx89rEl4iMk1ieacRYsU48uYR62DVN1TJcf5yqd8sS9ajpfpsuJv1Kw57nb3fTc3-XudCUy-QupFn3/s400/DSC00707.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477724222575895682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iK5iGqxKiMyoImsVv0IRSWA5_np2MvYOxlccVKmJ2cPj6bBCDxvtABfACcHM-9HPnC7usvHa5KIfXteVy1G-mNbn6f5YjusP_p4BmaGhHYA9x7JuSTkXS-oF4SwYT-8iHxqbXAZcjaFB/s1600/DSC01084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iK5iGqxKiMyoImsVv0IRSWA5_np2MvYOxlccVKmJ2cPj6bBCDxvtABfACcHM-9HPnC7usvHa5KIfXteVy1G-mNbn6f5YjusP_p4BmaGhHYA9x7JuSTkXS-oF4SwYT-8iHxqbXAZcjaFB/s400/DSC01084.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477724204061852610" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-8446968593355495382010-05-27T13:51:00.000-07:002010-05-27T14:07:56.720-07:00QUIET! Testing in progress.Mishima just finished quarterly testing on Wednesday. Let me just say this, as a gaijin these 4 days were lovely! As a student who actually has to take, and pass, these tests, it must be hell on earth. <br /><br />My days played out nicely during this week: wake up, go to school, sit in the library and listen to music for 3 hours, go home and play for the rest of the day. It was perfectly relaxing and a well needed break. I just count my lucky stars that I don't have to take those tests otherwise my schedule would be completely different. If Airi is any indication my day would probably be as follows: wake up 2 hours early, study, go to school, spend 3 hours wracking my tired brain for the answer to each grueling question, go home, study, eat lunch, study, eat dinner, study, take a shower, study go to bed as late as humanly possible probably still studying even in my dreams. At least I get a good 3 hours break from studying in there. Then again, does bedtime count as a "break"?<br /><br />So there you have it, testing week. Or should I say Satan's days? I must say, my hat is off to all the superhuman students who attend, and pass, a Japanese high school. I guess there is a reason all Americans assume that if you are Japanese you must be a genius...it's probably true.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018771854275346978.post-38637267591472264972010-05-26T05:10:00.000-07:002010-05-26T05:21:06.207-07:00Inside barbecue. hmmm....We went to an interesting restaurant as a family today. Our table had a little pit in the middle of it with a grate over it. This turned out to be a mini fire pit although it was either electric or gas operated because we didn't have to build the fire itself. <br />The restaurant was buffet style so we paid once and got to order almost whatever we wanted (mostly meat but there was some vegetables available as well). They brought us our orders cut and seasoned but not cooked. That was our job! You know, people always say that Japanese people don't eat very much but oh boy when it comes to barbecuing I think these people could give even an American teenage boy a run for his money. We ate, and ate, and ate, continually adding more and more meat to that little grate over our fire until I felt like I had just finished Thanksgiving dinner and when we were all done with our roasted meat and veggies we ordered some ice cream to top it off! It was now that I realized that all of you who are expecting me to come back to America several sizes smaller are in for a surprise I have a feeling that the food here will do just the opposite to me!!<br /><br />I did notice one thing today though that you all might find interesting and that is the tiny beverages. Here in Japan you have the option of water or soda or tea most of the time but the difference is the cup size. America's cups are huge. It takes me almost the entire meal to finish off my glass of water (for it is always water) but here my cup was tiny and there are no handy waiters to fill your glass as soon as they see it is empty. There is simply a spout where you get your own. Needless to say my family was astounded and amused as I got up 4 times to refill my teacup sized water glass and then promptly downed the whole thing in about 2 minutes. I guess they just don't understand an American's need for their beverages.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16782395256758751993noreply@blogger.com3