Arrival in Japan

21 hours later.

I have made it back to Japan, the land of crazy.  I'm currently sitting in the Kansai International Airport waiting for a limousine bus to pick me up and bring me back to my roommates. I'm here to tell you about my flights and waste time while I wait for the bus.  

So my day started at 2:30 Saturday morning (January 29th), but really it started at about 12:30 am because my mother's snoring kept me awake (not her fault, she has a cold... that I gave her :P).  I woke up, got dressed, grabbed my stuff, said a quick and tired goodbye to my mother, and hopped on a bus to the airport.  There, I had to wait an hour and a half before getting my boarding pass (the first thing you have to do at the Toronto Pearson International Airport).  From then on it was pretty much smooth sailing.  This 45 year old guy in front of me kept trying to flirt with me (I saw his info on his US customs sheet), and I was just like "Really? Do I look like I'm anywhere near your age? Or are you just trying to be nice? Because I don't do 'nice' at 3:30 am, and I probably won't start doing nice until around 10:00 on a regular day, when I'm not travelling halfway around the world."  He got the picture soon enough.  

All of my seats on the planes were window seats.  My first plane to Chicago, I was doing everything I could to watch us takeoff.  2 seconds after we cleared the clouds, I passed out.  I woke up 15 minutes before landing.  The flight was only 1 hour and 15 minutes, but sleeping the whole time was a great way to pass it by.  It wasn't so great when I found out that the flight attendants didn't wake me up to give me my complimentary beverage.  Ugh.  

I had to race through Chicago airport.  It wasn't confusing or anything, but I made it just in time for the last call onto my second flight, where I managed to get my complimentary beverages for the 5 hour flight (which was taken up with short naps and episodes of That 70's Show). 

At the San Fransisco Airport, I got lost inside, but I thought it was all right because I had an hour between flights.  I found my way to the proper terminal, but I stopped to grab a sandwich and some water so I could finally eat ($14 bucks US for the lunch, I'm glad the dollar is slightly above par right now).  I grab it, and was planning to eat it at my terminal gate when they're calling for the final boarding call for my flight! So I run for it, make it on the plane and it's filled with people.  I was sitting beside a Japanese guy (probably around my age), and I had to get him to move so that I could get to my seat.  The little bugger had bought so much stuff at duty free though, so there was only enough room for the smaller of my carry ons in the overhead compartment.  So my giant backpack had to sit at my feet (and I had to hide it from the flight attendants, because if it doesn't fit under the seat in front of you, it has to go up).  I was successful at hiding it (Ninja skills I acquired), and it proved useful in finding different ways to sit and nap on the 11.5 hour plane ride.  Before taking off, I quickly ate my sandwich and shoved that under the seat in front of me.  Then it was nothing but sitting for a loooong time.  I only had to get up once to use the washroom, and I felt bad because the boy beside me was sleeping. I hate waking people up.  It's one of those "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  I hate being woken up, so I hate doing it to others.  Unfortunately, nature called so I had to wake him up.  Whoops.  He took it pretty well, even though he was back to sleep when I got back from the washroom and had to wake him up again.  Other than that he was a pretty good seat buddy on the plane.  We never said a word to each other, he slept the whole time and then woke up for maybe an hour to read over some scientific looking notes.  At one time, during my creative positions of napping, I woke up and found he was napping, but he had totally leaned over and was half on my seat (I was crouched in a ball on my seat and foot rest a.k.a. backpack).  I didn't mind, I went back to sleep, but when I woke back up he was back on his seat again.  When the flight was over, he was even kind enough to pull down my carry on from the overhead bin.  I'm going to miss that bugger!

One of the greatest things at the end of a long flight (which has only happened today) is when you get through customs quickly and easily (can't say that for the U.S.), and when you go to pick up your luggage, your one of the first ones there, and you see your bright, pink-spotted bag coming off the belt with perfect timing.  it seems to make the whole trip so much better, just to have it end so simply and easily.  

Okay, 25 more minutes till the limo-bus comes.  I can't wait to get back to the Seminar House and hear what my friends did in Japan over the break.  I wish I could shower tonight, but my towels are locked in my other suitcase that I left in Japan, and I don't have access to it until tomorrow.  I will remain a dirty-rat for a while yet!  Also due to this, and the fact that I packed my camera in my suitcase, there are no pictures on this blog post (as I'm sure you've figured out by now).  So, use your imagination as to what the inside of a plane looks like for 19 hours, and then get thrust into the future 14 hours.  It's, so much fun.

Bus just pulled up! Peace and Love!

Heading back...home?

Oh, it's been a lovely break.

That was a little bit of sarcasm.  I loved seeing my friends and family, but I was sick for the last 4 weeks of my time being home, and I still couldn't move much because of my knee (but slowly, it's feeling better!)  It made me into quite the miserable little thing.  Not too mention that my friends were all back in school and the constant snowing made visits between us a little difficult.  But all in all, I loved being home, seeing my friends and family, and having an unlimited supply of fruits and vegetables.

Strawberries, in particular

Alas, it's times to return to Japan.  I'm looking forward to it, a lot.  Mostly for the people I've met.  I miss my roommates, Yu and Fran, and my friend Jacqui (who will be my roommate this semester).  And I REALLY miss my guy friends.  It is what I'm most excited for.  

My mom is trying to get me to get to bed (have to wake up at 2:30 am for my 6:25 flight to Chicago, San Fransisco, and then Osaka), so I guess I'll appease her now and head off to bed (without my retainer, which I forgot at home, and probably numerous other things that I'll figure out as I get to Japan).

Sayonara people!

Also, I was introduced to South Park while I was at home.  If you have time to watch it (not the first two seasons) I highly reccommend it!

Happy Late New Year!

Yay! We made it to another year!

So I think most people who will be reading this already know this, but I came home for Christmas!  I was trying to surprise all my friends, so I was not telling them that I was coming home.  Anyways, my mom was talking to some of my friends parents and she did not tell them not to say anything, so some of my friends found out that way that I was coming home.  And then my mom posted on one of my facebook statuses "See you in a few days" and some of them found out that way I was coming home.  So I got home and waited around for a few days in my house so that I would be able to surprise them all at a Christmas party.  When I arrived at the party, I had my video camera out and was ready to get everybody's surprise on camera.  But they were all expecting me.  Nobody was surprised.  I was holed up in my house for 4 days for nothing.  Oi Vay.  I did surprise one friend, Bridget.  She did not have a freaking clue I was coming home.  Small victory! Next time I am trying to surprise people though, I will not let my mom in on the plans.  Sorry mom!

Christmas went well.  Had a lazy day with the family and an awesome prime rib for dinner.  I got the new Victoria's Secret coat that I have been asking for since forever! It's so cute! My sister and I got my dad a new pair of snowshoes (Ha, almost wrote snowhoes, that would be fun too, I suppose).  Hopefully these will last awhile! Erica and I made my mother a recipe book that was a compilation of all the recipes she's received from her friends over the years.  She started crying! So cute and unexpected! But it's always nice to see a gift well received.  The four of us also got a kind of miner's headlamp for hunting.  This was our Christmas photo after we finished opening gifts:

Attractive, I know.

The following week I underwent a major identity change, and I look more like this now:

That's me in the middle!

Yep! I'm a brunette again! I have been blonde for the last two years, but it was time for a change.  For a number of reasons.  

1. Hated it when the roots grew in.  It gave the whole secret away and therefore
2. Hated upkeeping the roots and the price of it.  Too much of a bother.
3. Attracted TOO much attention in Japan.  Always harmless attention, but too much of it (the final straw was when an old, drunk Japanese man came right up to my face in a convenience store and was just pointing and staring at me and saying cute.  I literally ran away).

So, no more blonde.  I've joined the brunette force of the world.  My Swedish friend will be disappointed, as will my friend Jacqui (but she just wanted to dye my hair really vibrant greens and reds and purples because my hair was so light).  I kind of miss being a blonde, but I am THRIVING as a brunette!  Even as I'm writing this though, one of my friends from Germany has commented saying he like blonde better.  Too bad buddy!

I had a good New Years.  From 2005-2009, I was only able to see 2 New Years.  It was because of my own lack of control over alcohol consumption that I failed to ring in some New Years, so I take it very easy now on New Years.  I make sure I get a good buzz on, and that is all! I like having fun with my friends, not praying to the porcelain god.  Here is me during the last few hours of 2010 with my friend's sister Krista:

I don't know why, but I always seem to have lots of pictures of me in washrooms at Stag Does

I started work the following week.  I only made it to 1 day of work though.  I went in on the Tuesday, woke up sick on Wednesday (I was feeling sick for awhile, but I woke up feeling a lot worse that day), and Thursday through Saturday I was in Indianapolis, Indian at the Archery Trade Association!  I went with my family and some of my dad's friends to promote Just Us Hunting and find product sponsors.  And we got to meet somebody VERY special!

Jim.  Shockey.

Yeah, that's me and Erica with Jim Shockey.  No big deal, but he's a BIG DEAL!  He's one of the biggest names in hunting television (and he's Canadian!).  It was great.  Erica and I walked up to him and Erica pulled out her business card and wrote him an autograph and she was pretty much telling him that he was super lucky to be able to meet us.  And he totally went a long with it too (or maybe he thought he was lucky to meet us?).  It was hilarious.  I was super flustered and excited to meet him, so good thing Erica was there because I probably wouldn't have been able to make a complete sentence.  We told him about Just Us Hunting and he told us to never give up, no matter what anyone says.  Yay Jim! He also wrote on my autograph I got from him "Meet me up on the mountain!"  So I'm pretty sure I'm invited to go hunting with him.  Jim, if you're reading this, don't be surprised if you run into up on a mountain!

We saw lots at the trade show, met a lot of people and my mom won a free bow from Bowtech and hunting gear from Prois!  She wasn't even going to enter the competition, but we finally convinced her too, and look what she got.  Way to go mom!

Driving there and back wasn't much fun.  I get carsick now very easily (I think it's because I was never really in a car in Japan).  No vomiting or anything, but I do feel very nauseous.  Not fun!

Went in to work again this week.  I was still sick and today I had to call in another sick day.  Sick day's suck.  You don't get to do anything and you accomplish absolutely nothing.  But, I think I am feeling better, so hopefully tomorrow I can go into work (and get the bird out of the basement.  Yuck!) and then head to Waterloo this weekend to hang out with some friends (because I probably won't be able to see them for almost 5 months anyways.  Fun times!

Speaking of bummed up knees (nice topic change).  I went in to see a doctor when I got back  into Goderich about my knee.  He pulled and tugged on it and told me I stretched and strained a tendon above the knee cap.  For the next two weeks my leg felt worse than when I went in.  I went to see another doctor then and she pulled and tugged on it and told me all the ligaments in my knee were stretched out.  And it feels even worse now.  Note to self: doctors can cause pain.  I hate it.  I can't do anything.  I want to be able to go for a run and actually do some exercise.  But I have literally been sitting on my ass for 4 weeks.  I WANT TO MOVE! This sucks!  I'm going to see the doctor again next week and hopefully they will give me and actual answer.  I really don't want to go back to Japan with a crap leg.  Well, I really want to go back to Japan, I'm really pumped for it.  But I don't want to be limping around everywhere while I'm there.

So let's all hope for the best!!!

Peace and Love!

Whew! Exams!

Hey all!

People have been asking for a post but it's been exam time, so today's post may be short and sweet and maybe boring because that's what exams are all about!

So my last post was almost two weeks ago, and things haven't been that exciting.  My knee still hasn't gotten better, and I can't do much walking on it without needed to rest and elevate it for an hour or two.  This lead me to skip some classes in the last two weeks, and I feel bad because I had had a perfect record up until then.  It was necessary though, because some days I would wake up, and the last thing I wanted to do was to move my leg.  I talked with my friends about seeing a doctor, but we all kind of figured that nothing was wrong with my knee, and that is most likely just needed some RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation).  I've done lots of that though these past three weeks, so I think it's high time I went to the doctor to get it checked out.

My leg has caused me to be much more restless too.  I worked out 4 times a week and ran 4 times a week, but I haven't been able to do anything with my knee like this.  It's so frustrating! I want to be outside! I want to be moving!  It's the most frustrating thing!

Anyways, my exams started this past week.  Monday I had my Reading & Writing Japanese final, and Tuesday I had my Speaking Japanese final.  They were a little hard, but I prepared very well for those ones. Wendnesday I had 3 exams all in one afternoon: Japanese Monsters, International Negotiations, and Japanese Pop Culture.  I didn't bother studying for Monsters, which was all right, there were only 2 question that I would have needed to study for but I don't mind losing a couple marks over those.  International Negotiations I studied some key parts for and those were the only things that happened to be on the test.  I've never lucked out like that!  Oh, I don't think I've mentioned this before, but the whole class got t-shirts saying we were in Negotiations Boot Camp.  And mine was a men's large and it was more like a paper bag dress than a shirt.  But, I took my sewing kit, and what little knowledge of sewing I have and pimped them out:

That's Malaika, from Uganda.  She's wearing boots, I'm wearing socks.  Go figure.  I was actually only wearing those sandals because of all my shoes they have the best support and I thought it would be good for my knees.  Anyways, back to exam talk!

So Monsters and Negotiations were done.  And I was the first one done both exams.  So I made it my mission to be the first one done my Pop Culture final too.  Of the three exams I had that day, Pop Culture was the only one I put a lot of effort into studying (because I didn't take any notes all year.  Oops!)  I'm glad I did.  The test was so easy, but only because I had studied.  One of my friends didn't study and he asked me what I should know.  I told him 5 things, and those 5 things were big parts of the test.  I must have used up all my luck that day on those tests.  Oh, and I was the first one done that exam too.  No big deal, but I'm kind of a big deal. :P

Thursday I went out to get Christmas gifts to send home.  I went shopping in Shinsaibashi with my roommate, Yu, and it wreaked havoc on my knee.  I felt so stupid, the way I was walking.  It probably looked like the grandpa from King of the Hill (he has no knees or something like that).  Anyways, Yu and I went to do some purikura (insane photo booth pictures), and we rented some Santa costumes for 100 yen to take the pictures in:

Afterwards, when we were waiting to change back into our clothes, some high school girl came up from behind me and said "Sumimasen." *Excuse me*  When I turned around, she said "OH! GAIJINDATTA!" *FOREIGNER*  And ran away to her friend saying how she wanted to ask me something but I turned around and I was a Gaijin and she was so surprised that she had to run away.  I know that there are some crazy girls in Japan who dye their hair blonde, but I think even from behind, my body is definitely not Japanese (I have some muscle on my, Japanese girls tend to be super slim), and I'm blonde.  I so curious now as to what she wanted to ask me.  Wherever you are little girly, I can speak Japanese, I understand the things you said!  Yu was losing her shit laughing about it though.

Next, Yu and I went to Sweets Paradise, a dessert buffet restaurant.  There was some regular food like spaghetti, salad, omerice (Omelette+rice=freaking delicious), sandwiches, soup etc.  And then there were about a hundred different cakes and desserts to choose from.  There was a giant white chocolate fondu fountain too!

 

My plate!  Pretty much the only way I can eat strawberries 

in Japan is if it comes on a cake.

Yu's plate!  With a giant green tea cake!

Yummy!

Oishii! *Yummy!*

It's really such a ridiculous place.  I mean, buffets are bad enough as it is, but a buffet full of desserts? That's just asking for obesity.  It was so good though, they did not go cheap on those cakes.  Top quality delights is what they had.  I can't go back again with Yu though, she told me it was her own policy that she always takes a new friend there every time.  I'll just bully my way and make sure she brings me back soon!

Thursday night, I had one last round of Yakiniku and Karaoke with the boys.  Our friend, Robert, was going to Indonesia and then home to Holland.  It was pretty emotional, and I don't think he knows it, but I was fighting back a lot of tears when saying goodbye to him.  It's just so strange; you go from seeing somebody everyday, and then all of a sudden their gone and you don't have a clue if you're going to see them again.  I told my friends that were leaving that it may take about 10 years, but I do plan on seeing everybody again.  I made lots of awesome memories with these people and they've made a huge impact on my life.  My friend Daisaku from Mexico is leaving soon, so I have to make sure I get my heartfelt goodbye to him soon too!

My Korean friend, Deuck Jo is in my bed right now reminiscing about his semester here, and how Tom, Robert and I were good workout buddies, and he was really glad to make friends with us. I'm really glad I made friends with him too, and all the other people.  

Guys, it's been a great semester.  Most of you I will be seeing next semester, but for those of you who only stayed in Japan for one semester, it's been fun.

Sayonara friends, we will meet again.

Peace and Love,

Sad Kelly

I'm a Whiney B!tch

Hello Again!
It's been awhile, and hopefully today's post will be entertaining for you, but for me, it's just going to be a little bit of a vent time.

So last weekend, I biked to school, and then went out for supper after class with some of my roommates.  I left my bike at the school and went to pick it up the next afternoon.  My bike was nowhere to be found.  SOMEBODY STOLE DESTINY!  I wasn't that distraught about it however (I was later, after other events occurred that I will get around to telling you about).  I was more or less like "it's out of my hands, not much I can do now." Two of my friends also had their bikes stolen in the past 2 weeks.  Wtf?  Someone has it out for the Gaijins (foreigners) I think, but it's pissing me off.  Poor Destiny is all alone with nobody to tell her how wicked cool she is.  I went to the people at school who are in charge of the international students and asked them if I could view the footage from last weekend to see if we could find out who stole the bikes.  The following conversation ensued:

CIE worker : I'm sorry, we can't let students view the footage.  Only someone with authority can look at it.

Me:  Okay, can we get someone who has the authority to look at it?

CIE: No, we can't do that.

Me:  Then why did you install cameras if you can't review the footage?

Honestly, what is the point?  If we can view the footage we can find out who did it and if it was the same person who took mine and my friends' bikes.  So stupid.  I had to go to the police station to report it and it was really cool.  My roommate Yu went with me to act as a translator, and everything went pretty smoothly.  They had to use my fingerprints as a signature on the pages (strange huh?), but the detective thought I was silly, because I would make stupid noises every time I stamped my finger.  And when he asked me how old I was I accidentally said 11 instead of 21.  He gave me a silly look and Yu called me a liar.  My bad!  Anyways, after all the paper work was done, he told me that I was a pretty girl and that I should be very careful when I am out for strangers and gropers on the train.  I then really super politely asked him to please find my bike and he thought that was really cute.  Yu and I went out for some Starbucks lunch.

Coffee!

The police kept calling though to double check the bike registration number, and it turns out I had the wrong one.  My friend Tom and I had bought our bikes together and somehow during the paperwork process our numbers go switched up.  So I had to go back to the police station on Friday, but it was a really quick visit; in and out.  So now I have to sit and wait patiently to see if any news turns up. One of my other roommates, Misty, is only here for one semester, and she said that if I didn't hear anything by the end of next week, we can switch the ownership of her bike over to me.  Thanks Misty! You're a sweetheart!

All right, another problem.  I participated in a race last Sunday, the 1st Osaka Sweets Marathon.  I was in the running group that was only doing 10km, but it wasn't easy!  It was getting so cold at night the last few weeks before the run, so I didn't practice much.  My friend Steph and I kept pace throughout the whole thing together and we didn't have to stop once.  And I came in 107 and she came in 108 place out of 600 people! Way to go us!

Crossing the finish line!  Woot woot!

Once we finished, there was a table of chocolates and sweets waiting and a man handing out ice cream to the runners who were finishing up.  It was great, but all I wanted was water, and I couldn't find it at all!  Such a silly race, it was a lot of fun though, and I had a blast with the running club!

I'm paying the price for that run now though.  One I woke up on Monday, my body was aching all over (well mostly my legs), I couldn't get out of bed to go to class.  I though taking one day off would be fine.  I also had this cream that was good for sore muscles, so I made my roommate watch as I put some on my bed.  "Kelly! You're so silly!" Yu said.  I know!  The next day my muscles felt better, but my knees were killing me.  And since I don't have to bike, I have to walk all over the place.  It's a real pain.  I've had to skip class a few times this week because it was too painful to walk.  I think they will get better if I can give them time to just rest, but exams are coming up, and I really can't afford to do that.  Last night I went to a club too, which probably wasn't the best idea, but I figured that it was one of the last time I could go before exams, so I might as well.  It hurt at first, but after I started dancing, the heat felt really good on my knees.  Today though, I'm definitely paying the price.  I can't walk one step without cringing.  Maybe on Monday I will make a stop at the infirmary at school and maybe they can fix me up!

The club was a hot mess too.  I had an awesome time, but I don't know how I drank too much but I did.  I spent about 2 hours over the porcelain throne, puking and sleeping, and then another hour recovering from that.  But once they played a Ke$ha song, I was ready to go! Full recovery made!  Me and my friends were the only Gaijins there, and we felt pretty special about that.  All the Japanese people thought we were so silly/cool, and the boys I was with liked the girls dressed up as sexy little santas.  There was one girl there who really pissed me off though.  She is a gaijin, and she has a boyfriend at Kansai Gaidai, but she was making out with guys all over the place last night (who weren't her boyfriend).  I really hate people who cheat.  It's so selfish and callous.  If you're going to be in a relationship then be committed, if not, dump the person to spare them the humiliation of being cheated on.  I can't look at her the same way now, she lost a lot of respect for that.  I also don't believe in the "but she was drunk" ordeal.  Drinking just takes down the walls that sobriety holds up; in other words, alcohol can reveal your true feelings and thoughts.  That's my opinion anyways.  Don't get me wrong! I still had a lot of fun last night!

Some other things that have bothered me: price of fruit in Japan.  I just want some fruit.  I don't want to die of scurvy, and rice has hardly any nutritional value.

People who interrupt presentations.  If someone's giving a presentation, hold off your questions/comments until the end.  This stupid girl in one of my classes keeps interrupting just to put in a stupid comment/hear herself talk.  Shut up, nobody wants to hear what you have to say.  She also said that where she comes from (Czech Republic), students don't raise their hands unless they have something smart to say.  Oh, really? Had me fooled.

People who copy me:  I'm a tad flattered, but it really just annoys me.  We got these free t-shirts in one of my classes that are huge (awesome, but huge).  So I took mine and made it smaller and then cut up the sleeves and neck and made it look really hot.  Now one of my roommates is doing that too.  I don't know why it bothers me so much, but get your own style please.

That's about it.  My boys should be back with my hangover McD's soon, so I'll hobble over to their room to have a nice dinner with them.

Hopefully the next post won't be so whiny, but I just needed a good vent!

Peace and Love
The Cripple

Golden and Silver Pavilion.

First of all, I have some bad news to report.

DESTINY HAD A FLAT TIRE! I was so upset! I was on my way to the grocery store, and she was making some godawful noises and it was very difficult to bike.  When I got off to check it out, the rear tire was as flat as my sister's chest! It really inhibited my moving for a few days.  Today, I finally got to take her to the bike doctor at Bike Land.  I felt like the hugest loser walking my bike around everywhere, but I knew it would all be worth it in the end.  At the bike shop, I had to wait a couple hours for them to finish.  The best part though, was that I had a full blown conversation in Japanese.  I was just talking to them and they were speaking back, and then they asked me where I was from.  I totally understood the question, but I was so flabbergasted that I had been able to just easily understand them that I stood there in silence! They thought I didn't understand and were like "Americajin? (American?)." I corrected them and told them I was Canadian, and that they'd done an awesome job on my bike and went on my merry way.  Me and Destiny are back in action, ready to take over Japan!

This past Sunday, while my bike was out of commission.  Me, my roommate Fran, and two Japanese friends, Nozomi and Kazuki, all went to Kyoto to see the Kinkakuji (Golden Pavillion) and Ginkakuji (Silver Pavillion).  It was my first time in Kyoto, and I got to say I've been missing out.  Kyoto is the place where old traditional Japan meets new Japan.  Everything was so cool!   We went to the Kinkakuji first and it really took me by surprise.  It was at the base of a mountain (I think), and some of the trees were turning red on the property.  There were a bunch of old buildings and lots of Japanese and foreigners there to check out the temple.  But after I bought my ticket and came around the corner, I was flabbergasted! This thin is super gold!

So gold!

My friends laughed at me because the first thing I said was "Holy Crap! It's gold!"  I really thought that it would be a dull kind of gold after all these years (built in 1398), but it's retained all it's shiny glory.  The top two tiers are covered in actual, gold, I'm surprised nobody's tried to steal it (like how the pyramids used to be covered in limestone, but other peeps were like "Yo I want that shit!" and they took it off and now they just look like sand? Yeah, I thought that would have happened to the Kinkakuji).  But yeah, it is super gorgeous and gold.  I loved it.  It was my first traditionally Japanese thing that I've done (usually I'm shopping/drinking/clubbing, which I think is also very culturally enlightening. Kanpai! *Cheers!*).

We got to wander around the property, finding special little wishing wells where you could throw in some change, and if you hit the right spot (the top of a shrine, or inside a wooden bowl), then your wish would come true.  

Kazuki missed, so his wish is NOT coming true.  :P

We then got served some traditional Japanese green tea and some omocha (a sweet Japanese treat, made form rise and a sweat red bean).  It was served to us by a girl in a cute little kimono and it was pretty good!  We were told to eat the omocha first because it is super sweet.  I didn't believe them,  because I've heard that Japanese green tea isn't very good, but it was a good idea.  It was a good thing the omocha was so small, but it was a sweet overload; delicious, but sooooooooooo sweet.  The green tea was actually very good!  It was very green, and the taste was pretty enjoyable.  I highly recommend it!

Ah! Japanese culture!

So sweet! So green!

We then went to the souvenir shop, and I bought some presents for people back at home, though they won't be getting them for awhile.  Then we were on out way to the Ginkakuji.  I had no clue that there was a second pavilion, and I actually thought that we were on our way home.  I was so surprised when I found out the bus we were getting on was taking us to another place, but it was worth it, I think.

Silver...?  Usokakuji (Lying Pavilion) I think.

My feelings about the "Silver" Pavilion

So this is the Silver Pavilion.  It was built in 1490 but never actually finished.  Nozomi told me that nobody knows why it isn't silver, but it might be because the government didn't give enough funding for the builder, or that he died before he could finish it.  Anyways, it's now a Zen temple, with a few Zen gardens,that aren't really gardens at all, it's just a place for people to rake sand into cool patterns:

How are there no footprints!?!

Anyways, it was still a really cool place.  We got to climb up a bit of the mountain and see some views of Kyoto and the changing colours of the trees.

After the trip at Ginkakuji, I found a store selling only bunny paraphernalia.  This upcoming year is the Year of the Rabbit, and I'm freaking psyched because everywhere, everything has rabbits  all over it,  I bought some souvenirs there too, and they've infested my room.  Hurray cute overload!

Alright, now I have a poor story to report on.  I don't know if I have told you about this before, but I will go over it again quickly just in case I have talked about it.  Gaijin Hunters are the Japanese girls and boys at school that are looking for a Gaijin (foreigner) boyfriend/girlfriend.  Your a big target if you are blonde, tall and/or muscular.  My friend told me I could put this story in my blog as long as I didn't give out his name, so we'll just call him X-san.  

X-san was asked to be a wingman one night for his friend at Karaoke.  Being the good friend that he is, he obliged and went.  Now the girl that he had to be wingman too wasn't that easy on the eyes, but he tried to look past that.  She got his number, and would text him and call him multiple times a day.  He asked me for advice, and I said just make friends with her, it'll be okay, she looks like a happy girl anyways.

Worst.  Advice.  Ever.

So she called and texted all the time.  She would find him and corner him in the school and never leave him alone.  Stage-5 clinger.  She emailed me and one of my friends saying that she wanted to confess her love to him, even though he was blatantly ignoring her.  One time she asked him to go to Karaoke again, and he just told her that he had a girlfriend.  Then things got even worse! Her calls and texts were even more numerous everyday until eventually she texted him and told him that he she loves him (along with a bunch of other mushy stuff that hits my gag reflex).  He handled it eventually, and I don't think they've communicated since then.

Now, I know that this last part of my blog might seem a little mean, but it's what we have to put up with.  Not all of the Gaijin Hunters are this persistant, but they're numerous.  I've had to deal with it a couple of times on my own already, and it may or may not be turning me into a mean person.  I'm not very good at saying no in general, but I'm starting to get good at it now.  It's definitely difficult saying no to pretty much the politest race of people on this earth, but sometimes it has to be done.  Now, I try to hang out with guys (either Gaijin or Japanese, as long as it's a guy I'm friends with), and the Japanese naturally assume that I am dating the guy that I am hanging out with.  So far this plan has been flawless, and my Gaijin guys are always looking out for me.  If my Italian friend sees me with a guy he always asks "is he bothering you?" and the guy never is, but I always appreciate the gesture.  I love my Gaijin boys!

Anyways, I suppose I should start studying or doing something productive.

Will probably just read some more One Piece though :P

Peace and Love!

October

As I sit down on this highly unentertaining Sunday, I decided that it's time to update my blog (which it's been more than a month, sorry!)

So at the beginning of the month, I went to a parade with my friend Tom, Fran and Hi-Chan.  I thought it was going to be a parade like I knew, but it was more like all the vendors in the area came out onto the street to sell their stuff.  I got to try umeboshi, which are pickled plums.  Extremely sour! Extremely awesome!  We kept trying the free samples and taking pictures of the mascots that were everywhere.  We ran into the Kintetsu rugby team, which made my month.  Japanese boys are a little on the thin side, so when I see some with muscles I get excited.  There were some Aussies and New Zealanders on the team too, accents are always a  bonus.  They were doing line-up throws to little kids, so I went up to one of the Japanese players and said that I used to play rugby in high school so they threw me up too:

I wouldn't have worn a skirt if I knew I was running into them, or I would have worn a shorter one (^_-).  Later we saw a university sumo team teaching little kids how to do sumo.  I saw enough big Japanese butts that day to last me a lifetime, but they were surprisingly flexible:

We continued on our way and found a Hard Rock Cafe that was a little expensive, so we went to Shakey's a buffet restaurant.  They had pizza, pasta, fries, fruit and salad.  Since we don't have much access to fruit, that's what I loaded my plate up with.  We did some exploring after, and some creepy guys would try to come up to me to say they wanted to speak English, but Hi-Chan would just tell them I didn't speak English.  I love you Hi-Chan!  Thank you for the wonderful day and for protecting me!

The next day I had my first visit with my home-visit family.  Their oldest daughter, Ayaka, goes to Kansai Gaidai.  She met me at the train station at 10 and we started the long trek to her house in eastern Osaka.  She had a fairly modern house, with one room that was more traditional with tatami mats and a low table to eat at.  I met her mother, father, her younger sister Sayaka, and her grandma and grandpa.  Her grandparents didn't speak a lick of English, so I was able to practice a lot of Japanese with them.  I could mostly just say adjectives like sugoi! Oishii! (cool! Delicious!).  Ayaka's mother had made lots of sushi for us to eat and two great big dishes of nabe.  Nabe is just a large pot that a soup is cooked in, but they refer to the final soup is nabe.  It had some sort of broth with egg, cabbage, udon, fish, and lots of veggies.  Oishii!  The sushi was amazing too.  Not like california rolls, it was the whole raw fish deal.  I know most westerners think its strange, but it definitely carries a freshness to it that you can't find at home.  She was a wonderful cook!  I had brought some desserts for us to eat, so afterwards we ate that.

All the girls in Ayaka's family are really into Korean things (Korean dramas, food, singers, boys etc) so we watched a DVD of their favourite Korean boy band.  I understand why they like them.  Korean boys are conscripted into the military for a minimum of two years, so Korean guys tend to be pretty muscular.  Oishii! They were pretty cool and sexual with their performance.  Boy bands are big in Japan, I think that trend ended in the late 90s in Canada (though Backstreet Boys are still a big deal here in Japan).  After we played on their WiiFit, and I found out my balance is shit.  Her grandmother gave me two beautiful handkerchiefs and her family gave me some very cute tea towels! ありがとうございます！Arigatou Gozaimasu!

Her grandmother then went to karaoke with some friends and her grandpa went fishing.  I was supposed to go with him, but then they told me there were poisonous snakes where he was going and they didn't want me to die.  So the rest of Ayaka's family and I went to yakiniku (Korean food lol).  Yakiniku is "grilled food" so at the restaurant you have your own grill built into the table, and the waiters bring you raw food to cook.  We ate every kind of meat you can imagine! It was totemo oishii (very delicious!).  Ayaka's mother was acting very much like my own; she never let my plate be empty, and she made sure I tried everything.  I liked everything she made me try except for one thing.  I always seem them in the grocery store and I think "Wtf mate?"  They're tiny dried up fish.  Like minnows that were left to bake in the sun.  They taste like, words can't describe, but at least I can cross that off my list.  The restaurant was close to my rez so they drove me home afterwards.  I had a lot of fun and I look forward to my next visit!

Later that week, I had one of the best days I've had in Japan.  My friend/personal trainer Take took me on a ride on his motorcycle.  It was pretty bad ass.  I made sure I dressed the part so that I could fool people into thinking I was a badass too.  He took me for a tour of the area and down to the other campus that is more in the countryside, all the while telling me about Japanese things and testing me on kanji and such.  It was just such an awesome feeling, who expects to go there and hop on a newfound friend's motorcycle and go out and discover it! I LOVE JAPAN!

That weekend I started hitting up the clubs in Osaka.  Going to a club in Osaka is a full on commitment;  the clubs usually don't open until midnight, and that's when the trains stop running, so you have to wait until at least 5 in the morning to make it back home.  I didn't think I'd be up for it (since 2:00 am seems to be when I max out from partying) but I did it! I had a blast! The club was called Beronica, and I was friends with one of the DJs, so I got to be on stage most of the night.  It was a costume themed party, but I didn't have my costume yet so I just went in a normal clubbing dress with the boys I hang out with.  It was a grand night.  Turns out if you tell the bartender he's ichiban (#1) He'll give you 3 shots for the price of 1.  This didn't work in my friends favour (he was hugging the porcelain throne later), but it worked wonders for me!  I can't wait to go back for the Christmas shabang!

Oh yes, fun times!

Then it was midterm times.  Now, I don't know about other universities in Japan, but the midterms at Kansai were somewhat... of a joke.  The only problem was that they kept me super busy.  My Japanese midterms were a little difficult, but I got 91% and 94% on them.  In my Japanese monsters class I got 100.5%, and the other two classes I had papers too write so I don't know what I got on them yet (but if they're what I think they're like, then I'm not too worried about it).  Lots of Japanese friends kept asking me to hang out, but I was always studying for these midterms.  Not that I regret it since my grades are amazing, but if I would have known that a 2-year old could have wrote them, maybe I could have found more time to hang out with my friends.

I told my friend Rina that I would hold a Karaoke-Birthday party for her when she turned 19.  So around 20 of us, half Japanese, half international, went to Ring Karaoke for her birthday.  It was lots of fun, and most of us got meccha yopparai (very drunk).  I tried to sing a long with the Japanese songs, but the words went by too fast! I'm sure the Japanese people thought the same about all the English songs we sang too.  

Me with Rina, the Birthday Girl!

Me with Take (the guy who took me on the motorcycle ride) and Naomi

Later, Rina took me out costume shopping for Halloween.  We went to a store called Don Quihotei, which is pretty much like Spencers and the IT store back at home.  They costumes there were very expensive, and they were all size small.  My body could fit in it, but my chest is more endowed than the Japanese ladies, so that would have been a no show (oh yeah, you weren't allowed to try on the costume before buying so it was all about guessing).  I decided on a costume that was a free size (like socks, should fit anyone) and was the cheapest one there.  It was a little short, but I stretched it out over the week before Halloween.  

Yep that's me, the impractical skirt-wearing sailor.

There was a giant costume parade at Kansai Gaidai, and since I had to run home after class to change into my costume, I didn't get to be a part of it.  But while standing back in the sidelines, I had a bunch of Japanese people come up to me and ask if I could take a picture with them.  I felt like a celebrity! The more outgoing ones came directly up to me to ask for a picture, but the more shy ones approached Take and asked him to ask me if they could get a picture.  I took at least 20 pictures with some randoms that I will probably never see.  I think it was a mix of the whole blonde/short skirt thing that made them want pictures.  Oh and it wasn't just guys, but girls too! They just wanted pictures with me! If you ever want to see my ego inflate, just ask to take a picture with me!

After that we went downtown again.  The club Onzieme was holding a bargain: come with a costume, free cover.  That is a wicked deal, since cover in Japan is usually around $25 for girls, $40 for guys (sucks it guys!).  So me and the guys all went downtown dressed up:

Left to Right: Canadian, American, Italian, Mexican, Pole, Swede and another Canadian.

Diversity at it's finest! But where are the Japanese?

The club was filled mostly with Japanese people.  I think that we may have been the only international people there.  I thought that the Japanese would be really shy in the club, but they were pretty outgoing and ready to dance with us! Unfortunately at this club, saying the DJ was ichiban didn't get you any sort of a deal on drinks.  Maybe next time, it's always worth a try!  They played pretty good music, and the inside was like a laser light show, not like any club I've been to in Canada (at least not in Ottawa).  The DJ's were all dressed like SuperMario characters, and it was my goal by the end of the night to get a picture with them.

Success!

It was a beautiful night.  We lost some friends somehome in the night, but we all knew to meet up at the Drunks Haven at 5:00 am: MacDonald's.  I had my first McDonald's breakfast (which is a beautiful thing, can't wait to have more this weekend).  I was home by 7:00 am, and I was supposed to go see a Takarazuka (a musical play where all the roles are done by female actors) play at 9:30 am, but my drunk body was incapable of waking up.  So I missed out on that cultural experience.  On Sunday, the actually Halloween, me and the running club did a 10 km run! I was still recovering from a cold, but I had to lead the group.  My lungs were BURNING by the end, but I made it! I did the whole thing without stopping! And the best part is there was a BBQ waiting for us at the end of the run.  Yes!  Thank you Prof. Tracey for the wonderful meal, I had a blast, and it was a wonderful end to my wonderful Japanese October.

Clearly I'm the only one loving life right now

All right now that this post is done, I'm going to continue to enjoy my umiboshi and set up another motorcyle ride.

Peace and Love!