its...HOT

alright. its...HOT i mean really REALLY hot here. and i have no idea why. it's about 30-35 degrees C. which i think is about 95F. either way. its too hot for an ill fitting uniform. or uniform at all! i mean ahhhh!! the uniform pieces they gave me include a mid length skirt, long sleeved blouse, vest, jacket, sweater annnnnnd tie. NONE OF THIS WORKS IN 95 DEGREE WEATHER!

I cant think of writing anything else except the weather...kinda sad really.

*the pictures are sunset from the balcony, nagomi with my coin purse, and dora the explorer except in japanese and english. not a word of spanish?!*

i actually did this yesterday

So, I just got done taking a bath. School today was alright. But it’s actually kind of boring. I mean, the first day everyone was all "oh my god! Foreigner!" and don’t worry I knew it wouldn’t last. Not to mention I knew the people that were talking to me today would probably not be tomorrow. But some people still talked to me despite my lack of Japanese abilities. Japanese class so far is actually not that great. I thought it would be a sort of sanctuary where I can express myself in English and learn the Japanese equivalent. But so far today it has been… kind of a slap in the face. We started with the basics, I expected that, but the whole thing was like teaching a 3 year old. Picture flashcards; make a sentence using the flashcards like "I like to eat watermelon". Alright, we have established this. Watermelon is wonderful. Let’s move on. I know I have to enrich my vocab in order to speak...at all. But I would rather use sentences that could get me past talking to a three year old. The second half of the Japanese lesson was basically an origami lesson. This sensei is OBVIOUSLY suited to small children hahaha

My uniform doesn’t fit. I mentioned this already but I tend to forget how nice it is to go to school in clothes that fit.

The rest of my classes outside of the international office are alright. Except I feel like a shadow. The teachers don’t really consider me apart of the class and treat me as such. I mean, one of the teachers came up to me and said something along the lines of “you’re not going to get this class, there’s a lot of kanji and you miss one of the classes to learn Japanese so just bring something to do” nice to meet you too.

Going from America, where everyone looks different but are treated the same to Japan where everyone looks the same so its easier to point out the foreigners is….hard! I mean there’s no better word! Here, it’s smacked in your face that YOU ARE FOREIGN.

International club…whoo boy.
Alright, first, I found another zhang lao shi. Except Japanese. I don’t even know how to explain the similarity between them…but its scary. International club was basically interview the American. Questions ranging from what’s your favorite Japanese food to do you have a boyfriend to do you watch anime to if you had a boyfriend what would you give him… interesting…

AND I am so SO grateful to one of my pointless vending machine stops. SO HAPPY. New favorite drink: melon and cream soda. SO. AMAZING.

(I love how the whole tone of this blog (and my mood in general) flips with the introduction of a new drink)

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been here for only a week. I mean, it seems like a whole month.


Gahhh I'm such an English person. Most people just write what they did and maybe an “I miss home” but I just have to be englishy and write an essay..for fun.

i forgot to finish this post...its from a week ago i think.

so, i just got done taking a bath. school today was alright. But its actually kinda boring. I mean, the first day everyone was all "oh my god! forigener!" and dont worry i knew it wouldnt last. not to mention i knew the people that were talking to me today would probably not be tomorrow. But some people still talked to me dispite my lack of japanese abilities. Japanese class so far is actually not that great. I thought it would be a sort of sanctuary where I can express myself in English and learn the Japanese equivilant. But so far today it has been..kind of like a slap in the face. We started with the basics, I expected that, but the whole thing was like teaching a 3 year old. picture flashcardas, make a scentence using the flashcaards like "i like to eat watermelon". alright, we have established this. watermelon is wonderful. lets move on. I know I have to enrich my vocab in order to speak...at all. But I would rather use scentences that could get me past talking to a three year old. the second half of the japanese lesson was basicly an origami lesson. This sensei is OBVIOUSLY suited to small children.

my uniform dosnt fit. i mentioned this already but i tend to forget how nice it is to go to school in clothes that fit.

the rest of my classes outside of the international office are alright. except I feel like a shadow.

First day of school

so, I'll make this quick. Today was the first day of school!
which is cool because I don't have to go back until Monday hahahahaaa
anyways, School starts at 8:30 but i had to go in at 8:10 (either way brecksvillers should be jealous) Yes. I rode a bike. seriously. no big deal. except i was almost run over by a bus but hey whatever. First thing i had to do was go to the international office and then two teachers took me to the faculty meeting..which I thought would be a tiny thing. but no. I walk in and everyone. EVERYONE is singing. I forgot it was a christian school so they have morning worship. but anyways. in front of, oh, i don't know, 40 or so Japanese teacher I had to give a small speech...in japanese.
jufles hgvjlskhfhngbs ;ohtv prd;gs,eszk ccf znlksjaks gaaaahhhhhhhhh
it was super simple but everyone clapped! and several teachers said good job and such so that was pretty cool.
then I went to my homeroom and everyone was all whaaaaaaaaaa an exchange student!! hahha it was kind of funny.
I cant really recall anything that super fascinating. I mean, the majority was pretending I know japanese.
My classes today were english writing, japanese as a second language, oral english, classical japanese (as if normal japanese isn't hard enough) calligraphy, health and normal english.
yes i made friends. no i cant remember their names. except the loud girl next to me is mito. and there are three guys in my class and like....20 or so girls. (sucks for them!)
alright its about time I get off the computer.
mataneee
(sorry, no pics this time. I already look touristy. and nothing more touristy than a camera)

Japan thus far

So far...its been good! i mean, it really hasn't been a while but Ive been busy which is a good thing. Right now everyone is at the lake, and I would be too but I think for my sanity's sake I'm going to sit this one out. but I've cleaned up the toys and dishes so they don't think I'm not grateful of anything...which would be BAD.
I have dish duty, which is fine with me because that makes me apart of the fam.
Mikihiro can either drive me insane or be pretty cool. He loves Castle in the Sky (A Miyazaki film) and natto...which is oishiku nai...gross.
Nagomi (natchan) is awesome. I understand her the most hahahaha. except her high pitched squeals. those hurt.

so. I went to school and several things happened. I got a skirt that doesn't fit...so i have to wear it around my stomach. and i got a shirt that doesn't fit. and really ugly shoes...which are even less desirable than crocs...or...uggs. yes. that bad.but every ones wears them so i don't really care. and the uniform is HOT. i mean really temperature wise HOT.

We went to visit a temple and that was interesting. it was only for a little while so i don't have much to say on the matter.

I found out i can get Internet on my computer by hooking up the cable to my laptop. well. actually i knew that all along. i still have to ask for permission though. but this means i can work skype.

Also went to an awesome sushi place. I think I'm obsessing. Its like a sushi go round...but it had a second level of a SHINKANSEN to bring you special orders. I drew it in my journal thing so I'll get it up here eventually. there was also a touch screen to order from too. so. amazing.

There have been no problems so far but I am having trouble with people staring. and i mean. really REALLY staring. I knew this would happen but i didn't know I would have trouble with it. and the thing is there is a sign that says "let's join the international community" right in front of the school!!!! and its in japanese!
i mean, right when i get on the train that goes from kyoto station to omihachiman (my city) on comes a group of guys on the basketball team from a omihachiman high school. so of course I'm introduced. and some Asian duo decides to huddle together, step a few feet away, and start whispering and laughing and looking back DIRECTLY AT ME. I would be the idiot to realize later they were talking about what they had for lunch but i mean COME ON! YOU CANT GET ANYMORE OBVIOUS.
ah whatever.

IM IN JAPAN!

SO! I'm sitting in a Japanese Hotel on my tiny bed watching a tiny tv and chilling with the belgium-ians and the italians..and JIMMY! jimmy deserves a whole section as far as I'm concerned. Jimmy is one of the returnees (from Kentucky...he LOVES kentucky) and is overall awesome and insane.

So, getting off the plane all of us went through immigration, baggage claim and customs all together without any adult. Went we got through all that we met up with AFS people who gave us all info packets and such. Oh! and we were interviewed! It was like we were superstars with the paparazzi following us.
Then we got to the hotel and got our rooms and met everyone! we're having dinner at 6:30 so I better cut this a little short

ALRIGHT! SO...

I am, as of now, in San Fran waiting to get on the 12ish hour long flight to Nihon! I'm sitting with a random assortment of people from the US and we're meeting up with a more random assortment of people from the world. We're actually traveling by ourselves just to freak some parents out hahah our volunteer left us back in LA so we have to get ourselves from San Fran to Japan (and china for some people) but we have "Leader" Stephen so we're all good. I just got Mediterranean food while some others got...japanese....WHY?! why would you do that?! you're going to have 6 months worth of it!

Alright, I'm going to get on the plane now!