Monday, October 31, 2005
10/31/05We woke up at 7:00 a.m., give or take a few minutes. I took a shower, got ready, and packed. We eventually left the hotel around 8:00 a.m. and got some breakfast at the nearest convenient store. After that, we rode the street-car to its final stop at the ferry station that would take us to the floating Miyajima Tori.
The ride there took about an hour because we made frequent stops and stopped at all of them. At the last station we got out and paid 270 yen for the entire trip, which was extremely cheap. We then rode the ferry that would take us to Miyajima Island.
The ferry ride took about ten minutes or so, and it had a nice view of the Tori from the water. We got off the ferry and as soon as we walked out of the station we were greeted by some friendly deer. They were so friendly that they ate my map. They sort of reminded me of the goats at the petting zoo. We then walked on the dirt road to the floating Tori in front of the temple on the water.
After taking tons of pictures of the Tori, we paid admission to the temple and walked around inside. Today was special because we just made it in time to see a traditional Japanese wedding going on at the temple. It was a really beautiful place to have a wedding ceremony because it was right on the water, looking out towards the floating Tori. We had just walked by as a dancer was performing his routine in front of the wedding party, accompanied by traditional Japanese instruments. It was extremely interesting to watch.
After walking around the temple, we went up a path and around the island taking in the sights. We happened upon a crab who was crossing the street and some deer kept following us eventhough they knew we didn't have any food. We then walked back to the temple and then back through the town to the ferry station. We all bought some dessert, and I got some green tea flavored ice cream. We then rode the ferry back to the station and then rode the street-car to the A-Bomb Dome and Memorial Peace Park.
The Dome and Peace Park had an eerie sort of feeling to it. Also, the weather had gotten cloudier, so it only added to the gloom of the situation. We walked around the A-Bomb Dome and the rest of the park. We stopped at most of the memorials to read their significance and honor those died. Even within the gloom, there was happiness as a few of us decided to take a picture of the cute school uniforms the children had to wear. They also had to wear hats with their school name on it in case they got lost while on the field trip. While we were taking the pictures the kids smiled at us and did some poses - most of which included the usual Japanese peace hand signal. They waved back at us and we exchanged simple greetings in both Japanese and English.
After touring the park we looked for a place to eat that was on the way back to the hotel. We stopped at a restaurant that specialized in Gyudon, which is basically cooked, flavored beef on top of rice. After eating we walked the rest of the way back to the hotel. At the hotel we paid for the night and then picked up our luggage. We then walked back to the train station and then boarded the next Kodama train that headed in our direction.
The train's last stop was at Shin-Osaka, so we had to board a Hikari shinkansen to Kyoto, which was the very next stop. We walked out of the station and walked down the street to J-Hoppers, which is a really cheap hotel in Kyoto that only costs 2,500 yen a night. The building itself and the rooms are dormitory style, and there are about eight people per room. After unpacking our stuff, we decided to walk around Kyoto for a bit and find a place to eat.
We eventually ended up eating at a Yakitori restaurant, which is basically like flavored chicken on a shish-cabob. We also ordered a few other things too that were cooked over the coals. After eating, Ben, Michael, and I vested at the arcade across the street and then walked back to J-Hoppers. I then got ready for bed and went to sleep.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
10/30/05Woke up around 9:00 a.m. and took a shower. After I got ready I went downstairs to meet up with Joe and Katie so that we could all walk to the station together. Michael and Ben went along with us since they were going to Hiroshima as well. We rode to Shinjuku first to exchange our receipts for J-Rail passes. With them we could ride on any JR train, ferry, etc. It was much cheaper to buy than buy the tickets separately and we could ride the shinkansen numerous times within seven days.
After being directed to three different offices, we finally got to the right one and exchanged our rail passes. When we got our passes we rode the next local train to Shinagawa where the shinkansen connected.
When we arrived at Shinagawa we only had minutes to make the shinkansen train, or at least the one we thought we wanted. Katie had gotten directions as to what time and what train to get on. All we knew was that we had to get on a train that said "Nozomi." So, we got on the first Nozomi shinkansen that pulled up and rode it. While we were riding, it seemed rather weird to me that we were heading toward Tokyo and not away from it. The train did in fact stop at Tokyo and we were forced to get off at the station so that people could come in and clean the train. We read the signs again and saw that we did get on the "right" train, just that we got on it too soon and that it was going in the wrong direction. So, once the train was done being cleaned, we re-boarded the train and rode it towards Hiroshima.
Well everything seemed perfect until Ben read the pamphlet that came with our J-Rail passes. It said that JR pass-holders could ride the Kodama and Hikari shinkansens, but NOT the Nozomi. After looking over the pamphlet some more we realized the reason was because the Nozomi trains make less stops, are faster, and more convenient than the other shinkansen trains. They also cover almost the entire length of Japan. The Hikari and Kodama trains do not go through Japan entirely, and make frequent stops. The Kodama trains stop at all stations and the Hikari trains a little less often. So apparently, it seems that they don't want us to have the same convenience the Nozomi trains have. Another reason for this would probably be our passes because we can use them unlimitedly, and using the Nozomi trains just wouldn't seem fair enough. It may take longer to get from place to place, but as long as I don't have to pay everytime I use them, I'm just fine with it.
So since we were on the "wrong" train, we got off at Nagoya station and rode the Kodama all the way to its final stop: Shin-Osaka. Shin-Osaka isn't Osaka itself, but is more like a metropolitan district of Osaka. We would have had to take the local trains to get to Osaka itself. At Shin-Osaka we rode the Hikari to Hiroshima.
We arrived at the Hiroshima station and walked outside. Numerous street-cars ran in front and around the station. It almost felt like I was in San Francisco. Katie had reserved a cheap hotel room close to the station. We walked across the river and down a few streets until we finally arrived at the hotel. When we arrived there we had to inform them that two more people would be staying with us as well. It all really didn't matter because it was 3,150 yen per person.
After walking up the steep stairs - and we're talking extremely steep, we made it to our rooms on the third floor. Not very many people were staying at the hotel, so we got to have rooms next to each other. The boys stayed in one room, and Katie and I stayed in the other. We had tatami-matted rooms with futons, a table, and a coin-television to pay as you watched. The bathroom and shower were separate. The toilet room consisted of a toilet and a sink on top, and your knees touched the door as you sat down to use the toilet. The hotel manager brought us some hot water in a thermos, green tea in a kettle, and bananas for each person. The banana snack only increased our appetite further, so we left the hotel to find some dinner.
Katie had read somewhere in her tour book that there was a really neat place to get okonomiyaki, which was called Okonomimura. Okonomimura is part of a building that has tons of little shops placed right next to each other that sell okonomiyaki. The specialties and prices varied between shops and levels of the building. Since we were in Hiroshima, the okonomiyaki had a certain style, which is referred to as: Hiroshima-yaki. I think the only difference is that they put the cooked egg on top. So we walked down the street and decided we would try our luck with one of the street-cars. The street-car fare only cost 150 yen to go anywhere inside the city. We only rode the street-car for a couple of stops and then got out to find Okonomimura on the map.
I led us to what I thought was the right place on the map. But then after a few minutes we had doubts and wandered around the area looking for the building. We eventually broke down and asked for directions from two girls who walked us right back to the place we originally went to. We thanked them and then went up to get some dinner.
After dinner we walked down to the main street and waited while Michael stopped to go to the bathroom. While we were waiting a group of Japanese people dressed up in mix-matched Halloween costumes showed up, gave us some candy, and took our picture. Michael returned as soon as they left and was a little disheartened that he missed all the fun.
We then continued down the street until we came upon an arcade that had Guitar Freaks and then played a round or two. After that we decided to hang out and have a few drinks at an izakaya. After drinking we decided to look around the town some more. We took some of the "back roads" off the main street and saw some tough-looking guys in black suits and sunglasses. Since the sun had set hours ago, it seemed rather odd, but then after a few minutes of consideration, we figured it out - The Yakuza. There were also a lot of girls just standing on the street corners. Apparently it seemed as if we were in the "red light" district of Hiroshima, but I don't ever recall feeling worried about my own safety or that I was in a "dangerous place." Michael, Ben, and I eventually went back to the arcade, and Joe and Katie got some dessert. We met up an hour later and walked back together to the hotel.
We had to check out of our rooms at 10:00 a.m., but we could leave our luggage at the hotel until 3:00 p.m. without any charges. So, we decided that we would see as much as we could in the morning, and then pick up our bags before 3:00. After picking up our bags we would ride to Kyoto in the afternoon. After getting ready for bed, we set our alarms for 7:00 a.m. and went to sleep.
Saturday, October 29, 2005
10/29/05I had slept in until around 4:00 p.m. I woke up with cough, but at least I could breathe out of my nose. I then made fajitas and macaroni and cheese for dinner. Michael and Ben joined me for dinner as well. Eiji, one of the R.A.'s had asked if he could try some Mexican food. We showed him how to make a fajita and he tried it with some of the guacamole I had made. He loved the food so much that he practically did all the dishes for me. He especially loved the homemade guacamole that I had made. I learned how to make it from working at my job this summer at Hector's. Customers could order a table-side guacamole, where we actually made the guacamole in front of them, and we made it according to their specifications.
After dinner I did my laundry and began packing for our break. I'm going to be traveling with Katie and Joe. We will be stopping in Hiroshima first and then work our way back up Japan as the week goes on. As to how many days we'll stay in each city, I'm not sure. While doing laundry I finally finished the first of the Halo novels and then read about 40 pages into the second novel in the series. I think the second novel will go a lot faster than the first one because it already feels like I've read the book since I've played the game so much. I'm not sure what the third novel is about. I know that the second one ends when the first game ends. I guess I'll just have to read on and find out.
After I finished my laundry and packing I went to bed.
Friday, October 28, 2005
10/28/05I woke up with a runny nose and a sore throat. I had started to feel a little under the weather yesterday, but it became even more apparent today. We had our usual four sessions of Japanese in the morning and then had two sessions of business classes. In our business classes we learned about the history of the first Canon copy machine that used normal paper and the first VCR player. It was actually somewhat interesting.
After classes I went back to the dorm and picked up my satchel. A couple of days ago the strap had broke and I wanted to replace it. I first went to the post office to withdraw some money for our nine day break and then went to the Daiei to see if I could find a satchel strap. I asked (in Japanese of course) the salesperson at the luggage department if they had any, and he said that they didn't. I asked him where I could find one and he suggested Shinjuku. So with that suggestion, I went off to Shinjuku to look for a strap.
At Shinjuku I entered the busy shopping streets and began my search. I found a lot of luggage stores, but many of them just sold the luggage itself, and not the accessories for them. Eventually, I found a store that sold them. It was rather expensive, but the strap was also extremely nice. It was actually made for a more rugged, outdoor, luggage, but it would do. I purchased the strap and went directly back to Mukogaokayuen. On the train ride home I felt completely miserable. My nose had stopped running, but I felt extremely drained and weak.
Back at the station I met up with Numa, my R.A. and I asked her where would be a good place to buy cough medicine. She reminded me that the office at the dorm had medicines we could use. Happy that I didn't have to spend money on medicine, I slowly made my way back to the dorm.
I asked Midori to grab me some medicine from the office and she gave me some. I had to sign a sheet saying that I took the medicine, which was probably a liability of some sort. The sinus medicine was in pill form, and I didn't mind it too much, but the cough medicine had to be mixed in water and tasted awful. After I took my medicine I went directly upstairs and off to bed.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
10/27/05We only had three Japanese classes in the morning. We had to go to a tea ceremony lesson in the afternoon. After classes I went back to the dorm to mail my package back home. The post office picks up the package for you and then mails it. But I had to go to the post office to mail my smaller package.
After going to the post office I went to the station to meet up with the rest of the class. We rode together to the station closest to where the tea ceremony lesson would be held. They tempted us by walking through a busy shopping street. I wanted to buy so many things, but resisted.
When we finally arrived at the building we were guided into a conference room to watch a video about the tea ceremony and how it is performed. After watching we walked over to the adjacent building to have the tea ceremony lesson. The building was next to a beautiful garden and I had only wished that I brought my camera. Inside we had the lesson and learned how to make the powdered tea. Every movement was calculated and fluid. It was also extremely difficult to do correctly, but eventually we each performed the procedures to the best of our abilities.
After the lesson I rode the train back to Mukogaokayuen so that I could begin preparing dinner for Yuki and her friends. My conversation partner Yusuke, called me on the way home and I invited him to dinner as well. Yuki and her friends came and we made fajitas and macaroni and cheese together. We made chicken and beef fajitas. By the time we set the food on the table Yusuke arrived and we ate. I was glad that everyone liked the food so much. Another group of friends came in and they ate some of the left overs and soon there was nothing left.
After doing dishes I showed everyone how I made the guacamole. I actually bought more ingredients on the way home from the station so that I could show them exactly how to make it. I don't really like already-made guacamole, but when it is freshly made by someone I love to eat it.
When the guacamole lesson was over we went to the T.V. room and played some Super Smash Brothers on Justin's Game Cube. Yusuke went to the 7-11 to buy some beer and other drinks. We played a lot of fun rounds of Smash Brothers and then watched "Cowboy Bebop - The Movie." During the movie everyone had to go back home, but Justin, Nick, and I watched it through and some others joined it later on.
After the movie I went upstairs and did my homework, web surfing, and then went to bed.
ADDITION:
I forgot to mention that I registered for classes a couple of days ago. When I get back to UNL I will have to take a Japanese placement test to see what level of Japanese I can get into. Then all I have to do is take one more class and I will have a minor in Japanese - or at least that's what I'm told. I would have minored in Graphic Design as well, if it weren't for time conflicts. I will just have to continue with it during Grad School. For my other classes I am taking: Human Evolution, Analysis of Archeaofauna, Film Studies, and Basic Equitation - which is horseback riding. Yes, that's right, I'm taking a class where I learn to ride a horse. I needed some extra hours to fill in so I could be a full-time student, and since I couldn't sign up for a Japanese class, I needed a filler. I heard someone mention that the class was offered at UNL, so I decided to use it as a filler. I am still deciding whether or not I want to actually take it, or drop it once I add my Japanese class. Next semester sounds pretty fun, which is good because it's going to be my last as an Undergraduate.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
10/26/05Usual morning routine again. We had some really boring business classes in the afternoon. I was struggling just to keep myself awake by the time the second business class rolled around. Eventually, I made it through the torture and then went back to the dorm. When I got back a package was waiting for me in the office. I was from my mom, and it was really, really heavy. I was so excited to receive my package that I opened it up right by the entrance to the dorm. My mom said it was about 25 lbs. or so. It cost about $100 just to mail it, which seemed rather expensive for what was inside. My mom sent me pop tarts of all flavors, boxed macaroni and cheese (about twenty or so), tortillas, taco seasoning, peanut butter, and some candy. She also sent me my satchel bag that I forgot to bring along. It will be a lot easier to carry things without having to lug my huge backpack around with me.
Mia's conversation partner, Yuki, stopped by the dorm again to visit and while she was there I offered her and her friends a pop tart. They had never eaten them before and really liked them. I passed out a few more pop tarts, but kept most to myself. They would come in handy for breakfast or a snack. I can't believe how much food my mom sent me! I only asked her to send a few things, but I should have specified. My mom tends to go overboard sometimes, but in this case, I'm glad she did. I won't have to do some serious shopping for awhile. It's going to be nice to have food from home to comfort me. Yuki had never tried "real" Mexican food before, so I invited her to dinner tomorrow to have fajitas with me.
After opening my goodies I decided to do some shopping to make some macaroni and cheese and for fajitas tomorrow. After shopping I went back to the dorm and made dinner and watched some T.V. while I ate. After dinner I went upstairs and did some journaling and surfing the web. Then, I went off to bed.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
10/25/05I had the same morning routine. We had culture classes in the afternoon. In one of the culture classes we were split up into groups and had to record ourselves giving a presentation to the other people in our group. We had to write a paper and give a presentation over the similarities and differences between American universities and Japanese universities. We also had to include our research survey we conducted with Senshu University students during class a couple of weeks ago. I was tempted to just read off my paper, but I went along with it and talked longer than I thought I would. We had a ten minute time limit and I went for about eight minutes.
After classes I had planned to mail a package back home and to Becca for her birthday, but the dorm office was out of mail slips to fill out. I contemplated going all the way to the post office, but then decided to just mail it tomorrow. I had to buy some big envelopes to send stuff in and decided to go grocery shopping while I was out. After shopping I went back home and made dinner, which was beef yakisoba - Rachel style...which is the best style by the way.
After dinner I did my homework while watching "The Spy Who Loved Me" with Ben and Mia. After that I watched "The Chronicles of Riddick." You'd think that after two movies I'd be tired, but I was just getting started. I put in "Scary Movie 3" and as the movie went on more and more people joined the T.V. room. People had to stand or sit on the floor just to find a place to watch. By the time the movie was over it was close to 1:00 a.m. I wasn't tired quite yet, but somehow I forced myself upstairs and into my bed and then drifted off to sleep.
Monday, October 24, 2005
10/24/05I had Japanese classes in the morning and then we had business class in the afternoon. After class I "vested" with Ben and Justin. After the "vest fest" we went to Saizeriya for dinner. I got my usual spaghetti with meat sauce and a side of garlic bread. I was happy to eat out for dinner because I didn't go shopping this week yet and I was too lazy to make anything.
After dinner we walked back to the dorm and I did my homework and some laundry. I then surfed the internet for the remainder of the night and talked on instant messengers. After that, I finally got ready for bed.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
10/23/05Slept in till about noon and then read some more of my Halo novel. I have a few more chapters and then I'll move on to the second novel in the series. While I was reading I fell asleep and then woke up again around dinner time. I made a nikuman in the microwave, but that wasn't satisfying enough, so I invited Katie to go to Sizeriya with me for dinner. Saizeriya is the cheap Italian restaurant I told you about before.
After we went to Saizeriya we walked back to the dorm and then I surfed the internet and talked on instant messengers till around midnight. I then decided it was a good time to start doing my homework that was due tomorrow. Good thing it wasn't too hard or too much. After that I went of to bed.
Photo Update:
More photos HERE!
Saturday, October 22, 2005
10/22/05Woke up around 8:00 and had a traditional Japanese breakfast. I don't know why the Japanese like to eat fish for breakfast, and neither did my stomach. I eventually ate it all and then went back to my room to pack. After packing and making my bed I went out to the bus and then we had about an hour ride to the Onsen, or hot spring. We actually had a choice whether or not we wanted to go to the onsen or to a park. Since I had never been to an onsen yet, and since it was extremely cold outside I chose the onsen.
The onsen was quite the experience. If you know anything about them is that you have enter it naked and you only have a small towel to protect your "vitals." After a relaxing time in the onsen we drove to the visitor center at the base of Mount Fuji.
At the center we really couldn't see much of the mountain since it was a really cloudy day, but for a few moments we got a little glimpse at the mountain. I took a few pictures and then we all got back on the bus to go to the nearest town by the lake to have lunch.
I went with Sara, Ekaterina, and Mia to a cheap restaurant. The three of them had ramen and I had spaghetti. I had been craving it for sometime and it was rather good. After lunch I bought some peach flavored ice cream, despite the cold weather. After getting back on the bus it was about a two hour drive back to Senshu University.
When I got back home I took a really long nap and I cherished it since napping on the bus wasn't that comfortable, nor did I do much napping. After my "nap" it was about 9:30 p.m. when I woke up, so I made dinner. After dinner I was invited to drink with Katie, Midori, and Numa. They were going to watch the movie, "The Village." I had seen it at least three times already, but that didn't matter since we were drinking.
We went to the 7-11 and bought drinks and snacks and then headed back to the dorm. We then watched the movie until the end. After the movie I went upstairs to grab my DVD collection that I had brought with me. We then decided to watch "Pitch Black." Everyone fell asleep while watching it except for me. After that movie I still wasn't tired, so I then decided to watch "Final Fantasy." By the time the movie was over it was 4:00 a.m., so I then went back upstairs and got ready for bed.
Friday, October 21, 2005
10/21/05We had to be on the bus by 8:30. The bus ride was about two hours or so to the Hakone Open-Air Museum. The fountain out in front of the museum was really cool looking with all of its moving parts and the water flowing over it. It was really complex. Also in front of the museum was a tiny hot spring that shot out water into another small fountain.
We entered the museum and were immediately immersed into the modern art the museum displayed. There were tons of sculptures of every shape and size, and some of them moved as well. Towards the end of the display was a foot spa, with the water at 65 degrees Celsius. So in other words, really, really hot. By the time I took out my feet, my legs were cooked red. After the foot spa was a gift store that also sold some delicious ice cream. I decided to try the pumpkin flavor and it was awesome. After the ice cream a few of us ate some lunch right outside the gift shop.
After lunch I went into the Picasso exhibit down the hill. It didn't have any of his famous pieces, but it had a lot of the lesser known ones. After the exhibit I made my way back up the hill, past all of the gift shops, out of the building, and into the bus. The next stop was going to be the Hakone Checkpoint. It was a place that was established in the Edo period by the shogun to prevent daimyos from plotting a rebellion. In order to do this the families of the daimyos were forced to live in Edo, and their movement as well as the secret transport of military equipment was strictly forbidden.
The museum had a mock-up of the old checkpoint and a smaller building with artifacts from the Edo period. It also showed some of the torture devices they used if you didn't obey the rules. They also had what was probably the biggest gun I have ever seen. I thought it was a cannon at first, but then it had pictures of a man holding it and showing how it was fired. After checking out the checkpoint, we went to Owakudani Valley, which was a giant sulfur mine and sulfur spring.
I could definitely tell that we were close when I first smelled the sulfur. It really made me sick to my stomach at first, but then I got used to it. I then climbed the mountain, getting smellier with every step. At the top were the sulfur springs that smelled extremely terrible. Also at the top was a place where you could buy black eggs, which were eggs that were boiled in the sulfur spring water. The chemical composition of the water it turns the shell of the egg black. I decided to try one and it didn't taste any different than a normal hard boiled egg. I then climbed back down the mountain and got back on the bus.
Our next drive was about an hour to the Senshu Seminar house that was on one of the lakes next to Mount Fuji. We couldn't see it though because it was too cloudy. We then unpacked our stuff and then ate a traditional Japanese dinner in the cafeteria. When dinner was over we went back to our rooms.
When we got back to our rooms we could see the very top of Mount Fuji peeking out of the clouds in the middle of the night. The moon was shinning behind it, and it look gorgeous. I tried to take a picture, but it was too dark. After that we watched some Draimon for awhile. When that was over I went to the sauna with Paula, one of the students from Spain, and Chen Li, my room mate. We spent about fifteen minutes there and then we all went back upstairs and made our beds so we could take a nap.
We napped for a couple of hours and got up to hang out at the party down the hall. I only stayed for about 30 minutes and then I went back to our room and played on my computer until I fell asleep.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
10/20/05Woke up and went to Japanese classes. We didn't have any afternoon classes, but we had to start working on our group project instead. We have to compare and contrast certain parts of Tokyo and then create a presentation. For one of our areas our group chose Akihabara. Jake was doing the T.V. program filming for the afternoon and Frank was really sick, so Ben, Orla, and I went down to the station to leave for Akihabara. On the way there Ben and I decided to "vest" and then we finally got around to leaving.
At Akihabara we stopped in a lot of gaming stores and bought some little trinkets from the toy vending machines. I got two little frogs and Rei from Evangelion. I also got the Ghost In The Shell Manga that the movie was based off of. The animation is really awesome and it was only 1000 yen.
When then decided to stop in a Japanese porn store "just for kicks." The reason why anime porn is so popular in Japan is because you can draw whatever you want to, but with porn in Japan, the genital area is blurred out. Even so, the store was rather interesting. And as you went up on floors, things got even "worse." The last floor you had to take an elevator up to and none of us wanted to try our luck.
After that exciting adventure, we went to a store that sold used games and accessories. The newest system they had was a Super FamCom, which is the American equivalent of Super Nintendo. I really wanted to buy an NES, but in the end decided not to. Maybe next time I guess.
After a night at Akihabara, we went back home to Mukogaokayuen. We decided to try some Japanese Mexican Food. I ordered a burrito, and so did Ben. Mike ordered cheese enchiladas. When the food came out the cheese enchiladas looked alright but my burrito was covered in ketchup and was about half the size of a "normal" burrito. The beef inside was really spicy, but it just didn't taste the same. All meals came with a side of corn and they cost 600 yen. After a disappointing, expensive (for the amount given), and small-portioned meal, we stopped at the 7-11 to buy some lunch to pack for tomorrow. I bought some packed sandwiches and some melon Fanta. I'm going to miss melon Fanta when I come back to the U.S., along with melon pan (bread). I then walked back to the dorm and watched a game show on T.V. for awhile. Some others went to karaoke, but I stayed behind and chatted on the computer for a bit.
I found out that my sister got West Nile Virus. Apparently she is the 11th case in Nebraska for her age group. She had been feeling really weak over the past few weeks and has been having trouble breathing. The doctors also think she might have a separate heart problem as well, so she is seeing another doctor for that as well. The news kinda ruined my night and then I packed and went to bed.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
10/19/05We didn't have normal classes today. Instead we had a tour of a Kazusa DNA Research Institute and Nippon Steal Factory. The bus ride to the research institute was about two hours long. Upon arriving, we were directed directly into a classroom.
We were then given a lecture on the importance of DNA research and what the research facility is currently researching. It was a little hard to comprehend what the lady was saying because her English skills were a little limited. But from what I got out of it was that they talked about was producing vegetables and products to be immune to effects of bacteria and bugs that would want to feed off of them. They also wanted to find the gene of the bacteria that feeds off of the root of a soy bean. This bacteria isn't parasitic, and it doesn't harm the soy bean itself. They wanted to find the gene that can create that characteristic. They also wanted to completely map the DNA of a few specified plants and wanted to map the DNA of a mouse so that they can use it for DNA research in humans and possibly cloning.
After the lecture we got a tour of the facility and Nick kept quoting Jurassic Park the entire time. We got to see a lot of machines that did "stuff" and computed things. Not a whole lot was explained to us since our tour guide was the same lady who gave the lecture. After the tour we left the facility and were driven to a scenic part of the institute to have lunch. We had to pack our own lunch, and since I woke up 30 minutes before we had to be at the bus I took a quick shower and then grabbed random snacks to bring along.
After eating we left for the Nippon Steel Factory. The plant that we visited was the largest one in Japan and ranked in the top 5 in the world. In fact Japan is the top producer of steel in the world. China is second, with the U.S. coming in third. When we got to the factory we were guided into a large room. On the table were red hard-hats and white gloves. Like little kids, we played around with them until the tour guide came. Another lecture was given to us, but this time it had to be translated to us by one of our directors. After the lecture we watched an instructional video.
After the video we put on our hard-hats and gloves and got on the bus to ride around the facility and finally into a section of the plant. The part we got to see was the last part of the steel making process, where the steel was flattened into sheets and then cooled. Eventhough we were at a really safe distance from the molten steel, I could still feel the heat from it as the sheets of steel passed by on the conveyer belt. It was really cool to watch the process of steel go from a block to a sheet. I probably could have watched it all day. In fact I wanted to see more, but that was all we got to see, the rest of the factory was too dangerous for us to see. As we were riding back to the visitor center we got to see a blast furnace and watched as the molten steel was poured into the "torpedo" trains to be transported to another part of the factory.
Back at the visitor center we handed back our hats and gloves and then were given some canned orange juice to drink. It really didn't taste like orange juice at all, but I drank it anyway. After a question and answer session we left for the Tokyo Bay Bridge.
The Tokyo Bay Bridge crosses the entire way across the bay, the first part of it was above water and we stopped at a rest station halfway there. After taking some pictures we got back on the bus and went the rest of the way across the bay underneath the water. I don't know why we didn't take it on the way to the field trips, it was a lot faster than going all the way around. Perhaps it is more expensive to do so. We then arrived back at Senshu and were dropped off at building No. 9.
I went back to the dorm and made some dinner. While eating dinner I decided to watch some T.V. After doing that I started my homework and finished it. During the time I was doing my homework another small earthquake occurred. I know I should fear them, but in a way I like them, and that's probably because I've never experienced one before. Maybe when I experience a big one I’ll change my mind.
After homework I got a call from my conversation partner called and we met for the first time. His name is Yuske and he is a junior at Senshu University. He studied at a university in Australia for a year and a half, so his English is pretty good. We had a good conversation in English and Japanese at an izakaya by the station. After about an hour we walked back to the dorm, and Yuske drove home. I then talked on the internet for awhile and then went to bed.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
10/18/05Same morning routine. The only difference about today was that we didn't have any afternoon classes. Well, we did have an optional activity to go to, but an interesting situation came up. That situation was that we could have a chance at getting on Japanese T.V. Someone approached one of the students in the Senshu Program and asked if he wanted to be on Japanese T.V. and to tell all his "foreign" friends. Apparently the broadcasting studio was looking for native English speakers to make a program about Japanese "Ingrish." About 11 of us decided to try our luck.
We had a long train ride to somewhere around central Tokyo. The station we stopped at was three stops away from the main Tokyo station. Once we got at the station we called our contact and he met us at the station. The broadcasting office was about a ten minute walk away from the station. As soon as we stepped out of the elevator a cloud of cigarette smoke hit us. Japan doesn't have as many restrictions on smoking as America does. We were then guided into a room and each given a cup of coffee.
The producer came in and interviewed us in Japanese with a video camera. I thought he was testing our Japanese skills, so I did my best. But what the producer was actually looking for was your presence on camera. After the interview we were asked to listen to some "Ingrish" and decipher what the person was actually saying. It was interesting to listen to because it sounded like they weren't even speaking English at all, so it was really hard to tell what the person was actually saying. I was the only person to get an example correct. The example was, "I lost my wallet."
After decoding sentences, we then waited around for awhile as the producer and his assistants decided on who he wanted for the program. He chose about 5 out of the 11, and guess what, I wasn't picked. The people who were chosen had to talk with the producer for about 30 minutes, so in the meantime, they took the rest of us to a Japanese T.G.I.Friday's to have dinner. It was basically to compensate for our time and train fair to get there in the first place. I think it was the most depressing T.G.I.Friday's I've ever been too. The place was completely dead, and I guess that fact that we were rejected didn't help out the situation.
Well since the guy told us to order what we wanted and that he'd be back in 30 minutes, we really ordered what we wanted. I must say food tastes so much better when you're not paying for it. We all ordered from the most expensive drink menu. Most of us had the Ultimate Mud Slide, which cost about 1,200 each. And most of us had two drinks or more. On top of the drinks we ordered tons of appetizers and snacks. We were contemplating ordering steaks and ribs, but we didn't think we had enough time. We ended up having plenty of time, but never got around to ordering. We should have though. Around 45 minutes later, someone from the studio came to pick us up and take us to the station.
We later found out what the other group had to do. They were going to be part of sketches the studio had written. One took place in a clothing store and on the street. Nick and Michael had to play the part of two American pranksters, Mia had to be worker in a clothing store, Jacob had to play the role of a business man, and Randy had to play the part of a store manager. They each were going to be paid 3000 yen each, and that's how much two ultimate drinks cost at T.G.I.Friday's and with food on top of that, we pretty much "got paid" for doing nothing.
I rode back to Mukogaokayuen. A few of the others stopped in Shinjuku to do some shopping. While I was at Mukogaokayuen station I got a call on my cell phone. I was a guy asking if he could be my conversation partner. We talked for a really long time and then decided to meet up sometime next week or so. When I was done talking I decided to "vest" my cares away and went to the arcade. I found Justin there doing the same thing. We had a pretty good "jam" session and played some cool new songs.
After the arcade I went back home and fell asleep reading.
Monday, October 17, 2005
10/17/05I had the usual morning routine of waking up, taking a shower, and then walking up to class. Our business class today covered what some of our field trips were going to be. One of them is a giant steel factory and the other is a beer factory. We have to write a two page essay for each of the trips, which isn't a lot. I sneeze out two page papers.
The other business class was about vending machines in Japan. What is interesting about the vending machines in Japan is that there are a lot of products that are sold in the vending machines here. You always have a wide variety to choose from. Up to 20 or more different kinds of beverages are sold at one vending machine. Another factor is that the vending machines here can vend hot and cold drinks. Japanese people don't really like carbonated drinks, and so I found out when I bought one. It was basically flat soda with the tiniest bit of carbonation. Now canned coffee on the other hand is a big thing here, and it can be sold hot or cold. One thing that Japan doesn't have a lot of is vending machines that sell snacks. They are no where to be found. I have yet to see one on my trip thus far. I have seen vending machines on the street that sell cigarettes, beer, and even porn - but NO snacks...this to me is extremely puzzling.
Another thing that the teacher pointed out about vending machines in Japan is that soon you will be able to access any vending machine on the internet, see what it is selling, the price for the products, and how many it has. You will also be able to buy from vending machine from you cell phone. I swear, there is nothing you can't do with your cell phone in Japan...hmm, I wonder if in the near future it will be able to walk my dog?
One other big thing in Japan is the convenient store. They have a 7-11 by the dorm and tons of other convenient store branches on every corner. In fact, the convenient stores in Japan have been so successful that the Japanese 7-11 plans to buy out the American 7-11!
After class I had planned to do some "vesting" with the other guys, but when I arrived at the dorm a surprise, or rather someone was waiting for me to return. It was Yasuko, a girl I had met two years ago when she was studying abroad at UNL. Senshu University and UNL have a cooperative student exchange program. She happened to live on the same floor of my dorm as me, and that's how we met. I had drawn her a picture a long while back and she brought it along with her, as well as a few photos of that were taken of us together. She apparently lives in an apartment only five minutes away from the dorm. What a coincidence! She had also brought along a few friends to meet me as well. When I asked how she knew I was here, she said that she saw my name hanging up by the International Affairs Office because I was looking for a conversation partner. So, she decided to try her luck and see if I was really here, I'm glad she did.
After getting over the fact that I met someone that I thought I would never meet again in my life, we talked a bit and I showed Yasuko my pictures from home and my adventures in Japan so far. Yuki, Mia's conversation partner and a couple of her friends stopped by and asked if we wanted to go out to eat as Saizeriya, which is a really cheap Italian restaurant here. I asked if Yasuko and her friends could come along and then we left for Saizeriya.
We ate a good and cheap meal and then talked for awhile. After dinner we stopped by the 99 yen store and I bought some tea and some more Choco Flakes...man are those things great. I'm going to be sad when I come back to the States and I will have no more Choco Flakes. I'll have to start sending supplies as soon as I can back home. After shopping we walked back to the dorm and then parted ways.
Back at the dorm I began my homework and finished it while watching the Japanese equivalent of E.R. in America. It was really interesting to see what Japanese drama is like. It reminded me more of a soap opera than anything else. After the show I went back upstairs and did some journaling and video game playing on my computer.
I put in the soundtrack for Halo 2 and it felt really weird to listen to it and not play the actual game. It really made me miss my X-Box and all the friends I made on X-Box Live. When the two main theme songs played, tears almost formed in my eyes because I wasn't able to play the game, but could only listen to the music I have heard over and over and know so well by playing the game almost religiously. I don't think it's the actual game I miss, but playing together with my friends. I feel so out of the loop about everything with my clan and the game itself. A lot can change within one week. I can only imagine what it's going to be like after three months... I feel really bad that I can't be there when news breaks about something or someone within the clan, a new glitch in the game, or a new strategy. I heart Halo at an unhealthy level...it's even worse than my caffeine addiction, and I'm having lots of withdrawals lately...sigh...
After reminiscing and day-dreaming I finally went to bed.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
10/16/05Woke up around noon and read a few chapters in my Halo novel - don't worry I'm almost finished with it, the first one that is. After reading went grocery shopping. I bought most of my food at the Life store, and then went to the 99 yen shop to buy some snacks. They had a new product there and I decided to try it. Basically it was a bunch of corn flakes covered in chocolate. After shopping I went home and made lunch.
After lunch I went upstairs and updated my websites and profiles with journal entries and pictures. While I was surfing the web I experienced MY FIRST EARTHQUAKE! It was a really small one that only lasted about 15 seconds. I was sitting on the floor in the hallway where I could get a good wireless reception from the house across the tracks. I felt my butt start to shake and I was really confused. When I noticed that it wasn't my body doing the shaking, I realized what it really was. We heard on the news that it was predicted that a big earthquake would hit somewhere close by sometime this week. If the little quake we felt today wasn't a hint, I don't know what is. I wonder what the REAL thing feels like. I am frightened, yet anxious at the same time. I thought the little quake was really fun. My mind may change once I experience a bigger one.
At 6:00 I had to leave to meet my mother at Shinyurigaoka station. I had left my shampoo and towel back at their house, and she was going to meet me there to drop it off with me. I rode to the station and I got my things from my host-mother. I then rode back to Mukogaokayuen and bought some apple juice and milk on the way back to the dorm.
When I got back I started on my homework. I did my Japanese first and then wrote two short essays for culture class. One of them is due tomorrow, and the other is due in a week. I figured I'd get it done anyway and save myself some time. When I finished the papers I went down and watched some T.V.
After that I did some journaling and got ready for bed.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Picture Update:GO HERE to see my trip to Mount Fuji and more home-stay pictures :D
10/15/05
Woke up around 9:00 today and ate a Japanese-style breakfast with my host-mother and father. It consisted of rice, salmon, and miso soup. While eating breakfast my host family decided to take me to Mount Fuji. After breakfast I took a shower and then we left by car to Mount Fuji.
It took about two hours by car to reach Mount Fuji. The drive there was spectacular because you drove through a beautiful mountain range to get there. When we reached the gate to Mount Fuji we paid an entrance fee and then drove half way up the mountain (I believe there were five "steps" or levels) until we reached a visitor center. The drive up the mountain took about 45 minutes.
The center had shops and restaurants and you could even rent a horse to ride around the mountain. We chose not too because of the high prices. Instead we walked along the scenic trail around the tree-line of Mount Fuji. I picked up an igneous rock along the trail put it in my purse and thanked Mount Fuji for the souvenir.
We then walked back along the trail we came in on and then stopped by the visitor center to eat lunch that my host-mother prepared. After lunch we went back down the mountain and went to a very famous part of town by the mountain range of Mount Fuji.
At this town were tons of home-grown vegetable stores and grape stores. Yes, grapes, all they sold were every kind of grape and wine. Along the way we stopped at a vegetable store and bought some expensive mushrooms and some really cheap cabbage and dicon radish. We then drove a ways and stopped at a fairly large grape store and we were invited in to eat a selection of grapes. The grapes had a lot of seeds in them, but they were really delicious. After eating, we went out to the fields and picked out our own grapes to buy. After doing that we paid and then drove two hours back home.
When we got back to our hometown we stopped at the supermarket to get some ingredients for dinner. After doing our shopping we drove back home and made dinner.
While we were making dinner my host mother decided that I needed to try on a yukata. It took awhile to get all the parts put on, but we eventually got it all worked out. After taking pictures, my host mother then decided that I needed to try on a kimono. The kimono was composed of even more parts than a yukata, so it took even longer to put on. After being fitted we took some more pictures and then I changed back into my clothes.
We ate dinner and then I packed my things. My host parents drove me back to the dormitory and then we said our goodbyes. I unpacked my things and started on my laundry. People were watching Harry Potter downstairs, so I decided to join them while I did my laundry. After the movie was over I put away my clothes and then went off to bed.
Friday, October 14, 2005
10/14/05I woke up around 7:30 and ate breakfast with my host mother. I was then taken to the station by Mamiko and a friend of hers that she plays tennis with. At the station I met up with Nick and Justin and we rode all the way to Mukogaokayuen and walked to class.
We had a full session of Japanese in the morning and a full session of business class in the afternoon. After business class was over I went with Justin and Ben to "vest" at the arcade until it was time for me to go home around 6:00 p.m.
I rode to the Shinyurigaoka station and while waiting for my host-mother I met up with Katie. My host-mother arrived and was pleased to meet Katie after hearing so much about her from Sheena (our Senshu program coordinator) who happened to home-stay with my family the previous year. We then rode on the train together until Katie got off at her station and then rode the rest of the way to Nagayama station.
When we arrived at the station we did some window shopping at the mall by the station. We looked at a kimono shop. I really wanted to buy a yukata, but this is not the season for them. I guess I will have to come back in May. We looked around the mall some more and waited till Mamiko and my host-father arrived at the station so that we could eat at an izakaya by the station.
I ate some really good things there and some really interesting things that I will probably never want to eat again in my life. I out drank my host-father: I had 10 shots of Sake and 4 mixed drinks. Mamiko only drank two mixed drinks and then fell asleep. I wasn't completely drunk, but I had a pretty good buzz by the time we left.
We took a taxi back home and then I went immediately to bed.
Photo Update:
CLICK HERE for updated photos of my adventures in Japan. New photos include those from Ghibli Museum, Home-Stay, Yokohama, China Town, Jomon Era Museum, Asakusa, and Shibuya. And some bonus pictures :D
Thursday, October 13, 2005
10/13/05Woke up around 7:30 a.m. and had breakfast with my host mother. Yuki then drove me to the station and I rode all the way to Mukogaokayuen. The train this morning was a little packed, but not nearly as bad as it was on Tuesday. Once I arrived at the station I went straight to building No. 2 for class. We only had three sessions of Japanese class today because we had at tour at the Edo Tokyo Museum.
After eating lunch in the cafeteria with Katie, I then walked down to the station to meet up with the rest of the class so we could leave for the Edo Tokyo Museum. We had to switch trains at Shinjuku and then to Ryogoku station, which was the same station we went to go to the sumo tournament. In fact, the museum is right next to the sumo arena.
We went to the museum and walked through the exhibits. The main exhibit was on the Edo Period of Japan. It was the most interesting display that was at the museum I think. After that exhibit you could walk through and see how the area changed up until World War II. After walking around I did some souvenir shopping for my family and friends (two things were for me) and then went back to Mukogaokayuen station. I was invited by Nick and Justin to do some "vesting" at the arcade by Nagayama station, since their host families lived in the same location as mine. I wanted to go along, but I had to go back to the dorm to pick up some things.
I then walked back to the dorm to pick up my backpack that I had left because I didn't want to carry it around with me at the museum. My host mother called saying that she wanted to meet me at Shinyurigaoka station, so I left back for Mukogaokayuen station. I rode the train to Shinyurigaoka, met my host mother and then we rode together back to Nagayama station.
At the Nagayama station my host mother did some grocery shopping at a supermarket underneath the station. We then took the bus back to the house and my mother prepared dinner and I did my homework till my host father came home.
Dinner was a version of Mongolian Beef and some sort of cooked vegetables. You had to cook your beef in the boiling water with the vegetables and then eat it. My host father and I had a sake drinking contest. I won, so I earned the name "Rachel-kun," in which the last part (kun) is attached to a boy's first name. I then called my host father "Otou-chan," (it's supposed to be Otou-san) which means something like a "girly-father," the last part of the name is attached to a girl's first name.
After dinner we watched Yuki's "Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade" VHS tape that was dubbed in Japanese. I don't my host family not to bother with the second movie because it wasn't as cool as the first or second Indy movies. My host family really enjoyed the movie.
After the movie I took a bath and went to bed.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
10/12/05I woke up around 10:30 today. We didn't have Japanese classes in the morning, which was nice to have a break from since I've been in home-stay all week speaking non-stop Japanese. My host mother made breakfast and then I finished the rest of my homework. I fell back asleep while doing my homework and my host mother woke me up for lunch, which was spaghetti. Apparently it was some sort of holiday because my host mother didn't have to go to work today. After lunch Mamiko drove me to the station and I went to school.
At the Mukogaokayuen station I met up with Katie, one of my classmates from UNL and we walked together to the dorm since we had a little extra time. We then walked up to building No. 9 to have our culture class for the day which was on the different dialects around Japan. I must say it was rather interesting. I couldn't even understand the Okinawa dialect at all. It seemed like a completely different language.
After class we had the option to watch "Lost in Translation." I really didn't want to see it, and if I wanted to see it I could see it back in the US. It was an optional class anyway, and didn't count towards our grade. So Ben, Justin, and I decided to "vest" (play Guitar Freaks 5). We call it vesting because there is a poster for Guitar Freaks 5 (V) and it says: "Yes! I Just Want To Vest!" So every time we want to play at the arcade we say we want to "vest."
We walked to the arcade and played a linked game with the drums and guitars. I then decided to buy a club member card for Guitar Freaks that cost about 200 yen. With the card it would keep your score and you could use it at any arcade that had a matching Guitar Freaks system. The screen name that I put in was: VESTLADY.
After hours of vesting it was time for me to go home and I met my mother at Nagayama Station. She drove me home and we ate dinner with my host father. We had fried chicken and vegetables for dinner.
When we finished dinner my host mother played the koto for me, which is basically a really large wooden block with 13 strings on it. I'll be posting a picture of it soon whenever I get around to it. My host mother then insisted that I try to play it and she was surprised that I learned the song: "Sakura, Sakura," in about 10 minutes. The word "sakura" means "cherry blossom." The musical score is written quite differently than what I am used to seeing. It was very hard to read, so I just played by ear.
After playing the koto, I invited my host parents to watch one of my DVD's that I brought. I tried to play it in the PS2 they had, but because of the region code (US is 1 - Japan is 2), it wouldn't play. So we watched Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark on my laptop.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
10/11/05Woke up around 7:30 and ate breakfast with my host mother and Yuki. After breakfast Yuki drove me to the station and I got on the train bound for Shinyurigaoka. While riding the train there I met up with Justin, one of my classmates from UNL. I wonder what the chances were of me being in the same train as him, let alone the same car of the train at the same time. We transferred trains at the station and the train we got on was completely packed full, but somehow we squeezed in. I didn't even have to hold onto anything because it was wall to wall people. I had never felt more like a sardine in my life! At each station a few people got off and somehow more people fit in the train at each station we stopped at. When I thought that was bad, things got even worse.
At the Mukogaokayuen Station our train stopped, but the doors of the train wouldn't open. So basically we were packed like sardines sweating a billion gallons a minute and had to wait till the problem was fixed. This took about 15 to 20 minutes. Apparently the signals or something weren't working. So anyway somehow Justin and I squeezed our way out when the doors finally opened. Because of the problem with the train, all trains coming into and out of the station had to wait and were delayed.
Since we were already late for class anyway, Justin and I stopped at the dorm on the way to class. I picked up my books and met up with a few other students that finally arrived because of the train delay. We then walked up the cliff to our classes in building No. 2.
After Japanese classes were over, I went to the cafeteria to eat lunch and then hung out in the Atrium of the 5th floor of building No. 9 to make use of the free wireless internet.
We had a business class in the afternoon which was basically worthless since they went over what we needed to do for our research project for the 3rd time in a row. After the class we had an orientation for the tour of Hakone. Hakone is a town that has an onsen, or hot spring and a nice view of Mount Fuji. We will be going on the tour about two weeks from now.
When the orientation was over with I went back to the dorm to pick up a jacket and some of my personal belongings. It was then that my host mother called and asked me if I had a long skirt with me because she wanted to take me to a Japanese Tea Ceremony Lesson. Apparently my host mother has a lesson that meets every Tuesday evening and tonight she called her teacher and asked for permission for me to come. I had a skirt, but I thought it might be too short, so I brought some nice slacks, a shirt, and shoes along with me.
I then left for the Shinyurigaoka station and met up with Nick, one of my classmates from UNL. He apparently also lived near the same station I lived at, but for some reason was listed separate from the others. At the Shinyurigaoka station I met up with my host mother and we rode the rest of the way to Nagayama. The Shinyurigaoka station is a station that my host mother has to stop at along the way to work, so she told me to meet up with her there.
At Nagayama station with met up with my host father, but he took a bike home and my host mother and I rode on the bus. At home I changed into my nice clothes and then my host mother drove me to what I think was a culture center of some sorts.
At the center we went up the stairs and into the room where you changed your shoes before you went onto the tatami mats. While we were there, an instructor in a kimono came over and directed me into the "Tea Room," which was basically a mock-up room of an old house.
After you crouched and squeezed your way inside you had to sit and look at a banner with ancient inscriptions on it. You had to sit on your legs with your back straight by the way. After you read the inscription you had to stare at the flowers that were hanging on the wall. The instructor explained everything to me, in Japanese of course. I think I understood about 10% of what she said to me, but I got the overall idea.
When you were done looking at the objects, you had to turn towards a pot with hot water in it. It was about 2 or 3 tatami mats away from where you had to sit. Where you sat was a calculated and exact spot you had to sit at. When someone (my host mother in this case) entered the door you had to bow to the ground and they entered and brought in the tools to make tea with. In front of you was a pastry of some sort. You had to pick it up in an exact manner and cut it in a certain way. After you did that you had to clean the knife you ate it with in a certain way as well. When you were done with that you sat it down and bowed.
My host mother then prepared the tea. Each of her movements had to be exact and the placement of each object had to be precise. After the tea was made it was given to you and you had to turn the bowl of tea in a certain way so that it faced the opposite direction. You then drank the tea and had to drink it in about four to five sips. On the last sip you had to slurp it down and make a noise to signify that the tea was tasty. You then turned your tea bowl back around and placed it on the ground. You had to move across the floor in a certain way, and return with the same amount of precision.
You then bowed (actually I bowed a lot more, but I couldn't count how many times I bowed - I lost track) and my host mother removed all the tools for making the tea and the ceremony was over.
After my host mother showed me the example of a tea ceremony we went into the actual class room. The teacher was at the front of the room in a beautiful kimono. It was somewhat intimidating. We did some more bowing and did some introductions.
Around 8:30 we left for home and the teacher watched us leave and gave me a gift which was quite nice of her. She invited me to return and watch the class some more the next time I visited.
My host mother then drove us home and we ate dinner. My host father prepared the meal. There was yakisoba (my favorite), a potato casserole of some sort, a broccoli salad of some sort and sashimi. I really enjoyed everything and even ate some salmon sashimi. My host father dared me to eat the octopus and I tried it. I must say it really wasn't all the bad, but it wasn’t my favorite.
After dinner I took a bath, did my homework, and then went to bed.
Monday, October 10, 2005
10/10/05I woke up around 8:00 a.m. and ate breakfast with my host mother, father, and sister. After breakfast my host mother left for work. My host father was supposed to go to some sort of vegetable gardening party, but it got cancelled due to the rain - something that happens a lot here.
My host father dropped off Mamiko and I at the station and then we left for Asakusa. We transferred trains at Shibuya and then got on another to Asakusa. The whole ride took about an hour.
The shopping center in front of the temple at Asakusa had a giant red lantern hanging from the entrance. Inside the shopping area we looked at some shops. Many sold touristy kind of goods and souvenirs. I bought a cute little mouse key chain - the year I was born according to the Chinese Zodiac. I also bought some cat key chains for my friends. The cat is waving at the air, calling for good luck - so the cat is supposed to bring good luck.
We then continued down the shopping area till we got to the Shinto temple. Mamiko bought me some incense there and I put it in some sort of shine. You are then supposed to waft the fumes to clear out your head and bring good health. After this, you then walk over to a fountain with cups to wash your hands. You are then supposed to put some water in your mouth and then spit it out below. When you have done this you can enter the temple and walk up to the giant offering collection bin. You then thrown in coins, clap your hands, and say a prayer. Next to the offering area are shelves with papers in them. You donate about 100 yen and then shake a container with sticks in it. You then pull one of the sticks out. Each stick has a number on it, and the number on it correlates to the shelve where your "fortune" is. The paper tells you whether or not you will have good luck. I got number 5, and I can tell you that you don't want it. It said I will have really bad luck...if I want something to come true or wish for something, it will not be realized, it will not come true, so on and so forth. So in other words - not good. After reading the paper you can tie it to a rack and wish for better luck. At the temple you can buy things to guarantee your good fortune, do well on a test, have no traffic accidents, have a healthy baby, so on and so forth. If I would have known it was that easy I would have bought one for my finals long ago.
After visiting the temple we went back to Nagayama. At Shibuya, we stopped to look around the town, take some pictures, went to a photo booth, and ate lunch at a fancy restaurant. I felt really bad because my host parents paid for everything and wouldn't let me pay - even for my train ticket.
When we finished lunch we went back to Nagayama. Mamiko and I watched some T.V. and it was then Mamiko decided that she wanted to go out and rent a movie. She drove to a rental center about five minutes from our home. We rented the movie "Beyond Borders" with Angelina Jolie starring in it.
When then went home and watched the movie. It was about relief efforts and the impact they have on peoples' lives. It was a really moving story. I recommend it to anyone.
By the time the movie was over, my host mother and father had prepared dinner. For dinner we had some sort of soup, salad, and ginger pork that was really delicious.
After dinner we watched some T.V. and had that same desert roll thingy we had a couple of days ago. Later on, I took a bath and got ready for bed. My host mother then explained to me how to get to school from Nagayama. Hopefully I will make it tomorrow. I then went to bed around 11:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
10/9/05Woke up and had breakfast with my host mother and father. We had melon bread (something that is really popular and extremely delicious here), eggs, and sausages - and not the sausages that you fry, more like the little wieners.
After breakfast my host mother and father drove me to Yokohama. We first stopped at a wedding village center. I don't know exactly why, but I think it was that they wanted to find a nice place for the second oldest son's (Hideki) wedding for next year. We waited in the lobby for a bit. I felt a little awkward and underdressed in my jeans with people in suits and kimonos walking around. After waiting for a few minutes, someone came over and gave us a guided tour around the wedding village center. The place was really very nice. I wanted to take pictures, but I was too afraid to ask if I could. One thing I found funny though was that this nice place was right in the center of town with buildings, highways, trains, and cars all around it. It almost seemed like a waste to put such a nice place in the middle of a noisy city.
After the wedding village we went to Yokohama harbor and walked around for a bit. A world food fair was going on and we walked around a bit but didn't buy anything. After taking some pictures around the harbor we walked down the street to China Town.
China Town has its own unique smell to it. It's not a bad smell, but it was something that I had never smelled before. What I smelled were the acorns that were being cooked on the streets and were being sold at numerous little stands. As you walked by, you were handed a sample of what the stand had to offer. If someone didn't want to spend money on lunch, they could probably walk around the streets eating free acorns all day. I didn't know if acorns would be tasty or not, I've never tried one before, but when I tried it I was surprised at how tasty it actually was. Another thing that was popular to eat around China Town is a doughy bread filled with dumpling meat called "Nikuman," and it is really delicious. You can buy it extremely cheap as well.
We then walked down the street to a very popular shopping area of Yokohama. My host mother stopped in a store full of purses and handbags. I couldn't believe the prices of them! The most expensive one they had was about $2500! The cheapest one they had was around $30. There was one wallet there that was around $500. My host mother wanted to buy a gift for a friend, but didn't find anything she liked.
After looking around the shopping area, we went back through China Town and went to a Chinese Temple situated in the middle of the town. I must say it was extremely beautiful. An interesting thing my host mother pointed out to me that the entrance to the temple was marked with a dragon/lion with it's mouth closed and the exit with the mouth open. I can't remember why it was that way though. I will have to ask her to explain it again.
We took some pictures and then looked for somewhere to eat. We went to a restaurant and ate some REAL Chinese food - none of the Sweet and Sour American crap.
When we were done with lunch we went back to Nagayama only we visited a really old Japanese style house called "Buaiso" that was somewhere in the town. I only went with my host mother because my host father had seen it before, so he took a nap in the car. When we toured the house, we had to take our shoes off just to walk around inside. I believe the house was about 100 years old. It was really cool to see the inside and see the history of the house.
We then took another drive around Nagayama to a museum that featured ancient Jomon artifacts. "Jomon" refers to the type of pottery made by the ancient Japanese people. They would press the fibers of rope to leave markings and designs on the pottery. The museum was on an archaeological site that was about 5,000 to 4,500 years old. Some artifacts that were there dated even much earlier.
We walked outside to see the archaeological site and see what the houses looked like during the time of the Jomon. One of the houses had a fire in it tended by a staff person. A thermometer was placed outside the house to show you how hot it could actually get inside - around 35 degrees Celsius.
After walking around we got in the car and headed back for home. We stopped at the supermarket along the way to buy food for dinner. One thing that I've noticed about this country is that people here value fresh food a lot. They go shopping just about every day or every other day. One reason for this is that some people have to carry the food a long way to their homes, so they can only carry a little bit. In American we try to avoid as many trips as possible to one place and can carry large amounts of groceries in our cars. We also stock up on food rather than buy it fresh all the time.
I was really tired, so my host mother said I could take a nap. When I woke up dinner was ready. Hediki and his fiance came over for dinner as well. It was nice to meet them and talk bit. We ate some smoked Yellow Tail, rice with vegetables in it, and miso. After dinner Mamiko arrived home from work and brought some cake (more like really nice deserts) for us to eat. It was really delicious.
After dinner Hediki and his fiance left and I took a bath. Afterwards my host mother explained to me that Mamiko was going to take me to Asakusa tomorrow. I then went off to bed.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
10/8/05Woke up around 8:00 a.m. and took a shower and did some more packing. My host mother arrived around 10:00 a.m. to pick me up. I greeted her formally and hoped that she knew some English. My hopes were drowned when I tried to speak and asked questions in simple English. The only response I got was a puzzled look. This weekend was going to be difficult.
We walked down to the station and got on the train for Shinyurigaoka station. We got off at that station and transferred trains to Odakyu-Nagayama station, which is the closest station to my home-stay family's house. When we arrived at the station we took the bus and then went about five stops or so till we got to the stop closest to the house. After we got off the bus, it was about a five minute walk up the hill to the house.
When we arrived at the house a dog barked at our presence. I peered into the garden and saw a small sheepdog with a giant blue protective shield around his neck and a bandaged leg. My host mother explained to me that "Rocky" (the dog's name) cut his leg and it had to be bandaged. After Rocky extended his greetings, we entered the house and took off our shoes.
I was then given a tour around the house. The first place was my bedroom. The floor was made of tatami mats. My bed was a futon on the floor with three sheets and blankets. My room also had a small T.V., drawers, and a tiny alcove to the side that had display cases of dolls and memorabilia. The next was the family room and dinning room. I was then shown the toilet room, that was named rightly so because there was only a single toilet inside. For some reason, there are community slippers inside the toilet room to wear. I have no idea why. The bath room was a separate room next to the toilet room. It was composed of two rooms: the first was a room with closets and a sink/medicine cabinet. The adjacent room was the bath room with a traditional bathtub and faucet to do some pre-washing before you entered the bathtub. I wasn't shown upstairs, but I assume that is where the rest of the family's rooms are.
Mamiko, the youngest and only daughter spoke to me for a little bit and then had to leave for her part time job. She works at a cake store and sells the cakes there. When she graduates from the university, she will work at a local bank here.
After I got acquainted with the home, I helped my host mother make lunch: miso ramen. Yuki, the second eldest son came down for lunch and then went right back upstairs when he finished. After lunch, my host mother invited me to do some shopping at the local supermarket. It was about a five minute drive there and then we did our shopping for the day.
We then went home and I helped my host mother make dinner. Tempura was on the menu and it was then I found out that anything can be fried with tempura batter. My mother fried some sweet potatoes, asparagus, shrimp, flowers - yes, flowers, and some vegetables and fruits that I didn't know what they were. My host father came home from a day of golfing with one of his friends just in time for dinner and then we ate. Yuki, the eldest son went to a professional wrestling match somewhere and Mamiko hadn't returned from work yet.
After dinner my mother explained to me that she and my host father were going to take me to Yokohama the next morning and that breakfast was going to be at 8:00 a.m. Makiko arrived around 9:00 p.m. and we watched some T.V. in the family room and had some green tea and a desert that I don't know the name of. It was a rolled doughy pastry with a filling in the middle. After dessert and T.V. I took a bath, watched a movie on my computer, and then went to bed.
Friday, October 07, 2005
10/7/05I woke up extra early to do some more studying for the test today. The test went alright until towards the end. I know I did alright on the last few questions though. The reading section went really easy for me, so I'm glad something went right during the entire test.
We got out of class early today because we had the test, so I went to the University Bookstore and bought a Senshu University shirt. I then went downstairs to the cafeteria to get some lunch. I then went outside to do some talking on instant messenger for awhile.
Since I still had some time before class started, I went back to the dorm and took a nap. After my nap I walked back up the hill to building No. 9 to our culture class. The English professor invited some of his students to join the class so that we could interview them about their college life and see how it differed from ours. It was really interesting to hear the answers and was really nice to meet new people.
After class I went back to the dorm and did some journaling and talking on instant messengers before the next "optional" part of the class was going to start. We were all invited to a local izakaya around the station so that we could all get to know each other a little better and make new friends while here in Japan.
We went to the izakaya and were escorted into our large reserved room. They gave us beer first and then flavored drinks. The best one they gave us was a raspberry flavored one. By the time all the food was served - which wasn't as much as the other izakaya we went to. I had a little bit of a buzz, and so did a few others. It was then a few of the guys decided that they were going to play Guitar Freaks 5 at the arcade across the street. I must say I didn't do as good as when I played it sober... Hehehe....
After a few sessions of crappy, drunken guitar playing, I left for home. I began packing my things because the home-stay program is going to start tomorrow. I am a little excited and a little nervous at the same time. I hope they know at least English...at least I'm praying that they do. After packing a bit I went to bed.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
10/6/05Today I had the same morning routine again. The only difference was that we didn't have the last period (we have four total - 50 minutes each) of Japanese. We had the last period off to get lunch and go meet down at the station to go to the Ghibli Museum. Ghibli Museum is an animation museums design by Hayao Miyazaki himself. It featured all of his films, how they were produced, and how process of animation is done step by step.
It took us about an hour to get to the museum: 20 minutes to the Shinjuku Station then 25 minutes to Mitaka Station. You then have a bit of a walk to get to the museum. There really wasn't much at the museum, I really wish there was more to see. If you want to know what the inside looks like check out THIS WEBSITE. You weren't allowed to take pictures inside the museum, but you could take them of the outside. I will be uploading my pictures of the museum to my PhotoBucket site soon.
After we were done exploring the museum we were free to visit the local area, or go home. Chris, Frank, and I decided that we were hungry and looked for a place to eat. We went into a local izakaya - a bar where you can get food really cheap, and all the alcohol you can drink for about 2000 yen ($20). Since we had a big test the next day, we decided to just eat the food.
When we finished eating, we took the trains back to the dorm. I took a nap before I studied for the rest of the night till I drifted off to sleep - dreading my test the next day.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
10/5/05We had the same morning routine again. During one of our breaks between Japanese classes, we discovered a vending machine that dispensed a mystery drink. Instead of having a drink displayed, it had a question mark. Since you didn't know what you were going to actually get, the price was marked down to 80 yen. I decided to try my luck and got an orange soda that was more like orange juice with soda water in it.
We didn’t have any afternoon classes today. We had a business trip originally scheduled for the afternoon, but it got cancelled. So, after class I went back to the dorm and made lunch. After lunch a few of us decided to watch the Hayao Miyazaki anime "My Neighbor Totoro." If you haven't seen it yet, it's absolutely cute and you MUST see it.
After the movie I decided to talk on instant messengers for awhile. While I was hanging out upstairs, Miya (one of the girls in our study abroad program from Oregon University) asked me if I wanted to hang out with her conversation partner and a couple of her Japanese friends. I figured it would improve my language skills by tagging along so I said yes and then went downstairs to meet with everybody.
We did our introductions and then went off to the grocery store to buy ingredients for dinner. Apparently we were going to have dinner at Yuki's (Mia's conversation partner) apartment, but I was not informed of it until I went down to meet them.
After buying our groceries we went to Yuki's apartment to make dinner. I don't know how we fit seven people in that tiny apartment, but we did it. I really didn’t find too many things on the dinner table too appetizing, but I tried everything at least once.
We left Yuki's apartment around 9:00 p.m. and then went back to the dorm. I then did some studying and lots of sleeping.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
10/4/05Same morning routine again. We had two culture courses in the afternoon over Japanese Modern History. I didn't find it as interesting as Pre-History or Pre-Modern History. When the teacher was discussing the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima a plane flew over the school. It was kind of creepy.
After the culture courses were over, we weren't done with classes for the day. We had a home-stay orientation. There we were given the rules of what to do on our home-stay and got a profile on our home-stay family. My family lives about an hour away from the station the university is at. There are five people in the family. A father, mother, two older sons, and the youngest is a daughter who is a year older than me. They also have a dog named "Rocky" who lives outside. A good thing about my family is that they don't smoke and an interesting fact is that they all listed tennis as one of their favorite hobbies. I guess I better start liking tennis from now until my home-stay.
After I made my dinner, I had my usual evening routine. There wasn't much I could do since we were in classes/orientation until about 7:00 p.m.
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Monday, October 03, 2005
Oh Yeah!:This could be one of the top 10 pictures I've ever taken:
More photos are coming soon - they are being uploaded :D
Remember, my photo link is on the right hand side under "Extended Stuff" But HERE is a link for you lazy people who don't want to move your mouse over to the right side of the screen - you wouldn't want to strain yourself. Take it easy...
10/3/05
Today was the best day of school we've had so far. The main reason for this was that we didn't even have to leave the building to attend classes. The teachers came to our dorm because today they taught us how to make Okonomiyaki - that one "vegetable/beef/seafood pancake thing" I told you about before. The first two hours we spent in one of the classrooms at the dorm and the rest of the time we made Okonomiyaki with some of the other Japanese classes. We were split into groups so that no more than two people from the same class were in a group together. I wasn't a big fan of some of the things that went into the dish like squid, de-hydrated shrimp, fish paste, and fish flakes, being the most of my disliking. But I decided that I would try everything as it came at least once here. I was glad I tried it with seafood, because I actually didn't mind it too much. I even enjoyed the shrimp - something that I usually avoid because of it's ocean origins. I think classes should be held in the dorms from now on.
After class/lunch we had some extra time before the Japanese Calligraphy class started, so we decided to go into town to the Book Off store. This is the store I told you about that sells really cheap books and manga. I bought the first in the series of Ruruoni Kenshin and Love Hina that both cost 105 yen each! What a DEAL! I didn't really buy them for myself though; I had a few people in mind who I know would enjoy having the original manga from Japan. Speaking of, if there is a particular manga series that you are interested in let me know and I can get it here Super Cheap!
When we were done looking around the book store we ventured over to an arcade and played two sets (4 rounds in each set) of Guitar Freaks 5. I got mostly A's for my scores, so I think I did pretty good for not playing it for so long.
After gaming we went back to the dormitory and went to the computer room where our Japanese Calligraphy class was held. We were given a few examples of kanji that we could use to write, and had the option of choosing/making our own. I chose the kanji for "dragon." Once we chose which kanji we wanted, we practiced it over and over till we ran out of the stack of paper they gave us. The guest professor came around to each student and showed us how to write the kanji correctly. During class a few of the students wrote messages to each other and passed it around the class with random kanji that really didn't go together. The only one that most stuck out in my mind was "Perverted Hermit." At the end of class we chose which kanji writing we think we did the best on, wrote our name on it, and handed it in to the teacher.
A few of the students decided that they wanted to go to Akihabara today after class, so I joined in. I hadn't been there yet and wanted to go for quite some time. For those of you who don't know, Akihabara was and still is the largest district in Tokyo (maybe even Japan) where you can buy electronic goods of ANY kind. Some various random things I noticed vendors were selling were strobe lights, fish tank pumps, and every kind of cord imaginable. I just can't believe an entire store dedicated to selling cords could do so well. A recent development over the years has occurred in Akihabara, and that is Otaku consumerism - or anime, manga, and anything related thereof. I was in heaven. They had lots of anime/manga that I had never heard of, but I found a few things I recognized and bought a lot of cheap gifts that would otherwise be extremely expensive back home. There were a few scary stores (porn mostly), but if that's what the Otaku's demand, that's what will be sold I guess.
We rode the train back home and I sorted out all my gifts. It was extremely hard not to open them all for myself, but I eventually broke down and opened one of them for myself. That one is the MS-09 MOD from Mobile Suit Gundam Manga and Anime Series. Gundam is extremely popular here and you can find in just about every store - even grocery stores. I really wished that I would have bought the Japanese version of Halo 2 in Akihabara. I was really contemplating buying a Super Nintendo (BRAND NEW and still in the original box) for only 1400 yen ($14)!!! But I had to resist because then I remembered the pain of bringing it back home and/or shipping costs.
I then did some studying for my kanji quiz the next day and finished my homework. I did some journaling, chatting online, and lounging around the dorm till I went to bed.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
10/2/05I woke up late in the afternoon, sometime around 2:00 p.m. I got dressed and went down to watch some T.V. I later decided to go shopping because I ran out of rice, beef, and chicken. I rented a bike and went to the supermarket.
After I bought my groceries, I went to the 99 yen store to get some cheap snacks. While I was shopping two young boys saw me, and took note of my foreignness. They began mocking me and saying back and forth to each other "Are you crazy? Are you crazy?" while looking at me. I wanted to ask them if that was the only thing they knew in English. They kept staring at me, so I continued to ignore them and pretended that I didn't notice. I also contemplated telling them that I wasn't American and telling them that I was Italian (in Japanese) just to prove to them that not all foreigners are American.
When I was done shopping I went back to the dorm and did some studying. After a few hours I got hungry and made some beef, vegetables, and rice. I made a little extra so that I could just heat it up over the next couple of days.
I finished dinner, did the dishes, then sat down and watched some more T.V. I really like to watch the T.V. here because: 1.) The television programs are different than the ones we have in America. 2.) I can pick out words while watching T.V. and can actually learn Japanese from just watching the T.V. 3.) It's T.V. so therefore it's entertaining.
While watching some T.V., I did some journaling and some more studying.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
10/1/05I woke up to the announcement over the intercom. It was an announcement that in 30 minutes people from the Halloween Party were coming down to the dorm to pick us up. I got ready and went down to meet the representatives.
We walked up to building No. 9 to the cafeteria where the party was held. I really wish I had brought my camera to take pictures because the children's costumes were extremely cute. When we got there we were split up into groups - I went to group 1. I was the only non-Japanese person in my group. I got to practice my Japanese though, and also embarrassed myself by trying to speak in Japanese. I understood most of the questions, and I'm pretty sure if the questions were slowed down a bit I could have understood even more.
The party started off with a toast and then we ate some snacks. After the snacks a game was started. Each group had to guess from a topic given, and it couldn't be the same as the other group's answer, otherwise no points could have been assessed. The first topic was an Asian country. I suggested Cambodia, but Laos was chosen instead. Unfortunately another group chose it as well, so we didn't get any points. The next topic was Japanese food. I suggested Ononomiyaki - which was the food I was telling you about earlier that I didn't know the name of. It's the food that is like a vegetable-pork pancake. We were given a point because none of the other groups gave the same answer.
After the game the costume contest started. Since I didn't have a costume I stood this one out. Only one of people from the dorm, Nick, dressed up in a "costume." He dressed up in his jogging jacket and shorts and went as a jogger. All of the costumes were unique. My personal favorite was a guy who dressed up as a school girl.
When the contest was over, the dancing began. Since I didn't know how to do the dance I sat out again and watched. After the dancing was over the costume contest winners were announced.
After the party I went back to the dorm and did some laundry. While waiting for my laundry to get done I took a nap and woke up around dinner time. I made some chicken stir-fry and brought my DVD's down so we could watch a movie in the T.V. room. We watched "The Princess Bride" that I had brought with me.
When the movie was over, a bunch of people decided to go to Roponggi to a club there for Joe's birthday. They left kind of late (11:00), and the trains stop running at midnight here. I didn't want to stay in Roponggi drunk for five hours till the trains started running again, so I decided to stay home, finish my laundry, do some journaling, and talking online before I went to bed.
The Dego Diva:
Date Of Birth: May 24th, 1984
Location: Wouldn't You Like To Know
Occupation: Student
Masters: Forensic Anthropology
Major: Anthropology
Minors: Art History & Japanese
Primary Hobby/Intrest: Video Gaming
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