After Hiroshima, we visited a nearby island, Miyajima, which is famous for it's "floating shrine" and torii. Because it is built on water, when the tide moves it, it looks like it's floating on water. We took a rope away to the highest point in the island. I spent the day with two of my favorite people here, Hiromi and Christie.
It was a gorgeous site! Afterward, we did ぶらぶら and walked around, eating lunch and buying the specialty of Hiroshima: momiji manjuu. They are little cakes shaped like maple leaves and filled with custard, red bean paste, sweet potato paste, chocolate, green tea...sooo good~uwah!
The next week, I had a sleepover at Amy's house, another good friend who I met at Newark airport, waiting to board the plane for Japan. Her family is so amazing! Her host mother speaks perfect English, but rarely uses it. She had two siblings: a little boy and a girl who is a little older. They have soooo much energy and are SO cute we had a great time playing with them and went to sleep pretty late! I also bought a yukata! Girls in Japan wear yukata to go to festivals like 祭り、花火
, etc. (Matsuri and Hanabi).
*Taken with Amy's camera phone, haha.
Amy's host mother, me, and Amy.
The awesome dinner Amy's mother made! Meguro-don: sushi on top of a bed of rice. SO good. *Click here for my youtube videos of that day.
I forgot to mention my awesome trip to Fuji-Q Highlands, an amusement park in Tokyo. I had to wake up at 5am, but it was sooo worth it. We rode 4 different roller coasters, the ferris wheel, went into a Haunted House, and basically just had AN AWESOME DAY. This has been my favorite day in Japan so far. I am addicted to jet coasters! Anyone up for a trip to Six Flags when I get back to America? (:
The group I went with. I am going to miss these guys when I go home! *For more pics from that day check out my photo album here. (You can find videos on my youtube page too.)
Last Wednesday, I learned how to make sushi that looks like a flower at an event organized by my program. I can now officially make sushi: one of my favorite foods EVER so I am sooo exited. They even gave each of us a bamboo mat!
Me and Jules in our little apron.
My sushi! One of the rolls kind of died after I cut it. Note to self: do not overstuff sushi with rice. Btw this kind of sushi is called 太巻き寿司 (Hutomakizushi lit. fat sushi roll).
Then last week, me and Christie celebrated her birthday by going to a Sweet Vacation concert. (See video on youtube.) Then, after church on Sunday, at the dinner for Welcome Team, we sang happy birthday to her. <3
This week, we finally got to celebrate Christie's birthday with all our friends (since they were away on the Hiroshima trip last week) but going to sing karaoke + clubbing. SO MUCH FUN. It was an electro music club, with flashing laser lights and unceunceunce but I had so much fun dancing until 4am and riding the first train back home. <3
Just one more month left in Japan! It is bitter sweet~
Labels: ilovetokyo, masspost, onemonthleft, stopbeingaslacker
5 Comments:
heyyo. :] glad you finally updated after a like a month of radio silence, lmfao. special independence day edition.
except, DUH. i've seen all these photos already. you sure had a fun looking month and made plenty of fun new memories for when you're stuck back in the states and missing japan.
i love yaaaaa, babygurl. ;D
lol i showed you these pics as they happened. i just couldnt be arsed to update. XD
your history is false!! isn't it hiroshima and nagasaki?? anyway, you look cute in a yukata! i am jealous, they don't make yukata for giants like me T_T
LOL sorry that was a typo, since i was talking about going to hiroshima and miyajimi XD awkwarrrrrrd thanks for the correction XD
dude, they make yukatas one size fits all-you just roll them up! you would fit in one!
I'm in this POST!!!! many times!!! ten-shion appu!!! ^_^
Actually, my Japanese 漢字、聞き取り、作文 portion of the midterm was ridiculously easy. I wonder if I will go back to Hamilton and they will wonder what I wasted my time doing. (Kanji, listening skills, and essay portion, btw.)
Today, Yoko O'Hara from Hamilton College happened to be visiting her friend who goes to Sophia, and we ate lunch together! I love seeing people from Hamilton! She's the third person to visit me and Kyle. Any other takers? (I'm looking at you, Jeanine and Amkia.)
It's mid week and I've been coming home early every day to study. My host mother is surprised every time. I love my host mother--did I mention this? I'm surprised at the depth of conversation we can have, probably because she is so good at English that I can fall back on a English word. ♥
Last weekend, I had English club on Friday, which means we ate dinner together at Shakey's ("American" food. Pizza, to be exact, but pizza IS NOT pizza unless its from NYC, sorry) with a bunch of Japanese students with varying levels of English speaking ability. Fun!
(left to right) Ryo, me, and Seiya, that goof.
Saturday, I took the day to study, and Sunday, I went to church twice! Once for my host mother's grandson baby dedication ceremony. It's basically a ceremony to dedicate the child and a child of God. 神様に子供をさしあげると言う式～
(left to right) Hana's mother, お母さん [host mother], お父さん [host father], Yousuke [2nd son], Me, Hana's little brother, and Hana [Yousuke's wife] with Izeya in her hands. Sooo cute. <3 He's a chubby baby.
Will upload Karaoke and baby dedication videos later! Time to get back to studying!
3 Comments:
Midterms.. >___> just that word is unpleasant jfc.
I've had the same "oh...right this is college huh" thought and I'm not even in Japan. :D
Your no.2 describes me as well. :/ but it doesn't work out at all.
I wish I could be all up in Tokyo bb but mom stole my wallet and I am just broke.
Studying everyday? So... productive.. O___O Who are you??
Ugh pizza.. now you got me wanting some since I live in NYC... pizza city of the world... of the universe!!
Cute picture. I say you're the best looking person in it though. :B
Church sounds so fun in Japan wut. It hardly computes.
BEEEETCH where are those karaoke videos? they sound fun. gimme gimme. :3
lovies!!
*whistles and looks in the air* oh wait, u mean me? LOL If i came into some dough, i'd be there in a heartbeat! No doubt! Maybe i can invest in a canoo haha.
Bleh..midterms! I think you put in more effort than you think...but good luck never the less :) As we both know, I am the Queen of Procrastination. Im procrastinating right now actually! haha
English club sounds like a lot of fun, but i think you might be right about the pizza. I don't know what they do to it, they must add a little magic dust to it or something lol
And i agree with Jeanine, i want karaoke vids too! :)
<3 ttyl
if any of those karaoke vids contain footage of me, you better get some 許可 first だってよ！
