まだ楽しんでる
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Sorry for the long space between updates! So many things have happened, so I will just give you a brief overview. The first and most exciting thing was my visit to Hiroshima and Miyajima. If you know your history, then you'll recall that America dropped two atomic bombs on Japan, one in Hiroshima and one in Nagasaki. Our study abroad group went to the Hiroshima peace museum, and listened to a story from a survivor of the bombing. It was an incredibly moving day, and I learned a lot about the after affects of the people in Hiroshima that is not taught in American high schools. You learn that America made the "right" choice to save American lives, but you don't learn that, for the most part, civilians were the ones who suffered. I started admiring Japan after studying how they rebounded after World War II, and I think I learned a little bit more of the Japanese will.
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~
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
the stars are there to keep you warm at night,
1:52 AM
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!!! ^_^
