My first typhoon - I have never seen it so windy and rainy in my life. I have also never seen so many jacked up umbrellas, the street was cover with jacked up cheap umbrellas. Mine got a little beat up.
My first piece of cheese - Yes I ate my first piece of real cheese since I have been here not counting that real fake stuff they call cheese that they put on hamburgers. It was so good.
My first marriage proposal - My boss does they international parties and he invited me to for free. That is where they had the cheese. They also had roast beef and other goodies he got from Costco. Yeah they have Costco here but it is really far away. So this Taiwanese girl started talking to me and must of been clueless about the ring on my finger and basically told me she wanted to marry a nice Westerner and I looked like a nice person. Yea . . . FREAKY!!!!!!!
My first gas station - Yes I saw my first gas station it was really weird had not seen one since I got here
My first car ride - got a ride home from a member after church. Was really weird driving on the other side of the road.
My first wedding anniversary away from Erin – yeah that one sucked! Not a fan of that one . . . she went to the Melting Pot without me . . . again! But I love her and miss her a whole heck of a lot.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Cake and DEATH!!!!!!!
Well today a friend and I went to this place that is like a buffet, but it is mostly all deserts and it’s all you can eat for 90 minutes and cost about 1,400 yen or around $12.00. It was really good! They had some spaghetti, dumplings and curry rice, but after I had a small plate of that I went straight after the cakes! Yeah . . . Erin would have been in heaven. It was funny cause you can tell that most of their clientele are girls as they have two women’s bathroom and one restroom that is shared. Also, I was one of three guys there the whole time.
Well it has been raining the past few days and it's a little depressing.
I want to go off on a tangent today because it really chapped my hide. When you are on some of the trains they have two little televisions above the doors that tell you where you are going, how long to the next stop, other information but also about train delays. On a side note the one next to it generally run commercials. Okay, so occasionally you see information about trains being delayed and the reason the listed most of the time is “accidents.” I recently just found out that 95% off these “accidents” is because some idiot decided to do a freaking peter flipping pan in front of the train. Yeah . . . if you are gonna kill yourself I think jumping in front of the train would be a rather painful way to go. Okay so back to my point . . . me and Brian just barely got on and had not even gotten to the next station and our train line goes down for “accident” reasons! This has happened before but what chapped my hide is that its rush hour its so crowded I cannot even raise up my hands and I have to stand there for an additional 30 minutes while they take care of stuff. Please if you are even thinking about it maybe I can get you a self-help video, like “Get Confidence Stupid.” And if you really need to jump in front of a train you might as well tick as many people off as possible so go jump in front of the Yamanote near Shinjuku.
What I think is kind of jacked up is as a deterrent to stop people from doing, they send yoru family the bill to clean up the mess! Yeah!!
Okay so I am glad we had this talk.
I am giddy as a little school girl
DESSERTS!!
Well it has been raining the past few days and it's a little depressing.
I want to go off on a tangent today because it really chapped my hide. When you are on some of the trains they have two little televisions above the doors that tell you where you are going, how long to the next stop, other information but also about train delays. On a side note the one next to it generally run commercials. Okay, so occasionally you see information about trains being delayed and the reason the listed most of the time is “accidents.” I recently just found out that 95% off these “accidents” is because some idiot decided to do a freaking peter flipping pan in front of the train. Yeah . . . if you are gonna kill yourself I think jumping in front of the train would be a rather painful way to go. Okay so back to my point . . . me and Brian just barely got on and had not even gotten to the next station and our train line goes down for “accident” reasons! This has happened before but what chapped my hide is that its rush hour its so crowded I cannot even raise up my hands and I have to stand there for an additional 30 minutes while they take care of stuff. Please if you are even thinking about it maybe I can get you a self-help video, like “Get Confidence Stupid.” And if you really need to jump in front of a train you might as well tick as many people off as possible so go jump in front of the Yamanote near Shinjuku.
What I think is kind of jacked up is as a deterrent to stop people from doing, they send yoru family the bill to clean up the mess! Yeah!!
Okay so I am glad we had this talk.
I am giddy as a little school girl
DESSERTS!!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Krispy Kreme
Okay so today a friend, Yo, and myself went to Krispy Kremes in Shinjuku. No one else wanted to go because during the evening and the weekends the wait can be as long as 2 to 3 hours. There are only two Krispy Kremes in Japan both in Tokyo. We only had to wait for about 40 minutes to place out order because it was the middle of the day. Yo is Taiwanese, goes to school in Connecticut and is a foreign exchange student in Japan . . . go figure. One of the things she loves about the States, and why I think she went to school there, is because she loves donuts. She says she has a poster of Dunkin Donuts in her room at home.
They were so good and tasted like the ones back in the states and has the cool process of making them. I bought a dozen glazed originals for 1,500 yen or about $13. The first 7 were pretty easy to get down, I had a hard time downing the rest and had to give them to a homeless person cause I could not eat any more.
It was really fun going there and just pigging out on something that was not rice!!
Blogger is having problems with pictures at the moment so will post them later!!!
The end of the lien for Krispy Kreme
OINK!!!
They were so good and tasted like the ones back in the states and has the cool process of making them. I bought a dozen glazed originals for 1,500 yen or about $13. The first 7 were pretty easy to get down, I had a hard time downing the rest and had to give them to a homeless person cause I could not eat any more.
It was really fun going there and just pigging out on something that was not rice!!
Blogger is having problems with pictures at the moment so will post them later!!!
The end of the lien for Krispy Kreme
OINK!!!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Things I am willing to give up a testicle for
Cheese, 4X4 from In-N-Out, Erin's yummy tacos, buffalo wings, a decent pizza under 3,500 yen or around $30 American, Cheetos (I ate all the ones Erin sent me . . next time buy the three bags from COSTCO), Muncher's cream cheese donuts, a cherry coke (yea!!!! I know!!!! I am suprised I can survive), being ablg to find out what the heck is going on with Heroes and a hug from Erin . . . maybe a a little more then a hug . . . . okay A LOT more then a hug . . . may even give up two for that, but that defeats the purpose.
Things I would like to have and only willing to give up pocket lint for:
Hearing Mariah go "oh dear," argueing with Jason over which is better Macs or PC, having Erin ask me to get up out of bed and go get her a drink of water (that just barely made the list BTW), hear someone say "Chuckle McMuffin," and grabbing someoenes butt and not having them freak out (Japanese don't seem to know how to handle it).
Things I am leaving in Japan
Crowded trains (I'm tired of praying that thats someones umbrella grinding my hip or leg), pop-a-squat toilets, McDonald's double cheeseburger (I hate paying 400 yen for something I get for $1.00 in the States), and small bathrrom slippers that my feet cannot even fit into.
Things I now HATE!!!
RICE!!!!!!!! But I keep eating it twice a day!!!! They but it on your plate and you have to eat everythign on yoru plate!!!
Things I like now like
Beday (don't knock it till you try it, seriously), sweat towels, and public baths (its nice to just relax in the big tub)
Things I would like to have and only willing to give up pocket lint for:
Hearing Mariah go "oh dear," argueing with Jason over which is better Macs or PC, having Erin ask me to get up out of bed and go get her a drink of water (that just barely made the list BTW), hear someone say "Chuckle McMuffin," and grabbing someoenes butt and not having them freak out (Japanese don't seem to know how to handle it).
Things I am leaving in Japan
Crowded trains (I'm tired of praying that thats someones umbrella grinding my hip or leg), pop-a-squat toilets, McDonald's double cheeseburger (I hate paying 400 yen for something I get for $1.00 in the States), and small bathrrom slippers that my feet cannot even fit into.
Things I now HATE!!!
RICE!!!!!!!! But I keep eating it twice a day!!!! They but it on your plate and you have to eat everythign on yoru plate!!!
Things I like now like
Beday (don't knock it till you try it, seriously), sweat towels, and public baths (its nice to just relax in the big tub)
Monday, October 15, 2007
Home Sweet Home
Okay so now that I go to class every weekday and work, my life is pretty busy and boring. However, I do spend most of my time in my little 8x12 foot home. At first I felt like there was no way I could live here, but now I have adjusted and just learn to be a little creative with space. I bough the shelf in the middle and have plenty of shelf space and room to through stuff around. I also hang stuff on the blue rod I hung in my window.
So now that I have been here a month I ask myself whether or not I feel my Japanese has improved. I have to say that it has. There is just some stuff you learn because you hear it all the time. Also in the two weeks of classes I have had so far I feel like I have learned a lot but we kind of fly through the material. I need to definitely review.
My room with me looking in from outside my door.
Shot from me in the window facing towards the door.
On my bed facing the desk.
So now that I have been here a month I ask myself whether or not I feel my Japanese has improved. I have to say that it has. There is just some stuff you learn because you hear it all the time. Also in the two weeks of classes I have had so far I feel like I have learned a lot but we kind of fly through the material. I need to definitely review.
My room with me looking in from outside my door.
Shot from me in the window facing towards the door.
On my bed facing the desk.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Asakusa and Sensoji Temple
Well today after class I went to Asakusa and Sensoji temple. The original part of the temple was built in 645, but I think most, if not all the buildings, were destroyed during the fire bombing of Tokyo. First you go through the Kaminarimon (thunder gates) and precede though a shopping street about 200 meters, called Nakamise towards the Temple. Near the temple there was a little garden section that was really cool.
Asakusa during the Edo period was kind of the modern Kabuki-cho area where kabuki, geisha and other forms of entertainment took place. During the early 1900’s it was the major entertainment area. However, after the Second World War most of the buildings were destroyed. It’s rather odd to think that this area has a vibrant history, but to have all of it destroyed for war. Not say that the war was not justified, but it’s just sad to think about how some of the most historical places in Japan were destroyed during that period of time and have been rebuilt.
The only down side was that it was raining and the person I was with was not really into it. I think I will go back during a Saturday and spend more time in Asakusa to check out all the cool stuff.
You can buy different good luck charms for different things. I bought one for college students that is supposed to help you do well in your studies. It only cost me 500 yen so I figured why not.
I had my first chapter test today and I think I did really well. We will see though.
Me at t Kaminarimon. I know hands out of my pockets.
The beginning of Nakamise towards Sensoji
In front of Sensoji Temple . . . I will post the rest on flickr
Asakusa during the Edo period was kind of the modern Kabuki-cho area where kabuki, geisha and other forms of entertainment took place. During the early 1900’s it was the major entertainment area. However, after the Second World War most of the buildings were destroyed. It’s rather odd to think that this area has a vibrant history, but to have all of it destroyed for war. Not say that the war was not justified, but it’s just sad to think about how some of the most historical places in Japan were destroyed during that period of time and have been rebuilt.
The only down side was that it was raining and the person I was with was not really into it. I think I will go back during a Saturday and spend more time in Asakusa to check out all the cool stuff.
You can buy different good luck charms for different things. I bought one for college students that is supposed to help you do well in your studies. It only cost me 500 yen so I figured why not.
I had my first chapter test today and I think I did really well. We will see though.
Me at t Kaminarimon. I know hands out of my pockets.
The beginning of Nakamise towards Sensoji
In front of Sensoji Temple . . . I will post the rest on flickr
Friday, October 5, 2007
Dank Heaben fo Seben-Ereben
Well this week was the beginning of a lot of things. First off the semester has started as I said below. I am in my Japanese class from 9 am to 12:30 pm Monday-Friday. There are about 10 of us in the class. Half of us are from the US, with the rest being from France, Germany, Scotland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Some people went to regular Japanese, while some choose to come to intensive. I think by Monday we will be set on who is in the class as people are still deciding on what to do.
So far I really enjoy it. I feel like we are going at a pretty good pace and we spend a good amount on each grammar point. We generally do about 2 to 3 grammar points a day plus kanji. This does not seem like a lot, but considering we did a complete chapter in three days and have had two test so far we are making pretty rapid progress. I also have three teachers who are assigned to our class on certain days, which is nice because you do not get tired of the same person up there the whole time. The teachers are really funny and seem to enjoy what they are doing. Also the class as a whole seems to be doing well and at times is very entertaining, I think this is the most I have laughed in a class in a long time.
The only down side to class was that a guy from our dorm was sitting by me and he has such a negative attitude. I would want to do the dialogues with him and he would just put his head down and sleep or he would be text messaging. I think there is something else going on with him, but his attitude was really making my experience a crappy one. What complicated things even more is that the tables and the space between the tables is so small that once you are sitting by the wall you are pretty much stuck there so I was pretty much cornered. Another guy from my dorm, Matt from George Mason University, just joined the class yesterday so today I made it a point to sit somewhere else and told Matt to sit by me. The day went by so much nicer sitting next to Matt and others who really want to learn Japanese and have a positive attitude. It made the day go by so quick.
I know most of the kanji and some of the vocabulary, but the grammar has been stuff I have forgotten or never really understood. The only problem is that at the dorms all of the foreign students revert to Japanese, which is not very helpful. Some of us try to speak in Japanese, but we always revert back to English. Also Japanese people always want to talk to you in English so they can practice. It drives me nuts.
Work has started and so far so good. Basically, James, my boss, only has like two students who he gives English lessons too. However, there is a guy, Kotaki-san, who uses James’ office space to conduct his own English classes and I am sub-contracted out to this guy to help him. I spent about 3 hours reviewing papers that students have written. Some were rather long and discussed complicated issues. Reviewing these took forever and I think the Kotaki-san was hoping I would go through it faster. But, some of these sentences need to be completely reworked and it was just more difficult then eh thought. I think he just wants a native speaker who can listen and edit things. In the future he wants me to make small presentations so that students can hear a native speaker. Next week I am listening to some audio recordings of his students and making comments about them.
This job will easily give me my 10 or so hours I want a week. One problem that I am facing is that I have to spend a lot of money on food. Even though they provide 2 meals a day, I normally have to buy lunch and when I work I do not make it back in time for dinner so there is another meal I need to buy. Also they do not provide meals on Sunday and on holidays, which seems to be every Monday. There is no really any fridge space so most of us eat ramen or other things. I do eat at a local ramen shop a lot, but I am trying to cut back. The one thing that is nice is that if you go to 7-11 after 11pm the bento lunch boxes are 50% off. I am going to grab one after I am done writing this. I also think I am losing weight as some of my pants are starting to get really loose. Also it does not seem like I am getting enough protein and I am starting to get sick of eat rice for 2 meals a day. I don't mind having the miso soup twice a day, but the white rice everyday is starting to get to me.
Also does anyone know if fake crab has protein? Or is there no real value to eating it other then the fact that you think its crab?
So far I really enjoy it. I feel like we are going at a pretty good pace and we spend a good amount on each grammar point. We generally do about 2 to 3 grammar points a day plus kanji. This does not seem like a lot, but considering we did a complete chapter in three days and have had two test so far we are making pretty rapid progress. I also have three teachers who are assigned to our class on certain days, which is nice because you do not get tired of the same person up there the whole time. The teachers are really funny and seem to enjoy what they are doing. Also the class as a whole seems to be doing well and at times is very entertaining, I think this is the most I have laughed in a class in a long time.
The only down side to class was that a guy from our dorm was sitting by me and he has such a negative attitude. I would want to do the dialogues with him and he would just put his head down and sleep or he would be text messaging. I think there is something else going on with him, but his attitude was really making my experience a crappy one. What complicated things even more is that the tables and the space between the tables is so small that once you are sitting by the wall you are pretty much stuck there so I was pretty much cornered. Another guy from my dorm, Matt from George Mason University, just joined the class yesterday so today I made it a point to sit somewhere else and told Matt to sit by me. The day went by so much nicer sitting next to Matt and others who really want to learn Japanese and have a positive attitude. It made the day go by so quick.
I know most of the kanji and some of the vocabulary, but the grammar has been stuff I have forgotten or never really understood. The only problem is that at the dorms all of the foreign students revert to Japanese, which is not very helpful. Some of us try to speak in Japanese, but we always revert back to English. Also Japanese people always want to talk to you in English so they can practice. It drives me nuts.
Work has started and so far so good. Basically, James, my boss, only has like two students who he gives English lessons too. However, there is a guy, Kotaki-san, who uses James’ office space to conduct his own English classes and I am sub-contracted out to this guy to help him. I spent about 3 hours reviewing papers that students have written. Some were rather long and discussed complicated issues. Reviewing these took forever and I think the Kotaki-san was hoping I would go through it faster. But, some of these sentences need to be completely reworked and it was just more difficult then eh thought. I think he just wants a native speaker who can listen and edit things. In the future he wants me to make small presentations so that students can hear a native speaker. Next week I am listening to some audio recordings of his students and making comments about them.
This job will easily give me my 10 or so hours I want a week. One problem that I am facing is that I have to spend a lot of money on food. Even though they provide 2 meals a day, I normally have to buy lunch and when I work I do not make it back in time for dinner so there is another meal I need to buy. Also they do not provide meals on Sunday and on holidays, which seems to be every Monday. There is no really any fridge space so most of us eat ramen or other things. I do eat at a local ramen shop a lot, but I am trying to cut back. The one thing that is nice is that if you go to 7-11 after 11pm the bento lunch boxes are 50% off. I am going to grab one after I am done writing this. I also think I am losing weight as some of my pants are starting to get really loose. Also it does not seem like I am getting enough protein and I am starting to get sick of eat rice for 2 meals a day. I don't mind having the miso soup twice a day, but the white rice everyday is starting to get to me.
Also does anyone know if fake crab has protein? Or is there no real value to eating it other then the fact that you think its crab?
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
School starts
Well classes have started and so far so good, nothing to overwhelming yet. I am trying to do my best. I start my first day of work tomorrow to do some training. I am excited about that. Went to church on Sunday and talked to the bishop about possible callings. We both discussed how language is a big barrier but its something we hope to get past. I really have nothing else to report. Probably cause I am really tired and cannot think straight.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
