Friday, May 25, 2012

Japan Blog 13 (Sept. 12, 2008)

Thursday, September 11.

I've realized how much I hate taking the bus in the morning. It's not that it's terrible it's just the two people I go with, I feel uncomfortable with them. We really don't want anything to do with each other, it's just ackward. If I was alone I'd have no problem with it. But anyway, another day spent prepairing for the festival ^_^ Today we just decorated, really. Blew up balloons, made signs, colored a big cardboard into a tako, food was brought in, etc. We're actually allowed to leave the school and go to the store if we have a bike. A bunch of classmates left and came back with tons of food. There were a lot of eggs. Today there was an earthquake too. It wasn't anything big though but it was amazing to actually feel one for the first time. We were sitting on our balcony [every classroom has a balcony and it wraps around the school] eating lunch and all of a sudden the building started shaking. At first I thought I was imagining things since it didn't seem like anyone else noticed but then it got a little harder. Sayako [not Ai's friend] started breaking down. Okay, after a few shakes I started to get worried, but I was still amazed at it. It was awesome but a little scary at the same time. But it was only a little tremble for like 2 minutes. Nothing to panic over and she was breaking down in tears. I wanted to laugh but somethig told me she was seriousy scared so I didn't. She wasn't joking either. Ayami kept telling her over and over it was okay and saying something [I couldn't understand] to reassure her. Once the shaking stopped she tried to hold back the rest of her tears, she had to be feeling a bit embarrased.

And then the rain came. It wasn't until after I heard it was canceled that I found out that the school was supposed to go on a parade I'm not sure where. Everyone was happy when the anouncement came on saying about the cancelation. Glad I knew about it, gosh. But I'm glad it was canceled, too. Like I really wanted to do that. But because it was canceled school was let out early at like 2:00. That screwed up my bus schedual. I'm sure a bus passed through to take me home between 2-3:38 but I didn't want to walk down to the bus stop find out a bus didn't come till like 30 mins later and have to wait there. So, I decided to wait in the classroom till my normal bus time [3:38]. A few classmates were still hagging around, doing some more decorating and a few were still painting their shirts. I noticed that two of them were also painting their school shoes. Now, I'm not sure if it's allowed or not but my classmates even have writing on their shoes and I've noticed it on other students as well, so I guess it's okay. But I decided to join them. My shoes could use some color anyway haha. They didn't think I'd do that, asking me if my okaa-san would get mad. Well, she's never going to see them since we leave the shoes at school, and besides I hardly doubt she would. I'm sure Ai does the same.

Koudai isn't here anymore. I don't even know how long he stayed. But like I said, I perfer Taichiro better. He sent his family a letter that we recieved today and in that letter was also a letter for me, in English. First his girlfriend said something to me about meeting her on the 16th and how she's excited to met me, then Taichiro asked if I was getting accustomed here yet. I'm really glad they took the time to write it in English. That's was nice of them, and I can't wait to see him again and meet his girlfriend [her name is Ai].

Friday, September 12

The bunkasai [school festival] started today. Well, it was only the performances that will be shown tomorrow since we have to work and might miss what we wanted to see. Once the band performed I regreted not having my camera. Big time. The beginning was super boring. Two classes told a story on a projection and then there were three classes that sang. I was sleeping through those. It wasn't my fault really. The gym floor isn't very comfortable. But once our band club performed I was amazed. Now, I haven't heard much of the Hazelon band other than at the football games but Hitachi Niko's band club, Hazelton I don't think can compair. They were incredible. After that there were these big balloons that were tossed all over the gym. We were throwing them around until we were told to pop them. Inside were paper hearts. In class like three days ago we were given these hearts to write a message on them but there were alos numbers on the backs. Each student had to pick up a heart and then there was a raffel. If they called your number you got a present. I didn't win haha.

Then the real fun began. There was a perforance by two girls playing the shamisen. That performace simply amazed me. The girl's voice who was singing was WOW. Look on YouTube for someone singing while playing the shamisen so you know what the heck I'm talking about. I'm only hoping I can catch them again tomorrow and get some video. Have you heard GO!GO!7188 song "Ukifune"? The girl sounded almost EXACTLY how the beginning of that song goes [well, her voice was more high pitched but her voice sounded like GO!GO!'s singer]. Incredible. Makes me want to learn how to play it haha.

Then there were two performances of people singing. The one though, she sang one song in English, and even though I'm sure she had no idea what the words meant, her English was amazing. Now a Japanese singing English? That's impressive since they have trouble pronouncing the words. There were also some dance performances, one where a group danced to a song by EXILE. I've discovered that EXILE is a veryyyy popular music group here in Japan. They aren't my type of music but I like some of their songs. Last there was a band. They were actually really good. I enjoyed them.

-sigh- I really wish I had my camera...

We went back up to our classroom to have lunch. This was my fault. Before I left for the bus I didn't grab my luch because I thought ALL of the festival would be going on, not just the performances. So I didn't have a lunch. Ayami noticed and then announced to the class I forgot my lunch. I tried to hush her by repeating "daijyobu" [I'm fine] over and over but Maki and this other girl already offered their food. I told them the same but they kept insisting and Maki started saying something but I wasn't paying attention. Another girl walks over to me and hands me a bread. I say daijyobu again but then she just puts it on the ground and walks away. Great. Then Airi walks over and gives me one of her sweet rice thingys and walks away. I had no other choice but to eat them so I did. I finish then Ayami points to my side. Maki and the other girl places their offerings next to me with me noticing. Damn them. I tried to offer them away to Ayami, Shiori, and one of their friends from another class who visits us [but never eats]. She took the bread from Maki and I was left with a cream bun. Ayami said I had to eat it. -sigh- I'm never forgeting my lunch again. I can't believe they just pilled me with food when they clearly saw others give it to me already.

We then set up our tent outside and begain to make takoyaki. That is a very difficult thing to do. I don't even know what I'm supposed to do there. I don't know the first thing about making takoyaki and I certainly can't take orders haha. I watched them make it today and kinda attempted as well. It's hard. But I'll manage. Tomorrow should be fun ^_^

I got off the bus today and was walking home when this boy in a car tried to talk to me from across the street screaming, "hi, how are you" in English. I responded back in english then he starting laughing saying, "English no". It was a red light when he did that then he and his friend drove away. It's really amusing me. Actually, all these little things are making my days anymore strangly enough. Even when I was in the gym these two girls suddenly noticed I was sitting behind them and they had to say hi to me and test out their english skills. haha I can't wait to see how many glances I get tomorrow. Should be very amusing, maybe I'll attract more customers too haha. And I found out that Ai and her friends are coming with me. Yuko is in that group. I'm a little scared of what she'll do next haha. Like I said, should be interesting.

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