Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Japan Blog 31 (November 13, 2008) Kuudou is AWESOMEEE~~!!!

It's been a few days.

I actually wanted to write this morning but got lazy (and I had to write a speech anyway), then I went to Mito for bascally half the day. I had no school today. All of Ibaraki had no school, 'cause it was like a special day just for Ibaraki. It's equivalent to all of Pennsylvania only or any other state having a day where there's no school. How awesome is that? Did I mention how much I love Mito? This was my 2nd time in the actual city and my heart jumped again. It's just amazing to me. I seriously wish I lived there. But I suppose I shall update you on what's been going on the last few days. Not that there really was much of anything (if there was I can't remember it >_

But I didn't feel like going home. I don't know why but I felt like I just had to go and do something and I pretty much made it clear to myself that if I don't make a move (like say something to people) about doing anything I won't be doing much with them at all. So, during cleaning I asked everyone if they were going home. The people in my cleaning group were so that plan failed. Then when we were leaving the school I was walking with Chihiro and Ayaka and I was saying how I didn't want to go home and wanted to do something. So, we all decided to go to Yokado (the mall) and we did some Purikura. We wasted all our time at Purikura. I'm telling you it's seriously all these people do. Purikura Purikura Purikura Purikura. It's awesome, I enjoy doing it and it's all memories to take back wih me, but it's just a LITTLE bit crazy. I can't get these pictures though because I don't have the code for them to get it off the site (;_;) And I really liked the one we took where Chihiro wrote "Let's Diet" on it and we all have this disgusted expression on our faces. If I was able to get it it would be my new default picture ^_^

So, I spent my Monday afternoon doing that and I'm glad I did something. Tuesday was probably one of my best days so far. I decided to join the Kyuudou Club. Kyuudou is Japanese Archery. It seemed sooo cool to me so I wanted to join it. One girl in my class, Ikumi, she's in it so took me to it, sorta. The club is actually not at the school. I had to take a seprate bus just to get to this place, it takes like 30 mins to get there by walking. This other girl who takes the bus went with me. But I can't take the bus everyday (the club is everyday) because my bus card doesn't work for this bus so I had to pay each time there and back. I'd go broke FAST. It's like 500 yen I spend a day just to go and return. Well, starting tomorrow that will end. I asked Okaa-san if there was a bike I could use. Everyone in the club (except that girl) rides a bike to the place. So, my host parents managed to find someone who doesn't need their bike and now I can use it. I have to leave the bike at school and then I take my normal bus home after club. I know, I said I don't do everyday clubs. But, for one thing Kyuudou is actually pretty fun and reason two, I'm pretty bored at home.

When I went to club, everyone was excited to see me. And people were talking to me. It wasn't like Sadou (Tea Ceremony) Club where everyone is just silent most of the time and doesn't really wanna take part with a foreigner. If I wasn't in Sadou Club for so long already I would leave it for Kyuudou. But I'm going to do both. Sadou on Wednesdays and then all the other days (weekends vary 'cause I'm usually busy) I'm going to Kyuudou. Besides, Sadou is reallyyy reallyyy boring. I actually skipped it this Wednesday for Kyuudou (haha). I'm not allowed to shoot any arrows yet though. They won't let me. There's a certain way you have to pull the bow and there's a certain form in which you do everything and Ikumi said I have to be perfect at that before I'm allowed to shoot. She said it took her 2 months before she started shooting. 2... months?? Yeah, that's a pretty long time but I'm determined. I told Ikumi, I'll get it down in one month. So, all I do during those 2-3 hours Mon.-Fri. is pull the bow and make sure my form is perfect. On the weekends club is 9 am to 1 pm. I just feel drawn to this club. I wish I knew about it wayyy sooner. It's actually A LOT harder than you think. Pulling that bow seriously hurts your muscles, you NEED muscles. And there's a certain way my hand/fingers have to be and for some reason my hand/fingers don't want to cooperate.

I was told on Tuesday that I need to give a 10 minute speech for Rotary I think this Monday. Otoo-san tells me this. Now, I really really really hate it when he talks to me in English. Not for the reason you're probably thinking either. When he says 10 minutes, I wonder if he realizes what he says. 10 minutes is unbelievably long. At the moment in my Japanese classes I have to write mini speeches and I can't even get to the 5 minute mark yet. So, it makes me wonder if he realizes he just told me 10 minutes when what he really meant was 5 minutes. I never know. And it gets me frustrated. Just writing these speeches for school pisses me off and my teacher wants me and Pat to participate in an upcoming speech contest in a few months (I think in January). And all these speeches are in Japanese. THAT'S why I can't make the 5 minute mark. My Japanese sucks when I have to make sentences. Simple sentences I can manage but when you have to write a speech simple doesn't cut it. And I have to write another speech that's homework for my teacher yet. 2 speeches I have to write this week. It's ridiculous.

Mito was great today though. I went with Okaa-san, Tonpi, and Ai. I bought two shirts. Almost 3. I went to get the third shirt which I ABSOULTLY LOVED but my credit card wouldn't work!! That pissed me off too! My shirt was all bagged and ready to go but when she scanned the card the damn thing was useless. I used the credit card at the other store but then when I wanted to use it here it wouldn't work!! The store was called Glad News and it was my style of clothing. It was the perfect store. But no. God damn credit card. Credit cards are pointless here. I didn't have enough cash on me either to get it. I hate it. I was sad, it would have been perfect on me, too >_< And it finally came to me that I kinda need to get a brand new wardrobe here. I look out of style here with my American clothing. There's no way I can get boots (and they are VERY popular here) but I need to get high socks, a few pairs of shorts, and just more clothes. My clothing does NOT work here. Everyone is looking so awesome and I love the style too, but it's soo different from what I have. Sure, I can get away with it sometimes, but when you go out (when I go out) you seriously dress in a perfect stylish outfit. I need a new wardrobe, that's all there is to it. Jeans are not very popular here at all. Actually, you rarely see anyone wearing jeans and when you do they have a pair of boots on. Just like Ai does.

There was a plus when I was at the mall. The one store I went to had all Perfume songs playing. I think it was their entire GAME album. I'm pretty sure. I seriously just stayed in that store just to listen to it haha. And I'm sure I've said this before but Ai is seriously one of the nicest people I know here. All this week until today I haven't seen her. She came back from work and such and just went to sleep. She didn't even walk into the living room. Then at 10 Okaa-san asked me to go to sleep 'cause her and Tonpi always go at that time and Ai wasn't going to come out. She didn't flat out say that but that's what it techally was. So, today I actually saw her, I wasn't sure if she was really tired all those times but now I deffinitly know for sure she was. Today she was just amazingly nice. She never seems bothered by me and it's reassuring. I'm glad. But I need to go shopping. I seriously need some shorts. And tall socks. And at least one pair of leggings (yeah, their popular to wear with the shorts). And I have to see if there's at least one pair of Converses that will fit me. Sizes here are weird and I couldn't find one pair of shoes that would fit me yet >_< But I'm more worried about shorts and socks right now. Shirts are long and big here and the point is to wear them with shorts and shorts only looks good with long socks here. Then again... I guess I do need those Converses too, 'cause my sneakers will look strange with it...

We changed seats in class again too. I miss my old seat. Mizuki and Sayako aren't by me anymore. And I don't really talk to the people around me. I'm glad Yuka is at least next to me. I won't be completely silent now. And Ayami is sorta close.

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