Holidays

Because it's already halfway through,

Merry holiday season and a really wonderful New Year!!!


I'm off to my grandparents' house to give the new one a big welcome before all of you. Haha!
Nothing bad intended.
Just that I'm writing from the future.

Anyways, enjoy the leap and make it one of the best!
Ta-taa!

Some shortening...

Hiya my faithful readers!
I hope the winter chills aren't gnawing you too much.
Unfortunately, so is the case with me... or so I thought.
I've been locked up in my home for 3 days straight, tried to go to school on Thursday, but that didn't end up so well and now I'm yet again packed up in here, on Friday. Feverish. All I can say that it's mental in many ways. Been singing Sweeney Todd for all this time and reading Japanese magazines. 'What a life.'

...aaand the Christmas holidays will start from the 22nd! Yay hooray for special family trips! I also have many things in store because of my returning home soon, for example a final 'feast' with my kendo club and before that (before the holidays) some speeches in front of my school, my class, my teachers, farewells with my friends. Final guitar lesson.
As I said - mental. Can't imagine what my tear canals be like after all this is over.
But I don't want to think of it as of yet.
Currently have quite some stuff to do and finish. (sigh at finish) On with the postcards!

That was that! Just wanted to get more snug with you over there!
Sails hoy! (a lunatic in a snow storm)

PS We finally have some decent snow here! Hiphiphooray for White Christmas!

A morsel of fluff

Long jump since my last post again, but who cares! There are hardly any people who read this crap anyway! :D So I'm just writing it for myself so that I wouldn't forget the details of my PERFECT year in Japan (you just wait... I'LL BI BAK TU SKUUL).

So it's been almost a month. I've done a lot. Most of the 'a lot' will be put up as photos in the Book of Face. But to say it short in words, I've had a weird long running struck of luck.

First, I got to see kyogen (an interval play between Noh performances = the oldest Japanese stage comedy) FOR FREE, which is unbelievable considering and also it was through my own school. They organised a culture lesson of sorts - we all went to the city hall where the kyogen/Noh introductory session took place. We got to see 2 performances and learn about many rules and mannerisms of the art. It really 'brightened' my day. After leaving the hall I also saw a double rainbow perhaps for the first time ever and ever so clearly.

Also school life is going smoothly like creamed.

In other words - dreamy.

That was quite some time ago.

As for recent events, I got to go for a short family trip to Iwate and Miyagi pref due to my host dad's friend meeting. Hail all you coppers! I got to enjoy such a feast because of you! By feast I mean table full of delicacies all for myself in a traditional ryokan. (Refer to the Book of Face for pictures.) And afterwards all hour onsen hot water baths. It was heaven to say the least. We stayed there for a night and in the morning we had yet another delight for our tummies, but fortunately not as big as the night before.

The meal finished we head to Miyagi's and also Tohoku district's capital - Sendai. My mum and sister had some businesses to attend to so me and dad had quite some spare time in our hands. So we wandered around the city. Because my dad is a policeman he has had to travel around Tohoku quite a lot so he has lived here and there separate from his family. And of course he had stayed in Sendai too, quite near the city centre. He also took me there and we talked about some nostalgic stuff and wandered back to the station area. And wandered. And wandered. Wandered for about 4 hours (it was anything but boring) until the female part of the family finished their doings. We were quite starving by then so we all went to eat some famous dishes of Sendai. Which meant beef tongue and cream custard in roll cake pasty. Separate of course. It was all (unbelievingly) delicious! Says a person who dislikes eating something that has been in the mouths of others. Maybe I just didn't think about that at the time. Heh.

Then we drove home for another 4 hours. In other words I went on a tour as big as my home country in 2 days. Lilliputians we are, yes.

And this will sadly be my last entry as a child, because tomorrow I'll turn 18 and fly out of my nest. In a way. And also go to a concert of a band I recently found. They're uber awesome so I'm quite giddy right now. It might also be because I'll be having my Japanese exam on Sunday, for which I'll be going to Iwate again. This time to its capital Morioka.

Stating these things really makes me feel the END of things. Sighing ensues.

But that doesn't mean I'm sad. Just (overly) thoughtful maybe.

Anyway, merry tidings to you who have accidentally find your way here and may the coming holidays be white and fluffy!

Mine will be vivid. For years to come. :)

Soon I'll be making New Year postcard's for all my friends here and there (nengasho in Japanese, a traditional thing) so look forward to it, if you care.

Sails hoy! Kachin!

The Sandwich Witch (me)

Greetings!

I thought I'll create a little Ham Sandwich effect (which means stuff something between something) to lighten my usual all out emotions about my Japanese experience blabberings and talk about some small fluffy stuff. Snickering ensues.

First off, I finally got myself to watch the 2008 Oscar winning film 'Okuribito' and I'll say it straight - if you haven't seen it, then DO IT NOW. Really, it's beyond words and redefines the human drama genre with it's calm and soft yet deep, dramatical yet sometimes comical touch on human relationship and also it is unbelievable eye opening in many ways... I can't find a better word for it. Makes you respect everything around you more and care for even the smallest things you do. One of the little things - 'Think before you say.' A saying I have thought of quite a lot recently due to the Japanese culture of 'undertsanding what is left unsaid' I'm living in.

Damn it, yet again went the old 'emotional experience' way! Sorry!

But the film is awesome and no wonder why it snatched the prize. A piece worth watching.

To make things up, on a lighter note, I'll talk about my hobby - getting off my usual bus at a different from usual stop. Then wonder about. That way I have discovered many small but hugely peculiar things around my seemingly usual hometown.

My latest find is an apartment complex near the elementary school my sister goes to. The building is called 'Gryffindor'. How cool is that?! You can actually live the life of magic in this muggle world! Haha!

Other things are for instance buildings of odd shape or style, for example a Japanese sweetshop covered entirely with moss making it look like a huge green stuffed toy, unbelievable narrow snake like winding alleys and small parks in the most cramped of spaces. You know, for the kids to play in. To keep them of the streets. ;)

Also, just last week I got off the bus about 5 stops before my usual place and took a little walk home. On the way I suddenly noticed that there was a small group of elementary school students running after me shouting 'Konnichiwa! Hallo! Hallo!' After I turned around they caught up with me looked at me from every angle (of course commenting on my eyes, round and huge xD) and followed me home while asking various questions about where I'm from and why I'm here. I had some questions for them too so we had a small friendly chittery chat until we parted ways. They were all my neighbourhood children, some living right next to me.

Needless to say that this kind of thing is unusual in here. Why? Firstly, it's more of a countryside here, but moreover isn't it well known that the Japanese are more on the timid side? They usually might just nod to you when your eyes meet in the street then scatter away, but when the girl who seemed to be the leader of the bunch started talking to me, I really sensed that Japan is changing. In every sense. Also the old generation being replaced by the next. Japan really is in the middle of the biggest change it has ever faced. Bigger than Meiji. It may seem small from the outside, but the biggest changes always happen on the inside, where it isn't easily seen. Only when you're part of it. But every change has it's ups and downs so I'll be looking forward to see what will happen to Japan and overall world as I keep living on this ball of mud and imagination.

That is all of my little foundings. I hope you found them entertaining even though I still ended up being too serious. Gomen ne! :)

Until next time!

Hails hoy!

Crimson blazed spirit in a crimson blazed wind

Oh, hello again! It has been a while.

So on to the blogpoint and first things first!

I'm fresh out of my now over kendo tournament and HYPED to the unbelievable max!!! Still!!! And it's already 7 hours since my match. (I show no signs of cooling down and I have school tomorrow... whaaat?!)

All the feelings I experienced these last two days were like sum ups of everything through my life through a veil of a Japanese spirit. Yesterday were the team matches, which our girls won, but there were some mishaps, dissatisfaction and other more personal (team) emotions piled up, which made it almost 'magically' human. And it was my first time experiencing such atmosphere, also being part of that sphere. I can't really put it into words (the counter for this saying is running high). It was just so. Human. Without all the negative. Just that.

And so today was my first kendo match! During the singles.

I lost! :D And I'm proud of it. Why? Because I didn't lose in the first couple of seconds or even minutes! One match lasts for 4, just so you know. And I can tell that my opponent didn't have it easy with me either, though our experiences were 5 months against at least 5 years (probably more, but for literary reasons, let's keep it that way). Anyway, I feel greatly awesomely magnificently hyperly human! Just almost exploding! But the part I'm most proud of is that I really gave it my all. Whilst dueling I experienced the real kiai spirit, the Real, real thing. I couldn't stay put after the face-off until the end of the day about 5 o'clock. (I got a banana cake from the mother gang, or the usual cheerleaders of Japan after that :) )

I was and still am and will be really touched by everyone's almost feverish support they showed my during my match. I didn't see anyone besides my opponent, but everyone's voice and advice reached me like a stainless steel filet cutter. Only focus on what you need, let your body do the thinking and just 'dance' with your opponent, eyes and senses wide open. That's kiai for you. I definitely have a new addiction now, so all of you beware! Adrenaline kiai rush, woohoo!

Even our usually extremely harsh teacher looked proud after my duel, even though I didn't make it out of the first rounds. And he's the type of person who doesn't tolerate losing. I'm really grateful for his kind words and understanding before and after that too. :)

Also my host mum and sister with her friends came to watch too. I tried to search for them in the balconies, but with no result. But they said that they saw me, so I'm happy. Having got home we had a little feast to celebrate my memorable day. :) Just so, so sweet of a life! Everything seems so simple and clear and possible now for some reason. Maybe it's KIAI!!! :D

So tomorrow, I'm going to the dojo to return my tournament gear and give everyone some 'thank you' doughnuts (sounds... strange. Simply put). Then I'm on 1 month vacation to study in depth for my Japanese exam in December. After that I'm going back to kendo till the end of my exchange year. You can't believe how painful it is to write these two words.

And speaking of endings, my friends today were in a near panic and some asking with tears welling up 'You aren't leaving for good, are you?!' When I succeeded explaining them my situation the next thing was 'After returning you must come everyday until you're too tired to go home (country).' What a persistent bunch. But that's the reason why I love them to death. And the reason I'm not feeling like going home. Where I 'belong', because I feel currently that I must have belonged here all the time. There are many upsides and downsides in leading double lives (which necessarily doesn't mean a spy. Every exchange student would know what I'm talking about. The meaning of the feeling changes with the time spent in your destination country. Been there, still doing that.)

But besides kendo, over the past blog apsent month I've been slowly but steadily preparing for my exam, going to school diligently, also traveling around Akita pref with my mum and sister (as you might have seen in my photos on FB) and enjoyed the changing seasons. Autumn really is the best. One whiff of that cool earthern damp air made me feel like I was reborn, literally. Just one day, PUFF!, a different person. Just cleared up the clouds in my head. Not to mention the Japanese shun (seasonal) cuisine. Currently chestnuts, potatoes, fresh rice, delicious fish and fruits. I'm living in a treasure chest! :D

So how's autumn over there? Still curious about the outside world, because believe it or not Japan still is quite a closed society outside the metropolis. :)

For now, toodles! I'm going to sing my lungs out before bed, so I could sleep soundly tonight. Even when just for an hour. Anyone care to share some really efficient ways to cure temporary hyper activity? (shivers)

Hails hoy!

Love you all :)

PS If anyone wants to see my kendo match, send me an e-mail and I'll post you the video.

Jab of Autumn

Hello, hello, hello one and all!

First off, a little musing for you.

Since about June, as I'm diligently walking to school early in the morning, I've noticed a single Japanese maple tree. It was bright red in midsummer.

When I pass it now, it has turned green, bright as spring. Have I found the fountain of opposite aging? Born elderly and dying as a newborn?

I have no clue, but it feels like a damn movie to me.

On a lighter note, I also saw my first pomegranate tree right next to that. Well, I always saw it, but without the fruit I didn't know what I was actually looking at. What a fine example of human ignorance. :)

So, onwards!

About the 'Jab of Autumn' - summer is now completely (and FINALLY I must say) over. There are chilly winds and flowing leaves and as of tomorrow all of us Kitako students are going to change into our winter uniforms, also we have finished our mid-term school exams (I made great effort with maths and Japanese mind you) and now has begun my final 3 months in the land of the rising sun.

I mustn't think like that! Snap out of it! Good. :)

And now 'my Jab' - I decided to take the 1st level JapaneseLanguageProficiencyTest. Oh my dear lord. I'm actually going to do it! In two months! And kendo tournament in a month!

YAY!!! :D

I must admit that I'm definitely a northern person - the chill of autumn and the smell of leaves has brought me my energy back and I feel like my 'old boney self again'. (Just a quote, nothing to do with my figure really. Come on, it's hallowe'en soon!)

I feel like I can do anything! Wahoo! Wish me luck and backbone to keep it up! (everything)

So I'll set sails to sleepland before I blow the computer up with my chakra happiness.

Hey hoyhoy!

PS Does anybody like Ranma? Or at least has heard of it?

Lots of hugs fo yuu!

Where have all the crimson red leaves gone? (They're yet to come.)

Oh dearest me, I've been away for too long.

Hello again and sorry for the absence!

I'm back at school after an amazing summer break full of 'The Japan' (sounds like champagne in my head for some odd reason) and for the blast off the week before last we had a sports' festival over the course of 3 days, which was a first for me. Usually it's only 1 day in my 'home school', but triple it and it's a lot more fun. There were no grades, no teachers critiquing, but teachers running! Yay! Loved it. We had a lot of games, hurdles, races, team challenges and so on.

But after that began the usual (as usual as it can be for me under the circumstances) school days with kendo and Kumon language study (only K and L left!).

As of now, it's week 3 from the last half of my exchange year.

Oh my lord.

Which brings me to the topic about the big plans I still have, which I also wanted to share on this blog for a long time -

I'm going to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) on December 5th, which will probably be in Miyagi prefecture in the capital of Tohoku - Sendai city. I'm yet to decide which level I'm going to take, but currently I'm between the 1st and the 2nd one, the former being the highest grade. I didn't consider it myself (I was rather between 2 or 3), but my YFU rep suggested me to take the challenge, but I'm really uneasy about even just thinking about it. 2 sounds nice... so what would it be?

But as for kendo, my teacher is determined to put me in a competition for newcomers (read: novices) in the beginning of November. I'm going to a kendo tournament people.

*edit* (I got to know that it's an open tournament, in which anyone who wants can join (including pros, shivering!) and that it's on 2~3 November.)

When I first heard about his plan I was in a state of utmost shock. I didn't know what to say or in what language I should say it. My friends were almost the same. They just clapped their hands with their mouths opened in amazement. The only thing I heard them say was 'sugoi' (awesome) or 'arienai hodo rakkii da bee' (You're a unbelievably lucky little bugger, aren't cha?).

But it's decided and today I heard the news that their ordering the tare (name flap) for me and all the preparations for the gear are already running. I just need to make my name into kanji so wish me luck as to not make it have a seriously weird meaning.

What am I going to do?! I'm really fired up for the match, but there's still some inklings of uneasiness left about the whole ordeal. I only have about a month and a half left for training (add that to the time I've been in kendo so far and you get around 4 months of practice overall!) and soon after the tournament I need to start giving my all for the JLPT test.

What a life!!!

Also the test is going to be just around my birthday as you might know, which makes it some sort of a present. A peculiar idea for a gift I must say.

I've already ordered and received some guide books and example questions but I'm quite at a loss about the levels. Well, just need to make it quick and permanent. I have a lot of teachers kind enough to give me some advice about it so I think I'm safe in all aspects.

I also need to go to the photographer's, but I think I should polish up my Shaggy mop-hair before that, which has taken over my face over the summer. It's quite ticklish and I have unbearable nose itches recently. Why am I saying it? Just for laughs ;) I don't want to turn into a Wookie either. Growl!

So that's that and no harm done, I'm sure. Just wanted to give a small heads up about my upcoming doings over here and how I've been keeping up.

Equals = EXCELLENTLY.

Merry goings to those over seas and high lands and a happy new school year!

Tschau pakaa!

Lots of love from Japan!

竿燈祭り・Kanto festival

3 August ~ 6 August - and I went there every day.

So it might be best to talk about what Kanto actually is.

Firstly, it is a really old festival. It has a history of more than 3oo years, starting from the Meiji era and during that time it was celebrated to pray for a good rice harvest and the lanterns were to symbolize the rice stalks swaying in the wind. It was a small local celebration then with about 20 or more Kanto lantern pillars, but nowadays the amount of pillars has increased more than 10 fold and the festival has even caught the eyes of people overseas.

As by tradition, the lanterns are only carried by men due to the heaviness, but until the end of elementary school girls can also take part of the carrying (the smallest lanterns are about 5 kilos to 10). Afterwards they can be the taiko drum or flute players (most of the players actually are girls).

An essential part of Kanto - music. You can hear it from afar even not seeing the lanterns and already your hairs start to stand up. It's just so powerful. I can't really imagine the parade without the music. It just wouldn't be the real thing. But no can it be Kanto without the lanterns, now can it? Also the hayashi kotoba/kakigoe or the accompanying shouts to cheer the people on - 'dokkoisho, dokkoisho' is mostly heard, but the full-length version is actually 'dokkoishossho, dokkoisho, oetasaa, oetasa, nekko tsuita, oetasa' which of course is too long to say all the time (and has almost no meaning), but during today's last show it was shouted out in the speakers.

The usual festival hours were from 7 in the evening till about 9, but it sadly felt even shorter.

The towering lanterns over everybody's heads were so enchanting and magnificent that you just couldn't turn your eyes away. They quite scarily resembled people, walking slowly in the streets, bowing when the accidentally run into one another, scramble a bit and then slowly move on, gently swaying in balance of the people holding them on their shoulders, hips or foreheads.

Compared to the gentle lanterns, the people under them were running around like frantic ants on a hot summer day, which actually was true - it was hot and sweaty as in a sauna.

I can't say that it was a simple festival, but compared to all the complicated things in the world, it might have been the most clear example of the natural balance of everything - rapidness and calm, light and shadow, dream and awake... Yin and Yang in a really magical form.

But I most clearly remember today - the last of Kanto.

Different from usual, I didn't go far from the entry road along the pavement, but stayed near the crossroads where small children were gathering with their parents. Because there was a lot of space and a good view over the little heads I thought it might be the best place for me too to enjoy the show. Also concerning Kanto, it was the curve where the paraders turned around to go for the next round in the Kanto Road and for that there was a wide open agora (or in other words the fore-mentioned crossroads) to do the turn more easily. A lot of performing groups gathered there and it looked really crowded both on the ground and in the air. I arrived there during the end of the second performance and the beginning of the last. When the final whistle blew you could just see the flashing cheery eyes of the lantern holders, the stand-byes and the musicians. Whilst in air, the lanterns started to dance their gentle hypnosis for the last time, but then something even more intriguing happened. One person lost his balance and one of the Kanto pillars fell. So did the person next to him and his lanterns. And another. Then the next until most of the big lanterns on the curve fell down. It was like a blazing giant domino game. And I loved it! (How cruel, but I wasn't alone.) But that didn't mean the end of the show - they lighted the candles again and continued with all their might, but because they already had participated for 4 days, they seemed exhausted and the lanterns fell after that incident too. But they just kept on going.

Finishing whistle and everybody clapped and cheered. Finishing speeches from the mayor and another round of clapping. It was Fureai Kanto time - a chance to try to hold a kanto yourself, play the taiko and take photos of it all. Because it just might have been my once in a lifetime chance, I also grabbed hold of one of the pillars. It was the middle sized one, but still really heavy. If not mistaken, the middle one is about 30 kilograms. The biggest is about 5o and when decorations are added, it will be even more. I tried to hold it above, but of course I only succeeded in touching it correctly. Balance was a completely round zero.

God it felt great! Everything!

And adding to Kanto (or the time before it), I just spent the most magnificent day during my home stay so far. Because one of my sisters came back from Osaka for a home visit, we decided to go out to Nikaho city, me, host mum and the two sisters, to the more southern part of Akita prefecture past Honjo. We had a reservation in a place called Garden Cafe Time - a huge beautiful garden cafe where on a garden house veranda you can enjoy the healthiest homemade dishes in the world. Or so I believe. The place is just swallowed in a cloud of herbal aromas - mint, thyme, parsley, lavender, rosemary, all sorts of different flowers - everything was there. (The site is only in Japanese and there are no photos doing the place justice so I'll upload some pictures tomorrow. :)

Later we also went to a local small onsen, which had really rich baths. By rich I mean mineral wise. After that we went to THE BEACH.

YAHOOO! My kingdom! It was really awesome and fun and long waited, plus the water was so bright blue that it felt like burning in my eyes.

I just wish I had eyes coloured like so.

Lastly we yet again went to an onsen but a different one called Nemuno oka (ねむの丘) located at a road station. The building itself looked high class and when you entered the main doors there was a clear sign saying 'Baths on the 4th floor with a beautiful view of the sea.'

No kidding.

We just happened to arrive there during sunset.

Did I mention the water? Yeah, it was really rich. And it felt like burning my skin this time around. That might have been because of my sudden light sunburn. The sun in Japan is unbelievably strong - I don't go 'fried chicken' so easily...

Whilst driving back I sent my mate the Sun to the back of the horizon, spending some magical minutes constantly looking at the slow sinking of the orange melted sky and canary coloured clouds floating in a lavender purple sea. I almost felt like crying because of the sheer sight of all the beauty at that moment.

Only thing left to do now is to paint it by heart so that I could have a piece of the magic with me always.

Still being the luckiest bugger in the world. :)

Ta-ta and Hail hoy!

Hey ho an' a Pottle of rumm

Camp life = Park Life!

Yes people, I'm back from my adventures at the JRC camp! It was unfortunately really short but none the less really fun!

It was held at a youth centre quite near my home (about 15 minutes by car), but due to bad weather we couldn't do any outdoor activity which was a bit unfortunate, but didn't make the camp any less fun. There was plenty to do indoors too.

For example we learned how to do CPR, how to wrap bandages on different wounds and what to do during times of trouble etc. It was also called 'leadership camp', so there were workshops about cooperation and discussions about self independence and the like. We also did a bit of volunteer work by translating Japanese children books into Khmer and sent them off to Cambodia. I can't speak Khmer, and I never will, but the translating meant sticking Khmer sentences over the original lines and a label with your name on the last page. It was my first time doing that sort of work and I really think I'll start doing charity in the future (and not just stick stickers into books).

We were all divided into separate groups and I was actually put into the junior high school one, which meant a whole different environment for me, but everybody was really lively and childishly curious so I had a lot to talk about with them and really felt in the group. There were people from all around the prefecture so we got to mingle with many, many different people from different ages. I so missed events like that. Reminded me that awesome last year a bit. :)

Also I got the chance to meet two AFS exchange students there and hear about their feelings and thoughts about Japan. They were quite different from mine, but still we had a lot in common too and for that we stayed up quite late to talk and laugh. Quite loudly... I hope we were no bother for others... Honestly.

I also met a teacher who really resembled Miyazaki Hayao to me and I secretly took reference photos of him for my drawings. I have really sneaky schemes with those. Hahaha! :P

Overall it was a really fulfilling and eye opening experience, which helped me to understand even more clearly the reasons for me being where I am and also where I want to go. And all in really good company.

And speaking of where I want to go, Kanto is tomorrow! And that's not all - we might be going to Aomori too for the Nebuta festival, the big celebration with gigantic lantern monuments and definitely going to Oomagari in Akita for the might be biggest fireworks festival in Japan. And with my host sister that I haven't met yet!

I just learned these things today when I got back so I almost fell off my chair when I heard it all. I just might actually be the luckiest bugger alive. Oh, and there's Obon too...

But that would be the subject for my next post.

And lastly about my school - still on summer vacation, but before going to camp I said my goodbyes and 'good lucks' to my kendo mates who are currently in Okinawa (first day) already, getting prepared for the grand tournament. I'm really rooting for them because they have worked so hard for it all. They should win it. Definitely. That would be perfect. :)

But that means that I'm on a break from kendo too. It's somewhat a bitter sweet feeling but a good rest is always welcome.

There's also going to be a prefectural calligraphy contest in my school too on 10th but I don't know if I can go there because I'm going to see sumo then.

Yes. SUMO.

I'm going to see Baruto for goodness sake! I'm definitely going to yell something in Estonian. Just a 'hello' would be suffice. Ya~~hoo~~!

And in the end, I still don't get to rest. Damn me. Hehe!

I suddenly got an urge to draw sumfink... I wonder what it would be...

That calls for my urgent exit! Thanks for dropping by and reading my late night musings.

The little pirate sails again!

Ciao.

Hippari to sappari to to

Hipa! I hope everybody's doing well.

Have you ate pancakes recently?

I know I have.

As usual - kendo is still on going! Giving my best and stomping and screaming as much as I can. I think I've made some progress, but that's only logical I guess. I've also tried some kendo free fighting and I am a weasel. Slow, but still a weasel. Interpret it as you wish. Just give it a bit negative feeling.

On the other hand, the teacher told me that I might be able to enter a tournament for newcomers around the end of this year.

I AM SHOCKED.

But nonetheless overly happy! It's still a 'maybe' situation, but I'm doing my best to be ready when it should happen.

On a different note, on the 18th I went to eat kakikoori (shaved ice with syrup) with the 'Kendo Girls' (naming sense!). It's been quite some time since I last went out to do something relaxing after school and it really was fun! The place we went to was a through and through kakikoori restaurant (!) called Chawa, serving only ice and sugary liquids! I'm completely honest when saying that it serves the best shaved ice in Akita. I ordered one with a really fresh grapefruit jam on top and it was soooo good! :3 I also got to taste kiwi and mango from my friends too. Yummy yum yum omnomnom.

Also on that day I went to see Arrietty with my host mum and sister (just a day after the release! Yau!) which also was my first time going to a Japanese cinema. I must say that it is COMPLETELY different from the Estonian one. For instance we have no goods' shops there, which is somewhat a pity... but I got an Arrietty memo book and just for laughs I also bought a classic swirl lollipop. The big one. I still have most of it left. Ah, it's so nostalgic. I think I was 5 when I last ate one. :D Plus, there's no applauding in the hall after the end. Whu~?

(A heads up for those who don't know, Arrietty is the latest Ghibli Studio production. Be sure to go and see it. :)

Next time (if it actually comes) I want to see Toy Story too, one of my all time Disney favourites.

On Monday I had my YFU summer orientation (yippii!) in Hachimori Bunakkoland (almost the most upper part of Akita pref) which is famous for it's beech forests and seashore. It was a cloudy day, which was actually a blessing. Great for driving and for my poor, poor eyes, oh my.

I was happy to see my friends still alive and I was quite surprised to see so many short stay (American) students in Akita. I thought it was a quiet place concerning the matter of exchange study, but I guess I was wrong (which was good). After the introductions we went to trek the forest of Mononoke. Yep, it really looked exactly like the scenes from the movie, which is no wonder, because the backgrounds actually were inspired by the forests there. Unfathomable that I was lucky enough to go there. My heart almost stopped when I saw the first rapids of the river flowing under the tree branches, hitting the rocks by the riverside with high splashes and the sprinkles unexpectedly softly landing on my face. I almost could feel myself sinking into the forest.

After the breath taking experience, we had a huge barbeque, but it was quite tricky to eat without burning your fingers off. The grill was so damn glowing hot! But we all survived with minor casualties. Later with our tummies full, we all got to chat to our hearts content and relax. I also taught some Estonian to the exchange student going to Estonia in the beginning of next month, which was a novel feeling. Me? A teach? Naah! Unfortunately though we soon had to part ways again.

From that point 'quality family time' began. We jumped through the nearby Hatahata-kan onzen which had a wonderful view to the sea whilst you were soaking in a boat shaped bath on the veranda. Afterwards we went to eat garlic ramen nearby, which as my host dad said was quite famous around those parts. He was proven to be right quite soon. Late lunch anyone?Awesome garrrlic, delicious garrrlic, I'll sing to you about garrrlic. Reminded me of my mum's cooking a lot for some odd reason.

Anyway, no problems with vampires from now on.

Heh, like I've had any.

We arrived home quite late that night after a 2-hour drive, but on that night, over a long time, I slept soundly like I used to in my early ages. Sniff. The glory of children.

In the orientation I learned that I have a chance to go to a Junior Red Cross camp for 2 days during the last weekend of July. I decided that I'll go so I'm really giddy for it. What will happen there I wonder...

So for closure, I had a lot of fun time during the weekend past, but the best part was unquestionably the time when I felt like I actually got into the magnificent forest of Gods and Spirits of Ghibli Wonderland.

I'm planning to go there again sometime.

In person, in my dreams, by any means.

And speaking of Ghibli, Totoro is on so I'm flying.

(Sorry for the abruptness!)

Until next time and bye-bye! And thanks!

Sails hoy!

PS Photos will come later this week. Promise. Although there isn't much.

Simply put

Hello again!

I thought that because I had a happy week end, I wanted to share it with you. :)

First off, on Saturday I had my usual guitar class and after that my mum came to pick me up and we went to a nearby department store to see an exhibition of world famous animations' watercolour storyboards, which' poster mum had seen earlier that day. Of course it was only Japanese anime scenes, for example TOM SAWYER. O_O''

I didn't know that until that point. Shocked the air out of my lungs. Oh, foolish me...

Later that evening the two of us went to search for a bicycle route to my school due to my bus pass expiring and that I only have a couple of weeks of school left, so to buy a new pass is just a waste of money and also it's a good chance to really enjoy my life in Akita City. To really get in to it. Also it's good exercise. In the end we were successful. :) From next week I'm officially a cyclist.

Just kidding. But going to school by bike in Japan really seems and feels student like. Makes me proud to be part of the gang. ;)

During the ride I also met some of my classmates and friends along the way and got to talk to them. It really felt like I really belong here. Really. I repeat myself too much.

And today (Sunday) I got to go to kendo for the first time during week end, which means morning lessons. It was really refreshing! Up until now, everybody had tournaments, exams, out of school lessons etc, that robbed me the chance to train during Sats and Suns.

I got really good advice from my kendo classmate about various techniques so I feel quite fulfilled currently. Getting better, getting better!

Having got back from school, my mum yet again had found out about an exhibition in an old Japanese style shop in the city centre. It was a duo exhibition of Kusanagi Osamu (paper cut prints 切り絵) and Kyoko (rice paper dolls 和紙人形). They are an artist couple (How awesome is that? Perfect!) who are really famous in Akita and perhaps outside too. They have designed many product packages and also quite a few souvenirs. The old shop, where the works were displayed, was an art piece itself. It had an air of magnificent history and the walls and floors seemed to have their own stories hidden in them.

Tour finished, we went to a coffee shop right next to the building and drank really delicious ice coffee there. We also got to taste a pound cake called King's Pound. It too was really tasty and heartily sweet.

After that we went home.

In the end, it's a simple story and simple happiness.

But isn't that the best one?

Lots of hearty greetings from the East!

I'll yet again sail to bed.

Heipsus!

I woke up to a bloody earthquake today. AN EARTHQUAKE! As an alarm clock!

It was a mild one, but anyways an earthquake!

Flicker through

Hello one and all!

Sorry for my long absence, but I have a good reason for that which I'm going to explain right now.

Firstly I got to go to a concert on 26 June. And not just any concert, but Ikimono gakari's. Have you heard about them? If not then you should.

Anyway, it was an overly energizing experience with a lot of dancing and finger swirling involved (or towel swinging when bought) :) . Even the elderly and parents carrying their small children were dancing away light-footedly.

The band itself was so unbelievably sweet and lovely and they gave off an aura of immeasurable friendliness. When they made a break during the concert and talked with the audience (for over half an hour!) it really felt like as they were your closest friends that you haven't seen for a long time. They (we?) talked about Akita's specialties, what they did the day before the performance, how they got lost, how they were noticed by grannies with grandchildren and dogs, how they got scolded at the market when they tried to explain that they were Ikimono gakari and so on. They're really funny, I must admit.

So how did I get to their live in the first place? Truth be told, I actually first heard about the band during my first week in Akita (why not before, I don't know) from my host sister who is a really big fan of them. I grew to like the band too and some days later we got some mail.

Usual isn't it? Mail.

But then it turned out that inside the envelope were my mum's pre-ordered tickets for the concert.

I flipped. 'I'm serioulsy one hell of a lucky b******' I thought.

The concert lasted for a whole 3 hours (it was planned to be 1 and a half), 19 songs were sang (including encore) and they said that it was their first time performing in Akita and that they felt really nervous... Didn't seemed like that at all. They were fantastic!

And to everyone's happiness, they promised to come back once more... because babahera was really delicious.

Ahh! They really stole a piece of my heart (and money, due to my towel purchase) :)

And continuing with music, over the past month, I've been practising for our school choir contest, which culminated on 29 June.

For that cause, I went to school everyday about 30 minutes earlier than usual and sang 'Tashika na koto' by Oda Kazumasa (a really beautiful song) with my classmates, who like me couldn't really manage to squirt out a decent voice due to the early hours. I must admit it was painful :/ But we kept on going.

And going... Going... Did it again during lunch break... And after school. Everyday.

Our class might have been the most hard working out of all the classes.

Then the 29th came and everybody of Kita High went to Akita Hall with all of our little hearts thumping like that of a mouse's.

Final practices in front of the building, final check on our formation, 3 times 'Ganbare!' and squealing jumps and inside we went.

The contest itself was divided by grade - 1st years, 2nd years and 3rd years respectively and also there were prizes for the best pianist and conductor.

Anyway, our class was the last one to perform out of the 2nd years, after which were the 3rd years and our schools choir's performance and lastly the evaluation...

Our hearts were thumping even faster than before.

1st years - can't hear because of my heart racing. And finally 2nd years - third place, second and first...

WE GOT THE FIRST PLACE, PEOPLE!!! Wooooohooooo!!!

We all jumped out of our seats with joy, yelled our lungs out and some of the girls even started crying. Our hard work was paid even more than we hoped for.

And guess what. We got candy! Yeah, we're still children you know. :')

I still can't believe it that I was a part of the winning choir. Me, a girl who was repeatedly said to never be any good at singing or music of any kind. I'm quite proud of myself and really proud of my awesome class overall. I'm so happy that I was lucky enough to land in Akita out of all places. Truly a picture image of Japanese life.

(Because I'm so jumpy and happy, I'll throw in some lucky stars for all of you after this entry ;) )

But that is definitely not all of what has kept me busy.

After the contest the whole school started preparing for...

Pamparapapapapaa~~ (drumroll)

Akita Kita High School's Summer Culture Festival!!!

YESS! I finally got to participate in one! It was held on 2~3 July (Fri/Sat) and there were many awesome games, exhibitions, performances and of course the classic Obake yashiki (Monster rooms). I tried everything out and went to all the show rooms and enjoyed every bit of it. In addition, in the inner school yard were many food stands selling ice cream, various drinks, including floats (a drink with a floating ice cream scoop on top, hence the name), takoyaki (fried octopus in a pasty), churritos, taiyaki (sweet fish shaped cake with filling) and so on. I was completely blown away by the magnitude of the whole thing. It was so awesome! We had tons of guests to who also seemed mesmerized by the scene.

I can't (yet again) express my feeling through this pixelized system. A once in a lifetime chance and I got to experience it full on. Can't believe it...

But about our class, we prepared a human stamp rally game, which the goal was to find at least 5 cosplayers (me and my classmates) around the school grounds and inside the buildings and sweetly ask us a stamp. If not, we would run away. Man, it was fun!

But it wasn't all game and running, but also some bureaucracy was involved.

Our class was divided into 3 groups who all did differently themed cosplays (explained in a previous entry) and also different jobs depending on the time. Ones were handing out stamp papers (serious business), others were the prize givers (even more serious, because we were counting the amount of candy we handed out) and lastly the cosplayers. We were really popular actually, especially with small children. :) Of course I was the Mad Hatter, as promised, and I might say that I was especially popular with EVERYBODY. I can't really count up the times when people asked for a photograph with me, or even an autograph (whoa!). I gave quite a fright to some small kids however, who literally fell over when they saw me and ran away as fast as they could (Might be the fact that I'm a foreigner :/ who knows).

There was also a public cafeteria opened on the second floor which served really delicious dishes made by the school student's. For example, I ate miso ramen and curry bread on the first day and cooled udon on the second. Well... that's not all that I ate in total, but let's leave it at that or I'll get embarrassed, hohoho.

(I also put up quite a few photos of these events which have been collecting dust in my camera, so please go and see them in FB if interested. :)

Lastly, about my everyday life a tad.

Well, I've been going to kendo for about a month already (celebration!) and I'm progressing slowly but steadily and crashing into bed out of tiredness as soon as I get home every day. I've been on a Kumon break because of my lack of time but I'll start again tomorrow.

By the way, this Monday I have no school! Yeehaa! And Tuesday will only be the festival clean up.

Soon, my 4th month of home stay will also pass. The time is a magnificently fast little bugger.

Also, quite soon, I'll be on my summer holidays in Yamagata again (starting from the 22nd) for Obon (お盆) and I'll also get to see Kanto (竿燈祭り), quite a famous festival of Akita in August.

Oh, the anxiousness... there's so much to look forward to every day, starting from school and ending with all the traditional festivals of the Land of the Rising Sun.

As always, thanks for taking time to read my blog and commenting. Hugs to ye me hearties!

Good luck and good ----- (insert the proper word according to your situation)

I'll hoist sails for this time.

How to open

　　　　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　海に行った昨日

　　　　　　　　　　村上を読んだ今日

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　剣道の明日

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　試験である明後日

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　この鴉がナくして欲しい。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　本当に。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　五月蝿い。

（平成二十二年六月十四日）

I went to the beach yesterday,

I read Murakami in Japanese today,

I'll go to kendo tomorrow,

I'll have exams the day after tomorrow.

I just want to get rid of this raven.

Really.

It's noisy.

ンマツポース (nmatsupoosu)

And now on to the sports column!

(Seriously?)

Because one of the busiest tournament seasons is now over, I finally got to join my long waited, long wanted kendo club yesterday.

Feelings are through the roof and into the cosmos! !!

I'm going to have practices every day after classes till about 6~7 o'clock in the evening.

I have already attended 2 lessons and I must say kendo is bloody difficult! Which makes it triple the fun! Behold my kendo smiley! \o(^u^)"

Everybody (except me of course) is wearing the traditional helmet and hakama too. It looks So. Damn. AWESOME. Really smells like Edo spirit.

I have held a sword before (fencing) but the feeling is totally different. Also, kendo uses totally different muscles for handling the sword than fencing, which has already taken a tad bit of a toll on me. Ahhh, I could go on and on with this talk, because kendo really was the club I wanted to join from the very beginning of my exchange year in Akita. I just can't express my happiness in pixels! ^^ Fuaa~~

Oh! There's one more thing I realised during practice.

The racket. Listening to everybody's screaming the necessary 'kiai' type of yell, I really have no doubt where Tolkien got his Nazguls from. I find it mind-blowingly interesting. Ho hum.

As I mentioned - the tournament.

There is a huge annual sports festival called Inter-high (インターハイ) in which every prefecture is represented by the best of the best high school sports(wo)men, starting from baseball and ending with swimming and more.

This year, Kita High really gave its all. In the prefectural tournament, many sport clubs got the first place in both individual as well as team games and all of the clubs were in the Top 10 at least. There are about 4 teams and over 8 individuals going to Inter-High and many more going to the Touhoku region's contest.

This year's IH by the way is held in Okinawa in August! It will be hell for those playing outside, don't you think? (Yakihito - because we aren't chicken.)

One delightful thing is that most of the IH participants of Akita are from our school, which is a first in school history. I'm really happy and excited for everyone and rooting for them from the bottom of my heart and soul. oOo"

But there are always smaller kendo face-offs in between the tournaments too.

For example tomorrow.

I'm going as well, but just to cheer on and help my friends. And of course learn from their techniques. :)

Who knows, I might continue kendo back home too. But for now, the future stays unclear.

I better make a choice soon. Not just on sports, but my future overall, so... we shall see. :) Better to be sure than uncertain, right?

PS I found out that they DO have quite a long summer vacation here. It's 1 month long, from the second part of July till the end of August. Lucky, lucky, I'm so happy!

PSS SUMMER'S HERE AT LAST! We have around 25 degrees everyday, but soon the rainy season will begin. Oh well. Enjoy it, people, whilst you still can!

How is it over there anyway? Warm inside your hearts or outside too?

As always, lots of love and thanks from far away!

St. spl

The Floating World

It's been a while! Bonjour!

About school - can anyone say what is Japan's usual level of seriousness in studying? I've got a feeling that my host school is really high grade. We had a really huge meeting about the students future and universities, some speeches about international diplomacy and so on. It wasn't the first, nor will it be the last.

In Estonia it's just get-out-of-here-and-see-what-you're-capable-of-kind of attitude after high school. And speaking about Estonia, I might not be the first Estonian to land in Akita, but damn sure I'm the first high school exchange student here. PIONEERS FOREVER, BANZAI! Hahhaa!

Overall, school has been calm. Everybody's leading their usual chattery school life in which I've happily been included. :) Soon, after the tournament, I'll be able to enter my longed kendo club too. Finally! Also, I'll be going to a electric guitar class in the city centre. FINALLY! :D It's been a while since I've really been busy. I found out that I can't lead a life like that after all. :)

Have I mentioned that my school trip will be to South Korea?

Anyway, I will not go there. It's a bit sad, however I might have the chance to go somewhere I like in Japan during the time. I'm aiming for Kyoto, but nothing is sure at the moment. There are also some concerts that I'd like to attend... we shall see. :)

(I've also begun preparing my costume. There's a soon ending contest in the net with good prizes so I'd like to give it a shot. :) Tomorrow I'll start with the hat, which I can't wait!)

Sadly though, there's no feeling of summer nor late spring in Akita. Only rain (although I somewhat like that sort of weather too). But fortunately for me, I found some things that really cheered me up.

I found primulas, the usual spring flowers of Estonia in many people's gardens, also lily of the valley, another sign of spring. The flowers were seen some time ago, but today I stumbled upon my first Japanese wagtail [link]. It's a bit different from the pied wagtail [link] in my home country, but nonetheless dear to my heart. I just became unimaginably happy when I witnessed these small treasures around me. Definitely, all the small and all the grand things in the nature of Japan will never be forgotten by me. Everyday I happen to take a wrong turn in the streets but always I come upon something miraculous. Something beautiful. I just love everything in my home city. In my surroundings. Wherever I am. It isn't bound to any place.

As always, I never want to grow up. I'd be too tall to see the small wonders around me.

秋田より愛を込めて

From Akita with love

st. spl

I also put up some photos that I forgot to upload in April. Sorry for that!

PS Massive Attack's Heligoland is a must! Be sure to listen!

Guess what I will be when I grow up

Extravaganza! Outdoor vacuuming bonanza!

Anyway that was what I saw today when I was going home from school after doing my presentation on potatoes and flowers etc. In other words, my home country's characteristics, facts and all the other goods. It went really well - I got a few laughs and I didn't get a stage fright fever either. Although I would really have liked to receive some questions afterwards, all the firstlings (that was my audience - high school first years) shied away from the opportunity.

Since my last recording here, my life at school has went smoothly, happily and I feel really at ease. I actually managed to solve some exercises in maths too. I literally jumped of joy when I did it. Hey, I understood the question in mathematical Japan(a)nese. Plus, I've finished the basic level Kumon and soon am going to start the intermediate one. 必勝

Also, my class at school has begun preparing for the school festival in July. We are going to do a stamp rally, where some of us are cosplaying characters that our 3 groups A, B and C decided ((Pokemon), One Piece and Alice respectively) and are the ones to give stamps to the players and others are managing the contestants papers and other necessities for the game. Our endeavour's title and slogan are Come on and catch me! It's not so easy as you think! Our roles are going to change during those 2 days many times so everybody will do everything in the end. Anyhow, I belong to the Alice group and I'm going to cosplay...

THE MAD HATTER

Yes, I'm going to do the costume myself. :) I'm really psyched about it. I only have about 1 and a half month left so I'm going to think of the cleverest way to do it. The opening bang will be tomorrow. Going to search for a pink shirt. (God is in the details as they say.)

---

I went to Akita Onsen today. The baths there are so great and there's one outside too, inside a Japanese garden. There was also a sauna and to be frank, it was impressive. The decor was usual, but a television set there was rather amusing. They really think of everything here. :) But what I really liked was the smell of wood in there. You could also smell it in the garden. It really cleanses you inside out.

Also, inside the onsen complex was a restaurant which serves the best curry udon so far! It was called ishiyaki curry udon which was served inside a thick rock bowl and the soup was still bubbling. It was a great experience! Hot as hell, but great in taste.

Okaasan ordered a fish dish called buri ishiyaki, which turned out to be a grilled gigantic fish head. It too was delicious, but we all had quite a scare when we first saw it. (Put some lemon juice on it and it will all go well.) Anyhow, the place really went into my heart so I wanted to share my thoughts a bit.

Until next time! 3-9!

Log out static

Yamagata Banzai Dango *update

GOLDEN WEEK (so far) HAS BEEN AWESOMELY MAGNIFICENT!

I'm back from Yamagata and feeling absolutely tired. But it was so great! I have so much great memories that I think I'll forget to tell all of them. Do I make sense?

(Looking at the photos will give you a better picture (literally) about my trip. This will be a short summary about my feelings and thoughts.)

Overall, the ride from Akita city to Yamagata city, where my (host) aunt lives, is about 4 hours, but we made many pit stops along the way. Firstly, we went to visit otoosan's mum in Akita's southern part. Really an epic grandma I must say. She served us really great sweets and gave us an awesome bentou for the ride. She makes the best imoten in the world! (Sweet potato bread-fry)

Afterwards we visited a sakura park and many road stations (sort of souvenir shopping malls along main highway's) and went to an amusement park of pet animals. It was sort of a children's zoo with a lot of cute little animals. We also went to see a river nearby and ate lunch there.

(now my mind is blank)

And so we went to the aunt's place where we had a huge and delicious dinner. It's just unbelievable how much effort they (the Japanese) put to everything! It really is a huge cultural leap for me. WHO~~OU!

Later that evening we went to see the cherries at night. It was really magical - there was a bit of lighting around the trees and little sparkly bugs were hovering between the branches making it all look like fairy dust. After that - sleep.

The next day we went to a lot of places, but the main two were a central hill in Yamagata city with a lot of magnificent cherry trees and later Yamadera mountain temple. Both were breathtakingly beautiful with cherry blossom rain. Yup, it's that time of the year in the far north Honshuu. We spent the later afternoon completely in Yamadera, climbing the hills, seeing the temples and shrines and later we ate kakikoori (shaved ice with syrup) and rested a bit. That evening's dinner wa syet again (go figure) HUGE.

The final day was sakura day. We went to see the 1,200-year-old cherry tree in Kubo-cho and the surroundings. The tree was just gigantic! It was supported by numerous pillars and looked like a well cared for senior grandma/pa.

Later on, it was goodbye to the aunts, uncles, nieces and grandparents and off we went to finally get our hanami dango. It is a small but famous shop in Ooishida city, where average waiting time is a little under an hour (if you're lucky to arrive there before it's all sold out). Because of that we thought to go to eat something because it had been a while. During the ride, I noticed a great spot under the cherry trees by a riverside and at that moment we all decided that this will be the spot for our hanami.

And that's that.

*5th May, Kodomo no hi (Children's Day), I went to a local freemarket about 30 minutes ride away from home. It was in a dahlia park in which were a lot of cherry trees too and that was the place where we ate yet again a hanami lunch. The air was unbelievably thick with the smell of blossoms which were hanging from the branches over our heads. The petals were dancing in the wind and occasionally dropped on our onigiri (riceballs), which was just like in the movies I've seen too much before coming to Japan. Haaa~~~ah!

Later, we went to Akita Central PArk, which is a huge place with thick forests covering many mountains and also your usual park that runs through a university campus. That place was filled to the brim with sakura trees and there we rent bikes for a ride in the surroundings. Fubuki (petal rain) was really magical and the forests looked a lot like my homeland's. It felt really heartwarming and soul freeing. The ride lasted for an hour, but it felt like ages. A trip of a lifetime.

The whole day, I felt really moved by the views of Akita. I'm just unbelievably glad that I happened to be sent here into the countryside of Japan, because that's where I think you can really feel the heart of a nation. The root of it, stripped from bureaucracy etc. NATURE.

And that's that.

Now I'm home, have finished half of my F level Kumon and really put a lot of effort in creating this entry and putting up all those photos on FB. I hope it gives you a bit of joy to see some pink in your everyday computer surfing.

Nice of you to have dropped by!

BB and good night!

And off we go!

Hey boys and girls! (and family :))

My last post was a tad short, so I'll post another short one! Gag.

Anyway, I've gone to see cherry blossoms twice already, but just passing through kind of way. In Senshuu Park and in Kakunodate samurai village to be specific. The latter was today. Why did I go there twice? Well, I wanted to draw a picture, that's why. And I did it. But the thing isn't quite finished so you all need to wait a bit until I polish it and load it up. :)

Also, my real hanami (with picnic) will be in Yamagata, the neighbouring prefecture to Akita. I'm going to visit okaasan's parents there. I hope I understand the local dialect because my family assured me that they will definitely be speaking it. I'll be staying there for 3 days, so for the most part of the Golden Week. Yes, it's already started! There's no school either! BREAKTIEM! The grandparents house will be about a 4-hour ride from where I'm currently located. But we have a really long and interesting schedule made, e.g. we'll go to a Japanese sweets shop that otoosan thinks is the best, afterwards onsen, then an amusement park etc etc.

So for that time I won't be updating around here.

Everybody enjoy yourselves and thanks for dropping by!

BB

桜は満開だ！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！

THE CHERRIES ARE IN FULL BLOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KIAI!

Wow, it has been a busy week!

First off, school. Now I realize why my Japanese teacher said that he doesn't want to 'ganbare' anymore. We have a meditation every day before lessons and speeches about our future and also, this week, we had a 'ganbare' meeting. Really serious business!

But still, I haven't entered any activity clubs. I'm really going for kendo, but Kita High's team is extremely strong and there are always matches and everything so, next week, there's going to be some discussions about me entering the club. Everybody really wants me to join, including myself, but it would mean that I'll devote myself to the club almost entirely and doing so means that I can't do much else. Well, that's the problem. Need to polish my Japanese before I jump into the pit of DISCUSSION.

Also I've had some after school fun time! For example, I've gone out to eat crepes with my friends. The Japanese crepes are so tasty! They have so many tastes to choose and they're just melting in the mouth. After that, I also went to our local Senshuu park for the sakura festival, but there were no sakura at the time, yet a lot of shops had already started business. Therefore, Me and the kendo girls (nice) just ate the things we found interesting. That was also fun to do. Many had their skirts smeared with sauce afterwards. Fortunately I didn't. Hahahaa!

Also this weekend, there was school on Saturday. We had some sort of PTA happening. And so, next week's Monday is a HOLIDAY! Woohoo! Gonna paint some pictures then. It has been a while. But other than that, today, I went to Kakunodate samurai village (角館の武家屋敷)! A really famous place in and out of Japan. It really went into my heart. You can just feel the culture and history there. I bought a lot of postcards there of famous Edo period people. One interesting thing is that there are still some people living in some of the old houses. The oldest building is about 200 years old and there are cherry trees everywhere. I also bought geta shoes FINALLY! I've been wanting to buy those things since last year. It has been a long wait really. Mind you, they are those high stacked ones.

Also today we had a YFU Area Orientation meeting in Kakunodate. It was really great to meet all of the exchange students in this area and the reps, the host families.

BUT! I also met another person. A girl.

Who is going to Estonia as an exchange student!

It was our second meeting and we talked a lot about each others countries, interests and so on. We went to eat oyakodon together. (Mamps r66musta!) It was fun! So. Everyone around Tallinn go and meet her! She will arrive somewhere around July. Other than that I can't really say.

I must say the weather here is beyond measure unpredictable. For example, this morning it was so sunny and warm, but in about 5 minutes later, the sky had become grey, it rained cats and dogs and after 10 minutes it was sunny again. And it repeated throughout the day. The grand finale was with a rain waterfall. I really am in need of a boiling hot bath. I'm almost frozen to the bone. But I got to eat mochi so all is well with the world.

And it all has been indescribably fun! I've made friends in school, my Japanese is getting better and better by the hour, my host family is awesome and I'm filled with a new strength to climb towards my dreams.

It really is a once in a lifetime chance, isn't it.

This is it for now. Be sure to check for photos!

Good night or whatever you have there!

Carrots' tempura!

Exactly a month is past since the day I left my home country and came to Japan.

Also it's the end of my second week in school, which has been, yet again, totally awesome! I've quite well adjusted to my lifestyle here, but there are some complications of course. For example, the epic Japanese toilets. I mean, what the hell? I can use them, sure, but seriously, why do they still have those? I need to figure it out somehow... :D Even toilets are fun-tastic it seems.

But in school I've made some friends and I'm going to decide my club activity later this weekend. I saw kyuudou (Japanese archery) yesterday and boy it was awesome! It's really Nippon bunka (Japanese culture)! Also, I'm still waiting for the cherries. It's yet oh-so-cold. We had a bit snow this morning too, okaasan said. How on earth are we going to survive? D:

But there's a rumour going around that the cherries will come next week end. I hope it's true. They already started preparations for the festival in Senshuu Park - put up some shop stands, ribbons and so on. And then came the snow. Might have been quite a shock for them all.

So, onwards we go! Today I made tempura for the first time! Okaasan taught me how and both of us had a blast doing it! I learned that she hadn't heard of potato tempura and got really excited to try it. The whole family liked it! And because I was in charge of frying the vegetables and shrimp I felt really great. Okaasan also praised me a bit. :) Said I'm a natural... Harry Potter xD

Why?

Well because yesterday we were going shopping and I put on my round glasses and because it's still cold, I also put on a long black jacket... get the picture? I received quite a few long looks there... It has become a family joke I guess. >:D They got a wizard for an exchange student. Muhahahaa!

All in all, I'm loving it! Japan really has been the land of my dreams for a really long time, but now it has become a land of reality, for which I'm really thankful for all the people who helped me make it happen. THANK YOU ALL! I can't really express my gratitude enough through this media, but I'm really, really grateful!

I mean Japanese even serve food for their cats with chopsticks. How cool is that?! I'm completely flipped! Totally Orient.

Also I have been a fan of Japanese rock for a couple of years and here I'm getting more and more fanatic about it. They have tons of music magazines, instrument guide books, CD stores and many many more gorgeous places! Plus the 'book-offs'... Heaven! Looks like modern day Hogwarts library. xD That's the last Potter for this entry, I swear.

Last but not least, I also put up some new photos, just so you know.

And this is the end of the current weather report.

Word.

Summary summery

Phew!

My first school week is now behind me and I'm waiting for the next one!

Throughout the first half of the week, I only had self introductions in front of students and teachers and so on, BUT...

the climax was on Wednesday... in front of the whole school body! I did rather well considering my nervous circumstances. :D YAY! I think my 'love of chasing cats' went into many people's hearts.

I have received a wery wery warm welcome from everybody and that makes me really happy. It's so amazing of a feeling to meet so many new people and be able to talk to them and that they understand what you're saying. That gives me the greatest rush currently. It might be so for a long time.

Also I have went to many activity clubs in my school for a 'seeing tour'. Up till now, I have went to arts' club, go, calligraphy and school band's club. This system is really awesome I think. This should be executed everywhere around the world!! Hear me, hear me!

Next, my weekend. Saturday was a bit of a family excursion sort of day. We went to the zoo once more and the giraffes were out that day! I think they actually remembered me because when I went closer they turned their heads towards me, lowered them slightly and came really close! I really think we had some sort of connection... yeah, nice!

Afterwards we visited one of the biggest shrines in the district and I took some photos there so check them out!

And last but not least - onsen. Ahhh, it's so good. The place we went to is popular for it's great smell of wood. And it really is great. There was a bit of a kink there. it seems that it's a must to drink some milk after the bathing. There's a huge milk machine with your everyday milk, fruit milk and milk coffee. Weird, but really enjoyable.

The last day of the week is a time for total relaxation or so it seems. Might go for a walk later.

Currently it's noon and it's sunny so everything is possible.

Until next time amigos and amigas!

Lots of love!

Just a little *edit* plus some more

*this is an edit*

Today was my first school day!!! I needed to do about 6 self introductions! For teachers, for my classmates (a couple of times), for all 2nd years etc. Everybody were so kind and lively and I had my 'kawaii' attack as suspected. But it wasn't so bad as in Fukui, so I survived without a scratch! :)

So! My school day started at 8:00, at first I was in a quarantine like room, separated, doing my Kumon, and then... all hell broke loose! Introduction here, hello-goodbye there, 'Please take good care of me' over there... my head was spinning out of control. Seriously!

And I wore my school uniform too! It really has a high schoolers feel to it... It was my first time!

I'm in 2-A class (=11A in my homeland... what a coincidence...), which is of course humanitarian as I've said earlier, and including myself, there's 40 students all together. Really huge... I hope I don't hurt anyone's feelings if I can't remember their name...

Anyway, photos will arrive soon. Today I was so excited that I forgot to take any... -_-''

じゃ、お楽しみですね。(Ja, otanoshimi desu ne. - So please look forward to it. (how rough))

Well, what can I say.

I'm in Japan, I have 1 day left until school starts, I met a 3rd year student (read: 12th grader) from my school yesterday, said hello, walked to the baseball pitch and saw that my school also has tennis courts (!!!the hell!?) and a huge bicycle parking lot. The place is really huge, the whole complex.
Also went walking again in the city centre, took a bus to school for practice and overall, adjusting with my new life here.
I think I'll start posting some photos here, but mostly check my FB (link is on the right, under the prayer).

Write to you later! Bai-bai for now!

PS I just realised... this was my first April Fool's (since I started speaking) I didn't make a prank... awkward.

Galloping through

A bit of information on my behalf:

currently I have about 5 days till school (starts on 5th April), I'll get my uniform a day before and at first I'm going to attend all classes, but after a while, I can choose, which ones will stay. So with clubs too - I can try what I wish and then choose one. I think that's really kind of the school staff to let me do so, don't you think?

But one thing is absolutely certain - I'm in the humanitarian team. But they're yet to have picked me a certain class form the bunch. I'll just wait and see.

Anyways, on to me diary!

27.03.

Let's call it the Great Spring Cleaning Day. We spent the whole day cleaning the temporary lodgings of otoosan. Me, Ayumi and okaasan. We cleaned the tatami, the fusuma, the windows, anything you can possibly think of. Yet again, very Japanese.

During a break we ate meron-pan, some snacks and mochi and drank tea. We drink it a lot here. I hope my teeth won't be black in the end...

After the whole ordeal, which actually was really fun, we went to a gyoza place run by a Chinese married couple. They were so kind and lively! Both were really happy looking people and a lot more talkative than Japanese, which is really unbelievable. The wife asked me tons of questions the whole time we ate, and she was actually the first person in Japan this time around who thought I was 「かわいい」(kawaii). I felt really out of place at first, because I had forgot the feeling when someone says that. Shiver me timbers! (Last year, I heard the word about 200+ times a day, 7 days straight.)

29.03.

Went to the Oomoriyama Zoo today and I saw the giraffe (キリン) with my own eyes for the first time in my life! It felt numbingly awesome! I had only eyes for them and one of them had only eyes for me. Just magical. Mogic! Also, I was given a year-long pass for the zoo by okaasan. It has a tiger on it! How cool is that?

Also today, I tried Japanese yoghurt for the very first time. It was delicious! You all should try it when you happen to be in Japan. おススメでしょう 。

*Just an ending note.

When school starts, my posting rate might run a bit low, but anyway, keep on checking back!

Small trinity

23.03.

As it was a quiet and calm day, I won't talk about my sleeping and eating, but shortly about what was interesting today.

There were only news about Johnny Depp the whole day, including his day schedule and style tips and people squealing his name. The news people were overthinking it all! It really seemed like that. Plus, the footage was the same, the whole time.

I mean, Japanese TV is really awesome! It's amusing to the max!

End.

24.03.

Today, was a remarkable day.

Today, calls for a celebration.

Today, I did something great. A great deed during one's home stay.

Today, I dared to open the refrigerator by my own and find myself something to drink.

I... found milk!

Today (25.03.)

School visiting day. I met my school's headmaster along with YFU area reps and Kumon teachers. They are all so kind and nice people! And after the talking, which went unbelievably smoothly for me, I understood almost everything I was asked and all the necessary information, the school secretary/teacher took me, okaasan and the Kumons on a little tour around the school. It seemed like a city! It's so huge and really pretty. The gym is just fantastic! And I heard about the clubs too, that they have there - ikebana, calligraphy, tea, archery, kendo, judo, culture and many more. All the rooms were so tidy. Really Japan-like.

I was also asked what kind of class I wish to attend during my stay - scientific or humanitarian. Can you guess which I chose?

Also I heard that Akita-Kita (my school) was still a all-girl school 3 years ago. Then it changed into mixed school. Yosha!

And final good news for today - I think I'm getting on great with my Japanese currently. Every day feels just brighter and as the time goes by, the more I like Akita and the people here.

I'll leave something for days to come too, so this is it for now.

So everybody, have a nice day/night/morning or whatever you have over there.

st.spl (is) out.

Short story

Hello and welcome back!

I'm finally here! In Akita!

It's quite cold currently, with -4 degrees Celsius and some hail, but all is well. In about a month the cold will go away and sakura will bloom and all will be PINK and in about 2 weeks I'm going to school.

I've already experienced some shock-like emotions, but the full blow is yet to come.

Can't wait! School is going to be awesome! Over a long time...

Also, I've had a little drive-about in the city centre, which by the way is far from countryside, as all the Japanese think Akita is, hell, it's even more of a city than my home country's capital!

Plus I've done some walking, which is a big deal for me right now, because of the constant flying, that has made my legs awfully weak and noodle-like. Can anybody say 'jigglypuff'? That might give you a hint what's going on here (more than my legs, mind you).

Overall, I'm steadily getting used to my new family (really nice people) and my new hometown and waiting anxiously what will happen next. Now I'm just sinking sweetly into the pleasant melodies of Japan.

Before the end of this current report, just one more thing - where I live, all looks like Spirited Away and also this actually is the place where the story came from.

Until next time, this is st.spl wishing you a good evening and good night!

And sweet dreams for the children.

On flight...

...be sure to have everything with you. Everything.

Hello again!

Finally, all schoolwork is over, bags are packed and the time for take-off is just around the corner, almost in my face. Ha!
I'm over-the-top thrilled about the whole situation!
2 years of hard work is now replaced by just 2/3 of a day.
Magnificent.
Can't wait to get going already, but alas, bed is before flight.

I wish you all a very good night.

(At least I have my everything. . .)

1-2-3

Hello everyone!

This will be your local news reporter...
from elsewhere!

Hope you enjoy my up and coming reports.
st.spl