hey everyone, I know its been a bit. But nothing too overwhelming exciting has happened I promise. Its been busy but also rather relaxed, I feel like my classes are satisfying but not too taxing which leaves me time for other things (which is amazing because I still kind of feel like I'm on a giant vacation). This week I went to the Osaka Aquarium, which has not one but TWO whale sharks. It was really really cool. We also rode the ENORMOUS ferris wheel that is right next door. This was all on our bizzarre Tuesday holiday. Whatever that was about, it was fun, but I also felt strangely cheated of a sunday equivalent after that saturday-esque day off.

For the first time this week, I got really excited about doing my thesis one day. I had enjoyed my idea before, but now I feel like things are finally coming together and my thesis is in fact viable. Which is wonderful. As a result I am going to see a Takurazuka play next month. Which could simply be described as a Japanese drag show, but is really so much more than that. It is the answer to Kabuki with its all male cast, and instead has a all female cast. It should be really interesting. At some point we're getting around to seeing Kabuki too.

Its kind of interesting, but practically all I ever think about in Japan is food, but I don't snack as much and I'm still loosing weight think. Which is amazing because I really haven't been trying hard at all. And its all so amazingly good. I'm really becoming a glutton for delicious japanese things. Even the Western food is delicious and amazing. But I'm going to stop that rant right there before I extole the virtues of japanese cuisine anymore.

Not really a post so much as an excuse to post an awesome picture and a....semi-awesome video. So I'm learning to play Shamisen everyone. And its been really fun so far, and we have an extremely amateur video of me playing it for you all to enjoy. This is only my second lesson so go easy on me. But things are going well with that, and apparently my teacher intends for us (myself and my friends who are also learning traditional instruments) to play on stage in december. So maybe there will be a video of that.

Pictures...finally

So heres my attempt with pictures, I'm trying present them as photobucket slideshows. Here goes. I believe you can click on images as they pop up to view them larger.

Above is a slideshow of my arrival in Japan and some pictures to give you an idea of where I live. Theres pictures of my dorm, my walk to school, and the school itself. I also have a couple pictures from my first couple of nights, in the nearby town.

These are pictures of our day trip to Nara and our visit to Kiyomize temple, which was absolutely stunning. Also it was a very fun trip with Asa and Taki, our guides, who have a very funny Kansai-style sense of humor. The joke has something to do with the shirt Asa was wearing and babies. Don't ask

Those are seriously not even all my pictures from Nara, Todaiji temple is AMAZING. And the dear are just so damn cute.

And another slideshow for my other stuff that doesn't fit elsewhere. My keitai is green, my bike is pink and I have seen some WILD desserts here.

I think thats all I've got for now, I'll post some more as a go more places and find more to take pictures of!

Okay, so still no pictures. I'm lazy and keep leaving my camera in my bag and so not remembering. Also, this week promises to continue to be extremely extremely busy. Because I did get into the class I wanted, and thus am probably going to drop the psych that isn't what I thought it would be. I also got my money situation straightened out and now have my keitai. But I'm still trying to bump up my Japanese placement, which means attending both levels plus my written class, and some careful studying and taking my damn sweet time on the re-placement test. I cannot stay in level 2 its like banging my head against a brick wall. 3 is a much better fit. I'm getting a bike today, maybe. I'm also possibly having to re-think my new years plans, since there continues to be silence from Tokyo. But Choushi and Ibaraki are very talkative, so thats good. But I'll figure something out. I've been to Osaka now and this week promises a couple more trips. I really wanna explore some more. We wont have class on monday because we'll be busy respecting the aged. But then I have the re-placement test on Tuesday. Right now I'm waiting for my keitai to ring/buzz. I want to make some more Japanese friends to hang out with, because I love my fellow foreigners but I deffinitely want to hang out with more Japanese people and try to speak Japanese. But I'm a bit hesitent for some reason. But its still early I suppose. Anyway, I'll end my bored rambling. Have a good day everyone!

An excellent and very bad week

So this week has had too tones to it. On the one hand I'm in an amazing place I'm really enjoying and am making some great new friends. On the other hand, several important things are having major roadblocks. The class I really wanted most, which was OPEN when I registered and I registered for, somehow did not get entered into the computer. So now not only am I not in the class, the best they could do to fix their mistake is to put me at the bottom of the waiting list. But I will talk to the professor and see what can be done. Next, when I got my placement for spoken Japanese not only was I disappointed, I was insulted. They placed me in level 2. I feel like I should at least be in 3 if not 4. There is another test in two weeks, and I will try again and hope to be moved up. Surely it will become quickly apparent that I do not belong in that level, having finished Genki II and that class starting with lesson 10 (which is in Genki I). And now NONE of my sources of money work in Hirakata city. I am trapped with no way to get money, except perhaps to take the train to Kyoto or Osaka whenever I need more. This was highly embarrassing when I couldn't pay for my keitai today, not even with my Visa card. There was also some acute homesickness the second day I was here, but as soon as I made some friends I could hang out with day to day that abated. Still miss home and America a bit, but I am now able to fully enjoy where I am.

But I really am having a good time. I have had two wonderful tours so far. The first was to Makino station, which is the train station nearest to our dorms. We had some really fun and cute girls come with us. It was pretty informative and really fun. I had delicious katsu for dinner. The second tour was too Kyoto with my new friends Jessica and two Japanese students. We went to Kiyomizu temple and generally had a really great time. They were so funny, and a little bit perverted. After that we had some kagikouri (shaved iced) and in this heat it was SOOO good. For the evening we all went to another part of Kyoto to meet Jessica's friend the koto master. She got us Takoyaki for dinner which was so wonderful. Also after giving Jessica a nice long koto lesson she sat me down with a shamisen and proceeded to start to teach me to play it. We're going to be going back periodically for more lessons. So I'm going to learn to really play the shamisen. We've also been back to Kiyomizu and to a Kimono shop, and looked at some, one of which, miraculously fits me. Its beautiful and about $150 for the robe itself, which isn't so bad for a real kimono. I want to go back and buy it when I get money again, but I'll have to think about it. I really want to though. But with the undergarments and the obi it could be a bit pricey. But its a blue gray and sooooo pretty. The others think it suits me well. The shop owner was really kind too. Overall Japan is fun, I've been to city hall twice now to do alien registration and boy was that a chore. I've also opened a bank account, learned to use the L.L. and paid all my fees. I've gotten lost and walked more than I can ever possibly explain, in horrible damp heat. But I'm also finally learning my way around. And my suitemates in Seminar House 3 are all nice, we like to sit in the living room around our tv all on our computers. I've watched a couple of shows I know and seen plenty of celebrities I also know. Its been a busy week, but I feel like I'm finally getting started, and that this really was a good idea (thats the question you ask yourself when you are homesick).

Well that wraps up this post, I hope to get back soon with a couple pictures, as I'm uploading those from my camera right now.

I made it!

Hello from the future everyone! Its Monday and I'm feeling more perky now that I've had a good nights sleep. I've met my temporary roommate for orientation, she is from Hong Kong, and she and I got lost looking for campus this morning. Luckily her friend came and brought us here. The campus seems like it wont be too hard to navigate with a little time. But getting around the neighborhood around it will be a challenge. I'm taking a couple of pictures and will add them to this post soon, but first I have to rectify my power cord situation. Silly me forgot to bring a an adaptor for my three-pronged computer cords. So until I can get one I have to limit my use of them. Hopefully that will be fixed soon. When it does I'll have loads of pictures to share. But everything is good and all my luggage arrived safely. I'm still feeling a little overwhelmed by the whole thing. I keep forgetting that I'm not just on vacation and will have classes and work to do within a week. I hope by then I can at least get to the supermarket and school and back without getting lost. I will skype everyone soon, and for my friends in Japan I will get my cell phone soon hopefully so I can send you messages and such. I've already been trying to speak the language but I'm stumbling all over it, although I'm following speech okay. I spoke my first two sentences completely easily but after that it got harder. But with udon for lunch and some soft serve ice cream which was serve yourself, but not in the way we're used to in america, I'm feeling like I'll adapt alright.