Wednesday, July 25, 2007
too cute!
okay,,,, I'm still a kid at heart,,,,, no surprise there,,, so when I saw this pillow/stuffed animal I had to buy it. It's just too cute.
Guess what?
hello all!!
okay,,, because i was looking for the cheapest flight possible from Japan to Boston, i was stuck with a FIVE AND A HALF HOUR layover at an airport,,,,,,, what airport? you ask,,,,,, in Hawaii!!!
The first time i'm in Hawaii,,, and the only time for a while (its tooooooo expensive) and i get to spend the time sitting in an airport!!!!!!
But get this,,, they have this great garden in the middle of the airport,,,,
so thats where i am now,,,,,, typing away on my laptop to you (gotta love wireless), sitting in the middle of a beautiful garden in the middle of an airport, in Hawaii,,,,,,,,,,
okay,,, so i'm bored,,,, and i still have 3 1/2 hours to go,,,,
okay,,, because i was looking for the cheapest flight possible from Japan to Boston, i was stuck with a FIVE AND A HALF HOUR layover at an airport,,,,,,, what airport? you ask,,,,,, in Hawaii!!!
The first time i'm in Hawaii,,, and the only time for a while (its tooooooo expensive) and i get to spend the time sitting in an airport!!!!!!
But get this,,, they have this great garden in the middle of the airport,,,,
so thats where i am now,,,,,, typing away on my laptop to you (gotta love wireless), sitting in the middle of a beautiful garden in the middle of an airport, in Hawaii,,,,,,,,,,
okay,,, so i'm bored,,,, and i still have 3 1/2 hours to go,,,,
Saturday, July 7, 2007
food court
So, to continue this "the same yet different" thing I seem to have here, , ,
I went to the food court at the mall down the street from the school. From the looks of it, it looks like a normal food court, but it's not!!!! (you were expecting that right ;}). First, after you pay for your food, instead of getting a number or just waiting for your food, you're given a little beeper thing that will go off when you're food is ready. Then, most of the food is served VERY hot. So hot and right off the 'grill' that it's served on cast-iron skillets surrounded by a wooden 'surround' (i can't think of the right word) to protect your skin, like you would find at a restaurant. So walking around the food court you hear beebers buzzing/beeping, food sizzling, and people talking very loudly,,,, okay so its more like American food courts than I realized,,,
I went to the food court at the mall down the street from the school. From the looks of it, it looks like a normal food court, but it's not!!!! (you were expecting that right ;}). First, after you pay for your food, instead of getting a number or just waiting for your food, you're given a little beeper thing that will go off when you're food is ready. Then, most of the food is served VERY hot. So hot and right off the 'grill' that it's served on cast-iron skillets surrounded by a wooden 'surround' (i can't think of the right word) to protect your skin, like you would find at a restaurant. So walking around the food court you hear beebers buzzing/beeping, food sizzling, and people talking very loudly,,,, okay so its more like American food courts than I realized,,,
Friday, July 6, 2007
I just realized this
I'm sitting at my laptop, typing away, when a thought came to mind. I'm sitting in front of the large front window at the school (see the school's website for a picture http://williams-school.jellybean.jp/) and some kids walk by. Thats okay, but then they start to stare into the windows. I think they were just looking at the pictures in the window and give a small wave. Well these two kids (boys) look at each other and start laughing and pointing at me. After a second or two they wave back, talking to each other and then walk off.
After all that I had a thought,,,,,,
So that's how the monkeys at the zoo feel.........
I guess I've grown use to the strange looks. Even in a part of the county were foreigners are seen alot (there's a college known for exchange programs in the area) I'm still a bit of a novelty I guess; my hair is light, (people here say it's blond, but its more like light brown) and I have light blue eyes, not strange by US standards, but here is a different story. I think I like the kids' reactions the best. Most adults are polite enough not to stare, but kids just look and look and stare. When they do that I, being my normal crazy self, either wave or make a funny face, which makes them laugh and draws attention from their parents, who smile and walk away.
I've heard stories about people not sitting next to foreigners on the trains or being discriminated against, but that hasn't happened to me yet.
Well, twice on the train, but I think it was because I was listening to certain podcasts at the time (http://www.sliceofscifi.com/ and http://www.winginit3d.com/) and laughing like an idiot, so I think I might of scared some people,,,,,, and that strangely makes me kinda happy!
After all that I had a thought,,,,,,
So that's how the monkeys at the zoo feel.........
I guess I've grown use to the strange looks. Even in a part of the county were foreigners are seen alot (there's a college known for exchange programs in the area) I'm still a bit of a novelty I guess; my hair is light, (people here say it's blond, but its more like light brown) and I have light blue eyes, not strange by US standards, but here is a different story. I think I like the kids' reactions the best. Most adults are polite enough not to stare, but kids just look and look and stare. When they do that I, being my normal crazy self, either wave or make a funny face, which makes them laugh and draws attention from their parents, who smile and walk away.
I've heard stories about people not sitting next to foreigners on the trains or being discriminated against, but that hasn't happened to me yet.
Well, twice on the train, but I think it was because I was listening to certain podcasts at the time (http://www.sliceofscifi.com/ and http://www.winginit3d.com/) and laughing like an idiot, so I think I might of scared some people,,,,,, and that strangely makes me kinda happy!
Movies in Japan
wow two posts in one day,,,,, what can i say, i'm on a roll
I've seen a few movies here and how can something be the same yet sooooo different.
Well first of all the price of going to the movies here is CRAZY!!!! A normal ticket costs 1800yen(about $18), a student (any student ID will do, even an expired SSC on,,,, hey, it doesn't have a date on it!) is 1500yen, and children and seniors are 1000yen. AFTER 7pm most movie theaters cost only 1500yen,,, yeah strange. Oh and on the first day of every month all movie tickets are 1000yen and some have lady's day on Wednesday, when women can get a ticket for 1000yen. okay do you get that.....
Then when you buy a ticket you choose your seat! thats right, they'll show you a layout of the seats in the theater and you can choose where you want to sit.
During the movie everyone is very quiet and respectful, ie typical Japanese. then EVERYONE stays for the credits, they don't even put the lights on until the credits are done.
I think the only time i stay for the credits in the states is when there's something at the end.
I've seen a few movies here and how can something be the same yet sooooo different.
Well first of all the price of going to the movies here is CRAZY!!!! A normal ticket costs 1800yen(about $18), a student (any student ID will do, even an expired SSC on,,,, hey, it doesn't have a date on it!) is 1500yen, and children and seniors are 1000yen. AFTER 7pm most movie theaters cost only 1500yen,,, yeah strange. Oh and on the first day of every month all movie tickets are 1000yen and some have lady's day on Wednesday, when women can get a ticket for 1000yen. okay do you get that.....
Then when you buy a ticket you choose your seat! thats right, they'll show you a layout of the seats in the theater and you can choose where you want to sit.
During the movie everyone is very quiet and respectful, ie typical Japanese. then EVERYONE stays for the credits, they don't even put the lights on until the credits are done.
I think the only time i stay for the credits in the states is when there's something at the end.
okay, sorry (again)
okay, life's been,,,, well life, i hope (no promises) to update more offten (is that okay Shelly?). with that out of the way, , , ,
I've been helping my Aunt Miki teach a few English classes at my cousins' elementary school, let me tell you about that!
First,,, we teach the 1st and 2nd graders once a month (on a thrusday). There are 3 classrooms for each grade,,,, thats okay,, thats normal (by US standards),,,, but what's crazy is that each class has OVER 32 STUDENTS!!!!!!! yeah,,,,
I don't know how the teachers do it,,,, i guess thats why all the test are from the books so all the students have to do is study the book and they'll be okay,,, i guess,,,,, everytime i go there, i'm overwhelmed by it all.... that and in the elementary school they have class periods, like i did in middle and high school. and in between classes the students are allowed to basically go crazy in the halls,,,,
i never thought i'll say it, but the schools in Mass weren't that bad.
I've been helping my Aunt Miki teach a few English classes at my cousins' elementary school, let me tell you about that!
First,,, we teach the 1st and 2nd graders once a month (on a thrusday). There are 3 classrooms for each grade,,,, thats okay,, thats normal (by US standards),,,, but what's crazy is that each class has OVER 32 STUDENTS!!!!!!! yeah,,,,
I don't know how the teachers do it,,,, i guess thats why all the test are from the books so all the students have to do is study the book and they'll be okay,,, i guess,,,,, everytime i go there, i'm overwhelmed by it all.... that and in the elementary school they have class periods, like i did in middle and high school. and in between classes the students are allowed to basically go crazy in the halls,,,,
i never thought i'll say it, but the schools in Mass weren't that bad.
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