Goodbyes... or not ;)

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I have been pretty busy with club... and nothing amazingly exciting has happened lately that has given me the need to post. Maybe I'm starting to fall into a routine... nothing is as interesting as it used to be? And I'm just a procrastinator... >.<

2 of the Rotary students (Michael and Sandy from the USA) have left, and I was very sad to see them leave. We had goodbye parties with them, which of course, involved karaoke! For one of them, there were like 15 of us, so we got a big room, with tatami floors. It was great hanging out all together, and I miss them. I seem to say this alot, but it's amazing the opportunity exchange gives you to meet people from all over the world (although the US isn't very far from Canada).

srry, kinda bad quality... but it was dark

Also, I found this out about a week ago... one of my bestest friends in Canada was supposed to move this summer, which I was really upset about. She wouldn't be there when I get back. Anyway, I guess now, because of the crappy real estate market and they couldn't sell their house... she's not moving! So yay for the bad economy! (not really, but you get what I mean;)) This made a rather difficult month a whole lot better! :D So see you in 7 months Sterling!! Yikes, exchange is so short... :(

Rest of Golden Week

Monday, I wasn’t planning on doing much, but my host mom decided to take me out for lunch. We were walking to this one restaurant, but it was supper full. So we ended up going to a Italian-ish restaurant. I had cheese pizza. Yes, I know… not very Japanese or adventurous… but it was nice to have pizza again. I was tempted to have the mayonnaise and corn one, but it had no cheese… and I was craving it XD.

Afterwards we walked to Oyama jinja (shrine). It is the biggest one in Kanazawa. There were so many different statues on the grounds as well.

Koi (fish banners) hanging from a bridge. The japanese put them up for Children's Day on  May 5.

Tuesday, my host parents took me to Noto, which is the northern part of Ishikawa. There was beach and ocean for miles! It was really pretty. 

We stopped for lunch, I had Ebi (shrimp) Tempura. Tempura is like battered veggies and seafood/meat that are fried, but it’s healthier than the kind of batter in north America (I think…). It was really good :D 

Afterwards, we went on a boat ride along these cliffs, that were I think the highest in Hokuriku (Ishikawa and area)… I didn’t really understand the tour, so I’m not sure XD. 

We came really close the rocks.

We also passed 2 whirlpools. 

Wednesday, my host parents friend had a painting being exhibited in the 21st Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, so all three of us went to see it. I must say that though some of the artwork was good, alot of it scared the crap out of me XD. They were just really weird o.O... some to the point of disturbing :S... lol. 

What was cool was they have a pool that you can walk under, and people can see you from above... it's kinda hard to explain...

After, I hung out with Gus, Irisz, Jared and 2 other rotary students Michael and Ashleigh. We went to Uchinada Beach (about 20 min train ride from Kanazawa) and hung out for the day. Hanging out with other exchange students is always a lot of fun. Unfortunately everyone from school was busy with club/studying.

PS: Kit Kats page has been updated, and I added the page Purikura XD

Golden Week Randomness

So it’s Golden Week (a whole bunch of holidays, one day after the next) until Wednesday. \(^o^)/

One of the AFSers, Irisz from Komatsu (city nearby) came to Kanazawa today, so I met up with her, the other 2 AFSers (Helle and Gus) here and one of the rotary students (Jared). We went and did purikura, and karaoke. Since some of them hadn’t had lunch, we went to McDonalds. I got a oreo McFlurry XD. We got quite a few stares from everyone. We spent at least an hour there talking. After we met up with some of the other rotary students, but they had to leave soon after. We passed a group of other gajin (foreigners). It’s funny how we get stared at by both gaijin and nihonjin (Japanese ppl). We ended up going to the top of one of the major department stores. There was an awesome view of the city! You could also see the mountains and the ocean in the distance!

 You can see the ocean here^ (the shiny part XD)

We then went to this really random store, in the basement. Well half was really random, the other half was a candy store. We were in the candy store, when we ran into one of the Gus's classmates. They were both guys. They were really surprised to see him with 3 girls. In Japan, guys and girls do not hang out. They were asking if one of us were his girlfriend, and he was like no, just friends. Their expressions were amusing (surprised/somewhat jealous XD). They were even more surprised when they found out we could all speak some Japanese.

We then went to the random part of the store. They had pretty much everything there. I was some awesome headphones and a really colourful wallet… but I didn’t have enough money >.<. Next time :).

Helle went home, and the other 2 and me went to Mister Donut for supper XD. We then ran into more of the Gus’s classmates and it was the same situation, They asked if we were his girlfriend – “no, just friends” – surprised expression, asked our age, etc… XD.

After we went back to the station, and walked around the mall for a bit. Gus, and Irisz and I talked a bit, before she took the train home. I then took the last bus back to my house. I felt so independent and proud being able to figure out which bus to take home by myself :D.

AFS BBQ and Hanging out in Kanazawa

I have been in Japan a little more than a month now! Time has gone by so fast, but it also feels like I have been here forever.

Today was a holiday, so we had a kind of welcome BBQ with everyone from AFS. It was in a park outside of the main city. It was soo beautiful! All the green, and being able to see the mountains!

Unfortunately, my camera died, so I didn’t get very many pictures. My cell phone (pics of phone here) camera is only 1.3 megapixels so the pics would suck... plus I'm not sure if there is a way to get them on to my computer. Also, it was pretty cold and windy, but it was still a lot of fun hanging out with everyone. We had yakisoba for lunch. Yakisoba seems like what you have at every BBQ. You have a big pan thing over the fire, and then grill the vegetables and meat and soba (noodles) and mix it all up. So tasty!

I met one of the Rotary exchange students from Canada at my Japanese Lessons, and so after the BBQ, us 3 AFSers met up with him and two other ppl from rotary (a girl from Canada, and a guy from the US). Since they have been here since last August, they showed us around Kanazawa. We went and did purikura! I finally got to go! Purikura is like a photo booth, except so much better. You take pictures, and can have the backgrounds and then afterwards, you write/decorate the pictures.

Afterwards, the Rotary girl left and the rest of us went and did karaoke for about 3 hours. It was a lot of fun. We sang everything from Jpop to hardcore rap to Circle of Life and Barbie Girl XD.

We had okonomiyaki for supper. Sooo delicious! I think it is my favourite food in Japan, tied with Curry Rice XD. It is kinda like a pancake pizza thing. You get all the ingredients in a bowl which are the batter, shredded cabbage, egg and some other vegetables. You also get some kind of meat you grill first, and then stick in to the batter. I had shrimp. You mix everything yourself, and then stick on the grill to cook, and flip it once. After there are different sauces and spices you can put on top. It tastes really good with mayonnaise :D. I love Japanese mayonnaise! It tastes so much better than the stuff in N. America.

The AFS girl left right after, and the rest of us walked around a bit before we went our separate ways. Kanazawa is quite a lively city. I unfortunately missed the last bus home, and was going to walk (only about 15 mins) but my host mom came and picked me up instead. I felt bad that she had to come and get me… but everything turned out all right.

Everyone at school is busy with clubs, so they can't really hang out. It was great to finally be able to go out and hang out with friends.

Hopefully I can hang out with everyone again soon, it was a lot of fun!