Missing your dosage of my Japanese life?
Okay, I know, I've been lacking in posts. I just wanted to tell you what has been going down.
I've been very, very busy lately. You see I am going on a trip tomorrow to Kyoto and Osaka with Victoria, Wayne, a Hitsuyukon teacher, and a Chiharadai teacher. It will be a three day trip and we will visit many historical sites (including shrines and temples) and also the last day we have a "free day" to pretty much roam either of the cities. I've been preparing for that. But, no, that is not all I have been doing. I've been helping three students prepare for a Japanese competition. I must admit they are a lot of fun and I really enjoy talking to them. I'll get a picture of them up very soon. One of them has a speech on African Children's Day in Kumamoto, another is about how he has travelled to many countries, and the last written speech is on global warming. The last student is doing a recitation piece on Leonardo DaVinci. I thought that is was very interesting because in San Antonio when I was last volunteering at the Witte I helped with the Leonardo DaVinci exhibit.
So pretty much this is what I have been doing including roaming the city, going to festivals with Madomi, and teasing Hina. Trust me, Hina many be short but she is a lot stronger than me.
Sincerely,
Clarissa
ps- I am working on a blog about a "small" festival I went to. Oh, and also the day I get back I am going to the Hinokuni Festival, which is suppose to be huge.
pps- Check out my flickr, those photos have excellent quality and a real look into my Japanese life. If you click on SincerelyClarissa below the photo it will take you to it. All my photos have a somewhat detailed description, including the one posted on this blog.
ppps- Last thing, I promise, if you want to ask me anything specific post a comment, I'll be more than happy to answer.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Drum Roll Kudasai (Please)! : )
My surprise as promised!
A video, finally!
A Day At Chiharadai Highschool
Filmed and Produced by Me, Kurarichan!
Also, if you are interested...
My Arrival in Kumamoto
A video, finally!
A Day At Chiharadai Highschool
Filmed and Produced by Me, Kurarichan!
Also, if you are interested...
My Arrival in Kumamoto
Friday, July 18, 2008
HOW TO 1
For all those people planning to visit Japan, here is a
HOW TO RIDE THE BUS
One of the four reasons you are probably riding the bus is:
1. You fell off your bike so now they are too scared let you ride it to school.
2. You don't have car or bicycle.
3. Your car/bicycle/legs are broken.
4. Your destination is way to far to ride your bicycle/walk.
I had to learn this the hard way so I thought I would share this with you.
1. When you first board the bus you need to do one of the two things:
-If you have a card, insert it into the card reader (it says card in katakana)
-If you don't have a card, take a ticket from the ticket dispenser
2. Find a seat
-If none are available you must stand, either hold onto a ring or a pole. (By the way, the poles are much more stable and
comfortable.
*Remember- Ojiisan and Obaasan (Super Old men and women), pregnant women, women with new born children, and injured
people have priority seating.
3. Keep track of your fare
-If you inserted your bus card, it automatically keeps track of your fare.
-If you took a ticket, it will have a number on it this number will match up with a display in the front of the bus and that is
the fare you owe.
4. Paying your fare
-If you are using a card insert it into the card reader in the front of the bus as you exit. The display will tell you how much
you owe(if you don't have enough on your card) or how much money you have left on it.
-If you are are using a ticket, insert your money in the slot to the front of the bus including your ticket. (There is also a
change maker in the front of the bus if you need it)
5. Exit the bus
I don't know if this will help you in your adventures but I wish someone would have told me this.
GOOD LUCK!
Clarissa
PS- This isn't my surprise.
HOW TO RIDE THE BUS
One of the four reasons you are probably riding the bus is:
1. You fell off your bike so now they are too scared let you ride it to school.
2. You don't have car or bicycle.
3. Your car/bicycle/legs are broken.
4. Your destination is way to far to ride your bicycle/walk.
I had to learn this the hard way so I thought I would share this with you.
1. When you first board the bus you need to do one of the two things:
-If you have a card, insert it into the card reader (it says card in katakana)
-If you don't have a card, take a ticket from the ticket dispenser
2. Find a seat
-If none are available you must stand, either hold onto a ring or a pole. (By the way, the poles are much more stable and
comfortable.
*Remember- Ojiisan and Obaasan (Super Old men and women), pregnant women, women with new born children, and injured
people have priority seating.
3. Keep track of your fare
-If you inserted your bus card, it automatically keeps track of your fare.
-If you took a ticket, it will have a number on it this number will match up with a display in the front of the bus and that is
the fare you owe.
4. Paying your fare
-If you are using a card insert it into the card reader in the front of the bus as you exit. The display will tell you how much
you owe(if you don't have enough on your card) or how much money you have left on it.
-If you are are using a ticket, insert your money in the slot to the front of the bus including your ticket. (There is also a
change maker in the front of the bus if you need it)
5. Exit the bus
I don't know if this will help you in your adventures but I wish someone would have told me this.
GOOD LUCK!
Clarissa
PS- This isn't my surprise.
Happy Birthday クラリッサ
Today was the last day of school before the summer break and my birthday is next Monday. Since we won't have school my homeroom threw me a little party. I almost cry. haha. It was really sweet. They made me a birthday card and Jon Sensei made me two cakes. They even put a sixteen candle on it. They are so nice. My homeroom teachers gave me a gift and so did the head of the ichinensei(first year students) class. One of the homeroom teachers gave me a towel and the other gave me a pair of chopsticks. The head of the ichinensei class gave me a robe, I think it is called a hapi, that has the school's emblem on it. I kind of felt bad though because when we were coming home my host sister told me that today was Eri's birthday. So it makes me wonder, did they only do it for me? I am not sure if I understood her right because we speak a kind of broken English/Japanese. Well, that is all for now.
Sincerely,
Kurarisa
PS- For a post coming soon, I am working on something very special. So keep checking back for updates.
UPDATED: Picture added on July 22, 2008 4:32 AM
Sincerely,
Kurarisa
PS- For a post coming soon, I am working on something very special. So keep checking back for updates.
UPDATED: Picture added on July 22, 2008 4:32 AM
watashi no tanjoube (my birthday)
Today was the last day of school before the summer break and my birthday is next Monday. Since we won't have school my homeroom threw me a little party. I almost cry. haha. It was really sweet. They made me a birthday card and Jon Sensei made me two cakes. They even put a sixteen candle on it. They are so nice. My homeroom teachers gave me a gift and so did the head of the ichinensei(first year students) class. One of the homeroom teachers gave me a towel and the other gave me a pair of chopsticks. The head of the ichinensei class gave me a robe, I think it is called a hapi, that has the school's emblem on it. I kind of felt bad though because when we were coming home my host sister told me that today was Eri's birthday. So it makes me wonder, did they only do it for me? I am not sure if I understood her right because we speak a kind of broken English/Japanese. Well, that is all for now.
Sincerely,
Kurarisa
PS- For a post coming soon, I am working on something very special. So keep checking back for updates.
Sincerely,
Kurarisa
PS- For a post coming soon, I am working on something very special. So keep checking back for updates.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
GOMEN NE! (SORRY!)
Sorry for the lack of updates lately on here. I'm am very busy while in Japan.
I'm in JAPAN! hahah
In San Antonio it is about 4 am, here in Japan it is about 6 pm! BIG TIME CHANGE!
I am trying to upload some videos but it is taking far too long. I promise I will post a video blog with all my "good" videos thus far, which aren't really that great. HA.
Currently, these two things rule my life in Japan:
To the left pikura, probably my favorite thing in Japan right now and to the right my bike's keys. The bike ride home kicks my butt. haha. It is about an hour and fifteen minutes ride for me. It should only be about fifty minutes. PIKURA on the other hand is like a photo booth only a million times cooler than the ones in America. I'll post a video of it later.
As for the food, I like some of it, some of it I can't stand! They think it is weird when I like fresh bananas in my kurisupi (cereal)!
Today's bento (lunch box):
The tv here is very interesting. They have American tv shows in Japanese, like Full House, you know the one with the Olsen twins as babies in it. The children's tv shows are soo cute, they even have some in English. The other day, I went with my host sister and her friend Chisato to the movies. We saw the finale to a Japanese teen drama. I understood most of it but for most of the finer details I was clueless.
I am definitely loving Japan for the most part. Everything is so KAWAII (cute)!
I promise to write more later!
Sincerely,
Clarissa
PS- Leave comments with any questions you might have! I promise to answer!
PPS- Sorry for any bad grammar! : )
PPPS- I know you can't see the full image. SORRY! I'll fix it later!
EDIT: I fixed the photos : )
I'm in JAPAN! hahah
In San Antonio it is about 4 am, here in Japan it is about 6 pm! BIG TIME CHANGE!
I am trying to upload some videos but it is taking far too long. I promise I will post a video blog with all my "good" videos thus far, which aren't really that great. HA.
Currently, these two things rule my life in Japan:
To the left pikura, probably my favorite thing in Japan right now and to the right my bike's keys. The bike ride home kicks my butt. haha. It is about an hour and fifteen minutes ride for me. It should only be about fifty minutes. PIKURA on the other hand is like a photo booth only a million times cooler than the ones in America. I'll post a video of it later.
As for the food, I like some of it, some of it I can't stand! They think it is weird when I like fresh bananas in my kurisupi (cereal)!
Today's bento (lunch box):
The tv here is very interesting. They have American tv shows in Japanese, like Full House, you know the one with the Olsen twins as babies in it. The children's tv shows are soo cute, they even have some in English. The other day, I went with my host sister and her friend Chisato to the movies. We saw the finale to a Japanese teen drama. I understood most of it but for most of the finer details I was clueless.
I am definitely loving Japan for the most part. Everything is so KAWAII (cute)!
I promise to write more later!
Sincerely,
Clarissa
PS- Leave comments with any questions you might have! I promise to answer!
PPS- Sorry for any bad grammar! : )
PPPS- I know you can't see the full image. SORRY! I'll fix it later!
EDIT: I fixed the photos : )
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
See You Soon
Hello!
Wow! I haven't blogged in forever! Sorry!
Okay. So, I have a lot to tell you. I have my final departure date. It is June 30th. 3 days after summer school ends. I have already bought the plane tickets. I have my passport. I also have received my certificate of eligibility from the Japanese Government. The last thing that I absolutely need before going is my visa. It has already been sent off so all I am waiting for is to be approved.
I have started to get my luggage together. I've also started to get my books together that I need to take with me to do Incarnate Word's school work.
I forgot to mention. I know the name of the high school I am attending. It is called Chiharadai. Everything else is TBA. As I find out I'll post information.
Sincerely,
Clarissa
Wow! I haven't blogged in forever! Sorry!
Okay. So, I have a lot to tell you. I have my final departure date. It is June 30th. 3 days after summer school ends. I have already bought the plane tickets. I have my passport. I also have received my certificate of eligibility from the Japanese Government. The last thing that I absolutely need before going is my visa. It has already been sent off so all I am waiting for is to be approved.
I have started to get my luggage together. I've also started to get my books together that I need to take with me to do Incarnate Word's school work.
I forgot to mention. I know the name of the high school I am attending. It is called Chiharadai. Everything else is TBA. As I find out I'll post information.
Sincerely,
Clarissa
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