...
Robin with a normal pose, haha ;)
My one and only picture of Fuji-san =/ Can you see it? =P
One of out stops on the school trip =)
Busy weekend
I thought I would describe each day at a time, so I will start by describing my Friday! =)
Friday:
We had a school trip today! I still don't know the name of the place we went to, but that is probably because we went to so many different places with the bus. Or should I say, we had many toiletbreaks =P
Honestly, we were on the bus most of the time, but we did see Fuji-san from the bus! They said we would stop somewhere where we would be able to see the mountain more clearly, but when we got to the stop, it was so cloudy that we couldn't see anything =/ Bad luck I guess, but that didn't stop me from goofing off on the bus!
I have to admit that I actually liked the busride itself more than the trip, hehe. But it was fun when we had our dinner! We went to a place where we made our own udon-noodles, yum! You just had to add water to some kind of flour, and then you had to take the dough and flatten it before cutting it into small shreds. They were really delicious! Too bad some of them clumped together in the nabe-pot XD
Saturday:
I went to Nippori with Rebecca! I am so happy the weather was as nice as it was, because we were outside most of the time. In Nippori we looked at many temples and we went to a big, beautiful, I kid you not, graveyard! This might sound like quite a strange way to enjoy yourself, but it was fun! After all, it was really calm and beautiful. Not creepy at all ^^ However, I have to admit that after today I am starting to get tired of temples and shrines and graveyards. I wonder if I will be avle to survive Kyoto! Haha ;) Maybe we can find a nice unique temple up there ;D I don't know why, but today felt so nostalgic and calm. I was really happy =) I was also happy when we went into the center of Nippori and looked at the stores. We didn't buy anything, but it was nice to wander around to end up at an Indian restaurant. The food was delicious! And in the background they had a little projector-screen where they showed Indian music videos, haha. It was really fun watching how an Indian man tried to win the heart of a younger beautiful Indian woman ;)
After the resaturant, we didn't feel like going back home, so we took the subway/train into Shibuya, where we wanted to watch a movie. It is quite fun, because we found a store that sold foreign food at the subway station, so we bought Hershey's kisses, Tofiffee, Haribo-candy and, well, I don't remember =P Anyway, we wanted to watch 2012, but when we arrived to the right cinema, we found out that we were late, and that that cinema was the only cinema in Shibuya that showed the movie in English. So we went to antoher cinema instead. We were late again, but as it was only ten minutes, we could still buy tickets, and the ISI Tokyo student card gave us a 300 yen discount! Finally the card proved useful! So what movie did we see? Well, it was a certain "Bongiorno"-speaking Brad Pitt movie called "Inglorious Basterds" ;D It was really good! I liked it a lot, Tarantino is a great director =)
So, after the movie we felt like burning the tremendous amount of calories we had obtained while watching the it, so we decided to walk to Harajuku. We passed by Omote Sando-hills on our way, and we found a lot of nice-looking stores and cafées, and A LOT of hair dressers! Absolutely incredible! But I'm not so surprised as they really love hair here =P After walking around and realizing that everything was closed and that it was getting too cold to walk around in our gaijin-outfits, we decided to call it a day and go home. And we didn't meet until the day after...
Sunday:
We wanted to go back to the area between Harajuku and Shibuya so that we could visit the stores when they were actually open! I remember seeing a lot of people inside the stores the day before, but the stores were all closed. I wonder why they stay so late, it was already around 11 pm and they still hadn't left work. No wonder they are so tired over here! Not good, they shouldn't exhaust themselves so much =/
Anyway, we wanted to go back there, but we never ended up there =O Maybe it was because we went to Harajuku first this time, and from there we didn't end up in the same area, but it was nice anyway =) We walked around, and I ended up in a hair salon where I got a hair cut and, for the first time in my life, highlights! The hair dressers were really nice, and they gave me magazines to read, tea to drink, and they even massaged my head and shoulders =O And they were really good. And really QUICK! It only took about 10 minutes to cut my hair, and another 20 minutes to make the highlights, so in one hour I was all done ^^ And they were so good! I really like my hairdo =) I'll have to post a picture and show you ;) So we thought we would have the time to see 2012 today, but alas, we were late =P So we went to eat some dinner, and we found a nice Italian restaurant this time. I had a pizza, and Rebecca had pasta, and it was delicious! CHEESE!!! Hahah ;D It might have been a bit more expensive than other restaurants, actually it wasn't that bad, but the food was good, the atmosphere nice, and the waiters knew English ^^.
After the food we walked around in Shibuya, and we found another cinema that still played movies, so we saw Drag me to hell instead. So bad! Hahahaha, it wasn't scary at all, and ut was filled with slime, yuck, brr... Haha, I won't see this movie again! But it was still a nice experience to visit cinemas here in Japan. The cinemas are big, and the one we used today was quite old and the seats were really worn out, but the cinema we went to yesterday was new and nice. Well, this cinema had its own charm ;)
After the cinema we went to the station, and we when we arrived to Ikebukuro we saw that my last train from there had alreday left. So, what to do? Well, I just had to go back with Rebecca to her guest house, and there I borrowed a shirt (which was a bit tight as I am a bit bigger than her =P), and her excercise pants. And then I had to share her bed =O A bit crowded, but not too bad =) It was more tiring to wear the contacts the entire night =P I only had the contacts in my eyes, and no glasses or anything else, so I couldn't throw them away =P But my eyes were quite okay the day after anyway, but it felt nice when I took them off. Ahhh, air ^^
Monday:
Once again, national holiday! And of course we took this opportunity to go to Akihabara and Ginza! We went to Akihabara first, and they really do have an excess of electronics here =P Really, you can find anything here, and they have really nice laptops here! *Drool* Well, I promised myself to buy a MacBook next time ;) Interior over design! I know, I'm really practical =P
Anyway, moving on... I saw many nice manga-figurines and goods ^^ And when I move to my own apartment, I will live close to Akihabara! Guahahahahha! XD But no maid café today! Didn't actually look so interesting when we were actually in Akihabara, it's probably only middle-aged businessmen who go there =P Noooo!!!!! I'm scared.... ;D Haha, well, when I was in Akihabara, and Ginza too, I just had this suddden urge to buy everything! Even though I don't need it, I wanted a computer, an electronic dictionary, a video camera, a digital camera... Abunai! This is a dangeroud place! Thank god I have at least SOME self restrain, so I didn't buy anything unnecessary. After all, who needs these things when you can get an iPhone? ;)
And speaking of iPhone, we went to the big Apple-store in Ginza! It was really nice! It was big, spacious, modern, and the staff all knew English, and they also had a lot of headphones you could try, and the iPods and iPhones all had internet connection ^^ Oh yeah, I feel like going back there and buying a pair of headphones! And maybe a MacBook! And a... Oh crap, there goes my self-restrain =P Anyway, haha, I think Basma and David will like it ^^ Be careful~ <3
And just a quick description of Ginza: Many brands, expensive, filled with tourists, nice restaurants, many cafés (and I might mention that Akihabara had very few cafés, or at least it seemed like it =S), and... I guess that's it.
Well, I guess I'm finished then!
Until next busy weekend!
Sayonalalalalaaaaa ~
Differences
There are many things that are different here if you compare it to Sweden, some in a good way, some in a bad way. I am now going to list differences I have noticed, and if they are good or bad is up to you to decide.
So let's start with the apartments! First of all, the apartments are usually small and PACKED with things. I don't know if this is supposed to be "the Japanese way", or if Seiko-san just likes to collect things. Either way, I don't think it is good to collect too many things, because they will just end up gathering dust and wasting space. So no. Oh wait, you were supposed to decide if it was good or bad, not me! I apologize, I take back my previous statement! Which actually reminds me of how the Japanese people like to apologize for everything. If they want to talk to you, "Sorry!", if they enter the same room as you, "Sorry!", if they, well, anything basically, "Sorry!" Stop being so sorry all the time! It's like you have to apologize for your existence. So I will take back my apology. I will write down all the differences I can think of, and I will comment on them. Period. Hehe...
Anyway, moving on... Something that I find annoying is that the apartments here (I don't know about the houses actually) don't have ovens!!! What's up with that!? I guess this shows that they don't need it, but they like pastries so much here! For example, at Ikebukuro station you can find one pastry shop after another. (Oh, and did I mention that I like Ikebukuro station? ;D Haha) Do you want a donut? Right here! A cookie? Look no further! Let the seducing smell guide you! How about a danish bread? Or a cinnamon roll? Or a melon pan? Or... My point is, they like all of these pastries, and more, but there is no way they will be able to do them themselves. Why? Well, they don't have a certain important item that starts with an o and ends with a ven! Well, they do have microwaves with ovenfunction, but I highly doubt that they produce the same result as a real, ordinary oven.
Well, the oven is not the only lack of heat in this place! I have noticed that the temperature inside the apartment is almost the same temperature as the outside, so, naturally, the pyjamas I have brought with me that are designed for Swedish-inside the house-temperature are too light. It can be really cold inside at times, and my pyjamas are not good enough! Maybe they don't have any radiators because all the pipes will be destroyed in the case of earth-quake, so there's probably no helping it. And this is why they have kotatsus instead! It's like a small, portable heater you can have under the table, and then you can sit there and warm your feet. Mmm, sounds so cozy! I have yet to try it... I think it can be almost as cozy as an open fire ^^
Oh yeah, today I bought some socks to wear at home. At least they will make me feel a bit warmer! And let me tell you that they have a LOT of different socks here! Or should I say underwear in general? I have passed by a couple of underwear shops, and I did look at their bras, but they all have weird paddings, so I never tried them on. Maybe it is to support what you have. Or make it look bigger. I don't know, what do you think sounds the most logical? Haha, and also, hahahhaha, their bras are filled with so many accessories that it's like wearing a Cristmas sock! Haha, how are you supposed to wear normal clothes over their bras?! Guess they've never heard of T-shirt bras, hahahaha. So funny XD But when it comes to their clothes... It's like, if I am to use a metaphor, Japan just figured out how to successfully clone a human being! Sweden just discovered the amoeba... Haha, well, you get my point, the clothes here are SO much nicer, you have more to choose from, no, scratch that, you have more clothes THAT YOU WOULD ACTUALLY CONSIDER WEARING to choose from. Ah, I love their goods here ^^
When it comes to the service here. Sweden IS the amoeba. Hahahhaa, no but seriously, the service here is amazing! The customer is the king! If you need help with anything, they will do their best to help you. For example, when Robin got a haircut, he asked the hairdresser where he could find any good clubs. One person from the staff immediately went to the backroom, searched for it on the internet, printed the page and a map, and gave it to Robin. And he didn't even ask for it! And in a magazine, he found some pants he thought were cool. They looked it up as well, found the name of the brand, printed out a page for him, and we were just sitting there feeling utterly spoiled. And me, Marion and Rebecca who were only there to watch the transformation occur before our eyes got a little menu from wich we could choose a drink. For free. And they let us use some lockers where we could put away our bags. Ahh! I will definitely go back there and get a haircut! After all, the prices are basically the same as in Sweden (I stand corrected, I meant Eksjö), but the service is amazing, so it is absolutely worth it!
Moving on to the next point, the people here (both boys and girls) are very fashionable, but they don't look down on people with different styles. Instead, it is like they accept any style you have. So you never have to feel bad in anything! Nobody will look at you in a weird way! (Well, they might, but that is because you are a foreigner, it has got nothing to do with what you wear! ;)) You can actually go to a club wearing the same clothes you just had in school, and nobody woll think it is weird. This is what I have done the two times we went to a club, because I've never had the time to go home before and prepare, but I have never felt uncomfortable or weird. It's like a big Peset! ^^
And how are you supposed to be fashionable with bad nails? Well, you're not, so that's why you can find a nail salon almost anywhere you turn. It is not that cheap, about the same price as for a manicure back in Sweden, but I can BET the result here is much better! This is because the people working with nails here must have a lot of experience as I have seen a lot of girls walk around with flashy nails. And it wouldn't surprise me if the nails actually had a small flashlight glued on to them. Seriously, here, nails are meant to be pretty and nice. Who cares if you can't use your hands anymore due to all of the nice, glittery, cute accessories? As long as it looks good, you have nothing to worry about! Honestly, I don't understand how these girls can type messages on their phones, or look for something in their bags, or open a door using a key, or walk without a hunchback ;) Haha, guess I'll just have to take a picture and show you what I mean! ^^
Speaking of service, their toilets here are really different! And now I'm talking about the more exclusive kind ;) At restaurants and warehouses, the toilets actually have heated seats. At one place, the toilet actually flushed itself automatically 10 seconds after you stood up! What's more is that you can push different buttons that will then make the toilet squirt some water, you know where, in order to clean thouroughly. No David, with this device, I don't need the flower jug anymore! Hahaha ;D I remember one time when Robin returned after using the toilet. He had just tried one of these buttons, because how could you resist? And he looked so disgusted! It was hilarious! Haha, he said that he only felt wet. Too much water too little paper I guess, hahaha =P
They use children here in Japan! In their commercials that is ;) I never thought about it until Melissa told me. And now I see them in every commercial. Seriously! They really do use them everywhere! I saw this one commercial on Viagra... hahaha, naw just kidding, they would, I hope, never go that far! ;D Or maybe they would? I don't know. Another difference here in Japan is that nothing surprises me anymore. Except for a sober Japanese person trying to initiate a conversation with you...
Their nails is not the only thing that the Japanese like to decorate! They LOVE cell phone accessories! I have seen accessories in the shape of a slice of bread with a smiley-face made out of jam. And it was the size of a real slice of bread. Someone in my class actually told me that they usually get aches in their necks because the cell phones are so heavy when they talk in them. I believe I have said enough now...
Actually, that is one similarity with the Arabs. The more the better! ;D
What I like here, and that you can't experience in Sweden, is that there is always something open somewhere in Tokyo. For example, if you have missed the last train home, you can spend the night watching some movies at an internet café. Or you can sleep at an internet café. Or you can go to a regular café and take it easy, maybe eat something, have a conversation with a friend, have breakfast... Or you can go to a conbini (convenience store) and have an onigiri... In Shibuya you can also find restaurants if you are really hungry. If you really want to go home, you will have no troubles finding a taxi =) Oh, and the conbinis here, they're everywhere! It's very convenient! You can always find a conbini at any time, and they sell not only snacks and onigiris, but also sandwiches, fried chicken, cup ramen, nuts, breads with fillings... And the conbinis also work as ATMs, Seven Eleven is the best for international cards. I will miss this convenience in Sweden. And another thing that they have here and that I think Sweden should get as well is Starbucks! Starbucks is as easy to find here as a straw of hay in a haystack XD My favourite Starbucks is the one in Shibuya, because there you can see one of the biggest crossings I have ever seen, with hundreds of people crossing every time the lights turn green, no matter what time it is. A really nice view! Makes you feel alive ^^
Another thing you can find here is the purikura! You know the photo booths they have here in Japan? They make your skin look flawless, they make your eyes look big, and in the end, you can write on the photos, add things such as stars and hearts, and then you can choose which photos you want to print. Really fun! ^^
There are much much more differences to mention, but as I am now getting sleepy, and as you are probably cursing me for writing this ridiculously long entry, I will save them for another time ;)
Have a nice time in Amoeba-land!
Sa~yo~na~ra~ ^^
So let's start with the apartments! First of all, the apartments are usually small and PACKED with things. I don't know if this is supposed to be "the Japanese way", or if Seiko-san just likes to collect things. Either way, I don't think it is good to collect too many things, because they will just end up gathering dust and wasting space. So no. Oh wait, you were supposed to decide if it was good or bad, not me! I apologize, I take back my previous statement! Which actually reminds me of how the Japanese people like to apologize for everything. If they want to talk to you, "Sorry!", if they enter the same room as you, "Sorry!", if they, well, anything basically, "Sorry!" Stop being so sorry all the time! It's like you have to apologize for your existence. So I will take back my apology. I will write down all the differences I can think of, and I will comment on them. Period. Hehe...
Anyway, moving on... Something that I find annoying is that the apartments here (I don't know about the houses actually) don't have ovens!!! What's up with that!? I guess this shows that they don't need it, but they like pastries so much here! For example, at Ikebukuro station you can find one pastry shop after another. (Oh, and did I mention that I like Ikebukuro station? ;D Haha) Do you want a donut? Right here! A cookie? Look no further! Let the seducing smell guide you! How about a danish bread? Or a cinnamon roll? Or a melon pan? Or... My point is, they like all of these pastries, and more, but there is no way they will be able to do them themselves. Why? Well, they don't have a certain important item that starts with an o and ends with a ven! Well, they do have microwaves with ovenfunction, but I highly doubt that they produce the same result as a real, ordinary oven.
Well, the oven is not the only lack of heat in this place! I have noticed that the temperature inside the apartment is almost the same temperature as the outside, so, naturally, the pyjamas I have brought with me that are designed for Swedish-inside the house-temperature are too light. It can be really cold inside at times, and my pyjamas are not good enough! Maybe they don't have any radiators because all the pipes will be destroyed in the case of earth-quake, so there's probably no helping it. And this is why they have kotatsus instead! It's like a small, portable heater you can have under the table, and then you can sit there and warm your feet. Mmm, sounds so cozy! I have yet to try it... I think it can be almost as cozy as an open fire ^^
Oh yeah, today I bought some socks to wear at home. At least they will make me feel a bit warmer! And let me tell you that they have a LOT of different socks here! Or should I say underwear in general? I have passed by a couple of underwear shops, and I did look at their bras, but they all have weird paddings, so I never tried them on. Maybe it is to support what you have. Or make it look bigger. I don't know, what do you think sounds the most logical? Haha, and also, hahahhaha, their bras are filled with so many accessories that it's like wearing a Cristmas sock! Haha, how are you supposed to wear normal clothes over their bras?! Guess they've never heard of T-shirt bras, hahahaha. So funny XD But when it comes to their clothes... It's like, if I am to use a metaphor, Japan just figured out how to successfully clone a human being! Sweden just discovered the amoeba... Haha, well, you get my point, the clothes here are SO much nicer, you have more to choose from, no, scratch that, you have more clothes THAT YOU WOULD ACTUALLY CONSIDER WEARING to choose from. Ah, I love their goods here ^^
When it comes to the service here. Sweden IS the amoeba. Hahahhaa, no but seriously, the service here is amazing! The customer is the king! If you need help with anything, they will do their best to help you. For example, when Robin got a haircut, he asked the hairdresser where he could find any good clubs. One person from the staff immediately went to the backroom, searched for it on the internet, printed the page and a map, and gave it to Robin. And he didn't even ask for it! And in a magazine, he found some pants he thought were cool. They looked it up as well, found the name of the brand, printed out a page for him, and we were just sitting there feeling utterly spoiled. And me, Marion and Rebecca who were only there to watch the transformation occur before our eyes got a little menu from wich we could choose a drink. For free. And they let us use some lockers where we could put away our bags. Ahh! I will definitely go back there and get a haircut! After all, the prices are basically the same as in Sweden (I stand corrected, I meant Eksjö), but the service is amazing, so it is absolutely worth it!
Moving on to the next point, the people here (both boys and girls) are very fashionable, but they don't look down on people with different styles. Instead, it is like they accept any style you have. So you never have to feel bad in anything! Nobody will look at you in a weird way! (Well, they might, but that is because you are a foreigner, it has got nothing to do with what you wear! ;)) You can actually go to a club wearing the same clothes you just had in school, and nobody woll think it is weird. This is what I have done the two times we went to a club, because I've never had the time to go home before and prepare, but I have never felt uncomfortable or weird. It's like a big Peset! ^^
And how are you supposed to be fashionable with bad nails? Well, you're not, so that's why you can find a nail salon almost anywhere you turn. It is not that cheap, about the same price as for a manicure back in Sweden, but I can BET the result here is much better! This is because the people working with nails here must have a lot of experience as I have seen a lot of girls walk around with flashy nails. And it wouldn't surprise me if the nails actually had a small flashlight glued on to them. Seriously, here, nails are meant to be pretty and nice. Who cares if you can't use your hands anymore due to all of the nice, glittery, cute accessories? As long as it looks good, you have nothing to worry about! Honestly, I don't understand how these girls can type messages on their phones, or look for something in their bags, or open a door using a key, or walk without a hunchback ;) Haha, guess I'll just have to take a picture and show you what I mean! ^^
Speaking of service, their toilets here are really different! And now I'm talking about the more exclusive kind ;) At restaurants and warehouses, the toilets actually have heated seats. At one place, the toilet actually flushed itself automatically 10 seconds after you stood up! What's more is that you can push different buttons that will then make the toilet squirt some water, you know where, in order to clean thouroughly. No David, with this device, I don't need the flower jug anymore! Hahaha ;D I remember one time when Robin returned after using the toilet. He had just tried one of these buttons, because how could you resist? And he looked so disgusted! It was hilarious! Haha, he said that he only felt wet. Too much water too little paper I guess, hahaha =P
They use children here in Japan! In their commercials that is ;) I never thought about it until Melissa told me. And now I see them in every commercial. Seriously! They really do use them everywhere! I saw this one commercial on Viagra... hahaha, naw just kidding, they would, I hope, never go that far! ;D Or maybe they would? I don't know. Another difference here in Japan is that nothing surprises me anymore. Except for a sober Japanese person trying to initiate a conversation with you...
Their nails is not the only thing that the Japanese like to decorate! They LOVE cell phone accessories! I have seen accessories in the shape of a slice of bread with a smiley-face made out of jam. And it was the size of a real slice of bread. Someone in my class actually told me that they usually get aches in their necks because the cell phones are so heavy when they talk in them. I believe I have said enough now...
Actually, that is one similarity with the Arabs. The more the better! ;D
What I like here, and that you can't experience in Sweden, is that there is always something open somewhere in Tokyo. For example, if you have missed the last train home, you can spend the night watching some movies at an internet café. Or you can sleep at an internet café. Or you can go to a regular café and take it easy, maybe eat something, have a conversation with a friend, have breakfast... Or you can go to a conbini (convenience store) and have an onigiri... In Shibuya you can also find restaurants if you are really hungry. If you really want to go home, you will have no troubles finding a taxi =) Oh, and the conbinis here, they're everywhere! It's very convenient! You can always find a conbini at any time, and they sell not only snacks and onigiris, but also sandwiches, fried chicken, cup ramen, nuts, breads with fillings... And the conbinis also work as ATMs, Seven Eleven is the best for international cards. I will miss this convenience in Sweden. And another thing that they have here and that I think Sweden should get as well is Starbucks! Starbucks is as easy to find here as a straw of hay in a haystack XD My favourite Starbucks is the one in Shibuya, because there you can see one of the biggest crossings I have ever seen, with hundreds of people crossing every time the lights turn green, no matter what time it is. A really nice view! Makes you feel alive ^^
Another thing you can find here is the purikura! You know the photo booths they have here in Japan? They make your skin look flawless, they make your eyes look big, and in the end, you can write on the photos, add things such as stars and hearts, and then you can choose which photos you want to print. Really fun! ^^
There are much much more differences to mention, but as I am now getting sleepy, and as you are probably cursing me for writing this ridiculously long entry, I will save them for another time ;)
Have a nice time in Amoeba-land!
Sa~yo~na~ra~ ^^
Today we had to read descriptions of places and then depict the description. The manga-characters on the right were made by Stephanie (aren't they awesome!), and the mountains and trees on the left was my doing =O
We have a lot of funny, crazy, Chinese people in our class. Here are some of them!
Lovely Stephanie! One of my closer friends ^^
A close-up of the nice pictures on the wall!
Of course, the inside is more interesting than the outside!
School entrance. Notice the subtle advertisements...
Welcome to ISI Tokyo!
Family Mart aka my onigiri and snacks provider =P Just a one minute walk from school! Really convenient! ^^
A nice murial right next to Sakaedoristreet. They actually start putting up Cristmas decorations on the first of November, hence the Cristmas tree
Sakaedoristreet in Takadanobaba! If you follow this street and turn right at the Family Mart, you will find my school =)
My first train! I didn't take any pictures of the other two trains, becuase they all basically look the same =P
These are the gates you go through in order to enter the station and use the trains.
Urawa station!
My everyday-entrance ^^ Behind these doors Urawa awaits! ^^
