I just did a calculation of how much I’ve spent for these three weeks. Even without minusing my prepaid stuff, I say I’ve done quite good at budgeting. The down point is that you’ll have to miss out social events, but at least you will get more rest than socializing.

Another weekend, today the family brought me to visit a large reclining Buddha. We had to drive for about one hour to get to the place. I like drives coz I get to see lots of parts of Japan.

A funny sign I saw. If I want my kid to have guts, I’ll be sending her here.

THe petrol station. It closes on Sunday. Amazing

Otousan drove as okaasan said she was not confident driving curvy roads.

At last we reached the place. At the entrance was a motherly guanyin. I love the roundness of her face.+

I was surprised to find a Shinto tori at a place where there’s a Buddha lying around.

We walked around before visiting the Buddha. They have a natural cave with statues in it. The water that came out can be drank, doesn’t taste any different though. I didn’t take photos in the cave because it seemed rude.

Five Dizhang. So cute. Back where I came from, it’s always an adult Dizhang.

There was also a long snake. Eek

Photo!

Cute god

Tortoises sunbathing

On th way to see the Buddha, we saw funny stuff.

Anpan-man’s face

Frogs demonstrating: see no evil, hear no evil and say no evil. Why frogs, usually it’s monkeys.

Buddha. it was so sunny while we were at the place. The cement ground did not help either.

We then have ice cream. Mine’s Uji tea with vanilla and red bean paste. Yummy. Uji is famous for its tea, and also being the location for the last ten chapters of Genji Monogatari

After the temple, we went back. On the way, we stopped for konyaku ice cream. I can’t taste the difference.

We stopped at a tofu shop and did some tasting. Okaasan says the water there is good so konyaku and tofu produced there are also good.

While otousan drove, we slepy away in the back. At 3pm, we reached our neighbourhood. We stopped for Sapporo ramen. Its noodles is thicker than Hakata ramen. But I like Hakata ramen’s soup more.

When it was dos walking time, otousan walked the three big dogs while okaasan, K and I went to the sea to walk Merry the granma.

It was a rocky beach and they had all sorts of creepy living things.

There was some sort of shelled bugs running all over the place. Then there’s clams used in Italian cooking.

I messed with the preset scenes of my camera.

Dawn and Sunset settings. It’s the same angle at almost the same time.

I prefer normal light though.

Shoes that are killing my toes.

For dinner, we went to a Izakaya, a place where officemen go to drink after work. And also school kids go there to talk on top of their voices.

The food is mostly finger food with lots of satay-like and deep fried meat.

The cost was 5000++ yen. Oh, I feel guily.

Friday July 18 – Mini Concert

It’s Friday! The last day of the school week. This week has passed by flying! My third week in Japan is ending. Wow, if I were on immersion in France, it’s the end of my program. Good thing this summer program is long, I haven’t even began thinking in Japanese.

I had breakfast with K coz he has school closing ceremony which starts only at 9am. Lucky kid, get to sleep in late. I wake up when the sun shines on me. Good thing too or I would be late for everything.

Breakfast was curry pan. Meaning curry bun. I’ve only seen it in comics before this. It’s a oval shaped flat bun. The outside is golden brown because it is fried and there are tiny crumbs. The bread is soft and when you bite in, a bit salty. You’ll get to the curry filling soon. It’s a paste-like unhot curry with little chunks of potato. Amazing thing.

There was also cucumber (>o<) which I finished first because I don’t really like it. A bowl of corn soup, probably from instant mixes. And coffee. I poured in milk today and the coffee became warm.

I rode the bike to the station and was able to catch the one at 8:31am. :D But the train took slightly more time waiting at one other station. I’m glad my boarding station is the second because it’s easier to get seats.

I sat next to the driver’s cabin. I’ve always wondered what “wan man” on the side of the train mean, until I realised it means “one man”. I think the driver knows I’m looking at him coz he peeks out of the corner of his eyes at my direction. Creepy. He does this pointing thing that I believe is a show for me to see. Or is it not? Hmm…

Finally, I reached my station. I stopped at the library before going to class. Today’s class is in the main campus (thank goodness) so I had some more time to check my email. Usually, I can’t because walking to the normal classroom from the library takes five minutes plus.

Today in Japanese class, we revised “honorary form”. A type of tense that is confusing. There was a presentation by an American student who has been in Japan for a year. It is more amusing than the previous presentation. Sorry!

At lunch, I had unagi don. Eel cooked in soy sauce. It’s a special dish, available only for two days. I was very happy but when I got my bowl of rice… Hm… So little unagi

Still, it was tasty, even though I had to ration my rice so that I don’t end up with plain rice at the end.

At 1pm, we had our history test. I only read the readings for popular culture so I wrote and wrote. I believe it’s a lot better than the last paper. I’m satisfied with a B.

When the test was over, I went out with Wawa. We were going to Naomi’s (my tutor) part time volunteer cafe later at 5:30pm for a mini concert. So before 5pm, we were very free.

That morning, there was an advert for Donkihote. I only peeked at the advert coz okaasan seems to think that I don’t like adverts that come along with the newspaper. Or worse, that I can’t read them. There are pictures and there are Chinese characters, I understand e-ve-ry-thing.

So in the advert was a small square saying Angel Heart perfume, selling at 980 yen. Wow! RM30 for a big bottle of perfume, that’s great. I believe I’ve seen the huge sign for Donkihote, I remember the name coz it sounds like donkey.

Okaasan confirmed that it is near school. Yes! I shall go there today!
 
When the test ended, it was raining outside. Finally, after so many hot days. RAIN! though very little.

Wawa and I went to the post office. I bought lovely stamps with flowers. We asked about shipping costs. By sea, it costs 2,700 yen for 5kg of printed material. Wow, RM90 for 5kg. I think that’s a good price. I shall buy lots of comics to send back. Ha ha ha

Then we went to DonkiHote. You would think that with a name that sounds like donkey, their mascot would be a donkey or at least Donkey Kong, the ape from video games. No, it’s a penguin. hmmm…

Donkihonte is a supermarket that’s more than your average supermarekt. It is a totally Japanese but totally unJapanese shop. Japanese because it sells stuff that only the Japanese would think of selling: fake wigs, a whole range of cosmetics, perfume, electronics, food. All in one shop. The Japanese (Sakiko and okaasan) said the place is a mess. And that’s the unJapanese part, merchandises are stacked in different orderly messiness.

I spotted the perfume Angel Heart selling at 1,880 yen (around RM60.) Good price, considering The Body Shop eau de toilette sell at RM50++ I planned to buy it but realised the smell wasn’t really “me”. I prefer a more artificial sharp tone for perfume. And the RM30 price I saw was a promotion for Wednesday night. Starting 9pm, they are selling 20 bottles of Angel Heart for only RM30.

I didn’t buy the perfume but now I regret that perhaps I should. I can’t help being such a cheapo. Ha ha

We then went up the building housing Donkihote. It has three stories of arcades. Wow. They have those grabbing machine with practically everything from mp3

ice cream

 to bath bubble,

bugs (true! but it was stationed near the counter and I didn’t take any photos in case the employee tells me not to),

clothes

 
bags and ice cream. Totally disorienting.

They have vending machine that sells ice cream too

 

One of the floors was obviously a gambling floor. We were very shocked to see at least two babies (who can’t even walk) with their parent(s). One was in a stroller, sleeping (I hope) in spite of all the noise. And the other mother’s hugged him/her while the dad finished his gambling. I didn’t dare take photos of them.

But I got one with Doraemon and Ampan man

We left Donkihote and walked back to school. Took a photo with the school name. There is no really huge sign saying Kyushu University, not that I remember anyway.

We went to Culture Cafe’s computer area on the second. The computers were the ones with the CPU built in the monitor. It runs on Windows 2000, like some of the comps in the library. I tried out two before one of it worked. It was very slow too so I only used it to transfer photos to Wawa’s thumbdrive.

It suddenly rained heavily. Thank goodness we’re already in the building. Later, Naomi came in yukata. She’s the MC for today’s show. Waa! so cute!

Wawa and I went down around 5:30pm. Moe from takoyaki party was there too with her new short hair. Later Sayaka came with her friend, but she kindly sat at our tables.

Moe asked if we were staying till the end. I replied that I haven’t decided yet. Actually I was planning to leave at 6pm, after giving moral support.

But, everyone stayed till the very end. You know why? Because of the cute/ hot guys there. Ha ha. Sounds so embarassing. But someone (to protect the identity) was eye stalking a cute guy while others giggle at other guys. Ho ho ho. But what’s better than a cute guy who plays an instrument?

There was a cup of packaged creamer and another of packaged sugar on our table. Later, we realised that everyone except us must have had black coffee because their table did not have creamer or sugar.

I ordered coffee, which is a whole lot better than the McDonalds’ burnt root drink that I had before.

I also ordered a waffle, expecting something hot but it came like this. Oh well.

Wawa’s ice thingy, with mango flavoured toppings.

The performance was good. There was a Japanese koto, which is obviously what we call guzheng in Chinese but they’re happily unaware that one exists in Chinese traditional music.

They’re awfully happily unaware of a lot of other stuff. But perhaps others from overseas find me happily unaware of lots of other stuff too.

I’m putting up the performers’ photos to give them publicity. However small that is.

The guitar ensemble club.

The club’s suit-wearing spokesperson. I love suits.

BUT, he plays his guitar like it’s his lover, with loads and loads of feelings. Hmm.. too bad he sits like this. Wawa says it’s metrosexual. hmm

The cafe owner (?) who plays good piano.

A group photo at the end. Sakiko’s not here or it would be another gathering from takoyaki party.

Plane in the sky

Relection in a puddle

I called back home before going to the station. Mom is learning computer now. Jia you!

My train.

Fan and aircon

When I reached the station. It was already dark. I cycled to 7-11 to buy a rice ball coz the coffee and waffles wasn’t enough.

At ten, I watched Maou. All my tiredness flew out the window watching Toma. sigh

 Not much happened on this day, because the day after is the final test and no one was going out.

In the morning, I had egg rice. D will faint when she hears the recipe. Egg rice is cracking an egg on top of your just-cooked steaming-hot rice and mixing them together so your rice turns orangey yellow. Japanese rice is sticky so the end product is nicec sticky egg rice. I doubt Thai rice will have the same effect. So don’t try this at home!

I had a nice lunch. The main dish is supposed to be Chinese cuisine.

Messed around in the toilet. It’s the girls’ toilet but there are stuff like this in it. Hmm..

The girls’ toilet are situated at awkward levels of our history classroom building. The first floor and the fourth. The building itself is really old and very far away from the canteen and International Student Centre

I went to the library to study, borrowed a book and went back.

Oh, this phone card costed me 3,000 yen (=RM100) but I can only call home for 56 minutes. It’s not even an hour’s worth.

A moving agency with Doraemon painted on the side of the truck

Cute flowers.

Brain has missing info of more detailed events.

The train

As okaasan was back in her kampung, there was no big breakfast. I didn’t have to hurry either so I took my time tweezing my eyebrows and stuff like that.

I realised that K was eating breakfast quite late and found out that he was probably planning to skip school. I can’t confirm any of this but I feel guilty not telling okaasan. Later I asked Som and Wawa and both said I should not tell as it would make my four weeks life unpleasant.

I had Kellogs sugared cornflakes. I like milk.

Then I left home early to buy a calling card to call home with. It was very very sunny and as I had left my umbrella in the classroom the day before, I had to wear my hat and my cardigan just so I won’t get sunburned.

The cashier at 7-11 told me they didn’t have the card I want. I showed him the receipt I had when I bought the card on July 1. And he still told me they don’t have it. Turns out the rumour of convenience stores having *everything* isn’t true at all.

When I walked back to the train station, I felt really really sad. Being melodramatic, I wept a little and cried waaa~~~ and wiped my face with tissue. Then I thought, “This is Japan! I should be happy.” and I cheered up a lot.

Off I went on the train to school. They have pulled the shades down so it doesn’t matter which seat you choose.

I reached school at the same time I usually do. The language teacher told me I have a tired look, second time this week. Gaah! Does this mean I have to draw on thick eyeliner to seem like my eyes are full of shiny energy? Does this mean I have to powder on layers my DAISO blusher so I look like I just exercised and is full of energy? I have no idea.

Dan brought the exo-skeleton of a bug he picked up while on the way. I thought it was prettty cool.

Class passed by not so quicly because I was hungry. Cornflakes doesn’t work. Finally it was lunchtime. I ordered the set meal which is 374 yen and includes the following:

Main dish: Japanese hamburger, tiny mashed potato and raw cabbage (yuck)
Side dish: cold dish of purple seaweed and miso soup.

I was full when I finished the meal but was hungry at around 4:30pm. Food in Japan is so expensive, I can’t afford to buy lots!

Then we dragged ourselves up to our classroom on the forth floor. Today, the teacher played a small part of ARASHI’s concerts and some girls went mad. The power of idols– turning normal girls into screaming fans (me included, if other idols are involved)

After class, a bit of internet and I realised I had not written the entries for the 14th and 15th. Will do so tomorrow, probably.

Then Wawa and I went off to Tenjin. On the subway, we took photos of ourselves with the ARASHI au phones poster. I’d probably regret not taking one with it so here’s my photo.

Then when we arrived at the destination, Wawa went crazy over the HUGE ARASHI posters.

And also the posters on columns which you can hug (if you’re not embarassed of everyone staring) and imagine that you’re hugging the real things. I’ll pass that.

But I did take a photo of serious Toma in the tiny MAOU poster.

and a photo of CODE BLUE, currently on air starring Yama-pi and two girls. I wonder what you can show in dramas of emergency hospital people, which don’t have sexy George Clooney docs.

Oh, ARASHI is a hugely popular boyband. Try imagining Backstreet Boys while they were still (relatively) boys. And imagine the “boys” joining everything related to entertainment: albums, concerts, dramas, talkshows (of their own), commercials, and everything in between. It’s that crazy.

I bought a 3,000 yen phone card (RM100) at 7-11 in Tenjin. yeah!

We only went to BIC CAMERA. Wawa to check out cameras, iPods and DS LIte. I checked out electronic dictionaries (expensive), mp3s (expensive) and batteries (ok ok). I bought batteries because the ones I got were pretty good, it’s a lot better than the ones I got from China. Plus it’s rechargeable back in Singapore and Malaysia.

With BIC CAMERA’s tradename, you would think they sell cameras. No, they don’t. They sell all sorts of things: in Building A, we have alcohol, drinks, glasses, golf equipment. In Building B, printers, computer stuff. And in Building C, cameras and audio stuff. Then nearby there’s another Building with six floors, selling all electronics plus perfumes, toys. The only thing they don’t sell is clothing. Gasp.

We spent quite a long time there before felling really really tired. We decided to eat and gues what we have. :D Not sushi, not rice balls and not bread. We had McDonalds. what a joke!

I ordered the cheapest thing they have: Tea time (2-6pm) set which includes a drink and a piece of chicken called Shaka Shaka Chicken. Why Shaka shaka? Turns out it means shake shake.

They have lots of flavours for you to shake, I chose black pepper and they also have lemon, mayonaise, cheese and other katakanas that took me a long time to read. It was a happy meal as I finally have fried chicken.

We left Tenjin in different direction subways. I changed a train and got back at the station a little before 6pm. I called home and it was raining back home. Then I called back to say, “I’m back~” And met okaasan and K-taro walking the dogs.

Received another letter from mom, so heartwarming.

We ate out. I had ramen again. I must say that my noodles slurping skills have levelled up since coming here. Will have to unlearn slurping when I get back.

Then we came back. I showed okaasan my yukata and the shoelaces. Of course, I told them I’m a cheapo. Okaasan says shoelaces would not work (I doubt her, she hasn’t seen me with shoelaces) and offered to borrow me her real thing. Maybe I should buy stokings instead.

Then shower and blog writing.

11:15pm Sleepy but still have homework. Test on Friday, will read tomorrow after school after blog updates. :D

Will be going to Hiroshima on one night two day school trip. So updates on Tuesday, perhaps.

Oh, mom asked in her letter that my blog’s so long, who would read it. Well, it’s a bit of a journal and a open letter. I guess it’s more important in the future than it is for now.

At 3:15am, the real phone call came. Qianhui dropped back to sleep adter sending me off. Bless her bedtime.

The walk to the site wasn’t far. I was looking for a vending machine with hot canned coffee that sells at 100 yen. I passed at least ten and there wasn’t one!!! So I gave up the idea of vending machiens with hot drinks in summer and wanted at least a cold coffee. But all the others I passed sold coffees at 120 yen. I’m too cheap to waste my RM 0.70 on coffee when I could get one cheaper.

We passed this while looking for the site. Don’t know if it’s being taken down or built.

My search for 100 yen coffe was in vain, there was none. What is this about the convenience of vending machines??!!!  In the end, I bought a 100 yen coke for the caffine. And guess what, the first vending machine that I passed sold COFFEE! The ironies of life. ha ha

We reached a small lane with a red light. There was no care in 10 metres radius so we crossed. But the policeman behind us said really fast in Japanese, “The colour’s red. The colour’s red. The colour’s red.” The lights turned green while we were 3/4 of the lane. Give us a break! It’s not even wider than 2 metres.

We finally reached a busy junction. There was a takoyaki stand.

Boys joining the race

And lots and lots of butts. The only time it is decent to moon people is during yamakasa and all the trainings.

Man being interviewed. Probably the anchor coz he has the mike

Didn’t use flash because it’ll be rude to blind people momentarily. And flash works terrible in dim lights. See below.

We shifted to another location and sat at a nice junction. The sun was slowly lighting the sky and we waited with patience. We saw the others from school who came directly from their karaoke session.

Our “seats” were the second or third turn for the floats. It wasn’t too crowded. There was cameras on buildings.

A boy had a portable TV and I could peek at the broadcast of the start of the race. Cool device.

Man on stand by to splash the racers with water to cool them down. Note the butts

The first float came and I was surprised no one in the crowd cheered. No one at all. They just clapped politely at the floats like it was a beauty pageant or a fashion show, and not a once a year adrenelined filled race where men wear cloths that showed their butt and push humungous floats around while shouting “ai soh”. 

I tweaked the lighting for this photo. This is one of the seven racing floats.

Everyone clapped and I was confused! If it were me, I would scream myself sore. But they just went on clapping and sitting down when the floats were out of sight and stood up to clap some more when another came. It’s weird.

Father, police and cute boy (the only age where it’s appropriate to show the behind)

Another float

Water being splashed

After the seven racing floats finished their turns, in a mannerly fashion. The finale great float started its course.

Front

Back

It was 6am plus when everything ended. I followed the others back to the dorm after buying breakfast.

On the bus, I saw the remaining crowds

Then we alighted and walked in the lanes to get to the dorm.

The iPhone 3G was a huge hit in Tokyo.

A strangely named appartment – Pure Dome Dear Kencyomae

I waited for a while until 7 before I knocked on Qianhui’s door in case she was still sleeping.

Then we went down for breakfast.

My 126 yen tausa cream bun

And my 140 yen <delicious milk>

Classes passed in a blur and I got home really early around 4pm. No one was home and I read <Gone with the WInd> in the living room/ dining room coz I don’t want to be rude by sleeping when everyone gets home.

Then K and his father came home. A walk with the dogs, with me in charge of dysentry Merry. And dinner was bento from a fast food restaurant. Yummy though. Okaasan is back in her hometown till tomorrow for a memorial service.

Oh, the father asked if I had paid my fees and I am horrified. What is this asking about  money? Isn’t it taboo? And I’ve paid since week 1. Have they not received the money yet?

Worried aside, I dropped into deep sleep at 9:30pm.

Oh, the rod which I use to block the cat is gone. Ceiling cat help me!

I’ve killed three mosquitoes since in Japan. It seems like they don’t like to suck my blood (good) and they are quite slow. But I’ve seen others with horrible mosquito bite bumps.

Okaasan bought tickets to the Ukiyo-e exhibiton at the Fukuoka Arts Museum. It started yesterday. It’s a collection of ancient Japanese print art from Boston.

It’s the first time okaasan has driven into the “real” city area. She studies her map and highlighted routes. I’m in good hands.

We left home at 9am and reached at around 9:40am. There was already quite a lot of people.

There was so many prints. And it’s the “finer” collection from the museum.

Looking at ancient stuff makes me sad. The creator has died and all that is left is this paper and people don’t really care about him nowadays. Perhaps, that’s life.

Looking at all those stuff was tiring. I don’t remember the greek exhibition being ths tiring.

Then we used the free tickets to the other permanant exhibitions. There was a Dali. wow, who’s so rich to buy one for the Fukuoka Art Museum?

Then okaasan drove back to near home and we had udon. We had cold udon! I never liked cold food, I feel that food (especially noodles) should be really really hot. I feel that I’m alive. But this cold udon was good, it was al dente and very chewy.

Then we went to DAISO. I bought:

a cloth fan

plastic folders with Japanese words as pattern

10 different colour pens

two different faux-ukiyoe postcards

I usually limit myself to five items when I’m in DAISO. I’ve succeeded.

When we got back, otousan was back from his one week business trip in Jakarta. He’s a busy workaholic, according to okaasan. She also said Japanese men love their work. Well, that’s better than hating your work.

I did some homework downstairs with the common air conditioner. I read a bit of Crayon Shinchan while doing homework. Then it wa dog walking at 630pm.

For dinner, we had yakitori at home coz everyone’s too lazy to go out.

Okaasan bought me a can of cocktail drink. I got really red afterwards, no sigh of hives though. Thank ceiling cat.

On Tuesday I will be going to Hakata Yamakasa Ooiyama. A mouthful, in short a traditional festival where men wearing loin cloth run around carrying HUGE floats.

Someone said that loin-cloth men are usually uncles. aaahhh, I don’t want to see uncle and granpa’s backsides. >o<

 

(will update when i can :D

Another school day. I feel more relaxed going to school because I would not have to speak Japanese. But that defeats the purpose of coming to Japan. I’m confused.

In class, a classmate bought this Sprite Light with the slogan “Sexier than water”, I never knew that liquids can be sexy

Oh, today was the day before Yamakasa. And I bought along an overnight bag to stay in someone’s dorm. I had two huge bags with me wherever I went. My shoulders!

After class, SH and YT asked if I wanted to check out yukatas today. We were saying to buy tukatas last week but all sorts of stuff popped up that we didn’t have the chance. So off we went to Tenjin.

At the bus station, we saw a peaceful demonstration against hydro bombs (I think)

When we reached Tenjin, we realised that we don’t know the exact location of Choya, the shop which had a huge advert on cheap yukata. But with luck and YT’s sharp eyes, we found the sign for the shop.

But, when we got to the tiny lifts there, we saw that they had written: closed on Monday and (forgot what) day, Closed??!!! And we came on the day it’s closed?!! We were about to leave but I thought perhaps we just go up and see if it’s really closed.

When we went up, my heart dropped, in fornt of the lift was a door like things that looked closed. But good thing we stepped out of the lift and tried the automatic doors. It opened!! But is it opened to regular folks? Knowing Japan, it might only be open to it’s VIP customers.

But level 6 YT went in to ask and it was open! Hurrah!

The shop was full of traditional wear. The auntie saleslady showed us the section of 1,980 yen yukatas. Oh my god! 1,980 yen??!! Just like on the advertisement, and I thought they would all be sold out by now. Yes!

We took a long time choosing. YT who’s petite could try on a demo version which fitted well (thanks to the saleslady). In the end, I found a light blue yukata, I wanted a lighter color because it would look more summery. SH tanned, bought a light yellow. and YT bought a very nice dark with hydrangeas.

My yukata

The lady then said that for wearing a yukata, the two strings that she was showing was a must. But, on string costs around 550 yen, errr.. I can buy half a yukata with two of those. And if we were going to wear the yukata often, we should get a 1,900 set of assorted thingies. Er… We must have looked like cheapoes, but we do have a student budget to run on.

We asked the lady if she could show us how to wear it. She said, if there’s not many customers, they can… And our luck was there as there weren’t many customers. (Perhaps all of them walked away when they saw the “Closed on Monday” sign.)

Wearing a yukata is like folding and folding and folding. This is the unsuccessful first trial of my first yukata wearing. I look bloated.

As we were cheapos, we didn’t buy the silk belt thing the lady said is a must. It costs 1,100 yen for a pair. My yukata set is only less than 2,000 yen and you want me to buy 1,100 yen strings? No way.

We went to DAISO to get other stuff for out yukata. I bought a blue fan, a pouch for water bottles which can be faked as the yukata cute pouch, and shoelaces to substitute the silk belt. Yes, I’m that cheap. Ha ha

Then we went back to the dorm. I bought 100 yen rice balls from 7-11 and ate my 2 for 105 yen cup noodles for dinner.

Qianhui was kind to let me spend the night in her room. Thanks loads!! I went to PY’s room before bedtime for a chat with the other girls. They bought a huge bag of keropok. Inside, there’s smaller packs of it.

We were to wake up at 3:15am to walk to where the yamakasa will be held. I told PY to give me a wake up call.

But at 1:30am, a pervert called and was silent after moshi moshi. So we can imagine what he’s doing. Ew. Die you evil thing! But HL training has made me immune to such thing so there’s no trauma. Thanks for the concern

 I just realised that I formatted my memory card without saving the photos into my computer. I am still in deep shock. OH… around 160 photos gone just like that. I will take this as a lesson and in the future will be very very careful.

How did it happen? I slot in the memory card into my comp, created a new folder to transfer the files. Renamed the folder and took out the memory card, thinking I’ve transfered, and format the card in one breath. OK… relax. At least other people have photos and I can get it from them. Sigh

Today was paddy field trip day. I reached the International Student Centre around 8:10am. I can’t believe Kyudai’s library only opens at 10am on weekends.

I sat with Tz on the way to the paddy field land. The bus ride was two hours plus. We stopped by a souvenir mall where they sell whale meat. Hmm… The thing is, they drew a really cartoon whale with anime eyes. Cute whale is telling us to eat it.

The bus passed mountains and seas before we finally got there. We were to work at the terraced fields. The scenery is green and lovely. Will not think of photos.

Turns out we weren’t there to plant rice. We were there to weed. Uncle farmers showed us how to do it. Weeds look a lot like paddy…

I brought my camera down and happily snapped away, without realising the tragedy that is to happen at night.

I tried weeding after I got bored with photo taking. The mud was squishy and there were lots of living stuff there: bugs, tadpoles, frogs etc.

Oh, I had applied lots and lots of SPF 50 sunblock before that and glad that it worked well. No sunburn. I detest sunburn.

After getting all muddy, we had barbeque. There was around seven small metal pits. The meat was good, I LOVE meat. But it was really sunny, so I armed myself with my cardigan and my hat. I must be the hottest person there. But I would rather faint from heat than get lasting sunburns.

Lots of meat and meat and meat. We thanked the farmers and got on the long journey back. We stopped at whale market on the way back too.

We reached school at around 6pm, everyone else went home and I too, though I had told okaasan that I would have dinner with my friends.

When I reached the station, I decided to visit BOOK OFF again. Lady luck *was* with me. They were having discounts: books that notmally sell at 105 yen each were at 200 yen for five. Only today and tomorrow.

I took an hour and a half to get the books that I want. I already know that I want to buy a series of six manga, because it’s a lot less than series with 20 books. The other four books took a longer time and in the end, I got these. Very cool.

Here are the post-format photos of my books:

From top left clockwise, Yamato na deshiko shichi henka. Botchan,  children’s version. xxxHolic (woo!) and Crayon Shinchan.

Walked back to the station and okaasan went to fetch me. Had ice cream, a long hot bath and formatted my memory card. ha ha

I still don’t get baths. It’s really just time wasted in water.

Will ask for ppl’s photo. ha ha ha

Another outdated entry. I finally can use the internet in school…

I rode the bicycle to the station today. It was cloudy and the weather was just right.

I arrived at school early, taking the shortcut I learnt on Monday. I can’t believe I walked such a HUGE around before that! Took some photos before class

Classroom

Buildings outside the corridor window

Flowers

Was sleepy in class.

Lunch, I ordered potatoes instead of the usual tofu. But the whole set cost 440 yen. I’ll get set meals instead next time.

I didn’t do my readings and the prof gave us a lot more. Oi! Isn’t this summer course??! Oh, I also keep forgetting it’s actually school and think I’m on holiday. Shall do readings in the weekend.

After class was extra lecture about paddy in Japan. Then I updated the blog and took the train back.

I rode on the bike to the nearest supermarket. There’s a beauty product shop next to it. I bought facial foam and a small bottle of sunblock.

 

I bought coffee milk at the supermarket. It was going to expire in six days so they were selling it at 58 yen.

It didn’t taste very nice because of the sweetness, but I gulped the whole thing down anyway.

Here’s the 105 yen sushi shop opposite DAISO.

Everyone’s surprised I got home early. I’ve misplaced the phone card and phone number so I didn’t call home.

A long walk of the dogs. The paddy fields there have all sorts of living things: super tiny frogs, bugs, spiders (abundant in Japan!!!), tadpoles, fishes, one crab, some prawns. Wow.

At night, we had teppanyaki at home. There was lots of meat and the long mushroom (forgot its name). and we also had soba. The sauce is very good, and the noodles were soaked in ice water. I never thought I would like cold noodles but it’s yummy!

Then TV, with MAOU at 10pm. I’ve slowly got used to Ikuta Toma’s unsmiling role. He’s so gorgeous in a suit. sigh.

A long bath. Bath is really really boring. I should get a rubber ducky.

Packed for tomorrow’s farming trip!

—
YQ
July 12, 12:11am (still 11pm at home!)

I have now entered a scary phase where I think everything I do is routine and is no point in writing about it. This is NOT good as I am taking things for granted now. Nooo!!

This morning there was cucumber as a side dish. The taste of raw cucumber is gross but I force fed myself by taking sips of coffee every now and then. The force eating took a lot more time than usual and okaasan drove me to the station when we realised it was already 8:35am.

I was in time for my 8:44am train. I have learnt to sit at the opposite of where I go into the train carriage. The sun shines on that part.

In Japanese class, I was a bit homesick because of something we learned in class. Forgot what it was but it made me realised that I had not called back home for sometime.

At lunch, Moe-chan joined S, W and I. I had the egg tofu as my side dish. I love egg tofu. It’s very cooling to eat chilled tofu in summer. I forgot to bring my own chopsticks though.

In history class, we learned a new topic. Time flew by and class was over.

After class, I went to the Fukuoka castle ruins with some friends. It was so sunny that I wore my cardigan because I do not like getting sunburnt.

Here’s the sakura petal symbol for Ohori Park Subway station.

Hydrangeas are in full bloom around this period. Here’s me with my cardigan and new hat.

Didn’t do any research on the castle so was very blur when we got there.

Some gate

Parts of the old walls

Praying thingy, which is gated off

Oh well …..

Other stuff:

Butterfly

We can see Yahoo Dome from the taller parts of the ruins.

There wasn’t much *real* ruins, just lots of old stone wall and trees.

We visited the art museum near the ruins. Nothing much on show now, but starting Saturday, there will be a Ukiyo-e exhibition. Woopee!

I left the group at around six to go back. Next to the castle is Ohori park.

Actually, travelling in summer, you can get the best photos because of the sunlight.

On my way to the station, I passed again some building under renovation. Now this looks more like it.

 

Got the chance to snap Tamaki Hiroshi’s advert. ha ha

Reached home at slightly pass 7. The tuition teacher was going to arrive at 8pm. Short walk of dogs. Dinner, TV then at 9:40pm was awkward conversations with everyone at the table.

Had bath with grapefruit flavoured salts. Temper seems to be less easy to hide. Should have calcium.

Having problems with saying, “I don’t know (your question).”

They mistake it as “I don’t know the answer to your question.”