Okaasan drove me to school today. Turns out, she works for the capital index something something. Her job is to enter the prices of stuff into a bulky handheld machine and send it to the government’s something something department through her phone/ fax. I really have very little idea.

Today’s Japanese class’s teacher was humourous. Laughed a lot. Tried out my hat in class.

Was aiming for something ladyish, but my lower outfit doesn’t work out well.

At lunch time, I didn’t really know how the system works and I grabbed somethings onto my tray. The lady then said it was a set and forced me to get the soup.

It was 550 yen! In the end I had half a croquette and the raw veg left. I’ll choose little stuff next time.

Then History class. After that, I went to the post office near school to post my letter. The man there was very very polite and even said he would put the stamp on and mail it for me. But… I want to put the stamp on myself! >0< Oh, regular mail back to Malaysia is 90yen. Expensive

I walked back to the International Student centre for internet but the computers there were so so so slow that I was going to bang my head on the table. In the end, I went to the library for internet, then went to the reading area to study a bit and finish the grammar homework.

Along the way to the library

Daisies

Acorn

I’m very surprised that daisies here are weed. Oh, I wish we had daisies for weeds!

I left school around 5.40pm and reached my station at 6:20pm. I now use my camera as a watch– I point and shoot at random things and check the time it was taken. ha ha

I visited DAISO because it felt near. Good thing I looked for it from the station or else I would have walked a HUGE round to get there.

Pretty Tanabata decorations

I called back home (not Sabah… sadly) when I was done shopping. I walked really slowly and snapped more random pics

Tommy Lee Jones <BOSS> coffee -_-” check out the dustbin too

At the railyway crossing, okaasan and K was there with the dogs. I helped them walk.

Oh, okaasan suddenly asked me if I would like to go to Kumamoto or see lavendar fields.

I thought she was thinking of Hokkaido and I said, “NOO! Of course Kumamota’s good.” Then it was very awkward. Because yesterday, when I saw the lavendar plant, I said, “Ah, lavendar fields~ I would LOVE to see them.” Then okaasan was silent. I thought, SHIT! now she thinks she’s obliged to take me.

Random pics of plants and neighbourhood houses.

 

Those look more like they’re in America than Japan!

 

Oh, back to the lavendar fields. Turns out, there is a lavendar garden right here in Kyushu and it was in the papers. (Thanks ceiling cat) Okaasan asked if I want to change and it took me a long time of inner debate to reply, Lavendar please.

The tour includes 3 meals: breakfast: bread and juice, Lunch is pork and dinner is rice ball. ha ha. Then they have a all-you-can-eat blueberry feast (for 30 minutes). You bet I’ll eat ALL I CAN EAT!

The trip’s on July 27!! Will recharge my battery till it’s full and snap lots and lots of photos.

HAPPY Graduation to all who’s wore the square hat!

 Today is Tanabata.

Another day of school, for breakfast it was pizza toast, kiwi shake and coffee. It’s *real* adult coffee, not the 3-in-1s I drink at home. It’s made using a machine!

Today, okaasan let me ride her bicycle to the train station because she said it’s getting hotter these days. The bicycle seat is very high, I can’t even touch the ground while I’m on it. And okaasan is not as tall as I am. How does she manage to sit on it?

The inside of the train

Thanks to the bike, I had a few more minutes to use the computer in the library. But I couldn’t update the photos part because it would take too long.

In language class, there were four other students who came from level four. The clock in the classroom didn’t work and stayed at 11:42 forever and ever, I had to peek at other people’s watch for the time.

Lunch, I picked the shorter queue. I had some pork and egg tofu. Oh, in Kyudai, they supply free green tea, warm and cold water. I wish we have free green tea back at NUS :

Then it was history class, we’ll be having our test on Wednesday. Well,, it’s open book and I only have to choose one to study so.. haha.. it’ll be ok??

After class, some people went to the indoor basketball court to play. The court was so so so soooo hot. There was no air circulating and it felt like a HUGE sauna.

Some of us left the court as soon as we can. And we went to You-me Town. It’s pronounced you-meh, like the dog. It’s a big shopping mall and I was out to look for a hat, yukata and sunglasses.

Since it’s summer, there was a yukata fair.

modern, knee length

 

Oh, here’s a corner of their cosmetics aisles. Don’t you just drool??!

And here are the drinks section

 

And they sell MILO, 270gram for 348yen. which is around RM11.60. Faint

Candy

Tamaki Hiroshi looking very un-Chiaki sempai. AHHH! The things people do for money

Sakura flavored choc?

(from left) Plum wine jelly, veggie jelly

Cute carpet at kids’ section

Ueto Aya looking cute

In the end, I bought a hat and a bag (not on my to-buy list! ah!). Both fom UNIQLO at  1,000yen each. It’s quite a bargain.

 

There were sunglasses but none clicked with me. Oh, they were selling at around 1,000yen too. so cheap.

I got home at 7plus, the bicycle ride back was fun. Then it was dog walking. And I saw REAL LAvendar!!! It was only a small clump. I saw it’s purplish-blue flowers and pinched some of the flowers and it smelled heavenly. I’m soo in love with lavendar. Will take a pic when we pass there again.

At night, dinner was meat and pasta. Okaasan prepared so much, I’m getting wider even with all the walking.

Oh, I had pudding after my bath.yum

Another day has passed. A week has passed since I’ve been in Japan. It seems a lot longer, I wonder if that means something positive or negative.

This morning I woke at 8am. Ah, everyday I have to be ready at 8 (which is 7am back home) and it’s so good to sleep in. I took my homework down to the living room area because there’s 24 hours aircon there. The aircon is for the old lady dog.

Okaasan said she was going to 7-11 to post letters. I went as well and we bought ice cream back. When we got back, the son’s bicycle was gone. Turns out, he has ran away to his friend’s place because he doesn’t want to go for tuition.

I’m glad I have no little brother who’s in this phase.

Caramel ice cream

Pomelo sorbet

Green tea Kit Kat ^_^ didn”t get to try that

We had hot Japanese curry for lunch. Okaasan put too much rice on my plate and I couldn’t finish it. After lunch, we went to BOOK-OFF, a 2nd hand book store just nearby. There are other branches all around.

BOOK-OFF is not like the 2nd hand book stores in Bras Basah. It’s so clean, and all the books look really really new. You can get new looking comics at ony 105 yen, which is RM3.50!! The only downside is they’re all Japanese and I can’t ship all those I want back.

 

In the end, I chose The Little Prince, because it’s small and easy enough to understand.

When we got back, the son has came back but still didn’t want to have tuition.

Nevermind about that, I did my homework and finished my letter home. Then Chibi Maruko chan was on TV, it’s such a cute show.

Later, the tuition teacher came to the house. We had awkward conversations encourged by okaasan. hai hai

Then it was dog walking. I found out that vending machines have fake bottles on display. ha ha

Also, the street mirrors here are really tall. In SIngapore, I’m able to smile at my reflection, but here, even if I crane my neck, I can’t see the top of my head. so sad…

Oh, there was a scary caterpillar on a plant when we got back.

then later, it was dinner and more awkward conversations. Have to get used to those.

Oh, the Americans on TV here speak Japanese. ho ho ho! dubbed.

 

  There was a special report of the yamakasa festival. Here are the pics.

 

I help walk one of the dogs when I’m at home during dog walking time. I think of it as exercise and it’s not too bad then.

On Sunday I walked Meri, the old dog, but on weekdays, the mom walks Meri and I walk Beni– a mongrel who likes to pee. (This is normal, as learnt from LSM Animal Behaviour but, sigh!!)

Me and the kid take the longer road while host mom trots with Meri on the shorter road.

The thing is, I have absolutely NOTHING to say to the kid. It seems really rude, and I should be making an effort but I can’t think of much.

Oh, the only time we do talk is when Beni poops. I would say, “AH!” and point to pooping dog. And that’s about all.

Well, he does play Maple Story, perhaps I can get him to talk about his virtual character. hmm…

Written on July 05: Prescript
I have totally forgotten about my allergies to alcohol. Now I have rashes on my thighs because I drank too much. Last time I thought it was the weather that made me itchy. AAAAHHHH!!!

Watched a bit of <Maou> and don’t get it at all. The female lead character wears those black contacts that makes your pupil look bigger. In my opinion, if your eyes are not big enough for those, you look like a child.

An adult looking like a child is stupid-looking, in my opinion. It’s supposed to give you a look of innocence. But face it, you’re not going to be any innocent once you’re 20.

Took photos of flowers on the way to the station. Left the house at 8:30am, reached the school’s station at 9:10am. That’s quite fast.

Today’s Japanese class went ok. Just that I still don’t have confidence to talk. GAAHH. must must improve.

After that, was lunch. I had curry rice today. A bit strange, the rice is.

Will be going to a takoyaki party organized by Wawa’s tutor next Wednesday. My tutor’s going too and they invited Wawa and me. Wonder how a Japanese girls’ party is like. You’ll know next week.

Then it was history class. We watched a video on Lu Xun and Kita Ikkai (deshouka?). Now I must reach Lu Xun’s <Tale of A-Q> and <Madman’s Diary>. I visited his museum when I was in Shanghai. I was teary after walking out of the exhibiyion, he seems like such a great man.

After class, we went to the library. I updated my blog and sms-ed D and chatted a bit with N.

Afterwards was the Tanabata party. Tanabata is actually celebrated on July 7 (07-07). In Chinese myth, the Weaving Faries went down to earth for a bath in the lake. (Why earth’s lake?? Have no idea) A oxherd saw their clothes and hid one. When the fairies were leaving, the youngest (why always the youngest??! Stereotype!) couldn’t find her clothes so she couldn’t fly back.

The oxherd then told her that he has her clothes and she has to obey him. (So un-feminist) In the end she bore him two children and she did *fall in love* with him. But the Mother Goddess wasn’t pleased and took the fairy back.

Poor oxherd man didn’t have any free maid to wash his dirty laundry, make his meals and take care of his children so he went in search of her (bringing the children for extra effect). At last, he flew to the sky by wearing his dead (suddenly talking ox before shortly dying) ox’s skin like superman’s cape.

In the end, it’s a sad ending coz Ms Fairy and Mr Oxherd can only meet once a year when the birds make themselves into a convenient bridge for them.

(Alcohol’s effect still here. itchyyy)

 

In Japan, Tanabata is celebrated by partying and writing wishes on a piece of paper and hanging it on bamboo. My wish is to have ten more wishes, very practical, I must say.

Came back late and okaasan was so kind to drive to the station to meet me. arigatou

QUickly showered, watched some chim (deep) movie about cats and at 10:45 asked if I can watch Maou.

Ikuta Toma was so cheerful and cute in Hanakimi. I now notice he has bad teeth. The camera of the drama is unsteady too. Sigh. Shall always have his cheerful image in my mind.

Almost time for bed. Will be going to real tea ceremony tomorrow. Hope it goes well.

Love,
YQ
-shall drink less

 

Didn’t copy the photos into my thumbdrive. Won’t be using internet during the weekend. Will update on Monday! :)

Pre-script, I’ve been living in the past. I thought today is Wednesday, but it’s actually Thursday. GAAA! That’s the problem of being on holiday. Sigh

Now that classes have officially started, I find it hard to update my blog. Class starts at 9.30am. By leaving home at 8:30am, I arrive in class just in time to catch my breath. Then it’s lunch from 12 noon to 1pm. From 1 to 2:30pm, it’s class. By the time we finish, half the afternoon is gone. And if I want to go out to explore, I’ll have to sacrifice internet time. AHH!!

Anyway, I’ll keep on writing, even if I do not have time to post. I do not have the energy to write my diary on paper so I might as well keep diary entries on my computer, isn’t it?

I woke up at 5.10am. It must be because of the sun, my room has two large windows and both have the morning sun. I like morning suns coz you’ll wake up.

 I drifted back to sleep and finally woke at 7.10am to prepare. Small victory for me at 5 plus, I held my door shut when i heard the cat scratching at it! ha ha

I took an extra long preparation time today because I tried out the new eyeliner. My eyelids are troublesome because they’ll eat up my liner if I do it too thin. I looked like I had stage make up today. Ha ha

I had omelette and matcha toast. The toast was green in colour so I thought it was pandan. Ha ha, it’s actually green tea flavor but you can’t really taste it. It was interesting though.

It rained a bit this morning and as you know, umbrellas don’t really work. sigh. A large group of school children boarded the train when it almost reached my stations. I love kids, but a large group of school children is scary.

I got to class in time, thanks to LC and Som, they were both at gates when I got there.

In class, the teacher gave us a form to fill in and to read out it as our self introduction. It’s the very first time I talked to a group of people in Japanese. Broken Japanese, of course.

Classmates are interesting people who like Japan’s food, and pop culture. Like me! We’ll get along well, won’t we?!

I’m in level 5 and it seemed scary but now I think it’s still manageable. Ganbarimsau!

Lunch, I had some weird root vegetable tempura with udon. The veg is weird! It’s grey in colour and tastes so weird. >o<

Class at 1pm was ok. History’s not too bad if you think of it as an endless story.

After class, Som and I went to Hakata. Som’s shoe broke and we went in search of a convenience store. In the end, she bought super glue that was really super! Her shoe was glued in less than one minute.

 

At Hakata station, I saw the yamakasa kazariyama. It’s HUGE!!!!

Also saw Chibi Maruko-chan bus. so cuuuute

Oh, I also saw a lot of homeless people. It’s a shock coz they’ve never showed any homeless in dramas, I’ve not read about them. They looked really prepared with cardboard beds and bags of clothes. The thing is, they don’t really look dirty that you would think they are homeless. What is the government doing with this problem? Should I ask the people here about them?

Som and I went to Hakata Canal City. In the guide books, it looked impressive, but if you’re in it, it’s just so so. I saw lots of cool shops and the sales attendants were really hip. It’s scary!!!

Comme Ca Shop. Cool clothing shop with stuff I couldn’t afford.

It’s cool ceiling decor, such gorgeous colours!

After a stroll in Muji, we had coffee. 280yen coffee. faint, but we’re paying for the atmosphere too.

We then took a 100yen bus to Tenjin to take the subway home. I had to change to train after subway.

We saw ARASHI’s advert on the train.

I reached home quite late, it was pass 7pm. A bit embarassed about this, if I had a handphone, it’ll be easier to phone home. sigh.

It’s still a bit hard to believe that I’m really really in Japan. Not home sick too. Have I grown up??

Love,
YQ

To self, need to buy a bus/subway card. Riding’s eating up my coins.

Transportation here is so expensive!! A normal ride costs 220yen, RM7++.

Keeping a book of account of expenses. Money’s flowing out. Sob sob

 

Prescript– Divided yen by 30 to get Malaysian RInggit. Then divide it by 2.4 to get Singapore Dollar. ^__^

Today’s breakfast was toast with omelette. The omelette is cooked with milk so it’s sweetish. Oishii!

I went to school early even though I did not have class in the morning. I wanted to see if I can make it to school on time if I leave around that time.

I went to a phone booth near the train station and tried calling home with the phone card. A very loud noise beeped but I didn’t hang up and was rewarded with a lady’s voice telling me I have 1,150 yen in my card.

I dialed the home number and was told my phone call is 17 minutes. That’s really expensive, RM30 for 17 minutes. Gulp.

Mom picked up the phone and I chat with dad too. I keep forgeting that it’s an hour earlier here. I didn’t call long but when I hung up and check my calling card balance, it wa only 400-something yen. Maybe I should call less.

The train was not packed as usual. I reached the station a little before class time. I read the posters and found one of Maou, with Ikuta Toma looking seriously serious. Not that good looking with that sour face, my dear.

I took another road to see if I can reach the school. I did and it seemed shorter than the roads I took the last few times. (Oh, it’s only two times? It seems a lot longer than that.)

I found Oguri Shun on a vending machine.

And guess who else!

The last person I expect — Meg Ryan!! Walau. Dare you drink Meg Ryan endorsed canned coffee?

I also found 500ml cokes. Cool, it’s around RM 3.70. Expensive but cool!

I went to the Japan Post ATM to try my luck. And my luck was there! I successfully withdrew my school fees. I went to pay immediately because I’m afraid of being robbed.

Then I went to the library to use the internet. My luck ran out and I got a Windows 2000 computer. It was so so so sloooooow. And quite stupid too. Updated my blog and found myself really really bored…

After that, I went with a bunch of people to lunch. I choose another line today and didn’t know how to choose so I ended up with a fish and omelette. ha ha.

Then it was class at another building. I heard that the buildings were sinking. ha ha. I’m so lazy to study. ahhh… what should I do??

After class, we went downtown. The bus ride was 220yen, which is RM7.00++ So expensive!

In town, we visited UNIQLO. They were selling yukata. The cheapest is last season’s (I’ve seen it on someone’s blog) and was only 1,990 yen. It’s a very red yukata with lighter flowers and a yellow obi. Others were selling at 4,900 yen.

Should I get the really cheap one? The others told me that probably a lot of people have bought it from there and it’ll be really embarassing if two people have the same outfit. Advice please!.

Then Som and Wawa and I went off on our own. They’re fans of ARASHI and W was very excited to see this billboard.

We had an embarrasing time trying to get a picture of her in front of the board without attracting too much attention (which we did) Even the policeman stood near to us. Ahh!

Oh!!! I’ve finally seen Japan’s beauty products store. I tell you, they are HUGE! Its size is about a shop’s size and stacked with so so many stuff! I was too excited to see them that I didn’t take a photo. I shall next time.

In the end, I fullfilled two things on my wish list.

The toner, less than 1,000yen, it’s 980yen. Wow. I thought it would be expensive. from magazines I thought they were glass bottles but they’re actually in plastic. I tried the testers and found that its texture is like emulsion. I snapped one, very happily.

At another shop, I found KATE’s gel eyeliner. Snapped that up too. It’s 1,250yen which is less than the advertised 1,500yen. And after exchanging it’s only RM41 something. I thought it was cheaper in Taiwan, but in fact with Taiwan’s stronger rate, Japan is the cheapest.

But holy crap! it’s damn tiny.

I tried in on the back of my hand and it draws on well. Will use it before deciding whether to stock up.

I LOVE Japan!

Interesting thing in the library toilet. It sounds like really loud flushing if you press it. I beleive it’s to mask the sounds of you-know-what. Perhaps it’s less embarassing than you-know-what. What do you think?

Love,
YQ

Things to do:
-Buy yukata
-Buy rechargeable batteries

Post script: This and previous posts are all written at home and brought to school to be cut and paste.

Another day! Today I woke up at bleeding 5.05am because I thought the cat was coming into my room. I *thought*, but there was no cat. Then I drifted to sleep and back before finally waking up at 8a.m.

Breakfast was Japanese rice ball, Japanese fried dumplings and miso soup. Oishii~ Japanese rice is a lot more stickier than our rice. It fills you up really fast too.

Today’s my oral interview and my slot’s at 11:55am. I left home early because I wanted to explore a bit, I thought I’ve seen a DAISO nearby but couldn’t find it when I walked around.

I found a 7-11 and went in to ask if they had calling cards. I still haven’t called Mom, bad daughter. Using my broken Japanese, I ask (probably in not lady-like grammar) if they have the card. The 7-11 staff were very very helpful.

In Malaysia, if they don’t have, they would probably say, “No.” and expect you to leave. But here! they flipped their notes and brought me to their computerised ticket buying system and poked at the touch screen.

At last, I saw some card that looked like a calling card. I asked for one and the lady printed out a voucher. The guy cashier scanned the voucher and out came my reciept. The lady poked some buttons on a machine and out came a “printed calling card.”

Even though the staff was helpful, the printed paper wasn’t at all. I still don’t know how to use the paper/ card. There’s no freaking number for me to dial for access! Mom, please wait some more!

After that, I walked a bit further down and gave up looking for DAISO. I turned to the direction of the train station.

Japanese children are really really cute. They have plump rosy cheeks and their moms dress them nicely. The language is already cute and even cuter when in a (real) baby’s voice. I don’t mean the “act cute” voice some girls in dramas use.

On the train, there were several babies and fashionble young moms. Cool country.

Here’s my (very cheap looking) which I put in my pocket and now it looks like it’s already one month old. my bad! but you’re too cheap too.

Oh, the day was sunny and it feels like the UV rays are much stronger here. Perhaps I need to reapply lots of sunblock. It was so sunny during my walk to scool.

When I reached school, I decided to try the post office ATM. My card went in but the ATM told me they don’t recognize it. OI! I need money

Nevermind, I’ll ask others about this. I shall go use the internet at the International Student Centre first to check out how to use the calling card. The info on the net wasn’t very useful. AHH! I tried using that to call but it was useless.

I met a Malaysian girl who’s studying in the US and came with tow other friends. MC told me they were planning to travel after ATW. She said I can join them. THey’ll be going to places I want to go too. COOL!

I hurriedly updated the blog with pre-typed material and photos. The photos didn’t turn out well, I had resized them in Picasa and they turned out horrible in Xanga. Hope this entry’s photos turn out well.

My oral test at 11.50 went OK. The first thing I told the prof was, “I’m very unconfident in my spoken Japanese.” The prof’s really nice and chatty. He didn’t make me feel stupid like the one in my NUS placement test did.

He told me I will be in level 5 and I could be transfered to level 4 if I feel I’m not ready for level 5. Thanks!! Maximum level’s 6 and they’re really really good. I will be in class with NUS students who were in LAJ level 3. Faint. I haven’t practised much but (be confident) I will do my best and make it!!!

Had lunch with my tutor, Wawa and her tutor. My tutor brings her own lunch. You can’t get more ladylike than homemade (granny made) lunch!!! I checked her skin and it wasn’t caked with foundation. Some people have all the luck!!!

Oh, here’s the reciept for lunch and you can see they tell you how much calories you’ve had, the salt, reds, yellows and greens you’ve had. (As if we need to know!)

After lunch was class. We’ll be having it in a 100 year old building. It looks like scenes from Japanese horror movies, seriously. The class room’s large but stuffy. The chair was so hard. Thank goodness the Malaysian girls sat quite up front or I would have fallen asleep.

Class didn’t fly by, unfortunately, but Prof Teow’s from NUS so I can still understand him. Before the end of class was a self-intro. Turns out lots of people like to drink and to sing karaoke.

At the end of class, I thick skinnedly joined a group by asking S (who’s from Thailand) if they were doing anything. Operation Leeching was a success. S and I tried our cards at ATMs and asked a bank’s employee but still no cash. SOB

I took photos of Junichi and Jun from vending machines. HAPI~ (Japanese for happy -_-“)

We went into the tiny streets in search of the 100 yen store. At last we found it by asking a granpa.

The shop’s not that large and it was the 4th floor of a supermarket. I bought writing stuff, a face spray (it’s summer and I want to see if it’s good enough to set my foundation), a bottle of lemon sugar water. I always try to limit myself to five items when I’m in shops like those.

We went down to the supermarket. They had beers in all sizes! One litre, regular and condensed milk tin size. Their pudding looked fantastic in the open fridge but I didn’t buy it because I’ve already have fake lemon juice.

The “tour” ended and I took a bus alone back to the train station. No one lived near me and everyone else stayed in the dorm.

At least I can read kanji, which helps very very much. I found a bus and hopped on when it came. The buses here aren’t that frequent and they have the schedules stuck at the bus stop.

The bus sign said my stop is two stops away. But it wasn’t, it went on and on before finally stopping at where i thought was near the train station because it had the same name.

I was so wrong!!! I had to walk and walk before I got to the station. Another try at using the calling card and nothing happen. Merde.

My train ride is rarely crowded. I wonder if it’s because not many people take it or I always (luckily) miss rush hour. hmm

When I reached my stop, the sun was still out. I got back and okaasan told K to walk the dogs. I went too and was in charge of Benni a mongrel who (yes, a “who”) isn’t cute. Bummer. K and I had nothing to talk about during the walk. I wonder if it’s me that’s anti-social. But I will be thankful that he’s not an otaku or a visual-kei (really weird subculture where they make themselves up to be really scary looking) or an emo kid. Phew

Dinner was baked sardines with miso soup. Super yummy. We had green tea too.

The green tea here is made up scooping green tea powder into a teapot, unlike back home where I used teabags.

We watched a quiz TV program. I like TV so much… I will ask if I can watch Maou on Fridays 10pm. Please please please let me watch!

Afterwards, it was shower time and time to finish my blog.

See you in the next entry. I hope to explore the library tomorrow and see if they have anything nice.

The entry’s so long. Hope you’ve had the patience to finish it. I hope I will have just as much things to say by the end of the program. ^_^

Really tasty looking bottles