What's Coming Up @___@

Greetings! I'm just going to stop apologizing for my procrastination of updates and try to update whenever I can. Really. I mean it.
Anyway, I wanted to give you a preview of what is to come:
First, this post is going to contain some tidbits from my October 17th field trip to Kasama Crafthills and the Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum. Kira and I were lucky enough to get into the class. We both really enjoyed that trip. Great fun!


Secondly, I'm going to attempt to be posting more pictures from my everyday life here. There are a lot of little interesting things that I've become accustomed to that other people would find strange and/or just new. For instance, Japanese toilets. I haven't discussed this yet, but I'll get into that later.

Thirdly, Kira and I just got back from our second field trip today. We went to the Ibaraki Historical Museum in Mito City, Izumo Taisha Shrine, and Tsumugi-no-Sato (紬の里). At Tsumugi-no-Sato we dyed handkerchiefs in indigo dye and did some weaving on the loom. I'll have a lot to say about that in another post (hopefully tomorrow or Sunday my time), but for today I'm just going to cover our trip from the 17th.


We set off around 9:30 am from Tsukuba to the ceramic art museum. Beforehand, we were, of course, asked to read through some material on ceramic arts in the Ibaraki area, and we viewed a video in our orientation lecture that had demonstrations on the use of the pottery wheel (rokuro in Japanese). I have A TON of pictures of the countryside because these places were in an even more rural area that Tsukuba. I thought Tsukuba was rural until we went on this field trip. Now, I realize that Tsukuba is not nearly as village-like as the places we visited. Anyway, I think I might put a bunch of these pictures up on my photobucket (if I can remember how to get to it ><) and I'll post the link to that here so you can access more photos.

At the Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum we got to see a wide range of pottery, from historical and useful to current and more artistic. I wouldn't be able to do justice to the craftsmen if I tried to describe just how amazingly talented they had to have been to complete works that were so detailed and creative. The artisans weren't just good at making pottery, they were also extremely talented at painting the pottery. I think something worth mentioning is the different kinds of kilns they used to make their pottery (and still use). There's one kiln that is only used once a year. It burns for days on end. It's built like a long, upward tunnel, but I can't remember what it's called right now. I'll have to look it up for you.
We weren't allowed to take pictures, so I grabbed as many little postcards as I could. I also picked up some gifts. ^_~ Speaking of gifts, if you read my blog and you would like anything at all from Japan, please let me know. I'd be glad to find you something and send it to you. It might take a while on the sending part, but once I know what it is I can go out and buy it pretty quickly.
I think that's all I'm going to cover about the museum for now. If you'd like to know more, don't hesitate to ask. I didn't do much describing about the things I saw there, sorry. I had to write a paper about the trip, and I did a lot of description in that. I might as well just describe a little of what I saw. (ramble,ramble,ramble)
There were A TON of tea sets. Tea sets decorated with brushed landscapes, animals, simple geometrical designs, tea sets that came out of the 30's, tea sets with ships on them, gold rimmed, handmade, handpainted tea sets. I WISH I COULD'VE TAKEN PICTURES!
After we were finished at the museum, we went to Hisatou-Koubou where we got to make our own pottery using the rokuro. It was fun, frustrating, relaxing, and messy. I made four ceramics. Most of mine turned out big and bulky. I made a pot, a large cup, a bowl, and another cup. Kira made a some tiny cups and a bowl. They were really cute! So, I'm going to try to post the videos here. They're pretty self-explanitory. :D {One last thing: I'll have footage and updates on Tokyo Game Show 2008 soon, too. Please bear with me as I try to catch up!} I have more videos but my browser is being stupid and it's making me really angry, so more later.

A Little Something

So, I wanted to post something about Tsukuba that I have good feelings about. I would first like to mention that some of my, uh, fellow travelers here don't like this aspect of Tsukuba, but I LOVE IT. I think it's awesome that I could come to Japan in the first place, and this was not what I was expecting to find when I got here.
What's the first thing you think of when you think of Japan? Is it Tokyo? Is it technology? Maybe it's something more cultural, but the first thing I always thought of when I thought of Japan was technology. Videogames, organic televisions, robots...etc. Well, Tsukuba doesn't have all that. They have internet (which is not wireless and took me several days to acquire), and they have the TX. The TX is the Tsukuba Express, the 45 minute train service to Tokyo. So, you can get to all that if you want it, but Tsukuba is very woodsy. I really enjoy the natural beauty of Tsukuba, even though that means enjoying lots of bugs. :D
Here is a video I took when Perkins and I were biking back from getting our Alien Registration Cards. (Yes, I'm an alien, now) The video can be pretty loud so you might want to turn your volume down. And I'm sorry about the poor quality, I was riding my bike at the same time. I promise I'll get better at it.

Keeping Up With You

GREETINGS!

I just really needed to update this and let you know that this thing can be difficult to keep up with. As usual, my apologies. :D

I suppose I'll just start with today and then look backward in my next post. This week has been rather exhausting. I've had two tests so far, and I have another test tomorrow. My room...definitely needs cleaning. MESSY! At least I managed to get my laundry done today. I've already mentioned how fantastic doing laundry is, right? (sarcasm, YAY!)

The plans for this weekend are as follows (expect pictures):

Go to Tsukuba Center with Kira for clothes

Picaso Exhibition in Tokyo on Sunday--SO EXCITING!

That's what I'm most excited about right now. As far as school is going, many of us agree (many of us being my American classmates) that Kanji class is the most difficult class that we have. Indeed! I am inclined to agree. Memorizing Kanji is hard and can be VERY frustrating because sometimes Kanji combinations and pronunciations aren't what you would think they should be. Do I use the ONYOMI or the KUNYOMI for this one!? WHAT!? NEITHER!? How the heck am I supposed to know how to pronounce that. Really.

Something interesting that I noticed today about the improvement of my Japanese language (lack of) skillz. I went to the Ichinoya Convenience Store and got a bento box for lunch. I could understand what the clerk asked me when she asked me if I wanted my bento warmed up or not. May not sound like much of a revelation, but before I just heard, "SOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGKA?" I knew what she was asking then, but I didn't hear it. THIS TIME, I could pick out words! YAY!

Sorry for the short post, but, as I said before, I'm exhausted. Much more catching up to do later. MOMENT OF BUGZEN!?

O NOES! Akiba, Kichijouji, and Parks

SORRY! I was really busy last week with classes and trying to set all that stuff up. And a typhoon came through this past weekend, so I didn't really do anything. HOWEVER, the weekend before that I went with Perkins and Viet to Akihabara and Kichijouji. They had so much anime crap there I was too stunned to buy anything. When I say "crap," I mean crap. They had everything from keychains, figurines, bowls, pillows, pens, whatever. You name it, they probably had it.


Going to Kichijouji was actually a little more fun for me because they had a Matsuri, so we got to see some Taiko drummers. The quality on my video is, sadly, very poor, so you can't get the full feel of the amazing drumming. I apologize.


Also, Kira and I had lunch next to the little pond by the Student Plaza. We tossed food to the Koi. I'm not sure if you're supposed to do that or not, but they were so well trained to come up to us that I could tell many people had done it before. I love the Koi here! They're HUGE!


I could see how the trains in Tokyo could easily be a navigation nightmare. The lines overlap with each other and there are just SO MANY trains!


Going back to Akihabara: Perkins and I decided that Akihabara is actually not that big. They have tons of stores, but everything is bulit upward, so the area that the stores are in isn't actually that wide or anything. We walked all over Akiba, and we went to a little "park." It was basically a sand lot with some playground equipment on it. We were like, "Wow....park." Not at all like the park in Kichijouji, which felt more like an amusement park to us.
AKIBAKICHIJOUJI
I really wanted to go to a maid cafe to see what it was like, but we didn't get a chance to go that day. There will be more opportunities for exploring Tokyo. From what I've seen so far, I kind of like it. The atmosphere is very different from American cities, though. I'll come up with a way to explain that later. I can't quite grasp it right now.

I'm still working on some registration issues with my classes. The different departments don't seem to speak with each other here, so neither knows what the other one is doing. It's really left up to the student to find all the necessary people and places, which was difficult at first because I didn't speak much and I had no idea where anything was located. I'm finding that my Japanese is improving little by little every day. I just need to keep practicing. I'm hoping that I'll somehow find a club or circle to fit into where I can speak with more Japanese people. I'm really glad that Yurie enjoys spending time with me because she taught me more in two hours than I learned in my Japanese class here in a week. Purdue's Japanese class is much more challenging, and, truthfully, I miss it.

Note to self: The washers here take an hour and the dryers probably take an hour and a half. Who knows? I would also like to thank anyone who ever made me use critical reasoning skills. Because of you, I easily figured out the washers and dryers here. In order for things to dry, you have to empty the lint filter. This may surprise you, but I think I'm one of the few people who realizes this. Also, you have to actually put soap IN the washer in order for your clothes to get clean. You'd be amazed at how many people try to slide it through the holes in the top of the washer that clearly just for ventilation. >_> And, Dad, this won't surprise you, but I think you'll find it amusing. I have to wash my T-shirts twice.
<~~ YOUR MOMENT OF ZEN: A scene from Tsukuba University

WHOO!

Sorry that it's been so long since my last update. It's really starting to feel like school here. :D I've been pretty busy figuring out my classes and going to orientation for Japanese Language class. Today, I attened my first Japanese Language class and my first Kanji class. The language class was mostly introduction and review testing. It wasn't too hard, but I've forgotten a lot of my Japanese. :(
The Kanji class wasn't too bad. We went through a lot of kanji really quickly, and it's only once a week. I've already got the books for both classes, and it looks like I'm going to be working pretty hard. We have a quiz every day in Japanese class. Kanji class is only once a week, and we have a quiz/test every time. I'll be studying hard.
I went with Daniel to the archery range today to see about getting in archery club, but it was raining so the club members were going somewhere else. So, we stayed and watched the Japanese style archery. It's so amazing to me. But, I was nervous to meet new people. And when I'm nervous like that I tend to make an ass of myself. ><>
My classes:
Overview of Japanese Education
Introduction to Modern Japanese Society
Japanese Word Processing
American Literature
Japanese Language
Kanji

So far, I've enjoyed most all of them. Overview of Japanese Education is kind of hard for me because it's a long class. Toward the end I have trouble paying attention.

Other than that, a group of us will hopefully be going to Tokyo this weekend with a friend. He has to go to a birthday party, so I'm planning on e-mailing Satomi to see if she's busy. She probably is. I'm a little nervous about that, too. For being as outgoing about classes and getting things done as I am, I sure work up a sweat about social events. Tokyo is a big city. I just don't want to get lost or something alone. That would be irritating. But, we've go phones, so I should be fine. I think I worry too much sometimes. Tomorrow I will by trying the anime/manga club here. Maybe the people there will be a bit more inviting. And hopefully I won't feel as nervous.
No pics this time, sorry.

Kidō Senshi Gundam: Senjō no Kizuna AND Other Stuff

Cute stuff at the TISA Bazaar

I love Japan for many reasons, but today it is because Kiba took us to Mom's Kitchen and The Pink Panther Arcade to play Gundam. Oh. My. God.
At Mom's Kitchen we had steak and eggs (also came with toast, noodles, french fries, and I had iced coffee). It was only about $9 USD. FOR STEAK. AND EGGS. A big plate of them. And it was delicious! I was so full afterward.
Unfortunately, I've been having to ride on the back rack of my bike, so my butt is kind of sore. It's not even my butt, really, it's my back/inner thigh. Every time we went over a bump it dug into my legs. >< The biggest thing I wanted to rave about today was the Gundam arcade game. You can look it up on Wiki if you want all the specs. Just look up what's in the title of this blog. (-AND Other Stuff). Kido Senshi Gundam is an arcade game. It's basically the cockpit of a gundam. And it's totally badass. I got such a rush from playing it. Japan is the only country that this game is available in, and it's country wide, so you're playing other gamers in Japan via internet connection. I cannot even describe the amount of happiness and excitement I had when I hopped into the seat. With Kiba giving me directions, I was able to place top score for both rounds of the game I was playing. It has 2 handle controls, headset communication capability, and two pedals; one for boost and one for jump. Once you get the hang of the controls, it's SO FREAKIN' FUN. This vid is of Kiba playing it.



Fun Stuff!
I don't know why my font looks smaller, but whatever. Ah, yes. Here are some other pictures from the Tsukuba International Student Association party (which me and Perkins went to for about 10 minutes)....actually, it's a picture of the building across from the party, but it's pretty! And a picture of some little kids playing by the fountain at AIAI Mall. They're so freakin' cute. Kiba was saying how the children here are the cutests kids in the world. I'm inclined to agree. You just wanna take them home with you. Really.


These workers were exercising and stretching together. I'd never seen it before, so I had to be a tourist and take a picture.

Corn on pizza. Weird.

Lastly, there are cats all over Tsukuba, but we've been advised not to touch them. :O I loves kitties!

Accident Prone, But Recovers Gracefully

Greetings my dear readers!
Well, I've given up on trying to post the correct time on this thing. What a pain. So, in case you were wonder, I haven't been posting at 1 AM my time.
The most terrifying bikeride of my life was officially...Wednesday, I believe. Gami took Perkins and I to the Tsukuba Center. I don't know exactly how far it is, I think it's like 20-30 minutes by bike. Perkins didn't have his bike yet because he missed the delivery, so I ended up on the back of my bike while Perkins was on the front. It was like riding a horse, only a lot more painful. I rested my feet on the nuts that jutted out of the back tire. It's a good thing I'm so small. So, for 20 or so minutes I was behind Perkins on this bike, it was bumpy, and I couldn't see anything in front of us, so I never knew what was going on. It was kind of disturbing, but fun in a way.
I visited my Japanese Word Processing class on Thursday, and that seems like it might be kind of fun. Kinoshita-sensei is teaching it. Beth keeps telling me which teachers were the best, but I forget sometimes. ><>
I payed my rent today. The most expensive part is the deposit. I don't even wanna get into prices here. Oh! And I bought a phone. The most expensive part of that was the phone. The bill is supposed to be only about $15 a month, but the phone was rather expensive. *cough* 300+ *cough*
I took that stupid placement test. The staff had no idea what they were doing. We were supposed to take it on the computer, then one of the teachers said we weren't going to take it on the computer and they started handing out paper tests. Then, they took the paper tests back up...and then they gave them back to us again. WAY TO GO! Not many people I talked to finished. And we had to write an essay. Mine was horrible. I spent most of it apologizing for how bad my Japanese was in hopes that at least one person would get a laugh out of it. The girl next to meet used her essay to complain about the staff. I got a laugh out of that!
And I made a new friend. Her name is Kira, and she's from New York. I know what you're thinking. I should be making more Japanese friends. At this point, I'm cool with making any friends I can. I want to join a club to meet more Japanese kids.
As for today...it was so long! I made two trips to the Tsukuba Center by bike and also rode around town with Kira. She showed me a nice, cheap store. I picked some hangers there. And some water. The water in Tsukuba isn't good to drink, so I imagine a lot of my money will be spent on bottled water. As long as it's this hot, I'm going to be carrying a bottle with me in my bike basket everywhere I go.
I bought a few shirts the other day, too. They were labled "L." I put them on and I was like, "M." They're more like between a medium and small, though. I look ok in them. All this bike riding will, hopefully, help me lose some weight. Perkins kicks my ass when we ride. I let him go in front most of the time, and he's had a job delivering newspapers for a long time, so he's used to riding his bike pretty long distances. And...me...well....I'm NOT. I always say, "Perkins...huff...huff...I'm too fat for this." Once, he told me, "Think of it this way, if you were taller you'd be less fat." And I just started laughing so hard. I'm glad he's here for me to hang out with.
I really feel like I'm adjusting well so far. I'm not afraid to talk to people or ask questions, and I can understand what most people say to me. It's funny. I noticed that a few other new foreigners are afraid to even ask questions or try to figure out their way around here by talking to people. The way I see it, I'm gonna be here for a year. If I don't start talking to them now to learn the language or get a question answered, when will I?
Oh, and about the title. I smacked into a road block thingy with my bike pedal. Just my pedal. Perkins thought I was going to crash or something, but I've been good at recovering so far. ^^;
One last thing,
Perkins and I went to eat at "Shakey's Pizza." Japanese pizza is not like American pizza at all. The crust was very thin, and the vegetable pizza had corn on it! I took a picture. I'll upload that later.