I saw it today....
The most beautiful thing that I have seen in my life! That indescribable moment when you see it and that your eyes open to their full extent, your heart stops pounding and you feel the tears comming up to your eyes as these overwhelming feelings of curiosity, of thirst for knowledge, of passion and of understanding.... and right there and then, you know what you want to do, and you know exactly where youre going!
On my way back from the soba noodle activity, standing erect in the clouds were a chain of snow coated majestic mountains beconning me to go meet them! All my life I've loved mountains and was intrigued by them but not until this moment did I understand this feeling entirely. I want to see them, to climb them and to reach the top and to breath in all of the knowledge that they hold! This is what I want to do! This is what I came here looking for but didn't know if I could find it or even if it existed ....
I never would have thought that inspiration was so magnificent. The call for adventure has never sounded so sweet :D
P.s. I couldn't get a good shot of it due to excitement so they all have flashes viewing them from inside the bus... so I kinda failed! Don't worry, I'll try to get some good shots from the top.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Strange land of majestic beauty
That is probably the most acurate way of describing Japan. A strange land of majestic beauty. In these past couple of weeks I have seen what two years ago I would never have imagined being able to see in my life. The cities I have visited were all so different yet all screamed I AM JAPAN! Let me explain.
I live near Nagoya, the fourth biggest city in Japan. This city mainly consists of lights, big buildings and Kareoke places. From there I travelled to Kyoto which is the complete opposite. A tourist trap indeed yet it's one of the most genuine/traditional cities in Japan since it wasn't bombed back in world war two. The temples are all real and authentic. These two cities have nothing in common but I think portray perfectly the current japanese society which is very modern yet still tries to conserve it's history and to protect it from an overbearing american influence. So enough chit chat, here is what I've been up to!
Kyoto trip v.1
This trip was organised with Anis and Jacinthe for (I was not aware of this) their friends birthday where we went to a nomihoudai ad tabehoudai (all you can eat and drink for all the money in your wallet). This is on the first night. We partied around Sanjyo station which is, I think, downtown kyoto.
The next day I wanted to sightsee in a very time optimizing way. Here is the trick to Kyoto sightseeing: Get an all-day subway pass. The subway is a very quick and effective way to travel and you don't have to stress about costs with the all day pass that costs 600yen.
Now this day we were short on time. I find it funny how in this current society the men are more girly than girls. Many times did this happen that I've had to wait for an hour for a man (or more...see Kyoto v2) to shave, shower, and do other man stuff. I miss the times when people would wait after me because they woke us 2 minutes ago and are already ready . Anyways, we were running short on time and I had a lot of caffeine inside of me from the wait.
The only thing we had time to see was the imperial palace. Were we ever lucky! What are the odds that for that week - and that week only - would the Imperial Palace be open for tourists to go INSIDE! Yes INSIDE! I will repeat: INSIDE! This usually costs a lot of money and you have to reserve a month in advance! Even though people were walking over
eachother to get THAT perfect picture, the feeling of peace, of walking right into history, of being there when it all happened, before Japan became a tourist trap.... yeah... that feeling... it could not be avoided. You become one with Japan and it's history as you walk in the footsteps of the most influencial men in Japan. Sure you get this feeling like you missed the party and arrived 200 years late but it's an ignorable feeling. When I'm in these place I like to imagine myself riding a horse up to the palace door and demanding to speak to the emperor about urgent business. (this is why I'm always having fun)
... and then we went home and I knew I couldn't leave Japan without seeing the Fushimi Inari red gates... but little did I know what I was getting myself into.
Kyoto v.2
This is how I describe it: We saw demons, spirits and cats!
So I went with 4 of my guy friends (please refer to the coment above about time usage) to Kyoto to see what I failed to see las
t time.
We saw the golden temple where there was this hillarious squicky kid. On his shoes were things that went squick everytime he would walk... oh and the temple was nice. Other than the fact that it's majestic, the golden color burns your eyes out (but it's a soothing burn) and the magical feeling like youre at one the most romantic place on earth (despite the 1000000 people around you) ... other than all that it was quite ordinary...Here is a picture
We saw Kyomizudera which is this amasing water shrine. Tip: go pee before entering the shrine.
This shrine holds healing waters that you can drink for the small price of 200yen, they do have to make a profit off of your body's salvation now don't they.... But seriously the view was magnificent! It's at the bottom of the mountain so it's low enough that Japanese people will go but just high enough so that you get a nice view on Kyoto.
Here is what you have to keep in mind when travelling: Japanese people, for the most part, are sissies. When it gets dark, cold or too high and far that they can't go in heals, most of them will desist themselves.... and that's when I enter the picture.
Now imagine this: You're in this mountain going through 1000 ominous red gates when the sun sets and the gates start to disperse and different roads open up to you. What do you do?
Here is my answer: Take the most myterious looking road and you will always be satisfied.
That's what I did and I saw demons and spirits! The group unfortunetly split up and the other guys took an even more mysterious road through the woods (I must admit that I was quite jealous... my friends kinda didn't want to follow me into the woods). At one point in our journey we came upon these shrines who seemed to pray to more than the clever fox spirit but to a more demonic fire god :D Just around the corner, we saw a figure all dressed in white going down the mountain in a really odd manner... now you can imagine how extatic I was! Multiply that by 666!
Quote: *While looking above the shrines at the unlit mountain below the moon* There is something demonic yet comforting about this place.
That is adventure baby!
Fire gods
In Kyoto there is this painting of a fire god of somesort that was hidden for 800 years! Again with the luck (It must be that Inari god of prosperity and luck) this is the first time it's being exposed and it's only untill december! Of course we went and they had lit up all the trees in a very Japanese manner exposing the maple leaves of Japan (like Canada but 20 times smaller and cuter) And above this they lit up the bamboo forest with alien looking light.
It was nice, when we got to the painting, to see soo many people wishing and praying to this fire god! Comforting....
Mirai (future)
I'm going to cut this short and conclude with a segment on my future plans.
For the holidays I'm going to Tokyo with my french buddy Coralie where we will meet more french buddies (Emmanuelle, Lilliane, Thais, Hugo) who are organising themselves on their sides. Tokyo décadence this year (my first, hopefully not my last but lets be realistic here) has my favorite theme: PIRATES! HOURAY! I'm soo excited I think I'll never want to leave!
An other project in the making is that I want to ascend Mount Fuji or as they call it here: Fujisama! The only problem is that this is a huge tourist trap that I want to try to avoid. My plan is to ascend with my friend on a secure but non-touristic road and fall asleep looking at the stars.
We'll see how that goes.
Well ladies and gentlemen if you have made it this far you are real troopers so here is a treat information: In China, I learned this yesterday, they have two ages. Actually to them, when you are born you are two years old! Why? dunno... but it's a quirky fact indeed!
I live near Nagoya, the fourth biggest city in Japan. This city mainly consists of lights, big buildings and Kareoke places. From there I travelled to Kyoto which is the complete opposite. A tourist trap indeed yet it's one of the most genuine/traditional cities in Japan since it wasn't bombed back in world war two. The temples are all real and authentic. These two cities have nothing in common but I think portray perfectly the current japanese society which is very modern yet still tries to conserve it's history and to protect it from an overbearing american influence. So enough chit chat, here is what I've been up to!
Kyoto trip v.1
This trip was organised with Anis and Jacinthe for (I was not aware of this) their friends birthday where we went to a nomihoudai ad tabehoudai (all you can eat and drink for all the money in your wallet). This is on the first night. We partied around Sanjyo station which is, I think, downtown kyoto.
The next day I wanted to sightsee in a very time optimizing way. Here is the trick to Kyoto sightseeing: Get an all-day subway pass. The subway is a very quick and effective way to travel and you don't have to stress about costs with the all day pass that costs 600yen.
Now this day we were short on time. I find it funny how in this current society the men are more girly than girls. Many times did this happen that I've had to wait for an hour for a man (or more...see Kyoto v2) to shave, shower, and do other man stuff. I miss the times when people would wait after me because they woke us 2 minutes ago and are already ready . Anyways, we were running short on time and I had a lot of caffeine inside of me from the wait.
The only thing we had time to see was the imperial palace. Were we ever lucky! What are the odds that for that week - and that week only - would the Imperial Palace be open for tourists to go INSIDE! Yes INSIDE! I will repeat: INSIDE! This usually costs a lot of money and you have to reserve a month in advance! Even though people were walking over
eachother to get THAT perfect picture, the feeling of peace, of walking right into history, of being there when it all happened, before Japan became a tourist trap.... yeah... that feeling... it could not be avoided. You become one with Japan and it's history as you walk in the footsteps of the most influencial men in Japan. Sure you get this feeling like you missed the party and arrived 200 years late but it's an ignorable feeling. When I'm in these place I like to imagine myself riding a horse up to the palace door and demanding to speak to the emperor about urgent business. (this is why I'm always having fun)... and then we went home and I knew I couldn't leave Japan without seeing the Fushimi Inari red gates... but little did I know what I was getting myself into.
Kyoto v.2
This is how I describe it: We saw demons, spirits and cats!
So I went with 4 of my guy friends (please refer to the coment above about time usage) to Kyoto to see what I failed to see las
t time.We saw the golden temple where there was this hillarious squicky kid. On his shoes were things that went squick everytime he would walk... oh and the temple was nice. Other than the fact that it's majestic, the golden color burns your eyes out (but it's a soothing burn) and the magical feeling like youre at one the most romantic place on earth (despite the 1000000 people around you) ... other than all that it was quite ordinary...Here is a picture
We saw Kyomizudera which is this amasing water shrine. Tip: go pee before entering the shrine.
This shrine holds healing waters that you can drink for the small price of 200yen, they do have to make a profit off of your body's salvation now don't they.... But seriously the view was magnificent! It's at the bottom of the mountain so it's low enough that Japanese people will go but just high enough so that you get a nice view on Kyoto.
Here is what you have to keep in mind when travelling: Japanese people, for the most part, are sissies. When it gets dark, cold or too high and far that they can't go in heals, most of them will desist themselves.... and that's when I enter the picture.
Now imagine this: You're in this mountain going through 1000 ominous red gates when the sun sets and the gates start to disperse and different roads open up to you. What do you do?
Here is my answer: Take the most myterious looking road and you will always be satisfied.
That's what I did and I saw demons and spirits! The group unfortunetly split up and the other guys took an even more mysterious road through the woods (I must admit that I was quite jealous... my friends kinda didn't want to follow me into the woods). At one point in our journey we came upon these shrines who seemed to pray to more than the clever fox spirit but to a more demonic fire god :D Just around the corner, we saw a figure all dressed in white going down the mountain in a really odd manner... now you can imagine how extatic I was! Multiply that by 666!
Quote: *While looking above the shrines at the unlit mountain below the moon* There is something demonic yet comforting about this place.
That is adventure baby!
Fire gods
In Kyoto there is this painting of a fire god of somesort that was hidden for 800 years! Again with the luck (It must be that Inari god of prosperity and luck) this is the first time it's being exposed and it's only untill december! Of course we went and they had lit up all the trees in a very Japanese manner exposing the maple leaves of Japan (like Canada but 20 times smaller and cuter) And above this they lit up the bamboo forest with alien looking light.
It was nice, when we got to the painting, to see soo many people wishing and praying to this fire god! Comforting....
Mirai (future)
I'm going to cut this short and conclude with a segment on my future plans.
For the holidays I'm going to Tokyo with my french buddy Coralie where we will meet more french buddies (Emmanuelle, Lilliane, Thais, Hugo) who are organising themselves on their sides. Tokyo décadence this year (my first, hopefully not my last but lets be realistic here) has my favorite theme: PIRATES! HOURAY! I'm soo excited I think I'll never want to leave!
An other project in the making is that I want to ascend Mount Fuji or as they call it here: Fujisama! The only problem is that this is a huge tourist trap that I want to try to avoid. My plan is to ascend with my friend on a secure but non-touristic road and fall asleep looking at the stars.
We'll see how that goes.
Well ladies and gentlemen if you have made it this far you are real troopers so here is a treat information: In China, I learned this yesterday, they have two ages. Actually to them, when you are born you are two years old! Why? dunno... but it's a quirky fact indeed!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Oh the Madness!
What madness! What chaos! My eyes are popping out of my head!
Lets start from where we left off....
The slow times
Where we left off was the beginning of a new project. I didn't want to update it too much since this will take some time to get in motion. Here is what is going on with the crazy spanish learning: not much...yet!
- I asked my family to send me some learning books since they are quasi-impossible to find here and if I were to find one ... it would be crazy expensive.
- Yuka, my r.a. here at Ihouse, is taking the begginners spanish class so I will be independantly (meaning not inscribed) attending it starting next wednesday.
- No spanish lounge this week... national holiday
So that about summarizes what is happening with this project. This is just the beginning so nothing is really in place yet. Oh geez if i look back to when I started Japanese..... lets just say im not worried about this one bit!
Other than that, nothing! School drained my time a lot so I didn't write... nothing interesting to say ... but two days a week, my head was allowed moments of redemption, HOZUMI style!
My mojo!
The weekend before halloween I went to Hozumi to pay a long awaited visit to my good friends Brian, Lesley and Scottie! Good times with great people makes it all worth it! It kinda makes you notice that inspiration doesn't come free with a trip, it's the times you spend with people, the thing you come to realize, briefly... what you make of your time is what makes you grow inside.
What I am trying to get at is that I came to Japan to find my mojo.... you know... that thing inside you that makes you tic! Upon great thought, you realize that the answer was in the definition all along: it's inside you. You make life interesting for youself by having crazy projects, opening your mind to new horizons! I love Japan! I have come to notice that I have not been exploiting my mojo to it's full extent since I thought that I had lost it.... but it was there all along, waiting for me. Enough philosophical talk.... lets get to the party talk!
Halloween!
Oh fuck yeah! I love halloween... anyways the readers of this are on my facebook so you saw pictures, there is nothing much to say except to point out the fact that it was awsome! Ok now some current events....
The Fast Times
A whole week off? no way? yes way! Actually....somewhat! For some akward reason (national holiday on tuesday), all of the advanced language classes have been cancelled. School is still open, lounge is still up, facilities working, culture classes a go... but not advaced language class? Frankly I don't give a shit why I'm just happy :D
This week is gonna go by so fast, I hope I don't blink and miss it!
Today: Took a 4 hour strool. I went to a cute park near Ihouse, walked up 75 akward stairs to a shrine and a beautifull view with - up and proud in the horizon- A ferris wheel calling my name! Of yeah! After I went to a coffee shop to drink expensive coffee and do my homework. This was funny since the ladies at the shop were talking about me, finding me odd for being alone... and obviously not knowing that I understood what they were saying.... I had an interior giggle and then was on my way! Walked for a while, found neat stuff but most importantly made a friend! I went in to a donut shop to take a piss (or leave on there more precicely) and the girl at the counter gave me her number because she wanted to hand out since she's been studying engrish and needs a buddy to practice with. Odd coincidence, I speak engrish and study japanese and am looking for friends to practice with! It was written in the stars!
Tuesday: I'm planning on going to Osu with Rosie and then nomihodai... It will be great to get out of nisshin for a day :D
Wednesday: I'm meeting up this girl for a job teaching an english class, won't talk too much about it in this post though... don't want to jinx it!
After this it's a blur until...
Saturday and Sunday: KYOTO BABY! Whoopi! I'm meeting up with Anis and Jacinthe in Kyoto for great times! Can't wait!!!!!!!!! More to come in next blog post!
And then school starts!
Until then, here is a random fact about Japan: Their toilets are an amasing technology! Most public toilets have heated seats and various options such as:
- Bide/butt shower
- Flushing sounds (to cover the akward sounds)
- Powerfull deodorizer
... or you could just piss in the squatters... which are litterally a hole in the ground with running water going through it. Personnaly, theyre fun!
Lets start from where we left off....
The slow times
Where we left off was the beginning of a new project. I didn't want to update it too much since this will take some time to get in motion. Here is what is going on with the crazy spanish learning: not much...yet!
- I asked my family to send me some learning books since they are quasi-impossible to find here and if I were to find one ... it would be crazy expensive.
- Yuka, my r.a. here at Ihouse, is taking the begginners spanish class so I will be independantly (meaning not inscribed) attending it starting next wednesday.
- No spanish lounge this week... national holiday
So that about summarizes what is happening with this project. This is just the beginning so nothing is really in place yet. Oh geez if i look back to when I started Japanese..... lets just say im not worried about this one bit!
Other than that, nothing! School drained my time a lot so I didn't write... nothing interesting to say ... but two days a week, my head was allowed moments of redemption, HOZUMI style!
My mojo!
The weekend before halloween I went to Hozumi to pay a long awaited visit to my good friends Brian, Lesley and Scottie! Good times with great people makes it all worth it! It kinda makes you notice that inspiration doesn't come free with a trip, it's the times you spend with people, the thing you come to realize, briefly... what you make of your time is what makes you grow inside.
What I am trying to get at is that I came to Japan to find my mojo.... you know... that thing inside you that makes you tic! Upon great thought, you realize that the answer was in the definition all along: it's inside you. You make life interesting for youself by having crazy projects, opening your mind to new horizons! I love Japan! I have come to notice that I have not been exploiting my mojo to it's full extent since I thought that I had lost it.... but it was there all along, waiting for me. Enough philosophical talk.... lets get to the party talk!
Halloween!
Oh fuck yeah! I love halloween... anyways the readers of this are on my facebook so you saw pictures, there is nothing much to say except to point out the fact that it was awsome! Ok now some current events....
The Fast Times
A whole week off? no way? yes way! Actually....somewhat! For some akward reason (national holiday on tuesday), all of the advanced language classes have been cancelled. School is still open, lounge is still up, facilities working, culture classes a go... but not advaced language class? Frankly I don't give a shit why I'm just happy :D
This week is gonna go by so fast, I hope I don't blink and miss it!
Today: Took a 4 hour strool. I went to a cute park near Ihouse, walked up 75 akward stairs to a shrine and a beautifull view with - up and proud in the horizon- A ferris wheel calling my name! Of yeah! After I went to a coffee shop to drink expensive coffee and do my homework. This was funny since the ladies at the shop were talking about me, finding me odd for being alone... and obviously not knowing that I understood what they were saying.... I had an interior giggle and then was on my way! Walked for a while, found neat stuff but most importantly made a friend! I went in to a donut shop to take a piss (or leave on there more precicely) and the girl at the counter gave me her number because she wanted to hand out since she's been studying engrish and needs a buddy to practice with. Odd coincidence, I speak engrish and study japanese and am looking for friends to practice with! It was written in the stars!
Tuesday: I'm planning on going to Osu with Rosie and then nomihodai... It will be great to get out of nisshin for a day :D
Wednesday: I'm meeting up this girl for a job teaching an english class, won't talk too much about it in this post though... don't want to jinx it!
After this it's a blur until...
Saturday and Sunday: KYOTO BABY! Whoopi! I'm meeting up with Anis and Jacinthe in Kyoto for great times! Can't wait!!!!!!!!! More to come in next blog post!
And then school starts!
Until then, here is a random fact about Japan: Their toilets are an amasing technology! Most public toilets have heated seats and various options such as:
- Bide/butt shower
- Flushing sounds (to cover the akward sounds)
- Powerfull deodorizer
... or you could just piss in the squatters... which are litterally a hole in the ground with running water going through it. Personnaly, theyre fun!
Monday, October 12, 2009
A new side project?
What an interesting day... and its only 14 o'clock!
It all started when at 7am I got a call from my family celebrating Thanksgiving dinner. I finally got to talk to Vera and Babchi which I had not heard from since my departure and whom I miss deeply! After an hour of explaining Japan and taking commissions for Vera who wants ten of everything im wearing, I hung up and went to class.
Class was average. For the first time I think I did really well on that stupid quizz ... for what its worth.
After that, I had promised Kim (my canadian friend) that I would check out the spaingo lounge (spanish lounge) . Ironically she wasn't there, but that's beside the point. So my main quest, main reason for being in Japan is to learn to think in japanese and not just regular japanese... I want to master that tongue!
But what about a side project ... I'm not nearly good enough to have a conversaiton in spanish but I can somewhat understand the context of what is going on around me. Oh my! Have I become obsessed with tongues? (in the non dirty meaning of course...get your mind out of the gutter)
This is a first experience... will it lead me somewhere? inspire me? enable me? only time will tell. Until then, I'll take it day by day, my Japanese still needs a lot of work and I am willing to do it. My motivation/ambition/passion still remains. Everyday I learn, discover and set out for adventures! The best way, according to me, to live a happy life!
It all started when at 7am I got a call from my family celebrating Thanksgiving dinner. I finally got to talk to Vera and Babchi which I had not heard from since my departure and whom I miss deeply! After an hour of explaining Japan and taking commissions for Vera who wants ten of everything im wearing, I hung up and went to class.
Class was average. For the first time I think I did really well on that stupid quizz ... for what its worth.
After that, I had promised Kim (my canadian friend) that I would check out the spaingo lounge (spanish lounge) . Ironically she wasn't there, but that's beside the point. So my main quest, main reason for being in Japan is to learn to think in japanese and not just regular japanese... I want to master that tongue!
But what about a side project ... I'm not nearly good enough to have a conversaiton in spanish but I can somewhat understand the context of what is going on around me. Oh my! Have I become obsessed with tongues? (in the non dirty meaning of course...get your mind out of the gutter)
This is a first experience... will it lead me somewhere? inspire me? enable me? only time will tell. Until then, I'll take it day by day, my Japanese still needs a lot of work and I am willing to do it. My motivation/ambition/passion still remains. Everyday I learn, discover and set out for adventures! The best way, according to me, to live a happy life!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
All you can drink, all you can eat, all you can sing? A recipie for desaster!
Oh! You know what I'm talking about! In Japan it's called nomihoudai for the all you can drink and tabehoudai for the all you can eat. The school "invited" the francophones to one of those evil suppers from hell!
We got there, 7 frenchies, 1 quebeky (me) and 40 other japanese people all you can eating and drinking until 9ish! After that the deal was off and we were finishing up our drinks and wondering where the night would take us. 2 options were available:
- run home (40 minute walk) to make it in time for curfew
- Take our time and figure it out as we go along!
So as you can tell, option one is not really an option, its just me saying that I thought of being a good girl for a fraction of a second to please mommy :D So we ended up at one of those karaokes finishing up at 5am and getting back at Ihouse around 5h45. We waited 15 mintues outside for someone (super Mike) to let us in (curfew is not lifted yet at this time) 6h30 ish... got to bed.
Unfortunetly I didnt take picture of that night but if you look on facebook, many of my friends tagged me climbing on stuff (the trees here are VERY climbable).
So waking up at 12h30 the next day unable to sleep, we went on with the main idea that was a good idea the night before and was still then, to go to Osu district! Oh my god i've never seen such an amasing shopping district in my life! Seriously, this place is DA BOMB!
On top of the main awsomness of the place, there was a matsuri going on, which is a culture fest. So many ladies in yukatas, geishas, festival food! Whoopi! Pictures of that will be up soon enough...
We shopped, me, 4 other girls and one guy, probly suicidal by the end of the night, until we dropped! and I mean dropped! We had all slept a minimal number of hours the night before so i rarely had such a quiet excursion.
What a great weekend! Made me clear my head out, relax... a long awaited mental rest! ahhh ...
Now we're sunday and I have a shitload of homework to do.... all will be done in due time ;)
We got there, 7 frenchies, 1 quebeky (me) and 40 other japanese people all you can eating and drinking until 9ish! After that the deal was off and we were finishing up our drinks and wondering where the night would take us. 2 options were available:
- run home (40 minute walk) to make it in time for curfew
- Take our time and figure it out as we go along!
So as you can tell, option one is not really an option, its just me saying that I thought of being a good girl for a fraction of a second to please mommy :D So we ended up at one of those karaokes finishing up at 5am and getting back at Ihouse around 5h45. We waited 15 mintues outside for someone (super Mike) to let us in (curfew is not lifted yet at this time) 6h30 ish... got to bed.
Unfortunetly I didnt take picture of that night but if you look on facebook, many of my friends tagged me climbing on stuff (the trees here are VERY climbable).
So waking up at 12h30 the next day unable to sleep, we went on with the main idea that was a good idea the night before and was still then, to go to Osu district! Oh my god i've never seen such an amasing shopping district in my life! Seriously, this place is DA BOMB!
On top of the main awsomness of the place, there was a matsuri going on, which is a culture fest. So many ladies in yukatas, geishas, festival food! Whoopi! Pictures of that will be up soon enough...
We shopped, me, 4 other girls and one guy, probly suicidal by the end of the night, until we dropped! and I mean dropped! We had all slept a minimal number of hours the night before so i rarely had such a quiet excursion.
What a great weekend! Made me clear my head out, relax... a long awaited mental rest! ahhh ...
Now we're sunday and I have a shitload of homework to do.... all will be done in due time ;)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Up to no good at IHouse, a challenge i'm willing to accept
So this is Ihouse, my home for the time that i'm in Japan. Surrounded by people yet very easy to feel lonesome. Being up to no good (my favourite passtime) is quite hard to accomplish here, especially in typhoon time! Well tonight, me and two of my Ihouse buddys (Greg and Damien) decided that it's about time we did something interesting at Ihouse other than eat cake!
So here is my train of thought:
- It's raining outside and the rain is cool, we can go play in the rain!
- Although, since the campus at night is flippin' boring, never mind.
- So what did I do at home when I was up to no good... humm... think... OH I KNOW! Climb stuff!!!
- Next question, how to get to the roof without slipping and breaking our necks!
- There is a ladder... the door to get to it is locked and probly has a security system up
- We can either go from the 1st floor or the 2nd, we climbed from the 2nd ;)
So with a little help from Damien who lifted me and Greg and Greg who lifted Damien up, we were up to no good in record time at ihouse :D
- To those of you bamboozled by this riddle, here is the solution: we werent on the roof at the same time. Me and Damien and then Me and Greg.
By the way, props to Damien for catching me on my way down :D yeah... I slipped.
So that was tonights adventure, what adventures will the walls of Ihouse offer us next, who know! Until then, i'll be thinking outside the box!
So here is my train of thought:
- It's raining outside and the rain is cool, we can go play in the rain!
- Although, since the campus at night is flippin' boring, never mind.
- So what did I do at home when I was up to no good... humm... think... OH I KNOW! Climb stuff!!!
- Next question, how to get to the roof without slipping and breaking our necks!
- There is a ladder... the door to get to it is locked and probly has a security system up
- We can either go from the 1st floor or the 2nd, we climbed from the 2nd ;)
So with a little help from Damien who lifted me and Greg and Greg who lifted Damien up, we were up to no good in record time at ihouse :D
- To those of you bamboozled by this riddle, here is the solution: we werent on the roof at the same time. Me and Damien and then Me and Greg.
By the way, props to Damien for catching me on my way down :D yeah... I slipped.
So that was tonights adventure, what adventures will the walls of Ihouse offer us next, who know! Until then, i'll be thinking outside the box!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Language Lounge: What is it and is it edible
The French Lounge
So this week is the long awaited beginning of the language lounges. The concept is simple: Native students go to the lounge and talk with other students who want to learn that langage. Why they are so popular: The natives are paid! Whoopi
So the pay isnt the best one ever but it's better than a slap in the face. Since i'm francophone, I have assured shifts at the French Lounge. Unfortunetly, due to the industrial size quantity of anglos, I can't do the English Lounge. But hey, its better this way and here is why:
-Since we are so little french people (about 15), they don't give us steady shifts so we basically show up when we feel like it during designated hours (monday, wednesday and friday at lunch)! where as the english lounge people have a steady schedual that they have to respect of else... they die
The Japanese Lounge
Same concept as the others, japanese students go and help us foreigners by chatting us up. I figued, like Anis (former UdM classmate) very blatantly pointed out, I haven't been going to the exchages that the UdM was holding (for legit reasons) so this is a good way to catch up :D And it is.
I talked with two nice girls: Sachie (Sa-chi-è), a foreign languages student studying in Corean and English. And Ami, an other sweet heart studying in french and english. I pressured her to come see me at the lounge after explaining the meaning of her name in french :D Impressively, she already knew!
More Typhoon info: mom don't read this
Tomorrow night there is a huge typhoon comming in!whoopi! I wonder what its like oh I hope there is lightning.
That's all for today folks! I have some crazy studying to do for my exams all throughout the week... aye!
So this week is the long awaited beginning of the language lounges. The concept is simple: Native students go to the lounge and talk with other students who want to learn that langage. Why they are so popular: The natives are paid! Whoopi
So the pay isnt the best one ever but it's better than a slap in the face. Since i'm francophone, I have assured shifts at the French Lounge. Unfortunetly, due to the industrial size quantity of anglos, I can't do the English Lounge. But hey, its better this way and here is why:
-Since we are so little french people (about 15), they don't give us steady shifts so we basically show up when we feel like it during designated hours (monday, wednesday and friday at lunch)! where as the english lounge people have a steady schedual that they have to respect of else... they die
The Japanese Lounge
Same concept as the others, japanese students go and help us foreigners by chatting us up. I figued, like Anis (former UdM classmate) very blatantly pointed out, I haven't been going to the exchages that the UdM was holding (for legit reasons) so this is a good way to catch up :D And it is.
I talked with two nice girls: Sachie (Sa-chi-è), a foreign languages student studying in Corean and English. And Ami, an other sweet heart studying in french and english. I pressured her to come see me at the lounge after explaining the meaning of her name in french :D Impressively, she already knew!
More Typhoon info: mom don't read this
Tomorrow night there is a huge typhoon comming in!whoopi! I wonder what its like oh I hope there is lightning.
That's all for today folks! I have some crazy studying to do for my exams all throughout the week... aye!
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