Busy Day and Busy Life

Soooo in the process of cleaning...again. I kinda feel bad for my Mom and Dad now. This stuff is hard if it isn't one thing its another and it isn't like I can let it sit there and not get done either!

Ahhh growing up. Summer break is over and it is back to the grind!!! Ahhh! I remember I was worried about not having a good summer but I really did! Starting tonight I do plan on blogging about my numerous trips:

Kobe (With Leah)
Tsumago & Magome (By Myself)
Tokyo (With Miho)
Himeji (by Myself)
Yokohama (By Myself)
Matsumoto (With Jenni and Nicole) 
Kyoto (With the school)

My goal is to have all of these large trips detailed out. Before we go on the school trip to Nagano. I don't want to get too piled up. Of course that is probably what is going to happen...

So I finally met my friend Patrick. See Patrick and I have been Internet pen pals since High School. He joined the Navy and I went to NCSU and later to UNCC. He was later stationed at a Marine base in Japan (He is Navy) And he has just gotten his orders to go stateside to a new base. He is more than happy. So last weekend after I got over my migranes I went out to meet him. It took us a while to arrange it (Practically all year). It was worth it and one of the highlights of my trip! (Crazy I know) But it really was nice to see him and hang out.

I am going to say this, it was very strange. It was the first time we met in person, and yet we both said it felt like we had known eachother forever. It was like seeing that friend you haven't seen in forever. It was chill as crazy! We talked politics, culture, all sorts of things, joked around. I treated him to Ramen for lunch, and showed him around Nagoya. For dinner we had his favorite Yakiniku!

Pat looking awesome

Cooking!!!!

Before we went our separate ways I wanted another picture.

Class is going well I think I should enjoy this semester provided I don't get discouraged. I quit Choir but they are still telling me to stop by now and again. I might just so I don't lose the friends I made. I really love the teachers I have. I was a bit late to class on Wednesday... but I earned points back for taking the first presentation! It will be on Japanese Aesthetics sooo fun stuff!

Friday Night I got my grades, not as good as I hoped. I got mostly Bs once you convert them back. However B's in Japan are considered Cs. But I got a handful of As (S and A). It is confusing. But just be assured I got all As and Bs so do not worry!!!

Shizuka and I went to go get Chinese, and I rented 5 movies to watch. 1 Naruto movie, then Thor, Capitan America, and Iron Man 1 and Iron Man 2. I was in the mood for some American Superheros.

Is it just me or does this not look Amazing?!

My Fave dish at the restaurant Cashew Chicken Stir Fry with Tsukemono and Rice <3

A couple nights ago I called Kimiyo, I hadn't heard from her and I had been busy when I tried to contact her. Now with school starting up it was going to be harder to meet. She kept putting off our call and I didn't understand why until she appeared outside our apartment with a bag of bread from a bakery. I delivered it to Mallory and Maisoue and took a couple for myself. I still have tons of Raisin bread!!!

Today I met with Kimiyo again, this time Mallory came with us. She took us to Cannery Row again, an Italian restaurant. She also took us to her Department store again. Giving Mallory and I 5,000 yen (Around 50+ US Dollars) for each of us to spend. She also took us to her favorite fruit shop. She then bought us beautiful Bath mats and gave us bread and nori.  She always treats us out so nicely!!! I really want to get her a nice present. She loveeeeed the angel doll Mallory gave her. So I wonder if she would like Precious Moments... I dunno I think they are adorable.

Today I did buy some items (I don't usually) I bought a white rabbit keychain plush from the Disney Store, the Chibi Okami game for the DS in Japanese, and A Little Princess in Manga form. I always loved that story and having it in Japanese for reading practice will be interesting.

Mozzarella Pasta at the Restaurant

Fruit Salad at the Fruit parlor

Giant Organ

Anyways the sun has set, time to take out my trash, vacuum the floor, and clean dishes. Also to heat up chicken soup/stew leftovers. It is a bit thinner than last time but it was cause I was impatient and didn't wait for it to thicken. Lessons learned!

Hopefully I will be writing again tonight!

Back to Himeji

So this morning I wake up late, rush around, forget a lot of important items, BUT I MADE IT ONTO THE BUS!

So Leah and I went to Kobe, got checked in a "Swanky" Hotel (Pictures to come)

After resting for a bit we went to Himeji again. We just stayed long enough to see the Castle and eat some dinner at subway.

I did see something very disturbing. There was a puppy tied outside while the owner was in the bathroom. A Tan Pomeranian from the looks of it. It was chewing something, upon closer inspection I noticed the tail fur had been completely stripped leaving only the bloodied bone of the tail. The dog began hacking and it threw up and kept hacking and trying to bite itself.

Leah, who is a huge dog lover, was especially distressed.

When the dog owner came out I asked in Japanese if the dog was ok. He said yes and that the dog was in no pain.

I hardly believe that. I am beginning to wonder if it is a Japanese thing, I've noticed their care for animals is a bit different than Americans. Especially seeing the pet store conditions and Aquarium conditions.

I'm just not sure. Either way we went back to the Hotel. We watched the news, there is a lot going on about the anti-japanese protests in China. Kinda alarming to see what they've been doing.

Anyways time to sleep.

General Update

Yea... sometimes I wonder if I will ever catch up with my writing, or with cleaning, or anything. I am beginning to figure out time isnt always on my side.

Anywhom a general update. 

I finally saw Kenshin as well as the 6th Naruto movie. Both were excellent. The movies have a 1000 Yen women's night.

I got a new camera- it is purple.

I've been getting eaten by some bugs, not pleasant... I need to get used to it I suppose.

I have been slowly getting myself ready for the next school semester I will be taking 11 courses to offset my mistake last semester.

5 Japanese Classes
Tennis
Introduction to Enterprise Theory
Current Topics 2
Comparative Culture
InterCultural Communication
Japanese Culture and Soceity (Same class I tried taking last year fully in Japanese)

I have 2 tutoring sessions and a JLPT Session where Mallory and I will be studying together. My longest day will be Monday from 9:00AM- 6:10 straight classes with no break other than Lunch and perhaps tutoring (which is easier to handle than a class)

I think I mentioned of my decision to quit Choir. I decided that with the schedule I have and my need to pass the JLPT I will be focusing on my studies more.

We got some new students. I have been taking care of some of them. It is interesting that they are getting the things I had wanted when I came here. One of the girls is also from UNCC.

I know I haven't been blogging often but sometimes I feel so tired at the end of the day. Especially since I've been having some nightmares and restless sleep. I can't really place my finger on it. I think it is caused by stress.

I need to learn to let go and become more laid back about my fate/destiny/direction in life.

Anywhom! I will update again soon. But know that I am doing well, don't worry too much about the nightmare stuff, it is becoming less frequent. Which is nice cause I don't like waking up at random intervals throughout the night.

Today's Movie Day

Soooo I was going to go see Kenshin, but the movies were too crowded so instead we went to the Farmer's Market!!!

I got yellow and red tomatoes, garlic, brown rice,  rice cakes, asparagus, and blue berries.

Needless to say I am super stoked about this. We also went to the store with all the imports. I got a lot of food!

Canned soups, chili, sausage, sauces, and jam. OH and some chips and popcorn. I have plans for this!

Like a chicken mushroom dish, with brown rice and Garlic sautéed asparagus. 

Teriyaki Chicken with zuchini, onion, garlic, mushroom, with a side of Okra and cucumbers (pickled) with rice.

These are my two next big meals.  I'm excited to be cooking again. I finally cleaned my room again. I can see the floor and the bottom of the sink! Just need to organize dishes, organize laundry, under the desk, drawers and clean the bathroom mirror and tub.

I bought more books, Conan mangas and a book based of Ratatouille. I am going to start reading every day! It will be hard but hey, I want this. I watched Tangled in Japanese with no subtitles with Miho today. And tomorrow my new fave J-Drama Summer Rescue is coming on TV. So more listening practice.

I loveee Summer Rescue it is about a Mountain Clinc in the Japanese Alps. Its pretty cool. Anyways I am tired. I will probably add more post details in the morning. Until then, goodnight.