Off again!

I’m heading off to the Sapporo Snow Festival tomorrow, I’ll update again on Wednesday (hopefully) and tell you all about it!

More movies, kanjis and new PA’s

Feels that not so much is happening in my life at the moment. The most exciting thing that has happened so far is that I went to the movies (again! Wohoo! I don’t go very often…before Avatar last time I went was in…August?) last night together with Kozue and her friend Inuishi and saw The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, which turned out to be quite good. Hey, there’s Heath Ledger (last movie he made, was it?), Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrel – 4 hot guys in one move? Sweet! Sort of a weird movies, but I like that kind.

The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus – or Dr. Parnassus’ mirror as it’s called here in Japan (in Japanese of course).

 

Besides that I’ve been studying more kanjis. My goal is to learn all the kanjis in my book (about 250) before the semester starts. Who thinks I’ll make it? I actually think kanjis are fun to learn (could be because I have a good picture memory) and it usually doesn’t take me too long to remember them. Or forget them. Or rather, forget the damn reading, since each kanji usually has more than one way to be read – very annoying! I was about to jump out the window when I came across this kanji:

 The kanji “gi” which means…deliberation, consultation, debate etc.

For a while I thought that I’d never remember this kanji but turns out that the hardest ones are usually the easiest ones to remember, at least for me. Well, got about 200 more kanjis to go I think…

By the way, for you JSPs out there, I met the new PA’s today + Asuka (who will still be PA next semester!!!). All in all they’re 3 girls and one guy, two of them have been to TIUA and knows some of you guys already. They seem really nice, will be fun to get to know them.

Tomorrow I’m heading out to the Ghibli Studios to pay a visit to Totoro and all the others, together with Kozue. After that We’ll be heading off to ICU (International Christian University) to watch our friend Moe’s performance with her choir, and hopefully I’ll get to meet Betty as well, my old classmate from Växjö uni, who’s doing her exchange at ICU. Still haven’t met her even though we’ve both been here since August and only live like an hour away from each other…very bad!

On Sunday Kozue and I will be going to Sapporo, for the famous snow-festival for 3 days! It will apparently be very cold, but it’ll be fun to see all the snow-statues etc, like this one:

 Amazing sights at the Sapporo Yuki-matsuri

I promise to take tons of photos (as I always do) and post as soon as I get back!

Well, gotta go, the kanji’s are calling!

Tata!

漢字勉強漢字勉強漢字勉強。。。

The above title reads: kanji benkyou (over and over again) and means “kanji studying”, for those of you who don’t speak (or read) Japanese. That’s pretty much what I’ve been doing today. I woke up quite late today and headed directly to TIU, where I sat until about 18h studying and talking to some friends. Luckily Maiko came a while after Shino and Chisato had left, and helped me going through all the kanjis I studied last summer (yay, I remembered them all! Almost.), and now I “only” have to learn all the kanjis in the textbook my teacher gave me when the winter-break started. Well at least I have something to do, right?

Here in Japan it’s exam-period right now. All my Japanese friends have been going nuts with all their exams (all at the same time!) for the past couple of weeks, but as from next week they’ll be going on a well-deserved spring-break (until April!). お疲れ様皆さん！Not only for the university-students, but also for the high-school students, which is probably even more important, since these tests will determine what university they’ll be attending next fall! High pressure? Not at all…

Luckily I only have one semester left to go, then I can graduate! But instead I have to go through the pain of job-hunting. In Japan as well, since I really would like to stay here! If anyone out there needs a Swede/Colombian who speaks 5 languages and will have a bachelor’s in “International Administration and Languages”, gimme a shout!

Seen Avatar yet?

I saw it two days ago, in 3D and yes, it’s just as cool as people claim it to be! See it! In 3D! Good story, good effects and even cooler on 3D. Be prepared to sit for a long time though, it’s a bit over 3 hours long…but totally worth it!

 

Great movie – see it!

A week in Seoul

I have a new reason for not updating for a while: I was in Seoul for a week! Just got back two days ago, but now I’m ready to update! (if my fingers allow me, they’re frozen!!!).

Well, I went to Seoul (South Korea if anyone doesn’t know…) on January 15th-23rd, and stayed at my friend Jin’s place in Heukseok (south of the river). The apartment was tiny but I only slept there anyway. During the week I think I saw most of what Seoul has to offer (I probably missed tons of things as well), but honestly, there’s not much to see there, as there is in other big cities. And I was frankly quite disappointed with the city, since it was so dirty and ugly! Ok,the centre and the new parts were really, really nice, but the rest… Maybe I just got sort of a reversed culture-shock from having lived in Japan for 5 months, over here everything is so clean and nice, everywhere! I guess that Seoul is probably more like most other European big cities then…maybe? For some reason it made me think of the images you see on TV from eastern Europe…dirty and ugly… But the thing that surprised me most were the people! They were not at all as nice and polite as the Japanese! Definitely more like the Europeans in that case! No bowing, smiling or thanking me for shopping, excusing for stepping in my way, bumping in to me or anything! Horrible! Thank god my Korean friends aren’t like that! They are lovely! No wonder that most of them doesn’t want to live in Korea… Ok ok, I’m not gonna trash-talk South Korea, it’s a nice place, and of course I haven’t seen everything. And generally people in the capital (in whatever country it is) are usually not as nice and polite as people in the rest of the country. But…I thank my lucky star that I chose to come to Japan and not South Korea! Only the language is reason enough not to live there! It’s so complicated to pronounce! During the whole week I only learned how to say “thank you”, and only that took me at least 2-3 days to get right… At least I improved, before going there all I knew was “bibimpa” and “kimchi”.

During the week I visited some palaces (don’t ask me for the names, I understand nothing of that space-language!), Seoul Tower (nice view!), ate the famous poisonous blowfish (really didn’t taste  much. Gotta try the sashimi instead), and met up with two other friends! Jin asked me if I wanted to try to eat a live squid, and when I finally had made up my mind to try it, we couldn’t find it anywhere. Oh well. I did however refuse to try to eat dog-meat! That is just wrong! My dear dog Toppen (may he rest in peace) would never forgive me! But I have to admit that the thought was a bit tempting…

Of course I spent way too much money on shopping… I came back with new jeans, shoes, boots, necklace, ear-rings, typical Korean souvenirs, sweets and more. I also visited the DMZ (Demilitarised Zone = border to North Korea), which was very interesting! Unfortunately it was cloudy so we couldn’t see too clearly to North Korea, and we weren’t allowed to take photos too close to the border…  But at least we got to crawl in to a tunnel that the North Koreans had dug secretly to invade the South, go to a view-point where we could see the fake village (on a sunny day…) on the north etc. Very interesting! Talking about photos, of course I took tons of them! Here it goes, enjoy:

 It started already at the airport…I don’t understand a word!!!!

Brunch-time. I think I didn’t eat anything that wasn’t spicy the whole week…

The visit to the fish-market was quite interesting! Lots of fish/crabs etc still alive and trying to crawl out of their tanks…

The temples were all very beautifully decorated, inside and out.

Seoul Tower – where lovers hang a lock on the fence to make sure their love never ends…or something.

Locks – thousands of them!

The closest I’ll ever get to North Korea (somewhere in the background)

One of the palaces…or rather, part of it. This is where the king met important people.

Korean bbq with my friend Freddy! Yum!

I also met my old corridor-mate Sook, who I lived together with for a year, 3 years ago…time flies! She was very nice and drove me around Seoul my last night, and I got a whole new picture of Seoul! It’s not at all as bad as I first thought!

All in all I had a very nice time in Seoul, despite me being a bit disappointed/surprised with the city. I’ll probably get a huge reversed culture-shock the day I go back to Europe as well… But…it’s damn nice to be back at home in Japan! Let’s just hope I can stay here even after my exchange-studies are over!

I’m back! For a few days at least…

I’ve been away for a while again, I know, I’m sorry! But this time I had damn good reasons! NO INTERNET! There you go. I’ve been in the Fukushima (福島) prefekture since I left Hakuba, at my friend Kozue’s old home. OLD home indeed! 100 year old house! DANG it was cold! But really beautiful too! Tatami-mats all over the house, OLD-fashoined kotatsu (no electric stuff here, no no, we’re talking COAL-heat, the real thing!), and sleeping on a futon. Slide-doors until you can’t slide no more, all that. But now I just got back to dear old Kasumigaseki (hooommeee!) outside Tokyo, only until the day after tomorrow though, because then I’m off to Seoul to visit my friend Jin! January 15-23rd I’ll be in South Korea sightseeing in Seoul, hopefully getting to do to the north border too, we’ll see. When I get back to Tokyo, I’ll be going to Hokkaido with Kozue on February 7-9th, for the famous Snow Festival in Sapporo! After that I’m heading back to Fukushima, to do some volunteer-work at a really nice place! In the middle of nowhere, on top of a mountain, BUT there’s PEOPLE there to work together with, JAPANESE people! Not like Hakuba, where I had to work alone all day, then be alone with gaijins the rest of the day. No no. Much better! I’ll be talking JAPANESE! AND!!! The owners and staff are sooo nice! Went for a short visit a few days ago with Kozue’s mom and nephew, it was awesome! There’s dogs, cats, cows, a horse, 400 chicken, and mice running around! Will be tough to get up at 6 to milk the cows in the freezing cold, but it’s only for 2 weeks. I’ll be ok, hopefully.

 

The Sato-home since 100 years back!

 

 Kozue’s green daruma and my red & white ones.

Japaaaaaan I loooove you!

Miserable

Am I allowed to complain a bit, now again? I’m sorry, but today I really need a hug… I have one more day left here in Hakuba, and just today I woke up with a headache, but got up anyway and started wiping dishes etc, until the owner’s wife told me to rest today instead, which I did after breakfast. At about lunchtime I obviously got hungry, but nobody came and asked me if I wanted food or so, so I went upstairs, where the others had just finished eating… I asked if there was some tea, and all I got was “see if there’s some”. Got myself a tiny cup and started washing dishes, headache and all. I figured that if I don’t get any food, at least I’ll make them feel bad about me being sick and working anyway without getting food… Doesn’t seem that they’ve noticed it, or at least they haven’t said anything. So now I’m back in my room again, alone, headache, tired, hungry. Thank god my hostfamily sent me a care-pack a few days ago, mostly sweets though, but some crackers too, which I’ve been eating together with some water…

Thank god I’m leaving tomorrow!

Happy New Year 2010!

Or rather akemashite omedeto gozaimasu as we say here in Japan. Sort of “congratulations on entering the new year”, or something like that.

The first day of 2010 – the year of the Tiger – has almost passed. At least over here in Japan! I won’t tell you about my day, wasn’t much different from any other day over here, except that I wore the nice not-complicated kimono that my hostfamily gave me for Christmas in the morning, scratched my eye with a finger that had been cutting chili-fruits earlier and spent the next hour or so with a very runny eye. I wonder what that means, if it has any meaning at all (other than that I really should wash my hands after cutting chilis – immediately after!).

Yesterday and today it was snowing so much that I couldn’t go out: Yesterday I braved my way out, and walked for a whole 10 minutes before I gave up. Today I stayed in and did my laundry and packed my bags. One more day left, then I’m off to Fukushima to my wonderful, wonderful friend Kozue’s place and then we’ll see what happens. New adventure, new year! I’m ready for anything! Most of all, I’m really happy to get out of this place, no matter how beautiful it is, how good the skiing is or how nice the owners are. Sorry, but I need to leave before I go nuts.

I’m dead tired after having stayed up until 1am last night, eating the traditional soba-noodles at midnight (supposed to give me a long life), then being forced up to work the same time as usual this morning….grrr!!! If I had been in Sweden, working during New Year’s Eve would mean LOTS of money, but not here, no no! But I won’t complain, I’m soon off to new places!

How was your new year’s eve?

2009 wrap-up

A year has already gone by since I stood outside in the cold and snow, together with my Japanese friends in Sweden, wishing everyone a happy new 2009 (in Japanese). 2009 has definitely been my Japan-year, starting with Japanese friends and ending in Japan. I remember how I looked up at the winter-sky over Växjö that night, a year ago, wondering how the year would be, looking forward to my trip here and everything that would happen. Now that I look back, I see a lot of expectations, longing, frustration, more waiting, countdowns and then, finally, going to Japan.

Party with the girls, January 2009

Maybe I should have enjoyed my time in Brussels more, where I had to do my internship during February-May this year. I know I should have. But the internship itself made me more frustrated, since I didn’t feel that I did anything, and so my countdown for Japan became even more intense. Even so, I’m really happy I had the chance to live in the “European capital” and see some more of Europe, make new friends, visit old ones, family etc.

Partying with new friends in Brussels, February 2009

Sightseeing in Gent, March 2009.

Meeting up with old friends in my favourite places in Paris, April 2009.

Visiting my cousin Alejo, who I hadn’t seen for more than 10 years, and his family in Poland, May 2009.

Pre-partying with old friends back on campus, June 2009.

I’m also happy I had the chance to spend one last summer living together with my parents. I know it’s not the last time I see them or so, but it’s the last time we live together for that long, that’s for sure. I’m also happy and thankful that the last summerjob I had in my hometown was at Hammarn’, together with some really great colleagues, looking after some of the greatest oldies I’ve ever met!

Being home for the summer, one last time. July 2009.

 

Finally arriving in Japan, August 2009.

Going to my first Miyavi-concert at C.C Lemon Hall, Shibuya, September 2009.

Karaoke with new friends, October 2009.

Going to tea-ceremonies with my hostfamily, November 2009.

Skiing at Japan’s biggest ski-resort, Hakuba Happo’one, December 2009.

Looking back on 2009, I can see how I’ve changed a bit more, matured a bit more (hopefully) and how much I waited for this to happen.  I realized that 2009 was the year that I visited the most amount of countries as well! Sweden, Belgium, Holland, France, Poland, and Japan! Did I miss anything? Wow! Sometimes I do love my life!

For 2010…I don’t know what to hope for. A good job, since I graduate in June, eventually a partner too, if that’s what’s meant for me, since I’ve been alone for way too long. Happiness, and peace in my mind & heart, so I can stop searching for whatever it is that I’ve been searching for so long. Happiness. Yes, that sounds like a good one.

 

 

I wish you all the best for this new year, 2010, to come. The year of the Tiger! I wish you all tons of happiness, love, health and peace, a roof over your head, food in your bellies, love in your hearts and all around you, but above all, happiness!

Happy New Year of the Tiger everyone! Let’s make 2010 a memorable year!

ありがとう、こずえちゃん！

Thank god! I can leave this place! All thanks to my friend Kozue, her mom and her mom’s friend, who happens to be a sort of teacher at this sort of camp for kids up at Fukushima (north of Tokyo), where I’m welcome to stay and work during the break! Yay! As soon as I find tickets and figure out how to do with my bags and all, I’m out of here! Of course I’ll have to wait until after new year’s, cause it’s the biggest holiday here in Japan, and everyone goes back home for a visit. But still, I don’t have to be here all break!!! こずえちゃん、本当にありがとうございます！！！ Thank you soooo sooo soooo much! I can’t wait to leave! I hardly speak anything at all at this place! Gah!

Yesterday I had the best day since I got here, the afternoon at least. I went skiing with Yasunori, a young boy who came here the day before yesterday, also to volunteer-work, and we went to the highest stop in the mountain that was possible to reach that day (they had closed the last lift, so we couldn’t go up the last 300 meters, unfortunately). Perfect weather, perfect snow and I wasn’t alone for once!

Well, I should go out for a walk and take some fresh air, then come back, chill for a bit before work again at 5ish… But but buuut! I can leave soon! Sweeeet!!!