Change

Hey, I don't know if everyone got the email, but in addition to everything I touch crumbling into pieces, the internet has decided to explode on me. I'm trying to do a great email shift cause I like gmail a lot better than yahoo, but I can't attach the blog to it since...I don't know but its crapped up kinda went a long the lines of this.



So its all the same, just a different address.

Its http://www.gretchen-in-japan.blogspot.com

After a few posts I'm just going to delete this profile and blog, but hopefully by then you'll be following the new one.

All is well...for the most part

Gretchen

SainanDa!!!

Title: Disaster!!!

BLAH! Just when I think that I'm going to keep up on my blog posts this time...well lets just say that my computer is less than simple to use right now. Some of you probably already know, but about a week ago I dropped a full water bottle on the screen on my beloved computer. Luckily it was closed so there was no water involved but my screen is utterly useless. I can use the TV in the lounge as a super screen though, but only when some one else isn't using it. After running about like a chicken with my head cut off I learned that the HP here in Japan can't replace my screen, even if they had the part it would have cost upwards of 600 dollars and I only paid about 750 for it in the first place. The next conclusion was to send it back to the states and have Dad ship it to the HP there...it would still cost 600 buck though. So now the plan is to buy a screen online and put it in myself. It's adventure time people.



Kinda how my weeks gone.

But other than that things are awesome. The school year for the regular Japanese students is over, but we still have more classes. And then an internship, mine being at an Elementary School. Its going to be awesome.



Its a pretty good picture of us. Jessica, Abby, Dylan, and Myself. Coming back on the train from Ossu, the big out door shopping area. Since a lot of the other exchange students left its been really quiet, but all in all really awesome.

All is well

Gretchen



That, and check this out


Yes, folks you can buy your very own Han Solo here in Ossu! And on the top floor of a guitar shop no less.

Yukiwofuruda!!!

Title: It's snowing!!!!

Guess what everyone! It's actually snowing! Look Proof!




It was awesome. It snowed ALL day Saturday, and Sunday...and then it was gone the next day. It's generally cold enough for it to snow, but now to stick. We had this huge snow ball fight in front of the seminar house, and it was glorious. Actually in Japanese its not called a snow ball fight, its a snow ball match. Like a competition. Well, we won. We also found an ice skating rink in Sakae, a real ice rink, now that we went to Monday night. And that was a blast, sadly no one has put pictures up on facebook yet, so I have to pics to put up. I figured it was a good idea not to take my new camera out into a dangerous potentially wet situation. So in the mean time, some pictures from the field trip.

Last Wednesday the exchange students had our field trip for this winter term. Noting special just a day trip to the Seto Campus of the college. Located remotely in the mountains an hour and a half bus ride outside the city. Now if I had come here three years earlier we would have been out there instead of in the city. Our campus here is only three years old. We were told that buses rarely run from the Seto campus into the city daily, and none at all in the summer. Saito- sensei (the hamster crushing one) tells us that to entertain themselves the exchange students used to go into the mountains and pick berries...and for some reason I actually believe that.

We didn't pick berries that day though, we went down this road to this medium sized building that was actually the ceramics studio! Yes, I almost peed myself with excitment. I hadn't worked with clay in a long time so I was really looking forward to this. Thing is, this decently sized building was not heated in the slightest. There were two sad looking space heaters on either side the the single room.

Then we found out that we weren't there to just throw pottery, but we also got to paint an already made piece. I chose a plate and promtly set to work. The Art Professor helping us all looked over my shoulder while I was sketching out with a pencil before I painted and he told me that I was an Art Major. Not he asked, and I confirmed it, he stated- told me that I was one. To my embarassment for the rest of the time he made sure that I had sharp pencils, and all the colors I needed. I was, however, the first to get to throw.



The cup in the middle is mine! I couldn't do it by myself though, you know having little to no experience with an actual potter wheel. But the Professor sat on the other side of the wheel, and helped. He looked really happy that I only needed help starting it, and that I caught on fast. The plate on the left of my cup is Abby's. and here's what I painted on my plate, we haven't gotten them back yet, but I think it should be soon.




Jessica, Dylan (Daisy), and Myself.

The day ended with us all going to another onsen, a hot spring, more of a public hot bath actually. But it was really nice, I obviously don't have any pictures of that. It was so nice on my sore muscles from karate. Oh, did I mention that Abby and I joined the Karate Club? It's friggin' awesome. We are officially white belts, have out own gi (the white outfit) and everything.



Like I said, its wonderful. First day we started hitting each other. Don't worry, we have these padded boxing-esque gloves that we wear while doing it. Oh, and yea I cut my hair. It was getting to the point that it was giving my headaches again. I just had Abby help my trim it up a bit while the rice was cooking for supper. :)



I like it, its a lot lighter and it doesn't get caught in hair dryers anymore. Actually thats a lie, I still manage that last one some how. But its rather similar to the hat thing and everyone likes it more than me! It will look good at my internship. oh yea, and I have a week long internship at a Grade School. Most of us got into the Grade School actually, I'm not really sure what we're doing there. I was just told to sign up so I did. maybe I'll have more info on that next time.

All is well
Love Gretchen

NihonEModdotekuru!

Title: Came back to Japan

As I'm sure you all know, I've decided to come back to Japan for another semester. I left the 4th of January and I've landed safely and even made it though my first day of classes with minimal death. Just one Grammar class, though if my teach doesn't read this blog she'll think I'm having a terrible day. Today we went over things like what we did before doing something else, excuses to things like being late, explaining things (regrettably and unfortunately) In practice I was late meeting a friend because I had to go home and change, cause I forgot my pants. Later I was late for an appointment cause my apartment was on fire. Lol, I love teachers pleasantly shocked faces.

Last night we all hung out in Abby and JuYoun's room and had a mini Christmas/New Years party cause we couldn't have them together.

Matteyo

Title: Wait

I'm working on a Thanksgiving post, but I want to wait to put it up until after our party tonight with just us ryuu gakusei in our lounge so in the mean time, enjoy some nice if not slightly random pictures!



Abby and Masa being tenshi, angels, while we all prepared decorations for the Wa Club halloween party. He may not look enthused, but it was his idea.



A bunch of us at NagoyaJo when the Birthday festival was going on and it was free to get in. Front front to back we are, Lacy, Jessica, Erin, Me, Trisha, and Brittany.



Abby's birthday present to me. Dragon Ball Z headphones, their sounds quality is actually quite nice. If you're unfamiliar Dragon Ball Z is an anime/manga targeted at teenage and young boys so its all about fighting and saving the earth...it was pretty much my first anime. The actualy plot is absurd if it can be squeezed inbetween all the fighting. But the kanji on the ear pieces means tortoise, which in the series is the symbol for the fighting school of the turtle hermit, Master Roshi, the main character's first martial arts master.

and yes this is the same series my teacher Saito-sensei uses examples for in class, see on of my first entries. He very nearly had a fangasm when he saw me with them before class on day. Lol



THIS is a female urinal. Yes, specifically a female urinal in the women's bathroom. I'm not sure how it works, but as you can see its not enclosed in anyway so one day I may find out on accident.



This was actually yesterday. In Karate after out Kata quiz, which I did well on (Sensei complemented me on my form after I was done), there was a impromtu Sumo match between Tim (whose form Coe), and Big Japanese guy. Tim actually won! I think Coe just started a Sumo Wrestling team. :)



Jessica practicing her ward-off-creepers-face. I think it'll work quite nicely.



GomiNeko and a friend caught in the act!!!



Guys are so manly here they can wear bunnies on their butt's and still be taken seriously.



Did I mention that the Power Rangers came to our Halloween party?



I about crapped my pants when I turned around and saw this sign looming over me! Abby and I went outside to cool off because it was really hot in the arcade, and then turn around and the first thing I see is this!!! Of course now you realize if anyone comes and visits me, you WILL be staying in The Hotel California.



You all remember that I'm a master chief right?

And to top if all off, a few of the things I've been working on since coming here.


Some Tablet Practice, Abby at her Desk



Movement study




Commonly among the anime community there are cat girls and boys...but really it's just a lot of Japanophiles sticking cat ears ant tails on people and then saying that they created and original character, and then fantasize about it without taking into account that there are other qualities in cats other than their large eye, ears and tails. For instance their insane skeleton, and how they sleep in the strangest positions. I know I'll think twice, Lol.




D&D Character.





I just love her grin and the sunglasses.

More to come with Thanksgiving!
All is well.

Love Gretchen

Happi Sankusugibin!

Tittle: Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is Thanksgiving, at least here it is. Yesterday the International Lounge had it's International food party, like a pseudo Thanksgiving party. Make a dish from your country and share it with everyone. I made Cheesy Potatoes and mashed potatoes. And I am so proud of them!...Sadly that picture went to the internal memory of my camera and I don't have a way to get it off cause I didn't bring that cord! My computer just has an SD card slot so I just get the pictures off that way! Sad Day! but I will fix it! But yea, i set the potatoes down at the party and they were all gone in like 3 minutes. Its not that they don't have potatoes here, they just don't prepare them in that fashion.





There was stuffing, green bean cassarole, chili, some Korean dish was hella spicy but delicious. Abby made tons of mini pumpkin pies. There's a small international food shop in the shopping complex near us and they had cans of pumpkin.



They were very delicious. And the next night we had our own in the Seminar House Lounge.



When Abby went to the store to get more Pumpkin there wasn't any!!! She with a little bit of my help she made a blue berry...pie...cobbler...thing...It was tasty.




I must say it was a good substitute for being with my real family. Thought the skype session I had with them all on friday morning for thier Thanksgiving made my entire weekend. Even though I accidentally broke me DBZ Head phones, deepest, darkest of all sadness. maybe now they all understand why I wanted them all to download it before I left. Lol. My skype name is level7_gretchen, and my yahoo is Charcoal_Sketch. I would love to talk to everyone!

All is well, Gretchen

PS I managed to color correct and get salvage a pic of the cola fiasco! You can only see a little bit on the ceiling though. My kind of camera, Nikon, actually has a film on the lens and makes all pics turn out either slightly or much more yellow than there really is, and some times even photoshop can't save the pic. :(

CooraaBikkurishita!!

Title: Cola Surprise!

First off I'm extremely sad to say that I have no pictures of this incident. :( Friday Abby and I took a trip to DonQquixote for groceries and other necessities. It was there where we found the a two liter of Coke for the first time. It was on sale too, so why NOT get it...we were wrong so very wrong. By the time we got back it was supper time, and we had planned on eggs, but first we had to put everything away. So I cracked open the coke, and wait for it,...I poured Abby a glass just fine. It was normal, nothing out of the ordinary. So I got to pour myself a glass, using my water bottle cause I only have one drinking glass, and it explodes. Literally, the coke back lashes out of the water bottle covers me, sprays onto the wall behind me, and the ceiling. All the cupboards, the fridge, microwave, the window above the sink! My entire kitchen COVERED in coke, and I have no idea how, or why.

On the bright side, look at this.