Whoo, today was tiring.
It was our free day today, which was fairly exciting. Unfortunately it wasn't quite as free as I thought it would be, since we were forced to go in groups of 15 to specified places with chaperons.
So I went to Shibuya and Ueno. Unfortunately it was raining the whole day, which kind of put a dapener on things.
Shibuya is a shopping district with lots of department stores on the main road and a few side roads lined with boutiques. Didn't buy much.
Then we went to Ueno park and hung out at the Science museum because it was raining. We just....ate lunch and visited the museum store. That was it, mostly.
We came back soaked and tired, and then went out on the town around Shinjuku for dinner. I bought more Moyashimon stuff.
I saw some bags, but I didn't think they were pretty enough. so yeah.
Tomorrow I really need to find a store selling anime goods besides just moyashimon figurines. Seriously.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Japan Day 3
I'm too tired to put pictures in, so I'll just put in a video at the end.
So today, we rehearsed with a youth orchestra from Tokyo in a combined rehearsal for one of our pieces we're playing in the next concert.
The second bassoon guy was pretty cute :D We didn't get much time to socialize with them, though. We played through the songs then went straight to the bus.
Lunch was odd. We had bento box things that had sandwiches and 2 pieces of sushi. I'm seriously getting sick of Japanese sandwiches. They're kind of gross. We ate at a park that had no benches. Then all the guys tried to show off by doing pull-ups. Some things never change.
After lunch was the MOST ADORABLE THING EVER.
OH MY GOD.
We did an exchange thing with an elementary school where we went there and played some songs with them, except THEY COMPLETELY PUT US TO SHAME. Dear lord, they were amazing.
THEY MARCHED IN FORMATION, MEMORIZED A REALLY LONG PIECE, PLAYED WELL, AND THERE WERE 2 FREAKING MARCHING BASSOONS. It was so amazing
Aaaaahhhhh
THEY WERE SO CUTE.
And they sang for us too! And aaaaaaaah. Even if I say I don't like little kids, LITTLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLERS MARCHING WITH BASSOONS are too much for me to handle.
So after that bit of adorableness, we loaded the buses and drove away while they chased the bus.
So after that, we went to an amusement district with a giant ferris wheel and a shopping mall. We ate dinner at the mall in the food court. I had fresh takoyaki, and it was delish. So amazing.
Except then we were late so we ran to the ferris wheel, but it was too late D:
So we played games in the arcade. TAIKO DRUM GAME IS SO AMAZING
And then we took the JAPANESE SUBWAY home. Whee!
So today, we rehearsed with a youth orchestra from Tokyo in a combined rehearsal for one of our pieces we're playing in the next concert.
The second bassoon guy was pretty cute :D We didn't get much time to socialize with them, though. We played through the songs then went straight to the bus.
Lunch was odd. We had bento box things that had sandwiches and 2 pieces of sushi. I'm seriously getting sick of Japanese sandwiches. They're kind of gross. We ate at a park that had no benches. Then all the guys tried to show off by doing pull-ups. Some things never change.
After lunch was the MOST ADORABLE THING EVER.
OH MY GOD.
We did an exchange thing with an elementary school where we went there and played some songs with them, except THEY COMPLETELY PUT US TO SHAME. Dear lord, they were amazing.
THEY MARCHED IN FORMATION, MEMORIZED A REALLY LONG PIECE, PLAYED WELL, AND THERE WERE 2 FREAKING MARCHING BASSOONS. It was so amazing
Aaaaahhhhh
THEY WERE SO CUTE.
And they sang for us too! And aaaaaaaah. Even if I say I don't like little kids, LITTLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLERS MARCHING WITH BASSOONS are too much for me to handle.
So after that bit of adorableness, we loaded the buses and drove away while they chased the bus.
So after that, we went to an amusement district with a giant ferris wheel and a shopping mall. We ate dinner at the mall in the food court. I had fresh takoyaki, and it was delish. So amazing.
Except then we were late so we ran to the ferris wheel, but it was too late D:
So we played games in the arcade. TAIKO DRUM GAME IS SO AMAZING
And then we took the JAPANESE SUBWAY home. Whee!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Japan Day 2
We watched a tea ceremony (it took about 15 minutes) and then we had rehearsal.
For 4 hours.
And then we ate tuna pizza with corn and ham from Pizza Hut. It was strange.
And then we had a concert. For 3 hours.
I was too exhausted to move, but then we had a japanese and music trivia contest on the bus ride back, courtesy of our conductor, and then we went back to the hotel and told scary stories. Yep.
Not a very exciting day.
For 4 hours.
And then we ate tuna pizza with corn and ham from Pizza Hut. It was strange.
And then we had a concert. For 3 hours.
I was too exhausted to move, but then we had a japanese and music trivia contest on the bus ride back, courtesy of our conductor, and then we went back to the hotel and told scary stories. Yep.
Not a very exciting day.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Japan Day 1 (picture heavy)
So, first full day in Japan!
Some basic rundowns. I've decided that I'll post pictors. Yay pictors.
Woke up at 6:30ish. I slept extremely well! I'm surprised.
Breakfast at hotel. It was pretty awesome; all you can eat, nice food, etc
Well, their eggs were a little sketchy, but that's okay. Miso soup for breakfast ftw. Ate a big breakfast to make up for smaller portions at lunch and dinner.
(Our bus was yellow. I took a lot of bus pictures.)
First place we visited was the Imperial palace area. It's not open to the public, so yeah. We just took pictures of the guard towers and stuff like that. Not that exciting.
(bona-fide Japanese hobo!)
After that, we went to another shrine! This time it was a Buddhist shrine. It was pretty busy, since it was right in the middle of Tokyo (Asakusa neighborhood). We walked around a bit, and saw some pretty awesome shrines. We also ate lunch there; I had this delicious bowl of Udon. Awesome udon. Like, amazingly amazing. I love udon.
A dude at the shrine doing squats because his dog was doing squats, if you know what I mean
EGG UDON. ¥700! DELICIOUS!
Some basic rundowns. I've decided that I'll post pictors. Yay pictors.
Woke up at 6:30ish. I slept extremely well! I'm surprised.
Breakfast at hotel. It was pretty awesome; all you can eat, nice food, etc
Well, their eggs were a little sketchy, but that's okay. Miso soup for breakfast ftw. Ate a big breakfast to make up for smaller portions at lunch and dinner.
(Our bus was yellow. I took a lot of bus pictures.)
First place we visited was the Imperial palace area. It's not open to the public, so yeah. We just took pictures of the guard towers and stuff like that. Not that exciting.
(bona-fide Japanese hobo!)
After that, we went to another shrine! This time it was a Buddhist shrine. It was pretty busy, since it was right in the middle of Tokyo (Asakusa neighborhood). We walked around a bit, and saw some pretty awesome shrines. We also ate lunch there; I had this delicious bowl of Udon. Awesome udon. Like, amazingly amazing. I love udon.
A dude at the shrine doing squats because his dog was doing squats, if you know what I mean
EGG UDON. ¥700! DELICIOUS!I also got a moyashimon keychain at one of those toy vending machines with the capsules. IT'S SO ADORABLE AND SQUISHY.
Also, Hawk, do you still want a bag? I saw some nice ones here.
After the Buddhist shrine was the Shinto shrine, which was a lot quieter and more deserted looking since it was the middle of the day. It was in the middle of a freaking forest. In the middle of Tokyo. What?
(kegs of French wine in the middle of the forest to the Shinto temple)
NEXT we went to Harajuku! I was so excited! I really wanted to see Harajuku because it's awesome, except it was raining while we were there, so I didn't get to see as many strangely dressed people as I would have liked. I'll go back when the weather gets better.
BUT I did find a store selling anime goods, so I bought more Moyashimon merchandise and a Gurren Lagann action figure (that was almost half the price as it was at Fanime). Pretty awesome.
Socks with pandas for toes at a store in Harajuku!
After Harajuku, we went back to the hotel and I practiced bassoon. Kind of. Dinner was an interesting affair of convenience store sushi, melon bread, and pudding. Not bad, I must say, and it cost less than lunch.
Tomorrow we have a concert (blaaaaaaah) and we get to learn flower arranging. yey. hooray.
Pictures taken: 272
Money spent on meals: ¥1380
Quail out.
PS: Don't you love how I didn't actually post any pictures of the landmarks?
Also, Hawk, do you still want a bag? I saw some nice ones here.
After the Buddhist shrine was the Shinto shrine, which was a lot quieter and more deserted looking since it was the middle of the day. It was in the middle of a freaking forest. In the middle of Tokyo. What?
(kegs of French wine in the middle of the forest to the Shinto temple)
NEXT we went to Harajuku! I was so excited! I really wanted to see Harajuku because it's awesome, except it was raining while we were there, so I didn't get to see as many strangely dressed people as I would have liked. I'll go back when the weather gets better.
BUT I did find a store selling anime goods, so I bought more Moyashimon merchandise and a Gurren Lagann action figure (that was almost half the price as it was at Fanime). Pretty awesome.
Socks with pandas for toes at a store in Harajuku!After Harajuku, we went back to the hotel and I practiced bassoon. Kind of. Dinner was an interesting affair of convenience store sushi, melon bread, and pudding. Not bad, I must say, and it cost less than lunch.
Tomorrow we have a concert (blaaaaaaah) and we get to learn flower arranging. yey. hooray.
Pictures taken: 272
Money spent on meals: ¥1380
Quail out.
PS: Don't you love how I didn't actually post any pictures of the landmarks?
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Oh yes
And a minor addendum.
To my great chagrin, I must announce that those fans eagerly following this blog must wait until August for pictures/news about IKEA.
Now you may all rot in suspense.
To my great chagrin, I must announce that those fans eagerly following this blog must wait until August for pictures/news about IKEA.
Now you may all rot in suspense.
I say goodbye....
Hai guys.
Zomg such a fast followup post from the lazy, awkward hawk!
Well I'm leaving tomorrow and I just wanna leave you guys with something to remember me by :)
I read an article in Time about how fat American kids are. Look at our lifestyle. Hanging out at Starbucks, eating McDonald's all the time... becoming reliant on computers and spending less and less time biking and rolling down grassy hills...Diabetes, obesity, and heart attacks are rampant. Granted, skinny is not always healthy either. The thing is though, in a country surrounded by so many high-calorie temptations, being skinny usually means the lifeguard at the gene pool was unusually attentive or that the skinny person worked hard for their body. While the media is lampooning the overweight and bringing the skinny up for admiration or attention(ex. Nicole Richie and Angelina Jolie), society is trying to make people realize how beautiful they are despite public opinion. Rather inconsistent.
Looking at teen heroes like Hannah Montana and Vanessa Hudgens makes girls especially hate themselves. Not everyone has the genes for C cups and size 0 butts. But lately plus-sizers have become more prominent. The lead of Hairspray, for instance, gets the supposedly hot Zac Efron. The lead girl of Camp Rock (plotless drivel though it is) is not ridiculously beautiful or skinny in any way. She even has a slight buttchin. Cory in the House is led by the plus-size Kyle Massey, and Raven of That's so Raven definitely can't hula-hoop with a Cheerio.
It's great that Disney is trying to show that big can be beautiful. But at the same time, is it a form of idolizing what ought to be changed?
Zomg such a fast followup post from the lazy, awkward hawk!
Well I'm leaving tomorrow and I just wanna leave you guys with something to remember me by :)
I read an article in Time about how fat American kids are. Look at our lifestyle. Hanging out at Starbucks, eating McDonald's all the time... becoming reliant on computers and spending less and less time biking and rolling down grassy hills...Diabetes, obesity, and heart attacks are rampant. Granted, skinny is not always healthy either. The thing is though, in a country surrounded by so many high-calorie temptations, being skinny usually means the lifeguard at the gene pool was unusually attentive or that the skinny person worked hard for their body. While the media is lampooning the overweight and bringing the skinny up for admiration or attention(ex. Nicole Richie and Angelina Jolie), society is trying to make people realize how beautiful they are despite public opinion. Rather inconsistent.
Looking at teen heroes like Hannah Montana and Vanessa Hudgens makes girls especially hate themselves. Not everyone has the genes for C cups and size 0 butts. But lately plus-sizers have become more prominent. The lead of Hairspray, for instance, gets the supposedly hot Zac Efron. The lead girl of Camp Rock (plotless drivel though it is) is not ridiculously beautiful or skinny in any way. She even has a slight buttchin. Cory in the House is led by the plus-size Kyle Massey, and Raven of That's so Raven definitely can't hula-hoop with a Cheerio.
It's great that Disney is trying to show that big can be beautiful. But at the same time, is it a form of idolizing what ought to be changed?
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