It's Cold!!! T_T

It is getting colder here in Japan. Now, I have to calculate scraping ice of my car and the tendencies of the Japanese to drive much slower even without any snow on the ground into my morning schedule. It is hard enough to get out of bed then have to worry about scraping ice off my car. T_T!!!

Winter is HERE!
November 23rd (Thanksgiving in America), the snow didn’t stop falling down the whole day. Causing my feet to become frozen because if you have known me for the last 2 years you know that I love wearing my adidas sandals even in the winter. On this day, I wish I was wearing other shoes than my sandals. My feet turned into feet popsicles!!! They were cold!!! We haven’t had snow since. It was kind of weird because the snow fell early. Even the Japanese were surprised by it.

My car before I went to school.
My car when I left school.

Sendai (Nov. 25th)
Jiin-sama and I went to Sendai for Namie Amuro’s concert and to get a digital artist’s signature for Jiin-sama’s friend. It was really fun. The whole day it really didn’t feel like we were going to go to a concert, but once we were there it was marvelous. Well, other than the scary dude that was sitting to the right of me. He was very creepy! We were in a small-ish concert hall and on the 2nd floor, but they were really good seats. The dude brought his really expensive bulky binoculars. Now, that is normal, but the weird part was that he brought a tripod. He was a chubby business man probably mid-forties. He was wearing his business suit, tie, but no jacket and a baseball cap. He used the baseball cap to block any light that would come between his eyes and his binoculars, but how tightly he was holding the binoculars to his face he really didn’t need to have a baseball cap. He sat there the whole concert. He didn’t clap or move really. It was really creepy like I said before and it made me feel sorry for idols who have psycho people come to his/her concerts. Ahhhh, but anyways it was really fun. Namie puts on a wonderful performance. Afterwards, Jiin-sama and I went and ate Japanese pizza! We also had Mr. Donuts for dessert! Overall, it was really fun!!! HRS!


Thanksgiving in Monou (Nov.26th)
Apparently we are having all the big holidays in Monou, which I don’t mind. Alex doesn’t either. It was really fun to have a thanksgiving dinner and not be up for 24 hours preparing it unlike last years. Before we had our wonderful dinner. Jiin-sama and I went to the British café I have always wanted to go to. It was lucky we went there at that time because it is only open on the weekends for lunch. We had hot cocoa it was yummy! The best part was we saw SHEEP. Yeppers, SHEEP… they were really cute!!! The café was cute too. I really liked seeing the British flags everywhere because it reminded me of someone I know that I am not going to mention, but I think you know who I am talking about…hee hee!!!! Anyways, the Thanksgiving dinner was awesome!! Thanks everyone and Thank you Akira for cooking the TURKEY!!!
Da Sheep!!!
Da Turkey!!!


JLPT (Dec. 2nd)
I woke up early and I wasn’t really tired. I guess when I am nervous about things I always wake up early because I freak out if I am going to be late or not! I was going to meet Kent on the train, so we could go together, but unfortunately natured called him upon that day to make him stay home. I was kind of upset about that! I was more freaked out that I have to go take this test on my own. Thanks to my navigator she drew me a map and I didn’t get lost. In the back of my mind, I was hoping to get lost then I couldn’t be able to take this test! Saw some familiar faces and I got there on time. The test was super hard. 1st part: Kanji, Words etc. ~ I haven’t seen some kanji or even heard of those words, so I didn’t do well on that. T_T 2nd Part: Listening ~ I thought I would do okay on this, but you can only listen to it once and lets just say I didn’t do well!!! 3rd part: Reading/Grammar ~ The most difficult part T_T I was guessing at the end because I didn’t have enough time to finish. This test was really hard, but then again I am not that smart! I hope my guessing was right, but even if it was I don’t think I passed, but I took it! I have finally taken this test! I know what it is like and I don’t like it! I don’t think this test really tests your Japanese ability. I think it tests you on how well you take a Japanese test. In the real world, you can ask questions when you don’t understand something you can’t do on a standardized test. It is over and I am free. Like some Brit said, “ It was on a Sunday, which sucks and clearly isn’t endorsed by God!”

Mini Godzilla attacking the JLPT


THAT IS ALL FOR NOW, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TO GET MY SISTER FOR CHRISTMAS YOU JUST TELL ME!!!
^_^ ~I AM GOING HOME TO AMERICA...IN 15 DAYS!~ BANZAI!!!

BLAH ^o^

I have been meaning to write on my blog for the longest time, but I have been busy doing other stuff. Writing a blog has been on my to-do list for a long time along with tons of other things I need to get done, but have been either tooo busy or toooo lazy. I am sooo tired!!! I just want to sleep. I feel asleep at work today. My vice-principle woke me up and asked me if I was okay. If I caught a cold or was sick, but I just told him I was tired. I felt really bad, but I really didn’t mean to fall asleep I guess it just happened. Oooppies, my bad!!! I can’t be bothered by it because it doesn’t maaaattterrr!!! I blame it on the weather.


Halloween Party in Monou:
This was last month, but worth writing a little about. We all had a party at Alex’s house, which was really nice. To party with people, drink, watch the movies, dance, and have a place to crash!!! Everyone dressed up and it was really fun. We went and had dinner at Akira’s work before we went to Monou. Good times!!!




Karaoke:
We haven’t gone Karaoking since September, but it was really fun. I wish Hashi, Andrea, and Davey were there too, but they had to go home T_T!!! It was really fun. We stayed about 2 hours and I didn't get home until 2 a.m.





Sendai:
Annie wanted to go down to Sendai to donate blood. Matty, Alex, and Annie donated their non-dormant mad cow disease blood. Jiin and I went down to Sendai before the other fatties. After running for a train and just making it was kind of exciting and painfully tiring!!! I almost felt I was in Yamoto, going to Sendai with mi Hypertwin because we usually had to run for da train. We all ate dinner together at the Vietnamese/Thai restaurant.





Pancake Day:
Actually turned into American Breakfast Day. Jiin and I decided to make pancakes because the hottokeeki mix was on sale!!! Therefore, we made pancakes, hash browns, bacon (in Japan they don’t really know what REAL bacon is, so it was more like ham T_T), and little hotdogs! It was very yummy! I made soccer ball and Mickey Mouse pancakes. ^_^




Stupid Christmas Cakes:
There are back!!! The legendary Christmas Cakes. I really love cakes and I really love Christmas, but Japan’s idea of Christmas cakes really bother me. To get a “Christmas Cake” that is the size of my hand will cost me about my arm. The average Christmas cake is about $40. Is a little Christmas cake worth it…NO!!! I don’t think sooo!!! That is why I am going to go home and get a wonderful Sam’s cake for more than half that price and much more yummy!!! I LOVE AMERICA!!!! In your face, Christmas Cake!!!!



THE END ^_^

P.S. (11/11) Happy 23rd Birthday to da Brit!!! ^_^

ステーキ１

Sarah loves not working on the weekdays. Sarah had Monday and Tuesday off, since Sarah worked the weekend!!! Thanks to Matty’s selfishness we (Jiin, Annie (aka NiNi), and Sarah) decided to go to Naruko Gorge (aka Jorge (to NiNi))!!! It was a lovely road trip on a lovely day. Naruko wasn’t crowded like last year, but then again we went about 2 weeks earlier than last year and on a weekday instead of a weekend. Overall, it was super fun.





After our Naruko adventure we went to eat din-din in Furukawa, since it was on our way back. We decided we wanted to go to ステーキ１(Suteki 1), which is a Japanese steak joint! It wasn’t bad at all. It is definitely not KANSAS steak, but they had a salad bar (and that had made all the difference!!!) When we got out of my car to go into the restaurant, my third year junior high kids were walking by, saw me, and yelled hello. Soooooo, on Wednesday when I was teaching the third years, they kept on saying “ステーキ１ステーキ１！！！” They then asked me about my “Korean” friends. I told them that they were Americans and they were SHOCKED!!! The didn’t really understand it until I explained to them that people can be American without looking gaijin gaijin.


Then they started to talk about how good my Japanese was and that they were hoping to see my boyfriend by saw my "korean" friends instead. I always tell them I don’t have a boyfriend, but do they believe me??? Nopers. Maybe I should just cut my hair really really short then they will believe that I don’t have one. Cutting hair super short = heart break!!! Oh, wait I did cut my hair…stupid split ends…Anyways, I was really glad when the class was over. OH, ステーキ１T＿T
(El cutting of the split ends!!!)

Tuesday, I didn’t do much except winter-proof my apartment and go to sign language!!! Yes, the winter is going to be freakin’ cold! I am sooooooooo not looking forward to it, but I guess in about 55 days I will go home for 2 weeks and enjoy the central heating. Then in February, I will escape to Taiwan for a week!


Today, I feel sick. My throat is killing me!!! T_T My nose is annoying me too. It needs to either be stuffy or runny???? ANNOYIN’

(My teacher gave this to me today and said, "Present for you!" I thought it was nice ^.^)

One of my third years interviewed me about America today. These were his questions:
1. I heard Americans like to drink Coke?
2. How much Coke do you drink a day?
3. Why do Americans eat a lot for dinner?
4. What is the difference between Japanese stores and American stores?

My Answers:
1. Yes, they do.
2. About 1 L/ a day.
3. Americans have more time to prepare food and therefore they make more. More time, More preparing, More eating. Dinner is an important time for Americans because that is when they get to spend time with their families. (What I wanted to say was…because WE ARE JUST FATTIES!!!)
4. There are a lot of 24 hour stores.


Here are some poems that my third year J.H.S. students wrote:

Jealousy
Broken Heart
Sin, Punishment, Compensation
Though I want love
Sad

Shark
Cool Fish
Killing, Killing, Eating
It’s the strongest fish
Love

I have English Conversation Class tonight!!! Just want to stay home!!! T_T

In YOUR FACE ;P

(Sarah is tired today and Sarah doesn't want to type in 3rd person, so therefore...HERROW "I")

On Wednesday, I went to Ishinomaki to do some errans. When I got there I had no where to park all the "guest" parking was taken. So, I called Annie and told her that I might just head back to the country-side, but she insisted that I stay! She talked to the landlord and was told that I can park in spot #1. To describe the parking place she said it was 狭い (narrow). I had a wonderful time trying to park in the spot, but luckily there weren't any cars next to the spot or I would have probably gone home, but it all worked out!!! ^_^

(Between a gate and a hard place.)

Thursday, on my way to my English conversation class I almost hit a tanuki (racoon dog).

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanuki)

Today, Saturday, I went to my elementary school's performance. All my kids performed skits and acted in plays. It lasted from 8:30-11:50. It was super cute and it was really COLD in the gym, but that didn't stop the cuteness. I was able to push the buzzer. The buzzer was to inform people when the next part was starting and ending. An important job and who got to do it...Z, that's right....ME!!!!! Afterwards, came home and took a 4 hour nap, watched Jay's movie, and am now playing on the internet. Nothing toooo exciting, right?

(BEHOLD THE BUZZER)
(5th and 6th graders)
(Ate wild boar soup...yummy!!!!)


Tomorrow is another day of work!!! My junior high school's singing competition thingie.
Sooooooo, I guess I will leave you with this comment....
(PERSIMMMONS IN YOUR FACE!! ;P)
~Sarah ^_^~

Why Why Weekend

Sarah isn’t quite sure what has happened since the last time Sarah wrote, but the thing Sarah does remember is “WHY WHY LOVE!!!!”

(Wo.de He!!! Sorry, Jiin....Wo men.de He!!!)

Last Friday was spent in Sendai listening to the same type of meetings that Sarah has heard for about a year. It was nice meeting the new peeps, but at the same time….Sarah is tired of hearing about the typhoon game and karuta!!! T_T

Saturday and Sunday was spent with Jiin. We watched “Why Why Love” and played Wii!!! We finished the rabbit game!!! It is the first game Sarah has ever completed!!!! Congrats, ne????

This week is going to be crazy because Sarah is working from Monday to Sunday, but Sarah will get off next Monday and Tuesday!!! HRS!!! ^_^

Nothing else is going on!!! But Sarah thought Sarah should write something!!!!
It is getting colder!!! Sarah is using her heater, but then again…Sarah might just be cold because Sarah eats a lot of ICE!!!!

SARAH STILL MISSES EVERYONE….T_T

Random Pics:

(Thought it was interesting)

(Drew this @ Work!!! "Mad Bubba Bear")

Da 4-Day Weekend

This weekend was filled with adventure, plungers, craziness, and life threatening problems. Oh yes, and pumpkin carving-ness.


Friday:
The rabbit plunger in the face shooting!!! Followed by eating of the Hambagu, then more violence!!!


Saturday:
Road Trip To Yamadera (山寺)!!!

Sarah – Driver
Jiin – Navigator
Annie – The Sick One
Alex – The Sick One’s Translator

Sarah and Jiin picked up Annie and Alex up from the Matsushima-Kaigan Station @ 9 a.m. Then enjoyed the 3-hour car ride filled with Chinese music, apple eating, and lots of fun!!! We arrived around 12-ish and then we did the whole climbing up to see the Mountain Temple! As we walked up, some Japanese people cheered us on saying, “Ganbatte!” (Try your hardest!). Climbing up to the top didn’t really take that long, but we all took our time and took many pictures. On the way down, hunger began to takes its toll on the travelers, so we decided to eat at this soba (buckwheat noodles) place at the bottom of the mountain. Yamagata is famous for their soba!! Most of us had Zarusoba (a type of cold noodles) and tempura, while Annie had duck soup!!! All of it was very good, except this weird looking potato-soba nasty tempura that we all didn’t eat!!! But we did eat a flower!!!

(Everyone)
(The flower Sarah ate!!!)
(Sarah Misses みんなさん)

We returned to Ishinomaki around 8-ish and had dinner with Matty. We (5 Gaijins) all were squished in front of a small table, in which we had Monjya-yaki and Okonomiyaki.

*Jiin – Monjya-yaki Chef *Sarah – Okonomiyaki Chef

After eating our wonderful dinner, Sarah dropped Jiin off at her apartment and then headed home. Sarah was going to go drinking with Matty and Alex, but driving all day left Sarah feeling kind of crappy plus having to wake up early wasn’t fun either.

Sunday:
Hung-out with Jiin in Wakuya!!! Just shooting rabbits and getting mad at stupid Mario for getting stars!!! Nothing toooo exciting happened except…Sarah ate a yummy HAMBUGA in Furukawa!!! Sarah loves Gusto’s Hamburgers!!! Yummy!!!

Monday:
Today was a holiday, so NO SCHOOL FOR US!!!! Sooooo…..
Woke up really late because Sarah went to bed around 4 a.m.!!! Lovin’ da internet!!! Got to Jiin’s at 3 p.m. then we drove to Ishinomaki to give Annie her inhalers!!! So, good thingie she didn’t have an attack because I had all her inhalers because she threw them in my purse when we were climbing to the Mountain Temple on Saturday!!! Also, we planned on carving pumpkins. Got there, returned her inhalers, and then went shopping for Pumpkins. Yes, it is early to carve pumpkins, but we are in Japan and we can do anything. We went to one store where Annie got her pumpkin last year, but there wasn’t any, so we went to this flower shop where Annie saw one. She bought tons of pumpkins and we carved them with da people!!!

(The pumpkin Sarah carved!!!)

Tuesday:
Sarah took Dai-kyuu, since Sarah hadn’t taken a day off for going to the Sport’s Day on a Saturday last month, so Sarah took off Tuesday because they were bugging Sarah to take a day off. Sarah couldn’t use it for Sarah’s Winter Vacation back home, so she took off Tuesday!!! T_T. Sarah really didn’t do anything this day except do laundry, went shopping, and had a sushi party with the B.O.E. Overall, it was really nice. Sarah enjoys her time spent at 11 p.m. to whenever the BEST!!! Just chilin’ out and being Sarah!!! ^_^

(Yummy Sushi!!! Just look @ IT!!!)

Sarah took pictures of Sarah’s thingies!!!!
Sarah is NOT sure what they are called, but Sarah likes them!!!



THE END!!! ^_^

Changin' Toooo Quickly T_T

Recently, Sarah has been depressed. Things have been changing around Sarah too quickly that Sarah is going too slowly to catch up!!! Sarah is not quite sure what to do? Sarah guesses Sarah just needs to shoot some rabbits! Sarah hasn’t seen Sarah’s peeps in about 4 days and that is probably causing these feelings. T_T SARAH MISSES EVERYONE!!! Japan isn’t the same without the Gaijin Rangers in the same country, but that isn’t all the problems that are coming up. Sarah guesses that Sarah depended on everyone too much or Sarah is just losin’ it!!! Sarah feels useless too!!! Sarah doesn’t know where Sarah belongs? Sarah doesn’t want to stay here another year, but Sarah has no idea where Sarah wants to be! Sarah doesn’t mind being here, but Sarah wishes Sarah had someone to depend on and will always be there! Sarah doesn’t like to be alone all the time. But then again who really does? ?_?

(Sarah MISSES EVERYONE T_T!!!!)


Sarah likes working. It makes Sarah’s day so much better to have this craziness, confusion, and familiarity of English. Even if the dialogue sounds sooo stupid, it is English and it is something Sarah understands. Sarah can act crazy and the kids semi-know what is going on, but most of the time they are just entertained by Sarah’s craziness!!!

Today’s Lesson (First Grade Junior High)*:

Mike: Let’s have lunch.
Emi: All right.
Mike: Oh, no! My cola!
I don’t have any tissues.
Do you have any?
Emi: No, but I have a handkerchief.
Here. Use this.

*Yeppers that is what Sarah teaches Sarah’s kids, so if ever his/her cola spills their friend can offer him/her a handkerchief!!!

(What I look like everyday!!!)

Today, Sarah came to work with Sarah’s hair straight. It freaks people out because Sarah’s image has changed, Sarah is looking “cool.” Sarah decided that Sarah was tired of looking ugly and spent time straightening Sarah’s hair last night! Woke up and dressed up in black and came to school. Sarah’s teachers and kids are really surprised at the change. It is quite funny. They tell Sarah that everyday Sarah looks cute, but today Sarah looks slick!!! Sarah doesn’t know how hair up in a clip, t-shirt, and sweat pants are cute, but whatever, ne? One teacher that comes once a week, thought that the school got a new ALT, he didn’t realize it was the same old Sarah!!! So, that really made Sarah’s day!!!!

(Today @ work!!!)

Japan-ness: In America, if someone were behind you as you were walking through a door, you would hold it open for them, right? Apparently, NOT IN JAPAN.! Sarah had to go pay Sarah’s electricity bill at the convenience store, a man was walking in before Sarah and just let the door go even though he did see Sarah. Now, Sarah is use to these acts because they aren’t Japanese manners, but Sarah wasn’t in the Japanese mode when we went. She had an English conversation class before Sarah went and was in English-ness mode. Sarah WASN’T really BOTHERED by this (can’t be bothered) until Sarah left the convenience store. As Sarah was leaving Sarah held the door for another man who was walking out. What does he do??? He opens the other door instead of taking the door from me!!! So, Sarah just shut it on him!!! What was he thinking, I wonder? Does Sarah just like holding the door? Wouldn’t you understand that Sarah was being nice???

Person: What is your favorite hobby?
Sarah: Sarah would say that it would be…holding doors open @ convenience stores.
Person: Is there any reason for that?
Sarah: Nope, just like to stand there and look stupid!!!
Person: I understand!
Sarah: Yeppers!!! ^_^ Yea!!!


(Can't wait to shoot these Rabbits!!!)

On SOME Happy Notes:
Halloween is in 27 days
Davey’s 23rd birthday is in 37 days (lb)
Sarah goes home in 76 days
Christmas is in 82 days
Jiin’s birthday is in 100 days
Going home to Taiwan in 120 days
Hashi’s birthday is in 153 days
My birthday is in 194 days
Yusan’s 21st+ birthday is in 205 days
Annie’s birthday is in 213 days
Hypertwin & Matty’s birthday is in 247 days!!!

Randomness of the Weekend!!! ^_^

Sarah can’t believe the lack of sleep Sarah is getting because of da Internet!!! Sarah has been trying to going to bed early, but the fact is Sarah can’t go to bed before 2:30 a.m. Why is that? Sarah doesn’t know, but Sarah needs to stop being addicted to the wonders of the World Wide Web. Sarah slept through Sarah’s alarm and therefore causing Sarah not to go to Sarah's Shamisen class last night!!!

This weekend Sarah actually did stuff!!! Banzai! Sarah left Sarah’s Baka-no-Inaka world!!! Saturday, Sarah and Jiin went to Sendai to get stuff done. Jiin bought her tickets home and Sarah got more stuff to entertain Sarah in the Inaka!!!


(A Bridge to Modernness....The Station)

Sarah thinks it is funny how everyone stares at Sarah. You would think that seeing a Godzilla in Japan would be common, but I guess Sarah is unique!!!
BEWARE: Gaijins love Ketchup!! The shortage of ketchup in Japan is caused from the increase in the influx of Gaijins. “OH, MY GOD!! >.<”
Sarah and Jiin were at Freshness Burger aka Fatness Burger (because of their “healthy” burgers, I wonder???), when this woman was giving Sarah this look of confusion as Sarah went back for seconds on the ketchup!!! It was just very interesting because Sarah is used to getting looks in Sarah’s Inaka, but Sendai has a bigger Gaijin population. Therefore, seeing Gaijins go back for seconds on the ketchup should be normal???

Sarah got a new game for Sarah’s wii! Sarah hasn’t played it yet, but Sarah can’t wait until she shoots Rabbits!!!

(Sarah soooo WANTS TO DO this on THE TRAIN!!!)

This weekend is a 3-day weekend, Thanks to Health and Sports day or something like that. Sarah is just happy that Sarah gets to Sleep and shoot rabbits. That is how you can tell if it is going to be a good weekend if you can shoot rabbits!!! As far as other plans, Sarah doesn’t know what the gang is going to do!!



On Sunday, Sarah went to a music festival in Kurihara. Sarah went with Sarah's sign language circle. The sign language circle was the last to perform at 4:55 p.m. Sarah and the group got there around 11:30 a.m., ate festival food, and watched other groups performing their music. Overall, it was really fun!!!



After Sarah got home around 7-ish, went and had dinner with Jiin!!! SARAH LOVES TABASCO SAUCE!!! The Kogota Junior High School Tennis Team was there at the restaurant. They loved to try to speak English to Sarah, but they didn’t realize that Jiin was a Gaijin too. Conversations consisted of “Tennis, Victory Victory!!!” and “Kawaiiiiiiiiii (Cute).”


For More Interesting or Frosties-filled Baka-no-Inaka Stories, Please Stay in Tune for the NEXT POSTING!!!
CHEERS!!! ^_^