Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Winter Vacation

I went home for about 2 weeks and I don’t think it was loooooong enough, but I will be back home in 205 days. It was really nice spending time with my friends and my family. I really didn’t have time to see everyone I wanted to see, but I will see them when I go home for good. Just being home not really worrying about anything just being able to enjoy the atmosphere was the best feeling I haven’t had in awhile. Only 6 more months then my contract ends, but before that I have things to do.

Pictures:





*I missed everyone in Japan. I am glad that I will be able to spend time with them again. LET’S PARTY!!! (after the Jet lag!!!)*

BTW: Having No Dental Insurance in America can end up giving a person a $Grand Smile!!!

Monday, December 3, 2007

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!!!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

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!!! ^_^

Thursday, October 25, 2007

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

Saturday, October 20, 2007

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 ^_^~

Monday, October 15, 2007

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")

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

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!!! ^_^