Zoom Zoom

In about an hour and a half I'll be driving up to the airport. I'm still strangely calm about everything but after all, this certainly has been a long time coming. I learnt my first host families just this morning. It seems I am particularly good at leaving all the important details until the last minute.

I've done pretty much all the things I wanted to do before leaving, I made a keyblade (instead of chakrams) and a Snape hand puppet who you will be introduced to shortly. Incidentally, I didn't get to do a Slytherin cosplay in honour of Harry Potter: Half Blood Prince which comes out in September mostly due to the fact that it is practically impossible to find anything that vaguely resembles a Slytherin tie. Damn. XD

Just wanted to thank everyone for their well-wishes and support. I really appreciate and will honestly miss everyone...It's only 10 months though. I'll be back and more asian than ever. ^_^

To the crew at work: Thank you for being so kind to me, and putting up with all my quirky peccadillos and even joining in. You made earning money a lot of fun. I'm wearing my gorgeous necklace right now. XoXo.

To my friends: Saturday Night was really fun even though Jack and Ross are like EPIC scaredy-cats. Lol. I can't believe Kitty is the bravest. Oh, the irony. But I started thinking about what we did, (Dracula's haunted house) and how there were dare doors. (Doors that were scarier than the rest of the haunted house) The way we were so scared to enter, even though we knew that there was nothing in there that would hurt us (mental scarring aside).

It just kind of related to Japan to me, there will be things that I will be afraid to do in Japan, not because I'll be in any danger but just because of my mental limitations. Not to mention, it will be even harder without all my friends. But I will do my best to overcome all obstacles and pass the bloody EVIL JLPT Lvl. 2 exam, don't get your hopes up though...

Oh my god. We leave the house in an hour.

To my family: Thank you for being amazing. I really love both of you, (and Lucy) and I will miss you immensely but I'm glad that you understand that this is something that I want to do and support me in that decision. I'll make sure I have a ball. Love you more.

Ok, I'll stop being sappy now and introduce you all to the puppet version of my fiancee. He's my mood indicator. ^^

Mood:

I'm sure you'll see a whole lot more of him.

Here goes nothing!

<3

Ashley-chan.

One Hand

Wow. It's been a while since I've written anything.

I guess it's just been a bit of a drag waiting for everything to start happening for me. I've been waiting for this for about 5 or 6 months or something. Up until now emotions have been running suprisingly low. I thought that I would feel something more: nervousness, excitement, anticipation, fear, anything at all but I was fairly calm throughout the whole process. However, I can now count my remaining days in Australia on one hand. So, that freaks me out just a smidgen.

I have a theme song by the way. Only a few people will be familiar with it. It's from the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. It's not so much a theme song as a motto or philosphy while I am there. Bouken Desho Desho. Translates as: It's an adventure, right? This thought cheers me up when I'm anxious about leaving safe territory. It's an adventure, it'll be fun and then I'll be back in Australia and forced back into reality. Yay, reality...

I quit work today. In about 8 hours and 20 minutes or so I will have officially resigned from where I have been working for the past three years. That particular bag comes with mixed feelings. After all, working in a deli for over three years really makes you...I don't even know what it makes me. At first, I was just happy to have some money, then I went through a brief angsty period and I was questioning whether this was all there was. Is my purpose at this stage of my life to give people ham? Seriously?

Anyway, now it is like : Yes, I don't have to work for a year!

However, I've made some good friends there and I'll be sad to leave them. They made my Sundays fun. ^_^ It was really good working with people whose company I enjoyed. I'm going to miss them a lot but I am sure that I'll see them again but hopefully not as Deli work colleagues as that would be both cruel and depressing.

I was just thinking how much plastic we use in the Deli. For every order we use either plastic bags or plastic containers. That sucks. I'd petition if I was there for longer.

Just think about the world and how the world would be fantastic,
If we could get rid of all the plastic,
We just need to get enthusiastic,
I'm not trying to be ironic or sarcastic,
Do something drastic and rid the world of plastic.

There you go, Hayden, Tim Minchin reference. ^_^

For those of you who were as unenlightened as I was before Sunday. Tim Minchin is a very funny, clever and deep (He's deep, bro) man who happens to write comedic songs that are often either political or religious satire, smut or hate songs. If you want to look at his ginger rock 'n' roll hair and his rock 'n' roll face with the kooky contact lenses and mascara.

Click here: TIM MINCHIN IS GOD.

Ok, now that I've gotten that out of the way I do actually have some Japan related news. Suprise! I've receieved the itinerary for my first few days in Tokyo for JFIE Orientation.

It is as follows:

Thursday 26th of March:
After departing Narita airport, we will travel by coach to the Narita View Hotel in Chiba.
At 11am we will leave the hotel and travel by coach to Koishikawa junior high school. The trip takes about 1 - 1 1/2 hours and we will eat lunch on the coach.

We will be involved in cross cultural activities at the school from approx 12:30 - 4:30pm. Upon returning to the hotel at approx 6pm, we will be given the orientation schedule and then have time to rest until dinner at 7:30pm.

Friday 27th of March:
7:30am Breakfast
9am - 12:30 Orientation
12:30 - 3pm visit Aeon Shopping Mall (purchase your lunch & complete set task)
3:15 - 7pm Orientation continues
7:30pm Dinner

Saturday 28th of March:
7am Breakfast
8am Final Instructions re departure
8:45am Students short speeches in Japanese
10:30am Leave the Hotel to transfer to your homestay areas by train or plane.
(Here's hoping I get the pokemon plane.)

I haven't learnt my speech yet. Dammit. Must do that. I should be cleaning or other useful, constructive activities but I just needed to relax a little. Alright, well that is about it for me for now.

I may post again before Japan if not, there will be a gap between me going and me posting as I do have to adjust to the lifestyle and family and I don't want to annoy by shirking them for a comupter. Makes sense, right?

<3

Ashley-chan

Black Friday

Warning: This post has absolutely nothing to do with me going to Japan.

I didn't realise that Friday the 13th was Friday the 13th until about 7 or 8 o'clock at night. That made me annoyed as I was well aware of its approach however it just totally slipped my mind. So, I was at work and bored, content to stand there and daydream the remaining hour away when I thought, "I should do a Black Friday tribute. That'd be fun...like an original cosplay." ((Something of which I haven't done before.)) Mind you, the day I did this cosplay my bus didn't come and I had to jog/walk to work which left me both late and very, very red in the face. The unlickiness rubbed off, perhaps?

So, me and my shiny, new camera sat down and had a heart to heart photoshoot which consisted of me looking like: a freak, a goth, an emo and extremely embarrased when I answered the door to guests meant for the house next door in full eyeshadow and costume. ((The door was already open, I had no choice. )) V. embarrassing.

Then I spent today editing my best photos, I could do more but each is so time consuming I don't think I have it in me. Overall, though I am pleased with the result and just wanted to show off a little, I guess. Please enjoy the product of my boredom. ^_^

The last one is my favourite. ^_^. I may have accidentally plagarised... I mean, uh...took inspiration from an Alice in Wonderland cosplay for the one with the cards. I'm sure I would have thought of it...I mean I had candles, a crystal ball, a wand, my death note, a feather quill and a gothic rubber duckie...I would;ve thought of something as rudimentary as playing cards...right?

Anyways, as soon as I can find something that resembles a Slytherin tie there will hopefully be a cosplay to come in honour of HBP. ((Half Blood Prince for all you non-HP fans...(Harry Potter for all you non-acronym fans) )) That was confusing.

Don't worry, I'll shut up now.

<3

Ashley-chan

The Brave Ones

The Brave Ones, indeed. For these are the people that will be struggling to comprehend what the hell I'm saying through my poor language skills, making me food, providing me with accomodation and taking me places, all the while not earning a cent. That and having no preconception of my slightly exuberant personality.

********************************************************************

Kamito Family
The Kamito family will be the first family I am staying with, these are the people who I have talked about previously having a small amount of contact via email. ((But she hasn't returned my latest one >_<))
Period: 01/04/09 - 30/06/09

Host Sibling: Yui, 16.

Yui Narumi from Lucky Star

Father: Yutaka, 43.
Mother: Ichiko, 44.
Brother: Kouta, 17.
Sister: Hitomi, 13.

Message: Our grand parents live in 1st floor. My father and I love Avril. My mother is interested in History. My brother likes F1. My younger sister likes to listen to the music. I have been interested in foreign country since I was a child. When I was a junior student, we hosted Canadian student for 1 month. We had a good time with her that's why we decided to become your host family. I would like to go various places with you.

********************************************************************

Furukawa Family
The Furukawa family is the second and quite possibly the largest. Plus they have a cute little dog that looks like mine.

Period: 01/07/09 - 31/08/09

Host Sister: Akane, 16. Akane Tendo from Ranma 1/2

Grandmother: Kinuyo, 76.
Father: Satoshi, 45.
Mother: Akiko, 45.
Brother: Shouta, 19.
Sister: Nozomi, 12.
Dog: ?

Message: On weekday, only my grandmother and a dog stay at house. Usually we have dinner together. I think this is the great opportunity for us to become a host family. I would like you to know about Japan and go various places together. I have stayed in Australia so I'm looking forward to talking about Australia with you.

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Mine Family
The Mine family is Family number 3. The first family that I know I am sharing with a host sibling instead of having my own room. Meh, I don't mind.

Period: 01/09/09 - 31/10/09

Host Sibling: Hikari, 16. Hikari from Pokemon Diamond

Father: Tatsuaki, 44.
Mother: Mie, 44.
Sister: Arisa, 19.

Message: My father usually comes back home around 10pm so we have a dinner only ladies. My mother likes gardening. My older sister likes playing the base guitar. I would like to know the differend our culture. Sometimes I hope we speak English and Japanese to develop our language ability each other.

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Sakai Family
The Sakai family will be my final family before I join my real family back home in Australia.

Period: 01/11/09 - 09/01/10

Host Sister: Koto, 16.

Koto from Yu Yu Hakusho

Father: Fukuyoshi, 57.
Mother: Yoshiko, 54.
Sister: Mai, 18.

Message: We visit the shrine together on New Years's Day. I'd like to know each other and enjoy spending time together. I think our family members have a warm heart. Let's talk together a lot. Don't be hesitated to ask us anything. We are looking forward to seeing you soon!

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So, that's a little summary of what will be going on and where I will be. I hope everyone found it interesting to find out about as much as I know about my host families. Now that you know that, you are as equally equipped to go and intrude on their hospitality as I am. ^_^;

A/N: Any spelling/grammar mistakes in the "Message:" section is intended, the rest is mine. I apologise.

<3

Ashley-chan

Back 2 School

ZOMFGODZORZ! For some strange reason everyone thinks I am insane after FINALLY finishing year twelve and studying my but off for the last 5 or so years, I am going back to school off my own FREE WILL.

((Just as a side note, writing free will reminded me of Free Willy which reminded me of Flipper. You know the dolphin from Flipper...he's dead.)))

But really it's no that bad, is it? Yes, I am going back to school but this will be totally different as:
1] I'll be in Japan
2] I'm not planning on studying REALLY hard, just enough to pass and be happy.
3] I am actually going to socialize this time.
4] I'll be way more fluent in Japanese when I go to do it in 2010.

Anyway, I am going back to school. So there. Now, onto what I know about the school. Well...it is named Isahaya Commercial School in the prefecture of Isahaya in Nagasaki. It is a public school and is co-education. (((Thank God!))

It is a non-religious school ((Thank...uh...Johnny Depp, God on Earth)). There are 175 boys and 658 girls. Wow. Go the females. I go to school from 8.30 - 3.40 every week day. I get to experience both the summer and winter holidays. I have internet access! I will update this blog, I promise.

And here is the best part: The school pays for all my uniforms and my textbooks! I love you, Isahaya Commercial School! And the school sent me this cute little message too:

The students are really looking forward to sharing lots of things with an exchange student. They are very kind and friendly. The exchange students we are hosted had a wonderful time here. I hope you'll enjoy staying here and learning lots of new, different things.

Nawww...how cute is that. Not too shabby for an english teacher. ^_^
As Isahaya is a commercial school it means that alongside english and maths and normal subjects, it also has business and home economics courses.

Some of the clubs are:
~Baton Club
~English Club
~News Paper Club
~Kendo
~Tea Ceremony
~Calligraphy
~Music Club

And some others that I don't really remember, but there are a lot of clubs. I'm really looking forward to taking part in a club and learning a new skill. I'd like to do something more traditional so that I can come back to Australia and show off. ^_^ Yes, I'm that self-centered. Jk.

That's all from me for now. I'll update soon once I get some more information. Orientation is coming up fast as well. So, by the 27th I should know everything I can possibly know before going.

Ja ne...

<3

Ashley-chan