Golden-ish Week

So, Golden week wasn't quite as Golden as I thought it would be. I only know of one person in my class who actually went on a trip. (Fukuoka and Hiroshima) That kind of surprised me because I thought everyone trecked around on Golden Week. The one interesting thing I did, besides staying home, watching The Little Mermaid Three, shopping and sleeping was a family visit to Unzen Onsen.

That was...weird.

I got naked with randoms...w00t...

Anyways, it was about an hour and a half from home (current home) to Unzen, it was a bloody big mountain and somehow on top of the mountain they managed to fit a whole village and a golf course, that confused me a little. I always though the tops of mountains just had the little flag planted atop the summit. However, no such luck. It was a somewhat misty day which added to the fog and cloud leaving me unable to really see anything from the top but it certainly didn't stop the cold nor the lovely scenery able to be seen on the journey up the winding mountain.

Naturally I did the logical thing on a mountaintop in the freezing cold, I ate an icecream. (^w^)

It looked like Chirin Chirin Icecream but it was a little different. After that we headed to the onsen...the onsen itself wasn't one of the super awesome outside ones as I had hoped which left me slightly disappointed but they had a shop that sold Pocky so that made up for it.

So, I put my shoes in a shoe locker and than walked around a wall and BAM! Boobs flying everywhere. I tried not to look but it was really difficult to avert your eyes without perving on another. Following Yui (very closely) to a locker I continued to strip down to well...nothing...save for the love of my life: a modesty towel. Naked as a baby, including no glasses which I was slightly thankful for, I made my way into the bath house. Don't worry, my valuables were in the locker and the key is on a nifty little band which you put around your wrist. I thought that was pretty clever.

I had to wash myself before getting in the onsen bathy thing, the room was pretty steamy and everything was blurry due to the lack of spectacles. It made me feel better too that I couldn't see people staring at me and that everyone was in the same position and no one was particularly embarassed or else they wouldn't be there. That put me at ease slightly, at first it was still kind of surreal how such modest and polite people (the adults, anyway) could just strip off with 50 other people. I just was slightly confused...still am a little...it just catches you off guard.

Anywho...I washed and got into the hot water which was nice. I may have possible made a small fool of myself when getting in. You see, the water is foggy, absolutely cannot see through it and I didn't have any idea how deep it would be. So I go to the stairs, and slowly make my way down feeling with my feet where the drop was. It was only until I sat down and kind of crept along the ground that I realised there isn't any bloody drop at all, the water is less than knee high. What are the bloody stairs for then?? To confuse and poke fun at foreigners lack of knowledge?!?!?

I guess, I should have figured it out by the people walking across the water...I just thought that everyone in Japan had Jesus-like qualities and I would be left to drown...I wasn't really paying attention, okay? Not to mention all the Gorons in Zelda: Twilight Princess are in shallow onsen, not deep. Should have thought of that...though I am not a boy nor in a wii game. Shame that.

Anyhow, washed, bathed, it was really hot, made my way to a window where there was a cool breeze flowing through. I quite enjoyed that feeling, of being able to breathe and bathe at the same time.

After about 20 minutes or so in there, I got out and went back into the changing room. I made my way to my locker and unfortunately had a little holdup. A lady was taking off her clothes and putting them into the locker under mine which left me with no access to my locker and standing there butt naked while she stripped. Slightly awkward. Finally, she moves, I get my locker back, dry myself and begin to put my clothes on. As I am putting my bra on, someone reaches into my locker and grabs my towel. I was like, "Stop! Towel fiend, what are you doing? Why would you steal my towel?" In my head, of course. It was only after when she started patting my back with it that I realised she was helping me. Then she asked me where I came from, in Japanese, and I am so gosh-darn thankful that I understood that otherwise it would have been really awkward.

So, changed and happy and with a really ridiculously red face I made my way out into the foyer and waited for everyone to finish straightening their hair. After that we had a little look around the Unzen town where the actual Onsen water came from. About 18 years ago it was a volcano that erupted...I think...don't trust my translations...and we looked around the bubbling pools of water and there was steam everywhere and the place reeked of Sulfur. Really badly, it made me want to stop breathing at one stage however that would be most hazardous to my continued livelihood so I persevered.


Oh, Saturday I went to Koto's house (my final homestay girl) and had a little play on Wii Fit (Don't ask!) and I got to meet her mother and sister who seem nice. We ate Champon at Ringer Hut, (I had Chahan and Gyoza), they seem really nice. Then we went to Baskin and Robbins which everyone here calls "31" and on Golden Week it is 31% off cause the week is Golden and all that. I had Rocky Road and Vanilla Caramel double scoop. Then we went to karaoke with Akane as well who happens to be my second homestay girl...so that was fun. I have pictures somewhere...there they are:

Today I am back at school with a Welcome Ashley party planned for Sunday. Better late than never, right?

Love,

Ashley-chan

Picture Dumping Ground

Rightio, I told you I would give you photos so here are some to keep you all appeased for a little while.

The first ones are from Yosakoi. Yosakoi is a festival of dancing with those annoying little clickity-clackety things, they look like a paddle but with smaller pieces of wood attached. You will see them in the photos, hopefully. I'm not particularly good at describing things...

So, Yosakoi was held outside Nagasaki station and my camera had a field day trying to get a decent shot, I think I did alright. (^w^)

Then we have Hansen (or Hanzen...I am not sure which) in English it is known as the Tall Ships festival.

And this is my arty photo. No touch ups, just a simple crop.
Then, just around the general Nagasaki area:

And then some random pictures to top it off:

This was today's lunch. (Not the pocky, the obento.)

That's it for now.

Until next time, whenever that may be...

Love

Ashley-chan

AIIU Newsletter

Congratulations, you guys get a preliminary look at my newsletter entry for AIIU:

25 days down. 261 to go. How on earth did that happen? I've already nearly been here for a month. I expected Japan to be an experience that would change me for life and so far, I feel pretty confident in saying that it has lived up to that expectation. The real story starts when I stepped off the airplane in Nagasaki, my host city. From Nagasaki onwards I was finally alone. No one there to translate for me or to help me when I get stuck, no English signs or announcements. It had finally hit home: I am in Japan, alone, with only myself and my own language skills to rely on. That realization was a little scary.

I was put to ease quickly enough, most of my host family were there to meet me along with two of my future host sisters. That was very considerate of them, each of them wrote me cute little notes saying how excited they were to meet me and how much they were looking forward to having me stay at their house. Cute.

I found conversation in the car, on the drive home, wasn't at all as stilted as I anticipated it to be. My family talked rambunctiously in the front and I answered the questions that I could and meagerly attempted to question them in return. The house I am currently living in is pretty cool, it is Japanese style complete with a Japanese garden, tatami floors, a shrine to Buddha and a futuristic toilet.

I did get quite a shock though on the first day of waking up on my futon, all I could see was a dragon (there is a model of one in my room), I could smell something burning and some strange chanting was being muttered under abated breath in the corner. I froze. It wasn't until later that someone explained to me that my host Grandma, who lives downstairs, was praying to Buddha. The smoke was incense and the chanting was, in fact, a prayer. It just goes to show that there are many things we don't understand. Explanation, however small and simple it may be, goes a long way into promoting acceptance.

The first week was school holidays, I embraced this time to try and get to know my host family a little better before having to trudge off to school everyday. My host sister is very outgoing and bubbly which helped any nerves I had to disappear as I settled into family life. For most of that week we did assorted activities that appealed to the youth culture of Japan: Purikura, Karaoke and Shopping.

I am equally, if not more, interested in the more traditional Japanese culture but I have no doubt that I will get around to that in time. Not to mention that I will enjoy and appreciate it more when I have lived in Nagasaki for a little while and have better comprehension of the language. Me at Megane Bashi (Glasses Bridge)

I found myself a hobby in that week. English words that aren't quite spelt right. Like "Furit Jelly", "Dog Maker" (Instead of Hot Dog Maker) and my personal favourite, "Drag Store". Think they meant Drug Store...better luck next time.
I also noticed that it is very difficult to buy clothes or, well, anything really with Japanese writing on it. Basically, it is all English. Nonsensical English at that. As amusing as it can be, I find it a little frustrating.

After that week, school started. It was a very odd feeling, returning to school. After having graduated and accepted that the schooling stage of your life is over, to pull it back out again was weird. Though, of course, school in Japan is quite different. We have single desks, 10 minute breaks between each lesson, cleaning time and most importantly, I don't understand anything said in the classes. I just copy kanji off the board and hope that in time, I will figure out what it all means. Another major difference is the people. I have found the Japanese students to be extremely friendly and welcoming towards me. Especially in the first week where nearly everyone either smiled or waved at me, not to mention the encores of "Kawaii!". It just puts a little bit of spring in your step.

My classmates and I acting dignified. (Miyuki, Sayaka, Chika and Me.)

I have found it hard so far to learn everyone's names. Everyone has eagerly memorised mine which makes me feel so much worse everytime they ask if I remember their names and I just have to shake my head and apologise. My first endeavour is to learn the names of the 39 other students in my class. Fortunately, one of the English teachers came down from high and gifted me with a name chart of every student in my class in English, blissfully adorned with accompanying pictures. That chart is going to save my life.

I have joined Sadou Bu, a.k.a Tea Ceremony Club. The practice is once a week on a Wednesday for about an hour an a half and though I have only attended an introductory meeting so far I can tell you one thing for sure: It is numbingly painful. Seiza, the Japanese art of sitting, absolutely kills. After the better part of an hour, I had trouble getting up and even then was to afraid to bend my knees out of fear they would simply give way underneath me. It was only then that I understood the meaning of the phrase "Jelly Legs". The tea was delicious, though and the procedure was frighteningly delicate. I'm not sure whether or not I will be able to master it but nevertheless, I will do my best.

My younger host sister (13) has just arrived home from school, so I better wrap things up now. In conclusion, I like Japan. It is an interesting place with fascinating culture and traditions, established history, friendly people, a multifaceted language and an atmosphere of it's own. I think that this experience is definently a worthwhile one, it will help me open my mind, learn another form of communication and let me experience things that one simply cannot experience anywhere else.

Well, that is it for me...

Love

Ashley-chan

WhereTF is Ashley???

Ashley is somewhere in Nagasaki and has obviously forgotten everyone in Australia as she is not blogging or emailing anyone. We do love you Ash, where ever you are and understand you are busy and can't always find a computer to use.
Love Mum, family and friends.

Purikura

Hi there.

Turns out my host family does have a computer after all but I don't know how often I can use it so don't get your hopes up too much. Ok?

Purikura, for those of you who don't know, is a popular slang word popularised by teenagers in Japan. It is short for Print Club. Purinto Kurabu. PURI-nto KURA-bu. Yes, Purikura. I have only done one set so far which makes me sad but my friends at school want to do Purikura with me so hopefully I will have a whole bunch more in the future.

(Sorry, mum. I had to get into your email to retrieve these as I only had them sent to you and not me.)

The following pictures are of me and my host sister, Yui:

Be jealous. I live in a place with awesome photo booths. ^_~ My foot has gone numb. XD Mostly because I am sitting on the floor. Everyone sits on the floor here, weird huh?

Ok, I am going to bed now cause I have been at school all day. My speech went well, by the way. Everyone thinks I am amazing.

Over and out.

Ashley-chan