Sorry, sorry, I know I'm horribly lazy. Don't blame me, blame my evil twin. I don't remember her name, I think it was Sally or Suzy or something. Do you remember, mother?
EDIT: Actually, blame Kiyo-chan. I was planning to do this yesterday but then we started talking about holidays and stuff and I feel mean to just be like, 'Shut up, I need to blog'. It's always fun to talk to Kiyo anyways, his voice is higher than Nicholas'. Lol. I know, you wouldn't think such a person exists, right? No offense, Social Butterfly.
Anyways, yes, I moved but before I get to my new family I'll talk about the old. They were lovely. During the last week of summer holidays we had a little barbeque with some of the neighbours, Shota's and Akane's friends and stuff. They were pretty funny, the guys, I think it is the most I've talked to males in a day and actually understood what they said. So, the barbeque was outside, we had to make our own fire and everything. I spent most of the time cooking, it was really hot but it was fun. Half of the adult males got drunk which seems to be the custom.
You know what else I learned, I always thought the groovy little Japanese trees were pronounced Bonzai, turns out I was wrong, it's Bonsai. Yes, it does make a difference. I was astounded. I left the Furukawa household on Saturday the 30th of whatever last month was. August? The night before we had a combined celebration of me going away and it was also Nozomi's 13th birthday. I don't know what was up with that, they seemed really relaxed about it. I'm not sure if she even got presents, I made her a card in the shape of a DS with happy birthday and a manga version of Nozomi on the inside. For that night, we went to a Yakiniku bar where you have the grill and you cook the meat yourself. Although it does seem to defeat the purpose of going out to eat, doesn't it?
Everything was very nice and I ate more than was good for me, it's okay, it was たべほうだい which means that you pay a set amount, then you can order whatever you want and however much you want off a set menu. The icecream was really tiny though. It was fun though, we ate and talked and laughed at the loud, drunk guys in the booth behind us and complained about the forgetful staff. 
That night was the beginning of 24 hour television which was a special that ran for 24 hours, they have it every year. I watched that with Akane until 2 o'clock in the morning because it was funny. I mean, it was my last night, I wasn't going to go to bed early, I'd feel the guilt of neglectfulness descend upon me like a hawk, but enough simile's. From 24 hour television, 2 good-looking males from a band called NEWS got the new version of influenza going around. Our school also got a lecture, it is in Nagasaki now. The next morning, I got up at 7.00 so that I could write my thank you card and pack my bags while Akane was still sleeping. I would've written my card earlier but I'd been making Non's birthday card the day before. Akane woke up before I was finished, we ate a ridiculous lunch together (Melon bread with banana cream inside) and watched 24 hour television. A comedian called Imouto was doing a 126 kilometer marathon. I finished packing at about 1.00 after which we took some crazy pictures which was great considering Akane is usually totally against photos. She always hides behind something.
What else happened? The day before Mai came over and we made pancakes. A bunch of us went to Cocowalk for like a little farewell Yui shopping escapade. Yeah...
Everyone got home from Nozomi's Kendo match which they lost. Once they got home, they rung the Mine family and I sat there nervously listening as they organized my hand over. I could feel myself getting teary, knowing that this would be the last time I live with them. The moves are transitional phases. It's sad to leave the families, I'm looking forward to the new one too, of course, but it also signifies that another part of my time here is over. Basically, moving is just the day where it all seems to come out.
Not to mention on 24 hour television they had the story of a junior high school student who died of a bad heart and her mother and friends were crying as they played her favourite song. I always get sucked in to sappy things like that which made me even worse. I was crying, mind you. I was just having occasional teary spells. Once we sorted out where I was going to be swapped, we basically got straight in the car and left after managing my immensely heavy bag (I have no idea why) into the back seat.
Before getting in the car Akiko gave me a collage from the family, there was a photo of me and Akane at Huis Ten Bosch in the middle and on the outside everyone had written thank you notes. I only got to read it at Hikari's house though as otherwise I would have totally balled in the car. I was just feeling emotional.
We got to the Book Market in Nishi Isahaya, the one I visited by myself forever ago. There I was met by Hikari's mum, Akane's mum (Akiko) and Hikari's Mum (Mie) talked for a while. It is kind of odd, meeting someone for the first time, getting in there car and totally flouting the 'Stranger Danger' rule, going to there house and becoming part of their family for a short time. Not to mention, by Tuesday I'd been given a key because I usually get home first. That's a lot of trust to put in someone you've just met. I kind of cried when we said goodbye, but then as soon as I get into the new car, I pull myself together, tell myself that the time for emotion is over and I get on with it.
So, Mie-san is Hikari's mother. She's 46, works in various places doing office work, I don't remember and she's very nice. Everyone is, we had a good conversation on the drive home, I kind of asked about everyone and what they did and stuff. She likes 80's music, I think her favourite is Queen. She doesn't have much confidence in her ability to cook even though it tastes nice, the first time I thanked her for my obentou, she was like, 'You don't have to thank that much for it, it won't be very good.' It is nice and simple, I stressed the whole, I don't each much thing at the beginning so I'm not overloaded.
When we got home, Arisa who is the 19 year old sister was waiting for me. I already really like Arisa, I knew she was into anime and manga but our personalities are very similar. She's 19 but in year twelve after having dropped out previously. She plays the bass guitar, like chocolate mint icecream and owns an entire collection of Clow Cards.
The father, Tatsuaki isn't home much. He comes home late as he is a Chef at a Chinese restaurant at Cocowalk. He brought home cake though so I don't mind. The household itself is pretty relaxed, it is kind of do what you like which is cool. Plus, on their TV they have like the Japanese version of cable so they have two anime channels and the Disney, Discovery and a movie channel, most of which canbe listened to in English and Japanese depending on my mood. I saw Colin Firth on the Disney channel the first night with Amanda Bynes, I can't remember the name of the movie but it was nice to see a familiar face.
Oh yes, the day before school started Arisa had Bunkasai (Cultural Festival) rehearsal at her school. I tagged along, listened to my iPod most of the time and met a very bizarre child whose name I can't remember even though after a short conversation he named me his third best friend. I was originally first but was demoted. He's quite an idiot, a very friendly, nice, amiable one but you can tell he's one screw short. With Arisa's bunkasai tomorrow, I'll probably go. It'll be my first time even though it will be a small one. Kansho has their Bunkasai on the 6th and 7th of November.
After rehearsal we went to change my address on my Gaijin card at Nagasaki City Hall and from there we went to ANIMate or something. It had a whole bunch of anime stuff, I bought some stuff for me and other peoples, I didn't spend much as I didn't have a whole lot of money on me. Next time I go, I'll buy heaps more. Not to mention I am trying to con Arisa, Hikari would go, to Fukuoka with me as there is a huge one up there.
I talked to Hikari last nigth on the phone, she calls Japan way more than I call Australia. She's only been there two months and she has called over 10 times. We talked for a bit in Japanese, Hikari didn't want to speak English. Though it does sound like her English has improved. She like Australian chocolate as well and I think is the first Japanese person I have met that also likes Vegemite. I thought that was brilliant so she is going to bring some home with her. Yay!
Anyway, I have to go as by the time I out in pictures, I'll be lucky to make my train at 5.08. Oh noes, how irritating. I don't have internet at home so I'll blog whenever I can. I'll blog next week with updates from Arisa's Bunkasai.
Lots of love to everyone, not long to go now!
<3
Ashley-chan.
Picture about bullying in my school. See how awesome Japan is?
The person with the pole is followed by someone without one. Everyone walks forward at the pace of about a wedding march, each beat marked by a ringing of the metal hoops inside the pole. A designated person says 'Mairimashou, mairimashou' which marks the beginning of the change of the pole between two people. The person behind walks forward and swivels and the person with the pole throws it to them and then we get back into routine.
Shakan Shakan is done along with other traditional dances to pay homage to the Water Gods and to ask for blessings for the year to come or something like that.
We then performed for the first time, waited for the Taiko (The Drum performance) to finish. We had lunch of Onigiri's (Japanese Rice Balls) and an assortment of chicken, octopus and other things that I don't remember. I have a bad memory.
Everything on the menu was really expensive, I just had a bite of Akane's unagi as I wasn't game to order a whole eel dish for myself not knowing whether or not I'd like it. I had a karage/tonkatsu combination both of which are chicken. ^^ Chicken is safe. 
So, that's life right now. And now, for your amusement. An ad which I find myself liking. The guy in it is from SMAP, which is like the most famous Japanese boy band. Enjoy, again it is youtube. Soz. 
The building out the front was pretty huge and it had two clocks attached, one was just a normal clock but the one on the left only had one hand and around the clockface instead of numbers it had letters. 
That confused me a little bit.
It was a very quaint little atmosphere. They had cheese and bread shops and so on, I've discovered that I quite like Gouda cheese despite protesting it the whole time I worked in IGA because all the fancy cheeses smelt/looked funny. 
For those that don't know, Huis Ten Bosch is kind of like a theme park but with no rides, it is renowned for its flowers, it is a Holland themed place with windmills and boats and things. 
How hilarious. It turned out pretty good I thought. 
Either way, it is hilarious. It cost 1500 yen and I tried paying but the mother insisted so I paid her back by paying for icecream for Akane, Non-chan and I. It was Dippin' Dots which I'd only had once before. Naturally I got the chocolate mint, Akane got the Banana mix which is Banana, Chocolate and Vanilla and Non-chan got the Rainbow. 
From there, we saw a recreation of a flood, tempest thing with water. I thought it was like a 3D theater but apparently I was mistaken. They had the voices in Japanese but there was a plug in for headphones if you wanted to listen to it in English, Chinese or Korean. I tried listening in English but only one headphone worked and it was super loud. I think the video was originally in English but I ended up watching it in Japanese because it was easier.
Rolled around for a little while before going down for dinner. I think I had a Japanese hamburger which means, just the meat, as I wasn't very hungry. Then I had another ofuro incident. I am getting used to Japanese bathing now, I have seen more naked people in Japan then I have in Australia. It sucks doing it in Japan too as asides from the elderly, not a single woman has an ounce of fat on her which just makes me feel all self-conscious. The onsen is nice though...It seems I am destined to see every family that hosts me naked.
Turns out everyone was gathered and waiting for the fireworks and we were just in the wrong place. The fireworks themself were nice but the amount was ridiculously small. It was like 10 in total but considering they do fireworks every night, I can understand.
There were three dolphins in the pool, San-chan and Yon-chan who were your normal, streamlined, handsome dolphins and then there was Hana-chan who was slightly more ugly. She didn't really look like a dolphin, more like an odd looking whale but regadless. Once the show started they had them perform some tricks and jumps, I got splashed a few times and had some annoying kids in front of me who were standing right in front of the tank so I couldn't see.
They were delicious. On it was lettuce, cheese, meat patty, egg, bacon and tomato which of course I took off and gave to Akane. They were like the Japanese version of Big Chief Burgers.
and 白いたいやき (White Taiyaki) which I had wanted to try. Actually I just wanted to try the normal Taiyaki, taiyaki being a fish shaped mochi casing with various things inside. The traditional one is Anko which I don't really like so I was going to have chocolate but they were really tiny, literally bite-size so we went looking for another stall and came upon White Taiyaki which is similar but the outside is much more mochi-style, ((like chewwy rice paste)) on the inside we had custard. It was soooo good. I wish I bought some to bring home. Now I want to try the normal ones as well.
Everyone ate, I just had a mini hamburger meal which is just a hamburger patty, an egg and some mini roast potatoes for 399円 we skipped on desert and figured we would have some later. 
We didn't get stared at too much but there were a few because we were all talking in English, loudly and being Gaijin and so on.
Kiyo is the most enthusiastic person I know, he clapped to the beat for like every song. We sung a few anime ones together but mostly it was English songs and the really bad ones to like:
We ended up taking it twice but I don't think we got a computer copy because Kiyo didn't know his own address so I couldn't type it in fast enough. No one in Japan knows their own email addresses. What is with that?
We then, debated over whether or not to do another game, I was all up for it because once we stopped playing I was under the impression that I'd go home, no longer having an excuse to be out. 
I was kind of embarassed getting dressed as my Jumbei is nice but kind of big and it makes me look like a lump wearing pajamas. Akane wore normal clothes and everyone else that we were meeting had pretty Yukata's on. But I tried not to get down, soon there were so many people that it was hardly possible to move through the crowd let alone check out what they were wearing so I quickly lost the will to care about how I looked. 
one ball of Takoyaki,
one snow cone
and a bottle of Ramune. 
I did most of these things because it was like a rite of passage. The chicken was because I was hungry, the snow cone was because everyone else was getting one and the Ramune was because I hadn't tried it before and really wanted to.
Our group consisted of people I didn't know very well. Me, Akane, Akane's friend Chiho, a set of twins, and a girl named Sachiko who seemed really nice. There didn't seem to be a whole lot to do there but spend money on food, watch the fireworks and catch some fish. I didn't do the Kingyo Tsukue but I'll definitely do it next time. What you have to do is catch fis using a circle with thin paper stretched on top, apparently it is harder than it looks. I think Akane, An-chan and I are going to Omura festival on the third so I will definitely try it there. I don't know what I'll do with the fish if I catch any but I want to try anyhow. 
The fireworks were better than I thought they would be, some of them I hadn't seen before. Some in particular, shot up into the sky in a brilliant shimmering gold and then spiralled their way across the night leaving trails of sparks right down to the ground. Fireworks are hard to describe I thought it was, seen one, seen them all, but apparently not. 
