Elle's Adventures

Today was Showa Day; a day to commemorate Emperor Showa`s birthday, who reigned before, during, and after World War Two. So this day also doubles as a day to recognise the war and how bad it was, etc, or something like that. So for us exchange students, it`s a great excuse for a day trip! Me, Go, Tei, Natalia and Shannon first set out for Kakuozan to see Nittaiji Temple, as Nasu-san had suggested a few days ago to Shannon and I. Kakuozan turned out to be a really, really nice neighbourhood. The street was lined with lovely little stores built in traditional Japanese style, and private houses that looked modern, large and very lovely. I thought I`d include the photos I took in the morning to see whether my clothes looked okay. And because you all said for me to stay crazy. It`s annoying more than ever to not have a full length mirror! Every morning turns into such a chore. At the time I thought my shoes looked okay. But now...not so much... The top left photo is of tomb st...

Yesterday I went to the Sugiyama Jogakuen travel agent to book tickets to Kyoto in Golden Week. I`m going to stay with my good friend Fumi, who was an exchange student at Utas, Semester One last year. I understood pretty much everything the lady said, made my own enquiries about the difference between the bus and shikansen...ended up going by shinkansen because it`s a lot less hassle than having ten different bus changes. It`s going to be expensive though! I was so proud of myself; I can actually do things on my own - and in another language too! And then there were some not so nice things that happened soon after... For now, let`s just enjoy these random photos: Sugiyama`s CIEP toilets. They aren`t so interesting to me anymore, as I experienced them three years ago, but for those that have never seen them... Some photos I took after going to the post office, buying stamps (yay, I used new grammar...then I didn`t understand the lady. I`ve noticed when I don`t understa...

...it was not a `party`. Today was rainy :( I still haven`t bought myself an umbrella. So when we left, I took one out of the stand. I hoped that whoever owned it wouldn`t be wanting to go out. I`ve noticed Japanese rain is remarkably different to when it rains in Tasmania. In Tasmania, the winds blow, so it`s impossible to use an umbrella anyway. It Japan there is very little, so the rain falls straight down. I actually prefer Tasmanian rain. You`ll hear why later. Sugiyama`s Sunday bus...I guess they don`t expect many people to be going to University. I couldn`t believe how much space there was! So, at 9.20am we arrived at Sugiyama, and I jumped immediately onto the computers. Still no news. There has been no news for a few days now, which is extremely disappointing. When there`s no news, it makes me feel isolated. Once inside CIEP (Center for International Exchange Programs) we became aware that today was going to begin on a formal note. In one of the classroom...

Just letting you all know that tomorrow we have a `Welcoming Party`. We have to prepare a speech... :( In Japan, whenever we meet new people we have to do a self introduction, entailing our names, University we come from, what year of study we`re in, our majors, hobbies, etc. I`m just going to do that. Apparently there will be lots of food. Feeling just a bit lonely today 恋人はあまり私と話さない。。。avoiding me?

I went to the supermarket on my own yesterday; look at all the food I bought that isn`t instant! Cost a lot more though :( The corn flakes were so, so good, and so was dinner. Took ages to make though with only one hotplate, so I started my homework a lot later than I had planned. Lucky it`s still easy stuff and only took me five minutes!

Yesterday I decided it`s not good enough that we are studying boring things that we already know. If I had known this, I would`ve asked to come to Japan at a later date! I know that`s not possible, but still, I`m so bored in class. So I used Saturday to learn new Kanji and useful phrases...and take millions of photos. I was so bored at one point (but in a good way; bored with learning rather than bored at learning nothing) that I decided to set my webcam to take five photos every few minutes. I forgot about it sometimes... And my lunch I had another study day today, but my head hurts and I don`t feel so well. xx Lorelle

I have some semi-old photos I`d like to share which would belong in other posts, but you all might miss them if I put them there. So here they are! Starting with the day we spent with Asami and Yuuko (I took the photos directly from Facebook, so I haven`t been able to make some of them clearer in Photoshop or do any croppping. Sorry!): Oh I did something different for once! The view from my window at night. Left is a 24 hour internet cafe; handy if I ever happen to get locked out after curfew! Top right is apartments I think, and bottom right is a train going past. I never notice them because I`m always so tired. I don`t even remember where this was taken...it must`ve been the second day here because my hair isn`t straight. I think I`m a bit fed up (of some thing ) already. Nagoya Castle: Yes I am in this picture... Hehe it`s me Really, really yummy ramen with lots of vegetables from last night. I al...