Day 24: Shibuya with Friends April 6, 2009 8:30am: Jon wakes me up by calling me. I was irritated that he was irritated about being in Japan instead of Monday. I was just very glad that he's coming and he is kind enough to bring a lot of things I wanted from America. 9:00am: Jon and I hung up. I sent a text to Eileen that I will meet up with her and Christie Smith at Sophia University at 2pm. I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and changed my clothes. 10:00am: I ate breakfast which was a slice of bread [View Full Entry]

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Day 23: Penis Festival Warning: Sculptures & Candy looks like penis. Tell your kids to go away! 9:30am: I woke up, washed my face, brushed my teeth, changed clothes, and ate breakfast (slice of bread with cream cheese and apple juice). My host mom, Manami, packed me 2 onigiri (rice triangles with seaweed and umeboshi inside) and Japanese radish, so I don't get hungry for lunch. 10:30am: I talk to Jon on Skype. I'm so excited for him coming to Japan!! 11:00am: Host dad, Daiki, and I left on bicycle to go to the "penis festival" but the real name is [View Full Entry]

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Day 22: Ueno Park 9:30am: I woke up, washed my face, brushed my teeth, changed my clothes, and ate my breakfast (slice of bread with egg & ham). 10:30am: I talked to Jon on Skype. 11:00am: I left to go to Warabi, Ate Reci's place. Aimi and Ate Reci didn't have work. I brought a suitcase to easily take the clothes Ate Amalia gave me that I left at Ate Reci's house. 12:10pm: I made it to Ate Reci's house. I packed the clothes that Ate Amalia gave me in my suitcase. I video taped Ate Reci's house. 1:00pm: Aimi, Ate [View Full Entry]

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Day 20: Sophia University Orientation 8:00am: I woke up because I thought Jon, Mr. Ng, and I were going to talk on Skype. Then, I thought we were going to talk at 8:30am, so I washed my face and brushed my teeth. 8:30am: I sent a message to Jon saying let's make it 9:30am, so I can eat breakfast. I finished getting ready and I ate breakfast, which was a slice of bread with ham and egg on it, salad, and water. I received the host house key. :) My host parents just got the key. 9:30am: Jon says that [View Full Entry]

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Day 19: Break 9:00am: Eileen and I wake up, wash our face, brush our teeth, and ate breakfast (lettuce, tiny tomatoes, slice of bread with chocolate & peanut butter spread, water/coffee). Eileen's host mom was very kind. Her English is very good and she translated what my host mom texted me. I couldn't read the kanji. We watched a Japanese drama...I forgot the name...but it was REALLY GOOD. (I don't even understand Japanese very much though.) 11:00am: Eileen and I walk 20 minutes to the Tsunashima(?) station. The weather was nice. 12:00pm: I don't have my map and I forgot [View Full Entry]

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Day 18: Roppongi 6:00am: I woke up, called Jon, showered, got ready, and ate breakfast (usual: slice of bread with cream cheese, salad, and potato salad) 7:30am: I left to go to Yotsuya station. Today's orientation starts at 9:00am. 9:00am: After doing all my transfers and making it to Yotsuya, I listen to Michelene's review of the CIEE schedule/calendar and her answers to our questions. 10:15am: Dr. Slater talks about the differences in the culture of growing up in Japan and America. Japan makes it clear that we are all dependent. America has a "false" impression that w [View Full Entry]

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Day 17: Airplane Friend & Wedding Day 9:00am: I woke up, finished updating the previous blog, and talked to Jon on the phone. 9:30am: I took a shower, fixed self, and ate breakfast. 10:30am: I left to go to Iidabashi to meet my airplane friend, Natalie. I agreed to be part of her sneezing movie. :) 11:40am: Natalie and I met and ate at Denny's. Denny's logo and food is COMPLETELY different. The food is much more delicious here. I ordered a white asparagus pasta. Natalie paid for my lunch...I was really ready to pay for it. Thank you, Natalie!! 12:30pm: [View Full Entry]

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Day 14: Earthquake Simulation 8:00am: Woke up, showered, ate breakfast (slice of bread, salad, and egg), and took headache medicine. 10:00am: Left to go to Harajuku to buy Aimi a b-day gift. 11:00am: Arrived at Harajuku. I found the torii from yesterday’s scavenger hunt but I couldn’t find the famous Harajuku shopping area. I walked near the train station and found the shopping area. I bought Aimi 3 really cute socks and I went to buy a gift bag and card from the really big dollar store (3 floors). 1:00pm: I ate chocolate banana crepe. It was SO delicious. I [View Full Entry]

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Day 13: Scavenger Hunt 6:30am: I woke up, showered, fixed self, and ate breakfast (2 mini hot dogs, salad, and slice of bread with cream cheese), played with Yuzuki and watched tv. 8:30am: Left my host home and felt REALLY COLD. It was snowing. I wore a sweater, scarf, and jacket. I felt the beginnings of a headache. I get them so often that I know that I'm about to get one. 9:30am: Got out of the Yotsuya station and it was the perfect weather, sunny and perfect breeze. 10:00am: Today's task is to travel around Tokyo and complete a scavenger [View Full Entry]

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Day 12: Ota City Hall & Orientation 7:00am: I woke up, took shower, fixed myself, and ate breakfast. Breakfast was a slice of bread with cream cheese, salad, and sunny side up egg. Manami's sunny side up egg is so perfect! The yoke doesn't ooze out, it's solid! 8:30am: I watch tv and play with Yuzuki. 9:00am: I vacuumed my room, even though it looked super clean. I reviewed a little and took a nap. 10:10am: Manami and I took the bus to go to the Ota City Hall to register me as a Japanese coming back to Japan. The city [View Full Entry]

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