Blogs from Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan, Asia - page 3

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Asia » Japan » Kumamoto » Kumamoto November 11th 2008

So I haven't updated in ages, but that's alright. That means I've been busy, and being busy is much better than being bored. Also, please forgive any bad English in this and future entries - I'm focusing so much on Japanese that I'm forgetting English little by little. Things have been going pretty damn well here in Japan. My classes are difficult, but I'm learning a lot in a rather quick manner. I'm beginning to understand more and more of what's said to me, no matter what the context or conversation topic might be. I'm still having trouble speaking Japanese quickly - too many English speakers in the dorm = too much English spoken in general = I'm still thinking in English. Oh well. A lot of interesting things have happened lately: the school had both ... read more
Sports Fest
Halloween Group
Sexy, right?

Asia » Japan » Kumamoto » Kumamoto October 24th 2008

Konnichiwa from Japan! Docked into a new world or that's how it feels being in Japan so far. We almost don't want to go into too much detail we think everyone should come and experience this country for themselves and part of the excitement is experiencing everything that's different. However, for those who will not be visiting in the near future here is some more info (skip to next paragraph if planning a future trip!). Everywhere is spotlessly clean and we mean clean, they have the shiniest fire engines, lorries and white vans ever to be seen; people are courteous and polite even when getting on/off the metro, everyone waits until the last person has stepped off before getting on and queues merge in an orderly manner when boarding; any techno geeks would love it here, ... read more
Still Smiling
Sunset in Osaka City
Osaka Castle

Asia » Japan » Kumamoto » Kumamoto September 29th 2008

So you remember when I said that I didn't think I get stared at too hard? Well, I lied. Here's a story: I went downtown yesterday with John and Spencer (both from Montana) to look for some awesome shirts. (I found one, by the way. It's the most wicked awesome Daft Punk shirt I've ever seen. 28 bucks, but well worth it.) I decided that since we were going downtown, why not wear my "looking for a Japanese girlfriend" shirt? Seemed like a good idea to me. My gods was it a good idea. Literally 90% of the people we passed by walking down Shimatori (one of the main shopping district streets), which would mean around five hundred to a thousand people, saw my shirt and either laughed out loud or giggled excitedly to their friends. ... read more
Trains are loud
RAWR
Score

Asia » Japan » Kumamoto » Kumamoto September 29th 2008

The dorm had its kangei (welcome) party today for all the new ryuugakusei. It was pretty cool. A lot of people showed up, and for some reason I got peer pressured into wearing my "looking for a Japanese girlfriend" shirt again. The funny thing about this is that about 95% of the people that came were Japanese girls. I was told by at least two girls that they were "hunting" for a boyfriend. Maybe I'm being to forward... But to the main point, and this is dedicated to Vince Arnone, the only person I know who will understand fully what I'm talking about. Or at least understand most of what I'm talking about. First, I think it is very necessary to have music in your life if you want to live a full, happy life. Music ... read more

Asia » Japan » Kumamoto » Kumamoto September 12th 2008

First of all I'm typing on a public computer in the international dorm here at Kumamoto Gakuen University, and the keyboard I'm using is a Japanese one, i.e., the keys are either in weird places or really, really small (the space bar is about the size of a regular shift bar, and the shift bar is the size of a letter key, way too small!) This is because my laptop is out of commission right now. Therefore, no Skype, no MSN/G-Talk/whatever for a while til I can get it fixed. I had never been to Canada before I flew up there from Seattle on a smallish dual prop plane. John Schuldt (my mate who's here in Japan with me) and I got off of the plane after it landed and went straight to baggage claim. Our ... read more

Asia » Japan » Kumamoto » Kumamoto November 23rd 2007

The hotel had a fairly early check-out time at 10 am, but it suited me fine anyway, as it would put me on the road to Kumamoto without delay. Through the last days I had seen more and more people walk around town with face masks, and unlike a common belief that this is due to protect themselves from heavy pollution there is another important reason as well, they are not wearing it to protect themselves, but out of courtesy to other people. Yes... it is because they are ill, infectious, contagious, impure, dangerous to the productive society. But in a country with a high population density it is of course impossible to survive without becoming affected by any virus doing the rounds, and I was to be no exception. When I woke up I could ... read more
Super Snooper - The Tsubame 800
Travel in Tsubame-style
The connecting Relay Tsubame train in Shin-Yatsushiro




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