すみません。。。つとめていましたから！！！

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Howdy y'all! Title en anglais roughly correlates to "sorry, bin working my *rse orf"... well, not literally, dunno how to be too complicated in Japanese.... But I'm getting better everyday. It's amazing how much I have learnt in 4ish months. Or rather, it's amazing how much less of a fool I make of myself in public. Go me.

Ja, so I have had more than enough to do at "school" over the past coupla weeks. No matter where you are in the world, the last few weeks of the semester have this irritating way of creeping up on you and spewing work all over the place in volumes barely bearable by a ten tonne truck. (My dorm room would be a good visual metaphor for this right now... battling to see my tatami -too- -much- paper-). One of those things is this skit i have to do in class tomorrow as part of my Japanese 1 final oral marks for the semester, so, like good leetle students myself and my partner have been practicing. Yesterday in the student lounge our practicing (and this was without the dramatics/theatrics/movements etc) conjured up enough curious from a pair of "freshmen" (OOOOH, I am surrounded by american culture way too much!!!!) that they came over to 'talk to' (read: 'investigate') us. Was amazing to see actual male students from my uni coming over to talk. Girls ALWAYS do. Boys, never. Kinda weird really. Anyway.... going off track... Ja, they were really amazed at how much we have learnt since being here. Its great to get a full on ego boost every now and then.

Last weekend I felt very "old japanish"... Learnt how to dance the bon dance (made a sad and fairly unsuccessful attempt at turning my 2nd left foot into a right foot) AND I did it all dress up in Yukata. Cool beans. Pity my boobs and rib cage thought they were being punished for some cardinal sin.... My favourite part was walking around campus all dressed up, and then eating lunch in the Japanese garden (yes, on campus). Felt very ladylike.

THEN! The real McCoy! Went exploring in Kyoto in the afternoon and saw some more maiko (young geisha), but this time in GION. This probably means nothing to most of you. For those in the know.... We saw one walking along in Miyako Odori (hope that's correct) on her way to a tea house. Just us and her in the street. I felt too embarrassed to take a pic. Then we walked through a pretty lane and got a rare glimpse of another Maiko working... Laughing coyly and posing for pictures with a customer. Perfect opportunity to pull out my mecha beeg lense and act like a member of the secret paparazzi. Had a bit of trouble preventing blurring in the low light (whilst holding an umbrella) so don't get too excited, but I have proof none the less! OKAY.

Enjoy the pics.... No school for me next week MWOOHAHA! (evil laugh). Oyasumi.

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Photos

Yukata. Garden. Water.
Excuse the hair and stylish footwear.

Cute Grannies
Dancers, and our teachers

Geisha
Well, actually probably a Maiko

Sumie
What do Kim's do all day??? Sit seizai and paint pwity peekatures. Well, not all day and as long sitting seizai as I can take it (which isn't very long).

Korea Town
Sunday, I wnet to Korea town. Had lunch that included Kim-Chi. Which has chillies. Mmmm, oishii! I miss hot food.

Comments

[Dad]

Heh Heh
Great pics and the stories are still entertaining! I am glad to see that the getting you to do some work11 Heh ! Heh! Love Dad

[Bee]

WOW
what an awsome adventure just perfect for you got all dressed up and had a picnic! hee hee must admit that they do look slightly uncomfortable but oh so stunning! such pretty fabrics and colours! well done on your paparrazzi effort, i rekon you have a future in chasing down geisha's! hee hee hee! i know what you saying about work i got at least twice as much as you! have a great day

[Graham aka legend]

what the hell
I cant rememder if i already wrote a comment but hey the more the merryer (excuse spelling). its the old age catching up with me cause i also cant remember the story but i'm sure it was awesome... anyway i hav to get back to failing varsity its not going wait 4 me. luv u lots