Sleepover

Yoko invited me to her grandparents house in Ibaraki prefecture over the weekend, so we went up there together on saturday. The town they live in is located out on the countryside, with rice fields and mountains surrounding the area, about an hour away from Matsudo. The house is a really nice traditional japanese one, very big and around 100 years old. Rice paper doors makes it pretty cold during the winter but that gives you an opportunity to use a kotatsu, which I've been wanting to try ever since I first watched the fruits basket anime. It's really cozy sitting with your legs under the table, getting warm while eating dinner or watching a movie.
Yoko came back from her studies in Scotland over the holidays, and with her she brought some scottish food, haggis. Being made out of sheep's intestine and stomach I was too cowardly to try it when I was in Scotland myself, but this time I actually did try it. Not bad! It actually tasted similar to something I've tried before, but can't remember what it is.
Also got to eat some kinako mochi, something they traditionally eat in Japan during New Years. Was very yummy. Yoko's mom gave me some to take home when I went back to Matsudo on sunday. Japanese families are very friendly and generous, I love that about them!

Knit Hat

I always play with my gifts the day after christmas.

Christmas in Tokyo

Haven't felt much christmas feeling this year so I haven't really missed spending christmas at home. Christmas wouldn't have been the same anyway since my family decided that we shouldn't buy any gifts for each other. But wrapping and giving away gifts are so much fun! I like receiving too of course! And my sisters would have left early and that would have been boring if I'd been home.
Something I'm actually glad that I missed this year is the food. I'm tired of eating (almost) the same food at all our special holidays. Pickled herring, meatballs and sausages are usually on the table during christmas, easter and midsummer. Why not make something different? I would love to eat thanksgiving food instead of christmas ham. When I have my own family there won't be any traditional swedish food on the table!
Yesterday I started making my untraditional christmas food. I made orange cinnamon chicken with couscous. Hiroshi made lomi lomi (raw salmon mixed with choppen onions and tomatoes) and haupia (coconut pudding) and Mark mashed some potatoes. Yummy.

Too much time

I've already gotten a bit bored. I have too much time on my hands, I don't know how to spend it. Usually I just spend time at facebook but there's only so much you can do there before it gets boring too. Yesterday I spent an hour or so at Starbucks reading a book. That book is finished now.
At least I'm going somewhere today! Going to eat some thai food with Reiko in Shinjuku today, and before that I'm planning to go to a turkish food shop and see if they have some halloumi there. I hope it's not too expensive. Last time I found the greek cheese here it costed me around 60 swedish crowns! It's expensive in sweden too but not that expensive!
Going to take a look around in Keio department store as well and see if I can find any clothes I like but it's not very likely. Sigh. I hope this fashion dies out soon!

Blogger is getting boring too without comments. If you're reading the blog, please write something! Brighten my day a little!

Mission: Explore Tokyo

I have already done more than I thought I would do this first week without school, and it's only been 3 days. And I'm enjoying myself. But I expect to get more bored soon when I run out of things to do and places to visit. Also, the people who are still in Japan for the holidays will probably be busy when I want to play. But I'll try to keep myself busy exploring Tokyo.

Monday I went out for a cup of coffee with a japanese girl that I met at the Starbucks close to my school a few months ago. We hadn't really talked much before, mostly just said 'hi' to each other when I came in at Starbucks while she was working. But when we were having coffee we found out we had many common interests. She too wants to live in Hawaii someday :)

Spent a few hours in Harajuku/Omote-sando yesterday with classmate Laura. I was unable to find a new sweater, again, but found some christmas gifts instead. We ate dinner at a pizza place called Pizza Express, which was actually a pretty fancy place despite the name that makes you think of fast food. Had a salad that was a bit pricey, but oishii (yummy)! Dinner size salads are difficult to find in Tokyo since japanese people doesn't see it as a main course, just as a side dish.
Also spent a long time at Kiddyland, a toy store with 5 floors. Laura filled up her basket with a lot of stuffed animals that she will give her friends for christmas. Crazy.
I bought myself a pok-pong, a small voodoo looking doll from Thailand that is pretty popular in Japan right now. Been wanting one for ages but they are pretty expensive so I never bought one until now.

Nice view from Pizza Express.

...

I had a panna cotta for dessert.

I love my pok-pong!

Stockholm

Yesterday I met up with Stefanies hostmother Katoh-san for lunch. We went to a swedish restaurant called Stockholm where we ate from the smorgasbord. There was pickled herring, meatballs, sausage, salmon, liver paté and many other dishes on the table, but what I liked best was something that I'm not sure was swedish at all. It was pumpkin, salami and something else mixed together. Yummy. Since coming here I've started liking pumpkin a lot, and I'll try to eat it more often when I go back to Sweden again. Might be difficult though, I think they only sell pumpkins during fall around halloween.

Pass

Wrote a japanese test today. It will determine if I can go on to the next level or not. I'm sure I'll pass it, even though the listening part was difficult. The people on the tape talked really fast and used many words that I don't understand. The pause between the listening exercises was nonexistent so there was no time to think over your choices.

To pass you need at least 60% on the test, otherwise you'll have to repeat the same class again. Which can be very boring. But I don't need to worry about that anyway since friday is my last day! Been pretty dissapointed with school this time around because it hasn't been as fun as the first time I came here, when I was studying with my first class and with better teachers. We always had so much fun during lessons. Miss those times!

Notes.

A Bit Strange

One thing I love about Tokyo is that there are so many strange and crazy people here. I saw loads of them both in Shibuya yesterday and in Harajuku and Yoyogi Park today. One old man we walked by was wearing a wedding cake like hat with lots of figures and dolls attatched to it. And around his ears he had hung small glass bowls with goldfishes in them. That's something you don't see everyday!

Eat to Live

Since coming here I've been thinking about food all the time. It's not that I constantly feel like eating, I'm just thinking about what I can eat for lunch and dinner, and what I should and shouldn't eat. It's not as easy to be healthy over here as I thought it would be. With all the unhealthy food they serve at the restaurants and sell in the convenience stores it's a wonder that japanese people still are so skinny! My friend Akiko told me that most skinny girls doesn't eat much at all, only small portions if they do eat. That's not good.

I know they cook healthier food at home too, but I'm still surpised they don't have better options when you choose to go out and eat. It's all fried food, white bread, mayonnaise and sugar in everything, and not so much vegetables. I'm always having a hard time finding something good to eat for lunch. They do sell small caesar salads at the supermarket close to my guesthouse, but I don't always feel like eating my salads in school.

When it comes to dinner it's easier to make something healthy, it's just the question if I feel like spending a longer time on cooking than it takes to cook pasta. Because that is usually what I end up eating. But I'm proud to say I've been pretty good this week! On monday I ate chicken salad, chicken with fruity couscous on tuesday and then I made salmon with green curry and potatoes yesterday. Everything with veggies of course!

No, this is not what I eat every day.

No Reason

And again another person will be kicked out of this guesthouse for no reason at all. Mark can't renew his contract and has to move out in december. The manager told him he'd broken a rule but when asked what rule that was he gave no reply and just walked away.
What is wrong with that manager? Why is he even working here if he can't handle people? All he can do is make up new rules about this place. Everyone would be so happy to have Kawabe-san back as manager of the house, but he's off on a boat somewhere, discovering the world. Kawabe-san was a fun, cool guy who made everyone feel welcome here, whereas the current manager makes everyone miserable. Good job.

I wish he was slapped by a monkey or eaten by the Flying Spaghetti Monster...

Oneesan no Tanjoubi!

Today is middle sisters birthday! Today is the day I miss being home the most, not being able to give my beloved sister a hug. Wish I could play with her today...
We just talked on the phone for 30 mins and then I ran out of money on my cell. I've got to load it up with more cash tomorrow. Maybe I'd better buy a 5000 yen card next time so I can call home more often. 3000 yen is not enough if you want to call up Sweden.

Today has been an unusually busy saturday for me. Went to Lalaport (big shopping mall) in Toyosu and looked around there for a bit before I met up with Akiko. Together we set out for IKEA Funabashi. The first thing we did was to go to the restaurant and to eat some yummy meatballs. After that we walked around the different sections, but the only thing I bought from the items section was measuring tools. From the food section I bought a lot more. Pickeled herring, gingerbread cookies, lingonberry drink, elderfruit drink, meatballs, cream sauce for the meatballs... Wanted to buy more but it felt like too much so I didn't.

Omelette for lunch. Funny text on the menu.

Decorations and entertainment outside the mall.

Christmas tree.

IKEA!

Meatballs and daim cake. Yuuuum.

Cookies

Yesterday was cookie baking day with Laura from class. We didn't follow any special recipe but decided to improvise a bit. Making the base dough was a bit messy and we had some egg accidents, but it all turned out well in the end. While I was making Baileys and chocolate chip cookies, Laura made marshmallow chocolate chip ones that she later had trouble getting out of her heart shaped pan.
Must say that baking cookies in a microwave is not the best way to do it, but what else to do when there is no real oven?

Baileys Chocolate Chip cookies.

Marshmallow and Marshmallow Chocolate Chip cookies. A bit scarylooking.

Christmas Decorations

They've already started putting up Christmas decorations. Why do they always insist on doing it so early, can't they wait until december? I guess NK in Sweden has decorated their shop windows too. Everything to sell more. It's all about the money.

Cute snowflakes at Starbucks.

The view from my favourite Starbucks cafe. A man is taking a nap in his car while his dog is yapping at people passing by or licking the car window. In the backround there are people standing around in the Corner of Shame. In other words, the smoking spot in the area.

Earthquake

It's november already. Hate thinking about that I have to leave soon. I only get depressed.

Getting colder and colder here in Tokyo. I've started wearing my jacket and my scarf, and I think I've got to find some warmer clothes soon. Only I can't seem to find any that I like... *sigh*

Got the ac running now everyday since it gets so cold in the room. They don't use double glass windows here.

Condensation.

Yesterday evening there was an earthquake. The walls were shaking slightly, but it only lasted for a few seconds. Since I'm not used to earthquakes I didn't realize what was going on at first. My first thought was actually: Big truck?

There have been other earthquakes while I've been here, but this is the first one I've noticed. Now I can cross this off of my list of things to experience.

Yes, I'm a Terrorist.

Went to Hong Kong over the weekend, even though I got sick last Tuesday. My throat hurt really bad and I could barely speak, but I had to go since my ticket wasn't changeable. At the airports they had me go through security checks. 4 of them! I guess I look like a terrorist.
Belinda picked me up at the airport in Hong Kong and took me to her place. She lives on the 22nd floor and has a nice view of the Hong Kong harbour. Urayamashii! Belinda was a good guide and she took me to see the Avenue of the Stars, The Peak, and the world's biggest statue of Buddha. Hong Kong is an intersting city, and I had a good time. But it's good to be home in Japan again and to get some rest, because I really need it. Phew!

Goldfish Market.

Hong Kong harbour.

The world's biggest Buddha statue.

Path of Wisdom.

Cat in a Box

Walked into a pet shop in Roppongi yesterday, where they sell puppies and kittens. They keep them in these little plastic boxes so everyone can see from the outside and inside of the shop. It's just so cruel, they barely have any space to move around in, and only a rug and a food bowl in there. I feel so bad for them!

Goodbye June

Yesterday was the last day for a girl in my class, June. We have only known each other for a few weeks but I'm really going to miss her. Some people are just so easy to hang out with, and June is that kind of person. Wish we could have gone to more places together! But we'll meet again, I'll go and visit her in Spain someday.
June, if you read this: Un zumo de piña por favor!

Keshi (Kee Cheat?), me and June.

Success!

Yesterday I cooked greek food for dinner. I was kind of worried it wouldn't turn out well since I don't trust my cooking skills all that much, but to my suprise it turned out great. I make bifteki with potato wedges and tzatziki. Also fried some halloumi, a special cheese that they make in Cyprus. I love this cheese! So oishii! Had a difficult time finding it in Tokyo but tuesday I went to an international food market in Hiroo (near Roppongi) and there they had some. It was pretty expensive but it's worth it, it just taste soooo good!

Maid in Japan

So the festival that was on Saturday turned out to be a charity event. They did have some food but nothing that I really wanted to eat for lunch, unless you count sweets. After that we headed to Akihabara where we decided to go to a Maid Café. Didn't look as cute as I thought it would but it was an experinece. Three of us ordered tirmaisu to eat but what we got was something entirely different. Apparently frostie flakes with whipped cream is tiramisu to japanese people. Expensive frostie flakes too! Oh well....

Yesterday I went back to Akihabara and bought myself a Toshiba Satellite laptop. I'm happy that I finally have a computer to use! No more guesthouse computers! And this computer is so nice too... and it was cheap!
The weather was really nice yesterday so after I dropped off my new computer at the guesthouse I went to read by the river. The day felt special for some reason. Maybe it was just the weather but whatever it was it got me in a really good mood.

Tiramisu?

What's new?

Last week the summer semester ended. Since I didn't pass the level-up test I am now repeating the same course again, which is good since I missed 5 weeks of studying while I was home in Sweden. I now have a bunch of new classmates. Everyone seem nice but I think there are too many students in the class, the classroom is too small and the boys are pretty noisy.
On saturday, which uh.. is tomorrow, there is a festival called Global Festa that I'm going to. They should have music, probably some kind of entertainment and international food there. Will be fun!

Rabbit in the Moon

Yesterday it was Tsukimi, the time of year when you can see the fullmoon at it's fullest and brightest. There is an old asian story telling about a woman who got banished to the moon, and there she lived together with a rabbit. Went up on the roof yesterday night to look for rabbits but I couldn't see any, since the moon was pretty far away. But it still looked pretty!

Can I have the receipt?

Was very suprised to find this bag with the swedish words meaning "Can I have the receipt?" when I was looking at clothes in Shinjuku yesterday. Why these words? Do the maker even know what it means?

Earlier in the week a classmate showed me a pencase he'd bought at some shop with some norweigan words written on it. It said: "Give me a pen, ink and paper" but that at least makes some sense...

Typhoon

It's hot, it's humid and there's a typhoon raging outside at the moment. It's not as bad as I thought it would be, but on the other hand I'm not outside in the rain and windy weather right now, so it could have gotten worse since I got back to the house. People say the trains might not work tomorrow, and truth be told, I won't be so sad about it if it happens. I'm not a girl who prefers going to school over doing whatever I want. But I guess there's not so much to do around here, so I would probably be bored.

School is diffcult right now. I ended up in the same class as before, and they've learned a lot while I was back in Sweden. It's difficult to keep up with all the new words and everything else. I want and need one of those electrical dictionaries but I don't know if I want to spend money on one. I want a laptop much more, but I'm not even sure if I'm going to buy of those. Would be nice to not have to use these crappy old computers that they have in the guesthouse. I have to go to Yodobashi Camera and look for a good computer that's not too expensive.

Jump!

Got back at the house late yesterday after traveling on the train for 3 1/2 hours from Minakami in the Gunma area. Went there on Sunday morning with my bf to meet up with some friends who's there working with bungy jumping right now. And of course we went there to jump as well.
Minakami is a beautiful place with mountains, canyons, endless green nature and in that part of Japan the air is clean and the water is drinkable, so we liked it very much. The only bad thing about it was that there are no convenience stores or restaurants in walking distance, and we didn't have a car to get around with.
On our second day up there we jumped. A 40 meter drop from a bridge. Hell scary! My bf did a great jump and looked really cool, but I was not as lucky. I was shaking like a leaf on the edge and wondered if I could go through with it or not. But I forced myself. I had planned to jump of nicely as well but I guess my body wouldn't work as I wanted it to. Instead of jumping off I pretty much took a step down looking really uncool. Embarrassing. But at least I did it! I have talked about wanting to do it for years so I would have been disappointed with myself if I didn't go through with it.
Yesterday we signed up for canyoning, something I thought was like river rafting. Boy was I wrong! Instead of going in boats in the river you dress up in wetsuit, life west and helmet and go sliding down streams and waterfalls. Even though I was a bit disappointed that there would be no rafting, I had fun. It was a great trip, and it felt like I was out of country for a while. And I finally got to go swimming for the first time this year! Yay!

Finally

I'm going back to Tokyo tomorrow! Yay! xP

Japanese in Sweden

Did KappAhl turn Japanese?

Oh bother!

Sigh... I'm bored and I'm annoyed. And I have no frickin' idea what I should become. Don't think the chances of me becoming a writer are that big so what should I aim for instead? I wish I knew. Or that the answer would just come to me all of a sudden. I want to find something that I really like and can become good at. But what would that be?
Ideas, anyone?

Obsession

Picked up my copy of the new Harry Potter book from the post office earlier this week. Can't believe this is the last one. What will I do when I've finished reading it and the series is over? What will be my new obsession?
Ever since the first book I've wanted to live in that world of magic. I want to go to Hogwarts, I want to meet all those cool people, I want to be able to do magic too! *sigh* Why do I have such impossible dreams?
Another dream of mine is to become a writer and write something as good as Harry Potter, but I doubt I have as much imagination as J.K. Rowling. Where does she get it from?! How can a brain think of so many things? I could never write a story so complex.

Reading Harry Potter makes me wish I was british. I love how they talk, the expressions they use and that british accent (can't hear it when reading but I can imagine it). Who doesn't wanna use words like "blimey!" and "wicked!"? And they are always drinking tea. Sounds so cozy! I drink tea every other day as well but there is just something special when british people do it. "Care for a cup o' tea?"
Think I'm gonna go downstairs now and have some...

Out for a stoll

Yesterday I went for a 5 hour walk by the river with my sister. Was pretty cloudy when we set out but got sunny and quite hot later in the day. Ate some blueberries (full of healthy antioxidants) that we picked on the side of the path - yummie!
Pretty suprised to find this car wreck on the way. It's not a thing you expect to see in the forest! I wonder if it happened recently... I have a feeling it wasn't, but they should have removed the car otherwise, shouldn't they?

Hypnotic?

July 24. Walking around Kista with Karin.

Looking at this flower hurts my eyes! Depth perception failure?

22:39

Karlberg, July 15, 22:39.

Waterdrops