ラララ。。。

Good things that happened this week:
Going to the Japanese Gardens w/Monica + Tony, so far from school (Not this week but I’m adding it anyway). Those gardens are gorgeous! Some of the leaves were turning as well. I’ve got photos if anyone wants any. Hanging out w/Tony + Monica was cool, got to know them a bit better I think. Getting sick was no fun, but overall I had a great time!
Presenting about the Japanese countryside to Japan Club. Talking about my experiences in Ayabe reminded me of one of my best experiences in Japan, and one of my main reasons for going there. Although the conditions there aren’t exactly like what the photograph books would have you to believe, it is just as beautiful. The shrines I visited there capture the essence of Japanese culture, the culture I find so beautiful. However, now I think it’s time to explore somewhere else, perhaps France, or Thailand, I still haven’t decided.
Talking to Anna. It’s been so long since we’ve talked, so I’m really glad I ran into you today! I would have liked to have talked longer, but alas, it could not be so. Hopefully, we’ll talk again soon.
Red Eye. Not such a bad movie after all, and afterwards I talked w/Andreas + Azusa, that was interesting.

I’d like my next post to be a translation of a Mr Children song, so be on the lookout for that post. I haven’t decided which one yet, but Owarinaki Tabi is my fav, so maybe that one?

After about 2 weeks of planning and stressing out about it, the Japan Club had our first Japanese Cooking night at my dorm. Originally I was planning on making only okonomiyaki (Japanese dish- like pizza, with cabbage, flour, egg, and a choice of meat), but after discussing with the group, we also decided to cook yakisoba and onigiri. This was a great decision in the end, b/c then everyone got to make a variety of things, and sample a lot of Japanese food that’s usually not in restaurants (prob b/c it’s simple to make). That was my main goal in doing this – exposing the members to the Japanese culture I was fortunate to experience while I was there.

When most of the cooking was over, and I was finally able to relax, I realize that I was stressed out way too much about this, and some other things currently going on in my life. I’ve been really pissed off at everyone all the time, and I really hate that feeling of being mad and not having a reason. So I’m going to try to get over the things I’m dealing with and try to be less angry all the time. Midterms are over, so hopefully I’ll be able to do that.

Memories….
If you read this,
even if we do not speak often,
comment with one memory of me.
It can be anything you want,
good or bad.
Just as long as it happened.
Then post this on your livejournal.
See what other people remember about you…

I planned on posting something earlier, but I forgot my password, and didn’t feel like changing it until now…. Also, it’s midterm week, so I’ve been trying to study as much as I can for my ipcoming tests. I had Japanese today, I’m not sure how I did. The class isn’t quite what I would like it to be, but I’m going to try to make the best out of it. I have gotten something out of it - it’s becoming easier and easier for me to read kanji, to guess the correct reading of it. I still struggle, but I feel like I’ve made some progress.

I highlight of this week was when I made Japanese curry rice. I had to go to the Japanese market to buy okonomiyaki ingredients for class, and saw the curry stuff there, and thought why not buy it too? (Also bought some aloe yogurt, ate it w/my mom. I forgot how good aloe tasted) SO I had curry rice for dinner on Monday and Tuesday. It wasn’t quite like Japan (I diluted it too much) but it was good!!! ^_^ Reminded me of all the Japanese food I’m missing, and thinking about it now, I want to make nabe, takoyaki, gyoza (I know it’s Chinese but I made it in Japan…), homuraisu, and other things. This brief escape, and also hanging out w/friends, has made this week bearable. I’ll get a vacation from school school, which I’ll use to relax and get back to doing things that I enjoy (outside of school).