Blunt

Saturday, September 24, 2011,6:13 AM

So many different thoughts.

First off, seriously I feel like a slob around all these Japanese girls. Unless you're doing a sport, you dress up. Heels, skirts/dresses, make-up, cute accessories, everything. And fashion here is amazing; the color palette of the clothes are specifically chosen to match the season. Currently new clothes are coming in and right now they're selling maroon red, tans, creamy whites, ash grey, and light navy blue type of clothes. The type of clothes too are just not my style which makes it difficult for me to shop (other than clothes being super expensive).

I did not bring enough clothes and now it's super hard to find something for me to get. I might just go online shopping to get some clothes because it might be my only option.

Speaking of fashion, when I'm around these girls I feel like I know my type of fashion a little more. I've been thinking lately, "I feel like I'm an island girl." I wear the beads and braided bracelets, I enjoy the flowing clothes as well as flipflops and tank tops. But that could be classified as hippie too. I think I'm just yearning to go back to Jamaica since I know my cousin is getting married there next year.

Japanese is frustrating me. I wish I was learning more at a faster rate. My literacy Japanese class is spoken all in Japanese and I feel like five year old learning how to read for the first time. I don't know enough kanji to read and I had to read outloud in my last class. It was so embarrassing and frustrating that I kept stopping because I was frozen on the kanji I didn't know. I'm just going to have to work extra hard, but I'm also afraid of burning myself out. Though, I did have part of my dram last night in Japanese, it wasn't much but it was definitely Japanese.

Saturday, September 17, 2011,6:44 AM

It's only been a week...

And Julie is all ready starting to annoy me about boys.

Yes I agree that there are a lot of attractive Japanese men that we have been seeing. But just because I agree that they are cute doesn't mean I want to have sex with all of them. Seriously is that all you think about? And pushing me to make friends and not yourself isn't helping.

That soccer boy we saw on the field. It wasn't because you wanted me to have "soccer friends" it was so you could benefit out of it. You thought he was cute, not me. You speak better Japanese than I do, how about you go talk to him. I was perfectly fine watching the break dancer who was practicing and his performance not the soccer guy's abs that you managed to see.

I'm sorry that I'm not going all boy crazy like you are. But seriously you need to stop trying to push me and use me. Cause I'm not going to let you ruin my time here.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011,4:35 AM

The Japanese girls here are all so cute and I just feel so... not. Especially when we are walking around the "city" part of Osaka.

*le sigh*

Thursday, September 1, 2011,8:32 AM

One Last Meeting.

Last night Masayo invited me out to meet Sho's high school friend visiting from Japan, Satoshi. I also met Kaori who is another exchange student going to the community college here in Tahlequah. It was a really fun dinner, I didn't want it to end.

They taught me some words to say when in Japan, like みち"very", and they wanted me to remember; "なんでやねん (nande yanen)" which translate like "you gotta be kidding." They said everyone will be surprised if I used it. An example they figured out was like when they were complimenting me on how Japanese my personality is like to them, and I could use "なんでやねん" in response. I hope I can use it in the future so I can use what they taught me. But I did experience something that I'm going to feel like in a few days.

Satoshi, bless his heart. English is not his strong point and he tried his hardest speaking English. He often had to stop to think, and mumbling in Japanese when he was trying to find the right word. Sometimes he would just speak Japanese to me, even though I didn't understand what he was saying I still paid attention, and Masayo often translated for him when he finished. He gave me a lot of advice though, all of them did, and it was fun just learning about each other personally and culturally. I was truly thankful to meet them, even if I wouldn't see them until possibly winter break when they graduate here in the states.

When we were departing Kaori gave me a hug as a good-bye, so Masayo followed suit. I really wanted to hug them good bye but I didn't want to out of line and make them uncomfortable even though for me it's natural to give people hugs. So I was really happy when Kaori made the step forward. But when it was Satoshi's turn we did an awkward to we hug or hand shake before Masayo and Kaori encouraged us to hug. It was a quick hug, and when we pulled away he looked very shocked.

"I've never hugged anyone in Japan," he said which would explain how surprised he was. But it was really cute. I think what Kaori said earlier in the night, that he is like an いけめん　(ikemen:"good-looking guy; cute guy") I have to agree now.

But I do hope that I see them again in the future.