Korean Class Dinner + Karaoke

Friday, December 7, 2007

My Korean class contains myself and two girl classmates, Yukiko and Kana.
The next day: We met up at Tsuruhashi (Korean Town in Osaka) in front of the JR station.
Later on, the two Korean exchange students joined us.

It took us awhile to pick a restaurant, but finally we did!
After we ate, Yukiko had to go to her part-time job.
So we all took the train to Tennoji and did some Karaoke, which btw both of the Korean students were sooo good at singing, we were all like wtf.. damnnn! lol.

After, we went to do PuriKura! The bright sticker thingie!
It was the first time my Sensei did Purikura.. haha!

Pasta, Concert, 2 Korean Exchange Students

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2007!

At 5pm, I met Sensei (teacher) in front of JR ticket. Apparently, she lives in Tennoji, 5 mins away. We went to Mio Department, on the 10th floor and ate in the spaghetti house next to the Korean Restaurant that I ate with Ai-chan (Thailand girl). She paid for my dinner!! Soo nice!!
I ate spaghetti that was green, it was pretty good! =)

Afterwards, I paid my train ticket to our destination. We met the exchange students in one of the JR Platforms. They were both guys, Eunho and Jungmin.. I think...! 18 and 19 year olds (in korean age, so minus a year for reg. so really they are 17 and 18). In the train, the little one grabbed onto me cause I had nothing to hold on to (we were in rush hour, so lots of people), and I just kinda freaked out and was so shocked! Because in Japanese culture, that does not happen...lol. For some reason, at that time I felt so Japanese. The big one's English was really good, pronounciation and speed! I was really surprised.

So we arrived at the station of our destination, and I saw Baskin Robbins...
.. first time I saw Baskin Robbins in Japan. So yeah, I freaked out, and then my teacher said we can go and get ice cream before the concert! I was so happy!!! So yeah, in Japan, you can get a Variety Pack. It is like, you pick 8 different kinds of ice cream, and you get a scoop of each. I am not sure if this is available in U.S. or not, but it was new to me!

Finally we reached the Culture Center after asking a lot of people where the place was..
Tonight's event had two parts. For two hours there was a famous actor who played in a very famous movie called Pachigi. He kept on talking and talking. The place had a really really huge theater. And I turned around and looked around, and everybody was sleeping!! lol!

Finally, the concert came. Tomoe Sawa is half Japanese, half Korean and was raised in Japan, Korea, and America. During the concert, she revealed that she is 7 months pregnant. Her powerful pianism and singing together was sooo awesome. I was so moved!!
I was so happy I was able to go to this concert and talk show!
I went for free hehe!
I will never forgot this concert!

Thanks sensei!!

Kids are speaking some english!

Yes! It is true!
As we were eating dinner (just me and the three younger kids in the living room),
I go, "Do you know what cute is in English? Kawaii~~~! is Sooo cuteee!!"
Then I make an example.. "Kanoka(8yr old host sis) is soooo cutee!!!"
She smiles but in a FLASH, Kosuke (11yr old host bro) goes "No no no" -- as shaking his head.
ROFL!
I literally was rofling.


So, this past weekend on Saturday I re-took the SAT Reasoning test the second time.
I think I got 200 points and plus than my original SAT scores!!!!

Why? Because when I walked out of the room, I was smiling as if somebody was gonna buy me some Inari sushi.. haha XD

The next day I had the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).
I took the lowest level out of four. It goes from Level 4 to Level 1.
Level 1 being the highest.
However, you don't need to take Level 1 unless you are majoring in Japanese of somewhat.
Even real japanese citizens can't even do level 1 perfectly, too hard. haha.
JLPT is like.. you need to remember things that you don't use.
Useful, huh?

Anyways, you only need Level 2 to work in companies or go to a Japanese university.
Level 4 is beginners, level 3 is between beginner and intermediate, and level 2 is intermediate.
Level 4 is soo damn easy.
And from Level 4 to level 2, you only need 60% to pass! Level 1 you need 70% to pass.
Next year, I am aiming for level 3.
This test only comes every year..
.. Im only 17, got lotssss of time, so I am not rushing on this.

So because of JLPT, I met so many foreigners ACROSS THE WORLD!!!
I met people from Germany, Australia, Sweden, Finland, Thailand, America (Indiana peepz), etc. I swear to god, I need to work on my geography. This is my first time, due to this Study Abroad journey that I am actually meeting real European people. And I can't even reassure myself where the hell their country is placed at. Yes.. it is sad... so when I get back home, I am going to study the damn globe.

Now that I have met people across the world.. I really want to travel to those places now.
Not studying abroad, but just travel. I think it would be a blast... !!!
Yep.. definately saving up for some quality vacation when I need it in the next 5 years!

Our JLPT test location was at St. Andrews University.
Yeah, first time I saw some kind of religious university campus in Japan.. haha.
Here are some pics, click to enlarge =)

Top: Sweden, Germany, Michigan (US), Indiana (US), Indiana (US)
Bottom: Thailand, Australia

In the subway to Namba!!



Click to enlarge!

I MADE MOCHI!!!! <3

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23 2007

This Friday for Americas is Black Friday. But in Japan, it is Labor Day.
I have a video of me making mochi, from REAL steamed rice.
But it is too big to upload, SORRY GUYS, i will upload it when i get back to michigan!
I volunteered at a festival and made mochi all day XD


---
Here are some pics.




After the rice is pounded and made into mochi (rice cake),
we cover it with flour and make its shape.
The first tries were horrible.
But after some practice, i made really pretty shapes XD




This is an Osaka dish.






Me and Bri - DUAL mochi maker!



HEHEHEHHEHEHE SO CUTE


STEP ONE


STEP TWO


I had a lot of fun, and the women asked me to help them out again in new years XD

Switzerland Exchange Student

We had a foreign exchange student visit Matsubara High School (actually studying abroad in Aichi, Japan) for a week - 11/19 to 11/23!

It was the first time I have ever seen a 100% Swiss guy and talked to one.
So here are some pictures. lol.
Since Swiss's main language is German (not real German, Swiss's German), and surrounded by many countries. He can speak Swiss German, German, French, Italian, English, and some Japanese.

Eating Out with Host Family!

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2007

The family goes out to eat once a month only because there are so many people total in the family.
It adds up, you know? We either go out for sushi or Korean BBQ.
This past Monday was Korean BBQ!!!
(Next time we go out for Sushi, I will take pics.. !)
I swear I have the best Host Family everrrr!!! <33

Notice this is the JAPANESE way of eating Korean BBQ.
The Japanese has a side dish of soysauce in front of them, and dip the meat in the soy sauce.
Whereas, the Korean way is a wrap by rice and the meat on the green vegetable leaf with some gotchujang or samjjang (spicy hot sauce) on it!

So.. I just eat the meat and the rice alone.
I think putting it in soy sauce ruins the taste and it doesn't taste that well.
But that is just me.

Enjoy the pics! <3



This is the restaurant, about 20 min bike ride from our house.
GREAT MEAT!


At first we always get the same appetizer: pieces of cabbage and a kind of light soysauce.


After we stuff ourselves, the three kids always lay down and just sleep on the restaurant floor.
hahaha XD



me and my host sister, Moeka (14)


Host parents <3

BONUS!


lol Kosuke was just laying there, so us girls decided to do something funny XD

Shabu Shabu!!

It was all the kids' first time for Shabu Shabu!
Two weeks ago, I asked my host family if we could eat Shabu Shabu...
... because I always saw it in dramas or commercials. lol.
So yesterday, surprisingly, we had Shabu Shabu!!!
It was delicious, and I ate a lot of veggies <3
Here are some pictures, enjoy!

P.S. the meat is pork!

EXTRAAAAA!! ---- Kanoka and her friend who slept over.

Haha remember when you were young and tried to act old?
hehehee. so cute, brings back memories!!