Hey guys! Soooo, uh...I had a new post all for you and I deleted it by mistake. Gosh..darn it. So, once I am over being mad about that I will re-type it. It will be about my dorm. Ya know, how it worked and how it looked.
If you have any questions, ask them now so I can add them to the post. Thanks! :D
Konbini is what they call Convenient stores in Japan. There is a very GRAND difference in American Convenient stores and Japanese ones.
The best way to give you an idea of what it is, is to say that it is like out convenient stores, which we call....Gas Stations. Yup, Gas Stations. Except in Japan is IS'NT a gas station. No cars service or gas to be found. Just the store part.
These can be found on every corner and street. 7 Eleven, MiniStop, Lawsons and etc. Along with vending machines that pop up no matter where you are in Japan.
I love that they are everywhere and I will explain why. They are nothing like ours, in America those places are only good to by junk food snacks or go to the bathroom if you are really daring. Now, in JAPAN these places are magical kingdoms *throws glitter*! Ok, not really but close. These places will give your sweet tooth the junk food craving it needs but it will also give you a good lunch, heat it up for you, pay your bills, fax that office letter, copy that paper work, use an INTERNATIONAL ATM (7 eleven only) and give you free chopsticks. Seriously, it feels like you could do everything in your day at the Konbini. We even learned about it in class!
The food is also very good. They have bento's and if it needs to be heated up they will do so for you. They also have cooking hot food in the front. Normaly like fried chicken or dumplings...it varies from store to store. They also have bread, milk, baked goods (very delicious I might add), Cartons of Milk, Cartons of Coffee, COFFEE, Hot Coffee, Tea and lots of yummy stuff. Oh! Lots of Cup Noodles also and things that just require water to cook. Those you have to take home but that shouldn't be a problem.
Depending on how big the store is they normally have things like paper, pens, pencils, paper towels, toilet paper, clothes detergent, hangers and other things you would need for your house. It is basically a mini grocery store.
OH! The magazines, they also have magazines and their magazines are the BEST EVER. At least in my opinion. The fashion magazines are just amazing. Not like our little crappy things that are just one add after another giving no useful information. You can also buy manga and sometimes dvd's and hentai for you perverts out there. The porn isn't in the back either, right in the magazine rack on the side, go crazy. Lol.
Oh and as for the junk food. Make sure to look for the weeeird flavors of chips and drinks.
Ice Cream Vending Machine!
I think that covers that. I am sure I will think of some more later. As for vending machines there isn't to much to tell besides the fact they are everywhere. I rarely saw snack machines but if you need a drink you are set!
The drink machines are on every corner or just outside some random building. They have lots of variety but you will probably only find one or two soda's. Most it is coffee, millions of teas of tea and juice. Oh, and sports drinks to keep you hydrated. The summers are very humid.
In the winter some of the machines even offer hot drinks. Hot coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Yum Yum!
I would like to add I had a vending machine IN MY DORM! Not in my room of course but down stairs in the lobby. It was cheaper too! Woo!
...on my older posts. I knew I would be horrible about blogging as I went. I do SO much better AFTER things happen. Like, WAY after. So. I am gonna go through some things I didn't post. Hope you enjoy.
The first thing I would like the point out would be my favorite meal in the world. Curry and Rice from Yoshinoya! Yum Yum. Best NOT expensive lunch ever! About 500 yen.
They will always give you free water or green tea. Hot or cold. The bowls are big too so you certainly get fill up! The menu has a lot more on it but this was my favorite. <3 Oh how I missss it! Of course I just recently found a good Japanese restaurant in my town that is very authentic tasting. THEY HAVE CURRRRYYYYY *drools*. Japanese Curry is the BEST!
Oooh, what if I don't speak Japanese? How do you order!? Is it difficult!? AHH!
DON'T PANIC!
Grab your towel and calm down. Most places in Japan have pictures or displays of plastic food. All you have to do is POINT to the picture of what you want. Ta Da. Ordered. Some of the more chain like restaurants will also have an English menu for you. Places like Tokyo, Fukuoka or big tourist sites will always have some type of English. If not, just remember...POINT AND DONE! Things can also go from very very cheap to very very expensive. Avoid fancy places, small shops are cheaper and just as tasty! If not better! Remember, no tipping!!!
Another way to eat is the コンビニ (Konbini). Convenient Store. Such as 7-Eleven, Mini Stop or Lawsons. Rather cheep and they have plenty to select from. Not just junk food but bento's and sandwiches! Yum! Maybe I will make a whole post dedicated to the Konbini.
I certainly do miss the ice cream I always got D:
Now instead of going into great detail about everything I ate, I will just post pics with some captions. Make sure to check out my facebook, might be stuff there too.
Umezu Kazuo...I knew nothing of this man until I taken on a little field trip by my school.
He is a manga/anime artist and writer. The content is horror genre or just scary in general. Japanese ghost stories or random things that come from this mans head.
I am not a fan of this type of thing and his art style isn't for me but I can see where some people would really like it. He is very famous in japan and is in his 70's now but has been going this since he was in HIGH SCHOOL! Wow!
This was like a mini haunted house with his art and it was rather fun! I took some video so enjoy.
PS. They gave out a little gift. It was toilet paper with his comics on it! HAHA xD
I am thinking of sending it to Bunny, aka, grav3yardgirl, from YouTube. Since I think she would really like it! She is into that sorta thaaang :P
I love the Japanese Magazine! They actually have lots of hair styles and all sorts of outfits. The fashion is totally different than in the states.
Japan, like every country, has many styles in fashion. Cute, Professional, Everyday..etc..
I'm not one to like the more professional magazines. Those aren't fun. I LOVE work clothes but since I don't wear them...I don't have any real need to look at them.
I like the more Harajuku magazines or just everyday girly clothes magazines. ^__^ I love looking at the makeup and the hair the most!
So, I have made a new album on my pinterest. Japanese Fashion and Hair. I will post pictures I find or pics that I take of magazines! Enjoy~
I only have two weeks left in Japan. I have a few things I still want to post about so posts will probably still continue even when I am home.
I have really enjoyed my stay but I also really miss home. I was rather disappointed but I think that is only because I am stuck smack dab in the city. Some of the other dorms are more in country and I wish I could have been there.
I love greenery and I wish I could see it more often.
Besides that, I love Japan and I will miss it. Of course I also miss home so it's always a toss up.
I am ready to find my path back home. I don't know if it will be going back to college or what. (I do want to go back to college, get a degree and continue my Japanese study.)
I would love to come back to Japan. It will be my second home. Back and forth will be nice. I don't think I could even just live here unless I was with someone I love very much. I am a family person and not having anyone here is the hardest part.
Plus, my classmates went back home so these last weeks have been a little lonely.
BUT, we are getting a new student next week. ^__^ Also I am going to an international party tomorrow!
Snippets from our trip to marine world a few weeks ago! It was worth the rather difficult way there...let's start at the beginning..forgive me if I have told this story already...
Two classmates and I headed off to find Marine World! FUN TO BE BEHOLD! We knew the bus stop but decided to ask anyways. The worker at the station thought world...was city..oh how wrong they were. We decided to trust them and got on a different bus.
After awhile I knew it was wrong. We were going the wrong way but still towards the water. Where were we going?
After twenty minutes or more we got off the bus to...Marine...City. Marine City is a shopping center. Shopping. Center. Boring.
Ugh.
So, we headed back off to the main part of the city we came from. Went BACK to the bus stop we knew was right. Found the bus that said it went to Marine city.
It was still early so we headed off. Back on the bus for another half an hour. It stopped short. A few miles from Marine World! WHAT!? WHY!?
The driver told us to go wait for another bus and we went to look. Only came every hour or so. So we..we gave up.
We headed back AGAIN...now that we had spent $10 or more on bus fair. So we just walked around and got ice cream. At least we got a tour of some different areas.
Anyways~ A week or two later my friends met a Japanese girl. Made friends with her. SHE KNEW HOW TO GET THERE!
Finally. So, she wanted to go so we all went with her. We were at the bus stop but it was some..special..bus that was like not listed or something. It was strange.
Anyways...as you can see in the video we had a grand old time!
It is raining today after a long dry spell. The dark thunder clouds make it feel like night time. It is a cool and dark...the rain is dripping and thunder rolls in the distance. I love all the sounds and the flashes of light.
To bad I did my laundry. I hung it out to dry but it is probably getting a little damp. Even if the rain isn't really falling at an angle.
The last week was interesting.
We went to see the new Studio Ghibli film and then went to the large firework festival in Ohori Park. This is the biggest firework show in Kyushu!
It was...it was just mind blowing. They were huge and filled the whole sky. It went on for an hour and half and the were so close that the black powder was falling on it. It was over a lake too! Very pretty.
By the way...festival food in Japan...is the best food. Yakisoba for the win!!!
My camera died before the finale sooo, here is a random persons video of the fireworks! Watch the whole thing, it gets better! A video really doesn't do it justice though. Enjoy :3
As promised here is a blip from the Yamakasa Goin!
AAaaaaannnd, I have a little tale to tell...
There once was three Japanese language students living in Japan. They decided to go Marine World after class. They were told which bus...the ride was long and wrong. They went back, took the bus that said MARINE WORLD..it stopped early. They gave up and went home and had lots of ice cream. The End.
I wish that rhymed but I am to lazy right now. That was certainly a waste of a day besides seeing some country side.
I am excited though because next week our school is taking us to the movie theater! :D Wee!!
Most likely to see the new studio Ghibli movie! *squeeeeee*
I am so happy O_O
Also coming up I have a week off. Any ideas on what I should do? I can travel the northern part of Kyushu.