Christmas fun time. =)

Sunday December 26 (Japan time)

So today I talked to family over Skype. =) I did not really do anything too exciting until later in the evening. I started reading a book I bought two or so months back, lol. I also secretly downloaded a game on my iPod =) So I've been poking at that too, recently. But anyhow, the fun starts at around 7PM. A group of us gathered on the first floor and went to an all you can eat/drink restaurant. (Lamb meat, specifically) But yea, it was an interesting experience. =) The food was okay but their drink menu was quite extensive. A lot of the meat had a lot of fat... So yea, it wasn't too appetizing. Beth was also with us so we could not inhale the vegetables. (She's a vegetarian, lol) But yes, a few people got really drunk and then there was me and two other Macau guys flapping away in Cantonese, lol. It's been awhile since I last spoke in Cantonese... -sigh- Anyhow, I guess it is worthy to note that we all wore these little plastic coveralls while eating to prevent our clothes from getting dirty. We also sat in a large ball-room like area so yea.. the atmosphere was rather confusing, lol.

We left the restaurant at around 9PM... A few of us walked back while the drunkards took the train, lol. If I did not stress this enough in previous posts... here it is again. The sidewalks/roads on Sapporo are insanely slippery. It was seriously a long stretch of pure ice from the restaurant to our living quarters. I should have taken a picture but I did not bring my camera, unfortunately... But yea, that ends the night. =) I had troubles sleeping because I was getting cooked out of my room, lol.

Monday December 27 (Japan time)

Today I met up with Megumi and Christine. =)  We went to an observation tower and  I took many photos, lol... We sat down and chat over coffee and cake. I took a picture of the wall because it reminded me of Geology. (Lol)

A picture of Sapporo Station (JR)

The extensive ice covered tracks of JR.

It's geology, I swear...

The infamous glass washroom (Men's only)

Sapporo City at night. =)

We all went to Kaitenzushi because Christine always wanted to go to one but never really had the chance to, lol. I ate 30CAD worth of sushi today. =) It was well worth it, lol. We parted ways at around 7:30PM. I decided to stay at the station and shop around, lol. I decided to stop shopping at around 8:30. =) On my way home, I bought a bag of apples from the underground supermarket, lol. But yea, nothing too, too exciting. =)

Tuesday December 28 (Japan time)

Today was a rather fun day. =)　Dinara, Beth and I went to this New Years event thingy for International Students. There we met up with John, Bibi, Christine, Abdy and Alex. We got to wear traditional outfits for free! =) I took a few random photos. The lady dressing me up said I was too thin as she was wrapping the belt around my waist... T-T And they also told  me to eat more... I eat a lot, thank you. =( -sigh-

Alex, Abdy and John in Hakama

I also decided to join in on the fun, lol.

I wanted to wear the black one... =(

Some random person wanted to take a picture with me, lol. I decided I should take one to.

Blind folded and playing a game. It's pretty much pin the tail of the donkey.. just not a tail.. Lol

Bibi and random girls.

The bow on Bibi's back

After that, we all went to another all you can eat/drink lamb restaurant. =) There I took some more pictures! It was a fun night. =) I ended it with some ice cream at some fancy place. Happy, happy! Anyhow, I got home at around 10PM. =) Alex was really drunk, lol.

Group picky

I would not make a very good Santa... as you can tell, lol.

And the Christmas season starts!

Wednesday December 22 (Japan time)

So today was Minapa's Christmas party. =) Thankfully, I was able to prep for a presentation on Friday earlier today. I found a paper about proverbs, lol! (Hooray)  But anyhow, we played two small games and then had a little gift exchange! (Mine was a little Marimo cellphone strap I got from the Marimo shop in Otaru, lol) Mariya got my gift! And I got Mariya's gift. =) A book! (Harhar, I now have 5 books I need to read... LOL) But anyhow, I took a bunch of photos. =) Enjoy~

Minapa also had a Nomikai 飲み会right after but I could not go because I had to prep for my loverly presentation. I went home with Dinara and Beth, lol. It was a fun night. Thank you, Minapa. =)

The streets in front of the University.

To end the night~

I also got my little package from home! Thank you everyone from home. I never thought I would miss whole grain bars and fruit bars, lol. I was really, really happy. It was mighty heavy too. I was surprised, lol. Thank you family. <3

Thursday December 23 (Japan time)

Spent most of my day prepping for  my loverly presentation on Friday. It turns out I am lacking a lot of content but because I need to finish it on time... I needed to assume that people knew what I was talking. In other words, I could not explain everything that I was talking about. My first presentation had too much content and my most recent one lacks content... LOL But yea, I get my message across. =) Which is all that matters, I guess. I also went to Oodori Park to watch a quick performance by the A Capella members of the University I am going to. =) I took a few random photos.

My friend was Santa, lol. Someone I know from Germany.

Friday December 24 (Japan time)

The presentation went rather smooth today. =) The teacher and Kent seem to enjoy it, lol~ The teacher also bought us all cupcakes because it was Christmas Eve and we were the only group that had class, lol~ I was quite satisfied with my presentation. It went rather smoothly. =)

So yea, I went home right after class ended. I was supposed to meet up with Christine but she canceled on me last minute, lol. I went to the post office and delivered a few postcards and New Years Eve cards. =) To those who gave me addresses... Do expect something in your mail... =) maybe~ Lol I went home... Made food for meself (Salad rolls and randomness) then went to Oodori Park to watch the closing festival. It
 was not too spectacular but meh, it was nice. =) I took a few pictures. =)

The little light show ending the Christmas Night Market

I then went home at around 9:15PM. I hung out with Dinara and another girl who also lives on the 6th floor. I was feeling rather lonely so I was quite relieved to have them around for Christmas Eve... =)

Saturday December 25 (Japan time)

Well, I was supposed to meet up with Christine today as well but she canceled again, lol. But anyhow, today was great! I went over to Christine's place and had a great Christmas dinner party. I made the mashed potatoes and salad rolls. =) Harhar. There was turkey, carrots, broccoli, mashed potatoes, cookies and pumpkin pie to end the night~ We had a great time eating and chatting and telling random jokes! I also bought my iPod Touch with me because it had Christmas Carols. We started eating at around 5PM and ended at around 6:30PM. I took a few random pictures. Over all, it was a great night! Thanks for the wonderful food. I burnt my middle finger and Lisa gouged her finger... Her finger was bleeding for awhile. Note: I noticed that a lot of the doors in their little area is much, much lower than usual.. I had to crouch to go through the doorways, lol. Anyhow, I left at around 7:40PM. I caught the bus at 7:55 and got home at around 8:30PM. I am now currently watching Salt. =) Here are the pictures for tonight! Note: For those who are interested... Unfortunately, Christmas is only a business here in Japan. =( Companies want money so they take advantage of it.

The turkey <3 With stuffing

My awesome dinner. <3

My Chrysanthemum Tea drink. <3

A fraction of the dessert.

Wednesday December 15 - Friday December 17 (Japan time)

So Wednesday through Friday has been rather regular. I ate dinner and bonded with the family. =) The son continues to go to work and party, I continue to study, eat and talk with the family. I ate tons of vegetables and a healthy breakfast/lunch/dinner everyday~ Classes were a-okay. This weeks topic for Academic Japanese was about proverbs. I introduced a few in Cantonese just to spice up the conversation. There are only three major languages floating in the class. Russian, English and Japanese, lol. I wanted to be the little thorn sticking up. =) But anyhow, Friday ended well. I also learned how to cook various vegetable dishes! Japanese people really do love their mirin, soy sauce, sugar, water and vegetables. =) I am starting to like them at lot too! But anyhow, moving on~

Saturday December 18 (Japan time)

Today I went to Otaru with my host mother~ We took the train there from Sapporo station. It was mighty cold today but we ventured through the City~ It was great! I ate so much food... And bought so much chocolate, lol. I had to confess to my host mother that I cannot resist sweets. I also bought myself a little Marimo souvenir! (Even though Otaru is famous for their glassware... Lol. yay!) But yea, I think my host mother expected us to leave at around 2PM but we ended up staying until 6PM, lol. I like Otaru. =) I took a lot of pictures! -posts-

Well hello there...

.... I'll have you know that I have never slipped on ice so many times before coming to Japan. That lady is intense. I am actually worried about falling on ice in Japan. I slip on ice at least 3x a day, lol...

It use to be a bank... or so I was told. =)

Me in front of the famous river flowing through Otaru. there use to be ports attached to those window-like openings in the back. =) But yea... Otaru turned into a tourist town so they got ride of the docks, lol.

A close up, semi-fuzzy picture of the dock.

Host mother

Otaru is full of random nice buildings. =)

And funky statues. =)

In an interesting alcove full of random restaurants~

Outside of Otaru's many glass shops~

A green diety dressed up as Santa waiting at a bus stop... LOL. Don't ask...

Look at the icicles...

OMG OMG ENA! If you're still reading this.. LOOK AT THE POT OF FRESH GOLD!! T-T

And the pot of gold ends.. T-T Omg, omg.. I was doing some serious salivating just looking at the pictures.

Old train tracks run through a now shopping area.

That cake is heaven...

Picture of a museum~ (It also used to be a bank too)

My best photo of Otaru.

Bye bye, Otaru~

But yea, I got home at around 7PM~ Yuri (The oldest daughter) made curry rice. =) We all ate that with daikon salad... Then I went and studied~ Lol...
Took tons of pictures

Sunday December 19 (Japan time)

I tutored today. =) Then went to the Supermarket to buy ingredients for cinnamon rolls! Harhar~ I also knew that I would be leaving tomorrow so I suggested that I made dinner today~ Salad rolls for a light appetizer... followed by Spaghetti and Cinnamon rolls for dinner/dessert~ I went straight to work when I got home. I first made the Salad rolls because they were the fastest, lol. I then prepped the dough for cinnamon rolls. While it was rising, I made the pasta sauce.. (should have bought a total of 3 cans... the meatballs soaked up all the liquid and in the end... I did not have enough sauce... I was very sad) But anyhow, after the sauce was done... The dough was read for reshaping~ So yea.. I did that, let it rose.. then stuffed it into the oven... NOTE: Ovens do not exist in Japan... It's a microwave o_o The "microwave" is a multifunctional tool that can bake, grill and warm up your food! O.O It totally shames the microwaves back at home... But nothing beats a traditional oven when it comes to baking. =) Why? Well... Even though the temperature was set to 200Deg Celcius... The buns cooked way too fast... So the first batch was slightly burnt.. I was very, very disappointed. It was the first time I burnt my baked goods... (Never again...Never) But anyhow, we all ate dinner together~ It was great! (The cinnamon rolls tasted the same even though it was slightly overdone. I received welcoming compliments. The mom and daugher were recording every step along the way so that they could make it themselves) After wards.. I went and studied some more~ Then poked fun at Sayu's Pooh Bear because it's so thin.. LOL We compared it Yuri's and yea... The washing machine did not treat Pooh nicely.. Lol. But anyhow... I had my last dinner with the family today... =)
I took a few random pictures~

... LOL Pooh on a diet.

LOL.. side shot comparison.

Frontal shot. LOL Sayu's Pooh Bear has an eating disorder and looks special... Lol the washing machine did not treat him nicely.

But cute nonetheless.

Lol... One last photo.

Monday December 20 (Japan time)

So yea... I bee lined back home after class ended today. I have one last test tomorrow to end my Japanese class for the year~ But yea, I went home and my host mother was cooking up dinner. I went into my room and packed my belongings then went back outside. I met her in the kitchen and told her I'll be leaving to catch the next bus home soon. She packed me a portion of dinner then Sayu came home. =) I left shortly after. Sayu, Pooh bear and my host mother were standing by the door waving at me. Before turning the corner, I gave one last wave and then they were out of sight. I felt rather sad. It was like leaving home again. My host mother texted me shortly after to apologize because she forgot to put the rice in my bag before I left. I returned a message say I will stop by some time~ She then replied back and said she cried when I left. =( -insert sad face- It was a rather sad departure.. But anyhow, I did not feel slightly tired or overburdened while on my homestay. Everyone else I talked to said they could not study and that it was stressful, lol~ I, on the other hand, thought it was rather eventful.

But anyhow, I bought my gift for the Chiffon Gift Exchange event tomorrow! (I thought it was today, lol) Today was actually the Year End Party and we all ate at all-you-can-eat Okonomiyaki! LOL Omg, omg... I indulged in it so bad. Anyhow, I went home shortly after ward! I went to bed and bam~ The end of the day... I took two pictures, lol.

Tuesday December 21 (Japan time)

Did not bring my camera today~ But yes! Today was Chiffon Club's Chiffon Club's Christmas Party~ There was Chocolate cake, soup and lasagna~ I finely diced the onions and was responsible for making the sauce! I was rather worried because I thought they put too much water in the mixture.. It was seriously watery and I was worried, lol. But yea, it was my first time making sauce from scratch so it was a rather interesting experience... It needs to dehydrate a little bit and then it thickens~ I can make homemade tomato sauce now. =) Hoorah~ But anyhow... Everything was mighty tasty. We did our gift exchange and my gift was more suited for a girl, lol... It's one of those... bath bombs.. Cherry blossom flavored.. LOL -sigh- But anyhow. My gift was a 3D teddy bear puzzle. =) Lol~ But yea, the party ended at what I thought was 7:30PM... The last bus was at 7:46PM. I went to the convenient store and bought myself some ice cream.. then sat at the bus stop and waited for the train... =) But yea, no one else came so I was a bit suspicious.. I looked at the clock again and it was actually 8:40.. LOL The party actually ended at 8:30, not 7:30. But yea, it was a chilly night, lol. I walked to the station (20 or so minutes away) and I defrosted in the building... Goodness it was cold. I need to get use to 24hr clock, lol.