Friday November 18 (Japan time)
No classes today because my professor is in Korea. Today is rather disappointing and fun at the same time. Here are the following highlights~
Highlight:
- Picked up Health Certificate
- Passed out on the bus
- Could not meet my friend
- Hung out with other exchange students and met an interesting Japanese person
I woke up relatively early today to cook up something to eat! I usually don't have the time to do that so today was rather special. I met Beth after lunch at around 12:45PM to pick up our Health Certificate from the hospital. We took the train to Sapporo Station. We actually had a decent conversation today~ She's usually cranky or unwilling to talk early in the morning. But anyhow, we talked about funny commercials that we saw on the internet. We handed in our forms after we arrived at the hospital. We sat in the waiting area and talked some more about random stuff. It sort of transitioned from world history to the history of medical practices... Did YOU know that they use to pour hot cooking oil over amputated wounds to cauterize them? Holy smokes. You can die from shock but there's also a chance you'll survive. I guess in a way... you have a greater chance of survival. Then again, would I rather just die from blood loss and feel numb or feel excruciating pain before collapsing to death? Interesting though.
Anyhow, after 30 or so minutes of sitting... We were finally called in my the nurse to have a short consultation. We were given a piece of paper with our weight, etc written on it.
And the stats are:
- Weight: 162 pds
- Height: 184cm = 6'0
- BMI: 21.6
- Blood pressure: 99/52
Beth went home and I went to the University after we left the hospital. I guess I was not sleeping well the night before because I drifted into deep sleep the moment I sat down in the bus and yea... I did not wake up until the last stop on the bus. The bus driver walked up to me and smacked my elbow and told me I was at the last stop, lol... So yea, I was supposed to meet my tutor at 4PM, I was lost at around 3:15PM. I wandered around and got more lost, lol. I asked for directions from a few old people in some smoke filled building and yea, they gave me directions to an elementary school? I called my tutor and tried to explain my situation. I apologized and tried to reschedule, lol. I suggested tomorrow even though I am meeting Christine's host parents. I texted him a few hours later to apologize and said I'd see him on Sunday.
Even though I said I'd see him tomorrow. He texted back and said okay and no problems, lol. So, so sorry. But yes, I asked a school staff member and she told me where to go. I arrived at the University at around 4PM. I was supposed be at the University earlier to print off my survey so that I could hand them out to random people when school ended. But yea, I printed my stuff out then went to the cafeteria and yea, no one was there =(
I went to the library and studied. I texted John to see if he was still interested in going to Sapporo station but he left for the station already. Christine texted me wondering if I wanted to hang out later today. I agreed and yea, I met up with her at around 6:55PM. We were craving the cheap beef rice bowls we ate in Tokyo with our friends so we went ventured to the closest one. We walked all the way to Sususkino (lol woops) and found the beef rice bowl shop. We bought our little portion and spent some time talking in the restaurant. We left an hour or so later to meet up with John. Apparently he already ate with others beforehand so yea, I had a good feeling we would bump into a large group of people. And I was right~ Lol. Christine and I spent 2hours in "Donkey Hotel" looking at movie rentals and random TV series. We met John and everyone else shortly afterward. We met up with a random Japanese girl who was Lisa's friend. She was a bit strange but welcoming. I guess strange people are easier to talk to. Anyhow, we wandered into a cafe at around 11PM and ate.drank random stuff. We left at around 11:45PM but John, Christine and people did not make it to the train station in time for the last train. John called one of the dorm kids to pick them up. But anyhow, that ends that day.
Saturday November 19 (Japan time)
I woke up a bit late today. Last night was tiring, lol. I skyped with my sister. According to sister, the weather in Calgary is slowly getting more and more miserable.
Highlight:
- Homestay
- Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki madness
- Went to a famous park 「モエル沼公園」
- Watched my first movie in Japan
- Ate ramen
- Met the rest of the family
I left the institute at around 11:50PM. I got off at Sapporo station and bought some small treats to bring with me. I almost missed the train I was supposed to get on. Thankfully, I made it in time! I arrived at the designated train station at around 12:55PM. I was supposed to meet Christine's host parents at around 1PM.
I was on time, lol! Hooray.
Christine's host father met me at the station. I introduced myself and talked the rest of the way to his house. So the plan was clearly laid out beforehand. We make lunch, walk around in a park, watch a movie related to the park then etc. Today will be picture filled. =)
Anyhow, we made okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) and takoyaki (たこ焼き) for lunch today! Omg, yum yum. Lots of pictures to show.
Sidenote: I look rather young in this photo. I guess the tea here really does make people appear younger... Creepy. Anyhow, we left for the park at around 3PM. We wandered around the park and I took a lot of pictures, lol. Enjoy~
 |
| I made it! Cool beans! お好み焼き |
 |
| Up close |
 |
| Christine with the Okonomiyaki |
 |
| The start of Takoyaki たこ焼き |
 |
| The end result. Poor top right. |
 |
| Me decorating one of them. |
I did not realize this at first but a lot of the buildings were triangle based. After watching the movie, Christine and I sort of concluded that everything was somewhat triangle-like because it probably reminded the architect the first time he designed something. According to the movie, Asamu Noguchi designed his first building on a triangle plot of land for his family when he was around 9 years old. But yea, in summary, the movie we watched before eating ramen started off a bit slow but ended great! Glad I watched it. Most of it was in English with minor Japanese parts. Oh well, I can survive with English =)
I took a bunch of pictures of the mall we were in before we watched the movie
 |
| Random person fishing by the river |
 |
| I don't want to be mosquito feed anytime soon. |
 |
| The river |
 |
| Note the hill... I will talk about it later in another photo. |
 |
| The glass pyramid from afar |
 |
| The PERFECT moment to take a picture |
 |
| Panoramic view |
 |
| This was at the top of the giant hill I took a picture of up top. We decided to play a little game of guess how many steps and I won! I was closest to 300, lol. I guessed 260. |
 |
| Picture of the pyramid hill from the Glass Pyramid. |
 |
| Pyramid hill from the tall hill in the previous, previous photo. |
And now for photos of when we were actually near the movie theater. =)
 |
| The movie theater is close to the old Sapporo beer factory. The factory turned into a mini museum and gift store full of randomness. |
 |
| The lower part of the C died... That was the only reason why I took this picture. =) Really, it was the ONLY reason. |
 |
| Within the "Fartory" was a mini mall and a movie theatre! =) Common thing in Japan I guess. Movie theater + mall. |
 |
| Closer... |
 |
| Underneath.. |
 |
| Even closer... |
 |
| Closest!!! |
 |
| Poinsettias anyone? |
|
|
 |
| Walkway |
 |
| Street lamp |
 |
| The host mother at the entrance of the beer factory |
 |
| Brewery display |
 |
| Knock knock... |
 |
| It almost looks furry. |
Now for the ramen!
 |
| Harhar |
 |
| The host parents. |
The movie ended at 8:30PM. We were all hungry so we ate Ramen. I took a picture! Lol. We went home shortly afterward and there I met their son and daughter. We chatted the rest of the night. Christine and I tried to demonstrate how to pronounce L's and R's and yea, R's are impossible to teach, lol. But anyhow, I stayed over for the night. I crawled into bed at around 12:30AM. I slept in the same room as the host father.
Sunday November 20 (Japan time)
I woke up at around 8:30AM, took a shower then ate breakfast with Christine's host family. We made Sushi pizza! Yummy deal. should've taken a picture but I forgot. Christine left at around 10:15AM. I walked with the host mom because the University was relatively close. We talked about random movies and the local High School. Apparently High Schools are serious business here in Japan... their definition of "good" and "bad" high schools are rather extreme. Students spend hours going to school if their house is far from the "good" school. I think in Calgary, students are stuffed into whichever High school/school their closest to. Sure there are good and bad high schools in Calgary but just as long as you graduate and go to post secondary then yea... I guess it's fine? According to the host mom, the high school close to their house has a low university turnout rate and not many students graduate? The high school is new too! I'll take a picture of it the next time I walk past it. It doesn't look like a high school, lol. It looks more like a mini University. Anyhow, on to the highlight.
Highlight:
There was a sports event today. Everyone who wanted to attend met up at the student hall. At 1PM, everyone ran to the tennis courts to play random games/sports. I decided to nerd out and study another hour because I did not get any studying the day before. I covered a good portion of kanji. I changed into my running gear then met everyone else at the tennis court. We played duck, duck goose. (LOL I felt like a kid again), dodgeball and this Japanese rock paper scissors game, lol. Fun deal~ No pictures though. Anyhow, we ended at around 4PM. Dinara and I went to the library to study. We left at 5PM because the library closed at 5PM. We took the bus home. I cooked, made lunch and went to the study hall. I studied then went to bed. =) That ends today.
Monday November 21 (Japan time)
Well, today was rather interesting...Tomorrow is a day off and I also have Wednesday off. Minapa decided to host an all-night drinking/partying event and I said I would attend not knowing it was ALL-NIGHT. Someone rented this little facility for people to party over night, lol. Yea, I can't believe such a place would exist. Then again, it might be more common than I expected. But anyhow, the highlights.
Highlight:
- Somewhat extended long weekend
- Handed out my survey
- Insane party
I handed out my survey to people today! I asked random people in the cafeteria and the majority of the people were willing to fill out my survey. =)
Sidenote: I only noticed this today (Wednesday 24 2010 Japan time) but I made a typo error on my survey... LOL Ah well, I'll just tweak my report. I got a total of 22 responses. I was hoping for 30 but yea, that did not happen. 22 is good enough, I guess, lol. The professor only wanted 5. But anyhow, I finished at around 4PM then bumped into Bucchi. We chatted for a wee bit then I disappeared into the library to study a bit before everyone met up.
Everyone gathered at the student hall at 5:20PM. We left the University and went took the JR station to some obscure station even further away from the city center. We bought food from the convenient store and wandered to the party house. I should have taken a picture of the outside but I forgot, lol. Anyhow, it was outrageous. Japanese people really are crazy when they unwind...
I'll stop there, lol. I'll keep it as clean and innocent as possible. But yea, the night was spend drinking random beverages and eating random snacks. Chocolate, dried squid and other finger-like food~ I took a few photos. =)
 |
| And the night begins... |
 |
| A very interesting girl. |
 |
| I wish I was that cool, lol. |
 |
| Yea, I was clueless too. |
 |
| She's totally into it... Lol |
 |
| Ma-san and Mr Grey Sweater Man. (I feel bad because I do not know his name yet I talked to him all through the night, lol) |
 |
| Why can't I be this cool? |
 |
| And the final draft of people. |
 |
| A game similar to charades |
 |
| An interesting performance. |
 |
| Yea, I don't know what was happening either. Though... I think it's for comedy purposes? The power in the entire building is shut off... then people enter the room and the power is flicked back on... Then they perform.. then leave.. then it repeats? LOL complete randomness. |
Christine and Bebe joined in on the fun at around 9PM. Ayane and I walked to the train station to pick them up. We played random games. People drifted off into groups of conversations. We raided the entire place. One person passed out at 12AM in the tatami room, lol. He was the first and yea... The first person always gets picked on. He was drawn on, lol.. Anyhow, at around 1AM, myself and three others decided to go out for a walk. It was actually quite cold outside but it was okay... I was getting fresh air. The air inside the facility was littered with smoke, lol.
Hooray for second hand smoking. But yes, we came back at around 1:30AM. again, I drifted in and out of conversations and finally passed out at around 3:30AM. I was woken up 8AM where we then cleaned up the place to the best of our ability. We all left for the train at around 9AM. I got home at around 10AM and was planning on studying... that never happened. I passed out on my bed until 12PM, lol. I woke up, cooked then studied. I did not go to the University.
