omnom

Helloo guys!
Since it's pretty late I'm not gonna be able to tell you ALL that I've done for the past few weeks (it's a lot) but I decided to dedicate this post to the eatings and drinkings in Japan as well as the amazingly magnificent experience of the AIU FESTIVAL!

Since the eatings and drinkings are pretty self-explanatory (omnoms times hundred so far), let me say just a few words about the school festival.
So apparently in Japan every school does this once a year and it's the single biggest event of the year for each school. Since our Uni is only (what) seven years old, it's absolutely mind-blowing how much popularity the festival has gained in such a short time. During the two days we had more than 7000 visitors from outside the campus. Most of the students I saw at the festival had not been sleeping for at least 48 hours while working on the numerous food stalls, haunted houses, performances and other festive activities. The hard work really paid off and while working myself as well, I enjoyed the school festival tremendously. I'll let the pics tell you why!

Otherwise things have been rather calm for a few days. It's the midterm exam time! Mine are quite easy so my studying pace has been relatively chilled for the past days but I have seen a few pairs of those ever-so-familiar rage eyes I got used to in Aberdeen during essay and/or exam period.

I can feel you get bored while reading this, so let's move on to the pictures. Many stories about our trip to Sendai, lazy days and future plans are to come though!

For the death of me I can not remeber the name of this place (very long and very consonant-y) but I can tell for sure it was delicious! Basically you buy a bowl of ingredients with a sauce, mix it and fry it yourself with the hotplate in the middle of the table. Foodgasm guaranteed.

Embracing myself for greatness (the portion was massive!). Note the fancy girl date-look, went out with mah homegirl Ayami (pic above).

Okay, Finland needs this. Izakaya is what it's called. Basically you pay a certain amount (~15e) and you can drink as much as you can for the following two hours. And yes, it is possible to order six drinks at the same time for yourself.

Alazne enjoying the perks of this wonderful invention (read: the first 500 drinks are kicking in).

Morning coffee! Since this country is seriously lacking in good coffee, Ayami and me decided to start a tradition of having some quality coffee and conversation every morning at hers.

And when you find a proper cuppa, you pay for it (~6e). Loving Danke Cafe though, quality coffee with quality service!

The closest thing to heaven: conveyor belt sushi and soda with ice cream. Mmm me fatty, me happy.

Festival presenting time! Daisuke and me ready to hit the stage.

Debate team rep crew. They say it's "intellectual fun". Ha.

Lunch break at the impressive student run cool food stalls. Oichi!

Okay, normal clothes are cool as well. Especially when hanging out with a gigantic pear? A green M&M? What is this thing?

My debate partner Ikuma doing a solid job at Kanto performance which was the highlight and the ending performance of the festival. Two words: mind blown. Better pics to follow!



































All right. After this very culturel post I'm ready to bed. Basically sleeping on the IT lab floor already. Nighty night my friends.


Love, Sonja

come away with me

We meet again.
Once again, my sincerest apologies for basically sucking ass in this whole keeping a blog thing. Still, the school IT lab treats me like a lover so here we go once more, better late than never.

It's been almost a month since I last updated you people so go figure that happenings during the last month have been multiple. I believe we were left off with the trip to the samurai village the last time. Since there's been a few trips, many adventures and many-er parties here in the land of the rising sun. As usually, I have quite a few pics and explaining trough them is a lot easier than expressing with words.
To make this more clear, here's a short list with a short introduction to the things going down in Japan. Enjoy.

1. I now know Japanese! Thanks to a very high school-y way of studying the language, I can pretty much read and write the two easier alphabets and handle everyday business such as restaurants and asking for directions in Japanese. I guess the old dog can learn new tricks after all.

2. I put these mighty fine Japanese skills of mine to use! The uni had an event in the local mall (Aeon) with AIU student talking English and Japanese to the people hanging around and shopping. I was there, I was hyper and I was extremely popular among the Japanese kids. Planning to do this again next weekend when the people should be coming on campus for the biggest AIU event of the year: AIU festival. I'll fill you guys in on that next week then!

3. Partaaayh! There's been a dance party, a proper fancy ball, several birthdays and i-am-so-mad-at-life-let's-get-drunk-night and a few others I'd say. So yes, we've been out and about having some good time!

4. I miss cooking. The communal kitchen system is really not working at the Komachi Hall. Everytime I want to use the kitchen I need to fill out some papers, everytime I want to use the hot plate I need to pay and everytime I want to eat something after 10p.m I just have to go hungry. Thank god my mother isn't the only one worried so many of the lovely people here (cheers for last night Ayami!) keep feeding me. We'll see what they say when the time comes for the Finnish cooking night in our little cooking buddies circle.

5. Road trip! After some very troublesome application process for a permission to drive in Japan for Andrea, we finally made it! Rented a car, took it to the coast roads of Japan and soon enough found ourselves at Mount Chokai. Indescribable scenery and superb company. Hiking up the mountai was like following Howl's moving castle or chasing little Totoro's in a world utterly different to what I'm used to. Simply put: took my breath away.

6. Chillin'. Little by little is easier to relax here. Culture shock is fading gradually, people are getting more and more familiar and the atmosphere is getting homier. Hmm, good times. Now, to the pictures we go!

Here's an older one; first night in Tokyo! Me, Chris and Tara grabbing something to eat with a backpacker group.

Study mode. Incredibly credible Chris at lecture.

People! Meet my utterly lovely roommate Ryoko.

 Calligraphy class field trip to the near by shrine to do some rubbings.

Mad skillz.

Gates to the shrine.

UMI! Went to beach on the west coast! Freaking good, salty times.

Running late for the train. As per usual.

Surf curls a la Teddy.

Back to campus where even the IT lab is a place to chillax.

Tasha and the hardships of social norms. Tuk disapproving on the background.

Uno night! Alazne and the victory face.

Morning glory at the convenience store.

KAWAII!

Haha I have a strong feeling at the end of the year this blog is just gonna be a Teddy cuteness gallery. Anyways, debate society party and some awesome hat action!

Drinks at Tuk's last Friday. Let's just say thank god there's no pictures of me from that night (hopefully?).

Fancy ball night and Michael being aggressive and unloving as always.

Breakfast time at the uni cafe with Loan and Yasser.

The greatest thing I've purchased here so far. It just makes sense.

Study abroad fair, me and Teddy representing Aberdeen Uni! Boo-ayh! Teddy didn't quite nail the scottish accent but look at him, that face will do just fine.

Loan getting ready to hit the road last Saturday!

My entourage for the trip. My annoyed ass is already in the car since I didn't see the need to take hundreds of pictures of the car itself..

Trying to figure out the Japanese GPS. Not too successfully I might add.

Nevertheless, we got on the road! Andrea learning how to drive on the wrong side of the road and how to drive an automatic at the same time. Man, did we feel safe.

Beginning of the hike at Chokaisan.

Swamp roses Japanese style?

 Up, up, up, up, up the stairs we go..

 but didn't came to a tunnel (lotr quotes, anyone?).

 Loan and myself representing.

Yeah. That's how it looked.

Yasser on an adventure.

Looking at the pics now; mind blown all over again.

Yep, that's what's been up lately. I've got so many stories to tell still and I will try and do it as soon as possible. Until then, all my love I will send to you! Dumdidum.

Love, Sonja

TGIF

Alrighty! My laptop is not feeling any better but I'm gonna try and do this here in the IT lab.
Now, to the point.

J-A-P-A-N! Boo-fucking-yah!
It's been some two weeks here and the honeymoon period is still going strong. I mean, the language barrier (which by now is slowly but surely breaking down) is definately there and the inevitable culture shock is hitting me harder every day, but none of that has stopped me enjoying my time here.

I've met tons of new, amazingly exciting, people and gotten around Akita-shi (oh yes, I said it in japanese) a bit. The uni is very small, rich and located in the middle of nowhere. Somehow, all of these qualities seem to make it so that it feels like we are living in a small village with people who all share the same interests, thirst for knowledge and, especially, dance fever! Haha, that was probably the lamest sentence ever written.

As you can see, my head is quite effed up right now so to save me and you some time and sanity; it's picture time!

First things first; the white supremist club! Eh. Anna, Robert, Chris and Brandon waiting anxiously for the 50cm tall ice cream!

Omagari fireworks festival about to begin. Over a million people gather to see the pretty lights in the sky.

 The lights were real pretty.

 We were pleased with the lights. Or with the sake at this point I guess.

 Aimee looking cute as a cotton ball!

 Akita city park. Awesomeness. Temples, tea ceremony rooms, shrines. Even old asian people doing tai chi.

 Early birds catching the bus to lake Tazawa and the Samurai village of Kakunodate! Yasser and Tasha representing.

 Tazawa, deepest lake in Japan.

They said a little prayer.

 Loan's too cool for that though.

Chilling w/ Ryoko and Andrea after some hard core paddle boating and swimming.

 Samurai mansion's garden. Is this for real? Have I actually been to a Samurai mansion? Oh my.

Let's not get too crazy though. Classes started this week and to succeed being fluent in japanese (and beating Brandon's ass in our little competition), the library has become a friend to be fond of.

TEDDDY! Sitting right next to me, right at this moment is my Mongolian superstar.

































A more comprehensive update is coming, but now I gotta make my way to lunch and to prepare for the dance party tonight. Happy bday mum, I'll dance the night away for your sake!

And yeah, I do miss home. In Finland and in Scotland.

Love, Sonja

FML

Yes, it's still mediumlarge. Yes, it's been a while. Yes, I am having the best time in Japan and I will tell you all about it as soon as I get the chance. Yes, my laptop is broken. Fak dis shiit.

Love, Sonja-san