Living in Japan

The End

2010-06-17T21:36:00.001+09:00

I'm closing this blog. Don't see the point of continuing. My family's coming on Saturday, and from that on I'm not sure if I can use a computer. There are other reasons as well, but I just don't see the point of writing them down here. So this is it.

THE END

Back in the U.S.S.R

2010-06-16T15:50:00.001+09:00

I've packed my suitcase for the third time now, and still can't get it under 20kg. Last time I checked it was 21.5kg... Annoying. And I'm depending on my dad packing as little as possible when coming here, because I need someone to take my toilet stuff (shampoo, make-up, and a billion different LUSH products. Hehe).

A little full you say? Really, I didn't notice...

And that's without this stuff...

Thankfully the weather is like this:

And my Japanese school friends sends me mails like this:

(^^)／Elli

Ａａａａａ…I'm feeling is so sad ...(ToT) IYA IYA IYA…Ｅｌｌｉ～!!!!! ……

But we will be able to meat again!

We are the world ～♪

We are the children～♪

We are the……♪ｗａｋａｎｎａｉ…

(-∀-) ＢＡＹＢＡＹis vesy sad

ＤＥＭＯ…Please keep your smile! I love your smiling face★(…Of course fish face too so cute)

Everyone love you! Don't forget japanese. 「Arigato」「Ottsu」「Bukatsu」「daisuki」「daijoubu」 Ippai(^o^) English is difficult to me.But When we meat to next…I will be able to speak English well……maybe… Maybe this e-mail is a lot of miss ・ Do I sent a e-mail again? Enjoy family trip★ from. Monami

I LOVE you Monapi. Made my day when I got this mail. love love

Oh, and today it's Spain-Switzerland! Guess who's excited (not me). Fernando Torres... Enough Said.

Football World Cup for those of you who didn't get that.

Only A Northern Song

2010-06-14T20:51:00.001+09:00

The fact that I won't go to Japanese school again still doesn't seem real. I'm still crying once or twice during a day. I'm just so glad I wrote my hotmail address on the whitebord before I left school (my Japanese phone doesn't work since I'm not an exchange student anymore, hehe). Now I get at least two-three mails from my friends each day, and I some of them even made facebook to keep in tuch. Love them. Yesterday I was at a live concert where a friend of mine (Nami) played drums and sang vocals (not in the same song), she was amazing! And today I was in Kamata with Akari, Rei, Misaki and Sayoko to eat lunch, take purikura and sing karaoke. I'm gonna miss them so much...

And Katharina left on Saturday. I woke up at 4AM to go to Narita airport to say good-bye. I feel a bit alone now. I miss you Kathi. And on Wednesday I'll watch some Football World Cup games with her hostmum, will be a bit sad, but still a whole lot of fun since we both LOVE football.

The End

2010-06-11T21:50:00.000+09:00

I had my last day at school today. I said bye to some of my best friends, friends it's not very likely I'll meet again. I'm still crying. I don't want to write anything really. I'm just gonna feel sorry for myself for a while. I haven't cried so much since I saw The Notebook. Why don't they sell Ben&Jerry's in Japan?

You're Going To Lose That Girl

2010-06-10T22:38:00.000+09:00

I had my last handball training today. It was really funny (and a bit sad). We played a game most of the time, and we did NOT play in our usual positions. Oh no, they just had to place me in the center position. Haha, it worked somehow though, I even scored a goal. Yay me. And the basketball girls came to watch since it was my last time in club. Love them.

After training we had some tiny Japanese fireworks, then speech time. Just amazeballs. Of course they just had to speak English, and Japanese people speaking English... Haha, I'm laughing only by thinking of it (some people are good, but most suck. At least they're trying, and that with a big smile). Kaido (boy) is the best one ever, example: "I am English wakaranai (don't understand)".

Then I got presents, cried a bit, and then it was over. No more.

For No One

2010-06-09T23:01:00.000+09:00

Photos from Friday and Saturday.

Carnival of Light

2010-06-06T22:04:00.001+09:00

I'm, to be honest, too tired to update my blog, but I feel like I owe you guys a new post now, since I've been doing so much the last couple of days. I think I've slept between 5-6 hours every night for over a week now, my feet are dead, I've spent WAY to much money (I feel so bad for this, I'm cutting myself... No I'm not, but I do feel really bad, sorry mom, I know that it's my money, but I feel like I'm disappointing you or something. I dunno. It might only be the fact that I'm too tired. My brain is porrige), I've had so much fun and it's not over yet. Now it's my last week at school, and I've got more than enough to do.

Anyways, this weekend. On friday (in my world a weekend day) I went with Katharina, Kazuki and Yazu to Odaiba, Joypolis. A amusement park inside a building. Fun fun. And we found a cat cafe! So weird. It's a place where you pay money to drink some coffe while peting cats and watch them eat. Japan IS weird.

Yesterday I was in Disney Sea. Which was amazing! Disney Land and Disney Sea are two of my favourite places in Japan. Love.

And today I was supposed to go to Fujikyu (amusement park close to mount Fuji) with Amanda, but there were some problems with getting there. So we went shopping in Minatomirai instead. Topshop is a dangerous place...

I have some photos frome Friday and Saturday, and I'll post them next time I find myself with enough time to update my blog.

Is it possible that your ears are hurting because you're too tired?

A Taste of Honey

2010-06-02T22:50:00.001+09:00

Today was the sports festival! It was so much fun, we should so have this in Norway. Well, the deal is that the whole school is divided into three teams: blue, yellow and red. Then these teams compete in different stuff like: 100m sprint, relay (everyone ran 100m, this was split into 1., 2. and 3. grade), and some other fun/scary stuff. I'll just post some photos, and you can just ask questions if it's something you want to know. Not many photos of what I did, but that shouldn't be surprising, as taking photos of yourself while doing sport stuff is kinda, uhm, impossible?

And now I'm sunburnt. But my team colour was red, so I was just matching my headband. Ehehe.

Hold Me Tight

2010-05-26T19:49:00.002+09:00

I'm in love. With my new bag. Hehe. It was love at first sight, I promise you. Bought it at a Vivienne Westwood outlet store in Harajuku yesterday. And even tought it was kinda expensive, I'm now very, VERY happy. And it's probably one of the last things I'll buy over here. I just don't want to spend more money, even tough I "have" to, since I have so many plans going here and there and everywere the next two weeks.

So, besides from me being in love with a bag (which is darker in real life, and I forgot to turn the photo, haha), I'm back in school, my voice is almost gone (I've got a cold, I think), the rain season is about to start, LOST is finished (now I'm only left with Glee, please someone, recomend me a TV series for me to watch!), I'm making bye-bye presents, and my schedule is now completely filled until the 11th of June. And I've decided to watch a JAPANESE horror movie with Kathi and Ayaka on Monday. I must be out of my mind, like, even more than before.

She Came in Through the Bathroom Window

2010-05-24T23:35:00.000+09:00

I came home from Kamata about an hour ago. Now, for some reason, I'm eating a choco chip bread and drinking peach tea in my room while writing this. It's midnight soon. I'm not even hungry. And I figured out it's school tomorrow from 12AM for about one hour. I don't want school tomorrow. Stupid.

Anyways, dinner in Kamata was fun, we were six girls: Me, Kathi, Ayaka, Hana, Rei and Anna. Love Love. Rei and Ayaka were late because of club, so us other people went looking in stores while waiting. Then we went to a restaurant, ate to much food, talked and well, did what normal people do when they're out eating. Hehe. In the end we took purikura (of course). Then it was the train home. I'm so tired of the train, it's just too many creepy old men staring at you. Some of them even read porn mangas (cartoons) so everyone can se. Eww.

I'm Only Sleeping

2010-05-24T14:07:00.002+09:00

I've got some time off. Happyface. So I can do wathever I want (not clean my room as I should) until 5PM, and for some reason I ended up here. Writing a stupid, pointless post for my blog. Yeah.

No school today, or tomorrow, because of test-week. Today I was participating in my hostmoms English class for adults for the last time, and I got a present. My first chopsticks!

After lesson I went to the doctor to take a vaccine. Not painfull at all, I didn't even have time to consider becoming nervous. I'm almost disappointed. Now I can relax for about two hours before I'm gonna meet some friends in Kamata to eat dinner and maybe go to karaoke or something. When you're in Japan, you go to karaoke. It's very simple.

This was random, wasn't it? Consider it a proof that I'm not dead. Yet.

Good Night

2010-05-23T23:08:00.002+09:00

It was raining today! Still over 20 degrees, but still. I don't really like rain. At least not when you're planning to stay outside all day. First I went to a football game with Katharina, not a J-league one, but well, adults at least. A friend of us, Jun, was playing. They won 25-0. Sounds like handball. But the other team was only 9 people, for some reason. I felt a bit bad for the players, because they didn't play on grass, but on something that looked like plain mud.

After football we went to Harajuku to meet Uki, because we had decided to try out our lolita dresses. So much fun, and a lot of people staring, but I liked it, and after this I probably won't get to use my dress so much. Maybe for halloween or something. Haha.

After I came home, I ate cake with my hostfamily (Nene was sleeping), while me and my hostdad talked about music, since we like the same artists. But who doesn't like 60's rock? I went to bed now, as Nene woke up and had to throw up, she has a fever. Yeah. It was kinda awkward.

Dear Prudence

2010-05-23T11:45:00.000+09:00

Today I went to a festival in Heiwajima with Kathi and Kenya! No idea what we were celebrating, but who cares, they have these kind of festivals all the time, and for everything. Anywas, it was really funny, we met Anna (girl from my school), and then we were just walking around looking at the different games, eating candy. Then Anna had to leave for some reason, but we agreed to meet later.

After some more time at the festival place we just walked around in the neighbourhood until we find a random (but pretty) place to eat "dinner". Jakisoba, one of my favourite dishes, it's, uhm, hard to describe what it is. I have a photo.

And after the lovely meal we met Anna and another girl from my school and played some basketball. Kinda. It was more like they watching me and Kathi and telling us how bad we were. At least until I said that the one that managed to hit Anna's head with the ball would get 10 points. Haha, it was fun. And some random guys were watching us, as always foregners draw a lot(!) of attention, at least when you're not in the tourist parts of Tokyo.

I went home at around 8PM I think...

It Won't Be Long

2010-05-19T20:02:00.000+09:00

I'm tired, it's just so much to do. All the time. Since school is finished in only three weeks and two days, all of our (Katharina and me) friends have decided that they want to hang out with us. Which means that I have enough to do. We're taking one day for ourselves though, so we can go to Disney Sea. Worth it.

Oh, and Monday was the 17th of May right? That's Norways national day for those of you who don't know, and a very important day for normal Norwegian people. Not me then. My "celebration" was to draw a ungly flag on my hand, and then on Kathi, Uki and Ken's as well because they tought it was a bit fun (and we didn't have anything better to do).

And yesterday I went with Kazuki, Kathi and another guy to Odaiba, just had fun, hung out, normal people stuff. And I slept over at Kathi's place because we were a bit late, and Kathi lives close to school (and Odaiba), and I live far far away. In Kanazawa-Bunko.

Now I'll watch some episodes of LOST and maybe Glee if I've got time. Tomorrow is English test, and then I have holiday until Wednesday next week. My schedule is filled for all of the days though.

Norwegian Wood

2010-05-12T21:20:00.000+09:00

Normal day at school, altough no day is normal here compared to how it used to be in Norway. Well, Japan is Japan, and if something in Japan isn't weird it probably isn't Japanese.
Well, I spent my day drawing, painting, laughing, eating and just messing around.

And we had a party with the HUG club after school today, I brought brown cheese to represent Norway. The Japanese loved it. And for some reason some girls decided to try it with potato salad... And said it didn't taste so bad. Weird. Just weird.

Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey

2010-05-11T22:20:00.000+09:00

So, it's a late Tuesday evening, and Ellinor figured that she probably should update her blog. Well, guess I'll just write what I've done this week end (since it's not much else to write 'bout).

On Saturday I went to Ueno Zoo and Tokyo Tower, from 9:40AM to 10.30PM... My legs were so hurting. But I had alot of fun. With Hana and Katharina. Love you.

Ueno zoo is most famous for it's gigant panda. To bad that panda died last year of heart failure. At least I got to see a tiger, so I'm happy.

After the zoo we went to Tokyo tower! 333m high, just an amazing view. I just love Tokyo so much! It will be so weird to go home to Norway, and is just a bit more than one month until I leave to Kyoto. Kinda sad, because I've grown so fond of this place.

Sunday was handball game, Junpei's (captain) last. Everyone wanted to win, but when I saw the uniform of the other teams goal keepers I just knew we would loose.

And even though I really want to say I was wrong that would be lying. We lost 34-10. Junpei was crying and Sekariyo played with an almost broken leg. Oku-sensei (trainer and also teacher at my school) was so pissed he (Sekariyo) didn't dare to get of the field.

Please Mr. Postman

2010-05-06T22:45:00.000+09:00

And we're back in school. After a short holiday. Started with me almost getting sunburnt in PE (at 10AM!). Then I spent the rest of the day drawing and working on my skirt. Went a short trip to Yokohama to buy something that I needed for my school uniform. It's 25 degrees here, I'm dying. You guys in Norway have your tests now right? Good luck!

Oh, and for those of you who don't know, I went camping with my hostfam. in golden week. So much fun. I did remember my camera. BUT I forgot my memory card. Please, someone kill me. It's only me who's capable of doing that. Seriously. So no photos of the most beautiful sunset over Mount Fuji (Japan's tallest mountain and also a volcano). Sorry.

And my hostdad and hostbrother went octopus hunting, or something like that, not sure what to call it. And they caught these two "cuties". They'll be dinner someday, but I think octopus (and squid) tastes horrible, so I won't eat it.

All You Need Is Love

2010-05-03T00:40:00.001+09:00

Found this on facebook, I think it's hilarious, but then again, I'm weird (and proud of it :D)

This is based on a list written by an unknown source, breaking down all religions, governments, and other philosophies to descriptions based on toys.
**This is NOT meant to offend anyone, this is just a fun list! If any religions or ideals are not listed and you have an idea, just message me or write it on the wall

Religion:
Hari Krishna - He who plays with the most toys, wins.
Judaism - He who buys toys at the lowest price, wins.
Catholicism - He who denies himself the most toys, wins.
Anglican - They were our toys first.
Greek Orthodox - No, they were ours first.
Branch Davidians - He who dies playing with the biggest toys, wins.
Atheism - There is no toy maker.
Polytheism - There are many toy makers.
Evolutionism - The toys made themselves.
Church of Christ, Scientist - We are the toys.
B'Hai - All toys are just fine with us.
Amish - Toys with batteries are surely a sin.
Taoism - The doll is as important as the dump truck.
Mormonism - Every boy may have as many toys as he wants.
Voodoo - Let me borrow that doll for a second...
Hedonism - Hang the rule book! Let's play!
7th Day Adventist - He who plays with his toys on Saturday, loses.
Church of Christ - He whose toys make music, looses.
Baptist - Once played always played.
Jehovah's Witnesses - He who sells the most toys door-to-door, wins.
Pentecostalism - He whose toys can talk, wins.
Existentialism - Toys are a figment of your imagination.
Confucianism - Once a toy is dipped in water, it is no longer dry.
Non-denominationalism - We don't care where the toys came from, let's just play with them.
Unitarian Universalist - I respect your toy even if you disrespect mine.
Agnosticism - It is not possible to know whether toys make a bit of difference.
Hinduism - He who plays with bags of plastic farm animals, loses
Pantheism - All toys are interrelated or There are no toys--everything is sacred
Wiccan - Let us breath in harmony with our Toys.

Government/Other:
Anarchist - We can play with anyone's toys we want, whenever we want for as long as we want.
Capitalism - He who dies with the most toys, wins.
Calvinism - He who dies with the most toys was eternally predestined to win.
Communism - Everyone gets the same number of toys, and you go straight to hell if we catch you selling ours.
Democrat - My brother is bigger than your brother and he says you have to let me play with you.
Libertarian - No one is going to tell me what I can and can't do with my toys.
New Age - Go stand in front of your mirror and contemplate your inner toy.
Republican - Let the kids keep their toys
Satanist - I'm going to smash all your toys.
Socialist - My mom says you have to share that toy with me.
Theosophy - All toys came from the original One Toy

Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!

2010-05-02T22:29:00.000+09:00

I was in Harajuku today. Fun fun. With Katharina (Kathi), Yuki (Uki) and Kyokou (think I wrote that wrong, ups). It's deffinately tourist season now, because it was so many foreigners there. It's freakin me out. Haha. I'm holy convinced I'm Japanese. Anyways, it was many people there today:

Uki:

Kyokou (haha):

And I ended up with something I've wanted since the day I came to Japan. A lolita dress!

(Quality sucks, sorry)

Drive My Car

2010-04-30T22:17:00.002+09:00

It's finally golden week! I have holiday! I'm happy! No need to wake up early to go to school, for (almost) a whole week. And no handball.

Speaking of handball. It's getting quite hot here, and then I mean weather of course. Haha. It's kinda like a good Norwegian summmer. Only thing is, that my (now) very white skin got almost killed during training today. From 1 to 7:30PM, in the sun, no shade, think it was 20 degrees in the shade. The sun tried to kille me. Not sunburnt though. I guess this nice weather will keep me from returning to Norway looking white as a ghost. And since Norway is the country for people who LOVE tan, I guess that's a good thing. I don't really care.

I've also started packing. I've almost filled 5(!) boxes with stuff I have to send home. It'll be so expensive. Help me...

Honey Pie

2010-04-27T19:05:00.004+09:00

I'm sooo bad at updating my blogg, sorry. Or maybe not, I think my mom is the only one who really wants to know EVERYTHING I'm doing. Just kidding mom, love you.

So, nothing is happening really. Next week is golden week, so I have holiday, and my schedule is allready full. I'm so popular you know. Haha.

Well, this weekend I figured out that our (girl) basketball club is freakin awsome! They played a game on the other side of Tokyo (they were so happy that Katharina and I bothered to come), and they won 120 - 34... I think that's good (for those of you who know anything about basketball: feel free to leave a comment if this is correct or not).

Yesterday and today was normal school. Japanese math is just as weird as always (anyone knows what this is?: A^-1AX=A^-1P EX=A^-1P X=A^-1P). I'm designing my own shopsticks. In chemistry I'm sleeping (when Katharina isn't trying to kill me).

Tomorrow I have to go to school for no reason at all (guidance for university, for JAPANESE people). On Thursday it's off. And Friday is cleaning before holiday.

I miss my chubby bunny...

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

2010-04-24T20:58:00.002+09:00

It's almost 9PM here, and I'm wondering if I should eat dinner soon. But nah. My hostparents aren't home, so I'll probably eat something I wasn't supposed to eat (as I always do, Japanese food is complicated ><) Well, since I've got time I could post some more photos from Disneyland. Yay me.

Run For Your Life

2010-04-19T22:42:00.004+09:00

I was in Disney Land yesterday. So much FUN! Weee :D

Seriously, I'm so going there again. I went there with Katharina (my favourite German), Yuka and Nami (all three girls from school). Woke up 6AM, took the train at 7, was there at 8. It opened 8:30AM. Guess when we went home? 10:30PM maybe? Hihi, this week's gonna be hell, but totaly worth it. I was home some time past midnight. I'll post more photos later, for now these'll have to do.

Dr. Robert

2010-04-15T22:29:00.002+09:00

Health check at school today, haha. Running around from room to room to check eyes, nose, ears, theeth, hight, veight and so on. And since we had to get signs from all the doctor people it kinda felt like a game. The reward was that you could go home when finished. We like that.

Now I'm listening to Sound Of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel. Love. Looking forward to the weekend, even though I probably won't get much sleep. Saturday (morning) I'll go to the movies and see Alice In Wonderland, which is the premiere day here in Japan, they're so slow with subtitles... And on Sunday I'll go to Disney Land, wich is on the other side of town, which means over two hours on train. Well, living in a huge city isn't all good you know. For you Norwegians reading this and laughing, feeling good living in the tiny cities up in the north: TopShop is thirty minutes away from my home. Ha.

And Your Bird Can Sing

2010-04-13T21:57:00.005+09:00

I have a new schedule, and I like it. My new subjects are:

- Visual Design

- Rough Sketch

- International Culture

- Clothing Design

- Art thingie with 2. grade

- And something I don't know what is yet (but it has something to do with art :)

Of the old ones I have:

- Math

- Chemistry

- English

- PE

As you might notice I'm taking all the art/design class, wich suits me quite well (except from the fact that I suck, but we don't have to mention that).

Oh, and the teachers forgot to tell me and Katharina that the exchangestudents had holiday today, so I woke up 6AM for no reason at all...

Imagine

2010-04-11T21:14:00.003+09:00

This is where I spent my Sunday. It was amazing. John Lennon is and will always be one of my greatest idols. That's why I've "named" this post after one of his songs instead of a Beatles' song.

Birthday

2010-04-08T21:33:00.002+09:00

Humhumhum, I'm 18. That's kinda weird. Not sure if I like it. I mean, I can drive a car, legally(!). And buy alcohol, at least in Norway, in Japan you have to be 20...

I got so many (6) cute presents, and the first person to actually say "happy birthday" to me was a guy I haven't spoken to since October! It was so nice, japanese people are just so kind. I'm gonna miss them when I leave.

Best present: 100yen (6.5NOK) from Sekariyo (handball team) to buy chocolate, he was so charming!

Weird, weird day. I don't really want to be 18, kinda. I like the number 18 better than 17 though.

I've Got A Feeling

2010-04-07T22:52:00.003+09:00

Sorry no updates here. I just don't have any motivation. Not that I've got nothing to write, I just don't feel like writing it down. I dunno. Maybe I'll write something tomorrow, cause it's a sad day. I dunno.

Hello Goodbye

2010-03-31T20:04:00.003+09:00

Today was a good day

Strawberry Fields Forever

2010-03-27T23:46:00.004+09:00

My holiday has started now, spring break! Man, I love to sleep as much as I want... Anyways, today I was in Harajuku to watch Cherry Blossoms for my first time, it was so beautiful, and the best part is that I will go two more times this week.

You Like Me Too Much

2010-03-24T21:35:00.002+09:00

I'm tired.

Today was the singing competition thingie, and I thought it was tomorrow, so much for paying attention. Well, my class did ok, not a winner, but I'm glad. It was class nr. 1 in first grade that won, half my handballteam is in that class. I'm proud (like I've got anyting to do with their victory, ha).

Tomorrow is short cleaning day, last day before vacation, and then it's handball. I know, just scandalous on a Thursday.

My christian friends are bothering me, forcing me to hang out with them when I don't really want to (well, they don't force me, it's just that it's agains YESI rules to say no to stuff, most stopid rule ever. Sometimes...).

Nomnom, anything else? Well, I've just remembered that The John Lennon museum is south in Satama (really close to Tokyo), and it's the final year this year (closes in Sept.). So guess who's taking herself there for her birthday? I know, I'm spoiling myself (but since my birthday is gonna be tragic I have "forced" myself to think that's ok).

And my hostfamily is bying a piano, it'll be here next Wednesday. Guess who's happy?

Just realized I have some really amazing writing mistakes, but I never check my posts after I've written them, and when I see the mistake I just don't have the heart to fix them. Because I kinda like them, they're cute, in a random weirdo way. Like writing hole instead of whole.

(No photos this time either, sorry)

I should go to bed early today.

All My Loving

2010-03-22T23:37:00.002+09:00

This week-end (I had holiday today) has gone so fast! I'm not even sure where it went. Man.

Well. On Saturday I met with the Christian people to eat luch. They had plans to take me to Tokyo earlier, but I got that mail at 8AM in the morning, with my mobile off, and I woke up 11:30... Think you get it. After the luch I went to meet Katharina, Yuka and a girl I forgot the name of in Kamata. We went to a museum for modern art in Roppongi, I bought a Andy Warhol notebook. Love. Then we went to Nami's (friend from school) concert in a place I can't remember the name of. She plays drums, and is awsome. We got one free drink each, orangejuice! I feel so... underage?

Sooo, let's se. Sunday. I went to Kamata, did absolutely nothing. Then I went to Kawasaki. Bought "The Da Vinci Code". Read that on starbucks for an hour or so before I decided to go the movies. I saw "Sherlock Holmes", great movie. Went home, ate dinner. Hostbrother decided to camp in my room till about 1AM, not cool.

Today. Much the same as yesterday actually. But instead of "Sherlock Holmes", I saw "Percy Jackson and The Lighting Thief". To put it this way, I won't by the DVD.

Oh, my dad had bithday yesterday! Love you dad! <3

Can't Buy Me Love

2010-03-18T23:02:00.007+09:00

I was to the hairdresser today. Finally. I needed it. Spent about three hours there, thank god katharina was there to keep me compay! The hairdresser is really cool, and we talked and laughed alot together. He doesn't speek a word English, but Japanese works fine. And he've studied in France, so he kinda knows how to handle European hair. Well, we got coffee and candy, Katharina went to closest konbini and bought some food. In the end it looked like we'd had some kind of party there. Haha.

Finished!

I found a interesting sign on the toilet...

Sorry bad quality, taken with mobile

Babys In Black

2010-03-16T22:32:00.003+09:00

After five hours of training (for those of you who don't know: I'm goalkeeper for my school's handball team)I just remembered why I don't mind skipping once in a while. My legs are blue. Enough said.

Oh, and my handball team is now only three guys (Kaido, new goalkeeper broke his finger) and still us three girls (Gutcho, Haruka and me). No wonder my trainer is more pissed than normal.

She Loves You

2010-03-14T20:02:00.002+09:00

The last two days've been rather buisy, so not much bloging from me. Don't feel to apologize though.

Yesterday was school. Yes, and it was Saturday! Haha, waking up at 6 on a Saturday is just wrong, don't try it unless you have to. The reason was that the 3. grade had their graduation, and all of us in 2. grade had to come (1. grade was there too, but they didn't watch the cermony). It was so BORING, I fell asleep, not kidding. Anyways. After the cermony, we went up to the 3. floor to say bye-bye to those we knew (in my case some girls from my handball team, a guy from my French class, and a guy whom I've been watching Jackass on youtube with :). Well, during the hour I spent up there, I got at least ten new friends (all guys, haha), and wrote in their graduation books, it was really funny. I LOVE JAPANESE BOYS (just in case you didn't know).

Later that evening, Amanda from Brasil came home to me to sleep over. It was so nice. We talked alot, did our nails and took face mask, presicely what you're supposed to do on a sleep over. Carina, from Norway, was supposed to be there too, but she couldn't. But next time! Wish I could post some photos, but we didn't take anyone, forgive me?

And today I went to watch a football training, and it showed up to be for kids from elementary school. They were cute, and I got a Yokohama FC football shirt! After this, Katharina and I went to Nihombashi to order school uniform, so now I'll finally get my own uniform, so I don't have to borrow from my school anymore, ha :D

That's what I've been doing. Tomorrow is off because of Saturday graduation thingie. And since I don't have any photos I'll just post this random video instead. It's from Japanese childrens television. Enjoy.

Yer Blues

2010-03-11T18:19:00.004+09:00

Today we had rehersal for a singing thingie next week. My class is preforming two songs. Of course in Japanese only. It's bloody difficult, but it's also kinda fun. I can't sing, so I'm mostly mumbling a bit for myself, listening to the others since they're so good. And I'm alto, so no-one really notice my "singing" anyways (they only see me 'cause of my haircolour).
This is one of the songs we're singing (the one I manage to mumble along with)
Name in romaji is Shinjiru:

And this is the other song (that I just can't sing at all)
Name is Ashita he:

When I'm 64

2010-03-09T16:21:00.005+09:00

Sooo, yesterday I met with some friends in Yokohama. We went home to one of them to make vaffles, yay! It ended up as pancakes though, probably the curse which follows me, I'm just not ment to cook. Luckily it tasted good! I'm kinda proud: I made something eatable :D

After eating, they, ehm, sang some japanese gospel for me. Yes, they're christian, they only christians I know ower here to be honest. Since I'm not christian I was polite and listened, but not with much enthusiasm. Ah well, as long as they're not trying to drag me to church I'm happy. And they are really fun to hang out with :)

Rain

2010-03-07T22:12:00.002+09:00

Today was just a really relaxing, rainy, cosy, sleepy day, just the way I like my Sundays. Nene had a swimming contest, and she did great! She was only swimming 25m, but she's seven years old and came in first place, so I'm allowing myself to be impressed by my wonderful hostsis. Besides from that I've spent most of the day in my room (with Eigo), reading, drawing and on the computer.

Photo of Nene (taken with my mobile since my camera couldn't handle the moisture inside the swimming hall):

I'm watching season 5 of LOST, figured they're bout to finish the hole show, and since it's been one of my favourites for some years now I want to catch up before it ends.

Oh, and people, it's NOT dangerous to leave a comment. Just thought you should know :)

Golden Slumbers

2010-03-06T22:59:00.005+09:00

Lovely, lovely week-end! How I adore you!

I'm just tired now after a long week (no handball though), endig with my English "exam" thingie yesterday. It went well I guess, didn't really get the questions, but guessing always work fine, I got at least half right. Sooo, after test, I went shopping (the ideal think would be to say that I went home to study, because my parents read this, but it's to late now). This is what I ended up with:

After shopping I bought luch at New Days (ideal place for cheap food) and went home. It was so nice weather (bout 16 degrees), so I sat down next to my window and ate luch while reading 'The Picture Of Dorian Gray'. Doesn't it sound wonderful? Haha. Well, here is a random photo of my food (drink is something weird that tasted like peach, triangle thingie is onigiri (love), and the cake is baum cuchen):

Today I went to the movies with Victor and Katharina, saw Invictous, loved it, great movie. About Nelson Mandela and rugby (haha, sounds retared, but I promise, amazing! Google it). When I came home I found my hostbrother in my room, using the computer, and here he stayed until just now. He's cool though, so I don't mind (and he gave me chocolate).

Oh, and for my Norwegian people! Check this out, I feel like a celeb (not really):

http://hg80.no/blogg/1666/living-in-japan.aspx

Blackbird

2010-03-04T17:20:00.012+09:00

So, today was my last REAL schoolday in second grade. Next time I have a normal day at school, I'm 18 and in third grade. Weird. Tomorrow is an English test (which I wont study to, because I'm lazy), and after that it's mostly holiday. I'm looking forward to my new schedule, since I think it will include clothing design and drawing ++ No more tea cermony! Tea cermony is boring and I just can't do it, to much energy to sit still for so long.

Random purikura from the trip to Asakusa, weeee

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly

The Word

2010-02-28T23:05:00.010+09:00

On Saturday I was in Asakusa with Katharina, Rei, Akari, Ayaka and Anna (friends from school, Katharina is the other exchange student). We wandered around. Ate too much good food. Took alot of purikura (photos that makes you look like a doll). And just had a very nice time hangig out.

Asakusa

Ayaka and Rei

Anna, Akari, Katharina, Me, Rei and Ayaka. Love.

Yummy!:

Sunday was kinda boring. I stayed home since it was raining so heavily. Was also tsunami warning, maybe that's why it's been raining so much? So, I've survived earthquakes, tyfons and a tsunami during my stay here. I feel like wonder woman.

(We don't have to mention the facts that both earthquakes and tyfons are VERY normal here, it's even an own tyfon season. And, ehm, I don't even live by the coast, so I guess I would be wonder woman if I in some freaky way had managed to get myself killed during this "tsunami")

Today is 1 March. School. A very normal day. Except that I have holiday from handball. And I had to read some Japanese loud in class today, try to say this word fast, it's hard(!): Shyosaiyuisyuchohen. Ha.

Twist And Shout

2010-02-26T20:10:00.010+09:00

Ok, Phoenix last night. As Perez Hilton (yes, I do read his blog, and I'm not ashamed to admit it) would say: AMAZEBALLS! Wow, this is like, my second concert or something(?) ever. Only other concert I can remember is, uhm, Norwegian Idol Tour 2005. Or something like that. What I clearly remembered is that it sucked :)

So Phoenix was a BIG improvement! We also had a great place to stand since Joakim was working with the light, we got to stand next to him. Best. Place. Ever. No screaming people pushing you, and you could se the stage really clearly.

Phoenix is one of those bands who play music that makes me happy. More than once have they saved me from going suicidal on the train at 7AM in the morning after 5 hours of sleep everyday the last week. And they were so great live! Wow, thank you SO much for taking me there Pia and Joakim. I owe you alot. (Oh, and if you in some wonderful way manage to read this Joakim: you did a great job, two thumbs up!)

Look, Joakim is working:

After giving the croud six extra numbers, why not invite them up on stage?

Come Together

2010-02-25T23:10:00.004+09:00

I was at a Phoenix concert today with Pia and Joakim from Norway, amazing. I'll write about it tomorrow, now I don't have the time. It's late, and I have school tomorrow. Yay for waking up 6. Not.

I have to confess something. On Tuesday, before I met Pia and Joakim, I sinned. I went shopping at Zara AND H&M, I barely know if I can forgive myself. I'm in Japan and I'm shopping in European stores, it shouldn't be legal. Oh well, I'm probably going to hell anyways :)

As I tried to say, I met Pia and Joakim on Tuesday in Shibuya (LOVE that place). They're here because Joakim is working with the light at concerts, and now he's here with Phoenix, think he's going to Australia tomorrow or something. That's one awsome job!

Well, I met them and we went to find a place to eat. My hostmom had told me about one place that was supposed to be really good, but I couldn't find it. So we went to a place I've been before, a place that looks exactly the same as it did 60 years ago, where the menu is in all Japanese, and those who work there only speak Japanese. My Japanese skills got tested the hard way. We did manage to order some food in the end, and I thought it was good. I even took some photos for you guys. You're welcome.

Shibuya, love love

From Me To You

2010-02-20T23:00:00.008+09:00

A long time ago, Ida asked me if I could post some photos of my hostfam's house. And here you go, a bit late, but at least I'm posting them :)

My bedroom

Hostdad's bedroom, and where my hostmom has her English lessons

Toilet

Bathroom

Entrance door

Hall

Eigo's fishes

Eigo and Nene's bedroom

Livingroom

Dining table

Kitchen

Eight Days A Week

2010-02-17T22:50:00.006+09:00

Ha, I survived Valentines Day. I'm proud. I even had enough gifts for all the people. Even prouder.

Now I'm just really enjoying the week-end, after a week with too little sleep (I'm so glad you're allowed to sleep during class here, if not I don't know how I would survive math).

Pia, a woman that works with my dad, is coming to Tokyo on saturday (yay! :D), and we'll go to a Phoenix concert next Thursday. She's got her boyfriend with her, so doubt I'll see her much though.

Anything else happening? I have to think. Well, on Monday HUG-club tried to hook me up with a guy I've spoken to once before. Tuesday I was pushing car-wheels across the handball field. Wednesday I skipped training because I was so tired. Thursday I went to the movies and saw "Valentines Day" with Carina and Amanda (not a great movie, but I didn't have to pay, so I'm happy). Yesterday, handball was so funny, since Junpei and Sekariyo decided to make a new rule (it lasted for about five minutes though): Ellinor is only allowed to speak Japanese, and they can only speak English. I laughed so hard! Comments like "you wanna dance?", "hey baby, come here," , "I looked (he ment see) angels!" and "Norweeeeeeeegian!!!" made my day.

Today I went with Katharina to Tokyo. We were supposed to explore Shibuya, but ended up in Yoyogi because we wanted to find a special store. We got kinda lost and walked until we got to Shinjuku, then we realized we wouldn't find the shop, turned around and walked to Shubuya... My feet are now hurting, but it was a lot of fun. Walking from Shunjuku, through Yoyogi and Harajuku to Shibuya is interesting, I'm deffinately doing that again.

Act Naturally

2010-02-14T19:50:00.005+09:00

Happy Chinese New Year! Figured it out about five minutes ago when my hostparents suddenly remembered it. My hostdad's from Okinawa (island south in Japan), and they follow and celebrate the Chinese new year. We're now in a Tiger year. Grrr.

Enough about not important stuff (like anything on this blogg's important). Nene's (hostsis) bithday is on Tuesday, she's turing 7, so we celebrated today. Went to a resturant and ate pizza for lunch. I got her a teddybear as present (kalled Rilakkuma, kinda famous over here). While we were waiting for the food, Nene and I had fun with me taking photos of her. And her it is, the result of "Photoshoot with a soon seven year old girl who can't sit still a second". Enjoy.

Hmm, I just watched a advertisement on TV for YKK, a japanese sipper company. Interesting.

Hope cigarettes... Enough said

Think For Yourself

2010-02-14T01:21:00.000+09:00

The sun's not yellow, it's chicken

Love Me Do

2010-02-12T21:28:00.002+09:00

Valentines day is kinda a big deal in Japan. It's for us girls to give chocolate to our girlfriends, and to boyfriend (if you have one). Which means that I have a LOT of chocolate to buy before monday. Since I'm the blonde foreigner, half of the girls in school will give to me, and I'll have to give back... Not really looking forward to that. It's a nice thing to do and all that, and I like giving away stuff, but still, and don't want to use all my money on chocolate. Ah well, always look at the bright side of life: I'll get chocolate back! (Boys give chocolate to eachother on white day, March 14)

Anything else happening? Nah. Today we used two classes to watch the Michael Jackson movie "This is it!", I liked it. And I also listened to The Beatles with Kenya (a boy I know). It was nice. Skipped handball to be guest at tea-cermony club(and they gave me candy). Chill day. I'm happy, but miss my friends.

I hate valentines day

A Day In The Life

2010-02-08T21:31:00.004+09:00

Good news:
I can stay with my hostfamily the rest of the year. Happyface. And (yes, there is more!) we have a new handball goalkeeper, Kaido! Now we're only missing two fieldplayers.

Bad news:
When I first started at school, I figured it was a pretty pond there with carps (fishies). I named most of them after my favourite norwegian people. Now all of them have died of the cold, except Minh.

Dig It

2010-02-06T20:29:00.003+09:00

Inger Anna (glad i deg) gave me a tip about this article, and figured I should post it so you all could read it. From stylenoir.co.uk

To put it quite frankly, Japan is insane. To the western world it's as mad as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, as monstrous as Godzilla yet still way ahead of Britain, America and any other cultured nation.

Insanity or normality is the question, take laws for example. It's classed horrifically rude to use your mobile in public, god forbid on the train. If you try and cross a road not at a pedestrian crossing and a Policeman sees you there's a damn sure chance you'll get fined, if not arrested.

Yet, at the same time the girls in Harajuku dress up in full blown Nazi uniforms, paint swastikas on their arms and state "I don't think Jewish people would like it". Vending machines are full of used and dirty knickers for the public to buy and the list goes on.

Seriously, does that sound like a normal balance to you? We definitely had to investigate not only on the culture, but on the fashions and costume play that would put Lady Gaga not only to shame, but would make her look like a simple shelf-stacker.

So come next week both our editors, James Mills and Alison James will be setting out with a few others to bring you the insanity and the ridiculously amazing direct from Tokyo itself. When it comes to Nazi loving goth girls, sweet lolitas and vending machines full of dirty knickers, Japan has it all. . . stay tuned.

Boys

2010-02-02T22:15:00.003+09:00

Today Shuri(boy in Katharinas class) had taken Katharinas chair and was speaking to a friend. When he saw her coming he instantly stood up, placed her chair by her desk, and bowed to her. No, I'm not kidding, he BOWED. Seriously, he's so shy, and so incredible cute! It's very normal for Japanese people to bow for people they don't know, and people who're older than you, but not your classmates. Most people don't bother naming us with the additonal -san enymore either (maybe because I asked them not to). Still cute though.

Lovely, lovely japanese boys. Seriously, they're so charming! I mean, they don't have to be drunk to give you a compliment, they acctually notice when you've cut your hair, and they don't mind telling you that you look good (if you do). Since I'm a scary (blonde) foreigner, they're very shy, because they want to speak English to us, but they don't want to show how bad their English accutally is. They really want to impress us you see. And they are gentlemen, not kidding! They always open the door for you, and insist on you walking in defore them. Love them. Norwegian boys, you've got a lot to learn.

Japanese men on the other hand... They're scary and look like pedofiles. They way they stare at you, it's creepy. Most of they are nice though. It's just that all of them seem to have this school-girl-in-uniform fetish.

Not my photo

Penny Lane

2010-01-31T18:50:00.003+09:00

They didn't colour my hair yesterday, so not that big a change. Except that my hair is now middle length and I've got bangs. Guess I'll post a photo later.

So, today I went outlet shopping. Love love. So many stores with sale!
I bought a t-shirt thingie, converse, dvd and a leather west. Here is photos:

Let It Be

2010-01-30T15:59:00.002+09:00

I just finished watching a move. 2:37. Thanks Lindea for telling me about it. It's now one of my favourite movies.

Plot: A contemporary, ensemble drama telling the complex tale of six high school students whose lives are interwoven with situations that so many of today's youth are faced with. The story takes place during a normal school day. At precisely 2:37 a tragedy will occur, affecting the lives of a group of students and their teachers. As the story unfolds, the individual stories of the six teenagers are revealed, each with its own explosive significance.

Octopus's Garden

2010-01-29T21:13:00.002+09:00

Today I was in Sea Paradise in Hakkeijima with Katharina, alot of fun! Of course my camera was out of power, so I had to take photos with my mobile, urgh, horrible. Tomorrow I'll go to the hairdresser, for free, at least I think so. Well, wish me luck, it can't be worst than last time anyways.

Whitin You, Without You

2010-01-26T22:26:00.003+09:00

Since I suddenly found this video, I've got to post it, even though it's only been minutes since my last post.

Buddhist monks in Japan are trying to attract young people by trying something new - rapping! And yes, I've been in Buddhist temples here in Japan, and Shinto while we're talking about it, many temples in general to be honest.

I've Just Seen A Face

2010-01-26T21:49:00.006+09:00

Sorry, but I'm not very interested in blogging at the moment, probably because I don't know how many acctually read this shit, and I don't have a lot to write. It's not much happening, and I don't bother writing about small "events".

Well, since last time I wrote I've been to the movies twice, watched 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' (Menn som hater kvinner) and 'The Imaginarium With Doctor Parnasuss'. The last one I saw with Mona, fun fun. And of course we took purikura (all photos from my Japanese phone, that's why the quality it so poor).

Let me see, what else have I been doing... I've been shopping (wow, surprise), since it's sale everywhere. I've been to school two days, and now I get the rest of the week of for some reason. I'm not complaining. Today we even finished early, so me and Kathi (Katharina) went to Kawasaki, I bought two books, a jacket thingie, cardigan and another dress-ish thingie (yes, thingie is one of my favourite words, right behind 'random' and 'retard'). And just because we LOVE purikura we took some with Nami (that we ran into by Keikyu Kawasaki Station haning out with some of her friends from school).

So at the moment I'm just relaxing, having a nice time, spending to much money and considering doing some chemistry. It's kinda "cold" outside, with 10 degrees, at least when you're wearing a skirt to school, but I like my uniform (it could have been so much worse... and better).

Guess that's it, please, just ask if it's something you'd like to know, about anything! For example: Japanese toilets (they're with heating), food, school, trains, language (please don't ask about this, my Japanese is dreadful), boys, music (it's horrible) and so on. I wouldn't mind a comment once in a while you know.. Miss and love you all.

Girl

2010-01-21T21:37:00.004+09:00

You know you're an exchange student if... (what fits me is in fat letters, inspiered by Thuva's blog)

001] before waiting to see if anyone understood what you meant, you start acting it out.

002] you think 100 pounds to pack up your entire life is plenty of space.

003] you don't have preferences anymore, especially when it comes to food. Nothing tastes familiar, thats for sure.

004] you spend a lot of time smiling, nodding, and pretending you understand what's going on.

005] you classify "doing your homework" as translating half of it. And that alone took three hours.

006] when your grandma asks you what you've been learning, you tell her something general, instead of "how to open beer bottles with a 50 cent coin."

007] you sometimes use the excuse "Sorry, I don't understand" to avoid answering a question....even if you do.

008] they offer cocktails at the back-to-school party.

009] you want to hug the people who attempt to speak your native language to you.

010] you've called every person who says "hi" to you your friend... because you don't really have any yet.

011]you'll read anything in your native language just to have something to read...even packaging labels.

012]you've got on the bus and had the driver say "you don't want to be on this bus" because you got on the same bus the night before and it was wrong then, too.

013] you sometimes walk around the school during breaks to act like you're doing something, because you don't see anyone you recognize and don't want to stand there awkwardly.

014] you know the answer to a question in a class but don't raise your hand because you don't want people to expect to much from you.

015] you're better than your teacher in your foreign language class.

016] you are a master of pantomime and circumlocution and still can't have a conversation.

017] you actually think the language barrier is a good thing when it comes to things like lying to your host parents.

018] you've ever mispronounced something in your native language (for example, names of products, TV shows, companies) because you know the others will understand it better if you say it with an accent.

019] you've tried so many different foods due entirely to the fact that you cannot understand the person asking you what you want so you just nod your head, say "yes", and hope to god it tastes half-decent.

020]you've tried to order something in your host country's language only to be answered in english because you did it so badly.

021]you've gotten annoyed with said people that automatically answer you in English when you try to speak to them in their language.

022] after you come back everybody tells you that you have a weird accent.

023] your dreams are bilingual.

024]sometimes it takes you about 5 minutes to remember a word in your native language that you were going to use.

025] you automatically use words in a foreign language that you cant even translate but they just seem to fit the context.

026] you watch television shows and movies that you know in your native language, just to understand it for once.

027] you begin to enjoy foods that you had previously despised at home.

028] you've gotten out of a punishment or being yelled at because you didn't understand the language, or at least pretended you didn't.

029] it becomes a habit to introduce yourself by saying: "I am from (country) and my name is (name)."

030] you've gotten upset because someone assumed you wanted to do something...and then were told you were asked if you wanted too, and you said yes!

031] you've said something like 'oh yes' or 'not thanks' only to have everyone laugh because your answer made no sense compared to the question.

032] you actually got a high five when you understood what someone said to you.

033] you're never sure if someone's being your friend, flirting, seducing you, or sexually harassing you.

034] while you're having a nice conversation with your Gastopa and Oma, your host sister is making out on the same couch. Then her and her boyfriend are always sure to announce when they are going to take a bath together.

035] you're not sure whether it's a children's book or porn.

036] you get a little scared before starting a sentence with big words in it in another language.

037] you have been put in a one or more classes with the fifth graders, because you're supposed to understand more there.

038] you are always counting the time difference between where you are and home.

039] you always forget the time difference when you call a friend or family member back home.....sorry for waking you up at 4 AM mom.

040] you do something wrong and people look at you weird, your excuse is "That's how we do it in my country" even if it isn't.

041] you carry a dictionary and a camera in your bag.

042] you get so used to broken English you finish people's sentences even though no one else can understand them.

043] you get into arguments with the foreign language teacher (English) over how to pronounce something.

044] you try to speak in the native language and everyone immediately knows "You're not from around here".

045] you can get into the strictest clubs with your ID from you host country, because most people get confused and just let you get in.

046] you know every cuss word in your host language, but still cant conjugate into past or future tense.

047] peoples stares don't bother you anymore.

048] you're ready to drink anytime of the day.

049] you have mastered the arts of deception and sneakery.

050] you've spent more than one night getting drunk with your host parents.

051] everyone thinks your playing the tough guy when you say you haven't called your mom yet and don't miss her too much.

052] a conversation is going fine, before it suddenly get stuck on some word or phrase which makes you completely forget what you were talking about.

Please Please Me

2010-01-18T22:02:00.002+09:00

The last cuple of days have been great. I've been doing some shopping since it's 50% sale EVERYWHERE, and had fun with my friends. And even though the week-end was great, today was awsome (it didn't even matter that I had do get up way too early).

Monday is really the most boring day when it comes to subjects, but still, it was just so much random stuff happening. In lunch for instance a guy had bithday yesterday, so his friends hade made a trail of bananas for him to follow. Then they trew something looking like banana cream in his face (he also got it all over his uniform, and some other guys also got it in their hair and on their uniform, haha). Then they were running in the halls and on purpose sliding on the bananas, it was so messy, and so funny!

Then it was handball. Which today was just a meeting, that for some freaky reason lasted fom 16:00 until 19:30 (seriously, we didn't really do anything). I was mostly listening to music with Haruka, she showed me a Japanese band with the fantastic name 'Ogre you Asshole' (I had a lot of fun translating that to Japanese). And I introduced them to Muse (I feel proud). Then we talked a lot, laughing at Kaido getting his hair done with some "help" from Junpei and Sekariyo (god, he looked so stupid after they'd finished). And when I took the train with Junpei he bought a cookie thingie that we shared, and I tried to tell him about Norwegians and cross-cuntry skiing (not sure if he got it, because me talking in Japanese/English, and rather fast, is almost impossible to understand).

Home, my hostmom told me that Terui-san (from YESI) had called and told her that I might get to stay with them (my hostmom said she was 95% sure). So, it's been a great day! Happy happy!

Not my photo, and totaly random :)

Happiness Is A Warm Gun

2010-01-14T21:14:00.002+09:00

I might be forced to change hostfamily. Not happy. I love my hostfamily so much, and if YESI want me to move they have to come and drag me out of the house, because I'm not going anywhere. The reason they want me to move? They're concerned I live too far away from school, since I'm home at about 9 PM every day. Seriously, I've lived here for 4 months, think I can handle 5 more months. Will call them tomorrow, they were supposed to discuss it today, so guess I'll just have to wait and see. Man, this sucks.

More sad news? Tock-chan is quitting the handball club, so now it's only six boys (a handballteam is 7 players) and no goal-keeper. He's quitting because of Oku-sensei (our coach), so I don't blame him. But still, this means that Gucho will have to be goal-kepper for the boys, and she's terryfied of the ball (ironic). I can't play for them in games because I'm a foreigner, if I weren't I would have played for them with pleasure (the girls are kinda boring because they're so bad, sorry, just keeping it real here).

Well, except from these sad news I've had a great week. I'm tired, but just one more day before the week-end. Papa-chan's bithday's on monday, so we'll celebrate on sunday, not sure if I'll buy him a present yet, we'll see.

And since I've got nothing else to write, I think I'll just post this video. Japanese music, you either love it or hate it.

Misery

2010-01-13T14:15:00.002+09:00

Evrything is back to normal: I wake up early. I go to school. I finish school. I have handball training. I go home late. I go to bed.

My life is just too exiting.

Come Together

2010-01-04T16:29:00.004+09:00

Well, I'm home. Slalom was really funny, I loved it, so next year I'll deffinately try it again in Norway. It was surprisingly easy though, I mean, it was my first time, and at the end of the second day I was like the best in my family... Even when I first tried I was better than my sister, but the again, she's 6.

After skiing the 31th of December we went to Utsunomiya to "celebrate" new year. In Japan you don't really celebrate, so me and my hostmom was the only ones who stayed awake til midnight, watching television, was nice though.

On the first day of the new year we went to a temple to "pray" for the new year, which consisted of hitting a bell with a beam and get your fortune for the year. After temple we went to karaoke, really hilarious, especially since my hostdad and my hostmoms brother drank a bit to much, haha.

The second day Nene, Kaori and I went to Utsunomiya zoo, which I loved since you could feed most of the animals. My favourite was, as always, the tiger, and it was a lot of fuzz around that animal specially, because this year is tiger year. Don't want to explain what that means, but for those who wonder, us born in 1992 are born in the year of the monkey. After the zoo I went shopping, at the cheapest store in the whole prefecture or something like that. I bought a sweater for 30NOK, which is nothing.

The third we went home, but before we really got home we went to chinatown in Yokohama to eat lunch with my hostdad's family from Okinawa. Really nice, and I love chinatown, it really looks like China. Only thing wrong is that it is (like the rest of Japan) amazingly clean. I don't see how the japanese do it, since they don't have garbadge cans in the streets or anything...

Almost forgot: Happry New Year everyone!

- Ellinor

Help!

2009-12-29T22:07:00.004+09:00

Nope, no post about Nagasaki yet, so sorry, but I never really find time to sit down and write about it, because it'll take some more time than a normal post.

Anyways, I'm going skiing tomorrow, haha. Slalom for the first time in my life, I'm so bloody scared. We will leave at 4:00 AM tomorrow, guess who will be sleeping in the car? So I'll be gone for 4 days I think, because we will stay at my hostmom's sister's house (you got that?) for 3 days. School starts again at the 4th or 8th of January. Club is during the whole vacation, but since I don't know where (that's kinda important, isn't it?) I just skip it.

I watched Avatar for the third time today, does that qualify me as a geek?

- Ellinor

Something

2009-12-26T15:28:00.009+09:00

I know Christmas was two days ago (japanese time), but I still have the need for wishing you all a very merry Christmas :D

My Christmas have been... weird? I mean, I'm in Japan, they don't really celebrate Christmas, but still they decorate ten times more than Norway and give presents to eachother (well, this present thing is kinda complicated over here). I haven't had the Christmas feeling this year, which makes me sad, since I love Chritmas, but how much Christmas spirit can you possible get when it looks like May outside, you have school the 24th and 25th, and you get pizza as "Christmas Dinner"? Well well, I've had a nice time, so I don't complain. Thanks for the presents by the way (for you who sent, aka. mom, dad, sigrid and both my lovely grandmas)! I even got a puzzle from my hostfamily, love them!

Anything else happening?... I don't think so, except that I might be model for Tokyo Girls Collection pre show in mach, but that's a BIG maybe. Hm, and besides from that I guess it's nothing new. Oh, I almost forgot! I've got scholarship, so I don't have to worry so much about money anymore, yay! Tomorrow I'll go to the movies with Mona (short for Monami) and watch Avatar in 3D, I'm really looking forward to it. And, haha, on monday I'll watch the same movie again with Carina. Ohwell, let's just hope it's a movie worth seeing twice. Post about Nagasaki later, sorry.

-Ellinor

Baby You're a Rich Man

2009-12-22T08:51:00.003+09:00

Ok, I'm kinda giving up on writing Norwegian, because it's almost inpossible, sorry. Just wanted to tell that I'm home from one of the best school trips ever! It was so much fun, and I've seen so much beautiful nature. We were living at an big island outside of Ngasaki, at Con Kana Kingdom, seriously beautiful place. I lived in a cottage with three other girls :D

First day I vent sightseeing and grass ski-ing, well grass ski was actually sitting on carton down a grass hill. In Norway known as "aking". It was hilarious, mostly because the japanese had never done anything like it before. My handballcaptain started to use his carton as snowboard after a while. I haven't laughed so much in a month or so!

Second day was tracking. Twice. Because is was to bad weather (it started to snow :D) to go out with boat which I was supposed to do after lunch. Don't complain though, with the amazing nature, nice people and a new camera I had a great time (both times).

That's really short told what I did on school trip, could've written more detailed if I wanted, but don't think you'll find it very interesting. Will write a new post soon, where I'll tell you a bit more about Nagasaki, because that was something special. We even met one of the survivors of the atomic bomb.

I hope all of you will have a wonderful Christmas, I will celebrate a bit, but no vacation before the 26. of December. Oh, and no photos this time because I'm at school, sorry. Miss you all a lot. And before I forget.. Happy birthday mom! I love you <3

- Ellinor

Glass Onion

2009-12-14T20:38:00.001+09:00

Christmas in Japan :D

You've Got To Hide Your Love Away

2009-12-13T20:23:00.005+09:00

Greit, jeg begynner å vende meg til nye hårfargen min, syns ikke det er så ille lengre, bare veldig uvant. Japanerne elsker den da, ei jente har bestemt seg for at jeg ligner på Gaga, ei annen jente sier jeg ligner på Alice i Eventyrland... Joda.

Siden sist så har det vel ikke skjedd så mye. Sist søndag syklet jeg og Nene til Kanazawa dyrehage, noe som var utrolig koselig, jeg tok masse bilder og spiste is. Ble helt forelsket i en liten kenguru som stor rett ved gjerdet, går det ann at noe er så nusselig? :D

På mandag var det «Christmas Party» etter skolen for de som ville komme, noe som var kjempekoselig, jeg lagde kanelboller, eller, noe som lignet litt på kanelboller.. For det å bake med japanske ingredienser er umulig! Og for meg som er helt sugen på baking vil jeg ikke tenke på hvordan det ville gått om ikke Katharina hadde vært der. Japanerne syns de var gode, så mission completed tror jeg vi sier. Det eneste som irriterte meg var at håndballtreneren min «glemte» det, og derfor kom ikke laget mitt for å spise, men jeg var snill og pakket sammen noe av bollene og kjeksen som Katharina hadde lagd, og gikk til håndballbanen med det, de hadde trening stakkars. De ble kjempeglad for at jeg kom da, dere skulle sett ansiktene deres!

Uka har ellers vært chill, med vanlig skole og trening. Jentene på håndballaget og jeg hadde det kjempemorsomt på fredag ved at jeg skrev noe på norsk på skapene deres og på kapteinen sitt, haha. På Haruka sitt skap skrev seg «søtingen», på Gutchos «nusket», på Hiromi skrev jeg «pjusken», gjett om det var vanskelig å forklare hva det betyr på japansk/engelsk. Og, haha, på herr kaptein sitt skap ba de meg skrive «weird face», noe som jeg fritt oversatte til «sært ansikt», og selvfølgelig nektet vi å fortelle han hva som stod :)

Jeg dro en tur til Yokohama i dag for å kjøpe julegaver til familien min der hjemme, siden det er de gavene jeg manglet (det ble noe til meg og da:), og nå må jeg pakke til skoletur i neste uke, for gjett hva! Jeg skal med de andre 2. klassingene til Nagasaki, gleder vi oss? Gjett om! Lover å ta masse bilder og legge ut på face (noen få på bloggen og selvfølgelig). Jeg skal stå på ski på gress, det kan bli interessant...

Det vel ikke mer å skrive, livet her borte er ikke så sinsykt spennende, ivertfall ikke nå som jeg har vent meg til det meste. Kan jo fortelle at jeg har blitt venn med ei dame som jobber i en klesbutikk som jeg elsker, vet ikke navnet hennes eller noe slikt, men hver gang jeg drar dit ender det opp med at jeg står å snakker på dårlig japansk/enkel engelsk til henne ganske lenge. Det er litt koselig at japanerene viser så stor interesse for meg, selv om jeg har fått nok av all oppmerksomheten for lenge siden.

Savoy Truffle

2009-12-02T14:11:00.003+09:00

Jeg vil forsvinne! De farget haaret mitt lysegult! Lysegult! Jeg ser ut som Barbie for faen... Hva skal jeg gjoere? Tror jeg setter meg ned og troestespiser sjokolade mens jeg graater litt over det stygge haaret mitt... Jeg vil forsvinne...

Dig A Pony

2009-11-30T21:22:00.006+09:00

Jippi, under en månede til jul! Jeg bor i landet der de egentlig ikke trenger feire jul, men på en måte gjør det likevel. For her i japan feirer de ikke bare sine høytider, men ALLE høytider, jeg elsker det. Jeg har stort sett fullført juleshoppingen nå da, noe jeg er glad for siden det gikk svært hardt utover lommeboka...

Vel, nok om pengebruk og høytider. Tenkte bare jeg skule holde dere oppdatert ved å fortelle hva jeg gjorde i helga. Skal vi se. Lørdag tror jeg virkelig har verdt den beste dagen hittil i mitt japan-opphold. Jeg, Mica, Denika (Australia) og Oskar (Sverige) møttes først i Yokohama der vi satt på Starbucks hvem-vet-hvor-lenge og snakket, før vi møtte Carina (Norge). Deretter gikk vi til Minatomirai (der de har H&M, pariserhjul og Yokohama Landmark , med japans raskeste heis ellernoe sånt). Der var vi noen få minutter uten egentlig gjøre noe som helst før Oskar bestemte at vi skulle ta oss en tur til IKEA. Ingen av oss protesterte, mest fordi alle hadde lyst til å kjøpe pepperkaker :D

Så vi dro til IKEA: tok tog til Shin-Yokohama før vi tok den blå og gule IKEA-bussen(!). IKEA er i Japan, for dere som lurer, akkurat som i Norge, jeg følte meg nesten hjemme der. Alt stod på japansk OG svensk. I en av stuene satte vi oss faktisk ned og fikk Oskar til å lese høyt fra en random svensk bok vi fant, tror også japanerne fant dette ganske underholdende (eller plagsomt, jeg er ikke sikker). Men det største høydepunktet kom da vi fant matvarebutikken, jeg har aldri vært så lykkelig for å se hvitost før! Jeg kjøpte følgende: salt lakris, daimsjokolade, biler, pepperkaker, ballerina (kjeks) og potetgull. Da alle hadde kjøpt det de «trengte» satte vi oss ned i kafeen og spiste pølse og softis, dette til omtrent 250 yen (15kr) med gratis påfyll av valgfri drikke.

Omtrent kl aner ikke bar det hjemover, vi sang totalt randome sanger hele veien til Yokohama der våre veier skiltes (herregud, det hørtes overdramatisk ut). Alt i alt en topp dag! Hva mer kan man ønske seg en å henge med herlige mennesker, shoppe snop på IKEA og irritere japanere med sang?

Åja, jeg glemmer nesten søndag. Jeg slappet av til kl. 14.00, dro til frysøren og bestilte time før jeg dro til en klub i Shibuya med Katharina, vertsbroren hennes hadde invitert oss. Var der fra kl.17 til 18.30, helt greit, men ikke helt min musikksmak. Deretter tok en gutt og ei jente Katharina og meg med ut for å spise. Vi fant en gammel restaurant som så ut nå som den sikkert gjorde for 50 år siden, jeg elsket stedet! Der koste vi oss med japansk mat (vi fikk gratis is, og jeg fikk en leke :P) før vi dro hjem.

Og det er kort fortalt hvordan min helg har vært, jeg har storkost meg. I morgen drar jeg kanskje på kino i Kawasaki for å se 2012, men jeg er ikke sikker ennå. Og på onsdag er den store dagen, da drar jeg til frysøren for å stripe håret...

Good Day Sunshine

2009-11-23T22:05:00.004+09:00

I går var jeg i Harajuku med Katharina, brukte alt for mye penger på julegaver, men storkoste meg, Harajuku er elsk. I dag var jeg i Yokohama (vertsbroren min er syk stakkars, så vi kunne ikke være hjemme hos meg) med Carina og spilte pokemon, på starbucks av alle steder, hihi. Det var kjempekos og må gjentas, jeg fikk kjøpt alle de fem første Harry Potter filmene for 240 kr! Alt i alt jeg føler meg nå virkelig hjemme i Tokyo/Yokohama. Det å ta toget til f.eks. Shibuya for å kjøpe et par sko er ikke noe stress, Yokohama drar jeg jo til så ofte at jeg kjenner stedet ut og inn (tror folka på New Days kjenner meg igjen).

På skolen har gutta i klassen ENDELIG funnet ut at de kan snakke med meg, noe som er kjempeunderholdende siden de insisterer på å snakke engelsk. Det morsomste er når de diskuterer hva de skal si mens jeg hører på, for jeg skjønner jo selvfølgelig alt de sier og holder på å dø på meg av latter (dette fordi det stort sett går i: «I love you», «can I get your e-mail?» og «do you like him?»). Jeg klager ikke jeg, for japanske gutter er herlige.

Håndballtreningene fortsetter også som før, selv om gutta også der har funnet ut at de faktisk kan behandle meg som en venn, og ikke som en eller annen blond alien (hårfargen min fascinerer dem ennå da). De har til og med gitt meg et skap i håndball-rommet, I feel special. Jentene på laget blir jeg bare mer og mer glad i, de er så utrolig søte og snille, gutta har jeg også blitt glad i. Sekariyo (gutt på laget) ga meg faktisk mitt første kompliment fra en gutt: han så jeg hadde søte øredobber! :D

Nå som det nærmer seg jul lengter jeg litt hjem til snø og juleferie (jeg må på skolen), men på samme tid blir jeg mer om mer glad i Japan. Jeg kan selvfølgelig ikke få sagt ofte nok hvor mye jeg savner dere der hjemme, for dere er virkelig høyt savnet! Snart skal jeg få send julegavene er kjøpt, så håper jeg inderlig alt faller i smak.

Og til slutt må jeg bare si tusen takk til mamma og pappa for pakken som kom på døra i dag, den gjorde serriøst dagen hundre prosent perfekt, glad i dere er jeg <3

If I Fell

2009-11-17T09:47:00.003+09:00

Jeg sitter paa skolen og kjeder meg, derfor skjemmer jeg dere bort med et nytt innlegg, denne gangen uten vaare kjaere ekstra bokstaver, beklager.

Foerler bare for aa skrive norsk, selv om jeg egentlig ikke har noe viktig aa si dere, annet enn at jeg savner dere der hjemme noe grusomt. Det gjoer ofte vondt aa tenke paa vennene jeg ikke har sett paa 4 mnd., det er tungt, men jeg skal vaere sterk, jeg skal klare et halvaar til, for jeg trives, det er ikke det som er problemet. Kanskje er det det faktum at julen naermer seg som gjoer savnet staerkere, for noe av det eneste som foregaar i hodet mitt naa er hva jeg skal gi folk i julegave.

Jeg regner nesten med at alt dette smaa-depressive snakket har noe med det at jeg er 17 aar, betatt av en gutt som har kjaereste og uten venner jeg virkelig kan snakke med. Jeg smiler ikke saa mye som foer.

Sun King

2009-11-15T18:55:00.002+09:00

Som jeg lovet, her er et nytt innlegg. Føler jeg er flink nå som gir dere to innlegg med bare litt over en ukes mellomrom, det har vel ikke skjedd på hvem vet hvor lenge? Uansett, vil bare fortelle om en tur jeg og vertsfamilien hadde til et sted med et vanskelig japansk navn som jeg dessverre ikke husker (dato: 31. oktober til 1. november). Det var ivertfall en kjøretur på, egentlig, 5 timer, men med en vertsfar i kraftig bakrus tok det betraktelig lengre tid, rundt 8 timer om jeg ikke husker feil.

Stedet var helt fantastisk vakkert, dere aner ikke, eller, når jeg får somlet meg til å legge ut bilder på face så vil dere jo det da. Nok engang sporer jeg av, og nok engang vender jeg tilbake til tema. Som sagt, stedet var helt fantastisk, det lå ganske skjult til i en rolig dal, langt unna storbyen. Uansett hvor man snudde seg var det virkelig klare høstfarger, jeg tror aldri jeg har sett, og vil se igjen, trær med så røde blader. Vi bodde med moren og lillebroren til vertsmoren min, og konen hans, jeg liker dem alle, de er herlige mennesker hele gjengen. Alle bodde vi på et lite hotel med rom i virkelig tradisjonel japansk stil og selvfølgelig onsen.

Der var vi en natt, dagen etter dro vertsmoren min, moren hennes og jeg til et slags museum i nærheten og så på gamle hus og andre gamle ting, høres gørr ut, men var så mye mer interessant enn hva det høres ut som. Etter museumet var det bare å kjøre hjem igjen, noe som denne gangen tok bare 5 timer siden vertsfar hadde kommet seg igjen.

Og det var den mest begivenhetsrike hendelsen i det siste, tror jeg, hukommelse er ikke min sterkeste side (som de fleste sikkert vet). To dager senere ble jeg syk og nå er jeg frisk, så enkelt er det. Nå som jeg ikke har mer å skrive ser jeg ikke noe poeng i å fortsette med dette innlegget, så jeg håper dere i Norge har det bra, jeg er glad i dere alle, vi snakkes.

Rocky Racoon

2009-11-07T18:02:00.009+09:00

Endelig. Etter noen dager med feber, der jeg har følt meg kald og så alene at det til tider har gjort vondt har jeg endelig våknet til sol og skyfri himmel, bokstavelig talt. Jeg har fått pusset opp bloggen (ikke så uhyre pent, men det får holde), lagt ut bilder på facebook, fått ordnet opp i tankene mine og eventuelle følelser som har vært noe problematiske. Og nå som jeg endelig begynner å få ordnet med internett tror jeg jeg kan få oppdatert bloggen min minst en gang i uka, men dette er opptimistisk, så vær snille med forhåpningene.

Vel, nå som jeg endelig kan fortelle hva som har skjedd siden forrige innlegg har jeg ikke peiling på hva jeg skal begynne med. Det er så mye som skjer, og på samme tid så lite. Jeg har endelig klart å gli inn i en slags hverdag. Jeg står opp kl.06, tar toget til skolen, starter første time kl.08.45. Skolen er over kl.15.20, jeg skifter klær til håndballtrening som er fra kl.16 til kl.20(selve treningen avsluttes en time tidligere, men etter trening må vi skifte tilbake til uniform, si hade til hverandre og høre på mens læreren sier noen ord osv. Det hele er ganske slitsomt). Jeg er hjemme rundt kl.21 og da spiser jeg middag, dusjer og legger meg.

Som dere nå sikkert skjønner lever jeg et temmelig travelt og rutinepreget liv, det siste spesielt nå som jeg kan nevne at jeg også har trening lørdag og søndag fra kl.09 (tidspunktet vi avslutter kan jeg aldri være sikker på, noen ganger kl.15, noen ganger kl.20), med mindre laget mitt spiller kamper, da har jeg fri. Og jeg glemmer jo helt at jeg har fri fra håndball hver torsdag, så da har jeg endelig mulighet til å gjøre som jeg vil, noe som gjerne ender opp med å dra et eller annet sted med Katharina. Jeg kan heldigvis fortelle at jeg trives med det, selv om jeg uten skam inrømmer at jeg gledelig dropper en håndballtrening i helgen om det er noe annet å finne på.

Nå høres det vel ut som om jeg lever det hektiske og stressende livet, men uten lekser må jeg si at jeg føler meg mer avslappet nå enn jeg til tider gjorde hjemme i Norge, det er utrolig hvor godt det er. Jeg har ingen problemer med å bruke så mye av tiden min på skolen, fordi jeg vet det ikke er hauger med skolearbeid som må gjøres hjemme, jeg tvinges derfor ikke til å være våken til midt på natten for å gjøre en eller annen lekse jeg ikke rakk å gjøre på skolen.

Og slik vil jeg brått avslutte dette innlegget, men som kompensasjon vil jeg komme med et nytt innlegg innen f ager der jeg vil fortelle litt mer om hva som faktisk har skjedd. I mellomtiden får dere kose dere der hjemme i kulden, her er det herlige 20 varmegrader og en frisk vind, trærne er iferd med å få vakre høstfarger, jeg har funnet meg til rette i den lille byen Tokyo (greit, jeg inrømmer at jeg teknisk sett ikke bor i Tokyo, men Yokohama, men siden jeg ikke merker forskjell sier jeg at jeg bor i Tokyo, punktum).

Magical Mystery Tour

2009-09-24T20:45:00.001+09:00

Uaaah, jeg har internett, og tid! Dette er to ting jeg knapt har hatt den siste måneden, derfor kan jeg oppdatere bloggen min, yay me. Skolen startet 1. september, og det var mildt sagt en interessant opplevelse, jeg tror aldri jeg har blitt stirret på så mye, og det verste er at de fremdeles stirrer, etter 1 mnd., man skulle jo tro de begynte å bli lei, men neida.

Jeg er også med på skolens håndballag nå, noe som har resultert i en del *kremt* morsomme opplevelser, mest fordi håndballaget består av ca. 10 gutter på 15/16 år, og 4 jenter fra 16-18, jeg stortrives. Nå på mandag var det håndballtrening hele dagen (tuller ikke, den varte i 9(!) timer) siden det ikke er skole og da var det et håndballag fra en annen skole som spilte mot laget mitt, bare guttene, jeg og en annen jente satt og så på. Det morsomme var at det andre laget bestod av 34 gutter, som alle sammen ble like overrasket over å se meg der, alle sammen stirret konstant på meg i minst 30 min, jeg tror også jeg var det store samtale-emnet resten av dagen. Akkurat det med stirring er jeg blitt rimelig vant til nå, jeg er faktisk drittlei av det, men sånn er det når man er blondie i Japan.

I går var jeg på shopping i Yokohama med Katharina, og kjøpte to Beatles CD'er og nyeste av Muse. Var også i en Hello-Kitty butikk, kjøpte to skrivebøker og fargeblyanter (important information: Hello Kitty har 35 års jubileum :D). Til slutt kjøpte jeg et ubeskrivelig klesplagg og et smykke *elske på*. Jeg brukte alt for mye penger, men jeg er lykkelig.

Jeg er lat, så orker ikke skrive i detalj alt jeg har gjort siden siste blogginnlegg, men her er en rask oppdatering:
- 6. september: Liten Zoo i Yokohama, så verdens søteste Røde Panda.
- 12. september :Stoooor Zoo i Yokohama, den største i Japan, sykt morsomt :D
- 12-13. september: Festival i Hakuraku (der jeg bor, ikke så langt fra Yokohama). Japanerne er helt rå på dette med festivaler. Jeg fikk låne en kimono av vertsmoren vår på lørdagen, og på søndagen bar vi på en tempel greie, kjempetungt, men moro.
- 19-20 september: Skolefestival. Helt fantastisk! Dette burde vi også ha i Norge. Jeg ble utkledd som Ariel og gikk catwalk-model. Love <3
- 22. september: Kamakura (et sted). Besøkte 5 kjente templer og så noe jeg tror er verdens største Buddha-statue.

Tror det var det meste, selv om jeg garantert har glemt noe, jaja. Bare still spørsmål om dere lurer på noe, så skal jeg svare.
Og ja, jeg skriver bare på norsk ;D
Savner og er glad i dere alle, love from me to you <3

Here Comes The Sun

2009-08-27T13:00:00.003+09:00

I visited my school yesterday, so cool, I'm seriously looking forward to school now (except from the speech...). My schedule is heaven, I have both chemistry and math, but also art, calligraphy, tea-cermony, Japanese, English comunication, French and an international co-operation thingie. It's gonna be so funny :D. I'm also joining the school's handball team, I have no idea 'bout how it's gonna be like, but I know it's training each day, and that I won't be able to play in games.

The school is Tsubasa Sogo, and is close to Kawasaki. It has 600 pupils, but is still one of the biggest schools in Tokyo (it has three buldings, a huge footballfield and something else xD). It's a new school, so it's really beautiful and new thinking, which I think is great. They're not very strickt either, I think I can use make-up *thumbes up*

And I've also got a school uniform now, it's so cute, I love it ^^. I'll post pictures when I can, but that picture-from-camera-to-computer thingie is kinda... impossible, at least when I'm at the school computer.

Yellow Submarine

2009-08-20T13:28:00.004+09:00

Ok, just a quick update 'bout what's happened tha last (almost) two weeks :)

Welcom familiy in big house, me and Katharina actually have our own house, with our own TV :D
Two earthquakes = fun
Got a phone! Please ask for my nr. on facebook, won't post it here ;D
Field trip to learn-how-to-handle-eartquakes/fire thingie :p
Another field trip to Edo Tokyo museum, from the Edo period, interesting (and they spoke English *happy*)
Found dead (probably poisonous) snake on road, the next day it was flat, haha.
Went to Shibuya, and building 109 (serch on google), but not for long, the people I went with hate shopping... stupid
Some time in Harajuku, but didn't have the time to really explore (but found Top Shop, a HUGE one :D)
Akihabara, a nerdy place for geeky geeks ^^ we like, I found a new Wii for 40.000 yen, and that is NOTHING! (like 2600 NOK or something). In Japan even the new stuff is on sale, I love it.
Field trip :) Painted furin bells, and then went to a huge shopping street, where I bought even more straps for my phone (which is now filled with cute things)

I think that's mostly what I've done til this day, but I've probably forgotten something, ah well... This weekend I'm going to Harajuku and Akihabara again, and on Sunday it's this thingie (I have no real idea of what it is, but it's at a school...). And wednesday in next week I'm visiting Tsubasa Sogo High School to get my unform and some other information. In Desember we're going to Nagasaki for a school trip! Man, this is so exiting :D Love and miss you all back home, hope you're having a good time <3

You Never Give Me Your Money

2009-08-16T14:52:00.003+09:00

Ok, I think I really should blog more, but seriously, it's so much to do, al the time. I mean, I'm in Tokyo for heavens sake, it's just so insanely much to do. Now I'm at a really cute internet cafe/manga store, after a sunday in Akihabara (the geeky part of Tokyo :D). I bought a DS game for less than 2000 yen, it's insane xD. I think I'll buy a new DS as well, it' only 18000 yen (about 1000 NOK). Everything is cheaper her than in Norway, exept travelling, that's insane. In one day, I use about 3000 yen, only to get to school and home again. It's just waaaaay to much. Now, I could write thousands of pages about Tokyo and Japan, but please, if it's anything you would like to know, ask. Just leave a comment and I'll answer in my next post. Thank you <3

Jeg tror jeg gir opp norsk, det er jo nesten umulig uten de tre ekstra bokstavene vi har i Norge, og jeg er drittlei av aa skrive ae, oe, aa xD Men hvis dere virkelig oensker det skal jeg skrive paa norsk ;D Saa vaer saa snill, leave a comment. Glad i dere <3

What Goes On

2009-08-11T15:27:00.003+09:00

Ok, fine. I've forgotten to tell how it is to be in Japan. Sorry (a). Well, we've had two earthquakes, eaten a lot of strange food and travelled by train to language school each day (it takes two hours). No shopping yet, unfortunately. Tokyo's the coolest city in the world, it's amazing, truly huge and filled with colours and millions of people. I love Tokyo!

Jeg liker Japan ^^ Det er saa sinnsykt kult her! Tokyo er serrioest stort og fargerikt, gleder meg til jeg faar mulighet til aa faktisk dra paa shopping, for oeyeblikket tar skolen saa mye tid. Ogsaa har det vaert to jordskjelv, det siste var ganske stort, men ikke saa ille i det omraadet der jeg, Katarina, Alex(ander) og Joakim bor. Det er litt som massasje, spesielt det siste, for da laa vi egentlig og sov xD Snart skal jeg faa lagt ut noen bilder, men siden jeg bruker skole PC er det litt vanskelig, men dere klarer vel aa vente ;D

Oh, forresten, de har pokemon muffins og wanna be oreo cookies, det er saa kult! Dere skal faa se bilder ;D

She Said She Said

2009-08-10T15:27:00.002+09:00

I dunno if I'll manage this. It's so hard, and the Japansese teacher don't speak English and I don't know what she's saying. I'm like the worst in my class and everyone else is understanding the Japanese. And my stomache is really hurting, so I barely eat. Everything is just shit at the moment, to be brutally honest. On the bright side, I really love Tokyo and the people, they're so friendly... We'll see what happens, I don't want to give up, but still...

Jeg sliter. Stoert mer er det vel ikke aa si. Alle er flinke og kunne saa mye fra foer, dette sliter virkelig paa meg. Jeg proever aa si til meg selv at det skal gaa bra, men jeg vet ikke, jeg vet virkelig ikke...

She's Leaving Home

2009-08-06T20:51:00.002+09:00

Two hours from now I'll be leaving Trondheim. Wow. It's really funny to think about, the fact that I won't come home in then months, but still I'm really exited. Like a kid on crack, I'm running around like crazy, always wondering if I've forgotten something and try to remember some Japanese kana. Man, I'm really looking forward to this, my mom is begining to get nervous though, I think she've realized that I'll be gone quite a long time. Ah, well, she'll cope. :)

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Om to timer drar jeg til Oslo, faen, det er ikke lenge til. Vedder på at jeg har glemt noe, jeg glemmer ALLTID noe, uansett. Jaja, drit i det, jeg gleder meg bare sykt, løper rundt som en liten unge, bare venter på å få dra. På en måte har tiden gått fort, jeg mener, jeg husker siste skoledag da jeg mente det var så lenge til jeg skulle dra. Og nå sitter jeg her, skal straks pakke ned PC'n min og sette meg på flyet til Oslo. Kathrine fra Explorius ringte også nettopp, ønsket meg god tur, jeg er virkelig fornøyd med at jeg valgte å dra med dem, de har tatt så godt vare på meg, og kommer nok til å fortsette med det. Vel, da stikker jeg til Japan folkens, så da kommer jeg ikke til å blogge på en stund. Kos dere i Norge, jeg er glad i dere <3 :D

With A Little Help From My Friends

2009-08-04T05:11:00.009+09:00

Ida is my best friend. She supports me and always makes me laugh. I can tell her everything

I love her so much. I hope you know that Ida :'D <3

Fixing A Hole

2009-07-31T06:13:00.004+09:00

Sorry, I know I don't update my blog very often, but I've seriously got nothing to say. Well, I do have some news now. I'll be leaving Trondheim next thursday at 06.30 PM, me and my mom are going to Oslo, and then stay one night at a hotel before leaving for Vienna early in the morning at 07.05 AM. In Vienna we (me and Carina) will meet the other students from Sweden, and then take the plain to Tokyo at 02.00 PM. I'll be in Tokyo August 8. at 08.10 AM, and I'm so looking forward to it :D

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Neste torsdag drar jeg til Oslo med mamma, og på fredag drar jeg til Japan, regner med dere skjønte tidspunktene ovenfor, for jeg orker ikke skrive det ned igjen (a). Gleder meg sinsykt, har allerede pakket og delvis flyttet ut av rommet (skal ut i morgen). Grunnen til det er at lillesøster Sigrid vil ha rommet mitt, hun har også forsynt seg grådig av garderoben min... Ellers går jo dagene, sitter stort sett hjemme å pugger japanske tegn, hvis jeg da ikke er opptatt med å flytte ut eller pakke. Kommer til å savne alle dere i Norge, virkelig <3. Ja, også vil jeg bare si unnskyld til Carina for at jeg er verdens sløveste person, men at jeg fikk sendt passet mitt i dag og at Kathrine har det i morgen, så alt med Visum ordner seg, igjen, sorry, jeg tror du blir barnevakt for meg de første dagene i Tokyo til hjernen min begynner å fungere igjen :). Ble den siste setningen der litt lang?

Flying

2009-07-15T05:26:00.002+09:00

I have to apologize for not writing updates about Japan lately, but honestly, it's not much to tell. It's just a lot of small things, like the facts that I'll get a cellphone with a limit of 7000 yen per month. And I've got the schedule for the three first weeks with language camp, nothing very interesting really. Besides from the fact that I'll get to know my host family the first day in Tokyo, and then later on meet them. Sorry, but it's gonna be awful, I mean: Jetlag!

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Beklager, men orker ikke skrive noe på norsk. Dessuten kan dere vel engelsk? :)

Tell Me What You See

2009-07-12T22:57:00.003+09:00

All in Norwegian this time ;D
Vel, jeg ble inspirert av et innlegg til Aurora (byaurora.blogspot.com) der hun hadde med info om sitt stjernetegn, så jeg ville gjøre det samme (copycat, mihi):

Kjennetegn for Væren
Væren er født: 21.03-20.04
Den typiske VÆREN er besluttsom og initiativrik.
Væren er den som ofte avslutter sine oppgaver mens andre fortsatt sitter og tenker over hvordan oppgaven skal løses. De er ofte utålmodige, spesielt hvis tingene går langsomt eller de blir møtt med motstand. Væren er praktisk og svært teknisk begavet og når de starter på en oppgave, ser de løsninger uansett hvilket problem de måtte stå ovenfor. Væren bryr seg sjelden om regler og restriksjoner, de fokuserer på å finne sine egne løsninger på ting. Personer født i Væren mangler tålmodighet, er litt naive og har en tendens til å stange hodet i veggen.
Deres styrke er staheten som gjør dem til bra konkurransemennesker.
Nøkkelord:
- Oppriktig
- positiv
- uavhengig
- ærlig
- livlig
- energisk
- besluttsom
- hurtig

Dere får bestemme om det passer eller ikke, jeg skal ikke uttale meg... :)

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

2009-07-12T02:58:00.003+09:00

Ok, since it's like ages til I'm leaving I'll give you some fun facts about Japan (all in English):

- Japanese girls cut their hair after a breakup with a lover. (I'm never, ever, gonna do that.)

- Japanese boys, on the other hand, shave their heads just to apologize. (That's more like it.)

- People love to speak broken English at you, even when you tell them in plain Japanese that it's ok to speak in Japanese. (Looking forward to that)

- Japanese teenagers are amazingly friendly but have the social skills of a roasted lobster. (Haha, reminds me of someone.)

- In Japan, Ally McBeal is called “Ally My Love” because McBeal when said in a Japanese dialect sounds like McBeer. (Ally My Love xD.)

- Japanese pizza has mayonnaise, corn, and seaweed on it. (Yummy :3)

- The Japanese know more about American politics than Americans do. (Not surprising)

Diet water anyone? (You can only buy it from vending machines in Japan ;D)

The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill

2009-07-09T00:49:00.004+09:00

Well, I'm not leaving 31. July, but 8. August... That's kinda sad, I was so looking forward to be leaving, but on the bright side, I'll get one more week to study japanese. But still...

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Drar ikke før 8. august, det er trist, jeg gleder meg jo som en unge til å dra. Rekker jo å gjøre litt mer før jeg drar, men likevel, jeg syns det er litt trist. I tillegg blir det noe rot (igjen) med å bestille biletter fra Trondheim til Oslo, men det ordner seg, jeg overlater uansett det til mamma, hun er flink til sånt Ü

Sexy Sadie

2009-07-07T06:12:00.008+09:00

Photos of my school:

http://www.tsubasa-h.metro.tokyo.jp/gallery.html

I Feel Fine

2009-07-06T04:17:00.000+09:00

Finally news about when exactly I'm leaving Norway! On July the 31. I'll take a plane from Oslo to Vienna 07.05 PM, and from Vienna to Tokyo 14.00 AM. The plane'll be in Tokyo 08.10 PM on the 1. of August. That's something to look forward to! :D

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Som det står ovenfor vet jeg endelig når jeg skal ta fly, da rekker jeg mest sansynlig bursdagen til Aurora, jippi. Hvordan jeg skal komme meg fra Trondheim til Oslo er en annen sak, blir vel noe styr, men det ordner seg, jeg er uansett helt i hundre :'D

Yesterday

2009-07-02T06:25:00.000+09:00

Wow. Yesterday Explorius called, and told me that my school next year is Tsubasa Sogo High School... In Tokyo! That's just amazing, I can't describe it in words. it's just all my dreams comming true. I'll have a hard time NOT spending to much money though, but who cares? I'm going to Tokyo!

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Greit folkens, jeg har fått skoleplass i Tokyo, gjett om jeg er overlykkelig da. Nå er det fullt fokus på japansk (prøver ivertfall), også gleder jeg meg til å høre fra vertsfamilien, dette blir gøy. Jeg vet ikke hva jeg skal si, det er så utrolig... Men nå er jeg trøtt, natta :D

Ticket to Ride

2009-06-24T04:01:00.000+09:00

Well, no news about host familiy yet, but I'm waiting, trying to study some japanese when I'm home from work. But what I do know is who I'm travelling with from Norway, her name is Carina and she's really kawai (sweet in japanese, one of my favourite words). It's about one month til I'm leaving, and I'm actually a little afraid, 'cus I've got no idea what I'm heading to. But still... No regrets. Optimistic? Always :3

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Jeg er redd, bare litt over en mnd. til jeg drar, men jeg overlever sikkert. Jobber for øyeblikket fra kl. 07.00 - 15.00 som vaktmester for å tjene penger, moro det jah (særlig), har heldigvis Aurora å jobbe med. Ellers er det intet nytt, men jeg har jo blitt ganske godt kjente med hun jeg skal reise med. Navnet hennes er Carina, hun er 175cm høy og mye flinkere i japansk enn meg, det kan bli utrolig morsomt å vandre rundt i Tokyo med henne. Positiv? Alltid :D

Tomorrow Never Knows

2009-05-08T01:07:00.000+09:00

Still no host-family, but I'm waiting patiently. I have to admit though, that it's really weird not to know where I'm gonna live next year, hopefully it'll be a big city, like Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto. Guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Wow, I've just realized that I'm leaving in less than 3 months, that's so weird to think about, almost unreal.

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Som nevnt ovenfor vet jeg ennå ikke hvor jeg skal bo neste år, men regner med å få vite det i løpe av de neste to månendene. Det er jo ganske uvanlig med utvekslingselever i Japan, så det å få familie kan ta litt tid, men jeg venter *kremt* tolmodig jeg.

Ellers er det ikke noe nytt, bortsett fra at finanskrisen har fått den norske krona til å synke så mye i verdi i forhold til japanske yen at vi må betale mer, jaja, er vel ikke noe vi kan gjøre med det. Jeg får nesten dårlig samvittighet ovenfor mamma og pappa, selv om de sier det går bra, det er tross alt de som må punge ut.

Taxman

2009-04-23T00:23:00.000+09:00

Well, I've been told by my teacher that I have to blog in Norwegian, mainly at least, so I guess I have to focus on Norwegian instead of English. Ah well, can't win 'em all.

Bjørn Helge sa at blogging vil være en del av norsken neste år, så da blir det mer norsk på dere gitt. Jeg som hadde lyst til å skrive engelsk, føler det er forbedring i engelsk jeg virkelig trenger, men trives jo med å skrive norsk også, tror jeg? o.O

I Want To Tell You

2009-04-02T04:26:00.000+09:00

Ehm, yeah, this is the first thing I'm writing, and it's really nothing of any interest. But I just thought I should say something about this blog. It's going to be about my year in Japan, starting 1. August 2009, I think. I'll be living with a host-family in a Japanese city, just living as normal as possible, with school and... stuff.

And for my Norwegian friends:
Ja, noen lurer sikkert på hvorfor jeg skriver engelsk? For det første trenger jeg engelsktrening, og for det andre vil det etter en stund være japanere som leser den bloggen, håper jeg, og de er neppe særlig stødige i norsk... Så vet dere det. MEN, jeg kommer til å skrive litt på norsk for hvert innlegg også.