感傷的

 昨日Yesterday 

- mistook my class and ended up in the wrong room 

- two morning classes with favorite teacher

- "clinic" where I was told that I could stay at the level I am at - practiced keigo (honorifics)

-  went for a walk, met a new friend, bought doughnuts

- got a kids meal with my doughnuts which included this super awesome Pon-da-lion plane. 

- added new friend Facebook, Tomoya is cool.

今日 Today

- failed one kanji test, passed the other.

- Kado awesomeness

- lots of homework

- went for a walk, got lost, got unlost.

- studying　感傷的, my favorite kanji. <3

- Cy-chan's (bonsai) first flower.

イチゴ狩りや食べ放題。Strawberry Hunt and the All you can eat.

6:40 left Ihouse for Nagoya station. Ate some Pokemon Melon pan (bread)

Ihouse -> Hongo -> Nagoya.

9:00 Caught bus into the mountains.
 - bought some headphones quickly

- was amazed to see mountains with snow as I had no idea that we were going somewhere with snow, let alone the "Japanese Alps" 


 11:00 Arrived at the Whiskey brewery got a tour around to see how they produce it , tried some and it was delicious. Nice start to the morning.
- driving in we saw monkies
-  they had apple juice which was local produce also.

11:30 All you can eat shabu-shabu  (click the name for an explanation). There was so much food that I could only eat 3 plates of the finely sliced meat.

 - Ate a special milk ice-cream specific to that area for dessert.

 12:00 One of the most amazing experiences of my life so far. Picture this, old Japanese shrine in the mountains dedicated to pets it seems, nestled in a beautiful forest with some of the tallest trees you have ever seen, snow on the ground and covering the trees and shrine...it begins to snow.

Snow in the forest shrine!

This place is honestly one of the most amazing magical places I have ever been. Though many shrines have that gentle feel, the evident reminder of  how precious our pets are in that they offered "omamori" protection and blessings for pets, warmed my heart on that cold day.

Lin-san and I

             This dog -------->
Was rumored to be "god-like" and thus is connected with the shrine. This is why the shrine encourages the owners of other god-like dogs to use the shine cemetery.

Also reminded me of a very special bear-dog back at home. Thank you Alex for being such an awesomely fabulous and loyal friend.

Hope I will be able to show you this shine some day. 



The snow on the moss and those beautiful tall trees really were a sight to be seen. If I can, I would love to visit this shrine again.





 1:00 Ichigo-gatari. We all rushed in to the massive greenhouse, were given a cup for the leaves, then let loose to munch as we pleased. Must have eaten at least 30 of the largest, most delicious strawberries that Japan has to offer.















   Alex and I sang "What Does the Fox Say" as we danced and ate strawberries. He is the teacher from China and is awesome fun.

  3:00 Wagashi - Japanese traditional sweets. The emphasis was on apples, though I managed to find some tasty anko and conpetou which is the stuff that Chiharu throws to the soot sprites in Spirited Away.


4:00 Home time.
- Lin-chan slept on my shoulder and we chatted about life.
-was super super full. 

6:00 arrived back at Nagoya station.
- Went to the cosmetic store with Lin and Yuka
-  Nagoya Dome to take Prikura. (pictures soon)
- bought new manga.



Big shout-out to my little sis Ainsley who apparently has been reading and enjoying my blog. Hope you are well and best of luck with your examies. Also, please show my blog to Granny if you can as I know she would love to read of my adventures.

Much love to you all,
Senti

Announcement 発表

発表

 Senti is now addicted to...

matcha latte

and 

百千さん家のあやかし主子

きゃ～病気になちゃた！

Hello Peeps,

 This week went fast. Was dreading another intense week of Japanese just yesterday it seems, and now I have completed it.

きゃ～病気になちゃた！

On Thursday I became rather ill around 1am while studying kanji for my test today (Friday). Was feeling lightheaded and like I was going to throw up. When I came home from class at 3pm, I slept until 8pm, woke up and ate some cookies, 2 pork buns, did some kanji study, then went back to sleep until 8am this-morning. 

Created a vase for my kado flowers from a milk tea bottle.The Sweetpeas smell lovely.

Back to normal food today though still lacking much of an appetite.

Was planning of going clubbing with friends tonight in Nagoya, though on second thoughs I think I might stay on the safe side and skip it.

Sunday is Ichigo-gari, the Strawberry hunt, so I would like to rest and be in good health for that.

Some homework to do, though I'm mostly up to date. 

Something for my Pokemon loving friends. Here is one of the many Pokemon displays and some of the sweet snacks on offer.




This week was bought to you my MIKA. 

Rain 

 

Origin of love

Underwater

Stardust

Currently this man is my god.

花好きなんだ

花 = Hana = flower

華道 = kado = flower arranging  (otherwise known as ikebana)

 

This week we used tulips, sweetpeas and cat's paws (not sure what they are in English)

My second flower arranging class today and after a long morning of Japanese speaking and reading practice, it was so very nice to relax. The picture to the left is printed on the sidewalk before you cross and says "stop". Very appropriate for this post I think as any chance I get to actually stop thinking as I do during kado when I just feel, may be rare from now on.

  盆栽
 
After kado I went to the home center to buy a vase for the kado, however I instead became quite fond of this ume bonsai. It's name is Cy-chan.
 
咲ちゃん



Before I left the airport, my wonderful friend Cyanis gave me his wooden bracelet and told me to "stay grounded". Cy-chan and myself will hopefully blossom this year and will grow together though various experiences. I placed a small Kaworu Nagisa figurine at it's base as he is very dear to me. 

ポケモン
Finally something for my fellow Pokemon fans. Japan has many Pokemon themed treats, and this is just one of them. Japan has so very many tasty treats to enjoy as you can tell from my pictures, however the Pokemon ones are possibly some of my favorite.

Was sad to see that the Pokemon Center that was previously at Stage 21 is no longer there. :( However wherever you go in Japan, you will always find Pokemon

 友達 - friends

Making friends in Ihouse has been very pleasant and I look forward to the next 6 months with these people before a new wave of students come.

宿題 - homework

Lots of homework. There is a particular teacher called Suzuki-sensei that gives out an abnormal amount of homework compared to my other teacher. The breakdown of my class marks reveals that homework accounts for 10-30% of my mark, so it is important, just not pleasant.
Lots of small tests coming up, most of them for kanji . I hate kanji.


遊び - play

Going on that strawberry hunt on Saturday. Some friends wish to go clubbing, but I spent my extra money on Cy-chan, so I cannot go.  Much of my lively strangeness from home can be expressed here as everyone is strange in Japan.

いつも道理

  昼ごはんは食堂で食べた。

Lunch overlooking the tennis courts again.Today was noodles, inari and japanese pickles. 

Did not sleep until 7am today and had university from 9am. 2 hours sleep is not enough so I shall be going to sleepy land soon. Classes are going well and I'm looking forward to Kado tomorrow.



Dear dear deer, 

You were tasty again. 

                      Love Senti

Here are Laura (Germany), John (Norway) and Justin (America). John provided the deer, Justin the veggies and myself the potatoes.




かめキャッチャ

Mum, do you remember these from RYLA/ RYPEN?

Fairly sure you bought home different ones each year, or something similarly fuzzy and small.

These are available from a machine resembling a mini claw machine at the local super market. I don't think I will try it, though just thought I would post an image up for you.

Thankyou all for your well wishes and messages of encouragement for my stay in Japan. You all know I will do my best to make the most of this exchange and will never give up. So far it has been a rewarding experience and I think it shall continue to be.

Take care all and I wish you happiness.
Senti/ Bo0

狸様、虎ちゃん、さいちゃんへ
Missing hugs and kisses and cuddles from people back home, though Ruka is trying their best to make sure I always have someone to hold as i drift off to sleep. 

熱田秋葉山, Book Off や刺身

熱田秋葉山 (Atsuta Akibasan - temple) was the second main attraction for the day. It's still rather new and features three massive lanterns, two bells and the gong that you can ring. The incense was very pleasant.

I especially like the crest for this temple of the larger flower with the two coming off the side, again on that royal purple. Maybe I will make a personal seal.

Chestnuts and Book Off

Bookoff = Super cheap anime, manga, book, CDs, games and figurines. 

It's like heaven...for nerds. 

Speaking of heaven. Found this Kaworu Nagisa figurine that I really wanted to buy. Shall wait until later in my exchange to think about it as he is rather expensive.

I love Kaworu Nagisa. <3




Oh Crepe!

After Book off Remi and I went to her favorite crepe store. The store is semi-famous as it was featured on a Japanese television program recently.

I had a red bean, icecream, cream and green tea crepe as they are hard to find outside Japan. It was delicious.


Sherlock Cafe


Recently Remi and I have been watching a lot of BBCs  Sherlock Holmes with Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock. Remi had heard of a cafe called the "Sherlock Holmes Cafe", so we thought we might go check it out.


The food was tasty, though rather expensive. Atmosphere was the main pull of the place and the china-wear was also rather impressive as it was in traditional English style.

On the way to the cafe we passed a junior school which had posters like this, each of them portraying an animal in peril. The polar bear one reads "who will save us". Although reading them made me rather sad, I was comforted by the knowledge that the kids here are being taught abut their ability and almost obligation to look after this work and the creatures in it. Stark contrast to Australia where the government denies any human impact and does nothing to stop or lessen the effects we have.   

　刺身Sashimi 

Finally Remi asked if I would like to come back to her place for dinner. When I arrived I learned that her mother had received a fresh box of seafood including fish, sea cucumber and squid. Remi and Etsuko were gracious enough to share this feast with me. I'm so lucky that I got to enjoy some of the best sashimi in Japan. The sashimi was of extremely high quality and were it to have been bought from the shops, would have been extremely expensive.

I'm such a lucky person, my adventures are truly amazing and my experiences humbling.Hope you are all well and look forward to my aventures next week when I go on a "Strawberry hunt"
                                              
                                                                                                                             Much love to you all,
                                                                                                                                                 Senti