Life is a party!

Whoever said "Life isn't one big party", they were obviously not talking about the previous week.
Two parties in one week, both of them organized (or at least instigated) by myself between homework and episodes of RuPaul. 

Tuesday: International food party for Taka's Birthday. 

What started as a small gathering to celebrate the birthday of Taka, who has become a great friend during my time in Japan, turned out to be one of the biggest events held in Ihouse thus far. 

Though there are no photos of the food, let me assure you that it was possibly the best food that an Ihouse party has ever seen. Three dishes were made by myself, two pizzas with roast pumpkin, capsicum, eggplant and mushrooms as well as a plate of pumpkin.　However, the sheer number of people participating and the number of dishes completely blew me away.

Instead of a birthday cake, we had a delicious marble cake made by the fantastic Andy. We did sing Happy Birthday though.
誕生日おめでとうたか！ ^_^ Much fun was had by all.

 

Friday: Japanese food party

 

Meeting again with my wonderful Tako Team Azusa, Arisa , Chiyaki and Kazuki, we bought the necessary ingredients then returned to Ihouse to make the takoyaki. It's always fun to make takoyaki with good friends. ^_^

Arisa (blue) will be heading to Canberra Australia in two weeks for a 3 month exchange to University of Canberra . Wishing her a fantastic time and please say hello if you see her.

Other members of Ihouse had promised yakisoba, okonomiyaki and crepes and these promises were delivered on with delicious results.

 Again we had a fantastic turnout so many thanks to all the people who participated in one, or both of these parties. You make my time in Ihouse so enjoyable.

 ^_^.

咲いちゃん　Cy-chan 

 Happy to report that my beloved bonsai Cy-chan is growing well next to my new lavender plant Nee-chan. Kaworu is still waiting for Shinji as we come into Autumn.　忠愛だ






Speaking of plants, this week was an almost perfect week for Kado (Ikebana). Last week was extremely disappointing and frankly frustrating with not even an arrangement worthy of a photo for my folder . However, this weeks creation is an extremely aesthetically pleasing arrangement despite the style demanding the lack of a kenzan and a tall vase.THIS is how you win at Kado.

The shape,
the colours,
the balance.

Perfect.



Oh deer, you reached the end of my blog post!

Please stay up to date as this weekend there are many adventures planned and it shall be wonderful to tell you of them.

Special thanks to Nuki-sama this week for reading Tanglewreck to me almost every night. Bigamist, you are my hero!

Thanks also to Taka for being a fantastic friend, hope you enjoyed your Birthday  and am looking forward to more adventures. 

感謝 Thanks.

 Saturday was my speech before the Graduate Alumni of Aichi Shukutoku University to thank them for the scholarship received last semester .Was a little nervous to meet the head of the University Shimada Shyuzou, though after the brief minute and a half speech (which went alright) there was a 5 course meal and entertainment. These were enjoyed immensely and were rather unexpected.

Really am thankful for this experience so far and everyone who has helped and supported me along the way. Here are some special thankyous for this week and last week.

Mainge, thankyou for the post card. Was read a number of times and the image on the front almost makes me want to come visit.

Grandad, thankyou for the email. It did make it to me and hope your typing finger feels better.

Teresa, thankyou for the chat. Really helped me get some things sorted and hope we can continue to keep in contact.

Mum, thnkyou for being concerned. Everything is fine and anything that is not fine, will be fine soon.

Taka, thankyou for the hugs and adventures or late. Looking forward to your Birthday.

Nuki-sama, thankyou for believing in me. Thankyou for everything you do. 5 months. 

You all make my life brighter and let me see all the beautiful colours.  

Love to each and ever one of you.

秋らめないで (pun: Autumn, don't give up)

This week bought some very pleasant news with the head teacher approving me to enter level 4 Japanese. Initially this semester there were tears after being told that there was a high chance that there would be no other option than for me to enter the lower level, to avoid a massive jump in difficulty posed by being in a class full of Kanji literate Chinese students who had already completed JLPT 1 and 2. However after reassessment, a number of students managed to "level up". Level 4's became 5, and 3's became 4. The sensei also mentioned that there were students within the new 4 who were in the same position of being truthfully between classes as myself last semester, who would face a possibly extremely challenging semester, though this did not include me.

秋らめないで

David Grey - Babylon

The past 3 days have seen a change of mindset for me. Seems that the hot dragging days of Summer have given way to the cooler more pleasant days of Autumn. Outside my window the trees are beginning to change their colour and the sky is a brilliant blue.There is a refreshingly cool gentle breeze which carries with it a hint of the winter chill. The cicarders don't sing as loudly, though the smells of the world are beginning to return.

Music has also helped to put me in a pleasant mood for cleaning and homework.So far the futon had been hosu-ed, sentaku senkaku-ed (clothes washed) and soon the yuka will be soujiki-ed (floor vacuumed)

This weekend is a long weekend, so the homework load does not look as scary as there is one extra day to complete it. Homework this semester looks to have an even heavier workload than last semester, though my determination to succeed will push me through it.

せともの祭り

Seto-mono matsuri (The Seto items festival) was yesterday. Was guide to 6 new students and although we had to take 5 different modes of transport, being able to view the scenery on the way and the feedback from the day was positive. Was a great chance to use my knowledge about both ceramics and Japanese culture as we wandered along the streets lined with various pottery and ceramics. Managed to brgain down the price of most of the items to get roughly 30-40% off.  Have already begun using some of the items purchased, though the day was not without a touch of disappointment.

残念な狐コップ　The unfortunate fox cup.

Always looking for fox related items at these festivals as you all know of my fursona. Was looking at a stall with cups with various images painted on them. Asked the shopkeeper if there were any fox ones and he pointed out a single absolutely adorable perfect cup with an image of a fox in a kimono. Asked the man next to me if he could grab it for me.
He picked it up, then fumbled it
                                         ...it hit his hand..
                                                                     then the ground where it smashed into pieces.
Picking it up the shop keeper asked if I'd sustained any wounds, though the only wound was to my heart. The man who dropped it did not apologize to myself or the shop keeper. He just kept looking then walked out. Felt terrible about the broken cup, though managed to get a pamphlet with the address of the main shop.

咲いちゃん　Cy-chan

After being neglected during the Summer Holidays, Cy-chan has made a miraculous recovery from a state near death. The resilient bonsai has fresh leaves and green stems. Was so sure that the little guy was lost after about a month and a half without water, though he is a fighter it seems and looks to be making a speedy recovery.
Grow Cy-chan grow!




 Many of you will also be aware of my new lolita dress picked up from Violet Blue, my favorite second hand lolita outfit shop.

The brand is Anglic Pretty - Milky Planet and it belongs to the form of lolita known as "Sweet".

This is pretty much my dream dress as it has both rainbows and icecream as well as being my favorite colour, blue. The dress also sports pockets which are relatively rare for lolita Hoping to go shopping for those vital accessories to make it perfect once the weather cools down enough to wear it out.










 That pretty much sums up the first few days of Autumn. Soon there will be new seasonal sweets for me to try and new adventures to plan as the maple leaves redden and it becomes cool enough for long walks.

You know what is already cool...Bastien.

Much love to you all!

Autumn ni natta.

Hello my wonderful people,

So many adventures have been had since my last post. When Summer Holidays finished, it was to be the last of my adventures, though they seem to have continued on into Autumn also. Seems an age since my last post and you should be assured that the semester is in full swing, sweeping me up into things that consume time and mind.

Today will be another of those picture blogs with many pictures accompanied by short descriptions of each.

Firstly, leveling up slowly with regards to bento making with this bento. The bento includes tamago yaki (rolled egg), yaki miso nasu (steamed miso eggplant) as well as gohan (rice) with furikake.

<-  Managed to drag myself to the ICC party. Already have friends in the ICC, though it's always good to meet new people. Played Bingo and a game which involved transfering rice between bowls using chopsticks.

Bastien looks fabulous->

 <- Kado classes started along with my other classes. This is my second arrangement this semester and it was particularly nice to work with the blue flowers as they matched my eye shadow and lashes.



Yesterday evening was spent having dinner with Taka. Was a bit of a trek to Hozumi, though was well worth it for the company. We had sushi(which we had wanted to eat on Saturday but the wait was too long,so we settled for the image on the bottom right) before heading to Starbucks for desert. Had a lavender latte and we shared a cheese cake.

Grand Adventure

Was fortunate enough to be invited to travel up into the mountains around Nagako-ken by my friend Naoya (Nao-kun) and was joined by Jiro and another friend.

We met at Kouzouji early and traveled by car up into the mountains. After the first cafe we found in town was not open, we decided to travel into the mountains and see what was available for lunch. Thankfully we found this place.

The food was delicious, the feel of the restaurant amazingly Japanese and super relaxing.

Then we went up the mountain in the car. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking and the higher we climbed, the more spectacular it became.

The views were truly picturesque.

 As we gazed down at the town and fields below, dragonflies zipped around us. Landing on the thinnest and highest sticks of the surrounding bushes. Searched everywhere for an aka tanbo (red dragonfly) and was ecstatic when one was spotted.

 The leaves are changing and life is about to get a whole lot more hectic from now. After writing this blog, homework must be done and preparation for tomorrow must begin.






As many of you know, recently my wish to become skinny has been taking me through some interesting feelings and thoughts, though please be assured that everything is going to be fine.

しかーられた

My 100th post!

My final days in Agui for the summer holidays were spent packing my things and relaxing. Mum and Nanako were away in Korea, so it was just myself and Dad. Walks in Agui are one of the most pleasant things on earth for someone such as myself who notices and smiles at the little beautiful things as well as the beautiful vistas.

Friday was spent wandering Sakae and the evening was spent watching the start of Domatsuri. It rained the whole performance though the energy that the dancers have really lifted me from an unpleasant mood. Spent Saturday morning at Domatsuri and afternoon with Taka. ^_^ Was a pleasant day. Sunday (last day of summer holidays) was spent relaxing  Mum and Dad took me and my bags all the way to Nagakute in the evening which was extremely kind.

Today was the first day back at classes after the Opening Ceremony for the new exchange student semester yesterday. Wore my really pretty gold patterned dress to look like an adult for the ceremony. ^_^

First day back was rather interesting.

As we are not sure of my placement into classes this sememster due to a massive jump in the difficulty, my first lesson Listening was to be with the slightly lower level 3. However, when the teacher Tabata sensei arrived in the classroom, she instantly asked me to head over to level 4. After the class with level 4, Abe sensei (head teacher) asked me to stay back for a moment..was super worried. Abe sensei asked for me to sit in on level 5, the highest level 0.0 Turns out my listening is rather good (no surprise)/.Level 5 involves watching a television program, however it has a written element that would be near impossible for me to complete each week as it's made for Chinese students who are strong in the written component. Was still a pleasure and a surprise to know that Abe Sensei has such faith in my ability.

Made yaki nasu (steamed eggplant) and onigiri for lunch before Kado. Since my camera was out of battery there are no photos, though there shall be next week so look forward to them.

After that it was time for Hana Syoubu. Managed to relax and even sleep in one of the rooms of the Ganbanyoku. ^_^ Did the fire ryoryu where they super heat the air, twice! Watched the moon rise from my favorite round hot tub and felt my stress melt away for a short while. 










Going to miss my Summer Home in Agui, though I'm going back tomorrow afternoon for a massage.

So thankful for such a wonderful Summer holidays with the Sakata family and for all the adventures that were had. Was truly a Summer to remember.