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Saturday, November 23, 2013

birthday stuff! (old news I forgot to post)

This is from September, but I thought I'd post it anyway...

I went to Hojoya again on Saturday night! I got to eat some of the food and really had a great time with my co-worker/student/friend!

I made my favorite, mentaiko pasta with alfredo sauce!


My friend gave me these shorts for my birthday, very stylish and Japanese! Dunno if I can pull it off, but I'll try...

And this adorable Hello Kitty outfit! It looks like a regular hoodie, but it actually comes down into a kind of short dress!







October/ November update

I'm sorry it's been so long again, I have been doing a lot and then I got sick for 2 weeks so I'm sorry I haven't updated! I've been spending all of my free time studying for the Japanese exam that I will take December 1st and I have also done a lot of traveling! Here are some pictures of what's been going on. Unfortunately, I won't add so much detail because I am in a hurry, but I'll give a brief description and you can always message me if you'd like to know more.

Another obento that I got. They are delicious!

I went temple-hopping in Gion/Hakata which is the famous historical district where I live. I think I must've seen 20 temples that day!


Famous pagoda at Tochoji





A little bit of Fukuoka's history and famous things such as hakata-ori.












Shofukuji is also famous. An older man who used to be a professor at Kyushu University spoke to me (in English!) about the history of this place. I was very lucky that he happened to be there at the same time! He told me that the bush I was staring at (cluelessly as I couldn't read the sign) was a descendant of the original tea plant that was brought over from China to Japan. They claim it was the first tea ever to enter Japan, but I'm not sure. Anyway, if you can read this sign above, it will tell you a little more about it. It was very fascinating, though.

There were cats all over this place, it was crazy. And a lot of mosquitoes even though it was October.


Here's the tea plant!

The professor wasn't sure how to translate this sign so I don't know what it means.






Seeing cosmos with my friend, Yuka at the Kirin Beer Garden! It was so magical, that's all I can say...



We got delicious obento to eat while looking at the cosmos! It was so good.








Isn't she adorable? She's so sweet and it was such a wonderful time.




And she loves dogs :P











This is one of the old vats they make the beer in!

We weren't allowed to take pictures inside.


the best part... free beer! Apparently there was a time limit though, so I only had 2.

I don't know what this plant is, can someone tell me? They were selling it outside of the garden.











Her mum and her mum's friend were waiting for us. Guess we took too long!



Yuka always gives me presents! This bread was so delicious! Sweet and raisiny

I went to Gion again and saw people dressed up in old attire. They aren't geisha although many people thought they were. 



Hakata lantern festival was on the same night.



























An old carriage that they rode in.



hakata ori. I don't know why they are unfolded like that.

My first real tea ceremony! It was so great! You can see my boss/ sensei way in the back, and me, the 5th person in the front (in blue).


My other sensei (next to me) and another student who used to go to Progress (where I work).







afterwards, we ate lunch, then did the regular tea ceremony!



Sasebo! I went back "home" and it was so nostalgic, although I didn't hardly remember anything. A lot of it had been built up and they were constructing new buildings by the bay so I'm sure that's partly why I don't remember.


They're famous for tops but I couldn't find any!


The ginza (shopping district)




Sadly, this was the one thing I did remember: the playground. It was so wonderful wandering through the park, and it brought up a lot of emotions.

I just had to eat the Sasebo burger! It's famous.




The lettuce was too big, but inside is egg, bacon, a burger, lettuce, and probably more!




This church is famous, too.

Seeing the Navy ships felt like home.







I also went to Nokonoshima Island














































Poor, starving horse :(




This sign was funny. Does anyone get what it's trying to say?!

A tea ceremony sweet!

Chirashi sushi! I got this the 1st day I was sick, which was probably a bad idea... but it was really good!




Kagetsu! I attended a "game" where I had to make tea in front of a lot of people!! It was so scary. there were a lot of senseis and they would say whenever someone did even the slightest thing wrong... luckily I'm a foreigner so they were nicer to me! It was so fun, but no videos or pictures :( I wasn't allowed to take any...

Momiji! (the turning leaves of Japanese maple trees)







I'm getting better slowly... I've been doing a lot of practicing! Unfortunately, I did the wrong style for tying the obi but I will be learning it today!

My sensei tied ti for me, apparently it is only for young people (under 18) but because I'm foreign she said it was ok, hehe Usually, the style is much more simple.



That's all for now! I hope you enjoyed. I have more pictures that I will share later. I went to Karatsu and saw a festival called oKunchi, so stay tuned!