My Haven

Well, its been awhile since I last wrote anything. I have been super busy and have really had no urge to write in LJ. Tetsu and I broke up pretty soon after my last post. BUT~we are still friends. 'Cept I haven't heard from him in like three weeks. That sucks!

Kelly-chan and I signed a lease for an apartment that starts June 1st of next year! That should be cool and fun! We are going to have a bunch of multiculural parties! Her bitchy room mates had their panties in a twist about a month or so back when her sweet as a teddy bear boyfriend and his sister, sister's boyfriend, and friend Christina came over...three of these people happen to be Indian and were treated with no respect. But in truth are the coolest people you could ever meet. So Kelly and I are going to invited ANYONE of ANY cultural background to our apartment next year!!! I'm super excited but a bit nervous about money!! My mom isnt too happy with me moving off campus, she would prefer me to stay in the dorms until I graduate..but I would go INSANE if I had to live in the dorms another two years!!

Cause guess what...I have pretty much my life mapped out!! I am most likly going to become and English Major with a minor in ESL and with the number of credits I need it would take me 4 more semisters or 2 years. Which would be normal if I hadnt done a year in Japan. I am almost finished with my GDR's so that is pretty kick ass!

This weekend I am going home! I am soooooo freaking excited! Its just going to be me, my mom and the dog. My dad is going to Oregon with his friend to stay at his "Cottage/Summer home" for the weekend and my sister is in LaCrosse so she didnt want to be alone and suggested I come home! I am super excited!!! We're gonna go shopping and watch movies or something. It should be a nice relaxing weekend!

Well, gotta go and finish up my homework! Hopefully I will start to write more often, but I doubt it cause my new obsession is facebook!!!!!!!! If you wanna see some cool pictures and what not just go to www.facebook.com and type in my name!

Well, I guess I am like a child. According to Tetsu I am nothing more than a little child to him right now? I really dont know where this came from. My last day in Japan I made some mistakes by leaving things to the last minute and he decides now is the best time to give me crap about it...I think its a little bit late. I was shocked when I got some of his emails yesterday....he has never treated me that way before and I couldnt help but cry. He was very cruel. I havent felt this low about myself in a low time. Dont get me wrong, Im not depressed, Im not suicidal or anything....just not exactly happy. Tetsu doesnt hate me...he specifically said "I dont mean I dont like you"....but the way he expressed his feelings toward me makes me think otherwise. I wish I could talk to him face to face about this...but that is obviously impossible. And you know...I feel that he is being slightly hypocritical toward me...he calls me childish when he is 23 and has no idea what he wants to do in life...he drinks to much and I think he is slightly insecure about himself. His beef with me was that I procrastinated with some important things before leaving Japan...and said something to him that touched him kinda deep in the wrong way. But I am not going to stoop low and rant about all his little flaws...it doesnt matter to me. People make mistakes all the time, and nobody is perfect. I admitted that I was sorry, but I am not sure how he feels as I havent heard from him since yesterday afternoon. This strange turn came up out of nowhere and I am really curious as to where it came from...! Oh well, しょうがない！I really care about him and will listen to what he has to say. At least he is being honest...but he could be nicer about things. I tried to defend myself but he just threw it right back at me...but I am done. I will take what he has to say passively...I dont want to argue. I just want to feel happy again!

Life is quite boring still, but something possesed me to come on here and post, but now that I am here I have no idea what to write.

Tetsu graduates tomorrow! That is exciting for him, cause he wasnt sure if he could even graduate a few weeks ago! So I think there will be a little ceremony, I dont know how big. I wish I could be there! I bet he looks so nice in a suit! I have only seen pictures. When I was at his house for the last live show they did in Ibaraki, his mom was showing pictures to me of his cousins wedding. He looked so cute. I really miss him alot. He has been so busy lately. He works five, 12 hour days (Mon-fri) then the last two weekends he has had live shows, so the poor guy is sleep deprived and works harder than any 23 year old that I know! I really admire him for all the hard work he does. He lives on his own and therefor has to pay for everything on his own...I couldnt imagine paying for rent(quite expensive in Japan), tuition(no longer needs to pay but still), phone, drum stuff, food, booze, the works! He gets absolutly no financial support from his family! Independent guys are sexy..hehe! But he really knows how to work hard and that is so cool for me. Imagine working from 11am to 11pm 5 days in a row. The only thing he is able to do at home is shower and sleep, and then its up again and back to work. Poor Tekkun!

Tomorrow I have no classes and my good buddy kelly, who is actually sitting next to me now, well her boyfriend and his sister, and a couple of friends are coming to visit tomorrow...so im gonna hang with them! It should be fun! Kelly has an awesome boyfriend who treats her like the princess she is!

Yeah so something kinda interesting happened...so tetsu emailed me the other day and asked me if I was good friends with my ex-boyfriend now. And I didnt know what to think when he asked but I did answer. And I asked him why...he said( and I am translating this from Japanese so not exact quote) that because he doesnt like when there is a relationship only when the couple is dating...he doesnt like when the relationship just ends! Does it make sense! The Japanese makes total sense for me and now that I am typing this it sounds strange, but anyway I thought that was sooooo cool~! Because if we ever break up I know that we will still be good friends! He is such a cool guy, I've probably said this before but he is like my best friend, Ive known him for like a year now and it makes me happy to know that I can keep that friendship in my life no matter what happens! Ok I need to get working on some stuff, I might possibly donate blood today! I'll try and post later!

Hey, its been awhile again. I am once again back in the US of A after an awesome year in Japan, and to be honest...there is nowhere I would rather be than in Japan right now! Life is ok here. I understand classes quite well again, but it feels strange to be listening to everything in English. I have awesome friends here, that is probably the only thing that is keeping me going right now! hehee! I really miss Tetsu a lot! He is not just my boyfriend but also my best friend! We have almost known each other for a year now! His band has a show in Niigata this weekend! I wish I could be there. He is so much fun to watch play...and also the after party or 打ち上げ is quite fun too....but expensive! I dont get spared anything just cause Im the girlfriend of the drummer! haha! But that is ok! Well, nothing really that exciting is going on these days. I need to write a paper for Dokkyo now so I guess I will post later! Maybe something exciting will happen to me! じゃあね！

I just had the most awesome weekend ever! Friday night after work I met Tetsu in Shinjuku station and we went to his hometown in Ibaraki Prefecture! We had dinner on the way to his home but when we got to his station (which is totally small and cool cause there is no station people...meaning you just buy the cheapest ticket cause no one cares) his mom picked us up and she is a fabulous little lady!!! She is so tiny and kinda round but so cute! She has the greatest smile!! So we went to this CHEAP super and got some booze and snacks and stuff! She said we could buy whatever we wanted.

We got to his house, really nice place (INAKA:Country!!!I LOVE IT), and I met his middle younger sister Aya! Really cool girl! She studied in Australia for a year, and her English sounds totally Australian! First we went up to the room we would be sharing...hehe...they let us share a room!!! YATTA!!! haha! I was so surprised and happy that we got to stay in the same room! So we went back down and his younger sister Maki came home and she is just a little chatter box!! She loves to talk and she is really cute! Then a few minutes later his Dad came home!!! AHH!! Meet the parents!! But his Dad was cool! A little goofy at times, for example he is obsessed with Westren music, but really nice and smiling most of the time!! She we had snacks and drank! We were kinda watching a movie but then we started talking about when the Tetsu and his sisters were younger and then they were like....let`s watch home videos!!! So we did, and that was so much fun!! We were all laughing so hard! Even though I dont really know his family...It was just a blast to watch! Tetsu was such a cutie when he was younger...and he had the cutest voice!!! He is still such a cutie...well...I guess you would call him Kakkoi(handsome)!! It was really nice being in a family situation like that! And they are all sooooooooo close! Tetsu gets along so well with his sister`s and it really made me miss my little sis too! So we took showers and then went to bed cause we needed to wake up early the next morning to go to the BEACH!!!!

We ate breakfast and left kinda quick cause it took two hours by train to get there! The beach was sooooooooo nice! Its been like a year since I have gone to the beach! We payed to have a locker kinda thing and to use some changing rooms...and we got all ready...and Tetsu took his shirt off...and WHOA!! hehe!! He has a really nice body! Anyway..I kept my shirt on as we went down to find a spot! We put sunscreen on and Tetsu said I looked really cute in my swim suit! That made me happy cause my tummy isnt ready to be in a bikini! You know this was the first time that I have gone to the beach with a boyfriend! I have guy friends but it was always in a group! The water was really cold so the first time we didnt stay in long!!! Tetsu was really sensitive to the water temperature. For me it was kinda cold but I am used to cold water with being on the swim team and swimming at the river by my house! We came out of the water and he decided to bury me in the sand!! haha! I have never been buried in the sand before...! It was actually heavier than I thought it would be! He made me into a She-male! I was given like size DD breasts and a 10 inch penis!! haha!! All these little kids were walking by and giving me these strange looks but there was nothing I could do about it! I didnt know about the penis until after I sat up cause i couldnt see over my tits! hahahah!!

After that we went in the water again and he was still cold but he stayed a little bit longer for me!! We...I`m not sure if this is the right word...snuggled in the water? He held me in the water! We hugged in the water...which ever it is you get the general picture! Then went up and ate some lunch! Went back to the beach and took a little nap in the sun! We woke up and went in the water again! We wrestled a little bit and that was super super fun! I always wanted to do that with my boyfriend!! ^^v
We came out and then relaxed for a little bit more than decided to leave! We slept on most of the train ride home! It started pouring so his dad picked us up and took us out to eat! I had Udon! that was really yummy and nice and hot cause I was a bit chilly! We went home and took much deserved showers then Aya`s boyfriend came over..he is really cool! Tattoos on both his legs and a lip ring! Then Tetsu`s oldest sister Tomo came home from a festival and I kinda talked with her for the first time! We are the same age!! She was born in June and I was born in December! That was kinda cool! Its really nice to be dating a boy my age! Like I mean he is older than me (23) but we are in the same stages in our lives...both of us are students! He is hoping to graduate this year but still I feel so much more comfortable with him and much closer!

Anyway more drinking that night!! Until 4 am!!! haha!!! That was fun! Anyway...we woke up the next morning at around 10:30or so! Wow, I just realized that I used an exclamation point for every single one of my sentences....that needs to stop! Its too annoying. So then we went to GEDO SENKI or Tales from EarthSea! The new Ghibli movie!! It was really amazing. 感動した！I was really touched during certain parts of the movie. After the movie we all went home a relaxed a little bit before getting ready to go to the Fireworks festival!! Tetsu`s younger sisters Maki and Aya did my hair! They did this really cute, very Japanese side ponytail thing. They curled my hair and then twisted it all to the side. I felt like a Barbie doll when they were doing it cause Maki kept like sniffing my hair and telling me that it smelled good..haha. Then Tetsu`s mom helped me with the Yukata. The whole time the girls wouldnt let him see me...like when my hair was being done and obviously when my Yukata was being put on but when I was all ready and they opened the door...the expression on Tetsu`s face was priceless! I felt like the most gorgeous woman in the world and later that night he told me that I was! hehe! (#^-^#)!!!

The atmosphere of the festival was amazing! It was soooo crowed but I loved every minute of it. By the time we got there the fireworks had been going on for 15~30 minutes. Everyone was hungry and we wanted to get a good spot. Tetsu looked so hot in his Yukata! I felt very special to be holding his hand..hehe! The boys both wanted beer, so we found a cheap place to get it. I wanted Yaki-sobe, Tetsu wanted Okonomiyaki, Dai-chan wanted karage?can`t remember, and Aya wanted Tako-yaki. So we got out stuff, boys got more beer and we finally found a spot to sit down!....and I took my camera out for some video....It was really beautiful...cause guess what! It was the GRANDE FINALE! haha..we had spent all that time trying to get food and walking around but we missed most of the main point of the festival! But I am not disappointed or upset cause I had a great time with some great people! haha! The whole weekend Tetsu was trying to speak in a ......gotta go...write leter...

...sorry about that! I had to go with one of the other girls to our other office on the other side of Shinjuku station and we weren`t coming back to the office so I had to stop typing! hehe! i am typing this now right before lunch! Ok so where was I?? Oh Yeah...Tetsu was trying to speak in a British accent all weekend! hehe! It was really funny. Its getting better but still sounds a little strange! So whenever we would go somewhere he would be like `We are British! And we must speak in a British accent!` and whatnot. Funny funny! So after the fireworks we waited for the crowds to kinda dissipate before we headed toward the station. And even then it was super crowded! We stood outside the station for awhile just talking and watching the ヤンキー(gang/Yakuza brats) get hounded by the cops! We were hoping for a fight cause Tetsu and his sister said there usually was one just about every year but nothing! We PUSHED AND SHOVED our way onto an incredibly crowed train and went home. We drank a little bit more but I only had a bit cause I needed to get up early in the morning and go back to Shinjuku..haha! I wasnt planning on going strait to the office from Ibaraki, but I was having too much fun and Tetsu wanted to drink. The original plan was that he was going to drive me home on Sunday night after the fireworks but he wanted to drink a bit and it was a lot easier to go home the next day! He really wanted me to stay and call in to work sick, but I really didnt know how to do that! heheh!! Plus I was kinda scared! But the weekend was the best ever! I had sooooooooo MUCH FUN!

This weekend we are going to go to a pool in Kita-Koshigaya and then my friend Yuma is having a live show and we will go to that! ok~time for lunch!! Write more later!!!

Well, once again a lot has been going on in my life. My two friends Yuma and Miki are dating! I wasnt so suprised at that, I knew there was something going on with those two! hehe! I had my final exam on monday the 10th! I was free! I had lunch with my friend Tetsu, who I started having a crush on recently! He is the only person who can genuinely make me smile! Peter joined us at the Sushi restaurant, and that was pretty fun! My brother, Peter is leaving Japan on the 20th! I am going to miss him sooooooooooo much! He is such a good person and he has always been there for me when I am going through a hard time. I started my internship in Shinjuku which is kinda boring. They have us working all day on computers, I hope soon that I can interact with people! Maybe assist the English teachers or something! So the night after my first day at the internship I went to Tetsu`s to watch a scary movie! We rented SAW2 which was not scary at all! but oh well, the movie wasnt important...hehe...Tetsu told me that he has liked me for over 5 months and I told him that I liked him too!! So he asked me 付き合って。 Which is basically like asking me out! So...we are dating now and I am so happy!! I havent been this happy in about 6 months! He treats me like the most special person in the world! He has an amazing smile and the best thing is, is that he is my best friend! We have been really good friends since November! How many people can say that they are dating their best friend! I guess you would say we are すごくラブラブ！！

Yesterday I got my hair cut with my friend Yuma and Tetsu! Its really cute! My stylist`s name was Akira Ando, and he styled/cut Cindy Crawford`s hair, and he worked in France for awhile styling super model`s haif for Christian Doir and someone else! When Tetsu saw my hair for the first time I asked him what he thought and he said どきどき！！！ Which basically means that his heart was beating really really fast! OH I like him so much! I dont want to go home now!! YUCKy! Maybe people are wondering why I didnt wait longer to start dating again. I was going to but this just came out of nowhere! And I am honestly the happiest I have been in a long time! I just want to enjoy my life and have fun with Tetsu! I am really excited to meet him tomorrow after his test! hehe! We are going to have lunch together when he is done! BUt I am not sure where! Anyway, I should go and get some things at the Welcia. I will try and write more often from now on!!!

Its been a kinda crappy week but things are starting to look up! My friend continue to amaze me! My buddy Tetsu works at a hotel and yesterday he came to school with a DELICIOUS cake that he got from the hotel and Tetsu, Yuma, and I shared it between the three of us! That was fun! I had a test this morning and once again it was quite bad...I think! Then after school I went to the International Center cause I went to go pick up my 5oo yen bike!! WHOO!! I have a bike again!! And I love it already! hehe!! It`s black and not so special looking but the seat is high and it has a nice basket! That is really important for a bike in Japan. If the basket ist too small or whatever you cant put anything in it so then you need to carry everything yourself!! Also at the international center I recieved a list of stations that my poster will be put up!!! Of course it will be in the local stations such as Matsubara Danchi, Shinkoshigaya, and Kita-Senju...but it will also be in larger more populated area`s of Tokyo!! KYAA!! Ok...I`ll just list the bigger ones....Shibuya, Yokohama, Yoyogi, Ikebukuro!! Actually my poster will be in 31 different stations around the Tokyo area!! haha...its kinda scary!!!! But really cool!! Also I have had my internship decided. I will be working in Shinjuku at a Travel Agency kinda place...Im not sure exactally what....my roommate is going to be at the same place, but doing translation work or something. They wanted to have us doing different things!

AHHH!! Today is a beautiful sunny day!!! I love it! Its supposed to be the rainy season but it has barely rained at all recently. Maybe its because we had so much rain in May! Anyway, I want to go swimming tonight so I should probably get something to eat now!! BYEBYE!!!

Well...it is over! Last night Jun Shuk and I broke up! My mind is so scattered right now that I can barely think straight! I go between moments where I feel free and ok and then I start crying again! I cant really explain so much how it happened but we both realized that it cant work anymore!

He called me last night and at first the conversation was normal and ok, but then he started talking about how he felt that I was not in love with him anymore and that I didnt need him. I just mostly listened as he said what was on his mind! At one point he asked me a question...a very important question...`Do you want to marry me??` And he didnt mean now but in the future and I said...`you know, I really dont know anymore` and he said `That means you dont love me anymore!!!` But that is not true! You can love someone without wanting to marry them! There are many other factors that lead up to the break up but I dont feel like typing them. I really wish that we could remain in contact but he cant do that aparently. He says he is going to get rid of everything I gave him and erase all my emails and my phone number. If he wants to do that...its fine! I just want him to be happy!

I have the best friends in the world! Last night I got a call from my girl Mutsuko, and my brother Tetsu! And my roomie Jess made me feel better! Then this morning I got a really nice, sweet email from Yuma! I will be ok cause my wonderful, awesome, cool friends will help me through everything! And I am a strong person!!

Tonight is swimming...that will help! I can get all my emotions out! I am so shocked still, I can hardly believe that I will never speak to him again! I still care about him and I think I always will a bit. But this is probably for the better as the fighting has been going on for too long! He will find happiness and so will I! Life goes on! As the `YUMA THEORY` goes...`if there is no pain, there is no happiness. Its like a coin, pain and happiness come together`!!!

I just had the greatest weekend!!! So friday was just normal. Go to work and then come home and relax. Saturday I went to school to study at the library then I watched Yuma, Tetsu and Yama chan practice a bit. After that Tetsu and I went shopping for my little Chisa`s birthday!! I told him about how I wanted to go and he wanted to go with me. So then when we were eating dinner he got a call from Yuma who wanted to hang out!! SO we ran back to my place after eating and I packed a few things and we went to Yuma`s which about 13 minutes by semi-express train! Then we met Yuma and went to 7-11 to get some drinks ( I had a little alcohol, but I can cause the drinking age is 20 in Japan) and snacks! Then we went to this park place near Yuma`s house and played for awhile! I felt like a little kid again! I always feel so carefree when I am with those two! They are like my brothers!! Tetsu got his finger pinched in a tire-swing chain so he was all worried that he wouldnt be able to play drums..hehe!! It turned really purple and because swollen, but I saw it today and it looks better! Sore, but better!! After the park we went to Yuma`s house and watched American Pie 2 and drank a bit! I got a little drunk cause I was so tired but just a little tipsy so nothing to worry about! It was mostly just goofing around! Because Yuma`s parents are living in the States and his brother is going to school kinda far from where he is, Yuma just lives with his Grandma but he says he basically lives alone cause his Grandma doesnt do anything for him. SO he has the 2nd floor of the house all to himself. We went into his brothers old room and there we kinda crashed about 3:30 or so. But I didnt sleep so well cause Yuma was on the futon and I was halfway on the futon and halfway on a beanbag....and Tetsu was halfway on the futon and halfway on the floor...so Yuma got a lot of rest but we didnt!! haha!! Then at around 6 or so we woke up and used the toilet and switched arond a bit so Yuma and I both were on the futon and Tetsu was on the bean bag icing his finger!! We all woke up at 9 and Yuma went to take a shower and when he came back he was like OH I HAVE TO LEAVE BY 10! And we were like WHAT?? WE both wanted showers cause we were stinky and unclean...hehe!! So I just washed my face and brushed my teeth and Yuma came with me. I was complaining that I looked so gross and yucky but he was like ` no you dont! You are perfect and shinny` or something like that...hehe I was like you mean shinny like greasy and he was like no `shinny like clean` I was like whatever....but it still made me feel good! I never get complemented on my looks anymore! SO we left his house and went to Matsubaradanchi and then the boys went to Harajuku! The shower i took yesterday felt so good!! haha! I hate being in public when I am not clean! SO that was my fun weekend! Nothing happened on sunday...I just studied cause I had a test today! And also Tetsu and I decided that I will go to his hometown in Ibaraki Prefecture July 29 and 30 because there is a HUGE HUGE fireworks festival that is like 3 hours of non-stop fireworks and we are going to go the beach!! SO I will wear a Yukata for the festival and I will need to DIET for the beach! That wont be so hard cause I am only like 130 pounds and plus if I am swimming I think I can loose the weight no problem!! OHHH!! My poster is finished and up in stations and the international center!! Its pretty but I look almost a little sad in the picture !I dont really know why they picked that one cause I am sure there were a bunch of better pics....they snapped me for nearly an hour! But Oh well! I guess that is the look they were going for!
WOW! Its been awhile again! It feels good to post again! Nothing good has been happening to me recently! I`ve been fighting with my boyfriend about things. We are civil to each other now and he says he loves me but I am not so sure anymore! I wonder if he will read what I am writing. Once in awhile he would check my LJ but I dont think he has recently. And I dont really care if he does. He says I cant drink if I am not with him...OOPS broke that rule! And I am not allowed to hang out with boys...OOPS broke that one too!!! Actually I break that one almost everyday cause my two best buddies Yuma and Tetsu are guys! I am so excited to go back to SP! My best friends Mutsuko and Yuma will be going with me and that will be a blast! They will probably come to my house over vacations and stuff so I am excited to take them around and what not! And I might have a car when I go back. I have a car but I mean I might be able to take it to SP with me so I can take Mutsuko and Yuma around! Anyway...I should get studying!! I have been spending too much time on the computer! Ok! BYEBYE!!!!

The meeting went really well! I was really nervous at first but it went well. There is another guy that is having his picture taken as well. One of the new Germans. We will have our pictures taken on Monday at 7 AM!! Until 9 am! That is too early but I guess I will have to suck it up! And if we are not finished we will take more pictures around 3. What they told us was to bring some clothes to change into! Like a white shirt and some skirts. Obviously not a skirt for the German dude! Also to wear light make-up and maybe have my hair down. I guess we will find out more on the day it happens. And it is for Dokkyo University so I dont think I will be paid. But we do recieve a poster! YAY! They said that they will put the posters up in the stations and at high schools to recruit students to come to Dokkyo. Maybe for the international programs or something! I want to write more now but I should get home and prepare a bit for work tonight! It`s going to be a busy weekend!

Yesterday I recieved a call from my buddy Kamochi-san at the International Center and was asked to go to the International Center. When I got there he was like...`I have a favor to ask you!`..I was like...OK!!! He told me there is a advertising company that wants to use me as a model for a new Educational Promotion or something! I was like WHAT!! That is so cool! I guess there are going to put posters up in the stations or something. I dont know much yet. There is an informative, briefing like meeting this Friday so I guess I will find out everything I need to know then. I hope I get paid! Actually I SHOULD get paid! hehe! And I hope I dont have to wear some stupid outfit, or have to have my hair cut or something! Anyway, I am pretty excited about that! I get to be FAMOUS!! hehe!!!
Ahh! Today is a beautiful day! Its sunny and warm! I just want to go to the beach and relax. I have to work tonight and also pay rent and do some laundry as I havent been able to due to all the rain! And it isnt even the rainy season yet!! My friend Yuma told me that it might start as early as next week and then last about a month! Yucky! Ok well, I should probably go give the rest of my precious money to the money demons named POLUS! I will write more when I find out about the modeling thing!! Jyane!!!

It`s been awhile again! I go to the livejournal website nearly everyday to read other peoples entries but I never have the urge to write anything! This past weekend was pretty busy! I spent the whole weekend working on my Japanese presentation. For some odd reason I decided to choose Hercules and his 12 labors. I thought the translation and everything would be pretty easy and I love Greek myths but when I actually started translating everything and working on writting what I wanted to say...it turned out to be quite difficult! I had some Japanese sourses and used them a big...mostly for the names of the 12 Labors...but for the most part I translated my English sourse to Japanese! On saturday it took me from 11:30 am to 11pm the same night to translate everything! My friend Tetsu helped me with correcting grammer and stuff and that really helped! I was really grateful to him!

The presentation was today and although I didnt have all of it memorized and some of my classmates got confused I think I did quite well! Maybe about 90 out of 100...plus I get extra points after I turn in my presentation report! AHH!! School sucks! Everyone is the states is practically or already done with school and I have classes until July 10!!!! YUCKY! After that I have to do a one month internship with NO PAY...well I guess that is what an internship is....its the experience that counts... But anyway it will either be at Soka City Hall....my city`s city hall, or I can maybe work at the University in the International Center! That would totally be cool! I would much rather work on campus than at the city hall!

Oh....I am so tired!!! But I think I might go swimming this evening! I have a free three day pass thing to this gym near my station and Ive gone once and I can go two more times until the 25th...which is...Thursday! So maybe I can go two more times. I have a test on Wednesday and I have to teach on Wednesday...so maybe I can swim tonight and thursday!! That would be cool! Well...enough of my blabbing on things that really dont matter...I will try and start writing more in my LJ! But for now...SAYOUNARA!!

Ok, I know I said I would finish this a long time ago, so hopefully this is the last time I will need to write about my trip to Korea!

On January 3rd Jun and I went to the movie "Narnia: The Lion the Wich and the Wardrobe". I really enjoyed it, and he thought it was a bit childish, but he liked it! We walked around the Coex Mall for awhile, then we went to go meet our friend Yong-Min. He was a little bit late, but then we went to a restaurant called Mr. Pizza. Obviously it was a Pizza place. It was actually really good, and tasted like real pizza. You know how some Asian countries have the strangest kinds of pizza. With seafood, and what not. At this point I cant remember what we ordered, but it was good! We sat and talked for awhile. Then we said 'goodbye' and went back to Am-Sa where we met his parents and we went out to eat duck with his brother and his brother's girlfriend. His brother was going back to the military the next day so they wanted to have a good dinner for him. After eating the pizza I didnt think I would have room for anything else but I did, and the duck was fabulous! So tender and juicy! After the dinner we dropped Jun's brother and his girlfriend off in Kangnam and then went home. His parents really wanted to drink beer with Jun and I so we did, and ate snacks. I am not sure how many glasses of beer I had but it was a lot. His mom taught me a few fun phrases/dialect things from her home town. The one I remember the best is "Omejuckanne" "오매죽겠네" It was fun! It kinda means like "Oh my god!" That kind of thing. His mom thinks I am so funny when I am drunk. She really is a cool lady, a real comedian! I like her a lot and I guess she likes me too, which is a good thing! After we ran out of beer Jun and I went to return a movie and we decided to go for a walk to clear our heads. We walked down to the riverside but on the way there we passed a playground and I just had to use the swings a little..hehe!! Then we went back. As we came up from the elevator his dad was waiting for it.....he was going to get MORE BEER!! So we drank a little bit more and then went to bed.

January4th....Jun's brother went back to the military so Jun and I had the place to ourselves! We mostly relaxed that day, since I wasnt completely over my cold. We rented "My sassy girl" that night, which was a really cute movie! He always is telling me that I remind him of her..I guess he is kinda right!! hehe!! But I am not that crazy!! That was about it.

Jan. 5th didnt start out so good. Jun and I had planned to go to Lotte World, and we went but we got off to a slow kinda crappy start. But as the day went on, things got better and by the end of the night we were having a blast! I really want to be able to go there again when its warm. It was so cold there that Jun and I couldnt do much of the stuff outside! It really was a fun night! My favorite was probably the one the drops you straight down. I also liked this new ride that they had. It was geared toward children, but it was a mummy, ancient Egyptian ride, were you sit in a cart and it takes you all over the place. The waiting area was so cool!! And Jun and I were a couple of the last people to get on the ride!! We closed the place out and headed home.

January 6th was supposed to be my last full day and I thought it was up until a certain point! We relaxed a bit during the day and then we went to a nice dinner and looked at some more really pretty illumination. But as always it was a bit too cold to enjoy much! After dinner we met with some people that went to Stevens Point, my university. There were about 5 there, and i knew only two of them. One thing that bothered me and I mentioned it to Jun later and he agreed, was that all of them were fluent in English but they would only speak Korean! I just kinda sat there like a lump on a log while Jun translated everything for me! It wasnt very fun. Plus the Starbucks didnt have my Peppermint Mocha!! *Tears* Then we went home and drank with his parents! It wasnt as fun as before because I was really sad, knowing that i would have to leave! His dad was really sad too! We did that for a while then went to bed!

January 7th....I was supposed to go home. Juns dad drove us to the Jamsil bus stop that would take us to the airport. The bus that was there wasnt a direct bus but we asked and he said that we could get there in time. My fight left at 5:10. We got on the bus at about 2:15 The bus ride was really slow and the time just flew. Jun and I amused ourselves with taking pictures and I couldnt stop crying! After it got to 4 we were getting worried. Jun asked the bus driver how much longer it would take. He said we were in a traffic Jam but we would get there in time. We didnt get to the airport until 4:40! Jun and I were running through there like Madmen to the Asiana area. They let us through right away, which was awesome because there was a really long line! We told them about what happened and the girl said she could switch me to a later flight, no charge and so we did that. We relaxed for a bit then I thought..."Oh wait, I need to take a bus home!" So I looked at my bus schedual and the last bus left at 9:30 for Soka. The later flight left at 7:10 I think, I cant remember! So I was all nervous about that and called my friend Mutsuko. She checked other buses but it was all the same! Taxi was out of the question because it would be too expensive, and I didnt want to take a train because I had so much luggage! So we went back to the same girl and told her about our new problem! SO she changed my flight to the 5:10 for the next day, no charge! She was so nice! I have never delt with a better airline! From now on if I fly to Korea I am using Asiana! Jun and I had to stay in the airport for awhile to wait for my bags to come back. I think I have that place memorized now! heheh! So then Jun got a headache and when that happens, he becomes quiet. We got on a bus to go back to Am-sa. This was the bus that we should have taken to the airport. Nearly a striaght bus. It only took one hour! We got home and his mom was smiling..."Omejuckanne" I said...and she laughed! It was the perfect situation to use that phrase! We had some food and then they asked if we wanted to drink again and we said not really and they didnt want to either. SO we just relaxed and watched TV, then went to bed.

The next morning his parents left early so I said goodbye again. Jun and I got all ready, and we left an hour earlier, and went by subway this time. We got to the bus stop and took the correct bus. It seemed like half the time Jun was on his cellphone and I kept teasing him for that! I really didnt mind! We got to the airport with plenty of time! It was really hard saying goodbye to him! I cried a lot! After spending nearly three weeks together, it was even more difficult to say bye because I knew i wouldnt be seeing him soon! In fact I still dont know when the next time I see him will be! Hopefully he can come to Japan for his birthday but there are no guarentees! But we had to say goodbye and we had a wonderful time together! He really is an amazing person! He is not just my boyfriend but my best friend!

Well, that is the end of my trip to Korea! I am glad that I finally finished it! Now I can talk about other things! Yay!

Ok so New Years Eve! Jun`s family was there most of the day so we just kind of relaxed because we knew we would not be getting much sleep that night! We left his house around 6 or 7 for the Olympic Park area where the concert was taking place! The concert we went to was PSY. He is a Korean rapper/singer. He has a fabulous voice whether he sings or raps. We had to wait outside because we were on the floor right in front of the stage and we had to go in a special way. It was pretty cold but we survived. They gave out these towels about the concert and they smelled like turpintine!! It was awful! I think the concerts name was `All Night Stand`...or something. I cant remember! We got inside and of course we had to wait a few hours as the concert didnt start until 10 pm! But when it did, it was FABULOUS!! It was probably the most energetic, well-put together concert I have ever been to! PSY has so much charisma and the concert was so versitile! At one point he donned a suit and played his clarinet!! And then toward the end DJ DOC showed up! My boyfriend loves them so he was freaking out!!! They did a song, talked for a bit then did `Run To You`, then took off! It was a wonderful night as it changed to the New Year when we were there and once again I was able to experience a real New Years kiss..hehe!! After the concert we had to take a taxi cause it was about 2 am, there were no subways or busses. It was also very difficult to find a taxi so we walked maybe 30 minutes and I was able to get a piggy back ride! We got back to Am-Sa and got some Onigiri and black noodles from a conveinient store then went to his room and ate it. It was delicious and then it was off to bed!

The next day we relaxed and in the evening his mom thought I looked a little sad so she suggested that Jun take me out to dinner. We went to TGI Friday`s, which is of course an American chain! It was a good meal and we ordered a yummy strawberry daquri! It was to sweet for him so I was able to drink most of it!! After that we went to Dessert Factory again and had coffee and a little cake thing! We also had fun taking pictures, just doing goofy stuff! Then we went home and just relaxed again!

On January 2nd we went to Gyeongbokgung Palace and Seoul Tower (the highest point in Seoul). It was sooooooooooo incredibly cold and windy that day but we had a blast. The palace complex was huge and we didnt even get to look around the whole place. At one point we found a small alcove and had fun taking self timer pictures. Some of them turned out really goofy. We hung around there for awhile then left for Seoul Tower! We took the cable car up and down. It was very very cool but a bit too crowded for my taste. It was incredibly windy up there. We walked around a bit and took some great pictures of Seoul at night. My camera has some great functions. We decided not to go to the top because the view was about the same. It was a good time, then we took the cable car down again. We walked kinda far trying to find the subway and I almost slipped on some ice at one point. It nearly gave me and Jun a heart attack! We made it home. At first we were going to go to dinner because his brother needed to go back to the military in a few days but that changed so we just had some instant food I think. I cant remember.

Ok I will try to finish this in the next few days! Just January 3 through through the 8th. じゃあね！！

Let`s see here! I think I left off with December 28th....man I still have a long way to go!! Ok on the 29th first Jun and I went to his university to make sure he could graduate this month. That took a lot of walking back a forth between two rooms. The problem was mostly concerning his bio major stuff but everything was cool after that. Since he promised to take me shopping we went to Myeong Dong to go shopping. I`m not sure if I spelled it right but I will ask him later if it`s right or not. First we went to a department store where there was not a single item under like 100 bucks! It was so expensive! I was looking for a cute casual coat and that was not the place for it! But we still looked around a bit because it was fun. We made fun of prices and it was a good time. At one point we sat down in the home furnishing section and he told me about the roles of the male and female before/after marriage concerning the home. It is the males job to find a home and pay for it. And for the most part it is the females job to furnish the home and to pay for that for the most part. I thought that sounded pretty fair! So after that we walked along outside and I swear it is so similar to Harajuku in Japan. I mean the streets are very much like a fleamarket and there are shops were you can get really cute things for about 10 bucks or so! Next we went to a mall that was more my syle and PRICE RANGE!! We looked around for awhile! It was nice because most of the place was for females! There was like one floor for men..haha!! I got a really, really cute casual coat. Its short in the torso, super warm and the hood is lined with fake fur. I really like it and my boyfriend liked it as well! After shopping for awhile we went to the food court area cause we had recieved some coupons and ate kimpop and something else that I cant remember. After that we were on our way home and we saw across the street some really pretty lights so we decided to go over there and check it out. So we went under the street by the subway station and came out and it was beautiful!! It was a really pleasent suprise!! We took a bunch of pictures and then we headed home! When we got back his family was sitting in the living room drinking and we joined them. It was the first time I felt reall comfortable. I think the alcohol helped!! His mom noticed the difference and she said I was really fun when I was drunk because I talk more! I helped clean up afterward and Jun was so pleased with how well I bonded and what not. He made me feel so comfortable! It really was a good day!

The next day I woke up and I wasnt really feeling well again. His parents really wanted me to go to the hospital so after breakfast and showering Jun and I went to a Nose/Throat/something doctor at a clinic down the street. They were nice and I was allowed to use Juns insurance. First they asked if we were married and he said no but they still let us use insurance! It was really nice!! They said it wasnt serious but they put me on so many drugs!! I was taking like 5 pills a day!! it was pretty crazy!!! But it worked!! That day his entire family came over!! His sister and her husband and the baby, his older brother his wife and their two little boys, and his brother was back from the military and his girlfriend came along, then there was Jun and I and his mom and dad. We went to a place called VIPS. It was pretty western style. Buffet and steak place! The food was really good but I felt a bit uncomfortable for some reason. After dinner we went back and did Karaoke. It was me and Jun, his mom and dad, his brother and his wife and their oldest boy, Jun`s younger brother and his girlfriend. It was fun! I sang a few songs even though I really had no voice to sing! After karaoke we went back to their place and drank and ate snacks. The youngest boy Min-Sik loves me!! He kept sitting on my lap and he wanted to play with me! He is so cute!! The other brother is pretty naughty!! But Min-Sik is a pretty good boy, except all the naughty stuff that Jun-Shuk taught him!! After drinking we all went to bed! It was a fun night!!

Ok the next time I will talk about New Years and the concert we went to!! I have to teach today so I need to get home and start preparing for that!!! I wont update tomorrow, because my friend Mutsuko and I are going to Miyazaki Hayao`s Ghibli Museum!! I`m excited!! I should probably be able to update on Monday!! So until then!!

Ok, so I am on to December 26th! On the 26th Jun and I went to see Harry Potter! Finally!!! We saw it in English in the best movie theater in all of Korea!! MEGABOX!! I really enjoyed the movie but Jun fell asleep a couple times! I just kept hitting him and bumping him and he stayed awake then! After the movie we walked around the Coex Mall and just kinda spent the day there. Oh thats right....that was the first day I experienced RED MANGO! RED MANGO is a yogurt/frozen yogurt shop! The frozen yogurt is fabulous and you get to pick 5 sides for free and its all little bits of fruit or nuts! It was so delicious!! I kept telling him how I thought it was a good idea for a snack and how I didnt really think they had anything like it in the states. So Jun said he would open up a place like RED MANGO in Chicago. Its a fairly healthy, yummy snack I think!! After that we went home.

The next day we relaxed a bit during the day then in the evening we left to go see a musical! One of his friends from middle school has an older brother who is a famous actor in Korea and he was in this musical. The day that we went was like family, friend night! So we got in for free! That day I started getting a sore throat but thought it was just because I needed to drink water or something like that. SO on out way Jun and I picked up some cough drops. We arrived at the place and found his friends. They were really friendly and cool. At first I felt kinda weird around them but then they tried speaking in English to me and it was really funny so I felt more comfortable around them. The musical was really interesting. It was called Bad Boys and it was about these kids who were put into group thearpy for some reason or another. One girl was a bit of a stalker others had bad childhoods. During the musical I started feeling worse and worse. By the end I had the worst sore throat a fever and a horrible headache accopmanied with body aches. His friends really wanted to have dinner with us cause they havent seen Jun in a long time so I agreed that if we could go to a pharmacy and I could get some tylonol everything would be cool. We squeezed all 5 of us into his friends little car...I had to sit on Jun`s lap...and first we stopped at a pharmacy and I was able to get some tylonol and then we went to eat dinner. I had a really yummy soup, Mandoo kuk, that made me feel soooooo much better. After dinner his friend drove us all the way home to Am-Sa because I wasnt feeling well. His parents could tell I wasnt feeling well but I didnt want them to worry about me, but the next day they made me stay at home.

When I woke up the next morning I was feeling a lot better. I had gone to bed early and I slept in pretty well. That night we had an apointment with one of Juns friends and his friend`s mom. His friend wanted to go to SP and so the mom wanted to hear all about Jun`s expirence. So I went to cause I would have had nothing else to do. We went to a place that served sweet beef and it really is sweet. They cook it right in front of you and there were a ton of sidedishes and yumminess. So we ate, and the kids mom liked what Jun said so her son will be going to SP maybe in February or something to do the good old ESL program! After dinner the mom dropped us off in Kangnam...I love that place!! And we looked around a bit and then we went to Red Mango again and it was delicious once more. After that we went back home.

Ok, I am feeling a bit tired now. I didnt sleep last night. So I will leave you all hanging ( if anyone is actually reading this..hehe) until tomorrow then!!!

I think I left off with Christmas Eve! We had a nice breakfast as we always do...his mom is a fabulous cook! I miss her food so much! His parents left in the afternoon to go to his Grandfather`s birthday party and they were going to spend the night so that meant the house was ours!!! We just kind of relaxed during the day. I had to be careful while taking a shower because I couldn`t get my hair wet or wash it because I had just gotten my hair straightened...so it looked kinda stringy and greasy. That night we both got dressed up. I wore a really pretty kelly green dress with spagetti straps and a gold tinted shawl. Jun wore nice dress pants a white shirt and a nice black jacket over that. He looked fabulous but he kept messing with his hair cause he didnt like it. We got on a bus, but it took a long time to get to Kangnam. He didnt want to take the subway because it would be too crowded. We went to a restaurant called Nolita Garden...it was packed full of people. We got put on the list but it would be nearly too hours they said so we went across the street to the Dessert Factory and got a piece of cheesecake and some coffee! Mine had a heart with and arrow going through it drawn in caramel in the foam! It was really cute. After the coffee and dessert we went and took more purikura and then decided to go back to the restaurant. We just waited maybe 10 minutes and they let us in! The dinner was fabulous and we relaxed there for awhile! When we paid for our check they gave me a really cute Santa box of tissues for free. Jun said they only did that because they thought I was pretty. Maybe because I was the only foreign girl there..I dunno! Afterword we met with his friends and drank some beer and then went home! It was a really nice night! Cold but we had lots of fun!!
The next day we opened presents. I gave him a really nice dress shirt from Banana Republic that he can use at work and I also gave him a super duper high tech electric tooth brush! I think he really liked both!! Jun gave me an awesome Samsung MP3 Player! Its about 512 MB. It doesnt have that much memory but it is engough for me and I LOVE IT! I use it everyday now that I am back in Japan! We relaxed during the day and then once it became dark we went out to look at some Christmas lights! The first place we went to was the Olympic Gate. There were two HUGE Christmas trees with lights on them and little places where you could take pictures. It was soooooooooo incredibly cold. I had gloves on and my hands still froze! We took a bunch of pictures and then went to Coex Mall. There wasnt much outside but inside there were some really cute scenes set up so we took a bunch of pictures there! The last place we went to was outside Lotte World..I think. He kept telling me `Oh..I dont know if there will be anything here...hmm, you better pray there will be lights..` We walked up the stairs from the subway station and there were so many lights! It was so pretty but so windy and cold! He knew the whole time that there were a ton of lights there and has his fun tricking me. If it wasnt so cold we would have seen so much more but it was freezing so we took our pictures and then we went home. Once we got home, his parents were back and I really wanted to want a Christmas movie so we watched `Rudolph the Red Nosed Raindeer`...I had brought it with me. My mom sent it to me for my birthday in December. Oh yeah...thats right....I`m 20 now! I keep forgeting that! hehe!!
I was going to write more, but now I need to go and prepare for work! I will finish my trip tomorrow I think!! At least I will try to!!!!

I have been back from Korea for a couple weeks now but I have been busy studying for my final exam up until last monday and now I finally have time to write!
My trip to Korea was probably the best vacation I have every had! I dont think I have had more fun on any trip I have ever taken! So much was done in such a small amount of time! I was originally going to be there for 18 days, but because of a small mishap I was there for 19 days...!!! I arrived around 7 or so on December 21st. Jun wasnt at the airport yet, and the Japanese girl that I was sitting next to on an airplane let me use her phone card to call him. She also has a Korean boyfriend! She was super nice. We talked on the airplane in Japanese for about and hour and a half. Jun Shuk and I ate at the airport and then we took a bus home to his house. I met his parents again and I was much more comfortable around them this time! We stayed up and talked for awhile and then went to bed. The next morning Jun and I went to the Korean National Museum in Seoul. He lives in Am-Sa which I guess you would call one of the districts in Seoul. The museum was fun! It was so big that we could barely see half of the four floors! After the museum closed we went to Jun`s favorite Chinese restaurant that is really near to his univresity. He apparently goes there a lot and everyone knows him. After the food we went to Starbucks and I had a fabulous Peppermint Mocha! It was so delicious I could have died then and I would have been satisfied with my life..hehe! Just kidding! So after that we went back to his place and hung out.
The next day we first went to his university so he could talk to his professor about graduating but his professor wasnt there. We met with his friends and then Jun and I went to his hair salon and I had my hair straightened! It looks really nice and shiny! I love it! He always told me how he loved my wavy hair and he didnt really want me to get it straightened, but even he admitted that it looked nice. After the salon we went to Kangnam and ate yummy Kimpop and Kimchi ramen. After that we went and we did Purikura, the little sticky pictures! That was really fun!
Hmm...I was going to write about every day and what we did but right now I am having a mental block. If I look at the pictures on my computer at home I think I can figure it out. I will write again tomorrow when I figure out the days and what I did everyday! So tmorrow it is then!

Well, I haven`t really had time to write lately, and to be honest I have also had no urge to write as well! Life in Japan is the same as it has been, but maybe a bit more stressful! Classes are becoming more difficult. Although my comprehenion of Japanese is superb, my speaking hasn`t improved as much as I had hoped! I really need to start studying hard from now until my break! Just 9 more days and I will be in Korea once again!! I just have two tests left! One this thursday and then I have another test next tuesday and then on Wednesday I am leaving for Korea, although my break doesnt start until after thursday...hehe!! I am a naughty student! I am not missing anything important though, just a Sakabun or writing composition!
I am very excited to be going to Korea this time because I will be there for about 18 days! Plus my boyfriend, who just got hired my Samsung, the most popular/famous company in Korea, will not be starting training until the middle of January! Originally he was going to start training on December 19th, the day after my 20th b-day marking the fact that I can legally drink in Japan!! If Jun Shuk would have been training, I wouldnt be able to see him from 8am-5pm Monday through Friday! Now its all day everyday whoo!! I am so excited! Plus, his parents will be gone on the 24th and the 25th meaning Jun and I have the house to ourselves! YATTA! It will be the greatest vacation ever I think! Plus his family feeds me lots of food! hehe!
Ahh...let`s see...has anything exciting happened to me in Japan yet....um...no! Well, kinda! Um, I went shopping with my friend Mutsuko in Harajuke a while back as well! That was fun! I bought really cute shoes of the Japanese female variety!

This week is going to be a good week! We only have three days of school this week because Thursday through Monday will be our school festvial! I am not totally sure what is going on each day, but what I am really looking forward to is the Hanabi or Fireworks on Sunday!! Japan is famous for their fabulous firework shows! Although this is just Dokkyo putting on the show, the mother of the children that I teach English on thursdays to said that the shows are a bit short but very good quality!! My friend Yoshi is on the golf team and he team is going to be selling desserts so I need to find his booth and get some free food!
Classes have been going well! I got my first writting composition back today and I was suprised at how well I actually did!! There were some particle mistakes, verb and noun mistakes, a couple tense mistakes, a couple of kanji mistakes and that was about it! It took me the whole period to rewrite it but I wanted to make it nice and it really turned out good!
Nothing really exciting has happened to me! Jun got a job with Samsung so he will quit his current job and not work until February when they begin training new employees in! This will be a very well paying job and he will get some time off for summer vacation! The really good news is that in the next couple of weeks or so, he will come and stay with me for about a month and then we will go back to Korea together over Christmas!! I am really excited! Anyway, I should get working on my presentation! More updates should come soon!