Beware of International Fees!!

Never ever ever use your debit card overseas esp. in Japan! Just use your cash! Because these international fees are autrocious. Like if you use a debit card to purchase a $1.05 of cookies at a convenient store it'll come out to be $9 damn you have international fees!! So remember just use cash! Also don't check your balance on the atm machine because it'll cost you $5 more. Also instead of waiting at the post office to get money in Japan you can go to the convenient store like 7 Surplus to take money out whenever there is a plus star on the ATM and if it's on your card you can take money out! and it's 24/7. Well, that's all and beware of the international fees!

Nightclubs

So Lately, I've been to about 4 nightclubs in the Shinsaibashi area in Osaka. They've been good well 2 out of 4 not bad, but I decided to well I'm going to focus on more sightseeing. I want to see the rest of Japan and the beauty of it besides I have Las Vegas as my nightclub paradise. But I must say Club Azure is one of the best nightclubs in my personal opinion in the kansai area. The people are friendly, the guys are cute and the music is hip hop! So if you want to go to a good nightclub 4th saturday ladies 500 yen aka $5 and dance the night away. But yeah, now I just want to do sightseeing and nope I feel that I'm not going to miss out on anything! Byezz

S.I.J Sistas in Japan

I have decided to create a group called SIJ the Sistas in Japan! Since, I live in the kansai area I have put out ads calling out black women in this area for our monthly outing. Every month, we meet up just to discuss the life of a black woman in Japan. I haven't had my first meeting but it will take place at Sweets Paradise in Nishinomiya. I am very excited to have this meeting esp. to combine different flavas and shades of chocolate women in Japan to be together once a month. I feel once a month is good enough so you won't take it for granted,it's convenient, and since it's scare you won't take it for granted again! Plus every week, is a little bit too excessive so once a month is perfect. Other than that, I'm very excited and Sweet Paradise is an all you can eat dessert restuarant for $14! Yay!! So I will get back to you on how the first meeting goes.

True Friends

At my school back in Las Vegas, University of Nevada Las Vegas I knew a lot of people and a lot of people knew me. It was easy for me to talk to others and share my sense of humor with others. But then, I got to Kwansei Gakuin and since my japanese isn't up to par I found it difficult for me to make a lot of friends. It was hard for me to find someone that understood me and had the paitence for my non native abilities to speak japanese. So I joined an online english and japanese community to seek out language partners and others that understood my situation. I mean don't get me wrong I put myself out there at Kwansei Gakuin but it was just tough but then I ended up making a small amount but fabulous friends outside of Kwansei Gakuin. This made me evaluate what a friendship means to me. I feel that it's easier to find out who your true friends are when you can't speak the language compared to when you're native because when you're native it's just mostly words but when you're not you have to go by actions. Basically, true friends are made of action not words but actions. The people that I met at Kwansei Gakuin are amazing and I know will do great things. It's a dream come true to meet others that share the same passion for japanese and that are smart or better yet smarter than me and that can teach me things. UNLV is not a bad school but sometimes I felt where are the ones that pay attention in their classes and want to share their wealth of knowledge. At Kwansei Gakuin, I love my international friends the study abroad students like me because they're so intelligent not the "Oh I think I know everything but I don't" but the down to earth intelligent students that are very worldy which is a huge plus. So now I really do want my circle to be smaller and tighter where I can have life long friends that are not all about words but that are about actions and how they can help. I'm so happy to meet a few good japanese people in Osaka that see my personality beyond my non native japanese language skill. They make me smile, laugh and show me around Osaka and other parts of Japan. Other than that, I'm attempting to be a freelance write for a Kansai magazine for the Kansai area of Japan. I will submit my resume and hopefully I will be able to write for them and be able to meet wonderful people in Osaka. I will keep you posted if I get the job! Well laters!

The best Cell phone to get in japan

The best cell phone to get in Japan hands down is SOFTBANK! I love this company but sadly I have docomo. Don't get docomo docomo is too expensive unlimited text messages per month is $39! While unlimited text messages for softbank is $3.00! To get a prepaid phone is about $140 or less with softbank. Docomo the cheapest phone can run between $200-and up depending on what store you go to. Every store you go to has different phones and some don't even have phones so keep this in mind! But when in Japan, do yourself a favor and get softbank! Another thing to the best school that I think is the best for foreign students in the kansai osaka area is hands down Kansai Gaidai. I think it's safe to assume that they are really friendly towards international students because it's common for students there to study abroad! I really like this school and the messages that I recieved were actually Kansai Gaidai students. I don't think Kwansei Gakuin students are very friendly towards international students. Unless, you japanese is great they're really not that friendly. Trust me I'm very friendly and I've tried to participate in clubs and hang out with fellow students but it doesn't work they're not very friendly. Other than that for Docomo, yeah don't get docomo! Just get softbank.

My biggest complaint about this country and Inauguration Day

Like always, every morning I read Japan Times Online and I was reading this article on how the ministry wants to boost up the number of vocabulary words the students learn from 1300 to 1800. Well, many teachers are furious and complain that it's not going to help and that they need more practice on speaking, and more classes available during the school time. They also complain about how they don't understand anything and what goes on. The teachers had compelling argument but because of the culture they stay indirect and keep quiet to avoid conflict. The sad part is that the government knows this and they take advantage of this! So in a way, the manipulate this to always have their way! But if there's a problem about foriengers everyone gets loud and points fingers! This is when they start to protest (the japanese people) get to together and start saying what's really on their mind! Is that something! Now if they can do that with issues that affect them they would get somewhere. Other than that, I wish there were viewing parties in Osaka but there was none but a lot of them were in Tokyo though. In that aspect I like Tokyo more because they're more progressive and international. They know what's going and plus they have Shibuya which is hella cheap for shopping. But yeah, I was asleep and then I watched it. I was so pleased to see him elected president he deserves it! He proved those arrogant politicians wrong which was a huge relief. But his speech made me proud, and I feel that America will become more open minded. For once, I am very proud to be an american. God bless America.

Fresh Fresh Bento everyday

One of the things that I really like about Japan, is the every day fresh made bentos that the supermarket provides! Everyday, the supermarket makes fresh sushi and bentos prepared of that day every hour the prices goes down until closing time when it is super cheap because it is not fresh anymore. In America, we do it by the day what we call fresh is usually about a couple of days old and then maybe on the last day of the week there might be a 30% discount. For example, I got a nice delicious bento for about $2.80 and it was on a 30% discount. I was in heaven it was okinamiyaki and yakisoba..yum yum I love okinamiyaki! I also noticed that they only have drink vending machines not vending machines with snacks just drinks. Another factor, on why japanese people are soo skinny but then again there's also a cigarette vending machine to it too. I shall post pics. of this next time but here's a pic. of a bento

Kwansei Gakuin Playas

Well, today I was having lunch with one of my friends Win and he told me something very interesting about my school that of course the ryugakusei's don't know about. Well, the nihongo partners esp. the girl ones are partners because well they want a foreign boyfriend. Basically, the team up with a cute foreign guy and then when he leaves the nihongo partner gets a new one. For non Kwansei Gakuin students basically at my school with get nihongo partners *japanese partners to help us adjust to school and life in Japan. Some of them do it just to switch up foreign boyfriends every year... I know pretty sneaky... hahah! Other than that, he told me how he went to South Africa and he saw women that are mixed with black/indian and think that they are so beautiful while he told me that black/japanese people mainly look black. This was interesting because he was so honest and very worldly. I also feel that if you're an immigrant it's easier to find who your true friends are because you'll meet people that are paitent with you and that are willing to go the extra mile as in oppose to if you were native in that language! Well, stay tune next time peace!

Confrontation in Japan

I was talking to my friend Fara about confrontation in Japan. In America, whoever is the loudest is the winner of the confrontation and the one that is getting yelled at is looked upon as being weak and meer and very easy to pick on. IF you're in public and someone is confronting you you don't say anything because if you don't then you're looked at as the winner of the battle. Confrontation is a huge no no in Japan esp. in public. If you confront somebody in Japan in public, you're looked as being crazy. I remember when this lady wanted to start something with me because she thought I was in the military. Because I'm black she assumed I killed people and that I was in the military. Well, she was old and crazy because we were in Nishinomiya. The military bases are in Yokohama and Okinawa. I pretty much just walked away. I felt bad because I should of confronted her but my dad told me to be silent and plus i don't have the advantage of speaking japanese. So my dad was right I did do the right thing. So when in Japan, if someone picks a fight with you just ignore and walk away! Because in the 3rd person's eye you won the battle!

Drama vs. Real life

Well, if you know me I'm a huge fan of japanese dramas esp. the fellas but other than that I would like to depict real life and the dramas

Drama
The characters are very direct. They say what's really on they're mind and can be downright mean about it. Sometimes to the point where they can be confrontational.

Real
Who wants to be direct everyone is just indirect meaning they just beat around the bush. Personally, I just got accustomed like here's a great example If you ask an american hey you want a pizza? American= no Japan= Well, it's ok I mean pizza is good for sure.....
Makes sense how they can be indirect beacause of the custom and the whole team mentallity

Drama
The men are the conquerers and very romantic. They send you cute notes sing to you and will even fight for you!

Real
I have never seen a japanese man get into a fight I mean I can't even imagine how that would turn out...plus I heard the guys here don't really express their romantic sides as much!

Other than that, the dramas are pretty accurate with real life but I just had to point out the 2 biggest things that I noticed! Plus it's so wierd how in japanese dramas the people are soo direct and to the point. Hmm... you'd think that occur more in real life... because usually media is the reflection of society but I guess not....

KFC Party and Tokyo

Sorry, for keeping yall' waiting but yes I am in a blogging mood and taking a break from studying but I have to start back up again pretty soon. Well, on christmas day I did have a party at KFC yep in the restuarant. I know you're thinking hahah that's funny a black girl hosting a KFC party *hence the african american stereotype of liking fried chicken! But we had about 8 people all together which was a great mix indeed. We had KFC chicken feasts and talked about everything. Even my good buddy Takaaki came but then he told me the dreaded news. KFC for christmas is not a japanese tradition!! ahhh He told me it's just basically commercialism.! AHHH I was tricked man I tell yah I was tricked! But it was good and the funniest part is that some of my guests didn't even like KFC hahah they just came for a good time! But, yes I have pictures of my party at KFC! I was disappointed because for the amount I paid I didn't get enough chicken and no biscuits pssh I mean come on no biscuits. Other than that, for 2 days I saw my cousin and his family in Yokohama. My cousin is married to a japanese woman name Junko. I had so much fun and Mike is sooo lucky to have a great family. I mean they pay for his schooling, bought his car, and do so much for him! Not only that, but mike talked about how good he's doing and how he's even in Japan. I'm so proud of him because it shows that his wife was a great influence on him and he's even going to study Japanese! Good for him! They have to beautiful blasian kids together Jayden and Janario. They're so beautiful. Tokyo was fun I went back there for 2 days from Yokohama because Tokyo and Yokohama are very close to each. So I did some good shopping at Harajuku and bought this really cute hat and a cute poster of this nice asian guy. But I didn't feel like Harajuku was the same though. I felt that it was too commericialized because there was a claires and now HM has a huge block of it in Harajuku. I felt that Harajuku lost it's oldness and it's youth which meant to go against the big boys and to start out own style and trend. I hate that when big business has to come and corrupt everything. But other than that, I went to the maid cafe in Akihabara I wanted to take soo many pictures but it's prohibited so I was like aww so I had a $5 poloraid picture but it was worth. Of course Mike had to go up there and put his hoody on acting thuglike hahah but it was all fun though. I appreciated him and his wife company. At least we can say we actually went to a maid cafe. But yeah, Tokyo is soo big and I just feel overwhelmed by it because there's always something to do. Like since Junko grew up in Yokohama she always went to Harajuku and Tokyo. Basically Tokyo was her playground and she can take the train. I know nice huh!! But yeah, in Vegas there is nothing to do unless you're 21 with a car! But yeah, how cool growing up with always having something to do. Other than that I had to get the family something before I left so I got them Krispy Kreme donuts since it's very popular in America and they've never had it before. Well, anyways it's the only Krispy Kreme in Japan it's only in Tokyo and the lines were loong but everyone kept they're cool and moved quickly. See what I mean about Japan having the best customer service fast, and nice! But yes, Yokohama was soo much fun and so was Tokyo we were going to this one club in Yokohama but it was dead no one was there but there was a bunch of black military guys I was happy Mike was there because they would of tried to talk to me. I was definitely not going to talk to them either buncha dogs. So even though the girl that came with us Kaori felt bad I was like it's ok I'm glad I didn't go because I didn't want to talk to any playas! But yeah, other than that I have to admit besides the studies the hardest part in studying abroad is the friendship. It's tough making good friends when u're language isn't native but luckily I'm content because I have developed a small but GREAT friendships and that's all I need here. So I'm pretty happy about that besides I don't need a bunch of acquaintences if I can have a small amount that I can always practice my language. Well, anyways I have exams ttyl peace

Top Things I noticed about Osaka Region

Hey yall, I can't believe it is 2009. I'm getting older but yea I'm adjusting more and more to this lifestyle in Japan well Osaka because I don't want to forget every perspective and every region is soo different! Well my top perspectives

Politeness
I can't seem to stress this enough. I like how people on the trains don't talk on their cell phone because of the fact that they're being courteous and plus maybe everyone doesn't want to hear your conversations! I like how the trains are always clean too and there's always someone that wants to pick up the trash too.

Safe
Even though, of course some parts are not safe. I must say it's pretty safe compared to the States where you see men with their wallets hanging out in their back pockets! Like literally, where sometimes you'll see credit cards sticking out. Or how when you drive by stores like one time I went past a car shop and there was merchandise outside! Wow, you know if they're auto parts back in the states sticking out like that people would steal them in a heartbeat!

Places to eat if the clubs suck!
Osaka Region I can assume safely that mcdonalds, ramen and udon shops are the places to go if the nightclubs suck or you're having a bad night. The internet cafe is a huge place to spend the night if you night is not going so well and you just wanna chat and have a cheap place to spend the night!

Osaka
Seems to have a huge underground music scene.. seems like a lot of people want to be musicians like singers, rappers and RB singers. How do I know well, the amount of performances I saw at Club Candy. The fact that I seem to meet a lot of musicians in the area esp. in Shinsaibashi

Accent
Seems to be the coolest must have accent in Japan esp. in Tokyo. Everyone loves it and wants it! like for example to say thank you ありがとう＝おきに　おいしい＝うまい　とても＝めちゃ　あかな　あかな　いいねええ　なんでいね　<-- I know I spelled this wrong but yea arigato= okini oishi=umai totemo=mecha

I know some people are like polite but it's fake well sometimes I prefer that instead of the rude and direct approach. Sometimes I just wanna do my thing without hearing rude talk! I mean save the rude drama for your mama! But other thing the women here seems to be more like playas and dogs then the men. Every japanese guy I spoke broke up because their girl was cheating on them! Daang in America it's the opposite but I guess it seems like it's hard to find a genuine good japanese girl, but then again one of my homegirls use to be a playa too. She didn't say it but my vibes told me and I had to use a lot of that to keep me from trouble and it's always worked!! Yay!! Well will blog more peace