Oh there goes that accent!

So at my school, I kind of had the rep. of being that black girl speaking japanese. Well, I decided to study one language because I suck at languages! Even with my passion I suck at it, but yeah I would have people tell me well I can speak 4 languages. So I'm thinking ok that's cool but how's your accent? What do you do about that?! I mean it's cool to speak several langauges but the downside is is the accents. How do you differentiate those accents? One of the most important aspects of a languages is the ACCENT if you don't have a good accent no matter how hard you study no one won't be able to understand you or don't even want to talk to you because of your accent. I've heard some people speak english and some of them are STRONG. That fresh off the boat accent you can tell they're not native because that accent is soo strong. It's mostly tolerable but at the same time funny because well the accent is so strong. You know what I'm talking about you met a foreign student and had a woo that strong back ole' country accent. I admit it I'm a lover of that british accent I find it refined and very sexy. But some accents, I'm not so fond of. So yes, I'm just fine with 2 languages because speaking a lot of languages can in fact hinder you if you don't get that accent down! So that's just my thoughts well peace!

Oh and I am currently studying but I will post up pics. about Kobe Lumineria and the Xmas party so I know I have a lot of catching up to you!

My mom and the host family

I had a great conversation with my mom. I haven't spoken to her in months and it feels great. Before I came to Japan, my mom advised me to stay in the dorms and not stay with a host family. Of course, I didn't take that advice because I wanted to have a unique experience by staying with a host family and having them show me the things of Japan that normally tourists can't see! Well, of course I didn't realize that but not all host families are good. There are actually some mean host families out there! To be frank not everyone is meant to be a host family. I feel that if you're not open minded and expect someone by your "definition" to be perfect then you're not cut out to be a host family period! But yes, unfortunately I had a very bad host family. Due to the fact that I slept walk well more of a scream once due to culture shock in 2 weeks they wanted me out! Yes, in 2 weeks they wanted me out. How rude is that. You don't even know more but yet you think you do. But other than that, I felt that they didn't see my good qualities that I posess! I cooked them american food and I help cleaned. Yes, I helped clean! I was also very respectful and get this I actually spoke to them alot. The biggest complaint among host families is that their kids don't talk alot! Well, honey I gave them an earful and I spoke about my experience and everything I got into the groove. Some people believe that my host family wanted me to have a better experience. Ok well if that is the case then after I moved out why didn't they call me?! Why didn't they check up on me when I moved to my new place?! Why didn't they at least take me out to dinner to make sure I was well adjusted?! I didn't recieve any of that what so ever because that would of been the thing to do if they really cared! So other than that, I spoke to my mom about that and of course she gave me that "I told you so" talk but we reconnected in a way that it was amazing. I was soo happy to be able to talk to her. I feel my relationship has improved with her in many ways. Plus she's going to send me more goodies too. I can see why she wanted me to live in the dorms because she feels it's wierd to stay in a stranger's home and that by me living in the dorms I can stay on campus and do activities. Plus it is very convienent too! Yeah, I admit it I am more of a dorm person because I put myself out there and I love talking to others. I'm an open book and a great friend! But yes, after that hardship till' this day I still feel they have no business being a host family. Don't get me wrong there are host students that are very rude like bringing in their boyfriend or girlfriend! How dare you do that?! That is the most rudest thing I've ever heard but I have gossip so if you want to know please message me because ooo I will tell you in a heartbeat. But yea, it was nice speaking to my mom since I haven't spoken to her in months! I love my mom and I vow to talk to her more often for now on!

Meeting amazing people

Studying here is wow the people that I've met is just absolutely amazing the people that I've met are overachievers and put my accomplishments in life to shame. I met some many overachievers here it seems like the foreigners that I meet here are well accomplished! I met a man that was from a wealthy family like his uncle was the first manager of Euro Microsoft and his aunt is an art school owner that is exclusive. I met Lito who competed in the World Poker Series and is a professional singer that actually makes money and a comfortable living in Japan. It's amazing and mindblogging to meet so many people that are accomplished and on top of their game. I never thought that I would meet these people and they're soo down to earth and just cool about everything too. In Vegas, you rarely meet these people. I'm not saying Vegas has a bunch of idiots but still it's rare to meet someone high accomplished in my hometown Vegas. I'm very flattered to be even in the company of these people and to be even invited to their performance which of course they rocked the stage! Plus they love life and love what they do. At my school UNLV, everyone wants to get out but yet stays here and settles but here in my area everyone is all cozy and fine. I'm not saying they don't have problems but it's just nice to meet happy and well accomplished folks. Usually you wouldn't meet these types in the states unless you go to Stanford but here they're soo approachable and we have the same common goal on why we came to Japan because the exoticness of the culture and the rich traditional history. I enjoy being around those that want to make a difference like me and that takes part in activism like me. Yes, I am an activist too and I've participated in some charities, protests and the Obama campaign. But yeah, I'm really honored and impressed and I'm also in the blogging because I can't talk bleh! Well, later days and I'll probably blog some more!

Things I've realized about Japan

Myth #1 Japan is expensive
Only Osaka area and Tokyo area is expensive. The rest of the area is fairly cheap. For example, in Fukuoka the hawaii of Japan you can get a nice apartment near the beach keep in mind it's a 3 bedroom apartment for $250 a month!

Myth#2 Japanese people are nice
Not all japanese people are nice. There are some mean ones, but they do have the world's best customer service hands down

Myth #3 Japanese people love foriengers
I had to learn this the hard it's a mixed bag. Some japanese people hate foriengers and will make it known too. Some japanese people love foriegners and others don't really care so much. But there are a lot of friendly people here though!

Myth#4 Japanese people are fake
Fake people are everywhere get use to it. Not all japanese people are fake and it's easy to tell if their genuine. When you invite them to places do they make excuses and say no or do they say yes? Do they go the extra mile to talk to you? If you said yes to the extra mile then you can see that there are true. A fake person would not go the extra mile for your nor spend a lot of time to you they will just say hi and bye and maybe small talk but that's about as far as they will go!

Myth#5 Japan is hard to make good friends
Again that is everywhere in this world! It's hard to make good friends period!

I also believe that no one really knows everything about Japan. You may know certain stereotypes with each region like Osaka people are friendly!! (I really don't think they're as friendly as everyone makes them out to be esp. at night they can be downright rude!) Then again it's the city too. But yes, every part of japan is different and there are different rules and customs. Just like America where you have the south,east, midwest and other places! Well anyways that's all peace!

Me being sensei and other stuff

Today, was a pretty good day well no not really! I have the flu and oh jeeze it's awful so I have to wear this mask because it's japanese culture to wear it when you're sick so you won't spread any germs. Which is very conveninent I might add because when I cough I'm coughing into the mask and I'm not spreading any germs which is pretty nice. But when you wear the mask your breath gets sticky so of course I bought some gum! ;) But yea, the elementary school visit was fun there was this one gurl and her english was amazing! Like she didn't even have an accent like you would think that her native langauge was english. She went to an international kindergarden school. We taught at Kwansei Gakuin Elementary School and it was really nice esp. for an elementary school. The tuition for the school is $10,000 a year and if you go to the elementary, middle, and high school and pay every year you don't have to take the enterance exams basically you're in. So that's pretty nice esp. since you're set for life! Yeah, the school even had a church in it too. Yeah, my japanese has been improving but it's amazing to see the different levels of japanese my classmates are in and who's catching on quickly and who's not! Personally, I have the passion for japanese but I find myself struggling in it. I hate to admit it but academics has never been my strong points. I suck at academics. I always study but yet end up with some crappy grade compared to someone that never studies but yet gets a good grade! It sucks because I have the heart but not the talent compared to others. So yeah, I'm always speaking japanese and I try so hard but it sucks when the next person is like better and doesn't even have to try as much because it comes natural. Yeah, it sucks because I'm not the best like at my school you have people that have took japanese for 1 year and are taking regular courses at Kwansei Gakuin the same courses as the japanese students which is pretty good! But yeah, I just want to improve but I do plan on studying over winter break though like really really hard! Well, then again I always study hard bleh. Other than that, I need to rest up since I have the flu but later days!

Sensei and the sweet pan I always order

Hey sup?! Well, anyways I've just been really busy. Like I had to run back and fourth to obtain my worker's permit so I can legally work here. After getting lost for a min. and literally a min. in Kobe I finally got my permit so I can start working here! Anyways, I just got back from my first day of school teaching and the kids really like and I also feel the same way. It gives me a new perspective on what it's like to be a teacher and there was this one kid that kept raising his hand and answering questions I was like "Omg he is the mini version of me with that know it all vibe attached to it!" But I wanted to give other students a chance to answer too. They really warmed up to me too. My co-worker is a bit sketchy of me because the turnover rate is pretty high for my position. Meaning teachers will come and then in the middle of the month quit. There was this one incident where this teacher lied about working here legally and decided to leave in 2 months because her visa was up so basically she just took the money and ran! The boss really likes me though which is good because she guessed it I am a nice person! *cheeses* I can see why he's sketchy and I don't blame him either. I teach at a wealthy school where the kid's parents are CEO execs, doctors, lawyers, athletes, basically any position that makes a lot of money. But yes we were playing this game where you call out a color like touch something blue and the kid has to find something blue and touch. Well, I said touch something brown and all the guys touched me! hahaha that was a cute kid moment! Well, next week I get to go to their christmas party so I'm very excited about that! But other than that, everyday I go to the convenient store and I order a melon pan. It's usually 105 yen and there's this guy that has a crush on me well it's gotten to the point where they know that I order the same thing the melon pan at 105 yen. I usually buy it when I'm down, happy or whatever but it feels soo good everytime I eat it! I also been pretty money savy too like I've been using my bank account a lot meaning depositing my money! So yes, your girl will be able to go out once again! Well, anyways I have to bounce but I'll catch yah later peace.

Inspiration

Well, lately I've been having this surge of inspiration. I've been studying better and everything is coming to me. Everyday I use skype to practice my japanese and after I'm done studying what I need to study for class. I end up studying something else. I'm on a mailing list where everyday they send me new kanji and new grammar to learn. I know I'm falling behind on my messages of mixi and the kanji,grammar, but yes my school keeps me constantly busy. Besides going out to a nice restuarant, sightseeing, or to a nightclub,on my free time I listen to japanese music, watch japanese dramas, or study japanese that pretty much sums up my life right there and I'm very happy. I have matured and I finally realize the cost of everything! SO yes, your girl grew up. I like studying though because I know that I'm that closer in becoming better in japanese. So everyday I'm learning something new and I use it. So whenever you are study abroad on your free time subscribe to a mailing list to learn new words use flash cards and study outside of what you're suppose to study for for tests. Well peace!