Stores, Louis Vutton Purses at a USED STORE, obersvations

Hey yall, well anyways I've just been busy studying and exploring Japan. I've been having so much fun studying japanese lately that I'm motivated to learn more things outside of class and that I find it a nice hobby of mine. Sitting in a room listening to enka or japanese music and studying japanese. It's so peaceful for me esp. since I'm always out and about. One of my nice friends here not going to say his name is in a lot of trouble. He failed his entrance exams (Every student in Japan must pass an enterance exam to enter into a university exam) and he failed it 3 times. He's very disappointed and thinks he failed it again. I wish that he passes it so he can get into his dream school Kansai Gaidai, but he's in a world of peril right now he's what you call in japanese a ronin. A person that didn't pass after their 1st year. I feel so bad because I offered to be there for him because he's helped me so much but he wants to be alone. I feel bad because of course he doesn't want to deliever pizza all his life. He has aspirations. So I feel very bad for him... aww I hope something good comes out of it, but I think what he should of done is taken a bunch of exams instead of just one and then just keep taking the one for Kansai Gaidai so he can transfer out and he doesn't get in he'll still be in college getting a degree. Well, that's my opinion though but I hope he passes. Other than that, I went to this secondhand used store with my girl Maeria and Chris. It wasn't that good in my opinion but it was ridiculous because there were 3 glass cases full of Louis Vutton bags. Three glass cases and some were unattended!! I was like man only in Japan. Would you find a bunch of Louis Vutton, fendi and coach at a used store. I was shocked because back in the states you would not see that esp. those unattended. But yes, it was very very interesting though. Then I saw someone else give away their Louis Vutton too. Hehehe Other than that, I was going to pick up something and these group of japanese boys pointed at me and were laughing. So I was like let me confront them so then I came up to them and was like sumimasen and then they were shocked and then I choked up and ran. I didn't know what to say I was like "ogenki desu ka?! nihongo o hanaseru" they looked at me and then I ran yeah. Then they had more jokes so I just embarassed myself! I thought I was able to be slick since I've been studying and staying here for 6 months but I choked up... I wish I was fluent bleh!! Well anyways, peace!

Differences between Japanese and American Sushi

Japanese Sushi American Sushi

This is a popular question since everyone asks me "How's the sushi there?" Well in Japan, the sushi is well just fish on top of rice that's what it is. Some of it is just $2.00 200 yen with the al acarte and conveyor belt. The spiciest sushi I ever had here was with fish on top of the rice with wasabi. The fish is obviously fresher here but other than that, it's just simple. There's no california roll with the fish in the middle rice in the outer core with toppings on it. I haven't seen a restuarant with all you can eat sushi here but in the States there's a lot of it. But I feel american sushi is way more creative and better than sushi in Japan because well they put in all sorts of toppings in Texas there's even a pull pork sushi. But then again the foods and the resources to make a variety of foods in America is cheaper and keep in mind Japan is an island where there's not a lot of farmland. But that could change due to the population declining and low birth rate. So in the end it is american sushi for the win!

One thing that I like about here....

Even though, there can be some racism or xenophobism against foreigners. The one thing that I really like is that I feel that there are also a lot more people that want to get to know us immigrants compared to America. In America, asian people (no offense) are so clicky. But here, you have online communities of meet ups of english/ japanese groups that have japanese people that want to practice their english and want to meet other immigrants like us. You also have some japanese people post up ads that want to befriend us. I find this to be so cool. I really like how you still have open minded people hence why there is an America Mura in Osaka. I'm worried about finding another japanese language partner when I get back home because I find it much more easier to find it here thanks to mixi and online communities! I also like how in my area there's so much to do that I've been going out alot and been getting my japanese practice on. So yes, I am improving!! Yay. Cheers to that

Smoking and Drinking....

I find it to be so amazing how everyone drinks and smokes but yet at 35 people can pass for being 21. How do japanese people smoke and drink but yet age so gracefully. It just boggles my mind sometimes the amount of people smoking here is ridiculous we're talking about cigarette vending machines on every corner. Then you have co workers that go out to drink like maybe all the time or sometimes but you do see drunk co workers walking around late at night. If you drink and smoke in America, a few might get away with aging gracefully but here it's like everyone gets away with and to me that is amazing. Other thing here, is that curry rice is very popular to the point where you'll see more indian restuarants than usual and a shop that just sells all types of curry. I admit it I love japanese curry but it is so sweet but when you see that sauce in a frozen package it makes you want to be like eww I'm eating that eww. Other thing, is that wasting food is not the vocabulary here they cook every part of the chicken including the fat one time I had a chicken sandwich at a mcdonalds and I can taste the melted fat it was like ewww. That taste was digusting yuck! But I love how they're karoke is great here though. They even have a magazine of the newest songs coming out in Karoke. I like how they have every song from a CD instead of just hit songs from the artist. I also like how it's a cool just to hang out and plus the karoke place that I go to is dirt cheap during the day time it is 200 yen an hour $2.00. Hey I like the sound of that! Well, anyways peace

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.