A Young Moments Worth from Photographs.

Today I looked through a couple of old photographs at my grandmothers home. There are baby pictures, a picture of my grandfather, and a picture of my grandmother when they were younger that I decided to put within this entry.

 My baby hair 'bangs' phase.

Looks like I was having a jolly time :D

Aww, how cute!

Around a year old. 

Me as a toddler•••It looks like I have always loved dogs! :)

 My grandfather, Norifusa Ishikawa [b&w] !

My grandmother around when she was in high school [b&w].

Kitties and Candies.

 When I was a little girl around 4 or 5 I remember that I would want to buy this and love to eat it, which is why I decided to buy it. The character's name is Pikachan.

I am so sorry about the top of your head !

 I got some soda candy for my mom. Dear Mom, I decided to buy you soda candy... I hope that you will like them! The flavors include soda, cider, and grape :). XO, Em

  Christopher asked me to buy him some mushroom chocolates for him in Japan. I got two packs for him :). Dear Christopher, I got you your mushroom chocolates that you requested! I already know that you love them, haha. Also, there is a slight chance that the package might blow up in the plane from the altitude. Love, Emily

  Pau is focused on trying to snatch the string attached to my camera, like most of the time when I am taking a picture...haha!

Crazy Shurochan actually being able to sit peacefully and not meow, WOW!

Shuro says “HI!” :-) 

Sensation Of Fireworks.

7.24.11

'Sensation Of Fireworks'

••• boom boom boom •••

Details: The fireworks were held in Kiroyoshi which is in Tottori, Japan on July 24th (today.) Watching the fireworks was basically my Independence Day celebration in Japan...20 days late. :) But then again it is better late than never though. I got to take some very superb and magnificent photographs of a couple of fireworks! Down below contains a couple of pics for you to look at. Some pictures are blurry but I think that it makes a cool effect on them...I am going to make a video of the fireworks soon! :D

Kokufu Junior High School Classmates ••• Last Day 7.21.11

(I do not remember all of them)

^

Names:

•Yui Tanimoto

•Airi Kawakami

•Haruka

•Ayaka Nishitani

•Mizuki Naka

•Ayaka G.

•Narumi Yasimoto

•Momoka

•Ayaka 

•Runa

•Ayano

•Ken Sugioka

•Yoka (last name)

•Kaito

•Ken

•Haruki

•Takanori

•Koki

•Ishio (last name)

•Kotolo

•Mau

•Yuhe

Week of July 17th ~ July 23rd, 2011

July 17, 2011 - SUNDAY:

To be honest with you…Sunday is a kind of blur to me because it was seven days ago. One thing that I remember I did was on Sunday morning to go and visit my great grandmother, Shizuno at the nursing home right beside the Tottori Hospital. Shizuno lives on the third level of the building (the top level). I went to visit her with my grandmother Hiroko at 11 am-ish. She made me more origami for me to take back with me to America. My great grandmother is so tiny. She loves spending time creating origami and gets around in her wheelchair. Now she is 80 years old and I think that for 80 she is very healthy. What I love most about my great grandmother is that just about every time I go and visit her at the hospital she has a smile plastered across her face and has made me either another animal or umbrella out of origami for me to take. As for my Sunday afternoon, it is a total blur to me. Down below is a picture of my great grandma and I in a hallway at the nursing home hospital.

July 18, 2011 - MONDAY:

Monday was a holiday so I got myself a three-day weekend off from school. That made me extremely happy! The holiday on Monday was Sea Day in Japan. My Sea Day wasn’t all that crazy or anything but at least overall it was really superb and full of fun out of the house and out exploring what else Tottori holds. My morning was very ease and simple, just the way I think all mornings should feel. I didn’t have to wake up before 7 or wear uniform with long white knee socks. In my morning I ate breakfast, watched the morning news with my grandma, and took a long cool and refreshing shower. At noon my grandmother went to work. My cousin and I asked if we could go shopping around in the afternoon at 2-ish. A little after she was gone I gathered my camera and yen. Three days before, on a Friday my cousin and I planned that on Monday I would drop by at her home around 1 pm to 2 pm. I did just that. Chika and I left the house at 2 pm and went to this big store I remembered from last year first. The store has lots of items from phone cases, phone bedazzles, downy brand car fresheners to suitcase tags, moccasins, and bangles. I purchased 3 packs of stickers for ¥200, a set of 5 bracelets for ¥248, a ¥400 iPhone case (CHEAP!) and a tan hearted scrunchy for ¥180. That store had amazing prices, A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Shiho met up with us at this shop (Chika and my friend). Afterwards we all drove in two separate cars to a new store called “Mimosa”. Mimosa mostly consisted of make up, face cleansers, and long fake eyelashes, but there was this one section that had some really unique stuff that I liked and looked into to. There were separated chopsticks with a bunny or panda on the top of each one. There was ice cream and donut makers, oh boy…I can sure tell you that I really wanted to get them, that’s for sure but they were way too expensive!! I saw two awesome oven mitts, one had a cow and the other one had a…hmmm I forget? When I put my hand inside of the cow oven mitt and opened up the part that is supposed to grab trays and baked goods when their prepared, I am pretty sure that there was a picture of honey that meant that the cow was eating honey, it was pretty neat actually! I bought three things from Mimosa. Because I couldn’t afford the ¥6000 donut or ice cream maker I decided well why not get a ¥550 popsicle container maker. The other two things I got were a pack of barrettes with buttons on them and Happy Birthday candles to put on my grandmother upcoming 60th birthday cake! Her birthday is on August 3rd so I am going to make her a surprise cake J, I think it’s a good idea! Really the only issue is that I am not quite sure of what flavor she likes best yet. Some items I got that day are below: --->

July 19, 2011 - TUESDAY:

Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday… What happened on Tuesday? Part of me forgets as the other half of me is trying to remember of how that day went. Tuesday was a school day with the same rituals and different order of classes. The only day of the week that has woodshop is Tuesday; I had woodshop right before lunchtime. On that day the class also had a visitor. It was a girl but I never got her name. It made me really sad once I had finally had figured out that she had hearing issues. Both of her ears had hearing aids over them and throughout the morning a few different people had been communicating to her by sign language. Now when I really think into what can happen to people whether its there hearing or seeing I know how lucky and fortunate that I am. Ok so now lets head back to the first class of this day that I had, shall we? Well I remember the first class that I had on Tuesday because the teacher of the class had been furiated at the class for some reason that was and still is unknown to me. The first class was English (“eigo”.) Everybody bowed before the class started and the next thing you know she was yelling really fast and slapping her hand on the desk in front of her. After that she went past all of the desks to the back of the room to grab a piece of paper that was magneted to a blackboard, she tore/crumpled it to shreds, and then threw it away. After before exiting the classroom entrance she said something like, “Fine I don’t have to teach you then!” (I think). All in all, the optimism in my atmosphere seemed to have faded to the land of Far Far Away that day. Eventually Shrek and Donkey got optimism working back in order though, whew! In the evening around 8pm I went to Jam to get some American movies to rent with my cousin. I watched the movie, ‘Clueless’ that night with Alicia Silverstone in it, I have seen that movie many of times before but I figured I could watch it once more.

July 20, 2011 - WEDNESDAY:

I don’t really remember much of what had happened on Wednesday. One thing that I do remember about Wednesday though is that it was another school day for me.

July 21, 2011 - THURSDAY:

On Thursday I remember thinking to myself that I only had one more day of school after school had ended at 4:30 pm! Before lunchtime began that day I made a Thank You speech in English to both of the two class grades. The English teacher, Shizuka Shimomura translated for everybody in Japanese so that they would understand. After I made my speech everybody applaud to me.

July 22, 2011 - FRIDAY:

Friday felt super-super long to me because it was the very last day that I would have to attend a junior high school in Japan. There was a school assembly held before lunch that day and the meeting went way over time in my opinion. We had to sit with our buttocks over our calves for an extremely long time while the principal made a speech. After we were able to stand up, everybody’s feet were in major pain, especially mine. My feet became very numb and I couldn’t feel my toes when I was walking for the next fifteen minutes or so. During a part of the principal’s speech he wished me a safe journey and good luck for when I would be flying back to America, which I though was very kind of him to say. That day school was let out at 3pm instead of 4pm, yes… you have no idea how happy I was! My grandma drove me home that afternoon because she came to thank my teacher, the music teacher, and the principal. I got a painted piece of paper and pencil holder of wood that I made back. On our drive back to my grandma’s house I was filled with utter joy of extreme happiness. I couldn’t believe that I had made it through 23 days of getting ready and going to school. All in all I was attended school for about 170 hours!!! CRAZY, right!? On Friday evening I went to my cousins house around 7pm. Before my cousin Chika dropped me off back at my grandmas we went to Family Mart. I got a peach/grape tea and she got a tropical fruit juice mix. When I got home to my grandmas I watched Percy Jackson The Lightning Thief or whatever the actual title is.

July 23, 2011 - SATURDAY:

On Saturday I almost woke up at exactly 11 am, just a few of minutes before. 11 am is the latest that I have woken up here in Japan! I guess my body was just in need of a long rest from waking up at 6:45 five days a week. On Saturday I got three books in the mail from my grandmothers friend that she ordered on eBay for me. I thought that it was very nice that her friend let me pick out some books in English. Two of the books were by Nicolas Sparks. Recently I finished reading ‘The Lucky One’ and ‘Dear John’ by Nicolas Sparks, he is an amazing male writer. My grandma’s friend also got those two books for me in the mail along with ‘The Notebook’ about a week back. I already saw the movies of ‘Dear John’ and ‘The Notebook’ but then I figured that the movies are usually always different than the actual book story is. The book titles that I got on Saturday were Message In A Bottle, Remember The Walk, and Ten Things I Love About You. Those first two books are by Nicolas Sparks and as for the third is by author Julia Quinn. On Saturday night I began and decided to write my own book. Right now the book I began writing has 3,703 words. I haven’t decided on a book title yet but I am hoping that it will magically come to me very soon. The main character of my story is named Miranda Wincer. Maybe I will post some of the book on this blog soon. Right around 11 pm I noticed that the glass door to the apartments deck was open and so then I closed it. I thought I forgot to lock the door and I had accidentally left it a little open. A little after that happened Shuro-chaun began meowing very crazily, at the moment I didn’t understand why he was meowing so much. Then I noticed that something was out of place…Pau-chaun was missing (the black cat.) I finally noticed she wasn’t in the house when I went by the front door and she wasn’t waiting there like she would be doing usually. All along Pau was on the deck and didn’t move or even try to run away, thank goodness I was so relieved!!! I brought her back inside and then Shuro finally quieted himself down once he finally realized his mom was home again. Below are photo’s of the books I received in the mail.

Tuesday, Jul 19.

A side from all of last weeks days that were all hot and humid, it began to rain this morning. It was raining very light, almost as if it were mist cooling the atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, I love how rain decided to drop by today but then again it also kind of scares me. Rain isn't the part that scares me, its all of the typhoon warnings going on here in Tottori! I did go to school today but everybody got to home early because of typhoon possibilities and more. After lunch ended my classmates and I got to leave a couple of minutes before 2pm which to me, is far better than 4pm. Tonight/in a while it is supposed to get very windy and stormy. It shouldn't be too bad and I know that no matter what everything will be fine because if there is actually a typhoon it wont be extremely crazy or a bad one. All of my recent new kitty buddies, family, and I will not be put in harms way though so no worrying is needed nor necessary. :-) xx, emily

Nippon, Nippon, Nippon!!

The women's World Cup Soccer finals tournament was quite unpredictable today! I didn't know who I should root for since I am both American and Japanese which is why I rooted for both of the teams so I didn't have to take only one side. On Sunday (yesterday) I had a feeling/guess that Japan was going to win and I was actually right, which yes, completely had surprised me. I want to wish Japan a congrats and America had a wonderful team effort in the final game :-] ... WOOT WOOT!!!

A Few nifty Items that I got.

 This is my new case for my glasses. :)

 When I was in Yokohama I was looking at all of these photo albums and I thought that this one in particular was really unique. Originally all of those stickers weren't on the front of the album, they just came with it on the inside but I thought that it would look more fun if I stuck them on the front side. I am planning to write 'Japan 2011' in the blank navy area because those are where my taken photographs of my summer in Japan will be placed. That was the reason why I had decided on getting it in the first place. The photograph album is supposed to be an old fashioned traveling suitcase. You can't see the album on the side of where my thumb is to the right of, but on that side there is a handle in the middle. If you imagine the handle it will definitely   look more like a suitcase.

 These earrings were ¥300!!! They are very light weighted and at such a great value as well!

 Here is a pink and white striped scrunchy that was around ¥100.

 This is a Happy Birthday postcard I got for fun so that when somebody's summer birthday arrives I can just mail this to them from here :)

 This is also another Happy Birthday postcard I got for the same reasons as the one above. Which birthday postcard do you like best? I like the one up top because the cake has a lot of character within the drawing.

This is a postcard with a Japanese girl wearing a kimono on the front that I am going to send to Susan soon. :D

Sum of today.

1) I got to leave school at 3pm and got home at 3:30pm today! 2) I finished the last 40 minutes of the movie I rented, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. 3) I folded the dried laundry and hung up the just done undried wet laundry (future tense=will). 4) I took a shower (future tense=will). 5) Yikes, Pau puked on my grandmothers wooden floor...again!! 6) I still had to wake up at 6:45am-ish. 7) Later I will head off to my cousins house.

Books I Have Read During My Summer (So Far).

With many of my school time having to do with classes that I am unwilled to participate in (from confusion and misunderstandings), there comes all of the english young adult books...which is why I have read many of them during lots of school days. Its not my idea of what to be doing when at school but at least I wont have to be looking around the classroom, out the window, or about to lock my eyes. Here is a list of all of the books I have read from about an estimation of a month ago until now. The books highlighted in yellow were my top 3 favorite books. Now I am reading The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks!!

ºThe Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

ºStargirl 

ºSomething Blue

ºWhat Happened to Goodbye

ºProm

ºTwenties Girl

ºLaguna Cove
ºThe Lucky One
ºDear John

July 12th, 11'.

For me today was another day of getting ready, going to, and coming back from school. It may have felt extremely long, but in the end of school on Tuesdays it is actually worth the while. The weather is starting the heat up big time here in Tottori! To be truthful I would rather have it to be raining right now than for me to be sweating through my clothes. Yesterday was also really hot and sticky too with the temp around 30ºC (not sure what 30ºC is in ºF, my apologies)! It is such a great thing that there are coolers or fans installed in practically about every building though. The day at school started out with English then History, Math, Music, Lunch, Cleaning Time, Free time, Wood-shop, and one other class that I was confused about. Grandma packed me some tea like she always does and so when I went to go and drink a cup of some in the morning I noticed it smelt different. The smell was very strong and reminded me exactly of this bug balm from Thailand that my mom bought called Tiger Balm. One day I had accidentally mistaken the Bug Balm for Lip Balm and applied it onto my mouth. My lips were flaming hot! The tea tasted the same but I just couldn't stand the smell any longer and so I had to let my tongue dry up. Ooh I forget to say why Tuesdays are worth the while of getting through school. Every Tuesday my cousin and I go to the movie store JAM. They have so many American movies, both new and old which is perfect and brilliant in just about a multiple of ways. I get to rent many movies and a few music albums If I want to. Since I am an 80s movie fanatic and eager to see the recent new movies released onto DVD, I get movies from within both those category/idea ranges. Then sometimes I get the music albums so that I can download the songs onto my iTunes! Tuesdays are also everything 50% off so I can lots of movies and it will save money! :] LOTS OF HAPPINESS AND LOVE, Emily

Cousins Emily and Chika.

In Japan there are game centers with many photo booths that let you decorate your pictures after. We can get the picture sent to our email! Here is one of my cousin Chika and I.

The picture booths are called 'pirikura's.'

Lots of Love, Emily.

Peace from in a car. \/ <--- (peace fingers..)

Japanese Mother Nature - Part 2.

 Pretty small daisy flowers by the sidewalk.

 Two little birdie friends were resting on a wire.

 These green spike balls were on a tree. I thought it was a really strange tree, I wonder what they are??? Hmm..

A pink Hawaiian looking flower. :)

Kokufu Junior High School.

Here are a few photo's of the junior high school I that I will be attending in Japan until July 22nd.

 I like rolling my feet on these things :)

 The schools pool.

 Every body in my class' shoes. Most people wear Nike shoes.

 They made a poster that was about Colorado.

 My classroom. There are black boards and wood floors at practically every Japanese school, weird to some..right?

 The class schedule on a black board. :)