NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION:

To keep this thing more updated! Man! Well, I'm sure you all know that I apologize for not updating in a while. Things got busy, and I lost track of time. BUT, I'll try to not let it happen again :)

So, obviously there is a ton of things to update you on... So, what I think I'll do is just break it up into a couple different posts. Now, I'll fill you in on what I've been up to since last post.

Well, first off, I got a plant! I really wanted something to keep me company for those long nights of homework, so I got Aga... Which is baby in Korean :)


And, one of the neatest things so far about Japanese winter time is that a certain kind of plant that is EVERYWHERE in Fukuoka, begins to flower! And they are beautiful!!! Oh, and in these pictures, you can also get a glimpse of my dorm from the outside... Not the most glamorous, I know, but it's home for now!





I also got the chance to travel to Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe (the Kansai region) and visit one of my good friends in Japan, who's name is Ana! I think I'll add another post about that trip later... And when I got back from that trip, I went to the final match of the Sumo tournaments! SO AWESOME!!! I even got to meet a couple of them... But I am also gonna write another post about that later :) Sorry! You'll just have to wait a little bit!

Well, let's see... where was I... Ahh, yes! I discovered this really awesome place... It's called U-PARA, and it is only the most awesome game/activity place I have ever been to! They of course have video games, and air hockey, and slot machines with pachinko, but they also have volley ball, tennis, baseball, soccer, rock climbing, air soft, darts, karaoke, billiards, and only the sweetest lounge area (with massage chairs that recline) for reading comic books I have ever seen! SWEET! Of course, I went straight for the rock climbing :)





A week or two later, we had a study trip to Dazaifu to go to a sumo stable, and then to a local preschool and high school to visit the kids... Guess which one was my favorite??? This one may be tough...

Well, it was definitely the preschool kids, they were just soo adorable! But first, the sumos, which I also thoroughly enjoyed: we got to watch them in their early morning training session



a couple people took pictures with one of the sumo, and if you want to see mine, I'll show it to you later, but here are one of my friends with a different sumo guy:


Then, we headed over to the preschool. We sat in on class for a couple of minutes, and then we got to see the children's winter plays!






And when we left the preschool, the kids were soo adorable with their send-off :)



I really didn't want to leave that place! Alas, we had to leave so that we could get to the High School on time... we got to sit and talk with some of the local Fukuoka High School students. It was pretty interesting, but we didn't have enough time! They sure were funny though... always giggling at the funny foreigners... oh man :)


Well, not much happened from then (middle of December) to Christmas time, except TONS of homework, a radio broadcast, and my friends guitar concert... Yeah, you heard me, a radio broadcast! Now, let me explain a little: in one of my classes (Adjusting to Japan) the professor was approached about doing a live broadcast of the class over the radio, and then interviewing a couple of the students afterward. Well, somehow, I was forced/volunteered for one of the interviews... in Japanese!!! Yeah, and this broadcast was not only live, but about 120 million people listen to it! I was soo nervous, but it all turned out okay in the end, and I got to become a celebrity! I was asked about what my culture shock was in Japan, and what I thought I learned from the class I was in. So, I said, my culture shock is that I'm not used to everyone staring at me so much, and that I learned it's important to get universal opinions when discussing issues... And to that, he responded, "ブロンドのかみで本当にきれいだからと思う。" Which means, "Well, I think people stare because of your blond hair and because you are pretty." \(^-^)/ Yeah, I couldn't help but smile after that one!!!

As for my friends concert, Hiroki (the head tutor of my program) plays acoustic guitar and he invited me to his concert. I absolutely loved it! Not only has acoustic guitar become my favorite kind of music to listen to, but they played so many great songs! (my friend is the one sitting down on the right)


And, that brings us to Christmas!!! Merry Christmas everyone :) I think I'll have to fill you in later on what I've been up to since Christmas as well! Happy New Year too!!!