Onsen in the snow....

Today, I went out with Nicole, Jennifer, Cael and their friend Satako and her friends and her friend’s friends (A bunch of nice German guys)

One of Satako’s German friends, who has been living in Japan for about 5 years now, had invited his old buddies from Germany for a vacation to Japan.
It was very interesting, as I don’t speak Japanese very well and I can only say hello in German.
We had to take two cars…. Satako,(Super nice), Invited everyone to a onsen!! ( Hot Springs ).
Satako’s friend Shogo (SUPER GREAT GUY!!), Drove us to somewhere near Iwate-san (Iwate Mountain- a dormant volcano), where we arrive at the Onsen.

The onsen was great!!! I’m not really one for getting naked with 20 other guys and sitting around in a hot tub, but I was really nice!! I felt really relaxed.
- Note for Mom: No mom, I’m not gay.

Anyways, after we ended up going for food and drinks. A great day!

We all had abit to drink and got some pictures done....

-Tom

Morioka Soccer

YEAH!!!! THE MORIOKA SOCCER TEAM WON!!!!!............ There a big celebration downtown.....
I’m not really a fan, but it seems that everyone is overjoyed! So I guess it rubs off on yea eh?

Anyways, Today I was able to meet with Toshiko, Noriko, and Nachiko, three super nice ladies whom I meet in Victoria during the VNCS Japanese Culture Festival with the help of Dick Nakamura (Morioka Friendship Society).
They were very kind in introducing me to the downtown area around the Morioka train station and the downtown public library.
We also went to a rather old temple and the local history museum.
I later when back to Toshiko’s home to meet her husband and have a few snacks.
She wants to throw a welcoming party for me! I’m so happy!!

-Tom

Dorm Life ^__^

Well, I’ve arrived at my dorm. The last few days have been a bit strange. Junichi-san, the schools international helper, showed me around a bit, including where the nearest (supermarket with extras / under stocked department store with food) was.

Sachino, a friend I had made while at Camosun, helped me meet up with the other 2 international students, Nicole and Cael, today. Along with Jennifer, Cael’s girlfriend, we went for a walk around the area. I was really glad to have someone I could ask questions too! I was able to learn a lot about this area in a very short time. They were very hospitable and I even received a welcoming present from them!!

GO ! CUP NOODLE!

Thanks Guys!!!

-Tom

Setting off for Morioka in Style.

I got up super super early today!
Today went on the Shikansen! ( The Japanese Bullet Train ).
At first, the speed of the train didn’t really impress me, as my friends have been raving about. But, as we started to enter the outskirts of Tokyo, the train speed up to full speed.
I didn’t really come to realized how fast I was going, till I tried to take a picture.
That’s when I realized that the only things that weren’t blurry were considerably further away… I traveled 500+ km in only a few hours including stops.
As I traveled north, the weather changed a number of times including going thru 2 different snow storms…. Not sure how it worked but it was interesting none the less.

Hideo’s wife, Hiromi, was very nice at gave me some rice balls for my lunch on the train.
(Thanks Hiromi!! - It was very tasty!! )

As I stepped off the Shikansen, everything was different. The weather was biting cold and the station seemed fairly small with only a hand full of people.

Gladly I was meet by a teacher from Morioka College. Sannohei Sensei.

Where am I?

<-- Thats my Train!!!! Sexy An'it?

-Tom

Bye bye Hideo and Family!!

Hey everyone, It's my last day till I leave to Morioka.
I've got my train tickets costing about ¥15000 ($150 CDN). I still can't get over how much transportation cost in Japan.

Anyways, the family I was staying with have been so nice to me! I wanted to do something nice for them, so I took them out for Sushi! Sooo tasty!! I made sure that we all had our fill. (^______^)

<-- Ryosuke

I hope that I can see them again!!!

-Tom

Yo! Kyo!

Hey! I went back to Tokyo again today and I meet up with some of my friends for shopping and coffee. We walked around Tokyo and a few areas which were fun.

Anyways, during coffee at Star bucks (Yes, Japanese Star Bucks), I ran into a customer of mine at Wal-Mart!~~
I thought running into my customers in Victoria was bad, but running into them in Japan is crazy bad!

Anyways, after coffee I was invited to a get-together for my friend's friend going away party.
One thing lead to the next and we ending going to karaoke, where I learn that karaoke in Tokyo is expensive….
Between the ten of us, we spend about ¥43000 ($430.00 CDN )
*(Note for Mom and Dad – I wasn’t drinking, so my share of the bill was only $20.00 CDN)* - If I didn’t write that, I would get two very angry phone calls. (^__^)

Ok... I found the train..... Which side?... I'm so confused..

Woooo!!! Ducky's!! - Left is Me, Right is my friend Kokyo!

Left - Coffee with friends.... Takehiro is being Camera shy, and Mika is taking the picture..

Anyways, getting back a little late. I slept very well after a long day.

-Tom

Akihabara today!

HEY!! I when to Akihabara today!!
So Awesome!! Akihabara is in Tokyo and is well know for cheap electronics, anime, and Geeks!

Yeah! Geek power!! Woot!

There was so much stuff there!! And everything is really cheap!! Well... not really cheap, but "if" it exists you can find it here in 5 different colours.

I wasn’t able to stay there for very long, but I enjoyed my self.

My main purpose was to buy a Japanese-English Electronic dictionary. I’ve been having problems looking up Kanji’s and how to use different words with out having to log around 5 different books.

I found a store that was selling it for about ¥5000 ($50) cheaper then everywhere else.
Anyways, after finding the store I walked around a bit.

Akihabara is totally Geek Heaven! Everything from this hot girl handing out a flyer of Serial Numbers to Erotic Anime stores, you can find it here.

After walking around for a bit, I eyed this fairly hot girl in a black dress. She noticed me and walked over to me. I wasn’t really sure what to do, but then I realized that she was dressed in a French Maid Costume!! Still not completely sure what to do, she came up and handed me a flyer and smiled.
I thanked her and walked away. Looking at the flyer, it seemed to be for some Café run by a bunch of girls dressed in French maid costumes. So Japan!

I didn’t take a picture, but I found one on the net that gives you an idea of what she looked like.

<-- Cosplay Maid

Otaku Store Full of Wonders - "I made it bigger so you can see the stuff inside"
And No I didn't go in....

Anyways, That was my time in Akihabara, I’m totally going back there again!!!
Times up.

-Tom

Visting Friends

I meet up with my friend Takehiro today. If you don't know him, his a super great guy! with really really good English!!
I ended up meeting a few of his family, his Grandmother is super kind!!
We went for lunch at this fusion Japanese restaurant, walking around his hometown, and had dinner with his Grandmother.

All in all, it was a nice visit.

-Tom

Tired...

Too Tired from yesterdays stuff and I thought about home for a bit today.
I'm just going to Veg.

I just got a call from my friend Ben in Victoria..... He somehow managed to break a rib during weight lifting..... I hope he is feeling better.... Go T 3's!!

-Tom

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

It's Boxing day in Japan!!

Today I when shopping at a few local stores. I didn't really find anything I liked. Of course I wanted to buy everything, but it's still expensive.

I tried to buy I cell phone today, but after much hassle I found that I was unable to get hold of a cell phone till I receive paperwork from both my school and the Japanese government verifying that I am going to school here.

What a messed up system!! Arg!! Angry!!!

I did however get a phone number. If you want it, just e-mail me and I'll send you my temp number.
Getting a Japanese cell phone has gained some importance since I found that I was being charged $4.00 per minute from Rogers.

Rogers can die in hell... If I'm paying $4.00 per minute it better be the best dam phone call of my life!

Sadly, it wasn't.

-Tom

Narita San - Night

Hey everyone, I've when back to the Temple I was talking about... And My friend was right... It's insane.. the lines were huge!! And the Police weren't directing the people anymore, they were controlling us like cars.

Basically what happened is that all the people are funneled though a large walkway.
Then, the people in the front are stopped by 5 police holding hands.
Then the Police walk forward about 6 meters and stop.
Then this step is repeated for the people behind. Thus creating a cube's or groups of humans.

Then this cube is escorted to the temple.

Heading for the Funnel


In my Cube, waiting for the Cube of humans ahead of us to finish throwing money in the money pot and making their wishes.

*** VIDEO CLICK HERE ***