Black outs (*edited)

Are going to be happening throughout the Kanto region tomorrow, but I didn't see my area on the list that got sent out. Lets hope it stays that way.

here are the links to the lists:
http://www.tepco.co.jp/images/tokyo.pdf
http://www.timeout.jp/en/tokyo/feature/2530/japan-earthquake-live-report

The second one also gives a list for places of refuge in the Kanto area for people who get stranded tonight and in the days to come because a lot of the train lines are stopping at certain hours (JR line has reported no more service tonight). I think it's best to just stay home if you can (although it's going to be a pain with Monday work tomorrow).

Here's the list for Tokyo:
In Tokyo:
Unicef House has limited space available (Takanawa); Westin Hotel lobby (Ebisu); Answr & Public/Image.3D(Ikejiri/Mishuku area); Aoyama Oath, Shibuya; Dommune club (50 people max); Eiji Press (Ebisu) is offering toilet, telephone, internet; Yotsuya Sophia University; Hiroo University of the Sacred Heart; Roppongi Butagumi Shabu Ann (the owner is handing out curry and onigiri for free); Sasazuka Bowl; Seikei University (Kichijoji & Mitaka area); Waseda University (Building 8, Waseda Campus, Takadanobaba) Shinjuku Bunka Fukuso Gakuin (NOW FULL); Ueno Tokyo Bunka Kaikan; Takashimaya Times Square Shinjuku (NOW FULL); Tsukiji Honganji; Shinbashi Daiichi Hotel lobby; Ikebukuro Rikkyo University; Shinagawa Prince Hotel lobby; Shibuya & Omotesando Aoyama Gakuin University gymnasium


*Here's a good website to keep up to date on what's happening in Tokyo as well
http://metropolis.co.jp/ Thankx Jessi!


Good luck everyone
Jamie

Personality Check'd

It's actually a lot lighter now, and I cut it a bit shorter too.

So after about half a year of debating, I finally changed my hair color back to it's natural (or at least what I think is it's natural, it has been a while...12 years a while) color. I also cut it short again to go with the overall change of things. It's a little strange having my eyebrows match my hair color (or is it strange to think that strange?) but otherwise I like it! My host family said that it fits me well and they didn't even notice at first when I came downstairs after drying it because the color looks so natural on me (as well it should, seeing as it is natural).
Now I don't have to waste money on pricey hair dye/bleach and can just let it grow out natural and beautiful. I do wish I hadn't of cut it so short but, oh well.

Nothing much as been happening recently, hence why I haven't updated in a while. The OUS (Oregon University System) program put on a Thanksgiving party last Friday. We (the other Oregon students and some Japanese students) went out to a buffet that the program coordinator (Marie Sato) had reserved and although they had no turkey, stuffing, or cranberry sauce, I was able to eat myself to the point of almost throwing up so; mission Thanksgiving dinner accomplished I think :O. We all gorged ourselves on sushi, pastas, curry, cakes (they had pumpkin cake even!) and ice cream. I missed having my family around me but I'm glade at least our coordinator realized that we'd all be homesick and brought us all together for a nice meal.

And I was shocked to find out that one of the students in my group who did not come to the dinner had actually found a whole turkey somewhere in Tokyo and had a thanksgiving feast with his roommates and some of their friends (hence why he didn't show up to the group dinner). They don't have turkey here as far as I have seen, just chicken. And this lack of turkey in Japan is why Damian's turkey cost him about $70! For one that was pretty small!

BLAAARGH

Anyway, Christmas will be interesting. I will be in Osaka with no one to hang out with. Well, I'm hoping to make some friends in the hostel I'm staying in but if not, maybe i'll go clubbing or something :D. I plan on being in the Kansai area for 6 days (23rd-29th) so if anyone else out there in internet world will be in Osaka or surrounding areas and wouldn't mind hooking up, please let me know! No one likes the spend the holidays by themselves!

I am looking forward to New Years though! They spend New Years here like we spend Christmas; family, food and relaxation. The difference being that the holiday lasts for about 3-4 days and during these 3-4 days no one does anything. Not even cook. They buy special New Years "Obento" enough to last the holiday and everyone just relaxes, which in Tokyo is a foreign concept so I'm excited to see how the city handles this dormant period.

No joke either. This city is bustling 24/7. My host mother is always running around saying how she's so busy and doesn't have enough time for anything. And she literally runs too. Or at least shuffles about at a surprisingly fast past for her age. But I can't help but think that it's not so much that she (and everyone else in this city) has no time, it's just that they don't know how to take a breath and asset the situation. Move through their day at a smooth pace instead of a hurried pace. I wonder how cities get like this? Is it just the ambiance of a city that drives people to crazy self-centered hurriedness (I say self-centered because people here in Tokyo are pretty self-centered)? and if so, where did the ambiance come from? How did it begin? Hmmm???

In other news, I found someone to go to Thailand and Cambodia with me in February! I was a little nervous to go alone but would have even if I hadn't found someone but, yay that I did! It's a girl in my program who I don't really see that often (not that I see any of the other exchange students that often) but she seems really cool and is a photographer so some awesome pictures are in store I think!

oh! I just remembered that my friend Natsuki from Toyama came and visited me this weekend and we went to Disney Sea! But since i'm tired I will write about that in another post.

:D

Nature walk

Today was another BEAUTIFUL day in Tokyo. It was about middle 60's with a slight breeze and blue skies. Yet despite that, I was feeling really depressed all day....and for the past couple days for that matter. Can't seem to shake this funk. So today i decided that instead of sitting inside all day like I was wanting to, I was going to get out and enjoy the nice weather. Not that I've been couping myself up indoors all this time, it's just that every time I go out it's for some reason/matter or other. I haven't been able to just have me time outside of the house (plenty of me time in doors but it's not the same).

So I got dressed, looked up how to get to that fabulous park my host mom took me to a couple weeks ago and set off! I bought Onigiri (rice balls) and this green apple that was grown locally and tasted AMAZING and ate in the park. I actually pass the stop for this park on my way to and from school everyday but haven't had the time/energy to actually go there by myself. It's called 石神井公園　(Shyakujikoen) for those of you who live in Tokyo and want a nice park to meander in. It really is huge and they have a little lake in the middle where you can rent these paddle boats and go paddle around for a while (a popular thing to do among couples it seems; people holding hands everywhere I went!). I spent about 2 1/2 hours there just walking around and taking the occasional picture, It was really relaxing and brightened my mood considerably!

Look! They have swan paddle boats too! 

Truly one of the best apples I have eaten. 

lots of old people where fishing as well
Don't know if they can keep the fish or not though

HUGE ASS SPIDER AND IT'S EQUALLY HUGE WEB!
as well as the pretty shrine in the background

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Now to prepare for tomorrow's live performance in front of all my peers! Yikes!

Jamie

Last days in Yokohama

Today I will say farewell to my lovely friend Natsuyo and head back into Tokyo to officially start my study abroad program! I'm a little nervous, but the good kind of nervous. I have to be at the hotel at 3pm, and then there is going to be some sort of host family "interview". What this will entail I know not. I do hope that my host family is a relaxed one and will not try and ruin my stay here. *crosses fingers* please no children, please no children.

I made Tacos for dinner!

And they made Sushi the next night!