I love Japan

I love Japan so much. It's one of the best experiences in my life. I am so grateful I was able to go there, even though I had to leave all of my friends. I did make a lot of friends there and hopefully I can still keep connection with them, and maybe one day I will see them again. I think living there has taught me so many things. There are not many, but I have seen some homeless people there and it has made me appreciate everything I have. I just loved everything about living their; the beautiful sights, shopping, the people, and now that I think of it even the weather! I thought it was the most wonderful thing in the world when I saw snow for the first time when I lived in Japan. Being able to travel has let me see how other people live. I guess you could say, I learned a lot about Japanese culture!

Monokuro Boo

Monokuro Boo is a Japanese anime brand which is two bigs, one white and the other black. When we went to Japan I noticed this and I fell in love with it! Monokuro Boo is very popular in Japan. There are so many stores that sell their merchandise. The Monokuro Boo slogan is "Simple is best!!"

I love Monokuro Boo so much and I have so much of their stuff. I have two t-shirts, a beach towel, water bottle, underwear, stationary set, eraser, pen, notebook, stickers, cell phone charm, purse, and two big pillows.

There is also something called Baby Boo (first picture) which is the same brand except the pigs are colorful, not black and white, and they are babies. It's kind of like Bratz dolls, they made something called Bratz babies, which is kind of what Baby Boo is except it's pigs.

Kindness

One of my favorite things in Japan is the kindness of everyone. Although sometimes the younger kids would stare or point and tell there parents, that's just because they've never seen anybody so "white". But whenever you went to stores the first thing the people would do is bow to you and thank you in Japanese for coming into their store. They would be so polite and again, thank you after you purchase your items and bow to you. They always smile and are eager to help you with whatever you need. If they see that you're lost (which has happened many times when my family went "exploring") they would stop and ask you if you needed help, if they knew the English for it. One time we got lost trying to travel to a new destination and this man went out of his way to guide us where we needed to go. He was very kind and seemed delighted to help. He was very impressed on how we already had subway cards and knew how it worked.

They don't take tips there either. When you go to a restaurant they don't expect you to leave money, and if you did they'd probably think you forgot your wallet! After you leave a fast food restaurant Japanese people will leave their trays, the remaining food, and wrappers of their meal. The workers at the restaurant are expected to take your trash after you leave. When you take a taxi somewhere they also do not expect to be tipped.

Over all, they are just very kind and polite. They like to give you presents and spend time with you. I really miss all of my Japanese friends.

How does the Subway work?

Before I moved to Japan I always thought that it was a train underground that people who couldn't afford cars would ride on. Well, I was right, almost. It is hot an smelly but that's because outside it's freezing cold. The heat actually really feels good. As for the smell... well everyone stinks right? But the subway is not for people who can't afford cars. Almost everyone uses it. Although some of them do have cars for destinations are too far of a walk from the station. It's just like when you go to Disney World and ride the monorail to get to the main part of the park. Well, that's basically what the subway is.

The have different lines and different station on each one. In Japan there were about 50 different lines and maybe 25 stations on each one. They have stations called intersections where you get off to change lines. We lived at Toyocho station (T14) on the Tozai line. To get on one of the trains you would have to scan your subways card which was called a Suica. It's kind of like a debit card, you would put money on it and they have scanners that you tap your card on before and after you ride. You could also use your card at stores and restaurants.

The reason I liked the subway so much is because I could go anywhere I want. It cost about 160 yen to go to each station, which isn't that much. So my parents would feel my card with about 2,000 yen a week and they would tell me to have fun. Since it is so safe in Japan, not near as much crime like the states, they didn't have to worry about me getting kidnapped of something. So I could go to the mall or a park or any place I would like anytime I wanted to, as long as my school work and chores were done.

One of my favorite places to go was called Omoto-Sando station on the Gozai line. I liked it so much because there were a lot of designer stores there and nice restaurants to go to. I enjoyed the subways station so much and I am so glad that they have them here in Singapore too!

Anime

Most people are familiar with the word anime, the abbreviation of the English word "animation". When I lived in Japan, I saw it everywhere. They have a lot of Japanese anime comic books that so many people read. I even saw grown men reading out of one of the comics.

Anime is usually hand-drawn but now-a-days it has been made using technology, the computer. You can see anime on television, films, video games, and all over for advertisements. There were a lot of book stores in Japan that sold so many of the comic books written in Kanji. Anime started in Japan around the the 20th century. Things like Pokemon, which also started in Japan, is anime.

You see anime pictures on the side of buildings, posters in stores, in the subway, malls, restaurants, almost everywhere.

Easter with Nishi Kasai Church

The church my family normally attended, Nishi Kasai Evangelical Church, rented out a room at the Y.M.C.A. International School for their Easter service because their original building is too small to hold all of the people that came for the service.

When we first got there there were a lot children and adults already in seats waiting for the sermon to start. First the pastor came out and preached to us for about 20 minutes and then all of the children performed a play . It was really neat, they all dressed up and told the story of Easter. There were two children who brought their violins and played for background music. There was a boy who looked like he was nine or ten and a girl who was 11. They were really good, I was impressed. Next everyone went in the back of the room and enjoyed the huge buffet of food where everyone brought in a dish. Of course my brother and I had a hard time deciding what to get because it was all... well it was Japanese food. Luckily we were able to grab some bread rolls.

After the play was over we sang some songs and while the children and parents were preoccupied doing that, the teachers went in the back and started to dye Easter eggs. After the songs were done and the pastor closed in prayer, then the children came back and finished the rest of the eggs.

Later a band of grown ups came in and played their instruments and sang. The teachers went in the backyard and hid the Easter eggs, I came too and helped them. Once the band left all the children went running outside to find the eggs. Then we all played a huge game of tag, which was so much fun. Some of the kids had to leave, forced by their parents, and about an hour after the church service the remaining children all went and bought ice cream. I had a lot of fun playing with all of the kids. My favorite part was the play the children performed and were able to understand the true meaning or Easter.

Church

This is a picture of the pastor and his family. His wife, Mrs. Beth, is actually really good friends with my mom. (The baby's name is Naiomi and she is the one on my blog titled "yukata".)


Going to church in Japan was quite an experience. It is very hard to find a Christian church, most of them are Buddhist. When my parents were eventually able to find one it was very small with a lot of people. We had to take our shoes off before we entered, of course. Every Sunday there is a translator that comes for the people who do not speak Japanese, such as my family. We had a small elderly lady sit behind us during the sermon. She whispered to us while the pastor preached. It was one of the hardest things in the world to understand her while she talked to us. For one thing, the pastor was talking very loud and it was hard to hear her along with the Japanese words in the background.

No body told me that this stranger was translating for us and she was sitting in between my parents so it was harder to understand. So I simply ask "Are you talking to us?" because I was curious to know why she was interrupting. I was so embarrassed when my mother told me that she was translating.

After the preaching was over, the pastor closed in prayer. Well, the translator stopped talking to us when he started to pray so I didn't know what we were praying for. So I just prayed silently to God. When we sang afterward it was a little easier. Half of the songs we sang in Japanese, which I kind of just moved my lips for, and than the other half was in English, and it was songs that I was familiar with! So after that the service was OK for me. Of course, singing is always my favorite part of every Sunday.

White Day

In America, they celebrate Valentines Day. In addition to that, in Japan they also celebrate something called White Day.

On Valentines Day the women are suppose to give all of the men that they know chocolate, either handmade or store bought. The chocolate is either out of love or out of courtesy. Than on White Day, the men are suppose to give all of the women that gave them chocolate a gift up to three times the value. The gifts originally given were marshmallows, white chocolate, etc. As long as it was white. Now it has evolved into giving pretty much any gift.

Right before Valentines Day, at all of the malls, the whole middle was filled with various chocolates. When you go there you will see that it is only women purchasing the chocolates. But right before White Day, which is exactly a month after Valentines Day, malls are decorated saying "White Day!" They first time my brother and I went to Kiba Mall after it was decorated, my brother say the banners and said "Everyone is expecting me!" But there are a lot of nice gifts laid throughout the stores for the men can buy it for the women.

Visitors

Whenever a visitor comes to your home in Japan, they bring gifts. It is normally sweets because the average Japanese home is really small and they just don't have the room for stuff. So instead of bringing candles or something large they bring Japanese cake, cookies, brownies, bean paste. A lot of good sweet food.

When we were staying at our apartment, there were a lot of things wrong with our dishwasher. Our pipe leaked and water came down on our neighbor's apartment. The lady who helped us find that apartment brought us sweet and goodies three times, whenever she came back to call people to work on our dishwasher. We got cakes, candy, and popcorn. She did bring us a blanket too.

One time we invited a man who works with my father and his family to come to our house for dinner. They brought us a big box of cakes, that were so yummy.

Y.M.C.A. International School

When I lived in Japan, the apartment complex I lived at was right across the Y.M.C.A. There were two Y.M.C.A. buildings, one is just a regular Y.M.C.A., but the other is an International school. The reason we lived so close to it is because my parents were planning on putting us in the school, but it only went up to 6th grade and my brother was in 7th grade. So we home-schooled.

The Y.M.C.A. International School is a huge building for children in grades K-6th. Most of the kids who attend the school are Japanese, and are being taught English. One of my mom's friends (a lady who got us settled in Japan) works there as a teacher. She also is a pastor's wife for a church that we have attended before.

I think that teaching little kids English that speak Japanese is a wonderful idea. I met a little girl at a park near our house one day. Her name is Lina. She is 7 years old and knows how to speak English, Japanese, and Chinese! Every time I meet a little kid who speaks English they say the go to the Y.M.C.A.

Most of the kids in Japan know how to speak a different language. There is this one little boy who's name is Song Min Oh and he is 7 years old. My brother and I have been helping him with his English. He speaks English, Japanese, and Korean! His mother speaks English, Japanese, Korean, and Iraqi. I think it's just amazing how these people can remember all of those words. I know bits and pieces of a lot of different languages but not the whole language! These people here are amazing.

Hannah Montana

In Japan, there is barely any "good" television for me to watch on our Japanese cable. So the show I watch the most was Hannah Montana, in Japanese. I watched it almost every day, even though I really don't like that show. It was the same actors and same episodes, just different voice. They cut off the original voices that are in English and put in Japanese voices. Well, the Japanese voice did not match the way the actor's and actress's mouths moved. It was so funny to watch. I also watched other American/Japanese television shows like the Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Well they talk really fast in their shows so it was the goofiest looking thing having them put Japanese voices in. I don't know why they just keep it the way it is and add Japanese subtitles!

Flowers, flowers, and more FLOWERS!

There are so many flowers in Japan! The only wild life here is penguins and the occasional fish in ponds but there are so many beautiful flowers here. My brother wants to be a photographer when he gets older and he got great pictures of the beautiful roses and tulips at our apartment.

My friend Miyu

This is a picture of me (in middle) at my friend, Miyu's, school.


Miyu is one of my favorite memories of my time in Japan. She is 13 years old and speaks English and Chinese. Earlier in my stay at Japan I got to go to her school for a whole day. It's very different than any school I have ever been to. They start off by having a ton of extra time to play before the teacher comes in the room, even then they speak out of turn. We went to math, science, English, and other classes. We also had PE where the boys and girls split up. The boys went out and played soccer on this huge field and the girls played basketball in the gym. They barely eat anything for lunch, just a little bit of rice and meat and than they want to go play something again.

After the first trip to her school, a little months later I got to go spend time at her house. I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner there. One thing that they said that all Japanese house have are a rice cooker, that is filled with hot rice all day, and a water heater to make tea. For breakfast I ate a cup of tea, a bowl of rice, and a lot of Japanese cake which is very sweet. Me and Miyu played many Japanese games which were very fun. They were kind of like chess. And we played with her dogs. We were at her grandma's house at the time, and her grandma doesn't speak English. So for dinner we made Japanese spaghetti. Well, I normally am not a picky eater but I was not about to eat what they made for dinner. They put a ton of fish eggs mixed in mayonnaise in the noodles. They didn't use regular spaghetti sauce. And we had rice. But them made me a special bowl without fish eggs that was noodles and vegetables, it was pretty good. They also ate fish heads. But I had a really great time and I learned how the Japanese live!

Cosplay

Japanese teens dressed up in Cosplay outfits.








Cosplay is short for costume play. It's when Japanese teenagers dress up in outfits from anime, video games, and fantasy movies. Most of the cosplay costumes look like ones worn on Halloween but are worn throughout the year in Japan.

A popular place to see teens in cosplay outfits is on Harajuku St., which is where most of the costumes are sold.

Cosplay started when young Japanese went to low-budget clothing stores and bought odd clothing and wore them. Then it was made into a fashion, high design stores started selling these costumes all over Japan. There are even cosplay magazines.

When going down Harajuku St. (at Omoto-sando station) you see many photographers taking pictures of cosplay girls.

The best thing about cosplay in Japan is that fashion starts there!

Malls in Japan

The malls in Japan are a lot different than what I am used to in America. The average mall is about three to seven floors high.

The mall that was closest to us is called Seiyu. It is a huge mall that has groceries, clothes, gifts, etc., and whenever you go to one of these mall and there is something you want to buy, you have to pay on each floor. If you try to bring something you want to buy with you up to a different floor, they will stop you and asked you to pay on that floor.

They have escalators for all of the malls, and the bottom floor normally consists of groceries. If you enter a mall right when it opens, all of the sales clerks will be standing in front of their section and will bow to you when you go by. It's so different because before Japan, I never had anybody bow to me before! This is kind of sad, but my brother and I always used to play a game how we'd go to the mall early and try to run through it and pass the clerks without getting bowed at.
The top floor normally has a variety of traditional Japanese Restaurants. I've only eaten at an actual tradition Japanese food place and it was very interesting. I ate squid, octopus, and tons of sashimi.

In the malls everyone is very kind and patient. They will bow to you after you make a purchase and are just very kind. In America, most of the time the people working at the malls are only doing it for the money!

"L's" in Japan?

In Japan and in Japanese they cannot pronounce "l's". Even in English writing (not Japanese characters) their words are spelled with "r's" instead of "l's". If you get a Japanese language book you will see that not once there is the use of L. Whenever I talk to one of my English speaking friends who is Japanese they say words like "rove" instead of love and "rean" instead of lean. They just cannot pronounce it. It is so funny listening because that is not how I am used to hearing people talking. All of the restaurants that have "l's" in them in America are pronounced with "r's" in Japan. Like a popular one, Red Lobster. They actually had one of those near where my family lived. They pronounce it Red Robster in Japan!

Words I know in Japanese

Here are all of the words I know in Japanese: (they might not be spelled right but I only pronounced them there)
Arigoto- (arr- ee- got- o)- thank you
gommene-(go-men-e)- excuse me
sumimasen-(sew-me-mass-en)-also mean excuse me
watachi wa Amerika jii desu-(waa-tashi-waa-aa-mer-eeka-jee-desu)- I am American
watachi wa ______ des-(waa-tashi-waa-____-des)- my name is _____
sofuto dorinku-(soft-u-toe-door-en-koo)-soft drink
mizu-(me-zoo)-water
hai-(h-iee)- yes
ie-(eei)-no
e?-what?

And that is all I know... I survived for 6 months with people who only speak Japanese knowing this little amount of their language.

Tokyo to Singapore

Tokyo and Singapore are very different from each other. First off, the weather. The average temperature in Singapore is 80 something degrees each day. But in Tokyo it is a lot colder, and it snows during the winter months. Most people in Singapore speak English, but it Tokyo, very few people speak English.
We use transportation on buses and taxies a lot more in Singapore than we did in Japan. In addition to English, Singaporeans speak Chinese. Of course that is different than Japan, where the common language is Japanese.
We live on the 16th floor of a huge apartment complex in Singapore. In Japan, we were on the second floor.
There is a lot more wildlife here in Singapore than in Japan. All we saw there were pigeons. Here there are water monitors, snakes, turtles, very large fish, and many dogs.
The dollar is worth a more here. Singaporean bills look different than American bills do, but they still call their money dollars and cents.

What I miss about Japan

Right now I live in Singapore, which is a country located under China. I really miss Japan. There are so many differences between Singapore and China.

I miss how everyone in Japan is so polite. I also miss the weather there. I was born in the south and hadn't seen snow until I was 12 years old, when it snowed a couple of times in Japan. It was amazing.

I also miss all of my friends that I made there. Some of them spoke English. Some only spoke Japanese. Those who did not speak my language we translated through hand movements and grunts, which is funny. Some of the friends I had there were Heu, Lina, Sake, Mommi (sounds just like mommy!), Yudi, Archet, etc. We had fun together and played at the park a lot. It was sad because I did not get to say goodbye to most of them (like the ones who do not speak English, they had no idea I left.)

I miss the attractions there and the shopping! I miss going down Harajuku St. and seeing all of the teenagers dressed in their odd outfits and going into all of the high-dollar stores like Louis Vuitton.

It's not that I don't like where I live now, but it's so hot here! I will always keep Tokyo in my memory, and I hope someday when I am married with children, I can take my family there.