Yawn...

I must say I am getting bored of sitting around and not doing all too much. My tattoo is just starting to scab and peel from what I can see. I have not taken off my hoodie since I last showered…which was the day before yesterday. I am thinking about showering today, but it just makes me cold so I really don’t want to plus my head is kind of itchy. I hope its just dandruff, or something. I looked for lice and it does not look like there are any bugs just like dry skin in my hair. I also don’t want to shower because I don’t want to get the tattoo wet even though I can completely avoid that. I should get it wet I suppose though because I smell from that pit like the smelly kid in class. I can’t was it with soap or scrub it for reasons that will wreck the tattoo. I hope it comes out really well. I tried doing my homework a bit today and I’m pretty sure I am doing most of it wrong but it might be right so I just do it anyways. Then there are the parts that I have no idea so I am waiting until I can get a tutor. Yuki said she would help me but I am kind of embarrassed to receive her help. I suppose I should, I just don’t want to seem stupid. I suppose its more stupid not getting help. Also when I try talking people they don’t know what I’m saying half the time and when I asked someone to say it to them for me in Japanese it’s exactly what I said!! But I don’t know maybe they can’t understand my accent.

I can’t wait until the tattoo is healed and then I can get back to my normal life style of exercising and walking around the area more finding parks and such to view. I’m going to be so out of shape when P.E starts again from doing nothing for 2 weeks; also walking up the stairs to class at the Sayama campus is going to be fun. I counted and there are 132 steps going one way, (down is the easiest, other then the fact that you don’t want to trip and fall down I think you would die). Oh and so much for the trees loosing their leaves the here Bamboo and other trees that in Canada would die in a flash are considered “evergreen trees”…but then again there are evergreen trees in the tropics. I mean all that word means is that a tree stays green all year round. I just figured it was going to be like Canadian boreal areas (naive me) with coniferous evergreens. So yea, only like 1/4th of the vegetation has lost its leaves. I mean there are roses still blooming. Next year I hope it snows a lot so I can play in it back at home ha-ha.

Here is a website if you are interested in learning about some of the traditions of the Japanese New Year festivities. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_New_Year
Tomorrow I get to start celebrate it, so I will take as many photos as I can like my Mummy would like. I love you

Suprises Rock

You know what I find somewhat pathetic, is the fact that right now I wish I could be at home with my family. I suppose this has something to do with the fact that I know it is Christmas, and I am lacking that warming feeling that only your house and your family and friends can give you. I mean, unless I die before I go back to Canada and see everyone, when I am there I know I will be bored at times and wish I was in some other place. I just wish one could always be 100% satisfied with what is going on in their life at all times. Is that even possible? I mean like I don’t want to go home because this is a great experience and such, I just wish I could share it with someone physically. Perhaps when classes start again I will make a steady friend. I am mostly likely also extra lonely because my room is cold even though I have the heat at 24 degrees Celsius. I can’t put on another sweater either because of the tattoo, it would be too restricting, and so I just have a loose zip up on. I can’t bathe in a warm bath either for obvious tattoo care reasons. I think I am also extra bored because all I can do for the next weeks is keeping my left arm up as much as possible and immobile. Thus I am doing homework and it’s hard without a tutor because I am guessing a certain things and every other word I end up having to locate in the back so I can find what page the translation is on. The tattoo is so amazingly great. Oh mail! Sweet Hurrah! I just received the new bitch and ecologist magazine, just when I was getting bored out of my mind I get interesting reading material. I mean I have books but I also really enjoy current events on issues/articles I care about like the ecology and the feminism. Both seemingly go hand in hand together if you ask me. Anyways, that perked my mood up ha-ha same with ranting a bit. Hurrah, I’m glad that I could share this moment with all of you as it happens. Now I’m happy. I love bitch, it always makes me feel good about myself and it comes at about the right time because it’s quarterly so just when I’m starting to feel down about certain things going on it cheers me up and gives me extra esteem. Anyway…back to homework. Maybe a friend will fall from the sky for me. Merry Christmas (although it is the 26th for me today, its Christmas Evening for all of you North Americans) Love you

Now To Start Healing....

My God. I offically feel like I can say Im pretty motherfuckin tough (ha) for getting a tattoo in my armpit. I sat for about 7-6 1/2 hours with a couple short breaks inbetween. It was really interesting getting a tattoo all by myself. Since the tattoo artisit did not speak any english, and I did not feel like trying to speak japanese because I cant really say anything interesting and then I dont know what they are saying when they reply half the time. It looks so sweet. So I really only had myself to talk to in my head, or through the pain, I found the best thing to do during super pain was not to think at all and just accept. Ha-ha, I am waiting for him to post the photos they took of the tattoo on the web because right now its hard to take a photo of and its all bloody. This morning I woke up and I had brought my armpit down in my sleep alittle bit (like the equivelent of having my hand on my hip) and uugh I checked it out in the mirror and it was like a pile of bloody ooze in my arm pit. So I rinsed it mostly all off and Im just airing out my arm pit for the time being. I am suppose to go down to Namba (because its X-mas today) to meet some girls for lunch but I am seriously reconsidering. Its funny I was so excited for so long to get the tattoo and now that I am in pain I just want it to heal and Im like...damn 2 (1) weeks of healing is going to blow. Its so amazingly pretty though, I love it. They also gave me some stickers and their last T-shirt which is a Japanese medium but I think it will just be like a tightish bellyshirt. Anyways wish me quick healings. Loves Justine.

Shaving is for Babies...

Dude, I…Justine Lynn Bouchard totally just shaved BOTH of my armpits in the bathtub about 20mins ago. Insane I know, but it had to be done for the tattoo. I feel like a prepubescent child. People who shave their entire bodies are freaks. I could not imagine shaving all of my pubic hair off…that’s just creepy. I mean I understand the sexual appeal for some people all smooth and junk, but on so many different levels I feel it’s just wrong. Too I look extremely odd, now my pubes are lonely. I mean I have not shaved my leg hair but it’s not exactly like you can see it. Too I did not realize how lightly coloured my armpit hair was. Anyways my arm pits feel weird. A tiny, minuscule really, bit tender understandable though I mean I stopped shaving in Grade 11, and I started in grade 6/7ish. Also I don’t see why people don’t shave their heads as well if their argument for why they shave everything else is because their (the) hair is gross or they like the smooth feeling. DUDE! I’m getting my tattoo tomorrow so excite! I’m going to be in such pain! Ha-ha I love it. Thank you all so much for your X-mas gift for those who contributed to it! Loves you all, I will check in tomorrow to describe to you the entire ordeal. Wish the pain away for me! Love Hugs and Kisses

Just taken him easy...

Yah! Its break time! Hurrah!
So on Friday Mr.Ohta cancelled for some reason (hurray) and I was able to get out of class an hour and a half early which is always nice. Too it was good because every Friday now I have been dreading somewhat because he gets mad at me ha-ha. Wait that’s not funny...

So on Saturday I went and helped out with an interview for possible Japanese exchange students and then I went and walked around some random parks in the area and came home. The next day I went to a Concert for international music festival, or something or other that was okay. On Monday I met up with a student who wanted to interview me and asked me some questions. Some questions are things like describing the Canadian culture, which is multicultural so I always tell them it depends on each family’s heritage for what traditions they celebrate. My most favourite question is what I find weird about the Japanese culture. That would be the fact that they rarely touch each other. They always bow and rarely shake hands and I never see friends hugging. I have seen two couples that were in a type of embrace or holding hands. So then after people find that I think that it is a bit odd that they don’t touch they end up going out of their way to touch me. Ha-ha this is kind of funny because I know it’s not genuine and it’s somewhat awkward and a little forced on their part.

On Tuesday I did not really do too much but I went to a near by shopping center to see if I could get large amounts of money out at one time from my debit card and had no luck. So I will just have to use the post office which only lets me take out sums of $100.00 at a time. Every time I use the service it costs me $2.50 which is better because it was costing me $8.00 Canadian. I need to use the machine 8 times to get the proper amount of money I need for my tattoo and grocery money/bills for the rest of the month until I can get cash from the University. I get my tattoo on December 24th at 1pm, IM SOOOOOOOO EXCITED~! Oh I finally found a razor and the cheapest on was $8.50 roughly. Oh well I hope the shaving goes well ha-ha, I’m more afraid of that then the actual tattoo.

Today I went into Namba to see how long it would take me to walk to the tattoo parlour so I could make and educate myself on how much time I would need to have for traveling and walking and such to be on time. When I went up into the tattoo shop some man was running around in his ginch I did not think anything of it really until about an hour later and was like….sweet. Ha-ha oh I’m so excited! I also bought my first cup of coffee of sorts today in like…I don’t know…since I ‘accidentally’ ate coconut which I then happened to be allergic to and my throat closed up half way. It was not that good it was a gingerbread latte from star bucks with soymilk. I don’t even really like coffee. Watch this tomorrow I will find myself buying some because I am addicted. I found some shirts that said ‘I (heart) NAKED” I was tempted but no. I am going to go to the second hand shop in the area and see if I can find any cool band t-shirts for when I get my tattoo because I need a loose fitting top. I saw my time slot for when I should be getting the tattoo and it looked like only 4 hours…so I’m hoping that means he is a speedy artist.

Anyways tomorrow I am going to pick up more groceries, and take out monies I need. Possibly mail some post cards out that I bought today! Oh yea…and do my homework! I better not forget about that! Love you guys and thank you for all who sent me X-mas cards and gifts. Love you all so much! Feel free to visit anytime, free room and board! I’ll even cook nutritious cruelty-free/wheat-free food! Mmmmm Mmmmm Mmmmm!
Love

My back hurts...I miss couches

I have decided, finally why the houses hear look so familiar. Has any one watched ‘The Labyrinth” directed by Jim Henson (brilliant)? Well if you have ever watched far enough into the movie you will find yourself viewing the goblin city. That’s kind of what all the houses are kind of like here, very vertical and little and cramped together, narrow streets, little features. Thought I might share that with you. Speaking of sharing, I totally miss having someone who lodges in the same house as you because I find I’m too lazy to walk to the grocery store and wash the dishes. I just forced myself to wash the dishes that took about an hour, and I realized my dish towel was filthy so I could not use it to dry the dishes. They are all drying out in my shower/bath room. Not to mention my fingers are all water soggy. I also have no idea how Blake managed to wash the dishes, because the sink is pretty low, I mean I’m not that tall but it’s somewhat uncomfortable and begins to hurt washing the dishes all hunched over. At least I have clean dishes now.

Yesterday for some reason I woke up at 5am and could not sleep, and then that afternoon once my classes were finally done I was going to have a nap but it was interrupted. Seems on Friday I had said I would go to Kobe with one of the Korean boys and his friends. So I did that, it was okay, Kobe seems prettier then Osaka (down town area). I’m not really too sure though because it was dark out by the time we got there. I did not get home that night until 11pm and then I could not fall asleep for a while because I was over tired so that sucked. P.E today was okay except for the fact that I was tired. As well I got in trouble for hitting the volleyball with my foot, although I got in trouble before because I stopped the game when someone else hit the volleyball with their foot. I was then told it was part of the new rules in volleyball and its okay but then I got in trouble for it today because I could kick someone in the head. Oh well whatever, I don’t have to play volleyball for a while. Unless we play it in tomorrows P.E class…I hope not. I don’t much like volleyball. I mean not because I’m bad at it or anything, just not my thing. The only team sport I really like is baseball.

Anyways I have some interviews on Friday, and I think Saturday I have to help pick out students to go on exchange or help with the interviewing process. Might I add I’m almost 100% sure I was the only one that applied for this exchange so I’m not even sure if I’m usually what they would have sent. Hopefully Mr. Ohta won’t raise his voice at me getting mad because I’m not 100% sure on some random information, or was never interested in some random information that he is positive is a vital thing to know. Such as, what brand of clocks time the Olympic Race’s. I mean personally I’m more interested in the psychical capabilities of the contestants, and yes I know forms of measurement makes those things impressive. I never once thought “gee that’s an impressive clock that can time down to a tenth of a second, I wonder what brand it is” for me its more of “gee that’s an impressive human being that can do that in such and such a time, I wonder what country that person is from”. And honestly my favourite sports of the Olympics are diving and gymnastics the more “artsy” if you must of the bunch which is not timed but judged by people. I wonder if Blake had such problems with him, or the other girls. Ha Oh well. I’ll post an update later because I’m super cool and you all care what I’m typing. Ha and scoff.

Dude I’m totally a bored eater…or an over eater. Actually I’m totally triggering my overeating tendencies by eating sugar. Today I found these amazing like sugar covered peanuts. Then it just went down from there, I love sugar so much I just don’t know how to go around it! At least I am not being an alcoholic so that is good. I have not had a drink in 2 weeks, and I have not been drunk in 3! I just don’t think I am going to drink anymore while I’m here. Or at least not until I get my tattoo. (I’m so excited for my tattoo!)

Today when I was looking in the art gallery in the area there was this nice old dog in the store visiting with some people. Her name was Annie and she was fourteen years old, and when I went to pet her after letting her smell me she immediately shook my hand which was nice. She was a really nice cute dog, made me miss Lucy dog! Before that I went into a little crafty store and bought some bobby pins that have decorations on them for my hair (when it gets a bit longer) and I bought this one really sweet pin that was on a really old post card written on January 9th 1913.

I believe it came from the USA, due to a stamp being from the USA for 1 cent. It was addressed to a J.R Higgins Saq. In Winnipeg (Canada in case you don’t know for some reason). The letter says: “Dlear[sic] Rus. It is raining today looks more like home this is the first rain I have seen it has rained (I think it says –here) before (something I can’t make out) the night. Onto (I think is says -lives) Yours Lovingly (I think it says –Jaci.).” So that is basically what I can make out from the tiny handwriting. On the front of the post card it reads ‘H(the h is a nice fancy dressed up letter like you see on the first letter in scrolls)ere’s a little message for your eye alone I am thinking of you always tho far away from home.’ It’s so freaking cool, the tag on it says in English 1910’S German Post Card Vitage[sic] Swarovski. It cost me 23$ but that’s okay because I got a really nice pin that the Swarovski company makes. I think I am going to frame it when I get home. I was first intrigued by the nice little bobby pin/what the post card said but when I flipped it over and read what the person wrote. It seems just so metaphorical to me. I felt touched like I knew the person, and I suppose that it was sent to Canada (from what I assume was the USA because it has a postage stamp from there). Oh it’s so cool!

Other then that Mino was beautiful and I felt ways more comfortable then I have felt in a really long time getting to walk in a beautiful forest off “the mainstream cement beaten track” although the main path was cement. It reminded me somewhat of nelson but with less buildings and such going up the actual mountain. Also once you keep on walking a pit higher off until the top where there is a road there is a hiking trail! I made Michelle come up with me most of the way but then she said I could carry on and I did. When I reached the top, I noticed there were a couple more paths that one could go hiking on so I totally want to go back there with someone when they come and visit me and go hiking. Don’t worry its not that intense. On the top of that path there was a look out post, so I climbed the stairs excited to see more wide open land…nothing but forest! Reality checked in though when I gazed upon endless urban sprawl. Tear* I thought I was far out in the forest when realistically in the distance through the haze you can see giant sky scrappers and planes coming in for landings…endless city. I figure maybe if we climbed up the other mountains there would be forest. I did not see a path going the other way but when I go back I am going to find out. I hope I would be disgustedly disappointed. It severely made me miss Canada. When I come home someone please take me up a mountain so I can see endless forest again and breathe a sigh of relief.

As well on Monday I got to join this man named Sadamune Yuto who works at the university and speaks very good English (that little boy that I have a photo of in one of my Kyoto albums, the one I went on a tour with, well that is his son). He invited me to come out with his class who he is teaching to become English teachers from what I understand. We went out to a small garden close by that they tend to, because it shows good care just like how one needs to tend children’s needs. That was the motive behind it, anyways I helped fertilize STRAWBERRIES~! Yummy, so he said in May I can come around anytime I want and eat them…ha-ha…he should have never said that too me! As well for helping out I received a giant Japanese radish, so that was good. I hope I can go out with them again, I really enjoyed gardening. Odd that you can garden in December, ha-ha for me anyways! Well that is what has been going on lately so I will talk to you all later, I hope people are reading this…otherwise it is pointless almost for me to write this. Anyway…I Love you all!

Weirdo

Well I’m super cool and was tired tonight because I woke up at 7am for some reason on a Saturday when the evening before I went to bed around 12:30. So I decided to go to sleep around 8:50pm. I woke up because I had to pee and since then have been tossing and turning for a while so finally decided to look at the clock and it was only 11pm. So now I’m awake from my power nap and what not, made some organic peppermint tea. Lately I have been hanging out in my room in the evenings, like always but now it’s starting to seem repetitive. I mean all I really do is hang out on the net because I have nothing too inspiring to do other then that. I would draw but I’m not too inspired here at times. It’s not like I can go out in the evenings and do things anyways because it’s expensive to go into Namba more then once or twice a week (which I prefer to do on the weekends) and then the only thing to really do there is go shopping; I’m not into shopping.

Today Michelle and I went into Umeda and went to an exhibition of like…preserved body parts via orient style. I was expecting it to be like the one the Vancouver was hosting for a bit from the German artist who was using the bodies in various normal activities and such but this one was different and oriental as all of the specimens appeared to be of such decent. It was really interesting to look at and made me what to point out to everyone how bloody disgusting it is to eat meat. The people meat looked like some sort of thick beef jerky. So yeah vegetarians you meat eaters are disgusting, I mean really unless you produce your own meat you really might be eating a human. So although the exhibition was pretty cool (I wish I could have read the information) it was also somewhat disturbing as they were real people at one point. I was also amazed at how little they were, half the time I kept thinking they were 12 year olds bodies but it’s just because this culture is built so much smaller then North Americans.

Tomorrow we are going up to Minnow. I don’t think it’s spelled like that but it should be fine. So hopefully the weather will be decent enough. This morning it was unbelievably warm out for Dec.1st I was almost in disarray. The afternoon/evening cooled right off though. It’s odd to be somewhere where there is maybe 3 months of winter and mostly summer; complete opposite of Dawson Creek.

The old man that teaches me last block on Fridays definitely does not really like me. Ha he totally got mad at me and told me I was a bad student or incompetent. Even though his class is not a formal class and we basically talked about what kind of food he likes. He also basically told me I was difficult to try and show Japanese culture because I can’t eat any of the food, which he often reminds me with such disappointment in his voice. He was mad at me because I did not know the name of the temples I went to in Kyoto and was upset that I don’t carry a notebook with me 24/7 and write down everything I see. He also told me that my parents must be disappointed in me that I can’t tell them what temples I am all seeing when go to Kyoto. My parents don’t care which temple I have gazed upon, nor would it really register in their minds, like in one ear and out the other. He also ragged on me for not being interested in what kind of dead fish there are in the markets, or looking at them. Even though I pointed out I’m vegan, he still thinks I should go look and find out what kind of fish they kill. It’s really depressing seeing large fish in small tanks and over crowed tanks at that. Not to mention knowing their fate. I did not argue with him, I just agreed and took it. So I’m going to try and a carry a notebook with me tomorrow and take “notes” on things, I think I’ll draw beside it…so to appease the old man. Once he left though the lady in the room that over heard my lecture agreed with me that it’s so unnecessary or unimportant to take such notes down. I mean if someone actually finds something that interesting they tend to make mental notes, or go out of there way to make sure they remember such information. I don’t know, whatever we are just too very different people with out personal views and interests which kind of blows because I’m into art, nature and equality and he so is not. Oh well! It’s still somewhat interesting the things he tells me about when he’s not lecturing me on how incompetent, unsuccessful and useless my information I give to other people must be/ I am.

So I’ll write tomorrow again about Minnow. Loves you people, come visit me for X-mass. Oh yea I also found out my tattoo is going to be about 70,000yen. So that’s like $700.00…with the exchange rate I get though it will end up being around 620$ or something I reckon. Feel free to send me X-mass money so I can afford the tattoo! Love you