everybody and their baby loves sakura

                                         

                                                                                  *chomp*

                                                                                ~*sakura fever*~

                                                      

blossoms from around ueno park, tokyo *april 3rd*

                                         

                                        

                                         

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                                                                                        sakura abloom

                                                                        bare trees dressed in pink and white

                                                                                         intoxicating

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scenes from lake senba, mito  *march 26*

       

                                                                       by the wind-swept lake

                                                                  small children gather to play

                                                                      and toss bread to swans

       

 

i dunno about u, but i pocky (and all those other cookie stick variants). today i’d like to share three reasons why i think they’re so great.

reason #1: (the most obvious) it’s yummy!

reason #2: some come with comics like this:

                                           

                                                                          naked shopping?

reason #3: it can fit these L size (3.5″x5″) pics inside the box for easy storage.

                              

                                                         (look! i’m green tea mousse flavor! )

here’s from my first roll of actionsampler pics…

                                                                                    HOORAY!!!

                                          

                                                                                      for……

                                          

                                                                     ice cream vending machines!

 

                                                                                 

                                           

                                               ~~~~~~~~~~~*the colors of spring*~~~~~~~~~~~

                           

                                                                                                  

                        

                     

                                              NOW, HOW’S ABOUT SOME OF THAT *SPRING*  WEATHER!????

                                                                                                

                                  seeing this bus makes driving all the way out to work so worth it

                                     

the greatest thing happened today: i actually got some FREE STUFF!! (something that has never happened to me before while in japan, with the exception of tissue packets ) the processing machine at the photo place nicked some of my slide film so all the processing & prints (processing & prints are charged separately) free!! saved like $40!! what a great misfortune!

                                                             holga’s eye view from the tower                       

                                   

*whew* what a week! 

last saturday

i started my first day of training in asahi to teach beginner pottery. i just had to make a load of square boxy lookin plates.

                                                   

i decided to test out my holga (camera) shot some pictures while i should’ve been slaving away on my assignment here’s one of the japanese ladies hard at work on her wheel, or as they call it “turn table”.

                                           

a lil sumthin from the lunch/break room… isn’t it charming looking?

                                           

this was a gift from my teacher’s friend. the clouds in the background are actually ceramic, all hand-made by my teacher’s husband. neat huh?

                                            

later that day….

:a march bday bash at sumie’s place: a few of the girls got together and bought some sponge cake to decorate for all the march bday ppl. the thing was huge! it was three layers high, and stuffed full of fresh fruit!!! yum!

                                                  

i totally didn’t expect it, but i was showered with gifts. i can’t post a pic of every single one of them since were so many, so here’s the most interesting gift: a pair of rainboots for the upcoming rainy season (can u picture me wearing these!!? i accept the challenge!! )

                                                   

these are the bestest buddies a person could have out here in this town!! THE BEST!! thanks!!  (there were more ppl, but many were passed out on the floor, or roasting marshmellows outside in the yard )

                                     

tuesday

had an interview out in chiba for an english teaching job. my time in chiba consisted of walking from the station to the office, and back. so this is all i got.

                                                      

thursday

                        

exiting shinjuku station, i followed a curious knocking sound and found me a monk. sugoii

                                     

met up with christina for some delicious indian food. i just love naan. there’s always so much of it

                    

just when i thought all the bday stuff was over, christina busted out with this big sanrio bag full of goodies for me!   i have the most thoughtful friends!!! damn u guys spoil me!! thanks tree & christina!! *hug*

                    

it aint a trip to tokyo without taking purikuras!! i took 3 sets, so i’ll space em out.. here’s the first bunch with christina. i don’t look like lucy liu do i?

emily’s in town this week. she is literally my oldest pal out here in japan. we go waaaay back to milpitas christian preschool!! it worked out perfectly that i could go to tokyo on a thursday so i could meet up with her & also christina on her day off. along with emily were a few surprise guests who were visiting (and some cool people i haven’t met before). two girls from my high school whom i have not seen since graduation in 1999, kristen & tihua. definitely a pleasent surprise seeing some old and familiar faces, esp out here in this foreign land! along with the crowd was tihua’s bf  and em’s college buddy, laura. she looked so cool in her strawberry hat! caleb.. looked a lil confused about the sign at the jr stn. wut is that supposed to mean?? 

               

while in shinjuku, we ventured thru the skyscraper district.

                                     

then up up up into an observation tower… the view was something else!!

  

not only did this tower offer an amaaaazing view, there was a great gift shop too! hahaha aspirations for the homosexual male….

                            

a cute red car that we all found so irresistable

                               

after, it was out to shibuya for beard papa’s, ramen & purikura!

*shmooosh* it’s me& emi & tee @ the ramen shop.

                                       

more purikuras…. *me & emi*

 

1) me shooting emi w/holga   2)emi beating me up           3) me gettin her back          4) lookin sooper!

let me explain the beating up part: when we were lil kids we got busted for hitting eachother on the head..

                                                              ahh memories…

 

there’s quite a lot to post about today (and the past wkend), but since that’ll take a whiiiile to do, i’ll leave u with this:

You are Windex. You are a neat freak. Quite plain and simple. If you walk into an unorganized area, you go insane. Most of your free time is spent cleaning and organizing, when you aren’t having fun with you friends. Even though many are annoyed by your constant organizing, some see it as a quality of neatness, and that is something most people envy about you. The opposite sex sees you as clean-cut and pure, though you are too shy to express your true feelings for them. You keep a list of goals and priorities in your life, and in almost all cases, accomplish them. You are the over-acheiver, most intelligent in your class, and strive to do all that is in your ability. Some people may try to take advantage of you, however, so don’t let them make you clean up their messes. “Just put some Windex.” Most compatible with: Toothbrush. Click here — What Random Object Represents Your Inner Self?