Last curry.

Another year have to pass by until i come back.

I don't wanna go back to Europe!!! Wanna stay here for another while... Someone kidnap me and hold me here as a hostage!

Day 69. NO PICS YET.

Ainu Festival was awesome!!!

In that kinda festival i can find Japan i wanna see. It was a little little tiny bit disappointing, that today was a day of talks and seminars, which i cannot properly understand and all the music was on Saturday, so i payed just basically in order to be there, enjoy the clear air, listen to the mountain river next to that place, meet my friends and talk to some new people. There was one music performance and dancing, where i was involved as well and it made me SO MUCH fun!

I again got to meet people from Omaezaki and they are incredible people without any doubts! I also talked to some random people in the festival and if i didn't have any language barrier it would be just outstanding. I can feel way more free in Japan than for example in Germany, and i keep asking myself why.

It started raining in the evening and got really cold, so we didn't wait until it ended, but it still was a good experience. Leah, Tom and Jin joined me, so it was nice to go there as a group, even though it scattered a little bit afterwards. I'm sure i would be able to find lots of nice people in Japan... I am sure... 

Day 68. NO PICS YET.

Today i was angry with myself right in the morning. Weather forecast was rain and clouds as always and since past days were like that, i even didn't doubt it, so i just enjoyed my sleep and staid in bed until 12 oclock (i staid up late last night!!), but when i woke up and opened my eyes i saw that blue sky and sun!! And i was sooo angry with myself, then i went to facebook and saw friend's messages on my wall like "fuck, wake up!" and i was angry even more... But luckily she logged into facebook again and we decided to meet - it's a girl i met in Sasayama while wwoofing. She's lovely and she reminds me of one person... 

We went to Imperial Palace and took a walk, ate my home-made onigiri and just chatted... We met in Tokyo station and i could praise my intuition once again! Last year i stayed out of Tokyo station by all means, but this year i couldn't avoid it and now i understand why subconsciously i didn't wanna go there - it's a mess there. It's not as big as Shinjuku for example, but it's really spacious and there's not much of directions and maps, so basically you have arrows pointing this and that, but when you arrive the arrows disappear, so you're left with guessing. Did not like it!  

Imperial Palace is a big park after all... It's nice for walking around, i might come back again! I liked it.

After that we went to Mitaka and just walked around. It's a nice district. Mitaka and Kichijoji - there i can go quite often. It's a little bit further away from the center of Tokyo, so it's a big relieve to be out there... 

In the evening i met Cody and Reiko - two people also from Sasayama wwoofing. They are extremely lovely people and one of those who make my going back to Europe harder. Leaving all those people here is heartbreaking. Even though i DID miss my friends back at home, i really did...

Tomorrow i'm going to Ainu Matsuri and gonna be surrounded by nature - totally looking forward to it. 

Today was sunny, but actually cold and i'm worried i caught a cold, but i'm a tough girl - i won't let any illness bring me down on my journey in Japan. 

Day 67. NO PICS YET.

Today i again disappointed in Tokyo... Before i took off to Yokohama to meet my friend, i stopped at totally random district and wanted just to find a place to drink tea and read a book. After walking for around 40 minutes i ended up in train station again, drinking expensive tea at Starbucks, having people all around me, so i just shoved the tea down the throat and ran away as fast as possible. It happens really often in Tokyo - you're trying to find something, but you end up in a train station, because it is the only place where you can find anything. By the way, the district i ended up in was Meguro - do not go there if you don't have anything to do there, because there's nothing there, just working/business buildings and some hotels. 

Anyway, i did find an organic section (just a section...) in a food market in Meguro station, which looked quite good, but really expensive. 

After that i went to Yokohama, because i thought i'm gonna be a little bit luckier there - i still had time until we meet, so i had to do something. So then again i got disappointed, this time in Yokohama. I couldn't find a fucking bench outside the station!!! Went to a manga/anime geeky store with hope to find a couch there or something like that, but then again i failed. One guy got really nervous seeing a foreigner girl there and bumped at a big pile of manga plastic models, messing everything. Was actually funny. I really wanted to just sit down somewhere, so i was just walking around, looking for a potential place and i saw a nice book store and a book shelve ladder thingy, so i just sat down there and was reading cooking books. 

Evening with Natsuko and her mom was really nice! We went to Miffy exhibition which was really interesting and i felt a small pinch inside when reading/hearing (video footage) dutch language, it was a small hint about going back home and somehow dutch language made me at ease with me going back to Europe. I'm gonna put some more efforts in that language, because i do wanna speak well. 

We went to a buffet (Natsuko really loves that kinda eating out) near Yokohama station and food was really amazing! It was so delicious, i completely stuffed myself. I ate so much, i barely could walk afterwards. But that's what we do with my friend - stuff so badly and then talk about how much weight we gained lately. Isn't it fun? Eating out is actually a nice attraction! I wish she and her parents could visit me in Germany one day, that would be really awesome! I bet they would love it, i would love it as well. I hope they'll find some time one day... (as long as i'm still there) 

Oh, and today i tried yet another brand of Melon Pan (Big Fan) - Melon Pan with chocolate chips. OMG, that was really delicious! I recommend it to everyone who could grab it... 

Day 66.

Thursday. 

It would have been my day off if i would have still wwoofed, but those days are over. At least for this summer or this year... It' is strange indeed to be here in Tokyo and realize that i'm not gonna go yet to another location, that i'm not gonna continue my wwoofing summer that this - is the final spot, those are the last days in Japan and they're in Tokyo.

Yesterday when i entered the house, i realized that i've forgotten to ask the door code, but instead of panicking i just let my fingers do their job and i got in! My inner me remembered the code from last year, can you imagine? It feels so at home... I never really liked Tokyo too much, because it's so different than what i would wanna be in, but it feels a lot more home, than for example Lithuania - strange feeling, huh? I wouldn't like to live in Tokyo for a long time, so it doesn't feel home as in a place i wanna be or a place my heart is craving, but it feels home out of habit, out of the practical fitting in, because i feel i do belong somewhere out there.

I always thought i've been born in a wrong time and wrong place. And i still think i'm right. Or maybe my past life character is too loud inside of me and doesn't let me live right now and here. 

It's raining today, so there's no sightseeing. I actually don't have too much to visit, because i did a lot last year - and realized just this year, when i was looking through sight seeing pamphlets and internet pages. It's strange, that you can see basically everything in a huge city like that! 

So this year i would love to discover nice shops and cafes, if that's possible at all. 

In the evening i couldn't stand sitting at home, so i went for a walk and i found one really nice thing that made me smile like a child - i found my mom's favorite tea - oh, how lucky could i be? - so i took couple of packs for her, because after going back to Europe i'm going to England and then visiting Lithuania for 3 days. 

Later on we went with my friend to Roppongi for a walk and i also met Jin - a painter -, so we chatted and took a walk... He did however ask to hold my hand, which made me feel awkward a little bit, but even more, it made me ask myself - am i really that likable?? Just yesterday we had this big fight with my special one, but guys keep on popping out totally out of blue, when i least expect it. Oh i wish i found a person i'm dreaming about. Maybe one day i will and when i do, i won't let go of him/her. 

Day 65.

I couldn't avoid problems on the road - like most of the times. I'm so unlucky with transportation sometimes and i'm not just talking about being late or trains/buses/planes coming late, but i already have quite a list here. Train strikes - almost missed the flight, accidents on rails because of which trains didn't arrive, being stuck in Brussels because of, first, german train strikes, then because of french train delay - stopping in the middle of the way because of unexpected problems, missing trains, buses breaking down in the road, buses lost on the road, plane waiting for the new pulling-car, because the one broke down and stuff like that.... Today there was an accident on the highway, which made the Tomei Highway bus stop in Shizuoka. So i had to go to the train station first, get a train and after 5 or 6 times transferring to another train i finally made it to Tokyo! I was a little bit tired afterwards but i didn't let it get to me and after saying hi to the friend i'm staying at, i went to NiModo gallery in Shibuya to meet with old friends from last year.... And that just made my day!!! Last year we couldn't communicate too much, because of language gaps, but this year, when i finally talked japanese to them, it was so much easier! I was really glad and i came back home after couple of hours with a huge smile on my face. I met three people from last year and i hope i meet them again until i leave! Well, one of them i'm gonna definitely meet on Sunday - the Ainu Matsuri in Tokyo. Anyone who has some free time on Sunday (or Saturday - it's the whole weekend, but i'm going just on Sunday) please, feel free to join me! 

This year, i will try to enjoy Tokyo. Last year i didn't like it too much... And today i also was worried the plan to enjoy it is gonna fail too fast, because oh, how can i fall in love with the city who doesn't have much in common with me? A city filled with buildings, transportation, trash and plastic bags, a cold concrete jungle, a city where so much is wrong... But i will try to find good places, i will do my best! 

Day 64. NO PICS YET.

Today for my last evening we had Okonomiyaki party with Emi-San, who is a photographer, so she also consulted me with my portfolio... Everything was so delicious, and yet so usual that i couldn't believe i am gonna leave next day in the morning. But then again, i remember one thing i told to myself when i was still back in Sasayama - i'm still too young to attach to just one thing and i have to move on in order to experience as much as possible. I stuffed my belly full with amazingly delicious okonomiyaki and sweets afterwards...

The night before, don't know why, i couldn't fall asleep until 6 oclock in the morning and i didn't take a nap through out the whole day so i expected myself to be dead by the time Emi even arrives and was worried about our little okonomiyaki party, but i wasn't even THAT tired and when i got back home i didn't have the craving for bed, like i should have had, so it was strange... But maybe it's just an energy boost i got for the last day in there!

In the afternoon a friend of hosts came by and taught me how to prepare a raw cake. It was just superb!!! We prepared peach raw cake and banana/choco raw cake - it doesn't take much time, it doesn't have to be baked, so it saves up resources and it's really refreshing - you eat it straight from the fridge (or freezer). Banana/choco has a tender flavor, while the peach cake feels light as a feather and just melts on your tongue.

This place taught me things that i really value right now and i think they're gonna be important in the future, so i'm glad i could have this kinda experience. Slowly i get a clearer vision of the life i want and every day and every step made gets me closer and closer to it. I made many many mistakes, but maybe it all worked out for the better of it - with all the mistakes made, wrong decisions and fuck ups, i now know what i want and i don't have to just go guessing around.

Tomorrow I'm leaving to Tokyo and in a week - going back to Europe...

Day 61 and Day 62. NO PICS YET

The weekend here was pretty easy this time... Even though we had quite a few big reservations all the customers were really clean and pretty quiet. One of the group was family group with children of age 1-3, so they also didn't drink too much and it was quite fun. We set up camp fire as well, where they could roast marshmallows! 

On Sunday - day 62 - we finished quite early with customers and just friends stayed, so i asked if i could back home and finished packing. So now i just have to let 2 days go by and i'm going to Tokyo... for my last run before going back to Europe. 

Who wants to meet?

Day 40.

Today was a WOW-day. Really positive, pretty active and quite interesting. I woke up and had a really nice surprise just right next to me... Well, in the room i’m staying there are two more girls that arrived yesterday. So, there i am, waking up, looking to the right and there’s this almost naked girl with tiny undies and sexy tattoos all over her hot area. I couldn’t stop looking, even felt perverse at some point. Was a nice morning start!

After i left the house i spent basically all day out, came back just in the early evening and then left again pretty soon and came back for good late in the evening.

I went to the zoo, cause it was pretty cheap. It wasn't the best zoo ever, but it sure wasn't as bad as some people say. But how they keep animals didn't make me too happy... The cages aren't too big and some of the turtles are kept just in a simple aquarium... But it's pretty big and it takes you couple of hours there, so it's nice, but be ready for it - i didn't have anything edible with me, but didn't wanna spend money on food in the zoo, because they charge you also for the location, so the last 30 minutes i was hungry as hell and just ran towards the exit!

The fun started actually afterwards. Probably i have to mention, that i stuffed myself full with nice delicious stuff (sweets and ice cream), even though i have to take care of what i eat, but what the heck - i have to enjoy Japan! I took a long long walk and actually it wasn't that nice, the places i was. But it was somehow interesting... The Tennouji district isn't the best one, it's pretty poor and kinda dirty. I found an area where homeless people stay and it's not just a park with couple of blue tents, which is so common in Japan it was a huge area with hundreds of them! But the good part in a poor district is that they have pretty cheap super markets - i bought some fruits, cause it was reasonable. I didn't dare taking pictures around those places, so i ended up in just walking around. It was i guess the first time in Japan, where i felt i kinda wanna get out of that place - never had that before.

It was getting too hot, so i just spent maybe an hour in the JR Loop train. It goes in a circle all the time, so if you bought a cheapest ticket and just didn't get off and went round and round - they wouldn't charge you anything, as long as you're getting off in the end at the right station. It's cool in the train, so it's a good place to rest and sleep a little bit.

So when i cooled off, i went to Nanba! Kinda shopping/amusement district. It is basically Osaka's version of both Shinjuku and Harajuku fused into one. It's quite an interesting district, nice to just walk around. I tried to make some japanese-street-fashion shots, but i kinda failed, maybe it was too hot, maybe i wasn't in the right mood or maybe it's just bad timing, which happens so often in this kinda photography i guess. I ended up in buying a backpack and adidas shoes today... I'm really happy about the purchases, even though shoes were kinda expensive! But it was on sale and it was the last pair (and believe me, finding your size in Japan is already worth stopping and thinking about buying it), so i couldn't resist. I wanted to buy sneakers in Japan, but i was kinda looking for cheap ones, but these are just too good to be left there on the shelf! And it's adidas, and it's comfy, and and and... I'm sorry... I'm really happy about it though and there's one thing we should never forget: never regret something that once made you smile!

In the evening me and other couch surfers went to a nice sushi place and i again stuffed myself completely! I ate 8 plates which is A LOT for me... But it again made me happy. And also, i deserve it maybe, because i've been eating really simply, so it's nice to spoil yourself every once in a while. Besides, i'm leaving Osaka tomorrow, so i won't have a chance to go there any time soon!

Today i spent lots of time just exploring and i realized the difference between Tokyo and Osaka - Osaka is light and bright, it often feels like a resort, since it's so sunny and has way more friendly coloured buildings than Tokyo. It also has more space, even the trains and streets are more spacious. It has places in the middle of the city basically where you have lots of green parks! Prices are similar and i guess there are lots of similarities between those two cities, but the feeling you get differs a lot. Tokyo is one big pile of dark concrete, which sometimes might frustrate people. It seems, that Osaka is more easy going city... But i couldn't tell which one i prefer. Too difficult to decide... But it might be Osaka. It might be...

Tennouji Zoo:

A little bit more of Osaka:

Day 19 and Day 20.

These two days i’m gonna merge together, because i just didn’t have the chance to write about them separately and right now, it’s a little bit stupid to write two different posts, when everything’s mixed together already.

I’m afraid there’s gonna be more merged posts, cause we don’t have any wi-fi at this host and there’s just one computer and around 15 wwoofers, so i’m almost sure, i’m not gonna be keep my blog updated daily, but i shall try and we’ll see how it goes!

So yesterday i left Hino... I got kinda soft and felt a bit upset after leaving it, because i really started to get used to things there and also because i attach to places and people. I love travelling and i do that a lot in fact, but i have this attachment thing, that actually ruins the fun, because i know i’m not gonna meet most of the people ever again, but still i wanna keep my hopes up and of course, i get disappointed most of the times, when the obvious happen - those people just drift apart. But is it wrong for me to want to keep nice people in my life? Or is it just too desperate?

Yesterday after leaving Hino i went to the embassy first and actually planned staying just for a couple of minutes, repack, leave and come back just before closing time to get my suitcase, but it ended up in me staying there for couple of hours and leaving before closing time, but without ever going out. Maybe it’s because i still feel one of them, maybe because i want to feel like them, besides it really brings the memories, so i feel nice being there. Just entering the Azabu-Juuban district makes my smile bigger. I never liked Tokyo too much, but i’d be lying if i said, i don’t feel nice there. It is nice to find familiar places, it’s nice to know where to go, and yes, i got attached to that place as well - i was living there for three months last year after all.

I am coming to Tokyo for the last 5 days of my trip this year and i’m already looking forward to it.

After visiting the embassy, i spent the evening with Adam! Even though we had to carry my baggage all around (one big backpack and one big suitcase), it was still fun. We went straight to Shinjuku, where my bus was leaving from, so we don’t have to change our spot too much anymore. It was weird sensation i got. At first i knew just approximately where to go, but with every second passing by and with every step we made, memories came back rushing to me and brought me to the point, where i knew exactly where i’m going and where i can find what. I didn’t spend too much time last year in Shinjuku, but the feeling of being in some kinda familiar place, made me feel at ease. It was nice of Adam to spend the whole evening with me, because if not him, i probably would be just sitting in Starbucks for 5 hours and waiting for my bus to come.

Instead, we did quite a few things until my departure time, but that time also came! I’ve never travelled by this night bus before, so it was a new experience for me. And now i know that i should recommend this way of travelling for everyone, who’s not afraid of spending the whole night in the bus. Of course, it’s not as fast as Shinkansen (the high speed train), but it’s also three times cheaper, so it’s a pretty good deal, i think. I left Shinjuku around 22:30 oclock and i was in Osaka at 7:00 oclock in

the morning. The seats were big and comfy, but i spend a great amount of time (basically the first half of the night) trying to figure out where to put my long european legs, because they were hurting a little bit, but after i found a way, i slept like a baby. Starting with Kyoto my eyes were wide open, looking at everything through the window, because everything was new and interesting. There were so many mountains - i was just impressed. I spent just couple of minutes in Osaka, but i already got the first impression of it. It is really different from Tokyo!!! Not just practical things like for example, in Tokyo you’re always standing at the left side of the escalators while leaving the right side free for people who’re in rush and just wanna go faster. But in Osaka, it’s opposite system. So i was blocking the traffic for a while. But i had my comfort in the fact, that i did that not because i’m a plain foreigner, but because i’m a Tokyo Foreigner so to say - was raised in Tokyo and adapted to that city. Anyhow, the city has this strange feeling that i cannot really describe. It was still an early morning, so everyone was rushing just like in Tokyo you might say, but they did that in their own manner, the whole city felt like its moving with passerby's pace, while Tokyo always holds his grounds and never moves. Its concrete is firm and unchangeable, while Osaka has this floating sensation, but then again - i was tired, it was all new and i had just 5 minutes there, so it might be very wrong what i write here. I will be able to explore the city some more in 15 days though, so i’m already excited about it!

I arrived in Sasayama with some kinda relieve. The mountainous view still continued to please me as i went on in the train to the very spot. At first i was just reading a book but the view impressed me so much, i put my book back into the bag without even noticing that and my eyes were just eating every single glimpse of that amazing view. Valleys and rivers between the mountains, greenery everywhere, some fluffy clouds at the summits of the mountains. I felt tears gathering in my eyes and i felt at ease... With every tunnel we went into, i pulled a long face, and when we got out for those couple of seconds i was ready to observe as much as possible. “How beautiful can a country be...” i was thinking. I was praying that the mountains stay with every station passing by and when i arrived to the last stop - Sasayamaguchi i was lucky and smiling, since the mountains were still there. I took a deep breathe and just enjoyed the view for a while without going through gates.

I had some time before i got picked up and i was surprised how quiet it is here! Probably i shouldn’t be surprised, since it’s a really small town and i knew it, but the realization that it might be SO quiet never visited me. I got my hope back that it can be better than Hino, but i’m a little bit worried about the work itself here. We have lots of people here and they seem really friendly, but some kinda strange system started working in me and i wanna back off a little bit - never really had that in this kinda situation. So i’m worried. The house is big and spacious, we have backyard and are gonna eat lots of fresh vegetables. The food isn’t too promising though, because we totally depend on what farmers give to us, so we’re gonna eat really simple things like rice, oats and vegetables, noodles every once in a while. “It might get boring” told me one girl, and normally i wouldn’t complain about it, because i prefer healthy simple food over the complex one, but since my anemia basically came back just before i left to Japan, i would really like to have raw fish every once in a while. Well, every host has his own rules.

The work sounds pretty tough. We start at 6 oclock in the morning and work until 10 oclock, then have 5 hours break and work for another 3 hours, so we have 7 hours working day and mostly we work in the farms and fields, so it is gonna be way more difficult than in Hino, but i hope i can pull it through, those 15 days. We have two days off and, oh boy am i lucky, our “weekend” is thursday and wednesday, so tomorrow and the day after. Today i also wasn’t working, because it my first day and i also felt a little bit bad after the night trip. I didn’t sleep that much after all, and after i took a nap in the afternoon i felt cold and dizzy, so i was just waiting until the dinner in the bed, because i didn’t wanna overdo on my first day. They have lots of mountains here and the roads are not too busy, so i might be able to do some sports finally! There is a waterfall nearby, so i’m all excited about exploring the realm here. The city is pretty far away, but i’ll be trying to go there on one of those days off, since it’s getting ready for a festival and i think it would be nice to make some pictures.

So the first impressions are quite interesting: i’m happy because of the view and the peace here, but i’m worried about the work. But there’s just one way to find out if it’s worth worrying, simple by doing it, so i’m gonna be a little bit restless until Friday, which is gonna be my first working day.

Days here are gonna end pretty soon, since we will have to wake up rather early, maybe at 5 oclock in the morning, so we will also be going to sleep not too late. I hope i can rest here mentally... There is one girl who also was in Hino, so we had lots to talk about! We were sharing our experiences with Kazuko and just telling each other about this and that. She is telling everyone not to go there by any means. Poor host-family on one hand, but on the other - it’s to be expected if you treat people like that.

Day 2.

Today was a hot day. WAS A HOT DAY. I even had to turn on air conditioner in my bedroom, so i could cool off a little bit, because it was a torture already. We went to Tokyo today and it was even worse, since it's just concrete everywhere and the place where the embassy is, is pretty far from the sea, so it's bad... But i survived!

We didn't do anything special today, but visiting Tokyo sure was a nice experience for me. It brought so many memories back and it made me think of so many things! I got the chance to talk to people, that i've seen one year back and it was really nice! We also came at the right time (well maybe not the time, but definitely the right day), because they were having a small event at the embassy. 4 short documentary movies about Lithuania were shown, so we helped out a little bit with the reception and drinks. Just like old days...

We had some free time between our visit and the event, so we went for a walk in Azabu-Juuban and it was just like i've never left Japan!!! I felt so natural and normal there... The soy cafe, which opened last year, when i was working, was still there, so we had lunch and were just chatting for couple of hours. I still knew the streets and the shops, luckily not much has changed, so i really felt at home. I bought a nice dress at one shop, where i bought one dress last year, so it's something like my tradition already. That means, i just have to come back to Tokyo next year and the year

after and every year for the rest of my life and at this point i kinda think, it would be easier if i just lived here. There are many many things that i don't understand and cannot understand in Japanese culture, there are many things that i don't agree to, but despite all the negative stuff, there's so much of positive and appealing things and i feel really well being here.

The embassy was really so nice! Even though Gabija's perfume were choking me and that brought lots of bad memories, which kinda spoiled the whole fun, but it's a long story. Anyway, i try concentrating on positive things, right? I was just shining at the embassy! I was just helping out and acting as if i would still work there and it kinda gave me the feeling, that i have places were i belong and feel welcomed. That's a nice feeling - it gives u confidence and security.

I contacted one of friends in Tokyo as well, because i want to meet them in September, when i'm staying in Tokyo for couple of days, and his message totally warmed me up, i was smiling the whole evening because of that and i felt really touched. He didn't say welcome to Japan (ようこそ) or have a nice visit or anything like that, instead he said: welcome BACK (おかえり), it's rather an expression you use when someone comes back to one's own place, like for example, when somebody comes back home, you also greet them by saying: okaeri. That made me really overjoyed... But also a little bit confused. Because i started thinking, what is so wrong with the country i was born in, that i never get the feeling i wanna go back, or when i go back, i never feel welcomed and nice, i always feel like a stranger and never like i'm at home!

On our way back to Yokohama, i experienced japanese rudeness for the first time. We were talking to Natsuko in english in the subway and then some japanese man told in pretty rough english: BE QUIET. 5 times. Wasn't very polite, taking in consideration the fact, that there were other people all around us, who were talking in japanese just as loud as we were talking in english, but i guess english offended him a little bit, or the fact, that we're having fun and laughing - i don't know why we got that kinda reaction, but we did. And even as we kept on whispering, he repeated 2 more times "be quiet". Natsuko apologized and went silent for a while, and i really don't wanna cause her any trouble, but as i told her as well, i like treating all people equally, so i like being treated equally as well. If he would have told that to everyone who was talking, it wouldn't have been a problem for me, but the way he did that and the fact that he told that just for us, offended me a little bit. I think he was rude... But maybe he was drunk, who knows. It would have been interesting to ask him, why he did that. But it's too late now.

The days pass by and with every day i start speaking japanese more and more, today i even did the unbelievable - i talked in japanese with Natsuko a tiny bit, although normally i always use english with her. But i speak japanese to her mom a little bit and i had to speak some japanese in the embassy, of course it's not much and i should do way more, but it's just second day, so i'm not pushing myself to hard. Besides, when i start working from next week, there's not gonna be anyone who can speak english around me, so i'll just HAVE to switch to japanese completely (which is good). I'm still looking for a Wwoof host in Kansai area, so i hope i could find someone quick.

Day 1.

So, my first day is done... I again got to notice how fast it gets dark here, since the sun goes down rather fast. I'll have to get used to it again... The heat is again a challenge for me, i have to admit, but i think i'll get used to that faster than the last time. It does kinda bring memories and i feel happy, no matter how hot it is. The weather forecast brought news about rain and storms, so we'll see how it goes today. The heat in itself is not a big problem, but the stickiness just drives me crazy!! All my clothes, even my underpants seem like glued to my skin. Very uncomfy...

Today, by the way, i'm going to Tokyo. Together with Natsuko we're gonna visit the embassy, where we worked last year. Most of the staff is on vacation, but there's gonna be at least couple of them, so i suppose it's nice to say hi. On Saturday we're gonna visit one zoo here in Yokohama (pictures pictures @__@!!!), on Sunday we're meeting another friend, who also lives in Yokohama and she has her b-day, so it's gonna be fun! Monday is also for a small sight-seeing, we're going to a nice park and maybe visiting one old temple. I have the whole day for myself on Tuesday, because Natsuko's working, so i'm gonna be on my own. I should meet another friend, who's living in Yokohama, but i haven't called him yet. Have to do it fast, though...

I feel really welcomed at Natsuko's house and i'm really grateful for that! Yesterday i've been making some pictures of her house, but i haven't finished yet. Hopefully i have some time soon, so i can finish it up and when i retouch the pictures, i'm gonna leave some of them to her family here... Just yesterday i mentioned, that i'm in love with raw fish and in the evening we had sashimi for the supper. I was so impressed! They are really warm and nice people.

The more time passes by, the more i feel like i've never left Japan. It seems like i just went to sleep yesterday evening, then wake up this morning and i'm still in Japan, like any other day one year ago. It's strange. Even though i still have the language barrier, i feel like i've always been here and wanna stay for way longer than these 2,5 months. So i'll have to use my time wisely. It feels nice, when i know what to do in certain situations and i remember how unsecure i felt the first time in Japan. So i'm definitely improving!

When i arrived to Japan, i got a really cheap ticket from Narita to Yokohama, so i was pretty happy about that, even though i had to switch 3 trains. I also was travelling on the route where there's no foreigners (or at least not many), so i got lots of attention immediately. It was so strange to meet Natsuko after almost one year, but at the same point it again felt like i never left Japan for good, it seemed like any other meeting. We went to eat at a nice buffet, where you can stuff your belly as much as you want and still pay a fixed price, so we used the opportunity very well indeed!

Yesterday we didn't do much actually, but i already spent lots of money just because of my stupidity. First of all, i left my camera charger at home (which normally NEVER happens) and i just had to buy it, because i would rather choose starving than not taking pictures. I expected it to be way cheaper. Along with the charger i bought a second battery, because i was planning on doing that. The price got me by surprise tho... Anyway, something happened, that i couldn't even imagine! I got a gift as a sign of "Japanese hospitality", like the shop assistant told me in pretty good english. I was looking for a new camera case, but couldn't find the right one: all of them were either too big, or too small, besides they were pretty expensive. And then he came to me with a new case, which was branded EOS Digital, so it is official Canon case and suggested to try it out. It fit perfectly and looked good and then the unbelievable part came: he said, it's a gift, i can keep it for free. And this again reminded me, that Japan is a country, where anything can happen. Anywhere. And anyhow. It is important that you open up to the culture and turn on all your receiving points, so anything can come to you and you're ready to take it.

On our way to Yokohama station we met an interesting guy from U.S., he's in military, but now just learning in Japan. He's also living in Yokohama, so maybe we're gonna meet again... Who knows. I'm leaving to Hinoshi on Tuesday and before that i still have lots of plans like i mentioned above already.

Yesterday we found a nice household utilities' shop in Yokohama station, it's called On&Off, but i'm gonna upload pictures later! Just one funny thing - i found a german dishwasher which in Germany is really usual (i also buy it) and not expensive. Here it's around 9 Euros!!!! Soooo wicked.

I couldn't resist Melon Pan (melon flavor bun, which is i think pretty much typical japanese, since i haven't seen that anywhere else), so i had to buy those and i was lucky to find a nice bakery in Yokohama station which was called Pompadour. I liked not just their goods, but also their concept on one thing - every time you don't take that plastic bag from the bakery, you get a stamp and when you get enough stamps, you can get bread for free! Isn't that nice? Very environment-friendly. Uuuh, boy, do i like those small nice Japanese shops!

Meronpan

I started sleeping proper again, which is really nice, but yesterday i even couldn't finish my blog. That's how much i was tired, my eyes just kept on closing, so i decided to spoil myself with some good quality sleep. I again go to sleep around 23 oclock and wake up around 7 oclock in the morning. Anyway, i notice that i ten to get tired rather fast and i guess it's because of the heat, but it should get better with time, as i adapt to the climate. Besides, it should get slightly colder in September. I took my yoga book, so maybe i'm gonna practice it a little bit, when i'll have some more time next month. If i don't cook outside :)

Well, i think i'm gonna get ready for Tokyo now, so have a great day, guys!

Pompadour Bakery (@ Yokohama Subway Station):

While miso soup and rice r getting ready.

Don't expect anything much from this post, since it's just one of those post, where i wanna simply say i'm still alive, but there's not much meaning in it.

Leipzig continues to suffer from the heat... we're having around +37 degrees Celsius ( around 99 degrees Fahrenheit) every day so it's barely possible to stand it - even with short skirt and a plain tank top you're sweating like a pig, so i always have to sit at the fan. My cats are all the time just sleeping somewhere on the floor in the shadow (mostly in the kitchen where they can cool down their bodies on the tiles) and i would like to take a cold bath until this summer is over. And one thing i can tell you for sure: having your period in summer with this terrible heat isn't too nice. But probably i should save the details for myself...

The situation with me and my special one is still complicated, but right now i don't feel like updating you in that topic, maybe it's too hot, maybe i'm just not in the mood or maybe i'm still too much confused by myself and there's difficult to write about it, so i guess you'll have to wait.

Anyway, i have some more news that are not connected to our relationship, so i can take a break from that and be happy about other things. For instance, i already have two confirmations from WWOOF hosts in Japan - one in Hinoshi near Tokyo (for map click HERE) in a bakery and sweets factory, another one in Omaezaki near Shizuoka (for map click HERE), i also got confirmation from one couch surfer and he said i can stay all those days that i was planning at his place in Osaka (for map click HERE), because i want to travel a little bit in Kansai, which is visit Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and maybe Mie, i will try looking for another couch though in Kyoto just for two days, because it would be more convenient for me and also i don't want to cause too many problems by staying the whole week at one place. I still have to find the last place to wwoof in Kansai and then i'm ready to go. I already have found a guy who can take care of my cats for all those months, so i'm really excited already. In 11 days i'm gonna be walking in Japan again and that's just freaking me out!!! First of all, i'm gonna stay in Yokohama and Tokyo (i don't think i need a map for that...), so everyone feel free to meet me, if you by any chance are there also. I still have to do lots of things before i leave and that worries me a little bit, but i know i'll make it. I'm working until 15th of July and then i have 5 days for preparations...

Well, it's time for me to go to work AGAIN. I went this morning and was surprised to realize that the plan has been changed and i'm starting my shift just in 3 hours, so i didn't have anything else to do but go back home for another while.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Your Dandelion.