My students told me I look like Lady Gaga. Ultimate insult.

This is it... unless we have a massive earthquake but magically have internet. My final post before coming home!! I am SO excited and happy. And I'm even happier because I absolutely love Tokyo. Today is rainy and really windy but it's 60 degrees, while yesterday in Aomori, it was snowing. I'm at the same hotel I stayed at last time, so that's also good news.
My goodbye party was great. Actually, everything was except the way Jonathan acted. He used to be my friend but this final month he's been a huge jerk, and it really showed during my party where he didn't speak to me until he left where he said 'see ya.' Really hurtful, but I'm coming home to people who love and care about me, so I really don't need him and his negativity in my life anymore. For everyone who reads this, Jonathan Avants is a huge jerk. And I ain't deleting that!
So, my bags are packed and they're hopefully waiting at the airport. My plane leaves tomorrow at 3:20 pm. Literally 25 hours from now. It really doesn't feel like I'm coming home. Just feels like my normal weekend trips to Tokyo. That's okay though! I'm not NEARLY as terrified as I was before I came here.... holy cow. Can't believe I even made it to Japan and accomplished everything I did. Truly a miracle.
I'm coming home a happier person. Let's be honest, before I left I was a terrible person. I wasn't nice to anyone. I was mean and short with people and horribly sarcastic and for that, I feel awful. Seriously, those of you who still stuck around and dealt with that, you shouldn't have. I guess some of you had to cause you're family, but it really means a lot to me. I'm embarrassed at the way I acted. I PROMISE that old person is freaking GONE. Actually, I noticed how Jonathan is so negative and I simply don't want to be like that anymore, nor do I want it in my life. So, give me one more chance!!!! PLEASE!!!!! ^____^

Nini did my hair in pigtails. And this country is so messed up everyone thought I looked adorable and not at all a fool. So I left it! Ahhh I'm gonna miss that girl!

Earthquake remembrance

In a little more than 12 hours - exactly one year ago today, the mega earthquake and tsunami struck Tohoku. I find it very moving, and I wanted to remember in the way those here are planning. So I asked my adult students. What will they do?

Nothing.

Seriously. They told me nothing. I don't understand this way of behavior and I find it appalling. On 9/11 we have minutes of silence, we pray, we re-watch what happened on the TV - all of that. And yet here, one year later, nothing to it. One of my students said she would go to a devastated area and spend money at stores and restaurants, but in like a month from now. I think maybe one or two students will say a prayer. That's it. I don't know, maybe because it's a Sunday and it's a weekend? There's coverage on TV and talk, but nothing else major. I'm sure in the devastated areas they will remember, hold moments of silence, what have you.

But the rest of the country (or at least this part of Tohoku!) appears not to be shedding any tears over the matter. Oh, yeah, was that today? Oh well. Let's ignore the fact that this disaster nearly destroyed this country.

I guess it's a cultural thing. But I'm so disappointed in all of these people. I'll remember, even if I came a little later.

Ticket, bought!

So the past few days... or week, it's been WARM. Let's not get carried away, it's like 40 degrees. But considering two weeks ago it was 20? SUPER!! The snow is FINALLY starting to melt, but there are still mountains everywhere of it, so it will still take a bit of time. The nice thing about this warm weather is that the birds are out. The past 2 days on the way to work, I've fed the pigeons. Luckily I had my Goldfish crackers at the ready! Today, I turned the corner and (I've heard pigeons are super smart) anyway, one came flying right up in front of me. I recognized it from yesterday and it seemed to recognize me.
Even a few sparrows came out to try to get some at the lunch crowd today. And I'm so nice, I stand guard over the pigeons because the crows here are gigantic, and will overtake them for the food. But, they don't come near people, so if I stay there, the tiny, thin pigeons get to eat! Which is nice, cause I've seen saddness.
My dad bought my ticket to come home on April 4th and I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I HATE WORKING NOW!!!!!!!!!!! Only because I am lazy and just want to get home... the people are all fine. I'm just excited!

March 11 is coming.

Me and my boss have been getting along great lately (Jonathan says it's cause I've quit) and when I know she's in a good mood, I like to ask her about the tsunami. She was in it last year and I had asked her when she first came to Aomori why she came here, so the story was somewhat told. But not a lot. Because I didn't want to make her cry. Today I asked her more... and here's what I found out.
She lived with her parents in a city that was kind of wiped out. She was at work and the earthquake hit so she and the others evacuated to higher ground. But before her parents headed for higher ground they went home to save their dog, Waffle. (Yes, that is her dog's name.) After the tsunami she said the water was 2 meters high in her house, so the they lost everything on the first floor, but the second floor was okay. For a month and a half they had no running water and for like, 3 months they had no electricity. She said some people came and stole stuff, but not from her house, from others who didn't live at their house. Her car was destroyed in the tsunami. And she has a pretty big PSTD when it comes to earthquakes - which I like to make fun of her for. But, she doesn't get angry at me :)
I asked her today if she ever got sad about what happened and she said she did, only earlier on. Now, not so much. I wanted to ask her if she knew anyone who was killed but that's like, utterly classless and I assume she knew a few ... at least. She said next Sunday (which is the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY) she's going home.
What's really cute was a few months ago, I was teaching a private lesson on Friday the 13th. I talked to my student about unlucky numbers and days, and that superstition (Japan's superstitious about the number 4) and I asked her if there were any days or numbers that she believed were unlucky.
She said 11. And I asked why.
Because of 9/11 and 3/11 (the Japanese disaster). I think 11 is a very bad day.
I have to agree!

ONLY ONE MONTH TO GO!!!!!

Tokyo, the second time around was so much more enjoyable. YES, I went alone (although I did meet up with my friend again on Saturday) but Sunday and Monday was all Melissa. All alone. On those trains. Cris-crossing my way across that massive city. DIDN'T GET LOST ONCE Y'ALL!!!!
Saturday I met up with Kotaro and after taking me to my hotel and such, we went to the Japanese Football Museum (we're both big fans!)

THE REAL WOMEN'S WORLD CUP TROPHY! WOOO!!!! sorry USA ladies!! XD

Where is 'Danmark?'

 

On Sunday I went around the city. In Ueno, I went to the zoo. They have pandas!!! And other great animals, but they don't have as much room as the zoo's back home. Which is sad.

And then I went to the Pokemon Center -- check that off the teenage wishlist! Thankfully, that was very close to Tokyo Tower, which was also on my list to visit.

Lastly, my hotel!

That Tokyo trip I took 2 weeks ago, heh.

I haven't posted in a long time. I'm so sorry!!!
I went to Tokyo but I didn't do much there. The Shinkansen (bullet train) is amazing to ride on. I've never been on something that goes so fast ... well maybe an airplane, but you don't really feel like you're moving so fast on one of those, especially in the air. It was amazing. My favorite part of the trip actually!
Anyway, I went to Akihabara which is known for anime. I wasn't impressed. Maybe I didn't get to see enough. Either way, I headed to Shibuya where I shopped till I dropped. Bought some high end fashion at BAPE, some CDs for my dad and then I went to Harajuku simply for the soccer shop next to the train station. Literally almost shed tears in the store. Aomori is so miserable.
So I'm going back this weekend and plan to do more, and take more pictures. I only took a few, which I'll upload now:
This is a friend I met in Tokyo, Kotaro. He took me to an English bar and we watched a Premier League match. There are soooo many foreigners in Tokyo and it was wonderful to see people who looked like me.

My hotel room. Not so bad.

Oh, dear.

The legend of Hachiko, who was a real dog and the story is true - even if my aunt doesn't believe it. Proof is here, sweet thing.

My favorite sign, on the trains. The trains are SO CROWDED AT NIGHT... there is absolutely no personal space. Had some old man pressed up against me and everything -- ew. Fortunately during the day, they're some breathing room. It is funny to watch people getting caught in the doors as they close. That guy? Happened to him. Serves him right!

Lastly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU <3

Winter Festival

Sorry it's been a few days, but I've been busy!!
Last weekend was the winter festival here in Aomori, where they carve lanterns in the snow and light them up at night. They also make cool sculptures. I got to go with Miwa and her boys and got some great pictures...

We had fun!!! Next entry (tomorrow, for sure) I'll post my meat grilling party pics :) Interesting stuff there.

Sad image.

I was walking to work and wondered in my head if I'd run into the 2 pigeons I ran into last week where I fed them a few Goldfish crackers. I walked up to the opening near the post office and one lone pigeon literally came running, then flying over to me. And I 'awwww'd' and took out some goldfish to feed it... and I noticed there was a giant flock of crows hunkered over ... another dead pigeon. Totally eating it. I think the image of that little pigeon running, then FLYING to me, seeming like it was wanting help, will stick with me forever. It makes me want to cry even now - I just know that was its friend. So I stuck around as the other crows came flying over and waited for the pigeon to eat the big pieces before walking off. The crows don't actually come near people, but the pigeons do. Poor thing.

Anyway, I was stranded on the train going to Hirosaki for an hour, then got to my business class a hour late, then ended up (luckily!) leaving work early, spending 45 minutes in a cab and then 2 hours on a bus to come home. There's been a terrible blizzard since around 3:30 this afternoon. I've never been in something so massive - there was thundersnow and lots of lightening, which would have been super COOL, if I wasn't car sick, on the verge of throwing up in a cab. NICE. I swear if I have to go through this again, I'm qutting right then and there.

Here's hoping my lone pigeon can make it through this storm - and the rest of the winter.

I hear the plows out...

In the process of going to bed.
I got my hair cut, and let me tell you, Japan is superior. They give you a head and neck massage and are sooo gentle when washing your hair. Maybe my hair stylist back home is just really rough, but I looooved it here. Anyway, it's short. Not as boy short as I hope for one day (when I suppose I have children... or a man) but it'll do! I had fun and it was cheap and people stared like you wouldn't believe... and I am not pretty under those fluorescent lights!

Uggh, I used to be thin. I need an intervention.
What else is new... oh let's see.... I have no running water. At first tonight when I came home the toilet was flushing (let's praise God now that it had 2 flushes left in it when it did!) but no water was coming out of any faucets. Still, 8 hours later and no change. I was thinking it was frozen pipes but I would have thought they would have thawed by now... so I called the real estate lady but had to leave a message and I just pray PRAY that she calls tomorrow and we can have whatever it is solved tomorrow. Seriously, I went to Jonathan's tonight to pee, shower and brush my teeth. In that order.

And in final news, we had 2 earthquakes literally 12 hours apart today. I didn't notice the first one (was brushing my teeth and putting on my make-up... 'cause the water was working this morning!) but my phone had alerted me and then we had one a few hours ago and it was fun - but it literally feels like the plows are going by so I think I'm immune to earthquakes now. Ah well

Can you find me?

More snow pics! Short entry, these are just for my dad...
Can you see me?

Bridge lit up at night!

Mountain pictures!! They're covered in snow -- so it looks like it's clouds but IT'S NOT!

Very pretty :)

Snow shots

My parents have really been giving me grief over not going up to the roof to take pictures of the snow.
And so, this morning, I did just that. Except the door is jammed due to the snow and I can't get out. So I literally had the door opened a CRACK, couldn't even stick my hand out and took these pictures:

And the other night I took some photos on my way to the convenience store to buy bread and water:

THIS IS A HOUSE. WHICH IS LITERALLY SNOWED IN. 

Amazing!!

In the snow

Less than 12 hours till the football game and I really can't sleep. Too excited - EVEN WHEN WE LOSE. Really people, I'm just happy we made it far -- farther than the bungles... had to go there!
Monday, me and Jonathan may go to Tokyo because there's some special sale on the shinkansen. I want to go to Akihabara, eat American food and see the Tokyo Tower. Not sure we will, but it's a possibility.
And that's all I got! Except these photos, I'm in the first one and Jonathan's in the last 2. Just shows you a bit of our walk on the way home from work and the trenches we face every day. Today was brutal. Again, you really can't get the feel of all of the snow in these pictures so I will try to take some more!!