Didn't expect this!

Fun fact: Japan apparently doesn't censor English cuss words. They were showing clips of the NFL on one of the sports channels (whoa! THAT was a pleasant surprise!!) and as much as I love rap music, hearing the 'F' bomb over and over in songs was absolutely hilarious... but a bit strange. Pretty sure America censors cuss words in other languages -- with exception to the movie channels. Anything goes on those things. Always entertaining here in Japan!! XD

Some differences between America and Japan.

Here's some things I've noticed in my nearly first month here in Japan:

-People DRIVE on the sidewalk. Especially taxis... if they're waiting for someone to call for a cab, they just park on the sidewalk. It's super annoying, trying to dodge cars.
-Fiber doesn't exist here. No Fiber One bars... or anything. Not even wheat bread. Never thought I'd miss fiber as much as I do (wow, do I sound 50 or WHAT?!)
-Streets and sidewalks are spotless. I rarely see trash and have yet to see even 1 yen on the ground.
-I adore my children students. Even the JHS groups who tend to be a bit more rowdy. They're just so funny and love to play games and get candy for rewards :) Kind of like my old students back home... and I miss those JHS kids like WHOA.
-On occasion, I burst into laughter. Especially in a store when I see terrible English that makes absolutely no sense. For example, THIS:

-They're a bit too into EXTREME health. I'm watching a commercial right now for "Placenta 100" pills. Barf. And of course there's JESUS BODY! diet pills:

-People tend to bike way too close to walking people. I accidentally hit one person a week ago with my umbrella because they were behind me and literally zoomed past, 6 inches from me. Personally, I enjoyed accidentally smacking them... serves them right, they are just ASKING for it!
-Everything is just SO CUTE. I can't walk into a store without "Awwwwww"-ing outloud, even if I'm ALONE. It's dangerous because at this time, I need to be saving money - not blowing it all on cute little stuffed animals and keychains and general things I'LL NEVER NEED IN LIFE.

Those are my big observations for Japan vs. America right now. I'll be adding more for sure in the near future! ;)

Picture post!

Hello internet on my computer! My, how I have missed you!! Now I'll be posting DAILY, so check back often! Okay! Let's jump right to it:

This is Melissa in front of the most famous cherry blossom castle in Japan... Hirosaki. Doesn't she look GORGEOUS (sarcasm).

Please take a moment and bow your heads in respect for the literally thousands of baby octopus who gave their lives for this picture.

Got mud all over my jeans bending down to take this picture.

Many different kinds of cherry blossoms.

This tree is older than the United States! Know your roots.

My favorite blossom picture.

Near the entrance to Hirosaki Park.

I PROMISED the 6th graders I'd post a picture of Japan's high-tech toilets!! XD

Awww! Engrish at its finest!!

The view from my apartment. Power lines are ALL OVER and it's kind of scary. But the mountains are utsukushii (beautiful)!

So there you have it! My first picture post!! It's rarely sunny for the record, it's typically chilly and always windy. I miss warm weather (like you people back home have been having). I also miss having a CAR. But at least I'll have toned legs!

I LIVE!!!!!

I cannot apologize enough. When I came to Japan I really thought it would have the most advanced internet system on planet earth - but no. They fail so badly that having to wait for Time Warner to call you back in a half hour (because everyone loves to complain) seems like heaven. I still don't have internet on my computer but I got a killer iPhone today that thankfully keeps me connected to the outside world - of which lately I've had no knowledge of. I'm pretty sure I was the last American to find out about Bin Laden. That's how bad I've missed the Internet.

Anyway, Japan is pretty neat, I guess. I survived my first earthquake!! Not really scary - it lasted 15 seconds and i was laying in bed watching tv when I started rocking side to side. First I thought it was a big truck driving by - but no sound came from outside. Then I thought it was a fat person going up the stairs but I didn't hear thundering footsteps. I figured out what it was and thought it was way more cool than scary. I knock on wood religiously anytime I think of an earthquake... just did it! The people below must hate my constant knocks on the floor.

When I get full Internet on my computer I will post pictures and videos. If you want to make my celebrity wall of card fame let me know and I can email you my address. The people I invite over really like to see cards I get from people and I like to look at them when I feel gloomy :)

PS: my iPhone is WHITE!!!!

And it begins.

It's nearly 3 am here in Cincinnati and I have yet to go to sleep. In about 5 hours I will be embarking on my day-long travel to my new home and I am not nearly as prepared as I figured I would be. Packing one's LIFE away when moving across a giant ocean is really difficult - especially when you're doing it solo. See, this is why I wanted my parents to fly with me: more bags for my things. I feel like there's too much in my carry-on bag and that it won't fit under the seat. And I just KNOW I'm going to forget SOMETHING.

I can do this; I'm a big girl. I'm so tired that I'm not even worried anymore.

Well, hello there!

ALRIGHT! Melissa's official blogging has begun. For the record, I leave in one week - April 19th. I arrive in Japan the next day and here's a hilarious fact: on my 14 hour plane ride from Chicago to Tokyo, we are following the sun. That means I won't experience "night time" for a full 24 hours. Not sure I'm so fond of that but it will be cool! My goal in these final days is to wash a mountainous pile of laundry, successfully pack and visit some of my favorite people. I'm already super stressed and nervous and I HATE when I get like this because my stomach hurts constantly. Most people overeat. I wish I was one of them.
On the way over, I'll be taping my (inevitable) tearful self and you'll get to see what each airplane looks like. The major flight has personal TVs on the back of every seat with not only movies and TV shows (American and Japanese) but VIDEO GAMES. Thank goodness I'm heading to the video game capital of the world!!! :)

Honk For Japan!

Please watch this. This guy is donating 600 bucks for every million views... he already has 2 .2 million views.