ahoy.

My dear blog-readers,
I have had a busy, yet amazing, past few weeks.
It has been combined with:
Locker contests,
Bible Clubs,
Movies,
Bonding,
Amazing meals.
But I mostly want to blog about my adventure to Tokyo.
---
I traveld to Tokyo last weekend.
For some reason,
the bus was full of elderly people.
Seriously.
I was the only young,
let alone English-speaking, person.
BUT, they all loved me.
I'm not kidding.
I was given free candy,
a lot of "hellos",
failed conversations due to language barrier.
Millions of head nods.
It was an interesting experience,
but a enjoyable one.
:}
---
Amy, Kazu and I watched Toy Story 3 this past Friday.
IT IS SO GOOD!
If you haven't seen it,
rent it.
Right. Now.
I'm so serious.
Don't continue to read the rest of this post until you have,
in some way,
remembered or actually "netflix"ed it's arrival.
Anyways, at the end of the movie,
we watched all of the bonus things.
When Amy and I were thoroughly enjoying ourselves,
Kazu suggested we go to Tokyo Disney Land the next day.
That was the most amazing suggestion.
Ev.er.
---
We went to the Park at 3pm on Saturday.
My parents took me to Disney World when I was just young enough to not remember anything.
I'm not bitter.
:}
My dad took himself, Mr.&Mrs.Kato and I to Tokyo Disney Sea 2 years ago, and that was a lot of fun.
(That is a memory I will never forget.)
But at Tokyo Disney Land...
You have the castle, most of the main rides, all of the characters, the famous parades.
It was amazing!
If you haven't already,
I have an album on my Facebook with pictures.
Basically, I loved it,
and I'm so thankful to have gone.
---
I loved waiting in lines!
I was so excited,
full of energy
and did a happy dance when the line didn't move for 15 minutes.
:}
Captain EO- this was so good, and so funny! I loved it.
Space Mountain- I could've ridden this all night
Star Wars- It was good, but made me dizzy.
We only went on 3 rides because
1) it was really busy
2) the lines were 120+mins
We had fun walking around and looking at things.
ARound 6 we decided to get in line for Captain EO.
This was when my patience of waiting in line really shined.
It was only a 90 minute wait.
:}
After that, we got the middle/tail end of the electrical parade.
Right after that ended, we rode Space Mountain and Star Wars.
The lines were shorter.
---
The whole weekend I was with Amy,
I was laughing 85% of the time.
:} It was a really good weekend.
---
I have a new hobby!
I'm about to upload new pictures with it.
I'm not going to tell you what it is,
because perhaps you will be curious enough to adventure over to my Facebook..
to look at my
1) Disney pictures
2) my new hobby.
3) what I am going to talk about next..
---
Junko and I baked for 7 hours last night.
Today I made cards for 3 hours.
It was all for the students.
They have worked SO hard,
that we wanted to do something special for them.
They were the best sugar cookies I have ever made.
And Junko and I had so much fun decorating them.
Oh my soul.
It was so fun and funny!
7pm-1:45am.
The pics are on Facebook, if you want :}
But it so much fun,
and I hope the students enjoy them!
---
Well I'm going to go and make another...
thing...
(my hobby)


Please pray for Mrs.Kato and the family.

:} hello

What to blog about!

I'm so sorry it's been so long!

I was talking to somebody the other day, and said it has gotten harder and harder each day to find a good amount f time to sit down and write! I really feel bad!

But here we go!

---

We went on a school trip high into the mountains..

like REALLY high..

After a long drive,

After a delicious lunch and a fun chapel,

and after a long walk..

We finally reached this:

beautiful, right?

It was a glowing blue/green color.

Absolutely incredible!

---

Yup, that's me with a real, wild, baby monkey.

Not photoshopped in.

It's real.

Super cute, right?

Oh, you can't really see him that well.

Here's a better picture:

Yup! You know what I'm thinking..

I'm taking one home!

Don't worry, they grow up cute too!

If you want to see more pictures, click the following link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=287168&id=682719992

This trip to see the monkeys was a sightseeing highlight!

One monkey grabbed my boot :}

Cute!

I have videos I will post on my Facebook later!

---

The pictures uploaded funny,

so it's out of order.

But the same day I saw the glowing sulfur lake,

we went to a town that is famous for onsens.

And it smelled like eggs!

But it was beautiful and warm.

---

The day I got my visa extended,

:D

,we were in this town!

Pretty much most of Japan looks like this.

Not in the mountains,

but where there is flat land,

there is houses..

and more houses..

Kinda pretty though, right?

---

I worked on this poster one Saturday.

Stacey gave me a few ideas,

but those who know me

KNOW

this was right up my alley!

The streaks on the mountain is hot cocoa powder.

The spider webs are q-tips.

The ghost is the lid to a pringle can with nail polish.

The roofs are crushed pine cones.

The fence is toothpicks.

AND WE WON!!! FREE ICE CREAM!!

Cute?

I shink sho.

---

I was Japanese for one night!

At the harvest festival!

**shout out--I'm smiling with my EYES!
Anyways.

They teased my hair.

And I MAY be wearing fake eyelashes.

Okok, don't freak.

I know that sounds CRAZY(!)

But everybody

(mostly)

(and everybody as in women)

(lol)

wear them!

At first, I felt like I was high-maitenence.

But actually, they're fun.

And I like them :}

Hey, I'm just diving into the culture.

No harm in that :}

---

This was our group at the Harvest Festival:

My Japanese family!

---

Time for bed,

hope you enjoyed!

<3

Oh,

btw,

I made whoopie pies today.

They loved them

**thanks Amy!

JENGA!!!

Today I taught how you can say

"hello, goodbye, how are you, what are you doing"

in different ways

to mean different things.

so fun

and super funny.

My co-teacher Josh and I acted somethings out.

He was the creeper man,

and I was the annoyed girl.

And then the students acted things out too.

SO FUNNY!

I laughed so hard.

They are amazing!

Love them!

---

Played Jenga in class again.

But before that they all did super well on the 4 week-review-quiz.

Proud of them :]

And this Jenga game lasted for 10-15 minutes!

We're all pros.

Since there are 4 our us all together,

3 students

1 teacher,

I had 3 candies left for the winners.

But I ate one early.

And Noah was determined to make me lose!

Guess who lost?

Me! haha :]

Guess I owe them big time!

3 candies a day instead of 2 :]

---

On Friday is a school-trip!

I'm super excited!

Okay, but right now I'm freezing so I'm goin to bed!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Yesh, please say kitchen

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

---

My parents are my heroes.

Honestly, I have the best parents in the world!

---

This week is the last week of semester 2.

Semester 1 went by fast,

semester 2 went by faster,

and I hope semester 3 goes by the slowest!

This Friday we are going on a school trip

:} and I am so excited!!!

---

Today, in conversation class,

I wrote on the board "This term of SYME is almost over."

(we were reviewing for a quiz tomorrow)

But, I got a tad sidetracked and

I told them that I am going to miss them when I left.

>no response<

I asked them if they were going to be sad.

>no response<

"Well I really am going to miss you! I will only see you again if you come to WOLBI in New York, which I hope you do!"

"Miss Nicole, are you going to be our teacher for next conversation class [meaning for the last semester]?"

"Yes, I am..unless you want a new teacher......and if you do, don't tell me, but ask Miss Jodi to switch the teachers around if you want somebody new."

>no response, however Jim starts smiling<

"Jim, talking about my leaving or not being your teacher shouldn't make you smile!"

(please know that I myself am smiling through out this conversation)

"I'm kidding" Jim replies, but began to smile bigger.

"Well I am going to miss you." I said.

"Miss Nicole, you are the best teacher! I love this class!" said beautiful Unity.

"Yes, best teacher. I love this class too." said smiling Jim.

Noah nodded and smiled.

With all of that said, I got out Jenga and we played.

We got out the vocab words for this week--

and you had to say a sentence with a word before you could make a move.

Are you a skeptic that Jenga is a good tool to learn English?

Well, on the way up from class I heard

"SUCCESS!!!!!!!" from Jim who did not lose in the game :]

[success was a vocab word :]

---

"I'm going to miss Japanese snacks" -N

"Yes. That is why I am going to buy some and put it in the little container Miss Jodi gave us" -S

"....I have zip-block bags I've saved too...." -N

"...and I am saving boxes that my crackers come in...we can store things there too!" -N

"My plan is we go out a few days before we leave, pop open the bags of snacks, load them into the zip-block bags and boxes we've stored, and fill our suitcases with snacks!" -N

---

Sunday night, the day before the teacher's day off,

I decided I wanted to watch a movie.

I haven't watched a movie since I was at Amy's house--and I LOVE movies..

(Especially involving the ever-so-charming-and-handsome Tom Hanks)

Well, Stacey came in the room,

and I said "let's watch a movie"

So we sat down underneath my top bunk

-that I made into a couch-

and began to watch a movie.

It was really fun.

:]

---

Today in pronunciation,

I melted.

Because when they said the word "kitchen"

it was the.cutest.thing.I.have.ever.laid.ears.on.

Hehe.

So when I would say a list of words to repeat after me,

I would throw the word 'kitchen' in there...more than 2 times..

Only few knew why, and they laughed at me.

:] but honestly, cutest thing ever!

---

This coming Monday,

I am going to the Embassy (I think that's where I am going)

and I will try and renew my visa.

If they say yes, I'm good as gold to come home the day my ticket says.

If they say no, I am going to have to call American Airlines and figure out when I need to come home.

So, please (!) pray for Mr.Man who will be deciding if I can stay or not..pray that he will be just as intrigued in my sad, sorry American face (just like the ice-cream man) and have pity on me (again just like the ice-cream man)

---

Speaking of ice-cream man..

I went back this past Sunday.

One of the teachers Josh was with me...

And so Mr.Ice-cream man thought we were sharing.

CLEARLY he doesn't know me.

After Josh got his ice-cream,

I proceded to order my ice-cream.

After I was done,

Mr. Ice-cream man looked at me and said "present, pick"

(meaning he was giving me a present)

I was estatic!

I said "Rose"

And he put a huge whopping scoop of rose ONTOP of my already over-flowing cup filled with Milk Ice-cream.

<3>

Which means "So good, delicious!"

---

Alright, time to go to bed!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

The Ice cream man can!!

KIF Festival
^please, please, please check my pictures on facebook!

(My life in Japan (3))
It was such a fun day, and I captured a small bit of it.

---

What KIF Festival is:
The church that I attend in town puts on a little festival for the community,

and its F R E E !

Games, Music, Books, Food,

all for free.

---

It was raining, but it was still a blast!
We got quite a few visitors that stopped in.

We were a light on this rainy day!

---

I was an Elf,

along with 4 other girls.

And there was 2 Santas.

That was so much fun!
Little kids coming up, waving and saying "Hello! Thank you!"
(they said thank you because we were passing out tracks with candy canes on them :])

cute cute cute cute Japanese little babes.
---

I went up to an ice cream shop with Junko.

I only had 250 yen on me,

and the ice cream was 400 yen.

I put a big, whopping frown on my face as I looked at my hand with too little change in it.

The ice cream man smiled and whispered to me

"Secret. I will give you ice cream for the money you have!"

(Junko was translating).
He said something to her about me being cute (I was in my elf costume) and he just felt sad for me!! HAHA I can only imagined what I looked like when I was looking at the ice cream and my pathetic hand full of little change.

Oh my goodness.

So he generously filled a cup full of milk ice cream (my new fav) and then threw on some strawberry ice cream to top it off.
It was so kind!

His ice cream is home made, and natural.

It was delicious and amazing!

I am going back this coming Sunday and buying more ice cream- but for 400 yen this time and a tip!!
Thank you, kind, little Japanese ice cream man.. for you blessed me and my belly.

Who can take a sunrise
Sprinkle it in dew
Cover it in chocolate
and a miracle or two?

The -ice cream- man
The -ice cream- man can
The -ice cream- man can cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good

Who can take a rainbow
Wrap it is a sigh
Soak it in the sun
and make a strawberry lemon pie?

The -ice cream- man

The -ice cream- man can
The -ice cream- man can cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good

-Japanese ice cream man- makes
Everything he bakes
Satisfying and delicious
Talk about your childhood wishes
You can even eat the dishes

Who can take tomorrow
Dip it in a deam
Seperate the sorrow
And collect up all the cream?

The -ice cream- man

The -ice cream- man can cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good
And the world tastes good cause the candyman thinks it should

---

Please, right now,

take a moment and think of a Reese Cup package.

Are you picturing it?
Okay, good.

Now x's (times) that by 400,

the whole package,

and that is what my Aunt Pam sent me in the mail!
So cute!
It was a giant package of Reese Cups!
Oh, do not be confused!
It was literally 2 resee cups-

1/2 pound EACH!

WOW!
***shout out Aunt Pam! THANK YOU!!!***
I decided to eat one, and share the other.

:/ poor Giant Reese Cup of mine,

you lived such a short life.

RIP my kidneys.

---

My conversation class=amazing.

I love it,

and I love the people in it.

Pronunciation class=amazing.

It doesn't top conversation,

but it's pretty close.

Seriously, God has blessed me with the best job Ev-er!

And their English is improving so much!
So proud of all of them!
---

SYME Japan desperately needs a female teacher for Jan-Mar2011 term!

If you feel like you would like to do it,
facebook message me!!

It will be the BEST experience of your life

(Well, at least one of the best experiences :])

---

Time for bed!
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Mine was awesome!
It was full of laughter <3

Sleepy Fridays.

Today was a really busy day.
I don't have much to blog about,
but tomorrow I will!
<3 goodnight world

Because days are busy and life is fast..

Know what is one thing I've learned?
Life is fast!
Who knows what the NEXT MINUTE can bring?
Strange thoughts.
But--you never DO know, you know?
---
I forget if I posted yesterday,
but I feel like I did..
Because I told you the acting story of my students.
It happened again today, and it was awesome!
I love it.
---
Know what I miss?
Schroon Lake Octobers.
Really. I miss it a lot.
I want to go pumpkin picking so super bad!!
It's not even funny.
But it's okay :]
There is always a time for pumpkin picking,
looks like next year is my next time!
And I will experience a little bit of November in Schroon Lake,
So it's okay!
The bright side is...I'm spending 2 of my 3 favorite months in JAPAN!
Praise the Lord.
---
I have 2 letters I need to send to America.
I'm really nervous I've misspelled something on the envelope
Or have addressed the envelope wrong.
I hope thats not a silly statement,
I just really don't want my letter to get lost.
I am so worried about it, I might just keep it with me and send it when I go home.
Problem with that is- I'm worrying and there is no point of the letters once I'm home.
>>sigh<<
I'll probably end up sending them.
Let's pray Tom Hanks isn't on the plane

:]
---
If I cut my hair short,
nobody can get THAT upset with me,
since I did it because I'm in Japan.
And by the time I got home everybody would be used to the idea, right?
....right?
---
OH MY WORD!
Today was the best lunch EV-ER!
Pancakes.
Cretes(?) hah! oops. Crapes. (I left my error for you mom :])
Fresh fruit.
Fresh whipcream.
Fresh tuna sauce.
Fresh cream cheese sauce.
Sausage.
Oh MY!
It was amazing!

(Dear parents,
I will be making our own whip cream
for it happes to be, my new fa-vor-ite thing)
^Dr. Suess moment^

But one of the students here said "I want my rice"
:] cute
---
Okay, I have to finish my laundry,
pick up my room,
and finish prepping for tomorrow's classes.
Have a wonderful Thursday!
Hope it wasn't as busy as mine :]