:} 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 :]

Guess what?

Today is my half way point.
48 days here
48 to go.
Again-- reflecting, not wishing it away.
Just..It's crazy!
Me.
Scared, home loving/adoring girl-
away in Japan-
for this long?!
Wow.
Surely there is a God up there watching out for me..
Protecting me.
Comforting me.
;)
I serve a great God!
---
Pray for my health!
---
Today, I laughed so hard,
that here was almost an accident.
HAHA!
So Japanese have no intonation or anything when they talk.
It's compared to a gun that continually shoots out bullets.
>>i forget the name of that gun<<
>machine gun?..probably am embarrassing myself..<
But today in Conversation class,
I had them read this little dialoge.
THEY DID SO GOOD!
I was laughing the whole time.
I was completely in shock.
They did so good.
It wasn't a "HAHA" laugh.
My face was one giant smile.
Really.
It was huge.
I looked like a walmart sticker.
They knew I was proud and cheering them on.
Different kinds of laughs :]
But absolutely,
These students,
are amazing.
Each one.
I love them all so much.
It's wonderful.
I have the best job right now.
---
Sunchip bag has crumbs left in it.
But did I throw it out?
No way.
I'm saving the crumbs for tomorrow.
I'm like that mouse on Cinderella.
You know which one I'm talking about..
---
I cried when I heard the mamabear's voice today on skype.
But shortly laughed when her skype video got frozen :]
She always knows how to cheer us kids up.
<3 she's the best
---
Okay, Time to go!
Hope you enjoy your Tuesday,
because mine was sure enjoyable..

Monday

I thought I posted yesterday.
But seems like I didn't.
Strange.
---
Yesterday was my day off.
I basically did nothing important.
I haven't been feeling that well,
so I've been trying to allow my body to rest!
---
Today I teach.
:] i love teaching..
I'll write tonight (morning for you) to tell you how it goes!
But sorry that yesterday there was no post!
<3

Sunchip&Sprinkle Sunday

Breakfast: sunchips and a few sprinkles
Lunch: GingerAle and plain rice [using hashi (chopsticks)]
Dinner: Oden

Snack after dinner: sunchips and sprinkles...
I can't help it :/
---
Today was a lot of fun.
Woke up at 10.
Got ready for church.
SANG WITH PRAISE TEAM!
Ohhhhh my!
It was so good to sing with a team again!
I loved it so much!!
It's one of my favorite ways to worship!
And then Tobi, Junko and I did special music.
That was a lot of fun too!
And then, my "sister" was at church today.
There was 2 girls without a big sister...
I adopted them.
It was fun.
We walked around the Ginza together,
ate some icecream
and talked about really random things.
Love them.
---
Today in teen church,
Mr.John asked us to take paper and illustrate the person:
who you looked up to.
who you admired.
who was a great example.
I took the brown paper and made a gotee.
I took black paper and made glasses.
And when asked who I was,
I replied "My dad."
<3 Love you daddio!
---
I'm addicted to Sprinkles
---
Today at church Junko played a video of her missions trip.
There were testimonies on the video,
and the people talked so fast!
Those who know me KNOW I talk really fast and mumble.
(My parents even save answering machine messages for me to interpret for them...THAT I LEFT!)
My head kind of hurt trying to listen and understand the people today.
I'm so used to speaking clearly and slow,
and listening to the same in reply..
or listening to Japanese on the weekends.
That I think my mind is getting used to it!
Utoh :]
---
Well, that's it for now!
God bless your Sunday!

50 days

Yes. The title of this post is how many days until I go home.

No, I'm not wishing my time gone..

But reflecting on the time here!

46 days I have lived in Japan.

Wow!

A few days ago, I was in Japan for 40 days.

It made me think that Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for the same amount of time I have been in Japan.

Wow!

---

Today, I was by myself.

I was supposed to climb a mountain today with a group of people,

but my sickness flared up a few days ago.
So the wise decision was for me to plan on not going.

Which was wise.. it took them 7 hours to climb!

However, I still am a little disappointed I couldn't go.

But clearly I wasn't supposed to go on that trip :]

Another group went to Saku to shop.

I was going to go,

but I felt really sick this morning again.

So I spent the afternoon in my room.

It was relaxing,

which is allowing my body to heal itself.

There will be other trips and fun things to do!

So I'm not that bummed!

---

I got a package today!
Sunchips, gummy bears, dove chocolate, german chocolate, sprinkles, and something special. It was so sweet and thoughtful! I wasn't expecting it, and it totally made my day! I was inside alone for most of it, so for a package to come....just really made my day amazing.

---

I rearranged our room.

At home I normally rearrange my room either every month or every other.

You can ask my mom about that, she loves when I do it.
haha.

Anyways.

I made my bottom bunk into a couch,

so I sleep on the top bunk.

Heat rises!

And so do spiders.

Last night, I saw a mammoth black spider.

I grabbed a book and squished it.

This afternoon,

I got my book down,

and noticed a black ball on the corner of it.

Clearly I forgot about the night before.

I picked the black ball up to examine it

(why anybody would do such a thing, is beyond me)

and I almost died.

There in my hand, laid the very deceased mammoth spider.

G-ross.

---

Hopefully I can go to Tokyo this month to see Amy!
I miss her!

---

Sorry I haven't been faithful to this blog.

It's been hard the past few weeks.

Not hard as in life at SYME,

but hard as in not enough time to sit down and write.

But I promise to write every day this week.

=]

---

Okay, well I'm going to go eat some Sprinkles.

<3

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Mine was wonderful.

Miss you all!