Trip to Osaka

Trip to Osaka Photo's

Well I have finally thought about writing an entry about my short trip to Osaka. First, I want to thank Hoiming for getting tickets and organizing the trip and what to see.

I arrived in Japan 9 months ago and this was my first trip to a different prefecture in Japan. Now the main reason for this trip was because Hoiming was lucky enough to get two tickets to see KAT-TUN Countdown Live 2013. And I was going to turn down the chance to see the sexy Kamenashi Kazuya in the flesh! 

I won't give a detailed recollection of what we did. Because for one, that would be dead boring, long and I would have to remember everything.... So I won't! You will just get the highlights instead.

We did do a lot of walking for the three days we were in Osaka. We went to see Osaka Castle. The outside is so beautiful. I would taken some really lovely zoomed in shots if it wasn't for the fact that my zoom in lens is a little broken and the zoom ring doesn't move at all. But I got some lovely wide shots.

Then going to the Sky Building, which the top floor is 173m above ground. Definitely the tallest building I have ever been in and got to the top level. The elevator ride from the 3rd to the 39th floor was heart stopping. I felt more secure going up the escalator up to the 40th floor even though it bridges between the two buildings with nothing underneath but the ground some 170m below.

Of course, you can't go on holiday and not go to the shops. Especially when you actually find the HMV store in Osaka!! I did almost buy my favourite KAT-TUN album NO MORE PAIN. But instead I ended up buying EXO's Miracles in December and Growl (Korean Versions). I also found INFINITE's L Viewtiful photobook. As taking Photo's is a hobby of mine, not that I am any good... I couldn't help myself and I wanted to see what kind of photo's L likes to take.

A trip to Osaka wouldn't be complete until you have been to the Johnny's store. Where you can buy photo's of your favourite Johnny's group. I was there for a while. Though I felt a little sorry for KAT-TUN, overall there was only 70 photo's of them in the store. But I was able to get a lot of Kame. I did also buy some Arashi Photo's. Buying 29 photo's in all. 

I would also like to say that I successfully bought too much KAT-TUN merchandise before going into Osaka Dome for the concert. Buying the pen light, two keychains, Kame clear file, concert T-Shirt, two towels, Kame Photo's, group photo's, pamphlet, poster and bag.

The concert was the biggest highlight of the holiday. KAT-TUN sang the melody's of their songs before their debut (which I hadn't heard before as I started listening to them a few years after their debut), to their recently released songs. They have changed so much through out the years and I cannot wait till they do a tour this year. Though I did see on their website, that they will be doing fan meetings this year.

I may have spent a lot over the four days, but I really did enjoy myself and it was great to have a change of scenery in this beautiful country!  

Another Job

I finally got the approval of my company to work at a small English Cafe school. I will be teaching a small group of adults easy English. It will be my first time teaching adults. So I will do my very best to teach them. I won't be alone, there will be a Japanese native speaker there to help me. It will also be great to have another job where I can earn that extra money so I can hopefully go to Tokyo this winter!

This will be the perfect opportunity to not only teach a different age range but I get to learn Japanese too. I've already had one of the English teachers I work with help me with a Japanese phrase I practiced on the board. I completely forgot about one particle, which I told her a little while before that I found はand が difficult, although I am better at them than I was. I was just happy that what I wrote made sense. A student who was still the room after class said I had nice writing. Its just a shame that I write better than I can speak. But I am working on the speaking part now.

So wish me luck in starting this new class!! Its going to be great to be teaching adult mothers who want to learn English but have never had a chance to learn because they have been busy with raising their children. The place where I will be work is more like a cafe and mothers can bring their children and be learning in a relaxed atmosphere so they won't feel pressured. I just hope I can do a really good job. I am going to try my best with using Japanese to translate into English for them.

頑張れ！！

Bored!

So Up-Date time!

I cannot believe that I have been living in Japan for almost three months already. Seriously, it feels like I have been here for a month or so. Yet I've gotten used to waking up at 6 or so on week days. That is something I would never do in England. I was more of a night owl compared to here. But I can't stay up too late on work days because I just don't function well if I don't get enough sleep. But the teachers I work with are really nice and I get on with them okay. They don't talk to me as much as they talk to other teachers, again, the language barrier is a pain in the ass.

I've managed to make my apartment my own now. I don't have much furniture but I have been able to buy a 22" Monitor to plug into my laptop which is only like a 11.6". So the bigger the screen, the better. I have bought an A3 printer scanner which has helped me out a lot! I have had a lot of worksheets to make and being able to print off a master copy at home has helped. But sometimes I don't realize there is a mistake until I get to work the next day T_T talk about being stupid (>__<)))

There has been a few problems with making friends here though. It turns out that there are still real ass jerks here in Japan. Or I just have amazing luck in finding said jerks! By jerks, I mean guys who are only after one thing and lie to you with a straight face. However, I hope things are different with this guy I am going to meet up with again next week. We met through a friend and we have been talking a bit via email. But I hope we can be good friends. He is the first guy I have met who is the same age as me! I was starting to think that everyone in the city where I live is only 24 years old! So not helpful to someone who is 27.

I do miss my best friends back home though. I am sure they would give me the perfect advice on how I should handle some people. I would at least then have someone to talk to and won't brush me off because if we are seen out together, then people will think we are dating. I honestly hate how some people just think pushing me to one side is going to make me jump through hoops next time I see them. Just as I was starting to really enjoy my life here and feel comfortable with my friends and having a laugh. Something drastic happens and they make me feel like crap because I am worried I will go back to how I was when I was England. I left England for a better life and do something completely different where I wouldn't have to feel pressured into doing something I didn't want to do.

At least the work load recently hasn't been too bad and I have been ale to organize my time a lot better. Having to deal with making a worksheet for every single lesson I do is very time consuming. I know it needs to be done and sometimes I give myself a lot of work to do because I make my own lesson plans. But it still be great to not have to do so much for a lesson. But the company I with have a certain way of doing things and we have to go by their rules.

One annoying thing about not getting much free time, is that I don't really get enough to draw like I used to. That and because I didn't bring any painting materials with me. I have tried to look for water colour paints, but all I've found is those in tubes and I prefer the little slabs of water colour so I don't waste anything. I haven't even been able to find any water colour paper. I don't really want to get my parents to keep sending me things, so I am just going to stick to digital art for the time being.

So confused!

Please excuse this rant but I am so confused!! I thought things were going well. But I guess I was kind of kidding myself. I really do have a habit of making situations awkward.

On the other hand, I have been getting on with things okay recently. I've managed to do as much work as I can during my free lessons and I've successfully managed to do most of the prep. work there. It just gets delayed when it comes to marking other teachers worksheets. They say its not in any rush, but the sooner its done the better so I can carry on working on my own lesson plans and worksheets. I am getting used to creating worksheets now, plus I remember to use American-English and to check my worksheets before I print them. Compared to when creating worksheets for training T_T.

I've met some great people here in Kuji. I've started to become a regular at a few places. And I am sure that the people at Lawsons are going to get annoyed when they see me enter, but they always greet me with a smile. Plus my friend likes to tease me by saying one of the guys who works there is cute and that I should give him my number or talk to him more. He is just trying to get me to have this love triangle to see where it will get me. As long as I am not put into the same situation as last Saturday then I am okay with that.

Last Saturday was hell for me. I am never going to a bar on my own again! I know little Japanese but to be told to sit with three drunk Japanese guys is the worst thing ever!! One guy kept trying to talk to me.. in his totally drunk state. Then tried to touch my hand, I shook his hand twice and then he tried to rest his head on my shoulder. This same guy told me he a girlfriend.... WTF! I am sorry, but that was hell. I couldn't understand what they were saying most of the time. When they tried to speak in English, they mumbled. I will be put in that same situation ever again!!

Otherwise, its all going well so far. Though I think I need to stop buying clothes >.< I am trying to blend in by buying Japanese style clothes.. but they are so pretty anyway that I can't help it! I've even made a friend in one of the clothes shops I go to. She came up to me on Sunday and asked for my name. Sadly, I have kind of forgotten her name. But its lovely how she came up to me and spoke to me in English. Maybe I should ask her where is the best places to go in Kuji, she can be my like tour guide :P

Greetings from Japan!

Greetings from Japan!!

The past two weeks has been rather surreal. I still think I am really in the UK but only the primary language is different. Of course there was a lot of trouble in actually getting here. I will never be flying via British Airways ever again! I am really disappointed in the fact I was not allowed to fly the day I wanted. I arrived to training a day late; however I wasn’t the only one so I felt a little better after hearing that. Although, seeing as training already started, that meant that I didn’t have any time to get rid of the jet lag and adjust to Japanese time. For the first week I had very little sleep at around 4-5 hours as I kept waking up around 3:30am or 4:30am. I was able to sleep better in Morioka. I think it was because the training was more relaxed and I felt less pressured to do the tasks. However, I was able to meet the most amazing group of people ever. As well as making friends with other Brits who are venturing off to other parts of Japan and the two other British ALTs who are in Iwate Prefecture. I was able to make really close friends in Morioka and I do miss their company over the past couple of days.

However, since I’ve moved to Kuji-shi, I’ve managed to feel more at home. I have been meeting other ALTs every day and have gotten to know most of them rather well. Having that little support group has really helped me. Plus it helps that they speak better Japanese than me. Although I have been told that I am more than a beginner at Japanese then I am. I don’t know if that is true. But I hope to improve at least over the next two years.

Today was a very big day for me. I introduced myself to the Board of Education in Kuji. I did feel a little out of place as I kind of interacted with people but I mostly just sat there quietly and tried to listen to what people were saying. Then I was taken by my IC (Independent Contractors or “Helpers”) to my schools to greet the Principle, Vice Principle and the head of the English Department.

The first School I went to was one of the JHS’, it seems like a very big school and I have still yet to find out which classes I will be teaching. But the Head of English seems very nice and supportive. I even introduced myself to the teachers in the staff room in Japanese. I didn’t really expect it but they all smiled at me and that made me feel so at ease.

The JHS I went to was very small in comparison. I think there is a total of 50 students through out the entire school. The 2^nd and 3^rd years only consist of 15 students in each year. Very small indeed, but that means I get to learn less names. I was shown my desk in the teaching room. It really made me feel like part of the small group of staff. I was even given a tour of the school and spoke to the 3^rd years. They seem like a nice group. I think I might even get to help decorate the English room as it seems pretty bare at the moment.

Then lastly, after a 50 minute drive I arrived at the HS I will be working at. It is definitely the largest school of the three. Everyone seemed to be interested in this new Gaijin (Foreigner) in their school. Students were staring at me and smiling, to which I smiled back. Two female students seemed very happy to see me and said Hello to me. It is so strange to be treated this way. I was shown where my desk would be and introduced to the two other English teachers I will be working with.

I did have an interesting chat with my IC about holidays and going home. They suggested that I stay in Japan for the summer as I will be able to cope with that. However, going back to the UK during winter may be an idea. It gets cold in Japan and it is easier to get depressed during that period of time. Especially if I wish to stay in Japan for two years or more, going back home for a holiday will help.

Who knows what will happen over the coming year. But at least the first part of the greetings is out of the way. It’s the next part which is going to be embarrassing as it’s a greeting to the Students during assembly. I’ve heard stores that the students do something to greet the new teacher before they introduce themselves in English to everyone. I am so glad I have experience in being in front of a large group of people. However, that has been either singing or dancing. It has never been talking about oneself.

So wish me luck!!

 

 

I'm Alive!!

Oh yes, I am still very much alive. Well at least I hope I am. Otherwise I'm sure thing are still going on fine without me. I've been so busy with my new Job that its very much a big part of my life at the moment. I'm working to help pay back my parents. And they are being supportive at the moment. I can't wait till I can fully repay them. But I still have to see if I am able to get more contracted hours at work first before I can be really happy. As 14 hours a week just isn't going to help much. Might pay back the mortgage, but that isn't including all the bills I am going to have to pay. But I am really enjoying myself. So I really can't complain. Everyone is so nice to not only the customers but other partners (its a working partnership company ^__^ ). So thats probably why everyone gets on and tries to do the work to the best of their abilities. Although there is some who still need to get used to things. But it will be easier come January, when we don't have to worry about the Christmas rush. oooooohhhhhhhhhh I got my first real Commission!! I'm so excited but nervous at the same time. I have a fellow partner at work who has giving me some photo's which he would like to be digitally re-do for him. He has very generously given me £30 to draw the image and is willing to pay for a photo frame on top of that too. OMG! I'm so nervous about doing it really well so he doesn't regret paying me to do it for him :XD: I really hope it doesn't result in a complete and utter disaster! I will be trying my best, I just hope I don't over do it! Its strange actually being paid for some thing that I wouldn't normally get someone to pay me to do. On here, DA, I'm used to just getting requests and not being paid to do it. I guess it really does make a bigger impact on how you go about things. I've started the piece but thats only the basic skin layer first. But I hope I can complete it before Christmas. Get the frame. And print it off at such a good quality that its worth £30. Maybe its just being really nervous about doing this project... My colleague did say, that I could make a living out of doing it. But being an artist, I am my worst critic and I don't think I'm at such a level where my work is worthy to be paid for. But I can't say that to a customer. I don't want them to lack faith in me. Thats just bad business XD Otherwise, sorry to those who usually read my KHR chapter journal entries, I have been reading but I'm working so much (did 45 hours at work last week :XD:) that I don't even have enough to catch up with the anime and manga that I'm following. I feel so behind on everything. I don't really know what to do with my spare time that I do have.

Well just so you all know, The telephone interview went well yesterday. They said that they are passing on my details and the notes from the interview. Soooooooo......... fingers crossed that I get a face-to-face interview.

Also, I'm currently working through all the requests that people have made. So far I've only done two but I'm getting there slowly!!

• Requests


• janners: Trade OC - http://fav.me/d2nfew0


• hatekillslovethrills: OC - http://fav.me/d2nrxql


• darkness-love: OC - Yet To Do


• SaruwatariKazuko: OC's - Yet To Do


• KerriganMoonwolf: OC - Yet To Do


• toraburu: Roy Mustang - Yet To Do

If you still want to make a request, then please feel free ^__^

Nerves Starting to Build

Last Friday, I actually applied for a job... Shock Shock Horror Horror!

http://www.talenttracker.co.uk/santander/jobs/sys/vac/detail.asp?id=107590

I filled in the online application form last Friday and I got an email on Monday saying that I have been accepted into having a telephone interview. First of all... OMG I have an interview! Second... OMG they replied! Well, I rang the recruitment number, and I have my telephone interview tomorrow (Wednesday 14th April) at 9am.

I've never worked in a bank before, but I'm a fast learner so it won't be so bad. From what they told me on the phone, if I am accepted for the job, I will have 4 weeks of full time training Monday to Friday, and then I will be working part-time hours afterwards, working on Saturday's if needed. To me that sounds like a pretty cool job. I would finally get some stable working hours. Plus the income is better than at my previous work where I was a waitress and bartender. How I managed to stay in that place for over a year I do not know. But a bank job would be better than that, thats for sure.

So wish me luck for tomorrow!!!

Turning of Age

Oh yes people! Sazzy is getting older!

On 18th March this little old me is turning 24. I know I look about 17 but trust me... I'm not. Although it is good for going to the cinema and getting a Student ticket..hehe

I don't really know how to celebrate my Birthday. My mother did take to see Alice in Wonderland today. And I LOVED it!! Depp was Awesome!

Artistic... for once

Well I've actually done a fair bit of work today.... maybe not going to sleep last night really did mean something good. Not only did I finish a new image which a friend asked for.. but a Tutorial to go with it. BONUS!!

Although what would really make my day is for new chapters of some of the mange's I'm follow would be uploaded to some sites. Especially new Kimi ni Todoke. I've read chapter 35 and I want MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRREEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! I went really fan girly when Kazehaya confessed.. But then I felt so sorry for him. Silly Sawako!! I would Date Kazehaya if he wasn't a 2D character.


So ummmmmm............... yeah...............


I'm so bored... yet again....... surprise surprise!

Design Design Design

Designing my web site yet again!

This time I'm going to the portfolio and compact idea. I've only managed to code most of two pages. Its just I need to sort out the footer and then finish off designing the other pages. I don't how long it will take but I'm hoping to work on it slowly. Making sure the design is constant.

http://www.sazy-bu.co.uk/Aboutme.php
The only pages that have been altered so far is the blog and this page. But I've been having problems with my wordpress so I'm currently upgrading. All the others are in the previous skin.

Wordpress really is confusion to code. I managed to find one that is similar to my design to help get some coding idea's.
http://equilibrium.madebyon.com/

Is Patience a Virtue?

Its the middle of the week and I'm already loosing my patience waiting for new manga chapters to be released!!

http://myanimelist.net/mangalist/Bu-Chan

^^^ Just looking at that list and I already want to read new chapters of KHR(should be out this Friday), Papillon, Kimi ni Todoke, Barajou no Kiss, S.L.H. and Dengeki Daisy!! But sometimes I have to wait ages.. grrrrrrr

Ok so I like to read shoujo manga.. but its all interesting stuff. I mean coughexcellenteyecandycough :w00t:

Blahhhhhhhhhhh I'm so bored!!!

Somebody please TALK TO ME.... or just poke me... the slightest hing of activity would be great!

Back From America

Well seeing as I said I would make a thread about my trip when I got back, here it is!

Well after I landed in JFK it took me a while to see Solking again as it was really crowded when I walked through. I mean its no wonder I couldn't see him. But He walked over to me again so that's cool.

When we got back to his, I was so glad to be able to just relax and forget about work and studying for a while. It was totally what I needed as I don't tend to relax that much at home. Yes I sit in front of my PC all day but that doesn't mean its all care free etc. I study online and when I'm not studying I'm trying to get my skills in Photoshop up to a good enough standard that I can get a job in Digital art and web design.

But anyway...While I was in New York, Eddie took me around Far Rockaway, Manhattan, and the Bronx Zoo. It had been so long that I had been in Far Rockaway, yet it didn't take me long to adjust to the surroundings. I got used to people driving on the "wrong" - yes Eddie the WRONG!! side of the road lol. I even got use to the currency.. I guess keeping some from my last visit helped a little.

Well for my birthday Eddie and I went to Times Square and had lunch at TGI Fridays where I had a Mudslide and Eddie had a Long Island Ice Tea. The mudslide was so nice I was tempted to get another drink but I'm glad I didn't because when we got the bill, it all came to $64 for two drinks and two meals. After the meal we went for a walk around the shops etc but I didn't buy anything as I was kind of low on money in my wallet :P

Then for our next trip Eddie took me to Ground Zero. I would have liked to have gone to the Tourist centre but really it wasn't well marked, so instead we walked around the village and then up to 14th Ave. to the station to go home because it was raining and we were both getting tired from walking about so much.

One weekend we went to Youth Ministries event out of state, to which I don't know where but it was fun. Even though when the speakers were talking, they kept changing from English to Spanish. So poor Eddie had to translate some of it for me. but it was all fun. In the afternoon, they had Building 429 play so at least that was some songs I could hear and the recognise the words for.

For the following week, we went to the Bronx zoo. It did take us a while to get there because the signs for the entrances is pathetic. But once we got there, we went everywhere! even if the animals were no where to be seen. But I got to see the Tiger and the Polar bar so I am happy. I think Eddie was happy that he got to see the Turtles :P so it was all good. Although the sea lions were just as cute but we couldn't take any of them home T_____T

Otherwise, we made sure that we left the apartment once every two days. So we were cooped up most of the trip. Even if it was to the library, Dunkin Donuts and to get some soda :P it was worth the fresh air.

Then when the day came for us to leave, it was strange that we had nine hours to go yet we were ready. The trip was really worth it. Its just that all the pictures can be seen on my facebook page, for those who have it and have me added. Otherwise, I don't think you will be able to see all the pictures.

WOOOT VACATION!!!!

well its finalized, I am going on vacation 15th March to go and see my wonderful fiancé in New York. Hopefully the pictures will be better and I won't look so dead in them.

I haven't had a holiday in two years and I really need one and its a bonus that I get to spend time with my fiancé Solking so its worth it. The difference with this vacation is that I don't have to worry about baby sitting but I get to go site seeing. I really want to see Ground Zero, as I did a project about at University as well as the Bombings in London a few years back.

Its cheered me up that I have finally brought my ticket and insurance. I just have to study as much as I can before I go so I don't have to do much studying when I'm there.

Annoying Colleagues

Ok I know I've been annoyed with my colleagues in the past, but recently, the guy who works at the bar, Ivor, is really testing my patience.  He is only still working there because he has to a pay a mortgage, which really is a shit excuse "I'm sorry, I can't leave because I have a mortgage to pay!" I am sorry but I don't think I can take his crap any more. I was getting annoyed yesturday with his horrible carol singing in my ear as I try to sing. Even I can sing better than him, many people have told me I have a lovely singing voice but I don't think I do untill now. I could have punched in the stomach to wind him so he would shut the hell up. I tried looking for my own copy of the carols but I didn't find any spare.

But today, OMG I could have walked out with the way he treated me. I was working on the Restaurant, with my dear friend Ritch. We are more than capable of working the restaurant as we are the longest members of waiting staff. HOWEVER, Ivor decides to go into "manager" mode and start telling us to do our work. I am sorry, but he know how we do things in the restaurant? We had everything under control. Seriously, Ritch and I are a great team but Ivor goes and knocks me off balance and makes me angry. First off he tells me "When" I need to clear a table. I have my own eye's, I can see when they are all finished. I am not a fucking dumbass you is blind. I've looked after the restaurant on my own many times and I've had no problem. I was even told that for the lunch time shift, he was sent home early because of his attitude.

Later on, Ivor decides to go and refil the gravy boat from a table, and he comes out from the kitchen saying "You should have done this". I turn round and said to him " then you should have asked me to". I am getting fed up with his attitude but when he does come up to talk to me, he is like two inches away from my nose. I am sorry but the only person I want that close to my face is my fiance.

Oh but to top off the evening with constantly telling Ritch and I that a table has finished eaten is driving me round the freaking bend. Even when I am about to check to see if a table has finished, he moans at me and tells me to clear. Then when he comes to help us take out the food to the table, it pisses me off even more because he isn't very good at what he does and when he is meant to be working at the bar, he doesn't even stay there at all. He wonders off and decides he will come and piss off Ritch and I by thinking he is helping, when he is making things worse.

Then when Ritch and myself are discussing what to do about put the tables pre-ordered food on the till, he goes and says "am I just going to do your work for you, you lazy *something*?" I openly said "well leave it alone then". If someone is going to complain about doing other people's work for them, when they are meant to be working at a different post, you don't constantly tell them what to do and then complain when they "decide" they are going to do the work instead.

If he attitude does no improve before my shift tomorrow, then I am going to scream. Oh and another thing, he is the nosiest fucking prick a fucking live. He is trying to get me to date someone on the shit hole that is the Isle of Wight. I am sorry, but I've dated a few people here and none of them even come close to my fiance, well he is my fiance.. DUH!! I really do hate it when people who don't know me, try to tell me what to do. He is really going to get an ear ful tomorrow if he pisses me off like he did today.

Finally I am back!

I've not had the net for over a week and I got soooo bored, even playing on the Wii or DS or PSP didn't help, I got bored of them too easily just playing by myself.

But alas, I am back now and hoping to get back in GFX and maybe trying a few wallpapers.. although mine really do suck. But Really I should be working on my website to try and practise what I've during my web designing course.

Anyway.. i doubt anyone really noticed I wasn't around for a while, but you will see me online now obviously, as I am posting this entry so there :P

Nintendo Fan!

Well after buying myself my own Wii console and enjoying it so much. I went out today and also brought my own DS lite. I know its going to seem crazy to some people but honestly, it was the Brain training starter pack so its not so bad. I won't be buying games for the DS Lite that I already have the on Wii, that would just be stupid and a waste of money.

So now that is 3 consoles I own.... wow that really is a lot of money spent within two years but I've been working hard and tend to go shopping to help cheer myself up, Like any gal would really but I do make sure I monitor my spending habbits just to keep things in check. But now that Christmas is soon upon us, I will only be buying gifts for my family and not on myself. I've already asked for the Rockband on the Wii :P (sly thing that I am). Its going to be cool to play with Eddie and my best friend Ellen when we all move in together. Hopefully we will have my friend kyle join us too but that is something we will have to discuss with him about. At least then, having friends around for drinks is going to be fun.... I just wanna see a tipsy person trying to play on the wiiFit or something just to see how bad they do it.