I'M IN A STORE AND I'M SINGINGGGGGG

IT IS ALMOST DECEMBER AND I AM YET TO BUY A CALENDAR (There's a question, I haven't actually seen any......) D:

Alright, I'm okay. Really need to get on that. On the plus side, I DO have Elf and The Grinch with me (wish I had the Rudolf movie as well, y’know the cartoon with the sprites, the polar bear, and slyly, and Zoey the Doe and John Goodman voicing Santa...but alas). But anyway Grinch and Elf....1st of December!! I'M IN A STORE AND I'M SINGINGGGGGG!!!!

Well, actually I couldn't sing even if I wanted to...my voice is dwindling into nothing. I sound like a demented zombie or summat. Soon it will be non-existent :( No sore throat, no cold, nowt. Just. Voice. どうして？？元気やけど、声がないいいいいいいい。やばい。

I mean, I did go out to a club (like last Friday tho..) so maybe due to that. Actually never expected there to really be clubs here, I'd been told it wasn't really the same. But this club we went to for my friend's birthday, was just like any club back home. Well...actually not just like any club back home...you see the girl's toilets in clubs, here in Japan, have:

• Oil-blotting paper
• Mouthwash
• Cotton buds
• Heated toilet seats (well this is a thing generally here not just clubs but..)

There was even air-conditioning in there, and you bloody needed it with how hot it got in the main room. Small club + lots of Japanese and foreign students = mega crowded. めっちゃ込んでた  So kinda like any club back in Donny on a weekend. But worse. Or like Tau (...Mantra). But worse. You get the picture, its worse. But man we had such a good time!! I mean the songs they were playing weren't the newest but still some crackers. Although this DJ did have a habit of playing 1/3 of one song and then moving on...and again..and again....and that usually gets riiiiight on my...nerves. But was alreet. Got the token camera dude going round, taking soon-to-be-uploaded-to-facebook pictures! And yeah you get some weirdooos, but what place doesn't have them hey. Also one of those places where the price is lower for girls than lads, I don't think any clubs I'VE been to back home actually do this but, we were happy hahhaah. Poor sod in front of us coughing up 1000yen. Then got us gaijin lasses waltzing in.. I think the price of beer made up for it though, damn me and my love of beer.

OH
I bought a Kimonoooooo. Love the flea market, if you're ever in Kyoto area on the 25th of the month (it could happen..) get yourself to the Kitano Tenmangu Flea Market! Sooooo much cool stuff there, and the cheap Kimonos..just!!! Beaut. I wandered around with a friend for a while looking through the stalls, getting sidetracked here and there by other stalls....good thing we did go cus a man selling oranges just gave us some! ..oh and we managed to find ourselves kimonos! :P My mate had to leave and I ended up bumping into another, after wandering round a bit on my own. Picked up a few little things (I honestly can't help myself in places like that...I have no will power..and it took all our strength to walk away from the Yakisoba stall at the end as well. Bearing in mind we'd already eaten).

OH MY GOSH. I found this stall selling....it was like...small pancake-y thing with fillings. And the one I had was filled with custard cream. Now I don't for the life of me remember what it was called but it's now my mission to find another, or wait another month for the next market, and hope it's there again.

 I kid you not, one of best things ever. HELP ME FIND IT AGAIN.

I'm getting sidetracked. So yea, kimono. And THEN I needed an obi (belt). So we found this stall with obis and the little old man there and his helper spent a good amount of time comparing obis and helping me decide which one suited my kimono the best. So cute. I figured they would have quite good knowledge on this!! Then when I chose, they even lowered the price for me. N'awwww. Ended up also buying one of the ties, for keeping the obi in place, from them. And I already have geta (the shoes) and tabi (the socks), so finally sorted!! Hopefully wearing it in December sometime teehee.

SO EXCITED THAT IT'S NEARLY DECEMBER. Did I already say that? Well, I am. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. ほんまに楽しみにしてる！！！１２月大好き！クリスマス大好き！雪大好き（雪ほしいなぁ～）！！それから、だれかが２８日に日本を訪問する…！！違う、サンタ じゃないよ。

それ２４日だよ、、ｗｗ「サンターーーー、知ってる人！知ってる人！！」エルフ見たことある？見て！ぐリンチも。

Bu-zzing.

Happy Bonfire Night!!

Hey guyz

Feels like I've not written a post for a while, thought I'd update yas! So today back home it's bonfire night!! AKA. Guy Fawkes Night, as what it basically is, is celebrating Guy Fawkes' plans going to shit. Although I think nowadays it just..is seen as a big arse bonfire and some pretty fireworks..! In fact, if I was home right now I'd be buzzing to go to a bonfire and see some fireworks later on. Alas, it is not to be, as here in Japan (and most places ha) it is not a thing. I recently did some "research" (lol I Wiki'd it) and found out that bonfire night is actually officially celebrated in South Africa. Also the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador (I have a Labrador..I miss him) also has something of the like on 5th Novemeber! Remember remember the 5th of November.....

Anyways, HAPPY BONFIRE NIGHT PEOPLE I HOPE YOU ARE HAVING FUN BACK HOME WHILE IM HERE DOING WORK AND WRITING THIS BLOG, BONFIRE NIGHT-LESS. Teehee. 

Nah, it's cool guys, I went to a fire festival recently so it's kinda similar. Right? I mean I'm pretty happy being in Japan right now. Well..I mean in general yeah (for those wondering....) I am really enjoying it here!! I'm still coming across things that are like "culture shock" and occasionally wish I was back home but it passes and I end up going to a Takoyaki party or a local festival, or Karaoke..you get it haha. Gotta say still getting used to some things though, like it's obvious you're gonna get some people staring or whatever (I even got a school kid on campus once shouting きれいねええええ in my face - well I think it was at me, for the sake of my ego I'm gonna say it was directed at me hahaha). Non-Japanese speaking people, she basically said WAAAAA SHES UGLY. Lol just kidding,  きれいmeans pretty. Japanese people are super nice, if a little cray. (Serena, if you're reading, this is you yes hehehe looove ya ♥).

BUT other things are oddly reminding me of home - the local supermarket, Matsumoto, proper reminds me of Morrisons! Couldn't tell you why, just does! I've also found an import shop (don't get me wrong I'm loving trying all the new Japanese foods..but sometimes I just want some Nutella)! There was also one day at the river, Kamogawa, I had been wandering round Gion with a friend, and we were heading back to the bus from the river...when some old drunkard tried to give/sell us some Whiskey. Now if that's not like Donny.....

DOOOO YA WANNA FUNNNNKKKKKKKKK?

Soz, my Mum made me a CD, listening to it now and this song is on there (anyone seen Trading Places? Watch it. Eddie Murphy. Classsss). 

So in my blogs I write a lot in my (dodgy) English, so I've decided now I'm gonna do a little bit in my (broken) Japanese each time. Here goes.  じゃ、頑張る！

これは多分前の英語と同じだけど、私まだ上手じゃないんだよー

ここまで２ヶ月間日本に勉強してる。まあ、実は１ヶ月間ぐらいクラスがあって、その前はなんか日本の生活などになれてきてみる時だった（まだね）

カルチャーショックについて、いつも大学から聞いてた。私日本に来る前、大丈夫だと思ってたけど、やっぱり時々カルチャーショック経験する。日本は暑い。でしょ？日本に着いて初めてのカルチャーショックだった。でも今、毎週もっと寒くなってくると思う！イェーイ！めっちゃ暑い天気あまり好きじゃないんだ！今は、なんかイギリスの天気みたい、、、好き！とにかく、ここまで日本も日本語の勉強も大好き  :)

これからも頑張る！！

Alright, that's ya lot, I'm tired now hahaha. I hope you've somewhat enjoyed reading this random post, until next time!!

Naw.

About Life in Kyoto & at Ritsumeikan!!

Ayup! 

So thought I'd do a post aimed at people back home at UEA (or wherever) studying and preparing to come to Japan on their big adventure!! To whoever wants to know what it's like living in Kyoto, Japan, and studying at Ritsumeikan - I should imagine (hope) this will be a good read for you! Of course, everyone else, feel free to have a read too ;) I'm going to write about some of my experiences so far and what to expect, both in study and outside of study!

Culture Shock

Soooooo, this phrase gets thrown about a lot, but to be honest before I came to Japan I was all "Eh, we'll be totally fine!". Ehhhhhhh.......Now, I'm not saying it's all doom and gloom (cus it's bloody awesome) but as you've heard probs loooads of times already, you will get some degree of culture shock - whether that's the fact that dorms here seem to be much stricter than at home, or even "What the fudge, Japan, where on earth is all the gravy?" :/ 

But worry not, my lovelies. You'll be just fine! You'll have down days and better days and fantabby-dosey days. It's all part and parcel. 

Wow, it's October and I'm still going out in strap tops..

Yep, it's STILL warm here (well, to me). It does not take much to impress me in the warm weather department. In the past few weeks, all I've heard is ナタリー、寒くないの？寒くないの？ "Aren't you cold Natalie??" "Natalie, you not cold??"

Guys, I'm from the UK, just assume that unless it's snowing, I am not really cold! It has gotten A LOT cooler than what the weather was like when I first arrived. Now bearing in mind, it's still quite warm now, gives you an idea of just how hot it was back then. Well, this is all subjective but.....I'm not used to hot hot weather!

Having said all this, there has recently been a typhoon and there is now another one on the way....when the one last week was here, its was ridiculously windy (like I've never experienced before), so clearly that was cold..but aside from that..yes, warm. OH, speaking of, us here in Kyoto experienced a brief earthquake the other week - the first while we've been at Ritsumeikan University. I've only experienced one or two extremely small ones back home, so despite this being an event most Japanese were quite blasé about, for me it was quite scary..

Class at Ritsumeikan

Some people thinking of applying to Ritsumeiiiiiiiiiiiii? Love it here, I posted a picture on my previous post of the campus, which is so pretty. When you arrive, you have a placement test including reading/writing, speaking and listening (but they disguise the speaking test as an 'interview'....). You will probably be nervous before like we all were, but honestly nothing to worry about - the teachers are super nice and approachable. I'm in one of the intermediate classes, and we have four teachers, making up one writing class a week, two listening/speaking classes a week, and five comprehensive classes a week (each class lasting 90 mins). As I said, they are all lovely (I only know of female teachers btw, not seen any men yet) and easy to speak to!! You quickly become friends with people in your class and feel more and more comfortable speaking in Japanese in front of everyone with each class, as everything is in Japanese :D

Note: Ritsumeikan offers many outside-of-language-class classes :) BUT, I have to warn you about this as I have had a bit of an ordeal. I was, to my delight, chosen to take part in the traditional arts class of Tea Ceremony. However, due to my timetable of language classes, I had to drop out as it clashed. This then happened for Calligraphy class...and also clashes meant I couldn't take the Society or Culture classes I had my eye on (taught in English). I then applied for the one I could do and did not get picked (it's a lottery..), so as you can imagine I was quite deflated by the whole thing! I now only have my language classes, and am hoping to get the chance to do extra classes next semester. FINGERS CROSSED. (Please cross everything for me. Please?) So yeah, just be aware of this as I did not expect it..

Outside of class.....

I've been here just over a month, and I love love love Kyoto. I've already experienced so much with friends, and there's much more. I'm going to Osaka soon to meet up with a friend, and one of my house-mates has recently visited Kobe, as well - I love how easy and cheap it is to get to these kinds of places (although Tokyo is a bit of a trek I think). 

Aside from sight-seeing and so on, there are also various places to hang out with friends. One of my favourites is the river, Kamogawa, where Japanese and international students both gather to hang out and chat. There is an Izakaya (Japanese-style drinking/eating...place haha!) very close, and going there for the first time was a brill experience! Japanese shops/konbini etc are open quite late (compared to home, aside from 24 hour Tesco..). BUSES, however, unlike at home, do not run very late. So be prepared for Taxis - make sure to go in a group or it may well be quite a big sum of dosh you have to fork out!  

The next thing is...KARAOKE. SO. FUN. There are Karaoke places with comfy rooms to go in with friends and sing the night away (no joke until like 6am sometimes..) with all-you-can-drink of what they have on offer there. The name? JANKARA. There are also Karaoke bars, where the Karaoke is free. Make sure when in Japan, you get yourself to one ;)

SO

I hope this has been somewhat helpful and informative, and not a complete ramble of jibberish about Karaoke and Typhoons haha. Hopefully, you can read some of the other blogs and they can give you an idea about where you would like to go! If anyone has any questions about Kyoto/Ritsumeikan, let me know! Just been made some Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki (YUM) so gonna go grab some! (Thanks guys hehe, ありがとううう、めっちゃおいしかった！）

Have fun studying Japanese guys, 頑張ってね！

Here is a picture of all us SKP students at Ritsumeikan for you!　またね！

Getting used to life in Japan: Say whuttt

DAAAAAY SIXTEEEN IN THE BIG BROTHER INTERNATIONAL HOUSE II

..and the housemates are gettin iraaate playing unooooooo.

So just been playing Uno, and (typically) I have won... a big fat ZERO times. (Guys, if you're reading get lost.)

Anyways, 2 years ago today (well technically yesterday as in Japan its now early morning) I started at UEA! Can't believe time's gone so fast and I'm already on my year abroad..I've been here for just over 2 weeks and had my ups and downs but loving getting used to life in Japan. The University I'm at here is called Ritsumeikan (or just Ritsumei for all us that find it so much effort to add the extra little 'kan' on the end...) and although I've not started classes, I've been on campus to look around and it's beaut. Here is a picture:

pwettyy!!

Japan is SO. COOL. Guys if you haven't been, go. (And to you lucky people visiting - you know who you are - it's gonna be siiiick.) 

BUT Japan can also be kinda crazy. In a good way (well mostly!). Here are some examples of different things I've come across!

• So...they drive on the same side of the road as we do in the UK. Good. Well I do NOT understand the rules of the road in Japan. Green man on crossing = cars stop, people walk. Right? Wrong. In Japan, while you're crossing, cars from certain directions can still go. What is that, man? Does that not defeat the point of the little green man?? (mmm I could go for a Little Green Man at Mambos right now) 
• Fashion over here is quite different sometimes, it's so cool seeing all the different things people wear (I wanna go Tokyo now THAT will be something)
• Bikes are so cute, they pretty much all have little baskets on the front (this isn't 'crazy' but something I like about it here.)
• Something I've found difficult to grasp is the general rule of no eating while walking - I do this all the time at home and admit I did it today when eating a brownie and I did actually notice some people looking at me (oops, sorry) 
• Also no eating on buses, which is easier to understand/abide by.
• You have to take off your shoes before you enter a house in Japan. At first it was hard to remember that I'd left my shoes in the little box by the front door..."where are my black pumps...??"
• Also, I'm sure most of you have heard about my Mukade incident....if not, good, Japan has some scary bugs!! 

So, hopefully.. things will become second nature, but for now it's good getting to understand what it's like here and trying my best! 頑張りまーす！People are sooooo nice here anyway. For example, the other day my friend knocked over loads of bikes when parking his, and a guy parked his car, got out and helped us pick them all up. I did not expect it at all.. I think back home, bikes are more likely to get nicked to be honest!

There's a lot I could write about but I'm just gonna leave you with a picture of me and my friend Beth from home (UEA RULES) when we got together and did some sightseeing. This day was awesome, Japan is so beautiful. 

Kinkakuji :)

IM HERE!

So...I'm here! After a loooong time flying, I've managed to get myself to a hostel for two nights and then moved in to my dorm (which you may already know about...funny story I'll get to it).

The flight to Doha was pretty awesome - made a friend and spent the hours chatting, drinking free alcohol and watching movies. YEY. (Divergent was a good watch...as was The Other Woman). So by the time I had to change, I was feeling pretty good. Then came the second flight,  the longer one...9 hours sat on my todd unable to get to sleep, and eventually putting on The Fault in Our Stars...bloody hell bad choice for my state of mind (though the film was really good)! Eventually the time came and we landed at Kansai International! Phew.

As soon as I was off that plane and making my way to the hostel, I was buzzing to use my Japanese and see Japan. Got a little chat in with the taxi driver which was cool (I was just happy I was being understood). Having never been to a hostel before, at first it was a bit daunting but I met another friend there in my room and managed to Skype a few people from home! Jet lag has not been as big of an issue as I thought it would. From other people's stories, I was expecting to be randomly falling asleep during the day and have a complete lack of energy - which would have made sense considering just how little I slept on the plane. BUT, it was not too bad at all.

However, that does now mean that I cannot blame jet lag for my stupidity and goofiness. Damn.

Which brings me onto my taxi incident, going back to before - basically I moved into my hostel during the night, therefore did not manage to take in my surroundings whilst in the taxi....bear this in mind before judging me haha! So I get there and at one point I try to ring a taxi for the next day to my Uni dorm (the only thing I hadn't sorted beforehand). ..Turns out the dorm is literally opposite the youth hostel I was at. Imagine if I had been successful with the taxi and it turned up...there's me asking to go to my dorm and he would have driven out the hostel's drive, across the road and onto another drive. The embarrassment. Luckily, I got nowhere with the taxi over the phone as you had to book it on the day (which took me a while to work out that's actually what the lady was trying to tell me...). In my defence, she didn't explain in the clearest way. "Call me once more."  I'm thinking....You want me to call you back? But she was lovely and helpful and..we got there in the end.

So here I am! First night in my dorm and already met lots of cool people. みんなはやさしいーー！
More to follow :)

I'll leave you with this picture I took in the youth hostel, just chillin in the lobby.

またね！

Welcome to Nat Stan in Japan!!

Alllllrighty then! So never done this blog malarky before so bear with me (talking especially to my uni buddies who've created awesome blogs that I can't match in the slightest. You guysssss I miss you all my lovelies) - but giving it a shot for my year abroad! 

So I'm a third year language student at the University of East Anglia (oh UEA) studying Japanese and currently waiting to jet off on my year abroad in Kyoto, to study at Ritsumeikan Univeristy! There are quite a few of us going to Japan, dotted about all over the place - hoping to visit people once we're settled - such as Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, Sapporo, and more that my tired brain can't remember right now. Mega excited for all my Japanese class buddies and hoping to meet up. Definitely paying a visit to Tokyo to go to Disneyland (well..it's Tokyo so I want to go generally but...Disneyland). Yeah, people who know me know that I love all things Disney and this is something I will be doing at some point during my year abroad - my year abroad friends in Japan (Tokyo especially), will hopefully be up for that! 

Anyway, it's been a lot of organising, with more to come but it's all going to be so worth it - and it's sooo close! As you can imagine there are the usual stresses surrounding travel abroad (not that I've done a lot..), but a few added ones considering this is a study abroad trip and we are the first at UEA to go to Japan in particular, eek.

However, seeing as I've started this blog fairly far into my year abroad prep, there isn't much left for me do to at this point! YAY. My list currently stands as follows:

• Apply for Visa
• Pick up Visa
• Say my goodbyes and cry a bit ...a lot.

At least that's how I can see it going ha! So yeah, introduction to my year abroad blog which I hope will be a good read for those interested. :)

Hakuna Matata, people. (Two of my fave things: Sunset Orange and...well you know)