Christmas Time is Here

My recent adventures via pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2024618&id=1230390045&l=bf2794838a

Japan really loves Christmas. All over the place, they are doing illuminations and they're gorgeous. Hard to take pictures of though - you can't really just stop in the middle of the sidewalk (or street, of course, haha) to take a picture. It's always crowded and you will be moved.

The man who did ame-zaiku with Ayane and I came to my school to do it with exchange students. I decided at the last minute to do it again. I loved it! I'm actually really into it now, I wish I could try and try again. My bunny looked significantly better.

Last Friday, I went to an Accenture (as in the company) Christmas party. Elizabeth's dad used to work for them and has connections. Elizabeth didn't want to go alone, so I went with her! And it was really fun! Spectacular really - the food, the entertainment, etc. We met the president of the company too!

And after that really classy event, we went to McDonald's because they're selling Pokemon toys in the Happy Meals now.

School lets out for winter break on Wednesday, the 23rd. It's convenient that the Emperor's birthday is on Wednesday so they feel more compelled to give us a holiday.

Going over to the Vander Haaks to celebrate Christmas again :) I'm very excited! Yesterday, I spent the day with Emily hanging out in Shibuya. It was just wonderful! And I'll be seeing her again soon as I'll be coming over to her house on Wednesday. I'm glad I have a place to go for the holidays, it sounds so lonely for some of the other exchange students who have no plans in any shape or form.

Tomorrow, my Japanese class is going to the Natural Disaster Prevention Center...I'm not sure that's the official name for it, but we get some sort of training of what to do in case of emergency situations - like earthquakes and typhoons. Speaking of earthquakes, there was another one the other day. It was at 5:45 in the morning. I felt my bed shaking and I opened my eyes and realized what was happening. At first, I was okay with it but then it didn't stop for a while, I got nervous. I closed my eyes and just waited for it to stop; hoped my mirror wouldn't fall and break, and that nothing else catastrophic would happen.

Later that day, we talked to one of my Japanese teacher's about earthquakes. The ones that go side to side are relatively okay, the ones that go up and down are more dangerous. Up and down ones are when you should open the door so it doesn't get wedged shut permanently and you can't get out. Yikes!

Oh, and another thing about the center I'm going to - I like how my teacher said to us, "please don't wear short skirts or high heels, girls. You may have to run. And also, everyone, you may want to bring a rain coat"

Tomorrow is going to be INTENSE.