Hey everyone! Well, the summer is definitely here. Temperatures are so hot here I truly would take the cold Canadian winter over it any day! However, with summer in Japan comes a wide variety of festivals, fireworks, and get-togethers.
This past week was my city's Tanabata festival. I previously showed a video I found on youtube of last years Tanabata, but I finally had the chance to make my own memories of it. So, to celebrate the occassion, Miho and I went out and bought Yukata and Jinbei. I made a video of the whole thing, so please enjoy.
Well, life has been pretty relaxed lately here in Gunma, Japan. There's honestly not a heck of a lot to do in this really rural place.. But, I'm making the best of it, for the most part. Lately I've been studying Japanese, Kanji, and even MATH. I've also been hanging out with Miho a lot. We generally go to the Mall, or to the game center or Karaoke, etc. And we usually eat dinner at either Primo - my favorite italian restaurant - or this Japanese ramen restaurant with a REALLY cute waitress.
Also, this is extremely unrelated but I found this and found it really funny. As far as political satire goes this video is one of the best I have seen. Better still, the website this video is from allows you to put yourself in the video, so look for me (kind of towards the second half. hint: my first appearance is marching with a campaign sign in hand).. Anyways, here it is:
Well, I'm FINALLY updating my blog after a month+ long hiatus! Lots and lots has happened! Lately I have been seeing some great movies at the theaters around here. I'm finding it's a great way to enjoyably practice my Japanese listening skills.
Recently, I finally saw the Hana Yori Dango: Final Movie! Which, although good, was just not as good as the TV series. It was still a great movie though!
Miho and I also went on a date and saw a cute romantic comedy called Boku no Kanojo wa Cyborg and I enjoyed it so much. However, when I looked around youtube for the trailer for the movie I found that no one had yet translated / subtitled it so I decided to translate+subtitle it myself for practice! (I would love to get in to Fan-subbing of J-drama or maybe even Anime someday) Anyways, here's my subtitled version:
Also, to play catch-up a little with the time I haven't posted anything in. Just before May we went to Tokyo and watched a baseball game - which was a totally amazing experience and in some ways completely different from seeing a major league game back home. I put together a little video of that adventure:
And finally.. Being that summer is definitely here (the temperature is crazy outside), the summer festival season in Japan has come into full swing. Yesterday I was teaching an English class for an NPO in Maebashi, and got the chance to participate in the festivities of Tanabata - Summer Star Festival. This festival was really really great and I regrettably didn't bring my Camera, but my city will soon have its own Tanabata and I'll be sure to get some pics / video. In the meantime, here is a great video I found about Tanabata, check it out:
Well, that's all for now, but I'll be sure to get my blog back into gear. I promise! - Timothy
My name is Timothy Patrick, for nearly 2 years I've been planning, preparing and saving for an unforgettable trip to Japan.. This is a chronicle of my adventure to a place half a globe away!
