Friday, July 08, 2005
ありまつ & たかしまや

mood: ^_^
listening to: Attack of the Clones...in Japanese?!
gaijin count: 78

Today we had a school field trip to Arimatsu, a place about 30 minutes from Nagoya by train. It's renowned for it's tie-dying techniques, and is a preserved town. This morning I woke up extra early (ok, like 10 minutes) so I could get to school earlier, since we were leaving a bit earlier for the train to Arimatsu.

When I got to the Dainagoya Building, I walked my usual route to the school inside. Before I reached I.C. Nagoya, however, I spied LORNEat one of the better vending machines. I went over to say hi. Somehow the topic changed to Harry Potter. I told him I was going to try to find the new one when it came out. He told me he saw an add for it in the Takashimaya book store. I was SO psyched, and it totally made my day.

LORNE and I made our way to school and sat down by Hot Japanese One, Kind of Tall, Flaming Red, and HAL. Queen of Hearts was here today (she was out sick yesterday), but she was still feeling bad. Rainbow Girl was being antisocial as usual. Have I told you that I really hate her Japanese voice?

Anyways, the usual group talked for a while. It was pretty fun. I always enjoy talking with them, since it's always really funny. XD Silent Creeper came in as annoyingly as usual, and tried to butt into our conversation, but we shot him down.

Hey...you know how backpacks often have those little buckles on the bottom and sometimes top, that you can sometimes buckle to make the backpack more secure on you? I mean, no one buckles them, but they are always there. Well, actually I lied. Silent Creeper buckles them. And it makes him look more like an asshole than he already is. Anyways, he came in and pretty much wore his backpack with the top and bottom straps buckeled the entire time we were at Arimatsu. And pretty much everywhere in between too. He is SUCH a douchebag.

Anyways, we made our way to the Meitetsu Line, and went on the train for 30 minutes to get to Arimatsu. When we eventually got there, we went inside a building labeled "Arimatsu Shibori Tie-Dying Museum" or something like that. The first floor was a souvenir shop, but upstairs there was a museum and a room that was like a conference room. We went into the conference room and watched a short movie on Arimatsu Shibori. Although it was rather 80s-made, I enjoyed it. I mean, it was rather interesting...and the narrorator (I KNOW that is spelled wrong. Gr) sounded suspiciously like Lauren from ALIAS! So I thought about ALIAS a lot. XD

After the movie we got some hands-on action on the tying part of the Shibori process. It was rather hard and rather boring. But WOAH those old ladies can Shibori fast! O_O Basically we had to sew thread through little dots to make the pattern of a flower. The thread was then scrunched all up and tied so that when the handkercheif was dyed, the flower outline would remain whiteish. I chose navy blue for my color. We apparently are receiving our Shibori-ed handkerchief at the end.

After we finished, we were allowed to shop around the outrageously expensive souvenir shop for 15 minutes. I didn't buy anything. It was SO not worth it. Then, we were allowed to roam around the town for a little while. We had to be back to the train station by 12:35. So Flaming Red, HAL, Hot Japanese One, BeBe, Evangelica, Kind of Tall, Seamus, Cubic Cube, Sister Sister #2, LORNE, and I all walked to a conbini that was close to the station. Since we frankly didn't really care very much about Arimatsu. I bought a box of chocolate Pocky and a box of ToPo. Kind of Tall bought a white Qoo that everyone seemed to like (remember, I'm a germophobe so I didn't try it, lol). I decided that the next time I see a white Qoo I'm going to buy one. XP

We hung out in the conbini for a while, and then made our way to the station to wait around for everyone else. By the way, have I said that I officially hate Ghetto Boy? He's such an asshole. >.< Plus he has this totally fake and wannabe-not white accent. He thinks he's so ghetto, but he's not.

Eventually we got back to Nagoya, and I was pretty much stuffed to the brim with chocolate goods. That's a good thing, since I really didn't feel like eating my obento. Again. Lol. I did eat my cherries though, but I when I was eating them I was talking to Hot Japanese One, and I swallowed a pit! X__________X why me??

Lunch was pretty fun. Actually it was really enjoyable. The Group* of course, was gathered in Room 4, and we talked about old and amazing TV shows. Like, for instance, Johnny Quest. Now, I'm talking about the NEW Johnny Quest. The one with the cool intro with all the green and black. Anyways, Flaming Red and I formed a bond when we both expressed our love for Johnny Quest. I don't think I had ever talked with anyone about Johnny Quest before. XD LOL! I have decided that I'm totally finding Johnny Quest on DVD or I'm going to download it via Bittorrent, because it is seriously the best show. XD It was so fun! We also talked about, you know, Doug, Rocko's Modern Life, Prometheus and Bob, and other good stuffs like that. It was really, really enjoyable.

Then we had 1 hour of class. That was the best part about having the trip to Arimatsu. Not only did we get to go to a conbini, but we only had 1 hour of class! After that, The Group (minus Sister Sister #2) went to McDonalds. Again. XD We made LORNE get us all food/drinks. I only had a coke, since I was still stuffed with Pocky and ToPo, surprisingly. Anyways, we all gathered around 2 tables and read Cosmo. For TWO HOURS. You see, we read there for a while, lauging hysterically at the crap, and then we had to stay while HAL went off to go fetch Hot Japanese One from I.C. Nagoya. Anyways, reading Cosmopolitan for 2 hours with 2 guys and 4 girls was pretty much the funniest thing I have ever done in my life. Besides the karaoke and the talking about old TV shows. When the 2 got back, we finally left for Takashimaya, since LORNE wanted to buy a camera, and I wanted to see the Harry Potter thing for myself.

When we got there we decided that we didn't have enough time for LORNE to get his camera, so we headed up to the 11th floor instead to look at the books. I really wish I had bought one, because now I'm going to be stuck bookless all weekend long. Which will suck. Anyways, they will in fact have Harry Potter next Saturday so I am SO EXCITED. I hope this upcoming week goes as fast as this week did, since I cannot wait. I was saying to LORNE that I was totally going to get my ass down there at like 6 in the morning to get Harry Potter. He said that he was planning to do the same!! LOL! I had no idea that LORNE was such an avid Harry Potter fan. To me he just didn't seem the type. ^.^ So, LORNE and I have made a plan that we will meet each other and we will go and sit in a Starbucks all day and read Harry Potter. YES. XD

Anyways, we left the bookstore and shopped around other places for a while. However, we eventually all had to leave. Especially me, since it takes about 35-40 minutes for me to get home, unfortunately. >.> And it was 6:05, and I had to be home by 7. GR.

So, now I'm back home, and stuffed with food once again. The HostFam, minus Host Padre of course, is watching Star Wars Episode II in Japanese. How annoying. I can only watch movies in their native languages. I hate live-action dubs. They are so annoying! I can barely watch anime dubs without cringing!

I really want to go to Takashimaya, Pass'e Bazar, and Jusco tomorrow by myself. I really need to get some errands/shopping done. I want to buy some cute stationery at Merry Beans, get a book at Takashimaya, and get a little sumin' sumin' for Almost in Tower Records (don't worry, it's not a CD or DVD). I also need to get some other stuffs for my own personal benefit. You see, I have this list going, and really need to cross some things off of it. x_x

Well, I have been on here long enough. For now,

-Erin

*I have decided to refer my group of friends as the group. When I talk of the group I mean the following people: HAL, Hot Japanese One (only after 4:50 PM), Flaming Red, Kind of Tall, Sister Sister #2, Cubic Cube, LORNE, and myself. If there is someone missing I will say, par exemple "The Group (minus Cubic Cube) blah blah blah blah blah." Or, if there is someone extra, I will say "The Group (plus BeBe) blah blah blah blah blah." OK. That's settled now.