Dinner Cruise

Before we have the available time and resource to go on a vacation cruise, we went on a 3-hr dinner cruise in Manhattan.

The cruise consisted of an outdoor deck for sightseeing, dancing, live cabaret, and a buffet dinner. The atmosphere was much different than what I had expected. Despite the fact that there was a couple who had announced their engagement, the majority of the crowd consisted of bigger groups. There were a group of drunken women on the dance floor and a group of elders wearing tiaras. Sitting behind Rob was a table with two miserable girls who had not spoken a single word.

It was a dinner cruise on a Thursday night. I was surprised at the amount of passengers. Each group came for different reasons. As a result, the dj chose songs from I Will Survive to YMCA to clubbing songs and other slower dancing songs.

The weather was comfortable, and we were able to see the NY skyline at another angle.
My favorite part of the cruise is the delicious creme brulee cheesecake. In the end, we also purchased a picture they had taken for us as a souvenir. Although the night has turned out perfectly, we seem to enjoy the view of the Rainbow Bridge in Odaiba more than the bridges and buildings in Manhattan.

St. Patty's Day

Snowboarding

Rob and I are always on vacation. My scrapbook is filled with ticket stubs of things that we have done in the past summer and winter vacation. Unfortunately, while I'm in New York for my spring vacation, Rob has school. The way we spend our days is something we are both not accustom to. Rob has been busy writing reports and studying for midterms; I was sick and my jetlag took a long time to overcome. As a result, I spent the first few weeks in bed.

My sickness tends to wait until Rob is around. When he was in Japan, I had the stomach virus, throwing up for days. Here, I had the flu. I was drowsy for the first 2 weeks. After all, who else would run around delivering soup and food for me everyday if it is not Rob? In Japan, he made me お粥; he even sliced ham/bacon and vegetable for flavoring. In New York, conforming to the American culture, he brought back chicken noodle soup. Ironically, after weeks of sweat and stress, his mom thanked me for taking care of him.

After our plans were postponed a few times, I was finally healthy, and we went to Mountain Creek. It was quite horrifying to experience my first of many. It was my first time to snowboard (or ski), wear snowboarding equipments, and ride on ski lifts. We were there from 5 to 9 pm. I despise the cold, but the weather was warm that Friday.

The equipment was easy to put on because they are similar to rollerskates - the buckles, long shoelaces, etc. After a few pictures, the 5 of us marched onto the snow. I walked slowly onto the icy slope, because I didn't trust the sturdiness of the shoes. We followed the crowd, because our friend Tom adviced us to skip the bunny slopes. Note to self: Never take an advice from a beginner who is snowboarding for the second time of his life.

The most popular stories told by first timers are ski lift experiences. After overcoming the fear that the shoes will fail me, we had to travel up the mountain by a standing ski lift. The height of the mountain was intimidating. After all, I couldn't see our destination point. I gripped firmly onto the edge of the lift as I faked a smile for the camera. Just imagine riding up on a rollercoaster, incapable of seeing the end of the upward slope - that was what it felt like.

Since the lifts were running nonstop, we were afraid that we won't land on time. We inched closer and closer to each other as we lined up to get off. At last, contrary to belief, the 5 of us only took 1/5 of the given time to get off.

There was also a sitting ski lift. The oncoming bench was to "sweep" us away from our back as we stood there. Learning from others, we locked only one shoe onto the snowboard. As our bench took off, my snowboard was dragging in the snow. I thought my foot was stuck and I was about to die. I knew better during my second time around. Ski lift is the most dangerous transportation I have ever experienced. WHERE ARE THE SEATBELTS?! I could have easily fallen a 100 ft down, breaking a limb.

Furthermore, I had to support the weight of my heavy snowboard with my weak left foot while we were in mid-air. I thought my ankle was to break off. Thankfully, Rob took some weight off of me by holding my snowboard up. At the end of the ride, I was told to "jump off" from the lift once we arrive. As I landed, I thought the lift would hit me on the back of my head as I landed, but it didn't.

After our short trip to "death," we arrived. Soon, I learned to stand and fall. After another half an hour, I gained balance and arrived to the top of the first downward slope, 25 feet from where we first started. After a few short slopes, Rob and I were left alone. Rob and I snowboarded down the mountain without being told how to stop or turn. The first half went well. I was able to stop myself from hurting others. I stayed low to fall from a lower height. BIG MISTAKE! I ended up accelerating. Most of the time I stopped myself because the speed was far from what I can withstand.

Since first grade, I was taught to always fall forward. Snowboarding was reversing everything that I learned. I was told to fall on my butt. I was "addicted" to falling. After all, it was my only way to stop. Pain wasn't a question at the time. As I fall, I would dig my fingers into the slushes or press my fingers onto the ice in an attempt to stop falling downhill. According to Rob, after I make an effort to stop every time, I would lose strength and spin uncontrollably.

In order not to lose each other, Rob followed behind me as I snowboarded down the mountain. It was my first time, but it was Rob's first time, too. He would often stop 2 ft in front of me after I fall. Snow would fly to my face everytime. My hero always came to my rescue but this one time...

By the end of the day, I knocked my head twice. Both times, I lied down, facing the sky, waiting to become unconscious or the birds. Instead, I had 2 big bumps on my head for the next 2 to 3 days. So, here's the story of my fallen hero: One of those two times, Rob rushed to my direction. However, instead of coming to my rescue, he knocked me hard with his snowboard (thankfully, not my head). If only I had a clip of it, I would send it to America's Home Funniest Video.

By the end of our first trip downhill, we decided to go back to the basics: the bunny slopes. After 2 more times, our day was filled with fatigue, soup, and hot chocolate at the food court.

I was a crybaby. After all, I banged my head twice! Speaking of which, I must purchase a helmet next year. My butt cheeks, tailbone, head, neck, and arms hurted for the next 48 hours. In fact, because of the "head bang," I couldn't move my neck. It hurted when I sneezed. No word can describe the pain of a first-time snowboarder. No sport I had done is comparable.

At last, this marks another sport, next to skim boarding, in which I must defeat.

Transitions

Returning to New York, there are a number of things I have to learn to get used to. An obvious one is the oncoming traffic on the left side, as oppose to the right. However, there's one interesting transition that I would like to share. That is, the lack of... EARTHQUAKES!

Every now and then, it takes seconds for me to realize that there is no earthquake in New York. I would think, "EARTHQUAKE!" for a split second, as I would in Chiba.

There are procedures to be taken, such as opening doors and windows, but we never do them. I must have felt more earthquakes than anyone else have in Chiba. My estimate for the number of earthquake, I have to say, is more than 2 dozens. It could be that I am extra sensitive of a person, I am more sensitive on the 4th floor, or it has gotten to my head!

In Japan, when earthquake hits, we'd think, "Oh, earthquake." We would probably cease what we were doing for 5 seconds, and the rest of the time (around 20-30 seconds), we would continue what we were doing, but probably slower, as we wait for it to end.

Anyway, I would like to read everyone else's experiencing when they return home.

"How was Japan?"

Returning to New York, the question "How was Japan?" is expected in every conversation I run into. Although I have learned to prepare myself to answer that question, I am still at lost.

I don't know how I would describe my days in Japan. Of course, I must say I am fortunate to be selected to go to Chiba. Surely, I enjoy my days when Rob visits, but it would be agreed upon unanimously that I am not living it to the fullest.

Anyhow, I thought of something that I would like to share. The "How was Japan?" question often leads to other questions, such as the following:

1.
Rob's suitemate: How was Japan?
Me: Um... Warm...
Rob's suitemate: Yeah... It's like, what? Summer, now?

2.
Girl: How was Japan?
Me: Huh?
(The above lines were repeated 3 more times)
Girl: Did you forget your English or something?

3.
Friend: How was Japan?
Me: Warm...
Friend: So... did you walk through paper doors?


Rob and I have agreed to put up an act with the most random, ridiculous stereotypes of Japan. From questions pity that Japan does not have coffee, or a suggestion to visit me from Thailand (or something like that) by train, we must test how far we can take this to. We've decided that I will appear to have forgotten my English, and to sit with my knees bent...

Bloated (Updated)

My days are rather mundane. If I can recall properly, I sleep after 4 am every morning. Before 11 am hits, I would wake up energetically. Usually breakfast or lunch would be eaten, but never together. I don't recall the last time I was hungry when I sat down for dinner.

On campus, I question everything I eat. It is either the greasy Chinese food, the way the students handle the food, or the large portion of Indian food. When I would eat a smaller meal, I would eat a healthy BLT sandwich from the deli. Before Japan, I have only been delighted by food. Never have I questioned the portion or the healthiness of the meals I eat, but now, I can't help but question why my stomach is always bloated like a child suffering from malnutrition.

In Japan, having to pay for my own electricity and averaging $80 a month, I have learned to take hot, frequent showers, make hot drinks, as replacements for blasting the heat. Mostly, I would drink green tea. Not only had it kept me warm in the wintery days, it had helped my digestive system. On campus in NY, however, I have adapted to the limited available hot drinks, hot chocolate.

At this rate, I will gain 15 pounds before I return to Japan. My everyday schedule includes eat and sleep. I can fall asleep anywhere. The reason, I believe, is my comfortable, portable, personal pillow - Rob. I would nap at a 4 hour long review on his shoulder, or I would nap on his lap when he studies for his midterm. Of course, I also take naps in the car and when he has class. Not to mention, Rob keeps me warm when we are outside, too.

Unlike Japan, where we travel by foot or by bicycle, in New York, I sit in the passenger's seat and change radio stations. Now, I lack my daily exercises of the flights of stairs to my room and the bicycle rides.

I am no longer jetlagged, but the mundane days is worse than food coma, or even, what I'd call, a shower coma. I have taken up burping and yawning as my hobby. Disgusting, I know.

It is surprising how quickly I have gained weight. Perhaps, aside from the above reasons, I'm with Rob~ Here, I don't see why I wouldn't sleep as peacefully as I do, and enjoy every second not having to look at Rob through the webcam.

Hopefully, some crunches would help~ I shall get a yoga mat.

Weekend in NY

After my 12-hour flight, my arrival was clear when the arrival statement was made in an Indian accent. When I was on line for the the airport's immigration, it was further comfirmed by the sight of black Americans and Indians at the inspector booths. I am often blessed by the speed of the government's work process.

New York is not only diversed, it is also stereotypical. Each racial group dominates a certain industry. Chinese have the laundromats and restaurants, Indians have the taxis, delis, and newspaper stands, Mexicans have the cleaning sector.

One positive aspect of New York's diversity is clearly shown in what we ate. For the past 2-3 days, we ate Malaysian food, Shanghai food, Vietnamese food, and Indian food. Moreover, we went to Pizza Hut and Mickey D's for breakfast. I must have been the first incoming foreign exchange student in Chiba to give in to McDonald's. Although Inage's McDonald's serve pancakes, they don't serve breakfast.

The distinction between New York and Japan was also clearly shown when receiving service at restaurants. The high school part-timer at McDonald's was clearly showing attitute to the customer ahead of us. I saw at least 3 idling workers as I was rolling my eyes at the growing line. At Pizza Hut, there was 1.5 waiter serving the entire restaurant of 6+ occupied tables. Worst of all is that we had to tip. At last, I was not bothered by it at all. Perhaps I have picked up Japan's comparably slow lifestyle and patience. (I am still surprised that the supposedly fast-paced Japan, contrary to belief, functions so slooooooooooooowly.)

Besides eating and fighting jetlag, Rob and I bowled with our friends. A good deal of time was spent in Rob's car. We even took the car to go to the opposite side of campus. The campus must be 20x the size of Chiba's. I miss being in Rob's car, especially because it is freezing outside. I miss the radio, but I manage to recognize 95% of the songs.

At last, Rob downloaded 電車男 (the serie) for us to watch. Hopefully, my Japanese will not worsen that much.

P.S. Apply for an re-entry permit if you are leaving Japan for the vacation, regardless of what your visa states.

FYI

1. Don't bother sending me any emails via my cell phone, instead, send it to hotmail.com or simply comment on this blog.

2. I'll send you a picture or a website of a skirt that you may like, Laila.

3. Thank You, Desy! (I need it for March AND April~)

4. Will someone please inform me when they send in the water or sewage/plumbing bill? I don't know if the deadline will be set before I return, but I paid all of my other bills~

5. Anything that we can't get here in Japan? i.e. Starburst, toothpaste? Despite the fact that I'm broke, I can still afford little things like that.

6. At last, please make sure my room doesn't burn down or something!

Oh, the Drama!

Like every other day, I came back to my room after my Japanese class. As I was finishing my lunch, I thought godzilla had gone to New York to attack Rob's room. I specifically heard roars and bangs. It was the second time I've heard such an "attack" at Rob's room. Like the previous time, Rob guided godzilla, "Not here, over here." It's humorous that Rob would guide godzilla to a wall where he is "allowed" to punch. After all, no one wants to pay for any damages made on campus property.

At Rob and my campus, there are different types of dorm rooms: corridor-style, suites, etc. Like myself, Rob lives in a suite with 5 other people. In a suite, there are 3 bedrooms (2 roommates each), a living room, a bathroom, and sometimes, a balcony.

Living life as a foreign exchange student in Japan is so peaceful. I spend my days organizing my hotmail account, deleting emails. I spend every morning and every night reading the New York Times, BBC News, CNN, Yahoo Odd News and Entertainment, and the blogs of my close friends. I've deactivated every account I have, including Facebook, Xanga, photo-hosting websites, etc. I've learned to stop using AIM instant messenger completely, making no time to procrastinate and check friends' profiles or away messages. At least, now, when I procrastinate, I'm learning from the news, mostly about Bush's stupidity.

I spend my days writing emails to Rob while listening to music. I spend my days wondering if I should make french toast or noodles for lunch. Everyday, I wonder if I should speed pass the bicycle in front of me or if I should follow the slow poke. I wonder which supermarket to go to today. I ponder about what to get Rob for the next occasion. I make my everyday decisions on the utmost ordinary lifestyle. At most, I'd debate if I want to make coconut milk with tapioca (an Asian dessert) for my first time. Or, I'd debate if I want to finally learn how to make a pumpkin pie or cheesecake from Hatim.

As a roommate, you are expected to act as a mediator or a consultant. As a suitemate, Rob has to listen to any gossips that enters the room. For example, I would hear his suitemates entering the room asking about health problems, gossiping about the cheating roommate, or bitching about their unbelievable girlfriends. Every month or so, I would see his friend, Tom, popping out on the screen. Other times, I would see Rob being choked by his roommate. It's funny.

Life is good. While godzilla bitches to Rob about his girlfriend, I had just finished my delicious mapo tofu. Rob muted his microphone; after all, I wouldn't want my peace to be disturbed by godzilla's roars either. I was in front of the computer while Rob listens patiently. I can be sympathetic about godzilla's problems, but I couldn't help but laugh in the joy of my simplistic day. I was struggling with the kiwis I bought from the 99 cents store. (Rob taught me a new way to eat it, by sucking it out.) It cannot be helped but fall onto my emptied dish of mapo tofu. While Rob was still facing godzilla, I picked the kiwi back up, wiped it with my juicy fingers, and put it back into my mouth. My facial expressions changed 7 times within 3 seconds. I shrieked from its sourness and its odd taste it picked up from the dish.

Afterwards, I washed my dishes, and debated if I wanted to take a shower on this wintery day to gain warmth. Now, I am sitting here, sipping tea, wondering if I want to write my paper on a Friday afternoon, surf the web for more news, or change the horrible music that I got from Rob on my itunes.

In class, yesterday, I had explained how dormitory life represents college life in American culture. I've had my share, and I want nothing to do with it anymore. I wouldn't change a thing in my current lifestyle. At most, the girls here would talk about the x-number of dates Laila has gone on. No drama, no tears, no cat fights, maybe gossips.

When I return to New York, I just want to finish my last year as a not-a-care-in-the-world (or in this case, on-the-campus) senior. I don't care if someone commits suicide again; I don't care if someone shoots themselves again; I don't care if some student hit another student with a car again. As long as it isn't anyone I know, I don't want to care.

I just want to spend my days wondering if Rob and I want to eat on campus or off campus.

I've Failed Myelf

Today, I had a final in my Chinese class. I studied. I studied a lot of Japanese words. After all, one part of the test is to be able to write explanations in Japanese. I studied the different ways to write the same words. It's more annoying than you can imagined. Very often, I get questions on my kanji quizzes wrong, because I write the Chinese way, and not the Japanese way. Taking the Chinese test is worse. I have to memorize the Japanese writing, my usual traditional writing, and the new simplied writing. They can vary by just a dot. So, I did a lot of studying on Japanese vocabularies. The easiest words you can think of; yet, I have not learned them in my 6.5 year of Japanese studying. They can be as easy as "goat".

In the end? In the end, I took the test. It wasn't perfect, but I did fairly well. The only mistakes, in the end, weren't the Japanese explanations, understanding the Japanese words on the test (including a short paragraph, directions, vocabularies, etc.), but I failed to remember how to write it in Chinese (simplied OR traditional).

A Stupid Mistake

Although my legal documents identify me in my Chinese name, almost all of my professor call me by Stephanie (or at least, the equivalent of that in Japanese). One day, I decided to repeat my Chinese name (in Japanese, translated from English) over and over again. One must remember that I don't use my Chinese name. Momentarily, I thought, this isn't right...

To my surprise, I realized that when I was filling out applications to enter the school, I translated my name wrong. I'm not going to bother to correct it. It's already on my mailbox, school record, residential record, cell phone bill, alien registration card, etc. No one will ever know. After all, there is not one person that can correct my name. They would have to know what my Chinese name is, pronounce it in Cantonese, translate it to English, then translate it to Japanese.

I'll continue to let Rob butcher my Chinese name.

A Find

It's good to have goals and ambitions, right? It doesn't hurt to dream a little, right? Well, I want to go THERE!

I haven't had a goal like this for a long time. At the same time, I have not believed in going some where so firmly for a long time.

I have to expand my horizon. Once, someone told me, "Being stupid is one thing, being ignorant is another." That clinged to me as I have abandoned my recent or age-old ignorance. (i.e. politics and geography) The picture is beautiful. I stumbled on it when I was surfing around the net. There are too many things I have never seen, and this is one of them. I've seen beautiful scenery pictures taken by SLR cameras and what-not, pictures that have won prizes, pictures taken by professional, but I have never seen anything like this.

The list continues... San Francisco, Taiwan, Kyoto... They all seem too easy. Now, SANTORINI, GREECE!!

One day in my life...

(Picture was taken by Lucio)

Back to the Kissing

Living in Japan is as hard as having a relationship in a traditional Asian family. I remember one of the first guideline I had put forth was: No kissing in front of friends. After all, I should respect them as they have respected me. I wouldn't like to be in an uncomfortable situation either.

I thought walking on the streets with Rob in an Asian community in New York is hard, but walking in the streets of Japan is harder. During my first few months, I didn't even see any couples on the streets. Gradually, I started to spot them, but at most, they would hold hands. The "radicals" seem to just stand a little closer at a corner on the train.

In 17 days, everything will change. Going back is like a hell broken loose. So, pucker up, Rob! *slurp* j/k

(Okay, sorry, maybe that was a little disturbing.)

A Side Note

I wonder if my immune system has weakened. Or, has it always been like this? I remember I used to feel healthy when I was in team sports in high school. So, when was the change?

Am I eating unhealthily? Of course I am! First, I must stop eating refrigerated goods or instant ramen. Since I came to Japan, I have lost a total of 8-10 pounds. It could mean that, for a change, I am eating the portion that I should be eating, instead of stuffing myself at an Italian restaurant. It could be because of the 4 bicycle rides a day. It could mean that I'm simply sad. Or, I'm not eating the 8 course meal I eat with Rob, and the nutritious Chinese meals at home.

Anyway, what's my point? I'm sick!! (... but I'm fine)

Counting Down (Again)

The semester is almost over. Half of my classes have already ended. I have a 10-page report, and about 4 finals. I am not bitching. In fact, the workload is rather light when compared to that of an average student in New York.

Rob and I are always counting down. It isn't until recently that I find it a quality. We are always counting down to the remaining days. Yet, we are also counting down to many events ahead of us. At last, Rob will make multiple trips to Japan, and I'll be in Taiwan with Rob.

After the rougher course of the relationship, we will be counting down to the everyday life together on campus, graduation, and even, the time I'll finally tell my parents about him (*shiver* scary thought).

I have always believed in goals and ambitions. Without them, I lose sense of why I am living my everyday life.

The Other Days

For the past week, I have been extremely up to date with current events: People are dying from the cold in Georgia (incompetent government), Survivor winner found guilty for not paying taxes, Osama Bin Laden is believed to be alive (He also warns US for future terrorism), Livedoor crisis, Disney bought Pixar, neon-colored fish, Korean lied about cloning research, parents pleading for US hostage, Google censoring itself from China, 7 kids in a family died of a car accident (the grandfather died the next day, after hearing the news, from a heart attack), global warming, scare of bird flu to transmit from human to human, etc.

Oh, in recent news, Al-Zawahiri (Bin Laden's right hand man) is also alive. (He was thought to be killed in a missle strike.) In a video, he said:

"To the American mother I say, if the defense ministry called you to tell you your son is coming back home in a coffin, remember Bush."

"To the British wife I say, if you got a call telling you your husband is coming back home with his body charred, remember Blair."

They are more interesting than I thought of them to be~ Oh, not only did he call Bush the "Butcher of Washington," and a "loser," he said that Bush will be forgiven if he converts to Muslim. Heh.

So... I was wondering... What happened to the other days when I didn't read the news.

War's On!

This sounds silly, but I'm awaiting for my enemy at the meeting room maliciously.

I don't mind when a hallmate enters the meeting room to join me. After all, it is not my room. Since the beginning of this week, I have been accustomed to use the meeting room at my floor to do work. It is the one place where I can get things done.

At the beginning, the biatch across the hallway dismissed all greetings. This week, she even dared to hog the room with personal belongings. She would leave her bookbag to scare the others away. So, when she returns 2+ hours later, she'll have the room to herself. Of course, I couldn't care less. The night I had discovered her evildoing, I entered and utilized the room. She came in, startled, and probably angry.

What I hate even more are people who build forts at the door. What happened to "Love thy neighbor as thyself"?

So, here I am. Declaring war. The room is mine tonight!!

Last Architectural Design Class

After presenting our each of us presented our "dream house," Laila suggested that we take a picture because it is the last class. The "goodbye" to our professor who brought us to various class trips seems short and unmeaningful.

I have learned to take a second look at every house I pass by in Japan. Also, I learned a lot about my fellow classmates. Perhaps, more than I want to. For example:

1. Laila will have a "lovely" husband and a daughter (who will more likely be her clone). If she has a son, he'll live in her big garden or the gazebo.
2. Desy can't live without her food.
3. Hatim wants to live with his entire family in his mountain
4. Cori needs a HEATED garage
5. Ruth's claustrophobic
6. Kai wants a room for his dogs
7. Anthony wants his grass to live in his White House
8. Richie wants his shower outside, by the bedroom's window
9. Evan wants to be Brain in "Pinky and the Brain" (even though he denies it)
10. Suvi... *shrug*
11. The 2 Japanese girls would rather design a library and an office than a house
12. The professor's house (in which he designed) is beautiful on the inside but *ahem* ugly *ahem* on the outside

72 More Hours

(A picture that even I am unfamiliar with. Stupid haircuts!)

After Rob has left Japan, he went to Taiwan to visit his father for a week. On his return to flight to New York, he has to stop at Narita for a few hours. Meanwhile, it was snowing heavily. Consequently, airplanes have ceased to depart, leading all the passengers to be stuck in the airport.

Rob's 4 hour flight from Taiwan to Narita has prolonged due to the weather. He was not only stuck in the airplane, he had to spend the rest of the night at airport with no cash on hand. Meanwhile, I was with the homestay family when I found out about the news at 11 pm. Throughout the night, we emailed each other back and forth until 4 am.

The next morning, I broke the news to the homestay family, ending the visit short. They sympathized and escorted me to the train station soon after our breakfast.

Rob booked the flight on Tuesday, giving us 3 extra days to spend with each other. For 3 days, we cuddled in joy, watched DVDs, and pigged out. Before he left, he even bought me groceries. My fridge is now packed. (Unlike before, I was too poor to eat anything else but instant ramen.)

A Drop of Snow

Because there is internet lately, I have been up to date with current events and weather forecasts. Earlier, the weather forecast predicts that the following day will have "light snow."

It was the morning of our homestay. When I woke up, I heard dripping sounds. I pulled opened the curtains, expecting to see rain, the entire neighborhood was covered in white.

On Sunday morning's walk back to the dorm room, I chuckled, and it broke the snowy silence. Looking into the gate of the international dormitory, I see 7 or more snowmans, varied in sizes and styles. Who would've thought... college and graduate students...

*By the end of the day, it accumulated a little less than a foot of snow