Sendai Tokyu Hotel

... language by foreigners.

We did the paperwork, and then I was introduced to my homestay person, Mr. Ito, who is a section chief of the BOE. He wasn't nearly as intimidating as I expected him to be. Rather, a friendly-seeming older man.

Mr. Ito then took me to my base school, a junior high school, where I did another self introduction and quickly met most of the staff before going back to his home.

(END Part 1. Part 2 is more interesting)

... a more casual outfit. Hiroto has adopted a really mature rocker style. His hair reminds me of a broom (Shou’s words) though. XD I don’t remember what Nao’s outfit was like, but he got a haircut (which he talked about in his MC).

Highlights included headbanging like crazy to the **********gs, whipping out my light for “Fantasy” and “Subaru”, and getting to hear their new single, “Hana”. It ...

I've arrived in Sendai. Last night I stayed up really late packing and cleaning, and I continued to do it in the morning. Lots of people visited when it was close to move-out time either to say goodbye or to do business. I sent off two bags via takyubin to Tokyo. It was good thing I had help since it was pouring like crazy. Mrs. K's omiyage were based on wordplay (could Michael X be rubbing off on her ...

... Mika explained in Japanese, and I added that all the ALTs love Date (the dude did inspire Darth Vader). I noticed that the artist was wearing VAMPS wristbands, and we had a little fangirl moment. There were other things that I considered buying, like something from one of the goth accessories vendors. One of them showed us the guillotine clock, which was cool in a creepy way. There was also an artist who drew J-rockers as ...

... was there 24 hours ago. T_T Even though I had committed to the reading contest and probably couldn't have gotten a ticket, I still wanted to try.

Although I planned to get tickets to Stylish Wave Max, a visual kei event, I got distracted by the Alice Nine Untitled Vandal(ism) #2 tickets. They were 1st floor, 23rd row, center. I already had tickets, but I figured if they’re going to be my last concert in Japan, I better ...

Yesterday was my last lesson with my favorite class. They sang a song for me at the end of the lesson. I was trying hard not to cry in front of all the parents, who were visiting. I'm gonna be such an emotional wreck in the next couple of weeks.

In the evening, our music group had its farewell party. I ate way too much food. It didn’t help that we played this game where everyone passed ...

... ways I feel a bit more attached to the Rookies characters just because I got to see them more than my 3rd years and the drama showed each individual's personal struggles. I am totally quoting the drama or the movie in my farewell speech.

Glossary
sayonara - good-bye
yukata - casual summer kimono
Natsu Matsuri - Summer Festival
sotsugyo - graduation (yay, another word I learned from watching dramas)

... new. I hit a couple of more sights; the wooden temple Godaido, the symbol of Matsushima according to the tourist office, and Kanrantei, the tea house/guest house used by the Date clan--Date Masamune developed Sendai into an economic center and through success in battle was given ownership of the region. Matsushima and its islands were brought to fame through the writings of the Matsuo Basho, the leading haiku poet. The tourism here is a bit too early I think ...

... was clapping to Beck when Alice Nine rushed on (and they clapped along too ^^). Once they picked up their instruments, the energy inside the place went out the roof! I've got the memory of a goldfish so I can't name all the songs that were played. I did recognize a lot because they came from Vandalize and Alpha (the most recent albums, which I've been listening to nonstop). They threw in some older tunes though. I struggled with the ...

Beck: Well it`s a crazy Tuesday night here in Sendai, 2hrs north of Tokyo by shikansen (bullet train). Bill and I are staying in a traditional Japanese youth hostel. No, not kidding, it`s a YHA equivalent, but instead of the usual hostel thing of western backbackers in western accommodation, there are (apart from us) only young Japanese men staying here and the style of the hotel is totally Japanese. Meaning we sleep on the floor, sit on the floor, wear ...