If At First You Dont Suceed...

Hello all .

I wanted to take some time to share with you something that touched my heart . An attempt to communicate , done perfectly and with much effort. In class I exchanged E-Mails with my friend "Dream" from China. She came here to learn Japanese and to hopefully work. In our conversations she talks of how I have made her excited to one day visit America.

Visit America ?! To think that some people ..... will never see the ground and buildings and landmarks of America ... is mind blowing. At least when its with someone I see everyday , she knows nothing of my life at home. No idea of what its like to live like an America. Shes very sweet and we communicate well as she knows some english. She usues her translating dictionary but it works out well.

So like I said we exchanged E-Mails and she E-Mailed me in broken English. It was beautiful to see her attempt in trying to communicate...

"Hello!ノルマさん

　　It is me.dream.english is too hard .I will be mad.you know I take too much time to write this short email. it is only 5 sentenses.ok ,see you tomorrow.I really want to say more to you.but my english is limited.

Have a good dream!"

NOTE : Her name is not Dream but her Chinese name is difficult , she explained one of the characters in her name is Dream so thats what I call her.

-I replied to her using an online Chinese-to-English translator and wrote how much i appreciated her and think shes so wonderful and kind. That she means a lot among other things.

She replied with the following :

"hello,my dear!

first of all,i must say sorry to you.my unty just borrow this line from her friend to open the website.let you wait for many days.i am in yokohama ,her home.ok.you are so cute.i have understanded basically what you write.your chinese and my english are same.it is funny to communicate in this way.your meaning is this-you use your translater and you hope it will be works.you also want to say more to me but it is a little hard.you care have a good friend like me.ok i mainly know your meaning.haha, me too.i am so happy to recognize you.i have not many friend ,but you are one of them.you are sexy,cute,conversaional,true.....you are really so nice.if you go back, i will miss you,and i do not know when to meet you again.if you come to japan again or go to china ,must tell me.and then we could meet.now china is develop well,you can go to play.and if i have chance to go USA.i will fing you.and then you are my

guide.haha now i use my translator while i am writing.it is same feeling when we write to each other,i guess.

ok,have a good weekend!

I thought this would be interesting to share because some of you will never meet people like this. With such a communication barrier. Its very sweet and emotional reading this . She uses strange words to describe me but you have to keep in mind that shes using a translator so whatever she means to say in Chinese probably has a different meaning....

This is all for today...

Norms

Heart of A Lion

I dread days like this . One thing this trip is if anything ... is emotionally damaging at times. There's days im really happy and others where I just feel terrible.

Being here made me realize how important communication is to a society. How we communicate to one another is how we express ourselves to others. If you dont speak someone's language you cannot express your views or opinions. Your striped of a personality because you fail to share it because your lack of common language.

I use the example of "Albert Einstein". If Albert Einstein was in Japan (and alive of course ) , and he doesn't know Japanese . Then he's nobody. He cant express this thoughts , views, theorys , or discussions. Nothing. SO he's just diminished to nothing.

Thats how I feel . In class I get so frustrated I start saying things to them in english even knowing they dont understand me . Im like , "Look I dont understand you and you dont even know what Im saying but please im sorry" , or something meaner but , its very emotional for me.

Im majoring in Journalism , so Im use to expressing myself better in words. Creating-and getting out my opinions . Using words to express appreciation and favor for something . But here , just telling my chinese friend that I appreciate her friendship is a feat in itself.

I get sad after class most times. And miss home .

Some people might think Im over exaggerating , or think "Its not that bad" . But you have no idea.

Lets say for instance I want to go out to eat for lunch. WELL everyone here speaks Japanese so unless you know how to order a medium sized bowl of beef and rice in Japanese YOUR SCREWED. Thank God for places with picture menus , because without them id be starving.

How about going out at night you ask? Clubbing? oh my friend , not so easy ! So first you gotta find the cool spots... how? You dont know anyone , OK lets test out a place , where is it at ? "Check map quest" - hey guess what map quest in Japan is IN JAPANESE , so IM SCREWED!

ok get to the club ? Guess what your the only foreigner and cant speak to anyone in there , SCREWED !!!

Hey looking for a certain food in the supermarket? Want to know how much something cost? Unless u know how to ask YOUR SCREWED! I get by in this society by reading everything I can.

WHAT I DO KNOW : is how to read Japanese , how to observe people , and copy things . So i read all prices labeled under the food and such. I watch people so I know how to act in places like restaurants and such. Even when I go shopping they say so much and im like "Yeah sure thanks " - well thats something I can say in Japanese but IT SUCKS.

SO in class there's actually a lot of cool looking and nice people. And i cant even communicate with them . And their names are too weird so I dont even bother learning their names. "SHINSHU" is an example of a name. Then the next guy is "SHINSU" its like whoa im gonna confuse that forget it.

So thats how I feel today.

its a long weekend , monday is labor day here in Japan so I have the day off from school .

Thank the lord !

So ill post tons of pix tommarow.

Have a good day , for me , please.

luv norms

Magnificent

Japan is quite a strange country.

When I think of Japan I think of its long historic culture from the imperial leaders to the samurais of a time lost long ago. I think of Kimonos and sushi. I think of beautiful silk, temples and shrines. Tea ceremonies , geisha's , and girls holding up peace signs.

That was of course before I came here and discovered that even with this long history of great cultural icons , they are just as strange.....

I was lead to believe that they were very divided and was told that they separate the sexes very much. I see a lot of hypocritical things in my daily life here in Japan. So I am considered a loose girl if I wear a shirt with my cleavage showing but girls can walk about with shirts showing their ass cheeks? hmm alright...

so I have to wait in line at the subway but once we get in you can push anyone around ?

hmm...

Girls are really shy and hard to meet in the streets but once you speak to them they are like closet freaks ? or is that just everywhere? lol

I went shopping the other day around Korea town with my friend and we started noticing all these weird looking guys.. Listen , to me Japanese guys ( or should I say Asian men ) are not attractive at all . Especilly not when they have hair like a "Dragon Ball Z" character either. My friend is obsessed with these men but to me they look ridiculous. Back tot he story.. anyways we where walking and started seeing guys in tuxedos ... with blond hair styled perfectly , eye brows done , and designer purses ( yeah they have purses ) , fancy shoes , and huge ridiculous belts.

We found our selves in the land of the host clubs...

I didn't know what a host club was and then I started doing research on it ...

I found this movie " The Happiness Space : Tale of an Osaka Love Chief " and it explains in great detail what a host is... Well first host clubs are places where clients can go and relax . Hundreds of women each day visit host clubs to spend time with men . These men dress to the T and look their best , they deliver intriguing conversation , complements and companionship . In exchange for his services you pay a hourly fee and buy him drinks ... Doesn't sound much like a deal right? But to these woman its worth it because their day lives are so stressful so they just want someone to comfort them and listen ... But damn something like 60$ an hour ?Up to hundred of dolalrs in the most famous clubs ! Just for the company of the most ranked and famous host men. Its really crazy...

You guys should check the movie out , here's the website link .

With Signs like this you would expect it to be a boy band or models... But its all ads for these Host Club bars to come and spend time with the men ...

And its crazy that its women spending money on men's company , and its not frowned upon.

Next subject... The guys are really strange looking to me lol . You will see this in many of the pictures I post....

SO hey talking about some authentic Japanese traditions , I had the delight to be able to partake in some myself... my school had me and some of my classmates participate in a authentic "Tea Ceremony ". You might think , whoa what so much about Tea that its a ceremony . lol. But actually it takes years of practice and great knowledge to conduct one of these classic ceremonies.

The Japanese tea ceremony, also called "the Way of Tea," is a cultural activity which centers on the ceremonial preparation and presentation of the powdered green tea known as matcha.

I so totally stole that from Wiki . But there is a whole ritual and procedure to serving , receiving , and conducting a tea ceremony. Its quite beautiful .

I look horrible please excuse this .. lol

my legs hurt because you have to sit like this and it hurts to do this in jeans , at least for me lol

Only one to do a Tea Ceremony in a MOB shirt yeeeeee.

Here's some bonus Pictures of My adventures at the Edo Museum . Its all about the History of Tokyo .

I wish I could have walked around longer , so The pictures are just what I felt like taking pictures of .

this museum was kind of boring to be honest.

Japanese Kabuki Theater - The traditional plays of Japan . They wear beautifully constructed masks .

I'm suppose to go to one last this semester.

Samurai Swords lol whoa

This is what they would use to carry "important" people . Held up by men ! whoa..

OK well thats enought about that.

Its half way done ! This adventure of mine... Im lookign forward to home , I say this everytime but whatever..

Im tired ! SO ill post more stuff later !

Byeee !

norms

Donuts and Diamonds ( Bling , Bling )

Half-Way there !

Ive been up to a lot , and hate how I neglect this blog . Ugh sorry !

Well I have been keeping a ton of interesting and cool photos to myself . SO heres one day that I went out into the city. On halloween I had the delight to visit Ginza , which to me looks like everywhere else , oh and it had the Sony building , the one with crazy technology and stuff.. But other then that looks the same . Same designer stores , same looking peoples , nothing really different lol. It was my friends birthday and she wanted to see the Tokyo Tower.

So that was our plan . To visit Tokyo Tower.

Heres some cut and paste info about Tokyo Tower:

With 333 meters, Tokyo Tower is 13 meters taller than its model, the Eiffel Tower of Paris, and the world's tallest self-supporting steel tower. It was completed in the year 1958 as a symbol for Japan's rebirth as a major economic power, and serves as a television and radio broadcast antenna and tourist attraction.

So yeah , pretty big deal . Its beautiful . Breathtaking actually . I find myself stopping and thinking how lucky I am to experience every moment here. From walking by the recycling bins, to attending a University fair ( i live right by Rikyo University for Japanese students) I find every moment more surreal then the next. With the Tokyo Tower being one of them . ITs huge .. I have never seen anything like it , and I wish i was with a special someone to share it with .

Heres some flicks . Im trying out posting them though Photo-bucket so you can see the pictures bigger.

Theres a Uniqlo every corner , im tired of this place.

and lastly , a short video ...

Its beautiful . So bright in the sky ! Looked like ... i dont know... undescribale ! To see it in pictures doesnt do it jusitice either !

This week school wise we have alot of tests - which im down about because of course im not doing well , as I have shared before.

I do understand more then I speak . Im just more thankful for the experience. But

very much looking forward to going home :)

and since its the middle of this trip I can start slowly shopping since my spending habits are going well. Found so much dope spots !

cant wait....

anyways I will post up more pix of other adventures . I have plenty more pictures !!!

and I think the photo-bucket idea worked a lot better ! I hate thats the pics where all small !

till next time , which is hopefully in a day or two.

luv yalls !

norms

Solar Midnight

Hello and Good day !

Its a Monday night in Tokyo . Wow , already November . I arrived here December 5th with a stirred vision of what I thought my experience would be . Now I'm getting more a hang of life here and just going day by day with my routine.

8:00 am - Usually up and at it in the AM. My friend Laura makes me (but i love her for making me) get up way early for school - School starts at 1:30 PM... I get there early and "study" early.

1:30-12:30- I have lunch , either I bring it from "Home" ( Yogurt,Sandwhich,etc) or maybe buy a snack at the convient store , but im trying my best to keep expenses to a minimum. Theres a strange park by my school . Its barren and usually filled by men on their lunch breaks eating and smoking . Theres alot of smoking shops around that sell many different cigareets and such . The Japense smoke alot Ive notices , i guess its all that stress. But your not allowed to smoke freely on the streets , only in designated smoking areas. IM SERIOUS. Its kind of a creepy park but instreresting at the least.

1:30 PM - 4:45 I'm already sleepy by this time and try to pay attention in class . I cant do the whole "pretending to be listening but really sleeping " pose in class cause we sit in a circle . DAMMIT !

5:00 PM - Walk and buy food and explore .... ( above picture is curry chicken , its was so delicious ! and a secret picture of the restaurant at lunch time)

7:30 - Till Whenever ... Ive taken up running because I know I'm eating alot of junk , but I haven't managed to find a damn scale here so I don't really know how much I weigh. My mom says running will help me from not getting depressed lol I guess its true , its very uplifting and accomplishing..oh and I also study LOL

Other than that I do random things. I guess you could say everyday is different. This is more of a self journey then anything else. I'm really inspired by there fashion here . I'm not those kind of poser people either you know .. Its just something that has been intriguing me . I applied to FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology ) for their Styling Program. Lets see how that's goes.

This school is very kind to me and all their students. They generally care about our well being. Help is never too far and recently we had a BBQ with the whole school at a park . We had our own class organized cookout and it brought us all together. My vocabulary is very limited but it was so cute how friendly and happy everyone was. I was taking pictures left and right ! I really wish I could communicate more with these girls.

The Enterence to the Park ( I wish I could tell you the name , I forgot lol )

this soup was....interesting...ugh

chopsticks on a regular !

we made our own little dumpling things lol chopsticks a must !

me and my sensei (teacher) peace signs up !

working on our meal , those chinese always cookin something . The guy in the black jackets a cutie but I cant say shit to him so whatevers lol

these girls are so adorable !

dopest chick ! My friend , shes so cool ! shes knows english so thats some points ! Shes from China and check it shes 24??! WTF she looks like 19 at most

HERES A CLIP OF THE CUTEST LITTLE BOY ROLLING AROUND THE PARK ALONE ON HIS BIKE ! ADORABLE !

so things are getting a little more interesting . I received package from my mother and sister with American goodies...But they are gonna be the worst of me cause its all junk food ! ahh !!

So now as my first month comes to an end and the second starts , I see now that my time here is limited. I thinkg when life gives you the opportunities its your choice to take it or not. I want to make sure I make this one life I have as interesting as It can be . Ive made alot of mistakes in my life . ALOT . done alot of dumb Sh*t . But I dont regret because its made me who I am and I wouldnt have had all the wonderful experiences ive ever had without taking chances.

everyday is another day . live life like tis your last.

Till Next Time My Friends,

Normie

"happy halloween !! "