I don't have much time to talk today, as this is one of my busy nights. After school, I have various club meetings to attend, followed by piano and violin practice several nights a week... it's an exhausting schedule, but that's how you get to be real good at something, right? lol. Lately I've been trying to decide if it would be more fun to try to learn Pathétique Sonata, or if I should work on perfecting Moonlight Sonata for my next recital. hhm, tough choice.
I guess I can take a moment to chat, though... if Aya can blog about her silly manga obsessions, then I'm sure someone out there would appreciate hearing about my experiences in Shira Oka as an exchange student, right?
So as I'm sure you all know, I'm from America. San Diego, California, to be exact. And while I thought I knew a lot about Japanese culture before I got here, experiencing it firsthand has been an entirely different thing! Sometimes the most subtle things get you, like how they don't have some of the snack foods I enjoyed back home (even the sandwiches at burger joints are different!) or how manners tend to be a bit different.
Or even completely opposite... like, for example, everyone slurps their noodles here. If you don't, it's like saying you don't like the food. Hear that, Mom?! All those times I slurped my spaghetti as a kid and you yelled at me, I was just trying to tell you how much I liked your cooking!! Haha.
And don't even get me started on the pop culture, heh. A lot of the bands that are popular here wouldn't even get played on the radio back home. Not that that's a bad thing, I love all sorts of music and there's some really unique kinds here. Dancing, on the other hand, well it isn't quite my forte, so to speak. And a lot of music gets special dances, like para para. Have you guys ever seen it? You should really look it up if you haven't!
Speaking of special dances, have any of you heard of that new penguin dance? Kiku was telling me about it. She's a dancer, you know. Apparently it goes along with this song and's really silly and easy to do (I think her exact words were, "Even YOU could learn it, Aya."), but I dunno... It'd be AWESOME if I could learn it outside of school, and be ahead of the trend when it hits Shira Oka, ya know? So... does anyone out there know how the dance goes? Or even take a guess? I'm a fast learner. I'm sure I could figure it out if I had some hints... all I know is, it goes with this upbeat song about a penguin falling in love...
Oooh... and guess what I saw on the Shira Oka forums the other day? Some AMAZING fan art (forum link) of me and some of my friends. Wow... do I really look that beautiful? You flatter me, Maki-san! I just couldn't believe it. *blush* Teehee, I think Aya was a little disappointed that she wasn't included in the drawings, but even she grudgingly admitted that the artist did a good job. And it's not every day that you hear a compliment coming from Aya!
Well, that's all for now. I probably should get running before I'm late 'cause "tardiness is NEVER acceptable and ALWAYS rude," says my violin teacher, heehee.
Hey, everyone, what's up? It's me, Alice!
