Hey everyone!

Here’s the actual broadcast from Nodojiman. It took me a while to upload it. Forgive me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VssJueS8sa8

Saskia

Hey,

Being back in The Netherlands is… Hectic. School and work are taking up all my time. My only hobbies left are reading my email and checking on Facebook. Even now when I finally have my autumn break, I come down with the flu and have 102-104 degrees temperature the whole time. There are also good things though. My family is here (no my friends aren’t because just about every one of them left, to go abroad). My compilation of the videos I took is taking longer than expected. Mainly because I have more footage than I thought I did. If something really exiting happens I will tell you. My life has just fallen back into a routine, I hope to break that routine once I finish High School. Wish me luck on my exams week this and next week <3

Saskia

Hey everyone!

This might be my last entry written in Japan. This Tuesday (the 30th) I will be flying back to The Netherlands. I had a great year in Japan and it flew by in the blink of an eye. I just wanted to thank everyone for their comments and support. I will upload some of the videos I never got round to uploading as soon as I get the chance (probably when I’m back).

Saskia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCpyQKZlpto

Hey Everyone!

The thing called Nodojiman is over. I’ve had some really busy days so I haven’t beenable to update yet. Saturday were the auditions. Like I said out of a lot of people only20 people were to be chosen as a pass and allowed to go on National TV. (I made a mistakeearlier, it was 250 not 200 people). During the Auditions we wore our Yukata as planned.My friend wore her blue with yellow and blue yukata and I wore my pink/violet yukatawith a yellow belt. We were so nervous our voices changed to something we never heardbefore XD We were therefore completely surprised and shocked that we got through tothe actual thing on Sunday. We had to stay there at the studio/stage until about 8 o clock for the preparations for the next day. The next day we had to be there at 7:50 and start the rehearsal and everything. Because it is a live show we had to practice everything from beginning till end. After the real thing was over we were exhausted. We didn’t get a passing grade but we DID get the special prize. O.O only 6 out of 20 got a passing grade :p One girl even started crying when she heard she passed for the final round. Even though we didn’t win the main prize, we got to be on national television and we won the special prize. O.O I think we could call this one of my good days XD I will upload ur video as soon as I get the data (note we were awful because the nerves got to us XD)

Saskia

Hey Everyone!

I don’t think I told you guys this before but tomorrow is this thing called Nodojima. It’s a program on Japanese TV. People sing and if it was good you get a good sound and if it was bad you get a bad sound. My friend and I sent in a card to participate and out of 2000 people we got chosen to be one of the 200 people in the Singing Audition. Out of the 200 people 20 people are chosen to sing  the actual thing on TV. Now, we chose a song called Tegami ~Haikei Juugo no Kimi e~ By Angela Aki.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL1W_QjmnFE

Translation:

Dear you,
Who’s reading this letter
Where are you and what are you doing now?

For me who’s 15 years old
There are seeds of worries I can’t tell anyone

If it’s a letter addressed to my future self,
Surely I can confide truly to myself

Now, it seems that I’m about to be defeated and cry
For someone who’s seemingly about to disappear
Whose words should I believe in?
This one-and-only heart has been broken so many times
In the midst of this pain, I live the present

Dear you,
Thank you
I have something to tell the 15-year-old you

If you continue asking what and where you should be going
You’ll be able to see the answer

The rough seas of youth may be tough
But row your boat of dreams on
Towards the shores of tomorrow

Now, please don’t be defeated and please don’t shed a tear
During these times when you’re seemingly about to disappear
Just believe in your own voice
For me as an adult, there are sleepless nights when I’m hurt
But I’m living the bittersweet present

There’s meaning to everything in life
So build your dreams without fear
Keep on believing

Seems like I’m about to be defeated and cry
For someone who’s seemingly about to disappear
Whose words should I believe in?

Please don’t be defeated and please don’t shed a tear
During these times when you’re seemingly about to disappear
Just believe in your own voice

No matter era we’re in
There’s no running away from sorrow
So show your smile, and go on living the present
Go on living the present

Dear you,
Who’s reading this letter
I wish you happiness

We have been practicing a lot at the karaoke place. We will be wearing a Yukata* to make us stand out (apparently it’s not all whether you can sing or not. as long as you are either interesting OR good you can get into, so we will try to use our Gaijin ** Power! Wish us luck

*A casual Kimono, usually worn in summer during festivals etc.
**Means foreigner in Japanese

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdKuwJxrNio) Yes this program XD

Saskia

Hey everyone!

Yesterday were the Gatalympics. The fun mud racing and wrestling is over. It was a lot of fun to be playing in the mud without anyone mistaking you for a pig XD You can see how much fun I had from a picture that was printed in a Japanese newspaper. I have a link to the site with the picture here http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/item/100827 (Of course I don’t expect you to be able to read it XD) The guy on the right side of me is a guy from Australia. He’s with me in the same school ^^ I got dirty from top till bottom and I think it will be a few mre days before all the mus has gone out of my ears and I can hear properly again xD

I will post more pictures as soon I can get all the pictures my teacher made

Saskia

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to tell you the offcial site of the Gatalympic. You can find some pictures and information about it in English on this site http://www2.saganet.ne.jp/gatalym/gatalympic/gatalympic.htm

Saskia

Hey Everyone!

I’m not sure if you know this but English is not one of the subjects the high school students in Japan are very fond of, (Of course there are exceptions) and even if they would be fond of it they wouldn’t get much better at English because their English textbooks and teachers are not quite… sufficient >.< (Of course this also has exceptions). I find mistakes in the textbooks all the time.　Now, I wouldn’t say my English is perfect but the mistakes or bizarre use of words and sentences is very surprising. I made a pricture during class of something I wouldn’t really call a mistake, it just doesn’t make much sense. The teacher translated it into Japanese later and it doesn’t make any more sense in Japanese than it does in English. I put a picture of it here:

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/sAsAk1/DSCN0079.jpg

The sentence is: It is impossible to read as many books as possible.

Does that make any sense to you? XD There are many more plain mistakes but I thought something like this would be more interesting.

Saskia

Hey Everyone!

Remember about the karate matches I told you before? I fought another blackbelt (lost completely even though he was going easy on me ). Anyway I realized in my match with him that I get tired too fast and need to do something about my stamina. So starting today I will do some stamina training and walk to school instead of cycling. I had to wake up an hour earlier than normal in order to be in time at school. It took me about 50 minutes to walk it (at a normal pace). Wish me luck

Saskia