TlalocWicked!!! I love Wicked! I actually saw it here in Raleigh, not with Idina Menzel unfortunately, but it was still incredible! I have the cd in my car x) I would absolutely love to see a broadway show in New York though. Ironically, I've seen a show in the West End in London, which is like the UK version of Broadway (I'll add some of my UK and France pics to that thread). I saw Les Miserables at Queen's Theater, and it totally blew me away. I love the movie version too. Another cd I have in my car haha.
As a matter of fact, I'm sorta considering doing the JET program, which is an English teaching program in Japan. You have to apply and if you're accepted then you sign a year-long contract, which you can renew at the end of each year. I think it would be an amazing experience but I'm still not sure... I think I want to focus on jumpstarting my graphic design career once I graduate. We'll see x) The food alone makes it pretty tempting lol.
Oh wow, I didn't know it was about suicide. I love that song though.
Man, I'm beat today. I just got home from a gross 3-11pm shift ugh Dx
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Hey yo. I'm making this thread primarily to share my photos from my summer abroad program to Japan. I think I'll eventually add some photos from my other travels too. If you have questions or just want to share a comment about a photo, feel free to PM me :)
Please don't post on this thread, thanks!
Please don't post on this thread, thanks!
Oh, made it to page two in our RP x) We're on a roll.
Aw man, I've actually never been to New York! But I might be going this summer with some friends if everything works out. I'll be so excited if we do, I've wanted to see New York City for a long time! I'm definitely going to Washington D.C. this summer with my family. Ever since my parents lived there, they've always gone back to visit every year. They love that city. I love it too, I could see myself living there in the future.
I actually did my summer abroad program to Japan through the University of California at Davis. They have programs for a bunch of places and they take upcoming freshmen and undergrad students from anywhere in the country. So most of the kids I was with were Californian, but there were a few out of state people like me. I checked out their study abroad programs because I was vaguely familiar with the school since my aunt studied there (all my extended family lives out there on the west coast). I would have just gone through my own university, except that there was only one very competitive program to Japan and you had to have three semesters of Japanese language to be accepted. Sooooo basically I cut corners to get myself there faster haha xD I'd wanted to go to Japan for a long time, ever since my uncle lived there for two years and taught english. Plus I love Japanese art, especially traditional woodblock prints by artists like Hokusai and Hiroshige. Japan is also home to some of the world's best graphic designers! I'm just in love with the Japanese aesthetic. And also the food lol xD Ah, so amazingly good. I swear half the pictures I took over there were of food.
Lol speaking of pictures, I did find that website, but like it has my name and stuff on it so I think I'll just link the photos individually on here to show you. Oh, actually, I'll make a thread and put them on there! I'll figure out some way, I'm a little proud of them and I have to confess that I like to show them off x)
It must be cool to be with the same group of dancers for so long. Are your friends mostly dancers too?
Ohhh I love Lana Del Ray! Even though I cry whenever I listen to Young and Beautiful ;_;
Aw man, I've actually never been to New York! But I might be going this summer with some friends if everything works out. I'll be so excited if we do, I've wanted to see New York City for a long time! I'm definitely going to Washington D.C. this summer with my family. Ever since my parents lived there, they've always gone back to visit every year. They love that city. I love it too, I could see myself living there in the future.
I actually did my summer abroad program to Japan through the University of California at Davis. They have programs for a bunch of places and they take upcoming freshmen and undergrad students from anywhere in the country. So most of the kids I was with were Californian, but there were a few out of state people like me. I checked out their study abroad programs because I was vaguely familiar with the school since my aunt studied there (all my extended family lives out there on the west coast). I would have just gone through my own university, except that there was only one very competitive program to Japan and you had to have three semesters of Japanese language to be accepted. Sooooo basically I cut corners to get myself there faster haha xD I'd wanted to go to Japan for a long time, ever since my uncle lived there for two years and taught english. Plus I love Japanese art, especially traditional woodblock prints by artists like Hokusai and Hiroshige. Japan is also home to some of the world's best graphic designers! I'm just in love with the Japanese aesthetic. And also the food lol xD Ah, so amazingly good. I swear half the pictures I took over there were of food.
Lol speaking of pictures, I did find that website, but like it has my name and stuff on it so I think I'll just link the photos individually on here to show you. Oh, actually, I'll make a thread and put them on there! I'll figure out some way, I'm a little proud of them and I have to confess that I like to show them off x)
It must be cool to be with the same group of dancers for so long. Are your friends mostly dancers too?
Ohhh I love Lana Del Ray! Even though I cry whenever I listen to Young and Beautiful ;_;
"I think I need you as my personal fashion designer because... well... You see what I mean."
Mila chuckled and made an obvious pretense of appraising her outfit. “Hm, let’s see.. Oh, you look fine. Besides, you have the advantage of being petite enough to get away with anything,” she said knowingly. Her eyes suddenly lit up. “Still, I’m not gonna pass up the offer to play dress up with you, since you’ve just given me permission! I can already think of a few of my dresses and tops that I want you to try on sometime~” She smirked inwardly at the thought of helping Charlie slip into one of her silky, black dresses. The thought seemed to remind her just how hungry she was beginning to feel.. All of a sudden she was acutely aware of Charlie’s blush, and the fact that she was moving away, into the kitchen.
But she was back beside her again soon enough and Mila contentedly settled in closer, sitting with her body turned toward the girl. “Ah yes, that’s the one,” she laughed, recognizing the title. “A little silly for me not to remember his name. But it’s not like he’s real,” she added off-handedly, almost as if to herself. She studied the back of the dvd case with a look of amusement. “Ridiculous. Let’s watch this one.”
As the television popped on, a handsome newscaster appeared on the screen with an image of police tape and flashing lights. “...the bodies were found in an alley behind RAVE, a popular night club who’s owner has refused to comment on the incident. Police are currently questioning the club’s security staff. Here with us tonight is Police Chief Ron Hues with the latest updates on the case. Good to have you with us, Ron.”
“Thanks for having me.”
“Can you tell us any new information about how these men were killed?”
“Unfortunately no, Bill, so far the doctors are stumped as to how someone could remove the blood from a body without making a single laceration to the-..”
“But you’re sure it was murder?”
“Oh yes, these men were brutally killed-..”
Mila had been too busy reading the movie cover to pay much attention to what was happening on the screen. But at the mention of blood, she looked up and immediately recognized the image of the alley and the faces of the victims as the newscaster showed them one by one. Her expression remained completely neutral as she watched the screen.
“..Here, I’ll set it up,” she said, glancing over at Charlie and gently taking the remote from her hand. What kind of wine did you get?” She pointed the remote at the tv and the murder headlines disappeared, replaced by a blue input screen. Mila got up to put in the dvd, feeling slightly distracted by the memory of that night. She’d had a pretty big feast. Nothing like the small sip she’d taken from Charlie – which, of course, was ten times the quality. But it was such a small amount. The thought made her feel suddenly ravenous. She swallowed and began wondering if it had been wise to put herself in this situation. Sitting close, in the dark, watching a movie parody of her own unnatural impulse to lean in, press her lips to her throat and…
The title screen came to life suddenly, startling her out of her train of thought. “Oh, ah.. It’s ready,” she said, feeling the sharp points of her incisors behind her lip. She quickly crossed the room to dim the lights. She was doing it again, making things more complicated. Mila had plenty enough control to cuddle up to her prey without striking. She’d done it hundreds of time before, why should Charlie be any different? It might be a bit of a strain, but the vampire was more than capable of holding back while she’d toyed with the girl a little longer, attempted to wrap her a little tighter around her finger.
Mila got comfortable on the couch again, scooting over to make a space for her roommate. “It’s been too long since I’ve done something like this,” she said looking pleased. “Feels like all I’ve been doing lately is working. Hey, do you have a-.. ah, there’s one.” She reached over to grab a throw blanket from the chair and pull it over her lap. “I tend to get a little chilly. We can share if you want?” She tossed half the blanket over to Charlie’s side.
Mila chuckled and made an obvious pretense of appraising her outfit. “Hm, let’s see.. Oh, you look fine. Besides, you have the advantage of being petite enough to get away with anything,” she said knowingly. Her eyes suddenly lit up. “Still, I’m not gonna pass up the offer to play dress up with you, since you’ve just given me permission! I can already think of a few of my dresses and tops that I want you to try on sometime~” She smirked inwardly at the thought of helping Charlie slip into one of her silky, black dresses. The thought seemed to remind her just how hungry she was beginning to feel.. All of a sudden she was acutely aware of Charlie’s blush, and the fact that she was moving away, into the kitchen.
But she was back beside her again soon enough and Mila contentedly settled in closer, sitting with her body turned toward the girl. “Ah yes, that’s the one,” she laughed, recognizing the title. “A little silly for me not to remember his name. But it’s not like he’s real,” she added off-handedly, almost as if to herself. She studied the back of the dvd case with a look of amusement. “Ridiculous. Let’s watch this one.”
As the television popped on, a handsome newscaster appeared on the screen with an image of police tape and flashing lights. “...the bodies were found in an alley behind RAVE, a popular night club who’s owner has refused to comment on the incident. Police are currently questioning the club’s security staff. Here with us tonight is Police Chief Ron Hues with the latest updates on the case. Good to have you with us, Ron.”
“Thanks for having me.”
“Can you tell us any new information about how these men were killed?”
“Unfortunately no, Bill, so far the doctors are stumped as to how someone could remove the blood from a body without making a single laceration to the-..”
“But you’re sure it was murder?”
“Oh yes, these men were brutally killed-..”
Mila had been too busy reading the movie cover to pay much attention to what was happening on the screen. But at the mention of blood, she looked up and immediately recognized the image of the alley and the faces of the victims as the newscaster showed them one by one. Her expression remained completely neutral as she watched the screen.
“..Here, I’ll set it up,” she said, glancing over at Charlie and gently taking the remote from her hand. What kind of wine did you get?” She pointed the remote at the tv and the murder headlines disappeared, replaced by a blue input screen. Mila got up to put in the dvd, feeling slightly distracted by the memory of that night. She’d had a pretty big feast. Nothing like the small sip she’d taken from Charlie – which, of course, was ten times the quality. But it was such a small amount. The thought made her feel suddenly ravenous. She swallowed and began wondering if it had been wise to put herself in this situation. Sitting close, in the dark, watching a movie parody of her own unnatural impulse to lean in, press her lips to her throat and…
The title screen came to life suddenly, startling her out of her train of thought. “Oh, ah.. It’s ready,” she said, feeling the sharp points of her incisors behind her lip. She quickly crossed the room to dim the lights. She was doing it again, making things more complicated. Mila had plenty enough control to cuddle up to her prey without striking. She’d done it hundreds of time before, why should Charlie be any different? It might be a bit of a strain, but the vampire was more than capable of holding back while she’d toyed with the girl a little longer, attempted to wrap her a little tighter around her finger.
Mila got comfortable on the couch again, scooting over to make a space for her roommate. “It’s been too long since I’ve done something like this,” she said looking pleased. “Feels like all I’ve been doing lately is working. Hey, do you have a-.. ah, there’s one.” She reached over to grab a throw blanket from the chair and pull it over her lap. “I tend to get a little chilly. We can share if you want?” She tossed half the blanket over to Charlie’s side.
The classes were really fun! We studied Japanese popular culture and traditional culture and how they've influenced each other over time. We watched movies, animations, read a few books (which we were recommended to read before the trip), and even some comics. We also had lessons in traditional arts like calligraphy, tea ceremony, and flower arrangement. Parts of the week were also spent visiting other cities in Japan and places in Okazaki, which is the city the Youth Center was in. Oh, I forgot to mention that several groups of high schoolers would spend a few night at this Youth Center for basketball camp, or English camp or something, which was awesome because we got to meet a ton of people this way! Japanese kids all take English in school, which doesn't mean they're fluent of course (I took years of Spanish and I suck x) ), but we could usually communicate a surprising amount with what they knew and with what little Japanese we knew. That was the coolest part, meeting Japanese people and finding commonalities with them, despite our cultures being radically different. Anyway, in Okazaki we visited Okazaki Castle and park, a spectacular art museum, city hall, and a miso factory. After class, we'd often go explore the city on our own, like shopping centers, bakeries, convenience stores, arcades, and this fantastic used book shop that was filled wall to wall with comics. We of course had to balance our time with our assignments. We didn't really have homework, except to be prepared for discussion in class, which was always super interesting. We did have a final paper and a few tests, but they were easy haha. Mannnn, this is making me feel nostalgic. I want to go back. Or just travel with a group again, anywhere. There's nothing better than going to a foreign country with a bunch of people because you get to know everyone so well and they know you and it's like there's no better way to bond with someone than when you've gotten sort of lost someplace but you don't really care because everything around you is interesting and different than what you're used to xD
I want to show you some of the pictures I took! I'm going to try to find this webpage I made for a class a while ago (don't judge my web skillz haha) that has some pics on it.
Wow, it sounds like you did really well!! First with gold! Are you like the best one in your class? Don't be modest x) It's fun to see how passionate you are about all of this. What does it mean to get an invite into the showcase? You get to perform at another competition? Do you have competitions every weekend?
I listen to all kinds of stuff really, I like variety. Although, I'm not really a fan of country music or hardcore rap. Right now I'm in love with a band called The Shins.
I want to show you some of the pictures I took! I'm going to try to find this webpage I made for a class a while ago (don't judge my web skillz haha) that has some pics on it.
Wow, it sounds like you did really well!! First with gold! Are you like the best one in your class? Don't be modest x) It's fun to see how passionate you are about all of this. What does it mean to get an invite into the showcase? You get to perform at another competition? Do you have competitions every weekend?
I listen to all kinds of stuff really, I like variety. Although, I'm not really a fan of country music or hardcore rap. Right now I'm in love with a band called The Shins.
“Hey Charlie, I’m ba-..”
Mila interrupted herself as she heard the girl’s voice from the living room, softly singing something she didn’t recognize. She paused at the door and then carefully closed it without making a sound. Charlie was so absorbed in her music that she hadn’t seemed to notice Mila come in. The vampire silently leaned against the entryway wall to listen, her eyes on that golden curtain of hair that hid Charlie’s face from view. Her voice was beautiful. She had real talent. She needed a producer, someone to get her into a good studio, to record a demo, to get her noticed. Maybe if she had someone to help her get her foot in the door, someone who knew how to get people’s attention, how to make the right friends, how to manipulate their way to the top, someone like…
Mila stopped herself. She was being ridiculous. That kind of thinking would only get in the way of what she was here to do, and right now that was to open a bottle of wine and get this girl pleasantly buzzed and deliciously flustered. Plotting ways to help Charlie’s music career would not get Mila anywhere closer to sinking her teeth in her neck. In fact, the longer Charlie continued on as an aspiring artist/part time waitress, the better off Mila would be in this little arrangement. ...And yet, somehow, the thought was unpleasant… She imagined her roommate years from now, still bent over her guitar, her only audience the neighbors and of course the monster that was sucking the life right out of her…
Mila blinked as Charlie sang out the last wavering note, snapping out of her unsettling train of thought.
“Bravo,” she said softly, moving into the living room to sit on the sofa opposite the girl. “Your voice is lovely.” All day she had been musing about how she planned to coax Charlie into playing something and then to gush about how wonderful she was until the girl’s ears turned red. But now, feeling caught off-guard by that passionate song and her own twinge of – what was it…guilt? Impossible. Enough of that. Mila suddenly sat up a bit straighter, her melancholic expression vanishing in a flash. It was quickly replaced by the same sly playfulness that had danced over her features before.
“You can’t tell me you don’t win hearts with that,” she teased, “because I know it isn’t true.” She stood up again and stretched. She was wearing a different outfit now, looking much more casual but still elegant in a black sweater that hung off her ivory shoulders, and skinny jeans that made her seem taller and more slender than ever.
“Brought some stuff with me,” she had already moved to the door to pick up two large suitcases in the entryway and was dragging them to her room. “I have more in the car but I’ll tackle that in the morning.” She came back and sank into couch, sitting next to Charlie this time. “Because I’m exhausted.” She grinned and reached out to gently pluck a string on the guitar in Charlie’s lap. “And ready for a movie night. You must be a little beat too, I noticed you did some spring cleaning. You didn’t have do have to that for me.”
Mila interrupted herself as she heard the girl’s voice from the living room, softly singing something she didn’t recognize. She paused at the door and then carefully closed it without making a sound. Charlie was so absorbed in her music that she hadn’t seemed to notice Mila come in. The vampire silently leaned against the entryway wall to listen, her eyes on that golden curtain of hair that hid Charlie’s face from view. Her voice was beautiful. She had real talent. She needed a producer, someone to get her into a good studio, to record a demo, to get her noticed. Maybe if she had someone to help her get her foot in the door, someone who knew how to get people’s attention, how to make the right friends, how to manipulate their way to the top, someone like…
Mila stopped herself. She was being ridiculous. That kind of thinking would only get in the way of what she was here to do, and right now that was to open a bottle of wine and get this girl pleasantly buzzed and deliciously flustered. Plotting ways to help Charlie’s music career would not get Mila anywhere closer to sinking her teeth in her neck. In fact, the longer Charlie continued on as an aspiring artist/part time waitress, the better off Mila would be in this little arrangement. ...And yet, somehow, the thought was unpleasant… She imagined her roommate years from now, still bent over her guitar, her only audience the neighbors and of course the monster that was sucking the life right out of her…
Mila blinked as Charlie sang out the last wavering note, snapping out of her unsettling train of thought.
“Bravo,” she said softly, moving into the living room to sit on the sofa opposite the girl. “Your voice is lovely.” All day she had been musing about how she planned to coax Charlie into playing something and then to gush about how wonderful she was until the girl’s ears turned red. But now, feeling caught off-guard by that passionate song and her own twinge of – what was it…guilt? Impossible. Enough of that. Mila suddenly sat up a bit straighter, her melancholic expression vanishing in a flash. It was quickly replaced by the same sly playfulness that had danced over her features before.
“You can’t tell me you don’t win hearts with that,” she teased, “because I know it isn’t true.” She stood up again and stretched. She was wearing a different outfit now, looking much more casual but still elegant in a black sweater that hung off her ivory shoulders, and skinny jeans that made her seem taller and more slender than ever.
“Brought some stuff with me,” she had already moved to the door to pick up two large suitcases in the entryway and was dragging them to her room. “I have more in the car but I’ll tackle that in the morning.” She came back and sank into couch, sitting next to Charlie this time. “Because I’m exhausted.” She grinned and reached out to gently pluck a string on the guitar in Charlie’s lap. “And ready for a movie night. You must be a little beat too, I noticed you did some spring cleaning. You didn’t have do have to that for me.”
Do you read the Game of Thrones books? I've never read them, but there's a guy at work who's obsessed with the show and books and I like to listen to him chat about all of his theories about what's going to happen, even though I still don't know everyone's names xD I told him I that I have a soft spot for Cersei and he practically fell over and said she's a lot worse in the books x) But yeah, I like Tyrion too, I think he's one of the best characters.
Oh the bathrooms are cool for soooo many reasons x) The ones in the hotel near the airport were cool because the toilets were high-tech. The one's in my hotel had a control panel that looked kind of like this:
That hotel bathroom also had a mirror with a heater behind it so that when the bathroom got all steamy from the shower, the mirror didn't fog up! Sort of a small detail, but I thought it was kind of cool haha. I stayed at the hotel after my flight from the US, and then the next morning I met a couple other people from the study abroad group and we took a bus to the Youth Center where our program was based. It was a lot like a YMCA; it had classrooms, auditoriums, basketball and tennis courts, a cafeteria, a lounge/hang out room, and dorm-style bedrooms - both Japanese and Western style. The bathrooms there were also amazing. First, the toilets were in a completely separate room form the bath and showers. You had to wear slippers when you entered the bathroom, which were kept by the door. The toilets were all "Japanese style," which are basically porcelain holes in the ground heh. There was one "Western style" toilet, which incidently had a sign on the stall door that read: Western Style/Handicap xD The first few days, all of us girls lined up to use the one Western toilet. But by the end of the first week, we were all using the Japanese style toilets without a second thought haha. The bathroom - that is, the room that actually contained the bath - was incredible. It was like a spa. So basically you walk in and there's a small room where you take your slippers off, then another room where you can store your clothes, another with mirrors and sinks, and then finally you enter the enormous tiled room with the biggest bath you've ever seen. It's all steamy because the water super hot. Along the wall are mirrors and shower heads with small stools in front of them. That's where you shampoo your hair and wash off before you enter the bath. On the first night, we all walked into the bathroom and it hit us that this bath time was a communal activity in Japan! Now there were three private shower stalls, but there was no waaay we were all going to have time to shower individually (we had an allotted time to use the bath). So at first we all just sort of stood around xD And I don't know how it happened but eventually most of us were like, what the hell, let's go for it! Oh man, I know it sounds totally uncomfortable. And it sort of was at first. I mean, talk about lack of privacy. I never never never would have said before the trip that I'd be comfortable using a communal bath for crying out loud. I think it was easier because we didn't know each other, oddly enough. Anyway, you've got to believe me when I say it quickly got to the point were no one felt weird. It was everyone's favorite time of the day. I can't speak for the dudes in our group, who of course had a separate bath, but for us girls, we would spend an hour soaking in the giant swimming pool bath and chatting about the day. Nobody stared, everyone was cool. For the four days I had my period, I obviously had to use the private showers. Heh, probably too much info, but just in case you were wondering.
Omg, at this point I'm going to write more than I do in my RP posts about Japan x) I'll tell you in bits and pieces. Ask me anything! Also, how was your dance competition???
[ Also, about to go listen to "Poison Oak" by Bright Eyes. x) ]
Oh the bathrooms are cool for soooo many reasons x) The ones in the hotel near the airport were cool because the toilets were high-tech. The one's in my hotel had a control panel that looked kind of like this:
That hotel bathroom also had a mirror with a heater behind it so that when the bathroom got all steamy from the shower, the mirror didn't fog up! Sort of a small detail, but I thought it was kind of cool haha. I stayed at the hotel after my flight from the US, and then the next morning I met a couple other people from the study abroad group and we took a bus to the Youth Center where our program was based. It was a lot like a YMCA; it had classrooms, auditoriums, basketball and tennis courts, a cafeteria, a lounge/hang out room, and dorm-style bedrooms - both Japanese and Western style. The bathrooms there were also amazing. First, the toilets were in a completely separate room form the bath and showers. You had to wear slippers when you entered the bathroom, which were kept by the door. The toilets were all "Japanese style," which are basically porcelain holes in the ground heh. There was one "Western style" toilet, which incidently had a sign on the stall door that read: Western Style/Handicap xD The first few days, all of us girls lined up to use the one Western toilet. But by the end of the first week, we were all using the Japanese style toilets without a second thought haha. The bathroom - that is, the room that actually contained the bath - was incredible. It was like a spa. So basically you walk in and there's a small room where you take your slippers off, then another room where you can store your clothes, another with mirrors and sinks, and then finally you enter the enormous tiled room with the biggest bath you've ever seen. It's all steamy because the water super hot. Along the wall are mirrors and shower heads with small stools in front of them. That's where you shampoo your hair and wash off before you enter the bath. On the first night, we all walked into the bathroom and it hit us that this bath time was a communal activity in Japan! Now there were three private shower stalls, but there was no waaay we were all going to have time to shower individually (we had an allotted time to use the bath). So at first we all just sort of stood around xD And I don't know how it happened but eventually most of us were like, what the hell, let's go for it! Oh man, I know it sounds totally uncomfortable. And it sort of was at first. I mean, talk about lack of privacy. I never never never would have said before the trip that I'd be comfortable using a communal bath for crying out loud. I think it was easier because we didn't know each other, oddly enough. Anyway, you've got to believe me when I say it quickly got to the point were no one felt weird. It was everyone's favorite time of the day. I can't speak for the dudes in our group, who of course had a separate bath, but for us girls, we would spend an hour soaking in the giant swimming pool bath and chatting about the day. Nobody stared, everyone was cool. For the four days I had my period, I obviously had to use the private showers. Heh, probably too much info, but just in case you were wondering.
Omg, at this point I'm going to write more than I do in my RP posts about Japan x) I'll tell you in bits and pieces. Ask me anything! Also, how was your dance competition???
[ Also, about to go listen to "Poison Oak" by Bright Eyes. x) ]
Wow thanks!! :D I had to do something to make up for the fact that I made you wait so long x) Yeah, no worries about length, I really had not intended for it to be so long lol. My average is really only four to five paragraphs, depending on what's happening in the story.
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