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Laura is a 19 year old Linguistics Major in the University of the Philippines Diliman. She is currently in an exchange student program in Tsudajuku Daigaku, Japan where she furthers her studies on the Japanese language and International and Cultural Relations.

This blog is her creative outlet and life journal.

    • Jun 2nd 2012
    ♥ 2 notes
    #thoughts
     I’d like to document this day as the day I bought myself a Macbook Pro.

    Hell to the yeah. 
    Jun 2nd 2012
    ♥ 3 notes
    #Iseya #thoughts #japandiaries
     The fruits of my two months of labor.  I almost cannot believe that I was able to earn this amount of money in such a short amount of time at my age. Granted it wasn’t easy, but I learned so many things along the way and met so many amazing people. I can honestly say that I’m proud of myself and that I worked my ass of for this. Five days a week, and those five days were busy days at that. Especially because of the spring season and the recent media coverage Iseya’s been getting. I thought that I wouldn’t be able to do it. That I would make a lot of mistakes or that physically I wouldn’t be able to stand it. I did make mistakes and I still do, but I know I’ve improved from that first day, and I know that I’m physically, mentally and even emotionally stronger because of working at Iseya. If you ask me the things I’ve learned, yep, I’ve learned to make drinks like highballs, I’ve learned what the different of yakitori there is, I’ve learned how to pile dishes on top of each other so they don’t fall and to carry five beer mugs on one hand. I’ve learned the names of food, of terms related to sake. But of course, I’ve learned so much more. I’ve learned how to communicate more efficiently with people, how to manage tasks better, how to motivate myself. I learned that I’m not as weak as I thought I was and yes, I do have upper body strength. I learned that sometimes you just have to put on a brave front and go through with it even though you’re just dying to go to bed. Because yes, school is like that, but work is different. You get paid. So, you have this more concrete thing pushing you to go forward. But I’ve also learned that really, my body has its limits. And pushing it past its limits is something that may or may not be good. I’ve met briliiant people, who’ve been kind to me. Who’ve laughed with me, who’ve put up with me, who’ve helped me. People who work so hard at Iseya, and yet have their own individual dreams. Hoshina who got married early because he got his girlfriend pregnant who manned up has been working at Iseya for four years now. Those years between 21 and 25, I think they would have been the years when he should have been enjoying youth and thinking more about what he wants for himself, but he really did take responsibility. Koga who left home and is living alone and works two jobs to keep himself alive in Tokyo. He wants to be a manga artist but hasn’t had time lately to draw because Iseya’s been so busy. Tahara who is a complete sweetheart, and I consider a kind penguin of a man, who always wears this little towel on his head and plays guitar and sings lead vocal for his band Cannon the Cigarette. Shinohara who has already left a month ago to pursue his dream of being a leather craft artist. His work is amazing, truly. Tomo, the guy who works at the yakidai and is a rapper AND a Girls’ Generation Fan. Tomo, the woman who says Sorry with a cute English accent and who wishes she had a baby, but is still, unfortunately, unable to have one. Yano, Shinohara’s girlfriend who is an extremely talented painter and self studies most of the time by going to museums and whatnot. Jun, a Freeter who loves Filipinos. He’s like another son for Ate Lhen who introduced us to Iseya. Sato, Jun’s girlfriend who I don’t know much about, but I know looks cute with a bun hairstyle. Suzuki, a student around my age who has really loud fashion but has a really sweet personality. Miku, someone hard to describe. Studying to be a preschool teacher. Nagai who…..I do not get along with much since he wouldn’t tell me his name, but who I do help when he was almost always on dish duty since I know how killer that is. Miya, who does not look like he is 35. Looks much younger. The quite, efficient leader up on the second floor. Hama, who has been like a father to me. Has encouraged me whenever I feel like just collapsing, especially during dish duty. Has traveled the world. He feels like an old turtle, wise. Shuunin, not his real name but we all call him that. Calm, composed, and for me, a very very good representation of a Japanese man. Kind as well. Tanaka, who has only recently been kind to me and I am positively elated at that. I thought he disliked me but he’s been really really nice to me lately. Asanomi and Ando, the cute couple who wear towels around their necks. Asanomi is quite, and turns really really red, even his eyeballs turn red when he drinks. Ando, or An-chan is so so nice. I don’t even know what else to say. Mase who has gout but still works pretty damn hard. Is subject to mood swings. The kitchen people, Ogane, Harada, Tate, and this one dude who I never get to remember the name. Whenever I get hungry and make little “I’m hungry” motions they set out plates of food at the kitchen. Harada likes wearing electric blue tights. Tate, I remember I spilled some soysauce on him and he said that he became tasty. Laugh. Ogane, really really kind to me as well. Lets me taste food. Laughs because I think Japanese radishes are big. They are. Lastly, tenchou, the manager. Talks in a stuttering voice. Loves Filipino people. He’s been so kind to us, exchange students who’ve been working there. Treats us to expensive, and I mean EXPENSIVE (last time it was 27 man, or 2700000) sushi.  I still have one month of work left, but I’ll be changing my schedule to 3 days instead of 5. Iseya, I will always remember you. Until you close for the remodeling, I’ll be sure  to work my butt off still~!
    Jun 2nd 2012
    #thoughts #japandiaries
     Short Update 06/01/12

    - Went to Iseya with some of my friends. Had a glorious time and ate lots (and I do mean lots) of food. Couldn’t take pictures much as was too busy eating. Also got a huge discount and free food. Perks of being a waitress there.

    - Made a new friend today, her name’s Yu and she’s really nice. She went backpacking in the Philippines once which I think is awesome and brave.

    - Found this quaint ice cream (?) more of gelato I guess shop courtesy of Yu. Tried the mazcarpone cheese one. Yum!

    - Got my salary today! I can’t believe I saved almost 200, 000 yen in two months. O_O

    - I’m buying a new laptop finally tomorrow. This one’s about to explode. I can feel it. 

    How are you guys?
    Jun 1st 2012
    ♥ 2 notes
    #Art #Illustration #Watercolor #Ink #Rihanna #Rude Boy
     Get a little crazy, baby. Putting my Rihanna LSS to good use. Rude Boy inspired. 
    Jun 1st 2012
    ♥ 3 notes
    #putograft #WOW
    putograft replied to your post: The Japan Diaries: Kyoto II Photoset
    superb photos!

    Wow, thank you~ :DDD
    Jun 1st 2012
    ♥ 7 notes
    #japandiaries #Japan #Kyoto #Travel #Photography
     The Japan Diaries: Kyoto II Photoset

    I really want to upload the next part of the Japan Diaries, but I haven’t had much time and energy lately. For now I’ll let the pictures tell the story.

    This set contains pictures from Kiyomizudera, Nijo Castle, Ginkakuji(Silver Pavillion), and Kinkakuji (Gold Pavillion). 

    PS The photos have different lighting since this spams between the first two days: wonderful weather then rain rain rain.
    May 31st 2012

    Anonymous asked: I wonder why you don't know how amazing of a girl you are.

    Ohem. :((((( This made my week Anon. T__T But let’s be friends~ Who are youuuu? :O
    May 31st 2012
    ♥ 2 notes
    #thoughts
     One day I’ll stop being afraid.
    May 31st 2012
    #literary ventures
     Fragility

    Things ended the way I had planned. 

    I had intended to leave from the very beginning. You made it easy. It was me who put it off for too long. 

    The way you turned your body away from me. The way you flinched from my touch. The way your gaze would shift to somewhere a little above or below my eyes. The way everything seemed to turn cold when you came. 

    I knew all along.

    That’s why when I started to fall apart I didn’t panic. Instead I counted the stages, letting myself crumble.

    You began to wonder why you could barely touch me even if you didn’t want to. For those occasional times your arm would brush against my arm, you wondered why it seemed to collide with nothing. You wondered whether you were looking up or down from my eyes; where were they again? You wondered why you could no longer touch me, no longer hear me, no longer see me.

    You see, I wanted to go on my own terms.

    I knew you had left long before.

    But at least, if I disappeared, I could still say it was I who left you. 

    And that would have made things -
    May 31st 2012
    ♥ 5 notes
    #art #illustration #typography #rose #flower
     We belong in a world of fragile things.  Trying out some typography. What do you guys think?

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