Japan and Junks

So i know, I havent written a post on here for FOREVER, but I think it's time to finally write on here once more to let everyone who actually reads this how my summer is going!!! ^.^

So first off is Hikari no Gako...which is a summer program for little children given at my temple by Japanese parents who want to teach the little youngins of the Japanese Culture. The program is given to kids from incoming kinder-gardeners to incoming sixth graders. Then there are the teen volunteers who get community service by watching over the little kids and are teacher aids to an assigned class. Why did I volunteer this year?...well 2 reasons; 1. to receive around 40 hours of community and 2. because the little kids are just a little ball of sunshine and they make me smile :) I had one problem though during this volunteer year, I was not assigned a class like everyone is usually given, but I was assigned as the music assistant. Now why is this bad?...CUZ I CANT SIGN PLUS I HAVE NO MUSICAL TALENT WHAT-SO-EVER!!! >.< So it was a tough week and I believe that my teacher was even becoming disappointed in my lack of skills towards the musical field...so I kinda felt as if I was a failure to the teacher. Although to the students, tis a different question. They seemed to enjoy my great enthusiasm when they had music class and seemed, for the most part, smiled and laughed at my very stupid gestures ^.^ They really made those 2 weeks soooo much better and I'm happy I did do this program again.

Next...I got a job at River Road True Value, thanks to a friend who's Dad owns the place ^.^ The job is very chill, and it is pretty easy going. I get 8 and hour, so minimum, and I move around shelves, do the cashier, and help out customers. It really isnt that bad of a job and I'm glad i got it too ^.^ For anyone in Salinas, you should visit me at my job!!! :D lol

Fianlly...From the 12th to the 21st, I attended the YBICSE (Young Buddhist International Cultural Student Exchange) program, in which I went to Japan and learned more about Jodo Shinsho Buddhism (my religion) and Japanese culture (which I am Japanese). Lets sum it up though really quick since it was sooooooooo packed, yet sooo fun, while at the same time as being enlightening. So the first 3 days was in Kyoto, which was ramen, train station, Honganjin, enlightening lectures, morning service, Giyonmasturi (Start Festival?), temples of importance, and Shinran Shonin (^_^). Then the next day was Osaka Peace Center, which was very sad (it was all about WWII) Osaka Castle, "Cruise" in the Kobe Bay, Kobe Beef, chilling with the Hawaiians. Then was the home stay for the next 3 nights, which was fun since our family was so chill!!! Plus they spoke supper excellent English since they lived in Fremont, CA before too!!! They cooked awesome food too!!! So while we were in homestay, my group (the 5 BCA boys) had morning service, tea ceremony, breakfast, freetime (usually at the mall) then lunch. From lunch it changed daily. One day, we played basketball against the middle school there since one of the sons is a basketball coach for the middle school. Then after that we shopped in Osaka and had a very expensive dinner, which our host family wouldn't let us pay for. Oh, I also won a teddy bear at the arcade ^.^ The next day was same up to lunch, then all shopping till dinner, where we celebrated our host father's birthday, since it was in 2 days. We had a salad, shrimp, steak, and ice cream dessert. After which, we went back to one of the son's apartment and had a cake. After we departed, the son took us out to a karaoke bar...WHICH WAS MF AMAZING!!! ^.^ I WANNA GO BACK!!! T_T Final day, we had our goodbyes and went back to Kyoto, and pretty much just hung out with the hawaiians again. If you wanna know more...ask me or look at my pics on my facebook.

Now: Obon Set-up and everyone of you guys should go...Sunday July 26, 2009. 14 California Street, Salinas, CA

Birthday/Fishy

So as most don't know, it was my date of birthday on the 19th of June (which was 2 days ago), and I feel like rambling about it. So anyways my birthday started off with 2 of my "friends" posting a lot of J-Popness on my wall on Facebook right and midnight to a quater after, many of which was scaring the living hell out of me, lol, but you can see it on my Facebook wall if you like, and is my friend on Facebook, but anyways, thats pretty much how I started off my birthday (thanks Karen and Joy -_-). Now most people would go out with friends or go out to dinner with the family or whatever, but I spent mine cooking dinner for my parents and for the parents of the members of my youth group for our Parent Apperciation Dinner, which was pretty okish since One, I got a comfy chair, Two, I got new shoes, Three, I made goodish food (I think), and Four, I wasn't home :P. After we were all done, myself and 4 others of my friends drove for a bit and went to a Baskin Robins, me trying to get a free scoop for the free one scoop brithday thing, but I guess you have to register online...sad face. After that, we ventured into the 99 cent store very close by and got random stuffs, like a 99 cent lazer pointer MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! >:D. Didn't get home till 12 that day.
Since my parents actually care for my birthday, we celebrated it on the 20th, which was fun, even though I'm more whateverish when it comes to my birthday. For my birthday on the 20th, we went to San Francisco and watched a Giants Game (I LOVE THE GIANTS!!!!). Before we got to the Game though, we went to a very fancy resturant in Fisherman's Wharft, which was very delicious, but VERY expensive x_x (I cried on the inside when I saw the prices). We got to the Giants game, and we sat in the CLUB LEVEL BABY!!!...which be some FACEY-ASS SEATS...and some good seats too, but not like OMFB THESE ARE SOME FANCEY SEATS...but like some facey seats that are nice and junk...I don't really know how to explain the seats though...but it was nice. Giants won on an error in the 11th inning, yes extra innigs for those who know what that is. Runner at 3rd base and 1st base, and then a wild pitch was thrown, enabling the runners to advance easliy without being challenged, bringing in the winning run ^.^. I was excited since when I go see the Giants play, they lose -_-. The only thing I wish for more was to spend more time in San Francisco, but its whatever since my birthday is really nothing and really in-important. So that's pretty much how i spent my birthday...woot woot...yay. I wanna see "UP" for those reading too...lol, but I dobut anyone is reading this.
Oh yea, about the "Fishy" part in the tittle, my sister got me a Beta Fish for my birthday...and I named him/her Happy-Feet and he's...well he's swimming, but he's not eatting which is getting me worried...I don't want it to die :(.
Well I hope you enjoied reading my rambling and I hope to have another poem up soon too. Later People!!! ^.^
-CNK

How Much I Enjoy Rambling

Today as I drove to San Luis Obispo, well more like Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to pick up my sister from school and bring back to the home, I rambled a lot to my mother (who was in the passenger's seat) on the way there. I rambled of how i wished to have a voice like Ne-yo and the awesome greatness of the wonders of Frank Sinatra. I could tell she wasn't paying much attention to me at all, and was probably thinking to herself, "OMB I MF HATE THIS MF KIDS RANDOM ASS TALKING!!! I WANNA SLEEP ON THE WAY OVER TO THE EFFEN COLLEGE!!! >.<," which I wouldn't really blame her. I also took notice of how awake i was on the trip; not yawning much or getting heavy eyes, or feeling much like sleeping on the trip over (which is usual when I drive there). I was pondering on why wasn't I sleepy? Maybe it was the Fruit Punch on Crack i was enjoying (aka Arizona Raspberry Iced Tea; stuffs effen AMAZINGLY EXCELLENT!!!) or was it the fact that I was playing my iPod over the radio in my car...but I wasn't sure exactly what it was.
After packing up all of my sister's junk in our cars (my car and my sister's) my car was completely packed, so my mother had to ride in my sister's car, and i drove ALL ALONE!!! :O. I was pretty confident though, I had the mentality that I wouldn't make a mistake or feel tried or whatever...and I also felt excited that I will be driving alone and be able to show my parents I can drive far distances, alone, with no problem and in hopes I may drive to Santa Cruz or San Jose this summer with my friends. We left San Luis Obispo and were on our journey back to la casa, me all alone in my car, my mom and sister in my sister's car. I was able to sing a loudly to my iPod playing over the radio without worry of becoming embarrassed of my mom critiquing my voice (<-----LOL).
Soon, I felt tried, sleepy, and bored; and I was confused why. Why was this feeling coming over me?...why why WHY?! I tried to drink my Fruit Punch on Crack to wake me up, and turning up my music louder, but it had little effect on me. When I thought of it, I realized I had to be talking in order to feel untried. I sang loudly to the music, but it could only releave me temporarily. But I think the moral of my idiotic rambling is that I enjoy to ramble way to much...probably...sad, but whatever :P

The First of Rambling Poems: Why

So this will be my first thought i put here...so excuse my rambling and extremely terrible grammar and what-not's...but who cares?! Here goes my first post...a poem:

So why...why do we do what we do?
Why do we have to do what we do,
To fit into the "Norm,"
Or to be accepted by those and conform?
Why must we obey what is average,
When this standard I face is something I cannot manage?

So why...why do we do what we do?
Why do we have to do what we do,
To fit the outlines of an acceptable line,
In place of doing what can make us smile?
I know that some minds maybe twisted and sick,
But for the ones who are sane, why can't we that instead of this?

So why...why so we do what is demanded by the society?
Where in truth, it only separates us from the real reality?
I stray away from the line, and I'm labeled as "Weird,"
Even though i stray only a few feet from there.
At times, I may go, out there into space,
but tis not like I'm leaving without a trace.

So why...why do we do what is "normal" instead of "us,"
Where we can better fulfill our inside lust?
Not that of perversion, but that of a need,
But instead to be bored in our society.
Of course we need standards, but really that so strict?
Like where talking so loudly is seen as crossing the line of this.

So why...why do I ramble when my voice will be silenced?
Since people will think that I'm crazy and violent.
Where I'm peaceful, but I have my outbursts of energy,
And I seem to release it inappropriately.
But not in violence, or in committing a felon,
but as in running around and talking at a voice volume of eleven.

So why...why can we just show our true personalities?
I guess it will just be a too dangerous sight to see...

Disclaimer: I wrote this from being punished by a teacher for talking loudly in class when it was the last day of school and nothing was happening...PLUS I had an outburst of energy and emotion