This year’s birthday…

- will be my first day with my second host family; I did hope I’d have stayed with them at least for a few days before my birthday, but they prefered that I arrived that day instead, and I don’t wanna cause any problems, so… that’s how it is; I’ll probably be spending my birthday without anything special happening. In fact, I’ll be spending most of it on a bus. Great…

Ok, that’s today’s whining! I arrived in Sapporo today, after 5-6 hours by train from Aomori. After arriving at the new family, I may also not be able to update my blog… that’s roughly 1½ months, but I don’t think I will be able to use the internet, and especially not on my own pc. They live pretty far out in the countryside, so I’m not even sure I can use my mobile phone!

ANYWAYS, I don’t have THAT much to tell… It’s getting colder; it’s been about 11 degrees (celcius) today, so I’ve finally had to use my warm jacket!
I left for Sendai after Tokyo, spent a day there without really seeing anything as it was raining. The day after, I took off for Aomori where I didn’t really see anything either. I ate their meibutsu (famous item) though: apples! I think they’re pretty much just apples, but then of course I didn’t eat one of them for 6000 yen… and probs never would (unless I was offered to, for free).

I’ll have to find out what to see around Sapporo, so I won’t just be hanging around. I might go to an onsen, if I can find a good one!

Oh yes, something actually DID happen today! I had gone to a shop to look around for something to drink, and as I had to put it in my backpack, I had to take off my little bag (with my camera and purse). I just forgot to put it back on! Then I went to a supermarket to buy something to eat, and when I was about to pay, I realised the great horror! Luckily though, the two places weren’t far apart, and the personnel had it. PHEW!

Last breakkie with Junko-san. From the left: The dark stuff is nori (dried seaweed – I love it!), bottom left is rice topped with nattou, top left is salad, the little bowl is pickled eggplant, the bowl at the bottom is miso soup and the big rectangular plate is dried shrimp, seasoned mini-fish (don’t remember what it’s called), and also seasoned small fish+walnuts. Don’t recall what the white stuff is. There are also sweet, dried kuri behind the miso bowl. I actually have a video of this! 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC4fKCIRR_c

Arriving in Sendai – rainy weather… and indoor day! A pretty boring day to be honest.

HEST on the train headed for Aomori.

Aomori apple! 100 yen.

A bridge in Aomori. Btw, they have a veeeery strange (hard to understand) dialect in Aomori. Haven’t heard it spoken to me, but I heard it in a podcast.

Today’s accomodation. My first time at a ryokan (Japanese-style inn) although it wasn’t a fancy one with meals and stuff. I liked the lady who served me; she was very sweet!

And that’s just about the pictures from Aomori. I didn’t really take any in Sapporo yet, plus I’m beat and too lazy to write any more :b

Seeya!