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kazariToday did not turn out the way I thought it would. I had anticipated waking up to a baking heat and rolling out of bed gleefully late with either sewing or a trip to the fabric store followed by sewing on my itinerary. I woke up instead to a fantastic thunderstorm and a Facebook message from one of the girls here at Iowa from NUFS. She asked if we could meet up, and after their orientation I stopped by her room. Her and her roommate, another girl from NUFS, were trying to figure out how to get a cellphone. So, I dove in and gave them the lowdown online of American cellphone options. Still a little confused and unsure, the more outgoing one of the pair suggested the mall. I said I'd go with and translate. I was having flashbacks to my own first week abroad the entire time. They tracked down the other two girls here from NUFS and the five of us boarded the bus to the mall. I was able to be a decent intermediary between the girls and clerks in the cellphone stores and three of them got cell phones. I was a little surprised, though, that no one else seemed to be surprised when I would switch casually into Japanese and then back in English. Culture shock on my part?
After we made it back to IC, I saw Nana and crew and said a quick hi before showing the girls John's Grocery (they were worried about buying food and snacks and the like with Target and Walmart and such all so far off) and the area around it as well as where my apartment was. I let them ditch their things while they went off to Burge for dinner and I think by then two of them were calling me their savior goddess (which they then changed to the Japanese term for Lady Liberty/Statue of Liberty because it has a similar phrasing, but is "American") and another commented that she wished she'd met and gotten to know me in Japan. Poor girls. I think orientation was less comprehensive than they'd hoped or needed and the group was feeling a little lost. And, I think they had more than a little sense of relief at having someone around who was capable with Japanese language and had the time/patience to answer their questions and show them things. Their first day of actual class is tomorrow. I hope it goes well for them.
One funny note about the crew: They are going to confuse the world horribly as three of the four have Y names: Ayumi, Yumi, and Yuma. Mari's lucky. Mari is a name the general populace can handle. I believe Ayumi and Yumi are roommates, too. And, Yumi and Yuma are already the object of affection of all the other exchange students. The Chinese and Korean guys have been trying to schmooze their way in unsucessfully. Apparently, someone told Mari she looked like a Gremlin. Poor kid! She does have a sweet little face so I see how someone could make the Gizmo comment, but still. Oh, and when they came back to pick up their things after dinner, they were all mesmerized by the tail end of Project Runway on TV. It was complete silence for 15 minutes. I think at least one of them decided to get a TV after that.
It was a nice day.
After we made it back to IC, I saw Nana and crew and said a quick hi before showing the girls John's Grocery (they were worried about buying food and snacks and the like with Target and Walmart and such all so far off) and the area around it as well as where my apartment was. I let them ditch their things while they went off to Burge for dinner and I think by then two of them were calling me their savior goddess (which they then changed to the Japanese term for Lady Liberty/Statue of Liberty because it has a similar phrasing, but is "American") and another commented that she wished she'd met and gotten to know me in Japan. Poor girls. I think orientation was less comprehensive than they'd hoped or needed and the group was feeling a little lost. And, I think they had more than a little sense of relief at having someone around who was capable with Japanese language and had the time/patience to answer their questions and show them things. Their first day of actual class is tomorrow. I hope it goes well for them.
One funny note about the crew: They are going to confuse the world horribly as three of the four have Y names: Ayumi, Yumi, and Yuma. Mari's lucky. Mari is a name the general populace can handle. I believe Ayumi and Yumi are roommates, too. And, Yumi and Yuma are already the object of affection of all the other exchange students. The Chinese and Korean guys have been trying to schmooze their way in unsucessfully. Apparently, someone told Mari she looked like a Gremlin. Poor kid! She does have a sweet little face so I see how someone could make the Gizmo comment, but still. Oh, and when they came back to pick up their things after dinner, they were all mesmerized by the tail end of Project Runway on TV. It was complete silence for 15 minutes. I think at least one of them decided to get a TV after that.
It was a nice day.
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no subject
Date: 2008-08-29 02:05 pm (UTC)That was very nice of you to help them like that~ Also, BOOOOO to whoever called Mari a gremlin! D: That's just plain rude. Rude people should be sterilized.
LOL I still need to see the new Project Runway. I hope I can watch it tonight after my homework is done.
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Date: 2008-08-29 05:29 pm (UTC)XD I'm rude pretty often myself, but poor girl. I really think they meant she looked like Gizmo, though. She has curly/poofy hair and when she pouts she looks like a sweet little stuffed animal just a little.
I only saw the end myself~. Though, I guess if you catch the Runway show part of it, you don't need to see the rest. Loved the designs this week. Makes me want to sew. ;-;
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Date: 2008-08-31 02:11 am (UTC)Aww, I hope they did mean Gizmo, but that's a huge difference between fugly and stuffed-animal adorable. That person needs to review that movie. LOL
True, but I like to see how the designers overcome challenges and stuff. I also like to cheer when a buttnugget (like Keith) gets eliminated. He totally needed to go. And I thought the designs this week were pretty awesome, too. Anything stoppin' you from sewing? :D?
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Date: 2008-08-31 02:42 am (UTC)I posted her picture in a comment below this for Naruto. They must mean Gizmo. =(
I agree~. Finally this week it looks like chic design instead of this group's usual bull. 0_o I have been sewing, but mostly costume things that I'm too fat to really wear, I think. I tried on the school uniform I made today... Ugh. I've put on so much weight that I'll never be able to lose. ;-; I guess I'm yearning for a normal sewing project. Something that Fatty can actually wear ever.
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Date: 2008-08-31 04:29 pm (UTC)Aww, they must have meant Gizmo! *doesn't see where they got 'gremlin'*
Maybe it's time to take a break from costume sewing and make some Ami clothes! I would like to see you make something for yourself that you've never made before (as far as I know) - pants! :D/
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Date: 2008-08-31 08:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-01 02:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-01 11:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-02 12:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-29 04:09 pm (UTC)Lol, that's funny that they were mesmerized by Project Runway. Hell, sometimes I am! Too bad they don't have a Japan edition, I'm sure the designs would be...epically crazy!
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Date: 2008-08-29 05:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-29 10:31 pm (UTC)If you're interested, a buncha people are goin to Studio tonight at 10 for Abbie's going away party. I know you don't hang out with that crew much, but if you're up for some drag show & dancing, lemme know~ :D
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Date: 2008-08-30 07:29 am (UTC)XD Oops. I was sewing and didn't get this until after 2AM. Hope you all had a good time.
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Date: 2008-08-30 03:00 am (UTC)Man, I am still upset that Acid Betty / Terri didn't win the drag queen one, b/c she was freakin' awesome and had a great bod! By far my fave drag queen on there, besides Hedda Lettuce just for her wig. I think just about everybody did an awesome job on the car one--but honestly, I don't know why they are constantly impressed by Miss Africa (can't be bothered to remember her name, starts with a K or something). Everything she's done so far is very plain to me, but the judges seem impressed b/c it's nicely executed. But seriously, that seatbelt coat? Not original at all. Hell, I've SEEN that coat in a different fabric.
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Date: 2008-08-30 07:23 am (UTC)The thing about Africa girl is that she actually gets the NYC fashion scene. She designs like an actual professional. She'll probably make it to the top 3. She's marketable, after all. She can turn out a line celebs will buy. Yet, I'm just generally too unimpressed by most of them to care. Though, the one white straight guy who takes everything seriously is fun. I hope he hangs around. I did love the dress that won. If I were a skinny rich bitch, I'd get me one of those. I love seeing what they put on BlueFly as suggestions for wearing the winning style. Oh! I can't remember the company, maybe Simplicity, but one of the big pattern makers has a Project Runway line for some reason. I'm not sure what MAKES it Project Runway other than the name, but they have some crazy stuff.
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Date: 2008-08-30 07:27 am (UTC)I'm still pissed off that 90% of them already have a foot in the door and are somewhat successful. I thought the show was supposed to be for amateurs.
Whaaaa? A Project Runway line?? That's... strange, and exciting somehow!
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Date: 2008-08-30 07:35 am (UTC)Here here! I couldn't agree more. You can't "break into" a business you've already been in and sucked at for years. What I don't get is, the prize is to start your own line with the money. More than half already have their own BRAND don't they?
http://www.simplicity.com/index.cfm?page=fashionnews_feature2.html
They just look like the same old patterns photographed on the PR set with nicer fabric choices than usual.
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Date: 2008-08-30 07:41 am (UTC)Seriously. When they showed their intros, every single one going "And I have my own store, and this is my brand, and blah blah," I was flipping them off and asking why the fuck they were even there. Bad selection committee! Bad! No biscuit and tea with Tim Gunn!
Um... yeah, I don't recall seeing any of those outfits on the show. Shame. I'd love to buy one of Chris March's human hair outfits--they were SO AWESOME. Sewn with threads of win, I tell ya.
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Date: 2008-08-30 07:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-30 07:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-30 07:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-30 07:40 am (UTC)Don't think the text message thing works. Here's the ID photo I took of her for my phone~.
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Date: 2008-08-30 07:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-30 07:48 am (UTC)