Haven't been that busy, but I still have problems with posting every day.
Whoops!

Snail-slow

It is the end of July. Tomorrow I am here for 4 weeks. There are so few castings. Today we had 3, but it took us the whole day. That's really annoying about Osaka - we don't do much, but we still sit in the car all day. And why? Because we often have to go to Kyoto. This week I have been there every day (only not tomorrow). It takes one hour by car to get there - so that makes it already 2 hours in the car for (usually) only one casting. Today we had 2 hours free after the casting in Kyoto and 1 hour after the second one. And we couldn't do much during that time, mostly just sleep in the car, go to the agency to check our empty schedule, eat, etc,etc..

Now I feel really bad for not doing anything and would've liked to go to Tipness to use all my energy, but it is closed on Thursdays..but tomorrow morning!!! We will have only one casting in the afternoon, so I can spend at least 3 hours working out before I have to go anywhere.


Reasons why I am not working as often as I want to:

1. there aren't that many jobs to do in Osaka (and Kyoto) at any time
2. there are quite many girls travelling in the summer, too many for this small amount of jobs - 4 agencys, who all have around 6 girls (we have 8, but Polina is leaving next week)
3. it is going to be even slower in August, because of several Japanese holidays. Which means, that there won't be any castings, the agency will be closed and that there probably won't be jobs during that time either

So yes, it does feel kind of like a vacation for me here. Only thing is, that I'd rather spend it in Estonia..But I am still happy to be here and I don't want to leave!
chotto complicated, uh?

Ok, soo..

Yesterday I had to be in the agency at 10. I had a casting in Kyoto, that I missed on Monday because of the job I had. It was for a client who only takes models from Cosmopolitan. And again for wedding dresses. And they told me right away that they want me. I wish everything was so easy..

Then we passed Starbucks, and I had my very first beverage this year. Caramel Frappuccino. I remembered it was good, and I wasn't mistaken.

Then on the way back Mitsu asked me if I wanted to have lunch with the agency. I said yes. So after 30 minutes me, Saule, Mitsu and another booker - Yasuo - we went to this really Japanese sushi place, where the sushi is made (of course) in front of you. There are no menus, so it takes some knowledge to order. We had sushi with grilled fresh water eel, grilled tuna, grilled shellfish and boiled shrimp. The others had some more, but I was full..and they were out of salmon as well. It was great to have such-such fresh sushi.



In the evening, after two other castings, I went to Tipness again. I got there at 8.30 and left at 11 pm - at the closing time. It took me an hour in the gym and 45 minutes in the pool..(figure out the rest).
I was pretty exhausted after that, but it felt really good. And I had my late-night muscle restoring two boiled eggs for dinner. And some melon. There's no way without melon.

Today we had a really early start - 9.30. Kyoto for two castings and then one in Osaka too. Other girls had an extra casting, so Mitsu dropped me off at Shinsaibashi, where I did some shopping. I was disappointed in H&M, but bought a blouse and new light blue jean shorts from Zara... I got a dewberry bath&shower gel from The Body Shop (smells so good) and two pairs of flat socks from Daiso (the 100 yen store) The white ones are really cute..:)



I haven't seen Polina since Saturday night. I didn't make it to ballet today either. And we took another rain check from seeing Harry Potter...so soon..??

Also, I have 2 more days to change my mind about university. If I don't send them a letter, my spot will be given to somebody else. But I am pretty sure I have made my decision. How many people do get the opportunity to simply travel and work with almost no worries?
Still, September will be really hard on me for sure.

Sushi making video

Me and Saule went to lunch with the agency. See how fast the guy serves 4 plates!

20 dresses

Today I was working again. This time I had 20 dresses: 8 of them colorful and 12 white. The clients were really nice again and this time I didn't get as tired as on Thursday. My knees were aching after 5 hours of standing (the job itself took 8 hours), but I didn't mind. I used the time to learn a couple of new words in Japanese.
We finished almost in time and I managed to get back to Osaka at 6.45 pm. I went to the agency (where they fed me some really sweet watermelon) and then I did a casting for bikes (where I had to pose and ride with it)

The setting. They changed it later for white dresses.

16 dresses. 4 were brought later

Oh yeah, going blonde and going short!

1/20

Unfortunately I don't have any new jobs coming this week, but I have had really good feedback from the clients, so there's hope I will be working much more. Since it will be a slow week, I can try to spend as much time as possible with the girls who are leaving soon. Lydia, the girl from Australia, is leaving already tomorrow..sadly we didn't have time to go to the aquarium together. Hopefully we can make it to Universal Studios, before Polina and Diana leave. That is still the number 1 destination on my list!
Until then, I still try to spend most of my free time in Tipness, working out and staying fit. I think it's a good goal - to live a healthy life here. Because that's what I like to do and it is somehow easier than back at home (where I really tried going to the gym in June, but I finally made it only 4 times with my 30-day card). Anyways, my point is - even when I'm not working as much as I maybe hoped to, I can still enjoy my time here:)

Past 3 days

Friday I had castings from 2 pm. I woke up early and went to the gym around 10.30. I did all my exercises and then back home and then castings. Didn't do much in the evening.

Saturday I was working for the so called "underwear" job. As I found out, there wasn't any real underwear. Mostly pyjamas, nightgowns and joggers.

Clothes for shooting being steamed

Anyways, the job was really nice. The studio was in Osaka, took only 30 minutes to get there. I was working with Olga from Zem models. We both had around 19 cuts. At first it took so much time I was sure we are both going to have overtime, but we finished in time. And surprisingly I didn't get tired at all, though I kept falling asleep during make-up (You know, when they say: now close your eyes, and you fall asleep instantly).
Still, it was a long day, but the clients were really-really nice. I even got a present from them - long black knee-highs with ribbons on the side. Really cute ;)

When I came back to Umeda, I met Polina, who was also planning to do some shopping. I found these really cool shoes in Benetton, which I didn't buy...but I did get a new shirt from Zara.
In the evening we went out. It was boring and we came back by taxi around 4 am.

Today I managed to spend 2000 yen in the supermarket (half of it went on vegetables and fruit - one apple costs at least 100 yen! and 1/8 of a watermelon is around 400 yen here) Then I got my shoes from Benetton, which I left on hold yesterday. AND my VISA card worked!! Amazing - that's really rare here, that I don't have to pay in cash. After that I went to Tipness, took a ballet lesson and went swimming after.

My awesome new shoes

Then I did some more shopping - just the things I needed, no clothes!
Now I'm back home and getting ready for tomorrow's job. It's the same client as on Thursday. So Kyoto again...So off to sleep I go - I have to wake up before 7 am, can't miss my train!

Rapunzel

Today I had another job for wedding dresses. This time it was in Kyoto.

I had to shoot 16 dresses. First, we did all of them, just the front cuts. And when I thought we had already finished at 4.30 pm (job started at 10 am), it appeared that I had to do six of the dresses again - close-ups. And then I got really tired. But what I've learned while modelling is patience. Whenever something bothers or hurts me, I just ignore it. Everything passes, so as I shut up and don't complain, we finish the job earlier and I can go back home. There's no point of asking to sit down, or loosen up the dress to breathe normally - keep quiet and keep smiling.

Must mention that there is a new most annoying word in Japanese for me...Before it was "kawaii", now it's "gambatte", what means something like hang on.
Stop telling me to hang on, I am hanging already for last 6 hours standing up, wearing a corset and pretending to have a favourite amongst those dresses. So no thanks! Just tell me how many dresses and cuts I have left, and give me some juice. That's all I need.

Otherwise the job was good and the clients&the photographer were really nice. I finished my job with 25 minutes overtime at 7.25 pm, got a lift to the train station and arrived home at 9. Was a long day again. But that's what I'm here for! ;)

The last make-up and hair. I felt like a japanese Rapunzel

I am not a quitter.

1. The typhoon passed Osaka before the daytime
2. Two of my jobs next week were cancelled (and are - if I'm lucky - moved to the week after that)
3. The client from tomorrow's job in Kyoto won't pay the taxi money from the station to the studio (and back)
4. I didn't go to the gym, I ate instead
5. I also ate the last peace of black bread today :(
6. We didn't make it to see Harry Potter
7. Today's job was pretty good. I worked with a girl from Visage, who lives here, in the same hotel as I. We finished 30 minutes earlier. All the dresses were awful. There wasn't even a single white dress. Imagine all the other colors for wedding..
8. I had two castings
9. I have been here for 20 days
10. Fuck it. I am not a quitter. Just tired and in a bad mood.

Before the hair&make-up

Tools

The leg warmers they gave me

Make-up and nails done

Everything done. Includes fake hair, fake eyelashes, fake jewellery, fake stones

The setting was gorgeous though

We both had 11 dresses

The food was yummi aswell. PS: I wrote my name on the cup myself. Also in Katakana ;)

 Thank you, bye-bye, see you tomorrow

And I am not a quitter.

Typhoon + pictures from weekend

Finally I got my first work sheet. And yes, there's going to be a typhoon tomorrow. It has been raining for 2 days already. And now it's here. So I have to take 3 subway lines instead of taking one line, so that I could take the nearest station to our apartment.

Today I had only two castings. I couldn't go to the third one, because the job is on Saturday and I'm already working then.
After castings I had to go to the agency to get my advanced money and work sheet. Then me and Polina went swimming: this time I swam 20 times 25 meters. Good for me, neh?

I got some pictures from the weekend from Polina's camera.

Me, Yulia and Lydia on Friday

Marta, Kristina, Alina, me, Lydia, Yulia, Diana, Polina. Friday night

Sexy lips. Sunday

 with Polina. Just love this girl!! Sunday

and I should go to sleep now. I have to leave the apartment at 8, that means waking up at 7.

Why I love Osaka

With these 2 weeks and almost 3 days in Osaka, I've really started to enjoy living here - I feel comfortable and safe, I know where to buy my fruit and get my sushi, I have achieved my healthy way of living with having fun at the same time. And what I really like - I feel that the people who are here, are all worth spending time with. And must mention that our agency is just the best!

I didn't do much during the day on Sunday. The weather was killing hot as always - I guess there was more than 35 degrees, and yes, do consider the humidity - it makes it twice as bad.
I left the apartment at 3 pm to go to the Hankyu department store. Once again, it is one of these expencive department stores, that has 3 floors full of high quality fresh food, few floors of cosmetics, shoes and bags, some for clothes and certainly a floor for house supplies. I wandered around the store for a while, enjoying the samples in the food department and looking at the designer clothes on sale.
At 4.10 I arrived in Tipness to get ready to do some ballet. Polina came aswell and I am sure we both enjoyed the lesson. As Thomas was at the gym again, we joined to work out together. He showed us four different exercises for legs and back. We left the gym at 7 pm with some additional pain in our muscles.
We went for that chicken soup, we wanted already on Saturday, with Polina. There were way too many people waiting, as well as in the sushi-bar again. So this time, to avoid the empty counters in Savoy, we took take-out instead as to enjoy our sushi at home.

Take-out from the sushi-bar: 4 pieces of salmon sushi, 4 pieces of (a bit smashed) tuna salad sushi and 2 pieces of inari (fried tofu) sushi. AND I didn't eat it all once. I had only 6 pieces yesterday

Today was a Japanese holiday, so we had another day off. Therefore, we went out last night. We should stop promising ourselves we would come back early - it only ends up with us having dinner/breakfast at 5 am in a restaurant.
It was raining when we came home. It still is.

As it might already appear to you, I slept the whole day. Well at first until 12.30, and then I woke up 4.35 pm. I went to Moon Soon with Polina to have that Vietnamese chicken noodle soup we had craved for already 2 days. After that I went to the fruit market and then I was supposed to go swimming. But Tipness closed earlier due to the holiday, so I couldn't go. And I am really sad about it. But what ever, I am so tired anyways. And my abs still hurt so much that I can't even laugh since Saturday. Plus it was and still is pouring. So it's good we didn't ditch our party last night because of the beach party at Suma today.

Vietnamese chicken noodle soup in Moon Soon

Tomorrow I should have some castings. And if I don't - then GOD! I will die. We've had enough days off already.

Saturday

As already said, we went out on Friday night. We all met up near H&M in Shinsaibashi and then went to Sam&Dave's. And oh, did we have fun!! We danced like crazy until 5 am. I got back home, chatted with some friends online and went to sleep at 7.

I woke up at 1 pm, and tried to get myself ready for Tipness. I had promised Polina that we would spend our whole day there. And so we did.
First we went to the Hiphop at 3.15, then we did Queen's Yoga and then Big Dance. It was pretty exhausting and hard to keep on going after we had already danced for 5 hours during the night.
After the lessons (that means 3 times 45 minutes!) we went to do abs with the new guy Thomas, who arrived on Friday. He's really really into working out, so he showed us 4 different kinds of exercises to train abs. He really pushed us, so we did our best...and now we are both suffering from muscle soreness. But it feels good. And as Thomas promised - if we keep on training, we should have nice abs showing out already in a week. So watch out - I'm gonna rock it in every underwear casting and especially at my job next Saturday ;)
We left Tipness at 7 pm and decided we should eat out. We got ready and tried to go to this nice cafe Polina likes, but it was closed due to a wedding so we tried the sushi place - what was too packed - so we finally grabbed something to eat from Savoy (the supermarket across the street).
We had decided earlier that we should go out on Saturday night aswell, but after a long day at the gym, it didn't seem that likely. After a short rest, Polina arranged a roof party instead. Around 11 pm we got some party stuff from Family Mart, and went to our roof with Diana, Kolja and Thomas. We listened to the music, chatted and watched Blow from Thomas's pc.

Me, Polina and Thomas sleeping on the train back from Friday's party around 5.30 am.

Dead tired, once again

I haven't been so good lately, have I?
I did have a great day today. But again - I am dead tired. I will try to write this post as the first thing in the morning..

Friday night messages

Teie avaldus TU-AR-RE-31675 konkursile Arstiteadus RE on märgitud 15.07.2011 olekusse "Vastuvõetav"

It is Friday, and as it seems, we are all going out. It ought to be fun!

Nara

As we had another day off, Mitsu took us to see Nara. It is about an hour drive from Osaka. Nara was Japan's capital for 74 years. Now it is still famous for it's old temples.
We went to see the Horyuji temple ..



and then the Todaiji temple, that is the largest wooden buildings in the world



and houses the world's largest bronze Buddha, called Daibutsu -



Around the Nara park there are deer wondering around.





They have been regarded as heavenly animals, protecting the city and the country. Also, they are very attractive for the visitors - you can buy special "deer crisps" to feed them - but watch out, they are eager to get food and might punch&bite!

We tried to take part of everything in and outside the temple (or at leas as much the heat let us). We took part of the rituals,



climbed through the "Buddhas nostril" and well... enjoyed the deer..



After spending some long hot hours in Nara, we all went to eat sushi. It was the agency's treat, so we really enjoyed ourselves ;)

On the way back, I kept on falling asleep, because this weather really makes me tired. When we reached Umeda, I got off and went to The Body Shop, to get something for foot care. And I did get something..



And of course, only Häegen-Dazs ice-cream was missing from a perfect day, so I got that aswell..

xx

If you ever happen to see a Choco Cro patisserie, step in for sure and do not spare your money. They have the best chocolate croissants ever. And when they are still hot from the oven...mhmmm...



So I did make it to Yoga this morning. In the afternoon I met Marta, Tereza and Amelie (all from Visage) in Shinsaibashi.

And we ate. Chocolate croissants of course.

Calf - knee - tigh - hip - shoulder

I just had one casting today, in Kyoto. Before that I just went to the store to buy fruit, after that I decided to go to the Tipness again. I wanted to take the Pilates lesson, but I ended up doing DDD style Hiphop. First I thought I'd just read the schedule wrong ( it's written mostly in katakana). But as I found out later, after I'd been in hiphop for 30 minutes and then quit, I'd mistaken and went to the wrong hall. Pilates was still going on, but one floor above.
Still I went swimming afterwards. I swam 16 times 25 meters - really proud!
On the way back I treated myself with a milk tea with jelly bubbles inside. ( Surprisingly I managed to keep myself from buying ice cream for dinner. Again. )
For now I've done my laundry and talked with family and friends and it's time to go to sleep. I will really try to go to Hatha Yoga in the morning. But let's see if I get up early enough.

My lunchbox, of which I ate only half. Cost 250 yen - from Kyoto: rice, two dumpling-kind-of things, white radish (made yellow) and fried fish with vegetables. Yummmiiii!!

Mhm.. Monday it its.

Sooo...Monday.
Woke up 8-something in the morning. I was sick. And I mean really sick. I sat on the bathroom floor for about fifteen minutes, drank some water and took a painkiller ( and I never take painkillers! ) for the pain right above my eye. When I was done sitting next to the toilet, I decided to lie on the bed for a while, hoping to get better. Luckily I fell asleep and when I woke up again, I was feeling much better. Still weak, though.
I promised to go the the Tipness with Polina at 11.30, so I got my ass up, packed my things, had a fruit jelly for breakfast and pushed myself to go.

We took the belly dancing lesson - which was great! The teacher's energy was amazing and I learnt the routine on the spot!
Then we went swimming. All the Japanese go to the pool in swimming suits, but I was in a bikini. Thank God I don't feel uncomfortable in it, I get enough staring thanks to being "the white girl" anyways.
Must say the Japanese have a lot of systems. Even while using the jacuzzi you have to pay a lot of attention, because when the bell rings, you have to change spots..
The pool and swimming was really nice, it tired me out soon. After using the sauna and a few more laps in the pool, we left.

At 3 pm I had my real breakfast - oatmeal. Then I went to the agency to take some videos for a casting.
At 5.30 om we all had to be at the agency for our only casting. For fashion, as they told me.
It went fast and we were back home in no time.
Now I'm just trying to go to sleep as soon as possible. A little bit of sleep should make everything much better.

Yesterday

I left home at 12 with Anna and Diana to take a train to Suma beach. Some Japanese guys and their model friends were hosting a barbecue party, and luckily we were invited aswell.


The weather was superhot, but the spot was in a shade, under the trees and the breeze was cooling enough to enjoy our time.

It was relaxing to finally meet girls from other agencies outside of castings and to get out of the city for a while.





After defeating the fear of dirty water, we enjoyed swimming in the sea. It didn't take long, until we got tired by these annoying Japanese guys who all wanted to take pictures with the white girls in bikini. I don't even want to imagine how many random guys have our pictures in their cellphones now..

Isn't too inviting, huh?

In our party spot the mood got up really fast. The music was playing, chicken, meat and sausages were barbecued and yakisoba was made. (No need to mention the ice cold drinks)



We had a great time chatting, eating and drinking, so before we knew it, it was dark outside.
When we finally left the beach, it was already 10 pm: we had spent an eight-hour day on the beach and none of us was sunburnt or -stroken.
It was difficult not to fall asleep on the long way back, but somehow we made it.

I must say it was a wonderfulwonderful day, but it can never be too good. I at least, was shocked by some of the stories the locals shared with us, so now I don't even know what are my plans and hopes for the autumn. The only thing I can say, is that anything can happen.

What's going on with this world?

I must say I had the time of my life today.
At the same time I feel completely terrified.
And I have no idea what's going to happen.

Completely exhausted from all these emotions, so I will be writing this story tomorrow. Sorry!

Still one picture to tease you!

I want to ride my bicycle. I want to ride my bike.

Sorry for the missing post. I didn't feel I had anything to add yesterday. I had the most boring Friday. I went to four castings, exchanged some money to yen, and..well watched Desperate Housewives in the evening. I was supposed to go out, but I got back home around 9.30 pm, pretty tired and with an headache, so didn't feel like it. Besides, Marta didn't go out either, so I let myself have another rain check. I did manage to do something useful at last: I tried to memorise hiragana and katagana again, since I've forgotten most of what I studied in the Japanese class I went to two years ago. And I really do want to start practicing again. And where else than here, in Osaka and Tokyo.

and news: First - I had my first riceball this year.
As I remembered from last year, one of the best

This is my tuna&mayo riceball (onigiri)

onigiri's is the brown one (where the rice is mixed with soysauce) and has tuna and mayonnaise inside. I really like the salmon onigiri's aswell, but they tend to be rather dry.

And secondly: a new girl - Monika from Poland - arrived. She will be staying in the same hotel as I am and this far she seems really nice. We already found some things in common - like that she also finished high school this year, she will be taking a year off to travel and she wants to become a doctor aswell.

I decided I should wake up early on Saturday. Of course I didn't get myself out of bed before 9.30 again. But it's still well done. I had instant oatmeal and a slice of black bread for breakfast, then I went out for shopping. I spent almost an hour in the Ing's sports store trying to find a cheap & pretty swimming suite. Although on Sale, the cheapest one was 4200 yen. So I passed this thing on the list..
Still I did buy something. I got a blouse from United Colors of Benetton. At first I bought the beige one but I went back to the store 10 minutes later and exchanged it for the pink one, since I didn't have anything that.. pink. I tried to find a waist belt aswell. No luck.
When I'd come back home and had lunch, I tried calling Polina, but she didn't answer. I hoped she had already gone to the Tipness and we would meet there..
So I finally took a bike from downstairs. Somehow (read: with some help) I managed to open the lock and ... enjoyed riding the bike. It's amazing how fast and easily you can pass through long distances. I must say - I am rapt. I have always dreamed of having a bike in a big city, so now - here I am, cycling through Osaka!

Ok, not through Osaka yet, but I did go to the Tipness. I made the membership card (finally!) and took the Queen's Yoga and Big Dance lessons. And oh-oh! I can say my Saturday was amazing! I enjoyed the lessons so much. Especially the last one. Yoga was yoga, lasted only for 35 minutes. It felt more like Hot yoga than Queen's yoga to me. Big Dance meant practicing a bit of different kinds of ballroom dances for 60 minutes: Samba, Cha-cha-cha, Waltz, Foxtrot and Tango. In the end we were dancing about 15 minutes nonstop. It was so much fun, I already decided to get my dancing shoes posted from Estonia, so it would feel more .. like dancing, not shoveling around in tennis shoes. I felt that the ballroom dancing lessons we had at school were much help - otherwise I wouldn't have been able to keep up.
I found out Polina is quite famous there - all the people in administration and in the classes seem to know her (well of course - only white girl around). Unfortunately I didn't meet herself in Yoga as I expected. She must be lost.
Anywho, this really nice Japanese lady from the last lesson started talking to me. She spoke English pretty well (for a Japanese person). She knew Polina of course, asked me all these questions and said a good word for me to the teacher. Yuka - (my new friend) - said that they all thought I was really cute. Well of course - the only tall, light haired and blue eyed girl in the whole building.
This time I wasn't frightened by all these Japanese staring at me. Yuka seems really nice and it's good to have some local friends. At least I know somebody will be waiting for me next Saturday.
I hope to be taking much lessons in the Tipness as I can. It's a good way to practice Japanese aswell.

The schedule in Tipness and my brand new membership card

After the lesson I took my bike from where I had parked it - besides Uniqlo - and rode home. Then I went to the supermarket and then back home again. And I wonder - why didn't I know about the bicycle before??

Pretty crowded with bikes..no wonder

Now, as I've had my pumpkin soup & bread + yogurt & watermelon for dinner, and finished writing this post - with an hour! - , I hope to find out the plans for tomorrow. It should be interesting. But about that - tomorrow!

Getting married soon?

It has been raining the whole day today. It really wasn't the right time to go wandering around. I took a rain check from sightseeing and shopping. After castings I enjoyed two parts of Desperate Housewives and a Campbell's canned soup. Yummmi!

During the day we had two castings. The first one was for a department store, in Osaka. They picked out Polina right in the beginning. I really hope she gets the job. The second casting was in Kyoto for wedding dresses. The moment I stepped out from the elevator, I could hear the clients almost screaming "kawaii!". There had been one other agency before us. I don't know how they did, but luckily they needed 5 girls for the job. I was the only one from our agency who tried on two dresses, so they must have really liked me. Mitsu already assured me I got the job:)
Usually wedding jobs pay quite well, but you never know. The jobs themselves aren't that easy aswell - the dresses are pretty heavy, they tie them up quite tight and they mean a long time standing up. There's no way you can sit down while wearing a wedding dress! Still, if you stay professional and do what the client expects, it should be fast and easy. If nothing else cheers you up, the money should at least.
Anyways I'm happy for every job I get - this is why I am here and what I get payed for. And it isn't that fun to go to castings every day either. Still, tomorrow we will be going to Kyoto again...prepare our books and pillows!

No belly dancing or yoga for me this time

As I said we had to go to Kyoto today aswell. Unfortunately the long drive did not pay off for me at all. The client didn't even ask me to try on the wedding dress. But that's how it is - they can't always like you. The second casting was for underwear, and I swear, the client looked at me like I'd have something missing. (And well, I pretty much do). The third casting was for uniforms, or at least, that's what they told us. Anyways, they were looking for a tomboyish girl.

We finished pretty early. As promised, I went to the fitness center with Polina. But as it came out, you can make the membership card only for at least 2 months - that's 17 000-and something yen. (if you will be quitting at the second month, they will return your forepayment- Japanese thing again!) I was expecting to spend only 9000, so of course I couldn't afford it. I did have that money, but I'm not supposed to spend it all on my membership card, you know. So while Polina was already in the belly dancing class, I left and missed all that fun. As I found out just now, she also took the yoga class and also to Hula-Hula (the Hawaiin dancing) .. and gym afterwards. Seriously - I look up to her. She's the only one here who does that much exercise. I hope to catch up soon! (I will exchange some more money tomorrow, because I need to spend my energy somewhere, and I need it really-really badly!)
While walking home, I passed the Don quijote store again, of course I just had to get some Soyjoy bars..and whole-grain cereal..This time I was careful, and paid more attention: I didn't buy the tomato&lemon bar anymore..although it wasn't that bad. Actually it tasted quite like the one with strawberrys. I wonder what do they put in there. It's not like I can read those Japanese labels..

My soyjoy heaven

When I got home, I had a light supper (or snack. whatever). I really did feel like doing something, so I went jogging. When I came back in, all red like a suntanned tomato, I did some sit-ups and push-ups, plus some more exercise for my arms and some stretches. After feeling much better, I took a cold shower. Now, here I am, writing this again, although I'd better be reading my book or studying Japanese..Oh well.
Tomorrow we are expecting two castings and an early finish. The fitness center is closed on Thursdays, so I will probably use the time to go shopping or sightseeing..maybe Kyoto, because the last casting is there again..

Off to my book now!:)

Wedding castings, cheap bento-boxes and old temples

Today I experienced my first earthquake in Osaka. It happened 7.35 pm and lasted pretty long, but thankfully the epicenter was 86 kilometers from Osaka - near Honshu. And it wast only 4,7 magnitudes there.
I am sure all the japanese people are already used to them, because it does happen very often, but I still freak out every time. Especially when I am alone and on the 6th floor. Even though, it is kind of funny. The high buildings swaying and the things moving..

So today I had 3 castings. The first one was outside from Osaka - in Kyoto. That meant two more hours in the car. The next one was just for me - also in Kyoto. The other girls had gone there already last week. The third one was in our agency and just for Cosmo-girls.

In the morning I decided to go to the fitness center already today. I even asked my advanced money a day earlier to buy the membership card. But as Polina got sick, and I didn't want to go there alone at my first time, we all stayed home. I really hope she gets well soon, because I don't really like to be alone in a big gym with all these Japenese around me..

And some good news again - I got some old/new pictures from Tokyo last year. Supercute! But pretty good for my Book in Japan. Unfortunately I don't have them scanned yet, but soon. Soon!!

Tomorrow we will be having some castings in Kyoto aswell, so got to wake up earlier than usually.
Who doesn't know, then Kyoto is the old capital of Japan, so it is full of places to visit. The girls told me that sometimes Mitsu takes us to see things if we have time between castings. And I hope we do have some time at least..Anyways we will be going there again and again, because most of the wedding jobs are there.

Something to add

Today we had just two castings. I also talked with Polina, who goes to the gym every day. She said the membership card costs 9000 yen. That means you can use the gym and the pool, plus go to all the classes they have there (yoga, hip-hop, ballet, etc). I promised to become a member as soon as I get my advanced money. (That's on on Wednesday). Hopefully we will be going to the gym together then :) ..and that's something I really need!

Right now I'm really happy about the new pictures I got from the shooting with Maiken Staak I had just before leaving to Osaka. Hopefully they will use them in my Book.

Styling: Britta Ratas
Make-up: Mammu

Oh yeah, how could I forget. I gave in the application for University of Tartu today:)

Let's not make this a habit

I just bought a soyjoy bar from the supermarket. It was next to the counter and I didn't really see what it was with, just took it. Now I realised, I bought a soyjoy bar with tomato&lemon.
Usually soyjoy bars are with chocolate, strawberrys, grapes, etc..Just in case, I will leave it for tomorrow..

And again I woke up at noon (11 am this time). The phone was ringing, but when I answered it, they hung up. Same again in the evening.
I met Marta (the other Estonian girl in town) again today. She and Tereza and Robert came to Umeda. We went to the Ferris Wheel. It was cloudy, so we couldn't see far. It was still nice.
Then we met with Laura (also from Visage; Robert is from Select) and we all went to Subway for lunch/dinner. After they had gone back home, I took another walk around the area. And I have to say, I'm happy with the place I live in.

Two tired&lazy Estonian girls

Umeda area from the Ferris Wheel

Figures on a building. So Japanese style

Umeda is also a good shopping area. Unfortunately most of the shops are too Japanese. By that I mean that most of the clothes are designed to be extra cute ( or "kawaii" as they sai it). Sometimes they go really crazy with that kawaii stuff. Plus, they have these weird cuts. So the best places are still H&M, GAP, Forever21, Zara, etc.

See what I mean? That thing was actually playing the drum.

Tomorrow another Estonian girl from my mother agency will be arriving. She will be here, in Osaka with Visage Models, just like Marta.
And I will go to the agency at 2 pm for snapshots and video.