This march, Dyan and I went to the movies for the first time here in Izumo shi! On 2 separate dates, we watched 2 completely different films, but equally enjoyed both! Last 2019年3月26日, we watched the continuation/reboot of the 2014 L♡DK movie, this new L♡DK movie had a completely different cast, but to be honest, I actually liked the newer one better than the 2014 version... the story was more detailed, the direction was better, and I also like the artists in the 2019 version more!

But before we get into other details, let's talk about how to actually buy a ticket here in Japan!



When buying a movie ticket, there are booths/machines that are similar to ATM machines, and that is where you select the movie, time, and which seat you want to take, pay using the machine, and it will print your ticket afterwards!

There are instances/events where you can actually pre-order/buy your tickets in advance, depending on the movie if it is available, you will have to present it to one of their staffs, and from then on, that's where you can choose which seat you want to take.

It's completely different in the Philippines where you have a separate booth for buying tickets!

One thing that surprised me was the price of the tickets.... one movie ticket costs 1800円 or somewhere between 800 PHP / 16 USD.

In the Philippines, normal tickets would range from 250~300 PHP (around 6 USD) depending on which mall you go to, we've already watched in 4DX, and the tickets range from 450~500 PHP (around 10 USD), and some malls even offer free popcorn and water. 

But here in Izumo, the 1800円 is literally just for the ticket, it's a regular cinema, and there's no free food lol so it is pretty expensive imo.


Cinema food also cost quite a lot. A small bucket popcorn set with drink is 750円, (350 PHP / 7 USD), and that's just the small size, in the Philippines, the price of 750円 would be the larger or medium sized popcorn with drink already. And there are only 2 flavors to choose from, Salt or Caramel. They don't have the variety of flavors like in the PH where you can choose from Cheese, Sour Cream, Barbeque, caramel, wasabi, ranch, etc. 

I got the hotdog sandwich with fries set meal for 950円 (450 PHP / 9 USD).



Dyan got the regular popcorn with Melon Soda!






Back to the movie, we really enjoyed it! It was sooo funny and entertaining! I was actually happy it was the first movie I experienced watching in a Japanese cinema, so do keep in mind there were no subtitles for this. I would say N3 level of Japanese, and you will understand this movie~ it's a nice slice of life, romantic comedy movie! 


We took a selfie after the movie! 

Since we were so happy with the movies being shown in cinemas right now, Dyan asked if I can accompany her in watching a movie called, Shounen Tachi (少年たち), it was originally a musical, and was turned into a big screen movie, and the artists are all members of Johnny's Entertainment, Dyan's favorite music company~ 

We watched the movie 2019年3月30日 and we watched the last full show, funnily, the last time of their shows is at 8:30 PM (7:30 PM MNL time)... in the Philippines, last full shows usually start from 10:30 PM MNL time and usually ends around 1:00~2:00 AM MNL time depending on the mall, here it ends at around 10~10:30 PM (9:30 PM MNL), and once you leave the mall, it literally feels like a ghost town... lol it's pretty dark here in Izumo Shi..





We ate dinner before watching the movie, and of course ordered a small popcorn set meal because... you can't enjoy a movie without popcorn lol and a selfie after the movie!

This was also a really nice movie! I had a great time watching it, plus I love musicals! 

Dyan said she would watch Detective Pikachu with me on May since I watched this with her haha!

I will be watching Avengers End Game alone... lol but I am happy that it will be in the original english dub, and they would just have Japanese subtitles! Thank God! 

But yeah! I had fun during these movie dates with dyan! Here's to more movies! lol 

Byebee!

I can't believe how fast the time flies.. It feels like yesterday I just got you and you were this tiny little cottonball baby, who walked so slow because you were so small and cuddly... now... You sleep on my bed, you sometimes hump our legs, you like to run around and play hide and seek... and you're also 1 year older..

Happy birthday to my special baby boy, Appa!
I know I planned a huge birthday party for you last year, I was thinking of which dog cafe to go to, what kind of cake, balloons, etc...

But I got so busy and it's sad that I was not there to celebrate your first birthday with you...

But! I know my mom and dad, or your Mimi and Dada will take care of you while I am away, and while your daddy Mike is busy..

I know you weren't prepared for this, but thanks to mom and dad for trying to celebrate it even if its not the grand celebration I planned for~
Thank you guys!


My brothers were apparently so busy trying to get his attention so he would look at the camera while my mom was taking the picture lol


Appa's first birthday cake! which is smothered before taking a picture lol



My happy boy!

I will be back in the Philippines for his 2nd birthday, and we will celebrate it in the grandest way possible lol

Love you appa!

So here I am, a month after...
My flight was 2.1.2019 via Philippine Airlines going to Haneda, Tokyo. I was stationed in Shimane Ken Izumo Shi along with these two lovely ladies Diane and Marianne, so we had a connecting flight from Haneda to Izumo shi via Japan Airlines.



The flight from Philippines to Japan was dreadful.. it's my first-time leaving home for this long, living alone, without my family, leaving my boyfriend Mike, leaving my baby boy Appa, and quitting a job that was fun for meand I loved my workmates... During the entire flight, I was holding back my tears, I couldn't enjoy the food, the movies on the plane... I actually wanted to quit and go back home. People who have known me for years would know, working and living in Japan has always been a dream of mine since I was young, and even though I was finally fulfilling that dream, I was not really happy... But, I tried to think positive, made myself think that a year will go by fast I would not even notice it... It was a 4 hour flight to Haneda, and we had 2 hours to spare before our next flight to Izumo, so we just waited around the airport for a bit because we wouldn't want to miss our flight... Then the flight from Haneda to Izumo was about an hour and a half.




it was hard, and I really wanted to go home.. but things got better after the first week... and I am willing to try and see, if I can do better in the coming months..



 




Since our schedules will be changing once work officially starts at the site, we had a day off (well me and Dyan at least)


Dyan and I went to Aeon mall and had huge takoyaki for lunch, lol we went to bookstores, toy stores, clothing stores, and a lot of other places!




 

I love that the Mega Don Quijote is near my place as well!





Although I have to admit, Its really lonely here... the mood of the city is gloomy, not much people walk or ride their bikes, almost everyone has their own car since a lot of the places are pretty far from each other... but I am getting used to doing things alone...


I ate at an Italian themed cafe alone one time, and they had the creamiest carbonara!



2 of our senpai interpreters went with us and ate lunch at the mall, then we took purikuras!


 
For those of you who are interested in knowing which company I work for, how I applied, and all the other details, I'll try to make a very detailed blog post about it!