This is it, my first blog entry. I hope I don’t bore you to death with my stories, and I don’t know if I’m good at this. I’ll give you a short review of my one week holiday, which ends today. I tied to not make a lot of things happen this week, but there actually happened a lot.

So today’s the final day of a week’s holiday. I’ve done absolutely nothing this week (which kinda enraged my mom), I was supposed to do some schoolwork, but there’s still time enough to finish that.

The week started great! My best friend Lelie and I went to an anime-convention on Saturday. She spent the night at my place, because we needed to be there early. We got in, and it was lotsa fun! I’m very into the anime ‘Rurouni Kenshin’ at the moment, so I bought myself a Kenshin action figure and a DVD. Lelie got more than me, but she also had more money, so I think it’s only fair ^^;; Lelie also stayed over Saturday night, so we could fully enjoy our new anime stuff.

The rest of the week I took it easy. There also was no ninja training that week, and I didn’t even practice moves at home, although our senpai always tells us to practice well. I feel kinda bad about it… This just shows how unreliable I am. Every time I tell myself to do something, I either postpone (in case of schoolwork) or forget it, I have absolutely no self-discipline *sighs* and that’s exactly what my parents keep telling me.

‘Do you make sure you finish your school work?’ or not to forget: ‘you shouldn’t be online that much.’ No way I’m gonna give up the friends I’ve made online, and I also wanna keep in touch with Lelie (when were not staying over at each others’ places or go to ninja). How come my parents keep pushing me, even though I got very good grades at school? I was best in class with math, and my mom insisted on meeting that teacher. I’ll never figure out how she thinks…

I’ve strayed away from the topic I guess. The holiday went on, and I was spending my time doing nothing in particular. That Friday I was supposed to spend the weekend at Lelie’s, because Saturday would be the 2^nd Dan exam of my senpai Graham. In the middle of the week (forgot what day exactly) they called that Graham was ill, and that the exam was moved to Saturday the 29^th. I wasn’t really surprised to hear, last time I saw him, his voice wasn’t too good, that, and I already got some other bad news. At the riding-school where I used to go horse riding (I used to, because I already quit some time ago) a fire had broke out, the house of the owner burnt to the ground. No one got hurt and the animals were okay too, luckily. It was still a scare, though.

Lelie and I decided not to spend the weekend together, because of the exam thing. We moved the weekend to the 29^th as well. But it’s almost her birthday, so I went to Lelie’s on Saturday to give her a present. I got a really nice print of Aoshi (the cool ninja-guy from Rurouni Kenshin) and I had my father to copy it onto A3 format, then I bought a frame around it. She liked the gift, and we spent the rest of the day watching Rurouni Kenshin episodes, and surfing on the internet, using her brother’s computer. Here it was we decided to both make a blog, and we started to build mine right away. Lelie will be updating the blog, because I don’t have the right programs to do so. Domou Arigatou, Lelie-san!

I had dinner at Lelie’s (It was really good. Hotdogs! Yum!! ^^;; ). Then I went home by bus. Lelie said I could borrow her DVD and 2 manga’s from 'Real Bout High School'.  One thing was for sure; I wouldn’t get bored on Sunday!

Today is Sunday, school starts again tomorrow (for 4 days; Friday and the next Monday and Tuesday I also have off  ^^;;). However, I do have my usual ‘I-have-to-go-to-school-again-after-a-nice-holiday’-depression (o_O;; I think other people would call it laziness).

I also made drawing today, and the end result actually pleased me. It got my mind off school, parents, and a really annoying brother.

Okay, this day was a good promise for the rest of the week (that’s meant to be sarcasm). School started at 10 am today, which meant I could sleep for a while. I took the bus at 9:10,  the bus was actually on time, and I thought I had to start with art class today. Not! I was supposed to have math, but I only realized that when it was too late.

I didn’t want to spoil my reputation (I’ve never been late), so I decided not to go (you can miss about 10% of all your classes here). I decided to do some computer work at school and I surfed the web a little, visited some Japan-related sites. I felt really bad about missing a class, although it’s really not that much of a problem.

I really don’t know what got into me, maybe it was because of the holiday that ended, or maybe I was stuck with my mind in Edo Japan again. I still feel bad about it, but I tend to worry too much over things like this…

My next class starts at 12; the subject Dutch, which is really boring. And after that it’s 2 hours of Economy! Monday is the longest day of the week, and also the most boring.

Oh and I want to say happy B-day to Lelie! ^^;;

05-03-2003 : Ninja training I

Yesterday was a short day, and I had to start early, but on the other hand, I also was off early ^^;;

I forgot my geography books, because I thought I had Economy x_x. fortunately I didn’t miss any classes today, but there’s obviously still something wrong with me. That was about what happened today. I came home, and tried to sketch, but it wouldn’t come out right, so I went on to watch my Rurouni Kenshin DVD, and after that some anime on TV.  Later I tried to sketch again, and this time it went well ^^;;

I went online after dinner, and chatted a while with Lelie. We were both looking forward to going to ninja training again tomorrow. Then I had to go babysitting, I have to watch 3 kids, and a dog -.-;

They weren’t really annoying today, and I’m glad I can earn some money with this job. I ‘work’ two nights a week, and the good part is I can study there as well. Like every Tuesday, I didn’t came home late, and I still had some time to ‘remove’ my brother from the computer, so that I could watch some more RK ^^;;  That’s basically how the day ended.

Today I only had 1 class; English. And that lasted for about 10 minutes, because I had a speaking session. I have another good grade! So I was home early… I went on to practice some ninja moves, and especially ‘tachi nagare’ (roll backwards), because last time I wasn’t so good at that. It actually went well! ^^;; I hope I finally mastered it now. While practicing, I kinda hurt my right knee o_O;; which was my ‘good’ knee (I had broken the left one a couple of years ago and though it is fixed, it still hurts from time to time).

Anyway, the knee will be fine, I guess, so I put on my gi, because every Wednesday I walk around in my gi for half a day before I go to ninja training. I just like to wear it, it’s very comfortable.

After dinner I took the bus to Lelie’s. I usually go to Lelie’s place right before training, because she lives near the dojo, and the bus is always more than 30 minutes early. We spent some time behind the computer before going to training. She also showed me her b-day presents, and there was lotsa Japanese stuff with it ^^;;

When we arrived at the dojo, it turned out we were the first ones. Later the other ninja and kunoichi arrived, and since Lelie insisted, I showed some of my latest sketches to some of them. The training itself was fun; we learned a few new moves; a kick backwards in combination with a turn and a bodydrop, and a flying kick. I really liked those techniques, they were beautiful to see, I hope they also look good when I perform them, can’t judge over that myself… We also got to do the neck break technique again. One of my favorites! Lelie and I were sparring partners, I kinda hurt my hand because I fell on it (Actually, Lelie made me drop, but it was part of the technique. No hard feelings, Lelie!) It’s not that bad, it hardly hurts anymore. The training was over before we knew it, I felt like it was over way too soon. After training senpai Mark told us something about the new magazine (I’m not surprised, there was an article in it about him), and it turned out we’re going to train with a new weapon; the tanto (knife). So we had to order ourselves some tanto’s after the training. We’ll get them next week. We were plenty on time for me to catch the bus back home (It’s been different; sometimes training takes too long ^^;;) Waiting for the bus, we read the article about senpai Mark (he looks like Sanosuke from Rurouni Kenshin, according to us) and found out he was 19 years old (never would’ve guessed! Plus, it’s the same age as Sano!) He’d really make the perfect Sano!

Anyway got home late, and went straight to bad, because I was tired from training. This is about the usual Wednesday for me…  

11-03-2003 : About anime shopping and my future

I haven’t written in a while. School wasn’t much last week, and on Friday, Monday and today was no school. I can’t believe there’s almost a test period commencing again! Test periods do mean you get a lot of free time, but also a lot to study. I’ve done pretty well so far, but can I live up to my reputation? What if I let everybody down? I’m under a lot of pressure at times like this. I also have to finish my very last book report, and yesterday, I had to go to my new school for an interview and introduction. There’s so much to do, and the exams draw near. After that, I’ll be going to study TMA, and if I do well, I might go to Japan in 2 years. The foresight of Japan is quite exciting, but the idea of a whole new school and the upcoming exams frightens me. I’m insecure of the future, it feels like I’m not ready for it, and I feel so much younger and more inexperienced then I actually am.

The interview went well yesterday, if I pass my exams, I can start with the study in September. I’m lucky enough that Lelie’s gonna do the same study, that’s at least one person I’m familiar with, and less to worry about.

My new school is in Amsterdam – A city in which I feel uncomfortable and I would never want to live in – when Lelie and I went there yesterday, we decided to go early and visit some shops in Amsterdam first. The first shop (a store with Japanese products and books) we found without too much trouble, but it opened at 13:00 so we had to visit the other one first. Then we kinda got lost, but we bought a city map, and soon found our way to the other shop (an anime shop). We were looking for some more Kenshin merchandise, they only had DVD’s, and I bought one. At a ‘toko’ I bought a wooden umbrella and chopsticks. Then we went back to the other shop, I wanted some white tabi socks and Japanese slippers. I got ‘em! They’re very comfortable ^^;; 

I came home at 19:00, and I was really hungry, luckily dinner was still warm, and I ate something first. It turned out later my DVD doesn’t really work (wrong region code), I’ll find something on that, but there’s no rush. I was disappointed, though.

Today I began reading the second book for my report (kinda late, the report must be done by Friday) and I read about half the book today, the book’s about 400 pages o_O;;  But it’s about samurai in Edo Japan, luckily that’s interesting (my favorite topic, actually).

12-03-2003 : Ninja role-play

Today was Wednesday again – ninja day – I only had two classes today, and a whole afternoon to train and finish my book report. I changed into my gi early, like usual. My new room’s so big; it could make a private dojo. Sometimes the things you like best can take your mind off things you worry about that lay ahead. 

I went to Lelie’s early, so that we could watch some DVD’s before going to ninja training. Training was fun, we had a warm-up from senpai Sander, and he usually gives nice warm-ups, at least, that’s how we feel about it. Today’s warm-up was… weird, most warm-up exercises had to be done with partner. Lelie and I teamed up together. After that, we also did some meditative stretching exercises, we always do that, but this time it was with partner. It was weird, but I also had a lot of fun.  

This time we paid attention to what happens if you’re actually attacked. We reviewed some old moves, and we had to make a roll forward without letting your knees touch the ground. Over left, that went a little strange with me, and our senpai joked that it almost looked like a summersault. After some practice it went okay. Then we had to improvise while being attacked by a partner, that was kinda tough, but makes you learn how to react.

Suddenly we all were told to sit down, but training wasn’t over yet; two senpais were wearing protective clothes, and someone was picked from the group to fight them, it was like role-playing, there was even a little story around it. Two persons were picked for a fight against the senpais, and fortunately they didn’t involve us kunoichi’s (I could never win from a senpai!). It was fun to watch, though!  

20-03-2003 : Laziness

Asides from the war that just started, I’m also not feeling right about the 3^rd test period starting next week. I already sort of ranted about that. I can’t seem to put myself to study. Well, the first test on Monday I don’t have to study for, so that will be okay. I spend my time watching Rurouni Kenshin, now that I got my DVD player to work ^^;; I borrowed Lelies ‘fire requiem’ and of course I have my own volume 1, and the volume 3 I have, but that one already worked. It had something to do with region codes; Lelie found me a program that could fix the problem. I really like every episode and I watch them over and over and… *add as many ‘and over’ as you like*

I also enjoy sketching very much; nothing can get me to forget everything around me like that does. And so a lazy week passes for me, doing nothing in particular.

 I only seem to live up when it’s Wednesday again, Ninja is the one thing I look forward to every week. Yesterday’s training was special; first time training with the tanto (knife). We learned one really difficult move; I had some real trouble with it. I hope, with some training, I’ll be able to perform it flawlessly next week at Ninja. The other moves were no problem; the grip was cool, although the ‘rolling-over-your-sparring-partner’ part was a bit scary… Imagine you accidentally hit him/her o_O;; Fortunately that didn’t happen; It actually went well! I had nothing to be afraid of. There was also some…person… -.-; that managed to drop his weapon, he got the whole ‘clan’ (without senpais, of course -.-;) a good amount of push-ups (100 to be exact, we have to do those next week *shrugs*)

Hmmm, I’m surprised I got to write this entry despite all my laziness lately, maybe I’m finally going to be a little more active. And that’s about time, with those 100 push-ups next week, the test period, and there’s my senpai’s 2^nd Dan exam, which I’m going to see!

30-3-2003 : Ultimate ninja role-play and flying Senpai  

The test period is almost over, only Economy tomorrow *shrugs* I have no idea how I’ve made the tests, like usual. I’m actually becoming quite active again, even hyper. It’s all because of this weekend. I guess I really needed a ‘weekend off’ like this.

I went to spend this weekend at Lelie’s, I went there Friday evening and stayed until Sunday morning. On Saturday was my senpai Graham’s 2^nd dan exam, and Lelie’s brother drove us and Lelie’s niece (who’s also a kunoichi) there. I really enjoyed it! I got to see the kancho (grandmaster); he seems like a really nice person. I saw Graham handle weapons I can only dream of handling, and he fought the other senpai, and there were also 2 demos. Graham wouldn’t be Graham if he hadn’t put some humor into it. He usually makes jokes while teaching us, but can also be serious when he needs to; that’s what makes him such a great guy.

I expected the demo to be about ancient Japan , but in the first demo Graham showed up as a mechanic who had to fix the car of a few ‘hooligans’ (who were played by other senpai). The guys complained about the bill and took off with the car (which was basically made out of some cardboard o.o;), and our senpai decided to go fishing, that’s where he met the ‘hooligans’ again and they got into a fight. During the fight, one of the beaten hooligans (senpai Sander from my dojo; he actually looks like Aoshi from Rurouni Kenshin *drools* Oh yes, besides Mark who looks like Sano, we also have an Aoshi look-a-like!)  Drank some ‘Red Bull’, ran behind a room-divider, strapped himself to a rope and got pulled into the air by some pupils while he yelled “Red Bull gives you wiiings!” You can imagine I can never watch a Red Bull commercial without thinking of this, nor can I look into this guys face without laughing, I’m afraid ^^;;

The second demo was about ancient Japan , it was about Graham and senpai Patrick (a senpai who’s being feared because of his tough warm-ups. Luckily he doesn’t teach us anymore, he still scares me O.O) found a sword that brought them back in time, into the Japanese battlefields. This demo had great music, and they shaved senpai Graham in it o_O;; I dunno why; maybe he lost a bet, maybe it was a joke, but he’ll be bald for some time. Strange idea, it’ll never be the same to look at him when he’s teaching us. At least we know how it happened; the ones who didn’t went to see the exam don’t…

Anyway, senpai Graham passed his exam, now he can become sensei and go on for the 3^rd dan. We congratulated him with his exam, and hung around the dojo for a while, talking to all the senpai and stuff. I wanted to stay as long as possible, I feel really at ease amongst all these guys… But Lelie convinced her brother to drive by the McDonalds on the way back ^^;;

I spent another night at Lelie’s and now that it’s over, I must say; this weekend did me good, and it made me realize some things:

I really want to continue with ninja no matter what. The black belt exams may be more than I can handle but I want to come as far as possible! I’ve seen I have great teachers and they seem really involved because there are not that many pupils. I admire the kancho, and all of the senpai, but I admire Graham the most at this moment, he sacrificed so much to come this far, it makes me proud to train under him. This also made me look forward to the ninja camp this summer. This weekend gave me some new goals and maybe that’s what got me out of my depression.

I also want to thank Lelie for letting me spend the weekend at her place; it’s been so much fun, thanks!!!

END MARCH