Diary Post | Four Months in Japan!

Dear Reader,

Long time no post (again!) and happy 2020! I’ve had this blog for over two years now, and I feel like because I don’t have a specific topic I blog about, I keep getting distracted and disappearing. To be fair, sometimes I disappear because of my long-time battle with depression, sometimes just because I just don’t know what to post? Other times because I get busy and don’t have time.

Side note: incase you don’t follow my personal IG @ insta_rinnn, I included some pictures I’ve taken since October!

enjoy this sunset I took on the bus drive from Osaka to Kobe!

So, I’ve been here an four months now, and wow time flies. Honestly, it feels longer? I’ve been settling into classes, which has been fun and challenging. The last time I was in school was Spring of 2018, so this has been fun trying to get back into a study routine (speaking of which I am now procrastinating my studying by working on this post, LOL).

shame me, i deserve it lol

Having spent some time here now, I feel like the newness of Japan has mostly worn off, don’t get me wrong I discover new things everyday, but it’s not sparkly anymore. Which is still valid because I’m enjoying myself. Last year, when I was going through a rather difficult depressive episode, my dad told me to just apply for school. He was like, “it’ll be better to be depressed in Japan and doing something with my life, than to be depressed at home stuck in the same rut.” Tough words, but good advice because I’m here now!

Osaka Castle

I really like the city I picked, Kobe, because it’s rather diverse. There’s a China Town, lots of Indian restaurants, and a district called Kitano, which was build by Europeans who were here a long time ago, so the architecture is very cool and different from what the rest of the city has to offer. Kobe is also next to Osaka, which is a much larger and exciting city filled with delicious food!

a pic of the local China Town
Snapped this pic of Kobe as I was riding up the mountain to the Botanical Gardens

By the way, if there’s anything you guys want me to blog about/review (makeup, manga, anime, dramas, etc.) you can DM on twitter or IG! Honestly, since of I’ve got here I’m mostly just been enjoying my youth, AND I do have a few topics I could blog about in a diary post if I can find the motivation. For example, I went on several dates, and I could make a separate post about my experience with Tinder and Bumble on Japan, because it’s been it’s own journey as a small town girl from Alaska. LMAO

Though I will say, RIP my bank account. What I do need to do is get a part-time job, but I’ve been procrastinating it. I’m just so tired after working so much last summer, I needed a break. I have been browsing though, and it looks like most of the nice jobs are in Osaka, which is chill but I really don’t want to commute that far. I think from my station to Umeda Station (which is the hub, apparently?) it’s about 45 minutes? The struggle is real, and I while public transportation is convenient, sometimes rush hour–and being squished into a train like a can of sardines, is not!

Okay, and as for my music pick of the month (this was from like October, because I never talked about their lastest album on here properly like I normally do!) I found a store that sells kpop albums, I was able to buy The Table by Nu’est, their latest album in person for the first time in my life! Which isn’t a big deal to a lot of people, but as their fan for 8 years (omg) it meant a lot to me!

I’m literally that person who will promote Nu’est every chance I get, sorry ur mad about it lo

Anyway, let me know what you want to read! I’ll have a new post up sooner rather than later, I hope. Thanks for reading, and as always,

Love,

Rin

Travel Blog | Philippines Spring 2019

Dear Reader,

DANGGG. I’ve been beyond busy, and this post has been sitting in my drafts and getting dusty for a long time. Whoops. Here’s my belated travel blog, sorry guys!

So, I finally traveled outside of the USA, for the first time in 8 years! Of course, aside from Mexico, I’ve only been to the Philippines, which is my mother’s home country (I’m half Filipina and half white). I also lived there when I was a child, and attended my first year of high school there.

I went with my mom, because my dad was already there. My parents still live there in the winter time, but my mom travels back to the US for work. It can’t really give details on that, because it’s their privacy. Anyway, I was there for three weeks, and it was so nice to visit my family and friends 😭

The jungle behind my house.

We went to Palawan first, which is where our house is. I was busy everyday, from visiting my family, to hitting the beach. We didn’t do many tourist-y things, because my parent’s really aren’t about that life (they’re old). I was okay with that though, because I was busy getting caught up with people, and checking out how much the city (Puerto Princesa) had changed since 2011.

One of my dad’s prized pineapple plants lol

So, I shopped a lot. Now that I’m looking at all these pics, I realized what a crap job I did at collecting pictures of my trip. I took a lot of food pics. Like, a lot of food pics; an embarrassing amount. Sooooo, I’ll share what I can and spare you. I promise to do better next time, okey?

The boats we rode when we went island hoping in Honda Bay, Palawan.

Travelling with my parents was kind of boring, they never want to do cool tourist stuff with me, we only went island hoping together. Also, my cousins were working and couldn’t play with me, so it was super lonesome. Except when we went to Bacolod City, my seven year old cousin hung out with me a lot, but mostly because I bought him basketball stuff and pokemon cards.

The docks feat. my mother’s back

Also, as I was saying the only touristy thing we did was island hoping, and omg tourists are so annoying. Like, not just foreigners were there, but other filipinos from other islands, and everyone that day was really getting on my nerves with how cranky they were. Like this one lady, she was upset because her tour company brought her to the docks an hour early, and the rest of the tour didn’t get there until later. She legit went on a rant to our tour guide about how she was a f*cking queen and didn’t deserve to wait like that. Well, maybe if she had actually read the right arrival time she wouldn’t have had to wait. It still makes me mad after all these months.

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So, after we left Palawan, we went to Negros Occidental from where my family originates. I mostly hungout in my room, and did a lot of shopping and a lot of eating. I feel like if I had actually sit down and wrote this right after I got back it would have been more exciting. Not just for you guys, but also for myself?

my mother’s awesome photography skillz and me being a nerd (u right I am wearing a slip so I don’t burn to death in the sun)

I was there for three weeks, you’d think I’d have more interting things to say and show, but honestly it was kind of like I had resumed my daily life since the last time I was there minus school. I also caught up with friends who were home at the same time too, and enjoyed the sun.

Thanks for reading, and look forward to next next blog where I update you on my summer, and share some exciting news. Also, I need to work on some more skincare reviews, so look forwards to that as well.

Love,

Rin

My Travel Essentials 2019

This post is NOT sponsored.

Dear Reader,

So, I’m finally back from the Philippines! I wanted to get this out before I left, but I got busy and it didn’t happen… However, it’s here now! This is a lifestyle blog, so I figured I would share my travel essentials, and travel blogs/vlogs are my fave to watch/read. 💖

Pictured above is the bag I brought on the plane, where I put most of my stuff. It was Christmas gift from my sister, and the thing I like most about it is that it’s theft proof, so the zipper is in the back instead of in the front. Link: Amazon.

Inside, I have my lotion, wet wipes, earphones, and passport in the front. I bring disinfecting wipes with me on the plane, and on vacation, because the tray tables are sooooo dirty. I have an extremely susceptible immune system, so I like to be on the safe side. I also like to keep my passport in a cover to keep it clean and dry. One time my dad ruined his when he put it in his backpack with a bottle of open water. Yikes. I really like this cover because I love Pusheen!

Then, I have my sunglasses (this is a brand new pair because I crushed my other ones l o l). I also have my makeup pouch and a coin purse. I’m not sure where the makeup pouch is from because I got it for Christmas from a friend. And my fave Sanrio character is currently Aggretsuko (Link: Sanrio Store)! She’s so cute, and relatable~ ⭐

Inside my makeup pouch, I have a mirror, eyebrow duo kit, my fave lipstick from ysl, a travel size bottle of my fave perfume, the Kiss Me Heroine Smooth Liquid Eyeliner in Brown, the Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara Advanced Film, and the I’M MEME I’m Tic Toc Lip Tint Cashmere. Which are my makeup basics! I usually use the Em Cosmetics felt tip eyeliner, but recently I’m been using the Kiss Me Heroine eyeliner and mascara because they sponsored Blackpink, and who am I, if it has Blackpink’s face, I’ll buy it. And honestly, I really like them!

And in a ziplock bag, I brought my skincare! I used the Chia Seed Hydrating Emulsion, Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner, and the Cosrx Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask, on the plane, because the air is soooooo drying. I know some people like to use sheet masks, but that only lasts for 20 minutes, and after a few hours your skin is dry again. I’m not a fan.

I also the brought my klairs vitamin c serum, and a limited edition of some Suncut UV Sunscreen (here’s the closest thing I could find of it), for when I got off the plane. Sunscreen is super important because it protects your face from damaging UV rays, so I brought some SPF 50!

And in the back, I have some playing cards, and a sleeping mask. I didn’t really watch movies on the plane, and I just wanted to sleep. I also forgot to include this in the pictures, but I brought a BB cushion with me. I used the Moonshot Face Perfection Balm Cushion, and my shade is in 201. I like taking BB cushions on trips because they have the foundation and puff in one case, so it’s super travel friendly.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this little blog post, I tried to provide links to everything I could, from the exact stores I bought them from. One more thing, none of these products were sponsored, I’m not a big enough blog for that 🙂

If you wanted to know more about a product I mentioned, feel free to DM me on instagram! Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch you later!

Love,

Rin

Vegas 2018 + I turned 21!

Dear Reader,

Long time no post. I apologize for my absence; first, I was busy with school, and then I was busy helping my parents with their business over the summer. Now, I’m applying for jobs and trying to save money for either a) graduate school, or b) language school. I’m thinking of moving to Japan to take language courses, and then possibly graduate school, but I haven’t really decided yet.

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Anyway, I went to Las Vegas during the middle of September, and I turned 21! I also caught something on the plane, so I was cranky for most of my birthday, but honestly IMG_E3442looking back I feel like I’m typically sick on my birthdays. When I turned 18 I had the flu, and same for 20. Last year I had a nasal infection, so that was great (off topic, sorry xD).

We were in Vegas for a week, and we spent most of it in the residential areas, because we were staying with my mom’s high school friends. Plus, I’m pretty sure this is my 4th or 5th trip, so I’ve seen the strip a lot and I wasn’t feeling the best, so I was happy with a chill visit.

I didn’t get a lot of pictures this time either, I mostly took food pictures. We had a Filipino party, because my mom and her friends are from the same Province in the Philippines, so as per usually they had to mark the occasion with food. I also drank a lot of cheap wine, and had a great time.

On my birthday, September 13th, my parents offered to take me to a bar, but we ended up going to Chowking and eating Halo Halo, because I’m so vanilla and didn’t want to go to a bar. Plus Alaska doesn’t have Chowking, and it’s like my favorite fast food restaurant!

I also shopped a lot. Which (honestly) was the main reason why I went to Vegas, to spend all my money on handbags! LOL

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We eventually made it to Fremont Street

And I actually really had fun, oh! And I was finally old enough to play in the casino. I had fun playing the slots, I didn’t win anything, but it was fun none-the-less!

Anyway, I made it home, slept for two days, and now I’m applying to all the jobs I can. I expected to experience more anxiety now that I’m 21, and not following my intial plan of leaving the states immediately after graduation, but I realized I need money to leave, so I’m going to work to pay off my debts, and then possibly leave next summer or fall~

So, to end, I shall share a song. IU’s 23! 23 is actually 21 (or 22 depending on the month you were born) international age (look up Korean ages if you’re confused lol).

I remember thinking that 21 was so far away when IU released the song, but now I’m here, and I really do relate to her lyrics.

She sings:

I’m twenty three
I’m a riddle (Question)
Try to guess the answer

and

“Cunning twenty three
Still long way to go, girl
If I pretend to be immature
Please be fooled roughly”

and

“I, yes, like now for sure
No, frankly speaking I wanna give up
Oh right I want to be in love
No I rather make money
Try to guess”

Ah, the confusing days of our youth. But, I think, I want to make money 😂

Thanks for reading guys! Be sure to check out my Manga IG @love_rinnn or my personal IG @insta_rinnn ❤ byeeeeee

Love,

Rin

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Travel Blog: Florida 2018 Highlights

Dear Reader,

So, it’s been a minute! I was planning on posting this much earlier in the year, but as soon as I got home, I got very ill (with strep throat, mono, and then bronchitis *sobs*). Anyway, here are my highlights from my Florida trip!

On the night of Christmas Eve, my friend and I flew from Anchorage to Fort Myers. It was a super uncomfortable trip (remind me to never fly with American Airlines again), but we arrived on Christmas Day.

Her family brought us donuts, and they we drove from Fort Myers to their home about 30 minutes away. It was really nice to go from snowy Alaska, to sunny Florida! The condo they live in has a pool, so be basically went swimming everyday!

Over the next couple of days, we went just chilled out, and went to the beach a lot! We also went shopping, and the mall we went to had duck pond! Something you would never see in Alaska because our malls are mostly inside.

I had a really relaxing time in Florida, everyday was filled with good food and adventure. The beach was really fun, and I also got a slight tan. Although, I will say that the state was having a bit of a cold spell while we were visiting. Which was okay, because basically anything above 65 degrees F is warm in my book.

One day, it was in the 80s, and we went to the beach (pictured above). I thought it was great, so I dived right in, and my friend even went into the deeper water, but we were the only people swimming. Many people came to sun tan, but no one else was in the water. Which was chill with me, but we got a kick out of it anyway.

Sadly, New Years Eve was upon us. We went and got our nails done, ate pizza, and watched all the fireworks! It was really fun, but I was sad when 2018 came because my trip was halfway over.

I was NOT looking forward to going home. Even if my hair hated the humidity, I personally hate the cold.

Anyway.

After New Years, we went to the manatee park! We had gone the year before on a warm day, but sadly we didn’t see anything. This year we went on a cold day, and we saw a lot of cute sea cows! I would share a picture, but all I got were videos… Which I have no idea how to upload onto this site, but whatever.

After a few more days rolled around, we made plans to go to Orlando, where I was catching my flight back to Alaska. Wah, wah, wah.

But here is where the highlight of my trip takes place. WE WENT TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ORLANDO GUYS.

I went to Harry Potter World TT_TT It was beautiful. We waited in line for the Harry Potter ride for like an hour, and it was rough. It was the first ride we went on, and we got there when the gates opened. All of the rides had super long lines. I mean super.

But I’m pretty happy. I had a ton of fun, and I made lots of memories with my friend and her family who is also like my own. I was sad to leave.

Anyway, that was my Florida trip! I was in Florida from 12/24/17-1/6/18, and it went by wayyyy to fast. I’m sad, but also happy I went. Even if I did get sick for two months after I got home.

Well guys, thanks for reading! In you want real time updates, go follow my personal IG @insta_rinnn. I also have a mangagram account @love_rinnn. Until next time!

Love,

Rin

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Travel Blog: Fairbanks Days 2&3

fairbanks day 2and3

Dear Reader,

So, we didn’t do much on the second and third days. Mostly homework, and I ran around UAF a lot, but I didn’t take many pictures because there wasn’t much to see. I had fun though, so that’s all that counts!

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This is about to become a food blog post, because that’s most what I got pictures of, lol. On day two, I had coffee with my friend, and we studied in the coffee shop for a bit. To be completely honest, UAF’s coffee is way better than UAA’s coffee.

We get our coffee from Koladi Brothers, which is honestly really weak. Just the other day, I had a caramel macchiato at UAA, and they burnt my coffee. It was gross, and I didn’t finish it. Which ruined my day, so thanks UAA.

Anyway, I also had this pastry puff thing that was layered with nuts and honey, and it was really yummy! After that, I went off with a different friend (my childhood best friend), and I hung out in her room for awhile. I lived in the dorms at UAA when I was a freshman, and the walls at UAA were hella thin. So you heard everyone’s business. It was the same, if not worse at UAF. Her neighbors were getting it on really hard, and I commented on it. My friend is pretty innocent, and she was all like “maybe they’re roughhousing.” GIRL. They were definitely doing the do, the nasties.

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One thing that got me while visiting, was all the walking. Which wasn’t bad, but it was all uphill, which *wheezes* I am so not fit enough for. They had shuttles running on the week days, but you were on you own during the weekends. So that was an interesting experience. I lowkey wish they had told me head of time so I could have brought some better shoes. FullSizeRender (12)

I wore my black boot heels, I could have brought tennis shoes, but I thought it was going to be fine. I do most of my walking in heels, and I work in heels, so I’m used to walking on flat ground. But I had grown used to it by the time I went home, so I guess it wasn’t too terrible.

After spending some time with my friend, I went back to my other friend’s apartment. I ate dinner there, it was ham and beans soup, which was soooooo yummy. The best comfort food! We also had corn bread, which was subpar because she made it from the box, and she messed it up and it was too dry. Which made her sad, because she really loved cornbread. Then, after dinner, I watched as our other friend prepared her costume for a local anime convention, Senshi Con. She was beating holes into leather to make a pattern, so that was neat. Once that was over, my friend and I went back to her room, where I was spending the night. And that was the end of day two!

The next day, everyone had classes, so after we got coffee, I stayed in the library to work on homework (and blog). I actually got a lot of homework done, so that was nice! I had spent most of the Friday before getting homework done so I wouldn’t have to worry about it over the weekend, so I ended up working on stuff that’s due this weekend. FullSizeRender (13)

 

After that, I met my childhood best friend again for lunch, and the boxed sushi they had was actually pretty decent. I had a rainbow roll, and then some spring rolls. I

FullSizeRender (14).jpginstagramed a little, and then we finally took a shuttle back to her room. She had to work on getting her new cell phone set up, so we did that, and fought with AT&T for a bit.

However, at around 3pm, she had to go to class, so I said bye to her, and went back to my other friend’s dorm room. We were going to eat dinner in Fairbanks with other friends, so after she worked on her speech for a class, we left to go get Thai food.

thai

I had Pad Thai, and it had chicken and tofu in it, and it was probably the best pad thai I’ve ever had! It was honestly so good, and I would 10/10 recommend!

After that, we were supposed to go get crepes, but they closed at 7, and we weren’t watching the time, so we missed it… But that’s okay, the Thai food was really good!

After that, we went back to the dorms and hung out for a bit, but had to sleep early because I had a flight at 7:40am, and I needed to be up at six. I bought starbucks again at the airport, and they finally got my name right. The flight was pretty short and relaxing, and we had an awesome view of some mountains! Here’s a pic of that:FullSizeRender (19)

Overall, I had a lot of fun, and I would like to visit again! Although I don’t know if I’ll be able too, I’m glad I was able to make memories with my friends before my big move next July!

As soon as I landed, I had a 10am class, and even though I was a bit tired, I don’t regret being able to spend that extra night in Fairbanks. So, that’s a wrap! Thanks for reading everyone, and as always follow all my social media @love_rinnn, and I’ll see you in my next post!

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Love,

Rin