Welcome to Gaia! ::

Name: Margo

Location: Kanagawa-ken, Kawasaki-shi, Nakahara-ku. No, I'm not Japanese, I'm American, originally from California.

Why do you love Japan: It's history, it's culture, it's art, it's landscape. I am just enthralled with it. I truly believe that I was Japanese in a past life.

Ever been to Japan, if so where: Yes, I live there. I lived in Nagoya for about 6 months. Now I live in Kawasaki near Tokyo. I don't like it. I've also been to Kyoto, and I do very much want to go again, specifically to see the Jidai Matsuri. I also frequently go to Shizuoka, usually on weekends. Beautiful hills and mountain country there.

Interests: Concerning Japan, I love Heian literature and history. I think it was the most beautiful era in Japanese history. In more modern terms, I love sightseeing and I'm DYING to go to a kousenjou (mind the pun). I love kimono and want to learn more about them. I'm interested in kyudou, too. Also I love Ayumi Hamasaki, Mika Nakashima, and Hirai Ken. I love SMAPxSMAP variety show, and all those music shows. I also love the "ghost photo" shows (hence my want to go to a kousenjou). And most of all I LOVE karaoke, going out drinking with school buddies, and going to Starbucks down the street from my apartment. ^_^

Other than Japan, I love horses and riding horses (I wanna see yabusame!), Square-Enix RPGs, reading, drawing, collecting My Little Pony, buying shoes, and watching trashy talk-shows (only in America though.. sad ).

Other Gaian Hang Outs: FISHING! X_X

Other Online Hang Outs: eBay, gaijinpot.com

Personality: I'm SHY. In person. It really has been hindering my conversational Japanese skills. I'm much more bookish and quiet so therefore my reading/writing is better than talking. sad I do have a fiery temper and more outrageous, sometimes goofy side, but it only shows to those very close to me. However shy I am, I still love to go out with big groups of friends and see them having just as much fun as I am. I'm a listener, and so online, that means I lurk and read posts more than I post myself.

Any other Additional Info: I would like to share a secret with you guild members, since this is a topic that concerns you:

I am married to a Japanese man.

We were married last year (just on paper, no wedding yet), he is 23, and I am 20. We met about 3 years ago when he was studying English in San Francisco. Please do not give me comments of the "you're too young to be married" type. I've kept the marriage under wraps with all save for my immediate family and one (my very best) friend. I plan not to tell anyone else in my family until we can have a wedding ceremony. In Japan, I occasionally get comments or questions such as an incredulous "WHY!?" (strangely, I usually get this from Europeans, most other people are cool with it). We married for our reasons, and young marriages are still quite common in Japan (although the main reason for most is that the girl got knocked up -- not in my case thankfully! sweatdrop ).

One of my reasons for joining this guild was to hopefully make some more friends who might be in my area of Japan (at a language school, many people frequently come and go -- most of my friends from the first 9 months have now left). So... if you have any questions/curiosities about the "other" way to get to Japan (LOL), feel free to ask. I hope to be a frequent poster at this forum too!

Name: Sara, but because I use 'Tekilite' so much even my friends in real life refer to me as Tekilite or Teki. And sadly, I have responded to them.
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Why do you love Japan: Anime was only a window into their culture. And as I looked at it, I was intrigued. I have shuffled around online looking for more of their culture. Seeing snippits about the geisha, parts of their religions, I wanted to know more. At my school there used to be a Japanese Culture Club. Unfortunetly it didn't last long. We also could not get a teacher for teaching the language. We had to teach ourselves and it was long and hard.
Ever been to Japan, if so where: I haven't been there. However the area I would love to hit is of course Tokyo, and some other places.
Interests: Piano, Archery, Drawing, Art, Writing, RPGs
Other Gaian Hang Outs: I flit around but I'm usually looking at art in the artarena, or chatterbox.
Other Online Hang Outs: Final Fantasy XI and respecting linkshell forums, working on my personal website, and deviantart.com
Personality: Usually very shy, however as of late thats gone out the window. Reserved, easy going. Most people can feel rather comfortable around me. I always cheer up people who are down. (Usually by making a fool of myself.)

Name:
GAIA/AQ/KOL - SmithyDaForge
Real Life - Duy (pronounced in two ways: Yuii or Zuii)

Location: Louisiana, USA

Why do you love Japan:
Two years ago, when I was a freshman, I wanted to take a foreign language that stood out from the romantic or germantic, i.e. non-European (no offense). Those languages were too common for me, so I thought about Asian languages. I already spoke Vietnamese (not very fluent), and I didn't want to take Chinese (too tongue twisting). So I thought about Japanese: I love their music, art, history, modernization, electronics, the Anime, Manga, gashapons, etc. I didn't realize that Japan was actually a passion for me until I just started college. I knew that I wanted to go to Japan someday, but I didn't realize that it had became an obsession for me. Whether it's an obsession or passion, I love Japan because I aspire to go there someday.

Ever been to Japan, if so where:
No. But I hope to visit Tokyo, Osaka, the Akagi province, Okinawa, Hiroshima, Nagasaki... too many destinations.

Interests:
Hmm... I love to draw, read manga, write web-pages, play video games and study Japanese. Other interests include playing/watching football (NFL and AFL), listening to music, and photography (abstract photography).

Other Gaian Hang Outs:
Bass'ken Lake, fishing all of the time.

Other Online Hang Outs:
Megatokyo.com, Gashaponshop.net, NekoTheKitty.keenspace.com, Chisuji.com, DirectionsOfDestiny.com, 9thElsewhere.com, ManaTheater.com... hmm, there's something wrong here... OMG THEY'RE ALL WEB-COMICS!... crying < I have no life... J/J)

Personality:
Shy and timid, but outspoken. Sometimes a lone-wolf, other times a techno-geek. Can be canny and out-going. Other than that, I may be bipolar. sweatdrop

Any other Additional Info:
My current project is the official web-page for my Japanese class. Hopefully, I will finish it by summer. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me.

Name: Michelle

Why do you love Japan: My love for japanese culture and that like, has come from anime. I've liked anime since I was a kid (back in the Sailor Moon days) but I have become much more involved with it, which caused me to want to know more about Japan, the root to all anime. Soon, I find myself wanting to know the language, liking the food, loving the music, and now, well, I just like japanese culture. I find lots of cultures to different countries interesting, but Japan just stands out for me.

Ever been to Japan, if so, where?: No. sad Never even been to Asia. But I will when I'm older!! .. hopefully.

Interests: Drawing/doodling, read manga, watch anime, listen to music, surf the net, read and write.

Other Gaian Hangouts: Club Orion

Personality: I'm fairly outspoken, but more so with people I'm close to (obviously). In the past two years though, I've really opened up to people (*usetobereallytimid*). When I'm hyper, I get really rowdy and loud and I say odd things. oO; That's about it.

Additional Info: Uhh.. don't really know what to say. o o;;

Name: Morgan "Momo" Sosa

Location: Puyallup Washington. It's by Seattle..Kinda

Why do you love Japan: Well, when I was in the 3rd grade, our family had two Japanese exchange students. Then, I had my first taste of origami, manga, anime, sushi, ramen, these.. weird peanut butter balls that were yummy, and much more of the Japanese culture. Shortly after they left, a couple American channels started showing anime, so I naturally garvitated to them. I went to Seattle regularly, buying a few Japanese books, slowly learning more about the culture. In the 6th grade, I did a report on Japan and realize that there was so much I didn't know and so much I wanted to learn.
Plus, ever since I was 3, I've been a very avid gamer, so that was probably what perked my interest at a very young age.
Ever been to Japan, if so where: I wish. >< Does "Japan-town" count?
Interests: Drawing, gaming, reading, anime, manga, origami, swimming, Nirvana, and ummm..... more gaming.
Other Gaian Hang Outs: None really... I'm trying to be more socially involved in Gaia.
Other Online Hang Outs: None ^^;;;
Personality: I'm kind of quiet, but I can be very ecstatic at times. I also tend to use random Spanish/Japanese words so I remember them better. Umm... I'm slightly obcessive-compulsive XD And I hate, absolutely HATE net speak. Brb is fine, but.... ugh. Net speak. So... yeah. I'm really shy when it comes to new people, but once I know you, it may be hard to shut me up.
Any other Additional Info: Mmmm... I'm 15, and a Sophmore, but I'm homeschooled, so I could graduate anytime I wanted. And.. Ummm.... I <3 Gackt/Gakuto.

::stands up:: Hi, my name is Shizuka, and I'm an Anime Addict ... what ...? Oh ... wrong place. sweatdrop Right. xd Alright then, I'll just fill out the form as it should be then ... wink

Name: Shizuka na Sukozhi Hi Oni
Location: Eastern Time Zone
Why do you love Japan: Because I love Anime ... and I think the culture is very interesting biggrin
Ever been to Japan, if so where: No - but I met someone from Okinawa ... 3nodding
Interests: Anime, writing, Japanese, Drawing ... um ... yeah ... sweatdrop
Other Gaian Hang Outs: LNO - Literate Role Playing Guild
Other Online Hang Outs: Lots of Role Playing sites ... lol wink
Personality: Um ... depends on my moods; I'm pretty manic depressive - I can bounce from happy to 'Oh my god, I want to die ...' and everywhere in between in about 5 minutes ... stare
Any other Additional Info : Um ... I might ask frequent questions to help me draw up my lessons for my class ... wink

Name: Eddie, or Ed
Location: New York
Why do you love Japan: Because it's Japan, and because it's culture is rich in history and it's traditions, and ok...why not say everything about it I love!
Ever been to Japan, if so where: No I wish to someday!
Interests: Japan (duh! xp ), Soccer, Swimming, Reading, Gaia, School, working (only because), friends
Other Gaian Hang Outs: Mostly the Exchange, Manga/Anime Forums, ED, and sometimes GD, oh and the Guild Forum
Other Online Hang Outs: ...
Personality: I am extremely nice and funny, however I have a temper and am hot-headed, stubborn and likes to have things my ways...but generally nice sweatdrop
Any other Additional Info: Um...I like Sushi I have a dog, a chinchilla and a hamster whose name is Ham-chan..pathetic I know but...hey!

Name:Kenzie Lynn Balough(Bay-Low)

Location:Florida

Why do you like Japan?:The reason I like Japan are for many reasons.I like Japans culture plain out and I even more so enjoy there formalitys such as the cherry blossom festivals and St.White day,I also enjoy the language which is not really all the common here in the U.S.
To make it simple I just like practically everything about Japan.

Ever been to Japan?:I haven't ever been to Japan but after I graduate from highschool I plan to go there from saved up money from work.(Im only 14 turning 15)

Intrest:Anime/Manga,Japan,Drawing, and Music.

Other Gaian Hangouts?:None other than this I basically just jump around but there was on before th owner of it closed it it was.
'Bi,les,and curious bar'

Personality:I can be shy at times,Im really out spoken about somethings such as same sex marriages.Istand up for my friends at any cost,I have a need to protect my friends from anything even them selves if so be it.I am also very nice once you get to know me however if you piss me off I can be a real b***h the same goes if anyone hurts my friends.

Other Additional info:I would like to be called Rei.