Captain's log,
At the beginning of this week, I finally met with my tennis circle, and they're all a bunch of cool kids. Sadly we can't seem to have frequent meet ups. I was also supposed to go to dinner with them tonight, but it got canceled along with practice. Thanks, rain.
Friday was low key. I got out of class around 12:40, had lunch, dropped off my things and went to Umeda. I had trouble finding a store, so I asked a pretty girl who looked about my age where it was, and she freaking walked me there. I was astounded, because it was the opposite direction in which she was heading too. I love how nice people are here.
After about an hour, Hiromi met up with me. I was expecting more to come around 6, but instead they called and told us to come to Ashiya to meet up with them for dinner. So we did. Afterwards we walked along the river to the ocean, and Hiromi and I made plans for goofing off in Sannomiya later.
Then saturday night was the first of the 3 halloween parties I have. I met up with Rachel beforehand and she did my make up, got food and a small bottle of whiskey and a bottle of coke at a convenience store, and made our way back to the station to meet up with everyone.
We get to shinsaibashi, get into the club, hang out, dance, and the last thing I distinctly remember is getting a drink with Cooper and Drake. My memory picks up at we are about to leave, I'm full of confusion. I get my bag, we go to a restaurant, I realize my expensive, custom made earplugs are missing, I go back into the club to find them to no avail. I go back to the restaurant, Daphne orders something for me, I devour it, put my head down, and wake up when we leave.
The night was then relayed back to me - Apparently I did these things:
- Talked to literally everyone in the club
- Danced at/with/on at least half of the people in the club, discriminating against no one
- Won a costume contest, I have no idea what my prize was cause I apparently lost it
- Danced on stage a whole lot
- Went up on stage to accept a prize that I didn't actually win, but I had the crowd's support, so they gave it to me anyway. (they called the winning number several times before my friends told me to just go up)
- Threw up in a urinal
I also apparently missed a guy dressed as a Chinese communist propose to his girlfriend. So once again I missing a relatively awesome evening. Because of this, I have vowed never to drink Suntory whiskey ever again. Because that's the same whiskey I drank last weekend, and my friends have also had bad experiences.
So, lesson learned. I look forward to next weekend, I've got two halloween parties, a date, and a festival. Updates abound. Provided I don't get lazy.
Oh yea, I bought postcards! I will try to get them written and out to you all soon!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Alcohol is a Fickle Mistress
Captain's log:
This weekend started off well. Went bowling, had a blast. We snuck in booze and my friend Deguchi and I split a bottle of vodka, and because of my threats to lay siege and waste to the bowling alley, I was given the affectionate moniker "Horseman of War."
Afterwards, our massive group split up. I just kinda blindly followed some people, and ended up in karaoke. The other half of the group went to an Izakaya, and I kinda wish we had gone there instead. But regardless, I ended up staying out all night because Deguchi wanted to, and we ended up bonding a good bit, so it was worth it.
The next day, I didn't really do much, but my friends managed to talk me into going clubbing with them. I pregamed, hoping this would result in less money spent. We meet up, I'm just kinda buzzed so I wanted to stop at a convenience store to get some more booze, and we do so. I buy a small thing of whiskey and a bottle of coke, down both, and we head to the club.
The club was cool, and played really good techno and trance. Here I decide it's a good idea to get 3 more drinks. This is when the fates turn on me. All of that alcohol catches up to me, and gives me a swift Kenyan-track-runner-esque kick in the balls. I blacked out. I remember walking onto the dance floor, then a bouncer coming up and escorting me out of the club because I apparently fell down some stairs and accidentally put a hole in a wall. So I'm put outside where I black out again, and when my memory returns I have my bag and my friends and I are leaving. A mcgriddle and some water later and I'm feeling ok.
I'm amazed I wasn't banned from the club. This is good, cause I want to go back. I think I'll give it about a month for them to forget me before heading back though.
I know everyone's a little more proud of me after this story. As far as I'm concerned none of it happened because I don't remember it, and my body doesn't hurt at all. So I guess ignore what you just read.
This weekend started off well. Went bowling, had a blast. We snuck in booze and my friend Deguchi and I split a bottle of vodka, and because of my threats to lay siege and waste to the bowling alley, I was given the affectionate moniker "Horseman of War."
Afterwards, our massive group split up. I just kinda blindly followed some people, and ended up in karaoke. The other half of the group went to an Izakaya, and I kinda wish we had gone there instead. But regardless, I ended up staying out all night because Deguchi wanted to, and we ended up bonding a good bit, so it was worth it.
The next day, I didn't really do much, but my friends managed to talk me into going clubbing with them. I pregamed, hoping this would result in less money spent. We meet up, I'm just kinda buzzed so I wanted to stop at a convenience store to get some more booze, and we do so. I buy a small thing of whiskey and a bottle of coke, down both, and we head to the club.
The club was cool, and played really good techno and trance. Here I decide it's a good idea to get 3 more drinks. This is when the fates turn on me. All of that alcohol catches up to me, and gives me a swift Kenyan-track-runner-esque kick in the balls. I blacked out. I remember walking onto the dance floor, then a bouncer coming up and escorting me out of the club because I apparently fell down some stairs and accidentally put a hole in a wall. So I'm put outside where I black out again, and when my memory returns I have my bag and my friends and I are leaving. A mcgriddle and some water later and I'm feeling ok.
I'm amazed I wasn't banned from the club. This is good, cause I want to go back. I think I'll give it about a month for them to forget me before heading back though.
I know everyone's a little more proud of me after this story. As far as I'm concerned none of it happened because I don't remember it, and my body doesn't hurt at all. So I guess ignore what you just read.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Birthday
Captain's log:
My birthday was yesterday, party the day before. Overall it went well. I was amazed at how many people came out. There was a good 40 or 50 of them. We gathered and went up to the mountain. It was fun, even though a little cold. Around 9:30-10:00, half of the people disappeared. I got a boat load of cake that I tried to share with everyone. Later during the night we went down the mountain to an Izakaya and drank and ate there. Went home around 5:00am because that's when the trains started running again.
The next day, Cooper, Rika, Travis, Mami, Deguchi, and I went to Umeda to shop and have dinner. I bought a watch and a bag. EVERYTHING is expensive here. I'm dreading when I actually buy some shoes. I really like Umeda though. Today will be uneventful. I was invited by Mami to go to a festival, but I wanted to sleep in, so I did. Homework and my guitar await.
Sorry I don't have much of an exciting story, it was fun though. I still miss everyone at home.
My birthday was yesterday, party the day before. Overall it went well. I was amazed at how many people came out. There was a good 40 or 50 of them. We gathered and went up to the mountain. It was fun, even though a little cold. Around 9:30-10:00, half of the people disappeared. I got a boat load of cake that I tried to share with everyone. Later during the night we went down the mountain to an Izakaya and drank and ate there. Went home around 5:00am because that's when the trains started running again.
The next day, Cooper, Rika, Travis, Mami, Deguchi, and I went to Umeda to shop and have dinner. I bought a watch and a bag. EVERYTHING is expensive here. I'm dreading when I actually buy some shoes. I really like Umeda though. Today will be uneventful. I was invited by Mami to go to a festival, but I wanted to sleep in, so I did. Homework and my guitar await.
Sorry I don't have much of an exciting story, it was fun though. I still miss everyone at home.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Awkwardness and Reflection
Captain's log,
I had heard fables about Japanese teenage social retardation, but I wrote them off as a stereotype.
So thursday, I'm sitting on the train, and this Japanese kid, maybe no older than 17, walks up and just starts staring at me. He is about a foot away from me and just staring. I look at him, he smiles and nods, I smile back and try to go about my business of riding on a train. Finally, he says something. All I heard was "Are you ....." I say "what?" He says "oh, nevermind," and starts to wander off. 3 seconds later he comes back asking me things like if I'm a student and whatnot. Thankfully his stop was next. I wouldn't have minded talking to the kid if he just wasn't so damn awkward about it. Just walk up and say something, don't stare at me for a full two minutes. I give him credit for his courage at least.
That's leads to another point. A lot of the exchange students thought the Japanese kids were stuck up and didn't want to talk to us, or had a racist mentality, or some such bullshit. What I guessed, and have learned, is that they're more intimidated, and shy. They'll just kinda stare or glance at you, but if you walk up and say hello, they suddenly brighten up. It's neat to watch it happen.
On another note, my birthday is saturday. The party is tomorrow. Thankfully the typhoon only lasted a day and the rain is gone, so plan A is on. We're going to go buy a bunch of booze at a convenience store, and go to that mountain with the beautiful view I mentioned a few posts ago, and stay out all night. Which sounds like nice, cheap fun. If rain got in the way, we probably would have gone to downtown Osaka or Kobe.
And yes, I'm going to have a blast tomorrow, and I love my new friends and all, there's still this unfathomable void in my heart. I miss my friends. It won't be the same without you guys.
I had heard fables about Japanese teenage social retardation, but I wrote them off as a stereotype.
So thursday, I'm sitting on the train, and this Japanese kid, maybe no older than 17, walks up and just starts staring at me. He is about a foot away from me and just staring. I look at him, he smiles and nods, I smile back and try to go about my business of riding on a train. Finally, he says something. All I heard was "Are you ....." I say "what?" He says "oh, nevermind," and starts to wander off. 3 seconds later he comes back asking me things like if I'm a student and whatnot. Thankfully his stop was next. I wouldn't have minded talking to the kid if he just wasn't so damn awkward about it. Just walk up and say something, don't stare at me for a full two minutes. I give him credit for his courage at least.
That's leads to another point. A lot of the exchange students thought the Japanese kids were stuck up and didn't want to talk to us, or had a racist mentality, or some such bullshit. What I guessed, and have learned, is that they're more intimidated, and shy. They'll just kinda stare or glance at you, but if you walk up and say hello, they suddenly brighten up. It's neat to watch it happen.
On another note, my birthday is saturday. The party is tomorrow. Thankfully the typhoon only lasted a day and the rain is gone, so plan A is on. We're going to go buy a bunch of booze at a convenience store, and go to that mountain with the beautiful view I mentioned a few posts ago, and stay out all night. Which sounds like nice, cheap fun. If rain got in the way, we probably would have gone to downtown Osaka or Kobe.
And yes, I'm going to have a blast tomorrow, and I love my new friends and all, there's still this unfathomable void in my heart. I miss my friends. It won't be the same without you guys.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
A Weekend of Legend
Captain's log:
So this weekend involved me not following through on my stated objective of saving money. Thursday night involved going out and grabbing food at a convenience store, Julia, Rika, and I decided to split a bottle of sochu (20% liqour-thingy), and going to a park to hang out/play soccer. Rain ended the soccer, so we went to an Izakaya (Japanese style bar/restaurant), had a lot of fish, I got a free gin & tonic, and much festivities. Barely made the last train.
The real fun, however, didn't get going until friday. We all went to Sannomiya for dinner and karaoke. Dinner was awesome, everyone splits the check, and every item on the menu is ￥280 (about $2.80), which still ended up being about $15 a person (there were about 12 of us). We go to karaoke, and some people first dick around with rap songs and whatnot, I heard someone mention Frank Sinatra, and I immediately put New York, New York in the queue. Within about 20 seconds of singing I hear "holy shit," and my tipsy ego skyrocketed. Since no one wanted to go after me, I sang Part of Your World afterwards. I didn't really like it because the timing on the words was funny. Eventually our full crew of 20 some-odd people arrive and most of us get progressively drunker and drunker, leading to extreme awesomeness. I ended up singing/yelling the night away and eventually collapsed from exhaustion on one of the benches in the room and fell asleep around 3 or 4 in the morning. We were woken up at about 5 or 6 because we had to leave.
We get Mcdonalds for breakfast, I am shocked they had mcgriddles, so I order one. I'm holding onto it by the wrapper, because I thought it was a small bag-like device. Well I am proved wrong by it opening and my delicious bundle of mcgriddle falls onto the sidewalk. Robert starts laughing at me and I stare at it for a good while trying to wrap my brain around what just happened. Then I yell "No! You're not going to win this, God!" And I pick it up off the sidewalk and eat it along with my pride.
The rest of the day was fairly uneventful, it was my host-niece's birthday (or yesterday was, I dunno), and we went to hang out with them. We ordered sushi for dinner, which is NOT what you want when you have nausea. Thankfully this didn't end poorly.
Today was also uneventful, went shopping at hung out with friends, I bought socks.
I've found the dating thing is much different here. In a good way. If you came here, you'd notice a lot of fairly unattractive dudes with smoking hot girlfriends. Basically if you have the courage to talk to a girl, you are a made man. Also, dating is a lot less stressful here. There's no need to be low-key and sneaky, you don't have to drag things out and be like "well they did this, so they must like me, so I'll do this really subtle thing and sorta show that I like them." There's none of that dating "game" nonsense that I so loathe in America. Here, it's basically "I like you, let's date," "ok." And that's that. There are some subtleties, because you can't be that direct at first, that's creepy wherever you are. You text a lot (calling plans suck), and shamelessly flirt every chance you get. Japanese folk LOVE emoticons. And usually depending on how many/what kind they use give you a pretty good idea. Such as the smiley face with hearts for eyes.... And yes, I've gotten that already ;P
And on that note, it's really hard to budget your time between three girls.
So this weekend involved me not following through on my stated objective of saving money. Thursday night involved going out and grabbing food at a convenience store, Julia, Rika, and I decided to split a bottle of sochu (20% liqour-thingy), and going to a park to hang out/play soccer. Rain ended the soccer, so we went to an Izakaya (Japanese style bar/restaurant), had a lot of fish, I got a free gin & tonic, and much festivities. Barely made the last train.
The real fun, however, didn't get going until friday. We all went to Sannomiya for dinner and karaoke. Dinner was awesome, everyone splits the check, and every item on the menu is ￥280 (about $2.80), which still ended up being about $15 a person (there were about 12 of us). We go to karaoke, and some people first dick around with rap songs and whatnot, I heard someone mention Frank Sinatra, and I immediately put New York, New York in the queue. Within about 20 seconds of singing I hear "holy shit," and my tipsy ego skyrocketed. Since no one wanted to go after me, I sang Part of Your World afterwards. I didn't really like it because the timing on the words was funny. Eventually our full crew of 20 some-odd people arrive and most of us get progressively drunker and drunker, leading to extreme awesomeness. I ended up singing/yelling the night away and eventually collapsed from exhaustion on one of the benches in the room and fell asleep around 3 or 4 in the morning. We were woken up at about 5 or 6 because we had to leave.
We get Mcdonalds for breakfast, I am shocked they had mcgriddles, so I order one. I'm holding onto it by the wrapper, because I thought it was a small bag-like device. Well I am proved wrong by it opening and my delicious bundle of mcgriddle falls onto the sidewalk. Robert starts laughing at me and I stare at it for a good while trying to wrap my brain around what just happened. Then I yell "No! You're not going to win this, God!" And I pick it up off the sidewalk and eat it along with my pride.
The rest of the day was fairly uneventful, it was my host-niece's birthday (or yesterday was, I dunno), and we went to hang out with them. We ordered sushi for dinner, which is NOT what you want when you have nausea. Thankfully this didn't end poorly.
Today was also uneventful, went shopping at hung out with friends, I bought socks.
I've found the dating thing is much different here. In a good way. If you came here, you'd notice a lot of fairly unattractive dudes with smoking hot girlfriends. Basically if you have the courage to talk to a girl, you are a made man. Also, dating is a lot less stressful here. There's no need to be low-key and sneaky, you don't have to drag things out and be like "well they did this, so they must like me, so I'll do this really subtle thing and sorta show that I like them." There's none of that dating "game" nonsense that I so loathe in America. Here, it's basically "I like you, let's date," "ok." And that's that. There are some subtleties, because you can't be that direct at first, that's creepy wherever you are. You text a lot (calling plans suck), and shamelessly flirt every chance you get. Japanese folk LOVE emoticons. And usually depending on how many/what kind they use give you a pretty good idea. Such as the smiley face with hearts for eyes.... And yes, I've gotten that already ;P
And on that note, it's really hard to budget your time between three girls.
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