Captain's log:
Christmas in Japan is weird. It's like in movies, where a guy gets killed by an alien or something, and takes his place. All of his friends know something's off, but can't quite put their finger on it.
You have the decorations and all that. But no spirit/cheer. It's very strange. This is the most not-Christmas Christmas ever.
Secret Santa was wednesday and went off for the most part without a hitch. I was really pleased and happy everything went well. My present was a bottle of Makers Mark. The ryuugakusei know me too well.
The next day (yesterday), was Christmas Eve. X-mas Eve is pretty much valentines day for the Japanese. Couples go do couple-y things, exchange gifts, and whatnot. So Aaron and his friend, Mayano, set up this singles party at a small restaurant. The only ryuugakusei there were Drew, Aaron, the Norwegians, and Me. The party was awesome. Lots of beer and sochu, the food was excellent, and the company was even better.
I also brought a bottle of Southern Comfort, cause I hadn't had it in so long. A few people helped, but I ended up drinking nearly the entire bottle.
5 of the Japanese girls there pretty much rotated between Drew, Aaron, and me. They were really awesome, got a few numbers and whatnot, and dates will be set up. Eventually we got out, and my memory's a little hazy, but somehow I let my friends talk me into going to a club. I really didn't want to go, but we go anyway and it ends up being terrible.
Came home this morning, went to sleep at about 6, woke up at 10:30, talked to family, talked to friends, mailed postcards (finally), made some bacon. I really haven't done that much today, and I haven't seen my host family. I really don't like being alone in general, much less on Christmas. Today has been very lonely.
I can't decide if I want to still go out on New Years, we'd go to a club. However, New Years is the big family holiday here, so I dunno if it will be all that fun.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
I should probably update more.
Captain's log,
Well, a lot has happened over the past week. Last friday, some of us ventured out to Nishinomiya, and found this kickass, American-sized, but most importantly cheap liquor store. And by cheap I mean a liter of beer for $6.00, and a bottle of 7 year old cuban rum for "$22," but it was rang up at $15, but I wasn't going to say anything. It is a shame Cuban stuff isn't sold in the US, cause that stuff was the best rum I've ever had. We took all of our alcohol and hung out in a park, continuing to make a bad name for gaijin (foreigners).
The next day, I went to Nara, which was cool, the daibutsu was impressively large, and is housed in the largest wooden building in the world. The daibutsu is about 52 feet tall, and is by far not the largest in Japan. Insanity came from the shika deer that roam all over Nara. They are regarded as spiritual messengers in Shinto, so they're allowed to do whatever they want. You can buy senbei to feed them, but if you do, god help you. As soon as my friends bought some, the deer swarmed them. It was hilarious and terrifying.
Later that evening, Cooper, Rika, some friends from my tennis circle, and I went to a bar that my friend John knew the owner of. The place was a little pricey. We started doing shots because they were cheaper than beer. Also they served tacos, which were awesome, cause I was fiending for some.
Tuesday was a Nabe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabemono) party with my friends from my circle, which was fun, but could have been better, here's why.
An example of how Japanese girls can be bitches: I was seeing this one girl, went on a few fairly successful dates, and things were going well. But on friday I helped her make a facebook, she asks what the relationship slot was, I go "do you have a boyfriend?" she says no, and continues filling it out. Now, Christmas Eve is Valentine's Day for the Japanese, so I thought "hey, this might be a good idea," and I ask "Hey, what are you doing on the 24th?" Only to get "I see my boyfriend that day." Words cannot describe my confusion. Upside is I pretty much decided I wasn't that into her.
Anywho, bitching aside, the rest of the week went smoothly. This past friday was this big party for the exchange kids, which was fun, met a whole lot of people, and then we went to Shinsaibashi to go to a club. Sadly, I was put in charge of directing the 30-odd people who were coming, and I think I got sober from the yelling. Eventually I gave up on them and decided I wasn't going to let them ruin my evening.
The club was fun, we went to a place called Onzi-eme, had plenty of people, ok music, and overall wasn't bad. I couldn't get drunk though, meaning I couldn't dance. So I went through a lot of dancing partners. Thankfully Austin is awesome and in his drunken ridiculousness got us some girls to dance with, I ended up dancing with one who didn't even come up to my collar bones. She was so tiny.
Shortly after this, we find out some of our friends were kicked out for stealing liquor bottles from the bar, so we left. I got home around 6:30 in the morning.
Yesterday, we went BACK to Shinsaibashi for this all-you-can-eat pizza place, which wasn't bad. It was a nice change of things. Their chicken nuggets tasted EXACTLY like Chik-fil-a's. It was awesome and terrifying.
It's 10 days till Secret Santa, I'm excited. I've got 4 more parties this month. 3 Christmas, and 1 Costume. I need to borrow another schoolgirl outfit...
Well, a lot has happened over the past week. Last friday, some of us ventured out to Nishinomiya, and found this kickass, American-sized, but most importantly cheap liquor store. And by cheap I mean a liter of beer for $6.00, and a bottle of 7 year old cuban rum for "$22," but it was rang up at $15, but I wasn't going to say anything. It is a shame Cuban stuff isn't sold in the US, cause that stuff was the best rum I've ever had. We took all of our alcohol and hung out in a park, continuing to make a bad name for gaijin (foreigners).
The next day, I went to Nara, which was cool, the daibutsu was impressively large, and is housed in the largest wooden building in the world. The daibutsu is about 52 feet tall, and is by far not the largest in Japan. Insanity came from the shika deer that roam all over Nara. They are regarded as spiritual messengers in Shinto, so they're allowed to do whatever they want. You can buy senbei to feed them, but if you do, god help you. As soon as my friends bought some, the deer swarmed them. It was hilarious and terrifying.
Later that evening, Cooper, Rika, some friends from my tennis circle, and I went to a bar that my friend John knew the owner of. The place was a little pricey. We started doing shots because they were cheaper than beer. Also they served tacos, which were awesome, cause I was fiending for some.
Tuesday was a Nabe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabemono) party with my friends from my circle, which was fun, but could have been better, here's why.
An example of how Japanese girls can be bitches: I was seeing this one girl, went on a few fairly successful dates, and things were going well. But on friday I helped her make a facebook, she asks what the relationship slot was, I go "do you have a boyfriend?" she says no, and continues filling it out. Now, Christmas Eve is Valentine's Day for the Japanese, so I thought "hey, this might be a good idea," and I ask "Hey, what are you doing on the 24th?" Only to get "I see my boyfriend that day." Words cannot describe my confusion. Upside is I pretty much decided I wasn't that into her.
Anywho, bitching aside, the rest of the week went smoothly. This past friday was this big party for the exchange kids, which was fun, met a whole lot of people, and then we went to Shinsaibashi to go to a club. Sadly, I was put in charge of directing the 30-odd people who were coming, and I think I got sober from the yelling. Eventually I gave up on them and decided I wasn't going to let them ruin my evening.
The club was fun, we went to a place called Onzi-eme, had plenty of people, ok music, and overall wasn't bad. I couldn't get drunk though, meaning I couldn't dance. So I went through a lot of dancing partners. Thankfully Austin is awesome and in his drunken ridiculousness got us some girls to dance with, I ended up dancing with one who didn't even come up to my collar bones. She was so tiny.
Shortly after this, we find out some of our friends were kicked out for stealing liquor bottles from the bar, so we left. I got home around 6:30 in the morning.
Yesterday, we went BACK to Shinsaibashi for this all-you-can-eat pizza place, which wasn't bad. It was a nice change of things. Their chicken nuggets tasted EXACTLY like Chik-fil-a's. It was awesome and terrifying.
It's 10 days till Secret Santa, I'm excited. I've got 4 more parties this month. 3 Christmas, and 1 Costume. I need to borrow another schoolgirl outfit...
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Fairly Tame
Captain's log,
During dinner today, we were watching the news, and the weather came on. I noticed that there were two people giving the weather report. Then I realized it was just the man speaking the entire time, and all the woman did was either agree with him/affirm what he's saying, or provide pointless commentary like "That sure sounds cold!" I found this oddly hilarious.
This weekend involved a birthday and going to Kyoto again.
Drake kinda put planning his birthday on my shoulders, by having me make a facebook event for it... a day and a half ahead of time. So he wanted to go to a club, which sadly would have had a small turnout because there was very little notice and clubs are expensive. So instead, I decide we should go get Mexican food (we were all jonesing for some, and Drake's half Mexican), then go drink. Well only about half of the group wants to drink, so we break into two groups. We were SUPPOSED to go to this one bar in Nishomiya, but the guy I knew who had the info got sick. The only Mexican restaurant we knew of had a staff of two people... using one stove. So food took FOREVER. We ate, got out, and went to go drink, which added further complications. Finally we got alcohol and I could relax, cause I felt bad with how the night was going.
Only to forget to set an alarm to go to Kyoto. We were supposed to meet at Juso at 7:45. So I was gonna get up at 5:45. Instead I wake up at 8:10. Shower, run out the door. Get to Kyoto after a lengthy trainride, take a bus to where I need to go, and walk a good mile or so to Fushimi Inari shrine. Now, I am PRO at being in a hurry. You can ask anyone close to me, I HATE being in a hurry, it causes me to freak out. After all this, despite being over an hour behind them, from my walking fast, I only ended up being half an hour behind my friends and didn't really missing much. Not long after I get there, they want me to do silly things for pictures, but I had just practically run up a mountain, so I'm in no mood. Or condition. I got better after drinking something and lunch.
Other sights we went to were Heian Jingu and this thing called "Light Up" at Kiyomisu Temple. Japan is famous for the fall, when the leaves turn really pretty, vibrant colors. And at night they put spotlights on them. It looked like a huge couples thing.
Nothing all that special for the rest of this week, other than I finally saw Inglourious Basterds. I found out the subtitles were in both English and Japanese, so I jumped on that. It was awesome, and definitely Tarantino's best. One of the things I loved while watching it was watching the Japanese people's reactions to the scenes where people were scalped, or the one where a guy is beaten to death with a baseball bat.
This weekend is (improvised) party, trip to Nara, and another party. Yay.
During dinner today, we were watching the news, and the weather came on. I noticed that there were two people giving the weather report. Then I realized it was just the man speaking the entire time, and all the woman did was either agree with him/affirm what he's saying, or provide pointless commentary like "That sure sounds cold!" I found this oddly hilarious.
This weekend involved a birthday and going to Kyoto again.
Drake kinda put planning his birthday on my shoulders, by having me make a facebook event for it... a day and a half ahead of time. So he wanted to go to a club, which sadly would have had a small turnout because there was very little notice and clubs are expensive. So instead, I decide we should go get Mexican food (we were all jonesing for some, and Drake's half Mexican), then go drink. Well only about half of the group wants to drink, so we break into two groups. We were SUPPOSED to go to this one bar in Nishomiya, but the guy I knew who had the info got sick. The only Mexican restaurant we knew of had a staff of two people... using one stove. So food took FOREVER. We ate, got out, and went to go drink, which added further complications. Finally we got alcohol and I could relax, cause I felt bad with how the night was going.
Only to forget to set an alarm to go to Kyoto. We were supposed to meet at Juso at 7:45. So I was gonna get up at 5:45. Instead I wake up at 8:10. Shower, run out the door. Get to Kyoto after a lengthy trainride, take a bus to where I need to go, and walk a good mile or so to Fushimi Inari shrine. Now, I am PRO at being in a hurry. You can ask anyone close to me, I HATE being in a hurry, it causes me to freak out. After all this, despite being over an hour behind them, from my walking fast, I only ended up being half an hour behind my friends and didn't really missing much. Not long after I get there, they want me to do silly things for pictures, but I had just practically run up a mountain, so I'm in no mood. Or condition. I got better after drinking something and lunch.
Other sights we went to were Heian Jingu and this thing called "Light Up" at Kiyomisu Temple. Japan is famous for the fall, when the leaves turn really pretty, vibrant colors. And at night they put spotlights on them. It looked like a huge couples thing.
Nothing all that special for the rest of this week, other than I finally saw Inglourious Basterds. I found out the subtitles were in both English and Japanese, so I jumped on that. It was awesome, and definitely Tarantino's best. One of the things I loved while watching it was watching the Japanese people's reactions to the scenes where people were scalped, or the one where a guy is beaten to death with a baseball bat.
This weekend is (improvised) party, trip to Nara, and another party. Yay.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Not as Much Whining as I Thought This Was.
Captain's Log:
Nothing real eventful in the past week or so, this update's mostly obligatory. Last weekend I tried Singaporean food for the first time, met some cool kids, then went and hung out in a bar in Umeda with some friends.
Over the week, we went over our midterms, I barely passed the grammar, did considerably better on the listening, and raped the kanji. We're going over things, and there is a grammar rule that you use when someone does something for you, there's verb+てくれる and verb+てもらう, which literally means "I was given verb" or "I received verb." In examples, a lot of it seemed rather arbitrary. But as we're going over it the midterm, we get it explained to us that whether "に" or "が" determines if it's one or the other. It would have been nice if they explained that to us when we were given the grammar rule, which was nearly a month ago. /whine
This weekend involved going to a bar for a quiet evening with Doori and Taiki, then on saturday trying Korean food for the first time and going to a club in Shinsaibashi.
The club was kind of a blur, this time Rachel got kicked out, so we left early, apparently went to a bar, wandered around a bit, then according to them I wandered off "we looked up and you were gone." I remember coming to on a bench and being confused as to why I was alone.
So I wander my way through Shinsaibashi, taking a random subway back to Umeda. The only thing I'm actually mad about with this experience is that McDonalds fucked up my order and gave me a mcmuffin instead of a mcgriddle. Blood will be spilled. Got home, passed out, spent the rest of the day hating life in hungover wonderfulness.
Today, we have school off. I don't really know of much going on this week, other than that I will be celebrating thanksgiving with my friend Rie in Sannomiya.
I wanted to try and put together a special dinner with the exchange kids, but there just isn't enough time. I would have to order a turkey from amazon, which would easily be around $60+, and then we have the task of finding an oven that it will fit in. Amongst other complications.
Oh well, I demand everyone eat twice as much turkey, stuffing, and gravy for me.
Nothing real eventful in the past week or so, this update's mostly obligatory. Last weekend I tried Singaporean food for the first time, met some cool kids, then went and hung out in a bar in Umeda with some friends.
Over the week, we went over our midterms, I barely passed the grammar, did considerably better on the listening, and raped the kanji. We're going over things, and there is a grammar rule that you use when someone does something for you, there's verb+てくれる and verb+てもらう, which literally means "I was given verb" or "I received verb." In examples, a lot of it seemed rather arbitrary. But as we're going over it the midterm, we get it explained to us that whether "に" or "が" determines if it's one or the other. It would have been nice if they explained that to us when we were given the grammar rule, which was nearly a month ago. /whine
This weekend involved going to a bar for a quiet evening with Doori and Taiki, then on saturday trying Korean food for the first time and going to a club in Shinsaibashi.
The club was kind of a blur, this time Rachel got kicked out, so we left early, apparently went to a bar, wandered around a bit, then according to them I wandered off "we looked up and you were gone." I remember coming to on a bench and being confused as to why I was alone.
So I wander my way through Shinsaibashi, taking a random subway back to Umeda. The only thing I'm actually mad about with this experience is that McDonalds fucked up my order and gave me a mcmuffin instead of a mcgriddle. Blood will be spilled. Got home, passed out, spent the rest of the day hating life in hungover wonderfulness.
Today, we have school off. I don't really know of much going on this week, other than that I will be celebrating thanksgiving with my friend Rie in Sannomiya.
I wanted to try and put together a special dinner with the exchange kids, but there just isn't enough time. I would have to order a turkey from amazon, which would easily be around $60+, and then we have the task of finding an oven that it will fit in. Amongst other complications.
Oh well, I demand everyone eat twice as much turkey, stuffing, and gravy for me.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Hopefully this will be the last of these for a while
Captains log,
This weekend was a little different, namely in that I did nothing on friday. Everyone was studying for midterms, so I just kinda hung out at home, studied a little and did some hw. Nothing big.
Saturday, however, was quite eventful. Woke up at 6:00am because I was going to Kyoto! Met up with Drew in Juso and within minutes the jokes started rolling. These would continue all day. Finally get to Kyoto around 8:15 and Drew and I start wandering because Rika and Jukka would not be joining us for an hour.
We all finally meet up and set off on sightseeing. We journey to Yakasa Shrine, where we saw a wedding in progress, and move to some temple/shrine thingy that we didn't know what it was to see a funeral in progress. We walk through a massive graveyard, and wander around the gardens and what not before heading towards Yakasa pagoda. On the way we see a bunch of Geishas and stop by a Daibutsu (big-ass statue of Buddha). After finding the pagoda, we grab lunch in a non-touristy area (tourist areas were ridiculously expensive). It was cool because we ate at a Chinese restaurant, where the waiter could barely speak Japanese.
After lunch, Rika and Jukka part ways with Drew and I. They wanted to see this Geisha dance show and see an old brothel, but this would have cost around $40, whereas sightseeing would be less than $10, so Drew and I set off. We end up walking the wrong ways a few times, but finally get to our destination: Nanzen-ji. The gate (sanmon) was more worthwhile to look at than the temple, because it was one of the largest free standing wooden structures in the world. Drew and I leave from there to find this mile long walk translated roughly as the Philosopher's walk. So we walked about 5 miles to walk a mile.
A good ways into the walk, we realize the error of our ways and decide to come back during sakura season, when the walk would actually be pretty and worthwhile.
All of the souvenirs were expensive, I'll find cheaper versions elsewhere, though I think I'll get my kimono made there. It wasn't that expensive, I just need someone who's fluent in Japanese to be with me when I get one.
So finally we meet up again, and we head towards downtown Kyoto to get dinner. We got conveyor-belt sushi, which wasn't bad, aside from when my beer got spilled. Afterwards we went down to a Konvini to grab some booze and hangout by the river.
At the river, some fire dancers entertained us, then we wander around, consider messing with couples, Rika and I have a heart-to-heart, and all of us pretty much make asses of ourselves. Mostly to the other tourists.
Apparently, Rika and I fell asleep by the river. This is where my memory stops working. Drew wakes us up and we head to the station to go home. On the way, Drew's half-dragging me, half-trying to get me to shut the hell up, cause I was apparently yelling at people. He evetually gets us to the station where I fall asleep on the train. When we get to Juso, Drew and I, in our respective states, forget that I have to take a different way, but instead I get on his train and go to Nishinomiya. Which I can still get home from, provided I catch the last train. We eventually arrive and here's where my memory starts working again. I say bye to Drew and head down to my platform... just in time to see the last train leave. So I go upstairs and don't see a soul. Particularly Drew. My phone also died around noon that day. Despite the drunkenness, I remember thinking very clearly "welp, I'm boned." And set off to wander the streets.
My shoes had been killing me all day, so I took them off. I start trying to follow the tracks, and only later do I realize I was going the wrong direction. For some reason I did not think to go to a konvini until I couldn't find one. The reason for this is because konvinis sell these handy battery packs that you can cordlessly charge your phone with for emergencies such as this.
...Instead I try waving down cars so I can ask for directions to either a konvini or to the next station I need to head towards. I'm fairly certain at one point I walked out into the road trying to get a car to stop, and that may or may not have been why the police showed up shortly afterwards.
The police get out, give me what was probably the Japanese equivalent of "boy, where 'cho goddamn shoes?"
When you're in a foreign country, and faced with the police, you learn to speak the language real quickly.
I explain that they were hurting my feet, and what my situation was. I ask for the location of a konvini or the way to Takarazuka, and they drive me to their koban (police outpost thingy). They talk to me, get some information, who I am, what I'm doing in Japan, why I'm wandering the streets of Nishinomiya in the dead of night with no shoes on, you know, the typical things. So they ask if I have the money for a cab, I say yes, but I don't want to pay it, and I attempt to explain that if I can get to a konvini (I could see one from their window), I can call one of my friends and everything will be ok. But they didn't listen, it also may have had something to do with my lack of Japanese skills, but they drive me two (train) stations down and drop me off at a taxi, who takes me home, where I pay the $30 fare, and proceed to die on the inside.
Monday I felt terrible. Still coming off the hangover, tired, got my ass kicked by my Japanese grammar midterm, and emotionally conflicted (girl nonsense I won't discuss here - this ain't livejournal). Thank god for TENNIS. Yea, I suck, but my circle is awesome, and I felt waaaaaaay better afterwards. One of the leaders, Kazu, shows me how to get home, and after doing so, I pass right out.
Tomorrow's my kanji midterm. I will slay it. I also start teaching/help teaching English tomorrow! Friday's my listening midterm, which could go either way. After my midterms are over, and I promise I'll finally write my damn postcards. I'm sorry about the delay on those.
What'll be even harder is finding souvenirs for some of you.
This weekend was a little different, namely in that I did nothing on friday. Everyone was studying for midterms, so I just kinda hung out at home, studied a little and did some hw. Nothing big.
Saturday, however, was quite eventful. Woke up at 6:00am because I was going to Kyoto! Met up with Drew in Juso and within minutes the jokes started rolling. These would continue all day. Finally get to Kyoto around 8:15 and Drew and I start wandering because Rika and Jukka would not be joining us for an hour.
We all finally meet up and set off on sightseeing. We journey to Yakasa Shrine, where we saw a wedding in progress, and move to some temple/shrine thingy that we didn't know what it was to see a funeral in progress. We walk through a massive graveyard, and wander around the gardens and what not before heading towards Yakasa pagoda. On the way we see a bunch of Geishas and stop by a Daibutsu (big-ass statue of Buddha). After finding the pagoda, we grab lunch in a non-touristy area (tourist areas were ridiculously expensive). It was cool because we ate at a Chinese restaurant, where the waiter could barely speak Japanese.
After lunch, Rika and Jukka part ways with Drew and I. They wanted to see this Geisha dance show and see an old brothel, but this would have cost around $40, whereas sightseeing would be less than $10, so Drew and I set off. We end up walking the wrong ways a few times, but finally get to our destination: Nanzen-ji. The gate (sanmon) was more worthwhile to look at than the temple, because it was one of the largest free standing wooden structures in the world. Drew and I leave from there to find this mile long walk translated roughly as the Philosopher's walk. So we walked about 5 miles to walk a mile.
A good ways into the walk, we realize the error of our ways and decide to come back during sakura season, when the walk would actually be pretty and worthwhile.
All of the souvenirs were expensive, I'll find cheaper versions elsewhere, though I think I'll get my kimono made there. It wasn't that expensive, I just need someone who's fluent in Japanese to be with me when I get one.
So finally we meet up again, and we head towards downtown Kyoto to get dinner. We got conveyor-belt sushi, which wasn't bad, aside from when my beer got spilled. Afterwards we went down to a Konvini to grab some booze and hangout by the river.
At the river, some fire dancers entertained us, then we wander around, consider messing with couples, Rika and I have a heart-to-heart, and all of us pretty much make asses of ourselves. Mostly to the other tourists.
Apparently, Rika and I fell asleep by the river. This is where my memory stops working. Drew wakes us up and we head to the station to go home. On the way, Drew's half-dragging me, half-trying to get me to shut the hell up, cause I was apparently yelling at people. He evetually gets us to the station where I fall asleep on the train. When we get to Juso, Drew and I, in our respective states, forget that I have to take a different way, but instead I get on his train and go to Nishinomiya. Which I can still get home from, provided I catch the last train. We eventually arrive and here's where my memory starts working again. I say bye to Drew and head down to my platform... just in time to see the last train leave. So I go upstairs and don't see a soul. Particularly Drew. My phone also died around noon that day. Despite the drunkenness, I remember thinking very clearly "welp, I'm boned." And set off to wander the streets.
My shoes had been killing me all day, so I took them off. I start trying to follow the tracks, and only later do I realize I was going the wrong direction. For some reason I did not think to go to a konvini until I couldn't find one. The reason for this is because konvinis sell these handy battery packs that you can cordlessly charge your phone with for emergencies such as this.
...Instead I try waving down cars so I can ask for directions to either a konvini or to the next station I need to head towards. I'm fairly certain at one point I walked out into the road trying to get a car to stop, and that may or may not have been why the police showed up shortly afterwards.
The police get out, give me what was probably the Japanese equivalent of "boy, where 'cho goddamn shoes?"
When you're in a foreign country, and faced with the police, you learn to speak the language real quickly.
I explain that they were hurting my feet, and what my situation was. I ask for the location of a konvini or the way to Takarazuka, and they drive me to their koban (police outpost thingy). They talk to me, get some information, who I am, what I'm doing in Japan, why I'm wandering the streets of Nishinomiya in the dead of night with no shoes on, you know, the typical things. So they ask if I have the money for a cab, I say yes, but I don't want to pay it, and I attempt to explain that if I can get to a konvini (I could see one from their window), I can call one of my friends and everything will be ok. But they didn't listen, it also may have had something to do with my lack of Japanese skills, but they drive me two (train) stations down and drop me off at a taxi, who takes me home, where I pay the $30 fare, and proceed to die on the inside.
Monday I felt terrible. Still coming off the hangover, tired, got my ass kicked by my Japanese grammar midterm, and emotionally conflicted (girl nonsense I won't discuss here - this ain't livejournal). Thank god for TENNIS. Yea, I suck, but my circle is awesome, and I felt waaaaaaay better afterwards. One of the leaders, Kazu, shows me how to get home, and after doing so, I pass right out.
Tomorrow's my kanji midterm. I will slay it. I also start teaching/help teaching English tomorrow! Friday's my listening midterm, which could go either way. After my midterms are over, and I promise I'll finally write my damn postcards. I'm sorry about the delay on those.
What'll be even harder is finding souvenirs for some of you.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Awesome Halloween Accompanied with a Surplus of Bitching
Captain's Log:
A lot has happened since last weekend, where shall I start?
Friday was another BBQ party at Matt's place, which was fun, and we were overloaded with tons of food and liquor, including copious amounts of steak and a $100 cake. Saturday is where the real awesomeness was. We all gather at Sannomiya station, put on/reveal our costumes, then walk to this bar called D-Fence. Tons of people were already in there, and I got an enormous "wtf" look from all the Japanese people for my schoolgirl costume. It was $25 all-you-can-drink for 2 hours. So we got to work. And ultimately we decimated the bar. They had homemade whiskey, which was delicious, and they used quality liquor, which also surprised me.
Once it all ended, everyone either left or went to an izakaya. Hiromi and I wandered off to go home. After a kiss goodbye (w00t!), I get on the train she told me to get on. I'm not entirely sure if I remember switching trains, but I definitely fell asleep at one point and woke up at the stop before mine ....from the opposite direction I normally come from. Yea, I was confused too, but thanks, luck. My guess is that I didn't switch trains when I was supposed to, and ended up getting turned around at a station at the opposite end.
Classes are canceled on monday and tuesday cause we have our school's festival. Which was cool. It was mostly food stands and performers, but it was cool, nonetheless. Some food was awesome (yakitori), and some wasn't (failed excuse for tacos). All in all, it was fun. I worked at my tennis circle's stand for all of sunday, which would have been better if it didn't rain ridiculously hard all day. Nonetheless, the Japanese were a combination of amused and confused as to why this gaijin was advertising a food stand, and I couldn't tell if I attracted more people, or scared them away. I'll never know. It was a fun day, I forgot an umbrella, so I huddled with Hiromi under her's on the way back to the station. Keeping her warm as an exchange for the shelter.
The only reason I went yesterday was because a friend from the other campus came, and some other friends invited me. Later that evening we went bowling for Austin's birthday. Which was fun. Especially when I'd yell something ridiculous and somehow do well.
Today was a study day. Midterms are around the corner and I'm not looking forward to them at all. I studied today because I've got a date with Hiromi in Sannomiya tomorrow, and a party with my tennis circle tomorrow evening. Should be an awesome day though.
I'm getting better at the language, I'm not improving as quickly as I'd like to, but I need to remind myself that I'm a beginner and I'll be here for another 9 and a half months. It's funny, cause whenever you tell the Japanese something cool about yourself (sometimes even something mundane) their eyes will go wide and they will say "heeeeey?" Which got really annoying at first, but I hate to say that I've found myself saying it.
Anywho, I'm getting more and more irritated with my teachers. Actually only one of my teachers. My Japanese classes are taught by 4 different teachers, this one in particular has us for 2 days, the rest have us for only one. All of them can understand English fairly well except for this one. None of us are doing all that well in the classes, but I get pulled aside one day. She wants to talk to me about a section on the hw that I only got two questions right on. I try my best to explain that the example was vague and that I didn't really know what to do, so that made it difficult. Her response is "it's not difficult, everyone else did fine, why didn't you?"
It took every ounce of my willpower to not tear her head off. Good teachers do not say things like this. How is belittling me and comparing me to the rest of the class going to help me, you retard.
To add insult to injury, she said I had an appointment with one of the other teachers so I can learn to "study Japanese properly."
This teacher should not be teaching us. Even the Japanese students hate her. Every now and then one of us will be trying to explain why we don't understand something or we'll be asking a question only to get cut off with "nihongo de!"
We can't, you dumb bitch. Why do you think we're in level 1? You should not be teaching us. At all.
/end bitching
A lot has happened since last weekend, where shall I start?
Friday was another BBQ party at Matt's place, which was fun, and we were overloaded with tons of food and liquor, including copious amounts of steak and a $100 cake. Saturday is where the real awesomeness was. We all gather at Sannomiya station, put on/reveal our costumes, then walk to this bar called D-Fence. Tons of people were already in there, and I got an enormous "wtf" look from all the Japanese people for my schoolgirl costume. It was $25 all-you-can-drink for 2 hours. So we got to work. And ultimately we decimated the bar. They had homemade whiskey, which was delicious, and they used quality liquor, which also surprised me.
Once it all ended, everyone either left or went to an izakaya. Hiromi and I wandered off to go home. After a kiss goodbye (w00t!), I get on the train she told me to get on. I'm not entirely sure if I remember switching trains, but I definitely fell asleep at one point and woke up at the stop before mine ....from the opposite direction I normally come from. Yea, I was confused too, but thanks, luck. My guess is that I didn't switch trains when I was supposed to, and ended up getting turned around at a station at the opposite end.
Classes are canceled on monday and tuesday cause we have our school's festival. Which was cool. It was mostly food stands and performers, but it was cool, nonetheless. Some food was awesome (yakitori), and some wasn't (failed excuse for tacos). All in all, it was fun. I worked at my tennis circle's stand for all of sunday, which would have been better if it didn't rain ridiculously hard all day. Nonetheless, the Japanese were a combination of amused and confused as to why this gaijin was advertising a food stand, and I couldn't tell if I attracted more people, or scared them away. I'll never know. It was a fun day, I forgot an umbrella, so I huddled with Hiromi under her's on the way back to the station. Keeping her warm as an exchange for the shelter.
The only reason I went yesterday was because a friend from the other campus came, and some other friends invited me. Later that evening we went bowling for Austin's birthday. Which was fun. Especially when I'd yell something ridiculous and somehow do well.
Today was a study day. Midterms are around the corner and I'm not looking forward to them at all. I studied today because I've got a date with Hiromi in Sannomiya tomorrow, and a party with my tennis circle tomorrow evening. Should be an awesome day though.
I'm getting better at the language, I'm not improving as quickly as I'd like to, but I need to remind myself that I'm a beginner and I'll be here for another 9 and a half months. It's funny, cause whenever you tell the Japanese something cool about yourself (sometimes even something mundane) their eyes will go wide and they will say "heeeeey?" Which got really annoying at first, but I hate to say that I've found myself saying it.
Anywho, I'm getting more and more irritated with my teachers. Actually only one of my teachers. My Japanese classes are taught by 4 different teachers, this one in particular has us for 2 days, the rest have us for only one. All of them can understand English fairly well except for this one. None of us are doing all that well in the classes, but I get pulled aside one day. She wants to talk to me about a section on the hw that I only got two questions right on. I try my best to explain that the example was vague and that I didn't really know what to do, so that made it difficult. Her response is "it's not difficult, everyone else did fine, why didn't you?"
It took every ounce of my willpower to not tear her head off. Good teachers do not say things like this. How is belittling me and comparing me to the rest of the class going to help me, you retard.
To add insult to injury, she said I had an appointment with one of the other teachers so I can learn to "study Japanese properly."
This teacher should not be teaching us. Even the Japanese students hate her. Every now and then one of us will be trying to explain why we don't understand something or we'll be asking a question only to get cut off with "nihongo de!"
We can't, you dumb bitch. Why do you think we're in level 1? You should not be teaching us. At all.
/end bitching
Monday, October 26, 2009
Good Week and Vows
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!
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!
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.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
My Wallet Weeps
Captain's Log,
So I decided to go ahead and go out with Taiki anyway. I just counted on not spending much. On the way there, the guy sitting across from me on the train was sitting there, hangin' out, shamelessly looking at a porno mag. This was on a moderately occupied train at 6:00 in the evening. Dammit, Japan.
Sadly, my wallet did not fare well. Excitement and alcohol consumption lead to me spending close to $30. It was a fun evening, but a resounding "dammit" must be said about the whole ordeal, especially with how it ended. The first bar was nothing special, we just hung out a bit. The second bar was pirate themed and pretty cool. Taiki slayed us in darts, then pool was $6.00 a game, so we opted for free jenga. And by free, the loser has to do a shot of everyone else's choice, and for some reason that person also gets to pay for it. I called it that I was going to lose first, and they pick what's supposedly the grossest shot on the menu. The liquid was clear and greenish, and these 2 little slug shaped things in them. Upon asking what it was, I learn that the slugs are 2 things of tatar sauce. To shove it in everyone's face, I do the shot without wincing and laugh. The shot really wasn't bad, didn't notice the tatar sauce, and I think the liquor was Pernod, which tastes kinda like Jaeger, but different.
We eventually leave and go to a bar I really like, The Blarney Stone. Here, the bartender gave us free rounds of shots, first of tequila, then of jaeger. Taiki mentions something about leaving, I say "nah, dude, we've got time."
We leave, get on the first train, and reality kicks me in the balls as I realize I have very little time to catch my 3rd train (I have to switch trains twice on the way home). And lo and behold, I get to the 2nd station, and find that they've stopped. I start to walk towards my town, had I known it was only 5 miles, I would have kept walking, but paranoia and desperation lead me to waving for a cab, which gave me a $24 fare. Steve-O and his wallet are not happy with him.
I've told my friends that when we drink from now on for a while, we should buy booze at a convenience store and just hang out in a park or at someone's house.
Other than that, classes have started piling on the hw. My language classes are all in Japanese, and I think I'm boned in my Kanji class. I got bumped up a level, so I have a lot of trouble understanding the teacher.
My birthday's coming up soon, it's in 10 days, I've made the facebook event, but I'm not sure about which day to have it, and whether or not to do all night, all-you-can-drink karaoke or do the mountain thing again. Hopefully with some input, we'll figure this out.
So I decided to go ahead and go out with Taiki anyway. I just counted on not spending much. On the way there, the guy sitting across from me on the train was sitting there, hangin' out, shamelessly looking at a porno mag. This was on a moderately occupied train at 6:00 in the evening. Dammit, Japan.
Sadly, my wallet did not fare well. Excitement and alcohol consumption lead to me spending close to $30. It was a fun evening, but a resounding "dammit" must be said about the whole ordeal, especially with how it ended. The first bar was nothing special, we just hung out a bit. The second bar was pirate themed and pretty cool. Taiki slayed us in darts, then pool was $6.00 a game, so we opted for free jenga. And by free, the loser has to do a shot of everyone else's choice, and for some reason that person also gets to pay for it. I called it that I was going to lose first, and they pick what's supposedly the grossest shot on the menu. The liquid was clear and greenish, and these 2 little slug shaped things in them. Upon asking what it was, I learn that the slugs are 2 things of tatar sauce. To shove it in everyone's face, I do the shot without wincing and laugh. The shot really wasn't bad, didn't notice the tatar sauce, and I think the liquor was Pernod, which tastes kinda like Jaeger, but different.
We eventually leave and go to a bar I really like, The Blarney Stone. Here, the bartender gave us free rounds of shots, first of tequila, then of jaeger. Taiki mentions something about leaving, I say "nah, dude, we've got time."
We leave, get on the first train, and reality kicks me in the balls as I realize I have very little time to catch my 3rd train (I have to switch trains twice on the way home). And lo and behold, I get to the 2nd station, and find that they've stopped. I start to walk towards my town, had I known it was only 5 miles, I would have kept walking, but paranoia and desperation lead me to waving for a cab, which gave me a $24 fare. Steve-O and his wallet are not happy with him.
I've told my friends that when we drink from now on for a while, we should buy booze at a convenience store and just hang out in a park or at someone's house.
Other than that, classes have started piling on the hw. My language classes are all in Japanese, and I think I'm boned in my Kanji class. I got bumped up a level, so I have a lot of trouble understanding the teacher.
My birthday's coming up soon, it's in 10 days, I've made the facebook event, but I'm not sure about which day to have it, and whether or not to do all night, all-you-can-drink karaoke or do the mountain thing again. Hopefully with some input, we'll figure this out.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Promising Weekend. Ends Poorly.
Captain's log:
Not much has happened over the past week, had classes and whatnot. I'm irked because I had to drop Japanese geography because I didn't realize it was at the same time as my Japanese cinema class, so I'm going to start taking the Business lectures on tuesday.
I'm on a quest to make more Japanese friends. I love the friends I've made in the exchange, but we just keep speaking English.
Anyway, the weekend started off pretty sweetly. A picnic was organized and nearly all of the exchange students and a bunch of Japanese folk came. We walked up a mountain by the school to a glorious overlook of Kobe. I'd post a picture, but it doesn't do it justice and Sandra has my camera - I'll get to that in a minute.
*edit* picture!
Everyone went and bought food and their own drinks, though I mooched off a lot of people, particularly our token Scottish chick, Julia. She brought a bottle of Soju, which I drank a substantial amount of. At the end of the night, I wandered down the mountain to catch the last train, and I'm AMAZED I didn't get lost. Yay for drunk luck!
Anywho, yesterday was "let's bone Steve-O monetarily" day, which involved checking out an American football game, that was my school vs Nishinomiya (I think). The stadium very much reminded me of highschool. I got a late start on the day, so I show up at the 4th quarter and still have to pay for a $12 ticket (ouch). We spent the rest of the day wandering around Ooji-Koen and Sannomiya, which was fun, and we tried to make it cheap.
Now the fun part. I was supposed to go see Polysics tonight in Sannomiya, but it was sold out, so my friends managed to talk me into going to Club Pure in Sensaibashi. Sensaibashi is a rather sketchy area, you know you're in a good area when you get off the subway and see a sign telling you your not allowed to carry a knife over 5.5cm. And this was definitely a first with being propositioned by a hooker, a she-male hooker, and a Nigerian pimp, and that was before we even got to the club. We finally get there and are some of the first people in. I wish I had known we were going to a club, cause then I wouldn't be the jackass in shorts and messed up hair, but I digress.
The cover charge was the equivalent of $40 ($25 for chicks). At the door they give you a glass, and as long as you hold onto it, it's all-you-can-drink. My friends and I immediately set off to make sure we get our money's worth. (I was rather irked about paying this, but I just recently realized that the concert would have been close to the same price, so not all is lost.) Anywho, so since no one is in the club, the 9 or 10 of us cram into this little grotto and start playing drinking games, and I develop a penchant for gin and ginger ale. The club says they'll confiscate cameras, so I give mine to Ken to put in his bag to put in a locker, that I had Sandra retrieve for me.
Eventually, we're drunk. People have arrived, the club actually played good music (shocker, I know), and we set out dancing. We purposely stay out, because the last train leaves at midnight-ish, and they don't start up again until about 6:00 am, so we're stuck for the night. We all set out dancing and eventually Rika, Cooper, and I decide we need to get out of there. We go grab some McDonalds, drink copious amounts of water, and somehow find our way to a train station. We finally find our way home, struggling not to fall asleep on each other, and I walk in at about 8 am.
By this point, I feel like I've been hit by a dumptruck carrying Sally Struthers. I made some kids laugh this morning when we stopped and asked for directions. They just kinda looked as us funny, so we explain that we had been drinking, so they all look at me (my hair was 7 kinds of messed up), and I say "Boku no tarada wa itai desu," which means "My body hurts." Which it did. I'm sore from dancing and walking so much, I feel ill, and I have a horrific ringing in my ears that I desperately want to go away.
I feel bad, cause my buddy Taiki invited me out tomorrow night, but I've spent too much money and reached my booze quota for the week, so I had to cancel. I'll see him again soon though.
Tomorrow should be good, I enjoy my classes.
Not much has happened over the past week, had classes and whatnot. I'm irked because I had to drop Japanese geography because I didn't realize it was at the same time as my Japanese cinema class, so I'm going to start taking the Business lectures on tuesday.
I'm on a quest to make more Japanese friends. I love the friends I've made in the exchange, but we just keep speaking English.
Anyway, the weekend started off pretty sweetly. A picnic was organized and nearly all of the exchange students and a bunch of Japanese folk came. We walked up a mountain by the school to a glorious overlook of Kobe. I'd post a picture, but it doesn't do it justice and Sandra has my camera - I'll get to that in a minute.
*edit* picture!
Everyone went and bought food and their own drinks, though I mooched off a lot of people, particularly our token Scottish chick, Julia. She brought a bottle of Soju, which I drank a substantial amount of. At the end of the night, I wandered down the mountain to catch the last train, and I'm AMAZED I didn't get lost. Yay for drunk luck!
Anywho, yesterday was "let's bone Steve-O monetarily" day, which involved checking out an American football game, that was my school vs Nishinomiya (I think). The stadium very much reminded me of highschool. I got a late start on the day, so I show up at the 4th quarter and still have to pay for a $12 ticket (ouch). We spent the rest of the day wandering around Ooji-Koen and Sannomiya, which was fun, and we tried to make it cheap.
Now the fun part. I was supposed to go see Polysics tonight in Sannomiya, but it was sold out, so my friends managed to talk me into going to Club Pure in Sensaibashi. Sensaibashi is a rather sketchy area, you know you're in a good area when you get off the subway and see a sign telling you your not allowed to carry a knife over 5.5cm. And this was definitely a first with being propositioned by a hooker, a she-male hooker, and a Nigerian pimp, and that was before we even got to the club. We finally get there and are some of the first people in. I wish I had known we were going to a club, cause then I wouldn't be the jackass in shorts and messed up hair, but I digress.
The cover charge was the equivalent of $40 ($25 for chicks). At the door they give you a glass, and as long as you hold onto it, it's all-you-can-drink. My friends and I immediately set off to make sure we get our money's worth. (I was rather irked about paying this, but I just recently realized that the concert would have been close to the same price, so not all is lost.) Anywho, so since no one is in the club, the 9 or 10 of us cram into this little grotto and start playing drinking games, and I develop a penchant for gin and ginger ale. The club says they'll confiscate cameras, so I give mine to Ken to put in his bag to put in a locker, that I had Sandra retrieve for me.
Eventually, we're drunk. People have arrived, the club actually played good music (shocker, I know), and we set out dancing. We purposely stay out, because the last train leaves at midnight-ish, and they don't start up again until about 6:00 am, so we're stuck for the night. We all set out dancing and eventually Rika, Cooper, and I decide we need to get out of there. We go grab some McDonalds, drink copious amounts of water, and somehow find our way to a train station. We finally find our way home, struggling not to fall asleep on each other, and I walk in at about 8 am.
By this point, I feel like I've been hit by a dumptruck carrying Sally Struthers. I made some kids laugh this morning when we stopped and asked for directions. They just kinda looked as us funny, so we explain that we had been drinking, so they all look at me (my hair was 7 kinds of messed up), and I say "Boku no tarada wa itai desu," which means "My body hurts." Which it did. I'm sore from dancing and walking so much, I feel ill, and I have a horrific ringing in my ears that I desperately want to go away.
I feel bad, cause my buddy Taiki invited me out tomorrow night, but I've spent too much money and reached my booze quota for the week, so I had to cancel. I'll see him again soon though.
Tomorrow should be good, I enjoy my classes.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Stuff!
Captain's log,
Yesterday, we went to Kobe. Apparently my family is much larger than I thought. We went to visit my host brother's brother (other host brother?)'s family in Kobe. I never caught really any names aside from their daughter, Miku. She is about 5 or 6, and the single most adorable child I have ever encountered in my almost 22 years on this planet. She was kind of afraid of me at first, "who's this strange white devil whose head is on fire?" But she warmed up to me eventually. Her older brother was pretty awesome, but her oldest brother was kind of a jerk (though I think he's reached that age where it's cool to hate everyone). It was an interesting family gathering, we went out to a grape orchard and picked and ate a ton of grapes, which apparently is a popular past time, because there were a lot of people there. While Okaasan, and Other-Oniisan and his wife went shopping, Oniisan took the kids and me to McDonalds. McDonalds is similar and different here. Namely, they have this thing called the Ebi Burger, which is basically a shrimp burger. That thing is freaking amazing. 'nuff said.
We eventually get back to the apartment and try to kill time before dinner. Miku, Oniisan, and I started playing Mario Kart on their DSs and got pretty cutthroat. And by pretty I mean we were out for each other's blood (as usual with mario kart). Every time Miku won she got super excited, which was :3. I really wish she was actually related to me.
We eventually got bored and I ended up falling asleep on the couch, later to be woken up to kill another hour before dinner. Other-Oniisan and I watched best of Ichiro (star Japanese player of the Seattle Mariners) and drank. He gave me a beer, then some cocktails, gave me a bottle of liquor, and was disappointed when I was able to out drink him. Finally dinner came around and basically what it was was we put this frying pan in the middle of the table and cooked peppers, mushrooms, eggplant, this weird jelly stuff that's apparently made from potatoes, onions, pork, and KOBE FREAKING BEEF. And yes, it is just as good as it is made out to be. Japanese hospitality is amazing. Afterwards, despite being tired out, we cleaned up, hung around for a bit longer, and then left. On the way out, Other-Oniisan gave me his card and told me if I ever need anything, give him a call, so hooray connections!
On the way home, we stopped at the mega-suspension bridge again, and I tried to take some pictures, but none of them really did it justice. Tis a shame.
And as for today, classes started. I only had two, Japanese and Japanese Culture. Japanese Culture is taught in Japanese, and I fear I may be in over my head, but I'm going to tough it out and see how it goes. So far, not bad, we just watched a movie and the teacher speaks slowly, so I think I should be fine.
Tomorrow, I only have one class, and that's Japanese. So it should be pretty lax.
Overall, a great weekend.
Yesterday, we went to Kobe. Apparently my family is much larger than I thought. We went to visit my host brother's brother (other host brother?)'s family in Kobe. I never caught really any names aside from their daughter, Miku. She is about 5 or 6, and the single most adorable child I have ever encountered in my almost 22 years on this planet. She was kind of afraid of me at first, "who's this strange white devil whose head is on fire?" But she warmed up to me eventually. Her older brother was pretty awesome, but her oldest brother was kind of a jerk (though I think he's reached that age where it's cool to hate everyone). It was an interesting family gathering, we went out to a grape orchard and picked and ate a ton of grapes, which apparently is a popular past time, because there were a lot of people there. While Okaasan, and Other-Oniisan and his wife went shopping, Oniisan took the kids and me to McDonalds. McDonalds is similar and different here. Namely, they have this thing called the Ebi Burger, which is basically a shrimp burger. That thing is freaking amazing. 'nuff said.
We eventually get back to the apartment and try to kill time before dinner. Miku, Oniisan, and I started playing Mario Kart on their DSs and got pretty cutthroat. And by pretty I mean we were out for each other's blood (as usual with mario kart). Every time Miku won she got super excited, which was :3. I really wish she was actually related to me.
We eventually got bored and I ended up falling asleep on the couch, later to be woken up to kill another hour before dinner. Other-Oniisan and I watched best of Ichiro (star Japanese player of the Seattle Mariners) and drank. He gave me a beer, then some cocktails, gave me a bottle of liquor, and was disappointed when I was able to out drink him. Finally dinner came around and basically what it was was we put this frying pan in the middle of the table and cooked peppers, mushrooms, eggplant, this weird jelly stuff that's apparently made from potatoes, onions, pork, and KOBE FREAKING BEEF. And yes, it is just as good as it is made out to be. Japanese hospitality is amazing. Afterwards, despite being tired out, we cleaned up, hung around for a bit longer, and then left. On the way out, Other-Oniisan gave me his card and told me if I ever need anything, give him a call, so hooray connections!
On the way home, we stopped at the mega-suspension bridge again, and I tried to take some pictures, but none of them really did it justice. Tis a shame.
And as for today, classes started. I only had two, Japanese and Japanese Culture. Japanese Culture is taught in Japanese, and I fear I may be in over my head, but I'm going to tough it out and see how it goes. So far, not bad, we just watched a movie and the teacher speaks slowly, so I think I should be fine.
Tomorrow, I only have one class, and that's Japanese. So it should be pretty lax.
Overall, a great weekend.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Best Day Ever
Captain's log:
Yesterday was amazing. Started off with a trip to Himeji Castle, which was epic as hell, then we went to Koko-en Gardens, which were pretty as hell. We ate lunch at a restaurant that was on the top floor of some shops, where I bought the first of the stereotypical souvenirs that I was - a set of chopsticks. After that we went to the longest suspension bridge in the world, which was epic. You couldn't see the end of it. The bus rides were fun, and had some awesome conversation with well, everyone at once.
However, the best part was afterwards. One of the Canadian exchange students, Matt, invited us to a BBQ at his host family's place. IT WAS EPIC. His host-family's loaded. So we get there, there's a cooler full of beer (Guinness too!), bottles of Grand Mariner, Cointreau, and various other liquers. Then, more importantly, MEAT. Tons and tons of sweet, delicious meat. Steak cooked to medium-rare perfectness, smaller bits of beef, yakitori, sausage, CLAM FREAKING CHOWDER, there was also garlic bread, kimchi rice, and various other delectables. They also surprised me by having Blair's After Death sauce, which isn't as powerful as my Ultra Death Sauce (which I brought here), it was still pretty hot, but really tasty. It was the best meal I've had since I've been here, knocked out my meat cravings for a while, too. It was simply amazing. We told Matt that he won. When he asked what he won, I told him "everything, just just win."
After dinner we played Mario Tennis, Mario Kart 64, and Smash Bros (classic, of course).
From the conversations on the bus and at dinner, my friends declared me the most energetic and interesting guy on the exchange :D
Last night was an amazing night, and hopefully the first in a series of goodtimes. This is going to be a great year.
Yesterday was amazing. Started off with a trip to Himeji Castle, which was epic as hell, then we went to Koko-en Gardens, which were pretty as hell. We ate lunch at a restaurant that was on the top floor of some shops, where I bought the first of the stereotypical souvenirs that I was - a set of chopsticks. After that we went to the longest suspension bridge in the world, which was epic. You couldn't see the end of it. The bus rides were fun, and had some awesome conversation with well, everyone at once.
However, the best part was afterwards. One of the Canadian exchange students, Matt, invited us to a BBQ at his host family's place. IT WAS EPIC. His host-family's loaded. So we get there, there's a cooler full of beer (Guinness too!), bottles of Grand Mariner, Cointreau, and various other liquers. Then, more importantly, MEAT. Tons and tons of sweet, delicious meat. Steak cooked to medium-rare perfectness, smaller bits of beef, yakitori, sausage, CLAM FREAKING CHOWDER, there was also garlic bread, kimchi rice, and various other delectables. They also surprised me by having Blair's After Death sauce, which isn't as powerful as my Ultra Death Sauce (which I brought here), it was still pretty hot, but really tasty. It was the best meal I've had since I've been here, knocked out my meat cravings for a while, too. It was simply amazing. We told Matt that he won. When he asked what he won, I told him "everything, just just win."
After dinner we played Mario Tennis, Mario Kart 64, and Smash Bros (classic, of course).
From the conversations on the bus and at dinner, my friends declared me the most energetic and interesting guy on the exchange :D
Last night was an amazing night, and hopefully the first in a series of goodtimes. This is going to be a great year.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Classes Galore
Captain's log,
So we registered for classes today. I was put in a low level Japanese class, like I expected, but that's ok, I need to be retaught the basics anyway. If I do well enough, I can test out of a level and skip ahead.
My other classes are
Japanese Culture
Japanese Linguistics
Japanese Cinema
Japanese Geography
I'm pretty stoked about the geography class, for I was told they take a lot of field trips. I'm excited about the others as well, I really hope the cinema class covers Kurosawa and Miyazake, cause I've never seen films by either. I would very much like to, though.
So we registered for classes today. I was put in a low level Japanese class, like I expected, but that's ok, I need to be retaught the basics anyway. If I do well enough, I can test out of a level and skip ahead.
My other classes are
Japanese Culture
Japanese Linguistics
Japanese Cinema
Japanese Geography
I'm pretty stoked about the geography class, for I was told they take a lot of field trips. I'm excited about the others as well, I really hope the cinema class covers Kurosawa and Miyazake, cause I've never seen films by either. I would very much like to, though.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
One of us! One of us!
Captain's log,
If you are a (non-Asian) foreigner in an Asian country, you will get stared at. A lot. Especially if you happen to be tall and have red hair. I don't mind, I expected it, usually from kids it's one of curiosity, and I don't blame them, I too would probably stare at the strange-looking white-devil if I grew up in a neigh-homogeneous society. Hell, I got stares in America, but here it's a different stare. It's a very unwelcoming, "you're not one of us" kind of stare. I don't get it from everyone, but it is a nearly everyday occurrence. I'll get used to it, and those who see me every day will get used to me, my neighbors already say good morning to me as I walk by, but it's still something that you have to get past.
I've noticed myself standing straighter in this country, like how I stand when I'm dressed up. I think it's a subconscious "Yea, I'm here, I'm awesome, what?" sort of thing. In relation to what I mentioned above, I'm not going to back down, and I'm not going to hide.
On another note, in typical mischievous Steve-O fashion, I've decided I have a new mission while I'm here: I'm going to teach the Japanese folk fun things to say. For science. I want to teach them how to properly use internet slang, such as "lol," "rofl," "woot," "noob," etc, and how to properly use the words "bitchin'" and "tits." Such as, "Dude, these cheese fries are bitchin'" and "That log ride was tits." I'm a bad, bad man.
On another another note, there's a drink company called Suntory, if you've heard of them, it's probably because of their whiskey, which you can find in America. But here in Japan, in addition to whiskey, they make many other drinks. My favorite brand of theirs is Boss. Mostly thanks to Lonely Island's "Like a Boss." There's are these awesome posters for Boss coffee drinks that have Tommy Lee Jones just looking off in the distance like a boss, I'll post a picture when I find one. Also, because of this brand name, I found the best name for a drink ever:
If you are a (non-Asian) foreigner in an Asian country, you will get stared at. A lot. Especially if you happen to be tall and have red hair. I don't mind, I expected it, usually from kids it's one of curiosity, and I don't blame them, I too would probably stare at the strange-looking white-devil if I grew up in a neigh-homogeneous society. Hell, I got stares in America, but here it's a different stare. It's a very unwelcoming, "you're not one of us" kind of stare. I don't get it from everyone, but it is a nearly everyday occurrence. I'll get used to it, and those who see me every day will get used to me, my neighbors already say good morning to me as I walk by, but it's still something that you have to get past.
I've noticed myself standing straighter in this country, like how I stand when I'm dressed up. I think it's a subconscious "Yea, I'm here, I'm awesome, what?" sort of thing. In relation to what I mentioned above, I'm not going to back down, and I'm not going to hide.
On another note, in typical mischievous Steve-O fashion, I've decided I have a new mission while I'm here: I'm going to teach the Japanese folk fun things to say. For science. I want to teach them how to properly use internet slang, such as "lol," "rofl," "woot," "noob," etc, and how to properly use the words "bitchin'" and "tits." Such as, "Dude, these cheese fries are bitchin'" and "That log ride was tits." I'm a bad, bad man.
On another another note, there's a drink company called Suntory, if you've heard of them, it's probably because of their whiskey, which you can find in America. But here in Japan, in addition to whiskey, they make many other drinks. My favorite brand of theirs is Boss. Mostly thanks to Lonely Island's "Like a Boss." There's are these awesome posters for Boss coffee drinks that have Tommy Lee Jones just looking off in the distance like a boss, I'll post a picture when I find one. Also, because of this brand name, I found the best name for a drink ever:
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Happiness Abound
Captain's log:
Today was a day of sitting and smiling. I say this because I was registered as an alien and got my cell phone. Registration is necessary for all foreigners who are staying for longer than 6 weeks, and if you wish to get something like a cell phone. I figured since I'm here for a year, I'll buy a phone with a contract, instead of constantly refilling my minutes. Well that involved negotiating a contract. Fun times galore!
Anywho, beyond that, I tried okonomiyaki for the first time, and it was amazing. Seriously kids, try this, it is a kick in the mouth of all 7 flavors of awesome.
I had insight and cultural comparison, but today has been a long day. When you drop yourself into a culture, and force yourself to learn the language, it exhausts you mentally, leaving you physically tired. I've gone to bed super early (by my standards) every night I've been here. I'm beginning to really like it here though.
Today was a day of sitting and smiling. I say this because I was registered as an alien and got my cell phone. Registration is necessary for all foreigners who are staying for longer than 6 weeks, and if you wish to get something like a cell phone. I figured since I'm here for a year, I'll buy a phone with a contract, instead of constantly refilling my minutes. Well that involved negotiating a contract. Fun times galore!
Anywho, beyond that, I tried okonomiyaki for the first time, and it was amazing. Seriously kids, try this, it is a kick in the mouth of all 7 flavors of awesome.
I had insight and cultural comparison, but today has been a long day. When you drop yourself into a culture, and force yourself to learn the language, it exhausts you mentally, leaving you physically tired. I've gone to bed super early (by my standards) every night I've been here. I'm beginning to really like it here though.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Today was a good day.
Captain's Log,
So, in typical Steve-O fashion, today started off poorly. I woke up extra early (6:40am) so I would be all ready for my first day of school and prepared. Well, despite stereotypes of Japanese punctuality, we end up being 40 minutes late because Okaasan took too long getting ready. So I show up 15 minutes late for the placement test that will determine what level Japanese class I will be put it. I caught up pretty quickly because I wasn't able to answer half of it.
Tony sensei, I know you're reading this, and before you facepalm, remember that there are 6 levels of classes here, the highest being able to take regular classes. So that being said, my abilities are that of a toddler, so I'd expect to be placed in level 1 or 2. Most likely level 2, but we'll see, I hope I'll be put in that level, because by the end of the year, I'll be in 4th level, and I won't have to take 4000 level when I get back to school.
I will also say this, with being here just these few days, I'm already starting to think in Japanese. When I started typing this, my brain kept wanting me to type out Japanese words. So hooray for improvement! On an even better note, which was the best part of today:
I made friends!
These are my Nihongo partners (Nihongo is Japanese for the Japanese language), they volunteered to help us while we are here, and these two - Yuki and Moe (pronounced Mo-eh) are mine. They were very nice and helped me get a 6 month commuter pass for the trains around here. Tomorrow they are going to help me register as a alien, and getting a cell phone.
On top of that, I met some more of the exchange kids. A lot of them are really cool, and they are from everywhere! I had never met a Finn or a Norwegian until today. It's funny how your perspectives change depending on your location/situation. There was this one guy from Texas A&M, who was wearing cowboy boots, the stereotypical massive belt buckle, and a large cowboy hat. In America, I would have shook my head, but here - I found myself saying "hell yeah."
My nihongo partners also invited me out tomorrow, I'm excited. I'm very happy things turned around so quickly. Today was a good day.
So, in typical Steve-O fashion, today started off poorly. I woke up extra early (6:40am) so I would be all ready for my first day of school and prepared. Well, despite stereotypes of Japanese punctuality, we end up being 40 minutes late because Okaasan took too long getting ready. So I show up 15 minutes late for the placement test that will determine what level Japanese class I will be put it. I caught up pretty quickly because I wasn't able to answer half of it.
Tony sensei, I know you're reading this, and before you facepalm, remember that there are 6 levels of classes here, the highest being able to take regular classes. So that being said, my abilities are that of a toddler, so I'd expect to be placed in level 1 or 2. Most likely level 2, but we'll see, I hope I'll be put in that level, because by the end of the year, I'll be in 4th level, and I won't have to take 4000 level when I get back to school.
I will also say this, with being here just these few days, I'm already starting to think in Japanese. When I started typing this, my brain kept wanting me to type out Japanese words. So hooray for improvement! On an even better note, which was the best part of today:
I made friends!
These are my Nihongo partners (Nihongo is Japanese for the Japanese language), they volunteered to help us while we are here, and these two - Yuki and Moe (pronounced Mo-eh) are mine. They were very nice and helped me get a 6 month commuter pass for the trains around here. Tomorrow they are going to help me register as a alien, and getting a cell phone.
On top of that, I met some more of the exchange kids. A lot of them are really cool, and they are from everywhere! I had never met a Finn or a Norwegian until today. It's funny how your perspectives change depending on your location/situation. There was this one guy from Texas A&M, who was wearing cowboy boots, the stereotypical massive belt buckle, and a large cowboy hat. In America, I would have shook my head, but here - I found myself saying "hell yeah."
My nihongo partners also invited me out tomorrow, I'm excited. I'm very happy things turned around so quickly. Today was a good day.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Something Unexpected
Captain's Log,
I'll try and make this the last of the sad posts.
Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy that I'm here, but I'm currently suffering from something that I really didn't expect - the crushing loneliness. I have a very hard time looking at pictures of/talking to my friends on facebook without tearing up. There's really no one here I can talk to.
I want to show these people that I'm a happy cauldron of energy, and that I can barely contain the excited-ness I have for being in their country, but I have no real way of conveying that. And that hurts. A lot. Instead I feel like a bit of a sideshow. I get a lot of stares, but I just smile and bow at them, usually gets a positive response.
I don't really miss home, I miss what's going on at home (Athens), and more importantly I miss my friends. New ones await, but goddammit, I wish that would hurry up. Aside from joining social circles, I'm not really sure how to make friends here, especially since I can't really talk - yet.
It'll just take time adjusting and trying new things. I knew it would be rough at first, but I vastly underestimated it.
I still feel tired, I'm trying to relax, but that's difficult. A beer and a massage would do the trick, but I currently have access to neither. Sleep does an ok job, but my mattress is rock hard, so there's another thing that'll take getting used to.
Happenings today, my host brother got my internet working, I just hope it doesn't overshadow my interactions with my family. Okaasan (what I'll be referring to my host-mother as from now on) and I went out to lunch, which was next to this Germanic building that had all of these neat plants and gardening things, along with handmade trinkets. Okaasan found it funny that I had never had umeboshi (pickled plums) and onigiri (rice balls) before, and that I can't eat natto (fermented soybeans) because it smells too bad.
Last night, Okaasan's daughter called, she's living in Holland with her boyfriend, we spoke and it was nice to be able to speak English with someone. I know, I know, I'm here to speak Japanese, but it still felt nice.
I'll try and make this the last of the sad posts.
Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy that I'm here, but I'm currently suffering from something that I really didn't expect - the crushing loneliness. I have a very hard time looking at pictures of/talking to my friends on facebook without tearing up. There's really no one here I can talk to.
I want to show these people that I'm a happy cauldron of energy, and that I can barely contain the excited-ness I have for being in their country, but I have no real way of conveying that. And that hurts. A lot. Instead I feel like a bit of a sideshow. I get a lot of stares, but I just smile and bow at them, usually gets a positive response.
I don't really miss home, I miss what's going on at home (Athens), and more importantly I miss my friends. New ones await, but goddammit, I wish that would hurry up. Aside from joining social circles, I'm not really sure how to make friends here, especially since I can't really talk - yet.
It'll just take time adjusting and trying new things. I knew it would be rough at first, but I vastly underestimated it.
I still feel tired, I'm trying to relax, but that's difficult. A beer and a massage would do the trick, but I currently have access to neither. Sleep does an ok job, but my mattress is rock hard, so there's another thing that'll take getting used to.
Happenings today, my host brother got my internet working, I just hope it doesn't overshadow my interactions with my family. Okaasan (what I'll be referring to my host-mother as from now on) and I went out to lunch, which was next to this Germanic building that had all of these neat plants and gardening things, along with handmade trinkets. Okaasan found it funny that I had never had umeboshi (pickled plums) and onigiri (rice balls) before, and that I can't eat natto (fermented soybeans) because it smells too bad.
Last night, Okaasan's daughter called, she's living in Holland with her boyfriend, we spoke and it was nice to be able to speak English with someone. I know, I know, I'm here to speak Japanese, but it still felt nice.
Entry for Today
Captain's Log:
I feel much better today, but still overwhelmed.
I could use some more sleep, and I still haven't gotten that beer....
I'm gonna explore my neighborhood today, I'll report back with pictures.
I feel much better today, but still overwhelmed.
I could use some more sleep, and I still haven't gotten that beer....
I'm gonna explore my neighborhood today, I'll report back with pictures.
Entry for yesterday
Captain's Log:
I was fine until today. I didn’t quite realize just how bad my ability to communicate in this language was. I met my host mother today, and I can barely communicate with her. She seems nice, but I feel bad and embarrassed that I can’t understand what she’s saying. I’m exhausted physically and mentally, trying to think of words is a chore. I’ve never been this unsure of myself. I’m horribly boned for the placement test.
I know fear now. I’m scared. I’ve never been this scared before. I feel utterly alone, and unable to do anything. I know this will pass, but it’s searing into me right now. Not to mention I also feel physically ill, I’ve been light-headed for most of the day, and nausea’s starting to kick in. I just want to sleep.
I lost my colloquial Kansai book on the bus from the airport to the meeting place. I’m mad about this, but I’ll just order another I guess. I met the other exchange students and I wonder how they’re doing, and if they’re in as much trouble as I am.
I want a beer, and I want to sleep.
Just so this entry isn’t all frowns, at the airport yesterday, I walked by a family that had a little girl that couldn’t have been older than 4 or 5. As I walked past, I saw her face light up – she had never seen a redhead before. That made me smile.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Travels abound
Captain's log:
Finally made it to Osaka. Now I have to get up super early so I can get on a bus to go back to the airport, then get on another bus to go to the opposite end of the city.
On the flight over, I came to the stark realization that I vastly underestimated the size of this country. Tokyo is beyond enormous, as is the rest of the country. Pictures will ensue, but I'm lazy.
Also, I've noticed that every foreigner I've seen is either an overweight white guy, or a huge black guy. Every black dude I've seen here is jacked, at least 6'5", or both. I don't understand.
I'd like to thank this entry for it's lack of insight or political correctness.
Finally made it to Osaka. Now I have to get up super early so I can get on a bus to go back to the airport, then get on another bus to go to the opposite end of the city.
On the flight over, I came to the stark realization that I vastly underestimated the size of this country. Tokyo is beyond enormous, as is the rest of the country. Pictures will ensue, but I'm lazy.
Also, I've noticed that every foreigner I've seen is either an overweight white guy, or a huge black guy. Every black dude I've seen here is jacked, at least 6'5", or both. I don't understand.
I'd like to thank this entry for it's lack of insight or political correctness.
Phase 1 - Infiltration - Complete
Captain's log,
I'm here, I'm really here. I haven't felt this giddy since the first time I moved to Athens.
My plane left Atlanta around 2:00pm. I was fortunate enough to get first class, but unfortunate enough to not sleep at all on the flight. So 15 hours later I land in Tokyo, wearing a 3-piece suit, and carrying around 70lbs of luggage.
The Japanese have these cameras that monitor your temperature as you walk past, to check if you're sick or not, and miraculously I went through with no hassle, despite that I was roasting.
I get a cart and my bags, and waltz through customs. By this point, I'm exhausted and just want to sleep, but I still have to get to my hotel. The flight crews helped me out tremendously, since we were all headed to the same hotel, I just jumped on their bus.
Finally I get here, have little hassle checking in, and finally get my shower. I went down to the lobby to see if there was a restaurant or anything, and find a sports bar. I order some fried calamari, which was delicious, and never before have I been so happy to see Guinness.
It's now about 8:00am, I've been awake for an hour, and now begins my hunt for breakfast. I'll leave you with an image that gave me goosebumps.
I'm here, I'm really here. I haven't felt this giddy since the first time I moved to Athens.
My plane left Atlanta around 2:00pm. I was fortunate enough to get first class, but unfortunate enough to not sleep at all on the flight. So 15 hours later I land in Tokyo, wearing a 3-piece suit, and carrying around 70lbs of luggage.
The Japanese have these cameras that monitor your temperature as you walk past, to check if you're sick or not, and miraculously I went through with no hassle, despite that I was roasting.
I get a cart and my bags, and waltz through customs. By this point, I'm exhausted and just want to sleep, but I still have to get to my hotel. The flight crews helped me out tremendously, since we were all headed to the same hotel, I just jumped on their bus.
Finally I get here, have little hassle checking in, and finally get my shower. I went down to the lobby to see if there was a restaurant or anything, and find a sports bar. I order some fried calamari, which was delicious, and never before have I been so happy to see Guinness.
It's now about 8:00am, I've been awake for an hour, and now begins my hunt for breakfast. I'll leave you with an image that gave me goosebumps.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
New beginnings
Captain's log:
Let me introduce myself for a bit. My name is Steve, I'm a 21 year old senior at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. My major is Japanese, and my hobbies include music, books, movies, general geekery/nerdlery, and long walks on the beach. When I was in kindergarten or first grade, we had "culture week/month," where we learned about a new country everyday. This is not only where my interest in geography started to bud, but also I learned of a tiny island nation called Japan. I immediately became enamored with the country, and have tried to learn much about it's culture, history, people, and language. As time went on, I was always dismayed when I arrived at a new school and Japanese was not offered as a class. Finally, upon my arrival to college, I had my opportunity to take Japanese. Being the only thing that truly interested me, I not only took classes, I majored in it. Now, I finally get to achieve one of my dreams of going to this seemingly mystical, far-off land. And this blog will server as my chronicling of my adventures and journey.
I've got my visa, my bags packed, my ticket, and I leave in 11 hours.
Let me introduce myself for a bit. My name is Steve, I'm a 21 year old senior at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. My major is Japanese, and my hobbies include music, books, movies, general geekery/nerdlery, and long walks on the beach. When I was in kindergarten or first grade, we had "culture week/month," where we learned about a new country everyday. This is not only where my interest in geography started to bud, but also I learned of a tiny island nation called Japan. I immediately became enamored with the country, and have tried to learn much about it's culture, history, people, and language. As time went on, I was always dismayed when I arrived at a new school and Japanese was not offered as a class. Finally, upon my arrival to college, I had my opportunity to take Japanese. Being the only thing that truly interested me, I not only took classes, I majored in it. Now, I finally get to achieve one of my dreams of going to this seemingly mystical, far-off land. And this blog will server as my chronicling of my adventures and journey.
I've got my visa, my bags packed, my ticket, and I leave in 11 hours.
I can’t really describe how I feel. I’m not anxious, I’m not sad, I’m not really all that excited. I’m in a state of disbelief. I felt somber after leaving Athens for the last time, but that faded. I feel like I'm letting my friends down by not being there this year. They've done so much for me, and I don't think they'll ever realize how much I'd be willing to do for them. I don't like that I have to miss out on so much, but it's a necessary evil. I'm a Japanese major, if I'm not fluent, I'm a failure. I'll have a blast, I'll make sure of that. But I can't help but feel selfish about that.
I’ve got everything in order. I’ve had to take some things out of my bags because they were too heavy. My backpack weighs 30 freaking pounds. I’m just …ready. I even ate all the food I won't get much of there, I've had fried chicken, krispy kreme, steak, cheesecake, ben & jerry's, southern comfort, my last guinness 250. Nom.
One more step towards conquering the world, I ‘spose.
I've got everything under control, but once I get there, I know I'm going to have trouble getting to the hotel, then back to the hotel, then to my plane to Osaka, then to another hotel, then to the meeting area to finally meet my host family.
My host family is a 69 year old woman and her 41 year old son. I hope and pray that he's not an Otaku, and that she won't see my purpose of being there is to do chores. I feel my host family could either be awesome or terrible. Only time will tell.
In the meantime, here's the theme song to my exit:
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