Recharged-FUU!!!
That was the best vacation I've had in the past two years - I can't believe how badly I needed it! I delayed my return by a day because it would have been too hectic to finish covering TGS and then immediately return the next day. I got on average less sleep (about 5 hours a day?) than when I was working, and towards the end of the week rings were starting to form under my eyes. Ironically though, I did not feel tired at all - can your body run on endorphins for an entire week? Not sure if that's healthy, but who cares?
Also, I'm REALLY glad things went so well at NYAF! ACP will run just fine without me, so I was worrying for nothing~
It's been two years since my last visit, and this being my fourth trip, it's interesting to see the changes that take place, both in Japan itself and my perspectives of it. The first time I visited was in full-out tourist mode - seeing the sites, absorbing the cultural quirks, and as specific to my circle of friends, buying all the stuff you normally can't get in the US. Today, the Internet has made it so that you can basically buy 80% of what you would want from Japan without actually traveling there. I've seen basically all the major tourist attractions, and knowing enough Japanese to get around has basically transformed me from being a tourist visiting to just a trip for relaxation. I'm somewhat hesitant to tell people the details of what I did when I was there, because I could sum it up as:
1. Watched a couple movies
2. Played video games
3. Ate delicious food
4. Covered TGS
5. Did some shopping
With the exception of #4, it's all pretty ordinary stuff, and a more cynical person would be like, "Couldn't you do that at home and saved yourself a good chunk of money?" Well yes, but even the most mundane of things can take on new life by changing your scenery. And there is just something soothing about being in Japan - I feel CONTENT just by being there. I'm not sure I'd want to live there permanently, seeing as how my friends are here in the US, but it's certainly my #1 place for just slacking off and recharging my batteries, so to speak. Maybe my new goal is to make enough money to rent out an apartment for a couple months at a time.
So instead of breaking it down to a day by day synopsis, I'd rather make a series of posts with the highlights, which include:
1. Evangelion 2.0 and Cencoroll
2. Cat-themed Lounge?!
3. Border Break, Sega's networked robot battle game
4. TGS 2009 and Japanese cosplay
5. Food - Ootoro, Bakudan and Kushi
Oh, and for the record, I actually didn't get to meet my girlfriend in Japan - so I opted for a hostess club instead to keep me from getting lonely.
Also, I'm REALLY glad things went so well at NYAF! ACP will run just fine without me, so I was worrying for nothing~
It's been two years since my last visit, and this being my fourth trip, it's interesting to see the changes that take place, both in Japan itself and my perspectives of it. The first time I visited was in full-out tourist mode - seeing the sites, absorbing the cultural quirks, and as specific to my circle of friends, buying all the stuff you normally can't get in the US. Today, the Internet has made it so that you can basically buy 80% of what you would want from Japan without actually traveling there. I've seen basically all the major tourist attractions, and knowing enough Japanese to get around has basically transformed me from being a tourist visiting to just a trip for relaxation. I'm somewhat hesitant to tell people the details of what I did when I was there, because I could sum it up as:
1. Watched a couple movies
2. Played video games
3. Ate delicious food
4. Covered TGS
5. Did some shopping
With the exception of #4, it's all pretty ordinary stuff, and a more cynical person would be like, "Couldn't you do that at home and saved yourself a good chunk of money?" Well yes, but even the most mundane of things can take on new life by changing your scenery. And there is just something soothing about being in Japan - I feel CONTENT just by being there. I'm not sure I'd want to live there permanently, seeing as how my friends are here in the US, but it's certainly my #1 place for just slacking off and recharging my batteries, so to speak. Maybe my new goal is to make enough money to rent out an apartment for a couple months at a time.
So instead of breaking it down to a day by day synopsis, I'd rather make a series of posts with the highlights, which include:
1. Evangelion 2.0 and Cencoroll
2. Cat-themed Lounge?!
3. Border Break, Sega's networked robot battle game
4. TGS 2009 and Japanese cosplay
5. Food - Ootoro, Bakudan and Kushi
Oh, and for the record, I actually didn't get to meet my girlfriend in Japan - so I opted for a hostess club instead to keep me from getting lonely.