Japan Transmission
Well hello there!
I havent had much time to sit down and think out whats happened so far, but I'll try my best now. Be warned Im terrible at these things.
The flight into Japan wasnt too bad at all. I planned to synch up my sleepcycle with Japanland the week before, forcing myself to go to sleep after I got back from class, usually waking up at 3am or so. This careful planning got shot to hell when the first day I arrived in the country we stayed up until 5am.
Im staying half and half with my friends Hidetaka and Mika. Hide is a great guy, and the first few days in Japan were spent mostly following him around going crazy having to plan his wedding party. The only downside is that Hide's house is far far far from Tokyo, and its about a 15 minute walk to the train station. He also doesnt have a heater in his house, aand I have to sleep on the hardwood floor with a thin carpet and a blanket to cover me. TOTALLY camping out.
Mikas place, on the other hand, is in Gotanda, which is in Tokyo Proper. Her mom is a total sweetheart, and even though I have troubles speaking coherently enough for her to understand me, I have a lot of fun trying to communicate with the lady. Mika's absolutely infactuated with me, which is both cute and troublesome at the same time. Shes an amazing friend and her english abilities have helped me out in quite a few funky situations, but at times I feel like Im abusing her good nature. I really dont have any feelings for her, and I feel like shes doing all of this to win me over... But in the end I realize I wouldnt have had half as much fun if it wasnt for her hospitality. Its a strange trade off.
The other main goal in my stay here is to meet some nice japanese guys. Basically all my friends that live here are girls, and it makes me feel like the stereotypical invading gaijin whose only purpose is to hunt the nation's women. This plan has gone pretty well, and Ive meet up with a ton of Hide's classmates. Most of our interactions involve me teaching them The Shocker and the meaning of such phrases as "Holy crap!"
Me in the shower.
Hidetaka and Maki's Wedding Party
Our appetizer of 6 Doritos served in an Italian resturaunt.
I really dont know.
Me and and the J-cosplayer Tomoko Kamijou. She was punk as all hell, and helped me navigate the bizarre otaku-infested land of Akihabara.
Me and Jordan's friend of 6 years, Suku. Turns out Suku is a Kabajou or 'Hostess'. She works at a bar and her job is to draw in male customers and pour them alcohol. Theyre basically hookers who dont do anything naughty. Its such a strange thing to understand. She gets paid to sit close to customers and offer conversation.
It says 'Today I played with Duncan! It was fun!'
Nathan and Aki brandishing a TEN-BLADED pair of scissors we found at Tokyu Hands.
Us being drinky.
I havent had much time to sit down and think out whats happened so far, but I'll try my best now. Be warned Im terrible at these things.
The flight into Japan wasnt too bad at all. I planned to synch up my sleepcycle with Japanland the week before, forcing myself to go to sleep after I got back from class, usually waking up at 3am or so. This careful planning got shot to hell when the first day I arrived in the country we stayed up until 5am.
Im staying half and half with my friends Hidetaka and Mika. Hide is a great guy, and the first few days in Japan were spent mostly following him around going crazy having to plan his wedding party. The only downside is that Hide's house is far far far from Tokyo, and its about a 15 minute walk to the train station. He also doesnt have a heater in his house, aand I have to sleep on the hardwood floor with a thin carpet and a blanket to cover me. TOTALLY camping out.
Mikas place, on the other hand, is in Gotanda, which is in Tokyo Proper. Her mom is a total sweetheart, and even though I have troubles speaking coherently enough for her to understand me, I have a lot of fun trying to communicate with the lady. Mika's absolutely infactuated with me, which is both cute and troublesome at the same time. Shes an amazing friend and her english abilities have helped me out in quite a few funky situations, but at times I feel like Im abusing her good nature. I really dont have any feelings for her, and I feel like shes doing all of this to win me over... But in the end I realize I wouldnt have had half as much fun if it wasnt for her hospitality. Its a strange trade off.
The other main goal in my stay here is to meet some nice japanese guys. Basically all my friends that live here are girls, and it makes me feel like the stereotypical invading gaijin whose only purpose is to hunt the nation's women. This plan has gone pretty well, and Ive meet up with a ton of Hide's classmates. Most of our interactions involve me teaching them The Shocker and the meaning of such phrases as "Holy crap!"
Me in the shower.
Hidetaka and Maki's Wedding Party
Our appetizer of 6 Doritos served in an Italian resturaunt.
I really dont know.
Me and and the J-cosplayer Tomoko Kamijou. She was punk as all hell, and helped me navigate the bizarre otaku-infested land of Akihabara.
Me and Jordan's friend of 6 years, Suku. Turns out Suku is a Kabajou or 'Hostess'. She works at a bar and her job is to draw in male customers and pour them alcohol. Theyre basically hookers who dont do anything naughty. Its such a strange thing to understand. She gets paid to sit close to customers and offer conversation.
It says 'Today I played with Duncan! It was fun!'
Nathan and Aki brandishing a TEN-BLADED pair of scissors we found at Tokyu Hands.
Us being drinky.