Can You Sit Like An Asian?

I was asked this today, and, mind you, not for the first time.

For those wondering how sitting like an Asian is different than sitting like someone from anywhere else, you obviously haven't seen someone from Asia squat down on the floor, feet flat on the ground, and knees bent to just kinda hang out down there. Because they all have the innate ability to do so. And it's not just a select few who do this, but, well, all of them do it. It's like a born ability to do so. And most Westerners can't do it. No joke. I've seen so many people ponder over this style of sitting.



Of course, the method is extremely practical and useful. By sitting on the flats of your feet, it keeps the muscles in your legs from straining and stiffening, therefore making the pose easy and painless. Also, unlike Western sitting positions, it is easy to move from the squat to standing in one fluid motion, unlike sitting on your bum, cross legged, or with your feet curled under you. Simple squat/sit and stand. It's like an exercise routine for the everyday. Adding to that, it saves space.



At first, when arriving in Japan, I noticed that, in all the bus, train, and basic transportation areas, there are no chairs. This struck me as odd, considering that, for those people traveling, you wait for long periods of time for your bus or train, therefore making chairs opportune and extremely useful items in these locations. This was a particular issue during Golden Week when my friends and I traveled all over Japan, having to wait at bus stations late at night with no chairs and heavy bags. Chairs would have been extremely appreciated. However, upon inspection the lack of chairs makes sense. When chairs are absent, what do you do? Sit like an Asian. Tired, just bend those knees and you're no standing anymore. The entire center of gravity changes, you're legs don't care, and all you need to rely on is balance. You're set. In addition, chairs take up large amounts of space and, in Japan where space is prized, the lack of them is extremely reasonable.



The benefits of the Asian sitting style/squat could be expounded on but let me first explain as to one idea as to why people here are so adept where as Westerns completely incompetent. The answer is simple.

The toilet.

Now, before you burst into laughter and call me stupid and ridiculous, allow me to expound upon this. Toilets in Asia are not the same as toilets in the Western world. Okay, well, they do have a lot of Western style toilets, where you sit down and do your thing, but for the most part, toilets consist of a ceramic oval bowl in the floor that you squat over to do your thing. I'm not kidding, it's a hole in the floor. Well, an extremely technologically advanced hole in the floor, but a hole in the floor none the less. In truth, if you had to squat to do your business every day, I'm pretty sure the habit would sink in pretty fast. On top of that, it's a convenient sitting position.



I can't count the number of times, when riding the train home late or just on a day when it's not packed like sardines, that I've seen someone, either out of necessity or free will, simply shoot down to the floor to hang out in the favored seating position. And no one stares. It's common to just see people anywhere any times sitting like this, whether they're checking their cell phone, eating a rice ball, or just resting for a bit.



The Celebrities do it too.



Personally, I think it's a much better thing to sit like an Asian that to walk like an Egyptian.

And if you were wondering, yes, I can sit like an Asian.

DORAMA「ドラマ」and Men

(Before you guys all yell at me for such a ridiculous topic, let me just say that I apologize for not posting lately. I have been rather on a dry source for writing inspiration and motivation. Hence the long silence. I wrote this a while back but never posted it. Thought I might as well prove I'm alive. :P)

Following such a long absence of anything of substance, I figured it was high time for me to get my ass in gear and actually write something intelligent, something inspired, and, most importantly, something which will give you a view into my current life in Japan.

I am, course, referring to the current culture here. In other words, drama television, manpurses, and pretty people.

Honestly, what did you expect?

So, let`s start with something I already touched on. DRAMA! Currently, I am blaming one of my best friends (who is currently sleeping beside me in the computer lab at her computer... because she has nothing else to do) who basically got me into this one series. Of course, I actually have no one to blame but myself. This is because, I saw an advertisement, among the hundreds everywhere, for one drama and another drama which is based on a manga I read online back in the States. The first drama, TUMBLING (or "tanburingu" タンブリング), I watched the first episode on my phone. It is entire in Japanese and not yet discovered or piqued the interest of the subbing community. To make things simple, it is about a "yankee" or school punk, who joins a tumbling (sort of like rhythmic gymnastics) team in his highschool and, well, the story just kinda goes from there. Basically, it`s a lot of intense looks, pretty people, over acting, and makes me laugh all the time. Honestly, I can`t watch the show without laughing. Not only is it overdone, but it`s also extremely, in my opinion, gay. Well, by American standards. However, that doesn`t eliminate the fact that I actually enjoy the show. It`s one those experiences where you can actually just let yourself be wrapped up in the drama. The truth is, it`s so over the top and ridiculous that you can`t help but let yourself indulge. It`s the same with another drama I`m watching called Sunao ni Narenakute, which is starring one of my favorite singers in the Asian music sphere Kim Jaejoonng, best known for his part in the Korean group DBSK/TVQK or Tohoshinki. That show is also addictive and incredibly amusing. Even though I feel as if I can predict everything, the acting is sappy, and the whole thing is ridiculously over done, I still find myself enjoying it.




Unlike American drama, which you all might associate with the popular names of Lost, Gray`s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, etc.. Japanese drama is more along the lines of the soap operas. And everyone follows them. Well, maybe not everyone, but the following of these dramas rivals the rabid fangirls of those boybands from the 90`s lets just say that. Asian drama forms a genre completely its own when compared to Western Drama. The stories are emotional, slightly disturbing, and almost always deal with some sort of relationship in the most intense way possible. After a bit of time, you recognize a familiar theme in all the shows. One character is always being beaten down/misunderstood but people slowly gravitate towards he/she because of his shining hidden personality; a love triangle or two between characters all of which have huge emotional baggage and cannot work out without fighting in some way shape or form; a few hidden secrets which will eventually end in the revealing of old marriages, loves, or past drastic mistakes which people beg for forgiveness from; and anything else you can think up which would make it even more dramatic or "LE GASP!" worthy. Though I am still new to the world of drama and have only experienced the Japanese Drama, I have also heard that Korean Drama is even more over the top. Basically, people either say Korean Drama is the best or the worst.

I`ll let you guys know what I think when I get the chance to check it out. Basically, it brings out the inner fangirl.

Well, I suppose that actually the next topic could also be considered entertaining, but not in the media sense of the word. Here, I am referring to Japanese fashion. I should firstly point out that Japanese fashion is extremely unlike anything I`ve seen as of yet. Sure, you can say that it isn`t that much of a culture shock, but truthfully, when you compare the world here to what I know back in America, it`s pretty astronomical. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE looks nice all the time. The only people who look even the slightest bit scruffy are the homeless, and even they don`t look nearly as bad as those seen wandering the streets of Boston or NYC. Basically, everyone here is pretty. They`re all fit, they`re all well dressed, and they all look practically ready for a photoshoot. I`ve never in my life felt fat before, nor so utterly underdressed and selfconscious of my clothes. And that`s just the guys.

Of course, you may think I`m kidding on that point. I`m not. They`re all well dressed, well kept, and, to put it simply, pretty. Well, okay, maybe not all of them, but a whole lot of them are definitely easy on the eyes. This was probably the only bit of culture shock which I`ve experienced since my time in Japan. The fact that everyone here is so kept. In the states, this would be labeled as only one thing and without remorse. Gay. Homosexual. Queer. In the states, to be so well kept and attractive, spending almost as much time on ones appearance as a girl, you`d be considered poncy. However, if they`re all poncy, I`ve yet to meet one. Though I suppose this is me just revealing my own stereotypical thinking and ignorance, I suppose it is something which I should have realized. Though I must say, it is extremely nice to have such a nice refreshing change from the image of a man changing from a morning scruff, dirty laundry and baggy pants to a nice hair cut, clean face and body, pressed clothing and a towel nicely hung up rather than lying on the floor.






The culture is most evident in the stars and icons of the media, the majority of whom are all equally as clean and impressive.

Now onto something which I noticed and which never ceased to amuse me for the first few weeks that I was here. Now, it`s just normal, so it doesn`t even catch my attention now, but I remembered it just now and figured I`d write about it. The basic status of men and women in the states is simple; women carry purses, men shove their wallets into the back pants pocket and call it cool. In Japan, everyone carries a bag. And I mean everyone. Men, women, kids, old men, old women, hell, I wouldn`t be surprised if I saw a dog carrying around a shoulder bag soon. But it`s not even just shoulder bags for school, everyone carries bags. What first hit me was how many men, of all ages, carry a bag. And not just the salarymen carrying briefcases, but all the guys here carry the equivalent of a woman's purse. Well, maybe not all of them, but a vast majority of them carry some sort of bag. And not just messenger bags, bags which would rival the purses in the women's boutiques. Basically, they all carry what we in America call a manpurse and here they simply call a bag. Though surprising at first, it really makes a whole lot of sense. I mean, in Tokyo you carry around a lot of crap. Your wallet, your dekiken (train pass because EVERYONE uses trains), your phone with its 500 phone charms equally twice the size of your cell, your ipod (everyone has an mp3 player), the pair of headphones for your ipod, the pair of headphones for your phone, and whatever else you`re going to need for your day. Of course, not all men carry bags, but it`s certainly a fair few that you see. Here, since you walk EVERYWHERE, you carry your stuff with you. And a bags never a bad idea kids. Plus, what with the fashion craze, they certainly are stylish.





Just like everything else in Japan.

And with that, I`ll stop before I begin rambling more and more about the daily life around me. However, know that this is not the end of me! I SHALL RETURN! And with more long winded posts about random.

ja ne

Welcome to Waseda

This is to be the beginning of many new entries, if not tonight then tomorrow, when I will have more time to write.

And, considering that this is about the Opening Ceremony for Waseda SILS students, I find it fitting.

On Friday, April 2nd, 2010, the Opening Ceremony for the SILS students of Waseda University was held at Okuma Auditorium at 10:30 in the morning. The day was slightly dreary, raining a bit, as new students walked to Waseda with their friends, host families, and police escort.

Wait, what?

Let's rewind that and go over a few things, shall we?

All this week, meaning the week that Waseda SILS students had no class and simply time to bounce around Tokyo and check out Waseda, the campus was positively swarming with students. Current Waseda students, I mean. As in, every club you can think of standing to represent with tables, candy, fliers, posters, and, in some cases, dance routines. The first day was kinda intimidating, walking through a street positively swamped with people enthusiastically shoving papers into your arms. I swear there are trees crying somewhere over this. And so, it all built up to this. The Opening Ceremony.

Waseda, being a University, has many different schools, all with separate opening ceremonies. The day before the SILS opening ceremony, apparently the Police had to be called in for crowd control. I don't mean overenthusiastic new students, I mean every group and his friend swarming the new students as they left Okuma Auditorium. Apparently, the police had to explain to the clubs and student groups that they had to stay back because the students were too afraid to leave the building.

Thus, arriving with my host mother after an extremely cramped train ride, we were greeted with a mass of shouting eager students, several stern police men, and my friends waiting for me. Getting into the ceremony was a piece of cake, the students waiting until after to pounce. So, with a few pictures shot on the auditorium steps, we went inside the beautiful building and took our seats.

The ceremony was both in Japanese and English, making it easy for us non native kiddos to understand what was going on. The fact that the dean of SILS is a British professor from Cambridge also helped a bit. He talked about trains.

Trains (sadly, the quality is terrible, but I figured you might enjoy it anyway)

And so, after a ceremony which was pleasant and humorous (that aspect goes to my friends), we got to listen to both the Waseda Glee Club and the Waseda Orchestra (Glee club is also on that Youtube page, the orchestra isn't, but the quality was so poor you don't miss much. Video quality I mean, the Orchestra itself was great).

After the ceremony, we attempted to leave the auditorium. Note the word attempted. Because, like the previous day, the place was instantaneously swamped with students, all yelling at us and brandishing fliers. It was a mad house to be blunt. An extremely exciting, loud, and interesting madhouse, but a madhouse none the less.

The day was a rainy one, and after breaching the mass of students all yelling excitedly, my friends and I went separate ways, mainly to get out of our fancy pants clothes before later that day. Which would be consisting of going to a group or circle gathering where we had already made some friends. This was the same group that I had gone on the Tokyo Tour with, Niji no Kai, and already knew some people.

The gathering turned out to be about 100 people large, taking up the entire top floor of a restaurant where all of us newbies got introduced, made friends, and chatted over Japanese American style food and beer. This meaning that it was the Japanese version of American food (pizza, fried chicken, french fries, and some edamame to be cool), and Japanese beer (cheap, but whatever). It was basically a fun end to a long day of beginnings. Friends, fun, and a pleasantly cool evening constituted as a good start of the year.

Well, almost start, considering classes don't start until the 6th (tomorrow. Ack.), but a start none the less.

Ai out-

Paparazzi

Well, this post wont exactly be long. I've been rather busy as of late and haven't really had a chance to do much writing. Of course, I'm sure I'll be eating my words soon enough and thinking 'good lord, I was busy then?!'

Anyway, I thought I'd post something today, even if it is short.

Today was the first day I have actually really felt foreign. This isn't because of language, or food, or custom. This was because, while waiting for my friends at the Harajuku station, I had my photo taken via phone by what looked like two middle school girls. I noticed just as they were whispering and giggling excitedly and aiming a phone at me. Of course, being the nice person I am, I waved and smiled at them and they got all embarrassed. However, it was the first time I'd every had my picture taken. And was real proof that I am foreign.

I found the whole thing amusing at the time and still do now. But it was something that I'm completely unused to. Almost made me feel like a celebrity. Random people taking your picture while you're just standing on the sidewalk outside a station? Kinda makes me feel famous. :P

I'm sorry this isn't more interesting. I'm a bit beat and don't have the energy to write a novel of a post today. Also, opening ceremony is tomorrow and I have things to do. *work work work*

Therefore,

Ai out-

To Pump is to Flush? Not so Much.

*long post is very long*

And so, with the encouraging words my mother just gave me being 'GET A SWEATSHIRT!!!' I shall now begin my portion on Japanese sanitary customs. Mainly, the topic both you and I love, toilets. Well, okay, maybe not just toilets, but you get the idea. This is bathroom talk, and not as in foul language and dirty jokes. This is complete, thorough, and absolute first hand observations on all my lavatory experience in Japan.

Now, for those of you reading this and going 'what the hell is she on? Toilets? What's so different about toilets?' allow me to explain. Japan, like many other countries outside of the American sphere of intelligence, has different bathing and toilet customs. For example, in some places in Europe, they don't bathe, they shower. Also, you crap in a hole in a floor, not a toilet. Toilets are, in those cases, for rich people. Just like central heating, dishwashers, and cars. For those fancy people with their frilly umbrellas. In Japan, you poo in either a tricked out toilet that does everything or in a hole in the floor.

First, I'll explain the toilets. And I don't mean the hole. I mean the crazy impressive toilets that people either rave about or scratch their heads over. These toilets look mostly normal, the structure similar to American style and, what I would imagine, European style. However, unlike Western toilets which have one feature (flush), Japanese toilets have lots of interesting perks. One, which I've come to appreciate due to the recent weather, is the sensory seat. Now, while in the hotel for one night, this seat was actually a bit startling. *Prepare yourself, for, though details will not be graphic, they will be details.* When sitting down on the hotel toilet (which had a remote by the way), the toilet immediately began a preemptive flush. For some people I know, this could be a way to actually help them use the bathroom, as they are sometimes self conscious of people knowing when they pee and for how long in public bathrooms. I could never understand it, but hey. However, once you sat down and the toilet went "whoosh!" the toilet made some sort of purring noise and began to warm up.

This feature, though seemingly absurd because, honestly, heated toilet seats?, is now my favorite thing about these toilets. I say this because, in Japanese houses, there is no central heating system. Instead, in each individual room there is a heater which is turned on and off depending on whether you turn it on or off. You can also adjust the temperature so it's nice and pleasant in your room *like now where my room is lovely.* However, your room may be lovely and warm, but the hallway just outside isn't, meaning that morning or evening run to the toilet is cold. And sitting on a cold toilet seat isn't exactly a swell thing. Thus, having a toilet, upon registering your weight, begin to warm up so you aren't shivering in the morning, is indeed a fine thing.

So, the toilets flush, heat up, but what else do they do? Well, oh curious one, they also come with many other exciting features, for both men and women! Not only can you control the volume of the flush (whether what you've just completed is a small work of art of a large one), the volume of water can be controlled by turning the flusher one way or the other. AMAZING! And that's not all! These toilets come with a full bidet! Designed for both male and female use so you can ensure yourself to be squeaky clean when you leave the bathroom.

That is, after you've washed your hands in the extremely small skin built into the wall that has no soap and, usually, no paper towels. Interesting, no?

Now, for those of you who have heard of the holes that Japanese people call toilets, don't freak out. Yes, they do have these toilets, but they're not actually just holes in the floor. Originally, when I heard that Japanese use a hole in the floor to do their business, my immediate mental image was that of a wooden floor with a hole cut in it leading to a metal pipe which then, at some point, ended in a septic tank or sewer. To complete this mental image, the floor in question was the fifth floor of an apartment complex and the pipe branched off of another larger pipe and every room in the apartment complex had a similar hole in the floor. Basically, I imagined an extremely elaborate and yet crude outhouse in someone's home.

This is not what a Japanese toilet looks like. In fact, calling it a hole in the floor is, though mostly accurate, an extremely misleading way of describing it. Instead of a hole, it is actually an oblong porcelain basin like structure set into a slightly raised floor with a small hood at one end. Water rushes through at one end to the drain at the other, thoroughly cleaning up whatever you've just done. Gives a whole new meaning to the term 'pop a squat' don't it? Anyway, in Japan, these toilets are actually considered the most sanitary because no part of your body actually touches the toilet, meaning all you have to do is make sure you're clean and go... a feat which isn't always easy, especially considering some Japanese public bathrooms don't have toilet paper. Or paper towels.

However, if you're freaked about having to squat to do your duty, fear not. Thus far, in every bathroom I've been in, it has either been Western style or, in the case of multiple toilets, had the option of either Japanese style or Western style. Nice, huh.

So, if that whole spiel on toilets didn't freak you out and have you learn something, please, let me try to further entertain you. With the topic of bathing. And I don't mean sit in a hot soapy tub until your hands and toes get all wrinkly. For those who don't know, the Japanese are very clean people. It's reflected in their dress, their manners, and even their cities. I haven't seen streets this clean since I was in Disneyland. Honestly. In leu with this, the Japanese are known for their baths. The hot springs, known as Onsen, are famous around the world for their relaxing baths and traditional customs and services. However, bathing is a very serious business. To take a bath, you must be clean. Therefore, you get yourself squeaky and nice BEFORE entering the hot and relaxing water of the bath. How is this done you might wonder. Easy. Three things. Stool. Basin. Shower.

Well, those three things and soap of course.

What you do is fill a the small plastic basin with hot water, douse yourself (upper and lower body NOT YOUR HAIR) with water a few times to get nice and wet before sudsing up. Then, when you've finished process one, you rinse. At a public bath house, you won't have the shower option of turning on the water and just hosing yourself down. However, at home, this is an option. Once you've got all the soap of, then and ONLY THEN can you actually enter the bath. May it be noted that you DO NOT allow your hair to get into the bath. This is considered rude and very bad manners. So, after sitting and enjoying the lovely hot water in the Japanese baths, you get out and, once again, shower off. NOW you can wash your hair and finish your cleaning process.

Now, taking a bath is COMPLETELY optional. Thus far in my stay here, I haven't really had much time to actually take a bath and, since I typically shower in the morning (trust me, bed head doesn't begin to cover the chaos), I haven't been able to actually enjoy a good soak in the tub. Therefore, the process is simple. Get up, go to the toilet, then enter the bathroom. *Yes, the toilet and bathroom are separate* Now, here comes the REALLY COOL PART! Unlike Western homes, the Japanese don't have a water heater. This is EXTREMELY important to know, because if you don't know that you have to turn ON the hot water before trying to take a shower, you're in for one cold experience. Trust me, it's not a great way to wake up. Because they do not have a hot water heater, the Japanese heat the water while it travels through the pipes, meaning you never run out of hot water. However, you pay for the hot water depending on how much you use, so don't just assume you can use as much as you want.

Now the fun part: actually bathing. The space where the actual bath is located is in a water sealed room, meaning anything and everything can get wet. So, once you're all nice and nekkid *naked* (do this in the adjourning room. No one wants to leave a shower in wet clothes), you enter the actual bath area and sit down on the small stood. Now what? Now, you turn on the water until it's hot and do just as I previously described. Basin. Douse. Soap. Again, you don't have to take a bath, therefore instead of keeping your hair dry so as not to be rude, you can also just wash your hair while soaping. Then just switch the faucet to shower and hose off. Simple and quick. And I mean that. At home (America), a shower or bath takes time. You have to get all wet, soap up, do your thing, rinse off, and all this time waiting for water to do it's cleaning thing. Here, you throw some water on yourself, make use of soap, and rinse off. 1. 2. 3. Not only does it conserve water, but it's also extremely effective. I don't know if I ever really want to go back to the Western style of bathing at this point.

So, now you're all nice and clean and can leave the shower. So grab your towel, wipe down, slip on your house slippers, grab your clothes, and TURN OFF THE HOT WATER! Seriously, don't forget to do this.

And there you have it in simple, yet elaborate terms (because I always talk/type too much). Now, you can bring something new and exciting to those boring dinner table conversations and awkward car rides. Amaze your friends with the strange but exciting technicalities of Japanese lavatories and bathing rituals! You can even throw in some ornamentation, like the fact that the Japanese companies all hand out tissues. Why? Well, public bathrooms typically lack toilet paper. You do the math.

Next blog? Ramen and being foreign.

*God I feel like some sort of annoying television show. With the horrifically stereotypical white male who's so hyped on steroids and caffeine he looks like he's peeing himself in excitement. Yeah, that show.*

Ai out-

Word of the Day: さむい[samui]

Okay, well, technically, it's the word of yesterday. Though today counts as well.

For those wondering what on earth 'samui' means, it's simple. It means 'cold,' which was the weather yesterday and has been for the past week or so. Honestly, it hasn't gone over 55 degrees here and I'm beginning to wonder if I'm still in Kansas, Toto.

Yesterday was, to put it bluntly, absolutely amazing. With the WIC (Waseda Internation Club) all of us who wanted to got to go on a 'Tokyo Tour'. Or one of two Tokyo Tours. As it was, I went on the Asakusa and Akihabara tour. And MAN was it fun. Starting in Akihabara (the tour left at 11:30 in the Amdizzle), we, all 30 of us) crammed into the small upstairs of a restaurant and had lunch. Which was an experience I wouldn't trade for anything. Sitting about 8-10 to a table, no bigger than an average computer desk, we had food prepared in front of us by, no joke, us. The wait staff showed us what to do and, with the help of the Japanese students from the WIC on the tour with us, we managed to make monjayaki, okonomiyaki, and other yum yums.







After that, which was awesome and delicious and fun, we hopped back on the Subway and traveled to Asakusa. If you're wondering why we didn't spend more time in Akihabara, it was because lunch took around an hour and half to get through. This was because we were over 30 people and because it was a long meal. Starting with monjayaki, then okonomiyaki, then some potatoes and spicy sausage, and another round of monjayaki for fun.

So, after a few more subway rides and introductions (we all got very good at saying 'hajimemashite' [nice to meet you *used to begin introductions*] and 'yoroshiku onegaishimasu' [nice to meet you or please be kind to me *used at the end of introductions*]), we traveled to Asakusa. Asakusa is one of the older parts of the city. Host to a large temple, shrines, and lots of shopping and food, the section was pretty much throbbing with activity. That, and we saw more foreigners there than anywhere else in Tokyo. Because of all the historical stuff and shopping, it's pretty much a tourist trap.

There, we were allowed to explore and investigate. Which we did happily, easily running into our friends yet again and then all traveling, en mass, to get some of the most delicious snacks I've ever had. Known as 'melon pan' 「メロン　パン」 it's a sort of bread or pastry snack which is both hot (thank god because we were all so cold) slightly sweet, and fluffily delicious. I know that's technically not a word, but, given the circumstances, I hope you'll let it slide. And, not only is it delicious, it's cheap. The bakery we were in was actually famous for it, working in a small shop and literally a hole in the wall. However, it's fame was obvious as there was a never ending line outside the door and everyone seemed to want to get their own portion of 'melon pan' before leaving. It's something I would happily take back to the states with me and eat every day. Though I doubt they'd ever taste as good.

So we explored, enjoyed, and then, after a ton of group photos, hopped on the subway yet again, and traveled to komagome (I think) for another round of Ohanami. Which, originally, all of us were dreading, but which turned out to be better than any of us had expected. The city is host to one of the most spectacular gardens I've ever seen, with beautiful trees, bushes, grounds, landscaping, and, especially, lighting facilities. This was key as we were there at night, around 7:30 pm to be exact, and looking at Sakura in the dark isn't nearly as impressive as when it's lovely and sunny. However, the trees illuminated in the darkness were actually more impressive and breathtaking. The blossoms stood out in stark contrast to the darkness and the whole place seemed to take on a kinda of ethereal presence.

To say it was beautiful would be an understatement. I wish I could give you guys a good idea of what it was like with pictures, but my camera isn't that great in the dark and most of the images came out blurry. Also, a photograph could never really express what it was actually like to be there. It would be like trying to compare a piece of construction paper to a Monet.







After we froze ourselves looking at the pretty flowers, our group finally returned to Takadanobaba for either a farewell or dinner party. Give you three guesses which I chose to do and, considering there's only two options, none of them should count. :P
And thus began my first experience eating Japanese style Italian food. We went to the local Italian restaurant (which I annoyingly can't remember the name of) for a dinner of yum, friends, and good spirits (not the alcohol kind). Since we had basically been doing nothing but eating all day wherever we went, I wasn't particularly hungry, therefore ordering a DELICIOUS but small dish (again, can't remember the name. I'm gonna go back, because it was both good and CHEAP and find out the name) which consisted of rice, a cream and cheese sauce, and meat sauce over that. Basically yum in a bowl/crock place thing. By the time we finished dinner it was late and, after spending another twenty minutes with all of my new Japanese friends clammoring to get my number, I bid them farewell amid many cries of 'KYOUTSUKETE!' [be safe!] Bed never felt more lovely.

Now, in case you are wondering why I titled this entry as being cold, it's because it was. Freezing, white stiff hands, runny nose, and convulsive shivering cold. Honestly, when I packed to come here, I didn't expect to be entering the same weather, if not cold, from what I left in Maine. And I mean it. Talking with all my new Japanese friends (yes, I've finally made some Japanese friends), they've all said that this is unusually cold for Japan and, typically, it's a lot warmer and the weather is a lot nicer. Zannen desu ne? [too bad, right?] I'm already thinking of investing in a sweat shirt or two and may, if the price is right, invest in a jacket as well. I have a trench coat but, for those group trips and traveling excursions, a simple jacket might be worth its weight in gold. Or cold, which ever way you want to weigh the benefits.

As for my Japanese friends, I have a suggestion to make for anyone who comes to Japan. DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH while you're here. If you want to, it's very easy to get by just with acting naive and only speaking in English. However, communication takes a long time and, though a lot of people here DO speak English, a lot of other people don't. So, if that's not incentive, I'll give you some more. While I've been here, I've been speaking both English and Japanese and, as much as I can, trying to speak in as much Japanese as possible. Of course, I made a lot of friends yesterday who also spoke English, but about half way through the day I began making more Japanese friends. End result? For almost the entire rest of the day I was speaking in Japanese. If anyone says repetition is ineffective, hit them, because they're wrong. The more I've been speaking Japanese and only hanging around Japanese people, speaking in Japanese, the more I'm learning. Also, a perk from this, you feel much more comfortable. It can be incredibly intimidating hearing everyone around you only speaking in a language you can't understand, if not scary. However, if you immerse yourself in it, you begin to pick up on manners of speech, words, intonations, and conversational cues you'd never get in classes. To top it off, your own Japanese gets a lot better. It may seem like the norm to speak more Japanese than English here, but, surprisingly, I've seen a lot of people speak more of their native tongue than Japanese. I've only had about a year and a half, but I'm pretty much doing everything to only speak in Japanese, only using English when someone looks at me like I've grown a second head.

Also, I've never been more thankful for my habit of gesticulation. As one of my friends, who has had almost no Japanese, it can sometimes be like a game of charades.

So, that's my update from yesterday. Today I have a bit of time and may FINALLY write about bathrooms and toilets and showers or other such topics. However, I figure I might give it a few hours before I shove something else down your throats.

Again, for those who didn't pick it up, I love Japan. Even if it is crazy cold. :D

Ai out-

待った明日[Matta Ashita] / おはなみ[Ohanami]

For those wondering that in God's name the title of this entry means, I'll make the explanation short and simple (strange, I know). It means 'until tomorrow'. Which is exactly the focus of this entry.

Initially, I had intended to be able to write about my experiences with toilets, showers, and all other sanitary related topics today in this post..... okay, that's a bit of a lie. But it was a good intention none the less. Either way, I was hoping to be able to get that post up sooner rather than later. As it is, the time is now nearly 11 pm, I have to walk all over Tokyo tomorrow, and I'm tired. Therefore, Long post will not actually be long. In fact, hopefully, short post will be just that, short.

Today's topic? Ohanami.

Ohanami is the Japanese tradition of getting together a group of family, friends, or both and sitting in a park, under the sakura blooms in spring, while eating, drinking, and basically being merry. It's like Christmas except without gifts, over eating, and Uncle Joe telling you all about his back surgery. The sakura blooms, or cherry blossom blooms for those completely ignorant of anything related to Japan, are incredibly symbolic in Japan. They represent the brevity of life and importance of every small little delicate thing in that time period. Since the flowers only bloom for about one week, it is typical to find ohanami parties in almost every park. People will sit out under the trees on tarps, gathered around a pile of food, a portable grill, or just sitting together, laughing and having fun. Around the area are food stalls and other such small short period booths (pretty much just food stalls) for people to get food from.

And, one of the most important aspects of this tradition, everyone (of age or about) drinks. And I don't mean 'let's raise a glass of beer and get drunk my friends,' I mean a really delicious osake (Japanese alcohol) that everyone enjoys while chatting and enjoying life.

Today, I got to go to an ohanami which was hosted by one of the International student groups at Waseda. Sadly, we went at night, meaning the sakura didn't have the best lighting, but, none the less, it was still extremely fun. There was food, osake, and extremely good company. The fact that it was freezing didn't deter anyone as we all laughed and attempted to communicate in both fragmented English and Japanese with each other. I can easily understand why this is one of the most enjoyed traditions in Japan. That feel good feeling you get after helping someone or the unexplainable joy at seeing a litter of kittens? Yeah, that sort of thing. Just happy all around.

That's Ohanami.

Just a side note though. The osake which tastes like a sweet almost syrupy drink? Yeah, be careful. Because, even with just one glass, I could tell it could knock you on your ass and laugh at you when you tried to get up again.

Keep that in mind for when you come to Japan. That and walking on the left side.

Basically, an end to a great day.

Ai out-

Mah, mah, Mah Telephone!

For those wondering, the title of this blog is taken from the Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce song 'Telephone' where Lady Gaga goes all gangster and starts trying to rap the lyrics "my telephone" in her own Lady Gaga fashion.

Which has nothing really to do with this post except for the word 'phone.' A device which allows for verbal communication between people over far distances without direct contact. It operates through radio waves and transmits signals which travel through the air and eventually are received and result in the newest form of human communication. The term 'cell phone' is used in reference to these small mobile devices which have established a significant popularity in the current day and age, especially among the youth.

And especially in Japan.

Where the phones are so tricked out that, really, you may never need another gadget again.

Here, let me give you an example or analogy. Japanese phones are to American phones as Rocket ships and space exploration are to the Caveman's wheel. Yeah, that intense. Overall, they look normal, pretty basic structure and design, until you try to do something. Then the simple key pad suddenly becomes complicated and intense. No joke. On American phones, basic ones I mean, not the crazy advanced iPhone, we can call people, manage contacts, occasionally text, and keep data. On a BASIC Japanese phone, you can call people, send texts, manage contacts, keep data, send emails, listen to music, watch tv, hold a video chat, take pictures, take movies, send those pictures and movies to friends, manage dates and schedules, use a calculator, check the weather, look at maps, use a GPS, and charge it in the sunlight.

That's just some of the things my phone does. And it cost me 0 yen. Of course, I'll be getting the bill for the plan later but, according to my host father (who is amazing), I got a really good deal and relatively cheap plan.

Now, you may be wondering how I got all of this and for 0 yen. Allow me to tell you a story about the kindness of Japanese people. It's a slightly long story, so you may want to go get a cup of coffee/tea and a biscuit if you think you may get hungry.

Start the day I meet my host family. After my school's representative left, having joined us for lunch (a jolly affair), my host mother and father took me to the local area of Jiyugaoka, a shopping district and lovely setting, where there was a docomo shop. For those wondering, docomo is one of the primary phone companies and manufacturers in Japan. This particular shop is big and extremely friendly. The store employees all greeted us with a happy 'irrashaimase!' upon entrance (the equivalent of 'welcome' in America, except happier and they all say it while bowing) and we swiftly were directed to wait on comfy chairs before we could begin the phone acquisition process. Of course, sitting was interrupted by the curiosity of the phones everywhere all looking extremely shiny and pretty and interesting.

And then, after about 20 minutes, a gent in a puffy blue jacket comes up and politely asks what's going on (in Japanese. Thank God for my host father) and begins to immediately point out the best phones and deals. We chatted (meaning my host family and he chatted) for a good more 20 minutes before our number was called, taking down notes and getting all sorts of juicy tidbits. And so, when sitting at the counter and attempting to pick out some of the rapid fire Japanese, we discover that this man, Mr. Blue Jacket, has not only just made it so that I can get a decent phone which would usually cost about 6,000 yen, but I can, through deals and discounts, get the phone for 0 yen. Not too shabby.

For those wondering why I had to go with my host family to the phone store, in order to get a Japanese phone you must have a sponsor to indicate you won't be a jerk and just run off with it and be irresponsible. Therefore, I couldn't get a phone without the help of my family acting as my sponsor/proxy.

So now we're looking at this snazzy little phone for 0 yen and almost done wrapping things up when the clerk brings over this big wheel thing and sets it down in front of me. Confusing? Yes. "You turn it to find out your prize," says my host father. Disbelief was rampant. Yet, when I turn the crank and a little yellow ball pops out, both my host father, Mr. Blue Jacket, and the clerk all make excited vocalizations and next thing I know I'm being given a gift pack from the Body Shop FOR FREE along with my phone which I paid 0 yen for and a free phone charm.

Talk about perks.

Not only that, but when we left the shop, Mr. Blue Jacket immediately tells me he can set up my phone for me and does so, swiftly clicking through menus and buttons and setting up the foreign object for use. Honestly, this guy was amazing. He came up to complete strangers, one of them foreign, tells them the best deals and ways to get absolute discounts on the phones, and then helps the ignorant foreign girl set up her phone. For nothing except a thank you. Which I kept saying over and over and over because, really, it was more kind that I could ever imagine.

"Kindness is not for other people," Mr. Blue Jacket said, gesturing to me and my host father after saying something in Japanese. Then he smiled. "It's a Japanese proverb. Kindness is a not for myself, but for other people. When you are a kind to other people, you feel good. And kindness comes back to you. Kindness is never for yourself."

And that, ladies and gentleman, is probably one of the biggest lessons anyone can learn in their lives.

And I was told it the first day of actually being in Japan by a random guy in a blue puffy jacket who, out of completely blind kindness, helped me in more ways than I can describe.

"This is a my hobby," Mr. Blue Jacket said, gesturing to the phones. "All the time, I read these [insert gesture to phone magazine]. Every day, I in here [insert gesture to shop]. Ofuro mo [translation: Also in the bath]."

Explanation I got later? Mr. Blue Jacket was what my host father referred to as an otaku. He had one focus and interest, and that was the phones. He read all the fine print, knew all the deals, the details, and ins and outs of the industry and products. Talk about a fortunate encounter.

It is customary in Japan to give gifts to people. Something I was aware of when I was preparing to come here. So, I was lucky enough to have a small little magnet in my bag with a picture of a Maine light house on it. When we were leaving, I bowed low to Mr. Blue Jacket, holding out the magnet with both hands (don't forget to always use BOTH hands when presenting something) and saying "Doomo arigatou gozaimasu!" [Translation: thank you very much (formal)]. He took it, saying 'Oh?' and looking at in with interest. "What is this?"

"A magnet, from my hometown in Maine," I told him, my face probably turning a lovely shade and feeling extremely self conscious (how could I not? It was peanuts compared to what he had just given me).

"MAGNET!" He yelled, suddenly getting extremely excited. "Wow! I love magnets! Also my hobby!" Surprise surprise! He pointed to the small picture. "Maine, right? Steven King!"

Yokatta means 'that's good,' or 'I'm relived' or 'I'm glad.' Upon saying it here, I meant it in all forms. Granted, a small magnet of coastal Maine is really nothing compared to a phone for 0 yen and free set up done completely out of kindness, but I was at least glad he liked it so much.

And that is just one example of the kindness which is practically ubiquidous here. No joke. Everyone is so kind and patient and helpful, it's like being in Disney land without all the crazy costumes and synthetic imagery.

And so, I have a phone which does pretty much everything except brush my teeth and a Japanese proverb I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

If only I can remember what it was in Japanese.

-Ai out.

Picture post and video

Hey guys. Well, considering I woke up today around 5 and it is now nearly eleven, sadly a long post will not be produced at this time. Instead, allow me to completely devour your bandwidth with pictures and labels and, for your viewing pleasure, some videos of the train ride into Tokyo.

Warning: vast number of photos.