Coconut on Ice

No, for once I'm not talking about food.

Today I tried to skate.
on ice.

It wasn't the first time, that was about almost exactly a year ago when Rette visited.
Lets just call it a disaster and leave it at that.
To call that one an attempt would be an understatement, clinging to the sides of the rink is not an attempt.
Especially when you look behind and realise you are holding up a line of 6-7 year olds. *cringe*
(I had to move my body away from the sides creating a bridge with my arms to let the kiddos pass... *giant cringe*)

Today though, I can very proudly declare, was different.
Although I was kind of tricked into it and didn't know I was going skating until I was out of the house and on my bike.
Backing out then would have taken too much effort. Laziness does wonders for me sometimes.

At the rink I did start off by clinging to the sides again. But Bright Eyes was a brilliant (and very patient) teacher.

I quickly realised that my fear of falling was directly related to my inability to move.
So I fell. (not much effort required there!)

And after the first fall (both on my derriere and then forward) things began to make more sense.
I slowly weaned off the sides and by the end of our two hours on the rink I was happily moving along,
sometimes clutching Bright Eyes hand like my life depended on it,
and other times slowly trotting along.

I also got lots of smiles from the other beginners on the ice too, who were still holding on to the sides.
I was the beginners' hero (self-proclaimed or otherwise).

So another thing I can cross off the "list". yay. fewf.

oh and, I did fall about 3 other times. But it was all part of the fun...
fall, LAUGH, get up and go.
I'm putting that down as my pro tem epitaph.

Some ramen afterwards to warm the insides and soothe the bumps.
 (and alas, I did end up talking about food!)

Penne, Jello Shots, Farofa and Joulupukki

Santas climbing the wall at newspaper delivery place next to my apartment building

By the title of this post you can tell that it was an ...er...interesting (and culturally mishmashed) Christmas.

Eve of Christmas-eve was spent baptizing the new Scrabble (pressie to myself!) while helping my newly-found neighbours (acquaintances from old dorm who I recently discovered living 5minutes away and have since become friends) make jello shots for their Christmas eve party.

Christmas-eve was a lovely lunch at an Italian place nearby with two friends. This place has a super lunch set deal for a three course meal+coffee, and serve authentic Italian food. To be able to afford authentic Italian food on a broke-student budget in this country is a rarity. The entree was penne in an amazing sauce and the dessert was a cheesecake drizzled with blueberry sauce. Then some evening Capoeira. And a rendezvous at the neighbourhood bar to shoot back the jello shots that were made the night before.

Christmas day started on a bit of a low with me missing home, the Christmastime warmth, friends, family and food and sulking over the toast I had to have for brunch. Some afternoon Capoeira and a call from parents helped raise the spirits.

Then came the Brazillian buffet Christmas dinner with Capoeira mates in Shibuya. To try to put it into words would not do it justice. I ate until I could not lift my fork anymore. There were men going around in cowboy hats with humongous skewers of meat, meat of all kinds cooked in all different ways. Glistening. Beckoning. Talk about the ultimate fantasy.

There were all sorts of other amazing Brazillian dishes, Farofa (dried cassava powder) etc. The entire lot of us then spent the next hour at an Irish pub clutching our stomachs in agony over having eaten too much. After 2 Christmases away from home it finally felt like Christmas (well in my stomach anyway)!!...third time really is a charm I tell you!!

Boxing Day

Getting ready for some afternoon Capoeira (more out of guilt from the overindulgence the day before) and I hear the postman at my neighbours door. Did I ever mention how Japanese apartments have paper-thin walls? Apparently the postman had the wrong address, I hear feet shuffling and my very own doorbell ring. Standing outside is the postman with a giant Christmassy shopping bag. The postal service in this country is amazingly reliable, people post things in department store shopping bags with the flimsiest of ties. Nothing gets lost.

The parcel was taken with some hesitation, I wasn't expecting anything, these days all I get is bills.

But the address had my name on it so I signed. Open the bag and inside is a big fluffy doggie, (somewhat freakishly) resembling my family dog that passed away about a month ago.

I go back to the bag to see who sent it and the return address reads:

Joulupukki,

Korvatunturi, Finland.

Yup! I have noooooo idea who sent it. Kiitos Joulupukki. Kiitos very very much!!

A very Merry (and very very belated) Christmas everyone!!

Toast for/to Christmas...

I had toast for Christmas brunch. 

Alone, in my cold apartment. 

(yeah ok, so the heater did rev up later but I'm trying to be a dramatic here ok).

And then I found this toast.

Thought the symbolism was very appropriate. 

Apparently its from a Grey Goose (Vodka) ad. Alcohol does set things right!

A toast
To nearest
To dearest
To the crew
To cahoots
To the ones who’ve been there
To the ones who’ll be there
To dropping everything
To saying anything
To no judgments
To no doubts
To loyalty
To trust
To favors
To lifelongs
To been too long
To nothing’s changed
To having history
To having your back
To moving away
To never too far
To growing up
To settling down
To your second family
To friends

year end panic cartwheels

Yikes! I haven't posted anything in 2months.
So here's what happened. About a month ago I realised, in somewhat of a panic,
that the year was coming to an end.
Panic! because I had slowed down in crossing things off my:
'Things I would love to do while I can still do things' list.
(item #5: find a shorter name for this list)
*for more information on list, scroll to the end of the post*

Item #something-or-the-other: Cartwheels!
Yes, cartwheels.
But, these aren't ordinary cartwheels, they have to be learnt through Capoeira.
Yes, Capoeira.
An obsession that stems from my first viewing of 'Only the Strong' as a child and then much button bashing in Tekken with Christie and Eddie.

And so after useless, anxious staring at the homepage of an Academy nearby (which i have had bookmarked for over a year!) I decided to embrace my fears, and inflexible body in tow went in for the first class. Then signed up for a month.

And what a fabulous, albeit painful month it has been. Masochism has never been THIS much fun! While I'm still working on the cartwheels, I have learnt so much else! Constantly amazed by the students in the academy and the two brilliantly brilliant sensei's. They are by far the most talented yet down-to-earth bunch I have met in Tokyo.

And with their help, encouragement and amazing patience, I'm slowly letting go of my own inhibitions. Quite in awe of it all, and loving every moment of it.
Now the aim is to land that perfect cartwheel.

Additional information:

• The end-of-the-year panic was uncalled for because the list carries off on to the next year, but I'm a procrastinator and need short term goals.
• The list is somewhat progressive and only has a few fixed items like: get a tatt, scuba/sky dive. The rest is mostly: do something and then add to the list. (No I don't have commitment issues!) 
• Item #something-or-the-other: Try Absinthe  (the Green Fairy didn't make an appearance though, perhaps I had been rather demanding when hoping specifically for the Green Fairy (Kylie Minogue) from Moulin Rouge)

Journey to Japan's Kitchen... (the last bit)

The final supper in Osaka was had at the backpacker hostel I was staying at.
The place was run by two very cool Japanese guys and they had organised a cook-up for guests.
I was too busy mingling to take pics. 
After dinner and drinks I finally left for my bus rendezvous point about a 15min walk away.
I arrived early.
So that gave me just enough time to sneak around the corner and have another beer and a bit more of the skewered stuff. (the batterless version)

Pork recommended by the cook himself.

 Mushrooms!

This last one is actually a half-eaten malasada.
Its from a small Hawaiian shop in the beach town called Zushi where I managed to escape to one last time that weekend when I got back to Tokyo.
Unfortunately it was already too cold to swim. But this summer I had managed to swim there about 4-5 weekends in a row so it wasn't so disheartening.

Journey to Japan's Kitchen... a detour next door

You thought I was done? You obviously underestimate my ...appetite :)

While in Osaka I took the train up to Kobe.
The plan, initally, was to give hitchhiking a try.
Japan is one of the safest countries in the world and I figured this would be the only time I could.
But then, it rained.

Kobe presented me with an even friendlier breed of people, the further you go from Tokyo the bigger the hearts and smiles.

And there I ate at the 'China Town' which also had some kind of festival going on that day, with dragon dances etc.

Peking duck. I was tempted but I can just as easily get this in Tokyo so... hmm what else can I eat...

Yes, this stall was really raking in the yen.

First time to see a black steam bun, they use squid ink to give it that colour

Snack no.1

Snack no.5?

Journey to Japan's Kitchen... (Part 3)

 takoyaki/yakisoba/okonomiyaki mix plate from some random food street in Osaka

Menu at kushiyaki (fried skewered stuff) place in Shinsekai, Osaka

Hanging menu tablets

and this is the..kushiyaki!

Journey to Japan's kitchen... (Part 2)

Takoyaki (Fried Octopus)

Location: くくる (Kukuru) Dotonbori, Osaka Japan.

A street of food, bright lights and beautiful chaos.

Journey to Japan's kitchen... (Part 1)

...and from the kitchen to my stomach.

 

First stop: Snack Park in the basement of Hanshin Department Store in Umeda, Osaka.

(great find via Wiki-travel, was a food court serving different Osakan specialities...which were dericious and cheap!)

...like dog food?

Taken in Tokyo yesterday.

EAT, pray, love

I have been to the movies all of three times during my 2 years in Japan, the third of which was this weekend.

The first two movies were randoms a year ago, one an old Japanese comedy at a film festival and another about a band called the Boredoms. Saturday was the first time I went to see a proper Hollywood release...Julia Roberts in what I thought was not her best performance. I had also read the book so naturally the story seemed slightly less intriguing.

What did fascinate me though was the popcorn/drink holder tray. Yes, the popcorn/drink holder tray.

It is a tray that has a slot for your drink and a square slightly indented space for your popcorn packet. I found my seat and put the drink in the seat cup holder and the popcorn packet on my lap and was looking around trying to figure out how to get rid of the tray.

My friend gives me a 'tsk tsk' takes the tray, puts the popcorn and drink back on it and slots the drink piece into the seat cup holder. I thought it was genius! you can keep it in the middle of two people or swing it to either side if you want to hog the popcorn (imagine a little desk in front of you). no more accidentally spilling popcorn on you lap, no more need for people to attack your crotch. (unless of course you like that sort of thing)

I couldn't find an exact pic of the contraption but this one is close, only difference is that there was only one compartment for the drink which is then slotted into the seat cup holder.

bloody brilliant i tell ya!

 

Also, a friend was asking me how I related to the story (divorced lady goes on self-discovery adventure blablah) Well, I don't know about the praying and the loving but I can certainly vouch for the eating. And in light of that, I am off to Osaka tonight by the overnight bus on what I am calling, a culinary tour.

Osaka is the second major city in Japan, and known as the nation's kitchen, the food mecca. I can't wait. Will try to do a food diary if I can remember to take pics of the dishes before I start devouring them.

The trip is also to begin crossing off 'want to visit' places off my list before my last year in Japan disappears! I have been far up North to Hokkaido and down to Nagasaki and a few places in between, time to cover more distance.

courtesy of WorldAtlas.com

In all honesty it was beginners luck...

How could I not put this up!

Backstory:

My friends and I met for a few (too many) drinks one night, and had to change location when the bar closed.

So we went to another bar.

In it, there was a dart board.

So naturally, we had to play.

I had the first try.

and there it is.

after this ofcourse, my darts barely even touched the board >_<

Eats

Pics from random eats.

Onigiri set from a new onigiri place next to uni

Squidward sauced and sliced!

skinny face moral values

Excuse me while I put up more random pics I found on my phone.

 

 

My sentiments exactly!

taken in the toilets of a dorm near my university.

FYI, I haven't started using the boys toilets (yet)..a friend took my phone in and snapped the pic.

Flippy Floppies

So like most women, if not all, I also love shoes. But while the general market usually veers towards heels and boots etc, my heart stops at flat (and mostly open) shoes: sandals, strappy shoes, crocs and ...yes, flipflops (jandals, thongs or whatever else you call them)

I don't do heels. Period. I have worn a pair probably once or twice in my life to humour people and in the end it only further confirmed my dislike for them.

When I was younger I stayed away from them because I already towered over most girls my age...and guys. So I didnt need an extra few inches to hover over my dates.

Then I realised I had weak ankles (which apparently would be stronger if I wore heels, catch 22?).
Then there was the issue of never being able to find my size... yes, I have big feet, and moving to Japan wasn't the best help.

And then, I just decided that I enjoyed the comfort of not wearing them. So there.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against heels. I love looking at them, and Tokyo is the perfect place for that. Women here are apparently the most fashionable in the world, weird too, but definitely fashionable.

Shoe watching is a great time-pass on train rides, hundreds of shoes getting on and off at each stop. And Japanese women (and men!) raise their feet to the occasion by always sporting the newest, trendiest shoes. Its like shoe porn!

Back to flippy floppies, although my mother tells me its not good for my feet, I love the freedom they give my toes. One of the most depressing things about living through winter here is subjecting my toes to the claustrophobia that confines them into socks. UGH.

So... the reason for carrying on about shoes and toes is because today I came across this super genius creation called Switch Flops. Because while I love shoes, I hate having too many possessions. Practicality beats chic any day. And these Switch Flops combine the two. Its pure brilliance, I tell you. I can't believe no one had thought of it earlier.

The straps are interchangeable and one can velcro on and off whatever pattern or colour they like.

DO WANT.

Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles!

So I love bubbles. I love blowing bubbles, watching bubbles, popping bubbles and I love dancing around them as they float away in the air. (and yes, you can get your mind out of the gutter...bubbles is not codeword for anything)

Bubbles automatically make me smile, just like that. Perhaps there are people who don't like bubbles, I hate to burst their bubble but i reckon if they can't see the joy in bubbles then they must live in...yes, a bubble. (I may have kind of overdone it there just a tad bit with the bubble related idioms,no?).

Bubble lady at Fuji Rock

Earlier this month I got to see a steady stream of bubbles, in the midst of  a lot of rock music, laughter and just plain ole chilling out...at my very first proper music festival (well, disregarding the smaller ones at home). Fuji Rock Fest 2010. It was on my list of 'things to do because I want to do them' and ended up being on of the best experiences I have had in my short-lived life. There were times when I would pause and tell my Fuji rocker friend,  
"I am soooo happy! 
This is absofuckinglutelyaamazing!!"

There was Massive Attack, Atoms for Peace, Belle and Sebastian, Vampire Weekend, a Japanese rock band called Boom Boom Satellites and several other performers. It was held at the foot of some lovely mountains in a place called Niigata (an hour away from Tokyo on the bullet train-my very first ride on the bullet train wheeeeeeee) and in the evening there was mist surrounding the stage. twas magical.

bubbly eyes!

It also hosted all of 110,000 people, the most I have ever seen in one place. And yet everything was in order. There was serious recycling going on, people would wait patiently in lines, not a spot of rubbish on the ground, the portable toilets were flush-able and even had toilet paper! yes, only in Japan

Crowd at ONE of the stages. White pile on the left =empty P.E.T bottles collected for recycling.

and then a day later, back in the city, I found out that bubbles don't necessarily always bring joy.

They sometimes bring great annoyance. And aggravation.

The kind that makes you wish that the girl sitting next to you chokes...on the very straw she is using to blow bubbles into her ginger-ale. >_<

some people should not leave their...bubbles.

Eye see you!

Had my first visit to a doctor in Japan today.

Felt proud for being able to have avoided it for the close to 2 years that I have been here.

Was going to save you the gory details but heck! why not?!

I have a small lump on my lower right eyelid. In-fact, have had it there for almost 3 months now. There was a hint of a growth when I was back home in...March? Prolly why I always looked sleepy..or maybe I really was just sleep deprived.

SO yeah, doesn't hurt or bother me in anyway...its just there.Wouldn't have worried about it cept its grown ever so slightly and is now a visual bother...as in I can see it when I look in the mirror. Still I managed to leave off the dreaded visit to the docs...imagining up terrifying scenarios of how they would have to surgically remove it and how I would end up blind or lose my eye...yes i know, dramatic.

So on an impulse I walked into the uni health centre today and got referred to the neighbourhood ophthalmologist. Thought it would be quite the adventure given my language abilities, or the lack thereof.

So I find the place and get called in...and the guy speaks communicable English.
And is a sweetheart and tells me that I don't need a scalpel in my eye. *long and loud sigh of relief*
Just some antibiotic eye-drops. Apparently one of the sweat glands in the eye lid got clogged.
"Just wait it out", he says. "That's it? Really!" I squeal.

So yes, worry not people, for I shall live.

Also, I've been here almost TWO years already?!!! wow.

Sweat, rain and phlegm.

My appetite is back!
After a week of being down and out with a nasty cold, I finally feel hungry.
Just now, my stomach grumbled a bit.
Waiting on Thunder (American-who-forgot-it-was-July-4th-today) to go celebrate 4th of July by having some random American food nearby. (Yes, most prolly burgers and fries.)

My sense of smell hasn't returned though, but I'm still happy. At least the cold has bid sayonara. Now am just left with a cough, and phlegm and heaps of homework that was neglected last week. (Hey! I was sick ok!) Also, haven't had a single ciggy in an entire week. That's how sick I was.

Its 梅雨 (tsuyu) here, the rainy season. Can't beat the rain back home, that's real rain. Not this piss-weak excuse of a shower. The temperature though reminds me of Suva at its humid worst some days. Other days its just dry and sunny Lautoka. I need a fan.

July already?

...and then!

(borrowed from the internets)

Am at home sipping on garlic tea waiting for Japan to take on Paraguay (in the World Cup, for those of you who live under a rock). Never thought garlic tea would actually be so...palatable. And no, I don't intend to kill vampires with my breath, just trying to get rid of a very icky sore-throat. errrgh!

All the soccer viewing is taking its toll on me. Have had to miss a few games (gasp!) to ensure that I don't collapse from sleep deprivation. Most were worth the watch but the most memorable so far was probably the 3am rendezvous at a nearby pub to watch the Japan vs Denmark game. Found out upon arrival that one needed to have purchased tickets, and that all tickets were...sold out.

But persistence, sad pouts and 30minutes of lingering around the door batting eyelashes at the doormen got us in...my friend and i ended up being the only foreign females in the place, total foreign population was about 5. Was a real treat! Japan won (shockingly beautiful!) and we saw and met and cheered alongside a lot of soccer-crazy/japan-crazy fans! Then there were also others- high-heels clad, perfectly manicured nails, sipping on their Vodka Cruisers. Great game viewing and awesome people watching. All in all worth the wake!

Otherwise, have about 3 weeks of school left and exams are creeping up slowly (what will turn into shinkansen speed soon). Start an internship at NY Times Tokyo office mid August, pretty excited even though I have no idea what I will be doing. Will find out soon enough. And then there's the planning out of the rest of summer...

And the bus drivers are usually stoned.

Got out of Tokyo for a day about a week ago. The trip was organised by JICA and they put a bunch of us foreigners from Tokyo on a bus to Nagano (which is the inner mountainous area on this island). We were to spend the day with JICA Volunteers soon to be sent off to their respective host countries.

Was nice getting away from the lights and concrete and driving into the green (still slightly snow-capped) mountains. When there, we were put into separate language groups of English, Spanish and French. My group had one volunteer bound for Fiji, two for Palau and two for Rwanda.

On the visiting side there was me and a (spiritual leader) from Mozambique with X's in his name!!! (yes, kaicolo) The Mozambique guy was carrying a stick...which was apparently sacred and would be used as weapons in the old days. It had a rounded top, almost like those old Fiji war clubs. For all its worth, the guy actually forgot it on his chair when he was leaving. I had to yell after him and point to the stick, a little scared to actually touch it myself. Now he owes a random Fijian girl for life. Yes.

We also did some Japanese calligraphy. My work wasn't really worth putting up so am including a pic of the brush instead, a fair trade I would say. I usually write with my paper/book etc placed sideways, when I suggested doing this during the calligraphy lesson I was quickly shushed by disapproving nods. And one needs to have their forearms parallel to the table when writing. ouch! not.my.cup.of.greentea.

During the snack break/reception thing I met with some other volunteers bound for Fiji, 4 in total. They were all asking questions about what to expect and putting their fears to rest (or igniting them further :P )
They asked about the humidity in Suva, the beauty of Sigatoka, if Nadi actually had anything interesting and perhaps the most amusing of all:

"is it true that the buses don't have windows?"

(>_<)

Friday night traditions

Haven't updated in way too long, so will try to do a rough track back...starting with culinary pleasures!!

The last two months or so have been centred around food more than usual. Fridays are now reserved for dinner with Thunder, (who sometimes brings his girlfriend) and Bright Eyes. Thunder lives upstairs in my building and Bright Eyes lives 10minutes away on the bike. Met both during my first week in Japan, we all started off in the same month at the same dorm in Tokyo and then slowly each of us moved out closer to the university. Really great mates, and two of the few I have left in Tokyo.

So Fridays are now the official day to dine and catch up. This usually takes place at a nice and cheap Chinese place (authentic Chinese at a reasonable price is a rare combo here) just up the road from my apartment. Sometimes we walk a bit further in the neighbourhood and try out other eateries we haven't been to. We've tried out a Burmese restaurant and a Kaiten zushi (sushi-go-round) place. The kaiten zushi place was a pain in the neck, literally, as it had one of those order touch screens overhead to punch requests into instead of calling out to the sushi-chef as is the normal practise.

Anyway, last week we opened up the newly formed tradition to outsiders inviting Thunders 2 Chinese language tutors, a Chinese friend of Bright Eyes and my Ukrainian friend who is also studying Chinese. Yes, a very Chinese oriented affair indeed. And what better way to top it off than with some Beijing Duck. Mouth-watering, cheap Beijing Duck. I love food! Here's a crappy pic taken with my fone, I was too busy eating anyways.

Otherwise, have been cooking at home full-time, even I can't believe to what extent! Tried my hand at a proper Japanese style meal with pan-fried salmon, brown rice (the brown bit is my latest obsession), miso soup and tofu splashed with soy sauce. Otherwise the other usuals are spaghetti bolognese, Fiji style chicken curry and roti, chickpea curry, Yaki soba (Japanese style fried noodles) and ummmm... oh! microwave brownies!!! Plus made some Halwa for a potluck on Sunday (where I also had to mix and serve kava to about 20 people, made up of some other Pac Islanders and the rest Japanese).

I think I have written a lot, I need to go make dinner :)

oh, and now that the weather is getting warmer, Friday night traditions usually end with a stroll to the ice-cream place nearby with cheap soft-serves in about 20 different flavours (and run by a Chinese guy from inner Mongolia as we found out last week!)

Itadakimasu

Burp!

Wandered into a cheap little Korean eatery near my university this arvo.
This was my lunch.

Ordered a Korean teishoku (set meal)
Kimchi and tofu goodness, along with nori, bean sprouts etc etc. 
I love food.

You may say that I'm a dreamer...

I shouldn't sleep-in so much.

This morning I dreamt that it was the 11th of November.
And I was overjoyed beyond belief.

I had figured out that the date was 11.11.11
(yes, I am very easily amused in my dreams too)

Then I woke up.

And it was the 14th of May.

And we're still in the year 2010.

just a tad bit disappointing.

(I also dreamt that I was back in Fiji for a week for some freelance work and that my parents had moved to Pacific Harbour. go figure.)

Gah!

Need to do an internship in the summer
Wrote my third email of enquiry this week.
Read it over.
Re-phrased some ambiguous bits.
Read it over again.
No typos.
Smile. this looks good!
Re-read one last time.
Press send
Smile

/facepalm (irl)

SHYTE!!!!

Before signing off, email read 'My resume is attached for your reference'

I...forgot to attach the resume. >_<

Don't you just love it when that happens.

Kodomo no hi

My arms are growing heavier and my fingers are slowing down as I type this. I dread the climb up the ladder to the loft but look forward to the crawl onto my futon.

Spent an entire arvo playing Twister, hide&seek, tag and hula hoops (in that order, with random water-pistol matches thrown in).

The rest of the crew consisted of two 4yr olds and one 7yr old. (with two other 1.5yr olds sprawling around the place to keep things interesting.)

Happy Children's Day, indeed.

Also, jun-ken-po solves everything. and is fair.
I wish grown-ups used it more often.

Background:
-spent the day in a seaside town called Zushi, 1.5hr train ride out of Tokyo.

-Was visiting one of my (many) adopted Japanese family's here. They have 3 kids and there were two more visiting from next door.

-Today is Children's Day in Japan.

-Jun-ken-po is (123) sapui is rock/paper/scissors.
It's like a religion amongst kids here and understandably so. Always amazed at how not a squeak is heard after the winner is declared, not even by the most devilish ones in the group. fair is fair is fair.

-Also, sometimes I understand kids so much more than adults, although there is a fine line between similar wavelengths and similar Japanese language ability lengths. :P

one two three...saZzzzzzzz

Crawl right back under your rock please.

So had become a bit of a homebody recently, not that there's (too much) wrong with it :P The cold weather coupled with a touch (more like big dent) of brokedness and a long list of downloaded 'must-sees' make home so much better an option.

But its Golden Week now and Spring is finally here, the sun is shining, and the allowance is in!

The last two days has mainly been made up of me and my trusty bicycle cruising the neighbourhood. To the point that I now have blisters on the palms of my hands >_< That's what happens when you stay indoors too long. To further break the hermit trend, a few days earlier I joined a friend for some drinks in Shinjuku (15minutes bike ride from my place!)

Several drinks and hours later we walked down to probably the only everyone-can-hear-you-try-to-sing karaoke bar in town (the rest are private rooms that you hire for only the people you're with, karaoke is serious business in this country)

Random Japanese Guy in the bar: Where are you from?
Me: Fiji
Guy: Fiji?
Me: hai, minami taiheiyou (yes, south pacific)
Guy: eh, Feeejeee? (stretching name to Mars and back)
Guy (After giving it some thought): kuni da?

(which translated means...is it a country?) >_<

Some people wear the 'geographically challenged' badge like a medal.

you see why I prefer spending time at home.

claim your birthright...

I've continued to recognize the power individuals have to change virtually anything and everything in their lives in an instant. I've learned that the resources we need to turn our dreams into reality are within us, merely waiting for the day when we decide to wake up and claim our birthright.
- Anthony Robbins

Might need sunglasses for this one.

Just saw this saved in the drafts, was taken either earlier this year or late last. Annette and I were walking about checking out food stalls at the university during Waseda Sai which is pretty much like the USP Open Day back home, food, performances, clubs recruiting newbies etc etc.

This was on the t-shirt of one of them recruiting clubs, never got a chance to ask what the club actually did (apart from the usual fund-raise to drink routine followed by most of them)

N.B: Genki means lively, energetic, enthusiastic, cheerful...you get the idea. Its commonly used to ask how one is doing: O genki desu ka? (Are you well?) and is further shortened to... Genki?

独身のうちに。。。

Just finished some Japanese bunpo (grammar) homework for today's class.

The homework involves completing sentences using the grammar rules that were learnt in the last lesson. I spend more time than necessary on these as I always end up trying to come up with more creative (or ridiculous) answers than just illustrating that i get how the grammar works. Homework is so much more fun this way!

In the latest task, some questions were a bit more thought-provoking than others :P Several soul-searching daydreams later, I did finally complete all of them.

独身のうちに... (While I am single_____)
若いのうちに... (While I am young_____)
雨がやむまで... (Until it stops raining...)
私は...まで...つもりです。 (Until_______I intend to________)

The 'while I am single...' one was funny, having not had a proper boyfriend over some years now I had to stop and think about what 'not being single...' restricts one from doing. (that I could also have the sensei read without cringing. :P) Took a bit of time, probably explains why I am still single :P

私は最期まで楽しみに住むつもります。

uʍop ǝpısdn ƃuıɥʇ ǝןoɥʍ ǝɥʇ uɹnʇ ɐuuɐʍ ı

I spent too much time infront of my laptop this entire week.

Watching movies, browsing the internetz, music, some more movies, gtalk, movies, music, twitter, fb, movies, gtalk...you get the idea.

(Although, I was very proud indeed of sending the 'Hero' vid to the peeps back home, wish i were there to see their reactions in person!)

but so anyway, as a result of all this din-maroing...

˙uʍop ǝpısdn ʇıq pɐʇ ɐ pǝuɹnʇ uǝǝq sɐɥ pןɹoʍ ʎɯ

The inside of my flat, ʇsǝɥɔ ʎɯ ɟo ǝpısuı ǝɥʇ, my stomach even,
the contents of my school bag,

˙ʇsod sıɥʇ puɐ

It helps with the thought process though,
coz my brains were always mangled :P

(Title for the post: uʍop ǝpısdn, by Jack Johnson)

le woof!

I got a new dog today!!!! :)

well, technically a new 'i-Dog'...but whats with the technicalities yeah?

I even walked out in the rain, in the freezing cold, to save him from the clutches of macdonalization, while giving into it myself >_< (yes, I bought a ハッピー　セット aka haapi seto ...or otherwise known as a happymeal from Maccers.)

So my new Quicksilver/Mc's i-Dog (brand-bashing much?) barks.
Like, for real!
It barks when I clap my hands. But only a loving clap...anything too soft or too loud doesn't get any woofy loving.

Also, I have to remember to, and it pains me to say this, switch it off. Because it also barks at random noises sometimes. He's sucha little dog! :P

(also, am super super spazzy happy because this week I was actually thinking about how awesome it would be if I could keep a dog! damn this nomadic life...but thank you i-Dog for coming to my rescue!!)

so here he is: my brand new super duper dog. :)

ps. does not need potty training, or a potty for that matter. :)