Sunday, September 04, 2005
Sleepy Sunday
I was up late blogging last night (again) so I got off to a late start this morning. It wasn't a problem though as I got a decent night's sleep save for a horrible dream. I was at some kind of ritzy party in a high-rise apartment (presumably in New York). I remember seeing Stan Winston at the party although for some reason he was much younger than he is in real life. The party was interrupted when jumbo airplanes started to fly past the building, hitting other nearby structures. I remember feeling really scared, the kind of raw fear that only a nightmare can give you. We all started to flee the building when one passed below our view and hit us. The whole building shook and I think I woke up at that point. I hate my dreams so much. They only bring me grief and anxiety.
My only agenda was to get into Osaka by 2PM to meet Kazu and Scott for an afternoon of hanging out. I had actually left some important toiletries at Kazu's house on Friday night and I couldn't wait until Wednesday to get them from him at school. The best solution was to meet in Osaka and then hang out for a while. I suggested a few activities but Kazu wasn't interested in any of them. Sometimes I get the impression that he thinks Japan is boring and I don't understand why. I don't think it's a symptom of growing up here; after all, I grew up in New York and I love it there!
This radio station broadcasts live from (and to) Hirakata City station.
Looks like something exciting is coming soon to Hirakata Park! No idea what it is though.
The three of us met in the Tennôji ward and took it easy. The skies were overcast and it rained on and off all afternoon (yet somehow the humidity levels remained high). We spent a good deal of time drinking coffee and just getting to know one another, since Scott and Kazu had never met before. As I expected, they got along pretty well.
This adorable little shop specializes in Studio Ghibli merchandise.
Why was this giant red whale featured in a shopping mall? Why not?
Tennôji was apparently less exciting than we hoped so we ended up going to Umeda and visiting a mall (seen above) in the hopes of buying tickets to a Hanshin Tigers game. Scott had never been to a ballgame in Japan before and Kazu is a big Tigers fan so all three of us loved the idea. However, tickets aren't that easy to come by. The team is very popular so there were no tickets left at the ticket broker in the mall. Other options were available but they seemed needlessly complex. Here in the US, I could call an 800 number or just hit the Yankees' website and I'd have tickets to a game inside of ten minutes. In Japan, you have to go to a store to pick them up. Other than a ticket shop, you can go to a Lawson's convenience store. Of course, we couldn't find in the area. Kazu knew where one was near his home so he's just going to get the tickets himself and we'll pay him back.
Kazu left around five as he was expected home for dinner with his family. I went with Scott back to his neighborhood for a meal and a few drinks. Along the way I found myself with a powerful urge to use a toilet. I thought I might have to hit up a convenience store (where you never know what you're going to get) but we happened to pass a pretty snazzy hotel and Scott told me to just walk in and ask, saying "since you're a foreigner, they'll let you right in." I'm still not sure what he meant by that but he was right! They happily directed me to the restroom where I found a wonderful surprise.
Oh yes...a fabulously advanced washlet model! I don't know how much these things cost but if it's anything under 10,000 Yen I will so buy one in the future. Graphic details of the experience would be uncouth so I'll just say this: three cheers for the automatic bidet!
My crisis resolved (wonderfully so), Scott and I hit up a super-chill joint near his home, the Yebisu Cafe. The beers were reasonably priced and the decor was pleasant, especially the jellyfish tank (pictured below). I ate something only the Japanese would think up: crab pizza with mayonnaise! No tomato sauce but there was corn, of course. A little tabasco sauce gave it just the right kick.
I've heard a storm is on the horizon so it may rain a lot this week. I've got a few tests in Japanese class which I look forward to, although I'm more eager to further acclimate myself with the student body and have more fun like I did on Friday. Scott is far more confident of my ability to do this than I am and I wonder why I maintain such an unoptimistic outlook.
My only agenda was to get into Osaka by 2PM to meet Kazu and Scott for an afternoon of hanging out. I had actually left some important toiletries at Kazu's house on Friday night and I couldn't wait until Wednesday to get them from him at school. The best solution was to meet in Osaka and then hang out for a while. I suggested a few activities but Kazu wasn't interested in any of them. Sometimes I get the impression that he thinks Japan is boring and I don't understand why. I don't think it's a symptom of growing up here; after all, I grew up in New York and I love it there!
This radio station broadcasts live from (and to) Hirakata City station.
Looks like something exciting is coming soon to Hirakata Park! No idea what it is though.
The three of us met in the Tennôji ward and took it easy. The skies were overcast and it rained on and off all afternoon (yet somehow the humidity levels remained high). We spent a good deal of time drinking coffee and just getting to know one another, since Scott and Kazu had never met before. As I expected, they got along pretty well.
This adorable little shop specializes in Studio Ghibli merchandise.
Why was this giant red whale featured in a shopping mall? Why not?
Tennôji was apparently less exciting than we hoped so we ended up going to Umeda and visiting a mall (seen above) in the hopes of buying tickets to a Hanshin Tigers game. Scott had never been to a ballgame in Japan before and Kazu is a big Tigers fan so all three of us loved the idea. However, tickets aren't that easy to come by. The team is very popular so there were no tickets left at the ticket broker in the mall. Other options were available but they seemed needlessly complex. Here in the US, I could call an 800 number or just hit the Yankees' website and I'd have tickets to a game inside of ten minutes. In Japan, you have to go to a store to pick them up. Other than a ticket shop, you can go to a Lawson's convenience store. Of course, we couldn't find in the area. Kazu knew where one was near his home so he's just going to get the tickets himself and we'll pay him back.
Kazu left around five as he was expected home for dinner with his family. I went with Scott back to his neighborhood for a meal and a few drinks. Along the way I found myself with a powerful urge to use a toilet. I thought I might have to hit up a convenience store (where you never know what you're going to get) but we happened to pass a pretty snazzy hotel and Scott told me to just walk in and ask, saying "since you're a foreigner, they'll let you right in." I'm still not sure what he meant by that but he was right! They happily directed me to the restroom where I found a wonderful surprise.
Oh yes...a fabulously advanced washlet model! I don't know how much these things cost but if it's anything under 10,000 Yen I will so buy one in the future. Graphic details of the experience would be uncouth so I'll just say this: three cheers for the automatic bidet!
My crisis resolved (wonderfully so), Scott and I hit up a super-chill joint near his home, the Yebisu Cafe. The beers were reasonably priced and the decor was pleasant, especially the jellyfish tank (pictured below). I ate something only the Japanese would think up: crab pizza with mayonnaise! No tomato sauce but there was corn, of course. A little tabasco sauce gave it just the right kick.
I've heard a storm is on the horizon so it may rain a lot this week. I've got a few tests in Japanese class which I look forward to, although I'm more eager to further acclimate myself with the student body and have more fun like I did on Friday. Scott is far more confident of my ability to do this than I am and I wonder why I maintain such an unoptimistic outlook.
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jeeze, scary dream. I hate having nightmares, especially during "waking dreams" where you kind of know you are dreaming but you can't wake yourself up no matter how hard you try.
I've always wanted to go to Japan. My grandmother is Japanese but she lives in Taipei. It's so expensive in Tokyo though.
I've always wanted to go to Japan. My grandmother is Japanese but she lives in Taipei. It's so expensive in Tokyo though.
I know Japan has a reputation as being hyper-expensive but I think that's a case of painting with too broad of a brush. Based on my (admittedly limited) experience in Japan, it seems like big cities (such as Tokyo) are super expensive but if you're willing to live in a less urban area, you will pay less.
In that respect, it's a lot like the U.S. Everything costs a bundle in New York City but upstate, not so much.
In that respect, it's a lot like the U.S. Everything costs a bundle in New York City but upstate, not so much.
I love the scary dreams. They are the exciting ones. I don't get scared too much by dreams anymore. And the ones I have now are all Zombie dreams.
"He's a twitcher, shoot em in the head!"
"He's a twitcher, shoot em in the head!"
Dude, I get zombie dreams all the time! They bother me. One of the scariest dreams I ever had was a zombie dream. I won't get into all the details, but just before the zombies came close to me, one of them clearly said: "Yesterday I ate three hand sandwiches."
That may sound comical in hindsight, but in a dream state that freaked me out. I think I woke up shaking.
コメントがあります？ Type something, please. It's less work for me.That may sound comical in hindsight, but in a dream state that freaked me out. I think I woke up shaking.
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