another week passed by...
the past few days have been a little bit hectic.
everything from registering for classes on Monday to nomikai (drinking party) with the Badminton club
Registering for class was awful. It was weird and really old school. in this age of internet and technology, being in the most technologically advanced country in the world, you’d think they’d do everything by like DNA scan or something. Drop of blood on a machine, and then based on your DNA makeup they can predict which classes you want to take.
No.
You have to write it out on a piece of paper and fill in some squares. A few batsus (crosses) later, you’re ready. And then you go up the stairs in some building and throw the sheet of paper into a cardboard box. HI – fucking – TECH if you ask me. Congratulations.
At least they use blackboard.
Sometime during the week, Francesca, Pat, Ben and I went into a used camera store. Where I felt like walking into the gates of heaven.
Leicas. Hundreds of them. I could hear the angels already.
They all called my name. Silently.
Piotr
Come Here
Look at the price
There was a special edition for $50,000. Never been used. Hardcore serial numbers. Collector’s edition. MMM….
T’was nice.
Wednesday evening we went out for a few beers. Or was it Tuesday. Sometime during the week we went to an Irish pub right next to campus for a few beers. And it was happy hour. Too bad it was ￥100 OFF. I thought that was the special.
Drinking with your closest friends is fun. And apparently the food there is pretty good too. But Alas, it has no large screen TV. Which means my search for a World Cup bar continues…
We had class on Thursday and Friday. Our registration results came back. Ooooohhhh. Got all my classes except a Religion & Conflict class, which I’m gonna push my way into. I went to the first lecture and it was awesome. That class is staying on my schedule. I also got bumped up to fast-track Japanese, which I don’t mind at all. At least I’ll be learning new stuff.
Also, I was almost late for some of my classes. The morning ones especially. It’s no secret that a lot of suicide happens in Japan. Apparently most of train-related suicide happens in downtown Tokyo. And my express Chuo Orange line is the all time favorite. So Wednesday and Thursday, my trains were delayed because of “accidents” that had happened earlier. Apparently one of them was a suicide.
Frankly I don’t care if you want to commit suicide. It’s your choice. But if you’re gonna do it, don’t do it on my line. Or just wait until I get to school. I know I’m mean. But seriously. Don’t jump in front of my train.
And apparently, when you commit suicide in front of a train in Japan, they identify your body and then send the cleanup and damage bill to your family. Yes. Your family pays for you committing suicide and slowing down train traffic. Crazy Japanese.
Friday after class was the highlight of the week. I am thinking about joining the Badminton Club here. It looked cool, and my friend from high school is in it. So I’m thinking “dinner together or something, sounds good.”
so we get to this restaurant, and there’s food on the table. Yes. And then the alcohol comes out. And everyone goes nuts. Japanese have funny drinking games. And they’re fun too.
“Koronkoronkon, Koronkoronkon, Sosouu, Sosouuu”
At least that’s what it sounded like. That’s what everyone ‘sang’ when you called someone by the wrong name, major or year (after introductions). You had to chug your glass.
Some of the first years no doubt got toasted. I only drank a lot when they said that we had to leave, and someone had placed a brand new opened bottle in front of me. A large one I must say. So I finished it in under 10 minutes. This was already after 2 hours of drinking.
Karaoke after that was fun too. Everyone went crazy. And this place had free ice cream as well.
Japanese Gibberish on the screen
I got home not too late and decided that I would go to a Motorsports Club event. We were supposed to meet at school at 6.30 in the morning and drive out to Fuji. So I set my alarm for 4.30 which would give me enough to get prepared, get on the train and get there.
But, I slept through the alarm, probably turning it off. I got a phonecall from my friend Matt who was already at school. So I decided I was going to take the train out there. I get on my train in Abiko and take one train to Ueno station, then Kanda station, then an express that takes me from Kanda to Shinjuku station that takes me there in 10 minutes and omits all the 10 stops along the way.
So I get to Kanda, and it turns out that all the Chuo Line trains are normal today. Which means the orange express isn’t an express.
It’s still orange though.
So the ride that’s supposed to take 10 minutes ends up taking about 25, and I arrive at Shinjuku station with just enough time to get on the direct train to Fuji.
Apparently not. I try to by a ticket and they said the last tickets were sold at 10:10. It was 10:14. And the train left at 10:20. I could’ve gone to another station and taken a train with 2 changes, but at that point I didn’t really want to anymore.
So I went to Harajuku district, had a coffee to battle the major headache from lack of sleep and drinking. I decided then to wander around the area for a little bit. I trekked up to the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. It’s beautifully made, though not as extravagant as the shrines in Nikko. Maybe it’s the red painted wood. I did see some couples in traditional Japanese wedding outfits. Looked awesome.
Breakfast of Champions
Sad, Missed-the-train face.... Rawrrrrrrrr
Leicas and Coffee for breakfast. What could be better?
Meiji Shrine
Traditional Wedding
This evening was a little birthday party for my host family. This past week was Sakurako (the daughter), the mother’s and Tora’s birthdays. Tora is the huge Golden Retriever. So dinner was awesome.
They set up a Teflon tray and we got to cook our own meat in the middle of the table. And then noodles. Food was amazing.
The father also baked an awesome cake. Strawberry sponge cake. We popped the party poppers that I bought, freaked the shit out of the dog who knocked over a plant, ate the cake. Tora got the last piece of cake.
The Cake
Dinner before the cake....
The Moronos and myself. Sorry about the hair. Fell asleep after taking a shower with wet hair. Tora's in the right corner.
Moronos. Yukio, Sakurako, Hiromi, Fumio
So far a successful weekend. Homework day tomorrow. It’s what I get for joining the faster track of Japanese.
Happy Easter Everyone.
And what would a blog be without a crazy japanese comment.
Well I was shopping in the Combini the other day (the convenience store), and I came across a drink.
Whiskey in a can.
Who the fuck does that.
And it's only 9% alcohol.
Crazy Japanese.
Happy Spring everyone.
Here's some tulips for you cats:
everything from registering for classes on Monday to nomikai (drinking party) with the Badminton club
Registering for class was awful. It was weird and really old school. in this age of internet and technology, being in the most technologically advanced country in the world, you’d think they’d do everything by like DNA scan or something. Drop of blood on a machine, and then based on your DNA makeup they can predict which classes you want to take.
No.
You have to write it out on a piece of paper and fill in some squares. A few batsus (crosses) later, you’re ready. And then you go up the stairs in some building and throw the sheet of paper into a cardboard box. HI – fucking – TECH if you ask me. Congratulations.
At least they use blackboard.
Sometime during the week, Francesca, Pat, Ben and I went into a used camera store. Where I felt like walking into the gates of heaven.
Leicas. Hundreds of them. I could hear the angels already.
They all called my name. Silently.
Piotr
Come Here
Look at the price
There was a special edition for $50,000. Never been used. Hardcore serial numbers. Collector’s edition. MMM….
T’was nice.
Wednesday evening we went out for a few beers. Or was it Tuesday. Sometime during the week we went to an Irish pub right next to campus for a few beers. And it was happy hour. Too bad it was ￥100 OFF. I thought that was the special.
Drinking with your closest friends is fun. And apparently the food there is pretty good too. But Alas, it has no large screen TV. Which means my search for a World Cup bar continues…
We had class on Thursday and Friday. Our registration results came back. Ooooohhhh. Got all my classes except a Religion & Conflict class, which I’m gonna push my way into. I went to the first lecture and it was awesome. That class is staying on my schedule. I also got bumped up to fast-track Japanese, which I don’t mind at all. At least I’ll be learning new stuff.
Also, I was almost late for some of my classes. The morning ones especially. It’s no secret that a lot of suicide happens in Japan. Apparently most of train-related suicide happens in downtown Tokyo. And my express Chuo Orange line is the all time favorite. So Wednesday and Thursday, my trains were delayed because of “accidents” that had happened earlier. Apparently one of them was a suicide.
Frankly I don’t care if you want to commit suicide. It’s your choice. But if you’re gonna do it, don’t do it on my line. Or just wait until I get to school. I know I’m mean. But seriously. Don’t jump in front of my train.
And apparently, when you commit suicide in front of a train in Japan, they identify your body and then send the cleanup and damage bill to your family. Yes. Your family pays for you committing suicide and slowing down train traffic. Crazy Japanese.
Friday after class was the highlight of the week. I am thinking about joining the Badminton Club here. It looked cool, and my friend from high school is in it. So I’m thinking “dinner together or something, sounds good.”
so we get to this restaurant, and there’s food on the table. Yes. And then the alcohol comes out. And everyone goes nuts. Japanese have funny drinking games. And they’re fun too.
“Koronkoronkon, Koronkoronkon, Sosouu, Sosouuu”
At least that’s what it sounded like. That’s what everyone ‘sang’ when you called someone by the wrong name, major or year (after introductions). You had to chug your glass.
Some of the first years no doubt got toasted. I only drank a lot when they said that we had to leave, and someone had placed a brand new opened bottle in front of me. A large one I must say. So I finished it in under 10 minutes. This was already after 2 hours of drinking.
Karaoke after that was fun too. Everyone went crazy. And this place had free ice cream as well.
Japanese Gibberish on the screen
I got home not too late and decided that I would go to a Motorsports Club event. We were supposed to meet at school at 6.30 in the morning and drive out to Fuji. So I set my alarm for 4.30 which would give me enough to get prepared, get on the train and get there.
But, I slept through the alarm, probably turning it off. I got a phonecall from my friend Matt who was already at school. So I decided I was going to take the train out there. I get on my train in Abiko and take one train to Ueno station, then Kanda station, then an express that takes me from Kanda to Shinjuku station that takes me there in 10 minutes and omits all the 10 stops along the way.
So I get to Kanda, and it turns out that all the Chuo Line trains are normal today. Which means the orange express isn’t an express.
It’s still orange though.
So the ride that’s supposed to take 10 minutes ends up taking about 25, and I arrive at Shinjuku station with just enough time to get on the direct train to Fuji.
Apparently not. I try to by a ticket and they said the last tickets were sold at 10:10. It was 10:14. And the train left at 10:20. I could’ve gone to another station and taken a train with 2 changes, but at that point I didn’t really want to anymore.
So I went to Harajuku district, had a coffee to battle the major headache from lack of sleep and drinking. I decided then to wander around the area for a little bit. I trekked up to the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. It’s beautifully made, though not as extravagant as the shrines in Nikko. Maybe it’s the red painted wood. I did see some couples in traditional Japanese wedding outfits. Looked awesome.
Breakfast of Champions
Sad, Missed-the-train face.... Rawrrrrrrrr
Leicas and Coffee for breakfast. What could be better?
Meiji Shrine
Traditional Wedding
This evening was a little birthday party for my host family. This past week was Sakurako (the daughter), the mother’s and Tora’s birthdays. Tora is the huge Golden Retriever. So dinner was awesome.
They set up a Teflon tray and we got to cook our own meat in the middle of the table. And then noodles. Food was amazing.
The father also baked an awesome cake. Strawberry sponge cake. We popped the party poppers that I bought, freaked the shit out of the dog who knocked over a plant, ate the cake. Tora got the last piece of cake.
The Cake
Dinner before the cake....
The Moronos and myself. Sorry about the hair. Fell asleep after taking a shower with wet hair. Tora's in the right corner.
Moronos. Yukio, Sakurako, Hiromi, Fumio
So far a successful weekend. Homework day tomorrow. It’s what I get for joining the faster track of Japanese.
Happy Easter Everyone.
And what would a blog be without a crazy japanese comment.
Well I was shopping in the Combini the other day (the convenience store), and I came across a drink.
Whiskey in a can.
Who the fuck does that.
And it's only 9% alcohol.
Crazy Japanese.
Happy Spring everyone.
Here's some tulips for you cats:
posted by Piotr Jakubowski at 10:12 AM
4 Comments:
Pocky with breakfast hmm? XD
And lots, and lots of beer... >______>.
I call the tulips!
Mine!!!!!!!!!!! All mine!!!!!!!!!!!!
You know. I dont understand how I end up never being at these closest friends drinking party things... How do I always end up missing them?
hahahaha..... the leicas are calling youuuuu...
this store spells toraburu...
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