宴会ばから ･ Enkai Bakari

Sorry its been a while, heres a short update on what has happened the past days since I updated.

I had a Welcome party on friday, which was interesting and fun. I drank a lot and puked equally as much. The thing about any Enkais or welcome parties of the sort is that there is always two stages. You start off at one place and you often end at another. Therefore, its important to pace yourself when you do enkais. Otherwise, you'll be puking in front of your work staff staring at you concerningly. I had to have two co-workers, Suzuki-san (Yasumasa is his first name) and Tomoko-san carry me into my apartment. Needless to say I thanked them on Monday.

Sobering up from Friday's Welcome Party, I headed to Asahikawa the next day. Asahikawas is the nearest city next to kamikawa and is about 1 hour away. There, I went to a couple of department stores that were interesting; Comme ca Men, Seibu, composing of two buildings, and Marui Imai Department store. I bought a couple of things from TK (Takeo Kikuchi), they're not too fobbed out, and one from Men's Malibu, which had a pretty cool dress shirt with crystals from Swarvorski. It's kinda neat, I dunno maybe I'm just turning too metro in Japan.

Anyway, I went to a video game store called Geos where I bought a PS2, yes I know its old but its cheap and has games I can enjoy when I'm playing by myself. Unfortunately, I forgot to buy a memory card, but I ordered one online and I hope that comes in a few days. A nintendo Wii will have to wait till later. I plan to get it when more single player orientated games come out.

It should be noted that one of the department stores in Asahikawa, I forget what it is called has a complete Anime/Manga floor. In retrospec maybe I should of got all my manga then, but I guess helping out the little guys is always good to, if I'm willing to be patient.

On Sunday, I did cleaning and laundry in my apartment, as well as spend time with my PS2. Needless to say everything is now clean, and I'll send pictures to facebook once I get my own internet.

Yesterday, Monday, was back to work. I spent the first half of the day meeting people from the town office and pre-schools, elementry schools, junior high school and high school. It was pretty rough, but I have to say that talking with the mayor face-to-face and being interviewed by the town newspaper felt pretty neat. I can definately see the benefits of coming to a small town like Kamikawa.

The last half of the day was used to prepare lesson plans, although those won't be used till August the 24th or so, and studying Japanese. I'm actually trying to read the Death Note Novel, based on one of the Minor characters Misora Naomi. Today I actually got past the prologue, which I totally don't get, and started reading chapter one. After work, it was another Enkai but it was with a Peace forum.

The peace forum is is trying to advocate peace, based on experiences and consequences suffered as a result of the Hiroshima bombing. We had to watch a video about mothers of the Hiroshima bombing, which was pretty shocking once you actually saw what happened. I'm glad it had nothing to do with anything political like Yasukuni or anything like that. Otherwise, I don't think I'd go. But I'm pretty sure people wouldn't do that to me, especially Takahata-san, he's a pretty cool guy.

Anyways, after the video we had Yakiniku, which was delicious. Niku (meat) was mostly Mutton, but they had some cow meat, but it was really really soft and tender, more so then the ones at home. Our second stage, was at the Karaoke box, where I got to sing my Japanese songs and listen to Enka for the first time. Although it sounds horrible to many people, Enka is a pretty fun way to enjoy karaoke, but its really difficult to sing. Fuchikama-san who works at Town Hall had too much to drink, and by the end of the night, he as yelling "Fight-Oh Fight-Oh" and mixing that with the song lyrics. When he wasn't singing he was sleeping in the corner. He was also doing Chekku, which is basically hugging yourself and making yourself looking like your making out with someone. It was funny and pretty much at the end of the night we were just laughing non-stop. I had no idea karaoke could be so fun with Japanese people.

Today was all work. I came home right after it was done because I need someone to install a gas alarm for me(all Japanese stoves use propane and the alarm is needed to warn you if there is a leak). Actually, it was suppose to be done for me yesterday, but I was at the Enkai and I totally forgot about it. Bad me!

Btw, hopefully I have a Keitai soon. I'm going to go with Softbank, for those who are planning to come live here in Japan, go Softbank too and I can mail you for free. I'm probably gonna get the Softbank 913SH phone, which looks really nice and will hopefully keep me statisfied for a few years. I'm pretty excited about it!

I've finished all my chores for today, and I'm currently watch a pretty sad television show called Tengoku no Tegami (Letters from Heaven). I think its some psychic guy basically talking to the families whom have had people die tragically (The one I'm watching is where one day, some kids at a childcare are walking along the street for a feel trip and many of them get struck by a car with a flat tire). This psyhic has communicated with the dead and is basically relaying the messages ("Its not their fault, etc.). It doesn't matter if its fake because hes making people feel good, thats probably the most important thing. Anyway it's Namara-Kandou dabe! (Really moving). I'm gonna keep watching so I can learn some Japanese and maybe tear up infront of the T.V.

Talk to you guys next time!