The side of Japan tourists don't get to see...

When people come to visit Japan, they want to see Mt. Fuji, Tokyo Tower, cherry blossoms, hot springs, shrines, kimonos, Harajuku girls, etc... Well, I've seen all of the above minus the cherry blossoms. The season hasn't happened since I've been here. Anyways, I have discovered there is so much more to explore and experience. I am so glad that I am living in Japan. (even though my hot water stopped working on me yesterday)

I went to my first Japanese rock concert. (One thing crossed off my to-do list!) It wasn't any sort of fangirl band that people would probably assume I would go see here in Japan. It went to go see a group called Okamoto's. (Get a taste of their music here.) They are a band that started in their garage and are now rising with popularity in Japan. They have also performed internationally in Austin, but honestly I've never heard of them until now. It was such a great experience watching the swarm of people rocking out to an incredible band!

I also got to try out a kiseru. Kiseru is a rarely used Japanese tobacco pipe these days. The taste of the tobacco was quite interesting. I don't really know how to put it in words, but that taste stayed in my mouth for awhile. If I could get my own kiseru, that would be wonderful, but being able to experience a kiseru in Japan is awesome enough for me.

Now, it's time to blog about food!

I love this season. I didn't know it until I found a section in the conbinis here... strawberry flavored snacks!! And... I can find sweet potato flavored everything! And chestnuts flavored everything!! And of course... different flavored KIT KATS! I LOVE JAPAN! I am getting fat!~ But it's okay!

I got pastries and more Hello Kitty phone straps! AND this really cool wooden toy from one of students! YAY! She went to Kyushu and got me THREE MORE! My students are awesome.

I went to standing bar for the very first time thanks to my co-worker. There's this really cool contraption that pours the beers. The people don't pour then, this machine does! And you would think that with the machine they would minimize the foam on top, but no... They also give you this dippy sauce that is communal. You can't double dip! You can dip the bottomless bowl of cabbage and fried goods!

That's all for today folks!

高尾山 : Takaosan : Mt. Takao

I climbed a mountain.

That sentence still shocks me. I climbed a mountain on Sunday, the 5th of December. This non-outdoorsy Texan climbed a mountain. I thought I was going to almost die on my journey up the mountain, but I sure did survive the way up and the way back down (thanks to my Edward).

This excursion was the most liberating experience in my life. The scenery was just AMAZING!~ Listening to music while I strolled up the mountain... Okay, more like huffed and puffed up the mountain... was just so relaxing. The sky was so clear. The weather was so nice. It was the perfect everything to go on a hike, enjoy nature, and have a picnic at the top of the mountain. I was able to just relax and chill on top of the mountain and read a book. It was just great. And surprisingly, I want to go again. Maybe several agains. You can't do this back home. Well, no where a short train ride away.

Thanks to my lovely coworkers, I was able to accomplish one of my goals in life: climb a mountain. (And maybe, I can tackle Mt. Fuji in the summer?) Mt. Takao was filled with more than nature and people, there were shops and yum food! I didn't get to try everything just a great bowl of udon. The sesame dango sure did look delish! There was also a lucky octopus statue you rub! And there were little statues that wore cute little crocheted beanies someone made for them! There was also a very interesting shrine that people were ringing gongs and things. And.... LOVE CHARMS! Yeah... My coworkers were super stoked about the love charms. I thought... "what the hey!" And shokku! I got the "luckiest" one. Idk. They keep telling me my fortunes are supposedly the best and the luckiest, but where is my Edward? Speaking of Edward, the tall trees always remind me of Edward. I was hoping he would flash out of nowhere and save me if I slipped. Well, I did slip on my way down the mountain, and someone did catch me by grabbing onto my panda backpack. Was it my Edward?

Pictures!

The beginning of the journey

Love Charms

You pick one out of the box.

If your fortune is so-so, you tie it on the thing. If it's great like mine, you keep it with you.

The top of Mt. Takao!~

You can see Mt. Fuji!~

THE END

Made it to the bottom in one piece. They completely KOed on the train.

Life is Precious. Live it. Love it.

As a foreigner here in Japan, I can't imagine what goes on in a Japanese person's mind when dealing with stresses of life. What are they thinking? What goes on in their head? What is their thought process? How do they come to the conclusion of suicide?

It was the usual routine like any other day. I press the snooze button a million times and finally gather myself to wake up to get ready for the day. My Thursdays start pretty slow, but today was exceptionally slow. I heard the most shocking news that I still cannot fathom. It left me rattled and absent minded the rest of the day. This feeling inside me is similar to the aching pain of a broken heart after a horrible break up with a first love but worse. WAY WORSE. It is a deeper ache that I did not even know I could feel. The look of a broken mother who has just lost her child is imprinted in my head, and I cannot not think about it. The helplessness in her voice while explaining to me what happened just tore me apart. I wish I could have helped. I wish I could have been there to be a friend her child could open up to. That was what I was thinking the whole time. I’ll be a friend! I’ll listen! Talk to me! Fuck those haters.

So, this goes back to my questions. What went on in this person’s mind when they decided to end their life? The pressures of society can’t be THAT bad, right? Although, I did always believe that the trivial dilemmas in my past were such big issues at that moment. I was able to get through because I want to live my life to its fullest with no regrets. Thus, I am in Japan living it up, while others are committing suicide.

This brings up another question I have been thinking about. When did train suicides become conditioned in Japan? I remember hearing that it doesn’t even faze the people here anymore. If anything, they get upset because their train is delayed. Even though it happens frequently, it does not make it just like any other activity you do. This ain’t no daily bike ride around the park. A life ends. I think that with people’s “oh great not again” mentality, it just makes it okay for those people who are struggling in life to just end their life in that way. It’s not okay. It’s not okay!

People need to be nicer. People need to be more open-minded. People need to be welcoming. People need to be warm-hearted. Don’t be such a mean girl!

For those of you who are going through a difficult transition in your life, it will be a-ok. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Becoming an adult is still something I haven’t figured out. I went through a fat year after my first year of college trying to figure out my purpose in life. I kept stuffing my face with food while I freaked out about being a question mark. Then, I realized I was thinking too far in the future, and I thought about what I want to do. I want to travel, and from there I took baby steps to where I am today. Is this what I’m going to do for the rest of my life? I don’t know. Where am I going to be after Japan? I don’t know. All I know is that, I am enjoying my life and loving every bit of it. So, if you don’t know what to do with yourself whether you’re still in college, just graduated, or months or years after graduation, don’t be so hard on yourself. As long as you’re trying your hardest, it will come to you.

Remember you are never alone. If, you feel alone, please, just reach out and talk to SOMEONE. Anyone.

It just makes me angry thinking about the people who bicker and complain how horrible their life is when actuality there are people who go through far worse experiences in life. People just don’t appreciate the family and friends that surround them enough. Love yourself. Love your family. Love your friends. Love your life and live it.

1. Shopping 2. Food 3. Boys

So, I've realized that my priorities are out of whack when it comes to budgeting myself. But in Japan... it's all about the shopping! Shopping! Shopping! Then the yum food. Then if I have the energy and patience... I'll get myself out there to mingle with the boys...

Well, I am too depressed to talk about the amount of money that I have spent on shopping, but it was shopping for others. For my sisters and my brother. "And especially... to those you've never met!!~" Because that is the spirit of Christmas. I really feel like watching Alvin and the Chipmunks: "A Chipmunk Christmas" now. A clip of Dave reciting his poem titled "The Spirit of Christmas" that I have quoted. (^^)

I seriously need a loan... "Well, of course you're alone!" Huh? I am? Heehee! You got to love these Christmas specials. I'm getting sidetracked...

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2. Food

These are the foods I've tried and have spotted the past few weeks.

It's not steak. It's not hamburger. It's hambaag. | Rawness over rice from the Food Maison.

Korean food fused with a Japanese style.

I made my own monjayaki and okonomiyaki for the FIRST time!~

Monjayaki

Okonomiyaki

Japanese version of Subways is great. | Banh baos from Paopao!

Happy Doll icecream from Baskin Robbins! The cookie ears were Asian strawberry flavored.

Soup in a can. Seriously, Japan? What do you NOT have? | Udon on top of Mt. Takao.

There's always room for dessert! Pies and soft cream!

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3. I've no energy or patience at the moment... So, no boy blurbs. Goodnight moon.