Cosplay? I'm in Japan... WHY NOT?

In one of my discussion classes that I taught, we talked about subcultures. And what can I say, there are some eccentric subcultures here in Japan. I learned more about the lolitas and yamambas. Great stuff! While my students (who are pretty old school mothers) frowned upon this far-outside the box thinking, I'm here infatuated in the fashions of these subcultures and is guilty of owning an outfit from Bodyline.

For those of you who don't know what lolitas are...

And if you don't know what yamambas are...

The pictures above were not taken by me. Thank you google for letting me show my blogger friends what these people look like. I have a few lolita outfits but would not could not yamamba in a box with a fox.

These are the outfits I purchased at Bodyline. These pictures were taken from the actual Bodyline website. Thank you, Bodyline. I will be hitting you up again in Harajuku.

Although I am a 23 year old, young woman with a full time job earning a salary in the real world, I just get confused sometimes. I love the fashion in Japan SO much. Not only do I own these lolita outfits, I also own a Gloom Beary onesie. YES! A ONESIE! I haven't worn one of these onesie jammies since I was child.

The more and more I am exposed to these trendy and contagious fashions, the more and more I find myself changing up my weekend wardrobe. I found myself wearing brown, black, and gray together with a hint of blush pink thrown on. I NEVER clash my gray scale with my nonexistent earthy browns. I mean I never wear brown (I'm more of a black/gray girl), but since I've seen such cute floral/bohemian outfits with their pinks, creams, and browns... I have adopted the brown tones. Liz Lisa you are my new friend! I wear socks that are noticeably visible with my chucks! And I wear my pink froufrou skirt, which I also got from Bodyline, underneath pretty much EVERY dress and skirt I can make it work with. And if it doesn't... I will wear it by itself. My play wardrobe is out of control, and the different combinations of the layers of clothes are just wonderful!

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Enough about fashion... Here are more places and foods I have been photographing...

This past weekend I went around the Yokohama Station area and had really great yakiniku! I went around Minato Mirai at the Sakuragichou stop. That is where the romantical ferris wheel at Cosmo World is located. That is where my Tuxedo Mask will be taking me on one of out deetos.

Yakiniku!

The view from the ferris wheel----The ferris wheel at 6:16 pm

The weekend before I had hookah at an Egyptian restaurant, and then I went to Nichome, which is an area filled with serious flamboyant men. It was an experience! The following day, my fellow co-workers planned a barbeque at a park called Kodomonokuni! It's a great place for picnics and barbecues for the family. After that, I went to Shibuya to grab a bite to eat at Mos Burger and got a great photo of the infamous crosswalk from the second floor of Starbucks. Then on Monday I had lunch with two obasans I teach, and had really great sushi and soba at a place called Hanaya Yohei. Then for dinner I went to an izukaya in Shinjuku and had the best omu ever... Omu filled with yakisoba!

Shibuya

Lunch at Hanaya Yohei---YUM! Omu yakisoba!!!

The weekend before that, my Sunday was filled with Harajuku madness! It was a wonderful experience. It was completely packed with such interesting people. I couldn't believe my eyes. There were yum crepes and yum lolita fashion! Then, I spent my Monday exploring chinatown in Yokohama, which is the Kannai Station stop. Although the day was a bit dreary, all the pandas, Hello Kitties, yum foods, and the Kpop fangirl shop made it perfect. And for dinner I went to Yokohama Station area and had great nabe.

Harajuku

Yokohama Chinatown

Nabe

Then the week before that, there was a holiday. Autumn Equinox day on Wednesday, September 22nd. I had a great day going on an adventure around Ueno. I went to the park with a lily pond. and then, I stumbled upon a shrine where I bought a lucky charm. Then I went to the Shitamachi Museum, which had wonderful artifacts from the Edo period. For dinner, I headed to Shibuya. I found Hachiko, and FROYO at a place called Razzle Berry with the bombest song ever! I also had keitin sushi for first time in Japan. The real deal conveyor belt sushi meal! It was delish!

Ueno Park

Shitamachi Museum---Hachiko in Shibuya

Keiten Sushi---Razzle Berry

Oh Roppongi... 六本木...

Hello loves! I have internet at my apaato and my Hello Kitty moby!! I am in the loop with civilization!

I love Japanese phones! Only they would have these types phones... Like my phone charm? My new friend Ellie is my Mickey.

The first two weeks in Omiya was very interesante. It was fun making new friends and meeting random people on the streets of Japan. It was also yummy in the tummy trying different types of food and dranks.

The training crib.

At a park hanging out.

Shrine in Omiya that gave me the best fortune of my life EVER!

New food and biru!

New fun SNACKS!

The view at my apaato.

So, this is my life so far. Lots of friends, food, drinks, places to see, and so many exciting adventures.

おつかれ！ Otsukare! Great work!

I love this Japanese keyboard... It automatically translates things to hiragana when I type romaji.

So, I wanted to wait until I can upload pictures to share with the blogger world. However, I am having some complications on getting a moby and internet. I have been going to internet cafes with snacks and manga. Gotta love Japan!

Its been about 19 days since I have arrived here in Japan. It was one hell of a plane ride. I met a nice man on the ANA flight to Narita. His hometown is Shin Yokohama. It was just meant to be for me to work in Japan. Shin Yokohama is where I am working and living. It's great! Well, so far. I haven't seen very much of it yet because I had training for the first two weeks in Omiya and worked everyday ever since I moved to Shin Yokohama. Training was great. I met so many wonderful people that I hope will KIT with me. Training was very overwhelming with all the new information crammed in my brain, but I was able to have some retail therapy. I went shopping in Omiya and ventured to Shibuya for some shopping. Pictures will be posted ASAP. I've had yummy food and snacks. I found crazy flavored Kit Kats, but I don't want to share the flavors until I post up pics.

So, now I am in Shin Yokohama. My first week is over. It was even more overwhelming with all these chores and responsibilities on top of trying to register all the stuff I learned from training. With time, it will get better. I know it. I am meant to be here.

Tomorrow will be a funfilled day! Hopefully, I get my Hello Kitty cellphone! *crosses fingers

Well, I have 6 minutes left until my time is up at this tasteful internet cafe. Peace.

明日:Ashita:Tomorrow

It is almost time.

I am leaving tomorrow. I'm flying out to Chicago... then Tokyo!

The past few months have been wonderful. My days got so busy that I had to put my lunch/dinner/hh play dates on my iCal. I had color coding and everything! I felt so POOPular.

And I would like to thank everyone who came to my Sayoonara Paatii. It was wonderful. Lots of yummy foods, drinks, and scrapbooking!! (The scrapbooking is my fave part... right after the lion dancing of course. ;P) I will keep these memories with me always.

Stare down with the lion

I can't believe that I am actually going to Yokohama to teach. It seems too surreal. This has been something that I've always wanted to do. I've been wanting to live in Japan after watching Sailor Moon for the first time. I think that was 3rd grade??? I wanted to go find Tuxedo Mask, and actually... I still do... 44!!!

Thank you everyone who has been so supportive and who believed in me even after I got alternate-listed for the other program. Love you!

Oyasumi...

I would like to share with the entire Blogger world that I will be starting the next chapter in my life.

I have finished undergrad after going through so many emotional ordeals that have made me the person I have become today. And let me just say, it is a lot different from the girl who was nerdy, shy and quiet in elementary school, who then became surprisingly loud, mean, and self-absorbed throughout middle school to the beginning of high school, who then became tired of high school life and wanted something more as college life was creeping closer.

Then there was five years of college, which started out as a four-year plan. (Obviously, that didn't happen.) The first year of college was 2.5 hours away from home and filled with late night partying or last minute studying. That was definitely a learning experience trying to balance play time and study time. It definitely hit me hard that this was not going to be easy. Figuring out what my purpose in life was beyond confusing after my first year. I came back home thinking I was a complete failure in life. But I did not want to continue being a failure, and to be efficient with my time as I was contemplating about my future, I took general courses at a community college. I began researching different options and looking into what it is that I enjoy doing and would not mind doing for the rest of my life that is realistic and obtainable. Then I began the next plan that I had I set for myself to finish undergrad. Fall 2007. This was the semester that was the most blissful in my whole college career. I was really happy with what was going on in my life. I knew what I wanted to do in life and classes were going great, my friends and family were great and supportive, and it was my first time opening myself up to love. Several things have happened from then to now. Broken friendships. Broken hearts. Broken me. It was rough for me emotionally. Things I thought I knew, I didn't know anymore. What held me together was my goal to finish undergrad in order to go teach in Japan. And of course, I couldn't do it without the support and love from my family and friends who were there for me when I needed them the most. Even at weird times in the middle of the night. Thank you all. :)

I have learned that the only person you can really depend on is yourself. Next, is your family of course. After that are your friends who are there for you through thick and thin. I am no longer the type of person who wastes their time trying to mend unpromising broken friendships and hearts anymore because I know there are people who are there for me and who really care for me without those hopeless efforts. That was the biggest realization that I had. Relationships can start and end anytime. Whether it's love or friends, it is okay if it ends. It's super if it doesn't. Everyone grows, and sometimes it's in different directions and at different rates. I had such a hard time letting go. Then I realized, there is so much more to life. I was wasting my time being so caught up with what wasn't there anymore. And really, you can always create new relationships. Some may last forever or not so forever. I hope that this next chapter in a foreign country will let me make wonderful new relationships and strengthen the ones I already have. I can only see myself becoming a stronger and better person. Unless, there's some other realization that hasn't hit me yet.


I am SO ready for you, Japan!