原宿 : Harajuku : Meadow Lodging : 2nd home

Three weeks have passed, and I'm out of the rut that I fell into so rapidly. Even though I won't stop missing my family, friends, and home, I am able to function and fell in love with Japan all over again. It actually took two whole weeks, but I am as good as new.

I found my new happy place. Harajuku. I have been going to Harajuku pretty much EVERY weekend since I've been back. (Minus last weekend) The first two weekends I was back in the Nippon, I went shopping, stuffed my face with crepes from Mocco, and wandered around aimlessly. Got me cute outfits from Bodyline, Liz Lisa, and got a few tees from UT. It filled the emptiness I was feeling from missing home. Practically every store in Japan has a super massive sale for the new year. I love it. I love Japan.

Shopping and sweets.

Found some new Kit Kat flavors and a MUG!

I also did some sightseeing to keep myself busy. I went around Yokohama and Tokyo. It feels like I am on mini-vacations during my weekends.

Yokohama: Red Brick House

Minato Mirai 21 | Yokohama Marine Tower

Tokyo: Ebisu

So, today actually made Harajuku a million times better than it already was. I finally purchased a Nike Tokyo shirt for myself. I have been searching for Nike Tokyo shirts since I came to Japan. I've done so much research and asked my students for help, too! But I knew no other store would have it but Nike Store - Harajuku!!! And the new love my life works there. It's just meant to be. There's no other way but to date someone with as many nice sneakers as me.

Anyhow, I realized that I was over my slump after I locked myself up in my hood last weekend. I rearranged my apartment and made a new nice and cozy feel to my place. I love coming home and just living here. Here in Japan. :)

Cute new stuff to make my place cute

It's my year. Year of the rabbit.

Before | After

Desynchronosis is what I have

It's been about a week since I've left Texas for the second time for Japan. I thought that having a whole day to recoop would be sufficient enough, but my body definitely told me otherwise today.

With all the festivities in the H the past week, I wasn't able to sleep from all the excitement. I wanted to maximize my time there, so I would go to bed super late and wake up somewhat early the next day. Well, early for my norm anyway. And each minute was spent wonderfully with all my loved ones who I miss even more now that I'm back in Yokohama. It's so strange. I didn't really feel this homesickness before my trip back home, but waking up Sunday morning with a heinous hangover slash drunkeness plus the aching pain in my legs that was far worse than after climbing up Mt. Takao, I was definitely not physically or mentally ready to hop on a plane back to the Shinyoko.

This work week wasn't even a five day week, but I was barely able to survive after three days of work. I found myself extremely tired and exhausted by the end of each day, but I'm very good at keeping a big smile on my face and kept on truckin'. Well, until this morning hit me. My body is yelling at me to make up my damn mind. Am I supposed to be awake? Am I supposed to be stuffing my face with food? Am I supposed to be functioning now? I honestly have no idea myself. It's almost 6 pm, and my head feels like I pulled an all-nighter, and I haven't eaten a single meal today. I woke up early in the morning feeling like poopoo. Thought a good shower or a little snack would help, but I thought wrong. Went back to sleep and woke up at 3 pm. My body is definitely out of whack!

When will I be normal again? This whole 15 hour time difference flippy-floppiness is not making my body feel so cute...

And now pictures of not Japan, but of the people who I miss oh so dearly now that I am back in Japan. I can't wait until March is here. March and April is filled with lots of visitors coming from over yonder.

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.