That being the land of Japan and the place I am in, being not very specifically, near Tachikawa station, in the sprawling, seething mass of concrete, people-meat and occasional shrines in charming parks that is: Tokyo.
I must say that `tis rather cold here. Luckily I thought ahead and packed warm clothes, useful/awesome accessories such as scarves and gloves in addition to extra socks.
Oh wait! No I didnt!!
The japanese seem to have a natural resistance to cold, I have seen countless girls in short skirts and high boots walking round in icy rain with temperatures hovering around 0 degrees, where it has been for the last few days... maybe they have a secret ninja technique only taught to girls with great legs...
Despite my amazing lack of foresight, any semblance of organisation or planning and my innate ability to make even simple tasks as difficult as inhumanly possible I am having a pretty good time. I am staying with a student who goes by the name Keiichiro. He can cook amazingly well, is training to be a nurse at the hospital and likes to travel to south east asia to teach english in small villages. I am sorry ladies, he is taken by a parisian girl who is coming to visit soon. He is also teaching me to juggle, which is inhumanly difficult.
Tokyo is a very interesting berg, as you would expect from the capital of the notoriously hip, with-it and super stylin Japanese. If I got a job I could live here as there is just so much to see and do. Unfortunately it is also very expensive and simply going to the city and back is about $15.
To make up for this obvious oversight the Japanese made themselves very helpful and taught themselves english. While a Ohayo gozaimasu/sumimasen is the best way to start, english is all thats needed if you stick the beaten path, simply because 1000 tourists more obnoxious and demanding then you have asked the same person the same question before.
Coming here as a 6"5` beanpole was going to be interesting at best, but I can say now I dont fit into this country in any sense, I duck through the train doors and hit my head on railings, swinging ads, and many other items that seem to be put there just for my head-bone to collide with. Luckliy I know a few japanese swear words. I am an alien here and even if I become fluent in Japanese I will remain a foreigner. Japanese culture tolerates foreigners and even welcomes them but they will always remain That Guy/Girl From ...
I dont think I am a city person. There are many cool photo opportunities and many interesting people but it is hard to get around and I am always getting lost, which isnt that bad as there is always someone to ask for directions.
Dameda! (an interesting word/phrase that can be used in many situations like dammit, crap, bloody hell, shit, but seems to have a slightly different meaning which I have yet to fathom) It is 2am and I must go to Harajuku tomorrow to see crazy teens dress up and parade around for apparently no reason. It is a strange world we live in.
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