005 - Earthquakes and sushi

NOT THE TOKYO TRIP ENTRY.

No. That will happen later. Im actually going to be reporting on my trip to Nagoya-jo (Nagoya castle, excuse my spelling in Japanese if wrong. Its 0:59 here and Im supposed to be sleeping but I cannot pass up this opportunity of decent internet connection!)

That day (Wednesday I think) started out late, I had been up the night before working on my research proposal (yes, Im sorry to say they exist even when Im in Japan and on summer vacation). But basically my host mother calls out to me while I was getting ready for clothes and tells me that a level one earthquake just passed through our house and was asking if I was alright (it was on TV and she claims she felt it). I basically missed out on my first earthquake in Japan because I was too busy picking out my slightly over-abused clothes.

On that note, I would just like to vent on the fashion sense of the people here.
Why does everyone have to dress up... Every. Single. Day.

End vent. I actually really like the clothes here. Im just afraid of buying them because thats not good for my bank account. And Im also afraid of wearing clothes from here. I might get stoned in Arkansas or something.

Ruffles + Me = something extra weird

But other than the slightly shocking fashion sense here, I really enjoy Nagoya and all its historical sites. I mean, this entry is about Nagoya castle...

It was great. I liked the souvenir shop on the very top level of the castle. They had dear in the moat and I liked the history that came with it. Youre not really interested in me gushing about that period in time, so here Ill just tell you it was great and I bought and sent postcards.

By the way, I barely wrote anything in the post cards. I was late for class and so I scribbled some random trash on them so I dont feel like Im wasting post money. I dont really mean anything I say on the post-card, so if its slightly disturbing, just dont tell anybody.

I love you anyways and Im sending another batch soon, featuring a marketplace I visited in Tokyo.

But also, I went to my first kaitenzushi restaurant. You know, the ones that go round and round and you just pick up your plates. It was WONDERFUL. AND CHEAP. AND PLENTIFUL. AND FRESH.

AND OH MY GOSH I WENT TO ONE HERE IN TOKYO THIS MORNING AND HAD OOTORO AND HOKKIGAI.

But no, this entry is for the Nagoya thing I had on Wednesday. Um... looking at pictures right now... Oh yeah, I made many friends, but theyre all Americans. Its hard to make friends with the Japanese right now because theyre still trying to get over the fact that were from a different country... I sometimes feel like Im from the zoo. They just... LOOK at us.

And not to mention the Japanese girls here are head over heels over the boys in our program, while the Japanese boys have nothing to say to us American girls. (I mean not just me, even the pretty girls in our program, who would usually be hit on in any other country, dont seem to be gaining much appeal here.) Or maybe its just this culture thats just really passive.

Ah well, boys are dense no matter the skin color.

Okay Im tired. See pictures for awesomeness. Ill gush about Tokyo on another day.

BTW, just wanted to express my feelings on the pressure on alcohol. Im completely legal here and Ive been offered by my host parents (and host grand parents, theyre all so nice to me) to drink. And somehow we got to talking about my principles and my beliefs... This culture really doesnt have much room for religion. And also let me say, Ive never experienced this kind of pressure from people who are older than me. Its not really pressure (NOTICE TO PARENTS WHO ARE READING THIS FOR SURE) it was more like `You are the first American I have heard to ever say no to legal beer/sake, what are you doing in Japan when the legal age here is 20?` Let me tell you that it was both gratifying and unnerving to have such conversations with people I can consider wiser than I.

And its not like I havent drunk alcohol ever, I just dont think its necessary for any social event. If I want to be outgoing, I can do that on my own. I have a problem with it interfering with my mental facilities. Im already scatterbrained, no need to get more confused.

I dont begrudge anybody who drinks, I think its normal as long as youre not stupid and get drunk and become a burden to everyone else.

And I hate the taste.

Okay vent over.

I need to sleep. And figure out how Im going to go home, go back to the station with a new set of clothes so I can sleep over at someones beachhouse tomorrow in less than 3 hours.

I miss cars.