Right-o then

Woke up, did some stuff. I tend to do some stuff. Is that a thing you got a problem with, bub? Alright then, moving on.

Got a knock on my door while I was studying (I do that! Who said I didn't?) that said sex museum off, karaoke on. Okay, that's fine. I didn't have the money for both anyways, that works.

So when I wind up at Tokiwa with Yuan and JM and we decide we're not going to karaoke anymore I begin to question the point of the outing.

OH well. We went to You Me town and hung out with some of Yuan's Korean friends that were friendly, and bought some groceries and such. So not all bad. And we found a brand of toilet paper called poopee. Well, alright. It's PoPee. But I refuse to no pronounce it like a 2 year old.

Anyways, as a result of not doing anything noteworthy, there are no of the promised pictures. I'm sorry, I really am (I'm really not). Next time. Which would be next week Wednesday. Mark the calendars. You'll get to see the sinful, seedy underbelly of the Japanese karaoke world.

On an unrelated note, I might be going to Fukuoka during the quarter break. A real city! That'll give me mucho opportunity to learn more about what it's like living in Japan. APU doesn't quite accurately recreate that.

I mean, we have toilets here. Most of Japan goes without, so I hear.

Also, like to add:

www.ifightrobots.com

It's a blog that I follow, and the guy is hilarious. He's also working on a book that should be fantastic when it's released about how many things in the modern world are probably going to kill you that you've never heard it. It's...it's actually a comical thing, I promise.

Day number two at APU

Was basically me sitting around my room. I'm still pretty sore from all the airport stuff so I'm spending today to rest it off.

I did get my first slice of Japanese culture today though (Funny, third day in Japan and its just now hitting me, eh?). There was a flea market this morning where I was told I could purchase goods for cheap for my room. Fair enough, I've been to a flea market before. Lines of crappy goods in various degrees of usability for cheaper prices than new but more cost than they're worth. Right?

Wrong.

I get there and they have a gate set up. There is a crowd of people outside the gate watching everybody set their stuff up for display. The spectators were crawling back and forth around the perimeter, eyeing up their targets for when they were unleashed upon the innocent merchants. When the gate finally opened I swear to god I heard a gunshot and the sound of hooves.

Pretty much something like this.

These people RACED directly for the merchandise and what was a seemingly normal group of people became a sweaty, heaving, mass of yelling, shoving asians and us poor unfortunate whiteys who had no idea what was going on. I was quite literally forced to dry hump a Korean girl who was bent over picking out flatware for her room due to the amount of people that were shoving me from behind. Girl didn't even seem to care, but I felt like I should have slipped her a 500 yen coin or something for her troubles.

Anyhow, in the midst of all that, I managed to escape with a bowl, a mug (that is most likely not microwave safe but it looks neat), and my life. Also this other American guy from the crowd (who basically shared my not in Kansas anymore surprise at the carnage) was waiting for me outside the brawl. Name is Max and we grabbed some lunch and he helped me figure out what the crap I was doing in the area. Told me some stuff about Beppu, how to act around people, that sort of thing. I really need to practice my Japanese apparently, after watching him work.

So I did, and then when I went back to get dinner by myself later everyone spoke in English to me.

Goddamn you fate.

Anyways, food is cheap here when its not from a vending machine. I got a fish and rice and green tea meal for 2.50. Beat that, America. On the other hand I spent 1.50 on a gatorade, and another two dollars on more pop to stock my fridge with (Mountain Dew and this delicious shit called C.C. Lemon).

Going to look into paying off my school stuff either tomorrow or monday, figure out what this crap they sent me in my mailbox was, and hopefully figure out where I stand financially. Then I'll be able to buy a digital camera that's not attached to my computer and share some pictures of cool stuff around here.

Stardate something.something.pancakes

Man I miss pancakes.

That probably doesn't make sense....

Well I wanted to get pancakes before I left for Japan.

And, well, I forgot.

Damn.

Oh well.

I should probably say something about Japan.

Well, flying sucks. That's one thing. I'm going to say this: I'm not one of those people with the "Speak the language or get the double F outta my country" but I will say that if you work in an international airport, then you should fluently speak the two languages that the majority of your flyers do.

I know Japanese enough to ask them questions and have them point to things though, so I managed to get through that way. The guys that they left to meet with me collectively knew less English than my baby cousin though, so that was irritating.

Ah well, hopefully I'm speaking fluent Japanese when I fly again so this won't be a problem. Or at least fluent enough to explain to them when I ask where to pick up my baggage.

To anyone who I said I'd lose weight being in Japan: I lied.

So far I've had a can of C.C. Lemon that only has 40 calories and has vitamin c in it.

But for 25 yen cheaper I can get a 32oz can of Mountain dew. And then use that extra 25 yen to go buy this... this... W roll concoction and eat it.





Oh well. I think I'll join the taekwando and kyudo clubs. I think it's called Kyudo. Japanese archery. Looks badass and there is nobody in it really. 15 people, so it'll be easy to meet friends.

Which you'd think I wouldnt have a problem with, what with the 12 or so people that have come up and just randomly introduced themselves. Too bad I can't remember any of their names (aside from my RA but he's the Avatar as far as I'm concerned).

I had more things to say. I did, I really did. I think I flunked the japanese proficiency test but that doesn't really matter cause apparently I could enroll in the native fluency courses if I want. The proficiency test is just a suggestion of where you should enroll. Woohoo.

I need to find a place that sells digital cameras cause I can't get them on campus. When I do there will be photos of more than just my snacks. Like the campus. Oh god is it pretty. So pretty I wrote it a little song:

On top of some mountains
All covered in trees
I came to Oita
To learn Japanese

The first test was real hard
I think I have failed.
But if I try real hard
In the end I'll prevail

The people are nice here
The soda is cheap
The weather is so hot
I think I could weep.

This song is real crappy
I think you'll admit
But, hey look right at me
See if I give a

Song ends there cause I'm too lazy.

Lemme know how much you hate the blog name. If enough people hate it I'll change it. This is on an alt e-mail account anyways so hurrah.