I really like this blog, and I think it’s a great way to let everybody know what’s going on in Tokyo, but I want to go ahead and apologize for the generalness of it all. I really wish I had time to send everybody long ,personal e-mails but life over here is gogogogogoogogoogoo. It’s completely and utterly different from any sort of life I’ve lived in the US. It is realllllllly weird walking through these streets and thinking that I am, in fact, actually existing here right now and I will, in fact, be living and existing here for the next 11 months of my life. I don’t think my brain has really fully comprehended it yet, but I’m definitely getting there. It’s really weird in a really great way, by the way. I love this city more everyday and things just keep getting better.
It’s also really strange being so far away from everybody I know. I feel like I should be able to call up friends and invite them to a bar or karaoke or something but then I realize that they’re on the other side of the world. I’m sorry you all can’t be here to experience the glory of Tokyo with me! Come visit!
One of the cool things about being in Tokyo right now is that I just visited Chicago and New York City this summer and can make some sort of comparison. In any large city in the world there are tons of stylish people and up until today I didn’t think Tokyo was any more fashionable than the rest. Maybe I didn’t walk down the right streets of NYC and Chicago but damn, if you walk down Harajuku I don’t think there’s any comparison. Japanese people are insaneeee with the clothes. Girls dressed up in really elaborate maid outfits is pretty common, as is layers of dark clothing and spiky bracelets, belts, necklaces. Always tons of accessories. Always lots of makeup and extremely nice hair. Moe explained how different sections of Tokyo have different distict styles. Harajuku is definitely goth, but not in a Hot Topic lame kind of way.
Man, I realllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllly wish I could speak Japanese well. You know that foreign exchange student who hangs out with people but can’t really speak the native language that well and you think they’re pretty cool and invite them places but it’s difficult to make jokes and talk to them from the insane language barrier standing between the two of you? Yeah, that’s me. Tonight I hung out with 3 of the Japanese girls and 2 other exchange students from Azalea house who are very proficient in the language. Often the 5 of them would be talking in Japanese while I was sitting there trying to pick up as much of it as possible. Some awkward moments for me when everybody laughs at jokes but I don’t even know what they’re talking about. I mean, it’s still fun, and they still talk to me in English, but I really, really want to be able to communicate in Japanese. I’m working on it. I’ve got a little notebook that I carry around and write down words and phrases I don’t understand that are especially important. Hopefully by the end of the year I’ll be able to understand well enough to laugh at jokes.
In Harajuku today we found a cell phone development building. It was 5 stories tall with a glass exterior and an extremely nicely architected modern, white interior. It was relatively empty for how awesome of a place it was and how crowded Harajuku st. is. On one floor there was a robot set up and a very enthusiastic Japanese employee helping us operate it with a cell phone. It wasn’t one of those pathetic robots you see in stores and you think “Why would anybody buy this? This is awful.” It was surprisingly amazing, actually. It could do a hand spring, pick itself up from on its stomach or back, do Tai Chi quite well, and just generally move a lot faster and well coordinated than you would think a little robot that you’re being encouraged to play with in an amazing building for free in Tokyo is.
I could write a lot more about my experience here so far, and I will, but for now I need to get some sleep. Oh, good news also (maybe), I think I figured out what’s wrong with my computer. With luck I’ll be able to get things working perfectly like they should be within a week or so. Cross your fingers. Good night!
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