明けましておめでとうございます～
Jan. 1st, 2009 05:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aideHappy new year~ I feel like I haven't slept in days. And... well, I kind of haven't. I have been home for a total of about 4 hours in the last 3 days. It's been a ride. I'm exhausted from sleeping on people's floors. I'm dizzy and sick from lack of sleep so I'm going to doze while I was a load of laundry. I haven't checked Livejournal in 2 days. I'm afraid of how many posts I have to wade through. But I have to do it tonight because I'm going to HIroshima tomorrow for 3 days. When did I decide to go? About three days ago. Let's start the new year by spending a ton! I got home and I thought I would have more nengajo but I only had 4. Two from students, one from Sho-kun/Japan Post (I'll photograph it later) and one spam.
I need to pass out for a while. But I feel great. The year of the cow is my year! It better be good.
More coherent update later.
It's later. I didn't really sleep but I don't feel like barfing from being tired now. For a while. It's 9 and I haven't even started packing yet but I've been angry at LJ because for the last hour it hasn't been loading. I want to write some kind of though provoking post but I think I'm not in the mood now. No, I'm a liar. I will. But first, a year-end recap:
Tuesday, December 30th: Uda-Sado-Heather Reunion Dinner
On Tuesday, I was invited to my friend Yuka's place for dinner, along with the Sado family. Aya, Yuka and I went to elementary school together in Singapore; they took me Asakusa when I first came to Japan. I've seen Yuka a couple times but I haven't seen Aya since then. Her parents and youngest brother just moved back to Japan from Bangkok so the whole family came to dinner. Oh my god! How we've all grown; it's been ten years.
I talked with Yuka's dad for maybe the first time ever. I hardly remember him; I don't think he was home very much in Singapore, or at least when I was over. He's been living and working in Dubai for the last while, I believe. Aya's mom gave me a big hug when she arrived and they asked me all about being in Japan and stuff and wanting me to talk Japanese and stuff. It was like meeting Wataru for the first time since the last and only time I saw him was just after he was born so he wouldn't remember me. Hajimu looks exactly the same at 21 as he did when he was 8: still cute as hell. Dresses in typical--some might say strange--Japanese/Harajuku fashion but it suits him. He's a singer in a band and graduating from Keio University this year, I think. I saw Yuito the last time I went to the Uda's place for dinner and he's now about 6'1" and plays American football for Keio High School, graduating in the spring, moving up to Keio U next year. He's turning 20 this year! He'll be a real adult.
L-R: Wataru, Mrs Uda, Mrs Sado, Mr Uda, Mr Sado, me
L-R: Yuka, me, Aya
Haji. I'm just going to melt a little now. I ganked this from his Facebook because I think I am totally in love with him. That face: that is why I want asian children. And Bagus! Their puppy who is now old, blind and diabetic. :(
Back: Haji, Mr Sado, me, Aya, Yuito
Centre: Mr and Mrs Uda, Yuka, Mrs Sado
Front: Wataru
Yuka's mom cooked Pakistani curry and Aya's mom brought this Thai style salad. I brought a bottle of wine and a bottle of umeshu. Dinner was delicious and we ate until late into the night. I arrived around 6:30, just before Aya's parents and Wataru. Aya and Yuka came later and Yuito came after his part-time job, around 11pm. We looked at pictures -- I showed them Sean's band's myspace and did they ever get a shock. They still recognize him though! He and Haji were in the same grade, though different classes, I think. They weren't friends in any case. I also showed them pictures of mom and dad from the summer and they say I look just l like mom. Haji has this totally pro camera and was snapping pics of everyone. They turned out great!
I had planned on going home but I ended up staying the night. Yuka and I stayed up girl-talking just like old times. It's been so long since I've had a girl's sleepover! It was really nice. Except that it got me thinking hard and then I couldn't sleep. The futon was thin which I could have handled but my brain just wouldn't shut up. She's probably going to get married next year (yay! wedding!) and basically told me if I want a guy I need to hunt him down and make him mine, even if he has a girlfriend. In her words, "As long as he's not married, I think it's fine." How Japanese. Had home-cooked breakfast and spent the morning watching a ramen show with Yuka's dad. Yuka's mom gave me one of her old (cheater) obi's for kimono that her mom made for her. I was so shocked! It's gorgeous. I need to get a few more things before I can wear it though. Wait for pictures.
Wednesday, December 31st: New Year's Eve
I booked it home from Shinagawa at about 1:30 and was lucky enough to get the special rapid service to Kashiwa from Nippori so I got home in an hour. I cleaned my room as much as I could in an hour and a half before going out again to Andrew's for New Year's Eve. We just stayed in and watched the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen and Johnny's Countdown on TV (yes, I made them watch) and drank until 2 in the morning. I have to say, the countdown was pretty boring. It was better last year, I have to say. I made enchiladas for everyone and we just got stupid drunk. Andrew had a boy over as well who could sing along to Arashi with me so that means I automatically like him. He ended up drinking too much and puking... but he drank pretty hard for an asian boy. Gotta give him props for that. I don't know how much more of him we'll see but he was fun.
Thursday, January 1st: New Year's Day
I really wanted to do hatsumode this year since I kind of copped out and just went to the shrine next to the club last year. So I did some research (after going to Kawagoe with Justin the other day and seeing the Seven Lucky Gods temples there) and decided to do the Shichi Fukujin Meguri, or Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage. There are dozens of "Seven Lucky Gods" temples all over Japan so I decide to go to the Yanaka ones around Ueno and Nippori because they are close and wouldn't be too busy. There is a set in Asakusa as well, among other places, but I didn't want to be anywhere near there and Senso-ji today. It would be a zoo. So we set off at 10:30am, Andrew, Ben, Justin, Takeshi, Tama and I. I wasn't expecting it to be so many people. Originally it was just going to be Shinya but then I assumed Andrew would come and I told Justin... in the end fucking Shinya bailed cuz he was so wasted from the night before. Typical.
You can just go and pray at each temple but they also have a kind of... souvenier. Different areas do different things, but the Yanaka Shichi Fukujin temples do a picture and stamps. It's a lot more expensive than I expected, but I guess they need to make money somehow. It was 1000 yen for the paper and 200 yen for each stamp, for a total of 2400 yen. Kind of a rip off, I suppose, but it's really pretty and only for a limited time, I believe. You can do the pilgrimage anytime, but I think they have the souveniers for only the first 10 days of the year. I'm going to frame it and display it at home and hopefully it will bring me good luck. It's my year this year (the year of the cow) so I figured I should shell out and make it a good one.
The Seven Lucky Gods.
Now for The Things I Did in 2008.
I need to pass out for a while. But I feel great. The year of the cow is my year! It better be good.
More coherent update later.
It's later. I didn't really sleep but I don't feel like barfing from being tired now. For a while. It's 9 and I haven't even started packing yet but I've been angry at LJ because for the last hour it hasn't been loading. I want to write some kind of though provoking post but I think I'm not in the mood now. No, I'm a liar. I will. But first, a year-end recap:
Tuesday, December 30th: Uda-Sado-Heather Reunion Dinner
On Tuesday, I was invited to my friend Yuka's place for dinner, along with the Sado family. Aya, Yuka and I went to elementary school together in Singapore; they took me Asakusa when I first came to Japan. I've seen Yuka a couple times but I haven't seen Aya since then. Her parents and youngest brother just moved back to Japan from Bangkok so the whole family came to dinner. Oh my god! How we've all grown; it's been ten years.
I talked with Yuka's dad for maybe the first time ever. I hardly remember him; I don't think he was home very much in Singapore, or at least when I was over. He's been living and working in Dubai for the last while, I believe. Aya's mom gave me a big hug when she arrived and they asked me all about being in Japan and stuff and wanting me to talk Japanese and stuff. It was like meeting Wataru for the first time since the last and only time I saw him was just after he was born so he wouldn't remember me. Hajimu looks exactly the same at 21 as he did when he was 8: still cute as hell. Dresses in typical--some might say strange--Japanese/Harajuku fashion but it suits him. He's a singer in a band and graduating from Keio University this year, I think. I saw Yuito the last time I went to the Uda's place for dinner and he's now about 6'1" and plays American football for Keio High School, graduating in the spring, moving up to Keio U next year. He's turning 20 this year! He'll be a real adult.
L-R: Wataru, Mrs Uda, Mrs Sado, Mr Uda, Mr Sado, me
L-R: Yuka, me, Aya
Haji. I'm just going to melt a little now. I ganked this from his Facebook because I think I am totally in love with him. That face: that is why I want asian children. And Bagus! Their puppy who is now old, blind and diabetic. :(
Back: Haji, Mr Sado, me, Aya, Yuito
Centre: Mr and Mrs Uda, Yuka, Mrs Sado
Front: Wataru
Yuka's mom cooked Pakistani curry and Aya's mom brought this Thai style salad. I brought a bottle of wine and a bottle of umeshu. Dinner was delicious and we ate until late into the night. I arrived around 6:30, just before Aya's parents and Wataru. Aya and Yuka came later and Yuito came after his part-time job, around 11pm. We looked at pictures -- I showed them Sean's band's myspace and did they ever get a shock. They still recognize him though! He and Haji were in the same grade, though different classes, I think. They weren't friends in any case. I also showed them pictures of mom and dad from the summer and they say I look just l like mom. Haji has this totally pro camera and was snapping pics of everyone. They turned out great!
I had planned on going home but I ended up staying the night. Yuka and I stayed up girl-talking just like old times. It's been so long since I've had a girl's sleepover! It was really nice. Except that it got me thinking hard and then I couldn't sleep. The futon was thin which I could have handled but my brain just wouldn't shut up. She's probably going to get married next year (yay! wedding!) and basically told me if I want a guy I need to hunt him down and make him mine, even if he has a girlfriend. In her words, "As long as he's not married, I think it's fine." How Japanese. Had home-cooked breakfast and spent the morning watching a ramen show with Yuka's dad. Yuka's mom gave me one of her old (cheater) obi's for kimono that her mom made for her. I was so shocked! It's gorgeous. I need to get a few more things before I can wear it though. Wait for pictures.
Wednesday, December 31st: New Year's Eve
I booked it home from Shinagawa at about 1:30 and was lucky enough to get the special rapid service to Kashiwa from Nippori so I got home in an hour. I cleaned my room as much as I could in an hour and a half before going out again to Andrew's for New Year's Eve. We just stayed in and watched the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen and Johnny's Countdown on TV (yes, I made them watch) and drank until 2 in the morning. I have to say, the countdown was pretty boring. It was better last year, I have to say. I made enchiladas for everyone and we just got stupid drunk. Andrew had a boy over as well who could sing along to Arashi with me so that means I automatically like him. He ended up drinking too much and puking... but he drank pretty hard for an asian boy. Gotta give him props for that. I don't know how much more of him we'll see but he was fun.
Thursday, January 1st: New Year's Day
I really wanted to do hatsumode this year since I kind of copped out and just went to the shrine next to the club last year. So I did some research (after going to Kawagoe with Justin the other day and seeing the Seven Lucky Gods temples there) and decided to do the Shichi Fukujin Meguri, or Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage. There are dozens of "Seven Lucky Gods" temples all over Japan so I decide to go to the Yanaka ones around Ueno and Nippori because they are close and wouldn't be too busy. There is a set in Asakusa as well, among other places, but I didn't want to be anywhere near there and Senso-ji today. It would be a zoo. So we set off at 10:30am, Andrew, Ben, Justin, Takeshi, Tama and I. I wasn't expecting it to be so many people. Originally it was just going to be Shinya but then I assumed Andrew would come and I told Justin... in the end fucking Shinya bailed cuz he was so wasted from the night before. Typical.
You can just go and pray at each temple but they also have a kind of... souvenier. Different areas do different things, but the Yanaka Shichi Fukujin temples do a picture and stamps. It's a lot more expensive than I expected, but I guess they need to make money somehow. It was 1000 yen for the paper and 200 yen for each stamp, for a total of 2400 yen. Kind of a rip off, I suppose, but it's really pretty and only for a limited time, I believe. You can do the pilgrimage anytime, but I think they have the souveniers for only the first 10 days of the year. I'm going to frame it and display it at home and hopefully it will bring me good luck. It's my year this year (the year of the cow) so I figured I should shell out and make it a good one.
The Seven Lucky Gods.
Now for The Things I Did in 2008.
Didn't get laid off
Saved $2000
Spent... way more than $2000
Went skiing for the first time in Nagano
Tried to see Ohno's Freestyle exhibition but failed (twice)
Saw old friends from Singapore in Japan
Met awesome new friends from LJ in Japan
Went to Nagoya to visit Yvonne
Big penis festival in Kawasaki
Saw Arashi in Nagoya
Saw my first movie alone (HanadanF)
Went to Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe and stayed with Yuka
Took the Kanji kentei and passed level 9
Had Jenna come visit and stay with me
Went to Sawara for the Autumn Festival
Went to Karuizawa with staff from school(for free!)
Started writing fic
Saved $2000
Spent... way more than $2000
Went skiing for the first time in Nagano
Tried to see Ohno's Freestyle exhibition but failed (twice)
Saw old friends from Singapore in Japan
Met awesome new friends from LJ in Japan
Went to Nagoya to visit Yvonne
Big penis festival in Kawasaki
Saw Arashi in Nagoya
Saw my first movie alone (HanadanF)
Went to Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe and stayed with Yuka
Took the Kanji kentei and passed level 9
Had Jenna come visit and stay with me
Went to Sawara for the Autumn Festival
Went to Karuizawa with staff from school
Started writing fic
That's just what I can remember/wrote on my calendar. That's a pretty substatial list, I have to say. I'm going to do this fic meme that's floating around about what I wrote this year but I don't have the time right now. It's 9:40 and I still haven't packed! I'm out of here at 7:30 tomorrow morning. There goes any writing I had planned to do today. I've been replaying the scene I'm working on in my head constantly trying to figure out how to get to the next part. It's hard. :(
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-02 04:59 am (UTC)Have a great time at Hiroshima!