I'm not dead yet

Looking back the last two weeks feel like a whirlwind.... somehow when I was living them, they felt normal but if I try to remember what's been happening, I just feel like it's a blur of places and faces.... places like school, around Takadanobaba, Shibuya with friends who I barely know their names and faces that all look alike.

I actually have to look at my camera's pictures to remember what I've been up too...

So what have I been doing? Went to Nikko to see waterfalls and autumn leaves (but most were already brown and dead...except for the one in this picture) on Nov 2., hung out with random friends for lunch, met a friend knew from Mixi and hung out in Akihabara and when to a maid cafe, been sick, when to school, skipped Aikido club for a day and hung out with friends after classes and watched a japanese movie 手紙　(Tegami, or Letter) and when to dinner afterwards, was late to school one morning and was rushing so was riding my bike fast and turned a corner badly and fell of my bike and skinned my arm (could have been worse), hung out with other girls from CSU and found out that they gossip about each other sooo much, traveled about 1 hour from Shinjuku to go to Mt. Takao to see beautiful autumn leaves (there was some there this time), offically found out that I can go to Okayama for New Years!!!, watched videos of the new Legend of Zelda game and decide I REALLY REALLY want to play it, hung out with a friend from her birthday and got too drunk and was sick all on this Monday, and hung out with friends for dinner yesterday and ate this really fishy-fish that I tasted for hours afterwards. (>.<)

*Whew*

And one day I try to call my mom and she emails me that she's in Tahoe. I couldn't tell you how much want to escape this whirlwind life for a bit and relax with her in Tahoe too...

People ask me if I'm doing alright because I look really tired (I sleep but I don't feel like I'm resting much.... I still have bags under my eyes, what my friend calls "Panda Eyes") and I just say "Well, I'm not dead yet, so the worst hasn't happened." It kinda reminds me of the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I think that even if my arms and legs were chopped off, I'd still be the one to keep screaming "It is merely a flesh wound! I can still fight!!! Come at me, you pussy!!!" I wanna keep fighting to keep my head above the water so I don't drown.

I think that if I was back in Cali now, this would be whirlwind time too; My friends back at DVC are hooking up right and left with people I never would have expected, I just found out some shocking news about my older brother, school would be hella busy......

Maybe this is just the feeling that many people get around this time of year, the "Holiday Season". So that's me in the picture... just looking around and wondering what the hell is going on. Once again, I'm being swept along with the river of live with barely a paddle to steer my course...

There are some stories of the last two weeks I want to tell (specially about Akiba with the Mixi friend) but I'll have to save it for another time... Today is Thankgiving (Happy Thanksgiving!!!) or Labor Gratitude Day in Japan (Happy Labor Gratitude Day!) so our CSU group is having a group buffet dinner at the army base ^_^ Let's eat lots and lots of steak!!! STEAK!!!!! Oh and on Saturday I intend to go to Nintendo World to try out Legend of Zelda and Sunday is a L'arc~en~Ceil concert.

Busy, busy, busy...

But I'm still alive and breathing so it's alright. Even if I'm not always the happiest, I live to survive to the time when I can be happy.

Cheers, and Happy Thanksgiving ^_^ I wish you all enough.

First Cold and Worst Meal

Well I was wondering when the generally warm weather would finally begin to feel like Fall ..... Friday it was sunny and warm enough that one guy I know wore shorts, flip flops, and a T-shirt like a true Californian ^_^ Saturday I didn't just rain, it poured and today the sharp cold wind was enough to cut through my jeans and hooded sweatshirt and make me wish for a warmer coat....

But it's not that kind of cold that I dislike...... I got sick (*_*) After yelling and selling Takoyaki for Niji no Kai last week Sunday, I completely lost my voice and could only manage to croak out a few words that sounded like a toad with rocks in his throat... the worst was coughing so bad that I woke my host mom up a couple of times and couldn't sleep much for 3 nights .... Saturday's rain really matched my mood (U.U)............

I was feeling better today to hang out with my friends for a while. I joined this Waseda Illumination project to decorate some buildings and trees at Waseda for winter (not Christmas, because there are Muslims here to and it wouldn't be considerate (T.T) and I thought Japan didn't care about religion stuff....) Anyways we went shopping in Tokyo fabric district Nippori (i know where to buy fabric for cosplay now! ^^) but it took such a long time for everyone in our group of 8 people to agree on what material and color to use for the decorations, like 3 hours.... I like the group's leader, but she's too kind to make a firm, fast decision so that everything ends up taking way too long to decide (U_U)....... sheesh, Japanese group decision making......

Well I came home because it was cold and I didn't have anywhere to be but my host mom wasn't back yet from her business trip, so I was forced to fend for myself for dinner...... rather than feel like I was stealing supplies from the kitchen, looking clueless shopping in the store, or even touching the precious kitchen of my host mom's great hobby of cooking with my germ stained hands, I headed out to eat. Unfortunately, I don't live near a big station, so restaurants are not easy to find (and I've never looked for one in my area much....). After riding my bike around the area close to my small station Shin-maruko, I decided on udon soup at this shop with pictures of edible looking food in the window and names I could read.

I walk in and it's completely empty... is this usual for a Sunday night at 8:30? dunno... so I sit down and order the "Yama-kage" thinking it's noodles, egg, and maybe meat. What I get is a giant bowl with tons of noodles and an egg that was raw until it was halfway cooked by the heat of the broth.... yes, it's edible but barely....

And then I realize just what this brown broth with frothy egg and green onion looks like - the dirty water after cleaning my kitchen floor, frothy with soap bubbles and pieces of food from the floor...

........ugh.....

At 735yen ($5) I've eaten SOOOO much better for cheaper, specially close to school......

Well, it proves wrong what a friend told me, that there is no such thing as a really bad meal in Japan......... while mine wasn't BAD, it certianly was on it's way there........ I should have just asked them what was in the soup instead of just guessing...........

WasedaSai & Bennie K...

...was so awesome!

http://picasaweb.google.com/HikaruClaire/WasedaSai (Photo gallery)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4697624056208570249&hl=en (Concert clip)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6142357766902043559&hl=en


Bennie K's concert was so much fun! though they started late, it was certianly one of the best concerts I've ever been too ^_^ they are just so full of energy! Yuki in white is so cute and sweet, while cool、sexy bombshell Chika kicks ass with her awesome rapping! They did thier own hip-hoppin' version of "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" and came out for one more song when everyong shouted "Encore!!!"

I was surprised that there weren't so many people there, for such a famous band.... also, there was mostly Japanese too, not many international students or foriegners... oh and I was so tall, i could see easily ^_^

thank you, thank you Rod for letting me burn your CDs and introducing me to the カンペキDuo of Yuki and Chika!



what did i do, other than Bennie K..........



I hung out with my friend Orie, eating delicious festival food (yakisoba, fried bananas) , watching male cheerleaders the Waseda Breakerz (just imagine high school cheerleaders, but all guys... they even smile too much too...) , and talking to the Manga club about joining thier club......


so, Tomorrow～～～

I'm going to wear my yukata and help out at the International club Niji no Kai (Rainbow Club) Takoyaki booth!

...Yes Kodai, i'm making Takoyaki for the Gay Club :-P



Oh, Masaki, there is a club called GLOW (Gay and Lesbians of Waseda) I don't know what they are about, but if i have time tomorrow, i'll check it out ^_^


Well, see yah later~~~

Goodnight and good morning (depending on what time zone your in ^_^)

Halloween is always strange....

I met this guy as he was passing out flyers for an "American Style" Halloween party at Christian Youth Center in Mitaka. I struck up a conversation with him as to what he was doing here in Japan with the Christian organization... so of course we start talking about religion in Japan and I tell him my own complicated fusion of religious beliefs that include my Catholic upbringing, my Lutheran liberalism, my Aikido and Tai Chi ki philosophies, the Matrix, and the Force from Star Wars.

And then I realize........

I'm telling this to a 6'6" guy named Kermit ("Like the frog", he says), dressed in a panda suit.....

Life is strange...... so I took a picture ^_^ Isn't he adorable with my Chibi-Panda?

Clubbin', Sokeisen, some Halloween

As I settle into this life, I am calming the travel demon I was posessed with that would not let me sit still, ever quietly urging to keep moving...... Thus, I blame the demon for not posting in the last week :-P

I think that if I was back in California, this past week would have busier, with me readying a great Halloween costume. I think that no how old I get, I will never lose my Halloween spirit ^_^

Though I had been told that no one in Japan celebrates Halloween, I saw some signs on it; in flower shops selling Jack 'o lantern pumkins (different from the sweet, hard variety found in most supermarkets) and some guys wearing witches hats and capes and giving out candy at Takadanoba station near Waseda.

I had my own crazy Halloween times... I went clubbing all night and then when to Waseda vs. Keio baseball game!!! A friend Bob wanted as many people as possible to get together and go to the supposedly famous Ageha Club in Shinkiba (the middle of almost nowhere). It certianly did seem to be hoppin' for thier was a LONG line of people waitin' to get in, many in costume for the club's Halloween party. However, what Bob forgot to mention was that they would be very strict about IDs and age restrictions. While me and my friend Kaoru were getting lockers, a bunch of the guys in our group galloped ahead and got in before us, no bothering to wait and make sure we could get in too. So when me and Kaoru finally got to the entrance only to find that they wouldn't let Kaoru in (she's still 19), we called them and they only response they had was "well, i dunno what to tell yah, sorry." Oh, and by then the last train for home had already left.

idiot men.....


I could get in but not wanting to ditch my friend (unlike some guys...), we hopped on the free bus ride to Shibuya the club provided for shuddling those who couldn't enter, hoping to find more to do than train station, club, 7-11 Shinkiba. I was surprised that for a free ride, I got to cross Odaiba's Rainbow Bridge (usually $15, one way) and get a great view of Tokyo Tower. I'm really glad I didn't ditch my friend.



We did go clubbing that night, but at some place in Shibuya. It was fun but felt SOOO much like a high school dance. except with a bar and EVERYONE smoking... also, none of the giggly, idiot-headed, overly tanned Shibuya girls knew how to shake thier asses... to bad Kodai doesn't like to dance, I'd love to clubbing together with him sometime, but definately at a nicer place than that one.



However, my night didn't stop there... after crazy dancing all night/morn, I crashed at a cafe under Shibuya station, caught about an hour of sleep, and was off again to the Sokeisen (Waseda vs. arch-rival Keio University)! But this is no mere baseball game.... this is a sports event that puts every other American version to shame. Male students in black uniforms run around the stands encouraging everyone to keep cheering, no matter how hoarse their own throats are getting. Everyone stands up when thier team is up to bat. In the name of good sportsmanship, the cheer squad of each team preforms some cheers on the opposing teams side. Everyone singing togething in one voice, "Ganbare, ganbare, WASEDA! WASEDA, WASEDA, WASEDA!!!" I used to hate baseball for being too long and slow, but this could make anyone love the sport. I want to see how a soccer game is here in Japan...

I survived my 48 weekend~ Waseda won against Keio! But I think I'm still catching up on sleep... (for some reason I seem to wake up in the middle of the night a lot from dreams... I don't remember what about.)

What else is up? I finished reading Piers Anthony's "With a Tangeled Skien". I wanted another book to read.... I joined the Aikido club and my legs still hurt O.O well, I wanted it tough... I'm in the Waseda Illumination project to decorate part of Waseda in Christmas time and the commitee picked my design ^_^ Hopefully it will get final approval.

Today was a day off school, but I didn't want to do much than talk to Kodai... I kinda wanted to go somewhere, so I took a bike ride along the Tamagawa River for an hour... that was nice, the road is flat and the weather is still pretty warm, despite it being November...

Oh also Waseda's culture festival is this weekend~! So many things are happening, like concerts, club presentations, I'm helping out at a Takoyaki stand, it should be interesting ^_^

all life is not an adventure; sometimes it's just "meh". I wh