We Can Make It!

I.Love.Kristina.Winch.

I got my very first thing sent to me today <3
Kristina listened to the cries of things that I missed and totally has my back.

I love you so much Nana!
The other day in class a teacher said that Americans don't make friends that they will keep for ever, and I told him that he was wrong.

When he asked why I said he could find me in 50 years and see if I was still friends with my friend Kristina.

Yeah...I showed him! ;P

But Really: Thank you so much. I love you times the entire world and a half. I have a postcard for you- this has prompted me to finally send it.

I sent a postcard to my parents...but I wrote down the wrong address...
Somehow, if got to them anyway.
That says a lot for the American Postal Service.
Postmen are cool.
Everyone- Be really really good to your postman, okay? Bake him/her cookies and stuff. Spread the love.

I tangent.

Nana, you have filled my heart with joy, and I will be coloring all night!

Monster

As a proud Washington born person, I straight up refuse to carry an umbrella. I think they're rather bothersome, and I'd forget them all the time anyway. My hairs always messy, at least rain gives me an excuse for it! And...I just love the feel of rain falling on me.
This leads to both positive and negative effects:
+ I have a great game on rainy days, I call it survival. I'm not kidding when I say EVERYONE and their mom has an umbrella. and Tokyo is CROWDED. So I have to dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge simply to avoid the very powerful and determined umbrella carrying Japanese people who are on a mission, and god help anyone who gets in their way.
- People try and share umbrella's with me. I know-I know, it seems friendly, but as kind spirited as it is, it always ends with me half bent over, a pokey umbrella point in my neck, and desperately wishing for the feel of rain on my face, the freedom to walk at my own pace, and stand up straight.

Also- Umbrellas remind me of the umbrella corp. Which reminds me of Zombies and then I imagine what would happen to Tokyo if someone got the T Virus.

Not only would the Zombies be super fashionable....but...think of how many people would be turned into zombies within 15 minutes!!! God help us all....

Alright! Moving On!
Late night deep discussions with Cat or Nascha! Seriously, Cat and I got into a debate about America's politics that lasted from 10pm to 4am. It was wonderful! She's a great person to debate with- she knows her constitution, supreme court cases, and the important current issues. So we debated and discussed the role of government in todays society and what we like don't like, made the other person explain all views and...so on and so forth. It was aaaammmaaaazzzing. People who have gotten into these topic with me know that there's almost nothing I like more than a good political/ethical/random idea debate.
We also have done similar things, but talking about Japans societal problems. And that kind of thing. Several times a week, she just comes into my room and we end up talking. Like... really talking. It feels amazing. I'm gonna miss Cat SO much when she leaves.... and it's not long until she does leave. 40 days I think?

Hmmm... I love ridiculously long walks with adventures a-plenty. The thing about Japan is that, a walk in the city results in forest adventures, Rice fields, and a lot of other random things you would simply NEVER find in the states. Random silly little things, and other huge things. I don't even know how to describe it besides I <3 it with all my heart.

I found a new tactic for making flashcards. Listen to conversations in english, and take notes of words I want to learn in Japanese- and going from there. I think it'll help a lot.

Hmmmm...Oh! Okay- Chatroom <3
So remember my part time job as a chatleader where I just talk to people? Okay, so my boss told me that I was the most natural sounding chatleader, and after every Students kept telling her that I was their favorite chatleader. Which just made my day completely. The people who are training to be chinese chatleaders all had to take turns sitting in on my sessions because all the staff told them that I was the perfect example <3

I'm sorry- that's not meant as a "I'm Wonderful!" it just made my day and I don't wanna tell anyone here for fear of sounding....pompus. Like that guy Gina knew in middle school. I forgot his name... O or A something?? Osis?


KRISTINA WINCH: I <3 you dearie, and it was wonderful to talk to you on the phone...whenever it was that we talked on the phone. And I'm sorry I'm so bad at replying to facebook messages. You have no idea how ridiculously excited I am that you might come visit me in Japan. <3 Even if you can't for some reason- the fact that you want to and are trying to... makes me super happy!

JJ: Everytime I read your comments it warms up me heart and makes me super happy. Thank you so much lovely, and believe me- I'm sure I miss you double how much you miss me! <3

REGINA: You at one point mentioned possibly coming to visit <3 If you think it might be possible, we should talk about it soon. AND talking to you on the 31st was wonderful. I LOVE YOU!! You're the bestest sister ever. I miss you like crazy. One of these days we'll actually work out that whole...skype thing, mmmkay?

ALESSA: Oh. My. God. You're getting married so soon. Like... SO soon. I promise promise promise that I will visit you a lot when I get back. And I think about you everyday! For a multitude of reasons! My teacher mentioned the Beatles, Snoopy's everywhere...and other stuff.

CHRISTINE: Yaaaay! Here's an update on my life ;P Have fun wading through it all! I'm so happy you have an account here... I had no idea. The whole...blogging community is still pretty new to me. Anyways- I miss you so much, and I'll try and be better at keeping in touch. >_< I just get distracted so easily, I just literally forget that I was even on the computer at all! But seriously, I'll try and get better at it!

PARENTS: I. Miss. you. A lot... I want to call you every day, but I'm SO busy here, and the times I am free is usually between 3-6 there, and that's just awkward. But I miss you, and I'm sending you letters soon! But seriously- I really do miss you guys a ton.

BECCA: Raaaaawwwrr! I miss you and I can't wait until you come to Japan! Do you have someone picking you up at the Airport yet? If not, count me in! For reals- I would be honored to help you get back to your dorm <3

Ugh... I can only do so many shout-outs before getting distracted...I really have to go buy shampoo >_< But do not doubt my love for you/how much I miss you!

Song For Me

Dear Wentz: I'm not just saying this because I think I love you, but because it is the honest truth...what some may call a fact of life. Your toothpaste really is better. I found myself...unsatisfied with the aftertaste of all the toothpastes that I had tried here in Japan. And Finally I let my fangirl have a break and tried your brand. Oh how refreshing and wonderful. My mouth tastes minty and clean! Even 15 minutes after brushing! Thank you good sir. On another note... you're candy is also quite delightful, and were I male I'm sure I'd find your underwear brand to be absolutely wonderful. Here's to Everyday Heroes.

I have been in search of Posters of the great sparkly wonder that Becca showed me... but yet I have not succeeded. But fear not! I will not give up yet!! Everyday I am secretly looking...up, down, around...UNDER. (Sparkly Fellows are know to hide) hoping to catch him in my periff... just an add or something of the sort. One day... I can feel that I will be able to report success to Becca before too long! Fear not Becca-Chan! I have been looking for Mr. Shiny!

Little things that delight:
There's this fashion in Tokyo, where guys where a slightly unbuttoned white shirt, a black vest and Black pants with a slightly Askew belt.
I feel like I've seen it somewhere before... hmm.. Can't think of where. Moving on!

The other day- My Performance Studies Teacher mentioned Dr. Horrible! Needless to say, I almost died. Love! I had literally just shown it to Nascha the night before so I was ridiculously excited.

I wrote a rap about sexism!!! It was for a class, and it was actually a song and Rap. It was a re-write of Clint Eastwood by the Gorillaz. Yaaaay for awesome stuff! Then we performed it and I had a blast.

Okay- So here's the deal: Imagine Chloe' in America. I'm rather energetic from time to time, right?
Weeeeeelll...Japan Chloe is even more so. Particularly because so many people are so calm it just makes me wanna explode. I have a lot of really random ways that I get energy out. Some of them are fairly normal, like running through Tokyo for no reason, doing Yoga on the train, taking several hour long walks...or that kinda thing. But my favorite (and most effective) way is to do along term dance jog (which involves using the walls, rails, ducking, spinning, kicking.... the whole 9 yards...just around Eda. I usually do it at night, and I prefer to do it in the heavy rain. I was talking to Nascha about it, and my quote was,
"I can't help it...and I'm not crazy!! I just have SO MUCH ENERGY...ALL THE TIME."

A couple weekends ago I went the the Sagamihara campus for a club meeting that my friend Ken wanted me to go to, and I met a ton of new people who I've been keeping in contact with. It was amazing because I was the only white person there, and there were students who really hardly ever see international students so I felt like... the prize animal at a zoo, but in a good way =)
It was pretty random though, cause Kensuke just kinda called me and was like "Come to my club meeting! It's a cool club and it'll be fun! Here's the time to be there! By the way it's tomorrow ;P "
And I came after my english lesson, but it really was super fun. People asked me so many random questions.

You know, you'd think the "Why did you come to Japan" question would get easier after awhile, but I change my answer every time. It started because I just thought of different things every time, but then I decided to keep it up. So now most of the battle is thinking of something I haven't already said! Which is really hard...cause bloody EVERYone asks that question! So I have to think up new ones almost every day! It had made me appreciate coming to Japan more though, cause I have realized all the awesome reasons that someone could want to come to Japan. But on the days I'm tired... people get really lame answers. Like:
"I like the color of seaweed." のりの色が好きよ！
and then I realized what I said and had to try and support it, which ended with a very desperate sounding Chloe using lots and lots of wild hand motions and one helluva confused Japanese person trying to find a way to leave while still maintaining the Nihonjin politeness. Yeah... that was awkward.

Then I went to a Japanese BBQ. Let me describe a Japanese BBQ...
First- you go to a far away parc, where you spend ridiculous amounts of money to rent a bbq set and a table and a tent. Then you purchase food from the parc too. Then you go about bbq yakiniku and vegetables. Which is pure oishii. I hung out with a really funny Korean who spoke no english beside lines that he memorized from "The Holiday" and British TV shows. We talked about Faulty Towers =D
I also taught him how to say "Picking up Chicks" and he was really excited. He did this sillt thing where whenever anyone would speak english, he would repeat it, whichout knowing the imi. So if someone would say "I'm gonna kill you!" He'd repeat it to the same person. And.... you probably had to be there. But it was really funny!

The weekend after that I just hung out with people and chilled around Tokyo. AKA: worked >_<

This weekend was bloody amazing!!!! Satuday I met Saori (who was an exchange student at Linfield last semester) and we hung out in Tokyo. It was really fun, she's a sweetheart! Then that night I had an interview for a summer camp counsilor position and... it was really fun. I don't know why, but I absolutely love interviews. I made friends with the interviewers and we laughed, had a good old time, and even created some inside jokes by the time the next person came in. I sang and performed "Take me out to the ballgame" and then said that it was a cultural bridge and stuff. Ganbarimasu!

Then Sunday was....aaaaammmmaaaaazzzzing. Why You ask? Well, obviously, because it was filled with Frisbee and awesomeness. It's hard to explain just how much I love Frisbee. And I just love running around and exerting physical energy. I think my friend Mike and I were the only ones to be out playing Frisbee (or Soccer) pretty much the whole time. Other people would come in for like...15 minutes or so. But we stayed consistant. And we were both sweaty and stinky by the end =)
Oh! there was a tornado too! That was cool and random!
Aaaaannnd...a random Tokyo University Student came over and started talking to me. He just kinda walked up to me and asked if we could hang out. I laughed and said "Sure, join our soccer game!" But then my American friends teased him instead. It was pretty adorable.

Nihongaku is the most dull class ever. Thank god for Mike, cause we just draw comics the whole time. Quite wonderful comics though! They are epic and have random plot points and some panels look bad (the ones I draw) and some look freaking amazing (the ones that mike draws) and most end with a star wars reference.

Hmmm...Homesick?
Not really. I mean... I miss my Parents a lot, I miss my sister a lot, I miss my friends too. And there's a couple of things that I guess I miss about America. But overall...Naw. Not yet =)
I am so happy here. So so so so so so so happy!

But don't take that the wrong way either. I mean... I actually have had some hard times this month. MY language skills (or LACK THERE OF) have frustrated me almost to the point of crying. And had my friend Tee not been there after my second period last week, I probably would have gone and hid in a corner by myself for several hours frustrated at life for understanding BUT not being able to say words like: inconspicuous, Social Norms, Developing Countries, global market, interchangeable, subjective... ect ect. But Tee (my sweet Thai Friend) just walked with me to the cafeteria, and kindly reassured me. So it was okay. There was no Chloe' melt-down incident. And then I went home and called Regina, and after that made several new sets of vocab words so that I can totally speak up next time! Yeah! ;P

My dorm has become the consolation room... People come in after midnight to ask for advice about random things. It doesn't bother me...cause I'll do anything I can to help someone...it's just.... I wake up at 6:30. And When people don't leave my room until 2:30 it makes the whole- sleeping enough to make my head stop hurting from trying to think in japanese, thing very difficult.

Jah...I'll continue later =)