Evil Hamster's Worldly Adventures

Well...I gotta say I'm very sorry I haven't updated in awhile...seems I'm always saying that huh? haha
Sooo lets see where did I leave off? oh yes...
Well...for the day of the Halloween concert I made a rather simple, yet shocking and scary costume...very low budget. I just took a skirt I had made during summer and then added some pink net under it and a black camisole and added pink net and bandages to that. Then I made a glove out of some really neat black with pink lighting bolts fabric, added fur trim and did some crazy makeup and nails. bada-bing-bada-boom. One halloween costume. ^-^ haha The live house for this was INSANELY small...am I always saying that? I suppose I am but I still have trouble beleiving it. Its always such a shock. I think this one was the smallest I'd been to yet though. They didn't have lockers here so everyone just threw their stuff in the corner. Phantasmagoria played first, a couple small time bands and kabukichou kids. Then they did the cosplay contest. You had to have a group of two or more. Then each group came onstage and they did a little dance while music played. Then they were reviewed by one of the "panel" aka random band members from the bands that were there and some head honcho from ID Japan as well. Then they handed out awards.
Finally....Vidoll. The band I had wanted to see. They did an awesome live and being front row for it? Even better. I love their music so it was really a blast. It was a great way to spend Halloween...even if we didn't get any candy. Haha Some people on the train were commenting about my clothes...cause I hadn't had time to change after..^^;; a bit awkward that was.
Nov 03.
Met Saskia to go shopping in Harajuku. Had an amazing time par usual...and of course ended up spending mroe ( ^ above photo is Vidoll's guitarist) than I had meant too...^^;; I love that girl. Shes sooo funny. Its always nice every now and then to get together with my YFU friends, speak english, relax...not have to think so hard? You know. It gets easier, but speaking Japanese is still work. Not to mention all the Japanese kids study WAY too much...they never seem to have time to go out. ;-; And it was also during this time that I started to make/purchase various gifts for the members of An Cafe. They had an event for the release of their new album and I decided to get them a little something. ^-^
Nov. 6
I was super hyper from the last concert and I ALWAYS have too see my Miranda-Panda at times like these...Gotta have someone to squeal it all too or I'll go crazy. haha. So although I was crunched with time to finish An Cafe's gifts and was stressing about that...I figured I needed to go see her to get it all outta my system. Soo I took another lil trip up to Chiba-ken. We went shopping...mostly Miranda wanted new clothes. I was just there for company. But I did get a cute little cupcake shaped purse. *^-^* hehe It was also around this time that I started "thinking" about making Bou's new costume. The problem was its VERY elaborate, pretty...but insanely elaborate. And to get the EXACT fabric would be impossible...and I don't like to settle for less than perfection when it comes to my cosplay...soo I hadn't been planning to make it...
Until....
Nov. 9
The day of the release of An Cafe's first full album. They were having an in store event, buy the CD at the certain shop and you get a ticket to the event. First come, first serve. Sooo most girls had their moms go for them, but my mom had to work, so she called in sick for me and I went. hehe. I love my host mommy. I left super early and got out to shinjuku at 7 am. The store wasn't going to open till 11 sooo I had quiet the wait. Lucky for me I had my gameboy and my ipod to keep me amused. Sadly there were people there before me. haha. Only 7 people though. I was walking into the store and what should I see there on display BUT! An Cafe's new costumes. I took some pics with my cell and went all fangirly. haha. But I still was thinking "That would be impossible to make...I won't do it." I got the CD and my ticket and speacil DVD and then headed home. I showered, finished up the presents and wrote them a letter all while listening to the new CD. I gotta say...its AMAZING! Its sooo good! Seriously....wow. yeah, moving on. The event was that night. There would be a small interview we could watch and then we would get to go shake their hands and talk to them...and this is where I started freaking out. I love them to death and all...but what the heck do I Say? My japanese isn't that great andI'll be nervous making it worse...Ah! *freaks out* But I made it through all right...more than allright actually. First was Kanon. Hes really shy and hardly ever talks in interiews or anything...and me being shy didn't help that...*awkward silence* haha. But I gave him his gift and he thanked me and thanked me for comign to all their events..blah blah Teruki...I didn't know what to talk about with him either...he speant most of the time blabbing about how cute I was. Moving on...BOU! (for those of you lacking in memory, hes my fave, the one I dress like all the time...worship, adore, etc. etc.) Soo I was super nervous to talk to him obviously. At the last event he hadn't talked to me very much and I was kinda thinking maybe he didn't like me? But such is NOT the case! As soon as he saw me he got really excited. And he said "Ah! I saw your cosplay of me, the tekesuta uniform! You did an amazing job! Thank you so much, I was really honored!" And yes...I could have died right there. My jaw must have dropped fifty feet through the floor. I only wore that costume to lives...and him noticing it, remembering it? Noticing ME! Out of all the fans there...wow...all I can say is wow. I mean yeah, I worked super hard to make that costume, making sure it was accurate and all...soo to have him compliment it. It meant the world to me. So I told him I loved his style and always dressed like him and he replied "Well, you're really cute, it suits you well!" Kyaa~~ I'm such a happy shmee. Then last was Miku. After my conversation with Bou...I was pretty star struck. So Miku I gave him his gift and the letter and he thanked me..and said some random english and rambled about my super cuteness. *giggle* Its so cute when they do that english thing. Silly Miku. And I told him I'd see him at the next live and he said he look for me, take care, see you again, bye bye! *sigh* This is the life huh? We wanted to do demachi (waiting for the band after the event) but kira and masato wanted to get home. It was pretty late and they live far away, so we left. I rode with masato and kira on the train and we listened to an cafe on my ipod and did the dances. Such Happy little fan girls we are. *^-^* It was at this time that I decided no matter the difficulties I would make Bou's new costume before the next concert (dec. 3...giving me? three weeks? haha I am insane aren't I?) so that we would be dressed the same once again. hehe I'm a sucker for that.
Soo as you can guess the next two weeks were filled with sewing every spare second I had...and some I didn't have. haha. I got to school early and sewed, sewed at lunch, during my free periods and then stayed till 5 sewing after school...insanity? yes. Worth it? Totally.
Nov. 23
Soo this day I was planning to go out to Shinjuku and get some more lace and other sewing supplies but I received a call from my Area rep. that went something like this. "hey, alex what are you doing today?"
"well...I'm going to go get some fabric."
"good, at kinkado? Ikebukuro?"
"Actually...n-"
"Okay, so I'll meet you there, bring your kumon test."
"*starts freaking out cause she hasn't done the test yet* what? When?"
"how about 2 okay?"
*sigh*...sooo I had to shower and do my test and meet her...oh well...
Nov. 28
A glorious day for the Shmee! The cosplay was finally completed! haha soo now I have free time again! Yay! haha I'm speedy...look at me go. Power sewing. (the following photo is of the costume when it was almost finished)
Nov. 29 - Dec. 2
Dad left on a buissness trip and mom somehow got super busy..anyway, that left me to run Yuuka all over the place. Why does a six year old have so many lessons? Jeesh...*worn out*
Dec. 1
With the next concert coming up soon and my wonderful costume all done I figured a trip to the hair salon was in order. Wanted to look my best after all. My bangs had grown all the way down to my chin...it was terrible. Soo I got all trimmed up and pretty.
Dec. 3
The big day! I was really excited...I was trying real hard not to let the fact that this is my last time seeing them dampen my spirits...and I did have an Awesome time. I met my friends at 3 in Harajuku and we all took purikura and hung out till it got later and we walked together to Shibuya where the live was. I was pretty cold with just a short skirt and kimono top...but I knew it would be REALLY hot in the live so I was okay. I was REALLY surprised this time how many people were there...I would say over 1000. In any case it was alot. The hall was set on this large street and looked almost like a parking garage entrance, really big and wide with a giant staircase going up the middle to the second floor. We first went through the crowd to get coin lockers. It was like parting the red sea...it was sooo freaky. As I passed through everyone turned around to stare and murmors of things like "sooo cute!" "pretty." "so pale" and "amazing" followed me. I have to say by the time we got through the crowd to the coin lockers I was about fifty shades of red...I don't think I've EVER been the object of more attention. There are a few groups that cosplay at lives, but no one had the latest outfits and non of them are foreigners...so I'm guessing that had something to do with it. All my friends had like 130ish numbers...except one with 270 and I had 312 or something...but we all went in when they called 220 and no one said anything. We walked up that giant staircase in the middle and there was still probably over 600 people waiting below. ALL of them were staring at me...and yes they began SHOUTING about how cute I was. I blushed some more and ran up and clung to Masaki. Fangirls are dangerous...I don't need anyone fangirling over me.
We got in and had a pretty long wait before the show started. They played "opaningu" while five people in animal suits had a mock battle/dance then the curtain was raised and An Cafe came out. *dance dance* They played all of the new album and few old songs too...and this live...it was big. They even had streamers and a few pyrotechnics. hehe. Aww my boys are all grown up. ^-^ Course after 2 hours of dancing I was beat. I was second row over on Bou's side, dancin my lil heart out. Had an amazing time...as always. Their lives are nothing but superb, every time. Afterwords we talked out front and took some pictures together before everyone had to go home. Of course I'm sad its my last An Cafe live...but at least I had a great time.
Dec. 4
I met Saskia and Cooper for a bit of shopping. Saskia wanted to buy a dictionary, so we met in Akihabara. Just bummed around and looked at various shops. Had a good time chatting and looking around. Took Purikura of course! *^-^*
And there you have it! All up to date on my life! This week is more end of term tests which I'm not too worried about...although my home ec. teacher said my test would be to write a speech...and then i have to give it at the school's closing ceremony...I HATE speeches! WHY!?!?! *cries* But the closing ceremony is the 22 and then I have no school after that...Not sure how I'll amuse myself till the 10 but I'm sure I'll find a way. Hahaha Also Winter Comiket (a big Cosplay event in Tokyo) is the 29. Of course I'm going and I'll wear my newest Bou costume. ^-^ For now, Bed time! Bye!

Sooo...I bet you have all been waiting, anticipating another update of this glorious blog. Yes? Yeesss?
oh, fear not. For here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for....an update.
So the An Cafe concert on October 2nd.
----------------
The night before my friend Cooper mailed me saying he wanted to meet to go shopping. He wasn't free Saturday, so he could only go Sunday. The concert wasn't until 5 pm, so I agreed to meet him. He then tells me he wants to go to a friends school festival, a ton of foreigners he knows from Rotary club (how he meets these people is a mystery to me). So...I have no choice but to oblige. As luck would have it we weren't the only ones there. This was the school of Francis, a girl with YFU from the Phillipines and Eimy (Swedish), Lara (Swiss) and her German friend and also another boy from Thailand were all there. Lara ended up coming into Harajuku with me before the concert and I introduced her to my An Cafe friends and she hung out with us for awhile.
The concert hall was soooo small. I was really surprised. I actually had seen videos of lives in this live house, but I guess I didn't connect the dots and realize that it was the same. Cause WOW. It was tiny. Like really I think there are rooms in our house the size of this place. It was THAT small. So when we first came in we were about 4th row, right in front of Bou (my fave, the guitarist ^-^). AND I caught his guitar pick! ^-^
So after that I moved up to the second row. The concert was over all AMAZING! I absolutely adore their lives. The fans get really into the dances and its such a great feeling with all the energy and excitement. So great!

On the next weekend I went with my family to some house in the country. It was really cool because it was my first time to stay in a traditional Japanese home. Although it was REALLY cold. Everyone there was speaking Chinese, so I got a little confused. But I had fun none the less.


All this week has been tests...I guess they are kind of like a mid term test? But the Japanese students seem to have these alot. In any case it means half days all this week, so I won't complain. Today Cooper and I went out to Karaoke in the afternoon. Very fun. Tomorrow I'm hoping to meet with Lara. We are going to a concert Halloween night together. The main artist is Vidoll and this concert is sponsered by a very famous company here in the Japanese music industry for making the best stage costumes for artists. Also fans can purchase some of these costumes...although the prices are outrageous (I'm talking like 2000 dollars for a skirt), but for some fans having the exact same clothes as worn by their favorite artist is certainly worth that price. (not for me, I'll make it thanks. haha) But being a big fan of the sewing scene myself I'm very excited for this concert. Since you are supposed to come in costume I can't wait to see what everyone else wears. ^-^ Also this Sunday is a cosplay event at a local theme park. Very cool. Lots going on lately in the land of the Shmee as my time here is quickley burning away. Does the time go so quickley for all you too?

right...so let me tell you the whole thing. I didn:t need to freak out as much as I did...well I DID make an fool of myself...but oh well.
So I arrived at the event kinda late...cause I speant too long on aim talking to Sana. So I missed some of the talk. Apparently they:re realsing a new album and something about a DVD with PVs on it...don:t remeber if he said it would be with the album or with a single...moving on.
The two girls who came in behind me...I was afraid that they couldn:t see...so I tried to move and such and apologized alot. But they said it was all a-okay and they became my new best buddies for the rest of the night. So after the talk we waited in a line...to take photos with the band. I think we were supposed to get 5, but they didn:t have time so we only got 1. (I think the people in front of us got more...but thats just me...maybe they didn:t) When it was my trun to go of course everyone does the "*gasp shock* ouhhhh awww! Gaijin! shes sooo pretty! Wow isn:t she pretty?" and I was about to sit down and do the whole holding hands with Bou and Miku thing that everyone else had done for their photos...when I was like...no. I wanna do something different. So you know what?
I MADE AN CAFE DO THE CHARLIE'S ANGELS POSE WITH ME!
hahaha. oh my god. It was soooo funny! I was like "Oh! Please can we do an American pose?" and Miku gets all excited and is like "yeah yeah!" haha so I didn:t really know how to explain it...so I just grabbed them and placed them where they should be. With Kanon and Teruki standing in back and Bou and Miku kneeling in front and me in the middle. haha oh my god and the whole rest of the room, everyone still waiting. They were all laughing so hard. So then I thanked them (and by this time the photo taking lady/mod of the event was really mad that I was taking soo long. but I came a long way for this! So leave me alone!) so I quickley shook their hands and said thank you and gave Miku a dollar with my name and phone number writin on it. And then headed out.
I met my friends outside and we all agreed to stay for demachi (waiting to see the band off). Soo...we went to McDonald's across the street and ate a bit. Then we went to wait by the shop. They all spoke with the manager/staff lady that was there and I went and hung in the doorway watching the band till the shop lady made me go away. Ironically the band's manager lady didn:t seem to mind me at all (I think she liked me...she just smiled and waved when she saw me there). Then while everyone else was downstairs waiting by the car for them to come out...I went upstairs and sat on the steps near the room I knew they were in. Until Bou saw me and I had to act innocent and just waved. So they came out and walked to the car and I walked down with them and talked to Bou. Then Bou got in the car and I stood in the doorway and Miku was like "Okay lets go." and then hes like *shock* "Oh! You're not Bou!" hahahaha I was like..."...ummm no...I:m not" hahahaha oh man but...
MIKU THOUGHT I WAS BOU!
Totally still aughing at that.Umm so right I watched Kanon get in the car and then Teruki and then found my friends that were on up the road a bit. Went to take Purikura and then everyone went home together. They took the same train as me so we taught each other the para dance things (synchronized dances that everyone does at concerts) on the train. I was the only one that knew the Candyholic dance. ^-^ Go me! But they:re all going to the live next weekend so we:re gonna meet up. Yay for more friends! *happy dance*
Oh right...and as you can tell I:m keeping my identity a secret. *evil laugh* Sooo no pics for you! haha. I may eventually break down and let my new "look" slip. But until that day...edited photos. See you all in January! Its not too far away...you can wait. ^-^

mood - hyperventilating excitement
music: An Cafe - Merrrymaking

So I got up super early this morning...admittedly earlier than I needed to...
I went to Shinjuku and managed to arrive at the store an hour and a half before it was supposed to open. Joined the already assembled line and sat down to wait. *thumb twiddling* Finally at 11 a man came out and guided the front half of the line into the store in an organized manner. Really Japan is the only place I know where kids when given the oppurtunity to meet their idols calmly follow instructions and don't rush or push in the slightest. Kinda cool huh? haha But seriously that was the SLOWEST line I have ever been in. I didn:t get to the cash register till almost 12:00. Thats right folks somehow it took them an hour to ring up the orders of 50 or so people. I was a little upset cause some people were buying like 6 or 7 of the cds to get extra tickets to the event...and well that didn:t seem fair. But not much I can do about it. So I finally got up there, got my ticket and my speacial DVD along with the new single of course. ^-^ Happyness for the Shmee. Sooo...this Friday at 5 I will indeed be back in Shinjuku to chat and shake hands with An Cafe. *dies* Can you guys beleive all the luck I'm having? Jeesh. I hope they have good security gaurds or I might just all out glomp em. haha =p (umm who doesn't know what a glomp is? Raise your lil cyber hands and I'll explain haha)
So tonight I plan to con my sister into helping me write them a letter and then I'll draw cute stuff all over it and give it to them Friday. Go me! Now I gotta decide what the wear. Ahh! haha

<-Shmee playing games ^-^

mood: excited
music: GO!GO!7188 - Taxi


Well last Saturday was the Tokyo Game Show…and to be completely honest with you there was no way I was going to miss this opportunity. So I dragged Miranda out with me to see the latest and greatest in game technology. It took me forever and fifty years of course to actually GET to Chiba where the show was being hosted. The trains were not only full of people going to the game show, but also everyone going to Tokyo Disney (which was only two stations from where the Game show was). When we first got there we paid our admission fees and were given guides. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by large screens, a million flashy displays and of course the many girls dressed in tiny little outfits and posing for photos advertising for the various companies. The first building contained halls 4, 5, and 6 and such companies as Konami, Capcom, Sega, Namco, Microsoft, Bandai and
Sony, as well as a section for gaming schools and an area dedicated to cell phone games. It was actually pretty overwhelming being there. Microsoft was showcasing the XBOX 360 of course. They were running some promo videos on a huge screen and even had girls in lil XBOX outfits giving out information. They also had areas where you could play a few games such as Test Drive Unlimited, Dead or Alive 4,and Dead Rising. The Playstation area had available an ungodly large amount of titles for testing (I would say over 100) on PS2, PS3 and PSP. Some of the big titles were Metal Gear Solid 3, Biohazard4, Kingdom Hearts 2, and the latest in the Final Fantasy line Dirge of Cerberus ? Final Fantasy 7-. We watched Capcom’s promo videos and got some free DVDs and posters from various other places. The next building contained halls 1, 2 and 3 with such names as Excite, Gravity, and Square Enix, Gravity was showing off its new online game Rose as well as Ragnarok 2 and a new game Requiem. There was a ton of excitement in this area due to Gravity’s (a Korean gaming company made famous for its vastly popular MMORPG Ragnarok online, which is played by people of all ages worldwide) recent sale to the Japanese company SOFTBANK. With the recent launch of Rose Online Beta testing (which I was accepted for haha) and Ragnarok 2’s launch next year, Gravity is certainly a name to look out for. I also got a kick out of playing Minna Daiski Katamari (or the English title “Everyone Loves Katamari”) on the PSP. Although the controls are a little difficult at first, play is still very enjoyable and since the game was never originally graphically driven there isn’t much lost between Playstaion2 and PSP game play. All in all it was a good time. There were even a number of cosplayers wandering around the area.


Sunday and Monday I participated in my school festival. Monday I spent the majority of the morning helping Chon and Jaga with the tennis club’s activity selling Buttered Potatoes (it’s a Japanese thing…don’t ask. Haha). But I got a big kick out of Jaga selling potatoes, since Jaga means potato in Japanese. Later in the afternoon my friends from Waseda (a boy’s school not too far from ours) Yuki, Ryoichi and a friend of theirs came. So I spent the afternoon showing them around and playing card games. I also attended the live of Jaga’s band, Swallowtail, which was fun. Then after the all school after party I went out with the tennis club. We went out for Omiyaki in Ikebukro. It’s basically a restaurant where everyone sits around a large table with a girl in the middle. Then you order the flavors you want and they give you the bowls of…stuff. There are two types of food (I’m sure they have names…but I don’t remember). One type is a flat pancake of egg and cabbage with meat and cheese and such (depending on what type you order) you cook it till its hard on both sides, but soft in the middle then add sauce to the top. The other is cabbage and meat and vegetables and fish with a milky consistency. You first put all the stuff on and cook it, then create a hole in the middle and pour on the liquidy stuff, trying to keep it within the circle. Course we always failed. Haha. But it was very fun none the less. Today I was really super lazy and slept in, did my nails (I'm getting to be quiet the pro manicurist) and such. Tomorrow I have to get up early to go out to Shinjuku and get An Café’s latest single along with the limited edition DVD that comes with it and hopefully the ticket to Friday’s event (fingers crossed). I just have to make sure to go really early cause I know there are a very small amount of tickets given out. So wish me luck ne? I’ll do my best.

Okay. So obviously I haven’t written as much as I should have lately. And all of you were kind enough to remind me of that in my birthday cards. ^-^; I know. I know.
Okay so I’m going to go over the big events in order of oldest to latest and make some comments. If you have any questions on anything, leave a comment and I’ll get to you ASAP.


June 25-26
I was laying on my bed feeling super bored. Cooper had mentioned doing something, but we hadn’t made any definite plans. That was when Miranda sent me a message saying she was free and I should come visit her if I wasn’t doing anything…and well I wasn’t. So I got ready and she sent me the train info and I made my way to Chiba for the first time. For some reason the train I was on stopped at every station for like 10 minutes…so what should have taken an hour took over two. But I did get there, her mother invited me to stay the night and my host mom agreed it was okay. We had a snack at McDonald’s before going on to her house. We had Yaki Niku with her family and watched TV and talked all night. The next morning we did like hours of karaoke before I had to go home.
July 3
There was a YFU event. We met in Takadanobaba and then went to this cultural center place? It had lovely gardens in any case. We had a traditional tea ceremony and folded some origami, before Miranda and I decided to leave early and go shopping in Harajuku. Which was of course much more fun. Haha
July 9
I went to see a kabuki with YFU. Kabuki is a traditional form of Japanese theatre. They speak traditional Japanese that most Japanese people now can’t even understand, so there were screens on either side of the stage rolling subtitles in modern Japanese. I really had NO idea what was going on. This guy turned into a dog? With an army? And then went to heaven in a blast of sakura? I really have no clue. It was fairly dull for the most part. Afterwards we went to harajuku for snacks and drinks and a bit of shopping. Rebecca (one of my room mates in Yoyogi) was there and I took her to Putumayo to get an outfit for her sister. We made plans to see each other more often as well.
July 10
I went to see Star Wars Episode 3 with Chon. We went to this really backwater town to see it. But they had a Mister Donuts there! Oh man! My first donut since leaving America. Haha I almost died it was so good.
July 13
Rebecca and I met in Ikebukuro after school to pick up concert tickets and then found a sweet Manga shop. Spent three hours reading manga and drinking mango frappacinos on the steps. Man I love that girl. Haha
The concert was the stylish wave CIRCUIT’ 05 in Kawasaki’s CLUB CITTA 7/30
Antic Café, Shelly Trip Realize, [FIGURe ;], MASK, doremidan, ImitationPoPs NOIZ, Babylon, R*A*P and a surprise guest.
July 21 and 22
I began the long and tedious and possibly quiet crazed task of sewing an outfit to wear to the concert with Rebecca. I had crazily decided that I would make Bou’s (the guitarist from Antic Café) latest stage outfit. Cause I figured it would be darn cool cause then we would be wearing the same outfit. Anyway…that was crazy of me to attempt to complete in 2 weeks…So I didn’t want to sew all day alone by myself at school. So I asked Rebecca if she would come to keep me company and she agreed. We met at 9 at Otsuka station, walked to a coffee shop on the way and had mango frappacinos while she changed into one of my spare skirts. Then I would sew and we would either listen to music or watch Invader Zim on her portable DVD player. And usually afterwards we would go to Ikebukuro to look around or go karaoke. Such were the good days. Haha.
July 23
I mailed Miranda telling her about Laforet having a giant sale and she said of course she couldn’t miss it…so Rebecca and I agreed to go with her. Sadly at the time I was rather broke and didn’t want to spend any money with two concerts coming up. The place was an absolute ZOO! There were sooo many people. Laforet it self is an 8 floor shopping mall with a million gazillion stores, each playing their own music as loud as possible and then each store had its staff members dressed in multi-colored afros, cat ears, bunny tails, you name it, standing on stools shouting with megaphones. Yes, that’s right each trying to shout over the others and over the music. It was horrid! I had a headache the second I stepped in there. I stood there next to Rebecca while we waited outside a store for Miranda and turned to her and said a the top of my lungs “THIS IS INSANE!” and she shouted “WHAT?” “THIS IS INSANE!” “I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” haha It was REALLY that bad. But then I found out I could sing along with some of the stores music at the top of my lungs, belt it out and no one would hear it. So I had a bit of fun with that. Finally we convinced Miranda to leave, since it was driving her crazy too. Although I must admit, had I had cash at the time it would have been great. Almost everything was 50 ? 80 percent off. Which…yeah is GREAT! Haha.

July 24
My host mom came in and woke me up and said “oh at 3 your new host dad is coming in his car to get you, so you need to get up and get ready.” So I showered, finished packing and cleaned up everything. Did you know I was moving? Well now you do. It was a little strange saying goodbye to my old family…but that was okay. We drove with my rep and arrived at my new family’s apartment. Ikeda was their name. They had two children, Kouchirou and Kyouko. Kouchiro was getting ready to leave for Switzerland for a one-month exchange. So the family agreed to take me for that one month.
July 26
When I moved my rep. had given me two tickets to Tokyo Disneyland. So I asked my sister Kyouko if she wanted to go with me. But since that as the day of the tsunami she wasn’t sure if we could go or not. But it ended up being okay in the morning so we went ahead and left. But it rained off and on all day long. Although this made the lines really short…it also made it rather dreary and not so fun. We went on the rides, had some snacks. Compared to the parks in the US this was nothing though. The rides were a lot softer, with less speed and less drops and there wasn’t too much to do. It was kinda sad. But we still had a pretty good time.
July 27 and 29
I sewed again with Rebecca and finally finished my outfit. Okay..see this outfit involves over 200 golden eyelets that then have black and pink ribbons laced through them. But I highly doubt anyone in Japan does home repair, because I found it impossible to find somewhere to hammer where I didn’t feel like I was being completely obnoxious. I tried to hammer on our balcony, but it seemed to echo off all the buildings and be really loud and everything was so quiet. I suppose it didn’t help that the times I was free to hammer (basically 11 pm or 7 am) were not exactly busy times. I wanted to get half the eyelets done one morning in particular, so I got up early, 5, so I could do it. I tried the balcony, but I felt like I was waking up everyone. I went to see if I could get to the roof, but they had it locked, and by this time it was raining slightly. Finally I broke down and walked to a nearby park. There I found a small cement column coming out of the ground. So there I kneeled, in the middle of a park at 5 am in the slight rain kneeling on the ground hammering a small piece of fabric with a white high-heeled shoe. (That’s right folks, cause I had no hammer. That’s improvisation right there haha) But I did get it done. The rest of the rivets I hammered at school with an umbrella. Go ahead laugh, you know its funny.
July 30
The big day! I had no idea where this place was to tell you the truth. All I had was a map I had printed from their website and there was noooo way I was gonna get us lost and miss the concert, so Rebecca and I met a 8 am and then together went to Kawasaki. The concert hall opened at 3:30, show started at 4:30. We got to Kawasaki super early obviously. So we went to McDonalds and had breakfast, did our makeup and talked. After that we wandered around the shops in the area and went to an arcade. We played a few rounds of DDR and that drumming game…which I found highly enjoyable. We went to another shop so I could change into my outfit and then headed to the club. They made us all gather in a hot stuffy parking garage while they called ticket numbers and let people in by tens. Ahhh that was soo annoying. Even though we had fairly high numbers (142 and 141 B) when we got into the club we were able to walk straight up into the front section. The surprise guest was Despair’s Ray and they went first. All in all it was an amazing experience. I really enjoyed MASK’s performance. All the crowd got really into it. In Japan at concerts like this they do a sort of para para…basically a synchronized dance. The band or the fans of the band make up the dance. Usually the vocalist or another member of the band will be on stage doing the dance and then the ENTIRE crowd will copy it. Yes, even if that means spinning around 70 times while head banging, regardless of who you crush in the process. Anyway, MASK had really complicated dances that during one point involved the whole crowd stepping back about 7 paces and then throwing themselves forcefully on top of the people in front of them. I feel sorry for the people in front who got crushed up against the bar. But Rebecca and I got really into it and had a great time doing all the dances and the Japanese girls around us were even pushing us forward cause they were getting to tired to dance as enthusiastically. See, in these concerts it’s considered rude to NOT do the dances. So when they got tired they would move back and allow the more energetic people to support the band in their place. So by this time Rebecca and I had achieved second row. Although I have to admit it was really scary during Imitation PoPs performance. They’re dance was so complicated, but the fans were so into it that they did it anyway and Rebecca and I had nothing to do but cling tightly to each other hoping not to get pushed apart and/or crushed when they all jumped as high as they could and then ran sideways. Last performance of the night was my favorite, Antic Café. I was REALLY excited to see them live. Indeed I was dressed EXACTLY like Bou and that was soo awesome. I was in the second row at this time, but the girl in front of me spent most of the concert with her head down head banging…so I might as well have been in the first row. That was great. Bou even smiled and waved at me. Bad thing though, the concert didn’t finish till 11.


August 2
Rebecca and I met in Harajuku to take some pictures of me in my costume and then met Cooper in Shibuya. We shopped around a bit for Rebecca’s kinda sorta farewell thing. Since she was only a semester student she was due to go home soon.
August 3
I went to the airport to see Rebecca off. How complicated that was! Her host sister told me to meet them at Tokyo international terminal. So I went to Narita and asked the info lady where that was…well apparently it was in Tokyo, not Narita, but I could take a bus from Narita to there. I mailed Rebecca’s sis a bit more and she told me Rebecca had just got on the bus to come to Narita. So I was really relieved I hadn’t totally messed up and I would jus have to wait there for her. I found a big group of YFU kids. I guess summer students. I talked to a few for a bit, until I spotted Rebecca. By this time the ticket line was HUGE. All clogged up with YFU students. So I sat there on Rebecca’s luggage cart and we chatted for 3 or so hours while she waited. But by the time we reached the counter she had about 9 or so minutes till her flight so they expedited her through security and everything. We hugged quickly and she headed off. *sniffles cries* I sooo miss her.
August 6
The Miyavi concert! Ahh I was sooo excited for this. I got there pretty early and met my friend Raki and we saw Miya and his band arrive in their van and they all got out and waved and blew kisses. Then we had a million hours to wait…sadly in the sun. I got a terrible sunburn. The concert was only 2 and a half ours long. The fans were so insane and I got so worn out from dancing that really by the time it was over all I wanted to do was curl up and sleep.
August 8
I took a day trip up to see Miranda again in Chiba. I don’t think I can ever see her enough, she keeps me sane in this crazy place. (total love for Miranda. Haha)
August 12
Chon had gotten tickets for her and I to see the Tokyo Film Festival premier of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (for free too). But the day of the movie she couldn’t go, so Cooper came with me instead. Actually…that movie was really cool. Haha
August 13
The 12th I had gotten an e-mail from an online friend telling me that this weekend was one of two of Tokyo’s biggest cosplay events. Of course I was dying to go. But I had been debating it. I ended up having nothing better to do. So I got up, put on my Battle Royal uniform and then headed out there. I met him and a few of his friends. Most of them were here on the JET program (a Gov. funded program that brings in foreigners to teach English) but one guy was an ambulance driver for the military. We wandered around and looked at all the cosplay and took pictures. I even had my picture taken quiet a few times. Ah! Foreigner! Must snap. Haha. Afterwards we all went out to TGI Friday’s for dinner. Ah! A good burger! It had been sooo long. Haha. And then went out to Shinjuku to go karaoke. It was a total blast and I also realized it was the first time since I’d been here that I had hung out with people older than me…I totally needed that since I’m so used to hanging out with my parents and all their friends.
August 14
John Morgan came down from Kyushu (its far away trust me). Cooper and I went with him to Akihabara (the geek Mecca here.). Then I took him out shopping in Harajuku. (I am now the official Harajuku guide haha) It was a total blast though. John is really a great guy.
August 15
I met in Harajuku with a girl named Hana who I had met at the Miyavi concert. Ironically not only was she two rows behind me at the concert, she is on the same website that I use for chatting with friends and she used to go to Ochanomizu (my school now). Ahh I love these crazy coincidences. So we shopped around and took some purikura together.
August 19/20
YFU 4 month orientation camp at the Yoyogi Olympic Center. Ah takes me back to the day. Haha. This orientation was a bit…pointless, boring, painful but sorta fun. First they had nothing for us to do, so they decided for us to walk…to Shinjuku. A 45 min walk in the heat. And then when we got there, we had nothing to do, so we basically walked around and then came back. Then we were allowed to swim, which was super cool cause I hadn’t been swimming since I left the US. Then we had some chats with the returnees, a sucky dinner and then all the students stayed up till 2 am talking. There was Cooper, Me, Lara (a girl from Switzerland) and Saskia (a girl from Holland) and John (a guy from Germany) and Eimy (a girl from Sweden). I got really fond of Lara and Saskia. Lara likes punk fashion and the same kind of music I do, while Saskia is just crazy. She has a really funny sense of humor and we just had a great time talking.
August 26
I went to the YFU headquarters to discuss my next move. After my host family and my rep and I went out to dinner.
August 28
Moving Day! I packed up all my stuff and set off for my new family. Noda-san. I now have a mother, father, and two sisters, 18 and 6. But…they’re Chinese. They speak Japanese to me, but sometimes the mother’s accent is a little difficult. But I really like them, they’re very kind to me and help me with whatever I need.
August 29/30/31
Another YFU camp. This time it was in Chiba…actually really far from central Chiba. It was some…like center in the middle of no where. But I got to see the Ocean! Even though YFU split us into stupid groups and made us do dumb skits…it was okay.

Which pretty much brings you all up to the present. So there. That was my summer. Now school has started up again and our school festival is next weekend. I really have NO idea what’s going on…something about fortune telling? Anyway, I don’t have too many classes right now, mostly study halls. Our regular classes are being taught by student teachers…who do a terrible job for the most part. So its incredibly boring and pointless.
And as you all know last weekend was my birthday. I am now standing at a sturdy 18 years. Woah…old huh? Ha. For my party Lara, Saskia, and Cooper and I went out and took a million purikura and then did an hour of karaoke. We then met Chon and Jaga and went back to my house for pizza, chicken, sushi, fruit and cake. It was sooo yummy! Ah! Happyness. And that morning Jordan called me and so did mom and dad. It was really nice to hear from them, just being away from home made it feel like…well not like my birthday. I know Christmas is going to seem so strange.

Well a long time has passed. I know, I haven’t deserted you. Today I went out to Harajuku with my Australian friend Cooper. I saw him again at the YFU 3 month orientation a while ago and we found out that we lived rather close to each other. So on weekends when we both don’t have anything else to do, we get together to go shopping, see the sights, take pictures and such. This weekend we met in Harajuku, walked around Yoyogi park taking photos and then headed out to Ginza. We ate lunch there and went through the Sony building. They had a few models of the latest laptops, mp3 players and such, but I really got a kick out of playing with the new model of Aibo, the moist intelligent Ai robot developed to look and act like a dog and playing the new Bleach fighting game on the PSP (umm its an anime…). Then we headed over to Ueno and looked around the markets. They had shops selling fish right next to shops with golfing gear. It certainly was strange…and a bit smelly too. Haha. I drug him into a seven floor toyshop and had to listen to him complain about how much of a dork I am while I looked at all the Gundam models (but that is rather geeky, I admit haha). But we then went and did an hour of karaoke, which was a blast.
As for the YFU orientation, it was a bit dull…but I suppose I shouldn’t say that should I? I should say I enjoyed the culturally enriching historical experience…but whatever. We participated in the carrying of the Mikoshi. A mikoshi is basically a portable god, if you can imagine that. Each temple has one and on the day of that god’s festival people gather to carry the mikoshi down the street, lead by the priests and chanting. Then afterwards everyone gets together for food and drinks to relax. It was interesting to see the various types of mikoshi from the different temples and all the people dressed in traditional clothes.
As far as the Sports festival…I actually had a pretty good time. Although for the most part I was really hungry and it was really hot so I was thirsty too. But the events I competed in were really fun. Although my class lost terribly ^^; It was fun. I think they put me in the most dangerous events on purpose! One of them was this…fight over large bamboo stick. Two classes faced off against each other, each team having 8 or so teams of three people. These groups of three would then run from their spot behind the line towards a bamboo stick in the middle. Your team’s goal is to get the bamboo stick back behind your side. Of course the other team is trying to do the same, so you have to drag them with you. Once you get your stick behind the line you can go help the other teams. So by the end we had a giant blob of forty or so girls tugging and climbing all over each other trying to get to drag this stick. It was really fun though…
Lately I’ve been busy studying. I have my exams coming up this week and next, so I’m trying to cram all my Japanese notes to make sure I’m ready. But soon it will be Summer. Although the Japanese school’s summer isn’t as long as summer in the US, I’m looking forward to it. Right now is rainy season, keeping the weather a bit cooler, but as summer comes around the wonderful land of Tokyo will be getting even hotter. The last week has been almost unbearably hot and humid at school, so I’m glad for the rain…although it does make things rather dreary.