B-b-b-BACK in Japan!

So I realize that I haven't actually made a proper post in a very long time. Today in school, I was thinking (in Japanese - be so proud of me) about why that might be, and I decided it must be because somewhere, subconsciously, I feel overwhelmed by all that has happened since last time I posted, and I for some reason feel like I can't post again unless it is to post about everything that's happened since November.

Well, I have decided to get over that, and thus today I will start with now, and if later I feel like going in and feeling in the blanks (I took some pretty fun trips around Japan with some pretty fun pictures), it will happen. If not, not.

So anyhow, as most of you know, I have arrived back in Japan!! And the very first thing I did upon my arrival was - SLEEP! I know, I know, that's not very fun.

The next day, though, I went to meet up with my friend Rachael in Nagoya, and we drank soy bubble tea from Osu Kannon and then ended up at Sakae Sound Street, where we saw this really good band, Alfabeto. I attempted to speak to the bassist, and I realized that my Japanese had, for the most part, entirely disappeared. For example, I tried to tell him that they looked very energetic on the stage, and somehow what came out was "Everyone looked really looking forward to." Yeah. (Luckily, it's pretty much returned now, so all good.) :-)

We also some some lolitas with a little boy, who couldn't have been more than 5 years old, dressed up in host clothes. It was HILARIOUS! (For those of you not in the know, a host is basically a male escort, and they are SUPER popular in Japan.) Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me, so Rachael took pictures, which I don't have yet. If I get them, I'll be sure to upload them later.

We also saw this motorcycle dude with a poodle on his lap.

My first Friday back, I of course had to go to karaoke. I sang lots of Japanese songs, and it felt so good to be back at karaoke. :-) It's definitely one of the things I'm going to miss most about Japan. Afterward, we met up with my old classmate Cesar, who is no a proper working man in Japan. We got dinner, and it was fabulous to catch up!

The weekend after we went to the grand-opening of H&M in Nagoya. How there wasn't one before, I have no idea. In any case, we waited in a super long line to get in, and then I didn't even buy anything. Nonetheless, good times were had. :-) And Rachael bought stuff.

Then this Sunday was the Kodomo Matsuri (children's festival) by Okazaki-jou (Okazaki Castle). After a delicious banana pancake breakfast with my friend Idit, we hopped on our bikes and headed over there. There were tons of really cool looking activities that I wanted to try, but unfortunately, they were all for kids. :-(

Luckily, though, I was able to try to pound some mochi. I was pretty awful at it, but it was fun nonetheless.

Then we got to make bamboo stilts and try those out.

I was pretty awful at that as well - I think I managed to take about 4 or 5 steps total, and I have to say - I was extremely proud of myself for just that. Even though quite a few of the kids seemed to be managing quite well. I'm convived that the further away from the ground you grow the more difficult it becomes.

Anyhow, that's what I've been up to. Oh, and my first day back, it was a gloomy day, but I was thrilled to discover they were still in bloom! The next day, the rain came and chased them all away. And least I got to see them, though, if only briefly. :-)

This week in Japan is Golden Week, which is a super big celebration in Japan. As such, I've got Thursday and Friday off, and I'm headed to Tokyo to see Martin! Yes! (On a side note, Golden Week is always, naturally, abbreviated as GW, but for some reason every time I see that, I think George Washington, and I have to think a bit before I realize what it means)