WARNING: This blog is mostly about (tasty) food, I suggest eating before reading this.
Last week I made a trip to Kyoto with two girls from my university to visit two young ladies we met from Kyoto Seika University. Kyoto was just as beautiful as I remembered it to be and the trip was a major success, mainly due to the good company (the girls: Sophie, Steph, Hannah and Alice) and the delicious food. The over night bus ride there was...awful. In spite of indulging in a few celebratory beverages with Sophie on the way to the station, I didn't sleep a wink. This time I was even bold enough to recline my chair all the way, but that didn't help too much either. Save on money, lose on sleep - a sacrifice I chose to make. So needless to say, the first thing to happen upon our arrival in Kyoto (around 7am) was a nice big nap. The girls and I had a leisurely morning as we waited to make some plans for when Alice got out of class. We head over to the campus to grab some lunch at the cafeteria, and to take a tour of the university. After lunch we grabbed some ice cream and sat outside to watch a live music (student bands) performance. J-pop, and Japanese rock is always a treat. They were adorable, and quite entertaining to say the least.
I was amazed by this campus, it was radically different from Keio's - since it's mainly an arts school even the students were different (no girls parading around all dolled up, in their Louboutins, with their oversized Louis Vuitton purses). What really sets this campus apart however, besides its fabulous pond and fountain in between buildings, are the animals! This campus has caged animals hanging around just for fun. Peacocks, chickens, bunnies, and a colony of deer! A little bit strange, but so neat! Apparently a former director decided it was necessary to have animals around in case students needed a break from studying books. I didn't question it, just enjoyed it...a lot. I think the deer were my favourite - I've seen plenty of deer but these were just a lively bunch; in case you're wondering what sound deer make - they squeak!! trust me on this one, and it's too cute. The verdict: Kyoto Seika is a super cool university, and definitely steals the award for the most unique.
The weather was absolutely perfect the first day, warm and sunny - not a cloud in the sky. The ideal picnic weather, and so that was the very next thing we did. We grabbed a blanket, a couple of pillows, some music, and some beverages, then santered over to a grassy area close by where we could just lounge around and soak up the glorious day. Nice weather is even nicer when it pops up in the midst of Japan's rainy season - so we really enjoyed it that much more. Walking around Kyoto was great, the girls live right near the mountains which make for a great view from wherever you are. The trees were so vibrant and green, a real change of scenery from that of a concrete paved Tokyo decorated with skyscrapers. There was a forest of bamboo trees nearby and old men and women working hard in pretty rice fields that were scattered everywhere. It was so nice to just hangout, with no school work, and no pressing plans. We just hung around and went wherever the day took us; which just so happened to be 'Liquor Mountain' to stock up before a night of partying. We heard about a campus event going on that night and couldn't miss out. Of all things, it was a dance competition! my favourite. The Japanese really love to dance and they do it well. We collected our snacks, and our liquor before making our way over to the event. We watched and cheered, then later hit the dancefloor ourselves. The music...the people...everything was awesome. We all had a blast.
Now some would say a night of drinking isn't complete without a McDonald's run. I'm not a fan myself, but sure enough that's where I ended up. My life flashed before me several times as I sat on that back of Hannah's bike to get there. Luckily I made it in one piece and it was much faster than walking. As it turned out, I was happy to get my hands on some nuggets and a strawberry McFlurry. If you're wondering what a 'Japanese' McDonald's is like...I would say it's mostly the same, but tailored a bit more to Japanese taste (i.e. an Ebi burger - which is shrimp, AND Pikachu themed toys - and yeah, I certainly got me one). Once we had all ordered and found ourselves a table, we were informed that this '24 hour' McDonald's was closing, and that we had to leave immediately. At first we were pretty unimpressed, but we didn't make a fuss - we just packed up and continued our late night meal in the parking lot. Everything was going great, or so I thought - until the police pulled up on their little scooters (not too intimidating). I can't say I had much of an understanding of what was going on at the time, but apparently they wanted to see our alien cards (can we say racial discrimination?) hahaha. Well, being the prepared and law-abiding foreigner that I am, I had mine on me, as did all of my friends. From what I understood, that was all they really wanted - so we took the opportunity to be friendly with the less-than-menacing officers. Must be boring to be a police officer in such a crime-free area; the best they could find were some innocent 'gaijin' just out for a good time, trying to enjoy their McDonald's. Still slightly intoxicated at this point, we were having a good laugh at the whole situation. I made a point of pulling out my cell phone to snag a few pictures with one of the officers in order to capture the moment. How exciting, my first encounter with Japanese police officers. I'd just like to add, the fact that he couldn't stop smiling led me to believe he enjoyed the attention. The other looked to be rather ill (he was sporting a face mask). It was so 'kawaii'! Oh silly obnoxious youth. The two officers made notes of some sort, then hopped on their scooters and sped off into the night. I'm always happy to see police officers doing their job to serve and protect.
The next day was Sophie's 21st birthday! We were all in some rough shape (all that...dancing... really tuckered us out). We slept in for most of the morning and began our mission to find the best okonomayaki in Kyoto. Our friends had been going on about how amazing this one place was, and since I happened to be a fan already I was really looking forward to finding out what the big deal was. Well...it didn't take long to realize. One glance at the endless menu said it all. So many options to choose from, it really made things difficult. I went with the shittake okonomayaki, and Steph took the gyoza and we split between the two of us. So delicious! the portion size was immense. This is definitely one of my favourite Japanese dishes. The weather was rainy, so feeling stuffed and still tired we decided to head back to watch some tv and take another nap. Later on we decided to have a girly night out, we got all dressed up and celebrated Sophie's birthday dinner at none other than Japan's cheapest sushi place: Kappa! It's a conveyor belt sushi place; the sushi is decent and more importantly less than a dollar a plate! (dangerous). After sushi we saved just enough room for a tasty dessert at Baskin Robins. Luck was on our side with a buy-2-scoop, get-1-free deal! (as if that was necessary). After sampling nearly every flavour to be so careful in our selection, I had Belgian Chocolate, Strawberry Banana, topped with Cookies & Cream. (Mmmmm....) That night we were still all so drained - perhaps from eating as much as from the night before - that we decided to just hang out, watch a movie, and have a pajama party back at the dorm. It was a 'Girls Night In' and it was fantastic. I felt like I was thirteen years old, when we all gathered some blankets and pillows to get comfy and watch a movie.
Day three would be our last day in Kyoto. In spite of an early night the night before, we managed to sleep in again. This time we woke up to grab a bite at a ramen place (yet another fine Japanese dish - perhaps one of the most popular). I've had ramen a few times since I've been here, (because doing so is a must) but I never really took to it. I generally find it too salty, and I'm just not much of a soup person to begin with....this ramen changed everything. Alice is a vegetarian, so she took us to one of her favourite restaurants known for its soy milk ramen. I went with her recommendation and wasn't let down. It was the best soup, let alone ramen I've ever had! After a great night's sleep, and delicious ramen for lunch we were re-charged and ready to hit the town. The weather was rainy, perfect for shopping (but if you ask me, any weather is perfect for shopping). We paid a visit to downtown Kyoto and shopped around for the rest of the day. Naturally, after a day full of shopping we managed to work up an appetite. This time we were set on getting to an Indian food restaurant that Alice and Hannah said we needed to try. After the okonomayaki, and the ramen, I knew it had to be good. Well...in short, Chana Masala is one of my new favourite Indian dishes. Who would have thought the best Indian food might just be in Japan? And just when you would think we couldn't eat another thing the entire weekend...our last stop was.........Baskin Robins; and yes...the three scoop deal was still in effect (only this time, I swtiched the cookies & cream for strawberry cheesecake). A perfect ending to a wonderful Kyoto trip. While a big part of me felt utterly disgusting for committing gluttony to such an extreme, every over-indulgence was somehow justified by the fact that I was on vacation and in Kyoto. On that note, for those of you interested in visiting Japan, consider yourself warned: the food is so delicious, it's lethal. If I were living here any longer I'm convinced that I would be obese to the point of immobility.
My first experience of Kyoto was all about seeing the sights, temples and shrines. I still had a great time, but this time around I was really happy to see a very different side of Kyoto (not to mention sample some of the best food Kyoto has to offer). I think this relaxing trip allowed me to notice a lot more. When I wasn't preoccupied with diligently following my tour guide and getting around to every temple or suggested location I could, I was really able to take in so much more of the unique and serene ambiance of Kyoto. Overall, Kyoto is just so laid back, three days felt like an entire week. This area of Japan seems to have it all: the mountains, rice fields and gorgeous nature, some of Japan's most famous historical monuments and temples, even a dose of the modern city life and shopping downtown. Really, what's not to love? That being said, my friends live in a pretty secluded area where there isn't a 'conbini' (convenience store) every 6ft. Basically, I adore Kyoto but I also have a special attachment to Tokyo - both for very different reasons.
After another painful over night bus ride on the way home (believe it or not, it was worse than the ride there) I made it back safe and sound to my home, sweet home in Tokyo. The weather recently has been rainy off and on and extremely humid; frizzy hair and 'drenched in sweat' is not a good look for me. It looks like the infamous 'rainy season' has officially moved in. I've come to understand the very practical reasoning behind a vending machine planted every 3ft - it's a means of survival in this country. I'm still keeping busy with school, trying to get through it anyway. So close to being done! the semester has just flown by. It's hard to sit down and be productive when I'm so caught up in daydreaming about plans for after school. These plans include a Mt.Fuji climb! Tentatively scheduled for July 22nd. Some friends and I will start the climb around 10pm, to hangout at the peak where we will watch the sunrise. I'm really excited! (better start training now though). I'm hoping for good weather, but rain or shine I know it will be an amazing experience - just epic. I've flown over it, and soon enough I'm going to climb it. Can't wait.
Apart from my plans in Japan, I actually have even bigger plans to follow. School is wrapping up and I will be all done around mid-July, and.....then......on July 25th.... I'm grabbing my backpack and I am boarding a plane to Bangkok. From there I will checkout Cambodia, Vietnam, and either Laos or Hong Kong. This will - without a doubt - be the biggest adventure of my entire life. From living in Japan I've learned so much about Japan and Japanese culture; I've also learned how to meet the demands imposed by a foreign environment, how to evade ethnocentrism, accept cultural difference, and adapt - but I think that the most valuable lessons are those I've learned about myself in the process. As cheesy as it sounds, in just a few months of living here, I've undergone a huge personal transformation and have truly amazed myself (those especially close to me would be sure to see it). A year ago, or even just 6 months ago, I never would have seen myself taking on the challenges I've met over here - they wouldn't even have been fathomable. Without getting too emotional, Japan will always have a special place in my heart - and there is no question that I will leave here a different person, rich in life experiences.
On that extremely sappy note... I have lots to look forward to! and while a part of me wants to just count down the days until I begin my journey of backpacking around Asia, a bigger part of me wants to enjoy every second I have left in Japan. :)
Missing everyone very much!
Lotta Love xoxo
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Movies Tokyo Style & a Retired Sensei
I guess it's about time I give another update...
Most of my time lately has been filled with school, work, and school work. However as I felt my stress levels beginning to rise the other week, I took the liberty of skipping one of my classes to go and watch the new 'Sex and the City II' movie. This would be my first Japanese movie theatre experience, and my first time watching Sex and the City. I must admit I am not a fan of the series, or at least I've never watched two consecutive episodes, let alone gone out of my way to ever see the show. I may have seen an episode or two, but the fact that I don't recall speaks volumes. All that to say, I'm no fanatic but the movie turned out to be rather humorous. I think it was a good thing that I had never really watched the show or seen the first movie, since this meant I had no real expectations. I don't side with one character over another, I do not relate or compare myself to any of them, nor do I live vicariously through one of them. Parts of the movie were ridiculous, others politically incorrect; but overall it proved to be a corny chickflick - the content being everything girls like to gossip about and dream of (primarily fashion, money, and men). I had fun going in a group of girls, for the most part I found it entertaining and would even recommend it to people that enjoy cheesy, girly, feelgood flicks.
The theatre was an experience in and of itself. We went to a theatre in Shibuya, it was pretty big and the inside was modern looking and pristine. Definitely a better food selection (but I'm in Japan...what else is new?). For those low budget movie goers, sneaking in food and/or drinks is not an issue since the Japanese seem to favour respect of privacy, therefore wouldn't be comfortable peering into your purse/bag to check. I stocked up on 'crunky' (best chocolate snack ever), and some seaweed chips before the movie, but regret doing so soon after I noticed the caramel popcorn behind the counter. Perhaps it was for the best. The movie had sold out, so it was a good thing one of us had called to reserve tickets in advance. Apparently this movie is just as popular in Tokyo as it is in Canada (granted the population difference may be a factor). Seating is organized with numbers. While I wasn't a fan of the assigned seating initially, it does keep things organized, and if you were to leave and come back at any point during the movie, I suppose it would save you from wandering around like an idiot. I was impressed with the fact that there were fleece blankets available to prevent people from getting cold from the airconditioning; theaters in Canada are notorious for being chilly, but I guess nobody ever thought, or cared to provide blankets. When we were all settled for the previews we found it puzzling that the seats weren't all filled, considering the tickets were sold out - a little later we realized that they were actually filled, we just couldn't see the heads of the people in most chairs. Cute. haha.. As the movie started up a couple people were excited enough to applaud - I don't recall ever being that excited to watch a movie, but it made me laugh and spread the good vibes. One observation (though I am not 100% sure), I do not believe there are 'free refills' (of massive drinks/bags of popcorn) in Japanese theatres, the way there are in Canada/U.S.; to some this may be a deal breaker, but personally, I like the idea of leaving the theater without feeling like my stomach is bursting at the seams (that and free refills of caramel popcorn just sounds lethal). No 'free refills' is perfectly fine by me. In spite of the assigned seating, I would rate the overall Japanese movie theater experience as superior to the Canadian movie theater experience. More clean (i.e. my shoes weren't sticking to the floor, and there wasn't popcorn everywhere), and more comfortable (i.e. the fleece blanket).
In other news, I taught my last english lesson last Friday. That's right, I am retired - a retired Sensei (gosh, I'm going to miss that title). I definitely enjoyed teaching Michiko, she was a delightful student, not to mention a sweet person in general. It was obvious that she really wanted to learn the language and I couldn't have been happier to help. I think that to help someone learn a language is especially rewarding, knowing that she will be making good use of our lessons in her travels. She was excited to tell me of her plans to visit New York in the fall. In a sense, I don't expect the city life of 'The Big Apple' will be a huge stretch from the high-rise buildings and the hustle and bustle of Tokyo living. However, I was shocked to hear that Michiko's main concern was the food. While this is understandably a fear of some Westerners looking to travel in Japan (since raw fish doesn't seem to have the same appeal to everyone) - I never would have guessed that similar anxieties might be felt by a Japanese individual planning to travel in the Western world. She really isn't sure what she will eat - I told her that there will be some sushi around, but that she ought to lower her standards before trying it. After the lesson I was a bit sad to say goodbye, but I plan to visit her at work (at the shop in my neighborhood) before leaving - and maybe even quiz her on her english.
This week will be a busy one. With classes wrapping up soon I really need to buckle down and get some papers and presentations done. I would be lying if I said writing this blog hasn't been some means of procrastination. UP NEXT: Thursday night I will board an overnight train for another trip to Kyoto! ohhh beautiful Kyoto. This time I'm going with Sophie and Steph to stay and party with a couple of girls we met from Kyoto University (Alice from San Fran, and Hannah yet another Aussie), they're 'heaps' of fun. Can't wait. Should be a good time and a nice break after a long and stressful week. That's all for now, time to get back to work - but you can look forward to a 'post-Kyoto trip' blog ! Until then....miss everyone back at home.
love. xoxo
Most of my time lately has been filled with school, work, and school work. However as I felt my stress levels beginning to rise the other week, I took the liberty of skipping one of my classes to go and watch the new 'Sex and the City II' movie. This would be my first Japanese movie theatre experience, and my first time watching Sex and the City. I must admit I am not a fan of the series, or at least I've never watched two consecutive episodes, let alone gone out of my way to ever see the show. I may have seen an episode or two, but the fact that I don't recall speaks volumes. All that to say, I'm no fanatic but the movie turned out to be rather humorous. I think it was a good thing that I had never really watched the show or seen the first movie, since this meant I had no real expectations. I don't side with one character over another, I do not relate or compare myself to any of them, nor do I live vicariously through one of them. Parts of the movie were ridiculous, others politically incorrect; but overall it proved to be a corny chickflick - the content being everything girls like to gossip about and dream of (primarily fashion, money, and men). I had fun going in a group of girls, for the most part I found it entertaining and would even recommend it to people that enjoy cheesy, girly, feelgood flicks.
The theatre was an experience in and of itself. We went to a theatre in Shibuya, it was pretty big and the inside was modern looking and pristine. Definitely a better food selection (but I'm in Japan...what else is new?). For those low budget movie goers, sneaking in food and/or drinks is not an issue since the Japanese seem to favour respect of privacy, therefore wouldn't be comfortable peering into your purse/bag to check. I stocked up on 'crunky' (best chocolate snack ever), and some seaweed chips before the movie, but regret doing so soon after I noticed the caramel popcorn behind the counter. Perhaps it was for the best. The movie had sold out, so it was a good thing one of us had called to reserve tickets in advance. Apparently this movie is just as popular in Tokyo as it is in Canada (granted the population difference may be a factor). Seating is organized with numbers. While I wasn't a fan of the assigned seating initially, it does keep things organized, and if you were to leave and come back at any point during the movie, I suppose it would save you from wandering around like an idiot. I was impressed with the fact that there were fleece blankets available to prevent people from getting cold from the airconditioning; theaters in Canada are notorious for being chilly, but I guess nobody ever thought, or cared to provide blankets. When we were all settled for the previews we found it puzzling that the seats weren't all filled, considering the tickets were sold out - a little later we realized that they were actually filled, we just couldn't see the heads of the people in most chairs. Cute. haha.. As the movie started up a couple people were excited enough to applaud - I don't recall ever being that excited to watch a movie, but it made me laugh and spread the good vibes. One observation (though I am not 100% sure), I do not believe there are 'free refills' (of massive drinks/bags of popcorn) in Japanese theatres, the way there are in Canada/U.S.; to some this may be a deal breaker, but personally, I like the idea of leaving the theater without feeling like my stomach is bursting at the seams (that and free refills of caramel popcorn just sounds lethal). No 'free refills' is perfectly fine by me. In spite of the assigned seating, I would rate the overall Japanese movie theater experience as superior to the Canadian movie theater experience. More clean (i.e. my shoes weren't sticking to the floor, and there wasn't popcorn everywhere), and more comfortable (i.e. the fleece blanket).
In other news, I taught my last english lesson last Friday. That's right, I am retired - a retired Sensei (gosh, I'm going to miss that title). I definitely enjoyed teaching Michiko, she was a delightful student, not to mention a sweet person in general. It was obvious that she really wanted to learn the language and I couldn't have been happier to help. I think that to help someone learn a language is especially rewarding, knowing that she will be making good use of our lessons in her travels. She was excited to tell me of her plans to visit New York in the fall. In a sense, I don't expect the city life of 'The Big Apple' will be a huge stretch from the high-rise buildings and the hustle and bustle of Tokyo living. However, I was shocked to hear that Michiko's main concern was the food. While this is understandably a fear of some Westerners looking to travel in Japan (since raw fish doesn't seem to have the same appeal to everyone) - I never would have guessed that similar anxieties might be felt by a Japanese individual planning to travel in the Western world. She really isn't sure what she will eat - I told her that there will be some sushi around, but that she ought to lower her standards before trying it. After the lesson I was a bit sad to say goodbye, but I plan to visit her at work (at the shop in my neighborhood) before leaving - and maybe even quiz her on her english.
This week will be a busy one. With classes wrapping up soon I really need to buckle down and get some papers and presentations done. I would be lying if I said writing this blog hasn't been some means of procrastination. UP NEXT: Thursday night I will board an overnight train for another trip to Kyoto! ohhh beautiful Kyoto. This time I'm going with Sophie and Steph to stay and party with a couple of girls we met from Kyoto University (Alice from San Fran, and Hannah yet another Aussie), they're 'heaps' of fun. Can't wait. Should be a good time and a nice break after a long and stressful week. That's all for now, time to get back to work - but you can look forward to a 'post-Kyoto trip' blog ! Until then....miss everyone back at home.
love. xoxo
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
One Tooth Lighter and the Train Jam
All right, here is the latest on my toothache...after doing some research of my own, and consulting my uncle online who is a dentist, I believe I was suffering the severe pain of a common wisdom tooth infection called Pericoronitis - a fancy word to describe a tender and inflammed area being attacked by bacteria. Sounds lovely, doesn't it? Without reliving the pain, I will say that it was pretty unreal. After getting fed up with popping ibuprophen (pain killer) and rubbing Oragel on my tooth to try and numb the pain, I decided it was time to make a trip to the dentist. Terrified as I was, something needed to be done. Upon my first visit to the dentist (conveniently located just a block away in my neighborhood; about a 3 minute walk), I sat in the chair and waited for the confirmation of my self-diagnosis - the tooth should be 'extracted' (yanked...pulled...torn...pryed from its socket). If the procedure would be anything like what I am familiar with, this would be of no real concern since I would be 'put under' or anesthetized; however, this was not part of the plan. The dentist told me he would just be applying local freezing. Well, I've never had a tooth removed before, and the fact that I would be conscious while someone removes a tooth from skull was a horrifying thought - my inexperience, paired with a wild imagination left me running for the exit. I was adamant that I would need anesthetic, and was even prepared to go to a hospital to ensure that this be part of the process. The dentist complied and wrote me a prescription, and I would wait a few days to find out when the first available appointment would be.
My resident manager was extremely sweet and helpful throughout this whole time. She walked me to the dentist, translated for me, and made sure that everything would go smoothly. She offered to go see the dentist (Monday) and find out my scheduled appointment at the hospital, but by the time Monday rolled around the intolerable pain led me to accompany her. I wanted to speak with the dentist again and consider my options. Initially I requested a prescription of antibiotics which I thought would surely rid my tooth of the infection (which was responsible for all of the wicked pain). The dentist agreed to write it, but suggested the best thing to do would be to extract the tooth in order to prevent any reoccurence. So there I was, in the office, and back to square one. I managed to collect myself, and quickly asked if he would just remove it (sans anesthesia). My thoughts were: forget the medicine, forget the hospital - just get this tooth out of here. He asked when I would like to have my appointment, and I responded with: "As soon as possible, please!"...sure enough, I was back in the dentist's chair just one hour later.
Okay, now for the good stuff. One thing to note is that I had never seen another dentist apart from my uncle in my entire life, let alone a Japanese dentist. I figure this would have contributed to my tremendous and somewhat irrational anxiety. I was just terrified. Scared the freezing would wear off, or that he wouldn't freeze the root; Scared of hearing the sound effects of ripping a tooth out (regardless of how 'careful' he would be). Sounds of cracking or tearing...eeeek! The good news is, I tend to handle needles fairly well. I must say, this was some of the highest technology I've ever seen! the needle was so thin that I barely felt it at all. In fact, after he administered the injection twice, I had to double check to make sure that was what he was doing, because I literally did not feel it. The needle was held by a neat 'gun' shaped casing that automatically injected the freezing (as opposed to the manual way, which tends to cause feelings of pressure and discomfort). About 6 needles later I was nice and frozen, but still freaking out a little bit - it didn't help when he told me to 'raise my left hand' if I felt any pain...
Naturally, the second he clamped on to my tooth, my hand shot up. "You felt pain?" he asked, in a mildly surprised tone. I realized I was being a tad ridiculous, but I really didn't feel ready to go through with it - there was no turning back - so I said "well...uh...no...uhm...not really, but I think it might not be frozen enough? is everything frozen? did you get the root? my jaw? everything??"...of course he assured me it would be fine, and that I needed to relax my "mind and body" (which is easier said than done my friend). My last words were then, "uh..ok....I'm scared" (in the tone of a six year old girl). He said "don't be scared, you will feel pressure, but no pain...no pain". I felt fingers grip the chair as I braced myself for my first tooth extraction. He calmed me down in these soothing words, "wiggle, wiggle, wiggle...wiggle, wiggle, wiggle" - it was adorable, and after about six or seven "wiggles" it was out! and I didn't even hear it. I was so relieved. Piece of cake. About 20 minutes later, it was time for me to head to work at A&F. I was less than pleased with the fact that I wasn't granted the shift off, but I managed to make it on time and through the shift nonetheless. The freezing wore off quickly though, just before boarding the train. It was brutal. but I popped my prescribed pain killer and dealt with it. I think I may have just gotten a little bit tougher. While the whole experience was a painful and rather stressful ordeal the outcome was the best I could have hoped for. No more tooth...just a great story to tell. AND...I can officially say... that a part of me will always be in Japan. ("I left my heart, and a tooth in Tokyo")
Now on a lighter note...yesterday I attended class for the first time in a while, and had quite the humorous incident on the way. As anyone who has been to Japan (Tokyo in particular) could tell you, the trains are always on time. Efficiency and punctuality are key, if not fundamental aspects of life in Tokyo. The train stations are certainly a primary element of Tokyo's infamous fast pace environment (which some might find overwhelming, stressful, and hard to deal with; while others think it exciting and thrive on the energy - maybe tourists). Overall, I have my ups and downs at the station. I love people watching as millions breeze by, definitely an overload of visual stimuli - but it can be entertaining. Other times however, there is no question that the train station is perhaps the worst place to be on your way to/from school, anytime at rush hour or simply anytime you're tired or irritated.
At the train stations in Tokyo you will find that everyone has got somewhere to go (quickly and efficiently), millions of people walking with a purpose. Getting through a train station is like partaking in a sport, not just because of the workout (i.e. physical demand of getting up and down the stairs, or constant need to dodge people, and running when you're late)...but also because of the competitive sort of mentality, where every individual (the weak, the strong, the young and the elderly) fends for themselves. You certainly won't find chivalry in the train station. The goal is quite obviously to make it on the train (a bonus might be catching it on time, or 'the right time' i.e. in between rush hours, and of course getting on the right train, and off at the right stop). A good sign that you may not make the train, is when you hear the little jingle that plays just a few seconds before the doors close. At this point, people generally choose to wait, or run for it (in a 'fight or flight' instant). The doors do have sensors of some sort in case they close on someone, but the sensors aren't all that strong, and they will give you a bit of a squeeze before re-opening.
How do I know this? ....well, Wednesday afternoon, I heard the jingle, was in relatively close proximity to the train, nearly late for class and decided to run for it. As I leapt between the closing doors, I didn't manage to fully clear the threshold and...they closed on me. There I was wedged between the doors that had a grip on both of my shoulders, and for a second (which felt like 10 minutes) I was lodged there for everyone to get a good look and laugh (but the Japanese are very respectful, enough to surpress their laughter). I might add, times like these are generally easier to handle in company, where I could laugh with a friend and potentially distract myself from the humiliation of what just happened. Regardless, I would defintiely label this as an embarrassing moment. All I could do was react by bursting out in laughter (alone), which really only drew more attention to a 'crazy foreigner' - one that recently upgraded from just a 'crazy forgeigner' to a 'crazy and stupid foreigner'. Oh, and when I say I laughed, it wasn't a brief chuckle. For the majority of the train ride all I could do was envision how (ridiculous) I must have looked in that moment, and replayed it in my mind over and over again...laughing aloud...by myself...on the train. It was great. One comforting thought is that it must happen all the time, I can't say I didn't expect my time to come. In any case, let's just hope that was the first and last time.
Those are the top 'blog worthy' stories for the moment. In other news, I worked an opening shift today, which means getting up at 6am to leave by 7am and be at the store for 8am. I already gave a lengthy job description, but I may have neglected to adequately describe the booming music, of catchy upbeat songs that play in an hour and fifteen minute long cycle for my ears to enjoy...over...and over...and over (each song at least 6 times). And what better way to get songs stuck in your head?! so my friends...I will leave you with this:
CLICK --> http://jp.abercrombie.com/anf/lifestyles/flash/af_radio/af_radio.html
(remember to turn your volume up full blast in order to get the right effect)
ENJOY!
love. xoxo
My resident manager was extremely sweet and helpful throughout this whole time. She walked me to the dentist, translated for me, and made sure that everything would go smoothly. She offered to go see the dentist (Monday) and find out my scheduled appointment at the hospital, but by the time Monday rolled around the intolerable pain led me to accompany her. I wanted to speak with the dentist again and consider my options. Initially I requested a prescription of antibiotics which I thought would surely rid my tooth of the infection (which was responsible for all of the wicked pain). The dentist agreed to write it, but suggested the best thing to do would be to extract the tooth in order to prevent any reoccurence. So there I was, in the office, and back to square one. I managed to collect myself, and quickly asked if he would just remove it (sans anesthesia). My thoughts were: forget the medicine, forget the hospital - just get this tooth out of here. He asked when I would like to have my appointment, and I responded with: "As soon as possible, please!"...sure enough, I was back in the dentist's chair just one hour later.
Okay, now for the good stuff. One thing to note is that I had never seen another dentist apart from my uncle in my entire life, let alone a Japanese dentist. I figure this would have contributed to my tremendous and somewhat irrational anxiety. I was just terrified. Scared the freezing would wear off, or that he wouldn't freeze the root; Scared of hearing the sound effects of ripping a tooth out (regardless of how 'careful' he would be). Sounds of cracking or tearing...eeeek! The good news is, I tend to handle needles fairly well. I must say, this was some of the highest technology I've ever seen! the needle was so thin that I barely felt it at all. In fact, after he administered the injection twice, I had to double check to make sure that was what he was doing, because I literally did not feel it. The needle was held by a neat 'gun' shaped casing that automatically injected the freezing (as opposed to the manual way, which tends to cause feelings of pressure and discomfort). About 6 needles later I was nice and frozen, but still freaking out a little bit - it didn't help when he told me to 'raise my left hand' if I felt any pain...
Naturally, the second he clamped on to my tooth, my hand shot up. "You felt pain?" he asked, in a mildly surprised tone. I realized I was being a tad ridiculous, but I really didn't feel ready to go through with it - there was no turning back - so I said "well...uh...no...uhm...not really, but I think it might not be frozen enough? is everything frozen? did you get the root? my jaw? everything??"...of course he assured me it would be fine, and that I needed to relax my "mind and body" (which is easier said than done my friend). My last words were then, "uh..ok....I'm scared" (in the tone of a six year old girl). He said "don't be scared, you will feel pressure, but no pain...no pain". I felt fingers grip the chair as I braced myself for my first tooth extraction. He calmed me down in these soothing words, "wiggle, wiggle, wiggle...wiggle, wiggle, wiggle" - it was adorable, and after about six or seven "wiggles" it was out! and I didn't even hear it. I was so relieved. Piece of cake. About 20 minutes later, it was time for me to head to work at A&F. I was less than pleased with the fact that I wasn't granted the shift off, but I managed to make it on time and through the shift nonetheless. The freezing wore off quickly though, just before boarding the train. It was brutal. but I popped my prescribed pain killer and dealt with it. I think I may have just gotten a little bit tougher. While the whole experience was a painful and rather stressful ordeal the outcome was the best I could have hoped for. No more tooth...just a great story to tell. AND...I can officially say... that a part of me will always be in Japan. ("I left my heart, and a tooth in Tokyo")
Now on a lighter note...yesterday I attended class for the first time in a while, and had quite the humorous incident on the way. As anyone who has been to Japan (Tokyo in particular) could tell you, the trains are always on time. Efficiency and punctuality are key, if not fundamental aspects of life in Tokyo. The train stations are certainly a primary element of Tokyo's infamous fast pace environment (which some might find overwhelming, stressful, and hard to deal with; while others think it exciting and thrive on the energy - maybe tourists). Overall, I have my ups and downs at the station. I love people watching as millions breeze by, definitely an overload of visual stimuli - but it can be entertaining. Other times however, there is no question that the train station is perhaps the worst place to be on your way to/from school, anytime at rush hour or simply anytime you're tired or irritated.
At the train stations in Tokyo you will find that everyone has got somewhere to go (quickly and efficiently), millions of people walking with a purpose. Getting through a train station is like partaking in a sport, not just because of the workout (i.e. physical demand of getting up and down the stairs, or constant need to dodge people, and running when you're late)...but also because of the competitive sort of mentality, where every individual (the weak, the strong, the young and the elderly) fends for themselves. You certainly won't find chivalry in the train station. The goal is quite obviously to make it on the train (a bonus might be catching it on time, or 'the right time' i.e. in between rush hours, and of course getting on the right train, and off at the right stop). A good sign that you may not make the train, is when you hear the little jingle that plays just a few seconds before the doors close. At this point, people generally choose to wait, or run for it (in a 'fight or flight' instant). The doors do have sensors of some sort in case they close on someone, but the sensors aren't all that strong, and they will give you a bit of a squeeze before re-opening.
How do I know this? ....well, Wednesday afternoon, I heard the jingle, was in relatively close proximity to the train, nearly late for class and decided to run for it. As I leapt between the closing doors, I didn't manage to fully clear the threshold and...they closed on me. There I was wedged between the doors that had a grip on both of my shoulders, and for a second (which felt like 10 minutes) I was lodged there for everyone to get a good look and laugh (but the Japanese are very respectful, enough to surpress their laughter). I might add, times like these are generally easier to handle in company, where I could laugh with a friend and potentially distract myself from the humiliation of what just happened. Regardless, I would defintiely label this as an embarrassing moment. All I could do was react by bursting out in laughter (alone), which really only drew more attention to a 'crazy foreigner' - one that recently upgraded from just a 'crazy forgeigner' to a 'crazy and stupid foreigner'. Oh, and when I say I laughed, it wasn't a brief chuckle. For the majority of the train ride all I could do was envision how (ridiculous) I must have looked in that moment, and replayed it in my mind over and over again...laughing aloud...by myself...on the train. It was great. One comforting thought is that it must happen all the time, I can't say I didn't expect my time to come. In any case, let's just hope that was the first and last time.
Those are the top 'blog worthy' stories for the moment. In other news, I worked an opening shift today, which means getting up at 6am to leave by 7am and be at the store for 8am. I already gave a lengthy job description, but I may have neglected to adequately describe the booming music, of catchy upbeat songs that play in an hour and fifteen minute long cycle for my ears to enjoy...over...and over...and over (each song at least 6 times). And what better way to get songs stuck in your head?! so my friends...I will leave you with this:
CLICK --> http://jp.abercrombie.com/anf/lifestyles/flash/af_radio/af_radio.html
(remember to turn your volume up full blast in order to get the right effect)
ENJOY!
love. xoxo
Friday, June 4, 2010
A&F and Toothache 2010
So I've had my training at Abercrombie and Fitch and 'worked' a couple of shifts, though I do use that term loosely. Don't get me wrong, as a 'Stylist' my job is quite important; I am in charge of the visuals (this includes lights, mannequins, and best of all...the models). Since A&F does not have advertising via the media, store presentation and customer experience is crucial! I've already described the ambiance (of a dark, loud, club nature) - but before starting work, I must admit, I never would have guessed the 'behind the scenes' work that goes into maintaining that atmosphere. Everything must be perfect at all times. Little did I know that every line, every detail, every wrinkle of the mannequins were just according to plan; and these very details are maintained by none other than a visual stylist like myself. I never knew rolling sleeves could be so challenging...over and over again, I roll sleeves for practice, to ensure that they have just the right wrinkles, in all the right places. I haven't mastered it yet, but it's a work in progress. Silly you say? my friends, this is the art of presentation, and presentation is a key aspect of the overarching power driving consumerism. You buy the things that look good, and they look good because of someone (like me) who makes sure they good. All in all, I wouldn't describe this as overly strenuous work, but developing an eye for the most subtle imperfections (such as a wrinkle/crease out of place, or a collar that is not popped enough) does take practice!
This massive store has 11 floors, and I monitor 5 or 6 on a given shift. The primping and adjusting of mannequins/displays/lighting happens every hour. AND, the 'spritzing'. Upon entrance to the store, the customer can't help but notice a pungent, yet tasty scent - what is this smell? - that of course, is A&Fs feature men's cologne! 'Fierce'. Now that's marketing. It's strong, with citrus undertones, clean, and sexy. The men want it, and the ladies want the men to want it. So if you're ever wondering why the entire store smells so strongly of mens cologne...(not to give away a store secret or anything), but it is people like me...the 'cologne fairies' that work diligently at spritzing the air on an hourly basis to greet your nostrils with the fine scent of 'Fierce' ! (Rawr!). go get it! -- the downfall? wellllllll....I leave every shift smelling 'Fierce' - which just so happens to be the same thing as...smelling like a man. For those who have yet to experience the pleasure of shopping at A&F, it may even seem as though I consciously applied a (strong) dose of mens cologne that morning; and in close quarters on the train ride home, or walking down a busy street in Tokyo - there is no hiding it. Seeming particularly odd...yep, all in a days work. (Then again, I am a foreigner - "crazy 'gaigin'").
As for the lighting...there isn't much, so the (few) existing lights matter a lot. A&F wasn't cutting out lights for environmental concern, nor for budget reasons - there is a clear, and well thought out strategy in place here. These aren't just any lights, these are spotlights, in fact - the only lights in the store are spotlights. They need to highlight all the right places in a uniform and symmetrical fashion. Lighting is essential to overall aesthetics and mood; they do the work of catching the customers eye, and drawing it to the appropriate areas. Any light out of place distrupts the symmetry, thus negatively effecting store aesthetic (which as we know, is particularly important for a store, such as A&F that is entirely dependent on the customer's experience). That, in a nutshell, is why the 'stylists' need to ensure that the lighting is aligned according to plan at all times.
Another thing I should mention...are...the stairs. 11 floors, one elevator - unfortunately, not for staff use. And, well, if you've read my previous blog, you should know what stair climbing does to me...it's like re-visiting Enoshima Island every shift. hahaha - the good news is, it's a solid workout. It is also the case that I work with a large team of models, which provides me with good incentive. The tricky part is looking like I can handle the physical strain of running up and down the stairs regularly to do my job. So while touching up mannequins, adjusting lights, and rolling the sleeves of the models may not require an overexertion of energy - I leave work pretty exhausted from hiking up and down the stairs. Overall, I am a few shifts in, and enjoying all that the experience has to offer (in particular, the hot & shirtless male models). Without going into detail, I can assure you that this has been a radically different experience from my previous work in retail (which was for American Apparel) - so different, that there really is no comparison to be made.
In other, and more unfortunate, news - I have been suffering some intolerable wisdom tooth pain. I don't want to make this the bulk of my blog, which is intended to document Japan experiences...however, I have a severe toothache...and I'm in Japan, so I thought it should be included. Furthermore, the pain is to such an extent, that I have been considering a 'Japanese tooth extraction' - or at the very least, paying a visit to a Japanese dentist. I used to think a 'regular' dentist appointment could be anxiety provoking, I now realize that there are worse scenarios (i.e. sitting in the chair of a dentist that doesn't speak English). Try that one you adrenaline junkies! haha. I am not sure what will come of this bothersome wisdom tooth, but I have been waiting it out for about five days now, and the pain has not even begun to subside so something has to be done. I'm in extreme pain, and I'm slightly terrified, but I won't let anything interfere with my travels (not even a tooth!). On the brightside, the worst case scenario leaves me with a pretty good story to tell ("That one time, I got my tooth yanked in Japan -- ohhhh boy, you don't want to know....well...do you have a minute?") hahaha
Apart from all of that...I teach an English lesson this weekend, and my school work has been accumulating rapidly; this is in part due to my leisurely pace (some might call it procrastination). It's hard to believe that I will be done school in roughly six weeks (actually, it's hard to believe I've even been in school for the latter half of my summer). In case anyone is wondering, I am still loving Japan! The future holds another trip to Kyoto to party with some friends. My first impression of Kyoto (see Kyoto blog) is based on historical monuments, namely the temples and shrines - I didn't even know you could party in Kyoto! needless to say, I am looking forward to seeing Kyoto in a different light (also making a side trip to Osaka - haven't been there yet!). Sugoi!
All right folks, that's what's up! -- In Tokyo, living the dream: working, studying, managing a toothache, and loving every minute!
As always,
Missing & Loving all you special people xoxo
This massive store has 11 floors, and I monitor 5 or 6 on a given shift. The primping and adjusting of mannequins/displays/lighting happens every hour. AND, the 'spritzing'. Upon entrance to the store, the customer can't help but notice a pungent, yet tasty scent - what is this smell? - that of course, is A&Fs feature men's cologne! 'Fierce'. Now that's marketing. It's strong, with citrus undertones, clean, and sexy. The men want it, and the ladies want the men to want it. So if you're ever wondering why the entire store smells so strongly of mens cologne...(not to give away a store secret or anything), but it is people like me...the 'cologne fairies' that work diligently at spritzing the air on an hourly basis to greet your nostrils with the fine scent of 'Fierce' ! (Rawr!). go get it! -- the downfall? wellllllll....I leave every shift smelling 'Fierce' - which just so happens to be the same thing as...smelling like a man. For those who have yet to experience the pleasure of shopping at A&F, it may even seem as though I consciously applied a (strong) dose of mens cologne that morning; and in close quarters on the train ride home, or walking down a busy street in Tokyo - there is no hiding it. Seeming particularly odd...yep, all in a days work. (Then again, I am a foreigner - "crazy 'gaigin'").
As for the lighting...there isn't much, so the (few) existing lights matter a lot. A&F wasn't cutting out lights for environmental concern, nor for budget reasons - there is a clear, and well thought out strategy in place here. These aren't just any lights, these are spotlights, in fact - the only lights in the store are spotlights. They need to highlight all the right places in a uniform and symmetrical fashion. Lighting is essential to overall aesthetics and mood; they do the work of catching the customers eye, and drawing it to the appropriate areas. Any light out of place distrupts the symmetry, thus negatively effecting store aesthetic (which as we know, is particularly important for a store, such as A&F that is entirely dependent on the customer's experience). That, in a nutshell, is why the 'stylists' need to ensure that the lighting is aligned according to plan at all times.
Another thing I should mention...are...the stairs. 11 floors, one elevator - unfortunately, not for staff use. And, well, if you've read my previous blog, you should know what stair climbing does to me...it's like re-visiting Enoshima Island every shift. hahaha - the good news is, it's a solid workout. It is also the case that I work with a large team of models, which provides me with good incentive. The tricky part is looking like I can handle the physical strain of running up and down the stairs regularly to do my job. So while touching up mannequins, adjusting lights, and rolling the sleeves of the models may not require an overexertion of energy - I leave work pretty exhausted from hiking up and down the stairs. Overall, I am a few shifts in, and enjoying all that the experience has to offer (in particular, the hot & shirtless male models). Without going into detail, I can assure you that this has been a radically different experience from my previous work in retail (which was for American Apparel) - so different, that there really is no comparison to be made.
In other, and more unfortunate, news - I have been suffering some intolerable wisdom tooth pain. I don't want to make this the bulk of my blog, which is intended to document Japan experiences...however, I have a severe toothache...and I'm in Japan, so I thought it should be included. Furthermore, the pain is to such an extent, that I have been considering a 'Japanese tooth extraction' - or at the very least, paying a visit to a Japanese dentist. I used to think a 'regular' dentist appointment could be anxiety provoking, I now realize that there are worse scenarios (i.e. sitting in the chair of a dentist that doesn't speak English). Try that one you adrenaline junkies! haha. I am not sure what will come of this bothersome wisdom tooth, but I have been waiting it out for about five days now, and the pain has not even begun to subside so something has to be done. I'm in extreme pain, and I'm slightly terrified, but I won't let anything interfere with my travels (not even a tooth!). On the brightside, the worst case scenario leaves me with a pretty good story to tell ("That one time, I got my tooth yanked in Japan -- ohhhh boy, you don't want to know....well...do you have a minute?") hahaha
Apart from all of that...I teach an English lesson this weekend, and my school work has been accumulating rapidly; this is in part due to my leisurely pace (some might call it procrastination). It's hard to believe that I will be done school in roughly six weeks (actually, it's hard to believe I've even been in school for the latter half of my summer). In case anyone is wondering, I am still loving Japan! The future holds another trip to Kyoto to party with some friends. My first impression of Kyoto (see Kyoto blog) is based on historical monuments, namely the temples and shrines - I didn't even know you could party in Kyoto! needless to say, I am looking forward to seeing Kyoto in a different light (also making a side trip to Osaka - haven't been there yet!). Sugoi!
All right folks, that's what's up! -- In Tokyo, living the dream: working, studying, managing a toothache, and loving every minute!
As always,
Missing & Loving all you special people xoxo
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