All's well and good things poppin'!

     So, there have been no further incidents and everyone was super supportive.  I've never been so popular, hahaha!  But seriously, that was a disaster and I hope never to have to go through it again.  In general the medical situations are quite ridiculous and I will avoid the doctor at all costs.  What a waste of time and energy sitting and waiting for him to prescribe you half a dozen meds and a couple antibiotics on top of that for no reason.  Gah! Moving on...
     I've had several good days since then and here they are:
One of my baby mama's invited me to her house for lunch one day.  She invited her brother-in-law, his wife, and their little girl who's a few months older than the baby I teach.  It was great and so comfortable.  At first I thought it was going to be a bit awkward because of the language barrier but not so much.  Most everyone could speak English pretty well and the wife, while she couldn't really speak, understood most everything and we had some good laughs.  They ordered from a great restaurant.  The short ribs melted in your mouth and were drenched in BBQ sauce - I was in heaven!  I brought dessert and there were no leftovers :)  They also called me Sensei or Kalai Sensei the whole time.  It was so nice and I felt really special, hahaha! It's nice to feel like that :)
     My grandma class was great last week.  The week before one of them said she would be absent.  So the other one came prepared!  My school is right over the restaurant floor in a mall and always smells delicious and usually like garlic - YUMMY!  So I went into class and asked if she could smell the delicious food.  She said she could and then asked if I had eaten lunch yet.  I told her no and she pulls out this bag from Starbucks - "Let's have lunch," she said.  WHAT?  She brought a tea and a coffee so I could choose and pulls out 3 sandwiches; 2 hot and 1 cold.  She gave me both hot sandwiches.  BOTH!  They were delicious.  Then she pulled out her notebook she always has and asked if she could ask me some "personal" question. LOL! Too cute.  So she asked me how I was liking Japan, how I was doing after the allergic reaction, and if I had friends.  *tee hee* She was worried that I had no one to help me when I was dying.  So sweet!  I reassured her and she was very relieved.  Then she gave me a box of chocolate covered almonds (I'm not allergic to almonds!!!).
     On top of that my classes went great that day and I got more vegetables from my farmer students.  A cross between a broccoli and cauliflower and it looked crazy!  Such a great day :)
     My baby classes are going great and I'm starting to kidnap them more (picking them up :) and the moms are great about it.  One of them wouldn't put her baby in the baby carrier pouch until I picked him up, hahaha!! Funny moms!
     I also made some changes in my work environment to be more involved and communicative with my manager and co-workers.  The new manager (who was a teacher before) and I really get along and she's been including me in meetings with parents being more open than the previous manager (who was just awkward).  It's a much better environment and I actually feel like part the branch, whereas before I felt a little removed.  What a difference little adjustments can make.  Now I really want them to offer me an extension even more!  Fingers crossed!
     I also found out I can see the top of Mt. Fuji from my work!!! Gorgeous! So now I walk by every morn to check it out.  Around 4:30 the sunset makes it looks unbelievably beautiful.
     Now let's just hope this rain lets up.  It's getting depressing...

WORST NITE EVER!!! - Japan hospital experience

I had the worst ever experience in the emergency room of the local hospital. It's not an exaggeration and it all happened just as I wrote it.  Be warned - it's scary and I'm livid!

     I went to an Indian restaurant in the mall and asked if the curry had nuts in it and that I’m allergic.  They said no so I tried it and it was fine.  The salad, however, must have had peanut oil in it b/c I immediately got an itchy mouth and swelled tongue. I took a Benadryl and monitored it for a little bit.  My breathing was fine so I went home but called my friend to ask about a hospital just in case.  He didn’t answer, nor did anyone I called.  It was our night off so everyone was out.  Finally I got thru to him and by this time I knew I needed the hospital. He told me where it was and to get to the taxi stand at the train station and call him so his wife could tell the driver where to go.  I did that and by the time I got there I was much worse.  My eyes were so swollen I couldn’t see and my breathing was excruciating and the puffer didn’t do anything.  I had an epi-pen but it was pouring rain outside and had nowhere to do it or the right mind to think about it.  Finally a taxi came and I called my friend and his wife gave directions.  I kept urging him to drive faster and faster and pleading.  I was in a full panic.
     We got the emergency ward and the only people there were admin for paying bills.  I went up and frantically started saying I need help.  He went for a nurse and she finally came.  I was collapsing on the chairs.  I called my friend again and his wife was trying to speak to the nurse.  They kept asking what I ate, how much, when, etc.  I fell to the floor and couldn't speak.  Then I forced myself up and tried shouting to the phone “tell them I’m literally dying and need help” but they couldn’t hear and my speech was ruined b/c of the swollen tongue – it sounded guttural.
     FINALLY after several minutes and me sobbing and thinking, “I’m going to die before they help me” they motioned they were going to move me.  They picked me up and dragged me past TWO wheelchairs and I fell in front of them unable to get up.  THEN they started hitting me and poking me and telling me to get up. “Get up, get up!” *hit hit hit* Finally a third one came and she grabbed me too and I made it down the hall and onto a bed.
     Then they started asking me questions in Japanese I couldn’t understand.  I kept saying “anaphylaxis, anaphylactic.”  They asked what I ate, when, how much, etc.  I became even more unresponsive and when I couldn’t answer they would laugh as if “Well what are we supposed to do with this gaijin?”  Then my vision started to black out like a thick fog and I tried to tell them and I one of them understood but it didn’t make a difference.  I kept thinking, “no oxygen, I need oxygen” but they didn’t give it to me.  My neck was too sore to hold up and I was sobbing thinking that I was going to die there.  I put my legs up and they laughed and moved the pillow b/c THAT’S not where my legs go, hahaha.  As if that’s my fucking concern.  I finally fell back and just started waiting for something to happen.  They didn’t even know what my epi-pen was.
     They started asking me if they can set up the IV, if they can give me medicine, if they can take off my glasses, if they can put sticky monitors on me. YES!!!! You idiots! Don’t ask just fucking do it!  Finally they gave me oxygen just when I thought I was done.  They came and asked the same questions again and the doctor didn’t know what to do.  I had to write down “anaphylactic” and they looked it up.
     I kept clawing at the nurses asking if I was going to die and I was just chanting, “I don’t want to die in Japan.” Over and over.
     My manager showed up (my friend and co-worker called her b/c he couldn’t come.) And she spoke with them but b/c she didn’t know the situation she was not much use.  Then they asked if they could move me. YES!
     I was put into the cubicle area and was just lying there with my IV.  Then I started convulsing and shaking and they came and asked if I was cold.  They kept miming ‘cold.’ I couldn’t answer and they just kept checking my blood pressure.  If you know I’m cold bring me a goddamn blanket!  I had to force myself to ask for one after god knows how long.  My breathing was getting better and after an hour or so they came to speak with my manager to tell them the fucking cost!  She came back and told me I could go home now, stay for a couple hours, or stay over night, which would cost another $200.  I snapped at her and said “How the can I go home if I’m not better!?”  She said we’d wait another 2 hours and see and felt bad for upsetting me. 
     So we waited for about an hour and the idiot doctor came back.  He explained that my breathing was 100% and I could leave.  No monitoring, no caring if there’s a relapse, no worrying about keeping up my fluids.  I told him I’m still swollen everywhere.  My hands, face, tongue, legs, feet.  My fingernails were blue.  He said it’s not from anaphylaxis but from my eczema.  Are you stupid?!!??!?!  I told him it wasn’t and asked if he was going to give me anything.  He said he COULD give me an anti-histaminic but it would make me sleepy.  SO? I asked what it would do.  “Maybe, it’ll help with your reaction and get rid of it but the swelling won’t leave for several days.” Is there anything you can do? “I can give you an anti-histaminic to get rid of the allergy but the swelling will stay.” He kept talking in circles and kept saying maybe, maybe, maybe. I told him “STOP saying maybe. Are you a doctor? What do you do in these situations?” He replied, “Yes I’m a doctor. Mmm…different patients.”  I asked him to give it to me thru IV and he said he can give it to me in a pill.  I said I can’t swallow and isn’t it faster with the IV. “I don’t think so.”  I lost it! “The IV sends it directly to my bloodstream.  A pill is time released.” He said, “I think it’ll only make a 10-15 minute difference.” “FINE, give me the fucking pill!”
     I got my IV removed and got dressed and left after 3 fucking hours.  I didn’t even get anyone to tell me what to do if it happens again, when to take the drug, what to expect, anything!

     I went with my manager to fill the prescription and took the subway home.  So now I’m recovering.  I’m shaky, nauseous, upset stomach, headache, muscle aches, can’t climb a flight of stairs without getting winded, feeling dizzy, and having my heart start racing.  My eyes are still swollen and when I look down I can see my under eyes.
     So that was my experience and here’s my fucking rant!  If someone comes into your hospital clearly unable to breathe, is incoherent, can’t stand, is sobbing - it doesn’t matter if you can understand them or not: they need care.  I even gave them my foreigner card and health card!  I understand they need to get information so they know what to treat but even with the information they still didn’t give me epi or oxygen.  I can’t be the only person in my city to have this reaction! Impossible! I was terrified and sobbing and just thinking “I’m going to die b/c they won’t stop talking and won’t treat me and give me basic care and I’m going to die here!”
     And who they hell hits someone when they’ve fallen.  You have TWO fucking wheelchairs behind you! And don’t ask to remove my glasses, take my purse and jacket out from under my back where I collapsed on the bed.
     I was swollen everywhere and they didn’t remove my watch which was biting into my skin, my boots, my bra, my jeggings, nothing.  I had to fumble and struggle through my convulsions to undo my own bra and my manager came and helped.
     What doctor says maybe? My manager said they even say that to locals. Take responsibility for your job and do it!  How is it possible that I know more about IVs and health care than 3 nurses and 2 doctors?

     Yes, I’m mad and I should be!  Their lack of care and knowledge was deplorable and inexcusable.  I can’t believe I was subjected to hitting, poking, yelling. I can’t believe I had to explain the IV to the doctor who said it was the same as taking a pill.  I can’t believe the ‘maybe, maybe, maybe.”  I can’t believe no overnight monitoring or continued fluids or explanations.  My manager said it’s not common for patients to question doctors there.  I don’t care! I needed info and I wasn’t getting it.  For all the good the questioning did I might as well not have even wasted my precious oxygen.
     This experience was terrifying and I can’t close my eyes without thinking or seeing it all over again.  My reaction time becomes less and less and the symptoms worse and worse each time this happens.  When I started blacking out from lack of oxygen I knew this was the worst it’s ever been and that I had maybe 5 minutes.  If this happens again who knows how long I’ll have and I won’t be as lucky as I was this time having my friend with a Japanese wife and medical staff who speaks minimal English.  Although the doctor did speak pretty well he was just uninformed and useless.
     What did I learn? I’m going to write a sheet of info with my name and what my symptoms are and what they can do without asking for permission. It will explain the severity and have emergency contacts and be translated into Japanese.
     I would love to say this was an isolated incident but I notice that everywhere people are constantly in the dark about what should happen or be done or needs to be done.  This is mainly b/c things are not questioned and taken as they are given.  It also takes a LONG time to say anything and “maybe” is a common word in any situation.  In an emergency it shouldn’t be used.  You’re a doctor – fucking act like it.  I can only hope to god this won’t happen again and if it does the letter might help.  But they’ll probably need to verify my identity and source of the letter and whether they can read it without my verbal consent and signature.

Kamakura

     I visited Kamakura this weekend.  Kamakura is known as little Kyoto b/c of the many shrines, buildings, etc.  I've never been to Kyoto but my friend who has says it's a pretty accurate likeness.  Kamakura was one of my favourite excursions so far and I am itching to go back!
     When we arrived we spoke to a lady at information to ask what would be the best places to hit up.  She told us a few but was SO quiet we could barely hear her and left wondering if we can figure out where the hell to go, hahaha!  Who whispers at a tourist info booth?!?  At any rate we found the right bus and travelled to Hakokuji Temple.  The moment we passed under the gates a hush fell and it seemed so removed from the busy streets with buses not 100m away.  It was lush green with trees, grasses, stone steps, stone statues, ponds.  So serene.  We climbed the steps to the temple but weren't allowed to enter.  So we moved on to the bamboo garden - amazing! We were blown away.  Never have I seen such a forest!  Tall, tall trees, skinny like an arm straight to the sky.  Light grey in colour and bright green at the top that let in streams of sunlight.  I was in heaven and didn't want to leave.  We continued along the path and saw some caves that were no longer available to trek to.  The caves were shallow and had all these stone statues in them.  It looked really cool and I regret that I couldn't get any closer.  We walked the forest again :) and followed our noses to the wonderful scents of the burning incense from the cemetery a few feet away.  I'm not a fan of cemeteries at all at home - they creep me out.  But these are incredible!
     There are stone plots after stone plots right next to each other.  Some of them were ancient and some were obviously new that probably replaced the broken ones.  There were offerings of incense, sake, and even a lit cigarette.  The place was huge and surrounded by trees.  As we walked further our breath was taken away again and again.  So many plots with so much detail and care. In the back were steep stairs leading to more plots of the levels of stairs with a backdrop of trees.
     What's really amazing and I found so touching is that the living family members (mostly the older generation) come and take care of the plots.  The cemetery provides buckets, water, scrubbers, etc. for use by the family.  They come and fill up the buckets and scrub down the stone, replace the incense.  This one old lady was so hunched and carrying 2 buckets and had already gone thru 2 more.  She was working so hard and her daughter was there holding a baby and I just wanted to go help.  I didn't b/c I felt it would be intrusive but it would've been nice.  We didn't want to leave and all I wanted was to stay and read a book.  Weird I know, b/c it's a cemetery but you'd feel the same.
     Then we made our way to Kotokuin Temple, home of the Great Buddha.  He's a bronze statue 36 ft tall.  Pretty impressive.  we went in and again were just in awe.  He was so majestic against the blue sky.  Also, and my friend said the same, he almost looked fake - like made out of cardboard or something.  Maybe b/c the sky was so blue and the statue was such a contrast but it was weird.  It was really cool to look at.
     Side note - from the side angle looking up at his eyes it reminded me of the Oracles in The Neverending Story.  He had the same slightly sharp and open eyelid.  I thought it was cool!
     Then I had the BEST kakigori since Okayama Gardens - the old machines are the best!  We walked along the street for a while to get to Hasedera Temple.  The stores are really interesting.  The buildings are so old and unique looking.  The stores are so varied - there were tiny little stores so old and hardly shopped in and other stores with NICE clothes, expensive wares, and gag gifts. So contrasting!
     We made it to the temple but we had JUST missed it b/c it closed 15 min earlier.  The shrines close so early - 4 or 5.  We were disappointed but I'm planning on going back soon - it's not far.
     Funny story:  On the bus back my friend sat beside a young woman that wanted to practice her English and started talking to my friend.  She asked where she was from and how old she was.  Then she started wracking her brains for things she could say to my friend to find a common ground.  It was really funny to listen to.  Out of no where she said she liked Leonardo Dicaprio and Titanic.  Then she said she really liked gospel music and started naming some songs.  THEN she said she liked Kirk Franklin!!!! How does she know about him? I guess if you like gospel you like K.F!   Too funny! 
     When we left the bus I found a yummy "German" bakery that I dragged my friend to and I had sample of the sponge cake with orange camembert in it! Scrumptious!!!! I bought 2 little cakes (the size of my palm) and they were so cheap.  My friend bought Sutoroberi Shotokeki - strawberry shortcake.
     All in all a great day!!! Can't wait to go back!

What are the kids like?

            It occurred to me I haven’t really written about what it’s like teaching and living here – I’ve been posting about adventures.  But I keep getting asked what the kids are like and how I like teaching.  So here goes.

            To be honest I never really liked kids – teaching kids is a side effect of choosing to leave Canada and live in Japan to find out who I am.  Having taught for 2 months I realized my thoughts haven’t really changed, hahaha!  I’m on the fence with the kids.  For the most part they are good, cute, polite, fun, and smart.  But there are some, as I’m sure you know, who are just brats!  They run, fight, scream, don’t listen, and constantly misbehave.  I know they’re kids and they’ll do that but still – when I tell you to sit down you sit your ass down!  My patience has been getting shorter with my floor classes b/c they are really taking advantage of my kindness.  I started out really nice – my co-worker said it’s better to do that.  But now they think I’m soft and won’t mind if they act like brats.  So I’m trying to balance being a kind teacher while still threatening to kick some major ass.  My co-worker laughed at me b/c I complained he TOLD me to be nice and it’s backfiring!  It is pretty funny tho :)

            I have my faves who just light up my day when I see them.  They’re so cute and helpful and call me sensei.  I can’t wait to see them and play with them and make them laugh.  It’s actually not hard to make all the kids laugh – I thought it was going to be super hard b/c I’m not a kid person and don’t do the baby talk thing.  But I just act goofy, roll my head, “act” exasperated and they love it!  Too funny! 

            Others are very difficult to teach.  I have a class of touchers.  This little girls just keeps poking me with her foot when we’re sitting or trying to pull up or down my shirts and skirts.  Another just reached out and touched my boob.  I know they do this b/c they’re at that curious age.  But I’m trying to enforce NOT pulling down my skirt and feeling my ass.  I’m pretty sure I wasn’t raised to touch my teacher wherever I could.  Anyway, I’m working on it – wish me luck :)

            The floor classes with the parents are really difficult especially.  The babies are fine and the moms are great but the older ones – 3-5 yrs old are total brats and the parents don’t do anything to discipline them.  They laugh and think it’s hilarious when their child throws a tantrum, grabs my supplies, throws them around, screams, pretends to sleep, and slaps them in the face.  I have a class of 2 bros where the mom thinks it’s hilarious her sons are body slamming each other.  Sure boy will be boys but in a classroom where you’re paying a lot of money to learn a language shouldn’t you do your part to ensure they are learning?  And I can’t do anything b/c I can’t discipline the kid in front of the parents.  On top of that she called my manager voicing her concern that her sons are too rambunctious and not learning like they should be – I wonder why!

            However, I have been making progress with my 2 worst students.  One just cries the ENTIRE time even tho his dad is at the window watching an joking around.  The other screams, slaps, grabs things, throws my things, and constantly makes a break for the door, and does a FABULOUS impression of sleeping.  This week, however, they weren’t so bad.  I got the first kid to stop crying after 25 minutes and the other 20 minutes he was laughing, participating, and saying the target language.  The other girl was still acting out but she lost it only once b/c we finished singing a song she decided not to join in on.  If that happens we usually have to start it over just for her.  This time I plowed thru and she recovered and did her new trick of taking out foam letters from the alphabet and putting them back by herself.  It keeps her busy and happy and we repeat the letters.  So lots of progress and I didn’t want to kill them so much – which is great b/c they’re so darn cute!!! It’s ridiculous :)

            My older kids – 10-12 yrs are pretty good.  Some of the private lessons are getting out of hand and again I’m going to have to be REALLY strict.  They keep trying to take my things or waste time playing games or trying to distract me and joke around with me and it’s hard to keep them on track b/c they understand the material so well just the pronunciation is off sometimes.

            I’m starting to realize it’s a delicate balance of keeping their asses in the chairs and still being nice and smiley and not mean and scary.  For other kids when they don’t sit and don’t listen I’m starting to slam the floor and saying “SIT!” – it’s still not always working.  Lots to do and lots to learn on my end but thankfully my fellow teachers from other schools are giving me lots of help!  I’m hoping to implement them this week.

            My emo teens are just as teens are – they mumble, are awkward, and soooo quiet and shy.  It’s like pulling teeth to get them to speak at a normal level or at all and I feel like every game we play or whatever we do they think it’s not fun or beneath them.  But whatever, I can’t cater to each emo kid’s feelings and temperament.  I’m trying with them but that class is probably a lost cause…

            On some funnier notes – my student said “sex” and knew what he was saying.  We were playing tic-tac-toe and I told him he’s “X”.  He kept saying X and then “sex” and gigged and repeated it.  I told him not to!  But it was really funny and we both giggled and he didn’t say it again.

            My other class of twins (boy and girl) was kinda funny.  The sister was putting her things away and kept saying Karay.  “Karay? Karay? Karay?” with her eyebrows raised b/c the name is odd.  I corrected her and she kept saying it.  Then her brother giggled “and rice!”  LOL!!! It was so funny!!! Curry and rice is really popular here and curry is pronounced karay (sp).  Oh man, we laughed pretty hard and I was so happy with the connection he made. It was great!

            There are lots of great moments in my days and I feel awesome when I have a breakthrough with my kids.  But then there are awkward moments when I think I’m definitely making a mistake.

            The phonics for a class was the hard “ch” sound.  The words we were given were “school” and “stomach.”  I like to ask if they can think of others or I’ll think of others.  The first class I taught this in didn’t work out.  She couldn’t think of anything and the ONLY thing coming to mind was Christian, Christen, and Christ!  NOOO!!!!  So we thought really hard and I couldn’t think of a damn thing.  So I wrote it slowly on the board, shaking my head and hesitatingly asked if she knew the word Christ…blank stare.  Then I cringed and asked, “do you know who Jesus is?” …blank stare and I’m standing there thinking I’m a Jevovah’s witness and how I don’t want to be responsible for the education of Christ to this little girl!  GAH!!! My co-worker was like “Why didn’t you just stop?!?!?!”  LOL!  So then I said “Jesus…Jesus…do you know Christmas?”  Then I was like LIGHTBULB!!! You idiot, Kalai!  Christmas!! So I shouted, threw my hands in teh air and she laughed and I wrote Christmas on the board!  Crisis averted!!!  Next class I asked the other girl if she could think of a word and said immediately “Christmas!”  DUH!!! Good gravy that was a close call!

            Teaching keeps you on your toes, huh?

The Cup Noodle Museum

     In Yokohama there's a cup noodle museum  Not just a regular cup noodle museum, no no.  THE Cup Noodle Museum about the man and product that introduced instant noodles to the world!!!  And what a story that is!!! It's about a man who came from nothing and saw people starving and lining up on the streets for food after the war.  He wanted an affordable and easy food for these people to eat.  And so he worked in his shed an discovered that if you fry the noodles the moisture in them dries up and when you add hot water to them  they plump up again.  Genius!!! And so he toiled and created these noodles for people.  Then competitors came and tried to steal his idea.  He was upset.  But THEN he was approached by some food industry people who asked him to spearhead the Cup Noodle market for the world.  He agreed and shared his secret to the competitors.  Then he travelled to America and met with people to bring the product there.  They ate it but didn't understand chopsticks and recommended using a fork instead.  "A fork? Why didn't I think of that?  It had never occurred to me!"  Then they found it wasn't very convenient and so broke the noodles apart and put them in a cup and added water.  Voila!!! Cup Noodles!!!!

     The film we watched is full of inspirational ideas like thinking outside the box, no man is weak, anything is possible, blah blah blah.  Pretty serious stuff if you check it out for a noodle museum.  It was AWESOME!!! I felt like I could invent anything!!!!

     The museum has a lot of cool things to check out.  They replicated his shed where the creation was created.  There was also a noodle bazaar with different noodle dishes from around the world.  It looks like a genuine town in Taiwan or something (my friend confirmed this as she's been :)  And I had my first pho since being in Japan and it was great.  I want pho so bad now!  There's an amazing tree-shadow show.  It's in a dark room with teeny trees set up on a platform.  It looks pretty unimpressive until the lights start moving.  Through the trees these little flashlights move up and down the rows creating a forest on the wall and as the light travels the main tree gets bigger and bigger.  Then the sides lights come on and the forest starts moving and evolving.  I didn't do it justice in this explanation at all but it was an incredible show.  You should youtube it if you can.

     Then we went down to MAKE noodles.  Technically we decorated the cup and then put noodles in it but it was COOL!!! Especially the final touch...we wait in line, buy a cup, and then get to decorate with these great markers that work like paint.  We went nuts and didn't talk for several minutes concentrating on our "artwork" LOL.  Then we got to "put" noodles in the cup.  We gave our cup to the person who puts it over the noodle nest and we get to turn the crank to rotate the cup upside down for the noodles to fall perfectly inside.  This idea of putting the noodles in upside down was another genius idea from the man himself :)  Then we chose our flavour and fillings.  I chose bacon, corn, something else, and chicken.  The chicken was dehydrated and  shaped and coloured like the little chicken mascot, too cute!

     THEN the best part and the ONLY reason I wanted the dumb cup noodles in the first place - I don't even like cup noodles! Hahaha!!! We place the sealed cup in a plastic bag and inflate it with a pump.  The bag swells up and it looks like the cup is floating in this bubble bag!!!! AMAZING!!!! Then you can tie a string on it and wear it like a bag - which we did!!!  I was ecstatic!!!

     There were some pretty great designs on the bags, too.  One guy did "The Re-creation" on the cup.  This terrible picture of Jesus that an old woman did b/c she ruined the original and painted over it.  It was perfect!!! My friend got a picture with and and made a new facebook friend, hahaha!

    I don't know if I'll ever eat the noodles.  They expire in 1 month but then I have to puncture the bag and lose it forever.  I don't know if I can do that...it's too cool!  Maybe one day...

Tokyo Dome...and porn for teen girls?

     Yes, I said porn for teen girls.  At first I wrote Teen Porn and IMMEDIATELY changed it! Oops! Anyway, on our way to the cat cafe we checked out the comic book store for girls.  We were interested - what was so different?  Apparently a lot!  All the books are plastic wrapped so you can't see what's inside and there is no pic taking allowed.  All the books are manga so no real people on the covers.  Lots of the covers were your typical boy and girl in love hugging each other covers.  Very teen harlequin.  Others, however, we quite naughty.  There were covers with girls scantily clad showing a side boob, nipple, or just the peak of a crotch.  And lots others had boys kissing boys.  Now I'm not offended or whatever but I wonder what draws teen girls to this market?  Is it just a romantic love story they're interested in?  Do they like homosexual love?  Why are teens girls interested in this?  My friend and I were flabbergasted and soooo curious!  We also wanted to buy one just to see what's inside the covers! LOL, we didn't! :)  But next time....
     We then decided to check out Ginza.  It has crazy expensive shops like Cartier, Bulgari, Coco Chanel, etc.  Not that we could afford such things but it's nice to window shop.  We never made it, however.  Whilst we were on the train we saw a sports dome and THEN we saw a roller coaster!! We both looked at each other and said "did you see that?"  We got off at the next stop and turned around!  We had arrived at Tokyo Sky Dome.  It's the baseball dome with an amusement park.  The roller coaster goes thru the centre of the ferris wheel - the ferris wheel has no centre!!!  The amusement park is also partly attached to a mall (of course...) and there's a triangular corner that juts out which the roller coaster also goes thru.  Too cool! Oddly thought there were no riders.  It seemed so strange!  So we figured it was closed and didn't go on.  We walked around and found a teacup ride so we HAD to go on and got incredibly dizzy.  I hadn't been on one for so long and we were able to spin it like crazy and both of us felt a little nauseous, good times!  THEN we found a haunted house that looked genuinely scary but my friend was way too scared and refused.  Damnit!  I need to make more friends :)  
      There were a bunch of cool things to do but they were kinda expensive so we settled on 2 things - the cups and Tokyo Cruise Ship.  It's this 3D ride where you sit in a car with 8 people - 4 in front, 4 in front.  Then it starts.  You dip and spin and whirl around and get whipped from one screen to the other.  You "help" this cat girl defeat the evil creature while traveling around the world (or Tokyo, I'm still not sure, it happened so fast).  I don't speak ANY Japanese but you get the main idea.  The ride was pretty cool and not at all what we were expecting.  There were parts in the ride where it was raining and we actually got sprinkled on.  There were black lights and fog and crazy things on the wall and all around you.  It was pretty detailed.  I had a blast!!! But my friend had her face covered most of the time and was super-scared. HAHAHA!!! I guess she couldn't have handled the haunted house.
     I love random days!

The search for the Neke Cafe

      Greetings!!! Last weekend was sooo much fun and so random!  I wanted to hang out with a friend and she came up with the awesome idea to look for a pet cafe.  I told her I was in!  I also asked her if this had to do with animals or if our friendship was going to take a leap - I wasn't too sure what a "pet" cafe was...  So I looked it up and apparently they're pretty popular here in Tokyo.  They are cafes that have dogs or cats lying around the place for you to pet, hold, or just sit by.  Kinda strange I know.  Unfortunately I couldn't find a dog cafe but there are cat cafes a plenty!  I'm allergic but had to check it out just to see what the fad was.  We went to Ikebukuro (home of my first planetarium!) and walked towards Sunshine City.  She found a building she said that was supposed to have the cafe.When we get there we're standing in a store for cat stuff.  There's a ticket seller for the Cat Playground - 600Y.  We decided to check it out.  We get our ticket, walk inside and a cat streaks past us.  Then we look around.  Umm, what?  This wasn't what we were expecting.  Doraemon is sitting in the front of a colourful train.  There are a few enclosed cars behind him with glass windows and cats lounging in bright rooms with cat perches, hammock, and the like.  It was pretty cute.  Then we check out the other room.  This one has MORE cat perches up to the ceiling.  There are bridges running the length of the ceiling with holes to the next room for the cats to walk.  There are chairs to sit with the cats.  And in the back there are little cat sized rooms entitled "In the Kitchen," "In the bedroom."  They had fake rooms set up with cats sleeping in them!!! Soooo cute!  There was also this super cute grey fluffy one sleeping in an egg shaped container.  When you scratched his head he turned his head towards you and arched and looked really pleased but NEVER opened his eyes! Hahaha!!! Adorable!  There were so many cats!  And surprisingly the place didn't smell at all and I had NO cat hair on me when we left, even though they had lint rollers for us to leave.
     We were pretty disappointed b/c we hadn't found the cat cafe.  We walked some more and I saw another sign for a cat!  Had we found it?  Nope!  It was a place with big squashy chairs, books, and large tables in the back to hang out in.  You could get drinks from the hot vending machine, and oh yeah - Look at cats!  This place charges 200Y/10 min to hang out here.  There were quite a few peeps chilling, one guy was even sleeping.  Again, hardly any cat hair even on the cloth couches.  Every so often the "cat wranglers" would relocate the animals to another perch.  They would just stare as if asking "What the hell was that for? I was comfortable!"
     And yes, we stayed for 50 minutes (1000Y!!!) to check it out AND play the greatest/worst game over!  It's a German game called Viva Topo!  The instructions were terrible and I wish I could have taken pics of them.  Essentially, you have to move your 5 mice around the board to paradise before the cat can get you.  The fat cat moves along the board with the mice depending on the roll.  The mice have to collect cheese (obviously :) when they "run away to their friends and relations."  But we're still not sure how to win.  I got all my mice to paradise first but my friend got the most cheese...so we both won? Or lost? LOL! Who knows!!!
     The BEST instruction - To start: Whoever likes cheese the most can roll first.  AHAHAHAH!!!! I'm using that in my classes to see who can go first :)
     After all this searching we still didn't find the right one.  HOW many cat places are there in Tokyo?
     The weekend continues...
     

Obon - pt 4!!! The finale!

So somewhere before the fireworks there was a ferris wheel and a roller coaster.  Not sure when that was but it was fun!  We went to Sakuragicho and checked out the ferris wheel.  This is one of the biggest in the world so that was pretty nifty.  It’s called Cosmo Clock 21 and you’re in cars 112.5 m in the air.  I’ve never been on a ferris wheel before so this was a new experience.  Now I’m used to being on roller coasters that plummet to the earth so it was weird being up so high and expecting a drop that never came.  Kinda made me nervous.  And looking straight down also made me anxious – I kept thinking it was gonna break or something but I survived and was very happy!  And what a view!  Toyko has some amazing skylines.

Then we went on a small roller coaster that vanishes into a pool into a tunnel of lights.  It was pretty small but still fun.  And since I hadn’t been on a roller coaster in several years this one made me a little nervous but I loved plunging into a pool so I was a happy camper.  We also tried to get into the Cup Noodle Museum but tickets were sold out by 3pm! All these kids had their inflated bags of self-made cup noodles that were decorated.  We were a little jealous J  Someday…anyway!

Day 6 – Aquarium day! We went to Sea Paradise and loved every minute of it.  I had never been to an aquarium so this was very neat.  Animals seen – seals, walruses (walrusi?), a lazy polar bear, whale sharks, disgusting little worm-like eels, huge crabs, an octopus, jellyfish, sharks, a gross blobby sunfish, beluga whales, dolphins, penguins, otters.

We also saw this great mammal show where the seals, beluga whales, dolphins, and walrus performed.  They danced, hula-hooped with their necks, jumped, dived, balanced the trainers on the noses, and flippered across water.  It was fantastic!  The dolphins can jump ridiculously high and in such union it really is beautiful – it’s just a matter of time before they take over the world…

We walked through 3 aquatubes, which were gorgeous.  The best one was an escalator in a HUGE tank filled with “singing” fish, manta rays that looked like they were smiling, sharks, and other small fish.  Another tube was in Dolphin Fantasy where the dolphins swam over you and played with each other.  One looked really drunk with a silly smile on his face – no lie!  It was great!  And we saw a LOT of dolphins pooping!  So funny!!!!  I mean they have to do it but no one was expecting it to look like that!  It was fascinating :p

Day 7 – final day L We headed out to Odaiba again and walked around the boardwalk area.  It was full of different activities, amusements, and beautiful sights.  My friend got a picture with the mini statue of liberty (no idea why it’s there…) but it was really cool.  Then we checked out another mall, which are in abundance in Japan, and went to the trick art museum.  We were expecting to see those pictures you stare at and the image pops out 3D like – not the case.  These pictures are painted so like-like that when you take your picture with it it looks real!  We got pics of being eaten by sharks, being attacked by ninjas, looking thru secret doors, being trapped in a huge wine glass, and feeding animals.  It was so amazing that these can be painted so life-like.  We had a blast!  Then we went to Korea Town for Korean BBQ!  Yay!!!! Finally!! I had been waiting all week for this!  It was delicious and unlike any KBBQ I had had before.

Our order came with different types of kimchi, pork strips, vegetables, and we ordered the Korean pancake with kimchi – we really like kimchi!  The servers cooked the food for us and then we ate it with lettuce leaves.  It was sooo yummy. 

I was also introduced to K-Pop.  I found I really like it – who’d have thought?  It’s a little hip-hop based and not at all twinkly and sunshiney like J-Pop.  It was pretty cool!  Yay for new experiences!

Obon week was phenomenal!  I got to see my friends that I missed so much and I had many new experiences.  The best part?  Checking out the different areas of Tokyo so I can go back and explore some more.  What an adventure!  I hope the New Year’s vacation will be just as fun!

Obon - pt 3!!

Day 4 – Ikebukuro!  Another great place to visit!  My friend had been there before and was itching for us to check it out.  In Ikebukuro there is a mall called Sunshine City.  This mall has an aquarium, a planetarium, and a wonderful amusement area called Namja Town.  NT is so much fun.  There is winding town of super-small stalls and teeny restaurants that have the BEST gyoza ever!! No lies!  They are served in sizzling cast iron skillets so they are crispy all over.  They taste delicious – by far the best I’ve ever had.  We had the normal gyoza and a cheesy one with Italian herbs.  Ohemgee that shit was good!  The town was made to look like an old and rundown town area.  There were little rooms big enough for 2-4 people with small tables.  They had so many little details like broken TVs, bookshelves, animals, etc.  So cute.  No detail was spared.  Then through the winding and confusing town there was another town – a haunted town.  All the kids were running around with these winding toys looking for clues and trying to open secret doors.

            One guy told a friend to look thru the peephole of a door and she hesitatingly did.  We were all expecting her to see something thru the hole but suddenly BANG! Something slams the door from the other and she screams – we all did! Then the guy laughed and kept walking – he didn’t even work there!  Hilarious!!! There were hidden doors, scary cabinets with holes to stick your arm in waiting for things to jump out and grab you.  It was so fun!  Then on to Ice Cream Town!  Yup, you read right! And they weren’t lying.  There was thing large store with hundreds of flavours of ice creams – milk, salt, beer, sesame, fish oil, eggplant.  Weird ones, yummy ones.  Then there were the stands where you could get scoops or soft serve.  One of us got black sesame, another got beer (I think), and I got really cool mango shaved ice.  It wasn’t like kakigori!  It was fruit ice/ice cream that was in a block.  Then they thinly shave it off in a circle so you get layer after layer of this ice.  Then you spoon into it and you get all the layers and it tastes like fresh mango and you feel the ice crystals.  It was absolutely scrumptious!!! I want more!!!!

            Then we went to the planetarium!!!! It was beautiful! But we all so tired we fell asleep throughout the whole show.  And it was in Japanese so I understood none of it but it was really gorgeous.  So pretty and entrancing.  If only my room had that for its ceiling….

            Next we went in search of food and found this sketchy looking place in the basement.  We thought it was gonna be dead and we would be the only ones there – this place was bumpin’! So busy and the food was yummy! I had steak on the sizzling skillet with egg and rice and salad.  It was delicious – and then I got food poisoning.  It was good while it lasted J

Day 5 – Saturday was a lazy day.  Sam and I got up and slowly made our way to Futako-Tamagawa (essentially Tokyo outskirts, super-fun and busy) to meet my friends and the others who were staying at the other apartment to watch fireworks.  I was warned it was going to be busy but I was NOT expecting this for fireworks! Hundreds upon hundreds were pouring out of the train station in yukatas (I want one so bad) of all colours going to the river to sit and watch the fireworks.  My friend and I needed food and found a really good Italian restaurant in the mall and I also had a ginger ale made from scratch.  It was strong but was so refreshing and tasty!  The pasta was great too.  Then we waited for the other two and made our long journey to the other side of the river where my friends were meeting.  They had scored a decent spot right by the water and in perfect view of BOTH fireworks shows.  That’s right – there were two!

            Tokyo and Kanagawa both put on shows at the same time.  They both last for an hour straight and they are stunning!  We were trying so hard to watch both but in the end Tokyo won – theirs was just more spectacular.  Kanagawa did their best but choices must be made.  Tokyo had also not puts theirs on the year before b/c of the earthquake and flooding so their budget was considerably larger this year.  One whole hour of fireworks was such a treat.  At home they last maybe 15 minutes.  We were all very impressed.  One of our friends was ecstatic that she had dropped hanging out with her friend that night to come watch fireworks, hahaha! J

            It was a great night and I met new people so that’s another score!  Next - aquarium and trick art museum.  There were ferris wheels and a roller coaster in there somewhere...I'll fit it in! :p

Obon - pt 2!

The excitement continues!

             Day 3 – this day was a jam-packed day!...of waiting.  We planned on going to Skytree that day.  It’s the tallest TOWER in the world (the CN Tower used to be but this surpasses it by about 100 meters or so).  Yes there is a crazy tall building in Dubai that is the highest building but this is the tallest tower – not to be confused J.   And this looks just like the CN tower too so that was kinda cool, especially since I’ve never been in the CN tower before.  Skytree had just opened up a couple months ago and was crazy busy.  It was also Obon so there were even more people out in full force.   We had to get there by 9 to get our tickets.  It took about an hour and a half to get there (I think even longer, maybe).  We got there at 9 and had to wait in line to get a time ticket to wait in line again to buy our tickets.  So at 9am the earliest we could wait in line was at 1pm.  What to do for 4 hours?  We hit up Denny’s!  Wow is that different than American Denny’ s.  I got this hamburger thing with rice, corn, and demi-glaze.  Others got the rice casserole with cheese.  It was actually pretty good – go Japanese Denny’s!

            Then we still had more time to kill and were planning on going to the aquarium.  But then I found out there was a planetarium and stressed very much to my group that the planetarium would be sooo much better than the aquarium – I won! J  The lines for both the aquarium and planetarium were crazy long so we took our chances with either one.  So upstairs we went to wait in line to wait in another line…to wait in another line (no kidding!) and we finally made it to the front and I’m practically dancing b/c I’ve never been to a planetarium and they tell us there are ONLY 2 seats left! We have 6 – damn! I strongly considered going alone but I selflessly held back, hahaha!  So we ended up hanging out in a starbucks for about an hour then headed off to wait in line.  And wait we did.  We didn’t buy our tickets until after 2pm (5 hrs now!) and finally made our way up in the speeding elevators.  We were crammed inside like sardines and sped to the top, all the while wondering whether the elevators could take the weight of 15 people and strollers – that would be quite a long ways to fall…but we made it after several ear pops and emerged into the streaming sun 350 meters in the air.  It was outstanding!  The view was 360 degrees.  I could see all of Tokyo and beyond.  We saw Mt. Fuji, the entire cityscape, shrines, bridges, ferris wheels, cruiseships.  It was truly incredible.  I could have stayed for hours and was sorely disappointed we would not be able to watch the sunset.  The only downfall was the haze – Japan is really hazy in the summer and so not everything was as clear as it could be but still it was great!  I also got the chance to walk on the plexiglass floor where you see all the way down to the street under you.  It was very nerve-wracking but such a great feeling!

            Then we got into another line to buy another ticket to go up to 450 meters in the air.  The elevator for this was so cool! There was a window in the ceiling and we could watch ourselves rise, then after a few dozen meters we also got to see outside as the steel was replaced with plexiglass in front of us.  There was a collective “Ohhhh” as this happened – it was pretty fun.  This floor was completely different up here.  We walked thru a tube like walkway that was carpeted and all white.  There were windows on the side and as you walked the floor was inclined to take a little higher as you continue.  The view from there was also spectacular and beautiful.  All that waiting and it was definitely worth it!

            After that we headed to Odaiba (also in Tokyo) to check out the onsen.  An onsen is a place where one can go, strip down, and soak in hot baths for hours.  Natural onsens are better b/c they’re natural hot springs but there are none in Tokyo so they make these wonderful ones.  On our way, there were more trains (a fair few) and a monorail! The monorail was almost as good as the onsen.  We could see all of Odaiba and the friends I was with were at risk of getting whiplash b/c their heads were turning so much.  We passed the rainbow bridge (not to be confused with the Cdn/US one :), a huge ferris wheel, and some pretty impressive skyscrapers and waterfront.  Then the onsen.  I was expecting a small building with a locker room and hot tubs – nothing like what we got!  We walk into this large foyer where you put you shoes in the little cubbies and then get your barcode bracelet that you wear everywhere.  It was a cash-free society and so everything you buy is scanned onto your bracelet for you to pay when you leave.  I think that’s pretty dangerous b/c there was so much to buy!  We get our yukata robes and go to the first locker room to undress to bras and underwear and put on the robes.  Then we head out to the main area.  It was 2 huge rooms of food stalls, games, a resting room for naps, and food! Yes, food twice b/c there was so much including my fave, kakigori!  After wandering around like a dog let out of the car after hours we headed out to the back where there is a “wonderful and relaxing” stream where you walk on rocks to stretch out the muscles.  It was very serene out there.  So many people in pretty yukatas lounging in the stream on benches and relaxing in the garden with the lights coming on b/c dusk was upon us.  And then the death walk! It was NOT relaxing and, in fact, damn near impossible!

            This stream is full of small stones that change every few feet in size and pain inducers.  You walk along it and it is supposed to stretch out your muscles and feel relaxing after.  The only way I can imagine it feeling good it that when you’re done walking thru hell you feel excuberant b/c you survived!  I’m being dramatic but it was extremely painful, I almost fell several times, and one of my friends had to come back and help me walk even she was in pain too.  So anyway, the stones are small and sharp.  They are angled to get right into your foot.  B/c you have to walk on them all your weight is put on these little stones and there’s no getting away from them.  They are spaced just so so you can’t move around them.  But then you get to the smooth stones and it feels great…and then hell starts right back up.  The stone pattern repeated 3 times.  After we just sat on the benches and relaxed and complained.  I enjoyed it J

            Then off to the baths.  We go to another locker room and get these small towels – enough to cover your chest to crotch and leave everything else.  We walk out and there are pools after pools of different temperature water.  We head to the shower stall first.  They are these little cubicles with stools you sit on and bathe yourself.  They provide shampoo, conditioner, and bodywash.  Even a pumice stone.  I didn’t do my hair or face b/c I wasn’t going to submerge myself but I did scrub myself clean.  And yes, they were all women (the baths are gender divided) and everyone was naked!  So freeing!  There were huge barrels outside with warm water, and small pools inside with hot water and even a small pool with water that was 20 degrees.  Pretty cold!  The temperatures ranged from 38-41 degrees and there is quite a difference from 38 to 41.  Sometimes it got uncomfortably hot.  But it was so relaxing and great we thought we could stay there for hours.  Which we did.

            Quick note: Japanese women do not groom! I was told but I was very surprised.  My friends and I were the only ones taken care of.  I thought it was hilarious!  And it was also great to see so many body types in the onsen as I was expecting everyone to be teeny tiny.  Such an eye-opener.  Not being ignorant but I’ve mostly seen very small statured women so this was interesting!

            Anyway, after we had soaked ourselves prune-silly we got out, bathed, and headed out to get food.  There were so many options but I got gyoza and ramen.  It was ok, but again, I’m not a ramen fan so yay me for eating it!  And, of course, I got my kakigori!

            It was a long day but it was great! We got to see some amazing things and relax for hours in hot tubs.  All in all a terrific day!

Obon - pt 1

     So Obon was last week and it was by far the BEST week I've had since arriving in Japan.  We did so much and I got to see my training peeps!  I had 3 people come stay with me during the week and we met up with a couple others in Tokyo.  It was so great seeing them after so many weeks of short messages and texting.  It was kinda strange since we had done so much together during training.  I was really glad we had this opportunity to meet up again so soon after parting ways.  The next time won't be until New Year's and then it'll be different people - the ones who couldn't come this time so that'll be great!
     Day 1 - One of the girls came Monday night and we decided to check out the restaurant floor in my mall.  So far in Japan, I haven't found food that I really liked UNTIL Obon week.  I tried so many different things and found some definite faves.  In the mall, we went to an Indonesian restaurant.  I ordered shrimp fried rice with egg and my friend got a spicy seafood curry with rice.  They were both delicious.  I went back twice more that week and found out I get a discount b/c I'm a mall employee - score!  Then we saw The Dark Knight Rises.  I had already seen it but my friend hadn't and I wanted to see it again.  I am in LOVE with Bane and his accent and whole character.  I was a very happy person that night.
     Day 2 - After a harrowing and long and lost journey another friend made it to my place and we headed out to meet up with the others in Harujuku.  After spending only a few hours there I have deciced I love Harujuku.  It blows Shibuya out of the water!  Shibuya is nice but Haru is so much better.  The stores are cool, the people are so unique, and I wanted to buy absolutely everything I saw!  The harujuku dresses you see the girls dress up in are amazing and so cute.  I'm planning on getting one for Halloween, hopefully.  The only thing is you can't try them on in the store so you take your chances with the "one size fits all" rule.  Ganbatte to me! :)
     We walked around, made some cool purchases (including a friend that bought one of the dresses) and made our way to Shinjuku.  On our way to the train we visited a beautiful shrine .  It was quite a walk down this gravelly path but it was so peaceful.  You could barely tell you were in Harujuku - it seemed so removed.  That's why Japan is so nice - you can escape the busy life and explore traditional Japan so easily.  It's such a wonderful balance and something I am looking forward to doing more and more.  The shrine was gorgeous and had such intricate woodwork on the gates and buildings it's difficult to believe they did this hundreds of years ago without the tools we have today - true artists!
     We made it to Shinjuku and that was also great!  We saw some crazy stores - including a huge store that was described as Wal Mart on crack...it fits! This place is so many floors high and jam-packed with electronics, knick knacks, clothing, cosmetics, and everything else you could need.  It was a little claustrophobic but you can over it if you want some great deals.  And it's super-funny in there.  One of the brands on men's underwear was called "Black Man" underwear.  It had all these different kinds and crazy designs - every colour of leopard print you can think of.  And, if you're wondering - no, the men on the boxes were not in fact black...
     We also found the Red Light District (RLD) YAY!!!! I was so happy.  All these stores with curtains with these cute little hands on them warning not to enter if you're under 20.  There were so many hosts there as well.  Most had David Bowie looking hair, apparently that's the thing.  Unfortunately, we weren't approached by them b/c we're gaijin and we don't speak the language.  Dang! :)  We also had some cheap ramen for dinner - and I found out I really don't like ramen.  It's just not my thing.  That's too bad b/c it's soooo popular here.  I've tried different ones and it's just not my bag so I'm gonna have to find a cheap food substitute somewhere.
     We also checked out the The Hub - a British pub that's very popular in Tokyo - they are all over the place.  I heard they were terrible.  Indeed the one we went to smelled terrible and smoking is allowed inside but after a few Happy Hour drinks you can barely notice it! Gotta love that happy hour.  Colourful cocktails, hard liquor, and tall 2.5 pint glasses of beer.  Not so bad, after all.
     Next - Days 3-5!