He dumped me.

I am back from Osaka! Though I wish I could have been there longer. D: I had wicked fun times hanging out with murasaki_kaze, even though I ended up stealing her Metamorphose handkerchief in an emotional bout of forgetfulness. >_>;; Whoops.

Um... yesterday was possibly one of the more awful days I've had here. A bunch of little things went wrong, so there's nothing major to be worried about. Things just have gotten rather drama-llama-ish lately with the schism between my Spring Semester friends and my All Year friends. They just don't get along, and frankly, I think my All Year friends are more fun to be with. We share common interests, hang out in Akiba whenever the opportunity presents itself, and even though I've only known them for a few weeks, they offered to pay for my lunch when the machine ate my 500Y coin. I waffled, and Vincent insisted, so I got to eat. Yay! \o/

But today was much better. Nothing of real incident happened, which I suppose is good. I'm behind in damned, and seriously considering dropping over at theskytides. I don't think the format is for me, and I think I just jumped in way too fast. Plus, I already have close to no time for damned. Oh well, hopefully I won't drag everyone down this NS... >_>;

I'm starting to wish that I could take a photography class when I get back to Real School (Jyouchi is not real school. It is fake school. Trust me.), because I've developed a real passion for photographs lately. I think I'll do a massive picture dump tonight to make up for the utter fail on my resolution. XD; Okay, that's what I'll do. ♥ Standby for a photo dump, and some of my favorites!

(So apparently, I'm failing at my Every Day resolution, but Every Other Day is working out great! 8D;;;)

I went to go see Indiana Jones on Saturday with Scott. I enjoyed it, personally. It was a very fan-servicy movie, but it made me squee. Especially the last part. DE-FUCKIN'-NIED, SHIA LABEOUF! XDDD But he wasn't all that bad. He FENCED while standing on TWO MOVING VEHICLES. He totally deserved to be what he is. :<

But one of my favorite things about seeing movies in Japan, I think, is THE STUFF THEY SELL YOU AFTERWARDS. Scott and I went a little crazy, and I bought three Indiana Jones figurines. You can get Indy with a treasure chest, Indy in a mine cart, Marion, Henry, the priest dude from Temple of Doom, Mudd, or two secret ones. The first secret one is very obviously the chick with the sword from Crystal Skull--I could tell from the outline.

But the second secret one I wasn't so sure about. It was a guy holding a gun. But anyway, I bought three and got Treasure-Indy, Marion, and Whats-her-Face from Crystal Skull. Scott lamented that he had horrible luck picking figurines, so I picked two for him. He got Indy in the mine cart and the other secret one--

HAN FUCKING SOLO.

YES, YOU READ THAT RIGHT. HAN MOTHERFUCKING SOLO. It was epic. Scott was very excited, and vowed never to go anywhere without me, because obviously I have the best luck ever.

The only bad part about Saturday (besides navigating Shinjuku WHILE IT WAS RAINING, AND THUS EVERYONE HAD THEIR UMBRELLAS POPPED) was the text I received around 11 PM on Friday night. This weekend, the kyudo-bu had some group tournament or some such thing that Chi told me I didn't have to go to. So, like a normal person, I made plans. This text reads something to the effect of, "I'll explain the question you asked tomorrow. By the way, we're meeting at 9:20."

Um, no, we're not meeting at 9:20. I'm meeting Scott to see Indiana Jones. I text her back saying, "Uhbwah? You told me only 2 people have to go." "Uh, yeah, only 2 people have to work, but we're all going. Wear a suit." "Chi, I don't own a suit. I borrow from Sato, and I didn't ask her to borrow it because I didn't think I'd need it." "I have a skirt you could wear." "I don't have a solid white button-up shirt." "Oh."

Yeah. Pissed. As much as I wanted to go, I planned shit for this weekend, and I damn well wasn't going to try to dance around and fix everything for everybody else. So I texted the captain and apologized, saying that I wouldn't be able to make it because Chi gave me misinformation and I don't own a suit and I had no idea where the tournament was. She replied back apologizing for not giving me information that was easier to understand. Oh Japan. ^^;;

Today, however, was a very fun day because it was SHADOWRUN DAY. ♥ I've joined up with Scott, Vincent, Max, and Danielle to play a tabletop RPG called Shadowrun, which is pretty cool. A couple weeks ago, Vincent IMed me asking if I wanted to join because one of their players was being a rules-nazi and they needed another person. I was reluctant, but I joined anyway. I'm so glad I did, because it's been fun times ever since. Max helped me create a character that would be easy to play, and I've played about 5 or 6 times now. Her name is Fauntleroy or Roy for short, and she puts holes through tanks. 8D With her bow and arrow. She is much awesome.

For clarity's sake:

Me = Fauntleroy (Adept)
Scott = Jad Alexander (Technomancer --did I mention this RPG is a cyberpunk-setting?)
Vincent = Ten Rainyday (I think he's technically a Street Samurai)
Max = Simon (Technomancer)
Danielle = Cait Griffith (Mage)

Currently, the group is breaking into a facility that is very much familiar to Jad and Roy--since they were both test subjects in it. Beforehand, though, we went through a HOMG STRESSFUL car chase which involved motorbikes and a squad car, then adept ninja-people, a helicopter (fortunately the hackers hacked it and gained control of it) and two jets. I totally thought everyone was dead, but once we got to the safehouse, good things happened. Not only did we get a TON of what's equivalent to EXP, we basically got whatever gear we requested.

But before the stealth operation, Jad was trying to up his Infiltration skill, and had to pass a test. He had to trip three people: a servant, a teammate, and the instructor. So, being that Roy was the only one walking around, she was Jad's target. And he did trip her, and she was pissed. When she saw him, she sank an arrow into the wall as he was getting away. Hopefully, he won't try that again. ♥

At the halfway point, we broke camp from Yotsuya and headed to (where else?) Akihabara. But, as it was raining cats and dogs and small gakki, so of course the boys had to be badass and shake their wet umbrellas at each other threateningly in a epic rain-battle. I lamented not having my camera, because it was pretty epic-looking.

I need boots, because this rain thing? Blows. I'm going to get some well-deserved sleep now. :3 Night guys! ♥

It's official.

There is a wood slate with my name on it on the kyudo dojo wall. There are no words for how happy I am right now.

Also, words of wisdom from an idiot in my Japanese class:

"What's the [Japanese] word for spy? Ninja??"

"What was the Australian word you used?"
"Philanderer? That's... not an Australian word......"

And other fun quotes:

"DAMMIT, I WANT TO EAT ICE CREAM WITH YOU!" - Molly

"No, you can't put that on Facebook! It's out of context! D:" - Sadly, me.


What else has been going on? Today was pretty low-key. Went to Shibuya with Scott to drop his computer off at the Apple store because, surprise surprise, it's broken. XD We played around with one of the iPhones and gave each other tours of our colleges.

Today I had another great moment in Japanese. I felt for the first time that I didn't have to think about what I was saying. Switching back into English is becoming difficult after extended periods of speaking Japanese. And while I'm still not OMFG KANPEKI PERA PERA, I'm getting to a point where I'm excited about it.

Oh! And on Wednesday I bought a bunch of junk at Animate from the Detective Conan movie! X3 Phone strap, handkerchief, and Sebastian's pin. The pin will most likely be cannibalized to make it appropriate for cosplaying my favorite butler~ ♥

And I totally want to go drop another 10,000Y in Harajuku. D: Somebody sit on me before I do that. For now, I suppose I'll post pictures of my loot you guys haven't seen...

( So much awesome stuff, so little funding... )

Also, fun stuff, at last Saturday's practice, the kyudo team found a new club member in the aizuchi (shooting range)!

( Say hello to Kentaro! )

Whoo... bedtime for me~ ♥ Tomorrow going to see "Indy Jones" (YES, THEY CALL IT THAT HERE) with Scott. Really want to see the Hana Yori Dango movie too... :< Oh movies, why are you so expensive?

On our second date, Scott and I did purikura. Today's results...

( FAIL. )

After posting yesterday, naturally, I went home. However, what awaited me was rather strange and distressing... Emiko's moved my stuff around before, and I really didn't mind it so much. If I didn't like what she'd done, I'd just move it back plain and simple. But this...

( WTF?!? )

Kyudo was fun today. It's very strange, but lately I feel as though I'm getting a better handle on Japanese as a whole. I can switch back and forth more fluidly, and I'm even okay reading manga with furigana! \o/

So this will make no sense to anyone but murasaki_kaze but HOMG 4TH VOLUME OF KUROSHITSUJI?!?

(lol five minute translation. 8D;)

”王子はともかくコイツは敵のスパイかもしれん！” (Putting the prince aside, you're probably a spy from one of my enemies!!)
”いえ、私はあくまで鹿でー” (That's not the case. I am a demon and a deer--)

I NEARLY DIED LAUGHING.

Basically, in this manga, the catchline is 悪魔で執事です (akuma de shitsuji desu), which I really have yet to translate accurately. ; ; I figure it's either "I am a demon and a butler" or "I am, until the death (I become a demon), a butler". So yes. Bastardization of the catchline with DEER thrown in. Because yes. He's wearing a mounted deer head to disguise himself. And yet I describe this manga as reminiscent of Hellsing.

No wonder I love it so freaking much.

Gah, 12:30AM, Shadowrun tomorrow. DX Night guys! ♥

So, I've made a new-week resolution! \o/ For the rest of my time in Japan, I'm going to update EVERY. DAY. Yes. I realized while coming to school today that I'm letting the days go by without writing something, and one of these days in the future I'll look back and go, "Goddammit, why was I such a lazy ass? DX"

Moar updates will fix this. Definitely.

Of course, real life came up and blackjacked me like a back alley in Shinjuku. I've been coughing/sick since the Wednesday before Hiroshima (yeah, that trip happened. I have picchars! \o/). And of course, during that weekend while I was IN Hiroshima, my mother's mother passed away. This sent me into a downward spiral where I just didn't feel like associating with anybody and the only thing that would have made me happy was going home. Fortunately, murasaki_kaze came down to Tokyo to pull me back out of the gutter with super-special-awesome adventures (of which, I also have picchars)!

I've also, probably much to everyone's surprise and shock, have found myself a significant other. Yes, he's from America before anyone cries Japanese-boi raep. XD We hang out, do random stuff, lament the fact that we don't have a Playstation, etc.

Oh! Which reminds me...

Last Friday, I was out with Scott and we were going to get something to eat when I get an email from Emiko entitled, "すみません". Of course, I'm rather confused as to why she's apologizing, until I read the email. In essence, it said, "Please eat out tonight, I don't feel well because I'M PREGNANT."

You could have knocked me over with a feather I was so shocked. I immediately sent an email back offering to help her whenever she needed and that I was happy to eat out (and was planning on doing so anyway, BUT). Fun fact.

Yesterday I went to Harajuku with Scott and Vincent and picked up MOAR CLOTHES because I'm a retard. XD I totally can't afford it, but I don't think there's much I can afford anymore. But I figure, when can I do this again? Uh, never? XD Too bad the totally awesome skirt I want is SO FREAKING EXPENSIVE. DX 18800Y no thank you. ;A;

What else...? Oh! I took and passed the gomukyuu test in Kyudo last Saturday. Now I can officially use a bow during practice! We also found a little turtle in the aizuchi (target range) and named him Kentaro. :3 We're going to do a new club-member banzai for him. ♥ I took a picture of Kentaro too, so I'll post that as well.

And now, it's nearly six and I should go home. I have dinner to eat, kanji to study, and hopefully pictures to upload and post. Here's a list of the posts I'm hoping to get done soon:

-Nikko (GAHGALDKJASDK)
-Hiroshima
-My Awesome Day with the Kyudo-Bu
-Adventures with Senpai (Featuring Chou-Chou and The Liberty Bell)

And that's it for now, I think... ♥

...coming soon. For now:

Is it bad that I giggled all the way home because 'You Are A Pirate' suddenly popped up on my iPod?

"DO WHAT YOU WANT 'CAUSE A GAIJIN IS FREE! YOU ARE A GAIJIN! *runs across the crosswalk while the light is red* \o/"

No, not the company. ♥ Read and learn.

Thanks for the words of advice concerning the kyudo match. I'm going to talk to my program head about it--MAYBE he'll let me slide. I probably won't be competing, because hell no I'm not our best member--THAT WOULD BE HORRIBLE--I would just be a random ichinensei. :< I don't know, I'll have to think it over.

ANYWAY, yes. I haven't posted much on the mechanics of kyudo, and I'm sure there are people in the audience who are interested! Plus I need to kill an hour, and teh intarnetz r ded nao, so YOU GUYS GET KYUDO YAY.

Kyudo, for those who don't know, is Japanese-style archery. No we don't use wimpy composite bows, we HOLD OUR STRINGS DAMMIT. XD The bows are made up of a light wood and obviously some sort of gut which I haven't quite figured out yet. We practice in a dojo, which is cleaned in the morning, the afternoon, before practice and after practice by the first years. Yes, that is a lot of cleaning. XD Everyone practices in a white gi and navy or black hakama (guys can't wear navy though, HA), and wears a glove made out of deer skin. It's very soft. :3

There are five stages from beginning to end. Loosely translated, they're Stance, Raise, Half-Draw, Full-Draw, and Release. Kyudo is done with a relatively wide stance--wider than your shoulders. It's the base on which your power comes from, so having a narrow stance weakens your ability to full-draw. After the stance is taken, the archer raises the bow and arrow using both hands, fully extending their arms. Next, arms still raised, the archer pulls the bow towards the target and draws the string lightly--hence, half-draw. After the half-draw, the archer pulls the bow down and the string back past the ear and aims. You're only supposed to hold this for five to six seconds--any longer, and your muscles will obviously tire out and your aim will suck. The obvious end is the release, which is pretty self-explanatory.

However, while in competitions hitting the target is vital, some kyudo masters progress so far that hitting the target becomes superficial. All of these steps are done at a slow, zen-like pace, focusing most on posture and energy.

So how exactly did I learn all this? Well, first my senpais started me out holding just an arrow. After that, I progressed to (in English) the 'rubber bow', which is basically a stick with a rubber tube that serves as the string. I'm currently on this step, and thankfully I'm getting to the point where I don't shake before the release. XD; After the rubber bow, the student fires arrows into a bale of hay on a stand, and once that's been perfected, you shoot at a target. A lot, I know. XD

Why the hell is this entry called 'Atari'? In matches, when a competitor hits the target, one of the two people hidden in the range holds out one of the target and shouts (and holds), "ATAAAAAAAAAAAARIII---!" until the next competitor goes into half-draw. It comes from the Japanese verb 'ataru': to hit. If the competitor doesn't hit the target, the inside of the target is displayed for three seconds--no shout.

Each of the four competitors has four arrows. They each take turns firing them off. So, for example, if the competitors were Kojima-senpai, Kimura-senpai, Isobe-senpai, and Hatakeyama-senpai, the order would go Kojima, Kimura, Isobe, Hatakeyama, and then back to Kojima until they were done. It's all beautifully timed. If you guys are fans of Japanese culture and/or aesthetics, watch Kyudo. It's gorgeous to watch.

Based on randomization, one team will take the range, and the other will leave the dojo while they shoot, then they trade. It's rather nerve-wracking, and the only time when you can tell what the score is is either when you enter the dojo to take your turn, or you count the number of atari's that come from beyond.

Scoring, counting arrows, cleaning, and practice all have very specific nuances that must be learned. The club also has a very strict kouhai-senpai system in place, which most students call 'kibishii': strict. While clubs are pretty lax and just for fun in the States, in Japan they can be ruthless. For a more relaxed sort of experience with other Japanese students, it's better to join a 'circle'. However, I really enjoy experiencing something so different from what I'm used to. Back at Scripps, if I couldn't RUN A SHOWING it was okay. In Kyudo, if I miss a practice for no reason, people will ask me where I was and why I wasn't there. And I had better be on my death bed. :| XDDD

We have a match on Sunday, so I'll give you guys the blow-by-blow, and introduce some of my senpais. :3

Well son of a bitch.

Big kyudo match against rival Nanzan: May 30 - June 1

Mandatory trip to Hiroshima: May 30 - June 1

Really guys? Can I please get a break sometime? Can something good happen soon, please?

PURIKURA RABU~ ♥

Last night, went out with Molly, Mike, and Molly's friend Nao. We had the intention of going a-karaoke-ing, but decided since so many people canceled, that we'd hit up a restaurant we'd heard about previously--Sweets Paradise.

Basically, you go in, and for 1480Y, you can eat as much as you can in 90 minutes. Sweets, pasta, curry, salad, et cetera. I was a VERY happy girl after that one~ I think I had been going into cake withdrawal. :<

After that, the ladies decided that we wanted to purikura, so we dragged poor Mike into a booth and shot a sheet. It was a rather odd booth--there were different levels we could stand on, and we really couldn't pick which scenes we wanted. So the frantic gaijin-button smash was out for this round. XD

After the purika, we all decided we were tired and headed home. It's hard to stay out late in Japan because of the whole "last train" problem. >_> I was coming home one night and realized that I actually could miss my last train. I was running through Azabu-Juuban going:

"My chest huuurts..."
"RUN BABE. IF YOU WANT TO SLEEP IN YOUR BED TONIGHT, YOU WILL RUN."

;A; Aaagh...

...I still need to take pictures of the stuff I procured at Ikebukuro and write up a post on Kyudo. YES, I HAVE JOINED THE CLUB and love it so much. X3 There are so many little intricacies and rules, which you may think would suck, but I find it really awesome actually. Post on that soon! ♥

I can't take it anymore.

OTOME ROAD.

TOMORROW OR WEDNESDAY. ZETTAI NI.

I need phonestraps. :< And otaku junk. BECAUSE I'M A DORK. ♥

Kareoke: 240Y for six people
Booze: 4250Y for five people
Resolving to Stay Sober until 21 and then Drink With Friends, and thus Only Having to Pay 40Y for the Night's Entertainment?

Fucking priceless.

Yes, I can drink in Japan. Of course, this means I have to pay for it. Screw that, I'm buying myself another phone strap! XDDD

Yes, last Sunday a few friends and I went to Shinjuku for Karaoke fun times. Of course, everyone else sang songs in English, and I was the dork singing things like Every Heart, Daia no Hana, and Hare Hare Yukai. ^^;; The place was appropriately shady--I think I described it as London Meets Vegas with Crack. Seriously. XD Afterwards we got food (curry katsudon IS GOD) and did purika and found some dessert. It was good times indeed~ ♥ I had a fabulous time with everyone.

Update on classes soon! I have to get to Yotsuya early so I can register. DX Sleeping time now plz! XD

So, despite the fact that it rained neko, inu, and kodomo (cats, dogs and children) yesterday, I went to Harajuku with some friends to do some shopping. I know, me, clothes shopping. It's unreal.

BUT HARAJUKU ALSKDJFKDLAJFEISLAKDJF!!!!

( It's said that when it rains, turkeys will stare up at the sky with their mouths open and drown. :3 (Image heavy) )

And strangely enough, as I was coming back from Harajuku, I thought to myself, "Why am I a Video Game major? I want to design clothes..." Everything I saw there was just so wonderful and interesting. I really felt alive.

...I don't know... what do you guys think? YES, I RELY TOO HEAVILY ON THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS! XD;

And I'm totally going for the kyudo club. Some things just don't happen unless you dive in head first. I'm nervous and going through approach-resistance, but I'm going to do it. I need something to replace Ba Gua anyway, otherwise school will eat my head.

I CAN DO THIS. I WILL DO THIS. ♥

SO FINALLY, I have my keitai (cell phone) number and email address all set up! I just had to go BACK to Softbank to get it. >/ Not happy, but I have it, and that's all that matters, really.

Keitai number: 090 6529 2779
Keitai email: L.Lord.Fauntleroy@softbank.ne.jp

For those of you who don't know (I didn't!) I can receive email on my phone from any computer or cellphone. You can also text me! Send my pictures! Whatever! ♥

In other news, I'm thinking of joining the Kyudo club. o_o Am I crazy? XDDD

Yes, a write-up of Days 5-8! FINALLY, I KNOW. XD

On the plus side, it has pictures? :< Dial-uppers beware!

( Day 5, Or: I Think There's a Sakura Petal in my Mouth... )

( Day 6, Or: Where Are We Going Next?! :333 )

( Day 7, Or: Rain + Cold + 7.5 Scavenger Hunt = Bad... )

( Day 8, Or: Just Talk to My Host Mother, Please. T_T )

Nikko recap soon! ♥

Yes boys and girls, I once again fail, BUT I BRING PICTURES AND SOON, ANOTHER UPDATE!

Nikko Trip: VERY out of order due to photobucket being stupid. >/ Sorry guys.

Batch 2: Includes Ueno Zoo, photos of my homestay, and Scavenger Hunt

Batch 1: New location, so posting link again. :3

Enjoy! Writeups of Days 5-8, Nikko Trip, and other points of interest coming! Also, I just rehauled all my icons, if you guys care. XDDD

♥!

Yeah, I fail at updating. DX Sorry guys! Here's a breakdown of what's been happening since the first day!

( Day 2, Or: What do you mean 'You don't get a phone for 2 weeks'...?! )

( Day 3, Or: How do you work this.......? )

( Day 4, Or: Holy Crap PEOPLE. )

Days 5-8 later tonight. Bear with me guys! ♥

Until then, have some shiny pictures! X3

http://s307.photobucket.com/albums/nn287/kouject/

( TL;DR--I'm in Japan! :D )

Second day coming soon! ♥