As the Adventures Become More Interesting....

Everyday in Tokyo is an adventure. Every step, every turn, every direction that you look in. It's an amazing place but then again Japan is an amazing place in general.

I love my futon bed. I've never liked the ridiculously soft mattresses in America because they aren't good for my back and I wake up feeling terrible. I wake up on my futon and I feel well rested and ready to go!

I love Japanese food! Everything I've ate has been SOOO amazing! Nothing has let me down yet. I've tried so many different things since I've been here and I hope that I can make these foods for myself when I have to go back home. You actually feel better after eating Japanese food. You feel full but not overly full, you feel healthier and you have more energy. I usually crash mid-morning in America but here I don't start feeling tired till late afternoon. I also don't eat huge portions of food. Everything here is so filling and in portion sizes that everyone, everywhere should be eating. It's already very noticeable on me!

I love public transportation. I missed it after I moved back home from Chicago but Chicago's transportation system has nothing on the Japanese transportation system. I'm not going to enjoy driving a car again... While the trains can be confusing, once you spend enough time in them you begin to understand how everything works and get yourself through it with ease.

I love being around so many people. Everyone here has been so nice to me. I've become accustomed to the stares (although most people are looking at Kaitlin because of her blonde hair). Some people even try to talk to us! Today an old man was flirting with my friend Desiree but it was in a cute way, nothing creepy. He gave her chocolate and invited us out to drink with him and his group (one other older man and 3 old women). They were very polite and very funny and we felt bad having to turn them down.

Japan really can be summed up as cute (or kawaii). I love listening to the language, everything from stationary to cell phones are adorable. People are so sweet and helpful...I don't know why anyone WOULDN'T like the Japanese! Open your minds people! But really, every advertisment is sweet and everywhere you turn, there's always an adorable cartoon animal. Hehe.

Now that I've finished ranting on some of the things I love about Japan, I'd like to briefly discuss the events of tonight.

My friend Yuuya's friend from elementry school is the lead singer of a band and we were all invited to go watch her play at something that would be similar to an open mic or battle of the bands in America. We watched 3 bands perform (all of which were amazing in my opinion). I was even able to get a cd with some of the music on it and exchange phone numbers with Yuiko by the end of the night. I told her that I thought her band was amazing and I'd like to see them perform again sometime!

While I did have an amazing night with good friends, I did witness a terrible thing. On the way home, Desiree, Kaitlin and I witnessed an older man who was drunk arguing with a businessman. I'm not sure what they were arguing about, although I did catch that the businessman was informing the other man that he was just drunk and to settle down. I watched the drunk man try to punch the businessman and it got so bad that the businessman actually pulled a handfull of hair out of the drunk mans head :( . It just lay there on the ground... But it was terrible and it took a couple of other businessmen to calm the drunk man down a bit and get him off of the train. I hope I never witness anything like that again. This shouldn't discourage anyone from coming to Japan. Who hasn't seen a drunk man start an argument and try to fight someone? I've never felt unsafe in Tokyo. Everyone is very kind and willing to help you if they can. One man walked Desiree and I to the post office the other day when we couldn't find it! Why isn't America more like this?....

It's been a long day and night so now it's time for bed. Until another day!

Oyasumi!~~