So drunk

One perk to being able to speak Japanese is you can ask for a special discount on all-you-can-drink prices, and actually get it.

Karma

I don't know how much fun I've made of other people for being sick but maybe this is karma.

Anyway ... yeah, Saturday night Alex, Sawako (?), and I met the others in Osaka. We went to the downtown district and it was so amazing!! I felt like tourist but I was completely fine with it. Then they bought taco balls (octopus) which are basically some fried dough wrapped around a tentacle of octopus. I almost tried to make myself eat one but when I speared it, amazingly, the tentacle piece fell out and Michael ate it ... the fried part was ok.

We also had a big dinner there which was pretty great. Lots of litle dishes like pizzas, yakitori, gyoza, etc. And we all had a cocktail and then a little sake. Alex is obsessed with everything Japanese by the way. I mean, I had noticed before, back at like Stanford how everything Japanese was perfect to him, but I thought part of that was like nostalgia or whatever. But no, even here, you should hear him go off about how much he loves this, and that.

Afterwards we went to an arcade (of course) and took some fob pictures. They are amazing. One is now my background picture on my phone. Afterwards, we decided to try and make it home rather than stay out all night as originally planned. Unfortunately, only 4 of us were unable to make it home: me, Ly, Alex, and Chris. So what did we do? Intensive karaoke. 4 hours in a little room and Ly wouldn't let us sleep so we sang all 4 of them. Ly and I chose a lot of hardcore rock like Linkin Park and Papa Roach and the guys sang banjo-y stuff and Beatles. By the end of the night, we had all lost all dignity and sang whatever the heck in any sort of voice.

We left at 5 and I caught my first bus home at 6:30. Needless to say, I nearly fell asleep and missed my stop. I then slept until noon. I went over to Alex's to do homework but instead passed out there too. And in the evening, after dinner, my family, Michael, Alex, and I went over to a nearby karaoke box and did it all over again. gyah.

On Monday was the flea market ... fun to look at it but nothing to buy really. On Tuesday my family and I watched the j-drama episode of zk. Oh man!! I loved this manga. One of my all time favorites. The tv show is a little butchered though ... :( But really, the perfect boyfriend ...

Yesterday, Wednesday, Michael, Alex, Christine, John, Chris, and I went to Kyoto eki to try and exchange our vouchers for JR passes. It's a tricky process cause they're only for tourists and we have visas in our passports that say cultural exchange 6 months so technically we aren't allowed to. But it worked for Michael, Alex, John, and I. Yoon-san too, later.

I have not made it home before 7 on any night yet. This is getting ridiculous. I thought I was going to have free time here but instead I've never felt so rushed before. I'm constantly worrying about deadlines and doing homework an hour before it's due. Ahh!! On M/W I am done with class at noon, but every time something comes up, like flea market, or JR passes.

Oh yeah, so I'm 21. Thank you for everyone who wished me a happy birthday and especially to those of you who sent me cards and whatnot :D Very, very much appreciated. Too bad the legal age for stuff is 20 in Japan ;)

Flea market, Okonomiyaki, Karaoke

Monday was the 21st, meaning that 東寺 (Toji temple) had a flea market set up. We went there with a big group, and they tons of neat things. Nothing I would actually want to buy, though. Since we didn't really have anything to do afterwards, Eric, Mao and I tried to round up more people but they were all too busy. We got Michael and Fah to come out for dinner, along with 3 of Mao's friends. We ate good okonomiyaki and headed over for a short karaoke session. I don't think I'll ever get tired of going. That was the 3rd night in a row, and I had a blast.

Partying 4 days in a row took its toll on me though, and now I've been bed-ridden with an exhausting cold. Yick.

Ridiculous birthday party for Katrina

First, Osaka is an awesome city. Everything is huge, and there are people everywhere. Not to mention the good food. Getting drunk off of shochu and then rocking the arcade makes for a great evening.

And then! Stuck in Kyoto and pulling a karaoke all-nighter! Sooo much fun. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Stanford wins

Giving a speech to a room full a college students, none of whom are interested in hearing what you say. What do you do? 2 attractive girls on stage with you ftw.
Germans will imitate, but they cannot compete ^^

Pre-bday Goodness

Unfortunately, I can't put up any pictures from home (until Joachim helps me remotely ... {:D) so use your imagination for the time being.

昨日、クス君と一緒に四条に行った。ちょっと買い物をして、カラオケもした。実は、カラオケが嫌い。楽しいけど歌うが下手。でも他に人に聞くのは楽しいと思う。クス君とのは楽しかった！いつでも一人で歌いなかった　：）　ありがとう、クス君！適当な日本語の歌を一緒に歌った。もう後で、あたしは一人で（心配しないで、ね？）LINGERIEの店に行った！TIFFANYちゃんから聞いた：アジアのLINGERIEはあたしたちの体似合う。そして、とっても緊要してる。結果？よかった！でも。。。とっても、とってもはずかしか！！！！日本のサイズとアメリカのは違う。そして、MEASURINGをした。ー＿＿＿＿ー　ちょっとOBSCENEと思う。；P　。。。けど、一つを買った＾＾；； (sorry, A, that the first entry is on such a thing ...)

Let's see ... after that, we had the most faabulous しゃぶしゃぶ ever!!! It was also a much nicer atmosphere than any I've been to in the states. Really good service. All you can eat too ... so we ate sooo much!! And it was on the 7th floor so we had a neat ながめ too. But then on the way out, when we were in the elevator, the waitress bowed to us and I don't really know what I was thinking but I started backing up and my foot hit the edge of the elevator and made this loud clattering noise and クス君 teased me sooo much -___- He told me I'd never be an elegant lady -__- ouch.

I forgot to mention the arcade!! We went and it was so fun! They had a whack a gator game ... and for those of you who know me well, know that it's definitely my favorite sort of game. I beat クス君 by 20 points xDD But he dominates when it comes to musical games, so it evens out. He also CREAMED me at air hockey ... using only his left hand. cry.

We also went to the LOft which everyone has been talking about. It was absolutely amazing. o_o

Then I came home and he met up with the other peeps to partyhearty. I just realized ... he's really mean to me -___-

There's a box sitting in the corner of the room that's yearning to be opened ... but I'm resisting.