5-month Restrospection

Okay, so I will freely admit that restrospection after only five months sounds kinds of lame; but as I get ready to head back to The Bay for a short visit with family and maybe a few friends, I know I will be asked many a question about everything I’ve experienced thus far.  This is a good way to get all that out because also, I’m pretty happy about some of the things I’ve done =D  So check out my little accomplishments after the jump!

I’m just going to do the easy thing and list everything as it pops into my head, so enjoy.

• Went to an Onsen (Japanese hot spring) the day after New Years and even got to sit outside in one while it was snowing!  It was awesome.
• Experienced falling snow for the first time.
• Had an all-nighter in Osaka (that didn’t involve drinking and clubbing)
• Visited Hiroshima and the saw the Atomic bomb blast site.
• Visited at least 10 different Japanese cities.
• Learned how to pay bills at a convenient store.
• Learned what a final notice looks like so I can go pay my bills at the convenient store.
• Had the police called on me while hosting a dinner party.
• Discovered the awesomeness that is Ichigo Daifuku (mochi with anko and a strawberry inside. *nom*nom*)
• Discovered the awesomeness of Okonomiyaki: both Hiroshima and Osaka styles.
• Discovered Takoyaki and that you should never attempt to eat 8 in-a-row… at least I shouldn’t anyway…
• Discovered that “Japanese style” is a very poor excuse for curry.
• Still don’t know whether natto smells like hot garbage or diarrhea; but I know I will never put another fermented bean in my mouth for as long as I live.  I don’t care how healthy you say it is… if I nearly puke while choking it down, that ain’t exactly healthy for me.
• My Japanese language profiency increased steadily.  I now know the difference between あります (arimasu) and いります(irimasu) and how to conjugate verbs, among other things.
• I went to a dairy farm.
• I have discovered that staring back at someone who stares at me for an uncomfortably long time gets pretty interesting (and self satisfying) results.
• Learned that Fukubukuro (Lucky Bags) may just be THE best thing about: ~shopping. ~New Years. ~Japan.
• Scarily gained a new kind of independence completely separate from financial.
• Discovered the freedom of being able to drink all the juice in the house.
• Hyaku-en Stores (100-yen, like $1 stores) are like crack to me.
• Learned just how awesome Recycle Shops (second-hand) can be!
• Bought a pair of women’s shoes that actually FIT me!
• Realized just how patient I can be when I feel really sorry for people. It hurts.
• Learned that it shouldn’t take 4 trains to get home.
• That I still can’t understand why the last train is at 12:04am
• That 6,000yen for a taxi from downtown to my apartment is insane, so last train it will be.
• Developed a few ridiculously amazing relationships.
• And finally, that “abunai” is my favorite Japanese word as well as joke.  Abunai, yo!

I guess that’ll be all for now… tons more to discover in the future so it should be fun.  Life is awesome.