Homework for the Overactive Brain

Today's Quote--"Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday to me..."

Wednesday, October 29, 2003

 

Well, it appears as though my friends are alive and well...YEAH! And maybe I do have a password...YEAH! But everyone deserves a manic-depressive moment every once in a while...right? Besides, I think I needed to vent before it exploded. I feel much better now...hee, hee? So no one worry when you read below. I'm still somewhere near my right mind...close...within rock throwing distance anyway...*sigh* So yes, I'm a little nervous about going back to SUA. Hee, heh, heh. Hmm. Yeah. Well, go read that post, then come read this one, I think I'll put some good stuff about Japan here, just to cheer everyone back up...especially those of you stuck in midterms (for the second week? And with Dr. Brickwall(said with affection)? Ouchies). You all deserve a large hug. Here...HUG. yes. hmm. Onward and upward?

I think Japan probably has the largest bookstore to person ratio in the world. Everyone reads all the time...even if they are just magazines or comic books...romance novels or textbooks...the subway is the best place to spot readers...apparently it's common practice to read in transit, which makes a lot of sense, seeing as there's not much else to do on the subway. I vote for the sleep method, but then, I'm still rather illiterate, so reading isn't much of an option anyway. Yes, so there are bookstores all over everywhere, and magazine stands at every station. Thats a lot of books! Another good thing about Japan...lots of books. Someday, I'll be able to read some of them, right? Maybe....

Back to clothes...It's not unusual to see a woman in a kimono wandering around the stations (yes, most of my people watching is at the subway stations). It's an interesting mix of old and new, just like most things in Japan. Uniforms are big here too. Yes, aside from school uniforms, which I have already discussed into extremity, there are many other uniforms to be seen. Subway workers have a very distinct brown. Most cleaning staff, nearly everywhere, have a seafoam green thing going on. Anyone who works for JR can attest the exstensive use of green...and brown. And lots of people have armbands proclaiming what they are and what they're up to. Makes it easier to tell what's going on sometimes. Though I have to admit, the police and subway personnell that have to ride the subway to work...in uniform...are interesting. Actually the police patrol the subway regularly too. Usually they're the old guys. Yep...and construction workers have these interesting pants that kind of pull in tight at the ankle (makes sense safety wise), but balloon out. I guess it does good for work, but it makes them look, well, they stand out in a crowd...almost as much as I do. Well, not quite that much, I guess...;)

Speaking of standing out in a crowd...Halloween. So in American culture class we did face painting, and 4 of us got painted, 3 guys and me. I ended up with a black and white face, blood, and stiches. Oy...kinda scary. Anyway, decided trying to wash it off at school wasn't a good idea and took the subway home. Now that was fun! Of course I didn't have my glasses on so I couldn't enjoy it fully, but there was enough body reactions that I could tell people were surprised...besides, trailing laughter isnt hard to see...;) It was very entertaining...

Tonight I'm off to Kabuki...very excited. This weekend my friends from Osaka are coming...also very exciting. Did a big test today and now my brain is fried. Have another test tomorrow. Did I mention we have tests everyday? It's a pain....oy. Okay...so I'm going to attempt to get my SUA mail and then I'm off to study...or eat...or not. Hmmm.
"Life is like Japanese Tea Ceremony. Sometimes, it's just too sweet. And sometimes, it's just too bitter. But when you take it all together, it's perfect."--Me

GL 10:21 PM