School: I am typing this e-mail on my last week of school. Our reading period starts on the 9th and finals officially start on the 12th. Fortunately for me, all of my classes except one have final papers for me to turn in. I can be done with everything by the first day of finals. Too bad my motivation for work has completely left me, so I'll probably be waiting until the last minute as usual.
I've just finished presentations and other works on high context and low context cultures, novels like "Confessions of a Mask and Woman in the Dunes," the Japanese "Freeter and Neet," and Hip Hop in the 21st century. All of my work has been done on my friend Nick's computer. After the 16th I am technically done with my junior year. I don't like that thought. I'm tearing up now. Let's move on to happier topics.
March 17: I mentioned in the last issue that a friend of mine and myself were going to have a birthday party or two. Well, here is how things went down. Halston's 21st birthday was on St. Patrick's Day. Nothing good can ever come from a story starting like that. I met Halston and Nick at Club 101 in Roppongi. There was lots of dancing and everyone seemed to be having fun.
Nick tells me that Halston walked into a massage parlor. I know for a fact that people get hustled a lot in Roppongi, so I went to help him out. When I busted in the doors, Halston was in the middle of his massage. The lady told me it would be an hour for 2,700 yen (around $25). I told her that was a lie because outside it said a half hour for 3,000 yen.
I promptly told her I would be back in a half hour to retrieve him. She tried to pull me out by my hand while I was talking to Halston, but since I'm twice her size it was easy to get her off me before leaving of my own accord. When I returned, Halston had already left with Nick. We came to find out a few days later that Halston's ATM card was charged by the massage parlor for $529 dollars. They gave him no receipt or any evidence of the transaction. His bank has started an investigation. It was definitely a memorable 21st. Too bad Halston doesn't think so.
March 23 and 24: Friday was our school's spring festival. It basically consisted of lots of food and people performing. I sang three songs with some friends and performed a salsa and hip-hop dance with my respective groups. The salsa dance ended up being great. I can't wait to roll back up and drop some dips on my lady friends. I'm pretty nice with it.
Saturday was most likely my last singing performance in Japan until I return with the Zumbyes. Promptly at 12 midnight, I was stripped of my jacket and beaten down repeatedly by four of my friends. It was officially my birthday and everyone had to get their birthday licks in. For those of you who don't understand birthday licks, it's when your friends hit you as many years as you are old. It normally ends with an extra hit for you to grow on. That hasn't happened to me in years, so it looks like they made up for lost time. I called it an early night to get ready for the festivities the following day.
March 25: I'd like to send a special thanks out to Kristin Beneski and Ellen Ferrin for sending me a box full of everything Reese's. They understand that this was the one and only way to make me happy on my b-day and I am grateful for that. My friends took me to an all-you-can-eat place called "Gut soul." They bring out plates of meat that you cook yourself. Large amounts of meat for cheap are a commodity here in Japan, so we stuffed ourselves silly. Afterwards we went to an arcade then ended our night at a karaoke bar. Singing for three hours really puts a strain on the voice, but it's great when you do it with friends. We really need karaoke bars in America. I think I might start my own in Pond next year.
April 1: In the spring, cherry blossoms begin to bloom in Japan. This is a definite cause for celebration, and so there is a gathering called Hanami (flower watching). Everyone gets together at one of the parks with lots of sakura trees. Tarps are put down and food and drink are consumed in copious quantities. After finding my friends pasted out on their tarp, I proceeded to join them and others followed. We randomly talked to the Japanese people next to us and they insisted we drink with them as well. My friends were found climbing trees and passing out in trash heaps. It really was a momentous occasion.
I hope this was enough to wet your whistle for a while. I only have three more weeks left here in the glorious land of wonderful experiences. I'll be sad to go, but happy to come back to all my friends and family. Till then, you know how to get at me.
C-Gillz