We're online again!

For some reason, I was no longer able to update from my phone, which is really the only time that it is convenient for me to actually do so. However, all is fixed now, so expect updates frequently!

Parties and toilets

Saturday I went to Shiodome,where one can find tall buildings with fine restaurants at the top. It was at this locale where I had my first encounter with an electronic toilet. The seat was heated. I proceeded to do my business. Upon command my derriere was rinsed and dried. There were options for the temperature of the water, whether the stream should be narrow or wide, and whether the areas in the front deserve a rinse as well. The device also had excellent aim. I was shocked and amazed.

After my encounter with the curious loo, I went to my welcoming party. It was a potluck, and some students, already aware of my sweet tooth, brought my favorite Japanese dessert.

After the welcoming party was AgeHa. So much dancing, so many boys, so many gyrating torsos... There were also shows at regular intervals where go-go boys would prance around and find wonderful ways to show everything but their frank and beans. Gah.

The following night I had my second dinner party. There was prosciuto and other meats, a large salad, spaghetti in pesto sauce and prawns, wine galore, and some red bean paste dessert. Yum!

AgeHa

It means butterfly in Japanese. It is also the name of a club off Tokyo. There's a Black Ball tonight, and I will be attending with Damien and Alex. The place has a pool. There will be go-go boys. It takes about 5,000 people on average per night. And I'm only paying 3,500 JPY to attend.

All is good.

Time to get some bhat...

For Golden Week, I am going to Bangkok. I am flying business class. And I am flying there for free! I love Aeroplan!

Tempura, part deux

Yesterday I fried tempura without pyrotechnic incident! Yay!

Work?

Today, being counseling week, I did nothing besides get paid to be a student who wanted to practice teaching Japanese. This girl paid good money to teach me Japanese. And that was all I did. I can get used to this...

The Arcades

It's short for print club - purinto kulubu. And it's wear a bunch of people get into a small photo booth and take zany pictures. Then, you add designs to it with J-pop playing in the background. And then you print them and stick them onto your phone. Now my phone is decorated.
After the puricura, Alex and I played this drum game. I think I have found something better than DDR.

For Nicky's birthday we decided to go to Roppongi. All was good until when we leave the sestaurant that we were eating at, when I realize that I do not have my wallet anymore. I rushed back - only a few seconds had transpired at that point - but it was already gone!
And then I panicked.
I had no money. I had no cards. I could be frauded.
We went to the police box across the street and made a report. I had my Japanese bank card cancelled but reaching the international Visa center was impossible and calling collect to the banks back home was less than obvious.
It was decided that I should go home and call using Skype. I got home and there was a message waiting for me on the phone! My wallet been found! So after getting some sleep to help offset my increasing emotional unstability, I returned to the police box that i made the report, just to be greeted by total, utter and abject indolence. Despite then, with Eri on the phone as translator, I realized it was the restaurant that had my wallet. Phew!
Now I'm on the train to meet Micky and Eri. And I have money. Yay.

Japan of all trades

Today I went to the Don Quixote near my work. Only in Japan can yot find a store that sells booze, Dolce and Gabbana underwear, and razos within one rtore. After that, I wemt to the ATM fop the fist time. Not only do Japanesd ATMs count your money when yot make a deposit, but they will take coins as well.

Food

Last night, pursuant to my realization that I am not eating enough fruits and vegetables, I made myself a killer salad. It was enjoyed with some smoked pepper cheese on a baguette, leftoves from the dinner party I through the night before. It was fun to have people over without having to worry about what a mess my place is and having no place to entertain. Even with a budget it is quite possible to be well-fed.

Today I went to the Ginza. I am now proud to say that I know whese to find 800 dollar umbrellas should I ever feel the loss.

Them young lookin' ones

I just found out that the two students I have slight things for are in fact older than me. In fact, one student, who I thought may be bordering on 20 is 31! My dirty mind can only imagine what they rub on their faces to keep them looking so young! And there'll be plenty more thoughts now!

He's here, too

I was scramblimg out the door when someone calls at the door. This time it was not the mailman trying to yammer at me in Japanese: she actually spoke English. It was a nice, older woman. And she was on a mission from God. She already knew that a foreigner lived within. And she wanted to give me a pamphlet. Christ!

Enoshima

Saturday I took to Tokyo station and the Ginza. I went to the basement of Daimaru, and I swear it was Saks Fifth Avenue meets a grovery store. Some of the finest foods available! There were more French pastries in there than they were in France. I think i shall return there and pick up some trinkets for tonight's dinner party! After that I went to the Ginza. Whoever said New York was the best city on Earth had obviously never been to Tokyo. Hermes here, Gucci there, all so large with styles never seen. And yes, Adrien, I went to the Zara and the selection was unbelievable. Cute employees, too.

So after splurging on some brownies, bagels, and motchi (sp?), I headed over to Machida City for a few drinks with Kerri, Nicky, Eri, Steve, and Mel. I barely had anything to eat that day and so became shitfaced on three beers. The Ginza would have been ashamed.

The next day, after a vile envounter with rancid rice in Nicky's rice cooker, we proceeded to Enoshima. An hour from where I live via countless trains, it's a pretty island that heralds back to older, prettier times where you can actually see the sky and water, thanks to the absence of concrete. It was so pretty!

Dedicated to Tracy

The other day, Claire, the other foreign teacher at my school, told me that a good amount of ous students are quite wealthy. For example, yesterday, I taught gerunds to a real estate mogul. The other day Claire asked everyone to pretend that they were millionaires: one did not have to because he actually was.

That following night, pursuant to Krystle's advice, I decided to take a stab at tempura. The first shrimp burned. The second one I tried to take it out of the oil using a wooden spatula. Luckily, the resulting flame, which reached one meter, was quite ephermeral in nature. The order was quickly changed to shrimp fried rice, and all tempura activities have been suspended until further notice. On a more positive note, I succeeded in getting the rice cooker to work.