This is how we roled:
The wedding was awesome! However, I was still pretty jet-lagged so ended up sleeping for a good hour in the middle of it, missing the grooms speech.
Friday, 21 August 2015
WEDDING
We went to our cousins wedding at the Savoy hotel in London.
This is how we roled:
So much bleach and dye has been used between my family members that we have now become a ridiculous looking curly-rainbow-hair family. I got the yellow jump-suit in a mad rush to Brent Cross the day before. Spolier alert: its from Topshop.
The wedding was awesome! However, I was still pretty jet-lagged so ended up sleeping for a good hour in the middle of it, missing the grooms speech.
This is how we roled:
The wedding was awesome! However, I was still pretty jet-lagged so ended up sleeping for a good hour in the middle of it, missing the grooms speech.
Wednesday, 12 August 2015
Homies
Being reunited with my London homies:
What have I learnt? They have just launched a Kickstarter project. Please check it out and donate a little:
Monday, 10 August 2015
Back in the USSR
..or back in the UK. London to be precise.
I'm back for a family wedding, an internship and the chance to catch up with some friends. I'm also waiting for my new student visa to be processed.
If everything checks out, I'll be returning to Japan in late September to do an intensive Japanese course in Tokyo.
How exciting!
As far as reverse culture shock goes, I think I've generally been alright. Perhaps I haven't really been away long enough for any severe emotional reactions. The worst thing I had to deal with was a 4 hour stop over in Istanbul. Not only was this airport there incredibly busy, with nowhere to sit, relax or take refuge... but also, the traffic of people passing through Istanbul airport was one of the ugliest and rudest I have ever come across,
After two years in Japan, My biggest "shock" back in London, has been at how tall and fat everyone seems to be. Perhaps it was a little overwhelming going to a crowded shopping center in North London on a Saturday afternoon on my first day back. Yet it was necessary in order to frantically search for a last minute wedding outfit.
We found one. All is fine.
I am missing the Mito matsuri this weekend. Also the ToneRiver Jam festival in Kasama. Fear of Missing Out is in full force.
It feels like living a double life. One of me has been in London this whole time, catching up with friends, keeping an eye on what's going on. The other, has been in Japan. The good news is both Zara's are happy and doing pretty well. I guess life has bigger problems than schizophrenia.
I'm back for a family wedding, an internship and the chance to catch up with some friends. I'm also waiting for my new student visa to be processed.
If everything checks out, I'll be returning to Japan in late September to do an intensive Japanese course in Tokyo.
How exciting!
As far as reverse culture shock goes, I think I've generally been alright. Perhaps I haven't really been away long enough for any severe emotional reactions. The worst thing I had to deal with was a 4 hour stop over in Istanbul. Not only was this airport there incredibly busy, with nowhere to sit, relax or take refuge... but also, the traffic of people passing through Istanbul airport was one of the ugliest and rudest I have ever come across,
After two years in Japan, My biggest "shock" back in London, has been at how tall and fat everyone seems to be. Perhaps it was a little overwhelming going to a crowded shopping center in North London on a Saturday afternoon on my first day back. Yet it was necessary in order to frantically search for a last minute wedding outfit.
We found one. All is fine.
I am missing the Mito matsuri this weekend. Also the ToneRiver Jam festival in Kasama. Fear of Missing Out is in full force.
It feels like living a double life. One of me has been in London this whole time, catching up with friends, keeping an eye on what's going on. The other, has been in Japan. The good news is both Zara's are happy and doing pretty well. I guess life has bigger problems than schizophrenia.
Friday, 31 July 2015
Spot the Difference
My friend here "Prayleth Manteth" Just got a Japan-inspired tattoo. I tend to hate most tattoos, but I actually think this one looks rather great.
When I saw him last night it had significantly healed and was looking sharp as fuck. However, the picture I had was of one he sent out after just getting it done.
Here is the original picture mixed with one I have edited slightly. I have made 10 changes, can you spot them? Hint: this is exceptionally easy.
When I saw him last night it had significantly healed and was looking sharp as fuck. However, the picture I had was of one he sent out after just getting it done.
Here is the original picture mixed with one I have edited slightly. I have made 10 changes, can you spot them? Hint: this is exceptionally easy.
Mosquitoes
Never judge a woman who is perpetually scratching her arse....it might be a mosquito bite.
You sly little bastard.
Monday, 27 July 2015
Why does Japan attract weirdos?
One of the biggest disappointments I have found living in Japan is other foreigners living in Japan.
In the time I have been here, I have met and gotten to know quite a lot of different people. Some of them are among the greatest and most interesting I have come across. However, with the majority of gaijins in Japan, this tends not to be the case.
It is certainly clear that Japan attracts an abundance of weirdos. Why is it that the geekiest, most socially inept and physically repulsive people choose to come to this country?
I understand that one might point towards the various obscure Japanese sub-cultures like manga, Lolita, robots, cosplay, martial arts, kimonos or whatever else. I'm not condemning any of these, I think they are all pretty awesome and are part of what makes Japan, well, Japan. But there is so much more to this country than bizarre gimmicks. With cultural differences aside, most Japanese people are totally normal. Seriously, they have normal jobs, normal families, normal homes, a normal sense of humour and so on. I work at a few different senior high schools here, I can see that what constitutes the "cool kids" here adheres to the same criteria as it would elsewhere; its the same sporty, attractive, fashionable, confident kids as you might see in any school, anywhere else. When these kids grow up, they become normal members of Japanese society. They do not wish to hang out with the social rejects of the rest of the world.
The reason I am writing about this is because it makes me angry. These Japanophile weirdos give the Japanese a totally warped and wrong impression of foreigners. Many Japanese people have never been abroad. Many of them, particularly those living outside of the major cities, might not have ever met a foreigner. This means that their impression of the outside world is dictated by their experiences within Japan: the portrayal of foreign countries and cultures in the media, and whatever contact they might have with foreigners they come across during their daily lives. This is why it makes me angry. So many of the foreigners, representing the outside world, living in Japan, are so disappointing.
Japan is an incredible place. Why is it that only weirdos are able to appreciate it?
In the time I have been here, I have met and gotten to know quite a lot of different people. Some of them are among the greatest and most interesting I have come across. However, with the majority of gaijins in Japan, this tends not to be the case.
It is certainly clear that Japan attracts an abundance of weirdos. Why is it that the geekiest, most socially inept and physically repulsive people choose to come to this country?
I understand that one might point towards the various obscure Japanese sub-cultures like manga, Lolita, robots, cosplay, martial arts, kimonos or whatever else. I'm not condemning any of these, I think they are all pretty awesome and are part of what makes Japan, well, Japan. But there is so much more to this country than bizarre gimmicks. With cultural differences aside, most Japanese people are totally normal. Seriously, they have normal jobs, normal families, normal homes, a normal sense of humour and so on. I work at a few different senior high schools here, I can see that what constitutes the "cool kids" here adheres to the same criteria as it would elsewhere; its the same sporty, attractive, fashionable, confident kids as you might see in any school, anywhere else. When these kids grow up, they become normal members of Japanese society. They do not wish to hang out with the social rejects of the rest of the world.
The reason I am writing about this is because it makes me angry. These Japanophile weirdos give the Japanese a totally warped and wrong impression of foreigners. Many Japanese people have never been abroad. Many of them, particularly those living outside of the major cities, might not have ever met a foreigner. This means that their impression of the outside world is dictated by their experiences within Japan: the portrayal of foreign countries and cultures in the media, and whatever contact they might have with foreigners they come across during their daily lives. This is why it makes me angry. So many of the foreigners, representing the outside world, living in Japan, are so disappointing.
Japan is an incredible place. Why is it that only weirdos are able to appreciate it?
Sunday, 26 July 2015
T.O.F.U. beats
Last night I met Tofubeats!
YAY!!!!!
This is what he looks like:
We chatted for a good few minutes, he even showed me some pictures of his recent trip to London which was nice. The dude seemed pretty down to earth and friendly,...despite what I had heard earlier that day (shove that down your pipe and smoke it Gbro).
My biggest regret was not getting a picture with him. I didn't have a smartphone or my ipad or any modern camera device on me... however, and I only just realized this, I was carrying a disposable camera. I can't believe I have been carrying that thing with me to so many fun things over the past few weeks and have barely used it.
What a butthole.
Special mention goes to club promoter Not In Service. Danced up front with me and Josh for Tofubeat's set and was a really fun dude. The guy found and chatted to me afterwards, clearly knows a lot of stuff going on in the city. I will be sure to attend one of the nights he works for in the future.
To summarize, Pa Lam's System easily put on the best set last night.
Here is the set they played
YAY!!!!!
This is what he looks like:
To be fair, I was pretty impressed at my drunken self for recognizing who he was.
Last night I was at "Mad Decent Night" at Vision in Shibuya. An hour before he went on, I noticed him sat in a hallway on his phone, unaccompanied. I clocked him pretty quick. I knew, of course, it was my destiny to meet the man. So, I introduced myself, told him I loved his music and started by asking him some questions. The guy was very pleasant. I think he might have been a little surprised to have been recognized by a gaijin, but I think by the fact I was chatting to him in broken, poorly-constructed Japanese might have made it somewhat apparent I'm obviously a bit of a Japan-ophile.
We chatted for a good few minutes, he even showed me some pictures of his recent trip to London which was nice. The dude seemed pretty down to earth and friendly,...despite what I had heard earlier that day (shove that down your pipe and smoke it Gbro).
My biggest regret was not getting a picture with him. I didn't have a smartphone or my ipad or any modern camera device on me... however, and I only just realized this, I was carrying a disposable camera. I can't believe I have been carrying that thing with me to so many fun things over the past few weeks and have barely used it.
What a butthole.
Special mention goes to club promoter Not In Service. Danced up front with me and Josh for Tofubeat's set and was a really fun dude. The guy found and chatted to me afterwards, clearly knows a lot of stuff going on in the city. I will be sure to attend one of the nights he works for in the future.
To summarize, Pa Lam's System easily put on the best set last night.
Here is the set they played
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