Back in Black

After taking my mum to see Sunny Afternoon, the new musical based on the Kinks, I can't stop listening to their music. As soon as I return to Japan, the only thing I want to do is listen to music from home.
Of course, this works both ways. In London I craved Japanese hip hop and electronic weirdness.

There's a lot to catch up on, life changes, leaving Japan, going home, attending my cousins wedding, reminiscing with family members, reacquainting myself with good old London town. That beautiful city with which I have a love-hate relationship. Doing an internship with a market research company, online Tokyo flat-hunting, going to the Japanese embassy, celebrating my parents' birthdays, picking up my new student visa, having that one final blow out, saying goodbyes, back on a plane, back to Japan. Move to Tokyo. Sakura house: share house. New international community, new faces, new stories, a new chapter. All good so far.

I sent an email to my rental company complaining that there's no remote control for the AC unit in my room. Two sleepless, jet-lagged nights in an over-heated room wishing I could put the seemingly unusable AC on. Of course, I have just found it sitting behind the curtain. Palm smack across my forehead in a "durr you idiot" manner. Problem solved. soz bruv lolz.

 

Slide and Scoop

I helped out selling alcoholic sweets at a private adult party in a children's play park.


I got a bit of a weird sugar high.

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.

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:

Frankie and Emma

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.

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.

Mosquitoes

Never judge a woman who is perpetually scratching her arse....it might be a mosquito bite.

You sly little bastard.