Day 45 - Feb 20

Well, not much has happened this week.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to go out and do much exploring recently, but I should be able to make up for that in the coming weeks.  Not next week though, I have two midterms and a speech to do in Japanese.  The highlight of this week was yet another trip to Akihabara.  I was able to show a great amount of restraint this time, mainly because I went with only a couple specific items in mind.  Of course I bought more than those, but significantly less than previous times.  Our main purpose of going to Akiba this time though, was to finally check out a Maid Cafe.  The one we went to was called @home cafe.

Oh my god, it was SO cute!  So moe!  I wish they allowed pictures/video, but it is really something that must be seen firsthand.  At the end they gave us these point cards (Japan sure loves those point cards) where the more visits you make the higher your "rank" becomes.  You start out at Lv. 1 "My Master" and after 4 visits I believe you then go up in rank.  I'm not sure what the next one is though.  I did read somewhere that the highest rank requires some 2,000 visits.  That would require you to go every day for almost 7 years!  I don't know if that place has even been around that long!  It costs 700 yen per person to get in, and everyone is required to get at least one thing off the menu.  Li and I each got the day's drink special, which was a special coctail where your maid prepares it while doing this "shaka shaka" dance.  Now, everything they do like this requires your participation as well.  Basically, a "repeat after me" type of thing.  I believe it went something like this: "shaka shaka" "nyan nyan" "wan wan" "pyon pyon" "(something I can't remember)" and ending with something in Japanese involving the word oishii.  Then, once they've poured the drink, they use some special "magic" on it (which of course requires your participation) to make it more delicious.  You start by making a heart with your hands, say something when you move the heart to your left, then say something as you move it to the right, then finally there was some cutesy sound you make as you push they heart towards your drink.  Oh my god, this place was just so freaking cute.  Li and I each got that coctail (his was blue and mine was red) and Allison got some insta-diabetic parfait.  They enjoyed it for a while, but near the end I think it was getting annoying to them, but I didn't want to leave XD.  All told it cost each of us about 1,700 yen.  I want to try and rank up by the time I leave here... >_>

I shall end this post with some random comments that I've been meaning to make:
1.  This country is a horrible horrible place for someone like me who needs to "catch 'em all."  It is definitely a collector-oriented society.  Nearly everything comes out on a limited-edition basis.  This is probably why they are able to introduce new models of things so frequently and still charge so much for them.

2.  Almost all women wear skirts.  Not so much anymore since there has been snow a couple times, but on the warmer days 9/10 women are wearing skirts.  Its very interesting.  Also, I have seen one low-cut shirt being worn since I've been here.  It seems like legs for the Japanese (and possible the East in general?) are like chests for the Western world, and seem to be treated in the same ways when it comes to fashion.

3.  I love the trains.  The public transportation system here is absolutely wonderful.  Its one of the things that makes me not want to leave.

4.  Speaking of trains; it isn't as crowded here as I was expecting.  Sure, there are a lot of people and you can never be alone except when you're in your room, but I actually like that.  Only during rush-hours do the sidewalks get crowded enough to moderately disturb your walking pace.  Oh, and during those rush-hours the lesser side streets (especially the ones leading to the train stations) become sidewalks themselves.

5.  There are a lot of vending machines, but they are not as prevalent as I was led to believe.  Sure, just about anywhere you go you'll be able to see a vending machine somewhere nearby, but still!  Also, you will be very lucky to find one that actually sells food.  99.9% of them sell drinks only.  Oh, and for that matter, where are the 30-something different types of Dr. Pepper I'd heard about??  I've only seen the one.

6.  I swear the chickens in this country are raised on crack.  Every chicken product I've had so far has been horribly addicting.

7.  I love arcades.  I wish the US had arcades like Japan does.  I have seen equal amounts of guys and girls in them, as there are things that are designed to appeal to either one or both there.  There are even several things that are designed for couples, which is evident from the little bench seats that perfectly fit two people.  Also, people of all ages can be seen in these arcades.  I have gotten out of a Gundam POD and seen a 40-something guy in a suit on his way back from work getting out of the POD across from mine.  This happens regularly.

8.  Also, to go deeper into the previous subject, it is completely normal to see people of all ages on the train playing games on their phones or DS.  The same goes for reading manga.  I have sat next to older men on their way to/from work playing their DS or PSP.  I've even seen one of those guys playing against a kid he didn't know sitting across from us.  In the US, people would think its childish, but here it is completely normal and accepted.  I think its wonderful though, since games can help bring people together across all boundaries, be it age, gender, language, or something else.

I really do love it here.  If only it weren't so far from my real life and everything that comes with it.  Its difficult to explain, but there are just a lot of little things about the culture that mesh with me perfectly.  Maybe that's why I've experienced little to no culture shock?